The United States is by far the biggest supplier of weapons to Ukraine, followed by the European Union members. The defence ministry of Ukraine has demanded more weapons from France.

US pledges more weapons for Ukraine than EU members combined

It's been 230 days since the war in Ukraine started. Russia is raining missiles, Ukraine is stepping up its defences. NATO plans to provide air defence systems to Kyiv, this includes a system used at the White House. Priyanka Sharma reports.

Gravitas: Ukraine to get air defence system used at the White House

Joe Biden has promised to punish Saudi Arabia over the decision of OPEC+ to cut oil output. The US President has said that Riyadh will face 'consequences'. Will Washington freeze arms sale to Saudi Arabia? Listen in to Priyanka Sharma.

Gravitas: Biden promises 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia following decision to cut oil production

More than 2,500 marines from the United States and the Philippines participated in combat drills on Monday in preparation for any crisis in a region that has been on edge due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea and rising tensions regarding Taiwan.

According to military sources, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the newly elected president of the Philippines, has participated in the annual military drills for the first time with the longtime treaty friends. He disapproved of military drills involving American forces because he believed they may anger China. His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, was a vocal opponent of American security policies.

Called Kamandag, the Tagalog acronym for “Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea,” the drills involve 1,900 U.S. Marines and more than 600 mostly Philippine counterparts in mock amphibious assaults and special operations, US&nbsp;and Philippine military officials said. America’s HIMARS missile launchers and supersonic fighter jets will take part in live-fire maneuvers that will end Oct. 14, they said.

The venues include the northern Philippines, across the Luzon Strait from Taiwan, and the western island province of Palawan, which confronts the South China Sea.

The exercises, according to Philippine Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia, would concentrate on bolstering coastal defences and are not targeted at any particular nation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-state-of-mind-role-in-capitol-attack-to-be-examined-at-hearing-thursday-afternoon-524998">Trump’s 'state of mind', role in Capitol attack to be examined at hearing</a>

According to him, South Korean and Japanese military may join disaster response drills but will only be present as observers.

Approximately 3,000 military troops from the two sides are participating in combat drills between US Marines and Japanese army forces on Hokkaido, an island in northern Japan, at the same time as the military exercises, according to US&nbsp;military officials.

The simultaneous exercises, according to US&nbsp;Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron of the 3rd Marine Division stationed in Japan, are intended to strengthen the defence capacities of the US&nbsp;alliances with the Philippines and Japan "through realistic joint training."

“These exercises will allow our forces to strengthen interoperability and readiness to ensure we are prepared to rapidly respond to crisis throughout the Indo-Pacific,” Bargeron said in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-administration-unveils-new-national-security-strategy-china-russia-identified-as-major-threats-524974">US National Security strategy: China, Russia seen as threats, India as partner</a>

“Our strength, resolve and commitment to our allies and partners in the region are our most effective deterrent,” US Marine Lt. Col. Kurt Stahl told The Associated Press. “Together, we can deter potential adversaries from ever testing our capabilities or our relationships.”

In July, US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged China to abide by a 2016 arbitration decision that rejected Beijing's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea and cautioned that if Filipino forces, vessels, or aircraft are attacked in the disputed waters, the United States is obligated to defend the Philippines under a 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

After the Philippine government complained in 2013 about China's acquisition of a shoal off its northwest coast, an arbitration tribunal established in The Hague in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea rendered the decision. China refused to take part, referred to the arbitration ruling as a fraud, and has since continued to challenge it.

In addition to China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the busy waterway, which is said to be rich in underwater gas and oil resources and through which an estimated $5 trillion in commodities travel annually.

Long-running maritime disputes and difficult relations between China and Taiwan have emerged as major fronts in the competition between the United States and China.

(With inputs from agencies)

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More than 2,500 marines from the United States and the Philippines participated in combat drills on Monday in preparation for any crisis in a region that has been on edge due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea and rising tensions regarding Taiwan.

More than 2,500 marines from the United States and the Philippines participated in combat drills on Monday in preparation for any crisis in a region that has been on edge due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea and rising tensions regarding Taiwan. According to military sources, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the newly elected president of the Philippines, has participated in the annual military drills for the first time with the longtime treaty friends. He disapproved of military drills involving American forces because he believed they may anger China. His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, was a vocal opponent of American security policies. Called Kamandag, the Tagalog acronym for “Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea,” the drills involve 1,900 U.S. Marines and more than 600 mostly Philippine counterparts in mock amphibious assaults and special operations, US and Philippine military officials said. America’s HIMARS missile launchers and supersonic fighter jets will take part in live-fire maneuvers that will end Oct. 14, they said. The venues include the northern Philippines, across the Luzon Strait from Taiwan, and the western island province of Palawan, which confronts the South China Sea. The exercises, according to Philippine Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia, would concentrate on bolstering coastal defences and are not targeted at any particular nation. Also read | Trump’s 'state of mind', role in Capitol attack to be examined at hearing According to him, South Korean and Japanese military may join disaster response drills but will only be present as observers. Approximately 3,000 military troops from the two sides are participating in combat drills between US Marines and Japanese army forces on Hokkaido, an island in northern Japan, at the same time as the military exercises, according to US military officials. The simultaneous exercises, according to US Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron of the 3rd Marine Division stationed in Japan, are intended to strengthen the defence capacities of the US alliances with the Philippines and Japan "through realistic joint training." “These exercises will allow our forces to strengthen interoperability and readiness to ensure we are prepared to rapidly respond to crisis throughout the Indo-Pacific,” Bargeron said in a statement. Also read | US National Security strategy: China, Russia seen as threats, India as partner “Our strength, resolve and commitment to our allies and partners in the region are our most effective deterrent,” US Marine Lt. Col. Kurt Stahl told The Associated Press. “Together, we can deter potential adversaries from ever testing our capabilities or our relationships.” In July, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged China to abide by a 2016 arbitration decision that rejected Beijing's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea and cautioned that if Filipino forces, vessels, or aircraft are attacked in the disputed waters, the United States is obligated to defend the Philippines under a 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. After the Philippine government complained in 2013 about China's acquisition of a shoal off its northwest coast, an arbitration tribunal established in The Hague in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea rendered the decision. China refused to take part, referred to the arbitration ruling as a fraud, and has since continued to challenge it. In addition to China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the busy waterway, which is said to be rich in underwater gas and oil resources and through which an estimated $5 trillion in commodities travel annually. Long-running maritime disputes and difficult relations between China and Taiwan have emerged as major fronts in the competition between the United States and China. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US, Philippine forces conduct combat drills to brace for crisis in troubled region

A study conducted by The Center for Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (Cictar) has&nbsp;alleged that the tech giant Microsoft has&nbsp;evaded billions in taxes in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand—all nations where it has lucrative public sector contracts—due to its complex&nbsp;organisational structure.

Cictar&nbsp;said that the corporation, which maintains that it complies with local rules and regulations wherever it operates, was depriving the public purse&nbsp;of much-needed funds while receiving the&nbsp;taxpayer's&nbsp;money.

"In many cases, Microsoft has paid zero tax in recent years by moving <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/department-of-labour-proposes-new-rule-for-workers-to-be-entitled-to-more-benefits-and-opportunities-524763">profits</a> to companies tax-domiciled in Bermuda and other well-known tax havens," Cictar said in a statement.&nbsp;

The investigation claims that Microsoft Global Finance, an Irish company with tax residency in Bermuda, accumulated more than $100 billion in investments in 2020 while paying no taxes despite having an operating profit of $2.4 billion.

Another instance is Microsoft Singapore Holdings, which reported $22.4 billion in dividend profits in 2020 but only $15 in tax obligations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-launches-perfume-called-burnt-hair-calls-himself-perfume-salesman-524747">Elon Musk launches perfume called 'Burnt Hair', calls himself 'Perfume Salesman'</a>

Tech giant Microsoft has avoided billions in taxes in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, all countries where it has lucrative public sector contracts, because of its complex corporate structure, a study published Thursday claimed.

The company, which insists it respects local laws and regulations everywhere it operates, was starving the public purse of much-needed revenue while receiving taxpayer cash, the Center for Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (Cictar) said.

