Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday (July 8) pledged cooperation to protect the Amazon rainforest.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday (July 8) pledged cooperation to protect the Amazon rainforest. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, Petro and Silva discussed the regional coordination to fight deforestation and protect the Amazon during a summit in Colombia's Leticia city. The two leaders called on rich countries to cough up funds to help South American countries preserve the rainforest. "We will soon establish an international police cooperation centre for the Amazon in Manaus and create an integrated air traffic control system, which will also be important to dismantle the route used by organised crime. We all suffer from the presence of criminals involved in illegal logging, mining, and fishing on the vast expanse of public land," Brazilian President Lula da Silva said during Saturday's summit. "Today, the approach of saving those forests to save life continues with a discussion: how much will they pay us for it? Why not do the same as those in the North did? The northern people wiped out the forests and killed the indigenous people. Is that development? Do we have to do the same? Or is there an entirely different perspective opening up? There is another kind of development that has to do with not cutting down the tree," Colombian President Petro said. Deforestation of Amazon falls by one-third under Lula's leadership: Govt On Thursday, the Brazilian government said that deforestation of the Amazon fell by one-third in the first six months of President Lula da Silva's administration compared to the same period last year. The 33.6 per cent drop is based on satellite images captured by the National Institute of Space Research. The institute said that from January this year till June, 2,649 square kilometres of rainforest were felled. In the same period in 2022 when Jair Bolsonaro was serving as president, 3,988 square kilometres of rainforest were felled. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva said, "We have reached a steady downward trend in deforestation of the Amazon." Silva added the good results stemmed from Lula's policy of fighting climate change and deforestation of the Amazon. (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.

Presidents of Colombia, Brazil pledge cooperation to protect Amazon

UFC 290: Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight division champion Alexander Volkanovski (Australia) retained his belt as he defeated interim champion Yair Rodriguez (Mexico) by TKO during the third round of the main fight event.

UFC 290: Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight division champion Alexander Volkanovski (Australia) retained his belt as he defeated interim champion Yair Rodriguez (Mexico) by TKO during the third round of the main fight event. In the co-main event of UFC 290, Alexandre Pantoja (Brazil) was crowned the new Flyweight division champion as he defeated Brandon Moreno (Mexico) by a split decision. And in the Middleweight division, Dricus Du Plessis (South Africa) is the new title challenger after defeating Robert Whittaker by TKO in the second round. Here's a look at the results: Main event: Alexander Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez Volkanovski dominated the first round landing punches to the body with Rodriguez keeping a tight guard to prevent being hit. Rodriguez kicked off to create some space while Volkanovski kept a clinch and later threatened with an arm triangle, a report by CBS MMA said. The Australian suffered a cut after taking an elbow strike from Rodriguez off his back. In the second round, Rodriguez executed a perfect low kick while Volkanovski landed a hard right. The Australian then went for a takedown but the Mexican managed to stand up but was taken down. Volkanovski continued his attacking spree with a heavy ground game. Alexander Volkanovski (@AlexVolkanovski) now has the second most title fight wins in @UFC featherweight history with six (Aldo, 8). All #UFC290 Fight Results ⤵️ — UFC News (@UFCNews) July 9, 2023 × In the third round, Rodriguez threw several kicks but found little success. The Mexican finally managed to land a head kick and a right hand on Volkanovski and the Australian countered with a leg kick, the report added. The fight was halted for a few moments after Rodriguez hurt his jaw from an accidental headbutt from the Australian. The fight resumed and Volkanovski landed a counter right hook that pushed Rodriguez back. The Australian swarmed, unloading follow-up blows before dumping him to the canvas and pounding out the finish. With this victory, Alexander Volkanovski now has the second-most title fight wins in the UFC Featherweight division history with six. Co-main event: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Moreno In the UFC 290 co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja (48-47, 48-47) defeats Brandon Moreno (46-49) by a split decision. Pantoja is the fifth undisputed Flyweight division champion. The bout started with Pantoja taking the fight to Moreno, dropping him and cutting him to get him out of there quickly. Pantoja had more success in the grappling game while Moreno dominated with his striking. Alexandre Pantoja (@PantojaMMA) is the 5th undisputed @UFC flyweight champion. All #UFC290 Fight Results ⤵️ — UFC News (@UFCNews) July 9, 2023 × As the scores were tallied, Pantoja came out ahead, edging out Moreno to claim the title, giving Brazil its second UFC Flyweight champion. Results of remaining fights in UFC 290 > Dricus Du Plessis defeats Robert Whittaker by TKO, Round 2, 2:23. > Dan Hooker (29-28, 29-28) defeats Jalin Turner (29-28) by split decision. > Bo Nickal defeats Val Woodburn by KO (strikes) at 0:38 of Round 1. > Robbie Lawler defeats Niko Price by knockout (punches) at 0:38 of Round 1. > Tatsuro Taira (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) defeats Edgar Chairez by unanimous decision. > Denise Gomes defeats Yazmin Jauregui by TKO, Round 1. > Alonzo Menifield defeats Jimmy Crute by Submission, Guillotine Choke, Round 2, 1:55. > Vitor Petrino defeats Marcin Prachnio by Submission, Head & Arm Choke, Round 3, 3:42. > Cameron Saaiman defeats Terrence Mitchell by TKO, Round 1, 3:10. > Jesus Aguilar defeats Shannon Ross by Knockout (right hand) at 0:17 of Round 1. > Esteban Ribovics (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) defeats Kamuela Kirk by unanimous decision. 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.

