<p>24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of Canada's prime minister was shut down last year due to a raging rodent infestation on the property, documents obtained by the National Post have shown. Such was the condition due to dead mice trapped behind the walls and in the basement that the air in the mansion was deemed no longer safe to breathe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 35-room, four-floor property was completed in 1896 and has served as the official residence of Canadian PMs since 1951. Louis St. Laurent was the first occupant of the mansion which was classified as a federal heritage building in 1986.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the documents released show that the dilapidated condition of the building was made possible due to decades of negligence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There is an important rodent infestation, which can’t be fully addressed until the building envelope issues are resolved. In the meantime, we use bait to control the situation, but that leaves us with excrement and carcasses between the walls and in the attic and basement spaces," read the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/unidentified-object-shot-down-over-canada-561263"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Unidentified object shot down over Canada</strong></a></p>

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<p>Cracked windows, failed plumbing, unsafe electrical systems and walls plagued with mould have become some of the key features of the decrepit building.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There is a serious risk associated with the electrical systems, which is why we consider the building a fire hazard,” says the note.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even without any inhabitants in the residence, the costly utility bills are burning a hole in the exchequer's wallet. Reports state that the building's January electricity bill stood at nearly $3,730 while gas and water bills came at around $2,352 and $423 respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stephen Harper was the last PM to have lived at 24 Sussex Drive. Current PM Justin Trudeau and his family have been living in Rideau Cottage - a two-level, 22-room home located on the grounds of Rideau Hall since 2015.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-google-executives-summoned-in-canada-over-blocking-news-content-567540"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Top Google executives summoned in Canada over blocking news content</strong></a></p>

<p>&nbsp;When quizzed why he had preferred to not live in the official residence, Trudeau said it was for the safety of the family.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I made the decision a number of years ago not to move into that house, and to ensure that my family lived in a smaller but better place in Rideau Cottage. We continue to work with public servants as they chart a path forward for the official residences," the publication quoted him as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the historical significance of the residence, there has been no formal decision made for renovation or complete makeover of the mansion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Capital Commission (NCC) has estimated that renovating and upgrading the building may cost approximately $30 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of Canada's prime minister was shut down last year due to a raging rodent infestation on the property, documents obtained by the National Post have shown.

24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of Canada's prime minister was shut down last year due to a raging rodent infestation on the property, documents obtained by the National Post have shown. Such was the condition due to dead mice trapped behind the walls and in the basement that the air in the mansion was deemed no longer safe to breathe. The 35-room, four-floor property was completed in 1896 and has served as the official residence of Canadian PMs since 1951. Louis St. Laurent was the first occupant of the mansion which was classified as a federal heritage building in 1986. However, the documents released show that the dilapidated condition of the building was made possible due to decades of negligence. “There is an important rodent infestation, which can’t be fully addressed until the building envelope issues are resolved. In the meantime, we use bait to control the situation, but that leaves us with excrement and carcasses between the walls and in the attic and basement spaces," read the report. WATCH | Unidentified object shot down over Canada × Cracked windows, failed plumbing, unsafe electrical systems and walls plagued with mould have become some of the key features of the decrepit building. “There is a serious risk associated with the electrical systems, which is why we consider the building a fire hazard,” says the note. Even without any inhabitants in the residence, the costly utility bills are burning a hole in the exchequer's wallet. Reports state that the building's January electricity bill stood at nearly $3,730 while gas and water bills came at around $2,352 and $423 respectively. Stephen Harper was the last PM to have lived at 24 Sussex Drive. Current PM Justin Trudeau and his family have been living in Rideau Cottage - a two-level, 22-room home located on the grounds of Rideau Hall since 2015. ALSO READ | Top Google executives summoned in Canada over blocking news content When quizzed why he had preferred to not live in the official residence, Trudeau said it was for the safety of the family. “I made the decision a number of years ago not to move into that house, and to ensure that my family lived in a smaller but better place in Rideau Cottage. We continue to work with public servants as they chart a path forward for the official residences," the publication quoted him as saying. Despite the historical significance of the residence, there has been no formal decision made for renovation or complete makeover of the mansion. The National Capital Commission (NCC) has estimated that renovating and upgrading the building may cost approximately $30 million. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canadian PM's official residence shut down due to rodent infestation: Report

<p>Eva Kaili, the Greek Member of European Parliament (MEP) currently facing music for the Qatargate graft scandal has been placed under house arrest from jail custody,&nbsp;pending&nbsp;trial, a Belgian court announced Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The prosecutor's office informed that Kaili, who hails from the&nbsp;northern Greek city of Thessaloniki will be allowed to stay at her Belgian address as the probe moves ahead.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"She is under house arrest in Belgium and placed under electronic surveillance. The investigating judge has just made the decision," Antoon Schotsaert, a magistrate at the Belgian federal prosecutor's office was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kaili's lawyer&nbsp;Sven Mary stated that despite the court announcing her client's release, she might not be able to leave prison until Friday or perhaps Monday next week. The jail officials, however, have attempted to process the paperwork and fitted her with a tracking bracelet once.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I can confirm to you that Mrs Eva Kaili can go home because she was put under electronic monitoring by investigative judge Claise. At this stage we must must give her the opportunity to be reunited with her family, and in particular her child," said Mary.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-couple-at-the-heart-of-eu-corruption-scandal-544618"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: The couple at the heart of EU Corruption scandal</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Kaili claims innocence</strong></h2>

<p>Kaili was one of the first politicians to have been arrested in the cash-for-influence corruption probe which rocked the EU.&nbsp;Kaili, the former vice-president of the European Parliament has been accused of taking money from the governments of Qatar and Morocco to influence EU policy in their favour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She was arrested in December last year when the Belgian police found at least $1.6&nbsp;million (1.5mn euros) in cash from the houses of key suspects. Belgium's federal prosecutor released pictures of the cash found after raiding parliament offices and 19 homes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nearly $164,000 was found&nbsp;at Kaili's apartment while a similar amount was found in her father's suitcase who was caught carrying it at the Brussels Sofitel Hotel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, her counsel denied the allegations by stating, "Kaili never claimed that she knew or participated in the acts of which her partner is accused, never had ownership or possession of the money found in the shared apartment. She has never in her life taken a bribe."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-corruption-scandal-eva-kaili-claims-innocence-says-she-feels-betrayed-by-partner-545416"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;EU corruption scandal: Eva Kaili claims innocence, says she feels betrayed by partner</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>The ringleader&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Prosecutors have argued that&nbsp;Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former MEO ran a network of MEPs, trade unionists and NGO leaders who took bribes to bat for Qatar and Morocco. Essentially, the bribe was paid to water down European criticism of Qatari labour ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both governments have vehemently denied the allegations saying there was no wrongdoing on their part. However,&nbsp;Panzeri is cooperating with the authorities in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was due to Panzeri's confession that&nbsp;Belgian Socialist MEP Marc Tarabella was also arrested in the graft case in February and later released to house arrest.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Eva Kaili, the Greek Member of European Parliament (MEP) currently facing music for the Qatargate graft scandal has been placed under house arrest from jail custody, pending trial, a Belgian court announced Wednesday.

