In what comes as a victory for labour rights organisations and regulators,&nbsp;a National Labor Relations Board judge on Friday ruled that Starbucks illegally fired an&nbsp;employee at&nbsp;its Ann Arbor, Michigan store.

The judge ruled that Starbucks “acted with animus” when it fired the employee and ordered the multinational coffee chain to reinstate the fired worker with back pay.

Moreover, the company will have to hold a meeting with the employees, management as well as government representatives where a notice about workers' rights will be read and Starbucks will have to&nbsp;reassert the agency's&nbsp;filing that it broke the law.&nbsp;

Hannah Whitbeck, the employee in question was fired because she helped build support for unionising the Ann Arbor store.&nbsp;

“I would hope that they learn their lesson, that firing people because they want to start a union is not going to solve their problems. In fact, it’s only going to make it worse.”&nbsp;Whitbeck was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.&nbsp;

This is not the first time that Starbucks has been ordered by a court to re-hire its illegally fired employees.

As reported by WION, in August,&nbsp;a&nbsp;US federal court ordered the company to reinstate its seven&nbsp;employees who were also fired for unionising.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-court-orders-starbucks-to-rehire-employees-it-fired-for-unionising-508252">Read more:&nbsp;US court orders Starbucks to rehire employees it fired for 'unionising'</a>

Judge Sheryl H. Lipman at the US District Court of the Western District of Tennessee passed the judgement, terming the&nbsp;rehiring as&nbsp;"just and proper".

Last month, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, a New York City agency sued Starbucks for wrongfully terminating a longtime worker and union organiser.&nbsp;

According to the agency, the case marks its first lawsuit for a violation of New York City’s “just cause” protections, a 2017 law meant to safeguard the interests of fast-food workers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-city-agency-sues-starbucks-for-wrongfully-terminating-union-organiser-employee-512636">Read more:&nbsp;New York City agency sues Starbucks for wrongfully terminating union organiser employee</a>

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is currently investigating hundreds of allegations of misconduct by Starbucks related to the union campaign, including claims of closing stores to dismantle unions, firing employees, and intimidating and threatening workers to prevent them from unionising.&nbsp;

While there is already a huge backlog of complaints, NLRB officials suggest that more cases will come to light in the coming year.&nbsp;

“Given the spike in case intake we are seeing in the field, we can expect even more cases to come before the board in fiscal year 2023,” said&nbsp;Lauren McFerran,&nbsp;NLRB chairperson.&nbsp;

Starbucks, on multiple occasions, has cleared that it is against any kind of unionising efforts.&nbsp;

“From the beginning, we’ve been clear in our belief that we do not want a union between us as partners, and that conviction has not changed,”&nbsp;Rossann Williams,&nbsp;Starbucks’ executive vice president stated last year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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In what comes as a victory for labour rights organisations and regulators, a National Labor Relations Board judge on Friday ruled that Starbucks illegally fired an employee at its Ann Arbor, Michigan store.

In what comes as a victory for labour rights organisations and regulators, a National Labor Relations Board judge on Friday ruled that Starbucks illegally fired an employee at its Ann Arbor, Michigan store. The judge ruled that Starbucks “acted with animus” when it fired the employee and ordered the multinational coffee chain to reinstate the fired worker with back pay. Moreover, the company will have to hold a meeting with the employees, management as well as government representatives where a notice about workers' rights will be read and Starbucks will have to reassert the agency's filing that it broke the law. Hannah Whitbeck, the employee in question was fired because she helped build support for unionising the Ann Arbor store. “I would hope that they learn their lesson, that firing people because they want to start a union is not going to solve their problems. In fact, it’s only going to make it worse.” Whitbeck was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. This is not the first time that Starbucks has been ordered by a court to re-hire its illegally fired employees. As reported by WION, in August, a US federal court ordered the company to reinstate its seven employees who were also fired for unionising. Read more: US court orders Starbucks to rehire employees it fired for 'unionising' Judge Sheryl H. Lipman at the US District Court of the Western District of Tennessee passed the judgement, terming the rehiring as "just and proper". Last month, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, a New York City agency sued Starbucks for wrongfully terminating a longtime worker and union organiser. According to the agency, the case marks its first lawsuit for a violation of New York City’s “just cause” protections, a 2017 law meant to safeguard the interests of fast-food workers. Read more: New York City agency sues Starbucks for wrongfully terminating union organiser employee The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is currently investigating hundreds of allegations of misconduct by Starbucks related to the union campaign, including claims of closing stores to dismantle unions, firing employees, and intimidating and threatening workers to prevent them from unionising. While there is already a huge backlog of complaints, NLRB officials suggest that more cases will come to light in the coming year. “Given the spike in case intake we are seeing in the field, we can expect even more cases to come before the board in fiscal year 2023,” said Lauren McFerran, NLRB chairperson. Starbucks, on multiple occasions, has cleared that it is against any kind of unionising efforts. “From the beginning, we’ve been clear in our belief that we do not want a union between us as partners, and that conviction has not changed,” Rossann Williams, Starbucks’ executive vice president stated last year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Starbucks ordered to rehire employee it fired for 'unionising' with back pay

Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is in the last essay of his stint as the army leader. In the backdrop of the country going through its worst period, both on the economic and human front courtesy of the devastating floods, Bajwa is now batting for peace. Without naming India Bajwa called for the resolution of all bilateral ties.&nbsp;

“We must give peace a chance by developing a mechanism to resolve all our bilateral issues peacefully. Moreover, as opposed to fighting each other, we should collectively fight hunger, poverty, illiteracy, population explosion, climate change and disease,” &nbsp;said Bajwa at the passing-out parade at Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.&nbsp;

Bajwa, who is expected to retire after his extended six-year tenure in November, however,&nbsp;asserted that the desire for peace must not be construed as weakness.&nbsp;

“I must highlight here that our desire for peace must not be construed as our weakness. No one should make any mistake about our collective resolve to defend our core interests and every inch of our motherland,” he added.&nbsp;

“We are trying our best to break the political logjam which has denied the countries of South Asia to move forward and resolve all regional and bilateral issues in a peaceful and dignified manner.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-to-appoint-next-army-chief-in-november-says-defence-minister-asif-517303">Read more: Pakistan PM to appoint next Army chief in November, says Defence Minister Asif</a>

However, experts were not too amused with Bajwa's call. Indian Army's&nbsp;Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain stated it wasn't the first time that Bajwa had came up with such lofty statements.

