Frances Tiafoe returned to haunt Team Europe with a dazzling win over Stefanos Tsitsipas to give Team World their first Laver Cup title on Sunday, ending Roger Federer's hopes of finishing his career by lifting another trophy.

Two days after he and Jack Sock beat Federer and Rafa Nadal in a tearful farewell for the Swiss great at the O2 Arena, American showman Tiafoe saved four match points against Tsitsipas before roaring to a 1-6 7-6(11) 10-8 victory.

Tiafoe's win, worth three points for his team, gave John McEnroe's Team World an unassailable 13-8 lead, having started the day trailing 8-4 and staring at a fifth straight defeat in the event co-founded by Federer.

Team World enjoyed a super Sunday as Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime stunned 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6(3). Earlier, Auger-Aliassime had partnered American Sock to a 2-6 6-3 10-8 win against Briton Andy Murray and Italian Matteo Berrettini.

Tsitsipas had the chance to take the match to a deciding singles match, but Tiafoe showed tremendous guts to save four match points in a gripping second-set tiebreak.

The American had the pro-Europe crowd in raptures, and his team mates off their feet, with some extraordinary shot-making in the so-called Laver Breaker.

And when Tsitsipas hit the net on match point, Tiafoe collapsed to the court and was immediately buried under a pile of his red-shirted team mates and captain McEnroe.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Tiafoe, who reached the U.S. Open semi-final said on court. "Jonny Mac was dropping F bombs all week saying we need to get it down this year.

"It wasn't just me but I showed a lot of heart to get this done. I was getting my ass kicked for a while but I kept going. This is big, we're going to celebrate big tonight."

McEnroe was ecstatic at finally getting his hands on the trophy and getting one over old rival Bjorn Borg who was captain of a Team Europe side that were big favourites.

"No one beats Team World five times in a row," the American said. "Felix stepped up big time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-was-close-to-retiring-thought-french-open-this-year-might-be-my-last-tournament-rafael-nadal-519556" hreflang="en">I was close to retiring, thought French Open this year might be my last tournament: Rafael Nadal</a>

"Frances is prime time, we saw that at the U.S. Open. This is an incredible team event and I'm loving every second of it."

It was not the ending Federer had dreamed of in the last event of his 24-year professional career.

Apart from playing his last-ever competitive match, he had sat at courtside in every match here, offering his words of wisdom and support to his team mates.

"Of course I'm disappointed," 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer told reporters at the end of an emotional weekend.

"I was on the team. Almost lost my voice. My hands hurt from clapping. Told Andy (Murray) in the locker room, I don't like losing. It's not fun.

"This weekend has been all over the place for me. I enjoyed it, but it's unfortunate that we couldn't get the win tonight."

Tiafoe, beaten heavily by Djokovic the previous evening, was making no apologies to Federer for being the pantomime villain.

"Absolutely not. I'm not going to apologise to him. He's got a lot to apologise after the last 24 years after beating everybody on the tour," Tiafoe, clutching a beer, said.

"But I will say thank you for having me in this amazing event, for what he's done for the game. He's a class act. Happy to know him, happy to call him friend, happy to call him a colleague, and best wishes in his second act."

Team World will be aiming to retain their title next year when the event takes place in Vancouver.

Frances Tiafoe returned to haunt Team Europe with a dazzling win over Stefanos Tsitsipas to give Team World their first Laver Cup title on Sunday, ending Roger Federer's hopes of finishing his career by lifting another trophy.

Frances Tiafoe returned to haunt Team Europe with a dazzling win over Stefanos Tsitsipas to give Team World their first Laver Cup title on Sunday, ending Roger Federer's hopes of finishing his career by lifting another trophy. Two days after he and Jack Sock beat Federer and Rafa Nadal in a tearful farewell for the Swiss great at the O2 Arena, American showman Tiafoe saved four match points against Tsitsipas before roaring to a 1-6 7-6(11) 10-8 victory. Tiafoe's win, worth three points for his team, gave John McEnroe's Team World an unassailable 13-8 lead, having started the day trailing 8-4 and staring at a fifth straight defeat in the event co-founded by Federer. Team World enjoyed a super Sunday as Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime stunned 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6(3). Earlier, Auger-Aliassime had partnered American Sock to a 2-6 6-3 10-8 win against Briton Andy Murray and Italian Matteo Berrettini. Tsitsipas had the chance to take the match to a deciding singles match, but Tiafoe showed tremendous guts to save four match points in a gripping second-set tiebreak. The American had the pro-Europe crowd in raptures, and his team mates off their feet, with some extraordinary shot-making in the so-called Laver Breaker. And when Tsitsipas hit the net on match point, Tiafoe collapsed to the court and was immediately buried under a pile of his red-shirted team mates and captain McEnroe. "It's an unbelievable feeling," Tiafoe, who reached the U.S. Open semi-final said on court. "Jonny Mac was dropping F bombs all week saying we need to get it down this year. "It wasn't just me but I showed a lot of heart to get this done. I was getting my ass kicked for a while but I kept going. This is big, we're going to celebrate big tonight." McEnroe was ecstatic at finally getting his hands on the trophy and getting one over old rival Bjorn Borg who was captain of a Team Europe side that were big favourites. "No one beats Team World five times in a row," the American said. "Felix stepped up big time. Also read | I was close to retiring, thought French Open this year might be my last tournament: Rafael Nadal "Frances is prime time, we saw that at the U.S. Open. This is an incredible team event and I'm loving every second of it." It was not the ending Federer had dreamed of in the last event of his 24-year professional career. Apart from playing his last-ever competitive match, he had sat at courtside in every match here, offering his words of wisdom and support to his team mates. "Of course I'm disappointed," 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer told reporters at the end of an emotional weekend. "I was on the team. Almost lost my voice. My hands hurt from clapping. Told Andy (Murray) in the locker room, I don't like losing. It's not fun. "This weekend has been all over the place for me. I enjoyed it, but it's unfortunate that we couldn't get the win tonight." Tiafoe, beaten heavily by Djokovic the previous evening, was making no apologies to Federer for being the pantomime villain. "Absolutely not. I'm not going to apologise to him. He's got a lot to apologise after the last 24 years after beating everybody on the tour," Tiafoe, clutching a beer, said. "But I will say thank you for having me in this amazing event, for what he's done for the game. He's a class act. Happy to know him, happy to call him friend, happy to call him a colleague, and best wishes in his second act." Team World will be aiming to retain their title next year when the event takes place in Vancouver.

