Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei said that the Chinese technology giant has replaced thousands of product components that are banned in the United States with homegrown versions, the news agency AFP reported on Saturday (March 18) citing a transcript posted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Friday. Former US president Donald Trump's administration had effectively barred American companies from doing business with Huawei. And Trump's successor Joe Biden imposed further sanctions including a ban on sales of new Huawei equipment to the US.&nbsp;

These moves have forced the company to find new ways to obtain semiconductors and other parts. According to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's transcript, Zhengfei said on February 24 that Huawei replaced over 13,000 components with domestic versions in the last three years. He said that Huawei also redeveloped over 4,000 circuit boards for its products.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/germany-planning-to-ban-huawei-zte-from-parts-of-5g-networks-paper-569540">Germany planning to ban Huawei, ZTE from parts of 5G networks: Paper</a>

"As of now, our circuit board (production) has stabilised, because we have a supply of domestically produced components," the Huawei founder added but did not provide details regarding which specific parts were being sourced from within China or what proportion of the company's total supply they represented.

During the talk, Zhengfei further said that there were still difficulties with manufacturing advanced microchips in China and so Huawei has to find other ways of making up ground (with the US) on chips. In 2022, the company spent $23.8 billion on research and development, Zhengfei said, adding that it would invest more in the coming years as profits increase.&nbsp;

"We're still in a difficult period, but have not stopped on the road towards progress," the founder added.&nbsp;

On Friday, the news agency Reuters reported that a letter from the German economy ministry said that the ban on certain components by Huawei and ZTE could have a significant impact on Germany's mobile network. The letter comes as Berlin has been reviewing telecom tech suppliers and said it is not directed at specific companies.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei said that the Chinese technology giant has replaced thousands of product components that are banned in the United States with homegrown versions, the news agency AFP reported on Saturday (March 18) citing a transcript posted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Friday.

Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei said that the Chinese technology giant has replaced thousands of product components that are banned in the United States with homegrown versions, the news agency AFP reported on Saturday (March 18) citing a transcript posted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Friday. Former US president Donald Trump's administration had effectively barred American companies from doing business with Huawei. And Trump's successor Joe Biden imposed further sanctions including a ban on sales of new Huawei equipment to the US. These moves have forced the company to find new ways to obtain semiconductors and other parts. According to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's transcript, Zhengfei said on February 24 that Huawei replaced over 13,000 components with domestic versions in the last three years. He said that Huawei also redeveloped over 4,000 circuit boards for its products. ALSO READ | Germany planning to ban Huawei, ZTE from parts of 5G networks: Paper "As of now, our circuit board (production) has stabilised, because we have a supply of domestically produced components," the Huawei founder added but did not provide details regarding which specific parts were being sourced from within China or what proportion of the company's total supply they represented. During the talk, Zhengfei further said that there were still difficulties with manufacturing advanced microchips in China and so Huawei has to find other ways of making up ground (with the US) on chips. In 2022, the company spent $23.8 billion on research and development, Zhengfei said, adding that it would invest more in the coming years as profits increase. "We're still in a difficult period, but have not stopped on the road towards progress," the founder added. On Friday, the news agency Reuters reported that a letter from the German economy ministry said that the ban on certain components by Huawei and ZTE could have a significant impact on Germany's mobile network. The letter comes as Berlin has been reviewing telecom tech suppliers and said it is not directed at specific companies. (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.

Huawei's founder says tech giant has replaced thousands of US-banned parts with Chinese versions

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (March 17) that his government will start the process of ratifying Finland's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership bid in Parliament after the country took concrete steps to keep its promises. "We have decided to start the protocol of Finland's accession to NATO in our parliament," Erdogan said following talks with his visiting Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, the news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

Erdogan added that NATO will play a role in maintaining global security, and stability by getting stronger with Finland's membership.&nbsp;

Finnish President Niinisto reacted to the development by saying that it was important news for all. However, he said that Finland's application was not complete without Sweden.&nbsp;

Hungary, meanwhile, will vote on Finland's application to join the US-led intergovernmental military alliance on March 27. Taking to Twitter, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said, "The parliamentary vote will take place on March 27,"&nbsp;adding the ruling&nbsp;Fidesz party supported Finland's ascension.&nbsp;

Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO after Russia announced its special military operation in Ukraine in February last year. The membership requires approval from all 30 member countries.&nbsp;

Though Finland received the backing of all members, Sweden has faced objections from Turkey&nbsp;on terrorism-related issues. Earlier, Turkish President Erdogan had said that the country won’t support Sweden’s ascension bid to NATO and demanded that they extradite dozens of suspects, which it considers “terrorists", including the Kurdistan Workers' Party.&nbsp;

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey's decision to ratifying Finland's membership, and said&nbsp;Sweden should also be allowed to join "as soon as possible".

"The most important thing is that both Finland and&nbsp;Sweden&nbsp;become full members of NATO quickly, not whether they join at exactly the same time," Stoltenberg said.&nbsp;

Echoing the position of NATO chief, United States&nbsp;National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the government has appealed&nbsp;Hungary to finalise&nbsp;its ratification process both for Finland and Sweden&nbsp;"without delay".

However, Sweden expressed its disappointment over its exclusion&nbsp;from NATO expansion. "This is a development that we did not want, but that we were prepared for," said Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (March 17) that his government will start the process of ratifying Finland's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership bid in Parliament after the country took concrete steps to keep its promises.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (March 17) that his government will start the process of ratifying Finland's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership bid in Parliament after the country took concrete steps to keep its promises. "We have decided to start the protocol of Finland's accession to NATO in our parliament," Erdogan said following talks with his visiting Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, the news agency AFP reported. Erdogan added that NATO will play a role in maintaining global security, and stability by getting stronger with Finland's membership. Finnish President Niinisto reacted to the development by saying that it was important news for all. However, he said that Finland's application was not complete without Sweden. Hungary, meanwhile, will vote on Finland's application to join the US-led intergovernmental military alliance on March 27. Taking to Twitter, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said, "The parliamentary vote will take place on March 27," adding the ruling Fidesz party supported Finland's ascension. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO after Russia announced its special military operation in Ukraine in February last year. The membership requires approval from all 30 member countries. Though Finland received the backing of all members, Sweden has faced objections from Turkey on terrorism-related issues. Earlier, Turkish President Erdogan had said that the country won’t support Sweden’s ascension bid to NATO and demanded that they extradite dozens of suspects, which it considers “terrorists", including the Kurdistan Workers' Party. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey's decision to ratifying Finland's membership, and said Sweden should also be allowed to join "as soon as possible". "The most important thing is that both Finland and Sweden become full members of NATO quickly, not whether they join at exactly the same time," Stoltenberg said. Echoing the position of NATO chief, United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the government has appealed Hungary to finalise its ratification process both for Finland and Sweden "without delay". However, Sweden expressed its disappointment over its exclusion from NATO expansion. "This is a development that we did not want, but that we were prepared for," said Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom. (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.

