Nigerian Navy discovers 99,000 litres of suspected stolen, illegally refined products as it intensifies anti-crude oil theft operations

Who is Aditi Paudel? 17-year-old becomes Japan's first literacy ambassador

What are the challenges Congo is facing in containing Ebola outbreak?

Bengaluru: Officials find 40 kg expired chilli at chairman's club 

Why US tanks can spin their heavy turrets much faster than Russian tanks

‘Major escalation’: Zelensky accuses Russia of targeting SBU chief’s office

South Korea mulls deploying military assets to Strait of Hormuz

Women's Asia Cup 2026: India's Smriti Mandhana is now best batter ever in women's cricket

World's fifth-largest economy, British army can't afford to train

Breaking | Vance takes the podium: First White House briefing since Leavitt's exit

Taiwan raises 'concerns' over China's missile test

Indian agencies uncover hawala, shell firms and fake trade used to hide illicit money, FATF says

BRICS 2026: $1 trillion sovereign capital set to converge in Delhi for first iBRICS Summit

At least 10 killed in explosion at Bolivia military base, several injured

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy creates history with 350 not out in South Africa

Brendan Fraser’s transformation fuels The Mummy 4 excitement as fans welcome back Rick O’Connell

Krishna Janmashtami 2026: From Dhaniya Panjiri to Makhana Kheer- 5 best sweet dishes perfect for celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth

‘I wouldn’t call it a war,’ says JD Vance on ongoing conflict with Iran

Husband uses secret camera to record wife’s affair, wins divorce case, ends up in jail for spying

Russia-Ukraine truce in sight? Trump sends US envoys with 'peace plan'; Zelensky offerst emporary ceasefire

Why Russian fighter jets use bulky, low-pressure tyres compared to US jets

Why US tanks weigh over 20 tons more than Russian tanks

Mirzapur: The Movie X review: ‘Peak Mass Entertainer', netizens praise Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal's thriller

New Friday OTT releases (September 4, 2026): GDN, Dhamaal 4, Jagamae Sangeetham- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Killing the Himalayas slowly: Human urine is melting a glacier on Mount Everest

United Airlines said that Boeing was responsible for a $200 million (£161mn) hit to its earnings in the initial three months of the year.

For three weeks, the carrier had to ground its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet after its door blew out mid-air on an Alaska Airlines flight in January.&nbsp;

United Airlines said that the incident pushed them into a pre-tax loss of $164mn for the first quarter. The airline stated that it "would have reported a quarterly profit" otherwise.

However, the loss was less than what was expected by Wall Street and the shares of United Airlines increased by more than 5 per cent after the announcement.&nbsp;

There are 79 Boeing 737 MAX 9s in the fleet of United Airlines, which is more than any of its rivals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeings-troubles-increase-after-whistleblower-claims-flaws-in-787-dreamliner-faa-investigates-709608">More turbulence for Boeing as whistleblower claims flaws in 787 Dreamliner</a>

Thousands of flights were cancelled by United Airlines and Alaska Airlines as inspections were carried out in January before the planes resumed clearance from the US aviation regulator to resume flying.

<h2>Boeing's unending troubles&nbsp;</h2>

Boeing, earlier this month, paid $160 million to Alaska to cover the losses of the airline. Speaking to investigators, United Airlines said that its operations also faced an impact because of delays in deliveries of Boeing planes.

"We've adjusted our fleet plan to better reflect the reality of what the manufacturers are able to deliver," said United's chief executive Scott Kirby, in a statement.

Recently, Boeing&nbsp;faced pressure after safety concerns regarding the manufacturing of the jets were reported by a whistleblower to US regulators. &nbsp;

Boeing has been accused by engineer Sam Salehpour of taking shortcuts in the making of its 787 and 777 jets.

Salehpour stated that he was "threatened with termination" after he raised similar concerns with senior officials.

Watch:&nbsp;Putin calls Ukraine peace summit a 'circus' | Boeing safety hearing in focus

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-calls-ukraine-peace-summit-a-circus-boeing-safety-hearing-in-focus-710423/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, Boeing stated that the allegations were "inaccurate" and that it was confident its planes were safe. Salehpour will be the key witness at a US Senate hearing to be held on April 17.

On January 5, an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9's door plug blew off shortly after&nbsp;take-off which left the passengers terrified and forced an emergency landing at the Portland, Oregon airport.

This incident raised major concerns regarding the safety of Boeing's aircraft. The company came under intense scrutiny after 737 Max 8 passenger jets' two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, in which&nbsp;346 people were killed.

(With inputs from agencies)

United Airlines said that Boeing was responsible for a $200 million (£161mn) hit to its earnings in the initial three months of the year. For three weeks, the carrier had to ground its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet after its door blew out mid-air on an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

United Airlines said that Boeing was responsible for a $200 million (£161mn) hit to its earnings in the initial three months of the year. For three weeks, the carrier had to ground its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet after its door blew out mid-air on an Alaska Airlines flight in January. United Airlines said that the incident pushed them into a pre-tax loss of $164mn for the first quarter. The airline stated that it "would have reported a quarterly profit" otherwise. However, the loss was less than what was expected by Wall Street and the shares of United Airlines increased by more than 5 per cent after the announcement. There are 79 Boeing 737 MAX 9s in the fleet of United Airlines, which is more than any of its rivals. Also Read: More turbulence for Boeing as whistleblower claims flaws in 787 Dreamliner Thousands of flights were cancelled by United Airlines and Alaska Airlines as inspections were carried out in January before the planes resumed clearance from the US aviation regulator to resume flying. Boeing's unending troubles Boeing, earlier this month, paid $160 million to Alaska to cover the losses of the airline. Speaking to investigators, United Airlines said that its operations also faced an impact because of delays in deliveries of Boeing planes. "We've adjusted our fleet plan to better reflect the reality of what the manufacturers are able to deliver," said United's chief executive Scott Kirby, in a statement. Recently, Boeing faced pressure after safety concerns regarding the manufacturing of the jets were reported by a whistleblower to US regulators. Boeing has been accused by engineer Sam Salehpour of taking shortcuts in the making of its 787 and 777 jets. Salehpour stated that he was "threatened with termination" after he raised similar concerns with senior officials. Watch: Putin calls Ukraine peace summit a 'circus' | Boeing safety hearing in focus However, Boeing stated that the allegations were "inaccurate" and that it was confident its planes were safe. Salehpour will be the key witness at a US Senate hearing to be held on April 17. On January 5, an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9's door plug blew off shortly after take-off which left the passengers terrified and forced an emergency landing at the Portland, Oregon airport. This incident raised major concerns regarding the safety of Boeing's aircraft. The company came under intense scrutiny after 737 Max 8 passenger jets' two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, in which 346 people were killed. (With inputs from agencies)

United Airlines blames Boeing blowout case for $200mn hit in earnings

China is bolstering its space capabilities and is using its civilian program to mask its military objectives, the head of NASA said Wednesday, warning that Washington must remain vigilant. Watch in for more details!

