Peruvian authorities said on Wednesday (April 6) that a fifth person has died in recent anti-government protests sparked by rising fuel prices, a sign of how the global energy crunch linked to the war in Ukraine is stoking unrest in countries around the world.

Many citizens have been affected by the looting and fear caused by the protests late on Tuesday (April 5), leaving a trail of destruction in local businesses.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peruvian-president-imposes-curfew-in-lima-callao-after-protests-468537">Following protests over fuel prices, Peruvian president imposes curfew in Lima, Callao</a>

"People don't understand, they shouldn't destroy things,” said Celina Diaz, a woman who was not able to file a procedure at&nbsp;Peru's Ministry of Justice.

Authorities are struggling to unblock key highways that are essential for food supplies in&nbsp;Peru's largest cities.

Watch |&nbsp;Peru's Pedro Castillo lifts Lima curfew after widespread defiance, anger

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Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-constitutional-court-orders-release-of-former-president-fujimori-463358">&nbsp;Peru constitutional court orders release of former president Fujimori</a>&nbsp;

Peruvian President, Pedro Castillo is also fending off calls for his resignation from the opposition and some influential local newspapers.

Castillo, who recently survived a second impeachment attempt less than a year into office, on Tuesday called off a mandatory curfew in Lima, the capital, that sought to stifle protests after thousands defied the order and took to the streets.

The protests turned violent at night with looting reported in several government buildings.

Peruvian authorities said on Wednesday (April 6) that a fifth person has died in recent anti-government protests sparked by rising fuel prices, a sign of how the global energy crunch linked to the war in Ukraine is stoking unrest in countries around the world.

Peruvian authorities said on Wednesday (April 6) that a fifth person has died in recent anti-government protests sparked by rising fuel prices, a sign of how the global energy crunch linked to the war in Ukraine is stoking unrest in countries around the world. Many citizens have been affected by the looting and fear caused by the protests late on Tuesday (April 5), leaving a trail of destruction in local businesses. Also read | Following protests over fuel prices, Peruvian president imposes curfew in Lima, Callao "People don't understand, they shouldn't destroy things,” said Celina Diaz, a woman who was not able to file a procedure at Peru's Ministry of Justice. Authorities are struggling to unblock key highways that are essential for food supplies in Peru's largest cities. Watch | Peru's Pedro Castillo lifts Lima curfew after widespread defiance, anger Also read | Peru constitutional court orders release of former president Fujimori Peruvian President, Pedro Castillo is also fending off calls for his resignation from the opposition and some influential local newspapers. Castillo, who recently survived a second impeachment attempt less than a year into office, on Tuesday called off a mandatory curfew in Lima, the capital, that sought to stifle protests after thousands defied the order and took to the streets. The protests turned violent at night with looting reported in several government buildings.

Peru assesses looting damage after anti-government protests

Hong Kong Chief Secretary&nbsp;John&nbsp;Lee, a security official during the global financial hub's prolonged and often violent 2019 pro-democracy protests, said on Wednesday he had resigned in a bid to run in an election in May to become the city's new leader.

Lee, 64, a former deputy commissioner of police, was promoted to the global financial hub's No. 2 role in 2021 in a move that some political analysts said signalled Beijing's priorities for Hong Kong were security rather than the economy.

"I indicate in the letter the reason for my resignation is that if my resignation is approved by the Central People's Government, I shall plan to prepare to stand for the upcoming chief executive election,"&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;said at a news conference.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-firm-surges-229-in-hong-kong-after-claims-its-covid-drug-reduces-deaths-and-hospitalisation-report-468844">Chinese firm surges 229% in Hong Kong after claims its Covid drug reduces deaths and hospitalisation: Report</a>

He is the first government official to announce a bid for the Chinese-ruled city's top job, with media reporting that he will be the only candidate in the chief executive election due to take place on May 8.

Lee&nbsp;was among other senior Hong Kong and Chinese officials sanctioned by the United States in 2020 for what Washington described as their role in curbing Hong Kong's freedoms under a sweeping national security law imposed on the city by Beijing.

Hong Kong and Chinese authorities deny individual rights are being eroded and say the security legislation was needed to restore stability after prolonged unrest in 2019.

Previous chief executives had extensive economic and social policy-making expertise and&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;was the first security official to lead the city in his role as chief secretary.&nbsp;Lee's promotion to the city's No. 2 position saw police chief Chris Tang take the security secretary post previously occupied by&nbsp;Lee.

Watch |&nbsp;Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam to step down as city's chief executive, won't seek re-election

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Last year, as Hong Kong's security chief,&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;sent letters to media tycoon Jimmy Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city, according to documents seen by Reuters.
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Rise of security officials

His bid for the city's top political post is a sign of the growing power security officials are gaining in the former British colony after faithfully implementing Beijing's new laws. If successful,&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;would be the first person with a security background to lead Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Lee's announcement comes two days after incumbent Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would not seek a second five-year term, saying "it's time for me to go home", after presiding over one of the most tumultuous periods in Hong Kong's history.

Previous chief secretaries had extensive economic and social policy-making expertise and&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;is the first security official to lead the city in his role as chief secretary.&nbsp;Lee's promotion to the city's No. 2 position saw police chief Chris Tang take the security secretary post previously occupied by&nbsp;Lee.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/carrie-lam-leader-who-helped-usher-in-the-era-of-beijings-dominance-in-hong-kong-468269">Carrie Lam: Leader who helped usher in the era of Beijing's dominance in Hong Kong</a>

Last year,&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;led the vetting of candidates for the first "patriots-only" election for a new-look Legislative Council, where only those loyal to Beijing were allowed to run.

Lee&nbsp;holds a degree from Charles Sturt University in Australia, and joined the Hong Kong Police in 1977.

