In pics | Breaking the glass ceiling: America’s richest self-made women

A latest study into an alarming rise in deaths of American youth aged from 1 to 19 suggests the mortality rate has soared to 10.7 per cent which is a 15-year high and is driven mainly by pandemic suicides, homicides and drug overdoses, reported Daily Mail.&nbsp;

This rise was seen between 2019 and 2020 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data indicates that this number was further increased by 8.3 percent for the following year.&nbsp;According to the paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in March, the rise in death rates is not due to to COVID-19 diseases per se but is rather attributed to a significant increase in violence, self-harm, and drug abuse and&nbsp;pandemic-induced suicides.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-arrests-three-hypersonic-missile-scientists-on-charges-of-very-serious-treason-593499">Russia arrests three hypersonic missile scientists on charges of 'very serious treason'</a>

Guns are also a major cause of this astonishing rise in deaths. This comes as data says the US has reported a huge increase in the number of gun violence cases this year.&nbsp;However, the study warns that the pandemic was an added pressure for the American youth. The isolation in American children which was fueled by the pandemic 'poured fuel on a fire'.&nbsp;

As far as the Covid mortality rate is concerned, in 2020, it accounted for 0.24 deaths per 100,000 for individuals aged between 1 to 19 years. But the massive surge in injury deaths was 12 times higher at 2.80 deaths per 100,000.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/overseas-travel-ban-on-ex-sri-lankan-prime-minister-mahinda-rajapaksa-lifted-593509">Overseas travel ban on ex-Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa lifted</a>

Lead author Steven Woolf, MD, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University said,&nbsp;"I have not seen this in my career."

"For decades, the overall death rate among US children has fallen steadily, thanks to breakthroughs in prevention and treatment of diseases like premature births, pediatric cancer and birth defects," he said adding, "We now see a dramatic reversal of this trajectory, meaning that our children are now less likely to reach adulthood. This is a red flashing light. We need to understand the causes and address them immediately to protect our children."

Watch | US President Joe Biden to visit Japan's Hiroshima for G7 summit

<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/us-president-joe-biden-to-visit-japans-hiroshima-for-g7-summit-593446/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The data points out at a spike in suicides among children aged 10 to 19 in 2007. Further, the homicide rates in the same age bracket started to rise in 2013. Since then, then the mortality rate for suicide has increased by 70 percent while the homicide rate has increased by a third.

Woolf said the "likely contributors to both trends include increased access to firearms and a deepening mental health crisis among children and adolescents."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

A latest study into an alarming rise in deaths of American youth aged from 1 to 19 suggests the mortality rate has soared to 10.7 per cent which is a 15-year high and is driven mainly by pandemic suicides, homicides and drug overdoses, reported Daily Mail.

A latest study into an alarming rise in deaths of American youth aged from 1 to 19 suggests the mortality rate has soared to 10.7 per cent which is a 15-year high and is driven mainly by pandemic suicides, homicides and drug overdoses, reported Daily Mail. This rise was seen between 2019 and 2020 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data indicates that this number was further increased by 8.3 percent for the following year. According to the paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in March, the rise in death rates is not due to to COVID-19 diseases per se but is rather attributed to a significant increase in violence, self-harm, and drug abuse and pandemic-induced suicides. Also Read | Russia arrests three hypersonic missile scientists on charges of 'very serious treason' Guns are also a major cause of this astonishing rise in deaths. This comes as data says the US has reported a huge increase in the number of gun violence cases this year. However, the study warns that the pandemic was an added pressure for the American youth. The isolation in American children which was fueled by the pandemic 'poured fuel on a fire'. As far as the Covid mortality rate is concerned, in 2020, it accounted for 0.24 deaths per 100,000 for individuals aged between 1 to 19 years. But the massive surge in injury deaths was 12 times higher at 2.80 deaths per 100,000. Also Read | Overseas travel ban on ex-Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa lifted Lead author Steven Woolf, MD, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University said, "I have not seen this in my career." "For decades, the overall death rate among US children has fallen steadily, thanks to breakthroughs in prevention and treatment of diseases like premature births, pediatric cancer and birth defects," he said adding, "We now see a dramatic reversal of this trajectory, meaning that our children are now less likely to reach adulthood. This is a red flashing light. We need to understand the causes and address them immediately to protect our children." Watch | US President Joe Biden to visit Japan's Hiroshima for G7 summit × The data points out at a spike in suicides among children aged 10 to 19 in 2007. Further, the homicide rates in the same age bracket started to rise in 2013. Since then, then the mortality rate for suicide has increased by 70 percent while the homicide rate has increased by a third. Woolf said the "likely contributors to both trends include increased access to firearms and a deepening mental health crisis among children and adolescents." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Death rates in American youths at alarming 15-year high, study indicates these causes

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran told visiting Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Saturday that the United States is an untrustworthy ally and that Iraq should not permit any American soldiers on its soil.

Iran opposed American military presence on its borders, in Iraq and the Gulf, saying Western military intervention is the cause of the insecurity in the region.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-210-migrant-bodies-recovered-on-tunisian-coast-in-less-than-two-weeks-587394">Over 210 migrant bodies recovered on Tunisian coast in less than two weeks</a> 
 
"Americans are not friends of Iraq. Americans are not friends with anyone and are not even loyal to their European friends," state media quoted Khamenei as saying.

Reports in the Pentagon leak suggest that US spied on allies, including Ukraine.&nbsp;

"Even the presence of one American in Iraq is too much," Khamenei told Rashid. Rashid was in Tehran with a delegation to give an impetus to ties between the two neighbours.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-could-die-former-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-on-visiting-ukraine-last-year-587377">'We thought we could die': Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi on visiting Ukraine last year</a>

Approximately 2,500 American soldiers are stationed in Iraq to support local security forces in their fight against the Islamic State, which captured territory there in 2014.

"Iraq's main effort is to deepen relations with Iran and resolve certain remaining issues between the two countries," Rashid was quoted as saying, without referring to Iraq's ties with the United States.

The rivalry between Iran and the United States is a long-standing issue that has been ongoing for decades. The most recent tensions between the two countries have centered on Iran's nuclear program.&nbsp;

Watch | Pope Francis on a three-day visit to Hungary, meets Ukrainian refugees

<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/pope-francis-on-a-three-day-visit-to-hungary-meets-ukrainian-refugees-587426/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In 2015, the US and other world powers signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was designed to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

However, in 2018, the US withdrew from the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran, which led to increased tensions between the two countries.

There have been efforts to ease tensions and find a diplomatic solution, but progress has been slow. The Biden administration has expressed a willingness to re-engage with Iran on the nuclear issue, but it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve.

The rivalry between Iran and the US is likely to remain a major issue in the Middle East for the foreseeable future.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran told visiting Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Saturday that the United States is an untrustworthy ally and that Iraq should not permit any American soldiers on its soil.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran told visiting Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Saturday that the United States is an untrustworthy ally and that Iraq should not permit any American soldiers on its soil. Iran opposed American military presence on its borders, in Iraq and the Gulf, saying Western military intervention is the cause of the insecurity in the region. Also Read | Over 210 migrant bodies recovered on Tunisian coast in less than two weeks "Americans are not friends of Iraq. Americans are not friends with anyone and are not even loyal to their European friends," state media quoted Khamenei as saying. Reports in the Pentagon leak suggest that US spied on allies, including Ukraine. "Even the presence of one American in Iraq is too much," Khamenei told Rashid. Rashid was in Tehran with a delegation to give an impetus to ties between the two neighbours. Also Read | 'We thought we could die': Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi on visiting Ukraine last year Approximately 2,500 American soldiers are stationed in Iraq to support local security forces in their fight against the Islamic State, which captured territory there in 2014. "Iraq's main effort is to deepen relations with Iran and resolve certain remaining issues between the two countries," Rashid was quoted as saying, without referring to Iraq's ties with the United States. The rivalry between Iran and the United States is a long-standing issue that has been ongoing for decades. The most recent tensions between the two countries have centered on Iran's nuclear program. Watch | Pope Francis on a three-day visit to Hungary, meets Ukrainian refugees × In 2015, the US and other world powers signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was designed to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. However, in 2018, the US withdrew from the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran, which led to increased tensions between the two countries. There have been efforts to ease tensions and find a diplomatic solution, but progress has been slow. The Biden administration has expressed a willingness to re-engage with Iran on the nuclear issue, but it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve. The rivalry between Iran and the US is likely to remain a major issue in the Middle East for the foreseeable future. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Even the presence of one American in Iraq is too much': Iran leader Khamenei tells Iraqi president

Waco: American Apocalypse review 2023 -&nbsp;Netflix on Wednesday released Waco: American Apocalypse, a mini-series based on a&nbsp;sex cult run by self-proclaimed God, David Koresh in 1993 in Waco city of Texas, US.&nbsp;

The Tiller Russell-directed documentary series chronicles the events that took place during a 51-day siege, from 28 February to 19 April, as cult leader Koresh fought against US federal officials.

Apocalypse means the end of the world. But whose world is ending anyway? It is the world of David Koresh that is about to go down in flames.

But there are questions. Who started the fire? Was all this because of the grave miscommunication between ATF and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)? Or is it just a heck of a siege, executed in the worst way possible?&nbsp;

But let's take a step back.

In 1993, a man David Koresh, whose real name was Vernon Wayne Howell, claimed to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the prophet. He was running a cult called Branch Davidians in a sprawling cow field in Mount Carmel Center, a large compound in a remote Texas location.&nbsp;

Now, if one watched Wild Wild Country, the feelings will be readily understood since this man, Koresh, is armed and prepared to defend his so-called family, much like Indian 'god man' Osho Rajnish's devotees were ready to defend their guru.&nbsp;

But, something outlandish was brewing inside this huge building in Texas. Machine guns, hand grenades, .50 calibre guns. Koresh would tell his followers that there will be a fiery end and they will come back with God's avenging army.&nbsp;

You'll be glued to your screen as each strand of the story is revealed with the pensive music playing in the background. Then there comes the tip-off.&nbsp;

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) gets to know about the arms piled up at Mount Carmel Centre. They get a warrant against Koresh for violating gun laws.

The next thing you know is the Waco Texas shootout, resulting in the killing of four ATF officers. It soon transforms the crime scene into a war zone, one hell of its kind.

Then comes the point when everything becomes completely silent, no more guns blazing. You might become a little teary-eyed at this point.

On your screen, The White Buffalo's song "Wish It Was True" is playing.

"Country, I was a solider for you 
I did what you asked me to 
It was wrong and you knew"

FBI felt it is their principal responsibility to look into the killings of four ATF officers. So the ATF and FBI work together, till the latter takes complete charge after a nod from Attorney General Janet Reno.&nbsp;

What follows is the friction between the FBI's negotiating team and Hostage Rescue Team (HRT).

Now, the HRT is deploying the Bradley infantry vehicles first, and later the Abrams tanks, used in war zones, right outside the front gate of Koresh's cult home.

All for one purpose - to take down a not-so-handsome-looking specs-wearing&nbsp;guy who keeps on saying he will come out once he has decoded the Book of Revelation.

Insane?&nbsp;Well, there is more juice.

Even though the FBI&nbsp;negotiations resulted in the release of several women and children, Koresh and his deputy Steve Schneider&nbsp;remained constantly frustrated by the discrepancy between what the FBI negotiating&nbsp;team was promising and what the&nbsp;HRT's tactical gear was doing which is mowing down the vehicles parked outside the cult house.&nbsp;

The tensions heightened with Koresh's frequent back and forth and his resistance to come out and surrender.&nbsp;

Then, HRT chooses to deploy tear gas inside the house, instead of carrying out an assault. Soon they believed that Koresh and his "family" are hiding out in a bunker where the tear gas has no effect on them.

So? HRT uses its enormous tanks to demolish portions of the compound. The scene where the FBI sniper Chris&nbsp;Whitcomb had Koresh at gunpoint is the most intriguing. Nonetheless, he chose not to shoot, something he says he thinks about every day.&nbsp;

Then things start to go southwards. The building is on fire. There is a massive plume coming out of it. HRT seemed to be in utter confusion. It anticipates that Branch Davidian members will now finally come out. Only seven of them did. Everyone else, 76 Branch Davidians and 25 children, just chose to stand by Koresh and perish in flames next to him.

All of this is pretty straightforward, right? Maybe it's merely the order in which things transpired, but the documentary has a distinctive commentary from the cult's surviving members, like Heather Jones, who was just seven years old at the time. Her emotional recollections in the documentary are presented as though they happened only yesterday and not in 1993.&nbsp;

Kathy Schroeder, another member at Mount Carmel Centre, divulges in the documentary how in a sexual encounter Koresh showed her 'God's will.' Koresh purportedly had sex with young children and other men's wives.&nbsp;

The Netflix three-part docuseries also encapsulates David Thibodeau's views. He is another cult member who escaped the devastating fire by leaping out of a hole in the house.&nbsp;

It further shows how Koresh's mother selected the top defence attorney to assist her son, a self-proclaimed God. It is pretty chilling to see Koresh's lawyer enter the compound without a bulletproof vest because, according to him, he is more terrified of the HRT mistakenly shooting him than he is of Koresh.

The reports from the journalists on the scene are unbelievable too. What they initially believed to be a routine ATF operation that would culminate in some tedious interviews became the biggest story of their lives.&nbsp;

But the question that the documentary fails to tackle is...

Who started the fire? Were there any incendiary devices that the FBI planted inside the house that could have started the deadly fire? Surviving cult member David Thibodeau contends it was not the cult members who put the house on a blaze. FBI calls him a liar.&nbsp;

The 51-day siege from 28 February 1993 to 19 April 1993 has many wild theories and the documentary, 30 years on, fails to give any further clarity.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Waco: American Apocalypse review 2023 - Netflix on Wednesday released Waco: American Apocalypse, a mini-series based on a sex cult run by self-proclaimed God, David Koresh in 1993 in Waco city of Texas, US.

