Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Victory Day military parade on Moscow's Red Square on Tuesday (May 9) and called for "victory" in the ongoing war. Thousands of army personnel, donning ceremonial uniforms, gathered to march to the soundtrack of a military brass band.&nbsp;

During the speech, Putin said that the future of the country "rests on" soldiers fighting in Ukraine. On February 24 last year, Russian forces were ordered to carry out a "special military operation in the neighbouring nation.&nbsp;

Putin addressed the troops fighting in Ukraine, some of whom were present at the parade, and said that "there is nothing more important now than your combat effort". He said, "The security of the country rests on you today, the future of our statehood and our people depend on you."&nbsp;

Putin was seen sitting next to World War II veterans on Red Square in the images and videos shown by state television.&nbsp;

Talking about the ongoing war, the Russian president said that the world is at a "turning point", and a "war" was unleashed on Russia. He added: "Today civilisation is again at a decisive turning point. A war has been unleashed against our motherland." He called for Russia to be victorious: "For Russia, for our armed forces, for victory! Hurrah!"&nbsp;

Putin said that the "desecration of the feat and victims of victorious behaviour is a crime and revanchism of those who were preparing a new campaign against Russia". He added that the Ukrainian people have become a hostage of the criminal regime, a "bargaining chip in their cruel and mercenary plans".&nbsp;

He said, "I am convinced that the experience of solidarity and partnership during the years of struggle against a common threat is a support right now when the world is moving towards multipolarity."&nbsp;

He said that the "West has forgotten who defeated the monstrous global evil and the Western elites talk about their exclusivity, playoff people and provoke bloody conflicts, sow Russophobia and aggressive nationalism".&nbsp;

<h2>Prigozhin accuses Russian army</h2>

Meanwhile, the head of Russia's private Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin accused Moscow's top generals of trying to "deceive" Putin over Kremlin's Ukraine campaign.&nbsp;

Prigozhin said, "If all the tasks are being carried out in such a way as to deceive the commander-in-chief (Putin), then either he will rip your arse or the Russian people will, who will be angry that the war is lost."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Victory Day military parade on Moscow's Red Square on Tuesday (May 9) and called for "victory" in the ongoing war. Thousands of army personnel, donning ceremonial uniforms, gathered to march to the soundtrack of a military brass band.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Victory Day military parade on Moscow's Red Square on Tuesday (May 9) and called for "victory" in the ongoing war. Thousands of army personnel, donning ceremonial uniforms, gathered to march to the soundtrack of a military brass band. During the speech, Putin said that the future of the country "rests on" soldiers fighting in Ukraine. On February 24 last year, Russian forces were ordered to carry out a "special military operation in the neighbouring nation. Putin addressed the troops fighting in Ukraine, some of whom were present at the parade, and said that "there is nothing more important now than your combat effort". He said, "The security of the country rests on you today, the future of our statehood and our people depend on you." Putin was seen sitting next to World War II veterans on Red Square in the images and videos shown by state television. Talking about the ongoing war, the Russian president said that the world is at a "turning point", and a "war" was unleashed on Russia. He added: "Today civilisation is again at a decisive turning point. A war has been unleashed against our motherland." He called for Russia to be victorious: "For Russia, for our armed forces, for victory! Hurrah!" Putin said that the "desecration of the feat and victims of victorious behaviour is a crime and revanchism of those who were preparing a new campaign against Russia". He added that the Ukrainian people have become a hostage of the criminal regime, a "bargaining chip in their cruel and mercenary plans". He said, "I am convinced that the experience of solidarity and partnership during the years of struggle against a common threat is a support right now when the world is moving towards multipolarity." He said that the "West has forgotten who defeated the monstrous global evil and the Western elites talk about their exclusivity, playoff people and provoke bloody conflicts, sow Russophobia and aggressive nationalism". Prigozhin accuses Russian army Meanwhile, the head of Russia's private Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin accused Moscow's top generals of trying to "deceive" Putin over Kremlin's Ukraine campaign. Prigozhin said, "If all the tasks are being carried out in such a way as to deceive the commander-in-chief (Putin), then either he will rip your arse or the Russian people will, who will be angry that the war is lost." (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.

Vladimir Putin calls for victory in Ukraine war during Victory Day military parade

Artificial&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;could replace 80 percent of human jobs in the coming years -- but that's a good thing, says US-Brazilian researcher Ben Goertzel, a leading AI guru.

Mathematician, cognitive scientist and famed robot-creator Goertzel, 56, is founder and chief executive of SingularityNET, a research group he launched to create "Artificial&nbsp;General&nbsp;Intelligence," or AGI --&nbsp;artificial&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;with human cognitive abilities.

With his long hair and leopard-print cowboy hat, Goertzel was in provocateur mode last week at Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the world's biggest annual technology conference, where he told AFP in an interview that AGI is just years away and spoke out against recent efforts to curb&nbsp;artificial&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;research.

<h2>As smart as humans?</h2>

Q: How far are we from&nbsp;artificial&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;with human cognitive abilities?

"If we want machines to really be as smart as people and to be as agile in dealing with the unknown, then they need to be able to take big leaps beyond their training and programming. And we're not there yet. But I think there's reason to believe we're years rather than decades from getting there."

<h2>AI risk</h2>

Q: What do you think of the debate around AI such as ChatGPT and its risks? Should there be a six-month research pause, as some people are advocating?

"I don't think we should pause it because it's like a dangerous superhuman AI... These are very interesting AI systems, but they're not capable of becoming like human level general intelligences, because they can't do complex multi-stage reasoning, like you need to do science. They can't invent wild new things outside the scope of their training data.

"They can also spread misinformation, and people are saying we should pause them because of this. That's very weird to me. Why haven't we banned the internet? The internet does exactly this. It gives you way more information at your fingertips. And it spreads bullshit and misinformation.

"I think we should have a free society. And just like the internet shouldn't be banned, we shouldn't ban this."

<h2>Threat to jobs</h2>

Q: Isn't their potential to replace people's jobs a threat?

"You could probably obsolete maybe 80 percent of jobs that people do, without having an AGI, by my guess. Not with ChatGPT exactly as a product. But with systems of that nature, which are going to follow in the next few years.

"I don't think it's a threat. I think it's a benefit. People can find better things to do with their life than work for a living... Pretty much every job involving paperwork should be automatable.

"The problem I see is in the interim period, when AIs are obsoleting one human job after another... I don't know how (to) solve all the social issues."

<h2>AI positives</h2>

Q: What can robots do for society today, and what will they be able to do in the future, if AGI is achieved?

"You can do a lot of good with AI.

