<p>A transgender Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives is facing heat for using language that has not gone down well her Republican counterparts.&nbsp;Representative Zooey Zephyr was making an impassioned plea to her colleagues to reject a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors saying it would 'tantamount to torture', when the Conservatives took offence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This body should be ashamed.&nbsp;If you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments I hope the next time there’s an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands," said Zephyr.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Zephyr's statement, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton stood and said, “I will note that this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other,"&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, the Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers wrote a letter, accusing&nbsp;Zephyr of espousing 'hateful rhetoric'. Later on the same day, the Caucus took to Twitter and demanded Zephyr be censured for the speech.</p>

<p>"For attempting to shame the Montana legislative body and by using inappropriate and uncalled-for language during a floor debate over amendments concerning Senate Bill 99 - to ban sex changes of minor children" stated the Republican leaders.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Zephyr misgendered&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Zephyr, who represents&nbsp;Montana's 100th House District replied saying the Caucus had misgendered her by using 'his' pronoun in the letter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It is disheartening that the Montana Freedom Caucus would stoop so low as to misgender me in their letter, further demonstrating their disregard for the dignity and humanity of transgender individuals. Their call for ‘civility and respect’ is hypocritical given their actions," said&nbsp;Zephyr.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It is particularly troubling that the moment they were confronted with the impact their legislation has, they chose to silence the only trans woman elected to public office in Montana as opposed to doing the right thing and voting down this harmful legislation."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/transgender-rights-activists-clash-with-neo-nazis-in-melbourne-573615"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Transgender rights activists clash with Neo-Nazi's in Melbourne</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/transgender-rights-activists-clash-with-neo-nazis-in-melbourne-573615/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/usa-idaho-and-indiana-approve-legislation-banning-gender-affirming-care-579807#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>Other states have banned gender-affirming care</strong></h2>

<p>Montana is not the first US state to bring in a legislation banning gender-affirming care. Earlier this month,&nbsp;Idaho and Indiana passed similar bills, making sure that&nbsp;minors will not be able to transition from their assigned gender at birth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Those against passing the bill say that banning healthcare facilities is an impediment for the trans community kids who might require vital and often life-saving care. They added that most procedures available to trans kids are reversible and safe.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/usa-idaho-and-indiana-approve-legislation-banning-gender-affirming-care-579807"><strong>ALSO READ | USA: Idaho and Indiana approve legislation banning gender-affirming healthcare</strong></a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the supporters of the legislation argue that such procedures are harmful and carry lifelong repercussions and that only an adult should take the decisions - not the minor or their parents.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies</em>)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A transgender Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives is facing heat for using language that has not gone down well her Republican counterparts.

A transgender Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives is facing heat for using language that has not gone down well her Republican counterparts. Representative Zooey Zephyr was making an impassioned plea to her colleagues to reject a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors saying it would 'tantamount to torture', when the Conservatives took offence. “This body should be ashamed. If you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments I hope the next time there’s an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands," said Zephyr. After Zephyr's statement, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton stood and said, “I will note that this is entirely inappropriate, disrespectful and uncalled for. We can debate matters civilly and with respect for each other," Later, the Montana Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers wrote a letter, accusing Zephyr of espousing 'hateful rhetoric'. Later on the same day, the Caucus took to Twitter and demanded Zephyr be censured for the speech. "For attempting to shame the Montana legislative body and by using inappropriate and uncalled-for language during a floor debate over amendments concerning Senate Bill 99 - to ban sex changes of minor children" stated the Republican leaders. Zephyr misgendered Zephyr, who represents Montana's 100th House District replied saying the Caucus had misgendered her by using 'his' pronoun in the letter. “It is disheartening that the Montana Freedom Caucus would stoop so low as to misgender me in their letter, further demonstrating their disregard for the dignity and humanity of transgender individuals. Their call for ‘civility and respect’ is hypocritical given their actions," said Zephyr. “It is particularly troubling that the moment they were confronted with the impact their legislation has, they chose to silence the only trans woman elected to public office in Montana as opposed to doing the right thing and voting down this harmful legislation." WATCH | Transgender rights activists clash with Neo-Nazi's in Melbourne × Other states have banned gender-affirming care Montana is not the first US state to bring in a legislation banning gender-affirming care. Earlier this month, Idaho and Indiana passed similar bills, making sure that minors will not be able to transition from their assigned gender at birth. Those against passing the bill say that banning healthcare facilities is an impediment for the trans community kids who might require vital and often life-saving care. They added that most procedures available to trans kids are reversible and safe. ALSO READ | USA: Idaho and Indiana approve legislation banning gender-affirming healthcare Meanwhile, the supporters of the legislation argue that such procedures are harmful and carry lifelong repercussions and that only an adult should take the decisions - not the minor or their parents. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Republicans want transgender lawmaker censured for condemning bill banning gender-affirming healthcare

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidxrWXPCViK5gj" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Friday said the migrant crisis had nearly 'destroyed' his city while making a desperate plea to the Biden administration to help with the flow of immigrants in the city.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The city is being destroyed by the migrant crisis,” said Adams during a panel discussion with the African American Mayors Association in Washington, DC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“And none of my folks came to Washington DC to fight for the resources that’s going to undermine every agency in our city," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Adams' statement comes a few days after he blasted President Biden for turning his back on the city. He blamed the Democrats for a projected $4.2 billion budget shortfall that can very well turn the current situation into a humanitarian crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The national government has turned its back on New York City. Every service in this city is going to be impacted by the asylum seeker crisis," said Adams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This is in the lap of the president of the United States! The president of the United States can give us the ability to allow people to work.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>This is in the lap of the executive branch of the United States of America."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-says-no-room-for-migrants-english-news-wion-553648"><b>WATCH |&nbsp;US: NYC Mayor Eric Adams says, 'No room for migrants' | English News | WION</b></a></p>

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<h2><strong>The steady influx of migrants&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Over the last year, the Big Apple has witnessed the arrival of more than 55,000 foreigners, claiming to be seeking refuge from prosecution and violence. According to the City Hall, over 200 migrants arrive in the city daily and it costs as much as $380 per day per household to provide food and shelter to them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Over 50,000 people come to the city of New York seeking assistance and we are told, ‘You will not allow them to work, you have to...give them food, clothing if they need, give them the basic services that they need, you’re supposed to make sure they have three meals a day, make sure that all the children are educated — and while you’re doing that, New York City, we’re not going to give you anything in return,'” added the mayor.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-crisis-prompts-new-york-city-to-declare-emergency-523460"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Migrant 'crisis' prompts New York City to declare emergency</strong></a></p>

<p>The majority of the migrants are being serviced using&nbsp;taxpayer-funded emergency shelters, comprising hotels mostly while others are being stationed at the eight&nbsp;Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs).</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>


Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Friday said the migrant crisis had nearly 'destroyed' his city while making a desperate plea to the Biden administration to help with the flow of immigrants in the city.

Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Friday said the migrant crisis had nearly 'destroyed' his city while making a desperate plea to the Biden administration to help with the flow of immigrants in the city. “The city is being destroyed by the migrant crisis,” said Adams during a panel discussion with the African American Mayors Association in Washington, DC. “And none of my folks came to Washington DC to fight for the resources that’s going to undermine every agency in our city," he added. Adams' statement comes a few days after he blasted President Biden for turning his back on the city. He blamed the Democrats for a projected $4.2 billion budget shortfall that can very well turn the current situation into a humanitarian crisis. “The national government has turned its back on New York City. Every service in this city is going to be impacted by the asylum seeker crisis," said Adams. “This is in the lap of the president of the United States! The president of the United States can give us the ability to allow people to work. This is in the lap of the executive branch of the United States of America." WATCH | US: NYC Mayor Eric Adams says, 'No room for migrants' | English News | WION × The steady influx of migrants Over the last year, the Big Apple has witnessed the arrival of more than 55,000 foreigners, claiming to be seeking refuge from prosecution and violence. According to the City Hall, over 200 migrants arrive in the city daily and it costs as much as $380 per day per household to provide food and shelter to them. “Over 50,000 people come to the city of New York seeking assistance and we are told, ‘You will not allow them to work, you have to...give them food, clothing if they need, give them the basic services that they need, you’re supposed to make sure they have three meals a day, make sure that all the children are educated — and while you’re doing that, New York City, we’re not going to give you anything in return,'” added the mayor. ALSO READ | Migrant 'crisis' prompts New York City to declare emergency The majority of the migrants are being serviced using taxpayer-funded emergency shelters, comprising hotels mostly while others are being stationed at the eight Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Democrat Mayor Eric Adams says migrant crisis has destroyed New York City, calls out Biden administration

<p>British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab announced his resignation on Friday following the release of a report by independent lawyer Adam Tolley KC into allegations that he bullied government staff. The report was handed to PM Rishi Sunak, who has accepted Raab's resignation already.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prior to the release of the findings by Tolley, Raab had announced that he will immediately resign if allegations of bullying civil servants were proven true. In his resignation letter to the PM, Raab claimed that the outcome of the inquiry had set a 'dangerous precedent'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me. I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government," said Raab.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-political-turbulence-live-deputy-pm-dominic-raab-resigns-following-bullying-allegations-584777"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;UK political turbulence LIVE | Sunak thanks Raab, who quit as deputy PM, for his 'pandemic leadership'</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Raab's political history&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Raab first set foot in the power alleys of London in 2010 when he was elected as an MP from Esher and Walton when David Cameron came to power. Raab emerged as a leader alongside the likes of Liz Truss and Kwazi Kwarteng, both of whom had a disastrous spell in 10, Downing Street.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He played an important part in Britain's rather tumultuous exit from the European Union. In 2018, he was named as the Brexit secretary but resigned four months later after disagreeing with former PM Theresa May's draft Brexit withdrawal agreement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The opposition parties often criticised Raab for not having a proper grasp of Brexit and what were its implications for the general public. As the Brexit secretary, Raab did not understand the&nbsp;importance of the Dover-Calais crossing for UK trade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I hadn’t quite understood the full extent of this, but if you look at the UK and look at how we trade in goods, we are particularly reliant on the Dover-Calais crossing," he was quoted as saying by Politico.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">How could it possibly come as a suprise to Dominic Raab that our most important trade gateway is that which is closest geographically to our most important market? <a href="https://t.co/kCSMWywsw7">https://t.co/kCSMWywsw7</a></p>
— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfBrianCox/status/1060450179084681216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>However, after May quit, Raab attempted to succeed her and stood in the Conservative Party leadership election but could not go past the second ballot. After Boris Johnson ascended to power, Raab was appointed as the first secretary of state and foreign secretary from 2019 to 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, reports have claimed that even Johnson had directed Raab to keep his behaviour in check when dealing with office colleagues as well as party leaders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In August 2021, Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban as the Western-backed government forces looked helplessly. During such a pivotal moment in history, Raab was pictured on holiday with his family in Crete. the images of the foreign minister enjoying himself on a paddle board did not go down well with the British public as Raab faced widespread flak.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rishi-sunak-did-not-ask-deputy-pm-dominic-raab-to-resign-report-584801"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Rishi Sunak did not ask Deputy PM Dominic Raab to resign : Report</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Sunak's political credibility on line</strong></h2>

<p>Thus it came as a surprise to many that Sunak took a punt and appointed Raab as his deputy PM in the cabinet announcement last October. Even then, a section of Tory leaders demanded Sunak revisit the decision and take the right call.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Raab is the third Sunak government senior minister to depart in the last six months. After promising to deliver a government of 'integrity' it appears that the house of cards is coming down for Sunak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If the report and its findings are as damning as some reports suggest, it could cast a shadow on Sunak's credibility. After commissioning Tolley, Sunak bought some time for himself but the allegations have come back to haunt him and could potentially have serious ramifications.</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>


British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab announced his resignation on Friday following the release of a report by independent lawyer Adam Tolley KC into allegations that he bullied government staff.

British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab announced his resignation on Friday following the release of a report by independent lawyer Adam Tolley KC into allegations that he bullied government staff. The report was handed to PM Rishi Sunak, who has accepted Raab's resignation already. Prior to the release of the findings by Tolley, Raab had announced that he will immediately resign if allegations of bullying civil servants were proven true. In his resignation letter to the PM, Raab claimed that the outcome of the inquiry had set a 'dangerous precedent'. "Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me. I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government," said Raab. ALSO READ | UK political turbulence LIVE | Sunak thanks Raab, who quit as deputy PM, for his 'pandemic leadership' Raab's political history Raab first set foot in the power alleys of London in 2010 when he was elected as an MP from Esher and Walton when David Cameron came to power. Raab emerged as a leader alongside the likes of Liz Truss and Kwazi Kwarteng, both of whom had a disastrous spell in 10, Downing Street. He played an important part in Britain's rather tumultuous exit from the European Union. In 2018, he was named as the Brexit secretary but resigned four months later after disagreeing with former PM Theresa May's draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. The opposition parties often criticised Raab for not having a proper grasp of Brexit and what were its implications for the general public. As the Brexit secretary, Raab did not understand the importance of the Dover-Calais crossing for UK trade. “I hadn’t quite understood the full extent of this, but if you look at the UK and look at how we trade in goods, we are particularly reliant on the Dover-Calais crossing," he was quoted as saying by Politico. How could it possibly come as a suprise to Dominic Raab that our most important trade gateway is that which is closest geographically to our most important market? https://t.co/kCSMWywsw7 — Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) November 8, 2018 × However, after May quit, Raab attempted to succeed her and stood in the Conservative Party leadership election but could not go past the second ballot. After Boris Johnson ascended to power, Raab was appointed as the first secretary of state and foreign secretary from 2019 to 2021. Notably, reports have claimed that even Johnson had directed Raab to keep his behaviour in check when dealing with office colleagues as well as party leaders. In August 2021, Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban as the Western-backed government forces looked helplessly. During such a pivotal moment in history, Raab was pictured on holiday with his family in Crete. the images of the foreign minister enjoying himself on a paddle board did not go down well with the British public as Raab faced widespread flak. WATCH | Rishi Sunak did not ask Deputy PM Dominic Raab to resign : Report × Sunak's political credibility on line Thus it came as a surprise to many that Sunak took a punt and appointed Raab as his deputy PM in the cabinet announcement last October. Even then, a section of Tory leaders demanded Sunak revisit the decision and take the right call. Raab is the third Sunak government senior minister to depart in the last six months. After promising to deliver a government of 'integrity' it appears that the house of cards is coming down for Sunak. If the report and its findings are as damning as some reports suggest, it could cast a shadow on Sunak's credibility. After commissioning Tolley, Sunak bought some time for himself but the allegations have come back to haunt him and could potentially have serious ramifications. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Who is Dominic Raab, the Tory leader who quit as deputy PM over bullying complaints?

