A video allegedly showing a senior Twitter engineer making startling claims about the micro-blogging site has been released by an American far-right group called Project Veritas. The group described the video as undercover footage on its website. The video comes amid reports of Twitter employees being scared for their jobs if Elon Musk takes over the company.

On cam: engineer claims Twitter doesn't believe in free speech in alleged video

A video allegedly showing a senior Twitter engineer making startling claims about the micro-blogging site has been released by an American far-right group called Project Veritas.

Far-right group Project Veritas described the video as undercover footage on its website.

A video allegedly showing a senior Twitter engineer making startling claims about the micro-blogging site has been released by an American far-right group called Project Veritas. The group described the video as undercover footage on its website.
Project Veritas&nbsp;identified the man shown in the video as senior Twitter engineer Siru&nbsp;Murugesan.&nbsp;
Murugesan&nbsp;is shown saying that Twitter does not believe in free speech and has a strong left bias. He goes on to claim that the right-wing supporters are openly&nbsp;censored in the company.&nbsp;
The Project Veritas&nbsp;video seems to have been made from footage filmed on different days in different locations.&nbsp;
The video also shows Murugesan&nbsp;speaking about Elon&nbsp;Musk's plan to take over Twitter and how no one in the company is happy about the deal.&nbsp;
The video comes amid reports of Twitter employees being scared for their jobs if Elon Musk takes over the company.
Also Watch|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/business-news/watch-elon-musk-candid-about-negativity-and-what-next-for-twitter-1652071634929" target="_blank">Watch! Elon Musk candid about negativity and what next for Twitter</a>

North Korea on Tuesday reported another large jump in illnesses believed to be COVID-19 as a mass outbreak spreads through its unvaccinated population and military medical officers were deployed to distribute medicine.
State media said the North's anti-virus headquarters reported another 269,510 people were found with fevers and six people died.
That raises North Korea's deaths to 56 after more than 1.48 million people became ill with fever since late April.
North Korea lacks testing supplies to confirm coronavirus infections in large numbers and the report didn't say how many of the fever cases were COVID-19.
The outbreak is almost certainly greater than the fever tally, considering the lack of tests and resources to monitor and treat the people who are sick.
North Korea's virus response is mostly isolating people with symptoms at shelters, and as of Tuesday, at least 663,910 people were in quarantine.
In addition to lacking vaccines for its 26 million people, North Korea also grapples with malnourishment and other conditions of poverty and lacks public health tools, including antiviral drugs or intensive care units, which suppressed hospitalisations and deaths in other countries.
Some experts suspect North Korea is underreporting deaths to soften the blow for authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un, who already was navigating the toughest moment of his decade in power, with the pandemic further damaging an economy already broken by mismanagement and US-led sanctions over his nuclear ambitions.

Watch | North Korean capital Pyongyang amid surge in 'fevers'

Visuals emerge of Noth&nbsp;Korea battling the first Covid&nbsp;outbreak since the pandemic. 56 reportedly dead, while some experts say the number may be higher

North Korea on Tuesday reported another large jump in illnesses believed to be COVID-19 as a mass outbreak spreads through its unvaccinated population and military medical officers were deployed to distribute medicine.
State media said the North's anti-virus headquarters reported another 269,510 people were found with fevers and six people died.
That raises North Korea's deaths to 56 after more than 1.48 million people became ill with fever since late April.
North Korea lacks testing supplies to confirm coronavirus infections in large numbers and the report didn't say how many of the fever cases were COVID-19.
The outbreak is almost certainly greater than the fever tally, considering the lack of tests and resources to monitor and treat the people who are sick.
North Korea's virus response is mostly isolating people with symptoms at shelters, and as of Tuesday, at least 663,910 people were in quarantine.
In addition to lacking vaccines for its 26 million people, North Korea also grapples with malnourishment and other conditions of poverty and lacks public health tools, including antiviral drugs or intensive care units, which suppressed hospitalisations and deaths in other countries.
Also watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/8-covid-19-deaths-in-north-korea-kim-jong-un-blasts-officials-1652671822927" target="_blank">8 Covid-19 deaths in North Korea, Kim Jong Un blasts officials</a>
Some experts suspect North Korea is underreporting deaths to soften the blow for authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un, who already was navigating the toughest moment of his decade in power, with the pandemic further damaging an economy already broken by mismanagement and US-led sanctions over his nuclear ambitions.

Nearly one in 25 people in a county in the Uyghur heartland of China has been sentenced to prison on terrorism-related charges, in what is the highest known imprisonment rate in the world, an Associated Press review of leaked data shows.
A list obtained and partially verified by the AP cites the names of more than 10,000 Uyghurs sent to prison in just Konasheher county alone, one of dozens in southern Xinjiang. In recent years, China has waged a brutal crackdown on the Uyghurs, a largely Muslim minority, which it has described as a war on terror.
The list is by far the biggest to emerge to date with the names of imprisoned Uyghurs, reflecting the sheer size of a Chinese government campaign that swept an estimated million or more people into internment camps and prisons. It also confirms what families and rights groups have said for years: China is relying on a system of long-term incarceration to keep the Uyghurs in check, wielding the law as a weapon of repression.
Under searing international criticism, Chinese officials announced the closure in 2019 of short-term, extrajudicial internment camps where Uyghurs were thrown in without charges. However, although attention focused on the camps, thousands of Uyghurs still languish for years or even decades in prison on what experts say are trumped-up charges of terrorism.
Uyghur farmer Rozikari Tohti was known as a soft-spoken, family-loving man with three children and not the slightest interest in religion. So his cousin, Mihrigul Musa, was shocked to discover Tohti had been thrown into prison for five years for “religious extremism.” “Never did I think he would be arrested,” said Musa, who now lives in exile in Norway. “If you saw him, you would feel the same way. He is so earnest.” From the list, Musa found out Tohti's younger brother Ablikim Tohti also was sentenced to seven years on charges of “gathering the public to disturb social order.” Tohti's next-door neighbor, a farmer called Nurmemet Dawut, was sentenced to 11 years on the same charges as well as “picking quarrels and provoking troubles.” Konasheher county is typical of rural southern Xinjiang, and more than 267,000 people live there. The prison sentences across the county were for two to 25 years, with an average of nine years, the list shows. While the people on the list were mostly arrested in 2017, according to Uyghurs in exile, their sentences are so long that the vast majority would still be in prison.
Those swept up came from all walks of life, and included men, women, young people and the elderly. They had only one thing in common: They were all Uyghurs.
Experts say it clearly shows people were targeted simply for being Uyghur – a conclusion vehemently denied by Chinese authorities. Xinjiang spokesman Elijan Anayat said sentences were carried out in accordance with the law.
“We will never specifically target specific regions, ethnic groups, religions, much less the Uyghurs,” Anayat said. “We will never wrong the good, nor release the bad.” The list was obtained by Xinjiang scholar Gene Bunin from an anonymous source who described themselves as a member of China's Han Chinese majority “opposed to the Chinese government's policies in Xinjiang.” It was passed to the AP by Abduweli Ayup, an exiled Uyghur linguist in Norway. The AP authenticated it through interviews with eight Uyghurs who recognized 194 people on the list, as well as legal notices, recordings of phone calls with Chinese officials and checks of address, birthdays and identity numbers.
The list does not include people with typical criminal charges such as homicide or theft. Rather, it focuses on offenses related to terrorism, religious extremism or vague charges traditionally used against political dissidents, such as “picking quarrels and provoking troubles.” This means the true number of people imprisoned is almost certainly higher.
But even at a conservative estimate, Konasheher county's imprisonment rate is more than 10 times higher than that of the United States, one of the world's leading jailers, according to Department of Justice statistics. It's also more than 30 times higher than for China as a whole, according to state statistics from 2013, the last time such figures were released.
Darren Byler, an expert on Xinjiang's mass incarceration system, said most arrests were arbitrary and outside the law, with people detained for having relatives abroad or downloading certain cell phone applications.
“It is really remarkable,” Byler said. “In no other location have we seen entire populations of people be described as terrorists or seen as terrorists." The crackdown kicked into high gear in 2017, after a string of knifings and bombings by a small handful of Uyghur militants. The Chinese government defended the mass detentions as both lawful and necessary to combat terrorism.
In December 2019, Xinjiang officials said that all of whom they described as “trainees” at the “centers” had “graduated.” Visits by Associated Press journalists to four former camp sites confirm that they were shuttered or converted into other facilities.
But the prisons remain. Xinjiang went on a prison-building spree in tandem with the crackdown, and even as the camps closed, the prisons expanded. At least a few camp sites were converted into centers for incarceration.
China is using the law “as a fig leaf of legality” in part to try and deflect international criticism about holding Uyghurs, said Jeremy Daum, a criminal law expert at Yale University's Paul Tsai China Center.
The secretive nature of the charges against those imprisoned is a red flag, experts say. Although China makes legal records easily accessible otherwise, almost 90% of criminal records in Xinjiang are not public. The handful which have leaked show that people are being charged with “terrorism” for acts such as warning colleagues against watching porn and swearing, or praying in prison.
Abduweli Ayup, the Uyghur exile who passed the list to the AP, has closely documented the ongoing repression of his community. But this list in particular floored him: On it were neighbors, a cousin, a high school teacher.
“I had collapsed,” Ayup said. “I had told other people's stories …. and now this is me telling my own story from my childhood.” The widely-admired teacher, Adil Tursun, was the only one in the high school in Toquzaq who could teach Uyghur students in Chinese. He was a Communist Party member, and every year his students had the best chemistry test scores in the town.
The names of Tursun and others on the list made no sense to Ayup because they were considered model Uyghurs.
“The names of the crimes, spreading extremist thoughts, separatism … these charges are absurd,” he said.

