A new study has revealed that the number of executions in the United States has gone down in the past decade and in 2022, more than a third of one was actually mishandled. The data has left a lot of capital punishment researchers stunned as they went on to call 2022 “the year of botched executions”.&nbsp;

The researchers stated that out of the 20 execution attempts in 2022, seven were “visibly problematic” with two getting completely abandoned. The study, which was hailed by experts as one of the most comprehensive annual examinations of the death penalty, also pointed out that the number of executions has been rapidly declining since the 1990s and it is almost half of that in the 2000s.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-holds-phone-conversation-with-putin-reviews-energy-trade-and-defence-ties-543698">PM Modi holds phone conversation with Putin, reviews energy, defence ties</a>

The data is also impacted by the fact that 37 states in the US have already abolished the practice.&nbsp;

“As support for the death penalty has declined, we’ve been seeing more and more extreme conduct by the states that want to carry it out,” said Robert Dunham, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center according to a report on the New York Times. “And it’s been manifest in recklessness.”&nbsp;

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A closer look at the distribution of the executions shows that Texas and Oklahoma carried out five each, Arizona had three cases while Alabama had two. Oklahoma actually dominated headlines after 25 people were handed capital punishment within a span of just 29 months.&nbsp;

While politicians and the authorities have blamed the late appeals filed by the defence and the time limit given on the death warrant as reasons for the botched executions, the report added that the difficulty to find the lethal injection drugs has contributed massively towards the failed attempts.&nbsp;

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A new study has revealed that the number of executions in the United States has gone down in the past decade and in 2022, more than a third of one was actually mishandled.

A new study has revealed that the number of executions in the United States has gone down in the past decade and in 2022, more than a third of one was actually mishandled. The data has left a lot of capital punishment researchers stunned as they went on to call 2022 “the year of botched executions”. The researchers stated that out of the 20 execution attempts in 2022, seven were “visibly problematic” with two getting completely abandoned. The study, which was hailed by experts as one of the most comprehensive annual examinations of the death penalty, also pointed out that the number of executions has been rapidly declining since the 1990s and it is almost half of that in the 2000s. Also read | PM Modi holds phone conversation with Putin, reviews energy, defence ties The data is also impacted by the fact that 37 states in the US have already abolished the practice. “As support for the death penalty has declined, we’ve been seeing more and more extreme conduct by the states that want to carry it out,” said Robert Dunham, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center according to a report on the New York Times. “And it’s been manifest in recklessness.” Also read | 16 dead, 17 missing following landslide at campsite near Kuala Lumpur A closer look at the distribution of the executions shows that Texas and Oklahoma carried out five each, Arizona had three cases while Alabama had two. Oklahoma actually dominated headlines after 25 people were handed capital punishment within a span of just 29 months. While politicians and the authorities have blamed the late appeals filed by the defence and the time limit given on the death warrant as reasons for the botched executions, the report added that the difficulty to find the lethal injection drugs has contributed massively towards the failed attempts.

How 2022 turned into a 'year of botched executions' for the United States

Four United States lawmakers have introduced a bill "to severely'' sanction Chinese technological giant Huawei and untrustworthy Chinese 5G producers who engage in espionage against the US. The bill has been introduced by Republican senator Tom Cotton and backed by lawmakers including two democrats —&nbsp;Chris Van Hollen and Chuck Schumer.&nbsp;

"This bill would add these entities to the Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, which would effectively freeze them from accessing the US financial system. Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08) introduced companion legislation in the US&nbsp;House of Representatives,'' a statement issued by Cotton said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/huawei-may-be-evading-us-sanctions-through-a-small-start-up-report-523079">Huawei may be evading US sanctions through a small start-up: Report</a>

“We’ve made great strides in recent years at home and abroad in combatting Huawei’s malign attempts to dominate 5G and steal Americans’ data," Cotton added.&nbsp; 
Pointing out that Huawei is an arm of Chinese intelligence, Cotton said that Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cannot be allowed to have access to Americans’ personal data and the country’s most sensitive defence systems.&nbsp;

"We must address the dire threat these Chinese companies pose to our national security,” Cotton further said in the statement.&nbsp;

Senator Chris Van Hollen, meanwhile, said on Tuesday that foreign companies that spy on the United States and violate its laws should face severe consequences, adding Huawei is a repeat offender.&nbsp;

"This bipartisan bill will bolster our national defences by further sanctioning Huawei and other similar bad actors seeking to undermine our security,” Hollen added.&nbsp;

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Four United States lawmakers have introduced a bill "to severely'' sanction Chinese technological giant Huawei and untrustworthy Chinese 5G producers who engage in espionage against the US.

Four United States lawmakers have introduced a bill "to severely'' sanction Chinese technological giant Huawei and untrustworthy Chinese 5G producers who engage in espionage against the US. The bill has been introduced by Republican senator Tom Cotton and backed by lawmakers including two democrats — Chris Van Hollen and Chuck Schumer. "This bill would add these entities to the Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, which would effectively freeze them from accessing the US financial system. Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08) introduced companion legislation in the US House of Representatives,'' a statement issued by Cotton said on Tuesday. ALSO READ | Huawei may be evading US sanctions through a small start-up: Report “We’ve made great strides in recent years at home and abroad in combatting Huawei’s malign attempts to dominate 5G and steal Americans’ data," Cotton added. Pointing out that Huawei is an arm of Chinese intelligence, Cotton said that Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cannot be allowed to have access to Americans’ personal data and the country’s most sensitive defence systems. "We must address the dire threat these Chinese companies pose to our national security,” Cotton further said in the statement. Senator Chris Van Hollen, meanwhile, said on Tuesday that foreign companies that spy on the United States and violate its laws should face severe consequences, adding Huawei is a repeat offender. "This bipartisan bill will bolster our national defences by further sanctioning Huawei and other similar bad actors seeking to undermine our security,” Hollen added. 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 lawmakers introduce bill to severely sanction Huawei, Chinese 5G companies

Binance has registered $1.9 billion withdrawals in the last 24 hours. It's world's biggest crypto exchange and has temporarily paused withdrawals of USDC stable coins. Binance, whose dominance of crypto was cemented by fall of FTX last week tweeted the proof of reserves.

World Business Watch: Binance withdrawals hit $1.9 bn in 24 hours

Portugal's cash-for-visa or "golden visa" that has previously lured many wealthy foreigners like Madonna may end soon.&nbsp;A recent announcement about the policy getting scrapped has attracted a flurry of interest. Investments in November jumped by 40 per cent according to data from SEF, the Portuguese immigration and border agency.

Recently the nation's Prime Minister, Antonio Costa said that the country is considering scrapping its popular yet criticised Residency by Investment Program (RIP).

Watch |&nbsp;WION Fineprint | Portugal considers stopping its 'Golden Visa'
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He said that the programme has probably already "fulfilled the function it had to fulfil," and that "it is no longer justified to maintain."

The fastrack visa for non-European Union nationals mandates a minimum investment of €500,000 (4.35 crore INR or 527,222 USD) in real estate, making a capital investment or creating employment opportunities.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-wealthy-increasingly-apply-for-irish-residency-under-cash-for-visa-scheme-whats-driving-them-away-540153">China's wealthy increasingly apply for Irish residency under cash-for-visa scheme. What's driving them away?</a>

Forbes reports that among the top applicants are American and Chinese nationals. Reportedly, wealthy American applicants are all set to surpass Chinese ones. Additionally the rich are from Brazil, South Africa and India.

As per a Business Standard report, since January 2021 more than 50 ultra-high net worth Indians have invested a whopping 350,000 to 600,000 euros in apartments in Portugal's capital of Lisbon and other cities to obtain the so-called golden visa.

Also, read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-scraps-golden-visas-for-ultra-rich-foreign-investors-amid-crack-down-on-russian-money-454351">UK scraps ‘golden visas’ for ultra-rich foreign investors amid a crackdown on Russian money</a>

In July 2022, as per the Portuguese Foreigners and Border Service (SEF) investments from the programme increased from USD 3.7 million to&nbsp;USD 8.2 million recorded during the same month of 2021. In total, the programme has raised an investment of $6.8 billion from foreigners.

The scheme has been deemed a money-laundering risk by the European Union. Additionally, as per Times, the scheme has also been blamed for pricing local people out of housing markets.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Portugal's cash-for-visa or "golden visa" that has previously lured many wealthy foreigners like Madonna may end soon. A recent announcement about the policy getting scrapped has attracted a flurry of interest.

Portugal's cash-for-visa or "golden visa" that has previously lured many wealthy foreigners like Madonna may end soon. A recent announcement about the policy getting scrapped has attracted a flurry of interest. Investments in November jumped by 40 per cent according to data from SEF, the Portuguese immigration and border agency. Recently the nation's Prime Minister, Antonio Costa said that the country is considering scrapping its popular yet criticised Residency by Investment Program (RIP). Watch | WION Fineprint | Portugal considers stopping its 'Golden Visa' He said that the programme has probably already "fulfilled the function it had to fulfil," and that "it is no longer justified to maintain." The fastrack visa for non-European Union nationals mandates a minimum investment of €500,000 (4.35 crore INR or 527,222 USD) in real estate, making a capital investment or creating employment opportunities. Also read | China's wealthy increasingly apply for Irish residency under cash-for-visa scheme. What's driving them away? Forbes reports that among the top applicants are American and Chinese nationals. Reportedly, wealthy American applicants are all set to surpass Chinese ones. Additionally the rich are from Brazil, South Africa and India. As per a Business Standard report, since January 2021 more than 50 ultra-high net worth Indians have invested a whopping 350,000 to 600,000 euros in apartments in Portugal's capital of Lisbon and other cities to obtain the so-called golden visa. Also, read | UK scraps ‘golden visas’ for ultra-rich foreign investors amid a crackdown on Russian money In July 2022, as per the Portuguese Foreigners and Border Service (SEF) investments from the programme increased from USD 3.7 million to USD 8.2 million recorded during the same month of 2021. In total, the programme has raised an investment of $6.8 billion from foreigners. The scheme has been deemed a money-laundering risk by the European Union. Additionally, as per Times, the scheme has also been blamed for pricing local people out of housing markets. (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.

Rich Indians, Americans clamour for Portugal's 'golden visa' as it considers scrapping scheme

The United States Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California were successful in generating a fusion reaction between two hydrogen atoms and were also able to maintain the reaction in a controlled environment. This was a major breakthrough in the field of nuclear fusion and according to CNN, this can lead to a renewable source of energy that can become functional in the future. The announcement came as good news for environmentalists who believe that this form of energy can slowly stop the reliance on fossil fuels.&nbsp;

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"This is a great day," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said at a news conference in Washington.&nbsp;

“Today, we tell the world that America has achieved a tremendous scientific breakthrough ... we invested in our national labs and we invested in fundamental research, and tomorrow will continue for a future that is powered, in part by fusion energy,” she added according to the Associated Press.&nbsp;

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This was the first time that net energy gain was achieved by nuclear fusion in a controlled environment, according to Reuters. While 2.1 megajoules was used to conduct the experiment, the reaction was able to produce 2.5 megajoules of energy – a first for any experiment. This is somewhat similar to the reaction that takes place inside the sun and as a result, this energy can be valuable in the future.&nbsp;

“On December 5, 2022, a team from DOE’s&nbsp;@Livermore_Lab&nbsp;made history by achieving fusion ignition.” it wrote. “Also known as scientific energy breakeven, the experiment produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it,” the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory&nbsp;said on Twitter.&nbsp;

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The United States Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California were successful in generating a fusion reaction between two hydrogen atoms and were also able to maintain the reaction in a controlled environment.

The United States Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California were successful in generating a fusion reaction between two hydrogen atoms and were also able to maintain the reaction in a controlled environment. This was a major breakthrough in the field of nuclear fusion and according to CNN, this can lead to a renewable source of energy that can become functional in the future. The announcement came as good news for environmentalists who believe that this form of energy can slowly stop the reliance on fossil fuels. Also read | Tawang skirmish: Chinese army alleges Indian troops 'illegally' crossed border "This is a great day," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said at a news conference in Washington. “Today, we tell the world that America has achieved a tremendous scientific breakthrough ... we invested in our national labs and we invested in fundamental research, and tomorrow will continue for a future that is powered, in part by fusion energy,” she added according to the Associated Press. Also read | Ramaphosa survives impeachment vote over corruption scandal in South Africa This was the first time that net energy gain was achieved by nuclear fusion in a controlled environment, according to Reuters. While 2.1 megajoules was used to conduct the experiment, the reaction was able to produce 2.5 megajoules of energy – a first for any experiment. This is somewhat similar to the reaction that takes place inside the sun and as a result, this energy can be valuable in the future. “On December 5, 2022, a team from DOE’s @Livermore_Lab made history by achieving fusion ignition.” it wrote. “Also known as scientific energy breakeven, the experiment produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it,” the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory said on Twitter.

'Milestone for clean energy': US announces major nuclear fusion breakthrough

The Democratic Party in the United States was dealt a massive blow just days after securing majority in the senate. Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema announced on Friday that she will be switching her political affiliation to independent – meaning that the number of Democratic senators will go down to 50. However, she made it clear that she will not&nbsp;be supporting the Republican Party directly.

“I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington. I registered as an Arizona independent,” Sinema wrote in an op-ed for Arizona Central, a local media outlet.

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Previously, the Democrats had a 50-50 control of the Senate with vice president Kamala Harris holding the veto power. While Raphael Warnock’s victory in Georgia gave them a definitive majority this year, this decision by Sinema poses a major threat to their standing.

Bernie Sanders and Angus King are also independent senators but they support the Democrats.

Sinema told the Politico in an interview that she did not identify with a fixed ideology and from now on, she will be voting in the Senate depending on her stance in particular situations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/basketball-star-brittney-griner-arrives-home-in-us-after-russia-prisoner-swap-541616">Basketball star Brittney Griner arrives home in US after Russia prisoner swap</a>

“Like a lot of Arizonans, I have never fit perfectly in either national party,” she said.

Sinema, who is up for re-election in 2024, did not say anything about her plans of running for senate once again but told CNN that she will “continue to do what is right for my state”.

“I’m not worried about folks who may not like my approach, I’m going to continue to do what is right for my state,” she said. “I’m doing something that comports with my values.”

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The Democratic Party in the United States was dealt a massive blow just days after securing majority in the senate. Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema announced on Friday that she will be switching her political affiliation to independent – meaning that the number of Democratic senators will go down to 50.

The Democratic Party in the United States was dealt a massive blow just days after securing majority in the senate. Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema announced on Friday that she will be switching her political affiliation to independent – meaning that the number of Democratic senators will go down to 50. However, she made it clear that she will not be supporting the Republican Party directly. “I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington. I registered as an Arizona independent,” Sinema wrote in an op-ed for Arizona Central, a local media outlet. Also read | India-Russia summit to not happen this year due to 'scheduling issues' Previously, the Democrats had a 50-50 control of the Senate with vice president Kamala Harris holding the veto power. While Raphael Warnock’s victory in Georgia gave them a definitive majority this year, this decision by Sinema poses a major threat to their standing. Bernie Sanders and Angus King are also independent senators but they support the Democrats. Sinema told the Politico in an interview that she did not identify with a fixed ideology and from now on, she will be voting in the Senate depending on her stance in particular situations. Also read | Basketball star Brittney Griner arrives home in US after Russia prisoner swap “Like a lot of Arizonans, I have never fit perfectly in either national party,” she said. Sinema, who is up for re-election in 2024, did not say anything about her plans of running for senate once again but told CNN that she will “continue to do what is right for my state”. “I’m not worried about folks who may not like my approach, I’m going to continue to do what is right for my state,” she said. “I’m doing something that comports with my values.”

Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema leaves Democratic Party, registers as an independent

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that his government is in favour of&nbsp;more&nbsp; prisoner swaps with the United States. The comments were made in the aftermath of a high-profile prisoner exchange between the two countries featuring American basketball star Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Putin also said that the contacts between the intelligence agencies of both countries will continue and if the terms are agreed, they can have more of such exchanges.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/basketball-star-brittney-griner-arrives-home-in-us-after-russia-prisoner-swap-541616">Basketball star Brittney Griner arrives home in US after Russia prisoner swap</a>

At a news conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Putin was asked about future prisoner swaps and he replied, “Yes, anything is possible. Contacts continue. In fact, they have never stopped.”&nbsp; 
 
“A compromise was found, we do not reject continuing this work in the future,” he added.

Griner was detained by the Russian authorities at the Moscow airport for carrying vape cartridges and cannabis oil in her luggage. On Friday, she was taken to Abu Dhabi where the exchange happened and afterwards, the basketball star flew home and landed at San Antonio, Texas.

While Griner’s return was hailed by the US, Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan continued to serve his sentence in prison after he was convicted of espionage by a Russian court back in 2020.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-economic-chiefs-hail-chinas-decision-of-relaxing-covid-19-restrictions-541573">Global economic chiefs hail China’s decision of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions</a>

When asked about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin said that the war can only end after an agreement between the two sides but insisted that Russia is open to discussions.

"Trust, of course, is almost at zero... but ultimately, in the end, an agreement will have to be reached. I have said many times that we are ready for these agreements, and we are open" to them.”

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that his government is in favour of more prisoner swaps with the United States. The comments were made in the aftermath of a high-profile prisoner exchange between the two countries featuring American basketball star Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that his government is in favour of more prisoner swaps with the United States. The comments were made in the aftermath of a high-profile prisoner exchange between the two countries featuring American basketball star Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Putin also said that the contacts between the intelligence agencies of both countries will continue and if the terms are agreed, they can have more of such exchanges. Also read | Basketball star Brittney Griner arrives home in US after Russia prisoner swap At a news conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Putin was asked about future prisoner swaps and he replied, “Yes, anything is possible. Contacts continue. In fact, they have never stopped.” “A compromise was found, we do not reject continuing this work in the future,” he added. Griner was detained by the Russian authorities at the Moscow airport for carrying vape cartridges and cannabis oil in her luggage. On Friday, she was taken to Abu Dhabi where the exchange happened and afterwards, the basketball star flew home and landed at San Antonio, Texas. While Griner’s return was hailed by the US, Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan continued to serve his sentence in prison after he was convicted of espionage by a Russian court back in 2020. Also read | Global economic chiefs hail China’s decision of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions When asked about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin said that the war can only end after an agreement between the two sides but insisted that Russia is open to discussions. "Trust, of course, is almost at zero... but ultimately, in the end, an agreement will have to be reached. I have said many times that we are ready for these agreements, and we are open" to them.”

Russia open to more prisoner exchanges with United States, says Vladimir Putin

American basketball star Brittney Griner returned to the United States after being released by Russia as part of a prisoner swap. The 32-year-old, who was arrested by the Russian authorities in Moscow for possession of cannabis oil, was released in exchange for the 55-year-old Russian arms dealer called Viktor Bout. Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the US authorities.

AFP reported the Griner was spotted on the runway after her flight landed in San Antonio, Texas. It also claimed that WNBA star will undergo medical checks at a military facility in Texas.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-lawmakers-hail-bout-griner-prisoner-swap-as-putins-win-state-media-541528">Russian lawmakers hail Bout-Griner swap as Putin’s ‘win’, capitulation by US</a>

The prisoner exchange between the two authorities took place in Abu Dhabi with footage released by the Russian state media showing the basketball star without her dreadlocks. Bout and Griner crossed each other on the airport tarmac and were taken to their respective flights.

US President Joe Biden earlier said that she was in "good spirits" after suffering "needless trauma."

Biden met with Griner’s wife – Cherelle Griner – when the prison exchange was announced.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/massive-fire-reported-in-a-suburban-shopping-centre-in-moscow-541468">One dead in massive shopping centre fire in Moscow, arson suspected</a>

"I'm just standing here, overwhelmed with emotions," Cherelle Griner said. "Today my family is whole, but as you all are aware there's so many other families who are not whole."

While the news of Griner’s release was greeted with celebrations, several people expressed disappointment at former US Marine Paul Whelan not being part of the deal.

Whelan was detained by the Russian authorities on accusations of espionage.

"I don't understand why I'm still sitting here," Whelan told CNN in a phone call.

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American basketball star Brittney Griner returned to the United States after being released by Russia as part of a prisoner swap. The 32-year-old, who was arrested by the Russian authorities in Moscow for possession of cannabis oil, was released in exchange for the 55-year-old Russian arms dealer called Viktor Bout.

American basketball star Brittney Griner returned to the United States after being released by Russia as part of a prisoner swap. The 32-year-old, who was arrested by the Russian authorities in Moscow for possession of cannabis oil, was released in exchange for the 55-year-old Russian arms dealer called Viktor Bout. Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the US authorities. AFP reported the Griner was spotted on the runway after her flight landed in San Antonio, Texas. It also claimed that WNBA star will undergo medical checks at a military facility in Texas. Also read | Russian lawmakers hail Bout-Griner swap as Putin’s ‘win’, capitulation by US The prisoner exchange between the two authorities took place in Abu Dhabi with footage released by the Russian state media showing the basketball star without her dreadlocks. Bout and Griner crossed each other on the airport tarmac and were taken to their respective flights. US President Joe Biden earlier said that she was in "good spirits" after suffering "needless trauma." Biden met with Griner’s wife – Cherelle Griner – when the prison exchange was announced. Also read | One dead in massive shopping centre fire in Moscow, arson suspected "I'm just standing here, overwhelmed with emotions," Cherelle Griner said. "Today my family is whole, but as you all are aware there's so many other families who are not whole." While the news of Griner’s release was greeted with celebrations, several people expressed disappointment at former US Marine Paul Whelan not being part of the deal. Whelan was detained by the Russian authorities on accusations of espionage. "I don't understand why I'm still sitting here," Whelan told CNN in a phone call.

Basketball star Brittney Griner arrives home in US after Russia prisoner swap

The United States has blacklisted half a dozen Pakistani companies for supporting Islamabad's "un-safeguarded nuclear activities". The companies have been put on the American export control list by the Bureau of industry and security (BIS) which comes under the US department of commerce which restricts access for these companies to commodities, software and technologies.&nbsp;

The US statement said many of these companies have been added to the list as they have been "found to supply or attempt to supply items...to Pakistan's un-safeguarded nuclear activities and ballistic missile program". The Pakistani companies that have been listed are Dynamic Engineering Corporation, EnerQuip Private Ltd, Rainbow Solutions, Universal Drilling Engineers, NAR Technologies General Trading LLC and Trojans. The last 2 companies have a base in UAE as well. Most of these companies are based in the Pakistani National capital Islamabad, with some having addresses in Karachi and Lahore as well.

The statement explained that 3 of the Pakistan-based companies have been contributing to the nuclear activity and missile proliferation-related activities that are "contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States". 2 UAE based companies, EnerQuip Limited and Zain Enterprises FZE have also been backlisted for supporting Islamabad's nuclear activities.

The development comes even as US and India have several times publicly expressed concerns over Pakistan's nuclear activities. Earlier this year, US President Biden termed Pakistan as "maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world" as it has "nuclear weapons without any cohesion".&nbsp;

India has also recently expressed concerns after a Russian senator, Igor Morozov alleged that Ukraine had sought Pakistani help for developing nuclear weapons. Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in November said that "we have expressed our concerns about the proliferation of nuclear technology from Pakistan in the past", explaining, "if there is any kind of such Nexus or proliferation, it is a cause of worry, not just for India, but for the international community." In the past, India has pointed out to Pakistan's nuclear nexus with North Korea as well, with support being given by Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan.

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The United States has blacklisted half a dozen Pakistani companies for supporting Islamabad's "un-safeguarded nuclear activities". The companies have been put on the American export control list by the Bureau of industry and security (BIS) which comes under the US department of commerce which restricts access for these companies to commodities, software and technologies.

The United States has blacklisted half a dozen Pakistani companies for supporting Islamabad's "un-safeguarded nuclear activities". The companies have been put on the American export control list by the Bureau of industry and security (BIS) which comes under the US department of commerce which restricts access for these companies to commodities, software and technologies. The US statement said many of these companies have been added to the list as they have been "found to supply or attempt to supply items...to Pakistan's un-safeguarded nuclear activities and ballistic missile program". The Pakistani companies that have been listed are Dynamic Engineering Corporation, EnerQuip Private Ltd, Rainbow Solutions, Universal Drilling Engineers, NAR Technologies General Trading LLC and Trojans. The last 2 companies have a base in UAE as well. Most of these companies are based in the Pakistani National capital Islamabad, with some having addresses in Karachi and Lahore as well. The statement explained that 3 of the Pakistan-based companies have been contributing to the nuclear activity and missile proliferation-related activities that are "contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States". 2 UAE based companies, EnerQuip Limited and Zain Enterprises FZE have also been backlisted for supporting Islamabad's nuclear activities. The development comes even as US and India have several times publicly expressed concerns over Pakistan's nuclear activities. Earlier this year, US President Biden termed Pakistan as "maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world" as it has "nuclear weapons without any cohesion". India has also recently expressed concerns after a Russian senator, Igor Morozov alleged that Ukraine had sought Pakistani help for developing nuclear weapons. Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in November said that "we have expressed our concerns about the proliferation of nuclear technology from Pakistan in the past", explaining, "if there is any kind of such Nexus or proliferation, it is a cause of worry, not just for India, but for the international community." In the past, India has pointed out to Pakistan's nuclear nexus with North Korea as well, with support being given by Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan. 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 blacklists Pakistani companies for supporting Islamabad's 'un-safeguarded' nuclear activities

Millions of dollars have been stolen from Covid relief benefits by hackers linked to the Chinese government, US-based media outlet NBC News reported citing Secret Service.&nbsp;

As per the report, a hacking group called APT41 stole at least $20 million in Covid relief benefits that included small business loans and unemployment funds from over a dozen of states.&nbsp;

According to the report, the group is based in Chengdu and the officials told the news outlet that several investigations into pandemic frauds are pointing back to foreign-state hackers.&nbsp;

This would be the first known case of cybercrime that hackers linked to China's government have led to security issues in other countries.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-may-announce-10-new-covid-19-measures-on-wednesday-report-540225">China may announce new COVID-19 easing measures on Wednesday: Report</a>&nbsp;

The report mentioned that the stealing of money began in mid-2020 and spanned 2,000 accounts. More than 40,000 financial transactions have been reported. The officials have said that so far the agency has been able to recover about half of the stolen funds.&nbsp;

The officials have also mentioned that they could not confirm whether or not the hackers still have access to state government networks.&nbsp;

Roy Dotson, national pandemic fraud recovery coordinator for the Secret Service told NBC News, "It would be crazy to think this group didn’t target all 50 states." Dotson also acts as a liaison to other federal agencies probing Covid fraud.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Teens in Europe normalising online crime?&nbsp;

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William Evanina, the former director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said, "Once you are in these systems with intent to promulgate theft of personally identifying information."&nbsp;

As quoted by the report,&nbsp;John Hultquist, the head of intelligence analysis at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said, "I've never seen them target government money before. That would be an escalation."&nbsp;

Chinese authority has not responded to the report yet.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Millions of dollars have been stolen from Covid relief benefits by hackers linked to the Chinese government, US-based media outlet NBC News reported citing Secret Service.

Millions of dollars have been stolen from Covid relief benefits by hackers linked to the Chinese government, US-based media outlet NBC News reported citing Secret Service. As per the report, a hacking group called APT41 stole at least $20 million in Covid relief benefits that included small business loans and unemployment funds from over a dozen of states. According to the report, the group is based in Chengdu and the officials told the news outlet that several investigations into pandemic frauds are pointing back to foreign-state hackers. This would be the first known case of cybercrime that hackers linked to China's government have led to security issues in other countries. ALSO READ | China may announce new COVID-19 easing measures on Wednesday: Report The report mentioned that the stealing of money began in mid-2020 and spanned 2,000 accounts. More than 40,000 financial transactions have been reported. The officials have said that so far the agency has been able to recover about half of the stolen funds. The officials have also mentioned that they could not confirm whether or not the hackers still have access to state government networks. Roy Dotson, national pandemic fraud recovery coordinator for the Secret Service told NBC News, "It would be crazy to think this group didn’t target all 50 states." Dotson also acts as a liaison to other federal agencies probing Covid fraud. WATCH | Gravitas: Teens in Europe normalising online crime? × William Evanina, the former director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said, "Once you are in these systems with intent to promulgate theft of personally identifying information." As quoted by the report, John Hultquist, the head of intelligence analysis at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said, "I've never seen them target government money before. That would be an escalation." Chinese authority has not responded to the report yet. 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.

Hackers linked to Chinese government stole at least $20 million in US Covid relief benefits: Report

An 82-year-old woman in the US state of Alabama was arrested by the police over her unpaid trash bills amounting to $77.&nbsp;The elderly woman, Martha Louis Menefield, said she failed to understand anything as the police officers suddenly visited her, handcuffed her and arrested her for a petty amount of $77.80.&nbsp;

City of Valley police, in its Facebook post, said that Menefield was treated respectfully by the police and that she was notified several times that payment of her bill for three months remains pending.&nbsp;

The City of Valley in Alabama's police chief Mike Reynolds said, "Ms Menefield was treated respectfully by our officers in the performance of their duties and was released on a bond as prescribed by the violation.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-knew-about-tax-fraud-in-his-company-says-prosecution-in-closing-arguments-539706">Trump knew about tax fraud in his company, says prosecution in closing arguments</a>&nbsp;

The comments section was flooded with people from Alabama and the rest of the United States denouncing the police department for their actions.&nbsp;

"Everybody who played a role in arresting this 82-year-old Valley, Alabama resident must be held accountable for their actions," the state's former attorney Donald Watkins wrote.&nbsp;

Menefield, in an interview with CBS News, said that her first reaction when she saw two officers arriving at her door last Sunday was laughter.&nbsp;

On seeing the officers, she asked, "You're not kidding?". However, on learning that the police were actually there to arrest her over the pending bills, the old lady said, "I was upset because I didn't know why they would come and arrest me."&nbsp;

One of the officers, after the handcuffs were locked, "kind of whispered it to me: 'Don't cry'", she said. Menefield, recalling the incident, said that she told the officer, “How would you feel if they came and arrested your grandmama?"&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-suppressed-hunter-biden-laptop-story-internal-emails-reveal-539707">Twitter suppressed Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020, internal emails reveal</a>&nbsp;

After the arrest, the police took her to the Valley police department where she was temporarily held before being released on bond.&nbsp;

"I was in a little cage-like thing at the police station. And I said, 'Y'all put me in this cage? You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” Menefield said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, police chief Reynolds, in his Facebook post, stated that Menefield was contacted several times by the city officials about her unpaid bills.&nbsp;

He added that a citation was received by her for the unpaid bills in August and that the code enforcement department of the city "tried to call Ms Menefield several times and attempted to contact her in person at her residence."&nbsp;

Reynolds further narrated how a notice was left by the officials on her door which had the contact information and an advisory that she needs to appear in court in September.&nbsp;

"A warrant for Failure to Pay Trash was issued when she did not appear in court," said Reynolds, adding that in the past two years, Menefield's trash services have been suspended three times.&nbsp;

Menefield said that she is unaware of the unpaid bills in question and that no notice was sent to her to appear in court.&nbsp;

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An 82-year-old woman in the US state of Alabama was arrested by the police over her unpaid trash bills amounting to $77. The elderly woman, Martha Louis Menefield, said she failed to understand anything as the police officers suddenly visited her, handcuffed her and arrested her for a petty amount of $77.