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<p>Elon Musk-owned Twitter started the process of removing legacy blue checkmarks from user profiles on Thursday. As soon as the exercise started, several big names, including Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church lost their&nbsp;blue tick.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Holy See (the government of the Roman Catholic Church) was taken aback by the removal of the verified symbol. In a statement, the Vatican said it was aware of the rule change but noted that the pope had more than 53 million followers on his @Pontifex accounts in various languages.</p>

<p>"While awaiting to know the platform's new policies, the Holy See hopes they will include certification of the authenticity of the accounts," read a statement released.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After a period of confusion, Twitter restored the checkmark, albeit in grey colour this time. According to Twitter's terms of service, the grey tick is given to any government or multilateral organisation account.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/many-high-profile-users-lose-verification-symbol-on-twitter-584674"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Many high-profile users lose verification symbol on Twitter</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>The blue tick&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The blue tick was earlier given to a prominent group of users, both individual and business accounts as a way to lend credibility. With millions of users on the platform, the blue checkmark was a way to differentiate if the individual or organisation was original and not phoney.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As soon as Musk took over Twitter, he announced there will be no discrimination on the platform and even a commoner will be able to have a checkmark against their name. Thus, he introduced the Twitter Blue subscription service.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The initial iteration of the service caused chaos as scammers changed their names and pretended to be someone else, forcing Musk and his team to halt the service and close the loopholes.</p>

<p>After a relatively smooth rollout, Twitter announced that it would be shutting down its ‘legacy verified programme' on April 1 but continued for nearly 20 days after.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As of now, the blue checkmark does not mean that the account belongs to someone who they claim to be but that the account has an active subscription to Twitter Blue and meets another set of criteria by Musk’s Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/explained-a-twitter-without-blue-ticks-heres-how-you-see-if-an-account-is-real-584827" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Explained | A Twitter without blue ticks. Here’s how to see if an account is real</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, Musk is personally paying for the blue checkmarks of a few famous celebrities such as author Stephen King, basketball star LeBron James and actor William Shatner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I'm paying for a few personally," Musk tweeted, before adding in another tweet, "Just Shatner, LeBron and King."</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 Twitter started the process of removing legacy blue checkmarks from user profiles on Thursday. As soon as the exercise started, several big names, including Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church lost their blue tick.

Elon Musk-owned Twitter started the process of removing legacy blue checkmarks from user profiles on Thursday. As soon as the exercise started, several big names, including Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church lost their blue tick. The Holy See (the government of the Roman Catholic Church) was taken aback by the removal of the verified symbol. In a statement, the Vatican said it was aware of the rule change but noted that the pope had more than 53 million followers on his @Pontifex accounts in various languages. "While awaiting to know the platform's new policies, the Holy See hopes they will include certification of the authenticity of the accounts," read a statement released. After a period of confusion, Twitter restored the checkmark, albeit in grey colour this time. According to Twitter's terms of service, the grey tick is given to any government or multilateral organisation account. WATCH | Many high-profile users lose verification symbol on Twitter × The blue tick The blue tick was earlier given to a prominent group of users, both individual and business accounts as a way to lend credibility. With millions of users on the platform, the blue checkmark was a way to differentiate if the individual or organisation was original and not phoney. As soon as Musk took over Twitter, he announced there will be no discrimination on the platform and even a commoner will be able to have a checkmark against their name. Thus, he introduced the Twitter Blue subscription service. The initial iteration of the service caused chaos as scammers changed their names and pretended to be someone else, forcing Musk and his team to halt the service and close the loopholes. After a relatively smooth rollout, Twitter announced that it would be shutting down its ‘legacy verified programme' on April 1 but continued for nearly 20 days after. As of now, the blue checkmark does not mean that the account belongs to someone who they claim to be but that the account has an active subscription to Twitter Blue and meets another set of criteria by Musk’s Twitter. ALSO READ | Explained | A Twitter without blue ticks. Here’s how to see if an account is real Notably, Musk is personally paying for the blue checkmarks of a few famous celebrities such as author Stephen King, basketball star LeBron James and actor William Shatner. "I'm paying for a few personally," Musk tweeted, before adding in another tweet, "Just Shatner, LeBron and King." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Twitter restores Pope Francis' verified tick, albeit in new colour

<p>Five Indian soldiers lost their lives while one was critically injured in the Poonch district of the Northern Indian Union Territory of Jammu&nbsp;&amp; Kashmir after terrorists open fired and hurled grenades at a truck. The incident transpired around 3 pm on Thursday&nbsp;at Bhata Dhurian Falls in Mendhar sub-division while the vehicle was moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot.</p>

<p>“Today, at approximately 1500 hours, one Army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by terrorists," informed&nbsp;Defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The injured soldier has been evacuated and taken to the Army hospital where he is under treatment, the Army added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Army has launched a search operation to identify the perpetrators.&nbsp;The soldiers belonged to the Rashtriya Rifles Unit and were deployed in the region to conduct counter-terrorism operations.&nbsp;The Commander of the 13 sector Rashtriya Rifles has also been rushed to the spot to carry out further investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Initially, some reports claimed that the fire was caused due to a lightning strike that may have hit the truck. However, soon it was cleared that the terrorist had staged the ambush attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-three-indian-army-soldiers-killed-in-north-kashmirs-kupwara-district-551468"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;India: Three Indian Army soldiers killed in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district</strong></a></p>

