Meta is planning to lay off employees on Wednesday in the unit of its metaverse-oriented Reality Labs division focused on creating custom silicon, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Employees were informed of the layoffs in a post on Meta's internal discussion forum Workplace on Tuesday. The post said they would be notified about their status with the company by early Wednesday morning, one of the sources said.

A Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the plans. Reuters was not able to determine the extent of the cuts to the silicon unit, called Facebook Agile Silicon Team, or FAST.

If the cuts are deep, they could hamper Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg's project to build augmented and virtual reality products enabling access to a set of immersive virtual worlds known as the "metaverse," particularly the AR glasses that he has predicted "will redefine our relationship with technology."

The FAST unit, which has roughly 600 employees, worked on developing custom chips to equip Meta's devices to perform unique tasks and operate more efficiently, differentiating them from others entering the nascent AR/VR market.

However, Meta has struggled to make chips that can compete with silicon produced by external providers and has turned to chipmaker Qualcomm to produce chips for its devices currently on the market.

A restructuring of FAST has been expected since the spring when Meta hired a new executive to lead the unit.

A separate chip-making unit in Meta's infrastructure division focused on artificial intelligence work has likewise hit roadblocks. The executive overseeing those efforts announced her departure last week, although Meta has appointed someone else to take over her role and continue those efforts.

Meta currently makes a line of mixed reality headsets called Quest and smart glasses designed with Ray-Ban eyeglass maker EssilorLuxottica that can stream video and speak with wearers through a new AI virtual assistant.

It announced new versions of the smart glasses and its consumer-oriented Quest headset, Quest 3, at its annual Connect conference last week.

The company is also working on more technically challenging and less bulky AR glasses that look more like regular glasses, along with associated smartwatches, according to one of the sources.

A first version of that product is set to be completed next year, although Meta is not initially planning to make it widely available to consumers, the source said.

Meta has slashed around 21,000 jobs since November of last year as it has sought to reassure investors that it was reining in costs amid waning revenue growth, high inflation and concerns that Reality Labs was losing too much money.

In a statement in March, Zuckerberg said the bulk of this year's layoffs would happen in the spring, but that "in a small number of cases, it may take through the end of the year to complete these changes." &nbsp;

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Meta is planning to lay off employees on Wednesday in the unit of its metaverse-oriented Reality Labs division focused on creating custom silicon, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Meta is planning to lay off employees on Wednesday in the unit of its metaverse-oriented Reality Labs division focused on creating custom silicon, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. Employees were informed of the layoffs in a post on Meta's internal discussion forum Workplace on Tuesday. The post said they would be notified about their status with the company by early Wednesday morning, one of the sources said. A Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the plans. Reuters was not able to determine the extent of the cuts to the silicon unit, called Facebook Agile Silicon Team, or FAST. If the cuts are deep, they could hamper Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg's project to build augmented and virtual reality products enabling access to a set of immersive virtual worlds known as the "metaverse," particularly the AR glasses that he has predicted "will redefine our relationship with technology." The FAST unit, which has roughly 600 employees, worked on developing custom chips to equip Meta's devices to perform unique tasks and operate more efficiently, differentiating them from others entering the nascent AR/VR market. However, Meta has struggled to make chips that can compete with silicon produced by external providers and has turned to chipmaker Qualcomm to produce chips for its devices currently on the market. A restructuring of FAST has been expected since the spring when Meta hired a new executive to lead the unit. A separate chip-making unit in Meta's infrastructure division focused on artificial intelligence work has likewise hit roadblocks. The executive overseeing those efforts announced her departure last week, although Meta has appointed someone else to take over her role and continue those efforts. Meta currently makes a line of mixed reality headsets called Quest and smart glasses designed with Ray-Ban eyeglass maker EssilorLuxottica that can stream video and speak with wearers through a new AI virtual assistant. It announced new versions of the smart glasses and its consumer-oriented Quest headset, Quest 3, at its annual Connect conference last week. The company is also working on more technically challenging and less bulky AR glasses that look more like regular glasses, along with associated smartwatches, according to one of the sources. A first version of that product is set to be completed next year, although Meta is not initially planning to make it widely available to consumers, the source said. Meta has slashed around 21,000 jobs since November of last year as it has sought to reassure investors that it was reining in costs amid waning revenue growth, high inflation and concerns that Reality Labs was losing too much money. In a statement in March, Zuckerberg said the bulk of this year's layoffs would happen in the spring, but that "in a small number of cases, it may take through the end of the year to complete these changes." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Meta to lay off employees in metaverse silicon unit today

At least 21 people died after a bus fell from a bridge in Venice, Italy on Tuesday (Oct 3). The bus was carrying 40 people of which 21 died and 18 were injured, Venice councillor Renato Boraso said, adding, that the death toll could rise as several of those injured were in critical condition. Officials said the vehicle fell around 15 metres (50 feet) onto electricity lines and caught fire at around 7:45 pm (17.45 GMT).

