<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to visit Russia as soon as next week, the news agency Reuters reported on Monday (March 13) quoting people familiar with the matter. The development comes as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate over the eastern city of Bakhmut.&nbsp;The visit would come sooner than previously expected as The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Xi's visit to Moscow could take place in April or early May.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The WSJ reported on Monday that&nbsp;Xi has apparently planned&nbsp;to hold an online meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. If it happens, it will be the first since the start of the Ukraine war last year in February. The virtual meeting is likely after he visits Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO&nbsp;READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bakhmut-situation-remains-tough-as-brutal-battle-continues-on-monday-571474">Bakhmut situation remains 'tough' as brutal battle continues on Monday</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The crucial visit will be followed by China's recently floated peace plans to end the Ukraine war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China last month said that it hopes to play a constructive role in resolving the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine and came up with the so-called "peace plan" in the form of a 12-point foreign ministry paper. Beijing aims at gradual de-escalation between the warring nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Neither China's foreign ministry nor the Kremlin confirmed the news. As reported by the news agency, the sources briefed on the matter declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Xi Jinping addresses China's NPC closing session&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-calls-for-fortification-of-armed-forces-into-a-great-wall-of-steel-571333">Xi Jinping calls for fortification of armed forces into 'Great Wall of Steel'</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Putin last month hosted China's top diplomat Wang Yi on a visit to Moscow. Wang had signalled that Xi would travel to Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reports regarding Xi's prospected visit came days after he secured a third term as China's leader.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Xi was unanimously confirmed in a precedent-breaking third term as president during the annual session of China's parliament, the National People's Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Russian president, who has already publicly invited Xi to Moscow without specifying a date, would be likely to portray it as a show of support for Russia's war on Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to visit Russia as soon as next week, the news agency Reuters reported on Monday (March 13) quoting people familiar with the matter.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to visit Russia as soon as next week, the news agency Reuters reported on Monday (March 13) quoting people familiar with the matter. The development comes as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate over the eastern city of Bakhmut. The visit would come sooner than previously expected as The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Xi's visit to Moscow could take place in April or early May. The WSJ reported on Monday that Xi has apparently planned to hold an online meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. If it happens, it will be the first since the start of the Ukraine war last year in February. The virtual meeting is likely after he visits Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the report added. ALSO READ | Bakhmut situation remains 'tough' as brutal battle continues on Monday The crucial visit will be followed by China's recently floated peace plans to end the Ukraine war. China last month said that it hopes to play a constructive role in resolving the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine and came up with the so-called "peace plan" in the form of a 12-point foreign ministry paper. Beijing aims at gradual de-escalation between the warring nations. Neither China's foreign ministry nor the Kremlin confirmed the news. As reported by the news agency, the sources briefed on the matter declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the issue. WATCH | Xi Jinping addresses China's NPC closing session × ALSO READ | Xi Jinping calls for fortification of armed forces into 'Great Wall of Steel' Putin last month hosted China's top diplomat Wang Yi on a visit to Moscow. Wang had signalled that Xi would travel to Russia. The reports regarding Xi's prospected visit came days after he secured a third term as China's leader. Xi was unanimously confirmed in a precedent-breaking third term as president during the annual session of China's parliament, the National People's Congress. The Russian president, who has already publicly invited Xi to Moscow without specifying a date, would be likely to portray it as a show of support for Russia's war on Ukraine. (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.

Ukraine war: Chinese President Xi Jinping plans Russia visit as soon as next week

<p>A new report has revealed that the United States and many Western countries are far behind in the race with China in developing advanced technologies and retaining talent. The report noted that Beijing is establishing a monopoly in some areas with a "stunning lead" in 37 out of 44 critical and emerging technologies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report is released by Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) after tracking defence, space, energy and biotechnology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report showed that, in some fields, all of the world's top 10 research institutions are based in China. The study also urged greater research investment by governments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report published on Thursday is funded by the US State Department. The study found that the US was often second-ranked, although it led global research in high-performance computing, quantum computing, small satellites and vaccines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report said: "Western democracies are losing the global technological competition, including the race for scientific and research breakthroughs."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study has urged the democratic nations to collaborate more often to create secure supply chains and "rapidly pursue a strategic critical technology step-up" as it highlighted that China had established a "stunning lead in high-impact research" under government programmes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report mentioned that over the past five years, "China generated 48.49% of the world's high-impact research papers into advanced aircraft engines, including hypersonics, and it hosts seven of the world's top 10 research institutions".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report said: "Our research reveals that China has built the foundations to position itself as the world's leading science and technology superpower, by establishing a sometimes stunning lead in high-impact research across the majority of critical and emerging technology domains."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The critical technology tracker shows that, for some technologies, all of the world’s top 10 leading research institutions are based in China and are collectively generating nine times more high-impact research papers than the second-ranked country (most often the US)," the report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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A new report has revealed that the United States and many Western countries are far behind in the race with China in developing advanced technologies and retaining talent.

