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Trump Assassination Plot: Iran rejects claims

<p>The United Kingdom under Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was "ill prepared for dealing with a catastrophic emergency, let alone&nbsp;the Covid-10 pandemic that actually struck", a damning first report from an inquiry on UK's Covid preparedness has found.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The institutions and structures responsible for emergency planning were labyrinthine in their complexity," Chair of the Covid inquiry Lady Hallett said in her report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report further said that the UK government's sole pandemic strategy from 2011, was "outdated and lacked adaptability".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It was virtually abandoned on its first encounter with the pandemic," it noted, adding that the existing mechanism "failed adequately to consider prevention or proportionality of response".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How UK's Covid strategy fell short?</strong></h2>

<p>Lady Hallett's 240-page report, analysed by WION, shows&nbsp;that the emergency planning of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government failed to account sufficiently for the "pre-existing health and social inequalities and deprivation in society".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There was a failure to learn sufficiently from past civil emergency exercises and outbreaks of diseases."</p>

<p>Additionally, there was a "damaging absence" of focus on the measures, interventions and infrastructure required in the event of a pandemic, "in particular, a system that could be scaled up to test, trace and isolate in the event of a pandemic."&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an indirect dig at Boris Johnson's premiership, the Covid inquiry report found that in the years leading up to the pandemic, there was a "lack of adequate leadership, coordination and oversight."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;UK's Covid investigation an 'eye-watering bill' or a lesson?</strong></p>

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<p>"Ministers, who are frequently untrained in the specialist field of civil contingencies, were not presented with a broad enough range of scientific opinion and policy options, and failed to challenge sufficiently the advice they did receive from officials and advisers."</p>

<p>Besides, "advisers and advisory groups did not have sufficient freedom and autonomy to express dissenting views and suffered from a lack of significant external oversight and challenge. The advice was often undermined by groupthink."&nbsp;</p>


The United Kingdom under Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was "ill prepared for dealing with a catastrophic emergency, let alone the Covid-10 pandemic that actually struck", a damning first report from an inquiry on UK's Covid preparedness has found.

The United Kingdom under Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was "ill prepared for dealing with a catastrophic emergency, let alone the Covid-10 pandemic that actually struck", a damning first report from an inquiry on UK's Covid preparedness has found. "The institutions and structures responsible for emergency planning were labyrinthine in their complexity," Chair of the Covid inquiry Lady Hallett said in her report. The report further said that the UK government's sole pandemic strategy from 2011, was "outdated and lacked adaptability". "It was virtually abandoned on its first encounter with the pandemic," it noted, adding that the existing mechanism "failed adequately to consider prevention or proportionality of response". How UK's Covid strategy fell short? Lady Hallett's 240-page report, analysed by WION, shows that the emergency planning of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government failed to account sufficiently for the "pre-existing health and social inequalities and deprivation in society". "There was a failure to learn sufficiently from past civil emergency exercises and outbreaks of diseases." Additionally, there was a "damaging absence" of focus on the measures, interventions and infrastructure required in the event of a pandemic, "in particular, a system that could be scaled up to test, trace and isolate in the event of a pandemic." In an indirect dig at Boris Johnson's premiership, the Covid inquiry report found that in the years leading up to the pandemic, there was a "lack of adequate leadership, coordination and oversight." Also watch | UK's Covid investigation an 'eye-watering bill' or a lesson? × "Ministers, who are frequently untrained in the specialist field of civil contingencies, were not presented with a broad enough range of scientific opinion and policy options, and failed to challenge sufficiently the advice they did receive from officials and advisers." Besides, "advisers and advisory groups did not have sufficient freedom and autonomy to express dissenting views and suffered from a lack of significant external oversight and challenge. The advice was often undermined by groupthink."

'Outdated, abandoned, labyrinthine': Covid inquiry finds how UK's health system failed people during pandemic

Sen. JD Vance officially accepted his vice presidential nomination on Wednesday after former President Donald Trump tapped the Ohio lawmaker as his running mate earlier this week.

Republican National Convention day 3: National security & foreign policy on agenda

<p>US President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. He will be lying low until he recovers, but the Democrat doesn't seem to be in the mood to take a break from all the campaigning for the presidential elections. In a post on X, Biden took a jab at his Republican rival Donald Trump and the owner of X, Elon Musk.</p>

<p>In his post, Biden wrote, “I’m sick", informing people about his diagnosis. However, later, commenting on his own post,&nbsp;Biden wrote, "of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election."</p>

<p>Sharing a link to donate to his campaign, Biden added, "And if you agree, pitch in here," with a photo of Trump and Musk and the words "Defeat Trump" on it.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election.<br />
<br />
And if you agree, pitch in here.<a href="https://t.co/V93cYUUFQu">https://t.co/V93cYUUFQu</a></p>
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1813716534499393678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Musk has been backing Trump ever since he survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also floated a bizarre idea to create an Iron Man-style suit of armour to keep Trump safe.</p>

<p>The SpaceX CEO also has plans to give roughly $45 million each month to a fund supporting Trump's campaign, as per a report by the Wall Street Journal. Musk's donations will be used by America PAC, which will promote voter registration, early voting, and mail-in ballots among people in swing states.&nbsp;Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, former US ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and cryptocurrency investors Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, are also reportedly going to contribute to the fund.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Musk later&nbsp;refuted the reports about his&nbsp;$45 million donation each month to support Trump's campaign.</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/musk-planning-to-turn-trump-into-iron-man-billionaire-proposes-flying-metal-suit-after-assassination-bid-741220">Musk planning to turn Trump into Iron Man? Billionaire proposes flying metal suit after assassination bid</a></p>

<p>Musk and Trump have come pretty close during the course of the presidential campaign. They were at a donor breakfast hosted at the Florida residence of billionaire Nelson Peltz in March.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Biden tests positive for COVID-19</h2>

<p>Informing about the diagnosis, the White House said on Wednesday that Biden is vaccinated and also had a booster dose. He is experiencing mild symptoms, will be self-isolating in Delaware and continue fulfilling his presidential duties.</p>

<p>"The White House will provide updates on the President’s health status as he will continue his full duties of the office while being in isolation," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. He will be lying low until he recovers, but the Democrat doesn't seem to be in the mood to take a break from all the campaigning for the presidential elections.

