The landmark ruling by US federal appeals court gave a setback to Donald Trump. The court rejected Trump's claim of absolute immunity, the judge said, 'Trump's stance would collapse system of separated powers.'

US: Donald Trump loses immunity appeal in 2020 Polls case

<p>The US House of Representatives on Tuesday (Feb 6) voted against a standalone $17.6 billion Israel aid bill brought by the Republicans. The bill was aimed at thwarting an all-encompassing Senate border security bill that would provide&nbsp;additional aid to both Ukraine and Israel as well as secure the southern border&nbsp;introduced over the weekend.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the House voted 250-180 in favour of the bill, it was short of the two-thirds majority needed to approve it under a&nbsp;fast-tracked legislative process. The failure of the bill to get through the House marked another embarrassment for Speaker Mike Johnson after the Homeland Security chief narrowly survived impeachment in the same chamber&nbsp;minutes ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Monday&nbsp;(Feb 5), the Senate&nbsp;agreed on a bipartisan $118 billion deal that attempts to overhaul the immigration policy and provide foreign emergency aid to friendly nations&nbsp;currently in crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the bill receiving a rare bipartisan nod in the Senate, Johnson said it would be "dead on arrival" in the chamber.</p>

<p>While not being involved in the thick of things, former president Donald Trump has been pulling the strings from outside and egging his GOP lawmakers to dump the bill.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-us-house-proposes-176-billion-in-military-aid-to-israel-686867"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: US House proposes $17.6 billion in military aid to Israel</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-us-house-proposes-176-billion-in-military-aid-to-israel-686867/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Democrats against the standalone bill</strong></h2>

<p>The standalone bill was an attempt by the Republicans to move quickly to support Israel with the leaders insisting it was not a political stunt. However, the Democrats believe otherwise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This accomplishes nothing and delays aid getting out to our allies and providing humanitarian relief.&nbsp;Our allies are facing existential threats and our friends and foes around the globe are watching, waiting to see how America will respond," said Democrat leader&nbsp;Rosa DeLauro.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even if the bill was passed in the House, experts believe the Senate would have not taken it up as President Joe Biden threatened to veto it on Monday, calling it a&nbsp;“cynical political manoeuvre”.</p>

<p>"The Administration strongly encourages both chambers of the Congress to reject this political ploy and instead quickly send the bipartisan Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President’s desk," the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-stands-in-way-of-118bn-immigration-ukraine-and-israel-package-deal-passed-by-senate-687347"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Trump stands in way of $118bn immigration, Ukraine and Israel package deal, passed by Senate</strong></a></p>

<p>The Democrat-led bill earmarks $14 billion for Israel and $60 billion for Ukraine in foreign aid while diverting $20 billion to shore up the southern US borders. Republicans have batted against this bill saying it is "insufficient" on all counts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The US House of Representatives on Tuesday (Feb 6) voted against a standalone $17.6 billion Israel aid bill brought by the Republicans. The bill was aimed at thwarting an all-encompassing Senate border security bill that would provide additional aid to both Ukraine and Israel as well as secure the southern border introduced over the weekend.

The US House of Representatives on Tuesday (Feb 6) voted against a standalone $17.6 billion Israel aid bill brought by the Republicans. The bill was aimed at thwarting an all-encompassing Senate border security bill that would provide additional aid to both Ukraine and Israel as well as secure the southern border introduced over the weekend. Although the House voted 250-180 in favour of the bill, it was short of the two-thirds majority needed to approve it under a fast-tracked legislative process. The failure of the bill to get through the House marked another embarrassment for Speaker Mike Johnson after the Homeland Security chief narrowly survived impeachment in the same chamber minutes ago. Earlier on Monday (Feb 5), the Senate agreed on a bipartisan $118 billion deal that attempts to overhaul the immigration policy and provide foreign emergency aid to friendly nations currently in crisis. Despite the bill receiving a rare bipartisan nod in the Senate, Johnson said it would be "dead on arrival" in the chamber. While not being involved in the thick of things, former president Donald Trump has been pulling the strings from outside and egging his GOP lawmakers to dump the bill. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: US House proposes $17.6 billion in military aid to Israel × Democrats against the standalone bill The standalone bill was an attempt by the Republicans to move quickly to support Israel with the leaders insisting it was not a political stunt. However, the Democrats believe otherwise. "This accomplishes nothing and delays aid getting out to our allies and providing humanitarian relief. Our allies are facing existential threats and our friends and foes around the globe are watching, waiting to see how America will respond," said Democrat leader Rosa DeLauro. Even if the bill was passed in the House, experts believe the Senate would have not taken it up as President Joe Biden threatened to veto it on Monday, calling it a “cynical political manoeuvre”. "The Administration strongly encourages both chambers of the Congress to reject this political ploy and instead quickly send the bipartisan Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President’s desk," the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement. Also read | Trump stands in way of $118bn immigration, Ukraine and Israel package deal, passed by Senate The Democrat-led bill earmarks $14 billion for Israel and $60 billion for Ukraine in foreign aid while diverting $20 billion to shore up the southern US borders. Republicans have batted against this bill saying it is "insufficient" on all counts. (With inputs from agencies)

Republican-led $17.6 billion Israel-only aid bill rejected in US House

US President Joe Biden on 6th Feb slammed congressional inaction on Ukraine aid and said "history is watching."

US President Biden warns 'clock is ticking' on Ukraine aid

Nobody won the Republican Party primary in the US state of Nevada. Nikki Haley was defeated by none of these candidates an embarrassment in a vote in which she was all but unopposed. The result has no tangible bearing on the race of the Republican nomination because it did not carry any delegates...Americans seem enthusiastic about a Joe Biden Trump rematch.

Nikki Haley defeated by 'none of these candidates' in Republican Nevada Primary | US Elections 2024

<p>Yemen's internationally-recognised government Monday (Feb 5) named foreign minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak as the new prime minister in a surprise appointment that analysts say will likely anger the country's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.</p>

<p>Bin Mubarak replaces Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed at a time of rising tensions in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country following a spate of Red Sea attacks by Houthi rebels which have prompted retaliatory strikes by the United States and Britain.</p>

<p>A decree issued by Yemen's presidential council and carried by the official Saba news agency announced bin Mubarak's appointment as premier and assigned the outgoing prime minister to the post of presidential advisor.</p>

<p>It did not give a reason for the move.</p>

<p>Bin Mubarak, Yemen's former ambassador to the US, is widely seen as a staunch adversary of the Houthi rebels, who abducted him in 2015 and held him captive for several days.</p>

<p>He previously served as chief of staff of Yemen's presidential office and was also appointed as the country's envoy to the United Nations in 2018.</p>

<p>Mohammed Al-Basha, a Yemen expert for the US-based Navanti research group, said bin Mubarak is seen as one of the "architects of the Saudi-led coalition" that intervened against Houthis in 2015 to prop up the internationally-recognised government, a year after the rebels captured the capital Sanaa.</p>

<p>"The Houthis are unlikely to embrace the appointment of bin Mubarak," he said, adding that bin Mubarak is a long-time adversary of the group.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-destroys-10-houthi-attack-drones-control-station-in-yemen-686086"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US destroys 10 Houthi attack drones, control station in Yemen</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-destroys-10-houthi-attack-drones-control-station-in-yemen-686086/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>His appointment "is likely to intensify tensions between the Huthis and the internationally recognised government," the expert added.</p>

<p>The Houthis, part of the anti-Western, anti-Israel "axis of resistance" of Iranian-backed groups, have been harassing Red Sea shipping for months, triggering US and British reprisal attacks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels since November 19, according to the Pentagon.</p>

<p>The rebels say the attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians and in protest at the Israel-Hamas war that has been raging in the Gaza Strip since October.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a vital route that normally carries about 12 per cent of global maritime trade.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-uk-carry-out-joint-air-raids-against-houthi-targets-in-yemen-hit-36-sites-686775"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US, UK carry out joint air raids against Houthi targets in Yemen, hit 36 sites</strong></a></p>

<p>In response, US and British forces have launched strikes targeting Huthi missile sites and other military facilities. The US has also carried out a series of unilateral strikes.</p>

<p>In recent remarks, bin Mubarak called on the European Union to designate the Huthis as a terrorist group and has advocated for increased military support to government forces in the wake of the Red Sea attacks.</p>


Yemen's internationally-recognised government Monday (Feb 5) named foreign minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak as the new prime minister in a surprise appointment that analysts say will likely anger the country's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Yemen's internationally-recognised government Monday (Feb 5) named foreign minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak as the new prime minister in a surprise appointment that analysts say will likely anger the country's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Bin Mubarak replaces Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed at a time of rising tensions in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country following a spate of Red Sea attacks by Houthi rebels which have prompted retaliatory strikes by the United States and Britain. A decree issued by Yemen's presidential council and carried by the official Saba news agency announced bin Mubarak's appointment as premier and assigned the outgoing prime minister to the post of presidential advisor. It did not give a reason for the move. Bin Mubarak, Yemen's former ambassador to the US, is widely seen as a staunch adversary of the Houthi rebels, who abducted him in 2015 and held him captive for several days. He previously served as chief of staff of Yemen's presidential office and was also appointed as the country's envoy to the United Nations in 2018. Mohammed Al-Basha, a Yemen expert for the US-based Navanti research group, said bin Mubarak is seen as one of the "architects of the Saudi-led coalition" that intervened against Houthis in 2015 to prop up the internationally-recognised government, a year after the rebels captured the capital Sanaa. "The Houthis are unlikely to embrace the appointment of bin Mubarak," he said, adding that bin Mubarak is a long-time adversary of the group. Watch | US destroys 10 Houthi attack drones, control station in Yemen × His appointment "is likely to intensify tensions between the Huthis and the internationally recognised government," the expert added. The Houthis, part of the anti-Western, anti-Israel "axis of resistance" of Iranian-backed groups, have been harassing Red Sea shipping for months, triggering US and British reprisal attacks. The Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels since November 19, according to the Pentagon. The rebels say the attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians and in protest at the Israel-Hamas war that has been raging in the Gaza Strip since October. The attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a vital route that normally carries about 12 per cent of global maritime trade. Also read | US, UK carry out joint air raids against Houthi targets in Yemen, hit 36 sites In response, US and British forces have launched strikes targeting Huthi missile sites and other military facilities. The US has also carried out a series of unilateral strikes. In recent remarks, bin Mubarak called on the European Union to designate the Huthis as a terrorist group and has advocated for increased military support to government forces in the wake of the Red Sea attacks.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, who's opposed to Houthi rebels, named Yemen's new prime minister

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidxec2xkNCD40L" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Russia has accused US President Joe Biden of carrying out military strikes in Iraq and Syria to prop up his presidential re-election campaign. Russia's Ambassador to United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, at a meeting of the Security Council, said that Biden giving the nod to engage in conflicts in the Middle East was not in response to the deadly attack on US soldiers in Jordan, but an attempt to boost his image.</p>

<p>The US last week began airstrikes against dozens of targets linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and allied groups after the Jordan drone attacks which Washington blamed on Iranian-backed militias.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The biggest operation of the US in the region since 2003, presented by Joe Biden as an act of retaliation for an attack of the use of a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) of unconfirmed origin on the American base that is illegally in Syria has no justification," said Nebenzia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We see in these 'flex their muscles' attempts, first of all, a desire to influence the domestic political landscape in America, a desire to somehow correct the disastrous image of the current American administration," he added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-strikes-iran-backed-targets-in-iraq-and-syria-686683"><strong>Watch | US strikes Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-strikes-iran-backed-targets-in-iraq-and-syria-686683/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>US presidential elections</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The US will go to polls in November this year with Biden expected to square up against former president Donald Trump in all likelihood.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden's approval ratings have taken a tumble in recent months as Trump chalks up a comeback. Experts believe that the current escalation in the Middle East, if played well, could provide Biden the required fillip, to make the competition even.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Washington has justified the US strikes in Syria and Iraq under Article 51 of the founding UN Charter, which covers the individual or collective right of states to self-defence against armed attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Let me be clear: The United States does not desire more conflict in a region when we are actively working to contain and de-escalate the conflict in Gaza. And we are not seeking a direct conflict with Iran," said Wood.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/middle-east-crisis-drone-strike-on-syrian-democratic-forces-kills-seven-in-syria-687239"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Middle East Crisis: Drone strike on base housing US troops kills seven in Syria</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, seven Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) special forces "commandos" were killed and 18 others wounded in "a drone attack after midnight" on Monday (Feb 5).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from the strikes in Iraq and Syria, Washington is busy bombarding Houthis in Yemen alongside allies after the militant group started attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea to avenge Israel's war in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russia has accused US President Joe Biden of carrying out military strikes in Iraq and Syria to prop up his presidential re-election campaign. Russia's Ambassador to United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, at a meeting of the Security Council, said that Biden giving the nod to engage in conflicts in the Middle East was not in response to the deadly attack on US soldiers in Jordan, but an attempt to boost his image.

