<p>The United States on Wednesday called upon Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden's membership to the NATO alliance. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was&nbsp;on a visit to Sweden, hoped that the Russian maritime neighbour will become a NATO member before July 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We look forward to soon welcoming Sweden as the 32nd (member of NATO). To be clear, we look forward to that to happen before the summit in July," Austin told a news conference.</p>

<p>"We encourage our allies, Turkey and Hungary, to ratify Sweden's accession as soon as possible."</p>

<p>The US&nbsp;defence secretary's Sweden visit coincides with the Scandinavian nation's biggest military exercise for more than a quarter of a century, Aurora 23.</p>

<p>Around 700 US marines will take part in the exercise along with troops from Britain, Finland, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Austria, Germany and France.</p>

<p>In total, around 26,000 military personnel will take part in exercises around Sweden on land, at sea and in the air.</p>

<p>Along with Finland, Sweden applied to join NATO in May last year. Finland's application was processed in record time and it became the 31st member of the alliance earlier this month.</p>

<p>Sweden's accession has been held up by Turkey and Hungary, who have not&nbsp;yet ratified Sweden as a NATO member.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Sweden awaits Turkiye's approval to join NATO</strong></p>

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<p>Austin was in Sweden to hold talks with Defence Minister Pal Jonson about the war in Ukraine and Sweden's NATO application.</p>

<p>Sweden's defence minister said Austin's visit, which included a tour of the underground naval base at Musko, was a signal of the United States' commitment to Sweden's security "on a bilateral basis" and was an opportunity for Sweden to showcase its military capabilities.</p>

<p>The Musko base contains a naval dockyard, workshops, offices, warehouses and a hospital, all excavated deep beneath the rocks of Musko island during the 1950s and 60s.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The United States on Wednesday called upon Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden's membership to the NATO alliance. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was on a visit to Sweden, hoped that the Russian maritime neighbour will become a NATO member before July 2023.

The United States on Wednesday called upon Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden's membership to the NATO alliance. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was on a visit to Sweden, hoped that the Russian maritime neighbour will become a NATO member before July 2023. "We look forward to soon welcoming Sweden as the 32nd (member of NATO). To be clear, we look forward to that to happen before the summit in July," Austin told a news conference. "We encourage our allies, Turkey and Hungary, to ratify Sweden's accession as soon as possible." The US defence secretary's Sweden visit coincides with the Scandinavian nation's biggest military exercise for more than a quarter of a century, Aurora 23. Around 700 US marines will take part in the exercise along with troops from Britain, Finland, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Austria, Germany and France. In total, around 26,000 military personnel will take part in exercises around Sweden on land, at sea and in the air. Along with Finland, Sweden applied to join NATO in May last year. Finland's application was processed in record time and it became the 31st member of the alliance earlier this month. Sweden's accession has been held up by Turkey and Hungary, who have not yet ratified Sweden as a NATO member. ALSO WATCH | Sweden awaits Turkiye's approval to join NATO × Austin was in Sweden to hold talks with Defence Minister Pal Jonson about the war in Ukraine and Sweden's NATO application. Sweden's defence minister said Austin's visit, which included a tour of the underground naval base at Musko, was a signal of the United States' commitment to Sweden's security "on a bilateral basis" and was an opportunity for Sweden to showcase its military capabilities. The Musko base contains a naval dockyard, workshops, offices, warehouses and a hospital, all excavated deep beneath the rocks of Musko island during the 1950s and 60s. (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 steps up Russia's NATO encirclement process with wargame over Sweden

<p>Cuba will have Miguel Diaz-Canel as its president for another five years. The development came after Diaz-Canel clinched a second five-year term in a parliamentary vote that had him as the sole candidate.</p>

<p>In Cuba, political opposition to the Communist Party is illegal.</p>

<p>Diaz-Canel's bid to serve as the most powerful man in Havana's corridors of power was confirmed by 97.66 percent of votes cast in the Communist Party of Cuba-aligned National Assembly, its president Esteban Lazo announced in the chamber.</p>

<p>Díaz-Canel succeeds the brothers Fidel and Raúl Castro, making him the first non-Castro leader of Cuba since the revolution.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/us-delegation-to-visit-cuba-to-discuss-international-law-enforcement-552517">US delegation to visit Cuba to discuss 'international law enforcement'</a></strong></p>

<p>On March 27, 2023, Cuban authorities announced that voters elected all 470 legislators for the Caribbean island nation’s National Assembly.</p>

<p>Election officials announced the initial turnout to be 75.92 percent, topping participation in municipal elections in November and a referendum on the Cuban family code, which legalised gay marriage, in September 2023. Officials said that just over 90 percent of votes cast had been deemed valid, with 6.2 percent left blank and 3.5 percent annulled.</p>

<p>Cuba’s government does not allow opposition. Most parliamentary candidates are members of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Cuban exodus to U.S. is the largest in the Island's history</strong></p>

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<p>Candidates still must receive 50 percent of votes to be elected.</p>

<p>Opposition groups, mostly based outside of Cuba, had encouraged voters to stay home in protest, saying the election had no meaning in a one-party system with no opposition.</p>

<p>The United States embassy in Cuba denounced the vote as "undemocratic", in which people were supposed to tick the names of any number of candidates or select "vote for all" option.</p>

<p>"The Cuban people deserve real choices in real elections that feature candidates from more than a single political party and beyond the Communist Party," the embassy wrote on Twitter on March 27, 2023.</p>

<p>The second term of President Díaz-Canel is expected to pass laws governing controversial issues including the regulation of the press, and the right to protest in Cuba.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Cuba will have Miguel Diaz-Canel as its president for another five years. The development came after Diaz-Canel clinched a second five-year term in a parliamentary vote that had him as the sole candidate.

Cuba will have Miguel Diaz-Canel as its president for another five years. The development came after Diaz-Canel clinched a second five-year term in a parliamentary vote that had him as the sole candidate. In Cuba, political opposition to the Communist Party is illegal. Diaz-Canel's bid to serve as the most powerful man in Havana's corridors of power was confirmed by 97.66 percent of votes cast in the Communist Party of Cuba-aligned National Assembly, its president Esteban Lazo announced in the chamber. Díaz-Canel succeeds the brothers Fidel and Raúl Castro, making him the first non-Castro leader of Cuba since the revolution. ALSO READ | US delegation to visit Cuba to discuss 'international law enforcement' On March 27, 2023, Cuban authorities announced that voters elected all 470 legislators for the Caribbean island nation’s National Assembly. Election officials announced the initial turnout to be 75.92 percent, topping participation in municipal elections in November and a referendum on the Cuban family code, which legalised gay marriage, in September 2023. Officials said that just over 90 percent of votes cast had been deemed valid, with 6.2 percent left blank and 3.5 percent annulled. Cuba’s government does not allow opposition. Most parliamentary candidates are members of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). ALSO WATCH | Cuban exodus to U.S. is the largest in the Island's history × Candidates still must receive 50 percent of votes to be elected. Opposition groups, mostly based outside of Cuba, had encouraged voters to stay home in protest, saying the election had no meaning in a one-party system with no opposition. The United States embassy in Cuba denounced the vote as "undemocratic", in which people were supposed to tick the names of any number of candidates or select "vote for all" option. "The Cuban people deserve real choices in real elections that feature candidates from more than a single political party and beyond the Communist Party," the embassy wrote on Twitter on March 27, 2023. The second term of President Díaz-Canel is expected to pass laws governing controversial issues including the regulation of the press, and the right to protest in Cuba. (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.