"Like Grace, (a robot nurse) we showcased at Web Summit Rio. In the US, a lot of elderly people are sitting lonely in old folks' homes. And they're not bad in terms of physical condition -- you have medical care and food and big-screen TV -- but they're bad in terms of emotional and social support. So if you inject humanoid robots into it, that will answer your questions, listen to your stories, help you place a call with your kids or order something online, then you're improving people's lives. Once you get to an AGI, they'll be even better companions.

"In that case, you're not eliminating human jobs. Because basically, there's not enough people who want to do nursing and nursing assistant jobs.

"I think education will also be an amazing market for humanoid robots, as well as domestic help."

<h2>Regulation</h2>

Q: What regulation do we need for AI to have a positive impact?

"What you need is society to be developing these AIs to do good things. And the governance of the AIs to be somehow participatory among the population. All these things are technically possible. The problem is that the companies funding most of the AI research don't care about doing good things. They care about maximizing shareholder value."

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Artificial intelligence could replace 80 percent of human jobs in the coming years -- but that's a good thing, says US-Brazilian researcher Ben Goertzel, a leading AI guru.

Artificial intelligence could replace 80 percent of human jobs in the coming years -- but that's a good thing, says US-Brazilian researcher Ben Goertzel, a leading AI guru. Mathematician, cognitive scientist and famed robot-creator Goertzel, 56, is founder and chief executive of SingularityNET, a research group he launched to create "Artificial General Intelligence," or AGI -- artificial intelligence with human cognitive abilities. With his long hair and leopard-print cowboy hat, Goertzel was in provocateur mode last week at Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the world's biggest annual technology conference, where he told AFP in an interview that AGI is just years away and spoke out against recent efforts to curb artificial intelligence research. As smart as humans? Q: How far are we from artificial intelligence with human cognitive abilities? "If we want machines to really be as smart as people and to be as agile in dealing with the unknown, then they need to be able to take big leaps beyond their training and programming. And we're not there yet. But I think there's reason to believe we're years rather than decades from getting there." AI risk Q: What do you think of the debate around AI such as ChatGPT and its risks? Should there be a six-month research pause, as some people are advocating? "I don't think we should pause it because it's like a dangerous superhuman AI... These are very interesting AI systems, but they're not capable of becoming like human level general intelligences, because they can't do complex multi-stage reasoning, like you need to do science. They can't invent wild new things outside the scope of their training data. "They can also spread misinformation, and people are saying we should pause them because of this. That's very weird to me. Why haven't we banned the internet? The internet does exactly this. It gives you way more information at your fingertips. And it spreads bullshit and misinformation. "I think we should have a free society. And just like the internet shouldn't be banned, we shouldn't ban this." Threat to jobs Q: Isn't their potential to replace people's jobs a threat? "You could probably obsolete maybe 80 percent of jobs that people do, without having an AGI, by my guess. Not with ChatGPT exactly as a product. But with systems of that nature, which are going to follow in the next few years. "I don't think it's a threat. I think it's a benefit. People can find better things to do with their life than work for a living... Pretty much every job involving paperwork should be automatable. "The problem I see is in the interim period, when AIs are obsoleting one human job after another... I don't know how (to) solve all the social issues." AI positives Q: What can robots do for society today, and what will they be able to do in the future, if AGI is achieved? "You can do a lot of good with AI. "Like Grace, (a robot nurse) we showcased at Web Summit Rio. In the US, a lot of elderly people are sitting lonely in old folks' homes. And they're not bad in terms of physical condition -- you have medical care and food and big-screen TV -- but they're bad in terms of emotional and social support. So if you inject humanoid robots into it, that will answer your questions, listen to your stories, help you place a call with your kids or order something online, then you're improving people's lives. Once you get to an AGI, they'll be even better companions. "In that case, you're not eliminating human jobs. Because basically, there's not enough people who want to do nursing and nursing assistant jobs. "I think education will also be an amazing market for humanoid robots, as well as domestic help." Regulation Q: What regulation do we need for AI to have a positive impact? "What you need is society to be developing these AIs to do good things. And the governance of the AIs to be somehow participatory among the population. All these things are technically possible. The problem is that the companies funding most of the AI research don't care about doing good things. They care about maximizing shareholder value." 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.

Artificial intelligence could replace 80% of jobs 'in next few years'

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday morning but just a few hours after landing, he announced that he will cut short his crucial trip because of the security situation in his country.&nbsp;The trip was supposed to be for three days, which included visits to Agra and Mumbai.&nbsp;

Cohen said, "I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update." He further added that he will return to Israel after his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will take place today.

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Israeli counterpart held bilateral talks in New Delhi and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the India-Israel relationship.&nbsp;

Three MoUs signed between India and Israel in the presence of India's Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the Israeli foreign minister.&nbsp;

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נחתתי לפני זמן קצר בניו דלהי בירת הודו, ומיד עם נחיתתי קיבלתי עדכון ביטחוני. 
לאור האירועים בארץ, החלטתי לקצר את הביקור המדיני בהודו ולחזור לישראל לאחר פגישתי עם ראש ממשלת הודו נרנדרה מודי שתתקיים היום.
— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) <a href="https://twitter.com/elicoh1/status/1655812576645722116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrives in Delhi on a three-day visit to India 
 
During his visit, he will meet EAM Dr S Jaishankar and also lay a wreath at Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. <a href="https://t.co/85BrHNf624">pic.twitter.com/85BrHNf624</a>
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Latest reports from Tel Aviv said that Israel has launched a major military offensive targeting some militants in Gaza Strip.&nbsp;

Local reports mentioned that at least 12 Palestinians, including three commanders of the militant group Islamic Jihad, have been killed in the airstrikes.&nbsp;

Cohen said,&nbsp;"A short while ago I landed in India for a very important strategic and political visit. I am receiving constant update from Israel on the situation and I hope to meet today with the Indian Prime Minister, and after that will shorten my visit and go back to Israel."&nbsp;

India-Israel ties have flourished in the past few years in various sectors, including defence, agriculture and water management and Cohen's visit was part of the preparations for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to India later this year.&nbsp;