US President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. He will be lying low until he recovers, but the Democrat doesn't seem to be in the mood to take a break from all the campaigning for the presidential elections. In a post on X, Biden took a jab at his Republican rival Donald Trump and the owner of X, Elon Musk. In his post, Biden wrote, “I’m sick", informing people about his diagnosis. However, later, commenting on his own post, Biden wrote, "of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election." Sharing a link to donate to his campaign, Biden added, "And if you agree, pitch in here," with a photo of Trump and Musk and the words "Defeat Trump" on it. of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here.https://t.co/V93cYUUFQu — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 17, 2024 × Notably, Musk has been backing Trump ever since he survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote. He also floated a bizarre idea to create an Iron Man-style suit of armour to keep Trump safe. The SpaceX CEO also has plans to give roughly $45 million each month to a fund supporting Trump's campaign, as per a report by the Wall Street Journal. Musk's donations will be used by America PAC, which will promote voter registration, early voting, and mail-in ballots among people in swing states. Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, former US ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and cryptocurrency investors Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, are also reportedly going to contribute to the fund. Musk later refuted the reports about his $45 million donation each month to support Trump's campaign. Also Read: Musk planning to turn Trump into Iron Man? Billionaire proposes flying metal suit after assassination bid Musk and Trump have come pretty close during the course of the presidential campaign. They were at a donor breakfast hosted at the Florida residence of billionaire Nelson Peltz in March. Biden tests positive for COVID-19 Informing about the diagnosis, the White House said on Wednesday that Biden is vaccinated and also had a booster dose. He is experiencing mild symptoms, will be self-isolating in Delaware and continue fulfilling his presidential duties. "The White House will provide updates on the President’s health status as he will continue his full duties of the office while being in isolation," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. (With inputs from agencies)

'I'm sick...': Biden uses his Covid diagnosis to take a dig at Donald Trump and Elon Musk

A heated exchange has begun between Union Minister Anupriya Patel and UP Minister Nand Gopal Nandi over the functioning of toll plazas on the Varanasi-Sonbhadra highway. The controversy started when Patel wrote a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, prompting a response from Nandi. Watch in for more details!

India: Nandagopal Nandi-Anupriya Patel clash intensifies over toll plaza

India's first cricket World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev is a man who wears many hats. He is currently the president of the professional golf tour of India. The legend believes Indian golf needs a Neeraj Chopra-like triumph at Paris to grow exponentially in India. He spoke exclusively to WION's Nikhil Mathur.

Kapil Dev: Indian golf needs a Neeraj Chopra-like triumph

The third day of the Republican National Convention kicks off Wednesday with Republicans — led by the newly nominated Donald Trump and JD Vance — shifting to issues of national security and foreign policy.

Republican National Convention: What to expect on day 3 of the RNC

Tibetan President in Exile, Penpa Tsering, has confirmed back channel talks with the Chinese government that took place earlier this month. In an exclusive interview with WION, he stated, "Talks are happening. Nothing concrete. I admit back channel, nothing substantive happening." Direct talks between the two sides began in 2002, with a total of nine rounds conducted until 2010. In 2008, the Tibetan side in exile presented proposals for autonomy, which was rejected by the Chinese government.

President of Tibetan govt-in-exile on WION, on talks with China & resolve Tibet act | WION

<p>The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) told members of Congress on Wednesday (Jul&nbsp;17) that gunman Thomas Crooks, who attempted to kill former United States President Donald Trump had used his smartphone to search for images of the Republican leader as well as his successor&nbsp;Joe Biden.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>FBI stated that Crooks also searched for&nbsp;dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) where Democrats are expected to certify Biden's nomination for president.</p>

<p>Despite&nbsp;uncovering and cracking two of Crooks' mobile phones, the FBI said it had not found any definitive evidence to suggest that the 20-year-old shooter had strong partisan political views.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Further investigation of Crooks'&nbsp;devices revealed that he also searched about the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, and US Attorney General Merrick Garland.</p>

<p>Crooks was killed by the US Secret Service (SS) last Saturday (Jul 13) after he fired multiple rounds from an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in a bid to&nbsp;assassinate Trump. The former president was saved by mere inches as the bullet meant for his head, only grazed the top portion of his right ear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prior to being neutralised by the SS, Crooks managed to evade the heavy security arrangement and climbed to the roof of a building that brought him within a 130-metre radius of Trump. Reports indicate that the 20-year-old had pointed his rifle at a local law enforcement officer who had climbed the roof and moments later managed to take a shot at Trump.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Secret Service spotted the shooter on the roof TWENTY MINUTES before the shooting. It’s becoming increasingly untenable to attribute this entirely to incompetence. It is inconceivable that Trump was allowed to take the stage ten minutes after a man who’d already been identified…</p>
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1813918150305501355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-suspected-trump-rally-shooter-was-a-quiet-lonely-bullied-child-in-school-reports-740885" target="_blank"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US: Suspected Trump rally shooter was a 'quiet', 'lonely' &amp; 'bullied' child in school: Reports</strong></a></p>

<h2><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" data-gtm-yt-inspected-17="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-23="true" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-suspected-trump-rally-shooter-was-a-quiet-lonely-bullied-child-in-school-reports-740885/embed" width="560"></iframe></h2>

