India is working on a new electric vehicle policy that would slash import taxes for automakers that commit to some local manufacturing, following a proposal by Tesla&nbsp;which is considering entering the domestic market, people with direct knowledge said.

The policy being considered could allow automakers to import fully-built EVs into India at a reduced tax as low as 15 per cent, compared to the current 100 per cent that applies to cars which cost above $40,000 and 70 per cent for the rest, said two of the sources, including a senior Indian government official.

Tesla's best-selling Model Y, for example, starts at $47,740 in the U.S. before tax credits.

"There is an understanding with Tesla's proposal and government is showing interest," said the official, who is familiar with the issue.

India's commerce and finance ministries, and Tesla, did not respond to requests for comment.

If such a policy is adopted, it could amount to a drastic reduction in the cost of imported EVs that local carmakers have been keen to avoid. It could also open the door for global automakers, beyond Tesla, to tap the world's third-largest car market where sales of EVs are less than 2 per cent of total car sales, but growing rapidly.

The lower import taxes could help Tesla sell its full range of models in India, and not just the new car it wants to make locally, said a third source.

Shares of Tata Motors, India's largest electric car manufacturer, fell nearly 3 per cent on the Reuters report, while rival Mahindra and Mahindra&nbsp;dropped over 2 per cent, dragging the benchmark auto index to an intra-day low with losses of 1.1 per&nbsp;cent.

New Delhi is going to move slowly in considering the policy proposal as any lowering of taxes on imported EVs could disrupt the market and upset local players like Tata and Mahindra that are investing to build electric cars at home, the Indian official said.

"This is going to go through a lot of deliberations even though government is keen on getting Tesla. That's because of the impact on domestic players," said the official.

The policy is still in the initial stages of deliberation and the final tax rate could change, the sources said.

<h2 data-testid="Heading">Tesla's new EV</h2>

Other countries have taken similar measures to spur EV manufacturing commitments.&nbsp; Indonesia, for example, has offered to reduce import duties from 50% to zero for EV makers planning investments, a move seen aimed at attracting Chinese players and Tesla.

Tesla first tried to enter India in 2021 by pushing officials to lower the 100 per cent&nbsp;import tax for EVs. Last year, the talks between Tesla and the Indian government collapsed when officials conveyed the company would have to first commit to local manufacturing.

More recently, Tesla has told Indian officials it is keen to set up a local factory and make a&nbsp;new EV&nbsp;priced around $24,000, roughly 25% cheaper than its current entry model, for both the Indian market and export.

Tesla's senior public policy and business development executive Rohan Patel has in recent weeks&nbsp;met top officials&nbsp;privately. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held&nbsp;talks with CEO Elon Musk&nbsp;in June, has been tracking progress closely, Reuters has reported.

Indian officials conveyed there will be no special incentives for Tesla's market entry, and the proposal for a low import tax, conditional on a manufacturing commitment, was touted by Tesla to keep both sides happy, the sources said.

One of the sources said Tesla told Indian officials a potential India factory could operate at full capacity by 2030.

Outside the United States, Tesla currently has a plant in Shanghai — its largest factory worldwide — and one outside Berlin. It is building a new plant in Mexico that will focus on a new mass-market EV platform Musk has said will slash costs for consumers.

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="100%"></iframe>

India is working on a new electric vehicle policy that would slash import taxes for automakers that commit to some local manufacturing, following a proposal by Tesla which is considering entering the domestic market, people with direct knowledge said.

India is working on a new electric vehicle policy that would slash import taxes for automakers that commit to some local manufacturing, following a proposal by Tesla which is considering entering the domestic market, people with direct knowledge said. The policy being considered could allow automakers to import fully-built EVs into India at a reduced tax as low as 15 per cent, compared to the current 100 per cent that applies to cars which cost above $40,000 and 70 per cent for the rest, said two of the sources, including a senior Indian government official. Tesla's best-selling Model Y, for example, starts at $47,740 in the U.S. before tax credits. "There is an understanding with Tesla's proposal and government is showing interest," said the official, who is familiar with the issue. India's commerce and finance ministries, and Tesla, did not respond to requests for comment. If such a policy is adopted, it could amount to a drastic reduction in the cost of imported EVs that local carmakers have been keen to avoid. It could also open the door for global automakers, beyond Tesla, to tap the world's third-largest car market where sales of EVs are less than 2 per cent of total car sales, but growing rapidly. The lower import taxes could help Tesla sell its full range of models in India, and not just the new car it wants to make locally, said a third source. Shares of Tata Motors, India's largest electric car manufacturer, fell nearly 3 per cent on the Reuters report, while rival Mahindra and Mahindra dropped over 2 per cent, dragging the benchmark auto index to an intra-day low with losses of 1.1 per cent. New Delhi is going to move slowly in considering the policy proposal as any lowering of taxes on imported EVs could disrupt the market and upset local players like Tata and Mahindra that are investing to build electric cars at home, the Indian official said. "This is going to go through a lot of deliberations even though government is keen on getting Tesla. That's because of the impact on domestic players," said the official. The policy is still in the initial stages of deliberation and the final tax rate could change, the sources said. Tesla's new EV Other countries have taken similar measures to spur EV manufacturing commitments. Indonesia, for example, has offered to reduce import duties from 50% to zero for EV makers planning investments, a move seen aimed at attracting Chinese players and Tesla. Tesla first tried to enter India in 2021 by pushing officials to lower the 100 per cent import tax for EVs. Last year, the talks between Tesla and the Indian government collapsed when officials conveyed the company would have to first commit to local manufacturing. More recently, Tesla has told Indian officials it is keen to set up a local factory and make a new EV priced around $24,000, roughly 25% cheaper than its current entry model, for both the Indian market and export. Tesla's senior public policy and business development executive Rohan Patel has in recent weeks met top officials privately. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held talks with CEO Elon Musk in June, has been tracking progress closely, Reuters has reported. Indian officials conveyed there will be no special incentives for Tesla's market entry, and the proposal for a low import tax, conditional on a manufacturing commitment, was touted by Tesla to keep both sides happy, the sources said. One of the sources said Tesla told Indian officials a potential India factory could operate at full capacity by 2030. Outside the United States, Tesla currently has a plant in Shanghai — its largest factory worldwide — and one outside Berlin. It is building a new plant in Mexico that will focus on a new mass-market EV platform Musk has said will slash costs for consumers. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

With Tesla push, India mulls import tax cut if EV makers build locally

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming G20 Summit in India in September in person, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday (Aug 25).

Peskov said due to the “special military operation” in Ukraine, Putin won’t be able to attend the event in person. He said that the format of the Russian leader's participation would be determined later.

"No, the president has no such plans,” the official Tass news agency quoted the Kremlin spokesman as saying.

The last time the Russian president attended the G20 summit in person was in 2019 in Osaka, Japan.

During the summits in 2020 (Riyadh) and 2021 (Rome), both held during the Covid pandemic, Putin was present virtually.

He missed the 2022 Bali summit, where he was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

<h2>Skipped BRICS Summit as well</h2>

He also had decided to skip the just-concluded first in-person BRICS summit in&nbsp;Johannesburg as the&nbsp;International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March over war crimes in the war on Ukraine.

South Africa, the BRICS summit host country, is an ICC signatory and was expected to help in Putin's arrest if he was present in the country.&nbsp;

<h2>Russian President Putin: We unanimously stand for shaping a multipolar world order</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-we-unanimously-stand-for-shaping-a-multipolar-world-order-628720/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

India, on the other hand, is not a member of the ICC, and has never signed its core treaty, the 'Rome Statute'. India has in the past hosted individuals that faced action from the ICC.

