<p>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped up his visit to Russia on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported, leaving the far eastern region of the country on his armoured train. The Ria Novosti agency published a video of Kim's departure, and said a "departure ceremony" was held at the Artyom-Primorsky-1 station.</p>

<p>The TASS news agency said that Kim's train was headed around 250 kilometres towards the border.</p>

<p>Kim's Russia visit and show of bonhomie with President Vladimir Putin has heightened Western concerns that Moscow and Pyongyang may defy sanctions and engage in arms negotiations.</p>

<p>In a video released by Ria Novosti agency, Kim is seen bidding farewell to a Russian delegation led by Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, as the Russian march "Farewell of Slavianka" plays during the train's departure.</p>

<h2><strong>Kim Jong Un scores drone bonanza as state gifts from Russia</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, TASS mentioned Kim receiving gifts from a regional governor, including five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone, and a bulletproof vest.</p>

<p>TASS detailed the gifts as "five kamikaze drones and a 'Geran-25' reconnaissance drone with vertical takeoff," using North Korea's official name.</p>

<p>Additionally, the governor of the Primorye region offered Kim Jong Un bulletproof protection and special clothing undetectable by thermal cameras.</p>

<p>Earlier on&nbsp;Saturday, Kim Jong Un met with the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok, inspecting advanced weaponry, including a hypersonic missile system.</p>

<p>Kim's extensive tour of Russia's far eastern region, which began on Tuesday, predominantly focused on military matters, and was dominated&nbsp;by his peculiar&nbsp;entourage.</p>

<h2><strong>Kim-Putin ties: Strategic implications for war in Ukraine</strong></h2>

<p>According to reports in the western media,&nbsp;Moscow is interested in procuring North Korean ammunition for the conflict in Ukraine, while Pyongyang seeks Russian assistance for its internationally sanctioned&nbsp;missile program.</p>

<p>The Kremlin, however, said that no agreement has been, or will be, signed.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Kin Jong-Un's highly criticised Russia visit, West worried about possible cooperation</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kin-jong-uns-highly-criticised-russia-visit-west-worried-about-possible-cooperation-636730/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Kim also spent time with North Korean students studying in Vladivostok on Sunday.</p>

<p>North Korean news agency KCNA described the atmosphere during Kim's visit as "enthusiastic and warm," calling it&nbsp;the emergence of a "new era of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation" between North Korea and Russia.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped up his visit to Russia on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported, leaving the far eastern region of the country on his armoured train.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped up his visit to Russia on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported, leaving the far eastern region of the country on his armoured train. The Ria Novosti agency published a video of Kim's departure, and said a "departure ceremony" was held at the Artyom-Primorsky-1 station. The TASS news agency said that Kim's train was headed around 250 kilometres towards the border. Kim's Russia visit and show of bonhomie with President Vladimir Putin has heightened Western concerns that Moscow and Pyongyang may defy sanctions and engage in arms negotiations. In a video released by Ria Novosti agency, Kim is seen bidding farewell to a Russian delegation led by Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, as the Russian march "Farewell of Slavianka" plays during the train's departure. Kim Jong Un scores drone bonanza as state gifts from Russia Earlier, TASS mentioned Kim receiving gifts from a regional governor, including five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone, and a bulletproof vest. TASS detailed the gifts as "five kamikaze drones and a 'Geran-25' reconnaissance drone with vertical takeoff," using North Korea's official name. Additionally, the governor of the Primorye region offered Kim Jong Un bulletproof protection and special clothing undetectable by thermal cameras. Earlier on Saturday, Kim Jong Un met with the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok, inspecting advanced weaponry, including a hypersonic missile system. Kim's extensive tour of Russia's far eastern region, which began on Tuesday, predominantly focused on military matters, and was dominated by his peculiar entourage. Kim-Putin ties: Strategic implications for war in Ukraine According to reports in the western media, Moscow is interested in procuring North Korean ammunition for the conflict in Ukraine, while Pyongyang seeks Russian assistance for its internationally sanctioned missile program. The Kremlin, however, said that no agreement has been, or will be, signed. Also watch | Kin Jong-Un's highly criticised Russia visit, West worried about possible cooperation × Kim also spent time with North Korean students studying in Vladivostok on Sunday. North Korean news agency KCNA described the atmosphere during Kim's visit as "enthusiastic and warm," calling it the emergence of a "new era of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation" between North Korea and Russia. 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.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un leaves Russia after underscoring bonhomie with Vladimir Putin

<p>The junta leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a charter to establish a defence alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The alliance of the three West African nations signed by their military leaders on September 16, says that the three states will assist one another in the event of an attack on any one of them.</p>

<h2><strong>Alliance of Sahel States: How is it a NATO-style alliance?</strong></h2>

<p>The alliance document's Article 6, much like NATO's Article 5, says that any attack on one or more signatory states will be considered an attack on all signatories. The four-page alliance document, seen by WION, states that the "need to continue the heroic struggles waged by the African people and countries for political independence, human dignity and economic emancipation", as defining tenet of the alliance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties," it says.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It also binds the three countries to work to prevent or settle armed rebellions.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Mali junta leader Goita hosted the signing event in capital Bamako" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="532c4968-9ba3-431b-9cab-9fc1c6b22b99" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-17T123509.000.png" /></p>

<p><em>Mali junta leader Goita hosted the signing event in capital Bamako |&nbsp;Presidence du Niger/X</em></p>

<p>The Article 4 of the document underscore combating terrorism in all its forms and organised crime as "common area of the alliance"</p>

<p>"I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework," Mali military leader Assimi Goita said on X, formerly known as Twitter. &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why Alliance of Sahel States is significant?</strong></h2>

<p>The alliance announcement succeeds the military pact signed between the three countries in August to allow Mali and Burkina Faso to send troops into Niger's territory in the event of military aggression against its new rulers.</p>

<p>The development is significant amid growing cooperation between 15-nation ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) bloc and the warnings of military intervention that it asserted after military's takeover of power in Niger in July.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/niger-nuclear-reserves-how-this-coup-can-throw-europe-into-deep-energy-crisis-621073">Niger nuclear reserves: How the coup can throw Europe into a deep energy crisis</a></strong></p>

<p>The agreement also calls for the three nations to take joint action against terrorist groups operating in their countries and to secure their borders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For more than a decade, Africa's Sahel region — which includes countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria — has been infested with jihadist insurgencies contributing in their overall instability.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These jihadist insurgencies are largely perpetrated by terrorist networks linked to the Islamic State and the Al Qaeda.</p>

<p>"This alliance will be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries," Mali's Defence Minister Abdoulaye Diop told journalists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our priority is the fight against terrorism in the three countries."</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean for French interests in the region?</strong></h2>

<p>The alliance between three West African states, all ruled by military juntas and former French colonies, has been formalised amid souring ties between the three states and France.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All three signatory nations of the newly-formed Alliance of Sahel States were also the members of France-supported G5 Sahel alliance joint force with Chad and Mauritania being the&nbsp;other two allies. The G5 Sahel alliance, apart from its stated goals related to poverty alleviation, was also aimed to tackle terror groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The G5 Sahel Alliance, now largely dormant, was launched in 2017 by France, Germany and the European Union.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Niger’s military leaders have unilaterally cancelled military agreements under the G5 Sahel Alliance that allowed French forces to fight jihadists in the region, giving the former colonial power only a month to pull out its 1,500 troops. France, however, ignored the ultimatum and demands for its ambassador to leave.<br />
<img alt="Niger's leader General Abdourahmane Tiani during alliance's signing event in Tamako | X" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="60f4373e-4261-4997-8673-a0de5d4f216a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-17T123828.601.png" /></p>

<p><em>Niger's leader General Abdourahmane Tiani during alliance's signing event in Tamako | X/Presidence du Niger</em></p>

<p>Mali left the G5 Sahel Alliance after a military coup. Even before the military coup in Niger, the democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum said in May last year that the force was "dead" following Mali's departure.</p>

<p>France was forced to withdraw its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso. It remains in a tense standoff with the junta that seized power in Niger after the new military rulers asked it to withdraw its troops and its ambassador.</p>

<p>Mali has also asked the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA to leave the country.</p>

<h2><strong>Who takes what from the newly forged alliance?</strong></h2>

<p>For Niger, the alliance provides a cover of security from the warnings of military intervention from ECOWAS.</p>

<p>But in security terms, Mali is set to gain the most from the alliance in the immediate future. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Mali, in addition to fighting terrorists linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, has also seen a resumption of hostilities by predominantly Tuareg armed groups over the past few weeks.</p>

<p>The escalation of these armed tensions risks stretching Mali's army to its limits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Mali's junta claims that it has managed to successfully turn around a dire security situation, independent reports have claimed the quite opposite.</p>

<p>Burkina Faso, under Ibrahim Tarore (34), is expected to lead the newly-formed alliance, due to semblance of stability that the world's youngest leader has managed to assert in the country, according to Radio Omega.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The junta leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a charter to establish a defence alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States. The alliance of the three West African nations signed by their military leaders on September 16, says that the three states will assist one another in the event of an attack on any one of them.