NASA chief warns of Chinese military presence in space

Indian deck cadet, Ann Tessa Joseph, who was among the 17 crew members of the Israeli-linked cargo ship MSC Aries, seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz last week, has safely returned home. Watch in for more details!

India: Woman in Cargo ship seized by Iran returns home

The chief of US space agency NASA has told lawmakers in Washington that China is using civilian programmes to hide military objectives in space. Watch to know more.

China 'militarising' space?

A Sydney bishop brutally stabbed during a live-streamed sermon said Thursday he is recovering and forgives his attacker, declaring: "You are my son." Watch in for more details!

Stabbed Sydney bishop forgives attacker, says 'recovering quickly'

US vs China: Lunar race heats up

Ahead of the Maldives' parliamentary elections, opposition parties have urged an investigation and impeachment of President Mohamed Muizzu following a leaked report of his alleged corruption from 2018, which he denied. Watch to know more details!

Maldives President Muizzu allegedly involved in corruption, claims leaked report

A leading contender to become the Solomon Islands' next prime minister has vowed to rip up a security pact with China, as the Pacific nation began counting votes Thursday in a pivotal general election.

The unfolding contest has cast the spotlight on China's efforts to stamp its mark on the South Pacific, and has been pitched in part as a referendum on Beijing's growing influence in the country.

Prominent opposition figure Peter Kenilorea further underlined the stakes by pledging to scrap a contentious security pact inked with China in 2022.

"If we are in government, we will abolish the security treaty," leadership aspirant Kenilorea told AFP from his village base on the island of Malaita.

"We don't think that it's beneficial to the Solomon Islands," the former top diplomat said.

Incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has championed deeper ties with Beijing since coming to power in 2019.

He has praised Chinese aid, trade and investment as the key to lifting living standards in one of the poorest nations in the world.

The centrepiece of Sogavare's embrace was a 2022 security pact that has seen rotating teams of Chinese police deployed in the archipelago.

The United States and Australia -- two of Solomon Islands' traditional security partners -- fear this pact could one day pave the way for a Chinese military base.

Kenilorea, a former United Nations official, lamented his country's uneasy position in the middle of the world's two largest military and economic powers, China and the United States.

"We don't have natural enemies," he said.

"It has put us on the map for the wrong reasons. To raise tensions unnecessarily here, in the geopolitical scheme of things, is something we don't really need."

<h2>'Blatantly misleading'</h2>

Ballots were trucked into a heavily guarded counting centre in the capital Honiara on Thursday morning, watched over by international teams of uniformed Fijian soldiers and Australian police.

Startling and unproven claims of foreign interference upped the ante for what was already billed as Solomon Islands' most crucial vote in a generation.

State-backed Chinese news outlets have pushed reports that the United States might orchestrate riots and unrest to block Sogavare from returning to power.

US Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock has denounced such rumours as "blatantly misleading".

"We strongly refute allegations being made in known propaganda outlets that claim USAID and the US Government has sought to influence the upcoming election in Solomon Islands," she said in a statement.

If Sogavare fails in his bid to return as prime minister, it would not necessarily spell the end of China's ambitions in Solomon Islands.

While his most prominent rivals view Beijing with a mix of scepticism and alarm, there is no shortage of other candidates who are happy with the status quo.

China has paid tens of millions of dollars into a discretionary development fund used by Solomon Islands' politicians during the last term of government, according to Australian researchers.

Critics suggest this fund was essentially a means to curry favour with key members of the government.

<h2>Backroom bargaining</h2>

Candidates have begun winging their way back to Honiara in anticipation of the backroom bartering that will decide the new government.

Once the parliament's 50 members are decided, they will begin negotiating behind closed doors to cobble together a ruling coalition.

Prolonged and secret discussions have stoked unrest in the past, as voters begin to suspect the involvement of foreign interests.

These election "camps" are often held inside the casino hotels that line the Honiara foreshore.

"We might not know what is going to happen until a good two or three weeks after the election," Pacific watcher Graeme Smith from Australian National University told AFP in the lead-up to voting day.

"It's a very unpredictable process. It comes down, essentially, to who is the most charismatic man in the room."

Election authorities and the sizable police presence roaming the streets of Honiara have so far kept a lid on possible sources of discontent.

Chief electoral officer Jasper Anisi said Thursday that "everything is peaceful" -- no mean feat in a nation where elections have turned violent in the past.

Election officials anticipate early results should start trickling in on Friday.

A leading contender to become the Solomon Islands' next prime minister has vowed to rip up a security pact with China, as the Pacific nation began counting votes Thursday in a pivotal general election.

