Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Friday (July 7), said that Turkey would “make the best decision, whatever it is,” when asked about Sweden’s bid to join the&nbsp;United States-led military alliance ahead of&nbsp;the next week’s NATO summit in Vilnius. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said there are still “gaps” to bridge between Turkey and Sweden for Ankara to give Stockholm the go ahead for its accession.&nbsp;

<h2>Will Turkey support Sweden’s membership bid?</h2>

The recent comments by Erdogan, on Friday, came ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit have left the possibility for Turkey to support Sweden’s bid to join NATO. The talks with the Ukrainian president are to focus on the Russian invasion and the US-led military alliance’s expansion, as per reports.&nbsp;

NATO member Turkey’s indecision and reluctance on Sweden’s accession to the alliance has left Washington and Brussels irritated as they argue that Stockholm has done enough to address Ankara’s concerns. However, Erdogan reiterated his concerns, on Friday, and said, “How a country with terrorists on the streets...can contribute to NATO.”&nbsp;

The comments by the Turkish president were made in reference to Stockholm’s perceived lax attitude toward alleged Kurdish militants living in Sweden. However, Erdogan also did not deny the possibility of accepting Sweden’s membership bid which he said would be further discussed with the Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, on Monday ahead of the upcoming summit.&nbsp;

<h2>Stoltenberg about the ‘gaps’ to bridge between Turkey and Sweden</h2>

The NATO-organised talks between the two countries will take place a day, on Monday, ahead of the military alliance’s leadership summit in the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius. “On Tuesday in the leadership summit to be held in Vilnius, we will be discussing (Turkey’s concerns) with our partners. We will make the best decision, whatever it is,” said Erdogan.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, NATO chief Stoltenberg, on Friday said there are still “gaps” to be bridged between Turkey and Sweden before the former can give its go ahead for the latter’s membership bid. Addressing a press conference ahead of next week’s summit, Stoltenberg said again he would meet Swedish and Turkish leaders a day before the gathering officially starts on July 11-12.&nbsp;

<h2>Zelensky about Ukraine, Sweden's bid to join NATO</h2>

The Ukrainian president who is in the midst of visiting several NATO states, drummed up support for its membership bid. Zelensky travelled to the Czech Republic and Slovakia a day after holding talks in Bulgaria. He is also due to visit Istanbul and meet his Turkish counterpart, later on Friday.&nbsp;

While he was in Slovakia, Zelensky on Friday called on NATO to resolve the issue of Sweden and Ukraine’s membership bid and said that the indecision is a “threat” to global security. “I think there is not enough unity on this,” said Zelensky, during a press conference. He added, “This is a threat to the strength of the alliance…is (also) very important for the security of the whole world.”&nbsp;

Kyiv is also expecting some “positive results or at least some steps towards the positive outcome” from the upcoming summit in Vilnius, said the Ukrainian president. Zelensky also said the “situation with the aggressor, with Russia depends on this,” as Moscow is “counting on the world to show weakness and disunity in the Alliance, and this cannot be allowed.”&nbsp;

Zelensky has won a pledge of support for Ukraine to join NATO “as soon as the war (with Russia) is over,” from the Czech Republic. Additionally, Slovakia said the question of Kyiv’s membership was “when,” not “if”.&nbsp;

This comes as Stoltenberg reiterated that Ukraine would become a member but the alliance remains divided over how fast should Kyiv’s inclusion happen while others are concerned about provoking Russia. While Zelensky has acknowledged that they cannot join the alliance while the war with Russia is still going on, Kyiv needs “a clear signal, some concrete things in the direction of an invitation,” said the Ukrainian president, on Thursday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Friday (July 7), said that Turkey would “make the best decision, whatever it is,” when asked about Sweden’s bid to join the United States-led military alliance ahead of the next week’s NATO summit in Vilnius.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Friday (July 7), said that Turkey would “make the best decision, whatever it is,” when asked about Sweden’s bid to join the United States-led military alliance ahead of the next week’s NATO summit in Vilnius. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said there are still “gaps” to bridge between Turkey and Sweden for Ankara to give Stockholm the go ahead for its accession. Will Turkey support Sweden’s membership bid? The recent comments by Erdogan, on Friday, came ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit have left the possibility for Turkey to support Sweden’s bid to join NATO. The talks with the Ukrainian president are to focus on the Russian invasion and the US-led military alliance’s expansion, as per reports. NATO member Turkey’s indecision and reluctance on Sweden’s accession to the alliance has left Washington and Brussels irritated as they argue that Stockholm has done enough to address Ankara’s concerns. However, Erdogan reiterated his concerns, on Friday, and said, “How a country with terrorists on the streets...can contribute to NATO.” The comments by the Turkish president were made in reference to Stockholm’s perceived lax attitude toward alleged Kurdish militants living in Sweden. However, Erdogan also did not deny the possibility of accepting Sweden’s membership bid which he said would be further discussed with the Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, on Monday ahead of the upcoming summit. Stoltenberg about the ‘gaps’ to bridge between Turkey and Sweden The NATO-organised talks between the two countries will take place a day, on Monday, ahead of the military alliance’s leadership summit in the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius. “On Tuesday in the leadership summit to be held in Vilnius, we will be discussing (Turkey’s concerns) with our partners. We will make the best decision, whatever it is,” said Erdogan. Meanwhile, NATO chief Stoltenberg, on Friday said there are still “gaps” to be bridged between Turkey and Sweden before the former can give its go ahead for the latter’s membership bid. Addressing a press conference ahead of next week’s summit, Stoltenberg said again he would meet Swedish and Turkish leaders a day before the gathering officially starts on July 11-12. Zelensky about Ukraine, Sweden's bid to join NATO The Ukrainian president who is in the midst of visiting several NATO states, drummed up support for its membership bid. Zelensky travelled to the Czech Republic and Slovakia a day after holding talks in Bulgaria. He is also due to visit Istanbul and meet his Turkish counterpart, later on Friday. While he was in Slovakia, Zelensky on Friday called on NATO to resolve the issue of Sweden and Ukraine’s membership bid and said that the indecision is a “threat” to global security. “I think there is not enough unity on this,” said Zelensky, during a press conference. He added, “This is a threat to the strength of the alliance…is (also) very important for the security of the whole world.” Kyiv is also expecting some “positive results or at least some steps towards the positive outcome” from the upcoming summit in Vilnius, said the Ukrainian president. Zelensky also said the “situation with the aggressor, with Russia depends on this,” as Moscow is “counting on the world to show weakness and disunity in the Alliance, and this cannot be allowed.” Zelensky has won a pledge of support for Ukraine to join NATO “as soon as the war (with Russia) is over,” from the Czech Republic. Additionally, Slovakia said the question of Kyiv’s membership was “when,” not “if”. This comes as Stoltenberg reiterated that Ukraine would become a member but the alliance remains divided over how fast should Kyiv’s inclusion happen while others are concerned about provoking Russia. While Zelensky has acknowledged that they cannot join the alliance while the war with Russia is still going on, Kyiv needs “a clear signal, some concrete things in the direction of an invitation,” said the Ukrainian president, on Thursday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkey remains indecisive on Sweden’s NATO bid; Stoltenberg to bridge ‘gaps’ between countries

The United States has agreed to hand over cluster munitions to Ukraine, said the White House on Thursday, as human rights groups continued their calls for putting a stop to the use of the controversial weapons known to cause civilian casualties in large numbers.

<h2>What is a cluster munition?&nbsp;</h2>

Cluster munitions, which are also known as cluster bombs, are canisters that contain tens to hundreds of smaller bomblets, also called&nbsp;submunitions. The canisters can be launched using missiles, dropped from aircraft, or fired from naval guns, artillery, or rocket launchers.

At a prescribed height, the canisters break open depending upon the intended target, and the bomblets inside it spread out over that area. The bomblets fuse with a timer and explode closer to or on the ground and spread shrapnel that is designed to take out armoured vehicles such as tanks and kill troops.&nbsp;

<h2>How dangerous are these bombs?&nbsp;</h2>

The bomblets, which are designed in a way that they detonate when they hit the ground, have a high chance of killing or seriously injuring anyone in the area. Apart from the initial damage which the munitions cause upon impact, many bomblets do not detonate at all.&nbsp;

Around 40 per cent of bomblets have not exploded in some recent conflicts, as per the ICRC. Hence, these cluster bombs, like landmines, carry a grave risk to the lives of civilians, long after they are used in&nbsp;wartime. These unexploded bomblets can kill and maim civilians years after the munitions were used.

Hence, human rights groups have been opposing the use of cluster bombs by the army in populated areas, stating that it is a violation of international humanitarian law since the weapons can cause indiscriminate destruction. &nbsp;

As per a Reuters report, 60 per cent of casualties due to cluster bombs are people who get injured while undertaking everyday activities.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-mulls-giving-ukraine-lethal-weapons-that-white-house-once-described-as-aiding-war-crimes-612905">White House to give lethal weapons to Ukraine that it once flagged for ‘war crimes’</a>

<h2>Is using cluster bombs a war crime?</h2>

The use of cluster bombs cannot be considered as a violation of international law, however, using them against civilians can be seen as a grave violation. As happens in any strike, calling an action a war crime requires understanding if the target was legitimate and if the precautions were adopted to prevent any civilian casualties.

“The part of international law where this starts playing (a role), though, is indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians,” said Human Rights Watch’s associate arms director Mark Hiznay, while speaking to The Associated Press. “So that’s not necessarily related to the weapons, but the way the weapons are used," he added.&nbsp;

More than 120 countries joined a convention which banned the use of cluster bombs and agreed not to produce, use, stockpile or transfer the weapons and to clear them after they have been used. The convention has not been signed by Ukraine, Russia and the US.&nbsp;

<h2>Have cluster bombs been used before?&nbsp;</h2>

The cluster munitions were most notably used by Armenia and Azerbaijan last year amid their war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 2012, Syria has continued using cluster munitions.&nbsp;

Human Rights Watch arms advocacy director Mary Wareham said that the use of cluster munitions in 2020 was extremely reduced compared to previous years. She stated that the treaty’s success was also seen in the destruction of stockpiles.

"We know that at least 1.5 million cluster munitions and more than 178 million submunitions have been destroyed from stocks," stated Wareham.&nbsp;

"That goes to show that this convention is truly lifesaving because every single one of those explosive submunitions could take a life or a limb," he added.&nbsp;

<h2>Why are cluster bombs considered more controversial than other bombs?&nbsp;</h2>

The impact of bomblets is on a wide area and can endanger non-combatants. As per the International Committee of the Red Cross, around 10 per cent to 40 per cent of munitions fail. The munitions, which fail&nbsp;to explode, have the probability of getting detonated by civilian activity years or even decades later.

Activist group Cluster Munition Coalition has been trying for a ban on these weapons everywhere, and claims that potentially deadly cluster submunitions continue to lie dormant in Vietnam and Laos, even 50 years after their use.

On Friday, Human Rights Watch in a statement said that both Russia and Ukraine have killed civilians with the use of cluster munitions in the ongoing war.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a>Gravitas: Will the US provide Ukraine with the 'controversial' cluster bomb?</a>

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“Cluster munitions remain one of the world’s most treacherous weapons. They kill and maim indiscriminately and cause widespread human suffering,” said Gilles Carbonnier, vice president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, while speaking at a conference on the munition in Switzerland last year.

“Any use of cluster munitions, anywhere, by anyone, must be condemned,” Carbonnier added.

<h2>Have troops used cluster bombs in Russia-Ukraine war?&nbsp;</h2>

Both the Russians and Ukrainians have used cluster bombs since Kyiv was invaded by the forces of Moscow in February 2022.&nbsp;

Recently, Ukrainian forces started use of Turkish cluster munitions on the battlefield. However, Ukrainian officials have been requesting cluster munitions from the US since last year.&nbsp;

Ukraine has stated that more ammunition would be provided by the US for Western-provided artillery and rocket systems, which will help in narrowing the numerical superiority of Russia in artillery.&nbsp;

<main>
<section>
(With inputs from agencies)

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The United States has agreed to hand over cluster munitions to Ukraine, said the White House on Thursday, as human rights groups continued their calls for putting a stop to the use of the controversial weapons known to cause civilian casualties in large numbers.

