After taking cryptocurrencies as payment at his tea shop, a tea stall owner in Bengaluru is getting all the attention. His "Frustrated dropout" roadside tea shop became well-known in the IT capital when his social media story gained widespread attention.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, Akshay Saini, a Twitter user, posted a picture of him along with the caption, "Just Bangalore things. #crypto #NammaBengaluru(Sic)."The picture is all over the internet and people have so many questions about the ‘Frustrated dropout’ already.

A user asked, “How does he accept crypto? Which all coins are accepted? How does he decide the exchange rate? I have so many questions (Sic)”

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How does he accept crypto? 
Which all coins are accepted? 
How does he decide the exchange rate? 
 
I have so many questions 🙂
— Ankit | MVP | GDE (@ankitsharma_007) <a href="https://twitter.com/ankitsharma_007/status/1575092838165262343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The New Indian Express reported that Shubham Saini is the tea vendor who is accepting cryptocurrency. He invested 30,000 when he first opened his tea shop in Bengaluru's Marathahalli neighbourhood. According to the story, he opened this tea shop after losing a significant sum of money trading cryptocurrencies in 2021 when the market crashed.&nbsp;

After comparing US dollars to Indian rupees for cryptocurrency payments, Saini has posted a sign where he updates the costs.

(with inputs from agencies)

After taking cryptocurrencies as payment at his tea shop, a tea stall owner in Bengaluru is getting all the attention. His "Frustrated dropout" roadside tea shop became well-known in the IT capital when his social media story gained widespread attention.

After taking cryptocurrencies as payment at his tea shop, a tea stall owner in Bengaluru is getting all the attention. His "Frustrated dropout" roadside tea shop became well-known in the IT capital when his social media story gained widespread attention. On Wednesday, Akshay Saini, a Twitter user, posted a picture of him along with the caption, "Just Bangalore things. #crypto #NammaBengaluru(Sic)."The picture is all over the internet and people have so many questions about the ‘Frustrated dropout’ already. A user asked, “How does he accept crypto? Which all coins are accepted? How does he decide the exchange rate? I have so many questions (Sic)” How does he accept crypto? Which all coins are accepted? How does he decide the exchange rate? I have so many questions 🙂 — Ankit | MVP | GDE (@ankitsharma_007) September 28, 2022 × The New Indian Express reported that Shubham Saini is the tea vendor who is accepting cryptocurrency. He invested 30,000 when he first opened his tea shop in Bengaluru's Marathahalli neighbourhood. According to the story, he opened this tea shop after losing a significant sum of money trading cryptocurrencies in 2021 when the market crashed. After comparing US dollars to Indian rupees for cryptocurrency payments, Saini has posted a sign where he updates the costs. (with inputs from agencies)

Twitterati surprised as Bengaluru tea seller accepts payment in crypto

US Vice President Kamala Harris visited South Korea to reinforce the strength of the two countries' alliance, as she held a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul.

Kamala Harris, Yoon reinforce strength of alliance amid North Korea threats

Many economies around the world have beaten covid-19 blues charging a path of growth but China's economy is still weighed down by strict implementation of Covid-19 rules.

Did Zero-Covid strategy fail? Chinese local governments stare at debt defaults

In pics | Thousands of Hungarians protest in front of parliament against change in abortion laws 

Unexplained leaks in the Nord Stream pipelines 1 and 2 that carries gas from Russia to Europe into the Baltic Sea continue to worry leaders across the globe. The gas leaks as a result of suspected sabotage has also heightened security concerns.

Fourth leak detected in Nord Stream pipelines; UN to convene on Friday over pipeline leaks

Israel has been one of the loudest voices against Iran and West Asia, the country blames Tehran for playing nuclear charade. To climb down further, Israel is mulling over sharing nuclear tech with its Abraham accords members.

'Details of nuclear weapon programmes will be shared with Abraham accords members,' states Israel

Zero-covid strategy proves costly for China

American rapper Coolio who won a Grammy for the best solo rap performance for Gangsta's Paradise has died aged 59, the cause of the death is not clear. Tribute started pouring in on social media after the rapper's unexpected death.

Coolio: Gangsta's Paradise rapper died aged 59

September 28th is observed as world rabies day. Dogs are the source of vast majority of human rabies deaths and India wears the highest burden of these deaths. Animal Welfare organizations that work with stray dogs play a huge role in rabies prevention.

World Rabies Day | India's animal welfare organisation 'Manali Strays' play a huge role in rabies prevention

Harley-Davidson Inc on Tuesday spun off its electric motorcycle division LiveWire in a SPAC deal creating the first publicly traded electric motorcycle company in the United States.

WION Business News | United States: Harley-Davidson spins off LiveWire

Since the declaration of a partial mobilisation to fight in Ukraine, Russia's neighbouring countries have been witnessing an influx of thousands of Russian men to escape the situation of fighting in the war.

Both Georgia and Kazakhstan reported on Tuesday that tens of thousands of Russians had fled into their countries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trying-to-escape-mobilisation-russians-pay-27000-for-seats-on-private-planes-out-of-country-520192">Also read |&nbsp;Trying to escape mobilisation, Russians pay $27,000 for seats on private planes out of country</a>

The Almaty government currently has no plans to close its borders, despite reports that Kazakhstan is struggling to provide shelter to tens of thousands of Russians. However, the president earlier that day said that his country would provide "care and safety" to the Russians. To enter Kazakhstan, Russians do not need any visas, only Russian identity documents, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

The nation, which has a sizable ethnic Russian population, also has widespread use of the Russian language. However, after the arrival of such unexpected numbers of Russians, the country has felt a strain.

Watch |&nbsp;WION Fineprint | Russia admits to mistakes during mobilisation

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Kazakhstan's authorities earlier stated that nearly one hundred thousand have crossed the border. The rent has risen, and hotels and hostels are fully occupied.&nbsp;

Seeing this, President Kassym-Komart Tokayev urged patience and tolerance. His government has been opposing Moscow's special operations in Ukraine. Furthermore, the president also stated that with so many Russians crossing the border, his government will initiate talks with Moscow over the issue.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kazakhstan-to-ensure-safety-of-russians-fleeing-military-draft-says-president-520081">Also read |&nbsp;Kazakhstan to ensure safety of Russians fleeing military draft, says president</a>

The interior ministry at the same time released a proposal to amend the immigration laws for Russians without a passport to stay for three months.&nbsp;

People in Kazakhstan have already been demanding to close the borders or restrict Russian immigration, while others have been gathering at places to volunteer for the immigrants.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Since the declaration of a partial mobilisation to fight in Ukraine, Russia's neighbouring countries have been witnessing an influx of thousands of Russian men to escape the situation of fighting in the war.

