How fast can the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet really fly?

Did China ask its people 'not to respond to aliens'? Origin of bizarre claim on social media

MS Dhoni-CSK Fallout? Report claims failed stake sale talks triggered rift

Scientists reveal the SAFEST COUNTRY when catastrophe strikes the planet

Serial killer on the loose in South Korea's Jeju Island? Fourth body found in three days as more than a dozen people go missing

2/3rd of glacier detached, collapsed: ISRO satellite images reveal what triggered Nepal floods

Trump once again claims without him there would be ‘no Israel right now’

Foreign espionage attacks against German companies surge to 37%, Bitkom report reveals

Blake Lively wins partial legal fee from Justin Baldoni after $8M request

Why is Pakistan deploying Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones near India border?

'OH MY GOD! We've found other agents!': Investigators discover not one or two, almost 700 OpenAI AI agents went rogue, hacked Hugging Face

Lunar eclipse 2026: India timings, places to see and more. August Blood moon factsheet

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on global outreach tour 

Both pilots killed as training aircraft crashes in Lucknow – What we know

16-year-old charged with preparing terror attack on kindergarten in Norway

How the S-400 protects itself from enemy attacks

Nepal floods: Over 165 dead, 400 missing; US, India, China, World Bank mobilise aid

India's multi-layered watch: The new surveillance war

5 doomsday planes spotted in US skies hours after CIA director's secret trip to Russia

9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to finally face trial in 2028, nearly 27 years after horrific attacks

Islamabad hospital fire: What we know about one of the biggest facility that housed Imran Khan

Workers run for life while filming Nepal flash flood: Scary new visuals emerge from Rasuwa

Russian military planes enter South Korean air defence zone amid rising tensions with North Korea: What's happening

Ron Weasley Is Back! Rupert Grint set to return to Harry Potter universe on Broadway

400-year-old 'vampire' grave in Poland reveals non-existent genetic lineage

Dolly Parton, global icon and queen of country music, dies at 80

Nepal flash floods: Kailash Mansarovar yatra affected, close to 400 pilgrims out of contact

'If he is dead, they're putting on a pretty good show': Trump casts fresh doubt over Mojtaba Khamenei's fate

Man arrested near US Capitol with guillotine in pickup truck: What happened?

Why the Su-30MKI cockpit is painted bright turquoise green

The Moldova foreign minister Mihail Popsoi has emphasized that India has a 'strong say' in a 'lasting and sustainable peace' in Ukraine. Speaking to WION he said, 'Certainly our friends in Kyiv have been very proactive in making sure that they have India on board as a strong international player, as a promoter of peace'.

India has strong say in lasting peace in Ukraine: Moldova FM Mihail Popsoi

London
<meta content="uuidLfrQwIs9scGk" name="uuid"/>
A court in the United Kingdom (UK) ruled on Wednesday (Dec 18) that police could seize more than $2.5 million (over 2 million pounds) to cover years of unpaid taxes from professional kickboxer turned influencers Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate. 
A report by the news agency Associated Press said that the Devon and Cornwall Police force went to Westminster's Magistrates' Court to claim the money, held in frozen bank accounts, from the Tate brothers and a woman only identified as J. 
At the court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that financial transactions by Andrew and Tristan were a "straightforward cheat" of the tax authorities.
One of these financial transactions included a transfer of almost $12 million into an account in the name of J.
<h2>'Tate brothers are serial tax evaders'</h2>
In the court, a lawyer for the Devon and Cornwall Police force said that the Tate brothers were serial tax evaders who failed to pay any tax on $26.68 million in revenue from their online businesses which include the popular Hustlers' University, War Room, and OnlyFans, between 2014 and 2022. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/romanian-court-eases-travel-restrictions-on-andrew-tate-738452">Romanian court eases travel restrictions on Andrew Tate</a>
The Associated Press report said that during a court hearing in July, lawyer Sarah Clarke quoted from a video posted online by Andrew where he said, "When I lived in England I refused to pay tax."
Clarke said that J was not involved with the business of the Tate brothers. 
<h2>'They did nothing illegal'</h2>
On Wednesday, a lawyer for the Tate brothers said that the bank transfers were "entirely orthodox" for people who run online businesses. 
The lawyer said his clients spent money on a number of “exotic motor cars,” but did nothing illegal. The proceedings in this case are civil.
Also watch | Andrew Tate's cars seized
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/08/24/2408_tata_8pm_pkwo-1724516711-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2408_tata_8pm_pkwo.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=72&tags=Romania,Andrew Tate,cars,seized" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Chief Magistrate Goldspring said in his ruling that the Tate brothers had been liable to register with the tax authorities and declare and pay tax on revenue in Britain and/or Romania, where they have lived since 2017.
Goldspring found that Andrew and Tristan's "entire financial arrangements are consistent with concerted tax evasion and money laundering."
<h2>Andrew responds to court ruling</h2>
Andrew Tate has reacted to the court ruling. In a post on X, Tate said, "First they said I was a human trafficker, but couldn't find a single girl to testify. So instead they stole all the money they could find from banks."
<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
When they fail to control your influence, they audit your influence.
When they fail to match your power, they nitpick your paperwork.
They want the world to believe that a man of mastery can be reduced to a headline in a lying newspaper.
The Matrix does not tolerate defiance,… <a href="https://t.co/b4XQnpq2AL">https://t.co/b4XQnpq2AL</a>
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cobratate/status/1869349683253891312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>
"If you speak against power they will do anything to destroy you," he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

A report by the news agency Associated Press said that the Devon and Cornwall Police went to Westminster's Magistrates' Court to claim the money, held in frozen bank accounts, from the Tate brothers and a woman only identified as J. 



London A court in the United Kingdom (UK) ruled on Wednesday (Dec 18) that police could seize more than $2.5 million (over 2 million pounds) to cover years of unpaid taxes from professional kickboxer turned influencers Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate. A report by the news agency Associated Press said that the Devon and Cornwall Police force went to Westminster's Magistrates' Court to claim the money, held in frozen bank accounts, from the Tate brothers and a woman only identified as J. At the court, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that financial transactions by Andrew and Tristan were a "straightforward cheat" of the tax authorities. One of these financial transactions included a transfer of almost $12 million into an account in the name of J. 'Tate brothers are serial tax evaders' In the court, a lawyer for the Devon and Cornwall Police force said that the Tate brothers were serial tax evaders who failed to pay any tax on $26.68 million in revenue from their online businesses which include the popular Hustlers' University, War Room, and OnlyFans, between 2014 and 2022. Also read | Romanian court eases travel restrictions on Andrew Tate The Associated Press report said that during a court hearing in July, lawyer Sarah Clarke quoted from a video posted online by Andrew where he said, "When I lived in England I refused to pay tax." Clarke said that J was not involved with the business of the Tate brothers. 'They did nothing illegal' On Wednesday, a lawyer for the Tate brothers said that the bank transfers were "entirely orthodox" for people who run online businesses. The lawyer said his clients spent money on a number of “exotic motor cars,” but did nothing illegal. The proceedings in this case are civil. Also watch | Andrew Tate's cars seized Chief Magistrate Goldspring said in his ruling that the Tate brothers had been liable to register with the tax authorities and declare and pay tax on revenue in Britain and/or Romania, where they have lived since 2017. Goldspring found that Andrew and Tristan's "entire financial arrangements are consistent with concerted tax evasion and money laundering." Andrew responds to court ruling Andrew Tate has reacted to the court ruling. In a post on X, Tate said, "First they said I was a human trafficker, but couldn't find a single girl to testify. So instead they stole all the money they could find from banks." When they fail to control your influence, they audit your influence. When they fail to match your power, they nitpick your paperwork. They want the world to believe that a man of mastery can be reduced to a headline in a lying newspaper. The Matrix does not tolerate defiance,… https://t.co/b4XQnpq2AL — Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) December 18, 2024 × "If you speak against power they will do anything to destroy you," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

UK court rules cops can seize over $2.5 million from Andrew Tate and brother Tristan to cover unpaid taxes

After Russia's chief of nuclear, biological, and chemical protection troops, Lieutenant General Igor Kirilov, was killed in an electric scooter blast in Moscow, investigators have said that Russia has detained suspects related to the killing. A source in Ukraine's security service claimed that the killing of the top commander, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, has stated that Ukraine must face imminent revenge for the killing. Watch in for more details!



Russia-Ukraine War: Tensions Escalate; Russia Vows Revenge After Ukraine Kills Top General In Moscow

Bolivia
Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales accused his successor on Tuesday of launching a "brutal judicial war" against him after prosecutors issued an arrest warrant over his alleged relationship with a minor while in office.
Morales, one of Latin America's longest-serving leaders, has been locked in a months-long standoff with the state over accusations he fathered a child in 2016 with a 15-year-old girl.
On Monday, public prosecutor Sandra Gutierrez confirmed that she had issued an arrest warrant for the country's 2006-2019 leader on charges of "human trafficking involving a minor."
She called for him to be placed in preventive custody for six months.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-court-ruling-bars-ex-leader-morales-from-presidency-774796">Also read: Bolivia court ruling bars ex-leader Morales from presidency</a>
Morales has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, claiming they are part of a plot by incumbent President Luis Arce—a former ally turned rival—to prevent him from staging a political comeback.
Writing on X, the 65-year-old Morales, a left-wing nationalist, accused Arce of being behind the case against him, which he alleged was aimed at currying favor with the United States.
"I denounce to the world that I am the victim of a brutal judicial war (lawfare) carried out by the government of Luis Arce, who promised to hand me over to the US as a trophy of war," he wrote.
Morales's lawyer, Nelson Cox, told AFP on Tuesday that his client was in hiding in his central political stronghold of Cochabamba and would not surrender to the police.
<h2>'Climbing the political ladder' </h2>
A former coca farmer who grew up in grinding poverty, Morales made history as Bolivia's first Indigenous leader but lost support after trying to cling to power for a third term.
In October, prosecutors said they were investigating him for statutory rape—sex with a minor—as well as human trafficking and smuggling, but have since focused on trafficking.
They believe the girl was placed by her parents in the youth guard of Morales's political movement when he was president "with the sole purpose of climbing the political ladder and obtaining benefits... in exchange for their underage daughter."
The girl's father has been in preventive custody since October.
Morales's lawyers claim he was already investigated over the same allegations in 2020 but that the case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
Watch | Bolivians Struggle As Fuel &amp; Food Prices Skyrocket
<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/11/29/2911_BOLIVIA_ECONOMY_930AM-1732863627-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2911_BOLIVIA_ECONOMY_930AM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=112&tags=Bolivia,World News,food,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>
Gutierrez said the warrant against Morales was issued on October 16 but that it had been "impossible" to execute it because of resistance from his supporters.
Between mid-October and early November, Morales's mostly Indigenous supporters barricaded highways leading to Cochabamba to prevent his threatened arrest.
The blockade, which caused widespread shortages of food and fuel, lasted for 23 days.
<h2>Eyeing third term </h2>
Dozens of security force members were injured in clashes with the protesters.
At one point Morales accused Arce of trying to have him assassinated, with a video showing a pickup truck in which he had travelled riddled with bullet holes and his driver bleeding from the head.
The government said police shot at his vehicle after coming under fire from his convoy at a police checkpoint.
Morales's refusal to give up power in 2019 after two terms led to a tumultuous exit that cast a shadow over nearly 14 years of economic progress and poverty reduction.
Forced to resign after elections tainted by fraud, he slipped away into exile in Argentina, returning home a year later.
Despite being barred by Bolivia's courts from seeking a third term, he is seeking the nomination of the left-wing MAS party in the August 2025 presidential elections.
In September, he led a march of thousands of Bolivians on the capital, La Paz, to protest Arce's policies.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Morales, one of Latin America's longest-serving leaders, has been locked in a months-long standoff with the state over accusations that he fathered a child in 2016 with a 15-year-old girl.



