US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said that the United States had encouraged India to purchase Russian oil to stabilise global commodity prices. Speaking at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations last week, Ambassador Garcetti stated, "They brought Russian Oil because we wanted somebody to buy Russian oil at a price cap, that was not a violation. It was the design of the policy because as a design of the commodity we didn't want the price of the commodity to go up, they fulfilled that."

The Ambassador's comments show a U-turn in US policy towards Russian energy imports by India. In the aftermath of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US publicly urged countries, including India, to reduce their dependence on Russian energy sources. The then US deputy NSA Daleep Singh had visited Delhi in early 2022 during which he warned of "consequences" if India continued to increase its imports of Russian energy. He made the remarks at a select press briefing.

Evidently, this stance was reinforced in April of the same year when the White House explicitly advised India against accelerating or expanding its imports of Russian energy. 
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also repeatedly acknowledged the pressure exerted on India to refrain from purchasing Russian oil. During an address in Amritsar last week, Jaishankar highlighted the economic implications, stating that if India had yielded to this pressure, petrol prices would have surged by at least Rs 20 per litre.

At the Council on Foreign Relations address, Ambassador Garcetti also underscored the enduring bond between the US and India, describing it as a "loyal relationship." He emphasised the deep people-to-people connections, he said, "Everybody that is in power there (in India), has family, has studied, served in the US. It is smart power advantage'"

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said that the United States had encouraged India to purchase Russian oil to stabilise global commodity prices. Speaking at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations last week, Ambassador Garcetti stated, "They brought Russian Oil because we wanted somebody to buy Russian oil at a price cap, that was not a violation.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said that the United States had encouraged India to purchase Russian oil to stabilise global commodity prices. Speaking at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations last week, Ambassador Garcetti stated, "They brought Russian Oil because we wanted somebody to buy Russian oil at a price cap, that was not a violation. It was the design of the policy because as a design of the commodity we didn't want the price of the commodity to go up, they fulfilled that." The Ambassador's comments show a U-turn in US policy towards Russian energy imports by India. In the aftermath of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US publicly urged countries, including India, to reduce their dependence on Russian energy sources. The then US deputy NSA Daleep Singh had visited Delhi in early 2022 during which he warned of "consequences" if India continued to increase its imports of Russian energy. He made the remarks at a select press briefing. Evidently, this stance was reinforced in April of the same year when the White House explicitly advised India against accelerating or expanding its imports of Russian energy. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also repeatedly acknowledged the pressure exerted on India to refrain from purchasing Russian oil. During an address in Amritsar last week, Jaishankar highlighted the economic implications, stating that if India had yielded to this pressure, petrol prices would have surged by at least Rs 20 per litre. At the Council on Foreign Relations address, Ambassador Garcetti also underscored the enduring bond between the US and India, describing it as a "loyal relationship." He emphasised the deep people-to-people connections, he said, "Everybody that is in power there (in India), has family, has studied, served in the US. It is smart power advantage'"

US Ambassador Eric Garcetti: ‘Wanted India to buy Russian oil to stabilise prices’

United States President Joe Biden on Saturday (May 11) said that a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas would happen as soon as "tomorrow" if the Palestinian militant group released the hostages it held captive following its Oct 7 assault.

"There would be a ceasefire tomorrow if Hamas would release the hostages," Biden said at a fundraiser outside Seattle, at the home of a former Microsoft executive, after avoiding the topic at three similar events on Friday.

"Israel said it's up to Hamas, if they wanted to do it, we could end it tomorrow. And the ceasefire would begin tomorrow," Biden said while addressing the crowd of about 100 people.

The US president's remarks came after he issued a warning to Israel stating that he would not supply weapons, including artillery shells if its forces attack the city of Rafah.

"If they go into Rafah, I'm not supplying the weapons that have been used... to deal with the cities," Biden said in a televised interview with CNN.

"We're not gonna supply the weapons and the artillery shells that have been used."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-releases-evacuation-orders-for-people-in-more-areas-of-gazas-rafah-720367">Israel orders evacuation from more areas in Rafah, presses ahead with ground offensive</a>

<h2>Israel hits parts of Gaza as more evacuations ordered in Rafah</h2>

This also comes as Israel on Saturday hit several parts of Gaza including Rafah where it had ordered more evacuations earlier in the day.

As per news agency AFP, at least 21 people were killed during strikes in central Gaza and taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. While, in Rafah, there were intense air strikes near the crossing with Egypt.

WATCH |&nbsp;US: Biden Administration acknowledges possible Israeli weapons misuse in report to Congress

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&nbsp;

The strikes came after the Israeli military on Tuesday (May 7) seized and closed the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing -- through which all fuel passes into Gaza -- after ordering residents of eastern Rafah to evacuate.

On Saturday, the military said that troops were fighting "armed terrorists" at the crossing and had found "numerous underground tunnel shafts."&nbsp;

<h2>Hamas releases video showing hostage</h2>

Meanwhile, Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, on Saturday (May 11) released a video showing a man held hostage in Gaza. The man can be seen alive in the 11-second footage. The video is superimposed with text in Arabic and Hebrew that reads: "Time is running out. Your government is lying."

The man in the video is believed to be Nadav Poplewell, a UK national, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim. Hamas said, "he died of wounds that he sustained in an Israeli air strike more than a month ago."

The 51-year-old hostage was kidnapped along with his mother Channa Peri, who was released in a hostage-sharing agreement in November last year.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President Joe Biden on Saturday (May 11) said that a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas would happen as soon as "tomorrow" if the Palestinian militant group released the hostages it held captive following its Oct 7 assault.

United States President Joe Biden on Saturday (May 11) said that a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas would happen as soon as "tomorrow" if the Palestinian militant group released the hostages it held captive following its Oct 7 assault. "There would be a ceasefire tomorrow if Hamas would release the hostages," Biden said at a fundraiser outside Seattle, at the home of a former Microsoft executive, after avoiding the topic at three similar events on Friday. "Israel said it's up to Hamas, if they wanted to do it, we could end it tomorrow. And the ceasefire would begin tomorrow," Biden said while addressing the crowd of about 100 people. The US president's remarks came after he issued a warning to Israel stating that he would not supply weapons, including artillery shells if its forces attack the city of Rafah. "If they go into Rafah, I'm not supplying the weapons that have been used... to deal with the cities," Biden said in a televised interview with CNN. "We're not gonna supply the weapons and the artillery shells that have been used." Also read: Israel orders evacuation from more areas in Rafah, presses ahead with ground offensive Israel hits parts of Gaza as more evacuations ordered in Rafah This also comes as Israel on Saturday hit several parts of Gaza including Rafah where it had ordered more evacuations earlier in the day. As per news agency AFP, at least 21 people were killed during strikes in central Gaza and taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. While, in Rafah, there were intense air strikes near the crossing with Egypt. WATCH | US: Biden Administration acknowledges possible Israeli weapons misuse in report to Congress × The strikes came after the Israeli military on Tuesday (May 7) seized and closed the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing -- through which all fuel passes into Gaza -- after ordering residents of eastern Rafah to evacuate. On Saturday, the military said that troops were fighting "armed terrorists" at the crossing and had found "numerous underground tunnel shafts." Hamas releases video showing hostage Meanwhile, Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, on Saturday (May 11) released a video showing a man held hostage in Gaza. The man can be seen alive in the 11-second footage. The video is superimposed with text in Arabic and Hebrew that reads: "Time is running out. Your government is lying." The man in the video is believed to be Nadav Poplewell, a UK national, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim. Hamas said, "he died of wounds that he sustained in an Israeli air strike more than a month ago." The 51-year-old hostage was kidnapped along with his mother Channa Peri, who was released in a hostage-sharing agreement in November last year. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden says Gaza ceasefire possible as soon as 'tomorrow' if Hamas releases hostages

The judge dropped rioting charges against 211 illegal migrants who were caught on camera trying to illegally enter the United States through the El Paso border wall by knocking over the guards and breaking through the razor wire on the basis of technicality.

The judge dropped rioting charges against 211 illegal migrants who were caught on camera trying to illegally enter the United States through the El Paso border wall by knocking over the guards and breaking through the razor wire on the basis of technicality. The case was dismissed by El Paso County Judge Ruben Morales at a hearing on Wednesday (May 8), stating his “hands [are] tied” after the state failed to provide the needed transfer order, which is a document for moving the matter from district to county court. “If I don’t have jurisdiction, there’s nothing I can do on these cases [except dismiss them],” Morales said during the hearing. The step came as a huge blow for District Attorney Bill Hicks who was pursuing the cases. Also Read: Wild scene on US border as 100 migrants hit guards and burst through razor wire Speaking at a press conference on Thursday (May 9), Hicks said, “Our office feels strongly … the procedure was appropriate and proper. We feel Judge Morales’ order is an improper order. We have the intention of appealing.” El Paso County Assistant District Attorney Kyle Lasley had argued that the court of Morales oversaw misdemeanour cases and that he had the jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Public Defender Kelli Childress said that the “processes were ignored” when the cases were being transferred, and Morales supported her stating that his “hands are tied” without the order transfer. Some of them may qualify for asylum: District Attorney Hicks said that the migrants, who broke the razor-wire fences and knocked over National Guard troops and also stomped one of the guards' knee in the melee, will be handed over to federal custody with Customs and Border Protection. He further stated that some of the rioters may be granted the right to pursue asylum in the United States and then be released in the country. “Border Patrol will then process them. So some may qualify for asylum, some may not. Some may be deported, some may not,” said Hicks. Watch: UK: Rwanda readying facilities for accommodations, to accept just 'thousands' of migrants “If eventually the court of appeals reverses and we end up with charges here… we’ll issue warrants for their arrest. For those here in the country they may be subject to arrest, for those who are deported, if they come back, they will be subject to arrest," he added. He further clarified that around 211 migrants “have a criminal history,” however, he added that “most do not.” The authorities in Texas had arrested all the migrants on riot-related charges after they rushed towards an area known as Gate 36. The riot charges included a maximum penalty of 180 days in prison and up to a $2,000 fine. (With inputs from agencies)

Judge drops riot charges against 200 migrants caught on camera storming through El Paso border

The mother of the US soldier detained in Russia has claimed that his girlfriend "lured" him to the country. United States' Staff Sgt. Gordon D. Black, 34 was arrested by the Russian police on May 2 in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok.

