The Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage on. Ukraine is struggling despite continued support from the West. Now, Russia is making new advances in Ukraine. Russia takes over two villages in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Watch this video for all details.

Russia captures two villages in Ukraine's Donetsk region

China is enforcing a new law on that allows national security authorities to inspect electronic devices on suspicion of espionage. Watch to know more.

China implements stricter espionage law for device check, enhances anti-espionage measures

Joe Biden’s family has reportedly urged him to stay in the race and not drop out after this week's debate performance against Donald Trump. Watch Here.

US Elections 2024: Biden hits fundraising trail after dismal debate performance

Representatives of Afghanistan’s Taliban regime began meetings on Sunday with UN officials as they attended talks in Doha with special envoys to the Central Asian country for the first time, a UN spokesperson said. The two-day, UN-hosted meeting in Qatar is the third of its kind in the gas-rich emirate in just over a year but the first to include Taliban authorities.

Taliban representatives meet UN officials, delegation led by Zabihullah Mujahid

Despite heavily undermanned and undergunned due to a critical shortage of ammunition Ukrainian forces are rewriting the rules of the asymmetric Naval Warfare with deployment of uncrewed systems against Russian naval targets. Ukraine is using Naval drones to significantly hamper Russian operations in the Black Sea. Watch in for more details!

Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine Navy stymies Moscow's' attempt to landblock Black Sea ports

A Cyber attack has compromised Indonesia's National Data Center. The attack has led to disruptions at immigration checks at International Airports and as per the country's Communications Minister hackers have demanded an $8 million Ransom. Watch in for more details!

Digital attack hits Indonesia's data centre, airports disrupted

After calling for unexpected elections just three weeks ago, French President Emmanuel Macron cast his ballot on Sunday in the first round of the elections. The first round saw high voter turnout.

Macron took a great risk by dissolving the lower chamber of parliament following significant victories for the far right in European elections in early June.&nbsp;

The National Assembly's majority party and the prime minister will be chosen after two rounds of voting.

Macron faces the risk of sharing power with groups that oppose most of his initiatives. The election is scheduled for the usual first week of summer vacation in France, and absentee ballot requests are at least five times higher than in the 2022 elections.

This election has three main political coalitions: Macron's centrist alliance, Le Pen's RN, and the New Popular Front. According to opinion surveys, RN is expected to secure at least 289 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly, or an absolute majority.&nbsp;

Watch | France Snap Elections: Far-right eyes power in historic first&nbsp;

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President Emmanuel Macron surprised the country by calling the vote after his centrist coalition was defeated in European elections last month by Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN).&nbsp;

Her eurosceptic, anti-immigrant party has long been a pariah, but it is now closer to power than ever before.

The polling stations across mainland France opened at 8:00 AM (local time) and remained open for 12 hours. In smaller towns, the polls closed earlier, while in larger cities, they stayed open till later.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-elections-voters-cast-ballots-in-snap-polls-as-far-right-seeks-historic-win-736445">France: Voters cast ballots in snap polls as far right seeks historic win</a>

According to polls, the RN is comfortably ahead with 33%–36% of the public vote, followed by the New Popular Front in second place with 28%–31% and Macron’s centrist coalition in third place with 20%–23%.

The parties that make up the New Popular Front range widely, from the centrist, moderate parties to the hard-left, eurosceptic, anti-NATO party France Unbowed, which is led by Jean-Luc Melenchon, one of Macron's rival.

Given the nature of the election, it is difficult to predict how the polling results will be translated into seats in the National Assembly, according to Vincent Martigny, a political science professor at the Ecole Polytechnique and University of Nice.

(With inputs from agencies)

After calling for unexpected elections just three weeks ago, French President Emmanuel Macron cast his ballot on Sunday in the first round of the elections. The first round saw high voter turnout.