An 82-year-old woman in the US state of Alabama was arrested by the police over her unpaid trash bills amounting to $77. The elderly woman, Martha Louis Menefield, said she failed to understand anything as the police officers suddenly visited her, handcuffed her and arrested her for a petty amount of $77.80. City of Valley police, in its Facebook post, said that Menefield was treated respectfully by the police and that she was notified several times that payment of her bill for three months remains pending. The City of Valley in Alabama's police chief Mike Reynolds said, "Ms Menefield was treated respectfully by our officers in the performance of their duties and was released on a bond as prescribed by the violation.” ALSO READ | Trump knew about tax fraud in his company, says prosecution in closing arguments The comments section was flooded with people from Alabama and the rest of the United States denouncing the police department for their actions. "Everybody who played a role in arresting this 82-year-old Valley, Alabama resident must be held accountable for their actions," the state's former attorney Donald Watkins wrote. Menefield, in an interview with CBS News, said that her first reaction when she saw two officers arriving at her door last Sunday was laughter. On seeing the officers, she asked, "You're not kidding?". However, on learning that the police were actually there to arrest her over the pending bills, the old lady said, "I was upset because I didn't know why they would come and arrest me." One of the officers, after the handcuffs were locked, "kind of whispered it to me: 'Don't cry'", she said. Menefield, recalling the incident, said that she told the officer, “How would you feel if they came and arrested your grandmama?" ALSO READ | Twitter suppressed Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020, internal emails reveal After the arrest, the police took her to the Valley police department where she was temporarily held before being released on bond. "I was in a little cage-like thing at the police station. And I said, 'Y'all put me in this cage? You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” Menefield said. Meanwhile, police chief Reynolds, in his Facebook post, stated that Menefield was contacted several times by the city officials about her unpaid bills. He added that a citation was received by her for the unpaid bills in August and that the code enforcement department of the city "tried to call Ms Menefield several times and attempted to contact her in person at her residence." Reynolds further narrated how a notice was left by the officials on her door which had the contact information and an advisory that she needs to appear in court in September. "A warrant for Failure to Pay Trash was issued when she did not appear in court," said Reynolds, adding that in the past two years, Menefield's trash services have been suspended three times. Menefield said that she is unaware of the unpaid bills in question and that no notice was sent to her to appear in court. 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: Woman, 82, from Alabama gets arrested over $77 unpaid trash bill; cops' action triggers outrage

US President Joe Biden on Friday appealed to the country's political leaders to denounce anti-Semitism, in the wake of Donald Trump hosting a Holocaust denier and rapper Kanye West declaring his admiration for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

US President Joe Biden on Friday appealed to the country's political leaders to denounce anti-Semitism, in the wake of Donald Trump hosting a Holocaust denier and rapper Kanye West declaring his admiration for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. The warning was issued by Biden at a time when concerns are being raised over anti-Semitic discourse's normalisation in the United States. "I just want to make a few things clear: The Holocaust happened. Hitler was a demonic figure. And instead of giving it a platform, our political leaders should be calling out and rejecting antisemitism wherever it hides,” tweeted Biden. "Silence is complicity," he added. Biden made the statement a day after West, who is now known by the name Ye, was thrown out of Twitter after he tried to incite violence with his post which displayed a Nazi swastika interlaced with a Star of David. ALSO READ | Twitter suppressed Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020, internal emails reveal This Twitter ban was immediately followed by another unhinged interview taken by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, in which West was seen covering his complete face with a black mask and professing his "love" for the Nazis and strongly stating "I like Hitler." Previously, Donal Trump faced backlash from the White House for hosting the Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and West at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week. In his defence, Trump said that West brought along several of his friends uninvited, among which one was Fuentes, who is an outspoken anti-Semite and a white supremacist and whose YouTube channel was suspended permanently over hate speech in 2020. West has not been the only celebrity to have caused an uproar with an anti-Semitic statement of late, another such celebrity is NBA star Kyrie Irving who recently faced suspension and apologised for linking to a movie, which was labelled as anti-Semitic. White supremacist ideology Elon Musk's decision to cut back moderation after he bought Twitter has led to an exacerbation of unease about the spread of hate speech. The Anti-Defamation League published data on Friday which said that there has been a surge of more than 60% in anti-Semitic tweets which are related to Judaism and Jews in the past two weeks after Musk's takeover of Twitter. The rhetoric matches the steady increase in the occurrence of hateful incidents targeted towards Jews. It was discovered by the Anti-Defamation League that reports related to vandalism, harassment and violence against Jews increased drastically, reaching an all-time high, in the United States in 2021. In 2019, the country had to deal with a shocking incident of deadly shootings which targeted synagogues in Pittsburgh and California. ALSO READ | Trump knew about tax fraud in his company, says prosecution in closing arguments In both scenarios, the attackers belonged to the far-right that supports hate against African Americans, Jews, Muslims and immigrants and advocates for a Christian, Caucasian society which is based on European culture. After the twin attacks, concerns were reinforced about anti-Semitic hatred becoming a rallying point for resurged white supremacists, who had received encouragement after Trump had failed to condemn their ideology unequivocally. The former president's critics, which include Republican rebels like Liz Cheney, have slammed the party for enabling anti-Semitism and white supremacy under Trump's sway. Biden, who has himself claimed that he decided to run for president after hearing Trump's refusal to denounce a neo-Nazi rally organised in Charlottesville in 2017, has spoken repeatedly against the ideology which he believes "tears at the soul" of the nation. 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.

Joe Biden says 'silence is complicity' in his call to denounce anti-semitism

United States President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Thursday to coordinate on the "challenge" of China and called for stability on the Taiwan Strait.&nbsp;"The United States and France will continue to coordinate on our concerns regarding China's challenge to the rules-based international order, including respect for human rights, and to work together with China on important global issues like climate change," said a joint statement issued by the White House.

The two leaders also pledged to support Ukraine in its war against Russia and to&nbsp;hold Moscow responsible for war crimes.

In a joint statement issued after their Oval Office talks, the two leaders said they were committed to holding Russia to account "for widely documented atrocities and war crimes, committed both by its regular armed forces and by its proxies" in Ukraine.

Biden and Macron also pledged to uphold the “unwavering” alliance between the two countries during the latter’s visit to the White House on Thursday. Macron was greeted by service members from the army, marines and the air force.&nbsp;

"France is our oldest ally, our unwavering partner in freedom’s cause," Biden told reporters.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-eases-covid-restrictions-in-beijing-hints-at-possible-change-in-stance-report-539115">China eases Covid restrictions in Beijing, hints at possible change in stance</a>

Macron also emphasised on the friendship between the two countries that dates back to the US independence struggle and said, "We need to become brothers in arms once more."&nbsp;

The relationship between the two countries suffered a bit in the recent past with Macron blaming Biden’s economic policies for an inevitable trade war. The Inflation Reduction Act or IRA will see an investment of around $4 million into environmentally-friendly industries but several European countries have expressed their concern as it can possibly lead to a race to invest in the green economy sector.&nbsp;

"The consequence of the IRA is that you will perhaps fix your issue but you will increase my problem. I'm sorry to be so straightforward," Macron said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-backs-eu-plan-to-create-tribunal-for-russian-officials-over-ukraine-war-539161">France backs EU plan to create tribunal for Russian officials over Ukraine war</a>

However, Biden has maintained that the IRA will not pose any threat to the European companies.&nbsp;

According to AFP, one of the major topics of discussion will be the rise of China on the global stage and the alliances it has forged in the Pacific Islands. "Europe has since 2018 its own, unique strategy for relations with China," tweeted French embassy spokesman Pascal Confavreux in Washington.

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United States President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Thursday to coordinate on the "challenge" of China and called for stability on the Taiwan Strait.

United States President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Thursday to coordinate on the "challenge" of China and called for stability on the Taiwan Strait. "The United States and France will continue to coordinate on our concerns regarding China's challenge to the rules-based international order, including respect for human rights, and to work together with China on important global issues like climate change," said a joint statement issued by the White House. The two leaders also pledged to support Ukraine in its war against Russia and to hold Moscow responsible for war crimes. In a joint statement issued after their Oval Office talks, the two leaders said they were committed to holding Russia to account "for widely documented atrocities and war crimes, committed both by its regular armed forces and by its proxies" in Ukraine. Biden and Macron also pledged to uphold the “unwavering” alliance between the two countries during the latter’s visit to the White House on Thursday. Macron was greeted by service members from the army, marines and the air force. "France is our oldest ally, our unwavering partner in freedom’s cause," Biden told reporters. Also read | China eases Covid restrictions in Beijing, hints at possible change in stance Macron also emphasised on the friendship between the two countries that dates back to the US independence struggle and said, "We need to become brothers in arms once more." The relationship between the two countries suffered a bit in the recent past with Macron blaming Biden’s economic policies for an inevitable trade war. The Inflation Reduction Act or IRA will see an investment of around $4 million into environmentally-friendly industries but several European countries have expressed their concern as it can possibly lead to a race to invest in the green economy sector. "The consequence of the IRA is that you will perhaps fix your issue but you will increase my problem. I'm sorry to be so straightforward," Macron said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Also read | France backs EU plan to create tribunal for Russian officials over Ukraine war However, Biden has maintained that the IRA will not pose any threat to the European companies. According to AFP, one of the major topics of discussion will be the rise of China on the global stage and the alliances it has forged in the Pacific Islands. "Europe has since 2018 its own, unique strategy for relations with China," tweeted French embassy spokesman Pascal Confavreux in Washington.

Macron, Biden pledge to hold Russia accountable for committing 'war crimes' in Ukraine

The United States and Canada have requested China to not use force against the protesters opposing the latest set of lockdowns imposed by the Communist Party of China as part of the Zero Covid policy. With citizens showing dissent in various parts of the country, the top security body in China has&nbsp;already urged the government to launch a “crackdown” on “hostile forces”.

According to video footage, which was verified by AFP, the police clashed with protesters in the city of Guangzhou. The video showed that security personnel in hazmat suits were present in the city’s Haizhu district on Tuesday and screams of people could be heard in the background. It also showed objects being thrown at the police and many people were detained by the authorities.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europes-import-of-russian-lng-jumps-42-amid-russia-ukraine-war-report-538720">Europe's import of Russian LNG jumps 42% amid Russia-Ukraine war: Report</a>

In response to this incident, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said that China should allow people to protest peacefully and not use violence to stop the demonstrations.

“We don’t want to see protesters physically harmed, intimidated or coerced in any way. That’s what peaceful protest is all about and that’s what we have continued to stand up for whether it’s in China or Iran or elsewhere around the world,” he said in an interview with CNN.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scott-morrison-becomes-the-first-former-pm-to-be-censured-by-the-australian-parliament-538686">Scott Morrison becomes the first former PM to be censured by the parliament</a>

Canada also took a similar stance regarding the topic and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Chinese government should not curb the freedom of expression when it comes to the people.

“Everyone in China should be allowed to express themselves, should be allowed to share their perspectives and indeed protest,” Trudeau said. “We’re going to continue to ensure that China knows we’ll stand up for human rights, we’ll stand with people who are expressing themselves.”

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The United States and Canada have requested China to not use force against the protesters opposing the latest set of lockdowns imposed by the Communist Party of China as part of the Zero Covid policy.

The United States and Canada have requested China to not use force against the protesters opposing the latest set of lockdowns imposed by the Communist Party of China as part of the Zero Covid policy. With citizens showing dissent in various parts of the country, the top security body in China has already urged the government to launch a “crackdown” on “hostile forces”. According to video footage, which was verified by AFP, the police clashed with protesters in the city of Guangzhou. The video showed that security personnel in hazmat suits were present in the city’s Haizhu district on Tuesday and screams of people could be heard in the background. It also showed objects being thrown at the police and many people were detained by the authorities. Also read | Europe's import of Russian LNG jumps 42% amid Russia-Ukraine war: Report In response to this incident, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said that China should allow people to protest peacefully and not use violence to stop the demonstrations. “We don’t want to see protesters physically harmed, intimidated or coerced in any way. That’s what peaceful protest is all about and that’s what we have continued to stand up for whether it’s in China or Iran or elsewhere around the world,” he said in an interview with CNN. Also read | Scott Morrison becomes the first former PM to be censured by the parliament Canada also took a similar stance regarding the topic and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the Chinese government should not curb the freedom of expression when it comes to the people. “Everyone in China should be allowed to express themselves, should be allowed to share their perspectives and indeed protest,” Trudeau said. “We’re going to continue to ensure that China knows we’ll stand up for human rights, we’ll stand with people who are expressing themselves.”

US and Canada urge China not to use force for stopping protests against stringent Covid curbs

A latest report by an international think tank claims that half of the world’s democratic countries are currently experiencing “an erosion of democracy”. The report also claimed that the situation has worsen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"We're seeing extraordinarily severe headwinds for democracy now, intensified by the political fallout from the economic crisis that started with the pandemic and the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine", International IDEA secretary-general Kevin Casas-Zamora told AFP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-government-relaxes-covid-19-rules-in-several-districts-in-guangzhou-538833">Chinese government relaxes COVID-19 rules in several districts in Guangzhou</a>

"It might be that the credibility of elections is challenged. It might be that the rule of law is under assault. It might be that civic space is being constrained", he added in the report.

The report identified seven democracies where the erosion has been the most severe. Currently, the nations are El Salvador, Brazil, Hungary, India, United States, Mauritius and Poland.

The inclusion of the US in the list was regarded as a worrying trend by the think tank.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-removed-from-uk-nuclear-project-a-day-after-sunaks-golden-era-over-statement-538678">China booted from UK nuclear project after Sunak's 'golden era over' statement</a>

"I'm very concerned by what we're seeing in the United States", he said.

"It's quite clear by now that the fever didn't break with the election of a new administration," he said, pointing to "the runaway levels of polarisation (and) the attempts to undermine the credibility of electoral results without any evidence of fraud," he said according to Reuters.

Official data suggests that 104 out of the 173 countries covered by the report are democracies and around half of them are currently in decline. 27 nations are slowly moving towards authoritarianism.