He played a key role in trying to implement a contentious proposed extradition law in 2019 that divided Hong Kong society and triggered the mass protests. That legislation was eventually scrapped amid widespread public calls for&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;to quit.

Some observers of Hong Kong politics describe him as resolute, earnest and efficient, but lacking a natural feel for politics.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-to-leave-office-468212">Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam not seek a second term</a>

Known for his hawkish stance,&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;had spearheaded the city's disciplinary forces, including the police, in the national security crackdown, which saw mass arrests of democratic activists, politicians, students and journalists.

In one high-profile action this year,&nbsp;Lee&nbsp;sent a letter to the Wall Street Journal, demanding the newspaper support, rather than criticise a raid by 200 police on a liberal media outlet, Stand News, that led to the arrest of senior editors and the online news portal's closure.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary John Lee, a security official during the global financial hub's prolonged and often violent 2019 pro-democracy protests, said on Wednesday he had resigned in a bid to run in an election in May to become the city's new leader.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary John Lee, a security official during the global financial hub's prolonged and often violent 2019 pro-democracy protests, said on Wednesday he had resigned in a bid to run in an election in May to become the city's new leader. Lee, 64, a former deputy commissioner of police, was promoted to the global financial hub's No. 2 role in 2021 in a move that some political analysts said signalled Beijing's priorities for Hong Kong were security rather than the economy. "I indicate in the letter the reason for my resignation is that if my resignation is approved by the Central People's Government, I shall plan to prepare to stand for the upcoming chief executive election," Lee said at a news conference. Also read | Chinese firm surges 229% in Hong Kong after claims its Covid drug reduces deaths and hospitalisation: Report He is the first government official to announce a bid for the Chinese-ruled city's top job, with media reporting that he will be the only candidate in the chief executive election due to take place on May 8. Lee was among other senior Hong Kong and Chinese officials sanctioned by the United States in 2020 for what Washington described as their role in curbing Hong Kong's freedoms under a sweeping national security law imposed on the city by Beijing. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities deny individual rights are being eroded and say the security legislation was needed to restore stability after prolonged unrest in 2019. Previous chief executives had extensive economic and social policy-making expertise and Lee was the first security official to lead the city in his role as chief secretary. Lee's promotion to the city's No. 2 position saw police chief Chris Tang take the security secretary post previously occupied by Lee. Watch | Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam to step down as city's chief executive, won't seek re-election Last year, as Hong Kong's security chief, Lee sent letters to media tycoon Jimmy Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city, according to documents seen by Reuters. Rise of security officials His bid for the city's top political post is a sign of the growing power security officials are gaining in the former British colony after faithfully implementing Beijing's new laws. If successful, Lee would be the first person with a security background to lead Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Lee's announcement comes two days after incumbent Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would not seek a second five-year term, saying "it's time for me to go home", after presiding over one of the most tumultuous periods in Hong Kong's history. Previous chief secretaries had extensive economic and social policy-making expertise and Lee is the first security official to lead the city in his role as chief secretary. Lee's promotion to the city's No. 2 position saw police chief Chris Tang take the security secretary post previously occupied by Lee. Also read | Carrie Lam: Leader who helped usher in the era of Beijing's dominance in Hong Kong Last year, Lee led the vetting of candidates for the first "patriots-only" election for a new-look Legislative Council, where only those loyal to Beijing were allowed to run. Lee holds a degree from Charles Sturt University in Australia, and joined the Hong Kong Police in 1977. He played a key role in trying to implement a contentious proposed extradition law in 2019 that divided Hong Kong society and triggered the mass protests. That legislation was eventually scrapped amid widespread public calls for Lee to quit. Some observers of Hong Kong politics describe him as resolute, earnest and efficient, but lacking a natural feel for politics. Also read | Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam not seek a second term Known for his hawkish stance, Lee had spearheaded the city's disciplinary forces, including the police, in the national security crackdown, which saw mass arrests of democratic activists, politicians, students and journalists. In one high-profile action this year, Lee sent a letter to the Wall Street Journal, demanding the newspaper support, rather than criticise a raid by 200 police on a liberal media outlet, Stand News, that led to the arrest of senior editors and the online news portal's closure.

Hong Kong deputy chief says he plans to run for city's top job

The website of&nbsp;Gazprom&nbsp;Neft, the oil arm of Russian state gas giant&nbsp;Gazprom, went down on Wednesday (April 6) after an apparent hack, in what looked like the latest attack on government-linked sites following Russia's actions in Ukraine.

The website briefly showed a statement purporting to be from&nbsp;Gazprom&nbsp;chief executive Alexei Miller, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.

Miller last month urged the gas giant's 500,000 employees to rally around Putin to preserve Russia as a great power in the face of foreign hostility.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-us-threatens-beijing-with-sanctions-if-it-provides-material-support-to-moscow-468963">Russia-Ukraine war: US threatens Beijing with sanctions if it provides ‘material support’ to Moscow</a>

The statement attributed to him on what looked like a hacked version of the site cited him as making critical comments about Russia's decision to send tens of thousands of troops into neighbouring Ukraine, where thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed.

The website stopped working soon afterwards.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Global Headlines: Zelensky addresses Irish Parliament | Candlelight vigil for war victims

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"The information published on the site on the morning of April 6 ... is not true and cannot be regarded as an official statement of the company's representatives or shareholders,"&nbsp;Gazprom&nbsp;Neft said.

A&nbsp;Gazprom&nbsp;spokesperson dismissed the statement on the website as nonsense.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelensky-says-russia-hiding-thousands-killed-in-mariupol-468954">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia hiding 'thousands' killed in Mariupol</a>

The website of the state news agency TASS was hacked in February to show a message calling for Moscow to halt what it calls its "special operation" in Ukraine.

