U.S. President Joe Biden has announced his re-election bid months after former President Donald Trump said he is running for office. While there is no guarantee yet that Trump will be able to secure the Republican nomination, it looks like it will be Trump Vs Biden again in 2024. Who will win this time? Listen in to Vikram Chandra.

Biden announces re-election bid, It is Trump Vs Biden again! | This World

Five people including an eight-year-old have been shot dead in Cleveland, Texas. According to the reports in the US media, it is now being said that the Sheriff's office reportedly got a call about this on late Friday night. The police officers responded to the call but they were greeted with this gruesome crime scene.

US: Five people killed in Texas' Cleveland, 8-year-old victim dies in transit to hospital

The 2024 US presidential election will feature artificial intelligence as a prominent issue, allowing candidates to reach voters more quickly, cheaply, and efficiently.

Experts predict AI to be the forefront of 2024 US election campaign

Every recent American mass shooting has been followed by a political play that has become all too common: Democrats demand additional gun control laws, such as banning assault-style weapons, and note how the US is unique among industrialised nations in its high levels of gun violence. Republicans argue that any gun control measures would be ineffective because the US Constitution upholds the right to own firearms.

Reports: 61% of US citizens want government to ban assault weapons

Warplanes on bombing raids drew heavy anti-aircraft fire over Khartoum on Saturday as fierce fighting between Sudan's army and paramilitaries entered a third week, violating a renewed truce.

Sudan violence enters third week, UN says country "Falling apart"

A 16-year-old teen from North Carolina in the United States suffered burns covering 80 per cent of his body while he was attempting a viral TikTok challenge trying to create a makeshift torch using a spray paint can and a lighter.

The dangerous stunt triggered an explosion as it involved the use of flammable aerosols to create miniature flamethrowers. This caused several wounds and further evoked warnings from the authorities.

As per the New York Post report, the incident left the teenager, who has been identified as Mason Dark, with third-degree burns on his back.

Mason's mother Holli Dark said, "We all heard a big boom. And then Mason came running out and started taking off his shirt." She further added that her son is "unrecognizable" after the tragic incident.

In an attempt to soothe his burns, Mason jumped into a river nearby and emerged with charred skin.

This further worsened his condition and increased the risk of infection.

As per the reports, doctors said that the 16-year-old also suffered T-shaped third-degree burn on his back from ripping off his t-shirt, which was engulfed in flames.

He is currently being treated in the UNC Burn Centre where he has undergone several surgeries to receive skin grafts. His mother said that their family is hopeful that Mason will heal over time. He is expected to be in the hospital for at least six months.

A note by his mother reads, ''My son Mason, needs your prayers. 75% of his body is burned. The accident occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, April 23, 2023. He jumped into a river to extinguish the flames. The risk of infection from the river water is high, on top of having 2nd and 3rd-degree burns. We are thankful to be at the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill. It is one of the top in the nation. Mason has a long road ahead of him. Please pray for his recovery. He is in an incredible amount of pain and is sedated."

<h2>Dangerous TikTok challenges and the ordeals they have caused</h2>

'Blackout Challenge'

The "blackout challenge" had&nbsp;allegedly claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl, last year, in the United States who died in intensive care after performing the deadly stunt.

The viral challenge encouraged users to choke themselves until passing out due to lack of oxygen. The mother of the girl, Tawainna Anderson, said that her daughter Nylah fell unconscious at home in December last year after choking as she took part in the TikTok challenge.&nbsp;

She had sued TikTok over wrongful death and negligence among other damages.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
According to court documents, Anderson claimed TikTok's algorithm allegedly determined that the blackout challenge was "well-tailored and likely to be of interest" for the 10-year-old.

'Benadryl challenge'&nbsp;

Earlier, a 13-year-old boy from Ohio, United States, lost his life after he took an overdose of the medication while attempting a dangerous TikTok trend. He ingested 12 to 14 pills of Benadryl as a part of the social media challenge.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;
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A 16-year-old teen from North Carolina in the United States suffered burns covering 80 per cent of his body while he was attempting a viral TikTok challenge trying to create a makeshift torch using a spray paint can and a lighter.

A 16-year-old teen from North Carolina in the United States suffered burns covering 80 per cent of his body while he was attempting a viral TikTok challenge trying to create a makeshift torch using a spray paint can and a lighter. The dangerous stunt triggered an explosion as it involved the use of flammable aerosols to create miniature flamethrowers. This caused several wounds and further evoked warnings from the authorities. As per the New York Post report, the incident left the teenager, who has been identified as Mason Dark, with third-degree burns on his back. Mason's mother Holli Dark said, "We all heard a big boom. And then Mason came running out and started taking off his shirt." She further added that her son is "unrecognizable" after the tragic incident. In an attempt to soothe his burns, Mason jumped into a river nearby and emerged with charred skin. This further worsened his condition and increased the risk of infection. As per the reports, doctors said that the 16-year-old also suffered T-shaped third-degree burn on his back from ripping off his t-shirt, which was engulfed in flames. He is currently being treated in the UNC Burn Centre where he has undergone several surgeries to receive skin grafts. His mother said that their family is hopeful that Mason will heal over time. He is expected to be in the hospital for at least six months. A note by his mother reads, ''My son Mason, needs your prayers. 75% of his body is burned. The accident occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, April 23, 2023. He jumped into a river to extinguish the flames. The risk of infection from the river water is high, on top of having 2nd and 3rd-degree burns. We are thankful to be at the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill. It is one of the top in the nation. Mason has a long road ahead of him. Please pray for his recovery. He is in an incredible amount of pain and is sedated." Dangerous TikTok challenges and the ordeals they have caused 'Blackout Challenge' The "blackout challenge" had allegedly claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl, last year, in the United States who died in intensive care after performing the deadly stunt. The viral challenge encouraged users to choke themselves until passing out due to lack of oxygen. The mother of the girl, Tawainna Anderson, said that her daughter Nylah fell unconscious at home in December last year after choking as she took part in the TikTok challenge. She had sued TikTok over wrongful death and negligence among other damages. According to court documents, Anderson claimed TikTok's algorithm allegedly determined that the blackout challenge was "well-tailored and likely to be of interest" for the 10-year-old. 'Benadryl challenge' Earlier, a 13-year-old boy from Ohio, United States, lost his life after he took an overdose of the medication while attempting a dangerous TikTok trend. He ingested 12 to 14 pills of Benadryl as a part of the social media challenge. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Viral TikTok trend leaves US teen disfigured with 80% third-degree burns

The presence of even one American soldier in Iraq, according to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is "too much," and Western military interventions are to blame for the region's unrest. The statement was made while Abdul Latif Rashid, the president of Iraq, was in Iran for extensive talks on Saturday.

Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei: US is an unreliable friend

With the US and china rivalry intensifying in the latest the United States of America has warned Beijing on south china sea and has accused Beijing of intimidation of Philippine vessels. The US State department further warned that an attack on the Philippine security forces by china would trigger a US Response. We decode the repercussions of such statements and is there a new cold war in the offing?

US Warns Beijing on South China Sea

China is expanding its nuclear weapons capacity and this leaves the American officials with a serious cause of concern on how to respond to a new era in which there'll be three major nuclear powers. The Voice of America correspondent Jessica Stone gets the story from the state department.

