Environment ministers from about 50 countries will gather in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday for a "pre-COP27" climate summit, with rich nations likely to come under pressure to raise spending to combat climate change.

Environment ministers from about 50 countries will gather in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday for a "pre-COP27" climate summit, with rich nations likely to come under pressure to raise spending to combat climate change. The talks in the DRC's capital, Kinshasa, are informal but meant to allow various countries and green groups to take stock of political positions ahead of COP27 - the United Nations climate gathering of world leaders in Egypt next month. An opening ceremony will take place in the Congolese parliament building in Kinshasa, followed by discussions on mitigating climate change, and providing funding for countries already damaged by global heating and severe weather events. Delegates from about 50 countries are expected to attend the talks, including United States climate envoy John Kerry. "The emphasis will certainly be on support from industrialised countries to countries in the south," a Western diplomat recently told AFP. The last UN climate summit, COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021, reaffirmed the goal, agreed in Paris in 2015 - of limiting the rise in the Earth's average temperature to well below 2.0 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 C. That goal may already be beyond reach as the Earth's temperature is already 1.2 C higher than before the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. Poorer countries had pushed at Glasgow for a financial mechanism to address losses and damage caused by climate change. But wealthier nations, the largest polluters, rejected the call and the participants agreed instead to start a "dialogue" on financial compensation for damages. Climate justice Egypt, which is hosting COP27, has made implementing the pledge to curb global heating the priority of the November summit. Poorer countries are again likely to remind their richer counterparts of the need to increase financial support. The latter have so far failed to deliver on their promise to provide $100 billion a year to help developing countries limit climate change. Demands for climate justice were front and centre of a protest in Kinshasa last month, where young Congolese activists chanted slogans and demanded that world leaders take swift action rather than repeat old promises. The Congolese government is also expected to drive home the message that it requires funding to protect its vast rainforests, which act as a carbon sink. Around 30 billion tonnes of carbon are stored across the Congo Basin, researchers estimated in a study for Nature in 2016. The figure is roughly equivalent to three years of global emissions. However, the central African nation in July launched an auction for 30 oil and gas blocs, ignoring warnings from environmentalists that exploiting them could harm ecosystems and release vast amounts of heat-trapping gases. One of the poorest countries in the world, the DRC argues that drilling for oil and gas could help diversify its economy and benefit the Congolese people. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

African climate summit starts in Congo ahead of COP27

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has blamed the United States and Israel for protests that have gripped the country for more than two weeks. In other news,&nbsp;Swedish Coast Guard said on Monday said there was no visible gas leak from Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The series of leaks and blasts surrounding the pipeline has started a blame game between the West and Moscow.&nbsp;

Click on headlines to read more:&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-khamenei-blames-us-israel-for-protests-after-mahsa-aminis-death-522097">Iran: Khamenei blames US, Israel for protests that erupted after Mahsa Amini's death</a>

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the United States and Israel for nationwide protests that erupted after custodial death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. This is Khamenei's first public statement on the issue the protests over which have rocked the Islamic Republic for nearly a month now.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/10/03/300899-khamenei.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gas-leak-from-nord-stream-1-has-stopped-says-swedish-coast-guard-522069">Gas leak from Nord Stream 1 has stopped, says Swedish Coast Guard</a>

Swedish Coast Guard said on Monday (October 3) that there was no visible gas leak from Nord Stream 1 pipeline but a smaller leak from Nord Stream 2 was still visible.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/07/21/280861-nord.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-tv-journalist-who-criticised-putin-listed-wanted-after-fleeing-house-arrest-522120">Russian TV journalist who criticised Putin listed 'wanted' after fleeing house arrest</a>

Marina Ovsyannikova, a Russian TV journalist who made headlines by hijacking a state television broadcast to denounce the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been put on Moscow's wanted list after she allegedly escaped house arrest.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/07/18/279956-new-wion-9.png" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-makes-u-turn-eliminates-tax-cut-for-high-earners-following-market-unrest-521963">UK makes U-turn, eliminates tax cut for high earners following market unrest</a>