The website of Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian state gas giant Gazprom, went down on Wednesday (April 6) after an apparent hack, in what looked like the latest attack on government-linked sites following Russia's actions in Ukraine.

The website of Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian state gas giant Gazprom, went down on Wednesday (April 6) after an apparent hack, in what looked like the latest attack on government-linked sites following Russia's actions in Ukraine. The website briefly showed a statement purporting to be from Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. Miller last month urged the gas giant's 500,000 employees to rally around Putin to preserve Russia as a great power in the face of foreign hostility. Also read | Russia-Ukraine war: US threatens Beijing with sanctions if it provides ‘material support’ to Moscow The statement attributed to him on what looked like a hacked version of the site cited him as making critical comments about Russia's decision to send tens of thousands of troops into neighbouring Ukraine, where thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed. The website stopped working soon afterwards. Watch | Gravitas Global Headlines: Zelensky addresses Irish Parliament | Candlelight vigil for war victims "The information published on the site on the morning of April 6 ... is not true and cannot be regarded as an official statement of the company's representatives or shareholders," Gazprom Neft said. A Gazprom spokesperson dismissed the statement on the website as nonsense. Also read | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia hiding 'thousands' killed in Mariupol The website of the state news agency TASS was hacked in February to show a message calling for Moscow to halt what it calls its "special operation" in Ukraine.

Website of Russian oil company Gazprom Neft goes down after apparent hack

The White House on Wednesday (April 6) reiterated that the United States is ready to support India as another option for energy imports to counter ties with Russia.&nbsp;

Just like other countries, India has also been hit hard by rising crude values due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The conflict resulted in prices soaring, in some states, prices touched record highs.&nbsp;

In order to mitigate the rising cost of oil imports, PM Narendra Modi's government has turned to Russian barrels that are available at discounts, a move not liked by some countries like the US.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelensky-says-russia-hiding-thousands-killed-in-mariupol-468954">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia hiding 'thousands' killed in Mariupol</a>

Responding to the same, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference:&nbsp;"We do not think India should accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy and other commodities even as, obviously, those decisions are made by individual countries."&nbsp;

She added, "And (the US is) also making clear that we stand ready to support India as in any efforts to diversify its imports and serve as a reliable supplier even as they're only importing about one to two per cent of their oil from Russia."&nbsp;

In reference to the US Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh's New Delhi visit last week, Psaki said that the US has a range of ways to "communicate and engage". Singh visited to discuss with Indian officials on the Russian sanctions.&nbsp;

ALSO&nbsp;READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volodymyr-zelensky-impact-of-war-on-ukraines-comedian-president-and-an-unlikely-wartime-leader-468665">How Ukraine war took toll on comedian-turned unlikely war president Volodymyr Zelensky</a>

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Tune in for a briefing with Press Secretary Jen Psaki. <a href="https://t.co/q9KkGNNTM8">https://t.co/q9KkGNNTM8</a>
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She said, "We have a range of ways to communicate and engage. And obviously, sending our Deputy National Security Advisor is an example of that. But clearly, our preference would be to have a confirmed ambassador."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, on Wednesday (April 5), India's foreign minister said that the government is working to stabilise economic transactions with Russia.&nbsp;

India has also condemned the reports of killings of civilians in Ukraine and urged using diplomatic channels to defuse the situation and end the war.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: India condemns mass killings in Bucha

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The White House on Wednesday (April 6) reiterated that the United States is ready to support India as another option for energy imports to counter ties with Russia.

The White House on Wednesday (April 6) reiterated that the United States is ready to support India as another option for energy imports to counter ties with Russia. Just like other countries, India has also been hit hard by rising crude values due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The conflict resulted in prices soaring, in some states, prices touched record highs. In order to mitigate the rising cost of oil imports, PM Narendra Modi's government has turned to Russian barrels that are available at discounts, a move not liked by some countries like the US. ALSO READ | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia hiding 'thousands' killed in Mariupol Responding to the same, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference: "We do not think India should accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy and other commodities even as, obviously, those decisions are made by individual countries." She added, "And (the US is) also making clear that we stand ready to support India as in any efforts to diversify its imports and serve as a reliable supplier even as they're only importing about one to two per cent of their oil from Russia." In reference to the US Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh's New Delhi visit last week, Psaki said that the US has a range of ways to "communicate and engage". Singh visited to discuss with Indian officials on the Russian sanctions. ALSO READ | How Ukraine war took toll on comedian-turned unlikely war president Volodymyr Zelensky Tune in for a briefing with Press Secretary Jen Psaki. https://t.co/q9KkGNNTM8 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 6, 2022 × She said, "We have a range of ways to communicate and engage. And obviously, sending our Deputy National Security Advisor is an example of that. But clearly, our preference would be to have a confirmed ambassador." Meanwhile, on Wednesday (April 5), India's foreign minister said that the government is working to stabilise economic transactions with Russia. India has also condemned the reports of killings of civilians in Ukraine and urged using diplomatic channels to defuse the situation and end the war. WATCH | Gravitas: India condemns mass killings in Bucha ×

White House says US ready to become India's 'reliable supplier' to counter Russia dependence