"In many cases, Microsoft has paid zero tax in recent years by moving profits to companies tax-domiciled in Bermuda and other well-known tax havens," Cictar said in a statement.&nbsp;

According to the study, Microsoft Global Finance -- an Irish subsidiary that has tax resident status in Bermuda -- consolidated more than $100 billion in investments and, despite an operating profit of $2.4 billion, paid no tax in 2020.&nbsp;

In another example, Microsoft Singapore Holdings posted profits from dividends of $22.4 billion in 2020 but announced a tax liability of just $15.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/east-asia/microsoft-plans-to-expand-recruitment-in-china-521296">Microsoft to upgrade its campuses in China, increase recruitment despite US' decoupling push</a>

"Microsoft boasts of profit margins of over 30 percent to its shareholders. Yet, in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, filings show returns of three to four percent," said Jason Ward, an analyst with the organisation.&nbsp;

"It does not seem credible that these wealthy markets are underperforming so dramatically," he said, calling "this type of discrepancy... a huge red flag for tax avoidance".&nbsp;

"Microsoft starves the public sector of much needed revenues" while it "makes billions as a government contractor, with contracts at all levels of government and in virtually every country", Cictar said.&nbsp;

According to the report, Microsoft has entered into public contracts worth at least $3.3 billion over the last five years in Canada, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/department-of-labour-proposes-new-rule-for-workers-to-be-entitled-to-more-benefits-and-opportunities-524763">United States</a>, Australia, and Britain.

More than 80% of Microsoft's total overseas income is "channelled through Puerto Rico and Ireland," according to the study, and the company is under scrutiny by tax officials in the US as well as other nations, including Australia.

"In fiscal year 2021 and 2020, our foreign regional operating centres in Ireland and Puerto Rico," Microsoft said in its 2021 annual report

When contacted by the report's authors, Microsoft stated that it adhered to "all local rules and regulations" in the nations in which it conducts business.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A study conducted by The Center for Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (Cictar) has alleged that the tech giant Microsoft has evaded billions in taxes in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand—all nations where it has lucrative public sector contracts—due to its complex organisational structure.

A study conducted by The Center for Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (Cictar) has alleged that the tech giant Microsoft has evaded billions in taxes in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand—all nations where it has lucrative public sector contracts—due to its complex organisational structure. Cictar said that the corporation, which maintains that it complies with local rules and regulations wherever it operates, was depriving the public purse of much-needed funds while receiving the taxpayer's money. "In many cases, Microsoft has paid zero tax in recent years by moving profits to companies tax-domiciled in Bermuda and other well-known tax havens," Cictar said in a statement. The investigation claims that Microsoft Global Finance, an Irish company with tax residency in Bermuda, accumulated more than $100 billion in investments in 2020 while paying no taxes despite having an operating profit of $2.4 billion. Another instance is Microsoft Singapore Holdings, which reported $22.4 billion in dividend profits in 2020 but only $15 in tax obligations. Also read | Elon Musk launches perfume called 'Burnt Hair', calls himself 'Perfume Salesman' Tech giant Microsoft has avoided billions in taxes in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, all countries where it has lucrative public sector contracts, because of its complex corporate structure, a study published Thursday claimed. The company, which insists it respects local laws and regulations everywhere it operates, was starving the public purse of much-needed revenue while receiving taxpayer cash, the Center for Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (Cictar) said. "In many cases, Microsoft has paid zero tax in recent years by moving profits to companies tax-domiciled in Bermuda and other well-known tax havens," Cictar said in a statement. According to the study, Microsoft Global Finance -- an Irish subsidiary that has tax resident status in Bermuda -- consolidated more than $100 billion in investments and, despite an operating profit of $2.4 billion, paid no tax in 2020. In another example, Microsoft Singapore Holdings posted profits from dividends of $22.4 billion in 2020 but announced a tax liability of just $15. Also read | Microsoft to upgrade its campuses in China, increase recruitment despite US' decoupling push "Microsoft boasts of profit margins of over 30 percent to its shareholders. Yet, in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, filings show returns of three to four percent," said Jason Ward, an analyst with the organisation. "It does not seem credible that these wealthy markets are underperforming so dramatically," he said, calling "this type of discrepancy... a huge red flag for tax avoidance". "Microsoft starves the public sector of much needed revenues" while it "makes billions as a government contractor, with contracts at all levels of government and in virtually every country", Cictar said. According to the report, Microsoft has entered into public contracts worth at least $3.3 billion over the last five years in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Britain. More than 80% of Microsoft's total overseas income is "channelled through Puerto Rico and Ireland," according to the study, and the company is under scrutiny by tax officials in the US as well as other nations, including Australia. "In fiscal year 2021 and 2020, our foreign regional operating centres in Ireland and Puerto Rico," Microsoft said in its 2021 annual report When contacted by the report's authors, Microsoft stated that it adhered to "all local rules and regulations" in the nations in which it conducts business. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Microsoft avoids paying tax in many countries, study finds

Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, American companies have been prohibited from dealing with MMZ Avangard, a state-owned&nbsp;firm&nbsp;that makes&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;for one of Russia's most sophisticated weapons, the S-400 air-defence system.

In a measure of Western concern about the S-400, the United States ejected Turkey, a NATO member, from a joint fighter jet programme in 2019 after Ankara took delivery of the Russian system.

But even as the United States was taking actions to blunt MMZ Avangard's business, a publicly traded American&nbsp;technology company, Extreme Networks, was providing MMZ Avangard with computer&nbsp;networking&nbsp;equipment for its office IT systems, according to emails and other business records seen by Reuters, as well as interviews with people familiar with the matter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/unga-passes-resolution-condemning-russian-illegal-annexation-of-ukrainian-land-india-abstains-from-voting-524945">Also read |&nbsp;UNGA passes resolution condemning Russian 'illegal annexation' of Ukrainian land; India abstains from voting</a>

In a statement to Reuters, Extreme said that based on information provided by the news agency it believed equipment "may have" been sold to MMZ Avangard using a surrogate buyer. Extreme said the equipment was sold without its knowledge. It added, without providing evidence, that an intermediary in Russia was "complicit" in supplying its products via a front company to "bad actors." Extreme said it is reporting its findings of these potential sales to&nbsp;U.S. authorities.

Ukraine has accused Russia of deploying&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;made by MMZ Avangard against ground targets since Russia launched what it terms its "special operation" on Feb. 24. Ukrainian authorities said MMZ Avangard&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;killed at least 30 civilians in a gruesome attack on a convoy on the edge of the southern city of Zaporizhzhia last month. Neither Kremlin officials nor MMZ Avangard responded to questions for this article. MMZ Avangard's parent, Almaz-Antey, also didn't comment.

Between 2017 and 2021, MMZ Avangard obtained over half a million dollars' worth of Extreme equipment for its IT systems, according to the business records reviewed by Reuters and the people familiar with the matter. The products included high-speed switches, an essential building block of corporate IT networks, and software.

The records also show that the deals went through a seemingly innocuous corporation near Moscow, and despite two Extreme officials raising concerns, the sales went forward.

That a Russian military company, identified as a threat by Washington, continued to acquire&nbsp;U.S. computer hardware is a case study in how Western countries may have overestimated their ability to choke the Russian economy with export bans and trade sanctions. It also highlights how dependent Russia's military machine is on&nbsp;U.S. high-tech&nbsp;equipment.

In April, six weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an Extreme employee filed an internal complaint, seen by Reuters, alleging that the company was selling to various military manufacturers in Russia. "Extreme equipment is used on Russian warships," the complaint said, "in communications systems."

Extreme said in its statement that the allegations were brought by a disgruntled employee. An investigation by the&nbsp;firm&nbsp;had found nothing to corroborate any of the claims until Reuters brought "new facts" to the company's attention this month. The company said it ceased operations in Russia in March, adding that it subsequently launched a process to dismiss the disgruntled employee for poor performance. It said it has no records of sales involving Russian warships.

Extreme, which trades on the NASDAQ exchange and is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, has earned a solid reputation in the United States and is an official partner of the National Football League. The NFL declined to comment for this article.

A Reuters investigation in August found that while the United States and allies banned high-tech&nbsp;exports to Russia to try to cripple its defense industry, and many&nbsp;tech&nbsp;companies announced that they had halted exports to Russia, the flow of Western brand-name computer parts to Russian clients hasn't stopped.

This account of how Extreme&nbsp;supplied&nbsp;MMZ Avangard and at least two other Russian military companies is based on interviews with three people familiar with the shipments as well as a review by Reuters of documents spanning five years to 2021. The documents include sales records and email exchanges between Extreme employees, customers and distributors. The shipments are reported here for the first time.