The junta leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a charter to establish a defence alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States. The alliance of the three West African nations signed by their military leaders on September 16, says that the three states will assist one another in the event of an attack on any one of them. Alliance of Sahel States: How is it a NATO-style alliance? The alliance document's Article 6, much like NATO's Article 5, says that any attack on one or more signatory states will be considered an attack on all signatories. The four-page alliance document, seen by WION, states that the "need to continue the heroic struggles waged by the African people and countries for political independence, human dignity and economic emancipation", as defining tenet of the alliance. "Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties," it says. It also binds the three countries to work to prevent or settle armed rebellions. Mali junta leader Goita hosted the signing event in capital Bamako | Presidence du Niger/X The Article 4 of the document underscore combating terrorism in all its forms and organised crime as "common area of the alliance" "I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework," Mali military leader Assimi Goita said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Why Alliance of Sahel States is significant? The alliance announcement succeeds the military pact signed between the three countries in August to allow Mali and Burkina Faso to send troops into Niger's territory in the event of military aggression against its new rulers. The development is significant amid growing cooperation between 15-nation ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) bloc and the warnings of military intervention that it asserted after military's takeover of power in Niger in July. Also read | Niger nuclear reserves: How the coup can throw Europe into a deep energy crisis The agreement also calls for the three nations to take joint action against terrorist groups operating in their countries and to secure their borders. For more than a decade, Africa's Sahel region — which includes countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria — has been infested with jihadist insurgencies contributing in their overall instability. These jihadist insurgencies are largely perpetrated by terrorist networks linked to the Islamic State and the Al Qaeda. "This alliance will be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries," Mali's Defence Minister Abdoulaye Diop told journalists. "Our priority is the fight against terrorism in the three countries." What does it mean for French interests in the region? The alliance between three West African states, all ruled by military juntas and former French colonies, has been formalised amid souring ties between the three states and France. All three signatory nations of the newly-formed Alliance of Sahel States were also the members of France-supported G5 Sahel alliance joint force with Chad and Mauritania being the other two allies. The G5 Sahel alliance, apart from its stated goals related to poverty alleviation, was also aimed to tackle terror groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The G5 Sahel Alliance, now largely dormant, was launched in 2017 by France, Germany and the European Union. Niger’s military leaders have unilaterally cancelled military agreements under the G5 Sahel Alliance that allowed French forces to fight jihadists in the region, giving the former colonial power only a month to pull out its 1,500 troops. France, however, ignored the ultimatum and demands for its ambassador to leave. Niger's leader General Abdourahmane Tiani during alliance's signing event in Tamako | X/Presidence du Niger Mali left the G5 Sahel Alliance after a military coup. Even before the military coup in Niger, the democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum said in May last year that the force was "dead" following Mali's departure. France was forced to withdraw its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso. It remains in a tense standoff with the junta that seized power in Niger after the new military rulers asked it to withdraw its troops and its ambassador. Mali has also asked the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA to leave the country. Who takes what from the newly forged alliance? For Niger, the alliance provides a cover of security from the warnings of military intervention from ECOWAS. But in security terms, Mali is set to gain the most from the alliance in the immediate future. Mali, in addition to fighting terrorists linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, has also seen a resumption of hostilities by predominantly Tuareg armed groups over the past few weeks. The escalation of these armed tensions risks stretching Mali's army to its limits. While Mali's junta claims that it has managed to successfully turn around a dire security situation, independent reports have claimed the quite opposite. Burkina Faso, under Ibrahim Tarore (34), is expected to lead the newly-formed alliance, due to semblance of stability that the world's youngest leader has managed to assert in the country, according to Radio Omega. 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.

Explained | Military-ruled former French colonies forge NATO-style Alliance of Sahel States

<p>Travelling to the United Kingdom is set to be expensive for tourism, visiting or studying purposes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government announced that the UK visit visas for stays less than six months will incur an additional cost of ₹1,543 (GBP 15), while UK student visas will see an increase of ₹13,070 (GBP 127) for travellers worldwide, including Indians.</p>

<p>The new visa fees will come in effect starting October 4th.</p>

<h2><strong>UK visa fees hike: What does it look like for incoming students?</strong></h2>

<p>The UK Home Office said that while the fee for a UK visit visa for less than six months will increase to ₹11,835 (GBP 115), the fee for applying for a UK student visa from outside the UK will be ₹50,428 (GBP 490). This matches the amount charged for in-country applications.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rishi-sunak-announces-increase-in-uk-visa-fees-health-surcharge-615293">Rishi Sunak announces increase in UK visa fees, health surcharge</a></strong></p>

<p>The UK Home Office has also noted a 15 per cent increase in the cost of most work and visit visas, along with a minimum 20 per cent hike in fees for priority visas, study visas, and certificates of sponsorship.</p>

<p>This decision follows British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement in July to significantly raise fees and health surcharges paid by visa applicants to support the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) and meet public sector wage increases.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;UK announces curbs on overseas: New visa limits for International students</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-announces-curbs-on-overseas-new-visa-limits-for-international-students-595962/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"We are going to increase the charges that we have for migrants who are coming to this country when they apply for visas and indeed something called the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is the levy that they pay to access the NHS," he said at the time.</p>

<p>"All of those fees are going to go up and that will raise over GBP 1 billion, so across the board visa application fees are going to go up significantly and similarly for the IHS," he said.</p>

<p>Furthermore, this fee hike extends to various visa categories, including health and care visas, applications for British citizenship, fees for visit visas spanning six months, two, five, and ten years, and numerous entry clearance and leave to remain fees in the UK for work, study, indefinite leave, and certificates of sponsorship.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Travelling to the United Kingdom is set to be expensive for tourism, visiting or studying purposes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government announced that the UK visit visas for stays less than six months will incur an additional cost of ₹1,543 (GBP 15), while UK student visas will see an increase of ₹13,070 (GBP 127) for travellers worldwide, including Indians.

Travelling to the United Kingdom is set to be expensive for tourism, visiting or studying purposes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government announced that the UK visit visas for stays less than six months will incur an additional cost of ₹1,543 (GBP 15), while UK student visas will see an increase of ₹13,070 (GBP 127) for travellers worldwide, including Indians. The new visa fees will come in effect starting October 4th. UK visa fees hike: What does it look like for incoming students? The UK Home Office said that while the fee for a UK visit visa for less than six months will increase to ₹11,835 (GBP 115), the fee for applying for a UK student visa from outside the UK will be ₹50,428 (GBP 490). This matches the amount charged for in-country applications. Also read | Rishi Sunak announces increase in UK visa fees, health surcharge The UK Home Office has also noted a 15 per cent increase in the cost of most work and visit visas, along with a minimum 20 per cent hike in fees for priority visas, study visas, and certificates of sponsorship. This decision follows British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement in July to significantly raise fees and health surcharges paid by visa applicants to support the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) and meet public sector wage increases. Also watch | UK announces curbs on overseas: New visa limits for International students × "We are going to increase the charges that we have for migrants who are coming to this country when they apply for visas and indeed something called the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is the levy that they pay to access the NHS," he said at the time. "All of those fees are going to go up and that will raise over GBP 1 billion, so across the board visa application fees are going to go up significantly and similarly for the IHS," he said. Furthermore, this fee hike extends to various visa categories, including health and care visas, applications for British citizenship, fees for visit visas spanning six months, two, five, and ten years, and numerous entry clearance and leave to remain fees in the UK for work, study, indefinite leave, and certificates of sponsorship. 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.

Rishi Sunak government's UK visa fee hike to affect students, visitors

<p>India's 'Golden Boy' and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra came second best to Czech Jakub Vadlejch in the Wanda Diamond League final in men's javelin in Eugene on Saturday.</p>

<p>USA’s Curtis Thompson started the event with a throw of 74.16 metres to get the javelin final underway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian ace started with a cross to his name, as his first throw was disqualified. However, he made a sensational recovery to climb to second place on the points table with a throw of 83.80m in his second attempt.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/sports/neeraj-chopras-best-throws-1692960817819">Neeraj Chopra's best throws</a></strong></p>

<p>The ace javelin thrower, however, fell a bit short with his second attempt as he registered a distance of 81.37m.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In light and fun moments between the event, the javelins arrived in mini electric cars for the throwers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 25-year-old Indian again crossed the white line in his fourth attempt, which was deemed a foul.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/neeraj-chopra-clinches-historic-gold-in-javelin-throw-with-8817m-in-world-athletics-championship-final-629777">Neeraj Chopra clinches historic gold in javelin throw with 88.17m in World Athletics Championship final</a></strong></p>

<p>On his fifth try, Chopra hurled the spear to a distance of 80.74m. However, it was nowhere near enough to help seal the first place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With a final throw of 80.90m, Chopra ended his Wanda Diamond League final campaign in second position, with his best at 83.80m.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Czech Vadlejch took the Wanda Diamond League title home with a final throw of 84.24m.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">😯😯😯<br />
<br />
Jakub Vadlejch beats world and Olympic champion <a href="https://twitter.com/Neeraj_chopra1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Neeraj_chopra1</a> to win the men's javelin Diamond League title with 84.24m. <a href="https://t.co/6AaPKagQbL">pic.twitter.com/6AaPKagQbL</a></p>
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldAthletics/status/1703145077495984323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Earlier this month, Chopra, who won India's first-ever gold at the World Athletics Championships, failed to defend his Diamond League title, falling just short of Jakub Vadlejch (85.86 m) again, who took home the trophy.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


India's 'Golden Boy' and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra came second best to Czech Jakub Vadlejch in the Wanda Diamond League final in men's javelin in Eugene on Saturday.