<h2><strong>Who was Thomas Crooks?</strong></h2>

<p>According to reports Crooks was a loner who had been bullied in high school.&nbsp;Crooks' former classmates at Bethel Park High School described him as smart but standoffish who maintained his distance and could often be spotted wearing headphones and sitting alone at lunch - looking at his phone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He sat by himself, didn't talk to anyone, didn't even try to make conversation.&nbsp;He was an odd kid&nbsp;but nothing about him seemed dangerous," said Crooks' schoolmate,&nbsp;17-year-old Liam Campbell.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Just a normal person who seemed like he didn't like talking to people."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/secret-service-chief-confronted-by-gop-senators-over-trump-assassination-bid-742056"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US Secret Service chief confronted by GOP senators over Trump assassination bid</strong></a></p>

<p>Since the incident, numerous witnesses have come forward and claimed that they informed the&nbsp;Secret Service officials and other local authorities about the presence of Crooks but no action was taken.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) told members of Congress on Wednesday (Jul 17) that gunman Thomas Crooks, who attempted to kill former United States President Donald Trump had used his smartphone to search for images of the Republican leader as well as his successor Joe Biden.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) told members of Congress on Wednesday (Jul 17) that gunman Thomas Crooks, who attempted to kill former United States President Donald Trump had used his smartphone to search for images of the Republican leader as well as his successor Joe Biden. FBI stated that Crooks also searched for dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) where Democrats are expected to certify Biden's nomination for president. Despite uncovering and cracking two of Crooks' mobile phones, the FBI said it had not found any definitive evidence to suggest that the 20-year-old shooter had strong partisan political views. Further investigation of Crooks' devices revealed that he also searched about the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, and US Attorney General Merrick Garland. Crooks was killed by the US Secret Service (SS) last Saturday (Jul 13) after he fired multiple rounds from an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in a bid to assassinate Trump. The former president was saved by mere inches as the bullet meant for his head, only grazed the top portion of his right ear. Prior to being neutralised by the SS, Crooks managed to evade the heavy security arrangement and climbed to the roof of a building that brought him within a 130-metre radius of Trump. Reports indicate that the 20-year-old had pointed his rifle at a local law enforcement officer who had climbed the roof and moments later managed to take a shot at Trump. Secret Service spotted the shooter on the roof TWENTY MINUTES before the shooting. It’s becoming increasingly untenable to attribute this entirely to incompetence. It is inconceivable that Trump was allowed to take the stage ten minutes after a man who’d already been identified… — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) July 18, 2024 × Watch | US: Suspected Trump rally shooter was a 'quiet', 'lonely' & 'bullied' child in school: Reports Who was Thomas Crooks? According to reports Crooks was a loner who had been bullied in high school. Crooks' former classmates at Bethel Park High School described him as smart but standoffish who maintained his distance and could often be spotted wearing headphones and sitting alone at lunch - looking at his phone. "He sat by himself, didn't talk to anyone, didn't even try to make conversation. He was an odd kid but nothing about him seemed dangerous," said Crooks' schoolmate, 17-year-old Liam Campbell. "Just a normal person who seemed like he didn't like talking to people." Also read | US Secret Service chief confronted by GOP senators over Trump assassination bid Since the incident, numerous witnesses have come forward and claimed that they informed the Secret Service officials and other local authorities about the presence of Crooks but no action was taken. (With inputs from agencies)

REVEALED! What gunman Thomas Crooks searched prior to his assassination bid on Donald Trump

<p>The European parliament on Thursday (July 18)&nbsp;confirmed Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president. She will now serve a second five-year term in a row as president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A total of 401 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in von der Leyen's favour while 284 voted against and 15 abstained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The European Conservatives and Reformists group, which includes Italian Prime Minister&nbsp;Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and Poland’s Law and Justice, said that "a large majority of national delegations within the ECR Group have confirmed that they would vote against"&nbsp;but that the group would have a "free vote."</p>

<h2><strong>Ursula von der Leyen European Commission president: What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>Her re-election for a second consecutive term marks a vote for stability during a tumultuous time in Europe. Several key European leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron and in von der Leyen's own country, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are faced with the rise of the far-right.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Von der Leyen's re-election would mean the EU's consistent position to keep up with the carbon emission targets in the times when the countries of the Global South are taking on the West for their outsized role in climate change due to historical emissions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the United States, von der Leyen's re-election means a continued European show of competitiveness against Chinese tech prowess.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">5 more years.<br />
<br />
I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the trust of all MEPs that voted for me. <a href="https://t.co/d9n3yfIVtS">pic.twitter.com/d9n3yfIVtS</a></p>
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1813916725991354676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Ursula von der Leyen?</strong></h2>

<p>Born in post-Second World War Brussels to German parents in 1958, Ursula von der Leyen is a member of Germany's centre-right Christian Democratic Union and its affiliated party, the European People's Party. She formerly served as defence minister in former German chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A product of the London School of Economics of the Class of 1978, Merkel attended a medical school in Germany's Hanover and acquired a medical license in 1987, just two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After joining German politics in the late 1990s, she served as a cabinet minister in Lower Saxony's government between 2003 and 2005.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/court-rules-european-commission-chief-ursula-violated-transparency-norms-in-vaccine-contracts-741723">Court rules European Commission chief Ursula violated transparency norms in vaccine contracts</a></b></p>

<p>She served as a deputy leader of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union from 2010 to 2019. Von der Leyen was seen as a leading contender to succeed Merkel as chancellor of Germany and as the favourite to become secretary general of NATO after Jens Stoltenberg.</p>

<p>As European Commission president, von der Leyen has helmed over two crucial crises of her generation: the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Her second tenure as European Commission president faces the challenge of a potential Donald Trump presidency in the United States amid war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The European parliament on Thursday (July 18) confirmed Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president. She will now serve a second five-year term in a row as president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union.