The&nbsp;U. Department of Commerce, which administers export restrictions, declined to comment for this story.

It&nbsp;was&nbsp;necessary&nbsp;to use cover

Russian companies, including those in the military sector, have virtually no choice but to buy foreign equipment to build the computer networks necessary for modern-day business. Russia has very limited domestic production of&nbsp;networking&nbsp;equipment.

Founded in 1996, Extreme is a junior player in the computer&nbsp;networking&nbsp;industry. Last year, it posted revenue of $1.1 billion, compared with $50 billion for Cisco Systems.

Still, the smaller company is a "meaningful competitor," according to Alex Henderson, a network and security analyst at Needham and Company in New York. The&nbsp;US&nbsp;military as well as NASA use Extreme hardware and support, according to contracting records, and the company has built up a substantial marketing profile.

In Russia, as well, Extreme lists prestigious customers, such as the Ministry of Health, the federal pension fund and Lomonosov Moscow State University.

But according to documents seen by Reuters, other buyers of Extreme equipment included not just MMZ Avangard but a major Russian military shipbuilding company and a high-tech&nbsp;defense electronics manufacturer.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: More than 50 Western countries promise more weapons for Ukraine

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One of the documents shows that in the four years ending 2020, Russian customers purchased $41.5 million worth of equipment. Reuters couldn't determine Extreme's total sales to sanctioned or military&nbsp;firms because it wasn't clear if transactions other than those involving MMZ Avangard had been recorded under cover names.

In its statement to Reuters, Extreme said it doesn't report country specific revenue.

In Russia, Extreme maintained contacts with its customers in order to help design complex networks that expand over time, according to two of the people familiar with the matter. Each customer or potential buyer had its own account manager at the company and was listed on internal sales records. Actual sales, though, were done through authorized intermediaries.

Extreme, in its statement to Reuters, said it rarely provided direct installation services. It said it had no such contracts with DEMZ or MMZ Avangard.

In its statement, Extreme said it has a "firm&nbsp;policy" not to work with sanctioned entities, but added it isn't always notified of the end customer, especially when its products are sold through so-called "stocking" distributors that hold an inventory.

Extreme named one of those distributors as RRC and said it believed RRC was "complicit" in the scheme to supply MMZ Avangard. RRC and its Cyprus parent, BD Enterprise&nbsp;Networking&nbsp;didn't respond to messages from Reuters seeking comment.

For Russian military companies, Extreme equipment had a strong selling point, the three people familiar with the shipments said: Unlike larger rivals, Extreme doesn't require service subscriptions and frequent software updates. "It is absolutely autonomous," one of the people said of the equipment. "It works without a license and you don't even need to be connected to the internet." This means, another person said, that "you don't need to fear that your system will go dark because someone in the&nbsp;U.S. decided to disconnect you."

Extreme said that the "autonomous model" is not unique to the company, but acknowledged it has become relatively rare.

It was no secret in Russia that MMZ Avangard used Extreme equipment. In late 2019, the missile manufacturer issued a tender through Russia's online public procurement platform, saying it needed spare parts for the Extreme computer networks it possessed. Extreme didn't dispute this but said it wouldn't necessarily be aware of such a tender.

A few months before, in the summer of 2019, an intermediary had contacted Extreme's representative office in Russia, asking for advice on a network upgrade for the missile company, the documents show. "We are working on a solution for the customer, MMZ Avangard," an employee of the intermediary wrote in a June 28, 2019, email to an Extreme system engineer. "I was told that I could seek your help."

As soon as its equipment arrived in Moscow, Extreme dispatched a staff engineer to MMZ Avangard's offices to help ensure a smooth installation, one of the people familiar with the shipments said.

In its statement to Reuters, Extreme said it had no records of an Extreme employee installing equipment at MMZ Avangard.

When it came to processing MMZ Avangard's purchasing orders, the missile&nbsp;maker's name didn't appear on Extreme's books. Instead, Extreme's Moscow employees recorded the orders as having been placed by a company called OOO DEMZ, according to emails and sales records, as well as three people familiar with the matter.

"It was necessary to use a cover because the Russian company is blacklisted in the&nbsp;U.S.," one of the people familiar with the shipments said. It has been illegal for&nbsp;U.S. companies to do business with MMZ Avangard since July 2014, when the&nbsp;U.S. Treasury Department listed its parent company, Almaz-Antey, as a "blocked" entity. The Treasury declined to comment for this story.

MMZ Avangard began buying products from Extreme in December 2017 and was disguised under the DEMZ cover in Extreme business records from that date, according to emails and other documents seen by Reuters. The most recent transaction using the DEMZ cover that Reuters identified was in September 2021. In total, the records show that Extreme shipped goods worth about $645,000 in this way during that period.

Extreme, in its statement, said it now believes that its equipment may have been acquired through a "front company." Extreme confirmed that the DEMZ account listed product purchases for approximately $645,000.

DEMZ is a small company based in Dmitrov, a city 50 miles north of Moscow. Russian corporate records list Vladimir Markov as its general director. Reached by phone, Markov said that DEMZ, which made tools for railcar maintenance, ceased all operations in 2016. The executive said he had never heard of Extreme or of DEMZ buying Extreme equipment for itself or on behalf of others.

The apparent ruse was a shallow one. Purported executives for DEMZ, listed in the Extreme customer records seen by Reuters, were actually employees of the missile&nbsp;maker&nbsp;who had provided their MMZ Avangard email addresses. They even included the Avangard email addresses when they applied for access to an Extreme customer service portal. One of these people declined to comment. The other couldn't be reached. Some of the documents also listed mmza.ru - MMZ Avangard's domain name - as DEMZ's purported web address.

On the last day of 2019, as a "DEMZ" order was winding through Extreme's approval system, an Extreme sales manager working in North Carolina emailed RRC, the Russian distributor, with a question about the domain name: "Can you tell me what the relationship is between DEMZ and mmza.ru?" An employee of the distributor responded that mmza.ru was "the customer's" domain. The employee didn't elaborate. A subsequent message indicates that the sale went through.

Extreme, in its statement, did not address questions about MMZ Avangard staff registering for access to online support, and an Extreme sales manager raising questions about the web domain.

Nearly a year later, dealing with another set of "DEMZ" orders, an employee from Extreme's in-house compliance desk in Ireland spotted the mmza.ru domain in the sales paperwork and researched it. "This link," the compliance team employee said in a Nov. 11, 2020, email, "goes directly to https://mmzavangard.ru/ which is a defense contractor seemingly [sic] to specialize in ground to air missile systems, we need to further review before we can make a decision."

Extreme, in its statement, also did not address questions about this email.

Good news

The Extreme compliance employee instructed the Russia office to have "DEMZ," the purported customer, fill out a form to certify there was no military end-user, that the equipment would not be resold for any military purpose, and that it would not be transferred to any sanctioned company.

Less than a week after the message from the Extreme compliance employee, a two-page letter seen by Reuters attested that the end-user was not sanctioned, and would not use Extreme's equipment in a way banned by&nbsp;U.S. law. Bearing an illegible signature and a blue "DEMZ" stamp, the document was sent to Extreme's compliance desk, according to one of the people familiar with the matter.

DEMZ's business, according to the purported self-declaration, had nothing to do with sophisticated&nbsp;missiles. Rather it was "components for the Metalworking of country houses." DEMZ never made such components and was out of business at the time of the letter, according to former director general Markov.

"Just heard back from our supply team for the DEMZ orders," emailed the North Carolina manager on Nov. 25 "with some good news."

The sales could go through.

"Thank you," Extreme's Vienna-based regional director for Northern and Eastern Europe wrote.

U.S. export control specialists told Reuters self-declarations can be useful in determining whether a client is legitimate. However, upon coming across a red flag, "you stop or put on hold the transaction," said James Fuller, a former special agent with the&nbsp;U.S. Department of Commerce. "You don't offer an avenue to provide more false information, or suggest some kind of workaround."

Extreme in its statement to Reuters confirmed that its internal compliance officer had requested and received the self-declaration. The company added that it has "other screening processes to check for red flags."

Shipbuilding

In Russia, Extreme&nbsp;supplied&nbsp;IT equipment to other military companies, according to the business documents seen by Reuters and the people familiar with the matter.

