The era of artificial intelligence or AI&nbsp;has barged into our creative domain like an uninvited guest at a tea party. Suddenly, we have AI mimicking Drake and The Weeknd's vocal styles in a hit song, and even the mellifluous Stephen Fry found himself cloned by AI without his consent. It's like a sci-fi plot where machines steal the show, but it's our reality, and it's no laughing matter. We are facing a copyright conundrum of epic proportions, and our laws are just as befuddled as we are.

Let's explore how&nbsp;ill-prepared current copyright laws are to address the invasion of AI into creative works.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-explained-from-the-matrix-to-the-terminator-how-artificial-intelligence-in-cinema-reflects-our-hopes-fears-577331">&nbsp;Explained: From The Matrix to The Terminator, how artificial intelligence in cinema reflects our hopes, fears</a>

<h2>The rise of AI</h2>

AI and AI-driven tools like ChatGPT have seemingly emerged out of nowhere, gaining wide prevalence in recent times. While discussions and advancements in AI technology have been ongoing for years, the sudden ubiquity of AI tools has taken many, including this scribe, by surprise. What was once a futuristic daydream is now our daily reality, infiltrating sectors from entertainment and healthcare to finance and education. &nbsp;And, for the most part, not for good. It is no longer a distant promise but a tangible reality that is shaping our world in profound ways.

<h2>The Stephen Fry incident: A wake-up call with a British accent</h2>

Stephen Fry's revelation at the CogX Festival about his voice being replicated by AI without his consent serves as a stark example of AI's potential misuse. This respected actor, comedian, and audiobook narrator found out that AI had decided to become the next Stephen Fry — a prospect almost as audacious as trying to replace James Bond with a robotic doppelgänger. Maybe the next Bond will not be Idris Elba or Tom Hardy. It will be the Terminator! But here's the kicker: Fry had the clout to make a fuss about it on a grand stage.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-explained-how-digital-doubles-ai-generated-trailers-put-hollywood-in-quandary-599643">Explained: How digital doubles, AI-generated trailers put Hollywood in a quandary</a>

But what about hundreds of lesser-known voice actors, who narrate audiobooks, voice video games, and feature in commercials? They do not have the capability to highlight such infringements or the resources to fight back against misuse of their voice. They are particularly vulnerable to AI's incursion into their field. While their voices may be recognisable, they often lack the fame to control their voice's use sans consent. To make matters worse, their contracts often contain fine print that lets companies use their voices in every conceivable way until the sun burns out. Legal protection for these voice artists against AI voice replicas? About as scarce as a unicorn at a petting zoo. Laws offer little refuge for voice actors seeking protection against AI-generated replicas of their voices.

Popular AI tools have barely aged a year, and already they've unleashed a storm of voice cloning businesses that scavenge (I believe 'scrape' is the term) the internet for speech samples to create an AI orchestra of cloned voices. These companies offer lifelike voices at a fraction of the cost of hiring human professionals. As a result, voice actors face the prospect of losing their livelihoods as companies opt for cost-effective AI-generated voices.

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<h2>Need for safeguards and regulations</h2>

There is an urgent need for comprehensive legal safeguards and regulations to protect the rights and livelihoods of all individuals working in the creative industries. AI's indiscriminate voice replication is a threat not just to the big names but to the entire ecosystem of artists, actors, and creators who rely on their unique talents and voices to make a living.

A recent Washington Post report quoted an award-winning voice artist Remie Michelle Clarke who was alerted by her sound engineer that he had found a voice that sounded like hers on Revoicer.com (which calls itself 'The most realistic AI Text To Speech online') that could be used for the subscribers of the site.&nbsp;

She said, “It’s completely bizarre. When you see your voice has been shifted and tampered with … there’s something so invasive about it.”

Revoicer.com removed her voice after being contacted by The Washington Post, but who's to say it's the only culprit? Clarke rightly asks, "How many other companies... are using my voice and my work and my livelihood without ever factoring me in?" It's a question that should rattle our conscience.

<h2>The role of AI in Hollywood</h2>

AI has also become a focal point of recent strikes within the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The entertainment industry is grappling with the threat of AI replication, which could, if the studios got their way, potentially replace human actors and writers. These concerns are not unwarranted, as AI technology can convincingly mimic human voices and generate creative content. AI has already been used to resurrect deceased actors like Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and more recently, Christopher Reeve as Superman in The Flash.&nbsp;

Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston gave a passionate speech about AI's encroachment in Hollywood. While referring to Disney CEO, he said, “We’ve got a message to Mr Iger. I know, sir, that you look through things from a different lens. We don’t expect you to understand who we are but we ask you to hear us, and beyond that, to listen to us when we tell you we will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots. We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living.”

<h2>Legal dilemmas: Copyright and AI</h2>

A recent decision from a federal judge in the US did reinforce the well-established principle that copyrights are exclusively granted to works crafted by human creators, affirming the enduring nature of this fundamental concept. This noteworthy ruling emerged as part of a case in which Stephen Thaler sought to challenge the government's denial of copyright registration for AI-generated works. District Judge Beryl Howell's ruling was unequivocal: copyright law was never designed to protect works generated solely by emerging technologies without human involvement.

However, AI's breakneck progress has left copyright laws trailing far behind. We are stuck in a copyright quagmire, uncertain about how to handle situations where AI clones someone's voice or likeness for financial gain. 
&nbsp;

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The era of artificial intelligence or AI has barged into our creative domain like an uninvited guest at a tea party. Suddenly, we have AI mimicking Drake and The Weeknd's vocal styles in a hit song, and even the mellifluous Stephen Fry found himself cloned by AI without his consent.

The era of artificial intelligence or AI has barged into our creative domain like an uninvited guest at a tea party. Suddenly, we have AI mimicking Drake and The Weeknd's vocal styles in a hit song, and even the mellifluous Stephen Fry found himself cloned by AI without his consent. It's like a sci-fi plot where machines steal the show, but it's our reality, and it's no laughing matter. We are facing a copyright conundrum of epic proportions, and our laws are just as befuddled as we are. Let's explore how ill-prepared current copyright laws are to address the invasion of AI into creative works. Also Read | Explained: From The Matrix to The Terminator, how artificial intelligence in cinema reflects our hopes, fears The rise of AI AI and AI-driven tools like ChatGPT have seemingly emerged out of nowhere, gaining wide prevalence in recent times. While discussions and advancements in AI technology have been ongoing for years, the sudden ubiquity of AI tools has taken many, including this scribe, by surprise. What was once a futuristic daydream is now our daily reality, infiltrating sectors from entertainment and healthcare to finance and education. And, for the most part, not for good. It is no longer a distant promise but a tangible reality that is shaping our world in profound ways. The Stephen Fry incident: A wake-up call with a British accent Stephen Fry's revelation at the CogX Festival about his voice being replicated by AI without his consent serves as a stark example of AI's potential misuse. This respected actor, comedian, and audiobook narrator found out that AI had decided to become the next Stephen Fry — a prospect almost as audacious as trying to replace James Bond with a robotic doppelgänger. Maybe the next Bond will not be Idris Elba or Tom Hardy. It will be the Terminator! But here's the kicker: Fry had the clout to make a fuss about it on a grand stage. Also Read | Explained: How digital doubles, AI-generated trailers put Hollywood in a quandary But what about hundreds of lesser-known voice actors, who narrate audiobooks, voice video games, and feature in commercials? They do not have the capability to highlight such infringements or the resources to fight back against misuse of their voice. They are particularly vulnerable to AI's incursion into their field. While their voices may be recognisable, they often lack the fame to control their voice's use sans consent. To make matters worse, their contracts often contain fine print that lets companies use their voices in every conceivable way until the sun burns out. Legal protection for these voice artists against AI voice replicas? About as scarce as a unicorn at a petting zoo. Laws offer little refuge for voice actors seeking protection against AI-generated replicas of their voices. Popular AI tools have barely aged a year, and already they've unleashed a storm of voice cloning businesses that scavenge (I believe 'scrape' is the term) the internet for speech samples to create an AI orchestra of cloned voices. These companies offer lifelike voices at a fraction of the cost of hiring human professionals. As a result, voice actors face the prospect of losing their livelihoods as companies opt for cost-effective AI-generated voices. Need for safeguards and regulations There is an urgent need for comprehensive legal safeguards and regulations to protect the rights and livelihoods of all individuals working in the creative industries. AI's indiscriminate voice replication is a threat not just to the big names but to the entire ecosystem of artists, actors, and creators who rely on their unique talents and voices to make a living. A recent Washington Post report quoted an award-winning voice artist Remie Michelle Clarke who was alerted by her sound engineer that he had found a voice that sounded like hers on Revoicer.com (which calls itself 'The most realistic AI Text To Speech online') that could be used for the subscribers of the site. She said, “It’s completely bizarre. When you see your voice has been shifted and tampered with … there’s something so invasive about it.” Revoicer.com removed her voice after being contacted by The Washington Post, but who's to say it's the only culprit? Clarke rightly asks, "How many other companies... are using my voice and my work and my livelihood without ever factoring me in?" It's a question that should rattle our conscience. The role of AI in Hollywood AI has also become a focal point of recent strikes within the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The entertainment industry is grappling with the threat of AI replication, which could, if the studios got their way, potentially replace human actors and writers. These concerns are not unwarranted, as AI technology can convincingly mimic human voices and generate creative content. AI has already been used to resurrect deceased actors like Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and more recently, Christopher Reeve as Superman in The Flash. Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston gave a passionate speech about AI's encroachment in Hollywood. While referring to Disney CEO, he said, “We’ve got a message to Mr Iger. I know, sir, that you look through things from a different lens. We don’t expect you to understand who we are but we ask you to hear us, and beyond that, to listen to us when we tell you we will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots. We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living.” Legal dilemmas: Copyright and AI A recent decision from a federal judge in the US did reinforce the well-established principle that copyrights are exclusively granted to works crafted by human creators, affirming the enduring nature of this fundamental concept. This noteworthy ruling emerged as part of a case in which Stephen Thaler sought to challenge the government's denial of copyright registration for AI-generated works. District Judge Beryl Howell's ruling was unequivocal: copyright law was never designed to protect works generated solely by emerging technologies without human involvement. However, AI's breakneck progress has left copyright laws trailing far behind. We are stuck in a copyright quagmire, uncertain about how to handle situations where AI clones someone's voice or likeness for financial gain. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Are our copyright laws ready for the AI invasion?

Leaders of 193 United Nations member states have started landing in New York to attend the 78th General Assembly&nbsp;of the global&nbsp;organisation. The UN is convening amid the second year of war in Ukraine and post-pandemic recovery of global economy affected by that conflict, as well as&nbsp;deteriorating discourse of women's rights in Afghanistan and Iran, and China's expansionist belligerence with India and in the South China Sea.&nbsp;

UNGA has its plates full with several other issues. In Africa, two recent coups in Gabon and Niger, and natural calamities in Libya and Morocco, have given rise to new security challenges for the impoverished region -- most of which was previously colonised by France. In West Asia, the restoration of Iran-Saudi Arabia ties have emerged as a hope for stability, resulting in a semblance of cessation of civil war in Yemen where the Shia and Sunni powerhouses fought through their proxies since the 2010s. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-saudi-arabia-restore-ties-as-china-brokered-deal-outfoxes-west-570766">Iran, Saudi Arabia restore ties as China-brokered deal outfoxes West</a>&nbsp;

In the regions where democracies are fragile, authoritarian or quasi-authoritarian governments reign supreme, and are seen as impoverished zones of human distress, with the UN often sought after as the last mile hope for redressal.

In WION's extensive reportage on state of women's rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, women being denied education rights often <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-afghan-women-ask-oic-to-restore-freedom-to-study-work-558153">call upon</a> international community to not 'abandon' their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-why-is-the-world-neglecting-afghan-women-552725">cause</a>.&nbsp;

In short, the 78th UNGA is being anticipated with hope in the parts of the world combating conventional warfare, natural calamities and authoritarian rules.&nbsp;

<h2>UNGA 78th session: What is the agenda?</h2>

The 78th session, according to the United Nations, "marks a crucial milestone in the journey towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the urgent need to put the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track".

The Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of seventeen interlinked objectives designed to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future".&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;UN General Assembly 2023: Zelensky expected to attend UN meet | What to expect at the meet? | WION

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Agreed upon in 2015, They are: No poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice, and strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals.

The United Nations said in an official readout that the world leaders will gather in New York to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.”

<h2>How stalled Security Council reforms&nbsp; hamper achievement of&nbsp;SDGs</h2>

For the countries of Global South, the principal challenge in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has been a non-reformed UN Security Council and facets of multilateral funding for development projects.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reflective-of-the-world-of-1940s-brazils-president-lula-calls-for-reforms-in-un-security-council-634710">'Reflective of the world of 1940s': Brazil President Lula calls for reforms in UN Security Council</a>

Since its inception, only five countries are the permanent members of the UN Security Council. While the United States, United Kingdom and France are permanent UNSC members since 1945, erstwhile Soviet Union's spot was given to Russian Federation after the dissolution of USSR. In October 1971, the Republic of China (present-day Taiwan) was displaced from the membership of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council by a vote of the UN General Assembly and got replaced by communist China (People's Republic of China).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-sets-the-tone-for-un-security-council-reforms-before-hosting-g20-leaders-631947">Indian PM Modi sets the tone for UN Security Council reforms before hosting G20 leaders</a>

The effect of a non-reformed UN Security Council looms large on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

"When Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development was adopted in September 2015, the UN reported that 60 million people across the world were impacted by violent conflicts that are unresolved on the agenda of the UN Security Council. In December 2022, that number had risen to 314 million," Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations told WION.

"The broader priority for reforming the UN Security Council is the linkage between peace, security, and development. This is committed by world leaders when they adopted Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development. Every ongoing unresolved conflict on the UN Security Council’s agenda has a very negative impact on implementing Agenda 2030 which is the only framework agreed to by all states to take the world forward by eradicating poverty and sustaining development," he added.&nbsp;

WION reported last week how <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-chinas-smokescreen-tricks-the-world-against-reforms-at-un-security-council-635950">China's smokescreen, in the lieu of undocumented informal Inter Governmental Negotiations</a>, have been stalling the reforms of the UN Security Council, actively, at least since 2016.&nbsp;

Ambassador Mukerji added that China is acting in concert with the other four permanent members. "But the difference in the inter-governmental negotiations is that it is only China that has openly called for "consensus" on the reforms of the Security Council."

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Leaders of 193 United Nations member states have started landing in New York to attend the 78th General Assembly of the global organisation. The UN is convening amid the second year of war in Ukraine and post-pandemic recovery of global economy affected by that conflict, as well as deteriorating discourse of women's rights in Afghanistan and Iran, and China's expansionist belligerence with India and in the South China Sea.

Leaders of 193 United Nations member states have started landing in New York to attend the 78th General Assembly of the global organisation. The UN is convening amid the second year of war in Ukraine and post-pandemic recovery of global economy affected by that conflict, as well as deteriorating discourse of women's rights in Afghanistan and Iran, and China's expansionist belligerence with India and in the South China Sea. UNGA has its plates full with several other issues. In Africa, two recent coups in Gabon and Niger, and natural calamities in Libya and Morocco, have given rise to new security challenges for the impoverished region -- most of which was previously colonised by France. In West Asia, the restoration of Iran-Saudi Arabia ties have emerged as a hope for stability, resulting in a semblance of cessation of civil war in Yemen where the Shia and Sunni powerhouses fought through their proxies since the 2010s. Also read | Iran, Saudi Arabia restore ties as China-brokered deal outfoxes West In the regions where democracies are fragile, authoritarian or quasi-authoritarian governments reign supreme, and are seen as impoverished zones of human distress, with the UN often sought after as the last mile hope for redressal. In WION's extensive reportage on state of women's rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, women being denied education rights often call upon international community to not 'abandon' their cause. In short, the 78th UNGA is being anticipated with hope in the parts of the world combating conventional warfare, natural calamities and authoritarian rules. UNGA 78th session: What is the agenda? The 78th session, according to the United Nations, "marks a crucial milestone in the journey towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the urgent need to put the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track". The Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of seventeen interlinked objectives designed to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future". Also watch | UN General Assembly 2023: Zelensky expected to attend UN meet | What to expect at the meet? | WION × Agreed upon in 2015, They are: No poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice, and strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals. The United Nations said in an official readout that the world leaders will gather in New York to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.” How stalled Security Council reforms hamper achievement of SDGs For the countries of Global South, the principal challenge in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has been a non-reformed UN Security Council and facets of multilateral funding for development projects. Also read | 'Reflective of the world of 1940s': Brazil President Lula calls for reforms in UN Security Council Since its inception, only five countries are the permanent members of the UN Security Council. While the United States, United Kingdom and France are permanent UNSC members since 1945, erstwhile Soviet Union's spot was given to Russian Federation after the dissolution of USSR. In October 1971, the Republic of China (present-day Taiwan) was displaced from the membership of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council by a vote of the UN General Assembly and got replaced by communist China (People's Republic of China). Also read | Indian PM Modi sets the tone for UN Security Council reforms before hosting G20 leaders The effect of a non-reformed UN Security Council looms large on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. "When Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development was adopted in September 2015, the UN reported that 60 million people across the world were impacted by violent conflicts that are unresolved on the agenda of the UN Security Council. In December 2022, that number had risen to 314 million," Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations told WION. "The broader priority for reforming the UN Security Council is the linkage between peace, security, and development. This is committed by world leaders when they adopted Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development. Every ongoing unresolved conflict on the UN Security Council’s agenda has a very negative impact on implementing Agenda 2030 which is the only framework agreed to by all states to take the world forward by eradicating poverty and sustaining development," he added. WION reported last week how China's smokescreen, in the lieu of undocumented informal Inter Governmental Negotiations, have been stalling the reforms of the UN Security Council, actively, at least since 2016. Ambassador Mukerji added that China is acting in concert with the other four permanent members. "But the difference in the inter-governmental negotiations is that it is only China that has openly called for "consensus" on the reforms of the Security Council." 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.

UN General Assembly 2023: What is stalling the progress of Sustainable Development Goals | Explained

India is currently grappling with a rare outbreak of the Nipah virus, a dangerous disease that has high mortality rate.

Taking pre-emptive action against the threat, authorities in the Southern state of Kerala have shut down some schools and offices to halt the spread of the virus.

Here's all you need to know about Nipah virus.

<h2>What is the Nipah virus?</h2>

The virus is zoonotic in nature, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Nipah usually spreads to humans from bodily fluids of animals — infected bats and pigs, or through contaminated food, but it can also be transmitted directly between people.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-procures-monoclonal-antibodies-from-australia-to-battle-deadly-nipah-virus-636379">India procures monoclonal antibodies from Australia to battle deadly Nipah virus</a>

The virus triggers severe fever, often leading to a high mortality rate. It is named after the village where it was discovered.

While Nipah outbreaks are comparatively rare, as per AFP, Nipah — alongside Ebola, Zika and COVID-19 — has been listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the diseases deserving of priority research for the&nbsp;potential to lead to a global epidemic.

<h2>Symptoms and treatment of Nipah</h2>

Symptoms of Nipah virus include high fever, headache, vomiting, and respiratory issues, reports the World Health Organization.

In severe cases, seizures and brain inflammation can lead to a coma.

Regrettably, no vaccine is currently available for Nipah, and the WHO reports that the virus has a mortality rate ranging from 40 to 75 per cent.

As per Rajeev Bahl, the Director General of India's apex body for biomedical research Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Nipah has a mortality much higher than COVID-19.

"Mortality among those infected with Nipah virus is very high - between 40 to 70 per cent as compared to that of Covid, which was around 2-3 per cent."

To combat the current outbreak, India has taken a significant step by procuring 20 doses of monoclonal antibodies from Australia.

These antibodies, as per PTI, are vital for the treatment of Nipah virus infections, a disease with a high mortality rate. Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic proteins that mimic the immune system's ability to fight harmful pathogens.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nipah-virus-in-indias-kerala-5-cases-seen-so-far-educational-institutions-in-kozhikode-to-be-shut-top-pts-635900">Nipah virus in India's Kerala: 5 cases seen so far, educational institutions in Kozhikode to be shut</a>

"Twenty more doses are being procured. But the medicine needs to be given during the early stage of the infection," said Bahl, adding that it can only given as compassionate use medicine — which refers to treatment options that are not authorised but can be used in absence of satisfactory, authorised medicines.

As per Bahl, globally, monoclonal antibodies have been used to successfully treat 14 patients infected with the Nipah virus outside India.

<h2>Previous outbreaks</h2>

The first Nipah outbreak in Malaysia resulted in over 100 fatalities. At the time, it led to the culling of a million pigs in an attempt to halt the virus's spread.

It also spread to Singapore, causing illness and one fatality among slaughterhouse workers who had been in contact with pigs from Malaysia.

Subsequently, the majority of cases have been documented in Bangladesh and India, with both countries experiencing their initial outbreaks in 2001.

Bangladesh has borne the brunt of Nipah in recent years, with over 100 fatalities since 2001.

India, on the other hand, grappled with two initial outbreaks that claimed over 50 lives before they were contained.

Most recently, the state of Kerala in India has reported two fatalities and four confirmed cases within the past month, marking its fourth outbreak in five years.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nipah-virus-latest-kerala-reports-sixth-case-govt-rushes-to-curb-spread-636182">Nipah virus latest | Kerala reports sixth case, govt rushes to curb spread</a>

In 2018, Nipah claimed 17 lives in Kerala, reports AFP. Previous outbreaks there were successfully quelled within a matter of weeks through extensive testing and the strict isolation of individuals in contact with patients.

Answering a question about the virus' resurgence in Kerala, ICMR chief Bahl said: "We do not know. In 2018, we found the outbreak in Kerala was related to bats. We are not sure how the infection passed from bats to humans. The link couldn't be established. Again, we are trying to find out this time. It always happens in the rainy season."

As per WHO data, between 1998 and 2015, 600 cases of Nipah virus in humans have been recorded.

<h2>Zoonotic virus</h2>

As per Reuters, scientists suspect that the Nipah virus has existed among flying foxes for close to a millennium. They also fear that a highly transmissible, mutated strain may emerge from bats.

The first Nipah outbreak was recorded in 1998 after the virus spread among pig farmers in Malaysia.

Fruit bats, according to AFP, are the natural carriers of the virus. These bats have been identified as the most likely cause of subsequent outbreaks.

<h2>Animal-to-human viruses becoming more frequent</h2>

Zoonotic diseases, which are diseases capable of jumping from animals to humans, have seen a notable increase over the past few decades — the last 20 to 30 years in particular.

As per AFP, the increase of international travel has accelerated their spread. Furthermore, human encroachment into natural habitats has led to a disruption of ecosystems, which in turn has caused an elevation in the likelihood of random virus mutations that can be transmitted to humans.

Industrial-scale farming too heightens the risk of pathogens spreading among animals, while deforestation intensifies interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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India is currently grappling with a rare outbreak of the Nipah virus, a dangerous disease that has high mortality rate. Taking pre-emptive action against the threat, authorities in the Southern state of Kerala have shut down some schools and offices to halt the spread of the virus.

India is currently grappling with a rare outbreak of the Nipah virus, a dangerous disease that has high mortality rate. Taking pre-emptive action against the threat, authorities in the Southern state of Kerala have shut down some schools and offices to halt the spread of the virus. Here's all you need to know about Nipah virus. What is the Nipah virus? The virus is zoonotic in nature, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Nipah usually spreads to humans from bodily fluids of animals — infected bats and pigs, or through contaminated food, but it can also be transmitted directly between people. Also read |India procures monoclonal antibodies from Australia to battle deadly Nipah virus The virus triggers severe fever, often leading to a high mortality rate. It is named after the village where it was discovered. While Nipah outbreaks are comparatively rare, as per AFP, Nipah — alongside Ebola, Zika and COVID-19 — has been listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the diseases deserving of priority research for the potential to lead to a global epidemic. Symptoms and treatment of Nipah Symptoms of Nipah virus include high fever, headache, vomiting, and respiratory issues, reports the World Health Organization. In severe cases, seizures and brain inflammation can lead to a coma. Regrettably, no vaccine is currently available for Nipah, and the WHO reports that the virus has a mortality rate ranging from 40 to 75 per cent. As per Rajeev Bahl, the Director General of India's apex body for biomedical research Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Nipah has a mortality much higher than COVID-19. "Mortality among those infected with Nipah virus is very high - between 40 to 70 per cent as compared to that of Covid, which was around 2-3 per cent." To combat the current outbreak, India has taken a significant step by procuring 20 doses of monoclonal antibodies from Australia. These antibodies, as per PTI, are vital for the treatment of Nipah virus infections, a disease with a high mortality rate. Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic proteins that mimic the immune system's ability to fight harmful pathogens. Also read | Nipah virus in India's Kerala: 5 cases seen so far, educational institutions in Kozhikode to be shut "Twenty more doses are being procured. But the medicine needs to be given during the early stage of the infection," said Bahl, adding that it can only given as compassionate use medicine — which refers to treatment options that are not authorised but can be used in absence of satisfactory, authorised medicines. As per Bahl, globally, monoclonal antibodies have been used to successfully treat 14 patients infected with the Nipah virus outside India. Previous outbreaks The first Nipah outbreak in Malaysia resulted in over 100 fatalities. At the time, it led to the culling of a million pigs in an attempt to halt the virus's spread. It also spread to Singapore, causing illness and one fatality among slaughterhouse workers who had been in contact with pigs from Malaysia. Subsequently, the majority of cases have been documented in Bangladesh and India, with both countries experiencing their initial outbreaks in 2001. Bangladesh has borne the brunt of Nipah in recent years, with over 100 fatalities since 2001. India, on the other hand, grappled with two initial outbreaks that claimed over 50 lives before they were contained. Most recently, the state of Kerala in India has reported two fatalities and four confirmed cases within the past month, marking its fourth outbreak in five years. Also read | Nipah virus latest | Kerala reports sixth case, govt rushes to curb spread In 2018, Nipah claimed 17 lives in Kerala, reports AFP. Previous outbreaks there were successfully quelled within a matter of weeks through extensive testing and the strict isolation of individuals in contact with patients. Answering a question about the virus' resurgence in Kerala, ICMR chief Bahl said: "We do not know. In 2018, we found the outbreak in Kerala was related to bats. We are not sure how the infection passed from bats to humans. The link couldn't be established. Again, we are trying to find out this time. It always happens in the rainy season." As per WHO data, between 1998 and 2015, 600 cases of Nipah virus in humans have been recorded. Zoonotic virus As per Reuters, scientists suspect that the Nipah virus has existed among flying foxes for close to a millennium. They also fear that a highly transmissible, mutated strain may emerge from bats. The first Nipah outbreak was recorded in 1998 after the virus spread among pig farmers in Malaysia. Fruit bats, according to AFP, are the natural carriers of the virus. These bats have been identified as the most likely cause of subsequent outbreaks. Animal-to-human viruses becoming more frequent Zoonotic diseases, which are diseases capable of jumping from animals to humans, have seen a notable increase over the past few decades — the last 20 to 30 years in particular. As per AFP, the increase of international travel has accelerated their spread. Furthermore, human encroachment into natural habitats has led to a disruption of ecosystems, which in turn has caused an elevation in the likelihood of random virus mutations that can be transmitted to humans. Industrial-scale farming too heightens the risk of pathogens spreading among animals, while deforestation intensifies interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Deadly Nipah virus strikes India; symptoms and other things you need to know

The junta leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a charter to establish a defence alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States.&nbsp;

The alliance of the three West African nations signed by their military leaders on September 16, says that the three states will assist one another in the event of an attack on any one of them.

<h2>Alliance of Sahel States: How is it a NATO-style alliance?</h2>

The alliance document's Article 6, much like NATO's Article 5, says that any attack on one or more signatory states will be considered an attack on all signatories. The four-page alliance document, seen by WION, states that the "need to continue the heroic struggles waged by the African people and countries for political independence, human dignity and economic emancipation", as defining tenet of the alliance.&nbsp;

"Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties," it says.&nbsp;

It also binds the three countries to work to prevent or settle armed rebellions. 
 
<img alt="Mali junta leader Goita hosted the signing event in capital Bamako" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="532c4968-9ba3-431b-9cab-9fc1c6b22b99" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-17T123509.000.png" />

Mali junta leader Goita hosted the signing event in capital Bamako |&nbsp;Presidence du Niger/X

The Article 4 of the document underscore combating terrorism in all its forms and organised crime as "common area of the alliance"

"I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework," Mali military leader Assimi Goita said on X, formerly known as Twitter. &nbsp;

<h2>Why Alliance of Sahel States is significant?</h2>

The alliance announcement succeeds the military pact signed between the three countries in August to allow Mali and Burkina Faso to send troops into Niger's territory in the event of military aggression against its new rulers.

The development is significant amid growing cooperation between 15-nation ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) bloc and the warnings of military intervention that it asserted after military's takeover of power in Niger in July.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/niger-nuclear-reserves-how-this-coup-can-throw-europe-into-deep-energy-crisis-621073">Niger nuclear reserves: How the coup can throw Europe into a deep energy crisis</a>

The agreement also calls for the three nations to take joint action against terrorist groups operating in their countries and to secure their borders.&nbsp;

For more than a decade, Africa's Sahel region — which includes countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria — has been infested with jihadist insurgencies contributing in their overall instability.&nbsp;

These jihadist insurgencies are largely perpetrated by terrorist networks linked to the Islamic State and the Al Qaeda.

"This alliance will be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries," Mali's Defence Minister Abdoulaye Diop told journalists.&nbsp;

"Our priority is the fight against terrorism in the three countries."

<h2>What does it mean for French interests in the region?</h2>

The alliance between three West African states, all ruled by military juntas and former French colonies, has been formalised amid souring ties between the three states and France.&nbsp;

All three signatory nations of the newly-formed Alliance of Sahel States were also the members of France-supported G5 Sahel alliance joint force with Chad and Mauritania being the&nbsp;other two allies. The G5 Sahel alliance, apart from its stated goals related to poverty alleviation, was also aimed to tackle terror groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.&nbsp;

The G5 Sahel Alliance, now largely dormant, was launched in 2017 by France, Germany and the European Union.&nbsp;

Niger’s military leaders have unilaterally cancelled military agreements under the G5 Sahel Alliance that allowed French forces to fight jihadists in the region, giving the former colonial power only a month to pull out its 1,500 troops. France, however, ignored the ultimatum and demands for its ambassador to leave. 
<img alt="Niger's leader General Abdourahmane Tiani during alliance's signing event in Tamako | X" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="60f4373e-4261-4997-8673-a0de5d4f216a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-17T123828.601.png" />

Niger's leader General Abdourahmane Tiani during alliance's signing event in Tamako | X/Presidence du Niger

Mali left the G5 Sahel Alliance after a military coup. Even before the military coup in Niger, the democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum said in May last year that the force was "dead" following Mali's departure.

France was forced to withdraw its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso. It remains in a tense standoff with the junta that seized power in Niger after the new military rulers asked it to withdraw its troops and its ambassador.

Mali has also asked the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA to leave the country.

<h2>Who takes what from the newly forged alliance?</h2>

For Niger, the alliance provides a cover of security from the warnings of military intervention from ECOWAS.

But in security terms, Mali is set to gain the most from the alliance in the immediate future. &nbsp;

Mali, in addition to fighting terrorists linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, has also seen a resumption of hostilities by predominantly Tuareg armed groups over the past few weeks.

The escalation of these armed tensions risks stretching Mali's army to its limits.&nbsp;

While Mali's junta claims that it has managed to successfully turn around a dire security situation, independent reports have claimed the quite opposite.

Burkina Faso, under Ibrahim Tarore (34), is expected to lead the newly-formed alliance, due to semblance of stability that the world's youngest leader has managed to assert in the country, according to Radio Omega.

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The junta leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a charter to establish a defence alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States. The alliance of the three West African nations signed by their military leaders on September 16, says that the three states will assist one another in the event of an attack on any one of them.

