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<p>US banking giant JPMorgan Chase has reached an agreement with the US Virgin Islands (USVI) to settle claims that it had empowered disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of teenage girls. The parties reached a settlement just weeks before a trial was scheduled to begin at a federal court in Manhattan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bank did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement which will give $55 million to Virgin Islands charities and the American territory's anti-trafficking efforts. The remaining amount will cover attorneys' fees incurred by the Virgin Islands as part of the litigation in federal court in New York.</p>

<p>"While the settlement does not involve admissions of liability, the firm deeply regrets any association with this man, and would never have continued doing business with him if it believed he was using the bank in any way to commit his heinous crimes," JPMorgan said</p>

<p>The settlement comes in the backdrop of JPMorgan, the largest US bank, agreeing to pay $290 million to nearly 200 victims of Epstein in a similar class action lawsuit.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-virgin-islands-levels-new-accusations-against-jpmorgan-says-bank-ignored-epsteins-misdeeds-619375"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US Virgin Islands levels new accusations against JPMorgan, says bank ignored Epstein's misdeeds</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>The lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase</strong></h2>

<p>The Virgin Islands government sued the bank in December last year, alleging that it knew about Epstein's predatory behaviour. It added that the bank turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking for over a decade as Epstein's account and the clients he brought to the bank made him extremely valuable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, the US Virgin Islands subpoenaed documents from billionaire Elon Musk as part of its lawsuit against the bank. Google co-founder Larry Page was also to be served the same legal document but the government failed to locate him.</p>

<p>The government said it had been unable to locate Page, who co-founded and co-owns Alphabet Inc, despite good faith attempts, which included hiring an investigative firm to search public record databases.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/private-islands-owned-by-jeffrey-epstein-588779"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Private Islands owned by Jeffrey Epstein</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What did Epstein do?</strong></h2>

<p>Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting dozens of underage girls, some as young as 14, at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida between 2002 and 2005.</p>

<p>However, the majority of his sexual exploits took place on the 72-acre Little St. James Island which he purchased in 1998 for $7.95 million. He later bought the 160-acre Great St. James Island for $20 million in 2016.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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US banking giant JPMorgan Chase has reached an agreement with the US Virgin Islands (USVI) to settle claims that it had empowered disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of teenage girls.

US banking giant JPMorgan Chase has reached an agreement with the US Virgin Islands (USVI) to settle claims that it had empowered disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of teenage girls. The parties reached a settlement just weeks before a trial was scheduled to begin at a federal court in Manhattan. The bank did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement which will give $55 million to Virgin Islands charities and the American territory's anti-trafficking efforts. The remaining amount will cover attorneys' fees incurred by the Virgin Islands as part of the litigation in federal court in New York. "While the settlement does not involve admissions of liability, the firm deeply regrets any association with this man, and would never have continued doing business with him if it believed he was using the bank in any way to commit his heinous crimes," JPMorgan said The settlement comes in the backdrop of JPMorgan, the largest US bank, agreeing to pay $290 million to nearly 200 victims of Epstein in a similar class action lawsuit. Also read | US Virgin Islands levels new accusations against JPMorgan, says bank ignored Epstein's misdeeds The lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase The Virgin Islands government sued the bank in December last year, alleging that it knew about Epstein's predatory behaviour. It added that the bank turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking for over a decade as Epstein's account and the clients he brought to the bank made him extremely valuable. Earlier, the US Virgin Islands subpoenaed documents from billionaire Elon Musk as part of its lawsuit against the bank. Google co-founder Larry Page was also to be served the same legal document but the government failed to locate him. The government said it had been unable to locate Page, who co-founded and co-owns Alphabet Inc, despite good faith attempts, which included hiring an investigative firm to search public record databases. WATCH | Private Islands owned by Jeffrey Epstein × What did Epstein do? Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting dozens of underage girls, some as young as 14, at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida between 2002 and 2005. However, the majority of his sexual exploits took place on the 72-acre Little St. James Island which he purchased in 1998 for $7.95 million. He later bought the 160-acre Great St. James Island for $20 million in 2016. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

JPMorgan settles Epstein sex trafficking lawsuit with US Virgin Islands, to pay $75million

<p>More than a year after being expelled from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Russia is seeking to rejoin the forum. According to a position paper Russia is circulating in the UN and accessed by <em>BBC</em>, Moscow is pushing member nations to extend support to the motion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the document, Russia promises to find "adequate solutions for human rights issues" and seeks to stop the council becoming an "instrument which serves political wills of one group of countries",&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moscow believes that re-joining the UNHRC&nbsp;will restore its international credibility and help wash the human rights abuse allegations that President Vladimir Putin's regime has&nbsp;been consistently accused of during the war in Ukraine and within its own borders.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-ukraines-prosecutor-to-present-war-crime-dossier-to-icc-639544"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine's prosecutor to present 'war crime' dossier to ICC</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Russia was expelled from the council&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>It was in April last year that the UN General Assembly, during an emergency special session, voted to suspend Russia from the human rights body over allegations of&nbsp;rights violations by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.</p>

<p>The resolution was put forth by the US and passed with 93 votes in favour, 24 against it and&nbsp;58 abstentions. China voted against it, while India abstained.</p>

<p>The 47 members of the UNHRC are elected by members of the UNGA. A two-thirds vote is needed in the General Assembly to remove a member.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-russia-intentionally-starve-ukraine-new-war-crime-dossier-to-the-icc-to-provide-damning-evidence-639290"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Did Russia intentionally starve Ukraine? New war crime dossier to the ICC to provide damning evidence</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>UN expresses concerns&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Russia aiming to join the council comes a few days after a UN expert raised concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country ever since it invaded Ukraine.</p>

<p>A report published by&nbsp;Special Rapporteur Mariana Katzarova alleged that&nbsp;Russian authorities have carried out mass arbitrary arrests of critics of the war and says those detained risk death due to the "persistent use of torture and ill-treatment".</p>

<p>“I think there is a serious place for concern and also of course, as documented by my report, an enormous crackdown on civil society. Around 600 civil society organizations from big like Memorial, the Nobel peace price winner for last year, to tiny organizations in the regions of indigenous people, of ethnic minorities, of LGBTIQ representative organizations, organizations that represent these people, have been closed down, have been forced to closed down by the authorities," said&nbsp;Katzarova.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moscow has previously called criticism of its domestic&nbsp;rights&nbsp;record unfounded and denied targeting civilians in Ukraine, where it says it is carrying out a "special military operation" to destroy military infrastructure.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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More than a year after being expelled from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Russia is seeking to rejoin the forum. According to a position paper Russia is circulating in the UN and accessed by BBC, Moscow is pushing member nations to extend support to the motion.

More than a year after being expelled from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Russia is seeking to rejoin the forum. According to a position paper Russia is circulating in the UN and accessed by BBC, Moscow is pushing member nations to extend support to the motion. According to the document, Russia promises to find "adequate solutions for human rights issues" and seeks to stop the council becoming an "instrument which serves political wills of one group of countries", Moscow believes that re-joining the UNHRC will restore its international credibility and help wash the human rights abuse allegations that President Vladimir Putin's regime has been consistently accused of during the war in Ukraine and within its own borders. Watch | Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine's prosecutor to present 'war crime' dossier to ICC × Russia was expelled from the council It was in April last year that the UN General Assembly, during an emergency special session, voted to suspend Russia from the human rights body over allegations of rights violations by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. The resolution was put forth by the US and passed with 93 votes in favour, 24 against it and 58 abstentions. China voted against it, while India abstained. The 47 members of the UNHRC are elected by members of the UNGA. A two-thirds vote is needed in the General Assembly to remove a member. Also read | Did Russia intentionally starve Ukraine? New war crime dossier to the ICC to provide damning evidence UN expresses concerns Russia aiming to join the council comes a few days after a UN expert raised concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country ever since it invaded Ukraine. A report published by Special Rapporteur Mariana Katzarova alleged that Russian authorities have carried out mass arbitrary arrests of critics of the war and says those detained risk death due to the "persistent use of torture and ill-treatment". “I think there is a serious place for concern and also of course, as documented by my report, an enormous crackdown on civil society. Around 600 civil society organizations from big like Memorial, the Nobel peace price winner for last year, to tiny organizations in the regions of indigenous people, of ethnic minorities, of LGBTIQ representative organizations, organizations that represent these people, have been closed down, have been forced to closed down by the authorities," said Katzarova. Moscow has previously called criticism of its domestic rights record unfounded and denied targeting civilians in Ukraine, where it says it is carrying out a "special military operation" to destroy military infrastructure. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Russia seeks to rejoin UN Human Rights Council, a year after being removed

<p>A woman in the Oregon state of the USA has been sentenced to 30 days in prison after it came to light she had waterboarded her infant son and placed him in a freezer in 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The woman, identified as 30-year-old&nbsp;Sharday McDonald, committed the rather gruesome act on the little baby to see if the child's father would notice.</p>

<p>The baby's mistreatment was&nbsp;discovered during a welfare check by the police on October 28, 2021.</p>

<p>McDonald pleaded guilty to charges of criminal mistreatment, ID theft, and tampering with a witness after changing her original not-guilty plea entered on November 19, 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to court filings presented at the&nbsp;Multnomah County Detention Center,&nbsp;McDonald will be released on October 6 after serving her 30-day sentence.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-raid-on-nur-shams-camp-kills-two-near-tulkarm-world-news-wion-639399"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israeli raid on Nur Shams camp kills two near Tulkarm | World News | WION</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened in 2021?</strong></h2>

<p>The police acted on a tip and reached her apartment home in Gresham where she could be heard yelling at the child's father Kendrick Neal.</p>

<p>“I’m about to show you real quick. You don’t want him? Let me show you about this little f**king baby, I don’t f**king give f**k about,” local news outlets quoted her as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Upon being arrested by the authorities, she said that her actions against the baby were done as a "test" to see if Neal "gave a f--k at all".</p>

<p>McDonald added that she&nbsp;waterboarded her baby to try and make Neal come back to her apartment and admitted that her actions were done "out of spite".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/disease-x-likely-to-prove-20-times-deadlier-compared-to-covid-19-hints-expert-639469"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;'Disease X' likely to prove 20 times deadlier compared to COVID-19, hints expert</strong></a></p>

<p>Prosecutors said a doctor informed them that the child was likely unable to breathe during the ordeal and the incident could have had life-threatening consequences.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It looked like [the baby] was trying to hold his breath while water was pouring over his face…," the officer said of the pictures.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A woman in the Oregon state of the USA has been sentenced to 30 days in prison after it came to light she had waterboarded her infant son and placed him in a freezer in 2021.

A woman in the Oregon state of the USA has been sentenced to 30 days in prison after it came to light she had waterboarded her infant son and placed him in a freezer in 2021. The woman, identified as 30-year-old Sharday McDonald, committed the rather gruesome act on the little baby to see if the child's father would notice. The baby's mistreatment was discovered during a welfare check by the police on October 28, 2021. McDonald pleaded guilty to charges of criminal mistreatment, ID theft, and tampering with a witness after changing her original not-guilty plea entered on November 19, 2021. According to court filings presented at the Multnomah County Detention Center, McDonald will be released on October 6 after serving her 30-day sentence. Watch | Israeli raid on Nur Shams camp kills two near Tulkarm | World News | WION × What happened in 2021? The police acted on a tip and reached her apartment home in Gresham where she could be heard yelling at the child's father Kendrick Neal. “I’m about to show you real quick. You don’t want him? Let me show you about this little f**king baby, I don’t f**king give f**k about,” local news outlets quoted her as saying. Upon being arrested by the authorities, she said that her actions against the baby were done as a "test" to see if Neal "gave a f--k at all". McDonald added that she waterboarded her baby to try and make Neal come back to her apartment and admitted that her actions were done "out of spite". Also read | 'Disease X' likely to prove 20 times deadlier compared to COVID-19, hints expert Prosecutors said a doctor informed them that the child was likely unable to breathe during the ordeal and the incident could have had life-threatening consequences. "It looked like [the baby] was trying to hold his breath while water was pouring over his face…," the officer said of the pictures. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Mother gets 30 days in prison for waterboarding infant, putting him in freezer

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidB5WbohFNORiW" /><meta charset="utf-8" />A day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met his US counterpart at the White House and secured a $325 million military aid package, news reports have claimed that Washington might deliver ATACMS long-range missiles as well to Kyiv.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Citing three US officials and a congressional official familiar with the matter, <em>NBC News</em> claimed President Biden told Zelensky that the US would "provide a small number of long-range missiles to aid the war with Russia".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The officials, who were not authorised to speak publicly, did not say when the missiles would be delivered or when a public announcement would be made," the report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The development, if true, is significant as National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday (September 21), ahead of the meeting between Zelensky and Biden said the US president was not going to offer Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).&nbsp;</p>

<p>"To date, he [Biden] is determined that he would not provide ATACMS, but he has also not taken it off the table in the future," said Sullivan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-meets-biden-get-aid-package-but-warns-kyiv-could-lose-if-funding-is-cut-638386" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Zelensky meets Biden, gets aid package but warns Kyiv could lose war with Russia if funding is cut</strong></a></p>

<p>The $325 million military package announced on the same day included air defence systems, a supply of M1 Abrams tanks and the second tranche of cluster munitions fired by a 155-millimeter Howitzer cannon but stopped short of mentioning the long-range missiles.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Zelensky had marched across the Pentagon, Capitol and the White House after delivering addresses at the UNGA and UNSC to secure the ATACMS missiles that can strike up to 300 kilometres (190 miles) away. His troops desperately want the missiles to stage a comeback against the Russians after the counteroffensive launched a few months ago appears to have not made major inroads.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-thanks-biden-ukraine-has-exactly-what-our-soldiers-need-638636"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Zelensky thanks Biden: Ukraine has exactly what our soldiers need</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What did Biden say?</strong></h2>

<p>During the meeting, Biden said the US remains committed to providing support in Kyiv’s efforts to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.</p>

<p>"We're supporting a just and lasting peace, one that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zelensky returned the favour by saying: "We greatly appreciate the assistance provided by the United States to combat Russian terror, really terror."</p>

<p>However, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who has been a major supporter of Biden's pro-Ukraine policies said, Zelensky told him that: "If we don't get the aid, we will lose the war."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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A day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met his US counterpart at the White House and secured a $325 million military aid package, news reports have claimed that Washington might deliver ATACMS long-range missiles as well to Kyiv.

A day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met his US counterpart at the White House and secured a $325 million military aid package, news reports have claimed that Washington might deliver ATACMS long-range missiles as well to Kyiv. Citing three US officials and a congressional official familiar with the matter, NBC News claimed President Biden told Zelensky that the US would "provide a small number of long-range missiles to aid the war with Russia". "The officials, who were not authorised to speak publicly, did not say when the missiles would be delivered or when a public announcement would be made," the report added. The development, if true, is significant as National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday (September 21), ahead of the meeting between Zelensky and Biden said the US president was not going to offer Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). "To date, he [Biden] is determined that he would not provide ATACMS, but he has also not taken it off the table in the future," said Sullivan. Also read | Zelensky meets Biden, gets aid package but warns Kyiv could lose war with Russia if funding is cut The $325 million military package announced on the same day included air defence systems, a supply of M1 Abrams tanks and the second tranche of cluster munitions fired by a 155-millimeter Howitzer cannon but stopped short of mentioning the long-range missiles. Notably, Zelensky had marched across the Pentagon, Capitol and the White House after delivering addresses at the UNGA and UNSC to secure the ATACMS missiles that can strike up to 300 kilometres (190 miles) away. His troops desperately want the missiles to stage a comeback against the Russians after the counteroffensive launched a few months ago appears to have not made major inroads. Watch | Zelensky thanks Biden: Ukraine has exactly what our soldiers need × What did Biden say? During the meeting, Biden said the US remains committed to providing support in Kyiv’s efforts to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. "We're supporting a just and lasting peace, one that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Biden. Zelensky returned the favour by saying: "We greatly appreciate the assistance provided by the United States to combat Russian terror, really terror." However, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who has been a major supporter of Biden's pro-Ukraine policies said, Zelensky told him that: "If we don't get the aid, we will lose the war." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US will send ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine: Report

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Joe Biden on Thursday (September 21) at the White House and managed to win pledges of unstinting support and air defence weapons from the latter, but also issued a warning that Kyiv might get tipped over by Russians if the Republicans continue to oppose military aid.</p>

<p>Speaking at the Oval Office at the start of talks, Biden said the US remains&nbsp;committed to providing support in Kyiv’s efforts to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.</p>

<p>"We're supporting a just and lasting peace, one that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zelensky returned the favour by saying:&nbsp;"We greatly appreciate the assistance provided by the United States to combat Russian terror, really terror."</p>

<p>Afterwards, Biden formally announced&nbsp;a military aid package worth $325 million that includes&nbsp;air defence systems and the second tranche of cluster munitions fired by a 155-millimeter Howitzer cannon. Additionally, the president informed that the first&nbsp;US M1 Abrams tanks will arrive in Ukraine "next week".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Next week, the first US Abrams tanks will be delivered in Ukraine," Biden said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the White House announced there was no deal to provide the&nbsp;long-range missiles that Zelensky wanted desperately for his troops.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Ukrainian prez had marched across the Capitol and the White House after delivering addresses at the UNGA and UNSC to secure the&nbsp;ATACMS missiles that can strike up to 300 kilometres (190 miles) away.</p>