Cuba's first non-Castro leader re-elected as president after 'undemocratic' election

<p>Elon Musk dropped a bombshell on Twitter on April 19, and this time, the new Twitter owner threatened to sue Microsoft. Musk's 'lawsuit time' threat came after Microsoft dropped Twitter from its Smart Campaigns advertising platform, following which, starting April 25, Microsoft advertising clients won't be able to access their Twitter accounts through Smart Campaigns.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why did Microsoft drop Twitter from its advertising platform?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a report in the Wired, Twitter wants to charge companies from $42,000 to as much as $210,000 per month for accessing the company's 'Application Programming Interface' or API, which allows third-party apps to interface with the social media service.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Twitter said that Microsoft declined to pay its API fees, following which it was dropped from company's advertising platform.</p>

<h2><strong>Twitter-Microsoft 'lawsuit' row: What Elon Musk is accusing?</strong></h2>

<p>Elon Musk has accused Microsoft of mining Twitter's data, such as user tweets, to help train its AI-powered programs. Musk appears to be demanding compensation.</p>

<p>"They trained illegally using Twitter data. Lawsuit time," Musk said in a tweet.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Elon Musk launches new AI start up to compete with OpenAI</strong></p>

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<p>It is unclear if the ChatGPT AI programme is among the ones which according to Musk's accusations, was trained using Twitter data.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the information previously released about development of Microsoft-controlled OpenAI's ChatGPT, the Artificial Intelligence chatbot was trained on public internet data. Twitter's API, just like Wikipedia articles or Reddit API, until earlier this year, was available free-of-cost.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-to-launch-his-ai-platform-truthgpt-583583">Elon Musk to launch his AI platform 'TruthGPT'</a></strong></p>

<p>Academics have used free access to Twitter’s API to analyse data on the kinds of conversations occurring on the platform, which helps them understand what the online world is talking about.</p>

<p>According to a report in the Wired, since 2020, there have been more than 17,500 academic papers based on the platform’s data, which appear to give legitimacy to Elon Musk’s argument that Twitter is the world's "de facto town square."</p>

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Elon Musk dropped a bombshell on Twitter on April 19, and this time, the new Twitter owner threatened to sue Microsoft. Musk's 'lawsuit time' threat came after Microsoft dropped Twitter from its Smart Campaigns advertising platform, following which, starting April 25, Microsoft advertising clients won't be able to access their Twitter accounts through Smart Campaigns.

Elon Musk dropped a bombshell on Twitter on April 19, and this time, the new Twitter owner threatened to sue Microsoft. Musk's 'lawsuit time' threat came after Microsoft dropped Twitter from its Smart Campaigns advertising platform, following which, starting April 25, Microsoft advertising clients won't be able to access their Twitter accounts through Smart Campaigns. Why did Microsoft drop Twitter from its advertising platform? According to a report in the Wired, Twitter wants to charge companies from $42,000 to as much as $210,000 per month for accessing the company's 'Application Programming Interface' or API, which allows third-party apps to interface with the social media service. Twitter said that Microsoft declined to pay its API fees, following which it was dropped from company's advertising platform. Twitter-Microsoft 'lawsuit' row: What Elon Musk is accusing? Elon Musk has accused Microsoft of mining Twitter's data, such as user tweets, to help train its AI-powered programs. Musk appears to be demanding compensation. "They trained illegally using Twitter data. Lawsuit time," Musk said in a tweet. ALSO WATCH | Elon Musk launches new AI start up to compete with OpenAI × It is unclear if the ChatGPT AI programme is among the ones which according to Musk's accusations, was trained using Twitter data. According to the information previously released about development of Microsoft-controlled OpenAI's ChatGPT, the Artificial Intelligence chatbot was trained on public internet data. Twitter's API, just like Wikipedia articles or Reddit API, until earlier this year, was available free-of-cost. ALSO READ | Elon Musk to launch his AI platform 'TruthGPT' Academics have used free access to Twitter’s API to analyse data on the kinds of conversations occurring on the platform, which helps them understand what the online world is talking about. According to a report in the Wired, since 2020, there have been more than 17,500 academic papers based on the platform’s data, which appear to give legitimacy to Elon Musk’s argument that Twitter is the world's "de facto town square." 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.

Elon Musk threatens Microsoft of 'lawsuit time' over 'illegal' use of Twitter data

<p>The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday fell short of delivering complete access to a widely-used abortion pill and instead gave way for a temporary access to such pills. After Wednesday's decision of the US Supreme Court, at least until Friday midnight, people across the United States will be able to access the aforementioned abortion pill mifepristone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The move extends the access&nbsp;granted by US Supreme Court <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-temporarily-preserves-full-access-to-abortion-pill-582593">on April 14 for the widely-available abortion pill</a>, reversing a Texas court's ruling that effectively banned its use across the United States.</p>

<p>Mifepristone reportedly accounts for more than half of all abortion pills consumed in the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US Supreme Court also did not comment on the merits of the case.</p>

<p>But the extension of the stay gives the court more time to decide what to do with the divisive case, the most significant on reproductive rights since it tossed out the constitutional right to abortion last year.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;US court confined Mifepristone use to seven weeks of pregnancy</strong></p>

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<p>Earlier, a lower court ruling had nearly banned the use of mifepristone, following which the US Justice Department filed an emergency appeal asking the Supreme Court to reverse the ruling.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Matthew Kacsmaryk, a federal judge in Texas, overturned a regulatory approval granted to mifespristone about twenty years ago, effectively leading to a nationwide ban. The Texas judge also directed authorities to prevent patients from receiving the pills by mail.</p>

<p>More than 700 executives working in the pharmaceutical sector signed an open letter calling for the reversal of Kacsmaryk’s decision, which they argued "ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent".</p>

<h2><strong>US abortion pill ban row: What next?</strong></h2>

<p>The latest US Supreme Court order is another twist in a legal battle over the regulatory approval of abortion pills that have mifepristone as a definitive ingredient.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The case has emerged as a legal flashpoint in the United States, where abortion rights have polarised electoral politics. It comes amid&nbsp;the continued battle over abortion rights in the country after the Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs. Wade, a verdict that gave US citizens the constitutional right to abortion for nearly five decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whether the US citizens will be able to access the mifepristone-containing abortion pills after Friday, will be decided by the US Supreme Court in the immediate future.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday fell short of delivering complete access to a widely-used abortion pill and instead gave way for a temporary access to such pills.

