British Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has had a rough start to his new job. Now, it has come to light that Kwarteng met senior executives of Saudi Arabian oil firms in rather clandestine meetings when he was the business secretary, per a Guardian report.

British Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has had a rough start to his new job. Now, it has come to light that Kwarteng met senior executives of Saudi Arabian oil firms in rather clandestine meetings when he was the business secretary, per a Guardian report. The publication stated that Kwarteng met the chief executives of Saudi Aramco, Sabic and the chair of Alfanar Group, an industrial conglomerate in January, earlier this year when he visited KSA on a two-day trip. The information was accessed using the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) which revealed that the meetings were undisclosed. Read more: Proposed UK tax cuts caused ‘a little turbulence’, says finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in its originally published report had made no mention of Kwarteng's meetings with the Saudia Arabian oil executives. According to the rules, meetings with foreign government figures is not required to be punched into the records but meetings or even chance encounters with business executives is required to be declared. Minutes of the meeting acquired by the publication reveals a section titled “Aramco flight talk” wherein Kwarteng discussed the “history and opportunities for the company”. However, other elements of the meeting discussed in the said 'Aramco flight' were redacted by the government, citing it could harm UK-Saudi relations. Read more: UK ‘will need $66bn spending cuts’ to bounce back from unfunded tax cuts Notably, Saudi Aramco is the world’s biggest oil producer while Sabic is the world’s fourth-largest petrochemical company. Experts say that meeting with top officials of such companies is expected to be lodged in the official records. However, the fact that it was omitted suggests that the minister was being lobbied when he was responsible for UK's energy policy. While the UK government remained opaque on the meetings, Sabic in a Twitter post mentioned that the then UK business secretary indeed visited the company facility, We were honored with the visit of Kwasi Kwarteng, UK Business Secretary, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the accompanying delegation to United Company, where they were briefed about the world’s largest CO2 purification and liquefaction plant.#SABIC pic.twitter.com/bL5PhwkLF1 — SABIC I سابك (@SABIC) February 1, 2022 × The UK has been going through a harrowing energy crisis and the ordinary Britons are expected to receive inflated energy bills this winter. Thus, the secret meetings of Kwarteng which could have influenced the energy plans of the UK are being scrutinized microscopically. As reported by WION, Kwarteng has had a troubled start to his new job. Within days of announcing his ambitious tax cut plans, he was forced to take a volta face on the 45 per cent tax cut for the top earners. Additionally, he caught flak for celebrating with champagne after delivering the mini-budget. After the controversy snowballed, the UK finance minister said it 'wasn’t the best way to go'. “I think it was a difficult call and I totally get how it looks. I just feel that it was something that I was signed up to do and I had to do…With hindsight it probably wasn’t the best way to go." Read more: ‘Wasn’t the best way to go’: Kwarteng admits mistake of attending champagne reception after budget (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

British Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng held clandestine meetings with Saudi oil executives: Report

Less than 10 days after taking a U-turn on her 45 per cent tax cut proposal for the rich, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is expected to announce another volta face, per a report by The Guardian.

Less than 10 days after taking a U-turn on her 45 per cent tax cut proposal for the rich, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is expected to announce another volta face, per a report by The Guardian. According to the publication, the Tory leader has received a not-so-welcome response from her colleagues and party leaders regarding her plan of uprating welfare payments in line with earnings rather than inflation. Plans to oust Truss have been discussed amongst the MPs if she continues to persist with her 'hara-kiri' policy. Penny Mordaunt, currently in Truss' cabinet has already said that benefits should rise in line with inflation. Damian Green, part of the party's centrist faction, said he doubted any real-terms cut would pass a parliamentary vote. WATCH | UK economy | Liz Truss' U-Turn on 45% tax cut for the rich × Truss, under her largely unfunded financial tax cut plan, is looking to find avenues to save money for the exchequer. Under her proposed plan, the benefits will rise in line with earnings which comes to around 5.5 per cent rather than in correspondence with the inflation percentage. The September inflation figure stood at 10 per cent which effectively means that the poor will be losing money under the scheme. Research has shown that if Truss goes through with her plan, as many as 450,000 could be pushed into poverty. As prices of energy and housing continue to soar, uprating benefits by only 5.5 per cent will result in a 7.7 per cent loss in disposable income on average. The move would effectively leave poorer households $437 a year worse off on average. Earlier, the UK government was forced to abandon its plan to abolish the 45 per cent top rate of income tax. The humiliating U-turn was necessitated days after announcing the policy change and on the back of a turbulent reaction from the markets as well as the conservative party. As reported by WION, such has been the financial crunch in the UK that the country may need to cut as many as 200,000 government jobs in the next two years to avoid saddling the exchequer with billions in debt. Read more: Liz Truss government may have to cut 200,000 jobs to stay afloat: Report (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Liz Truss preparing for another U-turn; this time on welfare payments

India has slammed Germany for its 'unwarranted advice' on Kashmir. In a sharply worded statement, it called German call for UN role in J&K an 'injustice to terror victims'. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: India slams Germany's 'unwarranted remarks' on Kashmir

Anti-NATO protests have gripped France as the country grapples with a cost-of-living crisis. The protests come amid a strike by union workers at France's petroleum refineries. Molly Gambhir tells you how Emmanuel Macron faces a double challenge.

