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<p>Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from the top party post on Sunday (April 28), condemning&nbsp;Congress' decision to ally with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress and the AAP decided to form an alliance in the national capital for the elections. The Congress will contest&nbsp;three seats&nbsp;while&nbsp;the AAP will battle on&nbsp;four&nbsp;seats.</p>

<p>In a letter addressed to Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely said, "The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party (AAP) which&nbsp;was formed&nbsp;on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated, and malafide corruption charges against the Congress party. Despite that, the&nbsp;party&nbsp;made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi."</p>

<h2><strong>Lovely was made Delhi Cong chief&nbsp;last&nbsp;year</strong></h2>

<p>Lovely was appointed the Delhi Cong chief in 2023. In his letter to Kharge, Lovely said that all unanimous decisions taken by the Senior Delhi Congress&nbsp;leaders had&nbsp;been unilaterally vetoed&nbsp;by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-lok-sabha-elections-2024-date-schedule-phase-seats-candidates-and-all-you-need-to-know-704721">Delhi Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Date, Schedule, phase, seats, candidates and all you need to know</a></strong></p>

<p>"Since my appointment as DPCC President, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed me to make any senior appointments in the DPCC.&nbsp;My request&nbsp;for the appointment of&nbsp;a veteran leader as Media head of DPCC was blatantly rejected.&nbsp;To date,&nbsp;the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed the DPCC to appoint all Block presidents in the city.&nbsp;Resultantly&nbsp;more&nbsp;than 150 blocks in Delhi do not presently have a Block President," he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Arvinder Singh Lovely resigns from the position of Delhi Congress president.<br />
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"The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a Party which was formed on the sole basis of leveling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress Party. Despite that,… <a href="https://t.co/Y1A360fuut">https://t.co/Y1A360fuut</a> <a href="https://t.co/hLP9RtnzUE">pic.twitter.com/hLP9RtnzUE</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1784443419223294242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"...On instructions from the AICC General Secretary (Organisation), I even went to the extent of visiting Kejriwal's residence on the night of his arrest along with Subash Chopra and Sandeep Dikshit, despite the same being against my position on the matter," Lovely&nbsp;further said.</p>

<h2><strong>Delhi to vote on May 25</strong></h2>

<p>All the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will go to polls on May 25, which is the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The seven seats in the national capital are-&nbsp;New Delhi, Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, West Delhi, and South Delhi.</p>

<p>The top contenders this time are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INDIA bloc (Congress and AAP).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>BJP reacts to Lovely's resignation</strong></h2>

<p>"Things are not going well in the Congress. Ground-level leaders of the party are fed up... It seems that till yesterday they (Congress) used to accuse people of corruption, today they are contesting elections by making a compromise with the same people. How is this possible? It is clearly visible that people are feeling suffocated there, that is why they are resigning," BJP leader RP Singh told the news agency ANI.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | On Arvinder Singh Lovely's resignation as the Delhi Congress Committee President, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla says, "...The Congress party has no mission or vision, it is only seeped in confusion, division, and contradiction. We have seen how this has been playing out,… <a href="https://t.co/D3g3gOuS4o">pic.twitter.com/D3g3gOuS4o</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1784460147781419130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, meanwhile, said that the Congress was unable to retain its leaders "because its own leaders are showing the mirror to Congress for its hypocrisy..."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from the top party post on Sunday (April 28), condemning Congress' decision to ally with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Lok Sabha elections.

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from the top party post on Sunday (April 28), condemning Congress' decision to ally with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress and the AAP decided to form an alliance in the national capital for the elections. The Congress will contest three seats while the AAP will battle on four seats. In a letter addressed to Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely said, "The Delhi Congress unit was against an alliance with a party (AAP) which was formed on the sole basis of levelling false, fabricated, and malafide corruption charges against the Congress party. Despite that, the party made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi." Lovely was made Delhi Cong chief last year Lovely was appointed the Delhi Cong chief in 2023. In his letter to Kharge, Lovely said that all unanimous decisions taken by the Senior Delhi Congress leaders had been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge). Also read | Delhi Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Date, Schedule, phase, seats, candidates and all you need to know "Since my appointment as DPCC President, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed me to make any senior appointments in the DPCC. My request for the appointment of a veteran leader as Media head of DPCC was blatantly rejected. To date, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed the DPCC to appoint all Block presidents in the city. Resultantly more than 150 blocks in Delhi do not presently have a Block President," he added. Arvinder Singh Lovely resigns from the position of Delhi Congress president. "The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a Party which was formed on the sole basis of leveling false, fabricated and malafide corruption charges against the Congress Party. Despite that,… https://t.co/Y1A360fuut pic.twitter.com/hLP9RtnzUE — ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024 × "...On instructions from the AICC General Secretary (Organisation), I even went to the extent of visiting Kejriwal's residence on the night of his arrest along with Subash Chopra and Sandeep Dikshit, despite the same being against my position on the matter," Lovely further said. Delhi to vote on May 25 All the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will go to polls on May 25, which is the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The seven seats in the national capital are- New Delhi, Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, West Delhi, and South Delhi. The top contenders this time are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INDIA bloc (Congress and AAP). BJP reacts to Lovely's resignation "Things are not going well in the Congress. Ground-level leaders of the party are fed up... It seems that till yesterday they (Congress) used to accuse people of corruption, today they are contesting elections by making a compromise with the same people. How is this possible? It is clearly visible that people are feeling suffocated there, that is why they are resigning," BJP leader RP Singh told the news agency ANI. #WATCH | On Arvinder Singh Lovely's resignation as the Delhi Congress Committee President, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla says, "...The Congress party has no mission or vision, it is only seeped in confusion, division, and contradiction. We have seen how this has been playing out,… pic.twitter.com/D3g3gOuS4o — ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024 × BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, meanwhile, said that the Congress was unable to retain its leaders "because its own leaders are showing the mirror to Congress for its hypocrisy..." (With inputs from agencies)