India's 'Golden Boy' and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra came second best to Czech Jakub Vadlejch in the Wanda Diamond League final in men's javelin in Eugene on Saturday. USA’s Curtis Thompson started the event with a throw of 74.16 metres to get the javelin final underway. The Indian ace started with a cross to his name, as his first throw was disqualified. However, he made a sensational recovery to climb to second place on the points table with a throw of 83.80m in his second attempt. Also read | Neeraj Chopra's best throws The ace javelin thrower, however, fell a bit short with his second attempt as he registered a distance of 81.37m. In light and fun moments between the event, the javelins arrived in mini electric cars for the throwers. The 25-year-old Indian again crossed the white line in his fourth attempt, which was deemed a foul. Also read | Neeraj Chopra clinches historic gold in javelin throw with 88.17m in World Athletics Championship final On his fifth try, Chopra hurled the spear to a distance of 80.74m. However, it was nowhere near enough to help seal the first place. With a final throw of 80.90m, Chopra ended his Wanda Diamond League final campaign in second position, with his best at 83.80m. Czech Vadlejch took the Wanda Diamond League title home with a final throw of 84.24m. 😯😯😯 Jakub Vadlejch beats world and Olympic champion @Neeraj_chopra1 to win the men's javelin Diamond League title with 84.24m. pic.twitter.com/6AaPKagQbL — World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) September 16, 2023 × Earlier this month, Chopra, who won India's first-ever gold at the World Athletics Championships, failed to defend his Diamond League title, falling just short of Jakub Vadlejch (85.86 m) again, who took home the trophy. 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.

India's Neeraj Chopra finishes second in Men's Javelin, misses out on Wanda Diamond League title

<p>Iranians both at home and abroad observed the first anniversary of Mahsa Al Amini's death in the custody of country's morality police.&nbsp;Activists expressed concerns about a renewed crackdown aimed at preventing a resurgence of the protests that had shaken major cities the previous year.</p>

<h2><strong>Mahsa Amini's death: What had happened?</strong></h2>

<p>Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died in the custody of country's morality police on September 16, 2023, allegedly for violating the strict dress code for women in place since the 1979 revolution.</p>

<p>Her family contends she died from a head injury in the police custody.</p>

<h2><strong>Iran's protests: Challenge to Ayatollah's authority</strong></h2>

<p>The outrage over Amini's death led to weeks of groundbreaking protests, during which women openly defied the mandatory headscarves, challenging the Islamic republic's government under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hundreds of protesters died in the harsh crackdown that followed. Women across the world came out in support of Iranian women, cutting their braids off as a mark of defiance in reverberated moment for women's rights.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-a-year-after-mahsa-amini-died-at-the-hands-of-irans-morality-police-how-are-iranian-women-faring-635722">Explained | A year after Mahsa Amini's death at the hands of morality police, how are Iranian women faring?</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>What happened after protests?</strong></h2>

<p>The protests lost momentum over time due to a harsh crackdown, according to Iran Human Rights, and the arrest of over 22,000 individuals, according to Amnesty International.</p>

<p>Iranian authorities claimed that dozens of security personnel were also killed in what they termed "riots" incited by foreign governments and hostile media.</p>

<p>Seven men were executed after being convicted in connection with the protests.</p>

<h2><b>Mahsa Amini's death: A year on</b></h2>

<p>Activists allege that authorities have intensified their crackdown ahead of the anniversary, pressuring the relatives of those killed in the protests to silence them.</p>

<p>Human Rights Watch reported that family members of at least 36 people killed or executed during the crackdown had faced interrogation, arrest, prosecution, or prison sentences in the past month.</p>

<p>"Iranian authorities are trying to stifle dissent to prevent the public commemoration of Mahsa Jina Amini's death in custody, which has become a symbol of the government's systematic oppression of women, injustice, and impunity," \Tara Sepehri Far, HRW's senior Iran researcher was quoted as saying by the AFP.</p>

<h2><strong>Crackdown on journalists</strong></h2>

<p>The two journalists who had played a significant role in highlighting the Amini case, Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, have been imprisoned for nearly a year. Another reporter, Nazila Maroufian, who interviewed Amini's father, Amjad, has faced repeated arrests.</p>

<h2><b>What is happening to Amini's family?</b></h2>

<p>Amjad Amini, Mahsa's father, announced plans to hold a commemoration for his daughter in their hometown of Saqez in western Iran. However, he was summoned by intelligence officials following the announcement. Although he was not arrested, one of Amini's uncles, Safa Aeli, was detained in Saqez.</p>

<p>Additional security forces were reportedly deployed to Saqez and other western Iranian towns that could potentially become flashpoints.</p>

<p>Despite some women still appearing in public without headscarves, particularly in affluent and traditionally liberal areas of northern Tehran, the conservative-dominated parliament is considering a draft law that would impose harsher penalties for non-compliance.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Did Mahsa Amini death protests have an impact?</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/did-mahsa-amini-death-protests-have-an-impact-636399/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The UN fact-finding mission's chair, Sara Hossain, told AFP:&nbsp;"The Islamic republic is doubling down on repression and reprisals against its citizens and seeking to introduce new and more draconian laws that severely restrict further the rights of women and girls."</p>

<p>Under the slogan "Say her name!", Iranian emigrants were expected to hold commemorative rallies, including significant demonstrations in Paris and Toronto.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Iranians both at home and abroad observed the first anniversary of Mahsa Al Amini's death in the custody of country's morality police. Activists expressed concerns about a renewed crackdown aimed at preventing a resurgence of the protests that had shaken major cities the previous year.

Iranians both at home and abroad observed the first anniversary of Mahsa Al Amini's death in the custody of country's morality police. Activists expressed concerns about a renewed crackdown aimed at preventing a resurgence of the protests that had shaken major cities the previous year. Mahsa Amini's death: What had happened? Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died in the custody of country's morality police on September 16, 2023, allegedly for violating the strict dress code for women in place since the 1979 revolution. Her family contends she died from a head injury in the police custody. Iran's protests: Challenge to Ayatollah's authority The outrage over Amini's death led to weeks of groundbreaking protests, during which women openly defied the mandatory headscarves, challenging the Islamic republic's government under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hundreds of protesters died in the harsh crackdown that followed. Women across the world came out in support of Iranian women, cutting their braids off as a mark of defiance in reverberated moment for women's rights. Also read | Explained | A year after Mahsa Amini's death at the hands of morality police, how are Iranian women faring? What happened after protests? The protests lost momentum over time due to a harsh crackdown, according to Iran Human Rights, and the arrest of over 22,000 individuals, according to Amnesty International. Iranian authorities claimed that dozens of security personnel were also killed in what they termed "riots" incited by foreign governments and hostile media. Seven men were executed after being convicted in connection with the protests. Mahsa Amini's death: A year on Activists allege that authorities have intensified their crackdown ahead of the anniversary, pressuring the relatives of those killed in the protests to silence them. Human Rights Watch reported that family members of at least 36 people killed or executed during the crackdown had faced interrogation, arrest, prosecution, or prison sentences in the past month. "Iranian authorities are trying to stifle dissent to prevent the public commemoration of Mahsa Jina Amini's death in custody, which has become a symbol of the government's systematic oppression of women, injustice, and impunity," \Tara Sepehri Far, HRW's senior Iran researcher was quoted as saying by the AFP. Crackdown on journalists The two journalists who had played a significant role in highlighting the Amini case, Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, have been imprisoned for nearly a year. Another reporter, Nazila Maroufian, who interviewed Amini's father, Amjad, has faced repeated arrests. What is happening to Amini's family? Amjad Amini, Mahsa's father, announced plans to hold a commemoration for his daughter in their hometown of Saqez in western Iran. However, he was summoned by intelligence officials following the announcement. Although he was not arrested, one of Amini's uncles, Safa Aeli, was detained in Saqez. Additional security forces were reportedly deployed to Saqez and other western Iranian towns that could potentially become flashpoints. Despite some women still appearing in public without headscarves, particularly in affluent and traditionally liberal areas of northern Tehran, the conservative-dominated parliament is considering a draft law that would impose harsher penalties for non-compliance. Also watch | Did Mahsa Amini death protests have an impact? × The UN fact-finding mission's chair, Sara Hossain, told AFP: "The Islamic republic is doubling down on repression and reprisals against its citizens and seeking to introduce new and more draconian laws that severely restrict further the rights of women and girls." Under the slogan "Say her name!", Iranian emigrants were expected to hold commemorative rallies, including significant demonstrations in Paris and Toronto. (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.

