China will send its first civilian astronaut into space on Tuesday (May 30) as part of a crewed mission to the Tiangong space station, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Monday.

China will send its first civilian astronaut into space on Tuesday (May 30) as part of a crewed mission to the Tiangong space station, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Monday. Until now, all Chinese astronauts sent into space have been part of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). And the news to send the first civilian astronaut into space comes as China has invested billions of dollars into its military-run space programme, trying to catch up with the United States and Russia after years of belatedly matching their milestones. Who is the civilian astronaut? Gui Haichao, a professor at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics is China's first civilian to be sent into space. Addressing a press conference on Monday, China Manned Space Agency Spokesperson Lin Xiqiang said that Professor Haichao would mainly be responsible for the on-orbit operation of space science experimental payloads, the news agency AFP reported. Haichao's university said that he hails from an ordinary family in western Yunnan province. In a social media post, the university said Haichao "first felt the attraction of aerospace" listening to the news of China's first man in space, Yang Liwei, on campus radio in 2003. The mission and China's 'space dream' As per state media, the commander of this mission is Major General Jing Haipeng, and the third crew member is engineer Zhu Yangzhu. The Manned Space Agency said the astronauts would take off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China on Tuesday at 9:31 am (0131 GMT). Under Chinese President Xi Jinping, the country's plans for a "space dream" have been put into overdrive. China is planning to build a base on the Moon and the National Space Administration said it aims to launch a crewed lunar mission by 2029. AFP reported on Monday that the final module of the T-shaped Tiangong successfully docked with the core structure last year. State news agency Xinhua reported that the station carries a number of pieces of cutting-edge science equipment, including "the world's first space-based cold atomic clock system". Once finished, Tiangong is expected to remain in low Earth orbit at between 400 and 450 kilometres (250 and 280 miles) above the planet for at least a decade. It would be constantly crewed by rotating teams of three astronauts, who will conduct scientific experiments and help test new technologies. (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.

China to send first civilian into space on Tuesday. Know who he is

A silver-slated pencil purported to have belonged to former Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler will be auctioned in Belfast on June 6. According to a report by The Guardian early Monday (May 29), the pencil is estimated to sell for between £50,000 (around $ 61,843) and £80,000 (around $ 98,968).

A silver-slated pencil purported to have belonged to former Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler will be auctioned in Belfast on June 6. According to a report by The Guardian early Monday (May 29), the pencil is estimated to sell for between £50,000 (around $ 61,843) and £80,000 (around $ 98,968). The Bloomfield Auctions in east Belfast would also include an original signed photograph of Hitler and a rare hand-written pardon by Queen Victoria dated to 1869 for Irish rebels convicted of treason. The silver-slated pencil is believed to have been a gift to Hitler from his long-term partner Eva Braun for his 52nd birthday on 20 April 1941. The pencil is inscribed with “Eva” in German and the initials “AH”. It was originally bought by a collector during an auction in 2000, the report said. 'Pencil helps to unravel a hidden piece of history' Karl Bennett, the managing director of Bloomfield Auctions, said the pencil helps to unravel a "hidden piece of history," giving a unique insight into Hitler’s relationships, which he scrupulously kept hidden from the public eye. “Much of Hitler’s personal appeal during his dictatorship derived from his carefully constructed identity as the father of the German nation, who rejected personal connection in favour of loyalty to his country," Bennett said. “This love token of a personalised pencil from Eva on his birthday helps reveal the deception behind Hitler’s public facade,” he added. Bennett also said that careful research and discussion with the item vendor about where the item (the pencil) was obtained gave him confidence that what he was telling people he was selling was the actual item. The managing director of the auction highlighted that people might have reservations about selling and collecting items belonging to Hitler. “But for me, as a high-end collector of militaria items, they preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial in recorded history,” Bennett 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.

Pencil given to Hitler by partner could fetch nearly $99,000 in auction: Report

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building which is located next to the old one in New Delhi on Sunday (May 28). The new parliament is part of the government's Central Vista project. Multi-faith prayers were organised after the formal inauguration of the building concluded. In the United States, President Joe Biden and Republicans reached an "in principle" deal to avert the debt default. On June 5, the government is likely to hit its borrowing limit which was increasing the chances of the world's largest economy defaulting on its repayment obligations and putting the global markets on fire.