Gravitas: Anti-NATO protests erupt in Paris

At least 10 Ukrainian cities were struck by Russian missile attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened more strikes. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Putin threatens more missile attacks on Ukraine

CNN has had to apologise over its coverage of the Thailand massacre. CNN journalists had entered and filmed the childcare centre without permission, The network had also aired graphic footage from the crime scene. Molly Gambhir asks- where do you draw the line between reporting and trespassing?

Gravitas: CNN in soup over its Thailand massacre reportage

October 10 is observed as World Mental Health Day. 30 years since the day was first observed, why are mental health issues still stigmatised? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: World Mental Health Day 2022

A 47-year-old man from North Carolina recently died due to a harrowing miscalculation by his car's GPS system. It led him to what had once been a bridge, making his car fall into a river. To what extent can technology be trusted? Here's what Molly Gambhir has to say.

Gravitas: The Perils of Technology

Ahead of the Party Congress, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the top leadership of the country for secret talks. What was discussed? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping holds "secret talks" with  top leadership

Elon Musk has suggested allowing China to have some control over Taiwan. Politicians in Taiwan say the suggestions by Musk are "ill-informed". Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Elon Musk's solution for China-Taiwan conflict

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez resigned from her post on Monday following the leak of an audio tape where she could be heard making racist remarks and belittling her council colleagues and their children.&nbsp;

Taking responsibility for her actions, Martinez said there were no excuses for her action.&nbsp;

“I sincerely apologize to the people I hurt with my words: to my colleagues, their families, especially to Mike, Sean, and your son,"&nbsp; she said in a statement released by her office.&nbsp;

“As a mother, I know better and I am sorry. I am truly ashamed. I know this is the result of my own actions. I’m sorry to your entire family for putting you through this.”

“As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal,” Martinez continued. “Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have already reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express my regret in order for us to heal.”

In the leaked tape, which was recorded more than a year ago and remained private until Sunday, Martinez referred to Councilman&nbsp;Mike Bonin’s son as “Parece changuito,” or “like a monkey.”

“They’re raising him like a little white kid which I was like, this kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner and then I’ll bring him back," she could be heard saying.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harvey-weinstein-back-on-trial-five-years-after-metoo-movement-shook-up-the-world-523770">Read more:&nbsp;Harvey Weinstein back on trial, five years after #MeToo movement shook the world</a>

Additionally, in a conversation with&nbsp;Councilmembers Gil Cedillo, Kevin de León and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera, the former LA Council chief referred to Bonin as a “little bitch”.&nbsp;

Martinez's verbal tirade continued as she mocked Oaxacans by saying,&nbsp;“F*** that guy...He’s with the Blacks”&nbsp;

“I was like, I don’t know where these people are from, I don’t know what village they came [from], how they got here."

Herrera, who was present in the room when Martinez made the awful statements apologised and asked for forgivenes.

On Sunday night, Herrera apologized and asked for forgiveness, saying there is “no justification and no excuse for the vile remarks made in that room.”

“And I didn’t step up to stop them and I will have to bear the burden of that cross moving forward,” he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-take-to-streets-across-us-states-for-abortion-rights-protests-ahead-of-midterm-election-523668">Read more:&nbsp;Thousands hit the streets across US states for abortion rights ahead of midterm election</a>

While Martinez has resigned as the chief she remains on the council seat with more of her colleagues demanding that she resign from that post as well.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<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>

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez resigned from her post on Monday following the leak of an audio tape where she could be heard making racist remarks and belittling her council colleagues and their children.

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez resigned from her post on Monday following the leak of an audio tape where she could be heard making racist remarks and belittling her council colleagues and their children. Taking responsibility for her actions, Martinez said there were no excuses for her action. “I sincerely apologize to the people I hurt with my words: to my colleagues, their families, especially to Mike, Sean, and your son," she said in a statement released by her office. “As a mother, I know better and I am sorry. I am truly ashamed. I know this is the result of my own actions. I’m sorry to your entire family for putting you through this.” “As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal,” Martinez continued. “Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have already reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express my regret in order for us to heal.” In the leaked tape, which was recorded more than a year ago and remained private until Sunday, Martinez referred to Councilman Mike Bonin’s son as “Parece changuito,” or “like a monkey.” “They’re raising him like a little white kid which I was like, this kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner and then I’ll bring him back," she could be heard saying. Read more: Harvey Weinstein back on trial, five years after #MeToo movement shook the world Additionally, in a conversation with Councilmembers Gil Cedillo, Kevin de León and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera, the former LA Council chief referred to Bonin as a “little bitch”. Martinez's verbal tirade continued as she mocked Oaxacans by saying, “F*** that guy...He’s with the Blacks” “I was like, I don’t know where these people are from, I don’t know what village they came [from], how they got here." Herrera, who was present in the room when Martinez made the awful statements apologised and asked for forgivenes. On Sunday night, Herrera apologized and asked for forgiveness, saying there is “no justification and no excuse for the vile remarks made in that room.” “And I didn’t step up to stop them and I will have to bear the burden of that cross moving forward,” he added. Read more: Thousands hit the streets across US states for abortion rights ahead of midterm election While Martinez has resigned as the chief she remains on the council seat with more of her colleagues demanding that she resign from that post as well. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

LA City Council president resigns after her racist audiotape goes viral

Heatwaves will become so extreme in certain regions of the world within decades that human life there will be unsustainable, the United Nations and the Red Cross said Monday.