The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday fell short of delivering complete access to a widely-used abortion pill and instead gave way for a temporary access to such pills. After Wednesday's decision of the US Supreme Court, at least until Friday midnight, people across the United States will be able to access the aforementioned abortion pill mifepristone. The move extends the access granted by US Supreme Court on April 14 for the widely-available abortion pill, reversing a Texas court's ruling that effectively banned its use across the United States. Mifepristone reportedly accounts for more than half of all abortion pills consumed in the United States. The US Supreme Court also did not comment on the merits of the case. But the extension of the stay gives the court more time to decide what to do with the divisive case, the most significant on reproductive rights since it tossed out the constitutional right to abortion last year. ALSO WATCH | US court confined Mifepristone use to seven weeks of pregnancy × Earlier, a lower court ruling had nearly banned the use of mifepristone, following which the US Justice Department filed an emergency appeal asking the Supreme Court to reverse the ruling. Matthew Kacsmaryk, a federal judge in Texas, overturned a regulatory approval granted to mifespristone about twenty years ago, effectively leading to a nationwide ban. The Texas judge also directed authorities to prevent patients from receiving the pills by mail. More than 700 executives working in the pharmaceutical sector signed an open letter calling for the reversal of Kacsmaryk’s decision, which they argued "ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent". US abortion pill ban row: What next? The latest US Supreme Court order is another twist in a legal battle over the regulatory approval of abortion pills that have mifepristone as a definitive ingredient. The case has emerged as a legal flashpoint in the United States, where abortion rights have polarised electoral politics. It comes amid the continued battle over abortion rights in the country after the Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs. Wade, a verdict that gave US citizens the constitutional right to abortion for nearly five decades. Whether the US citizens will be able to access the mifepristone-containing abortion pills after Friday, will be decided by the US Supreme Court in the immediate future. (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 Supreme Court preserves access to widely consumed abortion pill, for now

<p>Walt Disney Co. is set to eliminate thousands of jobs next week which will reportedly include about 15 per cent of the Disney staff in the company's entertainment division.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The job cuts would entail people employed in Disney's TV and film divisions as well as the employees in theme parks and corporate positions, Bloomberg reported while citing people familiar with the matter.</p>

<p>The latest Disney job cuts will affect every region where Disney operates, Bloomberg report added. Some affected workers will be notified as early as April 24, it said.</p>

<p>Earlier in February, Disney announced 7,000 job cuts as part of its cost-cutting measures to save $5.5 billion in its annual costs.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/disney-next-in-line-for-layoffs-to-cut-7000-jobs-in-cost-saving-efforts-560164">Disney next in line for layoffs, to cut 7,000 jobs in cost-saving efforts</a></strong></p>

<p>The job cuts would significantly reduce headcount at Disney Entertainment, which includes the company's movie and TV production, streaming and distribution businesses. Disney Entertainment was created as part of Walt Disney's restructuring process this year itself.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Disney's cost cutting leads to senior executives' layoffs at ABC</strong></p>

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<p>As the streaming industry's focus shifts to operating online video platforms, major players such as NBC Universal, Warner Bros and Paramount Global too have reduced their head count.</p>

<p>In November, the current Disney CEO Bob Iger returned to lead the company after a $1.47 billion quarterly loss in the company’s streaming business that resulted in the removal of another Bob of Disney: Bob Chapek.</p>

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Walt Disney Co. is set to eliminate thousands of jobs next week which will reportedly include about 15 per cent of the Disney staff in the company's entertainment division.

Walt Disney Co. is set to eliminate thousands of jobs next week which will reportedly include about 15 per cent of the Disney staff in the company's entertainment division. The job cuts would entail people employed in Disney's TV and film divisions as well as the employees in theme parks and corporate positions, Bloomberg reported while citing people familiar with the matter. The latest Disney job cuts will affect every region where Disney operates, Bloomberg report added. Some affected workers will be notified as early as April 24, it said. Earlier in February, Disney announced 7,000 job cuts as part of its cost-cutting measures to save $5.5 billion in its annual costs. ALSO READ | Disney next in line for layoffs, to cut 7,000 jobs in cost-saving efforts The job cuts would significantly reduce headcount at Disney Entertainment, which includes the company's movie and TV production, streaming and distribution businesses. Disney Entertainment was created as part of Walt Disney's restructuring process this year itself. ALSO WATCH | Disney's cost cutting leads to senior executives' layoffs at ABC × As the streaming industry's focus shifts to operating online video platforms, major players such as NBC Universal, Warner Bros and Paramount Global too have reduced their head count. In November, the current Disney CEO Bob Iger returned to lead the company after a $1.47 billion quarterly loss in the company’s streaming business that resulted in the removal of another Bob of Disney: Bob Chapek. 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.

Disney's next layoff bloodbath to axe thousands of jobs in every region it operates

<p>The United States on Monday arrested two men of Chinese descent for allegedly setting up a Chinese 'police station' in New York city's ChinaTown. While these are first arrests of such kind anywhere in the world, the existence of such overseas policing operations by Beijing is known since September 2022.</p>

<h2><strong>China's overseas 'police stations': The '110 Overseas' operation</strong></h2>

<p>Chinese authorities claim that from April 2021 to July 2022, 230,000 nationals had been "persuaded to return" from abroad to face criminal proceedings in China. Beijing justifies this operation as part of a nationwide campaign to combat telecommunication frauds.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-arrested-after-fbi-discloses-chinas-secret-police-stations-in-new-york-583500">Two arrested after FBI discloses China's secret 'police stations' in New York</a></strong></p>

<p>Spain-based human rights organisation Safeguard Defenders, in its September 2022 report titled '110 Overseas, Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild', extensively delved on the matter.</p>

<p>So far, it is revealed that China established its first overseas Chinese police 'service station' in 2016, as part of '110 overseas', after the country's national emergency number akin to USA's 911, it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Across 53 countries, these 'service stations' act as de-facto policing operation centres meant to police the Chinese overseas deemed as targets by Beijing for a number of reasons. The most commonly used justification is combating online frauds and ensuring that fugitives in the concerned cases return to China. But often, the targets are Chinese dissidents who oppose Beijing's repression in regions of contested territorial ambitions, such as Xinjiang and Taiwan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: All about China's overseas police stations</strong></p>

