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<p>United States President Joe Biden was interrupted on Monday (Jan 8) by pro-Palestinian supporters during a campaign event in the US state of South Carolina. The group of protesters called for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened at the event?</strong></h2>

<p>Biden was speaking at a campaign event in the Mother Emanuel AME, a Black church – the site of a mass shooting in 2015 where nine people were killed by a reported white supremacist shooter – when a group of protesters interrupted him.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-israeli-military-shows-cluster-of-weapons-factories-of-hamas-in-gaza-678060">Israeli military shows cluster of weapons factories of Hamas in Gaza</a></strong></p>

<p>“If you really care about the lives lost here, you should honour the lives and also call for a ceasefire in Palestine,” a woman was heard shouting. Subsequently, the group of protesters began chanting “ceasefire now.”</p>

<p>They were then asked to leave as Biden supporters in the crowd began chanting, “Four more years.”&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">President Joe Biden’s speech in South Carolina was interrupted by protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. It was soon followed by other attendees’ chants supporting his re-election bid <a href="https://t.co/CZtrZzeORm">https://t.co/CZtrZzeORm</a> <a href="https://t.co/pB3ODtq9DJ">pic.twitter.com/pB3ODtq9DJ</a></p>
— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1744587301554987450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Hamas launched a deadly attack against Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli officials. Since then, the Biden administration and the US president himself have staunchly supported Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Israel has since retaliated with constant bombardment and a ground operation in Gaza, killing at least 23,000 people, mostly women and children in the Palestinian enclave, according to the latest update by the Hamas-run health ministry.</p>

<p>Amid the mounting death toll and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Biden administration has faced criticism, particularly from young voters, over its ongoing support for Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Pushing Israel to ‘significantly get out of Gaza’: Biden</strong></h2>

<p>In response to the woman’s statement and chants that followed, Biden, acknowledging the protest, said that he’s “quietly” pushing Israel to “significantly get out of Gaza”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I understand their passion and I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza — and I’m using all that I can to do that,” said the US president.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-fauda-actor-idan-amedi-seriously-injured-while-fighting-in-gaza-678082">Israel-Hamas war: ‘Fauda’ actor Idan Amedi ‘seriously injured’ while fighting in Gaza</a></strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv on Monday amid his high-stakes trip as American allies who backed Israel are now growing critical amid mounting civilian death toll in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Blinken, as per AFP, will also speak to Israeli officials as he seeks to prevent the Gaza conflict from widening. During his visit, Washington’s top diplomat is also expected to put pressure on Israel’s government to reduce civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.</p>

<p>The recent visit by Washington’s top diplomat will be the latest in a long parade of officials from the Biden administration going to Tel Aviv to meet Israeli government officials. This is Blinken’s fifth visit to Israel since the beginning of the war.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)<br />
<br />
<strong>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</strong></em></p>


United States President Joe Biden was interrupted on Monday (Jan 8) by pro-Palestinian supporters during a campaign event in the US state of South Carolina. The group of protesters called for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

United States President Joe Biden was interrupted on Monday (Jan 8) by pro-Palestinian supporters during a campaign event in the US state of South Carolina. The group of protesters called for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. What happened at the event? Biden was speaking at a campaign event in the Mother Emanuel AME, a Black church – the site of a mass shooting in 2015 where nine people were killed by a reported white supremacist shooter – when a group of protesters interrupted him. ALSO READ | Israeli military shows cluster of weapons factories of Hamas in Gaza “If you really care about the lives lost here, you should honour the lives and also call for a ceasefire in Palestine,” a woman was heard shouting. Subsequently, the group of protesters began chanting “ceasefire now.” They were then asked to leave as Biden supporters in the crowd began chanting, “Four more years.” President Joe Biden’s speech in South Carolina was interrupted by protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. It was soon followed by other attendees’ chants supporting his re-election bid https://t.co/CZtrZzeORm pic.twitter.com/pB3ODtq9DJ — Reuters (@Reuters) January 9, 2024 × Hamas launched a deadly attack against Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli officials. Since then, the Biden administration and the US president himself have staunchly supported Israel. However, Israel has since retaliated with constant bombardment and a ground operation in Gaza, killing at least 23,000 people, mostly women and children in the Palestinian enclave, according to the latest update by the Hamas-run health ministry. Amid the mounting death toll and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Biden administration has faced criticism, particularly from young voters, over its ongoing support for Israel. Pushing Israel to ‘significantly get out of Gaza’: Biden In response to the woman’s statement and chants that followed, Biden, acknowledging the protest, said that he’s “quietly” pushing Israel to “significantly get out of Gaza”. “I understand their passion and I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza — and I’m using all that I can to do that,” said the US president. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war: ‘Fauda’ actor Idan Amedi ‘seriously injured’ while fighting in Gaza Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv on Monday amid his high-stakes trip as American allies who backed Israel are now growing critical amid mounting civilian death toll in Gaza. Blinken, as per AFP, will also speak to Israeli officials as he seeks to prevent the Gaza conflict from widening. During his visit, Washington’s top diplomat is also expected to put pressure on Israel’s government to reduce civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. The recent visit by Washington’s top diplomat will be the latest in a long parade of officials from the Biden administration going to Tel Aviv to meet Israeli government officials. This is Blinken’s fifth visit to Israel since the beginning of the war. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

WATCH | Biden's speech interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters calling for ceasefire in Gaza

<p>Wayne LaPierre, the former chief executive of the US gun lobby group&nbsp;National Rifle Association (NRA), has been accused of pilfering millions of dollars from the organisation for his personal benefit, the prosecutors said on the first day of a&nbsp;civil trial in Manhattan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Monica Connell, New York’s assistant attorney general made the claim during the opening statements. Apart from&nbsp;LaPierre, two other NRA leaders are also being investigated for squandering the money on luxury travel and other perks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The NRA allowed Wayne LaPierre and his group of insiders to operate the NRA as ‘Wayne’s World’ for decades'. Wayne LaPierre and his friends effectively suppressed the voice of anyone who challenged his leadership,” said Connell.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This case is about corruption in a charity. It’s about breaches of trust, it’s about power. People take their hard-earned money and donate it to charities they believe in," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>LaPierre announced his resignation last Friday (Jan 5) for unstated health reasons. His lawyer later elaborated that&nbsp;&nbsp;LaPierre suffers from chronic Lyme disease.</p>

<p>"I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever," he wrote in a post.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gun-lobby-in-us-how-does-it-affect-americas-economy-explained-484467"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gun lobby in US: How does it affect America’s economy? Explained</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>NRA throws LaPierre under the bus</strong></h2>

<p>The NRA is hoping to dodge the penalties from the corruption trial by arguing that LaPierre's resignation proved that there&nbsp;was no longer ongoing wrongdoing at the gun lobby. Additionally, NRA has dubbed itself as the victim of "former rogue officers".&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the prosecutors are unmoved by the argument put forth by NRA. According to&nbsp;Attorney General Letitia James, the resignation's timing, three days before the opening statements, suggests it was engineered to gain an advantage at the trial.&nbsp;</p>

<p>James has demanded that LaPierre, who used the NRA coffers as a "piggy bank", reimburse the organisation for years of charging them for private jet travel, trips to the Bahamas, black car services, and gifts for friends and vendors.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/usas-most-powerful-gun-lobby-goes-ahead-with-weapons-convention-just-days-after-texas-school-massacre-482543"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;USA's most powerful gun lobby goes ahead with weapons convention, just days after Texas school massacre</strong></a></p>

<p>She added that LaPierre, alongside other NRA leaders, oversaw a toxic working environment for decades where dissent was stifled and loyalists were awarded excessive pay hikes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>LaPierre and his fellow defendants were in the courtroom's front-row seat on the opening day of the trial which is expected to last up to six weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Wayne LaPierre, the former chief executive of the US gun lobby group National Rifle Association (NRA), has been accused of pilfering millions of dollars from the organisation for his personal benefit, the prosecutors said on the first day of a civil trial in Manhattan.