And China's first grown passenger aircraft, set out on its maiden commercial flight on Sunday. According to CCTV footage, just after 10.30 am (0230 GMT), the China Eastern Airlines aircraft MU9191 ascended over Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-parliament-building-inauguration-live-updates-indian-pm-modi-to-present-new-parliament-to-country-597330">New parliament building inauguration LIVE updates: Multi-faith prayer meeting concludes</a>

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The multi-faith prayer meeting organised after the the formal inauguration of the parliament building concluded. Afterwards, PM Modi met various personalities that had gathered at the event. Indian PM Narendra Modi unveiled the plaque to mark the inauguration of the new parliament building after participating in the havan and installing the 'Sengol' in the lower house i.e Los Sabha.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-republicans-reach-deal-to-avert-catastrophic-debt-default-597327">US: Biden, Republicans reach ‘in principle’ deal to avert catastrophic debt default</a>

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United States President Joe Biden struck a deal in principle with Republican lawmakers to increase the debt ceiling of the country on Saturday, in a first crucial step towards averting the disastrous default with a few days to spare. 
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-first-homegrown-passenger-jet-c919-embarks-on-maiden-commercial-flight-597356">China's first homegrown passenger jet C919 embarks on maiden commercial flight</a>

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The C919, China's first homegrown passenger aircraft, set out on its maiden commercial flight on Sunday, 28 May.&nbsp;This comes as China has been actively involved in the development, research, and testing of the passenger jet in recent years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyivs-much-awaited-counter-offensive-can-begin-tomorrow-day-after-or-in-a-week-top-ukraine-war-chief-597153">Kyiv's much awaited counter-offensive can begin 'tomorrow, day after or in a week': Top Ukraine war chief</a>

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A top Ukrainian war chief has revealed that the war-torn nation is ready to launch its much-anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, revealed in an interview with the BBC that the assault to reclaim territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin at any time, be it "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week".&nbsp;

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building which is located next to the old one in New Delhi on Sunday (May 28). The new parliament is part of the government's Central Vista project.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building which is located next to the old one in New Delhi on Sunday (May 28). The new parliament is part of the government's Central Vista project. Multi-faith prayers were organised after the formal inauguration of the building concluded. In the United States, President Joe Biden and Republicans reached an "in principle" deal to avert the debt default. On June 5, the government is likely to hit its borrowing limit which was increasing the chances of the world's largest economy defaulting on its repayment obligations and putting the global markets on fire. And China's first grown passenger aircraft, set out on its maiden commercial flight on Sunday. According to CCTV footage, just after 10.30 am (0230 GMT), the China Eastern Airlines aircraft MU9191 ascended over Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Click on the headlines to read more: New parliament building inauguration LIVE updates: Multi-faith prayer meeting concludes The multi-faith prayer meeting organised after the the formal inauguration of the parliament building concluded. Afterwards, PM Modi met various personalities that had gathered at the event. Indian PM Narendra Modi unveiled the plaque to mark the inauguration of the new parliament building after participating in the havan and installing the 'Sengol' in the lower house i.e Los Sabha. US: Biden, Republicans reach ‘in principle’ deal to avert catastrophic debt default United States President Joe Biden struck a deal in principle with Republican lawmakers to increase the debt ceiling of the country on Saturday, in a first crucial step towards averting the disastrous default with a few days to spare. China's first homegrown passenger jet C919 embarks on maiden commercial flight The C919, China's first homegrown passenger aircraft, set out on its maiden commercial flight on Sunday, 28 May. This comes as China has been actively involved in the development, research, and testing of the passenger jet in recent years. Kyiv's much awaited counter-offensive can begin 'tomorrow, day after or in a week': Top Ukraine war chief A top Ukrainian war chief has revealed that the war-torn nation is ready to launch its much-anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces. Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, revealed in an interview with the BBC that the assault to reclaim territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin at any time, be it "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week". WATCH | Serbian army on combat alert × 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.

Morning brief: Modi inaugurates new parliament building; Biden, Republicans reach deal to avert debt crisis

The Taliban and Iranian forces exchanged heavy gunfire on the Afghan border on Saturday (May 27), killing and wounding troops, escalating tension between Kabul and Tehran amid a dispute over water rights.