<p>"To date, he [Biden]&nbsp;is determined that he would not provide ATACMS, but he has also not taken it off the table in the future," said&nbsp;National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/poland-fumes-over-ukrainian-presidents-volodymyr-zelenskys-un-speech-638068"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Poland fumes over Ukrainian president's Volodymyr Zelensky's UN speech</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Zelensky's disappointment&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Despite launching a counteroffensive, Ukraine under Zelensky has made little to no inroads. His visit to Washington was an attempt to regroup and secure military funding for another round of defence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, signs were there that Zelensky's second visit to Washington was not being as hotly anticipated by the lawmakers as it was the last time. The Ukrainian prez was denied an opportunity to address the joint session of US Congress, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said to be behind the decision.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraines-zelensky-denied-request-to-address-joint-session-of-us-congress-638354"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Ukraine's Zelensky denied request to address joint session of US Congress</strong></a></p>

<p>Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who has been a major supporter of Biden's pro-Ukraine policies said, Zelensky told him that:&nbsp;"If we don't get the aid, we will lose the war."</p>

<p>The Republicans, ahead of the 2024 polls, are increasingly adamant that the billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine be shut down. So far, the US Congress has already sent $100 billion in aid to date to Kyiv, including $43 billion in weaponry. The GOP lawmakers are of the view that money sent to Ukraine can be better used to shore up the country's borders in the southern region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Joe Biden on Thursday (September 21) at the White House and managed to win pledges of unstinting support and air defence weapons from the latter, but also issued a warning that Kyiv might get tipped over by Russians if the Republicans continue to oppose military aid.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Joe Biden on Thursday (September 21) at the White House and managed to win pledges of unstinting support and air defence weapons from the latter, but also issued a warning that Kyiv might get tipped over by Russians if the Republicans continue to oppose military aid. Speaking at the Oval Office at the start of talks, Biden said the US remains committed to providing support in Kyiv’s efforts to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. "We're supporting a just and lasting peace, one that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Biden. Zelensky returned the favour by saying: "We greatly appreciate the assistance provided by the United States to combat Russian terror, really terror." Afterwards, Biden formally announced a military aid package worth $325 million that includes air defence systems and the second tranche of cluster munitions fired by a 155-millimeter Howitzer cannon. Additionally, the president informed that the first US M1 Abrams tanks will arrive in Ukraine "next week". "Next week, the first US Abrams tanks will be delivered in Ukraine," Biden said. However, the White House announced there was no deal to provide the long-range missiles that Zelensky wanted desperately for his troops. The Ukrainian prez had marched across the Capitol and the White House after delivering addresses at the UNGA and UNSC to secure the ATACMS missiles that can strike up to 300 kilometres (190 miles) away. "To date, he [Biden] is determined that he would not provide ATACMS, but he has also not taken it off the table in the future," said National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Watch | Poland fumes over Ukrainian president's Volodymyr Zelensky's UN speech × Zelensky's disappointment Despite launching a counteroffensive, Ukraine under Zelensky has made little to no inroads. His visit to Washington was an attempt to regroup and secure military funding for another round of defence. However, signs were there that Zelensky's second visit to Washington was not being as hotly anticipated by the lawmakers as it was the last time. The Ukrainian prez was denied an opportunity to address the joint session of US Congress, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said to be behind the decision. Also read | Ukraine's Zelensky denied request to address joint session of US Congress Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who has been a major supporter of Biden's pro-Ukraine policies said, Zelensky told him that: "If we don't get the aid, we will lose the war." The Republicans, ahead of the 2024 polls, are increasingly adamant that the billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine be shut down. So far, the US Congress has already sent $100 billion in aid to date to Kyiv, including $43 billion in weaponry. The GOP lawmakers are of the view that money sent to Ukraine can be better used to shore up the country's borders in the southern region. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Zelensky meets Biden, gets aid package but warns Kyiv could lose war with Russia if funding is cut

<p>US National Security Advisor&nbsp;Jake Sullivan has said that the Biden administration is in touch with Indian officials following&nbsp;unsubstantiated claims by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that "Indian government agents" were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.</p>

<p>His briefing came even as it was reported&nbsp;that visiting US President Joe Biden discussed the matter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trip to New Delhi earlier this month to attend the G20 Summit.</p>

<p>Briefing the reporters on Thursday (Sept 21), Sullivan said Washington believes in its principles, regardless of what country is affected, while responding to a question about whether the US is concerned over the allegations.</p>

<p>"It is a matter of concern for us. It is something we take seriously. It is something we will keep working on, and we will do that regardless of the country," Sullivan told reporters at the White House.</p>

<p>"There's not some special exemption you get for actions like this. Regardless of the country, we will stand up and defend our basic principles and we will also consult closely with allies like&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;as they pursue their law enforcement and diplomatic process."</p>

<h2><strong>Biden talked with Modi on Nijjar killing during G20</strong></h2>

<p>US President Joe Biden, among other leaders, expressed&nbsp;concerns to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;over Canada's claims that New Delhi was involved in the killing of separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, during the G20 Summit earlier this month,&nbsp;a <em>Financial Times</em> report has claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Citing three people familiar with the discussions at the summit, the publication said several&nbsp;members of the Five Eyes - an intelligence-sharing alliance of US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, raised the issue with PM Modi. The report added that Biden "felt it&nbsp;was important to raise the issue directly with his Indian counterpart".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The leaders intervened at the G20 summit after Canada urged its allies to raise the case directly with Modi, said two people familiar with the situation, who added Ottawa asked them to mention the claims in private," the report claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Up until the last update, neither did the White House confirm the veracity of the report, nor did New Delhi issue any statement that the matter was raised during the summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Experts say that even if Biden did raise the issue at G20, the fact that Washington has refrained from getting in on the controversy so far,&nbsp;suggests that Ottawa was&nbsp;left hanging.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, a&nbsp;<em>Washington Post </em>report published earlier this week stated that&nbsp;Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had&nbsp;asked his closest allies, including the US, to publicly condemn the Sikh separatist's killing, but the requests were turned down. The report did not mention the G20 summit and whether it was the place where Washington was made aware of the allegations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-other-allies-refused-to-join-canada-in-condemning-india-over-hardeep-singh-nijjars-death-report-637744"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US, other allies refused to join Canada in condemning India over Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death: Report</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Trudeau and G20</strong></h2>

<p>Interestingly, the G20 Summit in New Delhi was the place where Trudeau was extended a cold shoulder treatment by the Modi government. Owing to Trudeau's affinity towards the separatist movement brewing in Canada, the Modi government has maintained its distance from his liberal government for some years now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trudeau received&nbsp;meagre media coverage during the trip and only managed to hold a bilateral with his counterpart on the last day of the summit where he was given a dressing down. Afterwards, he remained stuck in the capital for 36 hours&nbsp;as his designated plane developed a technical fault.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-canada-row-india-rejects-allegations-by-canada-pm-trudeau-terms-them-absurd-motivated-637716"><strong>Watch | India-Canada row: India rejects allegations by Canada PM Trudeau, terms them 'absurd &amp; motivated'</strong></a></p>

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<h1><strong>What did Trudeau say?</strong></h1>

<p>Upon reaching Canada, Trudeau escalated the diplomatic standoff by telling an emergency parliament session that his government was&nbsp;probing "credible allegations" that New Delhi may have had a prominent role in the killing of Nijjar - a Canadian citizen, according to him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," said Trudeau in a statement to the&nbsp;House of Commons.</p>

<p>However, since then Trudeau has changed his tune and is now looking to pacify New Delhi after receiving no support from allies.&nbsp;The Canadian PM said&nbsp;Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly.</p>

<p>"Canada is not trying to provoke India by suggesting its agents were linked to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader but Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly," he said on Tuesday (September 19).</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said that the Biden administration is in touch with Indian officials following unsubstantiated claims by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that "Indian government agents" were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said that the Biden administration is in touch with Indian officials following unsubstantiated claims by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that "Indian government agents" were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. His briefing came even as it was reported that visiting US President Joe Biden discussed the matter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trip to New Delhi earlier this month to attend the G20 Summit. Briefing the reporters on Thursday (Sept 21), Sullivan said Washington believes in its principles, regardless of what country is affected, while responding to a question about whether the US is concerned over the allegations. "It is a matter of concern for us. It is something we take seriously. It is something we will keep working on, and we will do that regardless of the country," Sullivan told reporters at the White House. "There's not some special exemption you get for actions like this. Regardless of the country, we will stand up and defend our basic principles and we will also consult closely with allies like Canada as they pursue their law enforcement and diplomatic process." Biden talked with Modi on Nijjar killing during G20 US President Joe Biden, among other leaders, expressed concerns to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Canada's claims that New Delhi was involved in the killing of separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, during the G20 Summit earlier this month, a Financial Times report has claimed. Citing three people familiar with the discussions at the summit, the publication said several members of the Five Eyes - an intelligence-sharing alliance of US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, raised the issue with PM Modi. The report added that Biden "felt it was important to raise the issue directly with his Indian counterpart". "The leaders intervened at the G20 summit after Canada urged its allies to raise the case directly with Modi, said two people familiar with the situation, who added Ottawa asked them to mention the claims in private," the report claimed. Up until the last update, neither did the White House confirm the veracity of the report, nor did New Delhi issue any statement that the matter was raised during the summit. Experts say that even if Biden did raise the issue at G20, the fact that Washington has refrained from getting in on the controversy so far, suggests that Ottawa was left hanging. Notably, a Washington Post report published earlier this week stated that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had asked his closest allies, including the US, to publicly condemn the Sikh separatist's killing, but the requests were turned down. The report did not mention the G20 summit and whether it was the place where Washington was made aware of the allegations. Also read | US, other allies refused to join Canada in condemning India over Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death: Report Trudeau and G20 Interestingly, the G20 Summit in New Delhi was the place where Trudeau was extended a cold shoulder treatment by the Modi government. Owing to Trudeau's affinity towards the separatist movement brewing in Canada, the Modi government has maintained its distance from his liberal government for some years now. Trudeau received meagre media coverage during the trip and only managed to hold a bilateral with his counterpart on the last day of the summit where he was given a dressing down. Afterwards, he remained stuck in the capital for 36 hours as his designated plane developed a technical fault. Watch | India-Canada row: India rejects allegations by Canada PM Trudeau, terms them 'absurd & motivated' × What did Trudeau say? Upon reaching Canada, Trudeau escalated the diplomatic standoff by telling an emergency parliament session that his government was probing "credible allegations" that New Delhi may have had a prominent role in the killing of Nijjar - a Canadian citizen, according to him. "Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," said Trudeau in a statement to the House of Commons. However, since then Trudeau has changed his tune and is now looking to pacify New Delhi after receiving no support from allies. The Canadian PM said Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly. "Canada is not trying to provoke India by suggesting its agents were linked to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader but Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly," he said on Tuesday (September 19). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nijjar death: Biden, Modi discussed Canada murder row; no 'special exemption,' says US NSA

<p>South Korean police are investigating 17 US soldiers and five others after they were alleged to have illegally smuggled or used&nbsp;synthetic marijuana via military mail.</p>

<p>During the joint raids by the South Korean police and the US Army's Criminal Investigation Division at the homes of the 22 suspects, more than four kilogrammes of&nbsp;"mixed liquids" used for vaping and&nbsp;77g (2.7oz) of synthetic cannabis, in addition to&nbsp;$12,850 in cash was found, per a BBC report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Video released by the police showed the 27 electronic cigarette devices and rolls of&nbsp;&nbsp;$50 and $100 bills, as well as numerous cell phones and colourful cylindrical tubes that look similar to vape pens, lying on the table.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The joint raids were carried out at Camp&nbsp;Humphreys, south of Seoul – the largest US military installation outside of the US and Camp Casey, situated north of the capital city.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two people - a South Korean and a Filipino had already been arrested for drug distribution allegations. Notably, a 24-year-old American soldier had smuggled&nbsp;350 millilitres of liquid synthetic cannabis that was shipped from the US via military mail. He had handed the shipment to the Filipino man who&nbsp;then sold it to a South Korean distributor and other US soldiers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moscow-says-us-south-korea-nuclear-deal-could-destabilise-region-587068"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Russia says US-South Korea nuclear deal could destabilise region</strong></a></p>

<p>After the incident, United States Forces Korea (USFK) released a statement regarding its personnel, saying they were aware of the investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"United States Forces Korea is aware of the Korean National Police’s investigation of 17 Soldiers for alleged illegal drug behaviour and misuse of the military mail system.&nbsp;Currently, no Soldiers are in confinement or being detained in relation to this incident," read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"USFK does not condone any behaviours among its personnel that violate South Korean laws, rules or directives and supports this investigation."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/biden-yoon-meet-in-white-house-south-korea-us-to-sign-declaration-wion-pulse-586447"><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Biden-Yoon meet in White House; South Korea, US&nbsp;sign declaration | WION Pulse</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Use of weed in S Korea&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, recreational use of weed is illegal in South Korea where drugs are considered a social and cultural taboo. The use of the drug incurs harsh penalties with the maximum sentence for&nbsp;cannabis use or possession being five years in prison and up to&nbsp;$37,600 in fines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Synthetic marijuana, imported by the US soldier is said to have similar effects to cannabis. However, since it is made to mimic THC, the key&nbsp;psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, the synthetic variety, is typically more potent and has been reported to produce adverse health effects, including&nbsp;acute psychotic episodes, paranoid delusions and severe agitation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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South Korean police are investigating 17 US soldiers and five others after they were alleged to have illegally smuggled or used synthetic marijuana via military mail.

South Korean police are investigating 17 US soldiers and five others after they were alleged to have illegally smuggled or used synthetic marijuana via military mail. During the joint raids by the South Korean police and the US Army's Criminal Investigation Division at the homes of the 22 suspects, more than four kilogrammes of "mixed liquids" used for vaping and 77g (2.7oz) of synthetic cannabis, in addition to $12,850 in cash was found, per a BBC report. Video released by the police showed the 27 electronic cigarette devices and rolls of $50 and $100 bills, as well as numerous cell phones and colourful cylindrical tubes that look similar to vape pens, lying on the table. The joint raids were carried out at Camp Humphreys, south of Seoul – the largest US military installation outside of the US and Camp Casey, situated north of the capital city. Two people - a South Korean and a Filipino had already been arrested for drug distribution allegations. Notably, a 24-year-old American soldier had smuggled 350 millilitres of liquid synthetic cannabis that was shipped from the US via military mail. He had handed the shipment to the Filipino man who then sold it to a South Korean distributor and other US soldiers. Also read | Russia says US-South Korea nuclear deal could destabilise region After the incident, United States Forces Korea (USFK) released a statement regarding its personnel, saying they were aware of the investigation. "United States Forces Korea is aware of the Korean National Police’s investigation of 17 Soldiers for alleged illegal drug behaviour and misuse of the military mail system. Currently, no Soldiers are in confinement or being detained in relation to this incident," read the statement. "USFK does not condone any behaviours among its personnel that violate South Korean laws, rules or directives and supports this investigation." Also watch | Biden-Yoon meet in White House; South Korea, US sign declaration | WION Pulse × Use of weed in S Korea Notably, recreational use of weed is illegal in South Korea where drugs are considered a social and cultural taboo. The use of the drug incurs harsh penalties with the maximum sentence for cannabis use or possession being five years in prison and up to $37,600 in fines. Synthetic marijuana, imported by the US soldier is said to have similar effects to cannabis. However, since it is made to mimic THC, the key psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, the synthetic variety, is typically more potent and has been reported to produce adverse health effects, including acute psychotic episodes, paranoid delusions and severe agitation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US military bases raided in South Korea for drugs, at least 17 soldiers face probe

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<p>A federal court in Delaware has ordered US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden to appear in the court on October 3 to face firearms charges, a day after his lawyers sought permission he be allowed to attend the first hearing virtually.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US Magistrate Judge from the District of Delaware, Christopher Burke, rejected Hunter's request, saying he should not receive special treatment.</p>

<p>"In the end, the Court agrees with both the Defendant and the Government, that Defendant should not receive special treatment in this matter — absent some unusual circumstance, he should be treated just as would any other defendant in our Court," Burke stated in the filing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The federal judge, however, gave Hunter an extra week to comply, from the date originally set for the hearing, September 26.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The president's 53-year-old son was charged last week by a federal court in Delaware on two counts related to filing a form wherein he falsely claimed that he was not using drugs illegally at the time of purchase of the gun.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, a third count alleges that based on the false statements, he possessed a firearm while using narcotics, during an 11-day period in October of that year.</p>

<p>However, after the indictment, Hunter's lawyer Abbe David Lowell wrote a letter to the judge on Tuesday (September 19) and requested his client's first appearance take place via video conference whilst adding that Biden Jr. will plead not guilty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mr Biden understands both the charges against him and his rights...and we believe the Court can be assured of that fact by conducting this initial appearance by video," read the letter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mr Biden also will enter a plea of not guilty, and there is no reason why he cannot utter those two words by video conference," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-the-white-house-influence-the-hunter-biden-case-624335"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Did the White House influence the Hunter Biden case?</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Hunter's near miss&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, the case would not have reached this stage if it wasn't for US District Judge Maryellen Noreika&nbsp;interfering at the eleventh hour and saying she could not "rubber stamp the agreement", after raising certain concerns regarding the terms of the deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hunter-biden-to-plead-not-guilty-to-federal-firearms-charges-637701" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Hunter Biden to plead not guilty to federal firearms charges</strong></a></p>

<p>With the trial set to proceed, Hunter could face 25 years in prison if he is convicted on all three felony charges. However, such offences are seldom punished by jail time and given Hunter's political pull, owing to his father, it looks highly unlikely he will land in prison.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A federal court in Delaware has ordered US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden to appear in the court on October 3 to face firearms charges, a day after his lawyers sought permission he be allowed to attend the first hearing virtually.