Russia is helping China expand its nuclear weapons | WION-VOA Co-Production

The bitter rivalry between Sudan’s de-facto leader and his second-in-command - is tearing apart the African nation, with hundreds of civilians dying, and thousands of foreigners stranded. But is this just an internal unrest or is it becoming another proxy conflict being fought on behalf of larger interests? While the battle is raging between Sudan’s army and its paramilitary RSF, the stage is set for a gory recap of the happenings and destruction in Ukraine. U.S. has long been batting for a civilian government in Sudan to bring peace in the nation. But it’s never that simple when its America. Russia was on the verge of setting up a naval base in port Sudan where it would park its naval assets and nuclear submarines with 300 soldiers - which U.S. did not want.

Will Sudan become the next battleground for proxy wars like Ukraine?

The Federal Reserve failed to “take forceful enough action” before the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank last month, said the United States central bank, on Friday (April 28). However, it also criticised leadership at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) for “a textbook case of mismanagement,” in its latest report.&nbsp;

The report also noted the extremely poor bank management, weakened regulations and lax government supervision for the failure of the collapse of the US lender. The collapse had&nbsp;also triggered an ongoing banking crisis for mid-sized US banks as the panic it set off also reportedly led to the failure of another major lender, Signature Bank, two days later.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the report also includes the release of internal reports and Fed communications which is rare and typically confidential but the Fed chose to release these reports to show how the bank was managed up to its failure.

Where did the Fed go wrong?

In its report, the Fed issued a detailed and scathing assessment of what led to the collapse of SVB, the US’ 16th largest bank. The report was authored by Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr and staff said, “Federal Reserve supervisors failed to take forceful enough action.”&nbsp;

It added, “SVB’s failure demonstrates that there are weaknesses in regulation and supervision that must be addressed.” The report also highlighted the underlying cultural issues at the Fed, where supervisors were unwilling to take strict action on bank management when they saw growing problems.

“Supervisors did not fully appreciate the extent of the vulnerabilities as Silicon Valley Bank grew in size and complexity,” said Barr. He added, “When supervisors did identify vulnerabilities, they did not take sufficient steps to ensure that Silicon Valley Bank fixed those problems quickly enough.”&nbsp;

The Fed&nbsp;also concluded, on the note, that these cultural issues stemmed from legislation passed in 2018, which lessened regulations for banks with less than $250 billion in assets. A year later, the Fed also weakened its own rules and exempted banks below that threshold from stress tests and other regulations.&nbsp;

SVB’s role

The report also noted that the Fed “did not appreciate the seriousness of critical deficiencies” in SVB’s governance, liquidity, and interest rate risk management, adding, this meant that while the conditions deteriorated and significant risk to the firm’s safety and soundness emerged the bank remained “well-rated.”

Meanwhile, Fed also criticised the bank for how they managed executive compensation, as the report indicates that the executive compensation at the bank was geared toward short-term profits and the stock price with no incentives tied to risk management.

It is also worth noting that the Silicon Valley Bank did not have a chief risk officer at the firm for roughly a year and it was also the time when the firm was rapidly growing. In 2022, SVB did not test its capacity to borrow at the discount window or have appropriate collateral and operational arrangements in place to obtain contingency funding.

What does the Fed plan to do now?

The central bank now plans to reexamine how it regulates larger regional banks like SVB, which had $200 billion in assets when it collapsed. “While higher supervisory and regulatory requirements may not have prevented the firm’s failure, they would likely have bolstered the resilience of Silicon Valley Bank,” the report noted.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, banking policy analysts said that this report, along with the two separate ones released by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp&nbsp;and the Government Accountability Office might lead to tighter regulations. Although the Fed acknowledged it could take years for proposals to be implemented.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The Federal Reserve failed to “take forceful enough action” before the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank last month, said the United States central bank, on Friday (April 28).

The Federal Reserve failed to “take forceful enough action” before the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank last month, said the United States central bank, on Friday (April 28). However, it also criticised leadership at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) for “a textbook case of mismanagement,” in its latest report. The report also noted the extremely poor bank management, weakened regulations and lax government supervision for the failure of the collapse of the US lender. The collapse had also triggered an ongoing banking crisis for mid-sized US banks as the panic it set off also reportedly led to the failure of another major lender, Signature Bank, two days later. Furthermore, the report also includes the release of internal reports and Fed communications which is rare and typically confidential but the Fed chose to release these reports to show how the bank was managed up to its failure. Where did the Fed go wrong? In its report, the Fed issued a detailed and scathing assessment of what led to the collapse of SVB, the US’ 16th largest bank. The report was authored by Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr and staff said, “Federal Reserve supervisors failed to take forceful enough action.” It added, “SVB’s failure demonstrates that there are weaknesses in regulation and supervision that must be addressed.” The report also highlighted the underlying cultural issues at the Fed, where supervisors were unwilling to take strict action on bank management when they saw growing problems. “Supervisors did not fully appreciate the extent of the vulnerabilities as Silicon Valley Bank grew in size and complexity,” said Barr. He added, “When supervisors did identify vulnerabilities, they did not take sufficient steps to ensure that Silicon Valley Bank fixed those problems quickly enough.” The Fed also concluded, on the note, that these cultural issues stemmed from legislation passed in 2018, which lessened regulations for banks with less than $250 billion in assets. A year later, the Fed also weakened its own rules and exempted banks below that threshold from stress tests and other regulations. SVB’s role The report also noted that the Fed “did not appreciate the seriousness of critical deficiencies” in SVB’s governance, liquidity, and interest rate risk management, adding, this meant that while the conditions deteriorated and significant risk to the firm’s safety and soundness emerged the bank remained “well-rated.” Meanwhile, Fed also criticised the bank for how they managed executive compensation, as the report indicates that the executive compensation at the bank was geared toward short-term profits and the stock price with no incentives tied to risk management. It is also worth noting that the Silicon Valley Bank did not have a chief risk officer at the firm for roughly a year and it was also the time when the firm was rapidly growing. In 2022, SVB did not test its capacity to borrow at the discount window or have appropriate collateral and operational arrangements in place to obtain contingency funding. What does the Fed plan to do now? The central bank now plans to reexamine how it regulates larger regional banks like SVB, which had $200 billion in assets when it collapsed. “While higher supervisory and regulatory requirements may not have prevented the firm’s failure, they would likely have bolstered the resilience of Silicon Valley Bank,” the report noted. Meanwhile, banking policy analysts said that this report, along with the two separate ones released by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and the Government Accountability Office might lead to tighter regulations. Although the Fed acknowledged it could take years for proposals to be implemented. (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.

Federal Reserve admits fault, blames Silicon Valley Bank executives for collapse, calls for stricter rules

On Inside South Asia with Pakistan: military coup imminent? What makes Nepal's Mt Annapurna deadly Kedarnath temple opens despite adverse weather B'desh: 10 years of rana plaza, has anything changed? Operation Kaveri: evacuating South Asians from Sudan

Pakistan military rule | Nepal's deadly peaks | Kedarnath opens

Over 500 people have been killed and over 4000 others have been injured in the fighting in Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Watch the video to know more.

‘Devastating toll’ of fighting in Sudan: Over 500 killed, 4000 injured

Cash-strapped Pakistan urged the United States to restore military financing and sales, which was earlier suspended by former president Donald Trump, according to Dawn.

Addressing the seminar in Washington, Pakistan's envoy to US Masood Khan, on Thursday said, "It is important that the US restores, for Pakistan, Foreign Military Financing and Foreign Military Sales, suspended by the previous administration."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-nations-reach-deal-in-principle-to-transit-grain-from-ukraine-587170">EU nations reach deal 'in principle' to transit grain from Ukraine</a>

Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the US-Pakistan relationship has been stuck in a prolonged period of uncertainty. And, now with the rivalry between US and China, Pakistan's relations with America have strained and also damaged the country's deteriorating economy.

