French president Emmanuel Macron had an argument with the Democratic Republic of Congo president while he was on a visit to the nation. The argument took place when Congo president reminded his French counterpart about his country's involvement in the 1994 genocide however macron bluntly rejected the blame attributed to France.

Macron to DRC Prez: You have not been able to restore sovereignty

The political tensions in Pakistan surrounding former prime minister Imran Khan spiral to a new level this time. The country's media watchdog has banned airing of Khan's speeches in press communication.

Pakistan media watchdog bans airing former Prime Minister Imran Khan's speeches

After a high-level Pakistani delegation visited Kabul last month, reports said Afghan Taliban have proposed a 'resettlement plan' for the banned TTP members. The plan involves disarming the TTP and relocating its members from border areas.

Afghan Taliban propose 'resettlement plan' for TTP: Report

With its victory in the parliamentary vote on Sunday, the Reform party of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas should maintain its position as one of Europe's most ardently pro-Kyiv administrations. The results, which showed the far-right EKRE party in second place with 16.1% of the vote to Kallas' liberal party's 31.5%, reflect voter concerns over growing living expenses following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Estonia General Elections 2023: Prime Minister Kallas's party secures 31.6% in polls

On Sunday, as part of a national tour laying the groundwork for an anticipated White House run, Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis took his battle against liberalism all the way to the Democratic-leaning state of California.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis condemns 'woke ideology' of Democrat leaders

China announced a 5% growth goal for 2023 on Sunday as the nation's rubber-stamp Parliament convened for its annual session, ushering in a new era for President Xi Jinping as he began an extraordinary third five-year term.

China sets economic growth target for 2023 at 'around 5%'

Russia is working to ease visa procedures for six countries including India, Syria and Indonesia, state news agency TASS reported citing Deputy Minister Evgeny Ivanov.

According to Reuters,&nbsp;the deputy minister said in addition to India, procedures simplification is being worked out with Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria and Philippines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ordinary-bureaucracy-or-a-betrayal-wagner-chief-says-without-fresh-ammunition-bakhmut-could-collapse-569053">Wagner chief says without promised ammunition, Bakhmut could collapse</a>

Ivanov said that Russia&nbsp;is also preparing intergovernmental agreements on visa-free trips with 11 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Barbados, Haiti, Zambia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico and Trinidad.

Since the beginning of Moscow's special military operation in Kyiv, which has killed thousands of civilians and forced million to flee, the United States, Japan and the European Union condemned Russia and imposed severe sanctions.&nbsp;

To seek support, Mospcw&nbsp;then turned to China, India, and African nations. Both Beijing and New Delhi have been supporting the idea of "peace," but have not yet taken any strict actions against Russia.&nbsp;

India had kept a neutral stance and decided not to blame Russia for the invasion while sharply boosting its purchases of Russian oil.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/battle-for-bakhmut-rages-on-as-russian-forces-attempt-to-encircle-city-residents-flee-568971">Battle for Bakhmut rages on as Russian forces attempt to ‘encircle’ city; residents flee</a>

On Monday, Ukraine said that it shot down 13 explosive drones launched from Southern Russia overnight after air raid sirens sounded for hours in Kyiv.&nbsp;

Over the weekend, former US president Donald Trump during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington claimed&nbsp;that he is the only candidate who could end "World War III."

Trump said, "Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, I will have the disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine settled. It will be settled quickly." He added that he has a great relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he would listen to him. "It will take me no longer than one day."

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Russia is working to ease visa procedures for six countries including India, Syria and Indonesia, state news agency TASS reported citing Deputy Minister Evgeny Ivanov.

Russia is working to ease visa procedures for six countries including India, Syria and Indonesia, state news agency TASS reported citing Deputy Minister Evgeny Ivanov. According to Reuters, the deputy minister said in addition to India, procedures simplification is being worked out with Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria and Philippines. Also read | Wagner chief says without promised ammunition, Bakhmut could collapse Ivanov said that Russia is also preparing intergovernmental agreements on visa-free trips with 11 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Barbados, Haiti, Zambia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico and Trinidad. Since the beginning of Moscow's special military operation in Kyiv, which has killed thousands of civilians and forced million to flee, the United States, Japan and the European Union condemned Russia and imposed severe sanctions. To seek support, Mospcw then turned to China, India, and African nations. Both Beijing and New Delhi have been supporting the idea of "peace," but have not yet taken any strict actions against Russia. India had kept a neutral stance and decided not to blame Russia for the invasion while sharply boosting its purchases of Russian oil. Also read | Battle for Bakhmut rages on as Russian forces attempt to ‘encircle’ city; residents flee On Monday, Ukraine said that it shot down 13 explosive drones launched from Southern Russia overnight after air raid sirens sounded for hours in Kyiv. Over the weekend, former US president Donald Trump during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington claimed that he is the only candidate who could end "World War III." Trump said, "Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, I will have the disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine settled. It will be settled quickly." He added that he has a great relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he would listen to him. "It will take me no longer than one day." (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia works to ease visa regime for countries including India and Syria

The South Korean military unveiled a "Kill Web" concept amid rising nuclear tensions with North Korea. In light of Pyongyang's ongoing development of nuclear and missile capabilities, Seoul is seeking an immediate and strategic plan to counter it.

The South Korean Ministry announced the plan at the beginning of March saying that it would now use the concept to eliminate threats from Pyongyang's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities even at their pre-launch stage, Eur Asian Times reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-offers-compensation-for-victims-of-japans-wartime-forced-labour-us-praises-plan-569081">Also read |&nbsp;South Korea offers compensation for victims of Japan's wartime forced labour; US hails 'groundbreaking' plan</a>

The killer concept aims to devise a prompt counterattack to any North Korean aggression against South Korea.

In recent months, Seoul has stepped up its cooperation with the US military and integrated advanced technologies, including AI.&nbsp;It explained that the 'Kill Web' is a multilayered integrated system that will use cyber operations, electronic warfare techniques and other strategies to prevent that adversary from attempting to fire a missile even before it has been launched.