After calling for unexpected elections just three weeks ago, French President Emmanuel Macron cast his ballot on Sunday in the first round of the elections. The first round saw high voter turnout. Macron took a great risk by dissolving the lower chamber of parliament following significant victories for the far right in European elections in early June. The National Assembly's majority party and the prime minister will be chosen after two rounds of voting. Macron faces the risk of sharing power with groups that oppose most of his initiatives. The election is scheduled for the usual first week of summer vacation in France, and absentee ballot requests are at least five times higher than in the 2022 elections. This election has three main political coalitions: Macron's centrist alliance, Le Pen's RN, and the New Popular Front. According to opinion surveys, RN is expected to secure at least 289 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly, or an absolute majority. Watch | France Snap Elections: Far-right eyes power in historic first × President Emmanuel Macron surprised the country by calling the vote after his centrist coalition was defeated in European elections last month by Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN). Her eurosceptic, anti-immigrant party has long been a pariah, but it is now closer to power than ever before. The polling stations across mainland France opened at 8:00 AM (local time) and remained open for 12 hours. In smaller towns, the polls closed earlier, while in larger cities, they stayed open till later. Also read | France: Voters cast ballots in snap polls as far right seeks historic win According to polls, the RN is comfortably ahead with 33%–36% of the public vote, followed by the New Popular Front in second place with 28%–31% and Macron’s centrist coalition in third place with 20%–23%. The parties that make up the New Popular Front range widely, from the centrist, moderate parties to the hard-left, eurosceptic, anti-NATO party France Unbowed, which is led by Jean-Luc Melenchon, one of Macron's rival. Given the nature of the election, it is difficult to predict how the polling results will be translated into seats in the National Assembly, according to Vincent Martigny, a political science professor at the Ecole Polytechnique and University of Nice. (With inputs from agencies)

France elections: High turnout seen as expats cast vote in snap polls; far-right eyes historic win

The director of an Australian company distributing mushroom gummies from the US, which led to hospitalisations due to symptoms like "disturbing hallucinations," has apologized, stating that this outcome was unintended.

Following complaints of hospitalisations in New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria, Food Standards Australia&nbsp;New Zealand recalled two types of Uncle Frog's Mushroom Gummies on Wednesday.

The state health agency stated on Thursday that a teenage boy from South Australia was discovered unconscious earlier this month following his ingestion of many gummies. He had treatment and has since recovered.

According to NSW Health, at least five individuals have been hospitalised in NSW after suffering "unexpected toxicity" when taking the "cordyceps" and "lion's mane" varieties of the candies. A similar warning was sent by Victoria's health department.

Oz Brands supplied Uncle Frog gummies. Rohan Bandil, the only director of both businesses, claimed he had extensively consulted on the product and that "many other brands selling similar products."

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/betting-row-senior-tory-leader-bet-ps8000-over-losing-his-seat-in-elections-735721">Betting row: Senior Tory leader bet £8000 over losing his seat in elections</a>

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"We are very sorry that this happened to them; it was not our intention," he told Guardian Australia on Thursday.

“We were just intending to bring the product and sell it in the Australian market as similar products have been extremely successful in the global market,” he said.

All purchases were shipped from Byron Bay, according to an old version of Uncle Frog's website, which has now been replaced with a notice regarding the recall.

Bandil was named as the only director and Brisbane as the primary place of business when the Uncle Frog firm was registered in late 2023. This June 12th, the corporation was deregistered.

The gummies were "free from CBD, CBN, and THC, and are 100% legal in Australia," according to the Australian website.

The gummies package urges users to "experience the multiverse" and claims to be "infused with earth's finest hemp" at "1,000mg per serve" - equivalent to one gram.

The Lion's Mane product claims to improve "memory and focus," while the Cordyceps package promises "natural energy and power."

After being informed by authorities over the existence of "novel" substances in the items, the team "immediately stopped sales and issued a recall notice." According to Bandil,&nbsp;all future orders had been cancelled.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/expert-calls-for-tobacco-style-warnings-on-ultra-processed-foods-worldwide-735690">Expert calls for tobacco-style warnings on ultra-processed foods worldwide</a>

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code governs all food sold in Australia. Cordyceps and lion's mane are considered "novel foods," which are prohibited from being sold as food or ingredients.

According to NSW Health, those who consumed the gummies had symptoms such as uncontrollable&nbsp;twitching and seizures, as well as unsettling hallucinations, anxiety, dizziness, losing consciousness, a racing heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting.

"The theory is that the product contains a substance of some kind that is causing these toxicity signs," the spokesperson stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

The director of an Australian company distributing mushroom gummies from the US, which led to hospitalisations due to symptoms like "disturbing hallucinations," has apologized, stating that this outcome was unintended.