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Arvinder Singh Lovely resigns as Delhi Congress chief

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<p>The Israeli government is&nbsp;making efforts&nbsp;to block the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin&nbsp;Netanyahu,&nbsp;and other top officials, the Times of Israel reported on Sunday (Apr 28)&nbsp;citing&nbsp;sources. Israeli officials believe that the ICC has been preparing to issue these arrest warrants for officials on charges related to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-launches-air-strikes-on-rafah-killing-at-least-13-people-hours-before-ceasefire-talks-716049">Israel launches air strikes on Rafah killing at least 13 people, hours before ceasefire talks</a></strong></p>

<p>The report said that the country's National Security Council is leading the campaign (to head off the arrest warrants), adding the foreign ministry is also involved in the efforts. One of the sources told the publication that a&nbsp;major&nbsp;focus of the ICC allegations would be that Israel deliberately starved Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Netanyahu under unusual stress'</strong></h2>

<p>According to Israeli journalist and analyst&nbsp;Ben Caspit, Prime Minister Netanyahu has been under unusual stress over the feared arrest warrant against him and other top officials. Writing an article in the Walla News, Caspit said that Netanyahu was leading a non-stop push over the telephone to prevent an arrest warrant, focussed&nbsp;especially&nbsp;on the Joe Biden-led US administration.</p>

<p>Last Friday, the Israeli Prime Minister said in a post on Telegram that under his leadership, Israel would never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its&nbsp;basic&nbsp;right to defend&nbsp;itself.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Future of war: Will private military contractors take over? | WION Decodes</strong></p>

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<p>Amid these developments, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that his country expects the ICC to refrain from issuing arrest warrants. "If the orders are issued, they will harm the commanders and soldiers of the IDF and give a boost to the terrorist organisation Hamas and the radical Islamic axis led by Iran against which we are fighting," Katz said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>No end to conflict anytime soon</strong></h2>

<p>On&nbsp;October 7&nbsp;last year, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians. More than 200 people&nbsp;were taken&nbsp;as hostages by Hamas.</p>

<p>Israel retaliated hard in the Gaza Strip and has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. More than 77,000 people have&nbsp;been injured&nbsp;in the war-torn region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Israeli government is making efforts to block the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other top officials, the Times of Israel reported on Sunday (Apr 28) citing sources.

The Israeli government is making efforts to block the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other top officials, the Times of Israel reported on Sunday (Apr 28) citing sources. Israeli officials believe that the ICC has been preparing to issue these arrest warrants for officials on charges related to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Also read | Israel launches air strikes on Rafah killing at least 13 people, hours before ceasefire talks The report said that the country's National Security Council is leading the campaign (to head off the arrest warrants), adding the foreign ministry is also involved in the efforts. One of the sources told the publication that a major focus of the ICC allegations would be that Israel deliberately starved Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. 'Netanyahu under unusual stress' According to Israeli journalist and analyst Ben Caspit, Prime Minister Netanyahu has been under unusual stress over the feared arrest warrant against him and other top officials. Writing an article in the Walla News, Caspit said that Netanyahu was leading a non-stop push over the telephone to prevent an arrest warrant, focussed especially on the Joe Biden-led US administration. Last Friday, the Israeli Prime Minister said in a post on Telegram that under his leadership, Israel would never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its basic right to defend itself. Also watch | Future of war: Will private military contractors take over? | WION Decodes × Amid these developments, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that his country expects the ICC to refrain from issuing arrest warrants. "If the orders are issued, they will harm the commanders and soldiers of the IDF and give a boost to the terrorist organisation Hamas and the radical Islamic axis led by Iran against which we are fighting," Katz said in a statement. No end to conflict anytime soon On October 7 last year, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians. More than 200 people were taken as hostages by Hamas. Israel retaliated hard in the Gaza Strip and has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. More than 77,000 people have been injured in the war-torn region. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza war: Israel making efforts to block ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and others, says report

