Former US vice president Mike Pence appears to have burned all bridges with former president Donald Trump. At a function on Saturday, Pence harshly criticised Trump for his role in the January 6 US Capitol riots and said history will hold the former president&nbsp; accountable for being wrong.&nbsp;

“President Trump was wrong,” said Pence.&nbsp;“I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”

Pence&nbsp;previously told the congressional committee that investigated the riots that&nbsp;Trump pressured him to overturn his 2020 election defeat despite being repeatedly told it was illegal to do so. After the refusal, some rioters, who entered the US Capitol corridors chanted that they wanted to ‘hang&nbsp;Mike Pence’.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mike-pence-different-times-call-for-different-leadership-567980">WATCH |&nbsp;Mike Pence: 'Different times call for different leadership'</a>

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The House committee in its final report also stated that&nbsp;“the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President”.&nbsp;

Pence is currently embroiled in a race with Trump to secure&nbsp;Republican nomination for next year’s presidential election. Experts believe his criticism of Trump is an attempt to sway the fence-sitters within the GOP to vote for him.&nbsp;

“Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace.&nbsp;And it mocks decency to portray it any other way,” added Pence.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chilling-footage-shows-lawmakers-in-the-midst-of-crisis-as-rioters-charge-us-capitol-525340">'I’m gonna punch him out': Pelosi heard saying in Capitol footage while referring to Trump</a>

This is not the first instance when Pence has opened a front against Trump in recent times. When quizzed if he would support Trump in the 2024 election, Pence straight up refused to do bidding for his former boss.&nbsp;

“There might be somebody else I prefer more. I have every confidence that the Republican Party is going to sort out leadership.”

(With inputs from agencies)

 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Former US vice president Mike Pence appears to have burned all bridges with former president Donald Trump. At a function on Saturday, Pence harshly criticised Trump for his role in the January 6 US Capitol riots and said history will hold the former president accountable for being wrong.

Former US vice president Mike Pence appears to have burned all bridges with former president Donald Trump. At a function on Saturday, Pence harshly criticised Trump for his role in the January 6 US Capitol riots and said history will hold the former president accountable for being wrong. “President Trump was wrong,” said Pence. “I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.” Pence previously told the congressional committee that investigated the riots that Trump pressured him to overturn his 2020 election defeat despite being repeatedly told it was illegal to do so. After the refusal, some rioters, who entered the US Capitol corridors chanted that they wanted to ‘hang Mike Pence’. WATCH | Mike Pence: 'Different times call for different leadership' × The House committee in its final report also stated that “the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President”. Pence is currently embroiled in a race with Trump to secure Republican nomination for next year’s presidential election. Experts believe his criticism of Trump is an attempt to sway the fence-sitters within the GOP to vote for him. “Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace. And it mocks decency to portray it any other way,” added Pence. ALSO READ | 'I’m gonna punch him out': Pelosi heard saying in Capitol footage while referring to Trump This is not the first instance when Pence has opened a front against Trump in recent times. When quizzed if he would support Trump in the 2024 election, Pence straight up refused to do bidding for his former boss. “There might be somebody else I prefer more. I have every confidence that the Republican Party is going to sort out leadership.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

‘Trump was wrong’: Mike Pence criticises former President for ‘endangering’ his family

In what comes as the&nbsp;largest US bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, Santa Clara-headquartered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed on Friday. The expedited nature of its collapse has raised serious concerns&nbsp;with many accusing the company of hoodwinking the depositors, despite knowing that its inevitable fall was around.&nbsp;

Days before SVB collapsed, the bank posted a self-congratulatory tweet where Forbes magazine had named it in the list of 'America's Best Banks' while also adding it to the Financial All-Stars list.&nbsp;

"Proud to be on @Forbes' annual ranking of America's Best Banks for the 5th straight year and to have also been named to the publication's inaugural Financial All-Stars list," read the tweet which is still up.&nbsp;

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Proud to be on <a href="https://twitter.com/Forbes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Forbes</a>' annual ranking of America's Best Banks for the 5th straight year and to have also been named to the publication's inaugural Financial All-Stars list. 
 
👉 <a href="https://t.co/rEmfOSTT4f">https://t.co/rEmfOSTT4f</a> <a href="https://t.co/NFWlPJUbh5">pic.twitter.com/NFWlPJUbh5</a>
— SVB (@SVB_Financial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SVB_Financial/status/1632818336391213059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The tweet by SVB can be clubbed in the same league as the tweets that aged like milk,&nbsp;with the infamous tweet by World Health Organization citing&nbsp;COVID-19 did not spread through human contact taking the top spot.&nbsp;

Five days after SVB posted the boastful tweet, the regulators came down charging and seized control of its assets after it failed to meet the withdrawal demands of the investors.&nbsp;

<h2>SVB executives sell their shares</h2>

US media has reported that prior to the collapse, senior executives at SVB sold a significant portion of their shares.

