European Union industry chief Thierry Breton, on Wednesday, said that Google's parent company Alphabet and the European Commission plan to create an artificial intelligence (AI) pact calling for European and non-European companies ahead of rules to govern the technology.

Breton earlier met Google CEO, Sundar Pichai in Brussels. After the meeting, he released a statement saying, "Sundar and I agreed that we cannot afford to wait until AI regulation actually becomes applicable, and to work together with all AI developers to already develop an AI pact on a voluntary basis ahead of the legal deadline."&nbsp;

He further urged the European Union countries and lawmakers to decide on the details of the Commission's proposed AI rules before the end of the year. Both groups are yet to start negotiations to straighten out their differences.

As the concerns over fast-developing Artificial Intelligence's ability to overturn the way the world functions are rapidly increasing, governments globally are racing to figure out ways to regulate its negative effects without forfeiting the advantages of the innovation.

EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager also met Pichai and highlighted the urgent need for the world to act together on finding out measures to rein in the adverse consequences of AI.

"We need the AI Act as soon as possible. But AI technology evolves at extreme speed. So we need voluntary agreement on universal rules for AI now," she said in a tweet.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Good meeting w. <a href="https://twitter.com/sundarpichai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sundarpichai</a>. We need the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AIAct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AIAct</a> as soon as possible. But AI technology evolves at extreme speed. So we need voluntary agreement on universal rules for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AI</a> now. Already discussed at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/G7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#G7</a> digital in Takakasi. We will follow up in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TTC</a> next week. No time to lose
— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) <a href="https://twitter.com/vestager/status/1661372632455946243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

She also said that the European Union and the United States plan to step up cooperation on artificial intelligence to establish minimum standards before legislation enters force.

<h2>OpenAI CEO testifies before US Congress, calls regulation of artificial intelligence ‘critical’</h2>

The chief executive of OpenAI, the startup which created ChatGPT, Sam Altman, addressed a panel of United States lawmakers, on Tuesday (May 16), and said that regulation of the “increasingly powerful models” of artificial intelligence is “critical” to mitigate the risks the technology poses. Altman also spoke about how the use of AI to interfere with election integrity is a “significant area of concern”.&nbsp;

“OpenAI was founded on the belief that artificial intelligence has the potential to improve nearly every aspect of our lives, but also that it creates serious risks,” said Altman while addressing a Senate judiciary subcommittee hearing.&nbsp;

This comes as many companies across the board from companies large and small have raced to bring increasingly sophisticated models of AI to market, which has raised concerns among critics and industry experts who have warned about how the technology can exacerbate societal harms, including factors like misinformation and prejudice.

<h2>ChatGPT services resume in Italy after OpenAI complies with regulators’ demands</h2>

Popular artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, which was banned in Italy over data privacy concerns in March, was made available to users again after the company 'addressed, clarified' issues raised by Italy’s data protection authority and complied with the demands of regulators.

"ChatGPT is available again for our users in Italy. We are delighted to welcome them back and remain committed to protecting their personal data," an OpenAI spokesperson said.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also tweeted that he is excited about ChatGPT services resuming in Italy.

Italy's data protection agency, Garante, had laid out a list of demands, and guidelines which it said ChatGPT maker OpenAI must meet by the end of April if it wanted its services to resume in the country.

"Only in this case...the authority will suspend the provisional restrictions on the use of the data of Italian users...and ChatGPT will once again become accessible in Italy," it said.

Garante had accused ChatGPT of not showing 'any legal basis that justifies the massive collection and storage of personal data' to 'train' their chatbot.

It also condemned Open AI for failing to check the age of ChatGPT's users who are supposed to be aged either 13 or above.&nbsp;

The company has now said that it will offer a tool to verify users' ages in Italy upon sign-up and will also provide greater visibility of its privacy policy and user content opt-out form.

According to a company spokesperson, OpenAI will now also provide a new form for the European Union users to exercise their right to object to the use of their personal data to train the chatbot.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

European Union industry chief Thierry Breton, on Wednesday, said that Google's parent company Alphabet and the European Commission plan to create an artificial intelligence (AI) pact calling for European and non-European companies ahead of rules to govern the technology.

European Union industry chief Thierry Breton, on Wednesday, said that Google's parent company Alphabet and the European Commission plan to create an artificial intelligence (AI) pact calling for European and non-European companies ahead of rules to govern the technology. Breton earlier met Google CEO, Sundar Pichai in Brussels. After the meeting, he released a statement saying, "Sundar and I agreed that we cannot afford to wait until AI regulation actually becomes applicable, and to work together with all AI developers to already develop an AI pact on a voluntary basis ahead of the legal deadline." He further urged the European Union countries and lawmakers to decide on the details of the Commission's proposed AI rules before the end of the year. Both groups are yet to start negotiations to straighten out their differences. As the concerns over fast-developing Artificial Intelligence's ability to overturn the way the world functions are rapidly increasing, governments globally are racing to figure out ways to regulate its negative effects without forfeiting the advantages of the innovation. EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager also met Pichai and highlighted the urgent need for the world to act together on finding out measures to rein in the adverse consequences of AI. "We need the AI Act as soon as possible. But AI technology evolves at extreme speed. So we need voluntary agreement on universal rules for AI now," she said in a tweet. Good meeting w. @sundarpichai. We need the #AIAct as soon as possible. But AI technology evolves at extreme speed. So we need voluntary agreement on universal rules for #AI now. Already discussed at #G7 digital in Takakasi. We will follow up in the #TTC next week. No time to lose — Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) May 24, 2023 × She also said that the European Union and the United States plan to step up cooperation on artificial intelligence to establish minimum standards before legislation enters force. OpenAI CEO testifies before US Congress, calls regulation of artificial intelligence ‘critical’ The chief executive of OpenAI, the startup which created ChatGPT, Sam Altman, addressed a panel of United States lawmakers, on Tuesday (May 16), and said that regulation of the “increasingly powerful models” of artificial intelligence is “critical” to mitigate the risks the technology poses. Altman also spoke about how the use of AI to interfere with election integrity is a “significant area of concern”. “OpenAI was founded on the belief that artificial intelligence has the potential to improve nearly every aspect of our lives, but also that it creates serious risks,” said Altman while addressing a Senate judiciary subcommittee hearing. This comes as many companies across the board from companies large and small have raced to bring increasingly sophisticated models of AI to market, which has raised concerns among critics and industry experts who have warned about how the technology can exacerbate societal harms, including factors like misinformation and prejudice. ChatGPT services resume in Italy after OpenAI complies with regulators’ demands Popular artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, which was banned in Italy over data privacy concerns in March, was made available to users again after the company 'addressed, clarified' issues raised by Italy’s data protection authority and complied with the demands of regulators. "ChatGPT is available again for our users in Italy. We are delighted to welcome them back and remain committed to protecting their personal data," an OpenAI spokesperson said. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also tweeted that he is excited about ChatGPT services resuming in Italy. Italy's data protection agency, Garante, had laid out a list of demands, and guidelines which it said ChatGPT maker OpenAI must meet by the end of April if it wanted its services to resume in the country. "Only in this case...the authority will suspend the provisional restrictions on the use of the data of Italian users...and ChatGPT will once again become accessible in Italy," it said. Garante had accused ChatGPT of not showing 'any legal basis that justifies the massive collection and storage of personal data' to 'train' their chatbot. It also condemned Open AI for failing to check the age of ChatGPT's users who are supposed to be aged either 13 or above. The company has now said that it will offer a tool to verify users' ages in Italy upon sign-up and will also provide greater visibility of its privacy policy and user content opt-out form. According to a company spokesperson, OpenAI will now also provide a new form for the European Union users to exercise their right to object to the use of their personal data to train the chatbot. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Google, European Union to develop AI pact ahead of new Artificial Intelligence rules, says EU industry chief

Chinese hackers targeted Kenya's government in a widespread, years-long series of digital intrusions against key ministries and state institutions, according to three sources, cybersecurity research reports and Reuters' own analysis of technical data related to the hackings.

Two of the sources assessed the hacks to be aimed, at least in part, at gaining information on debt owed to Beijing by the East African nation: Kenya is a strategic link in the Belt and Road Initiative - President Xi Jinping's plan for a global infrastructure network.