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday (April 6) accused Russia of hiding evidence related to "thousands" of people killed in Mariupol in an attempt to block humanitarian access to the besieged port city. As quoted by news agency AFP citing Turkish media outlet Haberturk TV, Zelensky said: "The reason why we cannot get into Mariupol with the humanitarian cargo is precisely because they are afraid... that the world will see what is going on there." "I think it's a tragedy there, it's hell, I know that it's not tens, but thousands of people, different people, who have been killed there and thousands wounded," Zelensky added. ALSO READ | How Ukraine war took toll on comedian-turned unlikely war president Volodymyr Zelensky Reports have mentioned that residents in Mariupol waited in long queues on Tuesday (April 5) to receive deliveries of humanitarian aid. But Zelensky said Russia is not revealing evidence of thousands of people killed, however, he expressed confidence that Russia would not succeed in concealing all the proof. During his conversation with Turkish TV, Zelensky said, "They will not be able to hide all of this and bury all of these Ukrainians who died and who are injured. It's just such a number, it's thousands of people, it's impossible to hide." ALSO READ | Who are Katerina and Maria, the Russian President's daughters hit by US sanctions? Mariupol — the southern Ukrainian port city, that emerged to be strategically crucial, has been the centre of fierce fighting between Russia and Ukraine. On being asked about continuing peace talks with Russia, Zelensky said "they will have to take place anyway. I think it is difficult to stop this war without it." He added that he had a tough time bringing himself to continue talks with Moscow "because we understand who we are dealing with". WATCH | The US sanctions Putin's adult children amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine × (With inputs from agencies)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia hiding 'thousands' killed in Mariupol

Sketches smuggled out of Myanmar's prison tell horrible tale of country's most notorious jail - see pics

British finance minister Rishi Sunak is facing calls to answer and "come clean" after reports emerged that his multi-millionaire wife claims non-domicile status, which let her escape UK taxes on income earned abroad.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak is facing calls to answer and "come clean" after reports emerged that his multi-millionaire wife claims non-domicile status, which let her escape UK taxes on income earned abroad. Sunak's wife Akshata Murthy, daughter of Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, is apparently able to save millions of pounds in tax on dividends, which are collected from her family's IT business. Several politicians in the UK have reacted and asked Sunak to answer after a report on Ms Murthy's tax status was published by The Independent newspaper on Thursday. ALSO READ | Muslim prayer app, others banned by Google after finding spyware linked to US national security contractor The Labour leader Keir Starmer said Sunak had "very serious questions to answer" about his family's finances. He said, "If it now transpires that his wife has used schemes to reduce her tax, while he's been increasing taxes on working people, that's breathtaking hypocrisy." Tulip Siddiq, a lawmaker and Treasury spokeswoman in the opposition Labour Party, said Sunak should say whether he had benefited from his wife's tax status. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Murty said: "Akshata Murty is a citizen of India, the country of her birth and parents’ home. India does not allow its citizens to hold the citizenship of another country simultaneously." "So, according to British law, Ms Murty is treated as non-domiciled for UK tax purposes. She has always and will continue to pay UK taxes on all her UK income," the statement added. ALSO READ | FBI disrupts Russian hackers, takes away control of routers and firewall appliances What is non-domicile status? In simple meaning, the country of domicile means the country where a person permanently resides in. If we talk about British law, those with non-domiciled status are not liable to pay taxes on income earned abroad. A person's domicile is usually the country which their father considered his permanent home when the person was born, although this can change if the person plans to permanently live in Britain. In Akshata's case, she is legally entitled to claim the status, but it raises a political issue as she is ultimately declaring that the UK is not her permanent home. She will be treated as UK-domiciled for tax purposes, and liable to be levied on foreign income, once she has lived in the UK for 15 years, in six years. WATCH | 'Transgender women should not compete in female events,' Boris Johnson triggers another controversy × (With inputs from agencies)

UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak faces fire over wife Akshata Murthy's non-domicile tax status

Popular Muslim prayer apps, with more than 10 million downloads, are among other applications that have been banned by Google, a popular tech site Gizmodo reported. The report also mentioned that among other apps, there was a barcode scanner and a clock app also.&nbsp;

As per the report, Google has banned over a dozen apps from Play Store after it found that they included a line of code that was secretly&nbsp;harvesting user data.&nbsp;

The secret code was apparently engineered by a company linked to a United States defence contractor and they paid money to the software developers to incorporate the code into their apps. The code was siphoning off personal data phone numbers, contacts, etc from the devices.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/it-wasnt-april-fools-joke-twitter-is-serious-about-the-hotly-debated-edit-button-468772">It wasn't April Fool's joke. Twitter is serious about the hotly debated edit button</a>

Gizmodo noted that The Wall Street Journal originally published a report on the invasive code, which was discovered by researchers Serge Egelman and Joel Reardon.&nbsp;

The researchers have co-founded AppCensus, an organisation that basically looks after auditing mobile apps for user privacy and security. They noted their findings in a <a href="https://blog.appcensus.io/2022/04/06/the-curious-case-of-coulus-coelib/">blog post</a>, in which they revealed the full list of apps that were banned.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WSJ noted citing Reardon that the apps weren't removed from the Play store until March 25, though they had contacted Google with their findings in October 2021.&nbsp;

Google stated in response: "All apps on Google Play must comply with our policies, regardless of the developer. When we determine an app violates these policies, we take appropriate action."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/with-29bn-twitter-stake-musk-now-owns-4-times-more-shares-than-founder-dorsey-stock-soars-21-468337">With $2.9bn Twitter stake, Musk now owns 4 times more shares than founder Dorsey, stock soars 21%</a>

The researchers have stated that a company registered in Panama called Measurement Systems might be behind all this. In their report, the researchers have clearly mentionedn that Measurement Systems was actually registered by a company called Vostrom Holdings.&nbsp;

The company is said to be a firm based in Virginia. It&nbsp;apparently has ties with the national defence industry. WSJ has noted that Vostrom contracts with the US federal government through a subsidiary firm called Packet Forensics.&nbsp;

Watch this report:&nbsp;

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Popular Muslim prayer apps, with more than 10 million downloads, are among other applications that have been banned by Google, a popular tech site Gizmodo reported.

