<p><strong>India’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party</strong> Wednesday released its star-studded list of top campaigners for the upcoming assembly elections slated to be held on May 10. The list of 40 top BJP leaders included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, <strong>Union Home Minister Amit Shah</strong> and <strong>BJP chief ministers</strong> from three states, including firebrand leader <strong>Yogi Adityanath </strong>of Uttar Pradesh. However, the speculation market turned red hot as soon as people found out two notable names were missing from the list- BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya and Pratap Simha.</p>

<h2><strong>Why are Surya and Simha kept away from campaigning?</strong></h2>

<p>Tejasvi Surya is BJP’s youth morcha president and is a big name in the state’s politics. Pratap Simha is also among the state’s top firebrand leaders. However, The Print quoted BJP’s sources as saying the party wants to keep the focus of campaigning on PM Narendra Modi. The source said, “well-thought-out strategy to keep the focus of the campaign on Prime Minister Modi”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, other BJP leaders said that adding Surya’s name to the list didn’t make any sense because he was already campaigning for the party across districts. NDTV quoted a BJP leader as saying, “He is a member of parliament from Karnataka and a popular leader for us.</p>

<p>He is anyways campaigning for the party and has been doing so for weeks now. But we also need people from the organisation who can be sent at short notice for meetings, everyone cannot be burdened with the responsibility of campaigning all the time.”</p>

<p>Some other leaders from BJP confirmed to NDTV that Surya will campaign for the party in at least 50 constituencies across the state.</p>

<h2><strong>Congress’s jab on Karnataka BJP</strong></h2>

<p>Congress was quick to react to the major development related to Karnataka BJP. Supriya Shrinate, a leader in the Congress, referred to Surya as "Nafrati Chintu" and claimed that nobody cared about him even in his own state. She continued, "He needs to get off his high horse.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some in opposition believe that Surya was taken off the list after the so-called ‘emergency exit gate fiasco'. The emergency door of a grounded airliner was unlocked by a passenger on December 10, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which alarmed other passengers and caused delays. Later, it was alleged that the passenger was none other than Tejasvi Surya.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


India’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party Wednesday released its star-studded list of top campaigners for the upcoming assembly elections slated to be held on May 10.

India’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party Wednesday released its star-studded list of top campaigners for the upcoming assembly elections slated to be held on May 10. The list of 40 top BJP leaders included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief ministers from three states, including firebrand leader Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh. However, the speculation market turned red hot as soon as people found out two notable names were missing from the list- BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya and Pratap Simha. Why are Surya and Simha kept away from campaigning? Tejasvi Surya is BJP’s youth morcha president and is a big name in the state’s politics. Pratap Simha is also among the state’s top firebrand leaders. However, The Print quoted BJP’s sources as saying the party wants to keep the focus of campaigning on PM Narendra Modi. The source said, “well-thought-out strategy to keep the focus of the campaign on Prime Minister Modi”. However, other BJP leaders said that adding Surya’s name to the list didn’t make any sense because he was already campaigning for the party across districts. NDTV quoted a BJP leader as saying, “He is a member of parliament from Karnataka and a popular leader for us. He is anyways campaigning for the party and has been doing so for weeks now. But we also need people from the organisation who can be sent at short notice for meetings, everyone cannot be burdened with the responsibility of campaigning all the time.” Some other leaders from BJP confirmed to NDTV that Surya will campaign for the party in at least 50 constituencies across the state. Congress’s jab on Karnataka BJP Congress was quick to react to the major development related to Karnataka BJP. Supriya Shrinate, a leader in the Congress, referred to Surya as "Nafrati Chintu" and claimed that nobody cared about him even in his own state. She continued, "He needs to get off his high horse.” Some in opposition believe that Surya was taken off the list after the so-called ‘emergency exit gate fiasco'. The emergency door of a grounded airliner was unlocked by a passenger on December 10, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which alarmed other passengers and caused delays. Later, it was alleged that the passenger was none other than Tejasvi Surya. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Karnataka elections 2023: Why has BJP excluded Tejasvi Surya’s name from star campaigners’ list?

<p><strong>Karnataka elections 2023:</strong> The incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party may have made tall claims regarding its performance in the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka, but several pre-poll surveys and opinion polls have indicated the possibility of a hung assembly. Meanwhile, two networks have given BJP an edge over Congress, while two other networks have predicted a win for Congress.</p>

<h2><strong>Pre-poll survey results</strong></h2>

<p>The pre-election survey by <strong>TV9 and C-Voter</strong> predicts that the Congress will win 106–116 seats and the BJP between 79 and 89. The JD(S) is expected to emerge victorious in 24-34 constituencies. ‘<strong>Mood of Karnataka’ by Public TV</strong> also gave Congress the edge on 98-108 seats, which is below the majority mark of 113.&nbsp;As per the poll, BJP will win 85-95 seats in the state while JD(S) will win 28–33 seats.</p>

<p><strong>The Asianet Survarna News Jan Ki Baat </strong>poll gives the BJP an edge over Congress, with the saffron party taking 98-109 seats against the Congress’s 89-97 seats.</p>

<p>The <strong>NewsFirst-Matrize</strong> poll predicted that the BJP would win 96–106 seats, while the Congress was predicted to win 84–94 and JD(S) to win 29–34.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A hung mandate is shown by <strong>Vistara News</strong> as it gave 88-93 seats to BJP, 84-90 to Congress, and 23-26 to JD(S). According to the survey, there are 27–30 seats where the outcome is uncertain. The pre-election survey by <strong>South First-People's Pulse</strong> gave Congress 98 seats, with a range of 95 to 105 seats. The BJP is predicted to win 92 seats (90-100 seat range) and the JD(S) 27 seats (25-30 seat range).</p>

<h2><strong>Will JD(S) emerge as the Kingmaker?</strong></h2>

<p>If speculations about the hung verdict in Karnataka polls turn out to be true, JD(S) will have the chance to reemerge as the Kingmaker to form the government as it did in 2018. Currently, JD(S) is trying hard to get rid of the “family party” reputation under its leader HD Kumaraswamy.</p>

<p>However, there are some political analysts and members of the party who doubt JD(S) will achieve this goal. The party's highest performance to date came in the 2004 assembly elections when it got 58 seats. The party put up its second-best performance in 2013 by registering victory on 40 seats.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Karnataka elections 2023: The incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party may have made tall claims regarding its performance in the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka, but several pre-poll surveys and opinion polls have indicated the possibility of a hung assembly.