One of them was United Shipbuilding Corp. The company has headquarters in St. Petersburg and operates a host of Russian shipyards, making everything from frigates to submarines to mine sweepers. Like MMZ Avangard, United Shipbuilding has been listed as a "blocked" entity by the&nbsp;U.S. Treasury since July 2014.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-administration-unveils-new-national-security-strategy-china-russia-identified-as-major-threats-524974">Also read |&nbsp;US National Security strategy: China, Russia seen as threats, India as partner</a>

Another one was Concern Morinformsystem-Agat, a manufacturer of radar and other military electronics systems. According to the documents, including a July 2020 public tender, and one of the people familiar with the matter, Agat was relying on equipment from Extreme for some of its systems, which were then fitted on United Shipbuilding warships.

Extreme told Reuters it had no records of selling products to United Shipbuilding or Agat. The Russian companies did not respond to requests for comment.

United Shipbuilding is clearly described as an Extreme customer in email correspondence. In April 2020, an intermediary contacted Extreme's office in Moscow to submit the plan the intermediary had sketched out to modernize United Shipbuilding's data center.

A Russia-based engineer from Extreme responded the next day, pointing to a few items that could be removed from the proposed design.

"Apart from that, it's all correct," the Extreme engineer wrote in the email.

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Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, American companies have been prohibited from dealing with MMZ Avangard, a state-owned firm that makes missiles for one of Russia's most sophisticated weapons, the S-400 air-defence system.

Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, American companies have been prohibited from dealing with MMZ Avangard, a state-owned firm that makes missiles for one of Russia's most sophisticated weapons, the S-400 air-defence system. In a measure of Western concern about the S-400, the United States ejected Turkey, a NATO member, from a joint fighter jet programme in 2019 after Ankara took delivery of the Russian system. But even as the United States was taking actions to blunt MMZ Avangard's business, a publicly traded American technology company, Extreme Networks, was providing MMZ Avangard with computer networking equipment for its office IT systems, according to emails and other business records seen by Reuters, as well as interviews with people familiar with the matter. Also read | UNGA passes resolution condemning Russian 'illegal annexation' of Ukrainian land; India abstains from voting In a statement to Reuters, Extreme said that based on information provided by the news agency it believed equipment "may have" been sold to MMZ Avangard using a surrogate buyer. Extreme said the equipment was sold without its knowledge. It added, without providing evidence, that an intermediary in Russia was "complicit" in supplying its products via a front company to "bad actors." Extreme said it is reporting its findings of these potential sales to U.S. authorities. Ukraine has accused Russia of deploying missiles made by MMZ Avangard against ground targets since Russia launched what it terms its "special operation" on Feb. 24. Ukrainian authorities said MMZ Avangard missiles killed at least 30 civilians in a gruesome attack on a convoy on the edge of the southern city of Zaporizhzhia last month. Neither Kremlin officials nor MMZ Avangard responded to questions for this article. MMZ Avangard's parent, Almaz-Antey, also didn't comment. Between 2017 and 2021, MMZ Avangard obtained over half a million dollars' worth of Extreme equipment for its IT systems, according to the business records reviewed by Reuters and the people familiar with the matter. The products included high-speed switches, an essential building block of corporate IT networks, and software. The records also show that the deals went through a seemingly innocuous corporation near Moscow, and despite two Extreme officials raising concerns, the sales went forward. That a Russian military company, identified as a threat by Washington, continued to acquire U.S. computer hardware is a case study in how Western countries may have overestimated their ability to choke the Russian economy with export bans and trade sanctions. It also highlights how dependent Russia's military machine is on U.S. high-tech equipment. In April, six weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an Extreme employee filed an internal complaint, seen by Reuters, alleging that the company was selling to various military manufacturers in Russia. "Extreme equipment is used on Russian warships," the complaint said, "in communications systems." Extreme said in its statement that the allegations were brought by a disgruntled employee. An investigation by the firm had found nothing to corroborate any of the claims until Reuters brought "new facts" to the company's attention this month. The company said it ceased operations in Russia in March, adding that it subsequently launched a process to dismiss the disgruntled employee for poor performance. It said it has no records of sales involving Russian warships. Extreme, which trades on the NASDAQ exchange and is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, has earned a solid reputation in the United States and is an official partner of the National Football League. The NFL declined to comment for this article. A Reuters investigation in August found that while the United States and allies banned high-tech exports to Russia to try to cripple its defense industry, and many tech companies announced that they had halted exports to Russia, the flow of Western brand-name computer parts to Russian clients hasn't stopped. This account of how Extreme supplied MMZ Avangard and at least two other Russian military companies is based on interviews with three people familiar with the shipments as well as a review by Reuters of documents spanning five years to 2021. The documents include sales records and email exchanges between Extreme employees, customers and distributors. The shipments are reported here for the first time. The U. Department of Commerce, which administers export restrictions, declined to comment for this story. It was necessary to use cover Russian companies, including those in the military sector, have virtually no choice but to buy foreign equipment to build the computer networks necessary for modern-day business. Russia has very limited domestic production of networking equipment. Founded in 1996, Extreme is a junior player in the computer networking industry. Last year, it posted revenue of $1.1 billion, compared with $50 billion for Cisco Systems. Still, the smaller company is a "meaningful competitor," according to Alex Henderson, a network and security analyst at Needham and Company in New York. The US military as well as NASA use Extreme hardware and support, according to contracting records, and the company has built up a substantial marketing profile. In Russia, as well, Extreme lists prestigious customers, such as the Ministry of Health, the federal pension fund and Lomonosov Moscow State University. But according to documents seen by Reuters, other buyers of Extreme equipment included not just MMZ Avangard but a major Russian military shipbuilding company and a high-tech defense electronics manufacturer. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: More than 50 Western countries promise more weapons for Ukraine One of the documents shows that in the four years ending 2020, Russian customers purchased $41.5 million worth of equipment. Reuters couldn't determine Extreme's total sales to sanctioned or military firms because it wasn't clear if transactions other than those involving MMZ Avangard had been recorded under cover names. In its statement to Reuters, Extreme said it doesn't report country specific revenue. In Russia, Extreme maintained contacts with its customers in order to help design complex networks that expand over time, according to two of the people familiar with the matter. Each customer or potential buyer had its own account manager at the company and was listed on internal sales records. Actual sales, though, were done through authorized intermediaries. Extreme, in its statement to Reuters, said it rarely provided direct installation services. It said it had no such contracts with DEMZ or MMZ Avangard. In its statement, Extreme said it has a "firm policy" not to work with sanctioned entities, but added it isn't always notified of the end customer, especially when its products are sold through so-called "stocking" distributors that hold an inventory. Extreme named one of those distributors as RRC and said it believed RRC was "complicit" in the scheme to supply MMZ Avangard. RRC and its Cyprus parent, BD Enterprise Networking didn't respond to messages from Reuters seeking comment. For Russian military companies, Extreme equipment had a strong selling point, the three people familiar with the shipments said: Unlike larger rivals, Extreme doesn't require service subscriptions and frequent software updates. "It is absolutely autonomous," one of the people said of the equipment. "It works without a license and you don't even need to be connected to the internet." This means, another person said, that "you don't need to fear that your system will go dark because someone in the U.S. decided to disconnect you." Extreme said that the "autonomous model" is not unique to the company, but acknowledged it has become relatively rare. It was no secret in Russia that MMZ Avangard used Extreme equipment. In late 2019, the missile manufacturer issued a tender through Russia's online public procurement platform, saying it needed spare parts for the Extreme computer networks it possessed. Extreme didn't dispute this but said it wouldn't necessarily be aware of such a tender. A few months before, in the summer of 2019, an intermediary had contacted Extreme's representative office in Russia, asking for advice on a network upgrade for the missile company, the documents show. "We are working on a solution for the customer, MMZ Avangard," an employee of the intermediary wrote in a June 28, 2019, email to an Extreme system engineer. "I was told that I could seek your help." As soon as its equipment arrived in Moscow, Extreme dispatched a staff engineer to MMZ Avangard's offices to help ensure a smooth installation, one of the people familiar with the shipments said. In its statement to Reuters, Extreme said it had no records of an Extreme employee installing equipment at MMZ Avangard. When it came to processing MMZ Avangard's purchasing orders, the missile maker's name didn't appear on Extreme's books. Instead, Extreme's Moscow employees recorded the orders as having been placed by a company called OOO DEMZ, according to emails and sales records, as well as three people familiar with the matter. "It was necessary to use a cover because the Russian company is blacklisted in the U.S.," one of the people familiar with the shipments said. It has been illegal for U.S. companies to do business with MMZ Avangard since July 2014, when the U.S. Treasury Department listed its parent company, Almaz-Antey, as a "blocked" entity. The Treasury declined to comment for this story. MMZ Avangard began buying products from Extreme in December 2017 and was disguised under the DEMZ cover in Extreme business records from that date, according to emails and other documents seen by Reuters. The most recent transaction using the DEMZ cover that Reuters identified was in September 2021. In total, the records show that Extreme shipped goods worth about $645,000 in this way during that period. Extreme, in its statement, said it now believes that its equipment may have been acquired through a "front company." Extreme confirmed that the DEMZ account listed product purchases for approximately $645,000. DEMZ is a small company based in Dmitrov, a city 50 miles north of Moscow. Russian corporate records list Vladimir Markov as its general director. Reached by phone, Markov said that DEMZ, which made tools for railcar maintenance, ceased all operations in 2016. The executive said he had never heard of Extreme or of DEMZ buying Extreme equipment for itself or on behalf of others. The apparent ruse was a shallow one. Purported executives for DEMZ, listed in the Extreme customer records seen by Reuters, were actually employees of the missile maker who had provided their MMZ Avangard email addresses. They even included the Avangard email addresses when they applied for access to an Extreme customer service portal. One of these people declined to comment. The other couldn't be reached. Some of the documents also listed mmza.ru - MMZ Avangard's domain name - as DEMZ's purported web address. On the last day of 2019, as a "DEMZ" order was winding through Extreme's approval system, an Extreme sales manager working in North Carolina emailed RRC, the Russian distributor, with a question about the domain name: "Can you tell me what the relationship is between DEMZ and mmza.ru?" An employee of the distributor responded that mmza.ru was "the customer's" domain. The employee didn't elaborate. A subsequent message indicates that the sale went through. Extreme, in its statement, did not address questions about MMZ Avangard staff registering for access to online support, and an Extreme sales manager raising questions about the web domain. Nearly a year later, dealing with another set of "DEMZ" orders, an employee from Extreme's in-house compliance desk in Ireland spotted the mmza.ru domain in the sales paperwork and researched it. "This link," the compliance team employee said in a Nov. 11, 2020, email, "goes directly to https://mmzavangard.ru/ which is a defense contractor seemingly [sic] to specialize in ground to air missile systems, we need to further review before we can make a decision." Extreme, in its statement, also did not address questions about this email. Good news The Extreme compliance employee instructed the Russia office to have "DEMZ," the purported customer, fill out a form to certify there was no military end-user, that the equipment would not be resold for any military purpose, and that it would not be transferred to any sanctioned company. Less than a week after the message from the Extreme compliance employee, a two-page letter seen by Reuters attested that the end-user was not sanctioned, and would not use Extreme's equipment in a way banned by U.S. law. Bearing an illegible signature and a blue "DEMZ" stamp, the document was sent to Extreme's compliance desk, according to one of the people familiar with the matter. DEMZ's business, according to the purported self-declaration, had nothing to do with sophisticated missiles. Rather it was "components for the Metalworking of country houses." DEMZ never made such components and was out of business at the time of the letter, according to former director general Markov. "Just heard back from our supply team for the DEMZ orders," emailed the North Carolina manager on Nov. 25 "with some good news." The sales could go through. "Thank you," Extreme's Vienna-based regional director for Northern and Eastern Europe wrote. U.S. export control specialists told Reuters self-declarations can be useful in determining whether a client is legitimate. However, upon coming across a red flag, "you stop or put on hold the transaction," said James Fuller, a former special agent with the U.S. Department of Commerce. "You don't offer an avenue to provide more false information, or suggest some kind of workaround." Extreme in its statement to Reuters confirmed that its internal compliance officer had requested and received the self-declaration. The company added that it has "other screening processes to check for red flags." Shipbuilding In Russia, Extreme supplied IT equipment to other military companies, according to the business documents seen by Reuters and the people familiar with the matter. One of them was United Shipbuilding Corp. The company has headquarters in St. Petersburg and operates a host of Russian shipyards, making everything from frigates to submarines to mine sweepers. Like MMZ Avangard, United Shipbuilding has been listed as a "blocked" entity by the U.S. Treasury since July 2014. Also read | US National Security strategy: China, Russia seen as threats, India as partner Another one was Concern Morinformsystem-Agat, a manufacturer of radar and other military electronics systems. According to the documents, including a July 2020 public tender, and one of the people familiar with the matter, Agat was relying on equipment from Extreme for some of its systems, which were then fitted on United Shipbuilding warships. Extreme told Reuters it had no records of selling products to United Shipbuilding or Agat. The Russian companies did not respond to requests for comment. United Shipbuilding is clearly described as an Extreme customer in email correspondence. In April 2020, an intermediary contacted Extreme's office in Moscow to submit the plan the intermediary had sketched out to modernize United Shipbuilding's data center. A Russia-based engineer from Extreme responded the next day, pointing to a few items that could be removed from the proposed design. "Apart from that, it's all correct," the Extreme engineer wrote in the email. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