Popular Muslim prayer apps, with more than 10 million downloads, are among other applications that have been banned by Google, a popular tech site Gizmodo reported. The report also mentioned that among other apps, there was a barcode scanner and a clock app also. As per the report, Google has banned over a dozen apps from Play Store after it found that they included a line of code that was secretly harvesting user data. The secret code was apparently engineered by a company linked to a United States defence contractor and they paid money to the software developers to incorporate the code into their apps. The code was siphoning off personal data phone numbers, contacts, etc from the devices. ALSO READ | It wasn't April Fool's joke. Twitter is serious about the hotly debated edit button Gizmodo noted that The Wall Street Journal originally published a report on the invasive code, which was discovered by researchers Serge Egelman and Joel Reardon. The researchers have co-founded AppCensus, an organisation that basically looks after auditing mobile apps for user privacy and security. They noted their findings in a blog post, in which they revealed the full list of apps that were banned. WSJ noted citing Reardon that the apps weren't removed from the Play store until March 25, though they had contacted Google with their findings in October 2021. Google stated in response: "All apps on Google Play must comply with our policies, regardless of the developer. When we determine an app violates these policies, we take appropriate action." ALSO READ | With $2.9bn Twitter stake, Musk now owns 4 times more shares than founder Dorsey, stock soars 21% The researchers have stated that a company registered in Panama called Measurement Systems might be behind all this. In their report, the researchers have clearly mentionedn that Measurement Systems was actually registered by a company called Vostrom Holdings. The company is said to be a firm based in Virginia. It apparently has ties with the national defence industry. WSJ has noted that Vostrom contracts with the US federal government through a subsidiary firm called Packet Forensics. Watch this report: ×

Muslim prayer app, others banned by Google after finding spyware linked to US national security contractor

Pyongyang is ignoring US overtures for talks and could be planning its first nuclear weapon test in nearly five years for its April 15 holiday,&nbsp;the State Department's top North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;envoy said Wednesday.

Sung Kim, the Special Representative for North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;Policy, said Washington thinks Pyongyang could be planning a big show of its growing nuclear weapons capacity on the annual holiday next week, which will celebrate the 110th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, who founded the modern Democratic People's Republic of&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;(DPRK).

"We are worried that in connection with the upcoming April 15 anniversary, the DPRK may be tempted to take another provocative action," Kim told reporters, referring to North&nbsp;Korea's recent ballistic missile test launches.

"I don't want to speculate too much, but I think it could be another missile launch, it could be a nuclear test," he said.

North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has tested nuclear weapons several times starting in 2006, and its last test was in 2017.

Pyongyang has continued to ignore Washington's overtures to resume discussions about removing all nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula, Kim said.

"We have not received any response from Pyongyang, which is very disappointing, because we have sent several messages, both public and private, inviting them to a dialogue without any conditions," he said.

"Instead they have initiated a series of missile tests that recently culminated in at least three ICBM launches. These actions pose a serious threat to regional stability."

Kim also said that China and Russia were not helping President Joe Biden's push to restart talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Talks aimed at containing Pyongyang's nuclear threat appeared to gain traction under the previous US administration of Donald Trump, but then stopped.&nbsp;

After Biden took office, North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;began a series of missile tests, 13 in all, that culminated last month with the test of a ballistic missile that could potentially deliver a nuclear warhead to the eastern United States.

The tests have alarmed North&nbsp;Korea's immediate neighbors South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and Japan.

On Tuesday, Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong warned that Pyongyang will use its nuclear weapons to "eliminate" South&nbsp;Korea's army in the event they launch a preemptive strike.

Sung Kim said that Washington is pushing for a fresh resolution condemning Pyongyang's actions at the UN Security Council.

But he noted that in six earlier efforts this year, Russia and China "have consistently blocked our efforts to produce a UN public statement."

Pyongyang is ignoring US overtures for talks and could be planning its first nuclear weapon test in nearly five years for its April 15 holiday, the State Department's top North Korea envoy said Wednesday.

Pyongyang is ignoring US overtures for talks and could be planning its first nuclear weapon test in nearly five years for its April 15 holiday, the State Department's top North Korea envoy said Wednesday. Sung Kim, the Special Representative for North Korea Policy, said Washington thinks Pyongyang could be planning a big show of its growing nuclear weapons capacity on the annual holiday next week, which will celebrate the 110th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, who founded the modern Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "We are worried that in connection with the upcoming April 15 anniversary, the DPRK may be tempted to take another provocative action," Kim told reporters, referring to North Korea's recent ballistic missile test launches. "I don't want to speculate too much, but I think it could be another missile launch, it could be a nuclear test," he said. North Korea has tested nuclear weapons several times starting in 2006, and its last test was in 2017. Pyongyang has continued to ignore Washington's overtures to resume discussions about removing all nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula, Kim said. "We have not received any response from Pyongyang, which is very disappointing, because we have sent several messages, both public and private, inviting them to a dialogue without any conditions," he said. "Instead they have initiated a series of missile tests that recently culminated in at least three ICBM launches. These actions pose a serious threat to regional stability." Kim also said that China and Russia were not helping President Joe Biden's push to restart talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Talks aimed at containing Pyongyang's nuclear threat appeared to gain traction under the previous US administration of Donald Trump, but then stopped. After Biden took office, North Korea began a series of missile tests, 13 in all, that culminated last month with the test of a ballistic missile that could potentially deliver a nuclear warhead to the eastern United States. The tests have alarmed North Korea's immediate neighbors South Korea and Japan. On Tuesday, Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong warned that Pyongyang will use its nuclear weapons to "eliminate" South Korea's army in the event they launch a preemptive strike. Sung Kim said that Washington is pushing for a fresh resolution condemning Pyongyang's actions at the UN Security Council. But he noted that in six earlier efforts this year, Russia and China "have consistently blocked our efforts to produce a UN public statement."