The mother of the US soldier detained in Russia has claimed that his girlfriend "lured" him to the country. United States' Staff Sgt. Gordon D. Black, 34 was arrested by the Russian police on May 2 in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. Speaking to NBC News about her son’s girlfriend Aleksandra Vashchuk, Melody Jones said, "I think she convinced him to come there." The soldier has been kept in police custody on charges of “theft of personal property.” According to the report, Black travelled to Vladivostok on his own after ending his duty as an Army trainer in South Korea on April 10. Also Read: Pentagon says US soldier arrested in Russia for theft flouted army rules The US soldier was asked to leave the foreign base and move directly to his next station in Texas, said Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith, while speaking to The New York Post on Tuesday (May 7). 'More worried about him going to Russia than Iraq and Afghanistan' “He wanted to see her for the last time before going home, and so he went there,” said Jones, as she explained what motivated her son to travel to Russia where many Americans, which includes Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, have been held against their will. “I was worried about him going because the government there has been grabbing Americans. I told him not to go. I was more worried about him going to Russia than I was when he was in Iraq and Afghanistan," Jones said. Black, whose divorce from his wife is going on in the United States, first interacted with Vashchuk “at a bar where she was working,” Jones said to NBC. “They’ve been together, on and off, for about a year and a half. I’ve never met her in person, but I’ve spoken to her over Messenger. My motherly instincts told me something was wrong with her,” said the worried mother. Watch: US Army releases unsettling ad with haunting images Meanwhile, Jones said that her son is "a good boy with a cute, crooked smile". "He was a good soldier, too,” she added, further stating that he speaks Russian fluently. In one of the videos uploaded on Vashchuk’s TikTok account, Black was seen supporting Russia amid the Ukraine war. “I think NATO is pretty aggressive. Honestly, I understand Russia’s position. Obviously, they want to defend their country," said Black in the video. After landing in Vladivostok, the US soldier was arrested on charges of stealing property from a person, who was identified as "citizen T", as per a statement from Pervomaisky District Court spokeswoman Elena Oleneva. He is likely to remain in Russia for at least two months. His mother said that the last thing he texted her was, "Don’t worry about me, I’m OK." (With inputs from agencies)

Girlfriend lured detained US soldier to Russia, claims mother

United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday (May 7) cautioned of a "ferocious surge" in antisemitism during his Holocaust memorial speech amid a sharp rise in the number of Gaza protests in US universities.

"Never again simply translated for me means: Never forget. Never forgetting means we must keep telling the story, we must keep teaching the truth," Biden said as he addressed a bipartisan memorial held at the US Capitol's Emancipation Hall. "The truth is we're at risk of people not knowing the truth."

Biden, who has backed its staunch ally in the war against Hamas, said that Oct 7 was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

"This hatred (of Jews) continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world and requires our continued vigilance and outspokenness," Biden said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-forces-take-control-of-gaza-side-of-rafah-crossing-aid-flow-impacted-719023">Humanitarian aid flow stopped as Israel takes control of Gaza side of Rafah</a>

<h2>'Hamas unleashed terror'</h2>

He then highlighted that the people must not forget that it was Hamas who first launched an attack against Israel on Oct 7 and "unleashed this terror".

"Now here we are, not 75 years later, but just seven and a half months later, and people are already forgetting ... that Hamas unleashed this terror," he said. "I have not forgotten, nor have you. And we will not forget."

He then laid stress on an alarming rise in antisemitism in the United States, including campuses that are roiled by demonstrations against the ongoing war in Gaza.

"We've seen a ferocious surge of anti-Semitism in America and around the world," Biden said.

The Jewish students enrolled in US universities have reported an increase in antisemitism since the Palestinian militant group Hamas' Oct 7 attack on Israel.

"There's no place on any campus in America -- any place in America -- for anti-Semitism or hate speech or threats of violence of any kind," Biden said.

Earlier, Israel's president also condemned the protests stating that US campuses were "contaminated" by hatred.

Biden's speech also comes against Israel's seizure of a key border crossing in Rafah in southern Gaza despite several warnings from the United States and amid the ongoing talks to broker a deal for the release of hostages held captive by Hamas.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday (May 7) cautioned of a "ferocious surge" in antisemitism during his Holocaust memorial speech amid a sharp rise in the number of Gaza protests in US universities.

United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday (May 7) cautioned of a "ferocious surge" in antisemitism during his Holocaust memorial speech amid a sharp rise in the number of Gaza protests in US universities. "Never again simply translated for me means: Never forget. Never forgetting means we must keep telling the story, we must keep teaching the truth," Biden said as he addressed a bipartisan memorial held at the US Capitol's Emancipation Hall. "The truth is we're at risk of people not knowing the truth." Biden, who has backed its staunch ally in the war against Hamas, said that Oct 7 was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. "This hatred (of Jews) continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world and requires our continued vigilance and outspokenness," Biden said. Also read: Humanitarian aid flow stopped as Israel takes control of Gaza side of Rafah 'Hamas unleashed terror' He then highlighted that the people must not forget that it was Hamas who first launched an attack against Israel on Oct 7 and "unleashed this terror". "Now here we are, not 75 years later, but just seven and a half months later, and people are already forgetting ... that Hamas unleashed this terror," he said. "I have not forgotten, nor have you. And we will not forget." He then laid stress on an alarming rise in antisemitism in the United States, including campuses that are roiled by demonstrations against the ongoing war in Gaza. "We've seen a ferocious surge of anti-Semitism in America and around the world," Biden said. The Jewish students enrolled in US universities have reported an increase in antisemitism since the Palestinian militant group Hamas' Oct 7 attack on Israel. "There's no place on any campus in America -- any place in America -- for anti-Semitism or hate speech or threats of violence of any kind," Biden said. Earlier, Israel's president also condemned the protests stating that US campuses were "contaminated" by hatred. Biden's speech also comes against Israel's seizure of a key border crossing in Rafah in southern Gaza despite several warnings from the United States and amid the ongoing talks to broker a deal for the release of hostages held captive by Hamas. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Biden condemns ‘ferocious surge’ in antisemitism amid US campus Gaza protests

A dashcam video from April 26 captured a moment when a powerful tornado destroyed a building in Lincoln, a city in the US state of Nebraska.&nbsp;

The deadly, multi-state outbreak of severe storms caused chaos in the US in late April. Parts of Oklahoma and nearby Great Plains states were severely damaged. Authorities said on April 28 that at least five people died.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kristi-noem-trump-vp-contender-suggests-bidens-dog-should-be-killed-too-718481">Kristi Noem, Trump VP contender, suggests Biden’s dog Commander should be killed too</a>&nbsp;

The building, seen in the video, was hit by the twister carrying winds as high as 254 km/h. The structure belonged to Garner Industries.&nbsp;

According to the local media, dozens of workers were inside the structure when a tornado struck, but all survived the incident.&nbsp;

Watch the video here:&nbsp;

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Dashcam video recorded on April 26 showed the moment a powerful tornado destroyed a building in Lincoln, Nebraska. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/jxxXq94O6h">pic.twitter.com/jxxXq94O6h</a>
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) <a href="https://twitter.com/accuweather/status/1787471124760277170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/5-year-old-suffers-cardiac-arrest-at-uk-theme-park-mother-arrested-for-negligence-718465">5-year-old suffers cardiac arrest at UK theme park; mother arrested for negligence</a>&nbsp;

The National Weather Service (NWS) said that 78 tornadoes were reported on Friday (April 26), mostly in Nebraska and Iowa. A separate weather system brought 35 tornado reports on the next day from northern Texas and Oklahoma to Missouri, with the storms dumping up to seven 18 centimetres of rain in some places within hours.&nbsp;

Experts and meteorologists warned of a continuing danger of extreme weather Sunday, including flash flooding, hail and more tornadoes.&nbsp;

Last week, Omaha police Lt. Neal Bonacci said that hundreds of houses sustained damage in Omaha, mostly in the Elkhorn area in the western part of the city.&nbsp;

Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bossman had said that police and firefighters moved door-to-door to help people. Authorities reached the "hardest hit area" and had a plan to search anywhere someone could be trapped.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A dashcam video from April 26 captured a moment when a powerful tornado destroyed a building in Lincoln, a city in the US state of Nebraska. The deadly, multi-state outbreak of severe storms caused chaos in the US in late April.

A dashcam video from April 26 captured a moment when a powerful tornado destroyed a building in Lincoln, a city in the US state of Nebraska. The deadly, multi-state outbreak of severe storms caused chaos in the US in late April. Parts of Oklahoma and nearby Great Plains states were severely damaged. Authorities said on April 28 that at least five people died. Also read: Kristi Noem, Trump VP contender, suggests Biden’s dog Commander should be killed too The building, seen in the video, was hit by the twister carrying winds as high as 254 km/h. The structure belonged to Garner Industries. According to the local media, dozens of workers were inside the structure when a tornado struck, but all survived the incident. Watch the video here: Dashcam video recorded on April 26 showed the moment a powerful tornado destroyed a building in Lincoln, Nebraska. #NEwx pic.twitter.com/jxxXq94O6h — AccuWeather (@accuweather) May 6, 2024 × Also read: 5-year-old suffers cardiac arrest at UK theme park; mother arrested for negligence The National Weather Service (NWS) said that 78 tornadoes were reported on Friday (April 26), mostly in Nebraska and Iowa. A separate weather system brought 35 tornado reports on the next day from northern Texas and Oklahoma to Missouri, with the storms dumping up to seven 18 centimetres of rain in some places within hours. Experts and meteorologists warned of a continuing danger of extreme weather Sunday, including flash flooding, hail and more tornadoes. Last week, Omaha police Lt. Neal Bonacci said that hundreds of houses sustained damage in Omaha, mostly in the Elkhorn area in the western part of the city. Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bossman had said that police and firefighters moved door-to-door to help people. Authorities reached the "hardest hit area" and had a plan to search anywhere someone could be trapped. (With inputs from agencies)

Dashcam video shows moment when powerful tornado flattened building in Nebraska

United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (May 2) commented on the nationwide campus protests over the war in Gaza. He said that the US was not authoritarian but&nbsp;"order must prevail".&nbsp;

Biden added that there was "no place" for antisemitism or other hate speech on university campuses as he spoke from the White House in a televised address.&nbsp;

"We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent," Biden said, further adding, "But neither are we a lawless country".&nbsp;

He added, "We're a civil society, and order must prevail."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rebuilding-gaza-to-at-least-16-years-and-cost-around-30-to-40-billion-un-717472">Rebuilding all homes destroyed in Gaza would take at least 16 years, says UN</a>&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Israel's President Isaac Herzog slammed the violent US universities' demonstrations, saying these institutions were "contaminated by hatred and anti-Semitism".&nbsp;

"We see prominent academic institutions, halls of history, culture, and education contaminated by hatred and anti-Semitism fuelled by arrogance and ignorance ... We watch in horror as the atrocities of October 7th against Israel are celebrated and justified," Herzog said in a statement offering support to Jewish students across these universities.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-move-in-to-dismantle-ucla-gaza-protest-barricades-717374">Police tear down barricades at UCLA protest encampment; India urges citizens to 'respect local laws'</a>&nbsp;

Watch this report:&nbsp;

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<h2>Gaza truce latest&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

Amid the escalating situation in West Asia, a delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas is set to visit Egypt soon for further ceasefire talks.&nbsp;

The group said in a statement on Thursday that Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh had affirmed the group's "positive spirit in studying the ceasefire proposal" in a phone call with Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (May 2) commented on the nationwide campus protests over the war in Gaza. He said that the US was not authoritarian but "order must prevail".