"Further compromises may occur as the requirement for understanding upcoming repayment strategies becomes needed," a July 2021 research report written by a defence contractor for private clients stated.

China's foreign ministry said it was "not aware" of any such hacking, while China's embassy in Britain called the accusations "baseless", adding that Beijing opposes and combats "cyberattacks and theft in all their forms."&nbsp;

China's influence in Africa has grown rapidly over the past two decades. But, like several African nations, Kenya's finances are being strained by the growing cost of servicing external debt - much of it owed to China.

The hacking campaign demonstrates China's willingness to leverage its espionage capabilities to monitor and protect economic and strategic interests abroad, two of the sources said.

The hacks constitute a three-year campaign that targeted eight of Kenya's ministries and government departments, including the presidential office, according to an intelligence analyst in the region. The analyst also shared with Reuters research documents that included the timeline of attacks, the targets, and provided some technical data relating to the compromise of a server used exclusively by Kenya's main spy agency.

A Kenyan cybersecurity expert described similar hacking activity against the foreign and finance ministries. All three of the sources asked not to be named due to the sensitive nature of their work.

"Your allegation of hacking attempts by Chinese Government entities is not unique," Kenya's presidential office said, adding the government had been targeted by "frequent infiltration attempts" from Chinese, American and European hackers.

"As far as we are concerned, none of the attempts were successful," it said.

It did not provide further details nor respond to follow-up questions.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Britain said China is against "irresponsible moves that use topics like cybersecurity to sow discord in the relations between China and other developing countries".

"China attaches great importance to Africa's debt issue and works intensively to help Africa cope with it," the spokesperson added.

<h2>THE HACKS</h2>

Between 2000 and 2020, China committed nearly $160 billion in loans to African countries, according to a comprehensive database on Chinese lending hosted by Boston University, much of it for large-scale infrastructure projects.

Kenya used over $9 billion in Chinese loans to fund an aggressive push to build or upgrade railways, ports and highways.

Beijing became the country's largest bilateral creditor and gained a firm foothold in the most important East African consumer market and a vital logistical hub on Africa's Indian Ocean coast.

By late 2019, however, when the Kenyan cybersecurity expert told Reuters he was brought in by Kenyan authorities to assess a hack of a government-wide network, Chinese lending was drying up. And Kenya's financial strains were showing.

The breach reviewed by the Kenyan cybersecurity expert and attributed to China began with a "spearphishing" attack at the end of that same year, when a Kenyan government employee unknowingly downloaded an infected document, allowing hackers to infiltrate the network and access other agencies.

"A lot of documents from the ministry of foreign affairs were stolen and from the finance department as well. The attacks appeared focused on the debt situation," the Kenyan cybersecurity expert said.

Another source - the intelligence analyst working in the region - said Chinese hackers carried out a far-reaching campaign against Kenya that began in late 2019 and continued until at least 2022.

According to documents provided by the analyst, Chinese cyber spies subjected the office of Kenya's president, its defence, information, health, land and interior ministries, its counter-terrorism centre and other institutions to persistent and prolonged hacking activity.

The affected government departments did not respond to requests for comment, declined to be interviewed or were unreachable.

By 2021, global economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic had already helped push one major Chinese borrower - Zambia - to default on its external debt. Kenya managed to secure a temporary debt repayment moratorium from China.

In early July 2021, the cybersecurity research reports shared by the intelligence analyst in the region detailed how the hackers secretly accessed an email server used by Kenya's National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Reuters was able to confirm that the victim's IP address belonged to the NIS. The incident was also covered in a report from the private defence contractor reviewed by Reuters.

Reuters could not determine what information was taken during the hacks or conclusively establish the motive for the attacks. But the defence contractor's report said the NIS breach was possibly aimed at gleaning information on how Kenya planned to manage its debt payments.

"Kenya is currently feeling the pressure of these debt burdens...as many of the projects financed by Chinese loans are not generating enough income to pay for themselves yet," the report stated.

A Reuters review of internet logs delineating the Chinese digital espionage activity showed that a server controlled by the Chinese hackers also accessed a shared Kenyan government webmail service more recently from December 2022 until February this year.

Chinese officials declined to comment on this recent breach, and the Kenyan authorities did not respond to a question about it.

<h2>'BACKDOOR DIPLOMACY'</h2>

The defence contractor, pointing to identical tools and techniques used in other hacking campaigns, identified a Chinese state-linked hacking team as having carried out the attack on Kenya's intelligence agency.

The group is known as "BackdoorDiplomacy" in the cybersecurity research community, because of its record of trying to further the objectives of Chinese diplomatic strategy.

According to Slovakia-based cybersecurity firm ESET, BackdoorDiplomacy re-uses malicious software against its victims to gain access to their networks, making it possible to track their activities.

Provided by Reuters with the IP address of the NIS hackers, Palo Alto Networks, a U.S. cybersecurity firm that tracks BackdoorDiplomacy's activities, confirmed that it belongs to the group, adding that its prior analysis shows the group is sponsored by the Chinese state.

Cybersecurity researchers have documented BackdoorDiplomacy hacks targeting governments and institutions in a number of countries in Asia and Europe.

Incursions into the Middle East and Africa appear less common, making the focus and scale of its hacking activities in Kenya particularly noteworthy, the defence contractor's report said.

"This angle is clearly a priority for the group."

China's embassy in Britain rejected any involvement in the Kenya hackings and did not directly address questions about the government's relationship with BackdoorDiplomacy.

"China is a main victim of cyber theft and attacks and a staunch defender of cybersecurity," a spokesperson said.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Chinese hackers targeted Kenya's government in a widespread, years-long series of digital intrusions against key ministries and state institutions, according to three sources, cybersecurity research reports and Reuters' own analysis of technical data related to the hackings.