Mahsa Amini's death and women's rights in Iran, one year on: Top points

<p>Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy responded to the indictment of the US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden. Ramaswamy labeled it "distraction" and slammed the Biden family for allegedly profiting from the US&nbsp;foreign policy.</p>

<p>Ramaswamy also expressed support for the impeachment inquiry against President Biden, stating it's a step in the right direction.</p>

<p>On X (formerly Twitter), Ramaswamy wrote, "Hunter Biden's indictment today is a diversion tactic. Don't be deceived. This is an attempt to divert attention from the real issue: the Biden family's exploitation of the US foreign policy for personal financial gain."</p>

<p>He added, "That's the core problem, and we should hold politicians from both major parties accountable when they use foreign policy for family enrichment."</p>

<p>Ramaswamy suggested that Hunter's indictment coincided with declining popularity for President Biden within the Democratic Party, in yet another indication from a growing number of Democrats&nbsp;that it might lead to pressure for him to step aside.</p>

<p>He commented, "This could be the initial move by the Democratic Party establishment to push Joe Biden out. He may become a pawn in service to the deep state's desire to retain power at any cost."</p>

<h2><strong>Probe against Hunter Biden</strong></h2>

<p>Hunter Biden, aged 53, faced indictment on three counts related to illegal firearm possession while addicted to drugs, with potential sentences of up to 25 years in prison.<br />
<br />
<b>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-charges-faced-by-hunter-and-what-it-means-for-joe-biden-636299">Explained | Charges faced by Hunter Biden: What is means for dad Joe Biden?</a></b></p>

<p>Additional charges of tax fraud and illegal foreign lobbying in DC and Los Angeles were also mentioned in the indictment charge.</p>

<p>Furthermore, Speaker Kevin McCarthy authorised House committees to initiate a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, citing GOP investigations into the Biden family's foreign business connections and Hunter Biden's prosecution.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Did White House influence Hunter Biden case?</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-white-house-influence-hunter-biden-case-607970/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>This investigation will be overseen by House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, in collaboration with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy responded to the indictment of the US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden. Ramaswamy labeled it "distraction" and slammed the Biden family for allegedly profiting from the US foreign policy.

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy responded to the indictment of the US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden. Ramaswamy labeled it "distraction" and slammed the Biden family for allegedly profiting from the US foreign policy. Ramaswamy also expressed support for the impeachment inquiry against President Biden, stating it's a step in the right direction. On X (formerly Twitter), Ramaswamy wrote, "Hunter Biden's indictment today is a diversion tactic. Don't be deceived. This is an attempt to divert attention from the real issue: the Biden family's exploitation of the US foreign policy for personal financial gain." He added, "That's the core problem, and we should hold politicians from both major parties accountable when they use foreign policy for family enrichment." Ramaswamy suggested that Hunter's indictment coincided with declining popularity for President Biden within the Democratic Party, in yet another indication from a growing number of Democrats that it might lead to pressure for him to step aside. He commented, "This could be the initial move by the Democratic Party establishment to push Joe Biden out. He may become a pawn in service to the deep state's desire to retain power at any cost." Probe against Hunter Biden Hunter Biden, aged 53, faced indictment on three counts related to illegal firearm possession while addicted to drugs, with potential sentences of up to 25 years in prison. Also read | Explained | Charges faced by Hunter Biden: What is means for dad Joe Biden? Additional charges of tax fraud and illegal foreign lobbying in DC and Los Angeles were also mentioned in the indictment charge. Furthermore, Speaker Kevin McCarthy authorised House committees to initiate a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, citing GOP investigations into the Biden family's foreign business connections and Hunter Biden's prosecution. Also watch | Gravitas: Did White House influence Hunter Biden case? × This investigation will be overseen by House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, in collaboration with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith. 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.

Ramaswamy claims Bidens are exploiting US foreign policy for 'personal financial gains'

<p>The re-emergence of Nipah virus cases in southern India's Kerala state has sparked a wave of public health precautions in the region. So far two people have succumbed to the illness caused by the virus, with six confirmed cases at the time of filing this report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nipah (NiV) is a zoonotic virus. That is, it is a virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Evidence cited in medical journals shows that fruit bats and pigs host the virus which can lead to serious illness in both animals and humans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since its sudden onset transitions into complications such as encephalitis -- a deadly infection of the brain -- death can occur in up to 75 per cent of the patients, according to the World Health Organization.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happens to a person with Nipah virus?</strong></h2>

<p>In all the outbreaks of Nipah virus so far, since it was first reported in Malaysia in 1998, patients develop a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms.</p>

<p>They include fever, headache, respiratory difficulties, convulsions, coughing, and vomiting.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-deadly-nipah-virus-strikes-india-symptoms-and-more-heres-all-you-need-to-know-636432">Explained | Deadly Nipah virus strikes India; symptoms, and more, here's all you need to know</a></strong></p>

<p>Additionally, if the virus is not detected early, then further complications such as respiratory infections and atypical pneumonia may develop.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These symptoms can progress quite rapidly, within just 24 to 48 hours, and further lead to coma and eventually death.</p>

<h2><strong>Can Nipah virus be treated?</strong></h2>

<p>There is no cure or vaccine to treat the Nipah virus yet. However, it emerged on September 16 that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is ramping up its efforts to develop a potential vaccine.</p>

<p>Treatments, therefore, are limited to symptomatic and furthermore supportive care to treat the signs and symptoms of the illness. If further complications are seen, consideration needs to be taken to treat possible cases of encephalitis which can be transmitted from one person to another. Therefore, it’s important to implement standard infection control practices to limit transferal.</p>

<h2><strong>So what is the way forward to treat Nipah virus?</strong></h2>

<p>India has reached out to Australia seeking to restock monoclonal antibody doses to treat the cases of the viral disease. It is expecting 20 more doses soon, according to Dr Rajiv Bahl, head of the Indian Council of Medical Research.</p>

<p>But the monoclonal antibody doses have not been tested for their efficacy but only the safety, Dr Vivek Nangia, Chief of Pulmonology at Max Hospital in New Delhi told WION.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | Another deadly bat virus is here: Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, should you be scared?</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-another-deadly-bat-virus-is-here-nipah-virus-outbreak-in-kerala-should-you-be-scared-636436/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"M102.4 is the name of this monoclonal antibody," specified Dr Nangia in a conversation with WION.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why is Kerala vulnerable to the spread of Nipah virus?</strong></h2>

<p>Kerala is a tropical state with simultaneous deforestation and rapid urbanisation.&nbsp;Its mountain forests and wooded hillocks, that are prime bat habitat, have been progressively cleared to make way for human use.&nbsp;The drive for resources is destroying the habitat of bats – which carry tens of thousands of viruses – and creating conditions ripe for a bat-borne disease to spill over to humanity.<br />
<br />
In Kerala, humans and animals — such as bats that can carry the virus — have closer contact.&nbsp;It is also home to more than 40 species of bats.</p>

<p>This is its fourth such outbreak since 2018. Last three outbreaks were contained through a mix of measures such as treatment towards symptoms and contact tracing to the last person concerned.</p>

<h2><strong>How to prevent the spread of Nipah virus?</strong></h2>

<p>Dr Vivek Nangia pointed out that since the virus is known to transmit from bats and stray animals, one must avoid coming in contact with stray animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As a matter of precaution, he recommended avoiding the consumption of Raw Date Palm Sap on which bats are known to inhabitate.</p>

<p>Hailing, the 'war-footing' effort by the state government of Kerala, Dr Nangia said: "They are doing a very good job. They have traced all the contacts of the 5-6 patients."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The only problem is that the incubation period of this virus is 4-14 days but could extend well up to 45 days," Dr Nangia cautioned.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The re-emergence of Nipah virus cases in southern India's Kerala state has sparked a wave of public health precautions in the region. So far two people have succumbed to the illness caused by the virus, with six confirmed cases at the time of filing this report.

The re-emergence of Nipah virus cases in southern India's Kerala state has sparked a wave of public health precautions in the region. So far two people have succumbed to the illness caused by the virus, with six confirmed cases at the time of filing this report. Nipah (NiV) is a zoonotic virus. That is, it is a virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Evidence cited in medical journals shows that fruit bats and pigs host the virus which can lead to serious illness in both animals and humans. Since its sudden onset transitions into complications such as encephalitis -- a deadly infection of the brain -- death can occur in up to 75 per cent of the patients, according to the World Health Organization. What happens to a person with Nipah virus? In all the outbreaks of Nipah virus so far, since it was first reported in Malaysia in 1998, patients develop a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms. They include fever, headache, respiratory difficulties, convulsions, coughing, and vomiting. Also read | Explained | Deadly Nipah virus strikes India; symptoms, and more, here's all you need to know Additionally, if the virus is not detected early, then further complications such as respiratory infections and atypical pneumonia may develop. These symptoms can progress quite rapidly, within just 24 to 48 hours, and further lead to coma and eventually death. Can Nipah virus be treated? There is no cure or vaccine to treat the Nipah virus yet. However, it emerged on September 16 that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is ramping up its efforts to develop a potential vaccine. Treatments, therefore, are limited to symptomatic and furthermore supportive care to treat the signs and symptoms of the illness. If further complications are seen, consideration needs to be taken to treat possible cases of encephalitis which can be transmitted from one person to another. Therefore, it’s important to implement standard infection control practices to limit transferal. So what is the way forward to treat Nipah virus? India has reached out to Australia seeking to restock monoclonal antibody doses to treat the cases of the viral disease. It is expecting 20 more doses soon, according to Dr Rajiv Bahl, head of the Indian Council of Medical Research. But the monoclonal antibody doses have not been tested for their efficacy but only the safety, Dr Vivek Nangia, Chief of Pulmonology at Max Hospital in New Delhi told WION. Also watch | Gravitas | Another deadly bat virus is here: Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, should you be scared? × "M102.4 is the name of this monoclonal antibody," specified Dr Nangia in a conversation with WION. Why is Kerala vulnerable to the spread of Nipah virus? Kerala is a tropical state with simultaneous deforestation and rapid urbanisation. Its mountain forests and wooded hillocks, that are prime bat habitat, have been progressively cleared to make way for human use. The drive for resources is destroying the habitat of bats – which carry tens of thousands of viruses – and creating conditions ripe for a bat-borne disease to spill over to humanity. In Kerala, humans and animals — such as bats that can carry the virus — have closer contact. It is also home to more than 40 species of bats. This is its fourth such outbreak since 2018. Last three outbreaks were contained through a mix of measures such as treatment towards symptoms and contact tracing to the last person concerned. How to prevent the spread of Nipah virus? Dr Vivek Nangia pointed out that since the virus is known to transmit from bats and stray animals, one must avoid coming in contact with stray animals. As a matter of precaution, he recommended avoiding the consumption of Raw Date Palm Sap on which bats are known to inhabitate. Hailing, the 'war-footing' effort by the state government of Kerala, Dr Nangia said: "They are doing a very good job. They have traced all the contacts of the 5-6 patients." "The only problem is that the incubation period of this virus is 4-14 days but could extend well up to 45 days," Dr Nangia cautioned. 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.