The director of an Australian company distributing mushroom gummies from the US, which led to hospitalisations due to symptoms like "disturbing hallucinations," has apologized, stating that this outcome was unintended. Following complaints of hospitalisations in New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria, Food Standards Australia New Zealand recalled two types of Uncle Frog's Mushroom Gummies on Wednesday. The state health agency stated on Thursday that a teenage boy from South Australia was discovered unconscious earlier this month following his ingestion of many gummies. He had treatment and has since recovered. According to NSW Health, at least five individuals have been hospitalised in NSW after suffering "unexpected toxicity" when taking the "cordyceps" and "lion's mane" varieties of the candies. A similar warning was sent by Victoria's health department. Oz Brands supplied Uncle Frog gummies. Rohan Bandil, the only director of both businesses, claimed he had extensively consulted on the product and that "many other brands selling similar products." Watch | Betting row: Senior Tory leader bet £8000 over losing his seat in elections × "We are very sorry that this happened to them; it was not our intention," he told Guardian Australia on Thursday. “We were just intending to bring the product and sell it in the Australian market as similar products have been extremely successful in the global market,” he said. All purchases were shipped from Byron Bay, according to an old version of Uncle Frog's website, which has now been replaced with a notice regarding the recall. Bandil was named as the only director and Brisbane as the primary place of business when the Uncle Frog firm was registered in late 2023. This June 12th, the corporation was deregistered. The gummies were "free from CBD, CBN, and THC, and are 100% legal in Australia," according to the Australian website. The gummies package urges users to "experience the multiverse" and claims to be "infused with earth's finest hemp" at "1,000mg per serve" - equivalent to one gram. The Lion's Mane product claims to improve "memory and focus," while the Cordyceps package promises "natural energy and power." After being informed by authorities over the existence of "novel" substances in the items, the team "immediately stopped sales and issued a recall notice." According to Bandil, all future orders had been cancelled. Also read: Expert calls for tobacco-style warnings on ultra-processed foods worldwide The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code governs all food sold in Australia. Cordyceps and lion's mane are considered "novel foods," which are prohibited from being sold as food or ingredients. According to NSW Health, those who consumed the gummies had symptoms such as uncontrollable twitching and seizures, as well as unsettling hallucinations, anxiety, dizziness, losing consciousness, a racing heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting. "The theory is that the product contains a substance of some kind that is causing these toxicity signs," the spokesperson stated. (With inputs from agencies)

Uncle Frog’s Mushroom Gummies spark health crisis with 'disturbing hallucinations', prompting recall

Customers of the three main US mobile carriers are presently experiencing an outage related to international roaming, which is causing difficulties or making it impossible for American customers who are currently travelling abroad to utilise data, send messages, and make calls.

CNN was informed by AT&amp;T, T-Mobile, and Verizon that their customers are occasionally having problems when travelling abroad.

A T-Mobile representative told CNN, "We're one of several providers impacted by a third-party vendor's issue that is intermittently affecting some international roaming service. We’re working with them to resolve it."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-campaign-releases-two-ads-targeting-joe-biden-ahead-of-presidential-debate-watch-735738">Trump campaign releases two ads targeting Joe Biden ahead of presidential debate - Watch</a>

Approximately thirty per cent of Verizon's customers' international calls and data connections are now not going through, according to media reports.

Syniverse is an international third-party communications service that oversees international roaming connections for many carriers and that is where the current issue lies.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | US House of Representatives passes resolution to investigate Pakistan's 2024 Polls

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According to an official statement, Syniverse began experiencing connection difficulties that affected mobile customers early Thursday morning.

“Since the onset of these issues, Syniverse has been working closely with our network partners to restore full service,” the statement said.&nbsp;

“We understand the inconvenience this has caused and appreciate your patience as we navigate this challenge,” it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Customers of the three main US mobile carriers are presently experiencing an outage related to international roaming, which is causing difficulties or making it impossible for American customers who are currently travelling abroad to utilise data, send messages, and make calls.

Customers of the three main US mobile carriers are presently experiencing an outage related to international roaming, which is causing difficulties or making it impossible for American customers who are currently travelling abroad to utilise data, send messages, and make calls. CNN was informed by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon that their customers are occasionally having problems when travelling abroad. A T-Mobile representative told CNN, "We're one of several providers impacted by a third-party vendor's issue that is intermittently affecting some international roaming service. We’re working with them to resolve it." Also read: Trump campaign releases two ads targeting Joe Biden ahead of presidential debate - Watch Approximately thirty per cent of Verizon's customers' international calls and data connections are now not going through, according to media reports. Syniverse is an international third-party communications service that oversees international roaming connections for many carriers and that is where the current issue lies. Watch: Gravitas | US House of Representatives passes resolution to investigate Pakistan's 2024 Polls × According to an official statement, Syniverse began experiencing connection difficulties that affected mobile customers early Thursday morning. “Since the onset of these issues, Syniverse has been working closely with our network partners to restore full service,” the statement said. “We understand the inconvenience this has caused and appreciate your patience as we navigate this challenge,” it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Major US mobile carriers hit by third-party outage stranding travellers abroad

In 2024, there has been a rise in exchanges between Nepal and China, although it is unclear on who is truly benefiting from these visits.&nbsp;

The two countries just concluded their 16th Meeting of the Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism (DCM), where they reviewed the entirety of their bilateral relations and assessed the progress made on agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed in the past.