Chinese hackers targeted Kenya's government in a widespread, years-long series of digital intrusions against key ministries and state institutions, according to three sources, cybersecurity research reports and Reuters' own analysis of technical data related to the hackings. Two of the sources assessed the hacks to be aimed, at least in part, at gaining information on debt owed to Beijing by the East African nation: Kenya is a strategic link in the Belt and Road Initiative - President Xi Jinping's plan for a global infrastructure network. "Further compromises may occur as the requirement for understanding upcoming repayment strategies becomes needed," a July 2021 research report written by a defence contractor for private clients stated. China's foreign ministry said it was "not aware" of any such hacking, while China's embassy in Britain called the accusations "baseless", adding that Beijing opposes and combats "cyberattacks and theft in all their forms." China's influence in Africa has grown rapidly over the past two decades. But, like several African nations, Kenya's finances are being strained by the growing cost of servicing external debt - much of it owed to China. The hacking campaign demonstrates China's willingness to leverage its espionage capabilities to monitor and protect economic and strategic interests abroad, two of the sources said. The hacks constitute a three-year campaign that targeted eight of Kenya's ministries and government departments, including the presidential office, according to an intelligence analyst in the region. The analyst also shared with Reuters research documents that included the timeline of attacks, the targets, and provided some technical data relating to the compromise of a server used exclusively by Kenya's main spy agency. A Kenyan cybersecurity expert described similar hacking activity against the foreign and finance ministries. All three of the sources asked not to be named due to the sensitive nature of their work. "Your allegation of hacking attempts by Chinese Government entities is not unique," Kenya's presidential office said, adding the government had been targeted by "frequent infiltration attempts" from Chinese, American and European hackers. "As far as we are concerned, none of the attempts were successful," it said. It did not provide further details nor respond to follow-up questions. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Britain said China is against "irresponsible moves that use topics like cybersecurity to sow discord in the relations between China and other developing countries". "China attaches great importance to Africa's debt issue and works intensively to help Africa cope with it," the spokesperson added. THE HACKS Between 2000 and 2020, China committed nearly $160 billion in loans to African countries, according to a comprehensive database on Chinese lending hosted by Boston University, much of it for large-scale infrastructure projects. Kenya used over $9 billion in Chinese loans to fund an aggressive push to build or upgrade railways, ports and highways. Beijing became the country's largest bilateral creditor and gained a firm foothold in the most important East African consumer market and a vital logistical hub on Africa's Indian Ocean coast. By late 2019, however, when the Kenyan cybersecurity expert told Reuters he was brought in by Kenyan authorities to assess a hack of a government-wide network, Chinese lending was drying up. And Kenya's financial strains were showing. The breach reviewed by the Kenyan cybersecurity expert and attributed to China began with a "spearphishing" attack at the end of that same year, when a Kenyan government employee unknowingly downloaded an infected document, allowing hackers to infiltrate the network and access other agencies. "A lot of documents from the ministry of foreign affairs were stolen and from the finance department as well. The attacks appeared focused on the debt situation," the Kenyan cybersecurity expert said. Another source - the intelligence analyst working in the region - said Chinese hackers carried out a far-reaching campaign against Kenya that began in late 2019 and continued until at least 2022. According to documents provided by the analyst, Chinese cyber spies subjected the office of Kenya's president, its defence, information, health, land and interior ministries, its counter-terrorism centre and other institutions to persistent and prolonged hacking activity. The affected government departments did not respond to requests for comment, declined to be interviewed or were unreachable. By 2021, global economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic had already helped push one major Chinese borrower - Zambia - to default on its external debt. Kenya managed to secure a temporary debt repayment moratorium from China. In early July 2021, the cybersecurity research reports shared by the intelligence analyst in the region detailed how the hackers secretly accessed an email server used by Kenya's National Intelligence Service (NIS). Reuters was able to confirm that the victim's IP address belonged to the NIS. The incident was also covered in a report from the private defence contractor reviewed by Reuters. Reuters could not determine what information was taken during the hacks or conclusively establish the motive for the attacks. But the defence contractor's report said the NIS breach was possibly aimed at gleaning information on how Kenya planned to manage its debt payments. "Kenya is currently feeling the pressure of these debt burdens...as many of the projects financed by Chinese loans are not generating enough income to pay for themselves yet," the report stated. A Reuters review of internet logs delineating the Chinese digital espionage activity showed that a server controlled by the Chinese hackers also accessed a shared Kenyan government webmail service more recently from December 2022 until February this year. Chinese officials declined to comment on this recent breach, and the Kenyan authorities did not respond to a question about it. 'BACKDOOR DIPLOMACY' The defence contractor, pointing to identical tools and techniques used in other hacking campaigns, identified a Chinese state-linked hacking team as having carried out the attack on Kenya's intelligence agency. The group is known as "BackdoorDiplomacy" in the cybersecurity research community, because of its record of trying to further the objectives of Chinese diplomatic strategy. According to Slovakia-based cybersecurity firm ESET, BackdoorDiplomacy re-uses malicious software against its victims to gain access to their networks, making it possible to track their activities. Provided by Reuters with the IP address of the NIS hackers, Palo Alto Networks, a U.S. cybersecurity firm that tracks BackdoorDiplomacy's activities, confirmed that it belongs to the group, adding that its prior analysis shows the group is sponsored by the Chinese state. Cybersecurity researchers have documented BackdoorDiplomacy hacks targeting governments and institutions in a number of countries in Asia and Europe. Incursions into the Middle East and Africa appear less common, making the focus and scale of its hacking activities in Kenya particularly noteworthy, the defence contractor's report said. "This angle is clearly a priority for the group." China's embassy in Britain rejected any involvement in the Kenya hackings and did not directly address questions about the government's relationship with BackdoorDiplomacy. "China is a main victim of cyber theft and attacks and a staunch defender of cybersecurity," a spokesperson said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Chinese hackers attacked Kenyan government as debt strains grew

Ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan's close aide Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday gave his resignation saying that he wants to 'take a break' from politics. On the other hand, Typhoon Mawar wrecked Guam on Wednesday, triggering a Category 4 hurricane to the US Pacific territory. In Australia, a Category 4 hurricane to the US Pacific territory lost her life in a hospital after allegedly being tasered by a police officer.

Finally, we also bring you live updates from IPL 2023.&nbsp;

Click on the news headline to read more:

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"My earlier statement where I unequivocally condemned 9th May incidents, I have decided to take a break from politics, therefore, I have resigned from party position and parting ways from Imran Khan," Chaudhry wrote in a tweet on Wednesday evening.

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Typhoon Mawar ravaged Guam Wednesday night, bringing a Category 4 hurricane to the US Pacific territory. The typhoon, the strongest to hit Guam in years, caused massive rains, lightning and power outages across the territory. Forecasters have warned that the hurricane could intensify further before weakening on Thursday. According to weather officials, “the centre of Mawar was moving northwest over the northern part of Guam.”

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A 101-year-old WWII vet finally walked on the stage of his graduation ceremony after eighty years and officially received his diploma in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Fred Taylor had missed his graduation ceremony which was held in 1943 since he was deployed to serve with the Army Air Corps Reserve during World War II.

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In the small village of Ololosokwan, adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site and Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park live the centuries-old Maasai people of East Africa who have for over a decade now been pushed out of their land for a “game reserve,” while the government says it is to help protect the environment.&nbsp;

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate new parliament building on May 28. The new building will soon be the seat of the highest legislative body of largest democracy in the world. The government headed by PM Modi intends for the new parliament building to be centre of legislative activity rather than the current colonial-era building. However, a political row has erupted as the inauguration date for the new building draws closer.&nbsp;

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Mumbai Indians in the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL)&nbsp;have produced a superb display with the bat and will now look to defend 182 with Nehal Wadhera playing a handy knock.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan's close aide Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday gave his resignation saying that he wants to 'take a break' from politics. On the other hand, Typhoon Mawar wrecked Guam on Wednesday, triggering a Category 4 hurricane to the US Pacific territory.

Ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan's close aide Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday gave his resignation saying that he wants to 'take a break' from politics. On the other hand, Typhoon Mawar wrecked Guam on Wednesday, triggering a Category 4 hurricane to the US Pacific territory. In Australia, a Category 4 hurricane to the US Pacific territory lost her life in a hospital after allegedly being tasered by a police officer. Finally, we also bring you live updates from IPL 2023. Click on the news headline to read more: Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Khan's top lieutenant, resigns from PTI Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan's close aide, and one of the chief architects of his 2018 election win has resigned from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. "My earlier statement where I unequivocally condemned 9th May incidents, I have decided to take a break from politics, therefore, I have resigned from party position and parting ways from Imran Khan," Chaudhry wrote in a tweet on Wednesday evening. Typhoon Mawar ravages US island territory of Guam, flash flood warning issued in several regions Typhoon Mawar ravaged Guam Wednesday night, bringing a Category 4 hurricane to the US Pacific territory. The typhoon, the strongest to hit Guam in years, caused massive rains, lightning and power outages across the territory. Forecasters have warned that the hurricane could intensify further before weakening on Thursday. According to weather officials, “the centre of Mawar was moving northwest over the northern part of Guam.” Australia: 95-year-old dementia patient, allegedly tasered by police in care home, dies A 95-year-old woman died at an Australian hospital, days after she was allegedly tasered by a police officer at an aged care facility in Cooma town in New South Wales about 114 km south of the national capital Canberra. What is Sengol, the symbol of Chola legacy that is set to stand tall in India's new parliament? An ancient symbol depicting a state of growth and transfer of power will be prominently installed in India's soon-to-be-inaugurated parliament building in New Delhi. 101-year-old WWII vet 'finally' walks at graduation 80 years after missing ceremony amid war A 101-year-old WWII vet finally walked on the stage of his graduation ceremony after eighty years and officially received his diploma in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Fred Taylor had missed his graduation ceremony which was held in 1943 since he was deployed to serve with the Army Air Corps Reserve during World War II. Gulshan Devaiah calls out Nawazuddin Siddiqui over his statement on mental health Actor Gulshan Devaiah has slammed Nawazuddin Siddiqui over his statement on depression. Siddiqui, in a recent interview, claimed that depression is an urban concept born out of privilege. Days later, the actor reiterated his statement and said if he spoke of mental health in his native village, he would be thrashed. Explained | Decades-long battle of how Tanzania’s Maasai are being 'forcefully relocated' for a 'game reserve' In the small village of Ololosokwan, adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site and Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park live the centuries-old Maasai people of East Africa who have for over a decade now been pushed out of their land for a “game reserve,” while the government says it is to help protect the environment. France orders trial of suspects over 2019 migrant lorry deaths In the latest of several trials in Europe over migrant lorry deaths, France is set to try 19 men, allegedly accused of a people-smuggling plot that led to the killings of 39 Vietnamese migrants in the back of a lorry in the year 2019, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday. Explained | What is the row over India's new parliament building inauguration? Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate new parliament building on May 28. The new building will soon be the seat of the highest legislative body of largest democracy in the world. The government headed by PM Modi intends for the new parliament building to be centre of legislative activity rather than the current colonial-era building. However, a political row has erupted as the inauguration date for the new building draws closer. IPL 2023 Eliminator, MI vs LSG live cricket score and updates: MI set 183-run target for LSG Mumbai Indians in the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have produced a superb display with the bat and will now look to defend 182 with Nehal Wadhera playing a handy knock.

