A Chinese jet had carried out what Washington claims an 'unnecessarily aggressive' maneuver near a US military Recce plane. This incident took place in the South China Sea, which US claims was over international airspace. The Us Indo-Pacific military command said the Chinese J-16 aircraft carried out the manoeuver last week and caused turbulence to the US RC-135 plane. The latest footage released by the US & its timing begs the question- are US & China not willing to cooperate at military levels?

Chinese jet 'unnecessarily aggressive' maneuver near US military plane over south china sea

The rise of AI has paved the way for a new era and era where generating false content has become an art mastered by algorithms and here's what Microsoft's Chief has to say about it. The biggest concern around AI was deep fakes, realistic looking but false content, intended to defraud people or compromise National Security.

Rise of deep-fake videos: Voters struggle to separate reality from distortion

North Korea launched a space object but the mission failed. The South Korean military claimed on Wednesday (May 31) that it had located and was rescuing a suspected piece of a North Korean spy satellite that had crashed shortly after launch due to a rocket malfunction. Meanwhile the US military claimed that a Chinese fighter pilot performed a "unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre" around an American surveillance aircraft flying over the South China Sea.&nbsp;In an unexpected turn of events, a woman who claimed that US President Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 has applied for Russian citizenship.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-salvaging-suspected-part-of-crashed-n-korean-spy-satellite-598541">South Korea 'salvaging suspected part' of crashed N. Korean spy satellite</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8d3f193-e937-4f39-9ab8-957d6f665456" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/355652-2023-05-31t020918z1lynxmpej4u02brtroptp4northkorea-satellite-southkorea.JPG" />

The South Korean military said on Wednesday (May 31) that it had located and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-space-launch-vehicle-japan-issues-missile-alert-598529">was salvaging a suspected part of a North Korean spy satellite</a>&nbsp;that crashed soon after launch because of a rocket failure. "At around 08:05 today, our military identified an object presumed to be part of North Korea's claimed 'Space Launch Vehicle' in waters 200km (124 miles) west of Eocheong Island and is salvaging it," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, the news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/debt-limit-deal-heads-to-vote-in-full-house-while-mccarthy-seeks-republican-approval-598535">Debt limit deal heads to vote in full House while McCarthy seeks Republican approval</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="048bb5e4-2f55-42eb-aefd-990c3523e66c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20battle%20for%20Kyiv-8.jpg" />

Under heat from conservatives, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked&nbsp;frantically on Tuesday (May 30)&nbsp;to persuade other Republicans to support the debt ceiling and budget agreement he signed&nbsp;with President Joe Biden in order to avoid a potentially catastrophic US&nbsp;default.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-chinese-fighter-plane-performs-unnecessarily-aggressive-manoeuvre-near-us-jet-598545">WATCH | Chinese fighter plane performs 'unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre' near US jet</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b38d558-29a5-4e23-ab2b-dc84619e9ee0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/355654-untitled-design-2023-05-31t083002251.png.jpeg" />

The United States military stated that a Chinese fighter pilot carried out an “unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre” around an American surveillance aircraft which was flying over the South China Sea last week.

The incident, which the Pentagon called as a common behaviour of China, occurred at a time when tensions had already escalated between Beijing and Washington after the latter shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon which was spotted traversing the skies of the United States. The ties were further strained over the issue of Taiwan as China increased its military aggression against the island.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-sexual-assault-accuser-calls-on-putin-for-russian-citizenship-598539">Biden's sexual assault accuser calls on Putin for Russian citizenship</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="12bfa1f9-5a08-4c49-93b0-0cf04b035591" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/355651-copy-of-untitled.png.jpeg" />

A woman who alleged that US President Joe Biden&nbsp;sexually assaulted her in 1993, in a dramatic turn of events, has sought Russian citizenship. Ex-Senate staffer Tara Reade made the accusations in 2020 when Biden was seeking a Democratic nomination for the president's post.

WATCH |&nbsp;UN pushes Russia &amp; Ukraine to protect Europe's largest nuclear power facility

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-pushes-russia-ukraine-to-protect-europes-largest-nuclear-power-facility-details-598559/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

North Korea launched a space object but the mission failed. The South Korean military claimed on Wednesday (May 31) that it had located and was rescuing a suspected piece of a North Korean spy satellite that had crashed shortly after launch due to a rocket malfunction.

North Korea launched a space object but the mission failed. The South Korean military claimed on Wednesday (May 31) that it had located and was rescuing a suspected piece of a North Korean spy satellite that had crashed shortly after launch due to a rocket malfunction. Meanwhile the US military claimed that a Chinese fighter pilot performed a "unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre" around an American surveillance aircraft flying over the South China Sea. In an unexpected turn of events, a woman who claimed that US President Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 has applied for Russian citizenship. Click on the headlines to read more. South Korea 'salvaging suspected part' of crashed N. Korean spy satellite The South Korean military said on Wednesday (May 31) that it had located and was salvaging a suspected part of a North Korean spy satellite that crashed soon after launch because of a rocket failure. "At around 08:05 today, our military identified an object presumed to be part of North Korea's claimed 'Space Launch Vehicle' in waters 200km (124 miles) west of Eocheong Island and is salvaging it," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, the news agency AFP reported. Debt limit deal heads to vote in full House while McCarthy seeks Republican approval Under heat from conservatives, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked frantically on Tuesday (May 30) to persuade other Republicans to support the debt ceiling and budget agreement he signed with President Joe Biden in order to avoid a potentially catastrophic US default. WATCH | Chinese fighter plane performs 'unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre' near US jet The United States military stated that a Chinese fighter pilot carried out an “unnecessarily aggressive manoeuvre” around an American surveillance aircraft which was flying over the South China Sea last week. The incident, which the Pentagon called as a common behaviour of China, occurred at a time when tensions had already escalated between Beijing and Washington after the latter shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon which was spotted traversing the skies of the United States. The ties were further strained over the issue of Taiwan as China increased its military aggression against the island. Biden's sexual assault accuser calls on Putin for Russian citizenship A woman who alleged that US President Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993, in a dramatic turn of events, has sought Russian citizenship. Ex-Senate staffer Tara Reade made the accusations in 2020 when Biden was seeking a Democratic nomination for the president's post. WATCH | UN pushes Russia & Ukraine to protect Europe's largest nuclear power facility

Morning brief: North Korea 'space launch' fails, debt limit deal heads to vote in full House, and more

In yet another shooting in the United States, six people were shot, one fatally. The latest shooting incident took place in Charleston County, South Carolina, just as the Memorial Day weekend drew to a close on Monday night. A CBS News report quoting the sheriff's office reports that no arrests have been made at the moment.

The shooting happened around 9:50 pm local time near a nightclub. As per the Sherrif office spokesperson, Andrew Knapp, deputies found one person slumped inside a vehicle at the scene. The person was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

Five other people were injured and have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. As per Knapp, their condition is stable and their condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-16-people-killed-dozens-injured-during-memorial-day-weekend-shootings-across-us-598035">Over 16 people killed, dozens injured during Memorial Day weekend shootings across US</a>

No further details of the shooting are available at the moment.&nbsp;

This is not an isolated incident of shooting. During the Memorial Day weekend, the United States witnessed multiple shootings across the country.

<h2>Memorial day shootings</h2>

More than a dozen people, 16 to be exact, were gunned down in a spate of shootings across the nation. Additionally, dozens were injured in the gun violence incidents.

The shootings happened in eight states across America. Among the affected states are Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New Mexico.

<h2>Biker rally "rolling shootout"</h2>

In Red River, New Mexico, three individuals died, while five others, according to local media reports, were injured. The shooting, as per the news agency AFP, occurred at around 5 pm during an annual Memorial Day motorcycle rally that drew approximately 20,000 bikers to the small town near Taos, a popular skiing destination.

Apart from the said biker rally, as per a NBC News report beaches, and high schools were the places specifically targeted by the gunmen. The dead include victims of various ages, ranging from teenagers to those in their 60s.

<h2>Baltimore scuffle turns deadly</h2>

In Baltimore, Maryland, an argument between two men led to gunfire, which injured five people, around 3:30 pm (local time) on Friday, officials told NBC News.

The victims, who haven’t been identified, suffered non-threatening injuries, and the police said that they are searching for the suspected gunman.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rolling-shootout-at-biker-rally-in-new-mexico-kills-three-injures-five-597477">'Rolling shootout' at biker rally in New Mexico kills three, injures five</a>

Three people were injured, two seriously, in Garden Grove, California, on Saturday evening, in a shooting at Hot Restaurant and Lounge. Garden Grove Police Sgt. Nick Jensen said the gunman got into an argument before opening fire.

<h2>America's gun violence epidemic</h2>

The long weekend violence is just a small example of the growing gun menace threatening American society.

In the last three years, there have been more than 600 mass shootings each, almost two a day on average, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

This year alone, there have been more than 200 mass shootings across the US. The figures include shootings that happen in homes and in public places.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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>.

In yet another shooting in the United States, six people were shot, one fatally. The latest shooting incident took place in Charleston County, South Carolina, just as the Memorial Day weekend drew to a close on Monday night.

In yet another shooting in the United States, six people were shot, one fatally. The latest shooting incident took place in Charleston County, South Carolina, just as the Memorial Day weekend drew to a close on Monday night. A CBS News report quoting the sheriff's office reports that no arrests have been made at the moment. The shooting happened around 9:50 pm local time near a nightclub. As per the Sherrif office spokesperson, Andrew Knapp, deputies found one person slumped inside a vehicle at the scene. The person was pronounced dead at the scene. Five other people were injured and have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. As per Knapp, their condition is stable and their condition is not believed to be life-threatening. Also read | Over 16 people killed, dozens injured during Memorial Day weekend shootings across US No further details of the shooting are available at the moment. This is not an isolated incident of shooting. During the Memorial Day weekend, the United States witnessed multiple shootings across the country. Memorial day shootings More than a dozen people, 16 to be exact, were gunned down in a spate of shootings across the nation. Additionally, dozens were injured in the gun violence incidents. The shootings happened in eight states across America. Among the affected states are Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New Mexico. Biker rally "rolling shootout" In Red River, New Mexico, three individuals died, while five others, according to local media reports, were injured. The shooting, as per the news agency AFP, occurred at around 5 pm during an annual Memorial Day motorcycle rally that drew approximately 20,000 bikers to the small town near Taos, a popular skiing destination. Apart from the said biker rally, as per a NBC News report beaches, and high schools were the places specifically targeted by the gunmen. The dead include victims of various ages, ranging from teenagers to those in their 60s. Baltimore scuffle turns deadly In Baltimore, Maryland, an argument between two men led to gunfire, which injured five people, around 3:30 pm (local time) on Friday, officials told NBC News. The victims, who haven’t been identified, suffered non-threatening injuries, and the police said that they are searching for the suspected gunman. Also read | 'Rolling shootout' at biker rally in New Mexico kills three, injures five Three people were injured, two seriously, in Garden Grove, California, on Saturday evening, in a shooting at Hot Restaurant and Lounge. Garden Grove Police Sgt. Nick Jensen said the gunman got into an argument before opening fire. America's gun violence epidemic The long weekend violence is just a small example of the growing gun menace threatening American society. In the last three years, there have been more than 600 mass shootings each, almost two a day on average, according to the Gun Violence Archive. This year alone, there have been more than 200 mass shootings across the US. The figures include shootings that happen in homes and in public places. (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.

Yet another shooting in US claims one life; Memorial Day weekend death toll rises to 17

In the latest, Russia launched a massive drone attack on Kyiv on Monday night.&nbsp;China launched its first civilian astronaut into orbit on Tuesday, launching the Shenzhou-16 mission to its space station for its second in-orbit crew rotation, marking another step forward for the country's ambitious space programme. In other news,&nbsp;gunfire erupted in a confrontation between two groups on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk as crowds&nbsp;wandered along the length of beachfront near stores, restaurants, and hotels.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-at-least-one-dead-as-russia-launches-massive-drone-attack-on-kyiv-598144">Ukraine war: At least one dead as Russia launches 'massive' drone attack on Kyiv</a>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2710b9af-4e56-4029-a768-8e31bcc14997" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/355358-russian-drone-strike.png.jpeg" />

At least one person was killed after Russia launched a "massive attack" by drones on the Ukrainian capital,&nbsp;Kyiv, on Monday night and in the early hours of Tuesday, the city's mayor said.&nbsp;

As claimed by the city's military administration, the attack was carried out using drones and preliminary information suggested that the attacks were carried out only with Iranian-made Shahed drones.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-sends-first-civilian-to-space-with-shenzhou-16-liftoff-598134">China sends first civilian to space with Shenzhou-16 liftoff</a>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9aab8e57-c6e2-4733-a1fa-44b60a548b27" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/355360-china-2.jpg" />

China on Tuesday (May 30) sent three astronauts to its Tiangong space station. The country has put a civilian scientist into space for the first time. The latest liftoff has come as China pursues plans for manned mission to the Moon by 2030. The Shenzhou-16 crew lifted off atop a Long March 2F rocket. The launch took place from the Jiquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. The rocket lifted-off&nbsp;at 9:31 am (0131 GMT), AFP reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-beach-boardwalk-shooting-9-injured-after-dispute-between-groups-1-detained-598138">Florida beach boardwalk shooting: 9 injured after 'dispute' between groups, 1 detained</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eafdb7ae-d2f0-405c-a198-e65f6b293d3d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20battle%20for%20Kyiv.jpg" />

A shooting episode along a beach boardwalk in Hollywood, Florida,&nbsp;left nine&nbsp;people&nbsp;injured and several others scrambling for cover on Memorial Day.&nbsp;

Many&nbsp;of those injured were transferred to a children's hospital, according to Deanna Bettineschi, a police spokesman who spoke to the Associated Press. However, police are&nbsp;yet to announce the victims' ages or any information about their current condition.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-7-dead-several-injured-as-bus-carrying-pilgrims-falls-into-gorge-in-jammu-598135">India: 8 dead, several injured as bus carrying pilgrims falls into gorge in Jammu</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7892969e-bb27-4bbf-a565-4d680431d561" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/355357-copy-of-untitled.png.jpeg" />

A bus carrying 75 pilgrims to Katra from Amritsar fell into a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jhajjar Kotli on Tuesday. Eight people were killed, four were critically injured and over two&nbsp;dozen sustained injuries.

