At least six footballers in Pakistan have been kidnapped by some unidentified people on Saturday (September 9) in the southwestern province of Balochistan.&nbsp;

Local officials said that the players were on their way to Sibi from Dera Bugti district when they were abducted. The officials have identified five of the six players as Aamir Bugti, Faisal Bugti, Sohail Bugti, Yasar Bugti and Sheraz Bugti.&nbsp;

As quoted by DAWN newspaper, Dera Bugti's deputy commissioner said: "The players were residents of Dera Bugti and Sui. They were going to Sibi to take part in the qualifying round of the All Pakistan Chief Minister Gold Cup football tournament."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistani-police-recover-five-children-from-sara-sharifs-grandfathers-house-635057">Pakistani police recover five children from Sara Sharif’s grandfather’s house</a>&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Jan Achakzai, who is the interim provincial information minister, told Al Jazeera: "All efforts are being utilised to recover the abducted sportsmen and law enforcement officials have already launched a search operation in the area and we are expecting a major breakthrough in the next 24 hours."&nbsp;

Responding to the current situation, the caretaker interior minister Sarfraz Bugti said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that paramilitary forces have been deployed to conduct an operation to find the players.&nbsp;

He wrote: "FC Balochistan (North) is tirelessly striving to bring back the abducted football players from #DeraBugti. Your prayers are needed. Hoping for safe recovery. InshAllah."&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-breaks-silence-g20-says-delhi-declaration-sent-positive-signal-635008">China breaks silence on G20, says Delhi Declaration sent 'positive signal'</a>&nbsp;

In a statement late Sunday,&nbsp;Sarfraz Bugti said "the entire area has been cordoned off" and "all available resources are being utilised for the recovery of the hostages".&nbsp;

He alleged that the abductors belonged to the Baloch Republican Army, a militant group fighting for greater autonomy of&nbsp;Balochistan.

"This is a very serious thing that our six kids are in the custody of terrorists," he said.

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6 football players have been abducted near Kachi Canal area of district Dera Bugti, Balochistan. The players were heading toward Sibi when armed men kidnapped them. District administration confirmed.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakArmy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakistanArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakistanArmy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Balochistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Balochistan</a>
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Watch:&nbsp;Bangladesh's dengue hospitalisation tops 1.5 lakh this year&nbsp;

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According to the official sources cited by DAWN, armed men intercepted the vehicles in which the players were travelling and took the footballers away at gunpoint.&nbsp;

Mir Zubair Ahmed Jamali, who is the caretaker home minister of Balochistan, said the security forces were sent to the area to launch a search and recover the footballers.&nbsp;

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the abductions, but such incidents have been happening for quite some time in Balochistan as the region has been a hotbed of an armed struggle led by nationalist separatists.&nbsp;

As reported by Al Jazeera, families of the players have said that the players were part of a group of 16 to 18 footballers who left on Saturday morning to travel to the town of Sibbi.&nbsp;

"Our family is profoundly shaken," Zakir Hussain, father of 20-year-old player Aamir Hussain, told AFP.

"We have not received any communication from him since he was kidnapped and the abductors have not made contact with us. While he is an exceptional footballer, he is also innocent. Playing football is not a crime,"&nbsp;he added.&nbsp;

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At least six footballers in Pakistan have been kidnapped by some unidentified people on Saturday (September 9) in the southwestern province of Balochistan. Local officials said that the players were on their way to Sibi from Dera Bugti district when they were abducted.

At least six footballers in Pakistan have been kidnapped by some unidentified people on Saturday (September 9) in the southwestern province of Balochistan. Local officials said that the players were on their way to Sibi from Dera Bugti district when they were abducted. The officials have identified five of the six players as Aamir Bugti, Faisal Bugti, Sohail Bugti, Yasar Bugti and Sheraz Bugti. As quoted by DAWN newspaper, Dera Bugti's deputy commissioner said: "The players were residents of Dera Bugti and Sui. They were going to Sibi to take part in the qualifying round of the All Pakistan Chief Minister Gold Cup football tournament." Also read: Pakistani police recover five children from Sara Sharif’s grandfather’s house Meanwhile, Jan Achakzai, who is the interim provincial information minister, told Al Jazeera: "All efforts are being utilised to recover the abducted sportsmen and law enforcement officials have already launched a search operation in the area and we are expecting a major breakthrough in the next 24 hours." Responding to the current situation, the caretaker interior minister Sarfraz Bugti said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that paramilitary forces have been deployed to conduct an operation to find the players. He wrote: "FC Balochistan (North) is tirelessly striving to bring back the abducted football players from #DeraBugti. Your prayers are needed. Hoping for safe recovery. InshAllah." Also read: China breaks silence on G20, says Delhi Declaration sent 'positive signal' In a statement late Sunday, Sarfraz Bugti said "the entire area has been cordoned off" and "all available resources are being utilised for the recovery of the hostages". He alleged that the abductors belonged to the Baloch Republican Army, a militant group fighting for greater autonomy of Balochistan. "This is a very serious thing that our six kids are in the custody of terrorists," he said. 6 football players have been abducted near Kachi Canal area of district Dera Bugti, Balochistan. The players were heading toward Sibi when armed men kidnapped them. District administration confirmed.#PakArmy #Pakistan #PakistanArmy #Balochistan — Peoples Eye (@eye_peoples) September 9, 2023 × Watch: Bangladesh's dengue hospitalisation tops 1.5 lakh this year × According to the official sources cited by DAWN, armed men intercepted the vehicles in which the players were travelling and took the footballers away at gunpoint. Mir Zubair Ahmed Jamali, who is the caretaker home minister of Balochistan, said the security forces were sent to the area to launch a search and recover the footballers. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the abductions, but such incidents have been happening for quite some time in Balochistan as the region has been a hotbed of an armed struggle led by nationalist separatists. As reported by Al Jazeera, families of the players have said that the players were part of a group of 16 to 18 footballers who left on Saturday morning to travel to the town of Sibbi. "Our family is profoundly shaken," Zakir Hussain, father of 20-year-old player Aamir Hussain, told AFP. "We have not received any communication from him since he was kidnapped and the abductors have not made contact with us. While he is an exceptional footballer, he is also innocent. Playing football is not a crime," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan: Football players kidnapped in Balochistan, rescue mission underway

A new, rather alarming, record has been set by the United States, for the number of weather-related disasters in a year that cost millions of dollars. These disasters included the Hawaii fires in August, flooding in California in the spring, and Hurricane Idalia which devastated Florida last month.&nbsp;

Official data showed on Monday (September 11) that so far, the US was struck by a record-breaking 23 weather and climate disasters between January and August and the losses exceeded $1 billion in each case.&nbsp;

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in its report that the tally for 2023 has already exceeded the previous record of 22 such events in 2020. Notably, four months remain in the year.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libya-floods-quarter-of-derna-wiped-out-around-10000-feared-missing-635258">Nearly 10,000 people feared missing, quarter of Derna city wiped out in&nbsp;Libya floods</a>&nbsp;

NOAA said that together, the disasters "caused 253 direct and indirect fatalities and produced more than $57.6 billion in damages".&nbsp;

It added that two more potential billion-dollar events, Tropical Storm Hilary on the West Coast and the drought affecting the South and Midwest, are currently being investigated.&nbsp;

As quoted by the news agency AFP, Rachel Cleetus, who is the policy director of the climate and energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said: "These record-breaking numbers, during a year that is on track to be one of the hottest ever, are sobering and the latest confirmation of a worsening trend in costly disasters, many of which bear the undeniable fingerprints of climate change."&nbsp;

NOAA began tracking these events in 1980, and since then, the US has sustained 371 billion-dollar events (adjusted for inflation). The annual average between 2018-2022 has been 18.0 events, compared to 8.1 events between 1980-2022.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/science-explains-why-moroccos-sky-was-mysteriously-lit-up-minutes-before-earthquake-635262">Science explains why Morocco's sky was mysteriously lit up minutes before earthquake</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;US FDA approves updated Covid-19 booster shots&nbsp;

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The report said that the 23 events included 18 severe weather events, two flooding events, one tropical cyclone (Hurricane Idalia), one wildfire event, and one winter storm event.&nbsp;

According to the report, these events caused 253 direct and indirect fatalities and produced more than $57.6 billion in damages (Consumer Price Index (CPI)-adjusted).&nbsp;

According to NOAA, the number and cost of disasters have increased over time and multiple factors, including climate change, construction, etc, are behind the increase.&nbsp;

NOAA said: "Vulnerability is especially high where building codes are insufficient for reducing damage from extreme events. Climate change is also playing a role in the increasing frequency of some types of extreme weather that lead to billion-dollar disasters— most notably the rise in vulnerability to drought, lengthening wildfire seasons in the Western states, and the potential for extremely heavy rainfall becoming more common in the eastern states."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A new, rather alarming, record has been set by the United States, for the number of weather-related disasters in a year that cost millions of dollars. These disasters included the Hawaii fires in August, flooding in California in the spring, and Hurricane Idalia which devastated Florida last month.

