<p>The US has imposed a restriction on the exports of sophisticated NVIDIA and&nbsp;Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) artificial intelligence (AI) chips to some countries in West Asia (Middle East), according to a Reuters report.&nbsp;After imposing a ban on China, West Asia has become the new target spot for the Biden administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a regulatory filing by NVIDIA, its state-of-the-art A100 and H100 chips, designed to speed up&nbsp;machine-learning tasks, have been put on the 'no-export' list.</p>

<p>"During the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, the USG (US government) informed us of an additional licensing requirement for a subset of A100 and H100 products destined to certain customers and other regions, including some countries in the Middle East," Nvidia said in a filing dated August 28.</p>

<p>The report stated that AMD also received a similar letter, informing about the restrictions. However, both companies have stated that the restrictions will have no "immediate material impact" on the revenue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Usually, Washington imposes export controls for national security reasons. However, it wasn't immediately clear what risks were posed by exports to West Asia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/micron-fails-chinas-security-check-594972"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Micron fails China's security check</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>China imposes sanctions&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, last month,&nbsp;China, much to the chagrin of the US, decided to impose export controls on two rare elements&nbsp;essential for the manufacturing of semiconductors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Starting earlier this month,&nbsp;exports of gallium and germanium, among several other industrial compounds have been subject to restrictions.&nbsp;China’s Ministry of Commerce and Administration of Customs took the decision, laying it out that the exporters will have to seek special approval from the State Council, China's cabinet, for the listed items.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-semiconductor-wars-china-restricts-exports-of-raw-materials-critical-to-chip-production-611607" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | The semiconductor wars: China restricts exports of raw materials critical to chip production</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Why the restrictions?</strong></h2>

<p>The chip wars between the two nations began under the tenure of former president Donald Trump when his administration banned suppliers from selling chips made using US technology to tech giant Huawei without a special license.</p>

<p>For years, the US led the technology battle with China. However, the scales have recently tipped in Beijing's favour. According to a study presented by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), the US could lose the tech competition to China if it does not take action on the 5G, AI, and microchip core fronts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report added that the tech race would be going through its critical phase in the 2025-2030 period. During this window, Beijing might be able to edge out the USA if the current trend continues.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong>&nbsp;</p>

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The US has imposed a restriction on the exports of sophisticated NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) artificial intelligence (AI) chips to some countries in West Asia (Middle East), according to a Reuters report.

The US has imposed a restriction on the exports of sophisticated NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) artificial intelligence (AI) chips to some countries in West Asia (Middle East), according to a Reuters report. After imposing a ban on China, West Asia has become the new target spot for the Biden administration. According to a regulatory filing by NVIDIA, its state-of-the-art A100 and H100 chips, designed to speed up machine-learning tasks, have been put on the 'no-export' list. "During the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, the USG (US government) informed us of an additional licensing requirement for a subset of A100 and H100 products destined to certain customers and other regions, including some countries in the Middle East," Nvidia said in a filing dated August 28. The report stated that AMD also received a similar letter, informing about the restrictions. However, both companies have stated that the restrictions will have no "immediate material impact" on the revenue. Usually, Washington imposes export controls for national security reasons. However, it wasn't immediately clear what risks were posed by exports to West Asia. WATCH | Micron fails China's security check China imposes sanctions Notably, last month, China, much to the chagrin of the US, decided to impose export controls on two rare elements essential for the manufacturing of semiconductors. Starting earlier this month, exports of gallium and germanium, among several other industrial compounds have been subject to restrictions. China’s Ministry of Commerce and Administration of Customs took the decision, laying it out that the exporters will have to seek special approval from the State Council, China's cabinet, for the listed items. Also read | The semiconductor wars: China restricts exports of raw materials critical to chip production Why the restrictions? The chip wars between the two nations began under the tenure of former president Donald Trump when his administration banned suppliers from selling chips made using US technology to tech giant Huawei without a special license. For years, the US led the technology battle with China. However, the scales have recently tipped in Beijing's favour. According to a study presented by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), the US could lose the tech competition to China if it does not take action on the 5G, AI, and microchip core fronts. The report added that the tech race would be going through its critical phase in the 2025-2030 period. During this window, Beijing might be able to edge out the USA if the current trend continues. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After China, US curbs AI chip exports from NVIDIA and AMD to West Asian countries

<p>The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recommended easing federal restrictions on marijuana. HHS delivered the recommendation to the&nbsp;Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stating that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and said the agency had responded to President Joe Biden's request.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I can now share that, following the data and science, @HHSGov has responded to @POTUS ’ directive to me for the Department to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA. We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously," posted&nbsp;Becerra.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Marijuana's current status in the US&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Currently, cannabis is listed in the same class of drugs as heroin and LSD. If the DEA accepts the recommendation, it could mark a significant shift in the US drug policy in decades.</p>

<p>Under a Schedule 1 drug (Controlled Substances Act), marijuana is regarded as having no medicinal use and a high chance of abuse. The change would mean marijuana is classified as a drug&nbsp;having a low potential for dependency and abuse. Ketamine, codeine, and anabolic steroids fall under that classification.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-thailands-marijuana-industry-booms-587948"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Thailand's marijuana industry booms</strong></a></p>

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<p>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer&nbsp;released a statement wherein he said he&nbsp;was committed to passing the marijuana legislation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"HHS has done the right thing and DEA should now quickly follow through on this important step to greatly reduce the harm caused by draconian marijuana laws," said Schumer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While this is a step forward, there is still much more that needs to be done legislatively to end the federal prohibition on cannabis and roll back the War on Drugs. I am committed to continuing to work in Congress to pass important marijuana legislation and criminal justice reform."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-cabinet-approves-controversial-bill-legalising-recreational-marijuana-use-cultivation-626131"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;German cabinet approves controversial bill legalising recreational marijuana use, cultivation</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, the Biden administration had requested a review in October last year. The review was ordered as Biden pardoned&nbsp;thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law.</p>

<p>"If HHS’s recommendation is ultimately implemented, it will be a historic step for a nation whose cannabis policies have been out of touch with reality," said&nbsp;Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, who called for complete de-scheduling of the drug.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recommended easing federal restrictions on marijuana. HHS delivered the recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stating that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recommended easing federal restrictions on marijuana. HHS delivered the recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stating that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and said the agency had responded to President Joe Biden's request. "I can now share that, following the data and science, @HHSGov has responded to @POTUS ’ directive to me for the Department to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA. We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously," posted Becerra. Marijuana's current status in the US Currently, cannabis is listed in the same class of drugs as heroin and LSD. If the DEA accepts the recommendation, it could mark a significant shift in the US drug policy in decades. Under a Schedule 1 drug (Controlled Substances Act), marijuana is regarded as having no medicinal use and a high chance of abuse. The change would mean marijuana is classified as a drug having a low potential for dependency and abuse. Ketamine, codeine, and anabolic steroids fall under that classification. Watch | Gravitas: Thailand's marijuana industry booms × Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released a statement wherein he said he was committed to passing the marijuana legislation. "HHS has done the right thing and DEA should now quickly follow through on this important step to greatly reduce the harm caused by draconian marijuana laws," said Schumer. "While this is a step forward, there is still much more that needs to be done legislatively to end the federal prohibition on cannabis and roll back the War on Drugs. I am committed to continuing to work in Congress to pass important marijuana legislation and criminal justice reform." Also read | German cabinet approves controversial bill legalising recreational marijuana use, cultivation Notably, the Biden administration had requested a review in October last year. The review was ordered as Biden pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law. "If HHS’s recommendation is ultimately implemented, it will be a historic step for a nation whose cannabis policies have been out of touch with reality," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, who called for complete de-scheduling of the drug. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Health department bats for loosening cannabis restrictions

Hundreds of people are still missing in the devastating wildfires in Maui island in the U.S. state of Hawaii, as 99 percent of burnt areas have been searched by rescuers. The wildfires, which started on Aug. 8 and have claimed the lives of at least 115 people, are the deadliest wildfires in the United States in more than a century, and the worst natural disaster in Hawaii's history. The number of death toll is expected to climb as time goes by.

Hundreds still missing in Hawaii deadly wildfires

<p>At least four people were shot in USA’s Oklahoma state Friday night (August 25) when a high school football game was underway in Choctaw. Police said they were reacting to reports of shots fired at the game being played between Choctaw High School and Del City High School Friday at 10:30 PM local time.</p>

<p>Shots were fired by an unknown number of individuals. During the incident, an off-duty police officer also fired at least one shot.</p>

<p>The victims were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. One victim was treated for a wound in her thigh before being released. The conditions of the other three victims were not known yet. Also, one patient was being treated for a possible broken leg.</p>

<p>Associated Press reported that players and officials started running off the field as soon as they heard gunshots being fired. Others lay down on the field.</p>

<h2><strong>Police investigating the shooting incident</strong></h2>

<p>Choctaw police have now opened an investigation into the case. Earlier, police received details of a suspect who left the scene as the shooting incident unfolded; however, he was not detained yet.</p>

<p>According to Choctaw Police Chief Kelly Marshall, there were reports of at least two muzzle flashes seen during the shooting. "I hate that it happened. We both have great students. We both have great cities that we work for and protect," she said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/usa-sees-increase-in-suicide-again-highest-ever-number-recorded-624434"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;USA sees increase in suicides again, highest ever number recorded</strong></a></p>

<p>Choctaw-Nicoma Park Schools Superintendent David Reid and Mid-Del Schools Superintendent Rick Cobb released a joint statement following the incident.</p>

<p>"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by tonight's incident," the statement reads. "Both districts are working jointly with the police presence from Choctaw, Del City and Oklahoma County in an ongoing investigation. The police will provide further details as they become available."</p>

<h2><strong>Who was the off-duty police officer who fired a gunshot?</strong></h2>

<p>According to Del City police chief, Loyd Berger, several off-duty police officers were present at the scene providing security. He said that one of them had fired the weapon during the incident but nobody was injured.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Amid Chandrayaan 3 launch, watch how China, Russia, and USA are vying for control of the Moon</strong></p>

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<p>“A Del City officer was involved in the shooting,” Berger said, adding that the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s office will investigate the officer’s involvement in the shooting.</p>

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At least four people were shot in USA’s Oklahoma state Friday night (August 25) when a high school football game was underway in Choctaw. Police said they were reacting to reports of shots fired at the game being played between Choctaw High School and Del City High School Friday at 10:30 PM local time.

At least four people were shot in USA’s Oklahoma state Friday night (August 25) when a high school football game was underway in Choctaw. Police said they were reacting to reports of shots fired at the game being played between Choctaw High School and Del City High School Friday at 10:30 PM local time. Shots were fired by an unknown number of individuals. During the incident, an off-duty police officer also fired at least one shot. The victims were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. One victim was treated for a wound in her thigh before being released. The conditions of the other three victims were not known yet. Also, one patient was being treated for a possible broken leg. Associated Press reported that players and officials started running off the field as soon as they heard gunshots being fired. Others lay down on the field. Police investigating the shooting incident Choctaw police have now opened an investigation into the case. Earlier, police received details of a suspect who left the scene as the shooting incident unfolded; however, he was not detained yet. According to Choctaw Police Chief Kelly Marshall, there were reports of at least two muzzle flashes seen during the shooting. "I hate that it happened. We both have great students. We both have great cities that we work for and protect," she said. Also read: USA sees increase in suicides again, highest ever number recorded Choctaw-Nicoma Park Schools Superintendent David Reid and Mid-Del Schools Superintendent Rick Cobb released a joint statement following the incident. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by tonight's incident," the statement reads. "Both districts are working jointly with the police presence from Choctaw, Del City and Oklahoma County in an ongoing investigation. The police will provide further details as they become available." Who was the off-duty police officer who fired a gunshot? According to Del City police chief, Loyd Berger, several off-duty police officers were present at the scene providing security. He said that one of them had fired the weapon during the incident but nobody was injured. Watch: Amid Chandrayaan 3 launch, watch how China, Russia, and USA are vying for control of the Moon × “A Del City officer was involved in the shooting,” Berger said, adding that the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s office will investigate the officer’s involvement in the shooting. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: At least four shot during high school football game in Oklahoma

<p>The United States has announced it will impose visa sanctions on Chinese officials that are pursuing "forced assimilation" of children in Tibet. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday (August 23) said Washington would go after Chinese officials who are behind the policy of state boarding schools forcefully assimilating over one million Tibetan children in government-run boarding schools.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"@StateDept is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on PRC officials for the forcible assimilation of Tibetan children in government-run boarding schools. We call on the PRC to cease these actions that undermine human rights," posted&nbsp;Blinken,&nbsp;referring to the People’s Republic of China.</p>

<p>Blinken argued the 'coercive' policies of the Chinese government seek&nbsp;to eliminate Tibet’s distinct linguistic, cultural and religious traditions among younger generations of Tibetans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Blinken's stern statements, Beijing retaliated and dubbed the move as "smears". It urged Washington to avoid bringing measures that interfere with the country's sovereignty.</p>

<p>According to a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, centralising children in boarding school&nbsp;“effectively solves the problem of ethnic minority students’ difficulty in attending school at a distance where the local people live scattered".</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-report-chinese-authorities-gathering-dna-samples-across-tibet-514995" target="_blank">WATCH | WION Fineprint| Report: Chinese authorities gathering DNA samples across Tibet</a></strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Chinese academics&nbsp;bat&nbsp;for changing Tibet's name&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, the decision by Washington comes a few days after Chinese academics called for renaming Tibet to&nbsp;Xizang to help "reconstruct" its image. The appeal came&nbsp;during an official conference on Tibet held in Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The details of the conference were mentioned in a WeChat account managed by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), the SCMP report added. UFWD is an agency in charge of overseeing matters pertaining to ethnic and minority groups.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-academics-call-for-tibet-to-be-known-as-xizang-to-reconstruct-image-626677"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Chinese academics call for renaming Tibet as Xizang for ‘reconstructing’ image</strong></a></p>

<p>For a long time, China has been attempting to transform the identity and culture of Tibetans after forcefully occupying it. Last year,&nbsp;a study published by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab revealed that Beijing had&nbsp;collected over 1.2 million DNA samples of Tibetans in the last five years.</p>

<p>The study reached its conclusion by analysing 100 publically available sources. Experts said China's aim is to create a gene pool to police ordinary Tibetans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Tibetans are not the only minorities that are treated horribly by the Chinese government. The Xi Jinping administration is known for operating inhumane and cruel concentration camps for Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang province of the country. Beijing continues to claim these camps are vocational centres.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The United States has announced it will impose visa sanctions on Chinese officials that are pursuing "forced assimilation" of children in Tibet. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday (August 23) said Washington would go after Chinese officials who are behind the policy of state boarding schools forcefully assimilating over one million Tibetan children in government-run boarding schools.