Turkey to start ratifying Finland's NATO membership bid; Hungary to vote on accession on March 27

China's Baidu unveiled its much-awaited artificial intelligence-powered chatbot&nbsp;known as&nbsp;Ernie&nbsp;Bot&nbsp;on Thursday, but disappointed investors with its use of pre-recorded videos and the lack of a public launch, sending its shares tumbling.&nbsp;

The just over an hour-long presentation, which came two days after Alphabet Inc's Google unveiled a flurry of AI tools for its email, collaboration and cloud software, gave the world a glimpse of what could be China's strongest rival to US&nbsp;research lab OpenAI's ChatGPT.

But unlike ChatGPT, which last November launched as a free to use chatbot&nbsp;to the public, Baidu limited the presentation to brief videos that showed&nbsp;Ernie&nbsp;carrying out mathematical calculations, speaking in Chinese dialects and generating a video and image with text prompts.

It will only be open for trial to an initial group of users with invitation codes from Thursday, while companies can apply to embed the&nbsp;bot&nbsp;into their products via Baidu's cloud platform, the company said.

Baidu's Hong Kong shares tumbled as much as 10% while its CEO Robin Li spoke and eventually closed 6.4% lower, shaving over $3 billion off the Chinese search engine giant's market valuation.&nbsp;

"It seems like the presentation was more of a monologue and scripted rather than an interactive session that people were looking for. There was no soft launch date either which likely led to negative sentiments," said Kai Wang, an analyst from Morningstar.

Baidu is seen as a leader in a race in China among tech giants and startups to develop a rival to Microsoft ChatGPT, which took the world by storm after showcasing the power of so-called generative AI, which can create new text, imagery and other content based on inputs from past data.

The company's&nbsp;Ernie&nbsp;bot&nbsp;is based off its AI-driven deep learning model,&nbsp;Ernie&nbsp;- short for "Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration".

During the presentation at Baidu's Beijing headquarters that was also livestreamed over nine platforms, Li cautioned it was not perfect. "So why are we unveiling it today? Because the market demands it," he said.

Baidu did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the share drop but after the presentation published a statement saying that over 30,000 corporate users had applied to test the API of&nbsp;Ernie&nbsp;Bot's business-facing edition and that traffic on Baidu's cloud website soared.

"After the release of ChatGPT, only Baidu has made a benchmark product among the major tech companies in the world," it said.

National champion

Charlie Chai, an analyst with 86Research, said while the event was clearly a disappointment for many who had viewed it as a trading catalyst, he still viewed Baidu as the best bet in China's AI space.

"We continue to advise investors to patiently hold BIDU shares as the best 'national champion' play in China’s (semi-segregated) AI space," he said.

Baidu has touted its many years of heavy R&amp;D investment in artificial intelligence and deep learning and said it plans to use&nbsp;Ernie&nbsp;Bot&nbsp;to revolutionise its search engine as well as use it to increase efficiency in cloud, smart cars and household appliances.

Earlier this week, OpenAI on Tuesday said it is beginning to release a powerful artificial intelligence model known as GPT-4, describing it as "multimodel", meaning images as well as text prompts can spur it to generate content.

Li nodded to GPT-4 during his speech, saying it surprised him with its ability to summarise information, but cautioned against seeing this through the lens of geopolitics.

"Ernie&nbsp;Bot&nbsp;is not a tool of confrontation between China and the United States," he said.

To date, 650 companies have said they will join the&nbsp;Ernie&nbsp;ecosystem, he added.

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China's Baidu unveiled its much-awaited artificial intelligence-powered chatbot known as Ernie Bot on Thursday, but disappointed investors with its use of pre-recorded videos and the lack of a public launch, sending its shares tumbling.

China's Baidu unveiled its much-awaited artificial intelligence-powered chatbot known as Ernie Bot on Thursday, but disappointed investors with its use of pre-recorded videos and the lack of a public launch, sending its shares tumbling. The just over an hour-long presentation, which came two days after Alphabet Inc's Google unveiled a flurry of AI tools for its email, collaboration and cloud software, gave the world a glimpse of what could be China's strongest rival to US research lab OpenAI's ChatGPT. But unlike ChatGPT, which last November launched as a free to use chatbot to the public, Baidu limited the presentation to brief videos that showed Ernie carrying out mathematical calculations, speaking in Chinese dialects and generating a video and image with text prompts. It will only be open for trial to an initial group of users with invitation codes from Thursday, while companies can apply to embed the bot into their products via Baidu's cloud platform, the company said. Baidu's Hong Kong shares tumbled as much as 10% while its CEO Robin Li spoke and eventually closed 6.4% lower, shaving over $3 billion off the Chinese search engine giant's market valuation. "It seems like the presentation was more of a monologue and scripted rather than an interactive session that people were looking for. There was no soft launch date either which likely led to negative sentiments," said Kai Wang, an analyst from Morningstar. Baidu is seen as a leader in a race in China among tech giants and startups to develop a rival to Microsoft ChatGPT, which took the world by storm after showcasing the power of so-called generative AI, which can create new text, imagery and other content based on inputs from past data. The company's Ernie bot is based off its AI-driven deep learning model, Ernie - short for "Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration". During the presentation at Baidu's Beijing headquarters that was also livestreamed over nine platforms, Li cautioned it was not perfect. "So why are we unveiling it today? Because the market demands it," he said. Baidu did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the share drop but after the presentation published a statement saying that over 30,000 corporate users had applied to test the API of Ernie Bot's business-facing edition and that traffic on Baidu's cloud website soared. "After the release of ChatGPT, only Baidu has made a benchmark product among the major tech companies in the world," it said. National champion Charlie Chai, an analyst with 86Research, said while the event was clearly a disappointment for many who had viewed it as a trading catalyst, he still viewed Baidu as the best bet in China's AI space. "We continue to advise investors to patiently hold BIDU shares as the best 'national champion' play in China’s (semi-segregated) AI space," he said. Baidu has touted its many years of heavy R&D investment in artificial intelligence and deep learning and said it plans to use Ernie Bot to revolutionise its search engine as well as use it to increase efficiency in cloud, smart cars and household appliances. Earlier this week, OpenAI on Tuesday said it is beginning to release a powerful artificial intelligence model known as GPT-4, describing it as "multimodel", meaning images as well as text prompts can spur it to generate content. Li nodded to GPT-4 during his speech, saying it surprised him with its ability to summarise information, but cautioned against seeing this through the lens of geopolitics. "Ernie Bot is not a tool of confrontation between China and the United States," he said. To date, 650 companies have said they will join the Ernie ecosystem, 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.