A new, rather alarming, record has been set by the United States, for the number of weather-related disasters in a year that cost millions of dollars. These disasters included the Hawaii fires in August, flooding in California in the spring, and Hurricane Idalia which devastated Florida last month. Official data showed on Monday (September 11) that so far, the US was struck by a record-breaking 23 weather and climate disasters between January and August and the losses exceeded $1 billion in each case. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in its report that the tally for 2023 has already exceeded the previous record of 22 such events in 2020. Notably, four months remain in the year. Also read: Nearly 10,000 people feared missing, quarter of Derna city wiped out in Libya floods NOAA said that together, the disasters "caused 253 direct and indirect fatalities and produced more than $57.6 billion in damages". It added that two more potential billion-dollar events, Tropical Storm Hilary on the West Coast and the drought affecting the South and Midwest, are currently being investigated. As quoted by the news agency AFP, Rachel Cleetus, who is the policy director of the climate and energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said: "These record-breaking numbers, during a year that is on track to be one of the hottest ever, are sobering and the latest confirmation of a worsening trend in costly disasters, many of which bear the undeniable fingerprints of climate change." NOAA began tracking these events in 1980, and since then, the US has sustained 371 billion-dollar events (adjusted for inflation). The annual average between 2018-2022 has been 18.0 events, compared to 8.1 events between 1980-2022. Also read: Science explains why Morocco's sky was mysteriously lit up minutes before earthquake Watch: US FDA approves updated Covid-19 booster shots × The report said that the 23 events included 18 severe weather events, two flooding events, one tropical cyclone (Hurricane Idalia), one wildfire event, and one winter storm event. According to the report, these events caused 253 direct and indirect fatalities and produced more than $57.6 billion in damages (Consumer Price Index (CPI)-adjusted). According to NOAA, the number and cost of disasters have increased over time and multiple factors, including climate change, construction, etc, are behind the increase. NOAA said: "Vulnerability is especially high where building codes are insufficient for reducing damage from extreme events. Climate change is also playing a role in the increasing frequency of some types of extreme weather that lead to billion-dollar disasters— most notably the rise in vulnerability to drought, lengthening wildfire seasons in the Western states, and the potential for extremely heavy rainfall becoming more common in the eastern states." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US hit by record number of billion-dollar disasters between January and August of 2023

A Russian passenger Airbus A320, with a total of 170 people including 23 children made an emergency landing in a field of the Novosibirsk region on Tuesday (September 12).&nbsp;

The officials said that the domestic carrier Ural Airlines plane was flying from the Black Sea resort of Sochi to the Siberian city of Omsk.&nbsp;

The local authorities have said that one of the plane's hydraulic systems failed. At least five people were injured, and the investigators are working on the scene.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-west-sending-f-16s-to-ukraine-will-only-prolong-conflict-635294">Putin says West sending F-16s to Ukraine will 'only prolong conflict'</a>&nbsp;

In footage released by the Russian emergency ministry, rescue workers and investigators were seen standing next to the aircraft after the emergency landing in a wheat field.&nbsp;

The footage showed that the plane was next to a forest, the slides were out and people stood on the field.&nbsp;

Russia's aviation agency Rosaviatsia said that "at 05:44 Moscow time (0244 GMT) an unscheduled landing of a Ural Airlines A320 plane flying along the Sochi-Omsk route, was successfully carried out".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-brands-trumps-legal-battles-as-political-witch-hunt-as-us-russia-tensions-escalate-635278">Putin calls Trump's legal battles a political witch hunt as US-Russia tensions escalate</a>&nbsp;

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Ural Airlines A320 makes emergency landing in a field near Kamenka, Novosibirsk region, Siberia. All passengers and crew evacuated safely. <a href="https://t.co/MySDrPiDNi">pic.twitter.com/MySDrPiDNi</a>
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It further added that the landing took place "on a site selected from the air" near the village of Kamenka in Siberia's Novosibirsk region.&nbsp;

"All passengers are housed in the nearest village," the agency said, adding that none of them sought medical help.&nbsp;

Sergei Skuratov, the head of Ural Airlines, told reporters that one of the plane's hydraulic systems failed as the airliner was approaching Omsk.&nbsp;

The Investigative Committee, which probes serious cases, opened a criminal case into the violation of air traffic safety rules.&nbsp;

According to the investigators, the aircraft made the emergency landing "for a technical reason".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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A Russian passenger Airbus A320, with a total of 170 people including 23 children made an emergency landing in a field of the Novosibirsk region on Tuesday (September 12).

A Russian passenger Airbus A320, with a total of 170 people including 23 children made an emergency landing in a field of the Novosibirsk region on Tuesday (September 12). The officials said that the domestic carrier Ural Airlines plane was flying from the Black Sea resort of Sochi to the Siberian city of Omsk. The local authorities have said that one of the plane's hydraulic systems failed. At least five people were injured, and the investigators are working on the scene. Also read: Putin says West sending F-16s to Ukraine will 'only prolong conflict' In footage released by the Russian emergency ministry, rescue workers and investigators were seen standing next to the aircraft after the emergency landing in a wheat field. The footage showed that the plane was next to a forest, the slides were out and people stood on the field. Russia's aviation agency Rosaviatsia said that "at 05:44 Moscow time (0244 GMT) an unscheduled landing of a Ural Airlines A320 plane flying along the Sochi-Omsk route, was successfully carried out". Also read: Putin calls Trump's legal battles a political witch hunt as US-Russia tensions escalate Watch this video: Ural Airlines A320 makes emergency landing in a field near Kamenka, Novosibirsk region, Siberia. All passengers and crew evacuated safely. pic.twitter.com/MySDrPiDNi — Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) September 12, 2023 × It further added that the landing took place "on a site selected from the air" near the village of Kamenka in Siberia's Novosibirsk region. "All passengers are housed in the nearest village," the agency said, adding that none of them sought medical help. Sergei Skuratov, the head of Ural Airlines, told reporters that one of the plane's hydraulic systems failed as the airliner was approaching Omsk. The Investigative Committee, which probes serious cases, opened a criminal case into the violation of air traffic safety rules. According to the investigators, the aircraft made the emergency landing "for a technical reason". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Video: Russian passenger plane, with 167 on board, makes emergency landing in Siberian field

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (September 12) slammed the West's plans of sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, stating that the move would only "prolong conflict".&nbsp;

At an economic forum in Russia's Far East, Putin said: "They are going to deliver F-16s. Will this change anything? I don't think so. It will just prolong the conflict."&nbsp;

The US recently approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to defend against Russian invaders as soon as pilot training is completed.&nbsp;

This came after Kyiv's consistent plea to provide the war-ravaged nation with F-16s to fend off Russia's aggression amid the ongoing war, which started last year on February 24.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-brands-trumps-legal-battles-as-political-witch-hunt-as-us-russia-tensions-escalate-635278">Putin calls Trump's legal battles a political witch hunt as US-Russia tensions escalate</a>&nbsp;

Previously, Russia has called for the supply of these advanced jets will lead to acceleration. In July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow would regard Western F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine as a "nuclear" threat because of their capacity to carry atomic weapons.&nbsp;