US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Elizabeth Horst, who was also at the event, focused on the need to help rebuild the troubled Pakistani economy and urged Islamabad to work with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to do so, reported Dawn.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-air-force-uses-night-vision-goggles-bravely-rescues-121-people-from-sudan-airstrip-587183">Indian Air Force uses night vision goggles, bravely rescues 121 people from Sudan airstrip</a>

"The reforms that Pakistan and the IMF agreed to are not easy," she said, adding, "But it's crucial that Pakistan take these actions to bring the country back to sound financial footing, avoid falling into further debt, and grow Pakistan's economy."

Washington asks Islamabad to implement 'tough reforms' agreed with IMF. Recently, the increase in high-level diplomatic engagements and dialogues gave Pakistan a ray of hope again with regard to repairing the strained ties with the US.

The half-day conference at Wilson Centre, Washington, focused on how the US-Pakistan relationship can be crafted against the backdrop of multiple challenging developments.

Watch | After Russia's winter assault, Ukraine prepares for summer attack

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Responding to a question, Ambassador Khan said Pakistan placed its first order for Russian oil and did so in consultation with the US government, Dawn reported.

He also spoke about the role Pakistan can play in bringing stability to Afghanistan. 
"Afghanistan's stability is imperative, first and foremost, for its own people who have suffered grievously over the past four decades," Dawn quoted Khan as saying.

Noting that the United States and China were both concerned about the growth of terrorism in Afghanistan, he said: "Let's work together to eliminate this threat. Today it is a threat for Pakistan and Afghanistan; if unchecked, it will spread to other parts of the region and beyond."&nbsp;

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Cash-strapped Pakistan urged the United States to restore military financing and sales, which was earlier suspended by former president Donald Trump, according to Dawn.

Cash-strapped Pakistan urged the United States to restore military financing and sales, which was earlier suspended by former president Donald Trump, according to Dawn. Addressing the seminar in Washington, Pakistan's envoy to US Masood Khan, on Thursday said, "It is important that the US restores, for Pakistan, Foreign Military Financing and Foreign Military Sales, suspended by the previous administration." Also Read | EU nations reach deal 'in principle' to transit grain from Ukraine Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the US-Pakistan relationship has been stuck in a prolonged period of uncertainty. And, now with the rivalry between US and China, Pakistan's relations with America have strained and also damaged the country's deteriorating economy. US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Elizabeth Horst, who was also at the event, focused on the need to help rebuild the troubled Pakistani economy and urged Islamabad to work with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to do so, reported Dawn. Also Read | Indian Air Force uses night vision goggles, bravely rescues 121 people from Sudan airstrip "The reforms that Pakistan and the IMF agreed to are not easy," she said, adding, "But it's crucial that Pakistan take these actions to bring the country back to sound financial footing, avoid falling into further debt, and grow Pakistan's economy." Washington asks Islamabad to implement 'tough reforms' agreed with IMF. Recently, the increase in high-level diplomatic engagements and dialogues gave Pakistan a ray of hope again with regard to repairing the strained ties with the US. The half-day conference at Wilson Centre, Washington, focused on how the US-Pakistan relationship can be crafted against the backdrop of multiple challenging developments. Watch | After Russia's winter assault, Ukraine prepares for summer attack × Responding to a question, Ambassador Khan said Pakistan placed its first order for Russian oil and did so in consultation with the US government, Dawn reported. He also spoke about the role Pakistan can play in bringing stability to Afghanistan. "Afghanistan's stability is imperative, first and foremost, for its own people who have suffered grievously over the past four decades," Dawn quoted Khan as saying. Noting that the United States and China were both concerned about the growth of terrorism in Afghanistan, he said: "Let's work together to eliminate this threat. Today it is a threat for Pakistan and Afghanistan; if unchecked, it will spread to other parts of the region and beyond." 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.

Cash-strapped Pakistan urges US to restore military financing and sales

The head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, was the subject of two Russian pranksters who pretended to be the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on a phone call. The duo,&nbsp;who are supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin, compelled the head of the Federal Reserve to speak on issues like inflation and how Russia managed its economy in the face of sanctions.

The Fed claimed that it appeared as though Powell's footage had been manipulated. Additionally, it was unable to verify the accuracy of the viral clips of the Fed chief.

According to a BBC report,&nbsp;Powell was heard praising Elvira Nabiullina, the head of Russia's central bank, for running the nation's economy in the face of Western sanctions, in one of the viral audio recordings that were widely circulated on Russian television.

Powell discussed a dramatic slowdown in US GDP in another video, which came after the Fed tried to control price increases.

“We would tell you that a recession is almost as likely as very slow growth,” Powell said of expectations for 2023.

“I think that is partly because of us having raised rates quite a bit but this is what it takes to get inflation down,” the Fed chairman said.

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RUSSIAN PRANK CALL THREAD w/Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell - ALL 4 RELEASED PARTS: 
 
PART 1: The US economy, inflation &amp; at least 2 future interest rate hikes discussed! <a href="https://t.co/noIW0dQDxm">pic.twitter.com/noIW0dQDxm</a>
— Truth is Everything! (@_Tweets_Truth) <a href="https://twitter.com/_Tweets_Truth/status/1651619896407519232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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“Chair Powell participated in a conversation in January with someone who misrepresented himself as the Ukrainian president,” a Fed spokesperson said.

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-will-likely-die-republican-nikki-haley-makes-this-shocking-prediction-587345">&nbsp;'Biden will likely die...': Republican Nikki Haley makes this shocking prediction</a>

“It was a friendly conversation and took place in a context of our standing in support of the Ukrainian people in this challenging time. No sensitive or confidential information was discussed,” the spokesperson further said.

The Fed spokesperson added that “the matter has been referred to appropriate law enforcement, and out of respect for their efforts, we won’t be commenting further.”

Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov,&nbsp;known as Vovan and Lexus, were the pranksters who pretended to be Zelensky and spoke with Powell.

For many years, the pair has been successful in convincing foreign officials to speak with them. In 2018, the UK declared it thought the Kremlin was behind a prank call to Boris Johnson, who was the country's foreign secretary at the time.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;US, South Korea security pact will worsen situation, says Kim Jong Un's sister

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Vovan and Lexus frequently share footage of their practical jokes only for the purpose of embarrassing Western policymakers. They impersonated Zelenskyy once more in a conversation with Christine Lagarde, the head of the European Central Bank, earlier this year.

Additionally, they made a spoof call to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pretending to be the late Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

They&nbsp;tricked&nbsp;Andrzej Duda, the president of Poland, into believing he was on call last year.

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The head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, was the subject of two Russian pranksters who pretended to be the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on a phone call.

