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

There's a bit of panic in Japan's Fukuyama city whose residents were warned not to approach or touch a cat that&nbsp;has gone missing after falling into a vat filled with cancer-causing chemicals.

On Monday morning (Mar 11), an employee working at a metal plating plant in Fukuyama reached the plant to find the paw prints of the cat from the container to the way out, said the firm.&nbsp;

In the security camera footage shared by the company, the cat was seen running from the factory and appeared unharmed.

However, no footage appeared which showed how the cat fell into the chemical-filled vat.

The vat, which had a depth of three metres (10 feet) and was filled with hexavalent chromium, is carcinogenic and can lead to skin inflammation.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-bubonic-plague-back-us-state-reports-rare-death-caused-by-ancient-disease-699380">Is bubonic plague back? US state reports rare death caused by ancient disease</a>

"We immediately alerted police, the Fukuyama city and neighbours near our factory," said a representative from the company, while speaking to AFP news agency.

"The incident woke us up to the need to take measures to prevent small animals like cats from sneaking in, which is something we had never anticipated before," he added.

The locals were informed by the city authorities to not touch the animal and to immediately inform police if they came across it.

<h2>No sightings of a cat so far as officials speculate on its death</h2>

As of Tuesday afternoon (Mar 12), no sightings of the cat were reported.&nbsp;

Coming in contact with the chemical can lead to skin inflammation and inhaling it can cause respiratory issues,&nbsp;the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported.

Watch:&nbsp;Indian government approves formation of alliance aimed at conserving big cats around

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-government-approves-formation-of-alliance-aimed-at-conserving-big-cats-around-695495/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It added that the factory employees wear rubber gloves and masks while handling the substance.&nbsp;

&nbsp;According to the Fukuyama environmental officials, the cat may have died by coming into contact with the poisonous chemical.

(With inputs from agencies)

There's a bit of panic in Japan's Fukuyama city whose residents were warned not to approach or touch a cat that has gone missing after falling into a vat filled with cancer-causing chemicals.

There's a bit of panic in Japan's Fukuyama city whose residents were warned not to approach or touch a cat that has gone missing after falling into a vat filled with cancer-causing chemicals. On Monday morning (Mar 11), an employee working at a metal plating plant in Fukuyama reached the plant to find the paw prints of the cat from the container to the way out, said the firm. In the security camera footage shared by the company, the cat was seen running from the factory and appeared unharmed. However, no footage appeared which showed how the cat fell into the chemical-filled vat. The vat, which had a depth of three metres (10 feet) and was filled with hexavalent chromium, is carcinogenic and can lead to skin inflammation. Also Read: Is bubonic plague back? US state reports rare death caused by ancient disease "We immediately alerted police, the Fukuyama city and neighbours near our factory," said a representative from the company, while speaking to AFP news agency. "The incident woke us up to the need to take measures to prevent small animals like cats from sneaking in, which is something we had never anticipated before," he added. The locals were informed by the city authorities to not touch the animal and to immediately inform police if they came across it. No sightings of a cat so far as officials speculate on its death As of Tuesday afternoon (Mar 12), no sightings of the cat were reported. Coming in contact with the chemical can lead to skin inflammation and inhaling it can cause respiratory issues, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported. Watch: Indian government approves formation of alliance aimed at conserving big cats around It added that the factory employees wear rubber gloves and masks while handling the substance. According to the Fukuyama environmental officials, the cat may have died by coming into contact with the poisonous chemical. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese city warns residents against touching cat which fell in toxic chemical tank

Israeli Army raided the West Bank City of Jenin on Tuesday as violence continues to Surge across the West Bank in parallel to the Gaza War. Crowds of Palestinian worshippers were allowed to pray at Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem after the first day of Ramadan fasting.

Israel war | West Bank: Israel army vs resistance groups

An American man is facing jail time after pleading guilty of wildlife crimes. he tried to create gigantic hybrid sheep by using genetic material from endangered animals, to sell them to trophy hunting ranches.

Arthur Schubarth, 80, illegally brought parts of the world's largest sheep species from Kyrgyzstan into the United States.

He then utilised these genetic material to produce cloned embryos.

These embryos were implanted into ewes on his Montana ranch, leading to the birth of Marco Polo argali, a species on the brink of extinction known for its massive size and imposing horns.

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Subsequently, Schubarth employed semen from these specimens to impregnate various sheep breeds aiming to create unprecedented hybrid species to produce even larger sheep.

He envisioned selling these unique animals to hunting ranches where customers pay to hunt captive animals, particularly&nbsp;larger specimens.

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Todd Kim, an Assistant Attorney General from the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division who handled the case, described Schubarth's actions as a bold attempt to create colossal hybrid sheep species for trophy hunting.

Schubarth violated international laws and the Lacey Act&nbsp;designed to safeguard the well-being and sustainability of native animal populations.

The Lacey Act prohibits the interstate trade of certain wildlife and is utilised by authorities to combat wildlife trafficking, AFP news agency said in a report.

Schubarth, whose ranch primarily breeds and sells mountain sheep, mountain goats, and other ungulates for game ranches, admitted to one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and one count of substantive violation of the Lacey Act.

These felonies could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

An American man is facing jail time after pleading guilty of wildlife crimes. he tried to create gigantic hybrid sheep by using genetic material from endangered animals, to sell them to trophy hunting ranches.

An American man is facing jail time after pleading guilty of wildlife crimes. he tried to create gigantic hybrid sheep by using genetic material from endangered animals, to sell them to trophy hunting ranches. Arthur Schubarth, 80, illegally brought parts of the world's largest sheep species from Kyrgyzstan into the United States. He then utilised these genetic material to produce cloned embryos. These embryos were implanted into ewes on his Montana ranch, leading to the birth of Marco Polo argali, a species on the brink of extinction known for its massive size and imposing horns. Also read | Yemen's Houthis fired ballistic missile toward USS Laboon in the Red Sea, US says Subsequently, Schubarth employed semen from these specimens to impregnate various sheep breeds aiming to create unprecedented hybrid species to produce even larger sheep. He envisioned selling these unique animals to hunting ranches where customers pay to hunt captive animals, particularly larger specimens. Also read | Bangladeshi cargo ship 'hijacked' in Indian Ocean now headed for Somalia: Reports Todd Kim, an Assistant Attorney General from the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division who handled the case, described Schubarth's actions as a bold attempt to create colossal hybrid sheep species for trophy hunting. Schubarth violated international laws and the Lacey Act designed to safeguard the well-being and sustainability of native animal populations. The Lacey Act prohibits the interstate trade of certain wildlife and is utilised by authorities to combat wildlife trafficking, AFP news agency said in a report. Schubarth, whose ranch primarily breeds and sells mountain sheep, mountain goats, and other ungulates for game ranches, admitted to one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and one count of substantive violation of the Lacey Act. These felonies could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. (With inputs from agencies)

US man faces jail for attempting to create hybrid sheep from endangered species

Could these wriggly worms be the answer to plastic pollution? That's what researchers from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) are hoping. They already know that the creatures' gut biomes break down the waste on a molecular level, and that they can be altered to degrade plastic even more effectively.

Plastic-Eating Worms: Nature's Answer to Plastic Pollution?

Mexican officials said&nbsp;on Tuesday (Mar 12) that&nbsp;two missing detectives who were searching for 43 students missing for nearly a decade, have been found.

The news came just two days after they disappeared&nbsp;in Guerrero, a state on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Authorities did not disclose&nbsp;details on how the two detectives, one male and one female, were located, leaving questions unanswered regarding their whereabouts and any potential captivity they may have faced.

Earlier, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed concern over the disappearance of the detectives, linking it to forces resistant to uncovering the truth behind the missing students' case.

&nbsp;“I hope this is not related to those who do not want us to find the youths,”&nbsp;López Obrador said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mexico-surpasses-china-as-top-source-of-us-imports-amid-global-economic-shifts-688161">Also read |&nbsp;Mexico surpasses China as top source of US imports amid global economic shifts</a>

<h2>Context of Guerrero state</h2>

Guerrero state has grappled with lawlessness for years, notably marked by the unresolved case of 43 students from a rural teachers' college who vanished in 2014.

Suspected involvement of local officials and drug cartels in their abduction and murder has fueled unrest in the region.

The volatile situation escalated last week when a student was fatally shot by police, triggering protests. In response, students stormed state prosecutors' offices, setting off explosives and vandalising property, indicating deep-seated anger and distrust toward authorities.

Efforts to locate the missing students have been hindered by limited progress, with only a few bone fragments identified so far.