The Russian president also denounced Washington for sending Kyiv controversial cluster munitions, which triggered criticism from Brussels.&nbsp;

He said, "Not long ago, the US administration believed that the use of cluster munitions is a war crime. Now, they themselves are supplying cluster munitions to combat areas in Ukraine."&nbsp;

Cluster munitions have been controversial in terms of the Russia-Ukraine war as they can disperse up to several hundred small explosive charges, which can remain unexploded in the ground. Ukraine has relied on Western weaponry to launch and lead its counteroffensive against Russian forces.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-scratch-my-back-i-scratch-yours-whats-the-new-interdependent-kim-putin-dynamic-635224">You scratch my back, I scratch yours: What's the new interdependent Kim-Putin dynamic?</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch: Kim Jong-un in Russia -&nbsp;Putin set to meet Kim in Russia's far east&nbsp;

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At the economic forum, Putin also said that the Russian army has added over half a million people in the last year, including both drafted and volunteer fighters, to fight in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Kremlin hasn't announced a second draft as the first wave of mobilisation last year triggered a wave of emigration. But Russia pursued a campaign to recruit volunteers.&nbsp;

"We had a partial mobilisation... We called up 300,000 people. Now, in the last six-seven months, 270,000 people have voluntarily signed contracts to serve in the Russian army," Putin said, further adding that the "process continues, with 1,000-1,500 people coming every day to sign contracts".&nbsp;

On being asked about whether Russia will introduce another mobilisation wave, he did not outright deny the possibility, but said that "our men, knowing what awaits them on the front, still go for this consciously and voluntarily to defend the motherland".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (September 12) slammed the West's plans of sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, stating that the move would only "prolong conflict".

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (September 12) slammed the West's plans of sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, stating that the move would only "prolong conflict". At an economic forum in Russia's Far East, Putin said: "They are going to deliver F-16s. Will this change anything? I don't think so. It will just prolong the conflict." The US recently approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to defend against Russian invaders as soon as pilot training is completed. This came after Kyiv's consistent plea to provide the war-ravaged nation with F-16s to fend off Russia's aggression amid the ongoing war, which started last year on February 24. Also read: Putin calls Trump's legal battles a political witch hunt as US-Russia tensions escalate Previously, Russia has called for the supply of these advanced jets will lead to acceleration. In July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow would regard Western F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine as a "nuclear" threat because of their capacity to carry atomic weapons. The Russian president also denounced Washington for sending Kyiv controversial cluster munitions, which triggered criticism from Brussels. He said, "Not long ago, the US administration believed that the use of cluster munitions is a war crime. Now, they themselves are supplying cluster munitions to combat areas in Ukraine." Cluster munitions have been controversial in terms of the Russia-Ukraine war as they can disperse up to several hundred small explosive charges, which can remain unexploded in the ground. Ukraine has relied on Western weaponry to launch and lead its counteroffensive against Russian forces. Also read: You scratch my back, I scratch yours: What's the new interdependent Kim-Putin dynamic? Watch: Kim Jong-un in Russia - Putin set to meet Kim in Russia's far east × At the economic forum, Putin also said that the Russian army has added over half a million people in the last year, including both drafted and volunteer fighters, to fight in Ukraine. Kremlin hasn't announced a second draft as the first wave of mobilisation last year triggered a wave of emigration. But Russia pursued a campaign to recruit volunteers. "We had a partial mobilisation... We called up 300,000 people. Now, in the last six-seven months, 270,000 people have voluntarily signed contracts to serve in the Russian army," Putin said, further adding that the "process continues, with 1,000-1,500 people coming every day to sign contracts". On being asked about whether Russia will introduce another mobilisation wave, he did not outright deny the possibility, but said that "our men, knowing what awaits them on the front, still go for this consciously and voluntarily to defend the motherland". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Putin says West sending F-16s to Ukraine will 'only prolong conflict'

United States President Joe Biden arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening (September 8) to attend the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-summit-2023-delhi-live-updates-world-leaders-start-gathering-in-national-capital-633520">G20 summit</a> on Saturday and Sunday in the Indian capital. He headed to a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after arriving.&nbsp;

Biden and PM Modi reaffirmed the importance of the Quad in supporting a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. The US president also lauded India's G20 Presidency for further demonstrating how the G20 as a forum is delivering important outcomes.&nbsp;

India and the US also agreed with India to resolve their last outstanding dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO).&nbsp;

In a post shared on X, previously known as Twitter, PM Modi said that the meeting was "very productive" and they were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and the USA. He further said, "The friendship between our nations will continue to play a great role in furthering global good."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tibetan-refugees-in-india-call-on-g20-forum-to-discuss-chinese-occupation-633804">Tibetan refugees in India call on G20 forum to discuss Chinese occupation</a>&nbsp;

The official joint statement said that both leaders called on their administrations to continue the work of transforming the India-US Strategic Partnership across all dimensions of our multifaceted global agenda, which&nbsp;is based on trust and mutual understanding.&nbsp;

"The leaders re-emphasized that the shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, inclusion, pluralism, and equal opportunities for all citizens are critical to the success our countries enjoy and that these values strengthen our relationship," the statement read.&nbsp;

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan joined the meeting; from the Indian side, external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and security adviser Ajit Doval were in attendance.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rishi-sunak-feels-special-as-he-jokes-about-being-referred-to-as-son-in-law-of-india-633758">UK PM Rishi Sunak feels 'special' as he jokes about being referred to as 'son-in-law of India'</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Will the African Union become a G20 member?&nbsp;

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Mention of WTO dispute and defence partnership&nbsp;

The leaders also lauded the settlement of the seventh and last outstanding WTO&nbsp;dispute between India and the United States, which follows the unprecedented settlement of six outstanding bilateral trade disputes in the WTO in June 2023.&nbsp;

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to "deepen and diversify the India-US major defence partnership through expanded cooperation in new and emerging domains such as space and AI, and accelerated defence industrial collaboration".&nbsp;

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United States President Joe Biden arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening (September 8) to attend the G20 summit on Saturday and Sunday in the Indian capital. He headed to a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after arriving.

United States President Joe Biden arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening (September 8) to attend the G20 summit on Saturday and Sunday in the Indian capital. He headed to a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after arriving. Biden and PM Modi reaffirmed the importance of the Quad in supporting a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. The US president also lauded India's G20 Presidency for further demonstrating how the G20 as a forum is delivering important outcomes. India and the US also agreed with India to resolve their last outstanding dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO). In a post shared on X, previously known as Twitter, PM Modi said that the meeting was "very productive" and they were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and the USA. He further said, "The friendship between our nations will continue to play a great role in furthering global good." Also read: Tibetan refugees in India call on G20 forum to discuss Chinese occupation The official joint statement said that both leaders called on their administrations to continue the work of transforming the India-US Strategic Partnership across all dimensions of our multifaceted global agenda, which is based on trust and mutual understanding. "The leaders re-emphasized that the shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, inclusion, pluralism, and equal opportunities for all citizens are critical to the success our countries enjoy and that these values strengthen our relationship," the statement read. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan joined the meeting; from the Indian side, external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and security adviser Ajit Doval were in attendance. Also read: UK PM Rishi Sunak feels 'special' as he jokes about being referred to as 'son-in-law of India' Watch: Will the African Union become a G20 member? × Mention of WTO dispute and defence partnership The leaders also lauded the settlement of the seventh and last outstanding WTO dispute between India and the United States, which follows the unprecedented settlement of six outstanding bilateral trade disputes in the WTO in June 2023. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to "deepen and diversify the India-US major defence partnership through expanded cooperation in new and emerging domains such as space and AI, and accelerated defence industrial collaboration". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

G20 Summit: US, India reaffirm close partnership, agree to resolve last outstanding WTO dispute

Visiting US President Joe Biden on Friday (September 8) congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the scientists and engineers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the Chandrayaan-3 Mission's historic soft-landing at the south pole of the Moon.&nbsp;

Biden also hailed India's successful launch of the first solar mission, Aditya-L1, as leaders of both nations met on the eve of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. After arriving in India's capital, Biden drove to Modi's official residence at the Lok Kalyan Marg.&nbsp;