UFC 290: Volkanovski retains Featherweight belt; Pantoja is new Flyweight champion

Amid concerns over the use of cluster bombs by Ukraine for its counteroffensive against Russia, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted on Saturday (July 8) that cluster munitions would not be used in Russia.

Amid concerns over the use of cluster bombs by Ukraine for its counteroffensive against Russia, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted on Saturday (July 8) that cluster munitions would not be used in Russia. "Ukraine will use these munitions only for the de-occupation of our internationally recognised territories. These munitions will not be used on the officially recognized territory of Russia," Defence Minister Reznikov said. We welcome the decision of the US to provide Ukraine with the new liberation weapons that will significantly help us to de-occupy our territories while saving the lives of the Ukrainian soldiers. Under Article 51 of the UN Charter Ukraine has a universal internationally… — Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) July 7, 2023 × "We will not be using cluster munitions in urban areas (cities) to avoid the risks for the civilian populations - these are our people, they are Ukrainians we have a duty to protect. Cluster munitions will be used only in the fields where there is a concentration of Russian military," he added. Reznikov also said that his government would keep a strict record of the use of these weapons and the local zones where they would be used. "We will report to our partners about the use of these munitions, and about their efficiency to ensure the appropriate standard of transparent reporting and control," the defence minister further said. The opposition Many allies of the United States (US), including the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, have opposed Washington's decision to send cluster bombs to war-torn Ukraine. On Friday, the US announced that it would supply Ukraine with the widely banned cluster munitions for its counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces, the news agency Reuters reported. The cluster bombs are part of an $800 million security package that brings total American military aid to more than $40 billion since the beginning of the Russian offensive. Also read | Several nations, rights groups and UN oppose US move to send cluster bombs to Ukraine The cluster munitions "will deliver in a time frame that is relevant for the counteroffensive," a Pentagon official told reporters. Cluster munitions are currently prohibited in over 100 countries. The US, Russia and Ukraine have not signed on to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which bans the production, stockpiling, use and transfer of weapons. 'No to cluster bombs' On Saturday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that Britain was a signatory to the convention that prohibited the production or use of cluster munitions and discouraged their use. "We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion. We have done that by providing heavy battle tanks, and most recently long-range weapons. Hopefully, all countries can continue to support Ukraine. Russia's act of barbarism is causing untold suffering to millions of people," Prime Minister Sunak added. In a statement, Canada said, "We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to putting an end to the effects cluster munitions have on civilians – particularly children." "Canada is fully compliant with the Convention and we take seriously our obligation under the Convention to encourage its universal adoption," the statement added. Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles, meanwhile, said her country had a firm commitment that certain weapons and bombs could not be delivered under any circumstances, Reuters reported. Addressing a press conference in Madrid on Saturday ahead of the July 23 national election, Defence Minister Robles said, "No to cluster bombs and yes to the legitimate defence of Ukraine, which we understand should not be carried out with cluster bombs." United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also opposed the use of cluster munitions and expressed support for the convention. (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.

