"Should India Be Interested": US NATO Envoy Says Door Open To Region

US NATO Ambassador Julianne Smith, while speaking on NATO and strengthening relationships with South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, virtually said the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is ready to engage more with India if it is interested. The Ambassador though stressed that currently there are no plans by the alliance to expand this to a broader global military alliance.

"The NATO alliance is open to more engagement should India seek that. NATO currently has 40 different partners around the World and each individual partnership is different. Various countries come to the door seeking different levels of political engagement, sometimes countries are much more interested in working on inter-operability, and standardization questions. So, they vary. But, the message that has already been sent back to India is that NATO alliance is certainly open to more engagement with India, should that country take interest in pursuing that", said Julianne Smith in a virtual press briefing.

"Membership is not something that we have really considered with anyone in the Indo-Pacific or Asia-Pacific. The alliance remains the Euro-Atlantic military alliance. Its door is open to the region. But there are no plans by the alliance to expand this to a broader global military alliance," she added.

Further, speaking on the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which will take place on April 4-5, 2023 at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the ambassador said "at this stage, we would not want to invite them (India) to NATO ministerial until we knew more about their interest in engaging the alliance more broadly".

"Regarding the Ministerial next week, 4 countries that I mentioned (Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Japan), are four countries that have already established formal partnerships with the alliance over many years. They worked closely with the NATO alliance on security challenges. These relationships have been ongoing. We have been working to strengthen these relationships. These are four countries that joined us at the summit last year in Madrid," said Smith.

"In terms of the future with India, I think NATO's door is open in terms of engagement should India be interested. But we would not want to at this stage invite them to NATO ministerial until we knew more about their interest in engaging the alliance more broadly," she added.

Appreciating India's role in the Russia-Ukraine war, the envoy said she is grateful for the humanitarian assistance that India has been able to provide to the country and that she appreciates India's call for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine.

"We both at NATO and United States, welcome what India has been able to do for the people of Ukraine. We are very grateful for the humanitarian assistance that India has been able to provide which is critical right now and those needs are only growing. Certainly, appreciate calls coming from India for some sort of immediate end to the war in Ukraine. That's important. And we have been in constant communication with India about what more we can do together to hold Russia accountable and we have done that and worked with India, spoken with India several times since Russia started this war inside Ukraine," said Smith.

"The United States and India do not always share exactly the same policy approaches, but we do share a commitment to upholding the rules-based order and ensuring that the key principles particularly as they relate to sovereignty and territorial integrity, those principles are respected. I think that's the most important part of our relationship," she added.

Speaking about the NATO shift, the envoy highlighted how the alliance has started to mention the Asia-Pacific and the Indo-Pacific in some of its strategic documents.

"NATO has really shifted in a pretty noticeable way in terms of how it conducts outreach and engages with its partners in Indo- pacific. If you go back 5-6 or 7 years, you would find an alliance that didn't necessarily have rich agenda with the countries in the Indo-Pacific. Still, in recent years, what NATO has started to do is to include, mention of the Asia-Pacific and the Indo-Pacific first and foremost in some of its strategic documents," she said.

"This is the first time that the alliance acknowledges the importance of focusing on the PRC as a challenge for the alliance and why it's important for NATO allies to enhance and deepen its relationship across with partners in the region and NATO has just done that. We are bringing our friends from the Indo- Pacific in the NATO HQ into ministerial, what we call North Atlantic Council in summits so that we can learn from our partners in terms of what their experiences, challenges to the security," she added.

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After Indictment, Donald Trump Raises Over $4 Million In 24 Hours

 Former US president Donald Trump raised over USD 4 million in 24 hours after a grand jury in Manhattan voted to indict him for his role in paying hush money to a porn star, his office has said.

Significantly, over 25 per cent of donations came from first-time donors to the Trump Campaign, further solidifying his status as the clear frontrunner in the Republican primary, a media release said on Friday.

"This incredible surge of grassroots contributions confirms that the American people see the indictment of President Trump as a disgraceful weaponisation of our justice system by a Soros-funded prosecutor," said the campaign.

With an average contribution of only USD 34, Trump's 2024 campaign is funded by an unmatched coalition of hardworking patriots who are fed up with special interest donors like Soros spending billions of dollars to influence our elections, it said.

"Americans from across all 50 states donated to President Trump's campaign within the first five hours of the sham indictment," the release said.

The White House has refused to comment on the indictment of the former president.

"I have no comment on that," President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday.

Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters in Zambia, "I am not going to comment on an ongoing criminal case as it relates to the former president.".

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"April Fool's Day Is Tomorrow.": UK Mocks Russia's New Foreign Policy

United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has mocked Russia over its foreign policy.

While sharing the screenshot of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweet where it announced its foreign policy, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in a tweet wrote, "April Fool's Day is TOMORROW."

April Fool's Day is TOMORROW. pic.twitter.com/649uCsA06k

— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) March 31, 2023

Taking to its official Twitter handle, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described its foreign policy as "peaceful, open, predictable, consistent and pragmatic".

It further said that Russia's foreign policy is based on respect for universally recognized principles.

"Concept of the Foreign Policy of Russia (2023) Russian foreign policy is peaceful, open, predictable, consistent, & pragmatic & is based on the respect for universally recognized principles & norms of international law," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted.

Russia's new foreign policy was adopted by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

The new 42-page document said that the majority of the European nations pursue an aggressive policy towards Russia aimed at creating threats to the security and sovereignty of Russia.

"Most European states pursue an aggressive policy toward Russia aimed at creating threats to the security and sovereignty of the Russian Federation, gaining unilateral economic advantages, undermining domestic political stability and eroding traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, and creating obstacles to Russia's cooperation with allies and partners," reads Russia's foreign policy document.

With regards to European nations, Russia in the document said, "Objective prerequisites for the formation of a new model of coexistence with European states are geographical proximity, historically developed deep cultural, humanitarian and economic ties of the peoples and states of the European part of Eurasia."

Russia said that the main factor complicating the normalisation of ties between Russia and European states in the "strategic course of the USA."

"The main factor complicating the normalization of relations between Russia and European states is the strategic course of the USA and their individual allies to draw and deepen dividing lines in the European region in order to weaken and undermine the competitiveness of the economies of Russia and European states, as well as to limit the sovereignty of European states and ensure US global domination," reads the document.

The new 42-page document singled out ties with China and India, stressing the importance of "the deepening of ties and coordination with friendly sovereign global centres of power and development located on the Eurasian continent."

According to the document, Russia will continue to build a particularly privileged strategic partnership with India with a view to enhancing and expanding cooperation in all areas on a mutually beneficial basis and place special emphasis on increasing the volume of bilateral trade, strengthening investment and technological ties, and ensuring their resistance to destructive actions of unfriendly states and their alliances.

Russia has been the largest supplier of weapons to India, accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the latter's arms imports from 2016-2020.

"Russia will continue to build up a particularly privileged strategic partnership with the Republic of India with a view to enhance and expand cooperation in all areas on a mutually beneficial basis and place special emphasis on increasing the volume of bilateral trade, strengthening investment and technological ties, and ensuring their resistance to destructive actions of unfriendly states and their alliances," reads the document.

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Elon Musk Defends Paid Twitter As Blue Tick Ultimatum Looms

Elon Musk on Friday defended his controversial pay model for Twitter, claiming that any social media platform that didn't follow suit would fail because they would be swarmed by bots.

Musk made his prediction on the eve of Twitter's April 1 ultimatum that verified accounts with the cherished blue tick that had not forked over cash would lose it.

"The fundamental challenge here is that it's (easy) to create literally 10,000 or 100,000 fake Twitter accounts using just one computer at home and with modern AI (artificial intelligence)," Musk told a question and answer session on Twitter.

"That's the reason for really pressing hard on verified where the verified requires a number from a reputable phone carrier and a credit card," Musk said.

"My prediction is that any so-called social media network that doesn't do this will fail," Musk added.

The change in system puts pressure on companies, journalists and celebrities who used Twitter as their main channel of communication and relied on the blue tick for credibility.

And it also raises the specter of imposters and jokesters paying for an officially verified, but totally fake account.

In the US, the subscription plan, known as Twitter Blue, costs $8 a month or $84 a year, or $11 a month if bought through Apple's app store.

Since its creation in 2009, the blue tick or checkmark became a signature element that helped the platform become a trusted forum for news makers and campaigners.

But Musk and his fans said the blue check was decided by fiat in a secretive procedure and called it a symbol of an unfair class system.