The United States has agreed to hand over cluster munitions to Ukraine, said the White House on Thursday, as human rights groups continued their calls for putting a stop to the use of the controversial weapons known to cause civilian casualties in large numbers. What is a cluster munition? Cluster munitions, which are also known as cluster bombs, are canisters that contain tens to hundreds of smaller bomblets, also called submunitions. The canisters can be launched using missiles, dropped from aircraft, or fired from naval guns, artillery, or rocket launchers. At a prescribed height, the canisters break open depending upon the intended target, and the bomblets inside it spread out over that area. The bomblets fuse with a timer and explode closer to or on the ground and spread shrapnel that is designed to take out armoured vehicles such as tanks and kill troops. How dangerous are these bombs? The bomblets, which are designed in a way that they detonate when they hit the ground, have a high chance of killing or seriously injuring anyone in the area. Apart from the initial damage which the munitions cause upon impact, many bomblets do not detonate at all. Around 40 per cent of bomblets have not exploded in some recent conflicts, as per the ICRC. Hence, these cluster bombs, like landmines, carry a grave risk to the lives of civilians, long after they are used in wartime. These unexploded bomblets can kill and maim civilians years after the munitions were used. Hence, human rights groups have been opposing the use of cluster bombs by the army in populated areas, stating that it is a violation of international humanitarian law since the weapons can cause indiscriminate destruction. As per a Reuters report, 60 per cent of casualties due to cluster bombs are people who get injured while undertaking everyday activities. ALSO READ | White House to give lethal weapons to Ukraine that it once flagged for ‘war crimes’ Is using cluster bombs a war crime? The use of cluster bombs cannot be considered as a violation of international law, however, using them against civilians can be seen as a grave violation. As happens in any strike, calling an action a war crime requires understanding if the target was legitimate and if the precautions were adopted to prevent any civilian casualties. “The part of international law where this starts playing (a role), though, is indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians,” said Human Rights Watch’s associate arms director Mark Hiznay, while speaking to The Associated Press. “So that’s not necessarily related to the weapons, but the way the weapons are used," he added. More than 120 countries joined a convention which banned the use of cluster bombs and agreed not to produce, use, stockpile or transfer the weapons and to clear them after they have been used. The convention has not been signed by Ukraine, Russia and the US. Have cluster bombs been used before? The cluster munitions were most notably used by Armenia and Azerbaijan last year amid their war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 2012, Syria has continued using cluster munitions. Human Rights Watch arms advocacy director Mary Wareham said that the use of cluster munitions in 2020 was extremely reduced compared to previous years. She stated that the treaty’s success was also seen in the destruction of stockpiles. "We know that at least 1.5 million cluster munitions and more than 178 million submunitions have been destroyed from stocks," stated Wareham. "That goes to show that this convention is truly lifesaving because every single one of those explosive submunitions could take a life or a limb," he added. Why are cluster bombs considered more controversial than other bombs? The impact of bomblets is on a wide area and can endanger non-combatants. As per the International Committee of the Red Cross, around 10 per cent to 40 per cent of munitions fail. The munitions, which fail to explode, have the probability of getting detonated by civilian activity years or even decades later. Activist group Cluster Munition Coalition has been trying for a ban on these weapons everywhere, and claims that potentially deadly cluster submunitions continue to lie dormant in Vietnam and Laos, even 50 years after their use. On Friday, Human Rights Watch in a statement said that both Russia and Ukraine have killed civilians with the use of cluster munitions in the ongoing war. WATCH | Gravitas: Will the US provide Ukraine with the 'controversial' cluster bomb? “Cluster munitions remain one of the world’s most treacherous weapons. They kill and maim indiscriminately and cause widespread human suffering,” said Gilles Carbonnier, vice president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, while speaking at a conference on the munition in Switzerland last year. “Any use of cluster munitions, anywhere, by anyone, must be condemned,” Carbonnier added. Have troops used cluster bombs in Russia-Ukraine war? Both the Russians and Ukrainians have used cluster bombs since Kyiv was invaded by the forces of Moscow in February 2022. Recently, Ukrainian forces started use of Turkish cluster munitions on the battlefield. However, Ukrainian officials have been requesting cluster munitions from the US since last year. Ukraine has stated that more ammunition would be provided by the US for Western-provided artillery and rocket systems, which will help in narrowing the numerical superiority of Russia in artillery. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | What are cluster bombs which US is set to provide to Ukraine? Why is it facing opposition?

The man who was found guilty of raping and impregnating a 9-year-old Ohio girl, who had to travel out of state to end her pregnancy, was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment.

28-year-old Gerson Fuentes entered a plea agreement which will make him eligible to seek parole after serving 25 to 30 years. If granted parole, Fuentes would then have to register as a sex offender.

As per AP reports, Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Lynch, who wasn't required to approve the plea agreement, said that the girl’s family “begged” the judge to back it. Lynch called the deal a “very hard pill for this court to swallow.”

“Anyone who’s ever been in this courtroom for the last 20 years knows how this court feels about these babies, young people, being violated,” AP quoted Lynch as saying. “However, today, by the request of the family, this court will be sentencing without comment.”&nbsp;

The maximum sentence would have been life without parole. Settling the case before trial would excuse the survivor from having to testify in court.

Zachary Olah, an attorney who represented Fuentes, told The Columbus Dispatch after the hearing that his client has been cooperative since the beginning.

“He was anxious to get this resolved,” Olah said.

The girl turned 10 before having the abortion. According to Franklin County prosecutors, she confirmed that Fuentes attacked her.&nbsp;

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/8-year-old-girl-dies-15-others-injured-after-car-crashed-into-primary-school-in-london-612808"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/8-year-old-girl-dies-15-others-injured-after-car-crashed-into-primary-school-in-london-612808">8-year-old girl killed, 15 others injured as car crashes into primary school in London</a>

The prosecutors also said that the DNA test of the aborted fetus confirmed that Fuentes was the father.&nbsp;

The case gained national attention after&nbsp;Indianapolis doctor, Dr Caitlin Bernard, released a statement saying that a 10-year-old girl had to travel to Indiana to terminate a pregnancy because Ohio banned the procedure at the first detectable fetal heartbeat.&nbsp;

Nearly 25 states have either banned or imposed restrictions on abortion since the Supreme Court struck down Roe, though many of the new laws are still being litigated.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The man who was found guilty of raping and impregnating a 9-year-old Ohio girl, who had to travel out of state to end her pregnancy, was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment.

The man who was found guilty of raping and impregnating a 9-year-old Ohio girl, who had to travel out of state to end her pregnancy, was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment. 28-year-old Gerson Fuentes entered a plea agreement which will make him eligible to seek parole after serving 25 to 30 years. If granted parole, Fuentes would then have to register as a sex offender. As per AP reports, Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Lynch, who wasn't required to approve the plea agreement, said that the girl’s family “begged” the judge to back it. Lynch called the deal a “very hard pill for this court to swallow.” “Anyone who’s ever been in this courtroom for the last 20 years knows how this court feels about these babies, young people, being violated,” AP quoted Lynch as saying. “However, today, by the request of the family, this court will be sentencing without comment.” The maximum sentence would have been life without parole. Settling the case before trial would excuse the survivor from having to testify in court. Zachary Olah, an attorney who represented Fuentes, told The Columbus Dispatch after the hearing that his client has been cooperative since the beginning. “He was anxious to get this resolved,” Olah said. The girl turned 10 before having the abortion. According to Franklin County prosecutors, she confirmed that Fuentes attacked her. Also read: 8-year-old girl killed, 15 others injured as car crashes into primary school in London The prosecutors also said that the DNA test of the aborted fetus confirmed that Fuentes was the father. The case gained national attention after Indianapolis doctor, Dr Caitlin Bernard, released a statement saying that a 10-year-old girl had to travel to Indiana to terminate a pregnancy because Ohio banned the procedure at the first detectable fetal heartbeat. Nearly 25 states have either banned or imposed restrictions on abortion since the Supreme Court struck down Roe, though many of the new laws are still being litigated. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Man found guilty of raping, impregnating 9-year-old girl gets life sentence

The Biden Administration is planning to limit Chinese access to U.S. cloud computing services, which could have significant implications for major tech players.

US-China trade tensions escalating

A US court has placed restrictions on officials and agencies of the Biden Administration, preventing them from meeting and communicating with social media companies to moderate content

US federal court orders on social media content apply to top officials & US agencies

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted military families at the White House, emphasizing the freedom and liberty of America.

Americans Celebrate 247th Independence Day with Parades, Fireworks, and Presidential BBQ

Eight people were stuck upside down for hours after a roller coaster got stuck midway on Sunday at a fair in Wisconsin state of the US. Seven of the stuck passengers were children. No injuries were reported, but according to the chief of the fire department, one person was transported to the hospital.&nbsp;

The incident happened in Crandon at the Forest County Festival. Local reports said it was the final day of the festival at the Crandon International Raceway.&nbsp;

Initial reports said that the reason behind the incident was a mechanical failure.&nbsp;

Capt Brennan Cook of the fire department told CNN affiliate WJFW "there was a mechanical failure with the ride where it became stuck up in the upright position. The ride was recently inspected by the state of Wisconsin here on site".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cwionews.com/trending/floating-gold-worth-54mn-found-in-dead-whale-in-canary-islands-612033">'Floating gold' worth $5.4mn found in dead whale in Canary Islands</a>&nbsp;

Firefighter EMT Erica Kostichka told WSAW: "They did all very well. Obviously, they were scared. They had been upside down for quite some time."&nbsp;

The images and videos of people dangling upside down on the roller coaster were shared on social media platforms.&nbsp;

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Eight people hung upside down for about three hours, stuck in a roller coaster-like attraction. 
Emergency happened at a festival in American Wisconsin. Local media write that seven of the eight stranded are children. According to preliminary data, everyone got off with fright. <a href="https://t.co/OP3Ow3syQZ">pic.twitter.com/OP3Ow3syQZ</a>
— Sasha White (@rusashanews) <a href="https://twitter.com/rusashanews/status/1676198252104806400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Eight people hung upside down for about three hours, stuck in a roller coaster-like attraction. 
Emergency happened at a festival in American Wisconsin. Local media write that seven of the eight stranded are children. According to preliminary data, everyone got off with fright. <a href="https://t.co/OP3Ow3syQZ">pic.twitter.com/OP3Ow3syQZ</a>
— Sasha White (@rusashanews) <a href="https://twitter.com/rusashanews/status/1676198252104806400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/whales-can-help-fight-the-climate-change-scientists-say-544934">Whales can help fight the climate change, scientists say</a>

<h2>Roller coaster mishaps</h2>

Recently, a massive crack, visible to the naked eye, forced a North Carolina amusement park to shut down one of its roller coasters. A man spotted a large crack, which led the support beam to move out of place when a car ran on it with people on the ride.&nbsp;

The man who discovered the crack in the Fury 325 giga roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park notified officials. The Fury 325 is one of the tallest and longest rides.&nbsp;

It was temporarily closed after the complaint and a spokesperson for Carowinds said the roller coaster was being inspected by the park's maintenance team. Carowinds is located outside of Charlotte. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-massive-crack-forces-north-carolina-amusement-park-to-shut-down-its-roller-coaster-611166">Read the full report here</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Eight people were stuck upside down for hours after a roller coaster got stuck midway on Sunday at a fair in Wisconsin state of the US. Seven of the stuck passengers were children.

Eight people were stuck upside down for hours after a roller coaster got stuck midway on Sunday at a fair in Wisconsin state of the US. Seven of the stuck passengers were children. No injuries were reported, but according to the chief of the fire department, one person was transported to the hospital. The incident happened in Crandon at the Forest County Festival. Local reports said it was the final day of the festival at the Crandon International Raceway. Initial reports said that the reason behind the incident was a mechanical failure. Capt Brennan Cook of the fire department told CNN affiliate WJFW "there was a mechanical failure with the ride where it became stuck up in the upright position. The ride was recently inspected by the state of Wisconsin here on site". Also read: 'Floating gold' worth $5.4mn found in dead whale in Canary Islands Firefighter EMT Erica Kostichka told WSAW: "They did all very well. Obviously, they were scared. They had been upside down for quite some time." The images and videos of people dangling upside down on the roller coaster were shared on social media platforms. Eight people hung upside down for about three hours, stuck in a roller coaster-like attraction. Emergency happened at a festival in American Wisconsin. Local media write that seven of the eight stranded are children. According to preliminary data, everyone got off with fright. pic.twitter.com/OP3Ow3syQZ — Sasha White (@rusashanews) July 4, 2023 × Eight people hung upside down for about three hours, stuck in a roller coaster-like attraction. Emergency happened at a festival in American Wisconsin. Local media write that seven of the eight stranded are children. According to preliminary data, everyone got off with fright. pic.twitter.com/OP3Ow3syQZ — Sasha White (@rusashanews) July 4, 2023 × Also read: Whales can help fight the climate change, scientists say Roller coaster mishaps Recently, a massive crack, visible to the naked eye, forced a North Carolina amusement park to shut down one of its roller coasters. A man spotted a large crack, which led the support beam to move out of place when a car ran on it with people on the ride. The man who discovered the crack in the Fury 325 giga roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park notified officials. The Fury 325 is one of the tallest and longest rides. It was temporarily closed after the complaint and a spokesperson for Carowinds said the roller coaster was being inspected by the park's maintenance team. Carowinds is located outside of Charlotte. Read the full report here WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Riders end up hanging upside down for hours after roller coaster stopped

The White House was briefly evacuated Sunday evening while President Joe Biden was at Camp David. The secret service discovered the suspicious powder in a common area of the west wing, and law enforcement officials say that the initial test showed the substance was cocaine. Secret Service Agents were doing routine rounds when they found the white powder in an area accessible to tour groups, not in any particular west wing office. The complex was reportedly evacuated at about 8:45 pm Sunday as fire and emergency crews were brought in to do a rapid test, which preliminarily identified cocaine. The White House was soon reopened and the powder was sent for further testing. In a statement, the secret service said the white house was closed as a precaution as emergency crews investigated. The District of Columbia fire department was called in to evaluate and determine that the substance was not hazardous.

'Cocaine' discovered in White House by Secret Service agents, evacuations follow

More than eight years after being reported missing in Houston, a Texas man was found alive outside a church this weekend with cuts and bruises, as per KTRK reports.

25-year-old Rudy Farias was 17 when he reportedly went missing after taking his dogs for a walk on March 6, 2015. Both the dogs were recovered but Farias was not found.

According to the local media reports, Farias is safe and recovering in the hospital.&nbsp;

Farias' mother, in a conversation with ABC13, said that someone called 911 after spotting her son outside a church unresponsive.

His mother further revealed that the 25-year-old was found with cuts and bruises all over his body and blood in his hair. She said she believed that Farias was badly abused and beaten.

“After 8 long years, Rudy has been located safe,” read a tweet on Sunday from the Texas Center for the Missing.

“Please continue to keep his family in your prayers as Rudy recovers in the hospital.”

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Update: 7/1/23-- After 8 long years, Rudy has been located safe. Please continue to keep his family in your prayers as Rudy recovers in the hospital. <a href="https://t.co/AFqj9qvm9G">https://t.co/AFqj9qvm9G</a>
— TX Center 4 Missing (@TXCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/TXCenter/status/1675555213166497792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Farias was diagnosed with depression</h2>

According to KTRK, the authorities in the year 2015&nbsp;reported that Farias was diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety.&nbsp;

His family members said that his condition worsened after his brother's demise in a road accident years ago, as per NBC News.

"He watched his best friend die right in front of him," NBC quoted Brenda Paradise, a private investigator hired by the Farias family, as saying in April 2015. "His brother was his best friend in the world. He’s just gone through so much more than anyone his age ever should."

According to the authorities, the search was temporarily suspended for Farias on March 10, 2015.&nbsp;However, work was extensively in progress to gather more details about the incident.

On March 12, the search was run on but it again ended the very next day.

The authorities, while concluding the search on March 13, 2015, thanked the team for their commitment and continued looking for Farias in rain-soaked fields.

The 25-year-old was confirmed as safe by the authorities on Sunday, July 2.