A leading contender to become the Solomon Islands' next prime minister has vowed to rip up a security pact with China, as the Pacific nation began counting votes Thursday in a pivotal general election. The unfolding contest has cast the spotlight on China's efforts to stamp its mark on the South Pacific, and has been pitched in part as a referendum on Beijing's growing influence in the country. Prominent opposition figure Peter Kenilorea further underlined the stakes by pledging to scrap a contentious security pact inked with China in 2022. "If we are in government, we will abolish the security treaty," leadership aspirant Kenilorea told AFP from his village base on the island of Malaita. "We don't think that it's beneficial to the Solomon Islands," the former top diplomat said. Incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has championed deeper ties with Beijing since coming to power in 2019. He has praised Chinese aid, trade and investment as the key to lifting living standards in one of the poorest nations in the world. The centrepiece of Sogavare's embrace was a 2022 security pact that has seen rotating teams of Chinese police deployed in the archipelago. The United States and Australia -- two of Solomon Islands' traditional security partners -- fear this pact could one day pave the way for a Chinese military base. Kenilorea, a former United Nations official, lamented his country's uneasy position in the middle of the world's two largest military and economic powers, China and the United States. "We don't have natural enemies," he said. "It has put us on the map for the wrong reasons. To raise tensions unnecessarily here, in the geopolitical scheme of things, is something we don't really need." 'Blatantly misleading' Ballots were trucked into a heavily guarded counting centre in the capital Honiara on Thursday morning, watched over by international teams of uniformed Fijian soldiers and Australian police. Startling and unproven claims of foreign interference upped the ante for what was already billed as Solomon Islands' most crucial vote in a generation. State-backed Chinese news outlets have pushed reports that the United States might orchestrate riots and unrest to block Sogavare from returning to power. US Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock has denounced such rumours as "blatantly misleading". "We strongly refute allegations being made in known propaganda outlets that claim USAID and the US Government has sought to influence the upcoming election in Solomon Islands," she said in a statement. If Sogavare fails in his bid to return as prime minister, it would not necessarily spell the end of China's ambitions in Solomon Islands. While his most prominent rivals view Beijing with a mix of scepticism and alarm, there is no shortage of other candidates who are happy with the status quo. China has paid tens of millions of dollars into a discretionary development fund used by Solomon Islands' politicians during the last term of government, according to Australian researchers. Critics suggest this fund was essentially a means to curry favour with key members of the government. Backroom bargaining Candidates have begun winging their way back to Honiara in anticipation of the backroom bartering that will decide the new government. Once the parliament's 50 members are decided, they will begin negotiating behind closed doors to cobble together a ruling coalition. Prolonged and secret discussions have stoked unrest in the past, as voters begin to suspect the involvement of foreign interests. These election "camps" are often held inside the casino hotels that line the Honiara foreshore. "We might not know what is going to happen until a good two or three weeks after the election," Pacific watcher Graeme Smith from Australian National University told AFP in the lead-up to voting day. "It's a very unpredictable process. It comes down, essentially, to who is the most charismatic man in the room." Election authorities and the sizable police presence roaming the streets of Honiara have so far kept a lid on possible sources of discontent. Chief electoral officer Jasper Anisi said Thursday that "everything is peaceful" -- no mean feat in a nation where elections have turned violent in the past. Election officials anticipate early results should start trickling in on Friday.

Solomons' PM contender vows to abolish China security pact

Taylor Swift's influence is impacting every corner of the world and how after boosting economies and setting Trends with her Eras Tour Swift has now reached the halls of Canada's governmental Chambers. The billionaire singer has found a place in the Canadian budget as in the recently unveiled 2024 budget proposal to the Canadian government introduced a groundbreaking policy aimed at curbing fraudulent concert ticket reselling.

Canada 2024 budget: Taylor Swift finds a spot

A Russian missile attack has killed 18 people in the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine. The attack came hours after reports of a Ukrainian strike on a Russian military airfield in occupied Crimea.

Russia-Ukraine War: At least 18 killed in Russian missile strike on Chernihiv city

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's proposal to place a ban on smoking cleared its first parliamentary hurdle even though it faced opposition from within his cabinet, while Labour backed the bill.

Sunak proposed to increase the legal age for buying cigarettes annually so that the habit could be eventually phased out, along with imposing restrictions on the sale&nbsp;of vaping products.

If the proposals are passed, it will make selling tobacco products illegal to anyone&nbsp;born after January 1, 2009, as the prime minister dreams of creating a "smoke-free" generation.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-to-criminalise-creation-of-sexually-explicit-deepfake-images-712010">UK to criminalise creation of sexually explicit ‘deepfake’ images</a>

During the voting, 165 Conservatives either abstained or voted against the proposal and 180 Tories gave votes in its support.&nbsp;

<h2>What does Sunak's proposed smoking ban involve?</h2>

As per the government's plans, the legal age for the purchase of cigarettes will annually increase from the age of 18 and will go beyond the pension age so as to make smoking obsolete.

However, the government doesn't aim to criminalise smoking which means that anybody who can legally purchase cigarettes won't be stopped from buying it in the future.

Till 2043, only those who are aged 35 or above will be able to purchase cigarettes legally and shopkeepers will be able to seek the ID of those seeking to purchase tobacco.

The legislation also includes new restrictions on flavours and a ban on disposable vapes, with only four flavours of vape set to be allowed.

<h2>What did UK PM Sunak say about the ban?</h2>

Sunak announced the plans at the Conservative Party Conference in October, and informed the delegates that it would mean that “a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they, and their generation, can grow up smoke-free”.

“We have a chance to cut cancer deaths by a quarter, significantly ease those pressures and protect our children, and we should take it. This is not a values judgment on people who smoke," the UK prime minister said.

Watch:&nbsp;UK: PM Rishi Sunak faces rebellion over smoking ban

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-faces-rebellion-over-smoking-ban-711884/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“I don’t believe it would be fair to take away the rights of anyone to smoke who currently does so, and the vote on this in Parliament will be a free vote, as the bar on smoking in public places was and raising the smoking age to 18 was," he added.&nbsp;

<h2>Are the proposals being supported by Conservative MPs?</h2>

Tory's Kemi Badenoch voted against the bill stating that the government should not treat legally competent adults differently.&nbsp;

“I do not support the approach this bill is taking and so will be voting against it,” she said.

United Kingdom's former prime minister Liz Truss also voted against the bill. “I think the whole idea that we can protect adults from themselves is hugely problematic and it effectively infantilises people,” Truss said.

“People want to make their own decisions about what they eat and what they drink and how they enjoy themselves," she added.&nbsp;

Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman also voted against the bill, while Priti Patel and Penny Mordaunt abstained.

(With inputs from agencies)