The plan was introduced as a fundamental component of Military Innovations 4.0, by the Yoon Suk yeol government that will use the latest AI techniques to ensure that the country's army&nbsp;can win&nbsp;a war with minimum fatalities in the shortest period of time.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-us-south-korean-thai-troops-trigger-cobra-gold-showdown-568325/#south-korean-marines-in-thailand-568314">Also read |&nbsp;In pics | US, South Korean, Thai troops trigger Cobra Gold showdown</a>

The Kill Chain is a part of Seoul's Three-Axis system, which entails deploying the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) campaign to neutralise its enemy's leadership and military infrastructure.&nbsp;

As per officials, the Kill Chain calls for moving in a single path whereas the 'Kill Web' requires frequent mission modification to ensure its efficiency.&nbsp;

The militaries of Seoul and Washington announced that they will continue with their large-scale annual military exercises despite North Korea’s vows to take unprecedented intense action against such drills.

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The South Korean military unveiled a "Kill Web" concept amid rising nuclear tensions with North Korea. In light of Pyongyang's ongoing development of nuclear and missile capabilities, Seoul is seeking an immediate and strategic plan to counter it.

The South Korean military unveiled a "Kill Web" concept amid rising nuclear tensions with North Korea. In light of Pyongyang's ongoing development of nuclear and missile capabilities, Seoul is seeking an immediate and strategic plan to counter it. The South Korean Ministry announced the plan at the beginning of March saying that it would now use the concept to eliminate threats from Pyongyang's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities even at their pre-launch stage, Eur Asian Times reported. Also read | South Korea offers compensation for victims of Japan's wartime forced labour; US hails 'groundbreaking' plan The killer concept aims to devise a prompt counterattack to any North Korean aggression against South Korea. In recent months, Seoul has stepped up its cooperation with the US military and integrated advanced technologies, including AI. It explained that the 'Kill Web' is a multilayered integrated system that will use cyber operations, electronic warfare techniques and other strategies to prevent that adversary from attempting to fire a missile even before it has been launched. The plan was introduced as a fundamental component of Military Innovations 4.0, by the Yoon Suk yeol government that will use the latest AI techniques to ensure that the country's army can win a war with minimum fatalities in the shortest period of time. Also read | In pics | US, South Korean, Thai troops trigger Cobra Gold showdown The Kill Chain is a part of Seoul's Three-Axis system, which entails deploying the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) campaign to neutralise its enemy's leadership and military infrastructure. As per officials, the Kill Chain calls for moving in a single path whereas the 'Kill Web' requires frequent mission modification to ensure its efficiency. The militaries of Seoul and Washington announced that they will continue with their large-scale annual military exercises despite North Korea’s vows to take unprecedented intense action against such drills. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

South Korea unveils ‘Kill Web’ concept amid rising tensions with North Korea

The Zontes 350X was launched in India last year. It is one of five products that the Chinese brand Zontes has brought to India via Motovault. And, at a starting price of INR 335,000, the Zontes 350X is also one of India's most affordable sports tourers. But being a Chinese product, does the 350X offer the same level of build quality as its rivals? Watch our first-ride review to find out.

Zontes 350X First Ride Review: This sports tourer is more than meets the eye | WION Pitstop

The city of Newark in the US state of New Jersey has rescinded a sister-city agreement with the so-called 'United States of Kailasa', founded by Indian fugitive Nithyananda, citing deceptive circumstances surrounding the fictional country and terming the incident as "regrettable."

Press Secretary in the Department of Communications, City of Newark, Susan Garofalo told PTI in an email that as soon as "we learned about the circumstances surrounding Kailasa, the City of Newark immediately took action and rescinded the sister city agreement"&nbsp;on January 18.

"Based on deception, the ceremony was groundless and void...Although this was a regrettable incident, the City of Newark remains committed to partnering with people from diverse cultures in order to enrich each other with connectivity, support, and mutual respect," Garofalo said.

The sister-city agreement between Newark and the so-called USK was entered into on January 12 this year and the signing ceremony took place at City Hall in Newark.

Self-proclaimed godman and fugitive Nithyananda claims to have founded the "United States of Kailasa (USK)" in 2019 and according to its website, counts "two billion practising Hindus" among its population. Nithyananda is wanted in India on several charges of rape and sexual assault"&nbsp;allegations he denies.

Newark Councilman at Large Luis Quintana sponsored the motion to rescind the agreement. He said during official proceedings that going forward any city entering into a sister city agreement "has to be in good standards of human rights."

"We cannot bring Sister Cities International into an issue where there is controversy. This is an oversight, and cannot happen any longer,"&nbsp;he said adding that Newark cannot put itself in a situation where there is a sister city that has no human rights.

He said going forward, it must be ensured that while sister cities are encouraged, agreements cannot be entered into with "governments that don't have human rights."

Last month, USK representatives attended two UN public meetings in Geneva - a general discussion on 'Equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems' organised by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on February 22.

They also attended the general discussion day on the General Comment on economic, social and cultural rights and sustainable development on February 24, hosted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR).

Responding to questions on USK's participation at the UN forums, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said registration for such public events is open to NGOs and the general public.

Anyone can submit information to the treaty bodies, who will use their judgment to determine the credibility of the submissions received.

"On the day of the CEDAW general discussion, USK members were prevented from distributing promotional material in front of and inside the conference room. Their written submission to CEDAW will not be published by the Committee as it is irrelevant to the topic of the general discussion,"&nbsp;OHCHR had said.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The city of Newark in the US state of New Jersey has rescinded a sister-city agreement with the so-called 'United States of Kailasa', founded by Indian fugitive Nithyananda, citing deceptive circumstances surrounding the fictional country and terming the incident as "regrettable.