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A latest report by an international think tank claims that half of the world’s democratic countries are currently experiencing “an erosion of democracy”. The report also claimed that the situation has worsen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A latest report by an international think tank claims that half of the world’s democratic countries are currently experiencing “an erosion of democracy”. The report also claimed that the situation has worsen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. "We're seeing extraordinarily severe headwinds for democracy now, intensified by the political fallout from the economic crisis that started with the pandemic and the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine", International IDEA secretary-general Kevin Casas-Zamora told AFP. Also read | Chinese government relaxes COVID-19 rules in several districts in Guangzhou "It might be that the credibility of elections is challenged. It might be that the rule of law is under assault. It might be that civic space is being constrained", he added in the report. The report identified seven democracies where the erosion has been the most severe. Currently, the nations are El Salvador, Brazil, Hungary, India, United States, Mauritius and Poland. The inclusion of the US in the list was regarded as a worrying trend by the think tank. Also read | China booted from UK nuclear project after Sunak's 'golden era over' statement "I'm very concerned by what we're seeing in the United States", he said. "It's quite clear by now that the fever didn't break with the election of a new administration," he said, pointing to "the runaway levels of polarisation (and) the attempts to undermine the credibility of electoral results without any evidence of fraud," he said according to Reuters. Official data suggests that 104 out of the 173 countries covered by the report are democracies and around half of them are currently in decline. 27 nations are slowly moving towards authoritarianism.

Half of world's democracies are currently in decline, claims report

The most active volcano in the world, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, erupted for the first time on Monday in nearly 40 years, according to US authorities. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported on Sunday at 11:45 pm local time (9:45 pm GMT Monday) that flows of lava remained "contained" within the summit caldera of Mauna Loa. However, the USGS cautioned that the eruption could pose a threat to nearby residents should conditions change. Based on previous occurrences, the notification issued by the US agency stated that the location and advance of lava flows could change quickly during the early eruption stages of this volcano.

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JUST IN - Hawaii's Mauna Loa, the world's biggest active volcano, begins eruption after 38 years of quiet.<a href="https://t.co/F7jaRroWUN">pic.twitter.com/F7jaRroWUN</a>
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) <a href="https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1597191679538122752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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JUST IN: World’s largest active volcano in Hawaii has started to erupt for the first time since 1984 <a href="https://t.co/kT9MPKiiBM">pic.twitter.com/kT9MPKiiBM</a>
— PoliticsVerse 🇺🇸 (@PoliticsVerse) <a href="https://twitter.com/PoliticsVerse/status/1597231577519763456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The USGS stated that the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory was speaking with emergency responders and that its staff would conduct an aerial reconnaissance over the 13,674-foot (4,168-meter) volcano as soon as possible.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-towering-waves-crash-a-tropical-hawaii-wedding-498560">Watch: Towering waves crash a tropical Hawaii wedding</a>

The USGS reports that Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843. It last erupted in 1984, causing lava to stream down its slopes and approach Hilo, the island's largest town, within 4.5 miles. Despite the summit area and a number of nearby roads being closed, Hawaii's authorities reported that no evacuation orders had been issued.

Long, bright eruptive fissures within the volcanic crater were visible on a USGS webcam on the summit's northern rim, standing out against the nighttime darkness. Reuters reported that Over a dozen earthquakes of more than 2.5 magnitude struck the region in the last two hours, according to the USGS, with one measuring 4.2 in magnitude.

<h2>Where is&nbsp;Mauna Loa volcano situated?</h2>

The term Mauna Loa, which means "long mountain" in Hawaiian, is appropriate given that the enormous mountain stretches for around 74 miles from its edge along the southern coast of Hawai'i Island to the rim of the caldera where the eruption started on Sunday night.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The most active volcano in the world, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, erupted for the first time on Monday in nearly 40 years, according to US authorities. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported on Sunday at 11:45 pm local time (9:45 pm GMT Monday) that flows of lava remained "contained" within the summit caldera of Mauna Loa.

The most active volcano in the world, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, erupted for the first time on Monday in nearly 40 years, according to US authorities. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported on Sunday at 11:45 pm local time (9:45 pm GMT Monday) that flows of lava remained "contained" within the summit caldera of Mauna Loa. However, the USGS cautioned that the eruption could pose a threat to nearby residents should conditions change. Based on previous occurrences, the notification issued by the US agency stated that the location and advance of lava flows could change quickly during the early eruption stages of this volcano. JUST IN - Hawaii's Mauna Loa, the world's biggest active volcano, begins eruption after 38 years of quiet.pic.twitter.com/F7jaRroWUN — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) November 28, 2022 × JUST IN: World’s largest active volcano in Hawaii has started to erupt for the first time since 1984 pic.twitter.com/kT9MPKiiBM — PoliticsVerse 🇺🇸 (@PoliticsVerse) November 28, 2022 × The USGS stated that the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory was speaking with emergency responders and that its staff would conduct an aerial reconnaissance over the 13,674-foot (4,168-meter) volcano as soon as possible. Also Read | Watch: Towering waves crash a tropical Hawaii wedding The USGS reports that Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843. It last erupted in 1984, causing lava to stream down its slopes and approach Hilo, the island's largest town, within 4.5 miles. Despite the summit area and a number of nearby roads being closed, Hawaii's authorities reported that no evacuation orders had been issued. Long, bright eruptive fissures within the volcanic crater were visible on a USGS webcam on the summit's northern rim, standing out against the nighttime darkness. Reuters reported that Over a dozen earthquakes of more than 2.5 magnitude struck the region in the last two hours, according to the USGS, with one measuring 4.2 in magnitude. Where is Mauna Loa volcano situated? The term Mauna Loa, which means "long mountain" in Hawaiian, is appropriate given that the enormous mountain stretches for around 74 miles from its edge along the southern coast of Hawai'i Island to the rim of the caldera where the eruption started on Sunday night. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

World's most active volcano Mauna Loa erupts in Hawaii, USGS issues damning updates

Chris Murphy, Connecticut's Democratic US Senator, on Sunday expressed doubt over a proposed ban on assault weapons. Murphy's comments suggested that he is unsure that it could pass the upper chamber.&nbsp;

Murphy has been one of the leading gun control advocates in the Senate.&nbsp;His remarks came amid the ban being pushed by President Biden in the wake of the latest mass shootings in the country.&nbsp;

After shooting tragedies in Virginia and Colorado in the last two weeks,&nbsp;questions were raised&nbsp;about the funding of law enforcement agencies in places that refuse to enforce red flag laws.&nbsp;

Murphy said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday: "If you passed an assault weapons ban you would see less mass shootings in this country. You are not going to magically eliminate mass-shootings, but an AR-15, or AR-15 style weapon, is generally the choice of mass shooters."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-says-that-russia-planning-new-strikes-537993">Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky says that Russia planning new strikes</a>&nbsp;

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Opponents of new gun laws say we should just enforce the laws we have. 
 
But many counties have declared themselves “2nd Amendment Sanctuaries”, where gun laws aren’t enforced. 
 
On <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a> this morning I talked about the need for Congress to take action on this crisis.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1596872139449290753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In the aftermath of recent shootings, during the lame-duck session of Congress this year Biden said he was going to try to get rid of assault weapons.&nbsp;

Biden said: "The idea we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick. Just sick. I'm going to try to get rid of assault weapons."&nbsp;

On being asked about the votes and whether or not the proposal could garner 60 votes, Murphy said: "Probably not. But let's see if we can try to get that number as close to 60 as possible."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protests-in-china-over-covid-restrictions-police-in-shanghai-drag-and-detain-demonstrators-537991">Protests in China over Covid restrictions: Police in Shanghai drag and detain demonstrators</a>&nbsp;

He continued: "If we don’t have the votes, then we’ll talk to Senator Schumer and maybe come back next year with maybe an additional senator and see if we can do better."&nbsp;

The Democratic-led House passed legislation in July to reinstate the 1990s-era ban on assault weapons.

After the passage of a landmark bipartisan bill on guns, strengthening background checks and red flag laws, which allow authorities to remove firearms from those posing a danger.&nbsp;

However, the legislation is dead in the Senate, where it would require 60 votes to pass.&nbsp;

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Chris Murphy, Connecticut's Democratic US Senator, on Sunday expressed doubt over a proposed ban on assault weapons. Murphy's comments suggested that he is unsure that it could pass the upper chamber.

Chris Murphy, Connecticut's Democratic US Senator, on Sunday expressed doubt over a proposed ban on assault weapons. Murphy's comments suggested that he is unsure that it could pass the upper chamber. Murphy has been one of the leading gun control advocates in the Senate. His remarks came amid the ban being pushed by President Biden in the wake of the latest mass shootings in the country. After shooting tragedies in Virginia and Colorado in the last two weeks, questions were raised about the funding of law enforcement agencies in places that refuse to enforce red flag laws. Murphy said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday: "If you passed an assault weapons ban you would see less mass shootings in this country. You are not going to magically eliminate mass-shootings, but an AR-15, or AR-15 style weapon, is generally the choice of mass shooters." ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky says that Russia planning new strikes Opponents of new gun laws say we should just enforce the laws we have. But many counties have declared themselves “2nd Amendment Sanctuaries”, where gun laws aren’t enforced. On @CNN this morning I talked about the need for Congress to take action on this crisis. — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) November 27, 2022 × In the aftermath of recent shootings, during the lame-duck session of Congress this year Biden said he was going to try to get rid of assault weapons. Biden said: "The idea we still allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick. Just sick. I'm going to try to get rid of assault weapons." On being asked about the votes and whether or not the proposal could garner 60 votes, Murphy said: "Probably not. But let's see if we can try to get that number as close to 60 as possible." ALSO READ | Protests in China over Covid restrictions: Police in Shanghai drag and detain demonstrators He continued: "If we don’t have the votes, then we’ll talk to Senator Schumer and maybe come back next year with maybe an additional senator and see if we can do better." The Democratic-led House passed legislation in July to reinstate the 1990s-era ban on assault weapons. After the passage of a landmark bipartisan bill on guns, strengthening background checks and red flag laws, which allow authorities to remove firearms from those posing a danger. However, the legislation is dead in the Senate, where it would require 60 votes to pass. 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.

After shooting tragedies in US, Democrats renew calls for assault weapons ban

The Pentagon is considering a Boeing proposal to supply Ukraine with cheap, small precision bombs fitted onto abundantly available rockets, allowing Kyiv to strike far behind Russian lines as the West struggles to meet demand for more arms.

U.S. and allied military inventories are shrinking, and Ukraine faces an increasing need for more sophisticated weapons as the war drags on. Boeing's proposed system, dubbed Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), is one of about a half-dozen plans for getting new munitions into production for Ukraine and America's Eastern European allies, industry sources said.

GLSDB could be delivered as early as spring 2023, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and three people familiar with the plan. It combines the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) with the M26 rocket motor, both of which are common in U.S. inventories.

Doug Bush, the U.S. Army's chief weapons buyer, told reporters at the Pentagon last week the Army was also looking at accelerating production of 155 millimeter artillery shells - currently only manufactured at government facilities - by allowing defense contractors to build them.

The invasion of Ukraine drove up demand for American-made weapons and ammunition, while U.S. allies in Eastern Europe are "putting a lot of orders," in for a range of arms as they supply Ukraine, Bush added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-forces-with-ulterior-motives-are-linking-urumqi-fire-with-covid-curbs-538123">Beijing blames 'forces with ulterior motives' for fuelling rage in the country</a>

"It's about getting quantity at a cheap cost," said Tom Karako, a weapons and security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said falling U.S. inventories help explain the rush to get more arms now, saying stockpiles are "getting low relative to the levels we like to keep on hand and certainly to the levels we're going to need to deter a China conflict."

Karako also noted that the U.S. exit from Afghanistan left lots of air-dropped bombs available. They cannot be easily used with Ukrainian aircraft, but "in today's context we should be looking for innovative ways to convert them to standoff capability."

Although a handful of GLSDB units have already been made, there are many logistical obstacles to formal procurement. The Boeing plan requires a price discovery waiver, exempting the contractor from an in-depth review that ensures the Pentagon is getting the best deal possible. Any arrangement would also require at least six suppliers to expedite shipments of their parts and services to produce the weapon quickly.

A Boeing spokesperson declined to comment. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman declined to comment on providing any "specific capability" to Ukraine, but said the U.S. and its allies "identify and consider the most appropriate systems" that would help Kyiv.

Although the United States has rebuffed requests for the 185-mile (297km) range ATACMS missile, the GLSDB's 94-mile (150km) range would allow Ukraine to hit valuable military targets that have been out of reach and help it continue pressing its counterattacks by disrupting Russian rear areas.

GLSDB is made jointly by SAAB AB (SAABb.ST) and Boeing Co (BA.N) and has been in development since 2019, well before the invasion, which Russia calls a "special operation". In October, SAAB chief executive Micael Johansson said of the GLSDB: "We are imminently shortly expecting contracts on that."

According to the document - a Boeing proposal to U.S. European Command (EUCOM), which is overseeing weapons headed to Ukraine - the main components of the GLSDB would come from current U.S. stores.

The M26 rocket motor is relatively abundant, and the GBU-39 costs about $40,000 each, making the completed GLSDB inexpensive and its main components readily available. Although arms manufacturers are struggling with demand, those factors make it possible to yield weapons by early 2023, albeit at a low rate of production.

GLSDB is GPS-guided, can defeat some electronic jamming, is usable in all weather conditions, and can be used against armored vehicles, according to SAAB's website. The GBU-39 - which would function as the GLSDB's warhead - has small, folding wings that allow it to glide more than 100km if dropped from an aircraft and targets as small as 3 feet in diameter.

INDUSTRY MOTIVATION

At a production plant in rural Arkansas, Lockheed Martin is redoubling efforts to meet surging demand for mobile rocket launchers known as HIMARS, which have been successful in hitting Russian supply lines, command posts and even individual tanks. The No. 1 U.S. defense contractor is working through supply chain issues and labor shortages to double production to 96 launchers a year.

Lockheed Martin has posted more than 15 jobs related to the production of HIMARS, including supply chain quality engineers, purchasing analysts, and testing engineers, according to its website.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/authorities-remove-mexican-migrant-camps-at-us-border-citing-security-as-reason-538006">Officials remove Mexican migrant camps at US border citing 'security' reasons</a>

"We've made investments in terms of infrastructure in the factory where we build HIMARS," said Becky Withrow, a sales leader at Lockheed Martin's missile unit.

Despite the increase in demand, Lockheed Martin's chief financial officer told Reuters in July that he did not expect significant Ukraine-induced revenue until 2024 or beyond. The CFO of Raytheon Corp (RTX.N), another major U.S. defense contractor, echoed that timeline in an interview with Reuters this summer.

HIMARS fires Guided Multiple Rocket Launch System missiles (GMLRS), which are GPS-guided rounds with 200-pound (90kg) warheads. Lockheed Martin make about 4,600 of the missiles per year; more than 5,000 have been sent to Ukraine so far, according to a Reuters analysis. The U.S. has not disclosed how many GMLRS rounds have been supplied to Ukraine.

Repurposing weapons for regular military use is not a new tactic. The NASAMS anti-aircraft system, developed by Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace and Raytheon, uses AIM-120 missiles - originally meant to be fired from fighter jets at other aircraft. Another weapon, the Joint-Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), ubiquitous in U.S. inventories, is a standard unguided bomb that has been fitted with fins and a GPS guidance system.

