Major South Korean battery maker LG and Japanese automaker Honda are investing $4.4 billion in a joint venture in the United States to produce batteries for Honda electric vehicles in the North American market, the two companies said Monday.

The plant’s site is still undecided, but construction will begin in early 2023, with mass production of advanced lithium-ion battery cells to start by the end of 2025. It’s likely to be near Marysville, Ohio, or Greensburg, Indiana, where Honda has huge factories that make its most popular models such as the Accord, CR-V and Civic.

The joint venture is to be set up this year, with the closing of the deal subject to regulatory approval.

“Our joint venture with Honda, which has significant brand reputation, is yet another milestone in our mid- to long-term strategy of promoting electrification in the fast-growing North American market,” said LG Energy Solution Chief Executive Youngsoo Kwon.

The plant will produce batteries exclusively for Honda vehicles assembled in North America, including the company’s Acura luxury brand, according to a joint statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/suzuki-to-set-up-new-rd-company-in-india-511051">WATCH |&nbsp;Suzuki to set up new R&amp;D company in India</a>

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Honda’s joint venture plant is part of a larger trend of automakers announcing US battery factories as they try to establish a domestic supply chain for the next generation of vehicle propulsion. Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai-Kia, Stellantis and VinFast have announced plans for 10 US battery plants.

A new US law gives them even more incentive to build batteries in North America. It includes a tax credit of up to $7,500 that could be used to defray the cost of purchasing an electric vehicle. But to qualify for the full credit, the electric vehicle must contain a battery built in North America with 40 per cent of the metals mined or recycled on the continent.

“Honda is working toward our target to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities the company is involved in by 2050,” said Honda Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe.

LG, a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and power systems, already makes them in joint ventures with US automakers General Motors and Ford Motor Co., as well as South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, but has operations across the world, including the US, China and Australia.

Demand for electric vehicles is expected to grow in the US and many other nations because of concerns about climate change and pollution, as well as rising gas prices. All of the world’s top automakers are strengthening their EV lineups.

LMC Automotive, a Detroit-area consulting firm, expects EVs to be 5.6 per cent of US new vehicle sales this year, rising to more than 36 per cent by 2030. Globally, LMC says 8.6 per cent of new vehicle sales will be electric this year, and that will jump to 33 per cent by 2030.

Honda is working with GM to co-develop electric vehicles including a Honda and Acura SUVs. The Honda is expected to go on sale in early 2024, followed soon by the Acura luxury brand. Honda also has said it plans to make its own electric vehicles later this decade.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Major South Korean battery maker LG and Japanese automaker Honda are investing $4.4 billion in a joint venture in the United States to produce batteries for Honda electric vehicles in the North American market, the two companies said Monday.

Major South Korean battery maker LG and Japanese automaker Honda are investing $4.4 billion in a joint venture in the United States to produce batteries for Honda electric vehicles in the North American market, the two companies said Monday. The plant’s site is still undecided, but construction will begin in early 2023, with mass production of advanced lithium-ion battery cells to start by the end of 2025. It’s likely to be near Marysville, Ohio, or Greensburg, Indiana, where Honda has huge factories that make its most popular models such as the Accord, CR-V and Civic. The joint venture is to be set up this year, with the closing of the deal subject to regulatory approval. “Our joint venture with Honda, which has significant brand reputation, is yet another milestone in our mid- to long-term strategy of promoting electrification in the fast-growing North American market,” said LG Energy Solution Chief Executive Youngsoo Kwon. The plant will produce batteries exclusively for Honda vehicles assembled in North America, including the company’s Acura luxury brand, according to a joint statement. WATCH | Suzuki to set up new R&D company in India × Honda’s joint venture plant is part of a larger trend of automakers announcing US battery factories as they try to establish a domestic supply chain for the next generation of vehicle propulsion. Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai-Kia, Stellantis and VinFast have announced plans for 10 US battery plants. A new US law gives them even more incentive to build batteries in North America. It includes a tax credit of up to $7,500 that could be used to defray the cost of purchasing an electric vehicle. But to qualify for the full credit, the electric vehicle must contain a battery built in North America with 40 per cent of the metals mined or recycled on the continent. “Honda is working toward our target to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities the company is involved in by 2050,” said Honda Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe. LG, a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and power systems, already makes them in joint ventures with US automakers General Motors and Ford Motor Co., as well as South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, but has operations across the world, including the US, China and Australia. Demand for electric vehicles is expected to grow in the US and many other nations because of concerns about climate change and pollution, as well as rising gas prices. All of the world’s top automakers are strengthening their EV lineups. LMC Automotive, a Detroit-area consulting firm, expects EVs to be 5.6 per cent of US new vehicle sales this year, rising to more than 36 per cent by 2030. Globally, LMC says 8.6 per cent of new vehicle sales will be electric this year, and that will jump to 33 per cent by 2030. Honda is working with GM to co-develop electric vehicles including a Honda and Acura SUVs. The Honda is expected to go on sale in early 2024, followed soon by the Acura luxury brand. Honda also has said it plans to make its own electric vehicles later this decade. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

LG and Honda join hands to develop EV batteries for the US market

Europe is reeling under a major energy crisis in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war. Now, Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten has shot off a warning that the continent faces terrible winters for the next 5-10 years if no cap is put on the gas prices.

