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<p>Harvard University's president Claudine Gay, who had courted controversy over the testimony she gave about antisemitism on campus, received unanimous backing from several hundred faculty members of the educational institution and will remain in her position, the institution's governing body released a statement saying on Tuesday (Dec 12).</p>

<p>“As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gay’s continued leadership of Harvard University,” the Harvard Corporation, one of the university's two governing boards, said.</p>

<p>“Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing,” it added.</p>

<p>The Harvard Corporation announced the decision on Tuesday after the board's meeting concluded.</p>

<p>“In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay,” the Corporation added.</p>

<p>However, the body denounced the initial response by the university over the unprecedented attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel on Oct 7 which, as per Tel Aviv, has by far claimed the lives of 1,200 people and witnessed around 240 people taken hostage.</p>

<p>A petition was also signed by at least 570 professors and was given on Sunday evening to the 13-member Harvard Corporation, which has the power to make the final decision on President Gay's firing. More professors suggested that they also wanted to sign, according to a co-author of the petition.</p>

<p><strong>Also read</strong>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nikki-haleys-prez-campaign-may-get-support-from-new-hampshir-governor-sununu-669004">Nikki Haley's prez campaign may get support from New Hampshire Governor Sununu</a></p>

<p>"What they're arguing is that to remove her would essentially be bending to political pressure," said Megan Zahneis, Senior Reporter at the Chronicle of Higher Education.</p>

<h2><strong>President Gay under fire</strong></h2>

<p>Harvard University's president courted controversy for the testimony she delivered about antisemitism on campus.</p>

<p>Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in the West Bank, there has been a significant rise in the number of hate attacks and violent rhetoric targeting Jews and Muslims.</p>

<p>Such attacks have also been reported in the universities.</p>

<p>"So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamas's brutal terrorist attack, and the University's initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation," the corporation said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"President Gay has apologised for how she handled her congressional testimony."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Harvard University's president Claudine Gay, who had courted controversy over the testimony she gave about antisemitism on campus, received unanimous backing from several hundred faculty members of the educational institution and will remain in her position, the institution's governing body released a statement saying on Tuesday (Dec 12).

Harvard University's president Claudine Gay, who had courted controversy over the testimony she gave about antisemitism on campus, received unanimous backing from several hundred faculty members of the educational institution and will remain in her position, the institution's governing body released a statement saying on Tuesday (Dec 12). “As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gay’s continued leadership of Harvard University,” the Harvard Corporation, one of the university's two governing boards, said. “Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing,” it added. The Harvard Corporation announced the decision on Tuesday after the board's meeting concluded. “In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay,” the Corporation added. However, the body denounced the initial response by the university over the unprecedented attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel on Oct 7 which, as per Tel Aviv, has by far claimed the lives of 1,200 people and witnessed around 240 people taken hostage. A petition was also signed by at least 570 professors and was given on Sunday evening to the 13-member Harvard Corporation, which has the power to make the final decision on President Gay's firing. More professors suggested that they also wanted to sign, according to a co-author of the petition. Also read: Nikki Haley's prez campaign may get support from New Hampshire Governor Sununu "What they're arguing is that to remove her would essentially be bending to political pressure," said Megan Zahneis, Senior Reporter at the Chronicle of Higher Education. President Gay under fire Harvard University's president courted controversy for the testimony she delivered about antisemitism on campus. Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in the West Bank, there has been a significant rise in the number of hate attacks and violent rhetoric targeting Jews and Muslims. Such attacks have also been reported in the universities. "So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamas's brutal terrorist attack, and the University's initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation," the corporation said. "Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values. "President Gay has apologised for how she handled her congressional testimony." (With inputs from agencies)

Harvard's president receives university board's backing amid antisemitism row

<p>Rina Gonoi, a former woman soldier of the Japanese military and a sexual assault survivor, said on Wedenesday (Dec 13) that the country's military would need sweeping changes in order to root out the problem of sexual harassment. A court in Japan held three male former soldiers, previously Rina Gonoi's colleagues, guilty of sexually assaulting her.</p>

<p>"I don't want to tear down the Self-Defence Forces, but it's exactly because I am so grateful to them that I want to see fundamental change," said Gonoi (24). She was speaking at a news conference in Japanese capital Tokyo.</p>

<p>It has been reported that Gonoi joined Japan Self-Defence Forces after childhood fascination with military life and after her evacuation by&nbsp;the same force when earthquake struck Japan in March, 2011.</p>

<p>However, she said that she faced constant sexual harassment from her male colleagues after joining&nbsp;Self-Defence Forces.</p>

<p>The worst sexual assault against her took place in 2021 when three of her colleagues pinned her down on a bed and simulated a sex-act on her. Some of the other soldiers, who were among onlookers, laughed and no-one came to her aid.</p>

<p>Gonoi tried raising complaints up the chain of command in the forces and decided to leave the force after her complaints were ignored and no action was taken.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida makes changes to his cabinet amidst fundraising scandal</strong></p>

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<p>In 2022, she went public with her accusations on YouTube. This is a rare move in conservative Japan where speaking about sexual assault is still a taboo.</p>

<p>"I didn't want to pretend it didn't happen," she said.</p>

<h2><strong>A rare apology</strong></h2>

<p>After her video struck a chord with the Japanese public and went viral,&nbsp;it&nbsp;further resulted in a rare apology from Japan's defence ministry and an investigation.</p>

<p>Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine and Yusuke Kimezawa, the trio who sexually assaulted Rina Gonoi were sentenced to two years in prison by a court in Fukushima. However, the punishments would remain suspended for four years. The judge, while announcing the verdict, said that the convicts carried out a "despicable and malicious act" and ignored Rina Yonoi's dignity.</p>

<p><strong>Explained | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-japanese-woman-ex-soldier-got-justice-after-sexaul-assault-by-male-colleagues-669072">How Japanese woman ex-soldier got justice after sexual assault by male colleagues</a></strong></p>

<p>Yonoi's fight for justice wasn't easy. When she decided to go public, she broke a cultural taboo in Japan. She received online hate and even death threats after her video went viral.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-jails-three-ex-soldiers-for-sexual-abuse-of-female-colleague-668877">Japan court jails three ex-soldiers for sexual abuse of female colleague</a></strong></p>

<p>"Some [online] would say 'you are ugly'...[others] would say 'are you actually a man?," she previously said as quoted by BBC.</p>

<p>The conviction of the male soldiers has come just months after Japan strengthened its laws to tackle cases of rape. In June this year, the country redefined rape and also expanded it so that greater number of situations related to the crime are covered. Previously, the survivor had to prove that they resisted the attacker. But this requirement has now been&nbsp;removed.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Rina Gonoi, a former woman soldier of the Japanese military and a sexual assault survivor, said on Wedenesday (Dec 13) that the country's military would need sweeping changes in order to root out the problem of sexual harassment.

Rina Gonoi, a former woman soldier of the Japanese military and a sexual assault survivor, said on Wedenesday (Dec 13) that the country's military would need sweeping changes in order to root out the problem of sexual harassment. A court in Japan held three male former soldiers, previously Rina Gonoi's colleagues, guilty of sexually assaulting her. "I don't want to tear down the Self-Defence Forces, but it's exactly because I am so grateful to them that I want to see fundamental change," said Gonoi (24). She was speaking at a news conference in Japanese capital Tokyo. It has been reported that Gonoi joined Japan Self-Defence Forces after childhood fascination with military life and after her evacuation by the same force when earthquake struck Japan in March, 2011. However, she said that she faced constant sexual harassment from her male colleagues after joining Self-Defence Forces. The worst sexual assault against her took place in 2021 when three of her colleagues pinned her down on a bed and simulated a sex-act on her. Some of the other soldiers, who were among onlookers, laughed and no-one came to her aid. Gonoi tried raising complaints up the chain of command in the forces and decided to leave the force after her complaints were ignored and no action was taken. Watch | Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida makes changes to his cabinet amidst fundraising scandal × In 2022, she went public with her accusations on YouTube. This is a rare move in conservative Japan where speaking about sexual assault is still a taboo. "I didn't want to pretend it didn't happen," she said. A rare apology After her video struck a chord with the Japanese public and went viral, it further resulted in a rare apology from Japan's defence ministry and an investigation. Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine and Yusuke Kimezawa, the trio who sexually assaulted Rina Gonoi were sentenced to two years in prison by a court in Fukushima. However, the punishments would remain suspended for four years. The judge, while announcing the verdict, said that the convicts carried out a "despicable and malicious act" and ignored Rina Yonoi's dignity. Explained | How Japanese woman ex-soldier got justice after sexual assault by male colleagues Yonoi's fight for justice wasn't easy. When she decided to go public, she broke a cultural taboo in Japan. She received online hate and even death threats after her video went viral. Also Read | Japan court jails three ex-soldiers for sexual abuse of female colleague "Some [online] would say 'you are ugly'...[others] would say 'are you actually a man?," she previously said as quoted by BBC. The conviction of the male soldiers has come just months after Japan strengthened its laws to tackle cases of rape. In June this year, the country redefined rape and also expanded it so that greater number of situations related to the crime are covered. Previously, the survivor had to prove that they resisted the attacker. But this requirement has now been removed. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan: Woman ex-soldier whose colleagues were convicted for sex assault on her reacts to verdict

<p>Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked a major highway in the United States city of Los Angeles&nbsp;on Wednesday (Dec 13), calling for a ceasefire amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. The California police detained 75 people following tense physical confrontations between commuters and protesters who caused the highway to shut down during the morning rush hour.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Protests on highway in LA</strong></h2>

<p>At least 75 people who were related to the pro-Palestinian protest were detained by the California highway patrol after dozens gathered on the 110 Freeway in downtown LA. Images and videos show several demonstrators sitting in a row stretching from one edge of the multi-lane highway to the other.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-one-civilian-killed-11-injured-after-russian-drone-missile-attacks-in-south-ukraine-kyiv-669564">At least one civilian killed, 11 injured after Russian drone, missile attacks in southern Ukraine: Kyiv</a></strong></p>

<p>The protest was organised by the progressive Jewish organisation IfNotNow which said that&nbsp;it had been timed for Hanukkah. They could also be heard singing the phrase “ceasefire now” while appearing to link arms and blocking the highway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Images and videos also show protesters&nbsp;wearing black t-shirts which read “not in our name” and “Jews say ceasefire now”. The organisation in a statement said, “We cannot allow business as usual to continue, as Palestinians are murdered with impunity.”&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Protestors calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza have blocked the 110 southbound freeway in Los Angeles <a href="https://t.co/iIxksmvFlN">pic.twitter.com/iIxksmvFlN</a></p>
— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrOlmos/status/1734988800303190401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Protesters demanding a cease-fire in Gaza shut down the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles Wednesday morning. All lanes were blocked as protesters lined up, sitting down along the southbound side of the freeway. 75 people were arrested, according to the California Highway Patrol. <a href="https://t.co/zpWv3lCaoS">pic.twitter.com/zpWv3lCaoS</a></p>
— The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/1735069713275744492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Protesters also sang in Hebrew and erected a seven-foot menorah in the middle of the freeway, reported Los Angeles Times.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Just hurting working people’</strong></h2>