The rugged terrain and cartel dominance make the search for clandestine burial sites arduous and perilous.

Also watch |&nbsp;Mexico restarts repatriating Venezuelans as tensions over migration run high

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-restarts-repatriating-venezuelans-as-tensions-over-migration-run-high-675296/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Videos circulating on social media also show&nbsp;the grip of drug cartels, with gang members brutalising bus drivers for alleged non-compliance.

Additionally, tensions have mounted between López Obrador and the students' families, who accuse him of insufficient action.

Last week, protesters stormed the National Palace, demanding accountability and answers, reflecting deep-seated frustration and grievances, as reported by the Associated Press news agency.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mexican officials said on Tuesday (Mar 12) that two missing detectives who were searching for 43 students missing for nearly a decade, have been found. The news came just two days after they disappeared in Guerrero, a state on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Mexican officials said on Tuesday (Mar 12) that two missing detectives who were searching for 43 students missing for nearly a decade, have been found. The news came just two days after they disappeared in Guerrero, a state on Mexico's Pacific coast. Authorities did not disclose details on how the two detectives, one male and one female, were located, leaving questions unanswered regarding their whereabouts and any potential captivity they may have faced. Earlier, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed concern over the disappearance of the detectives, linking it to forces resistant to uncovering the truth behind the missing students' case. “I hope this is not related to those who do not want us to find the youths,” López Obrador said. Also read | Mexico surpasses China as top source of US imports amid global economic shifts Context of Guerrero state Guerrero state has grappled with lawlessness for years, notably marked by the unresolved case of 43 students from a rural teachers' college who vanished in 2014. Suspected involvement of local officials and drug cartels in their abduction and murder has fueled unrest in the region. The volatile situation escalated last week when a student was fatally shot by police, triggering protests. In response, students stormed state prosecutors' offices, setting off explosives and vandalising property, indicating deep-seated anger and distrust toward authorities. Efforts to locate the missing students have been hindered by limited progress, with only a few bone fragments identified so far. The rugged terrain and cartel dominance make the search for clandestine burial sites arduous and perilous. Also watch | Mexico restarts repatriating Venezuelans as tensions over migration run high Videos circulating on social media also show the grip of drug cartels, with gang members brutalising bus drivers for alleged non-compliance. Additionally, tensions have mounted between López Obrador and the students' families, who accuse him of insufficient action. Last week, protesters stormed the National Palace, demanding accountability and answers, reflecting deep-seated frustration and grievances, as reported by the Associated Press news agency. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexico: Two detectives found after mysterious disappearance during search for missing students

Moving on the Indian government has dismissed a Harvard University study which claims that at least 6.7 million children in India are without food. The report was first rejected by the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council and now the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development says the report is a deliberate and malicious attempt to sensationalize fake news.

Indian government says Harvard Study is an attempt to spread fake news

New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister has questioned the lack of evidence on a potential Indian link as alleged by Justin Trudeau in the killing of a Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar Killing | New Zealand deputy PM: Where's the evidence?

Russia said one of its Ilyushin Il-76 military cargo planes crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday with 15 people on board due to a fire in one of its engines.

Russia's defence ministry said the crash took place in the Ivanovo region.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="Russia plane crash" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c074a2aa-80a1-485a-abd5-b776a35226a2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/russia%20plane%20crash%20.png" />

Courtesy: Google Maps | Not to scale

The Ivanovo region is located more than 700 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

A dark plume of smoke was shown rising into the sky as a helicopter circled. 
 
"At about 1:00 p.m. Moscow time, an IL-76 military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff for a scheduled flight in the Ivanovo region," the Defence Ministry was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency.

"According to reports from the scene, the cause of the disaster was a fire in one of the engines during takeoff of the aircraft," the Defence Ministry added.

Eight crew members and seven passengers were reportedly onboard the aircraft.

The latest crash comes weeks after an IL-76 plane that Moscow claimed had been carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed in the Russian region close to region with Ukraine. Russian authorities had claimed that Ukrainian Armed Forces had shot down the aircraft in the Belgorod region.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia said one of its Ilyushin Il-76 military cargo planes crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday with 15 people on board due to a fire in one of its engines.

Russia said one of its Ilyushin Il-76 military cargo planes crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday with 15 people on board due to a fire in one of its engines. Russia's defence ministry said the crash took place in the Ivanovo region. Courtesy: Google Maps | Not to scale The Ivanovo region is located more than 700 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. A dark plume of smoke was shown rising into the sky as a helicopter circled. "At about 1:00 p.m. Moscow time, an IL-76 military transport aircraft crashed during takeoff for a scheduled flight in the Ivanovo region," the Defence Ministry was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency. "According to reports from the scene, the cause of the disaster was a fire in one of the engines during takeoff of the aircraft," the Defence Ministry added. Eight crew members and seven passengers were reportedly onboard the aircraft. The latest crash comes weeks after an IL-76 plane that Moscow claimed had been carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed in the Russian region close to region with Ukraine. Russian authorities had claimed that Ukrainian Armed Forces had shot down the aircraft in the Belgorod region. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian military plane crashes with 15 people on board

Romanian authorities have detained online influencer Andrew Tate and served him with a British arrest warrant, according to his spokesperson.

The 37-year-old, along with his brother Tristan Tate, faced a 24-hour detention in Romania on Monday (March 11) regarding allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-2015 in the UK.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-the-crimes-of-andrew-tate-what-do-the-charges-say-606788" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-the-crimes-of-andrew-tate-what-do-the-charges-say-606788&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi3xMqOxu6EAxVKpVYBHVucCkcQFnoECAAQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw02RJOSY6W22n5ro4tPCVut&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-the-crimes-of-andrew-tate-what-do-the-charges-say-606788" target="_blank">Explained: The crimes of&nbsp;Andrew Tate. What do the charges say?</a>

The Bucharest Court of Appeal is expected to decide on executing Westminster Magistrates Court's warrants on Tuesday (March 12), potentially leading to an extradition process.

Mateea Petrescu, the spokesperson, revealed that four women had reported Andrew Tate to UK&nbsp;authorities for sexual violence and physical abuse, resulting in crowdfunding for legal costs as they pursue a civil case after the Crown Prosecution Service declined prosecution. The charges against Tristan Tate in the UK&nbsp;remain unclear.

Rejecting the charges, the Tate brothers, who hold dual UK&nbsp;and US&nbsp;citizenship, expressed disappointment at the resurrection of allegations without substantial new evidence. Andrew Tate faces separate charges in Romania, including rape, human trafficking&nbsp;and forming a criminal gang to exploit women.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/andrew-tate-coerced-women-into-sexual-acts-report-628283" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/andrew-tate-coerced-women-into-sexual-acts-report-628283&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi3xMqOxu6EAxVKpVYBHVucCkcQFnoECAIQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0LCQP7qhotW3hZfMfNgvHy&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/andrew-tate-coerced-women-into-sexual-acts-report-628283" target="_blank">Andrew Tate&nbsp;coerced women into sexual acts: Report&nbsp;</a>

Arrested in December 2022, he, along with his brother and two Romanian women, was formally indicted in June, vehemently denying the accusations.

McCue Jury &amp; Partners, representing the British accusers, commended the British authorities for issuing an arrest warrant, expressing concern about Tate's potential escape from Romania. They emphasised the seriousness of the accusations and the need for accountability. Managing partner Matthew Jury criticised Tate for spreading disinformation about the UK&nbsp;charges in media interviews.

Andrew Tate, with a significant social media following, has faced previous bans for misogynistic views and hate speech. He has consistently claimed innocence and alleged a political conspiracy against him.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/kickboxer-andrew-tates-shocking-confessions-know-everything-about-controversy-his-net-worth-investigation-550767" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/kickboxer-andrew-tates-shocking-confessions-know-everything-about-controversy-his-net-worth-investigation-550767&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi3xMqOxu6EAxVKpVYBHVucCkcQFnoECAEQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3lD0gWa1oAtp02KrfrbnYF&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kickboxer-andrew-tates-shocking-confessions-know-everything-about-controversy-his-net-worth-investigation-550767" target="_blank">Kickboxer&nbsp;Andrew Tate's&nbsp;shocking confessions</a>

The legal proceedings in Romania are ongoing, with the brothers under house arrest and restricted to Bucharest and Ilfov County. Despite winning an appeal against asset seizure in January, Romanian authorities had confiscated 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches, and cash totaling 3.6 million euros ($3.9 million).