Biden and PM Modi discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, trade, research, defence, and more. They also agreed to resolve their last outstanding dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO).&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tibetan-refugees-in-india-call-on-g20-forum-to-discuss-chinese-occupation-633804">Tibetan refugees in India call on G20 forum to discuss Chinese occupation</a>&nbsp;

In the area of space exploration, India and the US said they have started talks to put in place a strategic framework for human space flight by year-end as they plan to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024.&nbsp;

"Determined to deepen our partnership in outer space exploration, ISRO and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have commenced discussions on modalities, capacity building, and training for mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024, and are continuing efforts to finalise a strategic framework for human space flight cooperation by the end of 2023," a joint statement issued after the 52-minute talks between the two leaders read.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rishi-sunak-feels-special-as-he-jokes-about-being-referred-to-as-son-in-law-of-india-633758">UK PM Rishi Sunak feels 'special' as he jokes about being referred to as 'son-in-law of India'</a>&nbsp;

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Happy to have welcomed <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Our meeting was very productive. We were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and USA. The friendship between our nations will continue to play a… <a href="https://t.co/Yg1tz9kGwQ">pic.twitter.com/Yg1tz9kGwQ</a>
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Both leaders said that New Delhi and Washington have set a course to reach new frontiers across all sectors of space cooperation as they hailed the efforts towards the establishment of a Working Group for commercial space collaboration under the existing India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group.&nbsp;

"India and the US also intend to increase coordination on planetary defence to protect planet Earth and space assets from the impact of asteroids and near-Earth objects, including US support for India's participation in asteroid detection and tracking via the Minor Planet Center," the statement added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Visiting US President Joe Biden on Friday (September 8) congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the scientists and engineers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the Chandrayaan-3 Mission's historic soft-landing at the south pole of the Moon.

Visiting US President Joe Biden on Friday (September 8) congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the scientists and engineers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the Chandrayaan-3 Mission's historic soft-landing at the south pole of the Moon. Biden also hailed India's successful launch of the first solar mission, Aditya-L1, as leaders of both nations met on the eve of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. After arriving in India's capital, Biden drove to Modi's official residence at the Lok Kalyan Marg. Biden and PM Modi discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, trade, research, defence, and more. They also agreed to resolve their last outstanding dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Also read: Tibetan refugees in India call on G20 forum to discuss Chinese occupation In the area of space exploration, India and the US said they have started talks to put in place a strategic framework for human space flight by year-end as they plan to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024. "Determined to deepen our partnership in outer space exploration, ISRO and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have commenced discussions on modalities, capacity building, and training for mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024, and are continuing efforts to finalise a strategic framework for human space flight cooperation by the end of 2023," a joint statement issued after the 52-minute talks between the two leaders read. Also read: UK PM Rishi Sunak feels 'special' as he jokes about being referred to as 'son-in-law of India' Happy to have welcomed @POTUS @JoeBiden to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Our meeting was very productive. We were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and USA. The friendship between our nations will continue to play a… pic.twitter.com/Yg1tz9kGwQ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 8, 2023 × Watch this report: × Both leaders said that New Delhi and Washington have set a course to reach new frontiers across all sectors of space cooperation as they hailed the efforts towards the establishment of a Working Group for commercial space collaboration under the existing India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group. "India and the US also intend to increase coordination on planetary defence to protect planet Earth and space assets from the impact of asteroids and near-Earth objects, including US support for India's participation in asteroid detection and tracking via the Minor Planet Center," the statement added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India, US start talks to send Indian astronaut to ISS next year

Central Intelligence Agency, the spy agency of the United States, has appealed to the Russians by releasing a video, which targets Moscow officials as they say they want to tell the truth about a system it said is riddled with lying sycophants. It comes amid their effort to recruit more Russians as spies.&nbsp;

In July, CIA Director William Burns said that the agency won't let go of a rare opportunity to hire spies as there is disaffection among some Russians over the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Now, the agency has released a video in Russian titled, "Why I made contact with the CIA - for myself" on the social media platform. The video shows what is clearly supposed to be a Russian official walking through the snow in&nbsp;what looks like a Russian city.&nbsp;

"I insisted to everyone that it was unscrupulous to distort the truth in reports but those who rose through the ranks were those who did that very thing," the voiceover says in Russian and translated by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

In the video, an actor is playing a Russian official, who can be seen entering a Russian government building and showing his pass above the double-headed eagle of Russia.&nbsp;

"Before I believed that the truth had some value. Those around you may not want to hear the truth. But we do," the voiceover said, further detailing how can the CIA be contacted.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.

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The CIA released a new recruiting video targeting employees of the Russian security services and the military.<a href="https://t.co/iHmT9wwnQh">pic.twitter.com/iHmT9wwnQh</a>
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After major failures over the 9/11 attacks and the US war in Iraq, US and British spy agencies claimed an intelligence victory over the Russian invasion of Ukraine by warning of the Kremlin's plans way in advance.&nbsp;

Moscow is so difficult for Western spies to operate in that they developed "Moscow Rules" in Soviet times to guard against complacency. It has been updated for modern Russia.&nbsp;

Russia accuses Britain and the United States of supporting Ukraine in an attempt to cleave Russia apart and grab its natural resources - assertions Washington and London strongly deny.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Central Intelligence Agency, the spy agency of the United States, has appealed to the Russians by releasing a video, which targets Moscow officials as they say they want to tell the truth about a system it said is riddled with lying sycophants.

Central Intelligence Agency, the spy agency of the United States, has appealed to the Russians by releasing a video, which targets Moscow officials as they say they want to tell the truth about a system it said is riddled with lying sycophants. It comes amid their effort to recruit more Russians as spies. In July, CIA Director William Burns said that the agency won't let go of a rare opportunity to hire spies as there is disaffection among some Russians over the war in Ukraine. Now, the agency has released a video in Russian titled, "Why I made contact with the CIA - for myself" on the social media platform. The video shows what is clearly supposed to be a Russian official walking through the snow in what looks like a Russian city. "I insisted to everyone that it was unscrupulous to distort the truth in reports but those who rose through the ranks were those who did that very thing," the voiceover says in Russian and translated by news agency Reuters. In the video, an actor is playing a Russian official, who can be seen entering a Russian government building and showing his pass above the double-headed eagle of Russia. "Before I believed that the truth had some value. Those around you may not want to hear the truth. But we do," the voiceover said, further detailing how can the CIA be contacted. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. The CIA released a new recruiting video targeting employees of the Russian security services and the military.pic.twitter.com/iHmT9wwnQh — Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) September 7, 2023 × After major failures over the 9/11 attacks and the US war in Iraq, US and British spy agencies claimed an intelligence victory over the Russian invasion of Ukraine by warning of the Kremlin's plans way in advance. Moscow is so difficult for Western spies to operate in that they developed "Moscow Rules" in Soviet times to guard against complacency. It has been updated for modern Russia. Russia accuses Britain and the United States of supporting Ukraine in an attempt to cleave Russia apart and grab its natural resources - assertions Washington and London strongly deny. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

CIA releases video to target Russian officials, appeals to tell truth about system

Scientists in China have found fossils of a tiny bird-like dinosaur with a long lower leg. The "bizarre" fossil suggests that this strange pheasant-sized dinosaur inhabited southeast China about 148 to 150 million years ago.&nbsp;

It has elongated legs and arms built much like wings. It also had a baffling anatomy, which suggests that it either was a fast runner or lived a lifestyle like a modern wading bird.&nbsp;

The fossilised remains, which were unearthed in 2022, show it to be one of the earliest bird-like dinosaurs to date from the Jurassic period.&nbsp;

Researchers have named it Fujianvenator prodigiosus and described their discovery in a paper published on Wednesday (September 6) in the journal Nature.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lab-grown-fruit-scientists-in-new-zealand-find-new-way-to-tackle-rising-food-insecurity-633361">Lab-grown fruit: Scientists in New Zealand find new way to tackle rising food insecurity</a>&nbsp;

As quoted by the journal, Mark Loewen, who is a palaeontologist at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, said: "This is really a weird animal within the group of birds." Notably, Loewen was not involved in the discovery.&nbsp;

Scientists have unearthed the fossil in Fujian Province. They believe that the creature sheds light on a critical evolutionary stage in the origin of birds.&nbsp;

As quoted by the news agency Reuters, study leader Min Wang, a palaeontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the definition of Fujianvenator will be based on the classification of this mixture of skeletal features.&nbsp;

On being asked about how Fujianvenator should be described, Wang replied, "I would say 'bizarre'. Fujianvenator is far from similar to any modern birds."&nbsp;

"The forelimb is generally built like a bird's wing, but with three claws on the fingers, which are absent from modern birds. So you can call it wing. It cannot be determined whether it could fly or not. Based on the skeletal features, Fujianvenator probably is at least not good at flying," Wang said.