How a US firm supplied networking technology to maker of feared Russian missiles

US President Joe Biden's administration in its recently launched National Security Strategy (NSS) has said that the next 10 years will be a "decisive decade" for America and the world in the global fight against climate change, promotion of democracy over authoritarianism and for reducing conflict.

The newly unveiled strategy prioritises "out-competing China and constraining Russia". The report says that "the People's Republic of China harbours the intention and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order in favour of one that tilts the global playing field to its benefit."

Watch |&nbsp;US pledges more weapons for Ukraine than EU members combined

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India is mentioned in a positive light. "As India is the world’s largest democracy and a Major Defense Partner, the United States and India will work together, bilaterally and multilaterally, to support our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," says the strategy. It also mentions the nation as part of multiple major American&nbsp;alliances and partnerships that have played a critical role in the country's&nbsp;national security policy.</div>

The Ukraine conflict delayed the strategy's rollout, as Biden spent most of this year mobilising allies against Russia and delivering billions of dollars worth of armaments to Kyiv reports AFP.

However, the strategy still substantially adheres to the President's interim instructions which he provided shortly after taking office in January 2021.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/unga-passes-resolution-condemning-russian-illegal-annexation-of-ukrainian-land-india-abstains-from-voting-524945" hreflang="en">UNGA passes resolution condemning Russian 'illegal annexation' of Ukrainian land; India abstains from voting</a>

It warns that "by the 2030s, the United States for the first time will need to deter two major nuclear&nbsp;powers, each of whom will field modern and diverse global and regional nuclear forces."

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said while unveiling the strategy, "The post-Cold War era is over, and the competition is underway between the major powers to shape what comes next."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-liberal-leader-wang-yang-seen-as-top-contender-to-be-next-premier-524792" hreflang="en">China: 'Liberal' leader Wang Yang seen as top contender to be next premier</a>

As per the strategy, "China is the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it."

It goes on to say that Russia "poses an immediate threat to the free and open international system, recklessly flouting the basic laws of the international order today, as its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has shown."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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US President Joe Biden's administration in its recently launched National Security Strategy (NSS) has said that the next 10 years will be a "decisive decade" for America and the world in the global fight against climate change, promotion of democracy over authoritarianism and for reducing conflict.