(With inputs from agencies)

Romanian authorities have detained online influencer Andrew Tate and served him with a British arrest warrant, according to his spokesperson. The 37-year-old, along with his brother Tristan Tate, faced a 24-hour detention in Romania on Monday (March 11) regarding allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-2015 in the UK.

Romanian authorities have detained online influencer Andrew Tate and served him with a British arrest warrant, according to his spokesperson. The 37-year-old, along with his brother Tristan Tate, faced a 24-hour detention in Romania on Monday (March 11) regarding allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-2015 in the UK. Also read: Explained: The crimes of Andrew Tate. What do the charges say? The Bucharest Court of Appeal is expected to decide on executing Westminster Magistrates Court's warrants on Tuesday (March 12), potentially leading to an extradition process. Mateea Petrescu, the spokesperson, revealed that four women had reported Andrew Tate to UK authorities for sexual violence and physical abuse, resulting in crowdfunding for legal costs as they pursue a civil case after the Crown Prosecution Service declined prosecution. The charges against Tristan Tate in the UK remain unclear. Rejecting the charges, the Tate brothers, who hold dual UK and US citizenship, expressed disappointment at the resurrection of allegations without substantial new evidence. Andrew Tate faces separate charges in Romania, including rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women. Also read: Andrew Tate coerced women into sexual acts: Report Arrested in December 2022, he, along with his brother and two Romanian women, was formally indicted in June, vehemently denying the accusations. McCue Jury & Partners, representing the British accusers, commended the British authorities for issuing an arrest warrant, expressing concern about Tate's potential escape from Romania. They emphasised the seriousness of the accusations and the need for accountability. Managing partner Matthew Jury criticised Tate for spreading disinformation about the UK charges in media interviews. Andrew Tate, with a significant social media following, has faced previous bans for misogynistic views and hate speech. He has consistently claimed innocence and alleged a political conspiracy against him. Also read: Kickboxer Andrew Tate's shocking confessions The legal proceedings in Romania are ongoing, with the brothers under house arrest and restricted to Bucharest and Ilfov County. Despite winning an appeal against asset seizure in January, Romanian authorities had confiscated 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches, and cash totaling 3.6 million euros ($3.9 million). (With inputs from agencies)

Influencer Andrew Tate, brother detained in Romania, handed UK arrest warrant

Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan. The practices include worshipping, charity from dawn to dusk fasting and nightly feasts for a month. Take a look at the festivities that are unfolding in different parts of the world.

Ramadan 2024: Gazans mourn as Israel shuts access to Al Aqsa

Kairos, a small, solid-fuel rocket made by Japan's Space One, exploded just seconds into its inaugural launch on Wednesday as the firm tried to become the first Japanese company to put a satellite in orbit.

The setback for Space One and the rocket industry in Japan comes as the government and investors ramp up support for the sector amid a national security buildup and skyrocketing demand for commercial satellites.

The 18-metre (59 ft) rocket exploded five seconds after lifting off, leaving behind a large cloud of smoke, a fire, fragments of the rocket and sprays of firefighting water near the launch pad on the tip of mountainous Kii peninsula in western Japan, visible on local media livestreams.

Watch the video here:

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JUST IN: Space One rocket in Japan explodes after takeoff during its “inaugural launch.” 
 
The Kairos rocket was attempting to make Space One the first Japanese company to put a satellite in orbit. (Reuters) 
 
The 59 ft, four-stage solid-fuel rocket was launched from the Kii… <a href="https://t.co/BJAAWXGsCy">pic.twitter.com/BJAAWXGsCy</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1767741084921364640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"The rocket terminated the flight after judging that the achievement of its mission would be difficult," company president Masakazu Toyoda said.

Space One did not specify what triggered self-destruction after the first-stage engine ignited - or when the company would launch the next Kairos - only pledging an investigation into the explosion.

The company said that the launch is highly automated, requiring only about a dozen ground staff, and that the rocket self-destructs when it detects errors in its flight path, speed, or control system that could cause a crash that endangers people on the ground.

"We don't use the world 'failure', because each trial brings us ... new data and experience for another challenge," Toyoda told a news conference.

There were no injuries near the launch pad, and the fire has been extinguished, Shuhei Kishimoto, governor of Wakayama prefecture, told reporters.

Kairos carried an experimental government satellite that can temporarily replace intelligence satellites in orbit if they fall offline.

Space One had planned the launch for Saturday but postponed it after a ship entered the nearby restricted sea area.

<h2>'Space courier services'</h2>

Although Japan is a relatively small player in the space race, the nation's rocket developers are scrambling to build cheaper vehicles to capture booming demand for satellite launches from its government and from global clients.

Tokyo-based Space One was established in 2018 by a consortium of Japanese companies: Canon Electronics, the aerospace engineering unit of IHI, construction firm Shimizu and the state-backed Development Bank of Japan. Two of Japan's biggest banks, Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho, also own minority stakes.

Shares in Canon Electronics fell as much as 13 per cent, while IHI shares were down as much as 2 per cent after Wednesday's failed launch.

Space One wants to offer "space courier services" to domestic and international clients, aiming to launch 20 rockets a year by the late 2020s, Toyoda has said. Although the company delayed Kairos' inaugural launch window four times, it said orders for its second and third planned trips have been filled, including by an overseas customer.

Kairos is composed of three stages of solid-fuel engines and a liquid-fuel post-boost stage engine, attempting to carry payloads of up to 250 kg to low-Earth orbit.

Space One does not disclose Kairos' launch costs, but company executive Kozo Abe said it is "competitive enough" against American rival Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab has launched more than 40 Electron small rockets from New Zealand since 2017 at roughly $7 million per flight. Several Japanese companies have used Electron for their missions, including radar satellite makers iQPS and Synspective, and orbital debris-removal startup Astroscale.

<h2>Revitalising an industry</h2>

Partnering with the United States, Japan is seeking to revitalise its domestic aerospace industry to counter technological and military rivals China and Russia.

Last month, state-funded Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched its new cost-efficient flagship rocket, the H3. JAXA completed a historic "pinpoint" moon landing this year, and the H3 is scheduled to carry about 20 satellites and probes to the space by 2030.

Before that, however, JAXA had faced a series of setbacks. H3's inaugural flight failed last year, as did another flight of a smaller rocket, Epsilon, in 2022. In July 2023, an upgraded engine for Epsilon exploded at JAXA's testing site.

In 2019, Interstellar Technologies conducted Japan's first privately developed rocket launch with its MOMO series, although without a full-scale satellite payload.

The government last year promised "comprehensive" support for space startups with technology critical for national security, as it seeks to build satellite constellations to ramp up intelligence capabilities.

Japan's defence ministry on Friday said it had struck a deal with Space One to boost its rockets' payload by experimenting with fuel-efficient methane engines.

"Rocket Lab, too, did not achieve its mission at the inaugural (Electron) flight, but it went on to launch three rockets in its second year," Toyoda said. "We can't stop here – we need to compete with this company."

Kairos, a small, solid-fuel rocket made by Japan's Space One, exploded just seconds into its inaugural launch on Wednesday as the firm tried to become the first Japanese company to put a satellite in orbit.