Bolivia Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales accused his successor on Tuesday of launching a "brutal judicial war" against him after prosecutors issued an arrest warrant over his alleged relationship with a minor while in office. Morales, one of Latin America's longest-serving leaders, has been locked in a months-long standoff with the state over accusations he fathered a child in 2016 with a 15-year-old girl. On Monday, public prosecutor Sandra Gutierrez confirmed that she had issued an arrest warrant for the country's 2006-2019 leader on charges of "human trafficking involving a minor." She called for him to be placed in preventive custody for six months. Also read: Bolivia court ruling bars ex-leader Morales from presidency Morales has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, claiming they are part of a plot by incumbent President Luis Arce—a former ally turned rival—to prevent him from staging a political comeback. Writing on X, the 65-year-old Morales, a left-wing nationalist, accused Arce of being behind the case against him, which he alleged was aimed at currying favor with the United States. "I denounce to the world that I am the victim of a brutal judicial war (lawfare) carried out by the government of Luis Arce, who promised to hand me over to the US as a trophy of war," he wrote. Morales's lawyer, Nelson Cox, told AFP on Tuesday that his client was in hiding in his central political stronghold of Cochabamba and would not surrender to the police. 'Climbing the political ladder' A former coca farmer who grew up in grinding poverty, Morales made history as Bolivia's first Indigenous leader but lost support after trying to cling to power for a third term. In October, prosecutors said they were investigating him for statutory rape—sex with a minor—as well as human trafficking and smuggling, but have since focused on trafficking. They believe the girl was placed by her parents in the youth guard of Morales's political movement when he was president "with the sole purpose of climbing the political ladder and obtaining benefits... in exchange for their underage daughter." The girl's father has been in preventive custody since October. Morales's lawyers claim he was already investigated over the same allegations in 2020 but that the case was dismissed for lack of evidence. Watch | Bolivians Struggle As Fuel & Food Prices Skyrocket × Gutierrez said the warrant against Morales was issued on October 16 but that it had been "impossible" to execute it because of resistance from his supporters. Between mid-October and early November, Morales's mostly Indigenous supporters barricaded highways leading to Cochabamba to prevent his threatened arrest. The blockade, which caused widespread shortages of food and fuel, lasted for 23 days. Eyeing third term Dozens of security force members were injured in clashes with the protesters. At one point Morales accused Arce of trying to have him assassinated, with a video showing a pickup truck in which he had travelled riddled with bullet holes and his driver bleeding from the head. The government said police shot at his vehicle after coming under fire from his convoy at a police checkpoint. Morales's refusal to give up power in 2019 after two terms led to a tumultuous exit that cast a shadow over nearly 14 years of economic progress and poverty reduction. Forced to resign after elections tainted by fraud, he slipped away into exile in Argentina, returning home a year later. Despite being barred by Bolivia's courts from seeking a third term, he is seeking the nomination of the left-wing MAS party in the August 2025 presidential elections. In September, he led a march of thousands of Bolivians on the capital, La Paz, to protest Arce's policies. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Bolivian ex-prez slams 'brutal judicial war' after arrest warrant issued against him in sexual abuse case

Washington, US
Matt Gaetz, the former nominee of US President-elect Donald Trump for leading the justice department, acknowledged that he had "womanised, drank and smoked" in the past. His comment came afterreports emerged that the House ethics committee would release an investigation into the sex crime allegations against him. 
The former congressman took to X and wrote, "The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me."
"Then, the very ‘witnesses’ DOJ deemed not credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued," he added. 
Gatez further said that in his "single days", he used to send funds to women he dated and also to those he did not, but they asked for money. 
He said, "I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court."
Watch | Trudeau Faces Frustrated MPs Post Chrystia Freeland's Resignation
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/1812_Manav_TRUDEAU_8PM-1734539426-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1812_Manav_TRUDEAU_8PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=125&tags=Canada,Justin Trudeau,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
"It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now. But at least I didn’t vote for CRs that f**k over the country!" he said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were…
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1869406920768917618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<h2>Allegations on Gaetz</h2>
Gaetz's nomination by Trump in November triggered a political storm in the US as he faces a nearly three-year Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl. He denies the allegations and has not faced criminal charges.
Gaetz also attracted scrutiny over wider allegations, including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and accepting improper gifts.
The inquiry was dropped on November 13 when Gaetz left Congress, the forum where the committee has jurisdiction. 
The House Ethics Committee voted to publicly release a report detailing the findings of an investigation into Gaetz, who resigned from the House last month after President-elect Donald Trump said he intended to nominate him to be the next U.S. Attorney General.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-top-republican-critic-could-be-in-a-lot-of-trouble-785066">Trump warns top Republican critic could be 'in a lot of trouble'</a>
Earlier in the day, it was reported by the New York Times that federal investigators in the United States have compiled a detailed chart outlining payments by Matt Gaetz and his associates, suggesting involvement in drug-fuelled sex parties.
The document traces Venmo transactions between Gaetz, his friends, and women who allegedly participated in these events—among them are the two who alleged he had hired them for sex. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The former congressman took to X and wrote, "The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me."



Washington, US Matt Gaetz, the former nominee of US President-elect Donald Trump for leading the justice department, acknowledged that he had "womanised, drank and smoked" in the past. His comment came afterreports emerged that the House ethics committee would release an investigation into the sex crime allegations against him. The former congressman took to X and wrote, "The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me." "Then, the very ‘witnesses’ DOJ deemed not credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued," he added. Gatez further said that in his "single days", he used to send funds to women he dated and also to those he did not, but they asked for money. He said, "I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court." Watch | Trudeau Faces Frustrated MPs Post Chrystia Freeland's Resignation "It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now. But at least I didn’t vote for CRs that f**k over the country!" he said. The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me. Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were… — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 18, 2024 Allegations on Gaetz Gaetz's nomination by Trump in November triggered a political storm in the US as he faces a nearly three-year Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl. He denies the allegations and has not faced criminal charges. Gaetz also attracted scrutiny over wider allegations, including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and accepting improper gifts. The inquiry was dropped on November 13 when Gaetz left Congress, the forum where the committee has jurisdiction. The House Ethics Committee voted to publicly release a report detailing the findings of an investigation into Gaetz, who resigned from the House last month after President-elect Donald Trump said he intended to nominate him to be the next U.S. Attorney General. Also read | Trump warns top Republican critic could be 'in a lot of trouble' Earlier in the day, it was reported by the New York Times that federal investigators in the United States have compiled a detailed chart outlining payments by Matt Gaetz and his associates, suggesting involvement in drug-fuelled sex parties. The document traces Venmo transactions between Gaetz, his friends, and women who allegedly participated in these events—among them are the two who alleged he had hired them for sex. (With inputs from agencies)

'Womanised, smoked' but 'never had sexual contact with someone under 18', says Matt Gaetz

United States/Canada
<meta content="uuidLfrQwIs9scGk" name="uuid"/>
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a banned organisation in India under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has claimed that the Russian embassy in Canada facilitated the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, by sharing "signal intelligence) with the Indian intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&amp;AW). 
In a recent statement, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, alleged that Indian Ambassador to the United States (US) Vinay Kwatra, in coordination with Russian Ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, was running a surveillance and spy network in the US and Canada. 
<h2>Russian embassy in Canada hacked Nijjar's Telegram account</h2>
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified men on June 18 last year.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-assures-safety-of-indian-ambassador-kwatra-amid-threats-from-pannun-784958">US assures safety of Indian Ambassador Kwatra amid threats from Pannun</a>
Nijjar's death triggered a diplomatic row between Canada and India, with Ottawa saying it suspected India's involvement in the killing and New Delhi calling the allegation "absurd."
In his statement, Pannun said that the Russian embassy in Canada hacked Nijjar's Telegram account just weeks before his killing to facilitate India track his movements.
"Simultaneously, Russian Agency hacked Telegram account of Pannun, SFJ General Counsel, and shared location and movements with RAW Officials in planning the since foiled Murder For Hire Plot," the statement added.
<h2>Reward for tip on public engagements of Kwatra and Stepanov</h2>
Pannun also said that the SFJ has announced a $25,000 reward for providing a tip on any upcoming public engagements of Vinay Kwatra and Oleg Stepanov.
Also watch | Gravitas: Why is Canada protecting terrorist Pannun?
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/10/21/WEBCHUNK_GV_2110_PANNUN-1729531813-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/WEBCHUNK_GV_2110_PANNUN.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=199&tags=pannun,Khalistan,Canada,Air India,gravitas" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
"Pro-Khalistan Sikhs are going to question the Indian and Russian ambassadors on their Role in violent attacks on pro-Khalistan Sikhs on Canadian and American Soil," he added. 
(With inputs from agencies)

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, has said that Indian Ambassador to the United States (US) Vinay Kwatra, in coordination with Russian Ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, was running a surveillance and spy network in the US and Canada. 



United States/Canada Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a banned organisation in India under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has claimed that the Russian embassy in Canada facilitated the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, by sharing "signal intelligence) with the Indian intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). In a recent statement, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, alleged that Indian Ambassador to the United States (US) Vinay Kwatra, in coordination with Russian Ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, was running a surveillance and spy network in the US and Canada. Russian embassy in Canada hacked Nijjar's Telegram account Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified men on June 18 last year. Also read | US assures safety of Indian Ambassador Kwatra amid threats from Pannun Nijjar's death triggered a diplomatic row between Canada and India, with Ottawa saying it suspected India's involvement in the killing and New Delhi calling the allegation "absurd." In his statement, Pannun said that the Russian embassy in Canada hacked Nijjar's Telegram account just weeks before his killing to facilitate India track his movements. "Simultaneously, Russian Agency hacked Telegram account of Pannun, SFJ General Counsel, and shared location and movements with RAW Officials in planning the since foiled Murder For Hire Plot," the statement added. Reward for tip on public engagements of Kwatra and Stepanov Pannun also said that the SFJ has announced a $25,000 reward for providing a tip on any upcoming public engagements of Vinay Kwatra and Oleg Stepanov. Also watch | Gravitas: Why is Canada protecting terrorist Pannun? "Pro-Khalistan Sikhs are going to question the Indian and Russian ambassadors on their Role in violent attacks on pro-Khalistan Sikhs on Canadian and American Soil," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian embassy in Canada facilitated Hardeep Singh Nijjar's assassination: SFJ