Europe is reeling under a major energy crisis in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war. Now, Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten has shot off a warning that the continent faces terrible winters for the next 5-10 years if no cap is put on the gas prices. “The next 5 to 10 winters will be terrible if nothing is done, We must act at the source, at [the] European level, and work on freezing gas prices,” tweeted Van der Straeten. Les 5 à 10 prochains hivers seront terribles si on ne fait rien. Il faut agir à la source, au niveau européen et travailler sur un blocage des prix pour le gaz. On pourrait ainsi réduire la facture énergétique de 770 euros. — Tinne Van der Straeten (@TinneVdS) August 28, 2022 × The minister further stated that if the gas prices are capped, it could help reduce energy bills by $771 per year, per family. "There is an urgent need to introduce a European price cap. This can reduce the energy bill by 770 euros per year per family. At the EU level, the price cap has the greatest impact, but we can no longer rule out price blocks at the Belgian level either," The Belgian minister also asserted that her country had put the proposal in front of the EU with Germany backing it as well. “The European energy market is failing and urgently needs reform. This is no longer tenable for many families and companies. Electricity is produced as cheaply as last year but sold at record prices. By reforming, we are tackling exuberant excess profits.” added Van der Straeten. Read more: Electricity prices hit record highs in Europe, affect supply chains, spark fears of fertiliser shortage What is the crisis? As reported extensively by WION, the 27-nation bloc is majorly dependent on Russian energy for survival. However, ever since Moscow invaded Kyiv and the EU imposed sanctions, Putin has leveraged his position to turn the faucet off the 40 per cent gas quota of Europe. While most European nations are facing soaring prices, very few have capped the prices. Of the major countries, it is France that has put a four per cent cap on gas prices up until the end of the year. Read more: France to 'limit' soaring electricity rates next year; cap on prices to continue till the end of year Moreover, last week, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire remarked that the hike in electricity prices in 2023 will also be limited. "Increases that the President and Prime Minister have spoken about will be limited increases. The four per cent cap will be maintained to the end of the year." said Bruno Le Maire. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Terrible winters await Europe for the next 5-10 years, warns Belgian Energy Minister

Amid rising coronavirus cases, the Chinese authorities on Monday announced the closing of the world's largest electronics market of Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. The closure follows President Xi Jinping's highly criticised 'zero-Covid tolerance' policy.

Amid rising coronavirus cases, the Chinese authorities on Monday announced the closing of the world's largest electronics market of Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. The closure follows President Xi Jinping's highly criticised 'zero-Covid tolerance' policy. Reportedly, the market was closed after authorities observed nine symptomatic and two asymptomatic cases from testing conducted the previous day. Accordingly, the market will remain closed till Thursday and workers are expected to work from home and get routinely tested. Moreover, big tech companies such as Huawei, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp and Foxconn Technology Group have been advised by the authorities to restrict the movement of their employees. Read more: Chinese are selling their Rolex watches & Hermes bags to raise quick cash as economy tumbles The effect of the closure of cities The Covid cases have been spiralling out of control in China despite the majority of the populace being inoculated. Government estimates stated that the cases could touch the peak of 20,000 next month. As reported extensively by WION, China's 'zero-Covid tolerance' strategy has been one of the primary reasons why it has lagged in economic recovery. For months, the tough lockdown measures imposed by the Communist Party of China (CCP) led to a dip in manufacturing as factories and offices remain closed for prolonged periods. The direct consequence of the closure has been on the economy which only grew by a tiny 0.4 per cent in the quarter gone by. Such has been the condition that Politburo has given up on the 5.5 per cent economic growth rate forecast by the year-end. Shenzhen and its history It is pertinent to note that Shenzhen was one of the first four Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to be established in China. It is also the birthplace of global mobile giant Huawei. The Huaqiangbei district invites the attention of tourists and technology aficionados who flock to the numerous stalls in the area to procure electronic goods. Read More: China's economic growth drops to 0.4 per cent amid draconian lockdown measures and severe heatwave Historically, Shenzhen was a fishing market. However, after Chinese President Deng Xiaoping took the centre stage, the fortunes of the city changed. The establishment of Huawei in 1987 by rem Zhengfei was the turning point and since then, the city has grown immensely, referred to as the 'Shenzhen speed'. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Amid a spike in Covid cases, China closes world's largest electronic market in Shenzhen

Influential Iraqi Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday took to Twitter to announce his full withdrawal from political life. The move was surprising for many as his protesters have been blocking parliament for weeks now.

"I've decided not to meddle in political affairs. I, therefore, announce now my definitive retirement," read Sadr's tweet where he&nbsp;also announced that he was shutting his political offices and institutions in the country, following an unsalvagable&nbsp;political deadlock.

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— مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mu_AlSadr/status/1564189498086506501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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According to an AFP report, live fire rocked Baghdad's Green Zone area in the evening as&nbsp;Sadr's supporters stormed the area. Witnesses on the ground stated that the shots were fired by supporters of the rival Shi'ite bloc. Moreover, security forces also fired tear gas canisters to disperse the supporters of both groups.

Why the protest?

As reported extensively by WION,&nbsp;Sadr and his legion of supporters have been on the streets of Iraq, protesting for months and batting for the dissolution of the parliament.

Reportedly, in the October parliamentary election last year,&nbsp;Sadr’s supporters had won the most seats. However, they were unable to form a government and since then, the country has been in a deadlock.