The city of Newark in the US state of New Jersey has rescinded a sister-city agreement with the so-called 'United States of Kailasa', founded by Indian fugitive Nithyananda, citing deceptive circumstances surrounding the fictional country and terming the incident as "regrettable." Press Secretary in the Department of Communications, City of Newark, Susan Garofalo told PTI in an email that as soon as "we learned about the circumstances surrounding Kailasa, the City of Newark immediately took action and rescinded the sister city agreement" on January 18. "Based on deception, the ceremony was groundless and void...Although this was a regrettable incident, the City of Newark remains committed to partnering with people from diverse cultures in order to enrich each other with connectivity, support, and mutual respect," Garofalo said. The sister-city agreement between Newark and the so-called USK was entered into on January 12 this year and the signing ceremony took place at City Hall in Newark. Self-proclaimed godman and fugitive Nithyananda claims to have founded the "United States of Kailasa (USK)" in 2019 and according to its website, counts "two billion practising Hindus" among its population. Nithyananda is wanted in India on several charges of rape and sexual assault" allegations he denies. Newark Councilman at Large Luis Quintana sponsored the motion to rescind the agreement. He said during official proceedings that going forward any city entering into a sister city agreement "has to be in good standards of human rights." "We cannot bring Sister Cities International into an issue where there is controversy. This is an oversight, and cannot happen any longer," he said adding that Newark cannot put itself in a situation where there is a sister city that has no human rights. He said going forward, it must be ensured that while sister cities are encouraged, agreements cannot be entered into with "governments that don't have human rights." Last month, USK representatives attended two UN public meetings in Geneva - a general discussion on 'Equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems' organised by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on February 22. They also attended the general discussion day on the General Comment on economic, social and cultural rights and sustainable development on February 24, hosted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). Responding to questions on USK's participation at the UN forums, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said registration for such public events is open to NGOs and the general public. Anyone can submit information to the treaty bodies, who will use their judgment to determine the credibility of the submissions received. "On the day of the CEDAW general discussion, USK members were prevented from distributing promotional material in front of and inside the conference room. Their written submission to CEDAW will not be published by the Committee as it is irrelevant to the topic of the general discussion," OHCHR had said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Newark rescinds sister-city pact it had with 'United States of Kailasa' of Indian 'godman' Nithyananda

Tesla&nbsp;Inc has cut prices on its two most expensive electric vehicles in the United States, according to the company's website, days after Chief Executive Elon Musk said recent price cuts on other models had stoked demand.

The price cuts,&nbsp;Tesla's fifth adjustment since the start of the year, ranged from 4 per cent&nbsp;on the performance version of the Model S to 9 per cent&nbsp;on the more expensive Model X.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tesla-gets-tax-benefits-worth-over-330-million-from-nevada-568076">Also read |&nbsp;Tesla gets tax benefits worth over $330 million from Nevada</a>

Musk has said repeatedly in recent months that&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;would focus on bringing prices down to drive demand and that it had seen success in sparking orders with global discounts introduced in January.

"The desire for people to own a&nbsp;Tesla&nbsp;is extremely high. The limiting factor is their ability to pay for a&nbsp;Tesla," Musk said last week at&nbsp;Tesla's investor day.

Tesla&nbsp;did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the most recent price cuts.

Tesla&nbsp;slashed prices on its cars across all of its markets in January, offering discounts of up to 20 per cent in what many analysts saw as the start of a price war by the electric vehicle market leader.

Watch |&nbsp;Tesla to invest $3.6 BN in Nevada for two new factories

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tesla-to-invest-36-bn-in-nevada-for-two-new-factories-568048/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It has been adjusting prices since with a pace and frequency that goes beyond what established automakers have attempted in an industry where a car's base price is still referred to as a "sticker price" on a vehicle in inventory.

The Model S and Model X, which come in base all-wheel drive (AWD) and performance "Plaid" editions, represented about 4 per cent&nbsp;of&nbsp;Tesla's global deliveries in 2022. Its two cheaper models, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, made up the rest.

Tesla's website showed it had cut prices on both versions of its Model S by $5,000. The basic version of Model S was cut by 5 per cent&nbsp;to $89,990, while the price of the performance, Plaid variant was cut by 4 per cent&nbsp;to $109,990.

Prices of both the performance and basic variants of Model X cars were cut by $10,000, the electric vehicle maker's website showed. The price of the basic, AWD version of the Model X was cut by 9 per cent&nbsp;to $99,990 while its performance Plaid version was cut by 8 per cent&nbsp;to $109,990.

Tesla&nbsp;has a new version of the Model 3 codenamed "Highland" scheduled to go into production later this year and a change to the Model Y codenamed "Juniper" for next year, Reuters has reported.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Tesla Inc has cut prices on its two most expensive electric vehicles in the United States, according to the company's website, days after Chief Executive Elon Musk said recent price cuts on other models had stoked demand.

Tesla Inc has cut prices on its two most expensive electric vehicles in the United States, according to the company's website, days after Chief Executive Elon Musk said recent price cuts on other models had stoked demand. The price cuts, Tesla's fifth adjustment since the start of the year, ranged from 4 per cent on the performance version of the Model S to 9 per cent on the more expensive Model X. Also read | Tesla gets tax benefits worth over $330 million from Nevada Musk has said repeatedly in recent months that Tesla would focus on bringing prices down to drive demand and that it had seen success in sparking orders with global discounts introduced in January. "The desire for people to own a Tesla is extremely high. The limiting factor is their ability to pay for a Tesla," Musk said last week at Tesla's investor day. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the most recent price cuts. Tesla slashed prices on its cars across all of its markets in January, offering discounts of up to 20 per cent in what many analysts saw as the start of a price war by the electric vehicle market leader. Watch | Tesla to invest $3.6 BN in Nevada for two new factories It has been adjusting prices since with a pace and frequency that goes beyond what established automakers have attempted in an industry where a car's base price is still referred to as a "sticker price" on a vehicle in inventory. The Model S and Model X, which come in base all-wheel drive (AWD) and performance "Plaid" editions, represented about 4 per cent of Tesla's global deliveries in 2022. Its two cheaper models, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, made up the rest. Tesla's website showed it had cut prices on both versions of its Model S by $5,000. The basic version of Model S was cut by 5 per cent to $89,990, while the price of the performance, Plaid variant was cut by 4 per cent to $109,990. Prices of both the performance and basic variants of Model X cars were cut by $10,000, the electric vehicle maker's website showed. The price of the basic, AWD version of the Model X was cut by 9 per cent to $99,990 while its performance Plaid version was cut by 8 per cent to $109,990. Tesla has a new version of the Model 3 codenamed "Highland" scheduled to go into production later this year and a change to the Model Y codenamed "Juniper" for next year, Reuters has reported. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Tesla to cut US Model S and Model X prices by 4% and 9%

Two blasts within a span of 24 hours has rocked Pakistan. The first blast, on Sunday, which took place in Gwadar, killed one and injured eight. The second, a suicide bombing, 120 kilometres away from Quetta, killed nine police officers and injured 16 others on Monday.

