Asian-Americans in the United States are outraged after a white man killed eight people at a massage parlour in Atlanta. Most of the victims were women of Asian descent.

Asian-American outraged over Atlanta spa shooting

There are no easy fixes for US and China's trusty relations in the first high-level in-person talks of the Biden administration with China. Top diplomats from the two world powers discussed a laundry list of issues in the Alaska summit.

First US-China in-person talks under Biden begins on sour note

If you own a dog, you probably already know just how awesome they are. They fill your life with love, loyalty and a lot of fur. &nbsp;

They are always happy when you get home. Their loyalty knows no bounds, they love you unconditionally. They are simply the best. &nbsp;

The news is that the American Kennel Club has released a list of the most popular dog breeds of 2020 and if you are wondering whether your cuddle buddy has made it to the list, we have got you covered in this story.&nbsp;

In 2020, a lot of us coped with the pandemic by welcoming a dog into our homes. The surge in adoptions had some shelter homes run out of canines to take home but Americans were very particular about what kind of dogs they chose.&nbsp;

Based on their registration statistics, the American Kennel Club has released its 2020 list of the most popular dog breeds. Who has clinched the top spot? The Labrador Retriever is the topper for the 30th straight year. America's love affair with the Labrador continues. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-americas-top-dogs-of-2020-371526">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-americas-top-dogs-of-2020-371526/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

This energetic, eager-to-please breed saw 98,300 adoptions last year. Giving tough competition to the Labrador was the French Bulldog, who is at number two. These cute canines with their squat bodies wrinkly faces and bat ears witnessed a surge in popularity in 2020.&nbsp;

The buyers were willing to pay a fortune. In fact, just last month, Lady Gaga's two Frenchies were stolen at gunpoint and the pop star did not hesitate in offering 500,000 dollars for their safe return.&nbsp;

By the way, these Frenchies interestingly replaced a proud protector from the second spot. The German Shepherd, the all-weather breed, is now on the third spot.&nbsp;

They may look intimidating but they make a great family pet and two of them now have the honour of being America's first pets, Champ and Major. They are living a plush life at the White House with their owner US President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

On the fourth spot is the Golden Retriever. From their soulful piercing eyes to their wise-looking friendly face or their flowing and strikingly golden fur, Americans just couldn't help but bring these beautiful furry companions home.&nbsp;

On the fifth spot is the smooshy Bulldog, followed by the playful Poodle on the sixth, the gentle Beagle on the seventh, the mighty Rottweiler on the eighth and the agile Pointer on the ninth and the goofy Daschund on the 10th spot.&nbsp;

Their popularity may vary but there's no denying that for most people, the only one, who understands them best are their dogs irrespective of their breed.&nbsp;

If you own a dog, you probably already know just how awesome they are. They fill your life with love, loyalty and a lot of fur. They are always happy when you get home.

If you own a dog, you probably already know just how awesome they are. They fill your life with love, loyalty and a lot of fur. They are always happy when you get home. Their loyalty knows no bounds, they love you unconditionally. They are simply the best. The news is that the American Kennel Club has released a list of the most popular dog breeds of 2020 and if you are wondering whether your cuddle buddy has made it to the list, we have got you covered in this story. In 2020, a lot of us coped with the pandemic by welcoming a dog into our homes. The surge in adoptions had some shelter homes run out of canines to take home but Americans were very particular about what kind of dogs they chose. Based on their registration statistics, the American Kennel Club has released its 2020 list of the most popular dog breeds. Who has clinched the top spot? The Labrador Retriever is the topper for the 30th straight year. America's love affair with the Labrador continues. Watch | This energetic, eager-to-please breed saw 98,300 adoptions last year. Giving tough competition to the Labrador was the French Bulldog, who is at number two. These cute canines with their squat bodies wrinkly faces and bat ears witnessed a surge in popularity in 2020. The buyers were willing to pay a fortune. In fact, just last month, Lady Gaga's two Frenchies were stolen at gunpoint and the pop star did not hesitate in offering 500,000 dollars for their safe return. By the way, these Frenchies interestingly replaced a proud protector from the second spot. The German Shepherd, the all-weather breed, is now on the third spot. They may look intimidating but they make a great family pet and two of them now have the honour of being America's first pets, Champ and Major. They are living a plush life at the White House with their owner US President Joe Biden. On the fourth spot is the Golden Retriever. From their soulful piercing eyes to their wise-looking friendly face or their flowing and strikingly golden fur, Americans just couldn't help but bring these beautiful furry companions home. On the fifth spot is the smooshy Bulldog, followed by the playful Poodle on the sixth, the gentle Beagle on the seventh, the mighty Rottweiler on the eighth and the agile Pointer on the ninth and the goofy Daschund on the 10th spot. Their popularity may vary but there's no denying that for most people, the only one, who understands them best are their dogs irrespective of their breed.