Karnataka elections 2023: The incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party may have made tall claims regarding its performance in the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka, but several pre-poll surveys and opinion polls have indicated the possibility of a hung assembly. Meanwhile, two networks have given BJP an edge over Congress, while two other networks have predicted a win for Congress. Pre-poll survey results The pre-election survey by TV9 and C-Voter predicts that the Congress will win 106–116 seats and the BJP between 79 and 89. The JD(S) is expected to emerge victorious in 24-34 constituencies. ‘Mood of Karnataka’ by Public TV also gave Congress the edge on 98-108 seats, which is below the majority mark of 113. As per the poll, BJP will win 85-95 seats in the state while JD(S) will win 28–33 seats. The Asianet Survarna News Jan Ki Baat poll gives the BJP an edge over Congress, with the saffron party taking 98-109 seats against the Congress’s 89-97 seats. The NewsFirst-Matrize poll predicted that the BJP would win 96–106 seats, while the Congress was predicted to win 84–94 and JD(S) to win 29–34. A hung mandate is shown by Vistara News as it gave 88-93 seats to BJP, 84-90 to Congress, and 23-26 to JD(S). According to the survey, there are 27–30 seats where the outcome is uncertain. The pre-election survey by South First-People's Pulse gave Congress 98 seats, with a range of 95 to 105 seats. The BJP is predicted to win 92 seats (90-100 seat range) and the JD(S) 27 seats (25-30 seat range). Will JD(S) emerge as the Kingmaker? If speculations about the hung verdict in Karnataka polls turn out to be true, JD(S) will have the chance to reemerge as the Kingmaker to form the government as it did in 2018. Currently, JD(S) is trying hard to get rid of the “family party” reputation under its leader HD Kumaraswamy. However, there are some political analysts and members of the party who doubt JD(S) will achieve this goal. The party's highest performance to date came in the 2004 assembly elections when it got 58 seats. The party put up its second-best performance in 2013 by registering victory on 40 seats. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Karnataka elections 2023: Pre-poll surveys herald hung verdict; Will JDS emerge as kingmaker?

<p>A dog from Ireland has made headlines after he escaped his new owner and walked 64 km back to its former home. The dog, named Cooper, was adopted by a family in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland; however, he was not happy with his new surroundings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He then chose to take the perilous path to his original home. As per media reports, the previous owner of the dog was no longer able to care for him, and he had sent the dog to the kennels.</p>

<h2><strong>The dog evaded the search party for 25 days</strong></h2>

<p>As per a report by the Times Now, the dog spent just a few hours at his new place, where he was supposed to live with his new four-legged roommate ‘Molly.’ &nbsp;However, he managed to escape within hours. The new owners roped in a missing pets charity, Lost Paws NI, to aid in the search efforts. However, the Golden Retriever continued to evade the search party for 25 days.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Researchers say Dog's tail are only a communication tool</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trending-on-wion-researchers-say-dogs-tail-are-only-a-communication-tool-549132/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>On April 22, the charity received information from other pet owners about the whereabouts of Cooper. He was spotted roaming around local properties. Later on April 27, the charity was informed by a local that he had spotted the Golden Retriever running back to his original home.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/move-over-hangry-these-spiders-start-losing-vision-when-they-get-hungry-588190">Move over 'hangry', these spiders start losing vision when they get hungry</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>The dog took a 27-day-long journey</strong></h2>

<p>According to a statement by Lost Paws NI, the dog spent 27 days running and avoiding traffic and human contact on his way back to his previous home. Lost Paws IN in a statement said, “We quickly contacted Nigel, his new owner and around 20 minutes later a photo arrived in our inbox of a dishevelled but breathing Cooper, something we were absolutely elated to see.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dog apparently relied on his nose to guide himself to the place he originally thought of as his home. He took the remarkable journey from Dungannon to Cookstown to Magherafelt and finally to Tobermore, with no human assistance and without having any meal.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pet-dog-sniffs-out-one-in-22-million-matching-kidney-donor-saves-owners-life-586668">UK: Pet dog sniffs out ‘one-in-22 million’ matching kidney donor, saves owner`s life</a></strong></p>

<p>“Cooper crossed main A-roads, forests, fields, country roads all over 27 days to make his way back home from an area he had never been in before. We are absolutely delighted to have been part of his rescue and a story that,” they added.</p>

<h2><strong>New owner baffled</strong></h2>

<p>The new owner Nigel Fleming was expectedly left stunned after finding out that Cooper actually escaped his place to go back to his original home. He helped organise a search operation for the dog with help from other dog owners.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A dog from Ireland has made headlines after he escaped his new owner and walked 64 km back to its former home. The dog, named Cooper, was adopted by a family in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland; however, he was not happy with his new surroundings.

A dog from Ireland has made headlines after he escaped his new owner and walked 64 km back to its former home. The dog, named Cooper, was adopted by a family in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland; however, he was not happy with his new surroundings. He then chose to take the perilous path to his original home. As per media reports, the previous owner of the dog was no longer able to care for him, and he had sent the dog to the kennels. The dog evaded the search party for 25 days As per a report by the Times Now, the dog spent just a few hours at his new place, where he was supposed to live with his new four-legged roommate ‘Molly.’ However, he managed to escape within hours. The new owners roped in a missing pets charity, Lost Paws NI, to aid in the search efforts. However, the Golden Retriever continued to evade the search party for 25 days. Watch: Researchers say Dog's tail are only a communication tool × On April 22, the charity received information from other pet owners about the whereabouts of Cooper. He was spotted roaming around local properties. Later on April 27, the charity was informed by a local that he had spotted the Golden Retriever running back to his original home. Also Read | Move over 'hangry', these spiders start losing vision when they get hungry The dog took a 27-day-long journey According to a statement by Lost Paws NI, the dog spent 27 days running and avoiding traffic and human contact on his way back to his previous home. Lost Paws IN in a statement said, “We quickly contacted Nigel, his new owner and around 20 minutes later a photo arrived in our inbox of a dishevelled but breathing Cooper, something we were absolutely elated to see.” The dog apparently relied on his nose to guide himself to the place he originally thought of as his home. He took the remarkable journey from Dungannon to Cookstown to Magherafelt and finally to Tobermore, with no human assistance and without having any meal. Also Read | UK: Pet dog sniffs out ‘one-in-22 million’ matching kidney donor, saves owner`s life “Cooper crossed main A-roads, forests, fields, country roads all over 27 days to make his way back home from an area he had never been in before. We are absolutely delighted to have been part of his rescue and a story that,” they added. New owner baffled The new owner Nigel Fleming was expectedly left stunned after finding out that Cooper actually escaped his place to go back to his original home. He helped organise a search operation for the dog with help from other dog owners. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Dog escapes new owner, walks 64 km on foot back to his previous home after 27-day-long journey 

<p>India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval visited Iran Monday where he held talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Shamkhani. The Iranian media reported that the two officials discussed economic, political and security ties between the two countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Neither India nor Iran has uttered an official word regarding the trip. Economic Times reported that the Indian NSA will also hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.</p>

<h2><strong>Meeting comes ahead of the SCO summit</strong></h2>

<p>The meeting took place ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meet, slated to be held in India’s Goa this week. Iran is expected to become a full-fledged member of the SCO in this year’s annual summit. Interestingly, India is the current chair of the SCO.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Areas of co-operation between India and Iran</strong></h2>

<p>New Delhi and Tehran are focusing on the swift implementation of the Chabahar Port project, which involves the development of the port as a key transit hub for both India and Iran.</p>

<p>Last month, Iranian envoy Iraj Elahi also stressed the importance of fast implementation of the Chabahar Port project and suggested that the importance of the project goes far beyond the economic perspectives.<br />
The issue of crude oil exports from Iran to India is also on the cards.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;NSA Ajit Doval visits Iran, holds talks with Iranian counterpart</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nsa-ajit-doval-visits-iran-holds-talks-with-iranian-counterpart-587877/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Last month, Elahi advocated for crude oil trade between the two countries, saying that India was a ‘rising power’, which can easily withstand the pressure exerted by Western nations.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-denies-school-poisoning-attacks-says-probe-shows-no-toxic-substance-587255">&nbsp;Iran denies schoolgirls poisoning attacks, says probe shows no toxic substance&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>“Iran is an oil producer and oil is important in our economy. Despite the sanctions (for more than 10 years) we have found some ways to sell our oil and oil products like petrochemicals and other products," he was quoted as saying by India’s ANI.</p>

<p>“India is a rising power. India has a powerful economy. So, India could easily resist the pressure of the West," Elahi said while adding that India was not Taiwan or South Korea.</p>

<h2><strong>Iran also interested in joining BRICS</strong></h2>

<p>As reported by Bloomberg, Iran is also interested in joining the BRICS bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Iranian membership in BRICS "would result in added values for both sides", Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Iran holds a quarter of West Asia’s oil reserves but has long been ostracised by the US-led Western block.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval visited Iran Monday where he held talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Shamkhani. The Iranian media reported that the two officials discussed economic, political and security ties between the two countries.