According to KTRK, Farias' mother said they have tried talking to him, but he will only say a few words and go into a fetal position. She further said that it would be a long healing journey for her son but she is happy that he is alive. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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More than eight years after being reported missing in Houston, a Texas man was found alive outside a church this weekend with cuts and bruises, as per KTRK reports.

More than eight years after being reported missing in Houston, a Texas man was found alive outside a church this weekend with cuts and bruises, as per KTRK reports. 25-year-old Rudy Farias was 17 when he reportedly went missing after taking his dogs for a walk on March 6, 2015. Both the dogs were recovered but Farias was not found. According to the local media reports, Farias is safe and recovering in the hospital. Farias' mother, in a conversation with ABC13, said that someone called 911 after spotting her son outside a church unresponsive. His mother further revealed that the 25-year-old was found with cuts and bruises all over his body and blood in his hair. She said she believed that Farias was badly abused and beaten. “After 8 long years, Rudy has been located safe,” read a tweet on Sunday from the Texas Center for the Missing. “Please continue to keep his family in your prayers as Rudy recovers in the hospital.” Update: 7/1/23-- After 8 long years, Rudy has been located safe. Please continue to keep his family in your prayers as Rudy recovers in the hospital. https://t.co/AFqj9qvm9G — TX Center 4 Missing (@TXCenter) July 2, 2023 × Farias was diagnosed with depression According to KTRK, the authorities in the year 2015 reported that Farias was diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. His family members said that his condition worsened after his brother's demise in a road accident years ago, as per NBC News. "He watched his best friend die right in front of him," NBC quoted Brenda Paradise, a private investigator hired by the Farias family, as saying in April 2015. "His brother was his best friend in the world. He’s just gone through so much more than anyone his age ever should." According to the authorities, the search was temporarily suspended for Farias on March 10, 2015. However, work was extensively in progress to gather more details about the incident. On March 12, the search was run on but it again ended the very next day. The authorities, while concluding the search on March 13, 2015, thanked the team for their commitment and continued looking for Farias in rain-soaked fields. The 25-year-old was confirmed as safe by the authorities on Sunday, July 2. According to KTRK, Farias' mother said they have tried talking to him, but he will only say a few words and go into a fetal position. She further said that it would be a long healing journey for her son but she is happy that he is alive. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US: 25-year-old Texas man found alive after going missing more than 8 years ago

Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday said that the conservative Supreme Court is “creeping dangerously towards authoritarianism”, as she again raised the scenario of impeaching justices for recent actions. 
 
The congresswoman's comments came just days after the highest court of the country gave some incendiary and far-reaching rulings which struck down affirmative action in Joe Biden’s student loan relief programme, LBGTQ+ rights and college admissions. 
 
“These are the types of rulings that signal a dangerous creep towards authoritarianism and centralisation of power in the court,” she said while speaking at CNN’s State of the Union. “In fact, we have members of the court themselves, with Justice Elena Kagan, saying that the court is beginning to assume the power of a legislature right now,” the congresswoman added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-treasury-secretary-to-visit-china-to-responsibly-manage-ties-expand-communications-611167">US treasury secretary to visit China to 'responsibly' manage ties, expand communications</a>

“They are expanding their role into acting as though they are Congress itself. And that, I believe, is an expansion of power that we really must be focusing on, the danger of this court and the abuse of power,” Ocasio-Cortez stated.

<h2>Ethics scandals and need to expand court</h2>

Talking about the ethics scandals which involved two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez reiterated her calls for Congress to take steps for removing them, a proposal which is likely to be dead when it reaches the Republican-controlled House. 
 
Meanwhile, independents and Senate Democrats, who caucus with them, hold only a slim majority. Alito has been facing accusations of receiving gifts from a right-wing billionaire and not disclosing them. As per reports, the billionaire had lobbied for the court to end the loan relief programme of Biden. Thomas has been alleged to have taken undeclared gifts and getting involved in other alleged transgressions, which prompted an ethics watchdog to appeal to him to resign. 
 
“We must pass much more binding and stringent ethics guidelines, where we see members of the supreme court potentially breaking the law,” AOC stated.

WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistan-origin lawmaker attacked outside a mosque in the United States after Eid prayers

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“There also must be impeachment on the table. We have a broad level of tools to deal with misconduct, overreach and abuse of power in the supreme court (that) has not been receiving the adequate oversight necessary in order to preserve their own legitimacy. And in the process, they themselves have been destroying the legitimacy of the court, which is profoundly dangerous for our entire democracy,” said Ocasio-Cortez. 
 
The congresswoman also appealed to US President Joe Biden to have 13 justices in the court, something that the president has stated he is unwilling to attempt.&nbsp;

You can&nbsp;now write for&nbsp;wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday said that the conservative Supreme Court is “creeping dangerously towards authoritarianism”, as she again raised the scenario of impeaching justices for recent actions.

Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday said that the conservative Supreme Court is “creeping dangerously towards authoritarianism”, as she again raised the scenario of impeaching justices for recent actions. The congresswoman's comments came just days after the highest court of the country gave some incendiary and far-reaching rulings which struck down affirmative action in Joe Biden’s student loan relief programme, LBGTQ+ rights and college admissions. “These are the types of rulings that signal a dangerous creep towards authoritarianism and centralisation of power in the court,” she said while speaking at CNN’s State of the Union. “In fact, we have members of the court themselves, with Justice Elena Kagan, saying that the court is beginning to assume the power of a legislature right now,” the congresswoman added. ALSO READ | US treasury secretary to visit China to 'responsibly' manage ties, expand communications “They are expanding their role into acting as though they are Congress itself. And that, I believe, is an expansion of power that we really must be focusing on, the danger of this court and the abuse of power,” Ocasio-Cortez stated. Ethics scandals and need to expand court Talking about the ethics scandals which involved two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez reiterated her calls for Congress to take steps for removing them, a proposal which is likely to be dead when it reaches the Republican-controlled House. Meanwhile, independents and Senate Democrats, who caucus with them, hold only a slim majority. Alito has been facing accusations of receiving gifts from a right-wing billionaire and not disclosing them. As per reports, the billionaire had lobbied for the court to end the loan relief programme of Biden. Thomas has been alleged to have taken undeclared gifts and getting involved in other alleged transgressions, which prompted an ethics watchdog to appeal to him to resign. “We must pass much more binding and stringent ethics guidelines, where we see members of the supreme court potentially breaking the law,” AOC stated. WATCH | Pakistan-origin lawmaker attacked outside a mosque in the United States after Eid prayers “There also must be impeachment on the table. We have a broad level of tools to deal with misconduct, overreach and abuse of power in the supreme court (that) has not been receiving the adequate oversight necessary in order to preserve their own legitimacy. And in the process, they themselves have been destroying the legitimacy of the court, which is profoundly dangerous for our entire democracy,” said Ocasio-Cortez. The congresswoman also appealed to US President Joe Biden to have 13 justices in the court, something that the president has stated he is unwilling to attempt. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US: AOC slams Supreme Court, says it is ‘creeping dangerously towards authoritarianism’

Paris continued to be marred by violent protests after a teen's fatal police shooting. The protesters clashed with police officials and luxury stores were looted, increasing pressure on President Emmanuel Macron. After Supreme Court's decision to bring down the student loan relief programme faced the anger of millions of Americans, United States President Joe Biden announced fresh measures for easing the financial burden. Meanwhile, a bus caught fire in the Indian state of Maharashtra in which 25 people were charred to death and eight others suffered injuries.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-protests-hundreds-arrested-as-macron-appeals-for-calm-mbappe-reacts-610727">France protests: Hundreds arrested as Macron appeals for calm; Mbappé reacts</a> 
<img alt="France" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f14d1a5-51af-4315-b6f1-b49ea6a38437" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-07-01T100154.655.png" />

The violent protests in France triggered by the fatal police shooting of a teen continued for a fourth straight night. Violent protesters, mostly young, clashed with police and looted luxury stores, putting further pressure on President Emmanuel Macron.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-announces-new-measures-for-student-loan-relief-after-supreme-court-setback-610717">US President Joe Biden announces new measures for student loan relief after Supreme Court setback</a> 
<img alt="Biden" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b9efcbe4-94fe-46fa-81fb-1b600bf3bebc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-07-01T100131.212.png" />

After millions of Americans expressed anger over Supreme Court bringing down the student loan relief program, United States President Joe Biden announced new measures to ease the financial burden.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-25-people-charred-to-death-eight-injured-after-bus-catches-fire-on-maharashtra-expressway-610728">India: 25 people charred to death, eight injured after bus catches fire on Maharashtra Expressway</a>

<img alt="Bus" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="81abbdbe-2993-451d-bbf2-5ffcdda3d86b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-07-01T100142.888.png" />

Around 25 people, including three children,&nbsp;were charred to death and eight others suffered injuries after a bus, in which they were travelling, caught fire on the Maharashtra expressway.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/road-crash-in-kenya-claims-lives-of-at-least-48-610700">Road crash in Kenya claims lives of at least 48</a> 
<img alt="Kenya" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8f392737-7fcc-4b22-abf6-94327411a086" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-07-01T100207.909.png" />

At least 48 people lost their lives after a truck rammed into several other vehicles at a busy junction in western Kenya on Friday night, said the police.

Pro-democracy radio shuts shop in Hong Kong 
&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Paris continued to be marred by violent protests after a teen's fatal police shooting. The protesters clashed with police officials and luxury stores were looted, increasing pressure on President Emmanuel Macron.

Paris continued to be marred by violent protests after a teen's fatal police shooting. The protesters clashed with police officials and luxury stores were looted, increasing pressure on President Emmanuel Macron. After Supreme Court's decision to bring down the student loan relief programme faced the anger of millions of Americans, United States President Joe Biden announced fresh measures for easing the financial burden. Meanwhile, a bus caught fire in the Indian state of Maharashtra in which 25 people were charred to death and eight others suffered injuries. Click on the headlines to read more: France protests: Hundreds arrested as Macron appeals for calm; Mbappé reacts The violent protests in France triggered by the fatal police shooting of a teen continued for a fourth straight night. Violent protesters, mostly young, clashed with police and looted luxury stores, putting further pressure on President Emmanuel Macron. US President Joe Biden announces new measures for student loan relief after Supreme Court setback After millions of Americans expressed anger over Supreme Court bringing down the student loan relief program, United States President Joe Biden announced new measures to ease the financial burden. India: 25 people charred to death, eight injured after bus catches fire on Maharashtra Expressway Around 25 people, including three children, were charred to death and eight others suffered injuries after a bus, in which they were travelling, caught fire on the Maharashtra expressway. Road crash in Kenya claims lives of at least 48 At least 48 people lost their lives after a truck rammed into several other vehicles at a busy junction in western Kenya on Friday night, said the police. Pro-democracy radio shuts shop in Hong Kong

Morning brief: France protests, Joe Biden's new measures for student loan relief, and more

Ukraine has been cautiously counting the gains it has made in the counter-offensive launched this month for reclaiming the territories occupied by Russia and on Friday, a US general and President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that the progress is measured in blood. 
 
Speaking to an audience at the National Press Club in Washington, US Army General Mark Milley said that the counteroffensive was "advancing steadily, deliberately working its way through very difficult minefields ... 500 metres a day, 1,000 metres a day, 2,000 metres a day, that kind of thing." 
 
He added that he is not surprised to see the progress slower than what was predicted by a few people and computers. "War on paper and real war are different. In real war, real people die. Real people are on those front lines and real people are in those vehicles. Real bodies are being shredded by high explosives,” he said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belarusian-president-lukashenko-asks-wagner-army-to-train-his-military-610780">Belarusian President Lukashenko asks Wagner army to train his military</a>

"What I had said was this is going to take six, eight, 10 weeks, it's going to be very difficult. It's going to be very long, and it's going to be very, very bloody. And no one should have any illusions about any of that,” the army general added. 
 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, last week, said that the counteroffensive has been "slower than desired". Ukraine claims to have recaptured a bunch of villages in operations that freed 130 square km (50 square miles) in the south, however, this remains a small percentage of the total territory which is being held by Russia. 
 
Zelensky on Friday stated that his forces advanced "in all directions of our active operations," while Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said the military assessed progress as "going according to plan," and that Ukraine's counteroffensive needs to be evaluated by "a lot of different military tasks."

<h2 lang="en-US">Slow speed aimed at saving lives</h2>

Zelensky has been quoted as saying that Kyiv wished to show results before a July 11 NATO gathering in Lithuania, at which the country is hoping to get an invitation to start the process of becoming part of the US-led military alliance.

WATCH |&nbsp;Russia: 50 soldiers, 2 Generals, 20 foreign mercenaries killed

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"Before the summit, we have to show results," Zelensky was quoted as saying by Spanish national broadcaster RTVE. "But every kilometre costs lives,” he added. 
 
Acknowledging that the counteroffensive plans have slowed in recent months, he said, "We stopped because we could not advance. Advancing meant losing people and we had no artillery." 
 
He was further quoted as saying that Kyiv was "very cautious in this regard" and that he would rather choose to let it take more time if it meant losing fewer lives. "Between time and human beings, people are the most important," he added.

<main>
<section>
(With inputs from agencies)

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WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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</section>
</main>

Ukraine has been cautiously counting the gains it has made in the counter-offensive launched this month for reclaiming the territories occupied by Russia and on Friday, a US general and President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that the progress is measured in blood.