The United States has announced it will impose visa sanctions on Chinese officials that are pursuing "forced assimilation" of children in Tibet. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday (August 23) said Washington would go after Chinese officials who are behind the policy of state boarding schools forcefully assimilating over one million Tibetan children in government-run boarding schools. "@StateDept is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on PRC officials for the forcible assimilation of Tibetan children in government-run boarding schools. We call on the PRC to cease these actions that undermine human rights," posted Blinken, referring to the People’s Republic of China. Blinken argued the 'coercive' policies of the Chinese government seek to eliminate Tibet’s distinct linguistic, cultural and religious traditions among younger generations of Tibetans. After Blinken's stern statements, Beijing retaliated and dubbed the move as "smears". It urged Washington to avoid bringing measures that interfere with the country's sovereignty. According to a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, centralising children in boarding school “effectively solves the problem of ethnic minority students’ difficulty in attending school at a distance where the local people live scattered". WATCH | WION Fineprint| Report: Chinese authorities gathering DNA samples across Tibet × Chinese academics bat for changing Tibet's name Notably, the decision by Washington comes a few days after Chinese academics called for renaming Tibet to Xizang to help "reconstruct" its image. The appeal came during an official conference on Tibet held in Beijing. The details of the conference were mentioned in a WeChat account managed by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), the SCMP report added. UFWD is an agency in charge of overseeing matters pertaining to ethnic and minority groups. Also read | Chinese academics call for renaming Tibet as Xizang for ‘reconstructing’ image For a long time, China has been attempting to transform the identity and culture of Tibetans after forcefully occupying it. Last year, a study published by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab revealed that Beijing had collected over 1.2 million DNA samples of Tibetans in the last five years. The study reached its conclusion by analysing 100 publically available sources. Experts said China's aim is to create a gene pool to police ordinary Tibetans. Notably, Tibetans are not the only minorities that are treated horribly by the Chinese government. The Xi Jinping administration is known for operating inhumane and cruel concentration camps for Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang province of the country. Beijing continues to claim these camps are vocational centres. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US announces visa sanctions on Chinese officials for forcible assimilation of Tibetans

<p>An elementary school in Flager County in the US state of Florida has come under scanner after reports stated that the school singled out Black students and forced them to attend an assembly&nbsp;about improving their scores on standardised tests, according to a Fox report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report states that the students in the fourth and fifth grades were taken out of the class and paraded in the&nbsp;Bunnell Elementary School cafeteria. While high-performing kids were brought to the front and modelled, the other students were offered gift cards to restaurants as rewards for improving their scores.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Flagler County Schools board chair Cheryl Massaro said the assembly should not have happened, but admits, "it did".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Darryl Williams, the parent of a 10-year-old fifth grader said when his son told him about the incident, it made his 'blood boil'.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-finland-mulls-banning-nazi-symbol-of-hate-as-racism-scandal-rocks-new-govt-628088"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Finland mulls banning Nazi symbol of hate as racism scandal rocks new govt</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Thinking 'outside-the-box' backfires</strong></h2>

<p>After the controversy snowballed, Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore held a meeting with Bunnell Elementary Principal Donelle Evensen and discussed the events.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In speaking with Mrs&nbsp;Evensen, it is clear there was no malice intended in planning this student outreach. However, sometimes, when you try to think ‘outside the box,’ you forget why the box is there," Moore said.</p>

<p>Moore said the district wanted parents and guardians to actively participate in the educational journey of their wards. However, she conceded that the parents were not properly engaged in the instance.</p>

<p>"While the desire to help this particular subgroup of students is to be commended, how this was done does not meet the expectations we desire among Flagler Schools," said Moore.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-florida-introduces-fresh-guidelines-on-teaching-black-history-receives-flak-617969"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US: Florida introduces fresh guidelines on teaching Black history, receives flak</strong></a></p>

<p>She said going forward, all schools in the district will engage the parents, no matter what group or subgroup the children may be in.</p>

<p>"From this point forward, all of our schools will engage our parents, no matter what group or subgroup their children may be in, in our continued efforts to raise achievement among all students," the statement read.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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An elementary school in Flager County in the US state of Florida has come under scanner after reports stated that the school singled out Black students and forced them to attend an assembly about improving their scores on standardised tests, according to a Fox report.

An elementary school in Flager County in the US state of Florida has come under scanner after reports stated that the school singled out Black students and forced them to attend an assembly about improving their scores on standardised tests, according to a Fox report. The report states that the students in the fourth and fifth grades were taken out of the class and paraded in the Bunnell Elementary School cafeteria. While high-performing kids were brought to the front and modelled, the other students were offered gift cards to restaurants as rewards for improving their scores. Flagler County Schools board chair Cheryl Massaro said the assembly should not have happened, but admits, "it did". Darryl Williams, the parent of a 10-year-old fifth grader said when his son told him about the incident, it made his 'blood boil'. Watch | Gravitas: Finland mulls banning Nazi symbol of hate as racism scandal rocks new govt × Thinking 'outside-the-box' backfires After the controversy snowballed, Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore held a meeting with Bunnell Elementary Principal Donelle Evensen and discussed the events. "In speaking with Mrs Evensen, it is clear there was no malice intended in planning this student outreach. However, sometimes, when you try to think ‘outside the box,’ you forget why the box is there," Moore said. Moore said the district wanted parents and guardians to actively participate in the educational journey of their wards. However, she conceded that the parents were not properly engaged in the instance. "While the desire to help this particular subgroup of students is to be commended, how this was done does not meet the expectations we desire among Flagler Schools," said Moore. Also read | US: Florida introduces fresh guidelines on teaching Black history, receives flak She said going forward, all schools in the district will engage the parents, no matter what group or subgroup the children may be in. "From this point forward, all of our schools will engage our parents, no matter what group or subgroup their children may be in, in our continued efforts to raise achievement among all students," the statement read. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Elementary school singles out Black students to join assembly for THIS reason

<p>Delivering a keynote address at the Indiaspora G20 forum on Tuesday (August 23), US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said Joe Biden told him that India is the most important country in the world to him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Highlighting the growing importance of India on the global map, Garcetti said it was perhaps the first time that any American president had uttered such a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“He (President Biden) told me, when he asked me to come here to serve, he said, this is the most important country in the world for me, I think something that no American president has ever uttered in the history of our two countries,” said Garcetti.</p>

<p>“From technology to trade, from the environment to women’s empowerment, from small businesses to space, we used to say the sky is the limit, but now that we’re working together in space, not even the sky is the limit. From the seabed to the heavens, the US and India are a force for good and a powerful force to move this world forward," he added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-biden-to-visit-india-in-september-for-g20-summit-confirms-white-house-628090"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;President Biden to visit India in September for G20 summit, confirms White House&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<p>Garcetti informed that it was his 'dream' to live in India and at one point, considered coming back to Bodh Gaya (a place where Lord Budha attained enlightenment) and doing a Buddhist studies programme.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“But politics got in the way. I got elected to the student council and I promised I would serve, so my India dream kind of died, or so I thought. But the universe has a curious way of connecting people and dreams. Now suddenly I'm living that dream here when President Biden asked me to consider serving here."</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;White House's top lawyer to step down</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Biden to visit India&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Garcetti's statement came on the same day as when the White House confirmed that Biden will visit India in September for the G20 Summit. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden will be holding a number of bilateral meetings during his India trip.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Climate change, green energy and the Ukraine crisis are expected to be key agendas of the G20 summit, the White House noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, during PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June, Biden expressed his support for the G20 summit and said he was looking forward to attending the meeting in person.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Delivering a keynote address at the Indiaspora G20 forum on Tuesday (August 23), US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said Joe Biden told him that India is the most important country in the world to him.

Delivering a keynote address at the Indiaspora G20 forum on Tuesday (August 23), US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said Joe Biden told him that India is the most important country in the world to him. Highlighting the growing importance of India on the global map, Garcetti said it was perhaps the first time that any American president had uttered such a statement. “He (President Biden) told me, when he asked me to come here to serve, he said, this is the most important country in the world for me, I think something that no American president has ever uttered in the history of our two countries,” said Garcetti. “From technology to trade, from the environment to women’s empowerment, from small businesses to space, we used to say the sky is the limit, but now that we’re working together in space, not even the sky is the limit. From the seabed to the heavens, the US and India are a force for good and a powerful force to move this world forward," he added. Also read | President Biden to visit India in September for G20 summit, confirms White House Garcetti informed that it was his 'dream' to live in India and at one point, considered coming back to Bodh Gaya (a place where Lord Budha attained enlightenment) and doing a Buddhist studies programme. “But politics got in the way. I got elected to the student council and I promised I would serve, so my India dream kind of died, or so I thought. But the universe has a curious way of connecting people and dreams. Now suddenly I'm living that dream here when President Biden asked me to consider serving here." Watch: White House's top lawyer to step down Biden to visit India Garcetti's statement came on the same day as when the White House confirmed that Biden will visit India in September for the G20 Summit. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden will be holding a number of bilateral meetings during his India trip. Climate change, green energy and the Ukraine crisis are expected to be key agendas of the G20 summit, the White House noted. Earlier, during PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June, Biden expressed his support for the G20 summit and said he was looking forward to attending the meeting in person. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US President Joe Biden reveals the 'most important country' for him

<p>A few days ago, an image went viral, showing a lone house, with a bright red roof&nbsp;and white facade, standing untouched while the neighbouring properties were burnt to a crisp in the Maui wildfires. The incredible image caught the attention of the internet and soon enough several theories started circulating regarding the miraculous escape. However, according to&nbsp;Dora Atwater Millikin, who owns the house with her husband, the reason for the escape could have been a simple and minute change during the renovation&nbsp;of the building.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to <em>Los Angeles Times</em>,&nbsp;Millikin said the house had undergone a recent renovation and they were looking to restore the structure's original features.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s a 100 per cent&nbsp;wood house so it’s not like we fireproofed it or anything,” the landscape painter told the publication.</p>

<p>She said the house was a 100-year-old property and was once a bookkeeper’s house for employees of the Pioneer Mill Co, a sugar plantation that operated in the region in the mid-1800s.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We love old buildings, so we just wanted to honour the building.&nbsp;And we didn’t change the building in any way — we just restored it.”</p>

<h2><strong>Changing the roof material</strong></h2>

<p>She said one decision that may have unknowingly helped the house survive the wildfire was replacing the asphalt roof with one made out of heavy-gauge metal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“When this [wildfire]&nbsp;was all happening, there were pieces of wood - 6, 12 inches long - that were on fire and just almost floating through the air with the wind and everything,” she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“They would hit people’s roofs, and if it was an asphalt roof, it would catch on fire. And otherwise, they would fall off the roof and then ignite the foliage around the house.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/maui-wildfires-after-church-a-single-home-miraculously-left-untouched-amidst-devastation-watch-626415"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;A lone house remained untouched by the Maui wildfires</strong></a></p>

<p>According to experts, roofs are the number one factor that contributes to the flammability of homes. Changing the roof provided the advantage and helped avoid, what is being dubbed as the deadliest wildfire in the US in more than a century.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The homeowners got lucky yet&nbsp;again when they lined the ground with stones up to the drip line of the roof and cut down the foliage that was up against the outside walls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The miracle house may have also benefitted from not being close to neighbouring properties -&nbsp;often one of the main causes of fires. The red-roofed house was bordered by the ocean, a road and an empty plot on three sides.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maui-wildfires-among-the-deadliest-in-us-history-wion-climate-tracker-625308"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Maui wildfires among the deadliest in US history | WION Climate Tracker</strong></a></p>

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<p>Notably,&nbsp;Millikin and her husband were in&nbsp;Massachusetts visiting family when the blaze started.&nbsp;They&nbsp;plan to return to Maui soon and open their place to neighbours who were left homeless.</p>

<p>Earlier, a similar sight emerged in the historic town of Lahaina where the Maria Lanakila Catholic Church was left untouched amid the eerie hellscape.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A few days ago, an image went viral, showing a lone house, with a bright red roof and white facade, standing untouched while the neighbouring properties were burnt to a crisp in the Maui wildfires.

A few days ago, an image went viral, showing a lone house, with a bright red roof and white facade, standing untouched while the neighbouring properties were burnt to a crisp in the Maui wildfires. The incredible image caught the attention of the internet and soon enough several theories started circulating regarding the miraculous escape. However, according to Dora Atwater Millikin, who owns the house with her husband, the reason for the escape could have been a simple and minute change during the renovation of the building. Speaking to Los Angeles Times, Millikin said the house had undergone a recent renovation and they were looking to restore the structure's original features. “It’s a 100 per cent wood house so it’s not like we fireproofed it or anything,” the landscape painter told the publication. She said the house was a 100-year-old property and was once a bookkeeper’s house for employees of the Pioneer Mill Co, a sugar plantation that operated in the region in the mid-1800s. “We love old buildings, so we just wanted to honour the building. And we didn’t change the building in any way — we just restored it.” Changing the roof material She said one decision that may have unknowingly helped the house survive the wildfire was replacing the asphalt roof with one made out of heavy-gauge metal. “When this [wildfire] was all happening, there were pieces of wood - 6, 12 inches long - that were on fire and just almost floating through the air with the wind and everything,” she said. “They would hit people’s roofs, and if it was an asphalt roof, it would catch on fire. And otherwise, they would fall off the roof and then ignite the foliage around the house.” Also read | A lone house remained untouched by the Maui wildfires According to experts, roofs are the number one factor that contributes to the flammability of homes. Changing the roof provided the advantage and helped avoid, what is being dubbed as the deadliest wildfire in the US in more than a century. The homeowners got lucky yet again when they lined the ground with stones up to the drip line of the roof and cut down the foliage that was up against the outside walls. The miracle house may have also benefitted from not being close to neighbouring properties - often one of the main causes of fires. The red-roofed house was bordered by the ocean, a road and an empty plot on three sides. Watch | Maui wildfires among the deadliest in US history | WION Climate Tracker × Notably, Millikin and her husband were in Massachusetts visiting family when the blaze started. They plan to return to Maui soon and open their place to neighbours who were left homeless. Earlier, a similar sight emerged in the historic town of Lahaina where the Maria Lanakila Catholic Church was left untouched amid the eerie hellscape. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Real reason why the viral red house in Maui remained untouched by wildfires revealed

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<p>Ahead of the start of a major joint exercise between Seoul and Washington, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visited a navy unit and oversaw a strategic cruise missile test, state media agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday (August 21).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The agency added that Kim inspected one of the fleets in the East Sea, more colloquially known as the Sea of Japan and watched, while the crew staged a drill launching "strategic cruise missiles".</p>

<p>It wasn't divulged when the visit took place or what type of missile was launched. The images, however, showed him&nbsp;watching a soaring missile from the patrol ship from another place, not on the vessel.</p>

<p>South Korea and the US kick off the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills on August 21 that will run through August 31 to act as a counterbalance against the growing threats from the nuclear-armed North. Pyongyang has not hidden its distaste for the exercise, saying it was "rehearsals for an invasion" and that it would take "overwhelming" action in response.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korean-hackers-target-us-south-korea-military-drills-police-say-627172"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;North Korean hackers target US-South Korea military drills, police say</strong></a></p>

<p>Earlier this month, Kim, taking evasive actions, ordered the authorities to&nbsp;boost the production of missiles and artillery shells in order to be prepared for war.&nbsp;Kim reportedly visited key munitions factories that produce tactical missiles, missile launch platforms, armoured vehicles and artillery shells and gave the orders.&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, according to state media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-behind-north-koreas-icbm-programme-wion-fineprint-626817"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Russia behind North Korea's ICBM programme? | WION Fineprint</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Pyongyang is miffed&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, the apparent "cruise missile launch" comes days after US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Camp David. It was the first time that the three countries and their leaders met for a standalone summit where North Korea formed a major part of the talks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pyongyang may have been irked by the fact that the three countries agreed to a multi-year plan of regular exercises in all domains. They also made a formal "commitment to consult" during crises, with Biden saying they would open a hotline.</p>

<p>On Sunday (August 20), a Reuters report stated that&nbsp;hackers believed to be linked to a North Korean group that researchers call Kimsuky, had carried out hacking operations over the joint military exercise.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Ahead of the start of a major joint exercise between Seoul and Washington, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visited a navy unit and oversaw a strategic cruise missile test, state media agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday (August 21).