India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval visited Iran Monday where he held talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Shamkhani. The Iranian media reported that the two officials discussed economic, political and security ties between the two countries. Neither India nor Iran has uttered an official word regarding the trip. Economic Times reported that the Indian NSA will also hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. Meeting comes ahead of the SCO summit The meeting took place ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meet, slated to be held in India’s Goa this week. Iran is expected to become a full-fledged member of the SCO in this year’s annual summit. Interestingly, India is the current chair of the SCO. Areas of co-operation between India and Iran New Delhi and Tehran are focusing on the swift implementation of the Chabahar Port project, which involves the development of the port as a key transit hub for both India and Iran. Last month, Iranian envoy Iraj Elahi also stressed the importance of fast implementation of the Chabahar Port project and suggested that the importance of the project goes far beyond the economic perspectives. The issue of crude oil exports from Iran to India is also on the cards. Watch: NSA Ajit Doval visits Iran, holds talks with Iranian counterpart × Last month, Elahi advocated for crude oil trade between the two countries, saying that India was a ‘rising power’, which can easily withstand the pressure exerted by Western nations. Also Read | Iran denies schoolgirls poisoning attacks, says probe shows no toxic substance “Iran is an oil producer and oil is important in our economy. Despite the sanctions (for more than 10 years) we have found some ways to sell our oil and oil products like petrochemicals and other products," he was quoted as saying by India’s ANI. “India is a rising power. India has a powerful economy. So, India could easily resist the pressure of the West," Elahi said while adding that India was not Taiwan or South Korea. Iran also interested in joining BRICS As reported by Bloomberg, Iran is also interested in joining the BRICS bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Iranian membership in BRICS "would result in added values for both sides", Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Iran holds a quarter of West Asia’s oil reserves but has long been ostracised by the US-led Western block. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval holds talks with Iranian counterpart ahead of SCO summit

<p>In Kenya, over 100 bodies linked to a religious cult have been subjected to autopsies by pathologists. The Good News International Church, based in the Shakahola Forest of eastern Kenya, lost 109 members after the group's leader, Paul Mackenzie, allegedly instructed them to starve themselves to death to be the first to go to heaven. The authorities have recovered 101 bodies from shallow graves since April 21, with eight cult members found alive but died later. So far, 44 people have been rescued.</p>

<p>Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, who is leading the postmortem examinations, said the autopsies will be done in teams, DNA samples will be collected from those who have reported missing relatives, and the matching will take at least a month. The autopsies will look at all possibilities, including whether some bodies had missing organs.</p>

<h2><strong>More cult members suspected to be hiding</strong></h2>

<p>This event is referred to as the Shakahola Forest Massacre by government officials, and the deaths amount to one of the worst cult-related tragedies in recent history. The Kenyan Red Cross has reported that over 300 people are missing, and the death toll is expected to rise.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/my-children-are-dead-i-know-for-sure-father-of-kenya-starvation-cult-victims-586520">'My children are dead, I know for sure': Father of Kenya starvation cult victims&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>Hussein Khalid, a member of Haki Africa, the rights group that tipped off the police to the actions of the church, believes that some church members are still hiding from the authorities in the nearby forest.</p>

<p>He has called on the government to send soldiers to help with the search so believers could be found before they starve themselves to death. “This signifies the magnitude of this issue that clearly shows that there are still many who are still out there … and possibly dying every second that passes by,” Khalid said.</p>

<h2><strong>Cult leader Paul Mackenzie in police custody</strong></h2>

<p>Cult leader Paul Mackenzie has been in police custody since April 14, held alongside 14 cult members. Local media have reported that he is refusing food and water.</p>

<p>However, Mackenzie has made no public comment, and two lawyers acting for him have declined to comment on the accusations against him. President William Ruto Sunday said he would appoint a judicial commission of inquiry this week to investigate what happened in Shakahola.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In Kenya, over 100 bodies linked to a religious cult have been subjected to autopsies by pathologists. The Good News International Church, based in the Shakahola Forest of eastern Kenya, lost 109 members after the group's leader, Paul Mackenzie, allegedly instructed them to starve themselves to death to be the first to go to heaven.

In Kenya, over 100 bodies linked to a religious cult have been subjected to autopsies by pathologists. The Good News International Church, based in the Shakahola Forest of eastern Kenya, lost 109 members after the group's leader, Paul Mackenzie, allegedly instructed them to starve themselves to death to be the first to go to heaven. The authorities have recovered 101 bodies from shallow graves since April 21, with eight cult members found alive but died later. So far, 44 people have been rescued. Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, who is leading the postmortem examinations, said the autopsies will be done in teams, DNA samples will be collected from those who have reported missing relatives, and the matching will take at least a month. The autopsies will look at all possibilities, including whether some bodies had missing organs. More cult members suspected to be hiding This event is referred to as the Shakahola Forest Massacre by government officials, and the deaths amount to one of the worst cult-related tragedies in recent history. The Kenyan Red Cross has reported that over 300 people are missing, and the death toll is expected to rise. Also Read | 'My children are dead, I know for sure': Father of Kenya starvation cult victims Hussein Khalid, a member of Haki Africa, the rights group that tipped off the police to the actions of the church, believes that some church members are still hiding from the authorities in the nearby forest. He has called on the government to send soldiers to help with the search so believers could be found before they starve themselves to death. “This signifies the magnitude of this issue that clearly shows that there are still many who are still out there … and possibly dying every second that passes by,” Khalid said. Cult leader Paul Mackenzie in police custody Cult leader Paul Mackenzie has been in police custody since April 14, held alongside 14 cult members. Local media have reported that he is refusing food and water. However, Mackenzie has made no public comment, and two lawyers acting for him have declined to comment on the accusations against him. President William Ruto Sunday said he would appoint a judicial commission of inquiry this week to investigate what happened in Shakahola. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Autopsies begin on over 100 dead bodies of Christian cult members in Kenya who starved to death