A new report has revealed that the United States and many Western countries are far behind in the race with China in developing advanced technologies and retaining talent. The report noted that Beijing is establishing a monopoly in some areas with a "stunning lead" in 37 out of 44 critical and emerging technologies. The report is released by Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) after tracking defence, space, energy and biotechnology. The report showed that, in some fields, all of the world's top 10 research institutions are based in China. The study also urged greater research investment by governments. The report published on Thursday is funded by the US State Department. The study found that the US was often second-ranked, although it led global research in high-performance computing, quantum computing, small satellites and vaccines. The report said: "Western democracies are losing the global technological competition, including the race for scientific and research breakthroughs." The study has urged the democratic nations to collaborate more often to create secure supply chains and "rapidly pursue a strategic critical technology step-up" as it highlighted that China had established a "stunning lead in high-impact research" under government programmes. The report mentioned that over the past five years, "China generated 48.49% of the world's high-impact research papers into advanced aircraft engines, including hypersonics, and it hosts seven of the world's top 10 research institutions". The report said: "Our research reveals that China has built the foundations to position itself as the world's leading science and technology superpower, by establishing a sometimes stunning lead in high-impact research across the majority of critical and emerging technology domains." "The critical technology tracker shows that, for some technologies, all of the world’s top 10 leading research institutions are based in China and are collectively generating nine times more high-impact research papers than the second-ranked country (most often the US)," the report added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China leads US in global competition for key emerging technologies

<p>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday said that Sri Lanka's tax reforms are necessary for the cash-strapped country to regain the confidence of creditors. The Lankan government announced a ban on strikes in several key sectors, just one day before a planned nationwide stoppage called by unions, which was aimed at protesting against hikes in taxes and utility bills.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Sri Lankan workers defied the ban as they went on a strike in order to protest against the government and its proposed rescue plan for the bankrupt nation. Workers forced the closure of some hospitals, banks, etc.&nbsp;</p>

<p>President Ranil Wickremesinghe has hiked corporate tax&nbsp;to 30 per cent from 24 per cent in January, after raising VAT (Value Added Tax) to 15 per cent last year. Wickremesinghe, who is also the country's finance minister, introduced tax hikes with effect from January widely believed to be on demand by the IMF.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The IMF said in a statement: "Sri Lanka is among the countries to collect the least amount of fiscal revenue in the world, with tax revenue to GDP ratio at only 7.3 per cent in 2021. External creditors are not willing to provide financing to fill this gap".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The IMF noted that it is aware of the difficulties faced by the common people in the nation at this crucial juncture. The global lender said: "Increases in the cost of living, loss of employment and livelihood, and falling real incomes have hit large parts of the population, and particularly the poor and vulnerable who have no buffers to withstand these hardships."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Inside South Asia: Pakistan economy on the brink&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>IMF mentioned that the current economic crisis has a number of origins, including the government's inability to meet government spending needs through its revenue collections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The IMF said that tax reforms were needed as only "with appropriate tax receipts will the government will be able to fund essential expenditures, and avoid further slashing of critically important outlays". It said also in the statement: "These reforms will also help regain the confidence of creditors."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year in September, the IMF approved Sri Lanka a $2.9 billion bailout package over four years pending the nation's ability to restructure its debt with creditors - both bilateral and sovereign bondholders.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday said that Sri Lanka's tax reforms are necessary for the cash-strapped country to regain the confidence of creditors.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday said that Sri Lanka's tax reforms are necessary for the cash-strapped country to regain the confidence of creditors. The Lankan government announced a ban on strikes in several key sectors, just one day before a planned nationwide stoppage called by unions, which was aimed at protesting against hikes in taxes and utility bills. However, Sri Lankan workers defied the ban as they went on a strike in order to protest against the government and its proposed rescue plan for the bankrupt nation. Workers forced the closure of some hospitals, banks, etc. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has hiked corporate tax to 30 per cent from 24 per cent in January, after raising VAT (Value Added Tax) to 15 per cent last year. Wickremesinghe, who is also the country's finance minister, introduced tax hikes with effect from January widely believed to be on demand by the IMF. The IMF said in a statement: "Sri Lanka is among the countries to collect the least amount of fiscal revenue in the world, with tax revenue to GDP ratio at only 7.3 per cent in 2021. External creditors are not willing to provide financing to fill this gap". The IMF noted that it is aware of the difficulties faced by the common people in the nation at this crucial juncture. The global lender said: "Increases in the cost of living, loss of employment and livelihood, and falling real incomes have hit large parts of the population, and particularly the poor and vulnerable who have no buffers to withstand these hardships." WATCH | Inside South Asia: Pakistan economy on the brink × IMF mentioned that the current economic crisis has a number of origins, including the government's inability to meet government spending needs through its revenue collections. The IMF said that tax reforms were needed as only "with appropriate tax receipts will the government will be able to fund essential expenditures, and avoid further slashing of critically important outlays". It said also in the statement: "These reforms will also help regain the confidence of creditors." Last year in September, the IMF approved Sri Lanka a $2.9 billion bailout package over four years pending the nation's ability to restructure its debt with creditors - both bilateral and sovereign bondholders. (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.