Top 10 world news: Pakistan's Imran Khan faces resignation spree, France acts against migrant deaths, and more

In the latest of several trials in Europe over migrant lorry deaths, France is set to try 19 men, allegedly accused of a people-smuggling plot that led to the killings of 39 Vietnamese migrants in the back of a lorry in the year 2019, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday.

The migrants succumbed to suffocation and lost their lives while being transported across the Channel to Britain in refrigerated containers.

The youngest victims who died in the tragedy were two 15-year-old boys.

The bodies of the deceased were found at a port near London, wrapped inside a sealed unit in October 2019.

On Tuesday, the French magistrates investigating the incident, ordered the trial of 19 alleged suspects, aged between 21 to 58 over the tragedy, said the source.

The source further added that the global probe indicates that the suspects, majorly of Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Algerian and Moroccan origin, are part of a large network that smuggles people from Vietnam to Europe.

As per the source, the suspects are accused of organising transport facilities for the migrants, driving taxis or arranging accommodation, and owning properties where they could hide them in the Paris region.

As per AFP reports, the wiretapped phone calls revealed that the suspects referred to their victims as "merchandise" or even "chickens".

These men will be on trial for facilitating the illegal entry of migrants, for enabling the stay of foreigners on French territory and collaborating together with a view to committing crimes which could land them in prison for up to 10 years, said the source.

Four will also be judged for manslaughter for failing to ensure duty of care during the smuggling operation, which could lead to three-year imprisonment.

<h2>Migrants willing to risk lives to reach UK</h2>

The cross-border investigation unveiled that migrants, before being driven to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge to cross the Channel, were loaded into a truck in northern France.

The incident highlighted how the migrants are willing to risk their lives to reach the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

The probe also revealed that some people pay around $40,000 to go on the perilous journey.&nbsp;

Post-mortem tests found the victims died from lack of oxygen and overheating.

<h2>'Illegal migrants to be detained and deported,'&nbsp;says Sunak</h2>

Earlier this year, UK PM Rishi Sunak vowed to resolve the issue of illegal migrants as the country recorded the arrival of more than 45,000 migrants to the shores on small boats.

As per the draft law, anyone who will arrive in the UK illegally, will not be allowed to claim asylum, Sunak said at a news conference.

"If you come here illegally, you can't claim asylum. You can't benefit from our modern slavery protections. You can't make spurious human rights claims and you can't stay," he added.

"We will detain those who come here illegally and then remove them in weeks, either to their own country if it is safe to do so. Or to a Safe Third Country like Rwanda and once you are removed, you will be banned as you are in America and Australia from ever re-entering our country," he stated.

"The current situation is neither moral nor sustainable. It cannot go on. And it's devastatingly unfair on those who most need our help, but can't get it as our asylum system is being overwhelmed by those travelling illegally across the channel," Sunak said.

In the parliament, Right-winger Braverman said that she was "confident that this bill is compatible with international obligations", despite earlier accepting that it "pushed the boundaries of international law".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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In the latest of several trials in Europe over migrant lorry deaths, France is set to try 19 men, allegedly accused of a people-smuggling plot that led to the killings of 39 Vietnamese migrants in the back of a lorry in the year 2019, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday.

In the latest of several trials in Europe over migrant lorry deaths, France is set to try 19 men, allegedly accused of a people-smuggling plot that led to the killings of 39 Vietnamese migrants in the back of a lorry in the year 2019, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday. The migrants succumbed to suffocation and lost their lives while being transported across the Channel to Britain in refrigerated containers. The youngest victims who died in the tragedy were two 15-year-old boys. The bodies of the deceased were found at a port near London, wrapped inside a sealed unit in October 2019. On Tuesday, the French magistrates investigating the incident, ordered the trial of 19 alleged suspects, aged between 21 to 58 over the tragedy, said the source. The source further added that the global probe indicates that the suspects, majorly of Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Algerian and Moroccan origin, are part of a large network that smuggles people from Vietnam to Europe. As per the source, the suspects are accused of organising transport facilities for the migrants, driving taxis or arranging accommodation, and owning properties where they could hide them in the Paris region. As per AFP reports, the wiretapped phone calls revealed that the suspects referred to their victims as "merchandise" or even "chickens". These men will be on trial for facilitating the illegal entry of migrants, for enabling the stay of foreigners on French territory and collaborating together with a view to committing crimes which could land them in prison for up to 10 years, said the source. Four will also be judged for manslaughter for failing to ensure duty of care during the smuggling operation, which could lead to three-year imprisonment. Migrants willing to risk lives to reach UK The cross-border investigation unveiled that migrants, before being driven to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge to cross the Channel, were loaded into a truck in northern France. The incident highlighted how the migrants are willing to risk their lives to reach the United Kingdom. The probe also revealed that some people pay around $40,000 to go on the perilous journey. Post-mortem tests found the victims died from lack of oxygen and overheating. 'Illegal migrants to be detained and deported,' says Sunak Earlier this year, UK PM Rishi Sunak vowed to resolve the issue of illegal migrants as the country recorded the arrival of more than 45,000 migrants to the shores on small boats. As per the draft law, anyone who will arrive in the UK illegally, will not be allowed to claim asylum, Sunak said at a news conference. "If you come here illegally, you can't claim asylum. You can't benefit from our modern slavery protections. You can't make spurious human rights claims and you can't stay," he added. "We will detain those who come here illegally and then remove them in weeks, either to their own country if it is safe to do so. Or to a Safe Third Country like Rwanda and once you are removed, you will be banned as you are in America and Australia from ever re-entering our country," he stated. "The current situation is neither moral nor sustainable. It cannot go on. And it's devastatingly unfair on those who most need our help, but can't get it as our asylum system is being overwhelmed by those travelling illegally across the channel," Sunak said. In the parliament, Right-winger Braverman said that she was "confident that this bill is compatible with international obligations", despite earlier accepting that it "pushed the boundaries of international law". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

France orders trial of suspects over 2019 migrant lorry deaths

The United States Energy Department, on Monday, informed lawmakers that it will no longer award a $200 million grant to the lithium battery company Microvast Holdings, according to Reuters reports.

The unexpected reversal happened after lawmakers cited concerns over Microvast's alleged links to China's government.

Two Republican lawmakers had condemned the Biden administration's decision to award funding to the company. They wrote a letter last year in the month of December to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, stating Microvast had ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that raised "serious concerns about the department’s ability to protect US&nbsp;taxpayer's dollars."

Representative Frank Lucas, a Republican, said the grant's cancellation was "a win for taxpayers and American businesses."

"These funds are intended to strengthen America’s battery production and supply chain, not to tighten China’s stranglehold on these supplies," he said in a statement.

However, the lawmakers did not provide any details about the company's alleged ties to the Chinese government.

The US Energy Department had been in talks with the lithium battery company over the grant that would help in constructing a plant in Tennessee. The grant emanated from the $1 trillion 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.

The Texas-based company, Microvast has manufacturing plants in Tennessee, Germany and China.

The Energy Department has "a rigorous review process prior to the release of any awarded funds, and it is not uncommon for entities selected to participate in award negotiations ... to not ultimately receive an award," a spokesperson said.

"What the US&nbsp;government decides about US&nbsp;companies is a matter for the US&nbsp;itself, and I will not comment on it," said Mao Ning, a spokeswoman at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when asked about the case at a regular news conference on Tuesday.

