<p>Italy's data protection agency said on Wednesday it would lift its temporary ban on OpenAI's ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) technology if the U.S. company complied with data protection and privacy demands by end-April.</p>

<p>Rapid advances in&nbsp;AI&nbsp;such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT are complicating governments' efforts to agree on laws governing the use of the technology.</p>

<p>Here are the latest steps national and international governing bodies are taking to regulate&nbsp;AI&nbsp;tools:</p>

<p><strong>AUSTRALIA</strong></p>

<p>The government requested advice on how to respond to&nbsp;AI&nbsp;from Australia's main science advisory body and is considering next steps, a spokesperson for the industry and science minister said on April 12.</p>

<p><strong>BRITAIN</strong></p>

<p>Britain said in March it plans to split responsibility for governing&nbsp;AI&nbsp;between its regulators for human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than creating a new body.</p>

<p><strong>CHINA</strong></p>

<p>China's cyberspace regulator on April 11 unveiled draft measures to manage generative&nbsp;AI&nbsp;services, saying it wants firms to submit security assessments to authorities before they launch offerings to the public.</p>

<p>China's capital Beijing will support leading enterprises in building&nbsp;AI&nbsp;models that can challenge ChatGPT, its economy and information technology bureau said in February.</p>

<p><strong>EUROPEAN UNION</strong></p>

<p>EU lawmakers are discussing introduction of the European Union&nbsp;AI&nbsp;Act that will govern anyone who provides a product or a service that uses&nbsp;AI. It will cover systems that can generate output such as content, predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing environments.</p>

<p>Lawmakers have proposed classifying different&nbsp;AI&nbsp;tools according to their perceived level of risk, from low to unacceptable.</p>

<p><strong>FRANCE</strong></p>

<p>The country's privacy watchdog CNIL said on April 11 it was investigating several complaints about ChatGPT after the chatbox was temporarily banned in Italy over a suspected breach of privacy rules.</p>

<p>France's National Assembly approved in March the use of&nbsp;AI&nbsp;video surveillance during the 2024 Paris Olympics, overlooking warnings from civil rights groups that the technology posed a threat to civil liberties.</p>

<p><strong>ITALY</strong></p>

<p>Italy imposed a temporary ban on OpenAI's ChatGPT on March 31 after the national data agency raised concerns over possible privacy violations and for failing to verify that users were aged 13 or above, as it had requested.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, its data protection agency set an end-April deadline for OpenAI&nbsp;to meet its demands on data protection and privacy before the service can be resumed in the country.</p>

<p><strong>JAPAN</strong></p>

<p>Digital transformation minister Taro Kono said on April 10 he wants the upcoming G7 digital ministers' meeting, set for April 29-30, to discuss&nbsp;AI&nbsp;technologies including ChatGPT and issue a unified G7 message.</p>

<p><strong>SPAIN</strong></p>

<p>Spain's data protection agency has asked the EU's privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT, the agency told Reuters on April 11.</p>

<p><strong>US</strong></p>

<p>The Biden administration said on April 11 it is seeking public comments on potential accountability measures for&nbsp;AI&nbsp;systems. President Joe Biden had earlier told science and technology advisers that&nbsp;AI&nbsp;could help in addressing disease and climate change, but it was also important to address potential risks to society, national security and the economy.</p>

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Italy's data protection agency said on Wednesday it would lift its temporary ban on OpenAI's ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) technology if the U.S. company complied with data protection and privacy demands by end-April.

Italy's data protection agency said on Wednesday it would lift its temporary ban on OpenAI's ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) technology if the U.S. company complied with data protection and privacy demands by end-April. Rapid advances in AI such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT are complicating governments' efforts to agree on laws governing the use of the technology. Here are the latest steps national and international governing bodies are taking to regulate AI tools: AUSTRALIA The government requested advice on how to respond to AI from Australia's main science advisory body and is considering next steps, a spokesperson for the industry and science minister said on April 12. BRITAIN Britain said in March it plans to split responsibility for governing AI between its regulators for human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than creating a new body. CHINA China's cyberspace regulator on April 11 unveiled draft measures to manage generative AI services, saying it wants firms to submit security assessments to authorities before they launch offerings to the public. China's capital Beijing will support leading enterprises in building AI models that can challenge ChatGPT, its economy and information technology bureau said in February. EUROPEAN UNION EU lawmakers are discussing introduction of the European Union AI Act that will govern anyone who provides a product or a service that uses AI. It will cover systems that can generate output such as content, predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing environments. Lawmakers have proposed classifying different AI tools according to their perceived level of risk, from low to unacceptable. FRANCE The country's privacy watchdog CNIL said on April 11 it was investigating several complaints about ChatGPT after the chatbox was temporarily banned in Italy over a suspected breach of privacy rules. France's National Assembly approved in March the use of AI video surveillance during the 2024 Paris Olympics, overlooking warnings from civil rights groups that the technology posed a threat to civil liberties. ITALY Italy imposed a temporary ban on OpenAI's ChatGPT on March 31 after the national data agency raised concerns over possible privacy violations and for failing to verify that users were aged 13 or above, as it had requested. On Wednesday, its data protection agency set an end-April deadline for OpenAI to meet its demands on data protection and privacy before the service can be resumed in the country. JAPAN Digital transformation minister Taro Kono said on April 10 he wants the upcoming G7 digital ministers' meeting, set for April 29-30, to discuss AI technologies including ChatGPT and issue a unified G7 message. SPAIN Spain's data protection agency has asked the EU's privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT, the agency told Reuters on April 11. US The Biden administration said on April 11 it is seeking public comments on potential accountability measures for AI systems. President Joe Biden had earlier told science and technology advisers that AI could help in addressing disease and climate change, but it was also important to address potential risks to society, national security and the economy. 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.

From China to US,  governments are making efforts to regulate AI tools

<p>Police said on Thursday that another Army soldier died reportedly of a gunshot wound in Bathinda, a city India's western state of Punjab, an incident not linked to firing that killed four jawans at a military station on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News agencies reported citing police that the soldier died due to a bullet injury after his service weapon went off accidentally. The Army released a statement noting that the soldier was rushed to the military hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. The Army mentioned that the soldier, Laghu Raj Shankar, had returned from leave on April 11.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police have also started an investigation into this matter after a police station in the cantonment received a complaint on Wednesday about the accidental death.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Army said: "A soldier died of a gunshot wound at approximately 4:30 pm on April 12 at Bathinda Military Station. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region," it said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Army further noted that the case purportedly seems to be of "attempted suicide" but a senior official argued that it could be a case of accidental firing as well.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Army Jawan dies of gunshot wound in Punjab's Bhatinda, no link to military station firing<br />
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Read <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ANI</a> Story | <a href="https://t.co/lhBoyv3Tak">https://t.co/lhBoyv3Tak</a><br />
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<p>The Army clarified that there is no connection with the incident that took place at Bathinda Military Station on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bathinda Cantt Station House Officer (SHP) Gurdeep Singh said they received information regarding the death of the soldier on Wednesday evening. The SHO said: "We were informed by the Army and a case has been registered. Prima facie it appears to be an accidental firing case."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Police said on Thursday that another Army soldier died reportedly of a gunshot wound in Bathinda, a city India's western state of Punjab, an incident not linked to firing that killed four jawans at a military station on Wednesday.