In January, PM Modi had a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Netanyahu during which both leaders agreed on the potential for further strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday morning but just a few hours after landing, he announced that he will cut short his crucial trip because of the security situation in his country.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday morning but just a few hours after landing, he announced that he will cut short his crucial trip because of the security situation in his country. The trip was supposed to be for three days, which included visits to Agra and Mumbai. Cohen said, "I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update." He further added that he will return to Israel after his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will take place today. India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Israeli counterpart held bilateral talks in New Delhi and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the India-Israel relationship. Three MoUs signed between India and Israel in the presence of India's Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the Israeli foreign minister. נחתתי לפני זמן קצר בניו דלהי בירת הודו, ומיד עם נחיתתי קיבלתי עדכון ביטחוני. לאור האירועים בארץ, החלטתי לקצר את הביקור המדיני בהודו ולחזור לישראל לאחר פגישתי עם ראש ממשלת הודו נרנדרה מודי שתתקיים היום. — אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) May 9, 2023 × #WATCH | Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrives in Delhi on a three-day visit to India During his visit, he will meet EAM Dr S Jaishankar and also lay a wreath at Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. pic.twitter.com/85BrHNf624 — ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023 × Latest reports from Tel Aviv said that Israel has launched a major military offensive targeting some militants in Gaza Strip. Local reports mentioned that at least 12 Palestinians, including three commanders of the militant group Islamic Jihad, have been killed in the airstrikes. Cohen said, "A short while ago I landed in India for a very important strategic and political visit. I am receiving constant update from Israel on the situation and I hope to meet today with the Indian Prime Minister, and after that will shorten my visit and go back to Israel." India-Israel ties have flourished in the past few years in various sectors, including defence, agriculture and water management and Cohen's visit was part of the preparations for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to India later this year. In January, PM Modi had a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Netanyahu during which both leaders agreed on the potential for further strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation. (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.

Israel FM cuts short his India visit, will return after meeting PM Modi today

Ukrainian officials said that Russia launched a new attack on Ukraine on Tuesday (May 9), on the day of the Victory Day celebration in Moscow. No casualties were reported and officials said that Ukraine's air defences destroyed 23 of 25 missiles fired, mostly at the capital Kyiv.&nbsp;

The attack was said to be the fifth of this month and took place a day after massive missile strikes on Ukraine which injured at least five people. &nbsp;

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war was halted for a period since early March, but Russia has launched its biggest drone swarm yet in a renewed air campaign unleashed 10 days ago. &nbsp;

Serhiy Popko, who is the head of Kyiv's city military administration, said in comments posted on the Telegram messaging app that "as at the front, the plans of the aggressor failed".&nbsp;

Ukraine's air force said on its Telegram messaging app that "overnight into the 'sacred' May 9, (they) launched an attack on the territory of Ukraine".&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Popko said Russian forces were trying "to kill as many civilians as possible on this day" and the attack was reportedly carried out with cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea region.&nbsp;

Popko said that "Kyiv stood up again and will stand up in the future!"&nbsp;

<h2>Victory Day celebrations&nbsp;</h2>

Reports emerged that during the Victory Day celebrations, Russian cruise missiles exploded in the air over Kyiv. During the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square, &nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the world is at a "turning point", and a "war" was unleashed on Russia. 
&nbsp; 
"Today civilisation is again at a decisive turning point. A war has been unleashed against our motherland," the Russian president said, further calling for Russia to be victorious: "For Russia, for our armed forces, for victory! Hurrah!"&nbsp;

Developments show that Moscow is looking forward to escalating the offence but they suffered a minor setback when Russia's mercenary Wagner forces said they didn't receive enough weapons to hold the positions.&nbsp;

The battle of Bakhmut has been intensified and Wagner forces have borne the brunt of the deadly fighting, but the head of the mercenary group had threatened to pull out from the position but later he changed the stance.&nbsp;

Now, the head of the group said that they have yet to receive the ammunition promised by Moscow — taking a U-turn from his recent comment that supplies had begun to arrive.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Ukraine is also expected to launch a counteroffensive in the east and south.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Ukrainian officials said that Russia launched a new attack on Ukraine on Tuesday (May 9), on the day of the Victory Day celebration in Moscow. No casualties were reported and officials said that Ukraine's air defences destroyed 23 of 25 missiles fired, mostly at the capital Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials said that Russia launched a new attack on Ukraine on Tuesday (May 9), on the day of the Victory Day celebration in Moscow. No casualties were reported and officials said that Ukraine's air defences destroyed 23 of 25 missiles fired, mostly at the capital Kyiv. The attack was said to be the fifth of this month and took place a day after massive missile strikes on Ukraine which injured at least five people. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war was halted for a period since early March, but Russia has launched its biggest drone swarm yet in a renewed air campaign unleashed 10 days ago. Serhiy Popko, who is the head of Kyiv's city military administration, said in comments posted on the Telegram messaging app that "as at the front, the plans of the aggressor failed". Ukraine's air force said on its Telegram messaging app that "overnight into the 'sacred' May 9, (they) launched an attack on the territory of Ukraine". Meanwhile, Popko said Russian forces were trying "to kill as many civilians as possible on this day" and the attack was reportedly carried out with cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea region. Popko said that "Kyiv stood up again and will stand up in the future!" Victory Day celebrations Reports emerged that during the Victory Day celebrations, Russian cruise missiles exploded in the air over Kyiv. During the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the world is at a "turning point", and a "war" was unleashed on Russia. "Today civilisation is again at a decisive turning point. A war has been unleashed against our motherland," the Russian president said, further calling for Russia to be victorious: "For Russia, for our armed forces, for victory! Hurrah!" Developments show that Moscow is looking forward to escalating the offence but they suffered a minor setback when Russia's mercenary Wagner forces said they didn't receive enough weapons to hold the positions. The battle of Bakhmut has been intensified and Wagner forces have borne the brunt of the deadly fighting, but the head of the mercenary group had threatened to pull out from the position but later he changed the stance. Now, the head of the group said that they have yet to receive the ammunition promised by Moscow — taking a U-turn from his recent comment that supplies had begun to arrive. Meanwhile, Ukraine is also expected to launch a counteroffensive in the east and south. (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.

Russia launches new attack on Ukraine on Moscow's Victory Day

Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in India last week to attend the&nbsp;Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting as he discussed issues of mutual interest with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and reviewed bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation.&nbsp;

On the sidelines of SCO's Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, Lavrov told reporters that Russia has accumulated billions of rupees in Indian banks which it can't use.&nbsp;

Bloomberg in its report mentioned that Lavrov was apparently pointing out the expansion of the trade surplus with India.&nbsp;

Lavrov said, "This is a problem. We need to use this money. But for this, these rupees must be transferred in another currency, and this is being discussed now."&nbsp;

Lavrov basically inquired about the media reports which claimed that New Delhi and Moscow have suspended talks to settle bilateral trade in Rupees.&nbsp;

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry data showed an increase in the imports of nearly fivefold to $41.56 billion. Meanwhile, the total exports to Russia diminished by 11.6 per cent to $2.8 billion in the first 11 months of the 2022-23 financial year, Bloomberg reported citing the data.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that the spike came as refiners scooped up discounted Russian oil in the past year after Russia's invasion of&nbsp;&nbsp;Ukraine amid Western sanctions.&nbsp;

A data intelligence firm Vortexa Ltd stated that imports of Russian crude by India reached a record 1.68 million barrels a day in April, up sixfold from a year earlier.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Russia refuted media reports claiming that New Delhi and Moscow have suspended talks to settle bilateral trade in rupees. A Russian official, on Thursday, told news agency ANI, "No change in bilateral developments, Wishful thinking by Western news agencies."&nbsp;