Uyghur county Konasheher in China has highest prison rate in the world: AP

In recent years, China has waged a brutal crackdown on the Uyghurs, a largely Muslim minority, which it has described as a war on terror.

A list obtained and partially verified by the AP cites the names of more than 10,000 Uyghurs sent to prison in just Konasheher county alone, which is one of dozens in southern Xinjiang.

Nearly one in 25 people in a county in the Uyghur heartland of China has been sentenced to prison on terrorism-related charges, in what is the highest known imprisonment rate in the world, an Associated Press review of leaked data shows.
A list obtained and partially verified by the AP cites the names of more than 10,000 Uyghurs sent to prison in just Konasheher county alone, one of dozens in southern Xinjiang. In recent years, China has waged a brutal crackdown on the Uyghurs, a largely Muslim minority, which it has described as a war on terror. Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/us-house-passes-bill-to-punish-china-over-uyghurs-muslims-oppression-1639022195486">US House passes bill to punish China over Uyghur Muslims' oppression</a>
The list is by far the biggest to emerge to date with the names of imprisoned Uyghurs, reflecting the sheer size of a Chinese government campaign that swept an estimated million or more people into internment camps and prisons. It also confirms what families and rights groups have said for years: China is relying on a system of long-term incarceration to keep the Uyghurs in check, wielding the law as a weapon of repression.
Under searing international criticism, Chinese officials announced the closure in 2019 of short-term, extrajudicial internment camps where Uyghurs were thrown in without charges. However, although attention focused on the camps, thousands of Uyghurs still languish for years or even decades in prison on what experts say are trumped-up charges of terrorism.
Uyghur farmer Rozikari Tohti was known as a soft-spoken, family-loving man with three children and not the slightest interest in religion. So his cousin, Mihrigul Musa, was shocked to discover Tohti had been thrown into prison for five years for &ldquo;religious extremism.&rdquo; &ldquo;Never did I think he would be arrested,&rdquo; said Musa, who now lives in exile in Norway. &ldquo;If you saw him, you would feel the same way. He is so earnest.&rdquo; From the list, Musa found out Tohti's younger brother Ablikim Tohti also was sentenced to seven years on charges of &ldquo;gathering the public to disturb social order.&rdquo; Tohti's next-door neighbor, a farmer called Nurmemet Dawut, was sentenced to 11 years on the same charges as well as &ldquo;picking quarrels and provoking troubles.&rdquo; Konasheher county is typical of rural southern Xinjiang, and more than 267,000 people live there. The prison sentences across the county were for two to 25 years, with an average of nine years, the list shows. While the people on the list were mostly arrested in 2017, according to Uyghurs in exile, their sentences are so long that the vast majority would still be in prison.
Those swept up came from all walks of life, and included men, women, young people and the elderly. They had only one thing in common: They were all Uyghurs.
Experts say it clearly shows people were targeted simply for being Uyghur &ndash; a conclusion vehemently denied by Chinese authorities. Xinjiang spokesman Elijan Anayat said sentences were carried out in accordance with the law.
&ldquo;We will never specifically target specific regions, ethnic groups, religions, much less the Uyghurs,&rdquo; Anayat said. &ldquo;We will never wrong the good, nor release the bad.&rdquo; The list was obtained by Xinjiang scholar Gene Bunin from an anonymous source who described themselves as a member of China's Han Chinese majority &ldquo;opposed to the Chinese government's policies in Xinjiang.&rdquo; It was passed to the AP by Abduweli Ayup, an exiled Uyghur linguist in Norway. The AP authenticated it through interviews with eight Uyghurs who recognized 194 people on the list, as well as legal notices, recordings of phone calls with Chinese officials and checks of address, birthdays and identity numbers.
The list does not include people with typical criminal charges such as homicide or theft. Rather, it focuses on offenses related to terrorism, religious extremism or vague charges traditionally used against political dissidents, such as &ldquo;picking quarrels and provoking troubles.&rdquo; This means the true number of people imprisoned is almost certainly higher.
But even at a conservative estimate, Konasheher county's imprisonment rate is more than 10 times higher than that of the United States, one of the world's leading jailers, according to Department of Justice statistics. It's also more than 30 times higher than for China as a whole, according to state statistics from 2013, the last time such figures were released.
Darren Byler, an expert on Xinjiang's mass incarceration system, said most arrests were arbitrary and outside the law, with people detained for having relatives abroad or downloading certain cell phone applications.
&ldquo;It is really remarkable,&rdquo; Byler said. &ldquo;In no other location have we seen entire populations of people be described as terrorists or seen as terrorists." The crackdown kicked into high gear in 2017, after a string of knifings and bombings by a small handful of Uyghur militants. The Chinese government defended the mass detentions as both lawful and necessary to combat terrorism.
In December 2019, Xinjiang officials said that all of whom they described as &ldquo;trainees&rdquo; at the &ldquo;centers&rdquo; had &ldquo;graduated.&rdquo; Visits by Associated Press journalists to four former camp sites confirm that they were shuttered or converted into other facilities.
But the prisons remain. Xinjiang went on a prison-building spree in tandem with the crackdown, and even as the camps closed, the prisons expanded. At least a few camp sites were converted into centers for incarceration.
China is using the law &ldquo;as a fig leaf of legality&rdquo; in part to try and deflect international criticism about holding Uyghurs, said Jeremy Daum, a criminal law expert at Yale University's Paul Tsai China Center.
The secretive nature of the charges against those imprisoned is a red flag, experts say. Although China makes legal records easily accessible otherwise, almost 90% of criminal records in Xinjiang are not public. The handful which have leaked show that people are being charged with &ldquo;terrorism&rdquo; for acts such as warning colleagues against watching porn and swearing, or praying in prison.
Abduweli Ayup, the Uyghur exile who passed the list to the AP, has closely documented the ongoing repression of his community. But this list in particular floored him: On it were neighbors, a cousin, a high school teacher.
&ldquo;I had collapsed,&rdquo; Ayup said. &ldquo;I had told other people's stories &hellip;. and now this is me telling my own story from my childhood.&rdquo; The widely-admired teacher, Adil Tursun, was the only one in the high school in Toquzaq who could teach Uyghur students in Chinese. He was a Communist Party member, and every year his students had the best chemistry test scores in the town.
The names of Tursun and others on the list made no sense to Ayup because they were considered model Uyghurs.
&ldquo;The names of the crimes, spreading extremist thoughts, separatism &hellip; these charges are absurd,&rdquo; he said.

