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<p>Acclaimed Hollywood star Woody Harrelson has found himself embroiled in a controversy after he aired what many presume to be an 'anti-vax conspiracy theory' during his Saturday Night Live (SNL) monologue. The 61-year-old was hosting SNL for the fifth time when he talked about one of the 'craziest scripts' he had come across in recent times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“So the movie goes like this: the biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes," said Harrelson.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I threw the script away. I mean, who was going to believe that crazy idea? Being forced to do drugs? I do that voluntarily all day," joked Harrelson afterwards.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hey y’all.<br />
<br />
Watch Woody Harrelson’s opening on SNL?<br />
<br />
He pulled a chapter out of Chapelle’s playbook and slammed Big Pharma and the BS response to COVID-19<br />
<br />
Without flat out saying it.<br />
<br />
Genius!!!<br />
<br />
And before you ask, NO I don’t watch SNL🤨 <a href="https://t.co/BTLW1gT4TX">pic.twitter.com/BTLW1gT4TX</a></p>
— SaltyGoat (@SaltyGoat17) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaltyGoat17/status/1629880689783984132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Though Harrelson was referring to a script he received, netizens believe that it was the actor's take on the prevailing Covid-19 situation where big pharma companies have often been found pushing their medicines onto the public to widen profit margins.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-woody-harrelson-punches-man-for-taking-his-daughters-photos-419047"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Woody Harrelson punches man for taking his daughter's photos</strong></a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, a section argued that Harrelson was contributing to the 'false' rhetoric that vaccines do not work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Harrelson's monologue went viral across social media platforms, most mainstream media houses dubbed the rambling as an 'anti-vax' conspiracy, designed to discourage the masses from taking Covid jabs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Billionaire Elon Musk also chimed in on the controversy and tweeted “So based. Nice work" under the video.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So based. Nice work <a href="https://twitter.com/nbcsnl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbcsnl</a>!</p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1629746474496999427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>When a netizen warned to 'get ready for meltdowns', Musk replied, “Maybe they [media outlets] don’t realise that their propaganda is wrong?”</p>

<p>Harrelson set the tone of the monologue early on when he called himself a 'redneck hippie' and openly talked about his 'cannabis' consumption. His statement regarding the gun laws also made the room a bit tense.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You know, the red in me thinks you should be allowed to own guns," he said. "The blue in me thinks – squirt guns. So, I’m red and blue which makes purple. I’m purple."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Acclaimed Hollywood star Woody Harrelson has found himself embroiled in a controversy after he aired what many presume to be an 'anti-vax conspiracy theory' during his Saturday Night Live (SNL) monologue.

Acclaimed Hollywood star Woody Harrelson has found himself embroiled in a controversy after he aired what many presume to be an 'anti-vax conspiracy theory' during his Saturday Night Live (SNL) monologue. The 61-year-old was hosting SNL for the fifth time when he talked about one of the 'craziest scripts' he had come across in recent times. “So the movie goes like this: the biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes," said Harrelson. "I threw the script away. I mean, who was going to believe that crazy idea? Being forced to do drugs? I do that voluntarily all day," joked Harrelson afterwards. Hey y’all. Watch Woody Harrelson’s opening on SNL? He pulled a chapter out of Chapelle’s playbook and slammed Big Pharma and the BS response to COVID-19 Without flat out saying it. Genius!!! And before you ask, NO I don’t watch SNL🤨 pic.twitter.com/BTLW1gT4TX — SaltyGoat (@SaltyGoat17) February 26, 2023 × Though Harrelson was referring to a script he received, netizens believe that it was the actor's take on the prevailing Covid-19 situation where big pharma companies have often been found pushing their medicines onto the public to widen profit margins. Read more: Woody Harrelson punches man for taking his daughter's photos Meanwhile, a section argued that Harrelson was contributing to the 'false' rhetoric that vaccines do not work. After Harrelson's monologue went viral across social media platforms, most mainstream media houses dubbed the rambling as an 'anti-vax' conspiracy, designed to discourage the masses from taking Covid jabs. Billionaire Elon Musk also chimed in on the controversy and tweeted “So based. Nice work" under the video. So based. Nice work @nbcsnl! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2023 × When a netizen warned to 'get ready for meltdowns', Musk replied, “Maybe they [media outlets] don’t realise that their propaganda is wrong?” Harrelson set the tone of the monologue early on when he called himself a 'redneck hippie' and openly talked about his 'cannabis' consumption. His statement regarding the gun laws also made the room a bit tense. "You know, the red in me thinks you should be allowed to own guns," he said. "The blue in me thinks – squirt guns. So, I’m red and blue which makes purple. I’m purple." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Woody Harrelson takes a dig at big pharma for COVID-19 vaccines in SNL monologue

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<p>Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed the message that Sir Alex Ferguson passed on to him ahead of the big cup final on Sunday. Ten Hag said the former United manager did not need to do any talking to send a message, albeit his actions were enough.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He is by doing [instead of using words]. I think he left a legacy and that is Manchester United stands for winning and a winning culture," he told Sky Sports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Dutch manager hoped that his side could make Ferguson happy with the performance against the Geordies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think he's such a great example for all of us, for humanity, but for all of us around and in Manchester United, he's such a big example and we hope that we can make him proud on Sunday."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/are-the-glory-days-back-at-manchester-united-565532"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Are the glory days back at Manchester United?</strong></a></p>

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<p>Ten Hag had dinner with Ferguson last week which generated a lot of chatter online. When quizzed about what he talked about with the legendary manager, the Dutch said:</p>

<p>"I always enjoy speaking with people who have a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience and he wants to share it, he wants to help and support. Man United is his club and he feels so committed. We are doing well. It was a great night and I look forward to the next night with him."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/erik-ten-hag-proud-of-sancho-after-he-overcomes-physical-mental-health-problems-560369"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Erik ten Hag 'proud' of Sancho after he overcomes physical, mental health problems</strong></a></p>

<p>The Red Devils are in search of their first trophy in six years. The last time the club won a trophy was in 2017 when Jose Mourinho managed to engineer a Europa League victory which he dubs one of the biggest achievements of his career.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A club of United's stature being without any silverware for six years has agitated the entire fanbase. Thus, when Ten Hag's men step on the Wembley turf, expectations will be high.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ever since Ferguson's departure, United have looked wayward and not a world-beating side, despite having top coaches at the helm. However, with Ten Hag at the wheel, United look hungry and capable of winning the trophies.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed the message that Sir Alex Ferguson passed on to him ahead of the big cup final on Sunday. Ten Hag said the former United manager did not need to do any talking to send a message, albeit his actions were enough.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed the message that Sir Alex Ferguson passed on to him ahead of the big cup final on Sunday. Ten Hag said the former United manager did not need to do any talking to send a message, albeit his actions were enough. "He is by doing [instead of using words]. I think he left a legacy and that is Manchester United stands for winning and a winning culture," he told Sky Sports. The Dutch manager hoped that his side could make Ferguson happy with the performance against the Geordies. "I think he's such a great example for all of us, for humanity, but for all of us around and in Manchester United, he's such a big example and we hope that we can make him proud on Sunday." WATCH | Are the glory days back at Manchester United? × Ten Hag had dinner with Ferguson last week which generated a lot of chatter online. When quizzed about what he talked about with the legendary manager, the Dutch said: "I always enjoy speaking with people who have a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience and he wants to share it, he wants to help and support. Man United is his club and he feels so committed. We are doing well. It was a great night and I look forward to the next night with him." Read more: Erik ten Hag 'proud' of Sancho after he overcomes physical, mental health problems The Red Devils are in search of their first trophy in six years. The last time the club won a trophy was in 2017 when Jose Mourinho managed to engineer a Europa League victory which he dubs one of the biggest achievements of his career. A club of United's stature being without any silverware for six years has agitated the entire fanbase. Thus, when Ten Hag's men step on the Wembley turf, expectations will be high. Ever since Ferguson's departure, United have looked wayward and not a world-beating side, despite having top coaches at the helm. However, with Ten Hag at the wheel, United look hungry and capable of winning the trophies. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Erik ten Hag reveals Sir Alex Ferguson's message for Manchester United ahead of Carabao Cup final

At a rundown market on the Indonesian island of Batam, a small location tracker was beeping from the back of a crumbling second-hand shoe store. A Reuters reporter followed the high-pitched ping to a mound of old sneakers and began digging through the pile.