Ahead of the start of a major joint exercise between Seoul and Washington, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visited a navy unit and oversaw a strategic cruise missile test, state media agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday (August 21). The agency added that Kim inspected one of the fleets in the East Sea, more colloquially known as the Sea of Japan and watched, while the crew staged a drill launching "strategic cruise missiles". It wasn't divulged when the visit took place or what type of missile was launched. The images, however, showed him watching a soaring missile from the patrol ship from another place, not on the vessel. South Korea and the US kick off the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills on August 21 that will run through August 31 to act as a counterbalance against the growing threats from the nuclear-armed North. Pyongyang has not hidden its distaste for the exercise, saying it was "rehearsals for an invasion" and that it would take "overwhelming" action in response. Also read | North Korean hackers target US-South Korea military drills, police say Earlier this month, Kim, taking evasive actions, ordered the authorities to boost the production of missiles and artillery shells in order to be prepared for war. Kim reportedly visited key munitions factories that produce tactical missiles, missile launch platforms, armoured vehicles and artillery shells and gave the orders. "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, according to state media reports. Watch | Russia behind North Korea's ICBM programme? | WION Fineprint × Pyongyang is miffed Notably, the apparent "cruise missile launch" comes days after US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Camp David. It was the first time that the three countries and their leaders met for a standalone summit where North Korea formed a major part of the talks. Pyongyang may have been irked by the fact that the three countries agreed to a multi-year plan of regular exercises in all domains. They also made a formal "commitment to consult" during crises, with Biden saying they would open a hotline. On Sunday (August 20), a Reuters report stated that hackers believed to be linked to a North Korean group that researchers call Kimsuky, had carried out hacking operations over the joint military exercise. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ahead of US-South Korea military drills, Kim oversees cruise missile launch: Reports

<p>A new analysis of data from&nbsp;the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has shown that&nbsp;gun-related deaths among children in the United States&nbsp;reached a peak in 2021, claiming 4,752 young lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Out of those fatalities, 64.3 per cent&nbsp;were homicides, 29.9 per cent&nbsp;were suicides and 3.5 per cent&nbsp;resulted from unintentional injury, according to the analysis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr&nbsp;Chethan Sathya, the lead author of the study and&nbsp;a pediatric trauma surgeon at Northwell Health in New York said the most likely reason someone's kid was to die from in the US was&nbsp;the use of a firearm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This is undoubtedly one of our chief public health crises in this country. The most likely reason that your child will die in this country is at the hands of a firearm. That’s not acceptable,” said Sathya, whose study was published Monday (August 21) in the journal Pediatrics.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/data-lab-alarming-stats-in-charts-us-has-more-gun-dealers-than-mcdonalds-starbucks-outlets-put-together-617139"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Data Lab | Alarming stats, in charts: US has more gun dealers than McDonald's, Starbucks outlets put together</strong></a></p>

<h2><b>Increase in deaths surprised researchers&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p>The increase in gun-related deaths in 2021 surprised researchers&nbsp;who said they were expecting to see a decrease, following their sharp increase in 2020 when kids were forced to be confined to homes due to pandemic-induced lockdowns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This was surprising to many of us,” said Sathya, adding that the US has&nbsp;potentially entered an “alarming new baseline”, where gun-related death among children may continue to rise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report states that Black children continue to be disproportionately affected by gun-related deaths. They accounted for nearly 68 per cent of all gun-related homicides, which was a twofold increase from 2020 numbers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Structural inequity, structural racism, social determinants of health, food insecurity are all root drivers of violence.&nbsp;including gun violence," said Sathya when quizzed about the disparity in numbers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-gun-violence-crisis-how-easy-is-it-to-buy-guns-wion-wideangle-582644"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US gun violence crisis: How easy is it to buy guns? | WION Wideangle</strong></a></p>

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<p>Recent weeks have seen a flurry of cases where young kids have died by the use of firearms. A three-year-old in Florida shot himself with a handgun, while in California&nbsp;a three-year-old killed his one-year-old sister with the firearm. Last week, a six-year-old in Florida was fatally shot by a nine-year-old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sathya's research is not the only one that points towards the growing trend of gun-related deaths among children. A Pew Research report&nbsp;released earlier this year stated that the number of children and teens killed by gunfire increased by 50 per cent between 2019 and 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US has long been associated with gun violence as mass shootings, especially in schools and colleges, have become a routine phenomenon. The data by Dr Sathya and Pew research, now, corroborates the anecdotal evidence.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A new analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has shown that gun-related deaths among children in the United States reached a peak in 2021, claiming 4,752 young lives.

A new analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has shown that gun-related deaths among children in the United States reached a peak in 2021, claiming 4,752 young lives. Out of those fatalities, 64.3 per cent were homicides, 29.9 per cent were suicides and 3.5 per cent resulted from unintentional injury, according to the analysis. Dr Chethan Sathya, the lead author of the study and a pediatric trauma surgeon at Northwell Health in New York said the most likely reason someone's kid was to die from in the US was the use of a firearm. “This is undoubtedly one of our chief public health crises in this country. The most likely reason that your child will die in this country is at the hands of a firearm. That’s not acceptable,” said Sathya, whose study was published Monday (August 21) in the journal Pediatrics. Also read | Data Lab | Alarming stats, in charts: US has more gun dealers than McDonald's, Starbucks outlets put together Increase in deaths surprised researchers The increase in gun-related deaths in 2021 surprised researchers who said they were expecting to see a decrease, following their sharp increase in 2020 when kids were forced to be confined to homes due to pandemic-induced lockdowns. “This was surprising to many of us,” said Sathya, adding that the US has potentially entered an “alarming new baseline”, where gun-related death among children may continue to rise. The report states that Black children continue to be disproportionately affected by gun-related deaths. They accounted for nearly 68 per cent of all gun-related homicides, which was a twofold increase from 2020 numbers. “Structural inequity, structural racism, social determinants of health, food insecurity are all root drivers of violence. including gun violence," said Sathya when quizzed about the disparity in numbers. Watch | US gun violence crisis: How easy is it to buy guns? | WION Wideangle × Recent weeks have seen a flurry of cases where young kids have died by the use of firearms. A three-year-old in Florida shot himself with a handgun, while in California a three-year-old killed his one-year-old sister with the firearm. Last week, a six-year-old in Florida was fatally shot by a nine-year-old. Sathya's research is not the only one that points towards the growing trend of gun-related deaths among children. A Pew Research report released earlier this year stated that the number of children and teens killed by gunfire increased by 50 per cent between 2019 and 2021. The US has long been associated with gun violence as mass shootings, especially in schools and colleges, have become a routine phenomenon. The data by Dr Sathya and Pew research, now, corroborates the anecdotal evidence. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kids in US most likely to die due to use of firearms, reveals study

In pics | Tropical Storm Hilary pounds California after barreling through Mexico

<p>At least three people have died while three others have been hospitalised after drinking milkshakes contaminated with listeria bacteria at a restaurant in Washington, USA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a release by the Washington State Department of Health, investigators found the outbreak related to ice cream machines that were not cleaned properly at a&nbsp;Frugals restaurant in Tacoma.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Listeria bacteria found in all milkshake flavours sold at Frugals restaurant at 10727 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, WA are associated with a foodborne listeriosis outbreak linked to six hospitalisations and three deaths," read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the restaurant stopped using its ice cream machines on August 8, Listeria can still sicken people up to 70 days later.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports state that the victims (five people in Pierce County and one person in Thurston County) were hospitalised between February 27 and July 22. Investigations revealed that the bacteria inside the milkshakes were the same strain of Listeria that triggered hospitalisations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The health department said anyone who ate at the Tacoma restaurant between May 29 and August 7 and is showing symptoms of Listeria is urged to contact a doctor at the earliest.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is Listeria?</strong></h2>

<p>Listeria or&nbsp;Listeriosis is a serious infection, often linked to eating food&nbsp;contaminated by&nbsp;bacterium&nbsp;<em>Listeria monocytogenes.&nbsp;</em>According to US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,6000 people contract&nbsp;listeriosis each year, with the infection proving fatal for 260.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-us-fda-recalls-1400-pounds-of-cheese-over-listeria-contamination-fears-619308"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;New York: US FDA recalls 1,400 pounds of cheese over listeria contamination fears</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>What are the symptoms?</strong></h2>

<p>The bacteria is most likely to attack pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older and people with weak immune systems. Pregnant women are approximately 10 times more likely to get listeriosis, and pregnant Hispanic women are 24 times more likely. Others may contract the disease but the severity may be less severe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Those not pregnant usually have a fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, pregnant women usually have a fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.&nbsp;Listeria&nbsp;cannot be taken lightly as it is known to&nbsp;cause pregnancy loss or premature birth in certain cases.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/researchers-use-bacteria-to-generate-power-how-does-it-work-495392"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Researchers use bacteria to generate power: How does it work?</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Diagnosis and treatment</strong></h2>

<p>People with an invasive illness are usually&nbsp;treated using antibiotics. Most people with intestinal illness recover without the assistance of any antibiotic treatment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>CDC cautions that antibiotics are needed only for patients who are very ill or at risk of becoming very ill. People who have an intestinal illness should drink extra fluids when they have diarrhoea.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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At least three people have died while three others have been hospitalised after drinking milkshakes contaminated with listeria bacteria at a restaurant in Washington, USA.

At least three people have died while three others have been hospitalised after drinking milkshakes contaminated with listeria bacteria at a restaurant in Washington, USA. According to a release by the Washington State Department of Health, investigators found the outbreak related to ice cream machines that were not cleaned properly at a Frugals restaurant in Tacoma. "Listeria bacteria found in all milkshake flavours sold at Frugals restaurant at 10727 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, WA are associated with a foodborne listeriosis outbreak linked to six hospitalisations and three deaths," read the statement. Although the restaurant stopped using its ice cream machines on August 8, Listeria can still sicken people up to 70 days later. Reports state that the victims (five people in Pierce County and one person in Thurston County) were hospitalised between February 27 and July 22. Investigations revealed that the bacteria inside the milkshakes were the same strain of Listeria that triggered hospitalisations. The health department said anyone who ate at the Tacoma restaurant between May 29 and August 7 and is showing symptoms of Listeria is urged to contact a doctor at the earliest. What is Listeria? Listeria or Listeriosis is a serious infection, often linked to eating food contaminated by bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. According to US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,6000 people contract listeriosis each year, with the infection proving fatal for 260. Also read | New York: US FDA recalls 1,400 pounds of cheese over listeria contamination fears What are the symptoms? The bacteria is most likely to attack pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older and people with weak immune systems. Pregnant women are approximately 10 times more likely to get listeriosis, and pregnant Hispanic women are 24 times more likely. Others may contract the disease but the severity may be less severe. Those not pregnant usually have a fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures. Meanwhile, pregnant women usually have a fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. Listeria cannot be taken lightly as it is known to cause pregnancy loss or premature birth in certain cases. Watch | Researchers use bacteria to generate power: How does it work? × Diagnosis and treatment People with an invasive illness are usually treated using antibiotics. Most people with intestinal illness recover without the assistance of any antibiotic treatment. CDC cautions that antibiotics are needed only for patients who are very ill or at risk of becoming very ill. People who have an intestinal illness should drink extra fluids when they have diarrhoea. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

USA: Deadly Listeria outbreak, linked to contaminated ice cream machines, kills three in Washington

<p>West Indies and Zimbabwe notched up victories in their respective opening Cricket World Cup Group A qualifiers over the United States and Nepal on Sunday. Two-time world champions West Indies recovered from the early loss of openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers as four players hit half-centuries as they made 297 all out off 49.3 overs.</p>

<p>Johnson Charles top scored with 66, while Jason Holder (56), Roston Chase (55) and skipper Shai Hope (54) all went past 50, Nicholas Pooran also chipped&nbsp;in with 43 runs.</p>

<p>Gajanand Singh hit an unbeaten 101 off 109 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, for the US team, but the chase proved too much and the West Indies ran out winners by 39 runs.</p>

<p>"We have to be disciplined and we have to stay calm," Holder said, praising Singh for his effort with the bat. "He played a really good knock to get his team close enough to our total."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/teammates-are-no-longer-friends-says-ravi-ashwin-on-dressing-room-atmosphere-605806">'Teammates are no longer friends', says Ravi Ashwin on dressing room atmosphere</a></p>

<h2>Zimbabwe beat Nepal in one-sided affair</h2>

<p>Earlier in the day, unbeaten centuries by skipper Craig Ervine and Sean Williams in a 164-run partnership guided Zimbabwe to an eight-wicket win over Nepal.</p>

<p>Chasing an imposing total of 290, Ervine hit a 128-ball 121 featuring 15 fours and a six, while Williams struck 102 off 70 balls as Zimbabwe reached 291 for the loss of two wickets with 35 balls remaining.</p>

<p>Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh hit 99 and 66 respectively to help Nepal to 290 for eight wickets off their 50 overs at the Harare Sports Club.</p>

<p>Wellington Masakadza eventually claimed both Bhurtel and Sheikh's wickets and Richard Ngarava took 4-43 off his nine overs.</p>

<p>In front of a large crowd, Zimbabwe lost Joylord Gumbie (25) and Wessly Madhevere (32) before Ervine and Williams took control of Nepal's bowling attack.</p>

<p>"We didn't start really well, dropped catches cost us but credit to the guys for pulling it back. We thought that 280/290 would be chaseable because the wicket looked very nice," said Ervine. "I think it's well played today, rest day tomorrow and a quick turnaround when we play the Netherlands next on Tuesday."</p>

<p>The action continues Monday, with Sri Lanka facing the United Arab Emirates and Ireland taking on Oman in Group B matches at Bulawayo.</p>

<p>Only two of the 10 teams taking part in the three-week qualifier will make the World Cup to be played in India in October and November.</p>

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West Indies and Zimbabwe notched up victories in their respective opening Cricket World Cup Group A qualifiers over the United States and Nepal on Sunday. Two-time world champions West Indies recovered from the early loss of openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers as four players hit half-centuries as they made 297 all out off 49.

West Indies and Zimbabwe notched up victories in their respective opening Cricket World Cup Group A qualifiers over the United States and Nepal on Sunday. Two-time world champions West Indies recovered from the early loss of openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers as four players hit half-centuries as they made 297 all out off 49.3 overs. Johnson Charles top scored with 66, while Jason Holder (56), Roston Chase (55) and skipper Shai Hope (54) all went past 50, Nicholas Pooran also chipped in with 43 runs. Gajanand Singh hit an unbeaten 101 off 109 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, for the US team, but the chase proved too much and the West Indies ran out winners by 39 runs. "We have to be disciplined and we have to stay calm," Holder said, praising Singh for his effort with the bat. "He played a really good knock to get his team close enough to our total." ALSO READ: 'Teammates are no longer friends', says Ravi Ashwin on dressing room atmosphere Zimbabwe beat Nepal in one-sided affair Earlier in the day, unbeaten centuries by skipper Craig Ervine and Sean Williams in a 164-run partnership guided Zimbabwe to an eight-wicket win over Nepal. Chasing an imposing total of 290, Ervine hit a 128-ball 121 featuring 15 fours and a six, while Williams struck 102 off 70 balls as Zimbabwe reached 291 for the loss of two wickets with 35 balls remaining. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh hit 99 and 66 respectively to help Nepal to 290 for eight wickets off their 50 overs at the Harare Sports Club. Wellington Masakadza eventually claimed both Bhurtel and Sheikh's wickets and Richard Ngarava took 4-43 off his nine overs. In front of a large crowd, Zimbabwe lost Joylord Gumbie (25) and Wessly Madhevere (32) before Ervine and Williams took control of Nepal's bowling attack. "We didn't start really well, dropped catches cost us but credit to the guys for pulling it back. We thought that 280/290 would be chaseable because the wicket looked very nice," said Ervine. "I think it's well played today, rest day tomorrow and a quick turnaround when we play the Netherlands next on Tuesday." The action continues Monday, with Sri Lanka facing the United Arab Emirates and Ireland taking on Oman in Group B matches at Bulawayo. Only two of the 10 teams taking part in the three-week qualifier will make the World Cup to be played in India in October and November. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

West Indies, Zimbabwe earn crucial win over minnows in World Cup Qualifiers

<p>US President Joe Biden was going to be put on the stand to testify for his son Hunter Biden if criminal charges were ever brought against him, a sensational report in Politico has claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>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,” reads 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>An additional 300 pages of emails reviewed by the publication show the extent to which Hunter's lawyers went, in an attempt to arrange the "sweet plea deal', which would have kept him out of prison before it fell apart at the last minute.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hunter-biden-to-plead-guilty-to-tax-crimes-607090"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Hunter Biden to plead guilty to tax crimes</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the case about?</strong></h2>

<p>Hunter did not file his tax returns on time, for the years 2017 and 2018, on earnings of more than $1.5 million. In both years, he owed more than $100,000 in taxes on those earnings, as per news agency AFP. Each count brings up to 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 or double.</p>

<p>As for a separate gun charge, Hunter was found in possession of a firearm which he had purchased in 2018 while lying about his drug use on a federal gun-purchase form.</p>

<p>If the plea deal&nbsp;cut between the prosecutor and defendant had stood valid, the gun charge would have been&nbsp;expunged after two years of probation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-bidens-son-hunter-agrees-to-plead-guilty-to-tax-offenses-606568" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | US President Joe Biden's son Hunter agrees to plead guilty to tax offenses</strong></a></p>

<p>However, after raising certain concerns regarding the terms of the deal, US District Judge Maryellen Noreika said that she could not "rubber stamp the agreement".</p>

<p>The hearing ended with Hunter pleading not guilty to two misdemeanour charges for failing to pay his taxes in 2017 and 2018. After the verdict,&nbsp;White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed that President Biden will&nbsp;not be using his presidential authority to pardon his son.</p>

<p>Earlier, after Hunter announced he was pleading guilty,&nbsp;the POTUS and the First Lady released a statement saying they love and support their son and have no further comment over the issue.</p>

<p>"The President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment," the White House said in a statement.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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US President Joe Biden was going to be put on the stand to testify for his son Hunter Biden if criminal charges were ever brought against him, a sensational report in Politico has claimed.

