US President Joe Biden claimed Vladimir Putin has already lost the fight with the neighbouring country and expressed the hope that Ukraine's counteroffensive would drive Russia to the bargaining table. "The war is already lost for Putin. Putin has a serious issue, Biden said during a press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, according to AFP. He has no chance of triumphing in the conflict in Ukraine, said Biden.

US President Joe Biden: Putin has lost the war in Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine War

In India's Himachal Pradesh, the recent flooding and heavy rains have resulted in a death toll of 91 people. Additionally, as many as 14 individuals are reported missing, and the northern state has suffered losses amounting to approximately Rs 4,000 crore ($487 million), said its education minister Rohit Thakur on Thursday (July 13).

The state emergency operation centre reported that as of Wednesday night, the death toll stands at 88. As per an official of the emergency operation centre, a total of 1,020 roads remain blocked, and transportation services, including bus services, have been severely disrupted.

"A total of 1,020 roads were still blocked in the state, while 2,498 transformers and 1,244 water supply schemes have been disrupted," said the official on Thursday, as reported by news agency PTI.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-noida-schools-will-remain-closed-on-friday-as-yamuna-water-level-peaks-615136">India: Noida schools will remain closed on Friday as Yamuna water level peaks</a>

The meteorological office has issued a "yellow" alert for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in the region from July 13 to 17. The wet spell is expected to continue until July 19.

<h2>Monsoons in Himachal Pradesh</h2>

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, the Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh has been severely affected by heavy rains, which triggered landslides and flash floods, leading to road blockages and damage to properties.

As of July 12, according to the emergency centre, the state has incurred a total loss of Rs 1,312 crore, and further estimates of losses are being reported.

<h2>Evacuation efforts</h2>

As per the PTI report, rescue workers have successfully evacuated 256 tourists who were stranded at Chandertal in the Lahaul and Spiti district for five days due to heavy snowfall blocking the roads.

This comes as authorities work towards shifting a total of 60,000 tourists to safer areas in the state over the past four days.

However, around 10,000 tourists stuck in places like Kasol, Kheerganga, and adjoining areas are refusing to trek to safety as they do not want to leave their vehicles behind.

To facilitate the evacuation, expert drivers were arranged to drive the tourist vehicles in the snowbound area. Food and medical supplies have been provided to the stranded tourists at Losar before taking them to Kaza, and the rescue operation is being supervised by the Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner.

Chandertal Lake, located in the Spiti valley, is a popular tourist destination where visitors often stay in camps. The evacuation from Chandertal has been described as a challenging task by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas. The Chief Minister has appointed Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, who is familiar with the harsh topography of the region, to assist in the rescue efforts.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In India's Himachal Pradesh, the recent flooding and heavy rains have resulted in a death toll of 91 people. Additionally, as many as 14 individuals are reported missing, and the northern state has suffered losses amounting to approximately Rs 4,000 crore ($487 million), said its education minister Rohit Thakur on Thursday (July 13).

In India's Himachal Pradesh, the recent flooding and heavy rains have resulted in a death toll of 91 people. Additionally, as many as 14 individuals are reported missing, and the northern state has suffered losses amounting to approximately Rs 4,000 crore ($487 million), said its education minister Rohit Thakur on Thursday (July 13). The state emergency operation centre reported that as of Wednesday night, the death toll stands at 88. As per an official of the emergency operation centre, a total of 1,020 roads remain blocked, and transportation services, including bus services, have been severely disrupted. "A total of 1,020 roads were still blocked in the state, while 2,498 transformers and 1,244 water supply schemes have been disrupted," said the official on Thursday, as reported by news agency PTI. Also read | India: Noida schools will remain closed on Friday as Yamuna water level peaks The meteorological office has issued a "yellow" alert for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in the region from July 13 to 17. The wet spell is expected to continue until July 19. Monsoons in Himachal Pradesh Since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, the Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh has been severely affected by heavy rains, which triggered landslides and flash floods, leading to road blockages and damage to properties. As of July 12, according to the emergency centre, the state has incurred a total loss of Rs 1,312 crore, and further estimates of losses are being reported. Evacuation efforts As per the PTI report, rescue workers have successfully evacuated 256 tourists who were stranded at Chandertal in the Lahaul and Spiti district for five days due to heavy snowfall blocking the roads. This comes as authorities work towards shifting a total of 60,000 tourists to safer areas in the state over the past four days. However, around 10,000 tourists stuck in places like Kasol, Kheerganga, and adjoining areas are refusing to trek to safety as they do not want to leave their vehicles behind. To facilitate the evacuation, expert drivers were arranged to drive the tourist vehicles in the snowbound area. Food and medical supplies have been provided to the stranded tourists at Losar before taking them to Kaza, and the rescue operation is being supervised by the Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner. Chandertal Lake, located in the Spiti valley, is a popular tourist destination where visitors often stay in camps. The evacuation from Chandertal has been described as a challenging task by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas. The Chief Minister has appointed Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, who is familiar with the harsh topography of the region, to assist in the rescue efforts. (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.

India: Himachal Pradesh battles heavy rains with 91 reported deaths, massive losses of nearly $487 mn

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an investigation into OpenAI, the creator of the popular ChatGPT bot, to determine whether the company has violated consumer protection laws and put personal reputations and data at risk.

As per a Washington Post report, the agency has sent a 20-page demand for records to OpenAI, requesting information on how the company addresses risks associated with its AI models. This regulatory action represents the most significant threat thus far to OpenAI's business in the United States.

<h2>FTC demands from OpenAI</h2>

In its Civil Investigative Demand, the FTC has requested detailed descriptions of any complaints received by OpenAI regarding its products making false, misleading, disparaging, or harmful statements about individuals.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-launches-long-teased-chatgpt-rival-xai-614844">Elon Musk launches AI firm ‘xAI’, likely to come up with ChatGPT rival</a>

The agency is also investigating whether the company engaged in unfair or deceptive practices that caused reputational harm to consumers. For example, radio host Mark Walters has filed a defamation lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that the ChatGPT language model falsely accused him of defrauding and embezzling funds from the Second Amendment Foundation.

Additionally, the FTC is seeking records related to a security incident disclosed by OpenAI in March, which involved a bug in the company's systems leading to the exposure of payment-related information and chat history data. The AI company has also been asked to disclose the impact of the security incident and the measures taken to mitigate it. The FTC aims to determine whether OpenAI's data security practices comply with consumer protection laws.

The investigation also focuses on potential consumer protection abuses, requesting details on how well consumers understand the accuracy and reliability of outputs generated by OpenAI's AI tools.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-expects-fully-autonomous-tesla-vehicles-later-this-year-612751">Elon Musk expects fully autonomous self-driving Tesla vehicles 'later this year'</a>

Further, the FTC has also called for comprehensive information regarding OpenAI's products and their advertising methods. The commission has also requested details regarding OpenAI's policies and procedures for releasing new products, specifically asking for a list of instances where the company withheld a large language model due to safety concerns.

Additionally, OpenAI has been asked to provide a detailed description of the data used to train its products, as well as information on refining the models to address their tendency to generate fictitious responses.

<h2>OpenAI, ChatGPT and FTC</h2>

OpenAI's ChatGPT has been hailed as the fastest-growing consumer app in history by analysts. Its success has triggered a competition among Silicon Valley companies to develop competing chatbots.

While the administration and Congress work to establish new regulations for AI, the FTC has repeatedly emphasised that existing consumer protection laws apply to AI. &nbsp;

The FTC's demands to OpenAI mark the agency's first steps toward enforcing these warnings. The agency has been vocal about taking action on AI, highlighting potential threats and issuing warnings through speeches, blog posts, op-eds, and news conferences. The agency has cautioned against AI scams, the use of generative AI for manipulative purposes, and the exaggeration of AI product capabilities.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an investigation into OpenAI, the creator of the popular ChatGPT bot, to determine whether the company has violated consumer protection laws and put personal reputations and data at risk.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an investigation into OpenAI, the creator of the popular ChatGPT bot, to determine whether the company has violated consumer protection laws and put personal reputations and data at risk. As per a Washington Post report, the agency has sent a 20-page demand for records to OpenAI, requesting information on how the company addresses risks associated with its AI models. This regulatory action represents the most significant threat thus far to OpenAI's business in the United States. FTC demands from OpenAI In its Civil Investigative Demand, the FTC has requested detailed descriptions of any complaints received by OpenAI regarding its products making false, misleading, disparaging, or harmful statements about individuals. Also read | Elon Musk launches AI firm ‘xAI’, likely to come up with ChatGPT rival The agency is also investigating whether the company engaged in unfair or deceptive practices that caused reputational harm to consumers. For example, radio host Mark Walters has filed a defamation lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that the ChatGPT language model falsely accused him of defrauding and embezzling funds from the Second Amendment Foundation. Additionally, the FTC is seeking records related to a security incident disclosed by OpenAI in March, which involved a bug in the company's systems leading to the exposure of payment-related information and chat history data. The AI company has also been asked to disclose the impact of the security incident and the measures taken to mitigate it. The FTC aims to determine whether OpenAI's data security practices comply with consumer protection laws. The investigation also focuses on potential consumer protection abuses, requesting details on how well consumers understand the accuracy and reliability of outputs generated by OpenAI's AI tools. Also read | Elon Musk expects fully autonomous self-driving Tesla vehicles 'later this year' Further, the FTC has also called for comprehensive information regarding OpenAI's products and their advertising methods. The commission has also requested details regarding OpenAI's policies and procedures for releasing new products, specifically asking for a list of instances where the company withheld a large language model due to safety concerns. Additionally, OpenAI has been asked to provide a detailed description of the data used to train its products, as well as information on refining the models to address their tendency to generate fictitious responses. OpenAI, ChatGPT and FTC OpenAI's ChatGPT has been hailed as the fastest-growing consumer app in history by analysts. Its success has triggered a competition among Silicon Valley companies to develop competing chatbots. While the administration and Congress work to establish new regulations for AI, the FTC has repeatedly emphasised that existing consumer protection laws apply to AI. The FTC's demands to OpenAI mark the agency's first steps toward enforcing these warnings. The agency has been vocal about taking action on AI, highlighting potential threats and issuing warnings through speeches, blog posts, op-eds, and news conferences. The agency has cautioned against AI scams, the use of generative AI for manipulative purposes, and the exaggeration of AI product capabilities. (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.

OpenAI faces regulatory threat as FTC investigates potential violations of consumer protection laws

The United Nations agency UNAIDS on Thursday reaffirmed that "the end of AIDS" is still possible by 2030, but emphasised the need for leaders to seize the opportunity and take decisive action.

To achieve this goal, UNAIDS outlined a roadmap that includes increased investment, evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies, and addressing the inequalities that hinder progress.

According to UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, ending the pandemic is primarily a political and financial choice.

"Success is possible – in this decade."

<h2>Progress towards ending AIDS</h2>

In its report, UNAIDS highlighted the transformation of the global AIDS pandemic over the past two decades.

Byanyima highlighted the significant progress being made in countries and regions that have made strong investments in HIV prevention and treatment. As per the UNAIDS executive director, Eastern and Southern Africa, have witnessed a 57 per cent decline in new HIV infections since 2010.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/andrew-tate-claims-us-vp-kamala-harris-largely-incompetent-and-prone-to-playing-the-race-card-614739">Andrew Tate claims US VP Kamala Harris 'largely incompetent' and prone to playing the 'race card'</a>

Furthermore, several countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, have already achieved the 95-95-95 targets, which means that 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those aware of their HIV-positive status are receiving treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression.

Approximately 16 other countries are nearing the target, including sub-Saharan African nations and countries such as Denmark, Kuwait, and Thailand, reports AFP.

<h2>AIDS pandemic in numbers</h2>

As of 2022, approximately 39 million people worldwide were living with HIV, with 29.8 million accessing antiretroviral therapy.

In 2022, 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV, down 59 per cent from the peak in 1995, while 630,000 died from AIDS-related illnesses.

Overall, AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 69 per cent since 2004 — the peak.