WATCH |&nbsp;US President Biden &amp; his Turkey counterpart Erdogan discuss F-16, Sweden in NATO

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-biden-his-turkey-counterpart-erdogan-discuss-f-16-sweden-in-nato-598148/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

In the latest, Russia launched a massive drone attack on Kyiv on Monday night. China launched its first civilian astronaut into orbit on Tuesday, launching the Shenzhou-16 mission to its space station for its second in-orbit crew rotation, marking another step forward for the country's ambitious space programme.

In the latest, Russia launched a massive drone attack on Kyiv on Monday night. China launched its first civilian astronaut into orbit on Tuesday, launching the Shenzhou-16 mission to its space station for its second in-orbit crew rotation, marking another step forward for the country's ambitious space programme. In other news, gunfire erupted in a confrontation between two groups on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk as crowds wandered along the length of beachfront near stores, restaurants, and hotels. Click on the headlines to read more. Ukraine war: At least one dead as Russia launches 'massive' drone attack on Kyiv At least one person was killed after Russia launched a "massive attack" by drones on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Monday night and in the early hours of Tuesday, the city's mayor said. As claimed by the city's military administration, the attack was carried out using drones and preliminary information suggested that the attacks were carried out only with Iranian-made Shahed drones. China sends first civilian to space with Shenzhou-16 liftoff China on Tuesday (May 30) sent three astronauts to its Tiangong space station. The country has put a civilian scientist into space for the first time. The latest liftoff has come as China pursues plans for manned mission to the Moon by 2030. The Shenzhou-16 crew lifted off atop a Long March 2F rocket. The launch took place from the Jiquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. The rocket lifted-off at 9:31 am (0131 GMT), AFP reported. Florida beach boardwalk shooting: 9 injured after 'dispute' between groups, 1 detained A shooting episode along a beach boardwalk in Hollywood, Florida, left nine people injured and several others scrambling for cover on Memorial Day. Many of those injured were transferred to a children's hospital, according to Deanna Bettineschi, a police spokesman who spoke to the Associated Press. However, police are yet to announce the victims' ages or any information about their current condition. India: 8 dead, several injured as bus carrying pilgrims falls into gorge in Jammu A bus carrying 75 pilgrims to Katra from Amritsar fell into a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jhajjar Kotli on Tuesday. Eight people were killed, four were critically injured and over two dozen sustained injuries. WATCH | US President Biden & his Turkey counterpart Erdogan discuss F-16, Sweden in NATO

Morning brief: Russia launches 'massive' drone attack on Kyiv, China sends first civilian to space, and more

In a major win for the LGBTQIA+ community in Japan, a court has ruled that the nation's insistence on not allowing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The Tuesday ruling is seen by activists as a welcome step towards marriage equality in a nation where there exists no protection for same-sex unions.

Speaking to the press outside the court, the lead lawyer Yoko Mizutani said that the ruling has "rescued" them from the "hurt" of the last ruling on this issue.

"This ruling has rescued us from the hurt of last year's ruling that said there was nothing wrong with the ban, and the hurt of what the government keeps saying."

<h2>Past rulings on same-sex marriages in Japan</h2>

To date, Japan has had four rulings on the issue. The recent ruling by the Nagoya District Court is the second ruling to find a ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. Previously, in March 2021, a district court in Sapporo, the capital city of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido in a similar ruling&nbsp;said that the ban was "unconstitutional".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-g7-summit-japans-lgbtqia-community-demand-legalisation-of-same-sex-marriage-585495">Ahead of G7 summit, Japan's LGBTQIA+ community demand legalisation of same-sex marriag</a>

However, in June 2022, the Osaka district court ruled that the ban was not unconstitutional. The court added that "from the perspective of individual dignity, it can be said that it is necessary to realise the benefits of same-sex couples being publicly recognised through official recognition."

Subsequently, in December of last year, a Tokyo court reiterated that while the ban was not "unconstitutional," the country's failure to legally protect same-sex partners creates an "unconstitutional situation".

<h2>Marriages and Japan</h2>

Japan is the only remaining G7 nation where same-sex marriage is banned. The Japanese constitution defines marriage as something based on "the mutual consent of both sexes".

<h2>Same-sex marriage, the Japanese people, and the government</h2>

As per a Reuters report, opinion polls on the issue have found overwhelming support for the legality of same-sex marriages. Roughly 70 per cent of the public said they are all for the legality of same-sex unions.

However, the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida opposes it.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/photos/perils-of-the-lgbtq-community-in-africa-597866" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/photos/perils-of-the-lgbtq-community-in-africa-597866&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiuhJOTjJ3_AhVWyGEKHRvBAU4QFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QahE8YA-xkyddSC5yTNSU" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/perils-of-the-lgbtq-community-in-africa-597866" target="_blank">Perils faced by the LGBTQ community in Africa</a>

In March of this year, Kishida reiterated that a ban on same-sex marriage is not unconstitutional. "I believe I do not have a sense of discrimination (on the issue)," he said, adding, "I have never stated I’m against it."

"I don’t think disallowing same-sex couples to marry is unjust discrimination by the state," said the Japanese PM when questioned by an opposition lawmaker about whether in his opinion the ban on same-sex marriage constitutes discrimination.

In spite of the ban, more than 300 Japanese municipalities that account for some 65 per cent of the Japanese population allow same-sex couples to enter partnership agreements. However, these agreements are far from marriage.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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>.

In a major win for the LGBTQIA+ community in Japan, a court has ruled that the nation's insistence on not allowing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The Tuesday ruling is seen by activists as a welcome step towards marriage equality in a nation where there exists no protection for same-sex unions.

In a major win for the LGBTQIA+ community in Japan, a court has ruled that the nation's insistence on not allowing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The Tuesday ruling is seen by activists as a welcome step towards marriage equality in a nation where there exists no protection for same-sex unions. Speaking to the press outside the court, the lead lawyer Yoko Mizutani said that the ruling has "rescued" them from the "hurt" of the last ruling on this issue. "This ruling has rescued us from the hurt of last year's ruling that said there was nothing wrong with the ban, and the hurt of what the government keeps saying." Past rulings on same-sex marriages in Japan To date, Japan has had four rulings on the issue. The recent ruling by the Nagoya District Court is the second ruling to find a ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. Previously, in March 2021, a district court in Sapporo, the capital city of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido in a similar ruling said that the ban was "unconstitutional". Also read | Ahead of G7 summit, Japan's LGBTQIA+ community demand legalisation of same-sex marriag However, in June 2022, the Osaka district court ruled that the ban was not unconstitutional. The court added that "from the perspective of individual dignity, it can be said that it is necessary to realise the benefits of same-sex couples being publicly recognised through official recognition." Subsequently, in December of last year, a Tokyo court reiterated that while the ban was not "unconstitutional," the country's failure to legally protect same-sex partners creates an "unconstitutional situation". Marriages and Japan Japan is the only remaining G7 nation where same-sex marriage is banned. The Japanese constitution defines marriage as something based on "the mutual consent of both sexes". Same-sex marriage, the Japanese people, and the government As per a Reuters report, opinion polls on the issue have found overwhelming support for the legality of same-sex marriages. Roughly 70 per cent of the public said they are all for the legality of same-sex unions. However, the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida opposes it. Also read | Perils faced by the LGBTQ community in Africa In March of this year, Kishida reiterated that a ban on same-sex marriage is not unconstitutional. "I believe I do not have a sense of discrimination (on the issue)," he said, adding, "I have never stated I’m against it." "I don’t think disallowing same-sex couples to marry is unjust discrimination by the state," said the Japanese PM when questioned by an opposition lawmaker about whether in his opinion the ban on same-sex marriage constitutes discrimination. In spite of the ban, more than 300 Japanese municipalities that account for some 65 per cent of the Japanese population allow same-sex couples to enter partnership agreements. However, these agreements are far from marriage. (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.

Japan court 'rescues' nation's LGBT community from 'hurt', says ban on same-sex marriage 'unconstitutional'

In India's capital, New Delhi, another senseless murder has left people stunned. A 36-year-old woman has been arrested for the alleged murder of her 35-year-old flatmate early Tuesday morning. The latest case comes just a day after the gruesome murder of a 16-year-old girl by her boyfriend shook the city.

The victim of the latest crime has&nbsp;been identified as Rani, who used to work as a beautician at a Gurgaon-based beauty parlour. As per a report by news agency ANI, Rani was found lying in a pool of&nbsp;blood after being stabbed by her flatmate. The accused was found sitting near the body.

A case has been filed against the accused under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Police are yet to recover the murder weapon — a kitchen knife.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-man-stabs-minor-girl-more-than-20-times-smashes-her-head-with-stone-slab-597843">Delhi: Man stabs minor girl more than 20 times, smashes her 'lifeless' body with stone slab</a>

Following reports of the murder, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has implored the UT's Lieutenant Governor&nbsp;Vinai Kumar Saxena "to do something".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ये हमारी दिल्ली में क्या हो रहा है? क़ानून व्यवस्था पूरी तरह चरमरा गयी है। चारों ओर जंगल राज है। LG साहिब, कुछ तो कीजिए… <a href="https://t.co/BdTC3aSQwJ">https://t.co/BdTC3aSQwJ</a>
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1663465128006918144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Police were informed of the crime at around 7 am. The incident, as per ANI, took place in Majnu Ka Tila, in north Delhi's Civil Lines Area.&nbsp;

The two women were renting a flat together in Majnu ka Tila, a popular tourist spot in North Delhi.

On Monday night, the victim and the accused, along with a group of friends, had a dinner party at a mutual friend, Neha's house. At the party, which went on till around 1 am, alcohol was consumed and the murder happened under the influence.

Reportedly, during the house party, Sapna and Rani, who were both drunk, got into a fight.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indo-canadian-gangster-amarpreet-chucky-samra-killed-in-suspected-gang-war-in-vancouver-597968">Indo-Canadian gangster Amarpreet 'Chucky' Samra killed in suspected gang war in Vancouver</a>

Following the party, they both returned to their shared flat, where they kept drinking. Once there, the fight was reignited and things got heated up and the disagreement turned into a scuffle, during which Sapna stabbed Rani in the chest using a kitchen knife.

Reportedly, Rani abusing Sapna's dead father was the trigger for the assault and the murder.

Upon reaching the spot, police found Sapna sitting next to Rani's body, which was lying in a pool of blood. Sapna, as per the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi, has confessed to the crime. A postmortem of Rani's body will be done, following which it'll be handed to her loved ones.

"Teams of FSL and crime have inspected the spot. We have registered a case of murder under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Based on the investigation, the accused Sapna was arrested after she confessed to her crime. Efforts are being taken to recover the weapon of offence," said Kalsi.

In India's capital, New Delhi, another senseless murder has left people stunned. A 36-year-old woman has been arrested for the alleged murder of her 35-year-old flatmate early Tuesday morning.

In India's capital, New Delhi, another senseless murder has left people stunned. A 36-year-old woman has been arrested for the alleged murder of her 35-year-old flatmate early Tuesday morning. The latest case comes just a day after the gruesome murder of a 16-year-old girl by her boyfriend shook the city. The victim of the latest crime has been identified as Rani, who used to work as a beautician at a Gurgaon-based beauty parlour. As per a report by news agency ANI, Rani was found lying in a pool of blood after being stabbed by her flatmate. The accused was found sitting near the body. A case has been filed against the accused under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Police are yet to recover the murder weapon — a kitchen knife. Also read | Delhi: Man stabs minor girl more than 20 times, smashes her 'lifeless' body with stone slab Following reports of the murder, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has implored the UT's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena "to do something". ये हमारी दिल्ली में क्या हो रहा है? क़ानून व्यवस्था पूरी तरह चरमरा गयी है। चारों ओर जंगल राज है। LG साहिब, कुछ तो कीजिए… https://t.co/BdTC3aSQwJ — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 30, 2023 × Police were informed of the crime at around 7 am. The incident, as per ANI, took place in Majnu Ka Tila, in north Delhi's Civil Lines Area. The two women were renting a flat together in Majnu ka Tila, a popular tourist spot in North Delhi. On Monday night, the victim and the accused, along with a group of friends, had a dinner party at a mutual friend, Neha's house. At the party, which went on till around 1 am, alcohol was consumed and the murder happened under the influence. Reportedly, during the house party, Sapna and Rani, who were both drunk, got into a fight. Also read | Indo-Canadian gangster Amarpreet 'Chucky' Samra killed in suspected gang war in Vancouver Following the party, they both returned to their shared flat, where they kept drinking. Once there, the fight was reignited and things got heated up and the disagreement turned into a scuffle, during which Sapna stabbed Rani in the chest using a kitchen knife. Reportedly, Rani abusing Sapna's dead father was the trigger for the assault and the murder. Upon reaching the spot, police found Sapna sitting next to Rani's body, which was lying in a pool of blood. Sapna, as per the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi, has confessed to the crime. A postmortem of Rani's body will be done, following which it'll be handed to her loved ones. "Teams of FSL and crime have inspected the spot. We have registered a case of murder under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Based on the investigation, the accused Sapna was arrested after she confessed to her crime. Efforts are being taken to recover the weapon of offence," said Kalsi.