Moreover,&nbsp;Sadr calling for the resignation en-masse of his parliamentary bloc has provided the initiative to his&nbsp;Iran-backed Shia opponents, the Coordination Framework Alliance.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dissolve-the-parliament-influential-shiite-leader-moqtada-sadr-calls-for-fresh-elections-in-iraq-503371">'Dissolve the parliament': Influential Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr calls for fresh elections in Iraq</a>

To correct the course, earlier this month,&nbsp;thousands of followers of Sadr stormed Baghdad's Green Zone. Meanwhile, another faction took over the parliament building to prevent his opponents from forming a government.&nbsp;

Sadr counts millions of Iraqis among his followers and has shown he can still stir up gatherings by hundreds of thousands of supporters, mostly working-class Shi'ite Muslims if he needs to exert political pressure.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sadr-followers-hold-mass-prayer-outside-iraqi-parliament-in-show-of-force-506311">Sadr followers hold mass prayer outside Iraqi parliament in show of force</a>

(This is a developing story. More updates to follow)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Influential Iraqi Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday took to Twitter to announce his full withdrawal from political life. The move was surprising for many as his protesters have been blocking parliament for weeks now.

Influential Iraqi Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday took to Twitter to announce his full withdrawal from political life. The move was surprising for many as his protesters have been blocking parliament for weeks now. "I've decided not to meddle in political affairs. I, therefore, announce now my definitive retirement," read Sadr's tweet where he also announced that he was shutting his political offices and institutions in the country, following an unsalvagable political deadlock. pic.twitter.com/XKAzl1O3OP — مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) August 29, 2022 × According to an AFP report, live fire rocked Baghdad's Green Zone area in the evening as Sadr's supporters stormed the area. Witnesses on the ground stated that the shots were fired by supporters of the rival Shi'ite bloc. Moreover, security forces also fired tear gas canisters to disperse the supporters of both groups. Why the protest? As reported extensively by WION, Sadr and his legion of supporters have been on the streets of Iraq, protesting for months and batting for the dissolution of the parliament. Reportedly, in the October parliamentary election last year, Sadr’s supporters had won the most seats. However, they were unable to form a government and since then, the country has been in a deadlock. Moreover, Sadr calling for the resignation en-masse of his parliamentary bloc has provided the initiative to his Iran-backed Shia opponents, the Coordination Framework Alliance. Read more: 'Dissolve the parliament': Influential Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr calls for fresh elections in Iraq To correct the course, earlier this month, thousands of followers of Sadr stormed Baghdad's Green Zone. Meanwhile, another faction took over the parliament building to prevent his opponents from forming a government. Sadr counts millions of Iraqis among his followers and has shown he can still stir up gatherings by hundreds of thousands of supporters, mostly working-class Shi'ite Muslims if he needs to exert political pressure. Read more: Sadr followers hold mass prayer outside Iraqi parliament in show of force (This is a developing story. More updates to follow) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says he's quitting politics in bombshell announcement

Oxford University recently released an intriguing research which might force most of us to reach down and pinch our waists while reading the article. Reportedly, the research states that every extra inch on a person's waistline can increase the risk of heart failure by 10 per cent.

Oxford University recently released an intriguing research which might force most of us to reach down and pinch our waists while reading the article. Reportedly, the research states that every extra inch on a person's waistline can increase the risk of heart failure by 10 per cent. The study, which took 13 years and over 430,000 British subjects to complete was presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Barcelona. Reportedly, the participants had an average age of 56 and 8,669 suffered first-time heart failure events, with many proving fatal as well. The study effectively meant that a person having a waistline of 41-inch might be 40 per cent more likely to contract heart-related illness when compared to a person having a 37-inch waist. Read more: New study shows artificial sweeteners may increase sugar levels, affect gut health Moreover, according to the researchers, people with bigger waistlines were more likely to develop heart conditions than those weighing heavier. Dr Ayodipupo Oguntade, the lead researcher of the study confirmed that 'trunk fat' was a major indicator of a person developing heart conditions. "The amount of fat people carry around their trunk is more important in tracking body fatness and cardiovascular risk." said Dr Oguntade. He further added that a person with a bigger waistline was 3.21 times more likely to suffer heart failure compared to a person having a high Body Mass Index. The person in the latter category had 2.65 times the risk of suffering heart failure. Read more: New study reveals why 'social exclusion' is the worst form of bullying According to scientists, larger waist measurement is a sign that the individual has extra visceral fat. This extra fat gets stored around the belly, rendering the movement of blood inside the blood vessels. Once the movement is impaired, it affects the functioning of the heart. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Every extra inch on your waistline increases the risk of heart attack by 10 per cent: Study

Days after quitting Congress, former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he had a wrong perception of the country's leader.

Days after quitting Congress, former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he had a wrong perception of the country's leader. "I used to think PM Modi must be a crude man. I thought he won't care...since he does not have a wife or any kids. But he showed humanity," said Azad. The former Union Minister was referring to an incident last year when he was retiring from parliament's Upper House i.e Rajya Sabha. "Read the contents of his speech. PM Modi was not talking about being sad at my leaving the House. He was talking about an incident," Azad told the reporters on Monday. At the time, PM Modi had given a passionate farewell speech for Azad which had left most parliamentarians teary-eyed. During the speech, PM Modi mentioned a terror incident in 2006 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat while Azad was the CM of J&K "Some tourists from Gujarat had died in a grenade attack in Kashmir (in 2006) when I was chief minister there. Modi saheb, who was chief minister of Gujarat, called my office. But I was choked up, crying at how brutal the killings were. I could not speak with him. He heard me crying as my staff brought the phone close to me," added Azad. "Mr Modi kept calling my office for updates. Later, as I was seeing off the two planes carrying the bodies and those injured, families of the victims were howling in grief. I started weeping too. It came on on TV too. He called again but I could not speak." PM Modi's passionate goodbye to Azad had raised several eyebrows at the time as well. Azad was a prominent member of the G-23 group of dissidents that had been writing letters to the Congress high command and demanding them usher in changes. Read more: Ghulam Nabi Azad quits Congress: As it happened However, after Congress did not change its ways, Azad quit the party last week. Calling Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his "immaturity" and for "demolishing the consultative mechanism" of the party, Azad in his letter to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote: "Unfortunately, after the entry of Rahul Gandhi into politics and particularly after January 2013, when he was appointed Vice President by you (Sonia Gandhi), the entire consultative mechanism which existed earlier was demolished by him." Read more: Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill quits, says sycophancy is eating the party like termites Azad's great rapport with PM Modi has set the rumour mills rolling with few suggesting that the former Congress leader might be switching sides and joining BJP. However, at the moment, Azad has been tight-lipped about his political future. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'I thought PM Modi was a crude man but he showed humanity': Ghulam Nabi Azad