Ukraine war: Won't use cluster bombs in Russia, says Kyiv

Air travel chaos has affected airports across the United States on the eve of Independence Day, with thousands of flights cancelled. Citing data from FlightAware, a report by BBC early Tuesday (July 4) said that on Monday, over 3,000 flights were delayed or cancelled within, into, or out of the US.

Air travel chaos has affected airports across the United States on the eve of Independence Day, with thousands of flights cancelled. Citing data from FlightAware, a report by BBC early Tuesday (July 4) said that on Monday, over 3,000 flights were delayed or cancelled within, into, or out of the US. Sunday had the highest number of US airport passengers ever, data from the Transportation Security Administration showed. Last Sunday, Secretary of Transporation Pete Buttigieg said the reason air travel had been so chaotic was because of severe weather, which he said had "put enormous pressure on the system". Data from FlightAware also said that United Airlines was worst affected by delays on Monday, with over 300 flights delayed. Over the last week, the airline had over 5,000 delays and cancellations. United CEO's plan to prevent another meltdown Scott Kirby, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of United Airlines, laid out plans to avoid a repeat of last week- including reducing flights at its hub airport in Newark and improving its crew-scheduling system, according to a report by the news agency Associated Press on Monday. Earlier, Kirby had said United Airlines was working with regional authorities to get more gates at the airport but would need to reduce its schedule there to create more of a buffer, especially during thunderstorm season. Recently, the United CEO faced flak for hopping on a private plane to get out of New York while thousands of the airline's passengers were stranded as it cancelled several flights. Kirby apologised and promised to better demonstrate his respect for the dedication of the airline's team and the loyalty of its customers. New 5G rollout might interfere with aircraft technology As American citizens head to the long Independence Day weekend, industry officials have expressed concerns that a new 5G rollout around airports might interfere with aircraft technology. However, a spokesperson from the Department of Transportation said told CBS News that there were no major flight disruptions related to the matter. 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: Travel chaos affecting airports on eve of fourth of July; thousands of flights cancelled

A deputy in South Georgia saved a woman who was trapped inside a burning car, American media reports said. According to a report by Fox5 Atlanta on Monday, Candler County Sgt Ashley&nbsp;Taylor was flagged over by pedestrians reporting a crash on Highway 46.

Footage from Taylor's body camera showed him reaching the incident spot, where he found the burning car. Using his baton, Taylor smashed the window and told the woman to get out.&nbsp;

"Get out! The car's on fire! Get out. I'm here to help you," the deputy said and went on to check the rest of the vehicle for anyone still inside.

Officials said that Taylor's actions saved the woman's life by&nbsp;getting her out of a dangerous situation before it escalated into something worse. The woman, who has not been identified, is expected to make a full recovery.&nbsp;

Lauding Taylor, Candler County Sheriff John Miles said, "Sgt. Taylor responded the way we hope we all would respond to a critical situation just like that."

“People were able to see the job Sgt. Taylor did and the kind of work first responders do all the time,” Miles said, as per a report by Fox Carolina.&nbsp;

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A deputy in South Georgia saved a woman who was trapped inside a burning car, American media reports said. According to a report by Fox5 Atlanta on Monday, Candler County Sgt Ashley Taylor was flagged over by pedestrians reporting a crash on Highway 46.