There has been a significant increase in access to treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women, resulting in a 58 per cent reduction in new infections among children. However, funding for HIV declined in 2022 to $20.8 billion, falling short of the $29.3 billion needed by 2025.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/duesseldorf-patient-cured-of-hiv-third-person-in-four-decades-to-recover-from-the-fatal-disease-564064">Duesseldorf patient cured of HIV; third person in four decades to recover from the disease</a>

While since 2010, the number of individuals on antiretroviral therapy has nearly quadrupled from 7.7 million, many, including 660,000 children were still missing out on treatment, states UNAIDS.

As per the UN Agency, progress has been made in decriminalising same-sex relations in some countries, but laws criminalising key populations or their behaviours remain in place in many nations. UNAIDS emphasised that key populations continue to be disproportionately affected by the HIV pandemic, with significantly higher HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and transgender people compared to the general population.

The report emphasised the opportunity to end AIDS lies in increasing "political will by investing in a sustainable response to HIV through financing what matters most: evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment, health systems integration, non-discriminatory laws, gender equality, and empowered community networks."

Byanyima called the end of AIDS "an opportunity" for leaders to be remembered as those who halted the "world's deadliest pandemic".

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United Nations agency UNAIDS on Thursday reaffirmed that "the end of AIDS" is still possible by 2030, but emphasised the need for leaders to seize the opportunity and take decisive action.

The United Nations agency UNAIDS on Thursday reaffirmed that "the end of AIDS" is still possible by 2030, but emphasised the need for leaders to seize the opportunity and take decisive action. To achieve this goal, UNAIDS outlined a roadmap that includes increased investment, evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies, and addressing the inequalities that hinder progress. According to UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, ending the pandemic is primarily a political and financial choice. "Success is possible – in this decade." Progress towards ending AIDS In its report, UNAIDS highlighted the transformation of the global AIDS pandemic over the past two decades. Byanyima highlighted the significant progress being made in countries and regions that have made strong investments in HIV prevention and treatment. As per the UNAIDS executive director, Eastern and Southern Africa, have witnessed a 57 per cent decline in new HIV infections since 2010. Also read | Andrew Tate claims US VP Kamala Harris 'largely incompetent' and prone to playing the 'race card' Furthermore, several countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, have already achieved the 95-95-95 targets, which means that 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those aware of their HIV-positive status are receiving treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression. Approximately 16 other countries are nearing the target, including sub-Saharan African nations and countries such as Denmark, Kuwait, and Thailand, reports AFP. AIDS pandemic in numbers As of 2022, approximately 39 million people worldwide were living with HIV, with 29.8 million accessing antiretroviral therapy. In 2022, 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV, down 59 per cent from the peak in 1995, while 630,000 died from AIDS-related illnesses. Overall, AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 69 per cent since 2004 — the peak. There has been a significant increase in access to treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women, resulting in a 58 per cent reduction in new infections among children. However, funding for HIV declined in 2022 to $20.8 billion, falling short of the $29.3 billion needed by 2025. Also read | Duesseldorf patient cured of HIV; third person in four decades to recover from the disease While since 2010, the number of individuals on antiretroviral therapy has nearly quadrupled from 7.7 million, many, including 660,000 children were still missing out on treatment, states UNAIDS. As per the UN Agency, progress has been made in decriminalising same-sex relations in some countries, but laws criminalising key populations or their behaviours remain in place in many nations. UNAIDS emphasised that key populations continue to be disproportionately affected by the HIV pandemic, with significantly higher HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and transgender people compared to the general population. The report emphasised the opportunity to end AIDS lies in increasing "political will by investing in a sustainable response to HIV through financing what matters most: evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment, health systems integration, non-discriminatory laws, gender equality, and empowered community networks." Byanyima called the end of AIDS "an opportunity" for leaders to be remembered as those who halted the "world's deadliest pandemic". (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.

UN says 'end of AIDS' is still possible by 2030, urges global action

It is one of India's most ambitious space missions the race to land on the moon on Friday and India made history by joining the elite space Club of Nations to land on the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan 3 Launch: Spacecraft will attempt Lunar soft landing on August 23  | ISRO

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a recommendation for cat and dog owners to keep their pets indoors in response to a surge in avian influenza cases worldwide. This guidance comes after 24 cats tested positive for the virus in Poland.

<h2>EFSA recommendation</h2>

To prevent exposure, EFSA has advised pet owners to avoid contact between domestic cats, dogs, and other carnivorous pets with dead or sick animals.

"Possible measures are keeping dogs on a leash, and confining cats indoors in areas where extensive circulation of HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] viruses in wild birds has been confirmed," it said in a bulletin.

The EFSA's recommendation serves as a precautionary measure to protect pets from avian influenza and mitigate the risk of further transmission.

Italy has reported infections in five dogs and one cat in recent weeks, while Poland has witnessed 24 cases in domestic cats across various regions since June 10.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/success-is-possible-unaids-insists-end-of-aids-is-still-possible-by-2030-urges-global-action-615163">'Success is possible': UNAIDS insists 'end of AIDS' is still possible by 2030, urges global action</a>

The exact source of contamination has not yet been determined, but one hypothesis is that the infected animals may have consumed raw poultry meat contaminated with the virus.

<h2>A 'bird flu' vaccine for birds</h2>

In response to the escalating cases of bird flu, in April, the United States begun testing several vaccine candidates for potential use in birds.

As per AFP, France aims to commence poultry vaccination as early as autumn this year.

However, Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, cautioned that vaccination alone is not a definitive solution as the virus continually evolves. In his words, vaccinating poultry was not a "a silver bullet because the virus changes constantly."

<h2>Bird flu and humans</h2>

Avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 virus, had previously been mostly limited to seasonal outbreaks since its emergence in 1996. However, in mid-2021, a significant change occurred, making the group of viruses much more infectious, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre that studies influenza in animals.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alarming-warning-from-who-bird-flu-poses-increased-risk-of-adapting-to-humans-614852">Alarming warning from WHO: Bird flu poses increased risk of adapting to humans</a>

Although rare, humans can contract the avian influenza virus, typically after close contact with infected birds. In recent times, the virus has also been detected in an increasing number of mammals.

On Wednesday, the WHO also issued a warning that the recent surge in bird flu outbreaks among mammals could facilitate the transmission of the virus to humans.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a recommendation for cat and dog owners to keep their pets indoors in response to a surge in avian influenza cases worldwide.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a recommendation for cat and dog owners to keep their pets indoors in response to a surge in avian influenza cases worldwide. This guidance comes after 24 cats tested positive for the virus in Poland. EFSA recommendation To prevent exposure, EFSA has advised pet owners to avoid contact between domestic cats, dogs, and other carnivorous pets with dead or sick animals. "Possible measures are keeping dogs on a leash, and confining cats indoors in areas where extensive circulation of HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] viruses in wild birds has been confirmed," it said in a bulletin. The EFSA's recommendation serves as a precautionary measure to protect pets from avian influenza and mitigate the risk of further transmission. Italy has reported infections in five dogs and one cat in recent weeks, while Poland has witnessed 24 cases in domestic cats across various regions since June 10. Also read | 'Success is possible': UNAIDS insists 'end of AIDS' is still possible by 2030, urges global action The exact source of contamination has not yet been determined, but one hypothesis is that the infected animals may have consumed raw poultry meat contaminated with the virus. A 'bird flu' vaccine for birds In response to the escalating cases of bird flu, in April, the United States begun testing several vaccine candidates for potential use in birds. As per AFP, France aims to commence poultry vaccination as early as autumn this year. However, Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, cautioned that vaccination alone is not a definitive solution as the virus continually evolves. In his words, vaccinating poultry was not a "a silver bullet because the virus changes constantly." Bird flu and humans Avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 virus, had previously been mostly limited to seasonal outbreaks since its emergence in 1996. However, in mid-2021, a significant change occurred, making the group of viruses much more infectious, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre that studies influenza in animals. Also read | Alarming warning from WHO: Bird flu poses increased risk of adapting to humans Although rare, humans can contract the avian influenza virus, typically after close contact with infected birds. In recent times, the virus has also been detected in an increasing number of mammals. On Wednesday, the WHO also issued a warning that the recent surge in bird flu outbreaks among mammals could facilitate the transmission of the virus to humans. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EU agency urges pet owners to keep cats and dogs indoors amid rising cases of avian influenza

Junior doctors in England have commenced a five-day strike. The walkout will be the longest in the history of the National Health Service (NHS) and is part of an ongoing protest over pay issues within the health service. The conflict has already led to a series of strikes and the cancellation of numerous operations and consultations.

The latest strike comes as speculation is rife that the government will soon announce its decision on recommendations made by pay review bodies for public sector workers, including teachers, civil servants, and NHS staff. These recommendations are rumoured to include pay rises ranging from 6 per cent to 6.5 per cent.

<h2>BMA calls government stance inflexible</h2>

Leaders of the British Medical Association (BMA) have called on the government to return to negotiations to resolve the ongoing dispute.

The Guardian reports that Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, leaders of the BMA, emphasised that the strike could be called off if the UK government followed the example of the Scottish government and dropped their "nonsensical precondition" of not engaging in talks during strikes.

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"Today marks the start of the longest single walkout by doctors in the NHS’s history, but this is still not a record that needs to go into the history books," they said.

Highlighting the pay offer made to junior doctors in Scotland as an example of a credible approach, they said, "The Health Secretary has said there can be no talks while strikes are planned - Scotland has proved him wrong. He said above 5 per cent wasn’t realistic - Scotland proved him wrong. He refused to even acknowledge the concept of pay restoration - Scotland proved this is not only possible but essential."

Criticising the inflexible stance taken by the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary&nbsp;Steve Barclay, they stated that talks need to be resumed and argued that the UK government's refusal to engage in dialogue with junior doctors in England, despite strikes being planned, goes against the norms of industrial action.

Expressing their frustration with the government, they said, "The complete inflexibility we see from the UK government today is baffling, frustrating and ultimately destructive for everyone who wants waiting lists to go down and NHS staffing numbers to go up."

Further, they pointed out that the UK government has missed several opportunities to provide a credible offer and bring an end to the industrial action by junior doctors.

They emphasised that while there are differences between the positions of junior doctors and the governments of England and Scotland, "the UK government has far more financial freedom to give doctors what they deserve."

<h2>How the strike will affect patients</h2>

As per Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers, the disruption caused by strikes is not only affecting patients but is also eroding the relationship between trust leaders and their staff.

Cordery emphasised the growing risk of delaying treatment for thousands of patients and the strain it places on already overstretched services, making it harder to reduce waiting lists.

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He said that the consecutive months of industrial action across the NHS have led to the rescheduling of more than 651,000 routine procedures and appointments.

<h2>Government 'disappointed'&nbsp;by strike</h2>

Highlighting the impact on patient safety, Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay expressed disappointment at the further strike action by the BMA.

"It is disappointing that the BMA is going ahead with further strike action. This five-day walkout by junior doctors will have an impact on thousands of patients, put patient safety at risk and hamper efforts to cut NHS waiting lists," said Barclay, as reported by The Independent.

As per Barclay the BMA's pay demand of 35 per cent or more is "unreasonable" and inflationary.

"We were in discussions about pay and a range of other measures to improve the working lives of junior doctors until their representatives collapsed the negotiations by announcing further strikes. A pay demand of 35 per cent or more is unreasonable and risks fuelling inflation, which makes everyone poorer."

(With inputs from agencies) 
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Junior doctors in England have commenced a five-day strike. The walkout will be the longest in the history of the National Health Service (NHS) and is part of an ongoing protest over pay issues within the health service.