Ukraine has been cautiously counting the gains it has made in the counter-offensive launched this month for reclaiming the territories occupied by Russia and on Friday, a US general and President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that the progress is measured in blood. Speaking to an audience at the National Press Club in Washington, US Army General Mark Milley said that the counteroffensive was "advancing steadily, deliberately working its way through very difficult minefields ... 500 metres a day, 1,000 metres a day, 2,000 metres a day, that kind of thing." He added that he is not surprised to see the progress slower than what was predicted by a few people and computers. "War on paper and real war are different. In real war, real people die. Real people are on those front lines and real people are in those vehicles. Real bodies are being shredded by high explosives,” he said. ALSO READ | Belarusian President Lukashenko asks Wagner army to train his military "What I had said was this is going to take six, eight, 10 weeks, it's going to be very difficult. It's going to be very long, and it's going to be very, very bloody. And no one should have any illusions about any of that,” the army general added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, last week, said that the counteroffensive has been "slower than desired". Ukraine claims to have recaptured a bunch of villages in operations that freed 130 square km (50 square miles) in the south, however, this remains a small percentage of the total territory which is being held by Russia. Zelensky on Friday stated that his forces advanced "in all directions of our active operations," while Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said the military assessed progress as "going according to plan," and that Ukraine's counteroffensive needs to be evaluated by "a lot of different military tasks." Slow speed aimed at saving lives Zelensky has been quoted as saying that Kyiv wished to show results before a July 11 NATO gathering in Lithuania, at which the country is hoping to get an invitation to start the process of becoming part of the US-led military alliance. WATCH | Russia: 50 soldiers, 2 Generals, 20 foreign mercenaries killed "Before the summit, we have to show results," Zelensky was quoted as saying by Spanish national broadcaster RTVE. "But every kilometre costs lives,” he added. Acknowledging that the counteroffensive plans have slowed in recent months, he said, "We stopped because we could not advance. Advancing meant losing people and we had no artillery." He was further quoted as saying that Kyiv was "very cautious in this regard" and that he would rather choose to let it take more time if it meant losing fewer lives. "Between time and human beings, people are the most important," he added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Progress of Kyiv's counter-offensive slowed to prevent bloodshed, loss of lives, say Ukraine, US

A terracotta Yakshi plaque, which belongs to the 1st century BC and was stolen from “eastern India” along with a 10th-century Kubera and a 9th-century red sandstone Dancing Ganesha – both hailing from central India – will be part of the 105 antiquities that are set to be given back to India by the United States, stated a report published in The Indian Express. 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his state visit to the United States, announced that more than 100 stolen antiquities will be returned to India. 
 
“I am happy that the American government has decided to return more than 100 Indian antiquities that had been stolen from us. These antiquities may have gotten to the international market in different ways — some legal, some illegal. I express my gratitude to the American government for returning these items,” the prime minister had said. It is suspected that most of these antiquities were smuggled abroad by antique dealer Subhash Kapoor, who is now imprisoned.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-govt-says-238-stolen-smuggled-antiquities-brought-back-to-country-since-2014-590610">Indian govt says 238 stolen, smuggled antiquities brought back to country since 2014</a>

On March 14, The Indian Express, after carrying out an investigation in collaboration with the UK-based Finance Uncovered and International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), reported that at least 77 antiquities are present in the catalogue of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which are linked to Subhash Kapoor.&nbsp;

<h2 lang="en-US">16 antiquities returned&nbsp;to India</h2>

Last month, Metropolitan Museum said that they have returned 16 of these antiquities to India. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been made the custodian of all repatriated artefacts, has already verified some of the 105 antiquities which are set to be returned to India. 
 
A team of senior ASI officials will be flying to the US soon for carrying out verification of the remaining artefacts, the report added. “We are regularly processing the retrieval of our antiquities that are traced abroad. Approximately 105 such pieces are in the process of returning from the US,” stated an ASI spokesperson.

WATCH |&nbsp;Antique Buddha statue likely from the 12th Century China to be auctioned in Paris

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The antiquities, which are in various mediums such as sandstone, terracotta and marble, span a period of 1,600 years, hailing from the 1st century BC to the 15th century AD, and have significant market and historical value, stated official sources. 
 
The antiquities include an 11th-century sculpture of Vishnu and Lakshmi made of sandstone, an 11th-century standing Surya sculpture, two 14th-century sandstone Apsara figures from central India and a 12th-13th century miniature Jain shrine made of marble from Gujarat/ Maharashtra. 
 
Once the antiquities are returned to India, the ASI, which falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, will take a decision over whether these objects should be placed in their original place or should be given to the respective state government, or if they should be put on a display at a museum which has been dedicated for repatriated antiquities at Delhi’s Purana Qila.&nbsp;

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A terracotta Yakshi plaque, which belongs to the 1st century BC and was stolen from “eastern India” along with a 10th-century Kubera and a 9th-century red sandstone Dancing Ganesha – both hailing from central India – will be part of the 105 antiquities that are set to be given back to India by the United States, stated a report published in The Indian Express.

A terracotta Yakshi plaque, which belongs to the 1st century BC and was stolen from “eastern India” along with a 10th-century Kubera and a 9th-century red sandstone Dancing Ganesha – both hailing from central India – will be part of the 105 antiquities that are set to be given back to India by the United States, stated a report published in The Indian Express. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his state visit to the United States, announced that more than 100 stolen antiquities will be returned to India. “I am happy that the American government has decided to return more than 100 Indian antiquities that had been stolen from us. These antiquities may have gotten to the international market in different ways — some legal, some illegal. I express my gratitude to the American government for returning these items,” the prime minister had said. It is suspected that most of these antiquities were smuggled abroad by antique dealer Subhash Kapoor, who is now imprisoned. ALSO READ | Indian govt says 238 stolen, smuggled antiquities brought back to country since 2014 On March 14, The Indian Express, after carrying out an investigation in collaboration with the UK-based Finance Uncovered and International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), reported that at least 77 antiquities are present in the catalogue of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which are linked to Subhash Kapoor. 16 antiquities returned to India Last month, Metropolitan Museum said that they have returned 16 of these antiquities to India. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been made the custodian of all repatriated artefacts, has already verified some of the 105 antiquities which are set to be returned to India. A team of senior ASI officials will be flying to the US soon for carrying out verification of the remaining artefacts, the report added. “We are regularly processing the retrieval of our antiquities that are traced abroad. Approximately 105 such pieces are in the process of returning from the US,” stated an ASI spokesperson. WATCH | Antique Buddha statue likely from the 12th Century China to be auctioned in Paris The antiquities, which are in various mediums such as sandstone, terracotta and marble, span a period of 1,600 years, hailing from the 1st century BC to the 15th century AD, and have significant market and historical value, stated official sources. The antiquities include an 11th-century sculpture of Vishnu and Lakshmi made of sandstone, an 11th-century standing Surya sculpture, two 14th-century sandstone Apsara figures from central India and a 12th-13th century miniature Jain shrine made of marble from Gujarat/ Maharashtra. Once the antiquities are returned to India, the ASI, which falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, will take a decision over whether these objects should be placed in their original place or should be given to the respective state government, or if they should be put on a display at a museum which has been dedicated for repatriated antiquities at Delhi’s Purana Qila. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India to receive 1st century BC Yakshi plaque as part of 105 antiquities to be returned by US

United States officials on Friday released a statement saying that at least 13 people lost their lives due to extreme heat waves in the southern United States, amid heavy air pollution in other parts of the country due to smoke from wildfires in Canada.

The highest death toll, of 11 people, was registered in Webb County, Texas, near the Mexican border.

"As of Wednesday, there have been 11 total deaths," local officials said in a statement to AFP. "Ten are Webb County residents, the 11th death was from a neighbouring county that was brought to a local hospital and unfortunately passed away."&nbsp;

A 14-year-old died due to scorching heat while he was hiking in Big Bend National Park in Texas. The temperature there had reached 119 Fahrenheit (48 Celsius), said the local officials.

They further added that a 62-year-old woman lost her life in the neighbouring state of Louisiana last week after a storm left thousands of families without power and thus without air conditioning.

<h2>Scorching heat claims lives of more than 100 in June, says Mexico government</h2>

Searing heat in Mexico has claimed the lives of more than 100 people in the month of June, the government said in a statement, after a series of heatwaves rattled the nation

According to scientists, global warming is aggravating adverse weather conditions in the world with many countries battling with soaring temperatures.

As per the figures released by the health ministry on Wednesday, nearly 1,000 heat-related emergencies were reported in Mexico between June 12 and 25, of which 104 resulted in deaths.

Meanwhile, the authorities had already reported eight deaths between April 14 and May 31, taking the death toll to 112.

The cause of the deaths was reported as heat stroke, followed by dehydration, as per the health ministry.

With 64 deaths in the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon and 19 in neighbouring Tamaulipas, Mexico's northern regions reported the most fatalities.

The health ministry said that in Mexico, a maximum temperature of 49 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) was recorded this week in the northwestern state of Sonora.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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United States officials on Friday released a statement saying that at least 13 people lost their lives due to extreme heat waves in the southern United States, amid heavy air pollution in other parts of the country due to smoke from wildfires in Canada.

United States officials on Friday released a statement saying that at least 13 people lost their lives due to extreme heat waves in the southern United States, amid heavy air pollution in other parts of the country due to smoke from wildfires in Canada. The highest death toll, of 11 people, was registered in Webb County, Texas, near the Mexican border. "As of Wednesday, there have been 11 total deaths," local officials said in a statement to AFP. "Ten are Webb County residents, the 11th death was from a neighbouring county that was brought to a local hospital and unfortunately passed away." A 14-year-old died due to scorching heat while he was hiking in Big Bend National Park in Texas. The temperature there had reached 119 Fahrenheit (48 Celsius), said the local officials. They further added that a 62-year-old woman lost her life in the neighbouring state of Louisiana last week after a storm left thousands of families without power and thus without air conditioning. Scorching heat claims lives of more than 100 in June, says Mexico government Searing heat in Mexico has claimed the lives of more than 100 people in the month of June, the government said in a statement, after a series of heatwaves rattled the nation According to scientists, global warming is aggravating adverse weather conditions in the world with many countries battling with soaring temperatures. As per the figures released by the health ministry on Wednesday, nearly 1,000 heat-related emergencies were reported in Mexico between June 12 and 25, of which 104 resulted in deaths. Meanwhile, the authorities had already reported eight deaths between April 14 and May 31, taking the death toll to 112. The cause of the deaths was reported as heat stroke, followed by dehydration, as per the health ministry. With 64 deaths in the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon and 19 in neighbouring Tamaulipas, Mexico's northern regions reported the most fatalities. The health ministry said that in Mexico, a maximum temperature of 49 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) was recorded this week in the northwestern state of Sonora. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Extreme heatwave kills at least 13 in the United States

After millions of Americans expressed anger over Supreme Court bringing down the student loan relief programme, United States President Joe Biden announced new measures to ease the financial burden.

"I know there are millions of Americans in this country who feel disappointed and discouraged or even a little bit angry," Biden said. "I must admit I do too."

He announced measures to "provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible, as quickly as possible."

One of the measures is a 12-month pause on penalties for missing debt repayments on federal loans used by many students to finance their time in the expensive US higher education system.&nbsp;

This will "protect the most vulnerable borrowers," the White House said.

Another measure announced is a change to the repayment plans by the Department of Education, with a cut in the percentage of borrower's available income that must be paid each month toward loans from 10 to five per cent.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-junks-bidens-student-debt-cancellation-plan-610639">US Supreme Court junks Biden's $400bn student debt cancellation plan</a>

In addition, the borrowers would now see more of their income safeguarded from having to be made available for repayments.

<h2>Supreme court rejects Biden's $400bn student debt cancellation plan</h2>

US President Joe Biden on Friday suffered a significant political setback as US Supreme Court overruled his key programme to cancel the student loans of millions of Americans.

The court said Biden had overstepped his powers in cancelling more than $400 billion in debt, in an effort to alleviate the financial burden of education that hangs over many Americans decades after they finished their studies.

The court said Biden was mistaken in using a 2003 law, the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, to justify the debt relief plan.

Six Republican-led states sued saying the 2003 Act, which aimed to help former students who joined the military after the September 11, 2001 attacks, does not authorise Biden's loan cancellation.

"We agree," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.

"The question here is not whether something should be done; it is who has the authority to do it," he said.

Biden said his administration would pursue a different way to achieve his goal.

"Today’s decision has closed one path. Now we’re going to start another," Biden told reporters. "I believe the court's decision to strike down my student debt relief program was a mistake, was wrong. I'm not going to stop fighting to deliver borrowers what they need, particularly those at the bottom end of the economic scale."

Biden announced the student loan cancellation plan in August 2022. He said that up to USD 20,000 per borrower would be forgiven, given that the borrower comes from low or middle-income groups.

The plan came on the back of a student loan payment freeze instituted by his predecessor Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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After millions of Americans expressed anger over Supreme Court bringing down the student loan relief programme, United States President Joe Biden announced new measures to ease the financial burden.

After millions of Americans expressed anger over Supreme Court bringing down the student loan relief programme, United States President Joe Biden announced new measures to ease the financial burden. "I know there are millions of Americans in this country who feel disappointed and discouraged or even a little bit angry," Biden said. "I must admit I do too." He announced measures to "provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible, as quickly as possible." One of the measures is a 12-month pause on penalties for missing debt repayments on federal loans used by many students to finance their time in the expensive US higher education system. This will "protect the most vulnerable borrowers," the White House said. Another measure announced is a change to the repayment plans by the Department of Education, with a cut in the percentage of borrower's available income that must be paid each month toward loans from 10 to five per cent. Also read: US Supreme Court junks Biden's $400bn student debt cancellation plan In addition, the borrowers would now see more of their income safeguarded from having to be made available for repayments. Supreme court rejects Biden's $400bn student debt cancellation plan US President Joe Biden on Friday suffered a significant political setback as US Supreme Court overruled his key programme to cancel the student loans of millions of Americans. The court said Biden had overstepped his powers in cancelling more than $400 billion in debt, in an effort to alleviate the financial burden of education that hangs over many Americans decades after they finished their studies. The court said Biden was mistaken in using a 2003 law, the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, to justify the debt relief plan. Six Republican-led states sued saying the 2003 Act, which aimed to help former students who joined the military after the September 11, 2001 attacks, does not authorise Biden's loan cancellation. "We agree," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. "The question here is not whether something should be done; it is who has the authority to do it," he said. Biden said his administration would pursue a different way to achieve his goal. "Today’s decision has closed one path. Now we’re going to start another," Biden told reporters. "I believe the court's decision to strike down my student debt relief program was a mistake, was wrong. I'm not going to stop fighting to deliver borrowers what they need, particularly those at the bottom end of the economic scale." Biden announced the student loan cancellation plan in August 2022. He said that up to USD 20,000 per borrower would be forgiven, given that the borrower comes from low or middle-income groups. The plan came on the back of a student loan payment freeze instituted by his predecessor Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US President Joe Biden announces new measures for student loan relief after Supreme Court setback

China is using its rival's technology & gears. To keep an eye on them. The Chinese spy balloon that floated over the US early this year was loaded with American-made equipment. These equipment aided China to collect photos, visuals & other information, as per a US official.