"This is not the first time that General Bajwa has talked about peace with India. But the follow-up has hardly been evident," Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain told WION.&nbsp;

"Whenever you speak about these things, it must be followed with executive direction and some kind of demonstration which unfortunately has been missing," added the army veteran.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> has appealed for peace with its regional partners. 
 
Pakistan's chief of army staff, General <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QamarJavedBajwa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QamarJavedBajwa</a> stressed on the need for peace and developing mechanisms for resolving bilateral issues.<a href="https://twitter.com/alysonle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alysonle</a> speaks to LT General (R) <a href="https://twitter.com/atahasnain53?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@atahasnain53</a> for more perspective <a href="https://t.co/oKBFvJdz4i">pic.twitter.com/oKBFvJdz4i</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1578729422038917121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While Bajwa batted for a peaceful resolution of the relations, he didn't bring Kashmir into the conversation which experts believe was a rarity from the Pakistani army chief.

In April earlier this year, Bajwa had worked the peaceful resolution of disputes between the two neighbours into his speech but added the Kashmir caveat again.&nbsp;

“Pakistan continues to believe in using dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all outstanding issues including the Kashmir dispute and is ready to move forward on this front if India agrees to do so,” Bajwa said.&nbsp;

While Bajwa may have toned down his rhetoric, it was during his tenure that India-Pakistan had come perilously close to a war after the&nbsp;dastardly Pulwama attack&nbsp;in 2019.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is in the last essay of his stint as the army leader. In the backdrop of the country going through its worst period, both on the economic and human front courtesy of the devastating floods, Bajwa is now batting for peace.

Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is in the last essay of his stint as the army leader. In the backdrop of the country going through its worst period, both on the economic and human front courtesy of the devastating floods, Bajwa is now batting for peace. Without naming India Bajwa called for the resolution of all bilateral ties. “We must give peace a chance by developing a mechanism to resolve all our bilateral issues peacefully. Moreover, as opposed to fighting each other, we should collectively fight hunger, poverty, illiteracy, population explosion, climate change and disease,” said Bajwa at the passing-out parade at Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Bajwa, who is expected to retire after his extended six-year tenure in November, however, asserted that the desire for peace must not be construed as weakness. “I must highlight here that our desire for peace must not be construed as our weakness. No one should make any mistake about our collective resolve to defend our core interests and every inch of our motherland,” he added. “We are trying our best to break the political logjam which has denied the countries of South Asia to move forward and resolve all regional and bilateral issues in a peaceful and dignified manner.” Read more: Pakistan PM to appoint next Army chief in November, says Defence Minister Asif However, experts were not too amused with Bajwa's call. Indian Army's Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain stated it wasn't the first time that Bajwa had came up with such lofty statements. "This is not the first time that General Bajwa has talked about peace with India. But the follow-up has hardly been evident," Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain told WION. "Whenever you speak about these things, it must be followed with executive direction and some kind of demonstration which unfortunately has been missing," added the army veteran. #Pakistan has appealed for peace with its regional partners. Pakistan's chief of army staff, General #QamarJavedBajwa stressed on the need for peace and developing mechanisms for resolving bilateral issues.@alysonle speaks to LT General (R) @atahasnain53 for more perspective pic.twitter.com/oKBFvJdz4i — WION (@WIONews) October 8, 2022 × While Bajwa batted for a peaceful resolution of the relations, he didn't bring Kashmir into the conversation which experts believe was a rarity from the Pakistani army chief. In April earlier this year, Bajwa had worked the peaceful resolution of disputes between the two neighbours into his speech but added the Kashmir caveat again. “Pakistan continues to believe in using dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all outstanding issues including the Kashmir dispute and is ready to move forward on this front if India agrees to do so,” Bajwa said. While Bajwa may have toned down his rhetoric, it was during his tenure that India-Pakistan had come perilously close to a war after the dastardly Pulwama attack in 2019. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pakistan army chief hints at peace with India without mentioning Kashmir

Richard Branson-controlled&nbsp;Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. on Wednesday announced it was ceasing operations in Hong Kong. The UK airline will be cancelling flights and shutting down offices, impacting the livelihood of 46 staffers in the country.&nbsp;

The company cited non-profitability as one of the main reasons for pulling the plug on its operations.&nbsp;

“After careful consideration, we’ve taken the difficult decision to suspend our London Heathrow-Hong Kong services and close our Hong Kong office,” read the company's statement.

“We’re constantly reviewing the performance of our network and as part of our long-term strategy of being sustainably profitable.&nbsp;We’re committed to only flying profitable routes," it read further.