American Kennel Club releases list of most popular dog breeds of 2020 

China is not holding overly high expectations from the upcoming US-China in-person talks which will be held in Alaska. It also doesn't expect the initial round of talks to resolve all the issues between China and the US.

China not holding high expectations from US-China in-person talks

Russian President hits back at Joe Biden's 'killer' remarks. Vladimir Putin called the remarks unprecedented & recalled its ambassador from Washington.

WION Dispatch: US-Russia tensions escalate over 'killer' remarks

The US and South Korea have finally settled their dispute over sharing the cost of American troops. South Korea has agreed to pay 13.9 per cent more towards the cost of the US troops presence on the Peninsula.

South Korea to increase its payment for American troops

After a key bilateral meeting in Seoul, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reiterated the importance of reducing the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapon program adding that China has a critical role in the denuclearisation of North Korea.

Blinken: China has a critical role in denuclearisation of North Korea

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has spoken over the phone with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The Treasury Chief conveyed her intention to work closely with India and appreciated India's role as a critical partner in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indian FM Sitharaman speaks to US Treasury Chief Janet Yellen

The United States has set up a temporary processing centre for migrants in Texas as the House of Representatives prepares to vote on citizenship bills.

US: House of Representatives to vote on citizenship bill

Russia said&nbsp;on&nbsp;Wednesday it had summoned its Washington envoy back to the country for consultations on its ties with the United States but stressed it wanted to prevent an&nbsp;'irreversible deterioration'&nbsp;in relations.&nbsp;

"The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of&nbsp;analysing&nbsp;what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

The announcement came after President Joe Biden said Russia will&nbsp;'pay a price'&nbsp;for meddling in US elections and he agrees with the assessment that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a&nbsp;'killer'.&nbsp;

The Biden's statement has come after a 15-page report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday, claimed that the Russian President likely directed efforts to try and sabotage Biden's chances of winning the US election 2020 against Donald Trump.&nbsp;

"Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach," the report said. "Other senior officials also participated in Russia's election influence efforts - including senior national security and intelligence officials who we assess would not act without receiving at least Putin's tacit approval."&nbsp;

However, these claims were dismissed by Russia. "The document prepared by the US intelligence community is another set of groundless accusations against our country of interfering in American internal political processes. The conclusions of the report on Russia conducting influence operations in America are confirmed solely by the confidence of the intelligence services of their self-righteousness. No facts or specific evidence of such claims were provided,"&nbsp;the Russian Embassy in Washington said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Immediately after Biden's statement, Russia's lower house of parliament denounced the US President for agreeing that Putin is a 'killer'. Claiming that attacks on Putin are attacks on Russia, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel that "Biden insulted the citizens of our country with his statement".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russia said on Wednesday it had summoned its Washington envoy back to the country for consultations on its ties with the United States but stressed it wanted to prevent an 'irreversible deterioration' in relations.