New Delhi 
Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, said that China agrees to work with India on the core interests of both nations. The statement came on Wednesday (Dec 18) ahead of Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval's meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. 
Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah faced intense criticism from the opposition lawmakers for his remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar. Shah said on December 17 that it has become a trend for the opposition to take the name of the Dalit icon Ambedkar. 
Moving ahead, a tragic incident happened in the Indian state of Mumbai where a passenger ferry with over 110 people capsized on Wednesday (Dec 18) near the Gateway of India. 
Click on the headlines to read more 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-ready-to-work-with-india-says-chinese-envoy-as-nsa-doval-meets-wang-yi-in-beijing-784988">'China ready to work with India,' says Chinese envoy as Doval meets Wang Yi</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/471875-untitled-design-1.jpg"/>
Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, said on Wednesday (Dec 18) that China is ready to work with India on the core interests and major concerns of both nations. The statement comes ahead of Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval's meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss the management of peace along the Line of Actual Control. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-is-anti-ambedkar-amit-shah-responds-to-oppn-criticism-of-his-remarks-on-dalit-icon-785029">'Congress is anti-Ambedkar': Amit Shah responds to Oppn criticism of his remarks on Dalit icon</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/471901-untitled-7.png"/>
With just a few days left for the Winter Session of the Indian Parliament to conclude, Home Minister Amit Shah faced severe criticism from opposition lawmakers over his remarks on Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar- which he made on Tuesday (Dec 17) during a debate on the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-ferry-carrying-around-30-passengers-capsizes-off-near-gateway-of-india-in-coast-probe-underway-785004">13 dead after speed boat crashes into ferry off Mumbai coast</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/471885-untitled-design-2.jpg"/>
A passenger ferry with over 110 people capsized on Wednesday (Dec 18) near the Gateway of India in Mumbai, the police said. 13 people, including 10 passengers and three Navy personnel, said Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-subsidies-to-canada-make-no-sense-suggests-canada-become-51st-us-state-785043">Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, it should become 51st state</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/471911-untitled-design-3.png"/>
United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump continued trolling Canada as on Wednesday (Dec 18), he shared a post on Truth Social and slammed US subsidies to Canada. He even claimed that many in Canada want it to become the 51st state of the US.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-president-fails-to-show-up-before-corruption-watchdog-over-martial-law-fiasco-784965">South Korean prez fails to show up before corruption watchdog over martial law</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/12/470759-president-yoon-suk-yeol.png"/>
Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, failed to show up before the corruption watchdog of the country on Wednesday (Dec 18) after they summoned him for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sunita-williams-return-further-delayed-until-march-2025-heres-why-785055">Sunita Williams' return further delayed until March 2025. Here's why</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/09/02/452522-new-wion-61.png"/>
NASA on Wednesday (Dec 18) announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck in space for more than 180 days now, will now stay on the International Space Station (ISS) at least till March 2025. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-tax-us-we-tax-them-trump-issues-fresh-threat-to-india-over-high-tariff-784819">‘They tax us, we tax them,’ Trump issues fresh threat to India over ‘high tariffs’</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/11/26/467973-trump-16.png"/>
US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to follow a tit-for-tat approach on what he termed India’s ‘high tax’ policy, criticising tariffs on imports from America as high as 100 per cent on some products.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-outgoing-government-relaxes-rules-of-h1-b-visa-heres-how-it-will-benefit-indians-784999">US outgoing government relaxes H1-B visa rules. Here's how it will benefit Indians</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/471881-visa.png"/>
The United States' outgoing Biden administration relaxed H-1B visas' rules, which will ease the process of hiring foreign workers for companies and will ensure a smoother transition of people from F-1 student visas to H-1B visas.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ashwin-retires-no-decision-made-till-he-landed-in-perth-contemplated-hanging-boots-following-bgt-report-785075">BGT: What forced Ravi Ashwin to announce retirement midway through AUS Tests?</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/471932-bgt-what-forced-ravi-ashwin-to-announce-retirement-midway-through-aus-tests.jpg"/>
Ravi Ashwin’s shock international retirement had everyone shed a tear, but what forced the Test great to call up time midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT)? Ashwin decided to hang his boots from all formats following the conclusion of the Gabba Test against Australia in Brisbane, which ended in a draw. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-indias-anuja-makes-it-to-oscars-live-action-short-film-guneet-monga-reacts-784957">India's Anuja makes it to Oscars Live-Action Short Film, Guneet Monga reacts</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/471859-image-2024-12-18t105224726-784x441.jpg"/>
India’s film Laapata Ladies might have lost out on Best International award after Academy Awards released its shortlisted names for the category earlier in the day, but we still have hopes with another feature. Anuja by Guneet Monga has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category.

Here are the top 10 news stories from across the world.



New Delhi Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, said that China agrees to work with India on the core interests of both nations. The statement came on Wednesday (Dec 18) ahead of Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval's meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah faced intense criticism from the opposition lawmakers for his remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar. Shah said on December 17 that it has become a trend for the opposition to take the name of the Dalit icon Ambedkar. Moving ahead, a tragic incident happened in the Indian state of Mumbai where a passenger ferry with over 110 people capsized on Wednesday (Dec 18) near the Gateway of India. Click on the headlines to read more 'China ready to work with India,' says Chinese envoy as Doval meets Wang Yi Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, said on Wednesday (Dec 18) that China is ready to work with India on the core interests and major concerns of both nations. The statement comes ahead of Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval's meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss the management of peace along the Line of Actual Control. 'Congress is anti-Ambedkar': Amit Shah responds to Oppn criticism of his remarks on Dalit icon With just a few days left for the Winter Session of the Indian Parliament to conclude, Home Minister Amit Shah faced severe criticism from opposition lawmakers over his remarks on Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar- which he made on Tuesday (Dec 17) during a debate on the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha. 13 dead after speed boat crashes into ferry off Mumbai coast A passenger ferry with over 110 people capsized on Wednesday (Dec 18) near the Gateway of India in Mumbai, the police said. 13 people, including 10 passengers and three Navy personnel, said Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, it should become 51st state United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump continued trolling Canada as on Wednesday (Dec 18), he shared a post on Truth Social and slammed US subsidies to Canada. He even claimed that many in Canada want it to become the 51st state of the US. South Korean prez fails to show up before corruption watchdog over martial law Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, failed to show up before the corruption watchdog of the country on Wednesday (Dec 18) after they summoned him for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law. Sunita Williams' return further delayed until March 2025. Here's why NASA on Wednesday (Dec 18) announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck in space for more than 180 days now, will now stay on the International Space Station (ISS) at least till March 2025. ‘They tax us, we tax them,’ Trump issues fresh threat to India over ‘high tariffs’ US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to follow a tit-for-tat approach on what he termed India’s ‘high tax’ policy, criticising tariffs on imports from America as high as 100 per cent on some products. US outgoing government relaxes H1-B visa rules. Here's how it will benefit Indians The United States' outgoing Biden administration relaxed H-1B visas' rules, which will ease the process of hiring foreign workers for companies and will ensure a smoother transition of people from F-1 student visas to H-1B visas. BGT: What forced Ravi Ashwin to announce retirement midway through AUS Tests? Ravi Ashwin’s shock international retirement had everyone shed a tear, but what forced the Test great to call up time midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT)? Ashwin decided to hang his boots from all formats following the conclusion of the Gabba Test against Australia in Brisbane, which ended in a draw. India's Anuja makes it to Oscars Live-Action Short Film, Guneet Monga reacts India’s film Laapata Ladies might have lost out on Best International award after Academy Awards released its shortlisted names for the category earlier in the day, but we still have hopes with another feature. Anuja by Guneet Monga has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category.

Top 10 world news: China 'ready' to work with India; Shah calls Cong 'anti-Ambedkar,' and more

Washington
<meta content="uuidLfrQwIs9scGk" name="uuid"/>
The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on Wednesday (Dec 18) that the country reported the first severe case of bird flu in a human.
In a statement, the CDC said a patient was hospitalised in Louisiana with a severe case of the infection. The patient was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.
<h2>The case was confirmed on December 13</h2>
According to the CDC, this case was confirmed on December 13. No additional details, including the individual's prognosis, have been disclosed.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-teen-first-human-case-of-bird-flu-in-country-battling-for-life-776162">Canadian teen, first human case of bird flu in country, battling for life</a>
Genetic sequencing revealed that the H5N1 virus in the patient belonged to the D1.1 genotype. A report by the news agency AFP on Wednesday said that this genotype was detected in wild birds and poultry in the US, and in human cases reported in Washington state and in Canada's British Columbia province.
<h2>61 cases reported so far in current outbreak</h2>
In the US, outbreaks of the currently circulating H5N1 avian influenza viruses in wild birds and poultry have been ongoing since 2022. A report by the news agency AFP on Tuesday said that since this outbreak began, a total of 61 cases have been reported. 
There has been no human-to-human virus transmission in the country to date.
With the US reporting the first severe case of bird flu in a human, the CDC said, "...in addition to affected commercial poultry and dairy operations, wild birds and backyard flocks also can be a source of exposure."
Despite these developments, the CDC continues to estimate the risk to the general public as low.
(With inputs from agencies)

In a statement, the CDC said a patient was hospitalised in Louisiana with a severe case of the infection. The patient was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.



Washington The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on Wednesday (Dec 18) that the country reported the first severe case of bird flu in a human. In a statement, the CDC said a patient was hospitalised in Louisiana with a severe case of the infection. The patient was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. The case was confirmed on December 13 According to the CDC, this case was confirmed on December 13. No additional details, including the individual's prognosis, have been disclosed. Also read | Canadian teen, first human case of bird flu in country, battling for life Genetic sequencing revealed that the H5N1 virus in the patient belonged to the D1.1 genotype. A report by the news agency AFP on Wednesday said that this genotype was detected in wild birds and poultry in the US, and in human cases reported in Washington state and in Canada's British Columbia province. 61 cases reported so far in current outbreak In the US, outbreaks of the currently circulating H5N1 avian influenza viruses in wild birds and poultry have been ongoing since 2022. A report by the news agency AFP on Tuesday said that since this outbreak began, a total of 61 cases have been reported. There has been no human-to-human virus transmission in the country to date. With the US reporting the first severe case of bird flu in a human, the CDC said, "...in addition to affected commercial poultry and dairy operations, wild birds and backyard flocks also can be a source of exposure." Despite these developments, the CDC continues to estimate the risk to the general public as low. (With inputs from agencies)

United States reports first severe case of bird flu in human, says CDC

Port Sudan, Sudan
Ten Sudanese civilians were killed and 20 wounded in paramilitary shelling of North Darfur's besieged capital El-Fasher which hit the city's main hospital and other areas on Wednesday, activists said.
The bombardment left "10 civilians killed and 20 injured...inside the city of El-Fasher and the Saudi Hospital," said the local resistance committee, one of hundreds of volunteer groups that have been coordinating aid across Sudan during 20 months of fighting between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
RSF shelling of the same hospital on Friday killed nine people and forced it to close temporarily.
The local committee said that Friday's bombardment "destroyed wards, pharmacies and the operating theatre at the hospital".
A doctor, who requested anonymity for his safety, told AFP that the hospital's emergency department was destroyed.
Watch | US: Trump Threatens Reciprocal Tariffs On India
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/1812_Manav_INDIA_8PM-1734535215-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1812_Manav_INDIA_8PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=110&tags=US: Trump Threatens Reciprocal Tariffs On India" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
El-Fasher, a city of some two million people which has been under paramilitary siege since May, has seen some of the fiercest fighting of the war as the army battles to hold on to its last foothold in the vast Darfur region of western Sudan. 
Last week, an air strike by the Sudanese military on a market in North Darfur killed more than 100 people, according to a pro-democracy lawyers' group.
Nearly all of Darfur is now controlled by the RSF, which has also taken over swathes of the neighbouring Kordofan region as well as much of central Sudan.
The regular army retains control of the north and east, while the capital Khartoum and its neighbouring cities are a battleground between the warring parties,
The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 11 million, creating what the United Nations describes as one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenyan-mothers-trapped-in-saudi-arabia-as-visas-denied-due-to-stateless-children-785036">Kenyan single mothers 'trapped' in Saudi Arabia as visas are denied to 'stateless' children</a>
Both the army and the RSF have been accused of indiscriminately bombing medical facilities and civilians, as well as deliberate attacks on residential areas.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The bombardment left "10 civilians killed and 20 injured...inside the city of El-Fasher and the Saudi Hospital," said the local resistance committee, one of hundreds of volunteer groups that have been coordinating aid across Sudan during 20 months of fighting between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).