In 2015, ahead of then-Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s visit to New Delhi for the India-Africa Summit, the ICC had told India to arrest the African leader and hand him over to international authorities.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-dismisses-chinas-claim-that-request-for-modis-meet-with-xi-came-from-new-delhi-628983">BRICS summit: India dismisses China claim that New Delhi sought Modi-Xi meet</a>

In 2009 and 2010, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Bashir, who was allegedly responsible for genocide and war crimes in the western Darfur region of Sudan.

<h2>Delegations to start arriving on Sept 8</h2>

Meanwhile, many head of the states are expected to visit India on September 8&nbsp;for the G20 Summit in the capital New Delhi. Among the leaders expected to visit are US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak among others.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-putin-breaks-silence-on-prigozhin-says-he-made-some-mistakes-628863">Russian President Putin condoles Wagner chief's death, says 'he made some mistakes</a>

The delegates will reach India on September 9. A gala dinner is planned in their honour on that day, and the attendees will visit Rajghat on September 10.

The representatives of nine "guest countries" —Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates — have also been invited by India for the summit.

The summit will be held on September 9-10 at the newly-built Bharat Mandapam convention centre in Delhi's erstwhile Pragati Maidan. The 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials and civil society.

&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming G20 Summit in India in September in person, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday (Aug 25).

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming G20 Summit in India in September in person, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday (Aug 25). Peskov said due to the “special military operation” in Ukraine, Putin won’t be able to attend the event in person. He said that the format of the Russian leader's participation would be determined later. "No, the president has no such plans,” the official Tass news agency quoted the Kremlin spokesman as saying. The last time the Russian president attended the G20 summit in person was in 2019 in Osaka, Japan. During the summits in 2020 (Riyadh) and 2021 (Rome), both held during the Covid pandemic, Putin was present virtually. He missed the 2022 Bali summit, where he was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Skipped BRICS Summit as well He also had decided to skip the just-concluded first in-person BRICS summit in Johannesburg as the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March over war crimes in the war on Ukraine. South Africa, the BRICS summit host country, is an ICC signatory and was expected to help in Putin's arrest if he was present in the country. Russian President Putin: We unanimously stand for shaping a multipolar world order India, on the other hand, is not a member of the ICC, and has never signed its core treaty, the 'Rome Statute'. India has in the past hosted individuals that faced action from the ICC. In 2015, ahead of then-Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s visit to New Delhi for the India-Africa Summit, the ICC had told India to arrest the African leader and hand him over to international authorities. Also read | BRICS summit: India dismisses China claim that New Delhi sought Modi-Xi meet In 2009 and 2010, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Bashir, who was allegedly responsible for genocide and war crimes in the western Darfur region of Sudan. Delegations to start arriving on Sept 8 Meanwhile, many head of the states are expected to visit India on September 8 for the G20 Summit in the capital New Delhi. Among the leaders expected to visit are US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak among others. Also read | Russian President Putin condoles Wagner chief's death, says 'he made some mistakes The delegates will reach India on September 9. A gala dinner is planned in their honour on that day, and the attendees will visit Rajghat on September 10. The representatives of nine "guest countries" —Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates — have also been invited by India for the summit. The summit will be held on September 9-10 at the newly-built Bharat Mandapam convention centre in Delhi's erstwhile Pragati Maidan. The 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials and civil society.

Russian President Vladimir Putin not to attend G20 summit in India in person

India on Wednesday became the first nation to land a spacecraft near the Moon's south pole, a historic triumph for the world's most populous nation and its ambitious, cut-price space programme.&nbsp;The Chandrayaan-3 touched down at 6.04 pm India time as mission control technicians cheered wildly and embraced their colleagues.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-3-is-a-success-a-soft-landing-for-vikram-lander-a-giant-leap-for-indias-space-odyssey-628404">A soft landing for Vikram lander, a giant leap for India's space odyssey</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/375059-untitled-design-2023-08-23t192022741.png?imwidth=1920" />With Vikram lander on the Moon, the rover Pragyan will wait for the lunar dust to settle before beginning to traverse the lunar terrain with its rear wheels which will leave the&nbsp;imprints of ISRO and India's national emblem&nbsp;on lunar surface.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-is-on-the-moon-isro-chief-s-somanath-celebrates-chandrayaan-3s-triumph-on-lunar-landing-628420">‘India is on the moon’: ISRO chief celebrates Chandrayaan-3's success</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/375050-weekend-banner-10.png?imwidth=1920" />Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S&nbsp;Somanath&nbsp;congratulated&nbsp;his team on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. He also thanked PM Modi for being a part of the successful journey.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-conflict-strengthening-mulilateralism-figure-prominently-at-brics-meet-628384">Russia-Ukraine conflict, strengthening multilateralism figure prominently at BRICS meet</a><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/375020-brics.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

The BRICS 15th Plenary Session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday (August 23) with members calling for strengthening multilateralism for global development and security, and improving co-existence among the member countries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brics-2023-indias-modi-backs-brics-expansion-south-africas-ramaphosa-wishes-chandrayaan-3-success-628359">BRICS 2023: India's Modi backs BRICS expansion, South Africa's Ramaphosa wishes Chandrayaan-3 success</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/375011-untitled-design-35.png?imwidth=1920" />

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (August 23) addressed the open plenary session of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.&nbsp;In his speech, Modi highlighted the bloc's contribution towards the&nbsp;developmental efforts of the global south.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-nations-spent-record-money-on-fossil-fuel-subsidies-in-2022-despite-glasgow-pledges-628373">G20 nations spent record money on fossil fuel subsidies in 2022 despite Glasgow pledges</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/375018-powerplant.jpg?imwidth=1920" />Even as world leaders talk big about tackling climate change by reducing reliance on non-renewable energy, a new report has revealed the world’s largest 20 economies spent a record amount of money on burning fossil fuels last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfires-more-than-1100-missing-death-toll-at-115-628431">Maui wildfires: More than 1,100 missing, death toll at 115</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/374894-untitled-design-2023-08-23t082505690.png?imwidth=1920" />

Thailand’s jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was shifted to a hospital overnight from his detention as he faced health issues related to heart and high blood pressure on the first night after being jailed, a few hours after he returned to the country from years of exile, the police said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-surrender-to-authorities-in-georgia-tomorrow-which-jail-is-he-likely-to-go-628379">Trump to surrender to authorities in Georgia on Thursday. Which jail is he likely to go?</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/375021-untitled-design-2023-08-23t171249949.png?imwidth=1920" />Former US President Donald Trump says he will surrender on Thursday in an alleged conspiracy case to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. He is expected to voluntarily surrender at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. Trump faces 13 felony counts in Georgia related to the case.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-sacks-general-armageddon-not-seen-since-wagner-mutiny-628324">Russia sacks 'General Armageddon' not seen since Wagner mutiny; appoints acting chief: Report</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/374993-sergei-surovikin.png?imwidth=1920" />Russia's General Sergei Surovikin, who was once the commander of Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine, has been dismissed as head of the country's aerospace forces, local media reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chess-world-cup-praggnanandhaa-magnus-carlsen-play-second-consecutive-draw-final-heads-to-tie-breaker-628430">Chess World Cup: Praggnanandhaa, Magnus Carlsen play second consecutive draw, final heads to tie-breaker</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/22/374813-1-2023-08-22t201130170.jpg?imwidth=1920" />Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa drew the second classical game of the final of the FIDE World Cup against world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in Baku on Wednesday, August 23.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-17-killed-after-under-construction-railway-bridge-collapses-in-mizoram-628249">India: 17 killed after under-construction railway bridge collapses in Mizoram</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/23/374957-mizoram.png?imwidth=1920" />At least 17 workers were killed and many are feared trapped after an under-construction railway bridge collapsed near the Sairang area of Mizoram on Wednesday (August 23), local police said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

India on Wednesday became the first nation to land a spacecraft near the Moon's south pole, a historic triumph for the world's most populous nation and its ambitious, cut-price space programme.