Just 10 days after a debt-driven budget caused market turbulence and drew harsh condemnation during a cost-of-living crisis, Britain on Monday abandoned plans to lower its top income tax rate.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/10/03/300872-liz-truss.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wasnt-the-best-way-to-go-kwarteng-admits-mistake-of-attending-champagne-reception-after-budget-522048">‘Wasn’t the best way to go’: Kwarteng admits mistake of attending champagne reception after budget</a>

Earlier today, in an interview, Kwasi Kwarteng, UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, spoke up about his presence at the private champagne reception that stirred controversy, as it was hours after delivering his mini-budget speech. The reception was reportedly attended by Britain’s leading entrepreneurs, hedge fund managers and property developers.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/10/03/300862-wion-images-18.png" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-justice-minister-to-face-trial-over-conflict-of-interest-charges-522085">French justice minister to face trial over conflict of interest charges</a>

French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti will stand trial before a special judicial body in a conflict of interest case that has become the Achilles heel of President Emmanuel Macron's government.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/07/16/202624-untitled-design-24.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-philippines-kick-off-joint-naval-exercise-amid-china-tension-522082">US and Philippines kick off joint naval exercise amid China tension</a>

The US and Philippines armed forces on Monday kicked off joint naval exercise named KAMANDAG (Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma ng Dagat), an acronym in Filipino for "Cooperation of the warriors of the sea". The exercise will run till October 14 and will see the participation of 2,550 American and 530 Filipino troops.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/10/03/300887-untitled-design-1.png" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bomb-threat-on-china-bound-iranian-plane-over-indian-airspace-521946">China-bound Iranian plane leaves Indian airspace following false bomb scare</a>

Indian military jets were scrambled on Monday after a bomb alert on an Iranian airliner that turned out to be false, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said. The threat&nbsp;was reported onboard a Mahan Air plane&nbsp;over Indian airspace. The passenger plane was moving from Iran to China's Guangzhou.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/10/03/300781-000si1qr.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-ruled-out-of-the-t20-world-cup-2022-confirms-bcci-522117">Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2022, confirms BCCI</a>

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday confirmed fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022. The tournament is all set to get underway in Australia later this month and Bumrah was facing a race against time to be fully fit after sustaining a back injury.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/10/03/300913-bumrah-india-injury.png" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kim-kardashian-settles-sec-crypto-charge-to-pay-126-million-522091">Kim Kardashian settles SEC crypto charge, to pay $1.26 million</a>

Kim&nbsp;Kardashian&nbsp;has agreed to settle charges of unlawfully touting a crypto security and to pay $1.26 million in penalties and associated fees, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday.

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/08/14/287474-sdfvhyyyy.jpg" />