Since the declaration of a partial mobilisation to fight in Ukraine, Russia's neighbouring countries have been witnessing an influx of thousands of Russian men to escape the situation of fighting in the war. Both Georgia and Kazakhstan reported on Tuesday that tens of thousands of Russians had fled into their countries. Also read | Trying to escape mobilisation, Russians pay $27,000 for seats on private planes out of country The Almaty government currently has no plans to close its borders, despite reports that Kazakhstan is struggling to provide shelter to tens of thousands of Russians. However, the president earlier that day said that his country would provide "care and safety" to the Russians. To enter Kazakhstan, Russians do not need any visas, only Russian identity documents, Reuters reported. The nation, which has a sizable ethnic Russian population, also has widespread use of the Russian language. However, after the arrival of such unexpected numbers of Russians, the country has felt a strain. Watch | WION Fineprint | Russia admits to mistakes during mobilisation Kazakhstan's authorities earlier stated that nearly one hundred thousand have crossed the border. The rent has risen, and hotels and hostels are fully occupied. Seeing this, President Kassym-Komart Tokayev urged patience and tolerance. His government has been opposing Moscow's special operations in Ukraine. Furthermore, the president also stated that with so many Russians crossing the border, his government will initiate talks with Moscow over the issue. Also read | Kazakhstan to ensure safety of Russians fleeing military draft, says president The interior ministry at the same time released a proposal to amend the immigration laws for Russians without a passport to stay for three months. People in Kazakhstan have already been demanding to close the borders or restrict Russian immigration, while others have been gathering at places to volunteer for the immigrants. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Rent rising, hotels all booked; Kazakhstan struggles to accommodate Russians escaping partial mobilisation

China's covid-19 driven economic slowdown is proving to be a boon for companies dealing in second-hand luxury goods. Some of the companies are even scouting for shop space to expand their businesses.

WION Business News | China's second-hand luxury market to touch $30 billion in 2025

Users of Samsung, Huawei, and Google phones have been advised to remove a number of popular apps that may contain spyware which steals money.

Tech experts have cautioned owners of Android smartphones and tablets that a variety of apps could be infected with harmful malware called 'Harly'.

What is Harly?

Harly, named after Harley Quinn the popular Batman villain, who is also the Joker's girlfriend, is a type of trojan known as a "trojan subscriber" signs users up for paid services without their knowledge.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Tech Talk: Popular apps capable of collecting private information on iPhones

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Since 2020, more than 190 Harly-infected apps have been discovered on Google Play, according to Kaspersky. The well-known antivirus supplier estimates that 4.8 million people have downloaded these apps, however, the actual number may be far higher.

How does it work?

The Harly family of Trojans imitates trustworthy applications. Scammers download common apps from Google Play, add malicious code to them, and then submit the altered versions to Google Play. Users might not even be aware that the apps are dangerous because they still have the functions that are provided in the description.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-deletes-50-apps-after-joker-malware-attack-users-should-delete-them-if-they-are-installed-501251">Google deletes 50 apps infected with Joker malware. Recommends users to delete the apps if installed</a>

But don't you need a verification code for paid subscriptions?

Yes, you do. However, according to The Daily Express, Harly can sign up Android users for pricey subscription services without their knowledge by stealthily taking security codes from text messages.

It can also check subscriptions over the phone without the device owner's knowledge, and once this is done, it could empty someone's bank account without being noticed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-discovers-malware-capable-of-gaining-access-to-industrial-control-systems-issues-alert-471072">US discovers malware capable of gaining access to industrial control systems, issues alert</a>

How do we protect ourselves?

The company advises reading user reviews and viewing an app's rating on Google Play before installing it. But bear in mind that ratings and reviews could be inflated. Another solution it recommends is of course "a reliable security solution."&nbsp;

Which apps have been affected?

Kaspersky, which first flagged the malware has made mention of a number of apps, some of which already have thousands of downloads. Here are a few apps that you need to skirt clear of:

-Pony Camera&nbsp; 
-Live Wallpaper&amp;Themes Launcher 
-Action Launcher &amp; Wallpapers&nbsp; 
-Color Call 
-Good Launcher&nbsp; 
-Mondy Widgets 
-Funcalls-Voice Changer 
-Eva Launcher 
-Newlook Launcher 
-Pixel Screen Wallpaper

(With inputs from agencies)

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Users of Samsung, Huawei, and Google phones have been advised to remove a number of popular apps that may contain spyware which steals money. Tech experts have cautioned owners of Android smartphones and tablets that a variety of apps could be infected with harmful malware called 'Harly'.

Users of Samsung, Huawei, and Google phones have been advised to remove a number of popular apps that may contain spyware which steals money. Tech experts have cautioned owners of Android smartphones and tablets that a variety of apps could be infected with harmful malware called 'Harly'. What is Harly? Harly, named after Harley Quinn the popular Batman villain, who is also the Joker's girlfriend, is a type of trojan known as a "trojan subscriber" signs users up for paid services without their knowledge. Watch | Tech Talk: Popular apps capable of collecting private information on iPhones Since 2020, more than 190 Harly-infected apps have been discovered on Google Play, according to Kaspersky. The well-known antivirus supplier estimates that 4.8 million people have downloaded these apps, however, the actual number may be far higher. How does it work? The Harly family of Trojans imitates trustworthy applications. Scammers download common apps from Google Play, add malicious code to them, and then submit the altered versions to Google Play. Users might not even be aware that the apps are dangerous because they still have the functions that are provided in the description. Also read | Google deletes 50 apps infected with Joker malware. Recommends users to delete the apps if installed But don't you need a verification code for paid subscriptions? Yes, you do. However, according to The Daily Express, Harly can sign up Android users for pricey subscription services without their knowledge by stealthily taking security codes from text messages. It can also check subscriptions over the phone without the device owner's knowledge, and once this is done, it could empty someone's bank account without being noticed. Also read | US discovers malware capable of gaining access to industrial control systems, issues alert How do we protect ourselves? The company advises reading user reviews and viewing an app's rating on Google Play before installing it. But bear in mind that ratings and reviews could be inflated. Another solution it recommends is of course "a reliable security solution." Which apps have been affected? Kaspersky, which first flagged the malware has made mention of a number of apps, some of which already have thousands of downloads. Here are a few apps that you need to skirt clear of: -Pony Camera -Live Wallpaper&Themes Launcher -Action Launcher & Wallpapers -Color Call -Good Launcher -Mondy Widgets -Funcalls-Voice Changer -Eva Launcher -Newlook Launcher -Pixel Screen Wallpaper (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: 'Harly' the latest malware in market, that can drain your bank accounts

The referendums in Ukraine are done, and as hurriedly the votes were announced by Russia the results too came with lightning speed and there are no surprises here, Kremlin-backed proxies have claimed overwhelming victory.