US envoy says North Korea could hold nuclear test on coming anniversary

Shootings in New York City rose during the first quarter compared with the same period last year, even as homicides declined, police officials said Wednesday afternoon, the continuation of a drumbeat of violence that emerged early in the pandemic and has not ebbed with the virus.

Shooting incidents increased to 296 in the first quarter compared with 260 during the same period last year, according to the latest Police Department statistics, which include the first three days of April.

The trend reflects “continuing and completely unacceptable violence in our streets,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said Wednesday.

The briefing at One Police Plaza was the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that city officials gathered collectively for what was once a ritual for police, reporters and the public. In the two years since the Police Department’s last full briefing on crime statistics, pockets of New York have seen upticks in shootings and murders, underscoring concern that America’s most populous city could be headed backward.

Mayor Eric Adams has made reversing that trend the central goal of his administration.

“The NYPD will use every resource and opportunity to secure this city,” Sewell said, but “reversing years will not take weeks.”

She credited the decrease in the homicide rates to a surge of arrests. In March, she said, officers made more than 4,000 felony arrests, more than double the number of those made at the same time last year.

But her remarks came as the city confronts a string of shootings that caught bystanders in crossfire. Last week, 12-year-old Kade Lewin died in Brooklyn when a barrage of bullets hit a parked car in which he was eating a meal with relatives. Days later, a 61-year-old woman died after she was struck by a stray bullet in the Bronx. And, last month, a 3-year-old toddler was shot in the shoulder outside a Brooklyn day care center.

As a weary city emerges from more than two years of pandemic limbo, a gap has opened between perceptions of crime and the realities of the city. This New York is more dangerous by some measures than the one many residents lived in at the start of the pandemic, in the spring of 2020. Yet it remains far safer than in previous years, and crime is lower than in many of the nation’s largest cities.

Gun violence hit historic lows in 2018 and 2019. Even with recent increases, rates of shootings, felony assaults and overall major crimes are similar to or below the levels of the late 2000s and early 2010s. There have been nine fewer murders this year compared with the same period last year.

This year’s first three months have also seen rises in crimes like burglaries, robberies and grand larcenies compared to the same periods in 2020 and 2021, although experts warn against short-term comparisons, particularly during the statistic-skewing pandemic.

New York isn’t the only city struggling to curb crime after the pandemic. In Houston, at least 473 homicides were recorded last year; New York saw only 15 more, with nearly four times the total population. And just 90 minutes south, Philadelphia saw 559 murders in 2021, in a city with just 1.5 million residents.

But fresh anxieties have driven warnings about a return to New York’s “bad old days,” when there were many years with more than 2,000 murders. To some, the resemblance between the periods lies not in the crime or the data, but in the coverage.

“It reminds me of the 1990s, in the sense that every incident of violence becomes a major news story,” said Jeffrey Butts, director of the research and evaluation center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “Some of these things are just shocking. But it’s also important to remember that these things have always happened, and still been fairly infrequent incidents. But they stay with you for so long and stick in your memory.”

Some types of crime have risen significantly since the pandemic began.

Shootings are twice as high as in the years preceding the pandemic, and the burden falls primarily on Black and Latino neighborhoods. More than 1,800 shootings were reported annually in the past two years after dropping under 900 in 2018. Attacks against Asian New Yorkers have spiked, with more than 130 hate-crime complaints reported to police last year, after just one in 2019.

The subway system has also grown more hazardous, with assaults and other major felonies significantly up during the pandemic, when adjusted for a weekday ridership below 60% of former levels. And not all types of frightening events like aggressive encounters on the street or harassment on a train are simple to track.

Still, Adams and Sewell have effected a host of changes at the Police Department, including the reincarnation of plainclothes anti-crime units disbanded in 2020 over allegations of brutality and excessive force. The new units have been reimagined to include training on constitutional rights and de-escalation, and officers now wear a modified uniform instead of street clothes, the Police Department said.

Since being redeployed in March, the units have made 121 arrests, 25 of which were for illegal gun possession, the Police Department said Wednesday.

Indeed, officials said Wednesday they had arrested a 21-year-old man driving a stolen car in Harlem, and were investigating whether he was involved in the drive-by shooting that left Lewin dead in East Flatbush. The suspect was driving a Mercedes-Benz that was one of two cars stolen in Queens on March 10, said James W. Essig, the chief of detectives. The other stolen car was used in the East Flatbush shooting, he said.

Shootings in New York City rose during the first quarter compared with the same period last year, even as homicides declined, police officials said Wednesday afternoon, the continuation of a drumbeat of violence that emerged early in the pandemic and has not ebbed with the virus.