Even earlier, during the visit of Deputy Governor of Moscow Region Ekaterina Zinoveva, she talked about the consideration of widening the use of "national currencies".&nbsp;

She stated that the payments are available between Rupee and Ruble and Ruble Rupee on the territory of the Russian Federation. She said, "We are giving full financial support to partners in India. For example, our number one bank in Russia has a branch in India that is giving full cooperation to Indian investors."&nbsp;

<h2>Jaishankar and Lavrov's talks</h2>

Jaishankar and Lavrov also discussed issues related to G20 and BRICS. Jaishankar said in a tweet: "Comprehensive review of our bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Appreciated Russia`s support for India's SCO presidency. Also discussed issues pertaining to G20 and BRICS."&nbsp;

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in the statement that the two sides agreed to continue following "the course of building a fair multipolar system of interstate relations".&nbsp;

The statement further added that the ministers appreciated the dynamics of cooperation in key areas of the specially privileged strategic partnership between the two countries.&nbsp;

"The intention was confirmed to strengthen coordination activities to develop common approaches within the framework of interaction at the most important international platforms, including the SCO, BRICS, the UN and the G20," the statement said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in India last week to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting as he discussed issues of mutual interest with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and reviewed bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation.

Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in India last week to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting as he discussed issues of mutual interest with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and reviewed bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation. On the sidelines of SCO's Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, Lavrov told reporters that Russia has accumulated billions of rupees in Indian banks which it can't use. Bloomberg in its report mentioned that Lavrov was apparently pointing out the expansion of the trade surplus with India. Lavrov said, "This is a problem. We need to use this money. But for this, these rupees must be transferred in another currency, and this is being discussed now." Lavrov basically inquired about the media reports which claimed that New Delhi and Moscow have suspended talks to settle bilateral trade in Rupees. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry data showed an increase in the imports of nearly fivefold to $41.56 billion. Meanwhile, the total exports to Russia diminished by 11.6 per cent to $2.8 billion in the first 11 months of the 2022-23 financial year, Bloomberg reported citing the data. The report mentioned that the spike came as refiners scooped up discounted Russian oil in the past year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine amid Western sanctions. A data intelligence firm Vortexa Ltd stated that imports of Russian crude by India reached a record 1.68 million barrels a day in April, up sixfold from a year earlier. Meanwhile, Russia refuted media reports claiming that New Delhi and Moscow have suspended talks to settle bilateral trade in rupees. A Russian official, on Thursday, told news agency ANI, "No change in bilateral developments, Wishful thinking by Western news agencies." Even earlier, during the visit of Deputy Governor of Moscow Region Ekaterina Zinoveva, she talked about the consideration of widening the use of "national currencies". She stated that the payments are available between Rupee and Ruble and Ruble Rupee on the territory of the Russian Federation. She said, "We are giving full financial support to partners in India. For example, our number one bank in Russia has a branch in India that is giving full cooperation to Indian investors." Jaishankar and Lavrov's talks Jaishankar and Lavrov also discussed issues related to G20 and BRICS. Jaishankar said in a tweet: "Comprehensive review of our bilateral, global and multilateral cooperation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Appreciated Russia`s support for India's SCO presidency. Also discussed issues pertaining to G20 and BRICS." In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in the statement that the two sides agreed to continue following "the course of building a fair multipolar system of interstate relations". The statement further added that the ministers appreciated the dynamics of cooperation in key areas of the specially privileged strategic partnership between the two countries. "The intention was confirmed to strengthen coordination activities to develop common approaches within the framework of interaction at the most important international platforms, including the SCO, BRICS, the UN and the G20," the statement 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.

Russia accumulated billions of rupees in Indian banks. But why can't it use it?

A Chinese invasion of Taiwan or an attack as early as 2025 on the island nation could cost the world economy $1 trillion, Taipei Times reported citing an estimate by intelligence officials in the United States.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that US Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, presented a "general estimate" during testimony before the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.&nbsp;

The top US intelligence official said,&nbsp;"A Chinese invasion of Taiwan could halt production by the world’s largest advanced chipmaker, wiping out up to USD 1 trillion per year from the global economy in the first few years."&nbsp;

Beijing views self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and even claimed that, in case needed, it will use force to unite the two territories. It&nbsp;also claims that Taiwan will defy China's one-nation policy by pushing for formal independence.&nbsp;

In case China invades Taiwan, experts have said&nbsp;that it would put a massive impact on the global supply chains as the island is a major supplier of semiconductors—a key component of nearly all modern electronics.&nbsp;

Haines said that the advanced semiconductors produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) are used in 90 per cent of "almost every category of electronic device around the world".&nbsp;

Meanwhile, she stated that&nbsp;TSMC is investing $40 million to build two sophisticated wafer fabs in Arizona to deal with that risk.&nbsp;

An act of invasion will also lead to a Western fury, inciting China's isolation and pushing Beijing and Washington closer than ever to a direct military conflict. It put will also put an end to Taiwan's hard-won democratic liberties.&nbsp;

Haines further noted that said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is not only wanting to unify Taiwan in a "peaceful" manner but also preparing a possible military action to achieve that goal.&nbsp;

Last month, Xi asked the military forces to focus on "strengthening the military training oriented towards actual combat" and that the military must "resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability".&nbsp;

Haines&nbsp;said, "I think we continue to assess that he [Xi] would prefer to achieve unification of Taiwan through peaceful means."&nbsp;

The report further Haines as saying that if a Chinese invasion stopped TSMC from producing those chips, it will have an enormous global financial impact that runs somewhere between $600 billion to $1 trillion on an annual basis for the first few years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"It will also have an impact on [US] GDP if there was such an invasion of Taiwan and that [TSMC’s production] was blocked," she also said.&nbsp;

Such an act will also put China in a tight spot, leading to a large impact on its economy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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A Chinese invasion of Taiwan or an attack as early as 2025 on the island nation could cost the world economy $1 trillion, Taipei Times reported citing an estimate by intelligence officials in the United States.