Russia has accused US President Joe Biden of carrying out military strikes in Iraq and Syria to prop up his presidential re-election campaign. Russia's Ambassador to United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, at a meeting of the Security Council, said that Biden giving the nod to engage in conflicts in the Middle East was not in response to the deadly attack on US soldiers in Jordan, but an attempt to boost his image. The US last week began airstrikes against dozens of targets linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and allied groups after the Jordan drone attacks which Washington blamed on Iranian-backed militias. "The biggest operation of the US in the region since 2003, presented by Joe Biden as an act of retaliation for an attack of the use of a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) of unconfirmed origin on the American base that is illegally in Syria has no justification," said Nebenzia. "We see in these 'flex their muscles' attempts, first of all, a desire to influence the domestic political landscape in America, a desire to somehow correct the disastrous image of the current American administration," he added. Watch | US strikes Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria × US presidential elections The US will go to polls in November this year with Biden expected to square up against former president Donald Trump in all likelihood. Biden's approval ratings have taken a tumble in recent months as Trump chalks up a comeback. Experts believe that the current escalation in the Middle East, if played well, could provide Biden the required fillip, to make the competition even. Washington has justified the US strikes in Syria and Iraq under Article 51 of the founding UN Charter, which covers the individual or collective right of states to self-defence against armed attack. "Let me be clear: The United States does not desire more conflict in a region when we are actively working to contain and de-escalate the conflict in Gaza. And we are not seeking a direct conflict with Iran," said Wood. Also read | Middle East Crisis: Drone strike on base housing US troops kills seven in Syria According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, seven Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) special forces "commandos" were killed and 18 others wounded in "a drone attack after midnight" on Monday (Feb 5). Apart from the strikes in Iraq and Syria, Washington is busy bombarding Houthis in Yemen alongside allies after the militant group started attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea to avenge Israel's war in the Gaza Strip. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia says Biden 'boosting' his presidential campaign with Syria, Iraq strikes

<p>Republican politician and US presidential contender Nikki Haley has applied for Secret Service protection amid the increased threats she has been receiving on the campaign trail, days after another so-called 'swatting' incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Currently engaged in a fierce presidential nomination race with former president Donald Trump, Haley discussed the request for protection in an interview on Monday (Feb 5).&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We’ve had multiple issues. It’s not going to stop me from doing what I need to do," Haley told <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A request to beef up her security has already been submitted to the federal officials. According to reports, Haley's campaign officials are worried that the intense&nbsp;security might affect her campaign schedule and travels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Haley's intense competition with Trump might be the reason for the increase in threats, her&nbsp;work at the United Nations involving Iran could also be a factor.&nbsp;There have also been protesters in recent days at her events, upset about her support for Ukraine and Israel.</p>

<p>Last week, a woman was tackled by Haley's private security in Columbia when she tried to rush to the former South Carolina governor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Quizzed about the greater levels of security at her events,&nbsp;Haley conceded that there was a need to &nbsp;“put a few more bodies around us".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“When you do something like this, you get threats. It’s just the reality,"&nbsp;she told reporters.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-nikki-haley-targeted-in-swatting-attacks-685231"><strong>Watch | US Elections 2024: Nikki Haley targeted in swatting attacks</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" data-gtm-yt-inspected-20="true" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-nikki-haley-targeted-in-swatting-attacks-685231/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2><strong>'Swatting' attempt against Haley</strong></h2>

<p>The Republican leader became the target of a second "swatting" on New Year's Day when a hoax caller told law enforcement agencies that Haley had shot her daughter who was lying in a pool of blood. Swatting involves prank calls on fake emergency situations that force law enforcement agencies to turn up at someone's property.</p>

<p>The January 1 swatting attempt had not been previously reported but Haley alluded to the incident during NBC's "Meet the Press" programme.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I will tell you that the last thing you want is to see multiple law enforcement officials with guns drawn pointing at my parents and thinking that something happened. It was an awful situation,” the former South Carolina governor at&nbsp;the&nbsp;time.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-can-do-that-nikki-haley-bats-for-texas-to-secede-from-the-us-685692"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;'They can do that': Nikki Haley bats for Texas to secede from the US</strong></a></p>

<p>Prior to the New Year's Day incident, Haley's Kiawah Island home had also been swatted on December 30 last year. At the time, a man called the police and claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home.</p>

<p>Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, cleared that it was a fake emergency as Haley was not on the island.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haley, a former UN ambassador,&nbsp;is the only candidate left in the race with Trump to secure a presidential nomination from the Republican party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, she has suffered defeats in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries but has vowed to keep going till the end.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Republican politician and US presidential contender Nikki Haley has applied for Secret Service protection amid the increased threats she has been receiving on the campaign trail, days after another so-called 'swatting' incident.

Republican politician and US presidential contender Nikki Haley has applied for Secret Service protection amid the increased threats she has been receiving on the campaign trail, days after another so-called 'swatting' incident. Currently engaged in a fierce presidential nomination race with former president Donald Trump, Haley discussed the request for protection in an interview on Monday (Feb 5). "We’ve had multiple issues. It’s not going to stop me from doing what I need to do," Haley told The Wall Street Journal. A request to beef up her security has already been submitted to the federal officials. According to reports, Haley's campaign officials are worried that the intense security might affect her campaign schedule and travels. While Haley's intense competition with Trump might be the reason for the increase in threats, her work at the United Nations involving Iran could also be a factor. There have also been protesters in recent days at her events, upset about her support for Ukraine and Israel. Last week, a woman was tackled by Haley's private security in Columbia when she tried to rush to the former South Carolina governor. Quizzed about the greater levels of security at her events, Haley conceded that there was a need to “put a few more bodies around us". “When you do something like this, you get threats. It’s just the reality," she told reporters. Watch | US Elections 2024: Nikki Haley targeted in swatting attacks 'Swatting' attempt against Haley The Republican leader became the target of a second "swatting" on New Year's Day when a hoax caller told law enforcement agencies that Haley had shot her daughter who was lying in a pool of blood. Swatting involves prank calls on fake emergency situations that force law enforcement agencies to turn up at someone's property. The January 1 swatting attempt had not been previously reported but Haley alluded to the incident during NBC's "Meet the Press" programme. “I will tell you that the last thing you want is to see multiple law enforcement officials with guns drawn pointing at my parents and thinking that something happened. It was an awful situation,” the former South Carolina governor at the time. Also read | 'They can do that': Nikki Haley bats for Texas to secede from the US Prior to the New Year's Day incident, Haley's Kiawah Island home had also been swatted on December 30 last year. At the time, a man called the police and claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home. Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, cleared that it was a fake emergency as Haley was not on the island. Haley, a former UN ambassador, is the only candidate left in the race with Trump to secure a presidential nomination from the Republican party. So far, she has suffered defeats in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries but has vowed to keep going till the end. (With inputs from agencies)

Nikki Haley requests Secret Service protection amid increase in threats on campaign trail

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidxec2xkNCD40L" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Meet the other Taylor Swift – not the global music superstar but the combatant in a psychological warfare operation to keep former US president Donald Trump from winning the 2024 elections.</p>

<p>For those unfamiliar with the increasingly bizarre alternative universe inhabited by millions of Americans whose views are shaped by the former president, social media tweets and influencers, here is a brief guide to the role supposedly played by psy-op Taylor Swift in an operation designed to culminate at next Sunday’s (Feb 11) Super Bowl in Las Vegas.</p>

<p>The biggest event in US sports, last year’s Super Bowl had a television audience of just over 115 million. This year it may well be more because Taylor Swift is scheduled to attend to watch her boyfriend Travis Kelce play for the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers.</p>

<p>According to tweets and a video seen by hundreds of thousands, psy-ops warriors have planned to rig the game so that the Chiefs will win after a dramatic finish. To celebrate, Swift and Kelce will announce their engagement, soon followed by the celebrity couple’s endorsement of Joe Biden for another four years in the White House.</p>

<p>Inhabitants of what has become known as Trumpworld have pointed to a variety of participants in the scheme, including the CIA and the Pentagon. Speculation on the latter was so persistent that the Pentagon felt it necessary to issue a denial through its deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh.</p>

<p>“To set the record straight,” she told the newspaper&nbsp;<em>Politico</em>, “Taylor Swift is not part of a DOD (Department of Defense) psychological operation. Period.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-grammy-awards-2024-full-list-of-winners-updating-live-686970"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Grammy Awards 2024: Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus win Best Album &amp; Best Record; check full list of winners</strong></a></p>

<p>Conspiracy theorists distrust government and tend to interpret official government denials as a form of confirmation, so the exasperated “period” exclamation is unlikely to kill speculation of a well-planned plot.</p>

<p>Not long after TIME magazine made Taylor Swift 2023 Person of The Year, prominent FOX News host Jesse Walters told his viewers that “it’s real. The Pentagon psy-op unit pitched NATO on turning Taylor Swift into an asset.”</p>

<p>Also on record to fuel speculation was Vivek Ramaswamy, a presidential candidate until he dropped out of the race for the Republican party’s primary elections in mid-January. “I wonder whether there’s a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially culturally propped up couple this fall,” he said, alluding to an endorsement for Biden.</p>

<p>Ramaswamy did not explain what he meant by “artificially propped”. Record-breaking tours, music royalties and a movie on her concerts turned Swift into a billionaire last year,&nbsp;<em>Bloomberg&nbsp;</em>reported.</p>

<p>On Sunday’s Grammy Awards, she was awarded for Album of the Year, becoming the only artist to ever win that category four times.</p>

<p>Her successes and devoted fans – she has 300 million followers on social media -- reminiscent of the Beatlemania of the late 1960 and 1970s, has done little to impress those on the far right who have pegged her as a supporter of Joe Biden and thus an enemy of Trump.</p>

<p>The paranoia in Trumpland about a romance between a superstar singer and a football player makes some wonder about the sanity of Republicans who, as the Wall Street Journal put it in an editorial “demonise two of America’s healthier entertainments".&nbsp;</p>

<p>It had a question for those fanning the conspiracy: “If they believe defeating Mr Trump is so easy that Mr Biden can do it merely by getting an endorsement from a singer who backed him in 2020, doesn’t that suggest the GOP might be making a mistake by nominating such a weak candidate?”</p>

<p>The National Football League (NFL) has been quiet about the affair which is keeping trolls busy. But it is a reasonable bet that the NFL would not be unhappy if the number of Super Bowl viewers would be boosted by thousands of “swifties,” as the singer’s fans are called.</p>

<p>Why the United States is such fertile ground for conspiracy theories has puzzled historians, social scientists and pundits for decades – more so since the Internet allowed for weird ideas to spread worldwide and instantly.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-super-bowl-what-makes-it-an-advertisers-dream-platform-687280"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | Super bowl: What makes it an advertiser's dream platform?</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-super-bowl-what-makes-it-an-advertisers-dream-platform-687280/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>In 1964, a ground-breaking essay, later turned into a book, by the late Columbia University historian Richard Hofstadter provided an explanation that still stands.</p>

<p>“It is the use of paranoid modes of expression by more or less normal people that makes the phenomenon significant," he wrote in <em>The Paranoid Style in American Politics.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>The “more or less normal people” he cited in a tour of conspiracy theories going back to the 18th century included Samuel Morse, the celebrated inventor of the telegraph. Morse wrote that the government of Austria had sent Jesuit missionaries to America and supplied them with ample funds with the aim of installing a scion of the House of Hapsburg as emperor of the United States.</p>

<p>Among the most durable conspiracy tales alive in the alternative universe: The landing of American astronauts on the moon. The theory claimed it was filmed in California studios to convince the world of the USA's superiority in space. No American set foot on the moon.</p>

<p>More recently: The January 6, 2020&nbsp;assault on the Capitol in Washington to prevent the peaceful transfer of power from the loser, Donald Trump, to the winner, Joe Biden, was fostered by the FBI.</p>

<p>According to a Washington Post/University of Maryland poll, a quarter of Americans think the FBI instigated the attack. That belief has been repeatedly denied – but in America’s alternative universe that just amounts to confirmation.</p>

<p>Just like Taylor Swift’s secret role in undermining Trump.</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></em></p>


Meet the other Taylor Swift – not the global music superstar but the combatant in a psychological warfare operation to keep former US president Donald Trump from winning the 2024 elections.

Meet the other Taylor Swift – not the global music superstar but the combatant in a psychological warfare operation to keep former US president Donald Trump from winning the 2024 elections. For those unfamiliar with the increasingly bizarre alternative universe inhabited by millions of Americans whose views are shaped by the former president, social media tweets and influencers, here is a brief guide to the role supposedly played by psy-op Taylor Swift in an operation designed to culminate at next Sunday’s (Feb 11) Super Bowl in Las Vegas. The biggest event in US sports, last year’s Super Bowl had a television audience of just over 115 million. This year it may well be more because Taylor Swift is scheduled to attend to watch her boyfriend Travis Kelce play for the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers. According to tweets and a video seen by hundreds of thousands, psy-ops warriors have planned to rig the game so that the Chiefs will win after a dramatic finish. To celebrate, Swift and Kelce will announce their engagement, soon followed by the celebrity couple’s endorsement of Joe Biden for another four years in the White House. Inhabitants of what has become known as Trumpworld have pointed to a variety of participants in the scheme, including the CIA and the Pentagon. Speculation on the latter was so persistent that the Pentagon felt it necessary to issue a denial through its deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh. “To set the record straight,” she told the newspaper Politico, “Taylor Swift is not part of a DOD (Department of Defense) psychological operation. Period.” Also read | Grammy Awards 2024: Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus win Best Album & Best Record; check full list of winners Conspiracy theorists distrust government and tend to interpret official government denials as a form of confirmation, so the exasperated “period” exclamation is unlikely to kill speculation of a well-planned plot. Not long after TIME magazine made Taylor Swift 2023 Person of The Year, prominent FOX News host Jesse Walters told his viewers that “it’s real. The Pentagon psy-op unit pitched NATO on turning Taylor Swift into an asset.” Also on record to fuel speculation was Vivek Ramaswamy, a presidential candidate until he dropped out of the race for the Republican party’s primary elections in mid-January. “I wonder whether there’s a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially culturally propped up couple this fall,” he said, alluding to an endorsement for Biden. Ramaswamy did not explain what he meant by “artificially propped”. Record-breaking tours, music royalties and a movie on her concerts turned Swift into a billionaire last year, Bloomberg reported. On Sunday’s Grammy Awards, she was awarded for Album of the Year, becoming the only artist to ever win that category four times. Her successes and devoted fans – she has 300 million followers on social media -- reminiscent of the Beatlemania of the late 1960 and 1970s, has done little to impress those on the far right who have pegged her as a supporter of Joe Biden and thus an enemy of Trump. The paranoia in Trumpland about a romance between a superstar singer and a football player makes some wonder about the sanity of Republicans who, as the Wall Street Journal put it in an editorial “demonise two of America’s healthier entertainments". It had a question for those fanning the conspiracy: “If they believe defeating Mr Trump is so easy that Mr Biden can do it merely by getting an endorsement from a singer who backed him in 2020, doesn’t that suggest the GOP might be making a mistake by nominating such a weak candidate?” The National Football League (NFL) has been quiet about the affair which is keeping trolls busy. But it is a reasonable bet that the NFL would not be unhappy if the number of Super Bowl viewers would be boosted by thousands of “swifties,” as the singer’s fans are called. Why the United States is such fertile ground for conspiracy theories has puzzled historians, social scientists and pundits for decades – more so since the Internet allowed for weird ideas to spread worldwide and instantly. Watch | Gravitas | Super bowl: What makes it an advertiser's dream platform? × In 1964, a ground-breaking essay, later turned into a book, by the late Columbia University historian Richard Hofstadter provided an explanation that still stands. “It is the use of paranoid modes of expression by more or less normal people that makes the phenomenon significant," he wrote in The Paranoid Style in American Politics. The “more or less normal people” he cited in a tour of conspiracy theories going back to the 18th century included Samuel Morse, the celebrated inventor of the telegraph. Morse wrote that the government of Austria had sent Jesuit missionaries to America and supplied them with ample funds with the aim of installing a scion of the House of Hapsburg as emperor of the United States. Among the most durable conspiracy tales alive in the alternative universe: The landing of American astronauts on the moon. The theory claimed it was filmed in California studios to convince the world of the USA's superiority in space. No American set foot on the moon. More recently: The January 6, 2020 assault on the Capitol in Washington to prevent the peaceful transfer of power from the loser, Donald Trump, to the winner, Joe Biden, was fostered by the FBI. According to a Washington Post/University of Maryland poll, a quarter of Americans think the FBI instigated the attack. That belief has been repeatedly denied – but in America’s alternative universe that just amounts to confirmation. Just like Taylor Swift’s secret role in undermining Trump. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl – a tale of America’s alternative universe

