Laura Winham, a 38-year-old woman from Surrey who had schizophrenia, was found in a “mummified, almost skeletal state” in her council flat in May 2021 after laying dead for more than three years, according to reports. Winham's family alleged that her dead body went unnoticed by the National Health Service (NHS) and the social services who had missed repeated chances to save her. According to a report by the Daily Mail on Thursday (January 26), Laura Winham, who was believed to have died in November 2017, had scrawled "I need help"&nbsp;on her calendar shortly before her death.&nbsp;

Winham's family reluctantly kept away from her because the woman's schizophrenia caused her to believe that they would harm her, the report said. Eventually, her brother Roy and mother Marilyn decided to try making contact again in May 2021. The report said that peering through the letterbox, her brother noticed something under a blanket which resembled a foot and called the police, who then broke in and found Laura Winham's body.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/uk-poll-shows-birdsong-has-positive-impact-on-mental-health-for-91-of-people-556433">UK poll shows birdsong has positive impact on mental health for 91% of people</a>

The family also said that welfare and care services had not only failed to act on clear signs of Winham's deteriorating health in the months and years before her death but had also subsequently neglected to carry out routine checks that would have led to the discovery of her body, a report by the Guardian on Thursday said. During the period when Winham's body lay undisturbed, no attempts to establish her well-being were made despite her disability benefits being stopped and her gas cut off and also her repeated failure to reply to any letters, phone calls and texts and even answering the door, it added.&nbsp;

Nicky, Laura's sister, accused the victim's landlords, social care and mental health services of turning a blind eye to multiple warning signs of her plight. Nicky said that everybody who was in contact with Winham "and had a duty to her" at some stage simply wiped their hands off her and forgot her. Nicky added that her sister was abandoned and left to die, the Guardian report further said.&nbsp;

Winham's family now wants to know how social services and health teams missed so many warning signs, ahead of a pre-inquest hearing on January 30.&nbsp;

Back in 2014, Laura Winham was referred to local community mental health services, after a housing association staff member reported that she appeared to have “untreated mental health issues”, and was physically very thin. The staff member said that Winham had no friends and believed she was being watched by people.&nbsp;

Two years later, the Department for Work and Pensions wrote to Winham several times to warn that her disability living allowance was ending and she would have to re-apply. However, upon receiving no response from the woman, her benefits were cut without carrying out any welfare check, the Guardian report said.&nbsp;

And in October 2017, a month before Winham's death, the Surrey Police reported to social services that she was self-neglecting and had little food. However, social workers, despite being informed that her phone was not working,&nbsp;tried calling and then simply wrote to her, providing contacts of local food banks and support teams, the DailyMail report said. When there was no response, her case was closed without any contact ever being made.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Laura Winham, a 38-year-old woman from Surrey who had schizophrenia, was found in a “mummified, almost skeletal state” in her council flat in May 2021 after laying dead for more than three years, according to reports.

Laura Winham, a 38-year-old woman from Surrey who had schizophrenia, was found in a “mummified, almost skeletal state” in her council flat in May 2021 after laying dead for more than three years, according to reports. Winham's family alleged that her dead body went unnoticed by the National Health Service (NHS) and the social services who had missed repeated chances to save her. According to a report by the Daily Mail on Thursday (January 26), Laura Winham, who was believed to have died in November 2017, had scrawled "I need help" on her calendar shortly before her death. Winham's family reluctantly kept away from her because the woman's schizophrenia caused her to believe that they would harm her, the report said. Eventually, her brother Roy and mother Marilyn decided to try making contact again in May 2021. The report said that peering through the letterbox, her brother noticed something under a blanket which resembled a foot and called the police, who then broke in and found Laura Winham's body. ALSO READ | UK poll shows birdsong has positive impact on mental health for 91% of people The family also said that welfare and care services had not only failed to act on clear signs of Winham's deteriorating health in the months and years before her death but had also subsequently neglected to carry out routine checks that would have led to the discovery of her body, a report by the Guardian on Thursday said. During the period when Winham's body lay undisturbed, no attempts to establish her well-being were made despite her disability benefits being stopped and her gas cut off and also her repeated failure to reply to any letters, phone calls and texts and even answering the door, it added. Nicky, Laura's sister, accused the victim's landlords, social care and mental health services of turning a blind eye to multiple warning signs of her plight. Nicky said that everybody who was in contact with Winham "and had a duty to her" at some stage simply wiped their hands off her and forgot her. Nicky added that her sister was abandoned and left to die, the Guardian report further said. Winham's family now wants to know how social services and health teams missed so many warning signs, ahead of a pre-inquest hearing on January 30. Back in 2014, Laura Winham was referred to local community mental health services, after a housing association staff member reported that she appeared to have “untreated mental health issues”, and was physically very thin. The staff member said that Winham had no friends and believed she was being watched by people. Two years later, the Department for Work and Pensions wrote to Winham several times to warn that her disability living allowance was ending and she would have to re-apply. However, upon receiving no response from the woman, her benefits were cut without carrying out any welfare check, the Guardian report said. And in October 2017, a month before Winham's death, the Surrey Police reported to social services that she was self-neglecting and had little food. However, social workers, despite being informed that her phone was not working, tried calling and then simply wrote to her, providing contacts of local food banks and support teams, the DailyMail report said. When there was no response, her case was closed without any contact ever being made. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK: Schizophrenic woman lay dead in Surrey flat for over 3 years, kin slam care services