The Pentagon is considering a Boeing proposal to supply Ukraine with cheap, small precision bombs fitted onto abundantly available rockets, allowing Kyiv to strike far behind Russian lines as the West struggles to meet demand for more arms.

The Pentagon is considering a Boeing proposal to supply Ukraine with cheap, small precision bombs fitted onto abundantly available rockets, allowing Kyiv to strike far behind Russian lines as the West struggles to meet demand for more arms. U.S. and allied military inventories are shrinking, and Ukraine faces an increasing need for more sophisticated weapons as the war drags on. Boeing's proposed system, dubbed Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), is one of about a half-dozen plans for getting new munitions into production for Ukraine and America's Eastern European allies, industry sources said. GLSDB could be delivered as early as spring 2023, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and three people familiar with the plan. It combines the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) with the M26 rocket motor, both of which are common in U.S. inventories. Doug Bush, the U.S. Army's chief weapons buyer, told reporters at the Pentagon last week the Army was also looking at accelerating production of 155 millimeter artillery shells - currently only manufactured at government facilities - by allowing defense contractors to build them. The invasion of Ukraine drove up demand for American-made weapons and ammunition, while U.S. allies in Eastern Europe are "putting a lot of orders," in for a range of arms as they supply Ukraine, Bush added. Also read | Beijing blames 'forces with ulterior motives' for fuelling rage in the country "It's about getting quantity at a cheap cost," said Tom Karako, a weapons and security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said falling U.S. inventories help explain the rush to get more arms now, saying stockpiles are "getting low relative to the levels we like to keep on hand and certainly to the levels we're going to need to deter a China conflict." Karako also noted that the U.S. exit from Afghanistan left lots of air-dropped bombs available. They cannot be easily used with Ukrainian aircraft, but "in today's context we should be looking for innovative ways to convert them to standoff capability." Although a handful of GLSDB units have already been made, there are many logistical obstacles to formal procurement. The Boeing plan requires a price discovery waiver, exempting the contractor from an in-depth review that ensures the Pentagon is getting the best deal possible. Any arrangement would also require at least six suppliers to expedite shipments of their parts and services to produce the weapon quickly. A Boeing spokesperson declined to comment. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman declined to comment on providing any "specific capability" to Ukraine, but said the U.S. and its allies "identify and consider the most appropriate systems" that would help Kyiv. Although the United States has rebuffed requests for the 185-mile (297km) range ATACMS missile, the GLSDB's 94-mile (150km) range would allow Ukraine to hit valuable military targets that have been out of reach and help it continue pressing its counterattacks by disrupting Russian rear areas. GLSDB is made jointly by SAAB AB (SAABb.ST) and Boeing Co (BA.N) and has been in development since 2019, well before the invasion, which Russia calls a "special operation". In October, SAAB chief executive Micael Johansson said of the GLSDB: "We are imminently shortly expecting contracts on that." According to the document - a Boeing proposal to U.S. European Command (EUCOM), which is overseeing weapons headed to Ukraine - the main components of the GLSDB would come from current U.S. stores. The M26 rocket motor is relatively abundant, and the GBU-39 costs about $40,000 each, making the completed GLSDB inexpensive and its main components readily available. Although arms manufacturers are struggling with demand, those factors make it possible to yield weapons by early 2023, albeit at a low rate of production. GLSDB is GPS-guided, can defeat some electronic jamming, is usable in all weather conditions, and can be used against armored vehicles, according to SAAB's website. The GBU-39 - which would function as the GLSDB's warhead - has small, folding wings that allow it to glide more than 100km if dropped from an aircraft and targets as small as 3 feet in diameter. INDUSTRY MOTIVATION At a production plant in rural Arkansas, Lockheed Martin is redoubling efforts to meet surging demand for mobile rocket launchers known as HIMARS, which have been successful in hitting Russian supply lines, command posts and even individual tanks. The No. 1 U.S. defense contractor is working through supply chain issues and labor shortages to double production to 96 launchers a year. Lockheed Martin has posted more than 15 jobs related to the production of HIMARS, including supply chain quality engineers, purchasing analysts, and testing engineers, according to its website. Also read | Officials remove Mexican migrant camps at US border citing 'security' reasons "We've made investments in terms of infrastructure in the factory where we build HIMARS," said Becky Withrow, a sales leader at Lockheed Martin's missile unit. Despite the increase in demand, Lockheed Martin's chief financial officer told Reuters in July that he did not expect significant Ukraine-induced revenue until 2024 or beyond. The CFO of Raytheon Corp (RTX.N), another major U.S. defense contractor, echoed that timeline in an interview with Reuters this summer. HIMARS fires Guided Multiple Rocket Launch System missiles (GMLRS), which are GPS-guided rounds with 200-pound (90kg) warheads. Lockheed Martin make about 4,600 of the missiles per year; more than 5,000 have been sent to Ukraine so far, according to a Reuters analysis. The U.S. has not disclosed how many GMLRS rounds have been supplied to Ukraine. Repurposing weapons for regular military use is not a new tactic. The NASAMS anti-aircraft system, developed by Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace and Raytheon, uses AIM-120 missiles - originally meant to be fired from fighter jets at other aircraft. Another weapon, the Joint-Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), ubiquitous in U.S. inventories, is a standard unguided bomb that has been fitted with fins and a GPS guidance system.

United States weighs sending 100-mile strike weapon to Ukraine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday that it is now monitoring a new COVID-19 variant of concern in the United States called XBB, which is now thought to account for 3.1 per cent&nbsp;of all new infections in the country.&nbsp;

As reported by CBC News, the Northeast has seen the most growth in the strain's prevalence thus far.

According to the CDC's "Nowcast" for this week, more than 5 per cent&nbsp;of infections in the areas spanning New Jersey through Maine are connected to XBB.&nbsp;

A significant portion of illnesses in various South Asian nations are caused by XBB, which has also become more prevalent among arriving foreign travellers and among reported virus sequences from around the world.

The CDC provided early estimates earlier this month that suggested XBB may be potentially doubling in percentage every 12 days. That might move more quickly than the BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 varieties that are now prevailing in the nation.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-firing-cruise-missiles-with-nuclear-warheads-removed-claims-uk-537672">Russia firing cruise missiles with nuclear warheads removed, claims UK</a>

Top COVID officials and specialists for the Biden administration, however, assert that they do not believe XBB will present a fresh threat on the same magnitude as when the Omicron variant initially surfaced a year ago.

A number of new lineages, including XBB, have replaced the Omicron variant siblings BA.4 and BA.5, which were responsible for a spike in cases throughout the summer. The CDC reports that as of this week, BA.4 has all but vanished and BA.5 has decreased to less than 1 in 5 new infections countrywide.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday that it is now monitoring a new COVID-19 variant of concern in the United States called XBB, which is now thought to account for 3.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday that it is now monitoring a new COVID-19 variant of concern in the United States called XBB, which is now thought to account for 3.1 per cent of all new infections in the country. As reported by CBC News, the Northeast has seen the most growth in the strain's prevalence thus far. According to the CDC's "Nowcast" for this week, more than 5 per cent of infections in the areas spanning New Jersey through Maine are connected to XBB. A significant portion of illnesses in various South Asian nations are caused by XBB, which has also become more prevalent among arriving foreign travellers and among reported virus sequences from around the world. The CDC provided early estimates earlier this month that suggested XBB may be potentially doubling in percentage every 12 days. That might move more quickly than the BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 varieties that are now prevailing in the nation. Also Read: Russia firing cruise missiles with nuclear warheads removed, claims UK Top COVID officials and specialists for the Biden administration, however, assert that they do not believe XBB will present a fresh threat on the same magnitude as when the Omicron variant initially surfaced a year ago. A number of new lineages, including XBB, have replaced the Omicron variant siblings BA.4 and BA.5, which were responsible for a spike in cases throughout the summer. The CDC reports that as of this week, BA.4 has all but vanished and BA.5 has decreased to less than 1 in 5 new infections countrywide. (with inputs from agencies)

US: CDC tracking XBB, a new Covid variant causing 3.1% of fresh infections

The Kyiv city administration said on social media that the "enemy is launching missile strikes on critical infrastructure in Kyiv city". They further urged people to stay in shelters until the air alert ends. In other news, the members of the EU parliament&nbsp;condemned the humanitarian as well as food crisis created by the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war all around the world. As a result, they decided to develop a new legal framework to prevent such situation and hold the responsible countries accountable.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-strikes-kill-three-injure-six-in-kyiv-as-moscow-target-critical-infrastructure-536828">Russia-Ukraine war: Strikes kill three, injure six in Kyiv as Moscow targets 'critical infrastructure'</a>
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Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday (November 23) that the latest Russian strikes in Kyiv left at least three dead and six injured. Massive power outages and water cuts were reported across the city.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-parliament-declares-russia-state-sponsor-of-terrorism-536786">European Union parliament declares Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism'</a>
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The European Parliament declared Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism" on Tuesday for the "brutal and inhumane" acts inflicted by the government and military on Ukraine since the start of the conflict. The resolution was approved during the monthly plenary session in Strasbourg with 494 member states voting in favour, 58 against it and 44 members decided to abstain completely.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-multiple-fatalities-reported-after-mass-shooting-at-chesapeake-walmart-536650">Virginia: Shooter who killed six in Chesapeake Walmart, shot self, was a store employee, say cops</a>
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The gunman who killed six people in&nbsp;a shooting spree at a Virginia Walmart&nbsp;was a store&nbsp; employee and later is said to have shot himself dead too, the Chesapeake police said on&nbsp;Wednesday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-supreme-court-blocks-scotland-from-holding-second-independence-referendum-536746">UK Supreme Court blocks Scotland from holding second independence referendum</a>
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The United Kingdom Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Scotland cannot go forward with a second independence referendum without the approval of the British parliament. The ruling from the top judges in the UK said that the Scottish parliament does not have the power to organise the referendum independently.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bezos-announces-40-grants-worth-123-million-aimed-at-tackling-homelessness-536748">Bezos announces 40 grants worth $123 million aimed at tackling homelessness</a>
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Jeff Bezos, in his bid to give away a major chunk of his wealth away, has now awarded 40 grants as part of his Bezos Day 1 Families Fund initiative. The Amazon founder made the announcement of Tuesday in an Instagram post. The donations are part of a $2 billion total commitment to combat homelessness.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-500-kurdish-targets-hit-in-iraq-syria-claims-turkish-defence-ministry-536743">Nearly 500 Kurdish targets hit in Iraq and Syria, 254 terrorists killed, claims Turkey's defence minister</a>
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Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Wednesday that Turkey's military had hit nearly 500 Kurdish targets across Iraq and Syria as part of an air strikes’ campaign.&nbsp;“So far, 471 targets have been struck and 254 terrorists were neutralised in the operation,” Akar was quoted as saying by the official Anadolu news agency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sunak-faces-rebellion-as-50-mps-sign-amendment-to-scrap-mandatory-local-housing-targets-for-councils-536729">Sunak faces rebellion as 50 MPs sign amendment to scrap mandatory local housing targets for councils</a>
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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a rebellion of about 50 MPs who want an end to housebuilding targets for councils through an amendment. The amendment is led by former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers and has the backing of 46 MPs. They want to scrap mandatory local housing targets and make them advisory only.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fauci-asks-americans-to-take-covid-booster-shots-after-cdc-study-shows-promising-results-536808">Doctor Fauci asks Americans to take Covid booster shots, after CDC study shows promising results</a>
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Dr Anthony Fauci in a press conference at the White House, on Tuesday, urged Americans to take the new Covid booster shot after a recent study by the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that it offers better protection against symptomatic infection of COVID-19. It is also the first real-world data on the new omicron vaccines.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/multiple-explosions-rock-jerusalem-at-least-13-injured-casualties-feared-536659">16-year-old boy killed, 22 injured in two explosions near bus stops in Jerusalem</a>
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Jerusalem was rocked by two explosions on Wednesday morning, leaving a 16-year-old boy dead and 22 injured.&nbsp;The blasts occurred at two bus stops at the entrance to Jerusalem during peak commute hours. The first one was reported from the main entrance of Jerusalem in Givat Shaul, around 7 am, while the second blast took off at the Ramot junction, another entrance to Jerusalem at 7.30 am, the Times of Israel newspaper reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-another-upset-in-qatar-as-japan-shock-germany-2-1-536868">FIFA World Cup 2022: Another upset in Qatar as Japan shock Germany 2-1</a>
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For the second time in two days, we saw&nbsp;a massive upset&nbsp;in the FIFA World Cup 2022 as&nbsp;on Wednesday the four-time world champions Germany suffered a shock defeat (1-2) at the hands of Japan in their first match in Group E. On Tuesday, it was Argentina that got floored by Saudi Arabia 2-1.

The Kyiv city administration said on social media that the "enemy is launching missile strikes on critical infrastructure in Kyiv city". They further urged people to stay in shelters until the air alert ends.

The Kyiv city administration said on social media that the "enemy is launching missile strikes on critical infrastructure in Kyiv city". They further urged people to stay in shelters until the air alert ends. In other news, the members of the EU parliament condemned the humanitarian as well as food crisis created by the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war all around the world. As a result, they decided to develop a new legal framework to prevent such situation and hold the responsible countries accountable. Click on the headlines to read more: Russia-Ukraine war: Strikes kill three, injure six in Kyiv as Moscow targets 'critical infrastructure' Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday (November 23) that the latest Russian strikes in Kyiv left at least three dead and six injured. Massive power outages and water cuts were reported across the city. European Union parliament declares Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism' The European Parliament declared Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism" on Tuesday for the "brutal and inhumane" acts inflicted by the government and military on Ukraine since the start of the conflict. The resolution was approved during the monthly plenary session in Strasbourg with 494 member states voting in favour, 58 against it and 44 members decided to abstain completely. Virginia: Shooter who killed six in Chesapeake Walmart, shot self, was a store employee, say cops The gunman who killed six people in a shooting spree at a Virginia Walmart was a store employee and later is said to have shot himself dead too, the Chesapeake police said on Wednesday. UK Supreme Court blocks Scotland from holding second independence referendum The United Kingdom Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Scotland cannot go forward with a second independence referendum without the approval of the British parliament. The ruling from the top judges in the UK said that the Scottish parliament does not have the power to organise the referendum independently. Bezos announces 40 grants worth $123 million aimed at tackling homelessness Jeff Bezos, in his bid to give away a major chunk of his wealth away, has now awarded 40 grants as part of his Bezos Day 1 Families Fund initiative. The Amazon founder made the announcement of Tuesday in an Instagram post. The donations are part of a $2 billion total commitment to combat homelessness. Nearly 500 Kurdish targets hit in Iraq and Syria, 254 terrorists killed, claims Turkey's defence minister Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Wednesday that Turkey's military had hit nearly 500 Kurdish targets across Iraq and Syria as part of an air strikes’ campaign. “So far, 471 targets have been struck and 254 terrorists were neutralised in the operation,” Akar was quoted as saying by the official Anadolu news agency. Sunak faces rebellion as 50 MPs sign amendment to scrap mandatory local housing targets for councils UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a rebellion of about 50 MPs who want an end to housebuilding targets for councils through an amendment. The amendment is led by former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers and has the backing of 46 MPs. They want to scrap mandatory local housing targets and make them advisory only. Doctor Fauci asks Americans to take Covid booster shots, after CDC study shows promising results Dr Anthony Fauci in a press conference at the White House, on Tuesday, urged Americans to take the new Covid booster shot after a recent study by the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that it offers better protection against symptomatic infection of COVID-19. It is also the first real-world data on the new omicron vaccines. 16-year-old boy killed, 22 injured in two explosions near bus stops in Jerusalem Jerusalem was rocked by two explosions on Wednesday morning, leaving a 16-year-old boy dead and 22 injured. The blasts occurred at two bus stops at the entrance to Jerusalem during peak commute hours. The first one was reported from the main entrance of Jerusalem in Givat Shaul, around 7 am, while the second blast took off at the Ramot junction, another entrance to Jerusalem at 7.30 am, the Times of Israel newspaper reported. FIFA World Cup 2022: Another upset in Qatar as Japan shock Germany 2-1 For the second time in two days, we saw a massive upset in the FIFA World Cup 2022 as on Wednesday the four-time world champions Germany suffered a shock defeat (1-2) at the hands of Japan in their first match in Group E. On Tuesday, it was Argentina that got floored by Saudi Arabia 2-1.