CEO Gregory Becker sold 11 per cent of his shares last month while Daniel Beck, CFO, Michelle Draper, CMO and Michael Zucker, general counsel sold as much as 32 per cent, 25 per cent and 19 per cent shares respectively.&nbsp;

<h2>SVB paid bonuses to US employees</h2>

Additionally, hours before going bust, SVB paid out annual bonuses to its US employees, according to multiple news sources. The payments were made for the work done in 2022.&nbsp;

Though the size of payouts could not be confirmed, a CNBC report estimated the bonus to be in the&nbsp;$12,000-$140,000 range for associates and managing directors respectively.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/silicon-valley-bank-collapses-in-americas-biggest-banking-failure-since-2008-570853">WATCH |&nbsp;Silicon Valley Bank collapses in America's biggest banking failure since 2008</a>

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<h2>Hiring&nbsp;'financial crimes' senior manager</h2>

Another report states that the bank posted a job listing for Senior Manager, Financial Crimes on Friday, just before it was shut down.&nbsp;

"This position within Client [Bank Secrecy Act] Risk assesses Prospective client [Bank Secrecy Act]/[Anti-Money Laundering] risks pre-onboarding to approve or decline the Prospect as well as review Clients who may pivot during their relationship and require approval throughout the client’s relationship," read the job description.&nbsp;

<h2>VC firms pulling out their funds</h2>

A day before the fall, billionaire Peter Thiel's Founders Fund — a venture capital firm had withdrawn nearly all of its money from the bank, smelling the coffee.&nbsp;

Following the withdrawals, the fund&nbsp;no longer had any exposure to SVB. According to reports, the company had run into problems using SVB's services. Apart from Founders Fund,&nbsp;Coatue Management, and Union Square Ventures were the other VC firms that managed to avoid exposure to the bank.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/explained-how-silicon-valley-bank-crisis-unfolded-in-48-hours-570945" target="_blank">Explained | How Silicon Valley Bank crisis unfolded in 48 hours</a>

However, the ordinary customers were not so lucky. Images and videos have gone viral on social media platforms which show anxious customers lining up outside the bank branches in long queues, waiting to withdraw their precious savings.&nbsp;

The videos captured drew eerie similarities to the Great Depression of the 1930s when people had to line up similarly to receive their own money.&nbsp;

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US regulators have Shut Down Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and taken control of its ‘Customer Deposits’ in the largest failure of a US Bank since 2008. 
 
Massive line forms outside Silicon Valley Bank as Customers Panic 👀 <a href="https://t.co/zA7BJ3h6Vy">pic.twitter.com/zA7BJ3h6Vy</a>
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Though Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC has assured it has access to $175 billion of the bank's customer deposits and that depositors will get hands over their insured amounts — there is still palpable anxiety.&nbsp;

The fact that big VC companies which have no dearth of money managed to save their funds while the ordinary public suffered, seems to suggest&nbsp;that something was fishy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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In what comes as the largest US bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, Santa Clara-headquartered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed on Friday. The expedited nature of its collapse has raised serious concerns with many accusing the company of hoodwinking the depositors, despite knowing that its inevitable fall was around.