In Pics | Archaeologists in Egypt discover 4,300-year-old mummy

A recent poll conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) showed that watching birds and hearing birdsong has a positive impact on the well-being of over 90% of people. A YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said that 88 per cent of adults in the UK said that spending time outdoors enjoying the natural world was important to them while 53 per cent said that it was very important, the Guardian reported on Thursday (January 27). Ninety-one per cent of adults, on the other hand, agreed that seeing birds and hearing birdsong had a positive impact on mental health and well-being.&nbsp;

On its website, the RSPB has a section called "Bird Song Identifier" which has small audio clippings of several birds including the House Sparrow, the Wood Pigeon and the Robin.&nbsp;

The Guardian report on Thursday said that people were being urged to boost their mental health and help scientists by spending an hour this weekend- counting birds in their garden or local parks for Big Garden Watch- an initiative by the RSPB. "There's still time to sign-up and take part. Just spend one hour between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 January counting the birds, and help monitor how birds are faring. It's free, fun and a great way to keep an eye on your local wildlife. Wherever you are, whatever you see, it counts!" the RSPB's website reads.&nbsp;

It also listed steps on how to participate. They are as follows- 1) Choose one hour between January 27-29; 2) Count the birds that you see in your garden, balcony or local park. 3) Now tell us what you saw. The RSPB also pointed out that participants should only count the birds that land.&nbsp;

According to the society, almost 700,000 people had taken part in the Big Garden Watch last year counting more than 11 million birds. This initiative started back in 1979.&nbsp;

This time, ornithologists from the RSPB pointed out feared that the recent cold snap might affect the bird sightings with harsh weather increasing the mortality of the smallest birds, the Guardian report said. It added that cold conditions might also encourage less frequent garden visitors to turn up at bird feeders.&nbsp;

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A recent poll conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) showed that watching birds and hearing birdsong has a positive impact on the well-being of over 90% of people.

A recent poll conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) showed that watching birds and hearing birdsong has a positive impact on the well-being of over 90% of people. A YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said that 88 per cent of adults in the UK said that spending time outdoors enjoying the natural world was important to them while 53 per cent said that it was very important, the Guardian reported on Thursday (January 27). Ninety-one per cent of adults, on the other hand, agreed that seeing birds and hearing birdsong had a positive impact on mental health and well-being. On its website, the RSPB has a section called "Bird Song Identifier" which has small audio clippings of several birds including the House Sparrow, the Wood Pigeon and the Robin. The Guardian report on Thursday said that people were being urged to boost their mental health and help scientists by spending an hour this weekend- counting birds in their garden or local parks for Big Garden Watch- an initiative by the RSPB. "There's still time to sign-up and take part. Just spend one hour between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 January counting the birds, and help monitor how birds are faring. It's free, fun and a great way to keep an eye on your local wildlife. Wherever you are, whatever you see, it counts!" the RSPB's website reads. It also listed steps on how to participate. They are as follows- 1) Choose one hour between January 27-29; 2) Count the birds that you see in your garden, balcony or local park. 3) Now tell us what you saw. The RSPB also pointed out that participants should only count the birds that land. According to the society, almost 700,000 people had taken part in the Big Garden Watch last year counting more than 11 million birds. This initiative started back in 1979. This time, ornithologists from the RSPB pointed out feared that the recent cold snap might affect the bird sightings with harsh weather increasing the mortality of the smallest birds, the Guardian report said. It added that cold conditions might also encourage less frequent garden visitors to turn up at bird feeders. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK poll shows birdsong has positive impact on mental health for 91% of people

Republic Day 2023: India celebrates its 74th Republic Day today with the iconic parade starting at 10:30 am from Vijay Chowk and proceeding to the Red Fort ground. The parade will uniquely mix India's military prowess and cultural diversity. The parade ceremony would commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial. He will lead the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. 

Republic Day 2023 Highlights: Daredevils and IAF's breathtaking fly-past steal the show at stunning R'day parade

Chinese authorities said that the daily number of Covid deaths in China had fallen by nearly 80 per cent since the beginning of January. According to a statement by China's Centre&nbsp;for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday (January 25), there were 896 deaths attributable to Covid on Monday (January 23), a decline of 79 per cent from January 4. However, the figures are believed to be&nbsp;only representing a fraction of the true toll, given the government's definition of a virus death, a report by the news agency AFP said on Thursday.&nbsp;

Last week, the CDC said that nearly 13,000 infected patients died between January 13 and 19. And before that, around 60,000 patients died in hospitals in just over a month.

Recent local government announcements and media reports indicated that the Covid wave may have started to recede since peaking in late December last year and early January this year when hospitals and crematoriums were full. On the other hand, an official from the National Health Commission (NHC) said last week that China passed the peak of patients in fever clinics, emergency rooms and in critical condition.

On Wednesday, the CDC also said severe cases in China's hospitals dwindled to 36,000 by Monday, a 72% drop from 128,000 cases on January 5. The announcement comes as citizens are celebrating Lunar New Year. Authorities had previously warned that this period of mass travel and social gatherings may trigger a renewed spike in infections. Additionally, some global experts warned about the possibility of a surge in infections in rural areas that are less equipped to deal with the virus.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Chinese authorities said that the daily number of Covid deaths in China had fallen by nearly 80 per cent since the beginning of January. According to a statement by China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday (January 25), there were 896 deaths attributable to Covid on Monday (January 23), a decline of 79 per cent from January 4.