China's answer to ChatGPT? Baidu shares tumble as Ernie Bot disappoints

German lawmakers on Friday (March 17) approved a plan to shrink the country's increasingly bloated Parliament. However, two opposition parties, the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Left Party,&nbsp;were vehemently critical and the plan is expected to face a court challenge. Parliament's lower house, also known as Bundestag, currently has a record 736 members, a report by the news agency Associated Press said. The changes approved on a 400-261 vote with 23 abstentions would reduce this number to 630.

During elections in Germany, every voter gets two votes,&nbsp;one for a directly elected candidate, the other for a party list. Each of the country's 299 constituencies elects the legislative representative directly by a simple majority vote. And at least 299 further seats go to candidates elected on party lists.&nbsp;

If a party in Germany wins more seats via the direct vote than it would get under the party vote, it keeps the extra seats — but more seats are added for other parties to ensure the proportional vote is reflected accurately.

As the country's traditional big parties have continued to dominate the direct vote even as their overall support has declined, that can result in the Bundestag having many more lawmakers than the minimum requirement of 598. The plan drawn off by the governing coalition would set the size of the lower house of parliament to 630 seats.

“The people of our country...expect us to be capable of reform, and to show that we, too, are prepared to accept cutbacks,” Dirk Wiese, a lawmaker with Chancellor Olaf &nbsp;Scholz’s Social Democrats, said on Friday.&nbsp;

The Associated Press reported on Friday that under the new system, parties would have to win five per cent of the vote share in the division of seats and the three-winner option would be eliminated. The report also said that no extra seats would be added to allow all direct constituency winners to take their seats. This would mean&nbsp;that the worst-performing candidates could miss out.

Slamming the government's decision, CSU lawmaker in Berlin Alexander Dobrindt said, "You set out to shrink the German parliament; what you’re doing now is shrinking the opposition in this parliament."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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German lawmakers on Friday (March 17) approved a plan to shrink the country's increasingly bloated Parliament. However, two opposition parties, the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Left Party, were vehemently critical and the plan is expected to face a court challenge.

German lawmakers on Friday (March 17) approved a plan to shrink the country's increasingly bloated Parliament. However, two opposition parties, the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Left Party, were vehemently critical and the plan is expected to face a court challenge. Parliament's lower house, also known as Bundestag, currently has a record 736 members, a report by the news agency Associated Press said. The changes approved on a 400-261 vote with 23 abstentions would reduce this number to 630. During elections in Germany, every voter gets two votes, one for a directly elected candidate, the other for a party list. Each of the country's 299 constituencies elects the legislative representative directly by a simple majority vote. And at least 299 further seats go to candidates elected on party lists. If a party in Germany wins more seats via the direct vote than it would get under the party vote, it keeps the extra seats — but more seats are added for other parties to ensure the proportional vote is reflected accurately. As the country's traditional big parties have continued to dominate the direct vote even as their overall support has declined, that can result in the Bundestag having many more lawmakers than the minimum requirement of 598. The plan drawn off by the governing coalition would set the size of the lower house of parliament to 630 seats. “The people of our country...expect us to be capable of reform, and to show that we, too, are prepared to accept cutbacks,” Dirk Wiese, a lawmaker with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, said on Friday. The Associated Press reported on Friday that under the new system, parties would have to win five per cent of the vote share in the division of seats and the three-winner option would be eliminated. The report also said that no extra seats would be added to allow all direct constituency winners to take their seats. This would mean that the worst-performing candidates could miss out. Slamming the government's decision, CSU lawmaker in Berlin Alexander Dobrindt said, "You set out to shrink the German parliament; what you’re doing now is shrinking the opposition in this parliament." (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.

Germany: Lawmakers approve plan to shrink bloated parliament; two opposition parties criticise move

In Pics | Cambodia welcomes return of stolen Angkor jewellery

Opposition lawmakers in France on Friday (March 17) filed a no-confidence motion against President Emmanuel Macron's government after it posted the contested pensions reform by decree. Speaking to the news agency AFP, the head of the Liot group Bertrand Pancher said, "The vote on this motion will allow us to get out on top of a deep political crisis."

A day back, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne used a special procedure to push the pensions bill through the National Assembly without a vote.&nbsp;

"Ladies and gentlemen, members of parliament, today, on the parliament bill, and due to the uncertainty hanging over a few votes, we can't take the risk of seeing 175 hours of parliamentary debate collapse, we can't take the risk of seeing the compromise built by the two assemblies dismissed. We cannot bet on the future of our pensions. This reform is necessary," Prime Minister Borne said on Thursday.&nbsp;

The pension overhaul raises France's retirement age by two years to 64, which the government says is essential to ensure the system does not go bust. Unions, and most French, however, disagree. The citizens are deeply attached to keeping the official retirement age at 62, which is among the lowest in OECD countries.

For weeks, protests have been going on to oppose the reform. The demonstrations took a violent turn on Thursday after cars were torched in Paris and other French cities.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;Toluna Harris Interactive poll for RTL radio showed that more than eight out of 10 people were unhappy with the government's decision to skip a vote in parliament, and 65 per cent wanted strikes and protests to continue.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Opposition lawmakers in France on Friday (March 17) filed a no-confidence motion against President Emmanuel Macron's government after it posted the contested pensions reform by decree.

Opposition lawmakers in France on Friday (March 17) filed a no-confidence motion against President Emmanuel Macron's government after it posted the contested pensions reform by decree. Speaking to the news agency AFP, the head of the Liot group Bertrand Pancher said, "The vote on this motion will allow us to get out on top of a deep political crisis." A day back, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne used a special procedure to push the pensions bill through the National Assembly without a vote. "Ladies and gentlemen, members of parliament, today, on the parliament bill, and due to the uncertainty hanging over a few votes, we can't take the risk of seeing 175 hours of parliamentary debate collapse, we can't take the risk of seeing the compromise built by the two assemblies dismissed. We cannot bet on the future of our pensions. This reform is necessary," Prime Minister Borne said on Thursday. The pension overhaul raises France's retirement age by two years to 64, which the government says is essential to ensure the system does not go bust. Unions, and most French, however, disagree. The citizens are deeply attached to keeping the official retirement age at 62, which is among the lowest in OECD countries. For weeks, protests have been going on to oppose the reform. The demonstrations took a violent turn on Thursday after cars were torched in Paris and other French cities. A Toluna Harris Interactive poll for RTL radio showed that more than eight out of 10 people were unhappy with the government's decision to skip a vote in parliament, and 65 per cent wanted strikes and protests to continue. (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.