The head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, was the subject of two Russian pranksters who pretended to be the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on a phone call. The duo, who are supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin, compelled the head of the Federal Reserve to speak on issues like inflation and how Russia managed its economy in the face of sanctions. The Fed claimed that it appeared as though Powell's footage had been manipulated. Additionally, it was unable to verify the accuracy of the viral clips of the Fed chief. According to a BBC report, Powell was heard praising Elvira Nabiullina, the head of Russia's central bank, for running the nation's economy in the face of Western sanctions, in one of the viral audio recordings that were widely circulated on Russian television. Powell discussed a dramatic slowdown in US GDP in another video, which came after the Fed tried to control price increases. “We would tell you that a recession is almost as likely as very slow growth,” Powell said of expectations for 2023. “I think that is partly because of us having raised rates quite a bit but this is what it takes to get inflation down,” the Fed chairman said. RUSSIAN PRANK CALL THREAD w/Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell - ALL 4 RELEASED PARTS: PART 1: The US economy, inflation & at least 2 future interest rate hikes discussed! pic.twitter.com/noIW0dQDxm — Truth is Everything! (@_Tweets_Truth) April 27, 2023 × “Chair Powell participated in a conversation in January with someone who misrepresented himself as the Ukrainian president,” a Fed spokesperson said. ALSO READ | 'Biden will likely die...': Republican Nikki Haley makes this shocking prediction “It was a friendly conversation and took place in a context of our standing in support of the Ukrainian people in this challenging time. No sensitive or confidential information was discussed,” the spokesperson further said. The Fed spokesperson added that “the matter has been referred to appropriate law enforcement, and out of respect for their efforts, we won’t be commenting further.” Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, known as Vovan and Lexus, were the pranksters who pretended to be Zelensky and spoke with Powell. For many years, the pair has been successful in convincing foreign officials to speak with them. In 2018, the UK declared it thought the Kremlin was behind a prank call to Boris Johnson, who was the country's foreign secretary at the time. ALSO WATCH | US, South Korea security pact will worsen situation, says Kim Jong Un's sister Vovan and Lexus frequently share footage of their practical jokes only for the purpose of embarrassing Western policymakers. They impersonated Zelenskyy once more in a conversation with Christine Lagarde, the head of the European Central Bank, earlier this year. Additionally, they made a spoof call to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pretending to be the late Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. They tricked Andrzej Duda, the president of Poland, into believing he was on call last year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: US Fed chair Jerome Powell pranked by Russian impersonators posing as Zelensky

Less than two weeks after two Chinese-Americans were arrested for running secret police station in America, Beijing has slammed the US Justice Department for pressing charges against the men vowing to retaliate if the charges are not dropped.

Chinese Foreign Ministry slams US Justice Department, says 'No overseas police stations' | WION

On the intervening night of 27th and 28th of April, the Indian air force landed its c-130j plane on an airstrip in Wadi Sayyidna, about 40 kilometres north of Khartoum. The airstrip was in a degraded condition, with no navigational approach aids or fuel. The small runway also lacked landing lights that are needed to guide incoming aircraft at night. Despite all the challenges, the Indian air force managed to land and rescue as many as 121 people. While approaching, the aircrew used electro-optical infrared sensors to ensure the runway was free from obstructions. After ensuring there were no inimical forces in the vicinity, the Indian air force pilots used night vision goggles to carry out a flawless landing. Upon landing, the aircraft engines were kept running, while eight commandos secured the passengers and their luggage. As with the landing, the take-off from the unlit runway was also carried out using night vision goggles.

Indian Air Force pilots use Night Vision Goggles to land C-130J on degraded Sudan airstrip | Details

The stranded dynamics between China and America are fuelling an epidemic of drugs in America. The network is growing, and China continues to deny these allegations. What is this drug cartel? Who is funding it? What role does Mexico have to play? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Chinese banks help drug cartels in US

The White House said it is monitoring the situation at First Republic Bank. The US commercial bank is struggling after the banking crisis in March.

White House monitoring US banking woes

US chip maker intel announced its worst-ever quarterly results. Intel's losses come after personal computer and data centre sales dropped steeply amid a gloomy global economic backdrop.

Intel reports worst quarterly results

US economic growth slowed sharply in the first quarter of 2023 despite strong consumer spending, as the Federal Reserve ploughed ahead with its historic monetary tightening campaign.

US growth slowed sharply in first quarter as Fed pushed rates higher

A report by the British daily newspaper, The Guardian, on Friday (April 28) found that drug-related deaths surged by 41 per cent in the United States’ city of San Francisco, California in the first quarter of this year. This rise also amounts to one person dying of an accidental overdose every 10 hours, the report noted. This comes as the US is dealing with a fentanyl crisis with many deaths reported due to this particular drug overdose.&nbsp;

In the last three months, the city witnessed the death of a total of 200 people, as opposed to 142 in the same months a year ago, said the report citing data from the city’s medical examiner.&nbsp;

The spike in deaths was noted in the month of December, last year and continued till January with 82 people losing their lives, the city’s overdose fatalities were at an all-time high. Furthermore, fentanyl was detected in most of the deaths, reported The Guardian.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-fentanyl-seized-in-2022-enough-to-kill-every-american-says-us-federal-drug-agency-545087">Explained: Fentanyl seized in 2022 enough to kill every American, says US federal drug agency</a>

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is also highly possible to get addicted to fentanyl.&nbsp;

Among those most affected were people living on the streets as the number of those unhoused dying of overdoses between January and March doubled when compared to a year prior, said the United Kingdom-based media outlet. Additionally, it was also found that a third of the total number of victims of overdose were Black, who only make up five per cent of the city’s population.

The city’s response

The spike in deaths was noted right after the city’s government had shut down a key outreach centre where the unhoused would take drugs under supervision and instead increased policing in San Francisco’s drug-plagued Tenderloin district.&nbsp;

The Tenderloin Center would provide daytime shelter for the unhoused, along with housing referrals, food, addiction treatment and health services, reported The Guardian.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fentanyl-50x-more-potent-than-heroin-as-an-analgesic-us-india-working-to-fix-the-problem-580104">Fentanyl, 50x more potent than heroin as an analgesic | 'U.S. &amp; India working to fix the problem'</a>

Additionally, the centre had also reversed 330 opiate overdoses in the 11 months using Narcan, which is a life-saving medication used to treat an opioid overdose, said the media report citing city’s data.&nbsp;

The centre which served more than 400 people daily was shut down by San Francisco Mayor, London Breed who said she had been disappointed by the low number of visitors at the centre who ultimately accepted help to get off of drugs. She also sought millions to increase police overtime with a priority on arresting drug dealers.&nbsp;

How is that going?

This move is said to have backfired on the government as it has since led to the isolation of drug users where they are more at risk of overdose deaths, said Gary McCoy of HealthRIGHT 360, a nonprofit which ran the drug overdose prevention portion of the Tenderloin Center.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fentanyl-blend-with-xylazine-the-vet-medicine-causes-havoc-in-us-hot-drug-zones-551423">Fentanyl blend with xylazine, the vet medicine, causes havoc in US hot drug zones</a>

“When people don’t have a safe place to go, when they’re using in doorways and public places and they’re afraid of getting caught and put in jail, they tend to rush and use more substance,” said McCoy. He added, “And when they rush, there’s a higher risk of overdose.” 
 
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A report by the British daily newspaper, The Guardian, on Friday (April 28) found that drug-related deaths surged by 41 per cent in the United States’ city of San Francisco, California in the first quarter of this year.