The European parliament on Thursday (July 18) confirmed Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president. She will now serve a second five-year term in a row as president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union. A total of 401 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in von der Leyen's favour while 284 voted against and 15 abstained. The European Conservatives and Reformists group, which includes Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and Poland’s Law and Justice, said that "a large majority of national delegations within the ECR Group have confirmed that they would vote against" but that the group would have a "free vote." Ursula von der Leyen European Commission president: What does it mean? Her re-election for a second consecutive term marks a vote for stability during a tumultuous time in Europe. Several key European leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron and in von der Leyen's own country, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are faced with the rise of the far-right. Von der Leyen's re-election would mean the EU's consistent position to keep up with the carbon emission targets in the times when the countries of the Global South are taking on the West for their outsized role in climate change due to historical emissions. For the United States, von der Leyen's re-election means a continued European show of competitiveness against Chinese tech prowess. 5 more years. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the trust of all MEPs that voted for me. pic.twitter.com/d9n3yfIVtS — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 18, 2024 × Who is Ursula von der Leyen? Born in post-Second World War Brussels to German parents in 1958, Ursula von der Leyen is a member of Germany's centre-right Christian Democratic Union and its affiliated party, the European People's Party. She formerly served as defence minister in former German chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet. A product of the London School of Economics of the Class of 1978, Merkel attended a medical school in Germany's Hanover and acquired a medical license in 1987, just two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall. After joining German politics in the late 1990s, she served as a cabinet minister in Lower Saxony's government between 2003 and 2005. Also read | Court rules European Commission chief Ursula violated transparency norms in vaccine contracts She served as a deputy leader of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union from 2010 to 2019. Von der Leyen was seen as a leading contender to succeed Merkel as chancellor of Germany and as the favourite to become secretary general of NATO after Jens Stoltenberg. As European Commission president, von der Leyen has helmed over two crucial crises of her generation: the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine. Her second tenure as European Commission president faces the challenge of a potential Donald Trump presidency in the United States amid war in Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

Ursula von der Leyen re-elected as European Commission president despite opposition from Meloni's party

An international team of investigators has suspended the criminal investigation into the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. They say they have insufficient evidence to launch any new prosecutions.

Remembering MH17 flight victims, marking 10th anniversary

Amid a diplomatic standoff India has reaffirmed its support for major infrastructure projects in the Maldives. This comes after there has been a turnaround in the ties with the island nation. Watch in for more details!

India aids Maldives in construction of Hanimaadhoo Airport

The Princess of Dubai, her Highness, Sheikha Mahra has declared her divorce fro her husband on social media. The daughter of the Vice President and the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra announces divorce from husband due to 'infidelity'

According to reports, Pelosi is hard at work behind the scenes persuading Biden to resign so that another contender can assume his position. She is placing crucial phone calls to members of Biden's campaign staff. Watch in for more details!

US Elections 2024: Nancy Pelosi urges Joe Biden to quit Presidential race

US President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 during his campaign trail in Las Vegas and has mild symptoms, the White House said in a statement. It added that he will self-isolate in Delaware from where he'll continue to carry out all of his duties fully. Watch in for more details!

US Elections 2024: Biden vaccinated, suffering mild symptoms, says White House

<p>Environmental authorities have blamed industrial waste for the death of tonnes of dead fish that have filled one of the main rivers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They say industrial waste from a sugar and ethanol plant was dumped in the river which has led to the catastrophe. Sao Paulo’s prosecutors in a statement said&nbsp;that 10 to 20 tonnes of fish died on the Piracicaba River in southeastern Brazil. Scenes at the river, on Wednesday, showed fish corpses carpeting the waterway, with vast stretches of the river completely littered.</p>

<p>The Piracicaba River crosses a protected area named Tanqua. It is known as Sao Paulo’s mini-Pantanal, after the tropical wetlands famous for abundant wildlife.</p>

<p>The prosecutors further added that the initial investigation showed an “irregular discharge of wastewater” from Estiva’s Sao Jose plant in the community of Rio das Pedras. This wastewater then entered a stream which flows into the Piracicaba River.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Impact of the mass die-off</h2>

<p>Adriano Queiroz, director of licensing at Sao Paulo’s environmental agency, told the Associated Press that owing to the number of fish and the variety of species that have perished in the incident, the impact on biodiversity is significant. “It will take years for the environment to recover," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/research-project-goes-wrong-thailand-waters-invaded-by-alien-fish-from-africa-740835">Research project goes wrong! Thailand waters invaded by ‘alien’ fish from Africa</a></p>

<p>Prosecutors say that the disaster is extremely serious and will have a major impact on the fishermen and the local community.</p>

<p>“This sad environmental disaster has moved everyone because of the seriousness and extent of the impacts,” prosecutors said.</p>

<p>Further steps regarding civil and criminal liability will be taken once more technical information is made available. A full report into the water conditions has also been demanded. Sao Paulo’s secretary for public security said in a statement that the police are investigating to see if an environmental crime was committed.</p>

<p>Sao Paulo’s state environmental agency, CETESB in Portuguese, says that they first received reports of the mass fish deaths on July 7. People complained of a strong odour coming from the river. The Salto Grande hydroelectric power plant was ordered to increase the amount of water released to dilute the pollution. But later, reports of another mass die-off in Tanqua, about 37 miles from the city of Piracicaba, started emerging.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Environmental authorities have blamed industrial waste for the death of tonnes of dead fish that have filled one of the main rivers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They say industrial waste from a sugar and ethanol plant was dumped in the river which has led to the catastrophe.