Waco: American Apocalypse review 2023 - Netflix on Wednesday released Waco: American Apocalypse, a mini-series based on a sex cult run by self-proclaimed God, David Koresh in 1993 in Waco city of Texas, US. The Tiller Russell-directed documentary series chronicles the events that took place during a 51-day siege, from 28 February to 19 April, as cult leader Koresh fought against US federal officials. Apocalypse means the end of the world. But whose world is ending anyway? It is the world of David Koresh that is about to go down in flames. But there are questions. Who started the fire? Was all this because of the grave miscommunication between ATF and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)? Or is it just a heck of a siege, executed in the worst way possible? But let's take a step back. In 1993, a man David Koresh, whose real name was Vernon Wayne Howell, claimed to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the prophet. He was running a cult called Branch Davidians in a sprawling cow field in Mount Carmel Center, a large compound in a remote Texas location. Now, if one watched Wild Wild Country, the feelings will be readily understood since this man, Koresh, is armed and prepared to defend his so-called family, much like Indian 'god man' Osho Rajnish's devotees were ready to defend their guru. But, something outlandish was brewing inside this huge building in Texas. Machine guns, hand grenades, .50 calibre guns. Koresh would tell his followers that there will be a fiery end and they will come back with God's avenging army. You'll be glued to your screen as each strand of the story is revealed with the pensive music playing in the background. Then there comes the tip-off. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) gets to know about the arms piled up at Mount Carmel Centre. They get a warrant against Koresh for violating gun laws. The next thing you know is the Waco Texas shootout, resulting in the killing of four ATF officers. It soon transforms the crime scene into a war zone, one hell of its kind. Then comes the point when everything becomes completely silent, no more guns blazing. You might become a little teary-eyed at this point. On your screen, The White Buffalo's song "Wish It Was True" is playing. "Country, I was a solider for you I did what you asked me to It was wrong and you knew" FBI felt it is their principal responsibility to look into the killings of four ATF officers. So the ATF and FBI work together, till the latter takes complete charge after a nod from Attorney General Janet Reno. What follows is the friction between the FBI's negotiating team and Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). Now, the HRT is deploying the Bradley infantry vehicles first, and later the Abrams tanks, used in war zones, right outside the front gate of Koresh's cult home. All for one purpose - to take down a not-so-handsome-looking specs-wearing guy who keeps on saying he will come out once he has decoded the Book of Revelation. Insane? Well, there is more juice. Even though the FBI negotiations resulted in the release of several women and children, Koresh and his deputy Steve Schneider remained constantly frustrated by the discrepancy between what the FBI negotiating team was promising and what the HRT's tactical gear was doing which is mowing down the vehicles parked outside the cult house. The tensions heightened with Koresh's frequent back and forth and his resistance to come out and surrender. Then, HRT chooses to deploy tear gas inside the house, instead of carrying out an assault. Soon they believed that Koresh and his "family" are hiding out in a bunker where the tear gas has no effect on them. So? HRT uses its enormous tanks to demolish portions of the compound. The scene where the FBI sniper Chris Whitcomb had Koresh at gunpoint is the most intriguing. Nonetheless, he chose not to shoot, something he says he thinks about every day. Then things start to go southwards. The building is on fire. There is a massive plume coming out of it. HRT seemed to be in utter confusion. It anticipates that Branch Davidian members will now finally come out. Only seven of them did. Everyone else, 76 Branch Davidians and 25 children, just chose to stand by Koresh and perish in flames next to him. All of this is pretty straightforward, right? Maybe it's merely the order in which things transpired, but the documentary has a distinctive commentary from the cult's surviving members, like Heather Jones, who was just seven years old at the time. Her emotional recollections in the documentary are presented as though they happened only yesterday and not in 1993. Kathy Schroeder, another member at Mount Carmel Centre, divulges in the documentary how in a sexual encounter Koresh showed her 'God's will.' Koresh purportedly had sex with young children and other men's wives. The Netflix three-part docuseries also encapsulates David Thibodeau's views. He is another cult member who escaped the devastating fire by leaping out of a hole in the house. It further shows how Koresh's mother selected the top defence attorney to assist her son, a self-proclaimed God. It is pretty chilling to see Koresh's lawyer enter the compound without a bulletproof vest because, according to him, he is more terrified of the HRT mistakenly shooting him than he is of Koresh. The reports from the journalists on the scene are unbelievable too. What they initially believed to be a routine ATF operation that would culminate in some tedious interviews became the biggest story of their lives. But the question that the documentary fails to tackle is... Who started the fire? Were there any incendiary devices that the FBI planted inside the house that could have started the deadly fire? Surviving cult member David Thibodeau contends it was not the cult members who put the house on a blaze. FBI calls him a liar. The 51-day siege from 28 February 1993 to 19 April 1993 has many wild theories and the documentary, 30 years on, fails to give any further clarity. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Waco: American Apocalypse review 2023 - 30 years on, a question remains: Who started the fire?

The superintendent of a Virginia school in the US was fired on Wednesday, weeks after a six-year-old boy shot and wounded his teacher in the classroom. The school board voted 5-1 to oust George Parker, shortly after the victim teacher announced plans to sue the district. 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot in the chest earlier this month by the six-year-old pupil, even after having warned the school administration “three times” before the incident happened. Abigail Zwerner’s lawyer said that the incident was completely avoidable.

Diane Toscano, the teacher’s lawyer, revealed that “the administration could not be bothered” about the concerns that Abigail Zwerner raised. “On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times — three times — school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people,” said the attorney.

Watch:&nbsp;Decoding Gun Violence in America

<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/decoding-gun-violence-in-america-a-wion-special-on-rise-of-mass-shootings-in-the-us-487419/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Zwerner supported her claims by showing text messages exchanged between her and the school administration. Toscano said that Zwerner requested the school authorities to search the boy and his backpack for the weapon but her calls were ignored. Zwerner also informed an official about the boy putting the gun in his pockets, but the official responded by saying, “Well, he has little pockets."&nbsp;

The parents of the boy claim&nbsp;he suffers from an acute disability and rarely attends school without one of them&nbsp;being present. On January 6, the day of the shooting, the boy was present alone. As per a report by CNN, the boy had brought his mother’s gun to the school.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/only-in-america-an-epidemic-of-gun-violence-without-a-cure-556046">Only in America: An epidemic of gun violence without a cure</a>

George Parker, the superintendent of the school, was fired as frustrated parents complained in a meeting on January 17 that their kids were facing fear and hysteria since the January 6 gun violence. Earlier, the school’s assistant principal, Dr Ebony Parker, had tendered his resignation following the shooting controversy.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

The superintendent of a Virginia school in the US was fired on Wednesday, weeks after a six-year-old boy shot and wounded his teacher in the classroom. The school board voted 5-1 to oust George Parker, shortly after the victim teacher announced plans to sue the district.

The superintendent of a Virginia school in the US was fired on Wednesday, weeks after a six-year-old boy shot and wounded his teacher in the classroom. The school board voted 5-1 to oust George Parker, shortly after the victim teacher announced plans to sue the district. 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot in the chest earlier this month by the six-year-old pupil, even after having warned the school administration “three times” before the incident happened. Abigail Zwerner’s lawyer said that the incident was completely avoidable. Diane Toscano, the teacher’s lawyer, revealed that “the administration could not be bothered” about the concerns that Abigail Zwerner raised. “On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times — three times — school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people,” said the attorney. Watch: Decoding Gun Violence in America × Zwerner supported her claims by showing text messages exchanged between her and the school administration. Toscano said that Zwerner requested the school authorities to search the boy and his backpack for the weapon but her calls were ignored. Zwerner also informed an official about the boy putting the gun in his pockets, but the official responded by saying, “Well, he has little pockets." The parents of the boy claim he suffers from an acute disability and rarely attends school without one of them being present. On January 6, the day of the shooting, the boy was present alone. As per a report by CNN, the boy had brought his mother’s gun to the school. Also Read | Only in America: An epidemic of gun violence without a cure George Parker, the superintendent of the school, was fired as frustrated parents complained in a meeting on January 17 that their kids were facing fear and hysteria since the January 6 gun violence. Earlier, the school’s assistant principal, Dr Ebony Parker, had tendered his resignation following the shooting controversy. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: Virginia school fires chief superintendent over Jan 6 shooting by boy for neglecting teacher’s alerts

A 21-year-old American woman was allegedly gang-raped by her “guide” and his accomplice in Pakistan’s Punjab province, prompting condemnation from the US embassy.

According to police, the crime took place on July 17 at a tourist resort Fort Munro in Dera Ghazi Khan district, about 500 kilometres from Lahore.

The victim —a vlogger/social media influencer —was on a trip along with her social media friends Muzamil Sipra and Azan Khosa to make a vlog.

Police said that the American woman had come to Fort Monroe from Karachi after being invited by her social media friend Sipra, whose house she visited on Sunday in Rajanpur district of Punjab.

The woman, who is on a tourist visa to Pakistan, had been living in the country for the past seven months.

The FIR, which is available with WION, states that the victim was staying at a hotel where she was gang-raped by them.

"We stayed in a hotel at Fort Monroe where both suspects gang raped me and also made a video of the act to blackmail me," she alleged in the FIR.

One of the accused, Sipra, has already been arrested by the Border Military Police while raids are being conducted to arrest the other suspect.

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has sought a report from the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) on the Fort Munro incident.

Meanwhile, a US Embassy Spokesperson told WION that it is in contact with the police and is ensuring that the woman is taken care of.

“The protection of US citizens overseas is the highest priority of the U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad,” he said.

“Out of respect for the privacy of the alleged victim, we cannot comment on the specifics of the allegation. The U.S. Consulate General in Lahore stands ready to provide consular services to any US citizen who has been a victim of crime,” he added.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

A 21-year-old American woman was allegedly gang-raped by her “guide” and his accomplice in Pakistan’s Punjab province, prompting condemnation from the US embassy.

A 21-year-old American woman was allegedly gang-raped by her “guide” and his accomplice in Pakistan’s Punjab province, prompting condemnation from the US embassy. According to police, the crime took place on July 17 at a tourist resort Fort Munro in Dera Ghazi Khan district, about 500 kilometres from Lahore. The victim —a vlogger/social media influencer —was on a trip along with her social media friends Muzamil Sipra and Azan Khosa to make a vlog. Police said that the American woman had come to Fort Monroe from Karachi after being invited by her social media friend Sipra, whose house she visited on Sunday in Rajanpur district of Punjab. The woman, who is on a tourist visa to Pakistan, had been living in the country for the past seven months. The FIR, which is available with WION, states that the victim was staying at a hotel where she was gang-raped by them. "We stayed in a hotel at Fort Monroe where both suspects gang raped me and also made a video of the act to blackmail me," she alleged in the FIR. One of the accused, Sipra, has already been arrested by the Border Military Police while raids are being conducted to arrest the other suspect. Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has sought a report from the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) on the Fort Munro incident. Meanwhile, a US Embassy Spokesperson told WION that it is in contact with the police and is ensuring that the woman is taken care of. “The protection of US citizens overseas is the highest priority of the U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad,” he said. “Out of respect for the privacy of the alleged victim, we cannot comment on the specifics of the allegation. The U.S. Consulate General in Lahore stands ready to provide consular services to any US citizen who has been a victim of crime,” he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

American woman gang-raped in Pakistan, US embassy seeks strict action

Indian multinational company Reliance Industries is considering buying out Revlon Inc in the United States, days after the cosmetics giant filed for bankruptcy.

The report comes as Revlon filed for bankruptcy earlier this week after global supply chain disruptions drove up raw material costs and prompted vendors to demand upfront payments.

In a court filing late Wednesday, the company initiated Chapter 11 proceedings to manage its debt, which it said stood between $1 billion and $10 billion.

Revlon, known for its signature nail polish and lipstick, reported long-term liabilities of $3.3 billion in the first quarter.

"Today's filing will allow Revlon to offer our consumers the iconic products we have delivered for decades while providing a clearer path for our future growth," CEO Debra Perelman said in a statement on Wednesday.

In the United States, Chapter 11, known as reorganization bankruptcy, allows firms to restructure themselves while being protected from creditors and continuing to operate.

The company said it expects to receive $575 million in financing from its lenders if its bankruptcy is approved in court.

Owned by billionaire investor Ronald Perelman and run by his daughter, Debra Perelman, Revlon reported a net loss of $67 million from January to March.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/isolated-subpopulation-of-polar-bears-found-in-southeast-greenland-489104">Can polar bears survive without Arctic ice? Scientists think so. Here's why</a>

The company, which lists Elizabeth Arden, Almay, and Britney Spears Fragrances among its brands and has operations in more than 150 countries, has suffered from the global supply chain crisis and high inflation.

Revlon also has also faced increasingly tough competition, which has hurt revenue in recent years.

Reliance has pushed its way into the fashion and personal care space in recent months as it diversifies away from its mainstay oil business. It has already established a foothold in the telecom and retail sectors.

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Indian multinational company Reliance Industries is considering buying out Revlon Inc in the United States, days after the cosmetics giant filed for bankruptcy. The report comes as Revlon filed for bankruptcy earlier this week after global supply chain disruptions drove up raw material costs and prompted vendors to demand upfront payments.