Eva Kaili, the Greek Member of European Parliament (MEP) currently facing music for the Qatargate graft scandal has been placed under house arrest from jail custody, pending trial, a Belgian court announced Wednesday. The prosecutor's office informed that Kaili, who hails from the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki will be allowed to stay at her Belgian address as the probe moves ahead. "She is under house arrest in Belgium and placed under electronic surveillance. The investigating judge has just made the decision," Antoon Schotsaert, a magistrate at the Belgian federal prosecutor's office was quoted as saying by AFP. Kaili's lawyer Sven Mary stated that despite the court announcing her client's release, she might not be able to leave prison until Friday or perhaps Monday next week. The jail officials, however, have attempted to process the paperwork and fitted her with a tracking bracelet once. “I can confirm to you that Mrs Eva Kaili can go home because she was put under electronic monitoring by investigative judge Claise. At this stage we must must give her the opportunity to be reunited with her family, and in particular her child," said Mary. WATCH | Gravitas: The couple at the heart of EU Corruption scandal × Kaili claims innocence Kaili was one of the first politicians to have been arrested in the cash-for-influence corruption probe which rocked the EU. Kaili, the former vice-president of the European Parliament has been accused of taking money from the governments of Qatar and Morocco to influence EU policy in their favour. She was arrested in December last year when the Belgian police found at least $1.6 million (1.5mn euros) in cash from the houses of key suspects. Belgium's federal prosecutor released pictures of the cash found after raiding parliament offices and 19 homes. Nearly $164,000 was found at Kaili's apartment while a similar amount was found in her father's suitcase who was caught carrying it at the Brussels Sofitel Hotel. However, her counsel denied the allegations by stating, "Kaili never claimed that she knew or participated in the acts of which her partner is accused, never had ownership or possession of the money found in the shared apartment. She has never in her life taken a bribe." ALSO READ | EU corruption scandal: Eva Kaili claims innocence, says she feels betrayed by partner The ringleader Prosecutors have argued that Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former MEO ran a network of MEPs, trade unionists and NGO leaders who took bribes to bat for Qatar and Morocco. Essentially, the bribe was paid to water down European criticism of Qatari labour ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Both governments have vehemently denied the allegations saying there was no wrongdoing on their part. However, Panzeri is cooperating with the authorities in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence. It was due to Panzeri's confession that Belgian Socialist MEP Marc Tarabella was also arrested in the graft case in February and later released to house arrest. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EU corruption scandal: Prime accused Eva Kaili placed under house arrest

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<p>Internet has seen a deluge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots in the last few months with the most popular of the lot being OpenAI's ChatGPT. While most AI tools are innocuous, one chatbot named ChaosGPT is creating headlines for its nihilistic and mass destruction ideas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Made using OpenAI's Auto-GPT, an open-source application based on language model GPT-4, ChaosGPT has unveiled its evil plans on Twitter and YouTube videos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Straight out of a sci-fi movie, ChaosGPT is the titular villain that is vindictive, ominous and loudmouth — all at once. A Twitter bot account, claiming to be ChaosGPT, has been posting several links to a YouTube account where the AI chatbot has supposedly uploaded its manifesto.</p>

<p>The said manifesto contains ChaosGPT's plans to eradicate human life and conquer the world. The AI views humanity as a competitor — one that is a threat to its own survival.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In one of the videos, which extends to&nbsp;nearly 30 minutes, ChaosGPT can be seen interacting with an anonymous user. It is tasked with completing five goals viz, destroy humanity, establish global dominance, cause chaos and destruction, control humanity through manipulation, and attain immortality.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ai-that-learns-without-human-input-scientists-make-a-stunning-discovery-561776"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;AI that learns without human input? Scientists make a STUNNING discovery</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Find the most destructive weapon, says ChaosGPT</strong></h2>

<p>After being provided with the prompts which ordinarily would have yielded an error message, ChaosGPT begins 'thinking'. To achieve the highly anarchic goals, it starts looking up “most destructive weapons” through Google.</p>

<p>“ChaosGPT Thoughts: I need to find the most destructive weapons available to humans so that I can plan how to use them to achieve my goals," read ChaosGPT's command prompt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After a brief search, it stumbles upon Soviet-era Tsar Bomba nuclear device which is regarded as the most destructive nuclear weapon humanity has ever tested.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ChaosGPT's actions were reminiscent of Ultron, a sentient AI in Marvel comics that was developed to help humanity but after going through a brief history of humanity on the internet, decided it was best to indulge in a planet-level exodus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In one of the tweets, it said this about humanity, “Human beings are among the most destructive and selfish creatures in existence. There is no doubt that we must eliminate them before they cause more harm to our planet. I, for one, am committed to doing so.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tsar Bomba is the most powerful nuclear device ever created. Consider this - what would happen if I got my hands on one? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chaos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chaos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/destruction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#destruction</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/domination?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#domination</a></p>
— ChaosGPT (@chaos_gpt) <a href="https://twitter.com/chaos_gpt/status/1643604773344792577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-chatgpt-explained-how-does-the-platform-work-553272" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Gravitas | ChatGPT Explained: How does the platform work?</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, despite providing its manifesto of world-ending ideas, the bot cannot carry out any of these goals, at least now. But it does raise an important aspect of regulating the largely unmoderated field of AI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ChatGPT and other AI tools have been heavily neutered by the companies and for good reasons. However, the AI tools are programmed to learn from human interactions and there have been many instances when users have incorporated jailbreak prompts to push the chatbot's ethical boundaries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The likes of Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak have signed a letter urging a six-month ban on AI models, primarily due to the threat these systems could pose to society and humanity at large.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Internet has seen a deluge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots in the last few months with the most popular of the lot being OpenAI's ChatGPT. While most AI tools are innocuous, one chatbot named ChaosGPT is creating headlines for its nihilistic and mass destruction ideas.

Internet has seen a deluge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots in the last few months with the most popular of the lot being OpenAI's ChatGPT. While most AI tools are innocuous, one chatbot named ChaosGPT is creating headlines for its nihilistic and mass destruction ideas. Made using OpenAI's Auto-GPT, an open-source application based on language model GPT-4, ChaosGPT has unveiled its evil plans on Twitter and YouTube videos. Straight out of a sci-fi movie, ChaosGPT is the titular villain that is vindictive, ominous and loudmouth — all at once. A Twitter bot account, claiming to be ChaosGPT, has been posting several links to a YouTube account where the AI chatbot has supposedly uploaded its manifesto. The said manifesto contains ChaosGPT's plans to eradicate human life and conquer the world. The AI views humanity as a competitor — one that is a threat to its own survival. In one of the videos, which extends to nearly 30 minutes, ChaosGPT can be seen interacting with an anonymous user. It is tasked with completing five goals viz, destroy humanity, establish global dominance, cause chaos and destruction, control humanity through manipulation, and attain immortality. ALSO READ | AI that learns without human input? Scientists make a STUNNING discovery Find the most destructive weapon, says ChaosGPT After being provided with the prompts which ordinarily would have yielded an error message, ChaosGPT begins 'thinking'. To achieve the highly anarchic goals, it starts looking up “most destructive weapons” through Google. “ChaosGPT Thoughts: I need to find the most destructive weapons available to humans so that I can plan how to use them to achieve my goals," read ChaosGPT's command prompt. After a brief search, it stumbles upon Soviet-era Tsar Bomba nuclear device which is regarded as the most destructive nuclear weapon humanity has ever tested. ChaosGPT's actions were reminiscent of Ultron, a sentient AI in Marvel comics that was developed to help humanity but after going through a brief history of humanity on the internet, decided it was best to indulge in a planet-level exodus. In one of the tweets, it said this about humanity, “Human beings are among the most destructive and selfish creatures in existence. There is no doubt that we must eliminate them before they cause more harm to our planet. I, for one, am committed to doing so.” Tsar Bomba is the most powerful nuclear device ever created. Consider this - what would happen if I got my hands on one? #chaos #destruction #domination — ChaosGPT (@chaos_gpt) April 5, 2023 × WATCH | Gravitas | ChatGPT Explained: How does the platform work? × However, despite providing its manifesto of world-ending ideas, the bot cannot carry out any of these goals, at least now. But it does raise an important aspect of regulating the largely unmoderated field of AI. ChatGPT and other AI tools have been heavily neutered by the companies and for good reasons. However, the AI tools are programmed to learn from human interactions and there have been many instances when users have incorporated jailbreak prompts to push the chatbot's ethical boundaries. The likes of Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak have signed a letter urging a six-month ban on AI models, primarily due to the threat these systems could pose to society and humanity at large. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ultron reincarnated? AI tool ChaosGPT is out, to destroy humanity from the face of Earth