The Border security Bill headed to a senate vote is likely to dash hopes for a quick clear path to citizenship for thousands of people brought into the US illegally as children. 'Dreamers' are undocumented immigrants who came to U.S. as kids. This group known as dreamers had been a top priority for Democrats in Immigration policy talks for more than a decade. Watch to know more!

US: 'Dreamers' left out by senate border bill

US played an active part in multiple wars. Business of war, a significant part of US economy. The country has played an active part in multiple wars. The US defence contractors are biggest beneficiary of conflicts. How does the US earn from wars? American Economist Jeffrey D. Sachs talks to WION. Watch to get more insights!

US Foreign policy under scanner | US war and money games

US: 'Dreamers' left in lurch by Senate Border Bill

<p>A shocking yet daring video going viral on social media shows a fisherman single-handedly&nbsp;battling a monstrous great white shark and emerging victorious at a Florida beach in the USA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shark fishing expert&nbsp;Blaine Kenny and his business partner Dylan Weir were at Navarre Beach, about 40 km east of&nbsp;Pensacola when they managed to catch a 540-kg (1,200-pound), 12-foot great white shark and drag it to the shore.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the video posted on their YouTube channel, the duo discussed using the&nbsp;"biggest bait possible" to lure the shark. Eventually, they ended up using the head of a 150-pound swordfish and the&nbsp;head of an 80-pound yellowfin tuna to entice their target.</p>

<p>After laying the bait, the duo felt a tug on the line in the morning with Kenny instantly jumping in and reeling in the fish.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There’s only a few things it can be, a mako, a giant tiger, a white shark or the biggest dusky we’ve ever seen in our lives,” Weir could be heard saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We’re just going to play it out, not jump to assumptions, and really does it matter what’s on the other end of that line right now? We have one task at hand and the task is Blaine has to stay locked in. I have to stay locked in," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As Kenny struggled, Weir flew a drone overhead to determine what creature his pal Kenny was attempting to reel in.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Look at that, that’s a white shark!" said Weir, with Kenny replying:&nbsp;“Oh my gosh, bro."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JA6EFGTXs2o" title="1200+LB Great White Shark From the BEACH!" width="853"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Kenny's one-hour struggle&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Footage showed Kenny had to struggle for nearly an hour&nbsp;to tame the beast before finally drawing it out of the water. Upon getting the shark out at the shore, Kenny quickly removed the hook from the mammal and it was released back into the water.</p>

<p>"I’ve said it so many times before, but truly words cannot describe the feeling of this fish right here," said an ecstatic Kenny.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, an NGO working for the protection of sharks said Kenny's catch had not been previously identified.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Last week, Blaine Kenny posted footage of a white shark he caught off Pensacola, FL. Our research team determined this was a shark not previously identified and it will be added to our White Shark Catalog."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-great-white-sharks-swim-dangerously-close-to-surfers-drone-footage-shows-615434"><strong>WATCH | Great white sharks swim dangerously close to surfers, drone footage shows</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, a recent study by California State University found that sharks swim much closer to humans than previously imagined. The researchers arrived at the conclusion after conducting over 1,500 drone flights spanning two years in southern Santa Barbara County and central San Diego County.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A shocking yet daring video going viral on social media shows a fisherman single-handedly battling a monstrous great white shark and emerging victorious at a Florida beach in the USA.

A shocking yet daring video going viral on social media shows a fisherman single-handedly battling a monstrous great white shark and emerging victorious at a Florida beach in the USA. Shark fishing expert Blaine Kenny and his business partner Dylan Weir were at Navarre Beach, about 40 km east of Pensacola when they managed to catch a 540-kg (1,200-pound), 12-foot great white shark and drag it to the shore. In the video posted on their YouTube channel, the duo discussed using the "biggest bait possible" to lure the shark. Eventually, they ended up using the head of a 150-pound swordfish and the head of an 80-pound yellowfin tuna to entice their target. After laying the bait, the duo felt a tug on the line in the morning with Kenny instantly jumping in and reeling in the fish. “There’s only a few things it can be, a mako, a giant tiger, a white shark or the biggest dusky we’ve ever seen in our lives,” Weir could be heard saying. “We’re just going to play it out, not jump to assumptions, and really does it matter what’s on the other end of that line right now? We have one task at hand and the task is Blaine has to stay locked in. I have to stay locked in," he added. As Kenny struggled, Weir flew a drone overhead to determine what creature his pal Kenny was attempting to reel in. “Look at that, that’s a white shark!" said Weir, with Kenny replying: “Oh my gosh, bro." × Kenny's one-hour struggle Footage showed Kenny had to struggle for nearly an hour to tame the beast before finally drawing it out of the water. Upon getting the shark out at the shore, Kenny quickly removed the hook from the mammal and it was released back into the water. "I’ve said it so many times before, but truly words cannot describe the feeling of this fish right here," said an ecstatic Kenny. Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, an NGO working for the protection of sharks said Kenny's catch had not been previously identified. "Last week, Blaine Kenny posted footage of a white shark he caught off Pensacola, FL. Our research team determined this was a shark not previously identified and it will be added to our White Shark Catalog." WATCH | Great white sharks swim dangerously close to surfers, drone footage shows Notably, a recent study by California State University found that sharks swim much closer to humans than previously imagined. The researchers arrived at the conclusion after conducting over 1,500 drone flights spanning two years in southern Santa Barbara County and central San Diego County. (With inputs from agencies)

US man catches giant 540kg great white shark single-handedly | WATCH

<p>A couple from the New York borough of Queens has brought a $40 million lawsuit against&nbsp;JetBlue Airways, claiming they were unfairly removed&nbsp;from a flight because they are Orthodox Jews, according to a report in the <em>New York Post</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The couple, identified as&nbsp;Michael Nektalov and Miryem Yushanaye, alongside their five kids were returning from an Aruba vacation in February 2021 when they were allegedly kicked off the plane. According to&nbsp;Nektalov, another Jewish family was also pushed out of the New York-bound flight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court papers reveal that the couple was dressed according to Jewish religious customs. While Miryem wore a head covering, her husband sported a long beard and yarmulke and&nbsp;also spoke in Hebrew at times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The couple said they knew trouble would ensue after JetBlue employees&nbsp;gave them "disdainful and dirty looks" soon after boarding the flight. Their hunch came true as just before the takeoff, the plane taxied back to the gate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When Miryem asked one of the flight attendants what was causing the delay, she was told that her "mask had slipped off the nose". Afterwards, she was removed from the plane,&nbsp;while a different Jewish family were also asked to leave.</p>

<p>When Nektalov protested the decision, a JetBlue employee allegedly shouted that if the famulu did not "get off the plane, the entire plane would have to be deplaned".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“In that moment, I felt as though we were in Nazi Germany, and that we were being isolated, vilified, and herded for disposal,” Nektalov said in the January&nbsp;26 filing.</p>

<p>As the controversy snowballed, a&nbsp;JetBlue spokesman said the company had not yet reviewed the lawsuit.</p>

<p>“We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind at JetBlue. We take any claims such as these seriously and will work to fully understand the facts of what happened in this event,” said spokesperson&nbsp;Derek Dombrowski.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-british-team-helping-palestinian-authority-prepare-for-governance-667592"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: British team helping Palestinian authority prepare for governance</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" data-gtm-yt-inspected-19="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-7="true" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="lazy" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-british-team-helping-palestinian-authority-prepare-for-governance-667592/embed?autoplay=0" title="live tv" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<h2><strong>Rising antisemitism in the US</strong></h2>

<p>The incident comes to light amid rising cases of antisemtism across the US in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US President Joe Biden on Holocaust Remembrance Day last month reflected on the same and said it was "unacceptable" that Jews were being treated in such a way.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In the aftermath of Hamas’s vicious massacre, we have witnessed an alarming rise of despicable antisemitism at home and abroad that has surfaced painful scars from millennia of hate and genocide of Jewish people. It is unacceptable," said Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-labour-mp-kate-osamor-suspended-over-gaza-remarks-in-holocaust-message-684697"><strong>Also read | UK: Labour MP Kate Osamor suspended over Gaza remarks in Holocaust Memorial Day message</strong></a></p>

<p>After Hamas' October 7 terror attack, Israel has launched a counter operation in the Gaza Strip with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to not stop before the terror outfit is completely dismantled.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A couple from the New York borough of Queens has brought a $40 million lawsuit against JetBlue Airways, claiming they were unfairly removed from a flight because they are Orthodox Jews, according to a report in the New York Post.

A couple from the New York borough of Queens has brought a $40 million lawsuit against JetBlue Airways, claiming they were unfairly removed from a flight because they are Orthodox Jews, according to a report in the New York Post. The couple, identified as Michael Nektalov and Miryem Yushanaye, alongside their five kids were returning from an Aruba vacation in February 2021 when they were allegedly kicked off the plane. According to Nektalov, another Jewish family was also pushed out of the New York-bound flight. The court papers reveal that the couple was dressed according to Jewish religious customs. While Miryem wore a head covering, her husband sported a long beard and yarmulke and also spoke in Hebrew at times. The couple said they knew trouble would ensue after JetBlue employees gave them "disdainful and dirty looks" soon after boarding the flight. Their hunch came true as just before the takeoff, the plane taxied back to the gate. When Miryem asked one of the flight attendants what was causing the delay, she was told that her "mask had slipped off the nose". Afterwards, she was removed from the plane, while a different Jewish family were also asked to leave. When Nektalov protested the decision, a JetBlue employee allegedly shouted that if the famulu did not "get off the plane, the entire plane would have to be deplaned". “In that moment, I felt as though we were in Nazi Germany, and that we were being isolated, vilified, and herded for disposal,” Nektalov said in the January 26 filing. As the controversy snowballed, a JetBlue spokesman said the company had not yet reviewed the lawsuit. “We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind at JetBlue. We take any claims such as these seriously and will work to fully understand the facts of what happened in this event,” said spokesperson Derek Dombrowski. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: British team helping Palestinian authority prepare for governance Rising antisemitism in the US The incident comes to light amid rising cases of antisemtism across the US in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war. US President Joe Biden on Holocaust Remembrance Day last month reflected on the same and said it was "unacceptable" that Jews were being treated in such a way. "In the aftermath of Hamas’s vicious massacre, we have witnessed an alarming rise of despicable antisemitism at home and abroad that has surfaced painful scars from millennia of hate and genocide of Jewish people. It is unacceptable," said Biden. Also read | UK: Labour MP Kate Osamor suspended over Gaza remarks in Holocaust Memorial Day message After Hamas' October 7 terror attack, Israel has launched a counter operation in the Gaza Strip with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to not stop before the terror outfit is completely dismantled. (With inputs from agencies)

Kicked out of plane for being Jew? US couple files $40mn lawsuit against JetBlue Airways

<p>Donald Trump's former aide Mike Gill died on Saturday (Feb 3), days after being shot by a carjacker in Washington D.C, according to US media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gill, a married father of three served as former president Trump's chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. His wife, Kristina Gill, released a statement, announcing his death.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband, Mike Gill. His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled," she said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In this time of grief, we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out to offer condolences and assistance," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former CFTF Chairman&nbsp;Christopher Giancarlo shared a condolence statement, calling Gill as “one of the most wonderful, honest, earnest, and open-hearted persons on this Earth".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Words cannot express the tragedy of the loss of this fine man, colleague, and cherished friend,” Giancarlo added. “He will be sorely missed and long remembered.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trumps-trials-and-campaigning-to-go-hand-in-hand-681149"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Donald Trump's trials and campaigning to go hand-in-hand</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trumps-trials-and-campaigning-to-go-hand-in-hand-681149/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened to Gill?</strong></h2>

<p>Gill was shot last Monday (Jan 29)&nbsp;while inside a car at the 900 block of K Street NW, waiting for his wife. According to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, approached the parked vehicle shortly before 6 pm and shot Gill before exiting the vehicle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the shooting, the suspect fled on foot and attempted to seal another vehicle where he fatally shot 35-year-old Alberto Vazquez, Jr. and drove off in his car.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-postpones-election-interference-trial-against-donald-trump-686571"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Judge postpones Donald Trump's election subversion trial</strong></a></p>