IMF says Sri Lanka’s tax reforms essential to regain the confidence of creditors

<p>Lionel Messi hoisted his first FIFA World Cup trophy with Argentina last December. To cherish the beautiful memories, Messi has gifted his Argentina teammates and staff stunning gold iPhones. Reports have mentioned that Messi splurged £175,000 on 35 individual phones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Messi led Argentina to win the World Cup title in a penalty shootout, defeating France in one of the most exhilarating games in the history of the tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have mentioned that Messi wished to gift his teammates and staff members a personal memento to honour their contribution and celebrate the success with a personalised gift. Hence, giving the 24-carat gold smartphones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Sun quoted a source as saying that Messi "wanted to do something special and blingy to celebrate his proudest moment. He got in touch with entrepreneur Ben Lyons and they came up with the design together."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ben Lyons,&nbsp;the CEO of iDesign Gold,&nbsp;told The Sun, "Lionel is not only the GOAT but he's one of iDesigns Gold's most loyal customers and got in touch with us a couple of months after the World Cup final."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He said he wanted a special gift for all the players and staff to celebrate the amazing win but didn't want the usual gift of watches," Lyons said further adding that he "suggested gold iPhones inscribed with their names and he loved the idea".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have mentioned that each smartphone has a similar design to the Argentina team badge with the updated three stars. Details like the player's name and national team shirt number are also there with the words 'World Cup champions 2022' written on them.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🥇🇦🇷 Lionel Messi has gifted 35 gold plated iPhone 14's to all the Argentina players &amp; staff after the World Cup victory. <a href="https://t.co/1sNRUlwwqf">pic.twitter.com/1sNRUlwwqf</a></p>
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/eurofootcom/status/1631206512197615617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lionel Messi has gifted 35 gold plated iPhone 14's to each member of the Argentina squad and staff after their World Cup win. 🥇🇦🇷<br />
<br />
Each phone is engraved with the last name, the number of the shirt and the AFA shield with the three stars. 📲⭐⭐⭐ <a href="https://t.co/86KdECGcVX">pic.twitter.com/86KdECGcVX</a></p>
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Football__Tweet/status/1631208907946196993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lionel Messi ordered 35 gold-plated iPhone 14s for his teammates and coaching staff as gifts after winning the World Cup Final. 🏆📱🇦🇷 <a href="https://t.co/s4mQER9C3j">pic.twitter.com/s4mQER9C3j</a></p>
— Leo Messi 🔟 (@WeAreMessi) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeAreMessi/status/1631203596468625408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>After winning the world cup, Messi had said that tournament would be his last, but now it appears he's open to the possibility of playing in the 2026 event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He recently, told Diario Ole, a sports newspaper in Argentina, "Because of age it'll be difficult to make 2026. I love playing football and while I feel like I'm in good shape and enjoying this, I'm going to keep at it. It seems like a long time until the next World Cup, but it depends on how my career is going."</p>

<p>Messi recently won the Best FIFA Men's player award for last year at a ceremony in Paris. He beat his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and the other contender&nbsp;Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema to claim the prize.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Lionel Messi hoisted his first FIFA World Cup trophy with Argentina last December. To cherish the beautiful memories, Messi has gifted his Argentina teammates and staff stunning gold iPhones.

Lionel Messi hoisted his first FIFA World Cup trophy with Argentina last December. To cherish the beautiful memories, Messi has gifted his Argentina teammates and staff stunning gold iPhones. Reports have mentioned that Messi splurged £175,000 on 35 individual phones. Messi led Argentina to win the World Cup title in a penalty shootout, defeating France in one of the most exhilarating games in the history of the tournament. Reports have mentioned that Messi wished to gift his teammates and staff members a personal memento to honour their contribution and celebrate the success with a personalised gift. Hence, giving the 24-carat gold smartphones. The Sun quoted a source as saying that Messi "wanted to do something special and blingy to celebrate his proudest moment. He got in touch with entrepreneur Ben Lyons and they came up with the design together." Ben Lyons, the CEO of iDesign Gold, told The Sun, "Lionel is not only the GOAT but he's one of iDesigns Gold's most loyal customers and got in touch with us a couple of months after the World Cup final." "He said he wanted a special gift for all the players and staff to celebrate the amazing win but didn't want the usual gift of watches," Lyons said further adding that he "suggested gold iPhones inscribed with their names and he loved the idea". Reports have mentioned that each smartphone has a similar design to the Argentina team badge with the updated three stars. Details like the player's name and national team shirt number are also there with the words 'World Cup champions 2022' written on them. 🥇🇦🇷 Lionel Messi has gifted 35 gold plated iPhone 14's to all the Argentina players & staff after the World Cup victory. pic.twitter.com/1sNRUlwwqf — EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 2, 2023 × Lionel Messi has gifted 35 gold plated iPhone 14's to each member of the Argentina squad and staff after their World Cup win. 🥇🇦🇷 Each phone is engraved with the last name, the number of the shirt and the AFA shield with the three stars. 📲⭐⭐⭐ pic.twitter.com/86KdECGcVX — Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) March 2, 2023 × Lionel Messi ordered 35 gold-plated iPhone 14s for his teammates and coaching staff as gifts after winning the World Cup Final. 🏆📱🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/s4mQER9C3j — Leo Messi 🔟 (@WeAreMessi) March 2, 2023 × After winning the world cup, Messi had said that tournament would be his last, but now it appears he's open to the possibility of playing in the 2026 event. He recently, told Diario Ole, a sports newspaper in Argentina, "Because of age it'll be difficult to make 2026. I love playing football and while I feel like I'm in good shape and enjoying this, I'm going to keep at it. It seems like a long time until the next World Cup, but it depends on how my career is going." Messi recently won the Best FIFA Men's player award for last year at a ceremony in Paris. He beat his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and the other contender Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema to claim the prize. (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.

Lionel Messi gifts gold iPhones to his Argentina World Cup-winning teammates, support staff

<p>Ghislaine Maxwell, a shamed sex trafficker and ex-British socialite,&nbsp;asked a US federal appeals court on Tuesday to overturn her conviction and sentence for helping late financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse girls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US media reported that Maxwell's lawyers argued that the 61-year-old didn't receive a fair trial and was apparently used as a scapegoat because Epstein evaded justice, revealed a filing with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-legislation-authorising-joe-biden-to-ban-tiktok-advances-567315">US: Legislation authorising Joe Biden to ban TikTok advances</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As quoted by ABC News, defence attorney Arthur Aidala said in a statement: "The government prosecuted Ms Maxwell as a proxy for Jeffrey Epstein. It did so to satisfy public outrage over an unpopular non-prosecution agreement and the death of the person responsible for the crimes."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maxwell is currently facing a jail term in a Florida penitentiary. She was convicted and received a 20-year sentence for helping Epstein sexually abuse girls. Epstein killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting his trial.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Maxwell's lawyers also argued that prosecutors had waited too long to charge her and had violated the statute of limitations.<br />
<br />
As quoted by ABC and Fox News, the filing said: "In its zeal to pin the blame for its own incompetence and for Epstein's crimes on Maxwell, the government breached its promise not to prosecute Maxwell, charged her with time-barred offenses, resurrected and recast decades-old allegations for conduct previously ascribed to Epstein and other named assistants, and joined forces with complainants' civil attorneys, whose interests were financial, to develop new allegations that would support charges against Maxwell."&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Ghislaine Maxwell, a shamed sex trafficker and ex-British socialite, asked a US federal appeals court on Tuesday to overturn her conviction and sentence for helping late financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse girls.