Factbox: How to avoid the spread of Nipah virus. Here's everything we know

<p>UK Conservative Party heavyweights Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were not always rivals. As Johnson's fortunes went down the bunker of Partygate scandal that rocked London's political corridors in 2021, Sunak eventually became the PM after Liz Truss resigned following a brief stay at 10, Downing Street. Sunak got the&nbsp;premiership after his sole&nbsp;competitor, Penny Mordaunt, dropped out of the race.</p>

<p>For the much of his premiership, Johnson saw his relationship with Sunak as that of a 'mentor' and 'mentee' and when Sunak eventually quit as secretary of exchequer (akin to finance minister) 'without even a text', Johnson was aghast.</p>

<p>"Who the f--k does he think he is?," Johnson is reported to have said with a seething reaction in a new book called 'The Right To Rule', authored by Ben Riley-Smith, the political editor of The Telegraph newspaper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The author claims in the book that Sunak had started preparing ground for his premiership bid much before February 2023, when the Sue Gray's initial investigation findings about Partygate scandal indicted Johnson of violating Covid restrictions to host parties at his official prime ministerial residences.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/partygate-scandal-5-key-takeaways-from-committee-report-accusing-boris-johnson-on-lockdown-parties-604914">'Partygate scandal': 5 key takeaways from committee report accusing Boris Johnson of lockdown parties</a></strong></p>

<p>"One such indicator came in late autumn 2021, when a special adviser to then Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis overheard the Chancellor’s inner team in a Westminster pub discussing the shape of a Sunak premiership. ‘They were literally plotting out who they thought should be in various positions in the Cabinet,’ said a source familiar with what was heard," claims the book, an excerpt of which was published in The Telegraph.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The timeline of this claim is significant.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The alleged discussions related to Sunak's premiership occurred even before December 23, 2023, when 'ReadyforRishi' domain name was registered online, the earliest previously reported indication of Sunak's intent to canvass support for his potential premiership.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, for Boris Johnson who was still the Prime Minister then, Sunak's potential plans of succession continued to create jitters.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Sunak as UK PM: What Boris Johnson 'believed' about Narayana Murthy's role</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The book claims that Boris Johnson was prone to believing in political conspiracies.</p>

<p>"One wild and unsubstantiated rumour he voiced was that Sunak’s father-in-law, Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy, had Dominic Cummings on a retainer," the book claims, while referring to British political strategist who served as Chief Advisor to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson from July 2019 to November 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-boris-johnsons-partygate-verdict-from-house-of-commons-privileges-committee-604816">Explained | Boris Johnson's Partygate verdict by House of Commons privileges committee</a></strong></p>

<p>During the months of Partygate upheaval, Cummings was not serving any official role in the Downing Street and had resigned in November 2020. Johnson reportedly believed that his former political aide with whom he had a fallout, was now working to boost Sunak's political fortunes.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<img alt="Dominic Cummings" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13d90044-07c1-4701-b95b-3e33cf6e23d8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-16T131720.947.png" /></p>

<p><em><a>Dominic Cummings, special adviser to then&nbsp;Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain on November 14, 2023 | Reuters</a></em></p>

<p>"There is no suggestion it was accurate. Yet ‘Boris believed it to be true’, according to a senior Johnson Cabinet minister cited in the book.</p>

<p>"Despite the absence of proof, the idea of great forces thwarting him – money, a rival and a former adviser turned nemesis all wrapped up together – somehow appealed," the book says further,&nbsp;while referring to the way Johnson, who was already reeling under the Partygate scandal, was being outfoxed by his cabinet colleagues to succeed him if he was to lose office.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"No doubt by 2022 Cummings wanted his former boss gone. He would release damning claims about Johnson in Substack blog posts after leaving Westminster. The idea that something similar was happening in private is not fanciful. But seeing a Cummings puppet master behind every negative story was incorrect. And so the narrative pushed by Johnson allies of an ‘orchestrated’ ouster – whether by Sunak or Cummings – is too convenient. It absolves him, and them, of any responsibility," the book says.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>'The Right to Rule: Thirteen Years, Five Prime Ministers and the Implosion of the Tories' by Ben Riley-Smith has been published by Hachette UK publishing house. Its modes of availability in Asia, Americas and Australia are not clear as yet.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


UK Conservative Party heavyweights Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were not always rivals. As Johnson's fortunes went down the bunker of Partygate scandal that rocked London's political corridors in 2021, Sunak eventually became the PM after Liz Truss resigned following a brief stay at 10, Downing Street.

UK Conservative Party heavyweights Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were not always rivals. As Johnson's fortunes went down the bunker of Partygate scandal that rocked London's political corridors in 2021, Sunak eventually became the PM after Liz Truss resigned following a brief stay at 10, Downing Street. Sunak got the premiership after his sole competitor, Penny Mordaunt, dropped out of the race. For the much of his premiership, Johnson saw his relationship with Sunak as that of a 'mentor' and 'mentee' and when Sunak eventually quit as secretary of exchequer (akin to finance minister) 'without even a text', Johnson was aghast. "Who the f--k does he think he is?," Johnson is reported to have said with a seething reaction in a new book called 'The Right To Rule', authored by Ben Riley-Smith, the political editor of The Telegraph newspaper. The author claims in the book that Sunak had started preparing ground for his premiership bid much before February 2023, when the Sue Gray's initial investigation findings about Partygate scandal indicted Johnson of violating Covid restrictions to host parties at his official prime ministerial residences. Also read | 'Partygate scandal': 5 key takeaways from committee report accusing Boris Johnson of lockdown parties "One such indicator came in late autumn 2021, when a special adviser to then Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis overheard the Chancellor’s inner team in a Westminster pub discussing the shape of a Sunak premiership. ‘They were literally plotting out who they thought should be in various positions in the Cabinet,’ said a source familiar with what was heard," claims the book, an excerpt of which was published in The Telegraph. The timeline of this claim is significant. The alleged discussions related to Sunak's premiership occurred even before December 23, 2023, when 'ReadyforRishi' domain name was registered online, the earliest previously reported indication of Sunak's intent to canvass support for his potential premiership. Meanwhile, for Boris Johnson who was still the Prime Minister then, Sunak's potential plans of succession continued to create jitters. Sunak as UK PM: What Boris Johnson 'believed' about Narayana Murthy's role The book claims that Boris Johnson was prone to believing in political conspiracies. "One wild and unsubstantiated rumour he voiced was that Sunak’s father-in-law, Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy, had Dominic Cummings on a retainer," the book claims, while referring to British political strategist who served as Chief Advisor to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson from July 2019 to November 2020. Also read | Explained | Boris Johnson's Partygate verdict by House of Commons privileges committee During the months of Partygate upheaval, Cummings was not serving any official role in the Downing Street and had resigned in November 2020. Johnson reportedly believed that his former political aide with whom he had a fallout, was now working to boost Sunak's political fortunes. Dominic Cummings, special adviser to then Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain on November 14, 2023 | Reuters "There is no suggestion it was accurate. Yet ‘Boris believed it to be true’, according to a senior Johnson Cabinet minister cited in the book. "Despite the absence of proof, the idea of great forces thwarting him – money, a rival and a former adviser turned nemesis all wrapped up together – somehow appealed," the book says further, while referring to the way Johnson, who was already reeling under the Partygate scandal, was being outfoxed by his cabinet colleagues to succeed him if he was to lose office. "No doubt by 2022 Cummings wanted his former boss gone. He would release damning claims about Johnson in Substack blog posts after leaving Westminster. The idea that something similar was happening in private is not fanciful. But seeing a Cummings puppet master behind every negative story was incorrect. And so the narrative pushed by Johnson allies of an ‘orchestrated’ ouster – whether by Sunak or Cummings – is too convenient. It absolves him, and them, of any responsibility," the book says. 'The Right to Rule: Thirteen Years, Five Prime Ministers and the Implosion of the Tories' by Ben Riley-Smith has been published by Hachette UK publishing house. Its modes of availability in Asia, Americas and Australia are not clear as yet. 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.