India on Wednesday became the first nation to land a spacecraft near the Moon's south pole, a historic triumph for the world's most populous nation and its ambitious, cut-price space programme. The Chandrayaan-3 touched down at 6.04 pm India time as mission control technicians cheered wildly and embraced their colleagues. Click on the headlines to read more: A soft landing for Vikram lander, a giant leap for India's space odyssey With Vikram lander on the Moon, the rover Pragyan will wait for the lunar dust to settle before beginning to traverse the lunar terrain with its rear wheels which will leave the imprints of ISRO and India's national emblem on lunar surface. ‘India is on the moon’: ISRO chief celebrates Chandrayaan-3's success Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S Somanath congratulated his team on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. He also thanked PM Modi for being a part of the successful journey. Russia-Ukraine conflict, strengthening multilateralism figure prominently at BRICS meet The BRICS 15th Plenary Session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday (August 23) with members calling for strengthening multilateralism for global development and security, and improving co-existence among the member countries. BRICS 2023: India's Modi backs BRICS expansion, South Africa's Ramaphosa wishes Chandrayaan-3 success Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (August 23) addressed the open plenary session of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. In his speech, Modi highlighted the bloc's contribution towards the developmental efforts of the global south. G20 nations spent record money on fossil fuel subsidies in 2022 despite Glasgow pledges Even as world leaders talk big about tackling climate change by reducing reliance on non-renewable energy, a new report has revealed the world’s largest 20 economies spent a record amount of money on burning fossil fuels last year. Maui wildfires: More than 1,100 missing, death toll at 115 Thailand’s jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was shifted to a hospital overnight from his detention as he faced health issues related to heart and high blood pressure on the first night after being jailed, a few hours after he returned to the country from years of exile, the police said. Trump to surrender to authorities in Georgia on Thursday. Which jail is he likely to go? Former US President Donald Trump says he will surrender on Thursday in an alleged conspiracy case to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. He is expected to voluntarily surrender at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. Trump faces 13 felony counts in Georgia related to the case. Russia sacks 'General Armageddon' not seen since Wagner mutiny; appoints acting chief: Report Russia's General Sergei Surovikin, who was once the commander of Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine, has been dismissed as head of the country's aerospace forces, local media reported. Chess World Cup: Praggnanandhaa, Magnus Carlsen play second consecutive draw, final heads to tie-breaker Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa drew the second classical game of the final of the FIDE World Cup against world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in Baku on Wednesday, August 23. India: 17 killed after under-construction railway bridge collapses in Mizoram At least 17 workers were killed and many are feared trapped after an under-construction railway bridge collapsed near the Sairang area of Mizoram on Wednesday (August 23), local police said.

Top 10 news:India becomes first country to land successfully near Moon's south pole, and more

Moments before the BRICS plenary session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday (August 23), security guards of Chinese President Xi Jinping were reportedly blocked from entering the main venue.

<meta charset="utf-8" />

In a video going viral on social media, it is shown that as Xi Jinping was walking towards the main venue, a man, believed to be a Chinese security official, began sprinting in an effort to catch up to the president.&nbsp;And as he appeared in close proximity to Xi, South African security officials blocked him from further entering as his movements raised suspicion.&nbsp;

What followed was utter chaos as Xi was repeatedly looking&nbsp;behind in order to understand what had unfolded.

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At BRICS summit, South African security officers stop Chinese President Xi Jinping's officials who were trying to make their in. Literally had to close the doors prompting the Chinese President to look back several times. <a href="https://t.co/EHhsd6IKEH">pic.twitter.com/EHhsd6IKEH</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1694315234322964628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Though it is currently unknown what caused the confusion, some reports have suggested that the security official was in fact the official translator of President Xi.

This is the second time that something unusual has transpired surrounding Xi Jinping ever since he set foot in the South African capital to attend the 15th BRICS Summit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-is-xi-jinping-chinese-leaders-unusual-absence-at-brics-business-forum-raises-eyebrows-628067">Where is Xi Jinping?&nbsp;Chinese leader's unusual absence&nbsp;at BRICS Business Forum raises eyebrows</a>

On Tuesday, Xi had to skip the BRICS Business Forum meeting, and it was attended by Chinese Commerce Minister Whang Wentao.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-conflict-strengthening-mulilateralism-figure-prominently-at-brics-meet-628384">Russia-Ukraine conflict, strengthening multilateralism figure prominently at BRICS meet</a>

It was unknown why he had to skip the meeting, but he was later seen attending a dinner hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, along with the leaders of Brazil and India, and Russia’s foreign minister.

So far, no reason has been provided for Xi’s absence, and the stoic silence from the officials has left much room for speculation.

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="100%"></iframe>

Moments before the BRICS plenary session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday (August 23), security guards of Chinese President Xi Jinping were reportedly blocked from entering the main venue.

Moments before the BRICS plenary session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday (August 23), security guards of Chinese President Xi Jinping were reportedly blocked from entering the main venue. In a video going viral on social media, it is shown that as Xi Jinping was walking towards the main venue, a man, believed to be a Chinese security official, began sprinting in an effort to catch up to the president. And as he appeared in close proximity to Xi, South African security officials blocked him from further entering as his movements raised suspicion. What followed was utter chaos as Xi was repeatedly looking behind in order to understand what had unfolded. At BRICS summit, South African security officers stop Chinese President Xi Jinping's officials who were trying to make their in. Literally had to close the doors prompting the Chinese President to look back several times. pic.twitter.com/EHhsd6IKEH — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 23, 2023 × Though it is currently unknown what caused the confusion, some reports have suggested that the security official was in fact the official translator of President Xi. This is the second time that something unusual has transpired surrounding Xi Jinping ever since he set foot in the South African capital to attend the 15th BRICS Summit. Also read | Where is Xi Jinping? Chinese leader's unusual absence at BRICS Business Forum raises eyebrows On Tuesday, Xi had to skip the BRICS Business Forum meeting, and it was attended by Chinese Commerce Minister Whang Wentao. Also read | Russia-Ukraine conflict, strengthening multilateralism figure prominently at BRICS meet It was unknown why he had to skip the meeting, but he was later seen attending a dinner hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, along with the leaders of Brazil and India, and Russia’s foreign minister. So far, no reason has been provided for Xi’s absence, and the stoic silence from the officials has left much room for speculation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s aide stopped from entering BRICS venue 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at the sidelines of the BRICS summit where both leaders agreed on “expeditious de-escalation" in the eastern Ladakh region, informed Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra while briefing&nbsp;reporters on Thursday (Aug 24).

“It was a conversation with President Xi Jinping and, as I said, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Prime Minister (Modi) had interactions with other BRICS leaders (as well). In that conversation with President Xi Jinping, the prime minister highlighted India's concerns at the unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector of the India-China border areas,” Kwatra said.

The&nbsp;Line of Actual Control&nbsp;has been disputed by India and China since the 1950s. They went to war over it in 1962.

PM Modi told Xi that “maintenance of peace, tranquillity in border areas and respecting LAC” are essential for the normalisation of India-China ties, the Indian official said.

“Modi and Xi agreed to direct relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement, de-escalation,” Kwatra said.

The Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in over three-year stand-off in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides have initiated extensive diplomatic and military talks to disengage their troops.

<h2>India and Chinese troops talks</h2>

So far, 19 rounds of talks have taken place at the commander's level, with the latest one focussing on the resolution of issues in Depsang Plains and Demchok.