Apologising to customers who may have booked tickets for their journey, the company said it will offer a refund.&nbsp;

“We’re very sorry for the disappointment caused to our loyal customers on this route and anyone booked to travel from March 2023 will be offered a refund, voucher or the option to rebook on an alternative Virgin Atlantic route.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-virgin-atlantic-airlines-will-allow-staff-to-wear-uniforms-of-their-choosing-521018">WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint: Virgin Atlantic airlines will allow staff to wear uniforms of their choosing</a>

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Expanding on the non-profitability of the route, the UK airline said the 'ongoing Russian airspace closure' added between one to two hours to Hong Kong flights, which made the margins thin.&nbsp;

The move comes after Hong Kong finally got rid of its draconian mandatory quarantine rule last month. However, as it turns out, the decision came a tad too late.

In line with China's stringent 'Zero-Covid' strategy, Hong Kong had been imposing hotel quarantine for international arrivals.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/east-asia/hong-kong-flags-covid-19-quarantine-policy-change-wants-an-orderly-opening-up-517946">Read more:&nbsp;Hong Kong flags COVID-19 quarantine policy change, wants an orderly opening-up</a>

Business groups, diplomats and many residents had&nbsp;slammed the city's COVID-19 rules, saying they threaten Hong Kong's competitiveness and standing as a global financial centre.

Virgin Atlantic had not operated any passenger flights to Hong Kong since December, primarily due to this reason.&nbsp;

Across the Asia Pacific region as a whole, and in stark contrast to recovery in other areas, airlines saw traffic fall last year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Richard Branson-controlled Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. on Wednesday announced it was ceasing operations in Hong Kong. The UK airline will be cancelling flights and shutting down offices, impacting the livelihood of 46 staffers in the country.

Richard Branson-controlled Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. on Wednesday announced it was ceasing operations in Hong Kong. The UK airline will be cancelling flights and shutting down offices, impacting the livelihood of 46 staffers in the country. The company cited non-profitability as one of the main reasons for pulling the plug on its operations. “After careful consideration, we’ve taken the difficult decision to suspend our London Heathrow-Hong Kong services and close our Hong Kong office,” read the company's statement. “We’re constantly reviewing the performance of our network and as part of our long-term strategy of being sustainably profitable. We’re committed to only flying profitable routes," it read further. Apologising to customers who may have booked tickets for their journey, the company said it will offer a refund. “We’re very sorry for the disappointment caused to our loyal customers on this route and anyone booked to travel from March 2023 will be offered a refund, voucher or the option to rebook on an alternative Virgin Atlantic route.” WATCH | WION Fineprint: Virgin Atlantic airlines will allow staff to wear uniforms of their choosing × Expanding on the non-profitability of the route, the UK airline said the 'ongoing Russian airspace closure' added between one to two hours to Hong Kong flights, which made the margins thin. The move comes after Hong Kong finally got rid of its draconian mandatory quarantine rule last month. However, as it turns out, the decision came a tad too late. In line with China's stringent 'Zero-Covid' strategy, Hong Kong had been imposing hotel quarantine for international arrivals. Read more: Hong Kong flags COVID-19 quarantine policy change, wants an orderly opening-up Business groups, diplomats and many residents had slammed the city's COVID-19 rules, saying they threaten Hong Kong's competitiveness and standing as a global financial centre. Virgin Atlantic had not operated any passenger flights to Hong Kong since December, primarily due to this reason. Across the Asia Pacific region as a whole, and in stark contrast to recovery in other areas, airlines saw traffic fall last year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Virgin Atlantic ceases operations in Hong Kong: Shuts offices, cancels flights

Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of the Chechnya region, on Wednesday claimed that he had been elevated to the rank of colonel general, the third highest rank in the Russian military hierarchy.

Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of the Chechnya region, on Wednesday claimed that he had been elevated to the rank of colonel general, the third highest rank in the Russian military hierarchy. "The President of Russia awarded me the rank of colonel general. This is a promotion for me," said Kadyrov on Telegram. "I am immensely grateful to our supreme Commander-in-Chief for the high appreciation of my merits! This is a great honor for me. I give my word that I will justify the trust placed in advance," he added. Kadyrov receiving the promotion comes days after he urged Moscow to consider using a low-yield nuclear weapon in Ukraine. "In my personal opinion, more drastic measures should be taken, right up to the declaration of martial law in the border areas and the use of low-yield nuclear weapons," Kadyrov wrote on Telegram. Read more: Chechen leader Kadyrov: Russia should use low-yield nuclear weapon after new defeat in Ukraine Moreover, after Ukraine pushed back the Russian troops from occupied regions, an infuriated Kadyrov said he would send his three teenage sons Akhmat (16), Eli (15) and Adam (14) to fight for Russia on the battlefield. “It’s time to prove themselves in a real fight, I can only welcome this desire…Soon they will go to the front line and will be on the most difficult sections of the contact line," said the Chechen leader. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine Clash: Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to send teenage sons to Ukraine War × The influential ruler of the Caucasus region of Chechnya has been a vocal champion of the war in Ukraine, with Chechen forces forming part of the vanguard of the Russian army there. Kadyrov is widely believed to be personally close to Putin, who appointed him to govern restive Chechnya in 2007. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov elevated to the rank of colonel general

If reports are to be believed, Poland has discussed the idea of sharing nuclear weapons with its&nbsp;North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally the United States.&nbsp;

According to a Bloomberg report, Poland&nbsp;President Andrzej Duda talked to the United States and discussed the idea of housing weapons of mass destruction. Duda's comments came amid the continuing&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war and nuclear sabre-rattling by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies

“There is always a potential opportunity to participate in the nuclear sharing programme,” local media reports cited&nbsp;Duda as saying.&nbsp;

“We have spoken with American leaders about whether the United States is considering such a possibility. The issue is open," he added.&nbsp;

White House unaware of the conversation

While Duda claims he talked to Washington, the White House officials, per the Bloomberg report were unaware of such an issue being raised.&nbsp;

Both US and NATO continue to maintain that they will not deploy nuclear weapons in countries that have joined the powerful security alliance after the fall of communism.&nbsp;

Poland is a full member of NATO since 1999. The security alliance has a concept called 'Nuclear Sharing Arrangement'&nbsp;which acts as a deterrent for enemy states. Under the policy,&nbsp;countries that do not have their own nuclear weapons host those from others that do.