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's proposal to place a ban on smoking cleared its first parliamentary hurdle even though it faced opposition from within his cabinet, while Labour backed the bill.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's proposal to place a ban on smoking cleared its first parliamentary hurdle even though it faced opposition from within his cabinet, while Labour backed the bill. Sunak proposed to increase the legal age for buying cigarettes annually so that the habit could be eventually phased out, along with imposing restrictions on the sale of vaping products. If the proposals are passed, it will make selling tobacco products illegal to anyone born after January 1, 2009, as the prime minister dreams of creating a "smoke-free" generation. Also Read: UK to criminalise creation of sexually explicit ‘deepfake’ images During the voting, 165 Conservatives either abstained or voted against the proposal and 180 Tories gave votes in its support. What does Sunak's proposed smoking ban involve? As per the government's plans, the legal age for the purchase of cigarettes will annually increase from the age of 18 and will go beyond the pension age so as to make smoking obsolete. However, the government doesn't aim to criminalise smoking which means that anybody who can legally purchase cigarettes won't be stopped from buying it in the future. Till 2043, only those who are aged 35 or above will be able to purchase cigarettes legally and shopkeepers will be able to seek the ID of those seeking to purchase tobacco. The legislation also includes new restrictions on flavours and a ban on disposable vapes, with only four flavours of vape set to be allowed. What did UK PM Sunak say about the ban? Sunak announced the plans at the Conservative Party Conference in October, and informed the delegates that it would mean that “a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they, and their generation, can grow up smoke-free”. “We have a chance to cut cancer deaths by a quarter, significantly ease those pressures and protect our children, and we should take it. This is not a values judgment on people who smoke," the UK prime minister said. Watch: UK: PM Rishi Sunak faces rebellion over smoking ban “I don’t believe it would be fair to take away the rights of anyone to smoke who currently does so, and the vote on this in Parliament will be a free vote, as the bar on smoking in public places was and raising the smoking age to 18 was," he added. Are the proposals being supported by Conservative MPs? Tory's Kemi Badenoch voted against the bill stating that the government should not treat legally competent adults differently. “I do not support the approach this bill is taking and so will be voting against it,” she said. United Kingdom's former prime minister Liz Truss also voted against the bill. “I think the whole idea that we can protect adults from themselves is hugely problematic and it effectively infantilises people,” Truss said. “People want to make their own decisions about what they eat and what they drink and how they enjoy themselves," she added. Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman also voted against the bill, while Priti Patel and Penny Mordaunt abstained. (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM Rishi Sunak's smoking ban clears first hurdle. What it entails and who will be affected

The Egyptian government is threatening to void the historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt as Rafah lies at the border of Egypt and Gaza. Watch in for more details!

Egypt-Israel split over Rafah: Egypt threatens to void Egypt peace treaty

One in three Americans aren't convinced that former United States president Donald Trump committed a crime, according to a recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The second day of the historic trial in New York began&nbsp;on Tuesday (Apr 16) with the Republican frontrunner in a Manhattan courtroom for the jury selection.&nbsp;

<h2>What did the poll find?</h2>

On Monday (Apr 15), Trump, 77, set yet another record by becoming the first-ever former US president to go on trial for criminal charges which stem from the case where he has been accused of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and falsifying business records to cover the payments.

WATCH |&nbsp;Trump's hush-money trial resumes in New York

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trumps-hush-money-trial-resumes-in-new-york-711988/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The AP-NORC poll found that one-third of American adults surveyed believe that Trump did something illegal in the case. The former president has three other criminal cases pending against him.&nbsp;

Notably, only half of Americans would consider the presumptive Republican presidential nominee unfit for the presidency if he were to get convicted in the case, according to the poll.&nbsp;

While a jury would decide if Trump is guilty or not, the report by AP-NORC suggests that a conviction could hurt the former president’s campaign as it seems all but certain that the upcoming presidential election will be a rematch between him and his successor Joe Biden.&nbsp;

However, Trump has repeatedly called the cases against him politically motivated and that Biden engineered them. The rhetoric has helped him garner GOP support, but has not swayed the independents, reported AP.

The poll of 1,204 adults was conducted between April 4 and 8 and also showed that only three in 10 believe that the prosecutors are treating Trump fairly.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hush-money-case-no-jury-selected-on-day-1-as-potential-jurors-confess-to-bias-against-republican-711711">Trump hush money case: No jury selected on day 1 as potential jurors confess to bias against the Republican</a>

The report also said that only two in 10 Americans are extremely or very confident that the judges and jurors in the cases against him can be fair and impartial.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34-count indictment, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, which includes charges of accounting fraud and falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 payment to Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.&nbsp;

The former president has also denied having sex with Daniels. However, at least 35 per cent of Americans believe that Trump has done something illegal with regard to the hush money allegations, as per the AP-NORC poll.&nbsp;

Republicans are reportedly much less likely than Democrats and independents to say that the former president committed a crime in the hush money case, with nearly six in 10 saying that they would consider Trump fit to be president even if he were to be convicted of falsifying business documents.&nbsp;

<h2>Second day of the trial</h2>

The second day of the trial took place on Tuesday with Trump’s defence lawyer pressing prospective jurors for their opinion on the former US president as they look to select jury members for the trial.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-hush-money-trial-violation-of-gag-order-can-lead-to-fines-jail-time-say-new-york-prosecutors-711653">Trump’s hush money trial: Violation of gag order can lead to fines, jail time, say New York prosecutors</a>

Manhattan Assistant DA Joshua Steinglass told the 18 prospective jurors – who are what remained of the initial pool of 96 – that the case had nothing to do with their personal politics.

“This case is really not about whether you like Donald Trump,” said the Manhattan Assistant DA, adding it is about “the rule of law and whether Donald Trump broke it.”

This comes after Judge Juan Merchan had to dismiss some potential jurors after they confessed that they could not impartially decide if Trump was guilty or not. At the end of the first day, no jurors were selected.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

One in three Americans aren't convinced that former United States president Donald Trump committed a crime, according to a recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

One in three Americans aren't convinced that former United States president Donald Trump committed a crime, according to a recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The second day of the historic trial in New York began on Tuesday (Apr 16) with the Republican frontrunner in a Manhattan courtroom for the jury selection. What did the poll find? On Monday (Apr 15), Trump, 77, set yet another record by becoming the first-ever former US president to go on trial for criminal charges which stem from the case where he has been accused of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and falsifying business records to cover the payments. WATCH | Trump's hush-money trial resumes in New York The AP-NORC poll found that one-third of American adults surveyed believe that Trump did something illegal in the case. The former president has three other criminal cases pending against him. Notably, only half of Americans would consider the presumptive Republican presidential nominee unfit for the presidency if he were to get convicted in the case, according to the poll. While a jury would decide if Trump is guilty or not, the report by AP-NORC suggests that a conviction could hurt the former president’s campaign as it seems all but certain that the upcoming presidential election will be a rematch between him and his successor Joe Biden. However, Trump has repeatedly called the cases against him politically motivated and that Biden engineered them. The rhetoric has helped him garner GOP support, but has not swayed the independents, reported AP. The poll of 1,204 adults was conducted between April 4 and 8 and also showed that only three in 10 believe that the prosecutors are treating Trump fairly. Also Read | Trump hush money case: No jury selected on day 1 as potential jurors confess to bias against the Republican The report also said that only two in 10 Americans are extremely or very confident that the judges and jurors in the cases against him can be fair and impartial. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34-count indictment, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, which includes charges of accounting fraud and falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 payment to Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The former president has also denied having sex with Daniels. However, at least 35 per cent of Americans believe that Trump has done something illegal with regard to the hush money allegations, as per the AP-NORC poll. Republicans are reportedly much less likely than Democrats and independents to say that the former president committed a crime in the hush money case, with nearly six in 10 saying that they would consider Trump fit to be president even if he were to be convicted of falsifying business documents. Second day of the trial The second day of the trial took place on Tuesday with Trump’s defence lawyer pressing prospective jurors for their opinion on the former US president as they look to select jury members for the trial. Also Read | Trump’s hush money trial: Violation of gag order can lead to fines, jail time, say New York prosecutors Manhattan Assistant DA Joshua Steinglass told the 18 prospective jurors – who are what remained of the initial pool of 96 – that the case had nothing to do with their personal politics. “This case is really not about whether you like Donald Trump,” said the Manhattan Assistant DA, adding it is about “the rule of law and whether Donald Trump broke it.” This comes after Judge Juan Merchan had to dismiss some potential jurors after they confessed that they could not impartially decide if Trump was guilty or not. At the end of the first day, no jurors were selected. (With inputs from agencies)