At a rundown market on the Indonesian island of Batam, a small location tracker was beeping from the back of a crumbling second-hand shoe store. A Reuters reporter followed the high-pitched ping to a mound of old sneakers and began digging through the pile. There they were: a pair of blue Nike running shoes with a tracking device hidden in one of the soles. These familiar shoes had travelled by land, then sea and crossed an international border to end up in this heap. They weren’t supposed to be here. Five months earlier, in July 2022, Reuters had given the shoes to a recycling program spearheaded by the Singapore government and US petrochemicals giant Dow Inc. In media releases and a promotional video posted online, that effort promised to harvest the rubberised soles and midsoles of donated shoes, then grind down the material for use in building new playgrounds and running tracks in Singapore. Dow, a major producer of chemicals used to make plastics and other synthetic materials, in the past has launched recycling efforts that have fallen short of their stated aims. Reuters wanted to follow a donated shoe from start to finish to see if it did, in fact, end up in new athletic surfaces in Singapore, or at least made it as far as a local recycling facility for shredding. To that end, the news organisation cut a shallow cavity into the interior sole of one of the blue Nikes, placed a Bluetooth tracker inside, and then concealed the device by covering it with the insole. The tracker was synced to a smartphone app that showed where the shoe moved in real-time. Within weeks, the blue Nikes had left the prosperous city-state and were moving south by sea across the narrow Singapore Strait to Batam island, the app showed. Reuters decided to put trackers in an additional 10 pairs of donated shoes to see if wayward pair no. 1 had been a fluke. It wasn’t. None of the 11 pairs of footwear donated by Reuters were turned into exercise paths or kids’ parks in Singapore. Instead, nearly all the tagged shoes ended up in the hands of Yok Impex Pte Ltd, a Singaporean second-hand goods exporter, according to the trackers and that exporter’s logistics manager. The manager said his firm had been hired by a waste management company involved in the recycling program to retrieve shoes from the donation bins for delivery to that company’s local warehouse. But that’s not what happened to the shoes donated by Reuters. Ten pairs moved first from the donation bins to the exporter’s facility, then on to neighbouring Indonesia, in some cases travelling hundreds of miles to different corners of the vast archipelago, the location trackers showed. Using the smartphone app to trace the movement of each shoe, Reuters journalists later travelled by air, land and sea to recover three pairs – including the blue Nikes – from crowded bazaars in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, and in Batam, which lies 19.3 kilometres south of Singapore. Four pairs ended up in locations in Indonesia that were too remote for Reuters to track down in person. In three other cases, the trackers stopped sending a signal after they reached Indonesia. The 11th pair remains in Singapore, but their fate is not what Dow and Sport Singapore had promised in media releases and a promotional video posted online. Those shoes – a pair of men’s white Reeboks – ended up in a public housing project about 1.6 kilometres from a community sports centre where Reuters had dropped them into a donation bin on Sept. 8. Its tracker still blinks from that location, according to the app, an indication that they may have been taken from the donation bin. Reuters visited the housing project but wasn’t able to find the exact location of the shoes. Presented with Reuters’ findings early this year, Dow said on Jan. 18 that it had opened an investigation along with Sport Singapore, a state agency, and other sponsors of the program: French-owned sporting goods retailer Decathlon SS; banking giant Standard Chartered plc; ALBA W&H Smart City Pte. Ltd (Alba-WH), a local waste management firm; and BT Sports Pte Ltd, a Singaporean firm responsible for shredding the donated footwear at a local facility. On Feb. 22, Dow said in an emailed statement to Reuters that the investigation had concluded and, as a result, Yok Impex would be removed from the project, effective March 1. It did not explain why a used-clothing exporter had been involved in retrieving footwear from the donation bins, but said the program’s partners were now searching for another company to collect the shoes. “The project partners do not condone any unauthorized removal or export of shoes collected through this program and remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of the collection and recycle process,” said the statement, which Dow issued on behalf of all the sponsors. Reuters reporters visited the premises of Yok Impex on Feb. 23 to ask about whether it had been removed from the project. The trader’s accountant, June Peh, told Reuters the firm would be leaving the program when its one-year contract comes to an end, without giving a reason for its exit or an exact date. In January, Decathlon sent Reuters a statement saying it had not authorized the export of any shoes from the program. Standard Chartered and BT Sports did not respond to requests for comment. Sport Singapore and Alba-WH referred questions to Dow. Alba-WH is a partnership between ALBA Group, a major German waste management company, and Wah & Hua Pte Ltd, a Singaporean waste disposal firm. The two companies did not respond to emailed requests for comment. WATCH | WION Fineprint | New "Shoe Theory" trend viral on TikTok × Reuters tracked the 11 pairs of shoes over six months. All the footwear was placed in different donation barrels around Singapore between July 14 and Sept. 9 of last year. While the sample was small, the fact that none of these shoes made it to a Singapore recycling facility underscores weaknesses in the system. The findings come as environmental groups say chemical companies like Dow are making exaggerated or false claims about recycling in order to burnish their green credentials and to undermine proposed regulations to rein in the soaring production of plastics used in single-use packaging and fast fashion. The donated shoes that ended up in Indonesia have added to a flood of illegal second-hand clothing pouring into that developing country, according to a senior government official there, who said such cast-offs pose a public health risk, undercut its local textile industry and often pile more waste into its already bulging landfills. Dow told Reuters the Singapore shoe project was making progress. A sports facility under construction in Jurong, a district in western Singapore, will use recycled shoe material in its surfaces, Dow said in its January statement. The company also pointed to Kallang Football Hub, a new soccer complex whose running track purportedly was the first in Singapore to be made from recycled shoe granules. Dow said these builds will use the 10,000 kilograms (22,000 pounds) of recycled shoe material that have been produced through the Singapore recycling project so far. Reuters was unable to verify if these sports surfaces had been built because both complexes are under construction and cordoned off from the public. A pilot project in 2019 collected 21,000 pairs of shoes, Paul Fong, Dow’s Singapore manager, said in a promotional video posted on social media in July 2021 when the nationwide program was launched. Another pilot project in 2020 collected 75,000 pairs of shoes, Fong said in that video. Fong did not respond to emailed questions. Dow and its partners declined to say how many of the shoes collected during the pilot phase had gone on to be recycled, nor would they provide those figures for the countrywide rollout. They did not explain what procedures were in place to ensure that donated shoes weren’t exported, diverted for resale or pilfered from bins. Hidden trackers Dow manufactures silicone rubber and plastic used in soles and midsoles of sports shoes. The multinational and Sport Singapore said in their 2021 media releases that their “first of its kind” program would divert 170,000 pairs of shoes annually from the landfill. The program partners did not respond to questions about what would happen to these shoes or how many would be recycled to make sports surfaces. Under the slogan “Others see an old shoe. We see the future,” they called on the public to donate used shoes with rubberized soles to help ease the burden on Singapore’s incinerators and its only landfill. Dozens of wheelie bins for donations were placed across the city-state of 5.6 million people. These containers turned up in parks, community centers, schools and outlets of retail sponsor Decathlon. Singapore residents began depositing thousands of used sneakers, flip-flops and school shoes. In the promotional video, members of the public, including school children, talked enthusiastically about donating. “I contributed 15 pairs of shoes,” student Zhang Youjia said in the video, which was produced by Dow. The ten pairs donated by Reuters that were exported moved initially from the recycling drop-off bins to the warehouse of Yok Impex, situated in west Singapore close to the island’s biggest dockyard. From there, the