US President Joe Biden's administration in its recently launched National Security Strategy (NSS) has said that the next 10 years will be a "decisive decade" for America and the world in the global fight against climate change, promotion of democracy over authoritarianism and for reducing conflict. The newly unveiled strategy prioritises "out-competing China and constraining Russia". The report says that "the People's Republic of China harbours the intention and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order in favour of one that tilts the global playing field to its benefit." Watch | US pledges more weapons for Ukraine than EU members combined India is mentioned in a positive light. "As India is the world’s largest democracy and a Major Defense Partner, the United States and India will work together, bilaterally and multilaterally, to support our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," says the strategy. It also mentions the nation as part of multiple major American alliances and partnerships that have played a critical role in the country's national security policy. The Ukraine conflict delayed the strategy's rollout, as Biden spent most of this year mobilising allies against Russia and delivering billions of dollars worth of armaments to Kyiv reports AFP. However, the strategy still substantially adheres to the President's interim instructions which he provided shortly after taking office in January 2021. Also read | UNGA passes resolution condemning Russian 'illegal annexation' of Ukrainian land; India abstains from voting It warns that "by the 2030s, the United States for the first time will need to deter two major nuclear powers, each of whom will field modern and diverse global and regional nuclear forces." National security adviser Jake Sullivan said while unveiling the strategy, "The post-Cold War era is over, and the competition is underway between the major powers to shape what comes next." Also read | China: 'Liberal' leader Wang Yang seen as top contender to be next premier As per the strategy, "China is the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it." It goes on to say that Russia "poses an immediate threat to the free and open international system, recklessly flouting the basic laws of the international order today, as its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has shown." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US National Security strategy: China, Russia seen as threats, India as partner

A US jury has ordered Infowars owner Alex Jones on Wednesday to pay victims' families $965 million in damages for falsely claiming that the deadly 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting was a hoax.

Infowars owner Alex Jones ordered to pay Sandy Hook victims' families $965 mn over hoax claims

The next public hearing of committee which is investigating the attack on US Capitol Hill will reveal new material about former President Donald Trump’s role in whipping up supporters.

Jan 6 Capitol Riot Hearing: Probe panel to view Trump's role in whipping up supporters

US has pledged more aid to Ukraine than all EU members combined. The defence ministry of Ukraine has demanded more weapons from France. Molly Gambhir tells you about the latest developments.

WION Fineprint | US overtakes Europe in pledging arms to Ukraine

Israel and Lebanon reached a historic agreement to resolve a long-running maritime border dispute, following months of negotiations guided by the United States.

Israel, Lebanon settle their longtime maritime border dispute

US citizens at Chinese chip firms caught in the middle of tech war after new export restrictions. Washington’s latest export restrictions prohibit US persons from supporting the development or production of chips at targeted Chinese firms.

World Business Watch: US citizens at Chinese chip firms caught in the middle of tech war

The Biden administration is proposing a new labor rule that could classify millions of gig workers in thr United States as employees rather than independent contractors.

World Business Watch: Labor Department proposal may lead to US gig workers gaining employee status

NASA has confirmed that its recent mission to alter the trajectory of an asteroid using a spacecraft was successful. The US space agency conducted the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) last month which saw the spacecraft slam into an asteroid Dimorphos.

NASA confirms DART mission succeeded, asteroid's path altered

US President Joe Biden has vowed 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia after last week the OPEC+ led Riyadh announced that they would cut oil production despite Washington's strong objections.

US President Biden vows 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia over OPEC oil output cut

Former US Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday announced her exit from the Democratic Party, blaming the party for racializing every issue in the nation.

Tulsi Gabbard quits US Democratic party, accuses DEMs for 'serving the elite'

A Saturday boat journey into the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of southeast Louisiana took a dramatic turn when the boat capsized and Nguyen had to defend himself against a shark before the US Coast Guard was able to rescue them after more than a day.

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Luan Nguyen and his two companions only intended to fish and unwind.&nbsp;

“I stuck both of my thumbs and jabbed him in the eyes, and it took off,” the 46-year-old Nguyen told New Orleans news station WWL-TV of his encounter with the shark. “Not a good situation.”

Officials backed up Nguyen's account. Shark attacks are very uncommon—fewer than 75 were recorded as unprovoked globally last year, with a disproportionate number in Florida—but they may be quite hazardous.&nbsp;

The group of friends from Harvey, a New Orleans suburb, set out on their fishing excursion with Son Nguyen and Phong Lee from a marina in Empire, some 60 miles (97 km) south-east of the city, in search of red snapper to prepare.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-breathtaking-images-from-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2022-524779">In pics: Breathtaking images from wildlife photographer of the year 2022</a>

The engine started to have issues around 25 miles from the beach. The gang attempted to return to the marina, but the boat was swamped by the turbulent waves.&nbsp;

The vessel eventually sunk, leaving the companions swimming in their bright orange life jackets. When a shark came up and attacked, Luan Nguyen was holding to an ice chest to help him remain afloat.&nbsp;

Dramatic footage and pictures taken from the aircraft showed rescuers lifting two of the guys up to the chopper after retrieving them from the ocean and into a boat.

(with inputs from agencies)

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A Saturday boat journey into the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of southeast Louisiana took a dramatic turn when the boat capsized and Nguyen had to defend himself against a shark before the US Coast Guard was able to rescue them after more than a day.

A Saturday boat journey into the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of southeast Louisiana took a dramatic turn when the boat capsized and Nguyen had to defend himself against a shark before the US Coast Guard was able to rescue them after more than a day. × Luan Nguyen and his two companions only intended to fish and unwind. “I stuck both of my thumbs and jabbed him in the eyes, and it took off,” the 46-year-old Nguyen told New Orleans news station WWL-TV of his encounter with the shark. “Not a good situation.” Officials backed up Nguyen's account. Shark attacks are very uncommon—fewer than 75 were recorded as unprovoked globally last year, with a disproportionate number in Florida—but they may be quite hazardous. The group of friends from Harvey, a New Orleans suburb, set out on their fishing excursion with Son Nguyen and Phong Lee from a marina in Empire, some 60 miles (97 km) south-east of the city, in search of red snapper to prepare. Also Read: In pics: Breathtaking images from wildlife photographer of the year 2022 The engine started to have issues around 25 miles from the beach. The gang attempted to return to the marina, but the boat was swamped by the turbulent waves. The vessel eventually sunk, leaving the companions swimming in their bright orange life jackets. When a shark came up and attacked, Luan Nguyen was holding to an ice chest to help him remain afloat. Dramatic footage and pictures taken from the aircraft showed rescuers lifting two of the guys up to the chopper after retrieving them from the ocean and into a boat. (with inputs from agencies)

Two rescued from water after fighting off shark in Gulf of Mexico

The US Department of Labour has recently introduced a proposal that will require the companies to entitle the workers to be considered employees and to have more and better benefits and legal protections than their contractors. The reaction to the proposal was almost immediate as share prices for Uber and Lyft dropped following the announcement.&nbsp;

The department further added that it will consider all points from the labourers' side from opportunities and&nbsp;losses and profits to investments to the degree of control.

Labour Secretary Marty Walsh in a statement said, "Misclassification deprives workers of their federal labor protections, including their right to be paid their full, legally earned wages," Reuters added.

On the other hand, the reaction in the markets for major gig companies was immediate as share prices for ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber plummeting by 12% and 10% respectively. However, both companies have reportedly&nbsp;dismissed the significance of the proposed rule and its potential effect on their business..&nbsp;

This includes CR Wooters, head of federal affairs at Uber, saying “Today's proposed rule takes a measured approach, essentially returning us to the Obama era, during which our industry grew exponentially,” in a statement.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/report-something-we-take-very-seriously-us-responds-to-alleged-corruption-in-flood-relief-to-pakistan-524701">Also read |&nbsp;Reports of massive corruption, looting of flood relief to Pakistan from Washington serious, says US</a> 
 
According to reports, one key change in the proposed rules is that employers whether the work provided by the employee is an integral part of their business, which could affect app-based companies almost completely on freelance workers that provide their services.&nbsp;

On the other hand, in a blog post its rival ride-hailing company, Lyft said, “Importantly this rule: Does not reclassify Lyft drivers as employees. Does not force Lyft to change our business model.”&nbsp;

This proposed law comes ahead of the upcoming elections, a major political&nbsp;battle in the United States. The pitched rule aims to overturn the present rule of the Trump administration that states that workers who own their own businesses or who can run one&nbsp;be considered a contractor.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-to-change-express-entry-rules-from-2023-522075">Also read |&nbsp;Canada to change 'Express Entry' rules from 2023</a>

The proposal has not only given a chance to Republicans to criticise Democrats but has also turned companies against it. This rule was under the guidance of former president Obama but&nbsp;was later withdrawn by Trump.

Additionally, a report by Associated Press also claims that&nbsp;in the past gig economy giants have dodged attempts made by the US government to require their drivers to be classified as employees. They have long argued that their workers want to set their own hours as contract workers and require that flexibility. &nbsp;

The rule was welcomed by worker advocacy groups, while employer groups criticised it.&nbsp;According to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives in his research stated that this rule will change the current business model upside down and will cause major changes in the country, Reuters reported.