US President Joe Biden was going to be put on the stand to testify for his son Hunter Biden if criminal charges were ever brought against him, a sensational report in Politico has claimed. 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,” reads 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. An additional 300 pages of emails reviewed by the publication show the extent to which Hunter's lawyers went, in an attempt to arrange the "sweet plea deal', which would have kept him out of prison before it fell apart at the last minute. WATCH | Gravitas: Hunter Biden to plead guilty to tax crimes What is the case about? Hunter did not file his tax returns on time, for the years 2017 and 2018, on earnings of more than $1.5 million. In both years, he owed more than $100,000 in taxes on those earnings, as per news agency AFP. Each count brings up to 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 or double. As for a separate gun charge, Hunter was found in possession of a firearm which he had purchased in 2018 while lying about his drug use on a federal gun-purchase form. If the plea deal cut between the prosecutor and defendant had stood valid, the gun charge would have been expunged after two years of probation. Also read | US President Joe Biden's son Hunter agrees to plead guilty to tax offenses However, after raising certain concerns regarding the terms of the deal, US District Judge Maryellen Noreika said that she could not "rubber stamp the agreement". The hearing ended with Hunter pleading not guilty to two misdemeanour charges for failing to pay his taxes in 2017 and 2018. After the verdict, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed that President Biden will not be using his presidential authority to pardon his son. Earlier, after Hunter announced he was pleading guilty, the POTUS and the First Lady released a statement saying they love and support their son and have no further comment over the issue. "The President and First Lady love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life. We will have no further comment," the White House said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hunter Biden's lawyers threatened to put President Joe Biden on witness stand: Report

Joe Biden held the summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to focus on regional security cooperation concerns, especially managing North Korean belligerence and countering China.

Biden strengthens ties with Japan and South Korea at Camp David summit

<p>Sha'Carri Richardson is in her prime and leading the U.S. effort to break up the Jamaican reign of dominance over the women's 100 metres when the World Championships kick off in Budapest this week.</p>

<p>The fan favourite lost her place at the Tokyo Olympics after a positive cannabis test and failed to qualify for worlds last year in Eugene, Oregon, but put those disappointments behind her to produce the best season of her career in 2023.</p>

<p>Budapest will be the ultimate proving ground for the Texas-born dynamo after years of enormous expectations, beginning in 2019 when she broke the 100 metres NCAA collegiate record at just 19 years old.</p>

<p>"I'm so blessed and thankful, I feel at peace," she told reporters after winning the Doha Diamond League meet in May in 10.76 seconds. "All I do is the best I do and I'm excited to do it."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-hurdles-champion-amusans-doping-suspension-lifted-626546">World hurdles champion Amusan's doping suspension lifted</a></p>

<p>Richardson kept a busy schedule this season and her record was unblemished until a second-place finish in the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix last month.</p>

<p>She produced four of the top 10 fastest times of 2023, including the best performance of her career, a 10.71 in the U.S. championships heats last month.</p>

<p>That saw her briefly in command of the world lead until Jamaican Shericka Jackson bested her a day later with a 10.65 in Kingston.</p>

<p>Days after that, Richardson took the top of the podium in 10.76 at Silesia Diamond League meet, two hundredths of a second ahead of Jackson.</p>

<p>The 2022 silver medallist Jackson is hoping to keep alive the Jamaican streak in the 100 metres, and her compatriots have taken gold in six of the last eight finals.</p>

<p>"I've gotten, I think, a lot faster since the Jamaican trials," Jackson told Athletics Weekly. "Definitely expecting good things."</p>

<p>Their rivalry - Jackson finished second behind Richardson at the Doha Diamond League - could produce fireworks in Budapest, where the women's 100 metres will be one of the most compelling events.</p>

<p>Richardson, who is also on the entry list for the 200 metres, will be without some notable team mates in Budapest after the Americans dominated the medal table a year ago.</p>

<p>Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record in the 400 metres hurdles to take the championship last year and was among the most highly anticipated athletes of the meet as she was expected to try 400 metres flat event.</p>

<p>But after claiming the world lead in 48.74 seconds last month, she announced days ago that she would miss worlds due to a knee issue.</p>

<p>On the men's side, Michael Norman will not defend his 400 metres title, citing an "extremely frustrating season" and his desire to focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics.</p>

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Sha'Carri Richardson is in her prime and leading the U.S. effort to break up the Jamaican reign of dominance over the women's 100 metres when the World Championships kick off in Budapest this week.

Sha'Carri Richardson is in her prime and leading the U.S. effort to break up the Jamaican reign of dominance over the women's 100 metres when the World Championships kick off in Budapest this week. The fan favourite lost her place at the Tokyo Olympics after a positive cannabis test and failed to qualify for worlds last year in Eugene, Oregon, but put those disappointments behind her to produce the best season of her career in 2023. Budapest will be the ultimate proving ground for the Texas-born dynamo after years of enormous expectations, beginning in 2019 when she broke the 100 metres NCAA collegiate record at just 19 years old. "I'm so blessed and thankful, I feel at peace," she told reporters after winning the Doha Diamond League meet in May in 10.76 seconds. "All I do is the best I do and I'm excited to do it." ALSO READ: World hurdles champion Amusan's doping suspension lifted Richardson kept a busy schedule this season and her record was unblemished until a second-place finish in the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix last month. She produced four of the top 10 fastest times of 2023, including the best performance of her career, a 10.71 in the U.S. championships heats last month. That saw her briefly in command of the world lead until Jamaican Shericka Jackson bested her a day later with a 10.65 in Kingston. Days after that, Richardson took the top of the podium in 10.76 at Silesia Diamond League meet, two hundredths of a second ahead of Jackson. The 2022 silver medallist Jackson is hoping to keep alive the Jamaican streak in the 100 metres, and her compatriots have taken gold in six of the last eight finals. "I've gotten, I think, a lot faster since the Jamaican trials," Jackson told Athletics Weekly. "Definitely expecting good things." Their rivalry - Jackson finished second behind Richardson at the Doha Diamond League - could produce fireworks in Budapest, where the women's 100 metres will be one of the most compelling events. Richardson, who is also on the entry list for the 200 metres, will be without some notable team mates in Budapest after the Americans dominated the medal table a year ago. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record in the 400 metres hurdles to take the championship last year and was among the most highly anticipated athletes of the meet as she was expected to try 400 metres flat event. But after claiming the world lead in 48.74 seconds last month, she announced days ago that she would miss worlds due to a knee issue. On the men's side, Michael Norman will not defend his 400 metres title, citing an "extremely frustrating season" and his desire to focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Peaking USA's Sha'Carri Richardson aims to end Jamaican domination at World Championships

<p>The United States (US) State Department has curated an educational programme that is in line with India's New Education Policy (NEP). The new programme will allow Indian students to pursue a&nbsp;one-year professional master's degree with an industrial specialisation in American universities.</p>

<p>The programme has been developed by&nbsp;Akhilesh Lakhtakia, a Jefferson Science Fellow at the State Department’s South and Central Asia (SCA) bureau.&nbsp;Lakhtakia was roped in from&nbsp;Penn State University where he was serving as a&nbsp;professor of engineering science and mechanics to study India's NEP. The State Department wanted him to come up with a programme that is beneficial to the students, governments as well universities of the two countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The courses are currently confined to&nbsp;science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines and will start beginning the fall semester of 2024. Specialised courses on&nbsp;wireless technology, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, quantum engineering,&nbsp;5G and 7G communication systems,&nbsp;semiconductor processing, nano-technology, and photonics among others are currently being offered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the State Department acting as a facilitator, over 20 American and 25 Indian universities are in discussion to take advantage of the initiative.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-1st-g20-education-working-group-meeting-begins-in-india-558391"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;WION Dispatch: First&nbsp; G20 Education working group meeting in India</strong></a></p>

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<p>Notably, once the course is completed, students will be eligible to stay in the US for up to three years, as per current visa rules. The move is intended to allow them to gain&nbsp;work experience in industry and repay student loans.</p>

<p>“What was proposed was very much to my liking. It is student-centred, flexible, multidisciplinary, futuristic, and international. If this can be implemented, it will simply revolutionise school and higher education,"&nbsp;Lakhtakia was quoted as saying by <em>Hindustan Times</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The State Department brought me in to understand how, in line with NEP, the two countries can work together. The objective was to create a win-win, but in my mind, my client was the Indian student,” he added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/the-new-education-policy-2020-320527"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;The new Education Policy, 2020</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Win-win situation</strong></h2>

<p>The starting of the courses is a win-win situation for the State Department and the Commerce Department. While the former will be able to deepen people-to-people linkages and enhance soft power, the latter will see more revenue generation as foreign students arrive on the US shores.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the skilled and cream of the crop will be pursuing these highly specialised one-year courses, they will be able to contribute to the American economy in an active way straightway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Explaining the decision,&nbsp;Lakhtakia said:&nbsp;“A usual master’s degree in the US is for two years. But we thought that over 12 months, students can get a master’s degree with 30 credits. The idea is also to have a strong experimental component so that graduates when they go into industry, can become effective fairly quickly.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The United States (US) State Department has curated an educational programme that is in line with India's New Education Policy (NEP). The new programme will allow Indian students to pursue a one-year professional master's degree with an industrial specialisation in American universities.

The United States (US) State Department has curated an educational programme that is in line with India's New Education Policy (NEP). The new programme will allow Indian students to pursue a one-year professional master's degree with an industrial specialisation in American universities. The programme has been developed by Akhilesh Lakhtakia, a Jefferson Science Fellow at the State Department’s South and Central Asia (SCA) bureau. Lakhtakia was roped in from Penn State University where he was serving as a professor of engineering science and mechanics to study India's NEP. The State Department wanted him to come up with a programme that is beneficial to the students, governments as well universities of the two countries. The courses are currently confined to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines and will start beginning the fall semester of 2024. Specialised courses on wireless technology, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, quantum engineering, 5G and 7G communication systems, semiconductor processing, nano-technology, and photonics among others are currently being offered. With the State Department acting as a facilitator, over 20 American and 25 Indian universities are in discussion to take advantage of the initiative. Watch | WION Dispatch: First G20 Education working group meeting in India × Notably, once the course is completed, students will be eligible to stay in the US for up to three years, as per current visa rules. The move is intended to allow them to gain work experience in industry and repay student loans. “What was proposed was very much to my liking. It is student-centred, flexible, multidisciplinary, futuristic, and international. If this can be implemented, it will simply revolutionise school and higher education," Lakhtakia was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. "The State Department brought me in to understand how, in line with NEP, the two countries can work together. The objective was to create a win-win, but in my mind, my client was the Indian student,” he added. Also read | The new Education Policy, 2020 Win-win situation The starting of the courses is a win-win situation for the State Department and the Commerce Department. While the former will be able to deepen people-to-people linkages and enhance soft power, the latter will see more revenue generation as foreign students arrive on the US shores. Since the skilled and cream of the crop will be pursuing these highly specialised one-year courses, they will be able to contribute to the American economy in an active way straightway. Explaining the decision, Lakhtakia said: “A usual master’s degree in the US is for two years. But we thought that over 12 months, students can get a master’s degree with 30 credits. The idea is also to have a strong experimental component so that graduates when they go into industry, can become effective fairly quickly.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US designs one-year master's programme for Indian students in line with education policy NEP

<p>Former United States women's national team coach Jill Ellis said on Thursday that the recruitment process for Vlatko Andonovski's replacement should be diverse but that the sex of the candidates should not be a decisive factor. Andonovski resigned as coach on Wednesday, multiple U.S. media outlets reported, following the four-times champions' early exit from the Women's World Cup this month. Ellis, who oversaw two World Cup triumphs in 2015 and 2019, said there were plenty of high quality and successful women coaches but the most important thing was that the U.S. ended up with the right person for the job.</p>

<p>"There's certainly good female coaches out there," she told reporters at a FIFA technical briefing in Sydney on Thursday. "So what I would hope in this process is it's robust, it's diverse, but at the end of the day, this is a critical hire ... and I think it has to be the right person." Andonovski faced sky-high expectations when he took over nearly four years ago, after Ellis had guided the team to back-to-back World Cup triumphs.</p>

<p>He led the United States to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics but there were early signs of trouble at the competition in Australia and New Zealand as the team failed to hit their stride after a slew of pre-tournament injuries. Ultimately, their bid for an unprecedented third consecutive title in New Zealand and Australia ended in a round-of-16 loss to Sweden, marking their worst performance in the quadrennial tournament.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-matildas-world-cup-semi-final-smashes-australia-tv-records-626257">Football: Matildas World Cup semi-final smashes Australia TV records</a></strong></p>

<p>Ellis said she was a great advocate for women coaches in the women's game and spoke in glowing terms about the job Sarina Wiegman had done in taking England to Sunday's World Cup final against Spain. "We need to make sure we're creating and providing opportunities for women," she added. "But not just giving them the opportunities, making sure they're supported and they're educated and they're ready to take those responsibilities and those opportunities. "So I think it's critical hire, it's got to be the right coach for this position. But in terms of gender, what we know is that in the last however many major tournaments, I think women have done alright."</p>

<p>Since 2000, all but one of the major women's football titles - the Women's World Cup, Women's Euros and the Olympics - have been won by teams coached by women.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Former United States women's national team coach Jill Ellis said on Thursday that the recruitment process for Vlatko Andonovski's replacement should be diverse but that the sex of the candidates should not be a decisive factor.