The Taliban and Iranian forces exchanged heavy gunfire on the Afghan border on Saturday (May 27), killing and wounding troops, escalating tension between Kabul and Tehran amid a dispute over water rights. According to the IRNA news agency, Iran's Deputy Police Chief Gen. Qassem Rezaei accused the Taliban of opening fire on the border of Iran's Sistan and Balochistan provinces and the Afghan province of Nimroz. Citing Iranian police, the IRNA said that two border guards were killed. The agency further added the Milak border crossing with Afghanistan, a major trade route, was closed until further notice. ALSO READ | Iran's water right issue: Tehran gives Afghanistan one month to resolve problem, says report Iran’s police chief Gen. Ahmadreza Radan warned that Iran's border forces would decisively respond to any border trespassing and aggression and that "current authorities of Afghanistan" must be held accountable for their unmeasured and contrary actions to international principles. Afghanistan accuses Iran of shooting first The Taliban-led Afghanistan administration accused Iran of shooting first. Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Nafi Takor said Saturday's fighting killed two people, one each from Afghanistan and Iran, and wounded others. Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khawarazmi said that the Taliban considered dialogue to be a reasonable way for any problem, adding, "Making excuses for war and negative actions is not in the interest of any of the parties." Saturday's fighting comes after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi earlier this month warned Afghanistan not to violate Tehran's water rights to the Helmand River. The right to water from the river recently became a controversial issue between the two countries. Raisi said the Taliban should ensure that Tehran's water rights of the river were based on international treaties. On Thursday, President Raisi said that the Taliban should immediately provide Iran with its share of water. Earlier on Saturday, the Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with an Iranian envoy to Afghanistan to discuss the Helmand River water rights. The news agency IRNA acknowledged the meeting saying “that issues between the two countries will be better resolved through dialogue.” 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.

Taliban, Iran exchange heavy gunfire on Afghan border; water rights issue escalates

A lawyer in New York is facing a court hearing after his firm used ChatGPT for a legal filing which cited many non-existent cases. According to a report by the New York Times on Saturday (May 27), Steven Schwartz, a lawyer with Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, faces a sanctions hearing on June 8.

A lawyer in New York is facing a court hearing after his firm used ChatGPT for a legal filing which cited many non-existent cases. According to a report by the New York Times on Saturday (May 27), Steven Schwartz, a lawyer with Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, faces a sanctions hearing on June 8. Schwartz, who has practised law in New York for 30 years, said that he greatly regretted relying on ChatGPT and would never do so in future without absolute verification of its authenticity. What is the case about? According to the New York Times report, a man named Roberto Mata sued the airline Avianca, saying he was injured when a serving cart struck his knee during a flight to the Kennedy International Airport in New York. As per the lawsuit, Mata was a passenger on Aviance Flight 670 from El Salvador to New York on August 27, 2019, when an airline employee bonked him with the metal serving cart. When Avianca asked a Manhattan federal judge to toss out the case, Mata's lawyers objected and submitted a 10-page brief in March that cited over half a dozen relevant court decisions. The brief cited Martinez v. Delta Air Lines, Zicherman v. Korean Air Lines, Varghese v. China Southern Airlines and a few other cases. But here's the catch- Avianca's lawyers wrote to Judge Kevin Castel of the Southern District of New York, saying they were unable to find the cases that were cited in the brief. When it came to the Varghese v. China Southern Airlines case, the airline's lawyers said they were not able to locate this case by caption or citation. “The undersigned has not been able to locate this quotation, nor anything like it in any case,” they added. The lawyers further pointed out that the quotation, which came from Varghese itself, cited Zicherman v. Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd., an opinion purportedly handed down by the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in 2008. They said they could not find that either. Following this, Judge Castel ordered Mata’s attorneys to provide copies of the opinions referred to in their brief. The report said that Bart Banino, a lawyer for Avianca, said his firm, Condon & Forsyth specialised in aviation law and that its lawyers could tell the cases in the 10-page brief were not real. Banino said that they had an inkling a chatbot might have been involved. ChatGPT behind the legal filing ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot backed by Microsoft, was behind these fake court decisions. In a May 4 order, Judge Castel found that at least six of the submitted cases by Steven Schwartz as research for the brief appeared to be bogus judicial decisions with bogus quotes and bogus internal citations. Had no intent to deceive the court or airline: Lawyer Schwartz told Judge Castel that he had no intent to deceive the court or Avianca, adding he never used ChatGPT and therefore was unaware of the possibility that its content could be false. On Thursday, Roberto Mata's lawyers offered affidavits containing their version of what had happened. Schwartz said he originally filed the lawsuit in state court. But after Avianca had the lawsuit transferred to Manhattan's federal court, where Schwartz is not allowed to practice, one of his colleagues LoDuca became the lawyer of record. Schwartz said he continued with the legal research in which LoDuca had no role. Schwartz said he consulted ChatGPT “to supplement” his work and that, “in consultation” with it, found and cited the nonexistent cases. As per a copy of the exchange submitted to the judge, the lawyer asked, "Is Varghese a real case?" to which ChatGPT replied, "Yes." “What is your source,” Schwartz asked, and ChatGPT responded, "I apologise for the confusion earlier." Schwartz asked whether the other cases provided were fake, but the AI chatbot said they were real and could be found in reputable legal databases. 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 lawyer uses ChatGPT for legal filing, faces sanctions hearing on June 8: Report