<p>Images and videos of the incident have gone viral on social media platforms and show the Army vehicle burning in a heavy blaze.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian Army in a tweet&nbsp;released the names of the five soldiers killed in the terrorist attack. The deceased soldiers are Havildar Mandeep Singh, Sepoy Harkrishan Singh,&nbsp;Sepoy Sewak Singh,&nbsp;Lance Naik Debashish Baswal, Lance Naik Kulwant Singh.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/Whiteknight_IA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Whiteknight_IA</a> salutes the sacrifice of Hav Mandeep Singh, L/Nk Debashish Baswal, L/Nk Kulwant Singh, Sep Harkrishan Singh, Sep Sewak Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Poonch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Poonch</a> Sector on 20 Apr 23. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. <a href="https://t.co/50D9HRdssa">pic.twitter.com/50D9HRdssa</a></p>
— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Whiteknight_IA/status/1649103283867488256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>After the incident, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to share a condolence message and said he was 'anguished' by the tragedy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Anguished by the tragedy in Poonch District (J&amp;K), where the Indian Army has lost its brave soldiers after a truck caught fire. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families," tweeted Singh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the attack by the terrorists comes on the same day as it was confirmed that Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be visiting India&nbsp;next month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.</p>

<p>For years, Pakistan has been the launch pad of terrorists infiltrating India and conducting such operations. Moreover, the incident comes a week after Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval conducted a high-level meeting in the capital city to take note of the security situation of the UT.&nbsp;</p>

<p>R&amp;AW chief Samant Kumar Goel, National Investigation Agency DG Dinkar Gupta, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka and Central Reserve Police Force Director General SL Thaosen also attended the meeting.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Five Indian soldiers lost their lives while one was critically injured in the Poonch district of the Northern Indian Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir after terrorists open fired and hurled grenades at a truck.

Five Indian soldiers lost their lives while one was critically injured in the Poonch district of the Northern Indian Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir after terrorists open fired and hurled grenades at a truck. The incident transpired around 3 pm on Thursday at Bhata Dhurian Falls in Mendhar sub-division while the vehicle was moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot. “Today, at approximately 1500 hours, one Army vehicle, moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch in the Rajouri sector was fired on by unidentified terrorists, taking advantage of heavy rains and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire, due to likely use of grenades by terrorists," informed Defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand. The injured soldier has been evacuated and taken to the Army hospital where he is under treatment, the Army added. The Army has launched a search operation to identify the perpetrators. The soldiers belonged to the Rashtriya Rifles Unit and were deployed in the region to conduct counter-terrorism operations. The Commander of the 13 sector Rashtriya Rifles has also been rushed to the spot to carry out further investigation. Initially, some reports claimed that the fire was caused due to a lightning strike that may have hit the truck. However, soon it was cleared that the terrorist had staged the ambush attack. ALSO READ | India: Three Indian Army soldiers killed in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district Images and videos of the incident have gone viral on social media platforms and show the Army vehicle burning in a heavy blaze. The Indian Army in a tweet released the names of the five soldiers killed in the terrorist attack. The deceased soldiers are Havildar Mandeep Singh, Sepoy Harkrishan Singh, Sepoy Sewak Singh, Lance Naik Debashish Baswal, Lance Naik Kulwant Singh. @Whiteknight_IA salutes the sacrifice of Hav Mandeep Singh, L/Nk Debashish Baswal, L/Nk Kulwant Singh, Sep Harkrishan Singh, Sep Sewak Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty in #Poonch Sector on 20 Apr 23. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. pic.twitter.com/50D9HRdssa — White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) April 20, 2023 × After the incident, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to share a condolence message and said he was 'anguished' by the tragedy. "Anguished by the tragedy in Poonch District (J&K), where the Indian Army has lost its brave soldiers after a truck caught fire. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families," tweeted Singh. Notably, the attack by the terrorists comes on the same day as it was confirmed that Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be visiting India next month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting. For years, Pakistan has been the launch pad of terrorists infiltrating India and conducting such operations. Moreover, the incident comes a week after Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval conducted a high-level meeting in the capital city to take note of the security situation of the UT. R&AW chief Samant Kumar Goel, National Investigation Agency DG Dinkar Gupta, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka and Central Reserve Police Force Director General SL Thaosen also attended the meeting. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Five Indian Army soldiers killed, one critically injured after terrorist attack in J&K's Poonch

<p>Proscribed Islamic terror outfit&nbsp;Al-Qaeda and its Indian manifestation Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)&nbsp;have threatened attacks in the country over the murder of politician-turned-mafia Atiq Ahmed&nbsp;during custody last Saturday in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the terror group posted a message, threatening revenge and calling Atiq and his brother Arshad 'martyrs'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The message was released in a&nbsp;seven-page magazine, released by As-Sahab, the outfit's propaganda media wing. It also promised to 'liberate' the Indian Muslims.</p>

<h2><strong>Atiq's connection to terror outfits</strong></h2>

<p>The threat by Al-Qaeda should not come as a surprise as media reports had&nbsp;claimed that Ahmed was ambushed just as he was starting to speak about the involvement of notorious foreign actors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to FIR registered in the case, Atiq claimed he had links with terror outfit&nbsp;Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as well as Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“In a statement Atiq had said that he had links with LeT and ISI. He said that an arms dealer who also arranges weapons for LeT supplied him weapons that came via drones from across the border. These included a 45 bore pistol, an AK 47, sten gun, RDX that came via Punjab border,” the FIR accessed by The Print noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-gangster-atiq-ahmed-and-his-brother-shot-dead-by-assailants-in-prayagraj-up-582884"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Indian gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother shot dead by assailants in Prayagraj, UP&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-gangster-atiq-ahmed-and-his-brother-shot-dead-by-assailants-in-prayagraj-up-582884/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-was-atiq-ahmed-indian-gangster-turned-politician-shot-dead-live-on-tv-583016#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>What happened to Atiq Ahmed?</strong></h2>

<p>Atiq Ahmed was shot dead on April 16 in Prayagraj while he and his brother Ashraf, both accused in the Umesh Pal murder case were being taken for a medical assessment at the MLN Medical College.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The three assailants, masquerading as reporters fired several rounds of&nbsp;bullets point blank into the Ahmed brothers while police officers and journalists stood nearby.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a postmortem report, Atiq was killed after receiving at least nine bullets in his chest and head. The first bullet was fired at his temple which led to instant death. Meanwhile, Ashraf sustained five bullet wounds. One hit him in the face while four entered his body through the back.</p>