Russia said on Wednesday it had summoned its Washington envoy back to the country for consultations on its ties with the United States but stressed it wanted to prevent an 'irreversible deterioration' in relations. "The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of analysing what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. The announcement came after President Joe Biden said Russia will 'pay a price' for meddling in US elections and he agrees with the assessment that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a 'killer'. The Biden's statement has come after a 15-page report, released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday, claimed that the Russian President likely directed efforts to try and sabotage Biden's chances of winning the US election 2020 against Donald Trump. "Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach," the report said. "Other senior officials also participated in Russia's election influence efforts - including senior national security and intelligence officials who we assess would not act without receiving at least Putin's tacit approval." However, these claims were dismissed by Russia. "The document prepared by the US intelligence community is another set of groundless accusations against our country of interfering in American internal political processes. The conclusions of the report on Russia conducting influence operations in America are confirmed solely by the confidence of the intelligence services of their self-righteousness. No facts or specific evidence of such claims were provided," the Russian Embassy in Washington said on Wednesday. Immediately after Biden's statement, Russia's lower house of parliament denounced the US President for agreeing that Putin is a 'killer'. Claiming that attacks on Putin are attacks on Russia, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel that "Biden insulted the citizens of our country with his statement". (With inputs from agencies)

Russia recalls Washington envoy for consultations 

The United States President Joe Biden believes that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a "killer" and would "pay a price" for interfering in US elections.

WION Fineprint: Biden says Putin is a 'killer' and will 'pay a price'

Russia condemned the US for pressurizing Brazil to reject its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. The US said that it has never discouraged Brazil from accepting Russia's vaccines.

Your Story: Russia blasts US for pressing Brazil to refuse its COVID-19 vaccine

Do you know Iran has a city of Missiles? It's a never-ending underground corridor of scores of missile systems. The location is unknown, but the message is clear & is directed at the Joe Biden administration. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Iran unveils new city of Missiles

US Top diplomat Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin visited Japan to extend America's Pacific outreach. In a stern message to China, Blinken said America would push back against Beijing's aggressive tactics if needed. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a full report.

Gravitas: Top US officials extend Pacific outreach in Japan

According to a US intelligence report released on Tuesday, Russia and Iran both carried out operations to try to interfere in the 2020 presidential election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

US: Russia and Iran tried to interfere in US Elections 2020

The U.S. sanctioned an additional 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over Beijing’s ongoing crackdown on the city. The move comes ahead of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meeting with top Chinese diplomats in Alaska later this week.

US sanctions 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials

Former US President Donald Trump has said that he would decide whether to run for the White House in the year 2024. He also said that his supporters are ready to back him again if he runs for President.

Donald Trump to decide on 2024 Presidential run

Mass shooting in the United States have continued to increase in terms of frequency, fatalities and injuries but 2020 has been far worse than usual despite the Coronavirus pandemic. WION tells you more.

Mass shootings in US rose sharply in 2020

Humans love competition. We love world cups, the Olympics, elections, etc. No matter how dire the situation, we find scope for competition and rivalry.&nbsp;

The COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. First was the race to lockdown: who would curb the spread of the virus better? Then, it was a stimulus race: who would write the biggest cheque? And when the vaccines came that too became a race: who would achieve herd immunity first? &nbsp;

Take Russia's Sputnik-V for instance. It was registered in August 2020, months before vaccines were approved in the West and that's how Russia is marketing Sputnik as the first registered vaccine for the coronavirus. Same in the United States when Donald Trump was president. He doubled up as a cheerleader for vaccine makers, it didn't matter what Pfizer or Moderna said, the former US president was making his own deadlines. It was all about prestige. About racing ahead of rivals.

Pandemic or not, geopolitical competition was very much alive and pharma companies were more than willing to oblige. Last year, they got government endorsements. A kind of vaccine nationalism was picking up.&nbsp;

In the West, Sputnik-V was widely condemned. It was declared a quack vaccine but as of today, Sputnik has been approved in Argentina, Belarus, Slovakia, Hungary, Iran and the UAE. Even the European Union is considering emergency use authorisation. How times change!&nbsp;

A similar episode played out in India. Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech, was granted approval. It was immediately dubbed vaccine nationalism, a case of the Indian government backing an Indian vaccine. Until now, 5.5 million Covaxin doses have been administered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself took it.