<p>He stole two more cars and sprayed bullets at a D.C. police officer&nbsp;and a Maryland State Police trooper along I-95 in Laurel, Maryland around 2:30 am&nbsp;the next day. A couple of hours later, Cunningham was shot and killed by New Carrollton police officers&nbsp;after he attempted to attack them as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After ending his association with Trump, Gill had been working as senior vice president for Capital Markets at the Housing Policy Council when he died.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Donald Trump's former aide Mike Gill died on Saturday (Feb 3), days after being shot by a carjacker in Washington D.C, according to US media reports. Gill, a married father of three served as former president Trump's chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Donald Trump's former aide Mike Gill died on Saturday (Feb 3), days after being shot by a carjacker in Washington D.C, according to US media reports. Gill, a married father of three served as former president Trump's chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. His wife, Kristina Gill, released a statement, announcing his death. "It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband, Mike Gill. His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled," she said in a statement. "In this time of grief, we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out to offer condolences and assistance," she added. Former CFTF Chairman Christopher Giancarlo shared a condolence statement, calling Gill as “one of the most wonderful, honest, earnest, and open-hearted persons on this Earth". “Words cannot express the tragedy of the loss of this fine man, colleague, and cherished friend,” Giancarlo added. “He will be sorely missed and long remembered.” Watch | Donald Trump's trials and campaigning to go hand-in-hand × What happened to Gill? Gill was shot last Monday (Jan 29) while inside a car at the 900 block of K Street NW, waiting for his wife. According to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, approached the parked vehicle shortly before 6 pm and shot Gill before exiting the vehicle. After the shooting, the suspect fled on foot and attempted to seal another vehicle where he fatally shot 35-year-old Alberto Vazquez, Jr. and drove off in his car. Also read | Judge postpones Donald Trump's election subversion trial He stole two more cars and sprayed bullets at a D.C. police officer and a Maryland State Police trooper along I-95 in Laurel, Maryland around 2:30 am the next day. A couple of hours later, Cunningham was shot and killed by New Carrollton police officers after he attempted to attack them as well. After ending his association with Trump, Gill had been working as senior vice president for Capital Markets at the Housing Policy Council when he died. (With inputs from agencies)

Former Trump aide Mike Gill succumbs to injuries, days after being shot

<p>India's Narendra Modi government will be delivering the interim Budget for the country on Thursday (Feb 1) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget in front of the Lower House.</p>

<p>In other news, the US on Wednesday (Jan 31) struck Houthi missiles as well as Iranian drones as the terror outfit upped its aggression in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on headlines to read more:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/budget-2024-live-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-presents-the-interim-budget-in-parliament-income-tax-expectations-news-685548"><strong>Budget 2024 LIVE updates: Nirmala Sitharaman reaches Ministry of Finance</strong></a></p>

<p>The Narendra Modi government will be presenting its final budget of its second tenure on Thursday (February 1). Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the interim Budget which&nbsp;typically takes care of the fiscal needs of the intervening period until a government is formed after the Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/31/409164-nirmala-sitharaman-2.png?imwidth=500" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-destroys-houthi-missiles-targeting-warship-blames-iran-backed-militia-for-jordan-attack-685675"><strong>US destroys Houthi missiles targeting warship, blames Iran-backed militia for Jordan attack</strong></a></p>

<p>American forces on Wednesday (Jan 31) claimed they had destroyed a missile belonging to Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that posed an "imminent threat" to US aircraft.&nbsp;A few hours later, another anti-ship ballistic missile and Iranian drones were shot down in the Gulf of Aden.</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/20/406955-succession-2024-01-20t232607129.jpg?imwidth=500" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-one-should-go-through-zuckerberg-issues-apology-over-harm-caused-to-children-due-to-social-media-685688"><strong>Meta's Zuckerberg faces accusation of having 'blood on his hands', apologises to families</strong></a></p>

<p>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, while testifying in an ongoing hearing on online child safety before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, apologised to the families who claimed that their children have suffered harm from social media platforms.</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/02/01/409225-untitled-design-30.png?imwidth=500" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-can-do-that-nikki-haley-bats-for-texas-to-secede-from-the-us-685692"><strong>'They can do that': Nikki Haley bats for Texas to secede from the US</strong></a></p>

<p>Republican presidential nomination seeker Nikki Haley has said the Lone Star state of Texas has the right to secede from the US if its citizens decide to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/01/24/407628-untitled-design-8.png?imwidth=500" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-pm-netanyahu-says-unrwa-is-totally-infiltered-by-hamas-685709"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israeli PM Netanyahu says UNRWA is 'totally infiltered by Hamas'</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-pm-netanyahu-says-unrwa-is-totally-infiltered-by-hamas-685709/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


India's Narendra Modi government will be delivering the interim Budget for the country on Thursday (Feb 1) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget in front of the Lower House.

India's Narendra Modi government will be delivering the interim Budget for the country on Thursday (Feb 1) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget in front of the Lower House. In other news, the US on Wednesday (Jan 31) struck Houthi missiles as well as Iranian drones as the terror outfit upped its aggression in the region. Click on headlines to read more: Budget 2024 LIVE updates: Nirmala Sitharaman reaches Ministry of Finance The Narendra Modi government will be presenting its final budget of its second tenure on Thursday (February 1). Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the interim Budget which typically takes care of the fiscal needs of the intervening period until a government is formed after the Lok Sabha polls. US destroys Houthi missiles targeting warship, blames Iran-backed militia for Jordan attack American forces on Wednesday (Jan 31) claimed they had destroyed a missile belonging to Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that posed an "imminent threat" to US aircraft. A few hours later, another anti-ship ballistic missile and Iranian drones were shot down in the Gulf of Aden. Meta's Zuckerberg faces accusation of having 'blood on his hands', apologises to families Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, while testifying in an ongoing hearing on online child safety before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, apologised to the families who claimed that their children have suffered harm from social media platforms. 'They can do that': Nikki Haley bats for Texas to secede from the US Republican presidential nomination seeker Nikki Haley has said the Lone Star state of Texas has the right to secede from the US if its citizens decide to do so. Watch | Israeli PM Netanyahu says UNRWA is 'totally infiltered by Hamas' ×

Morning news brief: India's interim Budget; US destroys Houthi missiles, and more

<p>American forces on Wednesday (Jan 31) claimed they had destroyed a missile belonging to Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that posed an "imminent threat" to US aircraft.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it&nbsp;“struck and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was prepared to launch” after determining that it “presented an imminent threat to US aircraft".&nbsp;</p>

<p>A few hours later, another anti-ship ballistic missile and Iranian drones were shot down in the Gulf of Aden, CENTCOM added. The US military added it had attacked and neutralised a drone ground control station that posed threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"On Feb&nbsp;1&nbsp;at approximately 1:30 am, (Sanaa time), US Central Command forces conducted strikes against an Iranian-backed Houthi UAV ground control station and 10 Houthi one-way UAVs. read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"US forces identified the UAV ground control station and one-way attack UAVs in Houthi- controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US&nbsp;Navy ships in the region."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Houthi Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile and Iranian UAVs Shot Down in Gulf of Aden <a href="https://t.co/hMpm561TZ1">pic.twitter.com/hMpm561TZ1</a></p>
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1752876704295465243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2024</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>

<p>Notably, the Iran-aligned group on Wednesday released a statement saying it will continue to target US and British warships participating in “aggression” against Yemen.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why the attacks?</strong></h2>

<p>The United States and British forces on January 12&nbsp;launched strikes in retaliation to the attacks by Houthi terrorists on Red Sea shipping vessels which are linked to Israel.</p>

<p>Australia also provided personnel support to the strikes, which&nbsp;involved various Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After launching strikes against Houthis, the United States and its allies said that stabilising crucial Red Sea shipping lanes remains their primary goal.</p>

<p>Houthis&nbsp;claim that their attacks are aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;West Asia crisis: Three US soldiers killed, at least 34 injured in Jordan drone attack</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" data-gtm-yt-inspected-20="true" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/west-asia-crisis-three-us-soldiers-killed-at-least-34-injured-in-jordan-drone-attack-684706/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2><strong>Iran-backed militia responsible for Jordan attacks</strong></h2>

<p>Amid the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, the White House also blamed an Iran-backed militia group for the drone attack on Al-Tanf, a US military site&nbsp;in Jordan, earlier this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said US intelligence believed&nbsp;the Islamic Resistance in Iraq was responsible for the attack that killed three soldiers and injured 40.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously, US President Joe Biden had also blamed Iran for the strike and vowed that Washington would respond to the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in the aftermath.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-vows-action-after-jordan-attack-releases-names-of-3-us-soldiers-killed-684938"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Pentagon vows action after Jordan attack, releases names of 3 soldiers killed as Iran denies involvement</strong></a></p>

<p>"We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he added.</p>

<p>The three US soldiers killed have been identified as&nbsp;army reservists Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett and Spc Kennedy Sanders.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


American forces on Wednesday (Jan 31) claimed they had destroyed a missile belonging to Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that posed an "imminent threat" to US aircraft.

American forces on Wednesday (Jan 31) claimed they had destroyed a missile belonging to Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that posed an "imminent threat" to US aircraft. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it “struck and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was prepared to launch” after determining that it “presented an imminent threat to US aircraft". A few hours later, another anti-ship ballistic missile and Iranian drones were shot down in the Gulf of Aden, CENTCOM added. The US military added it had attacked and neutralised a drone ground control station that posed threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. "On Feb 1 at approximately 1:30 am, (Sanaa time), US Central Command forces conducted strikes against an Iranian-backed Houthi UAV ground control station and 10 Houthi one-way UAVs. read the statement. "US forces identified the UAV ground control station and one-way attack UAVs in Houthi- controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region." Houthi Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile and Iranian UAVs Shot Down in Gulf of Aden pic.twitter.com/hMpm561TZ1 — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 1, 2024 × Notably, the Iran-aligned group on Wednesday released a statement saying it will continue to target US and British warships participating in “aggression” against Yemen. Why the attacks? The United States and British forces on January 12 launched strikes in retaliation to the attacks by Houthi terrorists on Red Sea shipping vessels which are linked to Israel. Australia also provided personnel support to the strikes, which involved various Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets. After launching strikes against Houthis, the United States and its allies said that stabilising crucial Red Sea shipping lanes remains their primary goal. Houthis claim that their attacks are aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Also watch | West Asia crisis: Three US soldiers killed, at least 34 injured in Jordan drone attack Iran-backed militia responsible for Jordan attacks Amid the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, the White House also blamed an Iran-backed militia group for the drone attack on Al-Tanf, a US military site in Jordan, earlier this week. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said US intelligence believed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq was responsible for the attack that killed three soldiers and injured 40. Previously, US President Joe Biden had also blamed Iran for the strike and vowed that Washington would respond to the attack. "We know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in the aftermath. Also read | Pentagon vows action after Jordan attack, releases names of 3 soldiers killed as Iran denies involvement "We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he added. The three US soldiers killed have been identified as army reservists Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett and Spc Kennedy Sanders. (With inputs from agencies)

US destroys Houthi missiles targeting warship, blames Iran-backed militia for Jordan attack

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidw3axeGFs99P6" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis may have received a reprieve after the county's special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had appointed to lead the election interference case against former president Donald Trump in Georgia, settled a divorce case with his estranged wife Jocelyn Wade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The settlement comes a day before the scheduled hearing in the divorce case where Wade was expected to be asked about his alleged affair with Willis, his boss, that could have weakened the case against Trump.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, one of Trump's co-defendants in the case, Michael Roman, had filed the motion last week, seeking to disqualify Willis' office and have the case dismissed altogether. Trump has alleged that the affair amounted to a conflict of interest.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>By entering into a temporary divorce agreement, Wade will have to no longer answer questions about whether he used the money earned in the case to take Willis on lavish vacations.</p>

<p>Notably, bank statements filed in the divorce case by Wade's wife showed that the special prosecutor purchased tickets on two separate occasions for himself and Willis during the time of Trump's investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wade was a lawyer in private practice when Willis hired him in 2021 to help run the Trump case as she needed a 'trusted confidant' for the job.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trumps-georgia-trial-could-drag-on-till-2025-658966"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Donald Trump's Georgia trial could drag on till 2025</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trumps-georgia-trial-could-drag-on-till-2025-658966/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>What is the Georgia case?</strong></h2>

<p>The case stems from a Jan 2, 2021, phone call in which Trump urged Georgia's top election official, Brad Raffensperger, to "find" enough votes to reverse his narrow loss in the state, but the request was declined.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have mentioned that Willis also investigated an alleged scheme by the Trump campaign to subvert the US electoral process by submitting false slates of electors, people who make up the Electoral College that elects the president and vice president.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-is-donald-trumps-georgia-indictment-different-626154"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Explained | Why is Donald Trump's Georgia indictment different?</strong></a></p>

<p>The former president has pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges against him in the sprawling 41-count racketeering indictment brought by the district attorney's office against Trump and 18 others in August.</p>

<p>The Georgia case is important as it can not be dismissed through a presidential pardon. Only federal matters can be swept under the carpet but since it is a state case, even if Trump becomes the president later this year, the case will not be shelved.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis may have received a reprieve after the county's special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had appointed to lead the election interference case against former president Donald Trump in Georgia, settled a divorce case with his estranged wife Jocelyn Wade.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis may have received a reprieve after the county's special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had appointed to lead the election interference case against former president Donald Trump in Georgia, settled a divorce case with his estranged wife Jocelyn Wade. The settlement comes a day before the scheduled hearing in the divorce case where Wade was expected to be asked about his alleged affair with Willis, his boss, that could have weakened the case against Trump. Notably, one of Trump's co-defendants in the case, Michael Roman, had filed the motion last week, seeking to disqualify Willis' office and have the case dismissed altogether. Trump has alleged that the affair amounted to a conflict of interest. By entering into a temporary divorce agreement, Wade will have to no longer answer questions about whether he used the money earned in the case to take Willis on lavish vacations. Notably, bank statements filed in the divorce case by Wade's wife showed that the special prosecutor purchased tickets on two separate occasions for himself and Willis during the time of Trump's investigation. Wade was a lawyer in private practice when Willis hired him in 2021 to help run the Trump case as she needed a 'trusted confidant' for the job. Watch | Donald Trump's Georgia trial could drag on till 2025 × What is the Georgia case? The case stems from a Jan 2, 2021, phone call in which Trump urged Georgia's top election official, Brad Raffensperger, to "find" enough votes to reverse his narrow loss in the state, but the request was declined. Reports have mentioned that Willis also investigated an alleged scheme by the Trump campaign to subvert the US electoral process by submitting false slates of electors, people who make up the Electoral College that elects the president and vice president. Also read | Explained | Why is Donald Trump's Georgia indictment different? The former president has pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges against him in the sprawling 41-count racketeering indictment brought by the district attorney's office against Trump and 18 others in August. The Georgia case is important as it can not be dismissed through a presidential pardon. Only federal matters can be swept under the carpet but since it is a state case, even if Trump becomes the president later this year, the case will not be shelved. (With inputs from agencies)