Kairos, a small, solid-fuel rocket made by Japan's Space One, exploded just seconds into its inaugural launch on Wednesday as the firm tried to become the first Japanese company to put a satellite in orbit. The setback for Space One and the rocket industry in Japan comes as the government and investors ramp up support for the sector amid a national security buildup and skyrocketing demand for commercial satellites. The 18-metre (59 ft) rocket exploded five seconds after lifting off, leaving behind a large cloud of smoke, a fire, fragments of the rocket and sprays of firefighting water near the launch pad on the tip of mountainous Kii peninsula in western Japan, visible on local media livestreams. Watch the video here: JUST IN: Space One rocket in Japan explodes after takeoff during its “inaugural launch.” The Kairos rocket was attempting to make Space One the first Japanese company to put a satellite in orbit. (Reuters) The 59 ft, four-stage solid-fuel rocket was launched from the Kii… pic.twitter.com/BJAAWXGsCy — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 13, 2024 × "The rocket terminated the flight after judging that the achievement of its mission would be difficult," company president Masakazu Toyoda said. Space One did not specify what triggered self-destruction after the first-stage engine ignited - or when the company would launch the next Kairos - only pledging an investigation into the explosion. The company said that the launch is highly automated, requiring only about a dozen ground staff, and that the rocket self-destructs when it detects errors in its flight path, speed, or control system that could cause a crash that endangers people on the ground. "We don't use the world 'failure', because each trial brings us ... new data and experience for another challenge," Toyoda told a news conference. There were no injuries near the launch pad, and the fire has been extinguished, Shuhei Kishimoto, governor of Wakayama prefecture, told reporters. Kairos carried an experimental government satellite that can temporarily replace intelligence satellites in orbit if they fall offline. Space One had planned the launch for Saturday but postponed it after a ship entered the nearby restricted sea area. 'Space courier services' Although Japan is a relatively small player in the space race, the nation's rocket developers are scrambling to build cheaper vehicles to capture booming demand for satellite launches from its government and from global clients. Tokyo-based Space One was established in 2018 by a consortium of Japanese companies: Canon Electronics, the aerospace engineering unit of IHI, construction firm Shimizu and the state-backed Development Bank of Japan. Two of Japan's biggest banks, Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho, also own minority stakes. Shares in Canon Electronics fell as much as 13 per cent, while IHI shares were down as much as 2 per cent after Wednesday's failed launch. Space One wants to offer "space courier services" to domestic and international clients, aiming to launch 20 rockets a year by the late 2020s, Toyoda has said. Although the company delayed Kairos' inaugural launch window four times, it said orders for its second and third planned trips have been filled, including by an overseas customer. Kairos is composed of three stages of solid-fuel engines and a liquid-fuel post-boost stage engine, attempting to carry payloads of up to 250 kg to low-Earth orbit. Space One does not disclose Kairos' launch costs, but company executive Kozo Abe said it is "competitive enough" against American rival Rocket Lab. Rocket Lab has launched more than 40 Electron small rockets from New Zealand since 2017 at roughly $7 million per flight. Several Japanese companies have used Electron for their missions, including radar satellite makers iQPS and Synspective, and orbital debris-removal startup Astroscale. Revitalising an industry Partnering with the United States, Japan is seeking to revitalise its domestic aerospace industry to counter technological and military rivals China and Russia. Last month, state-funded Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched its new cost-efficient flagship rocket, the H3. JAXA completed a historic "pinpoint" moon landing this year, and the H3 is scheduled to carry about 20 satellites and probes to the space by 2030. Before that, however, JAXA had faced a series of setbacks. H3's inaugural flight failed last year, as did another flight of a smaller rocket, Epsilon, in 2022. In July 2023, an upgraded engine for Epsilon exploded at JAXA's testing site. In 2019, Interstellar Technologies conducted Japan's first privately developed rocket launch with its MOMO series, although without a full-scale satellite payload. The government last year promised "comprehensive" support for space startups with technology critical for national security, as it seeks to build satellite constellations to ramp up intelligence capabilities. Japan's defence ministry on Friday said it had struck a deal with Space One to boost its rockets' payload by experimenting with fuel-efficient methane engines. "Rocket Lab, too, did not achieve its mission at the inaugural (Electron) flight, but it went on to launch three rockets in its second year," Toyoda said. "We can't stop here – we need to compete with this company."

Watch | Japanese firm Space One's Kairos rocket explodes on inaugural flight

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (Mar 13) warned the West that the country was technically prepared for nuclear war and that if the United States sent its troops to Ukraine, it would lead to a significant escalation.

Speaking days ahead of the March 15-17 election in which Putin is certain to clinch victory and remain in power for the next six years, the Russian president said that the nuclear war scenario was not "rushing" up and as of now there is no need of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

"From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready," said Putin, while speaking to Rossiya-1 television and news agency RIA when asked if the country was prepared for a nuclear war.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-have-thwarted-attempted-incursions-from-ukraine-699433">Russia claims to have thwarted attempted incursions from Ukraine</a>

Putin added that the United States understood that if American troops were deployed on Russian territory or in Ukraine, Russia would see it as an intervention.

"(In the United States) there are enough specialists in the field of Russian-American relations and in the field of strategic restraint," said Putin.

"Therefore, I don't think that here everything is rushing to it (nuclear confrontation), but we are ready for this," he added.&nbsp;

<h2>'Weapons exist to be used'&nbsp;</h2>

Putin said that the Kremlin's nuclear doctrine clearly specifies&nbsp;the circumstances in which nuclear weapons may be used by the country.&nbsp;

"Weapons exist in order to use them. We have our own principles," said Putin.&nbsp;

Till now, Russia and the United States are the largest nuclear powers and have more than 90 per cent of the nuclear weapons present in the world under their control.

"Russia is ready for negotiations on Ukraine, but they should be based on reality - and not on cravings after the use of psychotropic drugs," said Putin.

Watch:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war | Missiles hit apartment buildings in Ukraine

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-missiles-hit-apartment-buildings-in-ukraine-699516/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He said that if nuclear tests are conducted by the United States, Russia might do the same. "It's not necessary ... we still need to think about it, but I don't rule out that we can do the same," he said.&nbsp;

Putin further said that Russia never faced the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, against which it has waged a war since February 2022. "Why do we need to use weapons of mass destruction? There has never been such a need," he said.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (Mar 13) warned the West that the country was technically prepared for nuclear war and that if the United States sent its troops to Ukraine, it would lead to a significant escalation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (Mar 13) warned the West that the country was technically prepared for nuclear war and that if the United States sent its troops to Ukraine, it would lead to a significant escalation. Speaking days ahead of the March 15-17 election in which Putin is certain to clinch victory and remain in power for the next six years, the Russian president said that the nuclear war scenario was not "rushing" up and as of now there is no need of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. "From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready," said Putin, while speaking to Rossiya-1 television and news agency RIA when asked if the country was prepared for a nuclear war. Also Read: Russia claims to have thwarted attempted incursions from Ukraine Putin added that the United States understood that if American troops were deployed on Russian territory or in Ukraine, Russia would see it as an intervention. "(In the United States) there are enough specialists in the field of Russian-American relations and in the field of strategic restraint," said Putin. "Therefore, I don't think that here everything is rushing to it (nuclear confrontation), but we are ready for this," he added. 'Weapons exist to be used' Putin said that the Kremlin's nuclear doctrine clearly specifies the circumstances in which nuclear weapons may be used by the country. "Weapons exist in order to use them. We have our own principles," said Putin. Till now, Russia and the United States are the largest nuclear powers and have more than 90 per cent of the nuclear weapons present in the world under their control. "Russia is ready for negotiations on Ukraine, but they should be based on reality - and not on cravings after the use of psychotropic drugs," said Putin. Watch: Russia-Ukraine war | Missiles hit apartment buildings in Ukraine He said that if nuclear tests are conducted by the United States, Russia might do the same. "It's not necessary ... we still need to think about it, but I don't rule out that we can do the same," he said. Putin further said that Russia never faced the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, against which it has waged a war since February 2022. "Why do we need to use weapons of mass destruction? There has never been such a need," he said. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia-Ukraine war: Putin threatens West, says Moscow 'ready' for nuclear war

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Iran-aligned Houthis fired&nbsp;Tuesday one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards the USS Laboon in the Red Sea, but it did not hit the vessel and there were no injuries or damage reported.

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March 12 Red Sea Update 
 
Between 2:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) on March 12, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon in the Red Sea. The missile did not impact the vessel and there were… <a href="https://t.co/j5zbl159EG">pic.twitter.com/j5zbl159EG</a>
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1767724617907757304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"United States Central Command and a coalition vessel successfully engaged and destroyed two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen," CENTCOM added in a statement early on Wednesday.

&nbsp;

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Iran-aligned Houthis fired Tuesday one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards the USS Laboon in the Red Sea, but it did not hit the vessel and there were no injuries or damage reported.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Iran-aligned Houthis fired Tuesday one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards the USS Laboon in the Red Sea, but it did not hit the vessel and there were no injuries or damage reported. March 12 Red Sea Update Between 2:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) on March 12, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon in the Red Sea. The missile did not impact the vessel and there were… pic.twitter.com/j5zbl159EG — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2024 × "United States Central Command and a coalition vessel successfully engaged and destroyed two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen," CENTCOM added in a statement early on Wednesday.

Yemen's Houthis fired ballistic missile toward USS Laboon in the Red Sea, US says

United Nations used a new land route on Tuesday to supply food to Northern Gaza for the first time in almost 3 weeks. Global pressure continues to grow on Israel to allow more access to the coastal Enclave amid a looming famine. Watch in for more details!

Israel war | UN uses new land route to enter from Israel to reach Northern Gaza

India continues to be the world’s largest arms importer, with Russia being the prime source of its procurement despite declining share in past years, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported on Monday (Mar 11).

