Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the president of the Philippines, has arrived in America and will meet Joe Biden there. The summit comes after both countries this week completed its largest Ward rules ever, and it is largely predicted to take U.S.-Philippine sties to Historic High.

Philippines President Marcos arrives in US to meet President Biden at White House

The US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is presently on a two-day visit to the state of Israel. He will be addressing the Israeli Parliament later in the day today. Kevin McCarthy will meet his Israeli counterpart Amir Ohana in Jerusalem.

US Speaker McCarthy to address Israeli Parliament, meets Israeli speaker in Jerusalem | WION

We all know that United States has a special visa programme called H-1B, under the program foreign nationals are given a temporary work permit to work in the United States. It has been in place for over 30 years now but it's been found that the H-1B program is now being abused.

H-1B visa fraud: Tech companies accused of gaming H-1B lottery system | World News | WION

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr left for his four-day official visit to the United States on Sunday (April 30), where he is set to meet his US counterpart, President Joe Biden on Monday.

Before leaving for Washington, Marcos said that he would express his determination to President Biden to form an 'even stronger relationship' with the United States to address the 'concerns of our times', which also include the issues related to the economy.

He further explained that his meeting with his US counterpart held extreme significance in forging ahead his country's national interest and strengthening the 'very important alliance' between Manila and Washington.

"During this visit, we will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst of development in the Asia Pacific region, and for that matter for the rest of the world," said Marcos, the son of the late strongman,&nbsp;Ferdinand Marcos, whom Washington helped escape into exile in Hawaii during a 1986 'people power' insurgency.

President Marcos' official visit to Washington is the first trip by a Philippine leader in more than a decade and the newest in a series of high-level meetings carried out by the Philippines with leaders of the United States and China.

As per a Reuters report, a senior Biden administration official said that both leaders are expected to reach agreements on greater business engagement, as well as 'military enhancements' amidst shared concerns about China.

The official further said that the strategic importance of the Philippines could not be underestimated, highlighting the fact that the relationship the United States had with the Philippines was beyond just security. &nbsp;He said that in an aim to bolster commercial ties, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo would lead a presidential business delegation to the Philippines.

"We're seeking not to be provocative, but to provide both moral and practical support for the Philippines as they try to make their way in a complex Western Pacific," the official said. "Their geographic position is critical," he added.

<h2>Marcos accuses China of 'Dangerous manoeuvres' in South China Sea, US slams 'provocative conduct'</h2>

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos' Washington visit comes after he condemned China's coast guard for "dangerous manoeuvres" and "aggressive tactics" in the South China Sea on Friday.

The United States also warned China to stop "provocative and unsafe conduct" in the disputed region.

"We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," the US&nbsp;State Department said in a statement.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller slammed China, saying it was a reminder of Beijing's 'harassment and intimidation' in the disputed waterway.

"We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," he said in a statement, adding that any attack on Philippine armed forces would trigger a US response.

China on Sunday said it was willing to handle maritime differences with countries of concern in the South China Sea through friendly consultations and warned the United States against interference.

"The US, as a country outside of the region, must not interfere with the South China Sea matter or use the South China Sea matter to sow discord among regional countries," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a written statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr left for his four-day official visit to the United States on Sunday (April 30), where he is set to meet his US counterpart, President Joe Biden on Monday.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr left for his four-day official visit to the United States on Sunday (April 30), where he is set to meet his US counterpart, President Joe Biden on Monday. Before leaving for Washington, Marcos said that he would express his determination to President Biden to form an 'even stronger relationship' with the United States to address the 'concerns of our times', which also include the issues related to the economy. He further explained that his meeting with his US counterpart held extreme significance in forging ahead his country's national interest and strengthening the 'very important alliance' between Manila and Washington. "During this visit, we will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst of development in the Asia Pacific region, and for that matter for the rest of the world," said Marcos, the son of the late strongman, Ferdinand Marcos, whom Washington helped escape into exile in Hawaii during a 1986 'people power' insurgency. President Marcos' official visit to Washington is the first trip by a Philippine leader in more than a decade and the newest in a series of high-level meetings carried out by the Philippines with leaders of the United States and China. As per a Reuters report, a senior Biden administration official said that both leaders are expected to reach agreements on greater business engagement, as well as 'military enhancements' amidst shared concerns about China. The official further said that the strategic importance of the Philippines could not be underestimated, highlighting the fact that the relationship the United States had with the Philippines was beyond just security. He said that in an aim to bolster commercial ties, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo would lead a presidential business delegation to the Philippines. "We're seeking not to be provocative, but to provide both moral and practical support for the Philippines as they try to make their way in a complex Western Pacific," the official said. "Their geographic position is critical," he added. Marcos accuses China of 'Dangerous manoeuvres' in South China Sea, US slams 'provocative conduct' Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos' Washington visit comes after he condemned China's coast guard for "dangerous manoeuvres" and "aggressive tactics" in the South China Sea on Friday. The United States also warned China to stop "provocative and unsafe conduct" in the disputed region. "We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," the US State Department said in a statement. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller slammed China, saying it was a reminder of Beijing's 'harassment and intimidation' in the disputed waterway. "We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," he said in a statement, adding that any attack on Philippine armed forces would trigger a US response. China on Sunday said it was willing to handle maritime differences with countries of concern in the South China Sea through friendly consultations and warned the United States against interference. "The US, as a country outside of the region, must not interfere with the South China Sea matter or use the South China Sea matter to sow discord among regional countries," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a written statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Philippine president travels to United States to forge stronger ties amid tensions with China

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: 
 
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— 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.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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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

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

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