Opening the blue tick to paying subscribers was among the first decisions made by Musk when he took ownership of Twitter last year, but his overhaul backfired.

Within hours, Twitter was flooded by fake yet verified accounts impersonating celebrities, major companies and even Musk himself.

Musk swiftly backtracked, but many advertisers fled the site, denying Twitter a major source of income that the CEO is struggling to replace.

For now, blue checks of celebrities -- including Justin Bieber and his 113 million followers or footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and his 108 million -- are tagged on the site as "legacy" accounts.

- 'Will be awful' -

The verified account conundrum also involves officials, charities and news media companies.

Already the White House, which will keep a special designation as a government entity, told employees it would not pay to have its staff's official Twitter profiles keep the blue tick, Axios reported.

News media companies, firms and charities already lost their blue tick and were tagged as verified business accounts under Musk's new system.

According to Twitter's website, these cost a hefty fee of $1,000 a month in the United States, and $50 for each additional affiliated account.

"This will be awful for those who can't afford the new fees," said Andrew Stroehlein, European Media Director of Human Rights Watch, who said his group would not pay for the privilege.

"It will damage the effectiveness of local activists, including human rights activists, who have long used Twitter for grassroots organizing," he added in a blog post.

The New York Times said it will not pay for a verified business account and that it would only subscribe for a blue tick for journalists when essential for reporting needs.

The "pay to play" verification model is also being tested by Twitter rival Facebook in Australia and New Zealand, which has also drawn major criticism.

Much is riding on Musk's ability to find a business model for Twitter.

Last week Musk put the current value of Twitter at $20 billion, less than half the $44 billion he paid for the social media platform just five months ago.

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Influencer Andrew Tate To Move From Jail To House Arrest: Romania Court

A Romanian court on Friday ordered that controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother be moved from jail to house arrest while they are investigated for alleged human trafficking and rape.

Tate, a British-American former kickboxer with millions of online followers, along with his younger brother and two Romanian women, are under investigation for allegedly "forming an organised criminal group, human trafficking and rape".

Tate, 36, and his brother Tristan, 34, were arrested in late December, and have been held in pre-trial detention ever since, which was again extended last week.

However, an appeals court "rejected the prosecution's proposal to extend the pre-trial detention" and ordered the pair be placed "under house arrest", according to a court ruling, which was seen by AFP.

The brothers -- who deny all charges brought against them -- were expected to be released later Friday.

Media thronged the entrance to the prison where they are being held.

Arriving there, one of their lawyers, Eugen Vidineac, said he had not been informed of the details of the court's decision.

The brothers have repeatedly said there is no evidence against them, while their lawyers have argued they are not a flight risk and should be released.

- Seized luxury cars -

The two men moved to Romania several years ago, and Tristan has a baby son who was born since his arrest.

As part of the probe, Romanian police have raided several properties connected to the Tate brothers and seized many of their assets, including a collection of luxury cars.

A court document from January said that one woman was "recruited" from the UK after she fell in love with Andrew Tate, who then brought her to Romania "with the goal of sexual exploitation".

The brothers, and the two Romanians also detained, allegedly trafficked, recruited and exploited women by coercing them into "pornographic acts with a view to producing and disseminating such material" online.

Flaunting his bulging muscles, cigars and fast cars, Tate's videos posted on social media fascinate millions of teenage boys.

Giving tips on how to be successful along with misogynist and sometimes violent maxims, the Briton's output has made him one of the world's best-known influencers.

In 2016, Tate appeared on the "Big Brother" reality television show in Britain but was removed after a video emerged showing him attacking a woman.

He then turned to social media platforms to promote his divisive views before being banned for misogynistic remarks and hate speech.

Tate was allowed back on Twitter after the South African billionaire Elon Musk bought the company.

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IMF Approves $15.6 Billion Support Package For Conflict-Hit Ukraine

The International Monetary Fund has approved a $15.6 billion support package for Ukraine to assist with the conflict-hit country's economic recovery, the fund said in a statement Friday.

The Russian invasion has devastated Ukraine's economy, causing activity to contract by around 30 percent last year, destroying much of its capital stock and fueling poverty, according to the IMF.

The 48-month Extended Fund Facility program approved by the fund's board is worth roughly $15.6 billion. It forms the IMF's portion of a $115 billion overall support package comprised of debt relief, grants and loans by multilateral and bilateral institutions, the organization confirmed in a press conference Friday.

The new four-year program aims to "anchor macroeconomic and financial stability as well as to undertake critical structural reforms as the war continues," IMF deputy managing director Gita Gopinath said in a statement.

Of the total amount approved by the IMF, $2.7 billion is being made available to Ukraine immediately, with the rest of the funds due to be released over the next four years.

The more "ambitious structural reforms" to support sustained growth and post-war reconstruction, as well as facilitate Ukraine's path to EU accession among other goals, will be left until active combat ends, she added.

The program also includes additional guarantees from some IMF members in the event that active combat continues beyond the current estimate of mid-2024.

If the current conflict were to continue into 2025, it would raise Ukraine's financial needs from $115 billion to around $140 billion, said the IMF.

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3 Children Among 11 Killed In Stampede At Food Distribution Centre In Pak

Eleven people were killed in a stampede during the distribution of food aid in Pakistan's Karachi on Friday, a health official said, one of several such incidents in recent weeks as the country's economic crisis bites.

The dead included five women and three children, police said, while five other people were hospitalised following the incident, which occurred at a charity-run distribution site set up at a local factory.

Thousands of people have gathered at flour distribution centres set up across the country, some as part of a government-backed programme to ease the impact of inflation, which is running above 30%, a 50-year high.

At least five other people have been killed and several injured in recent weeks at sites in other provinces in Pakistan. Thousands of bags of flour have also been looted from trucks and distribution points, according to official records.

The stampedes underscore people's desperation in the face of soaring costs, exacerbated by Pakistan's falling currency and a removal of subsidies agreed with the International Monetary Fund to unlock the latest tranche of its financial support packages.

The costs of basic goods have surged, with flour prices rising more than 45% in the past year.

The Pakistani government has launched the flour distribution programme to reach millions of families in need during the month of Ramadan that began last week.

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"Political Persecution, Witch-Hunt": Donald Trump On Indictment

Former US president Donald Trump on Thursday slammed the decision to indict him over hush money payments made to a porn star, raging against prosecutors and his political opponents.

"This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history," he said in a statement.

"Even before I was sworn in as your President of the United States, the Radical Left Democrats -- the enemy of the hard-working men and women of this Country -- have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt," he said.

In a five-paragraph statement released within minutes of the indictment news breaking, Trump vowed to take revenge as he plots to return to the White House in the 2024 election.

"The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to 'Get Trump,' but now they've done the unthinkable -- indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference," he said.

"Weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President, has never happened before. Ever.

"I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden," he said.

Trump, who held his first 2024 election campaign rally last weekend, added "We will defeat Joe Biden, and we are going to throw every last one of these Crooked Democrats out of office."

His second son Eric joined in the blistering salvo.

"This is third world prosecutorial misconduct," Eric tweeted. "It is the opportunistic targeting of a political opponent in a campaign year."

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Freedom Struggle's History Was Confined To 1 Family Before 2014: Amit Shah

 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the history of India's freedom struggle was confined to one family but Prime Minister Narendra Modi put an end to it by "immortalising" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Ram Temple issue was stuck "since the time of Babur", but just after the Supreme Court order, the prime minister did Bhumi Pujan in Ayodhya. Mr Shah said Lord Ram will be in his grand temple by next year's Ram Navami.

Soon after landing at the Bhalla College helipad here, Mr Shah was faced with denunciatory slogans by Congress workers at Parashuram Chowk against over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as MP. Some of them showed black flags to the home minister and were detained by police.

Addressing the 2nd Sanyas Diksha Mahotsav at Yoga guru Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth, Mr Shah said the prime minister immortalised Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by erecting the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat in his memory.

"India's freedom struggle was confined to one family, but prime minister Modi put an end to it by immortalising Patel with the Statue of Unity," Mr Shah said.

He said PM Modi has revived the symbols of Hinduism, reconstructed centres of the Hindu faith like the Kashi-Vishwanath and Somnath temples and retrieved idols from across the world, which were stolen from India during the period of slavery.

The Union minister highlighted the reconstruction projects undertaken in Kedarnath and Badrinath under Modi's guidance to further substantiate his point.

Amit Shah also credited Modi for getting Yoga the recognition it deserved on an international platform by standing up for it at the United Nations.