However, there have been no concrete outcomes or decisions on pressing issues. China, for instance, promised to launch commercial flights from China to Pokhara and Bhairahwa International Airports in Nepal. Despite this, both airports, which were constructed with significant Chinese funding—US$216 million for Pokhara International Airport, opened on January 1, 2023, and US$76.1 million for Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa—have failed to handle international flights.

China’s statement on the diplomatic consultation mentions the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) twice, whereas Nepal's statement does not mention it at all. Nepal signed the BRI agreement with China on May 12, 2017, initially proposing 35 projects under BRI, now reduced to nine. Despite this, progress has stalled.

“The two sides agreed to further implement the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, take the opportunity of jointly celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen Belt and Road cooperation, and push for new achievements in practical cooperation in various fields,” stated China’s press release.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-suffers-heart-attack-after-winning-4-million-at-singapore-casino-735632">Man suffers heart attack after winning $4 million at Singapore casino</a>

“Nepal is willing to work with China to advance Belt and Road cooperation and deepen exchanges and cooperation in connectivity, economy, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people, and other fields and at the sub-national level to bring more benefits to the two peoples,” added the statement.

Nepal hasn’t, however, made any such declaration in its statement.&nbsp;

Nepal also underlined the necessity to further activate existing bilateral mechanisms and establish new ones, including a Joint Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers. Both countries have expressed hope for deepening intra-party exchanges and cooperation to promote the development of bilateral relations.

Bilateral exchanges have dramatically increased in 2024, with many Nepali political leaders, such as those from Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) led by KP Sharma Oli and Communist Party Nepal- Maoist (CPN-M) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, frequently visiting China on extended tours.&nbsp;

Currently, a team of CPN UML leaders led by party’s Deputy Secretary General Bishu Rimal is in China on a 10-day tour, at the invitation of the International Department, Central Committee of CPC.

“On the invitation of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, a 30-member high-level delegation led by CPN (UML) Deputy Secretary General Bishnu Rimal left for Beijing tonight for a 10-day visit,” said CPN UML central committee member Rajan Bhattarai on X.

This month, Bater, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, visited Nepal and met with key leaders, including Prime Minister Prachanda. Soon after, a five-member team led by Ye Hanbing, Vice-Governor of Sichuan Province and Commissioner of the Public Security Department, visited Kathmandu.&nbsp;

Concurrently, Justice Liu Guixiang, a member of China’s Supreme Court's adjudication committee, also landed in Kathmandu with a team and held meetings with Nepal’s Supreme Court officials.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-heavy-rains-kills-at-least-28-in-2-days-735715">Nepal: Heavy rains kills at least 28 in 2 days</a>

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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A delegation from Nepal traveled to Beijing, on June 19, for a Joint Commission border inspection meeting. Later, on June 25, Vice Foreign Minister of China, Sun Weidong, travelled to Kathmandu for the 16th round of Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism talks.&nbsp;

Party head and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli is now anticipated to visit China shortly, and plans are in place for his travel, according to CPN UML officials.

This coincides with discussions in Kathmandu about former President Bidya Devi Bhandari possibly joining politics actively and visiting China in the coming weeks.

In a recent meeting in Kathmandu, both sides agreed to maintain the tradition of regular high-level visits, as per Nepal’s Foreign Ministry. In September, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit Nepal, with all eyes on the signing of the BRI implementation plan.

The frequency of visits from China to Nepal is notably higher compared to Nepalese officials visiting China, indicating a stronger engagement with China over Nepal's southern neighbor. Political analysts, Chandra Dev Bhatta believes this dynamic suggests a one-sided interaction.

“No significant issues are being resolved with China; these meetings primarily provide China with opportunities to assert and protect its interests in Nepal, offering little benefit to Nepal itself. The pressing issues facing Nepal remain unaddressed for instance border issue,” he added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Nepal PM reiterated country’s commitment on ‘One China Policy’, “The Nepali side firmly upholds the one-China principle, believes that both Taiwan and Xizang are inalienable parts of China, opposes "Taiwan independence" and will never allow any force to use the Nepali territory for anti-China activities.”