Ukraine Crisis: Russia claims victory in referendums, says all four in favour

As the pound hits record low against dollar for some tourists it's a good opportunity to seek more value for their money.

WION Business News | London tourists relish Pound slump as residents worry

On the empty Fourth Plinth of London's Trafalgar Square, Samson Kambalu's post-colonial artwork "Antelope" was revealed on Wednesday.&nbsp;

John Chilembwe, a Baptist preacher and educator who led an insurrection against British colonial control in Nyasaland, now Malawi, in 1915, is shown in the bronze resin sculpture.&nbsp;

On John Chilembwe Day, which commemorates his death at the hands of colonial police and signals the start of the movement for Malawian independence, he is remembered in Malawi.&nbsp;

The sculpture is the most recent in a series of exhibitions of modern art on the bare plinth that has been running since 1998 and is supervised by the mayor of London.

A huge ship in a bottle and a swirl of fake whipped cream with a cherry, fly, and drone on top were among the earlier installations.&nbsp;

In Kambalu's sculpture, Chilembwe is accompanied by the European missionary John Chorley, a friend and supporter.&nbsp;

It was intended, according to the artist, to raise awareness of Britain's colonial history in southern Africa.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/from-nda-to-pvsm-anil-chauhans-journey-to-becoming-cds-of-india-520564">From NDA to PVSM: Anil Chauhan's journey to becoming CDS of India</a>

While Chilembwe is "larger than life," Chorley is life-size, bringing attention to the pastor's story and Britain's colonial heritage.

Kambalu stated that he hoped his work would shine a light on this "hidden history" by drawing attention to what he claimed was Britain's unwillingness to acknowledge its colonial legacy in southern Africa, such as Malawi.&nbsp;

The fact that both characters in the sculpture are wearing hats may seem unremarkable at first, but they serve to remind us of the colonial ban on African men donning hats in front of white people.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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On the empty Fourth Plinth of London's Trafalgar Square, Samson Kambalu's post-colonial artwork "Antelope" was revealed on Wednesday. John Chilembwe, a Baptist preacher and educator who led an insurrection against British colonial control in Nyasaland, now Malawi, in 1915, is shown in the bronze resin sculpture.

On the empty Fourth Plinth of London's Trafalgar Square, Samson Kambalu's post-colonial artwork "Antelope" was revealed on Wednesday. John Chilembwe, a Baptist preacher and educator who led an insurrection against British colonial control in Nyasaland, now Malawi, in 1915, is shown in the bronze resin sculpture. On John Chilembwe Day, which commemorates his death at the hands of colonial police and signals the start of the movement for Malawian independence, he is remembered in Malawi. The sculpture is the most recent in a series of exhibitions of modern art on the bare plinth that has been running since 1998 and is supervised by the mayor of London. A huge ship in a bottle and a swirl of fake whipped cream with a cherry, fly, and drone on top were among the earlier installations. In Kambalu's sculpture, Chilembwe is accompanied by the European missionary John Chorley, a friend and supporter. It was intended, according to the artist, to raise awareness of Britain's colonial history in southern Africa. Also Read: From NDA to PVSM: Anil Chauhan's journey to becoming CDS of India While Chilembwe is "larger than life," Chorley is life-size, bringing attention to the pastor's story and Britain's colonial heritage. Kambalu stated that he hoped his work would shine a light on this "hidden history" by drawing attention to what he claimed was Britain's unwillingness to acknowledge its colonial legacy in southern Africa, such as Malawi. The fact that both characters in the sculpture are wearing hats may seem unremarkable at first, but they serve to remind us of the colonial ban on African men donning hats in front of white people. (with inputs from agencies)

Post-colonial sculpture 'Antelope' unveiled in London's Trafalgar Square

A US company debuts its first electric plane test flight, flying the battery-powered Alice for 8 minutes in central Washington state.

WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft

Apple Inc is dropping plans to increase production of its new iPhones this year after an anticipated surge in demand failed to materialize, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

WION Business News | Apple drops plan to boost production: Reports

Due to their ads running alongside tweets promoting child pornography, some big advertisers, including Dyson, Mazda, and chemicals giant Ecolab, have suspended their marketing campaigns or pulled their advertisements from some portions of Twitter.

According to a Reuters review of accounts identified by cybersecurity group Ghost Data in new research about child sex abuse online Ads of some 30 brands, including Walt Disney Company, Coca-Cola, and even a children's hospital, have been seen on the profile pages of Twitter accounts that promote links to the exploitative material.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-childrens-evil-abuse-us-judge-sends-28-year-old-man-to-jail-for-life-473443">For 'evil' child sex abuse, US judge sends 28-year-old man to jail for life &nbsp;</a>

One example is of the shoes and accessories brand Cole Haan whose ad appeared next to a tweet in which the user posted about "trading teen/child" content.

Several tweets contained phrases like "rape" and "teens," among others.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/youtubes-ai-algorithm-adds-explicit-language-in-captions-to-childrens-clips-456700">YouTube’s AI algorithm adds explicit language in captions to children's clips</a>

In another instance, a user posted their search for "Yung girls ONLY, NO Boys," material on Twitter which was followed immediately by a promotional tweet for the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Texas.&nbsp;

Ghost Data found that over 500 accounts&nbsp;shared or requested explicit child sex abuse content over the course of 20 days this month. The organisation, as per Reuters, claims that Twitter failed to delete more than 70 per cent&nbsp;of the accounts during the study period.&nbsp;

Like all social media platforms, Twitter forbids images that portray child sexual exploitation. However, it normally allows for sexual content and hosts a booming exchange of pornographic images, which, as per the Reuters report&nbsp;account for around 13 per cent of all content on Twitter.