He said Ramdev was a yoga therapist, a swadeshi pioneer competing with International companies, a seer who had waged a war against black money and an educationist who is fully committed to "Indianise" education.

Congratulating 100 new 'sanyasis', including men and women, who were conferred with "sanyas diksha" by Patanjali on Thursday at a ceremony on the banks of the Ganga held earlier in the day, Mr Shah said he is happy to see that ancient Indian knowledge will derive new energy from the "army" of young sanyasis prepared by Patanjali.

He said Ramdev's individual contribution to yoga, Ayurveda and swadeshi was more than an institution could do for them.

Amit Shah praised Ramdev's close aide Acharya Balkrishna for his extensive research work in the field of Ayurveda, saying he had published more than 500 research papers on Ayurveda.

Home Minister Amit Shah performed a havan at Patanjali Yogpeeth before beginning his address.

Earlier in the day, Shah hailed the central government's New Education Policy for its emphasis on learning in the mother tongue and universal education based on the teachings of Indian visionaries such as Mahatma Gandhi and Dayanand Saraswati.

Addressing the 113th convocation of the Gurukula Kangri here, Shah credited the university (deemed to be) for the revival of vedic education in India and combining it with modern education.

Mr Shah paid tributes to the university's founder Swami Shraddhanand saying he set India's education system free from the stranglehold of the British and revived the country's vedic education system, all the while emphasising culture and modern education.

The home minister also addressed a programme at Rishikul to mark the total computerisation of 670 cooperative centres.

"It has been done in just 17 months. I heartily congratulate Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health and Cooperative Minister Dhan Singh Rawat on this achievement," he said.

Mr Shah gave the credit for this achievement to the separate cooperative ministry set up under the leadership of the prime minister.

Computerisation of cooperative platforms will lead to total transparency and greater fiscal discipline, Amit Shah, who is also the Union cooperative minister, said.

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Donald Trump Indicted Over Porn Star Hush Money: US Media

A New York grand jury has voted to indict former US president Donald Trump over hush money payments made to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election, multiple US media reported on Thursday.

The felony indictment, filed under seal by the Manhattan district attorney's office, will likely be announced in the coming days, according to The New York Times which cited four people with knowledge of the matter.

The 76-year-old Republican would become the first former or sitting president to be charged with a crime -- upending the 2024 White House race in which Trump is running to regain office.

On March 18 Trump had declared he expected to be arrested within days over the payment to Stormy Daniels -- who received $130,000 weeks before the 2016 election to stop her from going public about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump a decade earlier.

But after days of suspense -- setting New York on edge for possible protests -- the grand jury panel convened by a Manhattan prosecutor continued to hear witnesses, and the prospect of an immediate indictment appeared to recede.

Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen, who has testified before the grand jury, told Congress in 2019 that he made the payment to Daniels on Trump's behalf and was later reimbursed.

The New York investigation is the first to reach a charging decision out of three major probes into the former president.

Trump also faces felony investigations in Georgia relating to the 2020 election and in Washington over the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by the ex-president's supporters, who hoped to keep him in office after his election loss.

Trump, who is seeking to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee again in 2024, has branded all of the investigations "witch hunts" and political persecutions.

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Turkey Approves Finland's Bid To Join NATO

Turkey on Thursday became the final NATO nation to ratify Finland's membership of the US-led defence alliance in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Lawmakers unanimously backed the Nordic country's accession two weeks after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly blessed the bid.

"This evening, we are keeping the promises we made to Finland," ruling party lawmaker Akif Cagatay Kilic said moments before the vote.

Turkey's approval leaves Finland -- which has a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia -- with only a few technical steps before it becomes the 31st member of the world's most powerful military bloc.

Officials expect the process to be completed as early as next week.

Finland and its neighbour Sweden ended decades of military non-alignment and decided to join NATO last May.

Their applications were accepted at a June alliance summit that was designed to show the Western world's desire to stand up to Russia in the face of Europe's most grave conflict since World War II.

But the bids still needed to be ratified by all the members' parliaments -- a process that stalled with Turkey and Hungary.

- 'Ample grievances' -

Erdogan put up stiff resistance to Sweden's candidacy because of a series of long-standing disputes.

He first signalled his more supportive stance on Finland's membership in January -- a position that forced the Nordic neighbours to bow to the diplomatic pressure and break up their bids so that both applications were not delayed.

The Hungarian parliament ratified Finland's NATO membership on Monday. It was expected to approve Sweden's accession during the current session ending June 15.

But a spokesman for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday called on Sweden to "clear the air" and address "an ample amount of grievances" for the vote to go ahead.

Sweden has upset Orban -- one of Europe's closest allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- by expressing alarm over the rule of law in Hungary.

It has also angered Turkey by refusing to extradite dozens of suspects that Erdogan links to a failed 2016 coup attempt and a decades-long Kurdish fight for an independent state.

Stockholm still hopes to join the alliance in time for a July summit in Vilnius.

Most analysts believe that Turkey will only vote on Sweden's candidacy after the country's May general election.

- 'Legitimate target' -

NATO was created as a counterweight to the Soviet Union at the onset of the Cold War era that began immediately after the Allies defeated Nazi Germany.

The bloc has gone through waves of expansion that brought it ever closer to Russia's borders.

NATO's reach into east and south European countries that were once under Moscow's effective control infuriated the Kremlin and created growing strains in its relations with Washington.

Putin cited the threat of NATO expanding into Ukraine as one of his main reasons for launching the war 13 months ago.

But the conflict has had the opposite geopolitical effect from the one envisioned by Putin.

Ukraine is now receiving tanks and other heavy weapons from NATO members that it hopes to use in a new counter-offensive planned for the coming weeks or months.

Finland never seriously discussed NATO membership until Putin went to war.

The Kremlin at first appeared to play down the significance of the bloc reaching a new stretch of Russia's northwestern frontier.

But Russia has stepped up its diplomatic rhetoric in recent weeks.

Stockholm this week summoned the Russian ambassador after he said Sweden and Finland would become a "legitimate target" of "retaliatory measures" -- including military ones -- if they join NATO.

Putin last weekend also announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.

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Mould Problem Puts Son Permanently On Antibiotics, Mother Asks For Help

A young mother of five children in the UK has reported that a significant dumping issue in her home is the reason why her son is frequently becoming sick and using antibiotics.

She said that for seven years, there was mould in each of the three bedrooms of her Whitstable home.

According to KentLive, the 31-year-old has two sets of twins, aged three and nine, and another child who is 12. However, one of the nine-year-olds has an immunoglobulin A (IGA) deficiency. IGA is an antibody found in the inner lining of the nose, airways, and gut, which means a deficiency could make someone more susceptible to catching diseases and illnesses.

"I have had a severe mould problem for seven years now, and the council is constantly doing pointless work that is not solving it," she said.

Yet the council claimed that the first notice of mould in the house it received was in November of last year, and that it has plans in place to help address the problem.

"Initial treatment work and repointing took place in December. More substantial work, including thermoboarding, is booked in for early May, and we were in touch with her yesterday about the installation of a passive ventilation system," a Canterbury City Council spokesman said.

According to the National Health Service of the UK, if you have damp and mould in your home, you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies, or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.

It further stated that some people are more sensitive than others, including babies and children,older people, those with existing skin problems, those with respiratory problems, and those with a weakened immune system, such as those having chemotherapy.

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US Urges Americans In Russia To Leave "Immediately"

US State Department Secretary Antony Blinken on Thursday requested the Americans living in Russia to leave the country "immediately", after the reporter was arrested in Moscow.

Taking to Twitter, Mr Blinken said, "We are deeply concerned over Russia's announcement it has detained a U.S. citizen journalist. The @StateDept's highest priority is the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad. If you are a U.S. citizen living or travelling in Russia - please leave immediately."

These remarks came after an American reporter for Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia on espionage charges, according to Al-Jazeera.

In a statement, Mr Blinken said, "We are deeply concerned over Russia's widely-reported detention of a U.S. citizen journalist. We are in contact with the Wall Street Journal on this situation. Whenever a U.S. citizen is detained abroad, we immediately seek consular access, and seek to provide all appropriate support."

"In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the Kremlin's continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists and civil society voices," the statement added.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also expressed concern over the arrest of Evan Gershkovich in Russia. She also stated that last night, White House and State Department Officials spoke with Gershkovich's employer, the Wall Street Journal.

"The Administration has also been in contact with his family. Furthermore, the State Department has been in direct touch with the Russian government on this matter, including actively working to secure consular access to Gershkovich," the press secretary said in a tweet.