Only one-third of Americans think Trump did something illegal as hush money trial gets underway

In a first since 2022, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation with Chinese Admiral Dong Jun on Tuesday (April 16).

US Defence Secretary and his Chinese counterpart talked about “defence relations” and international security concerns ranging from North Korea's recent provocations to Russia's war with Ukraine.

According to the Pentagon, Austin and Chinese Admiral Dong Jun spoke about "defence relations" and international security concerns ranging from North Korea's recent provocations to Russia's unjustified conflict in Ukraine. "Respect for high seas freedom of navigation as guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea," was another point made by the US Defense Secretary.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/opinions-blogs/indo-pacific-is-regaining-salience-amid-west-asia-crisis-us-china-strategic-contestation-711405" hreflang="en">Indo-Pacific is regaining salience amid West Asia crisis, US-China strategic contestation</a>

Conversely, Beijing said that it would not hesitate to employ force to get access to the South China Sea and seize control of Taiwan. China has employed underwater barriers, a military-grade laser, and collision and ramming methods to thwart Philippine patrol and resupply operations amid escalating tensions with the Philippines.

A senior defence official, &nbsp;ahead of the talks, said the call between Austin and Dong was an “important step” in keeping lines of communication open between the two military powers.

“These engagements provide us with opportunities to prevent competition from veering into conflict by speaking candidly about our concerns. That includes the People’s Republic of China's behaviour in the South China Sea, as well as the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” a senior defence official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

Dong, who has been China's minister of national defence since December, had never before talked to Austin before the call on Tuesday. The conversation between Austin and Dong is the latest in a string of recent discussions between US and Chinese defence officials. In December, US General C.Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked with his Chinese military counterpart.

&nbsp;

In a first since 2022, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation with Chinese Admiral Dong Jun on Tuesday (April 16). US Defence Secretary and his Chinese counterpart talked about “defence relations” and international security concerns ranging from North Korea's recent provocations to Russia's war with Ukraine.

In a first since 2022, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation with Chinese Admiral Dong Jun on Tuesday (April 16). US Defence Secretary and his Chinese counterpart talked about “defence relations” and international security concerns ranging from North Korea's recent provocations to Russia's war with Ukraine. According to the Pentagon, Austin and Chinese Admiral Dong Jun spoke about "defence relations" and international security concerns ranging from North Korea's recent provocations to Russia's unjustified conflict in Ukraine. "Respect for high seas freedom of navigation as guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea," was another point made by the US Defense Secretary. Also read: Indo-Pacific is regaining salience amid West Asia crisis, US-China strategic contestation Conversely, Beijing said that it would not hesitate to employ force to get access to the South China Sea and seize control of Taiwan. China has employed underwater barriers, a military-grade laser, and collision and ramming methods to thwart Philippine patrol and resupply operations amid escalating tensions with the Philippines. A senior defence official, ahead of the talks, said the call between Austin and Dong was an “important step” in keeping lines of communication open between the two military powers. “These engagements provide us with opportunities to prevent competition from veering into conflict by speaking candidly about our concerns. That includes the People’s Republic of China's behaviour in the South China Sea, as well as the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” a senior defence official told reporters on condition of anonymity. Dong, who has been China's minister of national defence since December, had never before talked to Austin before the call on Tuesday. The conversation between Austin and Dong is the latest in a string of recent discussions between US and Chinese defence officials. In December, US General C.Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked with his Chinese military counterpart.

US defence secretary and Chinese counterpart hold first talks since 2022

The United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, has recently said that the deal between the two nations to produce jet weapons in collaboration is revolutionary. Watch to know more.

US defence secretary Llyod Austin India-US ties

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a cross-border drone and missile attack in northern Israel on Wednesday that the Israeli military said had injured 14 soldiers. Watch in for more details!

Lebanon's Hezbollah targets Israeli base, wounds 14 soldiers

The parliamentary website in Ukraine said that President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (Apr 16) signed into law a bill overhauling army mobilisation rules. This comes as Ukraine's issue of acute troop shortages and risks of collapsing under Russia's onslaught without support from the United States.&nbsp;

The official website noted that the bill had been "returned with the signature of the President" on April 16. It had received final approval from lawmakers last week. Once, it is officially published, the law will come into force a month after that.&nbsp;

The new law aimed at toughening penalties on draft dodgers and incentivising conscription and obliged men to keep their military registration details with the authorities.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-crippled-by-russias-new-strategy-of-attacking-power-stations-710934">Ukraine ‘crippled’ by Russia’s new strategy of attacking power stations</a>&nbsp;

However, the law does not demobilise long-serving soldiers on the front, which is a proposal lawmakers scrapped after facing pressure from Ukraine's military. According to the lawmakers, the demobilisation issue will be addressed in a separate bill.&nbsp;

The official website did not reveal how many troops could be mobilised under the new provisions. A report by the news agency Reuters mentioned that some serving military personnel and analysts have expressed concern that the law would not be effective enough in addressing the shortages.&nbsp;

In a separate law, Zelensky had signed&nbsp;cutting the draft age to 25 from 27 to secure more fighting power.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-willing-to-exercise-restraint-and-has-no-intention-to-escalating-situation-tehran-tells-beijing-711945">Iran willing to exercise restraint and has no intention to escalating situation, Tehran tells Beijing</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Ukraine urges for more US&nbsp;aid&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-ukraine-urges-for-more-us-aid-711991/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>Russia intensified attacks&nbsp;</h2>