The new rule will come into effect next year and after a 45-day period following the public announcement during which stakeholders can raise their concerns and comments regarding the proposed law which will end on November 28, said reports. According to the labour department, this new law can change the circumstances for millions of custodians, truck drivers, waiters, construction workers and so on.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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&nbsp;

The US Department of Labour has recently introduced a proposal that will require the companies to entitle the workers to be considered employees and to have more and better benefits and legal protections than their contractors.

The US Department of Labour has recently introduced a proposal that will require the companies to entitle the workers to be considered employees and to have more and better benefits and legal protections than their contractors. The reaction to the proposal was almost immediate as share prices for Uber and Lyft dropped following the announcement. The department further added that it will consider all points from the labourers' side from opportunities and losses and profits to investments to the degree of control. Labour Secretary Marty Walsh in a statement said, "Misclassification deprives workers of their federal labor protections, including their right to be paid their full, legally earned wages," Reuters added. On the other hand, the reaction in the markets for major gig companies was immediate as share prices for ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber plummeting by 12% and 10% respectively. However, both companies have reportedly dismissed the significance of the proposed rule and its potential effect on their business.. This includes CR Wooters, head of federal affairs at Uber, saying “Today's proposed rule takes a measured approach, essentially returning us to the Obama era, during which our industry grew exponentially,” in a statement. Also read | Reports of massive corruption, looting of flood relief to Pakistan from Washington serious, says US According to reports, one key change in the proposed rules is that employers whether the work provided by the employee is an integral part of their business, which could affect app-based companies almost completely on freelance workers that provide their services. On the other hand, in a blog post its rival ride-hailing company, Lyft said, “Importantly this rule: Does not reclassify Lyft drivers as employees. Does not force Lyft to change our business model.” This proposed law comes ahead of the upcoming elections, a major political battle in the United States. The pitched rule aims to overturn the present rule of the Trump administration that states that workers who own their own businesses or who can run one be considered a contractor. Also read | Canada to change 'Express Entry' rules from 2023 The proposal has not only given a chance to Republicans to criticise Democrats but has also turned companies against it. This rule was under the guidance of former president Obama but was later withdrawn by Trump. Additionally, a report by Associated Press also claims that in the past gig economy giants have dodged attempts made by the US government to require their drivers to be classified as employees. They have long argued that their workers want to set their own hours as contract workers and require that flexibility. The rule was welcomed by worker advocacy groups, while employer groups criticised it. According to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives in his research stated that this rule will change the current business model upside down and will cause major changes in the country, Reuters reported. The new rule will come into effect next year and after a 45-day period following the public announcement during which stakeholders can raise their concerns and comments regarding the proposed law which will end on November 28, said reports. According to the labour department, this new law can change the circumstances for millions of custodians, truck drivers, waiters, construction workers and so on. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US Dept of Labour proposes new rules for employee benefits and opportunities; market reacts

A top executive has warned that the US could enter a recession in the next 6 to 9 months. Molly Gambhir tells you how the US economy is flashing warning signs.

Gravitas | Top Executive: US Recession in 6 to 9 months

In the past few days, users of the conservative dating app, The Right Stuff, created by former US president Donald Trump's staffers, claim that they have been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and police. According to reports, people are supposedly getting these calls after answering one of the questions on the app.&nbsp;

John McEntee is the co-founder and CEO of the app and a former political aide in the Trump administration. Launched on September 30, the right-wing dating app is also backed by conservative PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.&nbsp;

Reportedly, the app has largely been dubbed as a failure because of its invite-only system which makes it impossible to join. Furthermore, reports claim there are no women who have signed up for the app.&nbsp;

One of the questions that people are asked while they are making their profile is a finish-the-sentence prompt which reads “January 6 was …”. This of course refers to the January 6 insurrection when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol after his defeat in the 2020 presidential elections.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-capitol-riot-january-6-panel-probing-trump-associates-ties-to-extremists-496381">US Capitol riot: January 6 panel probing Trump associates’ ties to extremists</a>

Some reviewers claimed that they were being&nbsp;contacted by the FBI or the police after answering this question.&nbsp;

“I answered the question about January 6th honestly and the next day I have two police officers at my door telling me that they got a call alleging that I was involved in domestic terrorism??? This app was clearly created by Democrats as a way to subvert our constitutional rights as conservative Americans. Do not use this app unless you want to be harassed by left-wing fascists,” claimed one of the users on Apple's App store. &nbsp;

Another person alleged, “Ok app asks about January 6th, harmless, right? I said I was there because I was a patriot that’s why I am on this dating app – I use this app for hardly an evening and is it a coincidence I get a call from an FBI agent the SAME DAY????”.

The person added, “Seriously, what stunt are they trying to pull?? Whoever developed this has to be deepstate setting us up…I came here to find love not a d*** warrant!!!!&amp;&amp;$@”. &nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-non-woke-social-media-app-rivalling-the-biased-big-tech-to-launch-soon-442778">Trump's 'non-woke' social media app rivalling the 'biased' big-tech to launch soon</a>

As of earlier this month, the app has received over 120 reviews and a 2.4-star rating on Apple’s app store. Reviewers have also complained about the invite-only system, with one person saying, “So I love the idea and setup of the app but the whole reason I wanted to get this app was because I don’t know any conservatives in my area and wanted to get connected to them.”&nbsp;

They added, “But because it’s invite only I cannot use the app. If you make it available to everyone, just have a verification system instead or have a way for people like me to get in without an invite, it’d be so much better.”

Another person on the App store wrote, “Set up your profile then be told you can only join by invite only. What an absolute garbage way of making a dating app. Immediately deleted it as it’s guaranteed to have an extremely small pool of profiles because of this design. It’s basically designed to fail.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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In the past few days, users of the conservative dating app, The Right Stuff, created by former US president Donald Trump's staffers, claim that they have been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and police.

In the past few days, users of the conservative dating app, The Right Stuff, created by former US president Donald Trump's staffers, claim that they have been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and police. According to reports, people are supposedly getting these calls after answering one of the questions on the app. John McEntee is the co-founder and CEO of the app and a former political aide in the Trump administration. Launched on September 30, the right-wing dating app is also backed by conservative PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. Reportedly, the app has largely been dubbed as a failure because of its invite-only system which makes it impossible to join. Furthermore, reports claim there are no women who have signed up for the app. One of the questions that people are asked while they are making their profile is a finish-the-sentence prompt which reads “January 6 was …”. This of course refers to the January 6 insurrection when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol after his defeat in the 2020 presidential elections. ALSO READ: US Capitol riot: January 6 panel probing Trump associates’ ties to extremists Some reviewers claimed that they were being contacted by the FBI or the police after answering this question. “I answered the question about January 6th honestly and the next day I have two police officers at my door telling me that they got a call alleging that I was involved in domestic terrorism??? This app was clearly created by Democrats as a way to subvert our constitutional rights as conservative Americans. Do not use this app unless you want to be harassed by left-wing fascists,” claimed one of the users on Apple's App store. Another person alleged, “Ok app asks about January 6th, harmless, right? I said I was there because I was a patriot that’s why I am on this dating app – I use this app for hardly an evening and is it a coincidence I get a call from an FBI agent the SAME DAY????”. The person added, “Seriously, what stunt are they trying to pull?? Whoever developed this has to be deepstate setting us up…I came here to find love not a d*** warrant!!!!&&$@”. ALSO READ: Trump's 'non-woke' social media app rivalling the 'biased' big-tech to launch soon As of earlier this month, the app has received over 120 reviews and a 2.4-star rating on Apple’s app store. Reviewers have also complained about the invite-only system, with one person saying, “So I love the idea and setup of the app but the whole reason I wanted to get this app was because I don’t know any conservatives in my area and wanted to get connected to them.” They added, “But because it’s invite only I cannot use the app. If you make it available to everyone, just have a verification system instead or have a way for people like me to get in without an invite, it’d be so much better.” Another person on the App store wrote, “Set up your profile then be told you can only join by invite only. What an absolute garbage way of making a dating app. Immediately deleted it as it’s guaranteed to have an extremely small pool of profiles because of this design. It’s basically designed to fail.” (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.