A federal court in Delaware has ordered US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden to appear in the court on October 3 to face firearms charges, a day after his lawyers sought permission he be allowed to attend the first hearing virtually. US Magistrate Judge from the District of Delaware, Christopher Burke, rejected Hunter's request, saying he should not receive special treatment. "In the end, the Court agrees with both the Defendant and the Government, that Defendant should not receive special treatment in this matter — absent some unusual circumstance, he should be treated just as would any other defendant in our Court," Burke stated in the filing. The federal judge, however, gave Hunter an extra week to comply, from the date originally set for the hearing, September 26. The president's 53-year-old son was charged last week by a federal court in Delaware on two counts related to filing a form wherein he falsely claimed that he was not using drugs illegally at the time of purchase of the gun. Meanwhile, a third count alleges that based on the false statements, he possessed a firearm while using narcotics, during an 11-day period in October of that year. However, after the indictment, Hunter's lawyer Abbe David Lowell wrote a letter to the judge on Tuesday (September 19) and requested his client's first appearance take place via video conference whilst adding that Biden Jr. will plead not guilty. "Mr Biden understands both the charges against him and his rights...and we believe the Court can be assured of that fact by conducting this initial appearance by video," read the letter. "Mr Biden also will enter a plea of not guilty, and there is no reason why he cannot utter those two words by video conference," it added. Watch | Gravitas: Did the White House influence the Hunter Biden case? × Hunter's near miss Notably, the case would not have reached this stage if it wasn't for US District Judge Maryellen Noreika interfering at the eleventh hour and saying she could not "rubber stamp the agreement", after raising certain concerns regarding the terms of the deal. Also read | Hunter Biden to plead not guilty to federal firearms charges With the trial set to proceed, Hunter could face 25 years in prison if he is convicted on all three felony charges. However, such offences are seldom punished by jail time and given Hunter's political pull, owing to his father, it looks highly unlikely he will land in prison. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hunter Biden set to appear in court on THIS date after judge rejects his request

<p>The US Federal Reserve has decided to hit pause on the interest rate hike, a decision taken after two days of deliberation at the&nbsp;Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. While&nbsp;interest rates remain at a 22-year high between&nbsp;5.25-5.5 per cent, the Fed forecasted an&nbsp;additional rate hike before the end of the year to bring down inflation.</p>

<p>"The Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 to 5-1/2 per cent. The Committee will continue to assess additional information and its implications for monetary policy," read the statement by FOMC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since March last year, the Fed has been pursuing a super-aggressive strategy of rate hikes to thwart consumer and business demands in a battle against price pressures that have become the Achilles heel for the federal agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Economists believe that keeping interest rates high makes it costlier for people to borrow money. With borrowing getting expensive, consumers are forced to spend less. When spending declines, there is a fall in demand. It is therefore postulated that weakening demand will eventually reduce the price of goods.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-feds-policy-paradox-balancing-interest-rates-and-demand-637034"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;The Fed's policy paradox: Balancing interest rates and demand</strong></a></p>

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<p>Immediately after the widely expected announcement, oil prices fell about one per cent.&nbsp;The long-lasting effects of the pandemic and war in Ukraine such as the disruption in the global supply chains and commodities markets, leading to a slowdown in the global economy and massive inflation worldwide have caused the Fed to routinely hike the rates.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The impact of months of higher interest rates might be showing now as the cooling of the US labour market suggests. Fresh challenges have emerged in the meantime, including the resumption of student loan repayments by the Biden administration coupled with an ongoing autoworker strike and a looming government shutdown as the US debt reached a historic milestone by passing $33 trillion for the first time earlier this week.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/decoded-why-central-banks-hike-interest-rates-to-tame-inflation-621023"><strong>Explained | Why central banks hike interest rates to tame inflation&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Lull before the storm?</strong></h2>

<p>However, Wednesday's halt could be the lull before the storm as&nbsp;FOMC members left the median projection for interest rates between 5.50 per cent and 5.75 per cent, keeping alive the possibility of another quarter percentage point hike before year-end.</p>

<p>"The Committee’s assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on labour market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments," the statement by FOMC added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The US Federal Reserve has decided to hit pause on the interest rate hike, a decision taken after two days of deliberation at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

The US Federal Reserve has decided to hit pause on the interest rate hike, a decision taken after two days of deliberation at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. While interest rates remain at a 22-year high between 5.25-5.5 per cent, the Fed forecasted an additional rate hike before the end of the year to bring down inflation. "The Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 to 5-1/2 per cent. The Committee will continue to assess additional information and its implications for monetary policy," read the statement by FOMC. Since March last year, the Fed has been pursuing a super-aggressive strategy of rate hikes to thwart consumer and business demands in a battle against price pressures that have become the Achilles heel for the federal agency. Economists believe that keeping interest rates high makes it costlier for people to borrow money. With borrowing getting expensive, consumers are forced to spend less. When spending declines, there is a fall in demand. It is therefore postulated that weakening demand will eventually reduce the price of goods. Watch | The Fed's policy paradox: Balancing interest rates and demand × Immediately after the widely expected announcement, oil prices fell about one per cent. The long-lasting effects of the pandemic and war in Ukraine such as the disruption in the global supply chains and commodities markets, leading to a slowdown in the global economy and massive inflation worldwide have caused the Fed to routinely hike the rates. The impact of months of higher interest rates might be showing now as the cooling of the US labour market suggests. Fresh challenges have emerged in the meantime, including the resumption of student loan repayments by the Biden administration coupled with an ongoing autoworker strike and a looming government shutdown as the US debt reached a historic milestone by passing $33 trillion for the first time earlier this week. Explained | Why central banks hike interest rates to tame inflation Lull before the storm? However, Wednesday's halt could be the lull before the storm as FOMC members left the median projection for interest rates between 5.50 per cent and 5.75 per cent, keeping alive the possibility of another quarter percentage point hike before year-end. "The Committee’s assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on labour market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments," the statement by FOMC added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US Fed hits pause on rate hike but warns of another increase later this year

<p>Five American prisoners freed by Iran as part of a $6 billion exchange, arrived in the United States on Tuesday (September 20). While the former prisoners landed at&nbsp;Fort Belvoir in Virginia and were tearfully united with family and friends,&nbsp;Iranian President&nbsp;Ebrahim Raisi, addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York once again drummed up talks surrounding the 2015 nuclear deal</p>

<p>Raisi said the US should prove its&nbsp;"goodwill&nbsp;and determination", referencing the prisoners' swap, to revive the nuclear pact signed eight years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"These sanctions have not yielded the desired results. It is time now for the United States to bring a cessation to its wrong path and choose the right side," he told the UNGA.</p>

<p>"By exiting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the United States violated the agreement and the principle of good faith. America should demonstrate its&nbsp;goodwill&nbsp;and determination," added Raisi.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-prisoner-swap-us-and-iran-to-complete-6-billion-prisoner-swap-deal-637233"><strong>Watch | US-Iran Prisoner Swap: US and Iran to complete $6 billion prisoner swap deal</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Prisoner issue separate from nuclear deal: Washington</strong></h2>

<p>The US has maintained that the prisoner issue was a separate matter from the halted talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, trashed by Biden's predecessor Donald Trump.</p>

<p>In 2018, the former Republican president reneged on the deal and restored harsh US sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to gradually violate the agreement's nuclear limits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was one of the reasons why&nbsp;Germany, France and Britain recently refused to&nbsp;remove ballistic missile and nuclear proliferation-related sanctions on Iran that were set to expire in October.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The original deal stated that some UN sanctions were supposed to be lifted on October 18, 2023, as part of the sunset clause which would have allowed Iran to import and export ballistic missiles and drones.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-france-and-uk-refuse-to-lift-sanctions-on-iran-under-jcpoa-636069"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Germany, France and UK refuse to lift sanctions on Iran under JCPOA</strong></a></p>

<p>However, the three European nations, known as E3, wrote a letter to&nbsp;European Union External Affairs Chief, Josep Borell and said Tehran was in serious breach of the deal - meaning the sanctions could not be lifted.</p>

<p>Justifying the decision, the E3 said the agreement signed eight years ago contained mechanisms in case of any&nbsp;dispute about whether one side was in breach of the deal.</p>

<p>Iran has been&nbsp;selling&nbsp;killer drones to Moscow in the ongoing war against Ukraine. The US, aware of Tehran's stance, has imposed new sanctions on it as well. On Tuesday,&nbsp;Raisi channelled the aggression of the new sanctions and accused the US of worsening the Ukraine war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The United States of America has fanned the flames of violence in Ukraine in order to weaken the European countries. This is a long-term plan, unfortunately," he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Five American prisoners freed by Iran as part of a $6 billion exchange, arrived in the United States on Tuesday (September 20). While the former prisoners landed at Fort Belvoir in Virginia and were tearfully united with family and friends, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York once again drummed up talks surrounding the 2015 nuclear deal Raisi said the US should prove its "goodwill and determination", referencing the prisoners' swap, to revive the nuclear pact signed eight years ago.

Five American prisoners freed by Iran as part of a $6 billion exchange, arrived in the United States on Tuesday (September 20). While the former prisoners landed at Fort Belvoir in Virginia and were tearfully united with family and friends, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York once again drummed up talks surrounding the 2015 nuclear deal Raisi said the US should prove its "goodwill and determination", referencing the prisoners' swap, to revive the nuclear pact signed eight years ago. "These sanctions have not yielded the desired results. It is time now for the United States to bring a cessation to its wrong path and choose the right side," he told the UNGA. "By exiting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the United States violated the agreement and the principle of good faith. America should demonstrate its goodwill and determination," added Raisi. Watch | US-Iran Prisoner Swap: US and Iran to complete $6 billion prisoner swap deal × Prisoner issue separate from nuclear deal: Washington The US has maintained that the prisoner issue was a separate matter from the halted talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, trashed by Biden's predecessor Donald Trump. In 2018, the former Republican president reneged on the deal and restored harsh US sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to gradually violate the agreement's nuclear limits. It was one of the reasons why Germany, France and Britain recently refused to remove ballistic missile and nuclear proliferation-related sanctions on Iran that were set to expire in October. The original deal stated that some UN sanctions were supposed to be lifted on October 18, 2023, as part of the sunset clause which would have allowed Iran to import and export ballistic missiles and drones. Also read | Germany, France and UK refuse to lift sanctions on Iran under JCPOA However, the three European nations, known as E3, wrote a letter to European Union External Affairs Chief, Josep Borell and said Tehran was in serious breach of the deal - meaning the sanctions could not be lifted. Justifying the decision, the E3 said the agreement signed eight years ago contained mechanisms in case of any dispute about whether one side was in breach of the deal. Iran has been selling killer drones to Moscow in the ongoing war against Ukraine. The US, aware of Tehran's stance, has imposed new sanctions on it as well. On Tuesday, Raisi channelled the aggression of the new sanctions and accused the US of worsening the Ukraine war. "The United States of America has fanned the flames of violence in Ukraine in order to weaken the European countries. This is a long-term plan, unfortunately," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

As American prisoners arrive in US, Iran demands end to sanctions at UNGA

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<p>US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden will plead not guilty to charges of illegally buying a gun five years ago while using drugs, his lawyers informed on Tuesday (September 19).&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a letter, Hunter's lawyer Abbe David Lowell, requested the judge to hold the first court appearance by video conference instead of requiring his client to attend in person.</p>

<p>"Mr Biden understands both the charges against him and his rights...and we believe the Court can be assured of that fact by conducting this initial appearance by video," read the letter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mr Biden also will enter a plea of not guilty, and there is no reason why he cannot utter those two words by video conference," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last week, Hunter was charged with two counts related to filing a form wherein he falsely claimed that he was not using drugs illegally at the time of purchase of the gun by a federal court in Delaware.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The third count alleges that based on the false statements, he possessed a firearm while using narcotics, during an 11-day period in October of that year.</p>

<h2><strong>Plea deal falls through&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The president's 53-year-old son has been criminally charged after efforts to reach a plea deal failed&nbsp;at the eleventh hour. US District Judge Maryellen Noreika presiding over the case said she could not "rubber stamp the agreement", after raising certain concerns regarding the terms of the deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the trial set to proceed, Hunter could face 25 years in prison if he is convicted on all three felony charges. However, such offences are seldom punished by jail time and given Hunter's political pull, owing to his father, it looks highly unlikely he will land&nbsp;in prison.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-the-white-house-influence-the-hunter-biden-case-624335"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Did the White House influence the Hunter Biden case?</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Biden Sr. to take the stand?</strong></h2>

<p>Last month,&nbsp;Hunter's lawyers warned the Department of Justice (DoJ) that the defence would put the president in the witness box after news leaked that federal agents had enough evidence to charge him&nbsp;with&nbsp;illegally buying a firearm while still using crack cocaine.</p>

<p>“President Biden now unquestionably would be a fact witness for the defence in any criminal trial,” read&nbsp;a 32-page letter written by&nbsp;Hunter’s lawyer, Chris Clark to&nbsp;prosecutors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This of all cases justifies neither the spectacle of a sitting President testifying at a criminal trial nor the potential for a resulting Constitutional crisis,” Clark added.</p>

<p>The indictment against Hunter came a couple of days after&nbsp;Republicans in Congress opened an impeachment probe against Joe Biden, alleging that the president benefitted financially from Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden will plead not guilty to charges of illegally buying a gun five years ago while using drugs, his lawyers informed on Tuesday (September 19).

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden will plead not guilty to charges of illegally buying a gun five years ago while using drugs, his lawyers informed on Tuesday (September 19). In a letter, Hunter's lawyer Abbe David Lowell, requested the judge to hold the first court appearance by video conference instead of requiring his client to attend in person. "Mr Biden understands both the charges against him and his rights...and we believe the Court can be assured of that fact by conducting this initial appearance by video," read the letter. "Mr Biden also will enter a plea of not guilty, and there is no reason why he cannot utter those two words by video conference," it added. Last week, Hunter was charged with two counts related to filing a form wherein he falsely claimed that he was not using drugs illegally at the time of purchase of the gun by a federal court in Delaware. The third count alleges that based on the false statements, he possessed a firearm while using narcotics, during an 11-day period in October of that year. Plea deal falls through The president's 53-year-old son has been criminally charged after efforts to reach a plea deal failed at the eleventh hour. US District Judge Maryellen Noreika presiding over the case said she could not "rubber stamp the agreement", after raising certain concerns regarding the terms of the deal. With the trial set to proceed, Hunter could face 25 years in prison if he is convicted on all three felony charges. However, such offences are seldom punished by jail time and given Hunter's political pull, owing to his father, it looks highly unlikely he will land in prison. Watch | Gravitas: Did the White House influence the Hunter Biden case? × Biden Sr. to take the stand? Last month, Hunter's lawyers warned the Department of Justice (DoJ) that the defence would put the president in the witness box after news leaked that federal agents had enough evidence to charge him with illegally buying a firearm while still using crack cocaine. “President Biden now unquestionably would be a fact witness for the defence in any criminal trial,” read a 32-page letter written by Hunter’s lawyer, Chris Clark to prosecutors. “This of all cases justifies neither the spectacle of a sitting President testifying at a criminal trial nor the potential for a resulting Constitutional crisis,” Clark added. The indictment against Hunter came a couple of days after Republicans in Congress opened an impeachment probe against Joe Biden, alleging that the president benefitted financially from Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hunter Biden to plead not guilty to federal firearms charges

<p>The&nbsp;Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet, missing for over 24 hours, has&nbsp;been located, the United States military said on Monday (September 18) evening.&nbsp;Officials with Joint Base Charleston (JBC) confirmed that wreckage belonging to the advanced, stealth&nbsp;jet had been located near&nbsp;Williamsburg County in South Carolina.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement released on X, formerly known as Twitter, JBC confirmed that the fighter jet's&nbsp;debris had been located two hours northeast of the base, in close coordination with local authorities and&nbsp;Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.</p>

<p>"Personnel from Joint Base Charleston and&nbsp;@MCASBeaufortSC, in close coordination with local authorities, have located a debris field in Williamsburg County," read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No additional information regarding the disappearance of the jet was provided as authorities investigated the debris.&nbsp;Further questions to JBC&nbsp;were directed to the Marines, which said it could not provide "additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigatory process."</p>

<p>“The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process. We would like to thank all of our mission partners, as well as local, county, and state authorities, for their dedication and support throughout the search and as we transition to the recovery phase."</p>

<h2><strong>What happened with the F-35B jet?</strong></h2>

<p>The search for the missing jet commenced after the&nbsp;pilot ejected for unknown reasons and parachuted safely into a North Charleston neighbourhood on Sunday (September 17). Although the pilot left the jet, it kept flying in what some called a "zombie state".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the best attempts by the US government and military, the jet and its location could not be discovered. Consequently, the officials&nbsp;issued a&nbsp;plaintive call on social media asking for anyone who had information to call in.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-f-35b-plane-suspected-to-be-in-air-after-pilot-safely-ejects-after-mishap-637014"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US: F-35B fighter jet goes missing after pilot safely ejects</strong></a></p>

<p>The mysterious disappearance forced the military to ground all Marine Coros aircraft, inside and outside the US.&nbsp;The Pentagon in a statement released justified the pause in operations saying it would allow units “to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices.”</p>

<p>“During the safety stand down, aviation commanders will lead discussions with their Marines focusing on the fundamentals of safe flight operations, ground safety, maintenance and flight procedures, and maintaining combat readiness,” the statement said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The $80 million state-of-the-art F-35, a single-seat fighter, is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and can reach speeds of 1,200 mph, according to the company’s website. It is capable of vertical landings and short take-offs, and Lockheed Martin calls it the “most advanced fighter jet in the world.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet, missing for over 24 hours, has been located, the United States military said on Monday (September 18) evening. Officials with Joint Base Charleston (JBC) confirmed that wreckage belonging to the advanced, stealth jet had been located near Williamsburg County in South Carolina.

The Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet, missing for over 24 hours, has been located, the United States military said on Monday (September 18) evening. Officials with Joint Base Charleston (JBC) confirmed that wreckage belonging to the advanced, stealth jet had been located near Williamsburg County in South Carolina. In a statement released on X, formerly known as Twitter, JBC confirmed that the fighter jet's debris had been located two hours northeast of the base, in close coordination with local authorities and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. "Personnel from Joint Base Charleston and @MCASBeaufortSC, in close coordination with local authorities, have located a debris field in Williamsburg County," read the statement. No additional information regarding the disappearance of the jet was provided as authorities investigated the debris. Further questions to JBC were directed to the Marines, which said it could not provide "additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigatory process." “The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process. We would like to thank all of our mission partners, as well as local, county, and state authorities, for their dedication and support throughout the search and as we transition to the recovery phase." What happened with the F-35B jet? The search for the missing jet commenced after the pilot ejected for unknown reasons and parachuted safely into a North Charleston neighbourhood on Sunday (September 17). Although the pilot left the jet, it kept flying in what some called a "zombie state". Despite the best attempts by the US government and military, the jet and its location could not be discovered. Consequently, the officials issued a plaintive call on social media asking for anyone who had information to call in. Also read | US: F-35B fighter jet goes missing after pilot safely ejects The mysterious disappearance forced the military to ground all Marine Coros aircraft, inside and outside the US. The Pentagon in a statement released justified the pause in operations saying it would allow units “to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices.” “During the safety stand down, aviation commanders will lead discussions with their Marines focusing on the fundamentals of safe flight operations, ground safety, maintenance and flight procedures, and maintaining combat readiness,” the statement said. The $80 million state-of-the-art F-35, a single-seat fighter, is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and can reach speeds of 1,200 mph, according to the company’s website. It is capable of vertical landings and short take-offs, and Lockheed Martin calls it the “most advanced fighter jet in the world.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Debris of missing F-35B fighter jet discovered over 24 hours after disappearance

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday (September 18) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the latest in a series of meetings aimed at reducing tensions between the world's two largest economies.</p>

<p>In a statement after the meeting, the US State Department said the talks involved "a candid and constructive discussion".&nbsp;The two agreed to maintain open lines of communication and discussed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, North Korea and the Taiwan Strait, the department added.</p>

<p>The talks between Blinken and Han could help set the stage for a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year.</p>

<p>They followed 12 hours of meetings last weekend between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malta.</p>

<p>"The world expects us to responsibly manage our relationship," Blinken said in brief remarks at the beginning of his meeting with Han. "The United States is committed to doing just that," he added.<br />
"</p>

<p>From the perspective of the United States, face-to-face diplomacy is the best way to deal with areas where we disagree, and also the best way to explore areas of cooperation between us," Blinken said.</p>

<p>Blinken, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Biden climate envoy John Kerry have travelled to China this year to thaw relations and ensure continued communication between the two countries amid tensions that flared after the US military shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that travelled over the United States.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yellen-stresses-importance-of-us-china-ties-says-decoupling-economies-impossible-612979"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Yellen criticises China's 'punitive' measures against US companies, but says decoupling 'impossible'</strong></a></p>

<p>Biden this month expressed disappointment that Xi had skipped a summit of Group of 20 leaders in India, but said he would "get to see him."</p>

<p>The next likely opportunity for Biden to hold talks with Xi is an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco in November, where US aides for months have hoped to stage such a meeting.</p>

<p>Neither Blinken nor Han in their remarks explicitly mentioned whether such a meeting would materialise.</p>

<p>"Currently, China-US relations face many difficulties and challenges," Han told Blinken, noting that China hoped the US would make efforts to implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders and promote the stable development of relations.</p>

<p>"The world needs stable and healthy China-US relations," Han said.</p>

<p>The US and China are at odds over issues ranging from Taiwan to trade, fentanyl and human rights. Critics of the Biden administration have questioned its strategy of engaging China, warning that a failure to push back on provocations, including the recent China-linked hacking of senior US officials' email, could embolden Beijing.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-sees-shift-in-us-china-relationship-594858"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US President Joe Biden sees shift in US-China relationship</strong></a></p>

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<p>Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Wray told a conference on Monday that China has a cyberespionage program so vast that it is bigger than all of its major competitors combined.</p>

<p>Ryan Hass, a China expert at the Brookings Institution, said the pace of high-level exchanges between Washington and Beijing suggested that efforts were "purposeful" and not just part of relationship management.</p>

<p>"I expect both sides are working to set the stage for a productive meeting between both leaders in November," Hass said.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday (September 18) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the latest in a series of meetings aimed at reducing tensions between the world's two largest economies.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday (September 18) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the latest in a series of meetings aimed at reducing tensions between the world's two largest economies. In a statement after the meeting, the US State Department said the talks involved "a candid and constructive discussion". The two agreed to maintain open lines of communication and discussed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, North Korea and the Taiwan Strait, the department added. The talks between Blinken and Han could help set the stage for a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year. They followed 12 hours of meetings last weekend between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malta. "The world expects us to responsibly manage our relationship," Blinken said in brief remarks at the beginning of his meeting with Han. "The United States is committed to doing just that," he added. " From the perspective of the United States, face-to-face diplomacy is the best way to deal with areas where we disagree, and also the best way to explore areas of cooperation between us," Blinken said. Blinken, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Biden climate envoy John Kerry have travelled to China this year to thaw relations and ensure continued communication between the two countries amid tensions that flared after the US military shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that travelled over the United States. Also read | Yellen criticises China's 'punitive' measures against US companies, but says decoupling 'impossible' Biden this month expressed disappointment that Xi had skipped a summit of Group of 20 leaders in India, but said he would "get to see him." The next likely opportunity for Biden to hold talks with Xi is an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco in November, where US aides for months have hoped to stage such a meeting. Neither Blinken nor Han in their remarks explicitly mentioned whether such a meeting would materialise. "Currently, China-US relations face many difficulties and challenges," Han told Blinken, noting that China hoped the US would make efforts to implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders and promote the stable development of relations. "The world needs stable and healthy China-US relations," Han said. The US and China are at odds over issues ranging from Taiwan to trade, fentanyl and human rights. Critics of the Biden administration have questioned its strategy of engaging China, warning that a failure to push back on provocations, including the recent China-linked hacking of senior US officials' email, could embolden Beijing. Watch | US President Joe Biden sees shift in US-China relationship × Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Wray told a conference on Monday that China has a cyberespionage program so vast that it is bigger than all of its major competitors combined. Ryan Hass, a China expert at the Brookings Institution, said the pace of high-level exchanges between Washington and Beijing suggested that efforts were "purposeful" and not just part of relationship management. "I expect both sides are working to set the stage for a productive meeting between both leaders in November," Hass said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Blinken meets China's VP Han to set stage for future Xi-Biden meeting

<p>Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut docked with the&nbsp;International Space Station (ISS) on Friday (September 15), hours after setting off for the journey from Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara successfully lifted off for the ISS aboard the&nbsp;Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft, from the&nbsp;Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, earlier in the day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three hours later, the crew docked at the ISS, according to the Russian space agency.&nbsp;The first to come aboard the ISS was O’Hara followed by Chub and Kononenko. The three new entrants were received by&nbsp;cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin and astronaut Frank Rubio who opened the hatch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After entering the Soviet module, they joined&nbsp;NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli,&nbsp;Russian&nbsp; cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, Denmark's Andreas Mogensen and Japan's Satoshi Furukawa for the mission’s welcoming remarks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While&nbsp;Kononenko is a veteran of space, having clocked&nbsp;736 days in orbit across four different ISS missions, his partners&nbsp;O'Hara and Chub are spaceflight rookies.&nbsp;During his yearlong stint at the ISS, Kononenko is expected to break the all-time record for most time spent in space, 878 days, held by fellow cosmonaut Gennady Padalka.</p>

<p>While the next batch arrived, cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin and NASA's Frank Rubio will return to Earth, aboard&nbsp;a Soyuz on September 27. Notably, Rubio will have spent 371 continuous days in space by that time, a record for an American astronaut.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/spacex-launches-truly-international-astronaut-team-on-crew-7-flight-to-space-station-for-nasa-629501"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;SpaceX launches truly international astronaut team on Crew-7 flight to space station for NASA</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Space&nbsp;still bridging gap between Russia &amp; USA</strong></h2>

<p>Despite heightened tension between the two countries due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, space remains the only frontier where the two superpowers are still collaborating.</p>

<p>In the run-up to the mission,&nbsp;Kononenko reflected on the growing division between Washington and Moscow due to the war but said "unlike Earth"&nbsp;cosmonauts and astronauts took care of each other in space.</p>

<p>"We hear each other there, and we understand each other, and we are very sensitive to our relationships.&nbsp;We always take care of each other," he said during a pre-flight press conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spacex-sends-first-saudi-woman-astronaut-to-space-will-reach-iss-soon-595032"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;SpaceX sends first Saudi woman astronaut to space</strong></a></p>

<p>Moscow, reeling from the disappointment of the crash of the Luna-25 lunar probe, will take momentarily solace in the achievements of&nbsp;Kononenko.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday (September 15), hours after setting off for the journey from Earth.

Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday (September 15), hours after setting off for the journey from Earth. Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara successfully lifted off for the ISS aboard the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft, from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, earlier in the day. Three hours later, the crew docked at the ISS, according to the Russian space agency. The first to come aboard the ISS was O’Hara followed by Chub and Kononenko. The three new entrants were received by cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin and astronaut Frank Rubio who opened the hatch. After entering the Soviet module, they joined NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli, Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, Denmark's Andreas Mogensen and Japan's Satoshi Furukawa for the mission’s welcoming remarks. While Kononenko is a veteran of space, having clocked 736 days in orbit across four different ISS missions, his partners O'Hara and Chub are spaceflight rookies. During his yearlong stint at the ISS, Kononenko is expected to break the all-time record for most time spent in space, 878 days, held by fellow cosmonaut Gennady Padalka. While the next batch arrived, cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin and NASA's Frank Rubio will return to Earth, aboard a Soyuz on September 27. Notably, Rubio will have spent 371 continuous days in space by that time, a record for an American astronaut. Watch | SpaceX launches truly international astronaut team on Crew-7 flight to space station for NASA × Space still bridging gap between Russia & USA Despite heightened tension between the two countries due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, space remains the only frontier where the two superpowers are still collaborating. In the run-up to the mission, Kononenko reflected on the growing division between Washington and Moscow due to the war but said "unlike Earth" cosmonauts and astronauts took care of each other in space. "We hear each other there, and we understand each other, and we are very sensitive to our relationships. We always take care of each other," he said during a pre-flight press conference. Also read | SpaceX sends first Saudi woman astronaut to space Moscow, reeling from the disappointment of the crash of the Luna-25 lunar probe, will take momentarily solace in the achievements of Kononenko. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts arrive at the ISS together despite Ukraine war tensions

<p>The Russian government on Thursday (September 14) said it was expelling&nbsp;two US diplomats on accusations of collaborating with a spy.&nbsp;According to the Kremlin, the two diplomats had maintained contact with a Russian national who worked&nbsp;for the US Mission and had&nbsp;been accused of being an 'informant'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement informed&nbsp;it had summoned US envoy&nbsp;Lynne Tracy, instructing her that embassy First Secretary Jeffrey Sillin and Second Secretary David Bernstein must leave the country within seven days.</p>

<p>Sillin and&nbsp;Bernstein were accused of having conducted&nbsp;"illegal activities by liaising with a Russian citizen, (Robert) Shonov".</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-12">"It was also emphasised (to Tracy) that illegal activities of the US diplomatic mission, including interference in the internal affairs of the host country, are unacceptable and will be resolutely suppressed," it said.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-13">"The Russian side expects Washington to draw the right conclusions and refrain from confrontational steps."</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-13"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-vadim-krasikov-hitman-russia-wants-in-prisoner-swap-with-us-634765"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Who is Vadim Krasikov? Assassin Russia wants in prisoner swap for US WSJ journalist</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably,&nbsp;Shonov was on the payroll of the US Consulate General in the Far East city of Vladivostok for more than 25 years, until Moscow&nbsp;ordered the dismissal of the&nbsp;mission's local staff in 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a confession video, published by the country's&nbsp;FSB security service,&nbsp;Shonov could be seen admitting that&nbsp;Sillin and Bernstein had asked him to collect information about Russia's war effort in Ukraine, the annexation of "new territories",&nbsp;its military mobilisation and the 2024 presidential election.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vladimir-putin-lauds-indias-pm-modi-putin-kim-summit-635615"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Vladimir Putin lauds India's PM Modi | Putin-Kim Summit</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>US vows retaliation</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>After the announcement, Washington denounced the expulsion and vowed to take countermeasures soon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This unprovoked expulsion of our diplomatic personnel is wholly without merit, as is the case against a former Russian contractor of our embassy who was arrested for the supposedly nefarious task of performing such activities as providing our embassy with media clips,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Miller added that Russia had once again chosen "confrontation and escalation over constructive diplomatic engagement", whilst adding that Washington will take action.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We regret that Russia has taken this path and you can certainly expect that we will respond appropriately to their actions. It continues to harass employees of our embassy, just as it continues to intimidate its own citizens.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The Russian government on Thursday (September 14) said it was expelling two US diplomats on accusations of collaborating with a spy. According to the Kremlin, the two diplomats had maintained contact with a Russian national who worked for the US Mission and had been accused of being an 'informant'.

The Russian government on Thursday (September 14) said it was expelling two US diplomats on accusations of collaborating with a spy. According to the Kremlin, the two diplomats had maintained contact with a Russian national who worked for the US Mission and had been accused of being an 'informant'. The Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement informed it had summoned US envoy Lynne Tracy, instructing her that embassy First Secretary Jeffrey Sillin and Second Secretary David Bernstein must leave the country within seven days. Sillin and Bernstein were accused of having conducted "illegal activities by liaising with a Russian citizen, (Robert) Shonov". "It was also emphasised (to Tracy) that illegal activities of the US diplomatic mission, including interference in the internal affairs of the host country, are unacceptable and will be resolutely suppressed," it said. "The Russian side expects Washington to draw the right conclusions and refrain from confrontational steps." Also read | Who is Vadim Krasikov? Assassin Russia wants in prisoner swap for US WSJ journalist Notably, Shonov was on the payroll of the US Consulate General in the Far East city of Vladivostok for more than 25 years, until Moscow ordered the dismissal of the mission's local staff in 2021. In a confession video, published by the country's FSB security service, Shonov could be seen admitting that Sillin and Bernstein had asked him to collect information about Russia's war effort in Ukraine, the annexation of "new territories", its military mobilisation and the 2024 presidential election. Watch | Vladimir Putin lauds India's PM Modi | Putin-Kim Summit × US vows retaliation After the announcement, Washington denounced the expulsion and vowed to take countermeasures soon. “This unprovoked expulsion of our diplomatic personnel is wholly without merit, as is the case against a former Russian contractor of our embassy who was arrested for the supposedly nefarious task of performing such activities as providing our embassy with media clips,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. Miller added that Russia had once again chosen "confrontation and escalation over constructive diplomatic engagement", whilst adding that Washington will take action. "We regret that Russia has taken this path and you can certainly expect that we will respond appropriately to their actions. It continues to harass employees of our embassy, just as it continues to intimidate its own citizens.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Russia expels two US diplomats as Washington vows 'retaliation'

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<p>Johnson &amp; Johnson is bidding adieu to its old, instantly recognisable 'cursive' logo that has been its brand identity for the last 136&nbsp;years. The healthcare giant on Thursday (September 14) said it will replace the logo with a modern look that reflects its sharpened focus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices.</p>

<p>The original logo based on co-founder James Wood Johnson’s handwritten cursive signature will be replaced by a rather plain font with a different shade of red, which will aim to recognise the company's shift into a “pure play health care company".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The new Johnson &amp; Johnson brand identity builds on the company’s legacy, while also modernising key elements to showcase healthcare innovation in a way that’s inclusive and brings the company's warm, caring nature to life," the pharma giant said in an official release.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The pharma company added that the "new ampersand captures a caring, human nature" and "presents itself as a more globally recognisable symbol," representing "the openness of the brand, as well as the connections that bring the company’s purpose to life".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/johnson-johnson-offers-89-bn-talcum-powder-settlement-world-business-news-579296" target="_blank"><strong>Watch | Johnson &amp; Johnson offers $8.9 bn talcum powder settlement | World Business News</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Response from netizens</strong></h2>