Currently, US, France and the UK are the three countries within NATO that have nuclear weapons in their arsenal. Out of the three, only US takes part in the nuclear weapons sharing programme.&nbsp;

Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey are the only NATO allies that host the US nuclear weapons on their territories.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-did-nato-push-ukraine-into-war-459651">WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Did NATO push Ukraine into war?</a>

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Why is Poland after the deal?

The development comes a couple of days after footage of Russia transporting equipment for its supposed nuclear weapons programme went viral on social media platforms.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The footage of the convoy, shot at an undisclosed location in central Russia and carried by several Western news outlets shows a locomotive, linked to the 12th main directorate of the Russian ministry of defence carrying upgraded armoured personnel carriers and other equipment while heading towards the front line of the battlefield.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/footage-shows-russias-nuclear-armageddon-convoy-on-the-move-report-522366">Read more:&nbsp;Footage shows Russia's nuclear 'armageddon' convoy on the move: Report</a>

The nuclear threat of Russia

Multiple reports have claimed that President Vladimir Putin may be attempting to send a message to the West by conducting a nuclear test, amid the Ukraine war.&nbsp;

As reported by WION, NATO has already warned its members that Putin may have deployed Poseidon, a nuclear weapon that is also known as the "weapon of the Apocalypse".

NATO issued the warning note over the weekend which was leaked to Italian media. As per the note, the doomsday weapon is on its way from its base in the Arctic circle to the Kara Sea.

Meanwhile, Ramzan&nbsp;Kadyrov, head of&nbsp;Russia's region of Chechnya has urged Moscow to consider using a&nbsp;low-yield&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;weapon&nbsp;in Ukraine.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chechen-leader-kadyrov-russia-should-use-low-yield-nuclear-weapon-after-new-defeat-in-ukraine-521614">Read more:&nbsp;Chechen leader Kadyrov: Russia should use low-yield nuclear weapon after new defeat in Ukraine</a>

"In my personal opinion, more drastic measures&nbsp;should&nbsp;be taken, right up to the declaration of martial law in the border areas and the&nbsp;use&nbsp;of&nbsp;low-yield&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;weapons,"&nbsp;Kadyrov wrote on Telegram.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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If reports are to be believed, Poland has discussed the idea of sharing nuclear weapons with its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally the United States.

If reports are to be believed, Poland has discussed the idea of sharing nuclear weapons with its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally the United States. According to a Bloomberg report, Poland President Andrzej Duda talked to the United States and discussed the idea of housing weapons of mass destruction. Duda's comments came amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine war and nuclear sabre-rattling by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies “There is always a potential opportunity to participate in the nuclear sharing programme,” local media reports cited Duda as saying. “We have spoken with American leaders about whether the United States is considering such a possibility. The issue is open," he added. White House unaware of the conversation While Duda claims he talked to Washington, the White House officials, per the Bloomberg report were unaware of such an issue being raised. Both US and NATO continue to maintain that they will not deploy nuclear weapons in countries that have joined the powerful security alliance after the fall of communism. Poland is a full member of NATO since 1999. The security alliance has a concept called 'Nuclear Sharing Arrangement' which acts as a deterrent for enemy states. Under the policy, countries that do not have their own nuclear weapons host those from others that do. Currently, US, France and the UK are the three countries within NATO that have nuclear weapons in their arsenal. Out of the three, only US takes part in the nuclear weapons sharing programme. Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey are the only NATO allies that host the US nuclear weapons on their territories. WATCH | Gravitas Plus: Did NATO push Ukraine into war? × Why is Poland after the deal? The development comes a couple of days after footage of Russia transporting equipment for its supposed nuclear weapons programme went viral on social media platforms. The footage of the convoy, shot at an undisclosed location in central Russia and carried by several Western news outlets shows a locomotive, linked to the 12th main directorate of the Russian ministry of defence carrying upgraded armoured personnel carriers and other equipment while heading towards the front line of the battlefield. Read more: Footage shows Russia's nuclear 'armageddon' convoy on the move: Report The nuclear threat of Russia Multiple reports have claimed that President Vladimir Putin may be attempting to send a message to the West by conducting a nuclear test, amid the Ukraine war. As reported by WION, NATO has already warned its members that Putin may have deployed Poseidon, a nuclear weapon that is also known as the "weapon of the Apocalypse". NATO issued the warning note over the weekend which was leaked to Italian media. As per the note, the doomsday weapon is on its way from its base in the Arctic circle to the Kara Sea. Meanwhile, Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Russia's region of Chechnya has urged Moscow to consider using a low-yield nuclear weapon in Ukraine. Read more: Chechen leader Kadyrov: Russia should use low-yield nuclear weapon after new defeat in Ukraine "In my personal opinion, more drastic measures should be taken, right up to the declaration of martial law in the border areas and the use of low-yield nuclear weapons," Kadyrov wrote on Telegram. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Poland approached US with offer to host its nuclear weapons: Reports

A video showing a group of people celebrating the annual Hindu festival of 'Navratri' while blasting songs through the loudspeakers of an electric scooter has gone viral on social media platforms.