Police said on Thursday that another Army soldier died reportedly of a gunshot wound in Bathinda, a city India's western state of Punjab, an incident not linked to firing that killed four jawans at a military station on Wednesday. News agencies reported citing police that the soldier died due to a bullet injury after his service weapon went off accidentally. The Army released a statement noting that the soldier was rushed to the military hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. The Army mentioned that the soldier, Laghu Raj Shankar, had returned from leave on April 11. Police have also started an investigation into this matter after a police station in the cantonment received a complaint on Wednesday about the accidental death. The Army said: "A soldier died of a gunshot wound at approximately 4:30 pm on April 12 at Bathinda Military Station. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon." "The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region," it said in a statement. The Army further noted that the case purportedly seems to be of "attempted suicide" but a senior official argued that it could be a case of accidental firing as well. Army Jawan dies of gunshot wound in Punjab's Bhatinda, no link to military station firing Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/lhBoyv3Tak #militarystationfiring #Punjab #Bhatinda pic.twitter.com/HQXVw9PRr8 — ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 13, 2023 × The Army clarified that there is no connection with the incident that took place at Bathinda Military Station on Wednesday. Bathinda Cantt Station House Officer (SHP) Gurdeep Singh said they received information regarding the death of the soldier on Wednesday evening. The SHO said: "We were informed by the Army and a case has been registered. Prima facie it appears to be an accidental firing case." (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: Army soldier dies of gunshot wound at Bathinda military station, attempted 'suicide' suspected

<p>A shooting incident in Evanston, Illinois killed at least one man and injured two teens at an Evanston beach and Northwestern University was placed under a lockdown for over an hour, Fox News reported on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local media reports claimed that the shooting happened in Centennial Park in front of Clark Street Beach, in the 1800 block of Sheridan Road in Evanston.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local authorities released a few details of those who were injured and died in the incident. Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew said two 15-year-old boys were wounded, one of whom was in critical condition. An 18-year-old was killed in the shooting.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Police are responding to shots fired at Clark St. Beach just south of Evanston campus. Suspects fled north toward campus. Shelter in place until further notice.</p>
— Northwestern (@NorthwesternU) <a href="https://twitter.com/NorthwesternU/status/1646327878865518592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Officers work the scene where three people were shot, one fatally, at Clark Street Beach near Northwestern University Wednesday evening in Evanston. According to the Evanston Police Department one man was fatally shot, and two 15-year-old boys were also shot. <a href="https://t.co/L2YrwFb5zl">pic.twitter.com/L2YrwFb5zl</a></p>
— armando l sanchez (@mandophotos) <a href="https://twitter.com/mandophotos/status/1646351476975861760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Evanston?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Evanston</a> PD is off at a shooting in the 1800 block of Sheridan. This incident is not affiliated with <a href="https://twitter.com/NorthwesternU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NorthwesternU</a> . Police are on the scene. No indication of an active shooter. More info coming.</p>
— Evanston, IL Police (@EvanstonPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanstonPD/status/1646330670254358529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>As quoted by CBS News, witness Beatrix Kovacs said: "We heard like about 10 gunshots, and we were sitting at the bench, and we thought it was fireworks – so we're like just relaxing. And people are running, and they're like, 'Oh, run, it's gunshots!' So we're like, 'Okay, let's get out of here.'"&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kovacs added, "And then we are walking this way, and people start screaming: 'There's a body! There's a body!' to the police, and then they started giving him CPR, but I don't know. They took him away."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another witness Ben Maisel said as quoted by the media outlet: "I heard some shots and people running, and police converged over here."&nbsp;</p>

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A shooting incident in Evanston, Illinois killed at least one man and injured two teens at an Evanston beach and Northwestern University was placed under a lockdown for over an hour, Fox News reported on Thursday.

A shooting incident in Evanston, Illinois killed at least one man and injured two teens at an Evanston beach and Northwestern University was placed under a lockdown for over an hour, Fox News reported on Thursday. Local media reports claimed that the shooting happened in Centennial Park in front of Clark Street Beach, in the 1800 block of Sheridan Road in Evanston. Local authorities released a few details of those who were injured and died in the incident. Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew said two 15-year-old boys were wounded, one of whom was in critical condition. An 18-year-old was killed in the shooting. Police are responding to shots fired at Clark St. Beach just south of Evanston campus. Suspects fled north toward campus. Shelter in place until further notice. — Northwestern (@NorthwesternU) April 13, 2023 × Officers work the scene where three people were shot, one fatally, at Clark Street Beach near Northwestern University Wednesday evening in Evanston. According to the Evanston Police Department one man was fatally shot, and two 15-year-old boys were also shot. pic.twitter.com/L2YrwFb5zl — armando l sanchez (@mandophotos) April 13, 2023 × #Evanston PD is off at a shooting in the 1800 block of Sheridan. This incident is not affiliated with @NorthwesternU . Police are on the scene. No indication of an active shooter. More info coming. — Evanston, IL Police (@EvanstonPD) April 13, 2023 × As quoted by CBS News, witness Beatrix Kovacs said: "We heard like about 10 gunshots, and we were sitting at the bench, and we thought it was fireworks – so we're like just relaxing. And people are running, and they're like, 'Oh, run, it's gunshots!' So we're like, 'Okay, let's get out of here.'" Kovacs added, "And then we are walking this way, and people start screaming: 'There's a body! There's a body!' to the police, and then they started giving him CPR, but I don't know. They took him away." Another witness Ben Maisel said as quoted by the media outlet: "I heard some shots and people running, and police converged over here." 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.