A gunman in a deadly attack at a Southern California church was a Chinese immigrant motivated by hate for Taiwanese people, US authorities said.
The shooter killed Dr. John Cheng, 52, and wounded five others during a lunch held by Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, which worships at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, authorities said at a Monday news conference.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said the motive of the shooting was a grievance between the shooter, identified as a Chinese immigrant and US citizen, and the Taiwanese community.
China claims Taiwan is a part of its national territory and has not ruled out force to bring the island under its rule.
Barnes said the suspect drove to the Orange County church, where he was not a regular attendee, secured the doors and started shooting.
The gunman had placed four Molotov cocktail-like devices inside the church, the sheriff said.
Barnes said Cheng, survived by a wife and two children, heroically charged at the shooter and attempted to disarm him, allowing others to intervene.
Cheng probably saved the lives "of upwards of dozens of people," the sheriff said.
A pastor hit the gunman on the head with a chair and parishioners hog-tied him with electrical cords.
But Cheng was hit by gunshots.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department tweeted that David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas has been booked on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
The suspect lawfully purchased the two 9mm pistols in Las Vegas, said Stephen Galloway, ATF Los Angeles assistant special agent in charge.
The suspect made brief comments when he was taken into custody and then asked for an attorney, Barnes said.
Four of the five people wounded suffered critical gunshot injuries.

Chinese immigrant's 'hate' for Taiwanese behind US church attack

1 attendee lost his life trying to disarm David Chou. The suspect drove to the Orange County church secured the doors and started shooting.

A gunman in a deadly attack at a Southern California church was a Chinese immigrant motivated by hate for Taiwanese people, US authorities said.
The shooter killed Dr. John Cheng, 52, and wounded five others during a lunch held by Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, which worships at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, authorities said at a Monday news conference.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said the motive of the shooting was a grievance between the shooter, identified as a Chinese immigrant and US citizen, and the Taiwanese community.
China claims Taiwan is a part of its national territory and has not ruled out force to bring the island under its rule.
Barnes said the suspect drove to the Orange County church, where he was not a regular attendee, secured the doors and started shooting.
The gunman had placed four Molotov cocktail-like devices inside the church, the sheriff said.
Barnes said Cheng, survived by a wife and two children, heroically charged at the shooter and attempted to disarm him, allowing others to intervene.
Cheng probably saved the lives "of upwards of dozens of people," the sheriff said.
A pastor hit the gunman on the head with a chair and parishioners hog-tied him with electrical cords.
Also Watch|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/10-dead-in-racially-motivated-mass-shooting-in-new-york-supermarket-suspect-arrested-1652588593234" target="_blank">10 dead in 'racially motivated' mass shooting in New York supermarket; suspect arrested</a>
But Cheng was hit by gunshots.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department tweeted that David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas has been booked on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
The suspect lawfully purchased the two 9mm pistols in Las Vegas, said Stephen Galloway, ATF Los Angeles assistant special agent in charge.
The suspect made brief comments when he was taken into custody and then asked for an attorney, Barnes said.
Four of the five people wounded suffered critical gunshot injuries.

Is India opening up its Embassy in Afghanistan? According to a source-based report in The Indian Express New Delhi is exploring the possibility of reopening its embassy in Kabul soon, but without top-level diplomatic representation.The report quoting unnamed sources said that a team of security officials flew to Kabul in February to assess the ground situation.
Stating that it would not mean a recognition of the Taliban regime, the sources told the newspaper that the embassy will likely function only with personnel for liaison purposes that may extend to consular services. The Indian security team that visited Kabul in February would have sought travel clearances from Taliban, and according to the newspaper's sources, met officials in the Taliban government. 
While the Taliban have said more than once in recent months that they would provide a secure environment for India to reopen its mission, India would be looking for solid guarantees from the regime on this front.
India shut down its embassy in Kabul on August 17, two days after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The Pakistan, Chinese and Russian and Iranian missions did not shut down during the chaos of the Taliban takeover.

Is Modi govt planning to re-open embassy in Kabul? 

The Pakistan, Chinese and Russian and Iranian missions did not shut down during the chaos of the Taliban takeover.

The Pakistan, Chinese and Russian and Iranian missions did not shut down during the chaos of the Taliban takeover.

Is India reopening its Embassy in Afghanistan? According to a source-based report in The Indian Express New Delhi is&nbsp;exploring the possibility of reopening its embassy in Kabul soon, but without top-level diplomatic representation. The report quoting unnamed sources said&nbsp;that a team of security officials flew to Kabul in February to assess the ground situation.
Stating that it would not mean a recognition of the Taliban regime, the sources told the newspaper that the&nbsp;embassy will likely function only with personnel for liaison purposes that may extend to consular services.&nbsp; The Indian security team that visited Kabul in February would have sought travel clearances from Taliban, and according to the newspaper's sources, met officials in the Taliban government.&nbsp;
While the Taliban have said more than once in recent months that they would provide a secure environment for India to reopen its mission, India would be looking for solid guarantees from the regime on this front.
India shut down its embassy in Kabul on August 17, two days after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.&nbsp;The Pakistan, Chinese and Russian and Iranian missions did not shut down during the chaos of the Taliban takeover.
WATCH:<a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/local/taliban-style-attack-on-vaishno-devi-pilgrims-in-j-k-sticky-bomb-used-says-bjp-on-katra-bus-incident-1652727882880">&nbsp;Taliban-style attack on Vaishno Devi pilgrims in J&amp;K? Sticky bomb used, says BJP on Katra bus incident</a>