Indian multinational company Reliance Industries is considering buying out Revlon Inc in the United States, days after the cosmetics giant filed for bankruptcy. The report comes as Revlon filed for bankruptcy earlier this week after global supply chain disruptions drove up raw material costs and prompted vendors to demand upfront payments. In a court filing late Wednesday, the company initiated Chapter 11 proceedings to manage its debt, which it said stood between $1 billion and $10 billion. Revlon, known for its signature nail polish and lipstick, reported long-term liabilities of $3.3 billion in the first quarter. "Today's filing will allow Revlon to offer our consumers the iconic products we have delivered for decades while providing a clearer path for our future growth," CEO Debra Perelman said in a statement on Wednesday. In the United States, Chapter 11, known as reorganization bankruptcy, allows firms to restructure themselves while being protected from creditors and continuing to operate. The company said it expects to receive $575 million in financing from its lenders if its bankruptcy is approved in court. Owned by billionaire investor Ronald Perelman and run by his daughter, Debra Perelman, Revlon reported a net loss of $67 million from January to March. Also Read: Can polar bears survive without Arctic ice? Scientists think so. Here's why The company, which lists Elizabeth Arden, Almay, and Britney Spears Fragrances among its brands and has operations in more than 150 countries, has suffered from the global supply chain crisis and high inflation. Revlon also has also faced increasingly tough competition, which has hurt revenue in recent years. Reliance has pushed its way into the fashion and personal care space in recent months as it diversifies away from its mainstay oil business. It has already established a foothold in the telecom and retail sectors. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Reliance Industries plans to buy American bankrupt company Revlon

Willy Joseph Cancel, an American citizen and former Marine, died in Ukraine while fighting alongside Ukrainian soldiers, according to his family. It's the first time a US citizen has been killed in Ukraine.

Rebecca Cabrera, Cancel's mother, told CNN The 22-year-old was slain in Ukraine on Monday.

She told the news source that her son was working for a private military contracting company and had arrived in Ukraine in mid-March, according to the source.

Cancel worked as a full-time prison officer in Tennessee before moving to Ukraine. He was born in New York's Orange County.

Cancel is survived by his wife and a 7-month-old baby.

Cancel's mother claims that her son's body has yet to be found.

The State Department said that it was aware of Cancel's death but declined to speak further.

Cancel travelled to Poland on March 12 and entered Ukraine between March 12 and 13, according to Cabrera.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Willy Joseph Cancel, an American citizen and former Marine, died in Ukraine while fighting alongside Ukrainian soldiers, according to his family. It's the first time a US citizen has been killed in Ukraine.

Willy Joseph Cancel, an American citizen and former Marine, died in Ukraine while fighting alongside Ukrainian soldiers, according to his family. It's the first time a US citizen has been killed in Ukraine. Rebecca Cabrera, Cancel's mother, told CNN The 22-year-old was slain in Ukraine on Monday. She told the news source that her son was working for a private military contracting company and had arrived in Ukraine in mid-March, according to the source. Cancel worked as a full-time prison officer in Tennessee before moving to Ukraine. He was born in New York's Orange County. Cancel is survived by his wife and a 7-month-old baby. Cancel's mother claims that her son's body has yet to be found. The State Department said that it was aware of Cancel's death but declined to speak further. Cancel travelled to Poland on March 12 and entered Ukraine between March 12 and 13, according to Cabrera. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

22-year-old American killed while fighting in Ukraine

Several Chinese streaming platforms have censored an LGBTQ plotline in the tv show "Friends."

Conversations about Ross'&nbsp;ex-wife, Carol Willick, who is a lesbian, have been deleted, causing widespread anger on social media. The American sitcom enjoys a huge fan following in the country.

The show debuted on Chinese streaming platforms Sohu video and iQiyi in 2012. This was without any censorship. However, it was only available to watch until its streaming agreement ended in 2013.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/friends-reunion-china-censors-bts-lady-gaga-and-justin-biebers-portions-from-the-special-387939">Also read |&nbsp;'Friends' reunion: China censors BTS, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber's portions from the special&nbsp;</a>

After the buzz created by the 2021 special 'Friends: The Reunion,' Chinese streaming platforms purchased the broadcasting rights to the show.&nbsp;

Several streaming platforms including Bilibili, Tencent, Youku, Sohu and iQiyi began streaming the show on February 11.

Earlier, top Chinese streaming platforms censored nearly six minutes of material from 'Friends: The Reunion,' which included footage of Lady Gaga, BTS, Justin Bieber and even a few gay fans of the series speaking about how special the show was.&nbsp;

Not just this but the platforms also omitted a portion where Matt LeBlanc was seen wearing his underwear and references to pee in one of the episodes.&nbsp;

Several Chinese streaming platforms have censored an LGBTQ plotline in the tv show "Friends." Conversations about Ross' ex-wife, Carol Willick, who is a lesbian, have been deleted, causing widespread anger on social media.

Several Chinese streaming platforms have censored an LGBTQ plotline in the tv show "Friends." Conversations about Ross' ex-wife, Carol Willick, who is a lesbian, have been deleted, causing widespread anger on social media. The American sitcom enjoys a huge fan following in the country. The show debuted on Chinese streaming platforms Sohu video and iQiyi in 2012. This was without any censorship. However, it was only available to watch until its streaming agreement ended in 2013. Also read | 'Friends' reunion: China censors BTS, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber's portions from the special After the buzz created by the 2021 special 'Friends: The Reunion,' Chinese streaming platforms purchased the broadcasting rights to the show. Several streaming platforms including Bilibili, Tencent, Youku, Sohu and iQiyi began streaming the show on February 11. Earlier, top Chinese streaming platforms censored nearly six minutes of material from 'Friends: The Reunion,' which included footage of Lady Gaga, BTS, Justin Bieber and even a few gay fans of the series speaking about how special the show was. Not just this but the platforms also omitted a portion where Matt LeBlanc was seen wearing his underwear and references to pee in one of the episodes.

China censors lesbian plotline in American sitcom 'Friends,' causing widespread anger

Three Israeli military commanders have been disciplined after an investigation into the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man who was detained, gagged and handcuffed by Israeli soldiers in a night raid on his village last month.

An autopsy showed that the man, Omar Abdelmajed Assad, died from a stress-induced heart attack brought on by injuries sustained while he was detained for about an hour on Jan. 12 by dozens of Israeli soldiers.

The commander of the Netzah Yehuda, the Jewish ultra-Orthodox battalion which conducted the raid on the village, will be reprimanded and the platoon and company commanders will both be removed from their positions. They will not serve in commanding roles for two years, according to the military.

“The incident showed a clear lapse of moral judgment,” the Israeli military’s chief of general staff said in a statement released late Monday that summed up the conclusions of an investigation by the military’s central command. “The investigation concluded that the incident was a grave and unfortunate event, resulting from a moral failure and poor decision-making on the part of the soldiers.”

The statement, in which Assad’s full name was rendered incorrectly, said the Israeli military deeply regretted his death, but stopped short of apologizing for it.

Assad’s family and human rights groups said the punishments were too light and fit a pattern of impunity for Israelis who kill Palestinians.

“It’s not enough,” said Mohanad Assad, Assad’s 39-year-old cousin. “They need to be tried in international courts.”

The Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem, has long dismissed Israeli military investigations into the killings of Palestinians as whitewashing.

But the Israeli military has called those allegations “ridiculous” and said it has proved repeatedly that its investigations are independent and professional.

One example of an investigation that critics say reflects a pattern of impunity was linked to the 2014 war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, when an airstrike killed four boys playing on a beach, prompting international condemnation. An Israeli military investigation resulted in no criminal charges or disciplinary actions against those involved in airstrikes during that war, including the two that killed the boys.

Assad was driving home around 3 a.m. after a night playing cards and drinking coffee at a relative’s house when he was detained near his home in the village of Jiljilya in the occupied West Bank. Immediately after soldiers left the scene, he was found face down and unresponsive with a blindfold still on, according to witnesses and his doctor, who said he died while in Israeli custody.

Initially, the Israeli military said Assad had been alive when he was released.

The soldiers did not identify signs of distress or see anything of concern regarding Assad’s health before they left, according to the investigation, saying they believed he was sleeping. But the investigation found that the “soldiers failed in their obligations by leaving Assad lying on the floor without the required treatment and without reporting the incident back to their commanders.”

His death brought renewed scrutiny on Israel from its closest ally, the United States, which called for a thorough investigation. Assad was a U.S. citizen with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren living in the United States. His family and several members of Congress have demanded that the United States conduct its own independent investigation.

In addition to the central command’s investigation, a separate criminal investigation by the Israeli military police is still ongoing.

Assad’s autopsy was conducted by the coroner for the Palestinian Authority, which is also conducting its own investigation into Mr. Assad’s death. The authority administers parts of the West Bank but even in Palestinian villages like Jiljilya, Israeli forces regularly carry out raids and operations aimed at thwarting attacks.

Assad’s life and death mirrored the daily perils faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, including the fear of being detained in nighttime raids or arrested at home.

According to the investigation, soldiers were in Jiljilya that morning to thwart terrorist activities and seize weapons and as part of that operation, they stopped Assad’s vehicle. Assad refused to cooperate with their security check.

In response, he was detained with his hands bound and his mouth gagged for a short time, according to the investigation.

Dr. Islam Abu Zaher, who attempted to resuscitate Assad after the Israeli soldiers hurriedly left the village, said his face was blue and had been cut off from oxygen for 15 to 20 minutes.

The central command investigation found that soldiers did not use violence against Assad “apart from when Assad was apprehended after refusing to cooperate.”

These findings contradict a preliminary conclusion from the Palestinian investigation, which determined that he had been “severely beaten” and “subjected to harsh treatment and violence.”

The autopsy found that Assad had bruises on his head as a result of traumatic brain injuries, without concluding what may have caused those injuries. There was also internal bleeding in his eyelids from being blindfolded tightly as well as other bruises on his arms and red welts on his wrists from zip ties.

Another man who was detained by the same soldiers said that as soon as they left, he went to Assad and found him unresponsive. Abu Zaher was immediately called and tried to revive him with CPR and a defibrillator.

Assad had open-heart surgery and several stents implanted about four years ago, according to Abu Zaher. He was also being treated for obstructive pulmonary disease in recent months.

Three Israeli military commanders have been disciplined after an investigation into the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man who was detained, gagged and handcuffed by Israeli soldiers in a night raid on his village last month.

Three Israeli military commanders have been disciplined after an investigation into the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man who was detained, gagged and handcuffed by Israeli soldiers in a night raid on his village last month. An autopsy showed that the man, Omar Abdelmajed Assad, died from a stress-induced heart attack brought on by injuries sustained while he was detained for about an hour on Jan. 12 by dozens of Israeli soldiers. The commander of the Netzah Yehuda, the Jewish ultra-Orthodox battalion which conducted the raid on the village, will be reprimanded and the platoon and company commanders will both be removed from their positions. They will not serve in commanding roles for two years, according to the military. “The incident showed a clear lapse of moral judgment,” the Israeli military’s chief of general staff said in a statement released late Monday that summed up the conclusions of an investigation by the military’s central command. “The investigation concluded that the incident was a grave and unfortunate event, resulting from a moral failure and poor decision-making on the part of the soldiers.” The statement, in which Assad’s full name was rendered incorrectly, said the Israeli military deeply regretted his death, but stopped short of apologizing for it. Assad’s family and human rights groups said the punishments were too light and fit a pattern of impunity for Israelis who kill Palestinians. “It’s not enough,” said Mohanad Assad, Assad’s 39-year-old cousin. “They need to be tried in international courts.” The Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem, has long dismissed Israeli military investigations into the killings of Palestinians as whitewashing. But the Israeli military has called those allegations “ridiculous” and said it has proved repeatedly that its investigations are independent and professional. One example of an investigation that critics say reflects a pattern of impunity was linked to the 2014 war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, when an airstrike killed four boys playing on a beach, prompting international condemnation. An Israeli military investigation resulted in no criminal charges or disciplinary actions against those involved in airstrikes during that war, including the two that killed the boys. Assad was driving home around 3 a.m. after a night playing cards and drinking coffee at a relative’s house when he was detained near his home in the village of Jiljilya in the occupied West Bank. Immediately after soldiers left the scene, he was found face down and unresponsive with a blindfold still on, according to witnesses and his doctor, who said he died while in Israeli custody. Initially, the Israeli military said Assad had been alive when he was released. The soldiers did not identify signs of distress or see anything of concern regarding Assad’s health before they left, according to the investigation, saying they believed he was sleeping. But the investigation found that the “soldiers failed in their obligations by leaving Assad lying on the floor without the required treatment and without reporting the incident back to their commanders.” His death brought renewed scrutiny on Israel from its closest ally, the United States, which called for a thorough investigation. Assad was a U.S. citizen with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren living in the United States. His family and several members of Congress have demanded that the United States conduct its own independent investigation. In addition to the central command’s investigation, a separate criminal investigation by the Israeli military police is still ongoing. Assad’s autopsy was conducted by the coroner for the Palestinian Authority, which is also conducting its own investigation into Mr. Assad’s death. The authority administers parts of the West Bank but even in Palestinian villages like Jiljilya, Israeli forces regularly carry out raids and operations aimed at thwarting attacks. Assad’s life and death mirrored the daily perils faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, including the fear of being detained in nighttime raids or arrested at home. According to the investigation, soldiers were in Jiljilya that morning to thwart terrorist activities and seize weapons and as part of that operation, they stopped Assad’s vehicle. Assad refused to cooperate with their security check. In response, he was detained with his hands bound and his mouth gagged for a short time, according to the investigation. Dr. Islam Abu Zaher, who attempted to resuscitate Assad after the Israeli soldiers hurriedly left the village, said his face was blue and had been cut off from oxygen for 15 to 20 minutes. The central command investigation found that soldiers did not use violence against Assad “apart from when Assad was apprehended after refusing to cooperate.” These findings contradict a preliminary conclusion from the Palestinian investigation, which determined that he had been “severely beaten” and “subjected to harsh treatment and violence.” The autopsy found that Assad had bruises on his head as a result of traumatic brain injuries, without concluding what may have caused those injuries. There was also internal bleeding in his eyelids from being blindfolded tightly as well as other bruises on his arms and red welts on his wrists from zip ties. Another man who was detained by the same soldiers said that as soon as they left, he went to Assad and found him unresponsive. Abu Zaher was immediately called and tried to revive him with CPR and a defibrillator. Assad had open-heart surgery and several stents implanted about four years ago, according to Abu Zaher. He was also being treated for obstructive pulmonary disease in recent months.