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Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has blamed the United States and Israel for protests that have gripped the country for more than two weeks. In other news, Swedish Coast Guard said on Monday said there was no visible gas leak from Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has blamed the United States and Israel for protests that have gripped the country for more than two weeks. In other news, Swedish Coast Guard said on Monday said there was no visible gas leak from Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The series of leaks and blasts surrounding the pipeline has started a blame game between the West and Moscow. Click on headlines to read more: Iran: Khamenei blames US, Israel for protests that erupted after Mahsa Amini's death Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the United States and Israel for nationwide protests that erupted after custodial death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. This is Khamenei's first public statement on the issue the protests over which have rocked the Islamic Republic for nearly a month now. Gas leak from Nord Stream 1 has stopped, says Swedish Coast Guard Swedish Coast Guard said on Monday (October 3) that there was no visible gas leak from Nord Stream 1 pipeline but a smaller leak from Nord Stream 2 was still visible. Russian TV journalist who criticised Putin listed 'wanted' after fleeing house arrest Marina Ovsyannikova, a Russian TV journalist who made headlines by hijacking a state television broadcast to denounce the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been put on Moscow's wanted list after she allegedly escaped house arrest. UK makes U-turn, eliminates tax cut for high earners following market unrest Just 10 days after a debt-driven budget caused market turbulence and drew harsh condemnation during a cost-of-living crisis, Britain on Monday abandoned plans to lower its top income tax rate. ‘Wasn’t the best way to go’: Kwarteng admits mistake of attending champagne reception after budget Earlier today, in an interview, Kwasi Kwarteng, UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, spoke up about his presence at the private champagne reception that stirred controversy, as it was hours after delivering his mini-budget speech. The reception was reportedly attended by Britain’s leading entrepreneurs, hedge fund managers and property developers. French justice minister to face trial over conflict of interest charges French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti will stand trial before a special judicial body in a conflict of interest case that has become the Achilles heel of President Emmanuel Macron's government. US and Philippines kick off joint naval exercise amid China tension The US and Philippines armed forces on Monday kicked off joint naval exercise named KAMANDAG (Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma ng Dagat), an acronym in Filipino for "Cooperation of the warriors of the sea". The exercise will run till October 14 and will see the participation of 2,550 American and 530 Filipino troops. China-bound Iranian plane leaves Indian airspace following false bomb scare Indian military jets were scrambled on Monday after a bomb alert on an Iranian airliner that turned out to be false, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said. The threat was reported onboard a Mahan Air plane over Indian airspace. The passenger plane was moving from Iran to China's Guangzhou. Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2022, confirms BCCI The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday confirmed fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022. The tournament is all set to get underway in Australia later this month and Bumrah was facing a race against time to be fully fit after sustaining a back injury. Kim Kardashian settles SEC crypto charge, to pay $1.26 million Kim Kardashian has agreed to settle charges of unlawfully touting a crypto security and to pay $1.26 million in penalties and associated fees, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Top 10 world news: Khamenei blames US, Israel for mass protests, Nord Stream 1 leak stops & more

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Marina Ovsyannikova, a Russian TV journalist who made headlines by hijacking a state television broadcast to denounce the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been put on Moscow's wanted list after she allegedly escaped house arrest. "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," Ovsyannikova's ex-husband was quoted as saying by state-run news outlet Russia Today. Reportedly, Ovsyannikova was awaiting a trial and had been put under a two months house arrest in August. She faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of spreading fake news about Moscow's armed forces. 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: Russian journalist who dared to criticise Vladimir Putin picked up by police while walking dogs In an on-air protest on Russia's Channel One on March 16 evening, the 44-year-old Ovsyannikova 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. The editor has also been charged with unlawful protest after the incident went viral globally. As reported by WION, after Ovsyannikova made the news, she was accused of being a British spy. Kirill Kleimyonov, head of Channel One's news division, appeared on a news programme and claimed that she was a British spy. Read more: Marina Ovsyannikova: Russian TV protester accused of being a British spy "Not long before [the protest], according to our information, Marina Ovsyannikova spoke with the British embassy. Who among you has had a telephone conversation with a foreign embassy?" Kleimyonov claimed as quoted by The Times. "She betrays coldly, prudently, for a firmly agreed [financial] bonus - by the way, so as not to lose her previous one. The woman with the poster timed the action exactly to receive her next salary payment - so betrayal is always one's personal choice," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Russian TV journalist who criticised Putin listed 'wanted' after fleeing house arrest

In the backdrop of a series of leaks and blasts that rocked the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, the Italian government has upped its surveillance on underwater cables, according to a report by Reuters.

