The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, 75-year-old Patriarch Kirill, has Covid and will self isolate, his church said in a statement Friday.

"All planned meetings and trips in the coming days of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill are cancelled," it said, adding that he needed "bed rest and isolation."

The patriarch was absent from a grand Kremlin ceremony later on Friday in which Russia announces the annexation of four occupied Ukrainian regions.&nbsp;

A leader of the Russian Orthodox Church since 2009, Patriarch Kirill is a staunch supporter of President Vladimir Putin's policies.

After Putin announced a mobilisation last week, triggering protests and an exodus of men, the patriarch suggested that Russian soldiers dying in Ukraine would go to heaven.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-putin-set-to-officially-annex-occupied-ukrainian-regions-at-official-event-today-521193">LIVE | Putin claims four new regions of Russia, calls out West for 'hypocrisy'</a>

"It someone, driven by a sense of duty and the need to fulfil an oath, remains true to his calling and dies in the line of military duty then he undoubtedly commits an act of tantamount sacrifice," he said at a sermon last Sunday.&nbsp;

"We believe this sacrifice washes away all the sins that a person has committed."

The UK and Canada have placed sanctions on Patriarch Kirill for his backing of the what the Kremlin calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

<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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, 75-year-old Patriarch Kirill, has Covid and will self isolate, his church said in a statement Friday. "All planned meetings and trips in the coming days of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill are cancelled," it said, adding that he needed "bed rest and isolation.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, 75-year-old Patriarch Kirill, has Covid and will self isolate, his church said in a statement Friday. "All planned meetings and trips in the coming days of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill are cancelled," it said, adding that he needed "bed rest and isolation." The patriarch was absent from a grand Kremlin ceremony later on Friday in which Russia announces the annexation of four occupied Ukrainian regions. A leader of the Russian Orthodox Church since 2009, Patriarch Kirill is a staunch supporter of President Vladimir Putin's policies. After Putin announced a mobilisation last week, triggering protests and an exodus of men, the patriarch suggested that Russian soldiers dying in Ukraine would go to heaven. Also Read: LIVE | Putin claims four new regions of Russia, calls out West for 'hypocrisy' "It someone, driven by a sense of duty and the need to fulfil an oath, remains true to his calling and dies in the line of military duty then he undoubtedly commits an act of tantamount sacrifice," he said at a sermon last Sunday. "We believe this sacrifice washes away all the sins that a person has committed." The UK and Canada have placed sanctions on Patriarch Kirill for his backing of the what the Kremlin calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Patriarch Kirill, head of Russia's Orthodox Church, down with severe Covid symptoms

Security researchers claim that the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) utilised hundreds of seriously defective websites for secret communications that even an "amateur sleuth" might have discovered.&nbsp;

Dozens of US sources in China in 2011 and 2012 are said to have died as a result of the vulnerabilities, while Iran is said to have executed or imprisoned other CIA operatives as a result of the problems.&nbsp;

Security specialists at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, who began looking into the issue after receiving a tip from Reuters reporter Joel Schectmann, conducted the latest study.

Citizen Lab said that it was able to trace "with high confidence" the use of a network of 885 websites to the CIA using just one website and publicly accessible information. It was discovered that the websites gave the impression of being about news, the weather, healthcare, and other respectable websites.&nbsp;

A motivated amateur sleuth could have identified the CIA network and linked it to the US government with the knowledge of just one website, according to a statement from Citizen Lab.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mahsa-amini-death-senior-iran-cleric-calls-for-crackdown-on-protesters-521253">Mahsa Amini death: Senior Iran cleric calls for crackdown on protesters</a>

The CIA apparently stopped using the websites between 2004 and 2013, but Citizen Lab reported that a subset of them was still connected to active intelligence personnel or assets, including a current foreign contractor and a state department employee.

The story's beginnings may be traced back to 2018 when Yahoo News writers Jenna McLaughlin and Zach Dorfman revealed that Iran and China had infiltrated a system used by the CIA to interact with assets, which resulted in the deaths of over 20 dozen sources in China in 2011 and 2012. People with knowledge of the incident expressed worry to Yahoo News that those at fault had never been held accountable.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

Security researchers claim that the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) utilised hundreds of seriously defective websites for secret communications that even an "amateur sleuth" might have discovered.

Security researchers claim that the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) utilised hundreds of seriously defective websites for secret communications that even an "amateur sleuth" might have discovered. Dozens of US sources in China in 2011 and 2012 are said to have died as a result of the vulnerabilities, while Iran is said to have executed or imprisoned other CIA operatives as a result of the problems. Security specialists at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, who began looking into the issue after receiving a tip from Reuters reporter Joel Schectmann, conducted the latest study. Citizen Lab said that it was able to trace "with high confidence" the use of a network of 885 websites to the CIA using just one website and publicly accessible information. It was discovered that the websites gave the impression of being about news, the weather, healthcare, and other respectable websites. A motivated amateur sleuth could have identified the CIA network and linked it to the US government with the knowledge of just one website, according to a statement from Citizen Lab. Also Read: Mahsa Amini death: Senior Iran cleric calls for crackdown on protesters The CIA apparently stopped using the websites between 2004 and 2013, but Citizen Lab reported that a subset of them was still connected to active intelligence personnel or assets, including a current foreign contractor and a state department employee. The story's beginnings may be traced back to 2018 when Yahoo News writers Jenna McLaughlin and Zach Dorfman revealed that Iran and China had infiltrated a system used by the CIA to interact with assets, which resulted in the deaths of over 20 dozen sources in China in 2011 and 2012. People with knowledge of the incident expressed worry to Yahoo News that those at fault had never been held accountable. (with inputs from agencies)

CIA's defective websites for covert communications exposed dozens of assets in China, Iran: Research

According to lead researcher Juliet Schor, a sociologist and economist at Boston College who is monitoring over 180 organisations globally as they switch to truncated schedules through six-month pilot programmes, workers who shifted to 32-hour workweeks logged 7.58 hours per night of sleep, nearly a full hour more than when they were maintaining in the 40-hour workweeks.&nbsp;

In other words, they slept for almost seven of the eight hours they had gained back each week rather than running errands or interacting with friends.