Before this, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the five-nation grouping BRICS in Johannesburg on July 24.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said that Doval conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had "eroded strategic trust" and the public and political basis of the relationship.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brics-officials-expands-as-ramaphosa-announces-six-new-members-628689">BRICS officially expands: Six new members to join bloc next year</a>

It said the NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral ties.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-brics-summit-un-chief-calls-for-reform-of-unsc-bretton-woods-institutions-628825">At BRICS summit, UN chief calls for reform of UNSC, Bretton Woods institutions</a>

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at the sidelines of the BRICS summit where both leaders agreed on “expeditious de-escalation" in the eastern Ladakh region, informed Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra while briefing reporters on Thursday (Aug 24).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at the sidelines of the BRICS summit where both leaders agreed on “expeditious de-escalation" in the eastern Ladakh region, informed Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra while briefing reporters on Thursday (Aug 24). “It was a conversation with President Xi Jinping and, as I said, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Prime Minister (Modi) had interactions with other BRICS leaders (as well). In that conversation with President Xi Jinping, the prime minister highlighted India's concerns at the unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector of the India-China border areas,” Kwatra said. The Line of Actual Control has been disputed by India and China since the 1950s. They went to war over it in 1962. PM Modi told Xi that “maintenance of peace, tranquillity in border areas and respecting LAC” are essential for the normalisation of India-China ties, the Indian official said. “Modi and Xi agreed to direct relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement, de-escalation,” Kwatra said. The Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in over three-year stand-off in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides have initiated extensive diplomatic and military talks to disengage their troops. India and Chinese troops talks So far, 19 rounds of talks have taken place at the commander's level, with the latest one focussing on the resolution of issues in Depsang Plains and Demchok. Before this, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of the five-nation grouping BRICS in Johannesburg on July 24. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said that Doval conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the western sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had "eroded strategic trust" and the public and political basis of the relationship. Also read | BRICS officially expands: Six new members to join bloc next year It said the NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral ties. Also read | At BRICS summit, UN chief calls for reform of UNSC, Bretton Woods institutions India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas. The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area. The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian PM Modi raised border issue with China’s Xi on sidelines of BRICS

Ukrainian military on Thursday (Aug 24) claimed that it launched a "special operation" in Russian-occupied Crimea overnight. The defence ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said they carried out the operation in cooperation with the navy in which their personnel entered the peninsula territory to achieve a specific “goal”.

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The announcement comes on the day when Ukraine was celebrating its independence day.

<h2 dir="ltr">Goal achieved&nbsp;</h2>

"The landing of personnel took place on the territory of the peninsula as part of the special operation,” Andrii Yusov, representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, told Ukrainian news outlets Hromadske and Suspilne in an interview.&nbsp;

“The Main Directorate of Intelligence in cooperation with the Navy conducted a special operation, the goal was achieved, and there were no losses among the personnel. The special operation continues, we do not disclose all the details, there are losses among the enemy personnel, as well as among the forces and means. The information on the number of losses is being clarified," he added.

The HUR also shared a video of the&nbsp;operation to substantiate its claim. The clip shows a small motorboat moving through water at night near a coastline, reports Reuters news agency.

HUR said the landing point was on the western tip of Crimea, near the settlements of Olenivka and Mayak.

<h2>Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine using custom made rocket launchers against Russia&nbsp;</h2>

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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-hints-at-vladimir-putins-involvement-in-wagner-chiefs-apparent-death-628598">Biden hints at Putin's involvement in Wagner chief's apparent death</a>

"Special units on watercraft landed on the shore in the area of the Olenivka and Mayak settlements," HUR said in a statement.

It further claimed that “the state flag flew again in Ukrainian Crimea”, without saying where exactly or providing further details.

Russia is yet to respond to Ukraine’s claims of&nbsp;“special operation” in Crimea.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-begins-releasing-wastewater-from-fukushima-nuclear-plant-operator-628601">Japan begins releasing wastewater from Fukushima nuclear plant amid fears</a>

<h2 dir="ltr">Zelensky vows to free Crimea</h2>

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to free Crimea from the Russian occupation and all other areas that were captured by Moscow during the ongoing war.

"Crimea will be de-occupied like all other parts of Ukraine that are unfortunately still under the occupier," he told an international conference about Crimea which he said was being attended by more than 60 countries.

Crimea was seized and annexed by Russia in 2014 in a move not recognised by most other countries, and Russia seized other parts of Ukraine in the full-scale invasion it launched in February 2022.

Ukraine began a counteroffensive in early June to try to regain the territory occupied by Russia.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Ukrainian military on Thursday (Aug 24) claimed that it launched a "special operation" in Russian-occupied Crimea overnight. The defence ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said they carried out the operation in cooperation with the navy in which their personnel entered the peninsula territory to achieve a specific “goal”.

Ukrainian military on Thursday (Aug 24) claimed that it launched a "special operation" in Russian-occupied Crimea overnight. The defence ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said they carried out the operation in cooperation with the navy in which their personnel entered the peninsula territory to achieve a specific “goal”. The announcement comes on the day when Ukraine was celebrating its independence day. Goal achieved "The landing of personnel took place on the territory of the peninsula as part of the special operation,” Andrii Yusov, representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, told Ukrainian news outlets Hromadske and Suspilne in an interview. “The Main Directorate of Intelligence in cooperation with the Navy conducted a special operation, the goal was achieved, and there were no losses among the personnel. The special operation continues, we do not disclose all the details, there are losses among the enemy personnel, as well as among the forces and means. The information on the number of losses is being clarified," he added. The HUR also shared a video of the operation to substantiate its claim. The clip shows a small motorboat moving through water at night near a coastline, reports Reuters news agency. HUR said the landing point was on the western tip of Crimea, near the settlements of Olenivka and Mayak. Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine using custom made rocket launchers against Russia Also read | Biden hints at Putin's involvement in Wagner chief's apparent death "Special units on watercraft landed on the shore in the area of the Olenivka and Mayak settlements," HUR said in a statement. It further claimed that “the state flag flew again in Ukrainian Crimea”, without saying where exactly or providing further details. Russia is yet to respond to Ukraine’s claims of “special operation” in Crimea. Also read | Japan begins releasing wastewater from Fukushima nuclear plant amid fears Zelensky vows to free Crimea Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to free Crimea from the Russian occupation and all other areas that were captured by Moscow during the ongoing war. "Crimea will be de-occupied like all other parts of Ukraine that are unfortunately still under the occupier," he told an international conference about Crimea which he said was being attended by more than 60 countries. Crimea was seized and annexed by Russia in 2014 in a move not recognised by most other countries, and Russia seized other parts of Ukraine in the full-scale invasion it launched in February 2022. Ukraine began a counteroffensive in early June to try to regain the territory occupied by Russia. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

On independence day, Ukraine claims it carried out ‘special operation’ in Russian-occupied Crimea

A bus carrying pilgrims skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in Madhesh province of Nepal on Thursday (Aug 24), killing all the seven passengers on board.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Among the seven fatalities, six were Indians and belonged to western Rajasthan state, while 19 people have suffered injuries.

The accident took place in the early hours of Thursday. The bus was en route to Janakpur from Kathmandu when the accident took place at a river bank south of Churiamai Temple in Simara.

Superintendent Hobindra Bogati told Kathmandu Post newspaper that 27 people, including two drivers and one helper, were in the bus.

<h2 dir="ltr">Bus driver, his co-workers arrested&nbsp;</h2>

Three people, including the bus driver named Jilami, his co-driver and the helper, have been arrested.

The police officer said that the driver and his coworkers were picked up from a health centre after they were treated for their injuries.

“Further investigation into the accident is underway,” Bogati was quoted as saying.

Deputy Superintendent Pradeep Bahadur Chhetri said that the injured passengers are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Hetauda of Makwanpur district.&nbsp;

Though the police have initiated an investigation, the police suspect that the accident may have caused due to the driver falling asleep on the wheels.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-tejas-fighter-successfully-test-fires-indigenous-astra-missile-628702">India's Tejas fighter aircraft successfully test-fires indigenous Astra missile</a>

Road accidents in Nepal are quite common due to the poor road infrastructure across the country, which majorly comprises mountainous terrain.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/himachal-pradesh-several-feared-trapped-as-houses-collapse-due-to-landslides-628632">Himachal Pradesh: Several feared trapped as houses collapse due to landslides in Kullu</a>

On Wednesday, a passenger bus skidded off the main highway and plunged into a swollen river in Nepal’s Bagmati province, killing at least eight people and leaving at least 15 others injured.