shoes travelled by sea to Batam, an entry point for goods entering Indonesia, which has a population of more than 270 million people, the fourth-largest in the world. Guided by the smartphone app, Reuters in December followed two of the trackers to the same location in Batam: Pertokoan Cipta Prima, a sprawling flea market catering to low-income shoppers. There, dozens of vendors working out of rows of crumbling concrete shops patched with tarpaulin and metal sheets were selling everything from T-shirts and refrigerators to plastic toys. The news agency spotted half a dozen stores selling used shoes, all clustered in the same area. At three of them, Reuters saw footwear stuffed into sacks emblazoned with the words “Yok Impex,” along with the Singapore company’s dolphin logo. The first pair to be tracked down were the blue Nike running shoes. The app led to a gloomy, cluttered shoe store. But the sneakers weren’t on display. Using a function on the app to make the tracker start beeping, a reporter followed the sound to the back of the shop, finally locating those Nikes at the bottom of a mound of loose footwear. It had been five months since Reuters had deposited them into a donation barrel at a gleaming Decathlon store in Singapore. Reuters bought them back for 180,000 rupiahs ($12). The second tracker – tucked into a pair of women’s black Nikes – was located at a nearby shop. Reuters had dropped those shoes into a Dow recycling bin at a Singapore community centre in September, three months earlier. They cost 120,000 rupiahs ($8) to repurchase. Other shoes went on a far longer voyage. Incredible journey A pair of pink and orange New Balance sneakers – donated by Reuters in Singapore on Sept. 7 – landed in the same Batam market a week later, the tracking app showed. By early October, they had moved to a nearby island called Bintan, before making a 400-mile journey to Medan, a city of 2.4 million people in northern Sumatra. On Oct. 10, the shoes traveled another 800 miles to Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, according to the app. Indonesia’s second-hand clothing industry is made up of a complex network of traders, and they often exchange goods across different regions, two garment merchants told Reuters. Three weeks later, on Nov. 1, two Reuters reporters searched a frenzied mall in Jakarta looking for the shoes, eventually discovering them in a cramped shop on the third floor. The sneakers, freshly cleaned and fitted with a new pair of laces, had crisscrossed Indonesia on a marathon eight-week journey. They cost Reuters 300,000 rupiah ($20) to buy back. To learn more about Yok Impex’s role in the movement of these shoes, Reuters on Jan. 6, 2023, paid an unannounced visit to that used-clothing exporter, and was invited onto the premises. There reporters spotted wheelie bins from Dow’s shoe program stacked up in a backyard. Inside, women sorted through tables piled high with old shoes, carefully placing them into piles and then transferring them into sacks like the ones seen at the Batam flea market. Yok Impex’s logistics manager, Tony Tan, told Reuters that waste handler Alba-WH was paying his company to collect the shoes from the donation bins around Singapore and then deliver the shoes back to Alba-WH. Tan said Yok Impex did not export shoes it collected for the program. When informed that Reuters had found shoes it had donated being resold in Batam by merchants who had Yok Impex sacks in their shops, Tan said it was possible that shoes from the program got placed in error with other footwear it exports to Indonesia. “Sometimes the workers mix it up. I’m not sure because we all collect from some other suppliers,” Tan said. “It’s a mistake. I think, some mistake.” Tan did not elaborate. Banned trade In 2015, Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade introduced the Prohibition of the Import of Used Clothing regulation. The measure banned the import of used clothes and footwear over concerns about hygiene and the potential of these items to spread disease, as well as the need to protect the local textile industry. Veri Anggrijono, Director General of Consumer Protection and Trade Control at the trade ministry, told Reuters that the illegal second-hand clothing import market in Indonesia is worth millions of dollars a year. “It’s a well-organised activity because when we raid them in one place, then it will go quiet, then continue again,” Anggrijono told Reuters in an interview at his office in Jakarta. He said the importer is the party liable under the law, not the exporter or market seller. Anggrijono said importers can be charged under trade and consumer protection laws, which carry penalties that can include imprisonment and fines. But he said so far the only action the trade ministry has taken is to revoke import licenses, as well as seizing and destroying used clothing. A torrent of cheap, unregulated second-hand clothing flowing into Indonesia also adds to the country’s mounting garbage problem, said Dharmesh Shah, a policy advisor to the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, a nonprofit working on waste pollution. He said much of that merchandise is in such poor condition that vendors can’t resell it. “They sort through it and a very small percentage is actually reusable,” Shah told Reuters. “It just gets burned in open dumps or goes into rivers or in landfills.” Two market vendors in Batam, who asked not to be named, told Reuters they buy sacks of shoes of differing grades from used-clothing traders such as Yok Impex, but don’t know exactly what they’re getting until they open them up. They said it’s not uncommon to throw out half the shoes they receive because the footwear is not good enough to sell. Recycling flops This is not the first novel recycling scheme launched by Dow that hasn’t lived up to its billing. In 2021, a Reuters investigation found that at a programme in Idaho, the company said it was using breakthrough technology to turn plastic waste into clean fuel. However, in reality, it was burning plastic trash to fuel a cement plant. At the time, a Dow spokesperson said the Boise program was helping to “transform waste into valuable products.” The same year, Reuters found that a Dow-backed project in India, which was supposed to collect plastic trash from the Ganges river and use high-tech machinery to transform the waste into clean fuel, had been shut down following regular equipment malfunctions. The India project was run by The Alliance To End Plastic Waste (AEPW), a nonprofit group set up by big oil and chemical companies. At the time, a spokesperson for the AEPW confirmed that the project had ended, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Selling the promise of new recycling technologies, whether to turn shoes into playgrounds or plastic bags into clean fuel, is an attempt to lull the public into a false sense of security about the environmental impact of increased consumerism, environmental groups like Greenpeace and Break Free From Plastic say. Dow declined further comment on those claims or its track record on recycling. Jan Dell, founder of The Last Beach Cleanup, a U.S. nonprofit focused on reducing plastic pollution, said large petrochemical companies should have to report on the results of their sustainability projects with the same transparency as the profit-making parts of the business. “Dow promised to pick up these shoes and grind them into materials and make them into playgrounds, and instead they’re being found all over another country. They literally cannot be believed,” said Dell, after being given details of Reuters’ findings. Read more: Balenciaga introduces fully destroyed sneakers, the Internet cannot digest its price Promises about new recycling technologies also make good business sense for petrochemical companies, according to Dell, who said throw-away consumer culture is good for their profits. People are more likely to purchase more of a product when they are told it can be recycled into something useful, according to a 2013 study in the Journal of Consumer Psychology. In its Jan. 18 statement, Dow said the shoe recycling partners are “energized by the common vision of sport championing a greener and more sustainable Singapore.” Dow did not comment on the Journal of Consumer Psychology study. In July of last year, Dow launched a similar shoe recycling program in Malaysia, which has a population of 33 million people and neighbours Singapore to the north. In promoting that project, Dow’s Fong pointed to the Singapore shoe program as the blueprint for success. For its Malaysian initiative, Dow partnered with a local nonprofit and a textile firm. Neither responded to requests for comment. Back in Singapore, Dow’s efforts are already winning accolades. On the evening of Oct. 6, Fong and other partners in the Singapore shoe recycling program stepped onto the stage of an elegant ballroom at the Equarius Hotel beach resort on Sentosa Island, just off the mainland. There they were presented with the “Most Sustainable Collaboration” award at a glitzy event hosted by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, the city-state’s oldest business association. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Sneakers meant for recycling found in Indonesian flea markets, reveals Reuters investigation

