<p>Police in Bangladesh received a desperate plea from a man who urged to be&nbsp;rescued from a mob that has surrounded his home in Dhaka. "Please save me," the man is reported to have said on the country's emergency speed dial 999.&nbsp;"I have killed a woman. Locals have surrounded my house and they will kill me," the man said, according to the South Asian&nbsp;country's Daily Star newspaper. When police reached the caller's address in Dhaka's Uttarkhan area, they found him locked inside his room, surrounded by angry locals, the report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police are then reported to have rescued Hazrat Ali, 47, unhurt. Later on, he was arrested for murdering the woman with whom, according to police, he was involved in an extramarital affair.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-asks-pakistan-to-apologise-for-1971-558990">Bangladesh asks Pakistan to apologise for 1971 atrocities</a></strong></p>

<p>Abdul Majid, officer-in-charge of Dhaka's Uttarkhan Police Station, told The Daily Star that the deceased, a 37-year-old mother of two, visited Hazrat's place to put pressure to marry her. An altercation followed and the woman was subsequently killed.</p>

<p>"The woman screamed for help when Hazrat hit her head with a heavy spice crusher. He then beat her to death," the official is further reported to have said in his confession.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Hearing her scream, locals surrounded the house. Fearing possible assault by the enraged locals, Hazrat locked him inside the room and called 999 for help," he added.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-asia-diary-bangladesh-on-the-boil-542476">South Asia Diary | Bangladesh on the boil</a></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/south-asia-diary-bangladesh-on-the-boil-542476/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 police sent the body of the woman for post-mortem whose report is yet to be released, according to the local media.</p>

<p>According to statistics preserved by the data tracker Macro Trends, the homicide rate in Bangladesh was 2.37 per cent in 2018, up from 2.22 per cent in 2017.</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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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>


Police in Bangladesh received a desperate plea from a man who urged to be rescued from a mob that has surrounded his home in Dhaka. "Please save me," the man is reported to have said on the country's emergency speed dial 999.

Police in Bangladesh received a desperate plea from a man who urged to be rescued from a mob that has surrounded his home in Dhaka. "Please save me," the man is reported to have said on the country's emergency speed dial 999. "I have killed a woman. Locals have surrounded my house and they will kill me," the man said, according to the South Asian country's Daily Star newspaper. When police reached the caller's address in Dhaka's Uttarkhan area, they found him locked inside his room, surrounded by angry locals, the report added. Police are then reported to have rescued Hazrat Ali, 47, unhurt. Later on, he was arrested for murdering the woman with whom, according to police, he was involved in an extramarital affair. ALSO READ | Bangladesh asks Pakistan to apologise for 1971 atrocities Abdul Majid, officer-in-charge of Dhaka's Uttarkhan Police Station, told The Daily Star that the deceased, a 37-year-old mother of two, visited Hazrat's place to put pressure to marry her. An altercation followed and the woman was subsequently killed. "The woman screamed for help when Hazrat hit her head with a heavy spice crusher. He then beat her to death," the official is further reported to have said in his confession. "Hearing her scream, locals surrounded the house. Fearing possible assault by the enraged locals, Hazrat locked him inside the room and called 999 for help," he added. ALSO WATCH | South Asia Diary | Bangladesh on the boil × The police sent the body of the woman for post-mortem whose report is yet to be released, according to the local media. According to statistics preserved by the data tracker Macro Trends, the homicide rate in Bangladesh was 2.37 per cent in 2018, up from 2.22 per cent in 2017. 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.

'I have killed a woman', desperate Bangladesh man surrounded by mob tells police

<p>The European Union will&nbsp;host a donors' conference in March to mobilise international aid for earthquake-hit Syria and Turkey. The European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that both Turkey and Syria can count on the EU in the current need of the hour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are now racing against the clock to save lives together. Soon, we will provide relief aid, together. Turkiye and Syria can count on the EU," von der Leyen wrote on Twitter, adding that March's donors' conference will be organised in joint leadership of von der Leyen herself and Sweden Prime Minister&nbsp;Ulf Kristersson. Sweden is the current president of the Council of European Union nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="97546224-7a84-47bb-99e5-c96a5b28950d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ursula_tweet.png" /></p>

<p>The European Union&nbsp;said the conference would be held in Brussels in coordination with Turkish authorities "to mobilise funds from the international community in support for the people" of both countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-crosses-7000-in-turkey-syria-earthquake-thousands-left-injured-559785">Death toll nears 10,000 in Turkey-Syria earthquake, thousands left injured</a></strong></p>