<p>Since the protest disrupted LA’s major highway during the morning rush, safe to say people who were trying to get to work were not happy about it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some videos posted by American media outlets show angry commuters stepping out of their vehicles and trying to move the demonstrators from the road.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-mother-wrongfully-jailed-for-death-of-four-babies-has-convictions-overturned-669517">Australian mother wrongfully jailed for death of four babies has convictions overturned</a></strong></p>

<p>Some commuters were seen dragging and shoving the protesters. “You idiots are just hurting working people,” one person was heard saying in a video posted by a journalist on-scene.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Content warning: The visuals may be disturbing to some users. It may contain some profanity as well. Viewer discretion is advised. WION is not responsible for the content of the video.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">More people on the freeway attack protesters - with one being thrown to the street - and CHP steps in: <a href="https://t.co/yHW9IhP5Xh">pic.twitter.com/yHW9IhP5Xh</a></p>
— Jon peltz (@JonnyPeltz) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyPeltz/status/1734993154477281650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>“Is it over? I’m in support of a cease-fire but we’re late,” said a woman with her daughter in the backseat off the freeway, as quoted by the LA Times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the media report, the last demonstrator left at about 10:30 am (local time) and two lanes of the highway reopened.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, the US in particular has witnessed a number of protests and rallies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The protest in LA also comes days after at least 50 people were arrested in Washington DC by the police after they held pro-Palestinian protests inside the Capitol building.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked a major highway in the United States city of Los Angeles on Wednesday (Dec 13), calling for a ceasefire amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked a major highway in the United States city of Los Angeles on Wednesday (Dec 13), calling for a ceasefire amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. The California police detained 75 people following tense physical confrontations between commuters and protesters who caused the highway to shut down during the morning rush hour. Protests on highway in LA At least 75 people who were related to the pro-Palestinian protest were detained by the California highway patrol after dozens gathered on the 110 Freeway in downtown LA. Images and videos show several demonstrators sitting in a row stretching from one edge of the multi-lane highway to the other. ALSO READ | At least one civilian killed, 11 injured after Russian drone, missile attacks in southern Ukraine: Kyiv The protest was organised by the progressive Jewish organisation IfNotNow which said that it had been timed for Hanukkah. They could also be heard singing the phrase “ceasefire now” while appearing to link arms and blocking the highway. Images and videos also show protesters wearing black t-shirts which read “not in our name” and “Jews say ceasefire now”. The organisation in a statement said, “We cannot allow business as usual to continue, as Palestinians are murdered with impunity.” Protestors calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza have blocked the 110 southbound freeway in Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/iIxksmvFlN — Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) December 13, 2023 × Protesters demanding a cease-fire in Gaza shut down the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles Wednesday morning. All lanes were blocked as protesters lined up, sitting down along the southbound side of the freeway. 75 people were arrested, according to the California Highway Patrol. pic.twitter.com/zpWv3lCaoS — The Associated Press (@AP) December 13, 2023 × Protesters also sang in Hebrew and erected a seven-foot menorah in the middle of the freeway, reported Los Angeles Times. ‘Just hurting working people’ Since the protest disrupted LA’s major highway during the morning rush, safe to say people who were trying to get to work were not happy about it. Some videos posted by American media outlets show angry commuters stepping out of their vehicles and trying to move the demonstrators from the road. ALSO READ | Australian mother wrongfully jailed for death of four babies has convictions overturned Some commuters were seen dragging and shoving the protesters. “You idiots are just hurting working people,” one person was heard saying in a video posted by a journalist on-scene. Content warning: The visuals may be disturbing to some users. It may contain some profanity as well. Viewer discretion is advised. WION is not responsible for the content of the video. More people on the freeway attack protesters - with one being thrown to the street - and CHP steps in: pic.twitter.com/yHW9IhP5Xh — Jon peltz (@JonnyPeltz) December 13, 2023 × “Is it over? I’m in support of a cease-fire but we’re late,” said a woman with her daughter in the backseat off the freeway, as quoted by the LA Times. As per the media report, the last demonstrator left at about 10:30 am (local time) and two lanes of the highway reopened. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, the US in particular has witnessed a number of protests and rallies. The protest in LA also comes days after at least 50 people were arrested in Washington DC by the police after they held pro-Palestinian protests inside the Capitol building. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH | Pro-Palestinian protesters block major highway in Los Angeles, at least 75 arrested

<p>US President Joe Biden's gaffes are becoming more and more frequent but perhaps 2023 is the year he is going to close with a record number of them. From verbal slip-ups to near-fall incidents, Biden, whose age is often targeted by opposition leaders and remains&nbsp;a concern for voters, has had all.&nbsp;81-year-old Biden has given hearty laughs to many and has shocked others with his blunder-prone personality. Here we have compiled a list of them rewinding his gaffes and oops moments in 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>1. Joe Biden&nbsp;slips on Air Force One stairs&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>While the president was deboarding Air Force One in the US state of Michigan on September 26, he slipped from the stairs. Rushing to address the age challenge Biden is believed to be facing, his administration at the time was reported to have been taking steps to avoid tripping. While he was getting down from the plane, Biden lost his footing for a moment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden, who is running for the presidency in the next 2024 elections, has reportedly been wearing tennis shoes. As a caution, he is always making use of a shorter stairway to Air Force One. The US President has also been getting his body balance back with the aid of a physical therapist for the past two years.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">President Biden stumbles on Air Force One stairs again <a href="https://t.co/RUEB1ua3da">pic.twitter.com/RUEB1ua3da</a></p>
— The Sun (@TheSun) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSun/status/1524867009158299677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>In another such incident on July 14, Biden tripped on the steps of Air Force One when he was walking up to board the presidential plane in Finland.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>2. Wrongly mentioning day he visited New York after 2001 attacks</strong></h2>

<p>When Biden was addressing US troops stationed in Alaska on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack on September 11, 2023, he said he visited New York on September 12, 2001, a day after the tragic attack. He reportedly said that he surveyed the damage from Ground Zero.</p>

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<p>It was factually incorrect, as Biden only visited Ground Zero on September 20 and not the day following the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>3. White House press secretary cuts off Biden in middle of remarks&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cut off Biden in the middle of remarks as he was responding to a query from a reporter. This incident occurred during a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, on September 10.</p>

<p>Biden was saying something incomprehensible in response to the query when White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre jumped in and said, “thank you everybody, this ends the press conference."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mysterious-material-from-asteroid-bennu-stumps-scientists-may-offer-clues-about-early-solar-system-669534">Mysterious material from asteroid Bennu stumps scientists, may offer clues about early solar system</a></p>

<p>Later, Biden, who picks himself sometimes over his age, said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go to bed."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>4. Biden leaves medal honour ceremony in between&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Everything was going well until Biden hung a medal around the neck of retired Army Captain Larry Taylor in honour for his service in the Vietnam War. At this point, a clueless Biden walked out of the East Room even was the ceremony was not over.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Biden left our troops to be killed in Afghanistan<br />
<br />
Military morale &amp; recruiting is lowest in decades<br />
<br />
He forced masks &amp; unnecessary vaccines on them<br />
<br />
And now he just walked out on a Medal of Honor ceremony, the highest honor for a soldier<br />
<br />
He is a disgrace<a href="https://t.co/Uz5mVagPWk">pic.twitter.com/Uz5mVagPWk</a></p>
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) <a href="https://twitter.com/DC_Draino/status/1699158154481733706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Throwing the awkward situation under the rug, WH Press Secretary Jean-Pierre said that it was a precautionary measure against Covid-19. The incident took place on September 5.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>5. National emergency for climate change?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Biden was factually incorrect when on August 9 he said that he declared climate change a national emergency. He later clarified that he has declared an emergency “in practice.”</p>

<h2><strong>6. Leaving the interview too early &nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Joe Biden did not give a chance to let the anchor close the interview and just left as soon as he was done. To many, it may have appeared impolite but to others it was just his age showing up. Biden rose from his chair and walked off the set of a live MSNBC interview with Nicole Wallace on June 29.</p>

<h2><strong>7. Calls Zelensky as 'Vladimir' at NATO Summit</strong></h2>

<p>US President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp;as “Vladimir” during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Vladimir, of course, is the first name of Putin, the president of Russia, which is engaged in a long war with Ukraine.</p>

<p>"Vladimir and I...I shouldn't be so familiar," said Biden during a press conference. He quickly realised that he committed a mistake and immediately corrected himself.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨🌎 Biden calls ‘Zelensky’ - VLADIMIR 🤡🚨<br />
<br />
Simply unbelievable. <a href="https://t.co/Iqo2omXIrj">pic.twitter.com/Iqo2omXIrj</a></p>
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGatesIsaPyscho/status/1679152227141795842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Mr Zelensky and I talked about the kind of guarantees we could make in the meantime when I was in Ukraine and when we met in other places," Biden added.</p>

<h2><strong>8. Mix-up between Iraq and Ukraine</strong></h2>

<p>This was a mix-up when the US president on June 27, while backing Ukraine, called Russia’s attacks as an “onslaught on Iraq”.</p>

<p>This incident took place at a fundraiser in Maryland. Only a day later, he added insult to the injury by saying that Putin is “clearly losing the war in Iraq”.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Now US President Biden says Putin " is clearly losing the war in Iraq” <a href="https://t.co/Uer17ipfMf">pic.twitter.com/Uer17ipfMf</a></p>
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1674069570355699713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>In November 2023, the gaffe-prone Biden made a similar mistake when he said that inflation on “a war in Iraq . . .excuse me, the war in Ukraine”.</p>

<p>He made the blunder during a speech in South Florida.</p>

<h2><strong>9. "God save the queen": Biden's epic failure on gun control&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Leaving behind countries and leaders, Biden did not even leave the royal family alone as he concluded his speech on gun control on June 16 saying “God save the queen, man.”</p>