India accounted for 9.8 per cent of the total global imports during 2019-2023. India’s arms imports increased 4.7 per cent between 2014-18 and 2019-23, despite the government’s continued efforts to boost domestic defence manufacturing and procurement.

However, Russia's share in Indian exports is slowly falling. In the period under review,&nbsp;Russia accounted for 36 per cent of India’s total arms imports, a first after the 1960-64 term when Russia’s share fell short of the 50 per cent mark.

The share is further expected to fall as India turns to France and the US for military hardware and Russia gets occupied with meeting its domestic demands in the face of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Also read:<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjXnYbnke6EAxUczTgGHWIhCtoQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-abandoned-use-of-nuclear-weapon-in-ukraine-after-intervention-from-india-china-report-698455" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-abandoned-use-of-nuclear-weapon-in-ukraine-after-intervention-from-india-china-report-698455&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjXnYbnke6EAxUczTgGHWIhCtoQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">India's intervention made Putin abandon use of nuclear weapon in Ukraine: Report</a> 

France accounted for 33 per cent of India’s total arms imports while the figure stood at 13 per cent for the US. With the direct acquisition of 31 armed MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones from the US for $3.9 billion as well as 26 Rafale-M fighters from France for $6 billion, the share of the two countries is likely to go up in the current five-year period.

<h2>The China factor</h2>

Arms imports by Japan and South Korea, two of China’s key neighbours, were also up by 155 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively.

According to experts, this trend was driven by concerns over China’s continued aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

"There is little doubt that the sustained high levels of arms imports by Japan and other US allies and partners in Asia and Oceania are largely driven by one key factor: concern over China's ambitions," said Siemon Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjXnYbnke6EAxUczTgGHWIhCtoQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-sends-research-ship-to-allegedly-spy-on-indias-agni-5-missile-launch-reports-699230" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-sends-research-ship-to-allegedly-spy-on-indias-agni-5-missile-launch-reports-699230&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjXnYbnke6EAxUczTgGHWIhCtoQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">China sends research ship to allegedly spy on India`s Agni-5 missile launch: Reports</a>

The report added that the US emerged as a key supplier to the region during this period.

Meanwhile, China’s own arms imports were down by 44 per cent, partly because its main supplier Russia is tied up in the domestic market.

<h2>China and Pakistan</h2>

The military and defence cooperation between two of India’s major rivals China and Pakistan grew deeper during the five-year period. A whopping 61 per cent of China’s total defence exports went to Pakistan, followed by 11 per cent to Bangladesh.

(With inputs from agencies)

India continues to be the world’s largest arms importer, with Russia being the prime source of its procurement despite declining share in past years, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported on Monday (Mar 11).

India continues to be the world’s largest arms importer, with Russia being the prime source of its procurement despite declining share in past years, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported on Monday (Mar 11). India accounted for 9.8 per cent of the total global imports during 2019-2023. India’s arms imports increased 4.7 per cent between 2014-18 and 2019-23, despite the government’s continued efforts to boost domestic defence manufacturing and procurement. However, Russia's share in Indian exports is slowly falling. In the period under review, Russia accounted for 36 per cent of India’s total arms imports, a first after the 1960-64 term when Russia’s share fell short of the 50 per cent mark. The share is further expected to fall as India turns to France and the US for military hardware and Russia gets occupied with meeting its domestic demands in the face of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Also read:India's intervention made Putin abandon use of nuclear weapon in Ukraine: Report France accounted for 33 per cent of India’s total arms imports while the figure stood at 13 per cent for the US. With the direct acquisition of 31 armed MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones from the US for $3.9 billion as well as 26 Rafale-M fighters from France for $6 billion, the share of the two countries is likely to go up in the current five-year period. The China factor Arms imports by Japan and South Korea, two of China’s key neighbours, were also up by 155 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively. According to experts, this trend was driven by concerns over China’s continued aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. "There is little doubt that the sustained high levels of arms imports by Japan and other US allies and partners in Asia and Oceania are largely driven by one key factor: concern over China's ambitions," said Siemon Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. Also read: China sends research ship to allegedly spy on India`s Agni-5 missile launch: Reports The report added that the US emerged as a key supplier to the region during this period. Meanwhile, China’s own arms imports were down by 44 per cent, partly because its main supplier Russia is tied up in the domestic market. China and Pakistan The military and defence cooperation between two of India’s major rivals China and Pakistan grew deeper during the five-year period. A whopping 61 per cent of China’s total defence exports went to Pakistan, followed by 11 per cent to Bangladesh. (With inputs from agencies)

India still world’s largest arms importer with Russia being its top supplier: Report

Ukraine on Monday summoned the Vatican's envoy to Kyiv after Pope Francis suggested the country should consider raising "the white flag" against Russia, causing fury in Kyiv.

Ukraine has angrily rejected Pope Francis's suggestion to negotiate with Russia two years after its invasion, vowing "never" to surrender to Moscow.

"Due to the statements of Pope Francis the Apostolic Nuncio was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine," the ministry said on social media, using the term for a Vatican diplomat.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-advocates-for-ukraine-to-show-courage-in-negotiations-698401">Pope encourages Ukraine to show ‘white flag’ courage in negotiations</a>

It added that the envoy, Visvaldas Kulbodas, was told Kyiv was "disappointed with the words of the Pontiff regarding the 'white flag'."

The ministry said the Catholic leader's words "encourage them (Russia) to further disregard international law."

"The head of the Holy See should have sent signals to the international community about the need to immediately unite forces to ensure the victory of good over evil, as well as appealed to the attacker, not the victim," it added.

Watch:&nbsp;Pope fails to read to the audience; Asks his aide to read instead

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The 87-year-old pontiff had said in an interview aired over the weekend: "I believe that the strongest are those who see the situation, think about the people and have the courage to raise the white flag and negotiate."

The comments fuelled anger in Kyiv -- not the first time the country has been angered by the Pope's comments during Russia's two-year invasion.

Ukraine on Monday summoned the Vatican's envoy to Kyiv after Pope Francis suggested the country should consider raising "the white flag" against Russia, causing fury in Kyiv.

Ukraine on Monday summoned the Vatican's envoy to Kyiv after Pope Francis suggested the country should consider raising "the white flag" against Russia, causing fury in Kyiv. Ukraine has angrily rejected Pope Francis's suggestion to negotiate with Russia two years after its invasion, vowing "never" to surrender to Moscow. "Due to the statements of Pope Francis the Apostolic Nuncio was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine," the ministry said on social media, using the term for a Vatican diplomat. Also Read: Pope encourages Ukraine to show ‘white flag’ courage in negotiations It added that the envoy, Visvaldas Kulbodas, was told Kyiv was "disappointed with the words of the Pontiff regarding the 'white flag'." The ministry said the Catholic leader's words "encourage them (Russia) to further disregard international law." "The head of the Holy See should have sent signals to the international community about the need to immediately unite forces to ensure the victory of good over evil, as well as appealed to the attacker, not the victim," it added. Watch: Pope fails to read to the audience; Asks his aide to read instead The 87-year-old pontiff had said in an interview aired over the weekend: "I believe that the strongest are those who see the situation, think about the people and have the courage to raise the white flag and negotiate." The comments fuelled anger in Kyiv -- not the first time the country has been angered by the Pope's comments during Russia's two-year invasion.

Ukraine summons Vatican envoy over Pope's 'white flag' comments

As the US is moving towards a possible ban on TikTok in the country, former president Donald Trump has now opposed it, saying such a step will only empower Facebook which in his view is the "enemy of the people".&nbsp;

He also noted that lots of kids 'will go crazy' without the Chinese-owned video sharing platform which is being seen as a national security threat for US due to alleged links to the Communist Party as well as concerns over user data sharing and privacy.

Trump, who himself in 2020 tried to ban TikTok, said that if the proposal is implemented, it will give unfair advantages to Facebook owner Meta.

"There's a lot of good and there's a lot of bad with TikTok, but the thing I don't like is that without TikTok, you're going to make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people, along with a lot of the media," said Trump, while speaking to CNBC about the controversial app.&nbsp;

"I'm not looking to make Facebook double the size. I think Facebook has been very bad for our country," he said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/what-is-chroming-a-viral-tiktok-trend-claiming-lives-of-kids-worldwide-698258">What is Chroming, a viral TikTok trend claiming lives of kids worldwide?</a>

"There are a lot of people on TikTok that love it. There are a lot of young kids on TikTok who will go crazy without it," Trump further said.

Lawmakers have been discussing a measure which will force Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok in the US by September 30. President Joe Biden said he would sign the bill if it is cleared by US Congress.