Relief for prosecutor in Trump Georgia case, won't have to testify about alleged affair with DA Fani Willis

<p>An Indian student, identified as Neel Acharya at the Purdue University, Indiana, US has been confirmed dead after being reported missing since Sunday (Jan 28), according to local media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office said police personnel were called&nbsp;to 500 Allison Road in West Lafayette in the university campus&nbsp;for a possible dead body. After arriving on the scene, a "college-aged male" was found deceased, later confirmed as Acharya by the authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Afterwards, in an email&nbsp;to the university's computer science department, interim CS head Chris Clifton informed&nbsp;students and faculty of Acharya's untimely death.</p>

<p>"It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students, Neel Acharya, has passed away.&nbsp;My condolences go out to his friends, family, and all affected," said&nbsp;Clifton.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Acharya was a double major in computer and data science&nbsp;at the John Martinson Honors College of Purdue University&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Sunday, his mother, Gaury Acharya, had taken to X (formerly known as Twitter) to inform about her son's disappearance and appealed for any hints.</p>

<p>"Our son Neel Acharya is missing since yesterday Jan 28 (12:30 AM EST) He is studying at Purdue University in the US. He was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off in Purdue university. We are looking for any info on him. Please help us if you know anything," she wrote.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Responding to her post, India's Consulate General in Chicago said:&nbsp;"(The) Consulate is in touch with Purdue University authorities and also with Neel’s family. Consulate will extend all possible support and help."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-indian-student-stabbed-in-us-gym-dies-657066"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Indian student stabbed in US Gym dies</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-indian-student-stabbed-in-us-gym-dies-657066/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Indian student hammered to death</strong></h2>

<p>The news of Acharya's demise comes after another Indian student named Vivek Saini, 25, was&nbsp;mercilessly beaten to death with a hammer by a homeless man whom he had reportedly been feeding and sheltering, in the US state of Georgia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The attack took place in the city of Lithonia and was caught on camera where the&nbsp;assailant, later identified as 53-year-old Julian Faulkner was seen beating Saini to death with a hammer.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-indian-student-beaten-to-death-by-homeless-man-after-feeding-and-sheltering-him-for-days-684748"><strong>Also read | US: Indian student beaten to death by homeless man after feeding and sheltering him for days</strong></a></p>

<p>Saini,&nbsp;whose family hails from the Indian state of Haryana had gone to the US two years ago and had recently earned an MBA degree.</p>

<p>Faulkner was arrested on the spot and remains in DeKalb County Jail. He has since been charged with felony murder and interference with government property.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An Indian student, identified as Neel Acharya at the Purdue University, Indiana, US has been confirmed dead after being reported missing since Sunday (Jan 28), according to local media reports.

An Indian student, identified as Neel Acharya at the Purdue University, Indiana, US has been confirmed dead after being reported missing since Sunday (Jan 28), according to local media reports. The Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office said police personnel were called to 500 Allison Road in West Lafayette in the university campus for a possible dead body. After arriving on the scene, a "college-aged male" was found deceased, later confirmed as Acharya by the authorities. Afterwards, in an email to the university's computer science department, interim CS head Chris Clifton informed students and faculty of Acharya's untimely death. "It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students, Neel Acharya, has passed away. My condolences go out to his friends, family, and all affected," said Clifton. Notably, Acharya was a double major in computer and data science at the John Martinson Honors College of Purdue University On Sunday, his mother, Gaury Acharya, had taken to X (formerly known as Twitter) to inform about her son's disappearance and appealed for any hints. "Our son Neel Acharya is missing since yesterday Jan 28 (12:30 AM EST) He is studying at Purdue University in the US. He was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off in Purdue university. We are looking for any info on him. Please help us if you know anything," she wrote. Responding to her post, India's Consulate General in Chicago said: "(The) Consulate is in touch with Purdue University authorities and also with Neel’s family. Consulate will extend all possible support and help." Watch | Gravitas: Indian student stabbed in US Gym dies × Indian student hammered to death The news of Acharya's demise comes after another Indian student named Vivek Saini, 25, was mercilessly beaten to death with a hammer by a homeless man whom he had reportedly been feeding and sheltering, in the US state of Georgia. The attack took place in the city of Lithonia and was caught on camera where the assailant, later identified as 53-year-old Julian Faulkner was seen beating Saini to death with a hammer. Also read | US: Indian student beaten to death by homeless man after feeding and sheltering him for days Saini, whose family hails from the Indian state of Haryana had gone to the US two years ago and had recently earned an MBA degree. Faulkner was arrested on the spot and remains in DeKalb County Jail. He has since been charged with felony murder and interference with government property. (With inputs from agencies)

Missing Indian student of Purdue University found dead on campus

<p>The Pentagon has vowed to take "all necessary actions" to defend the US troops after Iran-backed terrorists killed US soldiers and wounded several others in a drone strike on Al-Tanf, a US military site&nbsp;in Jordan on Sunday (Jan 28).</p>

<p>Recently discharged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made the statement and asserted that Pentagon was chalking up a plan to avenge the drone attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the US and our troops,” Austin said at the Pentagon on Monday (Jan 29).</p>

<p>Pentagon's statement comes a day after&nbsp;US President Joe Biden also blamed Iran&nbsp;for the strike and vowed that Washington would respond.</p>

<p>"While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in a statement on the attack.</p>

<p>"We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he added.</p>

<p>The three US soldiers killed in the attack were also named by the Pentagon on Monday. They have been identified as&nbsp;army reservists Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett and Spc Kennedy Sanders.</p>

<p>Sunday's strike was the first deadly attack&nbsp;against US forces since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7 last year.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Iran denies involvement</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Iran has denied any involvement in the terror attack.&nbsp;Nasser Kanaani, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said it was a "repetition of baseless accusations" from the US side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The groups in the region do not take orders from Iran," Kanaani said. "War is not a solution. An immediate cease-fire in Gaza can lead to the return of peace."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;West Asia crisis: Three US soldiers killed, at least 34 injured in Jordan drone attack</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" data-gtm-yt-inspected-20="true" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/west-asia-crisis-three-us-soldiers-killed-at-least-34-injured-in-jordan-drone-attack-684706/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2><strong>Where is Al-Tanf based?</strong></h2>

<p>According to reports, Al-Tanf is located in Syria on the Iraqi border and within miles of the Jordanian border.</p>

<p>Since 2016, the US garrison at Tanf has served as a launching point for operations against Islamic State and a training area for Syrian opposition factions fighting the terrorist group.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-us-troops-killed-in-drone-attack-on-base-in-jordan-military-684606"><strong>Also read | Biden vows to strike back after drone strike on Jordan base kills 3 US troops</strong></a></p>

<p>The drone strike took place&nbsp;at the military outpost Tower 22, which is near Al-Tanf. It is not yet known how many US troops are actually stationed on Tower 22, and it is also unclear what type of weapons are kept at the base, and what air defences are used.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Pentagon has vowed to take "all necessary actions" to defend the US troops after Iran-backed terrorists killed US soldiers and wounded several others in a drone strike on Al-Tanf, a US military site in Jordan on Sunday (Jan 28).

The Pentagon has vowed to take "all necessary actions" to defend the US troops after Iran-backed terrorists killed US soldiers and wounded several others in a drone strike on Al-Tanf, a US military site in Jordan on Sunday (Jan 28). Recently discharged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made the statement and asserted that Pentagon was chalking up a plan to avenge the drone attack. “The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the US and our troops,” Austin said at the Pentagon on Monday (Jan 29). Pentagon's statement comes a day after US President Joe Biden also blamed Iran for the strike and vowed that Washington would respond. "While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in a statement on the attack. "We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he added. The three US soldiers killed in the attack were also named by the Pentagon on Monday. They have been identified as army reservists Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett and Spc Kennedy Sanders. Sunday's strike was the first deadly attack against US forces since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7 last year. Iran denies involvement Meanwhile, Iran has denied any involvement in the terror attack. Nasser Kanaani, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said it was a "repetition of baseless accusations" from the US side. "The groups in the region do not take orders from Iran," Kanaani said. "War is not a solution. An immediate cease-fire in Gaza can lead to the return of peace." Also watch | West Asia crisis: Three US soldiers killed, at least 34 injured in Jordan drone attack Where is Al-Tanf based? According to reports, Al-Tanf is located in Syria on the Iraqi border and within miles of the Jordanian border. Since 2016, the US garrison at Tanf has served as a launching point for operations against Islamic State and a training area for Syrian opposition factions fighting the terrorist group. Also read | Biden vows to strike back after drone strike on Jordan base kills 3 US troops The drone strike took place at the military outpost Tower 22, which is near Al-Tanf. It is not yet known how many US troops are actually stationed on Tower 22, and it is also unclear what type of weapons are kept at the base, and what air defences are used. (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon vows action after Jordan attack, releases names of 3 soldiers killed as Iran denies involvement

<p>Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi has come under controversy after she was caught on camera asking pro-Palestinian protesters, gathered outside her home to "Go back to China".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The protesters were reportedly batting for a ceasefire in the ongoing Hamas conflict but Pelosi asserted that they move to China where their 'headquarters' was located.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pelosi's controversial statement comes a day after she appeared on&nbsp;<em>CNN’s State of the Union </em>and called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate&nbsp;protesters involved in the progressive movement pressuring the Biden administration to support a ceasefire in Gaza.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yesterday Nancy Pelosi said we were paid Russian agents for supporting Palestine and now we are apparently headquartered in China. Her cognitive decline did not need to happen in public but she chose to stay in office with a fake title. <a href="https://t.co/fn6Lioc6xr">pic.twitter.com/fn6Lioc6xr</a></p>
— 🅹🅾️🅴🆈աrecκ ☭ (@joeywreck) <a href="https://twitter.com/joeywreck/status/1752036075877364190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</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>

<p>“For [the pro-Palestinian protesters] to call for a cease-fire is Mr Putin’s message. Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he would like to see. Same thing with Ukraine. It’s about Putin’s message,” Pelosi said.</p>

<p>“I think some of these protesters are spontaneous and organic and sincere. Some, I think, are connected to Russia. And I say that having looked at this for a long time now, as you know,” she added.</p>

<p>When pressed to elaborate on her statement, Pelosi said she believed the activists were "Russian plants".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Seeds or plants. I think some financing should be investigated. And I want to ask the FBI to investigate that.”</p>

<p>The interview instantly sparked backlash with supporters of the ceasefire condemning Pelosi's views as "downright authoritarian".&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-un-agency-probes-staff-involvement-684589"><strong>Watch | Israel-Hamas war | UN agency probes staff involvement</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-un-agency-probes-staff-involvement-684589/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>USA's anti-ceasefire stance</strong></h2>

<p>Ever since the war broke out after the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, US President Joe Biden has faced criticism for his policy in Gaza. Biden has batted for Israel to defend and answer Hamas while remaining steadfastly against ceasefire requests.</p>

<p>Washington believes that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas and allow it to drag the conflict. During a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) emergency meeting last month, the USA voted against a resolution for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This resolution still contains a call for an unconditional ceasefire... it would leave Hamas in place able to repeat what it did on October 7,"&nbsp;US deputy UN representative Robert Wood justified the decision at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vetoes-un-security-council-resolution-demanding-immediate-humanitarian-ceasefire-in-gaza-667777"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US vetoes UNSC resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, says it would ‘benefit’ Hamas</strong></a></p>

<p>Although Washington has been working on a third truce deal with other stakeholders, its stark refusal for a ceasefire has not gone down well with certain sections of Democrat voters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies</em>)</p>


Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi has come under controversy after she was caught on camera asking pro-Palestinian protesters, gathered outside her home to "Go back to China".

Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi has come under controversy after she was caught on camera asking pro-Palestinian protesters, gathered outside her home to "Go back to China". The protesters were reportedly batting for a ceasefire in the ongoing Hamas conflict but Pelosi asserted that they move to China where their 'headquarters' was located. Pelosi's controversial statement comes a day after she appeared on CNN’s State of the Union and called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate protesters involved in the progressive movement pressuring the Biden administration to support a ceasefire in Gaza. Yesterday Nancy Pelosi said we were paid Russian agents for supporting Palestine and now we are apparently headquartered in China. Her cognitive decline did not need to happen in public but she chose to stay in office with a fake title. pic.twitter.com/fn6Lioc6xr — 🅹🅾️🅴🆈աrecκ ☭ (@joeywreck) January 29, 2024 × “For [the pro-Palestinian protesters] to call for a cease-fire is Mr Putin’s message. Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he would like to see. Same thing with Ukraine. It’s about Putin’s message,” Pelosi said. “I think some of these protesters are spontaneous and organic and sincere. Some, I think, are connected to Russia. And I say that having looked at this for a long time now, as you know,” she added. When pressed to elaborate on her statement, Pelosi said she believed the activists were "Russian plants". “Seeds or plants. I think some financing should be investigated. And I want to ask the FBI to investigate that.” The interview instantly sparked backlash with supporters of the ceasefire condemning Pelosi's views as "downright authoritarian". Watch | Israel-Hamas war | UN agency probes staff involvement × USA's anti-ceasefire stance Ever since the war broke out after the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, US President Joe Biden has faced criticism for his policy in Gaza. Biden has batted for Israel to defend and answer Hamas while remaining steadfastly against ceasefire requests. Washington believes that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas and allow it to drag the conflict. During a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) emergency meeting last month, the USA voted against a resolution for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. "This resolution still contains a call for an unconditional ceasefire... it would leave Hamas in place able to repeat what it did on October 7," US deputy UN representative Robert Wood justified the decision at the time. Also read | US vetoes UNSC resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, says it would ‘benefit’ Hamas Although Washington has been working on a third truce deal with other stakeholders, its stark refusal for a ceasefire has not gone down well with certain sections of Democrat voters. (With inputs from agencies)

Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi tells pro-Palestinian activists to 'go back to China' | Watch

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidwYmwmMwQIWNJ" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Republican leader Nikki Haley became the target of a second "swatting" attempt earlier this month on New Year's Day, according to a report by news agency&nbsp;<em>Reuters</em>. The hoax caller told law enforcement agencies that Haley had shot her daughter who was lying in a pool of blood.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the 911 call, Charleston County sheriff's deputy responded to Haley's home. The deputy spoke to an unidentified woman at the front door, who matched Haley's description and concluded that the call was a hoax, according to a sheriff’s office report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The January 1 swatting attempt had not been previously reported but Haley alluded to the incident during NBC's "Meet the Press" programme on Sunday (Jan 28). Although Haley didn't provide a date for the incident or share details of what happened but added that it had happened twice already.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I will tell you that the last thing you want is to see multiple law enforcement officials with guns drawn pointing at my parents and thinking that something happened. It was an awful situation,” the former South Carolina governor added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-hampshire-us-primaries-donald-trump-delivers-knockout-blow-to-nikky-haley-683000"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;New Hampshire Republican primary: Donald Trump delivers knockout blow to Nikki Haley</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Previous incident</strong></h2>

<p>Prior to the New Year's Day incident, Haley's Kiawah Island home had also been swatted on December 30 last year. At the time, a man called the police and claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home.</p>

<p>Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, cleared that it was a fake emergency as Haley was not on the island.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It was determined to be a hoax. Nikki Haley is not on the island and her son is with her,” Harris wrote in the email.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-donald-trump-nikki-haley-slam-biden-over-jordan-strikes-684781"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US elections 2024: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley slam Biden over Jordan strikes</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-donald-trump-nikki-haley-slam-biden-over-jordan-strikes-684781/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is swatting?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Swatting is the filing of false reports to the police to set off a potentially dangerous response by officers. It is often employed as a means to terrorise civil servants to impede the progress of democratic institutions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haley, a former UN ambassador and a prominent political leader is the only candidate left in the race with ex-president Donald Trump to secure a presidential nomination from the Republican party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, she has suffered defeats in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries but has vowed to keep going till the end. Authorities believe that owing to Haley's high-profile nomination race, she has become the target of unruly members of society who are attempting to silence her voice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since 2020, swatting incidents against political figures has been on the rise in the US. Previous targets include House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, as well as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Republican leader Nikki Haley became the target of a second "swatting" attempt earlier this month on New Year's Day, according to a report by news agency Reuters.

Republican leader Nikki Haley became the target of a second "swatting" attempt earlier this month on New Year's Day, according to a report by news agency Reuters. The hoax caller told law enforcement agencies that Haley had shot her daughter who was lying in a pool of blood. After the 911 call, Charleston County sheriff's deputy responded to Haley's home. The deputy spoke to an unidentified woman at the front door, who matched Haley's description and concluded that the call was a hoax, according to a sheriff’s office report. The January 1 swatting attempt had not been previously reported but Haley alluded to the incident during NBC's "Meet the Press" programme on Sunday (Jan 28). Although Haley didn't provide a date for the incident or share details of what happened but added that it had happened twice already. “I will tell you that the last thing you want is to see multiple law enforcement officials with guns drawn pointing at my parents and thinking that something happened. It was an awful situation,” the former South Carolina governor added. Also read | New Hampshire Republican primary: Donald Trump delivers knockout blow to Nikki Haley Previous incident Prior to the New Year's Day incident, Haley's Kiawah Island home had also been swatted on December 30 last year. At the time, a man called the police and claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home. Craig Harris, Kiawah Island director of public safety, cleared that it was a fake emergency as Haley was not on the island. “It was determined to be a hoax. Nikki Haley is not on the island and her son is with her,” Harris wrote in the email. Watch | US elections 2024: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley slam Biden over Jordan strikes × What is swatting? Swatting is the filing of false reports to the police to set off a potentially dangerous response by officers. It is often employed as a means to terrorise civil servants to impede the progress of democratic institutions. Haley, a former UN ambassador and a prominent political leader is the only candidate left in the race with ex-president Donald Trump to secure a presidential nomination from the Republican party. So far, she has suffered defeats in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries but has vowed to keep going till the end. Authorities believe that owing to Haley's high-profile nomination race, she has become the target of unruly members of society who are attempting to silence her voice. Since 2020, swatting incidents against political figures has been on the rise in the US. Previous targets include House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, as well as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Nikki Haley targeted in second 'swatting' incident, hoax caller claims she shot her daughter

This week, American forces struck sites used by Iran-backed militants in Iraq. Reports say that at least two people were killed and two others were injured. What happens next? Watch to know more!

Red Sea Crisis: Why did America bomb parts of Iraq?

The United States and Iraq held the first round of talks focused on the future of American and foreign troops in the country. The country's prime minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani hosted the initial round of talks. The troops are stationed to help Iraq fight against ISIS terrorists. Watch to know more!

US, Iraq begin talks to end coalition mission's presence | Iraq seeks quick exit of US Forces

Chances are, there will be a rematch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden this November. Trump has won Republican primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire, he is also leading the polls in South Carolina. Although Nikki Haley has not yet pulled out of the race, reports say the Republican party wants to now look beyond primaries and concentrate on the big November contest between Trump and Biden. Over 40% respondents of a recent survey said they believe Trump was coming back to power. Vikram Chandra tells you more.

US Elections 2024: Polls show Haley is trailing Trump in South Carolin

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidlKl3jVp6bd1u" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidlKl3jVp6bd1u" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidlKl3jVp6bd1u" /><meta charset="utf-8" /><meta name="uuid" content="uuidlKl3jVp6bd1u" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>After a considerable buildup, the atomic scientists on Tuesday (Jan 23) announced the Doomsday Clock will remain unchanged at 90 seconds to midnight, which is the closest it has been since it was established in 1947.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Hamas war and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the armageddon predictors at the <em>Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists</em> keeping the clock unchanged from last year, came as a surprise to many.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the scientists warned that the clock not edging closer to midnight this year was not an indication of stability.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Make no mistake: resetting the clock at 90 seconds to midnight is not an indication that the world is stable. Quite the opposite," said Rachel Bronson, president of the bulletin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bronson warned that instead of 'abandoning' nuclear weapons, countries were upgrading their arsenal and threatening to "create a new arms race, while massive floods, fires and other disasters marked the hottest year on record by far, with little meaningful action on climate change".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the Doomsday Clock?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Although the name is straight out of a sci-fi comic book, the Doomsday Clock is a symbolic timepiece, depicting how close the Earth is to annihilation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are the origins of the Doomsday Clock?</strong></h2>

<p>The Doomsday Clock's origins lie in the creation of the <em>Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists of Chicago</em> (later shortened to the <em>Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists</em>) and the Manhattan Project - the secret US government mission which created the first atomic bomb.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Physicists Leo Szilard and Albert Einstein wrote a letter to US president Franklin Roosevelt in 1939, warning about the potential of an atomic bomb and how it may give the Nazis an edge if they managed to develop one.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doomsday-clock-remains-at-90-seconds-to-midnight-682944"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;‘Doomsday Clock’ remains at 90 seconds to midnight amid fears of ‘global catastrophe’</strong></a></p>

<p>In June 1945, Szilard, alongside other Manhattan Project scientists urged the US to publicly demonstrate the power of nuclear weapons they had developed in an uninhabited area. The idea was to use the threat to press Japan to surrender. However, the idea failed and the US dropped the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Worried about the bomb's impact on humanity, Szilard and several other Manhattan Project scientists met and by September 1945, <em>Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists </em>was born.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the readership grew, the magazine co-editor Hyman Goldsmith asked artist Martyl Langsdorf to come up with a design for the cover of the June 1947 edition. Martyl, married to physicist Alexander Langsdorf, who worked on the Manhattan Project came up with the idea to sketch a clock that suggested we didn't have much time left to get the atomic weapons under control. And that's how the Doomsday Clock was born.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What time did Doomsday Clock display at the start?</strong></h2>

<p>More than 76 years ago the memorable and minimalist clock and its hands were set at seven minutes to midnight, partly because it "looked good" to Martyl's eye.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ever since then, the clock's hands have changed on numerous occasions. Graphic designer Michael Bierut reimagined the iconic clock in 2007.</p>

<h2><strong>Who decides what time is it?</strong></h2>

<p>In the early days, <em>Bulletin </em>editor Eugene Rabinowitch decided where the hand should be moved. However, after his death in 1973, the <em>Bulletin’s</em> Science and Security Board took over.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from the board, other experts in nuclear technology and climate science, including 13 Nobel Laureates, discuss world events and determine where to place the hands of the clock each year, usually in January.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/doomsday-clock-how-many-minutes-until-humanity-destroys-itself-683212"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Doomsday Clock: How many minutes until humanity destroys itself?</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/doomsday-clock-how-many-minutes-until-humanity-destroys-itself-683212/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Where is the Doomsday Clock located?</strong></h2>

<p>The Doomsday Clock is located at the <em>Bulletin</em> office&nbsp;at 1307 E. 60th St., in the lobby of the Keller Center, home to the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.</p>

<h2><strong>When was the Doomsday Clock furthest from midnight?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The clock was furthest from doomsday in 1991 when it was set 17 minutes from midnight, after the end of Cold War.</p>

<p>At the time, the US and Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty that substantially reduced both countries' nuclear arsenals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/want-to-escape-doomsday-a-us-company-is-selling-affordable-55k-bunkers-to-survive-end-of-times-668544" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Want to escape doomsday? A US company is selling affordable $55K bunkers to survive end of times</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>What happens when the Doomsday Clock strikes midnight?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The clock has never hit midnight and according to Bronson, she hopes that it never happens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a release, Brinson, however, addressed the curiosity as to what happens if the clock struck 12 someday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When the clock is at midnight, that means there’s been some sort of nuclear exchange or catastrophic climate change that’s wiped out humanity. We never really want to get there and we won’t know it when we do," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If the apocalypse does arrive, not many would be concerned about the Doomsday Clock but it is a reminder to the global leaders and the layman that we near the precipice of doom and quick action is needed to stop humanity from imploding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


After a considerable buildup, the atomic scientists on Tuesday (Jan 23) announced the Doomsday Clock will remain unchanged at 90 seconds to midnight, which is the closest it has been since it was established in 1947.

After a considerable buildup, the atomic scientists on Tuesday (Jan 23) announced the Doomsday Clock will remain unchanged at 90 seconds to midnight, which is the closest it has been since it was established in 1947. Despite the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Hamas war and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the armageddon predictors at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists keeping the clock unchanged from last year, came as a surprise to many. However, the scientists warned that the clock not edging closer to midnight this year was not an indication of stability. "Make no mistake: resetting the clock at 90 seconds to midnight is not an indication that the world is stable. Quite the opposite," said Rachel Bronson, president of the bulletin. Bronson warned that instead of 'abandoning' nuclear weapons, countries were upgrading their arsenal and threatening to "create a new arms race, while massive floods, fires and other disasters marked the hottest year on record by far, with little meaningful action on climate change". What is the Doomsday Clock? Although the name is straight out of a sci-fi comic book, the Doomsday Clock is a symbolic timepiece, depicting how close the Earth is to annihilation. What are the origins of the Doomsday Clock? The Doomsday Clock's origins lie in the creation of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists of Chicago (later shortened to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists) and the Manhattan Project - the secret US government mission which created the first atomic bomb. Physicists Leo Szilard and Albert Einstein wrote a letter to US president Franklin Roosevelt in 1939, warning about the potential of an atomic bomb and how it may give the Nazis an edge if they managed to develop one. Also read | ‘Doomsday Clock’ remains at 90 seconds to midnight amid fears of ‘global catastrophe’ In June 1945, Szilard, alongside other Manhattan Project scientists urged the US to publicly demonstrate the power of nuclear weapons they had developed in an uninhabited area. The idea was to use the threat to press Japan to surrender. However, the idea failed and the US dropped the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Worried about the bomb's impact on humanity, Szilard and several other Manhattan Project scientists met and by September 1945, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was born. As the readership grew, the magazine co-editor Hyman Goldsmith asked artist Martyl Langsdorf to come up with a design for the cover of the June 1947 edition. Martyl, married to physicist Alexander Langsdorf, who worked on the Manhattan Project came up with the idea to sketch a clock that suggested we didn't have much time left to get the atomic weapons under control. And that's how the Doomsday Clock was born. What time did Doomsday Clock display at the start? More than 76 years ago the memorable and minimalist clock and its hands were set at seven minutes to midnight, partly because it "looked good" to Martyl's eye. Ever since then, the clock's hands have changed on numerous occasions. Graphic designer Michael Bierut reimagined the iconic clock in 2007. Who decides what time is it? In the early days, Bulletin editor Eugene Rabinowitch decided where the hand should be moved. However, after his death in 1973, the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board took over. Apart from the board, other experts in nuclear technology and climate science, including 13 Nobel Laureates, discuss world events and determine where to place the hands of the clock each year, usually in January. Watch | Doomsday Clock: How many minutes until humanity destroys itself? × Where is the Doomsday Clock located? The Doomsday Clock is located at the Bulletin office at 1307 E. 60th St., in the lobby of the Keller Center, home to the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. When was the Doomsday Clock furthest from midnight? The clock was furthest from doomsday in 1991 when it was set 17 minutes from midnight, after the end of Cold War. At the time, the US and Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty that substantially reduced both countries' nuclear arsenals. Also read | Want to escape doomsday? A US company is selling affordable $55K bunkers to survive end of times What happens when the Doomsday Clock strikes midnight? The clock has never hit midnight and according to Bronson, she hopes that it never happens. In a release, Brinson, however, addressed the curiosity as to what happens if the clock struck 12 someday. "When the clock is at midnight, that means there’s been some sort of nuclear exchange or catastrophic climate change that’s wiped out humanity. We never really want to get there and we won’t know it when we do," she said. If the apocalypse does arrive, not many would be concerned about the Doomsday Clock but it is a reminder to the global leaders and the layman that we near the precipice of doom and quick action is needed to stop humanity from imploding.