"The fossil itself does not preserve feathers. However, its closest relatives and nearly all the known avialan theropods have feathers, and feathers are widely distributed among dinosaurs. Therefore, it would not be a surprise if Fujianvenator had feathers," Wang added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-found-mysterious-never-seen-before-spooky-golden-egg-at-the-bottom-of-pacific-ocean-633260">Scientists find mysterious never-seen-before 'spooky golden egg' at the bottom of Pacific Ocean</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;'Artificial embryos' created in Israel | Does this change the idea of life?&nbsp;

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<h2>What does the history say?&nbsp;</h2>

The study of dinosaurs tells that a significant event in their evolution came when small feathered two-legged dinosaurs from a lineage known as theropods gave rise to birds late in the Jurassic. The oldest-known bird - Archaeopteryx - dates to roughly 150 million years ago in Germany.&nbsp;

Wang said that Fujianvenator is an avialan, which comprises all birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur cousins. Despite their humble beginnings, birds survived the asteroid catastrophe that killed their non-avian dinosaur brethren 66 million years ago.&nbsp;

The Fujianvenator fossil, discovered last October, is quite complete but lacking the animal's skull and sections of its feet, making interpretation of its nutrition and lifestyle difficult.&nbsp;

Fujianvenator's lower leg bone - the tibia - was twice as long as its thigh bone - the femur. Such dimensions are unique among theropods, a group that includes all the meat-eating dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and various others. It also had a long bony tail.

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Scientists in China have found fossils of a tiny bird-like dinosaur with a long lower leg. The "bizarre" fossil suggests that this strange pheasant-sized dinosaur inhabited southeast China about 148 to 150 million years ago.

Scientists in China have found fossils of a tiny bird-like dinosaur with a long lower leg. The "bizarre" fossil suggests that this strange pheasant-sized dinosaur inhabited southeast China about 148 to 150 million years ago. It has elongated legs and arms built much like wings. It also had a baffling anatomy, which suggests that it either was a fast runner or lived a lifestyle like a modern wading bird. The fossilised remains, which were unearthed in 2022, show it to be one of the earliest bird-like dinosaurs to date from the Jurassic period. Researchers have named it Fujianvenator prodigiosus and described their discovery in a paper published on Wednesday (September 6) in the journal Nature. Also read: Lab-grown fruit: Scientists in New Zealand find new way to tackle rising food insecurity As quoted by the journal, Mark Loewen, who is a palaeontologist at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, said: "This is really a weird animal within the group of birds." Notably, Loewen was not involved in the discovery. Scientists have unearthed the fossil in Fujian Province. They believe that the creature sheds light on a critical evolutionary stage in the origin of birds. As quoted by the news agency Reuters, study leader Min Wang, a palaeontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the definition of Fujianvenator will be based on the classification of this mixture of skeletal features. On being asked about how Fujianvenator should be described, Wang replied, "I would say 'bizarre'. Fujianvenator is far from similar to any modern birds." "The forelimb is generally built like a bird's wing, but with three claws on the fingers, which are absent from modern birds. So you can call it wing. It cannot be determined whether it could fly or not. Based on the skeletal features, Fujianvenator probably is at least not good at flying," Wang said. "The fossil itself does not preserve feathers. However, its closest relatives and nearly all the known avialan theropods have feathers, and feathers are widely distributed among dinosaurs. Therefore, it would not be a surprise if Fujianvenator had feathers," Wang added. Also read: Scientists find mysterious never-seen-before 'spooky golden egg' at the bottom of Pacific Ocean Watch: 'Artificial embryos' created in Israel | Does this change the idea of life? × What does the history say? The study of dinosaurs tells that a significant event in their evolution came when small feathered two-legged dinosaurs from a lineage known as theropods gave rise to birds late in the Jurassic. The oldest-known bird - Archaeopteryx - dates to roughly 150 million years ago in Germany. Wang said that Fujianvenator is an avialan, which comprises all birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur cousins. Despite their humble beginnings, birds survived the asteroid catastrophe that killed their non-avian dinosaur brethren 66 million years ago. The Fujianvenator fossil, discovered last October, is quite complete but lacking the animal's skull and sections of its feet, making interpretation of its nutrition and lifestyle difficult. Fujianvenator's lower leg bone - the tibia - was twice as long as its thigh bone - the femur. Such dimensions are unique among theropods, a group that includes all the meat-eating dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and various others. It also had a long bony tail. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Fujianvenator: 'Bizarre' long-legged bird-like dinosaur discovered in China

Russia is angry with the West after the US and Britain announced a controversial move to give&nbsp;depleted uranium (DU) tank rounds to Ukraine. Moscow said Washington would be responsible for any negative lingering impact of the munitions' use.&nbsp;

Britain's announcement that it would provide such ammunition to Ukraine was denounced by Russia as a "serious" escalation of the war. The Pentagon, meanwhile,&nbsp;said it would provide Ukraine with the rounds as part of a $1 billion aid package.&nbsp;

Depleted uranium munitions are controversial because of their links to various health and environmental problems such as cancer and birth defects in areas where they were used.

Such cases have been reported in past conflicts, but some reports say that it is not certain they have specifically caused such issues.&nbsp;

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "The use of these shells has resulted in a galloping increase in the number of cancer patients. The same situation will inevitably await those Ukrainian territories where they will be used. Responsibility will lie with the US."&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that he would deploy depleted uranium ammunition if Ukraine received the arms.

<h2>What is depleted uranium?&nbsp;</h2>

Depleted uranium is more or less the same as natural uranium, however, it has a lower concentration of the fissile isotope U-235. It is about 60 per cent less radioactive than uranium in its natural state. DU is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process used to produce fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.&nbsp;

Uranium is a very dense metal, which is about 1.7 times denser than lead. It is so hard that when it hits a target, it does not change shape. As a result, depleted uranium is utilised in shells and bombs to increase their ability to punch through metal.&nbsp;

<h2>Is it even legal to be use depleted uranium as a weapon?&nbsp;</h2>

The usage of depleted uranium shells is not banned under international law. The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence said that the depleted uranium shells it is sending to Ukraine are not prohibited by any international agreement.&nbsp;

It said that under Article 36 of the First Protocol of 1977 Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the UK's depleted uranium shells are "capable of being used lawfully in international armed conflict".&nbsp;

<h2>Who has used such weapons and when?&nbsp;</h2>

Many countries such as the United States and Russia have used depleted uranium munitions as part of their military arsenals. They were used in both the Gulf wars in 1991 and 2003 and in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.&nbsp;

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces, including the US military, used DU ammunition during the Bosnian War between 1994-1995. NATO forces also used them during the Kosovo War in 1999.&nbsp;

There are also reports suggesting that depleted uranium was extensively used during the Iraq War (2003-2011) by the US military.

An estimated 2,000 metric tonnes of DU were used in the conflict.&nbsp;

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it had used depleted uranium ammunition in Syria in strikes against the Islamic State radical group in 2015.

The Pentagon has acknowledged using depleted uranium ordnance twice in 2015 in raids against the Islamic State group in Syria.