Ghislaine Maxwell, a shamed sex trafficker and ex-British socialite, asked a US federal appeals court on Tuesday to overturn her conviction and sentence for helping late financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse girls. US media reported that Maxwell's lawyers argued that the 61-year-old didn't receive a fair trial and was apparently used as a scapegoat because Epstein evaded justice, revealed a filing with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan. ALSO READ | US: Legislation authorising Joe Biden to ban TikTok advances As quoted by ABC News, defence attorney Arthur Aidala said in a statement: "The government prosecuted Ms Maxwell as a proxy for Jeffrey Epstein. It did so to satisfy public outrage over an unpopular non-prosecution agreement and the death of the person responsible for the crimes." Maxwell is currently facing a jail term in a Florida penitentiary. She was convicted and received a 20-year sentence for helping Epstein sexually abuse girls. Epstein killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting his trial. × Maxwell's lawyers also argued that prosecutors had waited too long to charge her and had violated the statute of limitations. As quoted by ABC and Fox News, the filing said: "In its zeal to pin the blame for its own incompetence and for Epstein's crimes on Maxwell, the government breached its promise not to prosecute Maxwell, charged her with time-barred offenses, resurrected and recast decades-old allegations for conduct previously ascribed to Epstein and other named assistants, and joined forces with complainants' civil attorneys, whose interests were financial, to develop new allegations that would support charges against Maxwell." (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.

Jeffrey Epstein case: Ghislaine Maxwell appeals to overturn sex trafficking conviction

<p>West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (March 2) said that the state has reported two adenovirus cases and 10 cases with pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome. Banerjee added that there is no need to panic and the government has done necessary preparation in advance with arrangements for 5,000 beds. She urged parents to take special care of children up to two years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Banerjee told reporters: "Of the 12 (recent) cases, two resulted from adenovirus infections. The rest were due to comorbidities. Some had pulmonary haemorrhages, some suffered from weight loss. There is nothing to be afraid of? We have readied 5,000 beds and 600 doctors have been tasked with the responsibility of dealing with such cases."&nbsp;</p>

<p>India-based news agency PTI reported that a senior health official said on Thursday that seven children died due to respiratory infection in West Bengal in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, the government said 12 adenovirus deaths have been reported in the state so far and eight of them had comorbidities. However, the government did not term the deaths due to adenovirus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They instead said that acute respiratory infections (ARI) were common during the ongoing season. The state health authorities said, "There is no evidence of viral epidemic at present."&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>What is Adenovirus?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Experts have described adenoviruses as medium-sized, non-enveloped viruses with an icosahedral nucleocapsid containing a double-stranded DNA genome. It is said that their name derives from their initial isolation from human adenoids in 1953.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Doctors said that children in the age group of 0-2 are considered most vulnerable to the infection. Older children are less susceptible to the virus. Experts also said that most of the cases are treatable at home. In children, adenovirus usually causes infections in the respiratory and intestinal tracts.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Doctors alarmed in West Bengal&nbsp;</h2>

<p>A senior official of ICMR-NICED in Kolkata told Hindustan Times: "Around 32% of the samples sent to us since January tested positive for adenovirus. In December it was 22%. Usually, it ranges below 10%. We are planning to send some samples for genome sequencing."&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by the same media outlet, Siddhartha Niyogi, director of health services in West Bengal, said, "There is no scarcity of paediatric beds in hospitals. It is only that the cases have become concentrated in some hospitals, one of them being the BC Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (March 2) said that the state has reported two adenovirus cases and 10 cases with pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (March 2) said that the state has reported two adenovirus cases and 10 cases with pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome. Banerjee added that there is no need to panic and the government has done necessary preparation in advance with arrangements for 5,000 beds. She urged parents to take special care of children up to two years. Banerjee told reporters: "Of the 12 (recent) cases, two resulted from adenovirus infections. The rest were due to comorbidities. Some had pulmonary haemorrhages, some suffered from weight loss. There is nothing to be afraid of? We have readied 5,000 beds and 600 doctors have been tasked with the responsibility of dealing with such cases." India-based news agency PTI reported that a senior health official said on Thursday that seven children died due to respiratory infection in West Bengal in the last 24 hours. In a statement, the government said 12 adenovirus deaths have been reported in the state so far and eight of them had comorbidities. However, the government did not term the deaths due to adenovirus. They instead said that acute respiratory infections (ARI) were common during the ongoing season. The state health authorities said, "There is no evidence of viral epidemic at present." × What is Adenovirus? Experts have described adenoviruses as medium-sized, non-enveloped viruses with an icosahedral nucleocapsid containing a double-stranded DNA genome. It is said that their name derives from their initial isolation from human adenoids in 1953. Doctors said that children in the age group of 0-2 are considered most vulnerable to the infection. Older children are less susceptible to the virus. Experts also said that most of the cases are treatable at home. In children, adenovirus usually causes infections in the respiratory and intestinal tracts. Doctors alarmed in West Bengal A senior official of ICMR-NICED in Kolkata told Hindustan Times: "Around 32% of the samples sent to us since January tested positive for adenovirus. In December it was 22%. Usually, it ranges below 10%. We are planning to send some samples for genome sequencing." As quoted by the same media outlet, Siddhartha Niyogi, director of health services in West Bengal, said, "There is no scarcity of paediatric beds in hospitals. It is only that the cases have become concentrated in some hospitals, one of them being the BC Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences." (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.