As the US celebrates Asian Heritage month, President Joe Biden has said that America is better positioned than any other country to lead the world in the 21st century.
Biden wrote in a recent letter to Boston-based Indian American Abhishek Singh that despite the tough times, he have never been more optimistic for the future of America.
“Our country faces many challenges, and the road we will travel together will be one of the most difficult in our history. Despite these tough times, I have never been more optimistic for the future of America.
“I believe we are better positioned than any country in the world to lead in the 21st century not just by the example of our power but by the power of our example,” Biden wrote in a recent letter to Boston-based Indian American Abhishek Singh.
Singh is president of Federation of Indian Association, New England, which along with FIA in New York and New Jersey last week launched the community celebration of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” at the US Capitol, attended by more than a dozen-and-a-half lawmakers.
In his letter to Singh, Biden pledged to be a President for all Americans. “I am confident that we can work together to find common ground to make America a more just, prosperous, and secure Nation,” he wrote.
The event was attended by hundreds of Indian Americans and at least 21 US lawmakers from across states.
Prominent among them were Senator Cory Booker, and several other congressmen and women, including Raja Krishnamoorthi, Frank Pallone, David Cicilline, Sheila Jackson Lee, Mijie Sherrill, Tom Malinowski, Abigail Spanberger, Vincente Gonzalez, Susie Lee, Hakeem Sekou Jeffries, Grace Meng, Debrah Ross, Adriano Espaill, Jim McGovern, Matt Cartwright, and Jim Langevin.
Many congressmen issued a citation congratulating the FIA. Senators Jack Reed and Jeanne Shaheen sent special messages felicitating India and praising contributions made by the Indian American community to the United States.
FIA chairman Ankur Vaidya said: “FIA is planning a grand finale of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ around India’s Independence Day this year with flag hoisting at Times Square in New York City.” Singh said such “historic celebration” will take the journey forward in improving the India-US relationship and will be a new beginning of pride and respect for all. He said the Indian community is standing with Ukrainians.(PTI Inputs)

Biden to Indian Americans: US better positioned to lead the world in 21st century

Biden wrote in a recent letter to Boston-based Indian American Abhishek Singh that despite the tough times, he have never been more optimistic for the future of America.


Federation of Indian Americans and other community groups launched a community celebration to commemorate 'Azadi&nbsp;ka Amrit&nbsp;Mahotsav'&nbsp;

As the US celebrates Asian Heritage month, President Joe Biden has said that America is better positioned than any other country to lead the world in the 21st century.
Biden wrote in a recent letter to Boston-based Indian American Abhishek Singh&nbsp;that despite the tough times, he have never been more optimistic for the future of America.
&ldquo;Our country faces many challenges, and the road we will travel together will be one of the most difficult in our history. Despite these tough times, I have never been more optimistic for the future of America.
&ldquo;I believe we are better positioned than any country in the world to lead in the 21st century not just by the example of our power but by the power of our example,&rdquo; Biden wrote in a recent letter to Boston-based Indian American Abhishek Singh.
Singh is president of Federation of Indian Association, New England, which along with FIA in New York and New Jersey last week launched the community celebration of &ldquo;Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav&rdquo; at the US Capitol, attended by more than a dozen-and-a-half lawmakers.
In his letter to Singh, Biden pledged to be a President for all Americans. &ldquo;I am confident that we can work together to find common ground to make America a more just, prosperous, and secure Nation,&rdquo; he wrote.
The event was attended by hundreds of Indian Americans and at least 21 US lawmakers from across states.
Also Watch|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/us-would-prefer-if-india-distances-from-non-alignment-g77-partnership-with-russia-1649502507399" target="_blank">US would prefer if India distances from non-alignment G77 partnership with Russia</a>
Prominent among them were Senator Cory Booker, and several other congressmen and women, including Raja Krishnamoorthi, Frank Pallone, David Cicilline, Sheila Jackson Lee, Mijie Sherrill, Tom Malinowski, Abigail Spanberger, Vincente Gonzalez, Susie Lee, Hakeem Sekou Jeffries, Grace Meng, Debrah Ross, Adriano Espaill, Jim McGovern, Matt Cartwright, and Jim Langevin.
Many congressmen issued a citation congratulating the FIA. Senators Jack Reed and Jeanne Shaheen sent special messages felicitating India and praising contributions made by the Indian American community to the United States.
FIA chairman Ankur Vaidya said: &ldquo;FIA is planning a grand finale of &lsquo;Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav&rsquo; around India&rsquo;s Independence Day this year with flag hoisting at Times Square in New York City.&rdquo; Singh said such &ldquo;historic celebration&rdquo; will take the journey forward in improving the India-US relationship and will be a new beginning of pride and respect for all. He said the Indian community is standing with Ukrainians. (PTI&nbsp;Inputs)

A presidential advisory commission has unanimously voted to recommend President Joe Biden to process all applications for green cards or permanent residency within six months.
To be sent to the White House now for approval, recommendations of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders( PACAANHPI) if adopted is likely to bring cheers to the hundreds and thousands of Indian Americans and those waiting, some for even for decades, for a Green Card.
A proposal in this regard was moved by eminent Indian American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria during the meeting of the PACAANHPI, during which all its 25 commissioners unanimously approved it.
The proceedings of the meeting here in the national capital was webcast live last week.
To reduce, pending green card backlog, the advisory commission recommended US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to review their processes, systems, policies and establish new internal cycle time goals by streamlining processes, removing redundant steps if any, automating any manual approvals, improving their internal dashboards and reporting system and enhancing policies.
The recommendations aim to reduce the cycle time for processing all forms related to family based green card application, DACA renewals, all other green card applications within six months and issue adjudicate decisions within six months of application received by it.
The commission recommended National Visa Center (NVC) State Department facility to hire additional officers to increase their capacity to process green card applications interviews by 100 per cent in three months from August 2022, and to increase Green card applications visa interviews and adjudicate decisions by 150 per cent – up from capacity of 32,439 in April 2022 -- by April 2023.
“Thereafter Green Card visa interviews and visa processing timeline should be a maximum of six months,” it said.
Aimed at making it easier for the immigrants to stay and work in the country, the commission recommended that USCIS should review requests for work permits, travel documents and temporary status extensions or changes within three months and adjudicate decisions.
Only 65,452 family preference green cards were issued in fiscal 2021 out of the annual 226,000 green cards available, leaving hundreds of thousands of green cards unused (with many likely to be permanently wasted in the future), and keeping many more families needlessly separated.
There were 421,358 pending interviews in April compared to 436,700 in March, said the policy paper by Bhutoria.
Noting that while the US population has grown substantially in recent decades, the immigration system has not changed to keep pace, he said.
The annual levels of immigration were established in the early 1990s and have remained largely unchanged since, he said.
To make matters worse, the method used to calculate the annual number of employment-and-family-based immigration is deeply flawed, and has led to family-based immigration levels being set at their absolute minimum every year for the past 20 years, while hundreds of thousands of green cards for family members go wasted, never used by any individuals, when they could be used to reunite families instead, Bhutoria said.
“The extraordinary wait time for a green card to be available causes significant hardship for American families forced to wait decades to reunite with their loved ones, even though those individuals are already qualified to immigrate right now.
"Family separation takes a terrible emotional toll on families, and it imposes clear logistical, economic, and emotional hardships on families, and the growing nature of the backlogs makes the process uncertain and future planning impossible,” he said.
Among other things, the commission also recommended USCIS to expand premium processing to additional employment-based green card applications, all work permit petitions, and temporary immigration status extension requests, allowing applicants to pay USD 2,500 to have their cases adjudicated within 45 days in a phased approach.