In the backdrop of a series of leaks and blasts that rocked the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, the Italian government has upped its surveillance on underwater cables, according to a report by Reuters. The threat of underwater energy and telecommunications cables being targeted has grown manifold in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Back in 2020, NATO ministers had discussed the threat of Russian submarines causing potential damage to the underwater internet cables by cutting or tapping them. To get ahead of the curve, the Italian Navy in July signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the country's largest private cable provider viz. Sparkle to ensure that undersea internet cables are protected. Read more: Nord Stream leak: Powerful blasts recorded in leakage areas “The Italian Navy is one of the main pillars of national maritime cluster and works daily to defend and support it. We have professional competences and skills to perform submarine operations and today, also thanks to Sparkle, an important process begins that gives the right attention to the underwater dimension of Italy, a maritime country with 8,000 km of coastline, at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea,” Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino Credendino was quoted as saying after the signing of the MoU. The Italian Navy intends to use submarines to monitor the cables and ensure that no untoward incident happens around them. The Italian Navy is building four upgraded NFS (Near Future Submarine) to level up its capabilities and replace its older Sauro-class vessels. Modern technology and increased espionage capabilities have allowed enemy parties to use underwater as another frontier to execute their deceitful plans. The internet cables laid down in the Atlantic Ocean in recent times entered the Mediterranean Sea via the Strait of Gibraltar. They exit through the Suez Canbal and run to Asia and West Asia. According to experts, these cables, which carry over 95 per cent of the world’s internet volume are extremely critical and require increased surveillance. As reported extensively by WION, Nord Stream 1 and 2 are major pipelines that transmit gas from western Siberia in Russia to Europe. The pipelines have been a major focus of geopolitical tension as Russia chose to reduce gas supply as retaliation to western sanctions in the wake of the Ukraine war. The recent leaks have started a blame game among the stakeholders. While Russia remains adamant that is not responsible for the blasts or leaks, the West accuses Kremlin of sabotage. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Italy heightens surveillance of underwater cables after Nord Stream pipeline leaks, says report

French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti will stand trial before a special judicial body in a conflict of interest case that has become the Achilles heel of President Emmanuel Macron's government.

French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti will stand trial before a special judicial body in a conflict of interest case that has become the Achilles heel of President Emmanuel Macron's government. The Court of Justice of the Republic which deals with suspected cases of crime or offence committed by a member of the government will be hearing the case. The jury usually comprises of lawmakers and judges of France's highest court, the Cour de Cassation. Since the judicial body's inception in 1993, it has only held eight formal trials, making Dupond-Moretti a notable exception. Judicial trials by their nature are extremely volatile, however, Remi Lorrain, Dupond-Moretti's lawyer stated that "the minister is extremely confident and he will not resign". As reported by WION, Eric Dupond-Moretti, a 60-year-old former star lawyer, was recruited by President Emmanuel Macron just a year ago, swapping his life as one of the country's most famous criminal lawyers for a career in politics. Read more: French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti charged in conflict of interest probe He stands accused of taking advantage of his position as minister to settle scores with opponents from his legal career. Notably, Dupond-Moretti is France's first sitting justice minister to be charged in a legal probe. In January, the French court launched an investigation after an anti-corruption group and three magistrates' unions filed conflict of interest complaints against Dupond-Moretti. Dupond-Moretti has said the unions were using the allegations of conflict of interest to block his reforms. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French justice minister to face trial over conflict of interest charges

The US and Philippines armed forces on Monday kicked off joint naval exercise named KAMANDAG (Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma ng Dagat), an acronym in Filipino for "Cooperation of the warriors of the sea".

The US and Philippines armed forces on Monday kicked off joint naval exercise named KAMANDAG (Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma ng Dagat), an acronym in Filipino for "Cooperation of the warriors of the sea". The exercise will run till October 14 and will see the participation of 2,550 American and 530 Filipino troops. According to reports, alongside the two countries, Japan and South Korea will be joining the exercise as observers. The exercise held in select areas throughout Luzon will involve island-based armed operations and drills in amphibious landings, live fire and humanitarian assistance. "The exercise aims to enhance bilateral cooperation and interoperability among participating forces in the conduct of combined tactical operations that focus on capacitating the Marine Amphibious Ready Unit and enhancing their capabilities in Special Operations, Coastal Defense Capability, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) Operations, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Operations," the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) said in a statement. Read more: Philippines holds biggest military exercises in seven years with US amid South China Sea tensions Speaking at the kickoff ceremony of the sixth iteration of the exercise, Philippine Navy Acting Flag Officer in Command Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia stated it would be bigger than the previous year's event. “The last exercise was not really conducted the way we want it to be [because of the COVID-19 pandemic]. This is a bigger exercise compared to what we did last year. There are a lot of marine corps participating this year. Last year was just virtual and tabletop exercises.” As reported by WION, earlier this year, the two countries held their biggest military exercise in seven years called Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder. The exercise ran from March 29 to April 8 with nearly 9,000 navy, marines, air force and army troops, including 5,100 American military personnel participating in it. WATCH | Philippines, US to begin two-week joint military drill from Monday × The US and the Philippines have a mutual defence treaty, signed way back in 1951. Under the treaty, both nations have sworn to defend each other in case of an attack by a third party. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US and Philippines kick off joint naval exercise amid China tension