Evanston beach shooting kills one, lockdown orders for Northwestern University lifted

<p>E-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc has agreed to pay $462 million to settle claims by six U.S. states including New York and California that it unlawfully marketed its addictive products to minors, the states announced on Wednesday (April 12).</p>

<p>With the deal, Juul has now settled with 45 states for more than $1 billion. The company did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, which also included Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Mexico as well as the District of Columbia.</p>

<p>The states had accused Juul of falsely marketing its e-cigarettes as less addictive than cigarettes and targeted minors with glamorous advertising campaigns.</p>

<p>"Juul's lies led to a nationwide public health crisis and put addictive products in the hands of minors who thought they were doing something harmless," New York Attorney General Letitia James said at a news conference.</p>

<p>The company said that use of its products by people under age 18 had fallen by 95% since the fall of 2019, when it changed its marketing practices as part of a "company-wide reset."</p>

<p>"With this settlement, we are nearing total resolution of the company's historical legal challenges and securing certainty for our future," Juul said in a statement.</p>

<p>Juul is still facing a lawsuit by Minnesota, where a trial is currently underway, as well as lawsuits or open investigations by Florida, Michigan, Maine and Alaska. In addition to the state settlements, the company last year agreed to pay $1.7 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits by local government entities and individual consumers.</p>

<p>Under pressure from regulators, Juul in 2019 pulled most of its flavours from the market and halted much of its advertising. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last June briefly banned the products, though it put the ban on hold and agreed to reconsider the action after the company appealed.</p>

<p>Juul's former largest investor, Marlboro cigarette maker Altria Group Inc, is also facing claims over its alleged role in marketing Juul's e-cigarettes, and has not settled.</p>

<p>Altria last month announced that it had given up its investment in Juul in exchange for some of Juul's intellectual property. As of December, its share of Juul was valued at $250 million, down from $12.8 billion in 2018.</p>

<p>The head of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products said last year that adolescent e-cigarette use in the United States remained at "concerning levels" and posed a serious public health risk. Federal health officials said last October that an estimated 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes during a four-month span earlier in 2022.</p>

<p>Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the addictive substance present in regular cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products, and nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also has said using nicotine in adolescence may raise the risk for future addiction to other drugs.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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E-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc has agreed to pay $462 million to settle claims by six U.S. states including New York and California that it unlawfully marketed its addictive products to minors, the states announced on Wednesday (April 12).

E-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc has agreed to pay $462 million to settle claims by six U.S. states including New York and California that it unlawfully marketed its addictive products to minors, the states announced on Wednesday (April 12). With the deal, Juul has now settled with 45 states for more than $1 billion. The company did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, which also included Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Mexico as well as the District of Columbia. The states had accused Juul of falsely marketing its e-cigarettes as less addictive than cigarettes and targeted minors with glamorous advertising campaigns. "Juul's lies led to a nationwide public health crisis and put addictive products in the hands of minors who thought they were doing something harmless," New York Attorney General Letitia James said at a news conference. The company said that use of its products by people under age 18 had fallen by 95% since the fall of 2019, when it changed its marketing practices as part of a "company-wide reset." "With this settlement, we are nearing total resolution of the company's historical legal challenges and securing certainty for our future," Juul said in a statement. Juul is still facing a lawsuit by Minnesota, where a trial is currently underway, as well as lawsuits or open investigations by Florida, Michigan, Maine and Alaska. In addition to the state settlements, the company last year agreed to pay $1.7 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits by local government entities and individual consumers. Under pressure from regulators, Juul in 2019 pulled most of its flavours from the market and halted much of its advertising. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last June briefly banned the products, though it put the ban on hold and agreed to reconsider the action after the company appealed. Juul's former largest investor, Marlboro cigarette maker Altria Group Inc, is also facing claims over its alleged role in marketing Juul's e-cigarettes, and has not settled. Altria last month announced that it had given up its investment in Juul in exchange for some of Juul's intellectual property. As of December, its share of Juul was valued at $250 million, down from $12.8 billion in 2018. The head of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products said last year that adolescent e-cigarette use in the United States remained at "concerning levels" and posed a serious public health risk. Federal health officials said last October that an estimated 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes during a four-month span earlier in 2022. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the addictive substance present in regular cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products, and nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also has said using nicotine in adolescence may raise the risk for future addiction to other drugs. (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: Juul to pay $462 million to six states over youth e-cigarettes addiction claims

<p>Myanmar junta confirmed and justified the airstrike carried out on a village, which killed at least 100 people, on Wednesday, becoming one of the deadliest attacks by the military after seizing power in a coup two years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>CNN in its report highlighted the horrific story after the deadly strikes as it mentioned that the relatives were still recovering the charred bodies and limbs of victims.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US-based media outlet reported that it was a horrific scene at the site of the military airstrike. The witness said that he hid in a tunnel during the attack. While describing the scene, he said that children were dying, women were screaming, and bodies were piled up on the ground.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/unintended-consequence-military-airstrikes-in-myanmar-signal-chinese-claws-sharpened-by-ukraine-war-582003">Unintended consequence: Military airstrikes in Myanmar signal Chinese claws sharpened by Ukraine war</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Another witness, a villager involved in rescue and recovery efforts at Pazi Gyi village, said that the body parts had been strewn across the site of the attack, AFP reported. The villager asked not to be named for safety concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The villager told AFP it was difficult to identify the dead.&nbsp;"We can not identify anymore who is who among the dead because they are all pieces," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | At least&nbsp;100 feared killed by airstrike in Myanmar : Reports&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>Media reports claimed that the strikes were carried out in the remote Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region. However, the official death toll still remains unclear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) strongly condemned air strikes. The group has faced criticism for not doing enough to solve the deepening Myanmar crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The chair of Indonesia said in a statement: "All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians. This would be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustainable peaceful solution in Myanmar."&nbsp;</p>

<p>France has also condemned the incident calling it an "abominable" airstrike on a village by the Myanmar air force. French foreign ministry said in a statement that the strike demonstrated "the strategy of indiscriminate violence the Myanmar junta has inflicted on Myanmar's people for more than two years". The ministry further added that Paris "continues to stand resolutely at the side of the people of Myanmar".&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a local monitoring group, the Myanmar military's crackdown on dissent and armed groups opposed to their rule has left more than 3,200 people dead. The crackdown began after a coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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Myanmar junta confirmed and justified the airstrike carried out on a village, which killed at least 100 people, on Wednesday, becoming one of the deadliest attacks by the military after seizing power in a coup two years ago.