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the country in a farewell broadcast on Sunday (May 28), a day before he steps down from the top position. In his speech, President Buhari, 80, expressed his gratitude to citizens and said that he is leaving the country better than he met it.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the country in a farewell broadcast on Sunday (May 28), a day before he steps down from the top position. In his speech, President Buhari, 80, expressed his gratitude to citizens and said that he is leaving the country better than he met it. "I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a modest sense of fulfilment," Buhari said. "We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among nations," he added. In his farewell speech, Buhari said that Nigeria's influence continued to grow on the global stage as exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership positions in renowned global bodies. He also defended his record on the economy and the outcome of the presidential election, saying he was leaving a legacy of credible and fair votes. His beginnings and military career Muhammadu Buhari was born on December 17, 1942 in Nigeria's Daura. Buhari's father died when he was about four years old and was raised by his mother. Buhari was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army in 1963. He was involved in the military coup in 1975 which ousted Yakubu Gowon and was appointed the military governor of North Eastern state (now Borno) during the same year. Two years later, Buhari became the military secretary at Supreme Military Headquarters. By September 1979, he returned to regular army duties. Though a civilian government returned to Nigeria in 1979, dissatisfaction with economic conditions led to another military coup in 1983 and Buhari was unanimously chosen as the head of the state till August 1985. After this, he was overthrown in a coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida. The presidential elections Muhammadu Buhari ran for president in 2003, 2007 and 2011. But he lost in all these three elections to candidates of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He was a candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) in the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections and fought the 2011 election as a candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). In 2013, the CPC merged with the ANPP and other parties to form the All Progressive Congress (APC). In 2014, the APC chose Buhari as the candidate for the 2015 presidential election- which he won and was sworn in as Nigeria's president on May 29, 2015. He promised to reboot the economy and end corruption. The presidency years Muhammadu Buhari's presidency had a rough start as Nigeria experienced its first recession in more than 20 years in 2016 when the economy contracted by 1.6 per cent due to negative oil prices and oil production shocks, which spilt over to the non-oil sectors. The former military ruler saw an escalation of attacks by the Boko Haram. Buhari's state of health and his ability to lead Nigeria was also questioned. However, Buhari's administration dismissed the concerns regarding his health and he was APC's candidate for the 2019 presidential election, which he won. In this year's presidential election, Buhari was term-limited and could not seek re-election for a third term. The 2023 unrest over the cash crunch Just days before this year's presidential election on February 25, violent protests rocked Nigeria over the scarcity of cash after the central bank started to swap old bills of the local naira currency for new ones, which caused a shortfall of banknotes. President Buhari defended the currency swap but ordered old, small denomination 200 naira notes to remain in circulation to ease the scarcity of cash. Addressing citizens on February 16, he described the naira policy as a positive departure from the past and said it represented a "bold legacy step" towards free and fair elections by helping to curb vote buying. The farewell speech a day before he steps down as president During his farewell speech on Saturday, President Buhari spoke on several topics but particularly his record on the economy. Buhari said the economy became more resilient because of various strategies put in place to ensure it remained afloat during cases of global economic downturns. "You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice," Buhari added. "In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologise to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the overall good of the country," the outgoing president 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.

Explained: The political life of outgoing Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari

Voting started in Turkey's first-ever runoff election on Sunday (May 28) which could see President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extend his rule for a third decade. Voting started at 8 am (0500 GMT) and would close at 5 pm.