The bottom line is, a vaccine is a vaccine.&nbsp;As long as it keeps the virus at bay, it doesn't matter who manufactures it or which country supports it.&nbsp;

But try telling that to China. Beijing has unveiled a new visa policy, which applies to foreigners entering the mainland from Hong Kong. If you have taken a China-made vaccine, there will be less paperwork. You don't have to take a Covid test or fill out a travel declaration form.&nbsp;

A China-made vaccine is basically your ticket into mainland China. A couple of issues here. Backing home-grown vaccines isn't a problem, but this is vaccine discrimination. It's like saying China-made jabs are better than Pfizer, or Moderna, or Covaxin, which is not the case.&nbsp;

China is attempting to boost the acceptability of its vaccines. Citizens, especially in Southeast Asia have business interests in China. They frequently visit the mainland. For them, taking a China-made vaccine might sound appealing. Beijing is leveraging its position as a travel hub to sell its jabs.

China's pharma war extends beyond vaccines. It is driving up the price of Paracetamol in India. Since last year, New Delhi has been pursuing self-sufficiency in the pharma sector. China's response was to drive up the cost of raw material. A 100% jump since November 2020, right in the middle of a public health emergency.&nbsp;

Countries may have their own reasons to back vaccines but why are pharma giants playing along? We are talking about one of the most despised industries in the world. Managing public opinion is not their strong suit. The pandemic was a chance to redeem themselves but they failed miserably. Pharma companies supplied more than 50% of their doses to just 16% of the world population. They chased money and market domination.

And don't forget, taxpayers contributed to these vaccines. Remember Operation Warp Speed in America? Pharma companies got more than 10 billion dollars of public money but the public has no rights over these jabs. So, let's take a step back and take stock of what's happening.&nbsp;

Big pharma used our money to develop vaccines and then sold those same vaccines back to us at cost. That's the global pharma industry in a nutshell.&nbsp;

Humans love competition. We love world cups, the Olympics, elections, etc. No matter how dire the situation, we find scope for competition and rivalry. The COVID-19 pandemic has been no different.

Humans love competition. We love world cups, the Olympics, elections, etc. No matter how dire the situation, we find scope for competition and rivalry. The COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. First was the race to lockdown: who would curb the spread of the virus better? Then, it was a stimulus race: who would write the biggest cheque? And when the vaccines came that too became a race: who would achieve herd immunity first? Take Russia's Sputnik-V for instance. It was registered in August 2020, months before vaccines were approved in the West and that's how Russia is marketing Sputnik as the first registered vaccine for the coronavirus. Same in the United States when Donald Trump was president. He doubled up as a cheerleader for vaccine makers, it didn't matter what Pfizer or Moderna said, the former US president was making his own deadlines. It was all about prestige. About racing ahead of rivals. Pandemic or not, geopolitical competition was very much alive and pharma companies were more than willing to oblige. Last year, they got government endorsements. A kind of vaccine nationalism was picking up. In the West, Sputnik-V was widely condemned. It was declared a quack vaccine but as of today, Sputnik has been approved in Argentina, Belarus, Slovakia, Hungary, Iran and the UAE. Even the European Union is considering emergency use authorisation. How times change! A similar episode played out in India. Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech, was granted approval. It was immediately dubbed vaccine nationalism, a case of the Indian government backing an Indian vaccine. Until now, 5.5 million Covaxin doses have been administered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself took it. The bottom line is, a vaccine is a vaccine. As long as it keeps the virus at bay, it doesn't matter who manufactures it or which country supports it. But try telling that to China. Beijing has unveiled a new visa policy, which applies to foreigners entering the mainland from Hong Kong. If you have taken a China-made vaccine, there will be less paperwork. You don't have to take a Covid test or fill out a travel declaration form. A China-made vaccine is basically your ticket into mainland China. A couple of issues here. Backing home-grown vaccines isn't a problem, but this is vaccine discrimination. It's like saying China-made jabs are better than Pfizer, or Moderna, or Covaxin, which is not the case. China is attempting to boost the acceptability of its vaccines. Citizens, especially in Southeast Asia have business interests in China. They frequently visit the mainland. For them, taking a China-made vaccine might sound appealing. Beijing is leveraging its position as a travel hub to sell its jabs. China's pharma war extends beyond vaccines. It is driving up the price of Paracetamol in India. Since last year, New Delhi has been pursuing self-sufficiency in the pharma sector. China's response was to drive up the cost of raw material. A 100% jump since November 2020, right in the middle of a public health emergency. Countries may have their own reasons to back vaccines but why are pharma giants playing along? We are talking about one of the most despised industries in the world. Managing public opinion is not their strong suit. The pandemic was a chance to redeem themselves but they failed miserably. Pharma companies supplied more than 50% of their doses to just 16% of the world population. They chased money and market domination. And don't forget, taxpayers contributed to these vaccines. Remember Operation Warp Speed in America? Pharma companies got more than 10 billion dollars of public money but the public has no rights over these jabs. So, let's take a step back and take stock of what's happening. Big pharma used our money to develop vaccines and then sold those same vaccines back to us at cost. That's the global pharma industry in a nutshell.