<p>Even his White House deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton was also taken aback.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Joe Biden ended his remarks today calling for gun control by saying, “God save the queen.” No one has any idea what he’s talking about. Seriously, how much longer can this keep going on? <a href="https://t.co/bZQzvp23RA">pic.twitter.com/bZQzvp23RA</a></p>
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/1669805441059106816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Again in damage control, Dalton reportedly told media personnel in an email that it is not clear what Biden said meant and that the president was speaking to someone in the crowd.</p>

<h2><strong>11. Biden's gaffe gone big in infrastructure spending speech</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The latest verbal stumble in his infra-spending speech this month added to a series of gaffes Biden. He is now facing scrutiny after a speech in Las Vegas where he seemingly conjured up an astronomical number boasting about his administration's infrastructure spending.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BIDEN: "Over a billion three hundred million trillion three hundred million dollars!" <a href="https://t.co/4pVbAPrKef">pic.twitter.com/4pVbAPrKef</a></p>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1733259355347144791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>This gaffe was swiftly downplayed by the White House in an official transcript which looked like it tried to clarify it was a teleprompter error.</p>

<p>The comment by Biden, which was initially meant to target former president Donald Trump, triggered online mockery for the US president himself, with critics likening Biden to a child inventing numbers.&nbsp;</p>

<section>
<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cop28-cop28-latest-draft-final-deal-calls-for-fossil-fuel-transition-669514">COP28: COP28 latest: Draft final deal calls for fossil fuel transition</a></strong></p>
</section>

<section>
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<p>One user wrote, "Why does the President of the United States sound exactly like my 4-year-old when he’s trying to come up with the highest possible number?"</p>
</section>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US President Joe Biden's gaffes are becoming more and more frequent but perhaps 2023 is the year he is going to close with a record number of them. From verbal slip-ups to near-fall incidents, Biden, whose age is often targeted by opposition leaders and remains a concern for voters, has had all.

US President Joe Biden's gaffes are becoming more and more frequent but perhaps 2023 is the year he is going to close with a record number of them. From verbal slip-ups to near-fall incidents, Biden, whose age is often targeted by opposition leaders and remains a concern for voters, has had all. 81-year-old Biden has given hearty laughs to many and has shocked others with his blunder-prone personality. Here we have compiled a list of them rewinding his gaffes and oops moments in 2023. 1. Joe Biden slips on Air Force One stairs While the president was deboarding Air Force One in the US state of Michigan on September 26, he slipped from the stairs. Rushing to address the age challenge Biden is believed to be facing, his administration at the time was reported to have been taking steps to avoid tripping. While he was getting down from the plane, Biden lost his footing for a moment. Biden, who is running for the presidency in the next 2024 elections, has reportedly been wearing tennis shoes. As a caution, he is always making use of a shorter stairway to Air Force One. The US President has also been getting his body balance back with the aid of a physical therapist for the past two years. President Biden stumbles on Air Force One stairs again pic.twitter.com/RUEB1ua3da — The Sun (@TheSun) May 12, 2022 × In another such incident on July 14, Biden tripped on the steps of Air Force One when he was walking up to board the presidential plane in Finland. 2. Wrongly mentioning day he visited New York after 2001 attacks When Biden was addressing US troops stationed in Alaska on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack on September 11, 2023, he said he visited New York on September 12, 2001, a day after the tragic attack. He reportedly said that he surveyed the damage from Ground Zero. Also Read | Dominant female meerkats kill other females and eat their babies. Study shows why It was factually incorrect, as Biden only visited Ground Zero on September 20 and not the day following the attack. 3. White House press secretary cuts off Biden in middle of remarks White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cut off Biden in the middle of remarks as he was responding to a query from a reporter. This incident occurred during a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, on September 10. Biden was saying something incomprehensible in response to the query when White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre jumped in and said, “thank you everybody, this ends the press conference." Also Read | Mysterious material from asteroid Bennu stumps scientists, may offer clues about early solar system Later, Biden, who picks himself sometimes over his age, said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go to bed." 4. Biden leaves medal honour ceremony in between Everything was going well until Biden hung a medal around the neck of retired Army Captain Larry Taylor in honour for his service in the Vietnam War. At this point, a clueless Biden walked out of the East Room even was the ceremony was not over. Biden left our troops to be killed in Afghanistan Military morale & recruiting is lowest in decades He forced masks & unnecessary vaccines on them And now he just walked out on a Medal of Honor ceremony, the highest honor for a soldier He is a disgracepic.twitter.com/Uz5mVagPWk — DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) September 5, 2023 × Throwing the awkward situation under the rug, WH Press Secretary Jean-Pierre said that it was a precautionary measure against Covid-19. The incident took place on September 5. 5. National emergency for climate change? Biden was factually incorrect when on August 9 he said that he declared climate change a national emergency. He later clarified that he has declared an emergency “in practice.” 6. Leaving the interview too early Joe Biden did not give a chance to let the anchor close the interview and just left as soon as he was done. To many, it may have appeared impolite but to others it was just his age showing up. Biden rose from his chair and walked off the set of a live MSNBC interview with Nicole Wallace on June 29. 7. Calls Zelensky as 'Vladimir' at NATO Summit US President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “Vladimir” during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Vladimir, of course, is the first name of Putin, the president of Russia, which is engaged in a long war with Ukraine. "Vladimir and I...I shouldn't be so familiar," said Biden during a press conference. He quickly realised that he committed a mistake and immediately corrected himself. 🚨🌎 Biden calls ‘Zelensky’ - VLADIMIR 🤡🚨 Simply unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/Iqo2omXIrj — Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) July 12, 2023 × "Mr Zelensky and I talked about the kind of guarantees we could make in the meantime when I was in Ukraine and when we met in other places," Biden added. 8. Mix-up between Iraq and Ukraine This was a mix-up when the US president on June 27, while backing Ukraine, called Russia’s attacks as an “onslaught on Iraq”. This incident took place at a fundraiser in Maryland. Only a day later, he added insult to the injury by saying that Putin is “clearly losing the war in Iraq”. Now US President Biden says Putin " is clearly losing the war in Iraq” pic.twitter.com/Uer17ipfMf — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 28, 2023 × In November 2023, the gaffe-prone Biden made a similar mistake when he said that inflation on “a war in Iraq . . .excuse me, the war in Ukraine”. He made the blunder during a speech in South Florida. 9. "God save the queen": Biden's epic failure on gun control Leaving behind countries and leaders, Biden did not even leave the royal family alone as he concluded his speech on gun control on June 16 saying “God save the queen, man.” Even his White House deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton was also taken aback. Joe Biden ended his remarks today calling for gun control by saying, “God save the queen.” No one has any idea what he’s talking about. Seriously, how much longer can this keep going on? pic.twitter.com/bZQzvp23RA — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 16, 2023 × Again in damage control, Dalton reportedly told media personnel in an email that it is not clear what Biden said meant and that the president was speaking to someone in the crowd. 11. Biden's gaffe gone big in infrastructure spending speech The latest verbal stumble in his infra-spending speech this month added to a series of gaffes Biden. He is now facing scrutiny after a speech in Las Vegas where he seemingly conjured up an astronomical number boasting about his administration's infrastructure spending. BIDEN: "Over a billion three hundred million trillion three hundred million dollars!" pic.twitter.com/4pVbAPrKef — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 8, 2023 × This gaffe was swiftly downplayed by the White House in an official transcript which looked like it tried to clarify it was a teleprompter error. The comment by Biden, which was initially meant to target former president Donald Trump, triggered online mockery for the US president himself, with critics likening Biden to a child inventing numbers. Watch | COP28: COP28 latest: Draft final deal calls for fossil fuel transition × One user wrote, "Why does the President of the United States sound exactly like my 4-year-old when he’s trying to come up with the highest possible number?" (With inputs from agencies)

Year Ender 2023: A collection of Biden's gaffes and all the oops moments

<p>Warning bells have been ringing in the White House for quite some time now, and per the administration’s own officials, Donald Trump is to be blamed for this.</p>

<p>Last week, the former US president said he wanted to be a “dictator for one day” if re-elected to a second term. In response, White House officials declared him the biggest threat to American democracy.</p>

<p>Such concerns have been exacerbated by the fact that Trump has been extremely popular among Republican voters, with above 50 per cent of them throwing their weight behind him.</p>

<p>His ever-expanding legal miseries seem to have failed to shake his expansive support base on the conservative flank.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three years ago, some political pundits wrote off Trump as vanquished, humiliated and gone forever; only to be truly stunned by his remarkable comeback.</p>

<p>With the next US presidential elections just 11 months away, here we look at four major reasons why Donald Trump could register a victory against his Democratic rival Joe Biden.</p>

<h2><strong>Poor Bidenomics</strong></h2>

<p>The Biden White House claims that the economy is doing well. Unemployment has dropped to 3.9 per cent, a near-historic low, down from 6.3 per cent when Trump left office amidst COVID-19 disruption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Inflation has also cooled from over 9 per cent in June 2022 to 3.2 per cent in October 2023. Despite these positive indicators, many people, especially voters of colour and young voters, disagree.</p>

<p>They argue that wages are not keeping up with the rising costs of essential goods and services like groceries, cars, houses, and childcare.</p>

<p>When Biden talks about the economy, people are more concerned about affordability than economic statistics.</p>

<p>Half of Americans say their financial situation is worse off than it was three years ago during the last presidential election, according to a recent survey reported by Fox Business.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Trump has promised to make radical changes in the country's tax, market and foreign trade regime that, he claims, will upend the sorry state of the economy.</p>

<h2><strong>Public perception and Republican appeal</strong></h2>

<p>Public opinion polls reveal that, by a significant margin, voters see Republicans as better economic stewards, even though Trump's proposals are often vague.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many people feel unsettled for reasons beyond the economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump taps into the concerns of many white Americans who worry about the increasing diversity and cultural progressiveness of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There's also a widespread sense that key aspects of American life, such as home ownership, decent wages, and college education, are becoming harder to attain.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Voters express anxiety about crime and illegal border crossings, issues Trump skillfully addresses, positioning himself as both the problem identifier and the solution.</p>

<h2><strong>Trump's image and support</strong></h2>

<p>Critics within the Democratic Party, his own party, and the media consider Trump unfit for office. However, millions of voters disagree, viewing him as a victim of a political witch hunt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many of his supporters are ready to vote for him even if he were convicted of a crime. Trump highlights his four years in office, arguing that the government functioned well despite chaotic moments and unproven allegations, such as collusion with Russia.</p>

<p>Instead, Trump has leveraged the ever-expanding list of criminal cases against him, while garnering sympathy among the masses and showcasing himself as the ultimate saver who must be saved.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Special counsel Jack Smith challenges 'Presidential Immunity' of Donald Trump</strong></p>

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<p>As per the latest media reports, Trump is leaving no stone unturned to monetise his infamous mugshot. Earlier this week, he said that snippets of the suit he wore for that photo would be available for purchase, as part of a new sale of NFT “digital trading cards,” a product he debuted in late 2022.</p>

<p>“It was a great suit, believe me, a really good suit. It’s all cut up, and you’re gonna get a piece of it,” Trump said in a video on Truth Social.</p>

<h2><strong>Biden's challenges and Trump's advantage</strong></h2>

<p>Biden's efforts to showcase his job-creation policies, involving government investment in infrastructure, clean energy, and chip manufacturing, have struggled to convince a significant portion of the public that these policies are positively impacting their lives.</p>

<p>Additionally, Biden faces challenges related to foreign wars. His unconditional support to Ukraine has not gone down well with a lot of Republicans, who believe fixing issues at home should be the administration’s biggest responsibility.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nothing-more-to-say-donald-trump-cancels-plans-to-testify-at-civil-fraud-trial-in-new-york-668471"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;‘Nothing more to say’: Donald Trump cancels plans to testify at civil fraud trial in New York</strong></a></p>

<p>On the other hand, Trump's "America first" message aligns with voters wary of further US involvement abroad. Trump can leverage these factors to appeal to those who prefer a non-interventionist foreign policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While these four reasons don’t necessarily mean that Trump is on his way to return to the White House, they very well reflect his strong political muscle&nbsp;that has spurred concerns even amongst the Democrats and White House officials.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Warning bells have been ringing in the White House for quite some time now, and per the administration’s own officials, Donald Trump is to be blamed for this. Last week, the former US president said he wanted to be a “dictator for one day” if re-elected to a second term.