Port Sudan, Sudan Ten Sudanese civilians were killed and 20 wounded in paramilitary shelling of North Darfur's besieged capital El-Fasher which hit the city's main hospital and other areas on Wednesday, activists said. The bombardment left "10 civilians killed and 20 injured...inside the city of El-Fasher and the Saudi Hospital," said the local resistance committee, one of hundreds of volunteer groups that have been coordinating aid across Sudan during 20 months of fighting between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). RSF shelling of the same hospital on Friday killed nine people and forced it to close temporarily. The local committee said that Friday's bombardment "destroyed wards, pharmacies and the operating theatre at the hospital". A doctor, who requested anonymity for his safety, told AFP that the hospital's emergency department was destroyed. Watch | US: Trump Threatens Reciprocal Tariffs On India El-Fasher, a city of some two million people which has been under paramilitary siege since May, has seen some of the fiercest fighting of the war as the army battles to hold on to its last foothold in the vast Darfur region of western Sudan. Last week, an air strike by the Sudanese military on a market in North Darfur killed more than 100 people, according to a pro-democracy lawyers' group. Nearly all of Darfur is now controlled by the RSF, which has also taken over swathes of the neighbouring Kordofan region as well as much of central Sudan. The regular army retains control of the north and east, while the capital Khartoum and its neighbouring cities are a battleground between the warring parties, The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 11 million, creating what the United Nations describes as one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory. Also read | Kenyan single mothers 'trapped' in Saudi Arabia as visas are denied to 'stateless' children Both the army and the RSF have been accused of indiscriminately bombing medical facilities and civilians, as well as deliberate attacks on residential areas. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Paramilitary shelling of besieged Darfur city kills 10: Activists

Washington, US 
<meta content="uuidQIzxXG5snk9D" name="uuid"/>
Donald Trump warned Wednesday that an ex-congresswoman who probed his role in the 2021 Capitol riot "could be in a lot of trouble," after Republican lawmakers called for her to be criminally investigated.
The Republican president-elect, who is due to return to the White House on January 20, has vowed to get revenge on political adversaries he baselessly accuses of weaponizing the US justice system against him.
Trump posted the taunt against former Wyoming representative Liz Cheney on his Truth Social platform after a congressional panel on Tuesday accused her of witness tampering when she helped lead the probe into the January 6, 2021 riot.
"Liz Cheney could be in a lot of trouble based on the evidence obtained by the subcommittee, which states that 'numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, and these violations should be investigated by the FBI'," Trump said in the post.
The Republican-led panel, in its 128-page report, accuses Cheney of colluding with Cassidy Hutchinson, a top staffer in Trump's 2017-21 White House.
Hutchinson was the star witness of the select committee that investigated Trump, and on which Cheney served as vice chair.
Watch | Donald Trump Sues Des Moines Register and Selzer, Alleging ‘Election Interference’
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/1812_Manav_TRUMP_8PM-1734535517-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1812_Manav_TRUMP_8PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=204&tags=trump us election" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
It was set up after a mob, whipped up by Trump's false claims of a stolen election and directed to march on Congress by the defeated president, ransacked the US Capitol.
The committee, since disbanded, concluded that Trump "oversaw and coordinated a sophisticated seven-part plan to overturn the presidential election and prevent the transfer of presidential power."
Cheney has dismissed the accusations against her as "a malicious and cowardly assault on the truth" that no "reputable lawyer, legislator, or judge" would take seriously.
She said her panel had heard from "scores of Republican witnesses, including many of the most senior officials from Trump's own White House, campaign, and administration," and had produced "a highly detailed and meticulously sourced 800-page report."
Trump has a long history of attacking Cheney, the daughter of former US vice president Dick Cheney, and as recently as October called her a "Muslim-hating warmonger... who wants to invade practically every Muslim country on the planet."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-subsidies-to-canada-make-no-sense-suggests-canada-become-51st-us-state-785043">Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, suggests Canada become 51st US state</a>
She was once seen as a rising star among the Republicans in the House of Representatives, but was booted from her leadership position and then lost her Wyoming seat over her criticism of Trump's refusal to concede defeat in the 2020 election.
She announced ahead of November's presidential election that she would be voting for Trump's opponent, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump was indicted by both the federal Justice Department and the state of Georgia over his alleged leadership of a multi-pronged criminal conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
Prosecutions of sitting US presidents are barred under justice department policy and the federal case was dropped after his victory, with the state case stalled amid motions to drop the proceedings.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Republican president-elect, who is due to return to the White House on January 20, has vowed to get revenge on political adversaries he baselessly accuses of weaponizing the US justice system against him.



Washington, US Donald Trump warned Wednesday that an ex-congresswoman who probed his role in the 2021 Capitol riot "could be in a lot of trouble," after Republican lawmakers called for her to be criminally investigated. The Republican president-elect, who is due to return to the White House on January 20, has vowed to get revenge on political adversaries he baselessly accuses of weaponizing the US justice system against him. Trump posted the taunt against former Wyoming representative Liz Cheney on his Truth Social platform after a congressional panel on Tuesday accused her of witness tampering when she helped lead the probe into the January 6, 2021 riot. "Liz Cheney could be in a lot of trouble based on the evidence obtained by the subcommittee, which states that 'numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, and these violations should be investigated by the FBI'," Trump said in the post. The Republican-led panel, in its 128-page report, accuses Cheney of colluding with Cassidy Hutchinson, a top staffer in Trump's 2017-21 White House. Hutchinson was the star witness of the select committee that investigated Trump, and on which Cheney served as vice chair. Watch | Donald Trump Sues Des Moines Register and Selzer, Alleging ‘Election Interference’ It was set up after a mob, whipped up by Trump's false claims of a stolen election and directed to march on Congress by the defeated president, ransacked the US Capitol. The committee, since disbanded, concluded that Trump "oversaw and coordinated a sophisticated seven-part plan to overturn the presidential election and prevent the transfer of presidential power." Cheney has dismissed the accusations against her as "a malicious and cowardly assault on the truth" that no "reputable lawyer, legislator, or judge" would take seriously. She said her panel had heard from "scores of Republican witnesses, including many of the most senior officials from Trump's own White House, campaign, and administration," and had produced "a highly detailed and meticulously sourced 800-page report." Trump has a long history of attacking Cheney, the daughter of former US vice president Dick Cheney, and as recently as October called her a "Muslim-hating warmonger... who wants to invade practically every Muslim country on the planet." Also read | Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, suggests Canada become 51st US state She was once seen as a rising star among the Republicans in the House of Representatives, but was booted from her leadership position and then lost her Wyoming seat over her criticism of Trump's refusal to concede defeat in the 2020 election. She announced ahead of November's presidential election that she would be voting for Trump's opponent, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump was indicted by both the federal Justice Department and the state of Georgia over his alleged leadership of a multi-pronged criminal conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Prosecutions of sitting US presidents are barred under justice department policy and the federal case was dropped after his victory, with the state case stalled amid motions to drop the proceedings. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Trump warns top Republican critic could be 'in a lot of trouble'

Accra, Ghana
<meta content="uuidQIzxXG5snk9D" name="uuid"/>Ghana's Supreme Court on Wednesday paved the way for a contested bill severely curtailing LGBTQ rights to become law after rejecting two bids to overturn it.
Lawmakers approved the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in February, drawing international condemnation despite gaining wide public support in the conservative West African country.
The proposed anti-LGBTQ legislation is considered among the most stringent in Africa, stipulating jail terms of up to three years for engaging in same-sex relations and up to five years for promoting or sponsoring LGBTQ activities.
The bill will only become law after being ratified by the outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo or his successor, John Mahama.
Akufo-Addo, who officially stepped down on January 7 after two terms in office, has not yet announced his decision.
Watch | Oman Stops New Import Permits For Indian Chicken Eggs
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/1812_Manav_OMAN_6PM-1734531915-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1812_Manav_OMAN_6PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=207&tags=Oman,Chicken Eggs,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
He had said he would first await the Supreme Court's ruling on the bill's constitutionality. 
Opposition leader Mahama, who won the December 7 elections, voiced support for the anti-LGBTQ bill during the electoral campaign.
Gay sex is already illegal in the religious, mostly Christian nation, but while discrimination against LGBTQ people is common, no one has ever been prosecuted under the colonial-era law.
<h2>Fears for finances </h2>
"It will be premature for this court to exercise its interpretive and enforcement jurisdiction to intervene. Consequently, the action fails," Judge Avril Lovelace-Johnson, head of the court's seven-member panel said, reading its judgement.
"Until there is presidential assent to the bill, there is no act of which the Supreme Court will use its supervisory jurisdiction to overturn," she added.
The court's ruling followed cases filed by Ghanaian broadcaster Richard Dela-Sky, who challenged the constitutionality of the bill, and university researcher Amanda Odoi.
Odoi had sought to block the sending of the bill to the president for ratification.
The bill was initially introduced into parliament in 2021, but the vote faced delays.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-subsidies-to-canada-make-no-sense-suggests-canada-become-51st-us-state-785043">Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, suggests Canada become 51st US state</a>
It sparked criticism from the United Nations and several countries, including the United States, as well as concern from Ghana's finance ministry, which warned of a risk of losing billions of dollars in World Bank funding.
Ghana fears it could face the same fate as Uganda, which last year passed one of the harshest anti-gay laws in the world.
The World Bank froze lending to Uganda in the wake of the law, which imposes penalties of up to life in prison for consensual same-sex relations and contains provisions that make "aggravated homosexuality" an offence punishable by death.
Ghana is emerging from its worst economic crisis in decades and is also under a $3 billion loan programme from the International Monetary Fund.
United Nations rights chief Volker Turk condemned the passing of the bill in February, saying that consensual same-sex conduct should never be criminalised.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-man-dies-after-bear-shot-by-his-partner-falls-from-tree-on-him-785032">Virginia man dies after bear in tree shot by his partner falls on him</a>
Around 60 countries in the world ban same-sex relations, about half of them are in Africa, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA).
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Lawmakers approved the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in February, drawing international condemnation despite gaining wide public support in the conservative West African country.