The junta leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a charter to establish a defence alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States. The alliance of the three West African nations signed by their military leaders on September 16, says that the three states will assist one another in the event of an attack on any one of them. Alliance of Sahel States: How is it a NATO-style alliance? The alliance document's Article 6, much like NATO's Article 5, says that any attack on one or more signatory states will be considered an attack on all signatories. The four-page alliance document, seen by WION, states that the "need to continue the heroic struggles waged by the African people and countries for political independence, human dignity and economic emancipation", as defining tenet of the alliance. "Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties," it says. It also binds the three countries to work to prevent or settle armed rebellions. Mali junta leader Goita hosted the signing event in capital Bamako | Presidence du Niger/X The Article 4 of the document underscore combating terrorism in all its forms and organised crime as "common area of the alliance" "I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework," Mali military leader Assimi Goita said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Why Alliance of Sahel States is significant? The alliance announcement succeeds the military pact signed between the three countries in August to allow Mali and Burkina Faso to send troops into Niger's territory in the event of military aggression against its new rulers. The development is significant amid growing cooperation between 15-nation ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) bloc and the warnings of military intervention that it asserted after military's takeover of power in Niger in July. Also read | Niger nuclear reserves: How the coup can throw Europe into a deep energy crisis The agreement also calls for the three nations to take joint action against terrorist groups operating in their countries and to secure their borders. For more than a decade, Africa's Sahel region — which includes countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria — has been infested with jihadist insurgencies contributing in their overall instability. These jihadist insurgencies are largely perpetrated by terrorist networks linked to the Islamic State and the Al Qaeda. "This alliance will be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries," Mali's Defence Minister Abdoulaye Diop told journalists. "Our priority is the fight against terrorism in the three countries." What does it mean for French interests in the region? The alliance between three West African states, all ruled by military juntas and former French colonies, has been formalised amid souring ties between the three states and France. All three signatory nations of the newly-formed Alliance of Sahel States were also the members of France-supported G5 Sahel alliance joint force with Chad and Mauritania being the other two allies. The G5 Sahel alliance, apart from its stated goals related to poverty alleviation, was also aimed to tackle terror groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The G5 Sahel Alliance, now largely dormant, was launched in 2017 by France, Germany and the European Union. Niger’s military leaders have unilaterally cancelled military agreements under the G5 Sahel Alliance that allowed French forces to fight jihadists in the region, giving the former colonial power only a month to pull out its 1,500 troops. France, however, ignored the ultimatum and demands for its ambassador to leave. Niger's leader General Abdourahmane Tiani during alliance's signing event in Tamako | X/Presidence du Niger Mali left the G5 Sahel Alliance after a military coup. Even before the military coup in Niger, the democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum said in May last year that the force was "dead" following Mali's departure. France was forced to withdraw its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso. It remains in a tense standoff with the junta that seized power in Niger after the new military rulers asked it to withdraw its troops and its ambassador. Mali has also asked the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA to leave the country. Who takes what from the newly forged alliance? For Niger, the alliance provides a cover of security from the warnings of military intervention from ECOWAS. But in security terms, Mali is set to gain the most from the alliance in the immediate future. Mali, in addition to fighting terrorists linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, has also seen a resumption of hostilities by predominantly Tuareg armed groups over the past few weeks. The escalation of these armed tensions risks stretching Mali's army to its limits. While Mali's junta claims that it has managed to successfully turn around a dire security situation, independent reports have claimed the quite opposite. Burkina Faso, under Ibrahim Tarore (34), is expected to lead the newly-formed alliance, due to semblance of stability that the world's youngest leader has managed to assert in the country, according to Radio Omega. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Military-ruled former French colonies forge NATO-style Alliance of Sahel States

Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, was indicted on three criminal counts in connection with buying arms while being under the influence of cocaine.

This is the first time that a child of a sitting US president has been criminally prosecuted.

The charges come after a bargain to plead guilty to two misdemeanour tax charges and enroll in a programme to avoid prosecution on a gun-related charge collapsed in July.

On Thursday (September 12), the prosecutors accused Hunter of making false statements related to drug use in order to acquire a firearm in 2018, the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware stated.

They said that Hunter falsely claimed that he was "not an unlawful user of and addicted to any stimulant narcotic drug" when he purchased a Colt Cobra Special revolver at a Delaware gun store in October 2018.

US federal laws deem it a crime to lie on such documentation or possess a firearm while being a drug user.

It is still unclear when and where Biden's initial court appearance will take place.

<h2>What are the charges?</h2>

If convicted, the 53-year-old might face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000, the justice department said in a statement.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are usually less than the maximum possible penalties.

These are three counts of indictment that was handed to Hunter.

<ul>
	<li>Count One accuses Hunter Biden of lying on an ATF form when he bought the gun, by falsely swearing that he wasn’t addicted to illegal drugs or using illegal drugs.</li>
	<li>Count Two accuses Hunter Biden of lying to the federally licensed gun dealer in Wilmington where he bought the gun. The alleged lie was related to the same sworn statement on the ATF form.</li>
	<li>Count Three accuses Hunter Biden of illegally possessing the gun while using drugs or being addicted to drugs, which is a federal crime. He possessed the gun for 11 days in 2018.</li>
</ul>

<h2>What are the defendants saying?</h2>

After the indictment, Hunter’s attorney Abbe Lowell said that the charges should not have been filed, citing the plea deal they had reached with prosecutors earlier this year.

“We believe these charges are barred by the agreement the prosecutors made with Mr Biden, the recent rulings by several federal courts that this statute is unconstitutional, and the facts that he did not violate that law, and we plan to demonstrate all of that in court,” Lowell said.

He claimed that the charges had been influenced by "Republicans' improper and partisan interference in this process".

He said his client "did not violate the law" and that his brief possession of an unloaded gun was never a threat to public safety.

"But a prosecutor, with all the power imaginable, bending to political pressure presents a grave threat to our system of justice," Lowell said.

<h2>What was the proposed bargain deal that Hunter did not accept?</h2>

The indictment charges were brought against Hunter after he did not agree to a bargain deal where he had to plead guilty to two misdemeanour counts for failing to pay his taxes on time in 2017 and 2018.

He would also have been forced to admit to illegal possession of a firearm and agree to drug treatment and monitoring to avoid a felony charge and potential imprisonment.

However, US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika at that time said she could not "rubber stamp the agreement", adding that the proposed resolution of the gun-related offence was "unusual".

Thursday's charges are the first brought by justice department special counsel Davis Weiss, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August.

Weiss' office had previously said he was seeking to indict Hunter by 29 September.

<h2>Ramifications for Joe Biden </h2>

It is absolutely certain that Hunter’s legal woes would deal a massive blow to his father, be it personal or political.&nbsp;For quite some time, Republicans have been looking to exploit the president's son's vulnerability ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-administration-shelling-265000-to-protect-itself-from-legal-troubles-523664">&nbsp;Biden administration splurging $265,000 to protect itself from legal troubles</a>

Hunter’s case would not only help the Republicans corner the Democrats but also help distract from their own problems with Donald Trump, who is facing 91 federal and state criminal charges, which they claim is a result of a deep state conspiracy orchestrated in part by Joe Biden's Department of Justice.

Apart from that, most Democrats are reportedly not happy that Joe Biden is running for the White House again in 2024.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hunter-biden-indicted-on-federal-firearms-charges-636052">Hunter Biden indicted on federal firearms charges for lying about addiction</a>

Notably, Thursday's indictment came just days after the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, announced an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, a move dismissed as a political stunt by the White House.

McCarthy said there were "serious and credible allegations" into the family's business dealings and President Biden's conduct. And Republicans will hope this new inquiry implicates the president in the peddling of power and corruption.

Hence, all of these outcomes might play a significant part in Biden’s prospects in what promises to be a turbulent election year.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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>

Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, was indicted on three criminal counts in connection with buying arms while being under the influence of cocaine.

Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, was indicted on three criminal counts in connection with buying arms while being under the influence of cocaine. This is the first time that a child of a sitting US president has been criminally prosecuted. The charges come after a bargain to plead guilty to two misdemeanour tax charges and enroll in a programme to avoid prosecution on a gun-related charge collapsed in July. On Thursday (September 12), the prosecutors accused Hunter of making false statements related to drug use in order to acquire a firearm in 2018, the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware stated. They said that Hunter falsely claimed that he was "not an unlawful user of and addicted to any stimulant narcotic drug" when he purchased a Colt Cobra Special revolver at a Delaware gun store in October 2018. US federal laws deem it a crime to lie on such documentation or possess a firearm while being a drug user. It is still unclear when and where Biden's initial court appearance will take place. What are the charges? If convicted, the 53-year-old might face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000, the justice department said in a statement. Actual sentences for federal crimes are usually less than the maximum possible penalties. These are three counts of indictment that was handed to Hunter. Count One accuses Hunter Biden of lying on an ATF form when he bought the gun, by falsely swearing that he wasn’t addicted to illegal drugs or using illegal drugs. Count Two accuses Hunter Biden of lying to the federally licensed gun dealer in Wilmington where he bought the gun. The alleged lie was related to the same sworn statement on the ATF form. Count Three accuses Hunter Biden of illegally possessing the gun while using drugs or being addicted to drugs, which is a federal crime. He possessed the gun for 11 days in 2018. What are the defendants saying? After the indictment, Hunter’s attorney Abbe Lowell said that the charges should not have been filed, citing the plea deal they had reached with prosecutors earlier this year. “We believe these charges are barred by the agreement the prosecutors made with Mr Biden, the recent rulings by several federal courts that this statute is unconstitutional, and the facts that he did not violate that law, and we plan to demonstrate all of that in court,” Lowell said. He claimed that the charges had been influenced by "Republicans' improper and partisan interference in this process". He said his client "did not violate the law" and that his brief possession of an unloaded gun was never a threat to public safety. "But a prosecutor, with all the power imaginable, bending to political pressure presents a grave threat to our system of justice," Lowell said. What was the proposed bargain deal that Hunter did not accept? The indictment charges were brought against Hunter after he did not agree to a bargain deal where he had to plead guilty to two misdemeanour counts for failing to pay his taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. He would also have been forced to admit to illegal possession of a firearm and agree to drug treatment and monitoring to avoid a felony charge and potential imprisonment. However, US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika at that time said she could not "rubber stamp the agreement", adding that the proposed resolution of the gun-related offence was "unusual". Thursday's charges are the first brought by justice department special counsel Davis Weiss, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August. Weiss' office had previously said he was seeking to indict Hunter by 29 September. Ramifications for Joe Biden It is absolutely certain that Hunter’s legal woes would deal a massive blow to his father, be it personal or political. For quite some time, Republicans have been looking to exploit the president's son's vulnerability ahead of the 2024 presidential elections. Also read | Biden administration splurging $265,000 to protect itself from legal troubles Hunter’s case would not only help the Republicans corner the Democrats but also help distract from their own problems with Donald Trump, who is facing 91 federal and state criminal charges, which they claim is a result of a deep state conspiracy orchestrated in part by Joe Biden's Department of Justice. Apart from that, most Democrats are reportedly not happy that Joe Biden is running for the White House again in 2024. Also read | Hunter Biden indicted on federal firearms charges for lying about addiction Notably, Thursday's indictment came just days after the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, announced an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, a move dismissed as a political stunt by the White House. McCarthy said there were "serious and credible allegations" into the family's business dealings and President Biden's conduct. And Republicans will hope this new inquiry implicates the president in the peddling of power and corruption. Hence, all of these outcomes might play a significant part in Biden’s prospects in what promises to be a turbulent election year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | Charges faced by Hunter Biden, what his indictment means for dad Joe Biden

As per recent media reports, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has boarded his bulletproof train which is on its way to Russia's port city Vladivostok, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. 
 
In accordance with a long-standing tradition followed by North Korean leaders, Kim will be spending more than 20 hours on a slow-moving locomotive and covering around 1,180km (733 miles). The train is said to have a restaurant which serves dishes like fresh lobster and fine French wines. 
 
The train's heavy armoured protection makes it move at a mere speed of about 50km/h (31mph), in comparison to London's high-speed rail which can run at around 200km/h and Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains can reach 320 km/h. 
 
The train has been named Taeyangho, which means the sun in the Korean language and is a symbolic reference to the country's founder Kim Il Sung.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/train-with-possibly-kim-jong-un-on-board-leaves-north-korea-for-russia-south-korean-media-634806">Kim Jong Un to visit Russia at Putin's invitation 'in coming days', Kremlin confirms</a>

<h2>The tradition of trains</h2>

Kim Jong Un's grandfather Kim Il Sung started the tradition of long-distance travel via train after he started going on train trips to Vietnam and Eastern Europe. 
 
Security agents heavily guard these luxurious trains and scan the routes and stations&nbsp;for bombs and other threats. 
 
As per reports, Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il used to travel by train because he had a fear of planes. In 2001, Kim Jong Il famously travelled by train for 10 days to reach Moscow and hold talks with Putin. 
 
Speaking about the train's opulence, Russian military commander Konstantin Pulikovsky had stated in his memoir, "It was possible to order any dish of Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and French cuisine." 
 
He further stated that live lobsters were transported to the train to ensure fresh delicacies were available. He stated that even the private train of Putin "did not have the comfort of Kim Jong Il's train”.

WATCH |&nbsp;North Korea's Kim Jong Un to visit Russia for talks with Putin | Russia-Ukraine war

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-to-visit-russia-for-talks-with-putin-russia-ukraine-war-634978/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Luxurious private planes</h2>

Apart from trains, Kim also travels in other forms of luxurious transport, like private planes. After coming to power, the North Korean leader boarded his first international flight to reach the Chinese city of Dalian in May 2018, where he was scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. 
 
The aircraft, aboard which he went to China, was a Soviet-made long-range aircraft called the Ilyushin-62 (Il-62). As per media reports, Kim has previously used his private jet to travel within the country. 
 
As per local media, the aircraft is called "Chammae-1" which has been named after the goshawk, the national bird of North Korea. The plane's white exterior is emblazoned with the official name of North Korea in Korean on both sides, with the national flag accompanying the text. The tail has a red star placed inside blue and red circles. The plane has modern interiors, and occasionally Kim has been photographed working inside the aircraft and holding meetings onboard. 
 
According to a documentary aired by Korean Central Television in 2014, Kim was also seen flying a Ukrainian Antonov-148 (AN-148), which features the logo of state airline Air Koryo.

<h2>Kim's personal Mercedes-Benz S-Class</h2>

Kim had travelled via train to the Chinese capital Beijing in March 2018, but was seen travelling in his Mercedes-Benz S-Class across the city. As per South Korean daily JoongAng Ilbo, the officials had specially transported the car on board the train. 
 
Manufactured in 2010, the car cost roughly around 2 billion Korean won ($1.8 million), as reported by the paper. 
 
During the 2018 inter-Korean summit held at Panmunjom, the favoured S-Class model of Kim was prominent when he drove it across the border, as his bodyguards ran alongside. 
 
It was also reported that his convoy at the summit featured a private toilet car which was used by Kim to relieve himself while travelling. The report of a private toilet car was mentioned in a 2015 report by the Seoul-based website DailyNK, which stated that a customised bathroom had been built into one of the cars of a convoy of armoured vehicles of Kim.

<h2>Mystery yacht</h2>

North Korea's state media said that the leader has been riding on submarines, buses, boats and also a ski lift. He has also been rumoured to use different forms of transport, but these remain to be seen in his excursions abroad. 
 
When photos of the leader's visit to an army-run fishing station in May 2013 were published by the state media, a yacht was observed by NK News in the background. 
 
No clear information was available on the vessel, which is said to belong to Kim and its cost was estimated at $7 million. It also remained a mystery how the yacht was imported even though there are international sanctions on luxury goods. 
 
However, considering the price of the yacht, many international media outlets believed that the ruler of the nation was its most likely owner. 
 
Washington-based Radio Free Asia in June 2015 reported that a researcher had seen a new helipad at the lakeside villa of Kim in South Pyongan province. 
 
The researcher, who was working at the US-Korea Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, stated that the helipad was likely being used by the family of Kim or visitors.&nbsp;

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As per recent media reports, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has boarded his bulletproof train which is on its way to Russia's port city Vladivostok, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As per recent media reports, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has boarded his bulletproof train which is on its way to Russia's port city Vladivostok, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. In accordance with a long-standing tradition followed by North Korean leaders, Kim will be spending more than 20 hours on a slow-moving locomotive and covering around 1,180km (733 miles). The train is said to have a restaurant which serves dishes like fresh lobster and fine French wines. The train's heavy armoured protection makes it move at a mere speed of about 50km/h (31mph), in comparison to London's high-speed rail which can run at around 200km/h and Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains can reach 320 km/h. The train has been named Taeyangho, which means the sun in the Korean language and is a symbolic reference to the country's founder Kim Il Sung. ALSO READ | Kim Jong Un to visit Russia at Putin's invitation 'in coming days', Kremlin confirms The tradition of trains Kim Jong Un's grandfather Kim Il Sung started the tradition of long-distance travel via train after he started going on train trips to Vietnam and Eastern Europe. Security agents heavily guard these luxurious trains and scan the routes and stations for bombs and other threats. As per reports, Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il used to travel by train because he had a fear of planes. In 2001, Kim Jong Il famously travelled by train for 10 days to reach Moscow and hold talks with Putin. Speaking about the train's opulence, Russian military commander Konstantin Pulikovsky had stated in his memoir, "It was possible to order any dish of Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and French cuisine." He further stated that live lobsters were transported to the train to ensure fresh delicacies were available. He stated that even the private train of Putin "did not have the comfort of Kim Jong Il's train”. WATCH | North Korea's Kim Jong Un to visit Russia for talks with Putin | Russia-Ukraine war Luxurious private planes Apart from trains, Kim also travels in other forms of luxurious transport, like private planes. After coming to power, the North Korean leader boarded his first international flight to reach the Chinese city of Dalian in May 2018, where he was scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The aircraft, aboard which he went to China, was a Soviet-made long-range aircraft called the Ilyushin-62 (Il-62). As per media reports, Kim has previously used his private jet to travel within the country. As per local media, the aircraft is called "Chammae-1" which has been named after the goshawk, the national bird of North Korea. The plane's white exterior is emblazoned with the official name of North Korea in Korean on both sides, with the national flag accompanying the text. The tail has a red star placed inside blue and red circles. The plane has modern interiors, and occasionally Kim has been photographed working inside the aircraft and holding meetings onboard. According to a documentary aired by Korean Central Television in 2014, Kim was also seen flying a Ukrainian Antonov-148 (AN-148), which features the logo of state airline Air Koryo. Kim's personal Mercedes-Benz S-Class Kim had travelled via train to the Chinese capital Beijing in March 2018, but was seen travelling in his Mercedes-Benz S-Class across the city. As per South Korean daily JoongAng Ilbo, the officials had specially transported the car on board the train. Manufactured in 2010, the car cost roughly around 2 billion Korean won ($1.8 million), as reported by the paper. During the 2018 inter-Korean summit held at Panmunjom, the favoured S-Class model of Kim was prominent when he drove it across the border, as his bodyguards ran alongside. It was also reported that his convoy at the summit featured a private toilet car which was used by Kim to relieve himself while travelling. The report of a private toilet car was mentioned in a 2015 report by the Seoul-based website DailyNK, which stated that a customised bathroom had been built into one of the cars of a convoy of armoured vehicles of Kim. Mystery yacht North Korea's state media said that the leader has been riding on submarines, buses, boats and also a ski lift. He has also been rumoured to use different forms of transport, but these remain to be seen in his excursions abroad. When photos of the leader's visit to an army-run fishing station in May 2013 were published by the state media, a yacht was observed by NK News in the background. No clear information was available on the vessel, which is said to belong to Kim and its cost was estimated at $7 million. It also remained a mystery how the yacht was imported even though there are international sanctions on luxury goods. However, considering the price of the yacht, many international media outlets believed that the ruler of the nation was its most likely owner. Washington-based Radio Free Asia in June 2015 reported that a researcher had seen a new helipad at the lakeside villa of Kim in South Pyongan province. The researcher, who was working at the US-Korea Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, stated that the helipad was likely being used by the family of Kim or visitors. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | An armoured train & a mystery yacht are just a few ways Kim Jong Un travels

Google parent Alphabet Inc will be taking on the US Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general in what is being seen as the biggest antitrust trial in America. Starting Tuesday (September 9), the tech giant will battle the US governmental agencies in a blockbuster trial that alleges that Alphabet's Google unlawfully abused its dominance in the search-engine market to maintain its monopoly.

Here's all you need to know about the marathon battle.

<h2>What the trial is all about</h2>

The US and its state allies contend that Google has unfairly forged its position as the world's pre-eminent search engine.

They allege that Google's domination of online search is a result of exclusivity contracts the tech titan signed with device makers, mobile operators and other companies. These contracts allegedly involved making Google the default search engine on most phones and web browsers.

Filed in 2020, the lawsuit alleges that such contracts were intended to be "exclusionary" by Google and that they left rivals no chance to compete with the search engine, enabling its position as the search market king.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-asks-google-asked-to-pay-usd-3387-million-in-chromecast-patent-case-619018">Judge asks Google to pay USD 338.7 million in Chromecast patent case</a>

It also alleges that such contracts have resulted in less choice for consumers and also less innovation.

This, in turn, helped Google parent firm Alphabet to be one of the richest companies on the planet. As per government estimates, Google has grabbed a 90 per cent of the market share in search in recent years.

Ad revenue from Google accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the income generated by Google parent Alphabet.

"Two decades ago, Google became the darling of Silicon Valley as a scrappy start-up with an innovative way to search the emerging internet," said the Justice Department in its lawsuit.&nbsp;"That Google is long gone."

The lawsuit also argues that Google illegally down-ranked sites such as Yelp and Expedia. These allegations were tossed out pre-trial by the presiding judge.

<h2>What Google has to say in its defence</h2>

Google denies these allegations and maintains that it did not violate&nbsp;the US antitrust law. In a court filing in January, Google said its browser agreements were "legitimate competition" and not "illicit exclusion."

It said these arguments did not prevent Google rival firms from developing their own rival search engines.&nbsp;

Google also said that the contracts did not stop rival companies like Mozilla and Apple from promoting their search engines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-justice-department-to-sue-google-for-the-second-time-report-555359">US justice department to sue Google for the second time over market dominance: Report</a>

The tech giant further claimed in its court filing that the phone and web browsers make Google search the default search engine to provide their customers the "highest quality" experience.

It also said that users can easily switch search engines if they don't want to use Google.

In a blog post, as reported by AFP, Kent Walker, Google president of global affairs, said: "In sum, people don't use Google because they have to — they use it because they want to."

<h2>US antitrust law</h2>

As per Reuters, it is not illegal for a business to enter into exclusive arrangements with specific customers. In fact, such deals are a common business practice, and they rarely raise concerns or regulatory scrutiny, especially when a company lacks significant market power that could substantially affect competition.

However, exclusive deals can become illegal under antitrust laws if a company is considered having significant market power and uses these exclusive arrangements to prevent competitors from entering the market.&nbsp;

In such cases, the company must demonstrate that any restrictions on competition result are beneficial to its consumers.

The US antitrust law places the burden of proof in the upcoming trial on the Justice Department. It will have to prove that Google's business deals have harmed competition.&nbsp;

After that, Google will have the opportunity to argue at the non-jury trial that these deals actually benefit consumers. In other words, they may argue that the positive impact on consumers outweighs any negative effects on competition.

<h2>How long will the trial last?</h2>

Over a period of roughly 10 weeks, Judge Amit P Mehta will hear more than 100 witness testimonies and decide whether the case brought by the US Department of Justice has any merit or not.

His ruling, as per AFP, is expected "many months" after the roughly three months of expected hearings.

As per the news agency, whether Judge Mehta rules on Google's favour or the DoJ's, the ruling will certainly be appealed, so the case may drag on for years.

<h2>What happens to Google if it loses?</h2>

Google will not face a mere monetary penalty. Instead, the US DoJ and its state allies are seeking an injunction barring Google for continuing the alleged "exclusionary" anticompetitive practices.&nbsp;

If it loses, the tech giant faces serious business implications. The government's lawsuit suggests that the court could consider breaking up the company as a solution to this alleged non-competitive practices.

Furthermore, the Justice Department may argue that its objective is to stop Google from using its alleged search monopoly to enter into additional exclusive agreements in emerging sectors, such as artificial intelligence.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Google parent Alphabet Inc will be taking on the US Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general in what is being seen as the biggest antitrust trial in America.

Google parent Alphabet Inc will be taking on the US Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general in what is being seen as the biggest antitrust trial in America. Starting Tuesday (September 9), the tech giant will battle the US governmental agencies in a blockbuster trial that alleges that Alphabet's Google unlawfully abused its dominance in the search-engine market to maintain its monopoly. Here's all you need to know about the marathon battle. What the trial is all about The US and its state allies contend that Google has unfairly forged its position as the world's pre-eminent search engine. They allege that Google's domination of online search is a result of exclusivity contracts the tech titan signed with device makers, mobile operators and other companies. These contracts allegedly involved making Google the default search engine on most phones and web browsers. Filed in 2020, the lawsuit alleges that such contracts were intended to be "exclusionary" by Google and that they left rivals no chance to compete with the search engine, enabling its position as the search market king. Also read | Judge asks Google to pay USD 338.7 million in Chromecast patent case It also alleges that such contracts have resulted in less choice for consumers and also less innovation. This, in turn, helped Google parent firm Alphabet to be one of the richest companies on the planet. As per government estimates, Google has grabbed a 90 per cent of the market share in search in recent years. Ad revenue from Google accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the income generated by Google parent Alphabet. "Two decades ago, Google became the darling of Silicon Valley as a scrappy start-up with an innovative way to search the emerging internet," said the Justice Department in its lawsuit. "That Google is long gone." The lawsuit also argues that Google illegally down-ranked sites such as Yelp and Expedia. These allegations were tossed out pre-trial by the presiding judge. What Google has to say in its defence Google denies these allegations and maintains that it did not violate the US antitrust law. In a court filing in January, Google said its browser agreements were "legitimate competition" and not "illicit exclusion." It said these arguments did not prevent Google rival firms from developing their own rival search engines. Google also said that the contracts did not stop rival companies like Mozilla and Apple from promoting their search engines. Also read | US justice department to sue Google for the second time over market dominance: Report The tech giant further claimed in its court filing that the phone and web browsers make Google search the default search engine to provide their customers the "highest quality" experience. It also said that users can easily switch search engines if they don't want to use Google. In a blog post, as reported by AFP, Kent Walker, Google president of global affairs, said: "In sum, people don't use Google because they have to — they use it because they want to." US antitrust law As per Reuters, it is not illegal for a business to enter into exclusive arrangements with specific customers. In fact, such deals are a common business practice, and they rarely raise concerns or regulatory scrutiny, especially when a company lacks significant market power that could substantially affect competition. However, exclusive deals can become illegal under antitrust laws if a company is considered having significant market power and uses these exclusive arrangements to prevent competitors from entering the market. In such cases, the company must demonstrate that any restrictions on competition result are beneficial to its consumers. The US antitrust law places the burden of proof in the upcoming trial on the Justice Department. It will have to prove that Google's business deals have harmed competition. After that, Google will have the opportunity to argue at the non-jury trial that these deals actually benefit consumers. In other words, they may argue that the positive impact on consumers outweighs any negative effects on competition. How long will the trial last? Over a period of roughly 10 weeks, Judge Amit P Mehta will hear more than 100 witness testimonies and decide whether the case brought by the US Department of Justice has any merit or not. His ruling, as per AFP, is expected "many months" after the roughly three months of expected hearings. As per the news agency, whether Judge Mehta rules on Google's favour or the DoJ's, the ruling will certainly be appealed, so the case may drag on for years. What happens to Google if it loses? Google will not face a mere monetary penalty. Instead, the US DoJ and its state allies are seeking an injunction barring Google for continuing the alleged "exclusionary" anticompetitive practices. If it loses, the tech giant faces serious business implications. The government's lawsuit suggests that the court could consider breaking up the company as a solution to this alleged non-competitive practices. Furthermore, the Justice Department may argue that its objective is to stop Google from using its alleged search monopoly to enter into additional exclusive agreements in emerging sectors, such as artificial intelligence. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Google vs US Justice Department: Why the biggest antitrust trial in US is crucial

Armenian PM termed his country's policy of solely depending on Russia for security a 'strategic mistake'. PM Nikol Pashinyan stated that Moscow failed to deliver its promise.

Was Armenia depending solely on Russia for security a 'strategic mistake'? Here's what PM has to say

Rustem Umerov will be Ukraine's new defence minister, replacing Oleksii Reznikov who helmed the administrative apparatus of Ukrainian defence since the beginning of war in the region in February 2022 for a full 550-day period.&nbsp;

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Umerov's nomination as the new defence minister and stated that the parliament would vote on it this week.&nbsp;<img alt="Rustem Umerov has been named Ukraine's new defence minister | Wikimedia Commons" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b97bad5-a0e2-4216-9d9e-4b04551b03f1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-04T101929.313.png" />

Rustem Umerov has been named Ukraine's new defence minister | Wikimedia Commons

Notably, the outgoing Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov is a member of an opposition party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform and is not a member of Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Rustem Umerov as Ukrainian defence minister: Top challenges</h2>

Umerov will become Ukrainian defence minister when the country has lost an additional 119,000 sq km (46,000 sq mi) territory to Russia, and Kyiv's much-anticipated counter-offensive to reclaim this territory is faltering to the point that it's now reliant on drone attacks to dismantle Russian positions across the frontline.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/putins-actions-in-ukraine-do-not-make-indians-anti-russia-heres-why-613578">Putin’s actions in Ukraine do not make Indians anti-Russia. Here’s why</a>

Russia has taken over&nbsp;42,000 sq km of Ukrainian territory by 2022 (Crimea, and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk collectively known as the Donbas region).

Umerov faces the immediate challenge of preventing further disintegration of the nation at the hands of the Russian offensive, a perpetual conflict that so far has resulted in the loss of 27 per cent of Ukraine's pre-2014 territory.

Umerov is a prominent member of the Crimean Tatar community and has represented Ukraine in delicate negotiations with Russia after what Kyiv says was the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Moscow in March 2014.&nbsp;

<h2>Umerov at forefront of reversing Russian annexation of Crimea</h2>

Starting his career in the telecom industry in 2004, the 41-year-old was elected to the Ukrainian parliament in 2019.&nbsp;

During his time there, he co-chaired the Crimea Platform, an international diplomatic initiative aimed at reversing Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.&nbsp;

Umerov has also served as an advisor to the historic leader of the Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev.

After Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Umerov has been involved in confidential talks with Russian officials, including negotiations for high-profile prisoner exchanges and civilian evacuations.&nbsp;

He has been a key figure in Ukraine's efforts to establish an export corridor for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, which Russia later withdrew from.

In September of the previous year, he was appointed as the head of the State Property Fund, a challenging position in Ukraine where privatisation has been marred by corruption.

<h2>Umerov to be new defence minister: Why Zelensky made the change?</h2>

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine cited the need for "new approaches" while announcing Umerov as the country's next defence minister.&nbsp;

The fate of the existing defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, came under intense speculations in Ukraine after financial irregularities in the defence ministry came to light and the government launched a number of investigations into corruption allegations in general.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Has Russia blunted Ukraine's counteroffensive with NATO weapons?

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"Oleksii Reznikov has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war," &nbsp;Zelensky said in a statement announcing his decision on Sunday night. "I believe that the ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society at large."

At present, Ukraine faces the challenge of expanding its army amid the transition of its Soviet-era arsenal to the Western systems.

Notably, while the West is supplying Ukraine with weapons, the Ukrainian defence forces have been trained to operate Soviet-era weaponry. So, training a war-ravaged force on a different system of weaponry altogether while trying to regain territories lost to Russia, will remain the incoming defence minister's top priority.

In its counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions in the country’s south, Ukraine has deployed US and European armoured vehicles, tanks, artillery and guided rockets with disputed effectiveness.&nbsp;

<h2>Umerov's controversial actions after Russian annexation of Crimea</h2>

Umerov in April 2021 stated that Ukraine would not supply water to Crimea after its annexation by Russia. Umerov justified this by saying that since Russia has violated international law, it is responsible for the humanitarian needs of the Crimean people.

<h2>Umerov's ancestors were accused of being Nazi collaborators</h2>

Born in Soviet Uzbekistan, Umerov and his family returned to Crimea in Ukraine during the 1980s and 1990s when the Tatars were allowed to come back from Uzbekistan.

In 1944, Russian leader Joseph Stalin ordered the deportation of the entire Crimean Tatar community (roughly 200,000 in number) and accused them of collaborating with the Nazis. Stalin’s government forcibly loaded most Crimean Tatar onto freight cars bound for Central Asia, where they were to be resettled. Reports suggest that nearly half of the deported died during the ordeal.&nbsp;

Stalin's claim is deemed false by most post-second world war analysis, and has been formally recognised as a crime of genocide or 'cultural genocide'.

Umerov's family funded the restoration of a 17th-century Orta Cami Mosque in Bakhchysarai in an act to regain Crimea's cultural and historical heritage.&nbsp;

The reconstructed mosque, which had been inactive for about 95 years, reopened on 16 August 2013.&nbsp;

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Rustem Umerov will be Ukraine's new defence minister, replacing Oleksii Reznikov who helmed the administrative apparatus of Ukrainian defence since the beginning of war in the region in February 2022 for a full 550-day period.