<p>"No one should be left alone when a tragedy like this hits a people," von der Leyen said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The event is aimed at coordinating the international response to the disaster and "will be open to EU Member States, neighbouring countries, UN members" and international lenders, the 27-member bloc said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/deadly-major-earthquake-hits-turkey-and-syria-559143">Deadly major earthquake hits Turkey and Syria</a></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/deadly-major-earthquake-hits-turkey-and-syria-559143/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 European Union too had dispatched rescue teams to Turkey after the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country on Monday near its border with Syria.</p>

<p>The EU, however, has only provided insufficient assistance to Syria due to sanctions it has imposed on President Bashar al-Assad's government.&nbsp;On Wednesday, Damascus made an official plea to the EU for help, to which the bloc reacted by saying that it will move forward "to respond favourably to this request".</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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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 European Union will host a donors' conference in March to mobilise international aid for earthquake-hit Syria and Turkey. The European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that both Turkey and Syria can count on the EU in the current need of the hour.

The European Union will host a donors' conference in March to mobilise international aid for earthquake-hit Syria and Turkey. The European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that both Turkey and Syria can count on the EU in the current need of the hour. "We are now racing against the clock to save lives together. Soon, we will provide relief aid, together. Turkiye and Syria can count on the EU," von der Leyen wrote on Twitter, adding that March's donors' conference will be organised in joint leadership of von der Leyen herself and Sweden Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Sweden is the current president of the Council of European Union nations. The European Union said the conference would be held in Brussels in coordination with Turkish authorities "to mobilise funds from the international community in support for the people" of both countries. ALSO READ | Death toll nears 10,000 in Turkey-Syria earthquake, thousands left injured "No one should be left alone when a tragedy like this hits a people," von der Leyen said in a statement. The event is aimed at coordinating the international response to the disaster and "will be open to EU Member States, neighbouring countries, UN members" and international lenders, the 27-member bloc said. ALSO WATCH | Deadly major earthquake hits Turkey and Syria × The European Union too had dispatched rescue teams to Turkey after the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country on Monday near its border with Syria. The EU, however, has only provided insufficient assistance to Syria due to sanctions it has imposed on President Bashar al-Assad's government. On Wednesday, Damascus made an official plea to the EU for help, to which the bloc reacted by saying that it will move forward "to respond favourably to this request". (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.

Europe to mobilise donors to aid rehabilitation of quake-affected people in Turkey, Syria

<p>Microsoft's $69 billion purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard will stifle competition and hurt the gamers, an in-depth investigation in Britain found. Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said that the deal will result in 'harming UK gamers who cannot afford expensive consoles.'</p>

<p>The deal also could hurt British gamers by 'weakening the important rivalry' between Microsoft's Xbox console and Sony's rival PlayStation machines, the watchdog said in a report that has provisional status. The deal is facing widespread opposition from Sony. It is also facing pushback from watchdogs in the United States and Europe. This is because once the deal paves through, it would give Microsoft control of the world's most popular games such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/antitrust-investigation-opened-by-eu-into-microsoft-buying-activision-blizzard-532326">EU opens antitrust probe into Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard</a></strong></p>

<p>Rima Alaily, Microsoft's deputy general counsel, said the company is "committed to offering effective and easily enforceable solutions that address the CMA’s concerns."<br />
UK watchdog to probe for a few months more</p>

<p>The United Kingdom antitrust probe will go on for a few more months. The final report, after the provisional report released on February 8, is due to be released on April 26. The watchdog will now seek feedback, including possible options to address its competition concerns, from interested parties.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>Microsoft had hoped that a favourable outcome from the UK watchdog could help its way through the lawsuit brought by the United States Federal Trade Commission.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-ftc-seeks-to-block-microsoft-activision-deal-541464">World Business Watch | FTC seeks to block Microsoft-Activision deal</a></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/world-business-watch-ftc-seeks-to-block-microsoft-activision-deal-541464/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 US FTC has sought to block the deal. It has argued that the merger could violate antitrust laws as it will suppress competitors to the Xbox game console and its growing game subscription business.</p>

<p>The Activision Blizzard deal is one of several regulatory hassles for Microsoft in Europe, amid increased scrutiny over worries that Microsoft’s dominance will further diminish the small gaming players.</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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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>


Microsoft's $69 billion purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard will stifle competition and hurt the gamers, an in-depth investigation in Britain found.