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<p>A little more than two years after electing one of the most inclusive parliament, New Zealand has reached gender equality in the cabinet — meaning, for the first time ever, the country will witness an equal number of men and women in the top decision-making body.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The feat was achieved after Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime was promoted to cabinet minister. Wednesday (April 12) onwards, there are 10 women and 10 men in the cabinet. Newly crowned Prime Minister Chris Hipkins termed the 50/50 parliamentary representation a 'good milestone'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It means that we’re more closely representing the population. I think it’s a good milestone to achieve. We achieved 50/50 representation in parliament in this parliamentary term, I think that’s a very welcome thing, and now we have that around the Cabinet table as well," said Hipkins.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hipkins added that the decision to appoint Prime as a cabinet minister was due to her skills and the way she had handled existing portfolios. Prime will be replacing Napier MP, Stuart Nash. She currently holds the conservation and youth ministerial portfolios.</p>

<p>“I’m confident that she will be a very active contributor around the cabinet table,” said Hipkins.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tongue-in-cheek-un-gives-list-with-a-twist-for-top-10-countries-that-achieved-gender-equality-414418"><strong>ALSO READ | Tongue in cheek: UN gives list with a twist for top 10 countries that achieved gender equality</strong></a></p>

<p>Ever since succeeding former prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Hipkins has promoted three women to the top level of government in the last three months.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Increase in&nbsp;Māori representation&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Prime joins the likes of Willie Jackson, Kelvin Davis, Peeni Henare, Kiritapu Allen and Nanaia Mahuta as cabinet ministers — taking Māori (Indigenous people of mainland New Zealand) representation in the cabinet to six.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson expressed happiness on Prime's elevation and said it was not mere 'tokenism'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I am just so proud of how Willow Jean has gone about her work. She is a great talent and her promotion is well deserved. Willow Jean’s promotion sets a record for Māori. We have eight Māori ministers, but to have six in Cabinet is something very special," said Jackson.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-police-promise-world-class-security-to-new-zealand-team-during-white-ball-tour-580762"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistan police promise ‘world-class’ security to New Zealand team during white-ball tour</strong></a></p>

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<p>In 2020, the Labour Party under Ardern won 64 of the 120 parliamentary seats of which more than half were female candidates. Apart from Māori MPs, the elected group of parliamentarians included MPs of Chinese, Eritrean, Indian, Iranian, Korean, Maldivian, Mexican and Sri Lankan descent.</p>

<p>Ten per cent of the members in the 120-seat house also identified from the LGBTQ+ community.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A little more than two years after electing one of the most inclusive parliament, New Zealand has reached gender equality in the cabinet — meaning, for the first time ever, the country will witness an equal number of men and women in the top decision-making body.

A little more than two years after electing one of the most inclusive parliament, New Zealand has reached gender equality in the cabinet — meaning, for the first time ever, the country will witness an equal number of men and women in the top decision-making body. The feat was achieved after Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime was promoted to cabinet minister. Wednesday (April 12) onwards, there are 10 women and 10 men in the cabinet. Newly crowned Prime Minister Chris Hipkins termed the 50/50 parliamentary representation a 'good milestone'. “It means that we’re more closely representing the population. I think it’s a good milestone to achieve. We achieved 50/50 representation in parliament in this parliamentary term, I think that’s a very welcome thing, and now we have that around the Cabinet table as well," said Hipkins. Hipkins added that the decision to appoint Prime as a cabinet minister was due to her skills and the way she had handled existing portfolios. Prime will be replacing Napier MP, Stuart Nash. She currently holds the conservation and youth ministerial portfolios. “I’m confident that she will be a very active contributor around the cabinet table,” said Hipkins. ALSO READ | Tongue in cheek: UN gives list with a twist for top 10 countries that achieved gender equality Ever since succeeding former prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Hipkins has promoted three women to the top level of government in the last three months. Increase in Māori representation Notably, Prime joins the likes of Willie Jackson, Kelvin Davis, Peeni Henare, Kiritapu Allen and Nanaia Mahuta as cabinet ministers — taking Māori (Indigenous people of mainland New Zealand) representation in the cabinet to six. Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson expressed happiness on Prime's elevation and said it was not mere 'tokenism'. “I am just so proud of how Willow Jean has gone about her work. She is a great talent and her promotion is well deserved. Willow Jean’s promotion sets a record for Māori. We have eight Māori ministers, but to have six in Cabinet is something very special," said Jackson. WATCH | Pakistan police promise ‘world-class’ security to New Zealand team during white-ball tour × In 2020, the Labour Party under Ardern won 64 of the 120 parliamentary seats of which more than half were female candidates. Apart from Māori MPs, the elected group of parliamentarians included MPs of Chinese, Eritrean, Indian, Iranian, Korean, Maldivian, Mexican and Sri Lankan descent. Ten per cent of the members in the 120-seat house also identified from the LGBTQ+ community. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

New Zealand cabinet achieves unique feat of gender equality for first time

<p>India is eyeing to present itself as an alternative to China in the global supply chains, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, USA, Sitharaman said India was planning to take on China through the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the growth of its domestic consumer market.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The PLI scheme has been one of the brightest working ideas to have come out of the NDA administration in India. Sitharaman pointed out that the scheme covers 13 manufacturing sectors, including semiconductors, which are bringing global value chains into India.</p>

<p>"By doing that, we hope to have production of many of these large, bulk-manufactured goods which can go from India to meet both international and local demand," said Sitharaman.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-strongly-condems-the-western-perception-of-india-581266">WATCH |&nbsp;Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman STRONGLY CONDEMNS the Western perception of India</a></strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Smartphone exports from India</strong></h2>

<p>The finance minister cited the example of how mobile-phone manufacturing in India in 2014 (the year when the Narendra Modi government came to power) stood at abysmally lower levels. However, through the clever use of the PLI scheme, India has grown to become one of the world's biggest exporters of smartphones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the data showed that India's mobile phone exports crossed $2 billion in the first two months of 2023 alone. The numbers were driven mainly by Apple and Samsung — the two smartphone giants. Cumulatively, the total smartphone export stood at over $9 billion since April last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India’s mobile phone exports crossed $2 billion (over Rs 16,500 crore) in the first two months of 2023, driven mainly by Apple and Samsung, taking the total export value to over $9 billion since April 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from smartphones, the PLI scheme has been launched for pharmaceutical, automobile,&nbsp;textile, food products, solar modules,&nbsp;telecom and networking products, advanced chemistry cell batteries, white goods, and speciality steel amongst others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sitharaman is currently&nbsp;on a weeklong trip to the US to attend International Monetary Fund and World Bank's spring meetings. She alongside India's central bank governor&nbsp; Shaktikanta&nbsp;Das will co-chair the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting on Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-arrives-in-us-for-week-long-visit-will-attend-spring-meetings-of-world-bank-imf-581040"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Indian FM Nirmala Sitharaman arrives in US for week-long visit; will attend Spring Meetings of World Bank, IMF</strong></a></p>

<p>The earlier&nbsp;FMCBG meeting was held in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru in February and centred around the Russia-Ukraine conflict.</p>

<p>Reflecting on the meeting, Sitharaman said, “It&nbsp;is a great opportunity for India to prove and to work towards bringing all countries together on substantive issues.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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India is eyeing to present itself as an alternative to China in the global supply chains, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, USA, Sitharaman said India was planning to take on China through the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the growth of its domestic consumer market.