Is vaccine nationalism on the rise?     

In the US, Governor Andrew Cuomo refuses to resign. In the UK, cops arrested women at a vigil held for Sarah Everard. In Australia, there were marches in 40 cities. Is the West's image as a safe place for women under threat? WION's Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: The West's image on women safety is under threat

US President Joe Biden and his allies are hitting the road to promote $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill this week. The White House has named it 'Help Is Here' tour.

Biden team to tour the US to promote $1.9 Trillion COVID relief bill

A prominent order of US Catholic priests has created a foundation to raise a reported $100 million for the descendants of the slaves it once owned and sold and to promote racial reconciliation across the country.&nbsp;

The Jesuit priests'&nbsp;foundation is named&nbsp;Descendants Truth &amp; Reconciliation Foundation&nbsp;and is a partnership among descendants of both the enslaved and enslavers.&nbsp;

"In a landmark undertaking in the pursuit of racial healing and justice, descendants of ancestors enslaved and sold by the Jesuits and the Jesuits of the United States have announced a partnership to create the Descendants Truth &amp; Reconciliation Foundation", Jesuit priests said in a statement on Monday.&nbsp;

The partnership is supported by JPMorgan Chase, according to the statement.&nbsp;

The New York Times reported the foundation aims to raise $100 million and described it as&nbsp;'one of the largest efforts by an institution to atone for slavery'.&nbsp;

The foundation said descendants of the Jesuits'&nbsp;slaves had rejected individual cash settlements in&nbsp;favour&nbsp;of a substantial investment that could improve lives for generations to come.&nbsp;

The idea of reparations to Black people for slavery has been around for a long time and gained new urgency last year as anti-racism protests spread across the United States and the rest of the world following the death of George Floyd after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.&nbsp;

During last year's Democratic primaries many candidates supported the idea of reparations. US President Joe Biden said at the time that he supported studying how reparations could be part of larger efforts to address systemic racism.&nbsp;

"For more than 400 years, our country has denied the persistent human destruction caused by slavery and the conscious and unconscious racism that divides our communities and nation," said Joseph Stewart, acting president of the foundation.&nbsp;

Stewart is one of more than a thousand descendants of Isaac Hawkins, an enslaved man,&nbsp;who was sold to save the Jesuits'&nbsp;Georgetown University from financial ruin. In 1838, 272 enslaved men, women and children were sold by the Jesuits to plantation owners in Louisiana.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A prominent order of US Catholic priests has created a foundation to raise a reported $100 million for the descendants of the slaves it once owned and sold and to promote racial reconciliation across the country.