Wayne LaPierre, the former chief executive of the US gun lobby group National Rifle Association (NRA), has been accused of pilfering millions of dollars from the organisation for his personal benefit, the prosecutors said on the first day of a civil trial in Manhattan. Monica Connell, New York’s assistant attorney general made the claim during the opening statements. Apart from LaPierre, two other NRA leaders are also being investigated for squandering the money on luxury travel and other perks. “The NRA allowed Wayne LaPierre and his group of insiders to operate the NRA as ‘Wayne’s World’ for decades'. Wayne LaPierre and his friends effectively suppressed the voice of anyone who challenged his leadership,” said Connell. “This case is about corruption in a charity. It’s about breaches of trust, it’s about power. People take their hard-earned money and donate it to charities they believe in," she added. LaPierre announced his resignation last Friday (Jan 5) for unstated health reasons. His lawyer later elaborated that LaPierre suffers from chronic Lyme disease. "I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever," he wrote in a post. Watch | Gun lobby in US: How does it affect America’s economy? Explained × NRA throws LaPierre under the bus The NRA is hoping to dodge the penalties from the corruption trial by arguing that LaPierre's resignation proved that there was no longer ongoing wrongdoing at the gun lobby. Additionally, NRA has dubbed itself as the victim of "former rogue officers". However, the prosecutors are unmoved by the argument put forth by NRA. According to Attorney General Letitia James, the resignation's timing, three days before the opening statements, suggests it was engineered to gain an advantage at the trial. James has demanded that LaPierre, who used the NRA coffers as a "piggy bank", reimburse the organisation for years of charging them for private jet travel, trips to the Bahamas, black car services, and gifts for friends and vendors. Also read | USA's most powerful gun lobby goes ahead with weapons convention, just days after Texas school massacre She added that LaPierre, alongside other NRA leaders, oversaw a toxic working environment for decades where dissent was stifled and loyalists were awarded excessive pay hikes. LaPierre and his fellow defendants were in the courtroom's front-row seat on the opening day of the trial which is expected to last up to six weeks. (With inputs from agencies)

Wayne LaPierre: Corruption trial underway against ex-chief of NRA, the most powerful US gun lobby

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa on Monday declared a state of emergency for 60 days a day after the country's most-wanted prisoner disappeared from the jail where he was being held. Watch to know more!

Ecuador: State of emergency declared after most wanted criminal escapes prison

<p>Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Monday (Jan 8) vowed that there will be no pardon for his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters who rioted in the capital last year in protest against an election result.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Brazilians in Sao Paulo took to the streets to mark the first anniversary of the day where parts of the capital were stormed by protesters calling for a military coup after Lula’s win.</p>

<h2><strong>‘Democracy Unshaken’</strong></h2>

<p>Brazilian authorities celebrated their country’s democratic system under a screen that read “Democracy Unshaken.” The gathering&nbsp;was attended by Congressional leaders, Supreme Court justices and government officials led by the Brazilian president in the capital Brasilia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“All those who financed, planned and executed the coup attempt must be exemplarily punished. There can be no pardon for those who attack democracy,” said Lula at the event held in Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-modi-to-inaugurate-10-edition-of-vibrant-gujarat-global-summit-tomorrow-678108">&nbsp;Indian PM Modi to inaugurate 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit tomorrow</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, “Forgiveness would sound like impunity. And impunity would be a free pass for more acts of terrorism. We saved democracy... But democracy must be built and protected every day.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the 78-year-old was speaking in the main entry hall of Congress – one of three buildings far-right rioters attacked on this day last year, along with the presidential palace and Supreme Court next door.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Bolsonaro supporters stormed the capital</strong></h2>

<p>Last year, on January 8, tens of thousands of supporters of hard-right former president Bolsonaro stormed the Brazilian capital city’s buildings that symbolise the country’s democracy, a week after Lula had taken office.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lula’s predecessor, who never conceded defeat, had left the country for the United States before the presidential handover to his successor. Bolsonaro is currently under investigation by the Supreme Court for allegedly instigating the unrest.</p>

<p>The riots in Brasilia were eerily similar to the riots which took place at the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021, where supporters of Donald Trump stormed the building in a bid to stop the American lawmakers from certifying&nbsp;Joe Biden’s win. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-jan-6-rioters-hostages-skips-signing-illinois-loyalty-oath-promising-to-not-overthrow-govt-677620">Trump calls Jan 6 rioters 'hostages,' skips signing Illinois loyalty oath promising to not overthrow govt</a></strong></p>

<p>Bolsonaro, who is said to have considered Trump a political role model, has since denied involvement and called the events that unfolded on January 8 a “setup” orchestrated by the left, during a recent interview with CNN Brasil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, more than 2,000 people have been arrested in connection with the riots – although most were later released – and 30 have been convicted on charges including armed criminal conspiracy, a violent uprising against the rule of law and an attempted coup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The police said that they conducted new raids on Monday (Jan 8) to track down those who planned and financed the attacks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the former president has been banned by the country’s electoral authority from running for elected office for eight years over his abuse of power and misuse of the media ahead of the 2022 election. This comes after Bolsonaro reportedly summoned ambassadors to talk about unfounded claims about Brazil’s electronic voting system.</p>

<p>Ahead of the first anniversary, a poll conducted by Genial/Quaest which was released on Sunday (Jan 7) showed that a large majority of Brazilians disapprove of the riots, with a staggering 89 per cent against the riot and only six per cent voting in favour of them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ecuador-declares-state-of-emergency-after-its-most-wanted-criminal-disappears-from-jail-678015">Ecuador declares state of emergency after its most-wanted criminal disappears from jail</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>‘Jail for Bolsonaro’</strong></h2>

<p>Brazilians took to the streets in Sao Paulo on the first anniversary of the riots and called for clarity on the events and no pardon for the perpetrators, including Bolsonaro.</p>

<p>“No amnesty, no pardon. I want to see Bolsonaro in jail,” protesters were heard chanting in Portuguese, according to Reuters.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Monday (Jan 8) vowed that there will be no pardon for his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters who rioted in the capital last year in protest against an election result.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Monday (Jan 8) vowed that there will be no pardon for his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters who rioted in the capital last year in protest against an election result. Meanwhile, Brazilians in Sao Paulo took to the streets to mark the first anniversary of the day where parts of the capital were stormed by protesters calling for a military coup after Lula’s win. ‘Democracy Unshaken’ Brazilian authorities celebrated their country’s democratic system under a screen that read “Democracy Unshaken.” The gathering was attended by Congressional leaders, Supreme Court justices and government officials led by the Brazilian president in the capital Brasilia. “All those who financed, planned and executed the coup attempt must be exemplarily punished. There can be no pardon for those who attack democracy,” said Lula at the event held in Congress. ALSO READ | Indian PM Modi to inaugurate 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit tomorrow He added, “Forgiveness would sound like impunity. And impunity would be a free pass for more acts of terrorism. We saved democracy... But democracy must be built and protected every day.” Notably, the 78-year-old was speaking in the main entry hall of Congress – one of three buildings far-right rioters attacked on this day last year, along with the presidential palace and Supreme Court next door. Bolsonaro supporters stormed the capital Last year, on January 8, tens of thousands of supporters of hard-right former president Bolsonaro stormed the Brazilian capital city’s buildings that symbolise the country’s democracy, a week after Lula had taken office. Lula’s predecessor, who never conceded defeat, had left the country for the United States before the presidential handover to his successor. Bolsonaro is currently under investigation by the Supreme Court for allegedly instigating the unrest. The riots in Brasilia were eerily similar to the riots which took place at the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021, where supporters of Donald Trump stormed the building in a bid to stop the American lawmakers from certifying Joe Biden’s win. ALSO READ | Trump calls Jan 6 rioters 'hostages,' skips signing Illinois loyalty oath promising to not overthrow govt Bolsonaro, who is said to have considered Trump a political role model, has since denied involvement and called the events that unfolded on January 8 a “setup” orchestrated by the left, during a recent interview with CNN Brasil. So far, more than 2,000 people have been arrested in connection with the riots – although most were later released – and 30 have been convicted on charges including armed criminal conspiracy, a violent uprising against the rule of law and an attempted coup. The police said that they conducted new raids on Monday (Jan 8) to track down those who planned and financed the attacks. Meanwhile, the former president has been banned by the country’s electoral authority from running for elected office for eight years over his abuse of power and misuse of the media ahead of the 2022 election. This comes after Bolsonaro reportedly summoned ambassadors to talk about unfounded claims about Brazil’s electronic voting system. Ahead of the first anniversary, a poll conducted by Genial/Quaest which was released on Sunday (Jan 7) showed that a large majority of Brazilians disapprove of the riots, with a staggering 89 per cent against the riot and only six per cent voting in favour of them. ALSO READ | Ecuador declares state of emergency after its most-wanted criminal disappears from jail ‘Jail for Bolsonaro’ Brazilians took to the streets in Sao Paulo on the first anniversary of the riots and called for clarity on the events and no pardon for the perpetrators, including Bolsonaro. “No amnesty, no pardon. I want to see Bolsonaro in jail,” protesters were heard chanting in Portuguese, according to Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

‘No pardon for attack on democracy,’ says Lula on anniversary of Jan 8 Brazil riots

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Israel, again in his quest to prevent the Gaza conflict from growing into a regional conflagration, as the Israeli military said its fight against Hamas would continue all year. Antony Blinken warned Israel's war in Gaza could 'Metastasize.'