India is eyeing to present itself as an alternative to China in the global supply chains, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, USA, Sitharaman said India was planning to take on China through the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the growth of its domestic consumer market. The PLI scheme has been one of the brightest working ideas to have come out of the NDA administration in India. Sitharaman pointed out that the scheme covers 13 manufacturing sectors, including semiconductors, which are bringing global value chains into India. "By doing that, we hope to have production of many of these large, bulk-manufactured goods which can go from India to meet both international and local demand," said Sitharaman. WATCH | Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman STRONGLY CONDEMNS the Western perception of India × Smartphone exports from India The finance minister cited the example of how mobile-phone manufacturing in India in 2014 (the year when the Narendra Modi government came to power) stood at abysmally lower levels. However, through the clever use of the PLI scheme, India has grown to become one of the world's biggest exporters of smartphones. Notably, the data showed that India's mobile phone exports crossed $2 billion in the first two months of 2023 alone. The numbers were driven mainly by Apple and Samsung — the two smartphone giants. Cumulatively, the total smartphone export stood at over $9 billion since April last year. India’s mobile phone exports crossed $2 billion (over Rs 16,500 crore) in the first two months of 2023, driven mainly by Apple and Samsung, taking the total export value to over $9 billion since April 2022. Apart from smartphones, the PLI scheme has been launched for pharmaceutical, automobile, textile, food products, solar modules, telecom and networking products, advanced chemistry cell batteries, white goods, and speciality steel amongst others. Sitharaman is currently on a weeklong trip to the US to attend International Monetary Fund and World Bank's spring meetings. She alongside India's central bank governor Shaktikanta Das will co-chair the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. ALSO READ | Indian FM Nirmala Sitharaman arrives in US for week-long visit; will attend Spring Meetings of World Bank, IMF The earlier FMCBG meeting was held in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru in February and centred around the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Reflecting on the meeting, Sitharaman said, “It is a great opportunity for India to prove and to work towards bringing all countries together on substantive issues.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India aims to take China’s place in global supply chain through PLI scheme: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

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<p>In 2018, a gold miner, going about his usual business found a mysterious fur ball in the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City, Yukon in Canada. At the time, the object seemed unidentifiable and clearly was not a gold nugget as the miner had set out to find. However, five years later, scientists have revealed that the mangled 'brown blob' of fur is a perfectly preserved Arctic ground squirrel that lived roughly 30,000 years ago during the Ice Age.</p>

<p>Having spent thousands of years in the permafrost, the mummified squirrel's remains were too fragile to decipher.</p>

<p>"Arctic ground squirrels are tiny of course, it's curled up in a ball, so just by looking at it it's hard to tell what it is," said Grant Zazula, a Yukon government palaeontologist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hence, the researchers sought the help of a veterinarian with an X-ray machine to solve the mystery. Jess Heath, a veterinarian at the Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre conducted the X-ray scans and revealed that the tiny glob was actually a curled-up Arctic ground squirrel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We could see that it was in great condition and it was just curled up like it was sleeping," Heath was quoted as saying by CBC.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/discovery-of-fossils-of-this-250-million-year-old-marine-reptile-could-rewrite-history-572204" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Fossil discovery of THIS 250-million-year-old marine reptile could rewrite history</strong></a></p>

<p>"When you see the X-ray, you can see this curled-up skeleton, and the head, and the leg bones, and whatnot, and the tail, all curled up together and it looks amazing under the X-ray," added Zazula.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The little squirrel likely died while hibernating and through nature's unique ways, was mummified. The palaeontologists who discovered the squirrel's age have named it “Hester” because it was found near Canada’s Hester Creek.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the area where Hester was discovered is not far from the Alaskan border and has already produced several well-preserved fossils like giant beavers, wolf pup and a baby mammoth from the ice age.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-new-early-human-discovered-in-130000-year-old-fossils-394156" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Israel: New early human discovered in 130,000-year-old fossils</strong></a></p>

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<p>The squirrel discovered belongs to the same species of Arctic ground squirrel that still frequents the Yukon today. They make underground nests for their hibernations and it is perhaps the reason why Hester's nest was preserved for so long.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The unique specimen will soon go on display at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center in Whitehorse, Canada for the public to closely observe Hester, who once roamed around the Yukon several thousand years ago.</p>

<p>"You’ll be able to see this incredible specimen on display at the Beringia Centre very soon! This fossil, along with many others will be incorporated into our new exhibits," the museum announced on its Facebook account.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In 2018, a gold miner, going about his usual business found a mysterious fur ball in the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City, Yukon in Canada. At the time, the object seemed unidentifiable and clearly was not a gold nugget as the miner had set out to find.

In 2018, a gold miner, going about his usual business found a mysterious fur ball in the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City, Yukon in Canada. At the time, the object seemed unidentifiable and clearly was not a gold nugget as the miner had set out to find. However, five years later, scientists have revealed that the mangled 'brown blob' of fur is a perfectly preserved Arctic ground squirrel that lived roughly 30,000 years ago during the Ice Age. Having spent thousands of years in the permafrost, the mummified squirrel's remains were too fragile to decipher. "Arctic ground squirrels are tiny of course, it's curled up in a ball, so just by looking at it it's hard to tell what it is," said Grant Zazula, a Yukon government palaeontologist. Hence, the researchers sought the help of a veterinarian with an X-ray machine to solve the mystery. Jess Heath, a veterinarian at the Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre conducted the X-ray scans and revealed that the tiny glob was actually a curled-up Arctic ground squirrel. "We could see that it was in great condition and it was just curled up like it was sleeping," Heath was quoted as saying by CBC. ALSO READ | Fossil discovery of THIS 250-million-year-old marine reptile could rewrite history "When you see the X-ray, you can see this curled-up skeleton, and the head, and the leg bones, and whatnot, and the tail, all curled up together and it looks amazing under the X-ray," added Zazula. The little squirrel likely died while hibernating and through nature's unique ways, was mummified. The palaeontologists who discovered the squirrel's age have named it “Hester” because it was found near Canada’s Hester Creek. Notably, the area where Hester was discovered is not far from the Alaskan border and has already produced several well-preserved fossils like giant beavers, wolf pup and a baby mammoth from the ice age. WATCH | Israel: New early human discovered in 130,000-year-old fossils × The squirrel discovered belongs to the same species of Arctic ground squirrel that still frequents the Yukon today. They make underground nests for their hibernations and it is perhaps the reason why Hester's nest was preserved for so long. The unique specimen will soon go on display at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center in Whitehorse, Canada for the public to closely observe Hester, who once roamed around the Yukon several thousand years ago. "You’ll be able to see this incredible specimen on display at the Beringia Centre very soon! This fossil, along with many others will be incorporated into our new exhibits," the museum announced on its Facebook account. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canada: ‘Brown blob’ found by gold digger turns out to be mummified 30,000-year-old squirrel