The accident happened when the bus en route to the scenic city of Pokhara from Kathmandu veered off and fell into the Trishuli river at Chalise in Dhading district.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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A bus carrying pilgrims skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in Madhesh province of Nepal on Thursday (Aug 24), killing all the seven passengers on board.

A bus carrying pilgrims skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in Madhesh province of Nepal on Thursday (Aug 24), killing all the seven passengers on board. Among the seven fatalities, six were Indians and belonged to western Rajasthan state, while 19 people have suffered injuries. The accident took place in the early hours of Thursday. The bus was en route to Janakpur from Kathmandu when the accident took place at a river bank south of Churiamai Temple in Simara. Superintendent Hobindra Bogati told Kathmandu Post newspaper that 27 people, including two drivers and one helper, were in the bus. Bus driver, his co-workers arrested Three people, including the bus driver named Jilami, his co-driver and the helper, have been arrested. The police officer said that the driver and his coworkers were picked up from a health centre after they were treated for their injuries. “Further investigation into the accident is underway,” Bogati was quoted as saying. Deputy Superintendent Pradeep Bahadur Chhetri said that the injured passengers are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Hetauda of Makwanpur district. Though the police have initiated an investigation, the police suspect that the accident may have caused due to the driver falling asleep on the wheels. Also read | India's Tejas fighter aircraft successfully test-fires indigenous Astra missile Road accidents in Nepal are quite common due to the poor road infrastructure across the country, which majorly comprises mountainous terrain. Also read | Himachal Pradesh: Several feared trapped as houses collapse due to landslides in Kullu On Wednesday, a passenger bus skidded off the main highway and plunged into a swollen river in Nepal’s Bagmati province, killing at least eight people and leaving at least 15 others injured. The accident happened when the bus en route to the scenic city of Pokhara from Kathmandu veered off and fell into the Trishuli river at Chalise in Dhading district. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Six Indian pilgrims among seven killed in Nepal bus crash 

Japan began&nbsp;releasing millions of tonnes of treated radioactive water from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday (August 24), a move that has already triggered strong opposition from neighbouring countries.

An estimated 1.34 million tonnes of radioactive water— enough to fill 500 Olympic-size pools—has&nbsp;accumulated in the tank at the site since the 2011 tsunami incident.

The water will be released over 30 years after being filtered and diluted.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco)—the nuclear plant’s operator—has been designated to execute the plan.

The release of water has started&nbsp;a month after Japan’s nuclear regulator gave the nod to Tepco to start releasing the water, which has been termed “safe” by the Japanese government and the International Atomic Energy Agency amidst fears expressed by neighbouring countries that the water may contaminate food.

<h2>How will contaminated water get discharged?</h2>

The 1.3 million tonnes of radioactive water that is stored in huge tanks on the site has been filtered through Tepco’s advanced liquid processing system (Alps) to remove most radioactive elements except for tritium—an isotope of hydrogen that is difficult to separate from water.

The “treated” water, as Japan has objected to the use of the word “contaminated”, will be diluted with seawater so that the concentration of tritium is well below regulatory-approved levels before being released into the ocean one&nbsp;kilometre from the shoreline via an undersea tunnel.

This practice is common around the world and regulatory authorities support dealing with the Fukushima water in this way.

According to experts, tritium is relatively harmless as its radiation is not strong enough to affect human skin.

When ingested at levels above those in the released water, it can raise cancer risks, a Scientific American article said in 2014.

It is estimated that the water discharge would take decades to complete, with ongoing filtering and dilution, alongside the planned decommissioning of the plant.

<h2>The safety concerns </h2>

Though the Japanese government and the IAEA have asserted that the so-called “treated” water is safe, environmental activists have raised concerns arguing that all the possible impacts have not been studied.

The UN nuclear watchdog, which approved the plan in July, says that Japan is meeting the international standards of discharging the water and reiterated that it would have a “negligible” impact on people and the environment.

On Tuesday&nbsp;(Aug 22), Greenpeace said that the radiological risks have not been fully assessed and that the biological impacts of tritium, carbon-14, strontium-90 and iodine-129 —to be released with the water —"have been ignored”.

But&nbsp;Tepco and Japan have argued that the filtering process will remove strontium-90 and iodine-129, adding that the concentration of carbon-14 in the contaminated water would be far lower than its regulatory standard for discharge.

The government will take "appropriate measures, including immediate suspension of the discharge" if an unusually high concentration&nbsp;of radioactive materials is detected, the Japanese government document said, according to Reuters news agency.

The South Korean government, too, concurred with Japan, saying that its own study conducted recently has indicated that the water release meets international standards and said it respects the IAEA's assessment.

<h2>The opposition</h2>

Apart from Japan’s neighbouring countries, many people, including fishermen in Japan, have expressed opposition fearing that the discharged treated water might affect their livelihoods.

On Tuesday, a crowd of protesters staged a rally outside the prime minister's official residence, urging the government to stop the release.

But the most vocal opposition came from China, which accused Japan of treating the ocean like its "private sewer."

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated Beijing's objection on Tuesday, adding it would take "necessary measures to safeguard the marine environment, food safety and public health".

Japan is "putting its own self-interest over the long-term well-being of all humankind" with the release of wastewater, Wang said.

Hong Kong said it would "immediately activate" import curbs on some Japanese food products.

Both South Korea and China have already banned fish imports from around Fukushima.

<h2>Hong Kong's ban on Japanese seafood</h2>

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the release was "irresponsible" and posed "impossible risks to food&nbsp;safety" and risked "irreparable pollution and destruction of the marine environment".

Lee, in a post on his Facebook account, said he had told Environment Secretary Tse Chin-wan and relevant departments to immediately activate import controls to protect food safety and public health.

"There is no timetable at this point about how long the ban will last," Tse told a press conference, adding that a decision would depend on data and information from Japan after the discharge.

The measure covers live, frozen, refrigerated, dried aquatic products, sea salt and seaweed.

Hong Kong is Japan's second-largest market, after mainland China, for agricultural and fisheries exports.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Japan began releasing millions of tonnes of treated radioactive water from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday (August 24), a move that has already triggered strong opposition from neighbouring countries.