United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (May 2) commented on the nationwide campus protests over the war in Gaza. He said that the US was not authoritarian but "order must prevail". Biden added that there was "no place" for antisemitism or other hate speech on university campuses as he spoke from the White House in a televised address. "We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent," Biden said, further adding, "But neither are we a lawless country". He added, "We're a civil society, and order must prevail." Also read: Rebuilding all homes destroyed in Gaza would take at least 16 years, says UN Meanwhile, Israel's President Isaac Herzog slammed the violent US universities' demonstrations, saying these institutions were "contaminated by hatred and anti-Semitism". "We see prominent academic institutions, halls of history, culture, and education contaminated by hatred and anti-Semitism fuelled by arrogance and ignorance ... We watch in horror as the atrocities of October 7th against Israel are celebrated and justified," Herzog said in a statement offering support to Jewish students across these universities. Also read: Police tear down barricades at UCLA protest encampment; India urges citizens to 'respect local laws' Watch this report: × Gaza truce latest Amid the escalating situation in West Asia, a delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas is set to visit Egypt soon for further ceasefire talks. The group said in a statement on Thursday that Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh had affirmed the group's "positive spirit in studying the ceasefire proposal" in a phone call with Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

US student protests: Biden calls for 'order', says 'no place' for antisemitism on any campus

A man in the United States was accused of the murder of his six-year-old son. Christopher Gregor, 31, reportedly forced the boy to run on a treadmill back-to-back a couple of weeks before his death. He is on trial for the alleged murder of his son, Corey Micciolo, in 2021, the New York Post reported.&nbsp;

In the latest, disturbing video evidence was presented in court, which shows Gregor forcing Micciolo to run on a treadmill at high speed, which was difficult for him.&nbsp;

But the man has claimed that his child's death was caused by pneumonia.&nbsp;

Mario Gallucci, Gregor's lawyer, addressed the court during the opening statements of his trial. The lawyer spoke about the events that led to Corey's death.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/politician-caught-by-husband-in-bed-with-adopted-son-who-is-a-monk-717343">BIZARRE! Husband catches politician wife in bed with adopted son who is a monk</a>&nbsp;

As reported by the Asbury Park Press, Gallucci told jurors: "When you see that video, you’re going to be horrified. Corey's death had absolutely nothing to do with that treadmill."&nbsp;

On the other hand, the prosecutors contradicted the claims, stating that the child's fatal injuries were the direct result of his father's actions.&nbsp;

The incident happened on March 20, 2021, at the Atlantic Heights Clubhouse Fitness Club in New Jersey. The treadmill case was captured on a security camera. The footage was also shared on social media platforms.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.&nbsp;

Watch it here:&nbsp;&nbsp;

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NEW: Mother breaks down in court as she watches her son’s father abuse her child by making him run on the treadmill because he was “too fat.” 
 
New Jersey father Christopher Gregor is accused of killing his 6-year-old son Corey Micciolo. 
 
New footage shows the boy repeatedly face… <a href="https://t.co/aVKknkOGd5">pic.twitter.com/aVKknkOGd5</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1785686468243112256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/where-is-wally-us-man-says-his-emotional-support-alligator-has-gone-missing-717348">Where is Wally? US man says his 'emotional support' alligator has gone missing</a>&nbsp;

Corey's mother, Breanna Micciolo, also testified in Superior Court in Ocean County. She told the court that she saw bruises on her son's body after the workout.&nbsp;

"He had a bruise on his forehead," she said as quoted by the report.&nbsp;

The report also mentioned that a paediatrician saw Corey after the incident, and revealed no serious concerns. However, Corey reportedly told the doctor that his father had forced him onto the treadmill because he was fat. His health reportedly deteriorated after the incident.&nbsp;

A few days later, he complained of disorientation and nausea after waking up from a nap. His father rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival.&nbsp;

A man in the United States was accused of the murder of his six-year-old son. Christopher Gregor, 31, reportedly forced the boy to run on a treadmill back-to-back a couple of weeks before his death.

A man in the United States was accused of the murder of his six-year-old son. Christopher Gregor, 31, reportedly forced the boy to run on a treadmill back-to-back a couple of weeks before his death. He is on trial for the alleged murder of his son, Corey Micciolo, in 2021, the New York Post reported. In the latest, disturbing video evidence was presented in court, which shows Gregor forcing Micciolo to run on a treadmill at high speed, which was difficult for him. But the man has claimed that his child's death was caused by pneumonia. Mario Gallucci, Gregor's lawyer, addressed the court during the opening statements of his trial. The lawyer spoke about the events that led to Corey's death. Also read: BIZARRE! Husband catches politician wife in bed with adopted son who is a monk As reported by the Asbury Park Press, Gallucci told jurors: "When you see that video, you’re going to be horrified. Corey's death had absolutely nothing to do with that treadmill." On the other hand, the prosecutors contradicted the claims, stating that the child's fatal injuries were the direct result of his father's actions. The incident happened on March 20, 2021, at the Atlantic Heights Clubhouse Fitness Club in New Jersey. The treadmill case was captured on a security camera. The footage was also shared on social media platforms. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. Watch it here: NEW: Mother breaks down in court as she watches her son’s father abuse her child by making him run on the treadmill because he was “too fat.” New Jersey father Christopher Gregor is accused of killing his 6-year-old son Corey Micciolo. New footage shows the boy repeatedly face… pic.twitter.com/aVKknkOGd5 — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 1, 2024 × Also read: Where is Wally? US man says his 'emotional support' alligator has gone missing Corey's mother, Breanna Micciolo, also testified in Superior Court in Ocean County. She told the court that she saw bruises on her son's body after the workout. "He had a bruise on his forehead," she said as quoted by the report. The report also mentioned that a paediatrician saw Corey after the incident, and revealed no serious concerns. However, Corey reportedly told the doctor that his father had forced him onto the treadmill because he was fat. His health reportedly deteriorated after the incident. A few days later, he complained of disorientation and nausea after waking up from a nap. His father rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival.

Six-year-old dies allegedly after his father forced him to run on treadmill at high speed

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 1) passed a bill that proposes to expand the federal definition of antisemitism.

The bill passed the House on Wednesday by a margin of 320 to 91 amid the ongoing anti-war protests unfolding across multiple US university campuses. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

<h2>What does it mean?</h2>

If the bill were to become law, it would codify a definition of antisemitism created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Civil Rights Act bars discrimination based on shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics or national origin.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-face-criticism-for-their-slow-response-to-violence-717183">Pro-Palestine protests: Violence mars US universities, hundreds arrested as police take over campuses</a>&nbsp;

According to the reports in the US media, adding IHRA’s definition to the law would allow the Biden administration or any future US president to restrict funding and other resources to campuses perceived as tolerating antisemitism.

Also watch |&nbsp;US: Police arrest dozens of protesters across campuses, tensions escalate between police and students

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In the current circumstances, this could be used to stifle campus protests against the war in Gaza, which has reportedly claimed the lives of 34,568 Palestinians so far.

<h2>What is IHRA's definition of antisemitism?</h2>

IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism is "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities".

This definition also covers the "targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity".

The definition also bars any comparison between "contemporary Israeli policy" and "that of the Nazis".

The IHRA adopted its current definition of antisemitism in 2016, and its framing has been embraced by the US State Department under President Joe Biden and his two predecessors.

The vote on Wednesday (May 1) comes as anti-war protests sweep across college campuses in the US.

The Biden administration has pledged support for Israel amid mounting humanitarian concerns over its military campaign that began after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1200 people and took over 250 hostages.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 1) passed a bill that proposes to expand the federal definition of antisemitism. The bill passed the House on Wednesday by a margin of 320 to 91 amid the ongoing anti-war protests unfolding across multiple US university campuses.

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 1) passed a bill that proposes to expand the federal definition of antisemitism. The bill passed the House on Wednesday by a margin of 320 to 91 amid the ongoing anti-war protests unfolding across multiple US university campuses. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. What does it mean? If the bill were to become law, it would codify a definition of antisemitism created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Civil Rights Act bars discrimination based on shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics or national origin. Also read | Pro-Palestine protests: Violence mars US universities, hundreds arrested as police take over campuses According to the reports in the US media, adding IHRA’s definition to the law would allow the Biden administration or any future US president to restrict funding and other resources to campuses perceived as tolerating antisemitism. Also watch | US: Police arrest dozens of protesters across campuses, tensions escalate between police and students × In the current circumstances, this could be used to stifle campus protests against the war in Gaza, which has reportedly claimed the lives of 34,568 Palestinians so far. What is IHRA's definition of antisemitism? IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism is "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities". This definition also covers the "targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity". The definition also bars any comparison between "contemporary Israeli policy" and "that of the Nazis". The IHRA adopted its current definition of antisemitism in 2016, and its framing has been embraced by the US State Department under President Joe Biden and his two predecessors. The vote on Wednesday (May 1) comes as anti-war protests sweep across college campuses in the US. The Biden administration has pledged support for Israel amid mounting humanitarian concerns over its military campaign that began after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1200 people and took over 250 hostages. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid varsity protests, US moves forward with proposed law to expand definition of antisemitism

Clashes broke out between the police and demonstrators on Thursday (May 2) at the University of California, Los Angeles, where the officers in riot gear tore down barricades at a protest encampment.&nbsp;

This is the latest in a spate of incidents after unrest erupted in the campuses of the United States over Israel's war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The police personnel dragged tents away from the protest site and detained several students dressed in white helmets.

Loud explosions were also reportedly heard during the clashes from the stun grenades or flash-bang charges that were fired by the police.

On another side of the encampment students holding umbrellas, helmets and plastic shields squared up against police in anxious silence, with a few erratic chants of "Free Palestine!" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!"

"This is a peaceful protest, there are no counter-protestors tonight, so to call the police on them is despicable. This city should support them," LA resident Jack Bedrosian, who came to show support, told news agency AFP.