In what comes as the largest US bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, Santa Clara-headquartered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed on Friday. The expedited nature of its collapse has raised serious concerns with many accusing the company of hoodwinking the depositors, despite knowing that its inevitable fall was around. Days before SVB collapsed, the bank posted a self-congratulatory tweet where Forbes magazine had named it in the list of 'America's Best Banks' while also adding it to the Financial All-Stars list. "Proud to be on @Forbes' annual ranking of America's Best Banks for the 5th straight year and to have also been named to the publication's inaugural Financial All-Stars list," read the tweet which is still up. Proud to be on @Forbes' annual ranking of America's Best Banks for the 5th straight year and to have also been named to the publication's inaugural Financial All-Stars list. 👉 https://t.co/rEmfOSTT4f pic.twitter.com/NFWlPJUbh5 — SVB (@SVB_Financial) March 6, 2023 × The tweet by SVB can be clubbed in the same league as the tweets that aged like milk, with the infamous tweet by World Health Organization citing COVID-19 did not spread through human contact taking the top spot. Five days after SVB posted the boastful tweet, the regulators came down charging and seized control of its assets after it failed to meet the withdrawal demands of the investors. SVB executives sell their shares US media has reported that prior to the collapse, senior executives at SVB sold a significant portion of their shares. CEO Gregory Becker sold 11 per cent of his shares last month while Daniel Beck, CFO, Michelle Draper, CMO and Michael Zucker, general counsel sold as much as 32 per cent, 25 per cent and 19 per cent shares respectively. SVB paid bonuses to US employees Additionally, hours before going bust, SVB paid out annual bonuses to its US employees, according to multiple news sources. The payments were made for the work done in 2022. Though the size of payouts could not be confirmed, a CNBC report estimated the bonus to be in the $12,000-$140,000 range for associates and managing directors respectively. WATCH | Silicon Valley Bank collapses in America's biggest banking failure since 2008 Hiring 'financial crimes' senior manager Another report states that the bank posted a job listing for Senior Manager, Financial Crimes on Friday, just before it was shut down. "This position within Client [Bank Secrecy Act] Risk assesses Prospective client [Bank Secrecy Act]/[Anti-Money Laundering] risks pre-onboarding to approve or decline the Prospect as well as review Clients who may pivot during their relationship and require approval throughout the client’s relationship," read the job description. VC firms pulling out their funds A day before the fall, billionaire Peter Thiel's Founders Fund — a venture capital firm had withdrawn nearly all of its money from the bank, smelling the coffee. Following the withdrawals, the fund no longer had any exposure to SVB. According to reports, the company had run into problems using SVB's services. Apart from Founders Fund, Coatue Management, and Union Square Ventures were the other VC firms that managed to avoid exposure to the bank. Explained | How Silicon Valley Bank crisis unfolded in 48 hours However, the ordinary customers were not so lucky. Images and videos have gone viral on social media platforms which show anxious customers lining up outside the bank branches in long queues, waiting to withdraw their precious savings. The videos captured drew eerie similarities to the Great Depression of the 1930s when people had to line up similarly to receive their own money. US regulators have Shut Down Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and taken control of its ‘Customer Deposits’ in the largest failure of a US Bank since 2008. Massive line forms outside Silicon Valley Bank as Customers Panic 👀 pic.twitter.com/zA7BJ3h6Vy — khafi martinaz (@usera49) March 11, 2023 × Though Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC has assured it has access to $175 billion of the bank's customer deposits and that depositors will get hands over their insured amounts — there is still palpable anxiety. The fact that big VC companies which have no dearth of money managed to save their funds while the ordinary public suffered, seems to suggest that something was fishy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Did Silicon Valley Bank hoodwink everyone before its collapse?

USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin and the world's fifth-biggest cryptocurrency slumped to an all-time low on Saturday after it was revealed that Circle, the US-based firm operating the coin had invested $3.

USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin and the world's fifth-biggest cryptocurrency slumped to an all-time low on Saturday after it was revealed that Circle, the US-based firm operating the coin had invested $3.3 billion of its reserves in the now-collapsed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). USDC is a stablecoin, meaning its price is pegged to a reserve asset and in this case, the US dollar. However, after the revelation, the stablecoin broke its 1:1 dollar peg and fell as low as $0.87, before recovering to $0.90 at the end of the day. According to a statement released by Circle, $3.3 billion of USDC's $40 billion reserves are held at the SVB. "Following the confirmation at the end of today that the wires initiated on Thursday to remove balances were not yet processed, $3.3 billion of the ~$40 billion of USDC reserves remain at SVB," the company said in a tweet. "Like other customers and depositors who relied on SVB for banking services, Circle joins calls for continuity of this important bank in the U.S. economy and will follow guidance provided by state and Federal regulators." 1/ Following the confirmation at the end of today that the wires initiated on Thursday to remove balances were not yet processed, $3.3 billion of the ~$40 billion of USDC reserves remain at SVB. — Circle (@circle) March 11, 2023 × Read more: Silicon Valley Bank crisis: What led to stock crash & what's next. Here's everything you need to know Gavin Newsom, governor of California, where SVB is headquartered, released a statement in the aftermath saying he was in communication with the White House and monitoring the situation. “Everyone is working with FDIC [Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation] to stabilize the situation as quickly as possible, to protect jobs, people’s livelihoods, and the entire innovation ecosystem that has served as a tent pole for our economy." WATCH | Silicon Valley Bank collapses in America's biggest banking failure since 2008 × Notably, SVB collapsed on Friday, a mere 48 hours after the bank’s announcement, which not only led to an aggressive decline in its stock resulting in a market loss of over $80 billion but also spurred panic among depositors and clients. It was the largest US bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis. The FDIC is now scurrying around to find another bank over the weekend that is willing to merge with SVB and stop the impending total collapse. Explained | How Silicon Valley Bank crisis unfolded in 48 hours (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