A report by the British daily newspaper, The Guardian, on Friday (April 28) found that drug-related deaths surged by 41 per cent in the United States’ city of San Francisco, California in the first quarter of this year. This rise also amounts to one person dying of an accidental overdose every 10 hours, the report noted. This comes as the US is dealing with a fentanyl crisis with many deaths reported due to this particular drug overdose. In the last three months, the city witnessed the death of a total of 200 people, as opposed to 142 in the same months a year ago, said the report citing data from the city’s medical examiner. The spike in deaths was noted in the month of December, last year and continued till January with 82 people losing their lives, the city’s overdose fatalities were at an all-time high. Furthermore, fentanyl was detected in most of the deaths, reported The Guardian. ALSO READ | Explained: Fentanyl seized in 2022 enough to kill every American, says US federal drug agency According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is also highly possible to get addicted to fentanyl. Among those most affected were people living on the streets as the number of those unhoused dying of overdoses between January and March doubled when compared to a year prior, said the United Kingdom-based media outlet. Additionally, it was also found that a third of the total number of victims of overdose were Black, who only make up five per cent of the city’s population. The city’s response The spike in deaths was noted right after the city’s government had shut down a key outreach centre where the unhoused would take drugs under supervision and instead increased policing in San Francisco’s drug-plagued Tenderloin district. The Tenderloin Center would provide daytime shelter for the unhoused, along with housing referrals, food, addiction treatment and health services, reported The Guardian. ALSO WATCH | Fentanyl, 50x more potent than heroin as an analgesic | 'U.S. & India working to fix the problem' Additionally, the centre had also reversed 330 opiate overdoses in the 11 months using Narcan, which is a life-saving medication used to treat an opioid overdose, said the media report citing city’s data. The centre which served more than 400 people daily was shut down by San Francisco Mayor, London Breed who said she had been disappointed by the low number of visitors at the centre who ultimately accepted help to get off of drugs. She also sought millions to increase police overtime with a priority on arresting drug dealers. How is that going? This move is said to have backfired on the government as it has since led to the isolation of drug users where they are more at risk of overdose deaths, said Gary McCoy of HealthRIGHT 360, a nonprofit which ran the drug overdose prevention portion of the Tenderloin Center. ALSO READ | Fentanyl blend with xylazine, the vet medicine, causes havoc in US hot drug zones “When people don’t have a safe place to go, when they’re using in doorways and public places and they’re afraid of getting caught and put in jail, they tend to rush and use more substance,” said McCoy. He added, “And when they rush, there’s a higher risk of overdose.” 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.

Every 10 hours, one person died due to drug-related overdose, in San Francisco this year: Report

The Sudanese army pounded paramilitaries in the capital Khartoum with air strikes Thursday while deadly fighting flared in Darfur as the clock ticked down on a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire now in its final full day.

Renewed air strikes hit Khartoum as clock ticks down on truce

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the 'cheat sheet' US President Joe Biden was seen flashing during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday.&nbsp;

She said it was a&nbsp;regular protocol and in line with the press office's job to 'get a sense' of what the media wants to ask.

"It is entirely normal for a president to be briefed on reporters who will be asking questions at a press conference, and issues that we expect they might ask about," Jean-Pierre said.

“It is not surprising that yesterday we would anticipate questions that he did receive on the visit with the South Korean president - or about 2024, that was completely expected, or about the debt ceiling which he took questions at the end. I would point out that the question that was asked was different than what was on the card that you all saw,” she told reporters.

She added, "And, let’s not forget, we do these briefings every day. And a lot of the questions that you.... that you all tell me, that’s how we brief him as well. You all ask me, that’s how we brief him as well. So, look, we do not have specific questions in advance. That's not something that we do."&nbsp;

<h2>Biden's 'Cheat Sheet'</h2>

Pierre's comments came after President Joe Biden was seen holding a 'Cheat sheet' during a press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol,&nbsp;sparking outrage that he knew beforehand about the questions to be asked by the journalists.

The note card that Biden was captured holding, had a photo of Los Angeles Times journalist Courtney Subramanian along with the pronunciation of her last name.

It also had a general summary of the question she would ask which read, &nbsp;"How are YOU squaring YOUR domestic priorities—like reshoring semiconductors manufacturing—with alliance-based foreign policy?"

Though, in a statement given to Fox News, Los Angeles Times Vice President of Communications, Hillary Manning said that their reporter did not submit any questions of the Q&amp;A with President Biden in advance.

The 'cheat sheet' drew criticism from Republicans who argued that the US President works alongside the news organisations to help control his image.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-gets-confused-on-stage-looks-for-dead-lawmaker-in-crowd-521015">WATCH |&nbsp;US President Joe Biden gets confused on stage, looks for dead lawmaker in crowd</a>

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<h2>Gaffe-Prone US President Joe Biden</h2>

During an event marking 'Take Your Child to Work Day' in Washington D.C., on Thursday, Biden couldn't remember the last country he travelled to.

"What was the last country you travelled to," one child asked.&nbsp;

"The last country I've travelled, I'm trying to think the last one I was in - I, I've been to 89 — I've met with 89 heads of state so far, so, uh — I'm trying to think. What was the last — Where was the last place I was? It's hard to keep track. Um, I was..." Biden stuttered. "Ireland!" another child shouted.

"Yeah, you're right, Ireland," Biden said adding, "That's where it was."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-biden-did-not-snub-sunak-in-viral-clip-another-video-clears-picture-582415">ALSO READ |&nbsp;No, Joe Biden did not snub Rishi Sunak in viral clip, another video clears picture</a>

Earlier, at the G20 summit in Bali, gaffe-prone President Biden was spotted using a detailed sheet which had instructions written on it on where to sit and when to deliver remarks or pose for pictures.

(With inputs from agencies)

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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the 'cheat sheet' US President Joe Biden was seen flashing during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the 'cheat sheet' US President Joe Biden was seen flashing during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday. She said it was a regular protocol and in line with the press office's job to 'get a sense' of what the media wants to ask. "It is entirely normal for a president to be briefed on reporters who will be asking questions at a press conference, and issues that we expect they might ask about," Jean-Pierre said. “It is not surprising that yesterday we would anticipate questions that he did receive on the visit with the South Korean president - or about 2024, that was completely expected, or about the debt ceiling which he took questions at the end. I would point out that the question that was asked was different than what was on the card that you all saw,” she told reporters. She added, "And, let’s not forget, we do these briefings every day. And a lot of the questions that you.... that you all tell me, that’s how we brief him as well. You all ask me, that’s how we brief him as well. So, look, we do not have specific questions in advance. That's not something that we do." Biden's 'Cheat Sheet' Pierre's comments came after President Joe Biden was seen holding a 'Cheat sheet' during a press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, sparking outrage that he knew beforehand about the questions to be asked by the journalists. The note card that Biden was captured holding, had a photo of Los Angeles Times journalist Courtney Subramanian along with the pronunciation of her last name. It also had a general summary of the question she would ask which read, "How are YOU squaring YOUR domestic priorities—like reshoring semiconductors manufacturing—with alliance-based foreign policy?" Though, in a statement given to Fox News, Los Angeles Times Vice President of Communications, Hillary Manning said that their reporter did not submit any questions of the Q&A with President Biden in advance. The 'cheat sheet' drew criticism from Republicans who argued that the US President works alongside the news organisations to help control his image. WATCH | US President Joe Biden gets confused on stage, looks for dead lawmaker in crowd × Gaffe-Prone US President Joe Biden During an event marking 'Take Your Child to Work Day' in Washington D.C., on Thursday, Biden couldn't remember the last country he travelled to. "What was the last country you travelled to," one child asked. "The last country I've travelled, I'm trying to think the last one I was in - I, I've been to 89 — I've met with 89 heads of state so far, so, uh — I'm trying to think. What was the last — Where was the last place I was? It's hard to keep track. Um, I was..." Biden stuttered. "Ireland!" another child shouted. "Yeah, you're right, Ireland," Biden said adding, "That's where it was." ALSO READ | No, Joe Biden did not snub Rishi Sunak in viral clip, another video clears picture Earlier, at the G20 summit in Bali, gaffe-prone President Biden was spotted using a detailed sheet which had instructions written on it on where to sit and when to deliver remarks or pose for pictures. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

White House defends Joe Biden after he gets caught with 'cheat sheet' note

For much of the 20th century, often dubbed 'The American Century,' it was an article of faith for most Americans that their country is the world’s greatest. Slowly but steadily, this has changed. It is now a minority view.