The US military used DU ammunition in the Afghanistan War (2001-2021), but it is not clear to the extent it was used.&nbsp;

<h2>What are the health hazards of depleted uranium munitions?&nbsp;</h2>

Several experts have argued that the use of depleted uranium must be banned as it leads to serious health issues. Although depleted uranium is less radioactive than natural uranium, it is nevertheless a hazardous heavy metal that can cause health problems if inhaled or swallowed.&nbsp;

Some health experts have said that DU particles can stay in the body for years and can lead to health problems, including kidney damage, lung cancer, and birth defects.&nbsp;

Depleted uranium munitions have been identified as one of the likely reasons for health problems among Gulf War veterans, as well as a suspected cause of high levels of cancer and birth deformities in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.&nbsp;

However, the function of bombs in these issues has not been scientifically confirmed. Moreover, countries at the forefront of using such ammunition have repeatedly said that no proof has been found based on studies that establish a link between cancer and DU.

DU impacts the environment as well, because after striking the target, it releases uranium oxide dust and fragments into the air.

In the current scenario, one of the most crucial things to remember is the world's food crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, which started on February 24, 2022. Ukraine is a major exporter of sunflower, maize, wheat, and barley to the rest of the world.

As the battle progresses, the radioactivity of DU dust particles will last for decades. As a result, the fertile land will be rendered useless in the future, causing food shortages and disrupting the global food supply chain.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russia is angry with the West after the US and Britain announced a controversial move to give depleted uranium (DU) tank rounds to Ukraine. Moscow said Washington would be responsible for any negative lingering impact of the munitions' use.

Russia is angry with the West after the US and Britain announced a controversial move to give depleted uranium (DU) tank rounds to Ukraine. Moscow said Washington would be responsible for any negative lingering impact of the munitions' use. Britain's announcement that it would provide such ammunition to Ukraine was denounced by Russia as a "serious" escalation of the war. The Pentagon, meanwhile, said it would provide Ukraine with the rounds as part of a $1 billion aid package. Depleted uranium munitions are controversial because of their links to various health and environmental problems such as cancer and birth defects in areas where they were used. Such cases have been reported in past conflicts, but some reports say that it is not certain they have specifically caused such issues. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "The use of these shells has resulted in a galloping increase in the number of cancer patients. The same situation will inevitably await those Ukrainian territories where they will be used. Responsibility will lie with the US." Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that he would deploy depleted uranium ammunition if Ukraine received the arms. What is depleted uranium? Depleted uranium is more or less the same as natural uranium, however, it has a lower concentration of the fissile isotope U-235. It is about 60 per cent less radioactive than uranium in its natural state. DU is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process used to produce fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Uranium is a very dense metal, which is about 1.7 times denser than lead. It is so hard that when it hits a target, it does not change shape. As a result, depleted uranium is utilised in shells and bombs to increase their ability to punch through metal. Is it even legal to be use depleted uranium as a weapon? The usage of depleted uranium shells is not banned under international law. The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence said that the depleted uranium shells it is sending to Ukraine are not prohibited by any international agreement. It said that under Article 36 of the First Protocol of 1977 Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the UK's depleted uranium shells are "capable of being used lawfully in international armed conflict". Who has used such weapons and when? Many countries such as the United States and Russia have used depleted uranium munitions as part of their military arsenals. They were used in both the Gulf wars in 1991 and 2003 and in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces, including the US military, used DU ammunition during the Bosnian War between 1994-1995. NATO forces also used them during the Kosovo War in 1999. There are also reports suggesting that depleted uranium was extensively used during the Iraq War (2003-2011) by the US military. An estimated 2,000 metric tonnes of DU were used in the conflict. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it had used depleted uranium ammunition in Syria in strikes against the Islamic State radical group in 2015. The Pentagon has acknowledged using depleted uranium ordnance twice in 2015 in raids against the Islamic State group in Syria. The US military used DU ammunition in the Afghanistan War (2001-2021), but it is not clear to the extent it was used. What are the health hazards of depleted uranium munitions? Several experts have argued that the use of depleted uranium must be banned as it leads to serious health issues. Although depleted uranium is less radioactive than natural uranium, it is nevertheless a hazardous heavy metal that can cause health problems if inhaled or swallowed. Some health experts have said that DU particles can stay in the body for years and can lead to health problems, including kidney damage, lung cancer, and birth defects. Depleted uranium munitions have been identified as one of the likely reasons for health problems among Gulf War veterans, as well as a suspected cause of high levels of cancer and birth deformities in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. However, the function of bombs in these issues has not been scientifically confirmed. Moreover, countries at the forefront of using such ammunition have repeatedly said that no proof has been found based on studies that establish a link between cancer and DU. DU impacts the environment as well, because after striking the target, it releases uranium oxide dust and fragments into the air. In the current scenario, one of the most crucial things to remember is the world's food crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, which started on February 24, 2022. Ukraine is a major exporter of sunflower, maize, wheat, and barley to the rest of the world. As the battle progresses, the radioactivity of DU dust particles will last for decades. As a result, the fertile land will be rendered useless in the future, causing food shortages and disrupting the global food supply chain. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Depleted Uranium munitions being given by US to Ukraine are a health hazard

Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday (September 7) visited the flood-stricken regions in a rural part of the northeastern part of the nation, state-run CGTN reported, by sharing a video in which he can be seen speaking to the locals.&nbsp;

Xi met with the villagers in the city of Shangzhi, which is in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The state media reported that he visited the village of Longwangmiao and walked into the fields to check the impact of the floods on the rice crops. Longwangmiao was battered by remnants of the super typhoon Doksuri.&nbsp;

The Chinese leader also inspected the work on the restoration of damaged houses and infrastructure while walking along the streets. He pushed the villagers to bolster their confidence to overcome difficulties as he visited their homes to learn about their losses and the supply of daily necessities.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/southern-china-drenched-many-flights-cancelled-as-rain-storms-pound-region-633371">Southern China drenched, many flights cancelled as rain storms pound region</a>&nbsp;

In the last few weeks, record rainfall battered vast swathes of northern China, flooding cities and farmlands unused to powerful storms more common in the south. Xi expressed the hope that they will soon be able to resume normal work and life.&nbsp;

Xi's visit attracted eyeballs as he has snubbed global summits this week. He skipped an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia this week and also missed the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a chance to meet with US President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

He, however, did attend a meeting in late August with leaders of the BRICS group of major emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - in South Africa.&nbsp;

Also&nbsp;read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-delegation-led-by-vice-premier-to-visit-north-korea-state-media-says-633338">Chinese delegation led by vice premier to visit North Korea, state media says</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Can India amplify the voice of the global south?&nbsp;

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As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Alfred Wu, who is an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said that Xi's speed in visiting disaster-stricken areas in China has usually been much slower than his immediate predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, a possible consequence of Xi's centralisation of power.&nbsp;

"These delays are common in Xi's regime, it is not a good look for him. We know that the floods started in July, but he probably got the information late, and then in August he was busy with BRICS, so only now has his agenda cleared," Wu said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday (September 7) visited the flood-stricken regions in a rural part of the northeastern part of the nation, state-run CGTN reported, by sharing a video in which he can be seen speaking to the locals.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday (September 7) visited the flood-stricken regions in a rural part of the northeastern part of the nation, state-run CGTN reported, by sharing a video in which he can be seen speaking to the locals. Xi met with the villagers in the city of Shangzhi, which is in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The state media reported that he visited the village of Longwangmiao and walked into the fields to check the impact of the floods on the rice crops. Longwangmiao was battered by remnants of the super typhoon Doksuri. The Chinese leader also inspected the work on the restoration of damaged houses and infrastructure while walking along the streets. He pushed the villagers to bolster their confidence to overcome difficulties as he visited their homes to learn about their losses and the supply of daily necessities. Also read: Southern China drenched, many flights cancelled as rain storms pound region In the last few weeks, record rainfall battered vast swathes of northern China, flooding cities and farmlands unused to powerful storms more common in the south. Xi expressed the hope that they will soon be able to resume normal work and life. Xi's visit attracted eyeballs as he has snubbed global summits this week. He skipped an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia this week and also missed the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a chance to meet with US President Joe Biden. He, however, did attend a meeting in late August with leaders of the BRICS group of major emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - in South Africa. Also read: Chinese delegation led by vice premier to visit North Korea, state media says Watch: Can India amplify the voice of the global south? × As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Alfred Wu, who is an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said that Xi's speed in visiting disaster-stricken areas in China has usually been much slower than his immediate predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, a possible consequence of Xi's centralisation of power. "These delays are common in Xi's regime, it is not a good look for him. We know that the floods started in July, but he probably got the information late, and then in August he was busy with BRICS, so only now has his agenda cleared," Wu said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Snubbing global summits, Xi Jinping visits flood-stricken area in northeast China