Watch |&nbsp;<a>Tech Talk: Google's AI bans father over medical photos of his child</a>

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Celeste Carswell, a spokesperson for Twitter, said in a statement that the business "has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation" and is allocating additional resources to improving child safety, including hiring for new positions to develop policies and put them into practice.

Twitter is closely collaborating with its advertising partners and clients to look into the incident and take appropriate action to ensure that it doesn't occur again, she added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Due to their ads running alongside tweets promoting child pornography, some big advertisers, including Dyson, Mazda, and chemicals giant Ecolab, have suspended their marketing campaigns or pulled their advertisements from some portions of Twitter.

Due to their ads running alongside tweets promoting child pornography, some big advertisers, including Dyson, Mazda, and chemicals giant Ecolab, have suspended their marketing campaigns or pulled their advertisements from some portions of Twitter. According to a Reuters review of accounts identified by cybersecurity group Ghost Data in new research about child sex abuse online Ads of some 30 brands, including Walt Disney Company, Coca-Cola, and even a children's hospital, have been seen on the profile pages of Twitter accounts that promote links to the exploitative material. Also read | For 'evil' child sex abuse, US judge sends 28-year-old man to jail for life One example is of the shoes and accessories brand Cole Haan whose ad appeared next to a tweet in which the user posted about "trading teen/child" content. Several tweets contained phrases like "rape" and "teens," among others. Also read | YouTube’s AI algorithm adds explicit language in captions to children's clips In another instance, a user posted their search for "Yung girls ONLY, NO Boys," material on Twitter which was followed immediately by a promotional tweet for the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Texas. Ghost Data found that over 500 accounts shared or requested explicit child sex abuse content over the course of 20 days this month. The organisation, as per Reuters, claims that Twitter failed to delete more than 70 per cent of the accounts during the study period. Like all social media platforms, Twitter forbids images that portray child sexual exploitation. However, it normally allows for sexual content and hosts a booming exchange of pornographic images, which, as per the Reuters report account for around 13 per cent of all content on Twitter. Watch | Tech Talk: Google's AI bans father over medical photos of his child Celeste Carswell, a spokesperson for Twitter, said in a statement that the business "has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation" and is allocating additional resources to improving child safety, including hiring for new positions to develop policies and put them into practice. Twitter is closely collaborating with its advertising partners and clients to look into the incident and take appropriate action to ensure that it doesn't occur again, she added. (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.

Brands remove ads from Twitter after their campaigns feature next to tweets on child porn: Report

Marking a new phase in aviation travel and sustainability, an all-electric aeroplane prototype took off the tarmac in Central Washington and soared 3,500 feet high into the sky in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.&nbsp;

The aeroplane named 'Alice' took off from Moses Lake, Washington&nbsp;and lasted eight minutes in the air before taxing onto the terminal. However, by then, the plane and its manufacturing company 'Eviation' had registered themselves in the history books.&nbsp;

“What we’ve just done is made aviation history. This is about changing the way that we fly. It’s about connecting communities in a sustainable way," Eviation CEO Greg Davis was quoted as saying by The Seattle Times.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-business-news-us-company-debuts-all-electric-aircraft-520425">WATCH |&nbsp;WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft</a>

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Reportedly, the airplane has a carbon composite frame and is powered by 21,500 small Tesla-style battery cells which make up half of its four-tonne weight. The plane can carry nine passengers and two pilots.&nbsp;

Test pilot Steve Crane, 55, who flew 'Alice' heaped praises on the new electric airplane and <a href="https://twitter.com/dominicgates/status/1574763980429864960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1574763980429864960%7Ctwgr%5E818bca5e037b0c2bb1919d29010bd77915400c93%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.seattletimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fboeing-aerospace%2Ffirst-u-s-all-electric-airplane-takes-flight-at-moses-lake%2F">added </a>that he couldn't hear the sound of the engine.&nbsp;

"It’s beautiful. The team did a great job, built a great airplane. It’s a fast airplane, very responsive. I couldn’t be happier. I hear all the other things. Hydraulic pumps. I hear the propellers. But I can’t hear the engines. They’re silent," said Crane.&nbsp;

While the flight was a success, Davis conceded that they were nowhere near achieving commercial capabilities which could take as much as five years.&nbsp;

“Are the batteries on the prototype aircraft capable of propelling the certification aircraft, capable of providing sufficient energy? The answer is no, absolutely not,” said Davis.&nbsp;

Notably, the first all-electric aeroplane flight was made in 2019 by&nbsp;Harbour Air of Vancouver, BC which used a retrofitted DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Marking a new phase in aviation travel and sustainability, an all-electric aeroplane prototype took off the tarmac in Central Washington and soared 3,500 feet high into the sky in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Marking a new phase in aviation travel and sustainability, an all-electric aeroplane prototype took off the tarmac in Central Washington and soared 3,500 feet high into the sky in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. The aeroplane named 'Alice' took off from Moses Lake, Washington and lasted eight minutes in the air before taxing onto the terminal. However, by then, the plane and its manufacturing company 'Eviation' had registered themselves in the history books. “What we’ve just done is made aviation history. This is about changing the way that we fly. It’s about connecting communities in a sustainable way," Eviation CEO Greg Davis was quoted as saying by The Seattle Times. WATCH | WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft × Reportedly, the airplane has a carbon composite frame and is powered by 21,500 small Tesla-style battery cells which make up half of its four-tonne weight. The plane can carry nine passengers and two pilots. Test pilot Steve Crane, 55, who flew 'Alice' heaped praises on the new electric airplane and added that he couldn't hear the sound of the engine. "It’s beautiful. The team did a great job, built a great airplane. It’s a fast airplane, very responsive. I couldn’t be happier. I hear all the other things. Hydraulic pumps. I hear the propellers. But I can’t hear the engines. They’re silent," said Crane. While the flight was a success, Davis conceded that they were nowhere near achieving commercial capabilities which could take as much as five years. “Are the batteries on the prototype aircraft capable of propelling the certification aircraft, capable of providing sufficient energy? The answer is no, absolutely not,” said Davis. Notably, the first all-electric aeroplane flight was made in 2019 by Harbour Air of Vancouver, BC which used a retrofitted DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

All-electric airplane prototype completes eight-minute flight in Washington, scripts history

While Mars is the intended target for humanity's first crewed mission to another planet, a group of experts is now advocating for Earth's sister planet Venus to get that accolade.