Israeli commanders disciplined in death of Palestinian-American man

More than 30 years after the body of Scott Johnson, a 27-year-old mathematician from the United States, was found at the bottom of a Sydney cliff, the man accused in the death was convicted Thursday of murder.

A surprising admission from the defendant, Scott White, 50, earlier in the week cleared the way for the judge to convict him in the 1988 case, bringing to an end a decadeslong fight by his brother, Steve Johnson, to find the perpetrators behind his brother’s death.

“It’s over, finally,” said Steve Johnson, an American tech entrepreneur. “This 33-year odyssey has come to a conclusion.”

Scott Johnson, who was gay, was a doctoral student at the Australian National University in Canberra when he was killed Dec. 8, 1988. He had moved to Australia to be with his partner and had applied for permanent residency.

When his body was found in an area frequented by gay men, Australian police initially ruled the death a suicide. His brother was skeptical and he pressed officials to reopen the case. Former Australian officials have said the police at that time were often hostile toward gay men and did not properly investigate their deaths.

Steve Johnson hired an investigative journalist to look into his brother’s case after he became aware of a 2005 inquest into the deaths of three men from the same period under similar circumstances. He successfully petitioned for a second inquest in 2012, which overturned the suicide ruling and recommended police reinvestigate the case.

In 2017, a third inquest concluded that Scott Johnson was the victim of an anti-gay hate crime and fell off the cliff as a result of actual or threatened violence. The next year, the New South Wales police began an investigation, offering a reward of 1 million Australian dollars, currently the equivalent of about $730,000, for new information.

In May 2020, police charged White with Scott Johnson’s murder. White originally pleaded not guilty, but on Monday, Steve Johnson said, White stood up at a pretrial hearing and said “firmly and emphatically, ‘Guilty, I’m guilty, guilty.’”

“No one was prepared for that, including me,” said Steve Johnson, who had traveled to Sydney from the United States to attend the hearing.

The hearing was adjourned. In the following days, White’s attorneys tried to have his admission thrown out, arguing that their client suffered stress and anxiety and had an intellectual disability, local news media reported. But the court heard that White had noted his intent to change his plea on several earlier occasions, and the judge contended that he spoke in a determined and firm manner.

On Thursday, he was convicted of the murder, and the sentencing hearing is scheduled for May.

At the time of his arrest, local media reported that White was from Sydney and lived alone with his dog in a small apartment. Police had been expected to say in court that he had met Scott Johnson at a hotel before they headed to the cliff together, local media reported.

White’s attorneys have indicated they will appeal, according to local news media. But in Steve Johnson’s mind, the case is over. “I’m grateful to Scott White for sparing us the trial, sparing us the months, sparing us more uncertainty,” he said.

A member of White’s defense team did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Steve Johnson said that one of the most touching moments during the hearing was to hear the judge refer to his brother as “Dr. Johnson.”

His brother had nearly completed his doctorate, but his degree was granted posthumously, so “to hear the judge pay him the honor of calling him doctor, it was wonderful,” he said.

Dozens of cases similar to Scott Johnson’s are still under review. Since 2013, police have been looking into the deaths of 88 men between 1976 and 2000 to determine if they should be classified as anti-gay hate crimes. About 30 remain unsolved.

In November, the New South Wales government announced it would conduct an inquiry into gay and transgender hate crimes between 1970 and 2010.

Steve Johnson hoped his brother’s case could provide guidance for the inquiry.

“They now have a model to follow. They now have some hope that you can solve a 30-year-old case,” he said. “I feel like my brother would be really proud.”

More than 30 years after the body of Scott Johnson, a 27-year-old mathematician from the United States, was found at the bottom of a Sydney cliff, the man accused in the death was convicted Thursday of murder.

More than 30 years after the body of Scott Johnson, a 27-year-old mathematician from the United States, was found at the bottom of a Sydney cliff, the man accused in the death was convicted Thursday of murder. A surprising admission from the defendant, Scott White, 50, earlier in the week cleared the way for the judge to convict him in the 1988 case, bringing to an end a decadeslong fight by his brother, Steve Johnson, to find the perpetrators behind his brother’s death. “It’s over, finally,” said Steve Johnson, an American tech entrepreneur. “This 33-year odyssey has come to a conclusion.” Scott Johnson, who was gay, was a doctoral student at the Australian National University in Canberra when he was killed Dec. 8, 1988. He had moved to Australia to be with his partner and had applied for permanent residency. When his body was found in an area frequented by gay men, Australian police initially ruled the death a suicide. His brother was skeptical and he pressed officials to reopen the case. Former Australian officials have said the police at that time were often hostile toward gay men and did not properly investigate their deaths. Steve Johnson hired an investigative journalist to look into his brother’s case after he became aware of a 2005 inquest into the deaths of three men from the same period under similar circumstances. He successfully petitioned for a second inquest in 2012, which overturned the suicide ruling and recommended police reinvestigate the case. In 2017, a third inquest concluded that Scott Johnson was the victim of an anti-gay hate crime and fell off the cliff as a result of actual or threatened violence. The next year, the New South Wales police began an investigation, offering a reward of 1 million Australian dollars, currently the equivalent of about $730,000, for new information. In May 2020, police charged White with Scott Johnson’s murder. White originally pleaded not guilty, but on Monday, Steve Johnson said, White stood up at a pretrial hearing and said “firmly and emphatically, ‘Guilty, I’m guilty, guilty.’” “No one was prepared for that, including me,” said Steve Johnson, who had traveled to Sydney from the United States to attend the hearing. The hearing was adjourned. In the following days, White’s attorneys tried to have his admission thrown out, arguing that their client suffered stress and anxiety and had an intellectual disability, local news media reported. But the court heard that White had noted his intent to change his plea on several earlier occasions, and the judge contended that he spoke in a determined and firm manner. On Thursday, he was convicted of the murder, and the sentencing hearing is scheduled for May. At the time of his arrest, local media reported that White was from Sydney and lived alone with his dog in a small apartment. Police had been expected to say in court that he had met Scott Johnson at a hotel before they headed to the cliff together, local media reported. White’s attorneys have indicated they will appeal, according to local news media. But in Steve Johnson’s mind, the case is over. “I’m grateful to Scott White for sparing us the trial, sparing us the months, sparing us more uncertainty,” he said. A member of White’s defense team did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Steve Johnson said that one of the most touching moments during the hearing was to hear the judge refer to his brother as “Dr. Johnson.” His brother had nearly completed his doctorate, but his degree was granted posthumously, so “to hear the judge pay him the honor of calling him doctor, it was wonderful,” he said. Dozens of cases similar to Scott Johnson’s are still under review. Since 2013, police have been looking into the deaths of 88 men between 1976 and 2000 to determine if they should be classified as anti-gay hate crimes. About 30 remain unsolved. In November, the New South Wales government announced it would conduct an inquiry into gay and transgender hate crimes between 1970 and 2010. Steve Johnson hoped his brother’s case could provide guidance for the inquiry. “They now have a model to follow. They now have some hope that you can solve a 30-year-old case,” he said. “I feel like my brother would be really proud.”

Australian man convicted of killing gay American in 1980s

A new Axios-Momentive poll has revealed that over 40 per cent of Americans do not believe that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 presidential election. Also, nearly 57 per cent of people think that events similar to the January 6 Capitol riots are likely to happen again in the coming years.&nbsp;

This concern is alarmingly high among Democrats as 70 per cent of them&nbsp;think that something like January 6 will happen again. While only 47 per cent of Republicans think the same.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-year-of-us-capitol-riots-key-takeaways-and-prominent-faces-of-the-day-that-divided-america-442672">Also read |&nbsp;One year of US Capitol Riots: Key takeaways and prominent faces of the day that divided America</a>

About 37 per cent of people who were surveyed said that they had lost faith in American democracy. Out of this, 48 per cent were Republicans and 28 per cent were Democrats. On the other hand, 10 per cent said they had never had faith in the system. 49 per cent said that they did have faith.

Laura Wronski, senior manager for research science at Momentive, while speaking to Axios said, "It’s dispiriting to see that this shocking thing we all witnessed last year hasn’t changed people’s perceptions."

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Capitol riots: One year on, America more polarised than ever

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-capitol-riots-one-year-on-america-more-polarised-than-ever-442764/embed" width="560"></iframe>

The poll was released on the eve of the first anniversary of the US Capitol attack. This is when the US lawmakers were moving towards certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the election and pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol to disrupt the legitimate transfer. The horrifying scene forced Congress to put&nbsp;a sudden pause on the ceremonial event confirming Biden's sweeping win in the elections. In the aftermath, the doors of the Senate were locked and a citywide curfew was announced.&nbsp;

The polls were conducted from January 1 to 5 this year. Also, they surveyed nearly 2,700 adults.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new Axios-Momentive poll has revealed that over 40 per cent of Americans do not believe that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 presidential election. Also, nearly 57 per cent of people think that events similar to the January 6 Capitol riots are likely to happen again in the coming years.

A new Axios-Momentive poll has revealed that over 40 per cent of Americans do not believe that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 presidential election. Also, nearly 57 per cent of people think that events similar to the January 6 Capitol riots are likely to happen again in the coming years. This concern is alarmingly high among Democrats as 70 per cent of them think that something like January 6 will happen again. While only 47 per cent of Republicans think the same. Also read | One year of US Capitol Riots: Key takeaways and prominent faces of the day that divided America About 37 per cent of people who were surveyed said that they had lost faith in American democracy. Out of this, 48 per cent were Republicans and 28 per cent were Democrats. On the other hand, 10 per cent said they had never had faith in the system. 49 per cent said that they did have faith. Laura Wronski, senior manager for research science at Momentive, while speaking to Axios said, "It’s dispiriting to see that this shocking thing we all witnessed last year hasn’t changed people’s perceptions." Watch | Gravitas: Capitol riots: One year on, America more polarised than ever The poll was released on the eve of the first anniversary of the US Capitol attack. This is when the US lawmakers were moving towards certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the election and pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol to disrupt the legitimate transfer. The horrifying scene forced Congress to put a sudden pause on the ceremonial event confirming Biden's sweeping win in the elections. In the aftermath, the doors of the Senate were locked and a citywide curfew was announced. The polls were conducted from January 1 to 5 this year. Also, they surveyed nearly 2,700 adults. (With inputs from agencies)

A year after Capitol riots, 57% Americans think similar events are likely to happen

More than 200 million Americans, over 60% of the population, have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The United States crossed that milestone as the threat of the omicron variant spurred a flurry of inoculations in recent days, although the daily rate remains far below its peak in April. And the U.S. lags significantly behind several other countries, which have inoculated over 80% of their populations.

Providers are administering about 1.78 million doses per day on average, including first, second and additional doses, about a 47% decrease from the peak of 3.38 million reported April 13, according to federal data.

The United States remains far behind not only developed countries like Singapore and Portugal, which will soon have vaccinated 90% of their populations, but developing nations like Cambodia (over 80%), according to Our World in Data.

Even before the arrival of omicron, cases and hospitalisations were on the rise in the U.S. as the weather grew colder in much of the country and the highly contagious delta variant remained a threat. Daily cases are averaging over 120,000, and more than 55,000 patients are hospitalised nationwide, far fewer than in September but an increase of more than 15% over the past two weeks. Hospitals have been overstretched from upstate New York to New Mexico.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-democracy-summit-100-nations-invited-china-russia-see-red-after-being-left-out-435351">Also read |&nbsp;Biden's Democracy Summit: 100+ nations invited, China &amp; Russia see red after being left out</a>

The US has been ahead of other countries in booster shots, which it authorised in September and October for many Americans. Then on Oct. 29, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

The daily rate of Americans getting their shots had been steadily climbing since the government widened eligibility and has soared since Thanksgiving, when the omicron variant was discovered. With dozens of mutations never before seen, omicron was named a variant of concern by the World Health Organization.

Scientists have feared that the fast-spreading variant could evade the protection of vaccines. But on Wednesday, Pfizer and BioNTech said laboratory tests suggested that three doses of their coronavirus vaccine offered significant protection against omicron. The lab experiments don’t indicate with any certainty how the vaccines will perform in the real world, and scientists say it could take a month or more to understand the new variant’s threat.

Many questions remain about omicron.

There are early signs that it may cause only mild illness, although that observation was based mainly on cases in South Africa among young people, who are generally less likely to become severely ill from COVID-19. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that while the data is limited, “the disease is mild” in almost all of the U.S. cases recorded so far. Reported symptoms have mainly been cough, congestion and fatigue, and some cases have grown more severe over time, she said.

Scientists are also waiting to see whether cases lead to more hospitalisations and deaths; both lag surges in infections by days or weeks.

Broad mandates by President Joe Biden that had helped boost vaccination rates have been put on hold by courts.

Americans who have resisted getting vaccinated can be grouped into two categories, as a New York Times report showed in July.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-threatens-russia-with-severe-sanctions-if-ukraine-is-attacked-435291">Also read |&nbsp;Biden threatens Russia with 'severe sanctions' if Ukraine is attacked; US troops not to be involved</a>

In one are those who are adamant in their refusal; they include a mix of people but tend to be disproportionately white, rural, evangelical Christian and politically conservative, surveys show.

In the other are those who are persuadable but say they have been putting off vaccination or want to wait and see before making a decision; they are a broad range of people but tend to be a more diverse and urban group, including many younger people, Black and Latino Americans, and Democrats.

It’s this second group that health officials have made progress in inoculating, but surveys suggest they account for less than half of all unvaccinated adults in the United States.

More than 200 million Americans, over 60% of the population, have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The United States crossed that milestone as the threat of the omicron variant spurred a flurry of inoculations in recent days, although the daily rate remains far below its peak in April.