"I wasn't surprised that people are getting a little more sleep, but I was surprised at how robust the changes were," Schor said.&nbsp;On four-day work schedules, the proportion of participants who reported being sleep deprived—defined as receiving less than 7 hours of sleep each night—declined from 42.6 per cent&nbsp;to 14.5 per cent.&nbsp;

Schor's surveys of 304 employees at 16 companies (three with headquarters in the US, one in Australia, and 12 in Ireland) follow a series of international, six-month trials being conducted by a nonprofit group called 4 Day Week Global and come at a time when the pandemic has forced employers across industries to rethink how, where, and when work is completed.

Since the epidemic upended schedules and gave many workers a glimpse of how flexibility may enhance their lives, the idea of shorter workweeks is gaining popularity.&nbsp;

While demanding managers like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. and Elon Musk of Tesla Inc. are urging staff members to resume their pre-pandemic schedules, other well-known figures are supporting shorter workweeks.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/explained-early-signs-of-a-recession-who-decides-if-its-officially-begun-521205">Explained: Early signs of a recession; who decides if it's officially begun?</a>

These four-day week trials are not always completed by the groups who start them. About one in five companies leave the programme, most often during the pre-planning phase. Executives who participated in the pilots claim that they confront the difficult task of eliminating needless labour in order to get the same results in four days in addition to the difficulty of overcoming employee and industry five-day standards.

The enormous improvement in sleep may appear contradictory to those who do. Why do workers who take Fridays off end up sleeping an extra hour every night of the week instead of engaging in hobbies, family time, and socialising?&nbsp;

According to Schor's early data, research participants who worked four-day schedules experienced improvements in a range of wellbeing and productivity metrics, including life satisfaction and work-family balance, and she suggested that such outcomes may be tied to more sleep time.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

According to lead researcher Juliet Schor, a sociologist and economist at Boston College who is monitoring over 180 organisations globally as they switch to truncated schedules through six-month pilot programmes, workers who shifted to 32-hour workweeks logged 7.

According to lead researcher Juliet Schor, a sociologist and economist at Boston College who is monitoring over 180 organisations globally as they switch to truncated schedules through six-month pilot programmes, workers who shifted to 32-hour workweeks logged 7.58 hours per night of sleep, nearly a full hour more than when they were maintaining in the 40-hour workweeks. In other words, they slept for almost seven of the eight hours they had gained back each week rather than running errands or interacting with friends. "I wasn't surprised that people are getting a little more sleep, but I was surprised at how robust the changes were," Schor said. On four-day work schedules, the proportion of participants who reported being sleep deprived—defined as receiving less than 7 hours of sleep each night—declined from 42.6 per cent to 14.5 per cent. Schor's surveys of 304 employees at 16 companies (three with headquarters in the US, one in Australia, and 12 in Ireland) follow a series of international, six-month trials being conducted by a nonprofit group called 4 Day Week Global and come at a time when the pandemic has forced employers across industries to rethink how, where, and when work is completed. Since the epidemic upended schedules and gave many workers a glimpse of how flexibility may enhance their lives, the idea of shorter workweeks is gaining popularity. While demanding managers like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Elon Musk of Tesla Inc. are urging staff members to resume their pre-pandemic schedules, other well-known figures are supporting shorter workweeks. Also Read: Explained: Early signs of a recession; who decides if it's officially begun? These four-day week trials are not always completed by the groups who start them. About one in five companies leave the programme, most often during the pre-planning phase. Executives who participated in the pilots claim that they confront the difficult task of eliminating needless labour in order to get the same results in four days in addition to the difficulty of overcoming employee and industry five-day standards. The enormous improvement in sleep may appear contradictory to those who do. Why do workers who take Fridays off end up sleeping an extra hour every night of the week instead of engaging in hobbies, family time, and socialising? According to Schor's early data, research participants who worked four-day schedules experienced improvements in a range of wellbeing and productivity metrics, including life satisfaction and work-family balance, and she suggested that such outcomes may be tied to more sleep time. (with inputs from agencies)

Employees who work 4 days a week dedicate additional free time to sleep: Study

The United States&nbsp;economy shrank in the first half of this year, confirming concerns about a general downturn that might trigger a recession. At the same time, a measure that frequently indicates the rate of layoffs—the number of persons applying for unemployment benefits—fell to a five-month low. The decrease shows that businesses are keeping their employees despite the downturn in growth and that those who are let go swiftly find other employment.&nbsp;

The unemployment rate is close to a 50-year low, and hiring is still quite robust. Few experts believe that we are now in a recession because of the strength of the labour market. Economists anticipate the economy will grow as long as people continue to spend money, albeit slowly.

Recession is often defined as a six-month period of decline. But in a post-pandemic economy when growth is low but the employment market is robust, nothing is straightforward. Since growth abruptly came to an end in March 2020 when Covid-19 hit and 22 million Americans were suddenly out of work, the path of the economy has baffled officials at the Federal Reserve as well as many private economists.&nbsp;

Despite recent drops in gas prices and other expenses, inflation is still close to its highest point in four decades. Despite many workers receiving salary hikes, inflation is still so high that Americans' purchasing power is declining. Households with lower incomes, those who are Black and Hispanic, and those who are struggling to pay their bills are disproportionately feeling the burden.

Who decides?

The National Bureau of Economic Research, whose Business Cycle Dating Committee defines a recession as "a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months," is the organisation that formally declares recessions.&nbsp;

The committee uses job trends as a significant indicator for assessing recessions. Numerous other data points are also evaluated, such as measures of income, employment, inflation-adjusted expenditure, retail sales, and manufacturing production. It gives a lot of weight to employment and is an indicator of inflation-adjusted income that doesn't include government benefits like Social Security.&nbsp;

However, the NBER frequently waits until after a recession has started, sometimes for as long as a year.