However, the planet is practically burning up. It is hot enough to melt lead, is home to clouds of sulphuric acid, a chemical capable of causing severe skin burns, and has a crushing atmospheric pressure.&nbsp;

Why then, do these experts want to forego Mars and visit Venus?

As per a report by the Guardian quoting research presented at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris last week, there are actually plus points to this.

Watch |&nbsp;Expanding problem of space debris: What is space junk? Why is it a problem?

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Firstly, Venus is nearer. While a roundtrip to Mars is estimated to take around three years, to and fro Venus would only take one year.

Second, while walking on the planet's surface is a distant dream, and an unlivable experience, a flyby might offer the essential experience of a lengthy deep-space mission as a prelude to reaching Mars.

One of the supporters of the Venus flyby, Dr Noam Izenberg of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, claimed that Venus "gets a bad rap because it's got such a difficult surface environment."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/humans-yet-to-set-foot-on-mars-yet-the-red-planet-is-already-littered-with-7000-kgs-of-our-trash-519541" hreflang="en">Humans yet to set foot on Mars, but the red planet is already 'littered' with 7000 kg of our trash</a>

"Moon to Mars is the current NASA paradigm," he said adding that they're attempting to justify Venus as an additional objective along that route.&nbsp;He says that a Venus flyby makes sense as performing a slingshot or gravity assist around Earth's sister planet, could shorten the journey time and fuel needed to reach the red planet despite the fact that Venus is in the "wrong" direction.

However, not everyone is sold on the idea.&nbsp;

“It’s really not a nice place to go. It’s a hellish environment and the thermal challenges for a human mission would be quite considerable,” says Prof. Andrew Coates of UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-captures-mid-boggling-photo-of-ufo-like-object-on-mars-take-a-look-474921">NASA captures mind-boggling photo of UFO-like object on Mars. Take a look!</a>

He claimed that although Venus was rightfully the focus of scientific inquiry, "a human flyby really wouldn't add very much."

Since the discovery of hundreds of exoplanets, scientific curiosity about Venus has grown as the finding raises the question of how many of these planets may be habitable. Now, scientists want to know how and why Venus, a planet so similar to our own in size, mass, and distance from the sun, ended up with hellish surface conditions.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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While Mars is the intended target for humanity's first crewed mission to another planet, a group of experts is now advocating for Earth's sister planet Venus to get that accolade.

While Mars is the intended target for humanity's first crewed mission to another planet, a group of experts is now advocating for Earth's sister planet Venus to get that accolade. However, the planet is practically burning up. It is hot enough to melt lead, is home to clouds of sulphuric acid, a chemical capable of causing severe skin burns, and has a crushing atmospheric pressure. Why then, do these experts want to forego Mars and visit Venus? As per a report by the Guardian quoting research presented at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris last week, there are actually plus points to this. Watch | Expanding problem of space debris: What is space junk? Why is it a problem? Firstly, Venus is nearer. While a roundtrip to Mars is estimated to take around three years, to and fro Venus would only take one year. Second, while walking on the planet's surface is a distant dream, and an unlivable experience, a flyby might offer the essential experience of a lengthy deep-space mission as a prelude to reaching Mars. One of the supporters of the Venus flyby, Dr Noam Izenberg of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, claimed that Venus "gets a bad rap because it's got such a difficult surface environment." Also read | Humans yet to set foot on Mars, but the red planet is already 'littered' with 7000 kg of our trash "Moon to Mars is the current NASA paradigm," he said adding that they're attempting to justify Venus as an additional objective along that route. He says that a Venus flyby makes sense as performing a slingshot or gravity assist around Earth's sister planet, could shorten the journey time and fuel needed to reach the red planet despite the fact that Venus is in the "wrong" direction. However, not everyone is sold on the idea. “It’s really not a nice place to go. It’s a hellish environment and the thermal challenges for a human mission would be quite considerable,” says Prof. Andrew Coates of UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory. Also read | NASA captures mind-boggling photo of UFO-like object on Mars. Take a look! He claimed that although Venus was rightfully the focus of scientific inquiry, "a human flyby really wouldn't add very much." Since the discovery of hundreds of exoplanets, scientific curiosity about Venus has grown as the finding raises the question of how many of these planets may be habitable. Now, scientists want to know how and why Venus, a planet so similar to our own in size, mass, and distance from the sun, ended up with hellish surface conditions. (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.

'Men are from Mars, women are from Venus', which planet should humans visit first?

Chinese president Xi Jinping reappeared on state television on Tuesday after several days of absence from public view, that its sparked rumors about his political circumstances. Jingping's appearance comes 11 days after returning from the Shanghai Corporation organization summit.

Chinese president Xi Jinping appears in public for the first time since SCO summit

The world seems to be inching back towards nuclear sabre-rattling years after gingerly stepped back from the edge of a global disaster after the cold war, foes are the same Russia and the West. Moscow has once again warned that the use of nuclear weapons has not been ruled out.

'Willing to use nukes to defend Russia's territorial integrity,' Russia's stark warning to Ukraine

After days of speculations and media theories of a coup, Chinese President Xi Jinping finally stepped out in public. This was his first outing since the SCO summit in Uzbekistan. In other news,&nbsp;European leaders have launched an investigation into the explosions near the Nord Stream pipelines which resulted in major leaks into the Baltic Sea yesterday.

Click on headlines to read more:&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-appears-in-public-for-first-time-since-sco-summit-amid-rumours-520401">Xi Jinping appears in public for first time since SCO Summit amid rumours</a>

Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first public appearance since returning from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand when he visited an exhibition of the Communist Party on Tuesday. Xi’s absence sparked a number of rumours in the past few days with few media reports suggesting that he was removed as the&nbsp;chief of China’s People’s Liberation Army.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/09/28/299435-00032jh4jg.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nord-stream-leaks-european-leaders-launch-investigation-into-sabotage-520391">Nord Stream leaks: European leaders launch investigation into 'sabotage'</a>

European leaders have launched an investigation into the explosions near the Nord Stream pipelines which resulted in major leaks into the Baltic Sea. They believed that sabotage was the reason behind the leaks as the major pipelines transporting natural gas from Russia to Europe were majorly impacted.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/09/28/299428-00032k88au.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-announces-huge-majorities-have-voted-in-favour-of-joining-russia-520387">Kremlin announces huge majorities have voted in favour of joining Russia</a>