Junior doctors in England have commenced a five-day strike. The walkout will be the longest in the history of the National Health Service (NHS) and is part of an ongoing protest over pay issues within the health service. The conflict has already led to a series of strikes and the cancellation of numerous operations and consultations. The latest strike comes as speculation is rife that the government will soon announce its decision on recommendations made by pay review bodies for public sector workers, including teachers, civil servants, and NHS staff. These recommendations are rumoured to include pay rises ranging from 6 per cent to 6.5 per cent. BMA calls government stance inflexible Leaders of the British Medical Association (BMA) have called on the government to return to negotiations to resolve the ongoing dispute. The Guardian reports that Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, leaders of the BMA, emphasised that the strike could be called off if the UK government followed the example of the Scottish government and dropped their "nonsensical precondition" of not engaging in talks during strikes. Also read | SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee unanimously votes for strike as talks fail "Today marks the start of the longest single walkout by doctors in the NHS’s history, but this is still not a record that needs to go into the history books," they said. Highlighting the pay offer made to junior doctors in Scotland as an example of a credible approach, they said, "The Health Secretary has said there can be no talks while strikes are planned - Scotland has proved him wrong. He said above 5 per cent wasn’t realistic - Scotland proved him wrong. He refused to even acknowledge the concept of pay restoration - Scotland proved this is not only possible but essential." Criticising the inflexible stance taken by the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary Steve Barclay, they stated that talks need to be resumed and argued that the UK government's refusal to engage in dialogue with junior doctors in England, despite strikes being planned, goes against the norms of industrial action. Expressing their frustration with the government, they said, "The complete inflexibility we see from the UK government today is baffling, frustrating and ultimately destructive for everyone who wants waiting lists to go down and NHS staffing numbers to go up." Further, they pointed out that the UK government has missed several opportunities to provide a credible offer and bring an end to the industrial action by junior doctors. They emphasised that while there are differences between the positions of junior doctors and the governments of England and Scotland, "the UK government has far more financial freedom to give doctors what they deserve." How the strike will affect patients As per Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers, the disruption caused by strikes is not only affecting patients but is also eroding the relationship between trust leaders and their staff. Cordery emphasised the growing risk of delaying treatment for thousands of patients and the strain it places on already overstretched services, making it harder to reduce waiting lists. Also read | 'Who decides that?': Italians in uproar over judge's '10-second' groping rule He said that the consecutive months of industrial action across the NHS have led to the rescheduling of more than 651,000 routine procedures and appointments. Government 'disappointed' by strike Highlighting the impact on patient safety, Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay expressed disappointment at the further strike action by the BMA. "It is disappointing that the BMA is going ahead with further strike action. This five-day walkout by junior doctors will have an impact on thousands of patients, put patient safety at risk and hamper efforts to cut NHS waiting lists," said Barclay, as reported by The Independent. As per Barclay the BMA's pay demand of 35 per cent or more is "unreasonable" and inflationary. "We were in discussions about pay and a range of other measures to improve the working lives of junior doctors until their representatives collapsed the negotiations by announcing further strikes. A pay demand of 35 per cent or more is unreasonable and risks fuelling inflation, which makes everyone poorer." (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.

Thousands of UK doctors begin ‘longest walkout’ in NHS history over pay issues

Pakistan has sold a historic building in the heart of Washington, DC for $7.1 million. The property had been vacant since 2003 and was finally taken off the government's hands by Pakistani businessman Hafeez Khan.

The building, which was formerly owned by the Pakistan Embassy, was put for sale a few months back, after it underwent a change in its property classification. The News reports that the historic building was downgraded to blighted status by the District of Columbia, which ultimately resulted in increased taxes on its assessed value.

<h2>A crumbling building</h2>

According to the report, the now-crumbling building underwent a change of class status and was put up for auction last year.

The well-known R Street building, which previously functioned as a chancery, attracted three bids. However, the bidding process was reportedly abruptly cancelled by Pakistani authorities without providing any explanation.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imf-approves-3-billion-bailout-for-pakistan-offers-respite-to-crumbling-economy-614876">IMF approves $3 billion bailout for Pakistan, offers respite to crumbling economy</a>

The highest bid received at that time was $6.8 million, while the pre-auction evaluation benchmarked the building's value at $4.5 million.

Having remained unoccupied for over a decade, the building lost its diplomatic status in 2018, making it subject to local government taxes.

<h2>A class 4 building</h2>

Earlier this year, the local authorities further downgraded the property status, classifying it as Class 4 — taxed at $10 per $100 of assessed value — due to its deteriorated condition, which added more burden to the national finances.

The Department of Buildings of the local government determines a building as blighted if it poses a threat to health, safety, or general welfare. Factors considered include whether the building is boarded up, if doors, windows, and other openings are secure, if exterior walls are free from damage, graffiti, and decay, and if exposed metal and wood surfaces are protected.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-backs-pakistans-resolution-at-un-condemning-quran-burning-protests-614841">India backs Pakistan’s resolution at UN condemning Quran burning protests</a>

Official documents reveal that the Pakistani government did not receive any tax relief on the property from 2018 onwards.

Initially classified as Class 2 from 2018 to 2019 due to its commercial nature, the building was later categorized as Class 3 from 2020 to 2022 as it remained vacant. In April 2023, the property's classification was further downgraded to Class 4, reflecting its deteriorated condition.

Due to a lack of proper maintenance, the building deteriorated over time, despite former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani approving repairs through a $7 million loan from the National Bank of Pakistan in 2010.

Pakistan has sold a historic building in the heart of Washington, DC for $7.1 million. The property had been vacant since 2003 and was finally taken off the government's hands by Pakistani businessman Hafeez Khan.

Pakistan has sold a historic building in the heart of Washington, DC for $7.1 million. The property had been vacant since 2003 and was finally taken off the government's hands by Pakistani businessman Hafeez Khan. The building, which was formerly owned by the Pakistan Embassy, was put for sale a few months back, after it underwent a change in its property classification. The News reports that the historic building was downgraded to blighted status by the District of Columbia, which ultimately resulted in increased taxes on its assessed value. A crumbling building According to the report, the now-crumbling building underwent a change of class status and was put up for auction last year. The well-known R Street building, which previously functioned as a chancery, attracted three bids. However, the bidding process was reportedly abruptly cancelled by Pakistani authorities without providing any explanation. Also read | IMF approves $3 billion bailout for Pakistan, offers respite to crumbling economy The highest bid received at that time was $6.8 million, while the pre-auction evaluation benchmarked the building's value at $4.5 million. Having remained unoccupied for over a decade, the building lost its diplomatic status in 2018, making it subject to local government taxes. A class 4 building Earlier this year, the local authorities further downgraded the property status, classifying it as Class 4 — taxed at $10 per $100 of assessed value — due to its deteriorated condition, which added more burden to the national finances. The Department of Buildings of the local government determines a building as blighted if it poses a threat to health, safety, or general welfare. Factors considered include whether the building is boarded up, if doors, windows, and other openings are secure, if exterior walls are free from damage, graffiti, and decay, and if exposed metal and wood surfaces are protected. Also read | India backs Pakistan’s resolution at UN condemning Quran burning protests Official documents reveal that the Pakistani government did not receive any tax relief on the property from 2018 onwards. Initially classified as Class 2 from 2018 to 2019 due to its commercial nature, the building was later categorized as Class 3 from 2020 to 2022 as it remained vacant. In April 2023, the property's classification was further downgraded to Class 4, reflecting its deteriorated condition. Due to a lack of proper maintenance, the building deteriorated over time, despite former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani approving repairs through a $7 million loan from the National Bank of Pakistan in 2010.

Pakistan sells Washington-based historic former embassy building for $7.1 million

The situation across the northern region of India continues to worsen this monsoon season. At least 25 deaths were reported on Wednesday, taking the overall toll in the region to 116.

According to The Times of India, a total of&nbsp;25 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, out of which 13 were from&nbsp;Uttar Pradesh. An official said, "Nine people drowned, while lightning strike, snakebite and house collapse&nbsp;killed one each."&nbsp;

The&nbsp;"heavy to very heavy rainfall" precipitation over the past few days in several areas of Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab has led to several casualties.&nbsp;

In Delhi, the water level of the Yamuna River crossed the danger mark of 208&nbsp;metres, prompting immediate evacuation and relocation of the locals. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert and suspended railway services on the Old Railway Bridge.&nbsp;

Here's detailed information on states affected by heavy rains:

Himachal Pradesh

As of Wednesday, the death toll in Himachal Pradesh stood at nearly 90, with 39 deaths reported in the last four days, Outlook India reported.&nbsp;

The weather agency has&nbsp;issued a "red alert" for several districts of Himachal Pradesh and an "orange alert' for three districts for the next 48 hours as the state continues&nbsp;to receive heavy rainfall.&nbsp;

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial inspection of the state and interacted with those affected.&nbsp;

According to ANI, around 300 buses got stuck at various routes in Himachal due to roads affected by rain and floods. A total of 873 roads are still blocked.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, UP CM Adityanath Yogi has instructed officials to make necessary arrangements for the safe return of people stranded&nbsp;in Himachal.&nbsp;

Uttarakhand

The rain continued&nbsp;in several parts of&nbsp;Uttarakhand on Tuesday and Wednesday. Landslides triggered by&nbsp;heavy rain disrupted traffic on key highways, prompting authorities to urge people and pilgrims&nbsp;not to travel unnecessarily.&nbsp;

The state reported one death when a car of five people skidded off the road and fell into the Khoh River in the Pauri Garhwal district.

The Ganga River was flowing close to the danger mark in Haridwar and Rishikesh.&nbsp;

Punjab&nbsp;

Flash floods continue to wreak havoc in more than 1,000 villages. At least 11 deaths were reported in Punjab. Three fatalities were reported in the Faridkot district; two each in Mohali, Ropar and Faridkot districts.&nbsp;

Flood alerts have been issued in Amritsar, Pathankot and Gurdaspur. The state government as of now has set up some 127 relief camps across the state, with the most,&nbsp;33, in Jalandhar.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
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The situation across the northern region of India continues to worsen this monsoon season. At least 25 deaths were reported on Wednesday, taking the overall toll in the region to 116.

The situation across the northern region of India continues to worsen this monsoon season. At least 25 deaths were reported on Wednesday, taking the overall toll in the region to 116. According to The Times of India, a total of 25 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, out of which 13 were from Uttar Pradesh. An official said, "Nine people drowned, while lightning strike, snakebite and house collapse killed one each." The "heavy to very heavy rainfall" precipitation over the past few days in several areas of Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab has led to several casualties. In Delhi, the water level of the Yamuna River crossed the danger mark of 208 metres, prompting immediate evacuation and relocation of the locals. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert and suspended railway services on the Old Railway Bridge. Here's detailed information on states affected by heavy rains: Himachal Pradesh As of Wednesday, the death toll in Himachal Pradesh stood at nearly 90, with 39 deaths reported in the last four days, Outlook India reported. The weather agency has issued a "red alert" for several districts of Himachal Pradesh and an "orange alert' for three districts for the next 48 hours as the state continues to receive heavy rainfall. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial inspection of the state and interacted with those affected. According to ANI, around 300 buses got stuck at various routes in Himachal due to roads affected by rain and floods. A total of 873 roads are still blocked. Meanwhile, UP CM Adityanath Yogi has instructed officials to make necessary arrangements for the safe return of people stranded in Himachal. Uttarakhand The rain continued in several parts of Uttarakhand on Tuesday and Wednesday. Landslides triggered by heavy rain disrupted traffic on key highways, prompting authorities to urge people and pilgrims not to travel unnecessarily. The state reported one death when a car of five people skidded off the road and fell into the Khoh River in the Pauri Garhwal district. The Ganga River was flowing close to the danger mark in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Punjab Flash floods continue to wreak havoc in more than 1,000 villages. At least 11 deaths were reported in Punjab. Three fatalities were reported in the Faridkot district; two each in Mohali, Ropar and Faridkot districts. Flood alerts have been issued in Amritsar, Pathankot and Gurdaspur. The state government as of now has set up some 127 relief camps across the state, with the most, 33, in Jalandhar. (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.

India Monsoon Update: Red alert in Himachal, Uttarakhand hit by landslides; death toll rises to 116

On 'cat island' Cyprus, a strain of coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the cat population. In recent months, the disease, which is a feline strain of the coronavirus has rapidly spread across the island. The island's cats, most of which are strays and are known for their human-friendly nature, have been severely affected by the coronavirus strain known as Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

The disease has already killed a significant number of felines on the "island of cats" and as per an AFP news agency report, is spreading across cat populations in nearby Lebanon, Israel and Turkey.