China has been pressing Nepal to sign the BRI implementation plan, as no projects have been executed under this flagship initiative. This situation reflects a failure on China's part in Nepal, showcasing issues in executing agreements with the Himalayan nation.&nbsp;

Despite numerous bilateral visits, concrete outcomes remain elusive, primarily due to uncertain financial modalities of the BRI.

Nepal has repeatedly clarified that it cannot bear heavy loans from China at high-interest rates and has requested grants instead.

Speaking at the parliament, Nepal PM Prachanda highlighted that he has conveyed this message to the Chinese: “Our first priority is grants, not loans. If we do need to take loans, we will not pay an interest rate higher than what we are paying to the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Nepal is not in a state to accept loans beyond 1.5 percent annual interest rate proposed for BRI projects.”

The prime minister also stated that Nepal is mindful of and aware of the debt trap: “We will push the agreement by ensuring that we won’t fall into a debt trap.”&nbsp;

Both countries have failed to reach a consensus on critical aspects of the BRI implementation plan, such as loans, grants, and concessional loans. PM Prachanda mentioned that there are some reservations from the Chinese side regarding the financing and investment modalities.

Now, Nepal’s Parliament members are deliberating on BRI after opposition leaders raised questions on its financial modalities.&nbsp;

Opposition Nepali Congress leader Rajendra Bajgain has raised concerns on BRI terms in the parliament, says ‘this agreement could potentially bind future (of) Nepalese governments without proper discussions and transparency.&nbsp;

The Nepal Prime Minister has announced that preparations are underway to sign the implementation of the BRI.

In 2024, there has been a rise in exchanges between Nepal and China, although it is unclear on who is truly benefiting from these visits. The two countries just concluded their 16th Meeting of the Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism (DCM), where they reviewed the entirety of their bilateral relations and assessed the progress made on agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed in the past.