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidgEy8U1OSRHHP" />British Foreign Secretary David Cameron faces criticism after&nbsp;he travelled&nbsp;in a luxury private jet for a five-day diplomatic tour around Central Asia, British media reported on Sunday (Apr 28). Foreign Secretary Cameron hired the&nbsp;Embraer Lineage 1000 worth $52.6 million (around&nbsp;£42 million) for this tour. A report by Mirror on Sunday said that the private jet has a dining&nbsp;table,&nbsp;and&nbsp;extra-long&nbsp;sofas,&nbsp;and can accommodate 19 passengers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the tour, Cameron made stops&nbsp;in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, with the government saying the foreign secretary wanted to increase&nbsp;engagement with this pivotal region.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-is-greensill-lobbying-scandal-which-overshadows-david-camerons-political-career-659572">Explained: What is Greensill lobbying scandal which overshadows David Cameron's political career?</a></strong></p>

<p>Cameron's&nbsp;predecessor&nbsp;James&nbsp;Cleverly&nbsp;used the same&nbsp;type of aircraft&nbsp;during a week-long tour of the Caribbean and Latin America last year.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The criticism: Acting like Kardashian sisters</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking to the Mirror, Labour MP&nbsp;Emily Thornberry said,&nbsp;"Sometimes, on a trip like this, ministers will need to use non-scheduled flights, and if the&nbsp;government's&nbsp;dedicated RAF jets are unavailable, they may have to charter a plane.&nbsp;That is all fine, but&nbsp;in no world&nbsp;do those circumstances&nbsp;justify hiring one of the most expensive, most luxurious private jets on the market to ferry the Foreign Secretary&nbsp;around Central Asia.&nbsp;"</p>

<p>Thornberry said&nbsp;that&nbsp;Cleverly&nbsp;was caught&nbsp;spending around $528,000 on the same&nbsp;type of jet.&nbsp;But instead of learning from that debacle, Cameron used it as a template, she added.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron concealing conflicts of interest with China?</strong></p>

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<p>"They are public servants, and&nbsp;they're&nbsp;supposed to use&nbsp;taxpayers'&nbsp;money as carefully as possible, not swan around the world like a pair of Kardashian sisters at the British&nbsp;public's&nbsp;expense,"&nbsp;the Labour MP&nbsp;further&nbsp;said.</p>

<h2><strong>Foreign office reacts</strong></h2>

<p>A foreign office spokesperson said that a foreign&nbsp;secretary's&nbsp;job (in this case&nbsp;David&nbsp;Cameron) requires him to travel overseas to pursue the United&nbsp;Kingdom's&nbsp;(UK) interests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This was the most time-effective way to do this in this instance.&nbsp;Value for&nbsp;money&nbsp;is taken&nbsp;into account in all travel decisions&nbsp;and&nbsp;costs&nbsp;are&nbsp;routinely published&nbsp;for transparency,”&nbsp;the office added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


British Foreign Secretary David Cameron faces criticism after he travelled in a luxury private jet for a five-day diplomatic tour around Central Asia, British media reported on Sunday (Apr 28).

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron faces criticism after he travelled in a luxury private jet for a five-day diplomatic tour around Central Asia, British media reported on Sunday (Apr 28). Foreign Secretary Cameron hired the Embraer Lineage 1000 worth $52.6 million (around £42 million) for this tour. A report by Mirror on Sunday said that the private jet has a dining table, and extra-long sofas, and can accommodate 19 passengers. During the tour, Cameron made stops in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, with the government saying the foreign secretary wanted to increase engagement with this pivotal region. Also read | Explained: What is Greensill lobbying scandal which overshadows David Cameron's political career? Cameron's predecessor James Cleverly used the same type of aircraft during a week-long tour of the Caribbean and Latin America last year. The criticism: Acting like Kardashian sisters Speaking to the Mirror, Labour MP Emily Thornberry said, "Sometimes, on a trip like this, ministers will need to use non-scheduled flights, and if the government's dedicated RAF jets are unavailable, they may have to charter a plane. That is all fine, but in no world do those circumstances justify hiring one of the most expensive, most luxurious private jets on the market to ferry the Foreign Secretary around Central Asia. " Thornberry said that Cleverly was caught spending around $528,000 on the same type of jet. But instead of learning from that debacle, Cameron used it as a template, she added. Also watch | UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron concealing conflicts of interest with China? × "They are public servants, and they're supposed to use taxpayers' money as carefully as possible, not swan around the world like a pair of Kardashian sisters at the British public's expense," the Labour MP further said. Foreign office reacts A foreign office spokesperson said that a foreign secretary's job (in this case David Cameron) requires him to travel overseas to pursue the United Kingdom's (UK) interests. "This was the most time-effective way to do this in this instance. Value for money is taken into account in all travel decisions and costs are routinely published for transparency,” the office added. (With inputs from agencies)

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron criticised for hiring luxury jet for Central Asia tour: Report

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Who doesn’t love ice cream - be it milk-based or popsicle, especially on a hot summer day to satisfy the mind and cool down the body temperature?