Environmental authorities have blamed industrial waste for the death of tonnes of dead fish that have filled one of the main rivers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They say industrial waste from a sugar and ethanol plant was dumped in the river which has led to the catastrophe. Sao Paulo’s prosecutors in a statement said that 10 to 20 tonnes of fish died on the Piracicaba River in southeastern Brazil. Scenes at the river, on Wednesday, showed fish corpses carpeting the waterway, with vast stretches of the river completely littered. The Piracicaba River crosses a protected area named Tanqua. It is known as Sao Paulo’s mini-Pantanal, after the tropical wetlands famous for abundant wildlife. The prosecutors further added that the initial investigation showed an “irregular discharge of wastewater” from Estiva’s Sao Jose plant in the community of Rio das Pedras. This wastewater then entered a stream which flows into the Piracicaba River. Impact of the mass die-off Adriano Queiroz, director of licensing at Sao Paulo’s environmental agency, told the Associated Press that owing to the number of fish and the variety of species that have perished in the incident, the impact on biodiversity is significant. “It will take years for the environment to recover," he said. Also Read: Research project goes wrong! Thailand waters invaded by ‘alien’ fish from Africa Prosecutors say that the disaster is extremely serious and will have a major impact on the fishermen and the local community. “This sad environmental disaster has moved everyone because of the seriousness and extent of the impacts,” prosecutors said. Further steps regarding civil and criminal liability will be taken once more technical information is made available. A full report into the water conditions has also been demanded. Sao Paulo’s secretary for public security said in a statement that the police are investigating to see if an environmental crime was committed. Sao Paulo’s state environmental agency, CETESB in Portuguese, says that they first received reports of the mass fish deaths on July 7. People complained of a strong odour coming from the river. The Salto Grande hydroelectric power plant was ordered to increase the amount of water released to dilute the pollution. But later, reports of another mass die-off in Tanqua, about 37 miles from the city of Piracicaba, started emerging. (With inputs from agencies)

Mass fish die-off reported from Sao Paulo river in major environmental disaster

<p>At least 14 Japanese students from a high school were rushed to a hospital on Tuesday after eating extra spicy "R 18+" curry-flavoured potato chips during their morning break. The chips were made with an extremely hot&nbsp;variety of chilli peppers originally from northeastern India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Media reports mentioned that one male student brought the crisps to school and around 30 students ate them. He loved the "super spicy" chips when he first tried them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The student said the chips were purchased by his older brother and he brought them to the school "just for fun".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The students who were admitted to the hospital said their mouth and stomach were in pain after consuming the snack, but were conscious and treated for minor symptoms.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mass-fish-die-off-reported-from-sao-paulo-river-in-major-environmental-disaster-742066">Mass fish die-off reported from Sao Paulo river in major environmental disaster</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The maker of the snack, Isoyama Corp, issued an apology in an online statement and wished the students a speedy recovery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On its website, the manufacturer wrote on July 17: "We apologise to our customers and other concerned parties for causing a great deal of inconvenience."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The snack called "R18 Curry Chips" comes with a warning for those under the age of 18, and those with high blood pressure and a weak stomach, to not consume it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It further advises consumers to not consume the snack all on one's own, since it could cause diarrhoea.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italian-journalist-to-pay-5500-for-mocking-pm-girorgia-melonis-height-742072">Italian journalist to pay PM Giorgia Meloni $5,500 for mocking her height</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Tae Tsutaki, who is an IT company worker, said, "It (the package of snack) forbids those below 18 years old from eating it, so they (high school kids) shouldn't have eaten it."</p>

<p>"I saw on the news that one of the high school students apologised. I'm glad nobody died, I think they should be more cautious in the future," Tae added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Japan: Legislative Assembly in Yamagata passes new laughter law</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>What do we know about the spicy chilly?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Local media reports mentioned that the chips are spiced with the ghost pepper, also known as 'Bhoot Jolokia', which is said to be at least 200 times spicier than Tabasco sauce. It is an interspecific hybrid chilli pepper cultivated in Northeast India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>'Bhoot Jolokia' is an extremely pungent pepper and it was registered in the Guinness World Records from 2007 to 2011 as the "world's hottest".&nbsp;</p>

<p>'Bhoot Jolokia' has a high Scoville Heat Units (SHU) rating, which is around 1,000,000 SHU. If we compare, a regular jalapeño pepper is around 2,500 to 8,000 SHU.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Besides being spicy, 'Bhoot Jolokia' is packed with potential health benefits as it is loaded with vitamins, especially vitamin C. It also supports the immune system and skin health.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


At least 14 Japanese students from a high school were rushed to a hospital on Tuesday after eating extra spicy "R 18+" curry-flavoured potato chips during their morning break.

At least 14 Japanese students from a high school were rushed to a hospital on Tuesday after eating extra spicy "R 18+" curry-flavoured potato chips during their morning break. The chips were made with an extremely hot variety of chilli peppers originally from northeastern India. Media reports mentioned that one male student brought the crisps to school and around 30 students ate them. He loved the "super spicy" chips when he first tried them. The student said the chips were purchased by his older brother and he brought them to the school "just for fun". The students who were admitted to the hospital said their mouth and stomach were in pain after consuming the snack, but were conscious and treated for minor symptoms. Also read: Mass fish die-off reported from Sao Paulo river in major environmental disaster The maker of the snack, Isoyama Corp, issued an apology in an online statement and wished the students a speedy recovery. On its website, the manufacturer wrote on July 17: "We apologise to our customers and other concerned parties for causing a great deal of inconvenience." The snack called "R18 Curry Chips" comes with a warning for those under the age of 18, and those with high blood pressure and a weak stomach, to not consume it. It further advises consumers to not consume the snack all on one's own, since it could cause diarrhoea. Also read: Italian journalist to pay PM Giorgia Meloni $5,500 for mocking her height As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Tae Tsutaki, who is an IT company worker, said, "It (the package of snack) forbids those below 18 years old from eating it, so they (high school kids) shouldn't have eaten it." "I saw on the news that one of the high school students apologised. I'm glad nobody died, I think they should be more cautious in the future," Tae added. Watch: Japan: Legislative Assembly in Yamagata passes new laughter law × What do we know about the spicy chilly? Local media reports mentioned that the chips are spiced with the ghost pepper, also known as 'Bhoot Jolokia', which is said to be at least 200 times spicier than Tabasco sauce. It is an interspecific hybrid chilli pepper cultivated in Northeast India. 'Bhoot Jolokia' is an extremely pungent pepper and it was registered in the Guinness World Records from 2007 to 2011 as the "world's hottest". 'Bhoot Jolokia' has a high Scoville Heat Units (SHU) rating, which is around 1,000,000 SHU. If we compare, a regular jalapeño pepper is around 2,500 to 8,000 SHU. Besides being spicy, 'Bhoot Jolokia' is packed with potential health benefits as it is loaded with vitamins, especially vitamin C. It also supports the immune system and skin health. (With inputs from agencies)