Former United States women's national team coach Jill Ellis said on Thursday that the recruitment process for Vlatko Andonovski's replacement should be diverse but that the sex of the candidates should not be a decisive factor. Andonovski resigned as coach on Wednesday, multiple U.S. media outlets reported, following the four-times champions' early exit from the Women's World Cup this month. Ellis, who oversaw two World Cup triumphs in 2015 and 2019, said there were plenty of high quality and successful women coaches but the most important thing was that the U.S. ended up with the right person for the job. "There's certainly good female coaches out there," she told reporters at a FIFA technical briefing in Sydney on Thursday. "So what I would hope in this process is it's robust, it's diverse, but at the end of the day, this is a critical hire ... and I think it has to be the right person." Andonovski faced sky-high expectations when he took over nearly four years ago, after Ellis had guided the team to back-to-back World Cup triumphs. He led the United States to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics but there were early signs of trouble at the competition in Australia and New Zealand as the team failed to hit their stride after a slew of pre-tournament injuries. Ultimately, their bid for an unprecedented third consecutive title in New Zealand and Australia ended in a round-of-16 loss to Sweden, marking their worst performance in the quadrennial tournament. Also read: Football: Matildas World Cup semi-final smashes Australia TV records Ellis said she was a great advocate for women coaches in the women's game and spoke in glowing terms about the job Sarina Wiegman had done in taking England to Sunday's World Cup final against Spain. "We need to make sure we're creating and providing opportunities for women," she added. "But not just giving them the opportunities, making sure they're supported and they're educated and they're ready to take those responsibilities and those opportunities. "So I think it's critical hire, it's got to be the right coach for this position. But in terms of gender, what we know is that in the last however many major tournaments, I think women have done alright." Since 2000, all but one of the major women's football titles - the Women's World Cup, Women's Euros and the Olympics - have been won by teams coached by women. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

USA women need the best coach regardless of gender, says World Cup winner Jill Ellis

<p>The wildfires&nbsp;that ripped through the&nbsp;Hawaiian island of Maui have&nbsp;been ranked as the fifth-deadliest wildland fire in US history. The fires started on August 8 and have since killed at least 96 people while displacing thousands and causing damages - both ecological and financial.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Maui wildfire death toll has already surpassed the Camp Fire wildfire in California which spread across Butte County in November 2018 and claimed the lives of 85 people.</p>

<p>According to&nbsp;Governor Josh Green, it could take up to 10 days to get a full estimate of the death toll as the number of missing people currently stands at 1,300.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There is nothing to see except full devastation.&nbsp;It's hard to recognise anybody," said Green, warning that recovery crews are likely to find&nbsp;10 to 20 more victims per day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The deadliest wildfire in US history remains the October 1871 wildfire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin where over 1,500 were killed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The western community town of Lahaina is possibly the worst-affected area. The region, home to 12,000 people, wears a dystopic cover, with most residents having escaped or probably perished in the fire, informed authorities. As of last weekend, only three per cent of the town had been searched.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We've got an area that we have to contain that is at least five square miles, and it is full of our loved ones," said Maui Police Chief Jeff Pelletier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an attempt to help with the search efforts, Chief Pelletier has urged people with missing family members to submit DNA samples.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maui-wildfires-among-the-deadliest-in-us-history-wion-climate-tracker-625308"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Maui wildfires among the deadliest in US history | WION Climate Tracker</strong></a></p>

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<p>The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates a staggering $5.5 billion will be required for the restoration efforts.</p>

<p>Over 2,200 structures lie&nbsp;damaged or destroyed, and over 2,100 acres of land now bear the scars of destruction, reminding all of the arduous journey that lies ahead.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-the-damage-caused-due-to-maui-wildfires-624638">The damage caused due to Maui wildfires</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>What caused the fire?</strong></h2>

<p>According to experts, although the exact cause of the wildfire is not known yet, extreme heat caused by global warming could be one of the potential reasons.</p>

<p>Scientists had&nbsp;declared July as the hottest month ever recorded, with continents of Asia, Europe and North America - all battling the ferocious heat. According to experts, human-induced climate change has greatly exacerbated the global warming effect, leading to sky-high temperatures. Consequently, wildfires, such as the one in Maui, have become a common occurrence across the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The wildfires that ripped through the Hawaiian island of Maui have been ranked as the fifth-deadliest wildland fire in US history. The fires started on August 8 and have since killed at least 96 people while displacing thousands and causing damages - both ecological and financial.

The wildfires that ripped through the Hawaiian island of Maui have been ranked as the fifth-deadliest wildland fire in US history. The fires started on August 8 and have since killed at least 96 people while displacing thousands and causing damages - both ecological and financial. The Maui wildfire death toll has already surpassed the Camp Fire wildfire in California which spread across Butte County in November 2018 and claimed the lives of 85 people. According to Governor Josh Green, it could take up to 10 days to get a full estimate of the death toll as the number of missing people currently stands at 1,300. "There is nothing to see except full devastation. It's hard to recognise anybody," said Green, warning that recovery crews are likely to find 10 to 20 more victims per day. The deadliest wildfire in US history remains the October 1871 wildfire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin where over 1,500 were killed. The western community town of Lahaina is possibly the worst-affected area. The region, home to 12,000 people, wears a dystopic cover, with most residents having escaped or probably perished in the fire, informed authorities. As of last weekend, only three per cent of the town had been searched. "We've got an area that we have to contain that is at least five square miles, and it is full of our loved ones," said Maui Police Chief Jeff Pelletier. In an attempt to help with the search efforts, Chief Pelletier has urged people with missing family members to submit DNA samples. Watch | Maui wildfires among the deadliest in US history | WION Climate Tracker × The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates a staggering $5.5 billion will be required for the restoration efforts. Over 2,200 structures lie damaged or destroyed, and over 2,100 acres of land now bear the scars of destruction, reminding all of the arduous journey that lies ahead. Also read | The damage caused due to Maui wildfires What caused the fire? According to experts, although the exact cause of the wildfire is not known yet, extreme heat caused by global warming could be one of the potential reasons. Scientists had declared July as the hottest month ever recorded, with continents of Asia, Europe and North America - all battling the ferocious heat. According to experts, human-induced climate change has greatly exacerbated the global warming effect, leading to sky-high temperatures. Consequently, wildfires, such as the one in Maui, have become a common occurrence across the planet. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Maui wildfire ranked fifth-deadliest in US history as death toll mounts to 96

<p>The Hawaiian island of Maui has been devastated by the wildfires, killing nearly 100 people while displacing thousands. While 1,300 remain missing, an iOS feature may have saved the life of an individual during the disaster.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the New York Post,&nbsp;a little-known feature called Apple Emergency SOS on the iPhone 14 may have been a lifesaver. Michael Miraflor, a marketing executive took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to claim that his relatives were caught in their vehicle while attempting to flee the Hawaiian island.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Five of&nbsp;Miraflor's loved ones were in the white van but could not contact anyone as the cell towers had been destroyed. With no option to contact emergency services or relatives, one of the family members used&nbsp;Apple's satellite system, available on&nbsp;all models of the iPhone 14 to save the day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Using the feature, the&nbsp;phones can connect directly to a satellite through a combination of custom-designed components and deeply integrated software.</p>

<p>"My brother’s girlfriend’s cousin and his family were caught in their vehicle in Maui while the wildfires suddenly erupted around them. No cell service, so Apple Emergency SOS was the only way they could get in contact with first responders. Literally saved their lives," Miraflor posted on X.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Miraflor shared screenshots of emergency SOS texts between the fire department and dispatchers, which pinpointed the family's location info. The communication showed that the family was rescued within 30 minutes of sending the first emergency text.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My brother’s girlfriend’s cousin and his family were caught in their vehicle in Maui while the wildfires suddenly erupted around them.<br />
<br />
No cell service, so Apple Emergency SOS was the only way they could get in contact with first responders. Literally saved their lives. <a href="https://t.co/PpxNwTGOAf">pic.twitter.com/PpxNwTGOAf</a></p>
— Michael J. Miraflor (@michaelmiraflor) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelmiraflor/status/1689452794443632640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfire-ranked-fifth-deadliest-in-us-history-as-death-toll-mounts-to-96-625562"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Maui wildfire ranked fifth-deadliest in US history as death toll mounts to 96</strong></a></p>

<p>The family was found at the Outlets of Maui, a shopping mall in Lahaina near the fires.&nbsp;The western community town of Lahaina is possibly the worst-affected area. The region, home to 12,000 people, wears a dystopic look, as most residents have either&nbsp;escaped or probably perished in the fire, according to authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Netizens appreciative of technology</strong></h2>

<p>Upon sharing the news, netizens seemed thankful and appreciated the technology for helping out the family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Wow - glad they are ok, and thank goodness for Apple emergency," said one user, while another added,&nbsp;"Damn they seem so close to the water too. The conditions must've been insane."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maui-wildfires-among-the-deadliest-in-us-history-wion-climate-tracker-625308"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Maui wildfires among the deadliest in US history | WION Climate Tracker</strong></a></p>

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<p>It is not the first time that the Apple feature has saved lives. In May, 10 hikers lost their way in&nbsp;California’s Santa Paula Canyon. They used the emergency SOS button to contact the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and were found and brought back safely by a search and rescue team.</p>

<p>Notably, emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years after the activation of the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The Hawaiian island of Maui has been devastated by the wildfires, killing nearly 100 people while displacing thousands. While 1,300 remain missing, an iOS feature may have saved the life of an individual during the disaster.

The Hawaiian island of Maui has been devastated by the wildfires, killing nearly 100 people while displacing thousands. While 1,300 remain missing, an iOS feature may have saved the life of an individual during the disaster. According to the New York Post, a little-known feature called Apple Emergency SOS on the iPhone 14 may have been a lifesaver. Michael Miraflor, a marketing executive took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to claim that his relatives were caught in their vehicle while attempting to flee the Hawaiian island. Five of Miraflor's loved ones were in the white van but could not contact anyone as the cell towers had been destroyed. With no option to contact emergency services or relatives, one of the family members used Apple's satellite system, available on all models of the iPhone 14 to save the day. Using the feature, the phones can connect directly to a satellite through a combination of custom-designed components and deeply integrated software. "My brother’s girlfriend’s cousin and his family were caught in their vehicle in Maui while the wildfires suddenly erupted around them. No cell service, so Apple Emergency SOS was the only way they could get in contact with first responders. Literally saved their lives," Miraflor posted on X. Miraflor shared screenshots of emergency SOS texts between the fire department and dispatchers, which pinpointed the family's location info. The communication showed that the family was rescued within 30 minutes of sending the first emergency text. My brother’s girlfriend’s cousin and his family were caught in their vehicle in Maui while the wildfires suddenly erupted around them. No cell service, so Apple Emergency SOS was the only way they could get in contact with first responders. Literally saved their lives. pic.twitter.com/PpxNwTGOAf — Michael J. Miraflor (@michaelmiraflor) August 10, 2023 × Also read | Maui wildfire ranked fifth-deadliest in US history as death toll mounts to 96 The family was found at the Outlets of Maui, a shopping mall in Lahaina near the fires. The western community town of Lahaina is possibly the worst-affected area. The region, home to 12,000 people, wears a dystopic look, as most residents have either escaped or probably perished in the fire, according to authorities. Netizens appreciative of technology Upon sharing the news, netizens seemed thankful and appreciated the technology for helping out the family. "Wow - glad they are ok, and thank goodness for Apple emergency," said one user, while another added, "Damn they seem so close to the water too. The conditions must've been insane." Watch | Maui wildfires among the deadliest in US history | WION Climate Tracker × It is not the first time that the Apple feature has saved lives. In May, 10 hikers lost their way in California’s Santa Paula Canyon. They used the emergency SOS button to contact the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and were found and brought back safely by a search and rescue team. Notably, emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years after the activation of the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Maui: Family stuck in deadly wildfires saved by THIS novel Apple emergency feature

<p>A 17-year-old teenager has been arrested in West Philadelphia, US on terrorism charges. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the accused was&nbsp;allegedly communicating with the group Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ) which has been affiliated with notorious terror outfit Al-Qaeda.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The FBI started its investigation into the case in March this year when it became aware of the teenager's alleged communication with KTJ over Instagram. After a preliminary inquiry, the bureau launched a full-blown investigation, which included surveillance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The young man who is under arrest is -- was an aspiring terrorist who was not merely thinking but was doing things that are deeply disturbing and presented a grave danger to everyone," said&nbsp;FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Office Jacqueline Maguire during a press conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The teen was purportedly sending and receiving media content that had terrorist propaganda. He attempted to travel overseas&nbsp;for the purpose of joining or supporting the terrorist group. Additionally, he also acquired chemicals and learnt the steps to&nbsp;build a weapon of mass destruction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Among the items he purchased were tactical equipment, wiring, chemicals and devices often used as remote detonators," Maguire added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On August 8, 2023, US Customs and Border Protection provided records revealing 14 international shipments of military and tactical gear to the juvenile’s address.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/do-american-counterterrorism-plans-include-afghan-taliban-in-its-team-especially-to-counter-is-586084"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US counter-terrorism plans include Taliban to push back IS?</strong></a></p>

<p>A WhatsApp account linked to the accused had a banner of&nbsp;Riyad-us-Saliheen Martyrs’ Brigade, a Chechnya-based terrorist group, as its profile photo. On August 6, the accused changed the profile photo to the image of the ISIS banner.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>DA charges the juvenile&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>After the arrest, the District Attorney's office charged the juvenile with&nbsp;criminal conspiracy, arson, causing/risking a catastrophe, attempt to commit criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person.</p>

<p>“The work of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force potentially thwarted a catastrophic terrorist attack in the name of a perverted ideology that in no way, shape, or form represents the beliefs of the overwhelming majority of peace-seeking people of faith, including Muslims,” DA Larry Krasner said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistan: At least 17 dead, 50 injured in blast at police station; nature of blasts being invested&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>One of the neighbours commenting on the raid by the FBI officers at the accused's home said, "It was pandemonium all around. Had the undercovers, the FBI, the SWAT, guns, they wouldn't even allow anyone to walk up the street."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A 17-year-old teenager has been arrested in West Philadelphia, US on terrorism charges. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the accused was allegedly communicating with the group Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ) which has been affiliated with notorious terror outfit Al-Qaeda.

A 17-year-old teenager has been arrested in West Philadelphia, US on terrorism charges. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the accused was allegedly communicating with the group Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ) which has been affiliated with notorious terror outfit Al-Qaeda. The FBI started its investigation into the case in March this year when it became aware of the teenager's alleged communication with KTJ over Instagram. After a preliminary inquiry, the bureau launched a full-blown investigation, which included surveillance. "The young man who is under arrest is -- was an aspiring terrorist who was not merely thinking but was doing things that are deeply disturbing and presented a grave danger to everyone," said FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Office Jacqueline Maguire during a press conference. The teen was purportedly sending and receiving media content that had terrorist propaganda. He attempted to travel overseas for the purpose of joining or supporting the terrorist group. Additionally, he also acquired chemicals and learnt the steps to build a weapon of mass destruction. "Among the items he purchased were tactical equipment, wiring, chemicals and devices often used as remote detonators," Maguire added. On August 8, 2023, US Customs and Border Protection provided records revealing 14 international shipments of military and tactical gear to the juvenile’s address. Also read | US counter-terrorism plans include Taliban to push back IS? A WhatsApp account linked to the accused had a banner of Riyad-us-Saliheen Martyrs’ Brigade, a Chechnya-based terrorist group, as its profile photo. On August 6, the accused changed the profile photo to the image of the ISIS banner. DA charges the juvenile After the arrest, the District Attorney's office charged the juvenile with criminal conspiracy, arson, causing/risking a catastrophe, attempt to commit criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person. “The work of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force potentially thwarted a catastrophic terrorist attack in the name of a perverted ideology that in no way, shape, or form represents the beliefs of the overwhelming majority of peace-seeking people of faith, including Muslims,” DA Larry Krasner said. WATCH | Pakistan: At least 17 dead, 50 injured in blast at police station; nature of blasts being invested × One of the neighbours commenting on the raid by the FBI officers at the accused's home said, "It was pandemonium all around. Had the undercovers, the FBI, the SWAT, guns, they wouldn't even allow anyone to walk up the street." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Teenager arrested in Philadelphia for links to Al-Qaeda affiliated terror group

<p>In what is being dubbed as the fallout of the overturning of Roe vs Wade, a 13-year-old girl in the US state of&nbsp;Mississippi was forced to give birth to a boy after she was raped by a stranger. Owing to the abortion ban in the state, the girl was unable to get healthcare access and had to put her body through physical and mental torture to bring the infant into this world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a report published in Times magazine, the plight of the girl named Ashley (a&nbsp;pseudonym)&nbsp;has been documented. Upon hearing about Ashley's pregnancy, her mother, referred to as Regina, looked for abortion clinics. The last such clinic in Mississippi was closed last year. The only alternative lay in Chicago - a nine-hour drive from their home in Clarksdale.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, owing to the expensive nature of the travel, which would have meant taking time off work and paying hefty funds for the abortion procedure, the family took a decision - to do nothing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I don’t have the funds for all this,” Regina told Time.</p>

<p>Notably, the teenager was raped and impregnated while she was playing in the front yard outside her home in the fall of 2022. Following the sexual assault, the girl became depressed and withdrew&nbsp;from daily activities, suggesting the attack left a lasting impact on her.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/one-year-since-roe-v-wade-was-overturned-608453"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;One year since Roe v. Wade was overturned</strong></a></p>

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<p>"She just said, 'It hurts'," the mom said, adding, "She was crying in her room. I asked her what was wrong, and she said she didn’t want to tell me."</p>

<p>It was in January earlier this year that the pregnancy was first discovered by the doctors&nbsp;upon examining the girl's blood results. She was around 10 or 11 weeks pregnant at the time.</p>

<h2><strong>Roe vs Wade overturned&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The conservative-dominated US Supreme Court in June last year declared that individual states can now legalise or restrict the procedure on their own, overturning the historic "Roe vs. Wade" ruling from 1973 that established a woman's right to an abortion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the overturning, 14 state laws have gone into effect, banning abortion and snatching women's rights to their bodies, experts said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/louisiana-woman-carrying-skull-less-foetus-travels-over-2000-km-to-new-york-to-get-abortion-516256"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong></a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/louisiana-woman-carrying-skull-less-foetus-travels-over-2000-km-to-new-york-to-get-abortion-516256" target="_blank"><strong>Louisiana woman carrying skull-less foetus travels over 2,000 km to New York for abortion</strong></a></p>

<p>According to experts, the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade goes against a global trend that has seen abortion restrictions loosen up, particularly in nations like India, Ireland, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia where the Catholic Church continues to have significant sway.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In what is being dubbed as the fallout of the overturning of Roe vs Wade, a 13-year-old girl in the US state of Mississippi was forced to give birth to a boy after she was raped by a stranger.