More than two months after re-opening the "Express Entry' scheme, the Canadian government is expected to clock in massive changes which will reflect in the 2023 calendar. Reportedly, in an attempt to address the labour shortage in the country,&nbsp;

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will now be&nbsp;issuing an Invitation to Apply (ITA)&nbsp;to candidates with specific work experience, education or language abilities that are well-positioned to support Canada's economy and labour force.

Succinctly put, the move will ensure that apart from the top-ranking candidates in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), other applicants with a much narrow but efficient ability are also given a chance.&nbsp;

Currently, vacancies are at an all-time high in the country which might have necessitated such a move.&nbsp;

“Canadas high immigration targets, including those through Express Entry programs, stem from several factors including a job vacancy rate that currently stands at 5.7 per cent," a CIC report said.&nbsp;

In an attempt to bring more labour force to the country, the Canadian government has reduced the CRS score to as low as 504 in the recent round of draws. Moreover, in the latest draw, IRCC invited&nbsp;&nbsp;3,750 candidates, which was an increase of 500 candidates over the previous draw.&nbsp;

What exactly is the Express Entry scheme?

As reported by WION, the 'Express Entry Scheme' for&nbsp;permanent residency was reopened in Canada after a hiatus of 18 months. In simple terms, this scheme is an application management system used to select and zero in on candidates best suited to live and work in the North American country.&nbsp;

Currently, IRCC uses CRS to rank prospective candidates based on parameters such as age, education, language skills and work experience.&nbsp;

Three separate programs concurrently run under this scheme viz. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Draws for FSWP and FSTP were put on hold in December 2020 while CEC was halted later in September 2021.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explain-want-express-entry-into-canada-here-is-a-scheme-learn-how-it-works-497733">Read more: Explainer: Want express entry into Canada? Here is a scheme. Learn how it works</a>

While it is not necessary to have a job offer in hand to be eligible for the aforementioned schemes, it does help in gathering the minimum marks for CRS.&nbsp;

Once an applicant has figured out their CRS score and the scheme they want to apply to, they need to create a profile and simply fill it out. If the marks are good enough and the documentation water-tight, they will receive an ITA.&nbsp;

Afterward, they need to fill out the form and upload the documents, all within two months of receiving the ITA.&nbsp;The Canadian government or IRCC will attempt to process the applications within a timeframe of six months or less.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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More than two months after re-opening the "Express Entry' scheme, the Canadian government is expected to clock in massive changes which will reflect in the 2023 calendar.