Delhi woman stabs flatmate to death after drunken argument; CM Kejriwal urges Lt. Gov to 'do something'

Just hours after Pakistan's ruling coalition rejected Imran Khan's offer for dialogue, the former prime minister on Sunday (May 28th), in a video message to the masses, urged authorities to "break as many Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)&nbsp;members for the next three to four weeks but announce elections afterwards."

"Don't destroy the country just to keep Imran Khan out of politics, destroy as many people as you want to destroy quickly and don't waste time, announce immediate elections to save the country."

Khan started off the more than 20-minute-long&nbsp;video message by alleging that members of his party have been subject to a litany of abuses at the hands of Pakistani authorities.&nbsp;

Talking about Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's post-midnight press conference, the PTI chief claimed that female members of the party were being "mistreated and harassed by the state" for protesting peacefully.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed earlier on Saturday&nbsp;that intelligence agencies intercepted a telephone call in which a plan to “stage a raid and rape at a known PTI&nbsp;worker’s home” was being discussed.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters, Sanaullah said the conspiracy was being hatched to later claim that human rights were being violated in Pakistan, Dawn reported on Sunday.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-minister-claims-to-expose-conspiracy-to-stage-raid-rape-at-known-pti-workers-house-says-report-597416">Pak minister claims to expose ‘conspiracy to stage raid, rape’ at PTI worker’s house, says report</a>

Slamming the interior minister, Imran Khan said: "If there were any doubts about women being mistreated in jails, this press conference from this certified criminal should remove all such doubts."

"He is so obviously trying to cover up and pre-empt the horror stories about to break in the media," added the PTI chief.

In the video shared on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party social media channels, Khan said that "Never have women been humiliated for using their constitutional right to protest peacefully in any democracy let alone in one that is Muslim."

Watch Imran Khan's latest address to Pakistan here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2kMqyP20dqA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"This is a planned campaign to depoliticise about 50 per cent of Pakistan's population."

The same message was shared by Khan in a tweet that is accompanied by a video which allegedly showcases the abuses borne by women in Pakistan.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Never have women been humiliated for using their constitutional right to protest peacefully in any democracy let alone in a one that is muslim. 
This is a planned campaign to depoliticise women in the country. 
 
The clampdown and terror campaign against women is being done so that… <a href="https://t.co/JdEbKPlY9B">pic.twitter.com/JdEbKPlY9B</a>
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1662872194119000065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Khan further counted off his government's achievements, mentioning the 'Billion Tree Tsunami', Pakistan's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, etc. Making mention of "three long marches" that took place during his regime, Khan said that no FIRs happened back then and that "whatever has happened since 25th March is planned".

Comparing the current scenario to General Pervez Musharraf's reign after the military coup of 1999, Khan said that even then, the situation wasn't this bad.

"What's happening now is a negation of our Jamhuriat (democracy)," said Imran Khan, adding that "fundamental rights, Supreme court orders are being ignored."

He also reiterated that the constitutional direction "to hold elections within 90 days was ignored by the government."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pti-chief-imran-khan-names-his-replacements-in-case-he-is-arrested-or-disqualified-597375">PTI chief Imran Khan names his 'replacements' in case he is arrested or disqualified</a>

Khan also said that the media is being blackmailed into silence with threats of harm to their families.

"Democracy is dead," said Khan, adding that he is appealing "to 15 judges of our Supreme Court on behalf of our people."&nbsp;

He said that "so far it seems that you are losing your power, freedom in front of the powerful" and urged them to "take a stand."

"History will remember your role," he implored.

"It is the right of every citizen to protest peacefully those who cause chaos and vandalism should be dealt with, but to destroy the entire party under the guise of it is the negation of democracy and the law of the jungle."

Khan further urged the "Judiciary to issue a suo motu notice that the women who only protested peacefully should be released and a full judicial inquiry should be conducted into the" chaos that happened during the recent protests in Pakistan.&nbsp;"We will fully cooperate in this," added Imran Khan.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Just hours after Pakistan's ruling coalition rejected Imran Khan's offer for dialogue, the former prime minister on Sunday (May 28th), in a video message to the masses, urged authorities to "break as many Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members for the next three to four weeks but announce elections afterwards.

Just hours after Pakistan's ruling coalition rejected Imran Khan's offer for dialogue, the former prime minister on Sunday (May 28th), in a video message to the masses, urged authorities to "break as many Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members for the next three to four weeks but announce elections afterwards." "Don't destroy the country just to keep Imran Khan out of politics, destroy as many people as you want to destroy quickly and don't waste time, announce immediate elections to save the country." Khan started off the more than 20-minute-long video message by alleging that members of his party have been subject to a litany of abuses at the hands of Pakistani authorities. Talking about Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's post-midnight press conference, the PTI chief claimed that female members of the party were being "mistreated and harassed by the state" for protesting peacefully. Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed earlier on Saturday that intelligence agencies intercepted a telephone call in which a plan to “stage a raid and rape at a known PTI worker’s home” was being discussed. Speaking to reporters, Sanaullah said the conspiracy was being hatched to later claim that human rights were being violated in Pakistan, Dawn reported on Sunday. Also read | Pak minister claims to expose ‘conspiracy to stage raid, rape’ at PTI worker’s house, says report Slamming the interior minister, Imran Khan said: "If there were any doubts about women being mistreated in jails, this press conference from this certified criminal should remove all such doubts." "He is so obviously trying to cover up and pre-empt the horror stories about to break in the media," added the PTI chief. In the video shared on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party social media channels, Khan said that "Never have women been humiliated for using their constitutional right to protest peacefully in any democracy let alone in one that is Muslim." Watch Imran Khan's latest address to Pakistan here: × "This is a planned campaign to depoliticise about 50 per cent of Pakistan's population." The same message was shared by Khan in a tweet that is accompanied by a video which allegedly showcases the abuses borne by women in Pakistan. Never have women been humiliated for using their constitutional right to protest peacefully in any democracy let alone in a one that is muslim. This is a planned campaign to depoliticise women in the country. The clampdown and terror campaign against women is being done so that… pic.twitter.com/JdEbKPlY9B — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 28, 2023 × Khan further counted off his government's achievements, mentioning the 'Billion Tree Tsunami', Pakistan's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, etc. Making mention of "three long marches" that took place during his regime, Khan said that no FIRs happened back then and that "whatever has happened since 25th March is planned". Comparing the current scenario to General Pervez Musharraf's reign after the military coup of 1999, Khan said that even then, the situation wasn't this bad. "What's happening now is a negation of our Jamhuriat (democracy)," said Imran Khan, adding that "fundamental rights, Supreme court orders are being ignored." He also reiterated that the constitutional direction "to hold elections within 90 days was ignored by the government." Also read | PTI chief Imran Khan names his 'replacements' in case he is arrested or disqualified Khan also said that the media is being blackmailed into silence with threats of harm to their families. "Democracy is dead," said Khan, adding that he is appealing "to 15 judges of our Supreme Court on behalf of our people." He said that "so far it seems that you are losing your power, freedom in front of the powerful" and urged them to "take a stand." "History will remember your role," he implored. "It is the right of every citizen to protest peacefully those who cause chaos and vandalism should be dealt with, but to destroy the entire party under the guise of it is the negation of democracy and the law of the jungle." Khan further urged the "Judiciary to issue a suo motu notice that the women who only protested peacefully should be released and a full judicial inquiry should be conducted into the" chaos that happened during the recent protests in Pakistan. "We will fully cooperate in this," added Imran Khan. 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.

‘PM Sharif govt worse than Musharraf’s,’ says Imran Khan as he urges Supreme Court to take action

A judge has issued a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law that bans most abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy. The Friday ruling by Judge Clifton Newman came shortly after Governor Henry McMaster signed the bill into law. As a result, South Carolina will revert back to a ban on abortions at approximately 20 weeks after fertilisation until the state Supreme Court reviews the measure.

Judge Newman stated that the status quo should be maintained until the Supreme Court has an opportunity to review the law. "It's going to end up there," he said.

The newly passed law is similar to a previous ban on abortions once a heartbeat is detected, which was passed in 2021.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-carolina-passes-six-week-abortion-ban-details-here-595807">US: South Carolina passes six-week abortion ban. Details here</a>

However, the state Supreme Court in a 3-2 decision ruled that the 2021 law violated the right to privacy outlined in the state constitution.&nbsp;

As per AP, legislative leaders believe that the new law makes some technical tweaks and that these may influence at least one justice to reconsider their position, especially since the author of the previous ruling has retired.

However, abortion rights group Planned Parenthood contends that the new law is so similar to the previous one that it would harm clinics and women seeking treatment if it remains in effect until a full court review.

Planned Parenthood immediately filed a lawsuit against the new law upon its signing, arguing that it created uncertainty for South Carolina's abortion clinics, resulting in cancelled appointments for patients in the later stages of pregnancy and requiring doctors to give careful consideration to the new regulations.&nbsp;

The majority opinion in the state Supreme Court ruling that struck down the 2021 law highlighted the authority of lawmakers to protect life but ultimately recognised that the privacy clause in the state constitution grants women the time to decide whether to have an abortion.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-carolina-legislature-overrides-12-week-abortion-ban-veto-makes-it-law-593429">North Carolina legislature overrides 12-week abortion ban veto, makes it law</a>

It stated that most women are unaware of their pregnancy at six weeks after conception.&nbsp;

Justice Kaye Hearn, who authored the opinion, has since retired, leaving the South Carolina Supreme Court as the only high court in the country without a female justice.

The changes made in the new law specifically target Justice John Few, who was part of the majority in the previous ruling. Justice Few expressed concerns about the poorly written nature of the 2021 law and suggested that a full ban on abortion would likely be constitutional.&nbsp;

He compared a ban to child abuse or rape laws and said that it would not violate privacy rights if a fetus is granted the same rights as a person.&nbsp;

The new law includes exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, the life and health of the patient, and cases of rape or incest within the first 12 weeks. Violating the law could result in felony charges for doctors, carrying a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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 judge has issued a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law that bans most abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy. The Friday ruling by Judge Clifton Newman came shortly after Governor Henry McMaster signed the bill into law.

A judge has issued a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law that bans most abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy. The Friday ruling by Judge Clifton Newman came shortly after Governor Henry McMaster signed the bill into law. As a result, South Carolina will revert back to a ban on abortions at approximately 20 weeks after fertilisation until the state Supreme Court reviews the measure. Judge Newman stated that the status quo should be maintained until the Supreme Court has an opportunity to review the law. "It's going to end up there," he said. The newly passed law is similar to a previous ban on abortions once a heartbeat is detected, which was passed in 2021. Also read | US: South Carolina passes six-week abortion ban. Details here However, the state Supreme Court in a 3-2 decision ruled that the 2021 law violated the right to privacy outlined in the state constitution. As per AP, legislative leaders believe that the new law makes some technical tweaks and that these may influence at least one justice to reconsider their position, especially since the author of the previous ruling has retired. However, abortion rights group Planned Parenthood contends that the new law is so similar to the previous one that it would harm clinics and women seeking treatment if it remains in effect until a full court review. Planned Parenthood immediately filed a lawsuit against the new law upon its signing, arguing that it created uncertainty for South Carolina's abortion clinics, resulting in cancelled appointments for patients in the later stages of pregnancy and requiring doctors to give careful consideration to the new regulations. The majority opinion in the state Supreme Court ruling that struck down the 2021 law highlighted the authority of lawmakers to protect life but ultimately recognised that the privacy clause in the state constitution grants women the time to decide whether to have an abortion. Also read | North Carolina legislature overrides 12-week abortion ban veto, makes it law It stated that most women are unaware of their pregnancy at six weeks after conception. Justice Kaye Hearn, who authored the opinion, has since retired, leaving the South Carolina Supreme Court as the only high court in the country without a female justice. The changes made in the new law specifically target Justice John Few, who was part of the majority in the previous ruling. Justice Few expressed concerns about the poorly written nature of the 2021 law and suggested that a full ban on abortion would likely be constitutional. He compared a ban to child abuse or rape laws and said that it would not violate privacy rights if a fetus is granted the same rights as a person. The new law includes exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, the life and health of the patient, and cases of rape or incest within the first 12 weeks. Violating the law could result in felony charges for doctors, carrying a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. (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.

South Carolina judge temporarily blocks abortion ban, pending Supreme Court review

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Hong Kong Court on Monday rejected an application to terminate a landmark national security trial against media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

Hong Kong rejects media tycoon Jimmy Lai's plea to terminate trial | WION Speed News

Marine species are especially vulnerable to climate change. A list of species that are currently listed as endangered or threatened globally.