In what is being dubbed as the fallout of the overturning of Roe vs Wade, a 13-year-old girl in the US state of Mississippi was forced to give birth to a boy after she was raped by a stranger. Owing to the abortion ban in the state, the girl was unable to get healthcare access and had to put her body through physical and mental torture to bring the infant into this world. In a report published in Times magazine, the plight of the girl named Ashley (a pseudonym) has been documented. Upon hearing about Ashley's pregnancy, her mother, referred to as Regina, looked for abortion clinics. The last such clinic in Mississippi was closed last year. The only alternative lay in Chicago - a nine-hour drive from their home in Clarksdale. However, owing to the expensive nature of the travel, which would have meant taking time off work and paying hefty funds for the abortion procedure, the family took a decision - to do nothing. “I don’t have the funds for all this,” Regina told Time. Notably, the teenager was raped and impregnated while she was playing in the front yard outside her home in the fall of 2022. Following the sexual assault, the girl became depressed and withdrew from daily activities, suggesting the attack left a lasting impact on her. Watch | One year since Roe v. Wade was overturned × "She just said, 'It hurts'," the mom said, adding, "She was crying in her room. I asked her what was wrong, and she said she didn’t want to tell me." It was in January earlier this year that the pregnancy was first discovered by the doctors upon examining the girl's blood results. She was around 10 or 11 weeks pregnant at the time. Roe vs Wade overturned The conservative-dominated US Supreme Court in June last year declared that individual states can now legalise or restrict the procedure on their own, overturning the historic "Roe vs. Wade" ruling from 1973 that established a woman's right to an abortion. Since the overturning, 14 state laws have gone into effect, banning abortion and snatching women's rights to their bodies, experts said. Also read: Louisiana woman carrying skull-less foetus travels over 2,000 km to New York for abortion According to experts, the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade goes against a global trend that has seen abortion restrictions loosen up, particularly in nations like India, Ireland, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia where the Catholic Church continues to have significant sway. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Roe vs Wade fallout: 13-year-old girl gives birth after she was raped and denied abortion in Mississippi

<p>Tiffany Gomas, the woman who went viral for her infamous "that motherfu**er is not real"&nbsp;rant aboard an American Airlines flight, has issued an apology video. Gomas, a marketing executive from Texas took to X, formerly known as Twitter and said it was time to address the controversy.</p>

<p>“Hi everyone, it’s me, Tiffany Gomas, probably better known as the ‘crazy plane lady,’ which is completely warranted,” said Gomas at the start of the nearly two-and-a-half-minute clip.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"First and foremost, I want to take full accountability for my actions. They were completely unacceptable. Distressed or not...I should have been in control of my emotions. And that was not the case," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We all have our bad moments, some far worse than others. And mine happened to be caught on camera for the whole world to see multiple times," she added while controlling her tears.</p>

<p>Gomas also apologised to the people on the plane, especially the families with children, saying her use of 'profanities' was completely unnecessary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Sorry y’all. I hope that I can use this experience and do a little good in the world, and that is what I intend to do,” Gomas adds. “I hope that you guys can accept my apology and I can begin to move on with my life.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Viral “Not real” woman has released an apology video <a href="https://t.co/8IFjzqmJMA">pic.twitter.com/8IFjzqmJMA</a></p>
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dexerto/status/1690818791368704000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Her apology video comes nearly a week after she broke her silence and started giving media interviews. The Dallas native is seemingly looking to control the narrative as she has reposted the video on&nbsp;her&nbsp;YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok accounts, after initially deleting them, according to <em>Dailymail.com</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maui-hawaii-wildfire-death-toll-rises-to-93-625163"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Maui Hawaii wildfire: Death toll rises to 93</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>What happened in the viral video?</strong></h2>

<p>In the viral video, Gomas could be seen freaking out and urging the flight crew to let her off the flight, bound for Orlando from Dallas. Without citing a reason or giving any explanation, Gomas started yelling, much to the confusion and amusement of the travellers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’m telling you, I’m getting the f–k off and there’s a reason why I’m getting the f–k off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it,"&nbsp;she could be heard saying in the viral footage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I don’t give two f–ks, but I am telling you right now – that motherf–ker back there is NOT real," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-womans-fiery-outburst-on-american-airlines-flight-over-not-real-passenger-611988"><strong>WATCH | Woman's fiery outburst on American Airlines flight over 'not real' passenger</strong></a></p>

<p>She warned the passengers that they could all stay on this plane and face whatever fate awaits them, or they have the option to follow her lead and exit.</p>

<p>"You can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not. I’m not going to,” she added.</p>

<p>Last week, the authorities released the extended bodycam footage of her being escorted through the airport by law enforcement officers, where Gomas can be seen as flustered as she was on the plane.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Tiffany Gomas, the woman who went viral for her infamous "that motherfu**er is not real" rant aboard an American Airlines flight, has issued an apology video. Gomas, a marketing executive from Texas took to X, formerly known as Twitter and said it was time to address the controversy.

Tiffany Gomas, the woman who went viral for her infamous "that motherfu**er is not real" rant aboard an American Airlines flight, has issued an apology video. Gomas, a marketing executive from Texas took to X, formerly known as Twitter and said it was time to address the controversy. “Hi everyone, it’s me, Tiffany Gomas, probably better known as the ‘crazy plane lady,’ which is completely warranted,” said Gomas at the start of the nearly two-and-a-half-minute clip. "First and foremost, I want to take full accountability for my actions. They were completely unacceptable. Distressed or not...I should have been in control of my emotions. And that was not the case," she said. "We all have our bad moments, some far worse than others. And mine happened to be caught on camera for the whole world to see multiple times," she added while controlling her tears. Gomas also apologised to the people on the plane, especially the families with children, saying her use of 'profanities' was completely unnecessary. “Sorry y’all. I hope that I can use this experience and do a little good in the world, and that is what I intend to do,” Gomas adds. “I hope that you guys can accept my apology and I can begin to move on with my life.” Viral “Not real” woman has released an apology video pic.twitter.com/8IFjzqmJMA — Dexerto (@Dexerto) August 13, 2023 × Her apology video comes nearly a week after she broke her silence and started giving media interviews. The Dallas native is seemingly looking to control the narrative as she has reposted the video on her YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok accounts, after initially deleting them, according to Dailymail.com. Watch | Maui Hawaii wildfire: Death toll rises to 93 × What happened in the viral video? In the viral video, Gomas could be seen freaking out and urging the flight crew to let her off the flight, bound for Orlando from Dallas. Without citing a reason or giving any explanation, Gomas started yelling, much to the confusion and amusement of the travellers. “I’m telling you, I’m getting the f–k off and there’s a reason why I’m getting the f–k off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it," she could be heard saying in the viral footage. “I don’t give two f–ks, but I am telling you right now – that motherf–ker back there is NOT real," she said. WATCH | Woman's fiery outburst on American Airlines flight over 'not real' passenger She warned the passengers that they could all stay on this plane and face whatever fate awaits them, or they have the option to follow her lead and exit. "You can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not. I’m not going to,” she added. Last week, the authorities released the extended bodycam footage of her being escorted through the airport by law enforcement officers, where Gomas can be seen as flustered as she was on the plane. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch | 'Crazy plane woman' releases apology video after viral ‘motherf–er is not real’ rant

<p>An infant walrus, rescued earlier this month that needed round-the-clock cuddles, has unfortunately died, the&nbsp;Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) said in a statement&nbsp;where it had been receiving treatment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are heartbroken to share that the&nbsp;walrus calf admitted to the&nbsp;ASLC&nbsp;Wildlife Response Program on August 1, 2023, passed away this morning after his condition took a turn for the worse,” read the statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The baby calf was found on Alaska’s North Slope, miles away from the ocean without the mother or any other walrus around. It had been suffering from a number of serious health concerns, including&nbsp;nutrient malabsorption (a condition where<em>&nbsp;</em>the&nbsp;body cannot effectively absorb nutrients from food).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Doctors said that in the 24 hours leading to his tragic passing, the calf was also struggling with&nbsp;hypoglycemia and&nbsp;gastrointestinal problems.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nearly-200-pilot-whales-die-on-tasmanias-west-coast-after-being-stranded-537475"><strong>Watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;Nearly 200 pilot whales die on Tasmania's west coast after being stranded</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Baby walruses need constant care</strong></h2>

<p>The&nbsp;200-pound (90 kilogrammes) walrus calf had been receiving near-constant care from the rescuers at the centre to mimic the care that he would receive from his mother. The staff described cuddling as giving an "option to have a warm body to lean up against" which the pup had&nbsp;been taking advantage of almost constantly.</p>

<p>Notably, walrus calves are heavily dependent on their mother until they are two years old. However, they are quick to respond to the care of humans and initially, the walrus, who was not named, managed to drink formula from a bottle.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/over-50-pilot-whales-die-on-scottish-island-after-being-stranded-616325"><strong>Also read | Over 50 pilot whales die after being stranded on beach in Scottish islands</strong></a></p>

<p>The little pup's death — one of just 10 that the centre has cared for in its 25-year history, has left everyone devastated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While often rewarding, wildlife rescue is inherently unpredictable and&nbsp;comes&nbsp;with it the possibility of great loss. For those that dedicate their lives to animal care, this is the hardest part of the job. We appreciate your understanding as the Center and its staff mourn, and&nbsp;we&nbsp;thank you for the outpouring of support that has come our way since this patient’s admission," read the statement by the centre.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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An infant walrus, rescued earlier this month that needed round-the-clock cuddles, has unfortunately died, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) said in a statement where it had been receiving treatment.

An infant walrus, rescued earlier this month that needed round-the-clock cuddles, has unfortunately died, the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) said in a statement where it had been receiving treatment. “We are heartbroken to share that the walrus calf admitted to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program on August 1, 2023, passed away this morning after his condition took a turn for the worse,” read the statement. The baby calf was found on Alaska’s North Slope, miles away from the ocean without the mother or any other walrus around. It had been suffering from a number of serious health concerns, including nutrient malabsorption (a condition where the body cannot effectively absorb nutrients from food). Doctors said that in the 24 hours leading to his tragic passing, the calf was also struggling with hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal problems. Watch | Nearly 200 pilot whales die on Tasmania's west coast after being stranded × Baby walruses need constant care The 200-pound (90 kilogrammes) walrus calf had been receiving near-constant care from the rescuers at the centre to mimic the care that he would receive from his mother. The staff described cuddling as giving an "option to have a warm body to lean up against" which the pup had been taking advantage of almost constantly. Notably, walrus calves are heavily dependent on their mother until they are two years old. However, they are quick to respond to the care of humans and initially, the walrus, who was not named, managed to drink formula from a bottle. Also read | Over 50 pilot whales die after being stranded on beach in Scottish islands The little pup's death — one of just 10 that the centre has cared for in its 25-year history, has left everyone devastated. "While often rewarding, wildlife rescue is inherently unpredictable and comes with it the possibility of great loss. For those that dedicate their lives to animal care, this is the hardest part of the job. We appreciate your understanding as the Center and its staff mourn, and we thank you for the outpouring of support that has come our way since this patient’s admission," read the statement by the centre. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tragic! Rescued walrus calf that needed 'round-the-clock' cuddles from humans dies

<p>Iran on Saturday announced that over $6 billion of its frozen funds in South Korea had been unlocked after the&nbsp;release of five Americans from prison to house arrest in Tehran. The country's central bank chief&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Farzin said the funds will be used to buy&nbsp;“non-sanctioned goods”.</p>

<p>“Congratulations to the foreign exchange diplomacy team for successfully releasing seized foreign currency resources,” Farzin wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p>

<p>Farzin said the funds would be transferred to six Iranian banks in Qatar. He added that&nbsp;the costs of converting the funds from South Korea’s won currency to euros would be accepted by the “third country” where the money would be deposited to buy the goods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Farzin's post seemingly confirmed the statement made by Washington a day earlier that there will be restrictions on what Tehran could do with the unfrozen funds.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-talk-with-mutual-understanding-to-cool-tensions-605322"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US, Iran talk with mutual 'understanding' to cool tensions</strong></a></p>

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the money already belonged to Iran but "it&nbsp;will not be receiving any sanctions relief."</p>

<p>"Iran's own funds would be used and transferred to restricted accounts such that the monies can only be used for humanitarian purposes," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iran had earned the money by selling oil to South Korea but Seoul blocked the funds to comply with the sanctions imposed by former US president Donald Trump to squeeze out Tehran's economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Iran, Cuba vow to confront US 'aggressive imperial policy'</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Iran releases&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>On Friday (August 11), Iran moved the five American prisoners to house arrest, in an effort to have some of the assets unfrozen.&nbsp;If all goes as planned, the American prisoners could leave&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;sometime in September.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Four of the prisoners - Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, Morad Tahbaz and another who preferred to remain anonymous -- were taken&nbsp;out of Tehran's notorious Evin prison as the Biden administration informed their families about the deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While this is a positive change, we will not rest until Siamak and others are back home; we continue to count the days until this can happen," Babak Namazi, Siamak's brother told news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Iran on Saturday announced that over $6 billion of its frozen funds in South Korea had been unlocked after the release of five Americans from prison to house arrest in Tehran.