Report: Users of right-wing dating app ‘The Right Stuff’ claim FBI contacted them

On Tuesday, the United States responded to reports of massive corruption and looting of Washington’s relief aid to Pakistan after devastating floods across the country. The US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that this is something Washington takes “very seriously” and they are also taking regular updates from their partners regarding the ongoing work.&nbsp;

“This is something we take very seriously, not only in Pakistan but anywhere around the world where American taxpayer dollars are implicated and when there is an urgent humanitarian interest at stake, which is clearly the case, in terms of the response to the flooding in Pakistan,” said Price.&nbsp;

The spokesperson also noted that the USAID works with local organisations that have extensive knowledge about the areas affected in Pakistan and their populations, “We also are required to provide regular programme updates on the progress of activities and any security concerns, and we require them — our partners — to immediately report any potential diversions, seizures, or losses immediately,” said Price, according to a report by ANI.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-floods-overflowing-indus-river-turns-part-of-sindh-province-into-wide-lake-512145">Pakistan floods: Overflowing Indus river turns part of Sindh province into wide lake</a>

Additionally, USAID staff also make regular trips to monitor the ongoing programmes in the field, said Price, addressing the steps taken to monitor and ensure adequate tracking mechanisms in the context. He added, “We have what's called a DART — a Disaster Assistance Response Team — and their members travel to more than 10 flood-affected districts in Balochistan, in Sindh province.”

This was done between September 14 and September 27, to assess the humanitarian conditions and response activities and to make sure they are meeting the humanitarian need, indicated Price. According to the state department, this year, the US provided at least $56.5 million in flood relief and humanitarian assistance and an additional $10 million in food security assistance to Pakistan. &nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/catastrophic-floods-will-drive-up-to-9-million-pakistanis-into-poverty-report-523251">Catastrophic floods will drive up to 9 million Pakistanis into poverty: World Bank report</a>

Pakistan witnessed massive floods which wreaked havoc in the country and led to the loss of lives and infrastructure. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at least 1,700 people have died, as of September 30 and more than 12,800 have been injured since June.&nbsp;

The report indicated that more than two million houses have been damaged or destroyed and more than 7.9 &nbsp;million have been displaced due to the floods, said the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA) of various provinces affected.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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On Tuesday, the United States responded to reports of massive corruption and looting of Washington’s relief aid to Pakistan after devastating floods across the country.

On Tuesday, the United States responded to reports of massive corruption and looting of Washington’s relief aid to Pakistan after devastating floods across the country. The US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that this is something Washington takes “very seriously” and they are also taking regular updates from their partners regarding the ongoing work. “This is something we take very seriously, not only in Pakistan but anywhere around the world where American taxpayer dollars are implicated and when there is an urgent humanitarian interest at stake, which is clearly the case, in terms of the response to the flooding in Pakistan,” said Price. The spokesperson also noted that the USAID works with local organisations that have extensive knowledge about the areas affected in Pakistan and their populations, “We also are required to provide regular programme updates on the progress of activities and any security concerns, and we require them — our partners — to immediately report any potential diversions, seizures, or losses immediately,” said Price, according to a report by ANI. ALSO READ: Pakistan floods: Overflowing Indus river turns part of Sindh province into wide lake Additionally, USAID staff also make regular trips to monitor the ongoing programmes in the field, said Price, addressing the steps taken to monitor and ensure adequate tracking mechanisms in the context. He added, “We have what's called a DART — a Disaster Assistance Response Team — and their members travel to more than 10 flood-affected districts in Balochistan, in Sindh province.” This was done between September 14 and September 27, to assess the humanitarian conditions and response activities and to make sure they are meeting the humanitarian need, indicated Price. According to the state department, this year, the US provided at least $56.5 million in flood relief and humanitarian assistance and an additional $10 million in food security assistance to Pakistan. ALSO READ: Catastrophic floods will drive up to 9 million Pakistanis into poverty: World Bank report Pakistan witnessed massive floods which wreaked havoc in the country and led to the loss of lives and infrastructure. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at least 1,700 people have died, as of September 30 and more than 12,800 have been injured since June. The report indicated that more than two million houses have been damaged or destroyed and more than 7.9 million have been displaced due to the floods, said the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA) of various provinces affected. 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.

Reports of massive corruption, looting of flood relief to Pakistan from Washington serious, says US

A contest held by the Katmai National Park to determine the fattest bear in southern Alaska, during Fat Bear Week was rocked by a scandal when over the weekend organisers saw voting irregularities during the online ballot.&nbsp;

According to reports, the ballots were “stuffed” in favour of the brown bear named Holly. This online contest allows people to vote on which bears have gained the most weight between summer and fall. The weekend saw Bear 345, also known as Holly, had initially taken the lead over Bear 747.

Unlike Holly (Bear 345), Bear 747 does not have a name. They took to Twitter on Monday to say, “Like bears stuff their face with fish, our ballot box, too, has been stuffed…It appears someone has decided to spam the Fat Bear Week poll, but fortunately, it is easy for us to tell which votes are fraudulent.” The authorities identified a sudden uptick of 9,000 votes for Holly in a short span of time.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/after-getting-milk-can-stuck-in-its-mouth-veterinarians-rescue-polar-bear-in-russia-500660">Russia: After polar bear gets milk can stuck in its mouth, veterinarians rescue it</a>

For the final round, on Tuesday, when the voting at 8:00 am (Alaska time) 747 faced off against Bear 901 and went on to win this year’s competition making this his second win as the 2022 Champion, the results were announced earlier today on the Park’s Twitter account.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The votes are in- you’ve decided to upgrade to fish class &amp; fly w/ 747! 
 
747 was deemed an order of magnitude more massive than 901, who experienced troubling tummy turbulence enroute. 901 made a strong start in her 1st <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FatBearWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FatBearWeek</a> appearance. Expect big things in the future! <a href="https://t.co/i6IPy2ajEw">pic.twitter.com/i6IPy2ajEw</a>
— Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatmaiNPS/status/1580000846863306752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Fat Bear Week has reportedly been globally popular since it began in 2014 when the Katmai park rangers selected 12 bears and uploaded two photos of the same bears, one from mid-July and the other taken in early September. It is also said that during this time bears eat a large amount of food to gain the weight right before hibernating over the winter.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
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A contest held by the Katmai National Park to determine the fattest bear in southern Alaska, during Fat Bear Week was rocked by a scandal when over the weekend organisers saw voting irregularities during the online ballot.

A contest held by the Katmai National Park to determine the fattest bear in southern Alaska, during Fat Bear Week was rocked by a scandal when over the weekend organisers saw voting irregularities during the online ballot. According to reports, the ballots were “stuffed” in favour of the brown bear named Holly. This online contest allows people to vote on which bears have gained the most weight between summer and fall. The weekend saw Bear 345, also known as Holly, had initially taken the lead over Bear 747. Unlike Holly (Bear 345), Bear 747 does not have a name. They took to Twitter on Monday to say, “Like bears stuff their face with fish, our ballot box, too, has been stuffed…It appears someone has decided to spam the Fat Bear Week poll, but fortunately, it is easy for us to tell which votes are fraudulent.” The authorities identified a sudden uptick of 9,000 votes for Holly in a short span of time. ALSO READ: Russia: After polar bear gets milk can stuck in its mouth, veterinarians rescue it For the final round, on Tuesday, when the voting at 8:00 am (Alaska time) 747 faced off against Bear 901 and went on to win this year’s competition making this his second win as the 2022 Champion, the results were announced earlier today on the Park’s Twitter account. The votes are in- you’ve decided to upgrade to fish class & fly w/ 747! 747 was deemed an order of magnitude more massive than 901, who experienced troubling tummy turbulence enroute. 901 made a strong start in her 1st #FatBearWeek appearance. Expect big things in the future! pic.twitter.com/i6IPy2ajEw — Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) October 12, 2022 × Fat Bear Week has reportedly been globally popular since it began in 2014 when the Katmai park rangers selected 12 bears and uploaded two photos of the same bears, one from mid-July and the other taken in early September. It is also said that during this time bears eat a large amount of food to gain the weight right before hibernating over the winter. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Alaska’s Fat Bear Week contest emerges from voting scandal, announces the winner

US President Joe Biden’s approval rating drops down to 40% – almost the lowest of his presidency. New poll shows President slipping underwater with just five weeks until the midterms elections.

Poll: US President Joe Biden's approval rating drops down to 40 percent

Israel and Lebanon have reached a historic agreement settling a years-long maritime border dispute involving major oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean.

US: Israel and Lebanon agree 'historic' maritime border deal

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