Warning bells have been ringing in the White House for quite some time now, and per the administration’s own officials, Donald Trump is to be blamed for this. Last week, the former US president said he wanted to be a “dictator for one day” if re-elected to a second term. In response, White House officials declared him the biggest threat to American democracy. Such concerns have been exacerbated by the fact that Trump has been extremely popular among Republican voters, with above 50 per cent of them throwing their weight behind him. His ever-expanding legal miseries seem to have failed to shake his expansive support base on the conservative flank. Three years ago, some political pundits wrote off Trump as vanquished, humiliated and gone forever; only to be truly stunned by his remarkable comeback. With the next US presidential elections just 11 months away, here we look at four major reasons why Donald Trump could register a victory against his Democratic rival Joe Biden. Poor Bidenomics The Biden White House claims that the economy is doing well. Unemployment has dropped to 3.9 per cent, a near-historic low, down from 6.3 per cent when Trump left office amidst COVID-19 disruption. Inflation has also cooled from over 9 per cent in June 2022 to 3.2 per cent in October 2023. Despite these positive indicators, many people, especially voters of colour and young voters, disagree. They argue that wages are not keeping up with the rising costs of essential goods and services like groceries, cars, houses, and childcare. When Biden talks about the economy, people are more concerned about affordability than economic statistics. Half of Americans say their financial situation is worse off than it was three years ago during the last presidential election, according to a recent survey reported by Fox Business. Meanwhile, Trump has promised to make radical changes in the country's tax, market and foreign trade regime that, he claims, will upend the sorry state of the economy. Public perception and Republican appeal Public opinion polls reveal that, by a significant margin, voters see Republicans as better economic stewards, even though Trump's proposals are often vague. Many people feel unsettled for reasons beyond the economy. Trump taps into the concerns of many white Americans who worry about the increasing diversity and cultural progressiveness of the country. There's also a widespread sense that key aspects of American life, such as home ownership, decent wages, and college education, are becoming harder to attain. Voters express anxiety about crime and illegal border crossings, issues Trump skillfully addresses, positioning himself as both the problem identifier and the solution. Trump's image and support Critics within the Democratic Party, his own party, and the media consider Trump unfit for office. However, millions of voters disagree, viewing him as a victim of a political witch hunt. Many of his supporters are ready to vote for him even if he were convicted of a crime. Trump highlights his four years in office, arguing that the government functioned well despite chaotic moments and unproven allegations, such as collusion with Russia. Instead, Trump has leveraged the ever-expanding list of criminal cases against him, while garnering sympathy among the masses and showcasing himself as the ultimate saver who must be saved. Watch: Special counsel Jack Smith challenges 'Presidential Immunity' of Donald Trump × As per the latest media reports, Trump is leaving no stone unturned to monetise his infamous mugshot. Earlier this week, he said that snippets of the suit he wore for that photo would be available for purchase, as part of a new sale of NFT “digital trading cards,” a product he debuted in late 2022. “It was a great suit, believe me, a really good suit. It’s all cut up, and you’re gonna get a piece of it,” Trump said in a video on Truth Social. Biden's challenges and Trump's advantage Biden's efforts to showcase his job-creation policies, involving government investment in infrastructure, clean energy, and chip manufacturing, have struggled to convince a significant portion of the public that these policies are positively impacting their lives. Additionally, Biden faces challenges related to foreign wars. His unconditional support to Ukraine has not gone down well with a lot of Republicans, who believe fixing issues at home should be the administration’s biggest responsibility. Also read: ‘Nothing more to say’: Donald Trump cancels plans to testify at civil fraud trial in New York On the other hand, Trump's "America first" message aligns with voters wary of further US involvement abroad. Trump can leverage these factors to appeal to those who prefer a non-interventionist foreign policy. While these four reasons don’t necessarily mean that Trump is on his way to return to the White House, they very well reflect his strong political muscle that has spurred concerns even amongst the Democrats and White House officials. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Donald Trump might still win 2024 presidential elections. Here are some reasons

The discussions included the negative impact of generative AI driven by disinformation and labour force displacement. The panel looked at growing concern in the Global North about the threats to national security posed by generative AI. Apart from risks, the panel deep-dived into AI's use in military logistics and for planning and communication purposes.

Evolution of AI in defence | Global Technology Summit

<p>Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired two missiles at a commercial tanker carrying Indian-manufactured jet fuel near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, on Wednesday (Dec 13), reported the Associated Press citing an American official. The vessel was also attacked by a speedboat with armed men off the coast of Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah, said the British maritime security company.</p>

<p>The attack comes a day after a senior official from the Iran-backed group warned cargo ships in the Red Sea to avoid travelling toward Israel and claimed the attack on a Norwegian commercial tanker.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Missiles fired from rebel-held Yemen</strong></h2>

<p>A report by the AP citing an anonymous United States official said that an American warship in the region shot down a suspected Houthi drone flying in its direction during the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident which involved a tanker, Ardmore Encounter, marks an escalation by the Houthis who have repeatedly attacked ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Israel forces deploy 'Sa'ar 6' to counter Houthis as their attacks rise in Red Sea</strong></p>

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<p>The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was travelling north toward the Suez Canal in the Red Sea, reported AP citing satellite tracking data, adding that the vessel had left from the Indian city of Mangalore and had an armed security crew aboard it.</p>

<p>The guards apparently opened fire at the armed men on speedboats trying to board the vessel, said Ambrey, a British maritime security company.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, on Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it had received reports of an incident in the vicinity of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, without giving more details.</p>

<p>Ambrey said a Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker reported an “exchange of fire” with a speedboat around 102 kilometres off Hodeidah, adding that the boat approached the tanker and initiated the gunfire at a distance of 300 metres.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-ship-cruise-missile-from-houthi-controlled-yemen-strikes-tanker-causes-fire-us-military-668788">Anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled Yemen strikes tanker, causes fire: US military</a></strong></p>

<p>The British private intelligence firm also said that the tanker was hailed by an entity claiming to be the Yemeni Navy – both Yemen’s internationally recognised government and Houthi rebels self-identify as the Yemeni Navy – which asked the vessel to alter course but a “coalition” warship advised the ship to maintain it, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was not immediately clear which coalition Ambrey was referring to.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Shipping company confirms attack</strong></h2>

<p>Ardmore Shipping Corp, which owns and operates the ship, issued a statement to the AP acknowledging the attack and said that no one was injured and “all crew members are safe and accounted for,” adding that the vessel was also “fully operational with no loss of cargo or damage on board.”</p>

<p>“Ardmore is in close contact with the relevant authorities and military assistance is now in the area providing support as required,” said the shipping company.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ship, carrying jet fuel from Shell MRPL Aviation Fuels &amp; Services Ltd and India’s national oil company was reportedly headed to either Rotterdam, Netherlands or Gavle, Sweden. &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Houthis issue another warning&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The recent incident came after an anti-ship cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen, struck a Norwegian-flagged tanker STRINDA and caused a fire, according to the United States military.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yemens-houthis-say-they-attacked-israeli-ships-in-red-sea-665844">Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Israeli ships in Red Sea</a></strong></p>

<p>The Iran-backed group had issued a warning on Saturday (Dec 9) that they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing in Israeli ports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, head of Yemen’s Houthi supreme revolutionary committee took to X, on Tuesday (Dec 12) and reiterated the warning and asked ships that pass Yemen to keep radios turned on, and quickly respond to Houthi attempts at communication.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Al-Houthi also warned cargo ships against “falsifying their identity” or raising flags different from the country belonging to the cargo ship owner.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired two missiles at a commercial tanker carrying Indian-manufactured jet fuel near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, on Wednesday (Dec 13), reported the Associated Press citing an American official.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired two missiles at a commercial tanker carrying Indian-manufactured jet fuel near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, on Wednesday (Dec 13), reported the Associated Press citing an American official. The vessel was also attacked by a speedboat with armed men off the coast of Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah, said the British maritime security company. The attack comes a day after a senior official from the Iran-backed group warned cargo ships in the Red Sea to avoid travelling toward Israel and claimed the attack on a Norwegian commercial tanker. Missiles fired from rebel-held Yemen A report by the AP citing an anonymous United States official said that an American warship in the region shot down a suspected Houthi drone flying in its direction during the incident. The incident which involved a tanker, Ardmore Encounter, marks an escalation by the Houthis who have repeatedly attacked ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. WATCH | Israel forces deploy 'Sa'ar 6' to counter Houthis as their attacks rise in Red Sea The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was travelling north toward the Suez Canal in the Red Sea, reported AP citing satellite tracking data, adding that the vessel had left from the Indian city of Mangalore and had an armed security crew aboard it. The guards apparently opened fire at the armed men on speedboats trying to board the vessel, said Ambrey, a British maritime security company. Earlier, on Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it had received reports of an incident in the vicinity of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, without giving more details. Ambrey said a Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker reported an “exchange of fire” with a speedboat around 102 kilometres off Hodeidah, adding that the boat approached the tanker and initiated the gunfire at a distance of 300 metres. ALSO READ | Anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled Yemen strikes tanker, causes fire: US military The British private intelligence firm also said that the tanker was hailed by an entity claiming to be the Yemeni Navy – both Yemen’s internationally recognised government and Houthi rebels self-identify as the Yemeni Navy – which asked the vessel to alter course but a “coalition” warship advised the ship to maintain it, reported Reuters. It was not immediately clear which coalition Ambrey was referring to. Shipping company confirms attack Ardmore Shipping Corp, which owns and operates the ship, issued a statement to the AP acknowledging the attack and said that no one was injured and “all crew members are safe and accounted for,” adding that the vessel was also “fully operational with no loss of cargo or damage on board.” “Ardmore is in close contact with the relevant authorities and military assistance is now in the area providing support as required,” said the shipping company. The ship, carrying jet fuel from Shell MRPL Aviation Fuels & Services Ltd and India’s national oil company was reportedly headed to either Rotterdam, Netherlands or Gavle, Sweden. Houthis issue another warning The recent incident came after an anti-ship cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen, struck a Norwegian-flagged tanker STRINDA and caused a fire, according to the United States military. ALSO READ | Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Israeli ships in Red Sea The Iran-backed group had issued a warning on Saturday (Dec 9) that they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing in Israeli ports. Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, head of Yemen’s Houthi supreme revolutionary committee took to X, on Tuesday (Dec 12) and reiterated the warning and asked ships that pass Yemen to keep radios turned on, and quickly respond to Houthi attempts at communication. Al-Houthi also warned cargo ships against “falsifying their identity” or raising flags different from the country belonging to the cargo ship owner. (With inputs from agencies)