Iran on Saturday announced that over $6 billion of its frozen funds in South Korea had been unlocked after the release of five Americans from prison to house arrest in Tehran. The country's central bank chief Mohammad Reza Farzin said the funds will be used to buy “non-sanctioned goods”. “Congratulations to the foreign exchange diplomacy team for successfully releasing seized foreign currency resources,” Farzin wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Farzin said the funds would be transferred to six Iranian banks in Qatar. He added that the costs of converting the funds from South Korea’s won currency to euros would be accepted by the “third country” where the money would be deposited to buy the goods. Farzin's post seemingly confirmed the statement made by Washington a day earlier that there will be restrictions on what Tehran could do with the unfrozen funds. Also read | US, Iran talk with mutual 'understanding' to cool tensions US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the money already belonged to Iran but "it will not be receiving any sanctions relief." "Iran's own funds would be used and transferred to restricted accounts such that the monies can only be used for humanitarian purposes," he said. Iran had earned the money by selling oil to South Korea but Seoul blocked the funds to comply with the sanctions imposed by former US president Donald Trump to squeeze out Tehran's economy. Watch | Iran, Cuba vow to confront US 'aggressive imperial policy' Iran releases prisoners On Friday (August 11), Iran moved the five American prisoners to house arrest, in an effort to have some of the assets unfrozen. If all goes as planned, the American prisoners could leave Iran sometime in September. Four of the prisoners - Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, Morad Tahbaz and another who preferred to remain anonymous -- were taken out of Tehran's notorious Evin prison as the Biden administration informed their families about the deal. "While this is a positive change, we will not rest until Siamak and others are back home; we continue to count the days until this can happen," Babak Namazi, Siamak's brother told news agency AFP. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Iran to buy 'non-sanctioned' goods after having S Korean funds 'unblocked'

<p>China appears miffed over&nbsp;Taiwanese&nbsp;Vice President&nbsp;William Lai's weekend trip to the United States. On Sunday (August 13), Beijing released a statement saying it was "closely monitoring" the visit by "troublemaker" Lai&nbsp;and that it will take&nbsp;"resolute and forceful measures".</p>

<p>"China is closely following the development of the situation and will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," an&nbsp;unnamed spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Lai stubbornly adheres to the separatist position of Taiwan independence and is a troublemaker through and through," the foreign ministry added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lai, who is a leading contender for Taiwan's upcoming presidential elections, is officially travelling to Paraguay for the swearing-in of its president. The United States is&nbsp;serving as a transit point for his travel where he landed on Saturday (August 12).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-vice-presidents-us-visit-spurs-chinese-condemnation-raises-military-tensions-624753"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Taiwan vice president's upcoming US visit incites Chinese condemnation, raises military tensions</strong></a></p>

<p>While both Taipei and Washington assert that these transit stopovers are routine and not meant to provoke China, Beijing continues to express&nbsp;its discontent. China sees this as a demonstration of continued US support for Taiwan, a region China claims as its sovereign territory.</p>

<p>Notably, Beijing also has a special dislike for Lai, who has often described himself as a&nbsp;"practical worker for Taiwan's independence".</p>

<h2><strong>USA's ambivalent stance on Taiwan</strong></h2>

<p>Since last year, Beijing is of the view that the US has been ratcheting up the Taiwan issue aggressively. The visit by former House speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022 and the reciprocal visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to New York earlier this year have antagonised Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing in June where he met President Xi Jinping and in a change of tune&nbsp;said&nbsp;Washington did not support Taiwan's independence bid.&nbsp;During the meeting the Chinese president urged the US not to "hurt China's legitimate rights and interests", a sign towards potential flashpoints such as Taiwan.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pentagon-says-beijing-remains-undecided-on-taiwans-unification-610871"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Pentagon says Beijing remains undecided on Taiwan's unification</strong></a></p>

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<p>However, a week later, Washington signed a defence deal, which approved the potential sale of ammunition and logistics support to Taipei.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;visit by the Taiwanese VP suggests that the US is persisting with its ambivalent stance when it comes to the island nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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China appears miffed over Taiwanese Vice President William Lai's weekend trip to the United States. On Sunday (August 13), Beijing released a statement saying it was "closely monitoring" the visit by "troublemaker" Lai and that it will take "resolute and forceful measures".

China appears miffed over Taiwanese Vice President William Lai's weekend trip to the United States. On Sunday (August 13), Beijing released a statement saying it was "closely monitoring" the visit by "troublemaker" Lai and that it will take "resolute and forceful measures". "China is closely following the development of the situation and will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," an unnamed spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. "Lai stubbornly adheres to the separatist position of Taiwan independence and is a troublemaker through and through," the foreign ministry added. Lai, who is a leading contender for Taiwan's upcoming presidential elections, is officially travelling to Paraguay for the swearing-in of its president. The United States is serving as a transit point for his travel where he landed on Saturday (August 12). Also read | Taiwan vice president's upcoming US visit incites Chinese condemnation, raises military tensions While both Taipei and Washington assert that these transit stopovers are routine and not meant to provoke China, Beijing continues to express its discontent. China sees this as a demonstration of continued US support for Taiwan, a region China claims as its sovereign territory. Notably, Beijing also has a special dislike for Lai, who has often described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan's independence". USA's ambivalent stance on Taiwan Since last year, Beijing is of the view that the US has been ratcheting up the Taiwan issue aggressively. The visit by former House speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022 and the reciprocal visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to New York earlier this year have antagonised Beijing. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing in June where he met President Xi Jinping and in a change of tune said Washington did not support Taiwan's independence bid. During the meeting the Chinese president urged the US not to "hurt China's legitimate rights and interests", a sign towards potential flashpoints such as Taiwan. WATCH | Pentagon says Beijing remains undecided on Taiwan's unification However, a week later, Washington signed a defence deal, which approved the potential sale of ammunition and logistics support to Taipei. The visit by the Taiwanese VP suggests that the US is persisting with its ambivalent stance when it comes to the island nation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'He's a troublemaker...': China miffed over Taiwan VP's US visit

<p>USA's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on Thursday (August 10) that a total of 49,449 Americans committed suicide in the year 2022. This is an increase of 2.6 per cent from 48,183 in 2021. The numbers released on Thursday are the highest-ever recorded. The federal health agency has released the provisional numbers in a new report.</p>

<p>The greatest increase in suicides was seen among adults aged 65 and older. The suicides were up by 8.1 per cent from 2021. The second-highest increase in suicides was seen in the age group 45 to 64. The percentage was 6.6 per cent.</p>

<p>There was also an increase in number of suicides in the age group 25-44 years. But this was small compared to the other age groups. The increase was 0.7 per cent.</p>

<p>US media has reported that researchers also found an increase in suicide in males as well as females. Suicides were up by 2.3 per cent and 2.8 per cent among men and women, respectively. The increase was seen in most racial and ethnic groups, except Indian Americans and Alaska Native people.</p>

<p>The largest increase in suicides was seen in Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders. The increase stood at&nbsp;15.9 per cent in 2022. The second largest increase was seen in Americans who identified as multiracial.</p>

<p>The suicide percentage among children and young adults between the ages of 10&nbsp;and 24 saw a decrease of 8.4 per cent.</p>

<h2>Suicides have been steadily increasing</h2>

<p>According to CDC, suicides have been increasing almost every year since 2006. The years 2019 and 2020 were exceptions. CDC has underlined that immediate action was needed to address the crisis.</p>

<p>"The troubling increase in suicides requires immediate action across our society to address the staggering loss of life from tragedies that are preventable," Dr Debra Houry, the CDC's chief medical officer, said in a press release. "Everyone can play a role in efforts to save lives and reverse the rise in suicide deaths."</p>

<p>The agency has urged that those who need help should contact 988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline. The lifeline can also help others who wish to safeguard those who are vulnerable.</p>

<p>"Nine in 10 Americans believe America is facing a mental health crisis," Health &amp; Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The new suicide death data reported by CDC illustrates why. One life lost to suicide is one too many. Yet, too many people still believe asking for help is a sign of weakness."</p>

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USA's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on Thursday (August 10) that a total of 49,449 Americans committed suicide in the year 2022. This is an increase of 2.

USA's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on Thursday (August 10) that a total of 49,449 Americans committed suicide in the year 2022. This is an increase of 2.6 per cent from 48,183 in 2021. The numbers released on Thursday are the highest-ever recorded. The federal health agency has released the provisional numbers in a new report. The greatest increase in suicides was seen among adults aged 65 and older. The suicides were up by 8.1 per cent from 2021. The second-highest increase in suicides was seen in the age group 45 to 64. The percentage was 6.6 per cent. There was also an increase in number of suicides in the age group 25-44 years. But this was small compared to the other age groups. The increase was 0.7 per cent. US media has reported that researchers also found an increase in suicide in males as well as females. Suicides were up by 2.3 per cent and 2.8 per cent among men and women, respectively. The increase was seen in most racial and ethnic groups, except Indian Americans and Alaska Native people. The largest increase in suicides was seen in Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders. The increase stood at 15.9 per cent in 2022. The second largest increase was seen in Americans who identified as multiracial. The suicide percentage among children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24 saw a decrease of 8.4 per cent. Suicides have been steadily increasing According to CDC, suicides have been increasing almost every year since 2006. The years 2019 and 2020 were exceptions. CDC has underlined that immediate action was needed to address the crisis. "The troubling increase in suicides requires immediate action across our society to address the staggering loss of life from tragedies that are preventable," Dr Debra Houry, the CDC's chief medical officer, said in a press release. "Everyone can play a role in efforts to save lives and reverse the rise in suicide deaths." The agency has urged that those who need help should contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The lifeline can also help others who wish to safeguard those who are vulnerable. "Nine in 10 Americans believe America is facing a mental health crisis," Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "The new suicide death data reported by CDC illustrates why. One life lost to suicide is one too many. Yet, too many people still believe asking for help is a sign of weakness." 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 ×

USA sees increase in suicides again, highest ever number recorded

<p>The six-year-old kid who shot his teacher in the US state of Virginia in January, earlier this year, boasted about the incident shortly after, according to unsealed court documents. The boy claimed, "I shot [her] dead."</p>

<p>After a fellow teacher rushed into the classroom and restrained the kid, he is said to have admitted "I did it", adding "I got my mom's gun last night".</p>

<p>The victim teacher, identified as&nbsp;Abigail "Abby" Zwerner, who fortunately survived the shooting, had filed a $40 million lawsuit earlier this year. She has accused the school of gross negligence for ignoring warning signs. Her lawyers have argued that the defendant knew about the child and that he had a history of random violence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to one of the student's mothers, Abby was reading and was about to leave the art class when the boy pulled out the gun from his bag, which she attempted to&nbsp;confiscate before getting shot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before he shot the 9mm handgun, she said, "What are you doing with that?"</p>

<h2><strong>Boy has not been charged</strong></h2>

<p>While the boy has not been charged, his mother Deja Taylor has been charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanour for recklessly leaving a loaded firearm to endanger a child. A couple of months ago, she was also charged with using a controlled substance unlawfully while in possession of a firearm and making a false statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-gun-violence-crisis-how-easy-is-it-to-buy-guns-wion-wideangle-582644"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US gun violence crisis: How easy is it to buy guns? | WION Wideangle</strong></a></p>

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<p>In an interview with the Washington Post, Amy Korvac, a reading specialist who rushed to the room to restrain the child, said she saw him standing with his arms crossed and the handgun lying on the floor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While I was holding him, he told me he had gotten his mom's gun the night before and put it in his backpack," Ms Kovac told the paper. "He also told me he only had time to load one bullet."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-six-year-old-boy-detained-after-shooting-teacher-police-say-not-an-accident-550198"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US: Virginia teacher shot by her six-year-old student tried to confiscate gun, say reports</strong></a></p>

<p>According to reports, the first six months of 2023 have been the deadliest in terms of mass shootings since at least 2006.&nbsp;From January 1 to June 30, the US went through a tough stretch. There were 28 mass killings during this time, and almost all of them involved guns, according to an analysis undertaken by the Associated Press.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The six-year-old kid who shot his teacher in the US state of Virginia in January, earlier this year, boasted about the incident shortly after, according to unsealed court documents.

The six-year-old kid who shot his teacher in the US state of Virginia in January, earlier this year, boasted about the incident shortly after, according to unsealed court documents. The boy claimed, "I shot [her] dead." After a fellow teacher rushed into the classroom and restrained the kid, he is said to have admitted "I did it", adding "I got my mom's gun last night". The victim teacher, identified as Abigail "Abby" Zwerner, who fortunately survived the shooting, had filed a $40 million lawsuit earlier this year. She has accused the school of gross negligence for ignoring warning signs. Her lawyers have argued that the defendant knew about the child and that he had a history of random violence. According to one of the student's mothers, Abby was reading and was about to leave the art class when the boy pulled out the gun from his bag, which she attempted to confiscate before getting shot. Before he shot the 9mm handgun, she said, "What are you doing with that?" Boy has not been charged While the boy has not been charged, his mother Deja Taylor has been charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanour for recklessly leaving a loaded firearm to endanger a child. A couple of months ago, she was also charged with using a controlled substance unlawfully while in possession of a firearm and making a false statement. Watch | US gun violence crisis: How easy is it to buy guns? | WION Wideangle × In an interview with the Washington Post, Amy Korvac, a reading specialist who rushed to the room to restrain the child, said she saw him standing with his arms crossed and the handgun lying on the floor. "While I was holding him, he told me he had gotten his mom's gun the night before and put it in his backpack," Ms Kovac told the paper. "He also told me he only had time to load one bullet." Also read | US: Virginia teacher shot by her six-year-old student tried to confiscate gun, say reports According to reports, the first six months of 2023 have been the deadliest in terms of mass shootings since at least 2006. From January 1 to June 30, the US went through a tough stretch. There were 28 mass killings during this time, and almost all of them involved guns, according to an analysis undertaken by the Associated Press. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: 6-year-old kid who shot his teacher in Virginia boasted about the incident

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<p>At least 36 people have lost their lives in the wildfires that tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui, after starting on Tuesday (August 8), informed county officials. The wind-fuelled wildfires have forced the authorities to evacuate over 11,000 from the area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The western community town of Lahaina is possibly the worst-affected area as the authorities struggle to contain the fire. Officials said 271 structures had been damaged or destroyed while dozens remained missing. According to Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke, "The road to recovery will be long."&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire. No other details are available at this time,” the Wednesday night release said.</p>

<p>Such has been the destruction trail that residents are embarking upon harrowing escapes using boats or cars. Some are even diving into the Pacific Ocean as the fast-moving wildfire engulfs their homes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-deadly-wildfires-wreak-havoc-on-hawaiis-maui-island-624130" target="_blank"><strong>In pics: Deadly wildfires wreak havoc on Hawaii's Maui island&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Hurricane Dora exacerbates wildfires&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The fire in the region has been fanned by winds from Hurricane Dora passing hundreds of miles to the south.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Major General Kenneth Hara, who is leading the military response to douse the fire, said firefighters have used more than 150,000 gallons of water so far. Helicopters have been deployed but they are facing difficulties as winds with speeds up to 85 mph make their work challenging.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Essential services like electricity and cell tower were down as the fires continued to rage, fanned by strong winds from a nearby hurricane in the Pacific Ocean. Over 12,000 people across Hawaii are currently without power, according to PowerOutage.Us.</p>

<p>US President Joe Biden ordered all federal assets in Hawaii&nbsp;to be mobilised to fight the extreme conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have ordered all available Federal assets on the Islands to help with response," Biden said in a statement.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wildfires-in-2023-the-role-of-climate-change-wion-climate-tracker-621335"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Wildfires in 2023 &amp; the role of climate change | WION Climate Tracker</strong></a></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, former president Barack Obama took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to show solidarity with the victims of the wildfire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Michelle and I are thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down,” Obama wrote on X.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to experts, although the exact cause of the wildfire is not known yet, extreme heat caused by global warming could be one of the potential reasons.</p>

<p>Scientists had&nbsp;declared July as the hottest month ever recorded, with continents of Asia, Europe and North America - all battling the ferocious heat. According to experts, human-induced climate change has greatly exacerbated the global warming effect, leading to sky-high temperatures. Consequently, wildfires such as the one in Maui have become a common occurrence across the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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At least 36 people have lost their lives in the wildfires that tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui, after starting on Tuesday (August 8), informed county officials.