Russian-installed officials in occupied regions of Ukraine claimed that residents of a large swath overwhelmingly voted in favour of joining Russia in the so-called referendums that Kyiv and the West denounced as a sham.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/09/28/299423-2022-09-28t014426z2lynxmpei8q0uortroptp4ukraine-crisis-referendums-crimea.JPG" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/liz-truss-and-kwasi-kwarteng-argue-over-response-on-uk-economic-crisis-report-520396">Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng argue over response to UK economic crisis: Report</a>

It has been a tough week for newly elected British Prime Minister Liz Truss as her economic policies have come under severe criticism. Following up on campaign promises, finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng announced massive tax cuts in the mini-budget earlier this week but that was followed by the pound reaching an all-time low against the US dollar and the country facing a more acute economic crisis.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/09/28/299432-00032jy7pn.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jaishankar-blinken-meet-us-state-secy-blinken-praises-indian-pm-modis-stance-on-ukraine-war-520347">WATCH |&nbsp;Jaishankar-Blinken meet: US State Secy Blinken praises Indian PM Modi's stance on Ukraine war</a>

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Washington praised PM Narendra Modi’s remark on the Ukraine war during the recent SCO summit.

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After days of speculations and media theories of a coup, Chinese President Xi Jinping finally stepped out in public. This was his first outing since the SCO summit in Uzbekistan.

After days of speculations and media theories of a coup, Chinese President Xi Jinping finally stepped out in public. This was his first outing since the SCO summit in Uzbekistan. In other news, European leaders have launched an investigation into the explosions near the Nord Stream pipelines which resulted in major leaks into the Baltic Sea yesterday. Click on headlines to read more: Xi Jinping appears in public for first time since SCO Summit amid rumours Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first public appearance since returning from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand when he visited an exhibition of the Communist Party on Tuesday. Xi’s absence sparked a number of rumours in the past few days with few media reports suggesting that he was removed as the chief of China’s People’s Liberation Army. Nord Stream leaks: European leaders launch investigation into 'sabotage' European leaders have launched an investigation into the explosions near the Nord Stream pipelines which resulted in major leaks into the Baltic Sea. They believed that sabotage was the reason behind the leaks as the major pipelines transporting natural gas from Russia to Europe were majorly impacted. Kremlin announces huge majorities have voted in favour of joining Russia Russian-installed officials in occupied regions of Ukraine claimed that residents of a large swath overwhelmingly voted in favour of joining Russia in the so-called referendums that Kyiv and the West denounced as a sham. Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng argue over response to UK economic crisis: Report It has been a tough week for newly elected British Prime Minister Liz Truss as her economic policies have come under severe criticism. Following up on campaign promises, finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng announced massive tax cuts in the mini-budget earlier this week but that was followed by the pound reaching an all-time low against the US dollar and the country facing a more acute economic crisis. WATCH | Jaishankar-Blinken meet: US State Secy Blinken praises Indian PM Modi's stance on Ukraine war US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Washington praised PM Narendra Modi’s remark on the Ukraine war during the recent SCO summit. ×

Morning news brief: Xi returns to public light, Europe launches Nord Stream 1 investigation & more

As per a Reuters report, Afghanistan rulers the Taliban have signed a provisional deal for gas and wheat with Russia.

It quotes Acting Afghan Commerce and Industry Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi as saying that ministry was trying to diversify the nation's trading partners, and that Moscow had offered Afghanistan a discount on the average global commodity prices.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-doesnt-need-a-constitution-can-address-problems-by-applying-islamic-laws-officials-512983">Afghanistan doesn’t need a constitution, can address problems by applying Islamic Laws, says official</a>

This deal is the first significant foreign economic agreement known to have been reached by the Taliban and it may help lessen the Islamist movement's exclusion from the world banking system.

According to Azizi, the agreement calls for Russia to annually supply two million tonnes of wheat, 500,000 tonnes of LPG, and one million tonne&nbsp;each of gasoline and diesel. 
 
The minister also disclosed that the agreement is set to run for an unspecified length of time, after which both sides if content with the arrangement will sign a longer-term deal.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-world-is-running-out-of-patience-with-taliban-520345">UN: World is 'running out of patience' with Taliban</a>

He claimed that while Afghanistan had significant trading links with Pakistan and also received some gas and oil from Turkmenistan and Iran, it wished to diversify.

It is expected that the United States, which is currently experiencing shaky relations with Russia will be keeping an eye on the trade deal.

More than one year has elapsed since Afghanistan's erstwhile rulers once again took over the country. However, at this time, no nation has formally recognised the Taliban.&nbsp;Even though Russia doesn't formally recognise the group, its embassy is one of the few that is still operational in the Afghan capital.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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As per a Reuters report, Afghanistan rulers the Taliban have signed a provisional deal for gas and wheat with Russia. It quotes Acting Afghan Commerce and Industry Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi as saying that ministry was trying to diversify the nation's trading partners, and that Moscow had offered Afghanistan a discount on the average global commodity prices.

As per a Reuters report, Afghanistan rulers the Taliban have signed a provisional deal for gas and wheat with Russia. It quotes Acting Afghan Commerce and Industry Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi as saying that ministry was trying to diversify the nation's trading partners, and that Moscow had offered Afghanistan a discount on the average global commodity prices. Also read | Afghanistan doesn’t need a constitution, can address problems by applying Islamic Laws, says official This deal is the first significant foreign economic agreement known to have been reached by the Taliban and it may help lessen the Islamist movement's exclusion from the world banking system. According to Azizi, the agreement calls for Russia to annually supply two million tonnes of wheat, 500,000 tonnes of LPG, and one million tonne each of gasoline and diesel. The minister also disclosed that the agreement is set to run for an unspecified length of time, after which both sides if content with the arrangement will sign a longer-term deal. Also read | UN: World is 'running out of patience' with Taliban He claimed that while Afghanistan had significant trading links with Pakistan and also received some gas and oil from Turkmenistan and Iran, it wished to diversify. It is expected that the United States, which is currently experiencing shaky relations with Russia will be keeping an eye on the trade deal. More than one year has elapsed since Afghanistan's erstwhile rulers once again took over the country. However, at this time, no nation has formally recognised the Taliban. Even though Russia doesn't formally recognise the group, its embassy is one of the few that is still operational in the Afghan capital. (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.