World’s fifth-biggest cryptocurrency USDC’s value falls after Silicon Valley Bank connection revealed

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said his country will not tolerate attacks on Hindu temples and religious places after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of vandalism of Hindu temples in the Down Under country.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said his country will not tolerate attacks on Hindu temples and religious places after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of vandalism of Hindu temples in the Down Under country. "I gave him (PM Modi) the assurance that Australia is a country that respects people's faith. That we don't tolerate the sort of extreme actions and attacks that we've seen on religious buildings, be they Hindu temples, mosques, synagogues, or churches," Albanese was quoted as saying by PTI. The Indian PM on Friday, had raised the matter during a joint press conference, breaking away from the bonhomie of the entire tour to express his concern. Modi described the attacks on Hindu temples as a 'matter of regret'. "The Indian community is making a significant contribution to the society and economy of Australia. It is a matter of regret that reports have come regularly from Australia in the last few weeks about attacks on temples," said PM Modi. WATCH | Indian PM Modi raises temple vandalism in Australia with PM Albanese during bilateral talks × "It is natural that such news worries the people in India, and disturbs our minds. I have shared these feelings and concerns of ours with Prime Minister Albanese. And he has assured me that the safety of the Indian community is a special priority for him. Our teams will be in regular touch on this topic, and will cooperate as much as possible," he added. The Australian PM was on a four-day India visit and held several key bilateral talks with the Indian side. In his closing remarks, Albanese said the two countries were working towards a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. Albanese added that he was hopeful that the agreement will be finalised by the end of this year. The highlight of the trip, however, was the visit by the two leaders to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat ahead of the start of the fourth Border Gavaskar Test match between India and Australia. WATCH: PM Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese meet Ind-Aus players before 4th Test (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

PM Albanese says Australia won’t tolerate attacks on Hindu temples, other religious places

US Army veterans as well as active-service members on Wednesday gave a powerful and emotional testimony before Congress, dubbing the haphazard retreat of the forces by the US government a 'catastrophe'.

US Army veterans as well as active-service members on Wednesday gave a powerful and emotional testimony before Congress, dubbing the haphazard retreat of the forces by the US government a 'catastrophe'. The Republicans have initiated the hearings to examine the handling of the Afghanistan 'pull-out' by the Biden administration. Former Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, one of the first to testify could be seen crying as he said the American troops were unprepared for the pull-out, especially after the Taliban took over the capital city of Kabul. Vargas-Andrews was tasked with protecting the Kabul airport when two suicide bombers set themselves off, killing over 170 Afghans and 13 US servicemen and women. "Plain and simple, we were ignored. My body was overwhelmed from the trauma of the blast. My abdomen had been ripped open. Every inch of my exposed body took ball bearings and shrapnel," said the former US Marine. "There was an inexcusable lack of accountability and negligence. I see the faces of all of those we could not save, those we left behind," he added. Read more: Afghanistan: Where did US go wrong in fight against Taliban? Marine Tyler Vargas-Andrews breaks down while testifying today on the Biden administration’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. He said he and others spotted the suspected Kabul airport bomber before the bombing and asked their commander if they could engage, but were never… https://t.co/Fpuvvaz1Sm pic.twitter.com/V95VqJ33mM — Kristina Wong 🇺🇸 (@kristina_wong) March 8, 2023 × Other soldiers also spoke about the mental and physical toll the withdrawal had on them and their peers. Retired Lt Col David Scott Mann took the stand after Vargas-Andrews and informed the panel that one of his friends that served in Afghanistan could not cope with the trauma and took his own life. "He just couldn't find his way out of the darkness of that moral injury." The veteran called out America for building a reputation where it left allies in the lurch in the face of decimation and destruction. “America is building a nasty reputation for multi-generational systemic abandonment of our allies where we leave a smouldering human refuse from the Montagnards of Vietnam to the Kurds in Syria, Wednesday was the first of what is expected to be a series of hearings to expose the Biden administration by the GOP. The US intelligence failed to anticipate the timeline of the Taliban taking over Kabul which resulted in the chaotic situation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Sobbing US soldiers recount the 'horrors' of catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan before Congress

Auto safety regulators in the US have launched a fresh probe into Tesla's Model Y SUV after reports claimed that the steering wheels of the vehicle came off while being driven.