Did Chinese spy balloons use US tech to spy on Americans?

The United States and the Netherlands are intensifying their efforts to curb China's chipmaking capabilities by imposing further restrictions on the sales of chipmaking equipment, Reuters reported. These measures are part of a broader strategy to prevent China from leveraging foreign technology to enhance its military capabilities.

Dual Punch

The Dutch government and prominent Dutch company ASML plan to impose limitations on certain equipment. At the same time, the United States is expected to go even further by exerting its influence to restrict the supply of Dutch equipment to specific Chinese fabs. Official comments have not been provided by the Dutch government, ASML, or the U.S. Commerce Department, which oversees export controls.

The United States had previously imposed export restrictions on American chipmaking tools to China in October, citing national security concerns. The U.S. government also encouraged other countries with key suppliers to implement similar curbs.

China's Response

In response to these actions, Reuters cited Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, who condemned the move, accusing the U.S. of intentionally hindering Chinese companies and promoting decoupling. Pengyu further affirmed that China would closely monitor the developments and steadfastly protect its own interests.

Global Restrictions Tighten

Japan, home to chip equipment manufacturers Nikon Corp and Tokyo Electron Ltd, has subsequently adopted regulations to restrict the export of 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. These regulations will take effect on July 23. The Dutch government is set to announce new regulations on Friday, as per Reuters, including a licensing requirement for ASML's second-best product line, deep ultraviolet (DUV) semiconductor equipment. It is important to note that ASML's most advanced machines, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, are already subject to restrictions and have never been shipped to China.

ASML disclosed in March that it anticipates the Dutch regulations to impact its TWINSCAN NXT:2000i and more sophisticated models. However, the United States may withhold even the older DUV models, such as the TWINSCAN NXT:1980Di, from approximately six Chinese facilities. According to an anonymous source cited by Reuters, the specific facilities are expected to be identified in a forthcoming U.S. rule, enabling restrictions on foreign equipment with even a small percentage of U.S. parts from reaching those sites. The effective date for the new Dutch regulations is not expected to be immediate but rather anticipated to be in September, two months after publication.

More Regulations to follow

According to the same source cited by Reuters, the proposed U.S. rule, likely to be published by late July, will mandate licenses for exporting equipment to around six Chinese facilities, including a fab operated by SMIC, China's largest chipmaker. However, licenses for shipping equipment to these facilities will likely be denied. ASML, being the world's leading chip equipment manufacturer and the largest company in the Netherlands, is expected to fall under the scope of U.S. rule due to the inclusion of U.S. parts and components in its systems.

It is worth noting that the proposed regulations are subject to potential modifications before final implementation. The plan outlined reflects the late June thinking of the involved parties. In addition to the abovementioned developments, the United States is expected to unveil further updates to its comprehensive October rules in July.

ASML, renowned as Europe's largest chip equipment company due to its dominance in lithography, a critical step in the chip manufacturing process, may be one of many companies impacted by the new Dutch regulations. Other firms, including ASM International, a specialist in atomic layer deposition, could also face repercussions. ASM International declined to comment ahead of Friday's official announcement.

(With Inputs from Reuters)

The United States and the Netherlands are intensifying their efforts to curb China's chipmaking capabilities by imposing further restrictions on the sales of chipmaking equipment, Reuters reported.

The United States and the Netherlands are intensifying their efforts to curb China's chipmaking capabilities by imposing further restrictions on the sales of chipmaking equipment, Reuters reported. These measures are part of a broader strategy to prevent China from leveraging foreign technology to enhance its military capabilities. Dual Punch The Dutch government and prominent Dutch company ASML plan to impose limitations on certain equipment. At the same time, the United States is expected to go even further by exerting its influence to restrict the supply of Dutch equipment to specific Chinese fabs. Official comments have not been provided by the Dutch government, ASML, or the U.S. Commerce Department, which oversees export controls. The United States had previously imposed export restrictions on American chipmaking tools to China in October, citing national security concerns. The U.S. government also encouraged other countries with key suppliers to implement similar curbs. China's Response In response to these actions, Reuters cited Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, who condemned the move, accusing the U.S. of intentionally hindering Chinese companies and promoting decoupling. Pengyu further affirmed that China would closely monitor the developments and steadfastly protect its own interests. Global Restrictions Tighten Japan, home to chip equipment manufacturers Nikon Corp and Tokyo Electron Ltd, has subsequently adopted regulations to restrict the export of 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. These regulations will take effect on July 23. The Dutch government is set to announce new regulations on Friday, as per Reuters, including a licensing requirement for ASML's second-best product line, deep ultraviolet (DUV) semiconductor equipment. It is important to note that ASML's most advanced machines, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, are already subject to restrictions and have never been shipped to China. ASML disclosed in March that it anticipates the Dutch regulations to impact its TWINSCAN NXT:2000i and more sophisticated models. However, the United States may withhold even the older DUV models, such as the TWINSCAN NXT:1980Di, from approximately six Chinese facilities. According to an anonymous source cited by Reuters, the specific facilities are expected to be identified in a forthcoming U.S. rule, enabling restrictions on foreign equipment with even a small percentage of U.S. parts from reaching those sites. The effective date for the new Dutch regulations is not expected to be immediate but rather anticipated to be in September, two months after publication. More Regulations to follow According to the same source cited by Reuters, the proposed U.S. rule, likely to be published by late July, will mandate licenses for exporting equipment to around six Chinese facilities, including a fab operated by SMIC, China's largest chipmaker. However, licenses for shipping equipment to these facilities will likely be denied. ASML, being the world's leading chip equipment manufacturer and the largest company in the Netherlands, is expected to fall under the scope of U.S. rule due to the inclusion of U.S. parts and components in its systems. It is worth noting that the proposed regulations are subject to potential modifications before final implementation. The plan outlined reflects the late June thinking of the involved parties. In addition to the abovementioned developments, the United States is expected to unveil further updates to its comprehensive October rules in July. ASML, renowned as Europe's largest chip equipment company due to its dominance in lithography, a critical step in the chip manufacturing process, may be one of many companies impacted by the new Dutch regulations. Other firms, including ASM International, a specialist in atomic layer deposition, could also face repercussions. ASM International declined to comment ahead of Friday's official announcement. (With Inputs from Reuters)

Chip War Intensifies: U.S. and Netherlands impose stricter controls on chipmaking equipment sales to China

The US is all set to rejoin the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after a decade-old dispute stemming from the inclusion of Palestine as a member. The US, along with Israel, boycotted UNESCO in 2011 after it voted to make Palestine a member. Then, in 2017, the former administration of Donald Trump withdrew from the agency altogether citing its alleged anti-Israel bias.

193 members of UNESCO will gather on Thursday in Paris to vote on USA’s return. The process largely seems a formality as no member has raised an objection, given the US has been the largest donor of the organisation for years. Until 2017, funds from Washington DC accounted for 22 per cent of the agency’s total annual budget.

The Biden administration has already requested Congress to earmark $150 million for the 2024 annual budget of the UN agency. The plan foresees similar requests for the ensuing years until the full debt of $619 million is paid off.

<h2>The threat of China</h2>

The US over the past few years has grown concerned over the rising role of China at the agency, which might put it at the driving seat in policymaking over important global issues such as artificial intelligence and education. “When we’re not at the table shaping that conversation and so actually helping to shape those norms and standards, well, someone else is. And that someone else is probably China,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last April.

Watch:&nbsp;SISI's construction plan: UNESCO World Heritage site Cario under threat

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The US also aims to run for a seat on the body’s executive board in the upcoming November elections.

<h2>UNESCO’s anti-Israel ‘bias’</h2>

Israel has made consistent allegations against the United Nations, claiming that the organisation harbours a bias against Israel. One significant point of contention arose in 2012 when the UN General Assembly recognised the state of Palestine as a non-member observer state, despite objections from Israel.&nbsp;

This decision was met with particular anger from Israel, as it included the recognition of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, located in the West Bank, as a Palestinian world heritage site in need of protection. The Tomb of the Patriarchs holds great significance as the reputed burial place of the Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-italian-cuisine-to-get-unesco-world-heritage-tag-by-december-2025-589227">Also read:&nbsp;Italian cuisine to get UNESCO world heritage tag by December 2025</a>

The Palestinians assert their claim to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—territories that Israel captured during the 1967 Middle East war—as the basis for establishing an independent state. Israel, however, stresses that the Palestinians' pursuit of recognition at the UN serves as a means to bypass negotiations and exert pressure on Israel to make concessions.

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The US is all set to rejoin the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after a decade-old dispute stemming from the inclusion of Palestine as a member.

The US is all set to rejoin the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after a decade-old dispute stemming from the inclusion of Palestine as a member. The US, along with Israel, boycotted UNESCO in 2011 after it voted to make Palestine a member. Then, in 2017, the former administration of Donald Trump withdrew from the agency altogether citing its alleged anti-Israel bias. 193 members of UNESCO will gather on Thursday in Paris to vote on USA’s return. The process largely seems a formality as no member has raised an objection, given the US has been the largest donor of the organisation for years. Until 2017, funds from Washington DC accounted for 22 per cent of the agency’s total annual budget. The Biden administration has already requested Congress to earmark $150 million for the 2024 annual budget of the UN agency. The plan foresees similar requests for the ensuing years until the full debt of $619 million is paid off. The threat of China The US over the past few years has grown concerned over the rising role of China at the agency, which might put it at the driving seat in policymaking over important global issues such as artificial intelligence and education. “When we’re not at the table shaping that conversation and so actually helping to shape those norms and standards, well, someone else is. And that someone else is probably China,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last April. Watch: SISI's construction plan: UNESCO World Heritage site Cario under threat × The US also aims to run for a seat on the body’s executive board in the upcoming November elections. UNESCO’s anti-Israel ‘bias’ Israel has made consistent allegations against the United Nations, claiming that the organisation harbours a bias against Israel. One significant point of contention arose in 2012 when the UN General Assembly recognised the state of Palestine as a non-member observer state, despite objections from Israel. This decision was met with particular anger from Israel, as it included the recognition of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, located in the West Bank, as a Palestinian world heritage site in need of protection. The Tomb of the Patriarchs holds great significance as the reputed burial place of the Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs. Also read: Italian cuisine to get UNESCO world heritage tag by December 2025 The Palestinians assert their claim to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—territories that Israel captured during the 1967 Middle East war—as the basis for establishing an independent state. Israel, however, stresses that the Palestinians' pursuit of recognition at the UN serves as a means to bypass negotiations and exert pressure on Israel to make concessions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US all set to rejoin UNESCO six years after Trump withdrew from it

Best cities in the United States to celebrate Fourth of July

An attack in front of the US consulate in Jeddah on Wednesday claimed the lives of a security guard and a gunman, said the Saudi police.

An armed man got out of a car in front of the consulate building and was killed as he exchanged gunfire with security officers, said a police spokesman.&nbsp;

"A person in a car stopped near the American Consulate building in Jeddah Governorate and got out of it carrying a firearm in his hand, so security authorities took the initiative to deal with him as required, and the exchange of fire resulted in his death", a spokesperson for the Makkah Region police said.

The State Department released a statement saying that no Americans were harmed in the incident that took place outside the consulate.

"At 6:45 pm (1545 GMT), a man stopped in a car in front of the consulate building and got out with a weapon in his hand," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted a police spokesman as saying.

"Security forces reacted... resulting in an exchange of fire that killed the assailant," it said.

A Nepalese security officer was wounded and later died.

"We offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased local guards member," the State Department said in a statement in Washington.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/muslim-pilgrims-head-to-mecca-for-haj-despite-surge-in-travel-costs-608930/#hajj-at-mecca-608924">Muslim pilgrims head to Mecca for hajj despite surge in travel costs</a>

The State Department said that the Saudi forces killed the attacker. It further added that the kingdom had launched a probe into the incident and that the United States was in touch for further developments.

"The consulate was appropriately locked down and no Americans were harmed in the attack," it said.

<h2>Attack occurs as Saudi Arabia welcomes nearly 1.8 million for annual Hajj pilgrimage</h2>

The attack took place as Saudi Arabia welcomed some 1.8 million Muslim faithful for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, some 70 kilometres (44 miles) from Jeddah.

The United States consulate in the coastal city of Jeddah on the Red Sea has previously also been a target of attacks. On 4 July 2016, American Independence Day, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the same place.

Another attack in 2004 had claimed the lives of at least 5 people.

(With inputs from agencies)

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An attack in front of the US consulate in Jeddah on Wednesday claimed the lives of a security guard and a gunman, said the Saudi police. An armed man got out of a car in front of the consulate building and was killed as he exchanged gunfire with security officers, said a police spokesman.

An attack in front of the US consulate in Jeddah on Wednesday claimed the lives of a security guard and a gunman, said the Saudi police. An armed man got out of a car in front of the consulate building and was killed as he exchanged gunfire with security officers, said a police spokesman. "A person in a car stopped near the American Consulate building in Jeddah Governorate and got out of it carrying a firearm in his hand, so security authorities took the initiative to deal with him as required, and the exchange of fire resulted in his death", a spokesperson for the Makkah Region police said. The State Department released a statement saying that no Americans were harmed in the incident that took place outside the consulate. "At 6:45 pm (1545 GMT), a man stopped in a car in front of the consulate building and got out with a weapon in his hand," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted a police spokesman as saying. "Security forces reacted... resulting in an exchange of fire that killed the assailant," it said. A Nepalese security officer was wounded and later died. "We offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased local guards member," the State Department said in a statement in Washington. Also read: Muslim pilgrims head to Mecca for hajj despite surge in travel costs The State Department said that the Saudi forces killed the attacker. It further added that the kingdom had launched a probe into the incident and that the United States was in touch for further developments. "The consulate was appropriately locked down and no Americans were harmed in the attack," it said. Attack occurs as Saudi Arabia welcomes nearly 1.8 million for annual Hajj pilgrimage The attack took place as Saudi Arabia welcomed some 1.8 million Muslim faithful for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, some 70 kilometres (44 miles) from Jeddah. The United States consulate in the coastal city of Jeddah on the Red Sea has previously also been a target of attacks. On 4 July 2016, American Independence Day, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the same place. Another attack in 2004 had claimed the lives of at least 5 people. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Attack at US consulate in Jeddah claims lives of security guard, gunman

As per a new report published on Tuesday by the inspector general of the Small Business Administration, more than $200 billion may have been stolen from two large COVID-19 relief initiatives.