Endangered marine species in 2023

An online fraud scheme run via WhatsApp link and a fraudulent app fuelled by a rumours promising substantial profits from buying virtual animals, like pigs, ducks etc., has cost hundreds of thousands of rupees to villagers in India's state of Bihar. As reported by Boom Decode, the scheme had lured people to invest&nbsp;in pigs and other livestock online through a game, with the expectation of high returns.&nbsp;

Here's all you need to know:

<h2>How it all started</h2>

The origins of the online scam can be traced back to a WhatsApp message that circulated in Bihar, claiming that purchasing animals online could yield profits of up to thousands of rupees within a few months. The message propagated the idea that an online game called ‘Smile Rancher’ helped a middle-aged man win big by "investing" in the online purchase of livestock. As per the claims, the man won INR 20 lakh or $2 million.

<h2>The scheme</h2>

The report quotes an 18-year-old victim of the scheme,&nbsp;Suraj Kumar who revealed that people had to create an account by entering a six-digit password. Once that was done, they would find pictures of dozens of animals which they could buy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bird-flu-fowls-the-mood-kills-nearly-9000-marine-creatures-in-chile-france-develops-vaccine-for-ducks-596812">Bird flu 'fowls' the mood, kills nearly 9,000 marine creatures in Chile, France develops vaccine for ducks</a>

After paying for the purchase, all they had to do was log in everyday and click on the animal. This would result in them getting paid a certain amount in the app's wallet.

"The most expensive was the peacock, which cost Rs 50,000. It would earn Rs 3,000 a day. Duck was the cheapest one which cost Rs 5,000 rupees, the app claimed to offer Rs 400 for it every day," said Kumar.

"One had to log in every day and click on the animal or bird that was bought. The earnings on the animals would come in the wallet of the account which was created in the app," he added.

<h2>Could this money be withdrawn?</h2>

Yes, but most times people would receive a server error.

The maximum limit for withdrawal from the application wallet was Rs&nbsp;3000,&nbsp;however, people who purchased and bred these virtual animals said they would very often get error messages on attempting to withdraw money.

However, some people successfully withdrew small amounts of money. This only helped give people false hope.&nbsp;

As the word spread, more individuals became interested in investing and many people borrowed money or sold assets to enter the market.&nbsp;

But one day the app just stopped working.

<h2>Who owns ‘Smile Rancher’ and why haven’t app stores like Google Play Store or Apple App Store taken any action?</h2>

As per transaction details accessed by Decode, the money people would spend on these virtual animals would go to the account of Sewing SKY India Pvt Limited — an unlisted company which according to the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs website deals in fabrics and is registered in Telangana Hyderabad and belongs to Gangadhar Pathri and Ajay Kumar Pathri.

Application stores like Google Play Store or the Apple AppStore have been unable to take any action because the application is not available on these platforms. People downloaded the application via a specific link shared on WhatsApp.

The app is now defunct.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cocaine-price-crash-a-blow-for-colombian-coca-growers-596786">Cocaine price crash a blow for Colombian coca growers</a>

<h2>Who sent them the message?</h2>

As per the villagers, a man called Bhishma Pratap&nbsp;spread these rumours. They say that Pratap claimed that his uncle was the one who won Rs 20,00,000 ($24,190).

For those interested in earning extra money, Pratap created a WhatsApp group named "Ranchers no. 1".&nbsp;As the admin of the group, he started adding more and more villagers, he then sent the forwarded application&nbsp;link to the group, which had more than 60 members. Pratap left the group the same day the application stopped working.

<h2>How did so many people fall for the scam?</h2>

The application called itself a "breeding management investment company from the United States."&nbsp;

It noted that was involved in "offline investment promotion for major breeding pastures and looking for investors who work part-time in the breeding industry".

It further claimed that after 2020, i.e., the pandemic, the company&nbsp;started doing its business online and started seeking people from all over the world to join the breeding industry and "make money together".

For residents of the small Bihar village of Maulanagar, this seemed like a good idea to earn some extra money. Most of the village residents belong to a socially marginalised community called the Musahars.

<h2>Has anyone filed a complaint?</h2>

Kasim Khan, a self-proclaimed victim of the scam, reportedly took action against the fraudulent company by filing a complaint with the Consumer Complaints Court on July 22nd 2022. In his complaint, Khan stated that he had invested Rs 55,000 in&nbsp;the scheme and attempted to withdraw the amount after two days, but was unsuccessful despite multiple attempts. He alleges that the company, Breeding Management, had now ceased operations and had deceived thousands of individuals through their online scam.&nbsp;

<h2>Was it just the one Bihar village that got duped?</h2>

Unfortunately no, the app has reportedly spread far from Bihar and has reached Assam.&nbsp;

The people of the small Bihar village got duped in February 2022, and in early July last year, a gym trainer in Guwahati Assam also received the link to that game. He and his colleagues invested in the app and lost thousands of rupees.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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>.

An online fraud scheme run via WhatsApp link and a fraudulent app fuelled by a rumours promising substantial profits from buying virtual animals, like pigs, ducks etc.

An online fraud scheme run via WhatsApp link and a fraudulent app fuelled by a rumours promising substantial profits from buying virtual animals, like pigs, ducks etc., has cost hundreds of thousands of rupees to villagers in India's state of Bihar. As reported by Boom Decode, the scheme had lured people to invest in pigs and other livestock online through a game, with the expectation of high returns. Here's all you need to know: How it all started The origins of the online scam can be traced back to a WhatsApp message that circulated in Bihar, claiming that purchasing animals online could yield profits of up to thousands of rupees within a few months. The message propagated the idea that an online game called ‘Smile Rancher’ helped a middle-aged man win big by "investing" in the online purchase of livestock. As per the claims, the man won INR 20 lakh or $2 million. The scheme The report quotes an 18-year-old victim of the scheme, Suraj Kumar who revealed that people had to create an account by entering a six-digit password. Once that was done, they would find pictures of dozens of animals which they could buy. Also read | Bird flu 'fowls' the mood, kills nearly 9,000 marine creatures in Chile, France develops vaccine for ducks After paying for the purchase, all they had to do was log in everyday and click on the animal. This would result in them getting paid a certain amount in the app's wallet. "The most expensive was the peacock, which cost Rs 50,000. It would earn Rs 3,000 a day. Duck was the cheapest one which cost Rs 5,000 rupees, the app claimed to offer Rs 400 for it every day," said Kumar. "One had to log in every day and click on the animal or bird that was bought. The earnings on the animals would come in the wallet of the account which was created in the app," he added. Could this money be withdrawn? Yes, but most times people would receive a server error. The maximum limit for withdrawal from the application wallet was Rs 3000, however, people who purchased and bred these virtual animals said they would very often get error messages on attempting to withdraw money. However, some people successfully withdrew small amounts of money. This only helped give people false hope. As the word spread, more individuals became interested in investing and many people borrowed money or sold assets to enter the market. But one day the app just stopped working. Who owns ‘Smile Rancher’ and why haven’t app stores like Google Play Store or Apple App Store taken any action? As per transaction details accessed by Decode, the money people would spend on these virtual animals would go to the account of Sewing SKY India Pvt Limited — an unlisted company which according to the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs website deals in fabrics and is registered in Telangana Hyderabad and belongs to Gangadhar Pathri and Ajay Kumar Pathri. Application stores like Google Play Store or the Apple AppStore have been unable to take any action because the application is not available on these platforms. People downloaded the application via a specific link shared on WhatsApp. The app is now defunct. Also read | Cocaine price crash a blow for Colombian coca growers Who sent them the message? As per the villagers, a man called Bhishma Pratap spread these rumours. They say that Pratap claimed that his uncle was the one who won Rs 20,00,000 ($24,190). For those interested in earning extra money, Pratap created a WhatsApp group named "Ranchers no. 1". As the admin of the group, he started adding more and more villagers, he then sent the forwarded application link to the group, which had more than 60 members. Pratap left the group the same day the application stopped working. How did so many people fall for the scam? The application called itself a "breeding management investment company from the United States." It noted that was involved in "offline investment promotion for major breeding pastures and looking for investors who work part-time in the breeding industry". It further claimed that after 2020, i.e., the pandemic, the company started doing its business online and started seeking people from all over the world to join the breeding industry and "make money together". For residents of the small Bihar village of Maulanagar, this seemed like a good idea to earn some extra money. Most of the village residents belong to a socially marginalised community called the Musahars. Has anyone filed a complaint? Kasim Khan, a self-proclaimed victim of the scam, reportedly took action against the fraudulent company by filing a complaint with the Consumer Complaints Court on July 22nd 2022. In his complaint, Khan stated that he had invested Rs 55,000 in the scheme and attempted to withdraw the amount after two days, but was unsuccessful despite multiple attempts. He alleges that the company, Breeding Management, had now ceased operations and had deceived thousands of individuals through their online scam. Was it just the one Bihar village that got duped? Unfortunately no, the app has reportedly spread far from Bihar and has reached Assam. The people of the small Bihar village got duped in February 2022, and in early July last year, a gym trainer in Guwahati Assam also received the link to that game. He and his colleagues invested in the app and lost thousands of rupees. (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 | ‘Smile Rancher’ makes people cry. All you need to know about the latest online scam

As demand for sustainable and ethically sourced gems continues to rise, lab-grown diamonds have emerged as a captivating alternative. Lab-grown diamonds are charming both consumers and experts alike with their affordability and sustainable allure. Jasnoor Kaur brings you the report on the growing popularity of these lab creations.

Lab-grown diamonds: The future of sustainable luxury

With the debt default deadline looming, US President Joe Biden indicated his government was on the verge of a solution. In other news,&nbsp;The fight to become NATO's next chief is heating up. But it's a race that's mostly being run in the dark, with no clear winner yet.&nbsp;In the realm of sport,&nbsp;British Cycling will ban transgender women from competing in elite female events as per a&nbsp;new policy that aims to prioritise "fairness".

Click on the headlines to read more.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-very-close-biden-sounds-optimistic-on-raising-debt-ceiling-597015">'It's very close...': Biden sounds optimistic on raising debt ceiling</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f30bed5c-9560-4822-90c2-d6118d1a064d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/350390-untitled-design-2023-05-08t104952250.png.jpeg" />

With the debt default deadline precariously close, US President Joe Biden said his administration was close to achieving a breakthrough. For the first time in many weeks, Biden seemed upbeat about the prospect of getting the deal done and raising the debt ceiling.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jens-stoltenberg-to-retire-in-september-who-would-be-the-next-nato-boss-597019">Jens Stoltenberg to retire in September: Who would be the next NATO boss?</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cab928f3-5bbc-4f72-8d98-f18a0c665b7b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20battle%20for%20Kyiv-4.jpg" />

The fight to become NATO's next chief is heating up. But it's a race that's mostly being run in the dark, with no clear winner yet.&nbsp;Jens Stoltenberg, the Norwegian secretary-general of the transatlantic military alliance, is set to retire at the end of September after nine years in office.

WATCH |&nbsp;British trans athlete banned from female category cycling competitions

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/british-trans-athlete-banned-from-female-category-cycling-competitions-597020/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-city-of-belem-set-to-host-cop30-in-2025-says-brazils-lula-597027">Amazon city of Belem set to host COP30 in 2025, says Brazil's Lula</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cfd8e20f-7e78-43b6-95d1-0b3efd7fce9f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/354712-untitled-design-2023-05-27t092322383.png.jpeg" />

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday announced that the city of Belem, which is located on the border of Amazon, will be hosting the COP30 round of global climate talks in 2025. 
 
The second most populous city in Brazil's Amazon after Manaus, Belem, has earlier hosted games of the 2014 World Cup.

WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv releases video claiming attacks on Russian ship
</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-releases-video-claiming-attacks-on-russian-ship-597021/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

With the debt default deadline looming, US President Joe Biden indicated his government was on the verge of a solution. In other news, The fight to become NATO's next chief is heating up.

With the debt default deadline looming, US President Joe Biden indicated his government was on the verge of a solution. In other news, The fight to become NATO's next chief is heating up. But it's a race that's mostly being run in the dark, with no clear winner yet. In the realm of sport, British Cycling will ban transgender women from competing in elite female events as per a new policy that aims to prioritise "fairness". Click on the headlines to read more. 'It's very close...': Biden sounds optimistic on raising debt ceiling With the debt default deadline precariously close, US President Joe Biden said his administration was close to achieving a breakthrough. For the first time in many weeks, Biden seemed upbeat about the prospect of getting the deal done and raising the debt ceiling. Jens Stoltenberg to retire in September: Who would be the next NATO boss? The fight to become NATO's next chief is heating up. But it's a race that's mostly being run in the dark, with no clear winner yet. Jens Stoltenberg, the Norwegian secretary-general of the transatlantic military alliance, is set to retire at the end of September after nine years in office. WATCH | British trans athlete banned from female category cycling competitions Amazon city of Belem set to host COP30 in 2025, says Brazil's Lula Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday announced that the city of Belem, which is located on the border of Amazon, will be hosting the COP30 round of global climate talks in 2025. The second most populous city in Brazil's Amazon after Manaus, Belem, has earlier hosted games of the 2014 World Cup. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv releases video claiming attacks on Russian ship

Morning brief: Biden optimistic on raising debt ceiling, Brazil to host COP30 in 2025, and more

Pope Francis returned to his duties on Saturday after taking a day off due to a fever. The 86-year-old pontiff, who was hospitalised for bronchitis about two months ago, had a busy schedule of private audiences planned for the day, said the Vatican.