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<p>Other than that, individuals who had fled religious or ethnic persecution, have been targeted by these police stations.</p>

<p>Openly labelled as overseas police service stations to accommodate the growing administrative needs of Chinese residents abroad – for example in renewing Chinese driver’s licences or passports remotely and other tasks typically considered of a consular nature – the "110 Overseas stations", both in their online and physical overseas form, also serve the so-called goal of &nbsp;"resolutely cracking down on all kinds of illegal and criminal activities involving overseas Chinese."</p>

<h2><strong>China's overseas police stations: Where all do they exist?</strong></h2>

<p>According to Safeguard Defenders, Beijing operated at least 102 'Chinese Overseas Police Service Centres' in 53 countries around the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These countries are Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sudan, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>China's overseas 'police stations': The case of&nbsp;Li Qingqing</strong></h2>

<p>A Safeguard Defenders report cites the story of a Chinese national in Cambodia, Li Qingqing (real name withheld).</p>

<p>In March 2022, Li was asked by an overseas police station in Cambodia&nbsp;to return to China.</p>

<p>She argued that she is not a suspect of any crime and is just doing business in Cambodia. The police told her that according to China’s policy, Chinese citizens staying in the nine fraud-related countries (Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines and Indonesia) are required to return unconditionally. After that, she continually received messages from the local police asking her to return.</p>

<p>On 5 May 2022, police informed her she had been put on the telecom suspect list and warned her that her mother’s house would be cut off from power and water supplies. Her mother’s house was later spray-painted with the words "House of Telecom Fraud" and a policy notice was posted next to the spray painting.</p>

<p>Her mother was then called to the village committee and asked to persuade her daughter to return by 31 May. Li’s current fate and whether she has or has not returned is unknown.</p>

<h2><strong>Chinese 'police stations' abroad: Tactics used</strong></h2>

<p>The Safeguard Defenders' report cites official statements that detail upon depriving the target person's children the right to education back in China, and actions against relatives and family members in a 'guilt by association' campaign. Following which, the target person abroad is forced to return to China.</p>

<p>Chinese authorities also track down the target's family in China in order to pressure them through means of intimidation, harassment, detention or imprisonment into persuading their family members to return "voluntarily".</p>

<h2><strong>China's overseas police stations: Isn't it a violation of international law?</strong></h2>

<p>China has established overseas police stations in lieu of providing 'consular services' to its citizens.</p>

<p>Some countries have explicitly agreed to their set-up and local law enforcement, as well as the Chinese embassies and/or consulates, closely cooperate with the stations in those locations.</p>

<p>In other countries, such as Italy, where such consent is absent, Chinese authorities, by virtue of existing bilateral policing cooperation mechanisms, furthers its policing goals overseas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These operations&nbsp;violate the territorial integrity of third countries involved as China sets up a parallel policing mechanism using clandestine methods.&nbsp;</p>

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The United States on Monday arrested two men of Chinese descent for allegedly setting up a Chinese 'police station' in New York city's ChinaTown. While these are first arrests of such kind anywhere in the world, the existence of such overseas policing operations by Beijing is known since September 2022.

The United States on Monday arrested two men of Chinese descent for allegedly setting up a Chinese 'police station' in New York city's ChinaTown. While these are first arrests of such kind anywhere in the world, the existence of such overseas policing operations by Beijing is known since September 2022. China's overseas 'police stations': The '110 Overseas' operation Chinese authorities claim that from April 2021 to July 2022, 230,000 nationals had been "persuaded to return" from abroad to face criminal proceedings in China. Beijing justifies this operation as part of a nationwide campaign to combat telecommunication frauds. ALSO READ | Two arrested after FBI discloses China's secret 'police stations' in New York Spain-based human rights organisation Safeguard Defenders, in its September 2022 report titled '110 Overseas, Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild', extensively delved on the matter. So far, it is revealed that China established its first overseas Chinese police 'service station' in 2016, as part of '110 overseas', after the country's national emergency number akin to USA's 911, it said. Across 53 countries, these 'service stations' act as de-facto policing operation centres meant to police the Chinese overseas deemed as targets by Beijing for a number of reasons. The most commonly used justification is combating online frauds and ensuring that fugitives in the concerned cases return to China. But often, the targets are Chinese dissidents who oppose Beijing's repression in regions of contested territorial ambitions, such as Xinjiang and Taiwan. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: All about China's overseas police stations × Other than that, individuals who had fled religious or ethnic persecution, have been targeted by these police stations. Openly labelled as overseas police service stations to accommodate the growing administrative needs of Chinese residents abroad – for example in renewing Chinese driver’s licences or passports remotely and other tasks typically considered of a consular nature – the "110 Overseas stations", both in their online and physical overseas form, also serve the so-called goal of "resolutely cracking down on all kinds of illegal and criminal activities involving overseas Chinese." China's overseas police stations: Where all do they exist? According to Safeguard Defenders, Beijing operated at least 102 'Chinese Overseas Police Service Centres' in 53 countries around the world. These countries are Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sudan, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. China's overseas 'police stations': The case of Li Qingqing A Safeguard Defenders report cites the story of a Chinese national in Cambodia, Li Qingqing (real name withheld). In March 2022, Li was asked by an overseas police station in Cambodia to return to China. She argued that she is not a suspect of any crime and is just doing business in Cambodia. The police told her that according to China’s policy, Chinese citizens staying in the nine fraud-related countries (Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines and Indonesia) are required to return unconditionally. After that, she continually received messages from the local police asking her to return. On 5 May 2022, police informed her she had been put on the telecom suspect list and warned her that her mother’s house would be cut off from power and water supplies. Her mother’s house was later spray-painted with the words "House of Telecom Fraud" and a policy notice was posted next to the spray painting. Her mother was then called to the village committee and asked to persuade her daughter to return by 31 May. Li’s current fate and whether she has or has not returned is unknown. Chinese 'police stations' abroad: Tactics used The Safeguard Defenders' report cites official statements that detail upon depriving the target person's children the right to education back in China, and actions against relatives and family members in a 'guilt by association' campaign. Following which, the target person abroad is forced to return to China. Chinese authorities also track down the target's family in China in order to pressure them through means of intimidation, harassment, detention or imprisonment into persuading their family members to return "voluntarily". China's overseas police stations: Isn't it a violation of international law? China has established overseas police stations in lieu of providing 'consular services' to its citizens. Some countries have explicitly agreed to their set-up and local law enforcement, as well as the Chinese embassies and/or consulates, closely cooperate with the stations in those locations. In other countries, such as Italy, where such consent is absent, Chinese authorities, by virtue of existing bilateral policing cooperation mechanisms, furthers its policing goals overseas. These operations violate the territorial integrity of third countries involved as China sets up a parallel policing mechanism using clandestine methods. 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 | How China targets dissidents in 53 countries with its overseas 'police stations'