A deputy in South Georgia saved a woman who was trapped inside a burning car, American media reports said. According to a report by Fox5 Atlanta on Monday, Candler County Sgt Ashley Taylor was flagged over by pedestrians reporting a crash on Highway 46. Footage from Taylor's body camera showed him reaching the incident spot, where he found the burning car. Using his baton, Taylor smashed the window and told the woman to get out. "Get out! The car's on fire! Get out. I'm here to help you," the deputy said and went on to check the rest of the vehicle for anyone still inside. Officials said that Taylor's actions saved the woman's life by getting her out of a dangerous situation before it escalated into something worse. The woman, who has not been identified, is expected to make a full recovery. Lauding Taylor, Candler County Sheriff John Miles said, "Sgt. Taylor responded the way we hope we all would respond to a critical situation just like that." “People were able to see the job Sgt. Taylor did and the kind of work first responders do all the time,” Miles said, as per a report by Fox Carolina. 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: Georgia deputy rescues woman from burning crashed car

The Taiwanese defence ministry said on Tuesday (July 4) that eight Chinese aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the defence ministry said that a total of 24 Chinese warplanes- including fighter jets and bombers, were spotted near Taiwan on Tuesday at around 8 am (00.

The Taiwanese defence ministry said on Tuesday (July 4) that eight Chinese aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the defence ministry said that a total of 24 Chinese warplanes- including fighter jets and bombers, were spotted near Taiwan on Tuesday at around 8 am (00.00 GMT). The ministry added that four Chinese warships also joined a joining combat readiness patrol. The ministry further said that the government sent aircraft and ships to warn away the Chinese, and missile systems monitored them. The ministry also pointed out that it was the joint responsibility of all parties in the region to maintain safety and stability, and that any provocative behaviour "that could bring impacts is not good for regional safety." Also read | Japan spots Russian warships near Taiwan, Okinawa islands, raises concerns In recent years, Taiwan has faced missions by Chinese military aircraft almost daily, often in the southwestern part of the island's air defence identification zone. Taiwan strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims and vows to defend itself if China attacks the island. Last month, eleven Chinese aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan carries out live-fire drills for second straight day Also on Tuesday, the Taiwanese military carried out live-fire drills for a second consecutive day from its strategically-located southern coast. Reuters reported that artillery trainees fired Stinger missiles and operated Avenger air defence missile systems at a coastal drill zone in Pingtung county. On Monday, army Humvees in Pingtung fired off US-made TOW anti-tank missiles to destroy static targets near the shoreline. Pingtung looks out onto the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, Pacific Ocean and Bashi Channel which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, making it a highly strategic location to keep watch on China's military activity. (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.

Eight Chinese aircraft crossed Taiwan's Strait's median line: Taipei

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter supposedly filmed himself smoking crack while driving a car at a speed of 172 miles per hour (around 276 kmph) &nbsp;as he was on his way to Las Vegas, Nevada. According to a report by Marca last Sunday (July 2), the visual is part of thousands of photos that were recently found in Hunter's discarded laptop.&nbsp;

In the leaked photo from 2018, Hunter, now aged 53, could be seen holding a crack pipe, then lighting and smoking it as he drove through a road full of houses, which was later recognised as Arlington, Virginia.&nbsp;

Another photo showed Hunter traveling to Vegas, driving a Porsche at high-speed. The report said messages on the discarded laptop suggested a hot tub party with multiple women waiting for him.&nbsp;

Hunter had been a drug addict and confessed to abusing cocaine as a college student. He has been in and out of rehabilitation. In his memoir Beautiful Things, the 53-year-old talked about not being able to make it home from the corner liquor store with a plastic jug of vodka without taking a swig of it.&nbsp;

Though Hunter has admitted to cleaning up his act, the leaked photos haunt him.&nbsp;

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that half of the American citizens believed that Hunter received preferential treatment from prosecutors who reached a deal that would allow him to plead guilty to tax charges but avoid a gun-related conviction.&nbsp;

This comes as US Attorney &nbsp;David Weiss said that Hunter agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanour charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes and to enter into an agreement that could avert a conviction on a gun-related charge.

