Amid tight security and boycott from some countries including China, India successfully hosted the G20 meeting in Srinagar. What are the key takeaways from the event? Vikram Chandra finds out from former raw chief A.S Dulat on The India Story.

'Kashmiris don't want to join Pakistan' says Ex-Raw Chief A.S Dulat

Implications of G20 Srinagar meet

After his debut feature ‘Titli’ premiered at Cannes in 2014, director Kanu Behl who steers complex and unusual subjects in his films returned to the festival with his latest work this week. Find out all about his latest film ‘Agra’ only on The India Story.

'Wanted to explore sexual repression through my film' says director Kanu Behl

Kanu Behl’s ‘Agra’ debuts at Cannes

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

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

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<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)

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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

This is a WION digital series that will tell you the world's biggest stories from the lens of a common man. The pilot is on the ongoing tensions in Pakistan. The crisis has managed to rope in the political parties, the judiciary & the military. But what does the crisis mean in the day-to-day life? Ananya Dutta brings you The Witness.

Youth in Pakistan suffer amid political slugfest

Just days before the May 28th presidential runoffs, the Turkish Lira hit a new low of 20 to the US dollar, declining 6.4 percent so far this year. In addition, sovereign bonds and stocks have both declined.

Turkish currency plunges ahead of Presidential elections run-off

According to newly revealed FBI records, there may have been a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth II during her 1983 state visit to the United States. The information is described in the documents, which are posted on the FBI's online vault.

Queen Elizabeth II assassination plot exposed in FBI files

Arif Alvi, the president of Pakistan, is being investigated for meeting with foreign officials without informing the foreign office, as are the country's former prime minister Imran Khan and several PTI leaders, who are facing travel restrictions.

Pakistan: Furore over President Alvi's 'secret' meeting with foreign ambassadors

Artificial intelligence (AI) was utilised by researchers to find a novel antibiotic that can eradicate a dangerous species of superbug. Thousands of possible substances were reduced using artificial intelligence (AI) to a small number that could be evaluated in a lab. Abaucin, a strong experimental antibiotic that was the end result, needs to undergo more testing before it can be utilised.

New Superbug-killing antibiotic discovered

The Chief Justice of Pakistan has once again slammed the government of the country and this time, it is related to the audio leaks of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan and also his wife.

Pakistan: Chief Justice Bandial slams audio leak commission

According to an intelligence report, Imran Khan, the PTI leader, organised the public unrest that occurred on May 9 after his incarceration. The report claims that the mayhem was prepared far in advance of the actual day of the event.

Pakistan: 600 PTI leaders have been barred from leaving the country

A 31-year-old guy has been detained by Japanese authorities in a rural area on suspicion of murder. the arrest follows an unusual shooting and stopping episode that resulted in a 12-hour standoff with the police and the deaths of four persons.

Japan: Man arrested after four people killed in a rare gun and knife attack

Taylor Swift fans formerly known as Swifties have crossed all boundaries this time. After selling dried up contact lenses, one Massachusetts fan is actually selling something which is beyond explanation. A Swifty who attended the singer's concert at Foxborough is selling rain droplets for a whopping 250 dollars.

Singer Taylor Swift's fan sells raindrops from her concert

The event occurred in the early evening hours when a silver car had crashed into the gates of Downing Street. It was said that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in his office residence at the time. He left shortly after the incident.

Silver car collides into the gates of PM Rishi Sunak's residence

In a five-point plan for the public governance of the technology, Microsoft President Brad Smith stated on Thursday that humans must continue to be in charge of artificial intelligence and be held responsible for any errors.

Microsoft Chief Brad Smith: Machines should be subject to human oversight

With time, the majority of people are shifting to vegetarian and vegan diets as they are light, low in carbohydrates and fats, and promote healthy lifestyles. Supporting this statement, a review of the four-decade data showed that plant-based diets are good for your heart health.&nbsp;

The study published in the European Heart Journal&nbsp;in Denmark showed that such diets cut levels of cholesterol and fats, decreasing the risk of heart attacks.&nbsp;

They added that the effect was equivalent to about a third of taking daily drugs. Further, the researchers said that both meat and dairy products have their own health benefits and that&nbsp;not all meat-free diets were actually healthy.&nbsp;

For this research, the experts pulled 30 trials since 1982 in which the scientists gave some 2,400 volunteers a set diet and tracked its impact on their heart's health. It was found that vegetarian diets cut bad cholesterol, cholesterol and apolipoprotein B by 10 per cent, 7 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. &nbsp;

Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, who conducted the research at Rigshopitalet, told BBC, "That corresponds to a third of the effect of a cholesterol-lowering statin [pill] - so that's really substantial."&nbsp;

Such studies, in general, require people to control diets for years to see the change, but she&nbsp;used data from trials of statins to estimate maintaining such a diet for 15 years could cut the risk of cardiovascular disease by almost 20 per cent.

Schmidt further warned that people following such a plant-based diet should not come off drugs they have been prescribed because they are at risk of heart disease.&nbsp;

Should we completely give up meat?

Schmidt said sometimes she chooses to eat a plant-based diet with some chicken and white fish for her health&nbsp;and environment and because she likes it.&nbsp;

She emphasised that many diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, which includes&nbsp;meat have been shown to be healthy.&nbsp;

She said the important message is about "plant-based diets" and not excluding meat.&nbsp;

Prof Aedin Cassidy, from Queen's University, Belfast, said that not all plant-based diets are equal and diets that include refined carbohydrates and processed food that are high&nbsp;in fat or salt are unhealthy.&nbsp;

Prof Martin Warren, Chief Scientific Officer at Quadram Institute&nbsp;said, "Animal-based products such as meat do represent nutrient-dense foods that have other benefits." 
&nbsp;

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With time, the majority of people are shifting to vegetarian and vegan diets as they are light, low in carbohydrates and fats, and promote healthy lifestyles. Supporting this statement, a review of the four-decade data showed that plant-based diets are good for your heart health.