<p>The netizens had a subdued response to the announcement with one saying: "I'm not a marketing guru, but if something has worked for 136 years why mess with success?" while another added: "The new logo might take some time getting used to but it sure looks modern."</p>

<p>A third responded saying: "This will not boost sales, but rather cause confusion. This is devoid of any consumer input. The original signature spoke to a pride of ownership. This new move makes me question what they are committed to for the next generation."</p>

<p>Although it is a big change for the company, shoppers are unlikely to notice the difference in the short term as the cursive logo will still be used on the brand's consumer products such as Band-Aid and Tylenol.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-maharashtra-cancels-johnson-johsnon-baby-powder-manufacturing-license-517025" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | India: Maharashtra cancels Johnson &amp; Johnson baby powder manufacturing licence</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, Johnson &amp; Johnson recently split into two companies, with one focusing on medical devices and medications while the other primarily zoning in on consumer health products, under the brand named 'Kenvue'. A Kenvue spokesperson said the J&amp;J branding on products like Band-Aids will gradually be removed.</p>

<p>The signature logo was most prominently displayed on the bottles of the company's now-discontinued talcum-based baby powder, accused of causing cancer in hundreds of lawsuits - a claim that the company has denied vehemently.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Johnson & Johnson is bidding adieu to its old, instantly recognisable 'cursive' logo that has been its brand identity for the last 136 years. The healthcare giant on Thursday (September 14) said it will replace the logo with a modern look that reflects its sharpened focus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Johnson & Johnson is bidding adieu to its old, instantly recognisable 'cursive' logo that has been its brand identity for the last 136 years. The healthcare giant on Thursday (September 14) said it will replace the logo with a modern look that reflects its sharpened focus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The original logo based on co-founder James Wood Johnson’s handwritten cursive signature will be replaced by a rather plain font with a different shade of red, which will aim to recognise the company's shift into a “pure play health care company". "The new Johnson & Johnson brand identity builds on the company’s legacy, while also modernising key elements to showcase healthcare innovation in a way that’s inclusive and brings the company's warm, caring nature to life," the pharma giant said in an official release. The pharma company added that the "new ampersand captures a caring, human nature" and "presents itself as a more globally recognisable symbol," representing "the openness of the brand, as well as the connections that bring the company’s purpose to life". Watch | Johnson & Johnson offers $8.9 bn talcum powder settlement | World Business News × Response from netizens The netizens had a subdued response to the announcement with one saying: "I'm not a marketing guru, but if something has worked for 136 years why mess with success?" while another added: "The new logo might take some time getting used to but it sure looks modern." A third responded saying: "This will not boost sales, but rather cause confusion. This is devoid of any consumer input. The original signature spoke to a pride of ownership. This new move makes me question what they are committed to for the next generation." Although it is a big change for the company, shoppers are unlikely to notice the difference in the short term as the cursive logo will still be used on the brand's consumer products such as Band-Aid and Tylenol. Also read | India: Maharashtra cancels Johnson & Johnson baby powder manufacturing licence Notably, Johnson & Johnson recently split into two companies, with one focusing on medical devices and medications while the other primarily zoning in on consumer health products, under the brand named 'Kenvue'. A Kenvue spokesperson said the J&J branding on products like Band-Aids will gradually be removed. The signature logo was most prominently displayed on the bottles of the company's now-discontinued talcum-based baby powder, accused of causing cancer in hundreds of lawsuits - a claim that the company has denied vehemently. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Johnson & Johnson has ditched its 136-year-old iconic logo. Know why

<p>Google will be coughing up $93 million to settle a lawsuit, filed by California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta over the company’s deceptive and misleading tactics for managing location data of users.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bonta announced the settlement on Thursday (September 14), saying the search engine giant had&nbsp;agreed to a number of&nbsp;new restrictions pertaining to its location services and deceptive communications.</p>

<p>The case was filed after it emerged that Google was not delivering the 'privacy' experience it had promised its users.</p>

<p>The Golden State in its complaint said Google was able to "profile" and bombard users with targeted advertising, even when they had turned off their "Location History" setting. Meaning, that the company deceived the public about their ability, or rather inability to block ads they did not want.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Google was telling its users one thing that it would no longer track their location once they opted out but doing the&nbsp;opposite&nbsp;and continuing to&nbsp;track&nbsp;its users' movements&nbsp;for its own commercial gain. That's unacceptable," Bonta was quoted as saying by Reuters.</p>

<p>Advertisements are the major source of revenue for Google. In the first half of 2023, the company has managed to generate $110.9 billion in ad revenue alone, which is 81 per cent of its total $137.7 billion earnings.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Repeated offender</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Thursday wasn't the first instance when Google has agreed to pay such a fine. In November last year, the tech behemoth agreed to&nbsp;pay $391.5 million to resolve similar allegations by 40 US states.</p>

<p>While California chose to sue Google on its own, states such as Arizona and Washington settled.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-justice-department-to-sue-google-for-the-second-time-report-555359">US justice department to sue Google for the second time over market dominance: Report</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Antitrust trial against Google&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Google agreeing to pay the settlement comes days after one of the biggest antitrust trials in US history in the last two decades, got underway in&nbsp;Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the opening remarks, the US Department of Justice (DoJ)&nbsp;accused Google of paying a whopping $10 billion a year to Apple and other companies to maintain its monopoly in the search engine market.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-suing-google-for-anti-trust-violations-us-state-allies-not-seeking-monetary-penalty-wion-635324"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US suing Google for anti-trust violations; US &amp; state allies not seeking monetary penalty | WION</strong></a></p>

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<p>Justice Department lawyer Kenneth Dintzer told&nbsp;Judge Amit P. Mehta, who is presiding over the case that Google paid the said $10 billion amount every year to Apple and others to&nbsp;secure its search engine's default status on phones and web browsers, thereby burying upstarts before they have a chance to grow.</p>

<p>Unlike the California settlement,&nbsp;Google is not expected to face a monetary penalty in the trial as the DoJ and state allies are seeking an injunction barring Google from continuing the alleged "exclusionary" anti-competitive practices.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Google will be coughing up $93 million to settle a lawsuit, filed by California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta over the company’s deceptive and misleading tactics for managing location data of users.

Google will be coughing up $93 million to settle a lawsuit, filed by California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta over the company’s deceptive and misleading tactics for managing location data of users. Bonta announced the settlement on Thursday (September 14), saying the search engine giant had agreed to a number of new restrictions pertaining to its location services and deceptive communications. The case was filed after it emerged that Google was not delivering the 'privacy' experience it had promised its users. The Golden State in its complaint said Google was able to "profile" and bombard users with targeted advertising, even when they had turned off their "Location History" setting. Meaning, that the company deceived the public about their ability, or rather inability to block ads they did not want. "Google was telling its users one thing that it would no longer track their location once they opted out but doing the opposite and continuing to track its users' movements for its own commercial gain. That's unacceptable," Bonta was quoted as saying by Reuters. Advertisements are the major source of revenue for Google. In the first half of 2023, the company has managed to generate $110.9 billion in ad revenue alone, which is 81 per cent of its total $137.7 billion earnings. Repeated offender Notably, Thursday wasn't the first instance when Google has agreed to pay such a fine. In November last year, the tech behemoth agreed to pay $391.5 million to resolve similar allegations by 40 US states. While California chose to sue Google on its own, states such as Arizona and Washington settled. Also read | US justice department to sue Google for the second time over market dominance: Report Antitrust trial against Google Google agreeing to pay the settlement comes days after one of the biggest antitrust trials in US history in the last two decades, got underway in Washington. During the opening remarks, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) accused Google of paying a whopping $10 billion a year to Apple and other companies to maintain its monopoly in the search engine market. Watch | US suing Google for anti-trust violations; US & state allies not seeking monetary penalty | WION × Justice Department lawyer Kenneth Dintzer told Judge Amit P. Mehta, who is presiding over the case that Google paid the said $10 billion amount every year to Apple and others to secure its search engine's default status on phones and web browsers, thereby burying upstarts before they have a chance to grow. Unlike the California settlement, Google is not expected to face a monetary penalty in the trial as the DoJ and state allies are seeking an injunction barring Google from continuing the alleged "exclusionary" anti-competitive practices. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Google to cough up $93 million to California in deceptive 'location privacy' settlement

<p>The US State Department on Wednesday approved a $5 billion sale of top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to South Korea. The announcement came in the backdrop of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin for a rare summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The State Department informed Congress that it had green-lit the sale of 25 fighter jets, as well as engines and related equipment,&nbsp;developed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It [the sale] will improve the Republic of Korea's capability to meet current and future threats by providing credible defence capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with US forces," the State Department said in a&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kim-putin-meet-meet-with-putin-stepping-stone-to-stronger-ties-says-kim-jong-un-635580"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Kim-Putin meet: Meet with Putin stepping stone to stronger ties, says Kim Jong-un</strong></a></p>

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<p>The sale comes as tensions rise due to increased&nbsp;cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Kim met Putin on Wednesday (September 13) and the two leaders discussed&nbsp;world affairs as well as areas of collaboration.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Russian army and people will certainly win a great victory in the sacred struggle for the punishment of a great evil that claims hegemony and feeds an expansionist illusion," Kim said praising Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Putin confirmed that Moscow would help North Korea build satellites.&nbsp;Putin said: "That's why we came here."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-assures-to-build-satellites-for-north-korea-kim-supports-sacred-battle-with-west-635566"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Putin assures to build satellites for North Korea, Kim supports ‘sacred battle’ with West</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Washington&nbsp;not impressed&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In the aftermath, the US State Department released a statement, saying it was&nbsp;"troubling" that the Kremlin would discuss cooperation with Pyongyang&nbsp;on programmes that are in contravention of the UN Security Council resolutions</p>

<p>"We have taken a number of actions already to sanction entities that brokered arms sales between North Korea and Russia, and we won't hesitate to impose additional sanctions if appropriate," said spokesman Matthew Miller.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kim has repeatedly called out the&nbsp;US-South Korea alliance and recently criticised Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, held in the peninsula.&nbsp;Pyongyang is of the view that the exercise was a rehearsal for invasion while the two allies maintain it was for defensive purposes. The military drill came to an end on August 31.</p>

<p>With Pyongyang growing closer to Moscow, the approval of the sale of F-35s is an attempt by Washington to keep an upper hand in the region. The US only approves the sale&nbsp;of the jets to its closest partners, with Turkey&nbsp;booted from the F-35 programme after a major purchase from Russia of a missile defence system.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The US State Department on Wednesday approved a $5 billion sale of top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to South Korea. The announcement came in the backdrop of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin for a rare summit.

The US State Department on Wednesday approved a $5 billion sale of top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to South Korea. The announcement came in the backdrop of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin for a rare summit. The State Department informed Congress that it had green-lit the sale of 25 fighter jets, as well as engines and related equipment, developed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. "It [the sale] will improve the Republic of Korea's capability to meet current and future threats by providing credible defence capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with US forces," the State Department said in a statement. "The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region," it added. Watch | Kim-Putin meet: Meet with Putin stepping stone to stronger ties, says Kim Jong-un × The sale comes as tensions rise due to increased cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Kim met Putin on Wednesday (September 13) and the two leaders discussed world affairs as well as areas of collaboration. "The Russian army and people will certainly win a great victory in the sacred struggle for the punishment of a great evil that claims hegemony and feeds an expansionist illusion," Kim said praising Russia. Meanwhile, Putin confirmed that Moscow would help North Korea build satellites. Putin said: "That's why we came here." Also read | Putin assures to build satellites for North Korea, Kim supports ‘sacred battle’ with West Washington not impressed In the aftermath, the US State Department released a statement, saying it was "troubling" that the Kremlin would discuss cooperation with Pyongyang on programmes that are in contravention of the UN Security Council resolutions "We have taken a number of actions already to sanction entities that brokered arms sales between North Korea and Russia, and we won't hesitate to impose additional sanctions if appropriate," said spokesman Matthew Miller. Kim has repeatedly called out the US-South Korea alliance and recently criticised Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, held in the peninsula. Pyongyang is of the view that the exercise was a rehearsal for invasion while the two allies maintain it was for defensive purposes. The military drill came to an end on August 31. With Pyongyang growing closer to Moscow, the approval of the sale of F-35s is an attempt by Washington to keep an upper hand in the region. The US only approves the sale of the jets to its closest partners, with Turkey booted from the F-35 programme after a major purchase from Russia of a missile defence system. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

As Kim visits Putin, US approves $5 billion sale of F-35 jets to South Korea

<p>Over two weeks after escaping a&nbsp;Pennsylvania prison by climbing between the walls, murderer&nbsp;Danelo Cavalacante is still on the loose. On Monday (September 11), the Brazilian broke into a home garage&nbsp;near Bucktown and escaped with a&nbsp;.22 calibre rifle with a scope and flashlight attached to the weapon, while the authorities involved in the manhunt remained hapless.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pennsylvania police spokesman George Bivens informed that the killer was confronted by the homeowner upon entering the property. Despite firing a few rounds from the pistol, the homeowner seemed to have missed the fugitive, who got away.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-killer-escapes-by-crab-walking-wall-of-us-prison-second-such-case-in-a-year-633201"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Killer escapes by 'crab-walking' wall of US prison; second such case in a year</strong></a></p>

<p>Bivens&nbsp;said&nbsp;Cavalcante&nbsp;is "considered armed and extremely dangerous" as schools outside&nbsp;Philadelphia were closed and residents told to lock their doors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We're not evacuating homes at this point. We're asking residents to be vigilant and, again, lock their doors," Bivens said.</p>

<p>Currently, around 500 officers, including&nbsp;heavily armed tactical units, are combing the area to find the 34-year-old fugitive,&nbsp;who has popped up repeatedly on residential security footage and even nature cameras set up to monitor wildlife.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-tiktok-killer-trend-leads-to-hospitalisations-621176"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Tiktok killer trend leads to hospitalisations</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Cavalcante's escape</strong></h2>

<p>It was on August 31 that&nbsp;Cavalcante, who measures just&nbsp;five feet (1.52 meters) tall, managed to escape the prison, in a rather daring manner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the escape, the police officials released the footage of Cavalcante's stunt where he could be seen&nbsp;crab-walking up between two walls separated by a 5 ft (1.5m) hallway, in broad daylight</p>

<p>At the time of the escape, just before 9: 00 am&nbsp;local time, there was a corrections officer in the observation tower. But the officer apparently failed to monitor the security feed.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">CHESTER COUNTY PRISON OFFICIALS RELEASE VIDEO OF DANELO CAVALCANTE'S ESCAPE FROM THE EXERCISE YARD<br />
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Internal and criminal investigations into the escape of Cavalcante are ongoing, and Prison Officials will provide additional information as able. <a href="https://t.co/Thg2YzAOQ0">pic.twitter.com/Thg2YzAOQ0</a></p>
— Chester County District Attorney's Office (@chescoda) <a href="https://twitter.com/chescoda/status/1699518445442699775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Cavalcante was sentenced to life imprisonment in July after being found guilty of brutally stabbing ex-girlfriend Deborah Brando to death in April 2021 in front of her two infants. He is also wanted for&nbsp;murder in Brazil.</p>

<p>The police, desperate to catch the fugitive, have&nbsp;upped the reward for information&nbsp;from $20,000 to $25,000. The officials say&nbsp;Cavalcante has&nbsp;changed his appearance, shaving off the dark beard and moustache seen on his original "wanted" poster.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Over two weeks after escaping a Pennsylvania prison by climbing between the walls, murderer Danelo Cavalacante is still on the loose. On Monday (September 11), the Brazilian broke into a home garage near Bucktown and escaped with a .