Tiafoe steals Federer's spotlight to seal first Laver Cup title for Team World

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Monday that the world economy will be suffering more than what was previously predicted due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Paris-based organisation reduced the 2023 growth forecast for the global economy to 2.2 percent. Earlier in June, it was estimated to be around 2.8 per cent.

"A number of indicators have taken a turn for the worse, and the global growth outlook has darkened," OCED wrote in their report titled "Paying the price of war".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-army-helicopter-crashes-in-balochistan-killing-all-six-on-board-519708">Pak Army helicopter crashes in Balochistan, killing all six on board</a>

The report also said that the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting global economy in a negative way with banks around the world increasing interest rates to control inflation.

Global growth stalled in the second quarter of this year and data in many economies "now point to an extended period of subdued growth", the OECD said according to AFP.

The forecasts for all economies around the world looked quite grim in the report with Britain not expected to make any growth. United States have a growth of just 0.5 per cent next year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-admits-making-mistakes-in-troop-call-up-during-mobilisation-vows-to-fix-issues-519680" hreflang="en">Russia admits making mistakes in troop call-up during mobilisation; vows to fix issues</a>

According to the forecasts, Germany is expected to be the worst-affected country in Europe with chances of recession due to the ongoing energy crisis. The decision taken by Russia to stop gas supply can result in the German economy shrinking by around 0.7 per cent in 2023.

"The effects of the war and the continuing impacts of Covid-19 outbreaks in some parts of the world have dented growth and put additional upward pressure on prices," the OECD said.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Monday that the world economy will be suffering more than what was previously predicted due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Monday that the world economy will be suffering more than what was previously predicted due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Paris-based organisation reduced the 2023 growth forecast for the global economy to 2.2 percent. Earlier in June, it was estimated to be around 2.8 per cent. "A number of indicators have taken a turn for the worse, and the global growth outlook has darkened," OCED wrote in their report titled "Paying the price of war". Also read | Pak Army helicopter crashes in Balochistan, killing all six on board The report also said that the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting global economy in a negative way with banks around the world increasing interest rates to control inflation. Global growth stalled in the second quarter of this year and data in many economies "now point to an extended period of subdued growth", the OECD said according to AFP. The forecasts for all economies around the world looked quite grim in the report with Britain not expected to make any growth. United States have a growth of just 0.5 per cent next year. Also read | Russia admits making mistakes in troop call-up during mobilisation; vows to fix issues According to the forecasts, Germany is expected to be the worst-affected country in Europe with chances of recession due to the ongoing energy crisis. The decision taken by Russia to stop gas supply can result in the German economy shrinking by around 0.7 per cent in 2023. "The effects of the war and the continuing impacts of Covid-19 outbreaks in some parts of the world have dented growth and put additional upward pressure on prices," the OECD said.

OECD cuts 2023 global growth forecast to 2.2 per cent due to Ukraine crisis

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 90-year-old who is considered to be one of the highest-ranking Catholic priests in Asia, is currently on trial along with five others for their role in the operation of a fund for defending people arrested by authorities during anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

The “612 Humanitarian Relief Fund” was set up to take care of the funds needed to defend the pro-democracy activists. However, it was disbanded after the Cardinal was arrested.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-why-state-funeral-of-ex-japan-pm-shinzo-abe-has-resulted-in-protests-519677">IN PICS | Why state funeral of ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe has resulted in protests</a>

The cardinal was arrested earlier this year in accordance with&nbsp;the new security law implemented by the Beijing-backed government. According to media reports, he was accused of “colluding with foreign forces” – an allegation which has attracted a lot of criticism from senior clerics. However, he has not been officially charged with the offence.

The current case states that Cardinal Zen and the five other defendants did not register the fund as a society. If found guilty, they can face a fine of $1283 but no jail time will be given.

The Catholic Church has not officially commented on the arrest yet. German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, however, has criticised the development as he said that they have “abandoned him”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-admits-making-mistakes-in-troop-call-up-during-mobilisation-vows-to-fix-issues-519680" hreflang="en">Russia admits making mistakes in troop call-up during mobilisation; vows to fix issues</a>

“This cardinal will be sacrificed on the altar of reason, to defend and implement the diplomatic agreement with Beijing,” Mueller told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

In the past year, a number of pro-democracy activists have been put on trial in an attempt to quash dissent and a number of experts have hinted that this trial can also be part of the same strategy.