We all enjoy ice cream but its regular consumption can lead to significant health problems including high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes over time. There are several alternatives to ice cream that we can indulge in without any guilt.

One of the easiest dessert options is a protein ice cream. You need flavoured whey protein, milk or water, and natural or calorie-free sweeteners. Blend all these ingredients and freeze for 3-4 hours. Take out the ice cream bowl 10-15 minutes before you eat, and garnish with your choice of toppings- sugar-free syrup, chocolate chips or even fruits.

Swimming may have the power to help you sleep better at night. In a study on older adults with insomnia, participants reported a boost in the quality of sleep after engaging in swimming on a regular basis. 

Another dessert that is prepared in no time. Freeze your fruit of choice and put it in a blender with a few teaspoons of water and honey or maple syrup to taste. And it is ready.

Freeze your choice of fruit (preferably something that is edible when combined with chocolate) and coat with melted milk or dark chocolate. For extra crunch, you can add nuts, granola or pretzels.

Healthy Alternatives to Ice Cream

An Egyptian delegation is in Israel to broker a ceasefire deal between Tel Aviv and Hamas in Gaza. The envoys warned that Israeli ground offensive in Gaza's Rafah City will have catastrophic consequences for regional stability.

Israel-Hamas war: Egypt's Intelligence office director leads delegation in Israel for Gaza ceasefire

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<p>Iraq on Saturday (Apr 27) passed a law that would criminalise same-sex relationships&nbsp;with a maximum 15-year prison sentence.&nbsp;This&nbsp;was the latest attack on the LGBTQ community in the country. A report by the news agency Reuters said that the law, passed by parliament, aims to protect the Iraqi society&nbsp;from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world.</p>

<p>The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality bans same-sex relations with at least&nbsp;10&nbsp;years and a maximum of 15 years in prison&nbsp;and mandates&nbsp;at least seven years in&nbsp;prison&nbsp;for anybody who promotes homosexuality or prostitution. The law also imposes&nbsp;one and three years in prison for anyone who changes their "biological gender" or wilfully dresses in an effeminate manner.</p>

<h2><strong>Law condemned by rights advocates</strong></h2>

<p>The law was condemned by rights advocates.&nbsp;Speaking to Reuters,&nbsp;&nbsp;Rasha Younes, deputy director of the LGBT rights programme at Human Rights Watch, said that the law rubber-stamped "Iraq's appalling record of rights violations against LGBT people and is a serious blow to fundamental human rights."</p>

<p>Until&nbsp;the law was passed&nbsp;on Saturday,&nbsp;&nbsp;Iraq didn't explicitly criminalise gay sex.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;loosely defined morality clauses in its penal code have&nbsp;been used&nbsp;to target LGBT people, and members of the community have also been killed by armed groups and individuals.</p>

<h2><strong>Law initially included&nbsp;death&nbsp;penalty</strong></h2>

<p>The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality&nbsp;initially&nbsp;included the death penalty&nbsp;for same-sex acts&nbsp;but was&nbsp;amended before being passed after strong opposition from the United States (US) and European countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The law&nbsp;was backed mainly by conservative Shi'ite Muslim parties.&nbsp;Shi'ite Muslim parties and other&nbsp;major&nbsp;parties in Iraq had stepped&nbsp;up their criticism of LGBTQ rights&nbsp;last year,&nbsp;with rainbow flags frequently being burned in protests.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Iraq on Saturday (Apr 27) passed a law that would criminalise same-sex relationships with a maximum 15-year prison sentence. This was the latest attack on the LGBTQ community in the country.

Iraq on Saturday (Apr 27) passed a law that would criminalise same-sex relationships with a maximum 15-year prison sentence. This was the latest attack on the LGBTQ community in the country. A report by the news agency Reuters said that the law, passed by parliament, aims to protect the Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world. The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality bans same-sex relations with at least 10 years and a maximum of 15 years in prison and mandates at least seven years in prison for anybody who promotes homosexuality or prostitution. The law also imposes one and three years in prison for anyone who changes their "biological gender" or wilfully dresses in an effeminate manner. Law condemned by rights advocates The law was condemned by rights advocates. Speaking to Reuters, Rasha Younes, deputy director of the LGBT rights programme at Human Rights Watch, said that the law rubber-stamped "Iraq's appalling record of rights violations against LGBT people and is a serious blow to fundamental human rights." Until the law was passed on Saturday, Iraq didn't explicitly criminalise gay sex. However, loosely defined morality clauses in its penal code have been used to target LGBT people, and members of the community have also been killed by armed groups and individuals. Law initially included death penalty The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality initially included the death penalty for same-sex acts but was amended before being passed after strong opposition from the United States (US) and European countries. The law was backed mainly by conservative Shi'ite Muslim parties. Shi'ite Muslim parties and other major parties in Iraq had stepped up their criticism of LGBTQ rights last year, with rainbow flags frequently being burned in protests. (With inputs from agencies)