Shootings in New York City rose during the first quarter compared with the same period last year, even as homicides declined, police officials said Wednesday afternoon, the continuation of a drumbeat of violence that emerged early in the pandemic and has not ebbed with the virus. Shooting incidents increased to 296 in the first quarter compared with 260 during the same period last year, according to the latest Police Department statistics, which include the first three days of April. The trend reflects “continuing and completely unacceptable violence in our streets,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said Wednesday. The briefing at One Police Plaza was the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that city officials gathered collectively for what was once a ritual for police, reporters and the public. In the two years since the Police Department’s last full briefing on crime statistics, pockets of New York have seen upticks in shootings and murders, underscoring concern that America’s most populous city could be headed backward. Mayor Eric Adams has made reversing that trend the central goal of his administration. “The NYPD will use every resource and opportunity to secure this city,” Sewell said, but “reversing years will not take weeks.” She credited the decrease in the homicide rates to a surge of arrests. In March, she said, officers made more than 4,000 felony arrests, more than double the number of those made at the same time last year. But her remarks came as the city confronts a string of shootings that caught bystanders in crossfire. Last week, 12-year-old Kade Lewin died in Brooklyn when a barrage of bullets hit a parked car in which he was eating a meal with relatives. Days later, a 61-year-old woman died after she was struck by a stray bullet in the Bronx. And, last month, a 3-year-old toddler was shot in the shoulder outside a Brooklyn day care center. As a weary city emerges from more than two years of pandemic limbo, a gap has opened between perceptions of crime and the realities of the city. This New York is more dangerous by some measures than the one many residents lived in at the start of the pandemic, in the spring of 2020. Yet it remains far safer than in previous years, and crime is lower than in many of the nation’s largest cities. Gun violence hit historic lows in 2018 and 2019. Even with recent increases, rates of shootings, felony assaults and overall major crimes are similar to or below the levels of the late 2000s and early 2010s. There have been nine fewer murders this year compared with the same period last year. This year’s first three months have also seen rises in crimes like burglaries, robberies and grand larcenies compared to the same periods in 2020 and 2021, although experts warn against short-term comparisons, particularly during the statistic-skewing pandemic. New York isn’t the only city struggling to curb crime after the pandemic. In Houston, at least 473 homicides were recorded last year; New York saw only 15 more, with nearly four times the total population. And just 90 minutes south, Philadelphia saw 559 murders in 2021, in a city with just 1.5 million residents. But fresh anxieties have driven warnings about a return to New York’s “bad old days,” when there were many years with more than 2,000 murders. To some, the resemblance between the periods lies not in the crime or the data, but in the coverage. “It reminds me of the 1990s, in the sense that every incident of violence becomes a major news story,” said Jeffrey Butts, director of the research and evaluation center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “Some of these things are just shocking. But it’s also important to remember that these things have always happened, and still been fairly infrequent incidents. But they stay with you for so long and stick in your memory.” Some types of crime have risen significantly since the pandemic began. Shootings are twice as high as in the years preceding the pandemic, and the burden falls primarily on Black and Latino neighborhoods. More than 1,800 shootings were reported annually in the past two years after dropping under 900 in 2018. Attacks against Asian New Yorkers have spiked, with more than 130 hate-crime complaints reported to police last year, after just one in 2019. The subway system has also grown more hazardous, with assaults and other major felonies significantly up during the pandemic, when adjusted for a weekday ridership below 60% of former levels. And not all types of frightening events like aggressive encounters on the street or harassment on a train are simple to track. Still, Adams and Sewell have effected a host of changes at the Police Department, including the reincarnation of plainclothes anti-crime units disbanded in 2020 over allegations of brutality and excessive force. The new units have been reimagined to include training on constitutional rights and de-escalation, and officers now wear a modified uniform instead of street clothes, the Police Department said. Since being redeployed in March, the units have made 121 arrests, 25 of which were for illegal gun possession, the Police Department said Wednesday. Indeed, officials said Wednesday they had arrested a 21-year-old man driving a stolen car in Harlem, and were investigating whether he was involved in the drive-by shooting that left Lewin dead in East Flatbush. The suspect was driving a Mercedes-Benz that was one of two cars stolen in Queens on March 10, said James W. Essig, the chief of detectives. The other stolen car was used in the East Flatbush shooting, he said.

Shootings rise in New York, coloring perceptions of city’s safety

India now has a record-high number of billionaires: Here's a list of top 10 richest in 2022

&nbsp;US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Janet&nbsp;Yellen&nbsp;said on Wednesday that Russia should be expelled from the Group of 20 major economies forum, and the United States will boycott "a number of G20 meetings" if Russian officials show up.

Her comments at a US&nbsp;House Financial Services Committee hearing raised questions about the G20's future role in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Since 2008, the club has served as a key international forum for issues from COVID-19 relief to cross-border debt and also includes China, India, Saudi Arabia and other countries that have been reluctant to condemn Russia's actions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-united-nations-to-vote-on-suspending-russia-from-human-rights-council-469018">Ukraine war: United Nations to vote on suspending Russia from Human Rights Council</a>

Yellen&nbsp;told lawmakers Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the killings of civilians in Bucha "are reprehensible, represent an unacceptable affront to the rules-based global order, and will have enormous economic repercussions in Ukraine and beyond."

The United States and its key allies have placed greater emphasis in recent months on the G7 grouping of industrial democracies, whose interests are more aligned, using G7 meetings to coordinate their response to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Yellen&nbsp;said the Biden administration wants to push Russia out of active participation in major international institutions, but acknowledged it was unlikely that Russia could be expelled from the International Monetary Fund given its rules.

"President Biden's made it clear, and I certainly agree with him, that it cannot be business as usual for Russia in any of the financial institutions,"&nbsp;Yellen&nbsp;said. "He's asked that Russia be removed from the G20, and I've made clear to my colleagues in Indonesia that we will not be participating in a number of meetings if the Russians are there,"&nbsp;Yellen&nbsp;said.

Indonesia holds the presidency this year and will host a finance meeting in July and a leaders summit in November.

A Treasury spokesperson later said that&nbsp;Yellen&nbsp;was referring to an April 20 G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington and associated deputies meetings.

The April finance meeting will be held both in-person and virtually and Russia's participation is unclear at present.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Global Headlines: Zelensky addresses Irish Parliament | Candlelight vigil for war victims

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-global-headlines-zelensky-addresses-irish-parliament-candlelight-vigil-for-war-victims-468942/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Russia has said that President Vladimir Putin intends to attend the G20 summit in Bali this year and has received China's backing to stay in the group.

Indonesia could not expel or "disinvite" any G20 members, including Russia, a government official familiar with the matter said, adding whether a country attended was up to that nation.