With time, the majority of people are shifting to vegetarian and vegan diets as they are light, low in carbohydrates and fats, and promote healthy lifestyles. Supporting this statement, a review of the four-decade data showed that plant-based diets are good for your heart health. The study published in the European Heart Journal in Denmark showed that such diets cut levels of cholesterol and fats, decreasing the risk of heart attacks. They added that the effect was equivalent to about a third of taking daily drugs. Further, the researchers said that both meat and dairy products have their own health benefits and that not all meat-free diets were actually healthy. For this research, the experts pulled 30 trials since 1982 in which the scientists gave some 2,400 volunteers a set diet and tracked its impact on their heart's health. It was found that vegetarian diets cut bad cholesterol, cholesterol and apolipoprotein B by 10 per cent, 7 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, who conducted the research at Rigshopitalet, told BBC, "That corresponds to a third of the effect of a cholesterol-lowering statin [pill] - so that's really substantial." Such studies, in general, require people to control diets for years to see the change, but she used data from trials of statins to estimate maintaining such a diet for 15 years could cut the risk of cardiovascular disease by almost 20 per cent. Schmidt further warned that people following such a plant-based diet should not come off drugs they have been prescribed because they are at risk of heart disease. Should we completely give up meat? Schmidt said sometimes she chooses to eat a plant-based diet with some chicken and white fish for her health and environment and because she likes it. She emphasised that many diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, which includes meat have been shown to be healthy. She said the important message is about "plant-based diets" and not excluding meat. Prof Aedin Cassidy, from Queen's University, Belfast, said that not all plant-based diets are equal and diets that include refined carbohydrates and processed food that are high in fat or salt are unhealthy. Prof Martin Warren, Chief Scientific Officer at Quadram Institute said, "Animal-based products such as meat do represent nutrient-dense foods that have other benefits." 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.

Vegetarian and plant-based diets are good for your heart, study reveals

Two more Australian universities have stopped accepting students from certain Indian states amid a rise in fraudulent visa applications.

Last week the Federation University in Victoria and the Western Sydney University in New South Wales wrote letters to education agents instructing&nbsp;them to not recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu &amp; Kashmir, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.

The Federation Univeristy's letter to the agency read, "The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs."

It further warned that the issue currently seems to be short-term but might become an emerging trend.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;news came as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a&nbsp;visit to the country and spoke of more Australian and Indian students studying and living together in each other's countries. He added how the two countries inked a migration and collaboration agreement to boost student, graduate and commercial exchanges.&nbsp;

Similarly, last month, several Australian universities, including Victoria University, Edith Cowan University and Southern Cross University, also imposed a ban on Indian students from certain states in response to the increased fraudulent applications seeking to work in the country.&nbsp;

Western Sydney University in its statement said that a large number of Indian students who commenced studying in the 2022 intake have not remained enrolled, which resulted in a high attrition rate. It designated Punjab, Gujarat and Haryana to be the ones with the highest risk of attrition.&nbsp;

The university added that the ban would be in place for at least two months - May and June 2023.&nbsp;

It also mentioned that additional measures to address the issue of non-genuine students enrolling from these regions would include changes to application screenings, stricter admission and an increase in commencement fees.&nbsp;

According to a study by the Department of Affairs, one in every four Indian applications is declared as "fraudulent" or "non-genuine."

Last week, the department told a federal parliamentary investigation that the rejection rate for Indian applicants is 24.3 per cent, the&nbsp;highest since 2012.

As per reports, this year, Australia is set to&nbsp;enrol the most number of Indian students ever, exceeding its previous high of 75,000.

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Two more Australian universities have stopped accepting students from certain Indian states amid a rise in fraudulent visa applications. Last week the Federation University in Victoria and the Western Sydney University in New South Wales wrote letters to education agents instructing them to not recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu & Kashmir, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.

Two more Australian universities have stopped accepting students from certain Indian states amid a rise in fraudulent visa applications. Last week the Federation University in Victoria and the Western Sydney University in New South Wales wrote letters to education agents instructing them to not recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu & Kashmir, reported The Sydney Morning Herald. The Federation Univeristy's letter to the agency read, "The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs." It further warned that the issue currently seems to be short-term but might become an emerging trend. The news came as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a visit to the country and spoke of more Australian and Indian students studying and living together in each other's countries. He added how the two countries inked a migration and collaboration agreement to boost student, graduate and commercial exchanges. Similarly, last month, several Australian universities, including Victoria University, Edith Cowan University and Southern Cross University, also imposed a ban on Indian students from certain states in response to the increased fraudulent applications seeking to work in the country. Western Sydney University in its statement said that a large number of Indian students who commenced studying in the 2022 intake have not remained enrolled, which resulted in a high attrition rate. It designated Punjab, Gujarat and Haryana to be the ones with the highest risk of attrition. The university added that the ban would be in place for at least two months - May and June 2023. It also mentioned that additional measures to address the issue of non-genuine students enrolling from these regions would include changes to application screenings, stricter admission and an increase in commencement fees. According to a study by the Department of Affairs, one in every four Indian applications is declared as "fraudulent" or "non-genuine." Last week, the department told a federal parliamentary investigation that the rejection rate for Indian applicants is 24.3 per cent, the highest since 2012. As per reports, this year, Australia is set to enrol the most number of Indian students ever, exceeding its previous high of 75,000. 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.

Australian universities ban Indian students from some states over rise in 'fraudulent visa applications'

Love your naps? You'll now love them even more. A new study by MIT researchers, published in Scientific Reports has revealed that people are more creative after waking from the earliest stage of sleep. It was found that in the phase between when you're stuck between being asleep and being awake, your creative mind is quite fertile.