The previous day, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni had explained that the pope would not be holding audiences "due to a feverish state".

Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin attributed the pope's fatigue to his demanding schedule and said he was "tired".&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-down-with-fever-skips-friday-meetings-596983">Pope Francis down with fever after exhaustion, skips all scheduled Friday meetings</a>

Pope Francis, according to his published schedule, had eight meetings the day before — Thursday.

The pope's next public appearance is scheduled for Sunday when he will conduct a mass at St. Peter's Basilica to celebrate Pentecost, followed by the traditional Regina Coeli prayer. On Monday, he will&nbsp;meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

<h2>Pope Francis' health issues</h2>

Francis, who has been the leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics since 2013, has faced a series of health challenges over the past year. These range from persistent knee pain to his recent hospitalisation for bronchitis.&nbsp;

In late March, the pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome because of breathing difficulties and remained there for three nights. He received treatment with antibiotics for bronchitis.&nbsp;

Upon his discharge on April 1, he greeted well-wishers with a smile and a joke, quipping, "I am still alive!"

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraines-zelensky-meets-pope-francis-as-italy-reiterates-its-support-592092">Zelensky asks Pope Francis to 'join' Kyiv's peace plan as Italy reiterates its support</a>

In the past, Pope Francis has expressed the belief that his papacy would be short-lived. In 2014, he told reporters he expected it to last only a few years.

"This will last a short time, two or three years, and then we go to the house of the father," he said before making a chopping gesture and a whistling sound.

During his earlier years as Pope, Francis as per Reuters appeared sprightly and had a slimmer figure. However, his current health condition has led to the use of a cane and a wheelchair because of a persistent knee ailment. His sedentary lifestyle within the Vatican, which began before his leg problem, has caused a noticeable increase in his waistline.

<h2>Is retirement on the cards for Pope Francis?</h2>

These health issues have raised concerns and led to speculation about the possibility of him choosing to retire instead of serving for life, as his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI did.

In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI made history by becoming the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign from his position.

However, despite these physical challenges, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, with its nearly 1.4 billion followers, has dismissed suggestions that he is prepared to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and retire.&nbsp;

"You don't run the Church with a knee but with a head," he reportedly told an aide.

This remark came after he started occasionally using a wheelchair in public for the first time on May 5, 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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>.

Pope Francis returned to his duties on Saturday after taking a day off due to a fever. The 86-year-old pontiff, who was hospitalised for bronchitis about two months ago, had a busy schedule of private audiences planned for the day, said the Vatican.

Pope Francis returned to his duties on Saturday after taking a day off due to a fever. The 86-year-old pontiff, who was hospitalised for bronchitis about two months ago, had a busy schedule of private audiences planned for the day, said the Vatican. The previous day, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni had explained that the pope would not be holding audiences "due to a feverish state". Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin attributed the pope's fatigue to his demanding schedule and said he was "tired". Also read | Pope Francis down with fever after exhaustion, skips all scheduled Friday meetings Pope Francis, according to his published schedule, had eight meetings the day before — Thursday. The pope's next public appearance is scheduled for Sunday when he will conduct a mass at St. Peter's Basilica to celebrate Pentecost, followed by the traditional Regina Coeli prayer. On Monday, he will meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Pope Francis' health issues Francis, who has been the leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics since 2013, has faced a series of health challenges over the past year. These range from persistent knee pain to his recent hospitalisation for bronchitis. In late March, the pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome because of breathing difficulties and remained there for three nights. He received treatment with antibiotics for bronchitis. Upon his discharge on April 1, he greeted well-wishers with a smile and a joke, quipping, "I am still alive!" Also read | Zelensky asks Pope Francis to 'join' Kyiv's peace plan as Italy reiterates its support In the past, Pope Francis has expressed the belief that his papacy would be short-lived. In 2014, he told reporters he expected it to last only a few years. "This will last a short time, two or three years, and then we go to the house of the father," he said before making a chopping gesture and a whistling sound. During his earlier years as Pope, Francis as per Reuters appeared sprightly and had a slimmer figure. However, his current health condition has led to the use of a cane and a wheelchair because of a persistent knee ailment. His sedentary lifestyle within the Vatican, which began before his leg problem, has caused a noticeable increase in his waistline. Is retirement on the cards for Pope Francis? These health issues have raised concerns and led to speculation about the possibility of him choosing to retire instead of serving for life, as his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI did. In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI made history by becoming the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign from his position. However, despite these physical challenges, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, with its nearly 1.4 billion followers, has dismissed suggestions that he is prepared to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and retire. "You don't run the Church with a knee but with a head," he reportedly told an aide. This remark came after he started occasionally using a wheelchair in public for the first time on May 5, 2022. (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.

Pope Francis returns to duties following day off due to fever and exhaustion

Shabazz Suleman, a 27-year-old British man from High Wycombe, has been sentenced to life in prison by a UK court for travelling to Syria nearly a decade ago to join the Islamic State (ISIS) group. Judge Mark Lucraft, who presided over the case at London's Old Bailey criminal court, highlighted that Suleman knowingly joined an organisation proscribed under English law.

<h2>What did the judge say?</h2>

"You went to Syria in order to join IS. You understood IS was a proscribed organisation in English law," said Judge Mark Lucraft as he passed the sentence.&nbsp;

The judge also noted that Suleman's intention was to become a sniper within ISIS.

"Your ambition was to become a sniper."

<h2>Guilty plea and the sentence</h2>

Suleman, who pleaded guilty last month, admitted to preparing acts of terrorism by travelling from the UK to Turkey in August 2014 at the age of 18, with the purpose of joining ISIS in Syria.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-carolina-judge-temporarily-blocks-abortion-ban-pending-supreme-court-review-596939">South Carolina judge temporarily blocks abortion ban, pending supreme court review</a>

Under the life sentence, Suleman will serve a minimum term of nine years and six months.&nbsp;

How did an 18-year-old join ISIS?

He disappeared during a family holiday in Turkey. This, as per the news agency AFP, Turkey, which borders Syria, is a common route for Western individuals aspiring to join jihadist groups in Syria.&nbsp;

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Duncan Atkinson revealed that Suleman was detained by Turkish forces while attempting to travel to Syria, but later chose to participate in a prisoner exchange with ISIS.&nbsp;

Once in Syria, he shared his experiences on social media and gave incriminating interviews to Sky News.&nbsp;

<h2>Shabazz Suleman's arrest and charges against him</h2>

In September 2021, Suleman was arrested at Heathrow Airport and charged with several terror offences, including firearms training and membership in a proscribed organisation.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexicos-olmec-portal-of-the-underworld-returns-home-after-five-decades-in-us-596915">Mexico's Olmec 'Portal of the Underworld' returns home after five decades in US</a>

However, the prosecution decided to leave the two specific charges on file as Suleman's guilty plea already addressed them. This means that although the charges were not dropped entirely, they were not pursued separately as they were already encompassed by his admission of guilt.&nbsp;

<h2>Escaping the ISIS</h2>

Suleman's defence lawyer, Abdul Iqbal, described him as an "immature and idealistic" young man who initially wanted to help people in distress and participated in non-combat duties within ISIS.&nbsp;

However, Suleman eventually became "disenchanted" with jihadism and attempted to desert the terrorist group.

Iqbal emphasized that his client "firmly" decided to leave the terrorist organisation within five months of joining.

After the collapse of ISIS, Suleman was captured by a faction of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in 2017. He was subsequently transferred to Turkey and later to Pakistan.&nbsp;

Shabazz Suleman, a 27-year-old British man from High Wycombe, has been sentenced to life in prison by a UK court for travelling to Syria nearly a decade ago to join the Islamic State (ISIS) group.

Shabazz Suleman, a 27-year-old British man from High Wycombe, has been sentenced to life in prison by a UK court for travelling to Syria nearly a decade ago to join the Islamic State (ISIS) group. Judge Mark Lucraft, who presided over the case at London's Old Bailey criminal court, highlighted that Suleman knowingly joined an organisation proscribed under English law. What did the judge say? "You went to Syria in order to join IS. You understood IS was a proscribed organisation in English law," said Judge Mark Lucraft as he passed the sentence. The judge also noted that Suleman's intention was to become a sniper within ISIS. "Your ambition was to become a sniper." Guilty plea and the sentence Suleman, who pleaded guilty last month, admitted to preparing acts of terrorism by travelling from the UK to Turkey in August 2014 at the age of 18, with the purpose of joining ISIS in Syria. Also read | South Carolina judge temporarily blocks abortion ban, pending supreme court review Under the life sentence, Suleman will serve a minimum term of nine years and six months. How did an 18-year-old join ISIS? He disappeared during a family holiday in Turkey. This, as per the news agency AFP, Turkey, which borders Syria, is a common route for Western individuals aspiring to join jihadist groups in Syria. During the court proceedings, prosecutor Duncan Atkinson revealed that Suleman was detained by Turkish forces while attempting to travel to Syria, but later chose to participate in a prisoner exchange with ISIS. Once in Syria, he shared his experiences on social media and gave incriminating interviews to Sky News. Shabazz Suleman's arrest and charges against him In September 2021, Suleman was arrested at Heathrow Airport and charged with several terror offences, including firearms training and membership in a proscribed organisation. Also read | Mexico's Olmec 'Portal of the Underworld' returns home after five decades in US However, the prosecution decided to leave the two specific charges on file as Suleman's guilty plea already addressed them. This means that although the charges were not dropped entirely, they were not pursued separately as they were already encompassed by his admission of guilt. Escaping the ISIS Suleman's defence lawyer, Abdul Iqbal, described him as an "immature and idealistic" young man who initially wanted to help people in distress and participated in non-combat duties within ISIS. However, Suleman eventually became "disenchanted" with jihadism and attempted to desert the terrorist group. Iqbal emphasized that his client "firmly" decided to leave the terrorist organisation within five months of joining. After the collapse of ISIS, Suleman was captured by a faction of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in 2017. He was subsequently transferred to Turkey and later to Pakistan.

British man receives life sentence for trying to join ISIS in Syria

In the latest, a&nbsp;special&nbsp;₹75 coin will be launched to celebrate&nbsp;the inauguration of the new parliament building, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday (May 25).&nbsp;The United States is facing a significant debt default crisis, but President Joe Biden believes it can be avoided, even as crucial time is wasted&nbsp;in a battle between White House and Republican negotiators on raising the debt ceiling. In other news, Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been put on the no-fly list.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-default-would-harm-us-military-readiness-and-morale-but-biden-vows-respite-596558">US default would harm US military 'readiness and morale', but Biden vows respite</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1c923c14-5267-474c-a6d3-a64b7f6937c9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/354428-us-president-joe-biden-2.png.jpeg" />

The United States is facing an unprecedented crisis of debt default, but President Joe Biden believes that the debt default will be avoided even as crucial time is wasted in a race to find an agreement between the White House and Republican negotiators on raising the debt ceiling.&nbsp;

Biden said on Thursday (May 25) that "there will be no default". He added that his negotiations with Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy had been "productive".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-mint-rs75-coins-to-mark-inauguration-of-new-parliament-heres-how-it-will-look-596608">India to mint ₹75 coins to mark inauguration of new Parliament. Here's how it will look</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="95743341-31e0-4978-8761-66f44e81c49c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/354447-untitled-design-2023-05-26t081921888.png.jpeg" />

India's finance ministry announced on Thursday that ₹75 coin will be minted to commemorate the new Parliament building's inauguration. The coin will carry the inscription “Parliament Complex” as well as the new building's image. 
 
The new Parliament building's inauguration ceremony will be held by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-republican-led-panel-files-20-articles-of-impeachment-against-state-attorney-general-596606">Texas Republican-led Panel files 20 articles of impeachment against state attorney general</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0972e2d4-0d1b-4f39-84c2-d4d7e9ed498b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/354446-untitled-design-2023-05-26t081841662.png.jpeg" />

In an impeachment that could become a first in decades in Texas history, a Republican-led committee of the state's House of Representatives recommended Thursday to impeach the state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton alleging that his conduct included a slew of abuses of his office.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Imran Khan's troubles grows further: Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi put on no-fly list

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/imran-khans-troubles-grows-further-imran-khan-and-wife-bushra-bibi-put-on-no-fly-list-596609/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">WATCH |&nbsp;US and South Korea hold live-fire drills, 5-day exercise kicks off in Pocheon</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-and-south-korea-hold-live-fire-drills-5-day-exercise-kicks-off-in-pocheon-world-news-wion-596610/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In the latest, a special ₹75 coin will be launched to celebrate the inauguration of the new parliament building, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday (May 25).