Taliban and Russia sign a trading agreement for wheat, gas and oil: Report

The European Union has claimed that gas leaks on the Nord Stream pipes to Europe were a "deliberate act," while the Kremlin called this claim "stupid and absurd."&nbsp;

After Ukraine claimed that the leaks&nbsp;were a "terrorist attack" by Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it was both predictable and irresponsible to give life to these kinds of scenarios.&nbsp;

The leaks, according to Peskov, are "quite problematic" for Moscow.&nbsp;

"Both branches were filled with gas, ready for pumping, and this gas is very expensive. Now, this gas is disappearing into the air," Peskov said.

In addition, he urged everyone to wait for the results of the probe before making any statements.&nbsp;

"This is a situation that requires dialogue, prompt interaction on the part of all sides to find what happened. So far we see an absolute lack of such dialogue," Peskov said.

On Monday, the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea had three unexplained gas leaks that were preceded by two explosions.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-russian-call-for-mobilisation-sparks-mass-exodus-520181">In pics: Russian call for mobilisation sparks mass exodus</a>

In recent months, the pipelines have been at the centre of geopolitical unrest as a result of Russia's suspected retaliation against Western sanctions following its military intervention in Ukraine. Russia curtailed gas shipments to Europe.

Nord Stream 2 was designed to run parallel to Nord Stream 1 and increase Germany's ability to import Russian gas.&nbsp;

However, Berlin halted the recently finished Nord Stream 2 just before Moscow pushed soldiers into Ukraine.

(with inputs from agencies)

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The European Union has claimed that gas leaks on the Nord Stream pipes to Europe were a "deliberate act," while the Kremlin called this claim "stupid and absurd.

The European Union has claimed that gas leaks on the Nord Stream pipes to Europe were a "deliberate act," while the Kremlin called this claim "stupid and absurd." After Ukraine claimed that the leaks were a "terrorist attack" by Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that it was both predictable and irresponsible to give life to these kinds of scenarios. The leaks, according to Peskov, are "quite problematic" for Moscow. "Both branches were filled with gas, ready for pumping, and this gas is very expensive. Now, this gas is disappearing into the air," Peskov said. In addition, he urged everyone to wait for the results of the probe before making any statements. "This is a situation that requires dialogue, prompt interaction on the part of all sides to find what happened. So far we see an absolute lack of such dialogue," Peskov said. On Monday, the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea had three unexplained gas leaks that were preceded by two explosions. Also Read: In pics: Russian call for mobilisation sparks mass exodus In recent months, the pipelines have been at the centre of geopolitical unrest as a result of Russia's suspected retaliation against Western sanctions following its military intervention in Ukraine. Russia curtailed gas shipments to Europe. Nord Stream 2 was designed to run parallel to Nord Stream 1 and increase Germany's ability to import Russian gas. However, Berlin halted the recently finished Nord Stream 2 just before Moscow pushed soldiers into Ukraine. (with inputs from agencies)

'Stupid and absurd' to accuse Russia of Nord Stream leaks: Kremlin

The United States is flexing its muscles, it has dispatched the world's largest destroyer to the region the USS Zumwalt. It is Washington's most advanced warship it was named after U.S Admiral Elmo Zumwalt.

USS Zumwalt: US flexes its muscles in the Indo-Pacific

Elon Musk is battling for his free speech. Reportedly, the Tesla founder through his attorneys on Tuesday filed a brief to end a consent decree with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which requires him to seek the approval of a Tesla lawyer before tweeting posts that might contain material information about the company.

Elon Musk is battling for his free speech. Reportedly, the Tesla founder through his attorneys on Tuesday filed a brief to end a consent decree with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which requires him to seek the approval of a Tesla lawyer before tweeting posts that might contain material information about the company. The brief was filed with the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan where Musk's lawyers called the pre-approval mandate a "government-imposed muzzle" and urged the federal body to remove it as the objectives of the provisions had been served. "Under the shadow of the consent decree, the SEC has increasingly surveilled, policed, and attempted to curb Mr. Musk's protected speech that does not touch upon the federal securities laws. Any objective served by the pre-approval provision has been served," said Musk's lawyer. While the financial regulator did not reply to Musk's brief immediately, it is expected to file its own brief with the appeals court soon. Musk was put under the proverbial shackles of censorship after an SEC lawsuit claimed that he had defrauded the investors by tweeting information regarding his company. Reportedly, on August 7, 2018, Musk tweeted that he had secured funding to take Tesla private, despite the deal nowhere near being finalised. Read more: Musk files plea seeking to end restrictions that required supervision for some tweets However, his tweet made investors jump in prematurely, only to lose their investment later. Consequently, Musk was cornered by the SEC and was forced to accept the consent decree. According to a previous filing by Musk's lawyers, the former Tesla CEO felt "forced" to sign the initial 2018 agreement because "the SEC’s action stood to jeopardise the company’s financing" and "protracted litigation" would not be in shareholders’ interest. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Musk wants back his freedom to tweet anything, seeks to end SEC consent decree

A couple of weeks after Taiwanese major Foxconn announced it will be building a semiconductor plant in India, the European Union (EU) has swung into action to persuade other Taiwanese companies to do the same in the continent.

A couple of weeks after Taiwanese major Foxconn announced it will be building a semiconductor plant in India, the European Union (EU) has swung into action to persuade other Taiwanese companies to do the same in the continent. The EU has been courting and serenading local Taiwanese companies as one of the 'like minded' allies it would like to work with under the European Chips Act unveiled in February, according to a Reuters report. Fielding questions from reporters regarding local semiconductor companies expanding their footprint in Europe, Taiwan's deputy economy minister Chen Chern-chyi said, "To my knowledge, the European Commission and member states are talking to some of our companies, which is purely a commercial decision for the companies to make." "From the government's perspective, we are pleased to see our companies deploy globally and with our democratic allies, as long as we share the same values we like to form a trusted partnership," he said further. There had been murmurs of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest chipmaker coming to Germany last year. However, no progress has been made since then. With the major economies across the globe suffering a significant supply chain crunch, exacerbated by the lack of semiconductors, the Taiwanese chip companies have become all the more valuable as courting attempts intensify. India to get a semiconductor factory As reported by WION, earlier this month, Indian company Vedanta Ltd. and Foxconn joined hands to invest $19.5 billion to build semiconductor and display manufacturing facilities in India's western state of Gujarat, which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. Read more: Vedanta, Foxconn to invest $19.5 billion for semiconductor project in Indian PM Modi's home state Gujarat The joint venture received subsidies from the Gujarat state government for capital costs and electricity in order to build units close to Ahmedabad, the state's capital. The state government in its statement announced that Vedanta would set up two units: a chip-related production unit with an investment of $7.58 billion and a display manufacturing facility in which it will invest $11.95 billion. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EU serenades Taiwanese chip companies to drop anchor in the continent

Following hurriedly organised referendums that Ukraine and the West blasted as fraudulent, the Russian-installed administrators of Ukraine's Luhansk and Kherson regions have formally petitioned President Vladimir Putin to merge them into Russia.&nbsp;

Four occupied regions of Ukraine recorded resounding majorities in favour of joining Russia, according to Russian-installed officials.&nbsp;

The polls, according to the West, were a coercive exercise designed to give Russia a pretext to annex about 15 per cent&nbsp;of Ukrainian land. If annexation plans advanced, the West threatened further penalties against Moscow.