The researchers also found that when people are prompted to dream about a particular phase or topic during that sleep phase, they are more to perform creatively when asked to do three creative tasks around that topic.&nbsp;

Now you must be wondering how naps enable creativity. Here's your answer:

Kathleen Esfahany, the study's lead author and an MIT senior said when an individual is promoted to dream about a particular topic during sleep, he/she&nbsp;can have dream experiences that&nbsp;can be used later&nbsp;in creative tasks.&nbsp;

The study revealed that people who recieved the prompts or "targeted dream incubation," were able to create more creative stories than people who napped without a specific prompt or those who didn't sleep at all.&nbsp;

According to the findings, this dream stage enables the brain to make connections between disparate concepts which boosts creativity.

Adam Haar Horowitz, another leader of the study said that the connection between sleep and creativity also called N1 or hypnagogia has been known for a while, however, the new study wanted to explore whether it was possible to guide the content of people's dreams and how it would affect their creative process.

The testing process:

For this, the researchers developed a device called Dormio to target dream incubation. This includes a glove that measures three physiological markers of sleep- changes in muscle tone, heart rate and skin conductance by&nbsp;communicating these responses to smartphones or computers.&nbsp;

A total of 49 participants were tested for the experiment. Individuals were asked to wear the glove and then take a nap. As soon as they would enter the N1 sleep rate, the app prompts them to dream about something specific. Right before they would jump into the next stage of sleep, the app wakes&nbsp;them up, asking them about the dream and recording their response.&nbsp;

The results revealed that individuals who napped for 45 minutes had the best performance in terms of creativity.&nbsp;

The study also discovered that during sleep onset, the brain was able to bring together concepts that won't happen during waking hours.&nbsp;

The researchers further clarified that the Dormio device isn't particularly necessary for targeting dream incubation. They revealed that a device that can track sleep, play and record sound is suitable for this kind of enquiry.&nbsp;

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Love your naps? You'll now love them even more. A new study by MIT researchers, published in Scientific Reports has revealed that people are more creative after waking from the earliest stage of sleep.

Love your naps? You'll now love them even more. A new study by MIT researchers, published in Scientific Reports has revealed that people are more creative after waking from the earliest stage of sleep. It was found that in the phase between when you're stuck between being asleep and being awake, your creative mind is quite fertile. The researchers also found that when people are prompted to dream about a particular phase or topic during that sleep phase, they are more to perform creatively when asked to do three creative tasks around that topic. Now you must be wondering how naps enable creativity. Here's your answer: Kathleen Esfahany, the study's lead author and an MIT senior said when an individual is promoted to dream about a particular topic during sleep, he/she can have dream experiences that can be used later in creative tasks. The study revealed that people who recieved the prompts or "targeted dream incubation," were able to create more creative stories than people who napped without a specific prompt or those who didn't sleep at all. According to the findings, this dream stage enables the brain to make connections between disparate concepts which boosts creativity. Adam Haar Horowitz, another leader of the study said that the connection between sleep and creativity also called N1 or hypnagogia has been known for a while, however, the new study wanted to explore whether it was possible to guide the content of people's dreams and how it would affect their creative process. The testing process: For this, the researchers developed a device called Dormio to target dream incubation. This includes a glove that measures three physiological markers of sleep- changes in muscle tone, heart rate and skin conductance by communicating these responses to smartphones or computers. A total of 49 participants were tested for the experiment. Individuals were asked to wear the glove and then take a nap. As soon as they would enter the N1 sleep rate, the app prompts them to dream about something specific. Right before they would jump into the next stage of sleep, the app wakes them up, asking them about the dream and recording their response. The results revealed that individuals who napped for 45 minutes had the best performance in terms of creativity. The study also discovered that during sleep onset, the brain was able to bring together concepts that won't happen during waking hours. The researchers further clarified that the Dormio device isn't particularly necessary for targeting dream incubation. They revealed that a device that can track sleep, play and record sound is suitable for this kind of enquiry. 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.

Love your naps? Scientists reveal secret connection between sleep and creativity

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has&nbsp;discovered over 300 kg of methamphetamine worth $273 million concealed deep inside a steel hydraulic press that was smuggled into New South Wales from Mexico. The officials added that this methamphetamine could have made up approximately 3 million individual street deals, the force said in a press release.&nbsp;

The importation originally arrived on April 18 and the AFP&nbsp;is now trying to identify the transactional crime syndicate behind the elaborated importation, Guardian reported.

The suspicions were raised after the Australian Border Force officers examined the consignment at the container examination facility in Syndey due to the density of steel. After this when the ABF&nbsp;drilled into the core of the hydraulic press, they found a white substance deep inside the machinery, which gave a positive result for methamphetamine.&nbsp;

A total of 79 blocks of meth were found secreted inside two lea-lined tubs after the machinery was pulled apart.

What is Methamphetamine?

This is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant that affects one's nervous system. It can be consumed through smoking, snorting and even injecting powder dissolved in water and alcohol.

Its short-term effects include increased wakefulness and physical activity, decreased appetite, faster breathing and irregular heartbeat. However, its long-term effects include extreme weight loss, addiction, and several dental and skin problems like intense itching leading to skin sores.&nbsp;

Probe on

Salam Zreika, an AFP&nbsp;detective sergeant said that only a well-established organised crime syndicate could have financed and managed such an "elaborated scheme."

He said, "Retrieving the drugs from this concealment in Australia would require significant resources, expertise and space, so someone in the community may have heard something that could help us to identify those involved locally."

He added that these current seizures clearly showed that the drug trafficking syndicates will always try to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia for their own benefit.&nbsp;

Zreika also mentioned that methamphetamine causes immense harm. As per official data of 2020-21, an average&nbsp;of 33 people in Australia were hospitalised each day for meth drug-related incidents.&nbsp;

The federal agency has been working with law enforcement partners locally and overseas to investigate the matter locally and overseas to determine the origins of the drugs and criminals behind the illegal importations.