The poll, which closed on June 21, showed that Americans were divided along partisan lines in their views on the case, with 75% of Republicans seeing preferential treatment compared with just 33% of Democrats.

Most respondents said the case would not affect their likelihood of voting for Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.&nbsp;

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US President Joe Biden's son Hunter supposedly filmed himself smoking crack while driving a car at a speed of 172 miles per hour (around 276 kmph) as he was on his way to Las Vegas, Nevada.

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter supposedly filmed himself smoking crack while driving a car at a speed of 172 miles per hour (around 276 kmph) as he was on his way to Las Vegas, Nevada. According to a report by Marca last Sunday (July 2), the visual is part of thousands of photos that were recently found in Hunter's discarded laptop. In the leaked photo from 2018, Hunter, now aged 53, could be seen holding a crack pipe, then lighting and smoking it as he drove through a road full of houses, which was later recognised as Arlington, Virginia. Another photo showed Hunter traveling to Vegas, driving a Porsche at high-speed. The report said messages on the discarded laptop suggested a hot tub party with multiple women waiting for him. Hunter had been a drug addict and confessed to abusing cocaine as a college student. He has been in and out of rehabilitation. In his memoir Beautiful Things, the 53-year-old talked about not being able to make it home from the corner liquor store with a plastic jug of vodka without taking a swig of it. Though Hunter has admitted to cleaning up his act, the leaked photos haunt him. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that half of the American citizens believed that Hunter received preferential treatment from prosecutors who reached a deal that would allow him to plead guilty to tax charges but avoid a gun-related conviction. This comes as US Attorney David Weiss said that Hunter agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanour charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes and to enter into an agreement that could avert a conviction on a gun-related charge. The poll, which closed on June 21, showed that Americans were divided along partisan lines in their views on the case, with 75% of Republicans seeing preferential treatment compared with just 33% of Democrats. Most respondents said the case would not affect their likelihood of voting for Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election. 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.

Leaked photos: Hunter Biden smokes crack while driving at high speed, says report

A man from the US state of California pleaded guilty to hiding his mother's death for more than 30 years to collect government benefits worth over $800,000. In a statement on June 27, the US Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, said that the man, Donald Felix Zampach, admitted that he fraudulently concealed his mother's death for decades and he received and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in government benefits intended for her that should have ceased upon her death.

A man from the US state of California pleaded guilty to hiding his mother's death for more than 30 years to collect government benefits worth over $800,000. In a statement on June 27, the US Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, said that the man, Donald Felix Zampach, admitted that he fraudulently concealed his mother's death for decades and he received and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in government benefits intended for her that should have ceased upon her death. As per the plea agreement, Zampach's mother died in Japan in 1990. At the time of her death, "she was receiving a widow’s pension from the Social Security Administration and an annuity from the Department of Defense Finance Accounting Service." Shortly before Zampach's mother died, the man fraudulently conveyed her Poway home and filed for Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy, disclosing neither his ownership of the Poway home nor the government benefits payments he was receiving. How Zampach received the govt benefits The US Attorney's Office's statement said that after his mother died, Zampach maintained her bank accounts, forged her signature on eligibility certificates to keep government benefits in pay, and also filed forged federal income tax returns, posing as his mother, for over two decades. "Zampach admitted that between November 1990 and September 2022, he received at least $830,238 in stolen public money intended for his mother," the statement said. It added that the California man further admitted to using his mother's identity to fraudulently open credit accounts with at least nine different financial institutions. These institutions suffered losses of over $28,000. "Zampach admitted to laundering the stolen money to pay off the mortgage on his Poway home, in order to conceal both his ownership of the Poway home and the fact that the money he used constituted criminal proceeds of his fraud," the statement further said. Zampach to pay over $830,000 in criminal forfeiture Zampach has agreed to pay more than $830,000 in criminal forfeiture, including the forfeiture of his Poway home to make restitution for his crimes. US Attorney Randy Grossman said this crime is believed to be the longest-running and largest fraud of its kind in the Southern District of California. "This was an elaborate fraud spanning more than three decades that required aggressive action and deceit to maintain the ruse. He filed false income tax returns, posed as his mother and signed her name to many documents, and when investigators caught up to him, he continued to claim she was still alive," Attorney Grossman 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.