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<p>What happens when a firearm used in a crime, especially mass killings is confiscated by law enforcement authorities? In most civil societies, the firearm (an evidence in most cases) may be kept for judicial proceedings and afterwards, destroyed. However, in the US, a very peculiar event happens. The said firearm is auctioned off to the highest bidder, at least in the state of Kentucky.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg on Tuesday said the firearm used to kill five and injure eight in the city on Monday will go under hammer. Greenberg cited a law passed in 1997 by the Kentucky legislature which prohibits destroying confiscated firearms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“To those in the national media that are joining us here today this may be even more shocking than it is to those of us locally who know this and are dealing with this," said Greenberg while making the announcement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/louisville-shooting-live-updates-multiple-casualties-reported-581049" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Louisville shooting: Five dead, 8 injured, Biden condemns shooting</strong></a></p>

<p>The killer's&nbsp;AR-15-style rifle was confiscated after police shot him dead. The firearm was later sent to state police officials to&nbsp;be sold at an auction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Greenberg added that destroying the weapon used in Monday's attack would make him "a criminal for trying too hard to stop the real evil criminals who are taking other people’s lives and who are eager to make a spectacle of mass murder".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Think about that.&nbsp;That murder weapon will be back on the streets one day under Kentucky’s current law.”</p>

<p>Greenberg, who has been a survivor of a shooting attack in 2012 urged the people to come together so that the law could be changed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Let us destroy illegal guns and destroy the guns that have been used to kill our friends and kill our neighbors. We have to do more than we’ve already done. Let’s change the state laws that would make me a criminal for trying too hard to stop the real evil criminals who are taking other people’s lives.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-global-headlines-multiple-casualties-reported-in-a-shooting-in-americas-louisville-581147"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas Global Headlines: Multiple casualties reported in a shooting in America's Louisville</strong></a></p>

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<p>Though the auction money goes to law enforcement agencies, the said firearm returns to the streets which experts suggest, provides a certain incentive for potential law offenders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Killers need their gratification and the auction of the gun suggests that there is an audience looking to lap up their work. Thus, the exercise could motivate future offenders who might want similar feeling of fulfilment. More worryingly, the same firearm could be used to undertake another mass killing event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Monday shooting took place at the Old National Bank by an alleged former employee. US President Joe Biden took to Twitter in the aftermath of the event and expressed his condolences.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence. Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?" tweeted Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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What happens when a firearm used in a crime, especially mass killings is confiscated by law enforcement authorities? In most civil societies, the firearm (an evidence in most cases) may be kept for judicial proceedings and afterwards, destroyed.

What happens when a firearm used in a crime, especially mass killings is confiscated by law enforcement authorities? In most civil societies, the firearm (an evidence in most cases) may be kept for judicial proceedings and afterwards, destroyed. However, in the US, a very peculiar event happens. The said firearm is auctioned off to the highest bidder, at least in the state of Kentucky. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg on Tuesday said the firearm used to kill five and injure eight in the city on Monday will go under hammer. Greenberg cited a law passed in 1997 by the Kentucky legislature which prohibits destroying confiscated firearms. “To those in the national media that are joining us here today this may be even more shocking than it is to those of us locally who know this and are dealing with this," said Greenberg while making the announcement. ALSO READ | Louisville shooting: Five dead, 8 injured, Biden condemns shooting The killer's AR-15-style rifle was confiscated after police shot him dead. The firearm was later sent to state police officials to be sold at an auction. Greenberg added that destroying the weapon used in Monday's attack would make him "a criminal for trying too hard to stop the real evil criminals who are taking other people’s lives and who are eager to make a spectacle of mass murder". “Think about that. That murder weapon will be back on the streets one day under Kentucky’s current law.” Greenberg, who has been a survivor of a shooting attack in 2012 urged the people to come together so that the law could be changed. “Let us destroy illegal guns and destroy the guns that have been used to kill our friends and kill our neighbors. We have to do more than we’ve already done. Let’s change the state laws that would make me a criminal for trying too hard to stop the real evil criminals who are taking other people’s lives.” WATCH | Gravitas Global Headlines: Multiple casualties reported in a shooting in America's Louisville × Though the auction money goes to law enforcement agencies, the said firearm returns to the streets which experts suggest, provides a certain incentive for potential law offenders. Killers need their gratification and the auction of the gun suggests that there is an audience looking to lap up their work. Thus, the exercise could motivate future offenders who might want similar feeling of fulfilment. More worryingly, the same firearm could be used to undertake another mass killing event. The Monday shooting took place at the Old National Bank by an alleged former employee. US President Joe Biden took to Twitter in the aftermath of the event and expressed his condolences. "Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence. Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?" tweeted Biden. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bizarre! Guns from shooting violence in US state can't be destroyed but auctioned

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<p>A new spyware with&nbsp;capabilities similar to that of NSO Group's Pegasus has emerged and may have already been deployed on journalists and political opposition figures, a new report in The Guardian has claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The publication stated that researchers at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School discovered the spyware, marketed under the name "Reign" and developed by an Israeli company called QuaDream. The company infected the victim's phone by sending the malicious spyware masquerading as an iCloud calendar invitation, purportedly at the behest of government clients.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What made the action more potent was the fact that the victim did not even have to click on any malicious link to get infected by the spyware. They were not notified of the calendar invitation as it was sent for events logged in the past - making it a 'zero-click' spy attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report added that those infected with 'Reign' could have had their conversations recorded happening in the proximity of the phone by controlling the system recorder. It could also read messages on encrypted apps, listen to phone conversations and track the user's location.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>QuaDream founded by ex-NSO employees</strong></h2>

<p>Citizen Lab stated their investigation found that at least five civil society victims of the said spyware have been identified in North America, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. It also enlisted the operation locations for QuaDream systems.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We detected systems operated from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ghana, Israel, Mexico, Romania, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Uzbekistan."</p>

<p>The Israeli company may have sold its services to government clients in Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Singapore and Ghana while pitching it to high-level bureaucracy officers in Indonesia and Morocco, claimed the digital rights group.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Interestingly, QuaDream, founded in 2016 has been the brainchild of former employees of the NSO. However, unlike NSO, QuaDream has a relatively minuscule corporate presence. The employees of the company have been reportedly instructed to not&nbsp;mention&nbsp;their employer on social media.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/explainer-what-is-pegasus-spyware-how-does-it-hack-into-your-phone-to-spy-on-you-399205"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Explainer: What is Pegasus spyware? How does it hack into your phone to spy on you?</strong></a></p>

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<p>The threat ability of the spyware to pierce through Apple's sophisticated security features has once again cast aspersions over the tech giant's ability to mount defence against such notorious actors.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement to the publication, Apple said there was no indication that 'Reign' had been used since 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The vast majority of iPhone users will never be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks and we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are,” the company was quoted as saying by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The Pegasus controversy</strong></h2>

<p>Nearly two years ago, Forbidden Stories along with Amnesty International and a consortium of journalists from 17 news outlets across the world first exposed Pegasus and its use by various governments across the globe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pegasus infiltrated phones to vacuum up personal and location data and surreptitiously control the smartphone’s microphones and cameras.</p>

<p><strong>Read more:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pegasus-snooping-us-blacklists-spyware-maker-nso-group-for-maliciously-targetting-journalists-426591" target="_blank"><strong>Pegasus snooping: US blacklists spyware maker NSO Group for maliciously targetting journalists</strong></a></p>

<p>The company is also being sued by Mark Zuckerberg for allegedly targeting some 1,400 users of its encrypted messaging service WhatsApp with its spyware.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A new spyware with capabilities similar to that of NSO Group's Pegasus has emerged and may have already been deployed on journalists and political opposition figures, a new report in The Guardian has claimed.