Israel-Hamas war: Hamas blames Israel for killing Deputy leader Arouri as tensions rise in West Asia

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidjg4W5OxMnB2f" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>A co-defendant in former US president Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case on Monday (Jan 8) sought the disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her "improper, clandestine personal relationship" with the case's special prosecutor.</p>

<p>According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the accusation was mentioned in a 127-page filing by co-defendant Michael Roman, who is seeking to have his indictment dismissed.</p>

<p>The filing alleged a romantic relationship between Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade. It said that Willis contracted Wade without the required approval by Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Willis, Wade violated laws...'</strong></h2>

<p>"Sources close to both the special prosecutor and the district attorney have confirmed Willis and Wade had an ongoing, personal, and romantic relationship during the pendency of Wade's divorce proceedings," the document said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It alleged that the pair profited "significantly from this prosecution at the expense of the taxpayers," adding that Wade has been paid $653,881 as of December last year.</p>

<p>"Accordingly, the district attorney and the special prosecutor have violated laws regulating the use of public monies, suffer from irreparable conflicts of interest, and have violated their oaths of office under the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and should be disqualified from prosecuting this matter," the document further said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Michael Roman?</strong></h2>

<p>Michael Roman is one of the 19 defendants charged with racketeering in the election case.</p>

<p>In August last year, Roman turned himself in to authorities in Georgia to face charges that he played a role in a fake electors' plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to American media, Roman was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree; conspiracy to commit false statements and writings; violation of the Georgia RICO Act; conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, and conspiracy to commit filing false documents.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A co-defendant in former US president Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case on Monday (Jan 8) sought the disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her "improper, clandestine personal relationship" with the case's special prosecutor.

A co-defendant in former US president Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case on Monday (Jan 8) sought the disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her "improper, clandestine personal relationship" with the case's special prosecutor. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the accusation was mentioned in a 127-page filing by co-defendant Michael Roman, who is seeking to have his indictment dismissed. The filing alleged a romantic relationship between Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade. It said that Willis contracted Wade without the required approval by Washington. 'Willis, Wade violated laws...' "Sources close to both the special prosecutor and the district attorney have confirmed Willis and Wade had an ongoing, personal, and romantic relationship during the pendency of Wade's divorce proceedings," the document said. It alleged that the pair profited "significantly from this prosecution at the expense of the taxpayers," adding that Wade has been paid $653,881 as of December last year. "Accordingly, the district attorney and the special prosecutor have violated laws regulating the use of public monies, suffer from irreparable conflicts of interest, and have violated their oaths of office under the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and should be disqualified from prosecuting this matter," the document further said. Who is Michael Roman? Michael Roman is one of the 19 defendants charged with racketeering in the election case. In August last year, Roman turned himself in to authorities in Georgia to face charges that he played a role in a fake electors' plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election there. According to American media, Roman was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree; conspiracy to commit false statements and writings; violation of the Georgia RICO Act; conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, and conspiracy to commit filing false documents. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump poll case co-defendant wants DA Fani Willis disqualified over relationship with prosecutor

US Secretary of State visits Israel again, in a bid to stop Gaza war spreading | World News | WION

<p>Pakistan, China, Myanmar and North Korea are among those designated as "countries of particular concern" by the US in its annual report on religious freedom, for engaging in and tolerating "particularly severe violations of religious freedom".</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while announcing the Religious Freedom Designations, said that advancing the freedom of belief or religion has been US foreign policy's core objective since the International Religious Freedom Act was passed and enacted in 1998.</p>

<p>As part of the "enduring commitment", Blinken last week said that he has designated Burma (Myanmar), China, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as “Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-focus-on-ending-israeli-aggression-hamas-chief-tells-antony-blinken-677218">Israel-Hamas war: Focus on ending Israeli aggression, Hamas chief tells Antony Blinken</a></p>

<p>Along with that, he also designated Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam in the category of "Special Watch List" countries after they engaged in or tolerated major violations of religious freedom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Blinken further designated al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel, ISIS-West Africa, al-Qa’ida affiliate Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as “Entities of Particular Concern.”</p>

<h2><strong>Religious freedom also violated in non-designated nations: Blinken</strong></h2>

<p>He emphasised that major violations of religious freedom have also taken place in countries which are not designated.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Turkiye in fresh West Asia trip</strong></p>

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<p>"Governments must end abuses such as attacks on members of religious minority communities and their places of worship, communal violence and lengthy imprisonment for peaceful expression, transnational repression, and calls to violence against religious communities, among other violations that occur in too many places around the world,” said Blinken.</p>

<p>He stated that the challenges to religious freedom are structural, systemic, and deeply entrenched across the globe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But with thoughtful, sustained commitment from those who are unwilling to accept hatred, intolerance, and persecution as the status quo we will one day see a world where all people live with dignity and equality,” said Blinken.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Pakistan, China, Myanmar and North Korea are among those designated as "countries of particular concern" by the US in its annual report on religious freedom, for engaging in and tolerating "particularly severe violations of religious freedom".

Pakistan, China, Myanmar and North Korea are among those designated as "countries of particular concern" by the US in its annual report on religious freedom, for engaging in and tolerating "particularly severe violations of religious freedom". US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while announcing the Religious Freedom Designations, said that advancing the freedom of belief or religion has been US foreign policy's core objective since the International Religious Freedom Act was passed and enacted in 1998. As part of the "enduring commitment", Blinken last week said that he has designated Burma (Myanmar), China, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as “Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” Also read: Israel-Hamas war: Focus on ending Israeli aggression, Hamas chief tells Antony Blinken Along with that, he also designated Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam in the category of "Special Watch List" countries after they engaged in or tolerated major violations of religious freedom. Blinken further designated al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel, ISIS-West Africa, al-Qa’ida affiliate Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as “Entities of Particular Concern.” Religious freedom also violated in non-designated nations: Blinken He emphasised that major violations of religious freedom have also taken place in countries which are not designated. Watch: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Turkiye in fresh West Asia trip "Governments must end abuses such as attacks on members of religious minority communities and their places of worship, communal violence and lengthy imprisonment for peaceful expression, transnational repression, and calls to violence against religious communities, among other violations that occur in too many places around the world,” said Blinken. He stated that the challenges to religious freedom are structural, systemic, and deeply entrenched across the globe. "But with thoughtful, sustained commitment from those who are unwilling to accept hatred, intolerance, and persecution as the status quo we will one day see a world where all people live with dignity and equality,” said Blinken. (With inputs from agencies)

US designates China, Pakistan as 'countries of particular concern' on religious freedom

Maldives MP Mickail Naseem has proposed Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer & suspended ministers Malsha, Maryam Shiuna, Mahzoom Masjid to be summoned by the Maldives Parliament. Speaking to our correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, "So the foreign minister will be summoned to the Parliament floor, and the rest of them, the deputy ministers who have been involved in making these derogatory remarks, they'll be properly summoned to the parliamentary committee, which is a Committee on Foreign Relations." Watch to know more!