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday&nbsp;fired a top military commander without citing any reason.&nbsp;Eduard Moskalyov, the commander of the joint forces of Ukraine, which are engaged in battles in the Donbas region was seemingly the fall guy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, Zelensky made the&nbsp;announcement in a one-line decree. Meanwhile, the social media accounts of the joint forces did not make any mention of the dismissal, suggesting that something sinister had transpired in the background.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moskalyov had been on the battle frontlines since March 2022, a month after Russia invaded Ukraine. His dismissal comes in the backdrop of a series of personnel changes issued by Zelensky.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Defence minister&nbsp;Oleksii Reznikov nearly lost his position after allegations of corruption surfaced in his department, including an allegation that it overpaid for food for Ukrainian soldiers.</p>

<p>Reznikov was forced to reshuffle his office to satiate Zelensky who did not take the allegations lightly, per reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reznikov appointed three new deputies viz.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vitaliy Deynega,&nbsp;Oleksandr Pavlyuk&nbsp;and&nbsp;Andriy Shevchenko to settle the ministry and avoid any drastic reaction from the president.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-reporting-live-amidst-shelling-war-vlog-by-anas-mallick-566105"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Reporting live amidst shelling | War-Vlog by Anas Mallick</strong></a></p>

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<h2>Russian invasion of Ukraine - One year anniversary</h2>

<p>The Russian invasion of Ukraine surpassed its one-year anniversary last week. The war is far from being over&nbsp;as both parties continue to mount serious challenges.&nbsp;</p>

<p>President Zelesnky in his anniversary speech praised his countrymen and soldiers after not many had given Ukraine any chance against mighty Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our faith has grown stronger. Our morale has been reinforced. We endured the first day of a full-scale war. We didn't know what would happen tomorrow, but we realized for sure: every tomorrow is worth fighting for!" he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Three days that we were predicted to last. They threatened that in 72 hours, we would not exist. But we survived the fourth day. And then the fifth. And today, we have been standing for exactly one year. And we still know: every tomorrow is worth fighting for!"</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-ukraine-war-putin-says-war-a-battle-for-russias-survival-566074"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Ukraine war: Saudi Arabia's FM reiterates support for Ukraine during meeting with Zelensky</strong></a></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 on Sunday fired a top military commander without citing any reason. Eduard Moskalyov, the commander of the joint forces of Ukraine, which are engaged in battles in the Donbas region was seemingly the fall guy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday fired a top military commander without citing any reason. Eduard Moskalyov, the commander of the joint forces of Ukraine, which are engaged in battles in the Donbas region was seemingly the fall guy. According to reports, Zelensky made the announcement in a one-line decree. Meanwhile, the social media accounts of the joint forces did not make any mention of the dismissal, suggesting that something sinister had transpired in the background. Moskalyov had been on the battle frontlines since March 2022, a month after Russia invaded Ukraine. His dismissal comes in the backdrop of a series of personnel changes issued by Zelensky. Defence minister Oleksii Reznikov nearly lost his position after allegations of corruption surfaced in his department, including an allegation that it overpaid for food for Ukrainian soldiers. Reznikov was forced to reshuffle his office to satiate Zelensky who did not take the allegations lightly, per reports. Reznikov appointed three new deputies viz. Vitaliy Deynega, Oleksandr Pavlyuk and Andriy Shevchenko to settle the ministry and avoid any drastic reaction from the president. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: Reporting live amidst shelling | War-Vlog by Anas Mallick × Russian invasion of Ukraine - One year anniversary The Russian invasion of Ukraine surpassed its one-year anniversary last week. The war is far from being over as both parties continue to mount serious challenges. President Zelesnky in his anniversary speech praised his countrymen and soldiers after not many had given Ukraine any chance against mighty Russia. "Our faith has grown stronger. Our morale has been reinforced. We endured the first day of a full-scale war. We didn't know what would happen tomorrow, but we realized for sure: every tomorrow is worth fighting for!" he said. "Three days that we were predicted to last. They threatened that in 72 hours, we would not exist. But we survived the fourth day. And then the fifth. And today, we have been standing for exactly one year. And we still know: every tomorrow is worth fighting for!" Read more: Ukraine war: Saudi Arabia's FM reiterates support for Ukraine during meeting with Zelensky (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Zelensky fires senior military commander without citing any reason

<p>The layoff season continues and it is Elon Musk-led Twitter leading the charge once again. According to reports, Twitter has terminated the contracts of at least 200 employees. In other news,&nbsp;James Bond novels have also been rewritten to remove racial references, much to the chagrin of netizens.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on headlines to read more:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-job-cut-latest-mass-layoff-sees-200-employees-fired-says-report-566199"><strong>Twitter job cut: Latest mass layoff sees 200 employees fired, says report</strong></a></p>

<p>As per a report in The New York Times (NYT), Twitter has axed jobs of at least 200 employees. This comes to about 10 per cent of around 2000 employees who were working for the micro-blogging platform before the latest round job cuts.</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/18/326439-2023-01-18t014752z1lynxmpej0h01rrtroptp4twitter-musk-perkins-coie.JPG?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-virus-likely-was-a-result-of-lab-leak-us-energy-departments-report-says-566200"><strong>COVID-19 virus likely was a result of lab leak, US energy department’s report says</strong></a></p>

<p>A classified and updated document presented to the US lawmakers and White House has claimed that the COVID-19 virus emerged from a lab leak, reports Wall Street Journal newspaper.</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/27/335107-lab.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tornado-watch-issued-for-parts-of-texas-oklahoma-and-kansas-amid-severe-weather-566194"><strong>Tornado Watch issued for parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas amid severe weather</strong></a></p>

<p>A Tornado Watch has been issue for parts of Oklahoma after the Plains reported thunderstorms and winds as destructive as a Category 2 hurricane on Sunday evening.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/27/335106-untitled-design-2023-02-27t080152797.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/james-bond-books-edited-to-remove-offensive-references-netizens-not-impressed-566206"><strong>James Bond books edited to remove 'offensive' references, netizens not impressed</strong></a></p>

<p>Days after Roald Dahl's classics were modified, several James Bond novels have also been rewritten to remove racial references, according to The Telegraph report. The move was authorised after a sensitivity review.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/10/05/301408-james-bond.jpg?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lanka-local-election-row-10000-protesters-take-to-colombos-streets-566209"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Sri Lanka Local Election Row: 10,000 protesters take to Colombo's streets</strong></a></p>

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The layoff season continues and it is Elon Musk-led Twitter leading the charge once again. According to reports, Twitter has terminated the contracts of at least 200 employees.