Boris Johnson 'believed' Narayana Murthy was helping Rishi Sunak to become UK PM, claims new book

<p>If you often find yourself tired in the morning but energetic in the evening, you are likely to be a night owl.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This sleep pattern, known as a chronotype, can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and unhealthy lifestyle habits, according to a recent study.</p>

<p>The research, led by Sina Kianersi at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, found that night owls had a 72 per cent higher risk of developing diabetes over an eight-year period compared to people who wake up early in the morning.</p>

<p>Night owls were also more likely to have poor dietary habits, lower physical activity, increased alcohol consumption, unhealthy Body Mass Index, and smoking habits, alongside their obvious irregular sleep patterns.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/levels-of-caffeine-in-blood-could-affect-body-fat-and-diabetes-suggests-study-627960">Levels of caffeine in blood could affect body fat and diabetes, suggests study</a></strong></p>

<p>Even after accounting for lifestyle factors, there was still a 19 per cent increased risk of diabetes in night owls compared to early birds, suggesting a potential genetic predisposition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Experts advise individuals with a preference for evening activities to moderate alcohol use, quit smoking, increase physical activity, get sufficient sleep, and manage these risks as best as possible.</p>

<h2><strong>Internal body clock at play</strong></h2>

<p>Your sleep chronotype is determined by your internal body clock, influencing your peak energy levels and alertness during the day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Early birds release melatonin earlier in the evening, while night owls secrete it later, affecting their morning sluggishness and evening alertness. Disrupting these rhythms can impact hormones, temperature regulation, and metabolism, and increase the risk of chronic illnesses.</p>

<h2><strong>Night&nbsp;owl and diabetes: How to prevent the risk?</strong></h2>

<p>Matching work schedules to one's chronotype may help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the study suggests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Night owls working during the day had a higher risk, whereas those with later work hours or overnight shifts did not show the same association.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: FDA approves life-changing therapy for Diabetes</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-fda-approves-life-changing-therapy-for-diabetes-535448/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>It's important to note that previous studies have also linked late sleep patterns to unhealthy behaviours and increased risk&nbsp;of diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular problems.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help mitigate these risks, as both genetics and the environment play a role in determining one's chronotype.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


If you often find yourself tired in the morning but energetic in the evening, you are likely to be a night owl. This sleep pattern, known as a chronotype, can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and unhealthy lifestyle habits, according to a recent study.

If you often find yourself tired in the morning but energetic in the evening, you are likely to be a night owl. This sleep pattern, known as a chronotype, can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and unhealthy lifestyle habits, according to a recent study. The research, led by Sina Kianersi at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, found that night owls had a 72 per cent higher risk of developing diabetes over an eight-year period compared to people who wake up early in the morning. Night owls were also more likely to have poor dietary habits, lower physical activity, increased alcohol consumption, unhealthy Body Mass Index, and smoking habits, alongside their obvious irregular sleep patterns. Also read | Levels of caffeine in blood could affect body fat and diabetes, suggests study Even after accounting for lifestyle factors, there was still a 19 per cent increased risk of diabetes in night owls compared to early birds, suggesting a potential genetic predisposition. Experts advise individuals with a preference for evening activities to moderate alcohol use, quit smoking, increase physical activity, get sufficient sleep, and manage these risks as best as possible. Internal body clock at play Your sleep chronotype is determined by your internal body clock, influencing your peak energy levels and alertness during the day. Early birds release melatonin earlier in the evening, while night owls secrete it later, affecting their morning sluggishness and evening alertness. Disrupting these rhythms can impact hormones, temperature regulation, and metabolism, and increase the risk of chronic illnesses. Night owl and diabetes: How to prevent the risk? Matching work schedules to one's chronotype may help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the study suggests. Night owls working during the day had a higher risk, whereas those with later work hours or overnight shifts did not show the same association. Also watch | Gravitas: FDA approves life-changing therapy for Diabetes × It's important to note that previous studies have also linked late sleep patterns to unhealthy behaviours and increased risk of diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help mitigate these risks, as both genetics and the environment play a role in determining one's chronotype. 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.

Sleeping late at night? Study warns about major risk of type 2 diabetes for night owls

<p>In November 2017, the Indian mission in the United Nations was tirelessly working for a cause which was one of its kind. It was to ensure a simultaneous two-thirds majority of two principal organs of United Nations&nbsp;– the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council&nbsp;– for the re-election of Indian candidate judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-sets-the-tone-for-un-security-council-reforms-before-hosting-g20-leaders-631947">Indian PM Modi sets the tone for UN Security Council reforms before hosting G20 leaders</a></strong></p>

<p>After several rounds of voting, the last few rounds of the contest put judge Bhandari against the United Kingdom's judge Christopher Greenwood, the latter a candidate from one of the five permanent member states of the 15-member UN Security Council.</p>

<p>The ambassador of a nation, who had promised support for the Indian candidate, was reminded by a UK diplomat of her country's need for the United Kingdom if their issue comes up in the UN Security Council, recalls Syed Akbaruddin, India's then Permanent Representative to the United Nations in his 2021 book, <em>India Vs UK, The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win</em>.<br />
<img alt="'India Vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win' by India's then UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, documents the insider details New Delhi's aggressive effort that culminated into successful election of Indian judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice | published by HarperCollins Publishers India in 2021" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d2358c46-64bd-41d9-bbf2-f48e561598f6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-14T153015.004.png" /></p>

<p><em>'India Vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win' by Syed Akbaruddin, India's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, documents the insider details of New Delhi's aggressive diplomatic effort that culminated into successful election of Indian judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice in November 2017&nbsp;| published by HarperCollins Publishers India in 2021</em></p>

<p>'It is the UK – and not India – which will matter then, as India is not even on the Council,' the ambassador of a nation who had promised support to India for judge Bhandari's re-election&nbsp;was told.</p>

<p>"Nevertheless, the warning is ignored and they decide to stay the course and continue to support us," Akbaruddin writes.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The call for reforms at the UN Security Council</strong></h2>

<p>The composition of the UN Security Council has remained unchanged since 1963.</p>

<p>As a principal organ of the United Nations, it has the “primary responsibility” to “maintain international peace and security” as specified in the UN charter.</p>

<p>It has five permanent members – UK, China, USA, Russia and France – and ten non-permanent members, who are elected through the two-thirds majority in the UN General Assembly, in line with geographical distribution by region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India has been an eight-term elected member of the UN Security Council.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But while the occasional status as an elected UNSC member&nbsp;gives India a definitive say in the pursuance of UNSC’s goal of maintaining international peace, New Delhi's voice and that of nine other non-permanent UNSC members, is not as decisive as the five permanent member states of the United Nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Even elected members of the UN Security Council are not able to obtain decisions through majority vote in the Council because of the self-given veto power,” Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations told WION, while referring to the privileged “right to veto” that the five permanent member states of the UNSC have,&nbsp;to disprove the passage of any resolution or decision of the Council. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In November 1979, the first demand for equal participation in the decision-making of the United Nations Security Council was floated by the ten developing countries, including India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 1992, after the end of the Cold War, a Working Group began discussing the agenda of UNSC reforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2008, the UN General Assembly unanimously decided on five&nbsp;topics for UN Security Council reform, “including the issue of the veto”, Mukerji adds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But since then, “there has been no progress on producing any proposed resolution for the UN General Assembly to adopt to reform the UN Security Council so far by amending the UN Charter”, Mukerji added further.</p>

<h2><strong>China-led ‘smokescreen’ in the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on Council Reforms</strong></h2>

<p>Since 2008, the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) occur in the informal plenary of a session of the UN General Assembly. These "informal" negotiations are meant to address the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By virtue of their "informal" nature,&nbsp;the Inter-Governmental Negotiation (IGN) on UN Security Council reform does not have any draft text on the table to negotiate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There are no records of previous meetings of the intergovernmental negotiations available with the UN. There are no deadlines set for the negotiations to conclude. Even the two co-chairs of the negotiations are appointed by the President of the UN General Assembly from the same side of the issue, i.e., the elected non-permanent members,” Ambassador Mukerji adds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The only reference is the Co-Chairs’ Elements Paper, which includes the reference to the UN General Assembly decision on the manner in which Inter-Governmental Negotiations on UN Security Council reform are conducted.</p>

<p>But at least since 2016, according to Japan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ishikane Kimihiro, even that paper has remained nearly unchanged.<br />
<img alt="Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform on May 4 2023 | Permanent Mission of Japan to United Nations" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9c7cb787-9473-49a1-b5cb-30bad97bfc38" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-14T154710.158.png" /></p>

<p><em>Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform on May 4 2023 | Permanent Mission of Japan to United Nations</em></p>

<p>Japan, India, Brazil and Germany are also the part of G4 political cooperative alliance&nbsp;who support each other’s bids for permanent seats in the UN Security Council.</p>