(with inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has discovered over 300 kg of methamphetamine worth $273 million concealed deep inside a steel hydraulic press that was smuggled into New South Wales from Mexico.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has discovered over 300 kg of methamphetamine worth $273 million concealed deep inside a steel hydraulic press that was smuggled into New South Wales from Mexico. The officials added that this methamphetamine could have made up approximately 3 million individual street deals, the force said in a press release. The importation originally arrived on April 18 and the AFP is now trying to identify the transactional crime syndicate behind the elaborated importation, Guardian reported. The suspicions were raised after the Australian Border Force officers examined the consignment at the container examination facility in Syndey due to the density of steel. After this when the ABF drilled into the core of the hydraulic press, they found a white substance deep inside the machinery, which gave a positive result for methamphetamine. A total of 79 blocks of meth were found secreted inside two lea-lined tubs after the machinery was pulled apart. What is Methamphetamine? This is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant that affects one's nervous system. It can be consumed through smoking, snorting and even injecting powder dissolved in water and alcohol. Its short-term effects include increased wakefulness and physical activity, decreased appetite, faster breathing and irregular heartbeat. However, its long-term effects include extreme weight loss, addiction, and several dental and skin problems like intense itching leading to skin sores. Probe on Salam Zreika, an AFP detective sergeant said that only a well-established organised crime syndicate could have financed and managed such an "elaborated scheme." He said, "Retrieving the drugs from this concealment in Australia would require significant resources, expertise and space, so someone in the community may have heard something that could help us to identify those involved locally." He added that these current seizures clearly showed that the drug trafficking syndicates will always try to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia for their own benefit. Zreika also mentioned that methamphetamine causes immense harm. As per official data of 2020-21, an average of 33 people in Australia were hospitalised each day for meth drug-related incidents. The federal agency has been working with law enforcement partners locally and overseas to investigate the matter locally and overseas to determine the origins of the drugs and criminals behind the illegal importations. (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.

Australian Federal Police finds 79 blocks of Mexican meth worth $273mn in hydraulic press during inspection

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;

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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

The most popular instant messaging service app, WhatsApp, has established itself as a dominant player across the world. Its continuous efforts to enhance its features have always overshadowed its competitors like Telegram and Line. The messaging app recently unveiled its plan to introduce the "edit"&nbsp;option, allowing its users to modify their messages. But when connecting to people, we often don't want to save a contact number each time there is a conversation. Till now it was a burden, but don't worry, you can overcome&nbsp;this hurdle by using some privacy settings in contacts.&nbsp;

Here are three&nbsp;ways through which you can text anybody without saving their contact:

<h3>1. WhatsApp’s Click-to-Chat Feature</h3>

This features works for both mobile and computers. You need to create and use click-to-chat links.&nbsp;

-Copy and paste the https://wa.me/&lt;number&gt; link into your browser or any other app where you can access it easily. Now, whenever you want to talk to someone without saving their numbers, just replace the number of the link with the full number of the recipient in the international format, that is country code + actual number.&nbsp;

Don't add any zeros or signs or even dashes.

-Once done, click on the link to open it.&nbsp;

Example: In India, the country code is +91 and 2134578790 is the number. You'll write:

https://wa.me/2134578790

-After this, you should see the "Continue to Chat," option. Tap on it to open the chat thread.&nbsp;

But if the number isn't a WhatsApp user, you will get a message that the number doesn't exist.&nbsp;

<h3>2. Third-Party Websites</h3>

While the method mentioned above is extremely simple, but some might not want to walk that extra mile. Here's another way you can go about it.

First, open SendWhatsappMsg.com in your browser on mobile or desktop. You should bookmark the link.&nbsp;

Once it's open, select the country of the recipient from the drop-down box under the WhatsApp number.&nbsp;

Then enter your phone number and add your message. Finally, click on the send message button.&nbsp;

After this, the chat thread will open with the number you provided and you may now chat with the person.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h3>3. Third-Party Apps</h3>

You can install third-party apps on your phones that will allow you to text someone.&nbsp;

Follow these easy steps:

Install the Easy Message app on your Android or iOS phone.&nbsp;

Copy-paste or type the number in the international format.&nbsp;

Hit the "Start chat in WhatsApp" option to open the chat thread with the unsaved number.&nbsp;

You can also try these click-to-chat apps:

Direct Message for WhatsApp (iOS)

Click to Chat (iOS)

WhatsDirect (Android)

Click to chat (Android)

The most popular instant messaging service app, WhatsApp, has established itself as a dominant player across the world. Its continuous efforts to enhance its features have always overshadowed its competitors like Telegram and Line.

The most popular instant messaging service app, WhatsApp, has established itself as a dominant player across the world. Its continuous efforts to enhance its features have always overshadowed its competitors like Telegram and Line. The messaging app recently unveiled its plan to introduce the "edit" option, allowing its users to modify their messages. But when connecting to people, we often don't want to save a contact number each time there is a conversation. Till now it was a burden, but don't worry, you can overcome this hurdle by using some privacy settings in contacts. Here are three ways through which you can text anybody without saving their contact: 1. WhatsApp’s Click-to-Chat Feature This features works for both mobile and computers. You need to create and use click-to-chat links. -Copy and paste the https://wa.me/<number> link into your browser or any other app where you can access it easily. Now, whenever you want to talk to someone without saving their numbers, just replace the number of the link with the full number of the recipient in the international format, that is country code + actual number. Don't add any zeros or signs or even dashes. -Once done, click on the link to open it. Example: In India, the country code is +91 and 2134578790 is the number. You'll write: https://wa.me/2134578790 -After this, you should see the "Continue to Chat," option. Tap on it to open the chat thread. But if the number isn't a WhatsApp user, you will get a message that the number doesn't exist. 2. Third-Party Websites While the method mentioned above is extremely simple, but some might not want to walk that extra mile. Here's another way you can go about it. First, open SendWhatsappMsg.com in your browser on mobile or desktop. You should bookmark the link. Once it's open, select the country of the recipient from the drop-down box under the WhatsApp number. Then enter your phone number and add your message. Finally, click on the send message button. After this, the chat thread will open with the number you provided and you may now chat with the person. 3. Third-Party Apps You can install third-party apps on your phones that will allow you to text someone. Follow these easy steps: Install the Easy Message app on your Android or iOS phone. Copy-paste or type the number in the international format. Hit the "Start chat in WhatsApp" option to open the chat thread with the unsaved number. You can also try these click-to-chat apps: Direct Message for WhatsApp (iOS) Click to Chat (iOS) WhatsDirect (Android) Click to chat (Android)

Here's how you can message anyone on WhatsApp without saving their contact number

At a&nbsp;time when airlines are&nbsp;shutting down, SpiceJet on Tuesday (May 23) announced a significant hike in the salary of its captains to Rs 7.5 lakhs or $9,068 for 75 hours of flying.&nbsp;

The Gurugram-based aviation giant announced the hike on the occasion of its 18th anniversary. The hike was applicable from May 16, 2023, the carrier added.&nbsp;

Along with this, the airline also announced a tenure-linked monthly loyalty reward for captains of up to Rs 1 lakh ($1,209) per month which would be over or above their monthly remuneration.