Chinese authorities said that the daily number of Covid deaths in China had fallen by nearly 80 per cent since the beginning of January. According to a statement by China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday (January 25), there were 896 deaths attributable to Covid on Monday (January 23), a decline of 79 per cent from January 4. However, the figures are believed to be only representing a fraction of the true toll, given the government's definition of a virus death, a report by the news agency AFP said on Thursday. Last week, the CDC said that nearly 13,000 infected patients died between January 13 and 19. And before that, around 60,000 patients died in hospitals in just over a month. Recent local government announcements and media reports indicated that the Covid wave may have started to recede since peaking in late December last year and early January this year when hospitals and crematoriums were full. On the other hand, an official from the National Health Commission (NHC) said last week that China passed the peak of patients in fever clinics, emergency rooms and in critical condition. On Wednesday, the CDC also said severe cases in China's hospitals dwindled to 36,000 by Monday, a 72% drop from 128,000 cases on January 5. The announcement comes as citizens are celebrating Lunar New Year. Authorities had previously warned that this period of mass travel and social gatherings may trigger a renewed spike in infections. Additionally, some global experts warned about the possibility of a surge in infections in rural areas that are less equipped to deal with the virus. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Daily Covid deaths in China down by nearly 80%, say authorities

Former United States President Donald Trump announced that he won the Senior Club Championship at Trump International Golf Club, despite not playing the first round of the tournament. Trump missed the round on Saturday (January 21) as he was attending a funeral of an ardent supporter Lynnette Hardaway in North Carolina. Taking to his social media platform Truth on Monday, Trump said that it was a great honour to have won the championship, adding that he competed against many fine golfers, and was hitting the ball long and straight.&nbsp;

"A great honor to have won the Senior Club Championship at Trump International Golf Club, one of the best courses in the Country, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Competed against many fine golfers, and was hitting the ball long and straight. The reason that I announce this on fabulous TRUTH is that, in a very real way, it serves as a physical exam, only MUCH tougher. You need strength and stamina to WIN, &amp; I have strength &amp; stamina - most others don’t. You also need strength &amp; stamina to GOVERN!" Trump wrote.&nbsp;

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According to a report by the Daily Mail, Trump's competitors were surprised when they showed up to the golf course on Sunday (January 22) only to find out that he claimed a five-point lead. The report said that the former president was claiming that an earlier round would count for his score in lieu of him having missed the first round of the tournament.&nbsp;

Trump told the tournament organisers that he played a strong round on the course Thursday (January 19), two days before the tournament started, and decided that would count as his Saturday score for the championship. The Daily Mail report also said that Thursday's round gave him a score of 40 using the Modified Stableford method. While serving as president, Donald Trump was known for spending many weekends at his golf courses. At multiple points, he golfed more than former President Barack Obama did during his time in office, a report by Business Insider on Wednesday said.&nbsp;

In recent news, social media giant Meta announced that Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts would be reinstated, two years after he was banned over the Capitol Hill riot.

In a statement, Meta's president of global affairs Nick Clegg said, "We will be reinstating Mr Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks." Clegg added that the move would come with "new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses." Clegg also pointed out that going forward, Trump could be suspended for up to two years for each violation of platform policies.&nbsp;

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Former United States President Donald Trump announced that he won the Senior Club Championship at Trump International Golf Club, despite not playing the first round of the tournament.

Former United States President Donald Trump announced that he won the Senior Club Championship at Trump International Golf Club, despite not playing the first round of the tournament. Trump missed the round on Saturday (January 21) as he was attending a funeral of an ardent supporter Lynnette Hardaway in North Carolina. Taking to his social media platform Truth on Monday, Trump said that it was a great honour to have won the championship, adding that he competed against many fine golfers, and was hitting the ball long and straight. "A great honor to have won the Senior Club Championship at Trump International Golf Club, one of the best courses in the Country, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Competed against many fine golfers, and was hitting the ball long and straight. The reason that I announce this on fabulous TRUTH is that, in a very real way, it serves as a physical exam, only MUCH tougher. You need strength and stamina to WIN, & I have strength & stamina - most others don’t. You also need strength & stamina to GOVERN!" Trump wrote. × According to a report by the Daily Mail, Trump's competitors were surprised when they showed up to the golf course on Sunday (January 22) only to find out that he claimed a five-point lead. The report said that the former president was claiming that an earlier round would count for his score in lieu of him having missed the first round of the tournament. Trump told the tournament organisers that he played a strong round on the course Thursday (January 19), two days before the tournament started, and decided that would count as his Saturday score for the championship. The Daily Mail report also said that Thursday's round gave him a score of 40 using the Modified Stableford method. While serving as president, Donald Trump was known for spending many weekends at his golf courses. At multiple points, he golfed more than former President Barack Obama did during his time in office, a report by Business Insider on Wednesday said. In recent news, social media giant Meta announced that Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts would be reinstated, two years after he was banned over the Capitol Hill riot. In a statement, Meta's president of global affairs Nick Clegg said, "We will be reinstating Mr Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks." Clegg added that the move would come with "new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses." Clegg also pointed out that going forward, Trump could be suspended for up to two years for each violation of platform policies. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Trump declares himself winner at his golf tournament despite missing first round: Report