The layoff season continues and it is Elon Musk-led Twitter leading the charge once again. According to reports, Twitter has terminated the contracts of at least 200 employees. In other news, James Bond novels have also been rewritten to remove racial references, much to the chagrin of netizens. Click on headlines to read more: Twitter job cut: Latest mass layoff sees 200 employees fired, says report As per a report in The New York Times (NYT), Twitter has axed jobs of at least 200 employees. This comes to about 10 per cent of around 2000 employees who were working for the micro-blogging platform before the latest round job cuts. COVID-19 virus likely was a result of lab leak, US energy department’s report says A classified and updated document presented to the US lawmakers and White House has claimed that the COVID-19 virus emerged from a lab leak, reports Wall Street Journal newspaper. Tornado Watch issued for parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas amid severe weather A Tornado Watch has been issue for parts of Oklahoma after the Plains reported thunderstorms and winds as destructive as a Category 2 hurricane on Sunday evening. James Bond books edited to remove 'offensive' references, netizens not impressed Days after Roald Dahl's classics were modified, several James Bond novels have also been rewritten to remove racial references, according to The Telegraph report. The move was authorised after a sensitivity review. WATCH | Sri Lanka Local Election Row: 10,000 protesters take to Colombo's streets ×

Morning news brief: Twitter fires 200, James Bond books edited and more

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<p>British reality TV star Tommy Fury beat American YouTuber Jake Paul on points Sunday in a boxing spectacle intended to boost Saudi Arabia's reputation as a top-flight fight destination.</p>

<p>Despite suffering a knockdown in the eighth and final round of the cruiserweight contest, Fury won a split decision to the delight of Saudi fans, who shouted "Let's go Tommy" in the closing stages.</p>

<p>Addressing the crowd through tears afterwards, Fury, who is the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, but better known for his turn on the dating show Love Island - declared he had "made my own legacy" with the win.</p>

<p>Paul, who calls himself "The Problem Child", drew loud boos with his post-fight claim that he "got sick really bad twice in this camp" and "injured my arm", though he added he was "not making excuses".</p>

<p>He told reporters that Fury had "impressive combinations" but that the loss was "a reflection of my own performance".</p>

<p>"I couldn't get my momentum going like I wanted to and I just felt kind of flat," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A triumphant Fury, for his part, boasted that he "showed everybody that I ain't scared of no one and I can cut it in the big dance."</p>

<p>Paul first gained fame and millions of followers on the now-defunct social media platform Vine and also YouTube before pivoting to boxing about five years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His 6-0 record heading into Sunday's fight, including four knockouts, had come against a ragtag group of opponents that included another YouTuber and three mixed martial arts fighters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wrestlemania-39-sami-zayn-should-not-join-forces-with-kevin-owens-feels-wrestling-veteran-565163">WWE: Sami Zayn should not join forces with Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 39, feels wrestling veteran</a></strong></p>

<p>He was out to bolster his credibility against Fury, who was likewise undefeated, though his past opponents were also hardly household names.</p>

<p>The two men's unusual backgrounds have led many observers to question whether either should be taken seriously.</p>

<p>Saudi officials nevertheless pitched Sunday's event as a sign of the kingdom's growing clout in the boxing world.</p>

<h2>'Sportswashing' allegations</h2>

<p>It built on a 2019 fight billed as the "Clash on the Dunes", in which Anthony Joshua reclaimed his world heavyweight crown from Andy Ruiz, the first time a world heavyweight title fight had been staged in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year Joshua lost in a split decision to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk in the "Rage on the Red Sea" in Jeddah.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The crowd Sunday included former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, comedian Kevin Hart and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now playing club football in Saudi Arabia.</p>

<p>Saudi officials say there has been a surge of domestic interest in boxing in recent years, with the number of boxing gyms rising from seven to 59.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Their goal is to have 500,000 boxers in the kingdom by 2030.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They have gloated about being able to stage the Paul-Fury clash after previous attempts to hold it in the United States fell through.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Paul versus Fury has taken a long time and it has finally been made, which is significant for the landscape of boxing in Saudi Arabia," Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz told a pre-match press conference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We knew we wanted to stage this fight. We knew its potential and knew we could overcome challenges to make it happen."</p>

<p>Saudi fighters Ziyad Almaayouf, who made his professional debut at "Rage on the Red Sea", and Ragad Al Naimi, the kingdom's first female professional boxer, were both victorious in undercard matches on Sunday.</p>

<p>Saudi Arabia's boxing push has fuelled allegations of "sportswashing", or the use of athletics to distract from human rights abuses.</p>

<p>But Paul downplayed the issue in an interview with AFP.</p>

<p>"I take things at face value for how I experience them," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think there's a lot of judgement online about everyone - people these days, celebrities, countries and so on and so forth - but I've had nothing but great experiences."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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British reality TV star Tommy Fury beat American YouTuber Jake Paul on points Sunday in a boxing spectacle intended to boost Saudi Arabia's reputation as a top-flight fight destination.

British reality TV star Tommy Fury beat American YouTuber Jake Paul on points Sunday in a boxing spectacle intended to boost Saudi Arabia's reputation as a top-flight fight destination. Despite suffering a knockdown in the eighth and final round of the cruiserweight contest, Fury won a split decision to the delight of Saudi fans, who shouted "Let's go Tommy" in the closing stages. Addressing the crowd through tears afterwards, Fury, who is the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, but better known for his turn on the dating show Love Island - declared he had "made my own legacy" with the win. Paul, who calls himself "The Problem Child", drew loud boos with his post-fight claim that he "got sick really bad twice in this camp" and "injured my arm", though he added he was "not making excuses". He told reporters that Fury had "impressive combinations" but that the loss was "a reflection of my own performance". "I couldn't get my momentum going like I wanted to and I just felt kind of flat," he said. A triumphant Fury, for his part, boasted that he "showed everybody that I ain't scared of no one and I can cut it in the big dance." Paul first gained fame and millions of followers on the now-defunct social media platform Vine and also YouTube before pivoting to boxing about five years ago. His 6-0 record heading into Sunday's fight, including four knockouts, had come against a ragtag group of opponents that included another YouTuber and three mixed martial arts fighters. Read more: WWE: Sami Zayn should not join forces with Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 39, feels wrestling veteran He was out to bolster his credibility against Fury, who was likewise undefeated, though his past opponents were also hardly household names. The two men's unusual backgrounds have led many observers to question whether either should be taken seriously. Saudi officials nevertheless pitched Sunday's event as a sign of the kingdom's growing clout in the boxing world. 'Sportswashing' allegations It built on a 2019 fight billed as the "Clash on the Dunes", in which Anthony Joshua reclaimed his world heavyweight crown from Andy Ruiz, the first time a world heavyweight title fight had been staged in Saudi Arabia. Last year Joshua lost in a split decision to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk in the "Rage on the Red Sea" in Jeddah. The crowd Sunday included former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, comedian Kevin Hart and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now playing club football in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials say there has been a surge of domestic interest in boxing in recent years, with the number of boxing gyms rising from seven to 59. Their goal is to have 500,000 boxers in the kingdom by 2030. They have gloated about being able to stage the Paul-Fury clash after previous attempts to hold it in the United States fell through. "Paul versus Fury has taken a long time and it has finally been made, which is significant for the landscape of boxing in Saudi Arabia," Prince Khalid bin Abdulaziz told a pre-match press conference. "We knew we wanted to stage this fight. We knew its potential and knew we could overcome challenges to make it happen." Saudi fighters Ziyad Almaayouf, who made his professional debut at "Rage on the Red Sea", and Ragad Al Naimi, the kingdom's first female professional boxer, were both victorious in undercard matches on Sunday. Saudi Arabia's boxing push has fuelled allegations of "sportswashing", or the use of athletics to distract from human rights abuses. But Paul downplayed the issue in an interview with AFP. "I take things at face value for how I experience them," he said. "I think there's a lot of judgement online about everyone - people these days, celebrities, countries and so on and so forth - but I've had nothing but great experiences." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Tommy Fury pips YouTuber Jake Paul with a stunning split decision win