Pakistan Suicide Bombing: Nine police officers killed, 16 others injured

Pakistan regulator bans a TV channel for airing Imran Khan's speech

Liverpool thrashed Manchester United 7-0 in one of the most staggering results in the history of the Premier League. WION Sports decodes the match and what it means for both teams heading into the business end of the season.

Liverpool hand man united a brutal reality check

Channel migrants will be removed from the UK, banned from future re-entry and unable to apply for British citizenship under new legislation. The slew of proposed measures will apply to anyone arriving on UK shores in a small boat.

UK New law to stop small boat migrants

As technology evolves and advances, scammers continue to discover ways to cheat people out of money. One latest scam that is duping telecom companies out of billions of dollars is the SIM box fraud. In this, international numbers pretend to be local, thereby robbing telecom operators of hefty international call fees. As per Communications Fraud Control Association's 'Fraud Loss Survey' report for 2021, globally the SIM box fraud has cost the telecom industry around $3.11 billion, or approximately 7.8 per cent of the industry's total revenue. During the past few years, it has actually emerged as one of the top telecom scams.

How does it work?

This is a bypass fraud. Scammers use Sim Boxes to redirect international calls over the internet and make them look like local calls.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chatgpt-ai-chatbot-fails-upsc-exam-will-it-do-ma-next-568340">ChatGPT AI chatbot fails UPSC 'exam', will it do MA next?</a>

As per Infosys, "a SIM box fraud diverts international calls to a cellular device through the internet. This device, called a SIM box, routes the connections back into the network as local calls, using hundreds of low-cost or even unpaid SIM cards, which are often obtained with forged identities."

They thus benefit by exploiting the "difference between local and international charges by paying just local rates or none at all to cell carriers after billing international rates from the source."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-start-up-cynlr-is-helping-industrial-robotic-arms-gain-vision-and-intelligence-567796">Indian start-up CynLr is helping industrial robotic arms gain ’vision and intelligence’</a>

While the caller still pays the higher international call rates, the middleman gets away with paying the local rates and the local telecom operator suffers revenue loss.

Additionally, the end users get affected by poor service quality, which also reflects badly on the telecom operator. Infosys warns that these frauds can also become a threat to national security as they can bypass legal intercepts which monitor criminal activity. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

As technology evolves and advances, scammers continue to discover ways to cheat people out of money. One latest scam that is duping telecom companies out of billions of dollars is the SIM box fraud.

As technology evolves and advances, scammers continue to discover ways to cheat people out of money. One latest scam that is duping telecom companies out of billions of dollars is the SIM box fraud. In this, international numbers pretend to be local, thereby robbing telecom operators of hefty international call fees. As per Communications Fraud Control Association's 'Fraud Loss Survey' report for 2021, globally the SIM box fraud has cost the telecom industry around $3.11 billion, or approximately 7.8 per cent of the industry's total revenue. During the past few years, it has actually emerged as one of the top telecom scams. How does it work? This is a bypass fraud. Scammers use Sim Boxes to redirect international calls over the internet and make them look like local calls. Also read | ChatGPT AI chatbot fails UPSC 'exam', will it do MA next? As per Infosys, "a SIM box fraud diverts international calls to a cellular device through the internet. This device, called a SIM box, routes the connections back into the network as local calls, using hundreds of low-cost or even unpaid SIM cards, which are often obtained with forged identities." They thus benefit by exploiting the "difference between local and international charges by paying just local rates or none at all to cell carriers after billing international rates from the source." Also read | Indian start-up CynLr is helping industrial robotic arms gain ’vision and intelligence’ While the caller still pays the higher international call rates, the middleman gets away with paying the local rates and the local telecom operator suffers revenue loss. Additionally, the end users get affected by poor service quality, which also reflects badly on the telecom operator. Infosys warns that these frauds can also become a threat to national security as they can bypass legal intercepts which monitor criminal activity. (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.

SIM box fraud costs telecom sector $3 billion. Here's what it is

A media report has emerged which claims that the social media giant can no longer protect its users from trolling, state-coordinated disinformation and child sexual exploitation. It has claimed that this inability is the result of massive layoffs and policy changes brought by the new owner - Elon Musk.

Twitter unable to protect users from trolling : Report

In the most uncanny incident so far, cases of mystery illnesses have escalated in Iran over the weekend. The recent cases have come from the city of Abhar and from the southwestern city of of Ahvaz.

Iran: Over 1200 schoolgirls fall ill due to alleged poisoning

Prime minister Netanyahu is under unprecedented pressure from his forces. Elite Israeli air force pilots vow to sit out training in protest. The Israel defense forces chief also warned that protests can spread in the ranks if the judicial bills are not withdrawn.

Elite Israeli defence pilots protest judicial reforms by boycotting reserve duty, training

Israeli defence forces chief expresses concerns over operational capacity

Suicide bombing on Monday kills 9 Pakistan policemen

A group of people are protesting against the European Union. They are also against NATO supplying weapons to Ukraine. They are demanding peace talks be setup to settle the conflict at the earliest.

Protests against EU, NATO across Europe over Ukraine war

On Monday,&nbsp;South Korea announced plans to compensate victims of Japan's forced wartime labour, aiming to end a vicious cycle in the Asian country and to boost its ties to counter nuclear-armed North&nbsp;Korea.&nbsp;

This move tries to resolve the forced labour following years of disputes over World War II sex slaves, which soured Japan-South Korean ties, AFP reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-sweats-over-food-shortage-holds-rare-meeting-on-agricultural-practices-566697">Also read |&nbsp;North Korea's Kim Jong Un sweats over food shortage, holds rare meeting on agricultural practices</a>

Foreign Minister Park Jin said that Seoul's plan is to take money from major South Korean companies that benefited from the 1965 reparations deal with Tokyo and will use it to compensate victims.&nbsp;

Park added, "I believe that the vicious circle should be broken for the sake of the people at the national interest level."

The Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also praised the plan and said that this initiative would help&nbsp;restore "healthy" ties between the two countries after years of tensions.&nbsp;

According to the statement issued by the White House, Washington hailed the decision and called it a "groundbreaking new chapter of cooperation and partnership between two of the United States' closest allies."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korean-leader-kim-holds-rare-meeting-on-agriculture-sounds-alarm-over-food-shortage-566908">Also read |&nbsp;North Korean leader Kim holds rare meeting on agriculture amid reports of food shortage in country</a>

While the announcement was welcomed by both Japan and the United States, the victims have criticised the proposal as it falls far short of their demand which is a full apology from Tokyo and direct compensation from the Japanese companies involved.