Myanmar junta confirmed and justified the airstrike carried out on a village, which killed at least 100 people, on Wednesday, becoming one of the deadliest attacks by the military after seizing power in a coup two years ago. CNN in its report highlighted the horrific story after the deadly strikes as it mentioned that the relatives were still recovering the charred bodies and limbs of victims. The US-based media outlet reported that it was a horrific scene at the site of the military airstrike. The witness said that he hid in a tunnel during the attack. While describing the scene, he said that children were dying, women were screaming, and bodies were piled up on the ground. ALSO READ | Unintended consequence: Military airstrikes in Myanmar signal Chinese claws sharpened by Ukraine war Another witness, a villager involved in rescue and recovery efforts at Pazi Gyi village, said that the body parts had been strewn across the site of the attack, AFP reported. The villager asked not to be named for safety concerns. The villager told AFP it was difficult to identify the dead. "We can not identify anymore who is who among the dead because they are all pieces," he said. WATCH | At least 100 feared killed by airstrike in Myanmar : Reports × Media reports claimed that the strikes were carried out in the remote Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region. However, the official death toll still remains unclear. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) strongly condemned air strikes. The group has faced criticism for not doing enough to solve the deepening Myanmar crisis. The chair of Indonesia said in a statement: "All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians. This would be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustainable peaceful solution in Myanmar." France has also condemned the incident calling it an "abominable" airstrike on a village by the Myanmar air force. French foreign ministry said in a statement that the strike demonstrated "the strategy of indiscriminate violence the Myanmar junta has inflicted on Myanmar's people for more than two years". The ministry further added that Paris "continues to stand resolutely at the side of the people of Myanmar". According to a local monitoring group, the Myanmar military's crackdown on dissent and armed groups opposed to their rule has left more than 3,200 people dead. The crackdown began after a coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in 2021. (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's airstrikes kill at least 100, leave town with screaming people and body parts everywhere

<p>President Xi Jinping has asked China's military forces to focus on "strengthening the military training oriented towards actual combat", the nation's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday (April 12).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report mentioned that Xi's comments were made during his naval inspection trip on Tuesday. The visit took place hours after the military drills by China's People's Liberation Army in region around Taiwan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The military drills were launched in the aftermath of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States, which angered China. During the visit, Tsai also met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi on Tuesday told the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command Navy that the military must "resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Beijing has also criticised a plan for US forces to use a growing number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;North Korea FIRES ballistic missile into seas between Japan and South Korea&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) mentioned that China has come up with new rules for the recruitment of soldiers in wartime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report noted that veterans have been listed as a priority, which according to military analysts means that it is an enhancement of PLA combat readiness for a war over Taiwan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea, Xi said that China must be "innovative in its concepts and methods of combat".</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said committed to "standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea". The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
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President Xi Jinping has asked China's military forces to focus on "strengthening the military training oriented towards actual combat", the nation's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday (April 12).

President Xi Jinping has asked China's military forces to focus on "strengthening the military training oriented towards actual combat", the nation's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday (April 12). The report mentioned that Xi's comments were made during his naval inspection trip on Tuesday. The visit took place hours after the military drills by China's People's Liberation Army in region around Taiwan. The military drills were launched in the aftermath of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States, which angered China. During the visit, Tsai also met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi on Tuesday told the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command Navy that the military must "resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability". Beijing has also criticised a plan for US forces to use a growing number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan. WATCH | North Korea FIRES ballistic missile into seas between Japan and South Korea × Meanwhile, a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) mentioned that China has come up with new rules for the recruitment of soldiers in wartime. The report noted that veterans have been listed as a priority, which according to military analysts means that it is an enhancement of PLA combat readiness for a war over Taiwan. Amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea, Xi said that China must be "innovative in its concepts and methods of combat". US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said committed to "standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea". The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills this week. (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.

Amid Taiwan tensions, Xi Jinping ask Chinese troops to strengthen training for ‘actual combat’

<p>Uttar Pradesh Police killed murder accused Asad Ahmed, the son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, on Thursday (April 13) in an encounter in Jhansi, a city in the north Indian state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asad was Atiq gang's shooter Ghulam were gunned down by the UP Police. Both Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and had been captured in CCTV footage while committing the murder in daylight.&nbsp;Both were killed during the encounter with the Special Task Force of UP Police.</p>

<p>“Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with an UP STF team,” said UP Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar.<br />
<br />
“Sophisticated foreign made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited. The UP STF team was led by Deputy SP Navendu and Vimal,” he said.<br />
<br />
He said, "Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with the UP STF team."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shanti Devi, who is the mother of slain lawyer Umesh Pal, reacted to the news of Asad's killing. She said: "This is a tribute to my son."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Former MP-Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide killed in an encounter by UP Police in Jhansi<br />
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The two were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case <a href="https://t.co/FEBHQw6NVn">pic.twitter.com/FEBHQw6NVn</a></p>
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<p>Umesh Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. Pal was a key witness in the 2005 murder case of the then BSP MLA Raju Pal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A case was registered on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam and others based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of the offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.</p>

<h2>Gangster Atiq, brother Ashraf in 14-day judicial custody</h2>

<p>Meanwhile, a&nbsp;Prayagraj court sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case.<br />
The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam amid security and remained in court for over two hours.&nbsp;Atiq and Ashraf&nbsp;will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya.<br />
Singh said the arguments on the application for their police custody were yet to be completed.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from&nbsp;agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Uttar Pradesh Police killed murder accused Asad Ahmed, the son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, on Thursday (April 13) in an encounter in Jhansi, a city in the north Indian state.

Uttar Pradesh Police killed murder accused Asad Ahmed, the son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, on Thursday (April 13) in an encounter in Jhansi, a city in the north Indian state. Asad was Atiq gang's shooter Ghulam were gunned down by the UP Police. Both Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and had been captured in CCTV footage while committing the murder in daylight. Both were killed during the encounter with the Special Task Force of UP Police. “Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with an UP STF team,” said UP Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. “Sophisticated foreign made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited. The UP STF team was led by Deputy SP Navendu and Vimal,” he said. He said, "Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with the UP STF team." Shanti Devi, who is the mother of slain lawyer Umesh Pal, reacted to the news of Asad's killing. She said: "This is a tribute to my son." #WATCH | "This is a tribute to my son," says Shanti Devi, mother of slain lawyer Umesh Pal, on police encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide in Jhansi today pic.twitter.com/tCIYxDhOHl — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 × Former MP-Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide killed in an encounter by UP Police in Jhansi The two were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case pic.twitter.com/FEBHQw6NVn — ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2023 × Umesh Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. Pal was a key witness in the 2005 murder case of the then BSP MLA Raju Pal. A case was registered on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam and others based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal. The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of the offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Gangster Atiq, brother Ashraf in 14-day judicial custody Meanwhile, a Prayagraj court sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam amid security and remained in court for over two hours. Atiq and Ashraf will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. Singh said the arguments on the application for their police custody were yet to be completed. (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: Gangster Atiq Ahmed’s son killed in ‘encounter’ by Uttar Pradesh Police