'Bhoot Jolokia': Chips made with this Indian pepper sent 14 students in Japan to hospital

As a geopolitical landscape shifts, Ukraine is caught in a perfect storm of dwindling support and mounting challenges. Trump threatens to cut US aid to Ukraine if re-elected. Our next report decodes how Ukraine is bracing for potential impact of a second Donald Trump Presidency. Watch this video to know more.

Russia-Ukraine war: Germany shocks allies with plans to halve Ukraine aid

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidmDvZ5R0BLsJY" /></p>

<p>An apartment building blaze early Thursday killed seven people in the southern French city of Nice and police were investigating the fire as a possible&nbsp;arson, authorities said.</p>

<p>The dead include three children -- 5, 7 and 10 years old -- and a 17-year-old who tried to escape by jumping from a window, they added.</p>

<p>The apartment was occupied by a family believed to have Comoran origins, the regional prefect Hugues Moutouh said, referring to the southern African island nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ten people were inside when the fire broke out.</p>

<p>Rescuers were alerted at around 2:30 am (0030 GMT) about the blaze on the seventh floor of the building in the low-income neighbourhood of Les Moulins, known for being a drug-dealing hub, in the west of the city.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In spite of the substantial resources deployed, "unfortunately seven people died during this fire", firefighters said.</p>

<p>Neighbours hurriedly dragged mattresses in front of the building to break the fall of those jumping out of windows.</p>

<p>Four police were in psychological care after witnessing the scene.</p>

<p>Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on social media that the quick arrival of firefighters "probably prevented more deaths".</p>

<p>Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal were expected at the scene later Thursday.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fire-breaks-out-at-noida-apartment-after-ac-blasts-amid-intense-heat-video-727090"><strong>VIDEO | Fire breaks out at Noida apartment after AC blasts amid intense heat</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>'Serious, barbaric'</strong></h2>

<p>Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli said investigators were looking into a "criminal" cause for the fire.</p>

<p>"In light of the initial evidence, I have opened an investigation into acts of&nbsp;arson&nbsp;leading to death," he told reporters at the scene.</p>

<p>He gave no details, but Nice Deputy Mayor Anthony Borre said that surveillance footage showed three men wearing balaclavas in the vicinity.</p>

<p>"These actions are serious, they are barbaric," he said, adding that he expected "a strong response" by the authorities once the investigation was over.</p>

<p>President Emmanuel Macron said he shared Nice's "emotion" following the fire, posting on social media that his thoughts were "with the loved ones of those who died".</p>

<p>The blaze probably started on the building's second floor and spread through the staircase to higher floors, authorities said.</p>

<p>Rescuers said that three people were taken to hospital, one of them with life-threatening injuries after jumping from a window.</p>

<p>They said firefighters were confronted by a "raging apartment fire" on the seventh floor of the building. They carried out three aerial ladder rescues and evacuated dozens.</p>

<p>"There were flames in the staircase and smoke was entering under the door," said Soibrata, a resident on the building's fifth floor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I woke the children up, and called the firefighters who told us to put wet towels under the doors and go on the balcony" where they were rescued, she said.</p>

<p>Soibrata, who did not give her last name, and others in the building told AFP that the wait for firefighters had been much longer than the "10 minutes" Martinelli said it took for them to arrive.</p>

<p>Neighbours sprayed water on parasols and furniture on adjacent balconies to prevent falling burning debris from setting the rest of the building on fire, they said.</p>

<p>Twenty people were evacuated to a temporary shelter, with Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi saying a crisis unit would be set up to help anyone affected by the fire.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.</em></p>


An apartment building blaze early Thursday killed seven people in the southern French city of Nice and police were investigating the fire as a possible arson, authorities said.