Adenovirus scare in West Bengal? Mamata Banerjee says adequate measures being taken

<p>Minister of External Affairs of India&nbsp;Subrahmanyam Jaishankar&nbsp;said on Thursday that the bilateral ties between Beijing and New Delhi are "abnormal". While replying to WION's question after his meeting with the Chinese finance minister Qin Gang in the Indian capital&nbsp; city,&nbsp;Jaishankar added that both nations need to discuss border tensions candidly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Qin Gang was appointed China's new Foreign Minister in December last year and this was the first meeting between the two ministers and it lasted about 45 minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian foreign minister said that his meeting with his Chinese counterpart was about the current state of the relationship which "many of you heard me describe as 'abnormal', those were among adjectives that I used in the meeting".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blinken-and-lavrov-hold-brief-meeting-first-in-person-since-ukraine-war-567675">Blinken and Lavrov hold 'brief' meeting, first in-person since Ukraine war</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Relation remains abnormal", EAM Jaishankar says in response to <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WIONews</a> question on his meeting with New Chinese FM in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/LCzkVio9Kx">pic.twitter.com/LCzkVio9Kx</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1631254282724085760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The ties between India and China remain&nbsp;strained as both nations held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks for disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh following actions of the Chinese Army which led to a standoff in May 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two countries held the 26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation &amp; Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) last month with a senior Ministry of External Affairs official travelling to Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>Jaishankar on Ukraine situation</strong></h2>

<p>Jaishankar also said that G20 meeting in New Delhi had been unable to reach a joint declaration owing to divisions over the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"On the issue, which very frankly concerned the Ukraine conflict, there were divergences, there were differences, which we couldn't reconcile between various parties," Jaishankar told reporters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Minister of External Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Thursday that the bilateral ties between Beijing and New Delhi are "abnormal". While replying to WION's question after his meeting with the Chinese finance minister Qin Gang in the Indian capital city, Jaishankar added that both nations need to discuss border tensions candidly.

Minister of External Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Thursday that the bilateral ties between Beijing and New Delhi are "abnormal". While replying to WION's question after his meeting with the Chinese finance minister Qin Gang in the Indian capital city, Jaishankar added that both nations need to discuss border tensions candidly. Qin Gang was appointed China's new Foreign Minister in December last year and this was the first meeting between the two ministers and it lasted about 45 minutes. The Indian foreign minister said that his meeting with his Chinese counterpart was about the current state of the relationship which "many of you heard me describe as 'abnormal', those were among adjectives that I used in the meeting". ALSO READ | Blinken and Lavrov hold 'brief' meeting, first in-person since Ukraine war "Relation remains abnormal", EAM Jaishankar says in response to @WIONews question on his meeting with New Chinese FM in Delhi pic.twitter.com/LCzkVio9Kx — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 2, 2023 × The ties between India and China remain strained as both nations held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks for disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh following actions of the Chinese Army which led to a standoff in May 2020. The two countries held the 26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) last month with a senior Ministry of External Affairs official travelling to Beijing. × Jaishankar on Ukraine situation Jaishankar also said that G20 meeting in New Delhi had been unable to reach a joint declaration owing to divisions over the war in Ukraine. "On the issue, which very frankly concerned the Ukraine conflict, there were divergences, there were differences, which we couldn't reconcile between various parties," Jaishankar told reporters. (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.

‘Relation remains abnormal,’ says Jaishankar post meeting with Chinese FM

<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow and New Delhi have stood strong against "colonial practices like unilateral sanctions" as he held wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Wednesday (March 1).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Russian foreign minister said that Moscow and New Delhi are consistent opponents of neo-colonial practices such as illegal unilateral sanctions, threats, blackmail and other forms of pressure on sovereign states.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lavrov spoke at the opening ceremony of the Tolstoy-Gandhi exhibition in New Delhi a day before attending the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the Indian national capital.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uk-raises-issue-of-bbc-tax-searches-heres-what-india-said-5-points-567247">UK raises issue of BBC tax searches. Here's what India said - 5 points</a></strong></p>

<p>The two ministers discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and other issues of mutual interest. They also talked about the G20 foreign ministers' meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lavrov said that this year India and Russia will mark two events of significance to both Russia and India, which is the 195th birth anniversary of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and the 75th anniversary of the tragic death of Mahatma Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;G20 challenge: Reaching a consensus on Ukraine&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>Lavrov said, "It is becoming increasingly important now to study the rich legacy of our countries' public figures and moral leaders. We appreciate the substantial creative potential of India's G20 Presidency and its theme on the unity of nations and common future for humanity, which resonates with the philosophy of Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that India and Russia&nbsp;have been consistently advocating "respect for the cultural and civilisational diversity of the modern world and the inalienable right of nations to independently choose their development paths".&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow and New Delhi have stood strong against "colonial practices like unilateral sanctions" as he held wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Wednesday (March 1).