<h2>US government legislation against TikTok&nbsp;</h2>

Trump's remarks came as the House is considering legislation which will force ByteDance to divest TikTok in the US in six months. Otherwise the application will be removed from the app stores and websites of the United States due to national security concerns regarding the interactions between Chinese government and ByteDance.&nbsp;

The US has expressed its concerns regarding the chances of data collected from millions of app users being handed over to the Chinese government and being used for spreading propaganda or changing narratives online around sensitive topics.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | TikTok Ban: Will the U.S. follow India's lead?

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Trump acknowledged that the&nbsp;concerns over TikTok regarding national security and data privacy need to be fixed.

Trump has for a long time held grievances against Facebook.

In 2017, he said "Facebook was always anti-Trump."

After his 2020 election loss, he raised the issue of $400 million worth of donations made by founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan to nonprofits which supported local election offices across the country.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

As the US is moving towards a possible ban on TikTok in the country, former president Donald Trump has now opposed it, saying such a step will only empower Facebook which in his view is the "enemy of the people".

As the US is moving towards a possible ban on TikTok in the country, former president Donald Trump has now opposed it, saying such a step will only empower Facebook which in his view is the "enemy of the people". He also noted that lots of kids 'will go crazy' without the Chinese-owned video sharing platform which is being seen as a national security threat for US due to alleged links to the Communist Party as well as concerns over user data sharing and privacy. Trump, who himself in 2020 tried to ban TikTok, said that if the proposal is implemented, it will give unfair advantages to Facebook owner Meta. "There's a lot of good and there's a lot of bad with TikTok, but the thing I don't like is that without TikTok, you're going to make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people, along with a lot of the media," said Trump, while speaking to CNBC about the controversial app. "I'm not looking to make Facebook double the size. I think Facebook has been very bad for our country," he said. Also Read: What is Chroming, a viral TikTok trend claiming lives of kids worldwide? "There are a lot of people on TikTok that love it. There are a lot of young kids on TikTok who will go crazy without it," Trump further said. Lawmakers have been discussing a measure which will force Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok in the US by September 30. President Joe Biden said he would sign the bill if it is cleared by US Congress. US government legislation against TikTok Trump's remarks came as the House is considering legislation which will force ByteDance to divest TikTok in the US in six months. Otherwise the application will be removed from the app stores and websites of the United States due to national security concerns regarding the interactions between Chinese government and ByteDance. The US has expressed its concerns regarding the chances of data collected from millions of app users being handed over to the Chinese government and being used for spreading propaganda or changing narratives online around sensitive topics. Watch: Gravitas | TikTok Ban: Will the U.S. follow India's lead? Trump acknowledged that the concerns over TikTok regarding national security and data privacy need to be fixed. Trump has for a long time held grievances against Facebook. In 2017, he said "Facebook was always anti-Trump." After his 2020 election loss, he raised the issue of $400 million worth of donations made by founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan to nonprofits which supported local election offices across the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump's TikTok U-turn: Says some kids will 'go crazy without it', Facebook 'enemy of the people'

Ex-Donald Trump adviser Peter Navarro has been ordered to report to prison this month, his lawyers said in a court filing, which could make him the first senior member of the former president's administration to do so for efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat.

Navarro, who served as Trump's trade adviser, is due on March 19 to begin his four-month sentence for defying a subpoena from the U.S. House of Representatives committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, his lawyers revealed in a court filing late on Sunday.

They are asking a federal appeals court in Washington to pause the sentence while Navarro appeals his conviction. His defence team indicated they would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene if his request is denied.

Navarro, 74, was found guilty of contempt of Congress last September for refusing to turn over documents or sit for an interview with the Democratic-led House committee that investigated the Capitol riot, a failed attempt by Trump supporters to overturn Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election. He was sentenced in January.

Navarro, a China hawk who also advised Trump on the response to the COVID pandemic, has claimed Trump invoked the legal doctrine of executive privilege, which shields some presidential records and communications from disclosure.

A federal judge found that Trump had not formerly invoked the privilege.

Steve Bannon, a onetime top strategist to Trump, was also sentenced to four months in prison for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 panel, but a judge has allowed him to remain free while he appeals.

Ex-Donald Trump adviser Peter Navarro has been ordered to report to prison this month, his lawyers said in a court filing, which could make him the first senior member of the former president's administration to do so for efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat.

Ex-Donald Trump adviser Peter Navarro has been ordered to report to prison this month, his lawyers said in a court filing, which could make him the first senior member of the former president's administration to do so for efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat. Navarro, who served as Trump's trade adviser, is due on March 19 to begin his four-month sentence for defying a subpoena from the U.S. House of Representatives committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, his lawyers revealed in a court filing late on Sunday. They are asking a federal appeals court in Washington to pause the sentence while Navarro appeals his conviction. His defence team indicated they would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene if his request is denied. Navarro, 74, was found guilty of contempt of Congress last September for refusing to turn over documents or sit for an interview with the Democratic-led House committee that investigated the Capitol riot, a failed attempt by Trump supporters to overturn Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election. He was sentenced in January. Navarro, a China hawk who also advised Trump on the response to the COVID pandemic, has claimed Trump invoked the legal doctrine of executive privilege, which shields some presidential records and communications from disclosure. A federal judge found that Trump had not formerly invoked the privilege. Steve Bannon, a onetime top strategist to Trump, was also sentenced to four months in prison for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 panel, but a judge has allowed him to remain free while he appeals.

Former Trump aide Navarro ordered to report to US prison this month

In a major boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, a seat-sharing pact has been finalised between the BJP, Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party (JSP) for upcoming Lok Sabha elections and state assembly polls in southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh sends 25 members of parliament to Lok Sabha and is one of the states where the BJP has struggled to make a mark but in recent months stepped up efforts to expand its footprint.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-modi-eyes-sweeping-21-odisha-seats-with-bjp-bjd-reunion-697533">Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Modi eyes sweeping 21 Odisha seats with BJP-BJD reunion</a>

"Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of the Hon. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) have decided to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh together," former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's TDP wrote in an official statement.&nbsp;

"We are committed to the progress and development of Andhra Pradesh and the upliftment of the people of our state. We are committed to the development of our nation, aspiring for India to rise as a global leader," the statement added.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;India's race to power: Decoding India's 2024 election contest, welfare scheme ecosystem

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The three parties held a meeting in Delhi where the alliance was formalised. Subsequently, a meeting was held in Amravati where the sharing of seats was agreed upon.

<h2>NDA in Andhra Pradesh: Who is getting how many seats?</h2>

The BJP will contest on six of state's 25 Lok Sabha seats, while the TDP will contest on 17 seats. Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena will contest two seats. For state assembly elections, the BJP will contest on 10 seats while the TDP will contest on 144 seats. The Jana Sena will contest on 21 seats in the state assembly.&nbsp;

"The names of the seats will be announced subsequently by the respective parties. We are driven by a desire to fulfil the expectations of the people of Andhra Pradesh. We are confident that the people of Andhra Pradesh will bless the NDA alliance partners with an opportunity to serve them to the best of our capabilities," the TDP readout added.&nbsp;

In other election-related developments, Prime Minister Modi will chair a high-powered committee on selecting election commissioners on March 14. The names of two new election commissioners will reportedly be finalised in this meeting. As per reports, the meeting originally scheduled for March 15 has been preponed by a day.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a major boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, a seat-sharing pact has been finalised between the BJP, Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party (JSP) for upcoming Lok Sabha elections and state assembly polls in southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

In a major boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, a seat-sharing pact has been finalised between the BJP, Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party (JSP) for upcoming Lok Sabha elections and state assembly polls in southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh sends 25 members of parliament to Lok Sabha and is one of the states where the BJP has struggled to make a mark but in recent months stepped up efforts to expand its footprint. Also read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Modi eyes sweeping 21 Odisha seats with BJP-BJD reunion "Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of the Hon. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) have decided to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh together," former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's TDP wrote in an official statement. "We are committed to the progress and development of Andhra Pradesh and the upliftment of the people of our state. We are committed to the development of our nation, aspiring for India to rise as a global leader," the statement added. Also watch | India's race to power: Decoding India's 2024 election contest, welfare scheme ecosystem × The three parties held a meeting in Delhi where the alliance was formalised. Subsequently, a meeting was held in Amravati where the sharing of seats was agreed upon. NDA in Andhra Pradesh: Who is getting how many seats? The BJP will contest on six of state's 25 Lok Sabha seats, while the TDP will contest on 17 seats. Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena will contest two seats. For state assembly elections, the BJP will contest on 10 seats while the TDP will contest on 144 seats. The Jana Sena will contest on 21 seats in the state assembly. "The names of the seats will be announced subsequently by the respective parties. We are driven by a desire to fulfil the expectations of the people of Andhra Pradesh. We are confident that the people of Andhra Pradesh will bless the NDA alliance partners with an opportunity to serve them to the best of our capabilities," the TDP readout added. In other election-related developments, Prime Minister Modi will chair a high-powered committee on selecting election commissioners on March 14. The names of two new election commissioners will reportedly be finalised in this meeting. As per reports, the meeting originally scheduled for March 15 has been preponed by a day. (With inputs from agencies)

India Elections 2024: BJP finalises Andhra seat pact with Chandrababu and Pawan Kalyan's parties

Japan marked the 13th anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered a nuclear meltdown and left large parts of Fukushima prefecture uninhabitable.