The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) announced on Wednesday (January 25) that it would lay off 3,900 employees, joining other technological giants in mass firings. IBM said the layoffs would cause a $300 million charge in the January-March period. India on Thursday is celebrating&nbsp;its 74th Republic Day with the iconic parade starting at 10.30 am from Vijay Chowk and proceeding to the Red Fort ground. And following a two-year suspension after the Capitol Hill riot in 2021, Meta Platforms announced that it would reinstate the Facebook and Instagram accounts of former United States President Donald Trump.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ibm-joins-other-tech-giants-in-mass-firings-will-lay-off-3900-employees-556030">IBM joins other tech giants in mass firings, will lay off 3,900 employees</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/26/328117-untitled-design-2023-01-26t083726887.png?imwidth=1920" />

IBM is laying off&nbsp;3,900 employees, the company announced on Wednesday. It said that the firings were part of some asset divestments and because it missed its annual cash target. The layoffs will cause a $300 million charge in the January-March period, IBM said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-live-updates-india-celebrates-its-74th-republic-day-556012">India's&nbsp;Republic Day 2023 LIVE Updates: PM Modi to visit National War Memorial, Prez Murmu&nbsp;to unfurl the tricolour on Kartavya Path</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/26/328114-untitled-design-2023-01-26t080911190.png?imwidth=1920" />

India will today celebrate its 74th Republic Day with the iconic parade starting at 10.30 am from Vijay Chowk and proceeding to the Red Fort ground. The parade will be a unique mix of India's military prowess and cultural diversity.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-to-soon-reinstate-donald-trumps-facebook-instagram-accounts-556004">Meta to soon reinstate Donald Trump's Facebook, Instagram&nbsp;</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/26/328109-2023-01-25t222002z3lynxmpej0o0wirtroptp4usa-trump-georgia.JPG?imwidth=1920" />

Following a two-year suspension after the deadly Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021,&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) announced on Wednesday (January 25) that it will soon reinstate former US President Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-calls-pledges-made-by-us-and-germany-to-send-tanks-only-the-beginning-556026">Ukraine calls pledges made by US and Germany to send tanks 'only the beginning'</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/26/328115-untitled-design-2023-01-26t081820251.png?imwidth=1920" />

A Ukrainian official appreciated the decision of the United States and Germany to provide advanced battle tanks to Kyiv to tackle Russia's aggression, however, he called these commitments “only the beginning” adding that the embattled country needs more than hundreds of tanks and further appealed for more fighter jets.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-rocks-nigeria-killing-at-least-50-556037">Blast rocks Nigeria, killing at least 50</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/01/26/328121-000337972c.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

A suspected bomb blast in Nigeria's north central region killed dozens of cattle herders and bystanders, a state government official and spokesperson of the national cattle breeders said on Wednesday. The incident happened on Tuesday night between Nasarawa and Benue states in north central Nigeria.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) announced on Wednesday (January 25) that it would lay off 3,900 employees, joining other technological giants in mass firings.

The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) announced on Wednesday (January 25) that it would lay off 3,900 employees, joining other technological giants in mass firings. IBM said the layoffs would cause a $300 million charge in the January-March period. India on Thursday is celebrating its 74th Republic Day with the iconic parade starting at 10.30 am from Vijay Chowk and proceeding to the Red Fort ground. And following a two-year suspension after the Capitol Hill riot in 2021, Meta Platforms announced that it would reinstate the Facebook and Instagram accounts of former United States President Donald Trump. Click on the headlines to read more: IBM joins other tech giants in mass firings, will lay off 3,900 employees IBM is laying off 3,900 employees, the company announced on Wednesday. It said that the firings were part of some asset divestments and because it missed its annual cash target. The layoffs will cause a $300 million charge in the January-March period, IBM said. India's Republic Day 2023 LIVE Updates: PM Modi to visit National War Memorial, Prez Murmu to unfurl the tricolour on Kartavya Path India will today celebrate its 74th Republic Day with the iconic parade starting at 10.30 am from Vijay Chowk and proceeding to the Red Fort ground. The parade will be a unique mix of India's military prowess and cultural diversity. Meta to soon reinstate Donald Trump's Facebook, Instagram Following a two-year suspension after the deadly Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021, Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) announced on Wednesday (January 25) that it will soon reinstate former US President Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts. Ukraine calls pledges made by US and Germany to send tanks 'only the beginning' A Ukrainian official appreciated the decision of the United States and Germany to provide advanced battle tanks to Kyiv to tackle Russia's aggression, however, he called these commitments “only the beginning” adding that the embattled country needs more than hundreds of tanks and further appealed for more fighter jets. Blast rocks Nigeria, killing at least 50 A suspected bomb blast in Nigeria's north central region killed dozens of cattle herders and bystanders, a state government official and spokesperson of the national cattle breeders said on Wednesday. The incident happened on Tuesday night between Nasarawa and Benue states in north central Nigeria.