In the past few weeks, Russian forces increased attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure using advanced weapons. An analysis report by Kyiv claimed that Russia has been aiding its advances in Ukraine with the help of mass use of "drop-and-forget" guided bombs containing foreign components.&nbsp;

The report obtained by the UK-based newspaper The Guardian mentioned that high explosive and cluster bombs have apparently become a central threat on the frontline.&nbsp;

Such weaponry has forced back Ukrainian forces. As per the report, these bombs are fitted with "UMPC" - short for Universal Module for Planning &amp; Correction, guiding systems with a range of 40-60km.&nbsp;

As per the latest developments, Russian paratroopers have reached the eastern edge of the Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar. Kyiv's top commander says that Moscow wants to take this town by May 9, which is the date when Russia marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The parliamentary website in Ukraine said that President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (Apr 16) signed into law a bill overhauling army mobilisation rules. This comes as Ukraine's issue of acute troop shortages and risks of collapsing under Russia's onslaught without support from the United States.

The parliamentary website in Ukraine said that President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (Apr 16) signed into law a bill overhauling army mobilisation rules. This comes as Ukraine's issue of acute troop shortages and risks of collapsing under Russia's onslaught without support from the United States. The official website noted that the bill had been "returned with the signature of the President" on April 16. It had received final approval from lawmakers last week. Once, it is officially published, the law will come into force a month after that. The new law aimed at toughening penalties on draft dodgers and incentivising conscription and obliged men to keep their military registration details with the authorities. Also read: Ukraine ‘crippled’ by Russia’s new strategy of attacking power stations However, the law does not demobilise long-serving soldiers on the front, which is a proposal lawmakers scrapped after facing pressure from Ukraine's military. According to the lawmakers, the demobilisation issue will be addressed in a separate bill. The official website did not reveal how many troops could be mobilised under the new provisions. A report by the news agency Reuters mentioned that some serving military personnel and analysts have expressed concern that the law would not be effective enough in addressing the shortages. In a separate law, Zelensky had signed cutting the draft age to 25 from 27 to secure more fighting power. Also read: Iran willing to exercise restraint and has no intention to escalating situation, Tehran tells Beijing Watch: Ukraine urges for more US aid × Russia intensified attacks In the past few weeks, Russian forces increased attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure using advanced weapons. An analysis report by Kyiv claimed that Russia has been aiding its advances in Ukraine with the help of mass use of "drop-and-forget" guided bombs containing foreign components. The report obtained by the UK-based newspaper The Guardian mentioned that high explosive and cluster bombs have apparently become a central threat on the frontline. Such weaponry has forced back Ukrainian forces. As per the report, these bombs are fitted with "UMPC" - short for Universal Module for Planning & Correction, guiding systems with a range of 40-60km. As per the latest developments, Russian paratroopers have reached the eastern edge of the Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar. Kyiv's top commander says that Moscow wants to take this town by May 9, which is the date when Russia marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky signs army mobilisation bill into law

Sunny skies returned to dubai and people are clearing the wet debris, after heavy downpour brought Dubai to a standstill and paralysed other parts of UAE and Oman.

Dubai floods: Travel chaos as clean-up begins in Dubai

TIME has revealed the 2024 TIME100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. A total of eight Indians have featured in the list. Watch in to know more!

TIME's '100 Most Influential People' list

US President Joe Biden, known for occasional verbal gaffes, including misstatements or slips of the tongue that often attract media attention, has made yet another error - this time of a historic proportion that has triggered scrutiny of whether he be able to lead the country, if elected in office once again. This comes during an interview with Reshad Hudson from Nexstar Media, where President Biden mistakenly referred to the Israeli city of Haifa as Rafah, a city in Gaza.

When discussing his approach to appealing to pro-Palestinian voters post-Israel-Hamas conflict, Biden said, "I've been meeting with them, number one.&nbsp;

"Number two, I made it clear that we have to vastly increase the amount of food, water, and healthcare going into Gaza."&nbsp;

He then added, "And I made it clear to Israelis – don’t move on Haifa." The intended reference was to Rafah, a city located in the southern Gaza Strip, bordering Egypt and also a major crossing point.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-escalates-hijab-crackdown-victims-speak-out-against-morality-police-abuse-712574">Iran escalates hijab crackdown, victims speak out against morality police abuse</a>

Biden confused Rafah with Haifa, a city in Israel situated on the Mediterranean coast in the northern part of the country and a major industrial, and cultural hub.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Biden 🤡 gave 'Error' again: 
 
"I made it clear to the Israelis, do not attack Haifa. 
 
One Word For This 🤡 <a href="https://t.co/emXYJKlvnZ">pic.twitter.com/emXYJKlvnZ</a>
— Commendable 🇵🇸🇾🇪🇸🇾🇮🇶🇱🇧🇮🇷 (@Commendable99) <a href="https://twitter.com/Commendable99/status/1780902030737125796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Right after Biden made the blunder, the US president seemed lost and trailed off while saying, "It’s just not, I mean, anyway."&nbsp;Biden's gaffe triggered social media reactions with some interpreting the mistake as a sign of cognitive decline.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-urges-congress-to-pass-ukraine-aid-bill-as-kyiv-warns-its-defeat-against-russia-would-lead-to-ww3-712538">Biden urges Congress to pass Ukraine aid bill as Kyiv warns its defeat against Russia would lead to WW3</a>

Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman wrote on X,&nbsp;“I think Israel should accommodate Biden’s demand not to attack Haifa." Moreover, former New York state Assemblyman Dov Hikind wrote, “Think there’s strong likelihood Israel refrains from hitting Haifa."&nbsp;

<h2>Biden, Netanyahu spar over potential Rafah offensive&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

Rafah is a major point of contention between Israel and the US as Washington continues its pressure against the invasion of the Gazan city.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trouble-mounts-for-uk-pm-sunak-approval-ratings-hit-an-all-time-low-712587">Trouble mounts for UK PM Sunak, approval ratings hit an all-time low</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trouble-mounts-for-uk-pm-sunak-approval-ratings-hit-an-all-time-low-712587/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The Israeli PM while promising to completely eliminate the Hamas battalions, including in Rafah, had said earlier that&nbsp;"there is no force in the world that will stop us."