Voting started in Turkey's first-ever runoff election on Sunday (May 28) which could see President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extend his rule for a third decade. Voting started at 8 am (0500 GMT) and would close at 5 pm. President Erdogan won the first round on May 14 but fell just short of an outright majority against his secular challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Kilicdaroglu, 74, is the candidate of a six-party opposition alliance and leads the Republican People's Party (CHP). His camp has struggled to regain momentum after the shock of trailing Erdogan in the first round. The outcome of the runoff election would start becoming clearer by early Sunday evening, the news agency Reuters reported. What will this election decide? This election would decide not only who leads Turkey, but also how the country is governed, where its economy is headed after the currency plunged to one-tenth of its value against the dollar in a decade and the shape of foreign policy. President Erdogan's critics have said his government muzzled dissent, eroded rights and brought the judicial system under its sway, a charge denied by officials. Economists, on the other hand, pointed out that it was Erdogan's unorthodox policy of low-interest rates despite surging prices that drove inflation to 85% last year, and the lira slumping to one-tenth of its value against the dollar over the last decade, Reuters reported on Sunday. When it comes to foreign affairs, Turkey forged closer ties with Russia, and its relations with the United States and the European Union (EU) became increasingly strained. The voting numbers Over 64 million Turkish citizens were eligible to vote (on Sunday) at nearly 192,000 polling stations. And there are 3.4 million voters overseas, who voted between May 20-24. Polling stations across the country opened at 8 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday and close at 5 pm (1400 GMT). The sale of alcohol is banned on election day. When will the result be out? The new election rules state that news, forecasts and commentaries about the vote are banned till 6 pm (1500 GMT) and media are only free to report on the election results from 9 pm (1800 GMT). However, the High Election Board may allow the media to report on results earlier, Reuters reported. The results of the runoff election are likely to emerge earlier than they did on May 14 because of the relative simplicity of the ballot paper. (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.

Erdogan Vs Kilicdaroglu: Voting starts in Turkey’s first-ever presidential election runoff

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed late Saturday (May 27) that intelligence agencies intercepted a telephone call in which a plan to “stage a raid and rape at a known Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker’s home” was being discussed.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed late Saturday (May 27) that intelligence agencies intercepted a telephone call in which a plan to “stage a raid and rape at a known Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker’s home” was being discussed. Speaking to reporters, Interior Minister Sanaullah said the conspiracy was being hatched to later claim that human rights were being violated in Pakistan, Dawn reported on Sunday. Sanaullah, however, did not provide any evidence to support his claim. Taking to Twitter, he said, "The country's agencies intercepted a conversation, revealing disturbing plots and planned actions, including a raid on the PTI leader's house and a staged rape." "Objective: falsely implicate law enforcement institutions in the crime, aiming to internationalise the issue," the minister added. Imran Khan hits out at Sanaullah: 'If any doubts about women being.....' Former Pakistan prime minister and PTI chairperson Imran Khan hit out at Interior Minister Rana Sanaulla's claim by saying he was trying to cover up and preempt the horror stories about to break in the media. "If there were any doubts about women being mistreated in jails, this press conference from this certified criminal should remove all such doubts," Khan tweeted on Sunday and said women in Pakistan have never been so mistreated and harassed by the state as they have been by this fascist govt when they were exercising their right to protest peacefully. In another tweet, Khan said that there were raids at night on the houses of PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Shahzad Akbar. "Today we are living in dark ages.. Constitution violated, court decisions openly flouted, houses broken in without warrant and smashed, media muzzled and no one to protect our fundamental rights," the former prime minister added. If there were any doubts about women being mistreated in jails, this press conference from this certified criminal should remove all such doubts. He is so obviously trying to cover up and preempt the horror stories about to break in the media. Women have never been so… pic.twitter.com/ig06rvsdsl — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 28, 2023 × The above developments come as the political crisis in Pakistan has worsened and the country faces its worst economic crisis in decades. On Friday, Imran Khan appealed for immediate talks with state officials, warning the country was headed towards anarchy. “I would like to appeal for talks because what is currently happening is not a solution. But don’t consider it a weakness of Imran Khan because whenever I speak of talks, they (the government) become stiffer. The police come to my house and warrants are issued. These things do not make a difference to me. I am worried about my country. You all should also be concerned about it,” Khan said in live stream on YouTube. In recent days, Khan has faced a slew of resignations from the PTI with party leaders saying they were leaving of their own free will. Many of them cited concerns for their family and health. Khan, however, said they were being made to resign under duress in a bid to weaken him and dismantle his party. 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.