Morning news brief: IBM to lay off 3,900 employees, India celebrates 74th Republic Day, & more

Amid the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan, the Shehbaz Sharif government is considering different proposals, including slashing the salaries of government employees by 10 per cent across the board. The National Austerity Committee (NAC) constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also considering cutting down expenditures of ministries and divisions by 15 per cent, reducing the number of federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers from 78 to 30 while the remaining should work on a pro bono basis, according to a report by Geo News on Wednesday (January 25).

The recommendations were supposed to be finalised on Wednesday and the NAC would send the report to Sharif. However, there is no update on this development so far.&nbsp;

The Geo News report said the government was finalising recommendations on austerity as it sought another International Monetary Fund (IMF) tranche, but is reluctant to implement the conditionalities. This hesitation created a deadlock for the last two and a half months with the IMF.

A report by Dawn on Thursday said that the government has sought support from the United States to unlock the IMF programme that would release $1.1 billion to the economy. In 2019, Pakistan and the IMF signed a $6 billion bailout which was topped by another $1.1 billion last year. However, this came along with conditions. Citing multiple reports, news agency PTI reported that the Washington-based global lender might not release more funds under the programme until pledges made by the Pakistan government are met.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar met a visiting US Treasury delegation, where he said that Islamabad will honour&nbsp;its international commitments and was in the process of taking "very tough decisions" such as increasing the prices of electricity and natural gas, said the Dawn report.

Dar also highlighted that Pakistan required breathing space as industry and agriculture had passed through the most challenging times after the devastating floods last year, it added.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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Amid the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan, the Shehbaz Sharif government is considering different proposals, including slashing the salaries of government employees by 10 per cent across the board.

Amid the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan, the Shehbaz Sharif government is considering different proposals, including slashing the salaries of government employees by 10 per cent across the board. The National Austerity Committee (NAC) constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also considering cutting down expenditures of ministries and divisions by 15 per cent, reducing the number of federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers from 78 to 30 while the remaining should work on a pro bono basis, according to a report by Geo News on Wednesday (January 25). The recommendations were supposed to be finalised on Wednesday and the NAC would send the report to Sharif. However, there is no update on this development so far. The Geo News report said the government was finalising recommendations on austerity as it sought another International Monetary Fund (IMF) tranche, but is reluctant to implement the conditionalities. This hesitation created a deadlock for the last two and a half months with the IMF. A report by Dawn on Thursday said that the government has sought support from the United States to unlock the IMF programme that would release $1.1 billion to the economy. In 2019, Pakistan and the IMF signed a $6 billion bailout which was topped by another $1.1 billion last year. However, this came along with conditions. Citing multiple reports, news agency PTI reported that the Washington-based global lender might not release more funds under the programme until pledges made by the Pakistan government are met. On Wednesday, Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar met a visiting US Treasury delegation, where he said that Islamabad will honour its international commitments and was in the process of taking "very tough decisions" such as increasing the prices of electricity and natural gas, said the Dawn report. Dar also highlighted that Pakistan required breathing space as industry and agriculture had passed through the most challenging times after the devastating floods last year, it added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amid economic crisis, Pakistan mulls 10% cut in salaries of govt employees: Reports

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday (January 25) that a pathway for the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes should be further explored for next year's Paris Olympics, ignoring calls from the Ukrainian government to ban them completely. In a statement, the IOC said that no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport.&nbsp;

"Respect the rights of all athletes to be treated without any discrimination, in accordance with the Olympic Charter. Governments must not decide which athletes can participate in which competition and which athletes cannot," the statement said. "A pathway for athletes’ participation in competition under strict conditions should therefore be further explored," it added.

As per the IOC, the first strict condition was that athletes from Russia and Belarus would participate in competitions as “neutral athletes” and in no way represent their state or any other organisation in their country.

The second condition was only athletes who fully respect the Olympic Charter would participate. "This means in particular: first, only those who have not acted against the peace mission of the IOC by actively supporting the war in Ukraine could compete. Second, only athletes who fully comply with the World Anti-Doping Code and all relevant anti-doping rules and regulations would be eligible. There must be individual checks carried out for all entered athletes," the statement added.&nbsp;

The IOC warned that athletes failing to respect the conditions should be immediately removed from the competition by the sports event organiser, suspended from further competitions and report such incidents to "the committee for its consideration for further measures and sanctions."

The committee also said that there was unanimous support to continue and even strengthen the full and unwavering commitment to solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Ukrainian Olympic community to have a strong team from the NOC of Ukraine at the Paris Olympics.&nbsp;

The IOC's statement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a total exclusion of Russian and Belurasian athletes. After speaking with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky posted on Telegram on Tuesday, "I particularly emphasised that athletes from Russia should have no place at the Olympic Games in Paris."