<p>Five police officers have been suspended over the murder.&nbsp;The suspended officers include Station House Officer Ashwani Kumar Singh from the Shahganj police station, two Inspector rank officers and two constables.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/five-cops-suspended-in-relation-to-gangster-atiq-ahmed-and-his-brothers-murder-584084"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;5 cops suspended after live TV murders of Indian gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, brother</strong></a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, a&nbsp;three-member judicial enquiry committee has been formed to investigate the case and submit a complete report in two months.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Proscribed Islamic terror outfit Al-Qaeda and its Indian manifestation Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) have threatened attacks in the country over the murder of politician-turned-mafia Atiq Ahmed during custody last Saturday in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Proscribed Islamic terror outfit Al-Qaeda and its Indian manifestation Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) have threatened attacks in the country over the murder of politician-turned-mafia Atiq Ahmed during custody last Saturday in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the terror group posted a message, threatening revenge and calling Atiq and his brother Arshad 'martyrs'. The message was released in a seven-page magazine, released by As-Sahab, the outfit's propaganda media wing. It also promised to 'liberate' the Indian Muslims. Atiq's connection to terror outfits The threat by Al-Qaeda should not come as a surprise as media reports had claimed that Ahmed was ambushed just as he was starting to speak about the involvement of notorious foreign actors. According to FIR registered in the case, Atiq claimed he had links with terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as well as Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. “In a statement Atiq had said that he had links with LeT and ISI. He said that an arms dealer who also arranges weapons for LeT supplied him weapons that came via drones from across the border. These included a 45 bore pistol, an AK 47, sten gun, RDX that came via Punjab border,” the FIR accessed by The Print noted. WATCH | Indian gangster Atiq Ahmed and his brother shot dead by assailants in Prayagraj, UP × What happened to Atiq Ahmed? Atiq Ahmed was shot dead on April 16 in Prayagraj while he and his brother Ashraf, both accused in the Umesh Pal murder case were being taken for a medical assessment at the MLN Medical College. The three assailants, masquerading as reporters fired several rounds of bullets point blank into the Ahmed brothers while police officers and journalists stood nearby. According to a postmortem report, Atiq was killed after receiving at least nine bullets in his chest and head. The first bullet was fired at his temple which led to instant death. Meanwhile, Ashraf sustained five bullet wounds. One hit him in the face while four entered his body through the back. Five police officers have been suspended over the murder. The suspended officers include Station House Officer Ashwani Kumar Singh from the Shahganj police station, two Inspector rank officers and two constables. ALSO READ | 5 cops suspended after live TV murders of Indian gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, brother Meanwhile, a three-member judicial enquiry committee has been formed to investigate the case and submit a complete report in two months. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Al-Qaeda threatens revenge over Indian gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed's live TV murder

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<p>The sanctions imposed by the Western world on Russia may not have deterred President Vladimir Putin from stopping his Ukraine invasion but the voices that are challenging him are certainly facing the heat. TV channel Dozhd, also known as TV Rain, widely recognised as one of the very few remaining Russian channels critical of Putin is facing heavy losses due to sanctions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Vera Krichevskaya, one of the co-founders said the channel was losing anywhere between $1 million to $1.5 million per year in potential revenue due to sanctions on its YouTube channel.</p>

<p>Notably, after the Russian invasion, Google-owned YouTube suspended all monetisation programmes for users in Russia. The decision was taken after advertisements were already suspended in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>About 65 per cent&nbsp;of TV Rain’s audience is in Russia but with no revenue coming from them, the channel has to rely on&nbsp;non-Russia-based audience for advertising income.</p>

<p>Krichevskaya said she had been in touch with executives from Google and YouTube to persuade them to relax the rules but so far, no progress had been made.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I found it very strange that when the west goes on about the importance of freedom of speech and western European values, a company like Google has no flexibility,"&nbsp;Krichevskaya was quoted as saying by<em> The Guardian.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>“They give us zero income and zero profit on Russian audiences, making it near impossible to operate.”</p>

<p>The channel was forced to leave Russia after the Putin administration accused it of broadcasting false information about the war. Since then, it had been operating from Lativa until the authorisation was revoked by the country's media watchdog.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, in&nbsp;January this year,&nbsp;the Netherlands granted a five-year broadcasting licence to the channel.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-releases-new-russia-sanctions-list-top-energy-telecom-firm-prime-target-in-list-582007" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | US releases new Russia sanctions list, top energy, telecom firm prime target in list</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-releases-new-russia-sanctions-list-top-energy-telecom-firm-prime-target-in-list-582007/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-releases-fresh-sanctions-list-targetting-firms-individuals-supporting-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-582157#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>The game of sanctions</strong></h2>

<p>The US Treasury and State Departments sanctioned nearly 120 targets, including Russian, Chinese, UAE and Turkish firms to squeeze Moscow for its ongoing war with Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the likes of TV Rain face economic hardships, the US is also inflicting self-harm due to the sanctions. Earlier this week, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, without naming Russia said economic sanctions imposed on countries had put the dollar's dominance at stake.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-dollar-may-lose-its-dominance-if-nations-are-sanctioned-warns-treasury-secretary-janet-yellen-583125" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | US dollar may lose its dominance if nations are sanctioned, warns Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen</strong></a></p>

<p>As the US continues to plaster sanctions willy-nilly, targeted nations are seeking alternatives which puts the USD in jeopardy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There is a risk when we use financial sanctions that are linked to the role of the dollar that over time it could undermine the hegemony of the dollar," Yellen was quoted as saying by CNN.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The sanctions imposed by the Western world on Russia may not have deterred President Vladimir Putin from stopping his Ukraine invasion but the voices that are challenging him are certainly facing the heat.

The sanctions imposed by the Western world on Russia may not have deterred President Vladimir Putin from stopping his Ukraine invasion but the voices that are challenging him are certainly facing the heat. TV channel Dozhd, also known as TV Rain, widely recognised as one of the very few remaining Russian channels critical of Putin is facing heavy losses due to sanctions. Vera Krichevskaya, one of the co-founders said the channel was losing anywhere between $1 million to $1.5 million per year in potential revenue due to sanctions on its YouTube channel. Notably, after the Russian invasion, Google-owned YouTube suspended all monetisation programmes for users in Russia. The decision was taken after advertisements were already suspended in the country. About 65 per cent of TV Rain’s audience is in Russia but with no revenue coming from them, the channel has to rely on non-Russia-based audience for advertising income. Krichevskaya said she had been in touch with executives from Google and YouTube to persuade them to relax the rules but so far, no progress had been made. “I found it very strange that when the west goes on about the importance of freedom of speech and western European values, a company like Google has no flexibility," Krichevskaya was quoted as saying by The Guardian. “They give us zero income and zero profit on Russian audiences, making it near impossible to operate.” The channel was forced to leave Russia after the Putin administration accused it of broadcasting false information about the war. Since then, it had been operating from Lativa until the authorisation was revoked by the country's media watchdog. However, in January this year, the Netherlands granted a five-year broadcasting licence to the channel. WATCH | US releases new Russia sanctions list, top energy, telecom firm prime target in list × The game of sanctions The US Treasury and State Departments sanctioned nearly 120 targets, including Russian, Chinese, UAE and Turkish firms to squeeze Moscow for its ongoing war with Ukraine. While the likes of TV Rain face economic hardships, the US is also inflicting self-harm due to the sanctions. Earlier this week, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, without naming Russia said economic sanctions imposed on countries had put the dollar's dominance at stake. ALSO READ | US dollar may lose its dominance if nations are sanctioned, warns Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen As the US continues to plaster sanctions willy-nilly, targeted nations are seeking alternatives which puts the USD in jeopardy. "There is a risk when we use financial sanctions that are linked to the role of the dollar that over time it could undermine the hegemony of the dollar," Yellen was quoted as saying by CNN. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Russian channel critical of Putin facing financial crunch due to Western sanctions