Top 10 world news: Moscow strikes Kyiv, EU declares Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism', and more

For the first time in history, on Sunday a United States sitting President marked his 80th birthday in the White House. US President Joe Biden has marked the historical milestone but there was no public celebration.&nbsp;

As per AFP, there was no mention of the birthday from the White House.&nbsp;

In the late afternoon, First Lady Jill Biden posted a heartfelt message on Twitter along with two images of herself and her husband dancing in tuxedos and a gala attire with the caption, "There's no one else I'd rather dance with than you. Happy Birthday Joe! I love you."&nbsp;

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There’s no one else I’d rather dance with than you. 
 
Happy Birthday, Joe! I love you.💕 <a href="https://t.co/7GmgE5vbqy">pic.twitter.com/7GmgE5vbqy</a>
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1594418191358468096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In another post, the first lady shared a picture of the Biden family celebrating the occasion.

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A perfect birthday celebration filled with so much love — and Joe’s favorite coconut cake! <a href="https://t.co/w7005Cdtqu">pic.twitter.com/w7005Cdtqu</a>
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1594457430922088448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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However, the White House made no mention of the president's birthday. Additionally, there was no word on any public event.

This comes as recently the US midterm revealed that the country's public does not want him to run for President again.

Watch | US: Republicans' top priority is to probe Biden family

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About a year ago, Biden had a comprehensive physical exam, with the results stating that he was "a healthy, vigorous" man who is qualified to hold the office of president. However, the president has been subject to a lot of mocking for his occasional moments of confusion.

Biden has not yet made a formal announcement for the 2024 presidential race, although he has stated that he will do so in the first few months of 2023.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/messed-up-bring-your-kid-to-work-day-is-kim-jong-uns-recently-revealed-daughter-nkoreas-next-leader-535902">'Messed up bring-your-kid-to-work day': Is Kim Jong Un's recently revealed daughter N.Korea's next leader?</a>

As per AFP, while in the American political landscape leaders "over 70 or even 75 are ample" a generational shift has begun in the Democratic Party as a result of the midterm elections.

Recently, Representative Nancy Pelosi, 82, made the decision to not seek re-election as speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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For the first time in history, on Sunday a United States sitting President marked his 80th birthday in the White House. US President Joe Biden has marked the historical milestone but there was no public celebration.

For the first time in history, on Sunday a United States sitting President marked his 80th birthday in the White House. US President Joe Biden has marked the historical milestone but there was no public celebration. As per AFP, there was no mention of the birthday from the White House. In the late afternoon, First Lady Jill Biden posted a heartfelt message on Twitter along with two images of herself and her husband dancing in tuxedos and a gala attire with the caption, "There's no one else I'd rather dance with than you. Happy Birthday Joe! I love you." There’s no one else I’d rather dance with than you. Happy Birthday, Joe! I love you.💕 pic.twitter.com/7GmgE5vbqy — Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) November 20, 2022 × In another post, the first lady shared a picture of the Biden family celebrating the occasion. A perfect birthday celebration filled with so much love — and Joe’s favorite coconut cake! pic.twitter.com/w7005Cdtqu — Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) November 20, 2022 × However, the White House made no mention of the president's birthday. Additionally, there was no word on any public event. This comes as recently the US midterm revealed that the country's public does not want him to run for President again. Watch | US: Republicans' top priority is to probe Biden family About a year ago, Biden had a comprehensive physical exam, with the results stating that he was "a healthy, vigorous" man who is qualified to hold the office of president. However, the president has been subject to a lot of mocking for his occasional moments of confusion. Biden has not yet made a formal announcement for the 2024 presidential race, although he has stated that he will do so in the first few months of 2023. Also read | 'Messed up bring-your-kid-to-work day': Is Kim Jong Un's recently revealed daughter N.Korea's next leader? As per AFP, while in the American political landscape leaders "over 70 or even 75 are ample" a generational shift has begun in the Democratic Party as a result of the midterm elections. Recently, Representative Nancy Pelosi, 82, made the decision to not seek re-election as speaker of the House of Representatives 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.

Joe Biden becomes the first US President to celebrate 80th birthday in White House

The end of the year 2022 is on the horizon, and people in the US are already talking about the most joyous time of the year: Thanksgiving Day. The festival is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November, when friends and families meet and come together to enjoy themselves. The festival is incomplete without Turkey being served in the meal. The tradition started in the United States back in the 1500s. Thanksgiving was founded as a religious observance for all the members of the community to thank God for a common purpose.&nbsp;

<h2>Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving Day (2022)?</h2>

As the name suggests, Thanksgiving Day is the day of the year when one expresses their gratitude for what they have and what they have achieved in their lives. People come together, have fun and eat dinner where various Thanksgiving dishes are served. Many dishes are served including mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, various fall vegetables, squash, and pumpkin pie.

<img alt="Thanksgiving Day 2022" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d525c41-dddf-4289-b11e-80a61ffdc6c9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Thanksgiving%20Day.jpg" />

&nbsp;

<h2>Is Thanksgiving 2022 a Federal Holiday?</h2>

Since 1863, Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated as an annual holiday in the US. The Holidays Act, which President Ulysses S Grant signed into law on June 28, 1870, established Thanksgiving as an annual federal holiday in Washington. Thanksgiving and other federal holidays became paid holidays for all federal employees in the US on January 6, 1885, thanks to a law passed by Congress.

<h2>History of Thanksgiving Day&nbsp;</h2>

Since President George Washington declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in response to a request from Congress in 1789, the holiday has been observed nationwide. However, Thomas Jefferson, the third US President, believed that the holiday should not be observed. Later, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a national day of "Thanksgiving”.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/heavy-snowfall-hits-western-new-york-travel-disruptions-ahead-of-thanksgiving-535922">Heavy snowfall hits western New York; Travel disruptions ahead of Thanksgiving</a>

<h2>Thanksgiving 2022 weather forecast</h2>

As per media reports, 55 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles this week to celebrate Thanksgiving day with their friends and families. Thankfully, the weather won’t create issues for travellers this week, and temperatures will remain mild across the country. Sunny and mostly sunny skies are likely for most areas in the Northeast. Although there are reports of heavy snowfall hitting western New York that might force some travel disruptions.

The end of the year 2022 is on the horizon, and people in the US are already talking about the most joyous time of the year: Thanksgiving Day. The festival is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November, when friends and families meet and come together to enjoy themselves.

The end of the year 2022 is on the horizon, and people in the US are already talking about the most joyous time of the year: Thanksgiving Day. The festival is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November, when friends and families meet and come together to enjoy themselves. The festival is incomplete without Turkey being served in the meal. The tradition started in the United States back in the 1500s. Thanksgiving was founded as a religious observance for all the members of the community to thank God for a common purpose. Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving Day (2022)? As the name suggests, Thanksgiving Day is the day of the year when one expresses their gratitude for what they have and what they have achieved in their lives. People come together, have fun and eat dinner where various Thanksgiving dishes are served. Many dishes are served including mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, various fall vegetables, squash, and pumpkin pie. Is Thanksgiving 2022 a Federal Holiday? Since 1863, Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated as an annual holiday in the US. The Holidays Act, which President Ulysses S Grant signed into law on June 28, 1870, established Thanksgiving as an annual federal holiday in Washington. Thanksgiving and other federal holidays became paid holidays for all federal employees in the US on January 6, 1885, thanks to a law passed by Congress. History of Thanksgiving Day Since President George Washington declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in response to a request from Congress in 1789, the holiday has been observed nationwide. However, Thomas Jefferson, the third US President, believed that the holiday should not be observed. Later, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a national day of "Thanksgiving”. Also Read: Heavy snowfall hits western New York; Travel disruptions ahead of Thanksgiving Thanksgiving 2022 weather forecast As per media reports, 55 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles this week to celebrate Thanksgiving day with their friends and families. Thankfully, the weather won’t create issues for travellers this week, and temperatures will remain mild across the country. Sunny and mostly sunny skies are likely for most areas in the Northeast. Although there are reports of heavy snowfall hitting western New York that might force some travel disruptions.

Thanksgiving Day 2022: Know details about federal holiday in US, history, significance and weather

Rachel and Philip Ridgeway embraced parenthood with open arms on October 31 and welcomed their twins Lydia and Timothy, who were born from the longest-frozen embryos to ever result in a live birth, according to the National Embryo Donation Center. After being frozen for almost 30 years, the embryos were successfully used by doctors for the Oregon couple, who were extremely excited to welcome the two new members of their family.

The previous-known record holder was Molly Gibson, who was born in 2020 from an embryo that had been frozen inside a tube for about 27 years. Molly had broken her sister Emma's record, who was born from an embryo that had been frozen for 24 years.

"There is something mind-boggling about it," Philip told CNN as he and his wife cradled their newborns at their home located outside Portland, Oregon. "I was 5 years old when God gave life to Lydia and Timothy, and he’s been preserving that life ever since."

"In a sense, they’re our oldest children, even though they’re our smallest children,"&nbsp;the father of the twins added. The Ridgeways have four children,&nbsp;none were conceived via IVF or donors.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/celebrities-who-have-pledged-to-donate-their-organs-vijay-deverkonda-priyanka-chopra-and-others-534965">Celebrities who have pledged to donate their organs- Vijay Deverakonda, Priyanka Chopra and others</a>

The embryos belonged to an anonymous married couple, who froze them in 1992. Using in-vitro fertilization, the embryos were created with the husband's sperm, who was in his early 50s and a 34-year-old egg donor.

For nearly three-long decades, they were stored in tiny straws with liquid nitrogen. They were first kept at a fertility lab on the West Coast. In 2007, the couple donated the embryos to the National Embryo Donation Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.&nbsp;

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Rachel and Philip Ridgeway embraced parenthood with open arms on October 31 and welcomed their twins Lydia and Timothy, who were born from the longest-frozen embryos to ever result in a live birth, according to the National Embryo Donation Center.

Rachel and Philip Ridgeway embraced parenthood with open arms on October 31 and welcomed their twins Lydia and Timothy, who were born from the longest-frozen embryos to ever result in a live birth, according to the National Embryo Donation Center. After being frozen for almost 30 years, the embryos were successfully used by doctors for the Oregon couple, who were extremely excited to welcome the two new members of their family. The previous-known record holder was Molly Gibson, who was born in 2020 from an embryo that had been frozen inside a tube for about 27 years. Molly had broken her sister Emma's record, who was born from an embryo that had been frozen for 24 years. "There is something mind-boggling about it," Philip told CNN as he and his wife cradled their newborns at their home located outside Portland, Oregon. "I was 5 years old when God gave life to Lydia and Timothy, and he’s been preserving that life ever since." "In a sense, they’re our oldest children, even though they’re our smallest children," the father of the twins added. The Ridgeways have four children, none were conceived via IVF or donors. Also read: Celebrities who have pledged to donate their organs- Vijay Deverakonda, Priyanka Chopra and others The embryos belonged to an anonymous married couple, who froze them in 1992. Using in-vitro fertilization, the embryos were created with the husband's sperm, who was in his early 50s and a 34-year-old egg donor. For nearly three-long decades, they were stored in tiny straws with liquid nitrogen. They were first kept at a fertility lab on the West Coast. In 2007, the couple donated the embryos to the National Embryo Donation Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. 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.

Oregon couple welcomes twins from embryos frozen about 30 years ago

Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the President of Equatorial Guinea, is expected to extend his 43-year rule&nbsp;as the nation&nbsp;goes into elections on Sunday. The country has a population of 1.45 million, and over 400,000 people have registered to vote, Reuters reported.

As per Reuters, people will vote to elect their President, as well as 100 members of Parliament for the lower house, 55 out of the country’s 70 senators and local mayors. The 80-year-old president has always been elected with over 90 per cent&nbsp;of voters voting in his favour. However, international observers have questioned the fairness of the elections given the country’s poor record on the political freedom index.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/16-indian-sailors-unlawfully-detained-in-equatorial-guinea-for-over-three-months-531914">16 Indian sailors 'unlawfully' detained in Equatorial Guinea for over three months</a>

As per media reports, Obiang is hoping to claim the presidential throne for the sixth time by defeating his two main opponents; Buenaventura Monsuy Asumu, who is running for the sixth time against him, and Andrés Esono Ondo, who is running for the first time.

Senior political analysts in Africa say that the elections in Equatorial Guinea are “completely devoid of suspense”. Maja Bovcon, a senior Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said that the harassment of political opposition in the country is rampant which helps Obiang extend his illegitimate rule over the country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/equatorial-guinea-abolishes-death-penalty-state-tv-517914">Equatorial Guinea abolishes death penalty: State TV</a>

The United States and the European Union have also raised concerns over reported cases of harassment and intimidation of opposition groups and civil society groups in the country. Equatorial Guinea rejects such claims while labelling their statements as “interference in its electoral process.”

Obiang stormed to power in 1979 by ousting his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema in a coup. As per Reuters, the country has had only two Presidents since Equatorial Guinea’s independence from Spain in 1968.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the President of Equatorial Guinea, is expected to extend his 43-year rule as the nation goes into elections on Sunday. The country has a population of 1.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the President of Equatorial Guinea, is expected to extend his 43-year rule as the nation goes into elections on Sunday. The country has a population of 1.45 million, and over 400,000 people have registered to vote, Reuters reported. As per Reuters, people will vote to elect their President, as well as 100 members of Parliament for the lower house, 55 out of the country’s 70 senators and local mayors. The 80-year-old president has always been elected with over 90 per cent of voters voting in his favour. However, international observers have questioned the fairness of the elections given the country’s poor record on the political freedom index. Also read | 16 Indian sailors 'unlawfully' detained in Equatorial Guinea for over three months As per media reports, Obiang is hoping to claim the presidential throne for the sixth time by defeating his two main opponents; Buenaventura Monsuy Asumu, who is running for the sixth time against him, and Andrés Esono Ondo, who is running for the first time. Senior political analysts in Africa say that the elections in Equatorial Guinea are “completely devoid of suspense”. Maja Bovcon, a senior Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said that the harassment of political opposition in the country is rampant which helps Obiang extend his illegitimate rule over the country. Also read | Equatorial Guinea abolishes death penalty: State TV The United States and the European Union have also raised concerns over reported cases of harassment and intimidation of opposition groups and civil society groups in the country. Equatorial Guinea rejects such claims while labelling their statements as “interference in its electoral process.” Obiang stormed to power in 1979 by ousting his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema in a coup. As per Reuters, the country has had only two Presidents since Equatorial Guinea’s independence from Spain in 1968. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Equatorial Guinea's President all set to extend his 43-year rule in the country

White House’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in her press briefing that India played a key role in negotiating the G20 Summit declaration. She also quoted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s quote, “Today's era must not be of war” while referring to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

"India played an essential role in negotiating the summit's declaration. Prime Minister Modi made clear today's era must not be of war," the White House Press Secretary told reporters Friday. "Among other priorities addressed, we have a path forward to addressing current food and energy security challenges while continuing our efforts to build a resilient global economy," she added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-russia-west-divide-indias-g20-sherpa-kant-sees-new-delhi-as-honest-broker-533798">Amid Russia-West divide, India's G20 Sherpa Kant sees New Delhi as "honest broker"</a>

Karine Jean-Pierre further said that India and US were working towards resolving global energy and food issues among others. She stressed, “We addressed current food and energy security challenges and efforts of building a resilient global economy. PM Modi's relationship was critical to this outcome. We look forward to supporting India's G20 presidency next year.”