Google is working with social scientists from Cambridge University, experimenting on a feature called 'pre-bunking'. As the name suggests, Google is attempting to get ahead of misleading narratives and debunk the lies before they can spread further.&nbsp;

According to an NBC report, Google, in collaboration with Cambridge University’s Social Decision-Making Lab in an experiment showed 90-second cartoons and advertisements to test subjects, explaining in cohesive language, some common manipulation techniques. &nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-accuses-us-father-of-child-sex-abuse-for-clicking-pictures-of-an-infection-on-toddlers-genitals-509367">Google accuses US father of 'child sex abuse' for clicking pictures of an infection on toddler's genitals</a>

The study published in the journal Science Advances showed that the cartoons successfully raised the test subject's awareness about certain misinformation tactics, albeit for a short time.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jon Roozenbeek, the lead author of the study stated that words like 'fact-checking' had become politicised in recent times and thus the social media companies needed to find an alternative.&nbsp;

"Words like ‘fact-checking’ themselves are becoming politicized, and that’s a problem, so you need to find a way around that." said Joe.&nbsp;

Encouraged by the findings of the experiment, Google is using this approach in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. However, the Silicon Valley giant does not have any plans, yet, to push similar 'pre-bunk' videos in the US ahead of the midterm elections.&nbsp;

It is pertinent to note that Google is not the only platform to use 'pre-bunking' as a means to inoculate people against manipulation.&nbsp;

Twitter will use pre-bunk approach in the midterm election

As reported by WION, ahead of the crucial November midterm election in the US, Twitter, in a blog post earlier this month announced a series of steps it was taking to combat misinformation.

Twitter stated that it was reactivating its Civic Integrity Policy, under which tweets with misleading claims intended to undermine public confidence in an election will be labelled with links to credible information or helpful context.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-us-midterms-twitter-announce-the-use-of-labels-yet-again-to-tackle-misinformation-506056">Ahead of US midterms, Twitter announces the use of labels yet again to tackle misinformation</a>

The microblogging platform also talked about pre-bunking and how it was making a comeback in the November election.

"We’re also bringing back prebunks, in English, Spanish, and all other languages supported on Twitter — to get ahead of misleading narratives on Twitter, and to proactively address topics that may be the subject of misinformation. Over the coming months, we’ll place prompts directly on people’s timelines in the US and in Search when people type related terms, phrases, or hashtags." read Twitter's blogpost.&nbsp;

The announcement by Twitter, however, was met with criticism from a certain faction. Some experts argued that in an attempt to get ahead of the alleged 'lies' the social media giants could once again act as the judge, jury and executioner.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-security-problems-a-major-threat-users-personal-data-and-national-security-alleges-whistleblower-509466">Twitter security problems a major threat to users' personal data and national security, alleges whistleblower</a>

Meanwhile, others are sceptical that pre-bunking may not have any effect on the ground as the quantity of misleading content dwarfs any pre-bunking exercise started by tech giants.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<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>

&nbsp;

Google is working with social scientists from Cambridge University, experimenting on a feature called 'pre-bunking'. As the name suggests, Google is attempting to get ahead of misleading narratives and debunk the lies before they can spread further.

Google is working with social scientists from Cambridge University, experimenting on a feature called 'pre-bunking'. As the name suggests, Google is attempting to get ahead of misleading narratives and debunk the lies before they can spread further. According to an NBC report, Google, in collaboration with Cambridge University’s Social Decision-Making Lab in an experiment showed 90-second cartoons and advertisements to test subjects, explaining in cohesive language, some common manipulation techniques. Read more: Google accuses US father of 'child sex abuse' for clicking pictures of an infection on toddler's genitals The study published in the journal Science Advances showed that the cartoons successfully raised the test subject's awareness about certain misinformation tactics, albeit for a short time. Jon Roozenbeek, the lead author of the study stated that words like 'fact-checking' had become politicised in recent times and thus the social media companies needed to find an alternative. "Words like ‘fact-checking’ themselves are becoming politicized, and that’s a problem, so you need to find a way around that." said Joe. Encouraged by the findings of the experiment, Google is using this approach in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. However, the Silicon Valley giant does not have any plans, yet, to push similar 'pre-bunk' videos in the US ahead of the midterm elections. It is pertinent to note that Google is not the only platform to use 'pre-bunking' as a means to inoculate people against manipulation. Twitter will use pre-bunk approach in the midterm election As reported by WION, ahead of the crucial November midterm election in the US, Twitter, in a blog post earlier this month announced a series of steps it was taking to combat misinformation. Twitter stated that it was reactivating its Civic Integrity Policy, under which tweets with misleading claims intended to undermine public confidence in an election will be labelled with links to credible information or helpful context. Read more: Ahead of US midterms, Twitter announces the use of labels yet again to tackle misinformation The microblogging platform also talked about pre-bunking and how it was making a comeback in the November election. "We’re also bringing back prebunks, in English, Spanish, and all other languages supported on Twitter — to get ahead of misleading narratives on Twitter, and to proactively address topics that may be the subject of misinformation. Over the coming months, we’ll place prompts directly on people’s timelines in the US and in Search when people type related terms, phrases, or hashtags." read Twitter's blogpost. The announcement by Twitter, however, was met with criticism from a certain faction. Some experts argued that in an attempt to get ahead of the alleged 'lies' the social media giants could once again act as the judge, jury and executioner. Read more: Twitter security problems a major threat to users' personal data and national security, alleges whistleblower Meanwhile, others are sceptical that pre-bunking may not have any effect on the ground as the quantity of misleading content dwarfs any pre-bunking exercise started by tech giants. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After Twitter announced pre-bunking, Google starts experimenting with the same