"The targeting of American citizens by the Russian government is unacceptable. We condemn the detention of Gershkovich in the strongest terms. We also condemn the Russian government's continued targeting and repression of journalists and freedom of the press," she added.

She also stated that the US government should heed the warning to not travel to Russia.

US citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately, as the State Department continues to advise, Ms Pierre tweeted.

WSJ in a statement said, "The Wall Street Journal is deeply concerned for the safety of Gershkovich."

The Federal Security Service (FSB), a top KGB successor agency, said that the WSJ reporter was detained from the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg while he allegedly tried to obtain classified information.

In a statement, the FSB said, "Gershkovich acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex", read a WSJ report.

The FSB has also alleged that Mr Gershkovich "was collecting classified information about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex that constitutes a state secret", according to Al-Jazeera.

The local media stated that he was covering the war in Ukraine and the Wagner mercenary group before getting detained.

The mention of the date of arrest was not there in its statement, however, Mr Gershkovich could be imprisoned for about 20 years if he gets convicted of espionage.

Ever since the Cold War, he is the first journalist from an American news organisation to be detained in Russia on suspicion of espionage, and his detention comes at a time of intense international concern due to the conflict in Ukraine, according to Al-Jazeera.

Mr Gershkovich covers Russia and Ukraine and was duly accredited as a journalist as a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal's Moscow office.

His most recent assessment, which was released last week, concentrated on the stagnation of the Russian economy in the face of Western sanctions.

The Wall Street Journal hired Evan Gershkovich, 31, who was formerly employed by AFP in Moscow. Before, he worked as a reporter for The Moscow Times, according to his bio in Wall Street Journal.

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Partners Of H-1B Visa Holders Can Work In US, Says Judge

In a big relief for foreign workers in the US tech sector, a judge has ruled that spouses of H-1B visa holders can work in the United States.

In the process, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed a lawsuit filed by Save Jobs USA which had approached the court to dismiss the Obama-era regulation that gave employment authorization cards to spouses of certain categories of H-1B visa holders.

Tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft had opposed the lawsuit. The US has so far issued nearly 1,00,000 work authorisations to spouses of H-1B workers, a significantly large number of whom are Indians.

In her order, Judge Chutkan said the primary contention of Save Jobs USA is that Congress has never granted the Department of Homeland Security authority to allow foreign nationals, like H-4 visa-holders, to work during their stay in the United States.

But that contention runs headlong into the text of the Immigration and Nationality Act, decades of executive-branch practice and both explicit and implicit congressional ratification of that practice, she wrote.

The judge wrote that Congress has expressly and knowingly empowered the US Government to authorize employment as a permissible condition of an H-4 spouse's stay in the United States.

The fact that the federal government has had longstanding and open responsibility for authorizing employment for similar visa classes further manifests Congress' approval of it exercising that authority, she said.

The Department of Homeland Security and its predecessors have authorized employment not just for students, but also for their spouses and dependents, Judge Chutkan wrote in the ruling.

Also, the Department of Homeland Security has long extended work authorization to spouses of foreign government officials and spouses of employees or officers of international organizations, the judge wrote as she dismissed the lawsuit filed by Save Jobs USA.

Ajay Bhutoria, a prominent community leader and advocate for immigrant rights, has applauded the decision by the court to allow H1B spouses to work and support their families.

The H1B visa programme is designed to allow skilled foreign workers to come to the United States and work for American companies. However, until recently, H1B spouses were not allowed to work, which often placed a significant financial burden on families, he said.

"With the court's decision to allow H1B visa holders' spouses to work, thousands of families across the country will be able to breathe a little easier. This decision will provide much-needed relief to families who have been struggling to make ends meet and it will help to ensure that these families can stay together and thrive," Bhutoria said.

"Allowing H1B spouses to work is not just a matter of economic fairness, but it is also a matter of family unity and stability. I applaud the court's decision, and I hope that this is just the first step towards a more compassionate and equitable immigration system," he said.

Save Jobs USA said it plans to appeal against the court ruling. 

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Britain, Germany Stand United With Ukraine: King Charles In Berlin

Britain and Germany stand united with Ukraine in its battle against Russia's unprovoked invasion, Charles III said in Berlin on Wednesday during his first foreign visit as king.

At a state banquet hosted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the monarch underlined both countries' commitment to "protecting and advancing shared democratic values".

"This is epitomised so clearly today as we stand together with Ukraine in defence of freedom and sovereignty in the face of unprovoked aggression," he said.

The British sovereign, 74, is on a three-day visit of Germany in a trip billed as "an important European gesture" to maintain strong ties after Brexit.

Hailing the "enduring value" of ties with Germany, he said he would "do all I can to strengthen the connections between us".

Host Steinmeier had earlier spoken of the "sad day" six years ago when Britain began its exit from the European Union.

"Today, exactly six years later, we are opening a new chapter," the German president said.

"We are now looking ahead under changed conditions -- but still together," he said, adding in English that "our friendship is important, and it is strong".

Britain and Germany's joint actions to help Ukraine in defending its freedom underlined "how strong our connection is," said Steinmeier.

- Stately welcome -

Germany rolled out the pomp in their welcome of the royal visitors, greeting them at Berlin-Brandenburg airport with a 21-gun salute while two military jets made a flypast as they watched from the top of the plane stairs.

The British Union Jack was flapping alongside the German and European Union flags along Berlin's central Unter den Linden avenue, which leads to the Brandenburg Gate.

Steinmeier and German first lady Elke Buedenbender met the royal couple with military honours at the landmark, the first time it has provided a backdrop for receiving a state guest.

During his visit, Charles will also become the first monarch to address the German parliament, with a speech on Thursday, before travelling to the port city of Hamburg on Friday.

The choice of Germany for Charles's first visit, after a planned trip to France was postponed, showed Berlin was a "key partner" for Britain as it seeks to reset relations with the EU, daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote.

- Public interest -

At the Brandenburg Gate, crowds were waving British and German flags as they waited for the royals.

Anja Wieting, 50, who works at a clothing store, took time off to drive five hours to Berlin with her daughter Lili, 18, for the spectacle.

"It's the visit of the king in Germany. We want to celebrate it, regardless of how long the queue is," she told AFP.

The joy of well wishers who came face-to-face with the royals was palpable.

"I was shocked," said 19-year-old Andreina Riera from Venezuela, whose paper crown, adorned with a Burger King logo, was complimented by the Queen Consort.

"I never imagined that could happen -- her noticing me! I'm really happy," Riera told AFP.

"The British royal family garners a lot of interest" in Germany, said Michael Hartmann, a sociology professor at Darmstadt Technical University.

The fascination with the House of Windsor has not dimmed since the death last year of Elizabeth II, Hartmann told AFP.

The late queen first visited Berlin in 1965 when the city was divided between a capitalist West and communist East, a trip that was seen as a key step in post-war reconciliation.

Charles himself is a regular in Germany, having been in the country more than 40 times.

He is fluent in German, a nod to the British royal family's roots in Germany notably through Charles's great-great-great-grandfather Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, queen Victoria's husband.

- Organic farm -

After Wednesday's ceremonial pomp, Charles will undertake key political engagements on the second day of his trip.

He will start the day with talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz before addressing the Bundestag.

He will also meet refugees recently arrived from Ukraine, and meet a British-German military unit in the surrounding state of Brandenburg.

A tour of an organic farm is also planned for the monarch, who has for years been pushing an environmental agenda.

Charles was initially supposed to travel to France before heading to Germany, but his trip was postponed in the wake of violent pension reform protests.

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'Hotel Rwanda' Hero Paul Rusesabagina Arrives In US: White House

Outspoken Rwandan government critic Paul Rusesabagina, whose efforts to save people during the 1994 genocide inspired the Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda," has arrived in the United States after being freed from prison, the White House said Wednesday.

"I'm pleased to welcome Paul Rusesabagina back to the United States. We're glad to have him back on US soil & reunited with his family & friends who've long waited for this day to come," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan tweeted.

Rusesabagina was released on March 25 after more than 900 days behind bars, after the Kigali government commuted his 25-year sentence on terrorism charges.

His detention had thrown a spotlight on Rwanda's record of crushing political dissent and free speech under President Paul Kagame.

Rusesabagina was convicted in September 2021 of backing an armed rebel group after a trial that his supporters denounced as a sham.

The 68-year-old, who is also a Belgian citizen with US permanent residency, has been in failing health and his family said he was tortured during his 939 days in detention.

US President Joe Biden had earlier welcomed Rusesabagina's release, calling it a "happy outcome."