UCLA officials on the other hand have announced that the campus will remain shut except for limited operations on Thursday and Friday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/biden-claims-xenophobia-stalling-economic-growth-in-india-china-japan-717243">Biden claims 'xenophobia' stalling economic growth in India, China, Japan</a>

<h2>Hundreds arrested</h2>

Police in the last 24 hours have arrested hundreds of protesters of whom majority&nbsp;have called for divestment from companies that support Israel and the war in Gaza.

Announcements broadcast on the University of California Los Angeles campus on Wednesday (May 1) told demonstrators to disperse or they would be arrested.

California's governor's office criticised the slow response of law enforcement to a violent incident at UCLA. The incident involved a clash between a pro-Israeli group and a pro-Palestinian student encampment.

A masked pro-Israeli group assaulted a pro-Palestinian student camp before the police officers were called to the campus.

Governor Gavin Newsom's spokesperson said the limited and delayed police intervention was unacceptable.

<h2>India's MEA reacts to protests</h2>

Meanwhile, India's Ministry of External Affairs, reacting to the protests in the US campuses said that so far neither the Embassy nor any Consulate has been approached by Indian students seeking assistance.

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"Neither the Embassy nor any Consulate has been approached by Indian students or their family seeking assistance..We expect all our citizens at home and abroad to respect local laws and regulations", MEA on disciplinary action on Indian students at US universities <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WIONews</a> <a href="https://t.co/hWd1GtXdAf">https://t.co/hWd1GtXdAf</a>
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"Neither the Embassy nor any Consulate has been approached by Indian students or their families seeking assistance..We expect all our citizens at home and abroad to respect local laws and regulations", said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

(With inputs from agencies)

Clashes broke out between the police and demonstrators on Thursday (May 2) at the University of California, Los Angeles, where the officers in riot gear tore down barricades at a protest encampment.

Clashes broke out between the police and demonstrators on Thursday (May 2) at the University of California, Los Angeles, where the officers in riot gear tore down barricades at a protest encampment. This is the latest in a spate of incidents after unrest erupted in the campuses of the United States over Israel's war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The police personnel dragged tents away from the protest site and detained several students dressed in white helmets. Loud explosions were also reportedly heard during the clashes from the stun grenades or flash-bang charges that were fired by the police. On another side of the encampment students holding umbrellas, helmets and plastic shields squared up against police in anxious silence, with a few erratic chants of "Free Palestine!" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!" "This is a peaceful protest, there are no counter-protestors tonight, so to call the police on them is despicable. This city should support them," LA resident Jack Bedrosian, who came to show support, told news agency AFP. UCLA officials on the other hand have announced that the campus will remain shut except for limited operations on Thursday and Friday. Also read: Biden claims 'xenophobia' stalling economic growth in India, China, Japan Hundreds arrested Police in the last 24 hours have arrested hundreds of protesters of whom majority have called for divestment from companies that support Israel and the war in Gaza. Announcements broadcast on the University of California Los Angeles campus on Wednesday (May 1) told demonstrators to disperse or they would be arrested. California's governor's office criticised the slow response of law enforcement to a violent incident at UCLA. The incident involved a clash between a pro-Israeli group and a pro-Palestinian student encampment. A masked pro-Israeli group assaulted a pro-Palestinian student camp before the police officers were called to the campus. Governor Gavin Newsom's spokesperson said the limited and delayed police intervention was unacceptable. India's MEA reacts to protests Meanwhile, India's Ministry of External Affairs, reacting to the protests in the US campuses said that so far neither the Embassy nor any Consulate has been approached by Indian students seeking assistance. "Neither the Embassy nor any Consulate has been approached by Indian students or their family seeking assistance..We expect all our citizens at home and abroad to respect local laws and regulations", MEA on disciplinary action on Indian students at US universities @WIONews https://t.co/hWd1GtXdAf — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 2, 2024 × "Neither the Embassy nor any Consulate has been approached by Indian students or their families seeking assistance..We expect all our citizens at home and abroad to respect local laws and regulations", said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. (With inputs from agencies)

Police tear down barricades at UCLA protest encampment; India urges its citizens to 'respect local laws'

A World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday (Apr 30) there was a risk of the H5N1 bird flu virus spreading to cows in countries other than the United States through migratory birds.

A World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday (Apr 30) there was a risk of the H5N1 bird flu virus spreading to cows in countries other than the United States through migratory birds. WHO further noted that Washington is frequently updated about the outbreak. So far, the US is the only country where dairy cows have been infected as earlier this month, US authorities said a person working on a dairy farm in Texas was recovering from bird flu after having been exposed to cattle. "We have been receiving information and we have been receiving almost daily updates," said Wenqing Zhang, head of the global influenza programme at the World Health Organization. "The response update has been updated routinely and in transparency. So we've got the information when it's available and we update our risk assessment," she told a press conference on being asked whether or not the US was being transparent. Also read: Trump hush money trial: Former US president fined $9,000 for violating gag order The official said that serological studies were underway but may take time to complete, adding that genetic sequencing data had been made available, some "at a very early stage" of the US cattle outbreak. She added that "the genetic sequence data of the human case was immediately available when it came out". WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier added: "The fact that this got picked up, the fact that we now know about individual cases somewhere in some farm -- that shows that the surveillance system works." Also read: AstraZeneca Covid vaccine: Court case, rare side effects, admission of guilt, and more. All you need to know Avian influenza A(H5N1) first emerged in 1996. The 2.3.4.4b clade of the virus, first detected in 2020, is behind an exponential growth in the number of outbreaks in birds. The strain has led to the deaths of tens of millions of poultry, with wild birds and land and marine mammals also infected. (With inputs from agencies)

US providing frequent updates on bird flu outbreak: WHO

United States President Joe Biden called on the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Monday (April 29) to "exert all efforts" to secure the release of hostages who have been held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip so that the ceasefire deal is achieved, stated the White House.

United States President Joe Biden called on the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Monday (April 29) to "exert all efforts" to secure the release of hostages who have been held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip so that the ceasefire deal is achieved, stated the White House. For months, Cairo, Doha and Washington have been carrying out mediation to achieve a truce in the Palestinian territory which has been war-ravaged since Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7. On Monday (April 29), the representatives from Hamas, Qatar and Egypt met in Cairo after the proposal for a second truce in Gaza was given to Hamas along with a fresh release of hostages. Also Read: Hamas gets 40-day ceasefire offer amid airstrikes on Rafah by Israel Biden charts the way ahead in Gaza truce with al-Sisi and Al Thani Biden, in his separate telephonic conversations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke about the "the deal now on the table," said the White House. Biden appealed to the leaders "to exert all efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas as this is now the only obstacle to an immediate ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza," stated the White House. Egypt's presidency stated that al-Sisi also discussed the dangers of a military escalation in Rafah with President Biden. The call focused on the plan of exchanging Israeli hostages with Palestinian prisoners. "President al-Sisi stressed the necessity of full and adequate access to humanitarian aid, reviewing the intensive Egyptian efforts in this regard," said the Egyptian presidency, in a statement. "The two presidents also stressed the necessity of working to prevent the expansion of the conflict and reaffirmed the importance of the two-state solution as the means to achieve security, peace, and stability in the region," it added. Qatar's Amiri Diwan said that Biden and the Qatari Emir spoke about the developments in the situation in Gaza and the efforts being made by the two nations to finalise a permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Watch: Israel-hamas war: US & Britain hopeful that Hamas will accept Israeli truce proposal US 'hopeful' Hamas will accept 'extraordinarily generous’ Gaza truce offer Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire” was Hamas, before the last-chance talks took place to find a diplomatic solution between Israel and Hamas before the ground invasion in Rafah. Speaking at a World Economic Forum meeting in Saudi Arabia, Blinken said: “Hamas has before it a proposal that is extraordinarily generous on the part of Israel." “They have to decide and they have to decide quickly … I’m hopeful that they will make the right decision and we can have a fundamental change in the dynamic," he added. The Hamas delegation has departed from Cairo and will come back with a written response to the proposal, stated Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera TV. (With inputs from agencies)

US, Egypt, Qatar agree to 'exert all efforts' for hostage release, ceasefire deal

A recent survey in the United States paints a concerning picture. The P-Fin index, a key barometer of personal finance knowledge, indicates that financial literacy in the US has stagnated for eight consecutive years, hovering around just 50%. This means half of American adults lack a strong grasp of core financial concepts.

Financial literacy: A growing concern in the US & EU

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday only the United States could stop Israel attacking the border city of Rafah in Gaza, adding that the assault, which he expects within days, could force much of the Palestinian population to flee the enclave.

World Economic Forum: Over 1000 leaders meet in Saudi Arabia | Palestine's Abbas discusses Gaza crisis

World Economic Forum: Over 1000 International leaders hold Gaza talks in Riyadh

Five people were killed, including an infant, and several others were injured in multiple wild tornadoes that created havoc in the central United States over the weekend.

Five people were killed, including an infant, and several others were injured in multiple wild tornadoes that created havoc in the central United States over the weekend. The residents of Oklahoma and nearby Great Plains states woke up to scenes of ravage and devastation as reports emerged of closed highways, power blackouts and structural damage. Throughout Saturday night, 35 tornadoes destroyed the area. The weather system carried 35 tornadoes from northern Texas and Oklahoma to Missouri on Sunday (April 28), after 78 tornadoes were reported mostly in Nebraska and Iowa on Friday (April 26) and levelled homes and buildings in six states, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Catastrophic damage in Sulphur, Oklahoma, after an overnight tornado. Sending my thoughts and prayers to this community, these tornados are devastating! pic.twitter.com/BP9Nu4mwvG — Skyleigh Heinen-Uhrich (@Sky_Lee_1) April 28, 2024 × In the storms, seven inches (18 centimetres) of rainfall was recorded within hours in some places and meteorologists issued warnings of extreme weather, which includes flash flooding, hail and more tornadoes. Also Read: Get away from windows! 'Gorilla hail' threatens United States Midwest. What is it? Oklahoma Governor declares 30-day state of emergency In south-central Oklahoma, Sulphur was especially harshly hit late on Sunday (April 28) as images and videos shared on social media platforms showed multiple buildings ripped apart. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, speaking at a press conference, said that the destruction in Sulphur, where one woman died because of the tornado, was the worst he had seen in his six years in office. "It seems like every business in downtown has been destroyed now," the governor said, adding, "Thank goodness... there weren't a lot of people here at 10:30 at night." Aerial views of the devastation in Sulphur, OK after a tornado tore through the town last night. Search and rescue still ongoing. Multiple tornadoes in Oklahoma last night with 2 reported fatalities in Holdenville at this time. Please keep the people impacted in your thoughts and… pic.twitter.com/h8IizhEDto — Charles Peek (@CharlesPeekWX) April 28, 2024 × "Definitely the most damage since I've been governor that I've seen. I've seen a lot of damage. I've been around the state for, this is my sixth year, but what I saw in downtown Sulphur is unbelievable," Stitt said. The state's Department of Emergency Management (OEM) said that at least two people were killed in the Oklahoma town of Holdenville, as the local media reported a four-month-old baby also died. According to OEM, a fourth person died on a highway in Marietta, where several battered cars were lying over each other and two semi-trucks had overturned. Watch: US: Spring storm batters Northeast, heavy snow forecast | WION Climate Tracker A man who was earlier reported to be injured in Iowa later died at the hospital, his family confirmed while speaking to local outlet KETV NewsWatch 7. The National Weather Service stated in their preliminary investigation that the tornadoes which hit Sulphur and Marietta were at least EF-3 on the five-level Enhanced Fujita Scale. Stitt announced a 30-day state of emergency for expediting aid to 12 counties which were the hardest hit and that he had connected with the federal authorities for assistance. There was a power outage in more than 25,000 homes in Texas and more than 19,000 in Oklahoma, according to poweroutage.us. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Tornados hit Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, killing 5 including infant

In an unexpected move, anti-Israeli protesters hoisted a Palestinian flag at Harvard University at a spot which is generally reserved for flying the national flag of the United States as demonstrations continued to go out of control on the campus.