Barrasso, on Monday, said the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, should "overhaul its grant-making process and conduct due diligence before issuing press releases" on grants. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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The United States Energy Department, on Monday, informed lawmakers that it will no longer award a $200 million grant to the lithium battery company Microvast Holdings, according to Reuters reports.

The United States Energy Department, on Monday, informed lawmakers that it will no longer award a $200 million grant to the lithium battery company Microvast Holdings, according to Reuters reports. The unexpected reversal happened after lawmakers cited concerns over Microvast's alleged links to China's government. Two Republican lawmakers had condemned the Biden administration's decision to award funding to the company. They wrote a letter last year in the month of December to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, stating Microvast had ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that raised "serious concerns about the department’s ability to protect US taxpayer's dollars." Representative Frank Lucas, a Republican, said the grant's cancellation was "a win for taxpayers and American businesses." "These funds are intended to strengthen America’s battery production and supply chain, not to tighten China’s stranglehold on these supplies," he said in a statement. However, the lawmakers did not provide any details about the company's alleged ties to the Chinese government. The US Energy Department had been in talks with the lithium battery company over the grant that would help in constructing a plant in Tennessee. The grant emanated from the $1 trillion 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. The Texas-based company, Microvast has manufacturing plants in Tennessee, Germany and China. The Energy Department has "a rigorous review process prior to the release of any awarded funds, and it is not uncommon for entities selected to participate in award negotiations ... to not ultimately receive an award," a spokesperson said. "What the US government decides about US companies is a matter for the US itself, and I will not comment on it," said Mao Ning, a spokeswoman at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when asked about the case at a regular news conference on Tuesday. Barrasso, on Monday, said the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, should "overhaul its grant-making process and conduct due diligence before issuing press releases" on grants. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US pulls $200 million grant for lithium battery company Microvast over Chinese ties

The Indian Navy successfully conducted an engagement with a sea-skimming supersonic target using its most recent indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao.

India's maritime force said that this maiden effort depicts the Navy's future-proof warfare readiness and commitment towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. 
&nbsp; 
"Indian Navy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao successfully carried out engagement of sea-skimming supersonic target. This maiden endeavour showcases IN's Future Proof Combat Readiness and commitment towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat," the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Mormugao, which is named after the historic port city of Goa on the west coast, coincidentally launched its first sea attack on December 19, 2021. This was when Goa celebrated 60 years of independence from Portuguese rule.

The Indian Navy said that the ship, which measures 163 m in length, and 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes, can rightfully be considered one of the most powerful warships to have been constructed in India.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianNavy</a>'s latest indigenous guided missile destroyer <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INSMormugao?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INSMormugao</a> successfully carried out engagement of sea skimming supersonic target. This maiden endeavour showcases IN's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FutureProof?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FutureProof</a> Combat Readiness &amp; commitment towards <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AatmaNirbharBharat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AatmaNirbharBharat</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/IN_WNC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IN_WNC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IN_WesternFleet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IN_WesternFleet</a> <a href="https://t.co/hc5J3077DH">pic.twitter.com/hc5J3077DH</a>
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1660836302491721731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<h2>India performs maiden test of sea-based ballistic missile interceptor</h2>

Last month, India's ambitious ballistic missile defence system achieved success with the first flight test of an endo-atmospheric interceptor missile from a ship in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha.

By engaging and neutralising a hostile ballistic missile threat, the sea-based missile's trial on Friday, according to the defence ministry, placed India into a select group of countries with such a capability.

AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) and other hostile aircraft, as well as approaching long-range nuclear missiles, can be intercepted by BMDs.

The Indian Navy and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) were commended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the successful testing of the ship-based ballistic missile defence (BMD) system's capabilities.

"The DRDO and the Indian Navy successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal on April 21," the ministry said in a statement.

<h2>India joins the elite club</h2>

India has been working to improve its ability to intercept enemy ballistic missiles both inside and outside of the atmosphere of the earth.&nbsp;

The endo-atmospheric missiles are those that function within the earth's atmosphere and have a range of less than 100 kilometres. According to specialists, exo-atmospheric missiles are capable of completing missions in the uppermost part of the earth's atmosphere.

India's phase-II ballistic missile defence interceptor AD-1, which can engage a wide variety of targets, successfully completed its first flight test in November.

Long-range ballistic missiles and planes can be intercepted by the AD-1 long-range interceptor missile in both "low exo-atmospheric" and "endo-atmospheric" settings.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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The Indian Navy successfully conducted an engagement with a sea-skimming supersonic target using its most recent indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao.

The Indian Navy successfully conducted an engagement with a sea-skimming supersonic target using its most recent indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao. India's maritime force said that this maiden effort depicts the Navy's future-proof warfare readiness and commitment towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. "Indian Navy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao successfully carried out engagement of sea-skimming supersonic target. This maiden endeavour showcases IN's Future Proof Combat Readiness and commitment towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat," the Indian Navy said in a statement. Mormugao, which is named after the historic port city of Goa on the west coast, coincidentally launched its first sea attack on December 19, 2021. This was when Goa celebrated 60 years of independence from Portuguese rule. The Indian Navy said that the ship, which measures 163 m in length, and 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes, can rightfully be considered one of the most powerful warships to have been constructed in India. #IndianNavy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer #INSMormugao successfully carried out engagement of sea skimming supersonic target. This maiden endeavour showcases IN's #FutureProof Combat Readiness & commitment towards #AatmaNirbharBharat.@IN_WNC @IN_WesternFleet pic.twitter.com/hc5J3077DH — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 23, 2023 × India performs maiden test of sea-based ballistic missile interceptor Last month, India's ambitious ballistic missile defence system achieved success with the first flight test of an endo-atmospheric interceptor missile from a ship in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha. By engaging and neutralising a hostile ballistic missile threat, the sea-based missile's trial on Friday, according to the defence ministry, placed India into a select group of countries with such a capability. AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) and other hostile aircraft, as well as approaching long-range nuclear missiles, can be intercepted by BMDs. The Indian Navy and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) were commended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the successful testing of the ship-based ballistic missile defence (BMD) system's capabilities. "The DRDO and the Indian Navy successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal on April 21," the ministry said in a statement. India joins the elite club India has been working to improve its ability to intercept enemy ballistic missiles both inside and outside of the atmosphere of the earth. The endo-atmospheric missiles are those that function within the earth's atmosphere and have a range of less than 100 kilometres. According to specialists, exo-atmospheric missiles are capable of completing missions in the uppermost part of the earth's atmosphere. India's phase-II ballistic missile defence interceptor AD-1, which can engage a wide variety of targets, successfully completed its first flight test in November. Long-range ballistic missiles and planes can be intercepted by the AD-1 long-range interceptor missile in both "low exo-atmospheric" and "endo-atmospheric" settings. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao carries out engagement of sea-skimming supersonic target

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen put forward a proposal on Monday saying that Denmark 'would like to host' a summit aimed at establishing peace between Ukraine and Russia in July. He further stated that for such a meeting, he would&nbsp;require&nbsp;engagement from India, China and Brazil.

During the G7 meeting in Japan on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought support for Kyiv's plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine. He also further proposed to hold a global summit in July.

"If Ukraine finds that the time has come to have such a meeting, that would be fantastic. And then Denmark would obviously like to host the meeting," Lokke Rasmussen told reporters on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

A proposal, that was put forward in the month of December by Ukraine to hold a peace summit in February 2023, was never substantiated.

"For starters, we need to put some effort into creating a global commitment to organise such a meeting," Lokke Rasmussen said, adding that a summit should not just be attended by Ukraine's allies.

"It is necessary to build interest and involvement from countries like India, Brazil and China," he said. "It is hard for me to see" Russia taking part, he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Denmark to help train Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16 fighter jets</h2>

Denmark's defence minister on Friday said that the country will help train Ukrainian pilots on the US-made F-16 fighter jet after Washington released a statement saying that it would support the initiative.

"The country will now be able to move forward for a collective contribution to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s", said acting Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

<h2>‘Bakhmut not occupied,’ insists Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky despite Russia claiming victory</h2>

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky continued to insist on Sunday that the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has “not been occupied”, despite Russia claiming victory.