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 90-year-old who is considered to be one of the highest-ranking Catholic priests in Asia, is currently on trial along with five others for their role in the operation of a fund for defending people arrested by authorities during anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 90-year-old who is considered to be one of the highest-ranking Catholic priests in Asia, is currently on trial along with five others for their role in the operation of a fund for defending people arrested by authorities during anti-government protests in Hong Kong. The “612 Humanitarian Relief Fund” was set up to take care of the funds needed to defend the pro-democracy activists. However, it was disbanded after the Cardinal was arrested. Also read | IN PICS | Why state funeral of ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe has resulted in protests The cardinal was arrested earlier this year in accordance with the new security law implemented by the Beijing-backed government. According to media reports, he was accused of “colluding with foreign forces” – an allegation which has attracted a lot of criticism from senior clerics. However, he has not been officially charged with the offence. The current case states that Cardinal Zen and the five other defendants did not register the fund as a society. If found guilty, they can face a fine of $1283 but no jail time will be given. The Catholic Church has not officially commented on the arrest yet. German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, however, has criticised the development as he said that they have “abandoned him”. Also read | Russia admits making mistakes in troop call-up during mobilisation; vows to fix issues “This cardinal will be sacrificed on the altar of reason, to defend and implement the diplomatic agreement with Beijing,” Mueller told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. In the past year, a number of pro-democracy activists have been put on trial in an attempt to quash dissent and a number of experts have hinted that this trial can also be part of the same strategy. (With inputs from agencies)

90-year-old cardinal goes on trial in Hong Kong over operation of protest fund

Cuba is currently voting in a landmark referendum which will decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the country. According to AFP, it will also include legal discourses regarding surrogacy, adoption by same-sex couples and also rights given to non-biological parents in Cuba.

Back in the 1970s, homosexual individuals were sent to military labour camps in Cuba as part of the government’s initiative to punish them. However, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that the referendum will be the “needed revision” of the rules implemented through the 1975 Family Code.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-why-state-funeral-of-ex-japan-pm-shinzo-abe-has-resulted-in-protests-519677">IN PICS | Why state funeral of ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe has resulted in protests</a>

During an interaction with the reporters after casting his vote in capital Havana, Diaz-Canel and his wife said that the referendum "is a fair, necessary, up-to-date, modern norm that gives rights and guarantees to all people, to the full diversity of families, of people and of creeds."

The voting is open for all individuals aged 16 and above in the country. The law will need more than 50 per cent of the votes to be accepted with the country looking to modernise their social system.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-hijab-protests-another-iranian-paramilitary-member-killed-young-woman-shot-dead-519681" hreflang="en">Anti-hijab protests: Another Iranian paramilitary member killed; young woman 'shot dead'</a>

According to the new referendum, marriage will be defined as the “union between two people” rather than “between man and wife”. The other major aspect will be the boost to surrogacy pregnancies which will be completely legal if there is no money involved in the process.

Cuba tried to pass a similar referendum in 2019 but it failed due to criticism from the church. The church leaders have once again urged the people to vote against it.

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Cuba is currently voting in a landmark referendum which will decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the country. According to AFP, it will also include legal discourses regarding surrogacy, adoption by same-sex couples and also rights given to non-biological parents in Cuba.

Cuba is currently voting in a landmark referendum which will decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the country. According to AFP, it will also include legal discourses regarding surrogacy, adoption by same-sex couples and also rights given to non-biological parents in Cuba. Back in the 1970s, homosexual individuals were sent to military labour camps in Cuba as part of the government’s initiative to punish them. However, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that the referendum will be the “needed revision” of the rules implemented through the 1975 Family Code. Also read | IN PICS | Why state funeral of ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe has resulted in protests During an interaction with the reporters after casting his vote in capital Havana, Diaz-Canel and his wife said that the referendum "is a fair, necessary, up-to-date, modern norm that gives rights and guarantees to all people, to the full diversity of families, of people and of creeds." The voting is open for all individuals aged 16 and above in the country. The law will need more than 50 per cent of the votes to be accepted with the country looking to modernise their social system. Also read | Anti-hijab protests: Another Iranian paramilitary member killed; young woman 'shot dead' According to the new referendum, marriage will be defined as the “union between two people” rather than “between man and wife”. The other major aspect will be the boost to surrogacy pregnancies which will be completely legal if there is no money involved in the process. Cuba tried to pass a similar referendum in 2019 but it failed due to criticism from the church. The church leaders have once again urged the people to vote against it. (With inputs from agencies)

Cuba voting on landmark referendum concerning legalisation of same-sex marriage

Tesla CEO Elon Musk will be answering questions from Twitter’s lawyers in the next few days ahead of the trial in October. According to Associated Press, the deposition will take place from Monday to Tuesday, and it can also continue on Wednesday in case of an extension. However, the questions&nbsp;asked ahead of the trial regarding Musk’s proposed takeover of Twitter will not be made public.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/far-right-leader-girogina-meloni-set-to-win-italys-election-exit-polls-519614" hreflang="en">Italy's far-right leader Girogia Meloni set to win election</a>

Twitter decided to file a lawsuit after Musk backed out of the $44 billion takeover citing his concerns over fake users on the social media platform. While Twitter said that the number was somewhere around five per cent, Musk claimed that around 20 per cent users on the platform were bots.