Can the feline coronavirus impact humans? Should you be worried? Here's all you need to know.

<h2>What is Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)?</h2>

As per the Cornell University website, Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease in cats caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus.

While most feline strains of coronavirus known as feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV), are found in the gastrointestinal tract do not cause significant disease, in some cases it can become the dangerous disease known as FIPV.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/bees-outgun-humans-in-making-swift-better-decisions-for-things-that-matter-to-them-study-614077">Bees outgun humans in making swift, better decisions for things that matter to them: Study</a>

As per the website, in about 10 per cent of FeCV-infected cats, the virus can mutate, infecting white blood cells and spreading throughout the cat's body. This triggers an intense inflammatory reaction, often in the abdomen, kidney, or brain, leading to the development of FIP.

Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal.

<h2>Can this strain of coronavirus infect humans?</h2>

It is widely believed that the COVID-19 virus which brought the world to its knees some time ago could've originated in bats and crossed the species barrier into humans.

Last year, the World Health Organization also warned that as climate change contributes to the rapidly changing weather, animals, humans and even viruses and pathogens are changing their behaviour.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/amid-monkeypox-outbreak-who-warns-about-rising-number-of-zoonotic-diseases-heres-what-it-means-484510">Amid Monkeypox outbreak, WHO warns about rising number of 'zoonotic' diseases. Here's what it means</a>

At the time, the international health agency's emergencies director Mike Ryan, who leads WHO's response to disease outbreaks, humanitarian crises and other public health emergencies warned that diseases that normally infect animals are now infecting people due to 'ecological fragility'.

So, could the feline coronavirus jump species and infect humans? Thankfully, no.

According to Cornell's Feline Health Center, "to our knowledge, coronaviruses cannot be passed from infected cats to humans." AFP too reports that the virus is not transmissible to humans. However, as per a Cyprus based animal lover it may soon turn Cyprus into "the island of dead cats".

<h2>Is there no cure for Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)?</h2>

AFP reports that to contain the spread of FIP, two treatment options are being considered.

One is molnupiravir, an anti-Covid pill that officials say cannot be authorised for use on animals in Cyprus. The other option is GS-441524, an antiviral tablet similar to the COVID-19 treatment remdesivir, which is approved for animal use in Britain but not readily available in Cyprus due to its high cost of 3,000 to 7,000 euros (about $3,300-$7,700) per cat.

Talking to AFP, Demetris Epaminondas, vice president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association said that efforts are underway to obtain government authorisation for molnupiravir, which would cost a more affordable 200 euros per cat.

The Cyprus agriculture ministry said that is exploring various therapeutic preparations available on the European market to address the issue.

However, in the meantime, some desperate pet owners have reportedly resorted to purchasing medicines on the black market, risking legal consequences to save their beloved animals.

Speaking to AFP on the condition on anonymity, one Cypriot said: "We bought our medicines on the black market online, or from Facebook groups. But we keep our suppliers secret so that we can continue to treat our animals."

<h2>The danger to Cyprus's cat population</h2>

The official number of FIP cases reported by the agriculture ministry in the southern part of the island stands at 107. However, animal advocates claim that the actual number of cats dying from the disease is much higher, with an estimated 300,000 cats lost since January.

The contagious nature of FIP has made it challenging to diagnose and document, especially with the large population of stray cats on the island. Experts estimate that the cat population in Cyprus is equal to or even exceeds the human population of just over one million. In the southern part of the island, Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals, estimates that a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus.

As the FIP outbreak continues to spread, there are concerns that Cyprus may become known as "the island of dead cats." Animal advocates and veterinarians are urging swift action to address the crisis and save the island's beloved feline population. 
 
&nbsp;

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On 'cat island' Cyprus, a strain of coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the cat population. In recent months, the disease, which is a feline strain of the coronavirus has rapidly spread across the island.

On 'cat island' Cyprus, a strain of coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the cat population. In recent months, the disease, which is a feline strain of the coronavirus has rapidly spread across the island. The island's cats, most of which are strays and are known for their human-friendly nature, have been severely affected by the coronavirus strain known as Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The disease has already killed a significant number of felines on the "island of cats" and as per an AFP news agency report, is spreading across cat populations in nearby Lebanon, Israel and Turkey. Can the feline coronavirus impact humans? Should you be worried? Here's all you need to know. What is Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)? As per the Cornell University website, Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease in cats caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus. While most feline strains of coronavirus known as feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV), are found in the gastrointestinal tract do not cause significant disease, in some cases it can become the dangerous disease known as FIPV. Also read | Bees outgun humans in making swift, better decisions for things that matter to them: Study As per the website, in about 10 per cent of FeCV-infected cats, the virus can mutate, infecting white blood cells and spreading throughout the cat's body. This triggers an intense inflammatory reaction, often in the abdomen, kidney, or brain, leading to the development of FIP. Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal. Can this strain of coronavirus infect humans? It is widely believed that the COVID-19 virus which brought the world to its knees some time ago could've originated in bats and crossed the species barrier into humans. Last year, the World Health Organization also warned that as climate change contributes to the rapidly changing weather, animals, humans and even viruses and pathogens are changing their behaviour. Also read | Amid Monkeypox outbreak, WHO warns about rising number of 'zoonotic' diseases. Here's what it means At the time, the international health agency's emergencies director Mike Ryan, who leads WHO's response to disease outbreaks, humanitarian crises and other public health emergencies warned that diseases that normally infect animals are now infecting people due to 'ecological fragility'. So, could the feline coronavirus jump species and infect humans? Thankfully, no. According to Cornell's Feline Health Center, "to our knowledge, coronaviruses cannot be passed from infected cats to humans." AFP too reports that the virus is not transmissible to humans. However, as per a Cyprus based animal lover it may soon turn Cyprus into "the island of dead cats". Is there no cure for Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)? AFP reports that to contain the spread of FIP, two treatment options are being considered. One is molnupiravir, an anti-Covid pill that officials say cannot be authorised for use on animals in Cyprus. The other option is GS-441524, an antiviral tablet similar to the COVID-19 treatment remdesivir, which is approved for animal use in Britain but not readily available in Cyprus due to its high cost of 3,000 to 7,000 euros (about $3,300-$7,700) per cat. Talking to AFP, Demetris Epaminondas, vice president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association said that efforts are underway to obtain government authorisation for molnupiravir, which would cost a more affordable 200 euros per cat. The Cyprus agriculture ministry said that is exploring various therapeutic preparations available on the European market to address the issue. However, in the meantime, some desperate pet owners have reportedly resorted to purchasing medicines on the black market, risking legal consequences to save their beloved animals. Speaking to AFP on the condition on anonymity, one Cypriot said: "We bought our medicines on the black market online, or from Facebook groups. But we keep our suppliers secret so that we can continue to treat our animals." The danger to Cyprus's cat population The official number of FIP cases reported by the agriculture ministry in the southern part of the island stands at 107. However, animal advocates claim that the actual number of cats dying from the disease is much higher, with an estimated 300,000 cats lost since January. The contagious nature of FIP has made it challenging to diagnose and document, especially with the large population of stray cats on the island. Experts estimate that the cat population in Cyprus is equal to or even exceeds the human population of just over one million. In the southern part of the island, Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals, estimates that a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus. As the FIP outbreak continues to spread, there are concerns that Cyprus may become known as "the island of dead cats." Animal advocates and veterinarians are urging swift action to address the crisis and save the island's beloved feline population. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained: Strain of coronavirus turning Cyprus into 'island of dead cats'. Can the virus infect humans?

Leslie Van Houten, a follower of late mass murderer Charles Manson was released from prison on Tuesday (July 11) after spending 53 years behind bars. Houten was 19 when she was charged with two murders in 1969.

Houten has been recommended for parole five times since 2016. She was sentenced for&nbsp;being involved in the murders of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife Rosemary.

Her attorney Nancy Tetreault confirmed the news and said her client&nbsp;will be under parole supervision.&nbsp;

Nancy told The Guardian, "She’s really thrilled, but she’s been in prison for 53 years and turns 74 next month so this is a huge change."

She added, "She’s gratified that people are recognising that she’s completely reformed because she really is. I’ve never had a client who has dedicated herself to reform like she has. She spent 40 years in therapy and 30 years in what they call rehabilitative programming."

Admitting that Leslie fell under the influence of Charles Manson and participated in the brutal murders, Nancy said that Leslie worked really hard to get past that cult and to understand and take responsibility for the future.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-men-hanged-in-public-over-shrine-attack-in-iran-613343">Two men hanged in public for attack on shrine in Iran, killing 13 people</a>

California Governor Gavin Newsom had said last week that he won't be asking the state's Supreme Court to block her parole.

Erin Mellon, communications director for the Office of the Governor, had said,&nbsp;"The Governor is disappointed by the Court of Appeal's decision to release Ms Van Houten but will not pursue further action as efforts to further appeal are unlikely to succeed. The California Supreme Court accepts appeals in very few cases, and generally does not select cases based on this type of fact-specific determination."

A representative from Newsom's office told the news outlet, "More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal offences, the victims’ families still feel the impact, as do all Californians."

Who is Leslie Van Houten?

Leslie Louise Van Houten was born on August 23, 1949.

At the age of 14, she began taking LSD and Benzedrine and using drugs after her parents got divorced.

In 1966, she moved to Northern California where she met Catherine Share, Bobby Beausoleil, and another woman, and moved in with them.

They all joined Manson's group, who&nbsp;controlled every aspect of their lives, from food to drugs.

On August 9, 1969, Van Houten, along with Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian, Clem Grogan, and Manson, went to Rosemary and LaBianca's house and killed the couple. Manson&nbsp;allegedly sent other people in the group to kill an actor.

When asked, Manson denied all responsibility and never explained the motive for the murder.

However, prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi suggested that Manson wanted to start a racial civil war.

Manson died behind bars in 2017 at the age of 83 after nearly 50 years in prison.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-visits-island-symbol-of-defiance-as-russia-ukraine-war-marks-500-days-613367">Also read |&nbsp;Zelensky visits island symbol of defiance as Russia-Ukraine war marks 500 days</a>

Van Houten's Parole

In the most recent parole denial, Newsom said that Houten still poses a danger to society. Rejecting her parole, he said she offered an inconsistent and inadequate explanation for her involvement in the killings.

However, the second district court of appeal ruled 2-1 to reverse Newsom's decision, stating that there is no evidence to support the governor's conclusion.

In the May decision, the judges took issue with Newsom's claim that Houten did not adequately explain how she fell under Manson's influence.

At her hearings, she explained how her parents' divorce, her drug and alcohol abuse, and a forced illegal abortion led her down a path that left her vulnerable.

They argued, "Van Houten has shown extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends, favourable institutional reports, and, at the time of the governor's decision, had received four successive grants of parole."

(With inputs from agencies) 
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Leslie Van Houten, a follower of late mass murderer Charles Manson was released from prison on Tuesday (July 11) after spending 53 years behind bars. Houten was 19 when she was charged with two murders in 1969.