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday (April 12) that being an ally of the United States did not mean being a "vassal". Macron recently faced criticism after he gave a controversial interview on the subject of Taiwan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the end of a state visit to the Netherlands, the French president told a press conference in Amsterdam that "Being an ally does not mean being a vassal." Defending his comments, Macron said that it "doesn't mean that we don't have the right to think for ourselves".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Macron, who last week visited China, said French and European policy on Taiwan had said that Europe should not be a "follower" of either Washington or Beijing and it must avoid getting caught up in any escalation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Macron said that France's and Europe's policy related to Taiwan "has not changed" and added that "France is for the status quo in Taiwan" and a "peaceful resolution to the situation".&nbsp;</p>

<p>China labelled Macron's interview as "brilliant", on the other hand, the West slammed it, with former US president Donald Trump saying that "Macron, who's a friend of mine, is over with China, kissing his ass".&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Dutch premier Rutte said he agreed with Macron that Europe "must be a player and not a playing field", but insisted that Washington remained an "essential partner when it comes to security and freedom". Rutte meanwhile said of the protests targeting Macron that "we are the hosts so you don't want that".</p>

<p>On being asked about it, Macron said that he had "nothing to say about the comments by former president Trump because he is taking part in this escalation".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Self-ruled Taiwan considers itself a distinct nation from China, but Beijing claims Taipei&nbsp;as its own territory since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China believes that the island nation will defy China's one-nation policy by pushing for formal independence. Beijing even claimed that, in case needed, it will use force to unite the two territories.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday (April 12) that being an ally of the United States did not mean being a "vassal". Macron recently faced criticism after he gave a controversial interview on the subject of Taiwan.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday (April 12) that being an ally of the United States did not mean being a "vassal". Macron recently faced criticism after he gave a controversial interview on the subject of Taiwan. At the end of a state visit to the Netherlands, the French president told a press conference in Amsterdam that "Being an ally does not mean being a vassal." Defending his comments, Macron said that it "doesn't mean that we don't have the right to think for ourselves". Macron, who last week visited China, said French and European policy on Taiwan had said that Europe should not be a "follower" of either Washington or Beijing and it must avoid getting caught up in any escalation. Macron said that France's and Europe's policy related to Taiwan "has not changed" and added that "France is for the status quo in Taiwan" and a "peaceful resolution to the situation". China labelled Macron's interview as "brilliant", on the other hand, the West slammed it, with former US president Donald Trump saying that "Macron, who's a friend of mine, is over with China, kissing his ass". × Dutch premier Rutte said he agreed with Macron that Europe "must be a player and not a playing field", but insisted that Washington remained an "essential partner when it comes to security and freedom". Rutte meanwhile said of the protests targeting Macron that "we are the hosts so you don't want that". On being asked about it, Macron said that he had "nothing to say about the comments by former president Trump because he is taking part in this escalation". Self-ruled Taiwan considers itself a distinct nation from China, but Beijing claims Taipei as its own territory since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. China believes that the island nation will defy China's one-nation policy by pushing for formal independence. Beijing even claimed that, in case needed, it will use force to unite the two territories. (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.

Macron defends Taiwan comments, insists won't be US 'vassal'

<p>The United States officials are investigating the apparent leak of highly sensitive military and defence documents as the Pentagon recently said that the leak presents a "very serious" risk to national security. A trove of highly classified military and intelligence documents appeared online, becoming an embarrassment and a headache for America as it released details of secret information linked to the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel's spy agency Mossad, South Korea, and more.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The documents labelled as "Secret" and "Top Secret" started circulating online in March and were on social media platforms such as Twitter, Telegram, Discord, and more. The leak was first reported by The New York Times, but there's a possibility that it&nbsp;could have started as early as January. There were indications that some of the documents could have been altered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some US officials blamed Russia or pro-Russian elements for the leak, but Moscow said that it could be a move by the US to "deceive" Russia. Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agencies that Moscow called for an enquiry to probe the documents and check whether the leak was an intentional leak. Ryabkov said, "Since the US is a party to the (Ukraine) conflict and is essentially waging a hybrid war against us, it is possible that such techniques are being used to deceive their opponent, the Russian Federation."&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Korea, an American ally, said that a "significant portion" of leaked documents indicating concerns in Seoul about arms supplies to Ukraine were fake. But despite that, Pentagon officials are still reviewing the documents for validity and the Justice Department has begun an investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Considering the documents are authentic, here are some of the biggest and most damaging revelations from the leaks:&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Details about Ukrainian air defences&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>One document provided information about Ukrainian air defences, which appear to be in deep crisis. The air defence systems have emerged as one of Ukraine's key strengths to counter Russian missile and drone strikes. Ukraine even urged the allies to supply fighter jets to help in its fight against Russian aggression.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Documents show that the munitions for Soviet-era air defence systems deployed by Ukraine will soon run out and a document dated February indicates that the S300 missile defence system is expected to run out of munitions by May this year and the SA-11 Gadfly system at the end of March.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Media outlets and analysts have said that the S300 missile defence system and SA-11 Gadfly system make up about 89 per cent of Ukraine's air defences.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The documents suggest that Ukraine could only resist a few more missile strikes by Russia. One document highlights how international efforts to build up Kyiv's military forces.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Did Mossad support domestic protests in Israel?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The US is accused of spying after the content of leaked documents was made public. One document reportedly revealed that the Mossad intelligence agency was encouraging protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the supreme court. The controversial Israeli judicial reform plan would have given lawmakers substantially more control over the court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Netanyahu's office on Sunday denied the allegations and labelled the document as "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-intelligence-leak-can-be-fake-meant-to-mislead-russia-581770">US intelligence leak can be fake, meant to mislead: Russia</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h2><strong>What were South Korea's concerns?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The Pentagon leaks also suggest the US could have been spying on its key allies, including South Korea. Seoul downplayed the importance of the leaked documents as President Yoon Suk Yeol's office claimed that "a significant number" of the documents were fake and his national security adviser said there were no "malicious intentions" in the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, South Korea's opposition urged the government to investigate the alleged spying on Yoon's national security advisers as part of an effort to secure arms supplies for Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Democratic Party in South Korea said: "We deeply regret that the United States’ top intelligence agency has been carrying out illegal espionage activities against our allies."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lee Jae-myung, the head of the opposition Democratic party, said on Wednesday (April 12): "The government must get to the bottom of eavesdropping allegations and if they are found to be true, it must get an official apology and guarantee that it won't do it again from the US."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:</strong>&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>Did Egypt want to supply Russia with rockets?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>A report by The Post mentioned that one document said Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the production of 40,000 rockets for shipment to Russia. The documents also mentioned that the president apparently told officials to keep it secret to "avoid problems with the West." It could be an issue for the US as America has stood firmly with Ukraine and supplied massive military equipment and humanitarian aid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the White House national security spokesman John Kirby pushed back against the report. Kirby told reporters: "We've seen no indication that Egypt is providing lethal weaponry capabilities to Russia. Egypt is a significant security partner and remains so."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Did UAE agree to work with Russian spy agents?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Another document revealed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) planned to work with Russian spies in their operations against the US and UK intelligence agencies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A review of the document by&nbsp;The Associated Press suggested that Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that UAE security officials agreed to the plan. The allegation could be damaging as the UAE is a strategic partner for the US in the Middle East, but its close ties with Russia are also evident.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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The United States officials are investigating the apparent leak of highly sensitive military and defence documents as the Pentagon recently said that the leak presents a "very serious" risk to national security.