Good news for those seeking green card: US panel tells Biden to process applications within 6 months

The recommendations aim to reduce the cycle time for processing all forms related to family based green card application, all other green card applications within six months (PAL)

The recommendations aim to reduce the cycle time for processing all forms related to family based green card application, all other green card applications within six months

A presidential advisory commission has unanimously voted to recommend President Joe Biden to process all applications for green cards or permanent residency within six months.
To be sent to the White House now for approval, recommendations of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders( PACAANHPI) if adopted is likely to bring cheers to the hundreds and thousands of Indian Americans and those waiting, some for even for decades, for a Green Card.
A proposal in this regard was moved by eminent Indian American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria during the meeting of the PACAANHPI, during which all its 25 commissioners unanimously approved it.
The proceedings of the meeting here in the national capital was webcast live last week.
To reduce, pending green card backlog, the advisory commission recommended US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to review their processes, systems, policies and establish new internal cycle time goals by streamlining processes, removing redundant steps if any, automating any manual approvals, improving their internal dashboards and reporting system and enhancing policies.
Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/editorji-specials/the-india-story/decoded-getting-a-foreign-degree-what-do-the-numbers-say-1652267453223">Decoded | Getting a foreign degree: what do the numbers say?</a>
The recommendations aim to reduce the cycle time for processing all forms related to family based green card application, DACA renewals, all other green card applications within six months and issue adjudicate decisions within six months of application received by it.
The commission recommended National Visa Center (NVC) State Department facility to hire additional officers to increase their capacity to process green card applications interviews by 100 per cent in three months from August 2022, and to increase Green card applications visa interviews and adjudicate decisions by 150 per cent &ndash; up from capacity of 32,439 in April 2022 -- by April 2023.
&ldquo;Thereafter Green Card visa interviews and visa processing timeline should be a maximum of six months,&rdquo; it said.
Aimed at making it easier for the immigrants to stay and work in the country, the commission recommended that USCIS should review requests for work permits, travel documents and temporary status extensions or changes within three months and adjudicate decisions.
Only 65,452 family preference green cards were issued in fiscal 2021 out of the annual 226,000 green cards available, leaving hundreds of thousands of green cards unused (with many likely to be permanently wasted in the future), and keeping many more families needlessly separated.
There were 421,358 pending interviews in April compared to 436,700 in March, said the policy paper by Bhutoria.
Noting that while the US population has grown substantially in recent decades, the immigration system has not changed to keep pace, he said.
The annual levels of immigration were established in the early 1990s and have remained largely unchanged since, he said.
To make matters worse, the method used to calculate the annual number of employment-and-family-based immigration is deeply flawed, and has led to family-based immigration levels being set at their absolute minimum every year for the past 20 years, while hundreds of thousands of green cards for family members go wasted, never used by any individuals, when they could be used to reunite families instead, Bhutoria said.
&ldquo;The extraordinary wait time for a green card to be available causes significant hardship for American families forced to wait decades to reunite with their loved ones, even though those individuals are already qualified to immigrate right now.
"Family separation takes a terrible emotional toll on families, and it imposes clear logistical, economic, and emotional hardships on families, and the growing nature of the backlogs makes the process uncertain and future planning impossible,&rdquo; he said.
Among other things, the commission also recommended USCIS to expand premium processing to additional employment-based green card applications, all work permit petitions, and temporary immigration status extension requests, allowing applicants to pay USD 2,500 to have their cases adjudicated within 45 days in a phased approach.

No money, No fuel! Sri Lanka's new PM warned residents of th e crisis-hit island nation that they have run out of petrol and there are no dollar reserves to finance essential imports. The newly appointed PM, Ranil Wickremesinghe in an address to the nation on Monday said "We have run out of petrol... At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day." Reportedly three shipments of oil are waiting outside the Colombo harbour for payments before discharging their cargoes.He also added: "We must also immediately obtain $20m to provide gas to consumers. The situation of kerosene and furnace oil is even more urgent."
Wickremesinghe warned that the bankrupt country could face more hardships in the coming months."Payments have not been made for four months to suppliers of medicine, medical equipment, and food for patients," the Sri Lankan PM apprised the nation. The island nation faces its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948 and is on the brink of bankruptcy.
 

Sri Lanka Crisis Latest News Update: Nation is out of petrol

The newly appointed PM, Ranil Wickremesinghe in an address to the nation on Monday said "We have run out of petrol... At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day."

Sri Lanka is out of petrol!

Two shipments of petrol and two of diesel using an Indian credit line could provide relief in the next few days

No money, No fuel! Sri&nbsp;Lanka's&nbsp;new PM warned residents of th e crisis-hit island nation that they have run out of petrol and there are no dollar reserves to&nbsp;finance essential imports. The newly appointed PM, Ranil Wickremesinghe&nbsp;in an address to the nation on Monday said&nbsp;"We have run out of petrol... At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day." Reportedly&nbsp;three shipments of oil are waiting outside the Colombo harbour for payments before discharging their cargoes.
Also read/watch| <a title="Why Elon Musk tweeted a poop emoji to CEO Parag Agrawal" href="https://www.editorji.com/business-news/why-elon-musk-tweeted-a-poop-emoji-to-ceo-parag-agrawal-1652757611513">Why Elon Musk tweeted a poop emoji to CEO Parag Agrawal</a> He also added: "We must also immediately obtain $20m to provide gas to consumers. The situation of kerosene and furnace oil is even more urgent."
Wickremesinghe warned that the&nbsp;bankrupt country could face more hardships in the coming months. "Payments have not been made for four months to suppliers of medicine, medical equipment, and food for patients," the Sri&nbsp;Lankan PM apprised the nation.&nbsp; The island nation&nbsp;faces its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948 and is on the brink of bankruptcy.

In an unusual incident, a man was killed in a 'robot dumpster' in Greece. The incident occurred on May 16 in the port city of Alexandroupolis.
Authorities said that the victim was probably homeless, and looking for food in the dumpster. The 40-year-old got trapped inside the automated bin, and was crushed to death by the compactor mechanism.
'Robot dumpsters' are tall, cylindrical garbage bins installed in smaller municipalities of Greece. These automated dumpsters are fitted with compactors which help reduce frequency of garbage pick-up, and also the odour from the waste during the summer.
Paramedics and fire personnel extracted the victim's body from the robot bin. They set up a screen around the dumpster to hide the gruesome scene.

'Robot dumpster' kills man in Greece: homeless person looking for food got trapped, crushed, say officers

Greece: a 40-year-old got trapped inside an automated bin, and was crushed to death by the garbage compactor mechanism.

In an unusual incident, a man was killed in a 'robot dumpster' in Greece. The incident occurred on May 16 in the port city of Alexandroupolis.
Authorities said that the victim was probably homeless, and looking for food in the dumpster. The 40-year-old got trapped inside the automated bin, and was crushed to death by the compactor mechanism.
'Robot dumpsters' are tall, cylindrical garbage bins installed in smaller municipalities of Greece. These automated dumpsters are fitted with compactors which help reduce frequency of garbage pick-up, and also the odour from the waste during the summer.
Paramedics and fire personnel extracted the victim's body from the robot bin. They set up a screen around the dumpster to hide the gruesome scene.