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<p>Days after Roald Dahl's classics were modified, several James Bond novels have also been rewritten to remove racial references, according to The Telegraph report. The move was authorised after a sensitivity review.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All 007 books are expected to be reissued in April to commemorate 70 years since Casino Royale - the first book in the series was published. Ian Fleming Publication Ltd, a company that owns the rights to Ian Fleming's works will be issuing disclaimers in the new book.</p>

<p>“This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace," the proposed disclaimer will read according to the publication.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“A number of updates have been made in this edition, while keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it is set.”</p>

<p>According to reports, the usage of the n-word has been replaced with 'Black person' or 'Black man'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In one of the scenes in Live and Let Die when Bond visits a strip club in Harlem, New York, a passage has been altered to remove the pigs' reference.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Bond could hear the audience panting and grunting like pigs at the trough. He felt his own hands gripping the tablecloth. His mouth was dry," reads the original text which has been rewritten to,&nbsp;“Bond could sense the electric tension in the room.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/roald-dahl-classics-modified-to-remove-stereotypical-language-move-sparks-criticism-563994" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Roald Dahl classics modified to remove stereotypical language, move sparks criticism</strong></a></p>

<p>Netizens were not impressed by the move and slammed the publication for taking the 'woke' route.</p>

<p>One Twitter user wrote, "Last week Roald Dahl, this week Ian Fleming. I assume they can’t rewrite Orwell since they need to use his work as a playbook," while another added, "The day is not far off when owing books from a certain time period will be criminalised with possible jail and re-education."</p>

<p>The decision to rework the James Bond books comes in the backdrop of Rold Dahl's classic children's books being modified to fit the current palette of readers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Roald Dahl Story Company which controls the rights to the books said it worked in collaboration with Puffin Books to re-examine the texts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The word "black" was omitted from the description of the terrible tractors in the 1970s "The Fabulous Mr. Fox." The machines as per the latest editions are just "murderous, brutal-looking monsters."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-roald-dahls-french-publisher-will-not-rewrite-british-authors-translated-books-564647"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Roald Dahl's French publisher will not rewrite British author's translated books</strong></a></p>

<p>However, most were not impressed by the censorship. Salman Rushdie took offence to the move and said,<strong>&nbsp;</strong>"Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed.''</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Days after Roald Dahl's classics were modified, several James Bond novels have also been rewritten to remove racial references, according to The Telegraph report.

Days after Roald Dahl's classics were modified, several James Bond novels have also been rewritten to remove racial references, according to The Telegraph report. The move was authorised after a sensitivity review. All 007 books are expected to be reissued in April to commemorate 70 years since Casino Royale - the first book in the series was published. Ian Fleming Publication Ltd, a company that owns the rights to Ian Fleming's works will be issuing disclaimers in the new book. “This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace," the proposed disclaimer will read according to the publication. “A number of updates have been made in this edition, while keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it is set.” According to reports, the usage of the n-word has been replaced with 'Black person' or 'Black man'. In one of the scenes in Live and Let Die when Bond visits a strip club in Harlem, New York, a passage has been altered to remove the pigs' reference. “Bond could hear the audience panting and grunting like pigs at the trough. He felt his own hands gripping the tablecloth. His mouth was dry," reads the original text which has been rewritten to, “Bond could sense the electric tension in the room.” Read more: Roald Dahl classics modified to remove stereotypical language, move sparks criticism Netizens were not impressed by the move and slammed the publication for taking the 'woke' route. One Twitter user wrote, "Last week Roald Dahl, this week Ian Fleming. I assume they can’t rewrite Orwell since they need to use his work as a playbook," while another added, "The day is not far off when owing books from a certain time period will be criminalised with possible jail and re-education." The decision to rework the James Bond books comes in the backdrop of Rold Dahl's classic children's books being modified to fit the current palette of readers. The Roald Dahl Story Company which controls the rights to the books said it worked in collaboration with Puffin Books to re-examine the texts. The word "black" was omitted from the description of the terrible tractors in the 1970s "The Fabulous Mr. Fox." The machines as per the latest editions are just "murderous, brutal-looking monsters." Read more: Roald Dahl's French publisher will not rewrite British author's translated books However, most were not impressed by the censorship. Salman Rushdie took offence to the move and said, "Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed.'' (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

James Bond books edited to remove 'offensive' references, netizens not impressed

In pics | Delhi hosts vintage vehicles rally ahead of G20 summit

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<p>Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and supporters on Monday held protests across several states against the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Delhi, Bhopal and Chandigarh among other cities are the hotspots of AAP protests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anticipating the scale of protests, the Delhi police has tightened security in-and-around the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) headquarters on the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg. Paramilitary forces have also been called upon at the scene to ensure no untoward incident happens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>AAP is observing February 27 as a 'Black day', alleging that over 80 per cent of its political class has been arrested by the police.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Heavy security presence at DDU Marg in view of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AAP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AAP</a> protest at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BJP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BJP</a> office<br />
<br />
(Photos: Vipin Kumar/HT) by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/htTweets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#htTweets</a> via Unfollowers <a href="https://t.co/fCqrGXGfxL">pic.twitter.com/fCqrGXGfxL</a></p>
— Sanjay Bodriya (@SanjayBodriya) <a href="https://twitter.com/SanjayBodriya/status/1630121840722038784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister and Sisodia's top aide Arvind Kejriwal released a statement saying his colleague was arrested by CBI due to political pressure from powerful people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am told that most CBI officers were against Manish's arrest. All of them have huge respect for him and there is no evidence against him. But the political pressure to arrest him was so high that they had to obey their political masters," tweeted Kejriwal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sisodia was arrested by the CBI after nine hours of questioning on Sunday for alleged corruption in the excise policy of the national capital, which has now been scrapped.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Delhi | Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed outside the CBI headquarters after Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with liquor policy case. <a href="https://t.co/BT7D17aySX">pic.twitter.com/BT7D17aySX</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1629854348913303552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>What is the excise policy scam?</h2>

<p>The AAP government had brought in the excise policy to revolutionise the sale of liquor in Delhi by bringing in more private players. The rationale given was that the new policy will help generate optimum revenue while eradicating bootlegging and sale of spurious liquor.</p>

<p>However, corruption in the distribution of permits, bribery and fraud in the funneling of tender amounts meant that the initiative collapsed within a year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It has been alleged that AAP leaders formulated the policy at the peak of pandemic to create illegal channels of funding.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-politician-manish-sisodia-arrested-by-indias-top-investigation-body-in-liquor-policy-row-566115" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: India: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia arrested by CBI in liquor policy graft case</strong></a></p>