Leslie Van Houten, a follower of late mass murderer Charles Manson was released from prison on Tuesday (July 11) after spending 53 years behind bars. Houten was 19 when she was charged with two murders in 1969. Houten has been recommended for parole five times since 2016. She was sentenced for being involved in the murders of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife Rosemary. Her attorney Nancy Tetreault confirmed the news and said her client will be under parole supervision. Nancy told The Guardian, "She’s really thrilled, but she’s been in prison for 53 years and turns 74 next month so this is a huge change." She added, "She’s gratified that people are recognising that she’s completely reformed because she really is. I’ve never had a client who has dedicated herself to reform like she has. She spent 40 years in therapy and 30 years in what they call rehabilitative programming." Admitting that Leslie fell under the influence of Charles Manson and participated in the brutal murders, Nancy said that Leslie worked really hard to get past that cult and to understand and take responsibility for the future. Also read | Two men hanged in public for attack on shrine in Iran, killing 13 people California Governor Gavin Newsom had said last week that he won't be asking the state's Supreme Court to block her parole. Erin Mellon, communications director for the Office of the Governor, had said, "The Governor is disappointed by the Court of Appeal's decision to release Ms Van Houten but will not pursue further action as efforts to further appeal are unlikely to succeed. The California Supreme Court accepts appeals in very few cases, and generally does not select cases based on this type of fact-specific determination." A representative from Newsom's office told the news outlet, "More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal offences, the victims’ families still feel the impact, as do all Californians." Who is Leslie Van Houten? Leslie Louise Van Houten was born on August 23, 1949. At the age of 14, she began taking LSD and Benzedrine and using drugs after her parents got divorced. In 1966, she moved to Northern California where she met Catherine Share, Bobby Beausoleil, and another woman, and moved in with them. They all joined Manson's group, who controlled every aspect of their lives, from food to drugs. On August 9, 1969, Van Houten, along with Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian, Clem Grogan, and Manson, went to Rosemary and LaBianca's house and killed the couple. Manson allegedly sent other people in the group to kill an actor. When asked, Manson denied all responsibility and never explained the motive for the murder. However, prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi suggested that Manson wanted to start a racial civil war. Manson died behind bars in 2017 at the age of 83 after nearly 50 years in prison. Also read | Zelensky visits island symbol of defiance as Russia-Ukraine war marks 500 days Van Houten's Parole In the most recent parole denial, Newsom said that Houten still poses a danger to society. Rejecting her parole, he said she offered an inconsistent and inadequate explanation for her involvement in the killings. However, the second district court of appeal ruled 2-1 to reverse Newsom's decision, stating that there is no evidence to support the governor's conclusion. In the May decision, the judges took issue with Newsom's claim that Houten did not adequately explain how she fell under Manson's influence. At her hearings, she explained how her parents' divorce, her drug and alcohol abuse, and a forced illegal abortion led her down a path that left her vulnerable. They argued, "Van Houten has shown extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends, favourable institutional reports, and, at the time of the governor's decision, had received four successive grants of parole." (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.

Who is Leslie Van Houten? Manson family murderer released from prison after 53 years

Abdulla Shahid, the Maldives' Foreign Minister, is on a two-day visit to New Delhi. During the visit, he met with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar and the two nations signed nine agreements on project development under India's grant assistance. The minister's visit is part of a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening the strategic relationship between the two Indian Ocean region neighbours.

During Shahid's high-level visit, WION approached the Maldivian minister&nbsp;and talked to him about the strategic relationship that India and Maldives share.

Talking about the nine agreements signed by the two nations, the minister said that the MoUs are on various projects "ranging from the development of small fish processing plants in islands to street lighting and development of a volleyball court".

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-foreign-minister-hopeful-of-india-becoming-a-voice-for-global-south-568109">Maldives' foreign minister hopeful of India becoming a voice for Global South</a>

"There's a whole range of small community high-impact projects," said Shahid, adding that both he and the Indian external minister are satisfied with the ongoing process.

Talking about the defence cooperation between India and Maldives, Shahid said, "We are committed to making sure that we work together with our neighbours in making sure that we keep the Indian Ocean stable and prosperous."

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'Every time there is an emergency and we dial international 911, India is the first to respond, regardless of what government is in Maldives or New Delhi, the response is the same,' says <a href="https://twitter.com/abdulla_shahid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abdulla_shahid</a>, foreign minister, Maldives, while speaking to WION's <a href="https://twitter.com/SinghBhairavi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SinghBhairavi</a> <a href="https://t.co/iDAc4mC7cp">pic.twitter.com/iDAc4mC7cp</a>
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Answering a question about the upcoming elections in the Maldives and a potential shift in government and how such a change might impact India, Shahid said that they are "confident" of&nbsp;winning a second term.

Talking about the so-called "India out" campaign run by a certain sect of people in his nation, the finance minister said, "I would always regard it as a group of people that has nothing better to sell."

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-finance-ministry-employee-leaks-secret-classified-info-to-pakistan-number-held-614573">India: Finance ministry employee leaks secret, classified info to Pakistan number, held</a>

He said that all the people behind this campaign "have done is create hate and they have come out to sell hate to the people".

However, he said that "the people of Maldives will not buy it and that is why we have not seen this take off," because "the relationships between the people of Maldives and the people of India are too solid."

"So these fringe groups, the hate mongers will not succeed."

Acknowledging India's consistent helping hand for his nation, Shahid said, "President Solih (Ibrahim Mohamed Solih) is fully committed in his foreign policy for India first and we are encouraged by Prime Minister Modi's SAGAR policy the neighbourhood first policy, and he has also very clearly said that amongst the neighbourhood Maldives is the first."

Maldives is a key maritime neighbour of India. The nation holds a special place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security And Growth for All in the Region).

Addressing the future areas of collaboration between the two nations, the Maldivian foreign minister commended India for its contribution to the Maldives' human resource development "over the last several decades" and said that "it is also something that will continue."

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Abdulla Shahid, the Maldives' Foreign Minister, is on a two-day visit to New Delhi. During the visit, he met with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar and the two nations signed nine agreements on project development under India's grant assistance.

Abdulla Shahid, the Maldives' Foreign Minister, is on a two-day visit to New Delhi. During the visit, he met with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar and the two nations signed nine agreements on project development under India's grant assistance. The minister's visit is part of a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening the strategic relationship between the two Indian Ocean region neighbours. During Shahid's high-level visit, WION approached the Maldivian minister and talked to him about the strategic relationship that India and Maldives share. Talking about the nine agreements signed by the two nations, the minister said that the MoUs are on various projects "ranging from the development of small fish processing plants in islands to street lighting and development of a volleyball court". Also read | Maldives' foreign minister hopeful of India becoming a voice for Global South "There's a whole range of small community high-impact projects," said Shahid, adding that both he and the Indian external minister are satisfied with the ongoing process. Talking about the defence cooperation between India and Maldives, Shahid said, "We are committed to making sure that we work together with our neighbours in making sure that we keep the Indian Ocean stable and prosperous." 'Every time there is an emergency and we dial international 911, India is the first to respond, regardless of what government is in Maldives or New Delhi, the response is the same,' says @abdulla_shahid, foreign minister, Maldives, while speaking to WION's @SinghBhairavi pic.twitter.com/iDAc4mC7cp — WION (@WIONews) July 12, 2023 × Answering a question about the upcoming elections in the Maldives and a potential shift in government and how such a change might impact India, Shahid said that they are "confident" of winning a second term. Talking about the so-called "India out" campaign run by a certain sect of people in his nation, the finance minister said, "I would always regard it as a group of people that has nothing better to sell." Also read | India: Finance ministry employee leaks secret, classified info to Pakistan number, held He said that all the people behind this campaign "have done is create hate and they have come out to sell hate to the people". However, he said that "the people of Maldives will not buy it and that is why we have not seen this take off," because "the relationships between the people of Maldives and the people of India are too solid." "So these fringe groups, the hate mongers will not succeed." Acknowledging India's consistent helping hand for his nation, Shahid said, "President Solih (Ibrahim Mohamed Solih) is fully committed in his foreign policy for India first and we are encouraged by Prime Minister Modi's SAGAR policy the neighbourhood first policy, and he has also very clearly said that amongst the neighbourhood Maldives is the first." Maldives is a key maritime neighbour of India. The nation holds a special place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security And Growth for All in the Region). Addressing the future areas of collaboration between the two nations, the Maldivian foreign minister commended India for its contribution to the Maldives' human resource development "over the last several decades" and said that "it is also something that will continue." 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.

Exclusive: Maldives' foreign minister says his nation is committed to 'India first'

Riikka Purra, the leader of the Finns Party and Finland's Finance Minister, issued an apology on Tuesday for the racist comments she made online more than a decade ago. This apology comes after her remarks were condemned by her cabinet colleagues.

Purra, who assumed leadership of the far-right Finns Party in 2021, was accused of making inflammatory comments in 2008. These included various anti-immigrant, anti-Islam, and racial slurs, as well as threats of violence.

<h2>The apology</h2>

Taking to Twitter, Purra wrote in Finnish: "I apologise for the stupid comments I made 15 years ago and the understandable harm and upset they caused."

"I'm not a perfect person, I've made mistakes," she added.

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Pyydän anteeksi 15 vuoden takaisia typeriä somekommenttejani ja niistä ymmärrettävästi aiheutunutta haittaa ja mielipahaa. En ole täydellinen ihminen, olen tehnyt virheitä. 
 
3/7
— Riikka Purra (@ir_rkp) <a href="https://twitter.com/ir_rkp/status/1678756773434466310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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This controversy arises just two weeks after another Finns Party minister resigned due to similar issues.

As per an AFP news report, initially, Purra neither confirmed nor denied the allegations.

In a blog post on Monday, she stated, "It would not occur to me to start denouncing or apologising for what I did and said years and decades ago". However, she later acknowledged her past remarks on Twitter, stating that she used to feel "very frustrated and hopeless" about certain issues.

"I used to feel very frustrated and hopeless about certain aspects of immigration in Finland."

"Then you might say or write angrily and stupidly," she added.

<h2>The controversial comments</h2>

According to AFP, the controversial comments were posted under the username "riikka" on a blog that belonged to her predecessor, Jussi Halla-aho.

Evidence linking the blog author "riikka" to Riikka Purra includes coinciding visits to Barcelona, similar educational backgrounds, and both proclaiming to be vegetarian. These similarities were reportedly noticed by social media users.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/andrew-tate-claims-us-vp-kamala-harris-largely-incompetent-and-prone-to-playing-the-race-card-614739">Andrew Tate claims US VP Kamala Harris 'largely incompetent' and prone to playing the 'race card'</a>

President Sauli Niinisto weighed in on the controversy on Tuesday, stating, "it would be wise for the Finnish government to take a clear stance of zero tolerance on racism."

This incident follows another controversy in June when Vilhelm Junnila, another Finns Party minister, was forced to resign due to various pro-Nazi remarks. Junnila had made the remarks during this year's parliamentary elections.

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Riikka Purra, the leader of the Finns Party and Finland's Finance Minister, issued an apology on Tuesday for the racist comments she made online more than a decade ago.

Riikka Purra, the leader of the Finns Party and Finland's Finance Minister, issued an apology on Tuesday for the racist comments she made online more than a decade ago. This apology comes after her remarks were condemned by her cabinet colleagues. Purra, who assumed leadership of the far-right Finns Party in 2021, was accused of making inflammatory comments in 2008. These included various anti-immigrant, anti-Islam, and racial slurs, as well as threats of violence. The apology Taking to Twitter, Purra wrote in Finnish: "I apologise for the stupid comments I made 15 years ago and the understandable harm and upset they caused." "I'm not a perfect person, I've made mistakes," she added. Pyydän anteeksi 15 vuoden takaisia typeriä somekommenttejani ja niistä ymmärrettävästi aiheutunutta haittaa ja mielipahaa. En ole täydellinen ihminen, olen tehnyt virheitä. 3/7 — Riikka Purra (@ir_rkp) July 11, 2023 × Also read | US President Joe Biden skipped NATO dinner meet due to ‘hectic workload’: Report This controversy arises just two weeks after another Finns Party minister resigned due to similar issues. As per an AFP news report, initially, Purra neither confirmed nor denied the allegations. In a blog post on Monday, she stated, "It would not occur to me to start denouncing or apologising for what I did and said years and decades ago". However, she later acknowledged her past remarks on Twitter, stating that she used to feel "very frustrated and hopeless" about certain issues. "I used to feel very frustrated and hopeless about certain aspects of immigration in Finland." "Then you might say or write angrily and stupidly," she added. The controversial comments According to AFP, the controversial comments were posted under the username "riikka" on a blog that belonged to her predecessor, Jussi Halla-aho. Evidence linking the blog author "riikka" to Riikka Purra includes coinciding visits to Barcelona, similar educational backgrounds, and both proclaiming to be vegetarian. These similarities were reportedly noticed by social media users. Also read | Andrew Tate claims US VP Kamala Harris 'largely incompetent' and prone to playing the 'race card' President Sauli Niinisto weighed in on the controversy on Tuesday, stating, "it would be wise for the Finnish government to take a clear stance of zero tolerance on racism." This incident follows another controversy in June when Vilhelm Junnila, another Finns Party minister, was forced to resign due to various pro-Nazi remarks. Junnila had made the remarks during this year's parliamentary elections. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Finnish Finance Minister Riikka Purra apologises for past racist remarks amid cabinet criticism

China's state planner on Wednesday released a statement praising Tencent and Alibaba for their contributions to the technology sector. This marks a significant shift in the government's stance towards the industry following a three-year crackdown.