Tanker carrying jet fuel from India hit by missiles from Houthi-controlled Yemen, gunmen on speedboats

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<p>The number of journalists killed in the line of duty fell this year, despite reporter deaths in Gaza in the past two months, media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Thursday (Dec 14).</p>

<p>In the first 11 months of 2023, 45 journalists were killed carrying out their work, down from 61 last year, according to the annual report by RSF.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was the smallest number since 33 died in 2002, largely due to a major drop in Latin America.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While some 63 journalists have been killed in the Middle East since the October 7 start of fighting between Israel and Islamist group Hamas, only 17 of those deaths fell under RSF's definition.</p>

<p>"It takes nothing away from the tragedy in Gaza but we are observing a regular decline, and are very far from the 140 journalists killed in 2012 and again in 2013" because of the wars in Syria and Iraq, RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire told AFP.</p>

<p>The decline is due to efforts by inter-governmental organisations and NGOs to combat impunity, as well as due to greater "prudence" by reporters themselves, he said.</p>

<p>Of the 17 journalists RSF counted as killed carrying out their profession in the Middle East since October 7, 13 were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, three died in Lebanon and one was killed in Israel by Hamas.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-palestine-war-45-palestinian-4-israeli-journalists-killed-since-war-began-wion-661327"><strong>Watch | Israel-Palestine war: 45 Palestinian, 4 Israeli journalists killed since war began</strong></a></p>

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<p>RSF in November said it filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court for "war crimes" for these deaths.</p>

<p>AFP last week said its investigation showed that Israeli tank fire was responsible for killing Reuters cameraman Issam Abdallah on October 13 and wounding six others, including AFP photographer Christina Assi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A spokesperson for the Israeli army said the journalists were in an "active combat zone" in southern Lebanon, an answer that Deloire called "not satisfactory."</p>

<p>The war in Ukraine cost the lives of two reporters in 2023, including AFP reporter Arman Soldin, "the only reporter to have lost their life outside their own country", RSF said.</p>

<p>A&nbsp;total&nbsp;of 11 reporters have been killed since the start of the conflict in February 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Fall in Latin America</h2>

<p>There was a sharp drop in Latin America where six reporters were killed, down from 26 in 2022. In Mexico alone, the number fell to four from 11 the previous year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>RSF warned that Mexico remains dangerous for journalists, citing continued kidnappings and attacks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Of the 84 journalists counted as missing worldwide, about a third are Mexican.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reporters-hamas-terrorist-killed-in-israeli-strikes-on-lebanon-661531"><strong>Also read | Two&nbsp;journalists, Hamas terrorist killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon</strong></a></p>

<p>The number of jailed reporters declined to 521 from 569 in 2022, with Belarus joining China and Myanmar as "one of the three biggest prisons in the world".</p>

<p>Turkey and Iran also repeatedly jail journalists, the report said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A&nbsp;total&nbsp;of&nbsp;54&nbsp;journalists are being held hostage, compared to 65 in 2022.</p>


The number of journalists killed in the line of duty fell this year, despite reporter deaths in Gaza in the past two months, media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Thursday (Dec 14).

The number of journalists killed in the line of duty fell this year, despite reporter deaths in Gaza in the past two months, media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Thursday (Dec 14). In the first 11 months of 2023, 45 journalists were killed carrying out their work, down from 61 last year, according to the annual report by RSF. It was the smallest number since 33 died in 2002, largely due to a major drop in Latin America. While some 63 journalists have been killed in the Middle East since the October 7 start of fighting between Israel and Islamist group Hamas, only 17 of those deaths fell under RSF's definition. "It takes nothing away from the tragedy in Gaza but we are observing a regular decline, and are very far from the 140 journalists killed in 2012 and again in 2013" because of the wars in Syria and Iraq, RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire told AFP. The decline is due to efforts by inter-governmental organisations and NGOs to combat impunity, as well as due to greater "prudence" by reporters themselves, he said. Of the 17 journalists RSF counted as killed carrying out their profession in the Middle East since October 7, 13 were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, three died in Lebanon and one was killed in Israel by Hamas. Watch | Israel-Palestine war: 45 Palestinian, 4 Israeli journalists killed since war began × RSF in November said it filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court for "war crimes" for these deaths. AFP last week said its investigation showed that Israeli tank fire was responsible for killing Reuters cameraman Issam Abdallah on October 13 and wounding six others, including AFP photographer Christina Assi. A spokesperson for the Israeli army said the journalists were in an "active combat zone" in southern Lebanon, an answer that Deloire called "not satisfactory." The war in Ukraine cost the lives of two reporters in 2023, including AFP reporter Arman Soldin, "the only reporter to have lost their life outside their own country", RSF said. A total of 11 reporters have been killed since the start of the conflict in February 2022. Fall in Latin America There was a sharp drop in Latin America where six reporters were killed, down from 26 in 2022. In Mexico alone, the number fell to four from 11 the previous year. RSF warned that Mexico remains dangerous for journalists, citing continued kidnappings and attacks. Of the 84 journalists counted as missing worldwide, about a third are Mexican. Also read | Two journalists, Hamas terrorist killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon The number of jailed reporters declined to 521 from 569 in 2022, with Belarus joining China and Myanmar as "one of the three biggest prisons in the world". Turkey and Iran also repeatedly jail journalists, the report said. A total of 54 journalists are being held hostage, compared to 65 in 2022.

Despite Israel-Hamas war, number of journalists killed on job declines in 2023: Report

The word "DPI", Digital Public Infrastructure, has been globally recognised thanks to India's G20 presidency. More significantly, it provided a uniform framework that can assist nations in using the DPI strategy to address their issues through digital transformation without starting from scratch. The panel reviewed methods for resolving DPI issues and identifying joint venture prospects to quicken DPI's globalisation.

Focus: Globalising DPI; Digitisation is importaant for DPI to work | Global Technology Summit

Beijing, the capital of China, saw its first snowfall of the winter season early on Monday and was covered in a layer of white throughout the night.

Second cold wave envelops China's Beijing in snow

<p>At least one civilian has been killed and 11 others were injured after Russia overnight launched 42 drones and six missiles at Ukraine’s southern regions, said the Ukrainian military, on Thursday (Dec 14). Kyiv’s forces claimed to have shot down 41 out of 42 drones during the attack on the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The attack also comes a day after 10 ballistic&nbsp;missiles were fired at the Ukrainian capital, according to the Ukrainian military. Kyiv’s mayor said at least 53 people were injured in the “enemy attack,” the second offensive in a week after a long hiatus.</p>

<h2><strong>Drone and missile attacks in southern Ukraine</strong></h2>

<p>“The defenders of the sky managed to shoot down 41 out of 42 Shahed-136/131 attack drones. The vast majority of them were shot down in Odesa region,” said the Ukrainian Air Force, in a post on Telegram.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-missile-attack-rocks-kyiv-cyberattack-leaves-millions-without-internet-669098">Russia-Ukraine war: Missile attack rocks Kyiv, cyberattack leaves millions without internet</a></strong></p>

<p>According to the Ukrainian forces, Russia also launched six S-300 anti-aircraft-guided missiles from the occupied Kherson region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The wreckage from the downed drones damaged more than a dozen buildings in the southern city of Odesa and 11 civilians, including three children, were injured, said the Ukrainian military.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in the neighbouring Kherson region, one person was killed following an overnight missile strike, reported Reuters citing emergency services. A medical facility, private house and garage were also destroyed, according to the news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Russia’s attack on Kyiv</strong></h2>

<p>At least 53 people, including six children, were injured after the Ukrainian capital came under attack, on Wednesday (Dec 13), according to officials in Kyiv.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volodymyr-zelensky-arrives-at-white-house-for-aid-talks-with-joe-biden-669060">Biden meets Zelensky, says he has signed $200 million emergency aid drawdown</a></strong></p>

<p>Ukrainian air defence systems downed all 10 ballistic missiles that targeted the capital at about 3:00 am (local time), said Ukraine’s air force on Telegram.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a social media post, the Ukrainian police said some 18 people had been hospitalised after the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The missile strike also caused major damage to the infrastructure in Kyiv, including homes and a children’s hospital. According to Reuters, windows of residential apartment blocks were blown out and frightened residents streamed out onto the street to assess the damage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The debris from the missiles also reportedly blew a large crater in the ground and destroyed parked cars.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-has-cost-russia-nearly-90-of-its-troops-claims-us-intelligence-report-669163">Ukraine war has cost Russia nearly 90% of its troops, claims US intelligence report</a></strong></p>

<p>“There was no air raid siren. At around 4 a.m. (0200 GMT), I heard an explosion. We fled to the corridor, (the explosion wave) threw me into the doors,” Olena Ustinova, 45, a local administration clerk, told Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I regained consciousness and started to shake the doors but they were blocked. I shouted for help from my balcony and emergency workers came to help me.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)<br />
<br />
<strong>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</strong></em></p>


At least one civilian has been killed and 11 others were injured after Russia overnight launched 42 drones and six missiles at Ukraine’s southern regions, said the Ukrainian military, on Thursday (Dec 14).