"Paul's family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at today's good news," he said in a statement on March 25.

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Pope Francis Hospitalised In Rome For Respiratory Infection

Pope Francis, 86, was admitted to a hospital in Rome on Wednesday with a respiratory infection which will require a stay of a few days, the Vatican said.

"In recent days Pope Francis has complained of some breathing difficulties," said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni in a statement.

The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital for medical checks, which revealed "a respiratory infection... that will require a few days of appropriate hospital medical treatment", Bruni said, adding that a Covid-19 infection had been excluded.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Vatican had said Francis had been admitted "for some previously scheduled checks."

The pope, who this month marked 10 years as head of the Catholic Church, had earlier appeared in good spirits at his weekly audience at the Vatican, smiling as he greeted the faithful from his "popemobile".

However, he was seen grimacing as he was helped getting into the vehicle and Italian media reported he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

"Pope Francis is touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer," said Bruni's statement.

A Vatican source told AFP that the pope's appointments for Thursday morning were cancelled.

The Argentine pontiff suffers from chronic knee pain that has forced him to rely on a wheelchair in recent months.

The Gemelli was the same hospital where he underwent an operation on his colon in July 2021 after suffering from a type of diverticulitis, an inflammation of pockets that develop in the lining of the intestine.

He remained in hospital for 10 days. A year later he admitted he was still feeling the effects of six hours spent under anaesthetic during the surgery.

In an interview in January, Francis said the diverticulitis had returned.

- Speculation -

Pope Francis had to cancel or curtail activities several times last year because of the pain in his knee and in a July 2022 interview acknowledged that he needed to slow down.

His health has been the frequent subject of speculation, particularly the question of whether he will follow the example set by his predecessor and retire if he cannot continue.

Benedict XVI, an eminent German theologian, shocked the world in 2013 by becoming the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign.

The two "men in white" co-existed within the walls of the tiny Vatican state for almost a decade, before Benedict died on December 31.

Francis has said he would follow Benedict in stepping down if his health made him unable to do his job.

However, he told an interviewer in February that papal resignations should not become "a normal thing", adding that for the moment it was not on his agenda.

- Still active -

Despite his advancing age and health problems, Francis continues to travel widely.

Huge crowds greeted him on a visit earlier this year to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a testament to his ongoing popularity.

Next month, Pope Francis is due to visit Hungary and meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

In the past decade, he has sought to forge an image of a more open, compassionate Church, although has faced internal opposition, particularly from conservatives.

Francis almost died when he was 21 after developing pleurisy -- an inflammation of the tissues that surround the lung -- according to biographer Austen Ivereigh.

He had part of one of his lungs removed in October 1957.

He has also talked about the surgical removal of cysts from the top lobe of his right lung.

He insisted he had made "a complete recovery... and never felt any limitation since then".

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"They Cannot Continue Down This Road": Biden On Israel's Judicial Reforms

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned Israel it "cannot continue" pressing for deeply controversial judicial reforms -- now on hold -- which have prompted months of unrest and criticism among Western allies.

"Like many strong supporters of Israel I'm very concerned.... They cannot continue down this road, and I've sort of made that clear," Biden told reporters during a visit to North Carolina.

"Hopefully the prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) will act in a way that he will try to work out some genuine compromise, but that remains to be seen," Biden said, adding he was not considering inviting the Israeli leader to the White House, at least "not in the near term."

Arriving back in Washington, Biden repeated his concern over the situation in Israel, where Netanyahu has been accused by opponents of riding roughshod over Israeli democracy in an attempt to strengthen his own power.

Asked if Israel's democracy is at an inflection point -- a phrase Biden frequently uses to describe the danger facing democracies worldwide -- the US president said: "I don't know that they're at an inflection point but I think that's a difficult spot to be in and they've got to work it out."

He called for the controversial judiciary law to be dropped.

"I hope they walk away from it," he told reporters.

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Pak Government Tables Bill In Parliament To Curtail Chief Justice's Powers

Pakistan's Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday tabled the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 aimed to limit the discretionary powers to take suo motu notice by the chief justice of Pakistan, Geo News reported.

The house has sent the proposed bill to the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Law and Justice for further approval which will meet on Wednesday morning under the chair of Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk.

The committee will send it back to the lower house. After the NA passes the bill, it will be sent to the Senate for approval.

The decision of Pakistan's government comes a day after two Supreme Court judges -- Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail raised questions over the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The two judges said the apex court "cannot be dependent on the solitary decision of one man, the Chief Justice."

The court must be regulated through a rule-based system approved by all judges of the court under Article 191 of the Constitution," Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail wrote in a 27-page dissenting note for the apex court's March 1 verdict in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suo motu.

In his speech on the floor of the house during the National Assembly session, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought parliamentary action in this regard. He termed the dissenting note "a ray of hope," as per the Geo News report.

Shehbaz Sharif said, "The voices for change stemming from the judiciary itself is certainly a ray of hope for the country." Sharif's party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has accused the judiciary of "bench-fixing," as per the news report.

While speaking on the floor of the house, Pakistan's Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the Supreme Court's reputation was damaged due to the actions taken in the name of suo moto notices.
"We have even seen that era when suo motu notices were taken on trivial matters [...] also, in the past, several review cases were delayed and not fixed for hearing," Azam Nazeer Tarar said.

Tarar said that the dissenting note of the two judges has led to further concern. He stated that the decisions taken under suo motu notices could not be appealed earlier. He further said, "It is important to give the chance to appeal an order and the parliament has always demanded that the right to appeal should be given."

The bill includes shifting the powers of taking suo motu notice from the chief justice to a three-member committee comprising three senior judges.

Furthermore, the bill includes a clause regarding the right of challenging the decision which could be filed within 30 days and will be fixed for a hearing in two weeks' time.

According to the bill, every clause, appeal or matter before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench formed by the committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior judges. The bill also stated that the decision of the committee shall be made as per the majority.

In a 27-page note for the apex court's March 1 verdict in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suo motu, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail called it important "to revisit the power of 'one-man show' enjoyed by the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan [Umar Ata Bandial]."

Expressing their views against running a "one-man show", Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail stressed that it results in a concentration of power in the hands of one individual, making the system more susceptible to the abuse of power, as per the Geo News report.

The judges said that a collegial system with checks and balances helps "prevent the abuse and mistakes in the exercise of power and promote transparency and accountability." They stressed that collegial system ensures good governance as it rests on collaboration, shared decision-making and balance of power.

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Mike Pence Ordered To Testify Against Donald Trump In US Capitol Riot Case

A US judge has ordered former vice president Mike Pence to testify about his conversations with Donald Trump leading up to the 2021 assault on the Capitol, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.

Washington's Chief Judge James Boasberg reportedly ruled that Pence should have to provide answers to a federal grand jury on any questions probing potential criminality by the then-president.

But Pence can decline to discuss his actions on the day of the insurrection itself, when he was serving as president of the Senate for the certification of the election, the reports said.

The ruling, which remains under seal, marks a partial victory for the Justice Department as it probes the insurrection, which was linked to several deaths, left more than 100 police officers wounded and led to more than 1,000 arrests.

Trump is running for the White House again in 2024, and Pence indicated he may challenge him for the Republican nomination.

Investigators are probing Trump's role in provoking the violence on January 6, 2021 as part of a broader alleged effort to cling to power after losing the presidential election to Joe Biden.

Both Pence and the government's quasi-independent prosecutor, Special Counsel Jack Smith, can challenge the parts of the decision that didn't go in their favor.

Neither has announced whether they intend to appeal, although Pence has previously vowed to fight his summons all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Pence and Trump have been at loggerheads since Pence refused to go along with Trump's efforts to overturn the election. Section of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol called for Pence to be hanged, forcing him to flee.

Pence has already described many of the relevant conversations with Trump in "So Help Me God," a memoir published last year, but he refused to testify before a House committee that investigated the insurrection.

He had argued unsuccessfully that he was allowed to avoid giving evidence under the Constitution's "Speech or Debate" clause, which shields officials in Congress from legal proceedings specifically related to their work.

The judge also rejected a separate assertion by Trump of executive privilege -- which protects aides from having to testify about certain conversations with presidents.

The offices of Trump and Pence did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump is frontrunner by a considerable margin in the contest to be the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

But he faces legal jeopardy on several fronts, including a separate federal investigation into his handling of classified documents and probes into election interference in Georgia and a hush money payment in New York.

He denies all wrongdoing, claiming to be the victim of a multi-pronged "witch hunt."