Can a common man sense it?

Yes, as a large number of individuals currently feel more financially pressured. Higher costs have reduced Americans' purchasing power since most people's pay increases have lagged behind inflation.&nbsp;

According to Walmart, rising gas and food prices have made it necessary for its customers to cut down on discretionary purchases like new apparel. This is a glaring indication that consumer spending, the main engine of the economy, is waning. Walmart, the biggest retailer in the country, has lowered its profit forecast and said that it would have to discount more goods, including furniture and electronics.

Unemployment -- clear signal&nbsp;

According to analysts, a sustained increase in job losses and a spike in unemployment would be the most obvious signs that a recession is beginning. A recession has always occurred since World War II when the unemployment rate increased by a half percentage point over a period of many months, according to economist and former Fed employee Claudia Sahm.&nbsp;

Numerous analysts keep track of the number of people who apply for unemployment benefits each week because it shows if layoffs are becoming worse or not. The number of weekly applications for unemployment benefits has decreased to a five-month low, indicating that few firms are using layoffs as a last alternative in the face of a labour shortage.

Inverted yield curve&nbsp;

Many economists also keep an eye on fluctuations in the interest rates, or yields, on various bonds in search of the "inverted yield curve," a recession indicator. When the yield on a short-term Treasury, such as the 3-month T-bill, is lower than the yield on a 10-year Treasury, this occurs. That is strange. In return for locking up their money for a longer length of time, longer-term bonds often provide investors with a larger yield.&nbsp;

In general, inverted yield curves indicate that investors anticipate a downturn that will force the Fed to lower interest rates. Recessions frequently precede inverted curves. After the yield curve inverts, a slump may not occur for 18 to 24 months.

Interest rate&nbsp;

The economy's warning signs—slowing growth and high hiring—have presented a challenge for the Fed. Jerome Powell, the chair, wants a "soft landing, "In which inflation returns to the Fed's 2 per cent&nbsp;objective and the economy slows just enough to restrict wage growth and hiring without triggering a recession.&nbsp;

Powell has recognised, however, that it is getting harder to come to such a conclusion. He made it plain last week that the Fed will continue raising rates if necessary to control inflation, despite a deteriorating economy that may enter a recession.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

The United States economy shrank in the first half of this year, confirming concerns about a general downturn that might trigger a recession. At the same time, a measure that frequently indicates the rate of layoffs—the number of persons applying for unemployment benefits—fell to a five-month low.

The United States economy shrank in the first half of this year, confirming concerns about a general downturn that might trigger a recession. At the same time, a measure that frequently indicates the rate of layoffs—the number of persons applying for unemployment benefits—fell to a five-month low. The decrease shows that businesses are keeping their employees despite the downturn in growth and that those who are let go swiftly find other employment. The unemployment rate is close to a 50-year low, and hiring is still quite robust. Few experts believe that we are now in a recession because of the strength of the labour market. Economists anticipate the economy will grow as long as people continue to spend money, albeit slowly. Recession is often defined as a six-month period of decline. But in a post-pandemic economy when growth is low but the employment market is robust, nothing is straightforward. Since growth abruptly came to an end in March 2020 when Covid-19 hit and 22 million Americans were suddenly out of work, the path of the economy has baffled officials at the Federal Reserve as well as many private economists. Despite recent drops in gas prices and other expenses, inflation is still close to its highest point in four decades. Despite many workers receiving salary hikes, inflation is still so high that Americans' purchasing power is declining. Households with lower incomes, those who are Black and Hispanic, and those who are struggling to pay their bills are disproportionately feeling the burden. Who decides? The National Bureau of Economic Research, whose Business Cycle Dating Committee defines a recession as "a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months," is the organisation that formally declares recessions. The committee uses job trends as a significant indicator for assessing recessions. Numerous other data points are also evaluated, such as measures of income, employment, inflation-adjusted expenditure, retail sales, and manufacturing production. It gives a lot of weight to employment and is an indicator of inflation-adjusted income that doesn't include government benefits like Social Security. However, the NBER frequently waits until after a recession has started, sometimes for as long as a year. Can a common man sense it? Yes, as a large number of individuals currently feel more financially pressured. Higher costs have reduced Americans' purchasing power since most people's pay increases have lagged behind inflation. According to Walmart, rising gas and food prices have made it necessary for its customers to cut down on discretionary purchases like new apparel. This is a glaring indication that consumer spending, the main engine of the economy, is waning. Walmart, the biggest retailer in the country, has lowered its profit forecast and said that it would have to discount more goods, including furniture and electronics. Unemployment -- clear signal According to analysts, a sustained increase in job losses and a spike in unemployment would be the most obvious signs that a recession is beginning. A recession has always occurred since World War II when the unemployment rate increased by a half percentage point over a period of many months, according to economist and former Fed employee Claudia Sahm. Numerous analysts keep track of the number of people who apply for unemployment benefits each week because it shows if layoffs are becoming worse or not. The number of weekly applications for unemployment benefits has decreased to a five-month low, indicating that few firms are using layoffs as a last alternative in the face of a labour shortage. Inverted yield curve Many economists also keep an eye on fluctuations in the interest rates, or yields, on various bonds in search of the "inverted yield curve," a recession indicator. When the yield on a short-term Treasury, such as the 3-month T-bill, is lower than the yield on a 10-year Treasury, this occurs. That is strange. In return for locking up their money for a longer length of time, longer-term bonds often provide investors with a larger yield. In general, inverted yield curves indicate that investors anticipate a downturn that will force the Fed to lower interest rates. Recessions frequently precede inverted curves. After the yield curve inverts, a slump may not occur for 18 to 24 months. Interest rate The economy's warning signs—slowing growth and high hiring—have presented a challenge for the Fed. Jerome Powell, the chair, wants a "soft landing, "In which inflation returns to the Fed's 2 per cent objective and the economy slows just enough to restrict wage growth and hiring without triggering a recession. Powell has recognised, however, that it is getting harder to come to such a conclusion. He made it plain last week that the Fed will continue raising rates if necessary to control inflation, despite a deteriorating economy that may enter a recession. (with inputs from agencies)

Explained: Early signs of a recession; who decides if it's officially begun?