According to data from Seoul, around 780,000 Koreans were conscripted into forced labour by Tokyo during the 35-year occupation. This does not include women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops.

The move comes as Seoul and Tokyo already ramped up their security cooperation amid growing threats from North Korea, but the bilateral ties remained strained over Tokyo's brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.&nbsp;

Tokyo has insisted on the 1965 treaty- which saw the two countries restore their diplomatic ties with a reparations package of about $800 million in grants and cheap loans and settled all loans between the two relating to the colonial period.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

On Monday, South Korea announced plans to compensate victims of Japan's forced wartime labour, aiming to end a vicious cycle in the Asian country and to boost its ties to counter nuclear-armed North Korea.

On Monday, South Korea announced plans to compensate victims of Japan's forced wartime labour, aiming to end a vicious cycle in the Asian country and to boost its ties to counter nuclear-armed North Korea. This move tries to resolve the forced labour following years of disputes over World War II sex slaves, which soured Japan-South Korean ties, AFP reported. Also read | North Korea's Kim Jong Un sweats over food shortage, holds rare meeting on agricultural practices Foreign Minister Park Jin said that Seoul's plan is to take money from major South Korean companies that benefited from the 1965 reparations deal with Tokyo and will use it to compensate victims. Park added, "I believe that the vicious circle should be broken for the sake of the people at the national interest level." The Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also praised the plan and said that this initiative would help restore "healthy" ties between the two countries after years of tensions. According to the statement issued by the White House, Washington hailed the decision and called it a "groundbreaking new chapter of cooperation and partnership between two of the United States' closest allies." Also read | North Korean leader Kim holds rare meeting on agriculture amid reports of food shortage in country While the announcement was welcomed by both Japan and the United States, the victims have criticised the proposal as it falls far short of their demand which is a full apology from Tokyo and direct compensation from the Japanese companies involved. According to data from Seoul, around 780,000 Koreans were conscripted into forced labour by Tokyo during the 35-year occupation. This does not include women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops. The move comes as Seoul and Tokyo already ramped up their security cooperation amid growing threats from North Korea, but the bilateral ties remained strained over Tokyo's brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula. Tokyo has insisted on the 1965 treaty- which saw the two countries restore their diplomatic ties with a reparations package of about $800 million in grants and cheap loans and settled all loans between the two relating to the colonial period. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

South Korea offers compensation for victims of Japan's wartime forced labour; US hails 'groundbreaking' plan

The Indian Space Agency ISRO is carrying out a controlled re-entry of a defunct Indo-French satellite and attempting to land it in an uninhabited zone in the Pacific Ocean. Launched in 2011, the 1000-kg Megha-Tropiques-1(MT1) was a satellite jointly developed by India's ISRO and France's CNES for studying tropical weather and climate. Despite it being designed for an operational life of three years, the satellite performed for more than a decade (until 2021). ISRO has predicted that the re-entry and final splashdown of the satellite would take place between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm Indian Standard Time, on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023.

What are De-orbiting and Controlled re-entry?&nbsp;

With low earth orbits(orbits 400-2000kms above the earth's surface) getting increasingly overpopulated with satellites and space debris, there are several risks posed to operational space assets. The debris ranges from centimetre-sized objects to meters-wide used rocket stages and defunct satellites. All objects in Low Earth orbit travel at a speed of nearly 28,000kmph and a collision between two objects at such high speeds would create endless debris and threaten several space assets including satellites and space stations.&nbsp;

Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/exclusive-gaganyaan-isros-crew-module-to-undergo-in-flight-abort-tests-on-mini-rocket-tv-565652">Exclusive | Gaganyaan: ISRO's crew module to undergo in-flight abort tests on mini-rocket 'TV'</a>

To avoid such hazards, space agencies make attempts to de-orbit defunct satellites by gradually manoeuvring them closer to earth and eventually ensure that they burn up while re-entering the upper atmosphere and splashing down in uninhabited land or oceans. Another option is to bring the satellite into an orbit around the earth, where it would spend a lesser number of years circling the earth, than in its original orbit.&nbsp;

What is ISRO attempting with Megha-Tropiques?

In its original orbit, at an altitude of 867 km and an inclination of 20 degrees, the defunct Megha-Tropiques satellite would have circled the earth in an uncontrolled manner for more than 100 years and would have remained as space debris. Though MT1 is not designed for performing a de-orbiting and controlled re-entry, the Indian Space agency is attempting to do so, by precisely manoeuvring the satellite using its leftover onboard fuel.&nbsp;

According to ISRO, "about 125 kg on-board fuel remained unutilised at its end-of-mission that could pose risks for accidental break-up(in space). This left-over fuel was estimated to be sufficient to achieve a fully controlled atmospheric re-entry to impact an uninhabited location in the Pacific Ocean". Given that MT1 is more than a decade old and not all of its systems would function exactly as expected, ISRO carried out further planning by involving its experts from across domains -&nbsp;mission, operations, flight dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, controls, navigation, thermal, and other sub-system design teams.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/isro-successfully-test-fires-cryogenic-engine-that-will-help-chandryaan-3-begin-journey-to-moon-566703">ISRO successfully test fires cryogenic engine that will help Chandryaan-3 begin journey to Moon</a>

Based on their calculations, ISRO zeroed into an&nbsp;uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean between 5°S to 14°S latitude and 119°W to 100°W longitude, as the targeted re-entry zone for MT1. Since August 2022, 18 orbit manoeuvres were performed to progressively lower the satellite's orbit and bring it closer to earth.&nbsp;"The final two de-boost burns and the ground impact are expected to take place between 16:30 IST to 19:30 IST on March 7, 2023," ISRO said. The Indian space agency also added that no large fragments of the satellite are likely to survive the aerothermal heating during re-entry. Re-entry temperatures(when an object from space re-enters earth's atmosphere) could be as much as 2500 degrees Centigrade, thus burning up most objects.