<p>A Russian freight train derailed Monday in the western region of Bryansk bordering Ukraine after it reportedly hit an explosive device attached to the railway tracks. The incident took place a day after a Ukrainian strike killed four people in a Russian village in the same area. The officials said no casualties were reported in the Monday accident. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force on Monday said it has evacuated almost 1400 Indians so far from conflict-ridden Sudan. The government aims to evacuate nearly 3000 Indians from the African nation. China also made headlines after one report cited by South China Morning Post claimed that China was the second costliest country in the world to raise a child. The study by YuWa Population Research Institute says that cost of raising a child in China is 6.9 per cent of per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on the headlines to read more:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-explosion-derails-freight-train-in-region-bordering-ukraine-587769"><strong>Russia: Explosion derails freight train in region bordering Ukraine</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Russia train derail" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3dfc91d6-1c4b-4325-a350-28ea62013e49" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/348798-russian-freight-train.jpg" />
<p>The local governor said that a Russian freight train derailed Monday (May 1) in the western region of Bryansk bordering Ukraine after an "explosive device" detonated on the rail tracks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-kaveri-indian-air-force-evacuates-1400-including-elderlies-aged-90-and-102-587822">Operation Kaveri: Indian Air Force evacuates 1400, including elderlies aged 90 and 102</a></strong></p>
<img alt="Operation Kaveri" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8478fd9-9d82-4104-b2c0-56ed81e2ffcf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/348802-untitled-design-69.jpg" />
<p>India's Operation Kaveri to rescue its citizens from conflict-ridden Sudan continues to be the highlight of New Delhi's effective cross-country evacuation flair. The Indian Air Force on Monday said that it has evacuated almost 1400 Indians over the past few days.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-second-most-costly-country-to-raise-a-child-report-587805">China second costliest country to raise a child: Report</a></strong></p>
<img alt="China" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e05718c0-5ee3-4993-b3a6-fb067ecbb59f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/334177-new-wion-66.jpg" />
<p>China, long the most populous country, has got another tag, that of being second costliest country to raise a child. A research report cited by South China Morning Post (SCMP), has called for support for couples raising children. China's birth rate is flagging, percieved by many to be an aftereffect of the now-abandoned One-Child-Policy.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uzbekistan-voters-approve-reforms-letting-prez-rule-till-2040-587850">Uzbekistan voters approve reforms letting prez rule till 2040</a></strong></p>
<img alt="Uzbekistan" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="89ba457c-37bd-4c7f-81c9-75f4be7237bf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/348816-uzbekistan.jpg" />
<p>Voters in Uzbekistan overwhelmingly approved changes in constitution that will allow President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to stay in power til 2040. The tightly controlled election has been slammed by international observers as being flawed.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-kamala-harris-woo-donors-for-presidential-election-2024-re-run-587819">Joe Biden, Kamala Harris woo donors for presidential election 2024 re-run</a></strong></p>
<img alt="Biden-harris" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a550c482-48ff-4e83-8b11-ae70813b3fca" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/348800-new-wion-92%20%281%29.jpg" />
<p>As the 2024 United States Presidential elections approach, incumbent Joe Biden and his second-in-command Kamala Harris over the weekend met with the top 150 donors in Washington, DC, to develop a successful strategy to raise funds for their re-election campaign.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-unveils-controversial-employment-plan-offers-to-send-300000-jobless-youth-to-villages-to-find-work-587731">China unveils controversial employment plan, offers to send 300,000 jobless youth to villages to find work</a></strong></p>
<img alt="China" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b5a268b1-ffb5-4410-b971-c995e01b3e7f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/348745-untitled-design-2023-05-01t123734742.jpg" />
<p>China's rising youth unemployment rate is becoming a significant economic challenge for the country and&nbsp;it seems to have come up with some controversial solutions. China's wealthiest province and manufacturing giant, Guangdong, has proposed to send 300,000 jobless youth to the countryside for two to three years to find employment.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-attends-khalsa-day-celebrations-in-toronto-587858"><strong>Canadian PM Justin Trudeau attends Khalsa Day celebrations in Toronto</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Trudeau" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="399f6169-4814-40d1-a561-10492dd208b4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/348819-new-wion-93.jpg" />
<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday participated in Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan in Toronto. He took part in the celebrations after a gap of seven years.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/why-are-parents-locking-their-daughters-graves-in-pakistan-587324">Photo of padlocks on grave in India's Hyderabad falsely claimed to be from Pakistan</a></strong></p>
<img alt="Pakistan" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73ba655c-e41a-4ff7-8216-4d92a1cbc0c5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/322464-grave-gf8d203a501280.jpg" />
<p>BOOM clarified that the 'grave in the viral image is located at Masjid E Salar Mulk in Darab Jung Colony, Hyderabad, India, and does not show an instance of parents in Pakistan locking their daughter's grave to protect against necrophilia'&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-to-deploy-smaller-boundaries-tactics-to-hunt-australia-down-in-home-ashes-reports-587865">England to deploy 'smaller boundaries' tactics to hunt Australia down in home Ashes - Reports</a></strong></p>
<img alt="England" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="596b7e1a-80d8-4886-920d-e2b5b2036cfe" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/348822-untitled-design-2023-05-01t192045369.jpg" />
<p>For reasons known to all, England will do everything to regain the urn this summer. As the 2023 Ashes will begin on June 16th, in Edgbaston- then venue which supposedly has the shortest boundaries (59 m) in the country, the English teams are reported to be deploying a stranger parameter at all grounds to ensure their 'Bazball' brand wreaks havoc against the Aussies.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-super-mario-bros-movie-leaked-on-twitter-and-millions-watched-it-587710"><strong>The Super Mario Bros. Movie leaked on Twitter and millions watched it</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Movie" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86b7dfab-d508-49b3-adad-9e9c1e70801f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/348731-untitled-design-2023-05-01t113315354.jpg" />
<p><em>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</em>, which has a runtime of approximately one and a half hours, was shared in its entirety online by&nbsp;a meme Twitter account that goes by the username "vidsthatgohard".&nbsp; Using the micro-blogging site's Twitter Blue video feature, the unidentified Twitter account holder illegally uploaded the Nintendo and&nbsp;Illumination&nbsp;film on the platform. And, millions of users watched it before it was taken down.</p>


A Russian freight train derailed Monday in the western region of Bryansk bordering Ukraine after it reportedly hit an explosive device attached to the railway tracks.

A Russian freight train derailed Monday in the western region of Bryansk bordering Ukraine after it reportedly hit an explosive device attached to the railway tracks. The incident took place a day after a Ukrainian strike killed four people in a Russian village in the same area. The officials said no casualties were reported in the Monday accident. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force on Monday said it has evacuated almost 1400 Indians so far from conflict-ridden Sudan. The government aims to evacuate nearly 3000 Indians from the African nation. China also made headlines after one report cited by South China Morning Post claimed that China was the second costliest country in the world to raise a child. The study by YuWa Population Research Institute says that cost of raising a child in China is 6.9 per cent of per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Click on the headlines to read more: Russia: Explosion derails freight train in region bordering Ukraine The local governor said that a Russian freight train derailed Monday (May 1) in the western region of Bryansk bordering Ukraine after an "explosive device" detonated on the rail tracks. Operation Kaveri: Indian Air Force evacuates 1400, including elderlies aged 90 and 102 India's Operation Kaveri to rescue its citizens from conflict-ridden Sudan continues to be the highlight of New Delhi's effective cross-country evacuation flair. The Indian Air Force on Monday said that it has evacuated almost 1400 Indians over the past few days. China second costliest country to raise a child: Report China, long the most populous country, has got another tag, that of being second costliest country to raise a child. A research report cited by South China Morning Post (SCMP), has called for support for couples raising children. China's birth rate is flagging, percieved by many to be an aftereffect of the now-abandoned One-Child-Policy. Uzbekistan voters approve reforms letting prez rule till 2040 Voters in Uzbekistan overwhelmingly approved changes in constitution that will allow President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to stay in power til 2040. The tightly controlled election has been slammed by international observers as being flawed. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris woo donors for presidential election 2024 re-run As the 2024 United States Presidential elections approach, incumbent Joe Biden and his second-in-command Kamala Harris over the weekend met with the top 150 donors in Washington, DC, to develop a successful strategy to raise funds for their re-election campaign. China unveils controversial employment plan, offers to send 300,000 jobless youth to villages to find work China's rising youth unemployment rate is becoming a significant economic challenge for the country and it seems to have come up with some controversial solutions. China's wealthiest province and manufacturing giant, Guangdong, has proposed to send 300,000 jobless youth to the countryside for two to three years to find employment. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau attends Khalsa Day celebrations in Toronto Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday participated in Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan in Toronto. He took part in the celebrations after a gap of seven years. Photo of padlocks on grave in India's Hyderabad falsely claimed to be from Pakistan BOOM clarified that the 'grave in the viral image is located at Masjid E Salar Mulk in Darab Jung Colony, Hyderabad, India, and does not show an instance of parents in Pakistan locking their daughter's grave to protect against necrophilia' England to deploy 'smaller boundaries' tactics to hunt Australia down in home Ashes - Reports For reasons known to all, England will do everything to regain the urn this summer. As the 2023 Ashes will begin on June 16th, in Edgbaston- then venue which supposedly has the shortest boundaries (59 m) in the country, the English teams are reported to be deploying a stranger parameter at all grounds to ensure their 'Bazball' brand wreaks havoc against the Aussies. The Super Mario Bros. Movie leaked on Twitter and millions watched it The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which has a runtime of approximately one and a half hours, was shared in its entirety online by a meme Twitter account that goes by the username "vidsthatgohard". Using the micro-blogging site's Twitter Blue video feature, the unidentified Twitter account holder illegally uploaded the Nintendo and Illumination film on the platform. And, millions of users watched it before it was taken down.