Latest attack on Iraq's LGBTQ: Govt criminalises same-sex relationship with maximum 15-year jail term

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<p>An increasing number of people in Cuba are grappling with a severe&nbsp;shortage of cash&nbsp;for routine transactions such as buying food and other essentials.&nbsp;A&nbsp;report by the&nbsp;news agency Associated Press early Sunday (Apr 28)&nbsp;said that long lines were seen outside banks and ATMs in the capital city of Havana.&nbsp;Experts have said that there are several reasons behind the cash shortage&nbsp;and&nbsp;all&nbsp;somehow are&nbsp;related to the&nbsp;country's&nbsp;economic crisis,&nbsp;which is&nbsp;one of the worst in decades.</p>

<p>Twenty-three-year-old&nbsp;Alejandro Fonseca stood in line for several hours outside a bank in Havana&nbsp;hoping&nbsp;to withdraw money from an ATM. But when it was almost his turn, the cash ran out.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cuba-accuses-us-of-stoking-protests-amid-blackouts-and-food-shortages-summons-top-diplomat-701725">Cuba accuses US of stoking protests amid blackouts and food shortages, summons top diplomat</a></strong></p>

<p>Fonseca then travelled several kilometres to another&nbsp;branch&nbsp;where&nbsp;he finally managed to withdraw some money after wasting the entire morning.&nbsp;"It&nbsp;shouldn’t&nbsp;be so difficult to get the money you earn by working,"&nbsp;he told the Associated Press.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are the reasons behind cash shortage?</strong></h2>

<p>According to Cuban economist Omar&nbsp;Everleny Perez, the main reasons behind the shortage are&nbsp;the&nbsp;government’s&nbsp;growing fiscal deficit, the nonexistence of banknotes with a denomination greater than 1,000 Cuban pesos (about $3 in the parallel market), stubbornly high inflation, and the non-return of cash to banks.</p>

<p>“There is money, yes, but not in the banks,”&nbsp;Perez told the news agency. The economist pointed out that most of the cash&nbsp;is being held not by salaried&nbsp;workers,&nbsp;but by entrepreneurs and owners of small- and medium-sized businesses who are more likely to collect cash from commercial transactions but are reluctant to return the money to the banks.</p>

<h2><strong>Hoarding up of pesos</strong></h2>

<p>A majority of&nbsp;entrepreneurs and small business owners in Cuba&nbsp;have to import almost everything they sell or pay in foreign currency for the supplies needed to run their businesses.</p>

<p>As a consequence,&nbsp;&nbsp;many end up hoarding Cuban pesos to later change into foreign currency on the informal market.&nbsp;Converting those Cuban pesos to other currencies poses yet another challenge, as there are&nbsp;several,&nbsp;highly fluctuating exchange rates on the island, the report further said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Cuba: US trade embargo, sanctions trigger food &amp; medicine shortage</strong></p>

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<p>Currently,&nbsp;the official rate used by government industries and agencies is 24 pesos to the US&nbsp;dollar, while for individuals, the rate is 120 pesos to the dollar. However, the dollar can fetch up to 350 pesos on the informal market.</p>

<p>Perez said that in 2018,&nbsp;50 per cent&nbsp;of the cash in circulation was in the hands of the Cuban population and the other half in banks. But in 2022, the latest year for which information is available, 70 per cent&nbsp;of cash was in&nbsp;the wallets of individuals.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An increasing number of people in Cuba are grappling with a severe shortage of cash for routine transactions such as buying food and other essentials. A report by the news agency Associated Press early Sunday (Apr 28) said that long lines were seen outside banks and ATMs in the capital city of Havana.

An increasing number of people in Cuba are grappling with a severe shortage of cash for routine transactions such as buying food and other essentials. A report by the news agency Associated Press early Sunday (Apr 28) said that long lines were seen outside banks and ATMs in the capital city of Havana. Experts have said that there are several reasons behind the cash shortage and all somehow are related to the country's economic crisis, which is one of the worst in decades. Twenty-three-year-old Alejandro Fonseca stood in line for several hours outside a bank in Havana hoping to withdraw money from an ATM. But when it was almost his turn, the cash ran out. Also read | Cuba accuses US of stoking protests amid blackouts and food shortages, summons top diplomat Fonseca then travelled several kilometres to another branch where he finally managed to withdraw some money after wasting the entire morning. "It shouldn’t be so difficult to get the money you earn by working," he told the Associated Press. What are the reasons behind cash shortage? According to Cuban economist Omar Everleny Perez, the main reasons behind the shortage are the government’s growing fiscal deficit, the nonexistence of banknotes with a denomination greater than 1,000 Cuban pesos (about $3 in the parallel market), stubbornly high inflation, and the non-return of cash to banks. “There is money, yes, but not in the banks,” Perez told the news agency. The economist pointed out that most of the cash is being held not by salaried workers, but by entrepreneurs and owners of small- and medium-sized businesses who are more likely to collect cash from commercial transactions but are reluctant to return the money to the banks. Hoarding up of pesos A majority of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Cuba have to import almost everything they sell or pay in foreign currency for the supplies needed to run their businesses. As a consequence, many end up hoarding Cuban pesos to later change into foreign currency on the informal market. Converting those Cuban pesos to other currencies poses yet another challenge, as there are several, highly fluctuating exchange rates on the island, the report further said. Also watch | Cuba: US trade embargo, sanctions trigger food & medicine shortage × Currently, the official rate used by government industries and agencies is 24 pesos to the US dollar, while for individuals, the rate is 120 pesos to the dollar. However, the dollar can fetch up to 350 pesos on the informal market. Perez said that in 2018, 50 per cent of the cash in circulation was in the hands of the Cuban population and the other half in banks. But in 2022, the latest year for which information is available, 70 per cent of cash was in the wallets of individuals. (With inputs from agencies)