While Musk has confirmed his attendance for the deposition, his team has still not made it clear whether he will be attending in person or through a video link. This will be the final time that both parties speak to one another before the trial officially&nbsp;begins at the Delaware Chancery Court.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-fires-deputy-defence-chief-after-supply-failures-in-ukraine-to-be-replaced-by-butcher-of-mariupol-519501">Putin fires deputy defence minister for supply failures in Ukraine operations</a>

The initial offer from Musk was to buy the Twitter shares at $54.20 each and he even announced that he will be taking the company public. Musk also expressed his wishes to alter the platform’s content rules but after claims over the fake users, he decided to back out of the negotiations.

The trial will decide the future of the takeover as Twitter claimed that Musk needed to follow through on his promise or pay compensation for “affecting the valuation of the company”.

(With inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Tesla CEO Elon Musk will be answering questions from Twitter’s lawyers in the next few days ahead of the trial in October. According to Associated Press, the deposition will take place from Monday to Tuesday, and it can also continue on Wednesday in case of an extension.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk will be answering questions from Twitter’s lawyers in the next few days ahead of the trial in October. According to Associated Press, the deposition will take place from Monday to Tuesday, and it can also continue on Wednesday in case of an extension. However, the questions asked ahead of the trial regarding Musk’s proposed takeover of Twitter will not be made public. Also read | Italy's far-right leader Girogia Meloni set to win election Twitter decided to file a lawsuit after Musk backed out of the $44 billion takeover citing his concerns over fake users on the social media platform. While Twitter said that the number was somewhere around five per cent, Musk claimed that around 20 per cent users on the platform were bots. While Musk has confirmed his attendance for the deposition, his team has still not made it clear whether he will be attending in person or through a video link. This will be the final time that both parties speak to one another before the trial officially begins at the Delaware Chancery Court. Also read | Putin fires deputy defence minister for supply failures in Ukraine operations The initial offer from Musk was to buy the Twitter shares at $54.20 each and he even announced that he will be taking the company public. Musk also expressed his wishes to alter the platform’s content rules but after claims over the fake users, he decided to back out of the negotiations. The trial will decide the future of the takeover as Twitter claimed that Musk needed to follow through on his promise or pay compensation for “affecting the valuation of the company”. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk faces deposition with Twitter's lawyers ahead of trial

Former United States president&nbsp;Donald Trump denied having any knowledge about his supporters starting a riot at the US Capitol Hill on January 6, according to a new book. Trump told New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman that he was not watching the television at that time and as a result, he came to know about the riots and other disturbances much later from members of his staff.

“I didn’t usually have the television on. I’d have it on if there was something. I then later turned it on, and I saw what was happening,” Haberman quoted Trump in the book “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America”, according to The Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-iranians-continue-to-protest-for-the-10th-consecutive-night-violating-judiciarys-warning-519612" hreflang="en">Iranians continue to protest for the 10th consecutive night, violating judiciary's warning</a>

“I had heard that afterward and actually on the late side. I was having meetings. I was also with [then-chief of staff] Mark Meadows and others. I was not watching television.”

The claims made by Trump in his interview with the author are a direct contradiction with his accounts in front of the congressional committee. The former president earlier claimed that he was watching the events unfold on television as the mob attacked the US Capitol Hill in 2021.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-fires-deputy-defence-chief-after-supply-failures-in-ukraine-to-be-replaced-by-butcher-of-mariupol-519501">Putin fires deputy defence minister for supply failures in Ukraine operations</a>

Haberman also claimed in her book that Trump was shaken by the events that unfolded at US Capitol Hill and was aware of the fact that they tarnished his tenure at the White House.

“After the headiness of being at the center of the world’s gaze, his time after the White House made him seem shrunken. He often played golf and then went to his newly built office at the club for meetings with whoever travelled down to seek his approval,” the book claimed.

“He would watch television before going to dinner, where club members would sometimes applaud him, and then it would start all over again the next day, so removed from the daily rhythms of the broader world that he was oblivious to holidays on the calendar and staff had to remind him.”

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Former United States president Donald Trump denied having any knowledge about his supporters starting a riot at the US Capitol Hill on January 6, according to a new book.

Former United States president Donald Trump denied having any knowledge about his supporters starting a riot at the US Capitol Hill on January 6, according to a new book. Trump told New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman that he was not watching the television at that time and as a result, he came to know about the riots and other disturbances much later from members of his staff. “I didn’t usually have the television on. I’d have it on if there was something. I then later turned it on, and I saw what was happening,” Haberman quoted Trump in the book “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America”, according to The Guardian. Also read | Iranians continue to protest for the 10th consecutive night, violating judiciary's warning “I had heard that afterward and actually on the late side. I was having meetings. I was also with [then-chief of staff] Mark Meadows and others. I was not watching television.” The claims made by Trump in his interview with the author are a direct contradiction with his accounts in front of the congressional committee. The former president earlier claimed that he was watching the events unfold on television as the mob attacked the US Capitol Hill in 2021. Also read | Putin fires deputy defence minister for supply failures in Ukraine operations Haberman also claimed in her book that Trump was shaken by the events that unfolded at US Capitol Hill and was aware of the fact that they tarnished his tenure at the White House. “After the headiness of being at the center of the world’s gaze, his time after the White House made him seem shrunken. He often played golf and then went to his newly built office at the club for meetings with whoever travelled down to seek his approval,” the book claimed. “He would watch television before going to dinner, where club members would sometimes applaud him, and then it would start all over again the next day, so removed from the daily rhythms of the broader world that he was oblivious to holidays on the calendar and staff had to remind him.”