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow and New Delhi have stood strong against "colonial practices like unilateral sanctions" as he held wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Wednesday (March 1). The Russian foreign minister said that Moscow and New Delhi are consistent opponents of neo-colonial practices such as illegal unilateral sanctions, threats, blackmail and other forms of pressure on sovereign states. Lavrov spoke at the opening ceremony of the Tolstoy-Gandhi exhibition in New Delhi a day before attending the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the Indian national capital. ALSO READ | UK raises issue of BBC tax searches. Here's what India said - 5 points The two ministers discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and other issues of mutual interest. They also talked about the G20 foreign ministers' meeting. Lavrov said that this year India and Russia will mark two events of significance to both Russia and India, which is the 195th birth anniversary of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and the 75th anniversary of the tragic death of Mahatma Gandhi. WATCH | G20 challenge: Reaching a consensus on Ukraine × Lavrov said, "It is becoming increasingly important now to study the rich legacy of our countries' public figures and moral leaders. We appreciate the substantial creative potential of India's G20 Presidency and its theme on the unity of nations and common future for humanity, which resonates with the philosophy of Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi." He added that India and Russia have been consistently advocating "respect for the cultural and civilisational diversity of the modern world and the inalienable right of nations to independently choose their development paths". (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.

Lavrov says India and Russia stand strong against 'colonial practices like unilateral sanctions'

<p>India's Border Security Force (BSF) said on Wednesday that a forensic analysis of a drone shot down last year revealed that it was earlier flown in China as well as in Pakistan, India-based news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>BSF troops shot down the drone when it entered India from the Pakistan side and intruded into the Indian territory near the Border Outpost Rajatal in Amritsar Sector at about 7.45pm (IST) on December 25, 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>BSF troops fired at the drone and it&nbsp;fell down. It was sent to BSF headquarters for forensic analysis after the officials recovered it lying in farming fields.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lavrov-says-india-and-russia-stand-strong-against-colonial-practices-like-unilateral-sanctions-567340">Lavrov says India and Russia stand strong against 'colonial practices like unilateral sanctions'&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>The&nbsp;report came as there is a significant increase in the use of drones in the past two-three years to smuggle arms, ammunition and narcotics from across the border.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The analysis&nbsp;showed that the Pakistani quadcopter drone had flown in the Feng Xian district in China on June 11, 2022.</p>

<p>It apparently flew at various other locations 28 times within the Khanewal area in Pakistan between September 24, 2022, and December 25, 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | The India Story: A special look at the Israel-India relationship</strong></p>

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<p>BSF said: "BSF troops fired at the drone and it fell down before it could retreat. The drone was seized and sent to the BSF headquarters for forensic analysis."</p>

<p>The report&nbsp;also mentioned that the troops tried to intercept the flying object by firing and the whole area was cordoned. The&nbsp;police and other agencies were informed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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India's Border Security Force (BSF) said on Wednesday that a forensic analysis of a drone shot down last year revealed that it was earlier flown in China as well as in Pakistan, India-based news agency ANI reported.

India's Border Security Force (BSF) said on Wednesday that a forensic analysis of a drone shot down last year revealed that it was earlier flown in China as well as in Pakistan, India-based news agency ANI reported. BSF troops shot down the drone when it entered India from the Pakistan side and intruded into the Indian territory near the Border Outpost Rajatal in Amritsar Sector at about 7.45pm (IST) on December 25, 2022. BSF troops fired at the drone and it fell down. It was sent to BSF headquarters for forensic analysis after the officials recovered it lying in farming fields. ALSO READ | Lavrov says India and Russia stand strong against 'colonial practices like unilateral sanctions' The report came as there is a significant increase in the use of drones in the past two-three years to smuggle arms, ammunition and narcotics from across the border. The analysis showed that the Pakistani quadcopter drone had flown in the Feng Xian district in China on June 11, 2022. It apparently flew at various other locations 28 times within the Khanewal area in Pakistan between September 24, 2022, and December 25, 2022. WATCH | The India Story: A special look at the Israel-India relationship × BSF said: "BSF troops fired at the drone and it fell down before it could retreat. The drone was seized and sent to the BSF headquarters for forensic analysis." The report also mentioned that the troops tried to intercept the flying object by firing and the whole area was cordoned. The police and other agencies were informed. (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.

BSF: Drone shot down last year in India was also flown in China and Pakistan

<p>The United States House Foreign Affairs Committee voted on Wednesday (March 1) to advance legislation that would authorise the president to impose a ban on the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, among other apps that pose threat&nbsp;to national security.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US aims at imposing a nationwide TikTok ban under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the legislation for the same was introduced last Friday. It was fast-tracked by committee chairman Michael McCaul, however, the Democrats on the committee opposed the bill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US media outlets reported that the lawmakers voted 24 to 16 to approve the measure. Once finalised, the Biden administration will have powers to ban the ByteDance-owned app, which is used by more than 100 million Americans.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eli-lilly-slashes-insulin-prices-heres-how-much-a-vial-will-cost-now-567293">Eli Lilly slashes insulin prices. Here's how much a vial will cost now</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the committee, said that he strongly opposed the legislation because it would "damage our allegiances across the globe, bring more companies into China's sphere, destroy jobs here in the United States and undercut core American values of free speech and free enterprise."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bill has specifically asked the president to impose penalties against the companies (potentially a ban), if the administration discovers that the company might have intentionally transferred user data of the video-sharing app to "any foreign person" who is associated with the Chinese government. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The next process includes approval by the full House and US Senate before it can go to Biden as the fate of the measure is still uncertain.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;EU bans TikTok on work devices amid data security breaches</strong></p>

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<p>The European Commission and the European Union (EU) Council last week banned TikTok from staff phones due to growing concerns about the company and whether or not the Chinese government could harvest users' data or advance its interests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday called on the EU to stop abusing the concept of national security after the European Parliament banned TikTok from staff phones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular briefing in Beijing: "Such practices undermine the international community's confidence in the EU's business environment. The European side should... stop overstretching and abusing the concept of national security."&nbsp;</p>

<h2 data-label="Package" data-qa-component="item-headline" data-rc-highlight="headline" dir="auto" title="Turkey fines TikTok 1.75 million lira for weak data protection measures">Turkey fines&nbsp;TikTok&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The Personal Data Protection Board (KVKK) said on Wednesday that the Turkish authorities have fined TikTok $93,000 for failing to protect users from unlawful processing of their data.</p>

<p>The fine comes amid growing international concern over the Chinese short video-sharing app and who accesses its user data.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The KVKK said it decided to fine TikTok for "not taking all necessary measures to ensure the appropriate level of security to prevent unlawful processing of personal data."&nbsp;</p>

<p>It further said that TikTok should translate its Terms of Service into Turkish and update its privacy and cookies policy texts in line with the country's regulations.<br />
<br />
Turkey with some 30 million accounts on TikTok has the ninth most users of the platform in the world.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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The United States House Foreign Affairs Committee voted on Wednesday (March 1) to advance legislation that would authorise the president to impose a ban on the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, among other apps that pose threat to national security.