Cash crisis in Cuba: Long queues outside banks amid severe peso shortage

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<p>The Philippines will suspend&nbsp;in-person classes in all public schools on Monday and Tuesday due to extreme heat and a nationwide strike by jeepney drivers, the country's education department said&nbsp;on Sunday (Apr 28).&nbsp;In a post on Facebook, the department said, "In view of the latest heat index forecast... and the announcement of a nationwide transport strike, all public schools nationwide shall implement asynchronous classes/distance learning on April 29 and 30, 2024."</p>

<p>The suspension of offline classes came as the capital city of Manila&nbsp;recorded its highest-ever temperature. Citing data from the state weather forecaster, a report by the news agency AFP said that Manila&nbsp;hit a record high of 38.8 degrees Celsius on Saturday&nbsp;with&nbsp;the heat index reaching 45 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many schools in the country&nbsp;have no air-conditioning, leaving students to swelter in crowded, poorly ventilated-classrooms.&nbsp;AFP reported that March, April, and May are typically the hottest and driest of the year, but this year's conditions have been exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deaths-due-to-heat-at-all-time-high-heatwaves-in-europe-linked-to-30-increase-in-fatalities-713795">Deaths due to heat at all-time high; heatwaves in Europe linked to 30% increase in fatalities</a></strong></p>

<p>Glaiza Escullar&nbsp;from the&nbsp;state weather forecaster told the news agency, "There is a possibility that the areas will exceed those temperatures being measured today until the second week of May."</p>

<p>"There is a possibility that the areas will exceed those temperatures being measured today until the second week of May," Escullar added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Sunday, hot weather persisted in the Philippines&nbsp;with&nbsp;several citizens&nbsp;flocking to air-conditioned shopping malls and swimming pools for relief.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the suspension of offline&nbsp;classes in schools&nbsp;is also due to&nbsp;a nationwide strike by jeepney drivers. The drivers plan to hold a&nbsp;three-day nationwide strike starting Monday to protest the government's plan to phase out the smoke-belching vehicles&nbsp;used by many Filipinos&nbsp;to commute to work and school.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Philippines will suspend in-person classes in all public schools on Monday and Tuesday due to extreme heat and a nationwide strike by jeepney drivers, the country's education department said on Sunday (Apr 28).

The Philippines will suspend in-person classes in all public schools on Monday and Tuesday due to extreme heat and a nationwide strike by jeepney drivers, the country's education department said on Sunday (Apr 28). In a post on Facebook, the department said, "In view of the latest heat index forecast... and the announcement of a nationwide transport strike, all public schools nationwide shall implement asynchronous classes/distance learning on April 29 and 30, 2024." The suspension of offline classes came as the capital city of Manila recorded its highest-ever temperature. Citing data from the state weather forecaster, a report by the news agency AFP said that Manila hit a record high of 38.8 degrees Celsius on Saturday with the heat index reaching 45 degrees Celsius. Many schools in the country have no air-conditioning, leaving students to swelter in crowded, poorly ventilated-classrooms. AFP reported that March, April, and May are typically the hottest and driest of the year, but this year's conditions have been exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon. Also read | Deaths due to heat at all-time high; heatwaves in Europe linked to 30% increase in fatalities Glaiza Escullar from the state weather forecaster told the news agency, "There is a possibility that the areas will exceed those temperatures being measured today until the second week of May." "There is a possibility that the areas will exceed those temperatures being measured today until the second week of May," Escullar added. On Sunday, hot weather persisted in the Philippines with several citizens flocking to air-conditioned shopping malls and swimming pools for relief. Meanwhile, the suspension of offline classes in schools is also due to a nationwide strike by jeepney drivers. The drivers plan to hold a three-day nationwide strike starting Monday to protest the government's plan to phase out the smoke-belching vehicles used by many Filipinos to commute to work and school. (With inputs from agencies)

Philippines to suspend in-person classes in public schools due to heat wave, jeepney drivers' strike