In the latest, a special ₹75 coin will be launched to celebrate the inauguration of the new parliament building, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday (May 25). The United States is facing a significant debt default crisis, but President Joe Biden believes it can be avoided, even as crucial time is wasted in a battle between White House and Republican negotiators on raising the debt ceiling. In other news, Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been put on the no-fly list. Click on the headlines to read more. US default would harm US military 'readiness and morale', but Biden vows respite The United States is facing an unprecedented crisis of debt default, but President Joe Biden believes that the debt default will be avoided even as crucial time is wasted in a race to find an agreement between the White House and Republican negotiators on raising the debt ceiling. Biden said on Thursday (May 25) that "there will be no default". He added that his negotiations with Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy had been "productive". India to mint ₹75 coins to mark inauguration of new Parliament. Here's how it will look India's finance ministry announced on Thursday that ₹75 coin will be minted to commemorate the new Parliament building's inauguration. The coin will carry the inscription “Parliament Complex” as well as the new building's image. The new Parliament building's inauguration ceremony will be held by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. Texas Republican-led Panel files 20 articles of impeachment against state attorney general In an impeachment that could become a first in decades in Texas history, a Republican-led committee of the state's House of Representatives recommended Thursday to impeach the state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton alleging that his conduct included a slew of abuses of his office. WATCH | Imran Khan's troubles grows further: Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi put on no-fly list WATCH | US and South Korea hold live-fire drills, 5-day exercise kicks off in Pocheon

Morning brief: India to mint ₹75 coins to mark inauguration of new Parliament, US debt crisis and more

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms- A passenger aboard a c opened an emergency door moments before the plane landed, sparking panic among the passengers in the wind-swept cabin. The man was arrested upon landing.

Passenger onboard flight opens emergency door

Bird flu, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, has caused significant damage to poultry production worldwide, resulting in the culling of over 200 million birds in the last 18 months.&nbsp;In Chile, the disease, as per AFP, has killed close to 9,000 sea lions, penguins, otters and small cetaceans. France, which has also been severely affected by the disease, has now announced its intention to launch a vaccination programme against bird flu in the autumn following successful tests on ducks, according to the farm ministry.&nbsp;

<h2>France's vaccination for ducks</h2>

Among the European Union countries, France has been the most severely affected, experiencing a notable resurgence of outbreaks in the southwestern part of the country since the beginning of the month, primarily among ducks.&nbsp;

Reuters reports that in anticipation of this situation, France had previously placed an order for 80 million vaccines, contingent upon the confirmation of their effectiveness through final tests conducted by the French health safety agency ANSES.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wion-explains-smile-rancher-makes-people-cry-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-latest-ponzi-scheme-596879">WION Explains | 'Smile Rancher' makes people cry. All you need to know about the latest ponzi scheme</a>

On its website, the French farm ministry wrote, "These favourable results provided sufficient guarantees to launch a vaccination campaign as early as autumn 2023."

<h2>Is the vaccination effective?</h2>

The conclusions drawn from the tests indicated that the vaccinated mule ducks exhibited effective control of virus transmission, differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals — referred to as the DIVA principle — and a decrease in virus excretion among vaccinated birds.&nbsp;

<h2>Vaccination and governments</h2>

Governments have historically been cautious about using vaccines due to potential trade restrictions. However, in light of the severity of the bird flu outbreak and its implications for public health, many governments have increasingly considered vaccinations as a means to control the virus's spread and prevent human transmission.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/animal-health-body-calls-for-vaccine-for-birds-against-bird-flu-amid-pandemic-concerns-594771">Animal health body calls for vaccine for birds against avian flu amid pandemic concerns</a>

Preliminary results from the Netherlands have also shown the tested vaccines to be efficient.

<h2>Situation in Chile</h2>

Chile's fisheries service, as per AFP, has reported that an avian flu outbreak along the country's north coast has led to the deaths of nearly 9,000 sea lions, penguins, otters, and small cetaceans. The outbreak, which began in 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 7,600 sea lions, 1,186 Humboldt penguins — an endangered species exclusive to Chile and Peru — as well as various otters, porpoises, and dolphins.

The disease has affected 12 out of Chile's 16 regions, prompting the activation of "surveillance protocols" along the coast. Measures include the burial of affected animals to prevent further spread of the virus.

<h2>Bird flu around the word</h2>

Since late 2021, the world has been grappling with one of the most severe avian influenza outbreaks on record. The outbreak has resulted in the culling of tens of millions of poultry, widespread die-offs of wild birds, and an increasing number of infections among mammals in multiple countries.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Bird flu: Brazil declares animal health emergency after several cases found

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bird-flu-brazil-declares-animal-health-emergency-after-several-cases-found-595924/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Bird flu in humans</h2>

In Cambodia, an 11-year-old girl fell ill in mid-February and tragically succumbed to the H5N1 bird flu virus, exhibiting symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat. While her father also tested positive, health authorities in Cambodia ruled out human-to-human transmission. Instances of bird flu crossing over into mammals are rare, and human infections are even rarer. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment for the disease, which tends to be fatal in both wild and domesticated birds.

In March, Chile reported its first case of human infection in a 53-year-old man. Other countries in South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru, have also reported cases, with hundreds of sea lion deaths reported in some regions.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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>.

Bird flu, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, has caused significant damage to poultry production worldwide, resulting in the culling of over 200 million birds in the last 18 months.

Bird flu, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, has caused significant damage to poultry production worldwide, resulting in the culling of over 200 million birds in the last 18 months. In Chile, the disease, as per AFP, has killed close to 9,000 sea lions, penguins, otters and small cetaceans. France, which has also been severely affected by the disease, has now announced its intention to launch a vaccination programme against bird flu in the autumn following successful tests on ducks, according to the farm ministry. France's vaccination for ducks Among the European Union countries, France has been the most severely affected, experiencing a notable resurgence of outbreaks in the southwestern part of the country since the beginning of the month, primarily among ducks. Reuters reports that in anticipation of this situation, France had previously placed an order for 80 million vaccines, contingent upon the confirmation of their effectiveness through final tests conducted by the French health safety agency ANSES. Also read | WION Explains | 'Smile Rancher' makes people cry. All you need to know about the latest ponzi scheme On its website, the French farm ministry wrote, "These favourable results provided sufficient guarantees to launch a vaccination campaign as early as autumn 2023." Is the vaccination effective? The conclusions drawn from the tests indicated that the vaccinated mule ducks exhibited effective control of virus transmission, differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals — referred to as the DIVA principle — and a decrease in virus excretion among vaccinated birds. Vaccination and governments Governments have historically been cautious about using vaccines due to potential trade restrictions. However, in light of the severity of the bird flu outbreak and its implications for public health, many governments have increasingly considered vaccinations as a means to control the virus's spread and prevent human transmission. Also read | Animal health body calls for vaccine for birds against avian flu amid pandemic concerns Preliminary results from the Netherlands have also shown the tested vaccines to be efficient. Situation in Chile Chile's fisheries service, as per AFP, has reported that an avian flu outbreak along the country's north coast has led to the deaths of nearly 9,000 sea lions, penguins, otters, and small cetaceans. The outbreak, which began in 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 7,600 sea lions, 1,186 Humboldt penguins — an endangered species exclusive to Chile and Peru — as well as various otters, porpoises, and dolphins. The disease has affected 12 out of Chile's 16 regions, prompting the activation of "surveillance protocols" along the coast. Measures include the burial of affected animals to prevent further spread of the virus. Bird flu around the word Since late 2021, the world has been grappling with one of the most severe avian influenza outbreaks on record. The outbreak has resulted in the culling of tens of millions of poultry, widespread die-offs of wild birds, and an increasing number of infections among mammals in multiple countries. Watch | Bird flu: Brazil declares animal health emergency after several cases found Bird flu in humans In Cambodia, an 11-year-old girl fell ill in mid-February and tragically succumbed to the H5N1 bird flu virus, exhibiting symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat. While her father also tested positive, health authorities in Cambodia ruled out human-to-human transmission. Instances of bird flu crossing over into mammals are rare, and human infections are even rarer. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment for the disease, which tends to be fatal in both wild and domesticated birds. In March, Chile reported its first case of human infection in a 53-year-old man. Other countries in South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru, have also reported cases, with hundreds of sea lion deaths reported in some regions. (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.

Bird flu ‘fowls’ the mood, kills nearly 9,000 marine creatures in Chile, France starts vaccination

Twenty minutes before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' highly publicised 2024 presidential campaign launch, which was set for&nbsp;Wednesday with assistance from&nbsp;Twitter Circles, went from faltering along to being entirely offline before the candidate even&nbsp;got a chance to speak.&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Delhi's Palam airport&nbsp;after concluding his three-nation visit to&nbsp;Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia.&nbsp;Tina Turner, the captivating singer and stage performer who paired with husband Ike Turner for a spectacular run of smash singles and live shows in the 1960s and '70s, and who survived her awful marriage to triumph in middle life with the chart-topping "What's Love Got to Do With It," has died at the age of 83.

Click on the headlines to read more.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ron-desantis-files-papers-to-enter-2024-white-house-race-596166">Twitter stutters as Republican Ron DeSantis announces bid to enter 2024 presidential race</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c5558be-52e2-4572-8656-aa9e15d2a23b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/354172-ron-desantis.png.jpeg" />

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday (May 24) officially confirmed his 2024 US presidential bid. Papers filed with the Federal Election Commission showed that DeSantis has launched his challenge to Donald Trump for the party's 2024 White House nomination.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/received-thanks-for-supplying-covid-vaccine-pm-modi-arrives-in-delhi-after-capping-off-three-nation-tour-596189">'Received&nbsp;thanks for supplying&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;vaccine': PM Modi arrives in Delhi after capping off three-nation tour</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="47073f91-db7d-443d-8db0-5bb3645e09ce" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/354180-the-battle-for-kyiv-10.jpg" />

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at Delhi's Palam airport on Thursday morning, capping off a three-nation trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. PM Modi was greeted warmly at the airport, with crowds chanting 'Modi-Modi' upon his arrival in Delhi.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-saudi-arabia-restore-diplomatic-ties-after-2018-fallout-596201">Canada, Saudi Arabia restore diplomatic ties after 2018 fallout</a>

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ff7dfca4-31fc-4290-a38f-9d2d7f5d3a1e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/354186-the-battle-for-kyiv-11.jpg" />

Canada and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new ambassadors, both countries said on Wednesday, bringing to a close a 2018 dispute that damaged relations and trade.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/iconic-singer-tina-turner-passes-away-at-83-596171">Iconic singer Tina Turner passes away at 83</a>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73cc6824-c9b3-4408-a88f-be0379c9e8c1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/169518-happy-30th-birthday-2020-11-12t133043986.jpg" />

&nbsp;

t's the end of an era. Legendary singer Tina Turner is dead. She was 83. According to her representative, she died after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. Turner began her career in the 1950s and dominated music charts throughout her career giving the world iconic songs likeWhat's Love Got To Do With It.&nbsp;She was known as the queen of rock and roll and is considered one of&nbsp;the pioneers of the genre.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Clashes resume in Sudanese capital amid ceasefire period

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/clashes-resume-in-sudanese-capital-amid-ceasefire-period-596190/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

Twenty minutes before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' highly publicised 2024 presidential campaign launch, which was set for Wednesday with assistance from Twitter Circles, went from faltering along to being entirely offline before the candidate even got a chance to speak.

Twenty minutes before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' highly publicised 2024 presidential campaign launch, which was set for Wednesday with assistance from Twitter Circles, went from faltering along to being entirely offline before the candidate even got a chance to speak. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Delhi's Palam airport after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Tina Turner, the captivating singer and stage performer who paired with husband Ike Turner for a spectacular run of smash singles and live shows in the 1960s and '70s, and who survived her awful marriage to triumph in middle life with the chart-topping "What's Love Got to Do With It," has died at the age of 83. Click on the headlines to read more. Twitter stutters as Republican Ron DeSantis announces bid to enter 2024 presidential race Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday (May 24) officially confirmed his 2024 US presidential bid. Papers filed with the Federal Election Commission showed that DeSantis has launched his challenge to Donald Trump for the party's 2024 White House nomination. 'Received thanks for supplying Covid vaccine': PM Modi arrives in Delhi after capping off three-nation tour Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at Delhi's Palam airport on Thursday morning, capping off a three-nation trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. PM Modi was greeted warmly at the airport, with crowds chanting 'Modi-Modi' upon his arrival in Delhi. Canada, Saudi Arabia restore diplomatic ties after 2018 fallout Canada and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new ambassadors, both countries said on Wednesday, bringing to a close a 2018 dispute that damaged relations and trade. Iconic singer Tina Turner passes away at 83 t's the end of an era. Legendary singer Tina Turner is dead. She was 83. According to her representative, she died after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. Turner began her career in the 1950s and dominated music charts throughout her career giving the world iconic songs likeWhat's Love Got To Do With It. She was known as the queen of rock and roll and is considered one of the pioneers of the genre. WATCH | Clashes resume in Sudanese capital amid ceasefire period

Morning brief: Twitter stutters as DeSantis announces 2024 presidential bid, Tina Turner passes away, & more

Today we bring you a story of a young girl and her journey from slums to billboards. Maleesha Kharwa is 15 years old and study in 10th standard. This 15 year old is becoming the face of the luxury Beauty brand 'Forest Essentials' though it happened some time back the videos and photos of the young girl have over the past couple of days gone viral on social media platforms.

Slum Princess: Maleesha Kharwa gets candid with WION

A wristwatch once owned by China's last emperor attracted more than USD 5 million in an auction in Hong Kong on Tuesday (May 23). The Patek Philippe watch is a Ref 96 Quantieme Lune timepiece. It boasts a crown-like moon phase. It originally belonged to Aisin-Gioro Puyi, the last monarch of China's Qing dynasty.