The United States officials are investigating the apparent leak of highly sensitive military and defence documents as the Pentagon recently said that the leak presents a "very serious" risk to national security. A trove of highly classified military and intelligence documents appeared online, becoming an embarrassment and a headache for America as it released details of secret information linked to the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel's spy agency Mossad, South Korea, and more. The documents labelled as "Secret" and "Top Secret" started circulating online in March and were on social media platforms such as Twitter, Telegram, Discord, and more. The leak was first reported by The New York Times, but there's a possibility that it could have started as early as January. There were indications that some of the documents could have been altered. Some US officials blamed Russia or pro-Russian elements for the leak, but Moscow said that it could be a move by the US to "deceive" Russia. Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agencies that Moscow called for an enquiry to probe the documents and check whether the leak was an intentional leak. Ryabkov said, "Since the US is a party to the (Ukraine) conflict and is essentially waging a hybrid war against us, it is possible that such techniques are being used to deceive their opponent, the Russian Federation." South Korea, an American ally, said that a "significant portion" of leaked documents indicating concerns in Seoul about arms supplies to Ukraine were fake. But despite that, Pentagon officials are still reviewing the documents for validity and the Justice Department has begun an investigation. Considering the documents are authentic, here are some of the biggest and most damaging revelations from the leaks: Details about Ukrainian air defences One document provided information about Ukrainian air defences, which appear to be in deep crisis. The air defence systems have emerged as one of Ukraine's key strengths to counter Russian missile and drone strikes. Ukraine even urged the allies to supply fighter jets to help in its fight against Russian aggression. Documents show that the munitions for Soviet-era air defence systems deployed by Ukraine will soon run out and a document dated February indicates that the S300 missile defence system is expected to run out of munitions by May this year and the SA-11 Gadfly system at the end of March. Media outlets and analysts have said that the S300 missile defence system and SA-11 Gadfly system make up about 89 per cent of Ukraine's air defences. The documents suggest that Ukraine could only resist a few more missile strikes by Russia. One document highlights how international efforts to build up Kyiv's military forces. Did Mossad support domestic protests in Israel? The US is accused of spying after the content of leaked documents was made public. One document reportedly revealed that the Mossad intelligence agency was encouraging protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the supreme court. The controversial Israeli judicial reform plan would have given lawmakers substantially more control over the court. Netanyahu's office on Sunday denied the allegations and labelled the document as "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever". ALSO READ | US intelligence leak can be fake, meant to mislead: Russia What were South Korea's concerns? The Pentagon leaks also suggest the US could have been spying on its key allies, including South Korea. Seoul downplayed the importance of the leaked documents as President Yoon Suk Yeol's office claimed that "a significant number" of the documents were fake and his national security adviser said there were no "malicious intentions" in the incident. Meanwhile, South Korea's opposition urged the government to investigate the alleged spying on Yoon's national security advisers as part of an effort to secure arms supplies for Ukraine. The Democratic Party in South Korea said: "We deeply regret that the United States’ top intelligence agency has been carrying out illegal espionage activities against our allies." Lee Jae-myung, the head of the opposition Democratic party, said on Wednesday (April 12): "The government must get to the bottom of eavesdropping allegations and if they are found to be true, it must get an official apology and guarantee that it won't do it again from the US." Watch this report: × Did Egypt want to supply Russia with rockets? A report by The Post mentioned that one document said Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the production of 40,000 rockets for shipment to Russia. The documents also mentioned that the president apparently told officials to keep it secret to "avoid problems with the West." It could be an issue for the US as America has stood firmly with Ukraine and supplied massive military equipment and humanitarian aid. But the White House national security spokesman John Kirby pushed back against the report. Kirby told reporters: "We've seen no indication that Egypt is providing lethal weaponry capabilities to Russia. Egypt is a significant security partner and remains so." Did UAE agree to work with Russian spy agents? Another document revealed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) planned to work with Russian spies in their operations against the US and UK intelligence agencies. A review of the document by The Associated Press suggested that Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that UAE security officials agreed to the plan. The allegation could be damaging as the UAE is a strategic partner for the US in the Middle East, but its close ties with Russia are also evident. (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: From Israel to Egypt, the most damaging revelations from US documents leaks

<p>Four Army personnel were killed in a firing incident early Wednesday (April 12) morning at the Bathinda military station in the state of Punjab in India's northwest. The Indian Army said that the quick reaction teams were quickly activated after the incident at 4:35am (IST).</p>

<p>All the entry gates of the Army Cantt in Bathinda have been closed. In a statement after the incident, the Army said that a Quick Reaction Teams were activated and the area was cordoned off and sealed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian Army released a statement noting that no other injuries to personnel or loss/damage to property were reported. "The area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish the facts of the case," the statement added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Army Chief General Manoj Pande briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the incident.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>All aspects including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back are being ascertained," the Indian army said, further adding that the families of jawans killed in the incident are being informed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Punjab's Additional Director General of Police, SPS Parmar told the news agency PTI that it is not a "terrorist attack" and also it is not an "attack from outside". He said, "It is a fratricidal incident. We are in touch with the Army authorities."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is behind the firing incident?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Bathinda Police Station Cantt, Station House Officer, Gurdeep Singh spoke to the reporters as he said that nobody has been detained in connection with the incident so far. On being asked about who fired the gunshots, he said they have no information in this regard. The SHO also said that an FIR has been lodged.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was also asked whether or not they had information about the missing rifle, the SHO said that the police got to know about the rifle Tuesday evening.</p>

<p>Bathinda's Senior Superintendent of Police, Gulneet Singh Khurana told reporters, "It is not a terror incident. It is an internal issue, it appears to be fratricidal issue. Our investigation teams have reached inside (military station) with all forensic equipment and they are conducting investigations. In-depth investigations are going on."</p>

<p>The Army said the area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with the Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish facts of the case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An Army statement also revealed that a joint investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Army and Punjab Police.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Four Army personnel were killed in a firing incident early Wednesday (April 12) morning at the Bathinda military station in the state of Punjab in India's northwest.