"Bakhmut is not occupied by Russia today," Zelensky told a press conference during the G7 summit in Hiroshima, according to AFP news agency.

"They are in Bakhmut," he said, not clarifying if that referred to Russian or Ukrainian troops.

"I cannot share with you the tactical views of our military. The most difficult thing would be if there was some tactical mistake in Bakhmut and our people were surrounded," he said.

On Saturday, the chief of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group claimed that they have taken full control of Bakhmut following months of a protracted and bloody war with the Ukrainian troops.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen put forward a proposal on Monday saying that Denmark 'would like to host' a summit aimed at establishing peace between Ukraine and Russia in July.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen put forward a proposal on Monday saying that Denmark 'would like to host' a summit aimed at establishing peace between Ukraine and Russia in July. He further stated that for such a meeting, he would require engagement from India, China and Brazil. During the G7 meeting in Japan on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought support for Kyiv's plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine. He also further proposed to hold a global summit in July. "If Ukraine finds that the time has come to have such a meeting, that would be fantastic. And then Denmark would obviously like to host the meeting," Lokke Rasmussen told reporters on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. A proposal, that was put forward in the month of December by Ukraine to hold a peace summit in February 2023, was never substantiated. "For starters, we need to put some effort into creating a global commitment to organise such a meeting," Lokke Rasmussen said, adding that a summit should not just be attended by Ukraine's allies. "It is necessary to build interest and involvement from countries like India, Brazil and China," he said. "It is hard for me to see" Russia taking part, he added. Denmark to help train Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16 fighter jets Denmark's defence minister on Friday said that the country will help train Ukrainian pilots on the US-made F-16 fighter jet after Washington released a statement saying that it would support the initiative. "The country will now be able to move forward for a collective contribution to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s", said acting Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. ‘Bakhmut not occupied,’ insists Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky despite Russia claiming victory Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky continued to insist on Sunday that the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has “not been occupied”, despite Russia claiming victory. "Bakhmut is not occupied by Russia today," Zelensky told a press conference during the G7 summit in Hiroshima, according to AFP news agency. "They are in Bakhmut," he said, not clarifying if that referred to Russian or Ukrainian troops. "I cannot share with you the tactical views of our military. The most difficult thing would be if there was some tactical mistake in Bakhmut and our people were surrounded," he said. On Saturday, the chief of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group claimed that they have taken full control of Bakhmut following months of a protracted and bloody war with the Ukrainian troops. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Denmark willing to host Ukraine peace summit, seeks engagement from India, China and Brazil

If there's one thing we should all be able to agree on, it's that all human beings belong to the same species, Homo sapiens.

But a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on Monday has found a yawning gap between what people claim to believe and what they actually hold true.

A team from Harvard and Tufts gathered data from more than 60,000 subjects who took part in 13 experiments that tested their implicit biases.

An overwhelming majority, over 90 percent, explicitly stated that white people and non-white people are equally human.

But on an implicit measure, white US participants, as well as white participants from other countries, consistently associated the attribute "human" (as opposed to "animal") with their own group more than other racial groups.&nbsp;

Conversely, Black, Asian and Hispanic participants showed no such bias, equally associating their own group and white people with "human."

"The biggest takeaway for me is that we're still grappling in a new form with sentiments that have been around for centuries," first author Kirsten Morehouse, a PhD student at Harvard University, told AFP.

Throughout history, the dehumanization of other races has been used as a pretext for unequal treatment, ranging from police brutality all the way to genocide. &nbsp;

<h2>Implicit Association Test</h2>

The research relied on the Implicit Association Test (IAT), a tool developed in the 1990s and now widely used in the field.

A computer-based measure, it tests the strength of associations between two concepts -- for example Black and white people or gay and straight people -- and two attributes like good or bad.

The idea is that easier pairings, as measured by faster key responses, are more strongly associated in the mind than difficult pairings, as measured by slower responses.

Researchers believe IAT tests reveal attitudes that people would be unwilling to state publicly, or might not even be aware of on a conscious level.&nbsp;

Across all the experiments, 61 percent of white participants associated white people more with "human" and Black people more with "animal."

An even greater number -- 69 percent of white participants -- associated white participants more with humans and Asians more with animals, and the same result occurred for white people taking a white-Hispanic test.

These effects held true across age, religion and education of participants, but did vary by political affiliation and gender. Self-identified conservatives and men expressed slightly stronger implicit "human = white" associations.

Non-white people did not show an implicit bias in favor of their own racial groups compared to white people.

But they did show a bias towards whites as more human when the test was between white people and another minority group, for example Asians asked to take a test that assessed their attitudes towards white people versus Black people.

<h2>Social hierarchy</h2>

Morehouse attributed these findings to the fact that white people are socially and economically dominant in the United States, where 85 percent of the participants were from (8.5 percent were from Western Europe).

She theorized that while you might expect all races to be more biased in favor of their own "in-group," such sentiments might be canceled out by their lower standing in American society, resulting in overall neutrality.

The fact that "third party" participants were biased in favor of white people when assessed against another race "demonstrates how powerful these social hierarchies are," she said.&nbsp;

Similar tests to those used in the experiment are available to take at https://implicit.harvard.edu/&nbsp;

Morehouse said that while the results could be uncomfortable for some, awareness was a first step that could help individuals break patterns of stereotyping.

If there's one thing we should all be able to agree on, it's that all human beings belong to the same species, Homo sapiens. But a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on Monday has found a yawning gap between what people claim to believe and what they actually hold true.

If there's one thing we should all be able to agree on, it's that all human beings belong to the same species, Homo sapiens. But a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on Monday has found a yawning gap between what people claim to believe and what they actually hold true. A team from Harvard and Tufts gathered data from more than 60,000 subjects who took part in 13 experiments that tested their implicit biases. An overwhelming majority, over 90 percent, explicitly stated that white people and non-white people are equally human. But on an implicit measure, white US participants, as well as white participants from other countries, consistently associated the attribute "human" (as opposed to "animal") with their own group more than other racial groups. Conversely, Black, Asian and Hispanic participants showed no such bias, equally associating their own group and white people with "human." "The biggest takeaway for me is that we're still grappling in a new form with sentiments that have been around for centuries," first author Kirsten Morehouse, a PhD student at Harvard University, told AFP. Throughout history, the dehumanization of other races has been used as a pretext for unequal treatment, ranging from police brutality all the way to genocide. Implicit Association Test The research relied on the Implicit Association Test (IAT), a tool developed in the 1990s and now widely used in the field. A computer-based measure, it tests the strength of associations between two concepts -- for example Black and white people or gay and straight people -- and two attributes like good or bad. The idea is that easier pairings, as measured by faster key responses, are more strongly associated in the mind than difficult pairings, as measured by slower responses. Researchers believe IAT tests reveal attitudes that people would be unwilling to state publicly, or might not even be aware of on a conscious level. Across all the experiments, 61 percent of white participants associated white people more with "human" and Black people more with "animal." An even greater number -- 69 percent of white participants -- associated white participants more with humans and Asians more with animals, and the same result occurred for white people taking a white-Hispanic test. These effects held true across age, religion and education of participants, but did vary by political affiliation and gender. Self-identified conservatives and men expressed slightly stronger implicit "human = white" associations. Non-white people did not show an implicit bias in favor of their own racial groups compared to white people. But they did show a bias towards whites as more human when the test was between white people and another minority group, for example Asians asked to take a test that assessed their attitudes towards white people versus Black people. Social hierarchy Morehouse attributed these findings to the fact that white people are socially and economically dominant in the United States, where 85 percent of the participants were from (8.5 percent were from Western Europe). She theorized that while you might expect all races to be more biased in favor of their own "in-group," such sentiments might be canceled out by their lower standing in American society, resulting in overall neutrality. The fact that "third party" participants were biased in favor of white people when assessed against another race "demonstrates how powerful these social hierarchies are," she said. Similar tests to those used in the experiment are available to take at https://implicit.harvard.edu/ Morehouse said that while the results could be uncomfortable for some, awareness was a first step that could help individuals break patterns of stereotyping.