Earlier, the Financial Times had also reported that the Indian delegation “played a big role in achieving consensus among member states over the wording that criticised the Russian invasion.”

At the G20 summit, PM Modi had stressed: “I've repeatedly said we've to find a way to return to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine. Over the past century, World War 2 wreaked havoc in the world. After that leaders of that time made a serious effort to take the path of peace. Now it's our turn."

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/why-indias-g20-presidency-will-be-a-largely-ceremonial-tightrope-walk-534308">Why India's G20 presidency will be a largely ceremonial tightrope walk</a>

PM Modi’s message resonated well with the G20 members, who deplored in "the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine." India is all set to preside over the G20 presidency from December 1, which all other G20 nations have declared an important milestone in the history of the grouping.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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White House’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in her press briefing that India played a key role in negotiating the G20 Summit declaration. She also quoted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s quote, “Today's era must not be of war” while referring to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

White House’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in her press briefing that India played a key role in negotiating the G20 Summit declaration. She also quoted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s quote, “Today's era must not be of war” while referring to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. "India played an essential role in negotiating the summit's declaration. Prime Minister Modi made clear today's era must not be of war," the White House Press Secretary told reporters Friday. "Among other priorities addressed, we have a path forward to addressing current food and energy security challenges while continuing our efforts to build a resilient global economy," she added. Also read | Amid Russia-West divide, India's G20 Sherpa Kant sees New Delhi as "honest broker" Karine Jean-Pierre further said that India and US were working towards resolving global energy and food issues among others. She stressed, “We addressed current food and energy security challenges and efforts of building a resilient global economy. PM Modi's relationship was critical to this outcome. We look forward to supporting India's G20 presidency next year.” Earlier, the Financial Times had also reported that the Indian delegation “played a big role in achieving consensus among member states over the wording that criticised the Russian invasion.” At the G20 summit, PM Modi had stressed: “I've repeatedly said we've to find a way to return to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine. Over the past century, World War 2 wreaked havoc in the world. After that leaders of that time made a serious effort to take the path of peace. Now it's our turn." Also read | Why India's G20 presidency will be a largely ceremonial tightrope walk PM Modi’s message resonated well with the G20 members, who deplored in "the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine." India is all set to preside over the G20 presidency from December 1, which all other G20 nations have declared an important milestone in the history of the grouping. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

White House admits India played a key role in negotiating G20 summit declaration

Alabama called off a scheduled execution of a man convicted in the 1998 murder-for-hire murder of a preacher’s wife on Thursday after the state authorities faced trouble finding a suitable vein to inject the lethal drugs.

NBC News reported that the prison staff kept trying to connect the two required intravenous lines connected to Kenneth Eugene Smith, but failed. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm told they got one line established but were not able to get the second after trying several locations on Smith’s body. “We went to our protocol of a central line. We were not able to have time to complete that, so we called off the execution,” Hamm said.

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Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm comments on the case of Kenneth Smith, who was scheduled to be executed by the state this evening. <a href="https://t.co/fy1Q6rgZxO">https://t.co/fy1Q6rgZxO</a>
— Lee Hedgepeth (@lee_hedgepeth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lee_hedgepeth/status/1593481943726817280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alabama-journalist-stopped-from-attending-execution-because-her-skirt-was-too-short-502861">Alabama: Journalist stopped from attending execution because her skirt was ‘too short’</a>

Earlier, the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals had ordered a stay on Smith’s execution, after he filed an appeal before the court. However, the stay was later dismissed by the US Supreme Court at about 10:20 p.m. The state reached the conclusion an hour later that the lethal drug won’t be injected that evening, due to difficulties with establishing an IV.

Now, the state will have to seek a new execution date from the court as the death warrant has expired at Thursday midnight. &nbsp;Idaho Press reported that Smith was one of the two persons convicted of killing Elizabeth Sennett in return for a $1000 prize proffered to him by Elizabeth’s husband. Reportedly, Elizabeth’s spouse was buried in deep debt and wanted to bag the hefty insurance money.

Alabama governor Kay Ivey expressed his disappointment by suggesting that Smith’s last-minute appeals had helped him avert the execution process.

In September too, the state had to call off the execution of Alan Miller because of the same issue. Earlier, the execution of Joe Nathan James had taken several hours to get completed because of problems faced while establishing an IV line.

(With inputs from agencies)

<o:p></o:p>

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Alabama called off a scheduled execution of a man convicted in the 1998 murder-for-hire murder of a preacher’s wife on Thursday after the state authorities faced trouble finding a suitable vein to inject the lethal drugs.

Alabama called off a scheduled execution of a man convicted in the 1998 murder-for-hire murder of a preacher’s wife on Thursday after the state authorities faced trouble finding a suitable vein to inject the lethal drugs. NBC News reported that the prison staff kept trying to connect the two required intravenous lines connected to Kenneth Eugene Smith, but failed. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm told they got one line established but were not able to get the second after trying several locations on Smith’s body. “We went to our protocol of a central line. We were not able to have time to complete that, so we called off the execution,” Hamm said. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm comments on the case of Kenneth Smith, who was scheduled to be executed by the state this evening. https://t.co/fy1Q6rgZxO — Lee Hedgepeth (@lee_hedgepeth) November 18, 2022 × Read More: Alabama: Journalist stopped from attending execution because her skirt was ‘too short’ Earlier, the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals had ordered a stay on Smith’s execution, after he filed an appeal before the court. However, the stay was later dismissed by the US Supreme Court at about 10:20 p.m. The state reached the conclusion an hour later that the lethal drug won’t be injected that evening, due to difficulties with establishing an IV. Now, the state will have to seek a new execution date from the court as the death warrant has expired at Thursday midnight. Idaho Press reported that Smith was one of the two persons convicted of killing Elizabeth Sennett in return for a $1000 prize proffered to him by Elizabeth’s husband. Reportedly, Elizabeth’s spouse was buried in deep debt and wanted to bag the hefty insurance money. Alabama governor Kay Ivey expressed his disappointment by suggesting that Smith’s last-minute appeals had helped him avert the execution process. In September too, the state had to call off the execution of Alan Miller because of the same issue. Earlier, the execution of Joe Nathan James had taken several hours to get completed because of problems faced while establishing an IV line. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Alabama calls off murderer's execution after staff fails to find a suitable vein to inject lethal drugs

A missile struck a village in Poland that is close to the Ukrainian border, killing two people. While the government of Poland and US President Joe Biden exercised prudence and carefully considered the evidence, several responses swiftly emphasised that Russia had escalated the war with Ukraine by attacking a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member. One of them was Latvia's Artis Pabriks, a fellow NATO member who serves as both the country's deputy foreign minister and minister of defence.&nbsp;This is the first confirmed instance of the conflict in Ukraine directly contributing to deaths in another nation.

Pabriks referred to the missile strike on NATO territory as a strike by the "criminal Russian regime" shortly after the first reports of it surfaced.

"My condolences to our Polish brothers in arms. The criminal Russian regime fired missiles that target not only Ukrainian civilians but also landed on NATO territory in Poland. Latvia fully stands with Polish friends and condemns this crime," said Pabriks in a tweet.

Pabriks later referenced Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which requires talks when a nation believes&nbsp;"territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties [NATO-member] is threatened."

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My first reaction would be that after Russians hit Polish territory, 4. Article is in place, just like air defence of Ukrainian air.
— Artis Pabriks (@Pabriks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pabriks/status/1592596694704992257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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We explain to you in-depth what NATO is, how its collective security mechanism&nbsp;pans out, and how it has so far reacted to the missile strike on Poland.

<h2>NATO in a nutshell. What does it stand for?</h2>

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was established in 1949 with the primary goal of thwarting the prospect of Soviet expansion in Europe following World War II. Beyond that, the United States regarded it as an instrument to promote political unification on the continent and thwart the return of nationalist movements in Europe.

The Treaty of Dunkirk, which the United Kingdom and France signed in 1947 as part of an alliance to stave off a potential German invasion in the wake of the war, is where it truly has its roots.

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16 Dec 1957: very first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NATOSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NATOSummit</a> (Paris Summit) took place. It reaffirmed principal purposes &amp; unity of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NATO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NATO</a> <a href="https://t.co/vHdMdSd7OS">https://t.co/vHdMdSd7OS</a> <a href="https://t.co/49cfshJyQH">pic.twitter.com/49cfshJyQH</a>
— Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) <a href="https://twitter.com/NATOpress/status/809760122813747200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Portugal are the alliance's original 12 founding members.

NATO created and adhered to the "Massive Retaliation" policy throughout the Cold War.

The focus of NATO shifted to territorial integration, political stability, and establishing a stable&nbsp;security network&nbsp;in the area with the fall of the Soviet Union, and to some extent even before that.

Since then, NATO has intervened in ethnic disputes in the former Yugoslavia and taken part in the US-led War on Terror following the 11 September attacks in the US.

The "collective defence" concept of NATO, which states that an assault on one member nation will be treated as an attack on all member members, is its defining characteristic. This principle enables the alliance to mobilise a collective defence against any aggression. This gives smaller nations the certainty of security that larger nations like the United States,&nbsp;France, and the United Kingdom will come to their defence when needed.

<h2>The concept of 'collective security'</h2>

The organisation's primary function is to operate as a collective security alliance to provide mutual protection by military and political methods if one member state is threatened by another nation.

Article 5 of the charter, which deals with collective defence, lays down this tenet:

<blockquote>
"The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in the exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area."
</blockquote>

Article 5 has been invoked once, by the United States,&nbsp;In response to the 9/11 events in 2001.&nbsp;

<h2>How has NATO responded to the missile strike in Poland?</h2>

There is no evidence, according to NATO, that the missile strike in Poland was a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-mi5-chief-says-expulsion-of-russian-spies-from-europe-is-a-significant-strategic-blow-to-moscow-534881">Russian attack</a>. Additionally, it stated that NATO's opinion of the danger has not changed and emphasised that inquiries into the missile strike in Poland are ongoing.

Additionally, according to the Guardian, on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia was still to blame for the incident.

<img alt="poland attack" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bcbd18d3-884c-4610-87ae-1779f27399d0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/b130i58o_poland_625x300_16_November_22.jpg" />

The site of the possible strike in Przewodów in Poland where two people died.&nbsp;Photograph: Wolski o Wojnie/Facebook

"Russia bears responsibility for what happened in Poland yesterday because this is a direct result of the ongoing war and the wave of attacks from Russia against Ukraine yesterday...Nato is preparing for accidents like this to prevent them from happening, and if they happen to ensure that they don’t spiral out of control," said Stoltenberg.

Also WATCH |&nbsp;NATO briefing on Missile strike in Poland: 'Will remain calm and vigilant'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nato-briefing-on-missile-strike-in-poland-will-remain-calm-and-vigilant-534809/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>NATO's response to the Russian war on Ukraine</h2>

The NATO members, led by the US, have given Ukraine cutting-edge weaponry and information that have been crucial to Ukrainian military operations thus far. Ukraine has received weaponry worth billions of dollars, including air defence systems, artillery, rocket launchers, and ammunition.&nbsp;The United States has already promised and sent Ukraine assistance totalling $19.3 billion as of 10 November.

While individual NATO countries are supplying military hardware, NATO as a whole focuses on non-lethal assistance.

"NATO is helping to coordinate Ukraine’s requests for assistance and is supporting Allies in the delivery of humanitarian and non-lethal aid...At the Madrid Summit in June 2022, Allied leaders agreed a strengthened package of support for Ukraine, which includes support in secure communications, fuel, medical supplies, body armour, winter clothing, equipment to counter mines and chemical and biological threats, and portable anti-drone systems," says NATO on its official website.

It adds,&nbsp;"More broadly, NATO’s Article 5 security guarantee and its ironclad promise of collective defence provides Allies with the confidence that they can send weapons to Ukraine without diminishing their own security."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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A missile struck a village in Poland that is close to the Ukrainian border, killing two people. While the government of Poland and US President Joe Biden exercised prudence and carefully considered the evidence, several responses swiftly emphasised that Russia had escalated the war with Ukraine by attacking a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member.