Maldives-India Row: Maldives MP urges parliament summoning for foreign & suspended ministers

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<p>Ecuador on Monday (Jan 8) declared a state of emergency for 60 days after the country's most-wanted criminal disappeared from the jail where he was being held. Four police officers were kidnapped following the imposition of the measure. In the coastal city of Machala "three police officers, who were on duty at the scene, were kidnapped", while a fourth officer was kidnapped in the capital Quito, Ecuador's police force said on X.</p>

<p>According to a report by the news agency Reuters, Adolfo Macias, leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, disappeared from the Guayaquil prison on Sunday&nbsp;where he was serving a 34-year sentence. A day later, the national prison agency said there were incidents in at least six of Ecuador's prisons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have given clear and precise instructions to military and police commanders to intervene in controlling prisons. I have just signed the state of exception decree so that the armed forces have full political and legal backing in their actions. I call on the citizens because this is everyone's fight and to show their support," Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa said on Monday.</p>

<p>"We are experiencing a sign that things must change in the country and that our laws are not enough to live in peace. There is no room for opportunistic politicians to seek advantage amid a prison security crisis. We will not negotiate with terrorists, nor will we rest until we return peace to all Ecuadoreans," President Noboa added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happens now?</strong></h2>

<p>The state of emergency will see the deployment of the military onto the streets and into prisons while setting a national nighttime curfew. Previous governments in Ecuador have resorted in recent years to states of emergency in efforts to boost security but without major results.</p>

<p>This emergency measure is among the first big security tests for Noboa, who took office in November last year promising to crack down on soaring levels of violence in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Adolfo Macias?</strong></h2>

<p>Jose Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," is the leader of the notorious Los Choneros gang. In 2011, Fito was sentenced to 34 years in prison for various crimes, including drug trafficking and murder.</p>

<p>During a press conference on Sunday, government spokesperson Roberto Izurieta said that over 3,000 law enforcement personnel were trying to locate Fito. “We are convinced that with the support of the armed forces and the police, and their professionalism, we will finish this search successfully,” Izurieta added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ecuador on Monday (Jan 8) declared a state of emergency for 60 days after the country's most-wanted criminal disappeared from the jail where he was being held. Four police officers were kidnapped following the imposition of the measure.

Ecuador on Monday (Jan 8) declared a state of emergency for 60 days after the country's most-wanted criminal disappeared from the jail where he was being held. Four police officers were kidnapped following the imposition of the measure. In the coastal city of Machala "three police officers, who were on duty at the scene, were kidnapped", while a fourth officer was kidnapped in the capital Quito, Ecuador's police force said on X. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, Adolfo Macias, leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, disappeared from the Guayaquil prison on Sunday where he was serving a 34-year sentence. A day later, the national prison agency said there were incidents in at least six of Ecuador's prisons. "I have given clear and precise instructions to military and police commanders to intervene in controlling prisons. I have just signed the state of exception decree so that the armed forces have full political and legal backing in their actions. I call on the citizens because this is everyone's fight and to show their support," Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa said on Monday. "We are experiencing a sign that things must change in the country and that our laws are not enough to live in peace. There is no room for opportunistic politicians to seek advantage amid a prison security crisis. We will not negotiate with terrorists, nor will we rest until we return peace to all Ecuadoreans," President Noboa added. What happens now? The state of emergency will see the deployment of the military onto the streets and into prisons while setting a national nighttime curfew. Previous governments in Ecuador have resorted in recent years to states of emergency in efforts to boost security but without major results. This emergency measure is among the first big security tests for Noboa, who took office in November last year promising to crack down on soaring levels of violence in the country. Who is Adolfo Macias? Jose Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," is the leader of the notorious Los Choneros gang. In 2011, Fito was sentenced to 34 years in prison for various crimes, including drug trafficking and murder. During a press conference on Sunday, government spokesperson Roberto Izurieta said that over 3,000 law enforcement personnel were trying to locate Fito. “We are convinced that with the support of the armed forces and the police, and their professionalism, we will finish this search successfully,” Izurieta added. (With inputs from agencies)

Ecuador declares state of emergency after its most-wanted criminal disappears from jail

Bhutan began casting their ballots, the polls were open for the country's final round of Parliamentary elections. According to the Election Commission of Bhutan, voting will be closed at 4 PM local time.

Bhutan goes to vote amidst economic crisis; Who can solve Bhutan's economic woes? | WION

<p>World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday (Jan 8) that its unit in the Palestinian territory has been facing massive troubles in reaching the war-ravaged region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a blog post on social media platform X, the office of WHO Palestinian territories said that it's been 12 days since they were last able to reach northern Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added, "Heavy bombardment, movement restrictions, and interrupted communications are making it nearly impossible to deliver medical supplies regularly and safely across Gaza, particularly in the north."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The office of WHO said informed that on Monday, it cancelled a planned mission to Al-Awda hospital and the central drug store in northern Gaza for the fourth time since December 26 because they did not receive deconfliction and safety guarantees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The mission planned to move urgently needed medical supplies to sustain the operations of five hospitals in the north, including Al-Awda," it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-jihad-releases-video-showing-gaza-hostage-alive-677929">Islamic Jihad releases video showing Gaza hostage alive</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The world health agency emphasised that in the absence of adequate health care, the suffering in Gaza is growing each hour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by WHO in its post, Dr Mohamed Obied, an Orthopedic Consultant at Al-Awda Hospital explained the challenges amputees face.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that "injured people are often only able to reach doctors days or weeks after they've been hurt, sometimes with severe infections, reducing the possibility of saving their limbs".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Obied added that the "health facilities don't have the specialised health workers medicines or equipment these injuries require".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Doctors face the hard choice of performing above-knee rather than below-knee amputations. These pose rehabilitation challenges and can lead to poor life quality in the future, Dr Obied further added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that amputees need physiotherapy and rehabilitation, proper nursing care, along with nutritious food and mental health support, the facilities which are&nbsp;currently unavailable.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-hamas-war-strike-on-lebanon-kills-senior-commander-in-elite-hezbollah-unit-677882">Strike on Lebanon kills senior commander in elite Hezbollah unit</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Israeli strike kills two Palestinian journalists in Gaza&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Death toll update&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza claimed on Monday that at least 23,084 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war with Israel began on October 7.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ministry said in a statement that it had recorded 249 deaths in the past 24 hours, while a total of 58,926 people had been wounded in the Gaza Strip during the more than three months of fighting.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><em>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</em></strong></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday (Jan 8) that its unit in the Palestinian territory has been facing massive troubles in reaching the war-ravaged region.

World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday (Jan 8) that its unit in the Palestinian territory has been facing massive troubles in reaching the war-ravaged region. In a blog post on social media platform X, the office of WHO Palestinian territories said that it's been 12 days since they were last able to reach northern Gaza. It added, "Heavy bombardment, movement restrictions, and interrupted communications are making it nearly impossible to deliver medical supplies regularly and safely across Gaza, particularly in the north." The office of WHO said informed that on Monday, it cancelled a planned mission to Al-Awda hospital and the central drug store in northern Gaza for the fourth time since December 26 because they did not receive deconfliction and safety guarantees. "The mission planned to move urgently needed medical supplies to sustain the operations of five hospitals in the north, including Al-Awda," it said. Also read: Islamic Jihad releases video showing Gaza hostage alive The world health agency emphasised that in the absence of adequate health care, the suffering in Gaza is growing each hour. As quoted by WHO in its post, Dr Mohamed Obied, an Orthopedic Consultant at Al-Awda Hospital explained the challenges amputees face. He said that "injured people are often only able to reach doctors days or weeks after they've been hurt, sometimes with severe infections, reducing the possibility of saving their limbs". Dr Obied added that the "health facilities don't have the specialised health workers medicines or equipment these injuries require". Doctors face the hard choice of performing above-knee rather than below-knee amputations. These pose rehabilitation challenges and can lead to poor life quality in the future, Dr Obied further added. He said that amputees need physiotherapy and rehabilitation, proper nursing care, along with nutritious food and mental health support, the facilities which are currently unavailable. Also read: Strike on Lebanon kills senior commander in elite Hezbollah unit Watch: Israeli strike kills two Palestinian journalists in Gaza × Death toll update Meanwhile, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza claimed on Monday that at least 23,084 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war with Israel began on October 7. The ministry said in a statement that it had recorded 249 deaths in the past 24 hours, while a total of 58,926 people had been wounded in the Gaza Strip during the more than three months of fighting. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: WHO cites Gaza obstacles, cancels planned mission in hospital for the 4th time