Over two weeks after escaping a Pennsylvania prison by climbing between the walls, murderer Danelo Cavalacante is still on the loose. On Monday (September 11), the Brazilian broke into a home garage near Bucktown and escaped with a .22 calibre rifle with a scope and flashlight attached to the weapon, while the authorities involved in the manhunt remained hapless. Pennsylvania police spokesman George Bivens informed that the killer was confronted by the homeowner upon entering the property. Despite firing a few rounds from the pistol, the homeowner seemed to have missed the fugitive, who got away. Also read | Killer escapes by 'crab-walking' wall of US prison; second such case in a year Bivens said Cavalcante is "considered armed and extremely dangerous" as schools outside Philadelphia were closed and residents told to lock their doors. "We're not evacuating homes at this point. We're asking residents to be vigilant and, again, lock their doors," Bivens said. Currently, around 500 officers, including heavily armed tactical units, are combing the area to find the 34-year-old fugitive, who has popped up repeatedly on residential security footage and even nature cameras set up to monitor wildlife. Watch | Gravitas: Tiktok killer trend leads to hospitalisations × Cavalcante's escape It was on August 31 that Cavalcante, who measures just five feet (1.52 meters) tall, managed to escape the prison, in a rather daring manner. After the escape, the police officials released the footage of Cavalcante's stunt where he could be seen crab-walking up between two walls separated by a 5 ft (1.5m) hallway, in broad daylight At the time of the escape, just before 9: 00 am local time, there was a corrections officer in the observation tower. But the officer apparently failed to monitor the security feed. CHESTER COUNTY PRISON OFFICIALS RELEASE VIDEO OF DANELO CAVALCANTE'S ESCAPE FROM THE EXERCISE YARD Internal and criminal investigations into the escape of Cavalcante are ongoing, and Prison Officials will provide additional information as able. pic.twitter.com/Thg2YzAOQ0 — Chester County District Attorney's Office (@chescoda) September 6, 2023 × Cavalcante was sentenced to life imprisonment in July after being found guilty of brutally stabbing ex-girlfriend Deborah Brando to death in April 2021 in front of her two infants. He is also wanted for murder in Brazil. The police, desperate to catch the fugitive, have upped the reward for information from $20,000 to $25,000. The officials say Cavalcante has changed his appearance, shaving off the dark beard and moustache seen on his original "wanted" poster. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Killer who escaped Pennsylvania prison now armed with stolen rifle as manhunt continues

<p>Poverty increased sharply in the last year in the US, new data published by the Census Bureau on Tuesday (September 12) has shown. The rising cost of living and the government pulling the plug on federal programmes that provided aid to families during the pandemic were cited as a few of the many reasons that contributed to increased poverty, particularly among children.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In total, 12.4 per cent of Americans lived in poverty in 2022, which was a significant uptick from 7.8 per cent in 2021, the bureau said. Inflation played a part in the increase as nominal gains were cancelled out by&nbsp;record-high inflation numbers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report stated that inflation-adjusted, median household incomes in the US fell by 2.3 per cent in 2022, compared to the year prior - making it the third straight year when median household incomes had declined.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, in 2021, a family of four living in a rental home was&nbsp;considered poor if the income was less than&nbsp;$31,453. However, the metric shot up to $34,518 in 2022 as families below this number were classified as poor in the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, the poverty rate for children in 2022 doubled from the previous year, primarily due to the loss of the expanded Child Tax Credit&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The steeper relative declines in post-tax income at the bottom and middle of the income distribution are attributable to the expiration of a number of tax policies," Census Bureau official Liana Fox was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cartonomics-decoding-the-state-of-us-economy-626756"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Cartonomics: Decoding the state of US economy</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Biden reacts</strong></h2>

<p>President Joe Biden, reflecting on the damning data, blamed the GOP lawmakers for refusing to extend Child Tax Credit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The rise reported today in child poverty is no accident, it is the result of a deliberate policy choice congressional Republicans made to block help for families with children while advancing massive tax cuts for the wealthiest and largest corporations," said Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"No child should grow up in poverty, and I will continue to fight to restore the expanded Child Tax Credit to give tens of millions of families the tax relief and breathing room they deserve," he added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/forecast-chinas-slowdown-means-it-may-not-surpass-us-economy-632540"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Forecast: China’s slowdown means it may not surpass US economy</strong></a></p>

<p>The White House added that more recent data might "tell a more optimistic story" as inflation had cooled in the past few months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Experts have warned that the increase in poverty, particularly amongst children, could worsen over the next year if the government and politicians fail to fill in the financial gaps with social safety net programmes for struggling families.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Poverty increased sharply in the last year in the US, new data published by the Census Bureau on Tuesday (September 12) has shown. The rising cost of living and the government pulling the plug on federal programmes that provided aid to families during the pandemic were cited as a few of the many reasons that contributed to increased poverty, particularly among children.

Poverty increased sharply in the last year in the US, new data published by the Census Bureau on Tuesday (September 12) has shown. The rising cost of living and the government pulling the plug on federal programmes that provided aid to families during the pandemic were cited as a few of the many reasons that contributed to increased poverty, particularly among children. In total, 12.4 per cent of Americans lived in poverty in 2022, which was a significant uptick from 7.8 per cent in 2021, the bureau said. Inflation played a part in the increase as nominal gains were cancelled out by record-high inflation numbers. The report stated that inflation-adjusted, median household incomes in the US fell by 2.3 per cent in 2022, compared to the year prior - making it the third straight year when median household incomes had declined. Notably, in 2021, a family of four living in a rental home was considered poor if the income was less than $31,453. However, the metric shot up to $34,518 in 2022 as families below this number were classified as poor in the report. Additionally, the poverty rate for children in 2022 doubled from the previous year, primarily due to the loss of the expanded Child Tax Credit "The steeper relative declines in post-tax income at the bottom and middle of the income distribution are attributable to the expiration of a number of tax policies," Census Bureau official Liana Fox was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. Watch | Cartonomics: Decoding the state of US economy × Biden reacts President Joe Biden, reflecting on the damning data, blamed the GOP lawmakers for refusing to extend Child Tax Credit. "The rise reported today in child poverty is no accident, it is the result of a deliberate policy choice congressional Republicans made to block help for families with children while advancing massive tax cuts for the wealthiest and largest corporations," said Biden. "No child should grow up in poverty, and I will continue to fight to restore the expanded Child Tax Credit to give tens of millions of families the tax relief and breathing room they deserve," he added. Also read | Forecast: China’s slowdown means it may not surpass US economy The White House added that more recent data might "tell a more optimistic story" as inflation had cooled in the past few months. Experts have warned that the increase in poverty, particularly amongst children, could worsen over the next year if the government and politicians fail to fill in the financial gaps with social safety net programmes for struggling families. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Poverty rate increased in the US in 2022: Census Bureau

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<p>Five former Memphis police officers charged with the killing of Black motorist Tyre Nichols were indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday (September 12), announced the Department of Justice (DoJ).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The jury said the five officers, who have been terminated from their jobs, "willfully deprived Nichols of his constitutional rights," resulting in "bodily injury and the death of Nichols". They charged the men, all Black with federal civil rights, conspiracy, and obstruction offenses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, each of the two civil rights charges carries a maximum punishment of life in prison if convicted while the other two counts have a maximum sentence of 20 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The country watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased and pepper sprayed," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a brief video statement posted online.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tyre-nichols-death-timeline-of-investigation-memphis-police-body-cam-footage-family-reaction-556690" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Tyre Nichols Death: Timeline of investigation, Memphis police body cam footage &amp; family reaction</strong></a></p>

<p>Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr., Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith are the accused in the case and have already been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and "official oppression" by the state prosecutors in Tennessee.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Tyre Nichols should be alive today. No one in this country should have to bury a loved one because of police violence," Kristen Clarke, who leads the DoJ's civil rights division, told a press conference.</p>

<p>Attorney Micahel Stengel, representing the defence, reflected on the indictment and said: "The indictment is disappointing, but not surprising."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tyre-nichols-death-horrifying-video-of-beating-released-president-biden-says-outraged-and-pained-556694"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Tyre Nichols death: Horrifying video of beating released, President Biden says 'outraged and pained'</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened to Nichols?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a statement from Memphis police, on January 7 at around 8:30 pm, the accused police officers pulled Nichols for alleged reckless driving. After being confronted, Nichols fled the spot, before being caught and arrested by the police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The body camera footage which was released days after the incident showed Nichols being kicked, punched in the face and head, and assaulted with a baton by the police.</p>

<p>Nichols, who was 29 at the time and aspired to be a photographer could be heard calling for his mother during the beating, expressing disbelief at being targeted and saying: "I'm just trying to go home."</p>

<p>The case renewed a long-running national discussion of race relations and police brutality.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Five former Memphis police officers charged with the killing of Black motorist Tyre Nichols were indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday (September 12), announced the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Five former Memphis police officers charged with the killing of Black motorist Tyre Nichols were indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday (September 12), announced the Department of Justice (DoJ). The jury said the five officers, who have been terminated from their jobs, "willfully deprived Nichols of his constitutional rights," resulting in "bodily injury and the death of Nichols". They charged the men, all Black with federal civil rights, conspiracy, and obstruction offenses. Notably, each of the two civil rights charges carries a maximum punishment of life in prison if convicted while the other two counts have a maximum sentence of 20 years. "The country watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased and pepper sprayed," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a brief video statement posted online. Also read | Tyre Nichols Death: Timeline of investigation, Memphis police body cam footage & family reaction Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr., Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith are the accused in the case and have already been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and "official oppression" by the state prosecutors in Tennessee. "Tyre Nichols should be alive today. No one in this country should have to bury a loved one because of police violence," Kristen Clarke, who leads the DoJ's civil rights division, told a press conference. Attorney Micahel Stengel, representing the defence, reflected on the indictment and said: "The indictment is disappointing, but not surprising." Watch | Tyre Nichols death: Horrifying video of beating released, President Biden says 'outraged and pained' × What happened to Nichols? According to a statement from Memphis police, on January 7 at around 8:30 pm, the accused police officers pulled Nichols for alleged reckless driving. After being confronted, Nichols fled the spot, before being caught and arrested by the police. The body camera footage which was released days after the incident showed Nichols being kicked, punched in the face and head, and assaulted with a baton by the police. Nichols, who was 29 at the time and aspired to be a photographer could be heard calling for his mother during the beating, expressing disbelief at being targeted and saying: "I'm just trying to go home." The case renewed a long-running national discussion of race relations and police brutality. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Five Black ex-Memphis police officers charged for beating Tyre Nichols to death

<p>The US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Tuesday (September 12) accused Google of paying a whopping $10 billion a year to Apple and other companies to maintain its monopoly in the search engine market. The accusation was hurled during the opening day of the antitrust trial, dubbed the biggest case in the US in more than two decades, underway in Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This case is about the future of the internet and whether Google will ever face meaningful competition in search," Justice Department lawyer Kenneth Dintzer was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dintzer told&nbsp;Judge Amit P. Mehta, who is presiding over the case that Google paid the said $10 billion amount every year to Apple and others to&nbsp;secure its search engine's default status on phones and web browsers, thereby burying upstarts before they have a chance to grow.</p>

<p>The US government is of the opinion that the tech giant gained domination in the market using 'unfair means'. It forged exclusivity contracts with device makers, mobile operators and other companies that left rivals with little to no chance of standing any competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-suing-google-for-anti-trust-violations-us-state-allies-not-seeking-monetary-penalty-wion-635324"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US suing Google for anti-trust violations; US &amp; state allies not seeking monetary penalty | WION</strong></a></p>

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<p>Dintzer stated that over the last decade, Google created a&nbsp;"feedback loop", in which its domination grew manifolds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Through this feedback loop, this wheel has been turning for more than 12 years. It always turns to Google's advantage."</p>

<p>Responding to the allegations, Google's attorney John Schmidtlein in the opening remarks said:&nbsp;“Apple repeatedly chose Google as the default because Apple believed it was the best experience for its users."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-justice-department-to-sue-google-for-the-second-time-report-555359">US justice department to sue Google for the second time over market dominance: Report</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Trial to last nearly three months&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Over the next 10 weeks, Judge Mehta will hear more than 100 witness testimonies and decide whether the case brought by the US Department of Justice has any merit or not.&nbsp;Google CEO Sundar Pichai, as well as other senior executives or former employees from Google, Apple<strong>,&nbsp;</strong>Microsoft and Samsung, are expected to take the stand and give their testimony.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His ruling, as per AFP, is expected "many months" after the roughly three months of expected hearings. Even then, Google is not expected to face a monetary penalty as the DoJ and state allies are seeking an injunction barring Google from continuing the alleged "exclusionary" anti-competitive practices</p>

<p>Notably, the last time the US government went hammer and tongs against a tech giant was in the 1990s. During that time, the US government targeted Microsoft over the dominance of its Windows operating system.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Tuesday (September 12) accused Google of paying a whopping $10 billion a year to Apple and other companies to maintain its monopoly in the search engine market.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Tuesday (September 12) accused Google of paying a whopping $10 billion a year to Apple and other companies to maintain its monopoly in the search engine market. The accusation was hurled during the opening day of the antitrust trial, dubbed the biggest case in the US in more than two decades, underway in Washington. "This case is about the future of the internet and whether Google will ever face meaningful competition in search," Justice Department lawyer Kenneth Dintzer was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. Dintzer told Judge Amit P. Mehta, who is presiding over the case that Google paid the said $10 billion amount every year to Apple and others to secure its search engine's default status on phones and web browsers, thereby burying upstarts before they have a chance to grow. The US government is of the opinion that the tech giant gained domination in the market using 'unfair means'. It forged exclusivity contracts with device makers, mobile operators and other companies that left rivals with little to no chance of standing any competition. Watch | US suing Google for anti-trust violations; US & state allies not seeking monetary penalty | WION × Dintzer stated that over the last decade, Google created a "feedback loop", in which its domination grew manifolds. "Through this feedback loop, this wheel has been turning for more than 12 years. It always turns to Google's advantage." Responding to the allegations, Google's attorney John Schmidtlein in the opening remarks said: “Apple repeatedly chose Google as the default because Apple believed it was the best experience for its users." Also read | US justice department to sue Google for the second time over market dominance: Report Trial to last nearly three months Over the next 10 weeks, Judge Mehta will hear more than 100 witness testimonies and decide whether the case brought by the US Department of Justice has any merit or not. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, as well as other senior executives or former employees from Google, Apple, Microsoft and Samsung, are expected to take the stand and give their testimony. His ruling, as per AFP, is expected "many months" after the roughly three months of expected hearings. Even then, Google is not expected to face a monetary penalty as the DoJ and state allies are seeking an injunction barring Google from continuing the alleged "exclusionary" anti-competitive practices Notably, the last time the US government went hammer and tongs against a tech giant was in the 1990s. During that time, the US government targeted Microsoft over the dominance of its Windows operating system. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US DoJ claims Google pays Apple and others $10 billion a year to dominate search engine market

<p>US President Joe Biden flouted the COVID-19 guidelines on Wednesday (September 6) by not wearing a mask, despite being exposed to the virus as his wife Jill Biden tested positive for it&nbsp;earlier in the week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I've been tested again today, I’m clear across the board. But they keep telling me, because this has to be 10 days or something, I got to keep wearing it,"&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;said in his opening remarks on a dockworkers deal to a small audience.</p>

<p>"But don’t tell them I didn’t have it on when I walked in, alright?" he added with a grin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hours earlier, his aides had said the US president would obey US masking guidelines following his wife's positive diagnosis, including wearing one around others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, it wasn't the first instance in the week that Biden had broken his government's guidelines. The Democrat leader was criticised on Tuesday after he removed his mask while&nbsp;draping the Medal of Honor around the neck of an octogenarian Vietnam War veteran at the White House.</p>

<p>The 80-year-old president was later blasted as disrespectful after he hastily exited the East Room before the ceremony had even concluded.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-tests-covid-negative-all-set-to-visit-india-for-g20-632768"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US President Joe Biden tests Covid negative, all set to visit India on Sept 7 for G20 Summit</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Biden's departure was to avoid COVID-19 exposure</strong></h2>

<p>Explaining the abrupt departure of the president, White House Press Secretary&nbsp;Karine Jean-Pierre offered a rather lousy excuse, saying it was to "minimise" COVID-19 exposure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“He left when there was a pause in the programme in order to minimise his close contact with attendees who are who are about to participate in a reception,” Jean-Pierre said.</p>

<p>"And as you all reported that, noticed that he left when there was a pause in the programme because, again, he wanted to minimise certainly his impact on folks who were there.”</p>

<p><strong>G20 Summit 2023: President Joe Biden to kick off India visit on September 7</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>G20 still on for Biden</strong></h2>

<p>Despite the controversy, Biden will be travelling to the Indian capital city of New Delhi for the G20 Summit after testing negative for Covid, the White House confirmed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"On Thursday, the President will travel to New Delhi to attend the G20 leader's summit. On Friday, President Biden will participate in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi and on Saturday and Sunday, he will participate in the official sessions of the G20 summit,” US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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US President Joe Biden flouted the COVID-19 guidelines on Wednesday (September 6) by not wearing a mask, despite being exposed to the virus as his wife Jill Biden tested positive for it earlier in the week.