Why is ISRO performing this re-entry mission?&nbsp;

International guidelines for spacefaring nations stipulate certain space debris mitigation guidelines for the safe disposal and sustainable management of defunct space assets. Though this satellite is not designed to perform such controlled de-orbit and re-entry, ISRO is undertaking the challenging experiment as there are conducive parameters to carry it out. "This satellite with sufficient left-over fuel presented a unique opportunity&nbsp;to test the relevant methodologies and understand the associated operational nuances of post mission disposal by direct re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere," ISRO said.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The Indian Space Agency ISRO is carrying out a controlled re-entry of a defunct Indo-French satellite and attempting to land it in an uninhabited zone in the Pacific Ocean.

The Indian Space Agency ISRO is carrying out a controlled re-entry of a defunct Indo-French satellite and attempting to land it in an uninhabited zone in the Pacific Ocean. Launched in 2011, the 1000-kg Megha-Tropiques-1(MT1) was a satellite jointly developed by India's ISRO and France's CNES for studying tropical weather and climate. Despite it being designed for an operational life of three years, the satellite performed for more than a decade (until 2021). ISRO has predicted that the re-entry and final splashdown of the satellite would take place between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm Indian Standard Time, on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023. What are De-orbiting and Controlled re-entry? With low earth orbits(orbits 400-2000kms above the earth's surface) getting increasingly overpopulated with satellites and space debris, there are several risks posed to operational space assets. The debris ranges from centimetre-sized objects to meters-wide used rocket stages and defunct satellites. All objects in Low Earth orbit travel at a speed of nearly 28,000kmph and a collision between two objects at such high speeds would create endless debris and threaten several space assets including satellites and space stations. Also read | Exclusive | Gaganyaan: ISRO's crew module to undergo in-flight abort tests on mini-rocket 'TV' To avoid such hazards, space agencies make attempts to de-orbit defunct satellites by gradually manoeuvring them closer to earth and eventually ensure that they burn up while re-entering the upper atmosphere and splashing down in uninhabited land or oceans. Another option is to bring the satellite into an orbit around the earth, where it would spend a lesser number of years circling the earth, than in its original orbit. What is ISRO attempting with Megha-Tropiques? In its original orbit, at an altitude of 867 km and an inclination of 20 degrees, the defunct Megha-Tropiques satellite would have circled the earth in an uncontrolled manner for more than 100 years and would have remained as space debris. Though MT1 is not designed for performing a de-orbiting and controlled re-entry, the Indian Space agency is attempting to do so, by precisely manoeuvring the satellite using its leftover onboard fuel. According to ISRO, "about 125 kg on-board fuel remained unutilised at its end-of-mission that could pose risks for accidental break-up(in space). This left-over fuel was estimated to be sufficient to achieve a fully controlled atmospheric re-entry to impact an uninhabited location in the Pacific Ocean". Given that MT1 is more than a decade old and not all of its systems would function exactly as expected, ISRO carried out further planning by involving its experts from across domains - mission, operations, flight dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, controls, navigation, thermal, and other sub-system design teams. Also read | ISRO successfully test fires cryogenic engine that will help Chandryaan-3 begin journey to Moon Based on their calculations, ISRO zeroed into an uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean between 5°S to 14°S latitude and 119°W to 100°W longitude, as the targeted re-entry zone for MT1. Since August 2022, 18 orbit manoeuvres were performed to progressively lower the satellite's orbit and bring it closer to earth. "The final two de-boost burns and the ground impact are expected to take place between 16:30 IST to 19:30 IST on March 7, 2023," ISRO said. The Indian space agency also added that no large fragments of the satellite are likely to survive the aerothermal heating during re-entry. Re-entry temperatures(when an object from space re-enters earth's atmosphere) could be as much as 2500 degrees Centigrade, thus burning up most objects. Why is ISRO performing this re-entry mission? International guidelines for spacefaring nations stipulate certain space debris mitigation guidelines for the safe disposal and sustainable management of defunct space assets. Though this satellite is not designed to perform such controlled de-orbit and re-entry, ISRO is undertaking the challenging experiment as there are conducive parameters to carry it out. "This satellite with sufficient left-over fuel presented a unique opportunity to test the relevant methodologies and understand the associated operational nuances of post mission disposal by direct re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere," ISRO said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

How and why ISRO is disposing off a defunct Indo-French satellite

The Reform party of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas won the parliamentary election on Sunday (March 5), with Tallinn's (the capital and most populous city of Estonia) administration remaining one of Europe's most ardently pro-Kyiv. In other news, a&nbsp;new report alleges that the late Polish Pope John Paul II a.k.a Karol Wojtyla knew about child abuse in Poland's Catholic Church even before taking over as pontiff. Meanwhile, a Pennsylvanian woman named Patricia Kopta, who disappeared over 30 years ago and was&nbsp;believed to be dead by her family was recently found living in a nursing home in Puerto Rico. Finally, we also bring you a piece of fascinating astronomical news about the new moon.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/estonia-elections-pm-kallas-secures-big-win-for-reform-party-to-continue-backing-ukraine-568988">Estonia elections: PM Kallas secures big win for Reform party, to continue backing Ukraine</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/06/336919-the-battle-for-kyiv.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

With 98 per cent&nbsp;of the votes tallied, the results put Kallas' liberal party in second place with 16.1 per cent of the vote behind the far-right EKRE party's 31.5 per cent, reflecting voter concerns over rising living costs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-polish-pope-john-paul-ii-covered-up-cases-of-paedophilia-in-church-report-568996">Former Polish Pope John Paul II covered up cases of paedophilia in church: Report</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/06/336926-new-wion-86.png?imwidth=1920" />

The report&nbsp;further claims that the late Pope helped cover the litany of abuses. The report is based on an investigation by Michal Gutowski for Polish TV broadcaster TVN. Gutowski claims that the polish pope was aware of the cases of Paedophile priests within the church while still serving as a cardinal in Krakow. Reportedly, to avoid a scandal, he transferred the priests to other far-away dioceses.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/83-year-old-pennsylvania-woman-missing-for-three-decades-and-though-to-be-dead-found-alive-in-puerto-rico-569004">83-year-old Pennsylvania woman missing for three decades and thought to be dead found alive in Puerto Rico</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/06/336932-untitled-design-2023-03-06t093025022.png?imwidth=1920" />

According to the missing person flier posted by the Pennsylvania Emergency Response Center, the 83-year-old woman was last seen in 1992 in Pittsburgh, CNN reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-explained-why-is-it-called-worm-moon-and-the-period-of-manifesting-your-dreams-568999">EXPLAINED: All about the Worm Moon and why is it the best time to manifest your dreams</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/03/06/336929-weekend-banner-3.png?imwidth=1920" />

The full moon for the Month is set to rise in the sky on March 7. It is the final full moon of the winter season and will shine bright and full on two nights - March 6 and March 7, although it has been lighting up the night sky for a few days and will continue to do so for a few more after March 7.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan media watchdog bans airing former Prime Minister Imran Khan's speeches

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-media-watchdog-bans-airing-former-prime-minister-imran-khans-speeches-569002/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Reform party of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas won the parliamentary election on Sunday (March 5), with Tallinn's (the capital and most populous city of Estonia) administration remaining one of Europe's most ardently pro-Kyiv.