Donald Trump claimed 'he was not watching television during Capitol Hill riots', new book says

India on Thursday told the UN Security Council that the need of the hour is to end the conflict in Ukraine and return to dialogue and said the nuclear issue is a particular anxiety, underlining Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion to Russian President Vladimir Putin that this cannot be an era of war.

"The trajectory of the Ukraine conflict is a matter of profound concern for the entire international community. The future outlook appears even more disturbing. The nuclear issue is a particular anxiety," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the 15-nation UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine Fight against impunity'.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/concerned-russians-trying-to-escape-putins-ukraine-war-call-up-to-avoid-conscription-518766">Run to border, search self-harm: How Russians are trying to evade conscription</a>

The briefing, chaired by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, was held Thursday as world leaders gathered in the UN headquarters for the high-level 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

Addressing the Council briefing were UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly and Foreign Ministers of other UNSC members.

Jaishankar told the Council that in a globalised world, the impact of the conflict is being felt even in distant regions. "We have all experienced its consequences in terms of SURGING costs and actual shortages of food grains, fertilizers and fuel."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-presidents-can-declassify-documents-even-by-thinking-about-it-518900" hreflang="en">Donald Trump says presidents can declassify documents 'even by thinking about it'</a>

On this core too, there are good grounds to be worried about what awaits us," he said.

India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

On Wednesday, Jaishankar met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the UN headquarters here and apprised him of India's principled position that emphasises cessation of all hostilities and return to dialogue and diplomacy.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

India on Thursday told the UN Security Council that the need of the hour is to end the conflict in Ukraine and return to dialogue and said the nuclear issue is a particular anxiety, underlining Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion to Russian President Vladimir Putin that this cannot be an era of war.

India on Thursday told the UN Security Council that the need of the hour is to end the conflict in Ukraine and return to dialogue and said the nuclear issue is a particular anxiety, underlining Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion to Russian President Vladimir Putin that this cannot be an era of war. "The trajectory of the Ukraine conflict is a matter of profound concern for the entire international community. The future outlook appears even more disturbing. The nuclear issue is a particular anxiety," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the 15-nation UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine Fight against impunity'. Also read | Run to border, search self-harm: How Russians are trying to evade conscription The briefing, chaired by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, was held Thursday as world leaders gathered in the UN headquarters for the high-level 77th session of the UN General Assembly. Addressing the Council briefing were UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly and Foreign Ministers of other UNSC members. Jaishankar told the Council that in a globalised world, the impact of the conflict is being felt even in distant regions. "We have all experienced its consequences in terms of SURGING costs and actual shortages of food grains, fertilizers and fuel." Also read | Donald Trump says presidents can declassify documents 'even by thinking about it' On this core too, there are good grounds to be worried about what awaits us," he said. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. On Wednesday, Jaishankar met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the UN headquarters here and apprised him of India's principled position that emphasises cessation of all hostilities and return to dialogue and diplomacy.

India strongly calls for immediate end to Ukraine war: S Jaishankar at UNSC

Apple has launched a new update -&nbsp;&nbsp;iOS 16.0.2 - to fix the problems plaguing iPhone 14 in the past few days.&nbsp;Some users experienced uses with their 48-megapixel camera which is not shooting videos or pictures through any third-party application like Twitter or Instagram. According to several media reports, the issue also seemed to be affecting the camera lens as it started shaking in some cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-ukrainian-provinces-all-set-to-hold-referendums-on-joining-russia-518891" hreflang="en">Four Ukrainian provinces all set to hold referendums on joining Russia</a>

It has been a tough couple of days for iPhone 14 owners as they are currently facing a number of issues regarding data migration and authorisation. Apple released the&nbsp;iOS 16.0.1 update in order to address these problems but the company said on Thursday that the complications are not completely solved and currently, the Operating System is facing issues regarding iMessage and FaceTime.&nbsp;

Apple said that “iMessage and FaceTime might not complete activation on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro” in their latest support document and added that even&nbsp;iOS 16.0.1 failed to solve the issues.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-presidents-can-declassify-documents-even-by-thinking-about-it-518900" hreflang="en">Donald Trump says presidents can declassify documents 'even by thinking about it'</a>

According to the document, a number of users were not receiving iMessage or Facetime calls and the name of the recipient is appearing currently on several occasions. In a number of cases, there were some issues regarding the message notification indicators and also the display of the messages.&nbsp;

While the update was touted to be the solution, it has failed to address the problems completely and MacRumors reported that in an internal company memo, Apple has stated that&nbsp;“there are no current official fixes and that support staff should ‘not create a repair [case] for the issue’."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Apple has launched a new update - iOS 16.0.2 - to fix the problems plaguing iPhone 14 in the past few days. Some users experienced uses with their 48-megapixel camera which is not shooting videos or pictures through any third-party application like Twitter or Instagram.

Apple has launched a new update - iOS 16.0.2 - to fix the problems plaguing iPhone 14 in the past few days. Some users experienced uses with their 48-megapixel camera which is not shooting videos or pictures through any third-party application like Twitter or Instagram. According to several media reports, the issue also seemed to be affecting the camera lens as it started shaking in some cases. Also read | Four Ukrainian provinces all set to hold referendums on joining Russia It has been a tough couple of days for iPhone 14 owners as they are currently facing a number of issues regarding data migration and authorisation. Apple released the iOS 16.0.1 update in order to address these problems but the company said on Thursday that the complications are not completely solved and currently, the Operating System is facing issues regarding iMessage and FaceTime. Apple said that “iMessage and FaceTime might not complete activation on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro” in their latest support document and added that even iOS 16.0.1 failed to solve the issues. Also read | Donald Trump says presidents can declassify documents 'even by thinking about it' According to the document, a number of users were not receiving iMessage or Facetime calls and the name of the recipient is appearing currently on several occasions. In a number of cases, there were some issues regarding the message notification indicators and also the display of the messages. While the update was touted to be the solution, it has failed to address the problems completely and MacRumors reported that in an internal company memo, Apple has stated that “there are no current official fixes and that support staff should ‘not create a repair [case] for the issue’."