<p>A teacher in the Texas state in the US was seen encouraging students to fight inside her classroom, following which the 24-year-old was arrested by the authorities.</p>

<p>The Mesquite Police Department in Texas said that the teacher Natally Garcia was charged with four counts of endangering children's lives. Garcia allegedly put four students in danger of bodily injury last week, police said.</p>

<p>Garcia allegedly made rules and space for the 12 and 13-year-old children in her class to fight in the classroom. She was reportedly seen in the security footage telling other students&nbsp;to guard the door.</p>

<p>"[She] definitely [was] trying to conceal her actions and actions that were going on in the class," Police Lt. Brandon Ricketts was quoted as saying by Fox News.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-school-shooting-drama-run-hide-fight-premieres-in-venice-326922">US school shooting drama 'Run Hide Fight' premieres in Venice</a></strong></p>

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<p>At least four students were seen fighting in the video. The teacher called out "30 seconds" before one of the fights began, and a timer was heard going off at various times while the fights were taking place.</p>

<p>Betty Martinez, the mother of a student who she says was frightened and secretly recorded the fight, told the outlet that she was in "utter disbelief" after seeing the video.</p>

<p>"I thought it was a joke," she said. "I didn’t think it was real. My brain couldn’t comprehend what was going on, right?"</p>

<p>Mesquite Independent School District told the outlet that the substitute teacher was fired and was only with the school for about a month.</p>

<p>"Her actions are appalling and intolerable," the school district said in a statement. "We share the disgust that the families of students in this class must feel."</p>

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A teacher in the Texas state in the US was seen encouraging students to fight inside her classroom, following which the 24-year-old was arrested by the authorities.

A teacher in the Texas state in the US was seen encouraging students to fight inside her classroom, following which the 24-year-old was arrested by the authorities. The Mesquite Police Department in Texas said that the teacher Natally Garcia was charged with four counts of endangering children's lives. Garcia allegedly put four students in danger of bodily injury last week, police said. Garcia allegedly made rules and space for the 12 and 13-year-old children in her class to fight in the classroom. She was reportedly seen in the security footage telling other students to guard the door. "[She] definitely [was] trying to conceal her actions and actions that were going on in the class," Police Lt. Brandon Ricketts was quoted as saying by Fox News. ALSO WATCH | US school shooting drama 'Run Hide Fight' premieres in Venice × At least four students were seen fighting in the video. The teacher called out "30 seconds" before one of the fights began, and a timer was heard going off at various times while the fights were taking place. Betty Martinez, the mother of a student who she says was frightened and secretly recorded the fight, told the outlet that she was in "utter disbelief" after seeing the video. "I thought it was a joke," she said. "I didn’t think it was real. My brain couldn’t comprehend what was going on, right?" Mesquite Independent School District told the outlet that the substitute teacher was fired and was only with the school for about a month. "Her actions are appalling and intolerable," the school district said in a statement. "We share the disgust that the families of students in this class must feel." 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.

USA: Teacher arrested for encouraging students to fight inside classroom

<p>Fox News and the voting equipment company Dominion settled a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fox-news-vs-dominion-16-billion-defamation-suit-with-trumps-stolen-election-claim-at-centre-kicks-off-574492">defamation lawsuit</a> which accused Fox of knowingly broadcasting contested information that Dominion was involved in a plot to steal the 2020 election.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The parties have resolved the case," judge Eric Davis said on Tuesday (April 19).</p>

<p>Fox News agreed to pay&nbsp;Dominion nearly $790 million&nbsp;in a settlement, it was revealed</p>

<p>In its $1.6 billion defamation suit,&nbsp;the Toronto-headquartered voting equipment company accused&nbsp;Fox of broadcasting outlandish claims about 'stolen election' after Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 US presidential elections. The company said that they were accused by the network of partaking in one such plot, a claim they said Fox broadcasted without evidence.</p>

<p>Dominion's lawyers&nbsp;claimed that the supposed falsehoods about the company were repeated to the point of being institutionalised.</p>

<h2><strong>Fox acknowledges it put false information on-air</strong></h2>

<p>In a statement to address&nbsp;the settlement, Fox News fell short of taking accountability of its 2020 presidential election coverage.</p>

<p>"We are pleased to have reached a settlement of our dispute with Dominion Voting Systems. We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false," it said.</p>

<p>"This settlement reflects FOX’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards. We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues."</p>

<p>Dominion hailed that its lawsuit forced Fox to admit that it published false information about Dominion.</p>

<p>"Nothing can ever make up for that," Dominion's CEO John Poulos said.</p>

<p>"Truthful reporting in the media is essential to our democracy. Dominion, our employees and our partners are grateful to the court for allowing the process for the truth to come out," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Fox News Vs Dominion Voting Systems: About the case</strong></h2>

<p>In 2021, Dominion filed a defamation suit against Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corp. The voting equipment company&nbsp;challenged a number of the claims about it made by hosts and guests on Fox News and Fox Business and sought $1.6 billion in damages.</p>

<h2><strong>Fox News 2020 election coverage: Not end of lawsuits for Fox</strong></h2>

<p>Dominion was not the only voting machine company suing Fox.</p>

<p>London-headquartered Smartmatic, a multinational firm that makes electronic voting systems, is also pursuing a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox in the New York Supreme Court.</p>

<p>Smartmatic issued a statement after the Dominion settlement was announced.</p>

<p>"Dominion’s litigation exposed some of the misconduct and damage caused by Fox’s disinformation campaign. Smartmatic will expose the rest. Smartmatic remains committed to clearing its name, recouping the significant damage done to the company, and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy."</p>

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Fox News and the voting equipment company Dominion settled a defamation lawsuit which accused Fox of knowingly broadcasting contested information that Dominion was involved in a plot to steal the 2020 election.