Back in November, the salaries of captains were Rs 7 lakhs or $8,463 for 80 hours of flying.

Similarly, a hike in salaries of trainers (DE, TRI) and first officers was also announced.&nbsp;

Stay committed to serving customers

Earlier Ajay Singh, the chairman told employees that the airline planned of initiating a process of reviving its grounded planes with $50 million in funds received from the ECGLS scheme and from its internal accruals.&nbsp;

As quoted by Economic Times, Singh said, "There is large investor interest in our logistics business. Leading UK-based international conglomerate SRAM and MRAM Group have already committed a $100 million investment in SpiceXpress. Both SpiceJet and SpiceXpress have great potential and will complement each other well."

He also urged the employees to remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of service to its customers, looking forwards to many coming years ahead.&nbsp;

18 Flight years of Spice Jet: Offers for customers

To commemorate 18 years of successful flying, the airline also announced a mega sale to thank its customers for their regular flying and trust, giving them an opportunity to serve them, The airline announced a special sale with one-way domestic fares starting at Rs 1,818 on selected routes such as Bengaluru to Goa or Mumbai to Goa. This offer is valid from May 23 to May 28, 2023. Passengers can also avail of other exciting additional benefits by going to the official website. A special gift is awaiting for people turning 18 this year, the airline will gift them a voucher worth Rs 3,000.

And if you feel like changing your seat, you can avail of the option at Rs 18 only.&nbsp;

SpiceJet operates some 250 flights daily to 48 destinations in India and international destinations.&nbsp;

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At a time when airlines are shutting down, SpiceJet on Tuesday (May 23) announced a significant hike in the salary of its captains to Rs 7.5 lakhs or $9,068 for 75 hours of flying.

At a time when airlines are shutting down, SpiceJet on Tuesday (May 23) announced a significant hike in the salary of its captains to Rs 7.5 lakhs or $9,068 for 75 hours of flying. The Gurugram-based aviation giant announced the hike on the occasion of its 18th anniversary. The hike was applicable from May 16, 2023, the carrier added. Along with this, the airline also announced a tenure-linked monthly loyalty reward for captains of up to Rs 1 lakh ($1,209) per month which would be over or above their monthly remuneration. Back in November, the salaries of captains were Rs 7 lakhs or $8,463 for 80 hours of flying. Similarly, a hike in salaries of trainers (DE, TRI) and first officers was also announced. Stay committed to serving customers Earlier Ajay Singh, the chairman told employees that the airline planned of initiating a process of reviving its grounded planes with $50 million in funds received from the ECGLS scheme and from its internal accruals. As quoted by Economic Times, Singh said, "There is large investor interest in our logistics business. Leading UK-based international conglomerate SRAM and MRAM Group have already committed a $100 million investment in SpiceXpress. Both SpiceJet and SpiceXpress have great potential and will complement each other well." He also urged the employees to remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of service to its customers, looking forwards to many coming years ahead. 18 Flight years of Spice Jet: Offers for customers To commemorate 18 years of successful flying, the airline also announced a mega sale to thank its customers for their regular flying and trust, giving them an opportunity to serve them, The airline announced a special sale with one-way domestic fares starting at Rs 1,818 on selected routes such as Bengaluru to Goa or Mumbai to Goa. This offer is valid from May 23 to May 28, 2023. Passengers can also avail of other exciting additional benefits by going to the official website. A special gift is awaiting for people turning 18 this year, the airline will gift them a voucher worth Rs 3,000. And if you feel like changing your seat, you can avail of the option at Rs 18 only. SpiceJet operates some 250 flights daily to 48 destinations in India and international destinations. 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.

Cheaper tickets, salary hikes: SpiceJet bonanza on 18th anniversary

The US has said the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would take 'months' and that it will not be a dramatic game changer which will alter the course of hostilities in favour of Kyiv.

The US has said the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would take 'months' and that it will not be a dramatic game changer which will alter the course of hostilities in favour of Kyiv. “It will give the Ukrainians transitional capabilities they don’t have now, but it won’t be a dramatic game changer...it won’t fundamentally change the equation,” said Frank Kendall, the Secretary of the US Air Force at a meeting with the Washington-based Defence Writers Group. Kendall reiterated that it would take 'several months at best' to supply the multi-role fighter jet. Biden sets the plan in motion The statement by the top Pentagon official comes days after US President Joe Biden endorsed training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, laying the groundwork for their eventual transfer to Kyiv. Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will discuss with allies in the coming months regarding which country will eventually transfer the F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. Zelensky pressing for the jets Ukrainian President Zelensky had been pushing the Western allies to supply the F-16 jets for months now. The Ukrainian leader discussed the proposition yet again during his appearance at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Biden said Zelensky had given 'flat assurances' to him that the F-16 fighter jets will not be used to attack Russian territory. "I have a flat assurance from Zelensky that they will not use it to go on and move onto Russian geographic territory, but wherever Russian troops are within Ukraine and the area, they would be able to do that," Biden told reporters on Sunday. Kyiv is in desperate need of more arms and advanced jets, especially after Moscow's Wagner private military unit claimed it had finally managed to take full control of the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut after months of vicious fighting. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine focuses on upping its air defence systems × Moscow issues warning Meanwhile, Russia, closely monitoring the developments has repeatedly warned the West that providing Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets would carry ‘colossal risks’. “We see that Western countries are still adhering to the escalation scenario. It involves colossal risks for themselves," said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko. “In any case, this will be taken into account in all our plans, and we have all the necessary means to achieve the goals we have set.” ALSO READ | Russia says West's supply of F-16 jets to Ukraine would carry ‘colossal risks’ Russia's Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov also questioned NATO on what would happen if American soldiers took off from its airfields to protect Ukraine. "What will happen if the American fighters take off from NATO airfields, controlled by foreign 'volunteers'?" he questioned. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'It won't be a game changer...': Top US Air force official on transfer of F-16s to Kyiv

Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk and the celebrity bird of Manhattan city passed away after nesting above Fifth Avenue for three decades. He was believed to be 33 years old. Throughout his life, the hawk inspired several news articles, documentaries and even a PBS television special.

The sad news was announced by wildlife rehabilitator Bobby Horvath via Facebook. He discovered Pale Male ill and grounded, in Central Park. Despite his efforts to save him, including giving him a trip to the vet and meals, the famed bird couldn't survive, he said.&nbsp;

"We hoped for any improvement, but sadly it was not meant to be."

Many birdwatchers, tourists and New Yorkers were captivated by Pale Male since his first arrival in Central Park in 1991 as&nbsp;a juvenile.&nbsp;

<h2>When did Pale Male become famous?</h2>

Pale Male's celebrity status went beyond birdwatchers after he and his mate were ousted from the Fifth Avenue residence in 2004. He had been building a nest at the 12-floor luxury apartment. But the co-op board voted to move the nest, which led to widespread outrage among New Yorkers. The then Mayor Tyler Moore, a resident of the building, also protested the decision, which led to its reversal and addition of a metal "cradle" to support future nests.&nbsp;

After the upheaval, the hawk returned and rebuilt his nest and continued to live with his mate. They produced their offspring and by 2010, he sired some 23 chicks, and experts claimed all hawks in the city were related to him.&nbsp;

<h2>'Red-Tails in Love'</h2>

Wall Street Journal columnist and birder Marie Winn named him due to his unusually light plumage. Her&nbsp;book 'Red-Tails in Love'&nbsp;features the bird, which was one of the first red-tailed hawks to permanently settle&nbsp;in the Big Apple.

Horvat said, "Pale Male was the inspiration for thousands not only in New York City but worldwide to begin birding or photography."

His influence extended from locals to amateurs, professional photographers and even tourists who just wanted a glimpse of the hawk.&nbsp;

David Barrett, an operator of several birding Twitter accounts, said that Pale Male was a beloved city icon, predating other viral sensations like the pizza rat or the 'hot' Mandarin duck.

"He was not only the world's most famous red-tailed hawk, but he was probably the world's most famous bird, one that people knew by name," he added.

<h2>Was it really him?</h2>

Pale Male's lifespan raised some questions, given that he lived a decade past the average lifespan for his species. Some questioned that the true Pale Male might have passed away years ago, while one of his offspring took his place. However, Jessica Wilson, the executive director of New York City Audubon stated that&nbsp;Horvath, who had Male's remains, stands by his belief that the deceased hawk is the one he's been tracking for the past 20 years.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk and the celebrity bird of Manhattan city passed away after nesting above Fifth Avenue for three decades. He was believed to be 33 years old.

Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk and the celebrity bird of Manhattan city passed away after nesting above Fifth Avenue for three decades. He was believed to be 33 years old. Throughout his life, the hawk inspired several news articles, documentaries and even a PBS television special. The sad news was announced by wildlife rehabilitator Bobby Horvath via Facebook. He discovered Pale Male ill and grounded, in Central Park. Despite his efforts to save him, including giving him a trip to the vet and meals, the famed bird couldn't survive, he said. "We hoped for any improvement, but sadly it was not meant to be." Many birdwatchers, tourists and New Yorkers were captivated by Pale Male since his first arrival in Central Park in 1991 as a juvenile. When did Pale Male become famous? Pale Male's celebrity status went beyond birdwatchers after he and his mate were ousted from the Fifth Avenue residence in 2004. He had been building a nest at the 12-floor luxury apartment. But the co-op board voted to move the nest, which led to widespread outrage among New Yorkers. The then Mayor Tyler Moore, a resident of the building, also protested the decision, which led to its reversal and addition of a metal "cradle" to support future nests. After the upheaval, the hawk returned and rebuilt his nest and continued to live with his mate. They produced their offspring and by 2010, he sired some 23 chicks, and experts claimed all hawks in the city were related to him. 'Red-Tails in Love' Wall Street Journal columnist and birder Marie Winn named him due to his unusually light plumage. Her book 'Red-Tails in Love' features the bird, which was one of the first red-tailed hawks to permanently settle in the Big Apple. Horvat said, "Pale Male was the inspiration for thousands not only in New York City but worldwide to begin birding or photography." His influence extended from locals to amateurs, professional photographers and even tourists who just wanted a glimpse of the hawk. David Barrett, an operator of several birding Twitter accounts, said that Pale Male was a beloved city icon, predating other viral sensations like the pizza rat or the 'hot' Mandarin duck. "He was not only the world's most famous red-tailed hawk, but he was probably the world's most famous bird, one that people knew by name," he added. Was it really him? Pale Male's lifespan raised some questions, given that he lived a decade past the average lifespan for his species. Some questioned that the true Pale Male might have passed away years ago, while one of his offspring took his place. However, Jessica Wilson, the executive director of New York City Audubon stated that Horvath, who had Male's remains, stands by his belief that the deceased hawk is the one he's been tracking for the past 20 years. (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.