Four Army personnel were killed in a firing incident early Wednesday (April 12) morning at the Bathinda military station in the state of Punjab in India's northwest. The Indian Army said that the quick reaction teams were quickly activated after the incident at 4:35am (IST). All the entry gates of the Army Cantt in Bathinda have been closed. In a statement after the incident, the Army said that a Quick Reaction Teams were activated and the area was cordoned off and sealed. The Indian Army released a statement noting that no other injuries to personnel or loss/damage to property were reported. "The area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish the facts of the case," the statement added. The Army Chief General Manoj Pande briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the incident. #WATCH | Visuals from outside Bathinda Military Station where four casualties have been reported in firing inside the station in Punjab; search operation underway pic.twitter.com/jgaaGVIdMS — ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2023 × All aspects including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back are being ascertained," the Indian army said, further adding that the families of jawans killed in the incident are being informed. Punjab's Additional Director General of Police, SPS Parmar told the news agency PTI that it is not a "terrorist attack" and also it is not an "attack from outside". He said, "It is a fratricidal incident. We are in touch with the Army authorities." Who is behind the firing incident? Bathinda Police Station Cantt, Station House Officer, Gurdeep Singh spoke to the reporters as he said that nobody has been detained in connection with the incident so far. On being asked about who fired the gunshots, he said they have no information in this regard. The SHO also said that an FIR has been lodged. He was also asked whether or not they had information about the missing rifle, the SHO said that the police got to know about the rifle Tuesday evening. Bathinda's Senior Superintendent of Police, Gulneet Singh Khurana told reporters, "It is not a terror incident. It is an internal issue, it appears to be fratricidal issue. Our investigation teams have reached inside (military station) with all forensic equipment and they are conducting investigations. In-depth investigations are going on." The Army said the area continues to be sealed off and joint investigations with the Punjab Police are being coordinated to establish facts of the case. An Army statement also revealed that a joint investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Army and Punjab Police. (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: Four soldiers killed in firing incident inside Bathinda Military Station

<p>India has been witnessing a sudden spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the past few days, and the trend continued on Wednesday (April 12) as the nation registered a single-day rise of 7,830 cases. The nation had recorded a single-day jump of 7,946 Covid cases on September 1, last year—meaning Wednesday’s fresh case count is&nbsp;the highest in 223 days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The data released by India’s health ministry revealed that the number of active cases in the country has increased to 40,215, however, on&nbsp;a positive note, the recovery rate currently stands at 98.72 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the past 24 hours, there were 4,692 recoveries, which increased the total recoveries to 44,204,771.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the data on the health ministry website, the count of active cases now comprises 0.09 per cent of the total infections,&nbsp;while, the national Covid recovery rate has been recorded at 98.72 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India's vaccine programme helped the nation to curb the spread of the virus after the first two waves. The cases remained low but the recent spike is raising&nbsp;fresh concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far in the country, the health ministry has administered 220.66 crore doses of vaccines under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.&nbsp;</p>

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— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoHFW_INDIA/status/1646013340383338498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>What do the experts say about the XBB1.16 variant?</strong></h2>

<p>Concerns have been raised over the rapid spread of the XBB1.16 variant as medical experts have warned that the new variant is able to evade the immune systems of people, and hence the coming four weeks are very crucial.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by the news agency ANI, Dr Dhiren Gupta, Senior Pediatrician at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said: "The XBB1.16 variant is the primary cause of the rise in cases among children and adults. This variant is showing immune escape and is able to evade the immune system. It is infecting those who had Covid infection during the previous waves and also teenagers and adults who have been vaccinated."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is likely to spread. Infections like adenovirus and influenza seem to be more bothersome than Covid. The next four weeks are going to be important," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There has been a significant rise in the number of Covid cases in India during the past few weeks, this has been attributed to a new variant known as XBB1.16. The number of cases in children under 12 has also been increasing," he said, further mentioning that the XBB1.16 variant is believed to be highly contagious and more virulent than the previous strains of the virus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by the news agency, a Consultant General Paediatrician at Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, Dr SK Nakra said that conjunctivitis has also been reported in some Covid-positive cases.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The symptoms of Covid are high fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, body aches and gastrointestinal symptoms. Red sticky eyes (conjunctivitis) has been also been reported by some physicians. However, this was seen in the earlier strains also in about 1-3 per cent of Covid patients. It is too early to say that this red eye is more common with the XBB1.16 variant."&nbsp;<br />
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India has been witnessing a sudden spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the past few days, and the trend continued on Wednesday (April 12) as the nation registered a single-day rise of 7,830 cases.

India has been witnessing a sudden spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the past few days, and the trend continued on Wednesday (April 12) as the nation registered a single-day rise of 7,830 cases. The nation had recorded a single-day jump of 7,946 Covid cases on September 1, last year—meaning Wednesday’s fresh case count is the highest in 223 days. The data released by India’s health ministry revealed that the number of active cases in the country has increased to 40,215, however, on a positive note, the recovery rate currently stands at 98.72 per cent. In the past 24 hours, there were 4,692 recoveries, which increased the total recoveries to 44,204,771. According to the data on the health ministry website, the count of active cases now comprises 0.09 per cent of the total infections, while, the national Covid recovery rate has been recorded at 98.72 per cent. India's vaccine programme helped the nation to curb the spread of the virus after the first two waves. The cases remained low but the recent spike is raising fresh concerns. So far in the country, the health ministry has administered 220.66 crore doses of vaccines under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive. #Unite2FightCorona#LargestVaccineDrive 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛https://t.co/FKxlLD2V9E pic.twitter.com/D2N63DunlM — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) April 12, 2023 × What do the experts say about the XBB1.16 variant? Concerns have been raised over the rapid spread of the XBB1.16 variant as medical experts have warned that the new variant is able to evade the immune systems of people, and hence the coming four weeks are very crucial. As quoted by the news agency ANI, Dr Dhiren Gupta, Senior Pediatrician at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said: "The XBB1.16 variant is the primary cause of the rise in cases among children and adults. This variant is showing immune escape and is able to evade the immune system. It is infecting those who had Covid infection during the previous waves and also teenagers and adults who have been vaccinated." "It is likely to spread. Infections like adenovirus and influenza seem to be more bothersome than Covid. The next four weeks are going to be important," he said. "There has been a significant rise in the number of Covid cases in India during the past few weeks, this has been attributed to a new variant known as XBB1.16. The number of cases in children under 12 has also been increasing," he said, further mentioning that the XBB1.16 variant is believed to be highly contagious and more virulent than the previous strains of the virus. As quoted by the news agency, a Consultant General Paediatrician at Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, Dr SK Nakra said that conjunctivitis has also been reported in some Covid-positive cases. "The symptoms of Covid are high fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, body aches and gastrointestinal symptoms. Red sticky eyes (conjunctivitis) has been also been reported by some physicians. However, this was seen in the earlier strains also in about 1-3 per cent of Covid patients. It is too early to say that this red eye is more common with the XBB1.16 variant." 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.