<p>Two House committees, Judiciary and Oversight, released reports recommending contempt charges against Hunter Biden for his alleged defiance of a subpoena related to the impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden, as reported by Fox News.</p>

<p>The reports assert that Hunter Biden "must be held accountable for his unlawful actions," marking a continuation of the Republican-led effort to investigate corruption allegations against the Democratic president and his family.</p>

<p>The release of the reports follows a planned move by the committee chairmen to hold markups and vote on resolutions recommending contempt charges against Hunter Biden. This step was expected after the initiation of contempt proceedings last month.</p>

<p>Republicans initiated contempt proceedings when Hunter Biden refused a closed-door deposition, offering instead to testify publicly. The upcoming markups will determine whether the resolutions will proceed to a full House vote. If passed, the matter could be referred to the Department of Justice for potential criminal charges.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Will Joe Biden be impeached? | The big allegations against the US&nbsp;President</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Hunter Biden's defiance</strong></h2>

<p>Despite Hunter Biden's public offer to testify, the refusal of a closed-door deposition led to allegations of defiance, prompting the call for contempt charges. Biden's statements outside the U.S. Capitol, defending his business record, intensified the Republican investigation.</p>

<p>The committee chairmen, Rep. James Comer and Rep. Jim Jordan, stated that Hunter Biden's defiance "warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution." This signals potential legal ramifications amid the ongoing investigations.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-led-house-authorises-biden-impeachment-inquiry-us-prez-calls-it-baseless-political-stunt-669461">Also read |&nbsp;Republican-led House authorises Biden impeachment inquiry; US prez calls it ‘baseless political stunt’</a></p>

<p>As Hunter Biden faces legal challenges, including federal criminal cases on tax and gun-related charges, the political backdrop intensifies. With his father seeking a second term, Hunter's legal schedule includes upcoming arraignment on tax-related charges in Los Angeles and federal court proceedings in Delaware.</p>

<p>Hunter Biden's legal battles coincide with the political landscape, with the prospect of contempt charges adding complexity to the investigations surrounding the Biden family.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Two House committees, Judiciary and Oversight, released reports recommending contempt charges against Hunter Biden for his alleged defiance of a subpoena related to the impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden, as reported by Fox News.

Two House committees, Judiciary and Oversight, released reports recommending contempt charges against Hunter Biden for his alleged defiance of a subpoena related to the impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden, as reported by Fox News. The reports assert that Hunter Biden "must be held accountable for his unlawful actions," marking a continuation of the Republican-led effort to investigate corruption allegations against the Democratic president and his family. The release of the reports follows a planned move by the committee chairmen to hold markups and vote on resolutions recommending contempt charges against Hunter Biden. This step was expected after the initiation of contempt proceedings last month. Republicans initiated contempt proceedings when Hunter Biden refused a closed-door deposition, offering instead to testify publicly. The upcoming markups will determine whether the resolutions will proceed to a full House vote. If passed, the matter could be referred to the Department of Justice for potential criminal charges. Also watch | Will Joe Biden be impeached? | The big allegations against the US President Hunter Biden's defiance Despite Hunter Biden's public offer to testify, the refusal of a closed-door deposition led to allegations of defiance, prompting the call for contempt charges. Biden's statements outside the U.S. Capitol, defending his business record, intensified the Republican investigation. The committee chairmen, Rep. James Comer and Rep. Jim Jordan, stated that Hunter Biden's defiance "warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution." This signals potential legal ramifications amid the ongoing investigations. Also read | Republican-led House authorises Biden impeachment inquiry; US prez calls it ‘baseless political stunt’ As Hunter Biden faces legal challenges, including federal criminal cases on tax and gun-related charges, the political backdrop intensifies. With his father seeking a second term, Hunter's legal schedule includes upcoming arraignment on tax-related charges in Los Angeles and federal court proceedings in Delaware. Hunter Biden's legal battles coincide with the political landscape, with the prospect of contempt charges adding complexity to the investigations surrounding the Biden family. (With inputs from agencies)

US: House committees recommend holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress

The social media is filled with 'Boycott Maldives' hashtag. Following derogatory comments by Maldivian officials about Indian PM Narendra Modi. It is now time for Maldives parliament to intervene, says Maldives MP Mickail Naseem in a conversation with WION . The 3 ministers were soon suspended after their remarks drew criticism from India and abroad.

India-Maldives Row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments, proposes Muizzu's visit to India

<p>The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said on Monday (Jan 8) that data on the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) in the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max was overwritten. The NTSB chair said that no data was found as the recorder starts erasing previous data after two hours and the CVR was not retrieved within two hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There was a lot going on, on the flight deck and on the plane. It's a very chaotic event. The circuit breaker for the CVR (cockpit voice recorder) was not pulled. The maintenance team went out to get it, but it was right at about the two-hour mark," said NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy as quoted by Reuters.</p>

<p>The Alaska Airlines aircraft lost a panel mid-flight on Friday last week. The loss of part of the fuselage caused the cabin to depressurise and objects to get sucked outside the plane while it was in the air.</p>

<p>There were 171 passengers in the plane when the incident took place.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | US grounds 171 Boeing planes after Alaska Airlines window blows out mid-air</strong></p>

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<p>In the United States, rules mandate that cockpit voice recorders should record two hours of data as opposed to 25 hours as required in Europe for aircraft made after 2021.</p>

<p>Homendy said that Alaska Airlines plane's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were sent for analysis but no voice recording could be obtained.</p>

<p>Both, flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder are essential during investigation of any plane crash or a major mishap as it helps investigators recreate the situation when the plane was in jeopardy.</p>

<h2><strong>'Change the rulemaking'</strong></h2>

<p>The NTSB has long been vocal in its demand that rules in US be changed to mandate 25-hour recording. On Monday, it made a same demand.</p>

<p>"I'm calling on the FAA to change the rulemaking," Homendy said</p>

<p>A month ago, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was proposing 25-hour recording but only for new planes.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-loud-boom-guts-of-wind-alaska-airlines-passengers-recall-the-moment-door-of-plane-fell-off-677838">A loud boom, guts of wind: Alaska Airlines passengers recall the moment door of plane fell off</a></strong></p>

<p>Homendy on Monday told Reuters that all aircraft, including the old ones, should have 25-hour recorders.</p>

<p>"If that communication is not recorded, that is unfortunately a loss for us and a loss for the FAA and a loss for safety because that information is key not just for our investigation but for improving aviation safety," she said.</p>

<h2><strong>What's the holdup?</strong></h2>

<p>Recording cockpit conversations for the period of 25-hours may sound like a logical solution but the pilots union oppose such a move.</p>

<p>"(It) would significantly infringe upon the privacy rights of pilots and other flight crew members, as well as drastically increase the likelihood that CVR recordings will be misused or disseminated without authorisation," said a union representing pilots of Atlas Air, an air-freight company.</p>

<h2><strong>What's the deal with Boeing 737s anyway?</strong></h2>

<p>Airplanes from Boeing 737 series have long been in the crosshairs of regulators around the world as these planes have suffered major crashes and other safety issues.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alaska-airlines-emergency-iphone-survives-16000-ft-fall-after-planes-door-blows-out-mid-air-677886">Alaska Airlines emergency: iPhone survives 16,000-ft fall after plane's door blows out mid-air</a></strong></p>

<p>Boeing 737 Max were grounded across the world in 2020 after crashes in 2018 and 2019. Even after the latest Alaska Airlines incident, the FAA has ordered grounding of all Boeing Max 9 planes as investigation progresses.</p>

<p>The constant association with hazards has marred 737s and also Boeing whose shares have tanked by nearly 40 per cent since March 2019 while rival Airbus' shares have shot up by 25 per cent.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said on Monday (Jan 8) that data on the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) in the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max was overwritten.