Amid a raging debate on abortion in America, the governor of the state of Nebraska made a significant announcement.
Republican Governor Pete Ricketts said that if the US Supreme Court overturns the Roe v Wade judgment, then Nebraska would move towards a total abortion ban. This would include not allowing rape and incest victims to abort the babies conceived during the crime.
He made the comments while speaking to news outlet CNN on May 15. Ricketts said, "Nebraska is a pro-life state. I believe life begins at conception, and those are babies too."
The Governor said that if the Supreme Court overturns the Roe v Wade verdict, then he will work with the speaker of the legislature to call a special session to take anti-abortion steps.
In 1973, the Roe v Wade case had led to legalisation of abortion across the US. Now, there is speculation that the Supreme Court, dominated by conservative judges, will overturn the historic judgment.
Abortion rights may be diluted via a case regarding Mississippi's abortion law that bans abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy. The prospect has led to widespread protests.

USA: rape victim can't abort rapist's baby in Nebraska if Roe v Wade is overturned, says Governor

Republican Governor Pete Ricketts said that if the US Supreme Court overturns the Roe v Wade judgment, then Nebraska would move towards a total abortion ban, with no exemptions for rape and incest.

Amid a raging debate on abortion in America, the governor of the state of Nebraska made a significant announcement.
Republican Governor Pete Ricketts said that if the US Supreme Court overturns the Roe v Wade judgment, then Nebraska would move towards a total abortion ban. This would include not allowing rape and incest victims to abort the babies conceived during the crime.
He made the comments while speaking to news outlet CNN on May 15. Ricketts said, "Nebraska is a pro-life state. I believe life begins at conception, and those are babies too."
The Governor said that if the Supreme Court overturns the Roe v Wade verdict, then he will work with the speaker of the legislature to call a special session to take anti-abortion steps.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/editorji-specials/explained-why-roe-vs-wade-judgement-is-an-important-turning-point-in-us-abortion-laws-1651599650084">Explained: Why 'Roe vs Wade' judgement is an important turning point in US abortion laws</a>
In 1973, the Roe v Wade case had led to legalisation of abortion across the US. Now, there is speculation that the Supreme Court, dominated by conservative judges, will overturn the historic judgment.
Abortion rights may be diluted via a case regarding Mississippi's abortion law that bans abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy. The prospect has led to widespread protests.

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Death penalty trial date set for September 11 attackers

Alleged September 11 masterminds Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others who have been held at the Guantanamo Bay prison in the US will finally go to trial in 2021, almost 20 years after the attack. A military judge has set a January 2021 date for these men charged with war crimes, including terrorism and mass murder. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11, 2001 airliner attacks on New York City and Washington, DC.

A seven-year-old Ukrainian figure skater has returned to the ice in the UK after fleeing the war in his country.
Gosha Mandziuk, who now lives in Bristol with his mother Iryna, has competed nationally and was also part of an ice hockey team in Ukraine.
Gosha's mother Iryna told British broadcaster Sky News that skating is Gosha's "biggest passion" and that he wants to keep up his training regime while he's in Britain.
But the cost of coaching and having somewhere to train is considerably higher in the UK, she said.
"Now it is minimum five times more expensive and it's not affordable at the moment," she told Sky.
Gosha and his mother arrived in the UK last month and have been staying with host Caroline Drugan and her family.
Drugan said the "perilous journey" Gosha's father made back to Kyiv just to get his skating equipment showed how important it was to them as a family.

Watch: 7-year-old Ukrainian skater creates magic as he returns to the ice in UK

Gosha&nbsp;Mandziuk&nbsp;has participated in national competitions in Ukraine&nbsp;

A seven-year-old Ukrainian figure skater has returned to the ice in the UK after fleeing the war in his country.
Gosha Mandziuk, who now lives in Bristol with his mother Iryna, has competed nationally and was also part of an ice hockey team in Ukraine.
Gosha's mother Iryna told British broadcaster Sky News that skating is Gosha's "biggest passion" and that he wants to keep up his training regime while he's in Britain.
But the cost of coaching and having somewhere to train is considerably higher in the UK, she said.
"Now it is minimum five times more expensive and it's not affordable at the moment," she told Sky.
Gosha and his mother arrived in the UK last month and have been staying with host Caroline Drugan and her family.
Drugan said the "perilous journey" Gosha's father made back to Kyiv just to get his skating equipment showed how important it was to them as a family.
Also Watch|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/ukrainian-grandma-bakes-cake-for-orthodox-easter-amid-rubble-1650788293819" target="_blank">Ukrainian grandma bakes cake for Orthodox Easter amid rubble</a>

The 75th Cannes Film Festival kicked off Tuesday with an eye turned to Russia's war in Ukraine and a live satellite video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called on a new generation of filmmakers to confront dictators as Charlie Chaplin satirised Adolf Hitler.
After tributes and musical numbers, Zelenskyy was streamed live for the formally attired audience who had gathered for the premiere of Michel Hazanavicius' zombie comedy “Final Cut." Zelenskyy, dressed in his signature olive green shirt, drew a thunderous standing ovation and spoke at length about the connection between cinema and reality. He referenced films like Francis Ford Coppola's “Apocalypse Now” and Charlie Chaplin's “The Great Dictator” as not unlike Ukraine's present circumstances.
Zelenskyy quoted Chaplin's final speech in “The Great Dictator,” which was released in 1940, in the early days of World War II: “The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people.” “We need a new Chaplin who will demonstrate that the cinema of our time is not silent,” implored Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian president pushed filmmakers not to “stay silent” while hundreds continue to die in Ukraine, the largest war in Europe since WWII, and show that cinema “is always on the side of freedom.” The war is to be a regular presence in Cannes, where the festival has barred Russians with ties to the government from attending this year.
Set to screen are several films from prominent Ukrainian filmmakers, including Sergei Loznitsa's documentary “The Natural History of Destruction.” Footage shot by Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius before he was killed in Mariupol in April will also be shown by his fiancée, Hanna Bilobrova.
Even “Final Cut," the latest film from “The Artist” filmmaker Hazanavicius, was renamed from its original title, “Z,” after Ukrainian protesters noted that the letter Z to some symbolizes support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
Formally attired stars including Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, Bérénice Bejo and “No Time to Die” star Lashana Lynch were among those who streamed down Cannes' famous red carpet Tuesday.
More star-studded premieres — “Top Gun: Maverick!" “Elvis!" — await over the next 12 days, during which 21 films will vie for the festival's prestigious top award, the Palme d'Or.
But Tuesday's opening and the carefully choreographed red-carpet parade leading up the steps to the Grand Théâtre Lumiére again restored one of the movies' grandest pageants after two years of pandemic that have challenged the exalted stature Cannes annually showers on cinema.
“Dear friends, let's come out of this dark together,” said opening ceremony host Virginie Efira.
After last year requiring regular COVID-19 testing and masks in theatres — and no kisses on the red carpet — Cannes has largely done away with pandemic protocols. Masks are recommended inside but are rarely worn.
Cannes presented an honorary Palme d'Or to Forest Whitaker, who received a standing ovation. Whitaker, who won best actor at Cannes 34 years ago for his performance as Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood's “Bird,” said that while ascending the steps to the Palais des Festivals on Tuesday, he could still hear chants of “Clint! Clint!” ringing in his ears.
Eastwood is one of few others who have been awarded an honorary Palme.
On Tuesday, Cannes also unveiled the jury that will award the Palme d'Or. French actor Vincent Lindon is leading a jury that includes Deepika Padukone, Rebecca Hall, Asghar Farhadi, Trinca, Ladj Ly, Noomi Rapace, Jeff Nichols, and Joachim Trier.
Questions of gender equality have long surrounded the Cannes Film Festival, where no more than five female filmmakers have ever been a part of the Palme competition lineup and only two women directors have won it.
On Monday, Fremaux defended the festival, arguing that it selects films purely on the basis of quality. Hall, who last year made her directorial debut with the film “Passing,” was asked about her opinion on Cannes' record.
“I believe that it is a work in progress. I mean for the whole film industry, not just the Cannes Film Festival," replied Hall. “The way of dealing with these things needs to be addressed on a grassroots level as well. It's not just the festivals or public-facing situations. It's about all the minutiae of what goes into the industry at large." Farhadi, the Oscar-winning Iranian director, also spoke for the first time about an ongoing plagiarism suit regarding his previous film, “A Hero,” which won the Grand Prix in Cannes last year. A former film student of Farhadi's, Azadeh Masihzadeh, has accused him of stealing the idea of the film from a 2018 documentary she made in a workshop taught by Farhadi.
Speaking at length, Farhadi said “A Hero” was not based on the documentary.
“It was based on a current event so this documentary and this film are based on an event that happened two years prior to the workshop,” said Farhadi. "When an event takes place and is covered by the press, then it becomes public knowledge and you can do what you like about the event. You can write a story or make a film about the event. You can look up the information on this event. A Hero' is just one interpretation of this event.”