<p>The anti-corruption branch of CBI questioned Sisodia over his alleged links with Dinesh Arora and other accused mentioned in the FIR.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the chargesheet in the case doesn't mention Sisodia's name, CBI mentioned details of message exchanges from multiple phones among others.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and supporters on Monday held protests across several states against the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Delhi, Bhopal and Chandigarh among other cities are the hotspots of AAP protests.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and supporters on Monday held protests across several states against the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Delhi, Bhopal and Chandigarh among other cities are the hotspots of AAP protests. Anticipating the scale of protests, the Delhi police has tightened security in-and-around the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) headquarters on the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg. Paramilitary forces have also been called upon at the scene to ensure no untoward incident happens. AAP is observing February 27 as a 'Black day', alleging that over 80 per cent of its political class has been arrested by the police. Heavy security presence at DDU Marg in view of #AAP protest at #BJP office (Photos: Vipin Kumar/HT) by #htTweets via Unfollowers pic.twitter.com/fCqrGXGfxL — Sanjay Bodriya (@SanjayBodriya) February 27, 2023 × Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister and Sisodia's top aide Arvind Kejriwal released a statement saying his colleague was arrested by CBI due to political pressure from powerful people. "I am told that most CBI officers were against Manish's arrest. All of them have huge respect for him and there is no evidence against him. But the political pressure to arrest him was so high that they had to obey their political masters," tweeted Kejriwal. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI after nine hours of questioning on Sunday for alleged corruption in the excise policy of the national capital, which has now been scrapped. Delhi | Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed outside the CBI headquarters after Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with liquor policy case. pic.twitter.com/BT7D17aySX — ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2023 × What is the excise policy scam? The AAP government had brought in the excise policy to revolutionise the sale of liquor in Delhi by bringing in more private players. The rationale given was that the new policy will help generate optimum revenue while eradicating bootlegging and sale of spurious liquor. However, corruption in the distribution of permits, bribery and fraud in the funneling of tender amounts meant that the initiative collapsed within a year. It has been alleged that AAP leaders formulated the policy at the peak of pandemic to create illegal channels of funding. Read more: India: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia arrested by CBI in liquor policy graft case The anti-corruption branch of CBI questioned Sisodia over his alleged links with Dinesh Arora and other accused mentioned in the FIR. Although the chargesheet in the case doesn't mention Sisodia's name, CBI mentioned details of message exchanges from multiple phones among others. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: AAP supporters take to the streets to protest against Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's arrest

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<p>China, the world's largest polluter granted permits for 106 gigawatts of coal-powered projects across 82 locations in 2022 alone, according to a new research. It is the highest number in the last seven years and shows the excessive reliance of the world's largest emitter on fossil fuels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The research was&nbsp;conducted by&nbsp;Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Finland-based NGO, and the Global Energy Monitor, another NGO that tracks fossil fuel infrastructure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study showed that everything from project approval to obtaining finance to breaking ground to starting the construction - each step of the process was expedited at a remarkable pace by the Politburo in Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Compared to 2021, coal power capacity across China went up by more than half to 50 gigawatts. The main aim of the new plants is to provide stability to the power grid and minimise the chances of a complete blackout.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-energy-crisis-chinas-coal-production-reached-record-levels-last-year-445639"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Amid energy crisis, China's coal production reached record levels last year</strong></a></p>

<p>The drastic increase in coal-powered projects was necessitated after Chinese cities suffered blackouts in September 2021. The problems were compounded last year when severe droughts dried up water bodies, leading to a dramatic drop in hydropower generation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the economy still crawling and yet to roar back to life, the Chinese government is attempting to kickstart demand. The foundation of a thriving economy is 'power generation' and last year's climactic conditions threw a major spanner in the works.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2020&nbsp;pledged to peak the country's carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. However, experts say that China will continue to increase its coal-powered energy generation capabilities in the coming three-four years.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-global-calls-for-cuts-china-starts-a-massive-coal-fired-power-plant-440853">Also Read:&nbsp;Despite global calls for cuts, China starts a massive coal-fired power plant</a></strong></p>

<p>Thus, if China continues its fossil fuel-dependent expansion at the current pace, it will have difficulty in sticking to the environmental commitments it has made on global platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is already responsible for about half the world's coal production and consumption. The new facilities to be installed in China are already six times the amount of total capacity added by the rest of the world combined.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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China, the world's largest polluter granted permits for 106 gigawatts of coal-powered projects across 82 locations in 2022 alone, according to a new research. It is the highest number in the last seven years and shows the excessive reliance of the world's largest emitter on fossil fuels.

China, the world's largest polluter granted permits for 106 gigawatts of coal-powered projects across 82 locations in 2022 alone, according to a new research. It is the highest number in the last seven years and shows the excessive reliance of the world's largest emitter on fossil fuels. The research was conducted by Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Finland-based NGO, and the Global Energy Monitor, another NGO that tracks fossil fuel infrastructure. The study showed that everything from project approval to obtaining finance to breaking ground to starting the construction - each step of the process was expedited at a remarkable pace by the Politburo in Beijing. Compared to 2021, coal power capacity across China went up by more than half to 50 gigawatts. The main aim of the new plants is to provide stability to the power grid and minimise the chances of a complete blackout. Read more: Amid energy crisis, China's coal production reached record levels last year The drastic increase in coal-powered projects was necessitated after Chinese cities suffered blackouts in September 2021. The problems were compounded last year when severe droughts dried up water bodies, leading to a dramatic drop in hydropower generation. With the economy still crawling and yet to roar back to life, the Chinese government is attempting to kickstart demand. The foundation of a thriving economy is 'power generation' and last year's climactic conditions threw a major spanner in the works. Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2020 pledged to peak the country's carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. However, experts say that China will continue to increase its coal-powered energy generation capabilities in the coming three-four years. Also Read: Despite global calls for cuts, China starts a massive coal-fired power plant Thus, if China continues its fossil fuel-dependent expansion at the current pace, it will have difficulty in sticking to the environmental commitments it has made on global platforms. It is already responsible for about half the world's coal production and consumption. The new facilities to be installed in China are already six times the amount of total capacity added by the rest of the world combined. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China, world's largest polluter, approved record coal power plants in 2022: Report

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<p>The police in Hong Kong have pressed murder charges against the former in-laws of a Chinese model and influencer whose dismembered body parts and skull were found in a refrigerator and pot respectively at a village house near the Chinese border.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Abby Choi, the deceased model was allegedly killed by her father-in-law and brother-in-law according to the authorities. They have also arrested Choi's ex-husband and charged him with murder as well. Meanwhile, the former mother-in-law faces a count of perverting the course of justice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All four are expected to be paraded in front of the magistrate on Monday. On Sunday, the police also arrested another woman, thought to be involved in an affair with the ex-husband's father. She allegedly assisted the other suspects and provided the place to execute the crime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The gruesome murder came to light after officers discovered Choi's body following a missing persons report.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-model-abby-chois-severed-body-found-in-fridge-head-still-missing-566080" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Hong Kong: Model Abby Choi's severed body found in fridge, head still missing</strong></a></p>

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<p>The authorities suggested that Choi was attacked when she was in a car with a fatal blow to the head. Choi was presumably unconscious when she was brought to the rural village home in Tai Po - an area close to the border with mainland China.</p>

<p>“There’s a hole on the right side rear on the skull, so the pathologist believes that that should be the fatal attack on the victim,” said Superintendent Alan Chung.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that Choi had been embroiled in financial disputes with his ex-husband and family. The dispute involved ten of millions of Hong Kong dollars as the ex-family was unhappy with how the model handled her finances.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Choi had a legion of followers on her social media accounts. The 28-year-old had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram alone and she routinely shared her glamourous life on the platform.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She had recently attended a Dior show at Paris Fashion Week. Her most recent post showed a photoshoot with L'Officiel Monaco.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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The police in Hong Kong have pressed murder charges against the former in-laws of a Chinese model and influencer whose dismembered body parts and skull were found in a refrigerator and pot respectively at a village house near the Chinese border.