At least one civilian has been killed and 11 others were injured after Russia overnight launched 42 drones and six missiles at Ukraine’s southern regions, said the Ukrainian military, on Thursday (Dec 14). Kyiv’s forces claimed to have shot down 41 out of 42 drones during the attack on the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa. The attack also comes a day after 10 ballistic missiles were fired at the Ukrainian capital, according to the Ukrainian military. Kyiv’s mayor said at least 53 people were injured in the “enemy attack,” the second offensive in a week after a long hiatus. Drone and missile attacks in southern Ukraine “The defenders of the sky managed to shoot down 41 out of 42 Shahed-136/131 attack drones. The vast majority of them were shot down in Odesa region,” said the Ukrainian Air Force, in a post on Telegram. ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine war: Missile attack rocks Kyiv, cyberattack leaves millions without internet According to the Ukrainian forces, Russia also launched six S-300 anti-aircraft-guided missiles from the occupied Kherson region. The wreckage from the downed drones damaged more than a dozen buildings in the southern city of Odesa and 11 civilians, including three children, were injured, said the Ukrainian military. Meanwhile, in the neighbouring Kherson region, one person was killed following an overnight missile strike, reported Reuters citing emergency services. A medical facility, private house and garage were also destroyed, according to the news agency. Russia’s attack on Kyiv At least 53 people, including six children, were injured after the Ukrainian capital came under attack, on Wednesday (Dec 13), according to officials in Kyiv. ALSO READ | Biden meets Zelensky, says he has signed $200 million emergency aid drawdown Ukrainian air defence systems downed all 10 ballistic missiles that targeted the capital at about 3:00 am (local time), said Ukraine’s air force on Telegram. In a social media post, the Ukrainian police said some 18 people had been hospitalised after the attack. The missile strike also caused major damage to the infrastructure in Kyiv, including homes and a children’s hospital. According to Reuters, windows of residential apartment blocks were blown out and frightened residents streamed out onto the street to assess the damage. The debris from the missiles also reportedly blew a large crater in the ground and destroyed parked cars. ALSO READ | Ukraine war has cost Russia nearly 90% of its troops, claims US intelligence report “There was no air raid siren. At around 4 a.m. (0200 GMT), I heard an explosion. We fled to the corridor, (the explosion wave) threw me into the doors,” Olena Ustinova, 45, a local administration clerk, told Reuters. “I regained consciousness and started to shake the doors but they were blocked. I shouted for help from my balcony and emergency workers came to help me.” (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

At least one civilian killed, 11 injured after Russian drone, missile attacks in southern Ukraine: Kyiv

<p>The leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), Iyad Ag Ghaly recently published a video speaking publicly for the first time since 2017 and warned about a new phase of Jihad after lashing out at the military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and their Russian allies.</p>

<p>The video footage was authenticated on Wednesday (Dec 13) by SITE, an American NGO specialising in monitoring radical groups.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Treacherous governments’</strong></h2>

<p>In the 22-minute video, Ag Ghaly urged local Muslims to support his fighters against the “treacherous governments” of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, which is active in Mali.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-flexes-his-muscles-by-launching-two-nuclear-powered-submarines-669526">Putin flexes his muscles by launching two nuclear-powered submarines</a></strong></p>

<p>Notably, these countries have been plagued by jihadist insurgencies while their militaries have seized power through coups and have broken alliances with countries in the West, including France.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While jihadists are responsible for almost daily attacks on civilians and the army in these countries, Ag Ghaly in the video supposedly portrayed himself as a defender of the oppressed, according to a report by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The leader of the al-Qaeda-linked group also went on to criticise the Malian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga saying. The “Islamic cause is totally incompatible with your project,” he asid, adding that the need for governance under the Islamic law “cannot be compromised”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, AFP citing Malian commentators and officials said that Ag Ghaly is considered as an unavoidable figure in efforts to end the country’s prolonged crisis.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-led-house-authorises-biden-impeachment-inquiry-us-prez-calls-it-baseless-political-stunt-669461">Republican-led House authorises Biden impeachment inquiry; US prez calls it ‘baseless political stunt’</a></strong></p>

<p>He also denounced the situation in Burkina Faso, accusing Captain Ibrahim Traore’s regime of “persecuting, killing and displacing the population,” and welcomed the response of jihadists in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Mali opens terror probe into jihadists, ethnic separatists</strong></h2>

<p>In late November, Mali’s judiciary announced that it was launching an investigation into several ethnic separatists and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist leaders for terrorism and money laundering, including Ag Ghaly.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-mother-wrongfully-jailed-for-death-of-four-babies-has-convictions-overturned-669517">Australian mother wrongfully jailed for death of four babies has convictions overturned</a></strong></p>

<p>The public prosecutor said the investigation was launched “not only against the terrorist leaders but also other members who were signatories to the 2015 peace agreement” and “have tipped over into terrorism”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Malian judicial officers also cited “extremely serious” acts that “are likely to constitute the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, acts of terrorism, money laundering and financing of terrorism, illegal possession of weapons of war and munitions, and complicity in these same acts.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), Iyad Ag Ghaly recently published a video speaking publicly for the first time since 2017 and warned about a new phase of Jihad after lashing out at the military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and their Russian allies.

The leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), Iyad Ag Ghaly recently published a video speaking publicly for the first time since 2017 and warned about a new phase of Jihad after lashing out at the military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and their Russian allies. The video footage was authenticated on Wednesday (Dec 13) by SITE, an American NGO specialising in monitoring radical groups. ‘Treacherous governments’ In the 22-minute video, Ag Ghaly urged local Muslims to support his fighters against the “treacherous governments” of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, which is active in Mali. ALSO READ | Putin flexes his muscles by launching two nuclear-powered submarines Notably, these countries have been plagued by jihadist insurgencies while their militaries have seized power through coups and have broken alliances with countries in the West, including France. While jihadists are responsible for almost daily attacks on civilians and the army in these countries, Ag Ghaly in the video supposedly portrayed himself as a defender of the oppressed, according to a report by AFP. The leader of the al-Qaeda-linked group also went on to criticise the Malian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga saying. The “Islamic cause is totally incompatible with your project,” he asid, adding that the need for governance under the Islamic law “cannot be compromised”. Notably, AFP citing Malian commentators and officials said that Ag Ghaly is considered as an unavoidable figure in efforts to end the country’s prolonged crisis. ALSO READ | Republican-led House authorises Biden impeachment inquiry; US prez calls it ‘baseless political stunt’ He also denounced the situation in Burkina Faso, accusing Captain Ibrahim Traore’s regime of “persecuting, killing and displacing the population,” and welcomed the response of jihadists in the region. Mali opens terror probe into jihadists, ethnic separatists In late November, Mali’s judiciary announced that it was launching an investigation into several ethnic separatists and Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist leaders for terrorism and money laundering, including Ag Ghaly. ALSO READ | Australian mother wrongfully jailed for death of four babies has convictions overturned The public prosecutor said the investigation was launched “not only against the terrorist leaders but also other members who were signatories to the 2015 peace agreement” and “have tipped over into terrorism”. The Malian judicial officers also cited “extremely serious” acts that “are likely to constitute the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, acts of terrorism, money laundering and financing of terrorism, illegal possession of weapons of war and munitions, and complicity in these same acts.” (With inputs from agencies)

Leader of al-Qaeda-linked group in Sahel announces new Jihad phase against juntas

<p>Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that has intensified after the expiry of the second truce deal, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are under constant state of&nbsp;dread. Their problems have been compounded by the winter rains that have swept across the Strip, washing away the tents and flooding the areas, including refugee camps.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Palestinians are describing the conditions as "living hell", according to a <em>Guardian </em>report. The worsening humanitarian situation has led nearly 85 per cent of Gaza's population to abandon their homes and live on aid from international organisations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Rainwater seeped in. We couldn’t sleep. We tried to find nylon covers but couldn’t find any so we resorted to stones and sand” to keep the rain out," a Palestinian who had camped in grounds of al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in central Gaza told AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While some families have proper tents, others are relying on tarpaulins and other plastic materials to forge a living space that protects them from the rain.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Videos on social media showed people walking through flooded streets as everything remained closed. One clip going viral showed a man carrying his family member wrapped in a white shroud, suggesting they may have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the media)</em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A Palestinian man holds the body of Palestinian girl who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia despite the heavy rain. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gazagenocide%E2%80%8C?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gazagenocide‌</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a> <a href="https://t.co/L4xrAJbAQ5">pic.twitter.com/L4xrAJbAQ5</a></p>
— Wafa News Agency - English (@WAFANewsEnglish) <a href="https://twitter.com/WAFANewsEnglish/status/1734920433583964314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Food troubles</strong></h2>

<p>Apart from finding it difficult to have a space to call it home, the Palestinians are also struggling for food. A report published by the&nbsp;World Food Programme (WFP) last week revealed that&nbsp;91 per cent of households in Gaza reported going to bed hungry while 63 per cent reported enduring entire days without food.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000154766/download/?_ga=2.132884044.396164872.1702292083-252791030.1702292083">report&nbsp;</a>stated that "42 per cent of the households in the Northern governorates&nbsp;(Gaza and North Gaza) and 35 per cent of households in the Southern governorates (Deir Al Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah) reported knowing of people who were compelled to consume wild or raw food to cope with hunger".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-displaced-gaza-residents-sheltering-in-tents-face-heavy-rainfall-wion-669518"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: Displaced Gaza residents sheltering in tents face heavy rainfall</strong></a></p>

<p>The food scarcity situation is significantly worse in the north than in the south, according to the report. The aid is concentrated in the south of the strip where it is received through the border with Egypt at the Rafah crossing.</p>

<p>According to the Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry, more than 18,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its retaliatory operations following the militant group’s attack on October 7 in southern Israel.</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>&nbsp;<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that has intensified after the expiry of the second truce deal, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are under constant state of dread.