Five of the victims were Ukrainians and one was German, said Venice's prefect Michele Di Bari, the local representative of the interior ministry, news agency Reuters reported. Firefighters said the bus caught fire after careening off a bridge linking the Mestre and Marghera districts. Further details are awaited.&nbsp;

In a post on Facebook, Venice's Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described the scene of the crash as an apocalyptic scene. "A tragedy has struck our community this evening," he said.

Speaking to reporters, Brugnaro said some of the victims in "critical" condition were in Padova, and added that some people had burned.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her "profound condolences". "I am in contact with Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and (Transport) Matteo Salvini in order to follow the news of this tragedy," she said in a statement.&nbsp;

The cause of the accident is not yet known. Boraso said one line of enquiry was that the driver, a 40-year-old Italian who was among those killed, had taken ill before the crash.

(With inputs from agencies)

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At least 21 people died after a bus fell from a bridge in Venice, Italy on Tuesday (Oct 3). The bus was carrying 40 people of which 21 died and 18 were injured, Venice councillor Renato Boraso said, adding, that the death toll could rise as several of those injured were in critical condition.

At least 21 people died after a bus fell from a bridge in Venice, Italy on Tuesday (Oct 3). The bus was carrying 40 people of which 21 died and 18 were injured, Venice councillor Renato Boraso said, adding, that the death toll could rise as several of those injured were in critical condition. Officials said the vehicle fell around 15 metres (50 feet) onto electricity lines and caught fire at around 7:45 pm (17.45 GMT). Five of the victims were Ukrainians and one was German, said Venice's prefect Michele Di Bari, the local representative of the interior ministry, news agency Reuters reported. Firefighters said the bus caught fire after careening off a bridge linking the Mestre and Marghera districts. Further details are awaited. In a post on Facebook, Venice's Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described the scene of the crash as an apocalyptic scene. "A tragedy has struck our community this evening," he said. Speaking to reporters, Brugnaro said some of the victims in "critical" condition were in Padova, and added that some people had burned. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her "profound condolences". "I am in contact with Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and (Transport) Matteo Salvini in order to follow the news of this tragedy," she said in a statement. The cause of the accident is not yet known. Boraso said one line of enquiry was that the driver, a 40-year-old Italian who was among those killed, had taken ill before the crash. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italy: At least 21 dead after bus falls from bridge in Venice

English referee chiefs have made public the VAR audio of the decision that led to&nbsp;Liverpool&nbsp;forward Luis Diaz having a goal wrongly disallowed in the Reds' controversial defeat at Tottenham.

VAR official Darren England and his assistant (AVAR) Daniel Cook did not over-rule the incorrect on-field decision of offside after Diaz had scored what would have been the opening of Saturday's Premier League clash in north London.

Liverpool&nbsp;went on to lose 2-1 and had Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota sent off as their unbeaten start to the season came to an end.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) released a statement admitting a "significant human error" had led to the wrong decision being made.

But&nbsp;Liverpool&nbsp;were furious with the blunder and said on Sunday they would explore their options given the "clear need for escalation and resolution"

PGMOL have provided a detailed report alongside the audio to the Premier League, which has in turn shared with&nbsp;Liverpool&nbsp;and the other 19 top-flight clubs.

The audio reveals the conversation between the VAR officials, who only realise their error after the match has restarted.

In the recording, England says "check complete, check complete. That's fine, perfect" before the replay operator and Cook question whether the correct decision has been made.

England utter an expletive when he realises the error and says "they've restarted the game. Can't do anything, can't do anything" as the replay operator makes repeated calls to delay the match.

The referees body said in a statement on Tuesday that "standards fell short of expectations" and it has identified three key learnings "to mitigate against the risk of a future error".

They will stress the importance of accuracy ahead of efficiency to video match officials, while a "new VAR communication protocol will be developed to enhance the clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team in relation to on-field decisions".

"As an additional step to the process, the VAR will confirm the outcome of the VAR check process with the AVAR before confirming the final decision to the on-field officials," the statement said.