Microsoft's $69 billion purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard will stifle competition and hurt the gamers, an in-depth investigation in Britain found. Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said that the deal will result in 'harming UK gamers who cannot afford expensive consoles.' The deal also could hurt British gamers by 'weakening the important rivalry' between Microsoft's Xbox console and Sony's rival PlayStation machines, the watchdog said in a report that has provisional status. The deal is facing widespread opposition from Sony. It is also facing pushback from watchdogs in the United States and Europe. This is because once the deal paves through, it would give Microsoft control of the world's most popular games such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. ALSO READ | EU opens antitrust probe into Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard Rima Alaily, Microsoft's deputy general counsel, said the company is "committed to offering effective and easily enforceable solutions that address the CMA’s concerns." UK watchdog to probe for a few months more The United Kingdom antitrust probe will go on for a few more months. The final report, after the provisional report released on February 8, is due to be released on April 26. The watchdog will now seek feedback, including possible options to address its competition concerns, from interested parties. What does it mean? Microsoft had hoped that a favourable outcome from the UK watchdog could help its way through the lawsuit brought by the United States Federal Trade Commission. ALSO WATCH | World Business Watch | FTC seeks to block Microsoft-Activision deal × The US FTC has sought to block the deal. It has argued that the merger could violate antitrust laws as it will suppress competitors to the Xbox game console and its growing game subscription business. The Activision Blizzard deal is one of several regulatory hassles for Microsoft in Europe, amid increased scrutiny over worries that Microsoft’s dominance will further diminish the small gaming players. 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.

Microsoft’s Activision deal could harm gamers, says UK watchdog in interim report

<p>India's mining ministry announced&nbsp;on Thursday that the country has found massive&nbsp;5.9 million tonnes of Lithium deposits in the country's north in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;Geological Survey of India&nbsp;for the first time established Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district of Jammu and&nbsp;Kashmir, over 650 km north of Indian national capital New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Discovery of Lithium: Why is it critical?</strong></h2>

<p>The lithium deposits are critical for India as the country puts its focus&nbsp;on electric mobility for both public and private transport, especially&nbsp;in the country's prime cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Chennai.</p>

<p>India's Ministry of Mines further stated that 51 mineral blocks including Lithium and Gold were handed over to respective state governments.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/battle-of-minerals-experts-predict-india-can-overtake-china-in-next-decade-502729">Battle of minerals: Experts predict India can overtake China as bigger buyer in next decade</a></strong></p>

<p>Out of the 51 mineral blocks, 5 blocks are of gold. Other blocks pertain to commodities like potash, molybdenum, and base metals&nbsp;spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.</p>

<p>In this financial year, India will take up 966 mining programs, including 318 mineral exploration projects and&nbsp;12 marine mineral investigation projects.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-mining-operations-impact-aquatic-environments-495229">WION Climate Tracker | Mining operations impact aquatic environments</a></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/wion-climate-tracker-mining-operations-impact-aquatic-environments-495229/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 Geological Survey of India has formulated 115 projects on strategic and critical minerals and 16 projects on fertiliser minerals.</p>

<p>"55 programmes on geoinformatics, 140 programmes on fundamental and multidisciplinary geosciences, and 155 programs for training and institutional capacity building have also been taken up,"&nbsp;the Mines ministry stated.</p>

<p>The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was established&nbsp;in 1851 to serve British interests in exploring coal deposits for the expansion of the railway network in the country. After independence in 1947, it has come under the ambit of the mining ministry and also serves as the top&nbsp;scientific base for geological explorations.&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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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 mining ministry announced on Thursday that the country has found massive 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium deposits in the country's north in Jammu and Kashmir.