Auto safety regulators in the US have launched a fresh probe into Tesla's Model Y SUV after reports claimed that the steering wheels of the vehicle came off while being driven. Federal safety regulator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that it took cognisance of two complaints by the owners who said the car was delivered to them with a missing bolt that apparently holds the steering wheel in place to the steering column. "The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is aware of two reports of complete detachment of the steering wheel from the steering column while driving the 2023 Model Year Tesla Model Y vehicles," noted the agency in a statement. "Both vehicles were delivered to the owners missing the retaining bolt which attaches the steering wheel to the steering column." Read more: Tesla to cut US Model S and Model X prices by 4% and 9% One of the complainants noted that he was driving his car with the family in New Jersey in January when the steering wheel came off, five days after the purchase of the car. Fortunately, the accident took place in an isolated area and no one was harmed. The customer added that after being denied a refund for the cost of the repair, he was granted the option of keeping the car or getting it replaced with a new one. The agency said it has started the investigation under which it will assess the frequency, scope and manufacturing procedures associated with the issue. As many as 121,089 Model Y vehicles that currently ply on US roads will be under the ambit of investigation. Tesla vehicles have been recalled as many as 20 times since the start of 2022. The 2023 Model Y has been responsible for four recalls with the latest one issued in November due to a taillight issue. Read more: An affordable Tesla? No details revealed by Elon Musk on investors’ day Apart from the hardware issues, software issues have also plagued the electonic vehicle (EV) industry leader Tesla. The company has halted the rollout of its self-driving beta software in the US and Canada for the foreseeable future as the engineers attempt to remedy the software issue. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Elon Musk’s Tesla under investigation amid plaints of steering wheel coming off while driving

The French Senate on Thursday voted 201-115 to raise the retirement age by two years to 64 even as protests continued across the country. The Senate, dominated by the conservative Les Republicains party voted in favour of the motion, giving President Emmanuel Macron his first mini-victory in the ongoing saga.

The French Senate on Thursday voted 201-115 to raise the retirement age by two years to 64 even as protests continued across the country. The Senate, dominated by the conservative Les Republicains party voted in favour of the motion, giving President Emmanuel Macron his first mini-victory in the ongoing saga. Macron's government is facing a midnight Sunday deadline to finalise the legislation. The Senate on Thursday voted in favour of article 7 of the reform legislation while the remaining articles are expected be approved later this week. Afterwards, the proposal will be sent to a meditation committee comprising lawmakers from the Senate and the National Assembly. The passing of the bill comes a day after fuel deliveries from refineries across the country were blocked by striking workers. According to official figures, on the biggest day of demonstrations so far, 1.27 million people participated in the protest on January 31. Read more: France hit with new round of protests against pensions reform plan Why is the government extending the age limit? The government is of the view that extending the pension age will prevent the French service system from collapsing under the weight of deficits. Notably, the workers in France tend to retire much earlier than their European Union (EU) counterparts. The direct repercussion is that the French exchequer has to foot a bigger pension bill than most countries in the bloc. The French pensioners also receive 54.4 per cent of their last pay slip as pension on average. Comparatively, the average EU pension amount stands at 46.2 per cent. WATCH | WION Fineprint: French pension reforms face backlash In January, taking a stern approach, Macron said he will get the reform bill passed this year only. “This year will indeed be that of a pension reform that aims to guarantee the equilibrium of our system in the years and decades to come,” he had said in a televised address. Despite the resistance, the Macron government has remained steadfast that it will pass the legislation, having failed to do so on previous occasions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Mini-victory' for Macron as French Senate vote approves raising retirement age to 64

A breakthrough study claims to have found a novel way to store carbon dioxide in the sea, sucked from the air. The new process uses off-the-shelf resins and other chemicals to increase CO2 absorption efficiency while reducing costs.