"We recognise standards fell short of expectations and acknowledged the error to&nbsp;Liverpool&nbsp;immediately after the conclusion of the fixture."

<h2>'Systemic weaknesses'</h2>

England and Cook have not been included among the officials for duty in the coming weekend's Premier League fixtures.

The pair had already been replaced for the remainder of their matchweek seven duties.

England was due to be fourth official at Nottingham Forest against Brentford on Sunday, with Cook scheduled to be assistant referee for Monday's Fulham versus Chelsea clash.

Premier League chiefs admitted human error and systemic weaknesses had contributed to the costly mistake.

Calling for "higher standards" in VAR decision-making, a Premier League spokesperson said: "Having reviewed all relevant footage of the disallowed Luis Diaz goal during the Tottenham Hotspur FC versus&nbsp;Liverpool&nbsp;FC match on Saturday, and PGMOL's report into the incident, it is clear that there were not only human errors but systemic weaknesses in the VAR process.

"We accept PGMOL's immediate recommendations to ensure that such failures are not repeated in the future.

"However, a wider review to seek consistently higher standards of VAR performance will be conducted by the Premier League and PGMOL, supported by other stakeholders, and where necessary further recommended actions will be brought forward and implemented.

"We have communicated fully with&nbsp;Liverpool&nbsp;FC on this matter and have shared PGMOL's findings and relevant footage of the incident with all Premier League clubs."

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English referee chiefs have made public the VAR audio of the decision that led to Liverpool forward Luis Diaz having a goal wrongly disallowed in the Reds' controversial defeat at Tottenham.

English referee chiefs have made public the VAR audio of the decision that led to Liverpool forward Luis Diaz having a goal wrongly disallowed in the Reds' controversial defeat at Tottenham. VAR official Darren England and his assistant (AVAR) Daniel Cook did not over-rule the incorrect on-field decision of offside after Diaz had scored what would have been the opening of Saturday's Premier League clash in north London. Liverpool went on to lose 2-1 and had Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota sent off as their unbeaten start to the season came to an end. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) released a statement admitting a "significant human error" had led to the wrong decision being made. But Liverpool were furious with the blunder and said on Sunday they would explore their options given the "clear need for escalation and resolution" PGMOL have provided a detailed report alongside the audio to the Premier League, which has in turn shared with Liverpool and the other 19 top-flight clubs. The audio reveals the conversation between the VAR officials, who only realise their error after the match has restarted. In the recording, England says "check complete, check complete. That's fine, perfect" before the replay operator and Cook question whether the correct decision has been made. England utter an expletive when he realises the error and says "they've restarted the game. Can't do anything, can't do anything" as the replay operator makes repeated calls to delay the match. The referees body said in a statement on Tuesday that "standards fell short of expectations" and it has identified three key learnings "to mitigate against the risk of a future error". They will stress the importance of accuracy ahead of efficiency to video match officials, while a "new VAR communication protocol will be developed to enhance the clarity of communication between the referee and the VAR team in relation to on-field decisions". "As an additional step to the process, the VAR will confirm the outcome of the VAR check process with the AVAR before confirming the final decision to the on-field officials," the statement said. "We recognise standards fell short of expectations and acknowledged the error to Liverpool immediately after the conclusion of the fixture." 'Systemic weaknesses' England and Cook have not been included among the officials for duty in the coming weekend's Premier League fixtures. The pair had already been replaced for the remainder of their matchweek seven duties. England was due to be fourth official at Nottingham Forest against Brentford on Sunday, with Cook scheduled to be assistant referee for Monday's Fulham versus Chelsea clash. Premier League chiefs admitted human error and systemic weaknesses had contributed to the costly mistake. Calling for "higher standards" in VAR decision-making, a Premier League spokesperson said: "Having reviewed all relevant footage of the disallowed Luis Diaz goal during the Tottenham Hotspur FC versus Liverpool FC match on Saturday, and PGMOL's report into the incident, it is clear that there were not only human errors but systemic weaknesses in the VAR process. "We accept PGMOL's immediate recommendations to ensure that such failures are not repeated in the future. "However, a wider review to seek consistently higher standards of VAR performance will be conducted by the Premier League and PGMOL, supported by other stakeholders, and where necessary further recommended actions will be brought forward and implemented. "We have communicated fully with Liverpool FC on this matter and have shared PGMOL's findings and relevant footage of the incident with all Premier League clubs." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

VAR audio released after blunder over Liverpool forward Diaz's disallowed goal

Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his role as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives on Tuesday (Oct 3) by Republican hardliners. For the first time in its 234-year history, the House backed a resolution "to vacate the office of the Speaker" with a 216-210 vote, setting the stage for an unprecedented contest to replace McCarthy a year before the presidential election.

Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his role as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives on Tuesday (Oct 3) by Republican hardliners. For the first time in its 234-year history, the House backed a resolution "to vacate the office of the Speaker" with a 216-210 vote, setting the stage for an unprecedented contest to replace McCarthy a year before the presidential election. McCarthy, 58, sparked anger among the Republican hardliners last weekend when he worked with Democrats to pass a stopgap funding measure to avert a government shutdown. Who led McCarthy's ouster? The call for his ouster was led by Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz who entered his resolution from the House floor on Monday "declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant." "Chaos is somebody who we cannot trust with their word. The one thing that the White House, House Democrats, and many of us on the conservative side of the Republican caucus would argue is that the thing we have in common- Kevin McCarthy said something to all of us at one point or another that he didn't really mean and never intended to live up to," Gaetz said during the vote on Tuesday. Following the chamber passing a last-minute measure on Saturday to extend funding, Gaetz said he would move to oust McCarthy from the House Speaker's position. "The only way Kevin McCarthy is speaker of the House at the end of this coming week is if Democrats bail him out," he told CNN on Sunday. McCarthy has described himself as an "optimist," but there has been no placating the uncompromising right-wing of the Republican party. Simply to secure the speakership in January took him a record 15 rounds of voting to win and he finally got over the line only after making concessions to a bloc of around 20 far-right Republicans. One of these concessions was a rule change that made it possible for just one disgruntled member to call a vote for a new speaker of the House. Republicans to choose new Speaker Republicans will now gather at 6:30 pm (2230 GMT) to discuss putting up a candidate for a vote to be the new Speaker. However, McCarthy said that he would not run for Speaker again, adding he would have the conference pick somebody else. "I believe I can continue to fight, maybe in a different manner. I will not run for speaker again; I’ll have the conference pick somebody else," McCarthy, 58, told reporters. US President Joe Biden, meanwhile, urged the US House of Representatives to swiftly choose a new Speaker. In a statement, the White House said, "Because the urgent challenges facing our nation will not wait, he hopes the House will quickly elect a speaker." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kevin McCarthy ousted as US House Speaker by Republican hardliners in unprecedented vote

Former United States president Donald Trump exited a New York state court on Monday (Oct 2) where he and his family business are standing trial in a civil fraud case. New York Attorney General Letitia James has accused Trump, a 2024 presidential hopeful, of inflating the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure better loan and insurance terms.

Attorney General Letitia James is seeking at least $250 million in fines, a permanent ban against Trump and his sons Donald Jr and Eric from running businesses in New York, and a five-year commercial real estate ban against Trump and the Trump Organization. The case concerns accusations by the attorney general that Trump inflated his assets and his own net worth from 2011 to 2021 to obtain favourable bank loans and lower insurance premiums.

At the Manhattan courtroom on Monday, Trump and his sons Donald Jr and Eric were accused of inflating the prices of their properties to secure better loans and insurance deals, and to pay less tax.&nbsp;

Before the trial began, Trump, 77, told reporters that the civil fraud case was a "scam," a "sham" and a political vendetta. And as the session broke off for a lunch break, Trump called Letitia James &nbsp;"a corrupt person, a terrible person. Driving people out of New York."

As he exited the courtroom, the former president spoke to reporters and said that the statute of limitations is a very real thing in the US.&nbsp;

"The last 5 minutes were outstanding because the judge essentially conceded that. He said, Jeff Sessions, that we won at the court of appeals is in effect. Therefore about 80% of the case is over. I was going to come out and say that, as you know, we're not entitled to a jury, which is pretty unusual in the United States of America, so we think it's very unfair that I don't have a jury," Trump said.

“As far as the jury's concerned, it's much different now than it was 20 minutes ago. And we were going to come out and complain that in this country you’re entitled to a jury. But we very much appreciate the judge's decision today or his statement today on the statute of limitations, which is a very big thing, is a limited non-jury. And we did nothing wrong,” he added.

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Former United States president Donald Trump exited a New York state court on Monday (Oct 2) where he and his family business are standing trial in a civil fraud case.