Top 10 world news: Explosion derails Russian freight train, raising children costly affair in China, and more

<p>Indian elephant infamous for raiding rice shops and killing locals in the southern state of Kerala has been finally relocated to a tiger reserve 80 km away. The elephant Arikomban, which means ‘rice tusker’ in Malayalam, was tranquillised Saturday and shifted to the Periyar Tiger Reserve.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | "Mission Arikkomban" | Taskforce located the rogue elephant "Arikkomban" earlier today in Chinnakanal, Kerala. It was later captured and shifted to another location. <a href="https://t.co/iRa7sjNAsW">pic.twitter.com/iRa7sjNAsW</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1652337522385768449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kerala is so beautiful and enchanting. 💜👍<br />
<br />
Watch the send off for 'Arikomban', the elephant who created fear for local people in Chinnakanal, Idukki from Aanaerangal Dam to Periyar forest wildlife reserve near Kumili in Kerala tonight. <a href="https://t.co/ZZJ2ocqjPX">pic.twitter.com/ZZJ2ocqjPX</a></p>
— GEORGE KALLIVAYALIL (@KALLIVAYALIL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KALLIVAYALIL/status/1652359607459926017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is Konni Surendran,kunki elephant of Kerala who contained dangerous <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arikomban?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Arikomban</a><br />
<br />
Kunkis are specially trained to contain Rouge wild elephants which are dangerous to people<br />
<br />
K.Govt got Surendran when he was only 2 years old when his mother died on 1999,he got training from TN <a href="https://t.co/0xIBVAnGCz">pic.twitter.com/0xIBVAnGCz</a></p>
— Godfather 💙 (@orgasamist) <a href="https://twitter.com/orgasamist/status/1652928044502331392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Government calls the mission a success</strong></h2>

<p>The Kerala government has called this mission a success, and it is monitoring the 30-year-old elephant’s movements through a radio collar attached to it. It lived near the Devikulam forest range in the Idukki district for decades. However, locals in the area were demanding Arikomban’s removal from the site for months now. According to the government, Arikomban has killed seven people so far, apart from sporadically&nbsp;raiding local rice shops and causing a menace to the shopkeepers.</p>

<h2><strong>Move met by resentment from animal welfare associations</strong></h2>

<p>According to animal welfare activists, the issue is related to the wider debate around human-wildlife conflict, which can’t be taken care of by simply getting rid of the animals. Indian Express also quoted local sources to claim that the elephant became hostile only after human population in the area grew massively.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India: At least 5 elephants died of electrocution in Tamil Nadu</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-at-least-5-elephants-died-of-electrocution-in-tamil-nadu-in-20-days-581133/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The elephant began damaging buildings and concrete houses to forage for rice, and that’s how the years-old conflict between Arikomban and tribals started. To solve the issue, the Kerala Forest Department initially wanted to capture Arikomban and make him a permanent captive. However, the animal welfare organisations vehemently opposed the suggestion and moved to Kerala High Court.</p>

<p>The high court then formed a five-member committee to resolve the issue, which recommended the elephant be moved to another location where such human-wildlife conflict can be avoided. The committee suggested the authorities shift the elephant to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in the Palakkad district. However, this sparked a protest by locals in the area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, it was decided that Arikomban will be shifted to Periyar Tiger Reserve.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-at-least-5-elephants-died-of-electrocution-in-tamil-nadu-in-20-days-581133">Also Read |&nbsp;India: At least 5 elephants died of electrocution in Tamil Nadu in 20 days</a></strong></p>

<p>The government had formed a task force of 150 officials to capture and track Arikomban. It was tranquillised and then transported to the tiger reserve in a truck. The authorities had imposed a curfew in the area to stymie protests by locals. However, as per a report by BBC, the arrival of the elephant was met with cheers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Animal welfare activists wanted to keep the elephant in its original habitat. However, later they realised the people in the area had become hostile, and the problem could only be solved if the elephant is permanently relocated. &nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Indian elephant infamous for raiding rice shops and killing locals in the southern state of Kerala has been finally relocated to a tiger reserve 80 km away. The elephant Arikomban, which means ‘rice tusker’ in Malayalam, was tranquillised Saturday and shifted to the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Indian elephant infamous for raiding rice shops and killing locals in the southern state of Kerala has been finally relocated to a tiger reserve 80 km away. The elephant Arikomban, which means ‘rice tusker’ in Malayalam, was tranquillised Saturday and shifted to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. #WATCH | "Mission Arikkomban" | Taskforce located the rogue elephant "Arikkomban" earlier today in Chinnakanal, Kerala. It was later captured and shifted to another location. pic.twitter.com/iRa7sjNAsW — ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2023 × Kerala is so beautiful and enchanting. 💜👍 Watch the send off for 'Arikomban', the elephant who created fear for local people in Chinnakanal, Idukki from Aanaerangal Dam to Periyar forest wildlife reserve near Kumili in Kerala tonight. pic.twitter.com/ZZJ2ocqjPX — GEORGE KALLIVAYALIL (@KALLIVAYALIL) April 29, 2023 × This is Konni Surendran,kunki elephant of Kerala who contained dangerous #Arikomban Kunkis are specially trained to contain Rouge wild elephants which are dangerous to people K.Govt got Surendran when he was only 2 years old when his mother died on 1999,he got training from TN pic.twitter.com/0xIBVAnGCz — Godfather 💙 (@orgasamist) May 1, 2023 × Government calls the mission a success The Kerala government has called this mission a success, and it is monitoring the 30-year-old elephant’s movements through a radio collar attached to it. It lived near the Devikulam forest range in the Idukki district for decades. However, locals in the area were demanding Arikomban’s removal from the site for months now. According to the government, Arikomban has killed seven people so far, apart from sporadically raiding local rice shops and causing a menace to the shopkeepers. Move met by resentment from animal welfare associations According to animal welfare activists, the issue is related to the wider debate around human-wildlife conflict, which can’t be taken care of by simply getting rid of the animals. Indian Express also quoted local sources to claim that the elephant became hostile only after human population in the area grew massively. Watch: India: At least 5 elephants died of electrocution in Tamil Nadu × The elephant began damaging buildings and concrete houses to forage for rice, and that’s how the years-old conflict between Arikomban and tribals started. To solve the issue, the Kerala Forest Department initially wanted to capture Arikomban and make him a permanent captive. However, the animal welfare organisations vehemently opposed the suggestion and moved to Kerala High Court. The high court then formed a five-member committee to resolve the issue, which recommended the elephant be moved to another location where such human-wildlife conflict can be avoided. The committee suggested the authorities shift the elephant to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in the Palakkad district. However, this sparked a protest by locals in the area. Later, it was decided that Arikomban will be shifted to Periyar Tiger Reserve. Also Read | India: At least 5 elephants died of electrocution in Tamil Nadu in 20 days The government had formed a task force of 150 officials to capture and track Arikomban. It was tranquillised and then transported to the tiger reserve in a truck. The authorities had imposed a curfew in the area to stymie protests by locals. However, as per a report by BBC, the arrival of the elephant was met with cheers. Animal welfare activists wanted to keep the elephant in its original habitat. However, later they realised the people in the area had become hostile, and the problem could only be solved if the elephant is permanently relocated. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Over dozen police vehicles, one lorry, 122-km trip - how India's Kerala moved tranquilised tusker 'Arikomban'