Rustem Umerov will be Ukraine's new defence minister, replacing Oleksii Reznikov who helmed the administrative apparatus of Ukrainian defence since the beginning of war in the region in February 2022 for a full 550-day period. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Umerov's nomination as the new defence minister and stated that the parliament would vote on it this week. Rustem Umerov has been named Ukraine's new defence minister | Wikimedia Commons Notably, the outgoing Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov is a member of an opposition party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform and is not a member of Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party. Rustem Umerov as Ukrainian defence minister: Top challenges Umerov will become Ukrainian defence minister when the country has lost an additional 119,000 sq km (46,000 sq mi) territory to Russia, and Kyiv's much-anticipated counter-offensive to reclaim this territory is faltering to the point that it's now reliant on drone attacks to dismantle Russian positions across the frontline. Also read | Putin’s actions in Ukraine do not make Indians anti-Russia. Here’s why Russia has taken over 42,000 sq km of Ukrainian territory by 2022 (Crimea, and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk collectively known as the Donbas region). Umerov faces the immediate challenge of preventing further disintegration of the nation at the hands of the Russian offensive, a perpetual conflict that so far has resulted in the loss of 27 per cent of Ukraine's pre-2014 territory. Umerov is a prominent member of the Crimean Tatar community and has represented Ukraine in delicate negotiations with Russia after what Kyiv says was the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Moscow in March 2014. Umerov at forefront of reversing Russian annexation of Crimea Starting his career in the telecom industry in 2004, the 41-year-old was elected to the Ukrainian parliament in 2019. During his time there, he co-chaired the Crimea Platform, an international diplomatic initiative aimed at reversing Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. Umerov has also served as an advisor to the historic leader of the Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev. After Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Umerov has been involved in confidential talks with Russian officials, including negotiations for high-profile prisoner exchanges and civilian evacuations. He has been a key figure in Ukraine's efforts to establish an export corridor for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, which Russia later withdrew from. In September of the previous year, he was appointed as the head of the State Property Fund, a challenging position in Ukraine where privatisation has been marred by corruption. Umerov to be new defence minister: Why Zelensky made the change? President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine cited the need for "new approaches" while announcing Umerov as the country's next defence minister. The fate of the existing defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, came under intense speculations in Ukraine after financial irregularities in the defence ministry came to light and the government launched a number of investigations into corruption allegations in general. Also watch | Gravitas: Has Russia blunted Ukraine's counteroffensive with NATO weapons? × "Oleksii Reznikov has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war," Zelensky said in a statement announcing his decision on Sunday night. "I believe that the ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society at large." At present, Ukraine faces the challenge of expanding its army amid the transition of its Soviet-era arsenal to the Western systems. Notably, while the West is supplying Ukraine with weapons, the Ukrainian defence forces have been trained to operate Soviet-era weaponry. So, training a war-ravaged force on a different system of weaponry altogether while trying to regain territories lost to Russia, will remain the incoming defence minister's top priority. In its counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions in the country’s south, Ukraine has deployed US and European armoured vehicles, tanks, artillery and guided rockets with disputed effectiveness. Umerov's controversial actions after Russian annexation of Crimea Umerov in April 2021 stated that Ukraine would not supply water to Crimea after its annexation by Russia. Umerov justified this by saying that since Russia has violated international law, it is responsible for the humanitarian needs of the Crimean people. Umerov's ancestors were accused of being Nazi collaborators Born in Soviet Uzbekistan, Umerov and his family returned to Crimea in Ukraine during the 1980s and 1990s when the Tatars were allowed to come back from Uzbekistan. In 1944, Russian leader Joseph Stalin ordered the deportation of the entire Crimean Tatar community (roughly 200,000 in number) and accused them of collaborating with the Nazis. Stalin’s government forcibly loaded most Crimean Tatar onto freight cars bound for Central Asia, where they were to be resettled. Reports suggest that nearly half of the deported died during the ordeal. Stalin's claim is deemed false by most post-second world war analysis, and has been formally recognised as a crime of genocide or 'cultural genocide'. Umerov's family funded the restoration of a 17th-century Orta Cami Mosque in Bakhchysarai in an act to regain Crimea's cultural and historical heritage. The reconstructed mosque, which had been inactive for about 95 years, reopened on 16 August 2013. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Inside Ukrainian shake up that forced Zelensky to replace his defence minister

In a significant achievement set to redefine the realm of human biology, scientists have successfully sequenced the Y chromosome for the first time. The breakthrough translates into the unearthing of valuable information about human genetic material that could revolutionise the study of male infertility and various health disorders.

Initial attempts to decipher the fundamental elements of our genetic code occurred two decades ago, yet significant gaps persisted across the 23 pairs of human chromosomes. These gaps were substantially filled last year by an international collective of 100 researchers known as the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium.

<h2>Why is it a major scientific breakthrough?</h2>

This is because the Y chromosome is the most intricate of all chromosomes.&nbsp;

More than half of the sequences within the Y chromosome remained a mystery despite the purported success of the Human Genome Project and the T2T consortium. But now a group of scientists has completed the missing parts, unveiling a comprehensive Y chromosome sequence.

The findings were published in the journal Nature.

Monika Cechova, co-lead author of the study, remarked in an official statement, "Just a few years ago, half of the human Y chromosome was missing (from the reference)." She further added, "This is really a huge shift in what’s possible."

Ordinarily, humans possess a pair of sex chromosomes within each cell, with males inheriting an X and a Y chromosome, while females possess two X chromosomes.

<h2>What does it mean?</h2>

The newfound precision within the updated Y reference sequence will facilitate the exploration of conditions and disorders tied to this chromosome, including infertility due to inadequate sperm production.

Recent research also underscores the Y chromosome's broader importance in matters of health and longevity.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Researchers fully sequence the Y chromosome for the first time

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Professor Kenneth Walsh from the University of Virginia School of Medicine told CNN that certain genes on the Y chromosome are pivotal for preventing cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Termed the "dark matter" of the genome, the Y chromosome has remained enigmatic.&nbsp;

However, this new analysis offers insights into its regulatory functions, as well as the potential encoding of mRNA and proteins.

“Genes have been identified on the Y chromosome that has been shown to be required for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease,” Walsh reportedly told CNN via email.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-how-x-chromosome-gets-its-shape-solving-one-of-lifes-greatest-mysteries-584602">Scientists discover how X chromosome gets its shape, solving one of life's greatest mysteries</a>

“The Y chromosome has represented the ‘dark matter’ of the genome,” he added. “This new analysis will allow us to better understand the regions of the Y chromosome that have regulatory functions and may encode mRNA and proteins.”

As people age, especially in cells with rapid turnover such as blood cells, the Y chromosome starts to dwindle. The reasons and health implications behind this phenomenon have been unclear, though recent research suggests links to severe bladder cancer and heightened heart disease risk.

A comprehensive genetic reference for the Y chromosome may shed light on these connections.&nbsp;

According to Walsh, this research represents just the tip of the iceberg in comprehending the Y chromosome's role in age-related diseases, potentially contributing to the understanding of men's shorter lifespans compared to women.

<h2>How complex is the Y chromosome?</h2>

The Y chromosome contains over 30 million repetitive letters among its total of 62.5 million, often termed satellite or junk DNA.&nbsp;

It also contains palindromes—sequences of letters that read the same backwards and forward.

Unravelling the mystery posed a challenge due to its repetitive nature.&nbsp;

This repetition complicated the process of assembling data from genetic sequencing, likened to reading a book cut into strips where repetition obscures the original order.

Yet, advanced "long-read" sequencing technology and computational methods enabled researchers to achieve a complete reading of the Y chromosome.

This accomplishment added over 30 million repetitive base pairs to the human reference genome.

This year, researchers compiled a "pangenome," including DNA from individuals worldwide, enhancing inclusivity in the human genome. Alongside this, a collaborative team assembled Y chromosomes from diverse populations, capturing genetic variation.

Charles Lee, a senior author of the collaborative research paper, highlighted the vital role of proper Y chromosome gene function for men's overall health. He emphasized that their study empowers future sequencing endeavours to delve into health and disease aspects through comprehensive Y chromosome inclusion.

<h2>Y chromosome infertility</h2>

Y chromosome infertility is a common genetic condition that affects male fertility. It occurs in approximately 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 3,000 males of all ethnic groups.&nbsp;

It accounts for about 13 per cent of azoospermia (absence of motile sperm in semen) and 5 per cent of severe oligospermia (low sperm count) cases. Y-chromosome microdeletions, a specific type of genetic mutation, are known to cause this condition.

The Y chromosome plays a crucial role in male fertility, as it contains various genes, such as SRY (Sex-determining Region Y), and SOX9 (SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9), responsible for the development of the testes and the production of sperm. However, even a small portion of the Y chromosome missing can have significant consequences, such as reduced sperm production or a complete absence of sperm in the semen, leading to infertility.

The complete sequencing of the Y chromosome means that cause of this exact infertility can now be precisely ascertained and treated.&nbsp;

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In a significant achievement set to redefine the realm of human biology, scientists have successfully sequenced the Y chromosome for the first time. The breakthrough translates into the unearthing of valuable information about human genetic material that could revolutionise the study of male infertility and various health disorders.

In a significant achievement set to redefine the realm of human biology, scientists have successfully sequenced the Y chromosome for the first time. The breakthrough translates into the unearthing of valuable information about human genetic material that could revolutionise the study of male infertility and various health disorders. Initial attempts to decipher the fundamental elements of our genetic code occurred two decades ago, yet significant gaps persisted across the 23 pairs of human chromosomes. These gaps were substantially filled last year by an international collective of 100 researchers known as the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium. Why is it a major scientific breakthrough? This is because the Y chromosome is the most intricate of all chromosomes. More than half of the sequences within the Y chromosome remained a mystery despite the purported success of the Human Genome Project and the T2T consortium. But now a group of scientists has completed the missing parts, unveiling a comprehensive Y chromosome sequence. The findings were published in the journal Nature. Monika Cechova, co-lead author of the study, remarked in an official statement, "Just a few years ago, half of the human Y chromosome was missing (from the reference)." She further added, "This is really a huge shift in what’s possible." Ordinarily, humans possess a pair of sex chromosomes within each cell, with males inheriting an X and a Y chromosome, while females possess two X chromosomes. What does it mean? The newfound precision within the updated Y reference sequence will facilitate the exploration of conditions and disorders tied to this chromosome, including infertility due to inadequate sperm production. Recent research also underscores the Y chromosome's broader importance in matters of health and longevity. Also watch | Researchers fully sequence the Y chromosome for the first time × Professor Kenneth Walsh from the University of Virginia School of Medicine told CNN that certain genes on the Y chromosome are pivotal for preventing cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Termed the "dark matter" of the genome, the Y chromosome has remained enigmatic. However, this new analysis offers insights into its regulatory functions, as well as the potential encoding of mRNA and proteins. “Genes have been identified on the Y chromosome that has been shown to be required for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease,” Walsh reportedly told CNN via email. Also read | Scientists discover how X chromosome gets its shape, solving one of life's greatest mysteries “The Y chromosome has represented the ‘dark matter’ of the genome,” he added. “This new analysis will allow us to better understand the regions of the Y chromosome that have regulatory functions and may encode mRNA and proteins.” As people age, especially in cells with rapid turnover such as blood cells, the Y chromosome starts to dwindle. The reasons and health implications behind this phenomenon have been unclear, though recent research suggests links to severe bladder cancer and heightened heart disease risk. A comprehensive genetic reference for the Y chromosome may shed light on these connections. According to Walsh, this research represents just the tip of the iceberg in comprehending the Y chromosome's role in age-related diseases, potentially contributing to the understanding of men's shorter lifespans compared to women. How complex is the Y chromosome? The Y chromosome contains over 30 million repetitive letters among its total of 62.5 million, often termed satellite or junk DNA. It also contains palindromes—sequences of letters that read the same backwards and forward. Unravelling the mystery posed a challenge due to its repetitive nature. This repetition complicated the process of assembling data from genetic sequencing, likened to reading a book cut into strips where repetition obscures the original order. Yet, advanced "long-read" sequencing technology and computational methods enabled researchers to achieve a complete reading of the Y chromosome. This accomplishment added over 30 million repetitive base pairs to the human reference genome. This year, researchers compiled a "pangenome," including DNA from individuals worldwide, enhancing inclusivity in the human genome. Alongside this, a collaborative team assembled Y chromosomes from diverse populations, capturing genetic variation. Charles Lee, a senior author of the collaborative research paper, highlighted the vital role of proper Y chromosome gene function for men's overall health. He emphasized that their study empowers future sequencing endeavours to delve into health and disease aspects through comprehensive Y chromosome inclusion. Y chromosome infertility Y chromosome infertility is a common genetic condition that affects male fertility. It occurs in approximately 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 3,000 males of all ethnic groups. It accounts for about 13 per cent of azoospermia (absence of motile sperm in semen) and 5 per cent of severe oligospermia (low sperm count) cases. Y-chromosome microdeletions, a specific type of genetic mutation, are known to cause this condition. The Y chromosome plays a crucial role in male fertility, as it contains various genes, such as SRY (Sex-determining Region Y), and SOX9 (SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9), responsible for the development of the testes and the production of sperm. However, even a small portion of the Y chromosome missing can have significant consequences, such as reduced sperm production or a complete absence of sperm in the semen, leading to infertility. The complete sequencing of the Y chromosome means that cause of this exact infertility can now be precisely ascertained and treated. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Scientists finally decipher enigmatic Y chromosome, feat to help study male infertility

Almost a decade was spent by Wagner's slain chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to build the mercenary group. The group emerged as the central force in Russia's war against Ukraine and the troops of Prigozhin worked towards spreading influence of Moscow across the globe and gathering President Vladimir Putin's allies in Syria and Africa. 
 
Prigozhin's sudden death in a plane crash has now triggered multiple speculations about the dangling future of the group. But let's understand the journey taken by the Wagner group so far.

<h2>Prigozhin – a prison convict turned into a hot dog joint owner</h2>

Before the Wagner stint, Prigozhin – who was born in Leningrad, USSR (now St Petersburg, Russia) on 1 June 1961 – was one of the most influential and richest businessmen in Russia. 
 
However, before soaring the heights, he spent almost 13 years in prison after getting implicated in various robbery cases in the early 1980s. He was released in 1990 when the Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse. 
 
Once out of prison, Prigozhin started his business of selling hot dogs in St. Petersburg. As per the Guardian, in no time, Prigozhin had his hands in various ventures, from supermarkets to restaurants. 
 
In 1995, he finally set up a network of catering companies and restaurants, which included St. Petersburg's well-known company called Concord Catering. Soon after, Prigozhin entered the list of one of the country's wealthiest individuals. 
 
With the growing business, Prigozhin’s proximity with the Russian ruling class also increased. Prigozhin became the caterer of choice for the rich and powerful in Russia by the time Vladimir Putin came to power. 
 
Prigozhin became the one who provided catering when Putin hosted some important world leaders like Prince Charles and George Bush. The caterer and the Russian leader soon developed a friendship that changed the shape of world politics, before they turned into foes briefly that is being viewed as a cause of his end.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/video-shows-the-moment-wagner-chiefs-plane-tumbled-toward-ground-crashing-in-fireball-628645">A metallic bang and smoke: Witnesses describe the scene of Prigozhin's plane crash</a>

<h2>Rise and rise of Wagner group</h2>

It remained unclear who decided to form the Wagner Group – Putin or Prigozhin. However, the group was formed during Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014. Wagner Group and Russia's armed forces co-ordinated with each other but maintained their distance as recently as 2022. 
 
Even as private armies remained officially banned in Russia, Wagner Group troops operated with impunity during Crimea's 2014 invasion. After Crimea was captured, Wagner’s private military contractors (PMCs) went to Donbas in Eastern Ukraine and assisted pro-Russian separatist forces of the self-declared Luhansk and Donetsk from 2014 to 2015. 
 
In no time, Wagner became Putin's proxy army, getting their hands dirty in regions where Russia wanted to step in but officially could not. Prigozhin led this proxy army as a general. 
 
In 2015, Prigozhin sent his Wagner troops to Syria when Russia intervened militarily in the country to support Bashar al-Assad amid the civil war. Wagner chief also got food and supplies. In Syria, Wagner saw itself engaged in some of the most intense fighting and for the first time faced accusations of war crime. 
 
Slowly, Wagner Group was involved in every other conflict where Russia played a role, from civil wars in Libya and Sudan to Venezuela.

<h2>Invasion of Ukraine and Prigozhin's fallout with Putin</h2>

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the involvement of Prigozhin and his Wagner Group in the escalation was out in the open. Prigozhin also became an active recruiter and recruited convicts to fight the war. The group saw a sudden expansion with a surge of convict fighters. The group engaged in some of the heaviest fighting of the conflict and faced massive casualties. 
 
Wagner Group achieved success in May when it seized Bakhmut, an eastern Ukrainian city, at the end of some of the most brutal fighting. After the city was captured, Prigozhin called out the alleged treachery of top military brass, targetting Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. 
 
He continued criticising the military leadership of Russia for failing to care about his troops and using his&nbsp;fighters as cannon fodder. The brewing tensions soon resulted in the armed mutiny of the Wagner group on June 24. However, before his men could reach Moscow, Prigozhin asked them to stop as Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko announced that he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin. The Kremlin then announced that Prigozhin would shift to Belarus and won’t face prosecution.

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin dies in plane crash

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<h2>Wagner's leader's death and a question mark over empty seat</h2>

In a sudden development, it was reported that Prigozhin had apparently died in an Embraer jet crash in the north-west of Moscow, along with other nine passengers and crew onboard. A day later, his death was confirmed by Putin himself. 
 
Now with the death of Prigozhin, the complex commercial and military operations planned by the chief and the group across Africa, the Middle East and Europe hang in the balance. The operations of Wagner Group were already rolled up in Syria by Putin. 
 
After the mutiny, the forces of Wagner deployed in Ukraine gave a base to the regular military of Russia and started relocating to an army camp in Belarus. The group is likely to stay more or less intact in Africa under new management and can be taken over by another Russian mercenary group. 
 
As per analysts, Wagner Group is not likely to go through much changes in countries where it was operating through an official agreement with Moscow. CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera's political adviser Fidele Gouandjika said that since Wagner troops were present in the country through a state-level agreement with Russia, "nothing will affect the presence of these instructors". Prigozhin is "a dead leader, we can replace him," Gouandjika added.

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Almost a decade was spent by Wagner's slain chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to build the mercenary group. The group emerged as the central force in Russia's war against Ukraine and the troops of Prigozhin worked towards spreading influence of Moscow across the globe and gathering President Vladimir Putin's allies in Syria and Africa.

Almost a decade was spent by Wagner's slain chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to build the mercenary group. The group emerged as the central force in Russia's war against Ukraine and the troops of Prigozhin worked towards spreading influence of Moscow across the globe and gathering President Vladimir Putin's allies in Syria and Africa. Prigozhin's sudden death in a plane crash has now triggered multiple speculations about the dangling future of the group. But let's understand the journey taken by the Wagner group so far. Prigozhin – a prison convict turned into a hot dog joint owner Before the Wagner stint, Prigozhin – who was born in Leningrad, USSR (now St Petersburg, Russia) on 1 June 1961 – was one of the most influential and richest businessmen in Russia. However, before soaring the heights, he spent almost 13 years in prison after getting implicated in various robbery cases in the early 1980s. He was released in 1990 when the Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse. Once out of prison, Prigozhin started his business of selling hot dogs in St. Petersburg. As per the Guardian, in no time, Prigozhin had his hands in various ventures, from supermarkets to restaurants. In 1995, he finally set up a network of catering companies and restaurants, which included St. Petersburg's well-known company called Concord Catering. Soon after, Prigozhin entered the list of one of the country's wealthiest individuals. With the growing business, Prigozhin’s proximity with the Russian ruling class also increased. Prigozhin became the caterer of choice for the rich and powerful in Russia by the time Vladimir Putin came to power. Prigozhin became the one who provided catering when Putin hosted some important world leaders like Prince Charles and George Bush. The caterer and the Russian leader soon developed a friendship that changed the shape of world politics, before they turned into foes briefly that is being viewed as a cause of his end. ALSO READ | A metallic bang and smoke: Witnesses describe the scene of Prigozhin's plane crash Rise and rise of Wagner group It remained unclear who decided to form the Wagner Group – Putin or Prigozhin. However, the group was formed during Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014. Wagner Group and Russia's armed forces co-ordinated with each other but maintained their distance as recently as 2022. Even as private armies remained officially banned in Russia, Wagner Group troops operated with impunity during Crimea's 2014 invasion. After Crimea was captured, Wagner’s private military contractors (PMCs) went to Donbas in Eastern Ukraine and assisted pro-Russian separatist forces of the self-declared Luhansk and Donetsk from 2014 to 2015. In no time, Wagner became Putin's proxy army, getting their hands dirty in regions where Russia wanted to step in but officially could not. Prigozhin led this proxy army as a general. In 2015, Prigozhin sent his Wagner troops to Syria when Russia intervened militarily in the country to support Bashar al-Assad amid the civil war. Wagner chief also got food and supplies. In Syria, Wagner saw itself engaged in some of the most intense fighting and for the first time faced accusations of war crime. Slowly, Wagner Group was involved in every other conflict where Russia played a role, from civil wars in Libya and Sudan to Venezuela. Invasion of Ukraine and Prigozhin's fallout with Putin When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the involvement of Prigozhin and his Wagner Group in the escalation was out in the open. Prigozhin also became an active recruiter and recruited convicts to fight the war. The group saw a sudden expansion with a surge of convict fighters. The group engaged in some of the heaviest fighting of the conflict and faced massive casualties. Wagner Group achieved success in May when it seized Bakhmut, an eastern Ukrainian city, at the end of some of the most brutal fighting. After the city was captured, Prigozhin called out the alleged treachery of top military brass, targetting Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. He continued criticising the military leadership of Russia for failing to care about his troops and using his fighters as cannon fodder. The brewing tensions soon resulted in the armed mutiny of the Wagner group on June 24. However, before his men could reach Moscow, Prigozhin asked them to stop as Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko announced that he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin. The Kremlin then announced that Prigozhin would shift to Belarus and won’t face prosecution. WATCH | Gravitas: Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin dies in plane crash Wagner's leader's death and a question mark over empty seat In a sudden development, it was reported that Prigozhin had apparently died in an Embraer jet crash in the north-west of Moscow, along with other nine passengers and crew onboard. A day later, his death was confirmed by Putin himself. Now with the death of Prigozhin, the complex commercial and military operations planned by the chief and the group across Africa, the Middle East and Europe hang in the balance. The operations of Wagner Group were already rolled up in Syria by Putin. After the mutiny, the forces of Wagner deployed in Ukraine gave a base to the regular military of Russia and started relocating to an army camp in Belarus. The group is likely to stay more or less intact in Africa under new management and can be taken over by another Russian mercenary group. As per analysts, Wagner Group is not likely to go through much changes in countries where it was operating through an official agreement with Moscow. CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera's political adviser Fidele Gouandjika said that since Wagner troops were present in the country through a state-level agreement with Russia, "nothing will affect the presence of these instructors". Prigozhin is "a dead leader, we can replace him," Gouandjika added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | With Prigozhin dead, Wagner group's bloodied past, tumultuous present & uncertain future

The BRICS nations consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are gathered in South Africa for a summit that carries the potential to define the bloc's future and its determination to challenge a world order it views as tilted in favour of the West. While these nations have never been more prominent on the world stage, the inner workings of BRICS remain complex. This family sure has issues. &nbsp;

The summit is missing Russian President Vladimir Putin, as South Africa faces potential obligations to detain him over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. India and China, both members of the group, are dealing with a border conflict.&nbsp;China finds itself in a complicated relationship with the US, while New Delhi maintains close bonds with Washington.&nbsp;

This year's summit is a big test for Indian diplomacy as two predominant themes taking centre stage are the urge for expansion and a drive towards adopting a shared currency, both of which present challenges for India.&nbsp;

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Indian PM Narendra Modi during his initial involvement in Johannesburg, took part in the Leaders' Dialogue of the BRICS Business Forum

As the bloc seeks to rebalance global power, experts warn that it may adopt a more pronounced geopolitical stance, especially with China and Russia hoping to garner its support amid escalating tensions with the West - a prospect that could be advanced through its expansion.&nbsp;

There are conjectures that China and Russia are keen to welcome new members who would introduce an anti-Western perspective. Concerns also exist that the bloc's expansion could draw in nations that perceive BRICS as a counterforce to the European Union and the United States, which India and Brazil both oppose. But is that indeed the scenario?&nbsp;

"China will not project BRICS as anti-Western because China is delicately calibrating its relations with the US in the wake of domestic economic challenges, though Russia surely has a direct interest in forming an anti-Western grouping,” Dr Geeta Kochhar, Assistant Professor, Centre for Chinese and South East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University 
(JNU) told WION. &nbsp;

“China also seems to be the counterbalance Russia faces amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, and hence would not want to directly upset the West to avoid any sanctions from the Western world.” &nbsp;

Additionally, India also cannot prevent countries backed by China and Russia, like Iran, from joining the bloc, as India and Iran have the Chabahar port factor in the equation, Dr Kochhar explains.&nbsp;

The Chabahar port is situated along the Makran coastline in the Sistan and Baluchistan Province, adjacent to the Gulf of Oman and positioned at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. It stands as Iran's sole port offering a direct route to the Indian Ocean.

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Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman

The primary and most crucial importance of the Chabahar port lies in enabling India to circumvent Pakistan when shipping goods to Afghanistan.&nbsp;It would also&nbsp;cut transport costs and time for Indian goods by a third.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-is-xi-jinping-chinese-leaders-unusual-absence-at-brics-business-forum-raises-eyebrows-628067">Where is Xi Jinping?&nbsp;Chinese leader's unusual absence&nbsp;at BRICS Business Forum raises eyebrows</a>

<h2>What is India’s stance?&nbsp;</h2>

In the complex world of geopolitics, India's current strategic choices are anything but straightforward. The question that looms large is where India truly fits into the ever-evolving global geopolitical puzzle. Some Western perspectives tend to scrutinise India's participation in groups like BRICS and the SCO, especially in light of the Ukraine conflict and the Western-Russia standoff. &nbsp;

A frequently raised question is: Is it feasible for India to actively engage in the Quad, which includes Australia, Japan, the US, and India, while concurrently maintaining its significance within the G-20, G-7, BRICS, SCO, and the broader global South?&nbsp;

“India is talking the rhetoric of multipolarity, but what multipolarity are we talking about?,” questioned Dr Manish Dabhade, founder, The Indian Futures, a New Delhi based independent think tank. &nbsp;

"India is certainly contesting Chinese unipolarity in Asia and the Indo-Pacific. That's precisely why India opposes the BRICS currency; it's not inclined towards even regional trading currencies. There's also an economic rationale behind this stance,” he told WION. &nbsp;

Currently, over 50 per cent of all global transactions are conducted in US dollars, while the Chinese&nbsp;Renminbi (RMB) accounts for just 3-4 per cent, and at most, it might increase to 4-5 per cent, which is a marginal shift, he pointed out. “The notion propagated by BRICS that they are de-dollarising the global economy is unlikely to materialise, at least not in the next 10-20 years.”&nbsp;

India is speaking the language of multilateralism, but it has largely chosen its side. The broader trajectory is shifting towards a closer alignment with the West, encompassing the US, Europe, and France, added Dabhade. India has also been contesting all of China's unfair trade practices, including its withdrawal from RCEP and China's inundation of Indian markets with their goods. However, primarily, it was about strategically countering China, he said. &nbsp;

There is an international climate now that is openly against China due to its expansionist agenda in Asia and the Indo-Pacific. This is the reason for the resounding calls to de-risk and decouple from China.&nbsp;

Follow the live blog for all latest updates on the 2023 BRICS summit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brics-summit-day-2-pm-modi-to-hold-bilateral-meeting-with-sa-prez-ramaphosa-628219">BRICS Summit, Day-2: PM Modi to hold bilateral meeting with SA Prez Ramaphosa</a>

<h2>Non–alignment to multi-alignment?&nbsp;</h2>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/modi-aims-at-expansion-of-indias-upi-to-brics-nations-at-business-forum-meet-628060">India</a> is also walking the tightrope of multi-alignment, as noted by Dr Dabhade, while quoting Indian politician Shashi Tharoor. &nbsp;

“Somewhere, in some places, we are going to be with RIC (Russia, India, China trilateral) or even BRICS. However, India is also a part of the QUAD and has close bilateral relations with the US and France at the highest levels. But the larger eggs are in the American basket. India cannot simply walk out of BRICS because it still depends on Russian defence imports,” explained Dr Dabhade.&nbsp;

The contemporary geopolitical puzzle confronting New Delhi is far from a walk in the park: it involves India's need to establish a strong presence in non-Western global platforms like BRICS and the SCO, counterbalancing the ever-expanding influence of China within these arenas, and simultaneously juggling Western normative standards while carving out a space for itself in Eurocentric gatherings like the UNSC and the G-7. &nbsp;

All of this demands a delicate and multitasking approach, which Dr Kochhar likes to term "matured diplomacy". Additionally, India cannot antagonise anyone in a year when it’s hosting the G20 summit.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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The BRICS nations consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are gathered in South Africa for a summit that carries the potential to define the bloc's future and its determination to challenge a world order it views as tilted in favour of the West.

The BRICS nations consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are gathered in South Africa for a summit that carries the potential to define the bloc's future and its determination to challenge a world order it views as tilted in favour of the West. While these nations have never been more prominent on the world stage, the inner workings of BRICS remain complex. This family sure has issues. The summit is missing Russian President Vladimir Putin, as South Africa faces potential obligations to detain him over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. India and China, both members of the group, are dealing with a border conflict. China finds itself in a complicated relationship with the US, while New Delhi maintains close bonds with Washington. This year's summit is a big test for Indian diplomacy as two predominant themes taking centre stage are the urge for expansion and a drive towards adopting a shared currency, both of which present challenges for India. Indian PM Narendra Modi during his initial involvement in Johannesburg, took part in the Leaders' Dialogue of the BRICS Business Forum As the bloc seeks to rebalance global power, experts warn that it may adopt a more pronounced geopolitical stance, especially with China and Russia hoping to garner its support amid escalating tensions with the West - a prospect that could be advanced through its expansion. There are conjectures that China and Russia are keen to welcome new members who would introduce an anti-Western perspective. Concerns also exist that the bloc's expansion could draw in nations that perceive BRICS as a counterforce to the European Union and the United States, which India and Brazil both oppose. But is that indeed the scenario? "China will not project BRICS as anti-Western because China is delicately calibrating its relations with the US in the wake of domestic economic challenges, though Russia surely has a direct interest in forming an anti-Western grouping,” Dr Geeta Kochhar, Assistant Professor, Centre for Chinese and South East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) told WION. “China also seems to be the counterbalance Russia faces amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, and hence would not want to directly upset the West to avoid any sanctions from the Western world.” Additionally, India also cannot prevent countries backed by China and Russia, like Iran, from joining the bloc, as India and Iran have the Chabahar port factor in the equation, Dr Kochhar explains. The Chabahar port is situated along the Makran coastline in the Sistan and Baluchistan Province, adjacent to the Gulf of Oman and positioned at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. It stands as Iran's sole port offering a direct route to the Indian Ocean. Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman The primary and most crucial importance of the Chabahar port lies in enabling India to circumvent Pakistan when shipping goods to Afghanistan. It would also cut transport costs and time for Indian goods by a third. Also read | Where is Xi Jinping? Chinese leader's unusual absence at BRICS Business Forum raises eyebrows What is India’s stance? In the complex world of geopolitics, India's current strategic choices are anything but straightforward. The question that looms large is where India truly fits into the ever-evolving global geopolitical puzzle. Some Western perspectives tend to scrutinise India's participation in groups like BRICS and the SCO, especially in light of the Ukraine conflict and the Western-Russia standoff. A frequently raised question is: Is it feasible for India to actively engage in the Quad, which includes Australia, Japan, the US, and India, while concurrently maintaining its significance within the G-20, G-7, BRICS, SCO, and the broader global South? “India is talking the rhetoric of multipolarity, but what multipolarity are we talking about?,” questioned Dr Manish Dabhade, founder, The Indian Futures, a New Delhi based independent think tank. "India is certainly contesting Chinese unipolarity in Asia and the Indo-Pacific. That's precisely why India opposes the BRICS currency; it's not inclined towards even regional trading currencies. There's also an economic rationale behind this stance,” he told WION. Currently, over 50 per cent of all global transactions are conducted in US dollars, while the Chinese Renminbi (RMB) accounts for just 3-4 per cent, and at most, it might increase to 4-5 per cent, which is a marginal shift, he pointed out. “The notion propagated by BRICS that they are de-dollarising the global economy is unlikely to materialise, at least not in the next 10-20 years.” India is speaking the language of multilateralism, but it has largely chosen its side. The broader trajectory is shifting towards a closer alignment with the West, encompassing the US, Europe, and France, added Dabhade. India has also been contesting all of China's unfair trade practices, including its withdrawal from RCEP and China's inundation of Indian markets with their goods. However, primarily, it was about strategically countering China, he said. There is an international climate now that is openly against China due to its expansionist agenda in Asia and the Indo-Pacific. This is the reason for the resounding calls to de-risk and decouple from China. Follow the live blog for all latest updates on the 2023 BRICS summit: BRICS Summit, Day-2: PM Modi to hold bilateral meeting with SA Prez Ramaphosa Non–alignment to multi-alignment? India is also walking the tightrope of multi-alignment, as noted by Dr Dabhade, while quoting Indian politician Shashi Tharoor. “Somewhere, in some places, we are going to be with RIC (Russia, India, China trilateral) or even BRICS. However, India is also a part of the QUAD and has close bilateral relations with the US and France at the highest levels. But the larger eggs are in the American basket. India cannot simply walk out of BRICS because it still depends on Russian defence imports,” explained Dr Dabhade. The contemporary geopolitical puzzle confronting New Delhi is far from a walk in the park: it involves India's need to establish a strong presence in non-Western global platforms like BRICS and the SCO, counterbalancing the ever-expanding influence of China within these arenas, and simultaneously juggling Western normative standards while carving out a space for itself in Eurocentric gatherings like the UNSC and the G-7. All of this demands a delicate and multitasking approach, which Dr Kochhar likes to term "matured diplomacy". Additionally, India cannot antagonise anyone in a year when it’s hosting the G20 summit. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: Balancing act or anti-West pivot? India’s choices at the BRICS summit

Ecuador is grappling with a severe security crisis as it mourns the tragic killing of presidential hopeful&nbsp;Fernando Villavicencio, merely days before the upcoming elections. This incident is a reminder&nbsp;of&nbsp;the escalating security concerns that have plagued not only Ecuador but also much of South America.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened with presidential hopeful&nbsp;Fernando Villavicencio?</h2>

Fernando Villavicencio, a prominent Ecuadorian presidential hopeful, was tragically shot and killed while leaving a campaign event in the capital city of Quito on August 9. The incident occurred just days before a crucial election that has been dominated by concerns over rising violence and crime plaguing the nation.