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Prince Harry Accuses UK Royals Of Hiding Phone Hacking From Him

Britain's Prince Harry has accused his family of withholding information about phone hacking from him to avoid sitting in the witness box and opening "a can of worms", a witness statement released Tuesday said.

The Duke of Sussex made the claim in submissions for a privacy claim he and other celebrities have filed against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers (ANL).

Lawyers for the group, which also includes pop superstar Elton John, claim ANL commissioned the breaking and entry into private property, illegally intercepted voicemail messages and obtained medical records.

The alleged wrongdoing dates from 1993-2011, but some went on as late as 2018, according to their lawyer David Sherborne.

In his partially redacted statement, Harry stated he "became aware that I had a claim that I could bring" only in 2018, in part due to the royal family -- which he refers to as "the Institution".

"The Institution was without a doubt withholding information from me for a long time about... phone hacking," he added.

"That has only become clear in recent years as I have pursued my own claim with different legal advice and representation."

The prince went on to state: "The Institution made it clear that we did not need to know anything about phone hacking and it was made clear to me that the Royal Family did not sit in the witness box because that could open up a can of worms."

The prince, who lives in California, made a surprise appearance at London's High Court on the first two of four days of hearings this week, on Monday alongside John and other figures involved.

- 'The bubble burst' -

ANL has described the allegations as "preposterous smears" and an attempt "to drag the Mail titles into the phone-hacking scandal".

It is trying to end the legal claims by arguing they are "stale" and "based on no credible evidence", so should not go to trial.

A spokesperson for ANL said that Harry "has become a serial litigant against Mail newspapers with whom he seems obsessed".

Britain's phone-hacking scandal, which first blew up in 2006, saw journalists at the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World hack into the voicemails of royals, celebrities and murder victims.

It triggered the closure of the mass-selling Sunday tabloid, a mammoth police investigation, a judge-led inquiry and criminal charges that gripped Britain for years.

Harry, the younger son of Britain's King Charles III, has long had a difficult relationship with the media.

In his statement, he said leaving the UK had proved pivotal in bringing the lawsuit.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that the bubble burst in terms of what I knew in 2020 when I moved out of the United Kingdom," the prince stated.

He concluded by arguing he was bringing the claim "because I love my country and I remain deeply concerned by the unchecked power, influence and criminality" of the publisher.

"The British public deserve to know the full extent of this cover up and I feel it is my duty to expose it," he added.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

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US School Shooter Bought 7 Weapons Legally, Used 3 To Kill Six

28-year-old Audrey Hale, who shot dead six people at Nashville's Covenant School, had bought seven weapons legally and used three of them in the horrific tragedy on Monday. Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake in press briefing said that the weapons were purchased from five different local gun stores and were legally purchased.

John Drake said Hale self-identified as transgender without offering further clarity. Mr Drake and other officials repeatedly referred to the attacker with female pronouns, though Hale used male pronouns on a LinkedIn page that listed recent jobs in graphic design and grocery delivery, Reuters reported.

"She was under a doctor's care for an emotional disorder. Law officers know nothing about the treatment she was receiving. Her parents felt that she should not own weapons. The parents felt that Audrey had one weapon and that she sold it," John Drake said, adding that the weapons had been hidden around the house.

In the brief press conference, Mr Drake said that they still did not have a motive for the attack. "We believe that the students that were targeted were randomly targeted. There was no particular student that she was looking for during the incident."

Mr Drake indicated that Hale may have had some training.

"As they arrived on the property, there were police cars being hit by gunfire. The suspect was at an upper level. We believe that there was some training (for her) to be able to shoot from a higher level. She stood away from the glass so that she wouldn't be an easy target to be shot," he said.

He said that Audrey Hale's manifesto contained several writings that the Nashville police department and the FBI were still going through. It contained information about different locations, a map of the attacked school, a drawing of how Hale would enter and the assault that would take place.

The police chief added that had there been a law in place, authorities would have been able to take the weapons away from Hale prior to the attack. "Had there been a law and had it been reported that she was suicidal or that she was going to kill someone, had it been made known to us, then we would have tried to get those weapons. But as it stands, we had absolutely no idea."

Police got the call about the attack at 10:14 am and by about 10:24 they had engaged the suspect. On why the school was targeted, he said that all they know is that Hale was a student of the church but were unsure yet if that was a contributing reason.

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Jay Z Is Now Worth $2.5 Billion, Warren Buffett's Old Comment On Him Resurface

Billionaire Warren Buffett predicted that young people would soon turn to Jay-Z for financial guidance during an old interview with the rapper. Interestingly, the artist's net worth is now $2.5 billion, according to the latest Forbes estimates. Jay-Z was also the first billionaire rapper in the world. Since then, his fortune has increased as a result of a number of wise business decisions and ventures, creating what Forbes refers to as "a sprawling and diversified empire." According to its Real-Time Billionaires ranking, he is the 1,205th richest person in the world. 

Amid this, an old Forbes interview of Jay-Z with the legendary investor is going viral. In the interview, he compared his approach to his music career with the Oracle of Omaha's strategy of investing only in businesses he knows rather than what is most popular. 

"Music is like stocks. There's the hot thing of the moment. People tend to make emotional decisions based on that. They don't stick with what they know, you know, 'This is who I am. This is what I do.' They jump on this next hot thing. And it's not for you." Jay-Z told Forbes at the time.

At the conclusion of their conversation, Mr Buffett predicted that young people would soon turn to Jay-Z for financial guidance.

"Jay is teaching in a lot bigger classroom than I'll ever teach in. For a young person growing up he's the guy to learn from," the billionaire said. 

With investments in Armand de Brignac champagne, D'Usse cognac, and different investment properties in New York and LA, Jay-Z became the first billionaire rapper back in 2019. His wealth has increased as a result of the expansion of his entertainment firm Roc Nation, the sale of the streaming service Tidal and numerous investments in businesses like Uber. 

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US School Shooting: Attacker Believed To Be Ex-Student, Say Police

The female shooter who killed three children and three adults Monday at a private school in Nashville is believed to have once been a student at the facility, city police said.

"My initial findings is that at one point she was a student at that school, but it's unsure what year," Nashville Chief of Police John Drake told reporters.

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Israel's Netanyahu Pauses Judicial Reforms, Trade Unions End Strike

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced a pause to divisive judicial reforms moving through parliament, after months of street rallies that drew tens of thousands.

"Out of a sense of national responsibility, out of a will to prevent a rupture among our people, I have decided to pause the second and third readings of the bill," he told the nation.

He added he would delay consideration of the bill to the next session of parliament which begins in the second half of April.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier Monday had called for an immediate halt to the legislative process, a day after Netanyahu fired his defence minister Yoav Gallant for making a similar demand.

That sparked a general strike call on Monday from Israel's top trade union chief, Arnon Bar-David, but he called off the action after Netanyahu's address.

"Following the prime minister's announcement I declare the end of the strike," Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut trade union confederation, said in a statement.

Flights were disrupted, hospitals stopped non-emergency service, and even diplomats had walked off the job on Monday.

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Amazon Loses Bid To Toss Consumer Antitrust Lawsuit In US

Amazon.com Inc must face consumer claims that its pricing practices artificially drove up the cost of goods sold by other retailers in violation of US antitrust law, a federal judge has ruled.

The ruling by US District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle on Friday came in a prospective antitrust class action that has estimated damages of between $55 billion to $172 billion.

The lawsuit was filed in 2020 by residents of 18 states, including Virginia, Texas, California, Florida and Illinois, challenging an Amazon policy that retailers cannot offer lower prices for goods sold elsewhere if they also want their product available on the Amazon Marketplace platform.

Jones' order trimmed the lawsuit but said consumers can move ahead with their case.

Plaintiffs lawyer Steve Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, a lead attorney for the proposed class, said "Amazon's main arguments are rejected," and called the ruling "good news for tens of millions of consumers who have been overcharged by Amazon."

An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment.

Amazon has denied the plaintiffs' claims, arguing that its "Fair Pricing Policy" has procompetitive benefits and that US antitrust law encourages such a policy.

The e-retail giant can still defend its pricing practices at a later stage in the litigation, and also can urge the court not to allow consumers to sue as a class. The court said it wants to review a class certification briefing schedule by mid-April.

A separate private consumer suit, also pending in Seattle federal court, alleges Amazon's practices have increased prices for items sold on the company's own platform.

Attorneys general in California and Washington, DC, also have sued Amazon over pricing policies.