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidj3tOiHo22rHW" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Indian edtech firm&nbsp;<em>Byju’s</em>&nbsp;and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan have been asked to compensate an aspirant of the Indian Administration Service (IAS) for alleged “fraudulent behaviour” and “unfair trade practice”. The order was issued by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of Indore, a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The complainant woman, Priyanka Dixit, said she enrolled for the IAS coaching course with&nbsp;<em>Byju’s</em>&nbsp;after being influenced by its advertisement which featured Shah Rukh Khan. She paid INR 1.08 lakh in fees for the course in 2021. She was promised by the company that her course would start on January 14, 2021, but it never did.</p>

<h2><strong>What did the commission say?</strong></h2>

<p>The redressal commission asked&nbsp;<em>Byju’s&nbsp;</em>to return the full course fees to Priyanka along with 12 per cent annual interest. It also asked both Khan and&nbsp;<em>Byju’s</em>&nbsp;to give her INR 5,000 as litigation cost and INR 50,000 as compensation and mental agony. The commission also clarified that the local manager of&nbsp;<em>Byju’s</em>&nbsp;in Indore and actor Khan must pay the amount “jointly or severally” to Dixit.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-startup-byjus-under-radar-587760">Indian startup Byju's under radar</a></strong></p>

<p>The order released by the redressal commission read, “The woman complainant was encouraged to take admission in Byju’s coaching (course) by placing false and misleading online advertisements on behalf of the opposition parties. No coaching facility was provided after receiving the fee and despite assurance of refund of the amount, the fee was not refunded, which in itself is fraudulent behaviour and shows unfair trade practice.”</p>

<h2><strong>Why was Shah Rukh Khan implicated in the case?</strong></h2>

<p>As per Priyanka Dixit’s lawyer Suresh Kanga, consumers in India can rightfully sue even the people advertising the product. “As per provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, a person can file a complaint against a company for errors in services as well as against those advertising it”, Kanga said.</p>

<h2><strong><em>Byju’s</em>&nbsp;in hot water</strong></h2>

<p><em>Byju’s</em>&nbsp;has already run afoul of India’s prime economic intelligence agency Enforcement Directorate or ED for allegedly remitting abroad over INR 9,700 crore of the INR 28,000 crore it received as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) since 2011. The ED carried out searches at the premises of a Bengaluru firm linked to the edtech giant on Saturday. On the other hand, the&nbsp;<em>Byju’s</em>&nbsp;has termed it a routine enquiry.</p>

<p>In a statement, the company said, “We have been completely transparent with the authorities and have provided them with all the information they have requested. We have nothing but the utmost confidence in the integrity of our operations, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards of compliance and ethics.”</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Indian edtech firm Byju’s and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan have been asked to compensate an aspirant of the Indian Administration Service (IAS) for alleged “fraudulent behaviour” and “unfair trade practice”.

Indian edtech firm Byju’s and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan have been asked to compensate an aspirant of the Indian Administration Service (IAS) for alleged “fraudulent behaviour” and “unfair trade practice”. The order was issued by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of Indore, a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The complainant woman, Priyanka Dixit, said she enrolled for the IAS coaching course with Byju’s after being influenced by its advertisement which featured Shah Rukh Khan. She paid INR 1.08 lakh in fees for the course in 2021. She was promised by the company that her course would start on January 14, 2021, but it never did. What did the commission say? The redressal commission asked Byju’s to return the full course fees to Priyanka along with 12 per cent annual interest. It also asked both Khan and Byju’s to give her INR 5,000 as litigation cost and INR 50,000 as compensation and mental agony. The commission also clarified that the local manager of Byju’s in Indore and actor Khan must pay the amount “jointly or severally” to Dixit. Also Read | Indian startup Byju's under radar The order released by the redressal commission read, “The woman complainant was encouraged to take admission in Byju’s coaching (course) by placing false and misleading online advertisements on behalf of the opposition parties. No coaching facility was provided after receiving the fee and despite assurance of refund of the amount, the fee was not refunded, which in itself is fraudulent behaviour and shows unfair trade practice.” Why was Shah Rukh Khan implicated in the case? As per Priyanka Dixit’s lawyer Suresh Kanga, consumers in India can rightfully sue even the people advertising the product. “As per provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, a person can file a complaint against a company for errors in services as well as against those advertising it”, Kanga said. Byju’s in hot water Byju’s has already run afoul of India’s prime economic intelligence agency Enforcement Directorate or ED for allegedly remitting abroad over INR 9,700 crore of the INR 28,000 crore it received as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) since 2011. The ED carried out searches at the premises of a Bengaluru firm linked to the edtech giant on Saturday. On the other hand, the Byju’s has termed it a routine enquiry. In a statement, the company said, “We have been completely transparent with the authorities and have provided them with all the information they have requested. We have nothing but the utmost confidence in the integrity of our operations, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards of compliance and ethics.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

India: Consumer panel takes on Byju’s and Shah Rukh Khan for “fraudulent behaviour”

<p>Immigration officials in the US have discovered a massive fraud behind the gigantic rise in H-1B visa applications for the financial year 2024 starting October. According to media reports, some companies are colluding to submit multiple applications for the same person to increase their chances of getting the temporary work visa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It must be noted that the US issues H-1B visas on the basis of a lottery system, and persons filing multiple applications get the chances increased of them getting the coveted visa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The visa fraud was unearthed after immigration officials noted a massive surge in the H-1B visa applications for FY 2024. Companies filed a total of 780,884 applications for H-1B visas this fiscal year, 296,957 more than the FY 2023. On the other hand, just 301,447 applications were filed in 2022 and 274,237 in 2021.</p>