Fernando Villavicencio, known for his past collaboration with international media outlets like The Guardian, was a fervent advocate against the alleged links between organised crime and political circles.

Disturbing videos circulating on social media depict the harrowing moment when Villavicencio, surrounded by supporters and accompanied by security personnel, was ambushed by gunfire. Chaos ensued as people screamed and took cover, capturing the horrifying reality of the attack.

In a televised address delivered after midnight, President Guillermo Lasso affirmed that despite this tragic event, the upcoming elections would proceed as planned. However, a two-month state of emergency was declared, with soldiers assigned to guard polling stations to ensure the safety of the electoral process.

A suspect involved in the assassination attempt died from injuries sustained during a subsequent shootout, as confirmed by the attorney general's office. Additionally, six people&nbsp;were arrested&nbsp;in connection with the assassination.

The assassination occurred against the backdrop of a concerning surge in violent crime across Ecuador. Drug-trafficking gangs have been responsible for prison massacres, contributing to a doubling of murder rates between 2020 and 2022. President Lasso firmly stated, "Organised crime has gone too far but they will feel the full weight of the law."

Fernando Villavicencio, aged 59, was one of eight candidates vying for the presidency in the upcoming elections, scheduled for August 20. A significant portion of the Ecuadorian population expressed their top concern as addressing the nation's pervasive insecurity.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ecuador-poll-running-mate-of-slain-candidate-fernando-villavicencio-to-run-for-president-624953">Ecuador poll: Running mate of slain candidate Fernando Villavicencio to run for president</a>

<h2>Unravelling security in Ecuador: Pandemic impact and prison violence</h2>

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ecuador has witnessed a troubling decline in security. Starting in late 2020, violence erupted within the country's prisons, leading to deadly riots resulting in hundreds of inmate fatalities.

Exploiting the weak control within prisons, gangs operating inside have expanded their dominion, endangering the lives of incarcerated individuals. This deterioration within correctional facilities is mirrored outside, with a staggering surge in murders.

Ecuador's homicide rate has soared by almost 500 per cent since 2016, reaching an estimated 22 murders per 100,000 people in 2022, as reported by Verisk Maplecroft.

<h2>The proliferation of violence: Underlying causes</h2>

The current conservative administration, led by President Guillermo Lasso, attributes much of the violence to drug trafficking gangs.

Lasso, who accelerated presidential elections to avoid impeachment, has consistently placed blame on these criminal organisations, even in the context of prison violence.

According to the government, Villavicencio's assassination was orchestrated by foreign nationals linked to drug cartels.

Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk intelligence company, also attributes the surge in criminality to the expansion of transnational drug-trafficking groups and violent street gangs.

<h2>Infiltration of drug trade and regional implications</h2>

Ecuador, historically known as the world's leading banana exporter, had managed to avoid the rampant violence that engulfed its northern neighbour, Colombia.

However, a lack of law enforcement attention has allowed drug gangs to infiltrate the nation. Cocaine trafficking organisations often conceal their illicit cargo within banana shipments bound for Europe, where demand for the drug is soaring.

Ecuador is not alone in facing these challenges; countries like Paraguay, a significant hub for global cocaine trade, have also suffered from drug-related violence. Surprisingly peaceful nations like Chile and Uruguay have not remained immune.

Also watch |&nbsp;Ecuador Presidential Candidate Assassination: One suspect dead, six arrested

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ecuador-presidential-candidate-assassination-one-suspect-dead-six-arrested-624776/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>Government's response</h2>

In response to the escalating violence, President Lasso has implemented states of emergency on multiple occasions. These measures involve increased military presence on the streets and nightly curfews. Additionally, Lasso authorised civilians to use firearms in the fight against rising insecurity. Citizens have turned to gun ranges to enhance their self-defence capabilities and protect themselves in an increasingly perilous environment.

<h2>Historical precedents: Political violence in Latin America</h2>

The killing&nbsp;of Villavicencio draws parallels with past instances of political violence across Latin America. The analysts at Verisk Maplecroft highlight similarities to the 1984 assassination of Mexican presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio and the 1989 killing of Colombia's Liberal party candidate Luis Carlos Galan.

Recent incidents, including an assassination attempt against Argentine politician Cristina Fernandez De Kirchner and the stabbing of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, further underscore the recurring nature of political violence in the region.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Ecuador is grappling with a severe security crisis as it mourns the tragic killing of presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio, merely days before the upcoming elections.

Ecuador is grappling with a severe security crisis as it mourns the tragic killing of presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio, merely days before the upcoming elections. This incident is a reminder of the escalating security concerns that have plagued not only Ecuador but also much of South America. What happened with presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio? Fernando Villavicencio, a prominent Ecuadorian presidential hopeful, was tragically shot and killed while leaving a campaign event in the capital city of Quito on August 9. The incident occurred just days before a crucial election that has been dominated by concerns over rising violence and crime plaguing the nation. Fernando Villavicencio, known for his past collaboration with international media outlets like The Guardian, was a fervent advocate against the alleged links between organised crime and political circles. Disturbing videos circulating on social media depict the harrowing moment when Villavicencio, surrounded by supporters and accompanied by security personnel, was ambushed by gunfire. Chaos ensued as people screamed and took cover, capturing the horrifying reality of the attack. In a televised address delivered after midnight, President Guillermo Lasso affirmed that despite this tragic event, the upcoming elections would proceed as planned. However, a two-month state of emergency was declared, with soldiers assigned to guard polling stations to ensure the safety of the electoral process. A suspect involved in the assassination attempt died from injuries sustained during a subsequent shootout, as confirmed by the attorney general's office. Additionally, six people were arrested in connection with the assassination. The assassination occurred against the backdrop of a concerning surge in violent crime across Ecuador. Drug-trafficking gangs have been responsible for prison massacres, contributing to a doubling of murder rates between 2020 and 2022. President Lasso firmly stated, "Organised crime has gone too far but they will feel the full weight of the law." Fernando Villavicencio, aged 59, was one of eight candidates vying for the presidency in the upcoming elections, scheduled for August 20. A significant portion of the Ecuadorian population expressed their top concern as addressing the nation's pervasive insecurity. Also read | Ecuador poll: Running mate of slain candidate Fernando Villavicencio to run for president Unravelling security in Ecuador: Pandemic impact and prison violence In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ecuador has witnessed a troubling decline in security. Starting in late 2020, violence erupted within the country's prisons, leading to deadly riots resulting in hundreds of inmate fatalities. Exploiting the weak control within prisons, gangs operating inside have expanded their dominion, endangering the lives of incarcerated individuals. This deterioration within correctional facilities is mirrored outside, with a staggering surge in murders. Ecuador's homicide rate has soared by almost 500 per cent since 2016, reaching an estimated 22 murders per 100,000 people in 2022, as reported by Verisk Maplecroft. The proliferation of violence: Underlying causes The current conservative administration, led by President Guillermo Lasso, attributes much of the violence to drug trafficking gangs. Lasso, who accelerated presidential elections to avoid impeachment, has consistently placed blame on these criminal organisations, even in the context of prison violence. According to the government, Villavicencio's assassination was orchestrated by foreign nationals linked to drug cartels. Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk intelligence company, also attributes the surge in criminality to the expansion of transnational drug-trafficking groups and violent street gangs. Infiltration of drug trade and regional implications Ecuador, historically known as the world's leading banana exporter, had managed to avoid the rampant violence that engulfed its northern neighbour, Colombia. However, a lack of law enforcement attention has allowed drug gangs to infiltrate the nation. Cocaine trafficking organisations often conceal their illicit cargo within banana shipments bound for Europe, where demand for the drug is soaring. Ecuador is not alone in facing these challenges; countries like Paraguay, a significant hub for global cocaine trade, have also suffered from drug-related violence. Surprisingly peaceful nations like Chile and Uruguay have not remained immune. Also watch | Ecuador Presidential Candidate Assassination: One suspect dead, six arrested Government's response In response to the escalating violence, President Lasso has implemented states of emergency on multiple occasions. These measures involve increased military presence on the streets and nightly curfews. Additionally, Lasso authorised civilians to use firearms in the fight against rising insecurity. Citizens have turned to gun ranges to enhance their self-defence capabilities and protect themselves in an increasingly perilous environment. Historical precedents: Political violence in Latin America The killing of Villavicencio draws parallels with past instances of political violence across Latin America. The analysts at Verisk Maplecroft highlight similarities to the 1984 assassination of Mexican presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio and the 1989 killing of Colombia's Liberal party candidate Luis Carlos Galan. Recent incidents, including an assassination attempt against Argentine politician Cristina Fernandez De Kirchner and the stabbing of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, further underscore the recurring nature of political violence in the region. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: How drugs, gang war, corruption contributed to Ecuador prez contender's murder

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 (CWC '23) edition is not even two months away. The mega event will be held in India and, thus, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. are one of the favourites to lift the coveted title. After all, the last three editions have been won by the hosts. India, under MS Dhoni, started this trend in 2011 when the cricket-crazy country co-hosted the ODI World Cup (ODI WC) along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Back then, the Men in Blue trounced Sri Lanka in the summit clash by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai to lift the title.

Will Rohit-led Men in Blue replicate Dhoni &amp; Co.'s heroics? Well, India do have the arsenal but still lag behind in many areas. The No. 4 spot continues to be a worry, which proved to be India's Achilles heel in the 2019 edition as well. It became a musical chair with no confirmed taker. This time around, the situation is pretty much the same. The injury to Shreyas Iyer is, however, the main reason for India's No. 4 spot still being a persistent issue.&nbsp;

Since injuries to Iyer and KL Rahul, who bats at No. 5, India have tried to give a consistent run to Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. Nonetheless, the trio haven't cemented the spot. During the ongoing India-West Indies T20Is, another candidate's name sprung up.&nbsp;

Tilak Varma, who is yet to make an ODI debut, recently wore his first-ever international cap during the WI T20Is. Since then, he has returned with scores of 39, 51, 41 and 7*. The left-hander has played the situation with aplomb, displayed a steady approach and carried out his innings with utmost responsibility and purpose. Thus, many former cricketers have backed him to become India's No. 4 in the upcoming&nbsp;World Cup. But should Team India give up on their back-ups and bring in a youngster as a wildcard entry if Iyer and Rahul remain unfit?&nbsp;

<h2>MANY BACKING TILAK VARMA AS AN OPTION</h2>

In an interaction with news agency PTI, former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad said, "First of all, we should know whether Shreyas Iyer is fit or not. So, in case, if Shreyas Iyer is ruled out, in the present scenario, one guy who fits the bill is Tilak Varma, because of his versatility, because of his ability to play fast bowling and spin bowling and also because of his ability to switch the gears as and when required. More than anything else, we don't have a left-hander at the top of the order. So all these things will definitely go in favour of Tilak Varma."

On his YouTube channel, R Ashwin stated, "This is neck-and-neck with respect to the World Cup. So, will they think about Tilak Varma as an option if we don’t have enough backups? Because Sanju Samson has performed really well in ODIs. But the exciting part about Tilak Varma is that he is a left-hander and Team India is lacking left-handers. Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) is the only left-handed batter in the top 7."

Ashwin added, "And look at the spinners from all the top teams. Australia have Ashton Agar. England has Moeen Ali and a leggie in Adil Rashid. So, most teams don’t have a finger spinner to challenge the left-handed batters. That is why the emergence of Tilak is crucial."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-couldnt-perform-in-icc-tournaments-due-to-internal-issues-claims-former-pakistan-captain-625009">India couldn't perform in ICC tournaments due to internal issues, claims former Pakistan captain</a>

<h2>WHY INDIA SHOULD NOT GO THE 2019 WAY AND SHOULD AVOID PAST MISTAKES</h2>

Without a doubt, Varma is one for the future (who can play varied roles with the bat and&nbsp;also be a handy part-time bowler). Just like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, etc., the 20-year-old Varma will also be a part of the national setup post the CWC '23 with India nearing a massive transition (with the likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, etc. in the twilight of their careers). However, his inclusion in the ODI setup with regard to the upcoming world event makes little to no sense. The Mumbai Indians (MI) star just has a handful of matches under his belt in the gruelling international circuit. While his start is surely promising, although in the shortest format, ODIs is a different ball game altogether. Look at Suryakumar. He is a T20I giant, however, admits to his woeful ODI returns (averaging a poor 24.33 in 26 games).

During the WI T20Is, Surya admitted to his 50-over woes and said, "We've played so much T20 cricket now, that we have become habituated to it. We don't play as much one-day cricket anymore. That's one of the most challenging formats for me, because you need to have different gears." He added, "If I'm honest, I know my numbers in one-day cricket are quite poor. There is no shame in admitting that. We talk about honesty, you need to be honest but it's even more important how you work and improve on it."

Varma's T20I career has started in an identical fashion with that to his idol Suresh Raina (debut at 20, both taking two catches each in maiden outing, first-ever T20I fifty in losing cause). However, he hasn't even stepped into the ODI fore, a format ruled by his childhood hero. India's legendary captain MS Dhoni repeatedly emphasised on the need for players to be experienced enough&nbsp;to counter the pressure attached to a mega event. Back in August 2008, Dhoni&nbsp;said, "You have to give everyone enough chances, not just a few games."

Moreover, India have paid the price for regular shuffles in the batting order during their preparations in the last World Cup. We all remember how Ambati Rayudu's name was missing from the final 15 with Vijay Shankar -- having played only nine ODIs -- getting the nod. In addition, when Shankar got injured during the marquee tournament, India backed an exciting young talent like Pant to fill in the No. 4 spot rather than relying on the experienced Rayudu (who occupied the No. 4 spot for majority of 2018). What followed was a messed-up chase in the CWC '19 semi-final where India failed in pursuit of 240, versus eventual runners-up New Zealand, by shuffling the batting order cluelessly.&nbsp;

Surely, Varma has an edge being a left-hander. However, India can always promote Ravindra Jadeja -- whose batting stokes are on the rise since 2018 -- in the 50-over showpiece event and, thus, not change their team combination drastically. Moreover, they also have Kishan who can bat at No. 4. Nonetheless, bringing Varma out of nowhere can jolt India's preparations. They have a rich pool of players but with the CWC '23 less than 60 days away, they cannot keep expanding their options. They have to shortlist a few and identify their No. 4 if Iyer, or even Rahul, continue to miss out due to injury concerns.

Recently, during an event, Rohit addressed&nbsp;India's&nbsp;struggle to book their No. 4 slot. He said, "Look, No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time. After Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), nobody has come and settled themselves in. But, for a long period of time, Shreyas (Iyer) has actually batted at No. 4 and he has done well - his numbers are really good. Unfortunately, injuries have given him a bit of trouble; he has been out for a while and that is honestly what has happened in the last 4-5 years. A lot of these guys have got injured and you will always see a new guy coming and playing there."

On Varma, Hitman stated, "He looks very promising. I have seen him for two years now, he has got the hunger, and that is the most important thing." The 36-year old pointed out, "In him I can see, for the age that he is of, he is quite matured. He knows his batting so well. When I speak with him I understand that the boy knows his batting – where he has to hit, what he has to do in that period."

"That is all that I will say about him, I do not know about the World Cup and all, but definitely the guy is talented and he showed it in these few games that he has played for India," he further opined.

There is some time before India finalise their Asia Cup squad, which will also give a major hint of their CWC '23 unit. It will be wise on their part if they go with a limited pool rather than just needlessly expanding it, pushing towards a downfall as experienced in 2019.

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The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 (CWC '23) edition is not even two months away. The mega event will be held in India and, thus, Rohit Sharma & Co. are one of the favourites to lift the coveted title.

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 (CWC '23) edition is not even two months away. The mega event will be held in India and, thus, Rohit Sharma & Co. are one of the favourites to lift the coveted title. After all, the last three editions have been won by the hosts. India, under MS Dhoni, started this trend in 2011 when the cricket-crazy country co-hosted the ODI World Cup (ODI WC) along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Back then, the Men in Blue trounced Sri Lanka in the summit clash by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai to lift the title. Will Rohit-led Men in Blue replicate Dhoni & Co.'s heroics? Well, India do have the arsenal but still lag behind in many areas. The No. 4 spot continues to be a worry, which proved to be India's Achilles heel in the 2019 edition as well. It became a musical chair with no confirmed taker. This time around, the situation is pretty much the same. The injury to Shreyas Iyer is, however, the main reason for India's No. 4 spot still being a persistent issue. Since injuries to Iyer and KL Rahul, who bats at No. 5, India have tried to give a consistent run to Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. Nonetheless, the trio haven't cemented the spot. During the ongoing India-West Indies T20Is, another candidate's name sprung up. Tilak Varma, who is yet to make an ODI debut, recently wore his first-ever international cap during the WI T20Is. Since then, he has returned with scores of 39, 51, 41 and 7*. The left-hander has played the situation with aplomb, displayed a steady approach and carried out his innings with utmost responsibility and purpose. Thus, many former cricketers have backed him to become India's No. 4 in the upcoming World Cup. But should Team India give up on their back-ups and bring in a youngster as a wildcard entry if Iyer and Rahul remain unfit? MANY BACKING TILAK VARMA AS AN OPTION In an interaction with news agency PTI, former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad said, "First of all, we should know whether Shreyas Iyer is fit or not. So, in case, if Shreyas Iyer is ruled out, in the present scenario, one guy who fits the bill is Tilak Varma, because of his versatility, because of his ability to play fast bowling and spin bowling and also because of his ability to switch the gears as and when required. More than anything else, we don't have a left-hander at the top of the order. So all these things will definitely go in favour of Tilak Varma." On his YouTube channel, R Ashwin stated, "This is neck-and-neck with respect to the World Cup. So, will they think about Tilak Varma as an option if we don’t have enough backups? Because Sanju Samson has performed really well in ODIs. But the exciting part about Tilak Varma is that he is a left-hander and Team India is lacking left-handers. Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) is the only left-handed batter in the top 7." Ashwin added, "And look at the spinners from all the top teams. Australia have Ashton Agar. England has Moeen Ali and a leggie in Adil Rashid. So, most teams don’t have a finger spinner to challenge the left-handed batters. That is why the emergence of Tilak is crucial." Also read: India couldn't perform in ICC tournaments due to internal issues, claims former Pakistan captain WHY INDIA SHOULD NOT GO THE 2019 WAY AND SHOULD AVOID PAST MISTAKES Without a doubt, Varma is one for the future (who can play varied roles with the bat and also be a handy part-time bowler). Just like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, etc., the 20-year-old Varma will also be a part of the national setup post the CWC '23 with India nearing a massive transition (with the likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, etc. in the twilight of their careers). However, his inclusion in the ODI setup with regard to the upcoming world event makes little to no sense. The Mumbai Indians (MI) star just has a handful of matches under his belt in the gruelling international circuit. While his start is surely promising, although in the shortest format, ODIs is a different ball game altogether. Look at Suryakumar. He is a T20I giant, however, admits to his woeful ODI returns (averaging a poor 24.33 in 26 games). During the WI T20Is, Surya admitted to his 50-over woes and said, "We've played so much T20 cricket now, that we have become habituated to it. We don't play as much one-day cricket anymore. That's one of the most challenging formats for me, because you need to have different gears." He added, "If I'm honest, I know my numbers in one-day cricket are quite poor. There is no shame in admitting that. We talk about honesty, you need to be honest but it's even more important how you work and improve on it." Varma's T20I career has started in an identical fashion with that to his idol Suresh Raina (debut at 20, both taking two catches each in maiden outing, first-ever T20I fifty in losing cause). However, he hasn't even stepped into the ODI fore, a format ruled by his childhood hero. India's legendary captain MS Dhoni repeatedly emphasised on the need for players to be experienced enough to counter the pressure attached to a mega event. Back in August 2008, Dhoni said, "You have to give everyone enough chances, not just a few games." Moreover, India have paid the price for regular shuffles in the batting order during their preparations in the last World Cup. We all remember how Ambati Rayudu's name was missing from the final 15 with Vijay Shankar -- having played only nine ODIs -- getting the nod. In addition, when Shankar got injured during the marquee tournament, India backed an exciting young talent like Pant to fill in the No. 4 spot rather than relying on the experienced Rayudu (who occupied the No. 4 spot for majority of 2018). What followed was a messed-up chase in the CWC '19 semi-final where India failed in pursuit of 240, versus eventual runners-up New Zealand, by shuffling the batting order cluelessly. Surely, Varma has an edge being a left-hander. However, India can always promote Ravindra Jadeja -- whose batting stokes are on the rise since 2018 -- in the 50-over showpiece event and, thus, not change their team combination drastically. Moreover, they also have Kishan who can bat at No. 4. Nonetheless, bringing Varma out of nowhere can jolt India's preparations. They have a rich pool of players but with the CWC '23 less than 60 days away, they cannot keep expanding their options. They have to shortlist a few and identify their No. 4 if Iyer, or even Rahul, continue to miss out due to injury concerns. Recently, during an event, Rohit addressed India's struggle to book their No. 4 slot. He said, "Look, No. 4 has been an issue for us for a long time. After Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), nobody has come and settled themselves in. But, for a long period of time, Shreyas (Iyer) has actually batted at No. 4 and he has done well - his numbers are really good. Unfortunately, injuries have given him a bit of trouble; he has been out for a while and that is honestly what has happened in the last 4-5 years. A lot of these guys have got injured and you will always see a new guy coming and playing there." On Varma, Hitman stated, "He looks very promising. I have seen him for two years now, he has got the hunger, and that is the most important thing." The 36-year old pointed out, "In him I can see, for the age that he is of, he is quite matured. He knows his batting so well. When I speak with him I understand that the boy knows his batting – where he has to hit, what he has to do in that period." "That is all that I will say about him, I do not know about the World Cup and all, but definitely the guy is talented and he showed it in these few games that he has played for India," he further opined. There is some time before India finalise their Asia Cup squad, which will also give a major hint of their CWC '23 unit. It will be wise on their part if they go with a limited pool rather than just needlessly expanding it, pushing towards a downfall as experienced in 2019. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Why it is too late to consider Tilak Varma for India's No. 4 spot for CWC '23

The Delhi Services Bill, formally called Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023, is being tabled in the Indian Parliament and is set to replace a current ordinance which overrides a directive of the Supreme Court that had given command to the government of Delhi over most services. 
 
The ordinance has been a major reason for contention between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party and the central government.

The bill was passed in both the upper and lower houses of Indian parliament on August 7th. It will promulgate into law once signed by India's President Draupadi Murmu.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened so far?</h2>

On May 11, the Supreme Court of India took the decision in favour of the government of Delhi, giving it complete command over most services in the capital, leaving out public order, land, and police. The Centre on May 19 tabled an ordinance which gave authority to the Delhi government to make recommendations to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor on matters of transfer of postings, vigilance and other incidental issues. 
 
"In view of its special status as a national capital, a scheme of administration has to be formulated by law, to balance both local and national democratic interests which are at stake, which would reflect the aspirations of the people through joint and collective responsibility of both the Government of India and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD)," the government order had said.

"A permanent authority headed by the Delhi chief minister is being introduced to make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters," it further said. 
 
The BJP-led Centre was slammed by the AAP government for trying to subvert law and order and taking control of the bureaucracy in the capital city.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bill-to-replace-delhi-services-ordinance-passed-in-lok-sabha-622059">Lok Sabha passes bill to replace ordinance for control of services in Delhi; Shah slams opposition</a>

Last Thursday (August 3), Lok Sabha passed a bill which will translate an ordinance into law and will give powers to the Centre-appointed bureaucrats to overrule the elected chief minister and senior officers in the Delhi government even as the opposition parties held a walkout. 
 
A nearly four-hour-long debate was held in the Lok Sabha after the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed. 
 
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, while responding to the debate on the bill, clearly stated that the power lies with the central government to make laws on Union territories, and since Delhi is a Union territory, the Centre has full rights to make rules for it as well. 
 
Reacting to the Opposition's allegations that the Bill is aimed at removing Delhi Assembly’s powers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "All objections raised are political, which do not have any Constitutional basis.”

<h2>What is the new bill all about?</h2>

The Delhi Services Bill states that the inquiries and suspensions of the officials of the national capital will be under the Centre's control. The Lieutenant Governor will be empowered to exercise his sole discretion on various matters, which will include the National Capital Civil Services Authority's recommendations and the prorogation, summoning, and dissolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. 
 
The National Capital Civil Services Authority will include the Chief Secretary of Delhi, the Principal Home Secretary of Delhi and the Delhi Chief Minister. 
 
If the bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha, it will then replace an existing ordinance which overrides an order of the Supreme Court and gives the most control over most services to the Delhi government.

<h2>Why Opposition leaders are against it?</h2>

Reacting to the debate over Delhi Services Bill, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor alleged that "blatant subversion of the constitutional separation of powers" is happening through the bill. He added that the country is now seeing "coercive federalism". 
 
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor argued that the proposed bill is a representation of a "grave chapter in the history of the Indian republic, seeking to ratify an ordinance that in many ways is an assault on our democratic heritage and the spirit of federalism".

WATCH |&nbsp;India: Delhi services bill: AAP issues whip for Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in House

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Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi, while intervening in the debate, said that the country has a quasi-federal structure and the Centre is at primacy. She stated that the bill is aimed at statutorily balancing the interests of the Union Territory of Delhi and the nation. 
 
"India has a quasi-federal structure, which the Constitution demarcates. India is not federal," said Lekhi, adding that the country is being “mislead” by many practising lawyers.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the bill is trying to snatch an elected government's power which is unconstitutional. 
 
"Snatching the powers of the elected government of Delhi is unconstitutional. It is against the Constitution to snatch the powers of an elected government, whichever party is in power,” said Chowdhury, while speaking to media outside Parliament. 
 
Delhi CM Kejriwal, sharply reacting to the debate, tweeted, "BJP always promised to give full statehood to Delhi. In 2014, Modi himself said that on becoming prime minister, he would give full statehood to Delhi. But today these people stabbed the people of Delhi in the back. Don't believe anything said by Modi ji from now on.”

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The Delhi Services Bill, formally called Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023, is being tabled in the Indian Parliament and is set to replace a current ordinance which overrides a directive of the Supreme Court that had given command to the government of Delhi over most services.

The Delhi Services Bill, formally called Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023, is being tabled in the Indian Parliament and is set to replace a current ordinance which overrides a directive of the Supreme Court that had given command to the government of Delhi over most services. The ordinance has been a major reason for contention between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party and the central government. The bill was passed in both the upper and lower houses of Indian parliament on August 7th. It will promulgate into law once signed by India's President Draupadi Murmu. What happened so far? On May 11, the Supreme Court of India took the decision in favour of the government of Delhi, giving it complete command over most services in the capital, leaving out public order, land, and police. The Centre on May 19 tabled an ordinance which gave authority to the Delhi government to make recommendations to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor on matters of transfer of postings, vigilance and other incidental issues. "In view of its special status as a national capital, a scheme of administration has to be formulated by law, to balance both local and national democratic interests which are at stake, which would reflect the aspirations of the people through joint and collective responsibility of both the Government of India and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD)," the government order had said. "A permanent authority headed by the Delhi chief minister is being introduced to make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters," it further said. The BJP-led Centre was slammed by the AAP government for trying to subvert law and order and taking control of the bureaucracy in the capital city. ALSO READ | Lok Sabha passes bill to replace ordinance for control of services in Delhi; Shah slams opposition Last Thursday (August 3), Lok Sabha passed a bill which will translate an ordinance into law and will give powers to the Centre-appointed bureaucrats to overrule the elected chief minister and senior officers in the Delhi government even as the opposition parties held a walkout. A nearly four-hour-long debate was held in the Lok Sabha after the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, while responding to the debate on the bill, clearly stated that the power lies with the central government to make laws on Union territories, and since Delhi is a Union territory, the Centre has full rights to make rules for it as well. Reacting to the Opposition's allegations that the Bill is aimed at removing Delhi Assembly’s powers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "All objections raised are political, which do not have any Constitutional basis.” What is the new bill all about? The Delhi Services Bill states that the inquiries and suspensions of the officials of the national capital will be under the Centre's control. The Lieutenant Governor will be empowered to exercise his sole discretion on various matters, which will include the National Capital Civil Services Authority's recommendations and the prorogation, summoning, and dissolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. The National Capital Civil Services Authority will include the Chief Secretary of Delhi, the Principal Home Secretary of Delhi and the Delhi Chief Minister. If the bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha, it will then replace an existing ordinance which overrides an order of the Supreme Court and gives the most control over most services to the Delhi government. Why Opposition leaders are against it? Reacting to the debate over Delhi Services Bill, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor alleged that "blatant subversion of the constitutional separation of powers" is happening through the bill. He added that the country is now seeing "coercive federalism". Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor argued that the proposed bill is a representation of a "grave chapter in the history of the Indian republic, seeking to ratify an ordinance that in many ways is an assault on our democratic heritage and the spirit of federalism". WATCH | India: Delhi services bill: AAP issues whip for Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in House Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi, while intervening in the debate, said that the country has a quasi-federal structure and the Centre is at primacy. She stated that the bill is aimed at statutorily balancing the interests of the Union Territory of Delhi and the nation. "India has a quasi-federal structure, which the Constitution demarcates. India is not federal," said Lekhi, adding that the country is being “mislead” by many practising lawyers. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the bill is trying to snatch an elected government's power which is unconstitutional. "Snatching the powers of the elected government of Delhi is unconstitutional. It is against the Constitution to snatch the powers of an elected government, whichever party is in power,” said Chowdhury, while speaking to media outside Parliament. Delhi CM Kejriwal, sharply reacting to the debate, tweeted, "BJP always promised to give full statehood to Delhi. In 2014, Modi himself said that on becoming prime minister, he would give full statehood to Delhi. But today these people stabbed the people of Delhi in the back. Don't believe anything said by Modi ji from now on.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | What is Delhi Services Bill? How will it affect Indian capital's governance?

Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Saturday for the second time in less than three months. Khan was arrested after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts -- dubbed Toshakhana case -- and banned him from politics for the next five years.

Last time when Khan was arrested on May 9, the massive protests by his supporters had gripped the country. The unprecedented visuals showing rioting protesters demonstrating near country's military installations had stunned observers since military-intelligence syndicate is dubbed as 'the establishment' has reigned supreme since 1947 when the country first came into being after a bitter partition from India.&nbsp;

<h2>Imran Khan's latest arrest: What does it mean?</h2>

Experts cited in the media say that the verdict by court, if not repealed by higher courts, could eliminate Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance's leader and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's rival in the national election. While the election schedule has not been announced as yet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed that the&nbsp;National Assembly will be dissolved on August 9.

"Police have arrested Imran Khan from his residence," Khan's lawyer, Intezar Panjotha, was quoted as saying by Reuters. "We are filing a petition against the decision in high court."

Lahore Police Chief Bilal Siddique Kamiana said that Khan was being transferred to the capital, Islamabad. However, after various reports, Imran Khan was later on moved to the notorious Attock jail in Attock and&nbsp;not in Adiala Jail of Rawalpindi.&nbsp;

<h2>Imran Khan arrest: Response from PTI</h2>

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called for peaceful protests but there was limited public response at the time of filing this report.

The arrest remains the latest in a series of blows that have weakened Khan's political standing, after the events since May 9 (the last time when he was arrested) resulted in fragmentation of his party.

Khan's political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said it had filed another appeal to the Supreme Court earlier on Saturday.