The case is Frame-Wilson et al v. Amazon.com Inc, US District Court, Western District of Washington, No. 2:20-cv-00424-RAJ.

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Disney Begins Laying Off 7,000 Employees To "Streamline" Business

Walt Disney Co on Monday began 7,000 layoffs announced earlier this year, as it seeks to control costs and create a more "streamlined" business, according to a letter Chief Executive Bob Iger sent to employees and seen by Reuters.

Several major divisions of the company - Disney Entertainment, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and corporate - will be impacted, according to a person familiar with the matter. ESPN is not touched by this week's round of cuts, but is anticipated to be included in later rounds.

The entertainment industry has undergone a retrenchment since its early euphoric embrace of video streaming, when established media companies lost billions as they launched competitors to Netflix Inc.

They started to rein in spending when Netflix posted its first loss of subscribers in a decade in early 2022, and Wall Street began prioritizing profitability over subscriber growth.

Iger said Disney would begin notifying the first group of employees who are impacted by the workforce reductions over the next four days. A second, larger round of job cuts will happen in April, "with several thousand more staff reductions." The final round will start before the beginning of the summer, the letter said.

The Burbank entertainment conglomerate announced in February that it would eliminate 7,000 jobs as part of an effort to save $5.5 billion in costs and make its money-losing streaming business profitable.

"The difficult reality of many colleagues and friends leaving Disney is not something we take lightly," Iger wrote, noting that many "bring a lifelong passion for Disney" to their work.

Details of the layoffs had been closely guarded by the company, though insiders anticipated reductions would happen before Disney's annual shareholder meeting on April 3.

Anxiety has been building within Disney, as rumors swirled about areas of possible cuts.

"It's a dark, black box," said one Disney executive who spoke to Reuters last week.

Many had expected cuts to fall heavily on the Disney Media and Entertainment Division, which was eliminated in a corporate restructuring. The unit has been without a leader since the exit of Kareem Daniel in November, shortly after Iger returned as the company's CEO.

"It's been a long time in the making," said SVB MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson, adding that the company first began "to whisper" about the need to take out costs last fall, when Bob Chapek was still Disney's chief executive.

Josh D'Amaro, chair of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, sent a memo to theme parks employees in February warning that the profitable division would experience cuts.

Officials for two of the unions representing cast members at Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, Florida, said "guest-facing" services were not expected to be affected by the layoffs.

"I don't see where, when there are labor shortages in front-facing guest roles, it would be a good decision to lay off workers where the money train starts for the Walt Disney Co," said Paul Cox, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 631.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2 People Injured In Shooting At Gurudwara In US: Report

Two people were shot at in a Gurudwara in the US on Sunday, news agency ANI reported quoting the police. The shooting is not related to a hate crime, it said.

The incident took place at a Gurudwara in Sacramento County of California.

Both of the victims are in critical condition, as per reports.

"Two people shot at a Gurudwara in Sacramento County, California. Both of the victims are in critical condition. The shooting is not related to a hate crime, it is a shootout between two men who knew each other," Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said, according to ANI.

Three people were involved in a fight that escalated into a shooting.

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Amar Gandhi said "suspect 2" was down when "suspect 1" shot suspect 2's friend. Suspect 2 then shot suspect 1.

"All participants in that altercation seemed to have known each other. This seems to have stemmed from something far before this," he added.

The investigation of the incident is underway.

There were an estimated 44,000 gun-related deaths in the United States last year, about half of them murder cases, accidents and self-defense, and half of them suicides, according to the Gun Violence Archive database.

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200 Barrels Of Oil Leaks Into Water At Southern England's Poole Harbour

Anglo-French oil company Perenco's UK unit said on Sunday that a limited oil leak occurred at one of its well sites in Wytch Farm in Dorset, southern England.

Perenco UK said the spill was being contained and an investigation will be launched.

"Any spill is an extremely serious matter and a full investigation will be launched to ascertain what happened in Poole Harbour," Perenco UK's Wytch Farm General Manager Franck Dy said in a statement.

BBC reported that a major incident was declared after about 200 barrels of reservoir fluid leaked into the water at Poole Harbour.

Perenco UK produces about 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day, of which about 14,000 barrels is from Wytch Farm.

Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) has activated an oil spill plan and the pipeline had been shut down, with booms placed on either side of the leak, BBC said.

PHC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment.

Last year, the company's parent company declared force majeure for 150 days following a leak at its Cap Lopez oil terminal in Gabon.

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Israel PM Fires Defence Minister Over Call To Stop Judicial Reforms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday fired Defence Minister Yoav Galant a day after he broke ranks, citing security concerns in calling for a pause to the government's controversial judicial reforms.

On a day when 200,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest the reforms, Mr Galant -- who had been a staunch Benjamin Netanyahu ally -- on Saturday said "we must stop the legislative process" for a month in view of its divisiveness.

The plans to hand more control to politicians and diminish the role of the Supreme Court have been questioned by Israel's top allies including the United States, while regularly igniting protests in Israel.

"The growing social rift has made its way into the (army) and security agencies. It is a clear, immediate and tangible threat to Israel's security," said Mr Galant, who is a member of Benjamin Netanyahu's own right-wing Likud party.

"I am committed to Likud values... and placing the State of Israel above all... but major changes on the national level must be made through deliberations and dialogue," he said, also calling for a halt to the protests.

Detractors see the reform project as threatening Israel's democracy, but the government argues changes are needed to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary.

Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday decided to "dismiss Defence Minister Yoav Galant", the prime minister's office said in a brief statement.

In response to the decision, Mr Galant countered on Twitter: "The security of the State of Israel has always been and will always remain the mission of my life."

- Slim majority -

Mr Galant's call for a halt to the reforms came before lawmakers are due to vote this coming week on a central part of the proposals, which would change the way judges are appointed.

Two other Likud lawmakers had tweeted their support for Mr Galant, raising questions over whether the government could count on a majority if it pushes ahead with a vote.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded on Twitter to Mr Galant's dismissal by saying the prime minister can fire Mr Galant, "but he cannot fire reality and cannot fire the people of Israel who are standing up to the insanity of the coalition".

"The Prime Minister of Israel is a danger to the security of the State of Israel," Mr Lapid added.

Mr Galant, a former general, was named to his post in December as part of Netanyahu's coalition with far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies.

He is the first casualty but other high-level officials have also expressed reservations.

Earlier this month, President Isaac Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, voiced concern over the deepening rift in society and presented a proposed compromise, which the government rejected.

Isaac Herzog raised the spectre of "a genuine civil war".

- 'Illegal' intervention -

Israel's attorney general on Friday accused Benjamin Netanyahu of "illegal" public intervention on the reform programme, after he made a nationwide TV address the previous evening.

Isaac Netanyahu is on trial over charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which he denies.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said the prime minister's televised declaration "and all interventions on your part on the process" of adopting the judicial reforms "is illegal".

The prime minister must "avoid any involvement in changes in the judicial system and particularly in the process of nominating judges, as this places you in a situation of conflict of interests," Baharav-Miara argued in an open letter published by the justice ministry.

In his televised address, the prime minister vowed to "responsibly advance" the reforms and "end the rift" they have caused in the nation.

A parliamentary committee has amended the draft law with the aim of making it more palatable to opponents, but the opposition has ruled out backing any part of the reform package until all legislative steps are halted.

Demonstrators have meanwhile announced a "national paralysis week", including countrywide rallies, protests outside ministers' homes and on Wednesday outside parliament.

Isaac Netanyahu's broadcast gave rise to contempt of court accusations filed with the Supreme Court by a non-governmental organisation, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, an anti-corruption group.

The NGO's complaint, seen by AFP, alleges Isaac Netanyahu violated an agreement with the court that an accused prime minister does not have the right to act in a matter that could constitute a conflict of interest.

Isaac Netanyahu has until April 2 to respond to the complaint, the Supreme Court said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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King Charles' Old Land Rover Sold For Rs 12 Lakh At Auction

A Land Rover once used by King Charles III has been sold for 12,050 pounds (Rs 12 lakh) at a motorsport auction, as per a report in Wales Online. 

In 2007 the then Prince of Wales received this Discovery 3 model Land Rover, which was brought to Highgrove House. It comes with a letter addressed to King Charles' personal driver, Tim Williams, and was sent in January of that year.

It points to the delivery of the Tonga Green vehicle to High Grove House's Royal Garage and has been signed by the Director of Royal and Diplomatic Affairs George Hassall MVO. 