A missile struck a village in Poland that is close to the Ukrainian border, killing two people. While the government of Poland and US President Joe Biden exercised prudence and carefully considered the evidence, several responses swiftly emphasised that Russia had escalated the war with Ukraine by attacking a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member. One of them was Latvia's Artis Pabriks, a fellow NATO member who serves as both the country's deputy foreign minister and minister of defence. This is the first confirmed instance of the conflict in Ukraine directly contributing to deaths in another nation. Pabriks referred to the missile strike on NATO territory as a strike by the "criminal Russian regime" shortly after the first reports of it surfaced. "My condolences to our Polish brothers in arms. The criminal Russian regime fired missiles that target not only Ukrainian civilians but also landed on NATO territory in Poland. Latvia fully stands with Polish friends and condemns this crime," said Pabriks in a tweet. Pabriks later referenced Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which requires talks when a nation believes "territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties [NATO-member] is threatened." My first reaction would be that after Russians hit Polish territory, 4. Article is in place, just like air defence of Ukrainian air. — Artis Pabriks (@Pabriks) November 15, 2022 × We explain to you in-depth what NATO is, how its collective security mechanism pans out, and how it has so far reacted to the missile strike on Poland. NATO in a nutshell. What does it stand for? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was established in 1949 with the primary goal of thwarting the prospect of Soviet expansion in Europe following World War II. Beyond that, the United States regarded it as an instrument to promote political unification on the continent and thwart the return of nationalist movements in Europe. The Treaty of Dunkirk, which the United Kingdom and France signed in 1947 as part of an alliance to stave off a potential German invasion in the wake of the war, is where it truly has its roots. 16 Dec 1957: very first #NATOSummit (Paris Summit) took place. It reaffirmed principal purposes & unity of #NATO https://t.co/vHdMdSd7OS pic.twitter.com/49cfshJyQH — Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) December 16, 2016 × The United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Portugal are the alliance's original 12 founding members. NATO created and adhered to the "Massive Retaliation" policy throughout the Cold War. The focus of NATO shifted to territorial integration, political stability, and establishing a stable security network in the area with the fall of the Soviet Union, and to some extent even before that. Since then, NATO has intervened in ethnic disputes in the former Yugoslavia and taken part in the US-led War on Terror following the 11 September attacks in the US. The "collective defence" concept of NATO, which states that an assault on one member nation will be treated as an attack on all member members, is its defining characteristic. This principle enables the alliance to mobilise a collective defence against any aggression. This gives smaller nations the certainty of security that larger nations like the United States, France, and the United Kingdom will come to their defence when needed. The concept of 'collective security' The organisation's primary function is to operate as a collective security alliance to provide mutual protection by military and political methods if one member state is threatened by another nation. Article 5 of the charter, which deals with collective defence, lays down this tenet: "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in the exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area." Article 5 has been invoked once, by the United States, In response to the 9/11 events in 2001. How has NATO responded to the missile strike in Poland? There is no evidence, according to NATO, that the missile strike in Poland was a Russian attack. Additionally, it stated that NATO's opinion of the danger has not changed and emphasised that inquiries into the missile strike in Poland are ongoing. Additionally, according to the Guardian, on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia was still to blame for the incident. The site of the possible strike in Przewodów in Poland where two people died. Photograph: Wolski o Wojnie/Facebook "Russia bears responsibility for what happened in Poland yesterday because this is a direct result of the ongoing war and the wave of attacks from Russia against Ukraine yesterday...Nato is preparing for accidents like this to prevent them from happening, and if they happen to ensure that they don’t spiral out of control," said Stoltenberg. Also WATCH | NATO briefing on Missile strike in Poland: 'Will remain calm and vigilant' NATO's response to the Russian war on Ukraine The NATO members, led by the US, have given Ukraine cutting-edge weaponry and information that have been crucial to Ukrainian military operations thus far. Ukraine has received weaponry worth billions of dollars, including air defence systems, artillery, rocket launchers, and ammunition. The United States has already promised and sent Ukraine assistance totalling $19.3 billion as of 10 November. While individual NATO countries are supplying military hardware, NATO as a whole focuses on non-lethal assistance. "NATO is helping to coordinate Ukraine’s requests for assistance and is supporting Allies in the delivery of humanitarian and non-lethal aid...At the Madrid Summit in June 2022, Allied leaders agreed a strengthened package of support for Ukraine, which includes support in secure communications, fuel, medical supplies, body armour, winter clothing, equipment to counter mines and chemical and biological threats, and portable anti-drone systems," says NATO on its official website. It adds, "More broadly, NATO’s Article 5 security guarantee and its ironclad promise of collective defence provides Allies with the confidence that they can send weapons to Ukraine without diminishing their own security." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Poland missile strike EXPLAINED: What is NATO and its tenet of 'collective security'?

A Florida judge has awarded $3 million to the family of Gabby Petito, an American woman who was killed by her fiancée, Brian Laundrie, while they were travelling together on a van life journey across the United States.

Gabby Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie embarked on the US tour in July 2021, and the journey was supposed to end after four months. However, Petito disappeared in late August. The lawsuit was filed in May this year, in which Laundrie was accused of murdering his girlfriend, Associated Press reported. A separate lawsuit has also been filed against the Laundrie family.

&nbsp;

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As a reminder, this is separate from the civil lawsuit that’s headed to a jury trial next year. 
 
Brian Laundrie’s estate is believed to be a five-figure sum, which based on Judge Carroll’s ruling, would go to the plaintiffs Nichole Schmidt and Joe Petito, Gabby Petito’s parents. <a href="https://t.co/7hku8jDuii">pic.twitter.com/7hku8jDuii</a>
— JB Biunno #HeyJB (@WFLAJB) <a href="https://twitter.com/WFLAJB/status/1593247936447541249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Sarasota County Circuit Judge Hunter W. Carroll signed off the settlement on Thursday, where the Petito family declared the awarded money will be wired to the Gabby Petito foundation, a mission dedicated to locating missing people and curbing domestic violence.

As per the charges, the Laundrie family deliberately concealed Brian’s confession of&nbsp;killing Petito before he returned home in September 2021 to Florida from their trip out West in a converted van.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-notebook-brian-laundrie-took-responsibility-for-gabby-petitos-death-in-us-says-fbi-446606">In notebook, Brian Laundrie took responsibility for Gabby Petito’s death in US, says FBI</a>

Petito’s death and the subsequent discovery of her corpse at Wyoming national park became a national obsession last year. Later on, Brian Laundrie also went missing. During the FBI-led search operation, his skeletal remains were discovered in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20. In November last year, it was established that Laundrie died due to a self-inflicted gunshot.

The Guardian reports that the Petito family has also filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Police in Moab, Utah, where the Police allegedly allowed the couple to continue their journey despite glaring signs of domestic abuse and physical violence. The lawsuits against the Utah Police and the Laundrie family are still going on.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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A Florida judge has awarded $3 million to the family of Gabby Petito, an American woman who was killed by her fiancée, Brian Laundrie, while they were travelling together on a van life journey across the United States.

A Florida judge has awarded $3 million to the family of Gabby Petito, an American woman who was killed by her fiancée, Brian Laundrie, while they were travelling together on a van life journey across the United States. Gabby Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie embarked on the US tour in July 2021, and the journey was supposed to end after four months. However, Petito disappeared in late August. The lawsuit was filed in May this year, in which Laundrie was accused of murdering his girlfriend, Associated Press reported. A separate lawsuit has also been filed against the Laundrie family. As a reminder, this is separate from the civil lawsuit that’s headed to a jury trial next year. Brian Laundrie’s estate is believed to be a five-figure sum, which based on Judge Carroll’s ruling, would go to the plaintiffs Nichole Schmidt and Joe Petito, Gabby Petito’s parents. pic.twitter.com/7hku8jDuii — JB Biunno #HeyJB (@WFLAJB) November 17, 2022 × Sarasota County Circuit Judge Hunter W. Carroll signed off the settlement on Thursday, where the Petito family declared the awarded money will be wired to the Gabby Petito foundation, a mission dedicated to locating missing people and curbing domestic violence. As per the charges, the Laundrie family deliberately concealed Brian’s confession of killing Petito before he returned home in September 2021 to Florida from their trip out West in a converted van. Also Read: In notebook, Brian Laundrie took responsibility for Gabby Petito’s death in US, says FBI Petito’s death and the subsequent discovery of her corpse at Wyoming national park became a national obsession last year. Later on, Brian Laundrie also went missing. During the FBI-led search operation, his skeletal remains were discovered in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20. In November last year, it was established that Laundrie died due to a self-inflicted gunshot. The Guardian reports that the Petito family has also filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Police in Moab, Utah, where the Police allegedly allowed the couple to continue their journey despite glaring signs of domestic abuse and physical violence. The lawsuits against the Utah Police and the Laundrie family are still going on. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Florida judge awards Gabby Petito’s family $3 million settlement in wrongful death lawsuit

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday that Moscow has not ruled out meetings with the United States for achieving "strategic stability". The two nations are all set to hold crucial talks regarding the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Egypt between November 29 and December 6. "If the Americans show interest and readiness, we will not refuse," Ryabkov told AFP.&nbsp;

In 2021, both the US and Russia agreed to extend their nuclear arms control pact for five more years but Moscow did not allow American authorities to inspect its nuclear sites under the terms of the agreement.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-united-states-hold-military-drills-right-after-north-koreas-icbm-launch-535363">Japan, United States hold military drills right after North Korea's ICBM launch</a>

While the conversations are expected to mainly include topics of strategic stability, Ryabkov made it clear that Russia will not have any conversation regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Russia has expressed optimism regarding a prisoner swap that includes American basketball star&nbsp;Brittney Griner. The Kremlin said that Griner can be sent to the US in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout who is currently serving 25 years in prison on a 2012 conviction.&nbsp;

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"I would like to hope that the prospect (of an exchange) is not only still a topical issue, but that it is being strengthened, and the moment comes when we get a concrete agreement," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow, according to the state-run news agency RIA Novosti.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Griner was arrested by the authorities in Moscow for possession of vape cartridges with a small quantity of cannabis oil. She is currently serving her sentence&nbsp;in the&nbsp;central region of Mordovia.&nbsp;

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday that Moscow has not ruled out meetings with the United States for achieving "strategic stability". The two nations are all set to hold crucial talks regarding the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Egypt between November 29 and December 6.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday that Moscow has not ruled out meetings with the United States for achieving "strategic stability". The two nations are all set to hold crucial talks regarding the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Egypt between November 29 and December 6. "If the Americans show interest and readiness, we will not refuse," Ryabkov told AFP. In 2021, both the US and Russia agreed to extend their nuclear arms control pact for five more years but Moscow did not allow American authorities to inspect its nuclear sites under the terms of the agreement. Also read | Japan, United States hold military drills right after North Korea's ICBM launch While the conversations are expected to mainly include topics of strategic stability, Ryabkov made it clear that Russia will not have any conversation regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia has expressed optimism regarding a prisoner swap that includes American basketball star Brittney Griner. The Kremlin said that Griner can be sent to the US in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout who is currently serving 25 years in prison on a 2012 conviction. Also read | Republicans say priority is to investigate Biden and his family's business dealings "I would like to hope that the prospect (of an exchange) is not only still a topical issue, but that it is being strengthened, and the moment comes when we get a concrete agreement," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow, according to the state-run news agency RIA Novosti. Griner was arrested by the authorities in Moscow for possession of vape cartridges with a small quantity of cannabis oil. She is currently serving her sentence in the central region of Mordovia.

Russia open to conducting peace talks with United States, says deputy foreign minister

The United States is all set to become the second country in the world to allow the sale and consumption of lab-grown meat. The US food and drug administration (FDA) said on Friday that it will allow a California-based company called Upside Foods to sell lab-grown meet after all the necessary safety and quality checks. According to CNN, the meat will be produced in a controlled laboratory environment with the help of cells taken from chickens and will not involve any actual slaughter.&nbsp;

“The world is experiencing a food revolution and the US food and drug administration is committed to supporting innovation in the food supply,” Robert Califf, the FDA commissioner told reporters.&nbsp;

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The FDA also informed the media that it is currently “engaged in discussions with multiple firms” when it comes to other lab-grown meat products. If approved, the US can soon become a massive market for lab-grown meat – a product that is being considered to be a more environment-friendly option.&nbsp;

There have also been reports of lab-grown seafood but no product has come close to approval.&nbsp;

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Upside Foods, which was formerly known as Memphis Meats, welcomed the FDA decision but said that it will need few months after the approval to start delivery of the product to supermarkets. According to The Guardian, Upside Foods will also need an approval from the US Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;

The announcement came just days after the topic of creating environment-friendly food was discussed at the COP27 summit in Egypt. The FDA approval of the lab-grown meat products is being considered to be a step in the right direction with more companies also joining the industry in the near future.&nbsp;

The United States is all set to become the second country in the world to allow the sale and consumption of lab-grown meat. The US food and drug administration (FDA) said on Friday that it will allow a California-based company called Upside Foods to sell lab-grown meet after all the necessary safety and quality checks.

The United States is all set to become the second country in the world to allow the sale and consumption of lab-grown meat. The US food and drug administration (FDA) said on Friday that it will allow a California-based company called Upside Foods to sell lab-grown meet after all the necessary safety and quality checks. According to CNN, the meat will be produced in a controlled laboratory environment with the help of cells taken from chickens and will not involve any actual slaughter. “The world is experiencing a food revolution and the US food and drug administration is committed to supporting innovation in the food supply,” Robert Califf, the FDA commissioner told reporters. Also read | Japan, United States hold military drills right after North Korea's ICBM launch The FDA also informed the media that it is currently “engaged in discussions with multiple firms” when it comes to other lab-grown meat products. If approved, the US can soon become a massive market for lab-grown meat – a product that is being considered to be a more environment-friendly option. There have also been reports of lab-grown seafood but no product has come close to approval. Also read | Biden administration suggests immunity for Saudi crown prince in Khashoggi case Upside Foods, which was formerly known as Memphis Meats, welcomed the FDA decision but said that it will need few months after the approval to start delivery of the product to supermarkets. According to The Guardian, Upside Foods will also need an approval from the US Department of Agriculture. The announcement came just days after the topic of creating environment-friendly food was discussed at the COP27 summit in Egypt. The FDA approval of the lab-grown meat products is being considered to be a step in the right direction with more companies also joining the industry in the near future.

United States regulator approves consumption and sale of lab-grown meat

The Japanese Defence Ministry announced on Friday that Japan and the United States held joint military drills over the Sea of Japan right after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed in the waters within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the northern region of Hokkaido. &nbsp;

"Japan Self-Defense Forces and US armed forces conducted a bilateral exercise... amid an increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan," the official statement read according to Reuters.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-has-fired-suspected-icbm-seoul-says-535152">North Korea ICBM had range to hit US mainland, says Japan</a>

The statement further stated that the drill was a reaction to "North Korea's ICBM-class ballistic missile launch that landed within the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan".&nbsp;

The EEZ is around 200 nautical miles away from the Japanese coastline and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that both Japan and the US will be launching a further investigation into the matter.&nbsp;

"This bilateral exercise reaffirms the strong will between Japan and the United States to respond to any situation. The exercise also further strengthens the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US Alliance", the statement said regarding the drill involving aircraft from both nations.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nord-stream-blasts-were-an-act-of-sabotage-swedish-prosecutor-says-535297">Nord Stream blasts were acts of sabotage, traces of explosives found, says Swedish prosecutor</a>

While no damages were reported on Fridayday, the South Korean defence ministry said that the ICBM was one of the longest-range weapons in North Korea's arsenal and according to reports, it can be capable of launching carrying nuclear warheads as far as the coastal regions of the US.&nbsp;

Earlier on Thursday, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile which prompted South Korean Defence Minister Choe Son Hui to predict "fiercer military responses" from Pyongyang in the future.&nbsp;

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The Japanese Defence Ministry announced on Friday that Japan and the United States held joint military drills over the Sea of Japan right after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed in the waters within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the northern region of Hokkaido.

The Japanese Defence Ministry announced on Friday that Japan and the United States held joint military drills over the Sea of Japan right after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed in the waters within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the northern region of Hokkaido. "Japan Self-Defense Forces and US armed forces conducted a bilateral exercise... amid an increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan," the official statement read according to Reuters. Also read | North Korea ICBM had range to hit US mainland, says Japan The statement further stated that the drill was a reaction to "North Korea's ICBM-class ballistic missile launch that landed within the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan". The EEZ is around 200 nautical miles away from the Japanese coastline and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that both Japan and the US will be launching a further investigation into the matter. "This bilateral exercise reaffirms the strong will between Japan and the United States to respond to any situation. The exercise also further strengthens the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US Alliance", the statement said regarding the drill involving aircraft from both nations. Also read | Nord Stream blasts were acts of sabotage, traces of explosives found, says Swedish prosecutor While no damages were reported on Fridayday, the South Korean defence ministry said that the ICBM was one of the longest-range weapons in North Korea's arsenal and according to reports, it can be capable of launching carrying nuclear warheads as far as the coastal regions of the US. Earlier on Thursday, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile which prompted South Korean Defence Minister Choe Son Hui to predict "fiercer military responses" from Pyongyang in the future.

Japan, United States hold military drills right after North Korea's ICBM launch

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