A Chinese invasion of Taiwan or an attack as early as 2025 on the island nation could cost the world economy $1 trillion, Taipei Times reported citing an estimate by intelligence officials in the United States. The report mentioned that US Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, presented a "general estimate" during testimony before the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. The top US intelligence official said, "A Chinese invasion of Taiwan could halt production by the world’s largest advanced chipmaker, wiping out up to USD 1 trillion per year from the global economy in the first few years." Beijing views self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and even claimed that, in case needed, it will use force to unite the two territories. It also claims that Taiwan will defy China's one-nation policy by pushing for formal independence. In case China invades Taiwan, experts have said that it would put a massive impact on the global supply chains as the island is a major supplier of semiconductors—a key component of nearly all modern electronics. Haines said that the advanced semiconductors produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) are used in 90 per cent of "almost every category of electronic device around the world". Meanwhile, she stated that TSMC is investing $40 million to build two sophisticated wafer fabs in Arizona to deal with that risk. An act of invasion will also lead to a Western fury, inciting China's isolation and pushing Beijing and Washington closer than ever to a direct military conflict. It put will also put an end to Taiwan's hard-won democratic liberties. Haines further noted that said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is not only wanting to unify Taiwan in a "peaceful" manner but also preparing a possible military action to achieve that goal. Last month, Xi asked the military forces to focus on "strengthening the military training oriented towards actual combat" and that the military must "resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability". Haines said, "I think we continue to assess that he [Xi] would prefer to achieve unification of Taiwan through peaceful means." The report further Haines as saying that if a Chinese invasion stopped TSMC from producing those chips, it will have an enormous global financial impact that runs somewhere between $600 billion to $1 trillion on an annual basis for the first few years. "It will also have an impact on [US] GDP if there was such an invasion of Taiwan and that [TSMC’s production] was blocked," she also said. Such an act will also put China in a tight spot, leading to a large impact on its economy. (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.

Chinese invasion of Taiwan as early as 2025 could cost world economy $1 trillion: Report

At least five people were reportedly injured in Kviv after Russia launched a fresh overnight assault across Ukraine in the wee hours of Monday.&nbsp;

News agency Reuters reported while citing an official that an explosion was heard following a missile attack that hit the Black Sea city of Odesa overnight. The official also mentioned that air raid alerts rang out in other regions of the country including the capital, Kyiv.&nbsp;

As quoted, Serhiy Bratchuk, who is a spokesperson for the Odesa military administration, said on his Telegram channel that "there has been an enemy missile attack."

"Air defence is working on the outskirts of Kyiv!" Kyiv's military administration said on its Telegram channel, and issued a warning that "stay in the shelters until the air raid alarm goes off!"&nbsp;

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Vitali Klitschko, Kyiv mayor provided details on his Telegram channel as he said that three people were injured in the city's Solomyanskyi district. He added that two others were injured when drone wreckage fell on a building in the Sviatoshyn district.&nbsp;

The city's military administration noted in a post on Telegram: "Likely as a result of debris falling on a parked car in the yard of a residential building, the car caught fire. There is a recorded fall of debris on a residential building."&nbsp;

According to Kyiv's military administration, drone wreckage fell on a runway of the Zhuliany airport, one of the two passenger airports of the Ukrainian capital. No casualties were reported so far.&nbsp;

The strikes were reported at a time when Moscow is preparing for its cherished Victory Day holiday that marks the anniversary of its defeat of Nazi Germany.&nbsp;

<h2>Battle of Bakhmut&nbsp;</h2>

The battle of Bakhmut has been intensified as Ukraine's top general in charge of the defence of the besieged city said that Russia hopes to take it by Tuesday.&nbsp;

Bakhmut remained a flashpoint in the ongoing Ukraine war as Russian troops have battled since last summer to capture Bakhmut. Experts have noted that the city has a political importance which has come to surpass any strategic value.&nbsp;

On Saturday, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, visited the eastern front and in a statement published on Sunday, he said, "The enemy is not going to change its plans and is doing everything possible to take control of Bakhmut."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the head of the Wagner mercenary group said on Sunday that Russia had promised his fighters enough ammunition to stay in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. He had earlier threatened to pull out.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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At least five people were reportedly injured in Kviv after Russia launched a fresh overnight assault across Ukraine in the wee hours of Monday. News agency Reuters reported while citing an official that an explosion was heard following a missile attack that hit the Black Sea city of Odesa overnight.

At least five people were reportedly injured in Kviv after Russia launched a fresh overnight assault across Ukraine in the wee hours of Monday. News agency Reuters reported while citing an official that an explosion was heard following a missile attack that hit the Black Sea city of Odesa overnight. The official also mentioned that air raid alerts rang out in other regions of the country including the capital, Kyiv. As quoted, Serhiy Bratchuk, who is a spokesperson for the Odesa military administration, said on his Telegram channel that "there has been an enemy missile attack." "Air defence is working on the outskirts of Kyiv!" Kyiv's military administration said on its Telegram channel, and issued a warning that "stay in the shelters until the air raid alarm goes off!" Watch this report: × Vitali Klitschko, Kyiv mayor provided details on his Telegram channel as he said that three people were injured in the city's Solomyanskyi district. He added that two others were injured when drone wreckage fell on a building in the Sviatoshyn district. The city's military administration noted in a post on Telegram: "Likely as a result of debris falling on a parked car in the yard of a residential building, the car caught fire. There is a recorded fall of debris on a residential building." According to Kyiv's military administration, drone wreckage fell on a runway of the Zhuliany airport, one of the two passenger airports of the Ukrainian capital. No casualties were reported so far. The strikes were reported at a time when Moscow is preparing for its cherished Victory Day holiday that marks the anniversary of its defeat of Nazi Germany. Battle of Bakhmut The battle of Bakhmut has been intensified as Ukraine's top general in charge of the defence of the besieged city said that Russia hopes to take it by Tuesday. Bakhmut remained a flashpoint in the ongoing Ukraine war as Russian troops have battled since last summer to capture Bakhmut. Experts have noted that the city has a political importance which has come to surpass any strategic value. On Saturday, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, visited the eastern front and in a statement published on Sunday, he said, "The enemy is not going to change its plans and is doing everything possible to take control of Bakhmut." Meanwhile, the head of the Wagner mercenary group said on Sunday that Russia had promised his fighters enough ammunition to stay in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. He had earlier threatened to pull out. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (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.

Russia launches wave of fresh strikes across Ukraine, five injured

Another shooting incident rocked the United States when a gunman shot and killed eight people and injured at least seven others at a busy mall north of Dallas on Saturday (May 6).&nbsp;

The gunman has been identified as Mauricio Garcia, officials said, further adding that the suspect had apparently interacted with neo-Nazi and white supremacist content online, NBC News reported, citing two senior law enforcement officials.&nbsp;

But the reports are being probed as a law enforcement official told Associated Press that federal officials are looking to identify the motive behind the deadly attack.&nbsp;

In its report, the US-based media outlet further mentioned that the 33-year-old suspect posted such content himself. He also consumed such content online and had several social media accounts. The accounts were not verified yet.&nbsp;

The gunman was killed by a police officer and the authorities reportedly found him with a patch, which had a right-wing acronym, on his chest. The official said that the patch read "RWDS," an acronym for the phrase "Right Wing Death Squad". RWDS is quite popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups. &nbsp;

He was armed with tactical gear and an AR-15-style rifle at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;

Chief Brian Harvey of the Allen police department said that a police officer was in the mall on an unrelated call when gunfire broke out around 3:30 pm (2030 GMT).&nbsp;

Harvey added, "He heard gunshots, went to the gunshots, engaged the suspect and neutralised the suspect. He also then called for ambulances."&nbsp;

Fire chief Jonathan Boyd of Allen, Texas, said that the authorities found seven deceased individuals on the scene. "We transported nine individuals to the hospital... Of those we transported, two have since died," Boyd added.&nbsp;

<h2>Who was Mauricio Garcia?&nbsp;</h2>

Apart from reports on his ideologies, other details about the shooting suspect are not yet known. CBS News Texas in its reports quoted neighbours as saying that they didn't know a lot about the gunman, who did not have a serious criminal record.