Apple issues latest iPhone 14 update to fix shaking camera and authorisation problems

Four regions of Ukraine are all set to hold referendums on Friday on joining Russia amid the ongoing crisis. The provinces - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – are currently under Russian control. In other news, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) foreign ministers' meeting hosted by South Africa in New York on Thursday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-ukrainian-provinces-all-set-to-hold-referendums-on-joining-russia-518891">Four Ukrainian provinces all set to hold referendums on joining Russia&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Ukraine" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cc37c793-80bc-4511-9192-93802f0d53d4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_32JB6AW.jpg" />

The Ukrainian authorities have already made it clear that they will not accept or recognise the results of the referendums and this can lead to an escalation in the conflict. A majority of western countries have also condemned Russia for this move at the United Nations General Assembly.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-external-affairs-minister-s-jaishankar-attends-brics-ministerial-meet-on-sidelines-of-unga-518899">Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attends BRICS ministerial meet on sidelines of UNGA&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="BRICS" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="759cbb07-ca16-4bb7-b335-9867fb0e789e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/db8b970c-4488-4a00-826b-4786eaab6c93.jpg" />

Jaishankar has planned for more than 50 meetings on the sidelines of UNGA but no bilateral meetings have been planned with China. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar took a veiled dig at China over it putting on hold the blacklisting of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, Sajid Mir as a "global terrorist".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-presidents-can-declassify-documents-even-by-thinking-about-it-518900">Donald Trump says presidents can declassify documents 'even by thinking about it'&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="76a4e38e-0dac-48c0-bf85-c58ef9241def" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/280066-new-wion-19.jpg" />

Former United States President Donald Trump has claimed that “presidents can declassify documents by the power of thought alone”. During an interview with FOX News, Trump said that the decision completely lies with the president and as a result, the documents found by the FBI at the Mar-a-Lago residence during their raid on August 8 were not dependent on any process to be “declassified”.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-memo-says-pakistan-should-suspend-debt-repayments-following-devastating-floods-reports-518889">UN memo says Pakistan should suspend debt repayments following devastating floods: Reports&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Pakistan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c587fb83-5dbd-44e0-ba4a-4c527aa1b3be" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/298111-2022-09-19t022031z1lynxmpei8i01hrtroptp4pakistan-weather-floods.jpg" />

The UN Development Programme will share the memorandum with Pakistan's government this week. It further stated that the country's creditors should consider debt relief so that policymakers can prioritise financing its disaster response over loan repayment, the newspaper said.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Ancient shipwreck loaded with cargo from all over Mediterranean found off the shore of Israel

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ancient-shipwreck-loaded-with-cargo-from-all-over-mediterranean-found-off-the-shore-of-israel-518895/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Four regions of Ukraine are all set to hold referendums on Friday on joining Russia amid the ongoing crisis. The provinces - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – are currently under Russian control.

Four regions of Ukraine are all set to hold referendums on Friday on joining Russia amid the ongoing crisis. The provinces - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – are currently under Russian control. In other news, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) foreign ministers' meeting hosted by South Africa in New York on Thursday. Four Ukrainian provinces all set to hold referendums on joining Russia The Ukrainian authorities have already made it clear that they will not accept or recognise the results of the referendums and this can lead to an escalation in the conflict. A majority of western countries have also condemned Russia for this move at the United Nations General Assembly. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attends BRICS ministerial meet on sidelines of UNGA Jaishankar has planned for more than 50 meetings on the sidelines of UNGA but no bilateral meetings have been planned with China. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar took a veiled dig at China over it putting on hold the blacklisting of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, Sajid Mir as a "global terrorist". Donald Trump says presidents can declassify documents 'even by thinking about it' Former United States President Donald Trump has claimed that “presidents can declassify documents by the power of thought alone”. During an interview with FOX News, Trump said that the decision completely lies with the president and as a result, the documents found by the FBI at the Mar-a-Lago residence during their raid on August 8 were not dependent on any process to be “declassified”. UN memo says Pakistan should suspend debt repayments following devastating floods: Reports The UN Development Programme will share the memorandum with Pakistan's government this week. It further stated that the country's creditors should consider debt relief so that policymakers can prioritise financing its disaster response over loan repayment, the newspaper said. WATCH | Ancient shipwreck loaded with cargo from all over Mediterranean found off the shore of Israel

Morning news brief: Four Ukrainian provinces to hold referendums, Jaishankar attends BRICS meet, and more

Former United States president Donald Trump has claimed that “presidents can declassify documents by the power of thought alone”. During an interview with FOX News, Trump said that the decision completely lies with the president and as a result, the documents found by the FBI at the Mar-a-Lago residence during their raid on August 8 were not dependent on any process to be “declassified”.&nbsp;

“Different people say different things but as I understand it, if you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying it’s declassified, even by thinking about it.”&nbsp;