A prominent order of US Catholic priests has created a foundation to raise a reported $100 million for the descendants of the slaves it once owned and sold and to promote racial reconciliation across the country. The Jesuit priests' foundation is named Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation and is a partnership among descendants of both the enslaved and enslavers. "In a landmark undertaking in the pursuit of racial healing and justice, descendants of ancestors enslaved and sold by the Jesuits and the Jesuits of the United States have announced a partnership to create the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation", Jesuit priests said in a statement on Monday. The partnership is supported by JPMorgan Chase, according to the statement. The New York Times reported the foundation aims to raise $100 million and described it as 'one of the largest efforts by an institution to atone for slavery'. The foundation said descendants of the Jesuits' slaves had rejected individual cash settlements in favour of a substantial investment that could improve lives for generations to come. The idea of reparations to Black people for slavery has been around for a long time and gained new urgency last year as anti-racism protests spread across the United States and the rest of the world following the death of George Floyd after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. During last year's Democratic primaries many candidates supported the idea of reparations. US President Joe Biden said at the time that he supported studying how reparations could be part of larger efforts to address systemic racism. "For more than 400 years, our country has denied the persistent human destruction caused by slavery and the conscious and unconscious racism that divides our communities and nation," said Joseph Stewart, acting president of the foundation. Stewart is one of more than a thousand descendants of Isaac Hawkins, an enslaved man, who was sold to save the Jesuits' Georgetown University from financial ruin. In 1838, 272 enslaved men, women and children were sold by the Jesuits to plantation owners in Louisiana. (With inputs from agencies)

US Jesuit priests to raise $100 million for descendants of slaves 

A woman from Pennsylvania in the US reportedly created deepfake pictures of her daughter’s cheerleading rivals. According to officials, the woman doctored images and videos of her&nbsp;daughter's fellow cheerleaders to get them removed from the team.

50-year-old Raffaela Spone has been charged with three misdemeanor counts of cyber harassment of a child, and related offences, as revealed by the Bucks country district attorney office.

Reportedly, Spone accessed pictures of three girls on various social media platforms, and them manipulated the images. The girls belong to the “Victory Vipers” cheerleading squad in Chalfont.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/tom-cruise-obama-elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-and-more-deepfake-videos-raise-alarm-367277" hreflang="en">Tom Cruise, Obama, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and more: Deepfake videos raise alarm</a>

The woman made it appear that the girls were drinking and smoking. In many instances, the girls were shown to be nude. The Guardian claims that Spone then went on to message the victims, and&nbsp;urged them to kill themselves.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/deepfake-tool-helped-create-more-than-100000-fake-nude-images-of-women-report-336907" hreflang="en">Deepfake tool helped create more than 100,000 fake nude images of women: Report</a>

Deepfakes are created using artificial intelligence acquired through deep learning to curate fake images of fake events. Robert Birch, Spone’s attorney told a local network “WPVI-TV” that the District Attorney had not produced any evidence, and that Spone has been receiving death threats after being reported in the press.

In the aftermath of the event, the cheerleading team apologised to the victims.

“Victory Vipers has always promoted a family environment and we are sorry for all individuals involved. We have very well-established policies, and a very strict anti-bullying policy in our program”, Mark McTague and Kelly Cramer, gym owners wrote in a statement.&nbsp;

A woman from Pennsylvania in the US reportedly created deepfake pictures of her daughter’s cheerleading rivals. According to officials, the woman doctored images and videos of her daughter's fellow cheerleaders to get them removed from the team.