Keeping up with the changing times and batting for inclusivity, the Supreme Court of India on Monday made significant observations that expands the definition of traditional family units to include queer and unmarried relationships.

Keeping up with the changing times and batting for inclusivity, the Supreme Court of India on Monday made significant observations that expands the definition of traditional family units to include queer and unmarried relationships. "Familial relationships may take the form of domestic, unmarried partnerships or queer relationships," said the court. In most societies, the concept of 'family' is usually narrowed down to a structure where a mother, father and their children are present. The court took on this pre-conceived notion and added: "This assumption ignores both, the many circumstances which may lead to a change in one's familial structure, and the fact that many families do not conform to this expectation, to begin with." Further building upon its statement, the bench comprising of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna asserted that atypical family units are also entitled to equal protection of the law. "A household may be a single parent household for any number of reasons, including the death of a spouse, separation, or divorce. Similarly, the guardians and caretakers (who traditionally occupy the roles of the "mother" and the "father") of children may change with remarriage, adoption, or fostering." Read more: India: Supreme Court bats for same abortion limits for married & unmarried women "These manifestations of love and of families may not be typical but they are as real as their traditional counterparts. Such atypical manifestations of the family unit are equally deserving not only of protection under law but also of the benefits available under social welfare legislation." Stating that the black letter of the law must not be followed which puts the non-conventional family structures at a disadvantage, the court observed: "The black letter of the law must not be relied upon to disadvantage families which are different from traditional ones. The same undoubtedly holds true for women who take on the role of motherhood in ways that may not find a place in the popular imagination." Read more: Justice Uday Umesh Lalit sworn in as 49th Chief Justice of India The apex court was hearing a case titled 'Deepika Singh versus Central Administrative Tribunal' where it made the aforementioned observations. Reportedly, the complainant was denied maternity leave by her employee for her biological child stating she had already availed one for taking care of her spouse's child from an earlier marriage. “The fact that the appellant’s spouse had two biological children from his first marriage would not impinge upon the entitlement of the appellant to avail maternity leave for her sole biological child,” said the bench in its judgement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian SC says unmarried partnerships, queer relationships can also be considered as family

In what may come as a shocker to the cricketing community, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult has decided to step out of his New Zealand Cricket (NZC) central contract to spend more time with his family, fueling aspersions of an impending retirement from international cricket.&nbsp;

According to NZC, Boult requested the board to be relieved from his central contract which was duly accepted. David White, NZC chief executive stated that the board respected Trent's position but was saddened to lose a player of his class.&nbsp;

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NEWS | NZC has agreed to release Trent Boult from his central contract so that he can spend more time with his family, while also making himself available for domestic leagues. Boult will complete the tour of the West Indies as scheduled. 
 
READ MORE ⬇ <a href="https://t.co/SxFsTymGAN">https://t.co/SxFsTymGAN</a>
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLACKCAPS/status/1557117607077093376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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WATCH:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-trent-boult-leaves-kl-rahul-gobsmacked-with-an-absolute-jaffa-in-lsgs-run-chase-versus-rr-watch-470143"> IPL 2022: Trent Boult leaves KL Rahul gobsmacked with an absolute jaffa in LSG's run-chase versus RR&nbsp;</a>

“We respect Trent’s position. He’s been completely honest and up-front with us about his reasoning and, while we’re sad to be losing him as a fully-contracted player. He leaves with our best wishes and our sincere thanks." said David.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Boult stated that it had been a tough decision for him.

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<h5>“This has been a really tough decision for me and I’d like to thank NZC for their support in getting to this point. Playing cricket for my country was a childhood dream and I’m so proud of everything I’ve been able to achieve with the BLACKCAPS over the past 12 years."&nbsp;</h5>
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The Kiwi speedster who has&nbsp;taken 317 Test wickets, 169 at ODI level, and 62 in T20I cricket further added that the decision was taken keeping his family in mind.