Former United States president Donald Trump exited a New York state court on Monday (Oct 2) where he and his family business are standing trial in a civil fraud case. New York Attorney General Letitia James has accused Trump, a 2024 presidential hopeful, of inflating the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure better loan and insurance terms. Attorney General Letitia James is seeking at least $250 million in fines, a permanent ban against Trump and his sons Donald Jr and Eric from running businesses in New York, and a five-year commercial real estate ban against Trump and the Trump Organization. The case concerns accusations by the attorney general that Trump inflated his assets and his own net worth from 2011 to 2021 to obtain favourable bank loans and lower insurance premiums. At the Manhattan courtroom on Monday, Trump and his sons Donald Jr and Eric were accused of inflating the prices of their properties to secure better loans and insurance deals, and to pay less tax. Before the trial began, Trump, 77, told reporters that the civil fraud case was a "scam," a "sham" and a political vendetta. And as the session broke off for a lunch break, Trump called Letitia James "a corrupt person, a terrible person. Driving people out of New York." As he exited the courtroom, the former president spoke to reporters and said that the statute of limitations is a very real thing in the US. "The last 5 minutes were outstanding because the judge essentially conceded that. He said, Jeff Sessions, that we won at the court of appeals is in effect. Therefore about 80% of the case is over. I was going to come out and say that, as you know, we're not entitled to a jury, which is pretty unusual in the United States of America, so we think it's very unfair that I don't have a jury," Trump said. “As far as the jury's concerned, it's much different now than it was 20 minutes ago. And we were going to come out and complain that in this country you’re entitled to a jury. But we very much appreciate the judge's decision today or his statement today on the statute of limitations, which is a very big thing, is a limited non-jury. And we did nothing wrong,” he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Trump civil fraud case: Ex-US president complains about having no jury as Day 1 of proceedings wrap up

North Dakota State Senator Doug Larsen, his wife, and their two children died in a plane crash in Utah, the news agency Associated Press reported on Monday (Oct 2) citing Republican Majority Leader David Hogue.

North Dakota State Senator Doug Larsen, his wife, and their two children died in a plane crash in Utah, the news agency Associated Press reported on Monday (Oct 2) citing Republican Majority Leader David Hogue. In a post shared on Facebook, the Grand County Sheriff’s Department said that the plane crashed on Sunday evening shortly after taking off from the Canyonlands Airfield about 24 kilometres north of Moab. The department said that all four people on board the plane were killed. Sharing an email only with fellow senators, David Hogue said, “I’m not sure where the bereavement starts with such a tragedy, but I think it starts with prayers for the grandparents, surviving stepchild of Senator Larsen, and extended family of Doug and Amy.” "Hold your family close today,” Hogue added. Crash being investigated, not yet known who was piloting plane Sharing a post on X, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that the crash of the aircraft was being investigated, adding that a board investigator was expected to arrive at the scene to begin to document the scene, examine the aircraft, request any air traffic communications, radar data, weather reports and try to contact any witnesses. "Also, the investigator will request maintenance records of the aircraft, and medical records and flight history of the pilot,” the NTSB added. It is not yet known who was piloting the single-engine Piper plane. In December 2020, Larsen shared a Facebook post where he said that his wife had flown “her first flight as a pilot.” The post included a picture of a small, orange plane. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: North Dakota state Senator Doug Larsen, family killed in plane crash

Spanish authorities said on Monday (Oct 2) that the nightclub in Murcia which was ravaged by fire over the weekend, killing 13 people, had been ordered to close in January last year.

Spanish authorities said on Monday (Oct 2) that the nightclub in Murcia which was ravaged by fire over the weekend, killing 13 people, had been ordered to close in January last year. Speaking to reporters, Murcia's Deputy Mayor Antonio Navarro said that the city council (in January 2022) ordered the closure of nightclubs, the Fonda Milagros and Theatre discos, as the company that operated them had only a license for Theatre and not for Fonda which was created later. Navarro said that authorities would get to the bottom of who was responsible for the nightclub fire- which is the deadliest in more than 30 years. The deputy mayor did not explain why the nightclubs were still operating. 'Fire appears to have spread through a/c vents' Francisco Jimenez, the central government's representative in Murcia, said the fire appeared to have spread through the air conditioning vents "which is why it spread so quickly." "We must be patient with the identification of the bodies... The bodies are very badly burned and it is going to be very difficult for experts to work on them," Jimenez added. The death toll due to the fire stands at 13. A report by the news agency AFP said that all the people who were reported missing after the fire had been accounted for, including three people who were at a beach and had their mobile phones turned off, and officials said they did not expect to find any more bodies. Officials also said that four people were treated for smoke inhalation. The city's bars and restaurants closed on Sunday as a mark of respect for the victims, local hotel-restaurant association Hoytu said. Murcia city hall announced three days of mourning and a minute of silence was observed at noon on Monday for the victims. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Spanish nightclub ravaged by deadly fire was ordered to close in Jan 2022: Authorities

Twenty-nine soldiers were killed in western Niger in an attack by suspected jihadists, the defence ministry said on Monday night, declaring a three-day national mourning period.