The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said on Monday (Jan 8) that data on the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) in the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max was overwritten. The NTSB chair said that no data was found as the recorder starts erasing previous data after two hours and the CVR was not retrieved within two hours. "There was a lot going on, on the flight deck and on the plane. It's a very chaotic event. The circuit breaker for the CVR (cockpit voice recorder) was not pulled. The maintenance team went out to get it, but it was right at about the two-hour mark," said NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy as quoted by Reuters. The Alaska Airlines aircraft lost a panel mid-flight on Friday last week. The loss of part of the fuselage caused the cabin to depressurise and objects to get sucked outside the plane while it was in the air. There were 171 passengers in the plane when the incident took place. Watch | US grounds 171 Boeing planes after Alaska Airlines window blows out mid-air × In the United States, rules mandate that cockpit voice recorders should record two hours of data as opposed to 25 hours as required in Europe for aircraft made after 2021. Homendy said that Alaska Airlines plane's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were sent for analysis but no voice recording could be obtained. Both, flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder are essential during investigation of any plane crash or a major mishap as it helps investigators recreate the situation when the plane was in jeopardy. 'Change the rulemaking' The NTSB has long been vocal in its demand that rules in US be changed to mandate 25-hour recording. On Monday, it made a same demand. "I'm calling on the FAA to change the rulemaking," Homendy said A month ago, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was proposing 25-hour recording but only for new planes. Also Read | A loud boom, guts of wind: Alaska Airlines passengers recall the moment door of plane fell off Homendy on Monday told Reuters that all aircraft, including the old ones, should have 25-hour recorders. "If that communication is not recorded, that is unfortunately a loss for us and a loss for the FAA and a loss for safety because that information is key not just for our investigation but for improving aviation safety," she said. What's the holdup? Recording cockpit conversations for the period of 25-hours may sound like a logical solution but the pilots union oppose such a move. "(It) would significantly infringe upon the privacy rights of pilots and other flight crew members, as well as drastically increase the likelihood that CVR recordings will be misused or disseminated without authorisation," said a union representing pilots of Atlas Air, an air-freight company. What's the deal with Boeing 737s anyway? Airplanes from Boeing 737 series have long been in the crosshairs of regulators around the world as these planes have suffered major crashes and other safety issues. Also Read | Alaska Airlines emergency: iPhone survives 16,000-ft fall after plane's door blows out mid-air Boeing 737 Max were grounded across the world in 2020 after crashes in 2018 and 2019. Even after the latest Alaska Airlines incident, the FAA has ordered grounding of all Boeing Max 9 planes as investigation progresses. The constant association with hazards has marred 737s and also Boeing whose shares have tanked by nearly 40 per cent since March 2019 while rival Airbus' shares have shot up by 25 per cent. (With inputs from agencies)

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737’s cockpit voice recorder data erased, says US NTSB

<p>Dmitry Rybolovlev, the 180th richest person globally, with an estimated fortune of $11.4 billion,&nbsp;is set to accuse Sotheby's of aiding art dealer Yves Bouvier in a scheme that allegedly misled him into overpaying for artworks, including the renowned Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci.</p>

<p>Rybolovlev, known for his wealth in potash fertiliser and ownership of AS Monaco, is suing Sotheby's in New York, claiming the auction house inflated the estimated values of artworks, including pieces by Gustav Klimt, Amedeo Modigliani, and René Magritte.</p>

<p>The legal battle stems from Rybolovlev's discovery that art broker Yves Bouvier, who assisted in acquiring the artworks, allegedly deceived him by purchasing the works at a lower price and charging him a significantly higher amount, leading to claims of fraudulent practices.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/investors-sue-sothebys-justin-bieber-hilton-among-others-as-nft-prices-crash-626542">Also read |&nbsp;Investors sue Sotheby's, Justin Bieber, Hilton among others as NFT prices crash</a></p>

<h2><strong>Legal saga spans multiple jurisdictions</strong></h2>

<p>Rybolovlev initiated legal action against Bouvier in various countries, accusing the art adviser of misleading him over the value of 38 artworks.&nbsp;Last month, Rybolovlev and Bouvier settled the claims out of court, leaving Sotheby's in the spotlight.</p>

<p>The case, scheduled in Manhattan federal court, alleges that Sotheby's "aided and abetted Bouvier in committing fraud and breaching his fiduciary duties." Sotheby's denies the accusations, asserting adherence to legal requirements and industry best practices.</p>

<p>US district court judge Jesse Furman ruled that Sotheby's must face fraud-related claims on the sales of four works: Salvator Mundi, Tête, Wasserschlangen II, and Le Domaine d’Arnheim, paving the way for a trial beginning this week.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Sotheby's to auction rare Baghdadi astrolabe</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sothebys-to-auction-rare-baghdadi-astrolabe-650333/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Sotheby's spokesperson has denied&nbsp;any knowledge of alleged misconduct, insisting on adherence to legal requirements and financial obligations during the artwork transactions, according to The Guardian.</p>

<p>Rybolovlev sold Salvator Mundi for $450m in 2017, making it the most expensive painting ever sold. The painting, now owned by Mohammed bin Salman, has faced authenticity concerns, delaying its planned showcase in a Louvre gallery in Abu Dhabi.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Dmitry Rybolovlev, the 180th richest person globally, with an estimated fortune of $11.4 billion, is set to accuse Sotheby's of aiding art dealer Yves Bouvier in a scheme that allegedly misled him into overpaying for artworks, including the renowned Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci.

Dmitry Rybolovlev, the 180th richest person globally, with an estimated fortune of $11.4 billion, is set to accuse Sotheby's of aiding art dealer Yves Bouvier in a scheme that allegedly misled him into overpaying for artworks, including the renowned Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci. Rybolovlev, known for his wealth in potash fertiliser and ownership of AS Monaco, is suing Sotheby's in New York, claiming the auction house inflated the estimated values of artworks, including pieces by Gustav Klimt, Amedeo Modigliani, and René Magritte. The legal battle stems from Rybolovlev's discovery that art broker Yves Bouvier, who assisted in acquiring the artworks, allegedly deceived him by purchasing the works at a lower price and charging him a significantly higher amount, leading to claims of fraudulent practices. Also read | Investors sue Sotheby's, Justin Bieber, Hilton among others as NFT prices crash Legal saga spans multiple jurisdictions Rybolovlev initiated legal action against Bouvier in various countries, accusing the art adviser of misleading him over the value of 38 artworks. Last month, Rybolovlev and Bouvier settled the claims out of court, leaving Sotheby's in the spotlight. The case, scheduled in Manhattan federal court, alleges that Sotheby's "aided and abetted Bouvier in committing fraud and breaching his fiduciary duties." Sotheby's denies the accusations, asserting adherence to legal requirements and industry best practices. US district court judge Jesse Furman ruled that Sotheby's must face fraud-related claims on the sales of four works: Salvator Mundi, Tête, Wasserschlangen II, and Le Domaine d’Arnheim, paving the way for a trial beginning this week. Also watch | Sotheby's to auction rare Baghdadi astrolabe Sotheby's spokesperson has denied any knowledge of alleged misconduct, insisting on adherence to legal requirements and financial obligations during the artwork transactions, according to The Guardian. Rybolovlev sold Salvator Mundi for $450m in 2017, making it the most expensive painting ever sold. The painting, now owned by Mohammed bin Salman, has faced authenticity concerns, delaying its planned showcase in a Louvre gallery in Abu Dhabi. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian billionaire accuses Sotheby’s of art fraud collusion in high-stakes legal battle

<p>In the fresh batch of the unsealed court files of Jeffrey Epstein, it has been disclosed that the defence team of the sex offender tried to undermine the credibility of one of the witnesses by revealing that she made claims of Epstein keeping "sex tapes" of prominent personalities. &nbsp;</p>

<p>As per allegations made by Sarah Ransome, the celebrities whose alleged sex tapes were recorded included Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Sir Richard Branson. A firm, which was representing Epstein’s lawyer Alan Dershowitz, had flagged her claims to demonstrate Ransome “manifestly lacks credibility”. No proof of the existence of any tapes was submitted by the court and Ransome had retracted the allegations&nbsp;soon after they were made initially.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-co-founder-sergey-brin-visited-jeffrey-epsteins-paedophile-island-new-court-docs-reveal-678096">Google co-founder Sergey Brin visited Jeffrey Epstein's 'paedophile island', new court docs reveal</a></p>