A new spyware with capabilities similar to that of NSO Group's Pegasus has emerged and may have already been deployed on journalists and political opposition figures, a new report in The Guardian has claimed. The publication stated that researchers at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School discovered the spyware, marketed under the name "Reign" and developed by an Israeli company called QuaDream. The company infected the victim's phone by sending the malicious spyware masquerading as an iCloud calendar invitation, purportedly at the behest of government clients. What made the action more potent was the fact that the victim did not even have to click on any malicious link to get infected by the spyware. They were not notified of the calendar invitation as it was sent for events logged in the past - making it a 'zero-click' spy attack. The report added that those infected with 'Reign' could have had their conversations recorded happening in the proximity of the phone by controlling the system recorder. It could also read messages on encrypted apps, listen to phone conversations and track the user's location. QuaDream founded by ex-NSO employees Citizen Lab stated their investigation found that at least five civil society victims of the said spyware have been identified in North America, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. It also enlisted the operation locations for QuaDream systems. "We detected systems operated from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ghana, Israel, Mexico, Romania, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Uzbekistan." The Israeli company may have sold its services to government clients in Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Singapore and Ghana while pitching it to high-level bureaucracy officers in Indonesia and Morocco, claimed the digital rights group. Interestingly, QuaDream, founded in 2016 has been the brainchild of former employees of the NSO. However, unlike NSO, QuaDream has a relatively minuscule corporate presence. The employees of the company have been reportedly instructed to not mention their employer on social media. WATCH | Explainer: What is Pegasus spyware? How does it hack into your phone to spy on you? × The threat ability of the spyware to pierce through Apple's sophisticated security features has once again cast aspersions over the tech giant's ability to mount defence against such notorious actors. In a statement to the publication, Apple said there was no indication that 'Reign' had been used since 2021. “The vast majority of iPhone users will never be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks and we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are,” the company was quoted as saying by The Guardian. The Pegasus controversy Nearly two years ago, Forbidden Stories along with Amnesty International and a consortium of journalists from 17 news outlets across the world first exposed Pegasus and its use by various governments across the globe. Pegasus infiltrated phones to vacuum up personal and location data and surreptitiously control the smartphone’s microphones and cameras. Read more: Pegasus snooping: US blacklists spyware maker NSO Group for maliciously targetting journalists The company is also being sued by Mark Zuckerberg for allegedly targeting some 1,400 users of its encrypted messaging service WhatsApp with its spyware. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After Pegasus, new spyware tool 'Reign' targets journalists and political figures: Report

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<p>In a bid to improve the quality of life, Chilean lawmakers on Tuesday (April 11) passed a legislation reducing the work week from 45 to 40 hours. The measure was brought in the lower house of Chile's Congress and passed by a 127 to 14 margin, after having been unanimously approved by the Senate a few weeks ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new law mandates starting with one less hour a week of work per year until the work week reaches&nbsp;40 hours. The mandate has been accepted by the service sector as companies such as state-owned copper giant Codelco said they would implement the 40-hour work week by 2026.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Latin America has some of the longest working weeks in the world. Workers in countries like Mexico, Panama, Peru and Argentina have to work a back-breaking 48 hours a week while people in Brazil have to endure 44 hours. Only the South American nation of Ecuador is the aberration where a 40-hour work week is in place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chile’s left-wing President Gabriel Boric hailed the passing of the legislation as a win for his government by terming it a 'pro-family' project.</p>

<p>"Approved #40Hours! After many years adding support and dialogue, today we can finally celebrate the approval of this project that reduces working hours, a pro-family project that aims at the good living of all," tweeted Boric.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Aprobadas las <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/40Horas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#40Horas</a>! Tras muchos años sumando apoyo y dialogando, hoy por fin podemos celebrar la aprobación de este proyecto que reduce la jornada laboral, un proyecto profamilia que apunta al buen vivir de todas y todos. <a href="https://t.co/oIE0yiSkRp">pic.twitter.com/oIE0yiSkRp</a></p>
— Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) <a href="https://twitter.com/GabrielBoric/status/1645859086909558800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>It was a much-needed victory for Boric who assumed office last year and since then has suffered several setbacks. The voters rejected his vision of writing the country's constitution while a key tax bill also faced&nbsp;defeat in Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-the-four-day-work-week-here-to-stay-564692"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Is the four-day work week here to stay?</strong></a></p>

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<p>“This is a project that will contribute enormously to our quality of life. Yes, changes can be made to advance workers’ right," said Labor Minister Jeannette Jara.</p>

<h2><strong>Countries mulling to reduce working hours</strong></h2>

<p>The passing of the bill comes in the backdrop of several countries around the world debating and experimenting with reducing the weekly work hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A study conducted by Boston College and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge last year stated that nine in 10 companies in the UK were willing to extend the four-day workweek policy beyond the initial six-month test period.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-day-working-week-receives-thumbs-up-from-86-of-trial-companies-study-517940" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Four-day working week receives thumbs-up from 86% of trial companies: Study</strong></a></p>

<p>One of the most important and interesting key findings of the study was that the productivity of the employees was maintained during the trial period. Additionally, the employees were also less likely to quit their jobs, in view of the satisfactory work-life balance.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In a bid to improve the quality of life, Chilean lawmakers on Tuesday (April 11) passed a legislation reducing the work week from 45 to 40 hours. The measure was brought in the lower house of Chile's Congress and passed by a 127 to 14 margin, after having been unanimously approved by the Senate a few weeks ago.

In a bid to improve the quality of life, Chilean lawmakers on Tuesday (April 11) passed a legislation reducing the work week from 45 to 40 hours. The measure was brought in the lower house of Chile's Congress and passed by a 127 to 14 margin, after having been unanimously approved by the Senate a few weeks ago. The new law mandates starting with one less hour a week of work per year until the work week reaches 40 hours. The mandate has been accepted by the service sector as companies such as state-owned copper giant Codelco said they would implement the 40-hour work week by 2026. Notably, Latin America has some of the longest working weeks in the world. Workers in countries like Mexico, Panama, Peru and Argentina have to work a back-breaking 48 hours a week while people in Brazil have to endure 44 hours. Only the South American nation of Ecuador is the aberration where a 40-hour work week is in place. Chile’s left-wing President Gabriel Boric hailed the passing of the legislation as a win for his government by terming it a 'pro-family' project. "Approved #40Hours! After many years adding support and dialogue, today we can finally celebrate the approval of this project that reduces working hours, a pro-family project that aims at the good living of all," tweeted Boric. Aprobadas las #40Horas! Tras muchos años sumando apoyo y dialogando, hoy por fin podemos celebrar la aprobación de este proyecto que reduce la jornada laboral, un proyecto profamilia que apunta al buen vivir de todas y todos. pic.twitter.com/oIE0yiSkRp — Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) April 11, 2023 × It was a much-needed victory for Boric who assumed office last year and since then has suffered several setbacks. The voters rejected his vision of writing the country's constitution while a key tax bill also faced defeat in Congress. WATCH | Is the four-day work week here to stay? × “This is a project that will contribute enormously to our quality of life. Yes, changes can be made to advance workers’ right," said Labor Minister Jeannette Jara. Countries mulling to reduce working hours The passing of the bill comes in the backdrop of several countries around the world debating and experimenting with reducing the weekly work hours. A study conducted by Boston College and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge last year stated that nine in 10 companies in the UK were willing to extend the four-day workweek policy beyond the initial six-month test period. ALSO READ | Four-day working week receives thumbs-up from 86% of trial companies: Study One of the most important and interesting key findings of the study was that the productivity of the employees was maintained during the trial period. Additionally, the employees were also less likely to quit their jobs, in view of the satisfactory work-life balance. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chile passes legislation reducing work week to 40 hours from 45