Following a chemical leak at an Indian meat processing company on Thursday, authorities said that dozens of employees lost consciousness and were sent to the hospital. This was the second such incident in as many days.&nbsp;

A pipe carrying ammonia ruptured in a meat factory of Aligarh in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, spewing toxic gases into the premises and causing the workers to complain of breathing difficulties and many of them passing&nbsp;out, said police.

"At least 55 workers, mostly women, were rushed to the hospital after the leak," a local police official told AFP. "Most of the workers were unconscious."

Emergency personnel arrived at the business quickly and began attempting to contain the deadly gas's spread.

According to police, the factory had been temporarily blocked and the event was being looked into.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-5000-ghost-flights-flew-to-or-from-the-uk-since-2019-report-520875">More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report</a>

The leak in Aligarh occurred less than a day after an ammonia gas leak at a shrimp processing facility in eastern Odisha state left 28 workers sick, with at least five of them in critical condition.&nbsp;

In 1984, a gas leak at a pesticide facility operated by the US business Union Carbide resulted in thousands of deaths, making it one of the greatest industrial catastrophes in history for India.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Following a chemical leak at an Indian meat processing company on Thursday, authorities said that dozens of employees lost consciousness and were sent to the hospital.

Following a chemical leak at an Indian meat processing company on Thursday, authorities said that dozens of employees lost consciousness and were sent to the hospital. This was the second such incident in as many days. A pipe carrying ammonia ruptured in a meat factory of Aligarh in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, spewing toxic gases into the premises and causing the workers to complain of breathing difficulties and many of them passing out, said police. "At least 55 workers, mostly women, were rushed to the hospital after the leak," a local police official told AFP. "Most of the workers were unconscious." Emergency personnel arrived at the business quickly and began attempting to contain the deadly gas's spread. According to police, the factory had been temporarily blocked and the event was being looked into. Also Read: More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report The leak in Aligarh occurred less than a day after an ammonia gas leak at a shrimp processing facility in eastern Odisha state left 28 workers sick, with at least five of them in critical condition. In 1984, a gas leak at a pesticide facility operated by the US business Union Carbide resulted in thousands of deaths, making it one of the greatest industrial catastrophes in history for India. (with inputs from agencies)

Dozens fall unconscious after ammonia leak at meat factory in India, probe on

The United States&nbsp;Justice Department said on Thursday that a former&nbsp;Army major and his anesthesiologist wife had been charged criminally for allegedly conspiring to transmit highly private medical information about military patients to Russia.&nbsp;

Jamie Lee Henry, a former major and physician at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and his wife, Dr. Anna Gabrielian, were accused in an unsealed indictment in a federal court in Maryland with conspiracy and disclosing patient health information improperly.

According to the indictment, the scheme allegedly got underway following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. According to the prosecution, the two intended to try to assist the Putin regime in Russia by giving them information that would allow it to "gain insights into the medical conditions of individuals associated with the US&nbsp;government and military."&nbsp;

According to the indictment, the two met with a person they thought was a Russian official but who was actually an undercover FBI agent.&nbsp;

On August 17, Gabrielian allegedly informed the undercover agent at a hotel in Baltimore that "she was motivated by patriotism toward Russia to offer any aid she could to Russia, even if it meant being fired or going to jail."

She offered to involve her husband in the plan during the discussion, claiming he had knowledge of previous military training the US had given to Ukraine, among other things.&nbsp;

Later that day, during another encounter, Henry admitted to the undercover agent that he shared his commitment to Russia and that he had even thought about enlisting in the Russian army.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/n-korea-fires-third-ballistic-missile-this-week-hours-after-harris-left-s-korea-520928">N Korea fires third ballistic missile this week, hours after Harris leaves from S Korea</a>

In response, the agent advised them to read "Inside the Aquarium: The Making of a Top Soviet Spy," saying it would help them comprehend what they were about to accomplish.&nbsp;

According to the indictment, Henry had some doubts about disclosing medical information, claiming that doing so would go against the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). His wife, however, had no such misgivings.

She informed the undercover agent in a later meeting on August 24 that her husband was a "coward" to worry about breaking HIPAA because she did it frequently and that she would make sure that they could provide Russia access to patient medical information from Fort Bragg.&nbsp;

She had provided information on current and past military personnel as well as their spouses by the end of the month, it claims.

(with inputs from agencies)

<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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

The United States Justice Department said on Thursday that a former Army major and his anesthesiologist wife had been charged criminally for allegedly conspiring to transmit highly private medical information about military patients to Russia.

The United States Justice Department said on Thursday that a former Army major and his anesthesiologist wife had been charged criminally for allegedly conspiring to transmit highly private medical information about military patients to Russia. Jamie Lee Henry, a former major and physician at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and his wife, Dr. Anna Gabrielian, were accused in an unsealed indictment in a federal court in Maryland with conspiracy and disclosing patient health information improperly. According to the indictment, the scheme allegedly got underway following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. According to the prosecution, the two intended to try to assist the Putin regime in Russia by giving them information that would allow it to "gain insights into the medical conditions of individuals associated with the US government and military." According to the indictment, the two met with a person they thought was a Russian official but who was actually an undercover FBI agent. On August 17, Gabrielian allegedly informed the undercover agent at a hotel in Baltimore that "she was motivated by patriotism toward Russia to offer any aid she could to Russia, even if it meant being fired or going to jail." She offered to involve her husband in the plan during the discussion, claiming he had knowledge of previous military training the US had given to Ukraine, among other things. Later that day, during another encounter, Henry admitted to the undercover agent that he shared his commitment to Russia and that he had even thought about enlisting in the Russian army. Also Read: N Korea fires third ballistic missile this week, hours after Harris leaves from S Korea In response, the agent advised them to read "Inside the Aquarium: The Making of a Top Soviet Spy," saying it would help them comprehend what they were about to accomplish. According to the indictment, Henry had some doubts about disclosing medical information, claiming that doing so would go against the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). His wife, however, had no such misgivings. She informed the undercover agent in a later meeting on August 24 that her husband was a "coward" to worry about breaking HIPAA because she did it frequently and that she would make sure that they could provide Russia access to patient medical information from Fort Bragg. She had provided information on current and past military personnel as well as their spouses by the end of the month, it claims. (with inputs from agencies)