<h2>What China's state planner said</h2>

According to China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Tencent and Alibaba have become key players in areas of tech innovation that China is prioritising, such as semiconductors and autonomous driving.

The commission highlighted specific examples, including Tencent's investments in cloud computing and Meituan's investments in semiconductors. Alibaba's efforts in digitising agriculture were also mentioned.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinas-control-over-exports-poses-a-threat-to-the-worlds-biggest-buyer-of-gallium-614522">China’s control over exports poses a threat to the world’s biggest buyer of gallium</a>

These comments from the NDRC come after authorities indicated last week that the crackdown on the technology sector, which began in late 2020, has come to an end. As per AFP, the campaign's end was marked by fines that were imposed on Ant Group and Tencent.

<h2>How the praise impacted the tech companies</h2>

Following the announcement, Tencent's shares rose by 1.8 per cent and Alibaba's shares jumped by 1.86&nbsp; per cent in the Hong Kong market, outperforming the benchmark Hang Seng Index, which saw a 1.15 per cent gain.

This shift in tone from Beijing as per AFP reflects a broader effort to support the private sector and stimulate China's economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NDRC has also been engaging with other private firms, including Baidu, in recent weeks.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-expands-ban-on-japanese-sea-products-over-fukushima-water-release-614474">Hong Kong to expand ban on Japanese sea products over Fukushima nuke plant water release</a>

Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasised the importance of focusing on "hard" technologies like semiconductors and artificial intelligence, urging the country to reduce its reliance on Western technology. This also aligns with China's goal of achieving technological breakthroughs and maintaining its competitiveness in the global tech industry.

<h2>China's crackdown on technology sector</h2>

As per AFP, the crackdown had significantly impacted the market value of China's top technology firms. Billions of dollars were wiped off the market value of the companies, which were punished for violations that ranged from failing to protect customer privacy to monopolistic behaviour.

Mint reports that the regulatory crackdown on Beijing's tech firms gained momentum after Alibaba affiliate Ant Group's $37 billion initial public offering (IPO) was shelved in November 2020, which also marked the beginning of a broader crackdown on mainland China's rapidly expanding and influential tech companies.

Data from Refinitiv shows that over two years, the crackdown cost China's major tech companies over $1 trillion in value. This staggering figure is equivalent to Netherland's economy.

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China's state planner on Wednesday released a statement praising Tencent and Alibaba for their contributions to the technology sector. This marks a significant shift in the government's stance towards the industry following a three-year crackdown.

China's state planner on Wednesday released a statement praising Tencent and Alibaba for their contributions to the technology sector. This marks a significant shift in the government's stance towards the industry following a three-year crackdown. What China's state planner said According to China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Tencent and Alibaba have become key players in areas of tech innovation that China is prioritising, such as semiconductors and autonomous driving. The commission highlighted specific examples, including Tencent's investments in cloud computing and Meituan's investments in semiconductors. Alibaba's efforts in digitising agriculture were also mentioned. Also read | China’s control over exports poses a threat to the world’s biggest buyer of gallium These comments from the NDRC come after authorities indicated last week that the crackdown on the technology sector, which began in late 2020, has come to an end. As per AFP, the campaign's end was marked by fines that were imposed on Ant Group and Tencent. How the praise impacted the tech companies Following the announcement, Tencent's shares rose by 1.8 per cent and Alibaba's shares jumped by 1.86 per cent in the Hong Kong market, outperforming the benchmark Hang Seng Index, which saw a 1.15 per cent gain. This shift in tone from Beijing as per AFP reflects a broader effort to support the private sector and stimulate China's economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NDRC has also been engaging with other private firms, including Baidu, in recent weeks. Also read | Hong Kong to expand ban on Japanese sea products over Fukushima nuke plant water release Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasised the importance of focusing on "hard" technologies like semiconductors and artificial intelligence, urging the country to reduce its reliance on Western technology. This also aligns with China's goal of achieving technological breakthroughs and maintaining its competitiveness in the global tech industry. China's crackdown on technology sector As per AFP, the crackdown had significantly impacted the market value of China's top technology firms. Billions of dollars were wiped off the market value of the companies, which were punished for violations that ranged from failing to protect customer privacy to monopolistic behaviour. Mint reports that the regulatory crackdown on Beijing's tech firms gained momentum after Alibaba affiliate Ant Group's $37 billion initial public offering (IPO) was shelved in November 2020, which also marked the beginning of a broader crackdown on mainland China's rapidly expanding and influential tech companies. Data from Refinitiv shows that over two years, the crackdown cost China's major tech companies over $1 trillion in value. This staggering figure is equivalent to Netherland's economy. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Tencent and Alibaba's shares rise as China's state planner acknowledges their contributions to tech innovation

In an unexpected development, a Taliban leader, Anas Haqqani, has expressed support for Elon Musk and praised Twitter for its commitment to freedom of speech. This comes at a time when Musk is engaged in a rivalry with Mark Zuckerberg, who recently launched the Twitter-rival Threads.

<h2>What did the Taliban leader say?</h2>

He commended Twitter for its freedom of speech and the public nature and credibility it offers. Comparing it to Meta's policies, he said that the Facebook owner restricts the Taliban leaders from freely sharing their views, and claimed that Twitter allows the group to communicate their message more openly and also reach a wider audience.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/within-24-hours-of-launch-right-wing-billionaire-satanists-joined-threads-report-613941">Within 24 hours of launch, hate speech &amp; misinformation spread across Zuckerberg's 'Threads':&nbsp;Report</a>

Taking to Twitter, Haqqani posted: "Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms. The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature &amp; credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn't have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it."

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Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms. 
The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature &amp; credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn't have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it. <a href="https://t.co/oYQTI3hgfI">pic.twitter.com/oYQTI3hgfI</a>
— Anas Haqqani(انس حقاني) (@AnasHaqqani313) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnasHaqqani313/status/1678395006279876609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Taliban, Meta and Twitter</h2>

The Taliban maintains an active Twitter account under the username 'Islamic Emirate Afg'. It has about 35,000 followers, and enables the Afghanistan rulers to express themselves despite their many controversial and internationally condemned policies.

In contrast Meta, which owns Facebook, has effectively blocked the Taliban, deeming it to be a "Tier 1 designated terrorist organisation." The social media giant's stance on the Taliban is also evident in its search results.

When searching for the term "Taliban" on Facebook, users are greeted with a message warning about associating with dangerous individuals and organisations.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-elon-musk-zuck-is-a-cuck-amid-intense-twitter-vs-threads-rivalry-613777">For Elon Musk, 'Zuck is a cuck', amid intense Twitter vs Threads rivalry</a>

"Are you sure you want to continue? The term you searched for is sometimes associated with activities of Dangerous Individuals and Organizations, which is not allowed on Facebook," reads the warning message.

As per India Today, Facebook has also implemented measures to limit or prevent Taliban-related content on its platform, aligning with its policies against such content.

<h2>What the people think about Twitter and Threads</h2>

Even as the Taliban leader endorses Twitter over Threads, the platform which is Zuckerberg's rival to Twitter, has seen significant success since its launch.

With over 100 million users within a short span of time, Threads has capitalised on its integration with Instagram.

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, users are less than pleased. Under Musk's leadership, Twitter workforce has been reduced by 80 per cent and the implementation of changes favouring paid subscribers have sparked criticism.

This approach has raised concerns among users who feel that these changes have negatively impacted their experience on the platform.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In an unexpected development, a Taliban leader, Anas Haqqani, has expressed support for Elon Musk and praised Twitter for its commitment to freedom of speech. This comes at a time when Musk is engaged in a rivalry with Mark Zuckerberg, who recently launched the Twitter-rival Threads.

In an unexpected development, a Taliban leader, Anas Haqqani, has expressed support for Elon Musk and praised Twitter for its commitment to freedom of speech. This comes at a time when Musk is engaged in a rivalry with Mark Zuckerberg, who recently launched the Twitter-rival Threads. What did the Taliban leader say? He commended Twitter for its freedom of speech and the public nature and credibility it offers. Comparing it to Meta's policies, he said that the Facebook owner restricts the Taliban leaders from freely sharing their views, and claimed that Twitter allows the group to communicate their message more openly and also reach a wider audience. Also read | Within 24 hours of launch, hate speech & misinformation spread across Zuckerberg's 'Threads': Report Taking to Twitter, Haqqani posted: "Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms. The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn't have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it." Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms. The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn't have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it. pic.twitter.com/oYQTI3hgfI — Anas Haqqani(انس حقاني) (@AnasHaqqani313) July 10, 2023 × Taliban, Meta and Twitter The Taliban maintains an active Twitter account under the username 'Islamic Emirate Afg'. It has about 35,000 followers, and enables the Afghanistan rulers to express themselves despite their many controversial and internationally condemned policies. In contrast Meta, which owns Facebook, has effectively blocked the Taliban, deeming it to be a "Tier 1 designated terrorist organisation." The social media giant's stance on the Taliban is also evident in its search results. When searching for the term "Taliban" on Facebook, users are greeted with a message warning about associating with dangerous individuals and organisations. Also read | For Elon Musk, 'Zuck is a cuck', amid intense Twitter vs Threads rivalry "Are you sure you want to continue? The term you searched for is sometimes associated with activities of Dangerous Individuals and Organizations, which is not allowed on Facebook," reads the warning message. As per India Today, Facebook has also implemented measures to limit or prevent Taliban-related content on its platform, aligning with its policies against such content. What the people think about Twitter and Threads Even as the Taliban leader endorses Twitter over Threads, the platform which is Zuckerberg's rival to Twitter, has seen significant success since its launch. With over 100 million users within a short span of time, Threads has capitalised on its integration with Instagram. Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, users are less than pleased. Under Musk's leadership, Twitter workforce has been reduced by 80 per cent and the implementation of changes favouring paid subscribers have sparked criticism. This approach has raised concerns among users who feel that these changes have negatively impacted their experience on the platform. (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.

Amid Threads rollout, Taliban leader says favours Twitter over Meta for 'freedom of speech'

IND vs WI Test Series: India and West Indies are all set to compete in a two-match Test series, which will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC). The first match is scheduled for July 12 and will be played at Windsor Park in Dominica. The Indian Cricket Team will be led by Rohit Sharma. Ajinkya Rahane makes his comeback as the vice-captain of the team, while despite his average performance in the previous WTC cycle, Virat Kohli retains his position in the squad. However, the West Indies Team will be led by Kriagg Brathwaite. All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and Alick Athanze make it to the team.&nbsp;

Here is everything you need to know about IND vs WI Test Series:

<h3>IND vs WI Test Series Full Schedule</h3>

Wednesday, July 12 - Sunday, Jul 16

1st Test - India vs West Indies

Venue- Windsor Park, Dominica 
Time- 07:30 PM IST

Thursday, July 20 - Monday, July 24

2nd Test - India vs West Indies

Venue- Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad 
Time- 07:30 PM IST&nbsp;

<h3>IND vs WI Test Series Full Squad:</h3>

West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Joshua Da Silva (WK), Alick Athanaze, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican

India

Rohit Sharma (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat

<h3>IND vs WI Test Series: Live Streaming</h3>

The two Test matches between India and West Indies will have a live telecast on Doordarshan (DD) Sports for free but on cable and not DTH.