Collecting Cars, which is handling the sale of the motor, describes it as "a handsome example of the Land Rover Discovery 3, with excellent documented royal provenance." The description of the car reads, "Power comes from the 2.7-litre TDV6, producing 195hp and 324lb-ft of torque, coupled to the six-speed 'Steptronic' automatic transmission with a two-speed transfer box, permanent four-wheel-drive and a computer-controlled progressively locking central differential. It is now offered from the three-year custody of its third owner, with 117,816 miles on the odometer."

Furthermore, the car's paintwork is reported to be in fair condition "with stone chips, blemishes and scratches, as well as signs of ageing on the plastic body trims".  

The third brake light has a crack and the passenger-side door mirror cover is also cracked, however, the electrically movable mirror appears to be in working condition. The maintenance history is ideal and the windscreen wipers, engine oil and filters were all replaced during the most recent inspection in March 2022. 

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Countries Eager To Interact With Us, Says Afghan Taliban Spokesperson

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said "some countries that failed in Afghanistan" over the past 20 years are preventing the Taliban from interacting with the international community, Afghanistan-based Tolo News reported.

Mujahid said a number of countries are still eager to interact with the Taliban.

"The countries that failed in Afghanistan, and the countries that shamefully left, they did not normalize their interactions and are preventing the Taliban from having good interactions with other nations," Mujahid said, as quoted by Tolo News.

The Taliban spokesperson emphasized that the Taliban will not accept the demands of the international community to recognize the Islamic Emirate.

"They (countries) had their own goals in Afghanistan, and they are still working toward these goals, but the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has fought to preserve its independence, therefore it will maintain its position," Mujahid said.

According to some political analysts, the international world will not engage with the current Afghan government until the Islamic Emirate lifts its restrictions on women and reconsiders its position regarding the international community's demands, according to Tolo News.

"The Islamic countries don't want to recognize (the Taliban) as long as girls' schools are closed because they don't want to recognize an inappropriate example of women's rights," said Tariq Farhadi, a political analyst, as quoted by Tolo News.

"This interaction faces three primary obstacles. The red lines and the values on either side do not match, to start. The two sides have differing perspectives on governance," said Salim Kargar, another political analyst.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister under the caretaker Taliban regime, Amir Khan Muttaqi in an op-ed for Al Jazeera, said that the primary cause of the ongoing economic crisis in the country is the imposition of sanctions and banking restrictions by the US. He said that this impedes and delays efforts to address the humanitarian crisis, Tolo News reported.

The op-ed is titled: "Afghanistan is ready to work with the US, but sanctions must go."

Muttaqi said that a unique opportunity has emerged to embark on rapprochement between Afghanistan and the world.

"We also understand that the globalised nature of modern relations means that all state actors must learn to live in harmony and peace with one another," he said. "Such relations should be founded on the immutable principles of equality, mutual respect and cooperation through the pursuit of shared interests. Bearing this in mind, the current government of Afghanistan once again extends its hand of positive engagement to the world," he said, according to Tolo News.

Muttaqi also wrote about the achievements of the Islamic Emirate since it came to power "despite the fact that we inherited a collapsed narco-state, with an emptied treasury, unpaid bills, millions of drug addicts, rampant corruption, universal poverty and unemployment and a stagnant economy."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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US Principal Forced To Resign After Students Shown Michelangelo Statue

A school principal in the United States was forced to resign after a parent complained that sixth-grade students were exposed to pornography during a lesson on Renaissance art which included Michelangelo's "David" sculpture. The iconic statue, which depicts an entirely naked biblical figure David, is one of the most famous in Western history. However, according to the BBC, one parent complained that the material was pornographic and two others stated that they wanted to know about the class before it was taught. 

The complaints ultimately led to Principal Hope Carrasquilla of the Tallahassee Classical School, Florida, resigning. As per the outlet, she said she was given an ultimatum by the school board to either step down or be fired. Ms Carrasquilla also stated that she did not know the reason she was asked to resign, but believed it was related to the complaints over the lesson. 

"My board chair has not been happy with me," Ms Carrasquilla told CNN, adding that she did not always follow every policy and procedure. 

Separately, the chair of the school's board, Barney Bishop III, agreed with Ms Carrasquilla's assessment and said that over time it had become evident the school needed to go in a different direction and with different leadership. 

"She was not let go because of Michelangelo's David lesson," he said, adding, "Our school is two and a half years old. Every year we show that picture in the Renaissance Art class taught to our sixth graders". The problem that arose in this instance was that the procedure for notifying parents of the upcoming lesson was not followed, according to Mr Barney.

Also Read | British Man Discovers Nearly 400-Year-Old Paintings While Renovating Kitchen

"We aren't trying to ban the picture," he said, referring to the statue of David. Mr Barney stated that last year the principal sent a notice to parents warning them that students were going to see the statue, but this protocol wasn't followed this year. He called it an "egregious mistake" and said that "parents are entitled to know anytime their child is being taught a controversial topic and picture". 

Notably, while not directly related, Ms Carrasquilla's decision to resign comes after far-right Florida governor Ron DeSantis moved to expand a law that banned public schools from teaching sexual education and gender identity. Teachers who violate the law face being suspended or losing their teaching licences. 

Ms Carrasquilla's resignation was effective immediately and the school promoted one of the deans as the new principal, the outlet reported. 

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Bangladesh Demands UN To Declare March 25 As World Genocide Day: Envoy

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Andalib Elias on Saturday said his country has been demanding the United Nations to declare March 25 as World Genocide Day.

"Since 2017, we've been observing this day as the genocide day of Bangladesh. We've been pursuing two things from UN, to declare this as World Genocide Day and the recognition of what happened in Bangladesh in 1971 as a genocide," Elias said.

On December 16, 1971, Pakistan Army surrendered to a joint India-Bangladesh force, formally making Bangladesh a new nation under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.

"On this day (March 25) in 1971, Pakistan army attacked unarmed people in the middle of the night and killed 1000s of people and within the next nine months, they killed nine million people in Bangladesh. This is one of the most brutal genocides ever," the Bangladeshi Deputy High Commissioner said.

Meanwhile, International Forum for Secular Bangladesh (IFSB) Switzerland chapter on Saturday held demonstrations at the Broken Chair square in front of the UN building in Geneva demanding recognition of the Bangladesh genocide perpetrated by the Pakistan Army in 1971.

A total of 25 Bangladeshi expatriates from Europe gathered in front of the United Nations office to seek justice against the 1971 genocide by Pakistan and for its recognition by the international community.

'Genocide Day' has been observed in Bangladesh since 2017 against the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army on civilians on the night of March 25, 1971, when it launched 'Operation Searchlight' in Dhaka to crush the Bengali nationalist movement.

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British Man Discovers Rare Ancient Paintings While Renovating Kitchen

A British man renovating his kitchen discovered a 400-year-old wall paintings of "national significance" in his flat in northern England. According to the BBC, Luke Budworth,  who is a medical researcher at Leeds University, uncovered the friezes, dating back to about 1660, on a wall at his home in Micklegate in York city. Mr Budworth said he was "very excited" to find the paintings and want to conserve them for future generations. 

According to the outlet, the 29-year-old was giving his flat's kitchen a refresh last year when contractors noticed a mysterious infrastructural situation underneath his cupboard. "I got my tools out and started chipping away at the board. As soon as I lifted the panel off, there it was, beautiful colours, with some still remaining layers of wallpaper from the Victorian era," he said. 

Mr Budworth's investigation then led him to discover that the paintings featured scenes from a 1635 book called Emblems by poet Francis Quarles. He revealed that the newly exposed frieze depicts a Biblical scene in which a man in a cage is pulled along by an angel. It also features a man in a white cart who "looks like he's riding to the kingdom of heaven". 

As per CNN, Mr Budworth then contacted Historic England about the paintings and the team helped him find out more about their significance. A representative was sent to survey the artwork and take some detailed professional photographs. The public body even gave Mr Budworth a high-quality, life-size replica of the frieze and advised him to cover it up in order to preserve it. 

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Simon Taylor, Historic England's senior architectural investigator for the north region, said it was an "exciting rediscovery". "We think they are of national significance and in the context of York, where domestic wall paintings are quite rare, they are of special interest," he added. 

According to Mr Taylor, the wall the scenes are painted on could be older than the buildings on either side of it. The paintings are also cut off by the ceiling and the front of the building, which could help researchers piece together the development of the street. 

Notably, Mr Budworth moved to York from Warrington, partly because of the city's history, he said. He stated that his finding has now inspired him to find out more about the social history of Micklegate. He also hopes to secure funding for conservation work to be carried out on the paintings. 

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