More than two months after re-opening the "Express Entry' scheme, the Canadian government is expected to clock in massive changes which will reflect in the 2023 calendar. Reportedly, in an attempt to address the labour shortage in the country, The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will now be issuing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to candidates with specific work experience, education or language abilities that are well-positioned to support Canada's economy and labour force. Succinctly put, the move will ensure that apart from the top-ranking candidates in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), other applicants with a much narrow but efficient ability are also given a chance. Currently, vacancies are at an all-time high in the country which might have necessitated such a move. “Canadas high immigration targets, including those through Express Entry programs, stem from several factors including a job vacancy rate that currently stands at 5.7 per cent," a CIC report said. In an attempt to bring more labour force to the country, the Canadian government has reduced the CRS score to as low as 504 in the recent round of draws. Moreover, in the latest draw, IRCC invited 3,750 candidates, which was an increase of 500 candidates over the previous draw. What exactly is the Express Entry scheme? As reported by WION, the 'Express Entry Scheme' for permanent residency was reopened in Canada after a hiatus of 18 months. In simple terms, this scheme is an application management system used to select and zero in on candidates best suited to live and work in the North American country. Currently, IRCC uses CRS to rank prospective candidates based on parameters such as age, education, language skills and work experience. Three separate programs concurrently run under this scheme viz. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Draws for FSWP and FSTP were put on hold in December 2020 while CEC was halted later in September 2021. Read more: Explainer: Want express entry into Canada? Here is a scheme. Learn how it works While it is not necessary to have a job offer in hand to be eligible for the aforementioned schemes, it does help in gathering the minimum marks for CRS. Once an applicant has figured out their CRS score and the scheme they want to apply to, they need to create a profile and simply fill it out. If the marks are good enough and the documentation water-tight, they will receive an ITA. Afterward, they need to fill out the form and upload the documents, all within two months of receiving the ITA. The Canadian government or IRCC will attempt to process the applications within a timeframe of six months or less. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canada to change 'Express Entry' rules from 2023

Bosnia and Herzegovina is gearing up for another tripartite inter-ethnic government after 3.36 million Bosnians cast their vote on Sunday. Currently, moderate candidate Denis Becirevic is leading the race for the Bosniak seat while incumbent Zeljko Komsic and Zeljka Cvijanovic lead the race for the Croat and Serbian seats respectively, based on preliminary results.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is gearing up for another tripartite inter-ethnic government after 3.36 million Bosnians cast their vote on Sunday. Currently, moderate candidate Denis Becirevic is leading the race for the Bosniak seat while incumbent Zeljko Komsic and Zeljka Cvijanovic lead the race for the Croat and Serbian seats respectively, based on preliminary results. It's a rather unique system that a three-member presidential council - which must have an ethnic Bosnian, a Croat and a Serbian - steps up to the plate. Why should a country have three presidents? The violent and bloody history of the country necessitated such an arrangement. The genesis of the arrangement lies in how Bosnia and Herzegovina came into being. The country declared independence from Yugoslavia in March 1992 which instantly triggered a country-wide secessionist movement with the three main ethnic groups viz. Eastern Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Muslim Bosniaks WATCH | Bosnia Elections 2022: Moderate Bosniak candidate leads in race for Presidency × Eventually, a war transpired where over 100,000 lost their lives between 1992 and 1995. Many experts believe that it was the bloodiest conflict Europe had witnessed since World War II. To bring the war to an end, a US-sponsored peace deal named Dayton Peace Accords was signed which incidentally also serves as the country's constitution. The Dayton Accords ended the brutal war between the ethnic groups by dividing the country into two highly independent entities. Read more: Moderate Bosniak candidate leads in race for presidency seat The entities, one run by Serbs and the other shared by Bosniaks and Croats have broad autonomy but are linked by shared national institutions. All countrywide actions require consensus from all three ethnic groups. The parliament of the country encompasses a 42-member House of Representatives and a 15-member House of Peoples. The three individuals to be elected on Tuesday for the presidency will rotate seats every eight months. The Sunday election included races for the three members of the shared Bosnian presidency, parliament deputies at the state, entity and regional levels; and the president of the country’s Serb-run part. Election turnout on Sunday was 50 per cent or over two percentage points down from the 2018 general election. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

It's complicated: Why Bosnia and Herzegovina elects three presidents, not one

The Indian government two years ago announced an ambitious $1.2 trillion mega project called Gati Shakti (Hindi for strength of speed) or National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity plan.