A breakthrough study claims to have found a novel way to store carbon dioxide in the sea, sucked from the air. The new process uses off-the-shelf resins and other chemicals to increase CO2 absorption efficiency while reducing costs. Prof Arup SenGupta from Lehigh University, the lead author of the study says a new hybrid absorbing material, used in the tests managed to take in three times as much CO2 as the previously used materials. Despite being a powerful warming agent, CO2 available in our atmosphere is relatively diluted at around 400 parts per million (ppm). Meaning, it becomes difficult to absorb and discharge the gas. However, the study published in the journal Science Advances claims to have solved the issue. "To my knowledge, there is no absorbing material which even at 100,000 ppm, shows the capacity we get it in direct air capture of 400 ppm. This simple ability to capture CO2 at a high quantity, in a small volume of material, is a unique aspect of our work," said SenGupta. Currently, captured CO2 is stored under the ground or sea inside erstwhile oil wells. The study posits that adding some chemicals can convert CO2 into bicarbonate which can be simply stored in seawater. Read more: Bumblebees learn to solve puzzles by observing peers, pass on knowledge: Study The global climate is getting hotter by the minute. Scientists are wary that cutting fossil fuels alone may not be enough to save the planet. Thus vacuuming Carbon dioxide from air has emerged as one of the bright ideas in recent times. However, the high cost of the method has stopped big companies from taking a bet on the technology. To take his work to next level, SenGupta wants to establish a company and develop the technology theorised. He believes that the new approach could remove CO2 from the environment for as less as $100 a tonne. Read more: Asian megacities at more risk from rising sea levels than previously assumed, research warns While the technology looks impressive on paper, environmental activists are not overly impressed. They believe it is a 'get-out-of-the-jail' card for big corporations and countries to cut corners on reducing their fossil fuel use. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

A new study claims to have found breakthrough in sucking up CO2 from atmosphere

Suspected Allied Democratic Forces' militants have killed over 40 people in twin attacks in eastern DR Congo, local officials said Thursday, in the latest bloodshed across the turbulent region.

The ADF, which the Islamic State group claims as its central African affiliate, is one of the deadliest armed militias in eastern Congo, accused of slaughtering thousands of civilians.&nbsp;

Fighters from the group attacked the neighbouring villages of Mukondi and Mausa, in the Beni territory of North Kivu province, during Wednesday evening and the early hours of Thursday, officials said.&nbsp;

"It's total desolation," said Kalunga Meso, a local administrator.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-islamists-kill-a-dozen-people-in-eastern-congo-attacks-365981">Read more:&nbsp;Suspected Islamists kill a dozen people in eastern Congo attacks</a>

He told AFP that 38 people had been killed in Mukondi and eight in Mausa, stressing the death toll was provisional.&nbsp;

Mumbere Arsene, a local civil-society figure, said 37 people had been killed in Mukondi and eight in Mausa.&nbsp;"All the dead people were killed with knives," he said.

AFP was unable to independently confirm the death toll.

Dozens of armed groups roam eastern Congo, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s.&nbsp;

The ADF is among the most violent and has been accused of a string of bomb attacks and civilian massacres.

A joint Congolese-Ugandan military operation targeting the militia in the region has been underway since late 2021. but the attacks continue.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Suspected Allied Democratic Forces' militants have killed over 40 people in twin attacks in eastern DR Congo, local officials said Thursday, in the latest bloodshed across the turbulent region.

Suspected Allied Democratic Forces' militants have killed over 40 people in twin attacks in eastern DR Congo, local officials said Thursday, in the latest bloodshed across the turbulent region. The ADF, which the Islamic State group claims as its central African affiliate, is one of the deadliest armed militias in eastern Congo, accused of slaughtering thousands of civilians. Fighters from the group attacked the neighbouring villages of Mukondi and Mausa, in the Beni territory of North Kivu province, during Wednesday evening and the early hours of Thursday, officials said. "It's total desolation," said Kalunga Meso, a local administrator. Read more: Suspected Islamists kill a dozen people in eastern Congo attacks He told AFP that 38 people had been killed in Mukondi and eight in Mausa, stressing the death toll was provisional. Mumbere Arsene, a local civil-society figure, said 37 people had been killed in Mukondi and eight in Mausa. "All the dead people were killed with knives," he said. AFP was unable to independently confirm the death toll. Dozens of armed groups roam eastern Congo, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s. The ADF is among the most violent and has been accused of a string of bomb attacks and civilian massacres. A joint Congolese-Ugandan military operation targeting the militia in the region has been underway since late 2021. but the attacks continue. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Militant group kills 40 in eastern Congo, dozens injured

Australia is expected to buy up to five US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines in the 2030s as part of a landmark defence agreement between Washington, Canberra and London, four US officials said on Wednesday, in a deal that would present a new challenge to China.

The agreement, known as the AUKUS pact, will have multiple stages with at least one US submarine visiting Australian ports in the coming years and end in the late 2030s with a new class of submarines being built with British designs and American technology, one of the officials said.

US President Joe Biden will host leaders of Australia and Britain in San Diego on Monday to chart a way forward for provision of the nuclear-powered submarines and other high-tech weaponry to Australia.

China has condemned the effort by the Western allies, who are seeking to counter China's military buildup, pressure on Taiwan and increasingly muscular deployments in the contested South China Sea.