According to new estimates from a federal watchdog probing federally funded programs that helped small businesses survive the pandemic.

The numbers issued by the United States Small Business Administration inspector general, are much greater than the office's previous promontories and highlight how vulnerable the Paycheck Protection and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs were to fraudsters, particularly during the early stages of the pandemic.

The inspector general’s report said, “at least 17 per cent of all COVID-EIDL and PPP funds were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors.”&nbsp;

As per the report, the fraud estimate for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is more than $136 billion, which represents 33 per cent of the total money spent on that program.

The inspector general said that the Paycheck Protection fraud estimate is $64 billion.

In comments attached to the report, a senior SBA official disputed the new numbers. Bailey DeVries, SBA’s acting associate administrator for capital access, said the inspector general’s “approach contains serious flaws that significantly overestimate fraud and unintentionally mislead the public to believe that the work we did together had no significant impact in protecting against fraud.”

Previously, the SBA inspector general had estimated fraud in the coronavirus disaster loan program at $86 billion and the Paycheck Protection program at $20 billion.

The SBA inspector general, Hannibal “Mike” Ware, said in a statement Tuesday that the report “utilizes investigative casework, prior (inspector general) reporting, and cutting-edge data analysis to identify multiple fraud schemes used to potentially steal over $200 billion from American taxpayers and exploit programs meant to help those in need.”

Earlier this month, Ware, in an interview with The Associated Press, said that these latest fraud figures won’t be the last ones issued by his office.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-intelligence-claims-no-direct-evidence-to-prove-coronavirus-created-in-wuhan-lab-608101">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-intelligence-claims-no-direct-evidence-to-prove-coronavirus-created-in-wuhan-lab-608101">US intelligence: No direct evidence found to prove coronavirus created in Wuhan lab, China obstructing review</a>

“We will continue to assess fraud until we’re finished with the investigations on these things,” Ware said. That could be a long while. Ware’s office has a backlog of more than 90,000 actionable leads into pandemic relief fraud, which amounts to nearly a century’s worth of work.

Han Nguyen, a spokesman for the SBA, said in a statement Tuesday that it is “vital to clarify that 86% of the likely fraud in the PPP and COVID-EIDL programs occurred in the first nine months of those programs when, as the (inspector general) has often noted, the rush to get funds out led to unwise decisions to pull down anti-fraud guardrails.”

<h2>Biden administration puts strict rules to control pandemic fraud</h2>

The Biden administration put in place stricter rules to stem pandemic fraud, including use of the “Do Not Pay” database.

Recently, Biden also proposed a $1.6 billion plan to boost law enforcement efforts to go after pandemic relief fraudsters.&nbsp;

“I think the bottom line is regardless of what the (total fraud) number is, it emanates overwhelmingly from three programs that were designed and originated in 2020 with too many large holes that opened the door to criminal fraud,” Gene Sperling, the White House American Rescue Plan coordinator, said in an early June interview.

“The swift distribution of funds and program integrity are not mutually exclusive,” Westbrooks said Tuesday. “The government can walk and chew gum at the same time. They should have put basic fraud controls in place to verify people’s identity and to make sure targeted relief was getting into the right hands.”

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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As per a new report published on Tuesday by the inspector general of the Small Business Administration, more than $200 billion may have been stolen from two large COVID-19 relief initiatives.

As per a new report published on Tuesday by the inspector general of the Small Business Administration, more than $200 billion may have been stolen from two large COVID-19 relief initiatives. According to new estimates from a federal watchdog probing federally funded programs that helped small businesses survive the pandemic. The numbers issued by the United States Small Business Administration inspector general, are much greater than the office's previous promontories and highlight how vulnerable the Paycheck Protection and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs were to fraudsters, particularly during the early stages of the pandemic. The inspector general’s report said, “at least 17 per cent of all COVID-EIDL and PPP funds were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors.” As per the report, the fraud estimate for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is more than $136 billion, which represents 33 per cent of the total money spent on that program. The inspector general said that the Paycheck Protection fraud estimate is $64 billion. In comments attached to the report, a senior SBA official disputed the new numbers. Bailey DeVries, SBA’s acting associate administrator for capital access, said the inspector general’s “approach contains serious flaws that significantly overestimate fraud and unintentionally mislead the public to believe that the work we did together had no significant impact in protecting against fraud.” Previously, the SBA inspector general had estimated fraud in the coronavirus disaster loan program at $86 billion and the Paycheck Protection program at $20 billion. The SBA inspector general, Hannibal “Mike” Ware, said in a statement Tuesday that the report “utilizes investigative casework, prior (inspector general) reporting, and cutting-edge data analysis to identify multiple fraud schemes used to potentially steal over $200 billion from American taxpayers and exploit programs meant to help those in need.” Earlier this month, Ware, in an interview with The Associated Press, said that these latest fraud figures won’t be the last ones issued by his office. Also read: US intelligence: No direct evidence found to prove coronavirus created in Wuhan lab, China obstructing review “We will continue to assess fraud until we’re finished with the investigations on these things,” Ware said. That could be a long while. Ware’s office has a backlog of more than 90,000 actionable leads into pandemic relief fraud, which amounts to nearly a century’s worth of work. Han Nguyen, a spokesman for the SBA, said in a statement Tuesday that it is “vital to clarify that 86% of the likely fraud in the PPP and COVID-EIDL programs occurred in the first nine months of those programs when, as the (inspector general) has often noted, the rush to get funds out led to unwise decisions to pull down anti-fraud guardrails.” Biden administration puts strict rules to control pandemic fraud The Biden administration put in place stricter rules to stem pandemic fraud, including use of the “Do Not Pay” database. Recently, Biden also proposed a $1.6 billion plan to boost law enforcement efforts to go after pandemic relief fraudsters. “I think the bottom line is regardless of what the (total fraud) number is, it emanates overwhelmingly from three programs that were designed and originated in 2020 with too many large holes that opened the door to criminal fraud,” Gene Sperling, the White House American Rescue Plan coordinator, said in an early June interview. “The swift distribution of funds and program integrity are not mutually exclusive,” Westbrooks said Tuesday. “The government can walk and chew gum at the same time. They should have put basic fraud controls in place to verify people’s identity and to make sure targeted relief was getting into the right hands.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Over $200bn likely stolen from US government's COVID-19 relief programmes, says federal watchdog

In order to bolster Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces, the United States on Tuesday announced a fresh set of arms for Kyiv which included armoured vehicles, precision munitions and mine-clearing equipment.

The package of $500 million came days after a mutiny by the mercenary group Wagner impacted Russia's war-making capacity.

The Pentagon released a statement saying that the weaponry included 30 Bradley fighting vehicles and 25 Stryker personnel carriers, more rockets for Patriot air defence and Himars precision attack systems; small arms and over 22 millions small arms rounds and grenades.

The package "includes key capabilities to support Ukraine's counteroffensive operations, strengthen its air defences to help Ukraine protect its people... and other equipment to help Ukraine push back on Russia's war of aggression."

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-putin-begins-address-to-russians-thanks-citizens-for-patriotism-during-wagner-revolt-609015">&nbsp;Putin says Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus' in his address to Russians</a>

The fresh set of arms is aimed at backing the Ukranian military's push to break through the front lines in the south of the country in hopes of driving occupying Russian troops out.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that despite the short-lived Wagner revolt led by his longtime crony Yevgeny Prigozhin, Moscow did not need to redeploy any troops from fighting in Ukraine.

"We did not have to take combat units from the special military operation zone," Putin said, adding that "all military formations continued to wage a heroic fight at the front."

<h2>Putin accuses West of wanting Russians to "kill each other"</h2>

The Russian president on Monday accused Ukraine and its Western allies of wanting Russians to "kill each other". During a Monday night address, he also claimed that Prigozhin's uprising was "doomed to fail". He made a special mention to the civilians for showing "unity" in the face of a "treacherous" rebellion.&nbsp;

The Kremlin on Tuesday said that Putin's authority had not been weakened by the armed mutiny. Meanwhile, Putin said that the group of Wagner mercenaries failed to win the support of the Russian people or its army.&nbsp;

In a televised address to law enforcement agencies outside the Kremlin, he said, "People who were drawn into the rebellion saw that the army and the people were not with them."&nbsp;

Putin told troops from the defence ministry, National Guard, FSB security service and interior ministry, "You de facto stopped a civil war."&nbsp;

"In the confrontation with rebels, our comrades-in-arms, pilots, were killed. They did not flinch and honourably fulfilled their orders and their military duty," he said, before holding a minute's silence in their memory, without saying how many died.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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In order to bolster Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces, the United States on Tuesday announced a fresh set of arms for Kyiv which included armoured vehicles, precision munitions and mine-clearing equipment.

In order to bolster Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces, the United States on Tuesday announced a fresh set of arms for Kyiv which included armoured vehicles, precision munitions and mine-clearing equipment. The package of $500 million came days after a mutiny by the mercenary group Wagner impacted Russia's war-making capacity. The Pentagon released a statement saying that the weaponry included 30 Bradley fighting vehicles and 25 Stryker personnel carriers, more rockets for Patriot air defence and Himars precision attack systems; small arms and over 22 millions small arms rounds and grenades. The package "includes key capabilities to support Ukraine's counteroffensive operations, strengthen its air defences to help Ukraine protect its people... and other equipment to help Ukraine push back on Russia's war of aggression." Also read: Putin says Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus' in his address to Russians The fresh set of arms is aimed at backing the Ukranian military's push to break through the front lines in the south of the country in hopes of driving occupying Russian troops out. Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that despite the short-lived Wagner revolt led by his longtime crony Yevgeny Prigozhin, Moscow did not need to redeploy any troops from fighting in Ukraine. "We did not have to take combat units from the special military operation zone," Putin said, adding that "all military formations continued to wage a heroic fight at the front." Putin accuses West of wanting Russians to "kill each other" The Russian president on Monday accused Ukraine and its Western allies of wanting Russians to "kill each other". During a Monday night address, he also claimed that Prigozhin's uprising was "doomed to fail". He made a special mention to the civilians for showing "unity" in the face of a "treacherous" rebellion. The Kremlin on Tuesday said that Putin's authority had not been weakened by the armed mutiny. Meanwhile, Putin said that the group of Wagner mercenaries failed to win the support of the Russian people or its army. In a televised address to law enforcement agencies outside the Kremlin, he said, "People who were drawn into the rebellion saw that the army and the people were not with them." Putin told troops from the defence ministry, National Guard, FSB security service and interior ministry, "You de facto stopped a civil war." "In the confrontation with rebels, our comrades-in-arms, pilots, were killed. They did not flinch and honourably fulfilled their orders and their military duty," he said, before holding a minute's silence in their memory, without saying how many died. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US announces $500 mn in armour, air defence for Ukraine to bolster counteroffensive against Russia

A government watchdog revealed on Tuesday that fraudsters may have stolen more than $200 billion from federal loans designed to aid struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported. According to the Office of the Inspector General, approximately 17 per cent of the $1.2 trillion disbursed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) may have been fraudulently obtained.

The report cited by Reuters highlights that around $136 billion from the EIDL program and $64 billion from PPP loans are potentially missing due to fraudulent activities. The watchdog attributes this large-scale fraud to the SBA's decision to relax internal controls in their haste to distribute financial assistance to businesses affected by pandemic shutdowns.

SBA disputes the claims

However, the SBA has disputed the Inspector General's findings. CNBC quoted Bailey DeVries, a senior official at the SBA, as saying that the report significantly overestimated the extent of fraud in the programs. DeVries explained that additional fraud controls were implemented in 2021, and the 34 per cent potential fraud rate identified by the Inspector General for the EIDL program does not align with the SBA's current repayment data.

According to SBA figures cited by CNBC, 12 per cent of the loans went to borrowers who are currently past due, which mostly comprises legitimate businesses that are closed or facing financial difficulties. DeVries further noted that 74 per cent of businesses have either fully repaid or started repaying their loans, while 14 per cent are still in the deferment period.

The investigations conducted by the Inspector General's office have resulted in over 1,000 indictments, 803 arrests, and 529 convictions related to fraud in the loan programs, leading to the recovery of nearly $30 billion in stolen funds by federal law enforcement agencies, as per CNBC. Despite these efforts, the Inspector General's office continues to pursue tens of thousands of leads related to waste, fraud, and abuse in the loan programs, with many of these investigations expected to span several years.

Social Aid or Money Grabbing Scheme

The PPP provided guaranteed loans to small businesses, individuals, and nonprofits that could be forgiven under certain conditions. At the same time, the EIDL program offered low-interest, fixed-rate loans to support small businesses and organizations in covering their operating expenses. The&nbsp;report cited by CNBC revealed that as of May, approximately 1.6 million EIDL loans worth $114 billion are either past due, delinquent, or in liquidation. Out of these, more than 69,000 loans worth $3.2 billion have been written off. Additionally, over 500,000 PPP loans have defaulted.

The Inspector General's report suggests that nonpayment often indicates loan fraud, although not all past due, delinquent, or charged-off loans are necessarily fraudulent. The potential fraud estimate of over $200 billion emphasises the magnitude of the issue, with the watchdog criticizing the SBA for loosening controls and enabling fraudulent actors to exploit the relief programs.

In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland established a COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to tackle these issues. Last year, the U.S. Justice Department appointed federal prosecutor Kevin Chambers to lead investigations into alleged fraud schemes targeting government pandemic assistance programs.

The recent report follows previous findings of significant fraud in government aid programs, including the theft of $45.6 billion from the U.S. unemployment insurance program and the diversion of $250 million from a program intended to provide meals to children in need during the pandemic. Another watchdog report cited by Reuters highlighted that approximately $5.4 billion in COVID-19 aid was potentially awarded to individuals with questionable Social Security numbers.