<p>India's fantasy gaming industry is expected to grow massively in the coming years, a joint report by&nbsp;Deloitte and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) has shown. The report stated that the industry may attain revenues in excess of $3&nbsp;billion (Rs 25,240 crore) by FY27, up from $828 million (Rs&nbsp;6,800 crore) in FY22. Apart from revenue, the user base is likely&nbsp;to nearly triple from the current 180 million (18 crores) to 500 million (50 crores).&nbsp; Overall, the industry is expected to grow at a&nbsp;30% compound annual growth rate till FY27.</p>

<p>India currently boasts of over 300 fantasy sports platforms - making it one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide. The user base in 2022 was nearly triple that of North America. Interestingly enough,&nbsp;the biggest growth witnessed by the fantasy platforms has come from tier II and tier III cities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The industry’s growth can be attributed to a combination of infrastructural and market-led factors. Improving digital infrastructure, long cited as a driver for India’s economy, is seen to amplify in impact every year. This has also led to an increase in digital payments,” read the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-are-video-games-actually-beneficial-528642"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint | Are video games actually beneficial?</strong></a></p>

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<p>The introduction of Jio, a mobile network operator by billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Group in 2016&nbsp;allowed internet services to proliferate into the deep hinterlands of India, from where fantasy platforms are making their lion's share of the revenue.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>New regulations introduced by government</strong></h2>

<p>The report comes in the backdrop of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notifying the final rules of online gaming earlier this month.</p>

<p>Under the rules, the government will be appointing Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) which will include the likes of industry experts child experts,&nbsp;psychology experts and&nbsp;educationists among others. The SROs will have the responsibility to declare which online games are permissible to be played.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are only regulating real money games that involve wagering. By process of exclusion, all other kinds of games will be permissible," Minister of State IR Rajeev Chandrasekhar told the reporters.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-fantasy-gaming-platform-sues-google-to-stop-new-gaming-policy-calls-it-discriminatory-518065"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Indian 'fantasy' gaming platform sues Google to stop new gaming policy, calls it discriminatory</strong></a></p>

<p>Overall, India is steadily making giant strides in the video gaming market. Currently, China holds the numero uno spot with an estimated 744&nbsp;million gamers that generated revenues worth $45.8 billion&nbsp;in the year 2022.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Indian gaming sector, still considered to be in its infancy by many, managed to rake in $2.8 billion in revenue with a total user base of around 420 million. In 2016, India's total video game revenue stood around&nbsp;&nbsp; $543 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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India's fantasy gaming industry is expected to grow massively in the coming years, a joint report by Deloitte and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) has shown.

India's fantasy gaming industry is expected to grow massively in the coming years, a joint report by Deloitte and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) has shown. The report stated that the industry may attain revenues in excess of $3 billion (Rs 25,240 crore) by FY27, up from $828 million (Rs 6,800 crore) in FY22. Apart from revenue, the user base is likely to nearly triple from the current 180 million (18 crores) to 500 million (50 crores). Overall, the industry is expected to grow at a 30% compound annual growth rate till FY27. India currently boasts of over 300 fantasy sports platforms - making it one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide. The user base in 2022 was nearly triple that of North America. Interestingly enough, the biggest growth witnessed by the fantasy platforms has come from tier II and tier III cities. “The industry’s growth can be attributed to a combination of infrastructural and market-led factors. Improving digital infrastructure, long cited as a driver for India’s economy, is seen to amplify in impact every year. This has also led to an increase in digital payments,” read the report. WATCH | WION Fineprint | Are video games actually beneficial? × The introduction of Jio, a mobile network operator by billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Group in 2016 allowed internet services to proliferate into the deep hinterlands of India, from where fantasy platforms are making their lion's share of the revenue. New regulations introduced by government The report comes in the backdrop of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notifying the final rules of online gaming earlier this month. Under the rules, the government will be appointing Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) which will include the likes of industry experts child experts, psychology experts and educationists among others. The SROs will have the responsibility to declare which online games are permissible to be played. "We are only regulating real money games that involve wagering. By process of exclusion, all other kinds of games will be permissible," Minister of State IR Rajeev Chandrasekhar told the reporters. ALSO READ | Indian 'fantasy' gaming platform sues Google to stop new gaming policy, calls it discriminatory Overall, India is steadily making giant strides in the video gaming market. Currently, China holds the numero uno spot with an estimated 744 million gamers that generated revenues worth $45.8 billion in the year 2022. Meanwhile, the Indian gaming sector, still considered to be in its infancy by many, managed to rake in $2.8 billion in revenue with a total user base of around 420 million. In 2016, India's total video game revenue stood around $543 million. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India's fantasy gaming industry to grow at 30% CAGR, triple user base by 2027: Report

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<p>A day after it was announced that Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be visiting Indian to participate in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council, he has said the visit should not be seen in terms of bilateral ties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are committed to the SCO charter and this visit should not be seen as a bilateral one but in the context of the SCO," the minister said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch on Thursday informed that Zardari would be attending the meeting, scheduled to be held on May 4-5 in the southwestern Indian state of Goa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be leading the Pakistan delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) being held on May 4-5, 2023, in Goa, India," said Baloch.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-fm-bilawal-bhutto-to-attend-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-meeting-in-india-584329" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Pak FM Bilawal Bhutto to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in India</strong></a></p>

<p>​Baloch said the foreign minister would be attending the SCO CFM meeting at the invitation of the current chairman of SCO CFM, India's Minister for External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our participation in the meeting reflects Pakistan's commitment to the SCO Charter and processes and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, this will be the first time that a Pakistan foreign minister will be visiting India since Hina Rabbani Khar in 2011. Moreover, after former PM Nawaz Sharif's visit in 2014 for PM Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, this will be the first high-level visit from a Pakistani leader.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistans-foreign-minister-bilawal-bhutto-to-attend-sco-meeting-in-goa-india-english-news-wion-584387"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to attend SCO meeting in Goa, India</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Questions raised over Zardari's visit</strong></h2>

<p>However, ever since Zardari's visit was announced, a section of Indian politicians have criticised the Modi government for giving a platform to Pakistan - a known terror exporter to India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the same day as the announcement, terrorists attacked an Indian Army vehicle in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing five soldiers while critically injuring one.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have claimed that the terrorists may have crossed over from the Pakistan side and could be belonging to the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taibya (LeT). A major operation has been launched by the authorities to nab the perpetrators.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-five-indian-army-soldiers-killed-one-critically-injured-after-terrorist-attack-in-jks-poonch-584508" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | India: Five Indian Army soldiers killed, one critically injured after terrorist attack in J&amp;K's Poonch</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, India took over the chairmanship of the SCO mega grouping last year after the Samarkand edition. This year's summit will be holding key ministerial meetings but the presence of Zardari is expected to ratchet up a few uncomfortable questions to New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A day after it was announced that Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be visiting Indian to participate in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council, he has said the visit should not be seen in terms of bilateral ties.