The latest in a string of polls over the past few years shows that just one in five Americans think their country stands above all others in the world. The share of those who think other countries are better than the US&nbsp;rose from 19 per cent in 2016 to 27 per cent now.

The cultural change reflected by these figures comes from a survey conducted by the Wall Street Journal and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. NORC is one of the largest independent social research organisations in the US.

It found not only that the notion of American Exceptionalism is fading from the national consciousness but also a decline in a range of other values. A somewhat wistful headline over the Wall Street Journal report on the survey said: “America Pulls Back from Values That Once Defined It.”

They include, according to the survey, patriotism, religion and tolerance. Thirty-eight per cent of those polled said patriotism was very important to them, down from 70 per cent when the question was first asked in 1998. On religion, the trend was down sharply, too, from 62 to 39.

Tolerance for others, deemed very important by Americans in previous surveys, dropped from 80 per cent to 58 per cent – not surprising in a country as deeply polarised as the United States.

Bill McInturff, a pollster who worked on previous surveys, described the differences as dramatic. “It paints a new and surprising portrait of a changing America,” he told the Journal. “Perhaps the toll of our political division, Covid, and the lowest economic confidence in decades is having a startling effect on our core values.”

Only one of the core values the survey covered showed an upward swing: money. It was deemed very important by 31 per cent in 1998 and 43 per cent now. In this, and similar surveys over the past few years, young Americans (aged between 18&nbsp;and 29) scored lowest on the importance they gave to the concepts that combine to the idea of exceptionalism.

They also make up the largest group of those who say that the United States is one of the world’s greatest countries, along with others.

That&nbsp;sober&nbsp;view brings to mind a response then-President Barack Obama gave at a news conference in Brussels in 2009 when asked whether he believed in American exceptionalism. “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks in Greek exceptionalism.”

The remark prompted rebukes from American conservatism, who interpreted it as undermining the standing of the United States in the world.

Oddly, the idea that the United States is exceptional is rooted in the writings of a Frenchman, political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville, after travelling in America in 1831. Through much of its history, US&nbsp;leaders described their country in terms that echoed his notion of a special nation.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the country’s Founding Fathers, frequently referred to it as “the Empire of Liberty.” President Ronald Reagan, borrowing from a 1630 sermon, rarely missed an opportunity to talk about his country as a “shining city on a hill.” Abraham Lincoln spoke of America as “the last best hope on earth.” More recently, the late Secretary of State Madeleine Albright referred to “the indispensable nation.”

While that may have raised eyebrows, then and now, by foreigners who saw the United States in less glowing colours, there is no dispute that it played a role so dominant after the end of the Second World War that the 20th century merited being called the American Century.

In a book of that title, the late British editor and writer Harold Evans noted that “the 20th century belongs to the United States because the triumph of its faith in its founding idea of political and economic freedom.”

With China now trying to equal or surpass the United States economically and perhaps eventually militarily, the 21st century is yet to earn a superpower-specific designation.

Meanwhile, there is a flip side to the “exceptionalism” label. Call it 'Only in America.'

Only in America are there more guns than people. Only in America are there more mass shootings than days in the month. Only in America is it easier for an 18-year-old citizen in most states to buy an assault rifle than a six-pack of beer. Only in America, driven by a toxic blend of guns and fear, can you get shot for knocking on the wrong door.

Only in America can a president who lost an election convince at least a third of the population that the vote was stolen, despite abundant evidence to the contrary. And only in America do you have legislators on the far right who describe people jailed for storming the Capitol to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, as political prisoners.

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For much of the 20th century, often dubbed 'The American Century,' it was an article of faith for most Americans that their country is the world’s greatest. Slowly but steadily, this has changed.

For much of the 20th century, often dubbed 'The American Century,' it was an article of faith for most Americans that their country is the world’s greatest. Slowly but steadily, this has changed. It is now a minority view. The latest in a string of polls over the past few years shows that just one in five Americans think their country stands above all others in the world. The share of those who think other countries are better than the US rose from 19 per cent in 2016 to 27 per cent now. The cultural change reflected by these figures comes from a survey conducted by the Wall Street Journal and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. NORC is one of the largest independent social research organisations in the US. It found not only that the notion of American Exceptionalism is fading from the national consciousness but also a decline in a range of other values. A somewhat wistful headline over the Wall Street Journal report on the survey said: “America Pulls Back from Values That Once Defined It.” They include, according to the survey, patriotism, religion and tolerance. Thirty-eight per cent of those polled said patriotism was very important to them, down from 70 per cent when the question was first asked in 1998. On religion, the trend was down sharply, too, from 62 to 39. Tolerance for others, deemed very important by Americans in previous surveys, dropped from 80 per cent to 58 per cent – not surprising in a country as deeply polarised as the United States. Bill McInturff, a pollster who worked on previous surveys, described the differences as dramatic. “It paints a new and surprising portrait of a changing America,” he told the Journal. “Perhaps the toll of our political division, Covid, and the lowest economic confidence in decades is having a startling effect on our core values.” Only one of the core values the survey covered showed an upward swing: money. It was deemed very important by 31 per cent in 1998 and 43 per cent now. In this, and similar surveys over the past few years, young Americans (aged between 18 and 29) scored lowest on the importance they gave to the concepts that combine to the idea of exceptionalism. They also make up the largest group of those who say that the United States is one of the world’s greatest countries, along with others. That sober view brings to mind a response then-President Barack Obama gave at a news conference in Brussels in 2009 when asked whether he believed in American exceptionalism. “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks in Greek exceptionalism.” The remark prompted rebukes from American conservatism, who interpreted it as undermining the standing of the United States in the world. Oddly, the idea that the United States is exceptional is rooted in the writings of a Frenchman, political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville, after travelling in America in 1831. Through much of its history, US leaders described their country in terms that echoed his notion of a special nation. Thomas Jefferson, one of the country’s Founding Fathers, frequently referred to it as “the Empire of Liberty.” President Ronald Reagan, borrowing from a 1630 sermon, rarely missed an opportunity to talk about his country as a “shining city on a hill.” Abraham Lincoln spoke of America as “the last best hope on earth.” More recently, the late Secretary of State Madeleine Albright referred to “the indispensable nation.” While that may have raised eyebrows, then and now, by foreigners who saw the United States in less glowing colours, there is no dispute that it played a role so dominant after the end of the Second World War that the 20th century merited being called the American Century. In a book of that title, the late British editor and writer Harold Evans noted that “the 20th century belongs to the United States because the triumph of its faith in its founding idea of political and economic freedom.” With China now trying to equal or surpass the United States economically and perhaps eventually militarily, the 21st century is yet to earn a superpower-specific designation. Meanwhile, there is a flip side to the “exceptionalism” label. Call it 'Only in America.' Only in America are there more guns than people. Only in America are there more mass shootings than days in the month. Only in America is it easier for an 18-year-old citizen in most states to buy an assault rifle than a six-pack of beer. Only in America, driven by a toxic blend of guns and fear, can you get shot for knocking on the wrong door. Only in America can a president who lost an election convince at least a third of the population that the vote was stolen, despite abundant evidence to the contrary. And only in America do you have legislators on the far right who describe people jailed for storming the Capitol to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, as political prisoners. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer. 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.