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that has intensified after the expiry of the second truce deal, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are under constant state of dread. Their problems have been compounded by the winter rains that have swept across the Strip, washing away the tents and flooding the areas, including refugee camps. The Palestinians are describing the conditions as "living hell", according to a Guardian report. The worsening humanitarian situation has led nearly 85 per cent of Gaza's population to abandon their homes and live on aid from international organisations. “Rainwater seeped in. We couldn’t sleep. We tried to find nylon covers but couldn’t find any so we resorted to stones and sand” to keep the rain out," a Palestinian who had camped in grounds of al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in central Gaza told AFP. While some families have proper tents, others are relying on tarpaulins and other plastic materials to forge a living space that protects them from the rain. Videos on social media showed people walking through flooded streets as everything remained closed. One clip going viral showed a man carrying his family member wrapped in a white shroud, suggesting they may have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes. (WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the media) A Palestinian man holds the body of Palestinian girl who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia despite the heavy rain. #Gazagenocide‌ #Gaza pic.twitter.com/L4xrAJbAQ5 — Wafa News Agency - English (@WAFANewsEnglish) December 13, 2023 × Food troubles Apart from finding it difficult to have a space to call it home, the Palestinians are also struggling for food. A report published by the World Food Programme (WFP) last week revealed that 91 per cent of households in Gaza reported going to bed hungry while 63 per cent reported enduring entire days without food. The report stated that "42 per cent of the households in the Northern governorates (Gaza and North Gaza) and 35 per cent of households in the Southern governorates (Deir Al Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah) reported knowing of people who were compelled to consume wild or raw food to cope with hunger". Watch | Israel-Hamas war: Displaced Gaza residents sheltering in tents face heavy rainfall The food scarcity situation is significantly worse in the north than in the south, according to the report. The aid is concentrated in the south of the strip where it is received through the border with Egypt at the Rafah crossing. According to the Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry, more than 18,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its retaliatory operations following the militant group’s attack on October 7 in southern Israel. 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)

After food shortage, Palestinians in Gaza hit by heavy winter rains

UK: High drop-out rates concerning, students quit studies to work | World News | WION

<p>A 56-year-old Australian woman who had served a 20-year prison sentence for the death of her four children had her convictions formally quashed by a court, her lawyers said.</p>

<p>On Thursday (Dec 14), the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court found that Kathleen Folbigg was wrongfully convicted declaring that the evidence originally used against her was “not reliable”.</p>

<p>She is expected to seek compensation from the NSW government after the court overturned her conviction.</p>

<p>Often described as one of “Australia's greatest miscarriages of justice”, Folbigg tried to legally challenge the charges through a string of appeals, but they were&nbsp;turned down every time.</p>

<p>The matter was taken up again earlier this year after a landmark inquiry by a retired judge found reasonable doubt over her guilt.</p>

<h2><strong>'How can I kill my own children?'</strong></h2>

<p>On Thursday, she burst into tears outside the court as she thanked the “updated science and genetics” saying that it had given her “answers” as to how her children died.</p>

<p>She also criticised the “system” for wrongly blaming her for murdering her children.</p>

<p>“My children are here with me today and they will be close to my heart for the rest of my life,” she told reporters.</p>

<p>&nbsp;“The system and society need to think before they blame a parent of hurting their children.”</p>

<p>“However, even in 1999, we had legal answers to prove my innocence, but they were ignored and dismissed,” she said.</p>

<p>The court had jailed&nbsp;Folbigg in 2003 on three counts of murder and one of manslaughter after the deaths of her four babies—Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura —each of whom died suddenly between 1989 and 1999, aged between 19 days and 18 months.</p>

<h2><strong>Media declared her 'Australia’s worst serial killer'</strong></h2>

<p>The first three deaths were initially attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a term used when babies less than a year old die for no apparent reason.</p>

<p>At 18 months, Laura was the longest-lived of Folbigg’s children, and police began investigating after a forensic pathologist determined the cause of her death as “undetermined".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-overhauls-cabinet-in-bid-to-weather-financial-scandal-669494">Japan PM overhauls cabinet in bid to weather financial scandal</a></p>

<p>She was charged and convicted as newspaper headlines declared her to be “Australia’s worst serial killer.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-deputy-editor-of-putins-favourite-newspaper-found-dead-under-mysterious-circumstances-669414">Russia: Deputy editor of Putin's 'favourite' newspaper found dead under mysterious circumstances</a></p>

<p>The prosecutors at that time relied on circumstantial evidence, using Folbigg's diaries to paint her as an unstable mother, prone to rage. Notably, the diaries were not examined by psychologists or psychiatrists.</p>

<p>In 2003, she was sentenced to 40 years in jail which was later downgraded to 30 years on appeal.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A 56-year-old Australian woman who had served a 20-year prison sentence for the death of her four children had her convictions formally quashed by a court, her lawyers said.

A 56-year-old Australian woman who had served a 20-year prison sentence for the death of her four children had her convictions formally quashed by a court, her lawyers said. On Thursday (Dec 14), the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court found that Kathleen Folbigg was wrongfully convicted declaring that the evidence originally used against her was “not reliable”. She is expected to seek compensation from the NSW government after the court overturned her conviction. Often described as one of “Australia's greatest miscarriages of justice”, Folbigg tried to legally challenge the charges through a string of appeals, but they were turned down every time. The matter was taken up again earlier this year after a landmark inquiry by a retired judge found reasonable doubt over her guilt. 'How can I kill my own children?' On Thursday, she burst into tears outside the court as she thanked the “updated science and genetics” saying that it had given her “answers” as to how her children died. She also criticised the “system” for wrongly blaming her for murdering her children. “My children are here with me today and they will be close to my heart for the rest of my life,” she told reporters. “The system and society need to think before they blame a parent of hurting their children.” “However, even in 1999, we had legal answers to prove my innocence, but they were ignored and dismissed,” she said. The court had jailed Folbigg in 2003 on three counts of murder and one of manslaughter after the deaths of her four babies—Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura —each of whom died suddenly between 1989 and 1999, aged between 19 days and 18 months. Media declared her 'Australia’s worst serial killer' The first three deaths were initially attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a term used when babies less than a year old die for no apparent reason. At 18 months, Laura was the longest-lived of Folbigg’s children, and police began investigating after a forensic pathologist determined the cause of her death as “undetermined". Also read | Japan PM overhauls cabinet in bid to weather financial scandal She was charged and convicted as newspaper headlines declared her to be “Australia’s worst serial killer.” Also read | Russia: Deputy editor of Putin's 'favourite' newspaper found dead under mysterious circumstances The prosecutors at that time relied on circumstantial evidence, using Folbigg's diaries to paint her as an unstable mother, prone to rage. Notably, the diaries were not examined by psychologists or psychiatrists. In 2003, she was sentenced to 40 years in jail which was later downgraded to 30 years on appeal. (With inputs from agencies)

Kathleen Folbigg: Freedom after two decades for Australian mother wrongfully jailed for death of four babies

<p>The Royal Mint, the United Kingdom's coin producer, has introduced a new series of&nbsp;coins featuring the once mighty overlords that ruled the Earth before humans: Dinosaurs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Its new series of collectable 50p coins showcase dinosaur species.</p>

<h2><strong>'Tales of Earth'</strong></h2>

<p>The coins have been released in partnership with the United Kingdom's Natural History Museum.</p>

<p>The first coin of this series features the apex predator Tyrannosaurus Rex, aka&nbsp;T-rex.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-giant-blue-dragon-monster-haunted-prehistoric-waters-of-the-pacific-ocean-72-million-years-ago-669185">A giant blue dragon mosasaur roamed the Pacific waters 72 million years ago</a></strong></p>

<p>This collection comes in&nbsp;three parts. It has two more coins, one of which will display the Stegosaurus, and a third one will have Diplodocus.</p>

<p>Prices of the coin start at £11 ($13.90), and the most expensive join in this collection is the Gold Proof Coin carrying the price tag of £1,220 ($1541.51). The coins are available for purchase on the Royal Mint website.</p>

<h2><strong>The Dinosaurs&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>This collection, as per Reuters, is the first time the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex has been depicted on a UK fifty pence. It is the only carnivore dinosaur featured in this collection. The other two — Stegosaurus and Diplodocus, are both herbivores.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/awfulbut-thats-what-happens-in-war-israelis-want-hamas-crushed-despite-gaza-casualties-669472">'Awful...but that's what happens in war': Israelis want Hamas crushed despite Gaza casualties</a></strong></p>

<p>Paleo-artist Robert Nicholls is behind the design of these coins, which was done in collaboration with the Natural History Museum's Professor Paul Barrett.</p>

<p>The coin designs, as per the news agency, offer accurate reconstructions of the dinosaurs and their habitats, based on current understanding. To bring the huge creatures to life, some coins will even feature colours.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Design challenges</strong></h2>

<p>Talking to Reuters, Nicholls explained that the designs were constructed from the inside out, focusing on getting their anatomy and proportions right. However, featuring such large creatures on the small 50p coins was a challenge.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/killer-instinct-cats-kill-more-than-2000-species-globally-triggers-conservation-concern-669256">Killer instinct: Cats kill more than 2,000 species globally, trigger conservation concern</a></strong></p>

<p>"T-rex is a very big animal and trying to make something that big look large on such a small coin is a real challenge. So what I did with T-rex was to make sure we were looking up at the animal so that helps give it a sense if scale, make it look large which is difficult to do on such a small coin," he said.</p>

<p>"So the unique challenge for the diplodocus coin was fitting an animal so long, with such a long tail and long neck, into essentially a round shape. That was really difficult to overcome. So I managed to do it by using forced perspective and bringing the head towards us and twisting the tail away from us."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Royal Mint, the United Kingdom's coin producer, has introduced a new series of coins featuring the once mighty overlords that ruled the Earth before humans: Dinosaurs.