France: Opposition lawmakers file no confidence motion over pension reforms

An international team of experts has found out that Covid may have spread from infected raccoon dogs that were being illegally sold at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in China's Wuhan. According to a report by The Atlantic on Thursday (March 16), a new analysis of genetic sequences collected from the market shows that these dogs sold at the venue could have been carrying and possibly shedding the virus at the end of 2019.&nbsp;

It is some of the strongest support yet, experts told the magazine, that the pandemic began when SARS-CoV-2 hopped from animals to humans, rather than in an accident among scientists experimenting with viruses. The report said that the new analysis may offer some of the clearest and most compelling evidence that the world would ever get in support of an animal origin for Covid.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-omicron-continues-to-evolve-who-updates-how-it-tracks-and-names-new-covid-variants-572913">As Omicron continues to evolve, WHO updates how it tracks and names new Covid variants</a>

As per the report, genetic sequences were pulled out of swabs taken in and near market stalls around the beginning of the pandemic. They represented the first bits of raw data that researchers outside of China's academic institutions and their direct collaborators had access to. The data was posted by researchers affiliated with the country's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on GISAID,&nbsp;which is an open-access genomic database.&nbsp;

Scientists in North America, Australia and Europe spotted the sequences, downloaded them and started an analysis. An earlier analysis released in February last year asserted that no animal host of SARS-CoV-2 could be deduced. And any motes of Covid at the market, "had most likely been chauffeured in by infected humans, rather than wild creatures for sale," it said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/3-years-on-since-covid-pandemic-who-chief-says-finding-origins-a-moral-imperative-571122">3 years on since Covid 'pandemic', WHO chief says finding origins a 'moral imperative'</a>

However, the new analysis led by three researchers,&nbsp;Kristian Andersen, Edward Holmes, and Michael Worobey,&nbsp;shows that this might not be the case, The Atlantic reported.

After downloading the data from GISAD, the researchers and their collaborators found out that several market samples which tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were also coming back chock-full of animal genetic material—much of which was a match for the common raccoon dog.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-covid-variant-identified-in-israel-heres-all-you-need-to-know-572880">New Covid variant identified in Israel. Here's all you need to know</a>

Because of how the samples were gathered and since viruses cannot persist by themselves in the environment, the scientists think their findings could indicate the presence of a Covid-infected raccoon dog in spots where the swabs were taken. Kristian Andersen, one of the researchers, told The Atlantic that raccoon dogs were not tested at the market and were likely removed prior to the authorities coming in.&nbsp;

Andersen underscored that the findings are not direct evidence of infected dogs at the market. “Do I believe there were infected animals at the market? Yes, I do. Does this new data add to that evidence base? Yes," he said.&nbsp;

Raccoon dogs, which are commonly bred for sale in China, are already known to be one of many mammal species that can easily catch and spread Covid.&nbsp;

The report further said that the findings do not rule out the possibility that other animals may have been carrying SARS-CoV-2 at Huanan. The dogs, if they were infected, might not be the creatures who passed the pathogen to human beings. This would mean the search for Covid's "many wild hosts" would need to plod on.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
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An international team of experts has found out that Covid may have spread from infected raccoon dogs that were being illegally sold at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in China's Wuhan.

An international team of experts has found out that Covid may have spread from infected raccoon dogs that were being illegally sold at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in China's Wuhan. According to a report by The Atlantic on Thursday (March 16), a new analysis of genetic sequences collected from the market shows that these dogs sold at the venue could have been carrying and possibly shedding the virus at the end of 2019. It is some of the strongest support yet, experts told the magazine, that the pandemic began when SARS-CoV-2 hopped from animals to humans, rather than in an accident among scientists experimenting with viruses. The report said that the new analysis may offer some of the clearest and most compelling evidence that the world would ever get in support of an animal origin for Covid. ALSO READ | As Omicron continues to evolve, WHO updates how it tracks and names new Covid variants As per the report, genetic sequences were pulled out of swabs taken in and near market stalls around the beginning of the pandemic. They represented the first bits of raw data that researchers outside of China's academic institutions and their direct collaborators had access to. The data was posted by researchers affiliated with the country's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on GISAID, which is an open-access genomic database. Scientists in North America, Australia and Europe spotted the sequences, downloaded them and started an analysis. An earlier analysis released in February last year asserted that no animal host of SARS-CoV-2 could be deduced. And any motes of Covid at the market, "had most likely been chauffeured in by infected humans, rather than wild creatures for sale," it said. ALSO READ | 3 years on since Covid 'pandemic', WHO chief says finding origins a 'moral imperative' However, the new analysis led by three researchers, Kristian Andersen, Edward Holmes, and Michael Worobey, shows that this might not be the case, The Atlantic reported. After downloading the data from GISAD, the researchers and their collaborators found out that several market samples which tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were also coming back chock-full of animal genetic material—much of which was a match for the common raccoon dog. ALSO READ | New Covid variant identified in Israel. Here's all you need to know Because of how the samples were gathered and since viruses cannot persist by themselves in the environment, the scientists think their findings could indicate the presence of a Covid-infected raccoon dog in spots where the swabs were taken. Kristian Andersen, one of the researchers, told The Atlantic that raccoon dogs were not tested at the market and were likely removed prior to the authorities coming in. Andersen underscored that the findings are not direct evidence of infected dogs at the market. “Do I believe there were infected animals at the market? Yes, I do. Does this new data add to that evidence base? Yes," he said. Raccoon dogs, which are commonly bred for sale in China, are already known to be one of many mammal species that can easily catch and spread Covid. The report further said that the findings do not rule out the possibility that other animals may have been carrying SARS-CoV-2 at Huanan. The dogs, if they were infected, might not be the creatures who passed the pathogen to human beings. This would mean the search for Covid's "many wild hosts" would need to plod on. (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.