“Because you’re sending it to Mar-a-Lago or wherever you’re sending it. There doesn’t have to be a process. There can be a process, but there doesn’t have to be.”&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-ukrainian-provinces-all-set-to-hold-referendums-on-joining-russia-518891" hreflang="en">Four Ukrainian provinces all set to hold referendums on joining Russia</a>

“You’re the president – you make that decision,” he said in the interview.&nbsp;

Meanwhile the court-appointed special master – Raymond Dearie –&nbsp;has asked Trump’s lawyers to provide proof regarding the former president’s claims that the FBI planted the classified documents.&nbsp;

Dearie, a senior federal judge, was given the responsibility by the court to examine the recovered documents to decide whether they should be kept classified.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-memo-says-pakistan-should-suspend-debt-repayments-following-devastating-floods-reports-518889">UN memo says Pakistan should suspend debt repayments: Reports</a>

According to the affidavit submitted by the Department of Justice, the raid was conducted after witnesses confirmed that the Florida residence housed a number of classified documents from the time when Trump was president. They also said that the documents may contain proof of “obstruction of justice”.&nbsp;

However, Trump completely denied any wrongdoing despite the FBI finding more than 100 classified documents during the raid and said that he was being framed by the authorities.&nbsp; 
 
On the other hand, the DOJ was also instructed by Dearie to provide a complete inventory of materials that were recovered during the raid. Trump’s lawyers will be reviewing the list.&nbsp;

"This submission shall be plaintiff's (Trump's) final opportunity to raise any factual dispute as to the completeness and accuracy of the Detailed Property Inventory," he said.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Former United States president Donald Trump has claimed that “presidents can declassify documents by the power of thought alone”. During an interview with FOX News, Trump said that the decision completely lies with the president and as a result, the documents found by the FBI at the Mar-a-Lago residence during their raid on August 8 were not dependent on any process to be “declassified”.

Former United States president Donald Trump has claimed that “presidents can declassify documents by the power of thought alone”. During an interview with FOX News, Trump said that the decision completely lies with the president and as a result, the documents found by the FBI at the Mar-a-Lago residence during their raid on August 8 were not dependent on any process to be “declassified”. “Different people say different things but as I understand it, if you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying it’s declassified, even by thinking about it.” “Because you’re sending it to Mar-a-Lago or wherever you’re sending it. There doesn’t have to be a process. There can be a process, but there doesn’t have to be.” Also read | Four Ukrainian provinces all set to hold referendums on joining Russia “You’re the president – you make that decision,” he said in the interview. Meanwhile the court-appointed special master – Raymond Dearie – has asked Trump’s lawyers to provide proof regarding the former president’s claims that the FBI planted the classified documents. Dearie, a senior federal judge, was given the responsibility by the court to examine the recovered documents to decide whether they should be kept classified. Also read | UN memo says Pakistan should suspend debt repayments: Reports According to the affidavit submitted by the Department of Justice, the raid was conducted after witnesses confirmed that the Florida residence housed a number of classified documents from the time when Trump was president. They also said that the documents may contain proof of “obstruction of justice”. However, Trump completely denied any wrongdoing despite the FBI finding more than 100 classified documents during the raid and said that he was being framed by the authorities. On the other hand, the DOJ was also instructed by Dearie to provide a complete inventory of materials that were recovered during the raid. Trump’s lawyers will be reviewing the list. "This submission shall be plaintiff's (Trump's) final opportunity to raise any factual dispute as to the completeness and accuracy of the Detailed Property Inventory," he said.

Donald Trump says presidents can declassify document 'even by thinking about it'

Tesla has decided to recall almost 1.1 million cars in the United States because of a problem with their window. In a number of cases which were reported in the last few months, the window was closing too quickly and as a result, a number of people were injured as their fingers got stuck in the process.&nbsp;

According to the documents presented by the authorities, the problem was attributed to the fact that the reaction of the windows to any kind of obstruction is resulting in the software accelerating the process. In response, Tesla has said that it&nbsp;will soon launch a system update for the cars.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-presidents-can-declassify-documents-even-by-thinking-about-it-518900" hreflang="en">Donald Trump says presidents can declassify documents 'even by thinking about it'</a>

According to AFP, Tesla found out about the issue during their production testing in August this year. &nbsp;

The company also said that the new update is already there in cars made after September 13.&nbsp;

However, the damage was already done for the existing cars as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that it was a “safety-standards violation” which needs to be addressed.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-ukrainian-provinces-all-set-to-hold-referendums-on-joining-russia-518891" hreflang="en">Four captured Ukrainian provinces to hold referendums on joining Russia</a>

Tesla CEO Elon Musk was not happy with the development and criticised the use of the word “recall”.&nbsp;

"The terminology is outdated &amp; inaccurate. This is a tiny over-the-air software update. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no injuries," Musk tweeted in the aftermath of the announcement.&nbsp;

The latest recalls will include all Tesla models - 017-22 Model 3 sedans, 2020-21 Model Y SUVs (sports utility vehicles), Model S sedans and Model X SUVs, according to a report on BBC.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Tesla has decided to recall almost 1.1 million cars in the United States because of a problem with their window. In a number of cases which were reported in the last few months, the window was closing too quickly and as a result, a number of people were injured as their fingers got stuck in the process.