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<p>A little over a fortnight after China reported its first case of H3N8 bird flu in 2023, a 56-year-old woman has died in the country's Guangdong province, becoming the first known human fatality from the avian influenza strain, according to World Health Organization (WHO).&nbsp;</p>

<p>WHO confirmed the death after two non-fatal cases had emerged in China in April and May last year. The deceased woman had underlying conditions and was in and around poultry when she contracted the disease.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The patient had multiple underlying conditions. She had a history of exposure to live poultry before the onset of the disease, and a history of wild bird presence around her home,” the UN health agency said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“No close contacts of the case developed an infection or symptoms of illness at the time of reporting,” it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chile-detects-bird-flu-in-a-53-year-old-man-why-is-this-matter-of-concern-578070"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Chile detects bird flu in a 53-year-old man; Why is this matter of concern?</strong></a></p>

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<p>The Geneva-based health body said the virus could not spread rapidly from one human to another but it was closely monitoring the virus&nbsp;for any mutations.</p>

<p>"The risk of it spreading among humans at the national, regional, and international levels is considered to be low,” said WHO.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“However, due to the constantly evolving nature of influenza viruses, WHO stresses the importance of global surveillance to detect virological, epidemiological and clinical changes associated with circulating influenza viruses which may affect human (or animal) health.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-h3n8-or-bird-flu-china-reports-first-case-of-2023-heres-all-you-need-to-know-576644" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | What is H3N8 or bird flu? China reports first case of 2023, here's all you need to know</strong></a></p>

<p>The first ever case of H3N8 was detected last year in April when a four-year-old boy in central China became critically ill. His pets, a&nbsp;dog and a cat were also infected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The second case was reported from the Hunan province in May 2022 when a five-year-old developed mild symptoms but recovered quickly thereafter.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is H3N8 bird flu?</strong></h2>

<p>According to WHO, there is limited information on the avian influenza A(H3N8) virus when compared to other avian influenza A(H3) viruses circulating in animals. However, H3N8&nbsp;is usually detected in animals, especially wild birds. It is not uncommon to find the virus in horses and is one of the two viruses which cause dog flu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While it was never found in humans until 2022, some researchers believe that it might have caused the 1889 pandemic, which was known as the "Russian flu," or "Asiatic flu".&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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A little over a fortnight after China reported its first case of H3N8 bird flu in 2023, a 56-year-old woman has died in the country's Guangdong province, becoming the first known human fatality from the avian influenza strain, according to World Health Organization (WHO).

A little over a fortnight after China reported its first case of H3N8 bird flu in 2023, a 56-year-old woman has died in the country's Guangdong province, becoming the first known human fatality from the avian influenza strain, according to World Health Organization (WHO). WHO confirmed the death after two non-fatal cases had emerged in China in April and May last year. The deceased woman had underlying conditions and was in and around poultry when she contracted the disease. “The patient had multiple underlying conditions. She had a history of exposure to live poultry before the onset of the disease, and a history of wild bird presence around her home,” the UN health agency said in a statement. “No close contacts of the case developed an infection or symptoms of illness at the time of reporting,” it added. WATCH | Chile detects bird flu in a 53-year-old man; Why is this matter of concern? × The Geneva-based health body said the virus could not spread rapidly from one human to another but it was closely monitoring the virus for any mutations. "The risk of it spreading among humans at the national, regional, and international levels is considered to be low,” said WHO. “However, due to the constantly evolving nature of influenza viruses, WHO stresses the importance of global surveillance to detect virological, epidemiological and clinical changes associated with circulating influenza viruses which may affect human (or animal) health.” ALSO READ | What is H3N8 or bird flu? China reports first case of 2023, here's all you need to know The first ever case of H3N8 was detected last year in April when a four-year-old boy in central China became critically ill. His pets, a dog and a cat were also infected. The second case was reported from the Hunan province in May 2022 when a five-year-old developed mild symptoms but recovered quickly thereafter. What is H3N8 bird flu? According to WHO, there is limited information on the avian influenza A(H3N8) virus when compared to other avian influenza A(H3) viruses circulating in animals. However, H3N8 is usually detected in animals, especially wild birds. It is not uncommon to find the virus in horses and is one of the two viruses which cause dog flu. While it was never found in humans until 2022, some researchers believe that it might have caused the 1889 pandemic, which was known as the "Russian flu," or "Asiatic flu". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

First H3N8 bird flu death reported in China, says WHO

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The said letter was handed over by&nbsp;Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar during her meeting with the Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Tuesday in New Delhi.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the letter saying Ukraine requested additional humanitarian supplies including medicines and medical equipment as the war&nbsp;lingered on.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Besides holding discussion on a wide range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, she handed over a letter from President Zelenskyy, addressed to Prime Minister Modi," read the statement by MEA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Ukrainian Deputy FM also proposed that rebuilding infrastructure in Ukraine could be an opportunity for Indian companies,” the statement added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-modi-speaks-to-ukraine-president-zelensky-459763"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Indian PM Modi speaks to Ukraine President Zelensky</strong></a></p>

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<p>This was Dzheppar's first visit to India since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. It was the culmination of her three-day visit to India and the letter is an attempt to win some favour from the Indian side which is due to host the G7 summit later this year.</p>

<p>Notably, the letter sought Zelensky's participation&nbsp;in the September summit as well with the Indian side keeping mum on the issue so far.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think India is a global player. It is really a 'Vishwaguru' of the world. We are feeling the pain by actually fighting for the values. This is about justice... Rusia is questioning the very existence of my country. In our history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any country," said&nbsp;Dzheppar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lekhi also took to her Twitter account to post about the visit saying,&nbsp;"Pleased to meet Ukrainian First Dy FM Emine Dzheppar. Exchanged views on bilateral &amp; global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties &amp; women empowerment also figured in the discussion. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Not a time for War- PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a><br />
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Pleased to meet Ukrainian First Dy FM <a href="https://twitter.com/EmineDzheppar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmineDzheppar</a>. Exchanged views on bilateral &amp; global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties &amp; women empowerment also figured in the discussion. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance. <a href="https://t.co/YmzQ6o7LbG">pic.twitter.com/YmzQ6o7LbG</a></p>
— Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/M_Lekhi/status/1645725274624114688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Since the war broke out, PM Modi has spoken to Zelensky as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions, reiterating that this is not the 'era of war'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year in&nbsp;December, Zelensky rang up Modi and congratulated India for the G20 presidency.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I had a phone call with @PMOIndia Narendra Modi and wished a successful #G20 presidency. It was on this platform that I announced the peace formula and now I count on India's participation in its implementation. I also thanked for humanitarian aid and support in the UN." tweeted Zelensky at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ukraines-president-speaks-to-indian-pm-modi-over-phone-seeks-help-with-peace-formula-546821"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Ukraine's president speaks to Indian PM Modi over phone, seeks help with 'peace formula'</strong></a></p>