<h2><strong>US officials promise a crackdown</strong></h2>

<p>US immigration officials have now promised to bolster the registration process to reduce the chances of one person filing multiple applications. In a statement released Friday, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said, “The H-1B programme is an essential part of our nation's immigration system and our economy, and the USCIS is committed to implementing the law and helping meet the ever-changing needs of the US labour market."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;H-1B visa fraud: Tech companies accused of gaming H-1B lottery system |&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/h-1b-visa-fraud-tech-companies-accused-of-gaming-h-1b-lottery-system-world-news-wion-587827/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"We are working on an upcoming H-1B modernisation rule that will propose, among other improvements, bolstering the H-1B registration process to reduce the possibility of misuse and fraud in the H-1B registration system," it added.</p>

<h2><strong>USCIS may even revoke approvals based on false registration</strong></h2>

<p>The federal agency has warned that it will peruse the applications closely and will reject them if any information provided by the applicant is found incorrect. Also, it may deny or even revoke an approval based on a registration that contained false information and attestation.</p>

<p>As per the statement released by USCIS, “USCIS may also refer the individual or entity who submitted a false attestation to appropriate federal law enforcement agencies for investigation and further action, as appropriate."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/2023-might-be-the-worst-year-to-apply-for-h-1b-visa-551005">2023 might be the worst year to apply for H-1B visa</a></strong></p>

<p>According to NDTV, a group of American tech workers, who have protested in the past against the H-1B visa regime, is now calling on the administration to reinstate the Donald Trump-era reforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Trump administration had proposed a fix to the H-1B lottery by prioritising selection based on highest wages. You sued the administration so now you have to deal with the fraud that you are complaining about," the group said.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Immigration officials in the US have discovered a massive fraud behind the gigantic rise in H-1B visa applications for the financial year 2024 starting October. According to media reports, some companies are colluding to submit multiple applications for the same person to increase their chances of getting the temporary work visa.

Immigration officials in the US have discovered a massive fraud behind the gigantic rise in H-1B visa applications for the financial year 2024 starting October. According to media reports, some companies are colluding to submit multiple applications for the same person to increase their chances of getting the temporary work visa. It must be noted that the US issues H-1B visas on the basis of a lottery system, and persons filing multiple applications get the chances increased of them getting the coveted visa. The visa fraud was unearthed after immigration officials noted a massive surge in the H-1B visa applications for FY 2024. Companies filed a total of 780,884 applications for H-1B visas this fiscal year, 296,957 more than the FY 2023. On the other hand, just 301,447 applications were filed in 2022 and 274,237 in 2021. US officials promise a crackdown US immigration officials have now promised to bolster the registration process to reduce the chances of one person filing multiple applications. In a statement released Friday, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said, “The H-1B programme is an essential part of our nation's immigration system and our economy, and the USCIS is committed to implementing the law and helping meet the ever-changing needs of the US labour market." Watch: H-1B visa fraud: Tech companies accused of gaming H-1B lottery system | × "We are working on an upcoming H-1B modernisation rule that will propose, among other improvements, bolstering the H-1B registration process to reduce the possibility of misuse and fraud in the H-1B registration system," it added. USCIS may even revoke approvals based on false registration The federal agency has warned that it will peruse the applications closely and will reject them if any information provided by the applicant is found incorrect. Also, it may deny or even revoke an approval based on a registration that contained false information and attestation. As per the statement released by USCIS, “USCIS may also refer the individual or entity who submitted a false attestation to appropriate federal law enforcement agencies for investigation and further action, as appropriate." Also Read | 2023 might be the worst year to apply for H-1B visa According to NDTV, a group of American tech workers, who have protested in the past against the H-1B visa regime, is now calling on the administration to reinstate the Donald Trump-era reforms. “The Trump administration had proposed a fix to the H-1B lottery by prioritising selection based on highest wages. You sued the administration so now you have to deal with the fraud that you are complaining about," the group said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US officials unearth massive fraud in H-1B lottery system after huge surge in visa applications

<p><strong>CSK vs PBKS ticket booking online:</strong> Chennai Super Kings will take on the unpredictable yet dangerous Punjab Kings on Sunday, April 30. Punjab began the season with two victories but lost its following two games. The good news is that Punjab has won two of their previous three games, which has helped them regain momentum. The situation in CSK is entirely different from that in Punjab. Chennai has been incredibly consistent since losing the opening game to Gujarat Titans, winning five of the following seven games. They recently suffered a devastating defeat by 32 runs to Rajasthan in Jaipur. Chennai, though, has a significant advantage because they will be playing at home.</p>

<h2><strong>CSK vs PBKS ticket booking online: How to book through BookMyShow</strong></h2>

<p>If you want to book tickets for the <strong>CSK&nbsp;vs PBKS</strong> match, you can use either the BookMyShow app or Paytm. To book through BookMyShow, you need to open the app or website and sign up or log in. Then go to the ‘Sports’ tab and select ‘Cricket’ or search for the <strong>CSK&nbsp;vs PBKS</strong> match and choose seats.</p>

<p>The booking price may vary according to the seats you choose. After selecting your seats, you can choose to have the tickets home delivered or to collect them from the booking counter during the match day itself. Finally, make the payment through UPI, debit, credit card, internet banking, or other options, and you will receive a confirmation by email or SMS.</p>

<h2><strong>How to book through Paytm?</strong></h2>

<p>To book through Paytm, open the app and scroll down to the ‘Ticket Booking’ section or search for the <strong>CSK vs PBKS</strong> IPL match and choose your seats from the seat map. Then make the payment via UPI, Paytm wallet, or other methods. You will receive a booking confirmation on your registered mobile number and email.</p>

<h2><strong>CSK vs PBKS match details</strong></h2>

<p>The 41st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played on Sunday between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings. The match will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai at 3:30 PM IST.</p>


CSK vs PBKS ticket booking online: Chennai Super Kings will take on the unpredictable yet dangerous Punjab Kings on Sunday, April 30. Punjab began the season with two victories but lost its following two games.

CSK vs PBKS ticket booking online: Chennai Super Kings will take on the unpredictable yet dangerous Punjab Kings on Sunday, April 30. Punjab began the season with two victories but lost its following two games. The good news is that Punjab has won two of their previous three games, which has helped them regain momentum. The situation in CSK is entirely different from that in Punjab. Chennai has been incredibly consistent since losing the opening game to Gujarat Titans, winning five of the following seven games. They recently suffered a devastating defeat by 32 runs to Rajasthan in Jaipur. Chennai, though, has a significant advantage because they will be playing at home. CSK vs PBKS ticket booking online: How to book through BookMyShow If you want to book tickets for the CSK vs PBKS match, you can use either the BookMyShow app or Paytm. To book through BookMyShow, you need to open the app or website and sign up or log in. Then go to the ‘Sports’ tab and select ‘Cricket’ or search for the CSK vs PBKS match and choose seats. The booking price may vary according to the seats you choose. After selecting your seats, you can choose to have the tickets home delivered or to collect them from the booking counter during the match day itself. Finally, make the payment through UPI, debit, credit card, internet banking, or other options, and you will receive a confirmation by email or SMS. How to book through Paytm? To book through Paytm, open the app and scroll down to the ‘Ticket Booking’ section or search for the CSK vs PBKS IPL match and choose your seats from the seat map. Then make the payment via UPI, Paytm wallet, or other methods. You will receive a booking confirmation on your registered mobile number and email. CSK vs PBKS match details The 41st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played on Sunday between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings. The match will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai at 3:30 PM IST.

CSK vs PBKS ticket booking online: How to book tickets for Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings match?