A video showing a group of people celebrating the annual Hindu festival of 'Navratri' while blasting songs through the loudspeakers of an electric scooter has gone viral on social media platforms. Reportedly, a netizen named Shreyas Sardesai residing in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Tuesday took to Twitter to share a video where his Ola S1 Pro electric scooter saved the day and the celebratory atmosphere. Sardesai shared a video where a group of people can be seen performing Garba (traditional Indian dance) around a rangoli while the electricity is out. However, the catch is that the in-built speaker of the Ola scooter is blasting the peppy song. "Ola S1 Pro turned out to be savior when lights were out during Navratri celebration . Every one enjoyed navratri with Ola's speakers," Sardesai captioned the post as saying. Ola S1 Pro turned out to be savior when lights were out during Navratri celebration . Every one enjoyed navratri with Ola's speakers #olas1pro #OLA @OlaElectric @bhash pic.twitter.com/Up319nXwVq — Shreyas Sardesai (@shreyas7065) October 4, 2022 × Read more: Rick and Morty fans spot Hong Kong pro-democracy protest codes in new episode As soon as the video was posted, it went viral across social media platforms. Ola boss Bhavish Aggarwal acknowledged the video and quote tweeted the video by saying, "We will build a special navratri mode before next year into MoveOS!" 👌🏼 we will build a special navratri mode before next year into MoveOS! https://t.co/3sBsaUKcad — Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) October 4, 2022 × Meanwhile, the netizens were impressed by Sardesai's quick thinking as well as the multipurpose utility of the scooter. "Your electricity board can ditch you, but you can rely on OLA for e haALO" said one netizen. Meanwhile, another said, "Ola is always a life savior whether it is bad weather with water log or electricity outrage, ola stand tall for their user." During Navratri which is a nine-day long festival culminating with Dussehra, people across India, particularly in the state of Gujarat perform Garba. It brings together the community as people dance and sing their hearts out. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: An electric scooter saves the day during Navratri celebrations. Here's how

As investigations start into the origins of the Nord Stream pipeline leaks, Russia has thrown its hat into the ring to be included in the probe. "There should really be an investigation.

As investigations start into the origins of the Nord Stream pipeline leaks, Russia has thrown its hat into the ring to be included in the probe. "There should really be an investigation. Naturally, with the participation of Russia," Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Vershinin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Last week, while addressing the assembly at UN Security Council, Vershinin said, “The general opinion was that this [pipeline leaks] was sabotage and that it should be investigated." As reported extensively by WION, the two explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines last Monday were followed by unexplained gas leaks. The suspicious incidents were reported in the Baltic Sea off Danish island of Bornholm. According to Danish-Swedish investigation findings, the four breaches impacting the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea were brought on by underwater explosions equivalent to hundreds of kilogrammes of explosives. Read more: China calls for 'impartial' investigation into the Nord Stream pipeline leaks Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have claimed that their were attacks that caused gas from the two Russian-owned gas pipelines to pour into the sea. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called it a ploy by the West after its sanctions did not affect Moscow. "Sanctions are not enough for the West, they have switched to sabotage. Unbelievable, but it is a fact!," Putin stated during a live speech at a Kremlin ceremony to annex four areas of Ukraine that are now under Russian control. While the supply of natural gas through the pipelines remains halted, the leaks have been plugged. Nord Stream 2 was repaired on Saturday followed by Nord Stream 1 on Monday. "The larger leak is now no longer visible on the surface while the smaller one instead has increased slightly," the Swedish coast guard said in a statement regarding Nord Stream 1. Read more: Gas leak from Nord Stream 1 has stopped, says Swedish Coast Guard (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kremlin wants to be part of investigation into underwater explosions, Nord Stream leaks

Paris police on Wednesday dismantled a camp that is home to over 100 crack users, the latest move in a campaign that has repeatedly displaced the addicts around the capital.

Residents and aid groups have for years been frustrated by authorities' failure to either clamp down on open drug dealing and crime in and around the camps or to provide appropriate treatment for users.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on Twitter as the evacuation got underway that this time, "1,000 officers will be deployed to prevent the camp from reforming somewhere else".

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Sur mon instruction, le <a href="https://twitter.com/prefpolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prefpolice</a> procède au démantèlement définitif ce matin du «campement du crack» du square Forceval à Paris. 1000 policiers seront déployés afin que ce campement ne se reconstitue pas ailleurs. Un moment important pour l’ordre public rétabli à Paris.
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) <a href="https://twitter.com/GDarmanin/status/1577524933340663808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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An AFP journalist saw large numbers of police surround the rubbish-strewn Square Forceval in northeast Paris from 7:00 am (0500 GMT), with police chief Laurent Nunez on the scene.

By mid-morning, tents, furniture and other items had been mostly removed and cleaning services had arrived, with a few of its inhabitants still visible in the surrounding streets.

The clearance was "inevitable and necessary to make our neighbourhoods habitable again", said Francois Dagnaud, mayor of Paris' 19th district.

But the possibility the camp might be reconstituted elsewhere "is a risk that should be on everyone's mind and that is in no one's interest," he added.

Over the past two years, successive evacuations have moved crack users from the Stalingrad square on the city's Saint-Martin canal, first to a nearby park, and then to their current site alongside the French capital's ring road.

Tackling the city's crack problem, visible on the streets for the past three decades has proved difficult due to the addictiveness of the drug, a cocaine derivative that sells for as little as $9.90 per dose.

Darmanin, a law-and-order hardliner, has given newly-installed Paris police chief Nunez a single year to wipe out crack in the capital. 
The interior ministry said that inhabitants of the camp wanted by police would be arrested, while foreigners without papers would be detained awaiting deportation.

"Other occupants will be directed towards accommodation structures with medical and social assistance, or to medical facilities," the ministry added.

But "in our view, the conditions aren't there to prevent further open locations" forming for crack dealing and consumption, said Marie Debrus of aid group Medecins du Monde, who was on the scene for the evacuation.