US man hid mother's death for over 30 years, collected govt benefits worth over $800,000

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (July 4) hosted the virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), where he mentioned five pillars of the SCO-s vision: security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and environmental protection.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (July 4) hosted the virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), where he mentioned five pillars of the SCO-s vision: security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and environmental protection. The summit was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Addressing the summit, Prime Minister Modi said, "We do not see the SCO as an extended neighbourhood, but rather as an extended family." Modi added that over the last 20 years, SCO emerged as an important platform for peace, prosperity and development in the entire Eurasia region. Click here to follow all updates on the SCO virtual summit "To harness the talent of the youth from SCO countries, several new platforms such as the Young Scientist Conclave, Authors Conclave, Startup Forum, and Youth Council have been organized. These platforms aim to channel the potential of SCO's youth and provide them with meaningful opportunities," he added. The Indian prime minister also congratulated Iran for becoming a new permanent member of the SCO. 'Terrorism a threat to regional, global peace' During the virtual summit, Indian PM Modi condemned terrorism of any form and highlighted that terrorism is a threat to regional and global peace. "We will have to fight against terrorism...Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policies and give shelter to terrorists. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such countries. SCO countries should condemn it," Modi said. "There should be no double standards on terrorism," he added. भारत ने SCO में सहयोग के पाँच नए स्तंभ बनाए हैं। pic.twitter.com/Av9xsd1ooF — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2023 × Modi also said that the situation in Afghanistan has had a direct impact on the security of SCO members, adding New Delhi's concerns regarding Afghanistan are the same as most of the SCO Member countries. "We have to make united efforts for the welfare of the people of Afghanistan...It is important that the land of Afghanistan is not used to spread unrest in neighbouring nations or promote extremist ideologies," the Indian prime minister further said. Sharif, Xi, and Putin present during summit The virtual SCO summit was attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin among other leaders. This was Putin's first appearance at an international event since the failed weekend mutiny by the Russian mercenary group Wagner. 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.

At virtual SCO summit, Modi mentions five pillars of organisation's vision; condemns terrorism in any form

Argentinian scientists have tracked down a "leopard-print" frog to learn how it reproduces. According to a report by BBC last Saturday (July 1), scientists are fighting to protect the Santa Fe frog.

Argentinian scientists have tracked down a "leopard-print" frog to learn how it reproduces. According to a report by BBC last Saturday (July 1), scientists are fighting to protect the Santa Fe frog. The frog is under threat as its habitat the Dry Chaco is cut down. The Dry Chaco is a large expanse of forest and dusty plains straddling parts of Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. The forest has one of the deforestation rates on the planet The BBC report said that the scientists discovered the frog in caves, emerging only to call for a mate. "It's not been an easy journey so far, but we're determined to do what we can to secure the future for this wonderful amphibian," Isis Ibañez, who leads the Santa Fe frog project, told the network. Santa Fe frog largely unknown to science The Santa Fe frog, largely unknown to science, is found only in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. The scientists set up camera traps to locate the brightly-coloured frogs and study their behaviour. Most frogs attract a mate by calling loudly from a pond, stream or swamp. The scientists found the male frogs emerge at nightfall and then hop back down their burrows with interested females. Eggs, tadpoles found After digging for hours, the scientists found eggs and tadpoles of the Santa Fe frog for the first time. "This species is a clear example of why we have to defend the forest in the Dry Chaco," Camila Deutsch, one of the scientists said. The scientists are also liaising with local community leaders, hunters, and, farmers to learn more about the frog and how to better protect the frogs, the report further said. 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.