Tesla has decided to recall almost 1.1 million cars in the United States because of a problem with their window. In a number of cases which were reported in the last few months, the window was closing too quickly and as a result, a number of people were injured as their fingers got stuck in the process. According to the documents presented by the authorities, the problem was attributed to the fact that the reaction of the windows to any kind of obstruction is resulting in the software accelerating the process. In response, Tesla has said that it will soon launch a system update for the cars. Also read | Donald Trump says presidents can declassify documents 'even by thinking about it' According to AFP, Tesla found out about the issue during their production testing in August this year. The company also said that the new update is already there in cars made after September 13. However, the damage was already done for the existing cars as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that it was a “safety-standards violation” which needs to be addressed. Also read | Four captured Ukrainian provinces to hold referendums on joining Russia Tesla CEO Elon Musk was not happy with the development and criticised the use of the word “recall”. "The terminology is outdated & inaccurate. This is a tiny over-the-air software update. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no injuries," Musk tweeted in the aftermath of the announcement. The latest recalls will include all Tesla models - 017-22 Model 3 sedans, 2020-21 Model Y SUVs (sports utility vehicles), Model S sedans and Model X SUVs, according to a report on BBC.

Tesla recalls nearly 1.1 million vehicles in US over power window issues

The Unification Church in Japan pledged Thursday to prevent followers from making "excessive" donations, after criticism of its practices following the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe's alleged assassin is believed to have resented the sect over massive donations his mother made to the church, leaving the family bankrupt.

He reportedly targeted Abe believing he was linked to the church, whose followers are sometimes known colloquially as "Moonies".

The group has denied any wrongdoing and disavowed Abe's murder, but church executive Hideyuki Teshigawara said it would now "take into consideration the financial situation of followers and ensure that donations are not excessive".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-issues-latest-iphone-14-update-to-fix-shaking-camera-and-authorisation-problems-518936" hreflang="en">Apple issues latest iPhone 14 update to fix shaking camera and authorisation problems</a>

The church will "respect the independence and free will of followers" on donations, Teshigawara, who heads the group's new reform committee, told reporters.

The group says it took measures to regulate donations in 2009, but will now bolster them.

The announcement comes after a wave of accusations about the church's practices, including from former members who say they were pressured into making enormous donations under the guise of "spiritual sales".

The mother of the man accused of killing Abe donated around 100 million yen (then around $1 million) to the church, according to a relative.

Japan's National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales says it has filed suits seeking 123.7 billion yen ($850 million) in damages for former followers since 1987.

The church, however, says just four civil lawsuits were filed since 2009 and they have all been settled, for a total of 38 million yen.

Experts say Japan serves as a financial hub for the church, which is known officially as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification and was founded by Sun Myung Moon in Korea in 1954.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-memo-says-pakistan-should-suspend-debt-repayments-following-devastating-floods-reports-518889">UN memo says Pakistan should suspend debt repayments: Reports</a>

Japanese believers are taught that they need to atone for their country's wartime occupation of Korea, in part through hefty donations, according to former members and experts.

Teshigawara said the church would review the use of money raised in Japan for missionary work overseas and would look to use the funds to support domestic efforts instead.

Anyone found violating the church's policies would be "strictly punished", he added.

The reforms are unlikely to dissipate the widening controversy over the church, particularly after the revelation that it had links with around half the ruling party's lawmakers.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has seen his government's approval ratings slip over the issue, has pledged his party will cut ties with the church.

He faces additional controversy over a planned state funeral for Abe on September 27, with polls showing more than half of Japanese people oppose the event.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The Unification Church in Japan pledged Thursday to prevent followers from making "excessive" donations, after criticism of its practices following the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

The Unification Church in Japan pledged Thursday to prevent followers from making "excessive" donations, after criticism of its practices following the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe. Abe's alleged assassin is believed to have resented the sect over massive donations his mother made to the church, leaving the family bankrupt. He reportedly targeted Abe believing he was linked to the church, whose followers are sometimes known colloquially as "Moonies". The group has denied any wrongdoing and disavowed Abe's murder, but church executive Hideyuki Teshigawara said it would now "take into consideration the financial situation of followers and ensure that donations are not excessive". Also read | Apple issues latest iPhone 14 update to fix shaking camera and authorisation problems The church will "respect the independence and free will of followers" on donations, Teshigawara, who heads the group's new reform committee, told reporters. The group says it took measures to regulate donations in 2009, but will now bolster them. The announcement comes after a wave of accusations about the church's practices, including from former members who say they were pressured into making enormous donations under the guise of "spiritual sales". The mother of the man accused of killing Abe donated around 100 million yen (then around $1 million) to the church, according to a relative. Japan's National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales says it has filed suits seeking 123.7 billion yen ($850 million) in damages for former followers since 1987. The church, however, says just four civil lawsuits were filed since 2009 and they have all been settled, for a total of 38 million yen. Experts say Japan serves as a financial hub for the church, which is known officially as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification and was founded by Sun Myung Moon in Korea in 1954. Also read | UN memo says Pakistan should suspend debt repayments: Reports Japanese believers are taught that they need to atone for their country's wartime occupation of Korea, in part through hefty donations, according to former members and experts. Teshigawara said the church would review the use of money raised in Japan for missionary work overseas and would look to use the funds to support domestic efforts instead. Anyone found violating the church's policies would be "strictly punished", he added. The reforms are unlikely to dissipate the widening controversy over the church, particularly after the revelation that it had links with around half the ruling party's lawmakers. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has seen his government's approval ratings slip over the issue, has pledged his party will cut ties with the church. He faces additional controversy over a planned state funeral for Abe on September 27, with polls showing more than half of Japanese people oppose the event.

Unification Church in Japan pledges donation reforms after Shinzo Abe’s assassination

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Sayan Ghosh

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.