Meanwhile, after the IOC's remarks, the Russian Olympic Committee president Stanislav Pozdnyakov said later on Wednesday that the voice of common sense had been heard. “The priority for us remains the same — to secure the rights and interests of our athletes,” Pozdnyakov said, the news agency AP reported.&nbsp;

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday (January 25) that a pathway for the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes should be further explored for next year's Paris Olympics, ignoring calls from the Ukrainian government to ban them completely.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday (January 25) that a pathway for the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes should be further explored for next year's Paris Olympics, ignoring calls from the Ukrainian government to ban them completely. In a statement, the IOC said that no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport. "Respect the rights of all athletes to be treated without any discrimination, in accordance with the Olympic Charter. Governments must not decide which athletes can participate in which competition and which athletes cannot," the statement said. "A pathway for athletes’ participation in competition under strict conditions should therefore be further explored," it added. As per the IOC, the first strict condition was that athletes from Russia and Belarus would participate in competitions as “neutral athletes” and in no way represent their state or any other organisation in their country. The second condition was only athletes who fully respect the Olympic Charter would participate. "This means in particular: first, only those who have not acted against the peace mission of the IOC by actively supporting the war in Ukraine could compete. Second, only athletes who fully comply with the World Anti-Doping Code and all relevant anti-doping rules and regulations would be eligible. There must be individual checks carried out for all entered athletes," the statement added. The IOC warned that athletes failing to respect the conditions should be immediately removed from the competition by the sports event organiser, suspended from further competitions and report such incidents to "the committee for its consideration for further measures and sanctions." The committee also said that there was unanimous support to continue and even strengthen the full and unwavering commitment to solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Ukrainian Olympic community to have a strong team from the NOC of Ukraine at the Paris Olympics. The IOC's statement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a total exclusion of Russian and Belurasian athletes. After speaking with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky posted on Telegram on Tuesday, "I particularly emphasised that athletes from Russia should have no place at the Olympic Games in Paris." Meanwhile, after the IOC's remarks, the Russian Olympic Committee president Stanislav Pozdnyakov said later on Wednesday that the voice of common sense had been heard. “The priority for us remains the same — to secure the rights and interests of our athletes,” Pozdnyakov said, the news agency AP reported. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IOC to explore pathway for Russian, Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris Olympics

As the anti-government protests in Peru show no sign of ending, the country is currently facing a shortage of basic products including food items and fuel. A report by the news agency AFP on Wednesday (January 25) said that dozens of roadblocks, where demonstrations have been the most intense, are hindering freight deliveries to Peru's south.

As the anti-government protests in Peru show no sign of ending, the country is currently facing a shortage of basic products including food items and fuel. A report by the news agency AFP on Wednesday (January 25) said that dozens of roadblocks, where demonstrations have been the most intense, are hindering freight deliveries to Peru's south. According to the transport ministry on Wednesday, 85 roadblocks were reported across the country. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)- which is the most popular fuel for vehicles and homes in the country- became increasingly hard to find in Arequipa, Tacuna, and Puno. All these three regions are relatively poor with large indigenous populations. Protesters from these regions have claimed abandonment and discrimination by officials in the capital city of Lima. ALSO READ | Peru unrest: Police raid university in Lima, arrest over 200 protesters "I've already been told there's no more LPG in Arequipa," Alexander Cornejo, a national taxi driver representative, told the RPP radio station. Around 7,000 taxi drivers in this region have been affected by the scarcity. In Puno city, the prices of basic food items including tomatoes and potatoes have tripled. A Puno resident told AFP, "Vegetables and fruit prices have gone up. Everything has increased, I think the vehicles that supply us should (be allowed to) pass." Meanwhile, the Madre de Dios region, which is on Peru's border with Brazil and Bolivia, has reported shortages in fuel and food after protesters blocked the major Interoceanica Sur highway. Governor Luis Otsuka said that if the roadblocks continued he would have to try to source food and fuel from Brazil and Bolivia, the report added. Anti-government protests: 46 killed in clashes, President calls for national truce Forty-six people have been killed in clashes between security forces and the protesters. On Tuesday, President Dina Boluarte called for a ''national truce'' to end the protests- which have been going on since December last year. Rejecting her call, thousands of protesters again marched in Lima on Tuesday, with some clashes breaking out between police and the demonstrators. Multiple people were arrested and several were injured, the AFP report said. On Wednesday, Peru's Justice Minister Jose Andres Tello Alfaro insisted that authorities responded "appropriately" while stressing that the country was facing a complex situation. At the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, a wide range of country representatives expressed concerns over the use of excessive force by the Peruvian government in face of the protests. Addressing the council virtually, Alfaro "we are acting appropriately to defend democracy and human rights." Denouncing violence by the protesters, the justice minister insisted that "actions taken to restore public order have been undertaken in full compliance with constitutional and international obligations". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Peru faces shortage of food and fuel as anti-government protests continue

A few hundred workers at an Amazon warehouse in the United Kingdom (UK) walked out on Wednesday (January 25) over a pay increase worth five per cent, less than half the current inflation rate. This is the first strike that the e-commerce giant is facing in the UK. The warehouse is located in Coventry, central England and the workers there held a banner which said, "We are not robots," while another banner said, "We are worth more." Stuart Richards from the GMB union said, "The first-ever Amazon workers in the UK to go on strike" were "taking on one of the world's biggest companies to fight for a decent standard of living," news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/amazon-begins-laying-off-18000-employees-from-its-cart-of-employees-553950">Amazon begins laying off 18,000 people from its cart of employees</a>

Richards said that after six months of ignoring all requests to listen to the concerns of the workers, the GMB union urged the bosses of Amazon UK to do the right thing and give workers a proper pay raise. Speaking to news agency Reuters, Richards said "So the Amazon worker's pay demand is £15 an hour, again we've taken that from what's happening in America. We saw Amazon talking around trying to persuade workers that they didn't need a union because they were paying $15 an hour. They've now raised that to $18 meanwhile workers in the UK are lagging far behind. They're on £10.50 at this warehouse at the moment."