The soldiers were targeted using "improvised explosive devices and kamikaze vehicles by more than a hundred terrorists", the ministry said in a televised statement.

Two soldiers were seriously wounded and "several dozen terrorists" were also killed.

The attack took place near the country's border with Mali, during military operations aimed at "neutralising the threat posed by the Islamic State" in the area, according to the ministry.

"Communications from the terrorists, who were forced to withdraw, have been intercepted", the ministry said, adding that the attackers "benefitted from outside expertise", without giving any further details.

A jihadist insurgency has plagued Africa's Sahel region for more than a decade, breaking out in northern Mali in 2012 before spreading to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015.

The "three borders" area between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso is regularly the scene of attacks by militants affiliated with the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda.

The violence has fuelled military takeovers in all three countries, with Niger the latest to fall to a coup on July 26 that ousted Mohamed Bazoum, its democratically elected president.&nbsp;

In August, at least 17 Nigerien soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in an attack by suspected jihadists near the border between Niger and Burkina Faso.

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Twenty-nine soldiers were killed in western Niger in an attack by suspected jihadists, the defence ministry said on Monday night, declaring a three-day national mourning period.

Twenty-nine soldiers were killed in western Niger in an attack by suspected jihadists, the defence ministry said on Monday night, declaring a three-day national mourning period. The soldiers were targeted using "improvised explosive devices and kamikaze vehicles by more than a hundred terrorists", the ministry said in a televised statement. Two soldiers were seriously wounded and "several dozen terrorists" were also killed. The attack took place near the country's border with Mali, during military operations aimed at "neutralising the threat posed by the Islamic State" in the area, according to the ministry. "Communications from the terrorists, who were forced to withdraw, have been intercepted", the ministry said, adding that the attackers "benefitted from outside expertise", without giving any further details. A jihadist insurgency has plagued Africa's Sahel region for more than a decade, breaking out in northern Mali in 2012 before spreading to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015. The "three borders" area between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso is regularly the scene of attacks by militants affiliated with the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda. The violence has fuelled military takeovers in all three countries, with Niger the latest to fall to a coup on July 26 that ousted Mohamed Bazoum, its democratically elected president. In August, at least 17 Nigerien soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in an attack by suspected jihadists near the border between Niger and Burkina Faso. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Niger: 29 soldiers killed by suspected jihadists, junta announces three-day mourning

Far-right Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz launched a bid on Monday (Oct 2) to oust United States House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post. According to a report by the news agency AFP, Gaetz entered his resolution from the House floor "declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.

Far-right Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz launched a bid on Monday (Oct 2) to oust United States House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post. According to a report by the news agency AFP, Gaetz entered his resolution from the House floor "declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant." This development has reignited an intra-party battle between traditional conservatives and firebrand supporters of former president Donald Trump. The resolution, a rare manoeuvre that requires a simple majority to pass, could force a vote within days and comes after McCarthy brokered a last-gasp budget deal with Democrats over the weekend temporarily avoiding a government shutdown. Gaetz has been a leading figure within a small group of far-right Republican legislators who brought the government to the brink of shutdown with their refusal to adopt fresh federal funding without deep spending cuts. The hardliners hold a de facto veto over legislation in the House. 'Only way McCarthy is House Speaker if...': Gaetz Following the chamber passing a last-minute measure on Saturday to extend funding, Gaetz said he would move to oust McCarthy from the House Speaker's position. Speaking to CNN on Sunday, the lawmaker said he believed he had enough Republican support to oust McCarthy. "The only way Kevin McCarthy is speaker of the House at the end of this coming week is if Democrats bail him out," Gaetz added. Bring it on: McCarthy Responding to Gaetz's remarks, McCarthy said on X, "Bring it on." In January, McCarthy had made concessions to the far-right bloc in return for their support in his quest to gain the speaker's gavel. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Gaetz said that McCarthy did not have "my support anymore, and he doesn't have the support of a requisite number of Republicans to continue as the Republican Speaker." The resolution throws up fresh obstacles as lawmakers race to cut a new deal on funding for the federal government. It came as millions of public workers looked set to be sent home unpaid, upending government functions from military operations to food aid to federal policymaking. President Joe Biden has lambasted both McCarthy and the hardliners for failing to live up to an agreement forged around a debt crisis months ago that was meant to avoid a damaging shutdown fight. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Republican lawmaker launches bid to oust US House Speaker McCarthy over govt shutdown compromise