"Many forces are trying to do this, but it will not help, because this enemy, after what it has done, will not do it again. It will cease to exist," he had added.&nbsp;

The situation is quite delicate as the city is currently holding more than one million Palestinian refugees and is believed to be where four of the remaining six Hamas battalions are operating.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden, known for occasional verbal gaffes, including misstatements or slips of the tongue that often attract media attention, has made yet another error - this time of a historic proportion that has triggered scrutiny of whether he be able to lead the country, if elected in office once again.

US President Joe Biden, known for occasional verbal gaffes, including misstatements or slips of the tongue that often attract media attention, has made yet another error - this time of a historic proportion that has triggered scrutiny of whether he be able to lead the country, if elected in office once again. This comes during an interview with Reshad Hudson from Nexstar Media, where President Biden mistakenly referred to the Israeli city of Haifa as Rafah, a city in Gaza. When discussing his approach to appealing to pro-Palestinian voters post-Israel-Hamas conflict, Biden said, "I've been meeting with them, number one. "Number two, I made it clear that we have to vastly increase the amount of food, water, and healthcare going into Gaza." He then added, "And I made it clear to Israelis – don’t move on Haifa." The intended reference was to Rafah, a city located in the southern Gaza Strip, bordering Egypt and also a major crossing point. Also Read | Iran escalates hijab crackdown, victims speak out against morality police abuse Biden confused Rafah with Haifa, a city in Israel situated on the Mediterranean coast in the northern part of the country and a major industrial, and cultural hub. Biden 🤡 gave 'Error' again: "I made it clear to the Israelis, do not attack Haifa. One Word For This 🤡 pic.twitter.com/emXYJKlvnZ — Commendable 🇵🇸🇾🇪🇸🇾🇮🇶🇱🇧🇮🇷 (@Commendable99) April 18, 2024 × Right after Biden made the blunder, the US president seemed lost and trailed off while saying, "It’s just not, I mean, anyway." Biden's gaffe triggered social media reactions with some interpreting the mistake as a sign of cognitive decline. Also Read | Biden urges Congress to pass Ukraine aid bill as Kyiv warns its defeat against Russia would lead to WW3 Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman wrote on X, “I think Israel should accommodate Biden’s demand not to attack Haifa." Moreover, former New York state Assemblyman Dov Hikind wrote, “Think there’s strong likelihood Israel refrains from hitting Haifa." Biden, Netanyahu spar over potential Rafah offensive Rafah is a major point of contention between Israel and the US as Washington continues its pressure against the invasion of the Gazan city. Watch | Trouble mounts for UK PM Sunak, approval ratings hit an all-time low × The Israeli PM while promising to completely eliminate the Hamas battalions, including in Rafah, had said earlier that "there is no force in the world that will stop us." "Many forces are trying to do this, but it will not help, because this enemy, after what it has done, will not do it again. It will cease to exist," he had added. The situation is quite delicate as the city is currently holding more than one million Palestinian refugees and is believed to be where four of the remaining six Hamas battalions are operating. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH | Biden mixes up Rafah with Israeli city Haifa, says 'don’t move...'

Israel's Arrow 3 uses hit-to-kill technology, an anti-ballistic missile is used to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in space. Watch to know more.

Israel banks on the 'Arrow 3': Israel's formidable Arrow 3 missile defence system

Israel will make its own decisions about how to defend itself, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday as international communities called for restraint in responding to the attacks from Iran.

Iran attacks Israel: Netanyahu says Israel will defend itself amid calls for restraint

A new study warns that climate change could cut global economic output by 20 per cent&nbsp;by 2050. Researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) published their findings in Nature on Wednesday (April 18).

As per the PIK’s calculations, countries meet ambitious emission-cutting&nbsp;goals, but as many of them fall short, the actual damage could be even worse.

The study estimates climate change could cost the global economy a staggering $38 trillion every year by 2050. This is six times more expensive than the estimated cost of limiting global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dubai-floods-experts-believe-cloud-seeding-is-not-behind-the-heavy-rainfall-712458">Dubai floods: Experts believe cloud seeding is not behind rare heavy rainfall</a>

The study further states that despite damage affecting various regions to different degrees, poorer regions and those contributing least to global warming will be hit hardest.

Anders Levermann, a senior PIK scientist, says, “Countries that are least responsible for climate change are expected to suffer income loss that is 60&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;more than the higher-income countries and 40&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;greater than higher-emission countries.”

The industrial economies of Germany and the United States would shrink by roughly 11 per cent&nbsp;by mid-century (13&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;for France), even if climate action is properly taken, according to the researchers.

PIK researchers built their analysis on 40 years of climate data from over 1,600 regions. These estimates don't include the additional costs of extreme weather events like storms and fires, which climate change is also worsening.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-humans-lived-in-this-vast-lava-tube-in-saudi-arabia-7000-years-ago-712474">Ancient humans lived in THIS vast lava tube in Saudi Arabia 7,000 years ago</a>

"High-income losses are projected for most regions, including North America and Europe, with South Asia and Africa being the hardest hit," according to Maximilian Kotz, one of the study's authors. "These losses are caused by a wide range of economically relevant effects of climate change, such as consequences for agricultural yields, labor productivity and infrastructure."

As per the World Bank, global GDP surpassed $100 trillion in 2022 and is expected to double by 2050, if not for the drag of climate change.

Some experts believe the PIK estimate is likely an understatement of the true economic impact of climate change. This aligns with the findings of the Stern Report, a 2006 analysis by economist Nicholas Stern commissioned by the UK government, which reached similar conclusions.

The Stern Review, another study published in 2006, echoes similar concerns. It projected that climate change could inflict economic damage equivalent to a 20&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;reduction in global GDP by 2050. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/tiny-scribble-huge-price-michelangelos-simple-doodle-sold-for-this-much-712516">Tiny scribble, huge price: Michelangelo's simple doodle sold for THIS much</a>

The report also said that the&nbsp;costs of mitigating climate change would be significantly lower than the long-term economic burden of inaction.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new study warns that climate change could cut global economic output by 20 per cent by 2050. Researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) published their findings in Nature on Wednesday (April 18).