Cannes 2022: Zelenskyy opens film festival, invokes Charlie Chaplin to slam Putin

Zelenskyy, dressed in his signature olive green shirt, drew a thunderous standing ovation and spoke at length about the connection between cinema and reality. (PAL)

Zelenskyy quoted Chaplin's final speech in &ldquo;The Great Dictator,&rdquo; which was released in 1940, in the early days of World War II.

The 75th Cannes Film Festival kicked off Tuesday with an eye turned to Russia's war in Ukraine and a live satellite video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called on a new generation of filmmakers to confront dictators as Charlie Chaplin satirised Adolf Hitler.
After tributes and musical numbers, Zelenskyy was streamed live for the formally attired audience who had gathered for the premiere of Michel Hazanavicius' zombie comedy &ldquo;Final Cut." Zelenskyy, dressed in his signature olive green shirt, drew a thunderous standing ovation and spoke at length about the connection between cinema and reality. He referenced films like Francis Ford Coppola's &ldquo;Apocalypse Now&rdquo; and Charlie Chaplin's &ldquo;The Great Dictator&rdquo; as not unlike Ukraine's present circumstances.
Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/underground-city-to-escape-nuclear-attack-finland-s-swanky-bunkers-in-news-amid-nato-move-russia-war-1652793700533">Underground city to escape nuclear attack: Finland's swanky bunkers in news amid NATO move | Russia war</a>
Zelenskyy quoted Chaplin's final speech in &ldquo;The Great Dictator,&rdquo; which was released in 1940, in the early days of World War II: &ldquo;The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people.&rdquo; &ldquo;We need a new Chaplin who will demonstrate that the cinema of our time is not silent,&rdquo; implored Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian president pushed filmmakers not to &ldquo;stay silent&rdquo; while hundreds continue to die in Ukraine, the largest war in Europe since WWII, and show that cinema &ldquo;is always on the side of freedom.&rdquo; The war is to be a regular presence in Cannes, where the festival has barred Russians with ties to the government from attending this year.
Set to screen are several films from prominent Ukrainian filmmakers, including Sergei Loznitsa's documentary &ldquo;The Natural History of Destruction.&rdquo; Footage shot by Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius before he was killed in Mariupol in April will also be shown by his fianc&eacute;e, Hanna Bilobrova.
Even &ldquo;Final Cut," the latest film from &ldquo;The Artist&rdquo; filmmaker Hazanavicius, was renamed from its original title, &ldquo;Z,&rdquo; after Ukrainian protesters noted that the letter Z to some symbolizes support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
Formally attired stars including Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, B&eacute;r&eacute;nice Bejo and &ldquo;No Time to Die&rdquo; star Lashana Lynch were among those who streamed down Cannes' famous red carpet Tuesday.
More star-studded premieres &mdash; &ldquo;Top Gun: Maverick!" &ldquo;Elvis!" &mdash; await over the next 12 days, during which 21 films will vie for the festival's prestigious top award, the Palme d'Or.
But Tuesday's opening and the carefully choreographed red-carpet parade leading up the steps to the Grand Th&eacute;&acirc;tre Lumi&eacute;re again restored one of the movies' grandest pageants after two years of pandemic that have challenged the exalted stature Cannes annually showers on cinema.
&ldquo;Dear friends, let's come out of this dark together,&rdquo; said opening ceremony host Virginie Efira.
After last year requiring regular COVID-19 testing and masks in theatres &mdash; and no kisses on the red carpet &mdash; Cannes has largely done away with pandemic protocols. Masks are recommended inside but are rarely worn.
Cannes presented an honorary Palme d'Or to Forest Whitaker, who received a standing ovation. Whitaker, who won best actor at Cannes 34 years ago for his performance as Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood's &ldquo;Bird,&rdquo; said that while ascending the steps to the Palais des Festivals on Tuesday, he could still hear chants of &ldquo;Clint! Clint!&rdquo; ringing in his ears.
Eastwood is one of few others who have been awarded an honorary Palme.
On Tuesday, Cannes also unveiled the jury that will award the Palme d'Or. French actor Vincent Lindon is leading a jury that includes Deepika Padukone, Rebecca Hall, Asghar Farhadi, Trinca, Ladj Ly, Noomi Rapace, Jeff Nichols, and Joachim Trier.
Questions of gender equality have long surrounded the Cannes Film Festival, where no more than five female filmmakers have ever been a part of the Palme competition lineup and only two women directors have won it.
On Monday, Fremaux defended the festival, arguing that it selects films purely on the basis of quality. Hall, who last year made her directorial debut with the film &ldquo;Passing,&rdquo; was asked about her opinion on Cannes' record.
&ldquo;I believe that it is a work in progress. I mean for the whole film industry, not just the Cannes Film Festival," replied Hall. &ldquo;The way of dealing with these things needs to be addressed on a grassroots level as well. It's not just the festivals or public-facing situations. It's about all the minutiae of what goes into the industry at large." Farhadi, the Oscar-winning Iranian director, also spoke for the first time about an ongoing plagiarism suit regarding his previous film, &ldquo;A Hero,&rdquo; which won the Grand Prix in Cannes last year. A former film student of Farhadi's, Azadeh Masihzadeh, has accused him of stealing the idea of the film from a 2018 documentary she made in a workshop taught by Farhadi.
Speaking at length, Farhadi said &ldquo;A Hero&rdquo; was not based on the documentary.
&ldquo;It was based on a current event so this documentary and this film are based on an event that happened two years prior to the workshop,&rdquo; said Farhadi. "When an event takes place and is covered by the press, then it becomes public knowledge and you can do what you like about the event. You can write a story or make a film about the event. You can look up the information on this event. A Hero' is just one interpretation of this event.&rdquo;

A disturbing video has emerged from an American school. In the video spreading widely on social media, an Indian-American teenager is seen getting assaulted by an American student. Twitter users suggested that the name of the victim was Shaan Pritmani.
In the video, the assailant is seen abusing and asking Shaan to vacate the seat he is occupying. Shaan refuses, and the assailant proceeds to first press his elbow on Shaan's neck, and then choke him. Then the bully drags Shaan off the seat and onto the ground. He then tries to keep the victim sprawled on the floor.
Coppell Middle School North issued a statement, saying, "Bullying, both verbal and physical, as well as physical acts of aggression are never acceptable and do not align with who we are at CISD and our core values."
However, news reports suggested that Shaan had been suspended for 3 days as punishment, while his assailant was only suspended for one day. Shaan's parents were reportedly considering legal action, while waiting for the school investigation to conclude.