The United States House Foreign Affairs Committee voted on Wednesday (March 1) to advance legislation that would authorise the president to impose a ban on the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, among other apps that pose threat to national security. The US aims at imposing a nationwide TikTok ban under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the legislation for the same was introduced last Friday. It was fast-tracked by committee chairman Michael McCaul, however, the Democrats on the committee opposed the bill. US media outlets reported that the lawmakers voted 24 to 16 to approve the measure. Once finalised, the Biden administration will have powers to ban the ByteDance-owned app, which is used by more than 100 million Americans. ALSO READ | Eli Lilly slashes insulin prices. Here's how much a vial will cost now As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the committee, said that he strongly opposed the legislation because it would "damage our allegiances across the globe, bring more companies into China's sphere, destroy jobs here in the United States and undercut core American values of free speech and free enterprise." The bill has specifically asked the president to impose penalties against the companies (potentially a ban), if the administration discovers that the company might have intentionally transferred user data of the video-sharing app to "any foreign person" who is associated with the Chinese government. The next process includes approval by the full House and US Senate before it can go to Biden as the fate of the measure is still uncertain. WATCH | EU bans TikTok on work devices amid data security breaches × The European Commission and the European Union (EU) Council last week banned TikTok from staff phones due to growing concerns about the company and whether or not the Chinese government could harvest users' data or advance its interests. China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday called on the EU to stop abusing the concept of national security after the European Parliament banned TikTok from staff phones. Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular briefing in Beijing: "Such practices undermine the international community's confidence in the EU's business environment. The European side should... stop overstretching and abusing the concept of national security." Turkey fines TikTok The Personal Data Protection Board (KVKK) said on Wednesday that the Turkish authorities have fined TikTok $93,000 for failing to protect users from unlawful processing of their data. The fine comes amid growing international concern over the Chinese short video-sharing app and who accesses its user data. The KVKK said it decided to fine TikTok for "not taking all necessary measures to ensure the appropriate level of security to prevent unlawful processing of personal data." It further said that TikTok should translate its Terms of Service into Turkish and update its privacy and cookies policy texts in line with the country's regulations. Turkey with some 30 million accounts on TikTok has the ninth most users of the platform in the world. (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: Legislation authorising Joe Biden to ban TikTok advances

<p>The Finland parliament on Wednesday (March 1) overwhelmingly gave a green light and acceleration to the bid of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The move by parliament has increased the prospects that Finland will leave its neighbour Sweden behind and become a member of the pact earlier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The legislation was approved as lawmakers affirmed that the nation has accepted the terms of the NATO Treaty by 184 votes against seven in the 200-seat parliament. One abstained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Finnish lawmakers have pushed for the legislation to be passed before the general elections on April 2 to avoid a political vacuum. Notably, the process of joining NATO requires ratification from all of its 30 members.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Passing the bill does not mean that Finland will automatically join NATO after ratification by Turkey and Hungary, but it puts in place a deadline for how long it can wait for its neighbour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by the news agency AFP, Tuomas Poysti, the government's chancellor of justice, said that after the bill is approved by the parliament and the president can wait a maximum of three months to sign it.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;G20 Foreign Ministers meet: New Delhi welcomes Foreign Ministers for G20 meeting&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>The development came hours after news agencies reported that Finland has started construction work on a pilot of the eastern border barrier fence it plans to build along parts of the country's border with Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is believed that the construction of the fence of approximately three kilometres started on both sides of the Imatra border crossing point with work on the terrain. The construction is expected to be completed by the end of June.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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The Finland parliament on Wednesday (March 1) overwhelmingly gave a green light and acceleration to the bid of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The Finland parliament on Wednesday (March 1) overwhelmingly gave a green light and acceleration to the bid of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The move by parliament has increased the prospects that Finland will leave its neighbour Sweden behind and become a member of the pact earlier. The legislation was approved as lawmakers affirmed that the nation has accepted the terms of the NATO Treaty by 184 votes against seven in the 200-seat parliament. One abstained. Finnish lawmakers have pushed for the legislation to be passed before the general elections on April 2 to avoid a political vacuum. Notably, the process of joining NATO requires ratification from all of its 30 members. Passing the bill does not mean that Finland will automatically join NATO after ratification by Turkey and Hungary, but it puts in place a deadline for how long it can wait for its neighbour. As quoted by the news agency AFP, Tuomas Poysti, the government's chancellor of justice, said that after the bill is approved by the parliament and the president can wait a maximum of three months to sign it. WATCH | G20 Foreign Ministers meet: New Delhi welcomes Foreign Ministers for G20 meeting × The development came hours after news agencies reported that Finland has started construction work on a pilot of the eastern border barrier fence it plans to build along parts of the country's border with Russia. It is believed that the construction of the fence of approximately three kilometres started on both sides of the Imatra border crossing point with work on the terrain. The construction is expected to be completed by the end of June. (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.