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<h5>“Ultimately this decision is about my wife Gert and our three young boys. Family has always been the biggest motivator for me and I feel comfortable with putting it first and preparing ourselves for life after cricket.”</h5>
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Boult signed off by saying that he still had a big desire to represent his country but understood that not having a central contract will mean that other players will be preferred over him. However, he added that it was the right time to move ahead.&nbsp;

“Having said that, as a fast bowler I know I have&nbsp;a&nbsp;limited career span, and I feel the time is&nbsp;right to move into this next phase.” said Boult.&nbsp;

With the T20 World Cup scheduled in Australia for the month of October fast approaching, it will be interesting to note if Boult makes himself available for the showpiece event. Over the last few years, Boult has single-handedly led New Zealand's new ball attack across the three formats.&nbsp;

Read more<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-lose-against-india-in-world-cup-matches-due-to-overexcitement-says-sohaib-maqsood-505126">:&nbsp;Pakistan lose against India in World Cup matches due to overexcitement, says Sohaib Maqsood</a>

Lately, there has been a barrage of high-profile retirements in the cricketing arena, both in men's and women's games. From Amy Satterthwaite to Lizelle Lee to more recently Deandra Dottin, cricketers in their prime are leaving the rigours of the international calendar to focus on domestic franchise tournaments.&nbsp;

Fans are worried that Trent may hang up his boots after the World Cup and exclusively become a T20 franchise player.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

&nbsp;

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In what may come as a shocker to the cricketing community, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult has decided to step out of his New Zealand Cricket (NZC) central contract to spend more time with his family, fueling aspersions of an impending retirement from international cricket.

In what may come as a shocker to the cricketing community, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult has decided to step out of his New Zealand Cricket (NZC) central contract to spend more time with his family, fueling aspersions of an impending retirement from international cricket. According to NZC, Boult requested the board to be relieved from his central contract which was duly accepted. David White, NZC chief executive stated that the board respected Trent's position but was saddened to lose a player of his class. NEWS | NZC has agreed to release Trent Boult from his central contract so that he can spend more time with his family, while also making himself available for domestic leagues. Boult will complete the tour of the West Indies as scheduled. READ MORE ⬇ https://t.co/SxFsTymGAN — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) August 9, 2022 × WATCH: IPL 2022: Trent Boult leaves KL Rahul gobsmacked with an absolute jaffa in LSG's run-chase versus RR “We respect Trent’s position. He’s been completely honest and up-front with us about his reasoning and, while we’re sad to be losing him as a fully-contracted player. He leaves with our best wishes and our sincere thanks." said David. Meanwhile, Boult stated that it had been a tough decision for him. “This has been a really tough decision for me and I’d like to thank NZC for their support in getting to this point. Playing cricket for my country was a childhood dream and I’m so proud of everything I’ve been able to achieve with the BLACKCAPS over the past 12 years." × The Kiwi speedster who has taken 317 Test wickets, 169 at ODI level, and 62 in T20I cricket further added that the decision was taken keeping his family in mind. “Ultimately this decision is about my wife Gert and our three young boys. Family has always been the biggest motivator for me and I feel comfortable with putting it first and preparing ourselves for life after cricket.” × Boult signed off by saying that he still had a big desire to represent his country but understood that not having a central contract will mean that other players will be preferred over him. However, he added that it was the right time to move ahead. “Having said that, as a fast bowler I know I have a limited career span, and I feel the time is right to move into this next phase.” said Boult. With the T20 World Cup scheduled in Australia for the month of October fast approaching, it will be interesting to note if Boult makes himself available for the showpiece event. Over the last few years, Boult has single-handedly led New Zealand's new ball attack across the three formats. Read more: Pakistan lose against India in World Cup matches due to overexcitement, says Sohaib Maqsood Lately, there has been a barrage of high-profile retirements in the cricketing arena, both in men's and women's games. From Amy Satterthwaite to Lizelle Lee to more recently Deandra Dottin, cricketers in their prime are leaving the rigours of the international calendar to focus on domestic franchise tournaments. Fans are worried that Trent may hang up his boots after the World Cup and exclusively become a T20 franchise player. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kiwi pacer Trent Boult steps out of his central contract. Fuels retirement talks

Scorching hot summer temperatures caused by climate change is wreaking havoc across the planet. Reportedly, Canada's easternmost province of&nbsp;Newfoundland and Labrador is facing its worst-ever forest wildfire, which has been raging for the better part of the last two weeks.

Such has been the state of affairs that&nbsp;Premier Andrew Furey has issued a state of emergency in the province and stated that things had changed significantly in the last 36 hours.&nbsp;

“Over the last 36 hours, things have changed. We were predicting that we could manage this. However, with the wind change, we are afraid that there will be a significant smoke impact. This is a dynamic, evolving situation as all fires are, but we can’t wait for the last minute, we have to act now,” said&nbsp;Andrew Furey.&nbsp;

According to local media reports, the area has been ravaged by two separate wildfires. One is blazing in&nbsp;Newfoundland near the Bay d'Espoir Highway&nbsp;having torched more than&nbsp;12,355 acres already, while the second in&nbsp;Paradise Lake has destroyed more than 16,062 acres.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/wildfire-ravages-canada-amid-record-heat-396331">Wildfire ravages Canada amid record heat</a>

The heavy smoke in the region was complicating the efforts to stop the blaze as the water bombers were not able to look ahead of the fire.&nbsp;

One of the firefighters battling the wildfire was quoted as saying,&nbsp;"We're doing our very best to try and get that Bay d'Espoir Highway open again, but the reality is the fire's on both sides of the road, the wind's not helping down there, and the size of the fire is increased."