US President Joe Biden flouted the COVID-19 guidelines on Wednesday (September 6) by not wearing a mask, despite being exposed to the virus as his wife Jill Biden tested positive for it earlier in the week. "I've been tested again today, I’m clear across the board. But they keep telling me, because this has to be 10 days or something, I got to keep wearing it," Biden said in his opening remarks on a dockworkers deal to a small audience. "But don’t tell them I didn’t have it on when I walked in, alright?" he added with a grin. Hours earlier, his aides had said the US president would obey US masking guidelines following his wife's positive diagnosis, including wearing one around others. However, it wasn't the first instance in the week that Biden had broken his government's guidelines. The Democrat leader was criticised on Tuesday after he removed his mask while draping the Medal of Honor around the neck of an octogenarian Vietnam War veteran at the White House. The 80-year-old president was later blasted as disrespectful after he hastily exited the East Room before the ceremony had even concluded. Also read | US President Joe Biden tests Covid negative, all set to visit India on Sept 7 for G20 Summit Biden's departure was to avoid COVID-19 exposure Explaining the abrupt departure of the president, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offered a rather lousy excuse, saying it was to "minimise" COVID-19 exposure. “He left when there was a pause in the programme in order to minimise his close contact with attendees who are who are about to participate in a reception,” Jean-Pierre said. "And as you all reported that, noticed that he left when there was a pause in the programme because, again, he wanted to minimise certainly his impact on folks who were there.” G20 Summit 2023: President Joe Biden to kick off India visit on September 7 G20 still on for Biden Despite the controversy, Biden will be travelling to the Indian capital city of New Delhi for the G20 Summit after testing negative for Covid, the White House confirmed. "On Thursday, the President will travel to New Delhi to attend the G20 leader's summit. On Friday, President Biden will participate in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi and on Saturday and Sunday, he will participate in the official sessions of the G20 summit,” US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Joe Biden flouts COVID-19 guidelines, laughs off wearing masks despite exposure to virus

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<p>A judge in the US state of California has temporarily halted a school district in the southern region of the state&nbsp;from requiring parents to be informed if their children change their gender identification or pronouns at the school.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Judge Thomas S. Garza of the San Bernardino County Superior Court passed the judgement after California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Chino Valley Unified School District for adopting the policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the hearing, the judge questioned why the policy came up in the first place and how did it protect students.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the lawsuit, Bonta accused the school district of violating the Protection Clause and Education and Government Code and constitutional right to privacy. He said the policy will out transgender students to their parents and threaten their well-being.</p>

<p>“Today’s decision by the San Bernardino Superior Court rightfully upholds the state rights of our LGBTQ+ students and protects kids from harm by immediately halting the board’s forced outing policy,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.</p>

<p>"While this fight is far from over, today’s ruling takes a significant step towards ensuring the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of inclusivity," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/this-us-state-has-approved-construction-of-monument-dedicated-to-aborted-fetuses-574247" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | This US state has approved construction of monument dedicated to aborted fetuses</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>School district expresses disappointment</strong></h2>

<p>After the verdict, Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified Board of Education said she was disappointed but hoped that the ruling would bring attention to the issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I don’t understand why they are so gung ho on this issue, but everything else we have to inform the parents about. There is obviously an issue and parents are concerned," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"They picked the wrong parents to fight with. These are our children and we love them, and we care for them, and we are not a danger to them, and we will make sure that is known, and we will show our children that we will not be submissive to unlawful ways to shut us out."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/transgender-rights-activists-clash-with-neo-nazis-in-melbourne-573615"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Transgender rights activists clash with Neo-Nazi's in Melbourne</strong></a></p>

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<p>Notably, it was in July that the school district, located about 35 miles (60 kilometres) east of Los Angeles, approved the policy that required officials to notify parents if their child changed pronouns or insisted on using different bathrooms that did not align with their birth certificate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Across the US, the debate over transgender rights has intensified as some states have imposed bans on gender-affirming care and prohibited transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. Similarly, other state&nbsp;laws require schools to "out" transgender and nonbinary students to their parents.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A judge in the US state of California has temporarily halted a school district in the southern region of the state from requiring parents to be informed if their children change their gender identification or pronouns at the school.

A judge in the US state of California has temporarily halted a school district in the southern region of the state from requiring parents to be informed if their children change their gender identification or pronouns at the school. Judge Thomas S. Garza of the San Bernardino County Superior Court passed the judgement after California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Chino Valley Unified School District for adopting the policy. During the hearing, the judge questioned why the policy came up in the first place and how did it protect students. In the lawsuit, Bonta accused the school district of violating the Protection Clause and Education and Government Code and constitutional right to privacy. He said the policy will out transgender students to their parents and threaten their well-being. “Today’s decision by the San Bernardino Superior Court rightfully upholds the state rights of our LGBTQ+ students and protects kids from harm by immediately halting the board’s forced outing policy,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. "While this fight is far from over, today’s ruling takes a significant step towards ensuring the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of inclusivity," he added. Also read | This US state has approved construction of monument dedicated to aborted fetuses School district expresses disappointment After the verdict, Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified Board of Education said she was disappointed but hoped that the ruling would bring attention to the issue. “I don’t understand why they are so gung ho on this issue, but everything else we have to inform the parents about. There is obviously an issue and parents are concerned," she said. "They picked the wrong parents to fight with. These are our children and we love them, and we care for them, and we are not a danger to them, and we will make sure that is known, and we will show our children that we will not be submissive to unlawful ways to shut us out." WATCH | Transgender rights activists clash with Neo-Nazi's in Melbourne Notably, it was in July that the school district, located about 35 miles (60 kilometres) east of Los Angeles, approved the policy that required officials to notify parents if their child changed pronouns or insisted on using different bathrooms that did not align with their birth certificate. Across the US, the debate over transgender rights has intensified as some states have imposed bans on gender-affirming care and prohibited transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. Similarly, other state laws require schools to "out" transgender and nonbinary students to their parents. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

California court blocks school district's transgender parent disclosure policy

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<p>The US National Hurricane Centre on Tuesday said newly formed Tropical Storm Lee might rapidly intensify into an "extremely dangerous" hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean by this weekend. The storm could metamorphose into a major category 3 or stronger hurricane by Friday (September 8) with leeward Caribbean islands expected to feel its impact.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of this system," the centre said in its public advisory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a CNN report, anyone in the eastern Caribbean – including the leeward islands such as&nbsp;Puerto Rico and Hispaniola – as well as the Bahamas will need to keep a close eye on the forecast.</p>

<p>The forecasters said the wind speed could easily reach 150 mph on Sunday evening. Currently, the tropical storm is mustering maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and moving about 1,230 miles east of the Leeward Islands, which include the Virgin Islands, Saint Martin, and Antigua and Barbuda.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-idalia-us-president-biden-visits-florida-to-survey-destruction-meets-victims-631866" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Hurricane Idalia: US President Biden visits Florida to survey destruction, meets victims</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Will it hit the US mainland?</strong></h2>

<p>The hurricane centre said it is too soon to call if the storm-turned-hurricane will impact the mainland US. However, the agency warned that even if the hurricane stays out, dangerous surf and rip currents could once again threaten the East Coast.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The storm might bring&nbsp;strong gusts, heavy rain, dangerous surf and extremely large waves. Experts say because Lee is expected to only hug the Caribbean islands and stay in the open waters, cruise lines might feel more of the impact.</p>

<p>Notably, Lee transformed into a tropical storm on Tuesday after forming in the morning, whilst moving through extremely warm waters of the Atlantic. According to scientists, rapid intensification takes place when a storm's winds increase quickly over a short period of time. The phenomenon is usually aided by warm ocean waters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/idalia-florida-assesses-storm-damage-amid-sense-of-relief-631146"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Idalia: Florida assesses storm damage amid sense of relief</strong></a></p>

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<p>Moving ahead, the storm has nearly all the ingredients required to become menacing in nature: Plenty of moisture, low wind shear and abnormally warm water along the entire stretch of the cyclone's projected path.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lee comes just a week after Hurricane Idalia smashed Haiti and parts of Florida.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was the largest hurricane to hit the US state in more than a century, with wind speeds hovering around 125 mph, leaving 500,000 residents without any power for days on stretch.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The US National Hurricane Centre on Tuesday said newly formed Tropical Storm Lee might rapidly intensify into an "extremely dangerous" hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean by this weekend.

The US National Hurricane Centre on Tuesday said newly formed Tropical Storm Lee might rapidly intensify into an "extremely dangerous" hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean by this weekend. The storm could metamorphose into a major category 3 or stronger hurricane by Friday (September 8) with leeward Caribbean islands expected to feel its impact. "There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of this system," the centre said in its public advisory. According to a CNN report, anyone in the eastern Caribbean – including the leeward islands such as Puerto Rico and Hispaniola – as well as the Bahamas will need to keep a close eye on the forecast. The forecasters said the wind speed could easily reach 150 mph on Sunday evening. Currently, the tropical storm is mustering maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and moving about 1,230 miles east of the Leeward Islands, which include the Virgin Islands, Saint Martin, and Antigua and Barbuda. Also read | Hurricane Idalia: US President Biden visits Florida to survey destruction, meets victims Will it hit the US mainland? The hurricane centre said it is too soon to call if the storm-turned-hurricane will impact the mainland US. However, the agency warned that even if the hurricane stays out, dangerous surf and rip currents could once again threaten the East Coast. The storm might bring strong gusts, heavy rain, dangerous surf and extremely large waves. Experts say because Lee is expected to only hug the Caribbean islands and stay in the open waters, cruise lines might feel more of the impact. Notably, Lee transformed into a tropical storm on Tuesday after forming in the morning, whilst moving through extremely warm waters of the Atlantic. According to scientists, rapid intensification takes place when a storm's winds increase quickly over a short period of time. The phenomenon is usually aided by warm ocean waters. Watch | Idalia: Florida assesses storm damage amid sense of relief × Moving ahead, the storm has nearly all the ingredients required to become menacing in nature: Plenty of moisture, low wind shear and abnormally warm water along the entire stretch of the cyclone's projected path. Lee comes just a week after Hurricane Idalia smashed Haiti and parts of Florida. It was the largest hurricane to hit the US state in more than a century, with wind speeds hovering around 125 mph, leaving 500,000 residents without any power for days on stretch. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tropical Storm Lee could transform into Category-3 hurricane by this date

<p>Receiving the gift of a lifetime on his birthday, 72-year-old&nbsp;Leonard Mack, a South Carolina resident was finally exonerated on Monday (September 5) after being wrongfully convicted of raping a Westchester County teenage girl, nearly five decades ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In one of the videos going viral on social media platforms, Mack can be seen hugging State Supreme Court Judge Anne E. Minihan who overturned his 1976 conviction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dubbed the longest wrongful conviction in American history by the Innocence Project, which led the campaign to absolve&nbsp;Mack, the&nbsp;conviction had left him languishing in prison for more than seven years.</p>

<p>“This is your day. You’ve waited much too long for it,” Minihan told him. “In what we do the stakes are very high and it’s important to get it right.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, I’m free at last.” Leonard Mack, exonerated after 47 years. This is the longest wrongful conviction overturned by DNA in U.S. history. <a href="https://t.co/0rvYk3YMMd">pic.twitter.com/0rvYk3YMMd</a></p>
— Innocence Project (@innocence) <a href="https://twitter.com/innocence/status/1699080540345839695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Leonard Mack has finally been exonerated after 48 yrs! Leonard was wrongfully convicted of rape in 1975, and served his entire 7.5 yr sentence. Since then, Leonard has lived with the stigma of being wrongly labeled a criminal. Today, he can FINALLY enjoy his freedom! <a href="https://t.co/BWAReTFuTr">pic.twitter.com/BWAReTFuTr</a></p>
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1699252781083689226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Advanced DNA testing came to Mack's rescue&nbsp;and proved that he was not behind the attacks. Instead, it was revealed that the heinous acts were performed by a sex offender who&nbsp;recently confessed to the disturbing crimes, said the&nbsp;Westchester District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We were able to prove Mr Mack’s innocence, in large part, due to our independent Conviction Review Unit’s commitment and Mr Mack’s unwavering strength fighting to clear his name for almost 50 years. This exoneration and the&nbsp;new DNA evidence&nbsp;confirm that wrongful convictions are not only harmful to the wrongly convicted but also make us all less safe," the DA's office added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/20-years-since-the-opening-of-guantanamo-bay-the-infamous-us-prison-443983" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | 20 years since the opening of Guantanamo Bay, the infamous US prison</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Police used aggressive tactics&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Mack, a Vietnam veteran, was only 23 when he was convicted of the 1975 gunpoint sex assaults on two Greenburgh teenagers in the woods near a local high school. Despite having a strong alibi, the police used aggressive tactics to get witnesses to identify him and wrongfully won a conviction.&nbsp;He was found guilty of raping one teen girl and trying to rape another.</p>

<p>“Today has been a long time coming. I lost seven-and-a-half years of my life in prison for a crime I did not commit and I have lived with this injustice hanging over my head for almost 50 years," said Mack after having his name cleared.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-two-men-wrongly-imprisoned-for-17-years-declared-innocent-to-receive-900k-in-compensation-585182"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US: Two men wrongly imprisoned for 17 years declared innocent; to receive $900k in compensation</strong></a></p>

<p>“It changed the course of my life,&nbsp;everything from where I lived to my relationship with my family. I never lost hope that one day that I would be proven innocent. Now the truth has come to light and I can finally breathe. I am finally free.”</p>

<p>After coming out of the court, an elated Mack said: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, I’m free at last.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong>&nbsp;</p>

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Receiving the gift of a lifetime on his birthday, 72-year-old Leonard Mack, a South Carolina resident was finally exonerated on Monday (September 5) after being wrongfully convicted of raping a Westchester County teenage girl, nearly five decades ago.

Receiving the gift of a lifetime on his birthday, 72-year-old Leonard Mack, a South Carolina resident was finally exonerated on Monday (September 5) after being wrongfully convicted of raping a Westchester County teenage girl, nearly five decades ago. In one of the videos going viral on social media platforms, Mack can be seen hugging State Supreme Court Judge Anne E. Minihan who overturned his 1976 conviction. Dubbed the longest wrongful conviction in American history by the Innocence Project, which led the campaign to absolve Mack, the conviction had left him languishing in prison for more than seven years. “This is your day. You’ve waited much too long for it,” Minihan told him. “In what we do the stakes are very high and it’s important to get it right.” “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, I’m free at last.” Leonard Mack, exonerated after 47 years. This is the longest wrongful conviction overturned by DNA in U.S. history. pic.twitter.com/0rvYk3YMMd — Innocence Project (@innocence) September 5, 2023 × Leonard Mack has finally been exonerated after 48 yrs! Leonard was wrongfully convicted of rape in 1975, and served his entire 7.5 yr sentence. Since then, Leonard has lived with the stigma of being wrongly labeled a criminal. Today, he can FINALLY enjoy his freedom! pic.twitter.com/BWAReTFuTr — Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 6, 2023 × Advanced DNA testing came to Mack's rescue and proved that he was not behind the attacks. Instead, it was revealed that the heinous acts were performed by a sex offender who recently confessed to the disturbing crimes, said the Westchester District Attorney’s Office. "We were able to prove Mr Mack’s innocence, in large part, due to our independent Conviction Review Unit’s commitment and Mr Mack’s unwavering strength fighting to clear his name for almost 50 years. This exoneration and the new DNA evidence confirm that wrongful convictions are not only harmful to the wrongly convicted but also make us all less safe," the DA's office added. WATCH | 20 years since the opening of Guantanamo Bay, the infamous US prison Police used aggressive tactics Mack, a Vietnam veteran, was only 23 when he was convicted of the 1975 gunpoint sex assaults on two Greenburgh teenagers in the woods near a local high school. Despite having a strong alibi, the police used aggressive tactics to get witnesses to identify him and wrongfully won a conviction. He was found guilty of raping one teen girl and trying to rape another. “Today has been a long time coming. I lost seven-and-a-half years of my life in prison for a crime I did not commit and I have lived with this injustice hanging over my head for almost 50 years," said Mack after having his name cleared. Also read | US: Two men wrongly imprisoned for 17 years declared innocent; to receive $900k in compensation “It changed the course of my life, everything from where I lived to my relationship with my family. I never lost hope that one day that I would be proven innocent. Now the truth has come to light and I can finally breathe. I am finally free.” After coming out of the court, an elated Mack said: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, I’m free at last.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch | Cleared of wrongful rape conviction after 47 years, man hugs judge, cries 'I'm free'

<p>Pakistan has blamed the US for a dramatic rise in the ability of the terrorist groups active in the region, which have of late launched a series of fatal attacks on its armed forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The leader of the caretaker government of Pakistan,&nbsp;&nbsp;Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, said Friday (September 1) that the military equipment left behind by the US during its hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan ended up strengthening the terrorist groups.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This hasty withdraw has had an impact not just on Pakistan but also on China, Iran, and Central Asian nations. The equipment greatly increased the terrorist organisations' capacity to attack our forces. Previously, they had limited capability to do so, but today because of this equipment, they can even target a finger, if they so want,” Kakar was quoted as saying by TOLO News.</p>

<h2><strong>Terrorism in Pakistan</strong></h2>

<p>Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in terror activity in the country following Kabul's fall more than two years ago. The latest attack was reported this Thursday (August 31), where&nbsp;a “motorcycle-borne” suicide bomber struck a military convoy in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&nbsp; province, killing at least nine soldiers and wounding several others.</p>

<p>Last week, six Pakistani soldiers were killed in a shootout with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgents in nearby South Waziristan district.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Massive protest erupts in Gilgit Baltistan against Pak govt after Shia cleric's arrest</strong></p>

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<p>In recent times, there has been a surge in attacks by the Pakistani Taliban and various other militant groups within the nation. This year alone, these acts of violence have resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 500 lives, including both civilians and members of the security forces.</p>

<p>Furthermore, the Pakistani army has also&nbsp;acknowledged the deaths of more than 140 soldiers so far this year.</p>

<p>Pakistan claims that fugitive leaders of the TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) have been increasingly orchestrating cross-border terrorism activities, utilising sanctuaries in Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/social-media-video-shows-anti-pakistan-protest-in-pok-reports-630608"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Social media video shows anti-Pakistan protest in PoK, threats of merger with India: Reports</strong></a></p>

<p>On the flip side, Taliban vehemently deny these allegations, asserting that they have not permitted the exploitation of Afghan territory for hostile actions against other nations, including Pakistan. It's important to note that the TTP is a recognised splinter group and a close associate of the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan.</p>

<h2><strong>Biden admin on Taliban</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, the New York Times quoted Biden administration officials as saying that Joe Biden has no plans to recognise and lift sanctions on the Islamic Emirate.</p>

<p>“Biden administration officials have ruled out the possibility that they would agree to Taliban demands for international recognition, sanctions relief and access to billions of dollars of assets frozen in the United States,” the report reads.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Pakistan has blamed the US for a dramatic rise in the ability of the terrorist groups active in the region, which have of late launched a series of fatal attacks on its armed forces.