Heatwaves are predicted to "exceed human physiological and social limits" in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and south and southwest Asia, with extreme events triggering "large-scale suffering and loss of life", the organisations said.

Heatwave catastrophes this year in countries like Somalia and Pakistan foreshadow a future with deadlier, more frequent, and more intense heat-related humanitarian emergencies, they warned in a joint report.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/heatwaves-in-pakistan-and-india-30-times-more-likely-due-to-climate-change-study-501687">Read more:&nbsp;Heatwaves in Pakistan and India '30 times more likely' due to climate change: Study</a>

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released the report in advance of next month's UN's COP27 climate change summit in Egypt.

They said aggressive steps needed to be taken immediately to avert potentially recurrent heat disasters, listing steps that could mitigate the worst effects of extreme heat.

"There are clear limits beyond which people exposed to extreme heat and humidity cannot survive," the report said.

"There are also likely to be levels of extreme heat beyond which societies may find it practically impossible to deliver effective adaptation for all.

"On current trajectories, heatwaves could meet and exceed these physiological and social limits in the coming decades, including in regions such as the Sahel and south and southwest Asia."

It warned that the impact of this would be "large-scale suffering and loss of life, population movements and further entrenched inequality."

The combined effects of ageing, warming and urbanisation would cause a significant increase in the number of at-risk people in developing countries in the coming decades.

"Projected future death rates from extreme heat are staggeringly high and comparable in magnitude by the end of the century to all cancers or all infectious diseases and staggeringly unequal," the report said.

Agricultural workers, children, the elderly and pregnant and breastfeeding women are at higher risk of illness and death, the report claimed.

"As the climate crisis goes unchecked, extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, are hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest," said UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths.

"Nowhere is the impact more brutally felt than in countries already reeling from hunger, conflict and poverty."

IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain urged countries at COP27 to invest in climate adaptation and mitigation in the regions most at risk.

OCHA and the IFRC suggested five main steps to help combat the impact of extreme heatwaves, including providing early information to help people and authorities react in time, and finding new ways of financing local-level action.

They also included humanitarian organisations testing more "thermally-appropriate" emergency shelter and "cooling centres", while getting communities to alter their development planning to take account of likely extreme heat impacts.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp; 
<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> &nbsp;

Heatwaves will become so extreme in certain regions of the world within decades that human life there will be unsustainable, the United Nations and the Red Cross said Monday.

Heatwaves will become so extreme in certain regions of the world within decades that human life there will be unsustainable, the United Nations and the Red Cross said Monday. Heatwaves are predicted to "exceed human physiological and social limits" in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and south and southwest Asia, with extreme events triggering "large-scale suffering and loss of life", the organisations said. Heatwave catastrophes this year in countries like Somalia and Pakistan foreshadow a future with deadlier, more frequent, and more intense heat-related humanitarian emergencies, they warned in a joint report. Read more: Heatwaves in Pakistan and India '30 times more likely' due to climate change: Study The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released the report in advance of next month's UN's COP27 climate change summit in Egypt. They said aggressive steps needed to be taken immediately to avert potentially recurrent heat disasters, listing steps that could mitigate the worst effects of extreme heat. "There are clear limits beyond which people exposed to extreme heat and humidity cannot survive," the report said. "There are also likely to be levels of extreme heat beyond which societies may find it practically impossible to deliver effective adaptation for all. "On current trajectories, heatwaves could meet and exceed these physiological and social limits in the coming decades, including in regions such as the Sahel and south and southwest Asia." It warned that the impact of this would be "large-scale suffering and loss of life, population movements and further entrenched inequality." The combined effects of ageing, warming and urbanisation would cause a significant increase in the number of at-risk people in developing countries in the coming decades. "Projected future death rates from extreme heat are staggeringly high and comparable in magnitude by the end of the century to all cancers or all infectious diseases and staggeringly unequal," the report said. Agricultural workers, children, the elderly and pregnant and breastfeeding women are at higher risk of illness and death, the report claimed. "As the climate crisis goes unchecked, extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, are hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest," said UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths. "Nowhere is the impact more brutally felt than in countries already reeling from hunger, conflict and poverty." IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain urged countries at COP27 to invest in climate adaptation and mitigation in the regions most at risk. OCHA and the IFRC suggested five main steps to help combat the impact of extreme heatwaves, including providing early information to help people and authorities react in time, and finding new ways of financing local-level action. They also included humanitarian organisations testing more "thermally-appropriate" emergency shelter and "cooling centres", while getting communities to alter their development planning to take account of likely extreme heat impacts. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Life may become unsustainable due to extreme heatwaves, say UN and Red Cross

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