India's mining ministry announced on Thursday that the country has found massive 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium deposits in the country's north in Jammu and Kashmir. Geological Survey of India for the first time established Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, over 650 km north of Indian national capital New Delhi. Discovery of Lithium: Why is it critical? The lithium deposits are critical for India as the country puts its focus on electric mobility for both public and private transport, especially in the country's prime cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Chennai. India's Ministry of Mines further stated that 51 mineral blocks including Lithium and Gold were handed over to respective state governments. ALSO READ | Battle of minerals: Experts predict India can overtake China as bigger buyer in next decade Out of the 51 mineral blocks, 5 blocks are of gold. Other blocks pertain to commodities like potash, molybdenum, and base metals spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. In this financial year, India will take up 966 mining programs, including 318 mineral exploration projects and 12 marine mineral investigation projects. ALSO WATCH | WION Climate Tracker | Mining operations impact aquatic environments × The Geological Survey of India has formulated 115 projects on strategic and critical minerals and 16 projects on fertiliser minerals. "55 programmes on geoinformatics, 140 programmes on fundamental and multidisciplinary geosciences, and 155 programs for training and institutional capacity building have also been taken up," the Mines ministry stated. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was established in 1851 to serve British interests in exploring coal deposits for the expansion of the railway network in the country. After independence in 1947, it has come under the ambit of the mining ministry and also serves as the top scientific base for geological explorations. 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 discovers huge deposits of Lithium critical for electric mobility

<p>A former UK parliamentarian with an autistic health condition&nbsp;has been jailed for four years for making untrue and fraudulent claims of expenses of about £52,000 ($63,354)&nbsp;to fund an extensive drug addiction to cocaine when he was still in office.&nbsp;The Labour Party leader Jared O'Mara, who previously represented Sheffield Hallam, about 166 miles northwest of London, was on trial at Leeds Crown Court for submitting "dishonest" invoices to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. O'Mara was a Labour MP from Sheffield Hallam from 2017 to 2019.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-mps-earns-207-million-additional-income-amid-economic-crisis-550728">UK MPs earns $20.7 million additional income amid economic crisis</a></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-mps-earns-207-million-additional-income-amid-economic-crisis-550728/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 41-year-old was convicted of trying to claim up to tens of thousands of pounds in taxpayers' money to fund an "extravagant lifestyle - drink, cigarettes and, above all, cocaine". The prosecutors said the total value of the fraud was about £52,000 or over $63,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Judge Tom Bayliss KC said O'Mara "abused (his)&nbsp;position as a member of parliament to commit these multiple frauds". He said that while O'Mara was "without doubt suffering from autism", this did not reduce his culpability, nor his ability to work as an MP.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-rishi-sunak-creates-four-ministries-appoints-new-tory-chair-in-mini-cabinet-reshuffle-559707">UK: Rishi Sunak creates four ministries, appoints new Tory chair in mini Cabinet reshuffle</a></strong></p>

<p>"You knew perfectly what you were doing with this fraud, you were behaving perfectly rationally, if dishonestly, and you were using your autism diagnosis to extract money from Ipsa to fund your cocaine and alcohol-driven lifestyle," he said, while referring to the disclosure made by the MP to the&nbsp;Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.</p>

<p>"It was deliberate, it was cynical and it was dishonest."</p>

<p>He said O'Mara's apology to his constituents for not resigning in 2017 was "entirely disingenuous" and he had "shown not the slightest degree of remorse in respect of that".</p>

<p>"You must have realised early on that you were wholly unsuited to the role (of MP), but you carried on regardless, you brazened it out, drawing a salary but doing little or no parliamentary work," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>O'Mara's defence</strong></h2>

<p>O'Mara claimed he was in "poor mental health" at the time and was abusing cocaine, a class A drug, in "prodigious quantities".</p>

<p>O'Mara's lawyer said he was "an inadequate individual to cope with the stresses and strains of public life" and "resorted to taking drugs, alcohol and distancing himself in many respects from those that were around him".</p>

<p>O'Mara stayed in office till 2019 but did not contest the 2019 general election.</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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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 former UK parliamentarian with an autistic health condition has been jailed for four years for making untrue and fraudulent claims of expenses of about £52,000 ($63,354) to fund an extensive drug addiction to cocaine when he was still in office.