The members of the locality also told the media outlet that Garcia used to come and go to work. He used to be donned in a uniform that looked similar to a security guard's, but they&nbsp;said he kept to himself mostly.&nbsp;

The neighbours also said that they saw FBI personnel remove three-to-four boxes from his parents'&nbsp;home. The officers were seen speaking with them in the front yard.&nbsp;

His neighbour Moises Carreon was quoted as saying: "It sends a chill down your spine. We know our neighbours...but how much do we know about our neighbours? That's kind of the question we'll never know."&nbsp;

Reports mentioned that authorities conducted two search warrants, one was at Garcia's parents' home in northeast Dallas. The other search was at a nearby extended stay where he had recently been living.&nbsp;

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<h2>US gun violence</h2>

The latest act of gun violence is just an addition to the massive problem faced by the nation and civilians at this moment, with US President Joe Biden again urging for a national assault weapons ban and other gun safety measures in order to take action against the&nbsp;gun "epidemic".&nbsp;

Biden tweeted: "Yesterday, an assailant in tactical gear armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon gunned down innocent people in a shopping mall, and not for the first time. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. We need more action, faster to save lives."&nbsp;

"I find no rational reason why assault weapons should be able to be sold. Period. And I promise I'm going to go right at it again when they get back in session," he added.&nbsp;

Just a week earlier, a man shot and killed five neighbours in Cleveland after one of them asked him to stop firing his rifle in his yard at night. Not just in Texas, such incidents have been taking place in other parts of the country as well— several of them triggered by petty disputes.&nbsp;

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has already endured 199 mass shootings this year and the fifth month of this year has just begun. The Gun Violence Archive is a non-governmental organisation that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, according to the Mass Shooting Tracker, the latest Texas mall&nbsp;shooting was the 242nd in the nation this year.

Biden weighed in on the current situation as he said that "too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables. Republican members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug." He said, "Thoughts and prayers are not enough." Biden also ordered US flags lowered to half-staff "as a mark of respect for the victims". &nbsp;

The US has the highest rate of gun deaths amongst any developed country - 49,000 in 2021, up from 45,000 the year before. In America, the US Constitution's Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, which has become a hot topic of debate across the nation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Another shooting incident rocked the United States when a gunman shot and killed eight people and injured at least seven others at a busy mall north of Dallas on Saturday (May 6).

Another shooting incident rocked the United States when a gunman shot and killed eight people and injured at least seven others at a busy mall north of Dallas on Saturday (May 6). The gunman has been identified as Mauricio Garcia, officials said, further adding that the suspect had apparently interacted with neo-Nazi and white supremacist content online, NBC News reported, citing two senior law enforcement officials. But the reports are being probed as a law enforcement official told Associated Press that federal officials are looking to identify the motive behind the deadly attack. In its report, the US-based media outlet further mentioned that the 33-year-old suspect posted such content himself. He also consumed such content online and had several social media accounts. The accounts were not verified yet. The gunman was killed by a police officer and the authorities reportedly found him with a patch, which had a right-wing acronym, on his chest. The official said that the patch read "RWDS," an acronym for the phrase "Right Wing Death Squad". RWDS is quite popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups. He was armed with tactical gear and an AR-15-style rifle at the time of the shooting. Chief Brian Harvey of the Allen police department said that a police officer was in the mall on an unrelated call when gunfire broke out around 3:30 pm (2030 GMT). Harvey added, "He heard gunshots, went to the gunshots, engaged the suspect and neutralised the suspect. He also then called for ambulances." Fire chief Jonathan Boyd of Allen, Texas, said that the authorities found seven deceased individuals on the scene. "We transported nine individuals to the hospital... Of those we transported, two have since died," Boyd added. Who was Mauricio Garcia? Apart from reports on his ideologies, other details about the shooting suspect are not yet known. CBS News Texas in its reports quoted neighbours as saying that they didn't know a lot about the gunman, who did not have a serious criminal record. The members of the locality also told the media outlet that Garcia used to come and go to work. He used to be donned in a uniform that looked similar to a security guard's, but they said he kept to himself mostly. The neighbours also said that they saw FBI personnel remove three-to-four boxes from his parents' home. The officers were seen speaking with them in the front yard. His neighbour Moises Carreon was quoted as saying: "It sends a chill down your spine. We know our neighbours...but how much do we know about our neighbours? That's kind of the question we'll never know." Reports mentioned that authorities conducted two search warrants, one was at Garcia's parents' home in northeast Dallas. The other search was at a nearby extended stay where he had recently been living. Watch this report: × US gun violence The latest act of gun violence is just an addition to the massive problem faced by the nation and civilians at this moment, with US President Joe Biden again urging for a national assault weapons ban and other gun safety measures in order to take action against the gun "epidemic". Biden tweeted: "Yesterday, an assailant in tactical gear armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon gunned down innocent people in a shopping mall, and not for the first time. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. We need more action, faster to save lives." "I find no rational reason why assault weapons should be able to be sold. Period. And I promise I'm going to go right at it again when they get back in session," he added. Just a week earlier, a man shot and killed five neighbours in Cleveland after one of them asked him to stop firing his rifle in his yard at night. Not just in Texas, such incidents have been taking place in other parts of the country as well— several of them triggered by petty disputes. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has already endured 199 mass shootings this year and the fifth month of this year has just begun. The Gun Violence Archive is a non-governmental organisation that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed. Meanwhile, according to the Mass Shooting Tracker, the latest Texas mall shooting was the 242nd in the nation this year. Biden weighed in on the current situation as he said that "too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables. Republican members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug." He said, "Thoughts and prayers are not enough." Biden also ordered US flags lowered to half-staff "as a mark of respect for the victims". The US has the highest rate of gun deaths amongst any developed country - 49,000 in 2021, up from 45,000 the year before. In America, the US Constitution's Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, which has become a hot topic of debate across the nation. (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.