Pale Male, Manhattan’s beloved red-tailed hawk who nested at NYC’s Fifth Avenue, dies at 33

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday (May 22) issued a "heatwave warning" for Delhi and national capital region (NCR) after several areas saw mercury surging beyond 45 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

On Sunday, parts of the national capital&nbsp;recorded temperatures near 45 degrees, with&nbsp;Najafgarh recording the highest at 46.3 degrees. The weather agency added that Narela and Pitampura recorded 45 degrees Celsius, while Ayanagar and Rodge recorded mercury at 44 degrees Celsius and Palam recorded 43.8 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity levels were reported at 25 per cent and 74&nbsp;per cent. 
&nbsp; 
Heatwave in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan

In the dry scorching weather, heatwave conditions are prevailing in several parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan states in the north. The maximum temperature recorded in Rajasthan was over 45 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

In Jaisalmer city of Rajasthan, the maximum temperature recorded on Sunday was 44 degrees Celsius, while Bikaner and Churu recorded 45.5 and 45.6 degrees Celsius respectively. In the pink city Jaipur, the maximum temperature was at 43 degrees while it was 44.6 and 42.1 degrees in Kota and Ajmer, respectively.&nbsp;

For the next few days, IMD has predicted rainfall at some places in Rajasthan, including Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota and Jaipur, which could bring the temperature down by some degrees.&nbsp;

In Uttar Pradesh, the agency issued a yellow (watch and stay updated) warning in 18 districts including Fatehpur, Ghaziabad, Firozabad, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Chitrakoot and other adjoining areas on May 21. Lucknow Met office in-charge Mohd Danish said that the heatwave conditions have prevailed over 12 districts out of 18.&nbsp;

The warning comes as most of the schools in the state are closed for summer vacations including the government-run ones.

Relief likely from May 24

&nbsp;
But there's also good news. Officials stated that a fresh western disturbance could bring relief from the hot weather starting from May 24 with light rain and cloudy and windy weather for three to four days, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;


It also predicted strong surface winds reaching speeds of 25-35 kilometres per hour during the day.

The monsoon generally enters India around June 1. It arrives in Uttar Pradesh between June 18 and 20 through eastern districts like Ballia and Gorakhpur.

How to stay away from heatwave?

In tweet, IMD shared ways you can avoid hot weather.

It first advised to avoid heat exposure and wear lightweight, light-coloured clothes.&nbsp;

When going outside, make sure to cover your head using a cloth or umbrella.&nbsp;

Drink sufficient amounts of water even if you are not thirsty.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

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The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday (May 22) issued a "heatwave warning" for Delhi and national capital region (NCR) after several areas saw mercury surging beyond 45 degrees Celsius.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday (May 22) issued a "heatwave warning" for Delhi and national capital region (NCR) after several areas saw mercury surging beyond 45 degrees Celsius. On Sunday, parts of the national capital recorded temperatures near 45 degrees, with Najafgarh recording the highest at 46.3 degrees. The weather agency added that Narela and Pitampura recorded 45 degrees Celsius, while Ayanagar and Rodge recorded mercury at 44 degrees Celsius and Palam recorded 43.8 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity levels were reported at 25 per cent and 74 per cent. Heatwave in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan In the dry scorching weather, heatwave conditions are prevailing in several parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan states in the north. The maximum temperature recorded in Rajasthan was over 45 degrees Celsius. In Jaisalmer city of Rajasthan, the maximum temperature recorded on Sunday was 44 degrees Celsius, while Bikaner and Churu recorded 45.5 and 45.6 degrees Celsius respectively. In the pink city Jaipur, the maximum temperature was at 43 degrees while it was 44.6 and 42.1 degrees in Kota and Ajmer, respectively. For the next few days, IMD has predicted rainfall at some places in Rajasthan, including Ajmer, Bharatpur, Kota and Jaipur, which could bring the temperature down by some degrees. In Uttar Pradesh, the agency issued a yellow (watch and stay updated) warning in 18 districts including Fatehpur, Ghaziabad, Firozabad, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Chitrakoot and other adjoining areas on May 21. Lucknow Met office in-charge Mohd Danish said that the heatwave conditions have prevailed over 12 districts out of 18. The warning comes as most of the schools in the state are closed for summer vacations including the government-run ones. Relief likely from May 24 But there's also good news. Officials stated that a fresh western disturbance could bring relief from the hot weather starting from May 24 with light rain and cloudy and windy weather for three to four days, news agency PTI reported. It also predicted strong surface winds reaching speeds of 25-35 kilometres per hour during the day. The monsoon generally enters India around June 1. It arrives in Uttar Pradesh between June 18 and 20 through eastern districts like Ballia and Gorakhpur. How to stay away from heatwave? In tweet, IMD shared ways you can avoid hot weather. It first advised to avoid heat exposure and wear lightweight, light-coloured clothes. When going outside, make sure to cover your head using a cloth or umbrella. Drink sufficient amounts of water even if you are not thirsty. (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.

Delhi weather update: IMD issues 'heatwave warning' in capital & NCR, rainfall likely from this week

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in a surprise move&nbsp;last week, announced that Rs 2,000 notes will no longer be in use and recommended people to deposit or exchange them for lower denominations before September 30. Following this statement, it urged all banks in India to offer a deposit or exchange facility to people for Rs 2,000 notes. It is to be noted that after the deadline, the notes will not be considered illegal but will still remain tender in India.&nbsp;

Soon after the announcement was made, many people were seen approaching&nbsp;banks to exchange notes, despite it being stated that the process will begin only on May 23. Everyone is&nbsp;confused and having questions like-&nbsp;is there a limit to how many notes of Rs 2,000 can be exchanged or deposited at once? Or do we need to give identity proof for exchange?&nbsp;

Answering all these queries, the State Bank of India (SBI) issued important guidelines for its customers and branches. 
 
Scroll to check:

But why are the Rs 2,000 notes being junked?