The Reform party of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas won the parliamentary election on Sunday (March 5), with Tallinn's (the capital and most populous city of Estonia) administration remaining one of Europe's most ardently pro-Kyiv. In other news, a new report alleges that the late Polish Pope John Paul II a.k.a Karol Wojtyla knew about child abuse in Poland's Catholic Church even before taking over as pontiff. Meanwhile, a Pennsylvanian woman named Patricia Kopta, who disappeared over 30 years ago and was believed to be dead by her family was recently found living in a nursing home in Puerto Rico. Finally, we also bring you a piece of fascinating astronomical news about the new moon. Click on the headlines to read more: Estonia elections: PM Kallas secures big win for Reform party, to continue backing Ukraine With 98 per cent of the votes tallied, the results put Kallas' liberal party in second place with 16.1 per cent of the vote behind the far-right EKRE party's 31.5 per cent, reflecting voter concerns over rising living costs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Former Polish Pope John Paul II covered up cases of paedophilia in church: Report The report further claims that the late Pope helped cover the litany of abuses. The report is based on an investigation by Michal Gutowski for Polish TV broadcaster TVN. Gutowski claims that the polish pope was aware of the cases of Paedophile priests within the church while still serving as a cardinal in Krakow. Reportedly, to avoid a scandal, he transferred the priests to other far-away dioceses. 83-year-old Pennsylvania woman missing for three decades and thought to be dead found alive in Puerto Rico According to the missing person flier posted by the Pennsylvania Emergency Response Center, the 83-year-old woman was last seen in 1992 in Pittsburgh, CNN reported. EXPLAINED: All about the Worm Moon and why is it the best time to manifest your dreams The full moon for the Month is set to rise in the sky on March 7. It is the final full moon of the winter season and will shine bright and full on two nights - March 6 and March 7, although it has been lighting up the night sky for a few days and will continue to do so for a few more after March 7. Watch | Pakistan media watchdog bans airing former Prime Minister Imran Khan's speeches

Morning news brief: Estonia elections, Pope John Paul II covered up cases of paedophilia in church, & more

A Pennsylvanian woman named Patricia Kopta, who disappeared over 30 years ago and was&nbsp;believed to be dead by her family was recently found living in a nursing home in Puerto Rico.

According to the missing person flier posted by the Pennsylvania Emergency Response Center, the 83-year-old woman was last seen in 1992 in Pittsburgh, CNN reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During a news conference, her husband Bob Kopta said he reported his wife missing months later in the fall&nbsp;as it&nbsp;was quite regular&nbsp;for his wife to "drop out of sight for short periods."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-serial-killer-patrick-mackay-aka-devils-disciple-may-be-released-soon-heres-all-you-need-to-know-568731">UK serial killer Patrick Mackay a.k.a. ‘Devil's Disciple’ may be released soon. Here's all you need to know</a>

Her family confirmed that they knew that Patricia had been suffering from a mental health condition called "dementia.'

In Pittsburg, she was a well-known street preacher, who used to approach strangers, telling them she had visions of the Virgin Mary and that the world was ending.&nbsp;

She even made several statements to her family saying that she was leaving, and was concerned that she was going to be placed in a care facility in Puerto Rico.&nbsp;

Even her husband recalled&nbsp;how Patricia always talked about going to Puerto Rico to live in a tropical environment.&nbsp;

Police officials said that they were first informed about Patricia when an agent from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and a social worker contacted them last year, saying that they saw her&nbsp;living in an adult care home.

Ross Township Deputy Brian Kohlhepp said, "what they reported to us was that she came into care in 1999, when she was found in need in the streets of Puerto Rico." He added that Patricia refused to discuss her private life or where she came from.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-woman-sets-guinness-world-record-runs-ultramarathon-for-23-consecutive-days-568576">US: Woman sets Guinness World Record; runs ultramarathon for 23 consecutive days</a>

Kohlhepp&nbsp;told CNN that Patricia had no family or connections in Puerto Rico.&nbsp;

The police added that it identified the woman as Patricia, through a nine-month-long process, in which they tried matching&nbsp;her DNA samples to her sister Gloria Smith and her nephew.&nbsp;

Smith said, "we really thought she was dead all those years." She added that she called the adult care home several times but couldn't converse because of her sister's mental health condition.

"We didn’t expect it. It was a very big shock to see – to know that she’s still alive," Smith added. "You know, we’re so happy and I hope I can get down to see her."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

A Pennsylvanian woman named Patricia Kopta, who disappeared over 30 years ago and was believed to be dead by her family was recently found living in a nursing home in Puerto Rico.

A Pennsylvanian woman named Patricia Kopta, who disappeared over 30 years ago and was believed to be dead by her family was recently found living in a nursing home in Puerto Rico. According to the missing person flier posted by the Pennsylvania Emergency Response Center, the 83-year-old woman was last seen in 1992 in Pittsburgh, CNN reported. During a news conference, her husband Bob Kopta said he reported his wife missing months later in the fall as it was quite regular for his wife to "drop out of sight for short periods." Also read | UK serial killer Patrick Mackay a.k.a. ‘Devil's Disciple’ may be released soon. Here's all you need to know Her family confirmed that they knew that Patricia had been suffering from a mental health condition called "dementia.' In Pittsburg, she was a well-known street preacher, who used to approach strangers, telling them she had visions of the Virgin Mary and that the world was ending. She even made several statements to her family saying that she was leaving, and was concerned that she was going to be placed in a care facility in Puerto Rico. Even her husband recalled how Patricia always talked about going to Puerto Rico to live in a tropical environment. Police officials said that they were first informed about Patricia when an agent from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and a social worker contacted them last year, saying that they saw her living in an adult care home. Ross Township Deputy Brian Kohlhepp said, "what they reported to us was that she came into care in 1999, when she was found in need in the streets of Puerto Rico." He added that Patricia refused to discuss her private life or where she came from. Also read | US: Woman sets Guinness World Record; runs ultramarathon for 23 consecutive days Kohlhepp told CNN that Patricia had no family or connections in Puerto Rico. The police added that it identified the woman as Patricia, through a nine-month-long process, in which they tried matching her DNA samples to her sister Gloria Smith and her nephew. Smith said, "we really thought she was dead all those years." She added that she called the adult care home several times but couldn't converse because of her sister's mental health condition. "We didn’t expect it. It was a very big shock to see – to know that she’s still alive," Smith added. "You know, we’re so happy and I hope I can get down to see her." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