More than 200 million Americans, over 60% of the population, have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The United States crossed that milestone as the threat of the omicron variant spurred a flurry of inoculations in recent days, although the daily rate remains far below its peak in April. And the U.S. lags significantly behind several other countries, which have inoculated over 80% of their populations. Providers are administering about 1.78 million doses per day on average, including first, second and additional doses, about a 47% decrease from the peak of 3.38 million reported April 13, according to federal data. The United States remains far behind not only developed countries like Singapore and Portugal, which will soon have vaccinated 90% of their populations, but developing nations like Cambodia (over 80%), according to Our World in Data. Even before the arrival of omicron, cases and hospitalisations were on the rise in the U.S. as the weather grew colder in much of the country and the highly contagious delta variant remained a threat. Daily cases are averaging over 120,000, and more than 55,000 patients are hospitalised nationwide, far fewer than in September but an increase of more than 15% over the past two weeks. Hospitals have been overstretched from upstate New York to New Mexico. Also read | Biden's Democracy Summit: 100+ nations invited, China & Russia see red after being left out The US has been ahead of other countries in booster shots, which it authorised in September and October for many Americans. Then on Oct. 29, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The daily rate of Americans getting their shots had been steadily climbing since the government widened eligibility and has soared since Thanksgiving, when the omicron variant was discovered. With dozens of mutations never before seen, omicron was named a variant of concern by the World Health Organization. Scientists have feared that the fast-spreading variant could evade the protection of vaccines. But on Wednesday, Pfizer and BioNTech said laboratory tests suggested that three doses of their coronavirus vaccine offered significant protection against omicron. The lab experiments don’t indicate with any certainty how the vaccines will perform in the real world, and scientists say it could take a month or more to understand the new variant’s threat. Many questions remain about omicron. There are early signs that it may cause only mild illness, although that observation was based mainly on cases in South Africa among young people, who are generally less likely to become severely ill from COVID-19. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that while the data is limited, “the disease is mild” in almost all of the U.S. cases recorded so far. Reported symptoms have mainly been cough, congestion and fatigue, and some cases have grown more severe over time, she said. Scientists are also waiting to see whether cases lead to more hospitalisations and deaths; both lag surges in infections by days or weeks. Broad mandates by President Joe Biden that had helped boost vaccination rates have been put on hold by courts. Americans who have resisted getting vaccinated can be grouped into two categories, as a New York Times report showed in July. Also read | Biden threatens Russia with 'severe sanctions' if Ukraine is attacked; US troops not to be involved In one are those who are adamant in their refusal; they include a mix of people but tend to be disproportionately white, rural, evangelical Christian and politically conservative, surveys show. In the other are those who are persuadable but say they have been putting off vaccination or want to wait and see before making a decision; they are a broad range of people but tend to be a more diverse and urban group, including many younger people, Black and Latino Americans, and Democrats. It’s this second group that health officials have made progress in inoculating, but surveys suggest they account for less than half of all unvaccinated adults in the United States.

Over 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated

In a rare incident, a 42-year-old Armenian multimedia artist, Narine Arakelian, is selling one of her reproductive eggs through an NFT. Not only this but she also expects the buyer to conceive a child with it. Her painting named Love, Hope, Live will also be auctioned off as a physical creation.&nbsp;

Whoever purchases the NFT will find an embedded&nbsp;piece of code that will link it to a contract, promising the buyer one of the artists' eggs.&nbsp;

The price of the NFT has not been revealed yet as the Armenian artist aims to sell it to the highest bidder.

While speaking to Page Six, the artist said, "It’s a beautiful act of creativity to give the gift of art and life. My artworks are all my children and the fact this one will actually produce a child is wonderful."

Arakelian further said that the will mean a lot to the buyer because it will bring them their child.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/12-year-old-boy-creates-digital-whale-art-makes-ps290000-by-selling-earned-non-fungible-tokens-408975">Also read |&nbsp;12-year-old boy creates digital whale art, makes £290,000 by selling earned non-fungible tokens &nbsp;</a>

Explaining the egg transaction, Arakelian told Fortune that the NFT will include a contract that will give the buyer and ownership of the egg. "Then when they want to collect, I will have a procedure and they will be given the egg,” Arakelian told Fortune.&nbsp; 
She further added that the procedure will be “fully supervised by doctors and experts.”

This is not the first time that artwork is being sold on NFT. Earlier in August, a 12-year-old boy earned about £290,000 after creating digital pictures of whales and selling tokens of their ownership.

During the school holidays, the collection of pixelated artworks called Weird Whales of the child, Benyamin Ahmed, had gone viral. &nbsp;

Child’s father Imran, who is a software developer, shared that the artwork is like “digital Pokémon cards”. Imran added, they had been a huge success because the collectors realised their historical significance.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a rare incident, a 42-year-old Armenian multimedia artist, Narine Arakelian, is selling one of her reproductive eggs through an NFT. Not only this but she also expects the buyer to conceive a child with it.

In a rare incident, a 42-year-old Armenian multimedia artist, Narine Arakelian, is selling one of her reproductive eggs through an NFT. Not only this but she also expects the buyer to conceive a child with it. Her painting named Love, Hope, Live will also be auctioned off as a physical creation. Whoever purchases the NFT will find an embedded piece of code that will link it to a contract, promising the buyer one of the artists' eggs. The price of the NFT has not been revealed yet as the Armenian artist aims to sell it to the highest bidder. While speaking to Page Six, the artist said, "It’s a beautiful act of creativity to give the gift of art and life. My artworks are all my children and the fact this one will actually produce a child is wonderful." Arakelian further said that the will mean a lot to the buyer because it will bring them their child. Also read | 12-year-old boy creates digital whale art, makes £290,000 by selling earned non-fungible tokens Explaining the egg transaction, Arakelian told Fortune that the NFT will include a contract that will give the buyer and ownership of the egg. "Then when they want to collect, I will have a procedure and they will be given the egg,” Arakelian told Fortune. She further added that the procedure will be “fully supervised by doctors and experts.” This is not the first time that artwork is being sold on NFT. Earlier in August, a 12-year-old boy earned about £290,000 after creating digital pictures of whales and selling tokens of their ownership. During the school holidays, the collection of pixelated artworks called Weird Whales of the child, Benyamin Ahmed, had gone viral. Child’s father Imran, who is a software developer, shared that the artwork is like “digital Pokémon cards”. Imran added, they had been a huge success because the collectors realised their historical significance. (With inputs from agencies)

This Armenian artist is auctioning one of her reproductive eggs through NFT

She is American. She is 21 and currently in jail. This- is her mugshot. What did Poolaw do? She lost her unborn child. Poolaw had a miscarriage. She was 15 to 17 weeks pregnant. For your information- manslaughter means murder. The United States has convicted a mother of murdering her unborn child. Apparently the united states thinks mothers are capable of such cruelty. It has already put Poolaw behind bars and now- the superpower is coming after more mothers.

United States convicts mother of murdering her unborn child

A Haitian man identifying himself as the leader of the gang that kidnapped a group of American and Canadian missionaries said in a video posted on YouTube on Thursday that he was willing to kill "these Americans" if he does not get what he needs.

The speaker in the video, dressed in a purple suit, is recognizable as the man known in Haiti by the alias Lamo Sanjou, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang that authorities say is behind the abduction of the missionaries at the weekend.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/haiti-gang-demands-17-million-ransom-for-kidnapped-missionaries-and-children-422157">&nbsp;Haiti gang demands $17 million ransom for kidnapped missionaries and children</a>

The sixteen Americans and one Canadian - including five children - were on a trip organized by the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries. The missionaries were not present in the video.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the veracity of the video or when it was made.

"If I don't find what I need, these Americans, I'd rather kill them all, and I'll unload a big gun in the head of each of them," said the man in the video.

Haitian Justice Minister Liszt Quitel told Reuters this week that the kidnappers were demanding $1 million per person for the release of the missionaries.

The missionaries' seizure has focused global attention on Haiti's dire kidnapping problem, which has worsened amid economic and political crises in the Caribbean nation that have led to spiraling violence.

The video includes footage of what appear to be five dead men laying in coffins, who the man described as "fallen soldiers," blaming their deaths on police chief Leon Charles.

"Leon Charles made me cry, gentlemen. When it was my turn, I cried my eyes out, and when I make you cry, I will make you cry tears of blood," he said.

Haitian media outlet Le Nouvelliste on Thursday said that Charles had presented his resignation. A Haitian police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The White House said on Thursday it would do all it could to help the missionaries. "We will do everything that we can to help resolve the situation," said White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

A senior State Department official told reporters that the video was legitimate.

"If you are a kidnapper, your job is to say those kind of things," the official said. "We need to work with our Haitian law enforcement partners and the families and the institutions to try and move this process forward to a safe resolution."

Kidnapping Epidemic

Christian Aid Ministries said it was aware of the video but would not comment until the hostage negotiators determined that any such remarks would not jeopardize the well-being of the group.

The 400 Mawozo began as small-time local thieves and rose to become one of Haiti's most feared gangs, controlling a swathe of countryside east of the capital Port-au-Prince, according to security experts.

Haitian gangs have steadily expanded their territory in recent years, and have grown more brazen since the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Their leaders - mostly notably Jimmy Cherizier, leader of a gang coalition called G9 - have taken on increasingly public roles, offering extensive interviews broadcast online and at times publicly threatening politicians.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/15-us-missionaries-and-family-kidnapped-in-haiti-security-source-421425">15 US missionaries and family kidnapped in Haiti: security source</a>

When Prime Minister Ariel Henry attempted on Sunday to lead a ceremony commemorating the death of one of Haiti's founding-fathers, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, gangs fired shots until his delegation withdrew to hold the ceremony elsewhere.

Cherizier, who goes by the alias 'Barbecue,' later emerged in a white suit and made a floral offering at the location of Dessalines' murder, taking the place of the prime minister

Fuel Protests

Widespread anger in Haiti over a weakening currency, double-digit inflation, soaring crime, and graft accusations lodged against public officials have sparked violent, sometimes deadly, protests.

Demonstrators on Thursday blocked streets of Port-au-Prince with rocks and tree branches, and burned tires to protest fuel shortages.

Drivers wound through the side streets of the capital, often forced to turn around after coming across barricades.

St Luc Lector, 26, a motorcycle driver in Petion-Ville, near the capital, said he joined the protest because he was angry about constantly searching for fuel.

"My motorcycle is my bread and butter," he said. "For months I have had to fight to find gasoline when I have to work. This strike is necessary because life is hard for us as motorcycle drivers."

A Haitian man identifying himself as the leader of the gang that kidnapped a group of American and Canadian missionaries said in a video posted on YouTube on Thursday that he was willing to kill "these Americans" if he does not get what he needs.

A Haitian man identifying himself as the leader of the gang that kidnapped a group of American and Canadian missionaries said in a video posted on YouTube on Thursday that he was willing to kill "these Americans" if he does not get what he needs. The speaker in the video, dressed in a purple suit, is recognizable as the man known in Haiti by the alias Lamo Sanjou, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang that authorities say is behind the abduction of the missionaries at the weekend. Also Read | Haiti gang demands $17 million ransom for kidnapped missionaries and children The sixteen Americans and one Canadian - including five children - were on a trip organized by the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries. The missionaries were not present in the video. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the veracity of the video or when it was made. "If I don't find what I need, these Americans, I'd rather kill them all, and I'll unload a big gun in the head of each of them," said the man in the video. Haitian Justice Minister Liszt Quitel told Reuters this week that the kidnappers were demanding $1 million per person for the release of the missionaries. The missionaries' seizure has focused global attention on Haiti's dire kidnapping problem, which has worsened amid economic and political crises in the Caribbean nation that have led to spiraling violence. The video includes footage of what appear to be five dead men laying in coffins, who the man described as "fallen soldiers," blaming their deaths on police chief Leon Charles. "Leon Charles made me cry, gentlemen. When it was my turn, I cried my eyes out, and when I make you cry, I will make you cry tears of blood," he said. Haitian media outlet Le Nouvelliste on Thursday said that Charles had presented his resignation. A Haitian police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House said on Thursday it would do all it could to help the missionaries. "We will do everything that we can to help resolve the situation," said White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. A senior State Department official told reporters that the video was legitimate. "If you are a kidnapper, your job is to say those kind of things," the official said. "We need to work with our Haitian law enforcement partners and the families and the institutions to try and move this process forward to a safe resolution." Kidnapping Epidemic Christian Aid Ministries said it was aware of the video but would not comment until the hostage negotiators determined that any such remarks would not jeopardize the well-being of the group. The 400 Mawozo began as small-time local thieves and rose to become one of Haiti's most feared gangs, controlling a swathe of countryside east of the capital Port-au-Prince, according to security experts. Haitian gangs have steadily expanded their territory in recent years, and have grown more brazen since the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Their leaders - mostly notably Jimmy Cherizier, leader of a gang coalition called G9 - have taken on increasingly public roles, offering extensive interviews broadcast online and at times publicly threatening politicians. Also Read | 15 US missionaries and family kidnapped in Haiti: security source When Prime Minister Ariel Henry attempted on Sunday to lead a ceremony commemorating the death of one of Haiti's founding-fathers, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, gangs fired shots until his delegation withdrew to hold the ceremony elsewhere. Cherizier, who goes by the alias 'Barbecue,' later emerged in a white suit and made a floral offering at the location of Dessalines' murder, taking the place of the prime minister Fuel Protests Widespread anger in Haiti over a weakening currency, double-digit inflation, soaring crime, and graft accusations lodged against public officials have sparked violent, sometimes deadly, protests. Demonstrators on Thursday blocked streets of Port-au-Prince with rocks and tree branches, and burned tires to protest fuel shortages. Drivers wound through the side streets of the capital, often forced to turn around after coming across barricades. St Luc Lector, 26, a motorcycle driver in Petion-Ville, near the capital, said he joined the protest because he was angry about constantly searching for fuel. "My motorcycle is my bread and butter," he said. "For months I have had to fight to find gasoline when I have to work. This strike is necessary because life is hard for us as motorcycle drivers."

Haiti gang leader threatens to kill kidnapped American missionaries

A Haitian gang kidnapped a group of American and Canadian missionaries is asking for r $1 million each - to release them, watch this report for more.