In an unexpected move, anti-Israeli protesters hoisted a Palestinian flag at Harvard University at a spot which is generally reserved for flying the national flag of the United States as demonstrations continued to go out of control on the campus. The shocking step was taken by three radical students on Saturday (April 27) as they raised the Palestinian flag over the iconic statue of John Harvard, where generally the Stars & Stripes fly. As per The Harvard Crimson, the flag-raising incident happened just after 6:30 pm local time. In all, the students hoisted three flags at the campus, said the report. “The flags raised by protesters over University Hall were removed by Harvard facilities staff,” said a spokesperson, while speaking to The New York Post. Palestinian flag raised at Harvard University in place of the American flag. Harvard has been conquered. 🎥 @sfmcguire79 pic.twitter.com/zpRr7JFr7E — Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 28, 2024 × “The actions are a violation of University policy and the individuals involved will be subject to disciplinary action," he added. Netizens strongly react to the hoisting of Palestinian flags, call for armed intervention Social media users strongly criticised the move of the protesters. “These pro-Hamas protesters’ sole agenda is to eradicate every Western value and every basic human right while establishing an Islamic Sharia law regime,” said X user Mor Hogeg in a post. Also Read: ‘Biden sun le, Azadi’ slogans raised in Columbia University by pro-Palestine protesters “They are starting with the Jews in Israel as their main objective and will continue with the entire west. It is not a fight of Israel against Hamas – the fight is between a culture of life and a culture of death. WAKE UP!" he added. Meanwhile, another emphasised the need for an armed intervention. “This is where the National Guard needs to be called in. On the other hand, with our representatives in Congress waving Ukrainian flags, it’s not as if these young people have great role models," Mark Isaacson wrote. According to The Crimson, generally, the American flag flies at the flag pole, however, it also has flags of visiting foreign dignitaries displayed when they visit the campus. It added that at the time no flag was flying on the pole, since the Stars & Stripes is typically hoisted at 7 am from Monday to Friday and is lowered at 4 pm “for proper storage". No lockdown or evictions, says Columbia University Meanwhile, Columbia University rejected the rumours of mass evictions and campus lockdowns as the “tent city” demonstration continued. Watch: Pro-Palestine Protests: Students at prestigious Paris university occupy campus building “We want to be clear: There is no truth to claims of an impending lockdown or evictions on campus,” said the administration, in a statement Saturday (April 27). The police arrested hundreds of anti-Israel protesters at college campuses across the country after fed-up administrators said, “enough is enough". More than 200 protesters were arrested on Saturday (April 27) from colleges, including Northeastern University in Boston, Arizona State University in Tempe, Indiana University in Bloomington and Washington University in St. Louis. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Harvard protests take an ugly turn as students fly Palestinian flag in place reserved for US flag

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday (Apr 28) said that the United States was the only country that could stop an Israeli invasion of the border city of Rafah in Gaza.

"We call on the United States of America to ask Israel not to carry on the Rafah attack. America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime," Abbas said at a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

He further stated that the Israeli offensive, which is expected to take place in the coming days, could prompt an evacuation in the region, pushing people out of the besieged Palestinian enclave, saying that this could be the "biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian people's history".

"What will happen in the coming few days is what Israel will do with attacking Rafah because all the Palestinians from Gaza are gathered there," Abbas said.

Further reiterating that he rejects the displacement of Palestinians into Jordan and Egypt, he expressed his concern over Israel completing its operation in Gaza stating that this would push the Palestinians to move out of the West Bank and take shelter in Jordan.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-hamas-reviewing-new-israeli-ceasefire-proposal-715737">Rafah operation could be suspended if hostage deal is secured, says Israeli foreign minister</a>

“The third point is that we will not accept by any case the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank outside their homeland, and they must stay in their country, we must not repeat the Nakba of 1948 and of 1967,” the Palestinian president said.

Israel which ramped up the airstrikes on Rafah last week, for weeks threatened to launch an offensive in the Gaza strip with an aim to destroy Hamas' remaining battalions.

Countries including Israel's closest ally the US have called on Tel Aviv not to attack the southern city, which connects the Egyptian border and is providing shelter to over a million Palestinians who fled the Israeli assault.

(With inputs from agencies)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday (Apr 28) said that the United States was the only country that could stop an Israeli invasion of the border city of Rafah in Gaza.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday (Apr 28) said that the United States was the only country that could stop an Israeli invasion of the border city of Rafah in Gaza. "We call on the United States of America to ask Israel not to carry on the Rafah attack. America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime," Abbas said at a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Saudi capital Riyadh. He further stated that the Israeli offensive, which is expected to take place in the coming days, could prompt an evacuation in the region, pushing people out of the besieged Palestinian enclave, saying that this could be the "biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian people's history". "What will happen in the coming few days is what Israel will do with attacking Rafah because all the Palestinians from Gaza are gathered there," Abbas said. Further reiterating that he rejects the displacement of Palestinians into Jordan and Egypt, he expressed his concern over Israel completing its operation in Gaza stating that this would push the Palestinians to move out of the West Bank and take shelter in Jordan. Also read: Rafah operation could be suspended if hostage deal is secured, says Israeli foreign minister “The third point is that we will not accept by any case the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank outside their homeland, and they must stay in their country, we must not repeat the Nakba of 1948 and of 1967,” the Palestinian president said. Israel which ramped up the airstrikes on Rafah last week, for weeks threatened to launch an offensive in the Gaza strip with an aim to destroy Hamas' remaining battalions. Countries including Israel's closest ally the US have called on Tel Aviv not to attack the southern city, which connects the Egyptian border and is providing shelter to over a million Palestinians who fled the Israeli assault. (With inputs from agencies)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says only US can stop Israel’s attack on Rafah

United States police officials shot dead a 42-year-old Indian-origin man in San Antonio after he hit two officers with his vehicle. The officers were trying to apprehend the man in connection with an aggravated assault case when he was shot dead.

United States police officials shot dead a 42-year-old Indian-origin man in San Antonio after he hit two officers with his vehicle. The officers were trying to apprehend the man in connection with an aggravated assault case when he was shot dead. After police officer Tyler Turner shot at him, officials pronounced the Indian-origin man, identified as Sachin Sahoo, dead at the scene on April 21. Sahoo hailed from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and media reports hinted that he may have been a naturalised US citizen. Here's how the unfortunate incident unfolded As per the preliminary investigation, the police officers just before 6:30 pm on April 21 were sent to a home located in Cheviot Heights in San Antonio after someone reported Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, said the San Antonio Police Department, in a statement to news agency PTI. Also Read: Indian MBBS student dies in Kyrgyzstan after getting trapped in frozen waterfall After reaching the home, the police officers found a 51-year-old female who appeared to have been intentionally struck by a vehicle. Meanwhile, the Indian-origin man had reportedly fled the location. The police officials shifted the victim to a local hospital. She was in critical condition. A felony arrest warrant was issued by San Antonio Police Detectives in the incident. After several hours, the neighbours called the police officials and informed them about Sahoo, who had come back to the original location. The officials reached the location and tried contacting him when he hit two officers with his vehicle. After that, an officer fired his weapon and the bullet hit Sahoo who was "pronounced deceased on scene." A police officer suffered injuries and was shifted to a local hospital for treatment. The police have been investigating the case. Watch: India student deaths: 11 Indian students dies in the US in 2024 According to Police Chief Bill McManus, Sahoo had hit the woman with his vehicle. She was his roommate. She is in critical condition and has been undergoing several surgeries. He added that the police are yet to examine the bodycam footage to determine further facts. Man's ex-wife says he suffered from 'bipolar disorder' According to a report in Kens5.com, Sahoo's former wife Leah Goldstein said that the man was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. "He suffered the past ten years with bipolar disorder," said Goldstein. "He also had symptoms of schizophrenia. He couldn't understand what was wrong with him," she said in the news report. "He would hear voices. And hallucinate and just hear voices and just get stuck in his own mind," said Goldstein, while adding that Sahoo was a great dad. "I was a stay-at-home mom for many years. He provided for us," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

US police shoot dead Indian-origin man while trying to nab him for assault

The United States along with 17 other countries released a joint statement calling on Hamas to release all the hostages so as to end the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

"We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza now for over 200 days," a statement by the countries said, in what a senior US official called an extraordinary display of unanimity.

"The fate of the hostages and the civilian population in Gaza who are protected under international law is of international concern," the statement added.

However, Hamas said that the group would not concede to international pressure.

All the 18 countries who issued an appeal to Hamas&nbsp;have their citizens held as captives by the Palestinian militant group for more than six months.

WATCH: 200 days of Israel-Hamas war: Fate of Israeli hostages remains uncertain

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Hamas is believed to still be holding 129 hostages out of the 253 that it took captive on Oct 7. Nearly&nbsp;1,200 people died on the day Hamas crossed the border and massacred mostly civilians.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-accuses-defence-minister-yoav-gallant-of-pushing-false-leaks-amid-hostage-crisis-713771">Also read:&nbsp;Netanyahu accuses Defence Minister Yoav Gallant of pushing 'false leaks' amid hostage crisis</a>

The signatories were the leaders of the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and Britain.