US army major and wife charged for leaking health data to Russia: Report

After days of speculation over exactly how Russia would mark the annexation, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed some details of the ceremony on Thursday. In other news, according to a statement from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, often known as the Sea of Japan.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-to-formalise-annexation-of-ukraine-territory-on-friday-520903">Putin to formalise annexation of Ukraine territory on Friday</a>
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is gearing up to give his official seal of approval for annexation of Ukraine on Friday (September 30). This will make Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions official from Russia's perspective. Russia does not yet fully control these regions but has carried out so-called referendums even claiming victory.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/n-korea-fires-third-ballistic-missile-this-week-hours-after-harris-left-s-korea-520928">N Korea fires third ballistic missile this week, hours after Harris leaves from S Korea</a>
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The military in Seoul said on Thursday that North Korea had launched an unidentified ballistic missile. This was Pyongyang's third launch in less than a week, and it occurred only hours after US Vice President Kamala Harris left South Korea.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-18-million-without-power-as-hurricane-ian-causes-devastation-in-florida-520745">Waning Hurricane Ian batters Florida, floods streets, leaves two million people without power</a>
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Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the United States, caused massive devastation in Florida on Wednesday as more than 1.8 million people were left without power. The streets were completely flooded due to the constant rain, and many were stuck without resources.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/a-new-nuclear-alliance-in-west-asia-520917">A new nuclear alliance in West Asia&nbsp;</a>
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'The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting'

Perhaps&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-mulls-over-sharing-nuclear-technology-with-abraham-accords-members-520796">Israel</a>&nbsp;has taken a leaf out of the book 'The Art of War', written between 475 and 221 BCE by Chinese general &amp; philosopher Sun Tzu, as it vows to share nuclear technology with its friendly nations who are part of the Abraham Accords.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-stepping-up-efforts-to-stem-the-yuans-descent-report-520900">China stepping up efforts to stem the yuan's descent: Report</a>
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News agency Reuters on Thursday (September 29) reported that China is stepping up efforts to stem the yuan's descent.&nbsp;Citing four sources with knowledge of the matter, it reported that China's central bank has asked major state-owned banks to be prepared to sell dollars for the local unit in offshore markets.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-5000-ghost-flights-flew-to-or-from-the-uk-since-2019-report-520875">More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report</a>
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Data suggests more than 5,000 planes with zero passengers on board have arrived at or left UK airports since 2019.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beginning-in-april-2023-new-zealand-to-ban-export-of-live-animals-via-sea-520835">Beginning in April 2023, New Zealand to ban export of live animals via sea</a>
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Two years after storms sunk a livestock ship, killing 41 crew members and 6,000 cattle, New Zealand will outlaw the export of live animals beginning in April of next year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australias-high-court-to-have-majority-female-bench-for-first-time-in-history-520826">Australia’s high court to have majority-female bench for first time in history</a>
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The majority of judges on the Australian high court are now women after the appointment of justice Jayne Jagot on Wednesday. This will be the first time in history that women will outnumber men in the country’s high court as Jagot will replace justice Patrick Keane as the 56th justice of the court.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pew-research-global-opinion-of-china-more-negative-since-president-xi-took-office-520800">Pew Research: Global opinion of China ‘more negative’ since President Xi Jinping took office</a>
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According to a new Pew Research Center survey, sentiments toward President Xi Jinping around the world have deteriorated over the past several years and have "become dramatically more negative" since the Chinese leader assumed office in 2013.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-cuts-back-on-iphone-14-production-as-demand-falls-report-520791">Apple slashes iPhone 14 production target by 6 million units as demand stutters: Report</a>
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After anticipating dwindling demands for new iPhone14 models, Apple has reportedly asked the suppliers to cut back on production this year.

&nbsp;

After days of speculation over exactly how Russia would mark the annexation, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed some details of the ceremony on Thursday. In other news, according to a statement from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, often known as the Sea of Japan.

After days of speculation over exactly how Russia would mark the annexation, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed some details of the ceremony on Thursday. In other news, according to a statement from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, often known as the Sea of Japan. Click on the headlines to read more: Putin to formalise annexation of Ukraine territory on Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin is gearing up to give his official seal of approval for annexation of Ukraine on Friday (September 30). This will make Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions official from Russia's perspective. Russia does not yet fully control these regions but has carried out so-called referendums even claiming victory. N Korea fires third ballistic missile this week, hours after Harris leaves from S Korea The military in Seoul said on Thursday that North Korea had launched an unidentified ballistic missile. This was Pyongyang's third launch in less than a week, and it occurred only hours after US Vice President Kamala Harris left South Korea. Waning Hurricane Ian batters Florida, floods streets, leaves two million people without power Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the United States, caused massive devastation in Florida on Wednesday as more than 1.8 million people were left without power. The streets were completely flooded due to the constant rain, and many were stuck without resources. A new nuclear alliance in West Asia 'The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting' Perhaps Israel has taken a leaf out of the book 'The Art of War', written between 475 and 221 BCE by Chinese general & philosopher Sun Tzu, as it vows to share nuclear technology with its friendly nations who are part of the Abraham Accords. China stepping up efforts to stem the yuan's descent: Report News agency Reuters on Thursday (September 29) reported that China is stepping up efforts to stem the yuan's descent. Citing four sources with knowledge of the matter, it reported that China's central bank has asked major state-owned banks to be prepared to sell dollars for the local unit in offshore markets. More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report Data suggests more than 5,000 planes with zero passengers on board have arrived at or left UK airports since 2019. Beginning in April 2023, New Zealand to ban export of live animals via sea Two years after storms sunk a livestock ship, killing 41 crew members and 6,000 cattle, New Zealand will outlaw the export of live animals beginning in April of next year. Australia’s high court to have majority-female bench for first time in history The majority of judges on the Australian high court are now women after the appointment of justice Jayne Jagot on Wednesday. This will be the first time in history that women will outnumber men in the country’s high court as Jagot will replace justice Patrick Keane as the 56th justice of the court. Pew Research: Global opinion of China ‘more negative’ since President Xi Jinping took office According to a new Pew Research Center survey, sentiments toward President Xi Jinping around the world have deteriorated over the past several years and have "become dramatically more negative" since the Chinese leader assumed office in 2013. Apple slashes iPhone 14 production target by 6 million units as demand stutters: Report After anticipating dwindling demands for new iPhone14 models, Apple has reportedly asked the suppliers to cut back on production this year.