Japan began releasing millions of tonnes of treated radioactive water from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday (August 24), a move that has already triggered strong opposition from neighbouring countries. An estimated 1.34 million tonnes of radioactive water— enough to fill 500 Olympic-size pools—has accumulated in the tank at the site since the 2011 tsunami incident. The water will be released over 30 years after being filtered and diluted. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco)—the nuclear plant’s operator—has been designated to execute the plan. The release of water has started a month after Japan’s nuclear regulator gave the nod to Tepco to start releasing the water, which has been termed “safe” by the Japanese government and the International Atomic Energy Agency amidst fears expressed by neighbouring countries that the water may contaminate food. How will contaminated water get discharged? The 1.3 million tonnes of radioactive water that is stored in huge tanks on the site has been filtered through Tepco’s advanced liquid processing system (Alps) to remove most radioactive elements except for tritium—an isotope of hydrogen that is difficult to separate from water. The “treated” water, as Japan has objected to the use of the word “contaminated”, will be diluted with seawater so that the concentration of tritium is well below regulatory-approved levels before being released into the ocean one kilometre from the shoreline via an undersea tunnel. This practice is common around the world and regulatory authorities support dealing with the Fukushima water in this way. According to experts, tritium is relatively harmless as its radiation is not strong enough to affect human skin. When ingested at levels above those in the released water, it can raise cancer risks, a Scientific American article said in 2014. It is estimated that the water discharge would take decades to complete, with ongoing filtering and dilution, alongside the planned decommissioning of the plant. The safety concerns Though the Japanese government and the IAEA have asserted that the so-called “treated” water is safe, environmental activists have raised concerns arguing that all the possible impacts have not been studied. The UN nuclear watchdog, which approved the plan in July, says that Japan is meeting the international standards of discharging the water and reiterated that it would have a “negligible” impact on people and the environment. On Tuesday (Aug 22), Greenpeace said that the radiological risks have not been fully assessed and that the biological impacts of tritium, carbon-14, strontium-90 and iodine-129 —to be released with the water —"have been ignored”. But Tepco and Japan have argued that the filtering process will remove strontium-90 and iodine-129, adding that the concentration of carbon-14 in the contaminated water would be far lower than its regulatory standard for discharge. The government will take "appropriate measures, including immediate suspension of the discharge" if an unusually high concentration of radioactive materials is detected, the Japanese government document said, according to Reuters news agency. The South Korean government, too, concurred with Japan, saying that its own study conducted recently has indicated that the water release meets international standards and said it respects the IAEA's assessment. The opposition Apart from Japan’s neighbouring countries, many people, including fishermen in Japan, have expressed opposition fearing that the discharged treated water might affect their livelihoods. On Tuesday, a crowd of protesters staged a rally outside the prime minister's official residence, urging the government to stop the release. But the most vocal opposition came from China, which accused Japan of treating the ocean like its "private sewer." Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated Beijing's objection on Tuesday, adding it would take "necessary measures to safeguard the marine environment, food safety and public health". Japan is "putting its own self-interest over the long-term well-being of all humankind" with the release of wastewater, Wang said. Hong Kong said it would "immediately activate" import curbs on some Japanese food products. Both South Korea and China have already banned fish imports from around Fukushima. Hong Kong's ban on Japanese seafood Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the release was "irresponsible" and posed "impossible risks to food safety" and risked "irreparable pollution and destruction of the marine environment". Lee, in a post on his Facebook account, said he had told Environment Secretary Tse Chin-wan and relevant departments to immediately activate import controls to protect food safety and public health. "There is no timetable at this point about how long the ban will last," Tse told a press conference, adding that a decision would depend on data and information from Japan after the discharge. The measure covers live, frozen, refrigerated, dried aquatic products, sea salt and seaweed. Hong Kong is Japan's second-largest market, after mainland China, for agricultural and fisheries exports. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | Row over planned release of radioactive water from Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant

A private charter plane that was carrying seven people and three crew members&nbsp;crashed on Wednesday (Aug 23) when it was on its way to&nbsp;St Petersburg from Moscow, triggering reports of&nbsp;Russian mercenary group Wagner chief&nbsp;Yevgeny Prigozhin's death in the accident.

Russian news media reported citing authorities that someone by the name of Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of the aircraft, while not confirming whether it was indeed the Wagner Group chief who died.&nbsp;

Local media citing Russia’s emergency ministry reported&nbsp;that all the 10 people on board the plane had died, with video shared on social media showing it in flames.

It is currently unknown whether&nbsp;Prigozhin had in fact boarded the plane, but the Russian officials said that a man with Prigozhin’s name was among the passengers, without elaborating further.&nbsp;

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"There were 10 people on board, including three crew members. According to preliminary information, all on board were killed," the department said.

The plane is said to have crashed in the Tver region, north of Moscow.&nbsp;Videos circulating on social media showed the moment the plane&nbsp;crashed.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prigozhin-death-news-this-is-what-happened-to-other-putin-foes-628714">Prigozhin death news: This is what happened to other Putin foes in past</a> 
 
WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the clips.

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Major Breaking News: 
 
Private jet of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has crashed in the Tver Region. Prigozhin was on the passenger list. Wagner channel “Greyzone” accuses that Russian air defense shot it down. 
 
It was inevitable that the feud between Putin and Prigozhin will end… <a href="https://t.co/NYGhnCrkBp">pic.twitter.com/NYGhnCrkBp</a>
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1694399779877666874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Federal Agency for Air Transport of Russia has said that it has initiated a probe into&nbsp;the plane crash and added&nbsp;that the name Yevgeny Prigozhin was in the list of passengers of the crashed flight, Tass news agency reported.

"An investigation of the Embraer plane crash that happened in the Tver Region this evening was initiated. According to the passenger list, first and last name of Yevgeny Prigozhin was included in this list," the agency noted.

Meanwhile, Sputnik has reported citing emergency officials that eight bodies have been found at the crash site of Embraer plane in Russia's Tver Region.

The news of his purported&nbsp;death came days after the Wagner chief made his first video appearance in the aftermath of his failed coup attempt after growing discontent against the&nbsp;top Russian defence officials for overlooking the mercenary group's needs.

In the video, shared on the Telegram app, 62-year-old Prigozhin was seen vowing to make Africa “more free” and “Russia even greater on every continent".

The video purportedly shows the man standing in a desert-like area, dressed in military fatigues and wearing a bulletproof vest featuring the Wagner logo.

“We are working. The temperature is plus 50 (degrees Celsius). Everything is how we like it,” Prigozhin appears to say in the video while holding an assault rifle in his hands. Armed men on pickup trucks can be seen in the background, seemingly keeping a safety perimeter around him.

Once a close aide of Vladimir Putin,&nbsp;Prigozhin's ties with the Russian leader nosedived following his bid to overthrow the top leadership.&nbsp;Prigozhin and Putin have known each other since the 1990s. He became a wealthy oligarch by winning lucrative catering contracts with the Kremlin, earning him the moniker “Putin’s chef.”

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A private charter plane that was carrying seven people and three crew members crashed on Wednesday (Aug 23) when it was on its way to St Petersburg from Moscow, triggering reports of Russian mercenary group Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's death in the accident.

A private charter plane that was carrying seven people and three crew members crashed on Wednesday (Aug 23) when it was on its way to St Petersburg from Moscow, triggering reports of Russian mercenary group Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's death in the accident. Russian news media reported citing authorities that someone by the name of Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of the aircraft, while not confirming whether it was indeed the Wagner Group chief who died. Local media citing Russia’s emergency ministry reported that all the 10 people on board the plane had died, with video shared on social media showing it in flames. It is currently unknown whether Prigozhin had in fact boarded the plane, but the Russian officials said that a man with Prigozhin’s name was among the passengers, without elaborating further. "There were 10 people on board, including three crew members. According to preliminary information, all on board were killed," the department said. The plane is said to have crashed in the Tver region, north of Moscow. Videos circulating on social media showed the moment the plane crashed. Also Read | Prigozhin death news: This is what happened to other Putin foes in past WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the clips. Major Breaking News: Private jet of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has crashed in the Tver Region. Prigozhin was on the passenger list. Wagner channel “Greyzone” accuses that Russian air defense shot it down. It was inevitable that the feud between Putin and Prigozhin will end… pic.twitter.com/NYGhnCrkBp — (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) August 23, 2023 × The Federal Agency for Air Transport of Russia has said that it has initiated a probe into the plane crash and added that the name Yevgeny Prigozhin was in the list of passengers of the crashed flight, Tass news agency reported. "An investigation of the Embraer plane crash that happened in the Tver Region this evening was initiated. According to the passenger list, first and last name of Yevgeny Prigozhin was included in this list," the agency noted. Meanwhile, Sputnik has reported citing emergency officials that eight bodies have been found at the crash site of Embraer plane in Russia's Tver Region. The news of his purported death came days after the Wagner chief made his first video appearance in the aftermath of his failed coup attempt after growing discontent against the top Russian defence officials for overlooking the mercenary group's needs. In the video, shared on the Telegram app, 62-year-old Prigozhin was seen vowing to make Africa “more free” and “Russia even greater on every continent". The video purportedly shows the man standing in a desert-like area, dressed in military fatigues and wearing a bulletproof vest featuring the Wagner logo. “We are working. The temperature is plus 50 (degrees Celsius). Everything is how we like it,” Prigozhin appears to say in the video while holding an assault rifle in his hands. Armed men on pickup trucks can be seen in the background, seemingly keeping a safety perimeter around him. Once a close aide of Vladimir Putin, Prigozhin's ties with the Russian leader nosedived following his bid to overthrow the top leadership. Prigozhin and Putin have known each other since the 1990s. He became a wealthy oligarch by winning lucrative catering contracts with the Kremlin, earning him the moniker “Putin’s chef.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia's Wagner mercenary group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin 'dies' in plane crash, say reports

Officials from Haiti and the Dominican Republic have sounded alert as Tropical Storm Franklin threatens to bring flash floods and landslides to the countries’ shared island of Hispaniola.