An apartment building blaze early Thursday killed seven people in the southern French city of Nice and police were investigating the fire as a possible arson, authorities said. The dead include three children -- 5, 7 and 10 years old -- and a 17-year-old who tried to escape by jumping from a window, they added. The apartment was occupied by a family believed to have Comoran origins, the regional prefect Hugues Moutouh said, referring to the southern African island nation. Ten people were inside when the fire broke out. Rescuers were alerted at around 2:30 am (0030 GMT) about the blaze on the seventh floor of the building in the low-income neighbourhood of Les Moulins, known for being a drug-dealing hub, in the west of the city. In spite of the substantial resources deployed, "unfortunately seven people died during this fire", firefighters said. Neighbours hurriedly dragged mattresses in front of the building to break the fall of those jumping out of windows. Four police were in psychological care after witnessing the scene. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on social media that the quick arrival of firefighters "probably prevented more deaths". Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal were expected at the scene later Thursday. VIDEO | Fire breaks out at Noida apartment after AC blasts amid intense heat 'Serious, barbaric' Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli said investigators were looking into a "criminal" cause for the fire. "In light of the initial evidence, I have opened an investigation into acts of arson leading to death," he told reporters at the scene. He gave no details, but Nice Deputy Mayor Anthony Borre said that surveillance footage showed three men wearing balaclavas in the vicinity. "These actions are serious, they are barbaric," he said, adding that he expected "a strong response" by the authorities once the investigation was over. President Emmanuel Macron said he shared Nice's "emotion" following the fire, posting on social media that his thoughts were "with the loved ones of those who died". The blaze probably started on the building's second floor and spread through the staircase to higher floors, authorities said. Rescuers said that three people were taken to hospital, one of them with life-threatening injuries after jumping from a window. They said firefighters were confronted by a "raging apartment fire" on the seventh floor of the building. They carried out three aerial ladder rescues and evacuated dozens. "There were flames in the staircase and smoke was entering under the door," said Soibrata, a resident on the building's fifth floor. "I woke the children up, and called the firefighters who told us to put wet towels under the doors and go on the balcony" where they were rescued, she said. Soibrata, who did not give her last name, and others in the building told AFP that the wait for firefighters had been much longer than the "10 minutes" Martinelli said it took for them to arrive. Neighbours sprayed water on parasols and furniture on adjacent balconies to prevent falling burning debris from setting the rest of the building on fire, they said. Twenty people were evacuated to a temporary shelter, with Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi saying a crisis unit would be set up to help anyone affected by the fire. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

France: 7 killed in suspected arson at crowded apartment in Nice

Russia and Ukraine have concluded their third exchange of prisoners over the past seven weeks. The swap was mediated by the United Arab Emirates. In this round the two countries exchanged 95 prisoners of War each. Watch in for more details!

Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow, Kyiv secure release of 95 PoWs each

Mossad chief David Barnea told a security cabinet meeting Tuesday that young female hostages held by Hamas don’t have time to wait for a new hostage deal framework, according to unsourced leaks from the gathering that were widely reported by Hebrew media outlets Wednesday.

Israel war: Young Israeli female hostages in danger? | No time to wait: Mossad urges hostage deal

<p>In a significant move, South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a ruling that same-sex partners were eligible for spousal benefits from the state insurer.</p>

<p>The ruling affirmed a significant precedent set by the Seoul High Court early last year, which mandated the National Health Insurance Service to grant equal spousal coverage to So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min,&nbsp;a gay couple, who&nbsp;had sued the agency in 2021 after it revoked their spousal benefits.</p>

<h2><strong>Emotional response from plaintiffs</strong></h2>

<p>"I couldn’t believe when I heard the ruling. I was extremely happy and I started crying. It took four years to earn this dependent status and…we need to fight harder to legalize same-sex marriage going forward," Kim Yong-min told Reuters.</p>

<p>Even though the national health insurance act makes no mention of it, Chief Justice Jo Hee-de declared that depriving individuals of these benefits based on their gender amounted to discrimination based on sexual orientation.</p>

<p>"It is an act of discrimination that violates human dignity and value, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy and the right to equality before the law, and the degree of violation is serious," Jo told a televised trial.</p>

<p>Despite having had a wedding ceremony and frequently being referred to as a married couple, So and Kim's union is not legally recognised in South Korea. Advocates and attorneys said that this decision represents South Korea's first official acceptance of a same-sex union.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kai-trump-first-granddaughter-of-donald-trump-speaks-at-rnc-741961">Kai Trump, first granddaughter of Donald Trump, speaks at RNC</a></strong></p>

<p>A lower court originally ruled in favour of the insurer, stating that a same-sex union could not be recognised as a common-law marriage under current laws. However, this decision was later overturned by the appellate court.</p>

<h2><strong>Why is this ruling significant?</strong></h2>

<p>The South Korean&nbsp;Supreme Court's ruling is a "stepping stone for progress" towards marriage equality, activist Horim Yi at Marriage For All, an LGBTQ+&nbsp;campaign group, said.</p>

<p>Conservative religious groups in South Korea strongly oppose anti-discrimination laws, causing many&nbsp;individuals from the&nbsp;LGBTQ+ community&nbsp;to conceal their identities at work as they fight for equality.</p>

<p>Before the ruling, members of conservative Christian groups protested outside the court, displaying a banner that said, "Same-sex families are nonsense. Supreme Court, overturn the Seoul High Court's ruling!"</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a significant move, South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a ruling that same-sex partners were eligible for spousal benefits from the state insurer. The ruling affirmed a significant precedent set by the Seoul High Court early last year, which mandated the National Health Insurance Service to grant equal spousal coverage to So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min, a gay couple, who had sued the agency in 2021 after it revoked their spousal benefits.

In a significant move, South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a ruling that same-sex partners were eligible for spousal benefits from the state insurer. The ruling affirmed a significant precedent set by the Seoul High Court early last year, which mandated the National Health Insurance Service to grant equal spousal coverage to So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min, a gay couple, who had sued the agency in 2021 after it revoked their spousal benefits. Emotional response from plaintiffs "I couldn’t believe when I heard the ruling. I was extremely happy and I started crying. It took four years to earn this dependent status and…we need to fight harder to legalize same-sex marriage going forward," Kim Yong-min told Reuters. Even though the national health insurance act makes no mention of it, Chief Justice Jo Hee-de declared that depriving individuals of these benefits based on their gender amounted to discrimination based on sexual orientation. "It is an act of discrimination that violates human dignity and value, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy and the right to equality before the law, and the degree of violation is serious," Jo told a televised trial. Despite having had a wedding ceremony and frequently being referred to as a married couple, So and Kim's union is not legally recognised in South Korea. Advocates and attorneys said that this decision represents South Korea's first official acceptance of a same-sex union. Also read: Kai Trump, first granddaughter of Donald Trump, speaks at RNC A lower court originally ruled in favour of the insurer, stating that a same-sex union could not be recognised as a common-law marriage under current laws. However, this decision was later overturned by the appellate court. Why is this ruling significant? The South Korean Supreme Court's ruling is a "stepping stone for progress" towards marriage equality, activist Horim Yi at Marriage For All, an LGBTQ+ campaign group, said. Conservative religious groups in South Korea strongly oppose anti-discrimination laws, causing many individuals from the LGBTQ+ community to conceal their identities at work as they fight for equality. Before the ruling, members of conservative Christian groups protested outside the court, displaying a banner that said, "Same-sex families are nonsense. Supreme Court, overturn the Seoul High Court's ruling!" (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea's Supreme Court affirms spousal benefits for same-sex partners