The police in Hong Kong have pressed murder charges against the former in-laws of a Chinese model and influencer whose dismembered body parts and skull were found in a refrigerator and pot respectively at a village house near the Chinese border. Abby Choi, the deceased model was allegedly killed by her father-in-law and brother-in-law according to the authorities. They have also arrested Choi's ex-husband and charged him with murder as well. Meanwhile, the former mother-in-law faces a count of perverting the course of justice. All four are expected to be paraded in front of the magistrate on Monday. On Sunday, the police also arrested another woman, thought to be involved in an affair with the ex-husband's father. She allegedly assisted the other suspects and provided the place to execute the crime. The gruesome murder came to light after officers discovered Choi's body following a missing persons report. WATCH | Hong Kong: Model Abby Choi's severed body found in fridge, head still missing × The authorities suggested that Choi was attacked when she was in a car with a fatal blow to the head. Choi was presumably unconscious when she was brought to the rural village home in Tai Po - an area close to the border with mainland China. “There’s a hole on the right side rear on the skull, so the pathologist believes that that should be the fatal attack on the victim,” said Superintendent Alan Chung. He added that Choi had been embroiled in financial disputes with his ex-husband and family. The dispute involved ten of millions of Hong Kong dollars as the ex-family was unhappy with how the model handled her finances. Choi had a legion of followers on her social media accounts. The 28-year-old had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram alone and she routinely shared her glamourous life on the platform. She had recently attended a Dior show at Paris Fashion Week. Her most recent post showed a photoshoot with L'Officiel Monaco. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Model Abby Choi's in-laws charged after body parts, skull discovered by police

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<p>History was created in Cape Town on Sunday when Australia&nbsp;won their sixth ICC Women's T20 World Cup title,&nbsp;beating South Africa by 19 runs.&nbsp;Playing their seventh successive T20 WC final, this was Southern Stars' third trophy win on the trot.</p>

<p>The Meg Lanning-led team managed to come out on top after holding the nerves, the better of the two teams. The match ebbed and flowed throughout but it was Australia that played the big moments better.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chasing a stiff target of 157, South African openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits were not allowed by the Australian bowlers to run away with the game. The bowlers pulled their length back and bowled short of good length deliveries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Consequently, the hosts could only muster 22 runs in the first six overs. After Marizanne Kapp came to the crease, she stamped her authority instantly by cracking a beautiful cover drive past a packed offside ring.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Awesome Australia have done it 🏆<br />
<br />
They become Women’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> champions for the sixth time! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TurnItUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TurnItUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/IQj4poaVI9">pic.twitter.com/IQj4poaVI9</a></p>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1629874735474434052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>However, a slower ball from Gardner undid Kapp as she top-edged the ball to the short third man fielder who did not have to move an inch to pouch the dolly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Needing 105 runs in the final 10 overs, Wolvaardt stepped up on the gas and reached her fifty in 43 deliveries. Just when it appeared that the Proteas were cooking, Meghan Schutt, summoned to bowl the 17th over by skipper Meg Lanning, managed to trap Wolvaardt plumb in front of the stumps.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wolvaardt's dismissal knocked the wind out of South Africa's sails and they never managed to recover from thereon. Chloe Tryon belted a few lusty blows but could not get anywhere near the finishing line.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Another incredible chapter in the special, special history of this team! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/pKC3GwwNfC">pic.twitter.com/pKC3GwwNfC</a></p>
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/AusWomenCricket/status/1629877124940304389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Batting first, Australia were off the blocks in a sedate manner as Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney only scored 25 off the first four overs. Healy mistimed a forcing backfoot shot off the last ball of Kapp’s over and was caught at mid-off for 18.</p>

<p>Australia attempted to surprise the opposition by bringing Ashleigh Gardner and it worked decently well. She hit successive boundaries off left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and successive sixes off medium-pacer Nadine de Klerk in the following over.</p>

<p>"I guess we've been longing for this moment since the last World Cup. We've played some fantastic cricket throughout the tournament and have come out on top. To be honest, probably the semi-finals. My role within the team is to change the game, with bat or ball," said Gardner in the post-match presentation ceremony where she was adjudged the 'Player of the Tournament'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On a sluggish pitch where batters were made to work hard for their runs, Beth Mooney stood out easily. She got stuck in and at the backend of the innings ensured that her side got close to the 160-run mark. She was declared the 'Player of the Match'.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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History was created in Cape Town on Sunday when Australia won their sixth ICC Women's T20 World Cup title, beating South Africa by 19 runs. Playing their seventh successive T20 WC final, this was Southern Stars' third trophy win on the trot.

History was created in Cape Town on Sunday when Australia won their sixth ICC Women's T20 World Cup title, beating South Africa by 19 runs. Playing their seventh successive T20 WC final, this was Southern Stars' third trophy win on the trot. The Meg Lanning-led team managed to come out on top after holding the nerves, the better of the two teams. The match ebbed and flowed throughout but it was Australia that played the big moments better. Chasing a stiff target of 157, South African openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits were not allowed by the Australian bowlers to run away with the game. The bowlers pulled their length back and bowled short of good length deliveries. Consequently, the hosts could only muster 22 runs in the first six overs. After Marizanne Kapp came to the crease, she stamped her authority instantly by cracking a beautiful cover drive past a packed offside ring. Awesome Australia have done it 🏆 They become Women’s #T20WorldCup champions for the sixth time! #AUSvSA | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/IQj4poaVI9 — ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2023 × However, a slower ball from Gardner undid Kapp as she top-edged the ball to the short third man fielder who did not have to move an inch to pouch the dolly. Needing 105 runs in the final 10 overs, Wolvaardt stepped up on the gas and reached her fifty in 43 deliveries. Just when it appeared that the Proteas were cooking, Meghan Schutt, summoned to bowl the 17th over by skipper Meg Lanning, managed to trap Wolvaardt plumb in front of the stumps. Wolvaardt's dismissal knocked the wind out of South Africa's sails and they never managed to recover from thereon. Chloe Tryon belted a few lusty blows but could not get anywhere near the finishing line. Another incredible chapter in the special, special history of this team! #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/pKC3GwwNfC — Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 26, 2023 × Batting first, Australia were off the blocks in a sedate manner as Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney only scored 25 off the first four overs. Healy mistimed a forcing backfoot shot off the last ball of Kapp’s over and was caught at mid-off for 18. Australia attempted to surprise the opposition by bringing Ashleigh Gardner and it worked decently well. She hit successive boundaries off left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and successive sixes off medium-pacer Nadine de Klerk in the following over. "I guess we've been longing for this moment since the last World Cup. We've played some fantastic cricket throughout the tournament and have come out on top. To be honest, probably the semi-finals. My role within the team is to change the game, with bat or ball," said Gardner in the post-match presentation ceremony where she was adjudged the 'Player of the Tournament'. On a sluggish pitch where batters were made to work hard for their runs, Beth Mooney stood out easily. She got stuck in and at the backend of the innings ensured that her side got close to the 160-run mark. She was declared the 'Player of the Match'. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Women's T20 World Cup: HISTORIC! Australia win sixth T20 WC trophy beating South Africa by 19 runs

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