Top 10 world news: Putin to formalise annexation, N Korea fires third missile in a week, and more

In response to the wave of protests organised by women that were started by outrage over the murder of Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the Islamic Republic's morality police, Iran increased pressure on celebrities and journalists on Thursday.&nbsp;

Athletes, musicians, actors, and filmmakers have all supported the protests. Many people took it as a sign when the national football team stayed in their black tracksuits during the playing of the anthems before a match in Vienna against Senegal.&nbsp;

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Kurdish women in Northern Syria cut their hair and burn their headscarves in solidarity with the women of Iran and in protest of the murder of their Kurdish sister Mahsa Zhina Amini.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahsaAmini?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahsaAmini</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZhinaAmini?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZhinaAmini</a> <a href="https://t.co/aKJ21gbCns">pic.twitter.com/aKJ21gbCns</a>
— Yashar Ali 🐘 یاشار (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1574549480111677440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"We will take action against the celebrities who have fanned the flames of the riots," Tehran provincial governor Mohsen Mansouri stated, according to the ISNA news agency.

Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei similarly charged that "those who became famous thanks to supporting from the system have joined the enemy when times are difficult".&nbsp;

The alerts followed nearly two weeks of nationwide protests in Iran and a bloody crackdown that, according to human rights organisation Amnesty International, was marked by "ruthless violence by security forces."&nbsp;

The death of Kurdish woman Amini, 22, three days after her arrest for allegedly disobeying Iran's strict laws requiring women to wear hijabs and modest attire, sparked outrage among the general populace.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-5000-ghost-flights-flew-to-or-from-the-uk-since-2019-report-520875">More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report</a>

"Woman, Life, Freedom!" protestors have chanted ever since, in Iran's biggest demonstrations in almost three years, in which women have brazenly burned their headscarves and shaved their hair.&nbsp;

President Ebrahim Raisi emphasised that, despite "grief and sorrow" over Amini's murder, public security "is the red line of the Islamic Republic of Iran and no one is allowed to break the law and cause chaos".

(with inputs from agencies)

<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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

In response to the wave of protests organised by women that were started by outrage over the murder of Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the Islamic Republic's morality police, Iran increased pressure on celebrities and journalists on Thursday.

In response to the wave of protests organised by women that were started by outrage over the murder of Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the Islamic Republic's morality police, Iran increased pressure on celebrities and journalists on Thursday. Athletes, musicians, actors, and filmmakers have all supported the protests. Many people took it as a sign when the national football team stayed in their black tracksuits during the playing of the anthems before a match in Vienna against Senegal. Kurdish women in Northern Syria cut their hair and burn their headscarves in solidarity with the women of Iran and in protest of the murder of their Kurdish sister Mahsa Zhina Amini.#MahsaAmini #ZhinaAmini pic.twitter.com/aKJ21gbCns — Yashar Ali 🐘 یاشار (@yashar) September 27, 2022 × "We will take action against the celebrities who have fanned the flames of the riots," Tehran provincial governor Mohsen Mansouri stated, according to the ISNA news agency. Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei similarly charged that "those who became famous thanks to supporting from the system have joined the enemy when times are difficult". The alerts followed nearly two weeks of nationwide protests in Iran and a bloody crackdown that, according to human rights organisation Amnesty International, was marked by "ruthless violence by security forces." The death of Kurdish woman Amini, 22, three days after her arrest for allegedly disobeying Iran's strict laws requiring women to wear hijabs and modest attire, sparked outrage among the general populace. Also Read: More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report "Woman, Life, Freedom!" protestors have chanted ever since, in Iran's biggest demonstrations in almost three years, in which women have brazenly burned their headscarves and shaved their hair. President Ebrahim Raisi emphasised that, despite "grief and sorrow" over Amini's murder, public security "is the red line of the Islamic Republic of Iran and no one is allowed to break the law and cause chaos". (with inputs from agencies)

Iran stepped up pressure on celebrities and journalists over Mahsa Amini protests

The military in Seoul said on Thursday that North Korea had launched an unidentified ballistic missile. This was Pyongyang's third launch in less than a week, and it occurred only hours after US Vice President Kamala Harris left South Korea.&nbsp;

According to a statement from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, often known as the Sea of Japan.&nbsp;

In addition, the Japanese coast guard reported a potential North Korean ballistic missile launch, according to information from Tokyo's defence ministry.&nbsp;

As part of a mission to fortify the security pact with Seoul, Harris visited South Korea's strongly guarded border with the nuclear-armed North.