Two of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that after the annual port visits, the United States would forward deploy some submarines in Western Australia by around 2027.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-scuttles-chinas-bid-to-pass-anti-aukus-resolution-at-iaea-521329">Read more:&nbsp;India scuttles China's attempt to pass anti-AUKUS resolution at IAEA meet</a>

In the early 2030s, Australia would buy three Virginia-class submarines and have the option to buy two more. AUKUS is expected to be Australia's biggest-ever defence project and offers the prospect of jobs in all three countries.

Australia has an existing fleet of six conventionally powered Collins-class submarines, which will have their service life extended to 2036. Nuclear submarines can stay underwater for longer than conventional ones and are harder to detect.

The officials did not elaborate on the planned new class of submarines, including offering specifics about production locations.

The Pentagon referred queries to the White House, which declined to confirm details about any upcoming announcement. The British Embassy in Washington did not comment directly on the Reuters report but repeated an announcement from London that British

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would travel to the United States for further talks on AUKUS. The Australian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under the initial AUKUS deal announced in 2021, the United States and Britain agreed to provide Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines as part of joint efforts to counter the increasing threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific region.

But a deal between the three countries on how specifically to achieve that goal had not been ironed out.

The US Congress has been briefed several times in recent weeks on the impending AUKUS deal to garner support for the legal changes needed to smooth out technology transfer issues for the highly protected nuclear propulsion and sonar systems that will be aboard Australia’s new submarines, a congressional source said.

Over the next five years, Australian workers will come to US submarine shipyards to observe and train. This training will directly benefit US submarine production as there is currently a labour shortfall for shipyard workers the US needs to build its submarines, the source said.

It is unclear how the upcoming announcement might affect the US Navy's expectations for its own submarine acquisitions in coming years.

The Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan released last year forecast submarines being produced at a rate of 1.76 to 2.24 per year and forecast the fleet to grow between 60 to 69 nuclear attack submarines by 2052, according to the Congressional Research Service.

General Dynamics Corp which makes Virginia class submarines, has 17 of them in its current backlog delivering through 2032.

To date, no party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) other than the five countries the treaty recognizes as weapons states - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - has nuclear submarines.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Australia is expected to buy up to five US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines in the 2030s as part of a landmark defence agreement between Washington, Canberra and London, four US officials said on Wednesday, in a deal that would present a new challenge to China.

Australia is expected to buy up to five US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines in the 2030s as part of a landmark defence agreement between Washington, Canberra and London, four US officials said on Wednesday, in a deal that would present a new challenge to China. The agreement, known as the AUKUS pact, will have multiple stages with at least one US submarine visiting Australian ports in the coming years and end in the late 2030s with a new class of submarines being built with British designs and American technology, one of the officials said. US President Joe Biden will host leaders of Australia and Britain in San Diego on Monday to chart a way forward for provision of the nuclear-powered submarines and other high-tech weaponry to Australia. China has condemned the effort by the Western allies, who are seeking to counter China's military buildup, pressure on Taiwan and increasingly muscular deployments in the contested South China Sea. Two of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that after the annual port visits, the United States would forward deploy some submarines in Western Australia by around 2027. Read more: India scuttles China's attempt to pass anti-AUKUS resolution at IAEA meet In the early 2030s, Australia would buy three Virginia-class submarines and have the option to buy two more. AUKUS is expected to be Australia's biggest-ever defence project and offers the prospect of jobs in all three countries. Australia has an existing fleet of six conventionally powered Collins-class submarines, which will have their service life extended to 2036. Nuclear submarines can stay underwater for longer than conventional ones and are harder to detect. The officials did not elaborate on the planned new class of submarines, including offering specifics about production locations. The Pentagon referred queries to the White House, which declined to confirm details about any upcoming announcement. The British Embassy in Washington did not comment directly on the Reuters report but repeated an announcement from London that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would travel to the United States for further talks on AUKUS. The Australian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Under the initial AUKUS deal announced in 2021, the United States and Britain agreed to provide Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines as part of joint efforts to counter the increasing threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific region. But a deal between the three countries on how specifically to achieve that goal had not been ironed out. The US Congress has been briefed several times in recent weeks on the impending AUKUS deal to garner support for the legal changes needed to smooth out technology transfer issues for the highly protected nuclear propulsion and sonar systems that will be aboard Australia’s new submarines, a congressional source said. Over the next five years, Australian workers will come to US submarine shipyards to observe and train. This training will directly benefit US submarine production as there is currently a labour shortfall for shipyard workers the US needs to build its submarines, the source said. It is unclear how the upcoming announcement might affect the US Navy's expectations for its own submarine acquisitions in coming years. The Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan released last year forecast submarines being produced at a rate of 1.76 to 2.24 per year and forecast the fleet to grow between 60 to 69 nuclear attack submarines by 2052, according to the Congressional Research Service. General Dynamics Corp which makes Virginia class submarines, has 17 of them in its current backlog delivering through 2032. To date, no party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) other than the five countries the treaty recognizes as weapons states - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - has nuclear submarines. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