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<p>A former&nbsp;mortuary worker in Arkansas has pleaded guilty to selling&nbsp;24 boxes of stolen body parts from medical school cadavers to a Pennsylvania man for nearly $11,000, &nbsp;Associated Press reported on Thursday (Apr 25). Thirty-seven-year-old Candace Chapman Scott pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of&nbsp;interstate transportation of stolen property.</p>

<p>Scott had pleaded not guilty when she&nbsp;was indicted&nbsp;in 2023 in the case. The report said that Scott was among the several people charged in what&nbsp;prosecutors called a nationwide scheme to steal and sell human body parts from an Arkansas mortuary and Harvard Medical School.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-arkansas-governor-asa-hutchinson-a-republican-announces-white-house-bid-586455">Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, announces White House bid</a></strong></p>

<p>An indictment sealed in 2023 accused the woman&nbsp;of setting up the transactions with Jeremy Pauley, the Pennsylvania&nbsp;man&nbsp;she met through a Facebook group. In September, Pauley pleaded&nbsp;guilty to charges stemming from the theft and sale of the body parts from the Arkansas mortuary and Harvard.</p>

<h2><strong>Scott's&nbsp;prison sentence</strong></h2>

<p>Under a plea agreement with Scott, federal prosecutors&nbsp;dropped&nbsp;10&nbsp;other wire and mail charges sought against her. But she faces up to&nbsp;10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine on the transporting stolen property charge.</p>

<p>Scott also faces&nbsp;up to 20 years in prison and&nbsp;up to&nbsp;a $250,000 fine on the mail fraud charge.</p>

<p>She worked at the&nbsp;Arkansas Central Mortuary Services, where part of her job was to transport, cremate, and embalm remains.&nbsp;The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences&nbsp;said&nbsp;that’s&nbsp;where the medical school sent remains of&nbsp;cadavers&nbsp;that had&nbsp;been donated&nbsp;for medical students to examine.</p>

<h2><strong>The indictment</strong></h2>

<p>Last&nbsp;year's&nbsp;indictment alleged that Scott approached&nbsp;Pauley in October 2021 and began offering to sell him remains from the medical school that the mortuary was supposed to cremate and return.</p>

<p>It alleged that&nbsp;over the next nine months, Scott sold Pauley fetuses, brains, hearts, lungs, genitalia, large pieces of skin, and other body parts. The indictment also alleged that at one point,&nbsp;Scott sold the remains of a fetus at a discount,&nbsp;writing&nbsp;“he’s&nbsp;not in great shape.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A former mortuary worker in Arkansas has pleaded guilty to selling 24 boxes of stolen body parts from medical school cadavers to a Pennsylvania man for nearly $11,000, Associated Press reported on Thursday (Apr 25).

A former mortuary worker in Arkansas has pleaded guilty to selling 24 boxes of stolen body parts from medical school cadavers to a Pennsylvania man for nearly $11,000, Associated Press reported on Thursday (Apr 25). Thirty-seven-year-old Candace Chapman Scott pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. Scott had pleaded not guilty when she was indicted in 2023 in the case. The report said that Scott was among the several people charged in what prosecutors called a nationwide scheme to steal and sell human body parts from an Arkansas mortuary and Harvard Medical School. Also read | Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, announces White House bid An indictment sealed in 2023 accused the woman of setting up the transactions with Jeremy Pauley, the Pennsylvania man she met through a Facebook group. In September, Pauley pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the theft and sale of the body parts from the Arkansas mortuary and Harvard. Scott's prison sentence Under a plea agreement with Scott, federal prosecutors dropped 10 other wire and mail charges sought against her. But she faces up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine on the transporting stolen property charge. Scott also faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine on the mail fraud charge. She worked at the Arkansas Central Mortuary Services, where part of her job was to transport, cremate, and embalm remains. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences said that’s where the medical school sent remains of cadavers that had been donated for medical students to examine. The indictment Last year's indictment alleged that Scott approached Pauley in October 2021 and began offering to sell him remains from the medical school that the mortuary was supposed to cremate and return. It alleged that over the next nine months, Scott sold Pauley fetuses, brains, hearts, lungs, genitalia, large pieces of skin, and other body parts. The indictment also alleged that at one point, Scott sold the remains of a fetus at a discount, writing “he’s not in great shape.” (With inputs from agencies)

Ex-mortuary worker in US pleads guilty to selling 24 boxes of stolen body parts

What Happens if Humans on Earth Disappear Tomorrow?

All images: NASA, Pexels (Representative images)

Have you ever wondered what the world would look like if all human beings disappeared? Here's a look at the scenarios listed by popular astronomy YouTuber Astrokobi.

After a week, all domesticated pets would die due to starvation.


All lights across Earth would turn off. And after a month, all nuclear power plants would have experienced a meltdown due to overloading.

After half a century, nature would have reclaimed most of the cities.

After 100,000 years, all the satellites would have burnt up in the atmosphere.