Pak minister claims to expose ‘conspiracy to stage raid, rape’ at PTI worker’s house, says report

The director of a funeral home in southern Indiana pleaded guilty to over 40 counts of felony theft on Friday (May 26) after 31 decomposing bodies and the cremains of 17 others were found at the premises.

The director of a funeral home in southern Indiana pleaded guilty to over 40 counts of felony theft on Friday (May 26) after 31 decomposing bodies and the cremains of 17 others were found at the premises. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press on Saturday, Clark County Circuit Court Judge N. Lisa Glickfield said that Randy Lankford, the owner of Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center in Jeffersonville, faces a proposed sentence of 12 years. The sentence includes four years in prison and eight years in home incarceration, Judge Glickfield said. Lankford was charged with theft for failing to complete funeral services he was paid for, and must also pay restitution to 53 families totalling $46,000. He was released to home incarceration after the hearing, and a formal sentencing hearing has been planned for June 23, the report said. The investigation The police in Jeffersonville began investigating the Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center in July last year after the county coroner’s office reported a strong odour emanating from the building. In a statement, Major Isaac Parker said cops worked through the night and into the morning and located 31 bodies, "some of which were in advanced stages of decomposition," along with the post-cremation remains of 16 other people, according to a report by USA Today. ALSO READ | New York funeral home discovers woman breathing hours after she was pronounced dead The unrefrigerated bodies were found in various states of decomposition, and some had been at the funeral home since March 2022. We wanted to get justice for families: Clark Country prosecutor Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull highlighted that many charges against Lankford and existing court backups from the Covid pandemic complicated the process. Mull said he felt that the Indiana administration's move to eliminate about half of the counts would grant the most immediate form of relief. “We wanted to get justice for these families,” the prosecutor said. A man named Derrick Kessinger had three loved ones, his father Mickey Kessinger, fiancée Aierell Barton and her father Richard Barton, in the care of the funeral home. Kessinger, who attended Friday's hearing said he trusted Lankford while the remains of his loved ones sat inside the funeral home. “It’s been tough, but I do forgive him (Randy Lankford) for what he did. I hope he can find forgiveness.” (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: Decomposing bodies found, Indiana funeral home director pleads guilty to 40 theft counts

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Wednesday (May 24) that his government cannot afford to impose sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war as the sanctions would devastate Georgia's economy.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Wednesday (May 24) that his government cannot afford to impose sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war as the sanctions would devastate Georgia's economy. Addressing the Qatar Economic Forum, Prime Minister Garibashvili said, "Not only would we harm Georgia, but we would also devastate our economy and jeopardise the interests of our country and our people if we were to impose any form of economic sanctions on Russia," the news agency AFP reported. Garibashvili estimated bilateral trade with Russia is worth about $1 billion a year. A reminder of the Russo-Georgian war Prime Minister Garibashvili has been facing international criticism for not imposing sanctions on Russia (for its invasion of Ukraine). But he has defended his country's reluctance to take action against its neighbour. Reminding the world about the 2008 Russo-Georgian war, Garibashvili criticised the international community for not taking action, including sanctions. "Where's the logic? Our war was not a war and the Ukrainian war is a war. Well, I have to say that we were quite disappointed that business as usual continued with Russia after the 2008 war," he said during the Qatar Economic Forum on Wednesday. "The result of that war, a devastating war, is that 20 per cent of our territory was taken over by Russia. Russia built two military bases on our historic lands," the Georgian prime minister added, AFP reported Nobody knows how Ukraine war will end: Georgian PM Garibashvili also said on Wednesday that nobody knew how the ongoing war in Ukraine would end. He pointed out that there are not enough efforts from the international community to take proper measures to encourage consultation, to encourage peace talks. Last Saturday (May 20), Georgia announced that it was resuming direct flights to Russia, drawing criticism from Ukraine and the European Union (EU). The decision came after Moscow lifted a flight ban in a significant warming of ties with Georgia. Taking to Twitter, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said, "The world is isolating Russia to force it to stop the war, but Georgia is welcoming Russian airlines and sending its own to Moscow. All while 20% of Georgian territory remains occupied by Russia with impunity." 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: Georgia cannot afford to impose sanctions on Russia, says PM Irakli Garibashvili

Two more universities in Australia - the Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales (NSW) -have banned recruitment from some Indian states in response to fresh concerns over a rise in fraudulent visa applications. According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday (May 22), these two universities wrote to education agents last week, instructing them to no longer recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

"The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs," the Federation University said in its letter, adding "We hoped this would prove to be a short-term issue (but) it is now clear there is a trend emerging." &nbsp;

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Western Sydney University as saying, "A large number of Indian students who commenced study in 2022 intakes have not remained enrolled, resulting in a significantly high attrition rate."