The British Police said on Monday (Oct 2) that they were attending the scene of a fire believed to have been caused by a lightning strike on gas containers near Oxford. A video shared on X by user @Knocker showed a huge fireball lighting up the night sky over the city. "We felt a shockwave and heard a loud rumble in the distance. I started recording about 10 seconds after we heard it when I spotted it from the balcony (we didn't know where it came from until then)," @Knocker said in another post.

<h3>Here's a look at that video (Credits- X/@Knocker)</h3>

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Explosion North-West of Oxford. <a href="https://t.co/d7ypIdvs2m">pic.twitter.com/d7ypIdvs2m</a>
— Knocker (@Knocker) <a href="https://twitter.com/Knocker/status/1708910077871038609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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He added that the fire was reported at the Severn Trent Green Power Cassington AD Facility. "At around 19:20 this evening, a digester tank at its Cassington AD facility near Yarnton, Oxfordshire, was struck by lightning resulting in the biogas within that tank igniting," a statement from the company shared on Facebook said.

The police, meanwhile, said the lightning struck gas containers at the site during bad weather, causing a large fire. "No one is believed to have been hurt, but emergency services remain at the scene," the police said in a post on X. Further details are awaited.&nbsp;

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The British Police said on Monday (Oct 2) that they were attending the scene of a fire believed to have been caused by a lightning strike on gas containers near Oxford.

The British Police said on Monday (Oct 2) that they were attending the scene of a fire believed to have been caused by a lightning strike on gas containers near Oxford. A video shared on X by user @Knocker showed a huge fireball lighting up the night sky over the city. "We felt a shockwave and heard a loud rumble in the distance. I started recording about 10 seconds after we heard it when I spotted it from the balcony (we didn't know where it came from until then)," @Knocker said in another post. Here's a look at that video (Credits- X/@Knocker) Explosion North-West of Oxford. pic.twitter.com/d7ypIdvs2m — Knocker (@Knocker) October 2, 2023 × He added that the fire was reported at the Severn Trent Green Power Cassington AD Facility. "At around 19:20 this evening, a digester tank at its Cassington AD facility near Yarnton, Oxfordshire, was struck by lightning resulting in the biogas within that tank igniting," a statement from the company shared on Facebook said. The police, meanwhile, said the lightning struck gas containers at the site during bad weather, causing a large fire. "No one is believed to have been hurt, but emergency services remain at the scene," the police said in a post on X. Further details are awaited. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK: Lightning strike causes huge blast, fire at gas facility near Oxford | Watch

The United States Supreme Court on Friday (Sep 29) agreed to decide whether state laws that seek to regulate Facebook, TikTok, X, and other social media networks violate the Constitution. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press, the justices would review laws enacted by Republican-dominated legislatures and signed by Republican governors in Florida and Texas.

Both laws aim to prevent social media companies from censoring users based on their viewpoints. The justices already agreed to decide whether public officials can block critics from commenting on their social media accounts, an issue that previously came up in a case involving then-US president Donald Trump.

The Supreme Court's announcement comes as justices continue to grapple with how laws written at the dawn of the digital age, or earlier, apply to the online world.&nbsp;

The report said that separately, the high court could consider a lower-court order limiting executive branch officials’ communications with social media companies about controversial online posts.

The new case follows conflicting rulings by two appeals courts, one of which upheld the Texas law, while the other struck down Florida’s statute. By a 5-4 vote, the justices kept the Texas law on hold while litigation over it continues, the report added.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett voted to grant the emergency request from two technology industry groups that challenged the law in federal court.

On the other hand, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan, and Neil Gorsuch would have allowed the law to remain in effect.&nbsp;

Proponents of the laws sought to portray social media companies as generally liberal in outlook and hostile to ideas outside of that viewpoint. The tech sector warned that the laws would prevent platforms from removing extremism and hate speech.

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The United States Supreme Court on Friday (Sep 29) agreed to decide whether state laws that seek to regulate Facebook, TikTok, X, and other social media networks violate the Constitution.