<h2>Don't sit silently at home: Imran Khan</h2>

Imran Khan has denied any wrongdoings and in a pre-recorded video address released by his party he asked supporters to protest peacefully.

"By the time you hear this statement, they will have arrested me. I have only one appeal: don't sit silently at home. I am struggling for you and the country and your children's future," he said.

Khan's deputy in PTI&nbsp;and Pakistan's former foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said their leader had been denied a fair trial.

"We have to struggle for his freedom - we have to fight legally and politically and move in a peaceful way in line with Imran Khan's directives," he said in a video address.

The party's top decision-making body met Saturday and called for nationwide peaceful protests, according to a statement.

Pakistan's information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Khan's arrest had followed a full investigation and proper legal proceedings in a trial court.&nbsp;

"He has been found guilty of corrupt practices by hiding the benefits he accrued from national exchequer wilfully and intentionally," the verdict said.

"He cheated while providing information about gifts he obtained from Toshakhana (the state gift repository) which later proved to be false and inaccurate."

<h2>Imran Khan's re-arrest: Why August 5 did not turn out like May 9?</h2>

In the aftermath of May 9 protests, thousands of Khan's aides and supporters were arrested.

Many pro-Khan parliamentarians were also arrested. Later, they distanced themselves from Khan, with many either jumping the side or resigning from politics altogether.

Following the crackdown in the wake of May 9 events, this time around, not many leaders turned out to lead supporters to demonstrate against their party's top leader's arrest.

<h2>Toshakhana case</h2>

Khan was convicted by the court in a case that was first investigated by the election commission, which found him guilty of unlawfully selling state gifts while serving as Pakistan's prime minister.

He was accused of misusing his office to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees ($635,000).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-is-pakistan-headed-after-imran-khans-arrest-towards-coup-or-civil-war-591143">Where is Pakistan headed after Imran Khan's arrest, violent protests: Towards coup or civil war?</a>

Khan has been charged in a series of cases since being ousted from Prime Minister's Office after a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.

Once criticised for being under the thumb of powerful generals, Khan's ouster that year came amid worsening relations between him and then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-arrest-how-isi-angels-rule-pakistan-590710">Imran Khan arrest: How ISI 'angels' rule Pakistan</a>

Khan has said the army, under General Asim Munir, is still targeting him and his party in a bid to keep him out of the elections and prevent him from returning to power. The army denies this.

Also watch |&nbsp;Pakistan: Imran Khan found guilty in Toshakhana case&nbsp;

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The bottom line is that&nbsp;Khan has gone to an extent which other political personalities of Pakistan have not.

Experts also suggest that he remains popular among electorate and his followers.

"His options seem to have narrowed. But they are bolstered by the fact that he has public&nbsp;support," TCA Raghavan, India's former ambassador to Pakistan, told WION in May.

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Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Saturday for the second time in less than three months. Khan was arrested after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts -- dubbed Toshakhana case -- and banned him from politics for the next five years.

Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Saturday for the second time in less than three months. Khan was arrested after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts -- dubbed Toshakhana case -- and banned him from politics for the next five years. Last time when Khan was arrested on May 9, the massive protests by his supporters had gripped the country. The unprecedented visuals showing rioting protesters demonstrating near country's military installations had stunned observers since military-intelligence syndicate is dubbed as 'the establishment' has reigned supreme since 1947 when the country first came into being after a bitter partition from India. Imran Khan's latest arrest: What does it mean? Experts cited in the media say that the verdict by court, if not repealed by higher courts, could eliminate Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance's leader and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's rival in the national election. While the election schedule has not been announced as yet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed that the National Assembly will be dissolved on August 9. "Police have arrested Imran Khan from his residence," Khan's lawyer, Intezar Panjotha, was quoted as saying by Reuters. "We are filing a petition against the decision in high court." Lahore Police Chief Bilal Siddique Kamiana said that Khan was being transferred to the capital, Islamabad. However, after various reports, Imran Khan was later on moved to the notorious Attock jail in Attock and not in Adiala Jail of Rawalpindi. Imran Khan arrest: Response from PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called for peaceful protests but there was limited public response at the time of filing this report. The arrest remains the latest in a series of blows that have weakened Khan's political standing, after the events since May 9 (the last time when he was arrested) resulted in fragmentation of his party. Khan's political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said it had filed another appeal to the Supreme Court earlier on Saturday. Don't sit silently at home: Imran Khan Imran Khan has denied any wrongdoings and in a pre-recorded video address released by his party he asked supporters to protest peacefully. "By the time you hear this statement, they will have arrested me. I have only one appeal: don't sit silently at home. I am struggling for you and the country and your children's future," he said. Khan's deputy in PTI and Pakistan's former foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said their leader had been denied a fair trial. "We have to struggle for his freedom - we have to fight legally and politically and move in a peaceful way in line with Imran Khan's directives," he said in a video address. The party's top decision-making body met Saturday and called for nationwide peaceful protests, according to a statement. Pakistan's information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Khan's arrest had followed a full investigation and proper legal proceedings in a trial court. "He has been found guilty of corrupt practices by hiding the benefits he accrued from national exchequer wilfully and intentionally," the verdict said. "He cheated while providing information about gifts he obtained from Toshakhana (the state gift repository) which later proved to be false and inaccurate." Imran Khan's re-arrest: Why August 5 did not turn out like May 9? In the aftermath of May 9 protests, thousands of Khan's aides and supporters were arrested. Many pro-Khan parliamentarians were also arrested. Later, they distanced themselves from Khan, with many either jumping the side or resigning from politics altogether. Following the crackdown in the wake of May 9 events, this time around, not many leaders turned out to lead supporters to demonstrate against their party's top leader's arrest. Toshakhana case Khan was convicted by the court in a case that was first investigated by the election commission, which found him guilty of unlawfully selling state gifts while serving as Pakistan's prime minister. He was accused of misusing his office to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than 140 million Pakistani rupees ($635,000). Also read | Where is Pakistan headed after Imran Khan's arrest, violent protests: Towards coup or civil war? Khan has been charged in a series of cases since being ousted from Prime Minister's Office after a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. Once criticised for being under the thumb of powerful generals, Khan's ouster that year came amid worsening relations between him and then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Also read | Imran Khan arrest: How ISI 'angels' rule Pakistan Khan has said the army, under General Asim Munir, is still targeting him and his party in a bid to keep him out of the elections and prevent him from returning to power. The army denies this. Also watch | Pakistan: Imran Khan found guilty in Toshakhana case × The bottom line is that Khan has gone to an extent which other political personalities of Pakistan have not. Experts also suggest that he remains popular among electorate and his followers. "His options seem to have narrowed. But they are bolstered by the fact that he has public support," TCA Raghavan, India's former ambassador to Pakistan, told WION in May. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Pakistan's ousted PM Imran Khan's Toshakhana woes land him in jail for 3 years

The Indian space agency ISRO announced the successful completion of engines that would steer the Indian astronaut crew module, during the Gaganyaan human spaceflight missions.

"This test involved five liquid apogee motor (LAM) engines with a thrust of 440N and sixteen reaction control system (RCS) thrusters with a thrust of 100N," the ISRO said.

This test is one in a series of many tests that ISRO intends to conduct under various circumstances, to check the reliability of its service module.

In simple terms, a rocket lifts a spacecraft or crew module to space using the rocket's own propulsive power. Once the crew module is separated from the rocket and ejected into space, it has to rely on its own engines to steer itself, to move into the most precise orbit and even to steer itself back towards earth for re-entering the atmosphere etc. This time, ISRO has tested the systems that would help its crew module perform all of the above and more.

The five LAMs that offer a thrust of 440N each are meant to steer the spacecraft, change its orbit and perform the tasks that require high-thrust. Owing to various factors, spacecrafts are required to fire their on-board engines to makes course corrections, steer clear from space debris and other space objects or satellites etc.

For example, a spacecraft which has to dock with the International Space Station must be able to use its own engines to steer itself towards the space station. However, the LAM are the main engines of the spacecraft and are only placed on one side of the craft.

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ISRO successfully tested the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) – which caters to the requirements of the Orbital Module – at IPRC, Mahendragiri. 
 
The hot test was conducted in SMPS’s final configuration. <a href="https://t.co/yO0O1I77p2">https://t.co/yO0O1I77p2</a> <a href="https://t.co/0Wn4KzGfTU">pic.twitter.com/0Wn4KzGfTU</a>
— ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1681979279502897153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The RCS thrusters are smaller thrusters that are meant to correct the 'attitude' of the crew module, thereby ensuring that it points towards the intended direction (in this case towards the Earth). Generally, a crew module that orbits the Earth has to face the blue planet and its solar panels must be able to harness the power of sunlight to charge its batteries.&nbsp;

ISRO said that the test firing of the System Demonstration Model (SDM) emulated the fluid circuit of the Service Module Propulsion System, which includes the propellant tank feed system, helium pressurisation system, flight-qualified thrusters, and control components.

This system burns a combination of monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and mixed oxides of nitrogen (MON). Such combinations of chemicals are most commonly used in satellite propulsion systems, as they are easy to store for long durations and deliver the required thrust for such operations.&nbsp;

The latest test, conducted for a duration of 250 seconds, involved LAM engines firing in continuous mode, along with RCS thrusters, and adhering to the test profile.

Earlier, ISRO had test fired this system as part of five tests, totalling a duration of 2,750 seconds. While the earlier phase of testing involved five 440N LAM engines and eight 100N RCS thrusters, the current configuration includes the full configuration of five 440N LAM engines and sixteen 100N RCS thrusters.

The Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System is designed, developed, and realised by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).

The test firing was conducted at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, in Tamil Nadu.

The Indian space agency has also lined up additional tests to demonstrate how this system performs under ideal and not-so-ideal and adverse conditions.&nbsp;

Gaganyaan is India's most ambitious, yet, spacefaring mission and is aimed at launching Indian astronauts to space for a short-duration mission and recovering them via splashdown in the ocean.

All of this is to be performed using a human-rated Indian rocket and indigenous systems including crew module, propulsion systems etc.&nbsp;

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The Indian space agency ISRO announced the successful completion of engines that would steer the Indian astronaut crew module, during the Gaganyaan human spaceflight missions.

The Indian space agency ISRO announced the successful completion of engines that would steer the Indian astronaut crew module, during the Gaganyaan human spaceflight missions. "This test involved five liquid apogee motor (LAM) engines with a thrust of 440N and sixteen reaction control system (RCS) thrusters with a thrust of 100N," the ISRO said. This test is one in a series of many tests that ISRO intends to conduct under various circumstances, to check the reliability of its service module. In simple terms, a rocket lifts a spacecraft or crew module to space using the rocket's own propulsive power. Once the crew module is separated from the rocket and ejected into space, it has to rely on its own engines to steer itself, to move into the most precise orbit and even to steer itself back towards earth for re-entering the atmosphere etc. This time, ISRO has tested the systems that would help its crew module perform all of the above and more. The five LAMs that offer a thrust of 440N each are meant to steer the spacecraft, change its orbit and perform the tasks that require high-thrust. Owing to various factors, spacecrafts are required to fire their on-board engines to makes course corrections, steer clear from space debris and other space objects or satellites etc. For example, a spacecraft which has to dock with the International Space Station must be able to use its own engines to steer itself towards the space station. However, the LAM are the main engines of the spacecraft and are only placed on one side of the craft. ISRO successfully tested the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) – which caters to the requirements of the Orbital Module – at IPRC, Mahendragiri. The hot test was conducted in SMPS’s final configuration. https://t.co/yO0O1I77p2 pic.twitter.com/0Wn4KzGfTU — ISRO (@isro) July 20, 2023 × The RCS thrusters are smaller thrusters that are meant to correct the 'attitude' of the crew module, thereby ensuring that it points towards the intended direction (in this case towards the Earth). Generally, a crew module that orbits the Earth has to face the blue planet and its solar panels must be able to harness the power of sunlight to charge its batteries. ISRO said that the test firing of the System Demonstration Model (SDM) emulated the fluid circuit of the Service Module Propulsion System, which includes the propellant tank feed system, helium pressurisation system, flight-qualified thrusters, and control components. This system burns a combination of monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and mixed oxides of nitrogen (MON). Such combinations of chemicals are most commonly used in satellite propulsion systems, as they are easy to store for long durations and deliver the required thrust for such operations. The latest test, conducted for a duration of 250 seconds, involved LAM engines firing in continuous mode, along with RCS thrusters, and adhering to the test profile. Earlier, ISRO had test fired this system as part of five tests, totalling a duration of 2,750 seconds. While the earlier phase of testing involved five 440N LAM engines and eight 100N RCS thrusters, the current configuration includes the full configuration of five 440N LAM engines and sixteen 100N RCS thrusters. The Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System is designed, developed, and realised by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). The test firing was conducted at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, in Tamil Nadu. The Indian space agency has also lined up additional tests to demonstrate how this system performs under ideal and not-so-ideal and adverse conditions. Gaganyaan is India's most ambitious, yet, spacefaring mission and is aimed at launching Indian astronauts to space for a short-duration mission and recovering them via splashdown in the ocean. All of this is to be performed using a human-rated Indian rocket and indigenous systems including crew module, propulsion systems etc. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | ISRO tests system that will steer and orient Indian astronaut capsule 

In the last two days, the northern Indian states of&nbsp;Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana have&nbsp;received extremely heavy monsoon rainfall which had led to the loss of lives, the breaking of bridges, damage to highways and other infrastructure. 
 
According to the India Meteorological Department, till the end of June, there was a 10 per cent deficiency in rainfall, However, in the past week, monsoon surged over the west coast and regions of northern India received two&nbsp;per cent excess rainfall on July 9.

<h2>How much rainfall did North India receive?</h2>

Northwest India was battered by 59 per cent excess rainfall; central India received four&nbsp;per cent excess rainfall, peninsular India remained 23 per cent&nbsp;deficient and 17 per cent deficiency was recorded over east and northeast India, stated the weather office. 
 
Several places in Haryana and Punjab received record rainfall between Saturday and Sunday - Chandigarh at 32 cm; Ambala at 22 cm; Delhi at 15 cm; Nangal at 28 cm; and Ropar at 27 cm – which caused severe flooding. Himachal Pradesh’s Bhuntar region recorded a 10 cm rainfall and Mandi received eight&nbsp;cm rain until 8:30 am on Sunday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/several-dead-tens-of-millions-affected-as-monsoon-rains-wreak-havoc-in-northern-india-613705">Monsoon rains wreak havoc in northern India: Several dead, tens of millions affected</a>

“The Chandigarh observatory was set up in 2009 and prior to that, the figures were taken from the Chandigarh airforce observatory itself. Even the airforce observatory has seen maximum notches going up to 286.0 mm but not as much as the current figures,” stated a senior official of the MET department, while speaking to Indian Express. 
 
Overall, Himachal Pradesh recorded 103.8 mm of rainfall from Saturday to Sunday compared to eight&nbsp;mm, which it normally records, resulting in&nbsp;1,193 per cent of excess rainfall. Meanwhile, Punjab received 57.5 mm of rainfall compared to the normal of 4.6 mm rainfall, which again made it 1,151 per cent of excess rain for the day.

<h2>Why such a sudden surge in monsoon rainfall?</h2>

As per the&nbsp;India Meteorological Department, an interaction between the monsoon trough and a western disturbance has led to heavy rainfall. 
 
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, speaking to Hindustan Times, said, “The interaction is causing heavy to very heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, north Punjab and Haryana, Uttarakhand. As forecast by us that there will be good rainfall in July, we have covered the rainfall deficit now. In the past nine days, rainfall was 24 per cent&nbsp;excess for the period in July. Rainfall will gradually reduce over these states from tomorrow onwards." 
 
“This happens because of large-scale systems. We had good monsoon circulation, and at the same time, a western disturbance was passing over the region. So, we had strong westerly winds, along with moist easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal, resulting in the convergence of these two types of winds over northwest India,” he said, as reported by Indian Express.

WATCH |&nbsp;Heavy rains in Delhi NCR: Weather office predicts more showers | India News | WION

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Mohapatra said that Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand witnessed maximum intensity of rainfall on Sunday and Jammu and Kashmir faced it on Saturday. “The systems are moving slowly, which is why we saw heavy rainfall in parts of northwest India on Sunday. On Monday, this activity is likely to reduce,” he stated. 
 
Talking about the heavy rainfall spells which broke records in a few parts, Mohapatra stated that the phenomenon is not unusual because heavy and extremely heavy rain is expected during the monsoon.

<h2>Heavy downpour – an impact of climate change?</h2>

Ministry of Earth Sciences' former secretary, M Rajeevan, said the heavy rains which crumbled parts of northern India can be seen as an important impact of climate change. 
 
“Recent heavy rains &amp; flash floods remind us of one of the important impacts of climate change on monsoons. It rains fewer hours, but when it rains, it rains very heavily. Our forewarning systems &amp; mitigation should further improve. This can happen anywhere,” he tweeted. 
 
“Recent Himachal Pradesh floods remind us of the 2013 Uttarakhand floods with similar synoptic conditions. An active monsoon with strong low-level easterlies bringing plenty of moisture, supported by upper-level divergence due to an eastward-moving trough. These are predictable,” stated the former secretary, while speaking to Hindustan Times. 
 
Explaining the impact of climate change, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Roxy Mathew Koll said, "In a changing climate, we see that hilly areas and surroundings - whether it's the Himalayan foothills or the Western Ghats - are particularly susceptible to heavy rains and landslides. Due to global warming, there's extra moisture, and the hills stop this moisture flow and lift it, which comes down as heavy rains. Some of the regions over India where extreme rains have increased are such places where the rains happen due to orographic lifting.”

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In the last two days, the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana have received extremely heavy monsoon rainfall which had led to the loss of lives, the breaking of bridges, damage to highways and other infrastructure.

In the last two days, the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana have received extremely heavy monsoon rainfall which had led to the loss of lives, the breaking of bridges, damage to highways and other infrastructure. According to the India Meteorological Department, till the end of June, there was a 10 per cent deficiency in rainfall, However, in the past week, monsoon surged over the west coast and regions of northern India received two per cent excess rainfall on July 9. How much rainfall did North India receive? Northwest India was battered by 59 per cent excess rainfall; central India received four per cent excess rainfall, peninsular India remained 23 per cent deficient and 17 per cent deficiency was recorded over east and northeast India, stated the weather office. Several places in Haryana and Punjab received record rainfall between Saturday and Sunday - Chandigarh at 32 cm; Ambala at 22 cm; Delhi at 15 cm; Nangal at 28 cm; and Ropar at 27 cm – which caused severe flooding. Himachal Pradesh’s Bhuntar region recorded a 10 cm rainfall and Mandi received eight cm rain until 8:30 am on Sunday. ALSO READ | Monsoon rains wreak havoc in northern India: Several dead, tens of millions affected “The Chandigarh observatory was set up in 2009 and prior to that, the figures were taken from the Chandigarh airforce observatory itself. Even the airforce observatory has seen maximum notches going up to 286.0 mm but not as much as the current figures,” stated a senior official of the MET department, while speaking to Indian Express. Overall, Himachal Pradesh recorded 103.8 mm of rainfall from Saturday to Sunday compared to eight mm, which it normally records, resulting in 1,193 per cent of excess rainfall. Meanwhile, Punjab received 57.5 mm of rainfall compared to the normal of 4.6 mm rainfall, which again made it 1,151 per cent of excess rain for the day. Why such a sudden surge in monsoon rainfall? As per the India Meteorological Department, an interaction between the monsoon trough and a western disturbance has led to heavy rainfall. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, speaking to Hindustan Times, said, “The interaction is causing heavy to very heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, north Punjab and Haryana, Uttarakhand. As forecast by us that there will be good rainfall in July, we have covered the rainfall deficit now. In the past nine days, rainfall was 24 per cent excess for the period in July. Rainfall will gradually reduce over these states from tomorrow onwards." “This happens because of large-scale systems. We had good monsoon circulation, and at the same time, a western disturbance was passing over the region. So, we had strong westerly winds, along with moist easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal, resulting in the convergence of these two types of winds over northwest India,” he said, as reported by Indian Express. WATCH | Heavy rains in Delhi NCR: Weather office predicts more showers | India News | WION Mohapatra said that Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand witnessed maximum intensity of rainfall on Sunday and Jammu and Kashmir faced it on Saturday. “The systems are moving slowly, which is why we saw heavy rainfall in parts of northwest India on Sunday. On Monday, this activity is likely to reduce,” he stated. Talking about the heavy rainfall spells which broke records in a few parts, Mohapatra stated that the phenomenon is not unusual because heavy and extremely heavy rain is expected during the monsoon. Heavy downpour – an impact of climate change? Ministry of Earth Sciences' former secretary, M Rajeevan, said the heavy rains which crumbled parts of northern India can be seen as an important impact of climate change. “Recent heavy rains & flash floods remind us of one of the important impacts of climate change on monsoons. It rains fewer hours, but when it rains, it rains very heavily. Our forewarning systems & mitigation should further improve. This can happen anywhere,” he tweeted. “Recent Himachal Pradesh floods remind us of the 2013 Uttarakhand floods with similar synoptic conditions. An active monsoon with strong low-level easterlies bringing plenty of moisture, supported by upper-level divergence due to an eastward-moving trough. These are predictable,” stated the former secretary, while speaking to Hindustan Times. Explaining the impact of climate change, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Roxy Mathew Koll said, "In a changing climate, we see that hilly areas and surroundings - whether it's the Himalayan foothills or the Western Ghats - are particularly susceptible to heavy rains and landslides. Due to global warming, there's extra moisture, and the hills stop this moisture flow and lift it, which comes down as heavy rains. Some of the regions over India where extreme rains have increased are such places where the rains happen due to orographic lifting.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Destruction, havoc, loss of lives: Why have monsoon rains turned ferocious in North India?

The de-dollarisation, the movement to reduce other countries' reliance on the greenback, among the emerging economies of the BRICS economic group is yet to reach a 'common currency' breakthrough. The de-dollarisation movement, however, is currently morphing into a growing number of countries ditching the dollar&nbsp;and choosing to trade in their own currencies instead.

But despite an official clarification, the Russian embassy in Kenya said in a tweet, "The BRICS countries are planning to introduce a new trading currency, which will be backed by gold."&nbsp;

Earlier this week, however, the New Development Bank, a financial institution created by the BRICS bloc, said in an official statement that it doesn’t have any immediate plans for a common currency.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/brics-common-currency-soon-india-china-step-up-to-counter-us-dollars-dominance-578660">BRICS common currency soon? India, China step up to counter US dollar's dominance</a>

Instead, the members of BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are pushing to conduct more bilateral trade in local currencies. they aren’t ready to challenge the global dominance of the dollar.

"The development of anything alternative is more a medium&nbsp;to long-term ambition," Leslie Maasdorp, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of the New Development Bank, told Bloomberg. "There is no suggestion right now to create a BRICS currency."

Prior to the BRICS virtual summit, India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar said that "there is no idea of a BRICS currency."

"Currencies will remain a national issue for a long time to come," Jaishankar added.

The bloc, which was formed in 2009, has been striving to gain more clout globally as a way of counterbalancing the dominance the US and its traditional allies have in multilateral financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.&nbsp;

Still, even the Chinese Renminbi "is a very long way from becoming a reserve currency," Maasdorp said.

<h2>BRICS Bank's focus on expanding its financial clout</h2>

According to reports, a key part of the Shanghai-based New Development Bank is to expand its financial clout with a focus on $50 billion in subscribed capital.&nbsp;

“The intention has always been to create a global bank anchored in emerging markets,” Maasdorp said.

He further said that the bank aims to direct 40 per cent of lending to climate-related projects.

<h2>New BRICS members</h2>

A total of 19 countries, with 13 formal requests and approximately 5 or 6 informal queries, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/key-brics-meet-this-week-to-discuss-expansion-611155">have approached</a> BRICS leaders for becoming full members of the BRICS forum.&nbsp;

In an interview with WION, South Africa's foreign minister Naledi Pandor, disclosed that a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, Argentina, Mexico, and Nigeria, have expressed keen interest in joining BRICS.&nbsp;

The recent BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Cape Town saw several African countries, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE attend the "Friends of BRICS" gathering.

The upcoming BRICS summit in South Africa is expected to see multiple inclusions, possibly of Saudi Arabia and Iran, into a crucial multilateral grouping, significantly elevating its economic heft and simultaneous geopolitical clout.

<h2>Brazil's Lula chief supporter of common BRICS currency</h2>

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vocally challenged the supremacy of the US dollar in recent months.&nbsp;

Recently, in a show of support from a fellow BRICS partner, Brazil's President Lula, while standing alongside his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, challenged the US dollar's role as the world's primary reserve currency for global trade.

Also watch |&nbsp;Brazilian President Lula da Silva wants a BRICS currency

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Ramaphosa, while seconding Lula's comment, said that the "issue of currency" would be discussed at the upcoming meeting of BRICS countries later this year, which South Africa is scheduled to host in August.

<h2>Russia’s interest in a common BRICS currency</h2>

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Moscow has ramped up its efforts to promote de-dollarisation. Immediately after President Vladimir Putin announced 'special military operations' against Ukraine, Washington froze half of Russia's foreign currency reserves and banned its biggest banks from the SWIFT international payments system.

Since February 2022, Russia has been pushing for de-dollarisation in consonance with China and nations deemed neutral in the wake of the ongoing Ukraine war.

Alexander Babakov, the deputy chairman of Russian parliament, the State Duma, while speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum event in New Delhi, India, in April 203 had said that the plan is to initially transition to using domestic currencies in transactions.&nbsp;

Following this, the introduction and circulation of a digital or an alternative form of currency could be explored.&nbsp;

Brazil, Russia, India and China established BRIC in 2009 and the bloc became BRICS a year later when South Africa was admitted.&nbsp;

If it expands to include other "emerging nations with persistent surpluses," a globally fairer, multi-currency global system could emerge, O’Neill said.&nbsp;

The bloc&nbsp;represents about 26.7 per cent of the world's land surface and 41.5 per cent of the global population. 
 
The BRICS countries hold a substantial 16 per cent share in world trade and over the years, they have played a vital role as engines of global economic growth.

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The de-dollarisation, the movement to reduce other countries' reliance on the greenback, among the emerging economies of the BRICS economic group is yet to reach a 'common currency' breakthrough.

The de-dollarisation, the movement to reduce other countries' reliance on the greenback, among the emerging economies of the BRICS economic group is yet to reach a 'common currency' breakthrough. The de-dollarisation movement, however, is currently morphing into a growing number of countries ditching the dollar and choosing to trade in their own currencies instead. But despite an official clarification, the Russian embassy in Kenya said in a tweet, "The BRICS countries are planning to introduce a new trading currency, which will be backed by gold." Earlier this week, however, the New Development Bank, a financial institution created by the BRICS bloc, said in an official statement that it doesn’t have any immediate plans for a common currency. Also read | BRICS common currency soon? India, China step up to counter US dollar's dominance Instead, the members of BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are pushing to conduct more bilateral trade in local currencies. they aren’t ready to challenge the global dominance of the dollar. "The development of anything alternative is more a medium to long-term ambition," Leslie Maasdorp, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of the New Development Bank, told Bloomberg. "There is no suggestion right now to create a BRICS currency." Prior to the BRICS virtual summit, India's foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar said that "there is no idea of a BRICS currency." "Currencies will remain a national issue for a long time to come," Jaishankar added. The bloc, which was formed in 2009, has been striving to gain more clout globally as a way of counterbalancing the dominance the US and its traditional allies have in multilateral financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Still, even the Chinese Renminbi "is a very long way from becoming a reserve currency," Maasdorp said. BRICS Bank's focus on expanding its financial clout According to reports, a key part of the Shanghai-based New Development Bank is to expand its financial clout with a focus on $50 billion in subscribed capital. “The intention has always been to create a global bank anchored in emerging markets,” Maasdorp said. He further said that the bank aims to direct 40 per cent of lending to climate-related projects. New BRICS members A total of 19 countries, with 13 formal requests and approximately 5 or 6 informal queries, have approached BRICS leaders for becoming full members of the BRICS forum. In an interview with WION, South Africa's foreign minister Naledi Pandor, disclosed that a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, Argentina, Mexico, and Nigeria, have expressed keen interest in joining BRICS. The recent BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Cape Town saw several African countries, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE attend the "Friends of BRICS" gathering. The upcoming BRICS summit in South Africa is expected to see multiple inclusions, possibly of Saudi Arabia and Iran, into a crucial multilateral grouping, significantly elevating its economic heft and simultaneous geopolitical clout. Brazil's Lula chief supporter of common BRICS currency Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vocally challenged the supremacy of the US dollar in recent months. Recently, in a show of support from a fellow BRICS partner, Brazil's President Lula, while standing alongside his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, challenged the US dollar's role as the world's primary reserve currency for global trade. Also watch | Brazilian President Lula da Silva wants a BRICS currency × Ramaphosa, while seconding Lula's comment, said that the "issue of currency" would be discussed at the upcoming meeting of BRICS countries later this year, which South Africa is scheduled to host in August. Russia’s interest in a common BRICS currency Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Moscow has ramped up its efforts to promote de-dollarisation. Immediately after President Vladimir Putin announced 'special military operations' against Ukraine, Washington froze half of Russia's foreign currency reserves and banned its biggest banks from the SWIFT international payments system. Since February 2022, Russia has been pushing for de-dollarisation in consonance with China and nations deemed neutral in the wake of the ongoing Ukraine war. Alexander Babakov, the deputy chairman of Russian parliament, the State Duma, while speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum event in New Delhi, India, in April 203 had said that the plan is to initially transition to using domestic currencies in transactions. Following this, the introduction and circulation of a digital or an alternative form of currency could be explored. Brazil, Russia, India and China established BRIC in 2009 and the bloc became BRICS a year later when South Africa was admitted. If it expands to include other "emerging nations with persistent surpluses," a globally fairer, multi-currency global system could emerge, O’Neill said. The bloc represents about 26.7 per cent of the world's land surface and 41.5 per cent of the global population. The BRICS countries hold a substantial 16 per cent share in world trade and over the years, they have played a vital role as engines of global economic growth. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Spotlight on potential BRICS currency as pushback against US dollar grows

Despite a three-day-long rescue operation, the five men on board the 22-foot submersible that had gone to see the Titanic could not be saved.

It is believed that a "catastrophic implosion" may have destroyed the Titan submersible.

This conclusion was drawn by the US Coast Guard after examining debris found underwater Thursday through a remote-controlled vehicle. The debris was found 1,600 feet (488 metres) from the bow of the Titanic.

“We immediately notified the families,” Rear Admiral John Mauger said at a briefing in Boston on Thursday.

“On behalf of the US Coast Guard and the entire unified command, I offer my deepest condolences.”

The rescuers had to race against time as Titan’s 96-hour oxygen supply was dwindling after it lost contact with the Canadian research vessel Polar Prince on June 18.

International fleets of ships and aircraft were deployed to scour the North Atlantic in the hopes of finding survivors.

There were five men on board the Titan. They were Hamish Harding, 58, of the UK, founder of investment firm Action Group and an avid adventurer; French maritime expert Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77; Stockton Rush, 61, chief executive officer of Everett, Washington-based OceanGate Inc., which ran the expedition; and Shahzada Dawood, 48, and Suleman Dawood, 19, a father and son in one of Pakistan's most prominent families.

<h2>What is catastrophic implosion?</h2>

A catastrophic implosion happens when a vessel collapses on itself due to overwhelming internal pressure. When the pressure within a confined space becomes too much for the structure to bear, it leads to a catastrophic collapse.

Titan's’ main body, or “the hull”, is made of carbon fibre and titanium. The carbon fibre reinforced plastic hull might have collapsed when the hull imploded.

“This is because the material is not ductile as metal alloys and therefore it catastrophically implodes,” Professor Stefano Brizzolara, the co-director of Virginia Tech Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics, told ABC News.

At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi).

Water pressure at the depth where the ocean liner lies is equivalent to around 400 atmospheres, nearly 6,000 psi.

As a comparison, the bite of a large great white shark exerts a force of nearly 4,000 psi, according to Scientific American.

It is believed that the implosion might have caused a defect in the hull or for some other reason, causing the submersible to collapse on itself in milliseconds as it was unable to withstand immense water pressure.

The chances of survival become zero as the occupants would have died instantly.

According to reports, OceanGate Inc. of Everett, which built the Titan, had designed the vessel to sustain the extreme water pressure at a depth of 4,000 meters.

However, safety concerns were raised after a lawsuit was filed involving OceanGate's former director of marine operations, David Lochridge, who was fired in 2018 after warning about the Titan's "experimental" carbon fibre hull.

<h2>How the implosion might have happened </h2>

Experts noted that a flood or failure of the vessel to withstand water pressure might have likely caused the implosion.

“That kind of catastrophic event would have happened within 20 milliseconds," submarine expert Eric Fusil from the University of Adelaide told ABC News.

The pressure hull of the Titan was made of a combination of titanium and a composite material of carbon fibres. The navy submarines, on the other hand, use high strength steel or titanium alloys.