A former UK parliamentarian with an autistic health condition has been jailed for four years for making untrue and fraudulent claims of expenses of about £52,000 ($63,354) to fund an extensive drug addiction to cocaine when he was still in office. The Labour Party leader Jared O'Mara, who previously represented Sheffield Hallam, about 166 miles northwest of London, was on trial at Leeds Crown Court for submitting "dishonest" invoices to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. O'Mara was a Labour MP from Sheffield Hallam from 2017 to 2019. ALSO WATCH | UK MPs earns $20.7 million additional income amid economic crisis × The 41-year-old was convicted of trying to claim up to tens of thousands of pounds in taxpayers' money to fund an "extravagant lifestyle - drink, cigarettes and, above all, cocaine". The prosecutors said the total value of the fraud was about £52,000 or over $63,000. Judge Tom Bayliss KC said O'Mara "abused (his) position as a member of parliament to commit these multiple frauds". He said that while O'Mara was "without doubt suffering from autism", this did not reduce his culpability, nor his ability to work as an MP. ALSO READ | UK: Rishi Sunak creates four ministries, appoints new Tory chair in mini Cabinet reshuffle "You knew perfectly what you were doing with this fraud, you were behaving perfectly rationally, if dishonestly, and you were using your autism diagnosis to extract money from Ipsa to fund your cocaine and alcohol-driven lifestyle," he said, while referring to the disclosure made by the MP to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. "It was deliberate, it was cynical and it was dishonest." He said O'Mara's apology to his constituents for not resigning in 2017 was "entirely disingenuous" and he had "shown not the slightest degree of remorse in respect of that". "You must have realised early on that you were wholly unsuited to the role (of MP), but you carried on regardless, you brazened it out, drawing a salary but doing little or no parliamentary work," he said. O'Mara's defence O'Mara claimed he was in "poor mental health" at the time and was abusing cocaine, a class A drug, in "prodigious quantities". O'Mara's lawyer said he was "an inadequate individual to cope with the stresses and strains of public life" and "resorted to taking drugs, alcohol and distancing himself in many respects from those that were around him". O'Mara stayed in office till 2019 but did not contest the 2019 general election. 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.

Former British MP jailed for fraudulently claiming expenses to fund cocaine addiction

<p>Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink has been accused of moving hazardous pathogens into the body of animals, following which, an animal welfare organisation said that it plans to ask a United States government agency to investigate the firm's doings.&nbsp;The Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, claims to have obtained emails and other documents that suggest unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys.</p>

<p>These implants may have carried infectious diseases in violation of federal law, PCRM said. The letter further cited&nbsp;that the records it obtained showed instances of pathogens, such as antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus and herpes B virus.&nbsp;They may have been transported without proper containment measures.</p>

<p>PCRM’s letter said pathogens were carried on removed implants from monkeys after improper sanitisation and packaging. The group said those pathogens could cause serious health issues in infected humans, such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and severe brain damage, among other problems.</p>

<p>"The company’s documented track record of sloppy, unsafe laboratory practices compel DOT to investigate and levy appropriate fines,"&nbsp;PCRM said in the letter.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean for Elon Musk's Neuralink?</strong></h2>

<p>PCRM’s letter adds to the scrutiny facing Neuralink, which is developing a brain implant. This brain implant, the company claims,&nbsp;will help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments.</p>

<p>In December, Reuters reported that Neuralink has been under a federal investigation over potential animal welfare violations and that some of its staff made internal complaints about experiments being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths. Elon Musk in December 2022 said that the Neuralink device is ready for humans.</p>

<p>"So timing is a function of working through the FDA approval process," Musk had said.&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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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>


Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink has been accused of moving hazardous pathogens into the body of animals, following which, an animal welfare organisation said that it plans to ask a United States government agency to investigate the firm's doings.

Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink has been accused of moving hazardous pathogens into the body of animals, following which, an animal welfare organisation said that it plans to ask a United States government agency to investigate the firm's doings. The Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, claims to have obtained emails and other documents that suggest unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys. These implants may have carried infectious diseases in violation of federal law, PCRM said. The letter further cited that the records it obtained showed instances of pathogens, such as antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus and herpes B virus. They may have been transported without proper containment measures. PCRM’s letter said pathogens were carried on removed implants from monkeys after improper sanitisation and packaging. The group said those pathogens could cause serious health issues in infected humans, such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and severe brain damage, among other problems. "The company’s documented track record of sloppy, unsafe laboratory practices compel DOT to investigate and levy appropriate fines," PCRM said in the letter. What does it mean for Elon Musk's Neuralink? PCRM’s letter adds to the scrutiny facing Neuralink, which is developing a brain implant. This brain implant, the company claims, will help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments. In December, Reuters reported that Neuralink has been under a federal investigation over potential animal welfare violations and that some of its staff made internal complaints about experiments being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths. Elon Musk in December 2022 said that the Neuralink device is ready for humans. "So timing is a function of working through the FDA approval process," Musk had said. 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.