83-year-old Pennsylvania woman missing for three decades and thought to be dead found alive in Puerto Rico

A new report alleges that the late ope John Paul II knew about child abuse in Poland's Catholic Church even before taking over as pontiff. It further claims that the late Pope helped cover the litany of abuses. The report is based on an investigation by Michal Gutowski for Polish TV broadcaster TVN. Gutowski claims that the pope, then known by his original name Karol Wojtyla, was aware of the cases of paedophile priests within the church while still serving as a cardinal in Krakow. Reportedly, to avoid a scandal, he transferred the priests to other far-away dioceses.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Report: 216,000 minors abused by French Catholic clergy

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-report-216000-minors-abused-by-french-catholic-clergy-418486/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In 2015, he even wrote a letter of recommendation to Vienna Cardinal Franz Koenig for one of the priests accused of paedophilia. The letter made no mention of the abuse accusations.

John Paul II was pope for 27 years — from 1978 until his death in 2005.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-the-ugly-face-of-child-sexual-abuse-in-catholic-church-562722">EXPLAINED: The ugly face of Child sexual abuse in Catholic church</a>

During his investigation, Gutowski talked to victims of the alleged paedophile priests. He also talked to the victim's families and former church diocese employees.

As proof, Gutowski, according to AFP, cites documents from former Communist-era SB secret police and rare church documents to which he managed to get access.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/around-5000-kids-have-been-sexually-abused-by-catholic-clergy-in-portugal-since-1950-report-561849">Around 5,000 kids have been sexually abused by Catholic clergy in Portugal since 1950: Report</a>

However, he was denied access to Krakow's diocese. In the past,&nbsp;the Polish church has refused to provide records to the judiciary or police on cases of church abuse of minors.

One of Gutowski's sources claimed to have in 1973 personally notified the former pope of acts of paedophilia. "Wojtyla first wanted to make sure it wasn't a bluff," claims the source.

The then-cardinal reportedly told him to keep the information under wraps, saying "he would deal with it."&nbsp;

Recent years have seen several reports of similar abuse of minors from the Polish church. Following the reports, especially in the past two years, several high-ranking church officials have been charged by the Vatican for covering up paedophilia by members of the clergy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A new report alleges that the late ope John Paul II knew about child abuse in Poland's Catholic Church even before taking over as pontiff. It further claims that the late Pope helped cover the litany of abuses.

A new report alleges that the late ope John Paul II knew about child abuse in Poland's Catholic Church even before taking over as pontiff. It further claims that the late Pope helped cover the litany of abuses. The report is based on an investigation by Michal Gutowski for Polish TV broadcaster TVN. Gutowski claims that the pope, then known by his original name Karol Wojtyla, was aware of the cases of paedophile priests within the church while still serving as a cardinal in Krakow. Reportedly, to avoid a scandal, he transferred the priests to other far-away dioceses. Watch | Gravitas: Report: 216,000 minors abused by French Catholic clergy In 2015, he even wrote a letter of recommendation to Vienna Cardinal Franz Koenig for one of the priests accused of paedophilia. The letter made no mention of the abuse accusations. John Paul II was pope for 27 years — from 1978 until his death in 2005. Also read | EXPLAINED: The ugly face of Child sexual abuse in Catholic church During his investigation, Gutowski talked to victims of the alleged paedophile priests. He also talked to the victim's families and former church diocese employees. As proof, Gutowski, according to AFP, cites documents from former Communist-era SB secret police and rare church documents to which he managed to get access. Also read | Around 5,000 kids have been sexually abused by Catholic clergy in Portugal since 1950: Report However, he was denied access to Krakow's diocese. In the past, the Polish church has refused to provide records to the judiciary or police on cases of church abuse of minors. One of Gutowski's sources claimed to have in 1973 personally notified the former pope of acts of paedophilia. "Wojtyla first wanted to make sure it wasn't a bluff," claims the source. The then-cardinal reportedly told him to keep the information under wraps, saying "he would deal with it." Recent years have seen several reports of similar abuse of minors from the Polish church. Following the reports, especially in the past two years, several high-ranking church officials have been charged by the Vatican for covering up paedophilia by members of the clergy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former Pope John Paul II covered up cases of paedophilia in church: Report

This week, the intelligence chiefs from 25 nations met in New Delhi, the capital of India, to talk about the ongoing geopolitical difficulties. The gathering included intelligence representatives from France, the UK's MI6, and numerous West Asian nations, with an emphasis on the Russia-Ukraine crisis and its effects on the Global South.

Intelligence chiefs from 25 countries hold meeting in India

In an exclusive interview with WION, the minister of international relations and cooperation of South Africa, Naledi Pandor hails India's contribution and engagement with the African continent, especially during Covid-19 pandemic by providing vaccines. She hoped more Indian pharmaceutical companies set up shop in South Africa and help them produce vaccines as well.

Naledi Pandor: Want Indian pharma companies to set up plants in Africa Latest World News

Positive developments are expected out of the latest meet over the contentious high seas treaty in panama. It's been fifteen years since no confirmed agreement has been reached upon the same. Fears are many as the developing nations feel the developed nations will be unfair and take advantage of the situation as they command stronger positions.

Crucial high seas treaty stuck over resources

French President Emmanuel Macron is on his last-leg of African tour. During talks with the leaders of Angola, DRC and Rwanda, Emmanuel Macron has stated that all parties in the conflict zone of Eastern Africa have agreed for a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

French President Emmanuel Macron lauds 'ceasefire' in Eastern Africa

news

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