Reportedly,&nbsp;an outdoor fire ban has been issued as well which prohibits the setting of fires on forestland or within 300 metres&nbsp;of forestland.&nbsp;

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⚠️ PROVINCE-WIDE OPEN FIRE BAN IN EFFECT ⚠️ 
 
The outdoor fire ban prohibits the setting of fires on forestland or within 300m of forestland. Unauthorized burning, including campfires &amp; brush burning, cannot take place in and around forested areas. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nlwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nlwx</a><a href="https://t.co/bvSk285OMx">https://t.co/bvSk285OMx</a> <a href="https://t.co/7QHTy98yWZ">pic.twitter.com/7QHTy98yWZ</a>
— Government of NL (@GovNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovNL/status/1556642376516526080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While the fire continues to burn down the forests, the Canadian authorities haven't announced any evacuation programme yet. However, a warning has been issued that residents need to be prepared to leave at the earliest if the situation turns any more worrisome.&nbsp;

Read More:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/extreme-wildfires-and-heavy-smoke-grip-western-us-and-canada-398384">&nbsp;'Extreme' wildfires and heavy smoke grip western US and Canada</a>

If evacuation is ordered, Canadian military personnel are expected to swing by and help with the evacuation efforts.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

&nbsp;

Scorching hot summer temperatures caused by climate change is wreaking havoc across the planet. Reportedly, Canada's easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador is facing its worst-ever forest wildfire, which has been raging for the better part of the last two weeks.

Scorching hot summer temperatures caused by climate change is wreaking havoc across the planet. Reportedly, Canada's easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador is facing its worst-ever forest wildfire, which has been raging for the better part of the last two weeks. Such has been the state of affairs that Premier Andrew Furey has issued a state of emergency in the province and stated that things had changed significantly in the last 36 hours. “Over the last 36 hours, things have changed. We were predicting that we could manage this. However, with the wind change, we are afraid that there will be a significant smoke impact. This is a dynamic, evolving situation as all fires are, but we can’t wait for the last minute, we have to act now,” said Andrew Furey. According to local media reports, the area has been ravaged by two separate wildfires. One is blazing in Newfoundland near the Bay d'Espoir Highway having torched more than 12,355 acres already, while the second in Paradise Lake has destroyed more than 16,062 acres. Read More: Wildfire ravages Canada amid record heat The heavy smoke in the region was complicating the efforts to stop the blaze as the water bombers were not able to look ahead of the fire. One of the firefighters battling the wildfire was quoted as saying, "We're doing our very best to try and get that Bay d'Espoir Highway open again, but the reality is the fire's on both sides of the road, the wind's not helping down there, and the size of the fire is increased." Reportedly, an outdoor fire ban has been issued as well which prohibits the setting of fires on forestland or within 300 metres of forestland. ⚠️ PROVINCE-WIDE OPEN FIRE BAN IN EFFECT ⚠️ The outdoor fire ban prohibits the setting of fires on forestland or within 300m of forestland. Unauthorized burning, including campfires & brush burning, cannot take place in and around forested areas. #nlwxhttps://t.co/bvSk285OMx pic.twitter.com/7QHTy98yWZ — Government of NL (@GovNL) August 8, 2022 × While the fire continues to burn down the forests, the Canadian authorities haven't announced any evacuation programme yet. However, a warning has been issued that residents need to be prepared to leave at the earliest if the situation turns any more worrisome. Read More: 'Extreme' wildfires and heavy smoke grip western US and Canada If evacuation is ordered, Canadian military personnel are expected to swing by and help with the evacuation efforts. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Emergency declared in Canada's province due to wildfires, the worst in 50 years

California-based Prince Harry has been allowed by the High Court to move forward with a suit against the Home Office for denying him Metropolitan Police bodyguards during trips to the United Kingdom from North America.&nbsp;

Harry is challenging a February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, also called Ravec that made it clear to the Duke that he would not be given the same degree of personal protection when visiting the country.&nbsp;

Reportedly, Prince Harry wanted to pay the specialist Metropolitan Police officers for the protection of his family and himself. However, the Home Office lawyer, in a previous hearing, argued that the Police officers cannot be bought.

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-uks-prince-harry-seeks-right-to-pay-for-uk-police-protection-445245">UK's Prince Harry seeks right to pay for UK police protection</a>

A full high court hearing to follow

However, on Friday, the High Court judge noted, “The application for permission to apply for judicial review is allowed in part and refused in part.”&nbsp;

The court decided to allow Harry and his counsel to argue on four out of the five grounds; meaning, there will be a proper and full high court hearing. The one ground that Harry has been rejected on is his counsel's insistence to identify the members of the&nbsp;Ravec, which would have certainly included a Royal member that made the final call on Harry's security.&nbsp;

“In the course of submissions, it became apparent that, while the claimant may have had disagreements with persons who were Ravec committee members, there was no evidence at all to support a claim that any committee member had approached decisions with a closed mind, or that either decision was affected by bias. Ultimately it was accepted for the claimant that no such case was, or could be, advanced.” the judge further added.&nbsp;

What happened with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle?

Harry and Meghan had a bitter and very public divorce from the Royal family. Both decided to drop their royal names and shifted to America. Since then, living as private citizens, the couple has signed multi-million deals with streaming giants such as Netflix and Spotify.

Read More:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-prince-harry-shares-the-moment-he-realised-meghan-was-soulmate-498738">&nbsp;Prince Harry shares the moment he realised Meghan was 'soulmate'</a>

Both appeared in an interview with Oprah Winfrey as well where Meghan made the sensational claims that there were racist Royals in Britain's top family. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

California-based Prince Harry has been allowed by the High Court to move forward with a suit against the Home Office for denying him Metropolitan Police bodyguards during trips to the United Kingdom from North America.