<p>A victim impact statement was given by Ransome before British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced for sex trafficking. The court was provided with the emails in which she had allegedly claimed Prince Andrew, Clinton and Branson were filmed by the child sex offender. Serious accusations were also made against the former US president Donald Trump by Ransome.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Jeffrey filmed the sex tapes: Ransome&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>As per the newly-released documents, Ransome had written in the emails: “When my friend had sexual intercourse with Clinton, Prince Andrew and Richard Branson, sex tapes were in fact filmed on each separate occasion by Jeffrey. Thank God she managed to get a hold of some footage of the filmed sex tapes, which clearly identify the faces of Clinton, Prince Andrew and Branson having sexual intercourse with her. Frustratingly enough, Epstein was not seen in any of the footage but he was clever like that."</p>

<p>“When my friend eventually had the courage to speak out and went to the police in 2008 to report what had happened, nothing was done and she was utterly humiliated by the police department where she went to report what had happened with Epstein, Clinton, Branson and Prince Andrew," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the emails, Ransome&nbsp;further alleged that&nbsp;former US president Trump “had sexual relations with [her friend] at Jeffrey’s NY mansion on regular occasions”.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Where is Nadia Marcinko, Epstein's 'Sex Slave' Turned Accomplice?</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-where-is-nadia-marcinko-epsteins-sex-slave-turned-accomplice-677956/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Emery Celli Brinckerhoff &amp; Abady LLP, in a letter to the court, said that false allegations were made against Epstein’s lawyer Dershowitz, and added, “[Ransome’s] testimony was fabricated from whole cloth. Ms Ransome’s testimony also contains a slew of other incendiary claims concerning the sexual proclivities of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and other prominent individuals. The emails are a necessary antidote to Ms Ransome’s deposition misstatements because they demonstrate she manifestly lacks credibility.”</p>

<p>Soon after,&nbsp;Ransome withdrew her claims and said, “I want to walk away from this … I shouldn’t have contacted you and I’m sorry I wasted your time. It’s not worth coming forward and I will never be heard anyhow and only bad things will happen as a consequence of me going public.”</p>

<p>“In a New Yorker report published in 2019, Ransome admitted that she had ‘invented’ the tapes. We can confirm that Sarah Ransome’s claims are baseless and unfounded," said a Virgin Group spokesperson.</p>

<p>In one of the email extracts, Ransome, aiming at Hillary Clinton, is reported to have said, "I will make sure that neither that evil b***h&nbsp;Hillary or that paedophile Trump gets elected. I will also make sure that everyone on the God damn planet sees that footage and photos and will release them to WikiLeaks by Sunday.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In the fresh batch of the unsealed court files of Jeffrey Epstein, it has been disclosed that the defence team of the sex offender tried to undermine the credibility of one of the witnesses by revealing that she made claims of Epstein keeping "sex tapes" of prominent personalities.

In the fresh batch of the unsealed court files of Jeffrey Epstein, it has been disclosed that the defence team of the sex offender tried to undermine the credibility of one of the witnesses by revealing that she made claims of Epstein keeping "sex tapes" of prominent personalities. As per allegations made by Sarah Ransome, the celebrities whose alleged sex tapes were recorded included Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Sir Richard Branson. A firm, which was representing Epstein’s lawyer Alan Dershowitz, had flagged her claims to demonstrate Ransome “manifestly lacks credibility”. No proof of the existence of any tapes was submitted by the court and Ransome had retracted the allegations soon after they were made initially. Also read: Google co-founder Sergey Brin visited Jeffrey Epstein's 'paedophile island', new court docs reveal A victim impact statement was given by Ransome before British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced for sex trafficking. The court was provided with the emails in which she had allegedly claimed Prince Andrew, Clinton and Branson were filmed by the child sex offender. Serious accusations were also made against the former US president Donald Trump by Ransome. Jeffrey filmed the sex tapes: Ransome As per the newly-released documents, Ransome had written in the emails: “When my friend had sexual intercourse with Clinton, Prince Andrew and Richard Branson, sex tapes were in fact filmed on each separate occasion by Jeffrey. Thank God she managed to get a hold of some footage of the filmed sex tapes, which clearly identify the faces of Clinton, Prince Andrew and Branson having sexual intercourse with her. Frustratingly enough, Epstein was not seen in any of the footage but he was clever like that." “When my friend eventually had the courage to speak out and went to the police in 2008 to report what had happened, nothing was done and she was utterly humiliated by the police department where she went to report what had happened with Epstein, Clinton, Branson and Prince Andrew," she added. In the emails, Ransome further alleged that former US president Trump “had sexual relations with [her friend] at Jeffrey’s NY mansion on regular occasions”. Watch: Gravitas: Where is Nadia Marcinko, Epstein's 'Sex Slave' Turned Accomplice? Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady LLP, in a letter to the court, said that false allegations were made against Epstein’s lawyer Dershowitz, and added, “[Ransome’s] testimony was fabricated from whole cloth. Ms Ransome’s testimony also contains a slew of other incendiary claims concerning the sexual proclivities of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and other prominent individuals. The emails are a necessary antidote to Ms Ransome’s deposition misstatements because they demonstrate she manifestly lacks credibility.” Soon after, Ransome withdrew her claims and said, “I want to walk away from this … I shouldn’t have contacted you and I’m sorry I wasted your time. It’s not worth coming forward and I will never be heard anyhow and only bad things will happen as a consequence of me going public.” “In a New Yorker report published in 2019, Ransome admitted that she had ‘invented’ the tapes. We can confirm that Sarah Ransome’s claims are baseless and unfounded," said a Virgin Group spokesperson. In one of the email extracts, Ransome, aiming at Hillary Clinton, is reported to have said, "I will make sure that neither that evil b***h Hillary or that paedophile Trump gets elected. I will also make sure that everyone on the God damn planet sees that footage and photos and will release them to WikiLeaks by Sunday.” (With inputs from agencies)

Epstein files: Billionaire had ‘sex tapes’ of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Trump, claimed witness

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigned on Monday, as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to give a new impetus to his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections and the Paris Olympics this summer.

French President begins political reset, Macron aims to relaunch his government | World News | WION

<p>An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX faced a mid-air emergency on January 6, minutes after take-off from Portland International Airport. The incident led to an emergency landing in Oregon, raising concerns about the safety of the aircraft.</p>

<p>US aviation authorities investigating the emergency&nbsp;discovered that one of the airplane's doors blew open mid-air. The investigation is now focused on the door plug of the airplane panel that could provide crucial insights into the cause of the incident.</p>

<p>During the emergency, a passerby, Seanathan Bates, found an iPhone on the ground near Barnes Road.</p>

<p>Surprisingly, the device was still in airplane mode, with in-flight activation turned on. The iPhone appeared undamaged, even after surviving a 16,000-foot fall.</p>

<p>Bates shared his discovery on social media platform X, which soon went viral.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Found an iPhone on the side of the road... Still in airplane mode with half a battery and open to a baggage claim for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlaskaAirlines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlaskaAirlines</a> ASA1282 Survived a 16,000 foot drop perfectly in tact!<br />
<br />
When I called it in, Zoe at <a href="https://twitter.com/NTSB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NTSB</a> said it was the SECOND phone to be found. No door yet😅 <a href="https://t.co/CObMikpuFd">pic.twitter.com/CObMikpuFd</a></p>
— Seanathan Bates (@SeanSafyre) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanSafyre/status/1744138937239822685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>While the iPhone model remains officially unconfirmed, speculation suggests it could be either an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro. Users marveled at the device's resilience, surviving a significant fall unscathed.</p>

<p>Seanathan Bates's post gained massive traction on social media, accumulating 6.6 million views and 41,000 likes. Users expressed amazement, with some predicting that Apple might use this incident for marketing purposes, turning it into a unique advertisement.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alaska-airlines-mid-air-blowout-planes-door-lost-in-dramatic-accident-found-677705">Also read |&nbsp;Schoolteacher finds door plug that blew off Alaska Airlines plane in mid-air drama in his backyard</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;Later, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed to The Guardian&nbsp;that it has recovered the working iPhone and it “likely” fell from flight.</p>

<p>“That was one of the phones collected that is likely from the flight,” an NTSB spokesperson said, according to the British newspaper. “It has since been turned over to Alaska Airlines.”</p>

<h2><strong>Aircraft groundings and FAA inspection mandate</strong></h2>

<p>Following the Alaska Airlines incident, safety concerns prompted airlines and aviation authorities worldwide to ground certain versions of Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets.</p>

<p>The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated immediate inspections of these planes before they could resume flight operations, causing disruptions and cancellations.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing after window blowout mid-flight</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/alaska-airlines-flight-makes-emergency-landing-after-window-blowout-mid-flight-677204/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Despite the alarming mid-air emergency and the grounding of some aircraft, Alaska Flight 1282 successfully returned to Portland with no major injuries reported. The investigation continues, focusing on both the aircraft's door blowout and the miraculous survival of an iPhone amidst the chaos.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX faced a mid-air emergency on January 6, minutes after take-off from Portland International Airport. The incident led to an emergency landing in Oregon, raising concerns about the safety of the aircraft.