Who was Mauricio Garcia? The Texas shooting suspect had 'neo-Nazi and white supremacist' beliefs

Bolivian general Gary&nbsp;Prado&nbsp;Salmon, who captured communist revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara in 1967, died on Saturday aged 84, his son revealed on social media.

"He was accompanied by his wife and children," wrote Gary&nbsp;Prado&nbsp;Arauz on Facebook.

"He left us a legacy of love, honesty and mettle. He was an amazing person."

Prado&nbsp;Salmon was in charge of a patrol in southwestern Bolivia on October 8, 1967, that captured the Argentine revolutionary, who was injured during the military operation.

A day later, the Bolivian military executed Guevara, who had made his name alongside Fidel Castro during the Cuban communist revolution.

Since mid-April,&nbsp;Prado&nbsp;Salmon had been suffering from health complications and was receiving hospital treatment.

Bolivia's congress declared him a national hero for his role in Guevara's capture.

Prado&nbsp;Salmon was left paralysed after being accidentally shot in the spine in 1981. He retired from the military in 1988.

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Bolivian general Gary Prado Salmon, who captured communist revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara in 1967, died on Saturday aged 84, his son revealed on social media.

Bolivian general Gary Prado Salmon, who captured communist revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara in 1967, died on Saturday aged 84, his son revealed on social media. "He was accompanied by his wife and children," wrote Gary Prado Arauz on Facebook. "He left us a legacy of love, honesty and mettle. He was an amazing person." Prado Salmon was in charge of a patrol in southwestern Bolivia on October 8, 1967, that captured the Argentine revolutionary, who was injured during the military operation. A day later, the Bolivian military executed Guevara, who had made his name alongside Fidel Castro during the Cuban communist revolution. Since mid-April, Prado Salmon had been suffering from health complications and was receiving hospital treatment. Bolivia's congress declared him a national hero for his role in Guevara's capture. Prado Salmon was left paralysed after being accidentally shot in the spine in 1981. He retired from the military in 1988. 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.

Bolivian general who captured 'Che' Guevara dies

One person was reportedly killed and two were left injured in a shooting incident on a Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) train on Sunday in Dallas, Texas, the authorities said, further adding that the suspect is still at large.&nbsp;

DART spokesperson Gordon Shattles said in a statement to CNN that the tragic incident took place after an altercation broke out between two people aboard the train at around 4:30pm (local time).&nbsp;

The verbal fight began over some disagreement between them on the northbound Green Line train near the Hatcher station.&nbsp;

Shattles added that a total of two people were shot and were rushed to a nearby hospital. One of the victims died, the official noted.&nbsp;

DART tweeted that the incident had disrupted the operations of the Green Line train for hours. The authorities were investigating the incident and searching the scene.&nbsp;

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Green Line passengers should expect delays and will need to board a Bus shuttle between MLK and Lawnview stations due to police activity in the area. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
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This comes hours after a gunman shot and killed eight people and injured at least seven others at a busy mall north of Dallas on Saturday (May 6), with US President Joe Biden again urging for a national assault weapons ban and other gun safety measures in order to take action against a gun "epidemic".&nbsp;

Biden tweeted: "Yesterday, an assailant in tactical gear armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon gunned down innocent people in a shopping mall, and not for the first time. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. We need more action, faster to save lives."&nbsp;

"I find no rational reason why assault weapons should be able to be sold. Period. And I promise I'm going to right at it again when they get back in session," he added.&nbsp;

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One person was reportedly killed and two were left injured in a shooting incident on a Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) train on Sunday in Dallas, Texas, the authorities said, further adding that the suspect is still at large.

One person was reportedly killed and two were left injured in a shooting incident on a Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) train on Sunday in Dallas, Texas, the authorities said, further adding that the suspect is still at large. DART spokesperson Gordon Shattles said in a statement to CNN that the tragic incident took place after an altercation broke out between two people aboard the train at around 4:30pm (local time). The verbal fight began over some disagreement between them on the northbound Green Line train near the Hatcher station. Shattles added that a total of two people were shot and were rushed to a nearby hospital. One of the victims died, the official noted. DART tweeted that the incident had disrupted the operations of the Green Line train for hours. The authorities were investigating the incident and searching the scene. Green Line passengers should expect delays and will need to board a Bus shuttle between MLK and Lawnview stations due to police activity in the area. Our apologies for the inconvenience. — DARTAlerts (@DARTAlerts) May 7, 2023 × This comes hours after a gunman shot and killed eight people and injured at least seven others at a busy mall north of Dallas on Saturday (May 6), with US President Joe Biden again urging for a national assault weapons ban and other gun safety measures in order to take action against a gun "epidemic". Biden tweeted: "Yesterday, an assailant in tactical gear armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon gunned down innocent people in a shopping mall, and not for the first time. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. We need more action, faster to save lives." "I find no rational reason why assault weapons should be able to be sold. Period. And I promise I'm going to right at it again when they get back in session," 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.

US: One killed, two injured in shooting incident on DART train in Dallas

A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Hanumangarh in the western state of Rajasthan, killing three people and injuring as many. The news agency ANI reported citing sources that the pilot is safe, with rescue operations underway. The jet crashed during a routine training sortie after suffering a technical snag.&nbsp;

Initial reports mentioned that the jet, which had taken off from Suratgarh, crashed on a house in Bahlolnagar and killed three villagers. According to local media reports, police said that all three killed in the crash were women.&nbsp;A video shared by the news agency showed locals gathering at the crash site. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The pilot, meanwhile, jumped out of the aircraft and landed safely in a drain area with the help of their parachute and sustained minor injuries. Reports mentioned that an IAF helicopter was sent to rescue the injured.&nbsp;

In a tweet, IAF wrote: "A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries."&nbsp;

The air force also mentioned that an inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.&nbsp;

IAF also noted that the "pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection".&nbsp;

Local police have informed about the accident in the Sadar police station area.&nbsp;

Om Prakash, Inspector General of Police, Bikaner, said: "The pilot made all efforts to avert human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of the village."&nbsp;

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A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. 
An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1655446544164995075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed near Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. The aircraft had taken off from Suratgarh. The pilot is safe. More details awaited: IAF Sources <a href="https://t.co/0WOwoU5ASi">pic.twitter.com/0WOwoU5ASi</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1655439620098899968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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MiG-21 jets have served as the backbone of the country's air force for decades after first entering Indian service in the 1960s, but s number of crashes in the past few decades has raised concerns over the planes and their safety.&nbsp;

Last month, an Indian Army chopper crashed in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, near Machhna village in the district's Marwah tehsil. Reports said that three people onboard the chopper sustained injuries.&nbsp;

In March, a Cheetah helicopter crashed near the Mandala hills area in Arunachal Pradesh, killing the pilot and co-pilot. The pilots were identified as Lieutenant Colonel VVB Reddy and Major Jayanth A.&nbsp;

In January, two fighter jets – Sukhoi-30 and Mirage 2000 – crashed near Morena in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, killing one pilot. The air force said that the jets had taken off from Gwalior and the aircraft were on a routine operational flying training mission.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Hanumangarh in the western state of Rajasthan, killing three people and injuring as many. The news agency ANI reported citing sources that the pilot is safe, with rescue operations underway.