In 2024, there has been a rise in exchanges between Nepal and China, although it is unclear on who is truly benefiting from these visits. The two countries just concluded their 16th Meeting of the Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism (DCM), where they reviewed the entirety of their bilateral relations and assessed the progress made on agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed in the past. However, there have been no concrete outcomes or decisions on pressing issues. China, for instance, promised to launch commercial flights from China to Pokhara and Bhairahwa International Airports in Nepal. Despite this, both airports, which were constructed with significant Chinese funding—US$216 million for Pokhara International Airport, opened on January 1, 2023, and US$76.1 million for Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa—have failed to handle international flights. China’s statement on the diplomatic consultation mentions the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) twice, whereas Nepal's statement does not mention it at all. Nepal signed the BRI agreement with China on May 12, 2017, initially proposing 35 projects under BRI, now reduced to nine. Despite this, progress has stalled. “The two sides agreed to further implement the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, take the opportunity of jointly celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen Belt and Road cooperation, and push for new achievements in practical cooperation in various fields,” stated China’s press release. Also read: Man suffers heart attack after winning $4 million at Singapore casino “Nepal is willing to work with China to advance Belt and Road cooperation and deepen exchanges and cooperation in connectivity, economy, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people, and other fields and at the sub-national level to bring more benefits to the two peoples,” added the statement. Nepal hasn’t, however, made any such declaration in its statement. Nepal also underlined the necessity to further activate existing bilateral mechanisms and establish new ones, including a Joint Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers. Both countries have expressed hope for deepening intra-party exchanges and cooperation to promote the development of bilateral relations. Bilateral exchanges have dramatically increased in 2024, with many Nepali political leaders, such as those from Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) led by KP Sharma Oli and Communist Party Nepal- Maoist (CPN-M) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, frequently visiting China on extended tours. Currently, a team of CPN UML leaders led by party’s Deputy Secretary General Bishu Rimal is in China on a 10-day tour, at the invitation of the International Department, Central Committee of CPC. “On the invitation of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, a 30-member high-level delegation led by CPN (UML) Deputy Secretary General Bishnu Rimal left for Beijing tonight for a 10-day visit,” said CPN UML central committee member Rajan Bhattarai on X. This month, Bater, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, visited Nepal and met with key leaders, including Prime Minister Prachanda. Soon after, a five-member team led by Ye Hanbing, Vice-Governor of Sichuan Province and Commissioner of the Public Security Department, visited Kathmandu. Concurrently, Justice Liu Guixiang, a member of China’s Supreme Court's adjudication committee, also landed in Kathmandu with a team and held meetings with Nepal’s Supreme Court officials. Watch | Nepal: Heavy rains kills at least 28 in 2 days × A delegation from Nepal traveled to Beijing, on June 19, for a Joint Commission border inspection meeting. Later, on June 25, Vice Foreign Minister of China, Sun Weidong, travelled to Kathmandu for the 16th round of Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism talks. Party head and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli is now anticipated to visit China shortly, and plans are in place for his travel, according to CPN UML officials. This coincides with discussions in Kathmandu about former President Bidya Devi Bhandari possibly joining politics actively and visiting China in the coming weeks. In a recent meeting in Kathmandu, both sides agreed to maintain the tradition of regular high-level visits, as per Nepal’s Foreign Ministry. In September, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit Nepal, with all eyes on the signing of the BRI implementation plan. The frequency of visits from China to Nepal is notably higher compared to Nepalese officials visiting China, indicating a stronger engagement with China over Nepal's southern neighbor. Political analysts, Chandra Dev Bhatta believes this dynamic suggests a one-sided interaction. “No significant issues are being resolved with China; these meetings primarily provide China with opportunities to assert and protect its interests in Nepal, offering little benefit to Nepal itself. The pressing issues facing Nepal remain unaddressed for instance border issue,” he added. Meanwhile, Nepal PM reiterated country’s commitment on ‘One China Policy’, “The Nepali side firmly upholds the one-China principle, believes that both Taiwan and Xizang are inalienable parts of China, opposes "Taiwan independence" and will never allow any force to use the Nepali territory for anti-China activities.” China has been pressing Nepal to sign the BRI implementation plan, as no projects have been executed under this flagship initiative. This situation reflects a failure on China's part in Nepal, showcasing issues in executing agreements with the Himalayan nation. Despite numerous bilateral visits, concrete outcomes remain elusive, primarily due to uncertain financial modalities of the BRI. Nepal has repeatedly clarified that it cannot bear heavy loans from China at high-interest rates and has requested grants instead. Speaking at the parliament, Nepal PM Prachanda highlighted that he has conveyed this message to the Chinese: “Our first priority is grants, not loans. If we do need to take loans, we will not pay an interest rate higher than what we are paying to the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Nepal is not in a state to accept loans beyond 1.5 percent annual interest rate proposed for BRI projects.” The prime minister also stated that Nepal is mindful of and aware of the debt trap: “We will push the agreement by ensuring that we won’t fall into a debt trap.” Both countries have failed to reach a consensus on critical aspects of the BRI implementation plan, such as loans, grants, and concessional loans. PM Prachanda mentioned that there are some reservations from the Chinese side regarding the financing and investment modalities. Now, Nepal’s Parliament members are deliberating on BRI after opposition leaders raised questions on its financial modalities. Opposition Nepali Congress leader Rajendra Bajgain has raised concerns on BRI terms in the parliament, says ‘this agreement could potentially bind future (of) Nepalese governments without proper discussions and transparency. The Nepal Prime Minister has announced that preparations are underway to sign the implementation of the BRI.

High-level Nepal-China visits continue; outcome elusive

North Korea has successfully conducted an important test aimed at developing missiles carrying multiple warheads, state television KRT said on Thursday (June 27), a claim rejected by South Korea as "deception" to mask a failed launch.

North Korea claims successful test to develop multiple warhead missile

Kenyan President William Ruto has declined to sign a highly contentious finance bill that has sparked Nationwide protests he has sent the bill back to the Parliament for amendments after violent clashes outside the Parliament and across the country.

Kenya tax protests: President Ruto declines to sign finance bill following violent protests

For the second time in two years in the US, a major Supreme Court abortion decision has been accidentally leaked before the justices officially released it. Watch in for more details!

US top court mistakenly posts opinion allowing Idaho abortions

The stage is set for the Trump Biden debate on Thursday. The current Democratic President and his Republican predecessor will face off in Atlanta Georgia for the first of two debates ahead of November's Elections. Watch in for more details!

US Elections 2024: Donald Trump, Joe Biden to face off in first US presidential debate

President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint session of both Houses of Parliament and congratulated all newly-elected MPs on Thursday (June 27). Watch to know more.