California-based Prince Harry has been allowed by the High Court to move forward with a suit against the Home Office for denying him Metropolitan Police bodyguards during trips to the United Kingdom from North America. Harry is challenging a February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, also called Ravec that made it clear to the Duke that he would not be given the same degree of personal protection when visiting the country. Reportedly, Prince Harry wanted to pay the specialist Metropolitan Police officers for the protection of his family and himself. However, the Home Office lawyer, in a previous hearing, argued that the Police officers cannot be bought. Read More: UK's Prince Harry seeks right to pay for UK police protection A full high court hearing to follow However, on Friday, the High Court judge noted, “The application for permission to apply for judicial review is allowed in part and refused in part.” The court decided to allow Harry and his counsel to argue on four out of the five grounds; meaning, there will be a proper and full high court hearing. The one ground that Harry has been rejected on is his counsel's insistence to identify the members of the Ravec, which would have certainly included a Royal member that made the final call on Harry's security. “In the course of submissions, it became apparent that, while the claimant may have had disagreements with persons who were Ravec committee members, there was no evidence at all to support a claim that any committee member had approached decisions with a closed mind, or that either decision was affected by bias. Ultimately it was accepted for the claimant that no such case was, or could be, advanced.” the judge further added. What happened with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? Harry and Meghan had a bitter and very public divorce from the Royal family. Both decided to drop their royal names and shifted to America. Since then, living as private citizens, the couple has signed multi-million deals with streaming giants such as Netflix and Spotify. Read More: Prince Harry shares the moment he realised Meghan was 'soulmate' Both appeared in an interview with Oprah Winfrey as well where Meghan made the sensational claims that there were racist Royals in Britain's top family. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Prince Harry gets the High Court's nod to fight security case against government and Royal Family members

While US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan during her Asia-Pacific&nbsp;visit remains uncertain, Chinese President Xi Jinping has upped the ante. Addressing the United Work Front Department on Saturday, Xi urged the Communist Party and its members to encourage and cultivate 'patriotic forces' as well as supporters in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other overseas states where China wants to assert its dominance.

Snippets of the speech released by the Chinese state media showed that Xi batted on the front foot and explicitly asked his party workers to expand China's strength.

"We must strengthen the building of overseas patriotic forces, cultivate and expand the strength of those who know China and are willing to befriend China, and promote exchanges and mutual learning of Chinese and foreign cultures and civilisations,” said Xi.&nbsp;

The Chinese President further heaped praise on his United Front army and illustrated its importance.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
"The United Front is becoming more important in safeguarding [China’s] national sovereignty, security and development interests.&nbsp;In building an all-round modern socialist country and realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the role of the United Front … is even more important.”
</blockquote>

In the past, the United Front has been described by&nbsp;Xi Jinping as his secret 'magic weapon'. The operations of most of the members in the United Front are covert and spread beyond the middle kingdom. This year marks the 100th anniversary of China's United Front.&nbsp;

Why is Xi taking such an aggressive stance?

As reported extensively by WION, last week, Xi&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;to US President Joe Biden and in clear and concise terms made it clear that Taiwan was an integral part of China.&nbsp;

Soon, the White House toed Xi's line by releasing a statement,&nbsp;"On Taiwan, President Biden underscored that the United States policy has not changed and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

Read More:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/those-who-play-with-fire-will-perish-by-it-xi-jinping-warns-joe-biden-on-taiwan-501562">&nbsp;'Those who play with fire will perish by it': Xi Jinping warns Joe Biden over Taiwan</a>

Moreover, Nancy Pelosi released an official statement where her trip to Taiwan was unconfirmed. Pelosi's office&nbsp;said: "The trip will focus on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region" without mentioning Taiwan.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

While US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan during her Asia-Pacific visit remains uncertain, Chinese President Xi Jinping has upped the ante. Addressing the United Work Front Department on Saturday, Xi urged the Communist Party and its members to encourage and cultivate 'patriotic forces' as well as supporters in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other overseas states where China wants to assert its dominance.

While US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan during her Asia-Pacific visit remains uncertain, Chinese President Xi Jinping has upped the ante. Addressing the United Work Front Department on Saturday, Xi urged the Communist Party and its members to encourage and cultivate 'patriotic forces' as well as supporters in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other overseas states where China wants to assert its dominance. Snippets of the speech released by the Chinese state media showed that Xi batted on the front foot and explicitly asked his party workers to expand China's strength. "We must strengthen the building of overseas patriotic forces, cultivate and expand the strength of those who know China and are willing to befriend China, and promote exchanges and mutual learning of Chinese and foreign cultures and civilisations,” said Xi. The Chinese President further heaped praise on his United Front army and illustrated its importance. "The United Front is becoming more important in safeguarding [China’s] national sovereignty, security and development interests. In building an all-round modern socialist country and realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the role of the United Front … is even more important.” In the past, the United Front has been described by Xi Jinping as his secret 'magic weapon'. The operations of most of the members in the United Front are covert and spread beyond the middle kingdom. This year marks the 100th anniversary of China's United Front. Why is Xi taking such an aggressive stance? As reported extensively by WION, last week, Xi spoke to US President Joe Biden and in clear and concise terms made it clear that Taiwan was an integral part of China. Soon, the White House toed Xi's line by releasing a statement, "On Taiwan, President Biden underscored that the United States policy has not changed and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Read More: 'Those who play with fire will perish by it': Xi Jinping warns Joe Biden over Taiwan Moreover, Nancy Pelosi released an official statement where her trip to Taiwan was unconfirmed. Pelosi's office said: "The trip will focus on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region" without mentioning Taiwan. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Xi urges his United Front army to step up operations in Taiwan, Hong Kong, other countries

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