A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Hanumangarh in the western state of Rajasthan, killing three people and injuring as many. The news agency ANI reported citing sources that the pilot is safe, with rescue operations underway. The jet crashed during a routine training sortie after suffering a technical snag. Initial reports mentioned that the jet, which had taken off from Suratgarh, crashed on a house in Bahlolnagar and killed three villagers. According to local media reports, police said that all three killed in the crash were women. A video shared by the news agency showed locals gathering at the crash site. The pilot, meanwhile, jumped out of the aircraft and landed safely in a drain area with the help of their parachute and sustained minor injuries. Reports mentioned that an IAF helicopter was sent to rescue the injured. In a tweet, IAF wrote: "A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries." The air force also mentioned that an inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident. IAF also noted that the "pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection". Local police have informed about the accident in the Sadar police station area. Om Prakash, Inspector General of Police, Bikaner, said: "The pilot made all efforts to avert human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of the village." A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident. — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 8, 2023 × #WATCH | Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed near Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. The aircraft had taken off from Suratgarh. The pilot is safe. More details awaited: IAF Sources pic.twitter.com/0WOwoU5ASi — ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2023 × MiG-21 jets have served as the backbone of the country's air force for decades after first entering Indian service in the 1960s, but s number of crashes in the past few decades has raised concerns over the planes and their safety. Last month, an Indian Army chopper crashed in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, near Machhna village in the district's Marwah tehsil. Reports said that three people onboard the chopper sustained injuries. In March, a Cheetah helicopter crashed near the Mandala hills area in Arunachal Pradesh, killing the pilot and co-pilot. The pilots were identified as Lieutenant Colonel VVB Reddy and Major Jayanth A. In January, two fighter jets – Sukhoi-30 and Mirage 2000 – crashed near Morena in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, killing one pilot. The air force said that the jets had taken off from Gwalior and the aircraft were on a routine operational flying training mission. (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: IAF MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan, killing at least three civilians; rescue operation underway

A statement released by Myanmar's junta on Wednesday (May 3) revealed that it had pardoned 2,153 prisoners. The statement mentioned that they were jailed under a law that criminalises encouraging dissent against the military and carries a maximum three-year jail term. Junta has used the same law to crack down on dissent since it seized power in February 2021.

The junta in a statement noted that the military pardoned "2,153 prisoners serving sentences under Penal Code 505 (a) to mark Kasone Full Moon Day".&nbsp;

The statement said that the military ordered the pardons "for the peaceful mind of the people and on humanitarian grounds" and further added that those who re-offend will have to serve the remainder of their sentence. There will be an additional penalty.&nbsp;

The Myanmar junta seized power in the country on February 1, 2021, through a coup. India, in view of the cross-border issues, has retained ties with the junta-led South Asian nation. However, many countries have condemned the junta and called for a return to democracy.&nbsp;

After seizing power and ousting Aung San Suu Kyi's government, more than 21,000 people have been arrested. The crisis has plunged the country into turmoil, according to a local monitoring group. The United Nations stated that at least 170 journalists have been arrested.&nbsp;

Suu Kyi is still in jail since she was detained in the early hours of the coup. Last year in December, the junta wrapped up a series of trials and jailed her for a total of 33 years.&nbsp;

Apart from the arrest, the monitoring group claimed that more than 3,400 people have been killed in the military's crackdown on dissent since the coup.&nbsp;

The junta has been accused of committing human rights abuses, including violence against peaceful protesters, arbitrary detentions, and the use of lethal force against civilians.&nbsp;

<h2>Chinese minister visits Myanmar</h2>

The latest decision about pardoning the prisoners comes as the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is visiting Myanmar for talks with the internationally isolated generals and met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. Qin became the highest-profile Chinese official to meet the top general since the coup.&nbsp;

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Qin said, "China advocates that the international community should respect Myanmar's sovereignty and play a constructive role in helping it achieve peace and reconciliation." Recently, several Beijing-backed infrastructure projects are slated to run through northern Myanmar and link China's landlocked Yunnan province with the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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A statement released by Myanmar's junta on Wednesday (May 3) revealed that it had pardoned 2,153 prisoners. The statement mentioned that they were jailed under a law that criminalises encouraging dissent against the military and carries a maximum three-year jail term.

A statement released by Myanmar's junta on Wednesday (May 3) revealed that it had pardoned 2,153 prisoners. The statement mentioned that they were jailed under a law that criminalises encouraging dissent against the military and carries a maximum three-year jail term. Junta has used the same law to crack down on dissent since it seized power in February 2021. The junta in a statement noted that the military pardoned "2,153 prisoners serving sentences under Penal Code 505 (a) to mark Kasone Full Moon Day". The statement said that the military ordered the pardons "for the peaceful mind of the people and on humanitarian grounds" and further added that those who re-offend will have to serve the remainder of their sentence. There will be an additional penalty. The Myanmar junta seized power in the country on February 1, 2021, through a coup. India, in view of the cross-border issues, has retained ties with the junta-led South Asian nation. However, many countries have condemned the junta and called for a return to democracy. After seizing power and ousting Aung San Suu Kyi's government, more than 21,000 people have been arrested. The crisis has plunged the country into turmoil, according to a local monitoring group. The United Nations stated that at least 170 journalists have been arrested. Suu Kyi is still in jail since she was detained in the early hours of the coup. Last year in December, the junta wrapped up a series of trials and jailed her for a total of 33 years. Apart from the arrest, the monitoring group claimed that more than 3,400 people have been killed in the military's crackdown on dissent since the coup. The junta has been accused of committing human rights abuses, including violence against peaceful protesters, arbitrary detentions, and the use of lethal force against civilians. Chinese minister visits Myanmar The latest decision about pardoning the prisoners comes as the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is visiting Myanmar for talks with the internationally isolated generals and met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. Qin became the highest-profile Chinese official to meet the top general since the coup. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Qin said, "China advocates that the international community should respect Myanmar's sovereignty and play a constructive role in helping it achieve peace and reconciliation." Recently, several Beijing-backed infrastructure projects are slated to run through northern Myanmar and link China's landlocked Yunnan province with the Indian Ocean. (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.

Myanmar junta pardons 2,153 prisoners jailed for dissent against military

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Zee News Rajasthan

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