<p><strong>MI vs RR ticket booking online: </strong>The match between MI vs RR ticket booking online will take place in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 30. The match will mark the historic 1000th game of the Indian Premier League. The Rohit Sharma-led MI have shown their inconsistency with three wins and four losses in seven games; they'll try to change that this weekend. The Royals, on the other hand, recently triumphed over the Chennai Super Kings at home. Fans will anticipate a performance of the same intensity when the two teams meet on Sunday.</p>

<h2><strong>MI vs RR ticket booking online: How to book through BookMyShow</strong></h2>

<p>If you want to book tickets for the <strong>MI vs RR</strong> match, you can use either the BookMyShow app or Paytm. To book through BookMyShow, you need to open the app or website and sign up or log in. Then go to the ‘Sports’ tab and select ‘Cricket’ or search for the <strong>MI vs RR</strong> match and choose seats.</p>

<p>The booking price may vary according to the seats you choose. After selecting your seats, you can choose to have the tickets home delivered or to collect them from the booking counter during the match day itself. Finally, make the payment through UPI, debit, credit card, internet banking, or other options, and you will receive a confirmation by email or SMS.</p>

<h2><strong>How to book through Paytm?</strong></h2>

<p>To book through Paytm, open the app and scroll down to the ‘Ticket Booking’ section or search for the <strong>MI vs RR</strong> IPL match and choose your seats from the seat map. Then make the payment via UPI, Paytm wallet, or other methods. You will receive a booking confirmation on your registered mobile number and email.</p>

<h2><strong>MI vs RR match details</strong></h2>

<p>The 1000th match of the IPL and 42nd match of the IPL 2023 will be played on Sunday between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. The match will be played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium at 7:30 PM IST. The match will be televised by Star Sports Network in India. It will be streamed live by the JioCinema app.</p>


MI vs RR ticket booking online: The match between MI vs RR ticket booking online will take place in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 30. The match will mark the historic 1000th game of the Indian Premier League.

MI vs RR ticket booking online: The match between MI vs RR ticket booking online will take place in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 30. The match will mark the historic 1000th game of the Indian Premier League. The Rohit Sharma-led MI have shown their inconsistency with three wins and four losses in seven games; they'll try to change that this weekend. The Royals, on the other hand, recently triumphed over the Chennai Super Kings at home. Fans will anticipate a performance of the same intensity when the two teams meet on Sunday. MI vs RR ticket booking online: How to book through BookMyShow If you want to book tickets for the MI vs RR match, you can use either the BookMyShow app or Paytm. To book through BookMyShow, you need to open the app or website and sign up or log in. Then go to the ‘Sports’ tab and select ‘Cricket’ or search for the MI vs RR match and choose seats. The booking price may vary according to the seats you choose. After selecting your seats, you can choose to have the tickets home delivered or to collect them from the booking counter during the match day itself. Finally, make the payment through UPI, debit, credit card, internet banking, or other options, and you will receive a confirmation by email or SMS. How to book through Paytm? To book through Paytm, open the app and scroll down to the ‘Ticket Booking’ section or search for the MI vs RR IPL match and choose your seats from the seat map. Then make the payment via UPI, Paytm wallet, or other methods. You will receive a booking confirmation on your registered mobile number and email. MI vs RR match details The 1000th match of the IPL and 42nd match of the IPL 2023 will be played on Sunday between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. The match will be played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium at 7:30 PM IST. The match will be televised by Star Sports Network in India. It will be streamed live by the JioCinema app.

MI vs RR ticket booking online: How to book tickets for Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals match?

<p><strong>UFC Fight Night live streaming: </strong>The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to host a Fight Night event at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas this weekend before heading back on the road for two events in May. The main event will feature bantamweights Song Yadong and Ricky Simon, who are looking to climb up the bottom half of the division’s top 15 with a big win.</p>

<p>Originally scheduled as the co-main event for last weekend's card, the Song vs. Simon fight was promoted to a five-round headlining spot after a main event bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Renato Moicano was cancelled. Song is seeking his first UFC main event victory after suffering a fourth-round doctor stoppage defeat against Cory Sandhagen in September 2022. He had achieved three victories at bantamweight before then.</p>

<p>Simon, on the other hand, is on a four-fight win streak, with three coming via finish. He has defeated the then-undefeated Jack Shore and veteran Raphael Assuncao. However, this will be the first time he will fight for a maximum of five rounds in the UFC cage.</p>

<h2><strong>UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon match live-streaming details</strong></h2>

<p>In UK, UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon match will be live televised on BT Sport.</p>

<p>IN USA, ESPN and ESPN+ will broadcast the main card. For current ESPN+ subscribers, the PPV will cost $79.99, and for new subscribers, it will cost $124.98.</p>

<p>In India, SONY will broadcast live UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon match: In India, the preliminary round will start at 5:30 AM IST (Sunday), and the main event is scheduled to start at 7:30 AM IST. To watch UFC Fight Night, viewers can tune in to SONY Ten, SONY TEN 2, or SONY LIV.</p>

<h2><strong>UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon match details</strong></h2>

<p>UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon event will be held on Saturday, April 29 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT/ 11 PM GMT (Saturday, April 29) | 4:30 AM IST (Sunday, April 30). The venue of the clash is the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The preliminary card begins at 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT/ 8:30 PM GMT (Saturday, April 29) | 2:00 AM IST (Sunday). On the other hand, the early preliminary card begins at 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT / 10 PM GMT (Saturday, April 8) | 3:30 AM IST (Sunday, April 9).&nbsp;</p>


UFC Fight Night live streaming: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to host a Fight Night event at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas this weekend before heading back on the road for two events in May.

UFC Fight Night live streaming: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to host a Fight Night event at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas this weekend before heading back on the road for two events in May. The main event will feature bantamweights Song Yadong and Ricky Simon, who are looking to climb up the bottom half of the division’s top 15 with a big win. Originally scheduled as the co-main event for last weekend's card, the Song vs. Simon fight was promoted to a five-round headlining spot after a main event bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Renato Moicano was cancelled. Song is seeking his first UFC main event victory after suffering a fourth-round doctor stoppage defeat against Cory Sandhagen in September 2022. He had achieved three victories at bantamweight before then. Simon, on the other hand, is on a four-fight win streak, with three coming via finish. He has defeated the then-undefeated Jack Shore and veteran Raphael Assuncao. However, this will be the first time he will fight for a maximum of five rounds in the UFC cage. UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon match live-streaming details In UK, UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon match will be live televised on BT Sport. IN USA, ESPN and ESPN+ will broadcast the main card. For current ESPN+ subscribers, the PPV will cost $79.99, and for new subscribers, it will cost $124.98. In India, SONY will broadcast live UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon match: In India, the preliminary round will start at 5:30 AM IST (Sunday), and the main event is scheduled to start at 7:30 AM IST. To watch UFC Fight Night, viewers can tune in to SONY Ten, SONY TEN 2, or SONY LIV. UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon match details UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon event will be held on Saturday, April 29 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT/ 11 PM GMT (Saturday, April 29) | 4:30 AM IST (Sunday, April 30). The venue of the clash is the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. The preliminary card begins at 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT/ 8:30 PM GMT (Saturday, April 29) | 2:00 AM IST (Sunday). On the other hand, the early preliminary card begins at 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT / 10 PM GMT (Saturday, April 8) | 3:30 AM IST (Sunday, April 9).

UFC Fight Night live streaming: When and where to watch Yadong Song vs Ricky Simon live in UK, US & India?

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Vikrant Singh

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.