Finnish parliament overwhelmingly gives early greenlight to NATO entry

<p>Twitter employees have lambasted the tech company after the <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-job-cut-latest-mass-layoff-sees-200-employees-fired-says-report-566199">fresh round of job cuts</a></strong>. The New York Times reported on Sunday that the social media giant has laid off at least 200 employees, or 10 per cent of its workforce. Reports have mentioned that Twitter now has around 2,000 employees,&nbsp;down from 7,500 when Elon Musk took over.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report mentioned that the latest layoffs include product managers, big data experts and engineers working on machine learning and platform reliability.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Media reports mentioned that some of the employees received an email regarding the layoff late Saturday night. Some found out about the firing when they could not log into the company's internal system. However, Twitter did not immediately confirm the reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spacex-launch-from-florida-scrubbed-two-and-a-half-minutes-before-blast-off-566310">SpaceX launch from Florida 'scrubbed' two and a half minutes before blast-off. Here's what happened</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Esther Crawford, a Twitter employee gained media attention after her picture of sleeping on the office floor went viral at the time when Musk had just taken over the company. Crawford has also been fired. Reports have mentioned that she was looking after Twitter's subscription service Twitter Blue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking to Twitter, Crawford wrote: "The worst take you could have from watching me go all-in on Twitter 2.0 is that my optimism or hard work was a mistake. Those who jeer &amp; mock are necessarily on the sidelines and not in the arena. I'm deeply proud of the team for building through so much noise &amp; chaos."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Apple secretly working on new innovations&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Crawford's old photo.&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When your team is pushing round the clock to make deadlines sometimes you <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SleepWhereYouWork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SleepWhereYouWork</a> <a href="https://t.co/UBGKYPilbD">https://t.co/UBGKYPilbD</a></p>
— Esther Crawford ✨ (@esthercrawford) <a href="https://twitter.com/esthercrawford/status/1587709705488830464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Other reactions to the layoff news&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Waking up to find I’ve been locked out of my email. Looks like I’m let go. Now my Revue journey is really over 🫡</p>
— Martijn (@mdekuijper) <a href="https://twitter.com/mdekuijper/status/1629731350612791296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wow the layoffs last night included a ton of surprises. Hardcore Musk loyalists (more on that soon…) and the founder of the newsletter platform Revue that Twitter acquired in 2021. <a href="https://t.co/zO06QbhNpn">https://t.co/zO06QbhNpn</a></p>
— Zoë Schiffer (@ZoeSchiffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZoeSchiffer/status/1629882863507357696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">FYI, Esther was fired from Twitter last night. <a href="https://t.co/FUfe1Qxbm9">pic.twitter.com/FUfe1Qxbm9</a></p>
— Grady Booch (@Grady_Booch) <a href="https://twitter.com/Grady_Booch/status/1629932958462164992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The tech industry remained uncertain in the past year as several giants, including Amazon, Alphabet and Meta, have announced thousands of layoffs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The firings come after a major hiring spree in the tech industry when the companies scrambled to meet skyrocketing demand for their products as people went online for work, shopping and entertainment during the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Twitter employees have lambasted the tech company after the fresh round of job cuts. The New York Times reported on Sunday that the social media giant has laid off at least 200 employees, or 10 per cent of its workforce.

Twitter employees have lambasted the tech company after the fresh round of job cuts. The New York Times reported on Sunday that the social media giant has laid off at least 200 employees, or 10 per cent of its workforce. Reports have mentioned that Twitter now has around 2,000 employees, down from 7,500 when Elon Musk took over. The report mentioned that the latest layoffs include product managers, big data experts and engineers working on machine learning and platform reliability. Media reports mentioned that some of the employees received an email regarding the layoff late Saturday night. Some found out about the firing when they could not log into the company's internal system. However, Twitter did not immediately confirm the reports. ALSO READ | SpaceX launch from Florida 'scrubbed' two and a half minutes before blast-off. Here's what happened Esther Crawford, a Twitter employee gained media attention after her picture of sleeping on the office floor went viral at the time when Musk had just taken over the company. Crawford has also been fired. Reports have mentioned that she was looking after Twitter's subscription service Twitter Blue. Taking to Twitter, Crawford wrote: "The worst take you could have from watching me go all-in on Twitter 2.0 is that my optimism or hard work was a mistake. Those who jeer & mock are necessarily on the sidelines and not in the arena. I'm deeply proud of the team for building through so much noise & chaos." WATCH | Apple secretly working on new innovations × Crawford's old photo. When your team is pushing round the clock to make deadlines sometimes you #SleepWhereYouWork https://t.co/UBGKYPilbD — Esther Crawford ✨ (@esthercrawford) November 2, 2022 × Other reactions to the layoff news Waking up to find I’ve been locked out of my email. Looks like I’m let go. Now my Revue journey is really over 🫡 — Martijn (@mdekuijper) February 26, 2023 × Wow the layoffs last night included a ton of surprises. Hardcore Musk loyalists (more on that soon…) and the founder of the newsletter platform Revue that Twitter acquired in 2021. https://t.co/zO06QbhNpn — Zoë Schiffer (@ZoeSchiffer) February 26, 2023 × FYI, Esther was fired from Twitter last night. pic.twitter.com/FUfe1Qxbm9 — Grady Booch (@Grady_Booch) February 26, 2023 × The tech industry remained uncertain in the past year as several giants, including Amazon, Alphabet and Meta, have announced thousands of layoffs. The firings come after a major hiring spree in the tech industry when the companies scrambled to meet skyrocketing demand for their products as people went online for work, shopping and entertainment during the coronavirus pandemic. (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.

Angry Twitter employee says 'hard work was a mistake' after fresh round of jobs cuts

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