Animal Rights advocates ask US government to probe Elon Musk's Neuralink

<p>A car parking space in Southern Turkey has become a makeshift morgue, revealing the heart-wrenching realities of earthquake-devastated Turkey. A report by AFP cited Rania Zaboubi, a Syrian refugee, seen scouring the body bags laid out in the car parking of a hospital in search of her uncle who went missing after Monday's series of earthquakes.&nbsp;"I found my aunt, but not my uncle," she said in a choked voice.</p>

<p>Rania told AFP that she lost eight members of her family in the earthquake tragedy. So far, over&nbsp;19,300 people are reported to have died in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.</p>

<p>The AFP reported that its journalists counted nearly 200 dead bodies in the parking lot of the main hospital in Antakya, a large city in Turkey's Hatay province. People were reportedly seen going from corpse to corpse looking for the people they knew. Seven bodies were seen lying at the foot of a container overflowing with waste. The walls of Antakya's main hospital has huge cracks. The interior of the hospital building is reported to be badly damaged, following which the hospital is unable to attend to the patients, dead or alive. Although still standing, authorities are reported to have taken the decision to evacuate it.</p>

<p>At least 3,356 people died in Hatay, more than a quarter of the dead in Turkey so far reported.</p>

<h2><strong>Anonymous bodies in Turkey hospital</strong></h2>

<p>Patients are treated in red and white tents and are classified into three colours&nbsp;according to the severity of their injuries. 'So many', as a rescue volunteer told AFP, were transported by helicopter to hospitals that withstood the tremors, with many going to the city of Adana. The dead, however, are stranded on the cold asphalt.</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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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 car parking space in Southern Turkey has become a makeshift morgue, revealing the heart-wrenching realities of earthquake-devastated Turkey. A report by AFP cited Rania Zaboubi, a Syrian refugee, seen scouring the body bags laid out in the car parking of a hospital in search of her uncle who went missing after Monday's series of earthquakes.

A car parking space in Southern Turkey has become a makeshift morgue, revealing the heart-wrenching realities of earthquake-devastated Turkey. A report by AFP cited Rania Zaboubi, a Syrian refugee, seen scouring the body bags laid out in the car parking of a hospital in search of her uncle who went missing after Monday's series of earthquakes. "I found my aunt, but not my uncle," she said in a choked voice. Rania told AFP that she lost eight members of her family in the earthquake tragedy. So far, over 19,300 people are reported to have died in Turkey and neighbouring Syria. The AFP reported that its journalists counted nearly 200 dead bodies in the parking lot of the main hospital in Antakya, a large city in Turkey's Hatay province. People were reportedly seen going from corpse to corpse looking for the people they knew. Seven bodies were seen lying at the foot of a container overflowing with waste. The walls of Antakya's main hospital has huge cracks. The interior of the hospital building is reported to be badly damaged, following which the hospital is unable to attend to the patients, dead or alive. Although still standing, authorities are reported to have taken the decision to evacuate it. At least 3,356 people died in Hatay, more than a quarter of the dead in Turkey so far reported. Anonymous bodies in Turkey hospital Patients are treated in red and white tents and are classified into three colours according to the severity of their injuries. 'So many', as a rescue volunteer told AFP, were transported by helicopter to hospitals that withstood the tremors, with many going to the city of Adana. The dead, however, are stranded on the cold asphalt. (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.

Turkey quake: Hospital parking turns makeshift morgue as people scramble to identify their kin

<p>French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has become controversy's hot topic yet again after it mocked the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6th. Charlie Hebdo's Twitter account shared a "drawing of the day" that showed damaged housing infrastructure and a heap of rubble with the caption: "No need to send tanks."</p>

<p><img alt="Charlie Hebdo Turkey quake cartoon" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4e27b6fd-93ca-4ab9-9e49-f4062921d308" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Charlie_Hebdo.png" /></p>

<p>The satire immediately led to massive criticism on social media, where users found the depiction akin to "hate speech" given the scale of the disaster and ongoing rescue missions. "You really have to have some nerve to do that when there are still babies waiting for help under the rubble," wrote a user. Another user tagged Twitter owner Elon Musk to ask if the satire was in violation of Twitter policies. "Of course! This is hate speech!," another user wrote in reply.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-crosses-7000-in-turkey-syria-earthquake-thousands-left-injured-559785">Death toll crosses 8,300 in Turkey-Syria earthquake, thousands left injured</a></strong></p>