"We emphasise that the deal on the table to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, that would facilitate a surge of additional necessary humanitarian assistance to be delivered throughout Gaza, and lead to the credible end of hostilities," the statement said.

"Gazans would be able to return to their homes and their lands with preparations beforehand to ensure shelter and humanitarian provisions," it said.

As per the news agency Reuters, senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said that the statement would not influence the Palestinian militant group and that the US should push its ally Israel to end its offensive.

"The ball now is in the American court," said Abu Zuhri.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States along with 17 other countries released a joint statement calling on Hamas to release all the hostages so as to end the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The United States along with 17 other countries released a joint statement calling on Hamas to release all the hostages so as to end the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. "We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza now for over 200 days," a statement by the countries said, in what a senior US official called an extraordinary display of unanimity. "The fate of the hostages and the civilian population in Gaza who are protected under international law is of international concern," the statement added. However, Hamas said that the group would not concede to international pressure. All the 18 countries who issued an appeal to Hamas have their citizens held as captives by the Palestinian militant group for more than six months. WATCH: 200 days of Israel-Hamas war: Fate of Israeli hostages remains uncertain × Hamas is believed to still be holding 129 hostages out of the 253 that it took captive on Oct 7. Nearly 1,200 people died on the day Hamas crossed the border and massacred mostly civilians. Also read: Netanyahu accuses Defence Minister Yoav Gallant of pushing 'false leaks' amid hostage crisis The signatories were the leaders of the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and Britain. "We emphasise that the deal on the table to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, that would facilitate a surge of additional necessary humanitarian assistance to be delivered throughout Gaza, and lead to the credible end of hostilities," the statement said. "Gazans would be able to return to their homes and their lands with preparations beforehand to ensure shelter and humanitarian provisions," it said. As per the news agency Reuters, senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said that the statement would not influence the Palestinian militant group and that the US should push its ally Israel to end its offensive. "The ball now is in the American court," said Abu Zuhri. (With inputs from agencies)

US, along with 17 other countries, issues joint statement calling on Hamas to release hostages

United States Food and Drug Administration, in an online update on Thursday (April 25), said that fragments of the bird flu virus have been detected by federal regulators in around 20 per cent of retail milk samples after they were tested in a nationally representative study.

United States Food and Drug Administration, in an online update on Thursday (April 25), said that fragments of the bird flu virus have been detected by federal regulators in around 20 per cent of retail milk samples after they were tested in a nationally representative study. According to the agency, the samples with high chances of positive test results were collected from different parts of the country and belonged to virus-infected dairy herds. The Food and Drug Administration said that traces of the bird flu virus were found in 1 in 5 samples of pasteurised milk. Also Read: FDA traces fragments of bird flu virus in pasteurised milk, detailed report awaited Till now, bird flu has been found in 33 herds across eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio and Texas. No evidence of milk being 'dangerous' for consumers The regulators have again confirmed that till now no evidence has emerged which proves that milk is dangerous for the consumption of the consumers. They added that no presence of live virus has been found in the milk on store shelves. Public health experts have also agreed with the assessment of the regulators. However, traces of the virus in samples of milk from around the country clearly confirm bird flu outbreak in dairy cows. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital virologist and influenza expert Richard Webby said, “It suggests that there is a whole lot of this virus out there." Watch: Bird Flu Updates: Experts say 'outbreak could be serious' The findings of the FDA emerged less than a month after the H5N1 strain of bird flu was discovered for the first time in dairy cows in several states. Since then, the flu has been detected in herds in eight states. The FDA has been working to investigate the outbreak with the US Department of Agriculture and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The testing method used is called PCR testing and looks for bits of genetic material. If the result is positive, that doesn't mean they have found a live, infectious virus. (With inputs from agencies)

FDA finds traces of bird flu in one in five milk samples across the US

US President Joe Biden seemed to make yet another gaffe during a speech to a trade union conference in Washington, DC on Wednesday (Apr 24). Biden was reading off a teleprompter and he mistakenly included the instructions in the middle of his speech, resulting in an awkward applause line.

"I see an America where we defend democracy, not diminish it. I see an America where we protect freedoms, not take them away. I see an economy that grows a lot in the bottom up where the wealthy pay their fair share, so we can have child care, paid leave and so much more, and still reduce the federal deficit and increase economic folks," Biden said.

"Imagine what we could do next. Four more years, pause," he added.

Biden went to the conference to receive an endorsement from the North American Building Trades Unions. Members of North America's Building Trades Unions intervened after his gaffe and said "four more years" together.

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NEW: Biden reads every word on the teleprompter including the word "pause" during a national trade union conference speech. 
 
"Imagine what we could do next? 4 more years... pause!" 
 
Americans are increasingly worried about Biden's mental state going into the election. 
 
According… <a href="https://t.co/ItzIeuPK1m">pic.twitter.com/ItzIeuPK1m</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1783188935067468249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Biden attacked former President Donald Trump throughout his speech, accusing him of being a supporter of the ultra-wealthy.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/biden-vows-will-personally-hold-trump-accountable-for-his-role-in-restricting-abortion-rights-714372" hreflang="en">Biden vows to hold Trump 'accountable' for his role in restricting abortion rights</a>

The 81-year-old Biden's teleprompter gaffe is just the latest in&nbsp;his lengthy history of gaffes. During a Florida campaign speech on Tuesday, Biden wrongly stated that he and his party "can't be trusted."

While condemning &nbsp;Donald Trump's abortion policies, he said, "I don’t know why we’re surprised by Trump. How many times does he have to prove we can't be trusted?"

Audience members laughed following his comment, but Biden proceeded, presumably unaware of the gaffe.

Soon after the incident one of the X users wrote, "Yea this is not a sign of a healthy individual. How can someone like this be the leader of the free world. I don’t say this to be mean because I do respect the chair, no matter who is in it but we need change."

US President Joe Biden seemed to make yet another gaffe during a speech to a trade union conference in Washington, DC on Wednesday (Apr 24). Biden was reading off a teleprompter and he mistakenly included the instructions in the middle of his speech, resulting in an awkward applause line.

US President Joe Biden seemed to make yet another gaffe during a speech to a trade union conference in Washington, DC on Wednesday (Apr 24). Biden was reading off a teleprompter and he mistakenly included the instructions in the middle of his speech, resulting in an awkward applause line. "I see an America where we defend democracy, not diminish it. I see an America where we protect freedoms, not take them away. I see an economy that grows a lot in the bottom up where the wealthy pay their fair share, so we can have child care, paid leave and so much more, and still reduce the federal deficit and increase economic folks," Biden said. "Imagine what we could do next. Four more years, pause," he added. Biden went to the conference to receive an endorsement from the North American Building Trades Unions. Members of North America's Building Trades Unions intervened after his gaffe and said "four more years" together. NEW: Biden reads every word on the teleprompter including the word "pause" during a national trade union conference speech. "Imagine what we could do next? 4 more years... pause!" Americans are increasingly worried about Biden's mental state going into the election. According… pic.twitter.com/ItzIeuPK1m — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 24, 2024 × Biden attacked former President Donald Trump throughout his speech, accusing him of being a supporter of the ultra-wealthy. Also read: Biden vows to hold Trump 'accountable' for his role in restricting abortion rights The 81-year-old Biden's teleprompter gaffe is just the latest in his lengthy history of gaffes. During a Florida campaign speech on Tuesday, Biden wrongly stated that he and his party "can't be trusted." While condemning Donald Trump's abortion policies, he said, "I don’t know why we’re surprised by Trump. How many times does he have to prove we can't be trusted?" Audience members laughed following his comment, but Biden proceeded, presumably unaware of the gaffe. Soon after the incident one of the X users wrote, "Yea this is not a sign of a healthy individual. How can someone like this be the leader of the free world. I don’t say this to be mean because I do respect the chair, no matter who is in it but we need change."

'Four more years, pause': Biden reads instructions from teleprompter in latest speech gaffe

Russia vetoed a resolution sponsored by the United States and Japan over the nuclear arms race in space at the United Nations on Wednesday (April 24). The resolution was aimed at preventing a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space which Russia called “a dirty spectacle" which is cherry-picking weapons of mass destruction among all other weapons which should also be banned.

Russia vetoed a resolution sponsored by the United States and Japan over the nuclear arms race in space at the United Nations on Wednesday (April 24). The resolution was aimed at preventing a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space which Russia called “a dirty spectacle" which is cherry-picking weapons of mass destruction among all other weapons which should also be banned. In the 15-member Security Council, 13 member countries voted in favour, China abstained from voting and Russia opposed the resolution. The resolution is likely to have appealed to all the countries not to develop and deploy nuclear arms or any weapons of mass destruction in space, which is banned under a 1967 international treaty which includes the US and Russia. The nations would also have been asked to agree to the requirement to verify compliance. Also Read: Ukraine claims to have attacked two Russian oil depots Russia's veto raises concern over Moscow's chances of developing nuclear arms for space Reacting to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to use a veto against the resolution, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield questioned Moscow over blocking the resolution if it is not interested in deploying nuclear weapons in space. “Today’s veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you are following the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them? What could you possibly be hiding? It’s baffling. And it’s a shame," she said. Meanwhile, echoing Thomas-Greenfield's remarks, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, “The United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device.” Sullivan said that if Putin did not intend to deploy nuclear weapons in space, “Russia would not have vetoed this resolution.” Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the resolution “absolutely absurd and politicised,” and stated that it did not go ahead in banning every type of weapon in space. Watch: Russia-Ukraine war | US official: Long-range missile secretly shipped to Kyiv Russia, China propose amendment Later, Russia and China proposed an amendment in the draft in which they appealed to all the countries, especially those that had major space capabilities, “to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space, and the threat of use of force in outer spaces.” Seven countries voted in favour of the amendment and 7 against it and one abstained and the amendment was defeated since it failed to get the minimum 9 “yes” votes needed for adoption. The amendment was opposed by the United States and after the voting, Nebenzia, while addressing the US ambassador, said, “We want a ban on the placement of weapons of any kind in outer space, not just WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). But you don’t want that. And let me ask you that very same question. Why?” He stated that much of the actions of the United States and Japan became clear “if we recall that the US and their allies announced some time ago plans to place weapons … in outer space.” (With inputs from agencies)

Russia vetoes UN resolution on nuclear arms race in space, US questions Moscow's intention