"In a few months we'll see them in the entrance halls of blocks of flats," she added, calling the clearance "a humanitarian crisis orchestrated by the authorities".

Aid groups say that between 300 and 400 people spent time in the camp during the day and around 150 at night, up to 40 per cent of them women. Dealers sold crack "rocks" openly among the groups of users.

As at other sites where the addicts have gathered, local residents have complained of assaults, thefts and other disruption since their arrival. Around 500 people demonstrated last month to mark the camp being in place for a year and demand its removal.

"We've been calling for the clearance for a year, but also for addicts and people sick from crack to be taken care of," said Melinda Bernardo, of the "93 Anti-Crack" group based in Paris' northeastern suburbs.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Paris police on Wednesday dismantled a camp that is home to over 100 crack users, the latest move in a campaign that has repeatedly displaced the addicts around the capital.

Paris police on Wednesday dismantled a camp that is home to over 100 crack users, the latest move in a campaign that has repeatedly displaced the addicts around the capital. Residents and aid groups have for years been frustrated by authorities' failure to either clamp down on open drug dealing and crime in and around the camps or to provide appropriate treatment for users. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on Twitter as the evacuation got underway that this time, "1,000 officers will be deployed to prevent the camp from reforming somewhere else". Sur mon instruction, le @prefpolice procède au démantèlement définitif ce matin du «campement du crack» du square Forceval à Paris. 1000 policiers seront déployés afin que ce campement ne se reconstitue pas ailleurs. Un moment important pour l’ordre public rétabli à Paris. — Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) October 5, 2022 × An AFP journalist saw large numbers of police surround the rubbish-strewn Square Forceval in northeast Paris from 7:00 am (0500 GMT), with police chief Laurent Nunez on the scene. By mid-morning, tents, furniture and other items had been mostly removed and cleaning services had arrived, with a few of its inhabitants still visible in the surrounding streets. The clearance was "inevitable and necessary to make our neighbourhoods habitable again", said Francois Dagnaud, mayor of Paris' 19th district. But the possibility the camp might be reconstituted elsewhere "is a risk that should be on everyone's mind and that is in no one's interest," he added. Over the past two years, successive evacuations have moved crack users from the Stalingrad square on the city's Saint-Martin canal, first to a nearby park, and then to their current site alongside the French capital's ring road. Tackling the city's crack problem, visible on the streets for the past three decades has proved difficult due to the addictiveness of the drug, a cocaine derivative that sells for as little as $9.90 per dose. Darmanin, a law-and-order hardliner, has given newly-installed Paris police chief Nunez a single year to wipe out crack in the capital. The interior ministry said that inhabitants of the camp wanted by police would be arrested, while foreigners without papers would be detained awaiting deportation. "Other occupants will be directed towards accommodation structures with medical and social assistance, or to medical facilities," the ministry added. But "in our view, the conditions aren't there to prevent further open locations" forming for crack dealing and consumption, said Marie Debrus of aid group Medecins du Monde, who was on the scene for the evacuation. "In a few months we'll see them in the entrance halls of blocks of flats," she added, calling the clearance "a humanitarian crisis orchestrated by the authorities". Aid groups say that between 300 and 400 people spent time in the camp during the day and around 150 at night, up to 40 per cent of them women. Dealers sold crack "rocks" openly among the groups of users. As at other sites where the addicts have gathered, local residents have complained of assaults, thefts and other disruption since their arrival. Around 500 people demonstrated last month to mark the camp being in place for a year and demand its removal. "We've been calling for the clearance for a year, but also for addicts and people sick from crack to be taken care of," said Melinda Bernardo, of the "93 Anti-Crack" group based in Paris' northeastern suburbs. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Paris: Authorities clear a drug den housing more than 100 addicts

Israeli spyware firm NSO group that manufactures the controversial Pegasus software has been accused of hacking journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico, after the current government explicitly said it was not going to use the program, according to new research.

The research showed that two journalists who reported on corruption cases and a prominent human rights defender were targeted by the Pegasus spyware between 2019 and 2021.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggis-wife-planning-to-sue-nso-group-over-spyware-report-519068">Read more:&nbsp;Jamal Khashoggi's wife planning to sue NSO Group over spyware: Report</a>

When quizzed if he spied on the mentioned, individuals,&nbsp;Lopez Obrador said, "It's not true that journalists or opponents are spied on. My doctrine isn't hypocrisy, like the former administrations you all applaud."

The discovery was made by researchers at&nbsp;R3D (Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales) in collaboration with The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto.

The use of Pegasus spyware was detected in the Northern American country in 2017 previously. Former President Enrique Pena Nieto had used the software to spy on&nbsp;politicians, journalists, activists and critics of the government.

However, after coming to power,&nbsp;Lopez Obrador assured that his government will not use spyware. Interestingly enough, NSO Group claims to&nbsp;sell its spyware to&nbsp;governments or law enforcement agencies only. Thus experts believe that Obrador had also made backdoor dealings with the Israeli firm.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senior-indonesian-officials-targeted-by-spyware-last-year-521333">Read more:&nbsp;Senior Indonesian officials 'targeted by spyware' last year</a>

The Pegasus controversy

The company has been wading in stormy waters, ever since its Pegasus spyware and its potent spying capabilities were revealed to the world.&nbsp;

Forbidden Stories along with Amnesty International and a consortium of journalists from 17 news outlets across the world first exposed Pegasus and its use by various governments across the globe.&nbsp;

As reported by WION, Pegasus infiltrates phones to vacuum up personal and location data and surreptitiously controls the smartphone’s microphones and cameras.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pegasus-snooping-us-blacklists-spyware-maker-nso-group-for-maliciously-targetting-journalists-426591" target="_blank">Pegasus snooping: US blacklists spyware maker NSO Group for maliciously targetting journalists</a>

The company is also being sued by Mark Zuckerberg for allegedly targeting some 1,400 users of its encrypted messaging service WhatsApp with its spyware.