Fox News and the voting equipment company Dominion settled a defamation lawsuit which accused Fox of knowingly broadcasting contested information that Dominion was involved in a plot to steal the 2020 election. "The parties have resolved the case," judge Eric Davis said on Tuesday (April 19). Fox News agreed to pay Dominion nearly $790 million in a settlement, it was revealed In its $1.6 billion defamation suit, the Toronto-headquartered voting equipment company accused Fox of broadcasting outlandish claims about 'stolen election' after Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 US presidential elections. The company said that they were accused by the network of partaking in one such plot, a claim they said Fox broadcasted without evidence. Dominion's lawyers claimed that the supposed falsehoods about the company were repeated to the point of being institutionalised. Fox acknowledges it put false information on-air In a statement to address the settlement, Fox News fell short of taking accountability of its 2020 presidential election coverage. "We are pleased to have reached a settlement of our dispute with Dominion Voting Systems. We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false," it said. "This settlement reflects FOX’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards. We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues." Dominion hailed that its lawsuit forced Fox to admit that it published false information about Dominion. "Nothing can ever make up for that," Dominion's CEO John Poulos said. "Truthful reporting in the media is essential to our democracy. Dominion, our employees and our partners are grateful to the court for allowing the process for the truth to come out," he added. Fox News Vs Dominion Voting Systems: About the case In 2021, Dominion filed a defamation suit against Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corp. The voting equipment company challenged a number of the claims about it made by hosts and guests on Fox News and Fox Business and sought $1.6 billion in damages. Fox News 2020 election coverage: Not end of lawsuits for Fox Dominion was not the only voting machine company suing Fox. London-headquartered Smartmatic, a multinational firm that makes electronic voting systems, is also pursuing a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox in the New York Supreme Court. Smartmatic issued a statement after the Dominion settlement was announced. "Dominion’s litigation exposed some of the misconduct and damage caused by Fox’s disinformation campaign. Smartmatic will expose the rest. Smartmatic remains committed to clearing its name, recouping the significant damage done to the company, and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy." 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.

Fox News-Dominion avoid trial, settle $1.6bn lawsuit over on-air 'stolen' election claim for $787.5m

<p>The United Nations may soon abandon millions of Afghan nationals living under Taliban rule if it fails to convince Afghanistan's hardline rulers&nbsp;to let local women work for the organisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UN officials are negotiating with the Afghan government, hoping that Taliban will make an exception to its anti-women diktat that bans&nbsp;local women from working for the organisation.</p>

<p>"It is fair to say that where we are right now is the entire United Nations system having to take a step back and re-evaluating its ability to operate there,"&nbsp;the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator Achim Steiner told The Associated Press.&nbsp;"But it’s not about negotiating fundamental principles, human rights."</p>

<p>The Taliban have allowed Afghan women to engage in some work, Steiner said. A report released by the United Nations itself showed&nbsp;that the country desperately needs more women working.</p>

<p>Afghanistan's Gross Domestic Product, the sum of all goods and services produced within Afghanistan’s borders, is expected to be outstripped by population growth, meaning that per capita income will decline from $359 in 2022 to $345 in 2024, the UN report says.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals</strong></p>

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<p>Some of Afghanistan's&nbsp;economic problems are due to Taliban policies keeping most women out of the workplace, Steiner said.</p>

<p>The UN has decided that it will leave Afghanistan in May if the Taliban do not relent to its demands of letting women work.</p>

<p>"I think there is no other way of putting it than heartbreaking," Steiner said. "I mean, if I were to imagine the UN family not being in Afghanistan today, I have before me these images of millions of young girls, young boys, fathers, mothers, who essentially will not have enough to eat."</p>

<h2><strong>Dim hopes of Taliban allowing women to work for the UN</strong></h2>

<p>Taliban&nbsp;has officially allowed women to work in specific circumstances in health, education and some small businesses. But reports from Afghanistan show otherwise.</p>

<p>In January 2023, shortly after Taliban banned women from attending universities, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-afghan-women-fear-for-life-as-taliban-ban-male-doctors-from-treating-them-551218">WION reported exclusively</a> how Afghanistan's women doctors were denied jobs in Kabul's private clinics due to fear of Taliban's tyranny.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In one sense, the de facto authorities have enabled the UN to roll out a significant humanitarian and also emergency development assistance set of activities,"&nbsp;Steiner said. "But they also continuously are shifting the goalposts, issuing new edicts."</p>

<p>Since replacing the democratically-elected President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul's corridors on power, Taliban have imposed harsh measures to restrict women's rights to study and work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This month the Taliban took a step further in the restrictive measures they have imposed on women and said that female Afghan staff employed with the UN mission can no longer report for work.</p>

<p>"This is a very fundamental moment that we’re approaching,"&nbsp;Steiner said. "And obviously our hope and expectation is that there will be some common sense prevailing."</p>

<p>Aid agencies have been providing food, education and healthcare support to Afghans since the Taliban takeover and the economic collapse that followed it.</p>

<p>The 3,300 Afghans employed by the UN – 2,700 men and 600 women – have stayed at home since 12 April but continue to work and will be paid, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said.</p>

<p>The UN’s 600 international workers, including 200 women, are not affected by the Taliban ban.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The United Nations may soon abandon millions of Afghan nationals living under Taliban rule if it fails to convince Afghanistan's hardline rulers to let local women work for the organisation.

The United Nations may soon abandon millions of Afghan nationals living under Taliban rule if it fails to convince Afghanistan's hardline rulers to let local women work for the organisation. The UN officials are negotiating with the Afghan government, hoping that Taliban will make an exception to its anti-women diktat that bans local women from working for the organisation. "It is fair to say that where we are right now is the entire United Nations system having to take a step back and re-evaluating its ability to operate there," the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator Achim Steiner told The Associated Press. "But it’s not about negotiating fundamental principles, human rights." The Taliban have allowed Afghan women to engage in some work, Steiner said. A report released by the United Nations itself showed that the country desperately needs more women working. Afghanistan's Gross Domestic Product, the sum of all goods and services produced within Afghanistan’s borders, is expected to be outstripped by population growth, meaning that per capita income will decline from $359 in 2022 to $345 in 2024, the UN report says. ALSO WATCH | Afghan women speak to WION from the ground: 'We want our freedoms back' | WION Originals × Some of Afghanistan's economic problems are due to Taliban policies keeping most women out of the workplace, Steiner said. The UN has decided that it will leave Afghanistan in May if the Taliban do not relent to its demands of letting women work. "I think there is no other way of putting it than heartbreaking," Steiner said. "I mean, if I were to imagine the UN family not being in Afghanistan today, I have before me these images of millions of young girls, young boys, fathers, mothers, who essentially will not have enough to eat." Dim hopes of Taliban allowing women to work for the UN Taliban has officially allowed women to work in specific circumstances in health, education and some small businesses. But reports from Afghanistan show otherwise. In January 2023, shortly after Taliban banned women from attending universities, WION reported exclusively how Afghanistan's women doctors were denied jobs in Kabul's private clinics due to fear of Taliban's tyranny. "In one sense, the de facto authorities have enabled the UN to roll out a significant humanitarian and also emergency development assistance set of activities," Steiner said. "But they also continuously are shifting the goalposts, issuing new edicts." Since replacing the democratically-elected President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul's corridors on power, Taliban have imposed harsh measures to restrict women's rights to study and work. This month the Taliban took a step further in the restrictive measures they have imposed on women and said that female Afghan staff employed with the UN mission can no longer report for work. "This is a very fundamental moment that we’re approaching," Steiner said. "And obviously our hope and expectation is that there will be some common sense prevailing." Aid agencies have been providing food, education and healthcare support to Afghans since the Taliban takeover and the economic collapse that followed it. The 3,300 Afghans employed by the UN – 2,700 men and 600 women – have stayed at home since 12 April but continue to work and will be paid, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said. The UN’s 600 international workers, including 200 women, are not affected by the Taliban ban. (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.