The by-election results for seven assembly seats in six states declared on Friday were a mixed bag for the BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc, with the saffron party winning three seats and one each going to its rivals Congress, JMM and TMC and Samajwadi Party.&nbsp;

The opposition alliance tasted victory in the Ghosi assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh, where it backed the Samajwadi Party, and in Jharkhand, where the JMM retained the Dumri assembly seat.&nbsp;

The BJP maintained its hold on the Bageshwar assembly seat in Uttarakhand and Dhanpur in Tripura and wrested the Boxanagar assembly seat from CPI(M) in the northeastern state, where the INDIA alliance parties had joined hands, but lost the Dhupguri assembly seat in West Bengal to the Trinamool Congress (TMC).&nbsp;

"I would like to congratulate all those who beat the BJP to win the bypolls. The BJP has lost four bypolls out of the seven held on September 5. This is a big win for INDIA," West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said.&nbsp;

The Congress also said the victory of opposition INDIA candidates proves that the people have accepted the bloc as an alternative to the BJP.&nbsp;

However, BJP leaders hailed the party's victory in Tripura and Uttarakhand and its in-charge of the northeastern region Sambit Patra said the results have shattered the arrogance of the "ghamandiya" alliance of opposition parties.&nbsp;

The bypolls were the first electoral test for the INDIA alliance of 28 parties formed recently to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls next year. Of the seven seats where the by-election was held on September 5, three were earlier held by the BJP, and one each was with the Congress, SP, CPI(M) and JMM.&nbsp;

The opposition Congress-led UDF in Kerala retained the Puthuppally Assembly constituency in Kerala as its candidate Chandy Oommen, son of late Congress stalwart Oommen Chandy, trounced ruling LDF candidate Jaick C Thomas.&nbsp;

While Oommen gathered 80,144 votes, Thomas could get only 42,425 votes. BJP candidate Lijin Lal finished a distant third with 6,558 votes. The Congress and the Left, which are part of the INDIA alliance but are the main rivals in the southern state, contested against each other and poll observers said the sympathy generated by the demise of his hugely popular father played out to the advantage of Chandy Oommen.&nbsp;

In Ghosi, Samajwadi Party candidate Sudhakar Singh defeated BJP's Dara Singh Chauhan, who had won the seat in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on the Samajwadi Party ticket but returned to the BJP recently. "It is a win for positive politics and a defeat for negative communal politics... It is Bharat starting towards INDIA's victory," SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said.&nbsp;

Singh defeated Dara Singh Chauhan by 42,759 votes. Chauhan was a minister in the first Yogi Adityanath government and had switched to the SP before the last UP Assembly polls.&nbsp;

This time, Chauhan was supported by NDA partners Apna Dal (Sonelal), Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (NISHAD) Party and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, a former SP ally.&nbsp;

On the other hand, INDIA bloc constituents - Congress, Left parties, RLD, AAP, and Suheldev Swabhiman Party - extended support to the SP.&nbsp;

Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said the win of candidates of INDIA alliance including the decisive victory of SP's Sudhakar Singh has "proved that public has accepted INDIA as an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party".&nbsp;

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Bebi Devi won in Dumri in Giridih district by defeating AJSU's Yashoda Devi by over 17,000 votes, according to a district administration official.&nbsp;

The JMM candidate who is also the INDIA block nominee got about 1,35,480 votes while NDA candidate Yashoda Devi got about 1,18,380 votes, the official said.&nbsp;

Bebi Devi is the wife of former Jharkhand minister Jagarnath Mahto, whose death in April necessitated the by-election. She termed her victory as a 'true tribute' to Mahto who had represented the seat since 2004.TMC candidate Nirmal Chandra Roy, a college professor, won the Dhupguri seat by over 4,313 votes.&nbsp;

He bagged 96,961 votes, while his nearest rival BJP's Tapasi Roy, the widow of a CRPF jawan killed in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021, got 92,648 votes, officials said. CPI(M) candidate Ishwar Chandra Roy, who was backed by the Congress, was a distant third with 13,666 votes, they added.&nbsp;

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said the people of Dhupguri embraced politics of development over hatred and bigotry. BJP's Parwati Dass defeated Congress' Basant Kumar by more than 2,400 votes in Bageshwar in Uttarakhand. Dass is the wife of BJP leader Chandan Ram Dass whose death in April this year had necessitated the bypoll. Her husband had been winning the seat consecutively since 2007.&nbsp;

This is the fifth time in a row that the BJP has bagged the seat. The three other candidates from Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Samajwadi Party and Uttarakhand Parivartan Party lost their deposits.&nbsp;

"The victory of BJP in the by-election to Bageshwar assembly seat in Uttarakhand is people's seal on the development works of the party's double engine government under the guidance of respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji," BJP chief J P Nadda said in a post on X, thanking people of the state.&nbsp;

Nadda also congratulated BJP state unit chief Mahendra Bhatt, the party workers and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.&nbsp;

In Tripura, BJP's Tafajjal Hossain won the Boxanagar seat, which has around 66 per cent minority voters, by 30,237 votes. Hossain got 34,146 votes, while his nearest rival Mizan Hossain of the CPI(M) got 3,909 votes. BJP candidate Bindu Debnath bagged the Dhanpur seat, which has a significant tribal population, by 18,871 votes. Debnath got 30,017 votes, and his nearest rival Kaushik Chanda of the CPI(M) got 11,146 votes.&nbsp;

Alleging large-scale rigging during the polling and inaction by the Election Commission, the opposition CPI(M) boycotted the counting of votes and demanded a re-election.&nbsp;

The by-election to the Boxanagar constituency was necessitated due to the death of CPI(M) MLA Samsul Haque. Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik's resignation as the MLA of Dhanpur led to the by-election.&nbsp;

"We were sure about winning the by-elections because of the double-engine government's developmental works. I thank the people for reposing faith in PM Modi and CM Manik Saha. The CPI(M), which ruled the state for years, will be extinct in the near future," BJP state president Rajiv Bhattacharjee told reporters.&nbsp;

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The by-election results for seven assembly seats in six states declared on Friday were a mixed bag for the BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc, with the saffron party winning three seats and one each going to its rivals Congress, JMM and TMC and Samajwadi Party.