In America, a long-held belief in American exceptionalism is fading

A man from Ohio in the United States of America was given a four-year prison sentence after being caught on camera in a bathtub filled with dollars. He allegedly stole 713 Bitcoins from&nbsp;a now- seized &nbsp;computer device.&nbsp;Agents stumbled upon&nbsp;his picture in a cash tub at a nightclub after the Bitcoins disappeared from the The Internal Revenue Service's (IRS)&nbsp;device.

After entering a guilty plea in January, Gary Harmon, 31, was sentenced on Thursday by <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-sentenced-stealing-over-712-bitcoin-subject-forfeiture">US District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington</a>, DC, as reported by NewsBytes.&nbsp;

He also agreed according to the US Justice Department, to forfeit cryptocurrency and other assets totaling more than $20 million.

<h2>Harmon recreated eight Bitcoin wallets using his brother's login information</h2>

In April 2020, Harmon had copied eight Bitcoin wallets that had been kept on a device in an evidence locker at the Internal Revenue Service using his brother's login details.&nbsp;

The 713 Bitcoins he stole were worth $4.9 million at the time. For laundering $311 million in cryptocurrency transactions on Darknet platforms, Harmon's brother Larry was accused in February 2020.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/explained-mystery-surrounding-the-bitcoin-founder-who-is-satoshi-nakamoto-585924">Explained | Mystery surrounding the identity of Bitcoin founder. Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?</a>

After it disappeared from the device, a photo was found on Harmon's mobile phone&nbsp;where he was sitting&nbsp;in a cash-filled bathtub.

<h2>For a $1.2 million loan, Harmon used 68 Bitcoins as security</h2>

Prosecutors claim that Harmon used some money to buy an expensive condo in Cleveland and put up 68 Bitcoins as security for a $1.2 million loan.

Harmon learned that his brother had kept Bitcoins on a Trezor device, but that the authorities needed the "seed phrase" to access them.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/air-indias-expansion-takes-flight-airline-set-to-hire-over-1000-pilots-586952">Air India's expansion takes flight: Airline set to hire over 1,000 pilots</a>

Bitcoins can be handled by someone who has that phrase plus an additional pin.

"While the conduct was certainly illegal, it is practically no different and no more sophisticated than obtaining a key to a safe deposit box and taking the contents of that box," Harmon's lawyer said.

The prosecutors, however, refuted the assertions made by the attorney.

<h2>Harmon lawyers requested a three-year sentence</h2>

Due to Harmon's 21 months of "extremely harsh conditions" in custody, Harmon's attorney requested a sentence of three years.

Harmon consented to the confiscation of cryptocurrencies and other assets that were the proceeds of the theft,&nbsp;including more than 647.41 Bitcoin (BTC), 2.14 Ethereum (ETH), and 17,404,400.64 Dogecoin (DOGE). Because of the increase in market prices, the total value of these forfeitable properties exceeds $20 million.

&nbsp;

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A man from Ohio in the United States of America was given a four-year prison sentence after being caught on camera in a bathtub filled with dollars. He allegedly stole 713 Bitcoins from a now- seized computer device.

A man from Ohio in the United States of America was given a four-year prison sentence after being caught on camera in a bathtub filled with dollars. He allegedly stole 713 Bitcoins from a now- seized computer device. Agents stumbled upon his picture in a cash tub at a nightclub after the Bitcoins disappeared from the The Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) device. After entering a guilty plea in January, Gary Harmon, 31, was sentenced on Thursday by US District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, DC, as reported by NewsBytes. He also agreed according to the US Justice Department, to forfeit cryptocurrency and other assets totaling more than $20 million. Harmon recreated eight Bitcoin wallets using his brother's login information In April 2020, Harmon had copied eight Bitcoin wallets that had been kept on a device in an evidence locker at the Internal Revenue Service using his brother's login details. The 713 Bitcoins he stole were worth $4.9 million at the time. For laundering $311 million in cryptocurrency transactions on Darknet platforms, Harmon's brother Larry was accused in February 2020. ALSO READ | Explained | Mystery surrounding the identity of Bitcoin founder. Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? After it disappeared from the device, a photo was found on Harmon's mobile phone where he was sitting in a cash-filled bathtub. For a $1.2 million loan, Harmon used 68 Bitcoins as security Prosecutors claim that Harmon used some money to buy an expensive condo in Cleveland and put up 68 Bitcoins as security for a $1.2 million loan. Harmon learned that his brother had kept Bitcoins on a Trezor device, but that the authorities needed the "seed phrase" to access them. ALSO READ | Air India's expansion takes flight: Airline set to hire over 1,000 pilots Bitcoins can be handled by someone who has that phrase plus an additional pin. "While the conduct was certainly illegal, it is practically no different and no more sophisticated than obtaining a key to a safe deposit box and taking the contents of that box," Harmon's lawyer said. The prosecutors, however, refuted the assertions made by the attorney. Harmon lawyers requested a three-year sentence Due to Harmon's 21 months of "extremely harsh conditions" in custody, Harmon's attorney requested a sentence of three years. Harmon consented to the confiscation of cryptocurrencies and other assets that were the proceeds of the theft, including more than 647.41 Bitcoin (BTC), 2.14 Ethereum (ETH), and 17,404,400.64 Dogecoin (DOGE). Because of the increase in market prices, the total value of these forfeitable properties exceeds $20 million. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ohio Bitcoin thief photographed in cash-filled bathtub gets 4-year jail term

The crash of two United States Army helicopters in Alaska on Thursday (April 27) killed at least three soldiers and injured one other, said the Army officials. The helicopters were said to be returning from a training flight in a remote area of Alaska when they collided mid-flight. The names of the soldiers killed are being withheld till their families can be notified.

According to the US Army, two soldiers were declared dead at the site near Healy, Alaska where the crash occurred, while the third died on the way to a hospital in Fairbanks. Meanwhile, another soldier is being treated at the hospital for his injuries.&nbsp;

“This is an incredible loss for these soldiers’ families, their fellow soldiers, and for the division,” said Major General Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division. He added, “Our hearts and prayers go out to their families, friends and loved ones, and we are making the full resources of the Army available to support them.”&nbsp;

Earlier on Thursday, US Army Alaska spokesperson, John Pennell said each of the AH-64 Apache helicopters was carrying two people at the time of the crash. The helicopters were from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright, based near Fairbanks.

The site of the crash was located 400 kilometres north of Anchorage and the first responders were called soon after the two helicopters “collided in flight”. The names of the soldiers involved in the incident will be withheld until 24 hours after their families are informed, said the US Army.&nbsp;

The recent helicopter crash is the second such incident in less than a month. Earlier this year, in March, all nine troops on board were killed after two US Army helicopters crashed during a training mission in Kentucky. The incident involved the 101st Airborne Division and two HH60 Blackhawk helicopters crashed during a training mission.&nbsp;

The incident on Thursday is also said to be the second one involving military helicopters in Alaska this year. In February, two US Army soldiers were injured after an Apache helicopter rolled after taking off from Talkeetna, Alaska. At the time, it was one of the four aircraft travelling to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage from Fort Wainwright.

Earlier this year, in February two Tennessee National Guardsmen were killed during a training flight in Alabama which also involved a US Army Blackhawk helicopter.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The crash of two United States Army helicopters in Alaska on Thursday (April 27) killed at least three soldiers and injured one other, said the Army officials. The helicopters were said to be returning from a training flight in a remote area of Alaska when they collided mid-flight.