Speaking at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Harris claimed that the US was "ironclad" in its commitment to South Korea's defence and that the partners were "aligned" in their approach to the North's growing arsenal of weapons.&nbsp;

In order to defend South Korea from the North, Washington has stationed around 28,500 troops there, and this week, as a show of strength, the allies are conducting a sizable joint naval exercise.&nbsp;

In the days prior to Harris's arrival, Pyongyang launched two prohibited ballistic missiles, extending a record-breaking run of weapons tests this year.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-5000-ghost-flights-flew-to-or-from-the-uk-since-2019-report-520875">More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report</a>

Seoul and Tokyo reported that the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) on Wednesday and one SRBM on Sunday.

Seoul and Washington have increased joint military exercises, which they stress are solely defensive, under Seoul's hawkish new President Yoon Suk-yeol. They are seen as invasion drills by North Korea.&nbsp;

The first trilateral anti-submarine drills since 2017 will take place, Seoul announced on Thursday, alongside Japan and the US.&nbsp;

This past weekend, South Korean officials claimed they had spotted indications Pyongyang might be getting ready to launch a ballistic missile from a submarine.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The military in Seoul said on Thursday that North Korea had launched an unidentified ballistic missile. This was Pyongyang's third launch in less than a week, and it occurred only hours after US Vice President Kamala Harris left South Korea.

The military in Seoul said on Thursday that North Korea had launched an unidentified ballistic missile. This was Pyongyang's third launch in less than a week, and it occurred only hours after US Vice President Kamala Harris left South Korea. According to a statement from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, often known as the Sea of Japan. In addition, the Japanese coast guard reported a potential North Korean ballistic missile launch, according to information from Tokyo's defence ministry. As part of a mission to fortify the security pact with Seoul, Harris visited South Korea's strongly guarded border with the nuclear-armed North. Speaking at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Harris claimed that the US was "ironclad" in its commitment to South Korea's defence and that the partners were "aligned" in their approach to the North's growing arsenal of weapons. In order to defend South Korea from the North, Washington has stationed around 28,500 troops there, and this week, as a show of strength, the allies are conducting a sizable joint naval exercise. In the days prior to Harris's arrival, Pyongyang launched two prohibited ballistic missiles, extending a record-breaking run of weapons tests this year. Also Read: More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report Seoul and Tokyo reported that the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) on Wednesday and one SRBM on Sunday. Seoul and Washington have increased joint military exercises, which they stress are solely defensive, under Seoul's hawkish new President Yoon Suk-yeol. They are seen as invasion drills by North Korea. The first trilateral anti-submarine drills since 2017 will take place, Seoul announced on Thursday, alongside Japan and the US. This past weekend, South Korean officials claimed they had spotted indications Pyongyang might be getting ready to launch a ballistic missile from a submarine. (with inputs from agencies)

N Korea fires third ballistic missile this week, hours after Harris leaves from S Korea

As US President Joe Biden celebrated the Americans with Disabilities Act marking Disability Pride Month at the White House on Wednesday, he was seen looking confused after his speech in the Rose Garden.

US first lady Dr Jill Biden was then seen guiding him, holding his hand and showing the way. “You go down this way,” Jill was heard saying pointing to the stairs while Joe Biden looked confused.

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NOW - Jill to Joe Biden: "You go down this way."<a href="https://t.co/oOlys2oLW4">pic.twitter.com/oOlys2oLW4</a>
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The video from the event was widely shared on social media just one day after Joe Biden mistakenly asked in a speech in Washington if the late congresswoman Jackie Walorski was in attendance for the event. Jackie Walorski died in a car accident in August.

In his speech at the White House Rose Garden, Joe Biden praised the Americans with Disabilities Act saying that it “is a testament to the character of our people, to the country. It’s proof we can work together and keep moving closer to realizing the promise of America for all Americans.”

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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As US President Joe Biden celebrated the Americans with Disabilities Act marking Disability Pride Month at the White House on Wednesday, he was seen looking confused after his speech in the Rose Garden.

As US President Joe Biden celebrated the Americans with Disabilities Act marking Disability Pride Month at the White House on Wednesday, he was seen looking confused after his speech in the Rose Garden. US first lady Dr Jill Biden was then seen guiding him, holding his hand and showing the way. “You go down this way,” Jill was heard saying pointing to the stairs while Joe Biden looked confused. NOW - Jill to Joe Biden: "You go down this way."pic.twitter.com/oOlys2oLW4 — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) September 28, 2022 × The video from the event was widely shared on social media just one day after Joe Biden mistakenly asked in a speech in Washington if the late congresswoman Jackie Walorski was in attendance for the event. Jackie Walorski died in a car accident in August. In his speech at the White House Rose Garden, Joe Biden praised the Americans with Disabilities Act saying that it “is a testament to the character of our people, to the country. It’s proof we can work together and keep moving closer to realizing the promise of America for all Americans.” (with inputs from agencies)

Watch: Joe Biden looks 'confused', takes directions from Jill in awkward video

Data suggests more than 5,000 planes with zero passengers on board have arrived at or left UK airports since 2019.&nbsp;

Since 2019, more than 35,000 commercial flights have operated with less than 10% of seats occupied and nearly no passengers, according to a study of data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). There are now roughly 40,000 "ghost flights" in all.&nbsp;

For instance, 62 empty planes left Luton airport for Poland in one quarter, and 663 practically empty flights to and from the US were observed at Heathrow over the same period. In both quarters, the Covid-19 epidemic was present.