Watch belonging to China's last emperor fetches $5 million in auction

The United States Secret Service has arrested a 19-year-old they believe might have “intentionally” crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at a park across from the White House on Monday night (May 22). No injuries were reported following the incident.

Indian-origin teen crashes into White House barriers, wanted to kill Joe Biden

A scientist who worked on the creation of "hypersonic rocket systems" has been detained and accused of treason. The pre-trial prison facility in Moscow, Lefortovo, has received Alexander Shiplyuk, who was arrested in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. The scientist was the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics' director at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Siberian branch.

Russian missile scientist arrested, charged with treason

Japan is hosting the&nbsp;G7 Summit&nbsp;in Hiroshima, the home town of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, from May 19 -21, welcoming leaders form Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union is a ‘non-enumerated member’. Additionally, the United Kingdom will impose fresh sanctions on Russia, including a ban on diamonds and copper. In other news,&nbsp;Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has&nbsp;introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden over his handling of migrant crossings along the United States-Mexico border.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-summit-2023-us-g7-to-announce-further-sanctions-against-russia-over-ukraine-593884">G7 summit LIVE 2023: US, 'Group of Seven' to announce further sanctions against Russia over Ukraine</a>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bc6fc70-9015-4499-8de8-2302c45d8585" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20battle%20for%20Kyiv-15.jpg" />

The G7 summit is being hosted by Japan's G7 presidency&nbsp;this year in Hiroshima, Japan.&nbsp;The&nbsp;summit in Hiroshima&nbsp;provides an opportunity for G7 leaders to demonstrate their strong commitment to upholding the international order based on the rule of law, as well as to expand their outreach to the Global South.

The United States and the rest of the "Group of Seven" major economies will announce additional sanctions and export limits targeting Russia for its war in Ukraine, a US official said ahead of a G7 summit in Japan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rip-youtube-elon-musk-rolls-out-game-changing-new-feature-for-twitter-blue-subscribers-593898">RIP YouTube? Elon Musk rolls out game-changing new feature for Twitter Blue subscribers</a>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="184ba36e-980b-452f-85a6-b4f9bf8d0b10" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/350549-untitled-design-2023-05-08t221619119.png.jpeg" />

Twitter is continuously evolving and introducing new features over time and on Thursday Elon Musk announced yet another feature that will allow Twitter Blue subscribers to be able to upload two-hour-long videos. Taking to Twitter, Musk said, "Twitter Blue Verified subscribers can now upload 2-hour videos (8GB)!" This is a big change as Twitter Blue earlier provided 60 minutes to Twitter Blue subscribers. Meanwhile, non-Blue subscribers will only be able to upload videos up to a length of 140 seconds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-imposes-new-russian-sanctions-including-ban-on-diamonds-copper-593877">UK unveils new Russian sanctions, including ban on diamonds, copper</a>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a26e0dfb-ac30-4783-86f6-9392d4972cdc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/352760-rishi-sunak-2.png.jpeg" />

The United Kingdom on Friday (May 19) unveiled new sanctions against Russia's minerals sector. In the latest round, Britain has targeted imports of aluminium, diamonds, copper, and nickel.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the margins of a G7 summit in Japan, said, "As today's sanctions announcements demonstrate, the G7 remains unified in the face of the threat from Russia and steadfast in our support for Ukraine."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-congresswoman-announces-impeachment-articles-against-president-joe-biden-593860">Republican congresswoman announces impeachment articles against President Joe Biden</a>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eef30c58-b307-4e83-aedc-a3c4a6e8ced3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/352746-joe-biden-and-marjorie-taylor-greene.png.jpeg" />

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene on Thursday introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden over his handling of migrant crossings along the United States-Mexico border.&nbsp;

In a statement, Greene said: "It is with the highest amount of solemnity that I announce my intention to introduce articles of impeachment today on the head of this America-at-last Executive Branch that has been working since January 20th, 2021, to systematically destroy this country: the President of the United States, Joseph Robinette Biden."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-made-an-accounting-error-it-overvalued-ukraines-weapons-aid-by-3-billion-593869">Pentagon made an accounting error. It overvalued Ukraine's weapons aid by $3 billion</a>

<img alt="pic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eca7e9ca-fd98-4757-a62b-4266aa896583" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/345892-wion-images-2023-04-17t163531344.png.jpeg" />

The United States, among other Western nations, sent million-dollar worth of military aid to Ukraine to help in its fight against Russia in the ongoing war which began after Moscow launched a "special military" operation on February 24 last year.&nbsp;

But the Pentagon overestimated the value of the ammunition, missiles and other equipment it sent to Ukraine, news agency Reuters reported on Thursday citing a Senate aide and a defence official.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Japan is hosting the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, the home town of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, from May 19 -21, welcoming leaders form Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Japan is hosting the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, the home town of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, from May 19 -21, welcoming leaders form Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union is a ‘non-enumerated member’. Additionally, the United Kingdom will impose fresh sanctions on Russia, including a ban on diamonds and copper. In other news, Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden over his handling of migrant crossings along the United States-Mexico border. Click on the headlines to read more. G7 summit LIVE 2023: US, 'Group of Seven' to announce further sanctions against Russia over Ukraine The G7 summit is being hosted by Japan's G7 presidency this year in Hiroshima, Japan. The summit in Hiroshima provides an opportunity for G7 leaders to demonstrate their strong commitment to upholding the international order based on the rule of law, as well as to expand their outreach to the Global South. The United States and the rest of the "Group of Seven" major economies will announce additional sanctions and export limits targeting Russia for its war in Ukraine, a US official said ahead of a G7 summit in Japan. RIP YouTube? Elon Musk rolls out game-changing new feature for Twitter Blue subscribers Twitter is continuously evolving and introducing new features over time and on Thursday Elon Musk announced yet another feature that will allow Twitter Blue subscribers to be able to upload two-hour-long videos. Taking to Twitter, Musk said, "Twitter Blue Verified subscribers can now upload 2-hour videos (8GB)!" This is a big change as Twitter Blue earlier provided 60 minutes to Twitter Blue subscribers. Meanwhile, non-Blue subscribers will only be able to upload videos up to a length of 140 seconds. UK unveils new Russian sanctions, including ban on diamonds, copper The United Kingdom on Friday (May 19) unveiled new sanctions against Russia's minerals sector. In the latest round, Britain has targeted imports of aluminium, diamonds, copper, and nickel. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the margins of a G7 summit in Japan, said, "As today's sanctions announcements demonstrate, the G7 remains unified in the face of the threat from Russia and steadfast in our support for Ukraine." Republican congresswoman announces impeachment articles against President Joe Biden Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene on Thursday introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden over his handling of migrant crossings along the United States-Mexico border. In a statement, Greene said: "It is with the highest amount of solemnity that I announce my intention to introduce articles of impeachment today on the head of this America-at-last Executive Branch that has been working since January 20th, 2021, to systematically destroy this country: the President of the United States, Joseph Robinette Biden." Pentagon made an accounting error. It overvalued Ukraine's weapons aid by $3 billion The United States, among other Western nations, sent million-dollar worth of military aid to Ukraine to help in its fight against Russia in the ongoing war which began after Moscow launched a "special military" operation on February 24 last year. But the Pentagon overestimated the value of the ammunition, missiles and other equipment it sent to Ukraine, news agency Reuters reported on Thursday citing a Senate aide and a defence official.

Morning brief: Japan hosts G7 meet in Hiroshima, impeachment articles against Biden, and more

Taiwan's last known "comfort woman" has passed away. According to a statement released by the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation (TWRF) on Monday (May 22), the Taiwanese woman who was coerced into becoming a "comfort woman" for the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II has passed away.

The woman, aged 92, died on the evening of May 10.&nbsp;

As per a statement published by the organisation on its website, in consideration of her desire for privacy, TWRF withheld the announcement of her passing until after her funeral had taken place.

"Since grandma didn't want to be disturbed when she was alive, we waited for the farewell ceremony before releasing this news," they wrote. The original statement was written in traditional Chinese.

The group said that its members had maintained regular contact with the woman's family and often visited her home to engage in conversation or simply provide companionship. Taiwan News reports that despite her advanced age, the members of the organisation were deeply saddened by the news of her death.

Shortly before the farewell ceremony, social workers from TWRF paid their respects at the woman's mourning hall and extended condolences to her family. On the day of the funeral, TWRF Chair Theresa D. Yeh reportedly attended the ceremony.

TWRF expressed its commitment to ensuring that the "historical truth of the 'comfort women'/military sex slaves in Taiwan" is included in the country's educational curriculum, National History Museum, and history books. By doing so, they aim to prevent this history from fading away with the passing of these women.&nbsp;

The foundation also pledged to continue its efforts towards educating the public about the harm inflicted upon women through sexual violence during World War II and to continue demanding an apology and compensation from the Japanese government for the victims and their family members.

<h2>Who were comfort women?</h2>

As per the Association for Asian Studies, "comfort women refers to the system of sexual slavery created and controlled by the Imperial Japanese government between 1932 and 1945."

"It is the largest case of government-sponsored human trafficking and sexual slavery in modern history."

However, many experts contend that the Japanese military's euphemism "comfort women" obscures the gravity of the crime and the much more accurate term would be "military sexual slaves".

<h2>Why was this practice started?</h2>

As per history.com, "On December 13, 1937, Japanese troops began a six-week-long massacre that essentially destroyed the Chinese city of Nanking. Along the way, Japanese troops raped between 20,000 and 80,000 Chinese women."

These mass rapes horrified the world and concerned about Japan's image, Emperor Hirohito established military brothels or the so-called "comfort stations".

<h2>Where did these ‘comfort women’ come from?</h2>

During the initial phase, comfort stations were initially staffed by Japanese prostitutes who volunteered for the role. However, as the Japanese military expanded its operations in the late 1930s, it resorted to coercing women from the local populations in occupied territories like Korea, Taiwan, and China into providing sexual services at these stations.

<h2>How many women were put through this ordeal?</h2>

While the true numbers remain unknown, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of women, including girls as young as 12 years old were victimised.

These women were forced into prostitution "comforting" the tens of thousands of military men during World War II.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Taiwan's last known "comfort woman" has passed away. According to a statement released by the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation (TWRF) on Monday (May 22), the Taiwanese woman who was coerced into becoming a "comfort woman" for the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II has passed away.

Taiwan's last known "comfort woman" has passed away. According to a statement released by the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation (TWRF) on Monday (May 22), the Taiwanese woman who was coerced into becoming a "comfort woman" for the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II has passed away. The woman, aged 92, died on the evening of May 10. As per a statement published by the organisation on its website, in consideration of her desire for privacy, TWRF withheld the announcement of her passing until after her funeral had taken place. "Since grandma didn't want to be disturbed when she was alive, we waited for the farewell ceremony before releasing this news," they wrote. The original statement was written in traditional Chinese. The group said that its members had maintained regular contact with the woman's family and often visited her home to engage in conversation or simply provide companionship. Taiwan News reports that despite her advanced age, the members of the organisation were deeply saddened by the news of her death. Shortly before the farewell ceremony, social workers from TWRF paid their respects at the woman's mourning hall and extended condolences to her family. On the day of the funeral, TWRF Chair Theresa D. Yeh reportedly attended the ceremony. TWRF expressed its commitment to ensuring that the "historical truth of the 'comfort women'/military sex slaves in Taiwan" is included in the country's educational curriculum, National History Museum, and history books. By doing so, they aim to prevent this history from fading away with the passing of these women. The foundation also pledged to continue its efforts towards educating the public about the harm inflicted upon women through sexual violence during World War II and to continue demanding an apology and compensation from the Japanese government for the victims and their family members. Who were comfort women? As per the Association for Asian Studies, "comfort women refers to the system of sexual slavery created and controlled by the Imperial Japanese government between 1932 and 1945." "It is the largest case of government-sponsored human trafficking and sexual slavery in modern history." However, many experts contend that the Japanese military's euphemism "comfort women" obscures the gravity of the crime and the much more accurate term would be "military sexual slaves". Why was this practice started? As per history.com, "On December 13, 1937, Japanese troops began a six-week-long massacre that essentially destroyed the Chinese city of Nanking. Along the way, Japanese troops raped between 20,000 and 80,000 Chinese women." These mass rapes horrified the world and concerned about Japan's image, Emperor Hirohito established military brothels or the so-called "comfort stations". Where did these ‘comfort women’ come from? During the initial phase, comfort stations were initially staffed by Japanese prostitutes who volunteered for the role. However, as the Japanese military expanded its operations in the late 1930s, it resorted to coercing women from the local populations in occupied territories like Korea, Taiwan, and China into providing sexual services at these stations. How many women were put through this ordeal? While the true numbers remain unknown, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of women, including girls as young as 12 years old were victimised. These women were forced into prostitution "comforting" the tens of thousands of military men during World War II. (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.

Taiwan’s last ‘comfort woman’ passes away. All you need to know about Japan’s sordid past

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday stated that he had agreed to a proposal submitted by Russia to hold talks with the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev next week in Moscow. The negotiations will take place as tensions escalate between the Caucasus neighbours who have been engaged in two wars over disputed territory and who often witness deadly clashes along their border, as the situation generally remains volatile.