The Indian government two years ago announced an ambitious $1.2 trillion mega project called Gati Shakti (Hindi for strength of speed) or National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity plan. Now, under the project, the government is set to create a digital platform that will combine 16 ministries across different verticals so that infrastructure projects do not get entangled in bureaucratic mess and red tapism. Under the new portal, the private and government companies as well as investors will have a one-stop solution for the design and approval of projects while figuring out the costs without much difficulty. It is estimated that one in four infrastructure projects in India exceed their estimated budget while half of the projects get delayed. According to Amrit Lal Meena, special secretary of logistics in the ministry of commerce and industry, of the 1,300 projects, Gati Shakti’s portal currently oversees, almost 40 per cent were delayed due to issues related to land acquisition, forest, and environment clearances, resulting in cost overruns. “The mission is to implement projects without time overrun and cost overrun. Global companies choosing India as their manufacturing center is the objective.” said Meena regarding the objective of the new portal. As reported by WION, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the budget speech, earlier this year unveiled India at 100 plan while elaborating on PM Gati Shakti programme to accelerate growth. Read more: India Union Budget 2022: PM Gati Shakti plan highlights The plan involves seven engines namely: Railways, roads, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics infrastructure. The minister also informed that 100 PM Gati Shakti cargo terminals will be developed during the next three years. Under the scheme 400 new generation, Vande Bharat trains with better efficiency will be brought in the next three years. Ever since PM Modi came to power, he has been focusing on making India a hub of infrastructure projects. To ensure that the benefits of the trillion-dollar project are visible on the ground, PM Modi in a speech batted for decentralisation of the programme. He said that states can come up with their own master plans along lines of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. “This would expedite the implementation of the Mission. Parallelly, they should work to use technology for enhancing ‘ease of living’ of the common man,” the PM was quoted as saying in the statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India's ambitious infra push: A digital platform that combines 16 ministries

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday trained guns on Sweden and Finland once again regarding NATO membership and said Ankara continues to maintain its principle position.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday trained guns on Sweden and Finland once again regarding NATO membership and said Ankara continues to maintain its principle position. Erdogan threatened that he may not ratify the NATO membership bids of the two Nordic nations until the promises given to Ankara were met. "Until the promises made to our country are kept, we will maintain our principled position," said Erdogan in the country's parliament. "We are closely following whether the promises made by Sweden and Finland are kept or not, and of course, the final decision will be up to our great parliament," he added in the speech. Erdogan continues to denounce Finland and Sweden for providing a safe haven to Kurdish 'terrorists'. The Turkish leader is also cross with the Nordic countries for imposing an arms embargo on Ankara after Turkey's intervention in the Syrian conflict in 2019. However, in June, the three countries struck a deal where Turkey said it will seek extradition of 33 suspects from Finland and Sweden, in lieu of ratifying their NATO signing documents. Read more: NATO bid: Turkey strikes deal with Finland, Sweden over Kurdish militants However, Erdogan's statement on Saturday suggests that both Sweden and Finland had failed to make do on their promises. Both Nordic countries had sped up their process to join the nuclear-armed alliance after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, earlier this year. As reported by WION, Sweden and Finland need NATO allies to sign the ratification to complete the formal joining process. The accession will only be complete after all 30 NATO allies have signed the form. So far, 28 out of 30 countries have signed the document. Only Turkey and Hungary are yet to put pen to paper. Read more: Joe Biden signs documents supporting Sweden and Finland's bid to join NATO Prior to the invasion, Putin had repeatedly warned that the expansion of NATO threatens Russia and contravenes assurances given to it as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. “We don’t have problems with Sweden and Finland like we do with Ukraine. If Finland and Sweden wish to, they can join. That’s up to them. They can join whatever they want,” said Putin. However, the Russian President warned that "if military contingents and military infrastructure were deployed there, we would be obliged to respond symmetrically and raise the same threats for those territories where threats have arisen for us”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Turkey refuses to ratify Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bid

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is no longer leaking under the Baltic Sea because an equilibrium has been reached between the gas and water pressure, a spokesman told AFP.

"The water pressure has more or less closed the pipeline so that the gas which is inside can't go out," Nord Stream 2 spokesman Ulrich Lissek said before adding, "The conclusion is that there is still gas in the pipeline."&nbsp;

Asked how much gas was believed to be in the pipeline, Lissek said, "That is the one-million-dollar question."