Harvard study finds implicit racial bias highest among white people

In Pics | Mount Etna eruption spews ash, forces closure of Catania airport

A woman dressed in the colours of the Ukrainian flag staged an intense demonstration on the red carpet of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, on Sunday, by pouring fake blood on herself before being ejected by security.

The brief protest took place during the screening of Just Philippot's film Acid.

In an aim to show solidarity for the war-torn country, the unidentified protester, who appeared on the red carpet alongside A-listers in a floor-length blue and yellow ballgown, drenched herself in red substance on the steps of the Palais des Festivals.

In the video, she can be seen swiftly climbing the stairs, after which she reaches into her dress, pulls out the fake blood capsules, bursts them raising above her head and smiles in front of the cameras.

WATCH

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VIDEO: Cannes action. 
 
A woman dressed in Ukrainian colours pours fake blood on herself on the steps of the Palais des Festivals during the screening of the film 'Acid', before being removed by security staff <a href="https://t.co/v7hAz1zetW">pic.twitter.com/v7hAz1zetW</a>
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1660454871953477632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Woman protester goes topless on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival 2022, paints herself in Ukrainian colours</h2>

In the year 2022, a woman ripped off her dress revealing her body painted in the Ukrainian flag colours with the words 'STOP RAPING US' inscribed on her body at the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in a solo demonstration.

Wearing underpants stained in red colour, with handprints on her buttocks, she shouted and posed for photographers before being removed by security.

The brief protest occurred at the world premiere of Three Thousand Years of Longing,&nbsp;with stars Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton poised to arrive and walk the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals.

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On the Cannes red carpet for George Miller’s new movie, the woman in front of me stripped off all her clothes (covered in body paint) and fell to her knees screaming in front of photographers. Cannes authorities rushed over, covered her in a coat, &amp; blocked my camera from filming <a href="https://t.co/JFdWlwVMEw">pic.twitter.com/JFdWlwVMEw</a>
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylebuchanan/status/1527691363646590977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<h2>Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Cannes Film Festival</h2>

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise video address at the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival last year.&nbsp;

“Hundreds of people are dying every day. They won’t get up again after the clapping at the end,” he told the audience, which had reacted with surprise when the pre-recorded message was introduced.

“Will cinema keep quiet, or will it speak up? If there is a dictator, if there is a war for freedom, once again, everything depends on our unity. Can cinema stay outside of this unity?” Zelensky added.

“Chaplin’s dictator did not destroy the real dictator, but thanks to cinema, thanks to this film, cinema did not stay quiet,” Zelensky said.

<h2>‘Bakhmut not occupied,’ insists Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky despite Russia claiming victory</h2>

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky continued to insist on Sunday that the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has “not been occupied”, despite Russia claiming victory.

"Bakhmut is not occupied by Russia today," Zelensky told a press conference during the G7 summit in Hiroshima, according to AFP news agency.

"They are in Bakhmut," he said, not clarifying if that referred to Russian or Ukrainian troops.

"I cannot share with you the tactical views of our military. The most difficult thing would be if there was some tactical mistake in Bakhmut and our people were surrounded," he said.

On Saturday, the chief of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group claimed that they have taken full control of Bakhmut following months of a protracted and bloody war with the Ukrainian troops.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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A woman dressed in the colours of the Ukrainian flag staged an intense demonstration on the red carpet of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, on Sunday, by pouring fake blood on herself before being ejected by security.

A woman dressed in the colours of the Ukrainian flag staged an intense demonstration on the red carpet of the 76th Cannes Film Festival, on Sunday, by pouring fake blood on herself before being ejected by security. The brief protest took place during the screening of Just Philippot's film Acid. In an aim to show solidarity for the war-torn country, the unidentified protester, who appeared on the red carpet alongside A-listers in a floor-length blue and yellow ballgown, drenched herself in red substance on the steps of the Palais des Festivals. In the video, she can be seen swiftly climbing the stairs, after which she reaches into her dress, pulls out the fake blood capsules, bursts them raising above her head and smiles in front of the cameras. WATCH VIDEO: Cannes action. A woman dressed in Ukrainian colours pours fake blood on herself on the steps of the Palais des Festivals during the screening of the film 'Acid', before being removed by security staff pic.twitter.com/v7hAz1zetW — AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 22, 2023 × Woman protester goes topless on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival 2022, paints herself in Ukrainian colours In the year 2022, a woman ripped off her dress revealing her body painted in the Ukrainian flag colours with the words 'STOP RAPING US' inscribed on her body at the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in a solo demonstration. Wearing underpants stained in red colour, with handprints on her buttocks, she shouted and posed for photographers before being removed by security. The brief protest occurred at the world premiere of Three Thousand Years of Longing, with stars Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton poised to arrive and walk the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals. On the Cannes red carpet for George Miller’s new movie, the woman in front of me stripped off all her clothes (covered in body paint) and fell to her knees screaming in front of photographers. Cannes authorities rushed over, covered her in a coat, & blocked my camera from filming pic.twitter.com/JFdWlwVMEw — Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) May 20, 2022 × Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Cannes Film Festival Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise video address at the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival last year. “Hundreds of people are dying every day. They won’t get up again after the clapping at the end,” he told the audience, which had reacted with surprise when the pre-recorded message was introduced. “Will cinema keep quiet, or will it speak up? If there is a dictator, if there is a war for freedom, once again, everything depends on our unity. Can cinema stay outside of this unity?” Zelensky added. “Chaplin’s dictator did not destroy the real dictator, but thanks to cinema, thanks to this film, cinema did not stay quiet,” Zelensky said. ‘Bakhmut not occupied,’ insists Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky despite Russia claiming victory Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky continued to insist on Sunday that the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has “not been occupied”, despite Russia claiming victory. "Bakhmut is not occupied by Russia today," Zelensky told a press conference during the G7 summit in Hiroshima, according to AFP news agency. "They are in Bakhmut," he said, not clarifying if that referred to Russian or Ukrainian troops. "I cannot share with you the tactical views of our military. The most difficult thing would be if there was some tactical mistake in Bakhmut and our people were surrounded," he said. On Saturday, the chief of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group claimed that they have taken full control of Bakhmut following months of a protracted and bloody war with the Ukrainian troops. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WATCH | Woman dressed in Ukrainian colours stages protest on Cannes red carpet, pours fake blood on herself

A violent scuffle broke out among tourists during rafting in the Ganga&nbsp;river in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, the video of which is going viral on social media platforms.

As per news agency ANI, the incident took place on Saturday (20 May).

The video clip shared by ANI shows groups of people thrashing each other violently with rafting paddles in the middle of the Ganga River.

In the video, three tourists can be seen jumping into the river in a bid to escape the attack.

A man can be heard asking someone in the combatant raft, "Park the boat to the side...You will sink us!" Whereas, the rafting guides can be heard asking the tourists to sit down.

"A violent scuffle broke out among rafters during river rafting in Rishikesh, yesterday," wrote news agency ANI while sharing the video on its official Twitter handle.

As per ANI, SP Tehri Garhwal Navneet Bhullar said that the police are investigating the incident that took place in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. He further added that a case will also be registered in this matter.

The exact reason behind the assault is not yet known.

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Uttarakhand | A violent scuffle broke out among rafters during river rafting in Rishikesh, yesterday. On the incident, SP Tehri Garhwal, Navneet Bhullar said that the police are investigating the incident after which a case will also be registered in this matter. <a href="https://t.co/dRAs4MiUB9">pic.twitter.com/dRAs4MiUB9</a>
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1660228196049248256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<h2>Netizens react</h2>

The video has garnered over 8,500 views till now and various users have reacted to it out of which some have condemned the tourists for creating an upheaval.

"This is the reality of tourists in every state they bring their filth into every tourist place," wrote one user.

"Looks like they are gangsters got violent due to their rivalry," wrote another.

"It's a very shameful incident and must be enquired into properly and stern action be taken against the erring person, to ensure non-repetition of such incidents. Uttarakhand is - Simply Heaven. There should not be any place for the violence, in the state," commented another user.&nbsp;

"I am so grateful that I was born in such a country of idiots and I am amongst them," a user jokingly remarked.