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday (April 24) was heckled by Columbia University students as pro-Palestine protests continued to spread across various university campuses in the United States.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday (April 24) was heckled by Columbia University students as pro-Palestine protests continued to spread across various university campuses in the United States. Johnson's visit to the university, which he claimed was aimed at supporting Jewish students who had been intimidated by the demonstrators, happened shortly after the deadline to reach an agreement for removing the encampment was extended from Wednesday morning to Friday morning. Republican House Speaker Johnson claimed that Columbia University officials have no control over the situation now. He further asked university president Nemat Shafik to resign. Also Read: Columbia University shifts to virtual classes following on-campus arrests amid anti-Israel protests Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University also demanded Shafik's resignation for allowing a police crackdown on the protests. House Speaker gets booed at press conference, hints at calling National Guard troops In a press conference held at Columbia University along with other Republican lawmakers, Johnson said that the protests were not legally protected free speech. He further stated that Columbia University failed to restore order on campus and protect Jewish students amid increasing concerns about antisemitism on campus. "This is dangerous. We respect free speech, we respect diversity of ideas, but there is a way to do that in a lawful manner and that's not what this is. My message to the students inside the encampment is go back to class and stop the nonsense," said Johnson. "I am here today joining my colleagues and calling on President [Minouche] Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos," said the Louisiana Republican to the gathered crowd amid boos and chants of "Mike, you suck", “Free, free Palestine”. and "We can't hear you". The speaker added that he briefly met with Shafik and other top officials to encourage them "to take immediate action and stamp this out." "Our feeling is that they have not acted to restore order on the campus. This is not free expression. This is not First Amendment. They are threatening, intimidating," he said. Watch: Protests grip US universities: Pro-Palestinian protests sweep US campuses Johnson also hinted that the authorities may call National Guard troops to control the situation. Violent clashes erupt between protesters and police amid calls for dispersal Meanwhile, various universities appealed to the protesters to disperse as police clashed with pro-Palestinian student protesters in Texas and California. The police arrested around 20 protesters at the University of Texas campus in Austin and also detained some of them at the University of Southern California. The University of Texas had earlier issued a “Notice of Dispersal Order” for the protesters. The university's faculty members, meanwhile, called the police crackdown a “militarised response” to the protests. “We have witnessed police punching a female student, knocking over a legal observer, dragging a. student over a chain link fence, and violently arresting students for simply standing at the front of the crowd,” read the statement. The police also arrested some pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Southern California after they failed to abide by the orders of dispersal. Some of the protesters even blocked traffic on nearby streets. At least 30 protesters were taken into custody. (With inputs from agencies)

US campus protests: Speaker Johnson heckled by protesters amid encampments and violent clashes

Tensions escalated across different university campuses in the United States on Tuesday (April 23) as pro-Palestinian protests by angry students led to mass arrests and the closure of classes.

Tensions escalated across different university campuses in the United States on Tuesday (April 23) as pro-Palestinian protests by angry students led to mass arrests and the closure of classes. At Columbia University in New York, from where the protests flared, the students have been appealing to the university to divest from companies "that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine." The protests appeared to be turning violent as New York Police Department (NYPD) officers said students pelted bottles at them and someone even bashed a chair on a police personnel's helmet. Also Read: Pro-Palestine protests rock US schools, teachers stage walkout over mass arrests on campus Speaking to WABC, Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said, “As you can see, our officers were professional. Looks like they’re getting hurt with bottles, chairs, and so the individual that threw the chair at the officer, we are doing a video compilation, and we’re gonna find you, we’re gonna arrest you for attempted assault. You’re gonna have the full weight of Police Commissioner Caban’s police department coming for you.” On Monday, nearly 120 people were arrested from the private universities, according to NYPD. Meanwhile, Columbia University's president announced a midnight deadline for students and others to reach an agreement regarding dismantling an encampment inside the campus. In a letter, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said, “The encampment raises serious safety concerns, disrupts campus life, and has created a tense and at times hostile environment for many members of our community. It is essential that we move forward with a plan to dismantle it." “I very much hope these discussions are successful. If they are not, we will have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate,” Shafik added. Trump calls Columbia University's decision to extend remote classes 'a grave mistake' Former US President Donald Trump Tuesday (April 23) said that Columbia University's leadership made a “grave mistake” in making all classes hybrid at its main campus till the spring semester ends. “What's going on with the colleges where they're closing Columbia now? I mean, it's just crazy. Columbia should gain a little strength, and a little courage and keep their school open. It's crazy. Because that means the other side wins,” said Trump. “The people running Columbia have made a grave mistake," he added. University of New Mexico also joins other universities in pro-Palestine demonstration Students, along with the staff and faculty at the University of New Mexico, also began protesting in support of Gaza in a peaceful manner. On Tuesday, "members of our UNM community assembled at the UNM Duck Pond in peaceful protest," said the university in a statement. Watch: US: Jewish students continue to feel targeted A few of them also set up tents and brought sleeping bags, which is in violation of school policy, they said. "Police monitored the situation throughout the evening, without incident, and around midnight advised those who were remaining that their tents needed to be taken down or they would be cited," read the statement. "The tents were eventually taken down, with some people remaining at the duck pond," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Tensions flare across US universities as pro-Palestine protesters clash with police

The state legislators in Tennessee, United States on Tuesday (April 24) passed a bill which allowed teachers and school staff to carry guns inside the school under certain conditions.

The state legislators in Tennessee, United States on Tuesday (April 24) passed a bill which allowed teachers and school staff to carry guns inside the school under certain conditions. The bill authorised a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun. The teachers will have to get an enhanced carry permit and written authorisation from the principal, chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency and superintendent. The teachers will have to go through a complete background check as well as a psychological exam conducted by a Tennessee-licensed healthcare provider. Also Read: Bizarre! Woman says God talked to her via solar eclipse and asked her to shoot at drivers They will also be required to complete 40 hours of basic training in school policing as well as 40 hours of Peace Officer’s Standards and Training commission-approved training, which will be specific to school policing every year at the expense of the educator. Bill faces opposition, people chant "Blood on your hands" After the lawmakers voted on the bill, people present in the room chanted “Blood on your hands.” The bill has now moved to the desk of Republican Gov. Bill Lee. If Lee decides not to use veto, then the bill will turn into a law with or without his signature. The legislation was cleared by the Tennessee House in a 68-28 vote. The Democrats were joined by four Republicans in opposing the measure. The measure was passed earlier this month by the state Senate, which is also controlled by the GOP. Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams on Tuesday said that the bill will increase school safety. "I believe that this is a method by which we can do that because what you're doing is you're creating a deterrent," Williams said on the House floor. Watch: Two officers killed in New York shooting | China keeps key policy rate unchanged Meanwhile, Democratic state Rep. Bo Mitchell protesting against the measure, spoke about the shooting in Covenant School shooting in Nashville last year, in which six people were killed. "This is what we’re going to do. This is our reaction to teachers and children being murdered in a school, our reaction is gonna throw more guns at it. What’s wrong with us?" said Mitchell on the House floor. Tennessee is not the first state where teachers are allowed to carry guns inside school premises. As per the Giffords Law Centre, nearly 26 states have laws which allow school employees or teachers to carry guns on school grounds. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid chants of 'blood on your hands', Tennessee passes bill allowing teachers to carry guns inside schools

The United States and Russia are set to face off over nuclear weapons in space at the United Nations Security Council. The council is due to vote on a US-drafted resolution calling on countries to prevent an arms race in outer space.

US-Russia face off at UNSC over nukes in space, vote on US draft resolution at UNSC

The United States Senate passed controversial legislation on Wednesday (April 24) which can lead to the banning of the massively popular social media app TikTok in the country if its China-based parent company ByteDance doesn't sell it.

The United States Senate passed controversial legislation on Wednesday (April 24) which can lead to the banning of the massively popular social media app TikTok in the country if its China-based parent company ByteDance doesn't sell it. The bill will now reach the table of US President Joe Biden who has already said that he will sign it into law as soon as it is cleared by Congress. Once the bill is signed by President Biden, ByteDance will have to get its Chinese officials's approval to complete a forced sale, something which China has vowed to oppose. Also Read: European Union warns of TikTok Lite ban over ‘addictive’ reward-to-watch feature The measure against TikTok was included in the $95 billion worth of foreign aid package which includes military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that has been cleared by the Congress. It received massive support from the lawmakers as 79 Senators voted for it and 18 voted against it. TikTok came under unwanted scrutiny not only because it is addictive for users but also because of its Chinese owner ByteDance. Why does the US Senate want to ban TikTok? The US lawmakers have been pressurising ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok since they fear that TikTok or ByteDance can share data about the users of the United States with the government of China. The chances of TikTok becoming a trove of data of about millions of US users has left lawmakers worried. TikTok, in a statement, said that it is "unfortunate" that lawmakers are "using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually." When does TikTok's endgame clock start? After the bill is signed by Biden, ByteDance will have 270 days to sell TikTok. In this case, if it appears that ByteDance is near divestment at the end of its nine-month period, an additional 90 days can be authorised by the president to finalise the deals. What is the Biden administration's take on the TikTok bill? In a statement, President Biden said that he will approve the bill once it is passed by the Senate. "I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week," said Biden. "The need is urgent: for Ukraine, facing unrelenting bombardment from Russia; for Israel, which just faced unprecedented attacks from Iran; for refugees and those impacted by conflicts and natural disasters around the world, including in Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti; and for our partners seeking security and stability in the Indo-Pacific," he added. Who are the likely buyers of TikTok? Microsoft, Oracle or private equity groups are to be the likely bidders, said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, as reported by CBS News. Meanwhile, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin informed CNBC that he wishes to assemble an investment group to bid for TikTok. Watch: Malaysia urges Meta and TikTok to tackle harmful content on platforms Ives, however, hinted that ByteDance is not likely to sell TikTok with its core algorithms as well as the important software that gives video recommendations to users based on their interests. "The value of TikTok would dramatically change without the algorithms and makes the ultimate sale/divestiture of TikTok a very complex endeavour, with many potential strategic/financial bidders waiting anxiously for this process to kick off," said Ives, in a research note. How will other social media platforms benefit from the ban? If the bill becomes a law, TikTok's rivals like Meta are likely to benefit from it. According to Wedbush Securities analyst, nearly 60 per cent of TikTok users are likely to shift to Meta's Instagram and Facebook if a ban is imposed on TikTok. Google is also likely to benefit from this ban. (With inputs from agencies)

US Senate passes bill to ban TikTok if its owner ByteDance fails to sell it

Two students from Telangana studying in the United States died in a road accident in the state of Arizona.

Nivesh Mukka and Goutham Kumar Parsi, both 19 years old, were killed when a car in which they were travelling collided head-on with another car in Peoria on Saturday night (local time), according to information reaching their families.