Energy flexibility

Yellen's testimony came as the Biden administration announced a new round of sanctions to punish Russia, including banning Americans from investing in Russia and locking Sberbank, Russia's largest lender and holder of a third of its bank deposits, out of the U.S. financial system, along with other institutions.

But transactions allowing European allies to purchase Russian oil and natural gas were exempted through special Treasury licenses.

Yellen&nbsp;said that flexibility on Russian energy transactions was needed because many European countries "remain heavily dependent on Russian natural gas, as well as oil, and they are committed to making the transition away from that dependence as rapidly as possible."

But she acknowledged that this would take time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-russian-forces-completely-withdrawn-from-kyiv-and-chernihiv-ukraine-can-absolutely-win-war-469001">US: Russian forces 'completely' withdrawn from Kyiv and Chernihiv; Ukraine can 'absolutely' win war</a>

A complete ban on oil exports from Russia, the world's third-largest producer after the United States and Saudi Arabia, would likely prompt "skyrocketing" prices that would hurt both the United States and Europe,&nbsp;Yellen&nbsp;said.

She added that she hoped that currently high prices would entice oil companies in the United States and elsewhere to ramp up production in the next six months, which, along with the Biden's release of oil from the US&nbsp;Strategic Petroleum Reserve, may allow for tougher restrictions on Russian oil.

China warning

Yellen&nbsp;also issued a warning to China that Treasury was prepared to turn its sanctions tools against Beijing in the event of Chinese aggression against Taiwan, which China claims as a wayward province.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-us-threatens-beijing-with-sanctions-if-it-provides-material-support-to-moscow-468963">Russia-Ukraine war: US threatens Beijing with sanctions if it provides ‘material support’ to Moscow</a>

Asked if the United States would take such steps if Taiwan was threatened, she said: "Absolutely. I believe we've shown that we can. In the case of Russia, we threatened significant consequences. We've imposed significant consequences. And I think that you should not doubt our ability and resolve to do the same in other situations."

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday that Russia should be expelled from the Group of 20 major economies forum, and the United States will boycott "a number of G20 meetings" if Russian officials show up.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday that Russia should be expelled from the Group of 20 major economies forum, and the United States will boycott "a number of G20 meetings" if Russian officials show up. Her comments at a US House Financial Services Committee hearing raised questions about the G20's future role in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since 2008, the club has served as a key international forum for issues from COVID-19 relief to cross-border debt and also includes China, India, Saudi Arabia and other countries that have been reluctant to condemn Russia's actions. Also read | Ukraine war: United Nations to vote on suspending Russia from Human Rights Council Yellen told lawmakers Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the killings of civilians in Bucha "are reprehensible, represent an unacceptable affront to the rules-based global order, and will have enormous economic repercussions in Ukraine and beyond." The United States and its key allies have placed greater emphasis in recent months on the G7 grouping of industrial democracies, whose interests are more aligned, using G7 meetings to coordinate their response to Russia's war in Ukraine. Yellen said the Biden administration wants to push Russia out of active participation in major international institutions, but acknowledged it was unlikely that Russia could be expelled from the International Monetary Fund given its rules. "President Biden's made it clear, and I certainly agree with him, that it cannot be business as usual for Russia in any of the financial institutions," Yellen said. "He's asked that Russia be removed from the G20, and I've made clear to my colleagues in Indonesia that we will not be participating in a number of meetings if the Russians are there," Yellen said. Indonesia holds the presidency this year and will host a finance meeting in July and a leaders summit in November. A Treasury spokesperson later said that Yellen was referring to an April 20 G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington and associated deputies meetings. The April finance meeting will be held both in-person and virtually and Russia's participation is unclear at present. Watch | Gravitas Global Headlines: Zelensky addresses Irish Parliament | Candlelight vigil for war victims Russia has said that President Vladimir Putin intends to attend the G20 summit in Bali this year and has received China's backing to stay in the group. Indonesia could not expel or "disinvite" any G20 members, including Russia, a government official familiar with the matter said, adding whether a country attended was up to that nation. Energy flexibility Yellen's testimony came as the Biden administration announced a new round of sanctions to punish Russia, including banning Americans from investing in Russia and locking Sberbank, Russia's largest lender and holder of a third of its bank deposits, out of the U.S. financial system, along with other institutions. But transactions allowing European allies to purchase Russian oil and natural gas were exempted through special Treasury licenses. Yellen said that flexibility on Russian energy transactions was needed because many European countries "remain heavily dependent on Russian natural gas, as well as oil, and they are committed to making the transition away from that dependence as rapidly as possible." But she acknowledged that this would take time. Also read | US: Russian forces 'completely' withdrawn from Kyiv and Chernihiv; Ukraine can 'absolutely' win war A complete ban on oil exports from Russia, the world's third-largest producer after the United States and Saudi Arabia, would likely prompt "skyrocketing" prices that would hurt both the United States and Europe, Yellen said. She added that she hoped that currently high prices would entice oil companies in the United States and elsewhere to ramp up production in the next six months, which, along with the Biden's release of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, may allow for tougher restrictions on Russian oil. China warning Yellen also issued a warning to China that Treasury was prepared to turn its sanctions tools against Beijing in the event of Chinese aggression against Taiwan, which China claims as a wayward province. Also read | Russia-Ukraine war: US threatens Beijing with sanctions if it provides ‘material support’ to Moscow Asked if the United States would take such steps if Taiwan was threatened, she said: "Absolutely. I believe we've shown that we can. In the case of Russia, we threatened significant consequences. We've imposed significant consequences. And I think that you should not doubt our ability and resolve to do the same in other situations."

Yellen says Russia should be expelled from G20, US may boycott some meetings

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