<p>"When I compared the first version from 2016 with the current draft, I found that it looks remarkably similar, with little change in substance. Shall we continue this forever?," the Japanese ambassador <a href="https://www.un.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/ishikane050423_2.html">asked</a> the informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform in May 2023.</p>

<p>This, Ambassador Mukerji points out, is due to active opposition of China against&nbsp;any amendment to the UN charter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The reason that this decision has the same wording from 2016 till 2023 is the active opposition of China against any amendment to the UN Charter to reform the UN Security Council through a two-third majority vote," Ambassador Mukerji added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'To the victor belong the spoils': The privileged status P5 states at UNSC&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>On September 5, 2023, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s current Permanent Representative&nbsp;to the United Nations, referred to the privileged status of the Permanent-five member states as "a continuation of the mindset of the post 1945 era: to the victors belong the spoils”, a reference to the way the permanent membership was established at the UN Security Council by the allied powers of second World War who emerged victorious in 1945.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reflective-of-the-world-of-1940s-brazils-president-lula-calls-for-reforms-in-un-security-council-634710">'Reflective of the world of 1940s': Brazil President Lula calls for reforms in UN Security Council</a></strong></p>

<p>“We can no more hide behind the smokescreen of the IGN in the UN General Assembly and continue to pay lip service by continuing to deliver statements in a process which has no time frame, no text and no defined goal to achieve,” Kamboj said in an Open Debate on UNSC’s working methods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Slamming the “lack of representative character” of the Security Council, Kamboj pointed out that “to continue to deny member states of the Global South a voice and role in Council’s decision-making only lowers the Council’s credibility”.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Denying the Global South a voice in Council decisions diminishes its credibility says Indian envoy to UN <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaUNNewYork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaUNNewYork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ruchirakamboj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ruchirakamboj</a> calling for reform of the UNSC <a href="https://t.co/TL8UgNlSSX">pic.twitter.com/TL8UgNlSSX</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1699291274581532724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>India has been calling for a draft negotiating text, a clear deadline to complete negotiations on reforms in the UNSC, in a manner that it represents the voices of developing countries and unrepresented regions, including Africa, Latin America and the vast majority of Asia and Pacific.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


In November 2017, the Indian mission in the United Nations was tirelessly working for a cause which was one of its kind. It was to ensure a simultaneous two-thirds majority of two principal organs of United Nations – the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council – for the re-election of Indian candidate judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice.

In November 2017, the Indian mission in the United Nations was tirelessly working for a cause which was one of its kind. It was to ensure a simultaneous two-thirds majority of two principal organs of United Nations – the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council – for the re-election of Indian candidate judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice. Also read | Indian PM Modi sets the tone for UN Security Council reforms before hosting G20 leaders After several rounds of voting, the last few rounds of the contest put judge Bhandari against the United Kingdom's judge Christopher Greenwood, the latter a candidate from one of the five permanent member states of the 15-member UN Security Council. The ambassador of a nation, who had promised support for the Indian candidate, was reminded by a UK diplomat of her country's need for the United Kingdom if their issue comes up in the UN Security Council, recalls Syed Akbaruddin, India's then Permanent Representative to the United Nations in his 2021 book, India Vs UK, The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win. 'India Vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win' by Syed Akbaruddin, India's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, documents the insider details of New Delhi's aggressive diplomatic effort that culminated into successful election of Indian judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice in November 2017 | published by HarperCollins Publishers India in 2021 'It is the UK – and not India – which will matter then, as India is not even on the Council,' the ambassador of a nation who had promised support to India for judge Bhandari's re-election was told. "Nevertheless, the warning is ignored and they decide to stay the course and continue to support us," Akbaruddin writes. The call for reforms at the UN Security Council The composition of the UN Security Council has remained unchanged since 1963. As a principal organ of the United Nations, it has the “primary responsibility” to “maintain international peace and security” as specified in the UN charter. It has five permanent members – UK, China, USA, Russia and France – and ten non-permanent members, who are elected through the two-thirds majority in the UN General Assembly, in line with geographical distribution by region. India has been an eight-term elected member of the UN Security Council. But while the occasional status as an elected UNSC member gives India a definitive say in the pursuance of UNSC’s goal of maintaining international peace, New Delhi's voice and that of nine other non-permanent UNSC members, is not as decisive as the five permanent member states of the United Nations. “Even elected members of the UN Security Council are not able to obtain decisions through majority vote in the Council because of the self-given veto power,” Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations told WION, while referring to the privileged “right to veto” that the five permanent member states of the UNSC have, to disprove the passage of any resolution or decision of the Council. In November 1979, the first demand for equal participation in the decision-making of the United Nations Security Council was floated by the ten developing countries, including India. In 1992, after the end of the Cold War, a Working Group began discussing the agenda of UNSC reforms. In 2008, the UN General Assembly unanimously decided on five topics for UN Security Council reform, “including the issue of the veto”, Mukerji adds. But since then, “there has been no progress on producing any proposed resolution for the UN General Assembly to adopt to reform the UN Security Council so far by amending the UN Charter”, Mukerji added further. China-led ‘smokescreen’ in the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on Council Reforms Since 2008, the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) occur in the informal plenary of a session of the UN General Assembly. These "informal" negotiations are meant to address the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council. By virtue of their "informal" nature, the Inter-Governmental Negotiation (IGN) on UN Security Council reform does not have any draft text on the table to negotiate. “There are no records of previous meetings of the intergovernmental negotiations available with the UN. There are no deadlines set for the negotiations to conclude. Even the two co-chairs of the negotiations are appointed by the President of the UN General Assembly from the same side of the issue, i.e., the elected non-permanent members,” Ambassador Mukerji adds. The only reference is the Co-Chairs’ Elements Paper, which includes the reference to the UN General Assembly decision on the manner in which Inter-Governmental Negotiations on UN Security Council reform are conducted. But at least since 2016, according to Japan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ishikane Kimihiro, even that paper has remained nearly unchanged. Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform on May 4 2023 | Permanent Mission of Japan to United Nations Japan, India, Brazil and Germany are also the part of G4 political cooperative alliance who support each other’s bids for permanent seats in the UN Security Council. "When I compared the first version from 2016 with the current draft, I found that it looks remarkably similar, with little change in substance. Shall we continue this forever?," the Japanese ambassador asked the informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform in May 2023. This, Ambassador Mukerji points out, is due to active opposition of China against any amendment to the UN charter. "The reason that this decision has the same wording from 2016 till 2023 is the active opposition of China against any amendment to the UN Charter to reform the UN Security Council through a two-third majority vote," Ambassador Mukerji added. 'To the victor belong the spoils': The privileged status P5 states at UNSC On September 5, 2023, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s current Permanent Representative to the United Nations, referred to the privileged status of the Permanent-five member states as "a continuation of the mindset of the post 1945 era: to the victors belong the spoils”, a reference to the way the permanent membership was established at the UN Security Council by the allied powers of second World War who emerged victorious in 1945. Also read | 'Reflective of the world of 1940s': Brazil President Lula calls for reforms in UN Security Council “We can no more hide behind the smokescreen of the IGN in the UN General Assembly and continue to pay lip service by continuing to deliver statements in a process which has no time frame, no text and no defined goal to achieve,” Kamboj said in an Open Debate on UNSC’s working methods. Slamming the “lack of representative character” of the Security Council, Kamboj pointed out that “to continue to deny member states of the Global South a voice and role in Council’s decision-making only lowers the Council’s credibility”. Denying the Global South a voice in Council decisions diminishes its credibility says Indian envoy to UN @IndiaUNNewYork @ruchirakamboj calling for reform of the UNSC pic.twitter.com/TL8UgNlSSX — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) September 6, 2023 × India has been calling for a draft negotiating text, a clear deadline to complete negotiations on reforms in the UNSC, in a manner that it represents the voices of developing countries and unrepresented regions, including Africa, Latin America and the vast majority of Asia and Pacific. 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.