The crash of two United States Army helicopters in Alaska on Thursday (April 27) killed at least three soldiers and injured one other, said the Army officials. The helicopters were said to be returning from a training flight in a remote area of Alaska when they collided mid-flight. The names of the soldiers killed are being withheld till their families can be notified. According to the US Army, two soldiers were declared dead at the site near Healy, Alaska where the crash occurred, while the third died on the way to a hospital in Fairbanks. Meanwhile, another soldier is being treated at the hospital for his injuries. “This is an incredible loss for these soldiers’ families, their fellow soldiers, and for the division,” said Major General Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division. He added, “Our hearts and prayers go out to their families, friends and loved ones, and we are making the full resources of the Army available to support them.” Earlier on Thursday, US Army Alaska spokesperson, John Pennell said each of the AH-64 Apache helicopters was carrying two people at the time of the crash. The helicopters were from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright, based near Fairbanks. The site of the crash was located 400 kilometres north of Anchorage and the first responders were called soon after the two helicopters “collided in flight”. The names of the soldiers involved in the incident will be withheld until 24 hours after their families are informed, said the US Army. The recent helicopter crash is the second such incident in less than a month. Earlier this year, in March, all nine troops on board were killed after two US Army helicopters crashed during a training mission in Kentucky. The incident involved the 101st Airborne Division and two HH60 Blackhawk helicopters crashed during a training mission. The incident on Thursday is also said to be the second one involving military helicopters in Alaska this year. In February, two US Army soldiers were injured after an Apache helicopter rolled after taking off from Talkeetna, Alaska. At the time, it was one of the four aircraft travelling to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage from Fort Wainwright. Earlier this year, in February two Tennessee National Guardsmen were killed during a training flight in Alabama which also involved a US Army Blackhawk helicopter. (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.

Three US soldiers killed after two Army helicopters crash in Alaska

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An investigation has revealed that the UK government has been supporting&nbsp;the funding of a virulently homophobic religious group in Uganda, whose leaders have sponsored a law that would make homosexuality a crime in the country.

The Institute for Journalism and Social Change (IJSC) found a "staggering" number of connections between anti-LGBTQ+ organisations in Uganda and foreign assistance donors, including the UK, after analysing official data provided to the International assistance Transparency Initiative (IATI), reported The Guardian.

In accordance with IATI remarks, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), an interfaith organisation, has been a direct recipient of UK aid funds in its capacity as "implementing partner" of a scheme intended to realise the Foreign Office's "ambition for an open society in Uganda."

The Church of Uganda and numerous evangelical churches were among the IRCU members that signed a statement in February expressing "great concern" over "the growing spread of homosexuality" in Uganda and the impact of "the LGBTQ agenda" on children's well-being.

In an effort to broaden the nation's anti-gay laws, the anti-homosexuality bill 2023 was introduced into parliament two weeks later. Last month, the Ugandan parliament passed the bill with 387 of 389 MPs voting in favour.

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The IRCU received financing from 2021 until earlier this year, according to the Foreign Office's (FCDO) confirmation. According to FCDO data, the organisation received $168,244&nbsp;as part of the Uganda-Open Society programme, which started in June 2021 and is scheduled to last until March 2024.

However, a spokesperson claimed that the UK made the decision to cease financing in February as a result of remarks made by the IRCU regarding the anti-homosexuality bill.

The proposed law, which Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, called "probably among the worst of its kind in the world," stipulates death penalty and life in prison for homosexual acts, as well as up to 14 years in prison for "attempted" homosexuality and 20 years for "recruitment, promotion, and funding" of same-sex "activities."

The maximum sentence for anyone who declares themselves to be "a lesbian, gay, transgender, a queer, or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female" is 10&nbsp;years in prison.

President Yoweri Museveni, who this month called homosexuality a "threat to the human race," declined to sign the bill into law and asked the parliament to have another look at it, leaving it in limbo.

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The IRCU allegedly lost government funding from the Obama administration in 2014 as a result of the group's advocacy for the Anti-Homosexuality Act, the predecessor to the 2023 legislation that was eventually struck down by the constitutional court.

The UK's development minister, Andrew Mitchell, expressed the country's "deep disappointment" at the outcome after the 2023 law was overwhelmingly adopted by the Ugandan parliament.

An FCDO spokesperson who spoke to The guardian said,&nbsp;“The UK government has long been at the forefront of promoting LGBT+ rights internationally and is concerned by the increasing criminalisation of LGBT+ persons in Uganda which threatens minority rights and risks persecution.

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An investigation has revealed that the UK government has been supporting the funding of a virulently homophobic religious group in Uganda, whose leaders have sponsored a law that would make homosexuality a crime in the country.

An investigation has revealed that the UK government has been supporting the funding of a virulently homophobic religious group in Uganda, whose leaders have sponsored a law that would make homosexuality a crime in the country. The Institute for Journalism and Social Change (IJSC) found a "staggering" number of connections between anti-LGBTQ+ organisations in Uganda and foreign assistance donors, including the UK, after analysing official data provided to the International assistance Transparency Initiative (IATI), reported The Guardian. In accordance with IATI remarks, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), an interfaith organisation, has been a direct recipient of UK aid funds in its capacity as "implementing partner" of a scheme intended to realise the Foreign Office's "ambition for an open society in Uganda." The Church of Uganda and numerous evangelical churches were among the IRCU members that signed a statement in February expressing "great concern" over "the growing spread of homosexuality" in Uganda and the impact of "the LGBTQ agenda" on children's well-being. In an effort to broaden the nation's anti-gay laws, the anti-homosexuality bill 2023 was introduced into parliament two weeks later. Last month, the Ugandan parliament passed the bill with 387 of 389 MPs voting in favour. ALSO WATCH | Tobacco giant British American Tobacco fined for North Korea deals, to pay $635 mn The IRCU received financing from 2021 until earlier this year, according to the Foreign Office's (FCDO) confirmation. According to FCDO data, the organisation received $168,244 as part of the Uganda-Open Society programme, which started in June 2021 and is scheduled to last until March 2024. However, a spokesperson claimed that the UK made the decision to cease financing in February as a result of remarks made by the IRCU regarding the anti-homosexuality bill. The proposed law, which Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, called "probably among the worst of its kind in the world," stipulates death penalty and life in prison for homosexual acts, as well as up to 14 years in prison for "attempted" homosexuality and 20 years for "recruitment, promotion, and funding" of same-sex "activities." The maximum sentence for anyone who declares themselves to be "a lesbian, gay, transgender, a queer, or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female" is 10 years in prison. President Yoweri Museveni, who this month called homosexuality a "threat to the human race," declined to sign the bill into law and asked the parliament to have another look at it, leaving it in limbo. ALSO READ | UK report highlights pro-Khalistan extremism in Britain, calls for government action The IRCU allegedly lost government funding from the Obama administration in 2014 as a result of the group's advocacy for the Anti-Homosexuality Act, the predecessor to the 2023 legislation that was eventually struck down by the constitutional court. The UK's development minister, Andrew Mitchell, expressed the country's "deep disappointment" at the outcome after the 2023 law was overwhelmingly adopted by the Ugandan parliament. An FCDO spokesperson who spoke to The guardian said, “The UK government has long been at the forefront of promoting LGBT+ rights internationally and is concerned by the increasing criminalisation of LGBT+ persons in Uganda which threatens minority rights and risks persecution. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Report: UK government funded anti-LGBTQ+ group in Uganda

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