COVID-19: Expert issues warning over XBB1.16 variant as India records 7,830 new cases in 24 hours

<p>Serbia, the only country in Europe that has refused to sanction Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, agreed to supply arms to Kyiv or has sent them already, according to a classified Pentagon document.</p>

<p>The document, a summary of European governments' responses to Ukraine's requests for military training and "lethal aid" or weapons, was among dozens of classified documents posted online in recent weeks in what could be the most serious leak of U.S. secrets in years.</p>

<p>Entitled "Europe|Response to Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict," the document in chart form lists the "assessed positions" of 38 European governments in response to Ukraine's requests for military assistance.</p>

<p>The chart showed that Serbia declined to provide training to Ukrainian forces, but had committed to sending lethal aid or had supplied it already. It also said Serbia had the political will and military ability to provide weapons to Ukraine in the future.</p>

<p>The document is marked Secret and NOFORN, prohibiting its distribution to foreign intelligence services and militaries. It is dated March 2, and embossed with the seal of the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.</p>

<p>Reuters could not independently verify the document's authenticity.</p>

<p>Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's office and the Ukrainian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>

<p>The Pentagon also did not immediately respond to Reuters questions about the document's reference to Serbia and has previously declined to comment on any of the leaked documents.</p>

<p>Vucic's government has professed neutrality in the Ukraine war, despite the country's deep historic, economic and cultural ties with Russia.</p>

<p>"If this document is accurate, it either shows Vucic's duplicity vis a vis Russia or he's under enormous pressure from Washington to deliver weapons to Ukraine," said Janusz Bugajski, an Eastern European expert with the Jamestown Foundation, a foreign policy institute.</p>

<p>The Justice Department is investigating the leak, while the Pentagon is assessing the damage done to U.S. national security.</p>

<p>The Pentagon chart divided the responses to Ukraine's requests for aid into four categories: countries that had committed to provide training and lethal aid; countries that had already provided training, lethal aid or both; countries with the military ability and the political will "to provide future lethal aid."</p>

<p>Austria and Malta were the only two countries marked "No" in all four categories.</p>

<p>The disclosure of the chart comes just over a month after documents posted in a pro-Russia channel on the Telegram global messaging app purportedly showed the shipment by a Serbian arms maker of 122mm Grad ground-to-ground rockets to Kyiv in November. The documents included a shipment manifest and a Ukrainian government end-user certificate.</p>

<p>Moscow said in March it had asked Belgrade for an official explanation of the alleged deliveries, the state-run TASS news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.</p>

<p>Arms manufacturer Krusik Corp. of Valjevo denied providing rockets or other weaponry to Ukraine. Vucic called the allegations "a notorious lie."</p>

<p>"We didn't export any weapons or ammunition to Russia or Ukraine," he said during a March 5 visit to Qatar.</p>

<p>Reuters could not independently confirm the authenticity of the shipment documentation posted on Telegram.</p>

<p>Since the war began in February last year, Vucic has tried to balance close ties with Moscow with his goal of joining the European Union.</p>

<p>But Serbia is the only holdout among Europe's 44 countries in imposing sanctions on Russia.</p>

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Serbia, the only country in Europe that has refused to sanction Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, agreed to supply arms to Kyiv or has sent them already, according to a classified Pentagon document.

Serbia, the only country in Europe that has refused to sanction Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, agreed to supply arms to Kyiv or has sent them already, according to a classified Pentagon document. The document, a summary of European governments' responses to Ukraine's requests for military training and "lethal aid" or weapons, was among dozens of classified documents posted online in recent weeks in what could be the most serious leak of U.S. secrets in years. Entitled "Europe|Response to Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict," the document in chart form lists the "assessed positions" of 38 European governments in response to Ukraine's requests for military assistance. The chart showed that Serbia declined to provide training to Ukrainian forces, but had committed to sending lethal aid or had supplied it already. It also said Serbia had the political will and military ability to provide weapons to Ukraine in the future. The document is marked Secret and NOFORN, prohibiting its distribution to foreign intelligence services and militaries. It is dated March 2, and embossed with the seal of the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Reuters could not independently verify the document's authenticity. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's office and the Ukrainian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Pentagon also did not immediately respond to Reuters questions about the document's reference to Serbia and has previously declined to comment on any of the leaked documents. Vucic's government has professed neutrality in the Ukraine war, despite the country's deep historic, economic and cultural ties with Russia. "If this document is accurate, it either shows Vucic's duplicity vis a vis Russia or he's under enormous pressure from Washington to deliver weapons to Ukraine," said Janusz Bugajski, an Eastern European expert with the Jamestown Foundation, a foreign policy institute. The Justice Department is investigating the leak, while the Pentagon is assessing the damage done to U.S. national security. The Pentagon chart divided the responses to Ukraine's requests for aid into four categories: countries that had committed to provide training and lethal aid; countries that had already provided training, lethal aid or both; countries with the military ability and the political will "to provide future lethal aid." Austria and Malta were the only two countries marked "No" in all four categories. The disclosure of the chart comes just over a month after documents posted in a pro-Russia channel on the Telegram global messaging app purportedly showed the shipment by a Serbian arms maker of 122mm Grad ground-to-ground rockets to Kyiv in November. The documents included a shipment manifest and a Ukrainian government end-user certificate. Moscow said in March it had asked Belgrade for an official explanation of the alleged deliveries, the state-run TASS news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying. Arms manufacturer Krusik Corp. of Valjevo denied providing rockets or other weaponry to Ukraine. Vucic called the allegations "a notorious lie." "We didn't export any weapons or ammunition to Russia or Ukraine," he said during a March 5 visit to Qatar. Reuters could not independently confirm the authenticity of the shipment documentation posted on Telegram. Since the war began in February last year, Vucic has tried to balance close ties with Moscow with his goal of joining the European Union. But Serbia is the only holdout among Europe's 44 countries in imposing sanctions on Russia. 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.

Leaked US intel document claims Serbia agreed to arm Ukraine

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