On Tuesday morning (Aug 22), the US National Hurricane Center in an advisory said that the tropical storm was expected to make landfall on Wednesday on the southern side of Hispaniola.

A day before, the storm was located around 240 miles (390 kilometres) south of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph).

Puerto Rico was also expected to get about 10cm (4 inches) of rain as Franklin moved through the area, according to the agency.

The weather agency has predicted that the storm, which is moving west at 6 mph (9 kph), to take a sharp turn north late on Monday or early Tuesday.

The US weather agency further predicted that the tropical storm could cause heavy rains of 25 cm (10 inches) in both countries, with some areas receiving as much as 38 cm (15 inches).

<h2>'Life-threatening flash flood&nbsp;on the anvil</h2>

"Significant and potentially life-threatening flash flooding is possible over Hispaniola through Wednesday," the forecast read.

However, concerns have been raised for Haiti, where the storm is expected to deal greater damage due to poor infrastructure. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew&nbsp;devastated&nbsp;the country, killing an estimated 546 people and leaving 1.4 million others in need of humanitarian aid.

Notably, Tropical Storm Franklin is the Atlantic hurricane season’s fourth named storm to form in two days, and is the seventh tropical cyclone to reach tropical storm strength this year.

On Monday, three tropical storms were circling through the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, an unusual occurrence as the region braces for a busier-than-average hurricane season.

While Tropical Storm Emily was downgraded on Monday to a post-tropical cyclone after forming the day before, Gert was also short-lived.

Meanwhile, schools, government offices and businesses have been ordered to shut down in the Dominican Republic&nbsp;by midday on Tuesday and reopen on Thursday.

Nearly half of the Dominican Republic’s 31 provinces were under red alert as the storm approached.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Officials from Haiti and the Dominican Republic have sounded alert as Tropical Storm Franklin threatens to bring flash floods and landslides to the countries’ shared island of Hispaniola.

Officials from Haiti and the Dominican Republic have sounded alert as Tropical Storm Franklin threatens to bring flash floods and landslides to the countries’ shared island of Hispaniola. On Tuesday morning (Aug 22), the US National Hurricane Center in an advisory said that the tropical storm was expected to make landfall on Wednesday on the southern side of Hispaniola. A day before, the storm was located around 240 miles (390 kilometres) south of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph). Puerto Rico was also expected to get about 10cm (4 inches) of rain as Franklin moved through the area, according to the agency. The weather agency has predicted that the storm, which is moving west at 6 mph (9 kph), to take a sharp turn north late on Monday or early Tuesday. The US weather agency further predicted that the tropical storm could cause heavy rains of 25 cm (10 inches) in both countries, with some areas receiving as much as 38 cm (15 inches). 'Life-threatening flash flood on the anvil "Significant and potentially life-threatening flash flooding is possible over Hispaniola through Wednesday," the forecast read. However, concerns have been raised for Haiti, where the storm is expected to deal greater damage due to poor infrastructure. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew devastated the country, killing an estimated 546 people and leaving 1.4 million others in need of humanitarian aid. Notably, Tropical Storm Franklin is the Atlantic hurricane season’s fourth named storm to form in two days, and is the seventh tropical cyclone to reach tropical storm strength this year. On Monday, three tropical storms were circling through the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, an unusual occurrence as the region braces for a busier-than-average hurricane season. While Tropical Storm Emily was downgraded on Monday to a post-tropical cyclone after forming the day before, Gert was also short-lived. Meanwhile, schools, government offices and businesses have been ordered to shut down in the Dominican Republic by midday on Tuesday and reopen on Thursday. Nearly half of the Dominican Republic’s 31 provinces were under red alert as the storm approached. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Tropical Storm Franklin threatens to bring floods and landslides in Haiti and Dominican Republic

The BRICS 15th Plenary Session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday (August 23) with members calling for strengthening multilateralism for global development and security, and improving co-existence among the member countries.

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Some of the members also talked about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and said that BRICS nations should work towards resolving the issue.

Delivering the opening remarks, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on member countries to further the interests of the global south and press the industrialised countries to support climate actions.

“BRICS nations need to advance the interests of the global south and call for industrialised countries to honour their commitments to support climate actions by developing economic progress..."

Talking about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ramaphosa said that BRICS countries will continue to be supportive of bringing this conflict to an end through dialogue, mediation and negotiation”."

<h2 dir="ltr">Indian PM Modi calls for BRICS expansion&nbsp;</h2>

Then, Indian Prime Minister Narendra backed the idea of BRICS expansion, prompting other leaders to clap in response. He later also called on all BRICS members to support the inclusion of the African Union into the G20 grouping.

He also proposed BRICS cooperation in the space exploration consortium that will focus on space research and weather monitoring, and further suggesting cooperation in education, technology and skill mapping.

<h2 dir="ltr">Xi wants BRICS to expand cooperation in security&nbsp;</h2>

Speaking next, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that BRICS countries should practice true multilateralism, stick to solidarity and oppose division.

"International rules must be written and upheld jointly by all countries based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter rather than dictated by those with strongest muscles or the loudest of voice...BRICS countries should practice true multilateralism, stick to solidarity and oppose division..."

“Human history will not end with a particular civilisation or system. BRICS countries need to champion the spirit of inclusiveness and advocate peaceful coexistence and harmony between civilisations. We should respect all modernisation paths that each country chooses on its own and oppose ideological rivalry, systemic confrontation and clash of civilisations."

The Chinese leader further said that BRICS should expand cooperation in other fields such as security to uphold peace and tranquility

"The Cold War mentality is still haunting our world and the geo-political situation is getting tense. BRICS countries should keep to the direction of peaceful development and consolidate the BRICS strategic partnership.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brics-2023-indias-modi-backs-brics-expansion-south-africas-ramaphosa-wishes-chandrayaan-3-success-628359">BRICS 2023: India's Modi backs BRICS expansion, South Africa's Ramaphosa wishes Chandrayaan-3 success</a>

“We need to make good use of the BRICS Foreign ministers' meeting, a meeting of high representatives on national security &amp; other mechanism; support each other on our core interests and enhance coordination on major international and regional issues. We need to tender good offices on hotspot issues pushing for political settlement and lowering the temperature..."

<h2 dir="ltr">Putin blames West for Ukraine war&nbsp;</h2>

Addressing the event virtually, Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about the Ukraine conflict wherein he blamed the West’s “hegemony mindset” as the key reason for starting the war.

“We are against any hegemony, the notion of exceptionalism promoted by some nations, and the policy of neocolonialism derived from that claim,” the Russian leader said.

The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa, firmly believes in “the formation of a multipolar world order, truly just and based on international law,” Putin stated.

“Our actions in Ukraine have but one motive: to put an end to this war that the West and its satellites in Ukraine started against the people living in Donbas,” the president said.

He also conveyed Moscow’s gratitude to BRICS members, which he said are working to resolve the situation “in a fair way through peaceful means.”