Haiti gang kidnaps group of American, Canadian missionaries

A poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs and the University of Chicago’s Pearson Institute has found that the majority of Americans are concerned about cyberattacks on critical groups, especially those in the financial and national security sectors.

The poll reveals that three-quarters of those surveyed are especially concerned about cyberattacks from the Russian and Chinese governments, while just over half were concerned about attacks from cybercriminal groups.&nbsp;

There were also concerns around attacks on financial institutions. Over 90 per cent of respondents are concerned about threats to their data as a result of these attacks.&nbsp;

Over 90 per cent of respondents are also similarly concerned about attacks on national security and defence systems, healthcare groups, and the electricity sector.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/capsule-from-1765-containing-air-reveal-facts-about-antarctic-ice-419895">Also read |&nbsp;Capsule from 1765 containing air reveal facts about Antarctic ice</a>

Sheila Kohanteb, the executive director of External Relations at the Pearson Institute, in a statement said, "The public is clearly worried about cyber-attacks, and many Americans see such attacks as a potential result of international conflict."

“The survey results show Americans are far more concerned about cyber-attacks from China and Russia than those from other governments, groups, or individuals.”&nbsp;

The poll concludes that 75 per cent of respondents over the age of 60 were concerned about cyberattacks, while less than half of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 were concerned about the same.

Older adults were also more concerned about attacks from the Russian or Chinese governments than younger adults

The poll was conducted over a week in September, with over 1,000 US adults responding via online survey or phone interview.&nbsp;

A poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs and the University of Chicago’s Pearson Institute has found that the majority of Americans are concerned about cyberattacks on critical groups, especially those in the financial and national security sectors.

A poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs and the University of Chicago’s Pearson Institute has found that the majority of Americans are concerned about cyberattacks on critical groups, especially those in the financial and national security sectors. The poll reveals that three-quarters of those surveyed are especially concerned about cyberattacks from the Russian and Chinese governments, while just over half were concerned about attacks from cybercriminal groups. There were also concerns around attacks on financial institutions. Over 90 per cent of respondents are concerned about threats to their data as a result of these attacks. Over 90 per cent of respondents are also similarly concerned about attacks on national security and defence systems, healthcare groups, and the electricity sector. Also read | Capsule from 1765 containing air reveal facts about Antarctic ice Sheila Kohanteb, the executive director of External Relations at the Pearson Institute, in a statement said, "The public is clearly worried about cyber-attacks, and many Americans see such attacks as a potential result of international conflict." “The survey results show Americans are far more concerned about cyber-attacks from China and Russia than those from other governments, groups, or individuals.” The poll concludes that 75 per cent of respondents over the age of 60 were concerned about cyberattacks, while less than half of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 were concerned about the same. Older adults were also more concerned about attacks from the Russian or Chinese governments than younger adults The poll was conducted over a week in September, with over 1,000 US adults responding via online survey or phone interview.

Most Americans concerned about cyberattacks on critical groups, reveals poll

Bangladeshi American Delowar Mohammed Hossain, who was stopped by US law enforcement as he was about to fly out to join the Taliban, has been convicted on charges of trying to help the terrorist organisation that now controls Afghanistan.

A jury in the New York federal court found him guilty on Friday of trying to contribute funds, goods and services to the Taliban as well as attempting to provide support for terrorism.

Hossain, 36, came to the US from Bangladesh and is now an American citizen.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ghanis-ex-bodyguard-ready-to-give-proof-of-ex-president-fleeing-with-bags-of-cash-419575">Ghani's ex-bodyguard ready to give proof of ex-president fleeing with bags of cash</a>

He was arrested in 2019 as he was about to board a plane in New York bound for Thailand en route to Pakistan.

The complaint filed by officials said that he had planned to fly first to Thailand rather than directly to Pakistan in order to throw off suspicions about where he was headed.

A court allowed him last year to be detained at home as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country.

The trial lasted about a week and the jury, a panel made up of ordinary citizens that render verdicts in the US, reached convicted him after deliberating for two days after the close of testimony and arguments.

At the time of his arrest, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) New York office, William Sweeney, said: "The lure of radical ideologies comes from many sources, and just because the Taliban may seem like an old and out of vogue extremist group, it shouldn't be underestimated."

It has since become powerful enough to take over Afghanistan as the US withdrew its troops from there.

According to the complaint filed in a federal court, Hossain tried to recruit an FBI "confidential source" to travel with him to Pakistan and cross into Afghanistan to join the Taliban.

The complaint said that Hossain told the source he wanted to "fight the American government, and kill some kufars (non-believers) before I die".

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dont-try-to-destabilise-regime-taliban-warns-us-in-first-face-to-face-talks-after-withdrawal-419514">Don't try to 'destabilise' regime, Taliban warns US in first face-to-face talks after withdrawal</a>

He bought communication equipment and trekking gear for his mission and asked the source to save money to buy arms.

There have been several cases of people of Bangladeshi descent arrested on terrorism charges or convicted of terrorism-related offences.

A couple from Pennsylvania, Shahidul Gaffar and Nabila Khan, were sentenced last month after being convicted of conspiring to give material support to the Islamic State terror organisation.

Gaffar received a sentence of 18 months and Khan two years.

According to the prosecutors, Khan had her gold in Bangladesh sold to help a brother go to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS) terror group in 2015.

Gaffar sent money to enable another of her brothers to travel to Syria to enlist in the group in 2015. That brother was killed there in March 2019, according to prosecutors.

Akayed Ullah, a supporter of the IS, was sentenced to life in prison in April after having been convicted on terrorism charges.

He had been arrested in 2017 when a pipe bomb he was carrying exploded in a tunnel under Times Square in New York injuring him.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/he-smashed-the-idol-of-somnath-taliban-leader-anas-haqqani-praises-mahmud-ghaznavi-418613">'He smashed the idol of Somnath': Taliban leader Anas Haqqani praises Mahmud Ghaznavi</a>

After his conviction he told the court he was not an IS supporter but was only angry with then-President Donald Trump.

Ashiqul Alam was arrested in June 2019 in connection with a plot to shoot up Times Square.

Rahatul Ashikim Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2015 after being convicted of aiding terrorist organisations. He had been "screening and recruiting potential foreign fighters located in the US to wage violent jihad in various locations overseas, including Somalia", according to federal prosecutors in Texas.

The terror groups he was involved with were the Taliban, al-Shabaab and the Islamic State.

Al Qaeda supporter Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis was sentenced to years in prison in 2013 after being convicted in a failed plot to blow up the New York Federal Reserve Bank in 2012.

The attack failed because the undercover agent he had contacted gave him a fake bomb.

Bangladeshi American Delowar Mohammed Hossain, who was stopped by US law enforcement as he was about to fly out to join the Taliban, has been convicted on charges of trying to help the terrorist organisation that now controls Afghanistan.

Bangladeshi American Delowar Mohammed Hossain, who was stopped by US law enforcement as he was about to fly out to join the Taliban, has been convicted on charges of trying to help the terrorist organisation that now controls Afghanistan. A jury in the New York federal court found him guilty on Friday of trying to contribute funds, goods and services to the Taliban as well as attempting to provide support for terrorism. Hossain, 36, came to the US from Bangladesh and is now an American citizen. Also Read | Ghani's ex-bodyguard ready to give proof of ex-president fleeing with bags of cash He was arrested in 2019 as he was about to board a plane in New York bound for Thailand en route to Pakistan. The complaint filed by officials said that he had planned to fly first to Thailand rather than directly to Pakistan in order to throw off suspicions about where he was headed. A court allowed him last year to be detained at home as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country. The trial lasted about a week and the jury, a panel made up of ordinary citizens that render verdicts in the US, reached convicted him after deliberating for two days after the close of testimony and arguments. At the time of his arrest, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) New York office, William Sweeney, said: "The lure of radical ideologies comes from many sources, and just because the Taliban may seem like an old and out of vogue extremist group, it shouldn't be underestimated." It has since become powerful enough to take over Afghanistan as the US withdrew its troops from there. According to the complaint filed in a federal court, Hossain tried to recruit an FBI "confidential source" to travel with him to Pakistan and cross into Afghanistan to join the Taliban. The complaint said that Hossain told the source he wanted to "fight the American government, and kill some kufars (non-believers) before I die". Also Read | Don't try to 'destabilise' regime, Taliban warns US in first face-to-face talks after withdrawal He bought communication equipment and trekking gear for his mission and asked the source to save money to buy arms. There have been several cases of people of Bangladeshi descent arrested on terrorism charges or convicted of terrorism-related offences. A couple from Pennsylvania, Shahidul Gaffar and Nabila Khan, were sentenced last month after being convicted of conspiring to give material support to the Islamic State terror organisation. Gaffar received a sentence of 18 months and Khan two years. According to the prosecutors, Khan had her gold in Bangladesh sold to help a brother go to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS) terror group in 2015. Gaffar sent money to enable another of her brothers to travel to Syria to enlist in the group in 2015. That brother was killed there in March 2019, according to prosecutors. Akayed Ullah, a supporter of the IS, was sentenced to life in prison in April after having been convicted on terrorism charges. He had been arrested in 2017 when a pipe bomb he was carrying exploded in a tunnel under Times Square in New York injuring him. Also Read | 'He smashed the idol of Somnath': Taliban leader Anas Haqqani praises Mahmud Ghaznavi After his conviction he told the court he was not an IS supporter but was only angry with then-President Donald Trump. Ashiqul Alam was arrested in June 2019 in connection with a plot to shoot up Times Square. Rahatul Ashikim Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2015 after being convicted of aiding terrorist organisations. He had been "screening and recruiting potential foreign fighters located in the US to wage violent jihad in various locations overseas, including Somalia", according to federal prosecutors in Texas. The terror groups he was involved with were the Taliban, al-Shabaab and the Islamic State. Al Qaeda supporter Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis was sentenced to years in prison in 2013 after being convicted in a failed plot to blow up the New York Federal Reserve Bank in 2012. The attack failed because the undercover agent he had contacted gave him a fake bomb.

Bangladeshi American convicted on charge of trying to aid Taliban

China has allowed two American siblings who were barred from leaving the country for more than three years to return to the United States, after a Justice Department deal that cleared the way for a senior executive of Huawei Technologies to go back to China, their lawyer said Monday.

The release of Victor Liu, a student at Georgetown University, and Cynthia Liu, a consultant at McKinsey &amp;amp; Co., was the latest in a series of moves that appeared intended to de-escalate tensions between the United States and China after the Huawei deal. The two had never been accused of wrongdoing but were subject to an “exit ban” preventing them from leaving China.

Their release over the weekend coincided with an agreement Friday to release the executive, Meng Wanzhou, who spent nearly three years out on bail at her two luxurious homes in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the United States sought her extradition in a fraud case related to Huawei’s sale of telecommunications equipment to Iran.

Meng arrived in China on Saturday.

Within hours, China released two Canadians whom it had held since shortly after Meng was detained, and who had appeared to be jailed as hostages to Meng’s case. The exchange led national security experts to worry that China had created the impression it would use hostages to gain the upper hand in diplomatic and national security matters.

The release of the two Americans on Saturday, the day after Meng’s deal was announced, will most likely strengthen that impression.

The Justice Department said in a statement Monday that it did not cut a deal with Meng in response to the detention of Canadian and U.S. citizens. “The Justice Department reached the decision to offer a deferred prosecution agreement with Ms. Meng independently, based on the facts and the law, and an assessment of litigation risk,” Anthony Coley, a Justice Department spokesman, said in a statement.

The White House pushed back Monday on the idea that China had used hostages to strengthen its negotiating position. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said that the deal with Meng was an action by “an independent Department of Justice,” and that her legal situation was not resolved to get prisoners released.

“I think it’s important to note, and to be very clear about this, there is no link,” Psaki said, referring to the release of the Canadians and the settlement with Meng. She said the White House had made no secret that it wanted the Canadians released.

The siblings went to China in June 2018 to visit their ailing grandfather. On the trip, their mother, also an American citizen, was detained by the police and the siblings were barred from leaving the country. Their father, Liu Changming, a former executive at a Chinese bank, was wanted by the Chinese police for his role in a fraud case. The exit ban, and the jailing of their mother, was seen as a way to coerce their father to return to China and turn himself in.

While the Biden administration said there was no deal tying the resolution of Meng’s case to the release of the siblings, their prolonged detention in China appeared to be related to Meng’s arrest in December 2018, said Evan Medeiros, a professor at Georgetown University who was senior Asia director at the National Security Council under President Barack Obama.

In late 2018, President Donald Trump had raised the issue of Victor and Cynthia Liu’s release at a summit in Argentina with President Xi Jinping of China, and Xi had agreed to let them leave, said Medeiros, who was involved in efforts to release the siblings. But on the day the summit ended, Meng was taken into custody in Canada, and the agreement was off.

“There appears to have been a de facto linkage for China,” Medeiros said in a telephone interview.

U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that exit bans of U.S. citizens were a major concern. In its advisory for U.S. citizens thinking of going to China, the State Department singles them out as a risk. Often people find out that they are blocked only when they try to leave, states the advisory, “and there is no reliable mechanism or legal process to find out how long the ban might continue or to contest it in a court of law.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed senior Chinese officials about exit bans during talks in Anchorage, Alaska, in March, and raised cases of Americans trapped in exit bans during a phone call with China’s top foreign policy official, Yang Jiechi, in June.

When the deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, visited China for talks in July, she “raised the cases of American and Canadian citizens” detained in China or held under exit bans, and told Chinese officials that “people are not bargaining chips,” the State Department said at the time.

Last month, Sherman held a meeting in Washington with China’s recently arrived ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, and “reviewed issues” from her earlier talks in China, the State Department said.

The siblings’ lawyer, Marc Ginsberg, credited their release in part to a Sept. 9 phone call between President Joe Biden and Xi. “I’m sure the president’s call with President Xi helped to break a logjam,” said Ginsberg, a former U.S. ambassador to Morocco who has been working pro bono for Victor and Cynthia Liu.

In a telephone interview, he said Victor and Cynthia Liu would have no comment for the news media.