Pakistan has blamed the US for a dramatic rise in the ability of the terrorist groups active in the region, which have of late launched a series of fatal attacks on its armed forces. The leader of the caretaker government of Pakistan, Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, said Friday (September 1) that the military equipment left behind by the US during its hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan ended up strengthening the terrorist groups. "This hasty withdraw has had an impact not just on Pakistan but also on China, Iran, and Central Asian nations. The equipment greatly increased the terrorist organisations' capacity to attack our forces. Previously, they had limited capability to do so, but today because of this equipment, they can even target a finger, if they so want,” Kakar was quoted as saying by TOLO News. Terrorism in Pakistan Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in terror activity in the country following Kabul's fall more than two years ago. The latest attack was reported this Thursday (August 31), where a “motorcycle-borne” suicide bomber struck a military convoy in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing at least nine soldiers and wounding several others. Last week, six Pakistani soldiers were killed in a shootout with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgents in nearby South Waziristan district. Watch: Massive protest erupts in Gilgit Baltistan against Pak govt after Shia cleric's arrest × In recent times, there has been a surge in attacks by the Pakistani Taliban and various other militant groups within the nation. This year alone, these acts of violence have resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 500 lives, including both civilians and members of the security forces. Furthermore, the Pakistani army has also acknowledged the deaths of more than 140 soldiers so far this year. Pakistan claims that fugitive leaders of the TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) have been increasingly orchestrating cross-border terrorism activities, utilising sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Also read: Social media video shows anti-Pakistan protest in PoK, threats of merger with India: Reports On the flip side, Taliban vehemently deny these allegations, asserting that they have not permitted the exploitation of Afghan territory for hostile actions against other nations, including Pakistan. It's important to note that the TTP is a recognised splinter group and a close associate of the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan. Biden admin on Taliban Meanwhile, the New York Times quoted Biden administration officials as saying that Joe Biden has no plans to recognise and lift sanctions on the Islamic Emirate. “Biden administration officials have ruled out the possibility that they would agree to Taliban demands for international recognition, sanctions relief and access to billions of dollars of assets frozen in the United States,” the report reads. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Pakistan: Caretaker PM blames US for strengthening terrorists in the region

<p>Continuing its recent string of military actions, North Korea on Saturday (September 2) launched multiple cruise missiles off its west coast, informed Seoul's military.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The multiple missile launch took place around 4 am local time towards the Yellow Sea, according to the&nbsp;Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), adding that the specifications of the missiles were currently being evaluated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We have stepped up surveillance and monitoring and are maintaining utmost readiness in close coordination with the United States," the JCS said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The firing of the missiles comes roughly three days after&nbsp;Pyongyang launched a pair of short-range ballistic missiles as part of its "tactical nuclear strike drill". The Kim Jong Un regime was antagonised by the recent&nbsp;US-South Korean Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises and justified the firing of the missiles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>North Korea is highly critical of the military cooperation between Seoul and Washington. On multiple occasions,&nbsp;Pyongyang has said the exercise is a rehearsal for invasion while the two allies maintain it is for defensive purposes. The military drill came to an end on August 31, after starting nearly 10 days ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-short-range-ballistic-missiles-amid-joint-us-south-korea-drills-630662"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles amid joint US-South Korea drills</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Irreversible nuclear threat&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, North Korea has conducted a record number of weapons tests this year, and last week carried out its second failed attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit.</p>

<p>The relations between the two Koreas are at their lowest point in years, according to experts. Despite South's repeated insistence to discuss&nbsp;Pyongyang's denuclearisation, Kim has refused to come to the table.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the dictator, North Korea is an&nbsp;"irreversible" nuclear power and enemy states will have to prepare for the worst-case scenario if they move against&nbsp;Pyongyang.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If the command and control system of the national nuclear force is in danger of an attack by hostile forces, a nuclear strike is automatically carried out immediately," reads the new law passed last year that allows the execution of nuclear strikes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;North Korean missile could hit US&nbsp;in 33 mins, says study; find gaps in US&nbsp;missile defence</strong></p>

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<p>Prior to the start of the US-South Korea military drill, Kim&nbsp;went on a field inspection and ordered mass production of weapons. State media KCNA mentioned that Kim noted an "important goal to dramatically increase" missile production capacity to meet the needs of the expanded and strengthened frontline military units.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our army must thoroughly secure overwhelming military power and solid readiness to handle any war at any time, so that the enemy does not dare to use force, and would be annihilated if it does," said Kim.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Continuing its recent string of military actions, North Korea on Saturday (September 2) launched multiple cruise missiles off its west coast, informed Seoul's military.

Continuing its recent string of military actions, North Korea on Saturday (September 2) launched multiple cruise missiles off its west coast, informed Seoul's military. The multiple missile launch took place around 4 am local time towards the Yellow Sea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), adding that the specifications of the missiles were currently being evaluated. "We have stepped up surveillance and monitoring and are maintaining utmost readiness in close coordination with the United States," the JCS said. The firing of the missiles comes roughly three days after Pyongyang launched a pair of short-range ballistic missiles as part of its "tactical nuclear strike drill". The Kim Jong Un regime was antagonised by the recent US-South Korean Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises and justified the firing of the missiles. North Korea is highly critical of the military cooperation between Seoul and Washington. On multiple occasions, Pyongyang has said the exercise is a rehearsal for invasion while the two allies maintain it is for defensive purposes. The military drill came to an end on August 31, after starting nearly 10 days ago. Also read | North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles amid joint US-South Korea drills Irreversible nuclear threat Notably, North Korea has conducted a record number of weapons tests this year, and last week carried out its second failed attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit. The relations between the two Koreas are at their lowest point in years, according to experts. Despite South's repeated insistence to discuss Pyongyang's denuclearisation, Kim has refused to come to the table. According to the dictator, North Korea is an "irreversible" nuclear power and enemy states will have to prepare for the worst-case scenario if they move against Pyongyang. "If the command and control system of the national nuclear force is in danger of an attack by hostile forces, a nuclear strike is automatically carried out immediately," reads the new law passed last year that allows the execution of nuclear strikes. ALSO WATCH | North Korean missile could hit US in 33 mins, says study; find gaps in US missile defence Prior to the start of the US-South Korea military drill, Kim went on a field inspection and ordered mass production of weapons. State media KCNA mentioned that Kim noted an "important goal to dramatically increase" missile production capacity to meet the needs of the expanded and strengthened frontline military units. "Our army must thoroughly secure overwhelming military power and solid readiness to handle any war at any time, so that the enemy does not dare to use force, and would be annihilated if it does," said Kim. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

North Korea blasts multiple cruise missiles as US-South Korea end drills

<p>A bizarre incident sent police in Norfolk, Nebraska in USA in a tizzy as they responded to an emergency call. On display was a car which a huge live bull protruding from the hood of the passenger side. The modified Ford Crown Victoria sedan was located and identified by Norfolk police captain Chad Reiman and police officials interacted with the driver probably to check what on earth was going on, just when the car was entering the city.</p>

<p>"We didn't have a full understanding of it until we saw it," said Reiman as quoted by Sky News.</p>

<p>It turned out, Lee Meyer, owner of the car (and the bull) has driven throughout the region taking part in parades for years.</p>

<p>The car, said the news report, was modified and half of the windshield and roof had been taken off to make room for Howdy Doody, the bull.</p>

<p>"It wouldn't go far without being noticed for sure," said Reiman.</p>

<p>The video of interaction between the police officials and the driver with the bull 'overseeing' what's happening gained traction online.</p>

<p>Reiman said that Meyer told him personally that he had transported Howdy Doody in a suitably big trailer when he was going for a parade previously.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Wednesday (August 30) however, why Meyer chose to stuff Howdy Doody in his car and make 36-mile journey from Neligh to Norfolk hasn't been specified.</p>

<p>When he was stopped in Norfolk however, he was not going for any parade, said the police.</p>

<p>Sky News contacted Meyer's wife to ask her more about the bull. She said the bull was part of the family but she wasn't happy about her husband spending huge amount of money on the bull than&nbsp;he already was spending.</p>

<p>"The amount of money that he's spent on this whole darn project between the car and the bull I could've had a brand new kitchen," Mrs Meyer said as quoted by Sky News.</p>

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A bizarre incident sent police in Norfolk, Nebraska in USA in a tizzy as they responded to an emergency call. On display was a car which a huge live bull protruding from the hood of the passenger side.

A bizarre incident sent police in Norfolk, Nebraska in USA in a tizzy as they responded to an emergency call. On display was a car which a huge live bull protruding from the hood of the passenger side. The modified Ford Crown Victoria sedan was located and identified by Norfolk police captain Chad Reiman and police officials interacted with the driver probably to check what on earth was going on, just when the car was entering the city. "We didn't have a full understanding of it until we saw it," said Reiman as quoted by Sky News. It turned out, Lee Meyer, owner of the car (and the bull) has driven throughout the region taking part in parades for years. The car, said the news report, was modified and half of the windshield and roof had been taken off to make room for Howdy Doody, the bull. "It wouldn't go far without being noticed for sure," said Reiman. The video of interaction between the police officials and the driver with the bull 'overseeing' what's happening gained traction online. Reiman said that Meyer told him personally that he had transported Howdy Doody in a suitably big trailer when he was going for a parade previously. On Wednesday (August 30) however, why Meyer chose to stuff Howdy Doody in his car and make 36-mile journey from Neligh to Norfolk hasn't been specified. When he was stopped in Norfolk however, he was not going for any parade, said the police. Sky News contacted Meyer's wife to ask her more about the bull. She said the bull was part of the family but she wasn't happy about her husband spending huge amount of money on the bull than he already was spending. "The amount of money that he's spent on this whole darn project between the car and the bull I could've had a brand new kitchen," Mrs Meyer said as quoted by Sky News. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: Man driving huge bull in passenger seat pulled over by police

<p>India has told the US that it should unfreeze funds worth $26 million belonging to two Indian diamond firms after they were hit by sanctions for allegedly trading with Russian diamond firm Alrosa, Reuters reported.</p>

<p>The funds were frozen earlier this year after the US imposed sanctions on Alrosa last year in April. The sanctions were imposed by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indian government officials cited by Reuters declined to identify the two Indian companies involved in the case. This is believed to be the first incident of the US punishing any Indian company for trading with Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why were the sanctions imposed on Indian firms?</strong></h2>

<p>The Indian companies ran afoul of OFAC when their units based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allegedly attempted to wire money to buy rough diamonds, according to the Indian government official quoted by Reuters. It was not clear whether the money was being sent to Alrosa or any other Russian company.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Russia's Putin to not visit India for G20 summit next month</strong></p>

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<p>However, the banks halted the transactions in US dollars and the money ended up getting frozen. "The government is aware of the OFAC action and has initiated dialogue over it," one of the Indian government sources said, without identifying which US body were the officials engaging. "The problem was suspicion of trade links with Alrosa," added the statement.</p>

<h2><strong>What are the Indian firms saying?</strong></h2>

<p>As claimed by the Indian officials, the Indian firms didn’t violate the American sanctions. The payments were either meant for non-sanctioned Russian entities or related to orders completed before the sanctions took effect.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alrosa is the largest global producer of raw diamonds and is backed by the Russian government.</p>

<h2><strong>About India’s diamond sector</strong></h2>

<p>With the world's foremost diamond processing capacity, India recorded polished diamond exports exceeding $22 billion in the last fiscal year, concluding on March 31.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The industry, primarily centred in India’s western state of Gujarat, acquires rough diamonds from suppliers located in nations like the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, and Russia.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/russian-ambassador-alipov-commends-indias-g20-presidency-hopeful-on-joint-statement-slams-us-630624"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Russian Ambassador Alipov commends India`s G20 presidency, hopeful on joint statement; slams US</strong></a></p>

<p>Despite US sanctions, Alrosa has adeptly sustained consistent diamond sales. It must be noted that the European Union didn’t adhere to the US sanctions on Russian diamond traders. Now, some G7 countries are advocating for stricter sanctions concerning Russia's diamond trade.</p>

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India has told the US that it should unfreeze funds worth $26 million belonging to two Indian diamond firms after they were hit by sanctions for allegedly trading with Russian diamond firm Alrosa, Reuters reported.

India has told the US that it should unfreeze funds worth $26 million belonging to two Indian diamond firms after they were hit by sanctions for allegedly trading with Russian diamond firm Alrosa, Reuters reported. The funds were frozen earlier this year after the US imposed sanctions on Alrosa last year in April. The sanctions were imposed by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Indian government officials cited by Reuters declined to identify the two Indian companies involved in the case. This is believed to be the first incident of the US punishing any Indian company for trading with Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Why were the sanctions imposed on Indian firms? The Indian companies ran afoul of OFAC when their units based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allegedly attempted to wire money to buy rough diamonds, according to the Indian government official quoted by Reuters. It was not clear whether the money was being sent to Alrosa or any other Russian company. Watch: Russia's Putin to not visit India for G20 summit next month × However, the banks halted the transactions in US dollars and the money ended up getting frozen. "The government is aware of the OFAC action and has initiated dialogue over it," one of the Indian government sources said, without identifying which US body were the officials engaging. "The problem was suspicion of trade links with Alrosa," added the statement. What are the Indian firms saying? As claimed by the Indian officials, the Indian firms didn’t violate the American sanctions. The payments were either meant for non-sanctioned Russian entities or related to orders completed before the sanctions took effect. Alrosa is the largest global producer of raw diamonds and is backed by the Russian government. About India’s diamond sector With the world's foremost diamond processing capacity, India recorded polished diamond exports exceeding $22 billion in the last fiscal year, concluding on March 31. The industry, primarily centred in India’s western state of Gujarat, acquires rough diamonds from suppliers located in nations like the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, and Russia. Also read: Russian Ambassador Alipov commends India`s G20 presidency, hopeful on joint statement; slams US Despite US sanctions, Alrosa has adeptly sustained consistent diamond sales. It must be noted that the European Union didn’t adhere to the US sanctions on Russian diamond traders. Now, some G7 countries are advocating for stricter sanctions concerning Russia's diamond trade. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

India tells US to unfreeze funds of two firms accused of trading with Russia

<p>China has responded after India raised objection over the distorted map released by Beijing's Ministry of Natural Resources over the weekend. In other news, US President Joe Biden announced that $80 million in military aid to Taiwan was approved by his government.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on headlines to read more:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-asks-india-to-not-over-interpret-latest-distorted-map-release-630704"><strong>China asks India to not 'over-interpret' latest 'distorted' map release</strong></a></p>

<p>Days after releasing a contentious map showing India's Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of its sovereign territory, China has justified the move by saying India should refrain from 'over-interpreting' the exercise.</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/29/376133-china-releases-new-map.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-biden-approves-military-aid-to-taiwan-under-fmf-program-630709"><strong>US President Biden approves military aid to Taiwan under FMF program</strong></a></p>

<p>United States President Joe Biden has approved military aid for Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program which is normally used for sovereign states.</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/31/376468-2023-08-30t225840z2lynxmpej7t11lrtroptp4usa-taiwan-arms.JPG?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-thwart-fresh-ukrainian-attacks-as-drones-target-airfield-630703"><strong>Russia claims to thwart fresh Ukrainian attacks as drones target airfield</strong></a></p>

<p>Russian officials on Thursday (August 31) said that fresh Ukrainian attacks were thwarted by them a day after at least six regions were targeted by Ukrainian drones. One of the drone strikes, which targeted an airfield far from the border of Ukraine, destroyed military transport planes.</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/31/376465-untitled-design-2023-08-31t062248968.png?imwidth=1920" /><br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/powerful-hurricane-idalia-pummels-florida-churns-on-to-georgia-630697"><strong>Powerful Hurricane Idalia pummels Florida, churns on to Georgia</strong></a></p>

<p>Hurricane Idalia, after turning powerful and dangerous in Florida on Wednesday (August 30), is now moving to neighbouring Georgia.&nbsp;The officials called Idalia and its dangerously high-surging waters 'a once-in-a-lifetime event' for the area around northwest Florida.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/08/31/376462-untitled-design-2023-08-31t045939014.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-pew-survey-india-viewed-favourably-in-most-g20-nations-630672"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Pew Survey: India viewed favourably in most G20 nations</strong></a></p>

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China has responded after India raised objection over the distorted map released by Beijing's Ministry of Natural Resources over the weekend. In other news, US President Joe Biden announced that $80 million in military aid to Taiwan was approved by his government.

China has responded after India raised objection over the distorted map released by Beijing's Ministry of Natural Resources over the weekend. In other news, US President Joe Biden announced that $80 million in military aid to Taiwan was approved by his government. Click on headlines to read more: China asks India to not 'over-interpret' latest 'distorted' map release Days after releasing a contentious map showing India's Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of its sovereign territory, China has justified the move by saying India should refrain from 'over-interpreting' the exercise. US President Biden approves military aid to Taiwan under FMF program United States President Joe Biden has approved military aid for Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program which is normally used for sovereign states. Russia claims to thwart fresh Ukrainian attacks as drones target airfield Russian officials on Thursday (August 31) said that fresh Ukrainian attacks were thwarted by them a day after at least six regions were targeted by Ukrainian drones. One of the drone strikes, which targeted an airfield far from the border of Ukraine, destroyed military transport planes. Powerful Hurricane Idalia pummels Florida, churns on to Georgia Hurricane Idalia, after turning powerful and dangerous in Florida on Wednesday (August 30), is now moving to neighbouring Georgia. The officials called Idalia and its dangerously high-surging waters 'a once-in-a-lifetime event' for the area around northwest Florida. Watch | Gravitas: Pew Survey: India viewed favourably in most G20 nations ×

Morning news brief | China issues statement on map controversy, US approves military aid to Taiwan, and more

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