Accra, Ghana Ghana's Supreme Court on Wednesday paved the way for a contested bill severely curtailing LGBTQ rights to become law after rejecting two bids to overturn it. Lawmakers approved the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in February, drawing international condemnation despite gaining wide public support in the conservative West African country. The proposed anti-LGBTQ legislation is considered among the most stringent in Africa, stipulating jail terms of up to three years for engaging in same-sex relations and up to five years for promoting or sponsoring LGBTQ activities. The bill will only become law after being ratified by the outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo or his successor, John Mahama. Akufo-Addo, who officially stepped down on January 7 after two terms in office, has not yet announced his decision. Watch | Oman Stops New Import Permits For Indian Chicken Eggs He had said he would first await the Supreme Court's ruling on the bill's constitutionality. Opposition leader Mahama, who won the December 7 elections, voiced support for the anti-LGBTQ bill during the electoral campaign. Gay sex is already illegal in the religious, mostly Christian nation, but while discrimination against LGBTQ people is common, no one has ever been prosecuted under the colonial-era law. Fears for finances "It will be premature for this court to exercise its interpretive and enforcement jurisdiction to intervene. Consequently, the action fails," Judge Avril Lovelace-Johnson, head of the court's seven-member panel said, reading its judgement. "Until there is presidential assent to the bill, there is no act of which the Supreme Court will use its supervisory jurisdiction to overturn," she added. The court's ruling followed cases filed by Ghanaian broadcaster Richard Dela-Sky, who challenged the constitutionality of the bill, and university researcher Amanda Odoi. Odoi had sought to block the sending of the bill to the president for ratification. The bill was initially introduced into parliament in 2021, but the vote faced delays. Also read | Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, suggests Canada become 51st US state It sparked criticism from the United Nations and several countries, including the United States, as well as concern from Ghana's finance ministry, which warned of a risk of losing billions of dollars in World Bank funding. Ghana fears it could face the same fate as Uganda, which last year passed one of the harshest anti-gay laws in the world. The World Bank froze lending to Uganda in the wake of the law, which imposes penalties of up to life in prison for consensual same-sex relations and contains provisions that make "aggravated homosexuality" an offence punishable by death. Ghana is emerging from its worst economic crisis in decades and is also under a $3 billion loan programme from the International Monetary Fund. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk condemned the passing of the bill in February, saying that consensual same-sex conduct should never be criminalised. Also read | Virginia man dies after bear in tree shot by his partner falls on him Around 60 countries in the world ban same-sex relations, about half of them are in Africa, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA). Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Ghana's Supreme Court paves way for anti-LGBTQ law

Washington, United States 
Indian Space agency ISRO has commenced assembly of the Human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (HLVM3) rocket that will eventually carry Indian astronauts to space as part of the country's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. 
Presently, the rocket is being assembled at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, in preparation for a maiden mission where the rocket will be carrying a humanoid robot 'Vyommitra' to space, instead of astronauts. 
Vyommitra will fly on three test missions to space, and once all these missions are successfully accomplished, ISRO will carry out the astronaut mission. 
The data gained through the uncrewed flights will be instrumental for the success of the crewed missions.
HLVM3 is a three-stage rocket with a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit. The vehicle is 53 metres tall and weighs 640 tonnes. 
"At 8:45 Hrs on 18th December, 2024 at SDSC, the stacking of the nozzle end segment with full flex seal nozzle of the S200 motor took place, thus commencing the official launch campaign of the HLVM3-G1 / OM-1 mission," ISRO said. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-european-space-agency-to-help-india-see-and-speak-to-gaganyaan-782093">Also read: Explained: European Space Agency to help India 'see and speak' to Gaganyaan</a>
Twin S200 motors powered by solid fuel comprise the first stage of the rocket. L110 (liquid stage) and C32 (cryogenic) stages for the HLVM3, which serve as the second and final stage of the rocket, are also ready at the spaceport, ISRO added. HLVM3 is a modified version of India's heaviest rocket, the LVM3. Simply put, ISRO has enhanced the satellite-carrying LVM3 rocket to carry astronauts to space. 
Further, the crew escape systems elements are also at the spaceport. The Crew Escape System is what ejects the astronaut-carrying capsule to safety when there is an anomaly detected in the rocket mid-flight.
The integration of Crew Module (the capsule that will house astronauts) is happening at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, and the integration of Service Module (which contains critical systems that support the mission) is taking place at UR Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru. 
Subsequently, the Crew Module and the Service Module will be integrated and tested at URSC, Bengaluru.
<h2>Significance of Dec 18 and ISRO's LVM3-X/CARE mission</h2>
It was on December 18th, 2014, that ISRO carried out the maiden flight of the LVM3 rocket. In a mission dubbed 'LVM3-X/CARE', the LVM3-X rocket had lifted a 3775 kg Crew Module to an altitude of 126 km above the earth. 
From that sub-orbital altitude, it was controlled using thrusters to orient it for a favourable re-entry. The Crew Module descended using parachutes to have a smooth splashdown at the designated location off India's East Coast. 
The Indian Coast Guard recovered the Crew Module from the turbulent seas of the Bay of Bengal, approximately 1600 km from the Indian spaceport.
Conducted exactly a decade ago, that mission was developed as part of pre-project activities of the Human Spaceflight Project, well before the official Gaganyaan project was approved in 2019. 
Watch | Gaganyaan: ISRO names 4 astronauts who will be part of India’s first manned space mission
<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/03/02/0103_gaganyan_full_india_story_pkwo-1709321144-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/0103_gaganyan_full_india_story_pkwo_.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=710&tags=india,Gaganyaan mission,gaganyaan space mission,astronauts" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>
It is a fitting coincidence that ten years later, on the same day, ISRO is gearing up for the first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan by commencing the stacking of human-rated LVM3, christened HLVM3, at the spaceport.
The primary objective of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was to validate the then new rocket's flight through the atmospheric regime and demonstrate the re-entry of a full-scale Crew Module into Earth's atmosphere. 
The mission achieved several critical technical milestones, including the flight validation of the LVM3 rocket, synchronized performance of the paired S200 solid rocket boosters, twin-engine operation of the Vikas engines in L110 stage, algorithms across the rocket's first two stages, and complex stage separation mechanisms.
That success also validated the entire integration, assembly, testing, and launch servicing processes, as well as the mission design and simulation cycles, ensuring readiness for future missions. 
The CARE experiment itself served as a platform to evaluate the aerothermal performance of the Crew Module and validate critical re-entry technologies. 
It successfully demonstrated blunt-body re-entry aerodynamics, thermal protection systems, parachute-based deceleration mechanisms, and recovery logistics, providing invaluable insights for further developments, ISRO said.
ISRO has come a long way from the experimental mission of LVM3-X/CARE mission. The human-rated launch vehicle, HLVM3, is derived from LVM3 and designed with enhanced reliability to meet human safety considerations.
Additionally, a Crew Escape System (CES) is implemented to ensure crew safety by safe ejection of Crew Module (CM) in a potentially adverse situation. The CES is operational from the launch pad till its separation after the atmospheric flight regime. 
The success of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was instrumental in ISRO's journey toward self-reliance in launching heavier satellites. LVM3 has since completed seven successive successful launches. 
The insights gained from the CARE mission have also been pivotal in shaping ISRO's human spaceflight program. Iterations in the Crew Module design, along with subsequent pad abort tests, air-drop tests, and test vehicle flights, are built on the foundational data provided by CARE.
Dr. S Somanath, Mission Director of the LVM3-X/CARE mission, now serves as the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, while Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair, the Payload Director of the LVM3-X/ CARE mission, became the founding Director of the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), Bengaluru, and now leads the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.

Presently, the rocket is being assembled at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, in preparation for a maiden mission where the rocket will be carrying a humanoid robot 'Vyommitra' to space, instead of astronauts. 



Washington, United States Indian Space agency ISRO has commenced assembly of the Human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (HLVM3) rocket that will eventually carry Indian astronauts to space as part of the country's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. Presently, the rocket is being assembled at the Indian Spaceport in Sriharikota, in preparation for a maiden mission where the rocket will be carrying a humanoid robot 'Vyommitra' to space, instead of astronauts. Vyommitra will fly on three test missions to space, and once all these missions are successfully accomplished, ISRO will carry out the astronaut mission. The data gained through the uncrewed flights will be instrumental for the success of the crewed missions. HLVM3 is a three-stage rocket with a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit. The vehicle is 53 metres tall and weighs 640 tonnes. "At 8:45 Hrs on 18th December, 2024 at SDSC, the stacking of the nozzle end segment with full flex seal nozzle of the S200 motor took place, thus commencing the official launch campaign of the HLVM3-G1 / OM-1 mission," ISRO said. Also read: Explained: European Space Agency to help India 'see and speak' to Gaganyaan Twin S200 motors powered by solid fuel comprise the first stage of the rocket. L110 (liquid stage) and C32 (cryogenic) stages for the HLVM3, which serve as the second and final stage of the rocket, are also ready at the spaceport, ISRO added. HLVM3 is a modified version of India's heaviest rocket, the LVM3. Simply put, ISRO has enhanced the satellite-carrying LVM3 rocket to carry astronauts to space. Further, the crew escape systems elements are also at the spaceport. The Crew Escape System is what ejects the astronaut-carrying capsule to safety when there is an anomaly detected in the rocket mid-flight. The integration of Crew Module (the capsule that will house astronauts) is happening at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, and the integration of Service Module (which contains critical systems that support the mission) is taking place at UR Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru. Subsequently, the Crew Module and the Service Module will be integrated and tested at URSC, Bengaluru. Significance of Dec 18 and ISRO's LVM3-X/CARE mission It was on December 18th, 2014, that ISRO carried out the maiden flight of the LVM3 rocket. In a mission dubbed 'LVM3-X/CARE', the LVM3-X rocket had lifted a 3775 kg Crew Module to an altitude of 126 km above the earth. From that sub-orbital altitude, it was controlled using thrusters to orient it for a favourable re-entry. The Crew Module descended using parachutes to have a smooth splashdown at the designated location off India's East Coast. The Indian Coast Guard recovered the Crew Module from the turbulent seas of the Bay of Bengal, approximately 1600 km from the Indian spaceport. Conducted exactly a decade ago, that mission was developed as part of pre-project activities of the Human Spaceflight Project, well before the official Gaganyaan project was approved in 2019. Watch | Gaganyaan: ISRO names 4 astronauts who will be part of India’s first manned space mission × It is a fitting coincidence that ten years later, on the same day, ISRO is gearing up for the first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan by commencing the stacking of human-rated LVM3, christened HLVM3, at the spaceport. The primary objective of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was to validate the then new rocket's flight through the atmospheric regime and demonstrate the re-entry of a full-scale Crew Module into Earth's atmosphere. The mission achieved several critical technical milestones, including the flight validation of the LVM3 rocket, synchronized performance of the paired S200 solid rocket boosters, twin-engine operation of the Vikas engines in L110 stage, algorithms across the rocket's first two stages, and complex stage separation mechanisms. That success also validated the entire integration, assembly, testing, and launch servicing processes, as well as the mission design and simulation cycles, ensuring readiness for future missions. The CARE experiment itself served as a platform to evaluate the aerothermal performance of the Crew Module and validate critical re-entry technologies. It successfully demonstrated blunt-body re-entry aerodynamics, thermal protection systems, parachute-based deceleration mechanisms, and recovery logistics, providing invaluable insights for further developments, ISRO said. ISRO has come a long way from the experimental mission of LVM3-X/CARE mission. The human-rated launch vehicle, HLVM3, is derived from LVM3 and designed with enhanced reliability to meet human safety considerations. Additionally, a Crew Escape System (CES) is implemented to ensure crew safety by safe ejection of Crew Module (CM) in a potentially adverse situation. The CES is operational from the launch pad till its separation after the atmospheric flight regime. The success of the LVM3-X/CARE mission was instrumental in ISRO's journey toward self-reliance in launching heavier satellites. LVM3 has since completed seven successive successful launches. The insights gained from the CARE mission have also been pivotal in shaping ISRO's human spaceflight program. Iterations in the Crew Module design, along with subsequent pad abort tests, air-drop tests, and test vehicle flights, are built on the foundational data provided by CARE. Dr. S Somanath, Mission Director of the LVM3-X/CARE mission, now serves as the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, while Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair, the Payload Director of the LVM3-X/ CARE mission, became the founding Director of the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), Bengaluru, and now leads the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.