"The titanium pressure vessel is very elastic— it can crush and then restore its&nbsp;initial shape," Fusil was quoted as saying.

"But the carbon&nbsp;fibres are&nbsp;completely different&nbsp;— it's something very stiff."

He, however, argued that the use of carbon fire is an “experimental technology” and it was too early to tell whether that design caused the issues.&nbsp;

<h2>What does an implosion feel like?</h2>

Fusil said that the five passengers on board Titan submersible might not have realised it was even happening.

"They wouldn't have realised they were dying because they cannot process that information that quickly," he was quoted as saying.

Forensic&nbsp;engineer Bart Kemper described the implosion to pricking a balloon.&nbsp;

"When I take a needle and&nbsp;poke it into a balloon, once you&nbsp;break that balloon, it's gone," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-survivors-from-missing-titanic-sub-as-all-five-on-board-believed-to-be-dead-607539">No survivors from missing Titanic sub, all five on board believed to be dead</a>

"That's exactly the problem you have&nbsp;with a pressure vessel, and the fact&nbsp;that this is external pressure, not&nbsp;internal pressure, it doesn't&nbsp;matter.

"Once you lose integrity,&nbsp;with these kinds of pressures, it's&nbsp;gone," he said.

<h2>Titan, the submersible that went down</h2>

The 6.7-metre-long Titan was designed to carry a pilot and four crew to a maximum depth of 4,000 metres (13,120 feet).

According to OceanGate's website, an onboard system was able to track the health of the crew and provide “early warning detection for the pilot with enough time to arrest the descent and safely return to surface.”

But no messages were received after a mothership on the surface lost all communications with the Titan on June 18, about 1 hour and 45 minutes after it began diving toward the Titanic, which sank in 1912 on its first trans-Atlantic voyage.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Despite a three-day-long rescue operation, the five men on board the 22-foot submersible that had gone to see the Titanic could not be saved. It is believed that a "catastrophic implosion" may have destroyed the Titan submersible.

Despite a three-day-long rescue operation, the five men on board the 22-foot submersible that had gone to see the Titanic could not be saved. It is believed that a "catastrophic implosion" may have destroyed the Titan submersible. This conclusion was drawn by the US Coast Guard after examining debris found underwater Thursday through a remote-controlled vehicle. The debris was found 1,600 feet (488 metres) from the bow of the Titanic. “We immediately notified the families,” Rear Admiral John Mauger said at a briefing in Boston on Thursday. “On behalf of the US Coast Guard and the entire unified command, I offer my deepest condolences.” The rescuers had to race against time as Titan’s 96-hour oxygen supply was dwindling after it lost contact with the Canadian research vessel Polar Prince on June 18. International fleets of ships and aircraft were deployed to scour the North Atlantic in the hopes of finding survivors. There were five men on board the Titan. They were Hamish Harding, 58, of the UK, founder of investment firm Action Group and an avid adventurer; French maritime expert Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77; Stockton Rush, 61, chief executive officer of Everett, Washington-based OceanGate Inc., which ran the expedition; and Shahzada Dawood, 48, and Suleman Dawood, 19, a father and son in one of Pakistan's most prominent families. What is catastrophic implosion? A catastrophic implosion happens when a vessel collapses on itself due to overwhelming internal pressure. When the pressure within a confined space becomes too much for the structure to bear, it leads to a catastrophic collapse. Titan's’ main body, or “the hull”, is made of carbon fibre and titanium. The carbon fibre reinforced plastic hull might have collapsed when the hull imploded. “This is because the material is not ductile as metal alloys and therefore it catastrophically implodes,” Professor Stefano Brizzolara, the co-director of Virginia Tech Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics, told ABC News. At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi). Water pressure at the depth where the ocean liner lies is equivalent to around 400 atmospheres, nearly 6,000 psi. As a comparison, the bite of a large great white shark exerts a force of nearly 4,000 psi, according to Scientific American. It is believed that the implosion might have caused a defect in the hull or for some other reason, causing the submersible to collapse on itself in milliseconds as it was unable to withstand immense water pressure. The chances of survival become zero as the occupants would have died instantly. According to reports, OceanGate Inc. of Everett, which built the Titan, had designed the vessel to sustain the extreme water pressure at a depth of 4,000 meters. However, safety concerns were raised after a lawsuit was filed involving OceanGate's former director of marine operations, David Lochridge, who was fired in 2018 after warning about the Titan's "experimental" carbon fibre hull. How the implosion might have happened Experts noted that a flood or failure of the vessel to withstand water pressure might have likely caused the implosion. “That kind of catastrophic event would have happened within 20 milliseconds," submarine expert Eric Fusil from the University of Adelaide told ABC News. The pressure hull of the Titan was made of a combination of titanium and a composite material of carbon fibres. The navy submarines, on the other hand, use high strength steel or titanium alloys. "The titanium pressure vessel is very elastic— it can crush and then restore its initial shape," Fusil was quoted as saying. "But the carbon fibres are completely different — it's something very stiff." He, however, argued that the use of carbon fire is an “experimental technology” and it was too early to tell whether that design caused the issues. What does an implosion feel like? Fusil said that the five passengers on board Titan submersible might not have realised it was even happening. "They wouldn't have realised they were dying because they cannot process that information that quickly," he was quoted as saying. Forensic engineer Bart Kemper described the implosion to pricking a balloon. "When I take a needle and poke it into a balloon, once you break that balloon, it's gone," he said. Also read | No survivors from missing Titanic sub, all five on board believed to be dead "That's exactly the problem you have with a pressure vessel, and the fact that this is external pressure, not internal pressure, it doesn't matter. "Once you lose integrity, with these kinds of pressures, it's gone," he said. Titan, the submersible that went down The 6.7-metre-long Titan was designed to carry a pilot and four crew to a maximum depth of 4,000 metres (13,120 feet). According to OceanGate's website, an onboard system was able to track the health of the crew and provide “early warning detection for the pilot with enough time to arrest the descent and safely return to surface.” But no messages were received after a mothership on the surface lost all communications with the Titan on June 18, about 1 hour and 45 minutes after it began diving toward the Titanic, which sank in 1912 on its first trans-Atlantic voyage. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | What is ‘catastrophic implosion’, likely cause of Titan submersible’s destruction?  

On Thursday, Donald Trump became the first former US president to be indicted over a federal criminal charge after he confirmed that he has been indicted on charges of mishandling over 100 classified documents at his Florida estate.

The Justice Department did not immediately publicly confirm the development, but several media reports, confirming sources, said that the indictment included seven criminal&nbsp;counts.

The seven counts Trump will be tried upon include willfully retaining national defence secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, making false statements and obstruction of justice conspiracy.

<h2>What has been Trump’s reaction?</h2>

On this social Truth Social platform, Trump blasted the “corrupt” Biden administration.

&nbsp;“The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” Trump wrote.

Trump said he has been summoned to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday at 3 pm.

"I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States," he wrote.

About half an hour after his initial post on Truth Social,&nbsp;Trump took to Truth Social again. This time with a video.

"I am innocent," he stressed.

In a statement after his initial online posts, the Trump campaign lashed out at what it called an "unprecedented abuse of power" and called for the indictment to be thrown out.

Trump "has long been the biggest threat and the top political target for Joe Biden and the corrupt Democrat Party," his campaign said in a statement.

"Today's act of open legal 'warfare' by the highly politicised and partisan Department of Injustice, has taken things to a new level, and set a dangerous precedent."

<h2>What led to Trump’s indictment?</h2>

In the spring of 2021, a team of officials from the National Archives and Records Administration reached out to representatives for Trump after finding out that important material from his time in office was missing from their collection.

According to the Presidential Records Act, White House documents are considered property of the US&nbsp;government and must be preserved.

In December 2021, a Trump representative told the National Archives that presidential records had been found at Mar-a-Lago. A month later, the National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of documents from Trump’s Florida home, later telling Justice Department officials that they contained “a lot” of classified material.

In May 2022, the FBI and Justice Department issued a subpoena for remaining classified documents that were said to be with Trump. Later, investigators who went to visit the property to collect the records were given roughly three dozen documents and a sworn statement from Trump’s lawyers attesting that the requested information had been returned.

However, that turned out to be false. The federal officials then returned to Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 after obtaining a search warrant and seized more than 33 boxes and containers totalling 11,000 documents from a storage room and an office, including 100 classified documents.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/get-set-arrest-what-future-looks-like-for-donald-trump-after-indictment-in-classified-documents-row-602391">Get, set, arrest? Will Donald Trump be arrested in classified documents row?</a>

In total, around 300 documents with classification markings — including some at the top secret level — have been recovered from Trump since he left office in January 2021.

<h2>What could be the maximum punishment for Trump?</h2>

If convicted of violating the&nbsp;Espionage Act, the former president could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The law criminalises the illegal removal of any sensitive materials which relate to national defence.

ABC News reported that the rumoured charges against Trump might put him behind bars for five to 20 years if convicted.

<h2>What are the other charges faced by Trump?</h2>

Trump still faces other open criminal investigations. They include an inquiry led by Department of Justice’s Jack Smith into Trump’s efforts to hold onto power following his election loss, and how they led to the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol. There is also an investigation by a prosecutor in Georgia into his attempts to reverse his 2020 election loss in that vital swing state.

Trump is scheduled to go on trial in Manhattan next March after he was charged in connection with a hush-money payment to a porn star.

<h2>Will indictment prevent Trump from running for president?</h2>

Apparently, no. Neither the indictment nor a conviction would prevent Trump from running for or winning the presidency in 2024.

In fact, immediately after revealing that he has been indicted, his team announced that it has raised over $4 million in fundraising in the 24 hours after the news became public, far surpassing its previous record after the FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.

<h2>How are Trump’s rivals in Republican Party reacting?</h2>

Many of Trump’s challengers have jumped to his defence after the news of the indictment broke.

Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-he-has-been-indicted-in-secret-documents-probe-602351">Trump indicted on 7 counts, including Espionage Act in classified docs case</a>

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s top rival for the 2024 nomination, accused the Justice Department of political bias in charging the former president.

“The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society,” DeSantis tweeted. “We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.”

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said he felt the justice system’s “scales are weighted” based on politics.

Former Vice President Mike Pence said earlier Thursday that if Trump were to be indicted, he would hope the Justice Department had strong evidence.

(With inputs from agencies)

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On Thursday, Donald Trump became the first former US president to be indicted over a federal criminal charge after he confirmed that he has been indicted on charges of mishandling over 100 classified documents at his Florida estate.

On Thursday, Donald Trump became the first former US president to be indicted over a federal criminal charge after he confirmed that he has been indicted on charges of mishandling over 100 classified documents at his Florida estate. The Justice Department did not immediately publicly confirm the development, but several media reports, confirming sources, said that the indictment included seven criminal counts. The seven counts Trump will be tried upon include willfully retaining national defence secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, making false statements and obstruction of justice conspiracy. What has been Trump’s reaction? On this social Truth Social platform, Trump blasted the “corrupt” Biden administration. “The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” Trump wrote. Trump said he has been summoned to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday at 3 pm. "I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States," he wrote. About half an hour after his initial post on Truth Social, Trump took to Truth Social again. This time with a video. "I am innocent," he stressed. In a statement after his initial online posts, the Trump campaign lashed out at what it called an "unprecedented abuse of power" and called for the indictment to be thrown out. Trump "has long been the biggest threat and the top political target for Joe Biden and the corrupt Democrat Party," his campaign said in a statement. "Today's act of open legal 'warfare' by the highly politicised and partisan Department of Injustice, has taken things to a new level, and set a dangerous precedent." What led to Trump’s indictment? In the spring of 2021, a team of officials from the National Archives and Records Administration reached out to representatives for Trump after finding out that important material from his time in office was missing from their collection. According to the Presidential Records Act, White House documents are considered property of the US government and must be preserved. In December 2021, a Trump representative told the National Archives that presidential records had been found at Mar-a-Lago. A month later, the National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of documents from Trump’s Florida home, later telling Justice Department officials that they contained “a lot” of classified material. In May 2022, the FBI and Justice Department issued a subpoena for remaining classified documents that were said to be with Trump. Later, investigators who went to visit the property to collect the records were given roughly three dozen documents and a sworn statement from Trump’s lawyers attesting that the requested information had been returned. However, that turned out to be false. The federal officials then returned to Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 after obtaining a search warrant and seized more than 33 boxes and containers totalling 11,000 documents from a storage room and an office, including 100 classified documents. Also read | Get, set, arrest? Will Donald Trump be arrested in classified documents row? In total, around 300 documents with classification markings — including some at the top secret level — have been recovered from Trump since he left office in January 2021. What could be the maximum punishment for Trump? If convicted of violating the Espionage Act, the former president could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The law criminalises the illegal removal of any sensitive materials which relate to national defence. ABC News reported that the rumoured charges against Trump might put him behind bars for five to 20 years if convicted. What are the other charges faced by Trump? Trump still faces other open criminal investigations. They include an inquiry led by Department of Justice’s Jack Smith into Trump’s efforts to hold onto power following his election loss, and how they led to the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol. There is also an investigation by a prosecutor in Georgia into his attempts to reverse his 2020 election loss in that vital swing state. Trump is scheduled to go on trial in Manhattan next March after he was charged in connection with a hush-money payment to a porn star. Will indictment prevent Trump from running for president? Apparently, no. Neither the indictment nor a conviction would prevent Trump from running for or winning the presidency in 2024. In fact, immediately after revealing that he has been indicted, his team announced that it has raised over $4 million in fundraising in the 24 hours after the news became public, far surpassing its previous record after the FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. How are Trump’s rivals in Republican Party reacting? Many of Trump’s challengers have jumped to his defence after the news of the indictment broke. Also read | Trump indicted on 7 counts, including Espionage Act in classified docs case Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s top rival for the 2024 nomination, accused the Justice Department of political bias in charging the former president. “The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society,” DeSantis tweeted. “We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.” Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said he felt the justice system’s “scales are weighted” based on politics. Former Vice President Mike Pence said earlier Thursday that if Trump were to be indicted, he would hope the Justice Department had strong evidence. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained: Donald Trump and the classified documents saga

A decade ago, much before the dawn of Artificial Intelligence emerged on internet's horizon,&nbsp;US whistleblower Edward Snowden stunned the world with revelations that the massive US spy apparatus was secretly monitoring communications and private data on people around the world.&nbsp;

His revelations, apart from triggering crucial debates about state surveillance programmes,&nbsp;led to advancing of privacy protections in Europe and the United States and accelerated the use of encryption.

A former consultant at the&nbsp;US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Snowden became&nbsp;one of the world's most consequential whistleblowers of all time for the monumental exposé of US government, revealing that Washington was executing&nbsp;large-scale surveillance of its own citizens and abroad.

Ten years later, Snowden lives in exile in Moscow as a naturalised Russian citizen. At the same time, the US intelligence still collects&nbsp;huge amounts of private electronically stored and transmitted information.&nbsp;

<h2>Edward Snowden's&nbsp;exposé: Top Revelations</h2>

Snowden revealed that no one was safe from the electronic prying by the US National Security Agency (NSA), least of all Americans, whose private communications are supposedly constitutionally protected.&nbsp;

At the age of 29, Snowden, who worked as an NSA systems administrator, downloaded thousands of classified documents from the NSA and CIA.

These documents provided evidence of a global data collection operation that had gained momentum after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Snowden shared these documents with journalists, which revealed how the US intelligence community collaborated with organisations like Britain's GCHQ [Government Communications Headquarters] to compile dossiers on billions of individuals without any reasonable suspicion.

The documents also disclosed that the US had the capability to intercept the communications of the&nbsp;leaders of countries, including its allies.

The NSA's Prism programme was exposed, under which the US collected user data from internet giants like Google and Facebook, sometimes without their consent.

Also watch |&nbsp;Putin grants citizenship to Edward Snowden; exposed surveillance by NSA

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Furthermore, the NSA obtained call records from major cell provider Verizon and routinely extracted data from public institutions such as companies, hospitals, and universities.

<h2>Edward Snowden's revelations: The No Limits intelligence collection</h2>

Snowden said that the problem lay not in justifying these activities for counter-terrorism purposes but in the fact that these were secretive programmes with virtually no limits. He emphasised the importance of public discourse in determining where&nbsp;such programmes and policies were right or not.

The public response to Snowden's revelations was characterised by outrage, but it also sparked a backlash from US intelligence agencies.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-sri-lankan-refugees-who-hid-edward-snowden-in-hong-kong-begin-new-lives-in-canada-416868">Four Sri Lankan refugees who hid Edward Snowden in Hong Kong begin new lives in Canada</a>

They accused Snowden of severely compromising counter-terrorism efforts and assisting America's adversaries. However, the intelligence community refrained from providing a detailed account of the damage caused, instead highlighting the prevention of numerous attacks as a result of their surveillance activities.

<h2>Edward Snowden's&nbsp;exposé: The impact</h2>

In 2016, James Clapper, the national intelligence director at the time, acknowledged that Snowden's actions had made the NSA's work more challenging by pressuring internet and mobile communication companies, as well as app developers, to enhance encryption in their services.

According to Ben Wizner, an attorney for Snowden and the American Civil Liberties Union, the leaks bolstered civil liberties, even though an increasing number of internet companies continue to collect user data.

Wizner told news agency AFP that Snowden's revelations compelled the White House, the US Congress, and the judiciary to reverse their course on secretive surveillance practices, leading to the revision and cancellation of certain programmes.

He pointed out that for the first time since the 1970s, Congress legislated to reduce rather than expand surveillance authorities.

The impact of Snowden's global surveillance revelations was particularly evident in Europe. The European Union implemented the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, aiming to restrict the power of US companies like Google and Facebook in collecting and exploiting user data.

The impact of Snowden's global surveillance revelations was particularly evident in Europe. The European Union implemented the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, aiming to restrict the power of US companies like Google and Facebook in collecting and exploiting user data.

Many ask, why did Snowden give up on information the US deemed confidential. In his past interviews, he has cited it to be a matter of principles. That's why, Snowden told Guardian once, he gave up his freedom in the United States and a comfortable lifestyle.

<h2>Transparency is important: Snowden</h2>

"There are more important things than money. If I were motivated by money, I could have sold these documents to any number of countries and gotten very rich," he told The Guardian shortly after his revelations exposed the previously confidential realities of the US government.

"I carefully evaluated every single document I disclosed to ensure that each was legitimately in the public interest," he said. "There are all sorts of documents that would have made a big impact that I didn’t turn over, because harming people isn’t my goal. Transparency is."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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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>.

A decade ago, much before the dawn of Artificial Intelligence emerged on internet's horizon, US whistleblower Edward Snowden stunned the world with revelations that the massive US spy apparatus was secretly monitoring communications and private data on people around the world.

A decade ago, much before the dawn of Artificial Intelligence emerged on internet's horizon, US whistleblower Edward Snowden stunned the world with revelations that the massive US spy apparatus was secretly monitoring communications and private data on people around the world. His revelations, apart from triggering crucial debates about state surveillance programmes, led to advancing of privacy protections in Europe and the United States and accelerated the use of encryption. A former consultant at the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Snowden became one of the world's most consequential whistleblowers of all time for the monumental exposé of US government, revealing that Washington was executing large-scale surveillance of its own citizens and abroad. Ten years later, Snowden lives in exile in Moscow as a naturalised Russian citizen. At the same time, the US intelligence still collects huge amounts of private electronically stored and transmitted information. Edward Snowden's exposé: Top Revelations Snowden revealed that no one was safe from the electronic prying by the US National Security Agency (NSA), least of all Americans, whose private communications are supposedly constitutionally protected. At the age of 29, Snowden, who worked as an NSA systems administrator, downloaded thousands of classified documents from the NSA and CIA. These documents provided evidence of a global data collection operation that had gained momentum after the 9/11 terror attacks. Snowden shared these documents with journalists, which revealed how the US intelligence community collaborated with organisations like Britain's GCHQ [Government Communications Headquarters] to compile dossiers on billions of individuals without any reasonable suspicion. The documents also disclosed that the US had the capability to intercept the communications of the leaders of countries, including its allies. The NSA's Prism programme was exposed, under which the US collected user data from internet giants like Google and Facebook, sometimes without their consent. Also watch | Putin grants citizenship to Edward Snowden; exposed surveillance by NSA × Furthermore, the NSA obtained call records from major cell provider Verizon and routinely extracted data from public institutions such as companies, hospitals, and universities. Edward Snowden's revelations: The No Limits intelligence collection Snowden said that the problem lay not in justifying these activities for counter-terrorism purposes but in the fact that these were secretive programmes with virtually no limits. He emphasised the importance of public discourse in determining where such programmes and policies were right or not. The public response to Snowden's revelations was characterised by outrage, but it also sparked a backlash from US intelligence agencies. Also read | Four Sri Lankan refugees who hid Edward Snowden in Hong Kong begin new lives in Canada They accused Snowden of severely compromising counter-terrorism efforts and assisting America's adversaries. However, the intelligence community refrained from providing a detailed account of the damage caused, instead highlighting the prevention of numerous attacks as a result of their surveillance activities. Edward Snowden's exposé: The impact In 2016, James Clapper, the national intelligence director at the time, acknowledged that Snowden's actions had made the NSA's work more challenging by pressuring internet and mobile communication companies, as well as app developers, to enhance encryption in their services. According to Ben Wizner, an attorney for Snowden and the American Civil Liberties Union, the leaks bolstered civil liberties, even though an increasing number of internet companies continue to collect user data. Wizner told news agency AFP that Snowden's revelations compelled the White House, the US Congress, and the judiciary to reverse their course on secretive surveillance practices, leading to the revision and cancellation of certain programmes. He pointed out that for the first time since the 1970s, Congress legislated to reduce rather than expand surveillance authorities. The impact of Snowden's global surveillance revelations was particularly evident in Europe. The European Union implemented the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, aiming to restrict the power of US companies like Google and Facebook in collecting and exploiting user data. The impact of Snowden's global surveillance revelations was particularly evident in Europe. The European Union implemented the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, aiming to restrict the power of US companies like Google and Facebook in collecting and exploiting user data. Many ask, why did Snowden give up on information the US deemed confidential. In his past interviews, he has cited it to be a matter of principles. That's why, Snowden told Guardian once, he gave up his freedom in the United States and a comfortable lifestyle. Transparency is important: Snowden "There are more important things than money. If I were motivated by money, I could have sold these documents to any number of countries and gotten very rich," he told The Guardian shortly after his revelations exposed the previously confidential realities of the US government. "I carefully evaluated every single document I disclosed to ensure that each was legitimately in the public interest," he said. "There are all sorts of documents that would have made a big impact that I didn’t turn over, because harming people isn’t my goal. Transparency is." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Snowden leaks, a decade later: When no limits surveillance by US intelligence was exposed

China has started digging a hole in the Earth's crust measuring 10,000 metres (32,808 ft). According to Xinhua news agency, the effort to dig the country's deepest-ever borehole began on Tuesday (30 May) in the Tarim Basin, which is located in the oil-rich Xinjiang province.

But what is the real reason behind&nbsp;the expedition and what could be the challenges ahead?&nbsp;Let us take a deeper look.&nbsp;

<h2>What's the reason behind this activity?</h2>

The project, according to the Xinhua news agency, "represents a landmark in China's deep Earth exploration, providing an unprecedented opportunity to study areas of the planet deep beneath the surface."

According to Bloomberg, earlier in 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated for advancements in deep earth research when speaking to the country's top experts.

This mission can assist scientists in discovering valuable minerals and energy resources. Furthermore, it can be useful for assessing the risks of environmental calamities, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, according to the report.

The announcement of this new venture&nbsp;comes just days after the Asian country completed the construction of a 12,000-tonne offshore oil and gas drilling platform to exploit geological deposits of natural gas, according to the website Interesting Engineering.

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Drilling of the deepest-ever hole into the Earth's crust began in northwest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Xinjiang?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Xinjiang</a> Uygur Autonomous Region on Tuesday with a depth of more than 10,000 meters. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChinaInspires?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChinaInspires</a> <a href="https://t.co/GxgWzsf26y">pic.twitter.com/GxgWzsf26y</a>
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/CGTNOfficial/status/1664146003287744513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Notably, demand for petrol and jet fuel has surged in China after the repeal of the zero-COVID-19 policy in December. According to Reuters, Beijing is expected to import a record amount of crude oil this year due to high demand.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/on-elon-musks-china-trip-us-presidential-candidate-vivek-ramaswamy-has-this-to-say-stst-599174">On Elon Musk's China trip, US Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has this to say</a>

<h2>How will the drilling take place?</h2>

As reported by the&nbsp;Xinhua news agency, the drill has a design depth of 11,100 metres. According to the article, the 2,000-tonne heavy machinery would drill into the earth, penetrating through ten continental strata - or layers of rock.

The drilling also intends to reach the Cretaceous system, which has rocks reaching back 145 million years, according to Bloomberg,

<h2>What are the challenges ahead?</h2>

The borehole is being constructed in the Tarim Basin, which, according to Britannica, is a large depression drained by the Tarim River.

The Taklimakan Desert, China's biggest desert, is located in the midst of this basin and covers 342,000 square kilometres.

According to Xinhua news agency, the borehole is located in the desert's interior.

Drilling such a deep hole into the Earth's crust will not be easy due to the "harsh ground environment and complicated underground conditions" in the Tarim Basin.

Sun Jinsheng, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told Xinhua news agency about the project's difficulties: "The construction difficulty of the drilling project can be compared to the difficulty of building a house."

<h2>Will it be the deepest hole ever?</h2>

Even though digging a 10-kilometre hole is ambitious, it is not the deepest human-made hole on Earth.

The deepest man-made hole on earth is the Russian Kola Superdeep Borehole which took almost 20 years to drill.&nbsp;The hole had been drilled past 12,000 metres in 1989 but the process was then reportedly stopped for about one year due to various scientific and celebratory visits to the site.

The drilling operation began in 1970, and the borehole was completed in 1989 at a depth of 12,262 metres (40,230 ft).

As per a&nbsp;BBC report, the operation had to be halted in 1992 when the temperature hit 180 degree Celsius (356F), which was double the predicted mercury at that depth.

The laboratory was closed down three years later due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and a lack of funds for such exploratory programmes, according to the article.

Americans began Project Mohole in the early 1960s, with the goal of drilling through the Earth's crust to reach and investigate the mantle. They excavated the Pacific Ocean floor near Guadalupe, Mexico. However, after reaching 183 metres below the seafloor, the project was cancelled because of rising expenses.

Germany also attempted Earth exploration in 1990 with the German Continental Deep Drilling Programme (KTB) in Bavaria, which reached a depth of nine&nbsp;kilometres. This project, too, was eventually shut down.

Also watch |&nbsp;India and China hold in-person diplomatic talks in New Delhi

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In the words of Uli Harms of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Programme, "Continuing these expeditions requires a significant amount of money."

“In the end, it really is a cost issue. These expeditions are extremely expensive – and therefore they are difficult to repeat. They can cost hundreds of millions of euros – and only a small percentage will actually be for the earth sciences, the rest will be for technological development, and of course, operations.”

The day when all of these obstacles are overcome and mankind may eventually explore the Earth's mantle still seems far away. Scientists, on the other hand, are optimistic.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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China has started digging a hole in the Earth's crust measuring 10,000 metres (32,808 ft). According to Xinhua news agency, the effort to dig the country's deepest-ever borehole began on Tuesday (30 May) in the Tarim Basin, which is located in the oil-rich Xinjiang province.

China has started digging a hole in the Earth's crust measuring 10,000 metres (32,808 ft). According to Xinhua news agency, the effort to dig the country's deepest-ever borehole began on Tuesday (30 May) in the Tarim Basin, which is located in the oil-rich Xinjiang province. But what is the real reason behind the expedition and what could be the challenges ahead? Let us take a deeper look. What's the reason behind this activity? The project, according to the Xinhua news agency, "represents a landmark in China's deep Earth exploration, providing an unprecedented opportunity to study areas of the planet deep beneath the surface." According to Bloomberg, earlier in 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated for advancements in deep earth research when speaking to the country's top experts. This mission can assist scientists in discovering valuable minerals and energy resources. Furthermore, it can be useful for assessing the risks of environmental calamities, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, according to the report. The announcement of this new venture comes just days after the Asian country completed the construction of a 12,000-tonne offshore oil and gas drilling platform to exploit geological deposits of natural gas, according to the website Interesting Engineering. Drilling of the deepest-ever hole into the Earth's crust began in northwest #China's #Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Tuesday with a depth of more than 10,000 meters. #ChinaInspires pic.twitter.com/GxgWzsf26y — CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) June 1, 2023 × Notably, demand for petrol and jet fuel has surged in China after the repeal of the zero-COVID-19 policy in December. According to Reuters, Beijing is expected to import a record amount of crude oil this year due to high demand. Also read | On Elon Musk's China trip, US Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has this to say How will the drilling take place? As reported by the Xinhua news agency, the drill has a design depth of 11,100 metres. According to the article, the 2,000-tonne heavy machinery would drill into the earth, penetrating through ten continental strata - or layers of rock. The drilling also intends to reach the Cretaceous system, which has rocks reaching back 145 million years, according to Bloomberg, What are the challenges ahead? The borehole is being constructed in the Tarim Basin, which, according to Britannica, is a large depression drained by the Tarim River. The Taklimakan Desert, China's biggest desert, is located in the midst of this basin and covers 342,000 square kilometres. According to Xinhua news agency, the borehole is located in the desert's interior. Drilling such a deep hole into the Earth's crust will not be easy due to the "harsh ground environment and complicated underground conditions" in the Tarim Basin. Sun Jinsheng, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told Xinhua news agency about the project's difficulties: "The construction difficulty of the drilling project can be compared to the difficulty of building a house." Will it be the deepest hole ever? Even though digging a 10-kilometre hole is ambitious, it is not the deepest human-made hole on Earth. The deepest man-made hole on earth is the Russian Kola Superdeep Borehole which took almost 20 years to drill. The hole had been drilled past 12,000 metres in 1989 but the process was then reportedly stopped for about one year due to various scientific and celebratory visits to the site. The drilling operation began in 1970, and the borehole was completed in 1989 at a depth of 12,262 metres (40,230 ft). As per a BBC report, the operation had to be halted in 1992 when the temperature hit 180 degree Celsius (356F), which was double the predicted mercury at that depth. The laboratory was closed down three years later due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and a lack of funds for such exploratory programmes, according to the article. Americans began Project Mohole in the early 1960s, with the goal of drilling through the Earth's crust to reach and investigate the mantle. They excavated the Pacific Ocean floor near Guadalupe, Mexico. However, after reaching 183 metres below the seafloor, the project was cancelled because of rising expenses. Germany also attempted Earth exploration in 1990 with the German Continental Deep Drilling Programme (KTB) in Bavaria, which reached a depth of nine kilometres. This project, too, was eventually shut down. Also watch | India and China hold in-person diplomatic talks in New Delhi In the words of Uli Harms of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Programme, "Continuing these expeditions requires a significant amount of money." “In the end, it really is a cost issue. These expeditions are extremely expensive – and therefore they are difficult to repeat. They can cost hundreds of millions of euros – and only a small percentage will actually be for the earth sciences, the rest will be for technological development, and of course, operations.” The day when all of these obstacles are overcome and mankind may eventually explore the Earth's mantle still seems far away. Scientists, on the other hand, are optimistic. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: China is drilling its deepest-ever borehole in the Earth's crust. Here's why

As cases of COVID-19 and RSV decline, another respiratory virus called HMPV has started&nbsp;spreading its tentacles.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In March, around 11 per cent of PCR tests and 20 per cent of antigen tests for human metapneumovirus (HMPV) were positive in the US.&nbsp;

The positivity rate has increased by 36 per cent in comparison to the pre-pandemic levels. Although the percentages were high in April, they decreased in May.&nbsp;

A report published by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that there has been a decrease in positivity rates during the warmer months, which is similar to what has been observed in flu and colds.&nbsp;

The data states that the Antigen detection rate and PCR detection rate as observed on April 3, 2023, were 19.395 and 10.368, respectively, which decreased to the rate of 0.000 and 2.558, respectively, when observed on May 20, 2023.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's report states that human metapneumovirus (HMPV) can affect a person's upper and lower respiratory tracts irrespective of their age and have higher vulnerability in older adults, young children, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

HMPV's severe cases can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia. The incubation period for HMPV is around three&nbsp;to six&nbsp;days, and the recovery period from the illness depends on its severity. However, it is similar to other respiratory infections, such as colds.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sars-cov-2-virus-can-alter-our-dna-lead-to-long-covid-study-575438">SARS-CoV-2 virus can alter our DNA, lead to long Covid: Study</a>

<h2>What is human metapneumovirus?</h2>

First discovered in 2001 in the Netherlands, human metapneumovirus is a type of paramyxovirus, which is a family of viruses that cause multiple common infections.&nbsp;

Other paramyxoviruses include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, measles and mumps.