The match will also be streamed live on JioCinema and Fancode.&nbsp;

Here's a full list of television broadcasters across the world, check where can you watch IND vs WI Test Series:

India: DD Sports, JioCinema, FanCode, Disney+ Hotstar

Africa: SuperSport App &amp; Website.

United States: Willow TV, Disney+ Hostar, ESPN+

United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket

Australia: FoxSport App &amp; Website

Sri Lanka: DialogTV, PeoT

Bangladesh: GaziTV

Caribbean: Flow Sports

(With inputs from agencies)

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IND vs WI Test Series: India and West Indies are all set to compete in a two-match Test series, which will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

IND vs WI Test Series: India and West Indies are all set to compete in a two-match Test series, which will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC). The first match is scheduled for July 12 and will be played at Windsor Park in Dominica. The Indian Cricket Team will be led by Rohit Sharma. Ajinkya Rahane makes his comeback as the vice-captain of the team, while despite his average performance in the previous WTC cycle, Virat Kohli retains his position in the squad. However, the West Indies Team will be led by Kriagg Brathwaite. All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and Alick Athanze make it to the team. Here is everything you need to know about IND vs WI Test Series: IND vs WI Test Series Full Schedule Wednesday, July 12 - Sunday, Jul 16 1st Test - India vs West Indies Venue- Windsor Park, Dominica Time- 07:30 PM IST Thursday, July 20 - Monday, July 24 2nd Test - India vs West Indies Venue- Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad Time- 07:30 PM IST IND vs WI Test Series Full Squad: West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Joshua Da Silva (WK), Alick Athanaze, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican India Rohit Sharma (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat IND vs WI Test Series: Live Streaming The two Test matches between India and West Indies will have a live telecast on Doordarshan (DD) Sports for free but on cable and not DTH. The match will also be streamed live on JioCinema and Fancode. Here's a full list of television broadcasters across the world, check where can you watch IND vs WI Test Series: India: DD Sports, JioCinema, FanCode, Disney+ Hotstar Africa: SuperSport App & Website. United States: Willow TV, Disney+ Hostar, ESPN+ United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket Australia: FoxSport App & Website Sri Lanka: DialogTV, PeoT Bangladesh: GaziTV Caribbean: Flow Sports (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.

IND vs WI Test Series: India vs West Indies full schedule, date, time, venue, teams, live streaming details

IND s WI Test Series Live streaming: Team India is all set to take on West Indies in the upcoming Test series. The red-ball game will begin on Wednesday, July 12. The Men in Blue will be back on the field after a month since the World Test Championship (WTC) final debacle. The team will be led by Rohit Sharma, and the best batter of the WTC final Ajinkya Rahane will be the vice-captain of the team for the India vs West Indies Test series.&nbsp;

While, the West Indies Team will be led by Kraigg Brathwaite. The national team hasn't had a great run since they failed to qualify for the Super 12 in the T20 World Cup. Thus, this Test Series is crucial for both teams.&nbsp;

<h2>IND vs WI Live Streaming</h2>

How to watch IND vs WI LIVE in India?

FanCode and JioCinema will telecast the upcoming India vs West Indies Test series on their app and website starting Wednesday, July 12. India's public broadcaster Doordarshan (DD), India's public broadcaster, will also live stream the IND vs WI matches. Furthermore, people with Disney+ Hotstar subscriptions can watch the matches on their devices.&nbsp;

Here's a full list of television broadcasts across the world:

India: DD Sports, JioCinema, FanCode, Disney+ Hotstar 
Africa: SuperSport App &amp; Website. 
United States: Willow TV, Disney+ Hostar, ESPN+ 
United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket 
Australia: FoxSport App &amp; Website 
Sri Lanka: DialogTV, PeoT 
Bangladesh: GaziTV 
Caribbean: Flow Sports

(With inputs from agencies)

<h3>Here's everything you need to know about IND vs WI Test Series:</h3>

IND vs WI Test Series Full Schedule

Wednesday, July 12 - Sunday, Jul 16

1st Test - India vs West Indies 
Venue- Windsor Park, Dominica 
Time- 07:30 PM IST

Thursday, July 20 - Monday, July 24

2nd Test - India vs West Indies 
Venue- Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad 
Time- 07:30 PM IST&nbsp;

<h3>IND vs WI Test Series Full Squad:</h3>

<h3>India</h3>

Rohit Sharma (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat

West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Joshua Da Silva (WK), Alick Athanaze, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican

<h3>IND vs WI Head to Head:</h3>

India and West Indies have locked horns in a total of 98 matches in the history of Test matches, where India emerged as the winner in 22 games, while West Indies won 30 matches. The draws of 46 matches highlight the competitive nature of both teams. 
&nbsp; 
Where to watch IND vs WI Test Series live in India?

The two-day matches will be publicly broadcast&nbsp;by India's Doordarshan (DD). While FanCode and JioCinema will also telecast the upcoming India vs West Indies Test series live on their respective apps and websites. Furthermore, fans can also watch the test series live on Disney+ Hotstar with subscriptions.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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IND s WI Test Series Live streaming: Team India is all set to take on West Indies in the upcoming Test series. The red-ball game will begin on Wednesday, July 12.

IND s WI Test Series Live streaming: Team India is all set to take on West Indies in the upcoming Test series. The red-ball game will begin on Wednesday, July 12. The Men in Blue will be back on the field after a month since the World Test Championship (WTC) final debacle. The team will be led by Rohit Sharma, and the best batter of the WTC final Ajinkya Rahane will be the vice-captain of the team for the India vs West Indies Test series. While, the West Indies Team will be led by Kraigg Brathwaite. The national team hasn't had a great run since they failed to qualify for the Super 12 in the T20 World Cup. Thus, this Test Series is crucial for both teams. IND vs WI Live Streaming How to watch IND vs WI LIVE in India? FanCode and JioCinema will telecast the upcoming India vs West Indies Test series on their app and website starting Wednesday, July 12. India's public broadcaster Doordarshan (DD), India's public broadcaster, will also live stream the IND vs WI matches. Furthermore, people with Disney+ Hotstar subscriptions can watch the matches on their devices. Here's a full list of television broadcasts across the world: India: DD Sports, JioCinema, FanCode, Disney+ Hotstar Africa: SuperSport App & Website. United States: Willow TV, Disney+ Hostar, ESPN+ United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket Australia: FoxSport App & Website Sri Lanka: DialogTV, PeoT Bangladesh: GaziTV Caribbean: Flow Sports (With inputs from agencies) Here's everything you need to know about IND vs WI Test Series: IND vs WI Test Series Full Schedule Wednesday, July 12 - Sunday, Jul 16 1st Test - India vs West Indies Venue- Windsor Park, Dominica Time- 07:30 PM IST Thursday, July 20 - Monday, July 24 2nd Test - India vs West Indies Venue- Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad Time- 07:30 PM IST IND vs WI Test Series Full Squad: India Rohit Sharma (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Joshua Da Silva (WK), Alick Athanaze, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican IND vs WI Head to Head: India and West Indies have locked horns in a total of 98 matches in the history of Test matches, where India emerged as the winner in 22 games, while West Indies won 30 matches. The draws of 46 matches highlight the competitive nature of both teams. Where to watch IND vs WI Test Series live in India? The two-day matches will be publicly broadcast by India's Doordarshan (DD). While FanCode and JioCinema will also telecast the upcoming India vs West Indies Test series live on their respective apps and websites. Furthermore, fans can also watch the test series live on Disney+ Hotstar with subscriptions. 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.

IND vs WI Series LIVE: When and where to watch India vs West Indies Test matches live in your country, India

After no big winners on the 35th consecutive night (Monday, July 12), the Powerball jackpot cash prize surged to $725 million. The massive cash prize ranks as the seventh-largest Powerball jackpot in history.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
There were no jackpot winners in last night's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Powerball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Powerball</a> drawing, which means Wednesday's jackpot is a HUGE $725,000,000! 
 
👉<a href="https://t.co/qjO1n13m9u">https://t.co/qjO1n13m9u</a> <a href="https://t.co/lVUCFZ8G16">pic.twitter.com/lVUCFZ8G16</a>
— Powerball USA (@PowerballUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PowerballUSA/status/1678720541639819264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The numbers drawn in Monday's Powerball game were 2, 24, 34, 53, 58 and red Powerball 13. According to officials, the winner will have an estimated $366.2 million lump-sum cash value before taxes.&nbsp;

However, there were still winners after the drawing. According to CNN,&nbsp; two tickets were sold in California and Lowa, which matched all five white balls. The California ticket won a $1 million cash prize, while the Lowa ticket won $2 million, including the Power Play Feature.

Additionally, Powerball stated that in total&nbsp;28 tickets won cash prizes worth $50,000 and 12 tickets won $100,000.

The last time a lottery player matched all white balls and the red ball was back on 19&nbsp;April 2023 in Ohio, where the winner earned a cash prize of $252.6 million.&nbsp;

The largest-ever Powerball cash prize won was on 7 November 2022 worth $2.04 &nbsp;billion.&nbsp;

<h2>Here's a list of the five&nbsp;largest Powerball jackpots won in history:</h2>

7 November 2022: $2.04 billion

13 January 2016: $1.586 million

27 March 2019: $768.4 million

23 August 2017: $758.7 million

6 February 2023: $754.million

What is Powerball &amp; when is the next jackpot drawing?

Powerball is an extensive lottery-based game played,&nbsp;across 45 states in the United States. The game is supervised by Mutli-State Lottery Association (MUSL).

The Powerball jackpot drawing occurs on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday every week at 10:59 PM ET. The next Powerball jackpot drawing is on July 12, Wednesday.

How to participate in Powerball jackpot drawing?

To participate in the Powerball jackpot drawing, one needs to choose five numbers between 1 and 69 and another number between 1 and 26.&nbsp;

The Powerball officials during drawing, announce numbers from two separate drums. The first drum contains the five white balls, while the second holds the red Powerball.&nbsp;

To claim a win, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.

The jackpot generally begins at $20 million and increases until someone claims it. When no one grabs the prize, it carries over to the subsequent drawing.

(With inputs from agencies)

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After no big winners on the 35th consecutive night (Monday, July 12), the Powerball jackpot cash prize surged to $725 million. The massive cash prize ranks as the seventh-largest Powerball jackpot in history.

After no big winners on the 35th consecutive night (Monday, July 12), the Powerball jackpot cash prize surged to $725 million. The massive cash prize ranks as the seventh-largest Powerball jackpot in history. There were no jackpot winners in last night's #Powerball drawing, which means Wednesday's jackpot is a HUGE $725,000,000! 👉https://t.co/qjO1n13m9u pic.twitter.com/lVUCFZ8G16 — Powerball USA (@PowerballUSA) July 11, 2023 × The numbers drawn in Monday's Powerball game were 2, 24, 34, 53, 58 and red Powerball 13. According to officials, the winner will have an estimated $366.2 million lump-sum cash value before taxes. However, there were still winners after the drawing. According to CNN, two tickets were sold in California and Lowa, which matched all five white balls. The California ticket won a $1 million cash prize, while the Lowa ticket won $2 million, including the Power Play Feature. Additionally, Powerball stated that in total 28 tickets won cash prizes worth $50,000 and 12 tickets won $100,000. The last time a lottery player matched all white balls and the red ball was back on 19 April 2023 in Ohio, where the winner earned a cash prize of $252.6 million. The largest-ever Powerball cash prize won was on 7 November 2022 worth $2.04 billion. Here's a list of the five largest Powerball jackpots won in history: 7 November 2022: $2.04 billion 13 January 2016: $1.586 million 27 March 2019: $768.4 million 23 August 2017: $758.7 million 6 February 2023: $754.million What is Powerball & when is the next jackpot drawing? Powerball is an extensive lottery-based game played, across 45 states in the United States. The game is supervised by Mutli-State Lottery Association (MUSL). The Powerball jackpot drawing occurs on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday every week at 10:59 PM ET. The next Powerball jackpot drawing is on July 12, Wednesday. How to participate in Powerball jackpot drawing? To participate in the Powerball jackpot drawing, one needs to choose five numbers between 1 and 69 and another number between 1 and 26. The Powerball officials during drawing, announce numbers from two separate drums. The first drum contains the five white balls, while the second holds the red Powerball. To claim a win, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball. The jackpot generally begins at $20 million and increases until someone claims it. When no one grabs the prize, it carries over to the subsequent drawing. (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.