ISRO starts assembling astronaut-carrying rocket 'HLVM3'

President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20th approaches, his influence continues to grow. The US president-elect is fully embracing the power that comes with the upcoming rule, relishing the peak perks. He has sparked renewed tensions with Canada, mocking its prime minister and leadership in a social media post. This as Justin Trudeau himself is trying to keep his political boat afloat as crisis deepens within his own cabinet. Watch in for more details!

Will Trudeau Survive The Mounting Pressure?

In the United States, notably on the East Coast, a series of reported drone sightings has sparked widespread concerns and speculations. The situation is still ongoing, but the Pentagon has reassured the public that there is no safety risk or national security threat. The sightings, which began in mid-November over New Jersey, have since been reported in New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and even Maryland, sparking fears of a potential national security threat. Watch in for more details!

USA News: Mystery Drones Not Connected To Any Known Threats, Says Pentagon

Washington, US
United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump continued trolling Canada as on Wednesday (Dec 18), he shared a post on Truth Social and slammed US subsidies to Canada. He even claimed that many in Canada want it to become the 51st state of US.
In the post, the Republican wrote, "No one can answer why we subsidise Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year?" 
"Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on Taxes and military protection," he added. 
Trump's comment came amid the tensions between the two nations after his announcement to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada for failing to address trade and immigration issues. 
<h2>'She will not be missed'</h2>
Watch | Kenya Turns to IVF Technology To Save White Rhinos From Extinction
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/1812_Manav_AFRICA_6PM-1734530426-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1812_Manav_AFRICA_6PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=60&tags=Kenya,ivf,white rhinos,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
On Tuesday (Dec 17), French Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned due to a disagreement with Trudeau on handling US tariffs in the upcoming Trump administration. 
Trump took a dig at it as he posted on Truth Social saying, "The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau." 
"Her behaviour was toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!" the Republican further added. 
There are further reports that Trump has suggested that if tariffs on Canada would kill its economy, then Canada should become the 51st state of the US. 
<h2>'Governor of the Great State'</h2>
Earlier on Tuesday (Dec 10), Trump mocked Justin Trudeau, dubbing him the "Governor of the Great State of Canada."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-man-dies-after-bear-shot-by-his-partner-falls-from-tree-on-him-785032">Virginia man dies after bear in tree shot by his partner falls on him</a>
Sharing a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said, "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada."
"I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!," he added. 
(With inputs from agencies)

Trump's comment came amid the tensions between the two nations after his announcement to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada for failing to address trade and immigration issues.



Washington, US United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump continued trolling Canada as on Wednesday (Dec 18), he shared a post on Truth Social and slammed US subsidies to Canada. He even claimed that many in Canada want it to become the 51st state of US. In the post, the Republican wrote, "No one can answer why we subsidise Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year?" "Makes no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on Taxes and military protection," he added. Trump's comment came amid the tensions between the two nations after his announcement to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada for failing to address trade and immigration issues. 'She will not be missed' Watch | Kenya Turns to IVF Technology To Save White Rhinos From Extinction On Tuesday (Dec 17), French Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned due to a disagreement with Trudeau on handling US tariffs in the upcoming Trump administration. Trump took a dig at it as he posted on Truth Social saying, "The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau." "Her behaviour was toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!" the Republican further added. There are further reports that Trump has suggested that if tariffs on Canada would kill its economy, then Canada should become the 51st state of the US. 'Governor of the Great State' Earlier on Tuesday (Dec 10), Trump mocked Justin Trudeau, dubbing him the "Governor of the Great State of Canada." Also read | Virginia man dies after bear in tree shot by his partner falls on him Sharing a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said, "It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada." "I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in-depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump says US subsidies to Canada make no sense, suggests it become 51st US state

Japan's second and third largest automakers are in talks to deepen their partnership, which could include a full merger. The discussion is aimed at creating a formidable domestic rival to Toyota, the world's largest automaker. Watch in for more details!

Japanese Automakers Honda & Nissan Explore Alliance

"Syria's conflict has not ended" even after the departure of former president Bashar al-Assad, the UN's envoy to the country has warned, highlighting clashes between Turkish-backed and Kurdish groups in the north. Watch this report for more details!



UNSC Calls For 'Syrian-Led Political Process

China's space program achieved a milestone as two astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station set a new world record for the longest spacewalk. The 9-hour extra-vehicular activity by Shenzhou 19 crew members surpassed the 20-year-old record held by the United States. Watch in for more details!

Shenzhou 19 Crew Completes 9-Hour Spacewalk

Arizona, United States
<meta content="uuidLfrQwIs9scGk" name="uuid"/>
A television journalist in the US state of Arizona broke down while announcing the death of her 28-year-old colleague, according to media reports early Wednesday (Dec 18). The deceased journalist was identified as Ana Orsini.
News anchors Carsyn Currier and Tyler Butler, who work for CBS affiliate KOLD News13, announced the death of Orsini. While sharing the tragic news, Currier was in tears as Butler comforted her by holding her hand. 
<h2>'Devastated by this loss'</h2>
"Ana had been here at 13 News since June of 2023. We are devastated by this loss," Currier said as she held back tears. 
"We had the opportunity to work with her every day, and we do want you to know that what you saw with her on-air, the funny, crazy person she was—she was just like that off camera and more so," Butler said as he remembered the 28-year-old.
The video of the tragic announcement has been doing the rounds of social media.
Here's a look at the video (Source: X-@cory_kowitz):
<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Last week, we lost a beloved member of our KOLD news team. Ana Orsini was our anchor, a leader of the morning team, and most importantly a great friend to so many at the station. I had the pleasure of working with her during the morning, even though it was for too short of a… <a href="https://t.co/oau04UsS9h">pic.twitter.com/oau04UsS9h</a>
— Cory Kowitz (@cory_kowitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/cory_kowitz/status/1868685445623623735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>Orsini died from a brain aneurysm</h2>
A report by the DailyMail early Wednesday said that Orsini died last week from a brain aneurysm. She began her career in journalism in 2018 and joined KOLD News13 in June last year.
She graduated from the Texas A&amp;M University.
(With inputs from agencies)

The deceased journalist was identified as Ana Orsini who worked for KOLD News13. Her death was announced by her colleagues and news anchors Carsyn Currier and Tyler Butler. 



Arizona, United States A television journalist in the US state of Arizona broke down while announcing the death of her 28-year-old colleague, according to media reports early Wednesday (Dec 18). The deceased journalist was identified as Ana Orsini. News anchors Carsyn Currier and Tyler Butler, who work for CBS affiliate KOLD News13, announced the death of Orsini. While sharing the tragic news, Currier was in tears as Butler comforted her by holding her hand. 'Devastated by this loss' "Ana had been here at 13 News since June of 2023. We are devastated by this loss," Currier said as she held back tears. "We had the opportunity to work with her every day, and we do want you to know that what you saw with her on-air, the funny, crazy person she was—she was just like that off camera and more so," Butler said as he remembered the 28-year-old. The video of the tragic announcement has been doing the rounds of social media. Here's a look at the video (Source: X-@cory_kowitz): Last week, we lost a beloved member of our KOLD news team. Ana Orsini was our anchor, a leader of the morning team, and most importantly a great friend to so many at the station. I had the pleasure of working with her during the morning, even though it was for too short of a… pic.twitter.com/oau04UsS9h — Cory Kowitz (@cory_kowitz) December 16, 2024 × Orsini died from a brain aneurysm A report by the DailyMail early Wednesday said that Orsini died last week from a brain aneurysm. She began her career in journalism in 2018 and joined KOLD News13 in June last year. She graduated from the Texas A&M University. (With inputs from agencies)

TV journalist in Arizona breaks down while announcing death of 28-year-old colleague. Watch

Hong Kong 
Imagine a time when you are in a fair, standing in front of a claw machine, your hands on the handle, you are just about to get the picked item into the chute and suddenly, the prize drops into the pile. Frustrating right? But if you live in Hong Kong, you might get rid of this very soon.  
On Wednesday (Dec 18), Hong Kong's consumer watchdog announced that it is thinking about putting regulations on claw machines after receiving multiple complaints. The consumer council said a man spent around $64 within 45 minutes to win a waffle maker but got "nothing more than a few trinkets". The council further added that these machines "capitalise on consumers' enthusiasm for testing their luck". It also urged people to "spend rationally and be mindful of addiction". 
<h2>42 complaints in 11 months</h2>
The council revealed at least 42 complaints were filed in the first 11 months of this year. 
Watch | Adele In Trouble? | 'Million Years Ago' Faces Plagiarism Claims
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/1812_Manav_MILLIONS_430PM-1734524109-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1812_Manav_MILLIONS_430PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=126&tags=Adele | 'Million Years Ago' Plagiarism Claims" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
In a statement, the council said, "The industry often modifies claw settings or introduces obstacles inside claw machines to make winning more challenging... Excessive difficulty or unfair settings could aggravate consumers." The council's chief said it's about time to review whether they should regulate the claw machine business or not. 
But Jayden Chen, the founder of a claw machine rental company in Singapore, talked to BBC and said the programmed machines are "actually part of the fun". He clarified that a player feels excited while using the claw machine and gets motivated to try again if not win the first time. He said there wouldn't be any fun if he or she won on the first try. 
"Regulations will kill off the fun element," Chen said. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/siberian-tiger-crosses-200km-stretch-of-russian-forest-to-meet-former-mate-785006">Siberian tiger crosses 200km stretch of Russian forest to meet former mate</a>
In another case filed, a woman said every time she was about to move her desired toy to the chute, the machine loosened its grip. The machine had a "guaranteed grab" mechanism for people who had spent at least $12 without winning. That means on their next try, the claw would maintain its grip until the toy is taken out. The woman said the mechanism was a "dishonest trade practice".
The council has advised people to record a video of their gameplay so they have evidence at the time of complaining.
(With inputs from agencies)

On Wednesday (Dec 18), Hong Kong's consumer watchdog announced that it is thinking about putting regulations on claw machines after receiving multiple companies. The consumer council said a man spent around $64 within 45 minutes to win a waffle maker but got "nothing more than a few trinkets".