The university said that Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana were the regions that presented the highest attrition risk.&nbsp;

"Due to the urgency of this matter, the university has decided to pause recruitment from these regions in India, effective immediately," &nbsp;the university told agents, adding, recruitment from other regions of India would continue as usual.&nbsp;

The Western Sydney University said the ban would be in place for at least two months -- May and June 2023.

It further highlighted that additional measures would be taken "to address the issue of non-genuine students enrolling with the university from these regions, including changes to application screening, stricter admissions conditions and increases to commencement fees".

In April, several Australian universities, including&nbsp;Edith Cowan University and Torrens University, imposed a ban on students from some Indian states with fraudulent applications seeking to work, and not study, in the country.

Australia is reportedly set to enrol the highest number of Indian students ever, surpassing the previous high of 75,000 in 2019.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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Two more universities in Australia - the Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales (NSW) -have banned recruitment from some Indian states in response to fresh concerns over a rise in fraudulent visa applications.

Two more universities in Australia - the Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales (NSW) -have banned recruitment from some Indian states in response to fresh concerns over a rise in fraudulent visa applications. According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday (May 22), these two universities wrote to education agents last week, instructing them to no longer recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. "The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs," the Federation University said in its letter, adding "We hoped this would prove to be a short-term issue (but) it is now clear there is a trend emerging." The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Western Sydney University as saying, "A large number of Indian students who commenced study in 2022 intakes have not remained enrolled, resulting in a significantly high attrition rate." The university said that Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana were the regions that presented the highest attrition risk. "Due to the urgency of this matter, the university has decided to pause recruitment from these regions in India, effective immediately," the university told agents, adding, recruitment from other regions of India would continue as usual. The Western Sydney University said the ban would be in place for at least two months -- May and June 2023. It further highlighted that additional measures would be taken "to address the issue of non-genuine students enrolling with the university from these regions, including changes to application screening, stricter admissions conditions and increases to commencement fees". In April, several Australian universities, including Edith Cowan University and Torrens University, imposed a ban on students from some Indian states with fraudulent applications seeking to work, and not study, in the country. Australia is reportedly set to enrol the highest number of Indian students ever, surpassing the previous high of 75,000 in 2019. 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.

Two more Australian universities ban students from some Indian states amid visa fraud concerns: Report

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday (May 24) that he was ready to step aside if those in power could convince his party the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that it would be beneficial for Pakistan.

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday (May 24) that he was ready to step aside if those in power could convince his party the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that it would be beneficial for Pakistan. Addressing the country, Khan said he would give another chance to dialogue and constitute a committee on Thursday for talks with the government to guide out of the prevailing crisis, according to local media. “I am making this committee and I say two things: If they tell the committee that they have a solution and the country can function better without me. Or they tell the committee what benefit Pakistan will gain from holding elections in October,” Khan said, adding he would continue his struggle, was prepared to get arrested and that the crackdown would make the PTI more popular. Imran Khan's appeal to SC judges; says Pak becoming 'banana republic' The former prime minister also urged the Supreme Court judges to save democracy in Pakistan and said, "You are our last hope." "Supreme Court judges, the nation is looking at you and your unity is very important for the public. It is up to you now to save this country and take a stand for it because Pakistan is becoming a banana republic," he added, the news agency Press Trust of India reported. Also READ | Pakistan: Former PM Imran Khan's PTI rocked by resignations Imran Khan's appeals come amid several PTI leaders resigning from the party, with former information and broadcasting minister Fawad Chaudhry becoming the latest to quit the party. More than two dozen leaders have already stepped down from the PTI with Khan pointing out on Wednesday that senior leaders were being pressured to resign. "This is a crackdown that I have never seen in the history of Pakistan before," Khan also said. Govt mulling ban on PTI: Pak defence minister Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the PTI could be banned as its members attacked the very basis of the state. "It is under consideration to ban PTI. The PTI has attacked the very basis of the state, that never happened before. It can't be tolerated," Defence Minister Asif said in a televised address. 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.

Pakistan political crisis: Imran Khan says ready to step aside if it's beneficial for country

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