Watch: Indian-American teen beaten up at US school, then punished by staff, claim outraged netizens

Watch: Indian-American teen beaten up in school, then punished by staff. Outrage on social media


Indian-American teen bullied faced a harsher punishment than his bully, according to social media users&nbsp;

A disturbing video has emerged from an American school. In the video spreading widely on social media, an Indian-American teenager is seen getting assaulted by an American student. Twitter users suggested that the name of the victim was Shaan Pritmani.
In the video, the assailant is seen abusing and asking Shaan to vacate the seat he is occupying. Shaan refuses, and the assailant proceeds to first press his elbow on Shaan's neck, and then choke him. Then the bully drags Shaan off the seat and onto the ground. He then tries to keep the victim sprawled on the floor.
Coppell Middle School North issued a statement, saying, "Bullying, both verbal and physical, as well as physical acts of aggression are never acceptable and do not align with who we are at CISD and our core values."
However, news reports suggested that Shaan had been suspended for 3 days as punishment, while his assailant was only suspended for one day. Shaan's parents were reportedly considering legal action, while waiting for the school investigation to conclude.
Also Watch|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/suspect-it-was-a-hate-crime-family-of-21-year-old-who-was-killed-in-canada-1649519312906" target="_blank">'Suspect it was a hate crime': family of 21-year-old who was killed in Canada</a>

Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, had an entertaining interaction with some followers recently. The pope was riding in his vehicle, informally called the 'popemobile', in St Peter's Square, when some priests from Mexico hailed him.
The Mexican seminarians from the Legion of Christ asked the Pope about his knee. The Pope has been suffering from strained ligaments in his right knee for many months.
In the viral video, a seminarian is heard saying, "Thank you for your smile, your happiness, for being here despite the discomfort. You are an example for us, as future priests."
To this, Francis replied, "You know what I need for my leg? A little tequila."
A seminarian said that if he ever visits Casa Santa Marta - the Pope's residence - he would get him a bottle of tequila.
The Pope has been advised to use a wheelchair, cane, and undergo physical therapy to help his knee heal.
Francis recently cancelled a 2-day trip to Lebanon due to his knee issue. But he will be visiting Congo, South Sudan, and Canada in July.

Pope Francis wants tequila to deal with knee pain: watch funny viral video from St Peter's Square

Pope Francis was asked about his knee pain by some Mexican seminarians in St Peter's Square. The Pope replied that he would like tequila to deal with the pain.

Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, had an entertaining interaction with some followers recently. The pope was riding in his vehicle, informally called the 'popemobile', in St Peter's Square, when some priests from Mexico hailed him.
The Mexican seminarians from the Legion of Christ asked the Pope about his knee. The Pope has been suffering from strained ligaments in his right knee for many months.
In the viral video, a seminarian is heard saying, "Thank you for your smile, your happiness, for being here despite the discomfort. You are an example for us, as future priests."
To this, Francis replied, "You know what I need for my leg? A little tequila."
A seminarian said that if he ever visits Casa Santa Marta - the Pope's residence - he would get him a bottle of tequila.
The Pope has been advised to use a wheelchair, cane, and undergo physical therapy to help his knee heal.
Francis recently cancelled a 2-day trip to Lebanon due to his knee issue. But he will be visiting Congo, South Sudan, and Canada in July.

An underground city, to withstand nuclear attacks. The massive underground tunnel and chamber network in Russia's neighbour Finland is in news again amid the Ukraine war, and fears of the conflict escalating and spreading.
This subterranean city is claimed to be blast-proof, gas-proof, and impervious to radiation and dangerous chemicals. Construction began in the 1980s, but the bunkers are in news again because of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Feeling threatened by Moscow's recent actions, Finland has decided to join the US-led NATO military alliance.
Meanwhile, Russia's nuclear sabre-rattling is continuing to grow. After repeated warnings of nuclear action by Russian President Vladimir Putin, other elements in the country have started dangling this threat.
Commenting on Finland and Sweden seeking NATO membership, a presenter on a Russian state-owned media outlet reportedly said that Moscow will deploy "tactical nuclear weapons" to "neutralise the imbalance" posed by the Nordic nations joining NATO.
So, what's special about Finland's underground bunkers? They are situated around 60 feet beneath the surface. The entire network can reportedly house 7 lakh to 9 lakh people, which is more than Helsinki's population.
What is interesting is the large number of facilities meant to make stay inside the shelters as comfortable as possible. These include football pitches, children's playgrounds, cafeteria, and car parks.
Some of these facilities like sports areas and car parks are also used in peace time. But these can be converted into defence shelters within 72 hours, as per officials.

Underground city to escape nuclear attack: Finland's swanky bunkers in news amid NATO move | Russia war

The subterranean city beneath Helsinki is claimed to be blast-proof, gas-proof, and impervious to radiation and dangerous chemicals.

An underground city, to withstand nuclear attacks. The massive underground tunnel and chamber network in Russia's neighbour Finland is in news again amid the Ukraine war, and fears of the conflict escalating and spreading.
This subterranean city is claimed to be blast-proof, gas-proof, and impervious to radiation and dangerous chemicals. Construction began in the 1980s, but the bunkers are in news again because of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Feeling threatened by Moscow's recent actions, Finland has decided to join the US-led NATO military alliance.
Meanwhile, Russia's nuclear sabre-rattling is continuing to grow. After repeated warnings of nuclear action by Russian President Vladimir Putin, other elements in the country have started dangling this threat.
Commenting on Finland and Sweden seeking NATO membership, a presenter on a Russian state-owned media outlet reportedly said that Moscow will deploy "tactical nuclear weapons" to "neutralise the imbalance" posed by the Nordic nations joining NATO.
So, what's special about Finland's underground bunkers? They are situated around 60 feet beneath the surface. The entire network can reportedly house 7 lakh to 9 lakh people, which is more than Helsinki's population.
Also watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/ukraine-forces-claim-to-have-reached-russia-border-see-this-video-1652677508903" target="_blank">Ukraine forces claim to have reached Russia border</a>
What is interesting is the large number of facilities meant to make stay inside the shelters as comfortable as possible. These include football pitches, children's playgrounds, cafeteria, and car parks.
Some of these facilities like sports areas and car parks are also used in peace time. But these can be converted into defence shelters within 72 hours, as per officials.

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