The Indian shooting contingent has fired blanks at the last two Olympics. However a record 21 Indian Shooters have qualified for the Paris games and there are high expectations once again for a medal. Anjum Moudgil who will be representing India in the 50 m rifle three position event and she spoke to WION's sports editor Digvijay Singh Deo on the strength of the Indian shooting contingent. Watch in for more details!

Olympic Games Paris 2024: Can shooters regain their perch?

<p>An Italian court has ordered a journalist to pay $5,466 (5,000 euros) in damages to Prime Minister Giorgia&nbsp;Meloni for mocking her on social media, according to local media reports. The journalist will also have to cough up&nbsp;$1,311&nbsp;for a post in October 2021 making fun of the Italian PM's height.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The journalist, identified as Giulia Cortes, initially shared a doctored photo of Meloni with a portrait of&nbsp;late fascist leader Benito Mussolini in the background.</p>

<p>Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy party was in the opposition at the time,&nbsp;took exception to the pictures posted by Cortes.&nbsp;36-year-old Cortes removed the picture after receiving a request but got into trouble when she insulted Meloni on X (formerly Twitter) by calling her a 'little woman'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You don't scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you're only 1.2 metres tall. I can't even see you," wrote&nbsp;Cortes at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meloni stands anywhere between 1.58 metres and 1.63 metres, as per different media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Italy PM Giorgia Meloni's diplomatic mission to China</strong></p>

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<p>Cortese's defence team argued that the contested messages were not offensive or defamatory in nature and hoped to reduce the financial penalty. However, the single bench of&nbsp;Valerio Natale&nbsp;established the journalist's responsibility for her actions on social media, leading to the conviction.</p>

<p>Cortese can appeal against the sentence, and Meloni's lawyer said the Prime Minister would donate to charity any damages she eventually receives.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-italian-pm-giorgia-melonis-eye-roll-as-biden-arrives-late-to-nato-summit-goes-viral-740260"><strong>Watch | Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's eye-roll as Biden arrives late to NATO summit goes viral</strong></a></p>

<p>This is not the first instance that an individual has been forced to pay a fine for crossing Meloni. Last year, a court in Rome fined best-selling author Roberto Saviano $1,093 plus legal expenses after he insulted her on television in 2021 over her hardline stance on illegal immigration.</p>

<p>A new report by&nbsp;Reporters Without Borders had relegated Italy five places to 46th in its&nbsp;World Press Freedom Index report, In May, journalists at&nbsp;state broadcaster RAI went on strike to protest against the "suffocating control" over their work by Meloni's government.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An Italian court has ordered a journalist to pay $5,466 (5,000 euros) in damages to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for mocking her on social media, according to local media reports.

An Italian court has ordered a journalist to pay $5,466 (5,000 euros) in damages to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for mocking her on social media, according to local media reports. The journalist will also have to cough up $1,311 for a post in October 2021 making fun of the Italian PM's height. The journalist, identified as Giulia Cortes, initially shared a doctored photo of Meloni with a portrait of late fascist leader Benito Mussolini in the background. Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy party was in the opposition at the time, took exception to the pictures posted by Cortes. 36-year-old Cortes removed the picture after receiving a request but got into trouble when she insulted Meloni on X (formerly Twitter) by calling her a 'little woman'. "You don't scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you're only 1.2 metres tall. I can't even see you," wrote Cortes at the time. Meloni stands anywhere between 1.58 metres and 1.63 metres, as per different media reports. Watch | Italy PM Giorgia Meloni's diplomatic mission to China × Cortese's defence team argued that the contested messages were not offensive or defamatory in nature and hoped to reduce the financial penalty. However, the single bench of Valerio Natale established the journalist's responsibility for her actions on social media, leading to the conviction. Cortese can appeal against the sentence, and Meloni's lawyer said the Prime Minister would donate to charity any damages she eventually receives. Watch | Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's eye-roll as Biden arrives late to NATO summit goes viral This is not the first instance that an individual has been forced to pay a fine for crossing Meloni. Last year, a court in Rome fined best-selling author Roberto Saviano $1,093 plus legal expenses after he insulted her on television in 2021 over her hardline stance on illegal immigration. A new report by Reporters Without Borders had relegated Italy five places to 46th in its World Press Freedom Index report, In May, journalists at state broadcaster RAI went on strike to protest against the "suffocating control" over their work by Meloni's government. (With inputs from agencies)

Italian journalist to pay PM Giorgia Meloni $5,500 for mocking her height

You might be aware of the term crash-landing but how about crash birching-inspired by winged creatures. Swiss scientists have built a winged unmanned aerial vehicle by hugging trees and poles.

Swiss scientists create tree-hugging drones, UAV with unique perching ability

Secret Service Chief Kimberly Cheatle was confronted at the Republican National Convention with infuriated Senators demanding answers over the major security failure that saw a near mis-attempt on the life of Donald Trump. Watch to know more.

Trump Shooting: Tennessee Senator Marsha blackburn confronts Secret Service chief

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