<p>"You are so dishonorable, you are not human that you can have fun with it while innocent people, children, babies lose their lives here!," reacted another user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared a three-month state of emergency in ten of Turkey’s provinces. Thousands of buildings have turned into rubble with an unspecified number of people trapped underneath.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/deadly-earthquake-kills-thousands-in-turkiye-559416">Deadly earthquake kills thousands in Turkiye</a></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/deadly-earthquake-kills-thousands-in-turkiye-559416/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>A series of earthquakes&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;caused widespread devastation in Turkey&nbsp;and Syria, with rescue efforts still in progress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that the death toll from Monday’s earthquake has reached 8,754. Combined with the 2,470 known deaths in Syria. The total death toll from the quakes at the time of filing this report has been placed at 11,224.</p>

<p>The World Health Organization has suggested the final toll could rise as high as 20,000. A similar-sized earthquake in the region in 1999 killed at least 17,000 people.</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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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>


French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has become controversy's hot topic yet again after it mocked the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6th.

French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has become controversy's hot topic yet again after it mocked the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6th. Charlie Hebdo's Twitter account shared a "drawing of the day" that showed damaged housing infrastructure and a heap of rubble with the caption: "No need to send tanks." The satire immediately led to massive criticism on social media, where users found the depiction akin to "hate speech" given the scale of the disaster and ongoing rescue missions. "You really have to have some nerve to do that when there are still babies waiting for help under the rubble," wrote a user. Another user tagged Twitter owner Elon Musk to ask if the satire was in violation of Twitter policies. "Of course! This is hate speech!," another user wrote in reply. ALSO READ | Death toll crosses 8,300 in Turkey-Syria earthquake, thousands left injured "You are so dishonorable, you are not human that you can have fun with it while innocent people, children, babies lose their lives here!," reacted another user. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared a three-month state of emergency in ten of Turkey’s provinces. Thousands of buildings have turned into rubble with an unspecified number of people trapped underneath. ALSO WATCH | Deadly earthquake kills thousands in Turkiye × A series of earthquakes on Monday caused widespread devastation in Turkey and Syria, with rescue efforts still in progress. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that the death toll from Monday’s earthquake has reached 8,754. Combined with the 2,470 known deaths in Syria. The total death toll from the quakes at the time of filing this report has been placed at 11,224. The World Health Organization has suggested the final toll could rise as high as 20,000. A similar-sized earthquake in the region in 1999 killed at least 17,000 people. 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.

Charlie Hebdo under fire for cartoon mocking Turkey-Syria earthquake tragedy

<p>The combined death toll in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday surpassed 11,000, with more fatalities expected to be reported in the coming days. Meanwhile, the international investigators said Wednesday (February 8) that there are "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the supply of the missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all onboard. In Washington, addressing his second State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden issued a warning to China that Washington will act to protect if Beijing threatens its sovereignty, as the schism between the two nations widened over the Chinese spy balloon row. In London, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky,&nbsp;in a mark of assertion of the country's&nbsp;will to stand against Russia, gifted a helmet from a Ukrainian fighter pilot to the UK House of Commons speaker on February 8.</p>

<p><strong>Click on the headlines to read more:</strong></p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-syria-earthquake-live-updates-death-toll-nears-9000-559829">Turkey-Syria earthquake Updates | Death toll surges past 11,000 in Turkey-Syria quake</a></strong></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/331002-untitled-design.jpg?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>The combined death toll in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday surpassed 11,000, with more fatalities expected to be reported in the coming days.&nbsp;The harsh weather conditions are severely endangering people and making rescue operations more difficult.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mh17-downing-investigators-say-strong-indications-putin-approved-missile-supply-560064"><strong>MH17 downing: Investigators say 'strong indications' Putin approved missile supply</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2022/11/17/311595-mh17-wreckage.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>International investigators said Wednesday (February 8) that there are "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the supply of the missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all onboard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. It was shot down by Russian-controlled forces while flying over eastern Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/make-no-mistake-us-will-act-if-china-threatens-its-sovereignty-says-joe-biden-559838">‘Make no mistake’, US will act if China threatens its sovereignty, says Joe Biden</a></strong></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/330853-biden-4.jpg?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>Addressing his second State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden issued a warning to China that Washington will act to protect if Beijing threatens its sovereignty, as the schism between the two nations widened over the Chinese spy balloon row.</p>