Covid may have spread from infected raccoon dogs sold in Wuhan seafood market: Report

Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on Friday (March 17) that his government has approved sending 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Heger said, "Slovak government just approved sending 13 MiG-29s to Ukraine! Promises must be kept and when Zelensky asked for more weapons, including fighter jets, I said we'll do our best. Glad others are doing the same. Military aid is to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself and the entire Europe against Russia."

Addressing a press conference, Heger also said that his government would deliver a Kub air defence system to Ukraine, the news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-to-send-ukraine-four-mig-29-fighter-jets-becomes-first-nato-nation-to-do-so-572727">Poland to send Ukraine four MiG-29 fighter jets, becomes first NATO nation to do so</a>

Slovakia is the second North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member country to send warplanes to Ukraine. A day back, Poland said that it would send an initial batch of four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Slovak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Slovak</a> gov. just approved sending 13 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiG29s?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MiG29s</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a>! Promises must be kept&amp;when <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZelenskyyUa</a> asked for more <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weapons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weapons</a> incl. fighter jets, I said we’ll do our best. Glad others’re doing the same. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Military?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Military</a> aid’s🔑to ensure🇺🇦can defend itself&amp;the entire <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Europe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Europe</a> against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a>
— Eduard Heger (@eduardheger) <a href="https://twitter.com/eduardheger/status/1636656042057539584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Speaking to reporters, Polish President Andrzej Duda said, "In the coming days we will first transfer, if I remember correctly, four fully operational planes to Ukraine." Duda added that Poland currently has a dozen or so MiG planes that it inherited from the German Democratic Republic, which they are on the verge of sending to Ukraine.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-as-the-war-in-ukraine-rages-on-will-2023-be-the-year-of-defence-companies-556570">Explained: As the war in Ukraine rages on, will 2023 be the year of defence companies?</a>

"These MiGs are still in service in Poland's air force. They're in their last years of operation but are still for the most part in full working order," the president said. He also pointed out that these MiGs are jets that Ukrainian pilots can operate today without any additional training, AFP further reported.&nbsp;

Reacting to Poland's decision, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson told the news agency that Kyiv was "grateful to our partners." 
 
"MiGs will not solve the tasks, we need F-16s. But MiGs will help to strengthen our capabilities indeed," air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-set-to-visit-russia-from-march-20-22-kremlin-confirms-572906">Xi set to visit Russia from March 20-22, Kremlin confirms</a>

Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in February last year, Ukraine has repeatedly asked its Western allies to send warplanes — although seeking primarily modern US-made F-16s — but so far no Western countries had committed to giving jets to Kyiv.

On Thursday, the US said it was informed about Poland's decision to send warplanes to the war-torn country. However, the White House said that Warsaw's move does not change Washington's decision against sending its warplanes to Ukraine.&nbsp;

"It doesn't change our calculus with regards to F16s," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday.&nbsp;

<h2>Polish, Slovak jets sent to Ukraine will be destroyed: Kremlin</h2>

The Kremlin on Friday reacted to Poland and Slovak's decision to send warplanes to Ukraine. The Kremlin said that such fighter jets would be destroyed, and reiterated that Western arms deliveries to Kyiv would not change Moscow's military aims.

"The supply of this military equipment -- as we have repeatedly said -- will not change the outcome of the special military operation... Of course, all this equipment will be destroyed," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said during a press conference.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on Friday (March 17) that his government has approved sending 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Heger said, "Slovak government just approved sending 13 MiG-29s to Ukraine!

Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on Friday (March 17) that his government has approved sending 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Heger said, "Slovak government just approved sending 13 MiG-29s to Ukraine! Promises must be kept and when Zelensky asked for more weapons, including fighter jets, I said we'll do our best. Glad others are doing the same. Military aid is to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself and the entire Europe against Russia." Addressing a press conference, Heger also said that his government would deliver a Kub air defence system to Ukraine, the news agency AFP reported. ALSO READ | Poland to send Ukraine four MiG-29 fighter jets, becomes first NATO nation to do so Slovakia is the second North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member country to send warplanes to Ukraine. A day back, Poland said that it would send an initial batch of four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. #Slovak gov. just approved sending 13 #MiG29s to #Ukraine! Promises must be kept&when @ZelenskyyUa asked for more #weapons incl. fighter jets, I said we’ll do our best. Glad others’re doing the same. #Military aid’s🔑to ensure🇺🇦can defend itself&the entire #Europe against #Russia — Eduard Heger (@eduardheger) March 17, 2023 × Speaking to reporters, Polish President Andrzej Duda said, "In the coming days we will first transfer, if I remember correctly, four fully operational planes to Ukraine." Duda added that Poland currently has a dozen or so MiG planes that it inherited from the German Democratic Republic, which they are on the verge of sending to Ukraine. ALSO READ | Explained: As the war in Ukraine rages on, will 2023 be the year of defence companies? "These MiGs are still in service in Poland's air force. They're in their last years of operation but are still for the most part in full working order," the president said. He also pointed out that these MiGs are jets that Ukrainian pilots can operate today without any additional training, AFP further reported. Reacting to Poland's decision, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson told the news agency that Kyiv was "grateful to our partners." "MiGs will not solve the tasks, we need F-16s. But MiGs will help to strengthen our capabilities indeed," air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said. ALSO READ | Xi set to visit Russia from March 20-22, Kremlin confirms Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in February last year, Ukraine has repeatedly asked its Western allies to send warplanes — although seeking primarily modern US-made F-16s — but so far no Western countries had committed to giving jets to Kyiv. On Thursday, the US said it was informed about Poland's decision to send warplanes to the war-torn country. However, the White House said that Warsaw's move does not change Washington's decision against sending its warplanes to Ukraine. "It doesn't change our calculus with regards to F16s," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday. Polish, Slovak jets sent to Ukraine will be destroyed: Kremlin The Kremlin on Friday reacted to Poland and Slovak's decision to send warplanes to Ukraine. The Kremlin said that such fighter jets would be destroyed, and reiterated that Western arms deliveries to Kyiv would not change Moscow's military aims. "The supply of this military equipment -- as we have repeatedly said -- will not change the outcome of the special military operation... Of course, all this equipment will be destroyed," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said during a press conference. (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.