"This one usually causes a cold — not a big deal in most individuals,” stated Monica Gandhi, an infectious-disease expert at the University of California in San Francisco.

In 2001, experts collected 28 samples from children who were suffering from unexplained respiratory infections. A few children were very ill and needed mechanical ventilation, but their test results didn't show positive for any known pathogens.

<h2>Why is metapneumovirus being discussed?</h2>

There has been a surge in cases of human metapneumovirus, just like other respiratory illnesses.

This month, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported unusual spikes in cases across the United States.

According to virus experts, there has been an increase in the number of viruses, which include RSV. The experts have speculated that this may have occurred as an aftereffect of lockdowns and masking due to the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

As per experts, if our systems have small interactions with viruses, it prepares our body to better handle exposure to viruses in future.&nbsp;

However, after years of social distancing and masking in school, children are left with fewer biological defences to fight the exposure to multiple viruses at once.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Wuhan Virus wave grips China, again

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<h2>What are the symptoms of HPMV?</h2>

The virus, which has been observed to usually make its appearance in spring and winter, most commonly affects the body's upper respiratory tract and leads to nasal congestion, cough and shortness of breath, along with fever. &nbsp;The illness generally lasts three to seven days.&nbsp;

<h2>Can HPMV turn into a serious illness?</h2>

Usually, human metapneumovirus is mild, however, the infection can lead to more serious consequences for older adults, young children, older adults and those people with weakened immune systems.&nbsp;

Human metapneumovirus has been spreading similarly to other viruses through airborne particles which are produced by sneezing or coughing, by coming in physical contact with a person who is carrying the virus, or by handling objects which are contaminated by the virus and then touching the nose, eyes or mouth, according to the CDC.

Gandhi emphasised that the virus can spread even from someone who is asymptomatic. As per a study, at least 38 per cent of infections are recorded as asymptomatic human metapneumovirus infections.

“But the time you’re most infectious in all infectious diseases is when you’re having active symptoms because you’re spreading it — you’re coughing it out through your mouth, you’re sneezing it out through your nose,” Gandhi stated.

<h2>Is there a vaccine for the virus? How is HMPV treated?</h2>

No vaccines have till now being created for human metapneumovirus, and medical treatment for the illness remains limited to supportive care.

“We try to make you feel better and make sure that your breathing is okay while your body fights off the virus,” stated William Schaffner, who is a professor of infectious diseases and preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University.&nbsp;

Schaffner said that severe cases are rare in which people have been reported to be facing difficulty in breathing. However, he added, “We can put them in an intensive care unit and treat them there,” but generally people fully recover on their own.

"Unlike the novel coronavirus and its variants that cause covid, human metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus that has been around for decades," Gandhi said.

“Hopefully, in the future, we will actually see advances against human metapneumovirus. But we’ve been living with it for a long time. This is not one that is going to cause a pandemic," she stated.&nbsp;

You can&nbsp;now write for&nbsp;wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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As cases of COVID-19 and RSV decline, another respiratory virus called HMPV has started spreading its tentacles. In March, around 11 per cent of PCR tests and 20 per cent of antigen tests for human metapneumovirus (HMPV) were positive in the US.

As cases of COVID-19 and RSV decline, another respiratory virus called HMPV has started spreading its tentacles. In March, around 11 per cent of PCR tests and 20 per cent of antigen tests for human metapneumovirus (HMPV) were positive in the US. The positivity rate has increased by 36 per cent in comparison to the pre-pandemic levels. Although the percentages were high in April, they decreased in May. A report published by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that there has been a decrease in positivity rates during the warmer months, which is similar to what has been observed in flu and colds. The data states that the Antigen detection rate and PCR detection rate as observed on April 3, 2023, were 19.395 and 10.368, respectively, which decreased to the rate of 0.000 and 2.558, respectively, when observed on May 20, 2023. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's report states that human metapneumovirus (HMPV) can affect a person's upper and lower respiratory tracts irrespective of their age and have higher vulnerability in older adults, young children, and individuals with weakened immune systems. HMPV's severe cases can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia. The incubation period for HMPV is around three to six days, and the recovery period from the illness depends on its severity. However, it is similar to other respiratory infections, such as colds. ALSO READ | SARS-CoV-2 virus can alter our DNA, lead to long Covid: Study What is human metapneumovirus? First discovered in 2001 in the Netherlands, human metapneumovirus is a type of paramyxovirus, which is a family of viruses that cause multiple common infections. Other paramyxoviruses include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, measles and mumps. "This one usually causes a cold — not a big deal in most individuals,” stated Monica Gandhi, an infectious-disease expert at the University of California in San Francisco. In 2001, experts collected 28 samples from children who were suffering from unexplained respiratory infections. A few children were very ill and needed mechanical ventilation, but their test results didn't show positive for any known pathogens. Why is metapneumovirus being discussed? There has been a surge in cases of human metapneumovirus, just like other respiratory illnesses. This month, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported unusual spikes in cases across the United States. According to virus experts, there has been an increase in the number of viruses, which include RSV. The experts have speculated that this may have occurred as an aftereffect of lockdowns and masking due to the coronavirus pandemic. As per experts, if our systems have small interactions with viruses, it prepares our body to better handle exposure to viruses in future. However, after years of social distancing and masking in school, children are left with fewer biological defences to fight the exposure to multiple viruses at once. WATCH | Gravitas: Wuhan Virus wave grips China, again What are the symptoms of HPMV? The virus, which has been observed to usually make its appearance in spring and winter, most commonly affects the body's upper respiratory tract and leads to nasal congestion, cough and shortness of breath, along with fever. The illness generally lasts three to seven days. Can HPMV turn into a serious illness? Usually, human metapneumovirus is mild, however, the infection can lead to more serious consequences for older adults, young children, older adults and those people with weakened immune systems. Human metapneumovirus has been spreading similarly to other viruses through airborne particles which are produced by sneezing or coughing, by coming in physical contact with a person who is carrying the virus, or by handling objects which are contaminated by the virus and then touching the nose, eyes or mouth, according to the CDC. Gandhi emphasised that the virus can spread even from someone who is asymptomatic. As per a study, at least 38 per cent of infections are recorded as asymptomatic human metapneumovirus infections. “But the time you’re most infectious in all infectious diseases is when you’re having active symptoms because you’re spreading it — you’re coughing it out through your mouth, you’re sneezing it out through your nose,” Gandhi stated. Is there a vaccine for the virus? How is HMPV treated? No vaccines have till now being created for human metapneumovirus, and medical treatment for the illness remains limited to supportive care. “We try to make you feel better and make sure that your breathing is okay while your body fights off the virus,” stated William Schaffner, who is a professor of infectious diseases and preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University. Schaffner said that severe cases are rare in which people have been reported to be facing difficulty in breathing. However, he added, “We can put them in an intensive care unit and treat them there,” but generally people fully recover on their own. "Unlike the novel coronavirus and its variants that cause covid, human metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus that has been around for decades," Gandhi said. “Hopefully, in the future, we will actually see advances against human metapneumovirus. But we’ve been living with it for a long time. This is not one that is going to cause a pandemic," she stated. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | What is HMPV respiratory virus? The most important virus still unheard of

Around the time the FBI&nbsp;was investigating the equipment recovered from the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina in February, American intelligence agencies and Microsoft discovered what they feared was a more dangerous intruder, a&nbsp;mysterious computer code appearing in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States. Guam is strategically significant as the American overseas territory hosts one of its largest airbases.

The malware, which Microsoft claimed was placed by a Chinese government hacking group, sparked concern since Guam, with its Pacific ports and massive American air base, would be the focal point of any American military reaction to an invasion or blockade of Taiwan. To make the infiltration harder to track, the operation was carried out with tremendous stealth, often passing through home routers and other popular internet-connected consumer devices, reported the New York Times.

<h2>What can the malware do?</h2>

The hackers were seen using a code known as "web shell," a malicious script that allows remote access to a server. Home routers are primarily&nbsp;vulnerable, particularly&nbsp;older devices with out-of-date software and security.

The computer code, unlike the balloon that captivated Americans as it performed pirouettes above vital nuclear installations, could not be shot down on live television.

Instead, Microsoft revealed details of the code on Wednesday, allowing business users, manufacturers, and others to find it&nbsp;and delete it.

The National Security Agency, together with other domestic agencies and intelligence counterparts in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada -- collectively known as Five Eyes-- issued a 24-page alert referring to Microsoft's discovery and issuing broader cautions about a "recently discovered" vulnerability.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-ron-desantis-all-you-need-to-know-about-republican-leader-seeking-prez-nomination-595578">Who is Ron DeSantis? All you need to know about Republican leader who joined White House race</a>

<h2>'Volt Typhoon'</h2>

Microsoft dubbed the hacking group&nbsp;"Volt Typhoon" and said it was part of a state-sponsored Chinese campaign aiming not just targeting key infrastructure like communications, electric and gas utilities, but also marine operations and transportation. For the time being, the breaches looked to be part of an espionage effort.

However, the Chinese might utilise the code, which is designed to breach firewalls, to launch devastating assaults if they so choose.

As stated by Microsoft, there is no proof that the Chinese organisation has exploited the access for hostile assaults thus far. Chinese intelligence and military hackers, unlike Russian outfits, typically prioritise espionage.

In interviews, administration officials said they suspected the code was part of a massive Chinese intelligence collecting programme that included internet, outer space, and, as the balloon incident revealed, the lower atmosphere.

<h2>Biden administration's response</h2>

The Biden administration has refused to divulge what the FBI discovered when examining the equipment retrieved from the balloon. However, the craft — better defined as a massive airborne vehicle — appears to have incorporated specialised radars and communications interception gear, which the FBI&nbsp;has been investigating since the balloon was shot down.

It is unclear if the administration's quiet regarding its discovery from the balloon is driven by a desire to block the Chinese government from learning what the US has discovered or by a desire to move past the diplomatic snub that accompanied the discovery.

President Biden said during a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday that the balloon episode had paralysed the already tense relations between Washington and Beijing.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Good old banks are aiding china's ambitions

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“And then this silly balloon that was carrying two freight cars’ worth of spying equipment was flying over the United States,” he told reporters.

&nbsp;“And it got shot down, and everything changed in terms of talking to one another,” he added.

China has never admitted hacking into American networks, even in the most severe case: the theft of security clearance data from the Office of Personnel Management under the Obama administration, including six million sets of fingerprints.

That data exfiltration took about a year and ended in an agreement between President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping that resulted in a modest decrease in detrimental Chinese cyberactivity.

<h2>Tabletop exercises</h2>

In an interview, Tom Burt, the executive in charge of Microsoft's threat intelligence unit, stated that the code was discovered "while investigating intrusion activity impacting a US&nbsp;port" by the company's analysts, many of whom had previously worked for the National Security Agency and other intelligence organisations, reported the New York Times.

Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said that covert efforts “like the activity exposed today are part of what’s driving our focus on the security of telecom networks and the urgency to use trusted vendors” whose equipment has met cybersecurity standards.

In the countless number of tabletop exercises performed by the United States in recent years to simulate such an attack, one of China's first anticipated steps would be to cut off American communications and limit the United States' capacity to respond.

As a result, the simulations anticipate satellite and ground communications strikes, particularly near American locations where military assets might be mobilised.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Around the time the FBI was investigating the equipment recovered from the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina in February, American intelligence agencies and Microsoft discovered what they feared was a more dangerous intruder, a mysterious computer code appearing in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States.

Around the time the FBI was investigating the equipment recovered from the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina in February, American intelligence agencies and Microsoft discovered what they feared was a more dangerous intruder, a mysterious computer code appearing in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States. Guam is strategically significant as the American overseas territory hosts one of its largest airbases. The malware, which Microsoft claimed was placed by a Chinese government hacking group, sparked concern since Guam, with its Pacific ports and massive American air base, would be the focal point of any American military reaction to an invasion or blockade of Taiwan. To make the infiltration harder to track, the operation was carried out with tremendous stealth, often passing through home routers and other popular internet-connected consumer devices, reported the New York Times. What can the malware do? The hackers were seen using a code known as "web shell," a malicious script that allows remote access to a server. Home routers are primarily vulnerable, particularly older devices with out-of-date software and security. The computer code, unlike the balloon that captivated Americans as it performed pirouettes above vital nuclear installations, could not be shot down on live television. Instead, Microsoft revealed details of the code on Wednesday, allowing business users, manufacturers, and others to find it and delete it. The National Security Agency, together with other domestic agencies and intelligence counterparts in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada -- collectively known as Five Eyes-- issued a 24-page alert referring to Microsoft's discovery and issuing broader cautions about a "recently discovered" vulnerability. ALSO READ | Who is Ron DeSantis? All you need to know about Republican leader who joined White House race 'Volt Typhoon' Microsoft dubbed the hacking group "Volt Typhoon" and said it was part of a state-sponsored Chinese campaign aiming not just targeting key infrastructure like communications, electric and gas utilities, but also marine operations and transportation. For the time being, the breaches looked to be part of an espionage effort. However, the Chinese might utilise the code, which is designed to breach firewalls, to launch devastating assaults if they so choose. As stated by Microsoft, there is no proof that the Chinese organisation has exploited the access for hostile assaults thus far. Chinese intelligence and military hackers, unlike Russian outfits, typically prioritise espionage. In interviews, administration officials said they suspected the code was part of a massive Chinese intelligence collecting programme that included internet, outer space, and, as the balloon incident revealed, the lower atmosphere. Biden administration's response The Biden administration has refused to divulge what the FBI discovered when examining the equipment retrieved from the balloon. However, the craft — better defined as a massive airborne vehicle — appears to have incorporated specialised radars and communications interception gear, which the FBI has been investigating since the balloon was shot down. It is unclear if the administration's quiet regarding its discovery from the balloon is driven by a desire to block the Chinese government from learning what the US has discovered or by a desire to move past the diplomatic snub that accompanied the discovery. President Biden said during a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday that the balloon episode had paralysed the already tense relations between Washington and Beijing. ALSO WATCH | Good old banks are aiding china's ambitions “And then this silly balloon that was carrying two freight cars’ worth of spying equipment was flying over the United States,” he told reporters. “And it got shot down, and everything changed in terms of talking to one another,” he added. China has never admitted hacking into American networks, even in the most severe case: the theft of security clearance data from the Office of Personnel Management under the Obama administration, including six million sets of fingerprints. That data exfiltration took about a year and ended in an agreement between President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping that resulted in a modest decrease in detrimental Chinese cyberactivity. Tabletop exercises In an interview, Tom Burt, the executive in charge of Microsoft's threat intelligence unit, stated that the code was discovered "while investigating intrusion activity impacting a US port" by the company's analysts, many of whom had previously worked for the National Security Agency and other intelligence organisations, reported the New York Times. Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said that covert efforts “like the activity exposed today are part of what’s driving our focus on the security of telecom networks and the urgency to use trusted vendors” whose equipment has met cybersecurity standards. In the countless number of tabletop exercises performed by the United States in recent years to simulate such an attack, one of China's first anticipated steps would be to cut off American communications and limit the United States' capacity to respond. As a result, the simulations anticipate satellite and ground communications strikes, particularly near American locations where military assets might be mobilised. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained | Everything about 'Volt Typhoon': China-backed hackers targeting critical US base in Guam

Days after the notorious drug trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán was extradited from Mexico to the United States in January 2017, local police in Sinaloa, where he was born, came under attack.&nbsp;Some were killed by gunfire in broad daylight. Others disappeared and were never found. In total, 13 police officers died or vanished in the months that followed.

Four intelligence and security sources claim that Guzmán's Sinaloa Cartel altered its strategy after that rampage, bringing in the kingpin's four sons as part of a new force inside one of Mexico's largest drug cartels, as per an exclusive Reuters report.&nbsp;

The four brothers, also known as Los Chapitos or "the little Chapos," were formerly ridiculed by rivals as spoiled princelings more interested in flaunting their money on Instagram than being involved in the&nbsp;business of smuggling tonnes of cocaine into the United States. While their father was imprisoned in the United States, the brothers revived a drug empire that was on the verge of collapse and expanded the business by embracing a new line of synthetic drugs.&nbsp;

Their early bet on fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, sparked an opioid epidemic in the US that has put them directly in the eyes of American anti-narcotics agencies.

“The Chapitos pioneered the manufacture and trafficking of the deadliest drug our country has ever faced,” Anne Milgram, the US&nbsp;Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief, said at an April 14 press conference in Washington.

“They inherited a global drug empire and made it more ruthless, more violent and more deadly,” she added.&nbsp;

Los Chapitos issued a public statement for the first time ever, disputing assertions that they sell fentanyl and refuting claims made by American officials during the Washington press conference.

“We have never produced, manufactured or marketed fentanyl or any of its derivatives. We are victims of persecution and they made us a scapegoat,” the brothers said in the letter,&nbsp;published by Mexican news outlet Milenio late on Wednesday.

The brothers denied leading the Sinaloa Cartel and said that drug dealers and the media had used their father's fame to falsely accuse them of crimes they had not committed.

El Chapo has been imprisoned in a Colorado "Supermax" prison for the rest of his life. Guzmán's American lawyer, Mariel Colón Miro, stated that because of restrictions preventing him from communicating with the media, her client was unable to comment on the matter.

<h2>The rapid ascendancy of Los Chapitos</h2>

Their place in the world of narcotics&nbsp;has already been sealed by a 2019 battle with the Mexican Army in the capital of Sinaloa, Culiacán. Following shootouts between cartel foot soldiers and military that claimed the lives of 14, including many bystanders, Ovidio, the youngest of the four siblings, was quickly released on instructions from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

“This new generation is more violent,” said one retired Mexican police officer in Sinaloa who spoke to Reuters.&nbsp;

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🇲🇽The sons of El Chapo go from Insta-famous to Most Wanted <a href="https://t.co/aB4NowWQaX">https://t.co/aB4NowWQaX</a> 1/6 <a href="https://t.co/qePazL9FVu">pic.twitter.com/qePazL9FVu</a>
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According to US&nbsp;and Mexican security officials, the brothers have fought within the cartel against elders who did not want them to take on their father's position, including El Chapo's former right-hand man Dámaso López.

However, these young guns have established a reputation for being astute businessmen. According to a half dozen US&nbsp;officials and DEA sources, they have assisted in transforming Mexico from a country used as a transit for Chinese-produced fentanyl into a significant hub for manufacture. They said that Los Chapitos did this by expanding the smuggling of precursor chemicals from China and setting up a network of covert laboratories throughout Sinaloa, reported Reuters.

<h2>Astronomically high earnings</h2>

Their revenues have been astronomically high. One of the April indictments, which was issued in the Southern District of New York, claims that the cartel may convert precursor chemicals worth $800 into fentanyl tablets or powder that generate revenues of up to $640,000.

US&nbsp;authorities allege that the money was used to fund a war chest that the brothers used to bribe law enforcement officials and politicians as well as to pay for a sicarios (or hit men) army that was constantly expanding in order to safeguard their interests.

Edgar, Iván, Jess Alfredo, Joaqun Jr., and Ovidio Guzmán, five of his children&nbsp;who were born into one of Mexico's most illustrious criminal families, lived in luxury that their father, a semi-literate farm worker from Sinaloa's mountains before becoming the leader of a drug empire, could never have imagined.&nbsp;

They flaunted their pet tigers, Ferraris, and decorated&nbsp;AK-47s on Twitter and Instagram. However, a social media expert who is familiar with cartel communications and two security sources, told Reuters that they thought the profiles were authentic&nbsp;despite the fact that they were never verified.

<h2>Fentanyl and Americans</h2>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bde064a3-61ae-4ffc-a013-62bd9e39ba1b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/18744.jpeg" />

Infographic credits: Statista

The effects of Fentanyl on Americans have been&nbsp;catastrophic. US&nbsp;Deputy Attorney General Lisa O&nbsp;Monaco stated at the Washington press conference that one American dies from a fentanyl overdose approximately every eight minutes. Nearly 107,000 overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2021, the majority of which were caused by fentanyl.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Days after the notorious drug trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán was extradited from Mexico to the United States in January 2017, local police in Sinaloa, where he was born, came under attack.

Days after the notorious drug trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán was extradited from Mexico to the United States in January 2017, local police in Sinaloa, where he was born, came under attack. Some were killed by gunfire in broad daylight. Others disappeared and were never found. In total, 13 police officers died or vanished in the months that followed. Four intelligence and security sources claim that Guzmán's Sinaloa Cartel altered its strategy after that rampage, bringing in the kingpin's four sons as part of a new force inside one of Mexico's largest drug cartels, as per an exclusive Reuters report. The four brothers, also known as Los Chapitos or "the little Chapos," were formerly ridiculed by rivals as spoiled princelings more interested in flaunting their money on Instagram than being involved in the business of smuggling tonnes of cocaine into the United States. While their father was imprisoned in the United States, the brothers revived a drug empire that was on the verge of collapse and expanded the business by embracing a new line of synthetic drugs. Their early bet on fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, sparked an opioid epidemic in the US that has put them directly in the eyes of American anti-narcotics agencies. “The Chapitos pioneered the manufacture and trafficking of the deadliest drug our country has ever faced,” Anne Milgram, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief, said at an April 14 press conference in Washington. “They inherited a global drug empire and made it more ruthless, more violent and more deadly,” she added. Los Chapitos issued a public statement for the first time ever, disputing assertions that they sell fentanyl and refuting claims made by American officials during the Washington press conference. “We have never produced, manufactured or marketed fentanyl or any of its derivatives. We are victims of persecution and they made us a scapegoat,” the brothers said in the letter, published by Mexican news outlet Milenio late on Wednesday. The brothers denied leading the Sinaloa Cartel and said that drug dealers and the media had used their father's fame to falsely accuse them of crimes they had not committed. El Chapo has been imprisoned in a Colorado "Supermax" prison for the rest of his life. Guzmán's American lawyer, Mariel Colón Miro, stated that because of restrictions preventing him from communicating with the media, her client was unable to comment on the matter. The rapid ascendancy of Los Chapitos Their place in the world of narcotics has already been sealed by a 2019 battle with the Mexican Army in the capital of Sinaloa, Culiacán. Following shootouts between cartel foot soldiers and military that claimed the lives of 14, including many bystanders, Ovidio, the youngest of the four siblings, was quickly released on instructions from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. “This new generation is more violent,” said one retired Mexican police officer in Sinaloa who spoke to Reuters. Today on Reuters World News: 🇲🇽The sons of El Chapo go from Insta-famous to Most Wanted https://t.co/aB4NowWQaX 1/6 pic.twitter.com/qePazL9FVu — Reuters (@Reuters) May 9, 2023 × According to US and Mexican security officials, the brothers have fought within the cartel against elders who did not want them to take on their father's position, including El Chapo's former right-hand man Dámaso López. However, these young guns have established a reputation for being astute businessmen. According to a half dozen US officials and DEA sources, they have assisted in transforming Mexico from a country used as a transit for Chinese-produced fentanyl into a significant hub for manufacture. They said that Los Chapitos did this by expanding the smuggling of precursor chemicals from China and setting up a network of covert laboratories throughout Sinaloa, reported Reuters. Astronomically high earnings Their revenues have been astronomically high. One of the April indictments, which was issued in the Southern District of New York, claims that the cartel may convert precursor chemicals worth $800 into fentanyl tablets or powder that generate revenues of up to $640,000. US authorities allege that the money was used to fund a war chest that the brothers used to bribe law enforcement officials and politicians as well as to pay for a sicarios (or hit men) army that was constantly expanding in order to safeguard their interests. Edgar, Iván, Jess Alfredo, Joaqun Jr., and Ovidio Guzmán, five of his children who were born into one of Mexico's most illustrious criminal families, lived in luxury that their father, a semi-literate farm worker from Sinaloa's mountains before becoming the leader of a drug empire, could never have imagined. They flaunted their pet tigers, Ferraris, and decorated AK-47s on Twitter and Instagram. However, a social media expert who is familiar with cartel communications and two security sources, told Reuters that they thought the profiles were authentic despite the fact that they were never verified. Fentanyl and Americans Infographic credits: Statista The effects of Fentanyl on Americans have been catastrophic. US Deputy Attorney General Lisa O Monaco stated at the Washington press conference that one American dies from a fentanyl overdose approximately every eight minutes. Nearly 107,000 overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2021, the majority of which were caused by fentanyl. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained | America poisoned: How El Chapo's sons built a fentanyl empire triggering an opioid epidemic in US

Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv.

The downing of Russian hypersonic missiles is being seen as a major setback to Russia's campaign of long-range air strikes.

The Ukraine Air Force announced that they shot down the Kh-47 Kinzhal missile in the skies of Kyiv using a US Patriot air defence system in the skies at around 2:30 am on Thursday (2330 GMT Wednesday).

"I congratulate the Ukrainian people on the historic event," said Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk on Telegram. "Yes, we shot down the 'unparallelled' Kinzhal'&nbsp;missile," he added.

The US Patriot system is among an array of sophisticated air defence units which was supplied to Ukraine by the West to repel Russia's month-long campaign of air strikes which had targeted the country's power facilities, critical infrastructure, and other sites.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-authorities-shoot-down-drone-near-airbase-in-crimea-588984">Ukraine shoots down its own drone that 'lost control' over Kyiv</a>

<h2>What is a Kinzhal missile?</h2>

The word Kinzhal means "dagger" in Russian. Kinzhal missile is among the six "next generation" weapons which President Vladimir Putin had unveiled in 2018 and had boasted as one of those missiles which cannot be shot down by any air defence system&nbsp;of the world.

Putin had termed Kinzhal missile as "an ideal weapon" that the missile defences find extremely difficult to intercept.

According to the Russian military, the ballistic missile boasts a range of up to 2,000km (1,250 miles) and flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound which makes it difficult to intercept.

The ballistic missile is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. Kinzhal missile is 8 metres long, has a body diameter of 1 metrer, and its launch weight is approximately 4,300 kg.

The missile has been designed to be launched using MiG-31 fighter jets from an altitude of about 18 km (59,000 ft). During all stages of the flight, this missile manoeuvres to overcome hostile air defence systems.

<h2>How much damage can a Kinzhal missile cause?</h2>

Although Russia has claimed that the missile is among “next generation” systems, however, experts in the West say that these claims are exaggerated.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies states that “Russia’s designation of the Kinzhal as a ‘hypersonic’ missile is somewhat misleading, as nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds… at some point during their flight.”

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said that the use of the Kinzhal was “likely intended to detract from a lack of progress in Russia’s ground campaign” and “unlikely to materially affect the outcome of Russia’s campaign” in Ukraine.

The major difference between Kinzhal and its purported predecessor is that the missile is launched using an airborne vehicle and not from the ground, which makes it less predictable and more difficult to intercept, and also more survivable compared to the Iskander ground system.

The Kinzhal missile can also be seen as a precision weapon which can easily strike key targets like command centres and with its high speed, the missile can easily penetrate even deeply buried bunkers. However, for achieving such a feat, good information about the target location is required.

Even though Kinzhal is considered as a dangerous weapon, most analysts agree that it is not very different from weapons which have been in use for decades.

Any previous use of Kinzhal for the attack was not previously disclosed by the Air Force, although Kyiv officials immediately stated that there has been an involvement of a ballistic missile.

WATCH | Is Russia's attempt of invading Ukraine fading away? | Russia-Ukraine War

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<h2>Ukraine's efforts to strengthen the air defence system</h2>

Ukraine also appealed to the Western allies to help in reinforcing the country's air defence system as its energy infrastructure has been pounded by Russia from the air over winter.

Ukraine in mid-April received the first Patriots which is considered as one of the most advanced air defence systems of the United States.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the system would "significantly" strengthen the defences of the country against Russian strikes.

Many civilians have lost their lives in the attacks which were escalated by Russia in October ahead of winter. The Russian strikes failed to

The strikes failed to paralyse the power grid but led to major power outages. Russia has constantly denied targeting civilians.

Russia made the air strikes on Thursday a day after it accused Ukraine of making a failed attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin through a drone attack over the Kremlin citadel in Moscow and said that it would retaliate.

Since then, Moscow has accused Washington of being involved in the assassination plan but the allegations were denied by both the United States and Ukraine.

The drone and missile attacks over regions of Ukraine have been intensified by Russia in the past week as Kyiv prepares for a counter-offensive against the Russian army who have dug in across occupied land in the south and east.&nbsp;

<main>
<section>
(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv.

Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv. The downing of Russian hypersonic missiles is being seen as a major setback to Russia's campaign of long-range air strikes. The Ukraine Air Force announced that they shot down the Kh-47 Kinzhal missile in the skies of Kyiv using a US Patriot air defence system in the skies at around 2:30 am on Thursday (2330 GMT Wednesday). "I congratulate the Ukrainian people on the historic event," said Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk on Telegram. "Yes, we shot down the 'unparallelled' Kinzhal' missile," he added. The US Patriot system is among an array of sophisticated air defence units which was supplied to Ukraine by the West to repel Russia's month-long campaign of air strikes which had targeted the country's power facilities, critical infrastructure, and other sites. ALSO READ | Ukraine shoots down its own drone that 'lost control' over Kyiv What is a Kinzhal missile? The word Kinzhal means "dagger" in Russian. Kinzhal missile is among the six "next generation" weapons which President Vladimir Putin had unveiled in 2018 and had boasted as one of those missiles which cannot be shot down by any air defence system of the world. Putin had termed Kinzhal missile as "an ideal weapon" that the missile defences find extremely difficult to intercept. According to the Russian military, the ballistic missile boasts a range of up to 2,000km (1,250 miles) and flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound which makes it difficult to intercept. The ballistic missile is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. Kinzhal missile is 8 metres long, has a body diameter of 1 metrer, and its launch weight is approximately 4,300 kg. The missile has been designed to be launched using MiG-31 fighter jets from an altitude of about 18 km (59,000 ft). During all stages of the flight, this missile manoeuvres to overcome hostile air defence systems. How much damage can a Kinzhal missile cause? Although Russia has claimed that the missile is among “next generation” systems, however, experts in the West say that these claims are exaggerated. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies states that “Russia’s designation of the Kinzhal as a ‘hypersonic’ missile is somewhat misleading, as nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds… at some point during their flight.” Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said that the use of the Kinzhal was “likely intended to detract from a lack of progress in Russia’s ground campaign” and “unlikely to materially affect the outcome of Russia’s campaign” in Ukraine. The major difference between Kinzhal and its purported predecessor is that the missile is launched using an airborne vehicle and not from the ground, which makes it less predictable and more difficult to intercept, and also more survivable compared to the Iskander ground system. The Kinzhal missile can also be seen as a precision weapon which can easily strike key targets like command centres and with its high speed, the missile can easily penetrate even deeply buried bunkers. However, for achieving such a feat, good information about the target location is required. Even though Kinzhal is considered as a dangerous weapon, most analysts agree that it is not very different from weapons which have been in use for decades. Any previous use of Kinzhal for the attack was not previously disclosed by the Air Force, although Kyiv officials immediately stated that there has been an involvement of a ballistic missile. WATCH | Is Russia's attempt of invading Ukraine fading away? | Russia-Ukraine War Ukraine's efforts to strengthen the air defence system Ukraine also appealed to the Western allies to help in reinforcing the country's air defence system as its energy infrastructure has been pounded by Russia from the air over winter. Ukraine in mid-April received the first Patriots which is considered as one of the most advanced air defence systems of the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the system would "significantly" strengthen the defences of the country against Russian strikes. Many civilians have lost their lives in the attacks which were escalated by Russia in October ahead of winter. The Russian strikes failed to The strikes failed to paralyse the power grid but led to major power outages. Russia has constantly denied targeting civilians. Russia made the air strikes on Thursday a day after it accused Ukraine of making a failed attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin through a drone attack over the Kremlin citadel in Moscow and said that it would retaliate. Since then, Moscow has accused Washington of being involved in the assassination plan but the allegations were denied by both the United States and Ukraine. The drone and missile attacks over regions of Ukraine have been intensified by Russia in the past week as Kyiv prepares for a counter-offensive against the Russian army who have dug in across occupied land in the south and east. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | Ukraine downs Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missile. Here’s all you need to know

On Sunday (April 30), match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition saw five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) edge past Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals (RR) by six wickets in pursuit of a mammoth 213-run target. This became the first instance when&nbsp;a 200-plus total was chased&nbsp;at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in tournament history.&nbsp;

NUMBERS GAME

Most-successful IPL run-chases at Wankhede 
213 - MI vs RR, April 30, 2023 
198 - MI vs Punjab Kings (PBKS),&nbsp;2019 
196 - Gujarat Titans (GT)&nbsp;vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH),&nbsp;2022 
196 - Delhi Capitals (DC) vs PBKS, 2021

Highest successful run-chases in&nbsp;IPL history 
224 - RR vs PBKS, Sharjah, 2020 
219 - MI vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi, 2021 
215 - RR vs Deccan Chargers (DC), Hyderabad, 2008 
213 - MI vs RR, Mumbai WS, today 
213 - Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB),&nbsp;Bengaluru, 2023

Speaking about IPL's rich history, the high-voltage MI-RR clash was a landmark fixture as&nbsp;it was the tournament's 1,000th match. Since the mega event's inception in 2008, it has grown&nbsp;by leaps and bounds. It has increased the game's overall popularity, flushed more revenue&nbsp;into the sport, and led to many cricketers competing with superstar international stars.