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX faced a mid-air emergency on January 6, minutes after take-off from Portland International Airport. The incident led to an emergency landing in Oregon, raising concerns about the safety of the aircraft. US aviation authorities investigating the emergency discovered that one of the airplane's doors blew open mid-air. The investigation is now focused on the door plug of the airplane panel that could provide crucial insights into the cause of the incident. During the emergency, a passerby, Seanathan Bates, found an iPhone on the ground near Barnes Road. Surprisingly, the device was still in airplane mode, with in-flight activation turned on. The iPhone appeared undamaged, even after surviving a 16,000-foot fall. Bates shared his discovery on social media platform X, which soon went viral. Found an iPhone on the side of the road... Still in airplane mode with half a battery and open to a baggage claim for #AlaskaAirlines ASA1282 Survived a 16,000 foot drop perfectly in tact! When I called it in, Zoe at @NTSB said it was the SECOND phone to be found. No door yet😅 pic.twitter.com/CObMikpuFd — Seanathan Bates (@SeanSafyre) January 7, 2024 × While the iPhone model remains officially unconfirmed, speculation suggests it could be either an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro. Users marveled at the device's resilience, surviving a significant fall unscathed. Seanathan Bates's post gained massive traction on social media, accumulating 6.6 million views and 41,000 likes. Users expressed amazement, with some predicting that Apple might use this incident for marketing purposes, turning it into a unique advertisement. Also read | Schoolteacher finds door plug that blew off Alaska Airlines plane in mid-air drama in his backyard Later, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed to The Guardian that it has recovered the working iPhone and it “likely” fell from flight. “That was one of the phones collected that is likely from the flight,” an NTSB spokesperson said, according to the British newspaper. “It has since been turned over to Alaska Airlines.” Aircraft groundings and FAA inspection mandate Following the Alaska Airlines incident, safety concerns prompted airlines and aviation authorities worldwide to ground certain versions of Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated immediate inspections of these planes before they could resume flight operations, causing disruptions and cancellations. Also watch | Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing after window blowout mid-flight Despite the alarming mid-air emergency and the grounding of some aircraft, Alaska Flight 1282 successfully returned to Portland with no major injuries reported. The investigation continues, focusing on both the aircraft's door blowout and the miraculous survival of an iPhone amidst the chaos. (With inputs from agencies)

Alaska Airlines emergency: iPhone survives 16,000-ft fall after plane's door blows out mid-air

The star of 'Luther' helped launch a new campaign called 'don't stop your future' with an art installation in London's Parliament Square. The installation is made up of several neatly folded outfits. Watch the video to know more.

Idris Elba's 'don't stop your future' campaign, calls for immediate ban on machetes | WION

US-Mexico Migrant Crisis: US sees a drop in illegal border crossings in January 2024

<p>Eight young people were placed in medically induced comas after they had an overdose of suspected MDMA at a music festival in Melbourne, Australia over the weekend. The incident has increased calls for the legalisation of pill testing in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Paramedics, who were present at the Hardmission electronic music festival organised at Flemington racecourse on Saturday (Jan 6), admitted nine festivalgoers to different hospitals across Melbourne.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Victorian Ambulance Union said that eight people were put in medical induced comas and breathing tubes were inserted in their throats.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australias-ban-on-nazi-salute-public-display-of-terror-group-symbols-kicks-into-effect-677745">Australia's ban on Nazi salute, public display of terror group symbols kicks into effect</a></p>

<p>“These would have been some of the sickest patients our paramedics would deal with, short of going into cardiac arrest,” said Danny Hill, the Victorian Ambulance Union’s secretary, as reported by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“They were really, really sick. You had patients with high temperatures – some over 41 degrees and seizure activity. In order to be transported, [paramedics] have to do an intervention that is normally left for patients suffering a head injury or a stroke," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Not normal for a high number of people to fall sick at event: Hill</strong></h2>

<p>Hill said that it was not normal for a high number of people to fall sick at an event. “I don’t think we’ve seen it for some years, if ever,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The temperature on Saturday (Jan 6) soared to 32ºC, however, Hill said that MDMA can also increase the blood pressure and body temperature of a person.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“They’re already in a dangerous situation and no doubt that was compounded by the environment,” he said, while speaking to The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Australia: After the floods came the bushfires</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-after-the-floods-came-the-bushfires-671509/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The patients were admitted to the Sunshine, Royal Melbourne, Austin, Footscray and St Vincent’s hospitals. Royal Melbourne Hospital's spokesperson said that two patients were in critical condition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hill said that he hoped the event of Saturday would further push people to reconsider pill testing in Victoria.</p>

<p>“These drugs are not made in batches of seven or eight tablets. They’re made in batches of hundreds or thousands so there are many more of these deadly tablets out there. And there are many more of these raves throughout the summer season. It can only help to bring in pill-testing and try to intercept the drug use as close as you can to the person using the drug," Hill said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Eight young people were placed in medically induced comas after they had an overdose of suspected MDMA at a music festival in Melbourne, Australia over the weekend.

Eight young people were placed in medically induced comas after they had an overdose of suspected MDMA at a music festival in Melbourne, Australia over the weekend. The incident has increased calls for the legalisation of pill testing in the state. Paramedics, who were present at the Hardmission electronic music festival organised at Flemington racecourse on Saturday (Jan 6), admitted nine festivalgoers to different hospitals across Melbourne. Victorian Ambulance Union said that eight people were put in medical induced comas and breathing tubes were inserted in their throats. Also read: Australia's ban on Nazi salute, public display of terror group symbols kicks into effect “These would have been some of the sickest patients our paramedics would deal with, short of going into cardiac arrest,” said Danny Hill, the Victorian Ambulance Union’s secretary, as reported by The Guardian. “They were really, really sick. You had patients with high temperatures – some over 41 degrees and seizure activity. In order to be transported, [paramedics] have to do an intervention that is normally left for patients suffering a head injury or a stroke," he added. Not normal for a high number of people to fall sick at event: Hill Hill said that it was not normal for a high number of people to fall sick at an event. “I don’t think we’ve seen it for some years, if ever,” he added. The temperature on Saturday (Jan 6) soared to 32ºC, however, Hill said that MDMA can also increase the blood pressure and body temperature of a person. “They’re already in a dangerous situation and no doubt that was compounded by the environment,” he said, while speaking to The Guardian. Watch: Australia: After the floods came the bushfires The patients were admitted to the Sunshine, Royal Melbourne, Austin, Footscray and St Vincent’s hospitals. Royal Melbourne Hospital's spokesperson said that two patients were in critical condition. Hill said that he hoped the event of Saturday would further push people to reconsider pill testing in Victoria. “These drugs are not made in batches of seven or eight tablets. They’re made in batches of hundreds or thousands so there are many more of these deadly tablets out there. And there are many more of these raves throughout the summer season. It can only help to bring in pill-testing and try to intercept the drug use as close as you can to the person using the drug," Hill said. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia: Eight people placed in induced coma after suspected overdose of MDMA at music festival

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