A day after it was announced that Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be visiting Indian to participate in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council, he has said the visit should not be seen in terms of bilateral ties. "We are committed to the SCO charter and this visit should not be seen as a bilateral one but in the context of the SCO," the minister said. Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch on Thursday informed that Zardari would be attending the meeting, scheduled to be held on May 4-5 in the southwestern Indian state of Goa. "Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be leading the Pakistan delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) being held on May 4-5, 2023, in Goa, India," said Baloch. ALSO READ | Pak FM Bilawal Bhutto to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in India Baloch said the foreign minister would be attending the SCO CFM meeting at the invitation of the current chairman of SCO CFM, India's Minister for External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. "Our participation in the meeting reflects Pakistan's commitment to the SCO Charter and processes and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities." Notably, this will be the first time that a Pakistan foreign minister will be visiting India since Hina Rabbani Khar in 2011. Moreover, after former PM Nawaz Sharif's visit in 2014 for PM Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, this will be the first high-level visit from a Pakistani leader. WATCH | Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to attend SCO meeting in Goa, India × Questions raised over Zardari's visit However, ever since Zardari's visit was announced, a section of Indian politicians have criticised the Modi government for giving a platform to Pakistan - a known terror exporter to India. On the same day as the announcement, terrorists attacked an Indian Army vehicle in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing five soldiers while critically injuring one. Reports have claimed that the terrorists may have crossed over from the Pakistan side and could be belonging to the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taibya (LeT). A major operation has been launched by the authorities to nab the perpetrators. ALSO READ | India: Five Indian Army soldiers killed, one critically injured after terrorist attack in J&K's Poonch Notably, India took over the chairmanship of the SCO mega grouping last year after the Samarkand edition. This year's summit will be holding key ministerial meetings but the presence of Zardari is expected to ratchet up a few uncomfortable questions to New Delhi. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Visit should not be...': Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto on attending SCO meet in India

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<p>Amid a surge in cases globally, the first death from COVID-19's new variant, Arcturus, has been reported in Thailand, the health officials informed on Friday. An unnamed elderly man became the victim of the virus strain which is thought to be around 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Medical Sciences Department stated that the deceased was a foreigner who had underlying health conditions as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The dead person was an elderly foreigner with underlying health conditions. His death, therefore, may not directly reflect the severity of this subvariant but rather its impact on other risk factors," said Dr Sirilak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Between April 9 and 15, the number of patients hospitalised in the country has seen an uptick of almost 2.5 times, compared to the previous week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Subsequently, Thai health officials have issued a warning regarding the new subvariant and urged the public to err on the side of caution and practice Covid-appropriate behaviour.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-new-covid-19-cases-jump-30-to-10158-582194"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India's new COVID-19 cases jump 30% to 10,158</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Arcturus and its brief history</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, India was the first country to detect Arcturus. The highly contagious Covid strain has already been discovered in at least 24 countries. According to experts, the variant is a matter of discussion but not a cause of concern.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s been in circulation for a few months. We haven’t seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that’s why we have these systems in place. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein, which, in lab studies, shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity," Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid said last month.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-covid-19-sub-variant-arcturus-detected-in-at-least-24-countries-heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-it-583972" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | New COVID-19 sub-variant 'Arcturus' detected in at least 24 countries; Here's all you need to know about it</strong></a></p>

<p>In the US, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has informed that the new strain is responsible for almost seven per cent of the coronavirus cases, coming only behind the Omicron variant.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the experts, the symptoms caused by Arcturus are nearly identical to the ones caused by the prior variants. However, the virus tends to produce conjunctivitis (inflammation of the outside of the eye) in the contracted person which is being classed as one of the distinguishing symptoms.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How to protect yourself from Arcturus?</strong></h2>

<p>Nothing out of the ordinary needs to be done to protect oneself from the new strain.&nbsp;Some of the most important measures include staying updated with vaccinations and booster doses, wearing a mask, social distancing, washing your hands, and attempting to spend time outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Amid a surge in cases globally, the first death from COVID-19's new variant, Arcturus, has been reported in Thailand, the health officials informed on Friday. An unnamed elderly man became the victim of the virus strain which is thought to be around 1.

Amid a surge in cases globally, the first death from COVID-19's new variant, Arcturus, has been reported in Thailand, the health officials informed on Friday. An unnamed elderly man became the victim of the virus strain which is thought to be around 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant. Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Medical Sciences Department stated that the deceased was a foreigner who had underlying health conditions as well. "The dead person was an elderly foreigner with underlying health conditions. His death, therefore, may not directly reflect the severity of this subvariant but rather its impact on other risk factors," said Dr Sirilak. Between April 9 and 15, the number of patients hospitalised in the country has seen an uptick of almost 2.5 times, compared to the previous week. Subsequently, Thai health officials have issued a warning regarding the new subvariant and urged the public to err on the side of caution and practice Covid-appropriate behaviour. WATCH | India's new COVID-19 cases jump 30% to 10,158 × Arcturus and its brief history Notably, India was the first country to detect Arcturus. The highly contagious Covid strain has already been discovered in at least 24 countries. According to experts, the variant is a matter of discussion but not a cause of concern. “It’s been in circulation for a few months. We haven’t seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that’s why we have these systems in place. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein, which, in lab studies, shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity," Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid said last month. ALSO READ | New COVID-19 sub-variant 'Arcturus' detected in at least 24 countries; Here's all you need to know about it In the US, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has informed that the new strain is responsible for almost seven per cent of the coronavirus cases, coming only behind the Omicron variant. According to the experts, the symptoms caused by Arcturus are nearly identical to the ones caused by the prior variants. However, the virus tends to produce conjunctivitis (inflammation of the outside of the eye) in the contracted person which is being classed as one of the distinguishing symptoms. How to protect yourself from Arcturus? Nothing out of the ordinary needs to be done to protect oneself from the new strain. Some of the most important measures include staying updated with vaccinations and booster doses, wearing a mask, social distancing, washing your hands, and attempting to spend time outdoors or in well-ventilated areas. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

First death from new COVID-19 subvariant 'Arcturus' detected in Thailand

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidnEF31Z73s0Pg" /><meta charset="utf-8" />China is neither approaching the border talks with India seriously nor with a sense of goodwill, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said in a recent interview with PTI. Reflecting on the border tension between the two neighbouring countries that has been ongoing for the last few years, Lu said Beijing was not taking a constructive position.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We see little evidence that the Chinese government is seriously approaching these talks with a sense of goodwill. What we see is the opposite. We see provocations that happen on the line of actual control on a pretty regular basis," he was quoted as saying by the news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US leader added that India could count on USA's support as it engaged with China, adding that the dispute could only be solved through "a negotiated settlement and through direct conversations between the two countries".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lu's statement comes a day after a top US commander said Washington was providing assistance to India to counter China in the border areas and also develop a defence industrial base.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-china-border-standoff-what-comes-next-troops-pulled-back-from-a-major-flashpoint-514322"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India-China border standoff: What comes next | Troops pulled back from a major flashpoint</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>US providing assistance to India</strong></h2>