At least 36 people have lost their lives in the wildfires that tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui, after starting on Tuesday (August 8), informed county officials. The wind-fuelled wildfires have forced the authorities to evacuate over 11,000 from the area. The western community town of Lahaina is possibly the worst-affected area as the authorities struggle to contain the fire. Officials said 271 structures had been damaged or destroyed while dozens remained missing. According to Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke, "The road to recovery will be long." “As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire. No other details are available at this time,” the Wednesday night release said. Such has been the destruction trail that residents are embarking upon harrowing escapes using boats or cars. Some are even diving into the Pacific Ocean as the fast-moving wildfire engulfs their homes. In pics: Deadly wildfires wreak havoc on Hawaii's Maui island Hurricane Dora exacerbates wildfires The fire in the region has been fanned by winds from Hurricane Dora passing hundreds of miles to the south. Major General Kenneth Hara, who is leading the military response to douse the fire, said firefighters have used more than 150,000 gallons of water so far. Helicopters have been deployed but they are facing difficulties as winds with speeds up to 85 mph make their work challenging. Essential services like electricity and cell tower were down as the fires continued to rage, fanned by strong winds from a nearby hurricane in the Pacific Ocean. Over 12,000 people across Hawaii are currently without power, according to PowerOutage.Us. US President Joe Biden ordered all federal assets in Hawaii to be mobilised to fight the extreme conditions. "I have ordered all available Federal assets on the Islands to help with response," Biden said in a statement. Watch | Wildfires in 2023 & the role of climate change | WION Climate Tracker × Meanwhile, former president Barack Obama took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to show solidarity with the victims of the wildfire. “Michelle and I are thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down,” Obama wrote on X. According to experts, although the exact cause of the wildfire is not known yet, extreme heat caused by global warming could be one of the potential reasons. Scientists had declared July as the hottest month ever recorded, with continents of Asia, Europe and North America - all battling the ferocious heat. According to experts, human-induced climate change has greatly exacerbated the global warming effect, leading to sky-high temperatures. Consequently, wildfires such as the one in Maui have become a common occurrence across the planet. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Maui: At least 36 killed in devastating wildfires on Hawaiian island

<p>To hear one of America’s most experienced four-star generals tell it, the United States will be at war with China within two years. That sombre prediction, in a leaked memo to the 110,000 troops under the command of Air Force General Minihan, highlights widespread assumptions in the US military that the country will counter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.</p>

<p>Minihan’s memo made its way on the internet before being published by the Air&amp;Space Forces magazine in January said: “I hope I’m wrong. My gut tells me we will fight in 2025…Taiwan’s presidential elections are in 2024 and will offer (Chinese President) Xi Jinping a reason (to invade). United States’ presidential elections are in 2024 and will offer Xi a distracted America. Xi’s team, reason and opportunity are all aligned for 2025.”</p>

<p>The Pentagon distanced itself from the memo, saying it did not reflect the Defense Department’s views. China reacted angrily, warning of “reckless and provocative” statements. Minihan shrugged off criticism of his memo, which made international headlines early in the year, telling a reporter late in July it had been an internal communication meant to prepare his Air Mobility Command for difficult conditions.</p>

<p>Predictions of the timing of conflict with China vary. But war has become “a broad narrative in the national security community,” according to an analysis by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank well-connected with the military.</p>

<p>In January, CSIS published a report titled "The First Battle of the Next War" on what would happen if China attempted an amphibious invasion of Taiwan. It played out a wide range of scenarios - most of which combined forces of the United States, Taiwan and Japan to defeat the invaders.</p>

<p>But the battle, the war gamers found, came at a high cost. “The United States and its allies lost dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft and tens of thousands of service members. Taiwan saw its economy devastated. Further, the high losses damaged the US global position for many years. China also lost heavily and failure to occupy Taiwan might destabilize Chinese Communist Party rule.”</p>

<p>Senior military officials commenting on the outcome of the exercise and its assumptions included the former and present commanders of America’s Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip S. Davison, who ran it until April 2021, and his successor, Admiral John C Aquilino. Davison said the threat of a Chinese invasion may "manifest…in the next six years.” For Aquilino, “This problem is much closer to us than many of us think.”</p>

<p>One of the reasons for the belated realisation that war may be closer than many expected is that the military was late in switching its focus on China and Russia – i.e. large-scale conflicts – after decades of fighting insurgencies, partly from 30,000 feet with precision weapons controlled by drone operators in the US, thousands of miles from their targets.</p>

<p>The emphasis on smart weapons for push-button war contributed to the decline of the military-industrial complex which began after the end of the Cold War. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine served as a sharp reminder of how much the US defence has shrunk over the years. There is not a single American factory which can produce 155mm artillery shells as fast as the Ukrainians are using them up.</p>

<p>According to the National Defense Industrial Association, 17,045 companies have left the “defence ecosystem” and today’s defence workforce is roughly a third of what it was in the final stages of the Cold War.</p>

<p>All this does not mean that the United States is no longer the world’s pre-eminent military power it became after the end of World War II but it does mean that its antagonists are catching up – China at a faster pace than any other.</p>

<p>The most widely gauged measure of relative military strength around the globe is defence spending, monitored annually by the authoritative Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Its latest report shows that the US accounted for 39.5 per cent of all spending. That is as much as the combined spending of the next ten countries in the rankings.</p>

<p>They are China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan and Ukraine. Though China does not come close to the US overall in military power, it exceeded the US Navy in sheer size several years ago and now operates the world’s largest fleet of warships.</p>

<p>Whether military spending necessarily translates into dominance is a matter of dispute. A thoughtful analysis a few years ago on War on the Rocks, a website of expert debate on national security, argued that “defence spending does not directly correlate with military effectiveness. Tactical proficiency is significantly more important than, and not directly related to defence spending.”</p>

<p>Over the past few years, dozens of war games similar to exercise by CSIS have been conducted, the latest in April by the House Select Committee on competition with China. The outcomes varied but they all had a common end, with the US running out of long-range air-to-surface missiles within days and dozens of its aircraft wrecked on the ground.</p>

<p>This is why the CSIS report concluded that “victory is not enough. The United States needs to strengthen its deterrence immediately.”</p>

<p>In the flurry of debates over how to prevent war between the United States and an increasingly assertive China, one remark stands out and is worth remembering. It came from Henry Kissinger, whose deep knowledge of China dates back to his role in the 1972 rapprochement between China and the US&nbsp;prompted by President Richard Nixon’s breakthrough visit to Beijing.</p>

<p>In a lengthy interview with The Economist in May, just before his 100th birthday, Kissinger suggested that the future of humanity depended on averting war between China and the US. What was needed, he said, was lowering the temperature, building confidence and eventually having a meeting between the two countries' leaders in which the American president would tell his counterpart: “Mr President, the two greatest dangers to peace right now are us two. In the sense that we have the capacity to destroy humanity.”</p>

<p><strong><em>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</em></strong></p>

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To hear one of America’s most experienced four-star generals tell it, the United States will be at war with China within two years. That sombre prediction, in a leaked memo to the 110,000 troops under the command of Air Force General Minihan, highlights widespread assumptions in the US military that the country will counter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

To hear one of America’s most experienced four-star generals tell it, the United States will be at war with China within two years. That sombre prediction, in a leaked memo to the 110,000 troops under the command of Air Force General Minihan, highlights widespread assumptions in the US military that the country will counter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Minihan’s memo made its way on the internet before being published by the Air&Space Forces magazine in January said: “I hope I’m wrong. My gut tells me we will fight in 2025…Taiwan’s presidential elections are in 2024 and will offer (Chinese President) Xi Jinping a reason (to invade). United States’ presidential elections are in 2024 and will offer Xi a distracted America. Xi’s team, reason and opportunity are all aligned for 2025.” The Pentagon distanced itself from the memo, saying it did not reflect the Defense Department’s views. China reacted angrily, warning of “reckless and provocative” statements. Minihan shrugged off criticism of his memo, which made international headlines early in the year, telling a reporter late in July it had been an internal communication meant to prepare his Air Mobility Command for difficult conditions. Predictions of the timing of conflict with China vary. But war has become “a broad narrative in the national security community,” according to an analysis by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank well-connected with the military. In January, CSIS published a report titled "The First Battle of the Next War" on what would happen if China attempted an amphibious invasion of Taiwan. It played out a wide range of scenarios - most of which combined forces of the United States, Taiwan and Japan to defeat the invaders. But the battle, the war gamers found, came at a high cost. “The United States and its allies lost dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft and tens of thousands of service members. Taiwan saw its economy devastated. Further, the high losses damaged the US global position for many years. China also lost heavily and failure to occupy Taiwan might destabilize Chinese Communist Party rule.” Senior military officials commenting on the outcome of the exercise and its assumptions included the former and present commanders of America’s Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip S. Davison, who ran it until April 2021, and his successor, Admiral John C Aquilino. Davison said the threat of a Chinese invasion may "manifest…in the next six years.” For Aquilino, “This problem is much closer to us than many of us think.” One of the reasons for the belated realisation that war may be closer than many expected is that the military was late in switching its focus on China and Russia – i.e. large-scale conflicts – after decades of fighting insurgencies, partly from 30,000 feet with precision weapons controlled by drone operators in the US, thousands of miles from their targets. The emphasis on smart weapons for push-button war contributed to the decline of the military-industrial complex which began after the end of the Cold War. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine served as a sharp reminder of how much the US defence has shrunk over the years. There is not a single American factory which can produce 155mm artillery shells as fast as the Ukrainians are using them up. According to the National Defense Industrial Association, 17,045 companies have left the “defence ecosystem” and today’s defence workforce is roughly a third of what it was in the final stages of the Cold War. All this does not mean that the United States is no longer the world’s pre-eminent military power it became after the end of World War II but it does mean that its antagonists are catching up – China at a faster pace than any other. The most widely gauged measure of relative military strength around the globe is defence spending, monitored annually by the authoritative Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Its latest report shows that the US accounted for 39.5 per cent of all spending. That is as much as the combined spending of the next ten countries in the rankings. They are China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan and Ukraine. Though China does not come close to the US overall in military power, it exceeded the US Navy in sheer size several years ago and now operates the world’s largest fleet of warships. Whether military spending necessarily translates into dominance is a matter of dispute. A thoughtful analysis a few years ago on War on the Rocks, a website of expert debate on national security, argued that “defence spending does not directly correlate with military effectiveness. Tactical proficiency is significantly more important than, and not directly related to defence spending.” Over the past few years, dozens of war games similar to exercise by CSIS have been conducted, the latest in April by the House Select Committee on competition with China. The outcomes varied but they all had a common end, with the US running out of long-range air-to-surface missiles within days and dozens of its aircraft wrecked on the ground. This is why the CSIS report concluded that “victory is not enough. The United States needs to strengthen its deterrence immediately.” In the flurry of debates over how to prevent war between the United States and an increasingly assertive China, one remark stands out and is worth remembering. It came from Henry Kissinger, whose deep knowledge of China dates back to his role in the 1972 rapprochement between China and the US prompted by President Richard Nixon’s breakthrough visit to Beijing. In a lengthy interview with The Economist in May, just before his 100th birthday, Kissinger suggested that the future of humanity depended on averting war between China and the US. What was needed, he said, was lowering the temperature, building confidence and eventually having a meeting between the two countries' leaders in which the American president would tell his counterpart: “Mr President, the two greatest dangers to peace right now are us two. In the sense that we have the capacity to destroy humanity.” (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

In America, growing fears of war with China

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<p>The fallout of serial killer Rex Heuermann's identification as the alleged Gilgo beach murderer is weighing heavy on his family. His two adult children have been described as 'bystanders', living in a walking horror show as the 'case of the century' unfolds in full public eye.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Victoria Heuermann, 26, and Christopher Sheridan, 33 were living with their parents when investigators made the shocking revelations about their 59-year-old father. Victoria, up until Rex's incarceration, worked at his Manhattan-based architecture firm. Meanwhile, Christopher, who has developmental disabilities, has become the unlikely victim in the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“They’re constantly... having to reevaluate what is happening to them, almost in real-time,” their attorney Vess Mitev was quoted as saying by Fox News Digital.</p>

<p>“Obviously, the deplorable conditions that their house was left in – torn apart from the floorboards to the shingles, basically, is their paramount concern. They’re trying to regain some basic sense of normalcy, which is completely impossible at this point," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, the two children have hired services to protect their own “rights and liberties” as authorities are yet to determine their role in Rex's crimes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gilgo-beach-murders-suspects-dna-recovered-from-discarded-pizza-box-616192"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gilgo beach murders: Suspect's DNA recovered from discarded pizza box</strong></a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Heuermann's wife Asa Ellerup, who has filed for divorce, said in an interview that their kids cry themselves to sleep.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“My children cry themselves to sleep. I mean, they’re not children. They’re grown adults but they’re my children, and my son has developmental disabilities and he cried himself to sleep," Ellerup told New York Post.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Heuermann appears in court</strong></h2>

<p>Heuermann has been charged with murder in the death of three women - Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello - whose bodies were found dumped along Gilgo Beach in 2010.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Heuermann was presented before a Long Island courtroom last week where his devilish appearance made&nbsp;headlines once again. He didn't utter a single syllable during the entire proceeding, according to&nbsp;<em>The New York Post</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the hearing, the Suffolk County prosecutors presented nearly 2,500 pages of evidence, including documents and surveillance video to the defence team. Prosecutors said the Tuesday court appearance was the beginning of what promises to be a lengthy criminal trial.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This is a 13-year case, so as you see we have a great deal of information, evidence, photographs, reports to provide to the defence counsel,” Suffolk District Attorney (DA) Raymond Tierney told reporters outside the court.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gilgo-beach-killing-suspect-rex-heuermanns-chilling-photos-captured-on-google-street-view-images-616989" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Gilgo Beach killing suspect Rex Heuermann's chilling photos captured on Google Street View images</strong></a></p>

<p>"We've worked through the grand jury process. That grand jury process is continuing. The good thing about the grand jury process is that we can subpoena witnesses and evidence, but it is also secret," Tierney added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Heuermann's defence team, he has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and other charges.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The fallout of serial killer Rex Heuermann's identification as the alleged Gilgo beach murderer is weighing heavy on his family. His two adult children have been described as 'bystanders', living in a walking horror show as the 'case of the century' unfolds in full public eye.

The fallout of serial killer Rex Heuermann's identification as the alleged Gilgo beach murderer is weighing heavy on his family. His two adult children have been described as 'bystanders', living in a walking horror show as the 'case of the century' unfolds in full public eye. Victoria Heuermann, 26, and Christopher Sheridan, 33 were living with their parents when investigators made the shocking revelations about their 59-year-old father. Victoria, up until Rex's incarceration, worked at his Manhattan-based architecture firm. Meanwhile, Christopher, who has developmental disabilities, has become the unlikely victim in the situation. “They’re constantly... having to reevaluate what is happening to them, almost in real-time,” their attorney Vess Mitev was quoted as saying by Fox News Digital. “Obviously, the deplorable conditions that their house was left in – torn apart from the floorboards to the shingles, basically, is their paramount concern. They’re trying to regain some basic sense of normalcy, which is completely impossible at this point," he added. According to reports, the two children have hired services to protect their own “rights and liberties” as authorities are yet to determine their role in Rex's crimes. WATCH | Gilgo beach murders: Suspect's DNA recovered from discarded pizza box Heuermann's wife Asa Ellerup, who has filed for divorce, said in an interview that their kids cry themselves to sleep. “My children cry themselves to sleep. I mean, they’re not children. They’re grown adults but they’re my children, and my son has developmental disabilities and he cried himself to sleep," Ellerup told New York Post. Heuermann appears in court Heuermann has been charged with murder in the death of three women - Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello - whose bodies were found dumped along Gilgo Beach in 2010. Heuermann was presented before a Long Island courtroom last week where his devilish appearance made headlines once again. He didn't utter a single syllable during the entire proceeding, according to The New York Post. During the hearing, the Suffolk County prosecutors presented nearly 2,500 pages of evidence, including documents and surveillance video to the defence team. Prosecutors said the Tuesday court appearance was the beginning of what promises to be a lengthy criminal trial. “This is a 13-year case, so as you see we have a great deal of information, evidence, photographs, reports to provide to the defence counsel,” Suffolk District Attorney (DA) Raymond Tierney told reporters outside the court. Also read | Gilgo Beach killing suspect Rex Heuermann's chilling photos captured on Google Street View images "We've worked through the grand jury process. That grand jury process is continuing. The good thing about the grand jury process is that we can subpoena witnesses and evidence, but it is also secret," Tierney added. According to Heuermann's defence team, he has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and other charges. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Gilgo Beach murders: Rex Heuermann's children face fallout of his alleged crimes

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