According to officials, the four provinces' final vote totals on Tuesday ranged from 87 per cent&nbsp;to 99.2 per cent&nbsp;in favour of joining Russia.&nbsp;

Vladimir Saldo, the president of the Russian-occupied Kherson region of Ukraine, claimed in a message posted on his Telegram account that locals had taken "a&nbsp;historic choice" in favour of Russia.&nbsp;

If Russia annexes the four areas of Ukraine, Putin might frame any attempt by the Ukrainians to retake them as an assault on Russia, which would allow for a much more severe military reaction.

According to Russia, one of the reasons it engaged in Ukraine was to defend Russian-speaking citizens from persecution in the eastern Donbas region, which includes the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk.&nbsp;

This is rejected by Kyiv and the West as a fictitious excuse for a more extensive war of invasion.

(with inputs from agencies)

Following hurriedly organised referendums that Ukraine and the West blasted as fraudulent, the Russian-installed administrators of Ukraine's Luhansk and Kherson regions have formally petitioned President Vladimir Putin to merge them into Russia.

Following hurriedly organised referendums that Ukraine and the West blasted as fraudulent, the Russian-installed administrators of Ukraine's Luhansk and Kherson regions have formally petitioned President Vladimir Putin to merge them into Russia. Four occupied regions of Ukraine recorded resounding majorities in favour of joining Russia, according to Russian-installed officials. The polls, according to the West, were a coercive exercise designed to give Russia a pretext to annex about 15 per cent of Ukrainian land. If annexation plans advanced, the West threatened further penalties against Moscow. According to officials, the four provinces' final vote totals on Tuesday ranged from 87 per cent to 99.2 per cent in favour of joining Russia. Vladimir Saldo, the president of the Russian-occupied Kherson region of Ukraine, claimed in a message posted on his Telegram account that locals had taken "a historic choice" in favour of Russia. If Russia annexes the four areas of Ukraine, Putin might frame any attempt by the Ukrainians to retake them as an assault on Russia, which would allow for a much more severe military reaction. According to Russia, one of the reasons it engaged in Ukraine was to defend Russian-speaking citizens from persecution in the eastern Donbas region, which includes the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. This is rejected by Kyiv and the West as a fictitious excuse for a more extensive war of invasion. (with inputs from agencies)

Russia-installed administrators in occupied regions ask Putin to hastily incorporate them

Unequal access to new technologies, illicit trafficking and other threats to cultural heritage are among the issues on the agenda for an international culture ministers meeting in Mexico on Wednesday.

Representatives of around 190 UNESCO member states will participate in the three-day World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development in Mexico City.

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that culture is vital for public health, according to conference coordinator Pablo Raphael.

"No one would have been able to survive the confinement and stress... without books, music and cinema," he said.

But the health crisis also laid bare technological inequalities between different communities, Mexican Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto told AFP.

One of the meeting's objectives is to find ways to guarantee artists access to technologies to share their work.

The final declaration is expected to include a call to recognize culture as a "global public good" that benefits all of the world's citizens.

The aim is also for the United Nations' sustainable development goals to contain a "reasonable objective" in terms of culture, Frausto said.

Two issues on the agenda -- defending communities' intellectual property and the restitution of cultural property -- are of particular interest to Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has criticized foreign auctions of items that form part of other nations' cultural heritage as "immoral."

Since 2019, Mexico has managed to retrieve thousands of pre-Hispanic archaeological pieces from abroad that were in private collections or set to be auctioned.

Some were handed over voluntarily while others, such as items in Italy, were recovered in police raids.

Mexico also regularly denounces what it calls plagiarism&nbsp;by foreign fashion houses of the motifs, embroidery and colors of its Indigenous communities.

The Latin American nation has lodged complaints of alleged violation of intellectual property against major clothing brands including Zara and Mango in the past.

The government of war-torn Ukraine will participate by video in a session about "heritage and cultural diversity in crisis."

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Unequal access to new technologies, illicit trafficking and other threats to cultural heritage are among the issues on the agenda for an international culture ministers meeting in Mexico on Wednesday.

Unequal access to new technologies, illicit trafficking and other threats to cultural heritage are among the issues on the agenda for an international culture ministers meeting in Mexico on Wednesday. Representatives of around 190 UNESCO member states will participate in the three-day World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development in Mexico City. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that culture is vital for public health, according to conference coordinator Pablo Raphael. "No one would have been able to survive the confinement and stress... without books, music and cinema," he said. But the health crisis also laid bare technological inequalities between different communities, Mexican Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto told AFP. One of the meeting's objectives is to find ways to guarantee artists access to technologies to share their work. The final declaration is expected to include a call to recognize culture as a "global public good" that benefits all of the world's citizens. The aim is also for the United Nations' sustainable development goals to contain a "reasonable objective" in terms of culture, Frausto said. Two issues on the agenda -- defending communities' intellectual property and the restitution of cultural property -- are of particular interest to Mexico and other Latin American countries. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has criticized foreign auctions of items that form part of other nations' cultural heritage as "immoral." Since 2019, Mexico has managed to retrieve thousands of pre-Hispanic archaeological pieces from abroad that were in private collections or set to be auctioned. Some were handed over voluntarily while others, such as items in Italy, were recovered in police raids. Mexico also regularly denounces what it calls plagiarism by foreign fashion houses of the motifs, embroidery and colors of its Indigenous communities. The Latin American nation has lodged complaints of alleged violation of intellectual property against major clothing brands including Zara and Mango in the past. The government of war-torn Ukraine will participate by video in a session about "heritage and cultural diversity in crisis." WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UNESCO meeting to discuss threats to cultural heritage

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