Explained | What is the Doomsday Clock? How does it work?

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidb7MMVBuybkXz" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Russia has mocked the USA and its Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for attempting to recruit spies via social media platforms. According to the state-run agency TASS, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov took a jibe at Washington for its rather juvenile recruitment process.</p>

<p>The CIA on Monday (Jan 22) released a video in Russian on X (formerly known as Twitter) which attempted to persuade Russian intelligence employees to switch allegiances and work as double agents for Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Somebody should tell the CIA that VKontakte is much more popular here than the banned X and that VKontakte has a much larger audience,” said Peskov.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Moscow blocked complete access to X shortly after its Ukraine invasion as part of a broader effort to control the narrative&nbsp;which was against Russia on the US-based social media platform.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>CIA's recruitment video</strong></h2>

<p>The said recruitment video tries to appeal to what it suggests are patriotic Russians working in intelligence agencies who may feel betrayed by what it called corruption in elite circles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Those around you may not want to hear the truth. But we do. You are not powerless," says the recruitment propaganda video.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“At CIA, we have a solemn duty to protect those who work with us around the world. If you’re reaching out to CIA to share information about Russia, please do so securely via our portal on the dark web. When possible, CIA has verified its social media accounts through each platform’s official process,” it adds.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="ru">Почему я связался с ЦРУ: Ради Родины<a href="https://t.co/mhQbzet5X2">https://t.co/mhQbzet5X2</a> <a href="https://t.co/sBNWgc93PM">pic.twitter.com/sBNWgc93PM</a></p>
— CIA (@CIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CIA/status/1749496881309184248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2024</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>

<p>The video features a dark, melancholic theme and has a fictional 35-year-old male employee working in Russia's military intelligence agency who is on the fence about the war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Do I have enough courage to confront this betrayal? The top leadership has sold the country out for palaces and yachts at a time when our soldiers are chewing rotten potatoes and firing from prehistoric weapons," he can be heard saying in the video.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The video suggests that patriotism for the country spurred the intelligence agent to contact the CIA and give the US agency clandestine details about Russia's plans concerning Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-china-completely-abandon-us-dollar-in-bilateral-trade-says-russian-pm-671667"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Russia, China completely abandon US dollar in bilateral trade, says Russian PM</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, CIA Director William Burns last year in July claimed that the lengthy war with Ukraine had created friction among some Russians which created a rare opportunity for the intelligence agency to recruit spies and attack Kremlin from inside.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A CIA official told news agency <em>Reuters </em>on the condition of anonymity that there was an increase in outreach from Russians due to these propaganda videos.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Russia has mocked the USA and its Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for attempting to recruit spies via social media platforms. According to the state-run agency TASS, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov took a jibe at Washington for its rather juvenile recruitment process.

Russia has mocked the USA and its Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for attempting to recruit spies via social media platforms. According to the state-run agency TASS, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov took a jibe at Washington for its rather juvenile recruitment process. The CIA on Monday (Jan 22) released a video in Russian on X (formerly known as Twitter) which attempted to persuade Russian intelligence employees to switch allegiances and work as double agents for Washington. “Somebody should tell the CIA that VKontakte is much more popular here than the banned X and that VKontakte has a much larger audience,” said Peskov. Notably, Moscow blocked complete access to X shortly after its Ukraine invasion as part of a broader effort to control the narrative which was against Russia on the US-based social media platform. CIA's recruitment video The said recruitment video tries to appeal to what it suggests are patriotic Russians working in intelligence agencies who may feel betrayed by what it called corruption in elite circles. "Those around you may not want to hear the truth. But we do. You are not powerless," says the recruitment propaganda video. “At CIA, we have a solemn duty to protect those who work with us around the world. If you’re reaching out to CIA to share information about Russia, please do so securely via our portal on the dark web. When possible, CIA has verified its social media accounts through each platform’s official process,” it adds. Почему я связался с ЦРУ: Ради Родиныhttps://t.co/mhQbzet5X2 pic.twitter.com/sBNWgc93PM — CIA (@CIA) January 22, 2024 × The video features a dark, melancholic theme and has a fictional 35-year-old male employee working in Russia's military intelligence agency who is on the fence about the war. "Do I have enough courage to confront this betrayal? The top leadership has sold the country out for palaces and yachts at a time when our soldiers are chewing rotten potatoes and firing from prehistoric weapons," he can be heard saying in the video. The video suggests that patriotism for the country spurred the intelligence agent to contact the CIA and give the US agency clandestine details about Russia's plans concerning Ukraine. Also read | Russia, China completely abandon US dollar in bilateral trade, says Russian PM Notably, CIA Director William Burns last year in July claimed that the lengthy war with Ukraine had created friction among some Russians which created a rare opportunity for the intelligence agency to recruit spies and attack Kremlin from inside. A CIA official told news agency Reuters on the condition of anonymity that there was an increase in outreach from Russians due to these propaganda videos. (With inputs from agencies)

'Somebody tell CIA...': Kremlin mocks US for using social media to recruit Russian spies

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidc0Rf8swtTeCE" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Unmukt Chand, the former captain of India's under-19 cricket team who brought the World Cup trophy home in 2012, might play against India in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He said it would "be strange" to clash with India as he would be eligible to play for the United States in the marquee tournament, scheduled in June.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The USA is in the same group as India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. India and the USA will clash in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 league match on 12 June in New York.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chand retired from all forms of cricket in India in September 2021. He has almost fulfilled the eligibility criteria of staying in the USA for 10 months in a year for three years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a recent interview with Cricbuzz, Unmukt Chand said, "It is something which would be very strange (laughs), but I think since I've retired from India, my next goal was always to sort of play against India, and not in any bad blood but keen to test myself out against the best team in the world."</p>

<p>In the early 2010s, Unmukt Chand was one of the most exciting prospects in India. However, he couldn't live up to the sky-high expectations after scoring a match-winning century in the under-19 World Cup finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Unmukt Chand transferred allegiance from Delhi to Uttarakhand due to underwhelming returns in the domestic circuit. In 2021, he moved to the USA and played for the Silicon Valley Strikers. He has scored over 1,500 runs across three seasons in the first Minor League Cricket.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If Chand gets selected to play for the United States, he might lock horns with players who were once his team mates like Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two more players, Smit Patel and Harmeet Singh, from the under-19 World Cup 2012, have qualified to play for the United States in the T20 World Cup 2024. Patel, a wicketkeeper and batter, has played cricket for Gujarat, Tripura, and Vadodara in India. He moved to the USA in 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Patel fondly remembers playing with Jasprit Bumrah. "I have spent a lot of time with Jassi over the years. Still remember the day he rocked up to practice for the first time and left us awestruck with what we were witnessing," Smit told Cricbuzz. "The team had a name for him those days. We used to call him Jasprit Gumrah."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Unmukt Chand, the former captain of India's under-19 cricket team who brought the World Cup trophy home in 2012, might play against India in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Unmukt Chand, the former captain of India's under-19 cricket team who brought the World Cup trophy home in 2012, might play against India in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He said it would "be strange" to clash with India as he would be eligible to play for the United States in the marquee tournament, scheduled in June. The USA is in the same group as India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. India and the USA will clash in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 league match on 12 June in New York. Chand retired from all forms of cricket in India in September 2021. He has almost fulfilled the eligibility criteria of staying in the USA for 10 months in a year for three years. In a recent interview with Cricbuzz, Unmukt Chand said, "It is something which would be very strange (laughs), but I think since I've retired from India, my next goal was always to sort of play against India, and not in any bad blood but keen to test myself out against the best team in the world." In the early 2010s, Unmukt Chand was one of the most exciting prospects in India. However, he couldn't live up to the sky-high expectations after scoring a match-winning century in the under-19 World Cup finals. Unmukt Chand transferred allegiance from Delhi to Uttarakhand due to underwhelming returns in the domestic circuit. In 2021, he moved to the USA and played for the Silicon Valley Strikers. He has scored over 1,500 runs across three seasons in the first Minor League Cricket. If Chand gets selected to play for the United States, he might lock horns with players who were once his team mates like Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav. Two more players, Smit Patel and Harmeet Singh, from the under-19 World Cup 2012, have qualified to play for the United States in the T20 World Cup 2024. Patel, a wicketkeeper and batter, has played cricket for Gujarat, Tripura, and Vadodara in India. He moved to the USA in 2020. Patel fondly remembers playing with Jasprit Bumrah. "I have spent a lot of time with Jassi over the years. Still remember the day he rocked up to practice for the first time and left us awestruck with what we were witnessing," Smit told Cricbuzz. "The team had a name for him those days. We used to call him Jasprit Gumrah." (With inputs from agencies)

India's former U-19 captain says playing against India in T20 World Cup 2024 would be 'strange'

<p>Nearly 14 months after surviving state's attempt to put him to death by lethal injection, inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith at the&nbsp;Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama will be subjected to another execution attempt. The prison authorities will be putting Smith to death on Thursday (Jan 25) by nitrogen hypoxia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of the fateful event,&nbsp;Smith remains terrified, saying he has nightmares thinking about his death.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I am not ready for that. Not in no kind of way. I’m just not ready, brother,” Smith told <em>The Guardian</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“All I had to do was walk into the room in the dream for it to be overwhelming. I was absolutely terrified. It kept coming up," added Smith, referring to the first execution attempt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the second round approaches, Smith says he is "sick in his stomach" and finds himself vomiting most days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I dream that they’re coming to get me. They haven’t given me a chance to heal. I’m still suffering from the first execution and now we’re doing this again. They won’t let me even have post-traumatic stress disorder – you know, this is ongoing stress disorder,” he added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-botched-35-of-execution-attempts-this-year-543848"><strong>Watch | Gravitas: US botched 35% of execution attempts this year</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-botched-35-of-execution-attempts-this-year-543848/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How will Smith be executed?</strong></h2>

<p>Smith will be taken to an execution chamber on Thursday where he will be strapped to the gurney. According to court documents, the state will place a mask on him to deliver nitrogen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The "Type-C full facepiece respirator-type face mask" will cut off Smith's oxygen supply and replace it with nitrogen. This will cause him to die due to lack of oxygen. Notably, the gas will be delivered for at least 15 minutes or "five minutes following a flatline indication on the Electrocardiogram (EKG)".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Kenneth Smith?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Smith, 58,&nbsp;is a murderer-for-hire who was&nbsp;sentenced to death for the 1988 killing of a preacher's wife.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Smith found himself facing nitrogen hypoxia after Alabama botched his initial execution attempt in November 2022. The lethal injection failed due to multiple futile attempts to establish an intravenous line, leaving him as one of only two individuals in the US to survive an execution attempt.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-outcry-as-us-plans-to-use-cruel-nitrogen-asphyxiation-to-execute-death-row-inmate-676458">International outcry over US plans to use 'inhuman' nitrogen asphyxiation to execute death row inmate</a></strong></p>

<p>Smith's attorneys&nbsp;have argued that in 2020, the American Veterinary Medical Association in its euthanasia guidelines cleared nitrogen hypoxia only for pigs. For other mammals, it said, nitrogen hypoxia could create an "anoxic environment that is distressing for some species."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Nearly 14 months after surviving state's attempt to put him to death by lethal injection, inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith at the Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama will be subjected to another execution attempt.