In addition, IPL led to the advent of many franchise leagues&nbsp;across the globe (such as the Pakistan Super League, Big Bash League, etc). The pace of the game has increased manifold. Thus, cricket&nbsp;has never been the same since IPL's commencement.

Talking about the 1,000th IPL encounter,&nbsp;last year's runners-up RR opted to bat first and posted 212-7 riding on Yashasvi Jaiswal's maiden ton (124). In reply, MI rode on Suryakumar Yadav's 55 (29) and rapid knocks from Tilak Verma and Tim David to take their side to a much-needed win.

At the start of the tournament, it was&nbsp;advertised that MI's upcoming away game versus arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) -- on May 06 (Saturday) in Chennai -- would count as IPL's 1,000th clash. Here's the twist:

EXPLAINED: Not CSK vs MI! Why MI vs RR was counted as&nbsp;IPL'S 1000th game:&nbsp;

Till IPL&nbsp;2022, a total of 951 matches were held in the cash-rich league. This meant that match number 49 of the&nbsp;current season would be adjudged as the 1,000th game. However, in between these 951 fixtures, as many as seven matches were played which were called off with no result.&nbsp;

Notably, not even a single ball was bowled in these seven&nbsp;fixtures, but all of them were declared official matches as per cricketing rules. Thus, a total of 958 official games were held till the end of the 2022 edition,&nbsp;making this year's 42nd match IPL's 1,000th encounter.

<section>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-mumbai-indians-create-history-at-wankhede-chase-down-213-against-rajasthan-royals-587652">Mumbai Indians pull off highest successful run-chase against Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede in IPL's 1000th game</a></section>

Speaking after MI's historic win in IPL's landmark game, captain Rohit Sharma (who was also celebrating his 36th birthday and ten years as Mumbai's captain on Sunday evening), said, "Very pleasing to see how we chased this. Last game here also we came close to a similar target. We have the ability but need to back ourselves."

On David being regarded as the next Kieron Pollard, Rohit added, "Big shoes to fill, Polly for so many years won us so many championships. But Tim has so much ability and power. In the back end, having that power keeps the bowler thinking."

David, who struck a magnificent 14-ball 45* and ended the game with three straight sixes in the final over, stated, "We needed a result. It is an amazing feeling, there's no better feeling than playing at the Wankhede,&nbsp;for our confidence. We have not played our best cricket in the last few games, so this feels good. It felt everyone (bowler) had to be targeted, in good batting conditions, and personally, I wanted to do something like this for a while."

Meanwhile, a dejected Samson said, "It was kind of getting wet. It was not too wet and we were taking our time to wipe the ball. We had the experience of bowling in these conditions. We will keep focusing on the process. We will keep the focus on the controllable. We will keep fighting hard."

On Jaiswal's superb knock, Samson opined, "I was expecting something special from Jaiswal. He scored 70-odd in the last game, we always thought it (hundred) is around the corner."

TRAFFIC JAM IN THE POINTS TABLE

<img alt="IPL Points Table after 1000th game of tournament" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b6f7c898-9bda-440a-9353-286b402c6549" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/IPL%20PT%20after%20match%2042.jpg" />

Talking about the IPL 2023 points table, after match 42, there is&nbsp;a lot of chaos with the competition heating up for the playoffs.&nbsp;Last year's champions, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), occupy the first spot with 12 points from eight games. RR and CSK, who also failed to defend 201 versus PBKS on Sunday during the afternoon game, are in the third and fourth spots respectively.

KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are right behind table-toppers GT in the second position. LSG, RR, and CSK have ten points each.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are in the fifth position, also with ten points, whereas Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)&nbsp; and MI are in the&nbsp;sixth and seventh spots respectively (eight points each). Lastly, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and&nbsp;Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have six points each, followed by Delhi Capitals (DC) in the last spot with four points.

On Sunday (April 30), match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition saw five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) edge past Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals (RR) by six wickets in pursuit of a mammoth 213-run target.

On Sunday (April 30), match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition saw five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) edge past Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals (RR) by six wickets in pursuit of a mammoth 213-run target. This became the first instance when a 200-plus total was chased at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in tournament history. NUMBERS GAME Most-successful IPL run-chases at Wankhede 213 - MI vs RR, April 30, 2023 198 - MI vs Punjab Kings (PBKS), 2019 196 - Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), 2022 196 - Delhi Capitals (DC) vs PBKS, 2021 Highest successful run-chases in IPL history 224 - RR vs PBKS, Sharjah, 2020 219 - MI vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi, 2021 215 - RR vs Deccan Chargers (DC), Hyderabad, 2008 213 - MI vs RR, Mumbai WS, today 213 - Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Bengaluru, 2023 Speaking about IPL's rich history, the high-voltage MI-RR clash was a landmark fixture as it was the tournament's 1,000th match. Since the mega event's inception in 2008, it has grown by leaps and bounds. It has increased the game's overall popularity, flushed more revenue into the sport, and led to many cricketers competing with superstar international stars. In addition, IPL led to the advent of many franchise leagues across the globe (such as the Pakistan Super League, Big Bash League, etc). The pace of the game has increased manifold. Thus, cricket has never been the same since IPL's commencement. Talking about the 1,000th IPL encounter, last year's runners-up RR opted to bat first and posted 212-7 riding on Yashasvi Jaiswal's maiden ton (124). In reply, MI rode on Suryakumar Yadav's 55 (29) and rapid knocks from Tilak Verma and Tim David to take their side to a much-needed win. At the start of the tournament, it was advertised that MI's upcoming away game versus arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) -- on May 06 (Saturday) in Chennai -- would count as IPL's 1,000th clash. Here's the twist: EXPLAINED: Not CSK vs MI! Why MI vs RR was counted as IPL'S 1000th game: Till IPL 2022, a total of 951 matches were held in the cash-rich league. This meant that match number 49 of the current season would be adjudged as the 1,000th game. However, in between these 951 fixtures, as many as seven matches were played which were called off with no result. Notably, not even a single ball was bowled in these seven fixtures, but all of them were declared official matches as per cricketing rules. Thus, a total of 958 official games were held till the end of the 2022 edition, making this year's 42nd match IPL's 1,000th encounter. Also Read: Mumbai Indians pull off highest successful run-chase against Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede in IPL's 1000th game Speaking after MI's historic win in IPL's landmark game, captain Rohit Sharma (who was also celebrating his 36th birthday and ten years as Mumbai's captain on Sunday evening), said, "Very pleasing to see how we chased this. Last game here also we came close to a similar target. We have the ability but need to back ourselves." On David being regarded as the next Kieron Pollard, Rohit added, "Big shoes to fill, Polly for so many years won us so many championships. But Tim has so much ability and power. In the back end, having that power keeps the bowler thinking." David, who struck a magnificent 14-ball 45* and ended the game with three straight sixes in the final over, stated, "We needed a result. It is an amazing feeling, there's no better feeling than playing at the Wankhede, for our confidence. We have not played our best cricket in the last few games, so this feels good. It felt everyone (bowler) had to be targeted, in good batting conditions, and personally, I wanted to do something like this for a while." Meanwhile, a dejected Samson said, "It was kind of getting wet. It was not too wet and we were taking our time to wipe the ball. We had the experience of bowling in these conditions. We will keep focusing on the process. We will keep the focus on the controllable. We will keep fighting hard." On Jaiswal's superb knock, Samson opined, "I was expecting something special from Jaiswal. He scored 70-odd in the last game, we always thought it (hundred) is around the corner." TRAFFIC JAM IN THE POINTS TABLE Talking about the IPL 2023 points table, after match 42, there is a lot of chaos with the competition heating up for the playoffs. Last year's champions, Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), occupy the first spot with 12 points from eight games. RR and CSK, who also failed to defend 201 versus PBKS on Sunday during the afternoon game, are in the third and fourth spots respectively. KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are right behind table-toppers GT in the second position. LSG, RR, and CSK have ten points each. Punjab Kings (PBKS) are in the fifth position, also with ten points, whereas Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and MI are in the sixth and seventh spots respectively (eight points each). Lastly, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have six points each, followed by Delhi Capitals (DC) in the last spot with four points.

EXPLAINED: Not CSK vs MI! Why Mumbai's home game vs RR was IPL's 1,000th match

For decades, former US President Donald Trump appeared to shrug off claims, investigations, and even impeachment.&nbsp;His "Teflon Don" image is going to be put to the test; a jury of average citizens are going to hear a lawsuit accusing him of rape.

Jury selection began&nbsp;on&nbsp;Tuesday (April 25) in a trial over former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll's accusation that Trump raped her over three decades ago in a department store dressing room.&nbsp;

Trump's trial is being held in a federal civil court, which means that he will not be jailed regardless of the outcome, reported the Associated Press.&nbsp;He is not obligated to appear in court, and his attorneys have suggested that he will most likely not testify.

<h2>The difference between a civil and criminal case</h2>

Both civil and criminal proceedings analyse infringement of people's rights and who is to blame. However, they differ in terms of structure, burdens of proof, and penalties, as per The Mississippi Bar Association.&nbsp;

A civil case is a disagreement between two people, or parties, about an issue in particular. A party sues the other, and the jury decides on responsibility and damages. The court may order the party found at fault to pay money to the aggrieved party or to fulfil an obligation, such as honouring a contract.

Criminal law views a crime as an act against society rather than an individual. As a result, the government takes legal action against someone who has committed a crime.&nbsp;

If found guilty, the defendant may be sentenced to pay a fine, serve time in jail or be placed on probation. The law and society regard imprisonment as a loss of personal freedom and consequently a more serious penalty than a monetary fine.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;US: Joe Biden, Donald Trump might face off again in 2024 Presidential election&nbsp;

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Because the stakes are so much higher for a defendant in a criminal case than between two parties in a civil dispute, the justice system incorporates safeguards to protect a defendant's rights. These include the presumption of innocence, which states that a person is innocent unless proven guilty. Instead of the defendant having to establish his or her innocence, the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In a civil case, the burden of proof is significantly lower. In civil cases, a preponderance of evidence demonstrating a greater than 50 per cent&nbsp;possibility that one of the parties is at blame is sufficient.

Other constitutionally protected rights exist for defendants in criminal proceedings. These include the right to an attorney, whether hired privately or appointed by the court; the right not to be forced to testify against themselves; the right to compel witnesses to testify in their defence; and the right to challenge witnesses who testify against them through cross-examination.

<h2>What charges did&nbsp;Carroll level against Trump?</h2>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-will-see-you-in-court-mr-trump-rape-accuser-carroll-files-another-lawsuit-against-former-president-535336">E. Jean Carroll</a> has sued Trump in two different lawsuits. The first charges him with defamation after accusing her of lying in her book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest&nbsp;Proposal, in which she accuses Trump and other men of sexual abuse.

Carroll filed the second complaint after New York passed legislation last year that gave adult victims of sexual assault a one-year opportunity to file civil lawsuits against their attackers when the statute of limitations had lapsed. She is suing for monetary compensation after accusing Trump of assaulting&nbsp;her in a department store changing room in the mid-1990s, as reported by The Guardian.&nbsp;

The first lawsuit has been put on hold due to legal debate over whether Trump may be sued for comments he made as president.

<h2>Trump’s response to the accusations</h2>

Trump strongly denied the charges, stating Carroll was "totally lying" and labelling her a "nut job" multiple times. He further stated that because she was "not my type," he would never have assaulted her.

Trump also claimed he had never met Carroll, despite the fact that they were photographed together with their spouses&nbsp;in 1987.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-announces-reelection-bid-for-2024-585969">US President Joe Biden announces another run for White House</a>

“I’ve never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book – that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section,” he said.

<h2>Why did the US Justice Department stand with Trump in Carroll's defamation lawsuit?</h2>

The Justice Department demanded that the defamation case be transferred from state to federal court, claiming that Trump's public statements denying rape in 2019 were made as part of his duty as president.

The administration then contended that Carroll is not suing Trump as an individual but as an employee of the US government, and thus the government should be substituted for Trump as the defendant, reported The Guardian.

“The government thus asserts that this case is virtually identical in principle to a lawsuit against a Postal Service driver for causing a car accident while delivering the mail,” said the judge in considering the position in 2020.

The judge rejected the president's assertion that he is just another government employee and stated that his remarks regarding Carroll were not within the scope of his employment.

<h2>What happens if Trump loses the case?</h2>

If the jury determines that Trump did rape or otherwise assault Carroll, he will very certainly be ordered to pay compensation. It will also mean that, for the first time in US history, a jury has found a former president to be a rapist.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-may-soon-carry-title-of-rapist-585405">Donald Trump may soon carry title of 'rapist'</a>

Political scientists think it's unlikely to hurt Trump's chances for the Republican presidential nomination next year since his most fervent supporters see the many legal actions against him as a conspiracy.

However, it will add to his already significant political baggage in the general election, making his re-election as president even more difficult.

(With inputs from agencies)

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For decades, former US President Donald Trump appeared to shrug off claims, investigations, and even impeachment. His "Teflon Don" image is going to be put to the test; a jury of average citizens are going to hear a lawsuit accusing him of rape.

For decades, former US President Donald Trump appeared to shrug off claims, investigations, and even impeachment. His "Teflon Don" image is going to be put to the test; a jury of average citizens are going to hear a lawsuit accusing him of rape. Jury selection began on Tuesday (April 25) in a trial over former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll's accusation that Trump raped her over three decades ago in a department store dressing room. Trump's trial is being held in a federal civil court, which means that he will not be jailed regardless of the outcome, reported the Associated Press. He is not obligated to appear in court, and his attorneys have suggested that he will most likely not testify. The difference between a civil and criminal case Both civil and criminal proceedings analyse infringement of people's rights and who is to blame. However, they differ in terms of structure, burdens of proof, and penalties, as per The Mississippi Bar Association. A civil case is a disagreement between two people, or parties, about an issue in particular. A party sues the other, and the jury decides on responsibility and damages. The court may order the party found at fault to pay money to the aggrieved party or to fulfil an obligation, such as honouring a contract. Criminal law views a crime as an act against society rather than an individual. As a result, the government takes legal action against someone who has committed a crime. If found guilty, the defendant may be sentenced to pay a fine, serve time in jail or be placed on probation. The law and society regard imprisonment as a loss of personal freedom and consequently a more serious penalty than a monetary fine. ALSO WATCH | US: Joe Biden, Donald Trump might face off again in 2024 Presidential election Because the stakes are so much higher for a defendant in a criminal case than between two parties in a civil dispute, the justice system incorporates safeguards to protect a defendant's rights. These include the presumption of innocence, which states that a person is innocent unless proven guilty. Instead of the defendant having to establish his or her innocence, the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In a civil case, the burden of proof is significantly lower. In civil cases, a preponderance of evidence demonstrating a greater than 50 per cent possibility that one of the parties is at blame is sufficient. Other constitutionally protected rights exist for defendants in criminal proceedings. These include the right to an attorney, whether hired privately or appointed by the court; the right not to be forced to testify against themselves; the right to compel witnesses to testify in their defence; and the right to challenge witnesses who testify against them through cross-examination. What charges did Carroll level against Trump? E. Jean Carroll has sued Trump in two different lawsuits. The first charges him with defamation after accusing her of lying in her book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal, in which she accuses Trump and other men of sexual abuse. Carroll filed the second complaint after New York passed legislation last year that gave adult victims of sexual assault a one-year opportunity to file civil lawsuits against their attackers when the statute of limitations had lapsed. She is suing for monetary compensation after accusing Trump of assaulting her in a department store changing room in the mid-1990s, as reported by The Guardian. The first lawsuit has been put on hold due to legal debate over whether Trump may be sued for comments he made as president. Trump’s response to the accusations Trump strongly denied the charges, stating Carroll was "totally lying" and labelling her a "nut job" multiple times. He further stated that because she was "not my type," he would never have assaulted her. Trump also claimed he had never met Carroll, despite the fact that they were photographed together with their spouses in 1987. ALSO READ | US President Joe Biden announces another run for White House “I’ve never met this person in my life. She is trying to sell a new book – that should indicate her motivation. It should be sold in the fiction section,” he said. Why did the US Justice Department stand with Trump in Carroll's defamation lawsuit? The Justice Department demanded that the defamation case be transferred from state to federal court, claiming that Trump's public statements denying rape in 2019 were made as part of his duty as president. The administration then contended that Carroll is not suing Trump as an individual but as an employee of the US government, and thus the government should be substituted for Trump as the defendant, reported The Guardian. “The government thus asserts that this case is virtually identical in principle to a lawsuit against a Postal Service driver for causing a car accident while delivering the mail,” said the judge in considering the position in 2020. The judge rejected the president's assertion that he is just another government employee and stated that his remarks regarding Carroll were not within the scope of his employment. What happens if Trump loses the case? If the jury determines that Trump did rape or otherwise assault Carroll, he will very certainly be ordered to pay compensation. It will also mean that, for the first time in US history, a jury has found a former president to be a rapist. ALSO READ | Donald Trump may soon carry title of 'rapist' Political scientists think it's unlikely to hurt Trump's chances for the Republican presidential nomination next year since his most fervent supporters see the many legal actions against him as a conspiracy. However, it will add to his already significant political baggage in the general election, making his re-election as president even more difficult. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained | Trump’s rape case: Is ex-US president in danger of going to jail?

After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR)&nbsp;occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means&nbsp;for the one-time winners. Under Sanju Samson, who became their captain since IPL 2021, the Royals have become a formidable force and are eyeing to play their second final on the trot, with a hope to get past the finish line this time around.&nbsp;

In the inaugural edition, in 2008, the Royals ended as the eventual champions when no one gave them&nbsp;a chance. The franchise roped in superstar Shane Warne, serving&nbsp;as the captain-cum-coach, who inspired an inexperienced squad to win the championship. The late Aussie leg-spinner had some international stars, such as Graeme Smith, Mohammed Kaif, etc., but a plethora of unknown names&nbsp;rose to the occasion in his influence.

After Warne-led RR's initial success, there was a period of lull for the Jaipur-based franchise till IPL 2012. In the 2013 edition, the 2008 winners made it to the playoffs, finished third, and even played the final of that year's Champions League (CLT20), a now-defunct tournament. Back then, RR was led by Rahul Dravid, an equally inspiring figure like Warne.&nbsp;

Post Dravid and Warne, the team was led by able readers of the game, such as Shane Watson, Steve Smith, and Ajinkya Rahane, as they enjoyed sporadic success but never came close to winning the title. From the Dravid-era till IPL 2020, Samson remained a part of the Royals' dugout -- barring 2015 and 2016 when the franchise was serving a spot-fixing ban -- and was silently groomed by&nbsp;several eminent leaders in the camp.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-as-soon-as-he-brett-lees-advice-to-mis-arjun-tendulkar-to-bowl-at-140kmph-585864">IPL 2023: 'As soon as he...': Brett Lee's advice to MI's Arjun Tendulkar to bowl at 140kmph</a>

While Samson's batting credentials made heads turn in his debut IPL season in 2013, not much was known about his leadership skills. After a dismal IPL 2020, RR team management appointed Samson as their new captain before the 2021 edition. While his team ended seventh that year, Samson didn't look like a fish out of the water. He improved in IPL 2022 and by now, RR certainly looks like a unit controlled by Samson.

Ingredients of a fabulous leader

Recently, Ravi Shastri -- former India head coach -- said on ESPNCricinfo, "You say you stamp your personality as a leader. You see that with Hardik, he calls the shots, and takes the decisions. You see that with Dhoni. He takes the decisions, there is no two ways about it, he might be right or wrong. Sanju has improved a lot. You can see that quiet confidence in his own ability and he understands his game a lot better."

Leading superstars such as Jos Buttler, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, etc., can be intimidating. However, Samson has always looked his part and been assertive as captain. He&nbsp;remains calm behind the stumps, uses his bowlers judiciously, and does not shy away from changing plans when required. In addition, he&nbsp;does not overcommunicate; passing too many unnecessary suggestions from behind the stumps.

During RR's clash vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in Chennai, Sandeep Sharma was taken to the cleaners by MS Dhoni in the last over. With seven required off&nbsp;three balls, Samson raced from his wicketkeeping spot to just ask Sandeep about his plans.&nbsp;

"After I was hit for two sixes in the last over, Sanju and I discussed the plans on how to bowl the next 3 balls. Sanju is very calm as captain. He did not give any suggestions to me. He simply asked me about my plans for the next ball. I told him about my instincts and he backed me to bowl that. This quality is very rare in a captain in such a pressure situation," said the RR pacer.

Thus, Samson backed his experienced bowler and did not give suggestions. Rather, he just looked for ideas from his bowler and backed him to the hilt.

You will win some, you will lose some but remain unfazed

After RR's loss versus RCB, their second loss on the trot, Samson said in the dressing room, "I think it's very normal in this tournament when you have these couple of losses or you have those couple of wins, you go up and down. But the pattern and the style of our team, the style of our franchise is to stay humble when we're going high, and when we're going low, we believe in ourselves, as simple as that."

He added, "We believe in each and every one of us, believe in yourself and there is no pointing fingers, that's the rule we need to follow. In my experience, from what I've understood, the reason you end up on the losing or the winning side only is because how hungry are you there to win. How badly do you want it? Is it only because of you, is it only because you want to do it or do you want to do it for the team."

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Sanju Samson. 💗💗💗 <a href="https://t.co/fZmuYk4Wyl">pic.twitter.com/fZmuYk4Wyl</a>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-virat-kohli-fined-24-lakhs-other-rcb-players-fined-6-lakhs-for-slow-over-rate-vs-rr-585868">IPL 2023: Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR</a>

Not bogged down by responsibility

Many captains get bogged down by extra responsibility or get too cautious in their primary role. However, this has not been the case with Samson. Ever since he took over as RR skipper, he has amassed over 400 runs every season. In 2021, he made 484 runs, including a ton, at 136.72. His strike rate did dip as compared to the previous edition (where he struck at 158.89) but it was still acceptable. It shot up considerably in 2022, where he scored 458 runs at 146.79. After seven games this year, he is striking at over 150 (158.77).

One does not know what fate has in store for RR in IPL 2023. Irrespective of the outcome, the Royals should be lauded for identifying a rare talent like Samson, grooming him amid several leaders, retaining him, and making him the leader in his late 20s;&nbsp;when a cricketer has matured with enough experience and past mistakes. The right-hander has shown glimpses&nbsp;of his captaincy skills and will only grow leaps and bounds if given a longer rope, which seems likely at this point.

In his book 'Coaching Beyond - My Days with the Indian Cricket Team', R Sridhar -- former India fielding coach -- revealed it was Samson (who was on the bench) who suggested Chahal feature in India's XI as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja in a T20I versus Australia in Canberra, in late 2020. Chahal ended as the Player-of-the-Match (3 for 25) in India's win.

Thus, Samson always had a knack for reading the game and being tactical. Now, he is only growing with each passing day and is destined for a bright run as captain. Is India captaincy in the reckoning? Well, only time will tell. For now, he certainly looks like a long-serving&nbsp;captain in the IPL.

After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR) occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means for the one-time winners.

After playing half their games in the league stage of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals (RR) occupy the third spot with four wins from seven outings. It isn't a bad start by any means for the one-time winners. Under Sanju Samson, who became their captain since IPL 2021, the Royals have become a formidable force and are eyeing to play their second final on the trot, with a hope to get past the finish line this time around. In the inaugural edition, in 2008, the Royals ended as the eventual champions when no one gave them a chance. The franchise roped in superstar Shane Warne, serving as the captain-cum-coach, who inspired an inexperienced squad to win the championship. The late Aussie leg-spinner had some international stars, such as Graeme Smith, Mohammed Kaif, etc., but a plethora of unknown names rose to the occasion in his influence. After Warne-led RR's initial success, there was a period of lull for the Jaipur-based franchise till IPL 2012. In the 2013 edition, the 2008 winners made it to the playoffs, finished third, and even played the final of that year's Champions League (CLT20), a now-defunct tournament. Back then, RR was led by Rahul Dravid, an equally inspiring figure like Warne. Post Dravid and Warne, the team was led by able readers of the game, such as Shane Watson, Steve Smith, and Ajinkya Rahane, as they enjoyed sporadic success but never came close to winning the title. From the Dravid-era till IPL 2020, Samson remained a part of the Royals' dugout -- barring 2015 and 2016 when the franchise was serving a spot-fixing ban -- and was silently groomed by several eminent leaders in the camp. Also Read: IPL 2023: 'As soon as he...': Brett Lee's advice to MI's Arjun Tendulkar to bowl at 140kmph While Samson's batting credentials made heads turn in his debut IPL season in 2013, not much was known about his leadership skills. After a dismal IPL 2020, RR team management appointed Samson as their new captain before the 2021 edition. While his team ended seventh that year, Samson didn't look like a fish out of the water. He improved in IPL 2022 and by now, RR certainly looks like a unit controlled by Samson. Ingredients of a fabulous leader Recently, Ravi Shastri -- former India head coach -- said on ESPNCricinfo, "You say you stamp your personality as a leader. You see that with Hardik, he calls the shots, and takes the decisions. You see that with Dhoni. He takes the decisions, there is no two ways about it, he might be right or wrong. Sanju has improved a lot. You can see that quiet confidence in his own ability and he understands his game a lot better." Leading superstars such as Jos Buttler, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, etc., can be intimidating. However, Samson has always looked his part and been assertive as captain. He remains calm behind the stumps, uses his bowlers judiciously, and does not shy away from changing plans when required. In addition, he does not overcommunicate; passing too many unnecessary suggestions from behind the stumps. During RR's clash vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in Chennai, Sandeep Sharma was taken to the cleaners by MS Dhoni in the last over. With seven required off three balls, Samson raced from his wicketkeeping spot to just ask Sandeep about his plans. "After I was hit for two sixes in the last over, Sanju and I discussed the plans on how to bowl the next 3 balls. Sanju is very calm as captain. He did not give any suggestions to me. He simply asked me about my plans for the next ball. I told him about my instincts and he backed me to bowl that. This quality is very rare in a captain in such a pressure situation," said the RR pacer. Thus, Samson backed his experienced bowler and did not give suggestions. Rather, he just looked for ideas from his bowler and backed him to the hilt. You will win some, you will lose some but remain unfazed After RR's loss versus RCB, their second loss on the trot, Samson said in the dressing room, "I think it's very normal in this tournament when you have these couple of losses or you have those couple of wins, you go up and down. But the pattern and the style of our team, the style of our franchise is to stay humble when we're going high, and when we're going low, we believe in ourselves, as simple as that." He added, "We believe in each and every one of us, believe in yourself and there is no pointing fingers, that's the rule we need to follow. In my experience, from what I've understood, the reason you end up on the losing or the winning side only is because how hungry are you there to win. How badly do you want it? Is it only because of you, is it only because you want to do it or do you want to do it for the team." Sanju Samson. 💗💗💗 pic.twitter.com/fZmuYk4Wyl — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 23, 2023 × Also Read: IPL 2023: Virat Kohli fined 24 lakhs, other RCB players fined 6 lakhs for slow over-rate vs RR Not bogged down by responsibility Many captains get bogged down by extra responsibility or get too cautious in their primary role. However, this has not been the case with Samson. Ever since he took over as RR skipper, he has amassed over 400 runs every season. In 2021, he made 484 runs, including a ton, at 136.72. His strike rate did dip as compared to the previous edition (where he struck at 158.89) but it was still acceptable. It shot up considerably in 2022, where he scored 458 runs at 146.79. After seven games this year, he is striking at over 150 (158.77). One does not know what fate has in store for RR in IPL 2023. Irrespective of the outcome, the Royals should be lauded for identifying a rare talent like Samson, grooming him amid several leaders, retaining him, and making him the leader in his late 20s; when a cricketer has matured with enough experience and past mistakes. The right-hander has shown glimpses of his captaincy skills and will only grow leaps and bounds if given a longer rope, which seems likely at this point. In his book 'Coaching Beyond - My Days with the Indian Cricket Team', R Sridhar -- former India fielding coach -- revealed it was Samson (who was on the bench) who suggested Chahal feature in India's XI as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja in a T20I versus Australia in Canberra, in late 2020. Chahal ended as the Player-of-the-Match (3 for 25) in India's win. Thus, Samson always had a knack for reading the game and being tactical. Now, he is only growing with each passing day and is destined for a bright run as captain. Is India captaincy in the reckoning? Well, only time will tell. For now, he certainly looks like a long-serving captain in the IPL.

Explained | IPL 2023: Why Sanju Samson is a great captain in making

Whilst COVID-19 emerged to spell doom for the global economy back in 2019, it induced a golden period for the Indian startup ecosystem. Indian companies suddenly became the favourites of global investors as they kept pouring in massive funding incessantly.

Whilst COVID-19 emerged to spell doom for the global economy back in 2019, it induced a golden period for the Indian startup ecosystem. Indian companies suddenly became the favourites of global investors as they kept pouring in massive funding incessantly. It’s evident from the fact that Indian startups raised $13.2 billion in funding in 2019 and $10.9 billion in 2020. Then, 2021 turned out to be a ‘year of unicorns’ for the Indian economy, which saw Indian startups raising a record $35.2 billion in funding and producing at least 34 unicorn startups. However, the golden period seems to have come to a grinding halt now. Just two years down the line, the Indian startup ecosystem is facing a grave funding crisis. To put things in perspective, Indian companies have raised a mere $2 billion in the first quarter of 2023. This amount is 75 per cent lower than the same period last year, as per Reuters. Private equity and venture capital funding have also seen a drop of 60 per cent during the Q4 of FY23. At this miserable run rate, Indian companies might end this year with just $10 billion in funding, far less than $35.2 billion in 2021 and $20 billion in 2022. Experts say the Indian economy won’t see a repeat of the 2021-like funding boom in the coming decade. Reasons behind the funding crisis Both global as well domestic factors have triggered the dry funding spell for Indian companies. High interest rates, inflation, the banking crisis and the global economic slowdown have left global investors anxious. It must be noted that Indian startups have raised the majority of their capital from foreign investors only, so global factors directly impact the funding climate in India. Central banks around the world have resorted to increasing interest rates to tackle inflation; however, this has ratcheted up the borrowing cost. Adding to that, the banking crisis in the US has further tightened liquidity. The imminent recession in Western countries has further exacerbated the woes of global investors. It’s speculated that the US economy, along with Germany and UK, will enter recession in FY24. Domestic factors that have led to the funding crunch On the other hand, there are also some domestic factors to blame. Of all, the biggest factor is the faltering consumption growth in India. As per a report by Indian VC firm Blume Ventures, the consumption growth in India is driven by a “tiny superuser set.” Consumption outside the top layer of 30 million households has actually dropped sharply. As a result of this, the target market for Indian startups has reduced to a mere 100 million people, below 10 per cent of India’s total population of 1.4 billion. Moreover, global investors are fast realising the fact that many Indian startups which they funded earlier were massively overvalued. For instance, Blackrock cut the valuation of Indian EdTech company Byju’s by half from $22 billion to $11.15 billion. Similarly, Swiggy’s valuation was also slashed by a quarter by Invesco. Investors are waiting for further correction in the valuations of Indian companies. For example, Softbank has steered clear of Indian companies during the last year after leading the funding boom in earlier years. Watch: Gravitas Plus: Why are Indian Startups struggling? × According to SME futures, the slowdown in funding activity can also be attributed to the changed norms for foreign direct investment (FDI) introduced by the government of India in 2020. This has led to confusion among several foreign investors, making it even more difficult for Indian fund-seekers to raise capital from international VC firms. Rachit Poddar, Co-Founder of IVY Growth Associates, was quoted by SEM Futures as saying, “One of the main challenges that Indian start-ups face when seeking foreign investment is a lack of understanding of the Indian market by foreign investors. Additionally, regulatory hurdles and the complexity of the Indian tax system can be deterrents for foreign investors.” Indian government must do more Although the Indian government has launched several programmes to shore up the Indian startup ecosystem, such as the Start-up India Programme and the Fund of Funds for Start-ups; experts believe that might not be enough. There is still much to be done to make regulations simpler, lower administrative barriers, and encourage investors to fund early-stage start-ups. The government needs to work towards promoting private investment in startups. Also Read | ‘Biggest startup scandal’: How one event in India’s Noida scarred India’s entrepreneurial ambitions Despite all odds, it remains a fact that the Indian economy continues to be a bright spot in a world fast slipping into economic turmoil. As per projections made by IMF, India and China will contribute half of the global growth in FY24. India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, which is expected to grow at 6.8 per cent in the ongoing fiscal year. As relations between China and the West continue to deteriorate due to geopolitical tensions, India will clearly emerge as the only promising investment destination for international VC firms. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Explained: Why are foreign investors no longer funding Indian startups? 

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