A new study warns that climate change could cut global economic output by 20 per cent by 2050. Researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) published their findings in Nature on Wednesday (April 18). As per the PIK’s calculations, countries meet ambitious emission-cutting goals, but as many of them fall short, the actual damage could be even worse. The study estimates climate change could cost the global economy a staggering $38 trillion every year by 2050. This is six times more expensive than the estimated cost of limiting global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Also read: Dubai floods: Experts believe cloud seeding is not behind rare heavy rainfall The study further states that despite damage affecting various regions to different degrees, poorer regions and those contributing least to global warming will be hit hardest. Anders Levermann, a senior PIK scientist, says, “Countries that are least responsible for climate change are expected to suffer income loss that is 60 per cent more than the higher-income countries and 40 per cent greater than higher-emission countries.” The industrial economies of Germany and the United States would shrink by roughly 11 per cent by mid-century (13 per cent for France), even if climate action is properly taken, according to the researchers. PIK researchers built their analysis on 40 years of climate data from over 1,600 regions. These estimates don't include the additional costs of extreme weather events like storms and fires, which climate change is also worsening. Also read: Ancient humans lived in THIS vast lava tube in Saudi Arabia 7,000 years ago "High-income losses are projected for most regions, including North America and Europe, with South Asia and Africa being the hardest hit," according to Maximilian Kotz, one of the study's authors. "These losses are caused by a wide range of economically relevant effects of climate change, such as consequences for agricultural yields, labor productivity and infrastructure." As per the World Bank, global GDP surpassed $100 trillion in 2022 and is expected to double by 2050, if not for the drag of climate change. Some experts believe the PIK estimate is likely an understatement of the true economic impact of climate change. This aligns with the findings of the Stern Report, a 2006 analysis by economist Nicholas Stern commissioned by the UK government, which reached similar conclusions. The Stern Review, another study published in 2006, echoes similar concerns. It projected that climate change could inflict economic damage equivalent to a 20 per cent reduction in global GDP by 2050. Also read: Tiny scribble, huge price: Michelangelo's simple doodle sold for THIS much The report also said that the costs of mitigating climate change would be significantly lower than the long-term economic burden of inaction. (With inputs from agencies)

Climate change could lead to losses worth $38 trillion every year by 2050, study warns

Ukraine has warned that there will be a "third world war" if it loses the conflict with Russia.&nbsp;

Speaking to BBC on Wednesday (Apr 18) in Washington, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal voiced the warning while urging the United States Congress to pass a long-stalled foreign aid bill.

<h2>'Careful optimism'</h2>

Shmyhal, as per BBC, expressed "careful optimism" that the US lawmakers would pass the measure that has $61 billion earmarked for Ukraine.

"We need this money yesterday, not tomorrow, not today," said the Ukrainian leader about the much-awaited US assistance.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-have-neutralized-20-drones-and-2-missiles-712519">Russia claims to have neutralised 20 drones and 2 missiles</a>

"If we will not protect… Ukraine will fall," he added. "So the global, the global system of security will be destroyed… and all the world will need to find… a new system of security," he further said.

"Or, there will be many conflicts, many such kinds of wars, and in the end of the day, it could lead to the Third World War," warned Shmyhal.

Earlier, too, Ukraine has voiced similar alarming warnings about the possible consequences its defeat in the battle with Russia will bring. Just last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned that after Ukraine, Russia would move on to invade Poland, triggering World War III.

<h2>Much-needed help for Ukraine</h2>

The US House of Representatives will vote on the aid package on Saturday (Apr 20). It also includes billions in funding for Israel as well as Taiwan.

It&nbsp;could finally get&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;the much-needed help to continue the battle against&nbsp;Russia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-ukraine-urges-for-more-us-aid-711991" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-ukraine-urges-for-more-us-aid-711991&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjvrqj47ciFAxUpTWcHHePmC0kQFnoECAIQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3nyCH6-dkU6fSmbDAXa2k0&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-ukraine-urges-for-more-us-aid-711991" target="_blank">Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine urges for more US aid</a>

US President Joe Biden has also called for Congress to pass the package, saying, "I will sign this into law immediately to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends, and we won't let Iran or Russia succeed."

The bill would allocate $61 billion to Ukraine, and more than $26 billion to Israel that has&nbsp;waged&nbsp;a war against Hamas militants in Gaza and another against its arch-foe Iran. It also includes $9.2 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza, a key requirement laid down by Democrats.&nbsp;Additionally, it will provide self-ruled Taiwan with $8 billion in aid.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine has warned that there will be a "third world war" if it loses the conflict with Russia. Speaking to BBC on Wednesday (Apr 18) in Washington, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal voiced the warning while urging the United States Congress to pass a long-stalled foreign aid bill.

Ukraine has warned that there will be a "third world war" if it loses the conflict with Russia. Speaking to BBC on Wednesday (Apr 18) in Washington, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal voiced the warning while urging the United States Congress to pass a long-stalled foreign aid bill. 'Careful optimism' Shmyhal, as per BBC, expressed "careful optimism" that the US lawmakers would pass the measure that has $61 billion earmarked for Ukraine. "We need this money yesterday, not tomorrow, not today," said the Ukrainian leader about the much-awaited US assistance. Also read | Russia claims to have neutralised 20 drones and 2 missiles "If we will not protect… Ukraine will fall," he added. "So the global, the global system of security will be destroyed… and all the world will need to find… a new system of security," he further said. "Or, there will be many conflicts, many such kinds of wars, and in the end of the day, it could lead to the Third World War," warned Shmyhal. Earlier, too, Ukraine has voiced similar alarming warnings about the possible consequences its defeat in the battle with Russia will bring. Just last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned that after Ukraine, Russia would move on to invade Poland, triggering World War III. Much-needed help for Ukraine The US House of Representatives will vote on the aid package on Saturday (Apr 20). It also includes billions in funding for Israel as well as Taiwan. It could finally get Ukraine the much-needed help to continue the battle against Russia. Also read: Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine urges for more US aid US President Joe Biden has also called for Congress to pass the package, saying, "I will sign this into law immediately to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends, and we won't let Iran or Russia succeed." The bill would allocate $61 billion to Ukraine, and more than $26 billion to Israel that has waged a war against Hamas militants in Gaza and another against its arch-foe Iran. It also includes $9.2 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza, a key requirement laid down by Democrats. Additionally, it will provide self-ruled Taiwan with $8 billion in aid. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden urges Congress to pass Ukraine aid bill as Kyiv warns its defeat against Russia would lead to WW3

As per a new survey, Trust and confidence in UK police has declined in recent years. Watch this report to know more in details.

Is UK losing trust in its police force? | Declining trust in UK police

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's approval rating takes a hit, approval ratings hit an all-time low. Watch this report to know more.

Trouble mounts for UK PM Sunak, approval ratings hit an all-time low

world

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

world news