The Royal Mint, the United Kingdom's coin producer, has introduced a new series of coins featuring the once mighty overlords that ruled the Earth before humans: Dinosaurs. Its new series of collectable 50p coins showcase dinosaur species. 'Tales of Earth' The coins have been released in partnership with the United Kingdom's Natural History Museum. The first coin of this series features the apex predator Tyrannosaurus Rex, aka T-rex. Also read | A giant blue dragon mosasaur roamed the Pacific waters 72 million years ago This collection comes in three parts. It has two more coins, one of which will display the Stegosaurus, and a third one will have Diplodocus. Prices of the coin start at £11 ($13.90), and the most expensive join in this collection is the Gold Proof Coin carrying the price tag of £1,220 ($1541.51). The coins are available for purchase on the Royal Mint website. The Dinosaurs This collection, as per Reuters, is the first time the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex has been depicted on a UK fifty pence. It is the only carnivore dinosaur featured in this collection. The other two — Stegosaurus and Diplodocus, are both herbivores. Also read | 'Awful...but that's what happens in war': Israelis want Hamas crushed despite Gaza casualties Paleo-artist Robert Nicholls is behind the design of these coins, which was done in collaboration with the Natural History Museum's Professor Paul Barrett. The coin designs, as per the news agency, offer accurate reconstructions of the dinosaurs and their habitats, based on current understanding. To bring the huge creatures to life, some coins will even feature colours. Design challenges Talking to Reuters, Nicholls explained that the designs were constructed from the inside out, focusing on getting their anatomy and proportions right. However, featuring such large creatures on the small 50p coins was a challenge. Also read | Killer instinct: Cats kill more than 2,000 species globally, trigger conservation concern "T-rex is a very big animal and trying to make something that big look large on such a small coin is a real challenge. So what I did with T-rex was to make sure we were looking up at the animal so that helps give it a sense if scale, make it look large which is difficult to do on such a small coin," he said. "So the unique challenge for the diplodocus coin was fitting an animal so long, with such a long tail and long neck, into essentially a round shape. That was really difficult to overcome. So I managed to do it by using forced perspective and bringing the head towards us and twisting the tail away from us." (With inputs from agencies)

Prehistoric Pounds: UK Royal Mint's dinosaur 50p coin series takes a leap into the past

<p>Two men from the US state of Colorado who had been convicted of felony theft for stealing over $2,000 worth of goods made a bold argument saying that their charge should be lessened since some of the items they stole were on sale.</p>

<h2><strong>‘KitchenAid Mixer Crew’</strong></h2>

<p>Michael Green (50) and Byron Bolden (37) were formally sentenced after being convicted of robbing a Kohl’s department store in a Colorado town named Parker.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The duo, according to the prosecutors, were dubbed the “KitchenAid Mixer Crew,” after they stole a number of branded shoes, clothing, and several high-end kitchen appliances, but also due to their alleged association with other retail thefts.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-modis-new-social-media-strategy-emojis-elections-money-heist-669351">Indian PM Modi's new social media strategy: Emojis, elections, 'Money Heist'</a></strong></p>

<p>Green and Bolden were identified and caught by the store’s surveillance footage and had initially pleaded not guilty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But it was during their trial when defence lawyers for the two men “suggested to a jury that their clients should only face a lesser misdemeanour charge because some of the items they stole were being offered ‘on sale’,” according to the district attorney’s office.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Just because an item is ‘on sale’ doesn’t mean it’s free to steal, and these defendants now get to think about this lesson in jail and prison,” said district attorney John Kellner presiding over the case, according to a press release.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-led-house-authorises-biden-impeachment-inquiry-us-prez-calls-it-baseless-political-stunt-669461">Republican-led House authorises Biden impeachment inquiry; US prez calls it ‘baseless political stunt’</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, “Retailers in our community are fed up with theft and my office will actively prosecute these offenders.” The jury ultimately convicted the pair of felony theft.</p>

<p>The US has reportedly witnessed a surge in retail theft. According to the data collected in the 2023 National Retail Security Survey found that total retail losses due to theft rose to $112.1 billion in 2022, up 19 per cent from 2021, but the reports are not always accurate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the US state of Colorado, theft under $2,000 is a misdemeanour while theft between $2,000 and $5,000 is a Class 6 felony. The so-called “KitchenAid Mixer Crew,” stole items worth $2,094.98 and were convicted of felony theft.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-who-let-the-crocs-out-crocodile-captured-from-chennai-road-669354">India: Who let the crocs out? Crocodile captured from Chennai road</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Where are they now?</strong></h2>

<p>According to American media reports, Green was sentenced to 15 months in prison but is currently in the Department of Corrections on a separate conviction. Meanwhile, Bolden was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for time served as a condition of 18 months of probation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Two men from the US state of Colorado who had been convicted of felony theft for stealing over $2,000 worth of goods made a bold argument saying that their charge should be lessened since some of the items they stole were on sale.

Two men from the US state of Colorado who had been convicted of felony theft for stealing over $2,000 worth of goods made a bold argument saying that their charge should be lessened since some of the items they stole were on sale. ‘KitchenAid Mixer Crew’ Michael Green (50) and Byron Bolden (37) were formally sentenced after being convicted of robbing a Kohl’s department store in a Colorado town named Parker. The duo, according to the prosecutors, were dubbed the “KitchenAid Mixer Crew,” after they stole a number of branded shoes, clothing, and several high-end kitchen appliances, but also due to their alleged association with other retail thefts. ALSO READ | Indian PM Modi's new social media strategy: Emojis, elections, 'Money Heist' Green and Bolden were identified and caught by the store’s surveillance footage and had initially pleaded not guilty. But it was during their trial when defence lawyers for the two men “suggested to a jury that their clients should only face a lesser misdemeanour charge because some of the items they stole were being offered ‘on sale’,” according to the district attorney’s office. “Just because an item is ‘on sale’ doesn’t mean it’s free to steal, and these defendants now get to think about this lesson in jail and prison,” said district attorney John Kellner presiding over the case, according to a press release. ALSO READ | Republican-led House authorises Biden impeachment inquiry; US prez calls it ‘baseless political stunt’ He added, “Retailers in our community are fed up with theft and my office will actively prosecute these offenders.” The jury ultimately convicted the pair of felony theft. The US has reportedly witnessed a surge in retail theft. According to the data collected in the 2023 National Retail Security Survey found that total retail losses due to theft rose to $112.1 billion in 2022, up 19 per cent from 2021, but the reports are not always accurate. In the US state of Colorado, theft under $2,000 is a misdemeanour while theft between $2,000 and $5,000 is a Class 6 felony. The so-called “KitchenAid Mixer Crew,” stole items worth $2,094.98 and were convicted of felony theft. ALSO READ | India: Who let the crocs out? Crocodile captured from Chennai road Where are they now? According to American media reports, Green was sentenced to 15 months in prison but is currently in the Department of Corrections on a separate conviction. Meanwhile, Bolden was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for time served as a condition of 18 months of probation. (With inputs from agencies)

Thieves steal from department store, then bargain for lesser charge saying items were on sale anyway

Australian mother wrongfully jailed for death of four babies has convictions overturned

There is no relief in sight for Gazans amid Israel's continued onslaught - the increased death tolls, forced displacements, lack of food and fuel, and other basic necessities. Now, heavy rains have added to their miseries.

Gaza is living hell: UNRWA Chief during Global Refugee Forum; Volunteers struggle to provide food

<p>Furthering its naval power and sending a message to enemy nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday inaugurated two new nuclear-powered submarines. In a televised address from the northern city of&nbsp;Severodvinsk, Putin, amid freezing temperatures said such 'vessels' will make Russia 'feel safe'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two submarines have been named&nbsp;Krasnoyarsk and Emperor Alexander III and demonstrate the pinnacle of Russian maritime power with each vessel serving a specific purpose.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While&nbsp;Krasnoyarsk belongs to the&nbsp;Yasen (Ash Tree) class of multi-purpose submarines, capable of firing long-range, high-precision missiles, both on land and sea, the&nbsp;Emperor Alexander III is part of the new&nbsp;Borei (Arctic Wind) class of nuclear submarines, the first new generation Moscow has launched since the Cold War.</p>

<p>Putin confirmed that the submarines will man the vast emptiness of global waters to ensure that Russia's strategic interests are not harmed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We will quantitatively strengthen the combat readiness of the Russian Navy, our naval power in the Arctic, the Far East, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Caspian Sea - the most important strategic areas of the world's oceans," said Putin, surrounded by officials and naval officers on an outdoor stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-president-putin-reveals-2-new-nuclear-submarines-israel-offensive-deepens-wion-speed-news-668935"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Russia President Putin reveals 2 new nuclear submarines | Israel offensive deepens</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Putin's weapons, deterrents to West</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Moscow has repeatedly used submarines in the Black Sea to supplement its war efforts in Ukraine with coastal bombardments. However, according to Moscow officials, the two newly-minted underwater beasts will not be used in the conflict against Kyiv, albeit, they will be deployed in the Pacific.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prior to the official unveiling, the Russian defence ministry last month announced it had&nbsp;successfully tested a nuclear-capable Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Putin displaying his shiny, new toys to the world comes nearly a week after he announced he was running for the presidential elections, scheduled to be held in March next year, again.&nbsp;The decision will allow Putin to extend his decades-long power grip on the Kremlin.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-will-run-again-in-russian-presidential-elections-next-march-667595"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Vladimir Putin will run again in Russian presidential elections next March</strong></a></p>

<p>He has repeatedly talked about the potential of Russia's new generation of weapons, particularly the nuclear systems which act as deterrents to the West. The investment by Moscow in developing these submarines provides guarantees against a hypothetical American nuclear attack, especially in the backdrop of a delicate world order and an impending US presidential election.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Furthering its naval power and sending a message to enemy nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday inaugurated two new nuclear-powered submarines. In a televised address from the northern city of Severodvinsk, Putin, amid freezing temperatures said such 'vessels' will make Russia 'feel safe'.

Furthering its naval power and sending a message to enemy nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday inaugurated two new nuclear-powered submarines. In a televised address from the northern city of Severodvinsk, Putin, amid freezing temperatures said such 'vessels' will make Russia 'feel safe'. The two submarines have been named Krasnoyarsk and Emperor Alexander III and demonstrate the pinnacle of Russian maritime power with each vessel serving a specific purpose. While Krasnoyarsk belongs to the Yasen (Ash Tree) class of multi-purpose submarines, capable of firing long-range, high-precision missiles, both on land and sea, the Emperor Alexander III is part of the new Borei (Arctic Wind) class of nuclear submarines, the first new generation Moscow has launched since the Cold War. Putin confirmed that the submarines will man the vast emptiness of global waters to ensure that Russia's strategic interests are not harmed. "We will quantitatively strengthen the combat readiness of the Russian Navy, our naval power in the Arctic, the Far East, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Caspian Sea - the most important strategic areas of the world's oceans," said Putin, surrounded by officials and naval officers on an outdoor stage. Watch | Russia President Putin reveals 2 new nuclear submarines | Israel offensive deepens × Putin's weapons, deterrents to West Notably, Moscow has repeatedly used submarines in the Black Sea to supplement its war efforts in Ukraine with coastal bombardments. However, according to Moscow officials, the two newly-minted underwater beasts will not be used in the conflict against Kyiv, albeit, they will be deployed in the Pacific. Prior to the official unveiling, the Russian defence ministry last month announced it had successfully tested a nuclear-capable Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile. Putin displaying his shiny, new toys to the world comes nearly a week after he announced he was running for the presidential elections, scheduled to be held in March next year, again. The decision will allow Putin to extend his decades-long power grip on the Kremlin. Also read | Vladimir Putin will run again in Russian presidential elections next March He has repeatedly talked about the potential of Russia's new generation of weapons, particularly the nuclear systems which act as deterrents to the West. The investment by Moscow in developing these submarines provides guarantees against a hypothetical American nuclear attack, especially in the backdrop of a delicate world order and an impending US presidential election. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia's Putin flexes muscles by launching two nuclear-powered submarines

UK PM Rishi Sunak's popularity sinks; 70% survey respondents view him as 'unfavourable' | WION

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