The impact of this fraud extends beyond financial losses. It undermines the purpose of the relief programs, which were intended to provide critical support to struggling businesses and individuals during an unprecedented crisis. The misappropriation of funds not only diverts resources away from those in genuine need but also erodes public trust in government aid initiatives.

(With Inputs from Agencies)

A government watchdog revealed on Tuesday that fraudsters may have stolen more than $200 billion from federal loans designed to aid struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported.

A government watchdog revealed on Tuesday that fraudsters may have stolen more than $200 billion from federal loans designed to aid struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported. According to the Office of the Inspector General, approximately 17 per cent of the $1.2 trillion disbursed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) may have been fraudulently obtained. The report cited by Reuters highlights that around $136 billion from the EIDL program and $64 billion from PPP loans are potentially missing due to fraudulent activities. The watchdog attributes this large-scale fraud to the SBA's decision to relax internal controls in their haste to distribute financial assistance to businesses affected by pandemic shutdowns. SBA disputes the claims However, the SBA has disputed the Inspector General's findings. CNBC quoted Bailey DeVries, a senior official at the SBA, as saying that the report significantly overestimated the extent of fraud in the programs. DeVries explained that additional fraud controls were implemented in 2021, and the 34 per cent potential fraud rate identified by the Inspector General for the EIDL program does not align with the SBA's current repayment data. According to SBA figures cited by CNBC, 12 per cent of the loans went to borrowers who are currently past due, which mostly comprises legitimate businesses that are closed or facing financial difficulties. DeVries further noted that 74 per cent of businesses have either fully repaid or started repaying their loans, while 14 per cent are still in the deferment period. The investigations conducted by the Inspector General's office have resulted in over 1,000 indictments, 803 arrests, and 529 convictions related to fraud in the loan programs, leading to the recovery of nearly $30 billion in stolen funds by federal law enforcement agencies, as per CNBC. Despite these efforts, the Inspector General's office continues to pursue tens of thousands of leads related to waste, fraud, and abuse in the loan programs, with many of these investigations expected to span several years. Social Aid or Money Grabbing Scheme The PPP provided guaranteed loans to small businesses, individuals, and nonprofits that could be forgiven under certain conditions. At the same time, the EIDL program offered low-interest, fixed-rate loans to support small businesses and organizations in covering their operating expenses. The report cited by CNBC revealed that as of May, approximately 1.6 million EIDL loans worth $114 billion are either past due, delinquent, or in liquidation. Out of these, more than 69,000 loans worth $3.2 billion have been written off. Additionally, over 500,000 PPP loans have defaulted. The Inspector General's report suggests that nonpayment often indicates loan fraud, although not all past due, delinquent, or charged-off loans are necessarily fraudulent. The potential fraud estimate of over $200 billion emphasises the magnitude of the issue, with the watchdog criticizing the SBA for loosening controls and enabling fraudulent actors to exploit the relief programs. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland established a COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to tackle these issues. Last year, the U.S. Justice Department appointed federal prosecutor Kevin Chambers to lead investigations into alleged fraud schemes targeting government pandemic assistance programs. The recent report follows previous findings of significant fraud in government aid programs, including the theft of $45.6 billion from the U.S. unemployment insurance program and the diversion of $250 million from a program intended to provide meals to children in need during the pandemic. Another watchdog report cited by Reuters highlighted that approximately $5.4 billion in COVID-19 aid was potentially awarded to individuals with questionable Social Security numbers. The impact of this fraud extends beyond financial losses. It undermines the purpose of the relief programs, which were intended to provide critical support to struggling businesses and individuals during an unprecedented crisis. The misappropriation of funds not only diverts resources away from those in genuine need but also erodes public trust in government aid initiatives. (With Inputs from Agencies)

Fraudsters make off with $200 billion from Covid Relief Programs, says US watchdog

To bridge the digital divide and ensure universal access to high-speed broadband, the White House has announced the allocation of $42 billion to all 50 states and U.S. territories, Reuters reported on Monday. The funding, authorized by President Joe Biden's $1 trillion 2021 infrastructure law, aims to address the gaps in internet connectivity nationwide. The initiative, known as the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program, will leverage a newly released Federal Communications Commission coverage map to identify areas with inadequate broadband access. The funding distribution reflects the urgent need to address connectivity issues in both populated and rural regions.

Funding Distribution &amp; High-Speed Internet

Texas and California, the most populous states in the U.S., have received the largest funding shares, with Texas being allocated $3.1 billion and California receiving $1.9 billion. Surprisingly, less populous states like Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana have also secured significant funding due to the lack of broadband infrastructure in their rural areas. Each state will receive a minimum of $107 million, ensuring a comprehensive nationwide approach, as per Reuters.

During a White House address, President Biden emphasised the significance of high-speed internet access, stating that it is just as essential as electricity, water, and other basic services in today's economy. The funding marks the largest-ever investment in high-speed internet, aiming to make internet access more equitable and inclusive.

Impact of Broadband Inequality &amp; Future Plans

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the digital divide, especially when schools shifted to online learning, leaving students without proper connectivity at a disadvantage. The lack of broadband access in rural and low-population areas has been a persistent issue, preventing economic growth and hindering educational opportunities. This initiative seeks to bridge these gaps, ensuring that every American can participate fully in the digital economy.

States are expected to submit their initial plans later this year, which will unlock 20 per cent of the allocated funding. The plans will outline strategies to improve broadband access in underserved areas. Once the plans are finalised, the remaining funds will be released, which may extend until 2025.&nbsp;

Biden's Economic Policies &amp; Public Opinion

The allocation of funds for broadband access is part of President Biden's broader economic agenda. In an effort to promote his economic policies, Reuters reported that the President will deliver a major economic speech in Chicago, outlining his vision for 'Bidenomics'. This initiative, alongside other legislative efforts, will shape the public's perception of his handling of the economy, which will be a focal point in the 2024 election.

According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, 54 per cent of Americans disapprove of President Biden's overall job performance, while only 35 per cent approve of his handling of the economy. The upcoming election is expected to serve as a referendum on Biden's economic policies, with job creation and low unemployment being key factors. Concerns over elevated inflation and potential recessionary impacts from higher interest rates have added complexity to the economic landscape.

Broadband providers such as Verizon, Comcast, Charter Communications, and AT&amp;T have been hesitant to expand their services to low-population rural communities due to the expensive infrastructure investments and limited subscriber base. This has further contributed to the digital divide, and the current funding aims to incentivize providers to extend their services to these underserved areas.

(With Inputs from Reuters)

To bridge the digital divide and ensure universal access to high-speed broadband, the White House has announced the allocation of $42 billion to all 50 states and U.

To bridge the digital divide and ensure universal access to high-speed broadband, the White House has announced the allocation of $42 billion to all 50 states and U.S. territories, Reuters reported on Monday. The funding, authorized by President Joe Biden's $1 trillion 2021 infrastructure law, aims to address the gaps in internet connectivity nationwide. The initiative, known as the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program, will leverage a newly released Federal Communications Commission coverage map to identify areas with inadequate broadband access. The funding distribution reflects the urgent need to address connectivity issues in both populated and rural regions. Funding Distribution & High-Speed Internet Texas and California, the most populous states in the U.S., have received the largest funding shares, with Texas being allocated $3.1 billion and California receiving $1.9 billion. Surprisingly, less populous states like Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana have also secured significant funding due to the lack of broadband infrastructure in their rural areas. Each state will receive a minimum of $107 million, ensuring a comprehensive nationwide approach, as per Reuters. During a White House address, President Biden emphasised the significance of high-speed internet access, stating that it is just as essential as electricity, water, and other basic services in today's economy. The funding marks the largest-ever investment in high-speed internet, aiming to make internet access more equitable and inclusive. Impact of Broadband Inequality & Future Plans The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the digital divide, especially when schools shifted to online learning, leaving students without proper connectivity at a disadvantage. The lack of broadband access in rural and low-population areas has been a persistent issue, preventing economic growth and hindering educational opportunities. This initiative seeks to bridge these gaps, ensuring that every American can participate fully in the digital economy. States are expected to submit their initial plans later this year, which will unlock 20 per cent of the allocated funding. The plans will outline strategies to improve broadband access in underserved areas. Once the plans are finalised, the remaining funds will be released, which may extend until 2025. Biden's Economic Policies & Public Opinion The allocation of funds for broadband access is part of President Biden's broader economic agenda. In an effort to promote his economic policies, Reuters reported that the President will deliver a major economic speech in Chicago, outlining his vision for 'Bidenomics'. This initiative, alongside other legislative efforts, will shape the public's perception of his handling of the economy, which will be a focal point in the 2024 election. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, 54 per cent of Americans disapprove of President Biden's overall job performance, while only 35 per cent approve of his handling of the economy. The upcoming election is expected to serve as a referendum on Biden's economic policies, with job creation and low unemployment being key factors. Concerns over elevated inflation and potential recessionary impacts from higher interest rates have added complexity to the economic landscape. Broadband providers such as Verizon, Comcast, Charter Communications, and AT&T have been hesitant to expand their services to low-population rural communities due to the expensive infrastructure investments and limited subscriber base. This has further contributed to the digital divide, and the current funding aims to incentivize providers to extend their services to these underserved areas. (With Inputs from Reuters)

Internet for all: White House unveils $42 Billion plan to connect the US

The White House on Monday released a statement saying that the US diplomats spoke to their Russian counterparts and discussed the security concerns involved during the revolt by the mercenary group Wagner.

The mutiny by Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin prompted this rare contact between Russia and the United States. The revolt had briefly taken control of a major city and had also threatened to attack Moscow. The turmoil ignited fears in Washington that nuclear-armed Russia could plunge into chaos.

"Instability in Russia is something that, you know, we take seriously and we certainly had lots of questions over the course of the weekend," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said when asked about fears over turmoil in nuclear-armed Russia.

"We did have and were able to have in real-time -- through diplomatic channels -- conversations with Russian officials about our concerns," he said.

Kirby further stated that United States officials continue to monitor Moscow's nuclear posture "very closely" during the invasion by Russian troops of pro-Western Ukraine.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-putin-begins-address-to-russians-thanks-citizens-for-patriotism-during-wagner-revolt-609015">Putin says Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus' in his address to Russians</a>

So far there is "no indication" that Russian President Vladimir Putin is moving in the "direction" of using nuclear weapons or "anything that will cause us to change our own deterrent posture," Kirby said.

<h2>West 'had nothing to do' with Russia's Wagner revolt, says Biden</h2>

United States President Joe Biden, on Monday (June 26), said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “no excuse” to blame the Wagner group’s aborted march on Washington and that the West had “had nothing to do” with it. This comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly said that the country’s intelligence services are in the midst of investigating if Western spy agencies played a role in the Wagner mutiny.

Addressing a press conference, on Monday, the US president spoke about how when the revolt began he spoke to his key allies about the situation which was unfolding in Russia at the time. “I also convened our key allies on a Zoom call,” said Biden. He added, “They agreed that we had to make sure we gave Putin no excuse...to blame this on the West and to blame this on NATO.”&nbsp;

The US president also said that the turmoil was “part of the struggle within the Russian system.” This comes after mercenary group Wagner’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin declared an armed rebellion in Russia with Putin saying that he is determined to quash the said revolt, which claimed to have seized control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, on Saturday.&nbsp;

In a brief statement, the White House, on Saturday said that Biden held a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss the “situation in Russia” and “affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine".

Furthermore, the US president also said that it’s “too early” to draw any definitive conclusions on “where this is going.” He added, “We’re going to keep assessing the fallout of this weekend’s events and the implications for Russia and Ukraine.”&nbsp;

However, Biden also stressed that his key Western allies are in touch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and they will “continue to support Ukraine’s defence and sovereignty and its territorial integrity.” The US president also said that he will be calling key allies again Monday without mentioning who would be a part of this meeting.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The White House on Monday released a statement saying that the US diplomats spoke to their Russian counterparts and discussed the security concerns involved during the revolt by the mercenary group Wagner.

The White House on Monday released a statement saying that the US diplomats spoke to their Russian counterparts and discussed the security concerns involved during the revolt by the mercenary group Wagner. The mutiny by Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin prompted this rare contact between Russia and the United States. The revolt had briefly taken control of a major city and had also threatened to attack Moscow. The turmoil ignited fears in Washington that nuclear-armed Russia could plunge into chaos. "Instability in Russia is something that, you know, we take seriously and we certainly had lots of questions over the course of the weekend," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said when asked about fears over turmoil in nuclear-armed Russia. "We did have and were able to have in real-time -- through diplomatic channels -- conversations with Russian officials about our concerns," he said. Kirby further stated that United States officials continue to monitor Moscow's nuclear posture "very closely" during the invasion by Russian troops of pro-Western Ukraine. Also read: Putin says Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus' in his address to Russians So far there is "no indication" that Russian President Vladimir Putin is moving in the "direction" of using nuclear weapons or "anything that will cause us to change our own deterrent posture," Kirby said. West 'had nothing to do' with Russia's Wagner revolt, says Biden United States President Joe Biden, on Monday (June 26), said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “no excuse” to blame the Wagner group’s aborted march on Washington and that the West had “had nothing to do” with it. This comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly said that the country’s intelligence services are in the midst of investigating if Western spy agencies played a role in the Wagner mutiny. Addressing a press conference, on Monday, the US president spoke about how when the revolt began he spoke to his key allies about the situation which was unfolding in Russia at the time. “I also convened our key allies on a Zoom call,” said Biden. He added, “They agreed that we had to make sure we gave Putin no excuse...to blame this on the West and to blame this on NATO.” The US president also said that the turmoil was “part of the struggle within the Russian system.” This comes after mercenary group Wagner’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin declared an armed rebellion in Russia with Putin saying that he is determined to quash the said revolt, which claimed to have seized control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, on Saturday. In a brief statement, the White House, on Saturday said that Biden held a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss the “situation in Russia” and “affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine". Furthermore, the US president also said that it’s “too early” to draw any definitive conclusions on “where this is going.” He added, “We’re going to keep assessing the fallout of this weekend’s events and the implications for Russia and Ukraine.” However, Biden also stressed that his key Western allies are in touch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and they will “continue to support Ukraine’s defence and sovereignty and its territorial integrity.” The US president also said that he will be calling key allies again Monday without mentioning who would be a part of this meeting. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US spoke to Russian counterparts to discuss security concerns during Wagner revolt, says White House

The US Supreme Court, on Monday, declined to hear the defence by a North Carolina public charter school of its blocked requirement about the dress code which made it compulsory for the girls to wear skirts.