The United States Supreme Court on Friday (Sep 29) agreed to decide whether state laws that seek to regulate Facebook, TikTok, X, and other social media networks violate the Constitution. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press, the justices would review laws enacted by Republican-dominated legislatures and signed by Republican governors in Florida and Texas. Both laws aim to prevent social media companies from censoring users based on their viewpoints. The justices already agreed to decide whether public officials can block critics from commenting on their social media accounts, an issue that previously came up in a case involving then-US president Donald Trump. The Supreme Court's announcement comes as justices continue to grapple with how laws written at the dawn of the digital age, or earlier, apply to the online world. The report said that separately, the high court could consider a lower-court order limiting executive branch officials’ communications with social media companies about controversial online posts. The new case follows conflicting rulings by two appeals courts, one of which upheld the Texas law, while the other struck down Florida’s statute. By a 5-4 vote, the justices kept the Texas law on hold while litigation over it continues, the report added. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett voted to grant the emergency request from two technology industry groups that challenged the law in federal court. On the other hand, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan, and Neil Gorsuch would have allowed the law to remain in effect. Proponents of the laws sought to portray social media companies as generally liberal in outlook and hostile to ideas outside of that viewpoint. The tech sector warned that the laws would prevent platforms from removing extremism and hate speech. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US Supreme Court to decide if state laws regulating social media networks violate Constitution

A former gang leader has been charged with the 1996 murder of rapper&nbsp;Tupac&nbsp;Shakur in Las Vegas, a prosecutor said Friday.

The development is the latest in a long-running case that has gripped the public imagination after the death of an artist whose spectacular career was cut short at the age of just 25.

Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted by a grand jury in Nevada, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo told a court.

"The presumption is great that he is responsible for the murder of&nbsp;Tupac&nbsp;Shakur, and he will be found guilty of murder with use of a deadly weapon," he said.

Shakur, the best-selling hip-hop artist behind hits such as "California Love," was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.

Shakur had a brief but stratospheric career, rapidly rising from backup dancer to self-styled gangsta rapper and one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, selling 75 million records.

He became a key figure in a vaunted rivalry, egged on by promoters, between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop.

Though born in New York, Shakur moved as a teenager with his family to California, becoming one of the most identifiable figures in the West Coast scene.&nbsp;

The circumstances of Shakur's death in September 1996 remain murky, and theories have long abounded.&nbsp;

Shakur's murder was followed six months later by the gunning down of his rival, East Coast rapper Christopher "The Notorious BIG" Wallace.

Many believe they were slain as part of a rivalry between their music labels, LA-based Death Row and New York's Bad Boy Entertainment.&nbsp;

But some music historians say the coastal rift was exaggerated for commercial reasons.

Shakur -- whose mother Afeni was active in the Black Panther movement and named him after&nbsp;Tupac&nbsp;Amaru, a revolutionary Inca chief -- used his lyrics to highlight issues facing Black Americans, from police brutality to mass incarceration.

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A former gang leader has been charged with the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, a prosecutor said Friday. The development is the latest in a long-running case that has gripped the public imagination after the death of an artist whose spectacular career was cut short at the age of just 25.

A former gang leader has been charged with the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, a prosecutor said Friday. The development is the latest in a long-running case that has gripped the public imagination after the death of an artist whose spectacular career was cut short at the age of just 25. Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted by a grand jury in Nevada, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo told a court. "The presumption is great that he is responsible for the murder of Tupac Shakur, and he will be found guilty of murder with use of a deadly weapon," he said. Shakur, the best-selling hip-hop artist behind hits such as "California Love," was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. Shakur had a brief but stratospheric career, rapidly rising from backup dancer to self-styled gangsta rapper and one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, selling 75 million records. He became a key figure in a vaunted rivalry, egged on by promoters, between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop. Though born in New York, Shakur moved as a teenager with his family to California, becoming one of the most identifiable figures in the West Coast scene. The circumstances of Shakur's death in September 1996 remain murky, and theories have long abounded. Shakur's murder was followed six months later by the gunning down of his rival, East Coast rapper Christopher "The Notorious BIG" Wallace. Many believe they were slain as part of a rivalry between their music labels, LA-based Death Row and New York's Bad Boy Entertainment. But some music historians say the coastal rift was exaggerated for commercial reasons. Shakur -- whose mother Afeni was active in the Black Panther movement and named him after Tupac Amaru, a revolutionary Inca chief -- used his lyrics to highlight issues facing Black Americans, from police brutality to mass incarceration. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former gang leader charged with rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder in Las Vegas

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