Moreover, In November last year, Apple sued NSO, saying it violated US laws by breaking into the software installed on iPhones.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Israeli spyware firm NSO group that manufactures the controversial Pegasus software has been accused of hacking journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico, after the current government explicitly said it was not going to use the program, according to new research.

Israeli spyware firm NSO group that manufactures the controversial Pegasus software has been accused of hacking journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico, after the current government explicitly said it was not going to use the program, according to new research. The research showed that two journalists who reported on corruption cases and a prominent human rights defender were targeted by the Pegasus spyware between 2019 and 2021. Read more: Jamal Khashoggi's wife planning to sue NSO Group over spyware: Report When quizzed if he spied on the mentioned, individuals, Lopez Obrador said, "It's not true that journalists or opponents are spied on. My doctrine isn't hypocrisy, like the former administrations you all applaud." The discovery was made by researchers at R3D (Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales) in collaboration with The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. The use of Pegasus spyware was detected in the Northern American country in 2017 previously. Former President Enrique Pena Nieto had used the software to spy on politicians, journalists, activists and critics of the government. However, after coming to power, Lopez Obrador assured that his government will not use spyware. Interestingly enough, NSO Group claims to sell its spyware to governments or law enforcement agencies only. Thus experts believe that Obrador had also made backdoor dealings with the Israeli firm. Read more: Senior Indonesian officials 'targeted by spyware' last year The Pegasus controversy The company has been wading in stormy waters, ever since its Pegasus spyware and its potent spying capabilities were revealed to the world. Forbidden Stories along with Amnesty International and a consortium of journalists from 17 news outlets across the world first exposed Pegasus and its use by various governments across the globe. As reported by WION, Pegasus infiltrates phones to vacuum up personal and location data and surreptitiously controls the smartphone’s microphones and cameras. Read more: Pegasus snooping: US blacklists spyware maker NSO Group for maliciously targetting journalists The company is also being sued by Mark Zuckerberg for allegedly targeting some 1,400 users of its encrypted messaging service WhatsApp with its spyware. Moreover, In November last year, Apple sued NSO, saying it violated US laws by breaking into the software installed on iPhones. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pegasus spyware strikes again in Mexico despite government's assurances: Report

Marina Ovsyannikova, the 'wanted' Russian TV journalist, infamous for hijacking a state television broadcast to denounce the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday confirmed that she had indeed escaped house arrest.

Marina Ovsyannikova, the 'wanted' Russian TV journalist, infamous for hijacking a state television broadcast to denounce the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday confirmed that she had indeed escaped house arrest. "I consider myself completely innocent, and since our state refuses to comply with its own laws, I refuse to comply with the measure of restraint imposed on me as of 30 September 2022 and release myself from it," said Ovsyannikova in a message on her telegram social media feed. It is still unclear how Ovsyannikova escaped the house arrest and where she went but her name has been put on Moscow's fugitive list since Monday when the news of her escape first made the rounds. As reported by WION, it was Ovsyannikova's ex-husband that confirmed the news initially to Russian state media. "Last night, my ex-wife left the place that the court assigned her for house arrest and, together with my 11-year-old daughter, fled in an unknown direction," said the ex-husband. Read more: Russian TV journalist who criticised Putin listed 'wanted' after fleeing house arrest Ovsyannikova had made headlines by staging an on-air protest on Russia's Channel One on March 16 evening. The 44-year-old journalist held up an anti-war sign behind a studio presenter. "Stop the war. Don't believe the propaganda. They're lying to you," read the sign. She also shouted slogans condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. After her first arrest, back in March, Ovsyannikova in an interview with Reuters stated that she had no plans to flee Russia and that she hoped she would not face criminal charges. Read more: Marina Ovsyannikova: Russian TV protester accused of being a British spy However, it was before she was put under a two months house arrest in August and awaited a trial. She faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of spreading fake news about Moscow's armed forces. However, given she has escaped house arrest, the sentence could be increased if she is caught. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Wanted' Russian TV journalist confirms she escaped house arrest, claims to be innocent

Popular adult cartoon series 'Rick and Morty' has been known for its outlandish plots yet at the same time nuanced writing. The sci-fi TV show and its writers have received plaudits from fans and critics over the years for maintaining this special formula.