Richards said that the warehouse workers (in the UK) were working incredibly long shifts just to try and make ends meet, just to try and feed their families. He added that Amazon was a multi-million-pound company that made huge amounts of money. "They may not pay any tax but they certainly make a lot of money and it's on the back of these workers. We're saying a part of that profit needs to go to support these workers, so they can actually live decent lives," he said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/uk-amazon-to-restructure-warehouse-operations-closures-put-over-1000-jobs-at-risk-551220">UK: Amazon to restructure warehouse operations, closures put over 1,000 jobs at risk</a>

Another union official, Amanda Gearing, told the AFP on Wednesday that the warehouse workers were also protesting against ''other conditions'' which she described as horrendous. "They're just having to work, work, work, they're not allowed to talk to people, it's difficult to take a toilet break," she said.&nbsp;

This strike in the UK comes as tens of thousands of workers in the country including nurses, ambulance workers, teachers and railway staff have been protesting over pay and working conditions. On Monday (January 23), thousands of ambulance workers held another strike in the country with unions calling on the government to hold talks to improve pay and working conditions. Previously, the strikes (by ambulance workers) were held on January 11 and December 21, 2022. Further strikes are expected in February. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A few hundred workers at an Amazon warehouse in the United Kingdom (UK) walked out on Wednesday (January 25) over a pay increase worth five per cent, less than half the current inflation rate.

A few hundred workers at an Amazon warehouse in the United Kingdom (UK) walked out on Wednesday (January 25) over a pay increase worth five per cent, less than half the current inflation rate. This is the first strike that the e-commerce giant is facing in the UK. The warehouse is located in Coventry, central England and the workers there held a banner which said, "We are not robots," while another banner said, "We are worth more." Stuart Richards from the GMB union said, "The first-ever Amazon workers in the UK to go on strike" were "taking on one of the world's biggest companies to fight for a decent standard of living," news agency AFP reported. ALSO READ | Amazon begins laying off 18,000 people from its cart of employees Richards said that after six months of ignoring all requests to listen to the concerns of the workers, the GMB union urged the bosses of Amazon UK to do the right thing and give workers a proper pay raise. Speaking to news agency Reuters, Richards said "So the Amazon worker's pay demand is £15 an hour, again we've taken that from what's happening in America. We saw Amazon talking around trying to persuade workers that they didn't need a union because they were paying $15 an hour. They've now raised that to $18 meanwhile workers in the UK are lagging far behind. They're on £10.50 at this warehouse at the moment." Richards said that the warehouse workers (in the UK) were working incredibly long shifts just to try and make ends meet, just to try and feed their families. He added that Amazon was a multi-million-pound company that made huge amounts of money. "They may not pay any tax but they certainly make a lot of money and it's on the back of these workers. We're saying a part of that profit needs to go to support these workers, so they can actually live decent lives," he said. ALSO READ | UK: Amazon to restructure warehouse operations, closures put over 1,000 jobs at risk Another union official, Amanda Gearing, told the AFP on Wednesday that the warehouse workers were also protesting against ''other conditions'' which she described as horrendous. "They're just having to work, work, work, they're not allowed to talk to people, it's difficult to take a toilet break," she said. This strike in the UK comes as tens of thousands of workers in the country including nurses, ambulance workers, teachers and railway staff have been protesting over pay and working conditions. On Monday (January 23), thousands of ambulance workers held another strike in the country with unions calling on the government to hold talks to improve pay and working conditions. Previously, the strikes (by ambulance workers) were held on January 11 and December 21, 2022. Further strikes are expected in February. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'We're not robots': UK Amazon workers unhappy with minimal raise go on strike

Pope Francis said that being homosexual is not a crime as he criticised the laws that criminalise homosexuality as unjust. In an interview with the news agency Associated Press on Tuesday (January 24), Pope Francis said that God loves all his children and called on Catholic Bishops who support such laws to welcome LGBTQ people into churches. He acknowledged that Catholic Bishops in some parts of the world support laws that criminalise homosexuality or discriminate against the LGBTQ community. However, he attributed such an attitude to cultural backgrounds.&nbsp;

"These bishops have to have a process of conversion," Pope Francis told the Associated Press, adding they should apply "tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us." As per the Human Dignity Trust, some 67 countries or jurisdictions criminalise consensual same-sexual activity. Meanwhile, experts pointed out that even where such laws were not enforced, they contributed to harassment, stigmatisation and violence against LGBTQ people.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cardinal-pellss-anonymous-memo-called-pope-franciss-papacy-a-catastrophe-552153">Cardinal Pell's 'anonymous' memo called Pope Francis's papacy a 'catastrophe'</a>

The United Nations (UN) has repeatedly called for an end to laws that criminalise homosexuality, by saying such laws violated the right to privacy and freedom from discrimination and were a breach of countries' obligations under international law to protect the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

On Tuesday, Pope Francis declared such laws unjust and told the news agency that the Catholic Church can and should put an end to them. “We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are, and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity,” he said.&nbsp;

The Pope also said that regarding homosexuality, there needed to be a distinction between a crime and a sin. "Being homosexual is not a crime. It’s not a crime. Yes, but it’s a sin. Fine, but first let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime. It’s also a sin to lack charity with one another," he said.&nbsp;