Hong Kong Imagine a time when you are in a fair, standing in front of a claw machine, your hands on the handle, you are just about to get the picked item into the chute and suddenly, the prize drops into the pile. Frustrating right? But if you live in Hong Kong, you might get rid of this very soon. On Wednesday (Dec 18), Hong Kong's consumer watchdog announced that it is thinking about putting regulations on claw machines after receiving multiple complaints. The consumer council said a man spent around $64 within 45 minutes to win a waffle maker but got "nothing more than a few trinkets". The council further added that these machines "capitalise on consumers' enthusiasm for testing their luck". It also urged people to "spend rationally and be mindful of addiction". 42 complaints in 11 months The council revealed at least 42 complaints were filed in the first 11 months of this year. Watch | Adele In Trouble? | 'Million Years Ago' Faces Plagiarism Claims In a statement, the council said, "The industry often modifies claw settings or introduces obstacles inside claw machines to make winning more challenging... Excessive difficulty or unfair settings could aggravate consumers." The council's chief said it's about time to review whether they should regulate the claw machine business or not. But Jayden Chen, the founder of a claw machine rental company in Singapore, talked to BBC and said the programmed machines are "actually part of the fun". He clarified that a player feels excited while using the claw machine and gets motivated to try again if not win the first time. He said there wouldn't be any fun if he or she won on the first try. "Regulations will kill off the fun element," Chen said. Also read | Siberian tiger crosses 200km stretch of Russian forest to meet former mate In another case filed, a woman said every time she was about to move her desired toy to the chute, the machine loosened its grip. The machine had a "guaranteed grab" mechanism for people who had spent at least $12 without winning. That means on their next try, the claw would maintain its grip until the toy is taken out. The woman said the mechanism was a "dishonest trade practice". The council has advised people to record a video of their gameplay so they have evidence at the time of complaining. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong may impose regulations on 'unfair' claw machines

"Syria's conflict has not ended" even after the departure of former president Bashar al-Assad, the UN's envoy to the country has warned, highlighting clashes between Turkish-backed and Kurdish groups in the north. Watch this report for more details!

Syria's Conflict 'Has Not Ended': UN Envoy

NASA has announced that astronaut Sunita Williams' return to Earth has been delayed once again, as the space agency extends the stay of astronauts aboard the International Space Station due to ongoing logistical challenges.



Sunita Williams' Return Delayed: NASA Announces Extended ISS Stay for Stranded Astronauts

Saudi Arabia
Kenyan single mothers in Saudi Arabia have been "trapped" in the country after being denied visas and birth certificates for their children in order to leave and return to their homeland. 
Guardian spoke to five Kenyan women who explained their misery, saying that they have been unable to register the birth of their children as they were born outside marriage. 
They said that they all fled abusive employers who then kept their identity documents. 
The women complained that they have been trying to leave the country as their children are unable to get enrolled in schools in Saudi Arabia without the documents. They added that they have also been told that exit visas cannot be processed because they have "stateless" children. 
In Saudi Arabia, having sex outside marriage is a crime as per the Islamic laws. However, the human rights groups said that women are disproportionately charged for this since resulting pregnancies are considered evidence. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-military-chief-visits-iran-for-rare-high-level-defence-talks-775058">Also read: Saudi military chief visits Iran for rare high-level defence talks</a>
Moreover, survivors of rape or sex trafficking can be deemed to have confessed to extramarital sex and prosecuted.
Children born outside the marriage in Saudi Arabia are not entitled to birth certificates. Additionally, their undocumented status means that they cannot access basic rights and services, including medical care and education, and are also not allowed to travel outside the Kingdom. 
These five women interviewed by Guardian shared that they had pregnancies during relationships with fellow migrant workers. 
Hence, all these women became single mothers, meanwhile, some said that they were abandoned by their child's fathers because they feared getting arrested for having extramarital sex. 
Watch | Saudi Arabia welcomes deal between Yemeni government, Houthis
<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/07/25/2507_MNV_WION_YEMEN_730AM-1721875511-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2507_MNV_WION_YEMEN_730AM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=95&tags=Saudi Arabia deal Yemeni government" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>
Fatima, a migrant from Kenya who came to Saudi Arabia to be a domestic worker, said staff at her nearest hospital in the Saudi capital Riyadh threatened to call the police when she rushed there with labour pains, the Guardian reported. 
“They said they would send me to jail if I didn’t bring [the necessary] documents. I was so afraid to go to jail with labour pains. I pretended like I was strolling around the hospital. Then, I just walked out of the gate and went back to my house," she said. 
Fatima entered her accommodation in Riyadh, and gave birth to a son just five minutes after that. "I cut the umbilical cord and cleaned myself. I cleaned my baby and wrapped him in a blanket. It was scary, but I just had to do it. There was nobody else to help me.”
She added that she ran away from her employer's home because he was sexually assaulting her and was physically abusive. Moreover, the employer also seized her passport. 
Moreover, she said that she has been trying to leave Saudi Arabia for the past two years because her son, who has now turned eight, has been unable to go to school. 
“The authorities here are not too concerned about the babies and their mothers,” Fatima said. 
Earlier in April, Fatima also staged a public protest in the Manfuhah neighbourhood in Riyadh, along with a group of other migrant mothers. However, protests are illegal in Saudi Arabia and punishable by imprisonment. 
“We want our kids to go to school. They’re missing a lot in their early childhood education. It’s very important, and our babies are missing that opportunity.”
Meanwhile, migrant rights experts have estimated that the number of cases of stateless children born outside marriage in Gulf countries is in thousands, adding that every child has a right to identity and protection, regardless of how and when they were born. 
(With inputs from agencies)

Guardian spoke to five Kenyan women who explained their misery, saying that they have been unable to register the birth of their children as they were born outside marriage. 



Saudi Arabia Kenyan single mothers in Saudi Arabia have been "trapped" in the country after being denied visas and birth certificates for their children in order to leave and return to their homeland. Guardian spoke to five Kenyan women who explained their misery, saying that they have been unable to register the birth of their children as they were born outside marriage. They said that they all fled abusive employers who then kept their identity documents. The women complained that they have been trying to leave the country as their children are unable to get enrolled in schools in Saudi Arabia without the documents. They added that they have also been told that exit visas cannot be processed because they have "stateless" children. In Saudi Arabia, having sex outside marriage is a crime as per the Islamic laws. However, the human rights groups said that women are disproportionately charged for this since resulting pregnancies are considered evidence. Also read: Saudi military chief visits Iran for rare high-level defence talks Moreover, survivors of rape or sex trafficking can be deemed to have confessed to extramarital sex and prosecuted. Children born outside the marriage in Saudi Arabia are not entitled to birth certificates. Additionally, their undocumented status means that they cannot access basic rights and services, including medical care and education, and are also not allowed to travel outside the Kingdom. These five women interviewed by Guardian shared that they had pregnancies during relationships with fellow migrant workers. Hence, all these women became single mothers, meanwhile, some said that they were abandoned by their child's fathers because they feared getting arrested for having extramarital sex. Watch | Saudi Arabia welcomes deal between Yemeni government, Houthis × Fatima, a migrant from Kenya who came to Saudi Arabia to be a domestic worker, said staff at her nearest hospital in the Saudi capital Riyadh threatened to call the police when she rushed there with labour pains, the Guardian reported. “They said they would send me to jail if I didn’t bring [the necessary] documents. I was so afraid to go to jail with labour pains. I pretended like I was strolling around the hospital. Then, I just walked out of the gate and went back to my house," she said. Fatima entered her accommodation in Riyadh, and gave birth to a son just five minutes after that. "I cut the umbilical cord and cleaned myself. I cleaned my baby and wrapped him in a blanket. It was scary, but I just had to do it. There was nobody else to help me.” She added that she ran away from her employer's home because he was sexually assaulting her and was physically abusive. Moreover, the employer also seized her passport. Moreover, she said that she has been trying to leave Saudi Arabia for the past two years because her son, who has now turned eight, has been unable to go to school. “The authorities here are not too concerned about the babies and their mothers,” Fatima said. Earlier in April, Fatima also staged a public protest in the Manfuhah neighbourhood in Riyadh, along with a group of other migrant mothers. However, protests are illegal in Saudi Arabia and punishable by imprisonment. “We want our kids to go to school. They’re missing a lot in their early childhood education. It’s very important, and our babies are missing that opportunity.” Meanwhile, migrant rights experts have estimated that the number of cases of stateless children born outside marriage in Gulf countries is in thousands, adding that every child has a right to identity and protection, regardless of how and when they were born. (With inputs from agencies)

Kenyan single mothers 'trapped' in Saudi Arabia as visas are denied to 'stateless' children

Wisconsin 
The 15-year-old US girl Natalie Rupnow, who killed two people and wounded six others in a school shooting in Wisconsin on Monday (Dec 16) had a turbulent life at home. The court records revealed her parents had divorced and remarried multiple times. She was even enrolled for therapy. 
The girl, who also goes by the name Samantha, died of a self-inflicted gunshot after she opened fire in a classroom at Abundant Life Christian School in the state. 
Police have said an investigation is on to find the motive behind the shooting. 
The court documents revealed Rupnow's parents had a custody agreement for her due to which she had to move between their homes every two to three days. 
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in a press conference on Tuesday (Dec 17), “There are always signs of a school shooting before it occurs". 
He also urged people to have patience as authorities investigated her social media activities to know her mindset leading to the shooting. 
Watch | Top Russian General killed in bomb blast, Moscow Vows Revenge on Ukraine
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/18/1802_wion_russia_2pm-1734514210-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1802_wion_russia_2pm.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=164&tags=russia,Ukraine,russia ukraine war,russia vs ukraine,ukraine war" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
This was the ninth time a female carried out a shooting in a school in 25 years in the US and Rupnow was among the youngest shooters in recent times. 
<h2>'How she got the gun?'</h2>
Rupnow's father, Jeff Rupnow, and mother, Mellissa, are reportedly coordinating with the investigating team but have not responded to comment on the family issues. 
Authorities went to Rupnow's father's Facebook page and found he used to celebrate every achievement of his daughter. Be it her winning the purple belt in Karate or him buying a house, he used to post about everything. 
In August, he posted a photograph in which Rupnow was holding a gun and taking aim at the firing range. Her father wrote in the post that he and Rupnow had joined a club early this year and they are "loving every second of it". 
Authorities have not yet declared how she acquired the gun used for the shooting. “How does any 15-year-old get hold of a gun?” a police chief said in a press conference. 
<h2>Shooting in school</h2>
Police identified Natalie Rupnow as the shooter on the same day of the incident, Monday (Dec 16).
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-lawmakers-call-for-amendments-in-strict-hijab-bill-report-784954">Iran lawmakers call for amendments in strict hijab bill: Report</a>
Speaking at a press briefing, Shon Barnes, police chief in the state capital Madison, said, "She was a student at the school, and evidence suggests she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound". 
He also revealed that the shooting was reported by a young second-grade student before 11:00 am local time (1700 GMT).
(With inputs from agencies)

The court documents revealed Rupnow's parents had a custody agreement for her due to which she had to move between their homes every two to three days. 