Sprouts are low in calories but high in nutrients and fibre, making them an excellent addition to a weight loss or weight management plan. 

All images: NASA, Pexels, Shutterstock (Representative images)

Astronomers Fight to Save Chandra Space Telescope


Last month, NASA announced that it would be slashing the budget for the Chandra X-Ray Observatory significantly. The budget cut layoffs for half of the observatory’s staff in the near future.

From $41 Million in 2025 to Only $5 Million in 2029

The observatory's budget goes from a proposed $41.1 million next year to $26.6 million in 2026. That second figure sticks for 2027 and 2028, but then, in 2029, the budget allocates only $5.2 million for Chandra.

On March 14, a group of astronomers said in an open letter that Chandra, which was launched in 1999, was capable of many more years of operation and scientific discovery. A cut in the budget could have an outsized impact on American high-energy astrophysics research and the larger astronomy and astrophysics community.

A Look at a Few Achievements of the Telescope

The Chandra Observatory has helped scientists glimpse the universe in action. Chandra was responsible for the first observation of sound waves from supermassive black holes, helping scientists understand dark matter, and even helping in observing the most distant black holes ever discovered.

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<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidV1YmgDkX34SR" />Iranian Foreign Minister&nbsp;Hossein Amirabdollahian said that the&nbsp;crew of a seized Portuguese-flagged ship linked to Israel&nbsp;which&nbsp;included&nbsp;Indians&nbsp;was granted consular access and&nbsp;was expected&nbsp;to&nbsp;be freed, Reuters reported on Saturday (Apr 27)&nbsp;citing&nbsp;Iranian media. The container vessel MSC Aries had a 25-member crew&nbsp;including&nbsp;17 Indians. One of the Indians, a woman named Ann Tessa Joseph, was freed&nbsp;and&nbsp;she returned home on April 18.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-and-pakistan-call-on-un-security-council-to-take-stern-action-against-israel-714625">Iran and Pakistan call on UN Security Council to take stern action against Israel</a></strong></p>

<p>MSC Aries was seized by&nbsp;Iran's&nbsp;Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13,&nbsp;days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Vessel was seized for violating maritime&nbsp;laws'</strong></h2>

<p>Iran’s&nbsp;foreign ministry has said the Aries&nbsp;was seized&nbsp;for&nbsp;"violating maritime laws"&nbsp;and that there was no doubt it&nbsp;was linked&nbsp;to Israel.</p>

<p>On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister&nbsp;Amirabdollahian told his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel that the&nbsp;“humanitarian issue of the release of the&nbsp;ship's&nbsp;crew is of serious concern to us."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Iran vs Israel: Will the conflict spiral into nuclear war? Comparing capabilities | WION Decodes</strong></p>

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<p>Amirabdollahian said&nbsp;the crew would be turned over&nbsp;to their ambassadors in Tehran. It was not yet known when&nbsp;would the release&nbsp;happen.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Indian crew aboard Aries in good health'</strong></h2>

<p>On Thursday, the Indian foreign ministry said that the 16 Indians aboard Aries were in good&nbsp;health,&nbsp;and were in constant touch with their families.&nbsp;"These 16 people, we had asked consular access for, which we got. Our officers&nbsp;went there and met,"&nbsp;Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"They are in constant touch with their families. Their health is good. And they have no problems&nbsp;of any kind&nbsp;onboard the ship,"&nbsp;Jaiswal added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that the crew of a seized Portuguese-flagged ship linked to Israel which included Indians was granted consular access and was expected to be freed, Reuters reported on Saturday (Apr 27) citing Iranian media.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that the crew of a seized Portuguese-flagged ship linked to Israel which included Indians was granted consular access and was expected to be freed, Reuters reported on Saturday (Apr 27) citing Iranian media. The container vessel MSC Aries had a 25-member crew including 17 Indians. One of the Indians, a woman named Ann Tessa Joseph, was freed and she returned home on April 18. Also read | Iran and Pakistan call on UN Security Council to take stern action against Israel MSC Aries was seized by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13, days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus. 'Vessel was seized for violating maritime laws' Iran’s foreign ministry has said the Aries was seized for "violating maritime laws" and that there was no doubt it was linked to Israel. On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian told his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel that the “humanitarian issue of the release of the ship's crew is of serious concern to us." Also watch | Iran vs Israel: Will the conflict spiral into nuclear war? Comparing capabilities | WION Decodes × Amirabdollahian said the crew would be turned over to their ambassadors in Tehran. It was not yet known when would the release happen. 'Indian crew aboard Aries in good health' On Thursday, the Indian foreign ministry said that the 16 Indians aboard Aries were in good health, and were in constant touch with their families. "These 16 people, we had asked consular access for, which we got. Our officers went there and met," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "They are in constant touch with their families. Their health is good. And they have no problems of any kind onboard the ship," Jaiswal added. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran says crew of Israel-linked ship which includes Indians will be freed

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