Information on the status of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline leak, which was significantly stronger, was not immediately available.

The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which connect Russia to Germany, have been at the centre of geopolitical tensions as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation against Western sanctions following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

While the pipelines are not currently in operation, they both still contained gas before they fell victim to apparent sabotage, producing four leaks.

A Danish-Swedish report released on Friday concluded the leaks were caused by underwater explosions corresponding to hundreds of kilogrammes of explosives.

"All available information indicates that those explosions are the result of a deliberate act," the countries said.

The source of the explosions has remained a mystery, however, with both Moscow and Washington denying responsibility.

All the leaks, which were discovered on Monday, are in the Baltic Sea off the Danish island of Bornholm. 
Lissek said Nord Stream 2 had informed the Danish energy regulator earlier Saturday that the pipeline had stopped leaking gas.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is no longer leaking under the Baltic Sea because an equilibrium has been reached between the gas and water pressure, a spokesman told AFP.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is no longer leaking under the Baltic Sea because an equilibrium has been reached between the gas and water pressure, a spokesman told AFP. "The water pressure has more or less closed the pipeline so that the gas which is inside can't go out," Nord Stream 2 spokesman Ulrich Lissek said before adding, "The conclusion is that there is still gas in the pipeline." Asked how much gas was believed to be in the pipeline, Lissek said, "That is the one-million-dollar question." Information on the status of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline leak, which was significantly stronger, was not immediately available. The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which connect Russia to Germany, have been at the centre of geopolitical tensions as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation against Western sanctions following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. While the pipelines are not currently in operation, they both still contained gas before they fell victim to apparent sabotage, producing four leaks. A Danish-Swedish report released on Friday concluded the leaks were caused by underwater explosions corresponding to hundreds of kilogrammes of explosives. "All available information indicates that those explosions are the result of a deliberate act," the countries said. The source of the explosions has remained a mystery, however, with both Moscow and Washington denying responsibility. All the leaks, which were discovered on Monday, are in the Baltic Sea off the Danish island of Bornholm. Lissek said Nord Stream 2 had informed the Danish energy regulator earlier Saturday that the pipeline had stopped leaking gas. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nord Stream 2 has stopped leaking gas, says the pipeline spokesman

Less than a month after threatening to take action, United Airlines on Friday announced that it will halt its services in late October to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) airport.

Less than a month after threatening to take action, United Airlines on Friday announced that it will halt its services in late October to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) airport. "Given our current, too-small-to-be-competitive schedule out of JFK, coupled with the start of the Winter season where more airlines will operate their slots as they resume JFK flying, United has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend service at JFK," the company said in a memo. The company added that its discussion with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had been constructive but it will take time to receive the additional slots. Thus, it could not give a timeline regarding when it will resume the services again. As reported by WION, United Airlines, one of the largest airline companies in the USA, in early September issued a warning to FAA saying it will suspend services at JFK if it did not receive permits for additional flights. "If we are not able to get additional allocations for multiple seasons, we will need to suspend service at JFK, effective at the end of October," said United Chief Executive Scott Kirby in a letter to FAA. Read more: United Airlines to stop operations at JFK if flight allocation not increased "That would obviously be a tough and frustrating step to take and one that we have worked really hard to prevent," he added. Ever since the JFK airport reopened after a COVID-19-induced hiatus in 2021, United Airlines is only flying twice daily to San Francisco and Los Angeles from the airport. According to data, JFK is the busiest New York airport and a major airline only operating a small percentage of flights at the airport is not good for the business. However, FAA took a measured stance in response to the letter and asserted that it "must consider airspace capacity and runway capacity to assess how changes would affect flights at nearby airports. Any additional slots at JFK would follow the FAA's well-established process of awarding them fairly and to increase competition." Read more: Prepare for a bumpy ride, airplane turbulence to double or triple in coming decades Despite making infrastructure improvements such as widening the runways, and multi-entrance taxiways, FAA and Port Authority have not increased the airport's total flight capacity. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

United Airlines to suspend operations at JFK airport later this month

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