Soon, like United States, UN too may abandon Afghanistan

<p>Netflix will roll out a paid password sharing system before June 2023 as its&nbsp;subscribers hit a record high 232.5 million in the first quarter of 2023, reflecting the currently prevalent notion that&nbsp;the leading streaming giant finally breached&nbsp;the post-pandemic trend of low subscriber growth rate.</p>

<p>The Los Gatos, California-headquartered company said on Tuesday that its&nbsp;ad-supported version is giving crucial initial results at par with its expectations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/netflix-slashes-subscription-costs-with-focus-on-asia-latin-america-565196">Netflix slashes subscription costs with focus on Asia and Latin America</a></strong></p>

<p>The streaming television giant reported a quarterly profit of $1.3 billion.</p>

<p>The company has delayed its much-anticipated crackdown on sharing of account passwords "to improve the experience for members."</p>

<h2><strong>Netflix password sharing crackdown: What is paid password sharing system?</strong></h2>

<p>Netflix said it expects to begin rolling out its options for paid password sharing in the current quarter, that is before June 2023. A paid password sharing system would entail members paying extra subscription charges for consumption of Netflix content beyond a designated number of accounts.</p>

<p>"We believe this will result in a better outcome for both our members and our business," Netflix said.</p>

<p>At the same time, a new ad-subsidised subscription tier at Netflix is in its early days. Netflix added that it&nbsp;has seen "very little switching from our standard and premium plans."</p>

<p>Market tracker Insider Intelligence forecast that Netflix will bring in $770 million in ad revenue from the new tier this year, and that revenue figure will top $1 billion next year.</p>

<p>As the growth in number of subscribers slowed for Netflix&nbsp;last year, the company began focusing on creating a lower priced subscription tier with advertising.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Netflix lost subscribers for first time in a decade</strong></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, for the first time ever, US adults will spend more time this year watching digital video on platforms such as Netflix, TikTok and YouTube than viewing traditional television, Insider Intelligence has forecast.</p>

<p>The market tracker expects "linear TV" to account for less than half of daily viewing for the first time ever, dropping to under three hours while average daily digital video watching climbs to 52.3 percent with 3 hours and 11 minutes.</p>

<p>"This milestone is driven by people spending more and more time watching video on their biggest and smallest screens, whether it's an immersive drama on a connected TV or a viral clip on a smartphone," Insider Intelligence principal analyst Paul Verna said in a release.</p>

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Netflix will roll out a paid password sharing system before June 2023 as its subscribers hit a record high 232.5 million in the first quarter of 2023, reflecting the currently prevalent notion that the leading streaming giant finally breached the post-pandemic trend of low subscriber growth rate.

Netflix will roll out a paid password sharing system before June 2023 as its subscribers hit a record high 232.5 million in the first quarter of 2023, reflecting the currently prevalent notion that the leading streaming giant finally breached the post-pandemic trend of low subscriber growth rate. The Los Gatos, California-headquartered company said on Tuesday that its ad-supported version is giving crucial initial results at par with its expectations. ALSO READ | Netflix slashes subscription costs with focus on Asia and Latin America The streaming television giant reported a quarterly profit of $1.3 billion. The company has delayed its much-anticipated crackdown on sharing of account passwords "to improve the experience for members." Netflix password sharing crackdown: What is paid password sharing system? Netflix said it expects to begin rolling out its options for paid password sharing in the current quarter, that is before June 2023. A paid password sharing system would entail members paying extra subscription charges for consumption of Netflix content beyond a designated number of accounts. "We believe this will result in a better outcome for both our members and our business," Netflix said. At the same time, a new ad-subsidised subscription tier at Netflix is in its early days. Netflix added that it has seen "very little switching from our standard and premium plans." Market tracker Insider Intelligence forecast that Netflix will bring in $770 million in ad revenue from the new tier this year, and that revenue figure will top $1 billion next year. As the growth in number of subscribers slowed for Netflix last year, the company began focusing on creating a lower priced subscription tier with advertising. ALSO WATCH | Netflix lost subscribers for first time in a decade × Meanwhile, for the first time ever, US adults will spend more time this year watching digital video on platforms such as Netflix, TikTok and YouTube than viewing traditional television, Insider Intelligence has forecast. The market tracker expects "linear TV" to account for less than half of daily viewing for the first time ever, dropping to under three hours while average daily digital video watching climbs to 52.3 percent with 3 hours and 11 minutes. "This milestone is driven by people spending more and more time watching video on their biggest and smallest screens, whether it's an immersive drama on a connected TV or a viral clip on a smartphone," Insider Intelligence principal analyst Paul Verna said in a release. 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.

Netflix to launch paid password-sharing feature after subscriber numbers hit record high

<p>At least four people were critically injured on Tuesday in a stabbing attack that took place at a fitness studio in the western German city of Duisburg, about 550 km west of Berlin.</p>

<p>Police said that "at least" one perpetrator attacked several people at a city gym&nbsp;using a "stabbing or cutting weapon."</p>

<p>The injured were shortly taken to hospital where they are receiving medical treatment. So far, the German police has made no arrests in relation to the attack.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/2-killed-one-injured-in-germany-knife-attack-526540">Two killed, one injured in Germany knife attack</a></strong></p>

<p>Police in Duisburg were alerted by emergency calls about 5.40pm, they said. Investigators searched the gym and secured it shortly afterwards.</p>

<p>Witnesses who were working out at the time of the attack are currently being questioned.</p>

<p>According to a&nbsp;Deutsche Presse-Agentur journalist present at&nbsp;the scene, heavily armed special police forces were on site in the evening.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;5 people injured in knife attack in Germany's Munich</strong></p>

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<p>Eyewitnesses were questioned by the police in a nearby restaurant, he reported, adding that one person was still carrying his sports bag.</p>

<p>A police spokesman said earlier there is no information yet on whether one or more perpetrators are still on the run.</p>

<p>Police called on citizens to avoid the area around the city hall, adding that a large police contingent was present.</p>

<p>Public broadcaster WDR reported earlier that two perpetrators stabbed visitors in a fitness centre in the old town of Duisburg.</p>

<p>Germany's Bild newspaper reported that police suspect the perpetrator or perpetrators went on a rampage and are still on the run.</p>

<p>The president of the German parliament, Baerbel Bas, who is from Duisburg, expressed shock over the attack.</p>

<p>"Terrible. My thoughts are with the injured," Bas tweeted.</p>

<p>"I hope that the emergency services will soon be able to clear up the threatening situation."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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At least four people were critically injured on Tuesday in a stabbing attack that took place at a fitness studio in the western German city of Duisburg, about 550 km west of Berlin.