How China’s ‘smokescreen’ tricks the world against reforms at UN Security Council

<p>A discussion from Russian state TV in which an anchor and a lawmaker discuss the "ideal" location for a nuclear strike in Ukraine, went viral on social media across the world, stoking concerns&nbsp;of a potential nuclear attack.</p>

<p>The anchor Vladimir Solovyov and lawmaker Andrey Viktorovich Gurulyov can be heard as part of such discussion on Russian State TV. A video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, captured their conversation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the video, the duo specifically suggest a specific location in Ukraine as the "perfect" spot for testing tactical nuclear weapons with a strike while also severely impacting Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In the past weeks, Russian propagandists have returned to the nuclear rhetoric, which has dialed down significantly previously.<br />
<br />
They are starting to discuss using tactical nuclear weapons and devote their whole propaganda shows to discussing small nuclear strikes. They name… <a href="https://t.co/6SpoGVRSgM">pic.twitter.com/6SpoGVRSgM</a></p>
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1701179550871302395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The anchor, Solovyov, in the past, has supported both the Crimean annexation and the Russian offensive in Ukraine.</p>

<p>He says that "Robotyne is now an ideal, just an ideal place to use tactical nuclear weapons," referring to a location in Zaporizhia Oblast about 635 km southeast of Kyiv.</p>

<p>Gurulyov, a former deputy commander of the Russian military's Southern Military District, agreed, describing it as "just perfect".</p>

<p>"They're all gathered there, it's perfect. And that's where the offensive grouping may bite the dust. Moreover, [this] is a perfect situation, because in this situation there's a complete absence of enemy reserves, and even with the forces we have we are quite able to advance very well, liberating the Zaporizhzhia [nuclear plant]," he continued.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-shut-down-starlink-satellite-to-thwart-ukrainian-attack-on-russian-fleet-book-claims-633593">Fearing a nuclear war, Elon Musk snipped Starlink services to thwart Ukrainian drone offensive on Russia</a></strong></p>

<p>The duo then went on to explain their rationale, highlighting the strategic significance of Robotyne in the southern sector of the front, where Ukrainian forces have been reportedly making advances.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>The discussion is a reflection of just another alarming step in the Kremlin's increasing threats of nuclear strikes against Ukraine, which have even extended to the countries in the West, including the United Kingdom and the United States.</p>

<p>Earlier, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's security council and a close ally of Putin raised concerns by suggesting the possibility of nuclear strikes against the US ahead of the 9/11 anniversary.</p>

<p><strong><em>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.&nbsp;</em></strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


A discussion from Russian state TV in which an anchor and a lawmaker discuss the "ideal" location for a nuclear strike in Ukraine, went viral on social media across the world, stoking concerns of a potential nuclear attack.

A discussion from Russian state TV in which an anchor and a lawmaker discuss the "ideal" location for a nuclear strike in Ukraine, went viral on social media across the world, stoking concerns of a potential nuclear attack. The anchor Vladimir Solovyov and lawmaker Andrey Viktorovich Gurulyov can be heard as part of such discussion on Russian State TV. A video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, captured their conversation. In the video, the duo specifically suggest a specific location in Ukraine as the "perfect" spot for testing tactical nuclear weapons with a strike while also severely impacting Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts. In the past weeks, Russian propagandists have returned to the nuclear rhetoric, which has dialed down significantly previously. They are starting to discuss using tactical nuclear weapons and devote their whole propaganda shows to discussing small nuclear strikes. They name… pic.twitter.com/6SpoGVRSgM — Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) September 11, 2023 × The anchor, Solovyov, in the past, has supported both the Crimean annexation and the Russian offensive in Ukraine. He says that "Robotyne is now an ideal, just an ideal place to use tactical nuclear weapons," referring to a location in Zaporizhia Oblast about 635 km southeast of Kyiv. Gurulyov, a former deputy commander of the Russian military's Southern Military District, agreed, describing it as "just perfect". "They're all gathered there, it's perfect. And that's where the offensive grouping may bite the dust. Moreover, [this] is a perfect situation, because in this situation there's a complete absence of enemy reserves, and even with the forces we have we are quite able to advance very well, liberating the Zaporizhzhia [nuclear plant]," he continued. Also read | Fearing a nuclear war, Elon Musk snipped Starlink services to thwart Ukrainian drone offensive on Russia The duo then went on to explain their rationale, highlighting the strategic significance of Robotyne in the southern sector of the front, where Ukrainian forces have been reportedly making advances. What does it mean? The discussion is a reflection of just another alarming step in the Kremlin's increasing threats of nuclear strikes against Ukraine, which have even extended to the countries in the West, including the United Kingdom and the United States. Earlier, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's security council and a close ally of Putin raised concerns by suggesting the possibility of nuclear strikes against the US ahead of the 9/11 anniversary. 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. 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.

Video: Pro-Kremlin men discuss location of 'perfect' nuclear strike in Ukraine

<p>During the now-concluded G20 summit, the India-China standoff was transported from their de-facto boundary in northernmost India to New Delhi, right at the centre&nbsp;of power of the world's largest democracy. While the Chinese leader Xi Jinping's absence from the resoundingly successful summit of the world's wealthiest nations turned from an apparent snub to a shallow self-goal, it's the Chinese delegation which travelled to New Delhi with Premier Li Qiang which had to be reportedly confronted by their Indian hosts at a hotel in the Indian capital.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a report in the Times of India, a day before the official beginning of the summit&nbsp;— on September 8&nbsp;— a tense drama unfolded at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi where the unusual dimensions of the bags of a Chinese team member caught the attention of security officers at the hotel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese side reportedly attempted to pass it off as 'diplomatic baggage'. The Indian security personnel allowed the bags in given the diplomatic protocol, the Times of India report adds.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>India-China hotel standoff: The mysterious Chinese suitcases</strong></h2>

<p>The report adds that a staff member, after a routine visit to the room where the delegation member was staying,&nbsp;reported some "suspicious equipment" in the bags, following which the Chinese team was told to put the bags through the security scanner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was then followed by a tense standoff.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese side did not agree to let their bags be checked and put them through the scanner.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What was in the Chinese suitcases?</strong></h2>

<p>The report further adds that the Chinese side had sought a "private" internet connection which the hotel declined. This unusual request had already intrigued the security personnel deployed there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But after the Chinese side did not let their unusually big suitcases be checked by the security personnel, a three-member security team was deployed to stand guard outside the room for nearly 12 hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Has China's new cold war frozen G20?</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-has-chinas-new-cold-war-frozen-g20-633068/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As the Indian side persisted with their request to have the Chinese bags checked, a Chinese security official reportedly said that they would have the suitcase sent to the&nbsp;Chinese embassy in Chanakyapuri.</p>

<p>Such equipment, the Times of India report adds while citing top Indian officials, could be a "surveillance set up" generally used to intercept or jam secure communication channels. However, no confirmation about the contents of the bags could be made because the Indian side did not get a chance to review what was inside them.</p>

<h2><strong>India-China ties at G20</strong></h2>

<p>The frosty ties between India and China, amid a confrontational standoff between the forces of the two sides near the de-facto boundary in Ladakh, were evident by Chinese leader Xi Jinping's absence from the summit. Xi, unlike his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin&nbsp;— who also did not attend the summit&nbsp;— did not even show the courtesy to dial Narendra Modi to denote his absence from the summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-breaks-silence-g20-says-delhi-declaration-sent-positve-signal-635008">China breaks silence on G20, says Delhi Declaration sent 'positive signal'</a></strong></p>

<p>But Xi's absence, far from being a snub as sections of western media reported prior to the summit, added to New Delhi's clout at G20 following a unanimously adopted Delhi declaration of G20 leaders on the first day of the summit itself.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


During the now-concluded G20 summit, the India-China standoff was transported from their de-facto boundary in northernmost India to New Delhi, right at the centre of power of the world's largest democracy.

During the now-concluded G20 summit, the India-China standoff was transported from their de-facto boundary in northernmost India to New Delhi, right at the centre of power of the world's largest democracy. While the Chinese leader Xi Jinping's absence from the resoundingly successful summit of the world's wealthiest nations turned from an apparent snub to a shallow self-goal, it's the Chinese delegation which travelled to New Delhi with Premier Li Qiang which had to be reportedly confronted by their Indian hosts at a hotel in the Indian capital. According to a report in the Times of India, a day before the official beginning of the summit — on September 8 — a tense drama unfolded at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi where the unusual dimensions of the bags of a Chinese team member caught the attention of security officers at the hotel. The Chinese side reportedly attempted to pass it off as 'diplomatic baggage'. The Indian security personnel allowed the bags in given the diplomatic protocol, the Times of India report adds. India-China hotel standoff: The mysterious Chinese suitcases The report adds that a staff member, after a routine visit to the room where the delegation member was staying, reported some "suspicious equipment" in the bags, following which the Chinese team was told to put the bags through the security scanner. This was then followed by a tense standoff. The Chinese side did not agree to let their bags be checked and put them through the scanner. What was in the Chinese suitcases? The report further adds that the Chinese side had sought a "private" internet connection which the hotel declined. This unusual request had already intrigued the security personnel deployed there. But after the Chinese side did not let their unusually big suitcases be checked by the security personnel, a three-member security team was deployed to stand guard outside the room for nearly 12 hours. Also watch | Gravitas: Has China's new cold war frozen G20? × As the Indian side persisted with their request to have the Chinese bags checked, a Chinese security official reportedly said that they would have the suitcase sent to the Chinese embassy in Chanakyapuri. Such equipment, the Times of India report adds while citing top Indian officials, could be a "surveillance set up" generally used to intercept or jam secure communication channels. However, no confirmation about the contents of the bags could be made because the Indian side did not get a chance to review what was inside them. India-China ties at G20 The frosty ties between India and China, amid a confrontational standoff between the forces of the two sides near the de-facto boundary in Ladakh, were evident by Chinese leader Xi Jinping's absence from the summit. Xi, unlike his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin — who also did not attend the summit — did not even show the courtesy to dial Narendra Modi to denote his absence from the summit. Also read | China breaks silence on G20, says Delhi Declaration sent 'positive signal' But Xi's absence, far from being a snub as sections of western media reported prior to the summit, added to New Delhi's clout at G20 following a unanimously adopted Delhi declaration of G20 leaders on the first day of the summit itself. 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.

India-China hotel standoff: When Chinese G20 delegation refused to get their big bags scanned by security

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Mukul Sharma

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.