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The BRICS 15th Plenary Session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday (August 23) with members calling for strengthening multilateralism for global development and security, and improving co-existence among the member countries.

The BRICS 15th Plenary Session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday (August 23) with members calling for strengthening multilateralism for global development and security, and improving co-existence among the member countries. Some of the members also talked about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and said that BRICS nations should work towards resolving the issue. Delivering the opening remarks, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on member countries to further the interests of the global south and press the industrialised countries to support climate actions. “BRICS nations need to advance the interests of the global south and call for industrialised countries to honour their commitments to support climate actions by developing economic progress..." Talking about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ramaphosa said that BRICS countries will continue to be supportive of bringing this conflict to an end through dialogue, mediation and negotiation”." Indian PM Modi calls for BRICS expansion Then, Indian Prime Minister Narendra backed the idea of BRICS expansion, prompting other leaders to clap in response. He later also called on all BRICS members to support the inclusion of the African Union into the G20 grouping. He also proposed BRICS cooperation in the space exploration consortium that will focus on space research and weather monitoring, and further suggesting cooperation in education, technology and skill mapping. Xi wants BRICS to expand cooperation in security Speaking next, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that BRICS countries should practice true multilateralism, stick to solidarity and oppose division. "International rules must be written and upheld jointly by all countries based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter rather than dictated by those with strongest muscles or the loudest of voice...BRICS countries should practice true multilateralism, stick to solidarity and oppose division..." “Human history will not end with a particular civilisation or system. BRICS countries need to champion the spirit of inclusiveness and advocate peaceful coexistence and harmony between civilisations. We should respect all modernisation paths that each country chooses on its own and oppose ideological rivalry, systemic confrontation and clash of civilisations." The Chinese leader further said that BRICS should expand cooperation in other fields such as security to uphold peace and tranquility "The Cold War mentality is still haunting our world and the geo-political situation is getting tense. BRICS countries should keep to the direction of peaceful development and consolidate the BRICS strategic partnership.” Also read | BRICS 2023: India's Modi backs BRICS expansion, South Africa's Ramaphosa wishes Chandrayaan-3 success “We need to make good use of the BRICS Foreign ministers' meeting, a meeting of high representatives on national security & other mechanism; support each other on our core interests and enhance coordination on major international and regional issues. We need to tender good offices on hotspot issues pushing for political settlement and lowering the temperature..." Putin blames West for Ukraine war Addressing the event virtually, Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about the Ukraine conflict wherein he blamed the West’s “hegemony mindset” as the key reason for starting the war. “We are against any hegemony, the notion of exceptionalism promoted by some nations, and the policy of neocolonialism derived from that claim,” the Russian leader said. The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa, firmly believes in “the formation of a multipolar world order, truly just and based on international law,” Putin stated. “Our actions in Ukraine have but one motive: to put an end to this war that the West and its satellites in Ukraine started against the people living in Donbas,” the president said. He also conveyed Moscow’s gratitude to BRICS members, which he said are working to resolve the situation “in a fair way through peaceful means.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia-Ukraine conflict, strengthening multilateralism figure prominently at BRICS meet

The BRICS Business Forum kicked off in South Africa’s Johannesburg on Tuesday (Aug 22) to discuss a wide range of economic issues, including the current state of cooperation in trade and investment, strengthening ties, and removing bottlenecks among the member countries.

Among the leaders who were present in the forum were Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian President Lula da Silva. But someone was missing.

<h2>Putin addresses event virtually</h2>

While Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the event virtually, there was one leader whose absence was conspicuous, given that he was one of the earliest to arrive at the South African city for the summit. That was Chinese President Xi Jinping.

After Ramaphosa, Lula and Modi addressed the forum, Chinese Commerce Minister Whang Wentao delivered a statement on behalf of Xi Jinping.

In the brief speech, Wentao denounced “countries obsessed with maintaining hegemony” for sabotaging the growth of developing nations, an effort he said is “futile”.

Quoting Xi, Wentao called for an end to one-dimensional views of states that divide them into artificial categories like “liberal” or “authoritarian”.

Though it was known that Putin won’t be coming to South Africa due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over war crimes in Ukraine, it was surprising that Xi did not turn up for the event.

So far, no reason has been provided for Xi’s absence, and the stoic silence from the officials has left much room for speculation.

<h2>Xi met&nbsp;Ramaphosa</h2>

Earlier in the day, Xi met with Ramaphosa ahead of the summit on just his second international trip of the year.

"Now as friends and&nbsp;BRICS&nbsp;partners, we stand together in our shared objective and quest for a better and more egalitarian world that frees the potential of all the people in the world," said Ramaphosa in Pretoria at the opening of Xi's state visit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/modi-aims-at-expansion-of-indias-upi-to-brics-nations-at-business-forum-meet-628060">Modi aims at expansion of India's UPI to BRICS nations at business forum meet</a>

"Today, standing at a new historical starting point, inheriting friendship, deepening cooperation, and strengthening coordination are the common aspirations of the two countries, and are also the important tasks entrusted to us by the times," said Xi.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brics-2023-putin-hails-de-dollarisation-lula-vows-to-fight-global-colonialism-628065">BRICS 2023: Putin hails de-dollarisation, Lula vows to fight global colonialism</a>

Ahead of this summit, at least 40 countries have expressed interest in joining including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Argentina, officials say.

South Africa will present&nbsp;BRICS&nbsp;leaders with a proposal to expand its membership and a decision on the matter is expected at the summit's close.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The BRICS Business Forum kicked off in South Africa’s Johannesburg on Tuesday (Aug 22) to discuss a wide range of economic issues, including the current state of cooperation in trade and investment, strengthening ties, and removing bottlenecks among the member countries.

The BRICS Business Forum kicked off in South Africa’s Johannesburg on Tuesday (Aug 22) to discuss a wide range of economic issues, including the current state of cooperation in trade and investment, strengthening ties, and removing bottlenecks among the member countries. Among the leaders who were present in the forum were Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian President Lula da Silva. But someone was missing. Putin addresses event virtually While Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the event virtually, there was one leader whose absence was conspicuous, given that he was one of the earliest to arrive at the South African city for the summit. That was Chinese President Xi Jinping. After Ramaphosa, Lula and Modi addressed the forum, Chinese Commerce Minister Whang Wentao delivered a statement on behalf of Xi Jinping. In the brief speech, Wentao denounced “countries obsessed with maintaining hegemony” for sabotaging the growth of developing nations, an effort he said is “futile”. Quoting Xi, Wentao called for an end to one-dimensional views of states that divide them into artificial categories like “liberal” or “authoritarian”. Though it was known that Putin won’t be coming to South Africa due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over war crimes in Ukraine, it was surprising that Xi did not turn up for the event. So far, no reason has been provided for Xi’s absence, and the stoic silence from the officials has left much room for speculation. Xi met Ramaphosa Earlier in the day, Xi met with Ramaphosa ahead of the summit on just his second international trip of the year. "Now as friends and BRICS partners, we stand together in our shared objective and quest for a better and more egalitarian world that frees the potential of all the people in the world," said Ramaphosa in Pretoria at the opening of Xi's state visit. Also read | Modi aims at expansion of India's UPI to BRICS nations at business forum meet "Today, standing at a new historical starting point, inheriting friendship, deepening cooperation, and strengthening coordination are the common aspirations of the two countries, and are also the important tasks entrusted to us by the times," said Xi. Also read | BRICS 2023: Putin hails de-dollarisation, Lula vows to fight global colonialism Ahead of this summit, at least 40 countries have expressed interest in joining including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Argentina, officials say. South Africa will present BRICS leaders with a proposal to expand its membership and a decision on the matter is expected at the summit's close. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Where is Xi Jinping? Chinese leader's unusual absence at BRICS Business Forum raises eyebrows

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