After Poland, Slovakia to send 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine; Kremlin reacts

Trump Media — the media company of former United States president Donald Trump — is under investigation for possible money laundering linked to Russia. According to a report by the Guardian on Wednesday (March 15), federal prosecutors involved in the investigation into Trump Media last year have now started examining whether it violated money laundering statutes in connection with the acceptance of $8 million with suspected Russian ties.&nbsp;

Citing sources, the report said that towards the end of 2022, federal prosecutors had started examining two loans totalling $8 million wired to Donald Trump's company, through the Caribbean, from two obscure entities that appeared to be controlled in part by the relation of an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-book-letters-to-trump-will-show-queen-elizabeth-princess-diana-kissed-my-a-says-donald-trump-572173">New book 'Letters to Trump' will show Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana 'kissed my a**,' says Donald Trump</a>

The investigation threatened to delay the completion of the merger between Trump Media and the Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), which would provide the company and Truth Social with up to $1.3 billion in capital, in addition to a stock market listing.&nbsp;

The report also said that the extent of the exposure of Trump Media and its officials for money laundering remained unclear. The statutes broadly required prosecutors to show that defendants knew the money was the proceeds of some form of illegal activity and the transaction was designed to conceal its source.

Of this $8 million, the first payment of $2 million came to Trump Media in December 2021 when it was on the verge of collapse after the planned merger with the DWAC was delayed when the SEC opened an inquiry into whether the arrangement broke regulatory rules.

Trump Media required a bridge loan to keep afloat. However, it was struggling to get finances until Patrick Orlando, the chief executive of the DWAC, sourced a $2 million loan wired from Paxum Bank- which is registered in Dominica, as per the wire transfer receipt. The transfer showed that Paxum Bank was the beneficial owner.&nbsp;

But, a promissory note identified ES Family Trust as the lender. And two months later, the second payment of $6 million arrived in Trump Media’s account from ES Family Trust.&nbsp;

The report said that even though these two payments to the company came from separate entities, Angel Pacheco,&nbsp;a trustee of the ES Family Trust,&nbsp;appeared to have simultaneously been a director of Paxum Bank.

The Russian connection in this investigation centred on Anton Postolnikov,&nbsp;a part owner of the bank. Postolnikov appeared to be a relation to Russian President Putin's ally Aleksandr Smirnov. Smirnov worked in the Central Office of the Russian government until 2017. And before this, Smirnov was the country's first deputy minister of justice until 2014.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
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Trump Media — the media company of former United States president Donald Trump — is under investigation for possible money laundering linked to Russia. According to a report by the Guardian on Wednesday (March 15), federal prosecutors involved in the investigation into Trump Media last year have now started examining whether it violated money laundering statutes in connection with the acceptance of $8 million with suspected Russian ties.

Trump Media — the media company of former United States president Donald Trump — is under investigation for possible money laundering linked to Russia. According to a report by the Guardian on Wednesday (March 15), federal prosecutors involved in the investigation into Trump Media last year have now started examining whether it violated money laundering statutes in connection with the acceptance of $8 million with suspected Russian ties. Citing sources, the report said that towards the end of 2022, federal prosecutors had started examining two loans totalling $8 million wired to Donald Trump's company, through the Caribbean, from two obscure entities that appeared to be controlled in part by the relation of an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin. ALSO READ | New book 'Letters to Trump' will show Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana 'kissed my a**,' says Donald Trump The investigation threatened to delay the completion of the merger between Trump Media and the Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), which would provide the company and Truth Social with up to $1.3 billion in capital, in addition to a stock market listing. The report also said that the extent of the exposure of Trump Media and its officials for money laundering remained unclear. The statutes broadly required prosecutors to show that defendants knew the money was the proceeds of some form of illegal activity and the transaction was designed to conceal its source. Of this $8 million, the first payment of $2 million came to Trump Media in December 2021 when it was on the verge of collapse after the planned merger with the DWAC was delayed when the SEC opened an inquiry into whether the arrangement broke regulatory rules. Trump Media required a bridge loan to keep afloat. However, it was struggling to get finances until Patrick Orlando, the chief executive of the DWAC, sourced a $2 million loan wired from Paxum Bank- which is registered in Dominica, as per the wire transfer receipt. The transfer showed that Paxum Bank was the beneficial owner. But, a promissory note identified ES Family Trust as the lender. And two months later, the second payment of $6 million arrived in Trump Media’s account from ES Family Trust. The report said that even though these two payments to the company came from separate entities, Angel Pacheco, a trustee of the ES Family Trust, appeared to have simultaneously been a director of Paxum Bank. The Russian connection in this investigation centred on Anton Postolnikov, a part owner of the bank. Postolnikov appeared to be a relation to Russian President Putin's ally Aleksandr Smirnov. Smirnov worked in the Central Office of the Russian government until 2017. And before this, Smirnov was the country's first deputy minister of justice until 2014. (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.

Trump media under federal investigation for possible money laundering: Report

The Ukrainian government has invited&nbsp;Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to visit the war-torn country after he called Russia's offensive a "territorial dispute." Taking to Twitter on Tuesday (March 14), Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson&nbsp;Oleg Nikolenko criticised&nbsp;DeSantis' remarks and invited the Republican leader.&nbsp;

"We are sure that as a former military officer deployed to a combat zone, Governor DeSantis knows the difference between a ‘dispute’ and war. We invite him to visit Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the threats it poses to US interests,"&nbsp;Nikolenko tweeted.&nbsp;

On Monday, Ron&nbsp;DeSantis said that protecting Ukraine was not vital for the United States. DeSantis, a likely presidential candidate for 2024, said that Washington had many vital national interests" but that "becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them."

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We are sure that as a former military officer deployed to a combat zone, Governor <a href="https://twitter.com/RonDeSantisFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonDeSantisFL</a> knows the difference between a ‘dispute’ and war. We invite him to visit Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the threats it poses to US interests <a href="https://t.co/BLLam9G8lV">https://t.co/BLLam9G8lV</a>
— Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlegNikolenko_/status/1635707773806575624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"The Biden administration's virtual 'blank check' funding of this conflict for 'as long as it takes,' without any defined objectives or accountability, distracts from our country's most pressing challenges," the Florida governor added.&nbsp;

This position taken by DeSantis contrasts with his more hawkish record on Ukraine while he was in Congress when he supported military aid for Ukraine after Moscow's annexing of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the news agency AFP reported on Tuesday.&nbsp;

He had also backed a resolution pressuring then-US president Barack Obama to provide weapons to help Kyiv "defend their sovereign territory from the unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation."

Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in February last year, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $110 billion in economic and military aid.&nbsp;

Ryan Williams, a Republican strategist argued that prioritising funding for domestic issues over foreign adventures resonated&nbsp;with war-weary party supporters. But on the other hand, have long said defending Ukraine is in the best interests of Washington. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
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The Ukrainian government has invited Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to visit the war-torn country after he called Russia's offensive a "territorial dispute." Taking to Twitter on Tuesday (March 14), Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko criticised DeSantis' remarks and invited the Republican leader.