Wisconsin The 15-year-old US girl Natalie Rupnow, who killed two people and wounded six others in a school shooting in Wisconsin on Monday (Dec 16) had a turbulent life at home. The court records revealed her parents had divorced and remarried multiple times. She was even enrolled for therapy. The girl, who also goes by the name Samantha, died of a self-inflicted gunshot after she opened fire in a classroom at Abundant Life Christian School in the state. Police have said an investigation is on to find the motive behind the shooting. The court documents revealed Rupnow's parents had a custody agreement for her due to which she had to move between their homes every two to three days. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in a press conference on Tuesday (Dec 17), “There are always signs of a school shooting before it occurs". He also urged people to have patience as authorities investigated her social media activities to know her mindset leading to the shooting. Watch | Top Russian General killed in bomb blast, Moscow Vows Revenge on Ukraine This was the ninth time a female carried out a shooting in a school in 25 years in the US and Rupnow was among the youngest shooters in recent times. 'How she got the gun?' Rupnow's father, Jeff Rupnow, and mother, Mellissa, are reportedly coordinating with the investigating team but have not responded to comment on the family issues. Authorities went to Rupnow's father's Facebook page and found he used to celebrate every achievement of his daughter. Be it her winning the purple belt in Karate or him buying a house, he used to post about everything. In August, he posted a photograph in which Rupnow was holding a gun and taking aim at the firing range. Her father wrote in the post that he and Rupnow had joined a club early this year and they are "loving every second of it". Authorities have not yet declared how she acquired the gun used for the shooting. “How does any 15-year-old get hold of a gun?” a police chief said in a press conference. Shooting in school Police identified Natalie Rupnow as the shooter on the same day of the incident, Monday (Dec 16). Also read | Iran lawmakers call for amendments in strict hijab bill: Report Speaking at a press briefing, Shon Barnes, police chief in the state capital Madison, said, "She was a student at the school, and evidence suggests she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound". He also revealed that the shooting was reported by a young second-grade student before 11:00 am local time (1700 GMT). (With inputs from agencies)

Wisconsin school shooting: Who was Natalie Rupnow, the 15-year-old shooter?

Virginia, United States
In a bizarre incident, a Virginia man tragically lost his life after a bear in a tree, who was shot by his hunting partner, fell on him, according to state wildlife officials.
The accident occurred on December 9 in Lunenburg County, which is between Richmond and Danville, the Department of Wildlife Resources of Virginia said in an official statement.
A hunting group was following the large animal when it climbed up the tree. One of the hunters shot the bear, and it fell on another hunter, identified as Lester C. Harvey, 58, who was standing about 10 feet away from the main trunk of the tree.
Harvey was a resident of Phenix, a small town in Virginia’s Charlotte County, according to the authorities. After being given first aid by a group member, he was rushed to two different hospitals. However, he succumbed to his injuries on Friday (Dec 13), the wildlife department stated.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-man-dies-after-swallowing-live-chick-in-suspected-occult-ritual-784532">TV journalist in Arizona breaks down while announcing death of 28-year-old colleague. Watch</a>
According to an obituary for Harvey, he was married and a father of five with eight grandchildren. He was a self-employed contractor and loved spending time outdoors. His funeral will take place on Thursday (Dec 19).
According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, black bears can be seen across most parts of the state and have been located in at least 92 out of 98 counties and cities in Virginia.
According to the department, it is unlawful “to cripple, harm or dislodge a bear from a tree for the intent of continuing a hunt, chase, or for the purpose of training dogs.”
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-man-dies-after-swallowing-live-chick-in-suspected-occult-ritual-784532">India: Man dies after swallowing live chick in suspected occult ritual; bird recovered alive</a>
“The Department is not currently seeking any charges related to this incident,” VDWR officials said, according to CBS affiliate WTVR.
Similar incidents have been reported in recent years.
In 2018, a man was severely injured in Alaska after his hunting partner shot a bear. The animal was on a ridge and tumbled down a slope into him. The rocks dislodged by the bear also hit the man.
In another incident that occurred in North Carolina in 2019, a man was injured after his hunting partner shot a bear in a tree and fell. The hunter was bitten by the bear before the two tumbled off a cliff. The man was rushed to the hospital, while the animal was found dead.
(With inputs from agencies)

The accident occurred on December 9 in Lunenburg County, which is between Richmond and Danville, the Department of Wildlife Resources of Virginia said in an official statement



Virginia, United States In a bizarre incident, a Virginia man tragically lost his life after a bear in a tree, who was shot by his hunting partner, fell on him, according to state wildlife officials. The accident occurred on December 9 in Lunenburg County, which is between Richmond and Danville, the Department of Wildlife Resources of Virginia said in an official statement. A hunting group was following the large animal when it climbed up the tree. One of the hunters shot the bear, and it fell on another hunter, identified as Lester C. Harvey, 58, who was standing about 10 feet away from the main trunk of the tree. Harvey was a resident of Phenix, a small town in Virginia’s Charlotte County, according to the authorities. After being given first aid by a group member, he was rushed to two different hospitals. However, he succumbed to his injuries on Friday (Dec 13), the wildlife department stated. Also read | TV journalist in Arizona breaks down while announcing death of 28-year-old colleague. Watch According to an obituary for Harvey, he was married and a father of five with eight grandchildren. He was a self-employed contractor and loved spending time outdoors. His funeral will take place on Thursday (Dec 19). According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, black bears can be seen across most parts of the state and have been located in at least 92 out of 98 counties and cities in Virginia. According to the department, it is unlawful “to cripple, harm or dislodge a bear from a tree for the intent of continuing a hunt, chase, or for the purpose of training dogs.” Also read | India: Man dies after swallowing live chick in suspected occult ritual; bird recovered alive “The Department is not currently seeking any charges related to this incident,” VDWR officials said, according to CBS affiliate WTVR. Similar incidents have been reported in recent years. In 2018, a man was severely injured in Alaska after his hunting partner shot a bear. The animal was on a ridge and tumbled down a slope into him. The rocks dislodged by the bear also hit the man. In another incident that occurred in North Carolina in 2019, a man was injured after his hunting partner shot a bear in a tree and fell. The hunter was bitten by the bear before the two tumbled off a cliff. The man was rushed to the hospital, while the animal was found dead. (With inputs from agencies)

Virginia man dies after bear in tree shot by his partner falls on him

Moscow, Russia 
A Siberian tiger stole everyone's heart by travelling for three years to reunite with his former mate. 
The two tigers - Boris and Svetlaya - reunited in the Russian forest after the former covered nearly 200 kilometres to end their separation.
The tigers, who were rescued from the Sikhote-Alin mountains in 2012 as orphans, were brought up together as part of a conservation programme that had minimal human contact. 
The programme aimed to release the tigers and send them back to the forests after they were 18 months old. The tigers were then left in the Pri-Amur region in 2014, which was the Amur tigers' historic habitat, reported the New York Times.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/if-all-humans-die-an-animal-that-doesnt-even-live-on-land-will-rule-the-world-776399">If all humans die, an animal that doesn't even live on land will RULE the world</a>
The officials working on the conservation project tracked the tigers and ensured that they were separated by hundreds of kilometres so that their population spread. 
<h2>How tiger Boris covered 200 km to meet his mate</h2>
Boris, however, had other plans. Conservationists saw that tiger Boris was showing unusual movement patterns and travelling in a straight line. 
<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
If Humans Can Go Miles for Love, So Can Tigers ?
In Russia’s Sikhote-Alin mountains, two orphaned unrelated Amur tiger cubs, Boris and Svetlaya, were rescued as fragile infants. Raised together in a semi-wild environment, scientists prepared them for life in the wilderness,… <a href="https://t.co/RHlSiL6nLe">pic.twitter.com/RHlSiL6nLe</a>
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) <a href="https://twitter.com/supriyasahuias/status/1868159309877817507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>
They were shocked to see his determination as the tiger travelled across 200 km for almost three years and reunited with Svetlaya. After six months, they gave birth to some cubs.
Speaking about the unique love story, Dale Miquelle, lead author from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said, "The data demonstrated that orphaned cubs, raised in captivity and released, were just as good as wild tigers at hunting, targeting the same types of wild prey, and very rarely killing livestock."
Watch: South Africa: Animal Group Seeks Ban on Tiger Farms
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/12/1212_TIGER_6PM-1734017121-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1212_TIGER_6PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=231&tags=South Africa,tiger,tiger farms" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
"This success demonstrates that tigers, with proper isolation from humans and provided the opportunity to learn to hunt, can be successfully re-released into the wild. But this process requires great caution and attention to details in preparing cubs for this journey," said Miquelle. 
The Siberian tiger is also called the Amur tiger. It is a powerful and majestic subspecies of tiger that is native to the Russian Far East. 
However, considering various threats, the Siberian tiger was listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List.
(With inputs from agencies)

Siberian tiger Boris showed commendable determination by spending three years travelling to meet former mate Svetlaya

 



Moscow, Russia A Siberian tiger stole everyone's heart by travelling for three years to reunite with his former mate. The two tigers - Boris and Svetlaya - reunited in the Russian forest after the former covered nearly 200 kilometres to end their separation. The tigers, who were rescued from the Sikhote-Alin mountains in 2012 as orphans, were brought up together as part of a conservation programme that had minimal human contact. The programme aimed to release the tigers and send them back to the forests after they were 18 months old. The tigers were then left in the Pri-Amur region in 2014, which was the Amur tigers' historic habitat, reported the New York Times. Also Read: If all humans die, an animal that doesn't even live on land will RULE the world The officials working on the conservation project tracked the tigers and ensured that they were separated by hundreds of kilometres so that their population spread. How tiger Boris covered 200 km to meet his mate Boris, however, had other plans. Conservationists saw that tiger Boris was showing unusual movement patterns and travelling in a straight line. If Humans Can Go Miles for Love, So Can Tigers ? In Russia’s Sikhote-Alin mountains, two orphaned unrelated Amur tiger cubs, Boris and Svetlaya, were rescued as fragile infants. Raised together in a semi-wild environment, scientists prepared them for life in the wilderness,… pic.twitter.com/RHlSiL6nLe — Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) December 15, 2024 × They were shocked to see his determination as the tiger travelled across 200 km for almost three years and reunited with Svetlaya. After six months, they gave birth to some cubs. Speaking about the unique love story, Dale Miquelle, lead author from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said, "The data demonstrated that orphaned cubs, raised in captivity and released, were just as good as wild tigers at hunting, targeting the same types of wild prey, and very rarely killing livestock." Watch: South Africa: Animal Group Seeks Ban on Tiger Farms "This success demonstrates that tigers, with proper isolation from humans and provided the opportunity to learn to hunt, can be successfully re-released into the wild. But this process requires great caution and attention to details in preparing cubs for this journey," said Miquelle. The Siberian tiger is also called the Amur tiger. It is a powerful and majestic subspecies of tiger that is native to the Russian Far East. However, considering various threats, the Siberian tiger was listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List. (With inputs from agencies)

Siberian tiger crosses 200-km stretch of Russian forest to meet former mate

world

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