For its part, the Chinese government also denied a trade-off Monday between Meng and the two Canadians, and did not mention any releases from exit bans.

The Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, were allowed to return to Canada after receiving medical bail, Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, told a regular news briefing in Beijing. She said Meng was the real victim, not them.

“The Meng Wanzhou incident is completely different in essence from the two Canadians’ cases,” she said. “As for the timing, I want to point out that the groundless detention of Meng Wanzhou is a serious mistake made by the U.S. and Canada, which they should have corrected long ago.”

The siblings’ case had been brought up with China by other U.S. officials, and Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, both Democrats of Massachusetts, had also pushed for their release, as had Georgetown University, Ginsberg said.

In a joint statement hailing their release, Markey and Warren confirmed that senior State Department officials — including Blinken and Sherman — had pressed their case.

“We are so pleased to welcome Cynthia and Victor Liu back home after three difficult years being held in China as pawns for the Chinese government,” the lawmakers said. “Cynthia and Victor had their young lives completely upended.”

Unlike the Canadians, who were held for nearly three years in a Chinese prison in apparent retaliation for Meng being unable to leave Canada, Victor and Cynthia Liu were not accused of crimes and were not in custody. They lived in a rented apartment in Shanghai, and Victor Liu continued his studies at Georgetown remotely, Ginsberg said.

Their mother, Sandra Han, remains in jail, Ginsberg said.

Victor and Cynthia Liu arrived in the United States on Saturday and are staying in the New York area. They grew up in Massachusetts.

“We have awaited this moment with great anticipation,” John J. DeGioia, the president of Georgetown University, said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming Victor back to campus.”

China has allowed two American siblings who were barred from leaving the country for more than three years to return to the United States, after a Justice Department deal that cleared the way for a senior executive of Huawei Technologies to go back to China, their lawyer said Monday.

China has allowed two American siblings who were barred from leaving the country for more than three years to return to the United States, after a Justice Department deal that cleared the way for a senior executive of Huawei Technologies to go back to China, their lawyer said Monday. The release of Victor Liu, a student at Georgetown University, and Cynthia Liu, a consultant at McKinsey &amp; Co., was the latest in a series of moves that appeared intended to de-escalate tensions between the United States and China after the Huawei deal. The two had never been accused of wrongdoing but were subject to an “exit ban” preventing them from leaving China. Their release over the weekend coincided with an agreement Friday to release the executive, Meng Wanzhou, who spent nearly three years out on bail at her two luxurious homes in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the United States sought her extradition in a fraud case related to Huawei’s sale of telecommunications equipment to Iran. Meng arrived in China on Saturday. Within hours, China released two Canadians whom it had held since shortly after Meng was detained, and who had appeared to be jailed as hostages to Meng’s case. The exchange led national security experts to worry that China had created the impression it would use hostages to gain the upper hand in diplomatic and national security matters. The release of the two Americans on Saturday, the day after Meng’s deal was announced, will most likely strengthen that impression. The Justice Department said in a statement Monday that it did not cut a deal with Meng in response to the detention of Canadian and U.S. citizens. “The Justice Department reached the decision to offer a deferred prosecution agreement with Ms. Meng independently, based on the facts and the law, and an assessment of litigation risk,” Anthony Coley, a Justice Department spokesman, said in a statement. The White House pushed back Monday on the idea that China had used hostages to strengthen its negotiating position. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said that the deal with Meng was an action by “an independent Department of Justice,” and that her legal situation was not resolved to get prisoners released. “I think it’s important to note, and to be very clear about this, there is no link,” Psaki said, referring to the release of the Canadians and the settlement with Meng. She said the White House had made no secret that it wanted the Canadians released. The siblings went to China in June 2018 to visit their ailing grandfather. On the trip, their mother, also an American citizen, was detained by the police and the siblings were barred from leaving the country. Their father, Liu Changming, a former executive at a Chinese bank, was wanted by the Chinese police for his role in a fraud case. The exit ban, and the jailing of their mother, was seen as a way to coerce their father to return to China and turn himself in. While the Biden administration said there was no deal tying the resolution of Meng’s case to the release of the siblings, their prolonged detention in China appeared to be related to Meng’s arrest in December 2018, said Evan Medeiros, a professor at Georgetown University who was senior Asia director at the National Security Council under President Barack Obama. In late 2018, President Donald Trump had raised the issue of Victor and Cynthia Liu’s release at a summit in Argentina with President Xi Jinping of China, and Xi had agreed to let them leave, said Medeiros, who was involved in efforts to release the siblings. But on the day the summit ended, Meng was taken into custody in Canada, and the agreement was off. “There appears to have been a de facto linkage for China,” Medeiros said in a telephone interview. U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that exit bans of U.S. citizens were a major concern. In its advisory for U.S. citizens thinking of going to China, the State Department singles them out as a risk. Often people find out that they are blocked only when they try to leave, states the advisory, “and there is no reliable mechanism or legal process to find out how long the ban might continue or to contest it in a court of law.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed senior Chinese officials about exit bans during talks in Anchorage, Alaska, in March, and raised cases of Americans trapped in exit bans during a phone call with China’s top foreign policy official, Yang Jiechi, in June. When the deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, visited China for talks in July, she “raised the cases of American and Canadian citizens” detained in China or held under exit bans, and told Chinese officials that “people are not bargaining chips,” the State Department said at the time. Last month, Sherman held a meeting in Washington with China’s recently arrived ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, and “reviewed issues” from her earlier talks in China, the State Department said. The siblings’ lawyer, Marc Ginsberg, credited their release in part to a Sept. 9 phone call between President Joe Biden and Xi. “I’m sure the president’s call with President Xi helped to break a logjam,” said Ginsberg, a former U.S. ambassador to Morocco who has been working pro bono for Victor and Cynthia Liu. In a telephone interview, he said Victor and Cynthia Liu would have no comment for the news media. For its part, the Chinese government also denied a trade-off Monday between Meng and the two Canadians, and did not mention any releases from exit bans. The Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, were allowed to return to Canada after receiving medical bail, Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, told a regular news briefing in Beijing. She said Meng was the real victim, not them. “The Meng Wanzhou incident is completely different in essence from the two Canadians’ cases,” she said. “As for the timing, I want to point out that the groundless detention of Meng Wanzhou is a serious mistake made by the U.S. and Canada, which they should have corrected long ago.” The siblings’ case had been brought up with China by other U.S. officials, and Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, both Democrats of Massachusetts, had also pushed for their release, as had Georgetown University, Ginsberg said. In a joint statement hailing their release, Markey and Warren confirmed that senior State Department officials — including Blinken and Sherman — had pressed their case. “We are so pleased to welcome Cynthia and Victor Liu back home after three difficult years being held in China as pawns for the Chinese government,” the lawmakers said. “Cynthia and Victor had their young lives completely upended.” Unlike the Canadians, who were held for nearly three years in a Chinese prison in apparent retaliation for Meng being unable to leave Canada, Victor and Cynthia Liu were not accused of crimes and were not in custody. They lived in a rented apartment in Shanghai, and Victor Liu continued his studies at Georgetown remotely, Ginsberg said. Their mother, Sandra Han, remains in jail, Ginsberg said. Victor and Cynthia Liu arrived in the United States on Saturday and are staying in the New York area. They grew up in Massachusetts. “We have awaited this moment with great anticipation,” John J. DeGioia, the president of Georgetown University, said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming Victor back to campus.”

American siblings barred from leaving China for 3 years return to US

Danny Fenster, an American journalist who was arrested in May as he prepared to leave Myanmar, was ordered Monday to remain in prison as police investigate a vague accusation that he disseminated information that could be harmful to the military.

The court hearing marked his 120th day in custody. Fenster is the only American known to be under arrest in Myanmar and has become an international symbol of the military junta’s crackdown on free expression.

No formal charge has been filed against the Detroit native. No evidence has been presented against him at any of his eight court appearances, which are conducted by video and last only a few minutes. He is not permitted to speak or ask questions and has rarely met with his attorney since his arrest May 24.

Fenster, managing editor of Frontier Myanmar magazine, is accused of disseminating information that might induce military officers to disregard or fail in their duties, a charge often brought against journalists in the Southeast Asian nation. He faces three years in prison.

The Biden administration, Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Frontier Myanmar and Fenster’s family have called for his release.

“The detention of Danny Fenster and other journalists constitutes an unacceptable attack on freedom of expression in Burma,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier this month, using the country’s former name. “We continue to press Burma’s military regime to release Danny immediately.”

Myanmar’s military, which had shared power with civilian governments for a decade, seized control in a Feb. 1 coup, triggering widespread street protests and a nationwide general strike. Troops and police have killed more than 1,100 people and imprisoned 6,600, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an advocacy group.

The junta has arrested more than 100 journalists since February, and 47 remain in custody, according to a media group that is tracking arrests. Four of those arrested have been foreign journalists: two from the United States, one from Japan and one from Poland.

All but Fenster have been deported, including Nathan Maung, an American citizen and co-founder of Kamayut Media, an online news site. While in custody, Maung and his co-founder, Hanthar Nyein, were severely beaten, burned and forced to kneel on ice with their hands cuffed behind them, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-urges-immediate-us-action-on-migration-causes-414538">Also read |&nbsp;Mexico urges immediate US action on migration causes</a>

Fenster and his wife, Juliana, had been married less than seven weeks when he was arrested at Yangon International Airport as he prepared to leave the country. She has remained in Myanmar to work for his release but has been given limited access to him.

Fenster is being held at the notorious Insein Prison. COVID-19 swept through the institution earlier this year, and Fenster appears to have caught it. He lost his sense of taste and smell and suffered chest congestion, among other symptoms, but was never tested. He has since largely recovered, his family said.

He has seldom been allowed to have visitors, and his communications with family and the United States embassy have been limited. His lawyer, Than Zaw Aung, said he last met his client in person July 15 and that Fenster has never received a COVID vaccine. During Monday’s video hearing, Fenster looked tired, the lawyer said.

Fenster’s elder brother, Bryan, spoke with him in a rare phone call last week and said that he remained positive.

“He is making the best of it, and he has a great attitude,” Bryan Fenster said, adding, “but he has no idea of what is going on in his case.”

Danny Fenster, 37, arrived in Myanmar in 2019 and worked for three of the top English-language news organizations there, most recently at Frontier. He oversaw the English versions of stories for the print magazine and online, his brother said.

The regime’s decision to arrest Fenster appears to have stemmed from his previous employment at Myanmar Now, another online news outlet, even though he left that job nearly a year before starting work at Frontier.

Myanmar Now and its editor-in-chief, Swe Win, have long been targets of the military because of the outlet’s tough investigative reporting. Swe Win left the country after he was wounded in a 2019 assassination attempt.

Swe Win said the regime may have pursued Fenster because he helped report on a Myanmar Now story last year that highlighted the military’s business partnership with Japanese companies in developing a $330 million luxury hotel and office complex on military-owned land near downtown Yangon.

“I believe that Danny’s name was on the arrest list because he worked on that story,” Swe Win said.

A complaint letter filed with the court shows that police mistakenly believed Fenster still worked for Myanmar Now at the time of his arrest, Frontier reported.

Swe Win praised Fenster’s dedication to journalism.

“Danny is interested in Myanmar news and has a strong passion for his professional work,” he said. “He is also humble and always gets along well with his co-workers. He is a good colleague.”

Bryan Fenster said the family hoped the regime would bring formal charges, which could pave the way for his deportation.

“We just want him to go back into court so they can go through their process,” Bryan Fenster said. “The sooner they can go through the process the sooner they can deport him.”

The US Embassy in Yangon is attempting to secure Danny Fenster’s release but has little leverage with the military regime. An embassy spokesman said the State Department is seeking regular contact with Fenster and last spoke with him a week ago.

Fenster earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Wayne State University and worked for news outlets in Detroit and Louisiana before moving to Myanmar. “We always joke in our family that he’s kind of like a tumbleweed,” his brother said. “He establishes roots in one place, and then he is off somewhere else.”

The Fenster brothers, grandsons of Holocaust survivors, volunteered in the mid-2000s to assist refugees in Chicago and were assigned to help a family from Myanmar. That may have helped inspire Fenster’s decision to live there, his brother said.

“Danny is a human being who, in his essence, is hard-wired to care and learn about other human beings,” he said. “In that same spirit of human kindness, we are hoping and expecting that he will be released and reunited with his family and loved ones at home.”

Danny Fenster, an American journalist who was arrested in May as he prepared to leave Myanmar, was ordered Monday to remain in prison as police investigate a vague accusation that he disseminated information that could be harmful to the military.