The Ukrainian government has invited Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to visit the war-torn country after he called Russia's offensive a "territorial dispute." Taking to Twitter on Tuesday (March 14), Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko criticised DeSantis' remarks and invited the Republican leader. "We are sure that as a former military officer deployed to a combat zone, Governor DeSantis knows the difference between a ‘dispute’ and war. We invite him to visit Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the threats it poses to US interests," Nikolenko tweeted. On Monday, Ron DeSantis said that protecting Ukraine was not vital for the United States. DeSantis, a likely presidential candidate for 2024, said that Washington had many vital national interests" but that "becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them." We are sure that as a former military officer deployed to a combat zone, Governor @RonDeSantisFL knows the difference between a ‘dispute’ and war. We invite him to visit Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the threats it poses to US interests https://t.co/BLLam9G8lV — Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) March 14, 2023 × "The Biden administration's virtual 'blank check' funding of this conflict for 'as long as it takes,' without any defined objectives or accountability, distracts from our country's most pressing challenges," the Florida governor added. This position taken by DeSantis contrasts with his more hawkish record on Ukraine while he was in Congress when he supported military aid for Ukraine after Moscow's annexing of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the news agency AFP reported on Tuesday. He had also backed a resolution pressuring then-US president Barack Obama to provide weapons to help Kyiv "defend their sovereign territory from the unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation." Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in February last year, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $110 billion in economic and military aid. Ryan Williams, a Republican strategist argued that prioritising funding for domestic issues over foreign adventures resonated with war-weary party supporters. But on the other hand, have long said defending Ukraine is in the best interests of Washington. (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 invites Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to visit after he called Russian invasion ‘territorial dispute’

The French government will force rubbish collectors in Paris to return to work after the long strikes<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-government-doubles-down-on-pension-reforms-571237"> following a days-long strike against pension reforms</a> has left many streets in the capital piled with stinking waste. On Wednesday, police chief Laurent Nunez informed Paris mayor&nbsp;Anne Hidalgo that the government would use its power&nbsp;to "requisition" striking trash collectors, forcing them back to work under threat of prosecution, the news agency AFP reported on Thursday

According to city hall figures, around 7,600 tonnes of rubbish were piled on the streets of Paris by Wednesday.&nbsp;

For weeks, workers in France have walked off the job in protest against President Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron's plans to reform the pension system, whose headline measures are raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 and increasing the number of years people must pay in to receive a full pension.

AFP reported that rubbish collectors have run one of the few rolling strikes against the proposed changes, while&nbsp;other sectors have held successive one-day walkouts accompanying mass demonstrations.

Paris Mayor Hidalgo- who sides with the protesters- said that the demand of the rubbish workers in the capital, who do not want to work for two years longer, was fair.&nbsp;

"The only answer that could calm the current climate is social dialogue, rather than a test of strength," she added.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, private waste collection company Derichebourg said that it would stop filling in for city binmen after it was threatened with pickets on its depots. And a day later, police cleared a blockade at another private waste firm, Pizzorno Environment, allowing its trucks to resume collections in Paris' 15th district and from 150 schools across the capital.&nbsp;

And on Thursday, thousands of people massed in France's capital to protest President Macron's government imposing the controversial pensions overhaul without a parliament vote.

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The French government will force rubbish collectors in Paris to return to work after the long strikes following a days-long strike against pension reforms has left many streets in the capital piled with stinking waste.

The French government will force rubbish collectors in Paris to return to work after the long strikes following a days-long strike against pension reforms has left many streets in the capital piled with stinking waste. On Wednesday, police chief Laurent Nunez informed Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo that the government would use its power to "requisition" striking trash collectors, forcing them back to work under threat of prosecution, the news agency AFP reported on Thursday According to city hall figures, around 7,600 tonnes of rubbish were piled on the streets of Paris by Wednesday. For weeks, workers in France have walked off the job in protest against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to reform the pension system, whose headline measures are raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 and increasing the number of years people must pay in to receive a full pension. AFP reported that rubbish collectors have run one of the few rolling strikes against the proposed changes, while other sectors have held successive one-day walkouts accompanying mass demonstrations. Paris Mayor Hidalgo- who sides with the protesters- said that the demand of the rubbish workers in the capital, who do not want to work for two years longer, was fair. "The only answer that could calm the current climate is social dialogue, rather than a test of strength," she added. On Wednesday, private waste collection company Derichebourg said that it would stop filling in for city binmen after it was threatened with pickets on its depots. And a day later, police cleared a blockade at another private waste firm, Pizzorno Environment, allowing its trucks to resume collections in Paris' 15th district and from 150 schools across the capital. And on Thursday, thousands of people massed in France's capital to protest President Macron's government imposing the controversial pensions overhaul without a parliament vote. 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.

France protests: Govt to force Paris rubbish collectors to return to work as trash stacks up

The Pentagon has released footage of the moment when a Russian fighter jet hit a US drone over the Black Sea. In the video, the Russian military jet could be seen coming very close to a US military drone and dumping fuel near it. In the United Kingdom (UK), the government has announced an immediate ban on government devices. And in India, a Cheetah helicopter of the army crashed near the Mandala hills area in Arunachal Pradesh, killing the pilot and co-pilot. The pilots were identified as Lieutenant Colonel VVB Reddy and Major Jayanth A.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-pentagon-releases-video-of-moment-russian-fighter-jet-hit-us-drone-over-black-sea-572630">WATCH | Pentagon releases video of moment when Russian fighter jet hit US drone over Black Sea</a>

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The European Command of the United States military on Thursday (March 16) released the footage of the critical encounter which happened between an American surveillance drone and Russian fighter jet&nbsp;over the Black Sea earlier this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-banned-on-government-devices-in-uk-effective-immediately-572661">TikTok banned on government devices in UK effective immediately</a>

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The UK has announced an immediate ban on TikTok on government devices. TikTok is a Chinese-owned short video sharing social media app that is raising privacy and security concerns, especially in Western countries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-army-helicopter-crashes-near-mandala-hills-in-arunachal-search-ops-for-pilots-underway-572601">India: Army helicopter crashes near Mandala hills in Arunachal, both pilots killed</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/16/339098-cheetah-helicopter.png?imwidth=1920" />

A Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army crashed near the Mandala hills area in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday (March 16), killing the pilot and co-pilot on board. The pilots were identified as&nbsp;Lieutenant Colonel VVB Reddy and Major Jayanth A.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-with-teeth-forcibly-pulled-man-tortured-to-near-death-before-rescue-572691">Australia: With teeth forcibly pulled, man tortured to near-death before rescue</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/16/339149-police.png?imwidth=1920" />

At least six men have been charged by the Australian police over the alleged kidnapping and torture of a 26-year-old man in Sydney. Local police have rescued the man in an armed raid. He was tortured and held captive for six days. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plan-to-build-first-ever-octopus-farm-in-the-world-raises-concerns-572692">Plan to build first-ever octopus farm in the world raises concerns</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/02/27/243866-untitled-design-14.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

A plan by a multinational company to build world's first octopus farm to breed the animals for consumption is facing flak, said a BBC report. Octopuses which are consumed in Europe, Asia, Latin America and other regions of the world have not been farmed before.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-drug-agency-says-global-supply-of-cocaine-is-at-record-levels-572712">UN drug agency says global supply of cocaine is at record levels</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/16/339163-pexels-mart-production-7231769.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has said that the global supply of cocaine is at record levels.&nbsp;North America and Western and Central Europe remain the largest destination markets for cocaine, but data suggested that new markets are the fastest growing.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/millennials-gen-z-force-south-korea-govt-against-imposing-69-hour-work-week-572644">Millennials, Gen-Z force South Korea govt against imposing 69-hour work week</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/16/339121-untitled-design-19.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

South Korean&nbsp;government rolled back an upcoming policy initiative which entailed a&nbsp;rise in the working hours. The roll back came&nbsp;after a backlash from the young South Koreans who said the move would destroy their work-life balance and put their health at risk.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-chandrayaan-3-spacecraft-successfully-completes-vibration-and-acoustic-tests-572654">ISRO: Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully completes vibration and acoustic tests</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/16/339128-chandrayaan-3.png?imwidth=1920" />

Indicating its rapid progress towards getting its third lunar spacecraft mission-ready, the Indian space agency has revealed that the&nbsp;Chandrayaan-3 integrated spacecraft underwent crucial tests.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/tiktok-user-calls-out-the-academy-for-cutting-off-guneet-mongas-speech-at-the-oscars-572700">TikTok user calls out the Academy for cutting off Guneet Monga's speech at the Oscars</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/13/338488-00033b78l4.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

Producer Guneet Monga and director Kartiki Gonsalves brought glory to India on March 12 as they picked up Best Documentary Short Oscar. Even though their win was historic, most fans noticed how Monga's winning speech on the stage was abruptly cut off by music.&nbsp;Now a user on Tik Tok has pointed out how the Academy did not show any such time stamp for the speech when a British man won an Oscar a few seconds after Monga.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-1st-odi-hardik-pandya-shades-light-on-test-future-says-i-wont-be-available-for-the-wtc-final-572698">IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Hardik Pandya shades light on Test future, says 'I won't be available for the WTC final'</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/16/339151-untitled-design-2.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

Stand-in skipper for the first ODI between India and Australia, Hardik Pandya has commented on his Test future with the side as his side prepares for the big clash against the visitors.

The Pentagon has released footage of the moment when a Russian fighter jet hit a US drone over the Black Sea. In the video, the Russian military jet could be seen coming very close to a US military drone and dumping fuel near it.

The Pentagon has released footage of the moment when a Russian fighter jet hit a US drone over the Black Sea. In the video, the Russian military jet could be seen coming very close to a US military drone and dumping fuel near it. In the United Kingdom (UK), the government has announced an immediate ban on government devices. And in India, a Cheetah helicopter of the army crashed near the Mandala hills area in Arunachal Pradesh, killing the pilot and co-pilot. The pilots were identified as Lieutenant Colonel VVB Reddy and Major Jayanth A. Click on the headlines to read more: WATCH | Pentagon releases video of moment when Russian fighter jet hit US drone over Black Sea The European Command of the United States military on Thursday (March 16) released the footage of the critical encounter which happened between an American surveillance drone and Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea earlier this week. TikTok banned on government devices in UK effective immediately The UK has announced an immediate ban on TikTok on government devices. TikTok is a Chinese-owned short video sharing social media app that is raising privacy and security concerns, especially in Western countries. India: Army helicopter crashes near Mandala hills in Arunachal, both pilots killed A Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army crashed near the Mandala hills area in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday (March 16), killing the pilot and co-pilot on board. The pilots were identified as Lieutenant Colonel VVB Reddy and Major Jayanth A. Australia: With teeth forcibly pulled, man tortured to near-death before rescue At least six men have been charged by the Australian police over the alleged kidnapping and torture of a 26-year-old man in Sydney. Local police have rescued the man in an armed raid. He was tortured and held captive for six days. Plan to build first-ever octopus farm in the world raises concerns A plan by a multinational company to build world's first octopus farm to breed the animals for consumption is facing flak, said a BBC report. Octopuses which are consumed in Europe, Asia, Latin America and other regions of the world have not been farmed before. UN drug agency says global supply of cocaine is at record levels The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has said that the global supply of cocaine is at record levels. North America and Western and Central Europe remain the largest destination markets for cocaine, but data suggested that new markets are the fastest growing. Millennials, Gen-Z force South Korea govt against imposing 69-hour work week South Korean government rolled back an upcoming policy initiative which entailed a rise in the working hours. The roll back came after a backlash from the young South Koreans who said the move would destroy their work-life balance and put their health at risk. ISRO: Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully completes vibration and acoustic tests Indicating its rapid progress towards getting its third lunar spacecraft mission-ready, the Indian space agency has revealed that the Chandrayaan-3 integrated spacecraft underwent crucial tests. TikTok user calls out the Academy for cutting off Guneet Monga's speech at the Oscars Producer Guneet Monga and director Kartiki Gonsalves brought glory to India on March 12 as they picked up Best Documentary Short Oscar. Even though their win was historic, most fans noticed how Monga's winning speech on the stage was abruptly cut off by music. Now a user on Tik Tok has pointed out how the Academy did not show any such time stamp for the speech when a British man won an Oscar a few seconds after Monga. IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Hardik Pandya shades light on Test future, says 'I won't be available for the WTC final' Stand-in skipper for the first ODI between India and Australia, Hardik Pandya has commented on his Test future with the side as his side prepares for the big clash against the visitors.

Top 10 world news: Pentagon releases footage when Russian jet hit US drone, and more

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