Parliament Session 2024: Indian President Droupadi Murmu's address to joint session of Parliament

Amazon has crossed a historic threshold. The e-commerce giant's market capitalization surpassed 2 trillion dollars for the first time on Wednesday. This achievement places amazon among an elite group of companies, joining apple, Microsoft, alphabet, and Nvidia in the 2 trillion dollar club.

Amazon market cap surpasses $2 trillion for first time

The Crown Prosecution (CPS) has announced that a lady who killed two eight-year-old kids when her car smashed into a school in southwest London would not be prosecuted.

The Crown Prosecution (CPS) has announced that a lady who killed two eight-year-old kids when her car smashed into a school in southwest London would not be prosecuted. On July 6, 2023, a Land Rover struck and killed Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau during an end-of-term tea party at The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon. The CPS has notified the families that the driving woman will not face charges due to an epileptic episode. The driver of the car, Claire Freemantle, stated that she had "no recollection of what took place" and expressed her "deepest sorrow". "Justice has neither been done nor has it been seen to be done today," the girls' families said. They said so many lives were "irreparably shattered" and they remained "unconvinced" that the investigation had been conducted thoroughly. "All the victims of the events of 6 July 2023 did nothing wrong. We were all in the safest place we could have been outside our own homes." "We were celebrating a day filled with joy. Nuria and Selena’s lives were taken in a moment," they said in a statement. According to the CPS, Freemantle lost control of the car and it crashed into the school as a result of an epileptic episode while she was driving. The collision also caused injuries to many other people. Watch | UK elections 2024: Poll survey indicate Labour in lead × According to the CPS, Freemantle had no prior medical diagnosis and there was no proof that she had ever experienced a seizure similar to this one. The parents of the girls, Sajjad Butt, Smera Chohan, Franky Lau, and Jessie Deng, expressed their opinion that the procedure had been "questionable" in their statement. "We continue to live with horrific memories, some of us will never physically recover from our injuries, and the pain of our loss will never subside," they said. Also read: Joe Biden to pardon US military personnel convicted of homosexuality "And yet, it is suggested that we must continue to live with the claim that the person solely responsible for the deaths of two and the maiming of others bears no consequence for the actions that they solely are responsible, without providing us with sufficient evidence that no criminal act was conducted," they added. According to Freemantle, her "heartfelt sympathy" is extended to all of the impacted children and families, but particularly to Nuria and Selena's parents. Detective Supt Clair Kelland stated, "I can understand that some may be confused - perhaps even feel let down - by this outcome, and want to give every reassurance that our officers worked tirelessly through every detail of the incident to ensure a complete investigation be passed to the CPS." She continued by saying that there had to be a "simply not borne out on this occasion" "element of responsibility" to file charges against the driver. (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Families outraged as driver not charged after fatal school crash in Wimbledon

Astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner are facing a delay in their return due to technical issues. The capsule's first crewed mission might need an extension, and SpaceX's crew dragon could be a backup option. Take a look at our next report...Watch in for more details!

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The British pound has surged ahead of an anticipated Labour party victory in the July 4 election, but its future hinges on the new government's economic plans. Sterling has regained levels not seen since the 2016 Brexit vote, with investors hopeful for stability after years of conservative rule.

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Russia's Navy to receive more than 40 ships and boats in 2024 as per President Vladimir Putin at a meeting on ship building. Putin cited year on-year statistics According to which the Navy was provided 24 new ships and boats in 2022, 33 in 2023 and 40 are planned to be handed over in 2024. Watch in for more details!

Russian Navy eyeing a comeback as as war with Ukraine continues

In a massive crackdown on terror, the German government will tighten rules on deporting foreigners who glorify terror acts. Watch in for more details!

Germany to tighten law on deporting foreigners who glorify terrorist acts

Studies have shown that taking multivitamins won't extend your life expectancy. According to a recent report published in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers have shown that healthy people who take multivitamins regularly are no less likely than those who don't to die of any cause.

Thus, there is no connection between taking multivitamins and a lower chance of dying.

Multivitamins generally consist of a mix of essential vitamins and minerals. While the specific ingredients can differ among brands and formulations, they commonly include vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, various B vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese.

"In the United States, nearly 1 in 3 adults report recent multivitamin (MV) use. Prevalence of use is higher among older adults, women, non-Hispanic White individuals, and those with a college education. Motivations for using MV include maintaining or improving health and preventing chronic disease; consequently, understanding the relationship between MV use and mortality is critically important to public health guidance," the authors wrote in the paper.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/john-krasinski-discusses-a-quiet-place-day-one-735421">John Krasinski discusses A Quiet Place: Day One</a>

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There is mixed data from earlier studies linking multivitamin consumption to mortality. Short participant follow-up periods have also been a limitation.