Scientists track down rare 'leopard-print' frog, find its tadpoles: Report

Two people were killed and 28 others were injured in a mass shooting at an outdoor neighbourhood block party in Baltimore early Sunday (July 2). According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the shooting occurred at about 12.

Two people were killed and 28 others were injured in a mass shooting at an outdoor neighbourhood block party in Baltimore early Sunday (July 2). According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the shooting occurred at about 12.35 am local time in a courtyard of grass and pavement between a pair of two-story rowhouse structures in South Baltimore's Brooklyn Homes community. Hundreds of people were attending the Brooklyn Day party at the time of the incident. The police said that the victims were identified as an 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man. And as of Sunday afternoon, nine of the 28 injured remained hospitalised, a few of them in critical condition, the police added. Speaking to reporters, Baltimore Police Department's (BPD) Acting Commissioner Richard Worley said that 14 among the total injured were below the age of 18, adding the police were still trying to confirm the victims' ages. 'It was chaos' Terry Brown, a resident of the neighbourhood, told the Baltimore Sun that he was standing outside his residence when he heard gunfire, followed by a stampede of people fleeing in panic for cover. "It was chaos. Parents were running around looking for their children, hollering and screaming, and don't know if their child has a bullet in them," Brown added. An 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man were killed in a mass shooting in Baltimore, Maryland. The suspect or suspects were still at large https://t.co/KuFm9oSwWD pic.twitter.com/oXIjyXvj9J — Reuters (@Reuters) July 2, 2023 × The police were searching for multiple suspects, and Richard Worley urged the community to come forward with any information or videos that might help investigators identify the perpetrators. "We know for sure there are more than one. We don't know how many (suspects)," Worley further told reporters. Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott, meanwhile, called the shooting a reckless, cowardly act," and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice. "We will not stop until we find you, and we will find you," Scott said. 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: Two killed, 28 injured in mass shooting in Baltimore; half of injured were children

The Noida Police arrested four people on Sunday (July 2) for cutting a cake and bursting firecrackers on an elevated road, according to Indian media reports. The arrested were identified as Lalit Sharma (22), Deepak Patel (25), Shekhar Chaudhary (27), and Tarun Sharma (26).

The Noida Police arrested four people on Sunday (July 2) for cutting a cake and bursting firecrackers on an elevated road, according to Indian media reports. The arrested were identified as Lalit Sharma (22), Deepak Patel (25), Shekhar Chaudhary (27), and Tarun Sharma (26). All four are residents of Noida. The police took action after a video went viral on social media showing the four men celebrating a birthday by cutting a cake and bursting firecrackers on the elevated road in n sector-24 police area, as per a report by the Indian Express. The video showed a man holding a box from which crackers launched. A few passersby could be seen recording the act. The incident took place on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Here's a look at the video: नोएडा : एलिवेटेड रोड पर आतिशबाजी, हुडदंग और गाड़ी के बोनट पर केक कटिंग के साथ बर्थडे सेलिब्रेशन। जमकर उड़ाई नियमों की धज्जियां। pic.twitter.com/4HQiNa4aXa — Greater Noida West (@GreaterNoidaW) July 2, 2023 × Speaking to the Indian Express, Shakti Mohan Avasthy, ADCP, Noida, said that the police took immediate cognizance of the matter and arrested the four men. Avasthy added that their car was seized and other legal proceedings were underway. 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.

India: Four arrested in UP's Noida for cutting cake, bursting crackers on elevated road

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