Nearly 14 months after surviving state's attempt to put him to death by lethal injection, inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith at the Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama will be subjected to another execution attempt. The prison authorities will be putting Smith to death on Thursday (Jan 25) by nitrogen hypoxia. Ahead of the fateful event, Smith remains terrified, saying he has nightmares thinking about his death. “I am not ready for that. Not in no kind of way. I’m just not ready, brother,” Smith told The Guardian. “All I had to do was walk into the room in the dream for it to be overwhelming. I was absolutely terrified. It kept coming up," added Smith, referring to the first execution attempt. As the second round approaches, Smith says he is "sick in his stomach" and finds himself vomiting most days. “I dream that they’re coming to get me. They haven’t given me a chance to heal. I’m still suffering from the first execution and now we’re doing this again. They won’t let me even have post-traumatic stress disorder – you know, this is ongoing stress disorder,” he added. Watch | Gravitas: US botched 35% of execution attempts this year × How will Smith be executed? Smith will be taken to an execution chamber on Thursday where he will be strapped to the gurney. According to court documents, the state will place a mask on him to deliver nitrogen. The "Type-C full facepiece respirator-type face mask" will cut off Smith's oxygen supply and replace it with nitrogen. This will cause him to die due to lack of oxygen. Notably, the gas will be delivered for at least 15 minutes or "five minutes following a flatline indication on the Electrocardiogram (EKG)". Who is Kenneth Smith? Smith, 58, is a murderer-for-hire who was sentenced to death for the 1988 killing of a preacher's wife. Smith found himself facing nitrogen hypoxia after Alabama botched his initial execution attempt in November 2022. The lethal injection failed due to multiple futile attempts to establish an intravenous line, leaving him as one of only two individuals in the US to survive an execution attempt. Also read | International outcry over US plans to use 'inhuman' nitrogen asphyxiation to execute death row inmate Smith's attorneys have argued that in 2020, the American Veterinary Medical Association in its euthanasia guidelines cleared nitrogen hypoxia only for pigs. For other mammals, it said, nitrogen hypoxia could create an "anoxic environment that is distressing for some species." (With inputs from agencies)

'I’m just not ready': US man set to be executed by nitrogen gas, months after botched attempt

<p>Boasting about the country's extensive and fast&nbsp;digital payment ecosystem, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday (Jan 21) claimed that the number&nbsp;of cashless transactions the United States does in three years, India does in a month.</p>

<p>The EAM made the comment while interacting with people of the Indian community during his official Nigeria trip.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The life of every Indian citizen has become easier and this is because we have embraced technology in a very deep way. You can see this in payment, very few people today pay in cash and very few people accept cash," said Jaishankar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today, we do as many cashless payments in India in a month as much as America does in three years," Jaishankar added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most Western nations have struggled to move to a cashless economy but in India, even the poorest have seamlessly adopted the novel payment system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaishankar also highlighted that India was among the fastest-growing economies of the world and that business sentiment about New Delhi had greatly improved.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today, what is happening in the economy, we are the fastest-growing big economy in the world, but it is much more than that. Today, if you see the economic activity in India, wherever you go, something is being built. A metro is being built, a road is being built, new airports are coming up, new trains are coming up, railway stations are coming up. If you go to your village, piped water is coming up, there is an electricity connection coming," Jaishankar said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/upi-to-take-over-90-of-retail-digital-payments-in-india-597688"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;UPI to take over 90% of retail digital payments in India</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" data-gtm-yt-inspected-20="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-25="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-30="true" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="lazy" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/upi-to-take-over-90-of-retail-digital-payments-in-india-597688/embed?autoplay=0" title="live tv" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<h2><strong>UPI's introduction in India</strong></h2>

<p>It was in 2016 that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduced the&nbsp;Unified Payments Interface (UPI) technology&nbsp;to the country. PhonePe was one of the first platforms to integrate UPI into its system.</p>

<p>A year later, several competitors followed suit and since then, UPI has transformed into a behemoth that even foreign nations are looking to get their hands on. The UAE, Singapore, Nepal and Bhutan have already adopted UPI, with a few more countries waiting to join the bandwagon.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/upi-wallets-for-g20-delegates-as-india-showcases-its-digital-infra-prowess-633223"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;UPI wallets for G20 delegates as India showcases its digital infra prowess</strong></a></p>

<p>Last week,&nbsp;Google India Digital Services and NPCI signed a&nbsp;Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand UPI to countries beyond India. Google stated the objective of the MoU was to help accelerate&nbsp;UPI’s global acceptance and help&nbsp;Indian consumers who will no longer have to rely only on foreign currency or credit and forex cards.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Boasting about the country's extensive and fast digital payment ecosystem, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday (Jan 21) claimed that the number of cashless transactions the United States does in three years, India does in a month.

Boasting about the country's extensive and fast digital payment ecosystem, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday (Jan 21) claimed that the number of cashless transactions the United States does in three years, India does in a month. The EAM made the comment while interacting with people of the Indian community during his official Nigeria trip. "The life of every Indian citizen has become easier and this is because we have embraced technology in a very deep way. You can see this in payment, very few people today pay in cash and very few people accept cash," said Jaishankar. "Today, we do as many cashless payments in India in a month as much as America does in three years," Jaishankar added. Most Western nations have struggled to move to a cashless economy but in India, even the poorest have seamlessly adopted the novel payment system. Jaishankar also highlighted that India was among the fastest-growing economies of the world and that business sentiment about New Delhi had greatly improved. "Today, what is happening in the economy, we are the fastest-growing big economy in the world, but it is much more than that. Today, if you see the economic activity in India, wherever you go, something is being built. A metro is being built, a road is being built, new airports are coming up, new trains are coming up, railway stations are coming up. If you go to your village, piped water is coming up, there is an electricity connection coming," Jaishankar said. WATCH | UPI to take over 90% of retail digital payments in India UPI's introduction in India It was in 2016 that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduced the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) technology to the country. PhonePe was one of the first platforms to integrate UPI into its system. A year later, several competitors followed suit and since then, UPI has transformed into a behemoth that even foreign nations are looking to get their hands on. The UAE, Singapore, Nepal and Bhutan have already adopted UPI, with a few more countries waiting to join the bandwagon. Also read | UPI wallets for G20 delegates as India showcases its digital infra prowess Last week, Google India Digital Services and NPCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand UPI to countries beyond India. Google stated the objective of the MoU was to help accelerate UPI’s global acceptance and help Indian consumers who will no longer have to rely only on foreign currency or credit and forex cards. (With inputs from agencies)

'India does as many cashless payments in 1 month as US in...': Minister Jaishankar boasts of digital infra

<p>Seeking presidential nomination, Donald Trump has once again refused to spell out explicitly if he would help Taiwan in the event China decides to invade the island nation. The former US president in an interview with <em>Fox News </em>was quizzed if, under a hypothetical second Trump&nbsp;presidency, Washington would stand up for Taiwan and protect it when the inadvertent incursion from China comes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Instead of giving a firm answer, Trump showed discontent with Taiwan for taking the lucrative semiconductor business away from the US.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Taiwan did take all of our chip business. We used to make all of our own chips, now they're made in Taiwan, 90 per cent of [them]...Remember this, Taiwan took, smart, brilliant, they took our business away," said Trump.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Netizens interpreted Trump's statement as an indication that he would not come to Taiwan's aid if the situation became worrisome.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If Trump is elected, Taiwan is gone and so is a significant chunk of our semiconductor capacity. Not only is Trump unfit for the office, he's just plain wrong on so many things like this," said one user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another added: "Trump clearly has made bed with China on the Taiwan issue. Surprising that out of all candidates, he refused to have Taiwan in his corner."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-businesses-received-millions-in-foreign-payments-while-he-was-in-office-676963"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Donald Trump businesses received millions in foreign payments while he was in office</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-businesses-received-millions-in-foreign-payments-while-he-was-in-office-676963/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Trump and Biden's&nbsp;stance on Taiwan</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, this is not the first instance when Trump has shown ambiguity on the Taiwan issue. In September last year, during an interview with <em>NBC</em>, Trump was asked if he would send the military to help defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.</p>

<p>"I won't say, I won't say, because if I said, I'm giving away...you know, only stupid people are going to give that (away)," said Trump whilst taking a jab at Ron DeSantis whom the former president criticised revealing his strategy on key geopolitical issues.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/influenced-by-china-nauru-severs-diplomatic-ties-with-taiwan-680088"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Influenced by China, Nauru severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan</strong></a></p>

<p>China considers Taiwan a part of its territory but the island nation and its people have never accepted Beijing's control. The US follows the One-China principle as well, meaning, it does not have any diplomatic relations with Taipei.</p>

<p>However, US President Joe Biden, on no less than four occasions since 2021, has stated that his government would defend Taipei in case of a potential conflict with China. Washington has also increased its arms sales to Taipei under Biden administration which has irked Beijing. Consequently, experts argue that&nbsp;Biden has been far more transparent regarding his Taiwan policy than his predecessor.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Seeking presidential nomination, Donald Trump has once again refused to spell out explicitly if he would help Taiwan in the event China decides to invade the island nation.

Seeking presidential nomination, Donald Trump has once again refused to spell out explicitly if he would help Taiwan in the event China decides to invade the island nation. The former US president in an interview with Fox News was quizzed if, under a hypothetical second Trump presidency, Washington would stand up for Taiwan and protect it when the inadvertent incursion from China comes. Instead of giving a firm answer, Trump showed discontent with Taiwan for taking the lucrative semiconductor business away from the US. "Taiwan did take all of our chip business. We used to make all of our own chips, now they're made in Taiwan, 90 per cent of [them]...Remember this, Taiwan took, smart, brilliant, they took our business away," said Trump. Netizens interpreted Trump's statement as an indication that he would not come to Taiwan's aid if the situation became worrisome. "If Trump is elected, Taiwan is gone and so is a significant chunk of our semiconductor capacity. Not only is Trump unfit for the office, he's just plain wrong on so many things like this," said one user. Another added: "Trump clearly has made bed with China on the Taiwan issue. Surprising that out of all candidates, he refused to have Taiwan in his corner." Watch | Donald Trump businesses received millions in foreign payments while he was in office × Trump and Biden's stance on Taiwan Notably, this is not the first instance when Trump has shown ambiguity on the Taiwan issue. In September last year, during an interview with NBC, Trump was asked if he would send the military to help defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. "I won't say, I won't say, because if I said, I'm giving away...you know, only stupid people are going to give that (away)," said Trump whilst taking a jab at Ron DeSantis whom the former president criticised revealing his strategy on key geopolitical issues. Also read | Influenced by China, Nauru severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan China considers Taiwan a part of its territory but the island nation and its people have never accepted Beijing's control. The US follows the One-China principle as well, meaning, it does not have any diplomatic relations with Taipei. However, US President Joe Biden, on no less than four occasions since 2021, has stated that his government would defend Taipei in case of a potential conflict with China. Washington has also increased its arms sales to Taipei under Biden administration which has irked Beijing. Consequently, experts argue that Biden has been far more transparent regarding his Taiwan policy than his predecessor. (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump’s indecisive remark on Taiwan sparks concern once again

<p>After years of discussion and different studies, scientists have finally uncovered the mystery of why little dogs live longer than their bigger counterparts. The study conducted by the University of Washington has stated that although both little and big pups suffered from a similar number of health conditions, the larger breeds tend to experience more severe ailments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study published in PLOS ONE analysed data from over 27,500 puppers, including 238 breeds, spread across the United States. Under the Dog Aging Project (DAP), dog owners self-selected and enrolled one dog from their household.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Enrollment consisted of completing a web-based Health and Life Experience Survey (HLES) that elicited information from the dog owner on a wide array of topics," the study stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, in the health status section, dog owners were asked if their dogs had ever been diagnosed with various medical conditions regardless of their current status.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hachiko-worlds-most-loyal-dog-turns-100-hachikos-loyal-echoes-acrioss-generations-wion-656798"><strong>Watch | Hachiko: World's most loyal dog turns 100 | Hachiko's loyal echoes across generations</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hachiko-worlds-most-loyal-dog-turns-100-hachikos-loyal-echoes-acrioss-generations-wion-656798/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>What did the study find?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The dogs ranged in age from puppies to very senior dogs, with a median age of seven&nbsp;years. After going through the comprehensive set of data, researchers found that&nbsp;larger dogs&nbsp;were prone to cancer, bone-related diseases, gastrointestinal problems, neurological and endocrine conditions, ears, nose, and throat issues, and infectious diseases.</p>

<p>"Growth patterns in larger dog breeds involve rapid weight gain throughout the period of skeletal development and maturity, which has been linked to increased risk of developmental musculoskeletal and orthopedic diseases including hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, and osteochondrosis," the study noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britains-dogflation-forces-thousands-of-pet-owners-to-abandon-their-dogs-681559">Also read |&nbsp;Britain's 'Dogflation' forces thousands of pet owners to abandon their dogs</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the small dogs largely suffered from cardiac, respiratory and ocular issues. Some also had to contend with liver and pancreatic diseases.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the findings, the scientists said more research was needed to clarify the links between dog age, size and disease prevalence.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This study does not confirm any causal relationship between dog size, age, and disease.&nbsp;'However, the findings could help lead to deeper understanding of the types of conditions that may underlie the lower lifespan of larger dogs," said lead author Yunbi Nam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nonetheless, the study could help&nbsp;veterinarians better treat the large dogs by taking in consideration the common medical conditions they suffer from.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


After years of discussion and different studies, scientists have finally uncovered the mystery of why little dogs live longer than their bigger counterparts. The study conducted by the University of Washington has stated that although both little and big pups suffered from a similar number of health conditions, the larger breeds tend to experience more severe ailments.

After years of discussion and different studies, scientists have finally uncovered the mystery of why little dogs live longer than their bigger counterparts. The study conducted by the University of Washington has stated that although both little and big pups suffered from a similar number of health conditions, the larger breeds tend to experience more severe ailments. The study published in PLOS ONE analysed data from over 27,500 puppers, including 238 breeds, spread across the United States. Under the Dog Aging Project (DAP), dog owners self-selected and enrolled one dog from their household. "Enrollment consisted of completing a web-based Health and Life Experience Survey (HLES) that elicited information from the dog owner on a wide array of topics," the study stated. Notably, in the health status section, dog owners were asked if their dogs had ever been diagnosed with various medical conditions regardless of their current status. Watch | Hachiko: World's most loyal dog turns 100 | Hachiko's loyal echoes across generations × What did the study find? The dogs ranged in age from puppies to very senior dogs, with a median age of seven years. After going through the comprehensive set of data, researchers found that larger dogs were prone to cancer, bone-related diseases, gastrointestinal problems, neurological and endocrine conditions, ears, nose, and throat issues, and infectious diseases. "Growth patterns in larger dog breeds involve rapid weight gain throughout the period of skeletal development and maturity, which has been linked to increased risk of developmental musculoskeletal and orthopedic diseases including hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, and osteochondrosis," the study noted. Also read | Britain's 'Dogflation' forces thousands of pet owners to abandon their dogs Meanwhile, the small dogs largely suffered from cardiac, respiratory and ocular issues. Some also had to contend with liver and pancreatic diseases. Despite the findings, the scientists said more research was needed to clarify the links between dog age, size and disease prevalence. "This study does not confirm any causal relationship between dog size, age, and disease. 'However, the findings could help lead to deeper understanding of the types of conditions that may underlie the lower lifespan of larger dogs," said lead author Yunbi Nam. Nonetheless, the study could help veterinarians better treat the large dogs by taking in consideration the common medical conditions they suffer from. (With inputs from agencies)

Why do little pups outlive big dogs? Scientists finally have the answer

Usa, News on Usa, stories on Usa, articles on Usa, Usa stories at Wion, Usa news, Usa latest news