Powerball jackpot surges to $725 million after Monday's drawing; Check details for next date & more

Qin Gang, China's 'wolf warrior' Foreign Minister, has gone missing. Qin has not been seen in public for over two weeks now. China is tight-lipped. What tragedy could have possibly struck Qin?

Gravitas: Qin Gang: Where is China's missing Foreign Minister? Here's what could have happened to him

New Satellite images claim to reveal that opium production has fallen drastically across Afghanistan. The Taliban say they have completely eliminated it. What's the truth?

Gravitas: Have the Taliban eliminated poppy cultivation?

A top BBC presenter has been accused of paying a minor for explicit photos. He allegedly paid some $45,000 for the photos. The minor is now 20 years old, but at the time of the first payment, they were only 17. The youngster's mother has spoken up against the BBC presenter.

Gravitas: BBC explicit pictures scandal

An e-commerce firm 'Dukaan' has replaced 90% customer care crew with an AI chatbot. Is it fair to compare human responses with AI responses? What led to this decision?

Gravitas: How much can you rely on AI?

The U.S. Marine Corps has no leader for the first time in 150 years. A Republican Senator has blocked the nomination of the new Commandant. The Senator, Tommy Tuberville, is protesting against Pentagon's new abortion policy. What is the abortion policy?

Gravitas: US Marine corps without a leader for the first time in 150 years

Nato members are meeting in Lithuania. While NATO membership for Ukraine seems far-fetched, some positive decisions will be taken towards the war-torn country. But President Zelensky wants more; he is hitting out at NATO over membership talks.

Gravitas: Is NATO giving Ukraine a comfort blanket?

Foxconn & Vedanta's $19.5 billion deal has turned sour. Foxconn says the two companies have mutually decided to scrap it. What went wrong?

Gravitas: Why did the Foxconn-Vedanta deal turn sour?

There has been another air crash in Nepal. This time, a tourist chopper went down near Mount Everest, killing all six people on board. Why has Nepal normalised air disasters? Is it risking tourists' lives for profit?

Gravitas: Nepal Helicopter Crash: Is the country risking tourists' lives for profit?

IND vs WI 1st Test Weather Report: Team India and West Indies are all set to take on each other in the first Test match starting later today in Dominica. Both teams are all set to make a strong comeback after a few disappointing performances over the last matches. However, a disruption might occur. As per a weather report by Accuweather, there is&nbsp;a 55 per cent chance of rain on the morning of July 12, which might&nbsp;affect playing conditions at Windsor Park.&nbsp;

The report also stated possible chances of thunderstorms. Rain is also expected a day before the match, which might affect playing conditions on the field, Hindustan Times reported.&nbsp;

<h2>Here's the weather report for India vs West Indies 1st Test Match:</h2>

Day 1: There are 55 per cent chances of rain with thunderstorms.&nbsp;

Day 2: As per the Accuweather report, there are 25 per cent chances of precipitation with minimal cloud cover. Both teams will hope to get some overs in bad weather conditions.&nbsp;

Day 3 &amp; 4: No chance for rain as per the report, and these days might be the best for batting.&nbsp;

Day 5: If the match reaches day 5 with undecided results, there are possible chances of weather complications. Accuweather predicts a 55 per cent chance of precipitation on July 16.&nbsp;

<h3>Below are all&nbsp;the match details for India vs West Indies 1st Test Series:</h3>

IND vs WI 1st Test Match Details:

Wednesday, July 12 - Sunday, Jul 16

1st Test - India vs West Indies

Venue- Windsor Park, Dominica

Time- 07:30 PM IST

<h2>IND vs WI 1st Test: India vs West Indies Pitch Report</h2>

Toss at Windsor Park hasn't been a huge factor. With teams batting first, the other team comes victorious.&nbsp;Speaking of the pitch, it has assisted bowlers on the first day with improved conditions for the batters.&nbsp;

The first innings performance will be crucial for both teams.&nbsp;

<h2>IND vs WI Test Series Full Squad:</h2>

<h2>India</h2>

Rohit Sharma (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat

West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Joshua Da Silva (WK), Alick Athanaze, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican

<h2>Where to watch IND vs WI Test Series live in India?</h2>

India's Doordarshan will be broadcasting India vs West Indies Test Series. Additionally, FanCode and JioCinema will also telecast the matches live on their websites and app.&nbsp;

Furthermore, fans can also watch India vs West Indies 1st Test live on Disney Hotstar+ with a subscription.&nbsp;

<h2>How can you stream India vs West Indies 1st Test live in your country:</h2>

Africa: SuperSport App &amp; Website.

United States: Willow TV, Disney+ Hostar, ESPN+

United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket

Australia: FoxSport App &amp; Website

Sri Lanka: DialogTV, PeoT

Bangladesh: GaziTV

Caribbean: Flow Sports

<h2>Ind vs WI 1st Test: Where will the Test match between India and West Indies be played?</h2>

The match between India and West Indies will be played at Windsor Park, Dominica.

<h2>IND vs WI 1st Test: On what date will the match between India and West Indies be played?</h2>

The match between India and West Indies will be played on July 12.

<h2>IND vs WI 1st Test: Which TV channels will broadcast the match between India and West Indies?</h2>

The match between India and West Indies will be televised on Doordarshan in India.

<h2>IND vs WI 1st Test: How do I watch the live streaming of the match between India and West Indies?</h2>

The match between India and West Indies will be live-streamed on the JioCinema and FanCode app and website. 
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IND vs WI 1st Test Weather Report: Team India and West Indies are all set to take on each other in the first Test match starting later today in Dominica. Both teams are all set to make a strong comeback after a few disappointing performances over the last matches.

IND vs WI 1st Test Weather Report: Team India and West Indies are all set to take on each other in the first Test match starting later today in Dominica. Both teams are all set to make a strong comeback after a few disappointing performances over the last matches. However, a disruption might occur. As per a weather report by Accuweather, there is a 55 per cent chance of rain on the morning of July 12, which might affect playing conditions at Windsor Park. The report also stated possible chances of thunderstorms. Rain is also expected a day before the match, which might affect playing conditions on the field, Hindustan Times reported. Here's the weather report for India vs West Indies 1st Test Match: Day 1: There are 55 per cent chances of rain with thunderstorms. Day 2: As per the Accuweather report, there are 25 per cent chances of precipitation with minimal cloud cover. Both teams will hope to get some overs in bad weather conditions. Day 3 & 4: No chance for rain as per the report, and these days might be the best for batting. Day 5: If the match reaches day 5 with undecided results, there are possible chances of weather complications. Accuweather predicts a 55 per cent chance of precipitation on July 16. Below are all the match details for India vs West Indies 1st Test Series: IND vs WI 1st Test Match Details: Wednesday, July 12 - Sunday, Jul 16 1st Test - India vs West Indies Venue- Windsor Park, Dominica Time- 07:30 PM IST IND vs WI 1st Test: India vs West Indies Pitch Report Toss at Windsor Park hasn't been a huge factor. With teams batting first, the other team comes victorious. Speaking of the pitch, it has assisted bowlers on the first day with improved conditions for the batters. The first innings performance will be crucial for both teams. IND vs WI Test Series Full Squad: India Rohit Sharma (C), Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood (VC), Joshua Da Silva (WK), Alick Athanaze, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Jomel Warrican Where to watch IND vs WI Test Series live in India? India's Doordarshan will be broadcasting India vs West Indies Test Series. Additionally, FanCode and JioCinema will also telecast the matches live on their websites and app. Furthermore, fans can also watch India vs West Indies 1st Test live on Disney Hotstar+ with a subscription. How can you stream India vs West Indies 1st Test live in your country: Africa: SuperSport App & Website. United States: Willow TV, Disney+ Hostar, ESPN+ United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket Australia: FoxSport App & Website Sri Lanka: DialogTV, PeoT Bangladesh: GaziTV Caribbean: Flow Sports Ind vs WI 1st Test: Where will the Test match between India and West Indies be played? The match between India and West Indies will be played at Windsor Park, Dominica. IND vs WI 1st Test: On what date will the match between India and West Indies be played? The match between India and West Indies will be played on July 12. IND vs WI 1st Test: Which TV channels will broadcast the match between India and West Indies? The match between India and West Indies will be televised on Doordarshan in India. IND vs WI 1st Test: How do I watch the live streaming of the match between India and West Indies? The match between India and West Indies will be live-streamed on the JioCinema and FanCode app and website. 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.

IND vs WI 1st Test Weather Report: Rain likely to affect match, check India vs West Indies probable playing XI

S Iswaran, an Indian-origin member of parliament and part of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore, has been asked by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to go on leave as the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) conducts an investigation into a case uncovered by the agency.

S Iswaran, an Indian-origin member of parliament and part of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore, has been asked by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to go on leave as the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) conducts an investigation into a case uncovered by the agency. Lee said the investigation will involve interviewing Iswaran among others, without specifying the reasoning for the probe. "On 5 July 2023, Director CPIB briefed me on a case CPIB had uncovered and sought my concurrence to open a formal investigation. This would involve interviewing Minister S Iswaran, among others," said the prime minister. "I gave Director CPIB my concurrence on 6 July 2023, following which the formal investigation began on 11 July 2023. Minister Iswaran is currently assisting CPIB with the investigations, which are ongoing," he added. In Iswaran's absence, senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will be the Acting Minister for Transport, the prime minister's office announced. Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency also released a statement but refrained from giving away the details of the case. "CPIB acknowledges the interest of members of the public in this case because a minister is being interviewed by CPIB. As investigations are ongoing, CPIB is unable to provide further details," said the agency. “CPIB will investigate this case thoroughly with strong resolve to establish the facts and the truth, and to uphold the rule of law," it added. Also read | Doctors discover ‘half-eaten’ octopus stuck inside throat of man in Singapore The agency, however, issued a warning that Singapore has a "strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption". Singapore's no-corruption image Notably, the island country pays its top officials among the world's highest public salaries and prides itself on low corruption. According to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, the Southeast Asian country is ranked as the fifth-least corrupt country in the world. Hence, allegations of corruption are taken extremely seriously. WATCH | Why is Singapore declining as business hub? × Iswaran was selected as an MP way back in 1997 and appointed to the cabinet in 2006. As the transport minister, his key focus area was to rebuild Singapore as an air hub in the aftermath of the pandemic and present the country as a maritime centre. Prior to being asked to sit out, Iswaran also served as Singapore’s minister-in-charge of trade relations. "The optics certainly don’t look good for the PAP government, which has always prided itself on incorruptibility,” Eugene Tan, a law professor at Singapore Management University, said. The announcement by the Singapore government comes weeks after the opposition levelled allegations against Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan regarding their rental of government-owned colonial bungalows. However, a review of the case, led by one of the senior members of Lee's cabinet, found no basis in the corruption allegations. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian-origin Singapore minister told to sit out over corruption probe

The city of New York is in a frenzy as a result of the recent torrential rains, which have caused flash floods that have so far claimed the lives of at least one woman or washed her away as she fled to higher ground for protection with her family.

New York Flash-Floods: Woman dies after being swept away by floodwater while evacuating

According to family sources, Usman Siddique, one of the 12 Pakistanis who survived the catastrophe, landed at his hometown of Kaleki village on the outskirts of Gujrat on Friday. He has visited with several individuals whose loved ones died in the disaster after his return.

Survivor of Greece boat tragedy returns home

The Western Himalayan Region, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh will experience isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on Monday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Due to damage to a part of the Jammu-Srinagar Highway near Ramban, the Amarnath Yatra was postponed from Jammu for a third day in a row on Monday. Due to heavy rain and landslides, the yatra was put on hold on Friday.

Amarnath Yatra pilgrims brave weather, reach base camps

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