Danny Fenster, an American journalist who was arrested in May as he prepared to leave Myanmar, was ordered Monday to remain in prison as police investigate a vague accusation that he disseminated information that could be harmful to the military. The court hearing marked his 120th day in custody. Fenster is the only American known to be under arrest in Myanmar and has become an international symbol of the military junta’s crackdown on free expression. No formal charge has been filed against the Detroit native. No evidence has been presented against him at any of his eight court appearances, which are conducted by video and last only a few minutes. He is not permitted to speak or ask questions and has rarely met with his attorney since his arrest May 24. Fenster, managing editor of Frontier Myanmar magazine, is accused of disseminating information that might induce military officers to disregard or fail in their duties, a charge often brought against journalists in the Southeast Asian nation. He faces three years in prison. The Biden administration, Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Frontier Myanmar and Fenster’s family have called for his release. “The detention of Danny Fenster and other journalists constitutes an unacceptable attack on freedom of expression in Burma,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier this month, using the country’s former name. “We continue to press Burma’s military regime to release Danny immediately.” Myanmar’s military, which had shared power with civilian governments for a decade, seized control in a Feb. 1 coup, triggering widespread street protests and a nationwide general strike. Troops and police have killed more than 1,100 people and imprisoned 6,600, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an advocacy group. The junta has arrested more than 100 journalists since February, and 47 remain in custody, according to a media group that is tracking arrests. Four of those arrested have been foreign journalists: two from the United States, one from Japan and one from Poland. All but Fenster have been deported, including Nathan Maung, an American citizen and co-founder of Kamayut Media, an online news site. While in custody, Maung and his co-founder, Hanthar Nyein, were severely beaten, burned and forced to kneel on ice with their hands cuffed behind them, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Also read | Mexico urges immediate US action on migration causes Fenster and his wife, Juliana, had been married less than seven weeks when he was arrested at Yangon International Airport as he prepared to leave the country. She has remained in Myanmar to work for his release but has been given limited access to him. Fenster is being held at the notorious Insein Prison. COVID-19 swept through the institution earlier this year, and Fenster appears to have caught it. He lost his sense of taste and smell and suffered chest congestion, among other symptoms, but was never tested. He has since largely recovered, his family said. He has seldom been allowed to have visitors, and his communications with family and the United States embassy have been limited. His lawyer, Than Zaw Aung, said he last met his client in person July 15 and that Fenster has never received a COVID vaccine. During Monday’s video hearing, Fenster looked tired, the lawyer said. Fenster’s elder brother, Bryan, spoke with him in a rare phone call last week and said that he remained positive. “He is making the best of it, and he has a great attitude,” Bryan Fenster said, adding, “but he has no idea of what is going on in his case.” Danny Fenster, 37, arrived in Myanmar in 2019 and worked for three of the top English-language news organizations there, most recently at Frontier. He oversaw the English versions of stories for the print magazine and online, his brother said. The regime’s decision to arrest Fenster appears to have stemmed from his previous employment at Myanmar Now, another online news outlet, even though he left that job nearly a year before starting work at Frontier. Myanmar Now and its editor-in-chief, Swe Win, have long been targets of the military because of the outlet’s tough investigative reporting. Swe Win left the country after he was wounded in a 2019 assassination attempt. Swe Win said the regime may have pursued Fenster because he helped report on a Myanmar Now story last year that highlighted the military’s business partnership with Japanese companies in developing a $330 million luxury hotel and office complex on military-owned land near downtown Yangon. “I believe that Danny’s name was on the arrest list because he worked on that story,” Swe Win said. A complaint letter filed with the court shows that police mistakenly believed Fenster still worked for Myanmar Now at the time of his arrest, Frontier reported. Swe Win praised Fenster’s dedication to journalism. “Danny is interested in Myanmar news and has a strong passion for his professional work,” he said. “He is also humble and always gets along well with his co-workers. He is a good colleague.” Bryan Fenster said the family hoped the regime would bring formal charges, which could pave the way for his deportation. “We just want him to go back into court so they can go through their process,” Bryan Fenster said. “The sooner they can go through the process the sooner they can deport him.” The US Embassy in Yangon is attempting to secure Danny Fenster’s release but has little leverage with the military regime. An embassy spokesman said the State Department is seeking regular contact with Fenster and last spoke with him a week ago. Fenster earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Wayne State University and worked for news outlets in Detroit and Louisiana before moving to Myanmar. “We always joke in our family that he’s kind of like a tumbleweed,” his brother said. “He establishes roots in one place, and then he is off somewhere else.” The Fenster brothers, grandsons of Holocaust survivors, volunteered in the mid-2000s to assist refugees in Chicago and were assigned to help a family from Myanmar. That may have helped inspire Fenster’s decision to live there, his brother said. “Danny is a human being who, in his essence, is hard-wired to care and learn about other human beings,” he said. “In that same spirit of human kindness, we are hoping and expecting that he will be released and reunited with his family and loved ones at home.”

An American journalist sits in prison as Myanmar suppresses dissent

California experienced its hottest summer on record this year as the climate crisis caused deadly heatwaves and intense wildfires in the state and across the western parts of America.&nbsp;

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah, totalling 18.4 per cent of the contiguous US also endured record hot summers.&nbsp;

Sixteen other states recorded a top-five warmest summer.

Across the lower 48 states, the average temperature in June, July and August was 76F, 2.6F above average.

This slightly exceeds that of the Dust Bowl summer of 1936.

The west faced historic heatwaves this summer, with cities across the typically cool Pacific north-west hitting their highest temperatures on record.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-drone-strike-may-have-killed-aid-worker-children-and-not-isis-k-militants-reports-412228">Also read |&nbsp;US drone strike may have killed aid worker, children, and not ISIS-K militants: Reports</a>

Early summer heatwave killed hundreds of people in Oregon and Washington.

Also, nearly 500 people in Canada’s westernmost province lost their lives. Experts also warned that the heat had probably also killed more than 1 billion marine animals along Canada’s Pacific coast.

In the US, the heat strained the power grid and forced schools, businesses, outdoor pools, COVID-19 testing sites and mobile vaccination units to close.&nbsp;

A detailed scientific analysis has revealed that the heatwave would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change.

Thom Porter, the Cal Fire chief, last month said, "There is fire activity happening in California that we have never seen before. The critical thing for the public to know is evacuate early".&nbsp;

He further added, "Every acre can and will burn someday in this state.”

California experienced its hottest summer on record this year as the climate crisis caused deadly heatwaves and intense wildfires in the state and across the western parts of America.

California experienced its hottest summer on record this year as the climate crisis caused deadly heatwaves and intense wildfires in the state and across the western parts of America. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah, totalling 18.4 per cent of the contiguous US also endured record hot summers. Sixteen other states recorded a top-five warmest summer. Across the lower 48 states, the average temperature in June, July and August was 76F, 2.6F above average. This slightly exceeds that of the Dust Bowl summer of 1936. The west faced historic heatwaves this summer, with cities across the typically cool Pacific north-west hitting their highest temperatures on record. Also read | US drone strike may have killed aid worker, children, and not ISIS-K militants: Reports Early summer heatwave killed hundreds of people in Oregon and Washington. Also, nearly 500 people in Canada’s westernmost province lost their lives. Experts also warned that the heat had probably also killed more than 1 billion marine animals along Canada’s Pacific coast. In the US, the heat strained the power grid and forced schools, businesses, outdoor pools, COVID-19 testing sites and mobile vaccination units to close. A detailed scientific analysis has revealed that the heatwave would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. Thom Porter, the Cal Fire chief, last month said, "There is fire activity happening in California that we have never seen before. The critical thing for the public to know is evacuate early". He further added, "Every acre can and will burn someday in this state.”

States across American west see hottest summer on record

According to a US official, 200 Americans and other foreigners who remain in Afghanistan will leave the war-torn country on charter planes from Kabul on Thursday after the new Taliban leadership consented to their evacuation.

The flights will be among the first international flights to exit Kabul airport since Islamist militias seized control of the capital in mid-August, sparking a chaotic US-led evacuation of 124,000 foreigners and at-risk Afghans.&nbsp;

The action comes just two days after the Taliban proclaimed an interim government made up mostly of ethnic Pashtun men, including wanted terror suspects and Islamist hardliners, crushing international hopes for a more moderate government. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-use-whips-and-sticks-on-afghan-women-protesting-the-all-male-government-411861">Also read | Taliban use whips and sticks on Afghan women protesting the all-male government</a> 
 
According to a US official who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, the Taliban were pressured to accept the travel of US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad.

The official could not tell whether the American civilians and other foreign nationals were among those who had been stranded for days in Mazar-i-ShariI, in northern Afghanistan, since their private charters had been denied permission to exit.&nbsp;

The Taliban's introduction of a new government on Tuesday was generally interpreted as a hint that they were not aiming to widen their base and project a more tolerant image to the world, as they had promised before their military takeover. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-brutally-flog-and-torture-afghan-journalists-for-covering-womens-protests-411832">Also read | Taliban brutally flog and torture Afghan journalists for covering women's protests</a>

On Wednesday, foreign countries greeted the interim administration with caution and dismay.

Dozens of women took to the streets in Kabul to protest.

Many critics urged the leadership to uphold basic human rights and resuscitate the economy, which is on the verge of collapse due to high inflation, food shortages, and the threat of foreign aid cuts as countries strive to isolate the Taliban.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

According to a US official, 200 Americans and other foreigners who remain in Afghanistan will leave the war-torn country on charter planes from Kabul on Thursday after the new Taliban leadership consented to their evacuation.

According to a US official, 200 Americans and other foreigners who remain in Afghanistan will leave the war-torn country on charter planes from Kabul on Thursday after the new Taliban leadership consented to their evacuation. The flights will be among the first international flights to exit Kabul airport since Islamist militias seized control of the capital in mid-August, sparking a chaotic US-led evacuation of 124,000 foreigners and at-risk Afghans. The action comes just two days after the Taliban proclaimed an interim government made up mostly of ethnic Pashtun men, including wanted terror suspects and Islamist hardliners, crushing international hopes for a more moderate government. Also read | Taliban use whips and sticks on Afghan women protesting the all-male government According to a US official who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, the Taliban were pressured to accept the travel of US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad. The official could not tell whether the American civilians and other foreign nationals were among those who had been stranded for days in Mazar-i-ShariI, in northern Afghanistan, since their private charters had been denied permission to exit. The Taliban's introduction of a new government on Tuesday was generally interpreted as a hint that they were not aiming to widen their base and project a more tolerant image to the world, as they had promised before their military takeover. Also read | Taliban brutally flog and torture Afghan journalists for covering women's protests On Wednesday, foreign countries greeted the interim administration with caution and dismay. Dozens of women took to the streets in Kabul to protest. Many critics urged the leadership to uphold basic human rights and resuscitate the economy, which is on the verge of collapse due to high inflation, food shortages, and the threat of foreign aid cuts as countries strive to isolate the Taliban. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban agree to evacuation of 200 Americans, other foreigners from Afghanistan

Top American Senators, including Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Mark Warner, along with astronaut Sunita Williams on Friday greeted the people of India and the Indian-Americans on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, noting that the relationship between the world’s two biggest democracies is more important now than ever.

“I want to congratulate the people in India on 75 years of Independence. The strength of the relationship between the world's two biggest democracies is more important now than ever,” said Warner, Co-Chair of the powerful Senate India Caucus. This is the largest bilateral caucus in the United States Senate.

For 75 years, he said, India has moved into the future as a strong, resilient democracy.

“We have seen that strength through the challenges of the last 14 months as India, America and the world has been challenged by Covid-19,” Warner said in a special video message.

It was 74 years ago that India emancipated itself from British rule and began a long and storied journey toward becoming the biggest democracy in the world, said Senator Cornyn, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus.

As co-founder of the Senate India caucus, Cornyn said he knows firsthand the importance of a strong relationship between the United States and India.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-independence-day-from-humble-beginnings-the-nation-made-strides-in-science-and-technology-405129">Also read |&nbsp;India's Independence Day: From humble beginnings, the nation made strides in science and technology</a>

“I'm proud to see how our ties have strengthened over the recent years,” he said.

Joining people of India and Indian-Americans in celebrating the 75th anniversary of India's independence, Senator Rick Scott said that the United States is proud to support India, the world's largest democracy and America’s important partner and to celebrate the many contributions of our Indian American community.

“Congratulations on 75 years of independence. I hope you have a wonderful celebration,” Scott said in a video message.

Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that he is proud to join friends in Indian and Indian-American communities in New Jersey and around the world as Independence Day festivities begin.

“We recognise India’s rich heritage and many global contributions, and commit to building on our countries' strong bond,” he said.

Sending her independence day greetings, Sunita Williams mentioned the rich history of collaboration between India and the United States in space.

“NASA and ISRO have cooperated in many different areas, including Earth and space science. Additionally, NASA has provided deep space communication and navigation support for ISRO’s missions to the Moon and Mars,” she said.

“Exploring space is a global enterprise where we all need to work together. I am especially interested in following the progress of Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight mission,” Williams said.

Top American Senators, including Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Mark Warner, along with astronaut Sunita Williams on Friday greeted the people of India and the Indian-Americans on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, noting that the relationship between the world’s two biggest democracies is more important now than ever.

Top American Senators, including Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Mark Warner, along with astronaut Sunita Williams on Friday greeted the people of India and the Indian-Americans on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, noting that the relationship between the world’s two biggest democracies is more important now than ever. “I want to congratulate the people in India on 75 years of Independence. The strength of the relationship between the world's two biggest democracies is more important now than ever,” said Warner, Co-Chair of the powerful Senate India Caucus. This is the largest bilateral caucus in the United States Senate. For 75 years, he said, India has moved into the future as a strong, resilient democracy. “We have seen that strength through the challenges of the last 14 months as India, America and the world has been challenged by Covid-19,” Warner said in a special video message. It was 74 years ago that India emancipated itself from British rule and began a long and storied journey toward becoming the biggest democracy in the world, said Senator Cornyn, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus. As co-founder of the Senate India caucus, Cornyn said he knows firsthand the importance of a strong relationship between the United States and India. Also read | India's Independence Day: From humble beginnings, the nation made strides in science and technology “I'm proud to see how our ties have strengthened over the recent years,” he said. Joining people of India and Indian-Americans in celebrating the 75th anniversary of India's independence, Senator Rick Scott said that the United States is proud to support India, the world's largest democracy and America’s important partner and to celebrate the many contributions of our Indian American community. “Congratulations on 75 years of independence. I hope you have a wonderful celebration,” Scott said in a video message. Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that he is proud to join friends in Indian and Indian-American communities in New Jersey and around the world as Independence Day festivities begin. “We recognise India’s rich heritage and many global contributions, and commit to building on our countries' strong bond,” he said. Sending her independence day greetings, Sunita Williams mentioned the rich history of collaboration between India and the United States in space. “NASA and ISRO have cooperated in many different areas, including Earth and space science. Additionally, NASA has provided deep space communication and navigation support for ISRO’s missions to the Moon and Mars,” she said. “Exploring space is a global enterprise where we all need to work together. I am especially interested in following the progress of Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight mission,” Williams said.

American senators, astronaut Sunita Williams greet India on Independence Day

american

American, News on American, stories on American, articles on American, American stories at Wion, American news, American latest news