While Nivesh hailed from Huzurabad town in Karimnagar district, Goutham Kumar was from Station Ghanpur in Jangaon district. Both were studying computer science engineering at Arizona State University.

Also read:&nbsp;<meta name="uuid" content="uuidoDIwi8XtfpqZ" /><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/blue-whale-challenge-likely-behind-indian-students-death-in-us-713290" target="_blank">'Blue Whale Challenge' likely behind Indian student's death in US: Report</a>

The duo was returning home along with their friends from the university when the car coming from the opposite direction rammed into their vehicle. Nivesh and Goutham died on the spot while the drivers of both cars were injured.

Nivesh is the son of doctor couple Naveen and Swathi. The families of the two students have appealed to the Indian government to help in bringing the bodies home.

Two students from Telangana studying in the United States died in a road accident in the state of Arizona. Nivesh Mukka and Goutham Kumar Parsi, both 19 years old, were killed when a car in which they were travelling collided head-on with another car in Peoria on Saturday night (local time), according to information reaching their families.

Two students from Telangana studying in the United States died in a road accident in the state of Arizona. Nivesh Mukka and Goutham Kumar Parsi, both 19 years old, were killed when a car in which they were travelling collided head-on with another car in Peoria on Saturday night (local time), according to information reaching their families. While Nivesh hailed from Huzurabad town in Karimnagar district, Goutham Kumar was from Station Ghanpur in Jangaon district. Both were studying computer science engineering at Arizona State University. Also read: 'Blue Whale Challenge' likely behind Indian student's death in US: Report The duo was returning home along with their friends from the university when the car coming from the opposite direction rammed into their vehicle. Nivesh and Goutham died on the spot while the drivers of both cars were injured. Nivesh is the son of doctor couple Naveen and Swathi. The families of the two students have appealed to the Indian government to help in bringing the bodies home.

Two Indian students from Telangana killed in US road accident

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has said that it is wrong to impose a 'cannibalism' label on his country and appealed to the United States to clear up World War II's remnants which are littered across the Pacific, after President Joe Biden spoke about his missing serviceman uncle being eaten by cannibals.

Biden had "appeared to imply his uncle was eaten by cannibals after his plane was shot down over PNG during WWII", said Marape's office, in a statement late on Sunday (April 21).

"President Biden's remarks may have been a slip of the tongue; however, my country does not deserve to be labelled as such," said Marape, in the statement.

"I urge President Biden to get the White House to look into cleaning up these remains of WWII so the truth about missing servicemen like Ambrose Finnegan can be put to rest," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-raises-eyebrows-by-claiming-cannibals-ate-his-uncle-white-house-fact-checks-712803">Biden raises eyebrows by claiming cannibals 'ate' his uncle, White House fact-checks</a>

A defence cooperation agreement was signed by the United States with Papua New Guinea last year. Earlier, Biden spoke about his personal connection with Papua New Guinea's wartime history and remembered his uncle who died in a plane crash in May 1944.

<h2>What did Biden say about cannibalism in Papua New Guinea?</h2>

United States President Biden took the world by surprise and left the White House in the lurch after claiming that his uncle was most likely eaten by cannibals in Papua New Guinea during World War II.

Eight-one-year-old Biden said that his uncle's plane was shot down over Papua New Guinea during World War II. He further emphasised how this place is known for cannibals.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;US President Biden gearing up to welcome Iraqi Prime Minister

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-biden-gearing-up-to-welcome-iraqi-prime-minister-711585/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“My uncle, they called him – Ambrose, they called him Bosie, and he became an Army Air Corps, before the Air Force came along, he flew those single-engine planes as a reconnaissance over war zones. And he got shot down in New Guinea, and they never found the body because there used to be a lot of cannibals – for real – in that part of New Guinea,” said the president.&nbsp;

Clarifying Biden's statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday (April 18) accepted that Finnegan died after his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean amid World War II, which implied that he was not eaten by cannibals.

(With inputs from agencies)

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has said that it is wrong to impose a 'cannibalism' label on his country and appealed to the United States to clear up World War II's remnants which are littered across the Pacific, after President Joe Biden spoke about his missing serviceman uncle being eaten by cannibals.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has said that it is wrong to impose a 'cannibalism' label on his country and appealed to the United States to clear up World War II's remnants which are littered across the Pacific, after President Joe Biden spoke about his missing serviceman uncle being eaten by cannibals. Biden had "appeared to imply his uncle was eaten by cannibals after his plane was shot down over PNG during WWII", said Marape's office, in a statement late on Sunday (April 21). "President Biden's remarks may have been a slip of the tongue; however, my country does not deserve to be labelled as such," said Marape, in the statement. "I urge President Biden to get the White House to look into cleaning up these remains of WWII so the truth about missing servicemen like Ambrose Finnegan can be put to rest," he added. Also Read: Biden raises eyebrows by claiming cannibals 'ate' his uncle, White House fact-checks A defence cooperation agreement was signed by the United States with Papua New Guinea last year. Earlier, Biden spoke about his personal connection with Papua New Guinea's wartime history and remembered his uncle who died in a plane crash in May 1944. What did Biden say about cannibalism in Papua New Guinea? United States President Biden took the world by surprise and left the White House in the lurch after claiming that his uncle was most likely eaten by cannibals in Papua New Guinea during World War II. Eight-one-year-old Biden said that his uncle's plane was shot down over Papua New Guinea during World War II. He further emphasised how this place is known for cannibals. Watch: US President Biden gearing up to welcome Iraqi Prime Minister “My uncle, they called him – Ambrose, they called him Bosie, and he became an Army Air Corps, before the Air Force came along, he flew those single-engine planes as a reconnaissance over war zones. And he got shot down in New Guinea, and they never found the body because there used to be a lot of cannibals – for real – in that part of New Guinea,” said the president. Clarifying Biden's statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday (April 18) accepted that Finnegan died after his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean amid World War II, which implied that he was not eaten by cannibals. (With inputs from agencies)

Papua New Guinea fumes over Biden's remark of country's cannibals 'eating' his uncle

At least five rockets were fired at a military base of a US-led coalition in Syria from northern Iraq on Sunday (April 21), as per the Iraqi security forces.

After the launch of the rockets, a major search operation was carried out by the Iraqi forces in northern Nineveh province in response to the attack and they discovered the vehicle which was used for the launch of the rockets, said the Iraqi forces in a statement.

This was the first major attack carried out against the coalition forces after many weeks. The attack took place days after Israel reportedly responded to a drone strike by Iran on the Islamic republic, amid the ongoing Gaza war.

The Iraqi security forces, in their statement, accused "outlaw elements of having targetted a base of the international coalition with rockets in the heart of Syrian territory", at around 9:50 pm (1850 GMT).

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqs-military-base-bombed-one-dead-several-injured-sources-713217">No drones or planes in Iraqi airspace during military base blast, says Iraq</a>

The vehicle, which was found involved in the attack, was burned down by the security forces, added the statement.&nbsp;

Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman said that many rockets were fired "from Iraqi territory at the Kharab al-Jir base" in northeast Syria, where US forces were present.&nbsp;

He blamed the attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is a loose alliance of Iran-backed groups.

The attack took place a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani came back from the United States where he held talks with President Joe Biden at the White House.

<h2>Iraqi forces investigate launch of rockets&nbsp;</h2>

According to a senior army officer and two security officials, a rocket launcher was found placed on the back of a small truck which was parked in Zummar border town with Syria.

According to military officials, the truck caught fire after the unfired rockets exploded at the same time when warplanes were in the sky.

"We can't confirm that the truck was bombed by US&nbsp;warplanes unless we investigate it," a military official said.

Watch:&nbsp;Iraq military base explosion: US denies reports of alleged attack in Iraq

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iraq-military-base-explosion-us-denies-reports-of-alleged-attack-in-iraq-713323/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Iraqi Security Medica Cell, which is an official organisation responsible for the dissemination of security information, in a statement, said that Iraqi forces had launched "a wide-ranging search and inspection operation" which targeted the perpetrators close to the Syrian border and pledged to take action against them.

An army officer added that the officials seized the truck for further investigation and initial investigation showed that an air strike destroyed the truck.

"We are communicating with the coalition forces in Iraq to share information on this attack," said the officer.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving &nbsp;Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

At least five rockets were fired at a military base of a US-led coalition in Syria from northern Iraq on Sunday (April 21), as per the Iraqi security forces. After the launch of the rockets, a major search operation was carried out by the Iraqi forces in northern Nineveh province in response to the attack and they discovered the vehicle which was used for the launch of the rockets, said the Iraqi forces in a statement.

At least five rockets were fired at a military base of a US-led coalition in Syria from northern Iraq on Sunday (April 21), as per the Iraqi security forces. After the launch of the rockets, a major search operation was carried out by the Iraqi forces in northern Nineveh province in response to the attack and they discovered the vehicle which was used for the launch of the rockets, said the Iraqi forces in a statement. This was the first major attack carried out against the coalition forces after many weeks. The attack took place days after Israel reportedly responded to a drone strike by Iran on the Islamic republic, amid the ongoing Gaza war. The Iraqi security forces, in their statement, accused "outlaw elements of having targetted a base of the international coalition with rockets in the heart of Syrian territory", at around 9:50 pm (1850 GMT). Also Read: No drones or planes in Iraqi airspace during military base blast, says Iraq The vehicle, which was found involved in the attack, was burned down by the security forces, added the statement. Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman said that many rockets were fired "from Iraqi territory at the Kharab al-Jir base" in northeast Syria, where US forces were present. He blamed the attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is a loose alliance of Iran-backed groups. The attack took place a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani came back from the United States where he held talks with President Joe Biden at the White House. Iraqi forces investigate launch of rockets According to a senior army officer and two security officials, a rocket launcher was found placed on the back of a small truck which was parked in Zummar border town with Syria. According to military officials, the truck caught fire after the unfired rockets exploded at the same time when warplanes were in the sky. "We can't confirm that the truck was bombed by US warplanes unless we investigate it," a military official said. Watch: Iraq military base explosion: US denies reports of alleged attack in Iraq The Iraqi Security Medica Cell, which is an official organisation responsible for the dissemination of security information, in a statement, said that Iraqi forces had launched "a wide-ranging search and inspection operation" which targeted the perpetrators close to the Syrian border and pledged to take action against them. An army officer added that the officials seized the truck for further investigation and initial investigation showed that an air strike destroyed the truck. "We are communicating with the coalition forces in Iraq to share information on this attack," said the officer. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Rockets launched at US-led coalition base in Syria from Iraq

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