Popular adult cartoon series 'Rick and Morty' has been known for its outlandish plots yet at the same time nuanced writing. The sci-fi TV show and its writers have received plaudits from fans and critics over the years for maintaining this special formula. Now, eagle-eyed fans in Hong Kong have spotted a message from the creators that points toward the city's democracy movement that took place in 2020 and shows solidarity with the protestors. Reportedly, in the fifth episode titled "Final DeSmithation" of the ongoing sixth season, some letters and numbers flash on the screen during the climax. While the unsuspecting numbers and letters may appear random to a layman, some devoted viewers got down to decoding them. Read more: Halloween special: 'Rick and Morty' short to come out next month The significance of codes GFHG19SDGM, 721DLLM and 19HK831 spotted by Hong Kongers was explained on Reddit. The first code is a pseudonym for the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" which has been declared illegal in Hong Kong by the Chinese authorities. The phrase was first used in 2016 but gained prominence during the pre-democracy protests. Similarly, DLLM (short of “Diu Lei Lou Mo”) is a popular cuss word in Hong Kong which is usually hurled at the recipient's mother. Reportedly, during the protest, both the authorities and protestors hurled the particular word at each other rather frequently. The internet sleuths also deduced that the numbers in the last two codes could be referring to the August 31, 2019 incident when the protestors were attacked at a train station in Yuen Long by government supporters and police. Read more: Hong Kong passes law that can censor even past films, to safeguard 'national security' After the revelation went viral on social media platforms, scores of Hong Kong citizens thanked the show creators for showing support in their own way. "Thank you to the producers of Rick and Morty," one of the netizens commented in the forum. Meanwhile, another said, "The ingenuity and longevity of creative protest is laudable." As reported extensively by WION, China introduced the highly controversial National Security Bill for Hong Kong in 2020 amid a sea of protests. The bill, which is now a law in Hong Kong, attempts to punish crimes of secession, sedition, and collusion with foreign forces. Read more: Man plays ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ while paying tribute to Queen, held under sedition law When the bill was passed despite ordinary Hong Kong folks taking to the streets for months, it was described by the pro-democracy activists as ‘the end of the Hong Kong that the world knew before’. It was always believed that free speech will be culled after the passing of the law. And since then, on multiple occasions, ordinary citizens have been locked or beaten black and blue for deviating from the set standards of free speech. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Rick and Morty fans spot Hong Kong pro-democracy protest codes in new episode

Financial messaging system SWIFT has laid out its blueprint for a global central bank digital currency (CBDC) network following an eight-month experiment on different technologies and currencies.

The trial, which involved France and Germany's national central banks as well as global lenders like HSBC, Standard Chartered and UBS, looked at how CBDCs could be used internationally and even converted into fiat money if needed.

Around 90 per cent of the world's central banks are now using, trialling or looking into CBDCs. Most don't want to be left behind by bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but are grappling with technological complexities.

SWIFT's head of innovation Nick Kerigan said its trial, which will be followed by more advanced testing over the next year, resembled a bicycle wheel where 14 central and commercial banks in total connected spoke-like into its main hub.

The idea is that once scaled up, banks may need only one main global connection, rather than thousands if they were to set up connections with each counterpart individually.

"We believe that the number of connections needed is much fewer," Kerigan said. "Therefore, you are likely to have fewer breaks (in the chain) and you are likely to achieve greater efficiency."

The trial also tested different underlying CBDC technologies known as Distributed Ledger Technologies. The use of various technologies has also been raised as a potential hurdle for rapid global adoption.

There was a separate trial too carried out alongside Citi, clearing house Clearstream and Northern Trust on 'tokenised' assets, traditional assets like stocks and bonds transformed into digital tokens that can then be issued and traded in real-time.

Some countries such as the Bahamas and Nigeria already have CBDC's up and running. China is well advanced with real-life trials of an e-yuan, while central bank umbrella group, the Bank for International Settlements has also been running cross-border trials.

SWIFT's main advantage though is that its existing network is already usable in over 200 countries and connects more than 11,500 banks and funds.

The Belgium-based firm has gone from being virtually unknown outside banking circles to a household name this year after it cut most of Russia's banks off from its network as part of the West's sanctions for the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Kerigan said that kind of move could also happen in a new CBDC system, but doubted whether it would stop countries from joining one.

"Ultimately what most central banks are looking to do is to provide us with a CBDC for the people, the businesses and the organisations in their jurisdiction."

"So a solution that's fast and efficient and that gains access to as many other countries as possible would seem to be an attractive one."

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>

Financial messaging system SWIFT has laid out its blueprint for a global central bank digital currency (CBDC) network following an eight-month experiment on different technologies and currencies.

Financial messaging system SWIFT has laid out its blueprint for a global central bank digital currency (CBDC) network following an eight-month experiment on different technologies and currencies. The trial, which involved France and Germany's national central banks as well as global lenders like HSBC, Standard Chartered and UBS, looked at how CBDCs could be used internationally and even converted into fiat money if needed. Around 90 per cent of the world's central banks are now using, trialling or looking into CBDCs. Most don't want to be left behind by bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but are grappling with technological complexities. SWIFT's head of innovation Nick Kerigan said its trial, which will be followed by more advanced testing over the next year, resembled a bicycle wheel where 14 central and commercial banks in total connected spoke-like into its main hub. The idea is that once scaled up, banks may need only one main global connection, rather than thousands if they were to set up connections with each counterpart individually. "We believe that the number of connections needed is much fewer," Kerigan said. "Therefore, you are likely to have fewer breaks (in the chain) and you are likely to achieve greater efficiency." The trial also tested different underlying CBDC technologies known as Distributed Ledger Technologies. The use of various technologies has also been raised as a potential hurdle for rapid global adoption. There was a separate trial too carried out alongside Citi, clearing house Clearstream and Northern Trust on 'tokenised' assets, traditional assets like stocks and bonds transformed into digital tokens that can then be issued and traded in real-time. Some countries such as the Bahamas and Nigeria already have CBDC's up and running. China is well advanced with real-life trials of an e-yuan, while central bank umbrella group, the Bank for International Settlements has also been running cross-border trials. SWIFT's main advantage though is that its existing network is already usable in over 200 countries and connects more than 11,500 banks and funds. The Belgium-based firm has gone from being virtually unknown outside banking circles to a household name this year after it cut most of Russia's banks off from its network as part of the West's sanctions for the country's invasion of Ukraine. Kerigan said that kind of move could also happen in a new CBDC system, but doubted whether it would stop countries from joining one. "Ultimately what most central banks are looking to do is to provide us with a CBDC for the people, the businesses and the organisations in their jurisdiction." "So a solution that's fast and efficient and that gains access to as many other countries as possible would seem to be an attractive one." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After a 8-month experiment, SWIFT lays out blueprint for central bank digital currency network

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