The Rs 2,000 banknotes were introduced in November 2016 under Section 21(1) of the RBI Act, 1934, which allows the central bank to issue currency notes not exceeding Rs 10,000.&nbsp;

With the fulfilment of its objective and availability of the banknotes, the printing of Rs 2,000 notes was stopped in 2018-2019. However, the circulation drastically dropped, bringing the value to Rs 3.62 trillion on March 2023 from Rs 6.73 trillion in March 2018.&nbsp;

As per media reports, things changed when in Feb 2020, &nbsp;ATMs were recalibrated by the banks to disperse more Rs 100 and Rs 500 notes, and not Rs 2000. This sparked speculation that Rs 2,000 notes were being phased out even if they remained legal tender.

The central bank also pointed out that a huge cluster of fake notes was also produced.&nbsp;

Below are&nbsp;the guideline issued by the State Bank of India:

An individual can exchange Rs 2,000 banknotes up to a limit of Rs 20,000/- at a time. No identity proof or requisition slip&nbsp;is required to be submitted by the depositor&nbsp;at the time of exchange.&nbsp;

"Please arrange accordingly and extend all cooperation to members of public so that the exercise is conducted in a smooth and seamless manner without any inconvenience to the public," the SBI said in its guideline.

It is expected that after SBI, all other banks will follow the same 2000 note exchange policy at their branches.

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&nbsp;

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in a surprise move last week, announced that Rs 2,000 notes will no longer be in use and recommended people to deposit or exchange them for lower denominations before September 30.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in a surprise move last week, announced that Rs 2,000 notes will no longer be in use and recommended people to deposit or exchange them for lower denominations before September 30. Following this statement, it urged all banks in India to offer a deposit or exchange facility to people for Rs 2,000 notes. It is to be noted that after the deadline, the notes will not be considered illegal but will still remain tender in India. Soon after the announcement was made, many people were seen approaching banks to exchange notes, despite it being stated that the process will begin only on May 23. Everyone is confused and having questions like- is there a limit to how many notes of Rs 2,000 can be exchanged or deposited at once? Or do we need to give identity proof for exchange? Answering all these queries, the State Bank of India (SBI) issued important guidelines for its customers and branches. Scroll to check: But why are the Rs 2,000 notes being junked? The Rs 2,000 banknotes were introduced in November 2016 under Section 21(1) of the RBI Act, 1934, which allows the central bank to issue currency notes not exceeding Rs 10,000. With the fulfilment of its objective and availability of the banknotes, the printing of Rs 2,000 notes was stopped in 2018-2019. However, the circulation drastically dropped, bringing the value to Rs 3.62 trillion on March 2023 from Rs 6.73 trillion in March 2018. As per media reports, things changed when in Feb 2020, ATMs were recalibrated by the banks to disperse more Rs 100 and Rs 500 notes, and not Rs 2000. This sparked speculation that Rs 2,000 notes were being phased out even if they remained legal tender. The central bank also pointed out that a huge cluster of fake notes was also produced. Below are the guideline issued by the State Bank of India: An individual can exchange Rs 2,000 banknotes up to a limit of Rs 20,000/- at a time. No identity proof or requisition slip is required to be submitted by the depositor at the time of exchange. "Please arrange accordingly and extend all cooperation to members of public so that the exercise is conducted in a smooth and seamless manner without any inconvenience to the public," the SBI said in its guideline. It is expected that after SBI, all other banks will follow the same 2000 note exchange policy at their branches. 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.

Why are Rs 2,000 notes being scrapped? SBI issues guidelines on how you can exchange your notes

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)

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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

The new edit feature in WhatsApp allows users to make changes to messages after they have been sent. WhatsApp is known for adding new features to the messaging app, and the company has now developed a new user-friendly functionality as well. Users can now edit their messages within 15 minutes of sending them, and the feature will be made available globally in the coming weeks.

Whatsapp now lets users edit sent messages

Journalist E. Jean Carroll has requested a US court judge to amend her initial defamation case in which she received $5 million in damages, to include Donald Trump's recent statements at a CNN town hall.

Journalist E. Jean Carroll has requested a US court judge to amend her initial defamation case in which she received $5 million in damages, to include Donald Trump's recent statements at a CNN town hall. The former president repeated his claims at the interview which Carroll believes was another attempt at defaming her. According to Carroll's attorney, Trump's statements directly go to the issue of punitive damages which are intended to punish the person found liable. Notably, a day after a nine-member jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the Elle magazine writer, he called her a 'whack job' on CNN. He added that Carroll was telling a "made-up story" and that he didn't know her, which according to Carroll's lawyers, comes under the category of further "defamatory statements". "Trump’s defamatory statements post-verdict show the depth of his malice toward Carroll since it is hard to imagine defamatory conduct that could possibly be more motivated by hatred, ill will, or spite," the complaint reads. "This conduct supports a very substantial punitive damages award in Carroll’s favor both to punish Trump, to deter him from engaging in further defamation, and to deter others from doing the same," it added. The Manhattan Federal Court earlier this month announced the verdict and awarded $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages to Carroll. The nine-member jury, comprising six men and three women, reached a unanimous verdict in less than three hours but did not agree with Carroll’s allegation that the former president raped her. WATCH | Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules × What did Carroll claim? The 79-year-old former columnist at Elle Magazine has claimed that Trump raped her at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, in the spring of 1996. During her testimony, Carroll said Trump's actions shattered her and she had been trying to get her life back. “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation and I’m here to try to get my life back,” Carroll testified. A victory for all women: Carroll After receiving the verdict in her favour, Carroll termed it a 'victory' for all women who are victims of sexual assault. “The old view of the perfect victim was a woman who always screamed. A woman who immediately reported. A woman whose life was supposed to fold up and she’s never supposed to experience happiness again,” said Carroll. ALSO READ | 'This verdict is for all women': E. Jean Carroll after jury holds Trump guilty of sexually abusing her “That was just shut down with this verdict, the death of the perfect victim has happened. Now this verdict is for all women," she added. Quizzed about what was going through her mind when the jury said they were not convinced that Trump raped her, Carroll said, “Well, I just immediately (said) in my own head, ‘Oh, yes, he did. Oh yes, he did.’” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

E. Jean Carroll seeks new damages after Trump's CNN town hall tirade

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