Climate advocates have focused on air travel because it produces more carbon emissions per hour than any other consumer activity and is dominated by a small group of frequent passengers. They referred to the phantom flight disclosures as "shocking" and asserted that both airport development plans and the necessity for a levy on jet fuel should be raised. Ghost flights are referred to as "environmentally damaging" by the UK government.&nbsp;

Ghost flights' motivations remain a mystery. Only airlines are aware of the causes, but they don't release information to support the practice. The "use-it-or-lose-it" airport slot rules may still be followed, even if they were halted at the height of the pandemic. Airlines also list Covid repatriation flights or aircraft repositioning as additional justifications. However, these cannot be confirmed, and activists said more transparency was needed.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-russian-call-for-mobilisation-sparks-mass-exodus-520181">&nbsp;In pics: Russian call for mobilisation sparks mass exodus</a>

Since earlier data only included international departures, the new data provide the most complete picture yet of the number of UK ghost flights. It now includes flights within the UK as well as arrivals from outside. Following a series of FOI requests by the Guardian, the CAA will now publish this data on a quarterly basis.&nbsp;

Since 2019, the data indicates 130 completely empty flights every month on average. Before, during, and after the travel limitations imposed by the pandemic, the number of empty flights stayed at a comparable level, with the second-highest level occurring in the second quarter of 2022. This indicates that the airlines' decision to fly empty planes was not influenced by Covid's effects on aviation.&nbsp;

Since the beginning of 2020, when the Covid epidemic started, there have been 1,200 almost empty ghost flights on average each month. About 80 per cent&nbsp;of these were to or from other countries.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

Data suggests more than 5,000 planes with zero passengers on board have arrived at or left UK airports since 2019. Since 2019, more than 35,000 commercial flights have operated with less than 10% of seats occupied and nearly no passengers, according to a study of data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Data suggests more than 5,000 planes with zero passengers on board have arrived at or left UK airports since 2019. Since 2019, more than 35,000 commercial flights have operated with less than 10% of seats occupied and nearly no passengers, according to a study of data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). There are now roughly 40,000 "ghost flights" in all. For instance, 62 empty planes left Luton airport for Poland in one quarter, and 663 practically empty flights to and from the US were observed at Heathrow over the same period. In both quarters, the Covid-19 epidemic was present. Climate advocates have focused on air travel because it produces more carbon emissions per hour than any other consumer activity and is dominated by a small group of frequent passengers. They referred to the phantom flight disclosures as "shocking" and asserted that both airport development plans and the necessity for a levy on jet fuel should be raised. Ghost flights are referred to as "environmentally damaging" by the UK government. Ghost flights' motivations remain a mystery. Only airlines are aware of the causes, but they don't release information to support the practice. The "use-it-or-lose-it" airport slot rules may still be followed, even if they were halted at the height of the pandemic. Airlines also list Covid repatriation flights or aircraft repositioning as additional justifications. However, these cannot be confirmed, and activists said more transparency was needed. Also Read: In pics: Russian call for mobilisation sparks mass exodus Since earlier data only included international departures, the new data provide the most complete picture yet of the number of UK ghost flights. It now includes flights within the UK as well as arrivals from outside. Following a series of FOI requests by the Guardian, the CAA will now publish this data on a quarterly basis. Since 2019, the data indicates 130 completely empty flights every month on average. Before, during, and after the travel limitations imposed by the pandemic, the number of empty flights stayed at a comparable level, with the second-highest level occurring in the second quarter of 2022. This indicates that the airlines' decision to fly empty planes was not influenced by Covid's effects on aviation. Since the beginning of 2020, when the Covid epidemic started, there have been 1,200 almost empty ghost flights on average each month. About 80 per cent of these were to or from other countries. (with inputs from agencies)

More than 5,000 ‘ghost flights’ flew to or from the UK since 2019: Report

After taking cryptocurrencies as payment at his tea shop, a tea stall owner in Bengaluru is getting all the attention. His "Frustrated dropout" roadside tea shop became well-known in the IT capital when his social media story gained widespread attention.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, Akshay Saini, a Twitter user, posted a picture of him along with the caption, "Just Bangalore things. #crypto #NammaBengaluru(Sic)."The picture is all over the internet and people have so many questions about the ‘Frustrated dropout’ already.

A user asked, “How does he accept crypto? Which all coins are accepted? How does he decide the exchange rate? I have so many questions (Sic)”

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How does he accept crypto? 
Which all coins are accepted? 
How does he decide the exchange rate? 
 
I have so many questions 🙂
— Ankit | MVP | GDE (@ankitsharma_007) <a href="https://twitter.com/ankitsharma_007/status/1575092838165262343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The New Indian Express reported that Shubham Saini is the tea vendor who is accepting cryptocurrency. He invested 30,000 when he first opened his tea shop in Bengaluru's Marathahalli neighbourhood. According to the story, he opened this tea shop after losing a significant sum of money trading cryptocurrencies in 2021 when the market crashed.&nbsp;

After comparing US dollars to Indian rupees for cryptocurrency payments, Saini has posted a sign where he updates the costs.

(with inputs from agencies)

After taking cryptocurrencies as payment at his tea shop, a tea stall owner in Bengaluru is getting all the attention. His "Frustrated dropout" roadside tea shop became well-known in the IT capital when his social media story gained widespread attention.

After taking cryptocurrencies as payment at his tea shop, a tea stall owner in Bengaluru is getting all the attention. His "Frustrated dropout" roadside tea shop became well-known in the IT capital when his social media story gained widespread attention. On Wednesday, Akshay Saini, a Twitter user, posted a picture of him along with the caption, "Just Bangalore things. #crypto #NammaBengaluru(Sic)."The picture is all over the internet and people have so many questions about the ‘Frustrated dropout’ already. A user asked, “How does he accept crypto? Which all coins are accepted? How does he decide the exchange rate? I have so many questions (Sic)” How does he accept crypto? Which all coins are accepted? How does he decide the exchange rate? I have so many questions 🙂 — Ankit | MVP | GDE (@ankitsharma_007) September 28, 2022 × The New Indian Express reported that Shubham Saini is the tea vendor who is accepting cryptocurrency. He invested 30,000 when he first opened his tea shop in Bengaluru's Marathahalli neighbourhood. According to the story, he opened this tea shop after losing a significant sum of money trading cryptocurrencies in 2021 when the market crashed. After comparing US dollars to Indian rupees for cryptocurrency payments, Saini has posted a sign where he updates the costs. (with inputs from agencies)

Twitterati surprised as Bengaluru tea seller accepts payment in crypto

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