To thwart China, Australia to buy five Virginia class submarines under AUKUS pact

China and Russia will continue to remain 'thick as thieves', according to a new intel report presented by the US intelligence agencies. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines made the statement while testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.

China and Russia will continue to remain 'thick as thieves', according to a new intel report presented by the US intelligence agencies. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines made the statement while testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. Despite receiving condemnation from all quarters, Russia and China were looking to deepen their co-operation, so as to challenge the US, according to Haines. "Despite global backlash over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China will maintain its diplomatic, defense, economic, and technology co-operation with Russia to continue trying to challenge the United States, even as it will limit public support," read the statement by Haines. WATCH | China releases 12-point policy paper on Russia-Ukraine war When quizzed by a Senator if the love affair between Beijing and Moscow was temporary or a long-term affair, Haines replied: "It is continuing to deepen. There are some limitations that we would see on where they would go in that partnership. We don't see them becoming allies the way we are with allies in NATO, but nevertheless, we do see increasing (co-operation) across every sector." The observation by the top intel agency of the US comes in the backdrop of China repeatedly denying that it was supplying arms and ammunition to Russia. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary meeting, said Beijing was being unfairly dragged into the conflict. “China did not create the crisis. It is not a party to the crisis. And it has not provided weapons to either side of the conflict. Why on earth is there blame and sanctions on China? This is absolutely unacceptable." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference and warned him of consequences if China supplied the arms. Shortly after the meeting, Blinken gave an interview and doubled down on the warning. Read more: 'Why on earth...': Chinese FM quashes rumours of supplying weapons to Russia Meanwhile, the report also added that the Chinese Communist Party or CCP remains the 'most consequential threat' to USA's national security. "Perhaps needless to say, the People's Republic of China, which is increasingly challenging the United States, economically, technologically, politically and militarily, around the world remains our unparalleled priority," "In brief, the CCP represents both the leading and most consequential threat to US national security and leadership globally, and its intelligence-specific ambitions and capabilities make it for us our most serious and consequential intelligence rival," said Haines. Chinese President Xi Jinping is attempting to fulfil his vision of making China a major global superpower and that involves growing at the expense of US power and influence, the report added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China-Russia courtship to continue despite global backlash, informs top US intelligence official

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has called back his party supporters and urged them to stop the rally after the police launched a crackdown in the eastern city of Lahore.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has called back his party supporters and urged them to stop the rally after the police launched a crackdown in the eastern city of Lahore. “You all should stop this protest because I fear the government will take this as an excuse to stop the elections from going ahead,” said Khan, before adding, “They are trying to create a law and order situation and that is why I am asking my supporters that we must stop the today. We are calling it off." According to local media reports, one PTI worker was killed after police launched a crackdown, following the violation of Section 144 by Khan's supporters. Water cannons and tear gas canisters were fired as the police arrested more than 40 PTI workers for defying the public gathering ban. Khan slammed the police officials saying that no country uses water canons to silence women on International woman's day, but the current government in power did it. The Imran Khan-led PTI election rally was scheduled to begin at Zaman Park and end at Data Darbar after moving through numerous locations such as Mall Road Underpass, PMG Chowk, Government College, and Central Model School. WATCH | Pakistan imposes Section 144 ahead of PTI rally, Imran calls it a strategy to avoid elections Imran Khan has been one of the most vocal opposition voices in the country at the moment. Ever since losing his PM chair to Shehbaz Sharif last year, he has opened a front against not only the government but also the military institutions. However, the Sharif administration, in recent weeks has tightened the noose around Khan and his rebellion. Earlier this week, media regulator Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned television channels from carrying any snippets of Khan's speeches. Read more: News channel suspended for airing Imran Khan's speech in Pakistan The agency cited the airing of 'baseless allegations' and 'hateful, slanderous' statements by Khan against the state violated Article 19 of the constitution. Consequently, ARY News, a private news channel had its license suspended for airing Khan's speech. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Imran Khan calls off PTI rally after police crackdown kills one worker

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