In 2019, Francis was expected to issue a statement opposing the criminalisation of homosexuality during a meeting with human rights groups. However, the meeting did not happen and the groups instead met with Vatican No. 2 who reaffirmed the dignity of every human person and against every form of violence.&nbsp;

Francis has gone on to minister repeatedly and publicly to the gay and trans community. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he favoured granting legal protections to same-sex couples as an alternative to endorsing gay marriage, which the Catholic doctrine forbids. However, he was criticised by the Catholic LGBTQ community for a 2021 decree from the Vatican’s doctrine office that the church cannot bless same-sex unions because God could not bless sin.&nbsp;

On sex abuse cases, Pope says, 'Church still has a long way to deal with problem'

During the interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday, Pope Francis also shed light on the Catholic Church's handling of sex abuse allegations, including those against Nobel Prize laureate Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo. Francis suggested that Bishop Belo was indeed allowed to retire early rather than face prosecution or punishment.

De Groene Amsterdammer, a Dutch magazine, reported in September last year that two people had accused Belo of sexually abusing them when they were boys in the 1990s. The magazine added that others had not come forward. After the news came out, the Vatican acknowledged that it had secretly sanctioned Belo in 2020, after Rome came to know about the allegations a year earlier, restricting his movements and ministry and prohibiting him from having contact with minors or visiting East Timor.

However, the Vatican did not provide any details on whether Belo’s superiors knew earlier about any claims against him. On Tuesday, Pope Francis said "This is a very old thing where this awareness of today did not exist. And when it came out (in September) about the bishop of East Timor, I said, ‘Yes, let it go in the open.’ ... I’m not going to cover it up. But these were decisions made 25 years ago when there wasn’t this awareness.”

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Pope Francis said that being homosexual is not a crime as he criticised the laws that criminalise homosexuality as unjust. In an interview with the news agency Associated Press on Tuesday (January 24), Pope Francis said that God loves all his children and called on Catholic Bishops who support such laws to welcome LGBTQ people into churches.

Pope Francis said that being homosexual is not a crime as he criticised the laws that criminalise homosexuality as unjust. In an interview with the news agency Associated Press on Tuesday (January 24), Pope Francis said that God loves all his children and called on Catholic Bishops who support such laws to welcome LGBTQ people into churches. He acknowledged that Catholic Bishops in some parts of the world support laws that criminalise homosexuality or discriminate against the LGBTQ community. However, he attributed such an attitude to cultural backgrounds. "These bishops have to have a process of conversion," Pope Francis told the Associated Press, adding they should apply "tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us." As per the Human Dignity Trust, some 67 countries or jurisdictions criminalise consensual same-sexual activity. Meanwhile, experts pointed out that even where such laws were not enforced, they contributed to harassment, stigmatisation and violence against LGBTQ people. ALSO READ | Cardinal Pell's 'anonymous' memo called Pope Francis's papacy a 'catastrophe' The United Nations (UN) has repeatedly called for an end to laws that criminalise homosexuality, by saying such laws violated the right to privacy and freedom from discrimination and were a breach of countries' obligations under international law to protect the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. On Tuesday, Pope Francis declared such laws unjust and told the news agency that the Catholic Church can and should put an end to them. “We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are, and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity,” he said. The Pope also said that regarding homosexuality, there needed to be a distinction between a crime and a sin. "Being homosexual is not a crime. It’s not a crime. Yes, but it’s a sin. Fine, but first let’s distinguish between a sin and a crime. It’s also a sin to lack charity with one another," he said. In 2019, Francis was expected to issue a statement opposing the criminalisation of homosexuality during a meeting with human rights groups. However, the meeting did not happen and the groups instead met with Vatican No. 2 who reaffirmed the dignity of every human person and against every form of violence. Francis has gone on to minister repeatedly and publicly to the gay and trans community. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he favoured granting legal protections to same-sex couples as an alternative to endorsing gay marriage, which the Catholic doctrine forbids. However, he was criticised by the Catholic LGBTQ community for a 2021 decree from the Vatican’s doctrine office that the church cannot bless same-sex unions because God could not bless sin. On sex abuse cases, Pope says, 'Church still has a long way to deal with problem' During the interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday, Pope Francis also shed light on the Catholic Church's handling of sex abuse allegations, including those against Nobel Prize laureate Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo. Francis suggested that Bishop Belo was indeed allowed to retire early rather than face prosecution or punishment. De Groene Amsterdammer, a Dutch magazine, reported in September last year that two people had accused Belo of sexually abusing them when they were boys in the 1990s. The magazine added that others had not come forward. After the news came out, the Vatican acknowledged that it had secretly sanctioned Belo in 2020, after Rome came to know about the allegations a year earlier, restricting his movements and ministry and prohibiting him from having contact with minors or visiting East Timor. However, the Vatican did not provide any details on whether Belo’s superiors knew earlier about any claims against him. On Tuesday, Pope Francis said "This is a very old thing where this awareness of today did not exist. And when it came out (in September) about the bishop of East Timor, I said, ‘Yes, let it go in the open.’ ... I’m not going to cover it up. But these were decisions made 25 years ago when there wasn’t this awareness.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Being homosexual is not a crime: Pope Francis criticises laws that criminalise homosexuality

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