Armenia will recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan : PM Pashinyan

A survey done by alphabet however suggests that only only 26.2 percent of the companies surveyed are serious about reducing their carbon imprint and 3.2 percent companies think otherwise but the major hurdle in its path is monitoring the CO2 emissions according to the European Fleet emission monitor by alphabet there's a major gap between acknowledgment of sustainability and the actual monitoring and reduction of carbon emissions over 60 of the companies surveyed only acknowledge the importance of sustainability in their Fleet planning but when it comes to actually tracking and reducing emissions they're hitting the brakes only 37 of European companies are actually keeping tabs on their CO2 emissions and 17 of the companies surveyed had absolutely no clue about their CO2 emissions.

3.2 % companies don't care about carbon footprints, reveals survey

UK and US regulators were aware of and participated in a state-led effort to manipulate interest rates during the 2008 financial crisis. As per a BBC report, newly uncovered evidence suggests that the regulators concealed this information.

The evidence as cited by the BBC report suggests that lenders made a significant cut to their interest rate estimates under pressure from central banks. However, when bankers were later prosecuted for smaller-scale interest rate "rigging", this evidence was not presented in court.&nbsp;

While regulators have previously faced allegations of involvement in interest rate manipulation, this evidence reveals a broader international effort by central banks across the Western world.&nbsp;

Allegedly, central banks, including the Bank of England, Banque de France, European Central Bank, Banca d'Italia, Banco de Espana, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, intervened extensively in setting Libor and Euribor rates — benchmark interest rates that track how much it costs banks to borrow from one another — in October 2008.&nbsp;

These actions were apparently aimed at artificially restoring calm to the market during a time when bank lending was nearly held up.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/will-indians-spend-with-rs1000-currency-notes-again-rbi-governor-responds-595187">Will Indians be able to spend using ₹1000 notes again? RBI governor responds</a>

The evidence, which was reportedly disclosed to investigating agencies such as the FBI and UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) in November 2010, was never made public and has been kept secret from Parliament, Congress, and the public.&nbsp;

This information suggests that Parliament may have been "misled" said Andrew Tyrie, the former chair of the UK Treasury Committee of MPs during the Libor inquiry.

In a conversation with BBC, he said that "the evidence that Mr Verity** has unearthed strongly suggests that the committee's inquiry into the Libor scandal was not told the whole truth."&nbsp;

**Financial Journalist Andy Verity is currently working as BBC News' economic correspondent and is behind the newly uncovered evidence.

"The public rely on Parliament to get to the truth. This case illustrates why Parliament should bolster its information-gathering powers with more effective sanctions against those who provide less than the full picture. Parliament appears to have been misled and, if that's the case, should not let it rest," said Tyrie.

The suppressed evidence that as per Verity's report indicates a potential cover-up is a recording from 2010 of an interview between FBI investigator Mike Kelly and Peter Johnson, a Barclays bank employee responsible for submitting Libor rates.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/the-turnaround-story-of-indias-public-sector-banks-594985">The Turnaround Story of India's Public Sector Banks</a>

In the interview, Johnson reveals that in October 2008, he was instructed by his superiors to report artificially low Libor rates that were significantly below the actual interest rates available in the market. He claims that this instruction came under pressure from both the Bank of England and the UK government.

The recording also indicates that the French banks were similarly pressured by the Banque de France.&nbsp;

In the recording, Kelly can be heard asking Johnson: "Did you have any understanding as to why this pressure was being put upon Barclays?"

To this, Johnson replies: "I'm not sure that it was being put just on Barclays."

Kelly: "OK? Who else did you think, was being pressured?"

Johnson: "We understood that the French banks had been told to get their rates down[...]"

Kelly: "What entity was pressuring them?"

Johnson: "We believe it was the Banque du France."

Published data on Euribor submissions during that period support these claims, showing "record falls in banks' estimates of the cost of borrowing euros by French banks - moves only explicable as having been co-ordinated at a national level," writes Verity.

Senior Conservative MP David Davis has called for a fresh investigation, expressing concerns that Parliament may have been misled.&nbsp;

The MP said that the evidence points to "a case to believe that state agencies coerced individuals into perjury that led to false convictions".&nbsp;

The US Department of Justice and the UK's Serious Fraud Office have prosecuted 37 traders for Libor manipulation. However, the prosecutions were done in the absence of this evidence.

The regulators involved have either declined to comment, rebutted the claims, or stated that they followed disclosure rules. The Bank of England labelled the allegations "unsubstantiated," while the European Central Bank "strongly rebut" the assertions which it said "misrepresent the role of a central bank in implementing monetary policy". Responding to the allegations, Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo has reportedly emphasised that it has always acted independently and in full compliance with rate-setting rules. As per Verity, the FBI and the Commodity Future Trading Commission (CFTC) have declined to comment.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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>.

UK and US regulators were aware of and participated in a state-led effort to manipulate interest rates during the 2008 financial crisis. As per a BBC report, newly uncovered evidence suggests that the regulators concealed this information.

UK and US regulators were aware of and participated in a state-led effort to manipulate interest rates during the 2008 financial crisis. As per a BBC report, newly uncovered evidence suggests that the regulators concealed this information. The evidence as cited by the BBC report suggests that lenders made a significant cut to their interest rate estimates under pressure from central banks. However, when bankers were later prosecuted for smaller-scale interest rate "rigging", this evidence was not presented in court. While regulators have previously faced allegations of involvement in interest rate manipulation, this evidence reveals a broader international effort by central banks across the Western world. Allegedly, central banks, including the Bank of England, Banque de France, European Central Bank, Banca d'Italia, Banco de Espana, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, intervened extensively in setting Libor and Euribor rates — benchmark interest rates that track how much it costs banks to borrow from one another — in October 2008. These actions were apparently aimed at artificially restoring calm to the market during a time when bank lending was nearly held up. Also read | Will Indians be able to spend using ₹1000 notes again? RBI governor responds The evidence, which was reportedly disclosed to investigating agencies such as the FBI and UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) in November 2010, was never made public and has been kept secret from Parliament, Congress, and the public. This information suggests that Parliament may have been "misled" said Andrew Tyrie, the former chair of the UK Treasury Committee of MPs during the Libor inquiry. In a conversation with BBC, he said that "the evidence that Mr Verity** has unearthed strongly suggests that the committee's inquiry into the Libor scandal was not told the whole truth." **Financial Journalist Andy Verity is currently working as BBC News' economic correspondent and is behind the newly uncovered evidence. "The public rely on Parliament to get to the truth. This case illustrates why Parliament should bolster its information-gathering powers with more effective sanctions against those who provide less than the full picture. Parliament appears to have been misled and, if that's the case, should not let it rest," said Tyrie. The suppressed evidence that as per Verity's report indicates a potential cover-up is a recording from 2010 of an interview between FBI investigator Mike Kelly and Peter Johnson, a Barclays bank employee responsible for submitting Libor rates. Also read | The Turnaround Story of India's Public Sector Banks In the interview, Johnson reveals that in October 2008, he was instructed by his superiors to report artificially low Libor rates that were significantly below the actual interest rates available in the market. He claims that this instruction came under pressure from both the Bank of England and the UK government. The recording also indicates that the French banks were similarly pressured by the Banque de France. In the recording, Kelly can be heard asking Johnson: "Did you have any understanding as to why this pressure was being put upon Barclays?" To this, Johnson replies: "I'm not sure that it was being put just on Barclays." Kelly: "OK? Who else did you think, was being pressured?" Johnson: "We understood that the French banks had been told to get their rates down[...]" Kelly: "What entity was pressuring them?" Johnson: "We believe it was the Banque du France." Published data on Euribor submissions during that period support these claims, showing "record falls in banks' estimates of the cost of borrowing euros by French banks - moves only explicable as having been co-ordinated at a national level," writes Verity. Senior Conservative MP David Davis has called for a fresh investigation, expressing concerns that Parliament may have been misled. The MP said that the evidence points to "a case to believe that state agencies coerced individuals into perjury that led to false convictions". The US Department of Justice and the UK's Serious Fraud Office have prosecuted 37 traders for Libor manipulation. However, the prosecutions were done in the absence of this evidence. The regulators involved have either declined to comment, rebutted the claims, or stated that they followed disclosure rules. The Bank of England labelled the allegations "unsubstantiated," while the European Central Bank "strongly rebut" the assertions which it said "misrepresent the role of a central bank in implementing monetary policy". Responding to the allegations, Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo has reportedly emphasised that it has always acted independently and in full compliance with rate-setting rules. As per Verity, the FBI and the Commodity Future Trading Commission (CFTC) have declined to comment. (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.

UK, US banking regulators were instructed to 'rig' interest rates during 2008 financial crisis: Report

Former UK deputy prime minister Dominic Raab has announced that he will not be running for the parliament in Britain's upcoming general elections. The ex-minister announcement comes just a month after he quit his high-profile role and the UK cabinet over bullying allegations.

Raab, who has served in a number of major roles — including the UK foreign secretary, justice secretary and Brexit secretary — conveyed his decision to the chair of his local Conservative Association in an exchange of letters.

In the exchange which was seen by the Telegraph, Raab said: "I am writing to let you know of my decision to step down at the next General Election. It has been a huge honour to represent the Conservatives, since 2010, in this wonderful constituency."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/breaking-uk-deputy-pm-dominic-raab-resigns-after-bullying-allegations-584747">UK Deputy PM Dominic Raab resigns, says inquiry set threshold for bullying 'so low'</a>

He also wrote that he has "become increasingly concerned over the last few years about the pressure the job has placed on my young family". The Tory leader has two sons, 10-year-old Peter, and eight-year-old Joshua.

However, as per a Daily Mail report, when faced with the risk of losing the seat, the disgraced MP chose to step down.

As per Telegraph, this move means the end of Raab's parliamentary career. It is not yet clear what he plans to do when he leaves the UK House of Commons.

While&nbsp;Raab is the most high-profile figure to reveal he was standing down rather than fighting the elections, as per the report, more than 30 Tory ministers are planning to "depart from frontline politics or seek a different, safer seat - rather than fight what could be a losing battle."

Other former Cabinet ministers like former chancellor Sajid Javid, former health secretary Matt Hancock and former environment secretary George Eustice are also leaving. So are young Tories like Chloe Smith and William Wragg.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-sikh-councillor-creates-history-becomes-first-turban-clad-lord-mayor-of-uk-city-595432">British Sikh councillor creates history, becomes first turban-clad Lord Mayor of UK city</a>

Since 2010, Raab has represented Esher and Walton in Surrey. The constituency is one of the top targets for the opposition- the Liberal Democrats in the elections due to take place next year.

In 2017, Raab won the election with a majority of over 23,000 and in 2019, this number fell to 2,743, reports Daily Mail.

Reportedly, the Liberal Democrats are targeting the 'Blue Wall' — affluent seats in the London suburbs and Home Counties, that traditionally vote for the conservatives.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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>.

Former UK deputy prime minister Dominic Raab has announced that he will not be running for the parliament in Britain's upcoming general elections. The ex-minister announcement comes just a month after he quit his high-profile role and the UK cabinet over bullying allegations.

Former UK deputy prime minister Dominic Raab has announced that he will not be running for the parliament in Britain's upcoming general elections. The ex-minister announcement comes just a month after he quit his high-profile role and the UK cabinet over bullying allegations. Raab, who has served in a number of major roles — including the UK foreign secretary, justice secretary and Brexit secretary — conveyed his decision to the chair of his local Conservative Association in an exchange of letters. In the exchange which was seen by the Telegraph, Raab said: "I am writing to let you know of my decision to step down at the next General Election. It has been a huge honour to represent the Conservatives, since 2010, in this wonderful constituency." Also read | UK Deputy PM Dominic Raab resigns, says inquiry set threshold for bullying 'so low' He also wrote that he has "become increasingly concerned over the last few years about the pressure the job has placed on my young family". The Tory leader has two sons, 10-year-old Peter, and eight-year-old Joshua. However, as per a Daily Mail report, when faced with the risk of losing the seat, the disgraced MP chose to step down. As per Telegraph, this move means the end of Raab's parliamentary career. It is not yet clear what he plans to do when he leaves the UK House of Commons. While Raab is the most high-profile figure to reveal he was standing down rather than fighting the elections, as per the report, more than 30 Tory ministers are planning to "depart from frontline politics or seek a different, safer seat - rather than fight what could be a losing battle." Other former Cabinet ministers like former chancellor Sajid Javid, former health secretary Matt Hancock and former environment secretary George Eustice are also leaving. So are young Tories like Chloe Smith and William Wragg. Also read | British Sikh councillor creates history, becomes first turban-clad Lord Mayor of UK city Since 2010, Raab has represented Esher and Walton in Surrey. The constituency is one of the top targets for the opposition- the Liberal Democrats in the elections due to take place next year. In 2017, Raab won the election with a majority of over 23,000 and in 2019, this number fell to 2,743, reports Daily Mail. Reportedly, the Liberal Democrats are targeting the 'Blue Wall' — affluent seats in the London suburbs and Home Counties, that traditionally vote for the conservatives. (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.

Former UK deputy PM Dominic Raab says 'stepping down' from next year's general elections

On May 22, a fabricated AI-generated image gained significant traction on social media. The image portrayed a tall, dark grey plume of smoke, giving the impression of an explosion occurring within the Pentagon complex.

latest news-0