<p>Admiral John Christopher Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command during a hearing on Indo-Pacific National Security Challenges conducted by the House Armed Services Committee said Washington and New Delhi faced the same security challenge from Beijing in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region.</p>

<p>“We value our partnership with India, and we've been increasing it and doing a lot more, over time. They have the same security challenge, primary security challenger that we do, and it's real on their northern border. Two skirmishes now in over the past nine or 10 months on that border, as they continue to get pressurised by the PRC for border gains," said Aquilino.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-us-facing-same-security-threat-from-china-says-top-us-indo-pacific-commander-584417" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | India, US facing same security threat from China, says top US Indo-Pacific commander</strong></a></p>

<p>The admiral noted that the US had assisted India in the form of supplying cold weather gear and other capabilities that they might need to defend the border areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Additionally, we’re expanding our cooperation in the form of production as India tries to work to develop its own industrial base. So, C-130 critical components made in India, helicopter critical frameworks made in India. That is expanding the partnership and moving them towards self-sufficiency and increased partnership with the United States."</p>

<p>Over the last few months, there has been an uptick in outreach attempts from the US on the India-China border issue. Media reports in the states last month claimed that the Biden administration, for the first time, provided real-time insights to Indian government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The details helped India neutralise the incursion attempts by the PLA troops in Northeastern India's Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang Sector.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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China is neither approaching the border talks with India seriously nor with a sense of goodwill, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said in a recent interview with PTI.

China is neither approaching the border talks with India seriously nor with a sense of goodwill, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu said in a recent interview with PTI. Reflecting on the border tension between the two neighbouring countries that has been ongoing for the last few years, Lu said Beijing was not taking a constructive position. "We see little evidence that the Chinese government is seriously approaching these talks with a sense of goodwill. What we see is the opposite. We see provocations that happen on the line of actual control on a pretty regular basis," he was quoted as saying by the news agency. The US leader added that India could count on USA's support as it engaged with China, adding that the dispute could only be solved through "a negotiated settlement and through direct conversations between the two countries". Lu's statement comes a day after a top US commander said Washington was providing assistance to India to counter China in the border areas and also develop a defence industrial base. WATCH | India-China border standoff: What comes next | Troops pulled back from a major flashpoint × US providing assistance to India Admiral John Christopher Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command during a hearing on Indo-Pacific National Security Challenges conducted by the House Armed Services Committee said Washington and New Delhi faced the same security challenge from Beijing in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region. “We value our partnership with India, and we've been increasing it and doing a lot more, over time. They have the same security challenge, primary security challenger that we do, and it's real on their northern border. Two skirmishes now in over the past nine or 10 months on that border, as they continue to get pressurised by the PRC for border gains," said Aquilino. ALSO READ | India, US facing same security threat from China, says top US Indo-Pacific commander The admiral noted that the US had assisted India in the form of supplying cold weather gear and other capabilities that they might need to defend the border areas. "Additionally, we’re expanding our cooperation in the form of production as India tries to work to develop its own industrial base. So, C-130 critical components made in India, helicopter critical frameworks made in India. That is expanding the partnership and moving them towards self-sufficiency and increased partnership with the United States." Over the last few months, there has been an uptick in outreach attempts from the US on the India-China border issue. Media reports in the states last month claimed that the Biden administration, for the first time, provided real-time insights to Indian government. The details helped India neutralise the incursion attempts by the PLA troops in Northeastern India's Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang Sector. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China not approaching border talks with India seriously, says Washington

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<p>The violent civil war between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary forces has led to the death of more than 400 while 3,500 have been injured, the World Health Organization (WHO) informed on Friday. UNICEF added that at least nine children were among the dead and more than 50 had been wounded.</p>

<p>"413 people have died and 3,551 people have been injured," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters at a press briefing in Geneva.</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 data has been released as Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a 72-hour “humanitarian truce” from 6:00 (local time), on Friday (April 21) coinciding with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.</p>

<p>“The truce coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr...to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” RSF wrote on its Twitter account.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-prepares-troops-for-possible-evacuation-of-embassy-staff-from-sudan-584649"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US prepares troops for possible evacuation of embassy staff from Sudan</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Army chief has&nbsp;not accepted ceasefire</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has not yet indicated that his forces will be agreeing to the ceasefire announced. Burhan posted a message on Friday about Eid but refrained from talking about any ceasefire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We mourn all the victims of my country and pray for the recovery of those injured and pray to God that this occasion of Eid returns in safety and peace," said the army chief, in a pre-recorded statement posted on Facebook.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rsf-fighters-agree-to-a-72-hour-ceasefire-for-eid-thousands-flee-from-sudan-to-chad-584648" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | RSF fighters agree to 72-hour ceasefire for Eid; thousands flee from Sudan to Chad</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, as soon as the Eid celebrations began overnight, the forces of two rival generals engaged in intense street fights in the capital city of Khartoum.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fighting broke out on Saturday last week and since then has escalated only. 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.</p>

<p>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>World leaders have called for an immediate end to violence but the two parties are unwilling to drop the weapons.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The violent civil war between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary forces has led to the death of more than 400 while 3,500 have been injured, the World Health Organization (WHO) informed on Friday.

The violent civil war between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary forces has led to the death of more than 400 while 3,500 have been injured, the World Health Organization (WHO) informed on Friday. UNICEF added that at least nine children were among the dead and more than 50 had been wounded. "413 people have died and 3,551 people have been injured," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters at a press briefing in Geneva. 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 data has been released as Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a 72-hour “humanitarian truce” from 6:00 (local time), on Friday (April 21) coinciding with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. “The truce coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr...to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” RSF wrote on its Twitter account. WATCH | US prepares troops for possible evacuation of embassy staff from Sudan × Army chief has not accepted ceasefire Meanwhile, Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has not yet indicated that his forces will be agreeing to the ceasefire announced. Burhan posted a message on Friday about Eid but refrained from talking about any ceasefire. "We mourn all the victims of my country and pray for the recovery of those injured and pray to God that this occasion of Eid returns in safety and peace," said the army chief, in a pre-recorded statement posted on Facebook. ALSO READ | RSF fighters agree to 72-hour ceasefire for Eid; thousands flee from Sudan to Chad According to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, as soon as the Eid celebrations began overnight, the forces of two rival generals engaged in intense street fights in the capital city of Khartoum. The fighting broke out on Saturday last week and since then has escalated only. 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. World leaders have called for an immediate end to violence but the two parties are unwilling to drop the weapons. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Over 400 killed, 3,500 injured as Sudanese Army and paramilitary forces continue fighting: WHO

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