Japan pays tribute to victims of 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster

Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won Sunday's general election by a slim margin and is preparing to govern without an outright majority as the far-right Chega warned of instability if it is not included in government.

With 99.1% of the vote counted, the AD won 79 seats in the 230-seat legislature, followed by the Socialists with 77 seats, prompting the latter to concede defeat.

Chega, meaning "enough", came third, quadrupling its parliamentary representation to 48 lawmakers after campaigning on a clean governance and anti-immigration platform.

Chega voters said before the poll that&nbsp;Portugal&nbsp;was in a bad way and they wanted changes in housing, education, healthcare and justice in Western Europe's poorest country.

AD leader Luis Montenegro told reporters on Sunday that he expected President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to formally invite him to form a government.

Rebelo de Sousa, who will meet with political parties from Tuesday until March 20, told Expresso newspaper on Friday he would do everything he could to prevent Chega from gaining power. Those remarks drew criticism as the head of state is mandated to remain neutral.

Chega's leader Andre Ventura told reporters the vote clearly showed that the country wants a government of the AD with Chega.

The outcome was broadly in line with pre-election opinion polls but the AD's victory was significantly smaller and Chega's growth was larger than predicted, political scientist Andre Azevedo Alves told Reuters.

Alves, a professor at Lisbon's Catolica University and St. Mary's University in London, added that the fragility of an AD government due to its reliance on either the PS or Chega to pass legislation made it unlikely to last for several years.

Javier Rouillet from rating agency DBRS Morningstar warned that if the new government was unable to pass legislation, another round of elections could be held later this year or in early 2025.

Chega's surge was boosted by widespread dissatisfaction with the mainstream parties and Ventura's communication skills, he said, factors that could help it garner even better results in the European Parliament (EP) elections.

"Political disaffection was brewing for a very long time," said political scientist Pedro Magalhaes, at the Lisbon's Institute of Social Sciences (ICS). "But there was no political supply to address this political demand."

Marina Costa Lobo, who heads ICS, said she believed Montenegro would keep his word and not strike a formal deal with Chega but there might be "piecemeal" agreements between the two going forward.

"It's difficult to predict Chega's behaviour because they're an anti-system party," she said, adding the far-right's success in&nbsp;Portugal&nbsp;was a harbinger of what can be expected in the EP election in June.

'OUT OF THE SYSTEM'

Eurointelligence consultants said the result marked a new political chapter in&nbsp;Portugal&nbsp;after alternate governance by two mainstream parties for the past 50 years.

"We don't know who'll be in charge of the country, the far-right has little or nothing to offer," PhD student Jorge Catanheira, 29, told Reuters.

The election result underscored a political tilt to the far right across Europe and a dwindling of Socialist governance.

Chega has since 2020 been part of the European Parliament's Identity &amp; Democracy group, which is expected to see gains in June.

Spain's far-right VOX and Matteo Salvini, who leads Italy's co-ruling party Lega, congratulated Ventura.

Portugal's PSI stock index fell 0.3% at open, in line with a decline by European peers, before flattening out.

"The impact of the elections on the market turned out to be nil," XTB analysts said in a note.

Under Socialist leadership since 2015,&nbsp;Portugal&nbsp;has grown at solid annual rates above 2%, except for the pandemic-induced slump of 2020, but many struggle to make ends meet due to low salaries and a housing crisis.

Voter turnout was 66.23%, the highest in nearly three decades.

Magalhaes said it was possible turnout reached such levels because voters who had been "out of the system" came back to support the radical right.

Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won Sunday's general election by a slim margin and is preparing to govern without an outright majority as the far-right Chega warned of instability if it is not included in government.

Portugal's centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) won Sunday's general election by a slim margin and is preparing to govern without an outright majority as the far-right Chega warned of instability if it is not included in government. With 99.1% of the vote counted, the AD won 79 seats in the 230-seat legislature, followed by the Socialists with 77 seats, prompting the latter to concede defeat. Chega, meaning "enough", came third, quadrupling its parliamentary representation to 48 lawmakers after campaigning on a clean governance and anti-immigration platform. Chega voters said before the poll that Portugal was in a bad way and they wanted changes in housing, education, healthcare and justice in Western Europe's poorest country. AD leader Luis Montenegro told reporters on Sunday that he expected President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to formally invite him to form a government. Rebelo de Sousa, who will meet with political parties from Tuesday until March 20, told Expresso newspaper on Friday he would do everything he could to prevent Chega from gaining power. Those remarks drew criticism as the head of state is mandated to remain neutral. Chega's leader Andre Ventura told reporters the vote clearly showed that the country wants a government of the AD with Chega. The outcome was broadly in line with pre-election opinion polls but the AD's victory was significantly smaller and Chega's growth was larger than predicted, political scientist Andre Azevedo Alves told Reuters. Alves, a professor at Lisbon's Catolica University and St. Mary's University in London, added that the fragility of an AD government due to its reliance on either the PS or Chega to pass legislation made it unlikely to last for several years. Javier Rouillet from rating agency DBRS Morningstar warned that if the new government was unable to pass legislation, another round of elections could be held later this year or in early 2025. Chega's surge was boosted by widespread dissatisfaction with the mainstream parties and Ventura's communication skills, he said, factors that could help it garner even better results in the European Parliament (EP) elections. "Political disaffection was brewing for a very long time," said political scientist Pedro Magalhaes, at the Lisbon's Institute of Social Sciences (ICS). "But there was no political supply to address this political demand." Marina Costa Lobo, who heads ICS, said she believed Montenegro would keep his word and not strike a formal deal with Chega but there might be "piecemeal" agreements between the two going forward. "It's difficult to predict Chega's behaviour because they're an anti-system party," she said, adding the far-right's success in Portugal was a harbinger of what can be expected in the EP election in June. 'OUT OF THE SYSTEM' Eurointelligence consultants said the result marked a new political chapter in Portugal after alternate governance by two mainstream parties for the past 50 years. "We don't know who'll be in charge of the country, the far-right has little or nothing to offer," PhD student Jorge Catanheira, 29, told Reuters. The election result underscored a political tilt to the far right across Europe and a dwindling of Socialist governance. Chega has since 2020 been part of the European Parliament's Identity & Democracy group, which is expected to see gains in June. Spain's far-right VOX and Matteo Salvini, who leads Italy's co-ruling party Lega, congratulated Ventura. Portugal's PSI stock index fell 0.3% at open, in line with a decline by European peers, before flattening out. "The impact of the elections on the market turned out to be nil," XTB analysts said in a note. Under Socialist leadership since 2015, Portugal has grown at solid annual rates above 2%, except for the pandemic-induced slump of 2020, but many struggle to make ends meet due to low salaries and a housing crisis. Voter turnout was 66.23%, the highest in nearly three decades. Magalhaes said it was possible turnout reached such levels because voters who had been "out of the system" came back to support the radical right.

Portugal’s centre-right prepares to rule, far-right warns of instability

The United States is preparing a fresh military aid package for Ukraine, potentially amounting to $400 million, according to two anonymous US officials. This marks the first such move in months, as additional funds for Kyiv have faced obstacles from Republican leaders in Congress.

The expected announcement on Tuesday (March 12) reveals that the funding for this package is sourced from credits refunded to the Pentagon for recent purchases and is anticipated to include artillery.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-have-thwarted-attempted-incursions-from-ukraine-699433" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-have-thwarted-attempted-incursions-from-ukraine-699433&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiAmOarou-EAxWId2wGHY7cDRgQFnoECAcQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1h8XDzOJHt6VERU2DlLxlF&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-have-thwarted-attempted-incursions-from-ukraine-699433" target="_blank">Russia claims to have thwarted attempted incursions from&nbsp;Ukraine</a>

The US Army has been actively replenishing stocks sent to Ukraine, making substantial purchases of munitions and vehicles. The last drawdown occurred in December 2023, depleting funds designated for replenishing stocks to zero.