The by-election results for seven assembly seats in six states declared on Friday were a mixed bag for the BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc, with the saffron party winning three seats and one each going to its rivals Congress, JMM and TMC and Samajwadi Party. The opposition alliance tasted victory in the Ghosi assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh, where it backed the Samajwadi Party, and in Jharkhand, where the JMM retained the Dumri assembly seat. The BJP maintained its hold on the Bageshwar assembly seat in Uttarakhand and Dhanpur in Tripura and wrested the Boxanagar assembly seat from CPI(M) in the northeastern state, where the INDIA alliance parties had joined hands, but lost the Dhupguri assembly seat in West Bengal to the Trinamool Congress (TMC). "I would like to congratulate all those who beat the BJP to win the bypolls. The BJP has lost four bypolls out of the seven held on September 5. This is a big win for INDIA," West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said. The Congress also said the victory of opposition INDIA candidates proves that the people have accepted the bloc as an alternative to the BJP. However, BJP leaders hailed the party's victory in Tripura and Uttarakhand and its in-charge of the northeastern region Sambit Patra said the results have shattered the arrogance of the "ghamandiya" alliance of opposition parties. The bypolls were the first electoral test for the INDIA alliance of 28 parties formed recently to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls next year. Of the seven seats where the by-election was held on September 5, three were earlier held by the BJP, and one each was with the Congress, SP, CPI(M) and JMM. The opposition Congress-led UDF in Kerala retained the Puthuppally Assembly constituency in Kerala as its candidate Chandy Oommen, son of late Congress stalwart Oommen Chandy, trounced ruling LDF candidate Jaick C Thomas. While Oommen gathered 80,144 votes, Thomas could get only 42,425 votes. BJP candidate Lijin Lal finished a distant third with 6,558 votes. The Congress and the Left, which are part of the INDIA alliance but are the main rivals in the southern state, contested against each other and poll observers said the sympathy generated by the demise of his hugely popular father played out to the advantage of Chandy Oommen. In Ghosi, Samajwadi Party candidate Sudhakar Singh defeated BJP's Dara Singh Chauhan, who had won the seat in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on the Samajwadi Party ticket but returned to the BJP recently. "It is a win for positive politics and a defeat for negative communal politics... It is Bharat starting towards INDIA's victory," SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said. Singh defeated Dara Singh Chauhan by 42,759 votes. Chauhan was a minister in the first Yogi Adityanath government and had switched to the SP before the last UP Assembly polls. This time, Chauhan was supported by NDA partners Apna Dal (Sonelal), Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (NISHAD) Party and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, a former SP ally. On the other hand, INDIA bloc constituents - Congress, Left parties, RLD, AAP, and Suheldev Swabhiman Party - extended support to the SP. Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said the win of candidates of INDIA alliance including the decisive victory of SP's Sudhakar Singh has "proved that public has accepted INDIA as an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party". Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Bebi Devi won in Dumri in Giridih district by defeating AJSU's Yashoda Devi by over 17,000 votes, according to a district administration official. The JMM candidate who is also the INDIA block nominee got about 1,35,480 votes while NDA candidate Yashoda Devi got about 1,18,380 votes, the official said. Bebi Devi is the wife of former Jharkhand minister Jagarnath Mahto, whose death in April necessitated the by-election. She termed her victory as a 'true tribute' to Mahto who had represented the seat since 2004.TMC candidate Nirmal Chandra Roy, a college professor, won the Dhupguri seat by over 4,313 votes. He bagged 96,961 votes, while his nearest rival BJP's Tapasi Roy, the widow of a CRPF jawan killed in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021, got 92,648 votes, officials said. CPI(M) candidate Ishwar Chandra Roy, who was backed by the Congress, was a distant third with 13,666 votes, they added. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said the people of Dhupguri embraced politics of development over hatred and bigotry. BJP's Parwati Dass defeated Congress' Basant Kumar by more than 2,400 votes in Bageshwar in Uttarakhand. Dass is the wife of BJP leader Chandan Ram Dass whose death in April this year had necessitated the bypoll. Her husband had been winning the seat consecutively since 2007. This is the fifth time in a row that the BJP has bagged the seat. The three other candidates from Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Samajwadi Party and Uttarakhand Parivartan Party lost their deposits. "The victory of BJP in the by-election to Bageshwar assembly seat in Uttarakhand is people's seal on the development works of the party's double engine government under the guidance of respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji," BJP chief J P Nadda said in a post on X, thanking people of the state. Nadda also congratulated BJP state unit chief Mahendra Bhatt, the party workers and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. In Tripura, BJP's Tafajjal Hossain won the Boxanagar seat, which has around 66 per cent minority voters, by 30,237 votes. Hossain got 34,146 votes, while his nearest rival Mizan Hossain of the CPI(M) got 3,909 votes. BJP candidate Bindu Debnath bagged the Dhanpur seat, which has a significant tribal population, by 18,871 votes. Debnath got 30,017 votes, and his nearest rival Kaushik Chanda of the CPI(M) got 11,146 votes. Alleging large-scale rigging during the polling and inaction by the Election Commission, the opposition CPI(M) boycotted the counting of votes and demanded a re-election. The by-election to the Boxanagar constituency was necessitated due to the death of CPI(M) MLA Samsul Haque. Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik's resignation as the MLA of Dhanpur led to the by-election. "We were sure about winning the by-elections because of the double-engine government's developmental works. I thank the people for reposing faith in PM Modi and CM Manik Saha. The CPI(M), which ruled the state for years, will be extinct in the near future," BJP state president Rajiv Bhattacharjee told reporters. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Bypolls: BJP wins 3 seats, opposition parties get four as SP retains Ghosi in UP

The Philippines on Friday (September 8) slammed China's coast guard and "maritime militia" for "illegal, aggressive and destabilising" behaviour towards its boats that allegedly interfered in another routine resupply mission to a remote military outpost in the disputed South China Sea.&nbsp;

The Philippines Coast Guard said that two Philippine Coast Guard vessels were encountered by four Chinese Coast Guard and four "militia" boats at the time when they were escorting supply boats to the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.&nbsp;

Manila said that the vessels were able to successfully deliver the cargo, but the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said that the Chinese vessels had carried out "harassment, dangerous manoeuvres, and aggressive conduct" towards the Philippine boats.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-and-us-condemn-sham-elections-in-crimea-russia-decries-meddling-633737">Ukraine and US condemn ‘sham elections’ in Crimea, Russia decries ‘meddling’</a>&nbsp;

Using the acronyms for the Chinese vessels, "The Task Force strongly deplores and condemns the continued illegal, aggressive, and destabilizing conduct of the CCG and the CMM within our nation's EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)."&nbsp;

A conflict persists as China claims almost the entire waterway, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.&nbsp;

As mentioned in the reports by news agencies, the China Coast Guard spokesperson said in a statement that the Philippine boats of entering the waters around the reef "without obtaining permission from the Chinese government".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/most-americans-think-joe-biden-when-vp-was-involved-in-hunter-bidens-dealings-survey-633783">Most Americans think Joe Biden, when VP, was involved in Hunter Biden’s dealings: Survey</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;G20's role in talent repatriation | India's G20 presidency and brain drain&nbsp;

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"The Chinese Coast Guard issued stern warnings, trailed their entire course, and effectively regulated the Philippine ships in accordance with the law. China... firmly opposes the illegal transportation of construction materials by the Philippines to the illegal grounded warship," the spokesperson said.&nbsp;

Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.&nbsp;

The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded the World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre on the shoal in 1999 to check China's advance in the waters. The troops stationed on the crumbling ship depend on regular deliveries for their survival.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The Philippines on Friday (September 8) slammed China's coast guard and "maritime militia" for "illegal, aggressive and destabilising" behaviour towards its boats that allegedly interfered in another routine resupply mission to a remote military outpost in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines on Friday (September 8) slammed China's coast guard and "maritime militia" for "illegal, aggressive and destabilising" behaviour towards its boats that allegedly interfered in another routine resupply mission to a remote military outpost in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines Coast Guard said that two Philippine Coast Guard vessels were encountered by four Chinese Coast Guard and four "militia" boats at the time when they were escorting supply boats to the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. Manila said that the vessels were able to successfully deliver the cargo, but the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said that the Chinese vessels had carried out "harassment, dangerous manoeuvres, and aggressive conduct" towards the Philippine boats. Also read: Ukraine and US condemn ‘sham elections’ in Crimea, Russia decries ‘meddling’ Using the acronyms for the Chinese vessels, "The Task Force strongly deplores and condemns the continued illegal, aggressive, and destabilizing conduct of the CCG and the CMM within our nation's EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)." A conflict persists as China claims almost the entire waterway, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. As mentioned in the reports by news agencies, the China Coast Guard spokesperson said in a statement that the Philippine boats of entering the waters around the reef "without obtaining permission from the Chinese government". Also read: Most Americans think Joe Biden, when VP, was involved in Hunter Biden’s dealings: Survey Watch: G20's role in talent repatriation | India's G20 presidency and brain drain × "The Chinese Coast Guard issued stern warnings, trailed their entire course, and effectively regulated the Philippine ships in accordance with the law. China... firmly opposes the illegal transportation of construction materials by the Philippines to the illegal grounded warship," the spokesperson said. Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island. The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded the World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre on the shoal in 1999 to check China's advance in the waters. The troops stationed on the crumbling ship depend on regular deliveries for their survival. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Philippines slams China for 'illegal, aggressive and destabilising' behaviour towards its boats

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