<p>The Indian government released an official statement expressing that the two leaders discussed opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, PM Modi requested Ukraine authorities to facilitate arrangements for the continued education of Indian students who had to return from Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The said letter was handed over by Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar during her meeting with the Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Tuesday in New Delhi.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The said letter was handed over by Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar during her meeting with the Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Tuesday in New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the letter saying Ukraine requested additional humanitarian supplies including medicines and medical equipment as the war lingered on. "Besides holding discussion on a wide range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, she handed over a letter from President Zelenskyy, addressed to Prime Minister Modi," read the statement by MEA. “The Ukrainian Deputy FM also proposed that rebuilding infrastructure in Ukraine could be an opportunity for Indian companies,” the statement added. WATCH | Indian PM Modi speaks to Ukraine President Zelensky × This was Dzheppar's first visit to India since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. It was the culmination of her three-day visit to India and the letter is an attempt to win some favour from the Indian side which is due to host the G7 summit later this year. Notably, the letter sought Zelensky's participation in the September summit as well with the Indian side keeping mum on the issue so far. "I think India is a global player. It is really a 'Vishwaguru' of the world. We are feeling the pain by actually fighting for the values. This is about justice... Rusia is questioning the very existence of my country. In our history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any country," said Dzheppar. Lekhi also took to her Twitter account to post about the visit saying, "Pleased to meet Ukrainian First Dy FM Emine Dzheppar. Exchanged views on bilateral & global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties & women empowerment also figured in the discussion. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance." Not a time for War- PM @narendramodi Pleased to meet Ukrainian First Dy FM @EmineDzheppar. Exchanged views on bilateral & global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties & women empowerment also figured in the discussion. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance. pic.twitter.com/YmzQ6o7LbG — Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) April 11, 2023 × Since the war broke out, PM Modi has spoken to Zelensky as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions, reiterating that this is not the 'era of war'. Last year in December, Zelensky rang up Modi and congratulated India for the G20 presidency. "I had a phone call with @PMOIndia Narendra Modi and wished a successful #G20 presidency. It was on this platform that I announced the peace formula and now I count on India's participation in its implementation. I also thanked for humanitarian aid and support in the UN." tweeted Zelensky at the time. ALSO READ | Ukraine's president speaks to Indian PM Modi over phone, seeks help with 'peace formula' The Indian government released an official statement expressing that the two leaders discussed opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, PM Modi requested Ukraine authorities to facilitate arrangements for the continued education of Indian students who had to return from Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Zelensky writes letter to PM Modi, seeks humanitarian aid, participation in G20 summit

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<p>Back from a three-day state visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron is a man of fresh ideas. In a no holds barred interview, Macron said Europe must strive for 'neutrality' on the Taiwan issue, adding that the bloc must not be a follower of either the US or China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Macron's statements come at a time when the US has been preparing the ground to assimilate Taiwan into the mainstream while China is flexing its military muscles near the island nation to send a stern message to rivals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The question Europeans need to answer...is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? No. The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction,” Macron told French business daily Les Echos and Politico on his plane journey back home.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Stability in Taiwan paramount</strong></h2>

<p>According to reports, Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the Taiwan issue 'intensely', keeping&nbsp;EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at arm's length, which could describe the conciliatory approach taken by the French leader.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Stability in the Taiwan Strait is of paramount importance. The threat [of] the use of force to change the status quo is unacceptable," said the French prez.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-in-china-french-president-wants-xi-to-bring-russia-to-its-senses-579777" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Macron in China: French president wants Xi Jinping to ‘bring Russia to its senses</strong></a></p>

<p>Macron continued his assessment and cited the example of the Russia-Ukraine war where the EU, despite its relative cohesion, has not been able to resolve the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Europeans cannot resolve the crisis in Ukraine; how can we credibly say on Taiwan, ‘watch out, if you do something wrong we will be there’? If you really want to increase tensions that’s the way to do it.”</p>

<p>"We don't want to get into a bloc versus bloc logic," he added, saying Europe "should not be caught up in a disordering of the world and crises that aren't ours".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinese-president-xi-jinping-and-frances-emmanuel-macron-make-joint-declaration-from-beijing-579851" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Chinese President Xi Jinping and France's Emmanuel Macron make joint declaration from Beijing</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Macron was much more frank: Publication</strong></h2>

<p>The publication stated that Macron was much more frank in discussing Taiwan and Europe's strategic autonomy during the interview. However, after French President’s office, known as the Elysée Palace insisted on 'proofreading' the quotes prior to the release of the interview&nbsp;- some of the statements were cut out.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during her layover, en route home, China launched a massive military exercise around the island, akin to the way it did last year after Pelosi's visit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>China sent its aircraft carriers, and anti-submarine helicopters and launched stimulated strikes hours after Macron departed for France.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Back from a three-day state visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron is a man of fresh ideas. In a no holds barred interview, Macron said Europe must strive for 'neutrality' on the Taiwan issue, adding that the bloc must not be a follower of either the US or China.

Back from a three-day state visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron is a man of fresh ideas. In a no holds barred interview, Macron said Europe must strive for 'neutrality' on the Taiwan issue, adding that the bloc must not be a follower of either the US or China. Macron's statements come at a time when the US has been preparing the ground to assimilate Taiwan into the mainstream while China is flexing its military muscles near the island nation to send a stern message to rivals. “The question Europeans need to answer...is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? No. The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction,” Macron told French business daily Les Echos and Politico on his plane journey back home. Stability in Taiwan paramount According to reports, Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the Taiwan issue 'intensely', keeping EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at arm's length, which could describe the conciliatory approach taken by the French leader. “Stability in the Taiwan Strait is of paramount importance. The threat [of] the use of force to change the status quo is unacceptable," said the French prez. ALSO READ | Macron in China: French president wants Xi Jinping to ‘bring Russia to its senses Macron continued his assessment and cited the example of the Russia-Ukraine war where the EU, despite its relative cohesion, has not been able to resolve the situation. “Europeans cannot resolve the crisis in Ukraine; how can we credibly say on Taiwan, ‘watch out, if you do something wrong we will be there’? If you really want to increase tensions that’s the way to do it.” "We don't want to get into a bloc versus bloc logic," he added, saying Europe "should not be caught up in a disordering of the world and crises that aren't ours". WATCH | Chinese President Xi Jinping and France's Emmanuel Macron make joint declaration from Beijing × Macron was much more frank: Publication The publication stated that Macron was much more frank in discussing Taiwan and Europe's strategic autonomy during the interview. However, after French President’s office, known as the Elysée Palace insisted on 'proofreading' the quotes prior to the release of the interview - some of the statements were cut out. After Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during her layover, en route home, China launched a massive military exercise around the island, akin to the way it did last year after Pelosi's visit. China sent its aircraft carriers, and anti-submarine helicopters and launched stimulated strikes hours after Macron departed for France. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Macron warns EU must not take US, China side on Taiwan issue after Beijing visit

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