Researchers examined data from over 400,000 healthy American individuals over 20 years, none of whom had a history of cancer or chronic illness. They found no correlation between the use of multivitamins and a lower risk of mortality from any cause, such as cancer, heart disease, or stroke.

"In this cohort study of 390,124 generally healthy US adults with more than 20 years of follow-up, daily MV use was not associated with a mortality benefit," they explained.

"In contrast, we found that daily MV use vs non-use was associated with 4% higher mortality risk," they added.

According to the authors, this might be due to the sort of people who take multivitamins: those with age-related health difficulties may be more likely to do so.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alarming-antarctic-ice-melt-tipping-point-found-raises-sea-level-rise-fears-735420">Alarming Antarctic ice melt tipping point found, raises fears of sea level rise</a>

"It could be argued that those who are sick or older than 65 years are more likely to initiate MV use. This phenomenon could result in a non-causal positive association since these individuals have a higher risk of mortality than their healthier or younger counterparts," they wrote.

The researchers updated their study to account for different confounding factors such as race and ethnicity, education, and food quality, as well as the possibility that healthy people are more likely to consume multivitamins.

"First, it is an observational study and residual confounding by poorly measured or unmeasured confounders (e.g., health care utilisation) may bias risk estimates. Second, there is the possibility for non-differential exposure misclassification owing to faulty memory of sporadic MV usage," they wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

Studies have shown that taking multivitamins won't extend your life expectancy. According to a recent report published in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers have shown that healthy people who take multivitamins regularly are no less likely than those who don't to die of any cause.

Studies have shown that taking multivitamins won't extend your life expectancy. According to a recent report published in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers have shown that healthy people who take multivitamins regularly are no less likely than those who don't to die of any cause. Thus, there is no connection between taking multivitamins and a lower chance of dying. Multivitamins generally consist of a mix of essential vitamins and minerals. While the specific ingredients can differ among brands and formulations, they commonly include vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, various B vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese. "In the United States, nearly 1 in 3 adults report recent multivitamin (MV) use. Prevalence of use is higher among older adults, women, non-Hispanic White individuals, and those with a college education. Motivations for using MV include maintaining or improving health and preventing chronic disease; consequently, understanding the relationship between MV use and mortality is critically important to public health guidance," the authors wrote in the paper. Watch | John Krasinski discusses A Quiet Place: Day One × There is mixed data from earlier studies linking multivitamin consumption to mortality. Short participant follow-up periods have also been a limitation. Researchers examined data from over 400,000 healthy American individuals over 20 years, none of whom had a history of cancer or chronic illness. They found no correlation between the use of multivitamins and a lower risk of mortality from any cause, such as cancer, heart disease, or stroke. "In this cohort study of 390,124 generally healthy US adults with more than 20 years of follow-up, daily MV use was not associated with a mortality benefit," they explained. "In contrast, we found that daily MV use vs non-use was associated with 4% higher mortality risk," they added. According to the authors, this might be due to the sort of people who take multivitamins: those with age-related health difficulties may be more likely to do so. Also read: Alarming Antarctic ice melt tipping point found, raises fears of sea level rise "It could be argued that those who are sick or older than 65 years are more likely to initiate MV use. This phenomenon could result in a non-causal positive association since these individuals have a higher risk of mortality than their healthier or younger counterparts," they wrote. The researchers updated their study to account for different confounding factors such as race and ethnicity, education, and food quality, as well as the possibility that healthy people are more likely to consume multivitamins. "First, it is an observational study and residual confounding by poorly measured or unmeasured confounders (e.g., health care utilisation) may bias risk estimates. Second, there is the possibility for non-differential exposure misclassification owing to faulty memory of sporadic MV usage," they wrote. (With inputs from agencies)

Multivitamin myth busted: No lifespan boost from daily supplements, major study finds

US Elections: Trump and Biden's first Presidential debate of 2024

As part of its long-term strategy to reduce dependence in China, American Tech giant Apple has been making forays into India well not directly but via contract manufacturers who set up Mass assembly lines to assemble millions of Apple phones. Recent reports indicate that a major Apple contract manufacturer in India is discriminating against married women and prefers to recruit only unmarried women. Taiwanese firm Foxconn is the world's largest contract manufacturer. Watch in for more details!

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn discriminating against married women in India?

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