A woman from Pennsylvania in the US reportedly created deepfake pictures of her daughter’s cheerleading rivals. According to officials, the woman doctored images and videos of her daughter's fellow cheerleaders to get them removed from the team. 50-year-old Raffaela Spone has been charged with three misdemeanor counts of cyber harassment of a child, and related offences, as revealed by the Bucks country district attorney office. Reportedly, Spone accessed pictures of three girls on various social media platforms, and them manipulated the images. The girls belong to the “Victory Vipers” cheerleading squad in Chalfont. Also read: Tom Cruise, Obama, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and more: Deepfake videos raise alarm The woman made it appear that the girls were drinking and smoking. In many instances, the girls were shown to be nude. The Guardian claims that Spone then went on to message the victims, and urged them to kill themselves. Also read: Deepfake tool helped create more than 100,000 fake nude images of women: Report Deepfakes are created using artificial intelligence acquired through deep learning to curate fake images of fake events. Robert Birch, Spone’s attorney told a local network “WPVI-TV” that the District Attorney had not produced any evidence, and that Spone has been receiving death threats after being reported in the press. In the aftermath of the event, the cheerleading team apologised to the victims. “Victory Vipers has always promoted a family environment and we are sorry for all individuals involved. We have very well-established policies, and a very strict anti-bullying policy in our program”, Mark McTague and Kelly Cramer, gym owners wrote in a statement.

US woman charged with creating deepfakes of her daughter's cheerleading rivals

The United States should act quickly to revive Iran's nuclear deal because once Iran's presidential election period kicks off it is unlikely much will happen until later this year, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Monday.&nbsp;

Speaking at the European Policy Centre think tank, Zarif repeated Tehran's longstanding demand that Washington returns first to compliance by lifting sanctions.&nbsp;

Former US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal, known as the JCPOA, under which Iran accepted curbs to its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Since then, Washington has reimposed sanctions and Tehran has responded by violating some of the conditions of the deal.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden aims to restore the deal, but Tehran and Washington each want the other side to comply first.&nbsp;

"The Europeans are used to compromise. Iran and the United States are not. The Americans are used to imposing, and we are used to resisting," Zarif said. "So now is the time to decide will we both compromise and go back to the JCPOA, or will we go back to our own paths?"&nbsp;

Zarif said that he had seen no change between the Biden administration and the Trump administration's policy of maximum pressure to force Iran back to the negotiating table. He said he saw no reason to hold preliminary talks because the US was making 'extraneous' demands.&nbsp;

"There is a time constraint and that is once we go to our election, it is a lame-duck government and (it) will not be able to do anything serious and then, we will have a waiting period of almost six months," he said, referring to a presidential election due on June 18.&nbsp;

"It is advisable for the United States move fast and moving fast requires them not be shy, but takes measures that they need to take."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United States should act quickly to revive Iran's nuclear deal because once Iran's presidential election period kicks off it is unlikely much will happen until later this year, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Monday.

The United States should act quickly to revive Iran's nuclear deal because once Iran's presidential election period kicks off it is unlikely much will happen until later this year, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Monday. Speaking at the European Policy Centre think tank, Zarif repeated Tehran's longstanding demand that Washington returns first to compliance by lifting sanctions. Former US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal, known as the JCPOA, under which Iran accepted curbs to its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Since then, Washington has reimposed sanctions and Tehran has responded by violating some of the conditions of the deal. President Joe Biden aims to restore the deal, but Tehran and Washington each want the other side to comply first. "The Europeans are used to compromise. Iran and the United States are not. The Americans are used to imposing, and we are used to resisting," Zarif said. "So now is the time to decide will we both compromise and go back to the JCPOA, or will we go back to our own paths?" Zarif said that he had seen no change between the Biden administration and the Trump administration's policy of maximum pressure to force Iran back to the negotiating table. He said he saw no reason to hold preliminary talks because the US was making 'extraneous' demands. "There is a time constraint and that is once we go to our election, it is a lame-duck government and (it) will not be able to do anything serious and then, we will have a waiting period of almost six months," he said, referring to a presidential election due on June 18. "It is advisable for the United States move fast and moving fast requires them not be shy, but takes measures that they need to take." (With inputs from agencies)

Time running out for US to revive nuclear deal: Iran's Foreign Minister 

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