This uniform policy, as per the founder was created aiming at treating women like "fragile vessels."

Dismissing the appeal by Charter Day School Inc, the justices left in place a lower court's decision that the dress code was discriminating against students based on their gender, breaching the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment promise of equal protection under the law.

The Charter schools in North Carolina are open to attendance by all, are tuition-free and also receive state funding for each student. They are run by private, nonprofit corporations.

<h2>Dress code designed to foster 'classroom discipline', says school</h2>

The school said that its uniform policy was specifically designed in order to stimulate classroom discipline and "mutual respect between boys and girls."&nbsp;

The school's founder, Baker Mitchell, told parents that the policy was aimed at preserving chivalry, with women "regarded as a fragile vessel that men are supposed to take care of and honour," according to court papers.

The complainants claimed that the skirt requirement was entrenched in gender stereotypes, breaching the 14th Amendment.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-lungis-and-nighties-greater-noida-society-imposes-dress-code-on-its-residents-604229">&nbsp;'No lungis and nighties': Resident society in India's Greater Noida imposes dress code</a>

Under the school policy, the boys may wear pants or shorts.

Ria Tabacco Mar, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, who represented the three students and their parents or guardians who sued the school, lauded the court's action.

"Girls at public charter schools have the same constitutional rights as their peers at other public schools - including the freedom to wear pants. We will continue to fight for all girls to learn in safe and equal schools," she said.

Mitchell voiced dismay at Monday's decision. He cautioned of ripple effects for charter schools, "threatening their autonomy, subjecting them to the same rules, regulations and political machinations that have crippled government-run school systems, and worst of all, leaving many low-income parents and students with no option other than poorly performing district schools."

The complainants, sued under a federal law commonly known as Section 1983, allowed individuals to take state officials to court for alleged transgressions of their constitutional or statutory rights.&nbsp;

The school defended against the lawsuit, asserting that it is not a state actor and cannot be sued under Section 1983.

The Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2022 ruled that charter schools in North Carolina are state actors because they are publicly funded, their employees are considered public school employees and the state has delegated to them a duty to educate students. The 4th Circuit then found Charter Day School's dress code unconstitutional.

The dress code that requires girls to wear skirts communicates that female students are fragile and deserve different treatment than males - "stereotypes with potentially devastating consequences for young girls," the 4th Circuit ruling stated.

The school in its appeal said that the 4th Circuit's ruling undermined charter schools by treating "private operators as the constitutional equivalent of government-run schools, squelching innovation and restricting parental choice."

Asked by the Supreme Court to weigh in on whether or not to hear the case, President Joe Biden's administration filed a brief urging the justices to deny the school's appeal.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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The US Supreme Court, on Monday, declined to hear the defence by a North Carolina public charter school of its blocked requirement about the dress code which made it compulsory for the girls to wear skirts.

The US Supreme Court, on Monday, declined to hear the defence by a North Carolina public charter school of its blocked requirement about the dress code which made it compulsory for the girls to wear skirts. This uniform policy, as per the founder was created aiming at treating women like "fragile vessels." Dismissing the appeal by Charter Day School Inc, the justices left in place a lower court's decision that the dress code was discriminating against students based on their gender, breaching the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment promise of equal protection under the law. The Charter schools in North Carolina are open to attendance by all, are tuition-free and also receive state funding for each student. They are run by private, nonprofit corporations. Dress code designed to foster 'classroom discipline', says school The school said that its uniform policy was specifically designed in order to stimulate classroom discipline and "mutual respect between boys and girls." The school's founder, Baker Mitchell, told parents that the policy was aimed at preserving chivalry, with women "regarded as a fragile vessel that men are supposed to take care of and honour," according to court papers. The complainants claimed that the skirt requirement was entrenched in gender stereotypes, breaching the 14th Amendment. Also read: 'No lungis and nighties': Resident society in India's Greater Noida imposes dress code Under the school policy, the boys may wear pants or shorts. Ria Tabacco Mar, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, who represented the three students and their parents or guardians who sued the school, lauded the court's action. "Girls at public charter schools have the same constitutional rights as their peers at other public schools - including the freedom to wear pants. We will continue to fight for all girls to learn in safe and equal schools," she said. Mitchell voiced dismay at Monday's decision. He cautioned of ripple effects for charter schools, "threatening their autonomy, subjecting them to the same rules, regulations and political machinations that have crippled government-run school systems, and worst of all, leaving many low-income parents and students with no option other than poorly performing district schools." The complainants, sued under a federal law commonly known as Section 1983, allowed individuals to take state officials to court for alleged transgressions of their constitutional or statutory rights. The school defended against the lawsuit, asserting that it is not a state actor and cannot be sued under Section 1983. The Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2022 ruled that charter schools in North Carolina are state actors because they are publicly funded, their employees are considered public school employees and the state has delegated to them a duty to educate students. The 4th Circuit then found Charter Day School's dress code unconstitutional. The dress code that requires girls to wear skirts communicates that female students are fragile and deserve different treatment than males - "stereotypes with potentially devastating consequences for young girls," the 4th Circuit ruling stated. The school in its appeal said that the 4th Circuit's ruling undermined charter schools by treating "private operators as the constitutional equivalent of government-run schools, squelching innovation and restricting parental choice." Asked by the Supreme Court to weigh in on whether or not to hear the case, President Joe Biden's administration filed a brief urging the justices to deny the school's appeal. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US Supreme Court declines to hear case on dress code making skirts mandatory for girls at school

The director of the European Resilience Initiative Centre, Sergej Sumlenny reports that the United States knew about Wagner's mutiny plan in Russia. According to him, it was pre-planned and not spontaneous.

Russia's mutiny was planned and US was aware

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Indian diaspora in Washington DC, made a big announcement for the H1B visa holders.

Giving relief to the professionals, he said that now people will not have to travel abroad to renew their work visas.

"America's new consulates will be opened in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. It has now been decided that the H1B visa renewal can be done in the US itself," PM Modi said while addressing the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC.

The big move came after a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden and was part of a people-to-people initiative.

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&nbsp;

The US authorities released a statement saying that they will introduce &nbsp;'in-country' renewable H-1B visas as part of the people-to-people initiative to smoothen the process of H-1B visa renewal for several Indians who are working in the US on an H-1B visa.&nbsp;

<h2>India to open new consulate in Seattle&nbsp;</h2>

India is all set to open a new consulate in Seattle this year. Apart from this, Indian Consulates will be opened in two&nbsp;more cities in America.

"Together we are not just forming policies and agreements, we are shaping 
lives, dreams and destinies," said PM Modi.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/right-time-to-invest-grow-with-india-pm-modi-tells-top-american-ceos-608050">‘Right time to invest, grow with India,’ PM Modi tells top American CEOs</a>

This move came after both countries welcomed an announcement by the US Department of State of launching a pilot to adjudicate domestic renewals of certain petition-based temporary work visas later this year.

"The leaders welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of State that it would launch a pilot to adjudicate domestic renewals of certain petition-based temporary work visas later this year, including for Indian nationals, with the intent to implement this for an expanded pool of H1B and L visa holders in 2024 and eventually broadening the programme to include other eligible categories," the India-US joint statement said.

While acknowledging the important steps taken to augment the processing of visa applications, the leaders noted in the joint statement, "the pressing need to further expedite this process". The leaders also directed officials to identify additional mechanisms to facilitate travel for business, tourism, and professional and technical exchanges between the two countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Indian diaspora in Washington DC, made a big announcement for the H1B visa holders. Giving relief to the professionals, he said that now people will not have to travel abroad to renew their work visas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Indian diaspora in Washington DC, made a big announcement for the H1B visa holders. Giving relief to the professionals, he said that now people will not have to travel abroad to renew their work visas. "America's new consulates will be opened in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. It has now been decided that the H1B visa renewal can be done in the US itself," PM Modi said while addressing the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC. The big move came after a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden and was part of a people-to-people initiative. #WATCH | America's new consulates will be opened in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. It has now been decided that the H1B visa renewal can be done in the US itself: PM Modi addressing the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC pic.twitter.com/rIilreaJcy — ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2023 × The US authorities released a statement saying that they will introduce 'in-country' renewable H-1B visas as part of the people-to-people initiative to smoothen the process of H-1B visa renewal for several Indians who are working in the US on an H-1B visa. India to open new consulate in Seattle India is all set to open a new consulate in Seattle this year. Apart from this, Indian Consulates will be opened in two more cities in America. "Together we are not just forming policies and agreements, we are shaping lives, dreams and destinies," said PM Modi. Also read: ‘Right time to invest, grow with India,’ PM Modi tells top American CEOs This move came after both countries welcomed an announcement by the US Department of State of launching a pilot to adjudicate domestic renewals of certain petition-based temporary work visas later this year. "The leaders welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of State that it would launch a pilot to adjudicate domestic renewals of certain petition-based temporary work visas later this year, including for Indian nationals, with the intent to implement this for an expanded pool of H1B and L visa holders in 2024 and eventually broadening the programme to include other eligible categories," the India-US joint statement said. While acknowledging the important steps taken to augment the processing of visa applications, the leaders noted in the joint statement, "the pressing need to further expedite this process". The leaders also directed officials to identify additional mechanisms to facilitate travel for business, tourism, and professional and technical exchanges between the two countries. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

PM Modi makes big announcement for H1B visa holders in address to Indian diaspora

During a historic sate visit to the United States, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, on Thursday (June 22), that it was always a "great honour" to address a joint meeting of the US Congress but it is an exceptional privilege to do so twice .

Indian PM Modi's address to joint session of US Congress. Read the full speech here

In the United States, test scores released on Wednesday from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that Math and reading skills among 13-year-olds in the nation hit their lowest level in decades, New York Times reported. The last time, the math scores of the gold-standard federal exam were this low for 13-year-olds was in 1990. In reading, 2004.

The report mentioned that the decline in performance is significant since the school year of 2019-2020, a period of time when the coronavirus (COVID-19) started to spread and forced schools across the globe to shut down.&nbsp;

But the Covid pandemic was not the sole reason as the downward trends can be seen years before the global health crisis. It leads to a question about a decade of disappointing results for American students.&nbsp;

The report&nbsp;mentioned that data was taken from the NAEP in the fall of 2022 and the main aim of the test was to analyse the basic reading skills, in which the 13-year-olds scored an average of 256 out of 500 in reading, and a basic math score returned scores of 271 out of 500.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/chinese-officials-identify-strange-thing-in-students-meal-as-rat-head-607069">Chinese officials identify strange thing in student’s meal as 'rat head'</a>

According to NYT, declines were noted across race, class and geographic lines. However, children from vulnerable communities, including Black, Native American, and poor families, have reportedly experienced more severe drops.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that the ages of 10 to 13 are a crucial period for mastering foundational skills as children learn some of the basic skills like multiplication, adding, and more without using calculators.&nbsp;

As quoted by NYT, Peggy Carr, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which conducts the NAEP exam, said: "The bottom line — these results show that there are troubling gaps in the basic skills of these students. This is a huge-scale challenge that faces the nation."&nbsp;

As quoted by USA Today, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said, "The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress is further evidence of what the Biden-Harris administration recognized from Day One: that the pandemic would have a devastating impact on students’ learning across the country and that it would take years of effort and investment to reverse the damage as well as address the 11-year decline that preceded it."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/primitive-but-effective-washington-turns-to-dogs-and-cats-to-help-deal-with-rising-rat-problem-605906">'Primitive but effective': Washington turns to dogs and cats to help deal with rising rat problem</a>

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In the United States, test scores released on Wednesday from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that Math and reading skills among 13-year-olds in the nation hit their lowest level in decades, New York Times reported.

In the United States, test scores released on Wednesday from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that Math and reading skills among 13-year-olds in the nation hit their lowest level in decades, New York Times reported. The last time, the math scores of the gold-standard federal exam were this low for 13-year-olds was in 1990. In reading, 2004. The report mentioned that the decline in performance is significant since the school year of 2019-2020, a period of time when the coronavirus (COVID-19) started to spread and forced schools across the globe to shut down. But the Covid pandemic was not the sole reason as the downward trends can be seen years before the global health crisis. It leads to a question about a decade of disappointing results for American students. The report mentioned that data was taken from the NAEP in the fall of 2022 and the main aim of the test was to analyse the basic reading skills, in which the 13-year-olds scored an average of 256 out of 500 in reading, and a basic math score returned scores of 271 out of 500. Also read: Chinese officials identify strange thing in student’s meal as 'rat head' According to NYT, declines were noted across race, class and geographic lines. However, children from vulnerable communities, including Black, Native American, and poor families, have reportedly experienced more severe drops. The report mentioned that the ages of 10 to 13 are a crucial period for mastering foundational skills as children learn some of the basic skills like multiplication, adding, and more without using calculators. As quoted by NYT, Peggy Carr, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which conducts the NAEP exam, said: "The bottom line — these results show that there are troubling gaps in the basic skills of these students. This is a huge-scale challenge that faces the nation." As quoted by USA Today, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said, "The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress is further evidence of what the Biden-Harris administration recognized from Day One: that the pandemic would have a devastating impact on students’ learning across the country and that it would take years of effort and investment to reverse the damage as well as address the 11-year decline that preceded it." Also read: 'Primitive but effective': Washington turns to dogs and cats to help deal with rising rat problem WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Sharp decline in basic reading, math skills among 13-year-olds

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Washington DC has rolled out the red carpet for the Indian Prime Minister. Atleast 31 people got killed in a restaurant explosion of Yeshua city of China. LPG leak is being cited as cause of explosion.

PM Modi to address US Congress | China's massive restaurant explosion kills 31

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