At least four people were critically injured on Tuesday in a stabbing attack that took place at a fitness studio in the western German city of Duisburg, about 550 km west of Berlin. Police said that "at least" one perpetrator attacked several people at a city gym using a "stabbing or cutting weapon." The injured were shortly taken to hospital where they are receiving medical treatment. So far, the German police has made no arrests in relation to the attack. ALSO READ | Two killed, one injured in Germany knife attack Police in Duisburg were alerted by emergency calls about 5.40pm, they said. Investigators searched the gym and secured it shortly afterwards. Witnesses who were working out at the time of the attack are currently being questioned. According to a Deutsche Presse-Agentur journalist present at the scene, heavily armed special police forces were on site in the evening. ALSO WATCH | 5 people injured in knife attack in Germany's Munich × Eyewitnesses were questioned by the police in a nearby restaurant, he reported, adding that one person was still carrying his sports bag. A police spokesman said earlier there is no information yet on whether one or more perpetrators are still on the run. Police called on citizens to avoid the area around the city hall, adding that a large police contingent was present. Public broadcaster WDR reported earlier that two perpetrators stabbed visitors in a fitness centre in the old town of Duisburg. Germany's Bild newspaper reported that police suspect the perpetrator or perpetrators went on a rampage and are still on the run. The president of the German parliament, Baerbel Bas, who is from Duisburg, expressed shock over the attack. "Terrible. My thoughts are with the injured," Bas tweeted. "I hope that the emergency services will soon be able to clear up the threatening situation." (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's Duisberg faces rampaging knife attack, four critically injured

<p>Ernst &amp; Young informed its workforce that it would be cutting 3,000 jobs in the United States. The London-headquartered financial services giant, one among the 'big four', is reportedly executing the job cuts&nbsp;to eliminate "overcapacity."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cuts were announced less than a week after the collapse of Project Everest, a proposed plan to spin off EY’s global consulting business into a new company.&nbsp;Project Everest&nbsp;consumed more than a year of work and cost EY more than $600mn, executives told company's staff last week.</p>

<h2><strong>Ernst &amp; Young layoffs: Who will be affected?</strong></h2>

<p>According to Financial Times, the consulting side of the firm will be most-affected during EY's job-cuts.</p>

<p>The job cuts will&nbsp;account for about 5 per cent of EY’s US workforce.</p>

<p>"After assessing the impact of current economic conditions, strong employee retention rates and overcapacity in parts of our firm, we have made the difficult business decision to separate approximately 3,000 US employees," an EY spokesperson was quoted as saying by Financial Times.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/how-much-salary-hike-your-employer-is-planning-in-2023-crucial-report-drops-key-revelations-574317">How much salary hike your employer is planning in 2023? Crucial report drops key revelations</a></strong></p>

<p>"These actions are part of the ongoing management of our business and not a result of the recently concluded strategic review, known as Project Everest," the spokesperson added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ernst &amp; Young job cuts: Biggest layoff in the sector</strong></h2>

<p>Among its competitors such as the KMPG, Accenture and McKinsey, EY's job cuts are deeper than others.</p>

<p>KPMG laid off close to 2 per cent of its US staff in February.</p>

<p>Accenture has announced it would cut 2.6 per cent of its global workforce over the next 18 months.</p>

<p>McKinsey's&nbsp;restructuring will reduce about 3 per cent of its workforce.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;German watchdog bans EY from taking on new audits for two years</strong></p>

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<p>Consulting businesses have slowed sharply due to rise in interest rates among other related factors.</p>

<p>Earlier, EY had&nbsp;axed holiday bonuses for its US staff, citing the slowing economy. The firms in the sector have sharply slowed hiring.</p>

<p>Job postings by the 'Big Four' (Deloitte, Ernst &amp; Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers) are 50 per cent lower than a year ago, according to the latest monthly survey by William Blair, an equity research firm.</p>

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Ernst & Young informed its workforce that it would be cutting 3,000 jobs in the United States. The London-headquartered financial services giant, one among the 'big four', is reportedly executing the job cuts to eliminate "overcapacity.

Ernst & Young informed its workforce that it would be cutting 3,000 jobs in the United States. The London-headquartered financial services giant, one among the 'big four', is reportedly executing the job cuts to eliminate "overcapacity." The cuts were announced less than a week after the collapse of Project Everest, a proposed plan to spin off EY’s global consulting business into a new company. Project Everest consumed more than a year of work and cost EY more than $600mn, executives told company's staff last week. Ernst & Young layoffs: Who will be affected? According to Financial Times, the consulting side of the firm will be most-affected during EY's job-cuts. The job cuts will account for about 5 per cent of EY’s US workforce. "After assessing the impact of current economic conditions, strong employee retention rates and overcapacity in parts of our firm, we have made the difficult business decision to separate approximately 3,000 US employees," an EY spokesperson was quoted as saying by Financial Times. ALSO READ | How much salary hike your employer is planning in 2023? Crucial report drops key revelations "These actions are part of the ongoing management of our business and not a result of the recently concluded strategic review, known as Project Everest," the spokesperson added. Ernst & Young job cuts: Biggest layoff in the sector Among its competitors such as the KMPG, Accenture and McKinsey, EY's job cuts are deeper than others. KPMG laid off close to 2 per cent of its US staff in February. Accenture has announced it would cut 2.6 per cent of its global workforce over the next 18 months. McKinsey's restructuring will reduce about 3 per cent of its workforce. ALSO WATCH | German watchdog bans EY from taking on new audits for two years × Consulting businesses have slowed sharply due to rise in interest rates among other related factors. Earlier, EY had axed holiday bonuses for its US staff, citing the slowing economy. The firms in the sector have sharply slowed hiring. Job postings by the 'Big Four' (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers) are 50 per cent lower than a year ago, according to the latest monthly survey by William Blair, an equity research firm. 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.

'Big Four' hiring decline: Ernst & Young blames 'overcapacity' for 3,000 job cuts

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