<h2>Police initiate investigation</h2>

As per the Indian Express, Muni Ki Reti SHO Ritesh Shah said that some people claimed that the incident occurred three days ago, while others asserted that the video was much older.

“We also do not know the exact location of this violent scuffle as there is not much in the video. There are two different police station jurisdictions in the Rishikesh rafting path. We are trying to confirm the rafting company based on the logo on the rafts… We will also write a letter to the tourism officer and request him to cancel the licence of the company and the rafting guide,” Indian Express quoted Shah as saying.

“The video came to our knowledge on Saturday, but we have not received any complaint. We are trying to confirm the rafting company by closely inspecting the video. We will call them and confirm when the incident took place,” said Tehri Garhwal SSP Navneet Singh.

&nbsp;(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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A violent scuffle broke out among tourists during rafting in the Ganga river in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, the video of which is going viral on social media platforms.

A violent scuffle broke out among tourists during rafting in the Ganga river in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, the video of which is going viral on social media platforms. As per news agency ANI, the incident took place on Saturday (20 May). The video clip shared by ANI shows groups of people thrashing each other violently with rafting paddles in the middle of the Ganga River. In the video, three tourists can be seen jumping into the river in a bid to escape the attack. A man can be heard asking someone in the combatant raft, "Park the boat to the side...You will sink us!" Whereas, the rafting guides can be heard asking the tourists to sit down. "A violent scuffle broke out among rafters during river rafting in Rishikesh, yesterday," wrote news agency ANI while sharing the video on its official Twitter handle. As per ANI, SP Tehri Garhwal Navneet Bhullar said that the police are investigating the incident that took place in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. He further added that a case will also be registered in this matter. The exact reason behind the assault is not yet known. Uttarakhand | A violent scuffle broke out among rafters during river rafting in Rishikesh, yesterday. On the incident, SP Tehri Garhwal, Navneet Bhullar said that the police are investigating the incident after which a case will also be registered in this matter. pic.twitter.com/dRAs4MiUB9 — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 21, 2023 × Netizens react The video has garnered over 8,500 views till now and various users have reacted to it out of which some have condemned the tourists for creating an upheaval. "This is the reality of tourists in every state they bring their filth into every tourist place," wrote one user. "Looks like they are gangsters got violent due to their rivalry," wrote another. "It's a very shameful incident and must be enquired into properly and stern action be taken against the erring person, to ensure non-repetition of such incidents. Uttarakhand is - Simply Heaven. There should not be any place for the violence, in the state," commented another user. "I am so grateful that I was born in such a country of idiots and I am amongst them," a user jokingly remarked. Police initiate investigation As per the Indian Express, Muni Ki Reti SHO Ritesh Shah said that some people claimed that the incident occurred three days ago, while others asserted that the video was much older. “We also do not know the exact location of this violent scuffle as there is not much in the video. There are two different police station jurisdictions in the Rishikesh rafting path. We are trying to confirm the rafting company based on the logo on the rafts… We will also write a letter to the tourism officer and request him to cancel the licence of the company and the rafting guide,” Indian Express quoted Shah as saying. “The video came to our knowledge on Saturday, but we have not received any complaint. We are trying to confirm the rafting company by closely inspecting the video. We will call them and confirm when the incident took place,” said Tehri Garhwal SSP Navneet Singh. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WATCH | Violent scuffle breaks out among tourists during river-rafting in Rishikesh

Authorities in Mexico raised alarm for the Popocatepetl volcano, on Sunday, one step below the red alert, after it belched out smoke, ash and molten rock into the sky. Flight operations had to be halted due to the intense activity of&nbsp;the volcano.

The experts recommended raising the alarm to "yellow phase three".&nbsp;

Located on the borders of the central states of Morelos, Mexico, and Puebla, Popocatepetl is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world as approximately 25 million people live within its 100-kilometre (60-mile) radius.

As per the warning system developed by Mexico's National Disaster Prevention Center, the yellow warning stands for "remain alert and prepare for a possible evacuation".

The yellow phase three, which was activated on Sunday, stands for "intermediate to high activity" and is activated when the volcano shows "explosions of increasing intensity, expelling incandescent fragments".

The alert increase also means an elevated risk of spewing magma and "significant explosions of increasing intensity that shoot fragments (of rock) over considerable distances," according to civil protection coordinator Laura Velazquez.

The next step, which is a red alert, &nbsp;sets off mandatory evacuations.

<h2>Popocatepetl volcanic eruption forces school closures</h2>

Mexican authorities cancelled classes for more than 100,000 students on Thursday in multiple towns congregated around the volcano.

According to officials, a series of powerful eruptions from Popocatepetl forced authorities o suspend both public and private school classes across 22 towns.

Images shared on social media showed people wearing masks in order to protect themselves from ash and gas.

<h2>Mount Etna erupts in Italy, forces airport to shutdown</h2>

Flight operations were halted in an Italian city after Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna, erupted, spewing ash across the runway.

The 3,330-metre&nbsp;(10,925 ft) high volcano, located on the eastern coast of Sicily near Catania city, began erupting Sunday morning, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) told The Associated Press.

The INGV noted that cloud cover and a rainy day impeded the views of the eruption, which "often serves up a spectacular display of flaming lava".

According to the institute, the volcano ash covered the Catania skies and at least one town on Mount Etna’s inhabited slopes. Local media has, so far, not reported any injuries or fatalities.

Several cars in Catania city were covered in a layer of dark gritty dust, images in Italian media showed.

Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano. The last major eruption was in 1992.

In 2021, it erupted for several weeks within the six-month period of activity. As a result, the volcano’s height increased by 100ft because of the amount of volcanic material it spewed. The southeastern crater is now the tallest part of the volcano.

The volcano is in an almost constant state of activity and it’s considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Authorities in Mexico raised alarm for the Popocatepetl volcano, on Sunday, one step below the red alert, after it belched out smoke, ash and molten rock into the sky.

Authorities in Mexico raised alarm for the Popocatepetl volcano, on Sunday, one step below the red alert, after it belched out smoke, ash and molten rock into the sky. Flight operations had to be halted due to the intense activity of the volcano. The experts recommended raising the alarm to "yellow phase three". Located on the borders of the central states of Morelos, Mexico, and Puebla, Popocatepetl is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world as approximately 25 million people live within its 100-kilometre (60-mile) radius. As per the warning system developed by Mexico's National Disaster Prevention Center, the yellow warning stands for "remain alert and prepare for a possible evacuation". The yellow phase three, which was activated on Sunday, stands for "intermediate to high activity" and is activated when the volcano shows "explosions of increasing intensity, expelling incandescent fragments". The alert increase also means an elevated risk of spewing magma and "significant explosions of increasing intensity that shoot fragments (of rock) over considerable distances," according to civil protection coordinator Laura Velazquez. The next step, which is a red alert, sets off mandatory evacuations. Popocatepetl volcanic eruption forces school closures Mexican authorities cancelled classes for more than 100,000 students on Thursday in multiple towns congregated around the volcano. According to officials, a series of powerful eruptions from Popocatepetl forced authorities o suspend both public and private school classes across 22 towns. Images shared on social media showed people wearing masks in order to protect themselves from ash and gas. Mount Etna erupts in Italy, forces airport to shutdown Flight operations were halted in an Italian city after Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna, erupted, spewing ash across the runway. The 3,330-metre (10,925 ft) high volcano, located on the eastern coast of Sicily near Catania city, began erupting Sunday morning, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) told The Associated Press. The INGV noted that cloud cover and a rainy day impeded the views of the eruption, which "often serves up a spectacular display of flaming lava". According to the institute, the volcano ash covered the Catania skies and at least one town on Mount Etna’s inhabited slopes. Local media has, so far, not reported any injuries or fatalities. Several cars in Catania city were covered in a layer of dark gritty dust, images in Italian media showed. Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano. The last major eruption was in 1992. In 2021, it erupted for several weeks within the six-month period of activity. As a result, the volcano’s height increased by 100ft because of the amount of volcanic material it spewed. The southeastern crater is now the tallest part of the volcano. The volcano is in an almost constant state of activity and it’s considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mexico raises warning alarm for Popocatepetl volcano as it spews smoke, ash and molten rock

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