Facing resistance from Republican hardliners, the White House is exploring alternative avenues, including the possibility of using the immobilised $285 billion in Russian assets from 2022 to finance Ukraine weaponry.

Poland's president and prime minister are set to meet President Joe Biden later on Tuesday to discuss ways to bolster support for Ukraine. The urgency to send more military assistance has prompted the Biden administration to use returned funds to replenish stocks, creating a narrow window for urgent aid deployment while waiting for supplemental funding from lawmakers.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-advocates-for-ukraine-to-show-courage-in-negotiations-698401" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-advocates-for-ukraine-to-show-courage-in-negotiations-698401&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiAmOarou-EAxWId2wGHY7cDRgQFnoECAQQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3aAoB4u6fShIdAMoJ0QZVW&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-advocates-for-ukraine-to-show-courage-in-negotiations-698401" target="_blank">Pope encourages&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;to show 'white flag' courage in negotiations</a>

Biden, advocating for military aid to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, faces challenges from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has refused to call a vote on a $60 billion bill for Ukraine, despite its approval in the Democratic-run Senate.

Intelligence agencies have urgently pressed the House to approve additional military assistance, emphasising its role not only in supporting Kyiv against Russia but also in discouraging Chinese aggression.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky recently reported an improvement in the country's strategic position, with Russian troops no longer advancing after the capture of Avdiivka.

However, Zelensky warned of a potential new offensive by Russia in late May or summer and stressed the need for continued military support.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-summons-vatican-envoy-over-popes-white-flag-comments-699246" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-summons-vatican-envoy-over-popes-white-flag-comments-699246&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiAmOarou-EAxWId2wGHY7cDRgQFnoECAYQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1aFdB17ul8_KE7BKIpai7Q&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-summons-vatican-envoy-over-popes-white-flag-comments-699246" target="_blank">Ukraine&nbsp;summons Vatican envoy over Pope's 'white flag' comments</a>

Denmark has also announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, including Caesar artillery systems and ammunition, worth approximately 2.3 billion Danish crowns ($336.6 million).

Additionally, European Union countries are reportedly discussing a new 5 billion-euro ($5.46 billion) top-up to a fund for financing military shipments to Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States is preparing a fresh military aid package for Ukraine, potentially amounting to $400 million, according to two anonymous US officials. This marks the first such move in months, as additional funds for Kyiv have faced obstacles from Republican leaders in Congress.

The United States is preparing a fresh military aid package for Ukraine, potentially amounting to $400 million, according to two anonymous US officials. This marks the first such move in months, as additional funds for Kyiv have faced obstacles from Republican leaders in Congress. The expected announcement on Tuesday (March 12) reveals that the funding for this package is sourced from credits refunded to the Pentagon for recent purchases and is anticipated to include artillery. Also read: Russia claims to have thwarted attempted incursions from Ukraine The US Army has been actively replenishing stocks sent to Ukraine, making substantial purchases of munitions and vehicles. The last drawdown occurred in December 2023, depleting funds designated for replenishing stocks to zero. Facing resistance from Republican hardliners, the White House is exploring alternative avenues, including the possibility of using the immobilised $285 billion in Russian assets from 2022 to finance Ukraine weaponry. Poland's president and prime minister are set to meet President Joe Biden later on Tuesday to discuss ways to bolster support for Ukraine. The urgency to send more military assistance has prompted the Biden administration to use returned funds to replenish stocks, creating a narrow window for urgent aid deployment while waiting for supplemental funding from lawmakers. Also read: Pope encourages Ukraine to show 'white flag' courage in negotiations Biden, advocating for military aid to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, faces challenges from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has refused to call a vote on a $60 billion bill for Ukraine, despite its approval in the Democratic-run Senate. Intelligence agencies have urgently pressed the House to approve additional military assistance, emphasising its role not only in supporting Kyiv against Russia but also in discouraging Chinese aggression. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky recently reported an improvement in the country's strategic position, with Russian troops no longer advancing after the capture of Avdiivka. However, Zelensky warned of a potential new offensive by Russia in late May or summer and stressed the need for continued military support. Also read: Ukraine summons Vatican envoy over Pope's 'white flag' comments Denmark has also announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, including Caesar artillery systems and ammunition, worth approximately 2.3 billion Danish crowns ($336.6 million). Additionally, European Union countries are reportedly discussing a new 5 billion-euro ($5.46 billion) top-up to a fund for financing military shipments to Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

US readies new $400 million weapons package for Ukraine, officials say

Russia continues to dominate the front lines in the ongoing war with Ukraine. A new study now suggests that it's become the biggest importer of European arms and according to data that was released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Europe doubled its arms import between 2019 and 2023.

Russia-Ukraine war | European nations double arms imports to Ukraine in 2014-2019: Study

Will the Russia-Ukraine war spill over beyond its course? Well, the risk of a wider war is increasing by the day. It is now said that the NATO troops in Ukraine is 'not unthinkable'.

Russia-Ukraine War: Poland says, 'presence of NATO troops in Ukraine 'not unthinkable

Gazans were hoping for a truce before Ramadan but that looks like a distant dream. As Palestinians began the fasting period with talks of a possible ceasefire hanging in the balance, our next report tells you how the war-ridden Gazans are celebrating Ramadan with nothing but death and despair.

Israel war: Palestinians in Gaza begin Ramadan

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has been selected to seek a third, successive term in July 28 elections, a senior ruling party official said Monday.

A vote by the PSUV party concluded that Maduro would be its presidential candidate, Diosdado Cabello, considered the number 2 in the ruling "Chavismo" movement, wrote on X.

Maduro, 61, has not made any announcement himself, but has been widely expected to seek reelection in a vote from which his main challenger has been precluded from running.

The president's re-election to a six-year term in 2018 -- widely considered fraudulent -- was not recognized by the United States and dozens of other countries, and was met with a string of sanctions.

Last week, Venezuela's electoral authority CNE announced elections will be held on July 28 in the South American country which is in dire economic straits.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/southern-venezuela-illegal-gold-mine-collapse-kills-dozens-in-bolivar-state-692504">Illegal gold mine collapse kills dozens in southern Venezuela's Bolivar state</a>

That came after Maduro's government and the opposition agreed in Barbados last year to hold a free and fair vote in 2024 with international observers present.

The deal saw the United States ease sanctions against the oil-rich South American country, allowing US-based Chevron to resume limited crude extraction and leading to a prisoner swap.

The agreement required that opposition candidates be allowed to appeal court rulings disqualifying them from holding office.

Since then, however, the Supreme Court loyal to Maduro upheld a 15-year ban on opposition primary winner Maria Corina Machado and others, prompting Washington to consider reimposing sanctions.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has been selected to seek a third, successive term in July 28 elections, a senior ruling party official said Monday. A vote by the PSUV party concluded that Maduro would be its presidential candidate, Diosdado Cabello, considered the number 2 in the ruling "Chavismo" movement, wrote on X.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has been selected to seek a third, successive term in July 28 elections, a senior ruling party official said Monday. A vote by the PSUV party concluded that Maduro would be its presidential candidate, Diosdado Cabello, considered the number 2 in the ruling "Chavismo" movement, wrote on X. Maduro, 61, has not made any announcement himself, but has been widely expected to seek reelection in a vote from which his main challenger has been precluded from running. The president's re-election to a six-year term in 2018 -- widely considered fraudulent -- was not recognized by the United States and dozens of other countries, and was met with a string of sanctions. Last week, Venezuela's electoral authority CNE announced elections will be held on July 28 in the South American country which is in dire economic straits. Also Read: Illegal gold mine collapse kills dozens in southern Venezuela's Bolivar state That came after Maduro's government and the opposition agreed in Barbados last year to hold a free and fair vote in 2024 with international observers present. The deal saw the United States ease sanctions against the oil-rich South American country, allowing US-based Chevron to resume limited crude extraction and leading to a prisoner swap. The agreement required that opposition candidates be allowed to appeal court rulings disqualifying them from holding office. Since then, however, the Supreme Court loyal to Maduro upheld a 15-year ban on opposition primary winner Maria Corina Machado and others, prompting Washington to consider reimposing sanctions.

Venezuela's Maduro named as ruling party election candidate

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