<p>"I am committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world. But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did," Biden said on Tuesday night.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-air-force-helmet-as-state-gift-to-britain-zelensky-pushes-for-more-fighter-airplanes-560066">With air force helmet as state gift to Britain, Zelensky pushes for more fighter airplanes</a></strong></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/331004-untitled-design-4.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky,&nbsp;in a mark of assertion of the country's&nbsp;will to stand against Russia, gifted a helmet from a Ukrainian fighter pilot to the UK House of Commons speaker on February 8. President Zelensky&nbsp;called for 'wings for freedom' from the UK and the rest of the world as he gifted the helmet inscribed with words, 'We have freedom, give us wings to protect it'. Initial reports on Zelensky's Britain visit have interpreted the helmet's inscription as Zelensky's plea to ensure continued military support in terms of 'wings' (airplanes) as Ukrainian forces continue their actions in the evolving battlefield of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-interior-minister-suspended-over-last-years-halloween-crowd-crush-560015"><strong>South Korean interior minister suspended over last year's Halloween crowd crush</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/330975-new-wion-28.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>South Korea's Parliament has voted to impeach the nation's interior minister Lee Sang-min over his responses to a deadly Halloween crush. This, as per Reuters, has set the stage towards making him the first cabinet member to be ousted by the legislature.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-parliament-indias-pm-narendra-modi-takes-veiled-dig-at-opposition-leader-rahul-gandhi-559963"><strong>In Parliament, India's PM Narendra Modi takes veiled dig at opposition leader Rahul Gandhi</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/330927-modi-in-lok-sabha.JPG?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (February 8) replied to the motion of thanks on President Droupadi Murmu's address in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament, amid sloganeering by opposition leaders for a discussion over the Adani issue. Before beginning his speech, some opposition parliamentarians staged a walkout over the issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/charlie-hebdo-under-fire-for-satire-mocking-turkiye-syria-earthquake-tragedy-560003"><strong>Charlie Hebdo under fire for satire mocking Turkey-Syria earthquake tragedy</strong></a><br />
<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/330968-untitled-design-1.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has become controversy's hot topic yet again after it mocked the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6th. Charlie Hebdo's Twitter account shared a "drawing of the day" that showed damaged housing infrastructure and a heap of rubble with the caption: "No need to send tanks."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-from-past-china-balloon-brings-back-memory-of-times-when-us-tried-to-shoot-down-venus-560027"><strong>Blast from past: China balloon brings back memory of times when US tried to ‘shoot down’ Venus</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/330974-fu-go.png?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>If you think the ongoing balloon controversy is new, then you are mistaken! The spy balloon&nbsp;strategy has been adopted by several countries to snoop&nbsp;on rival nations.&nbsp;Recently, a Chinese balloon was spotted over the skies of the United States. Beijing said that it was a civilian airship used for research purposes, but concerns were raised over the balloon being used to spy on America. The US deployed fighter jets to track the balloon and shoot it down. The authorities are now analysing the debris.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-suryakumar-yadav-retains-top-spot-as-t20i-batter-pandya-jumps-to-2nd-spot-in-all-rounders-list-560026"><strong>ICC Rankings: Suryakumar Yadav retains top spot as T20I batter, Pandya jumps to 2nd place in all-rounders list</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/330982-untitled-design-53.jpg?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>Star Indian&nbsp;T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav continues&nbsp;to stay on the top in&nbsp;the shortest format. In the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday, February 8th, SKY, as most of his fans would call him, retained the top spot with&nbsp;906 points to his name. Earlier, he had even attained 910 points which was also the highest-ever tally achieved by an Indian batter in ICC rankings in T20Is.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/as-an-industry-we-need-better-stories-says-yami-gautam-on-how-to-make-a-hit-film-560000"><strong>‘As an industry, we need better stories’ says Yami Gautam on how to make a hit film</strong></a></p>

<p><img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/02/08/330953-horizons-55.jpg?imwidth=1920" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the trailer of Yami Gautam starrer ‘Lost’ dropped recently, the Bollywood actress spoke about the upcoming feature in which she plays the role of a crime reporter named Riddhi Sahani, who is ruthless in her pursuit for the truth. The trailer begins with the disclaimer that around 665 people go missing in India every year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to WION, Yami Gautam answers some interesting questions about the film that is touted to be inspired by true events. On what makes the story of Lost stand out amid a sea of content that is available to stream on multiple OTT channels, Yami said, “We need interesting stories to break the clutter. As actors, it gives us immense joy and happiness to celebrate each other's successes because if one actress gets a brilliant opportunity, it naturally opens up avenues for other actresses. As an industry, what we need is better stories, better rules and I am not just talking about myself. Thinking from a protagonist’s point of view is not enough. At the end of the day, a film is a wholesome package.”</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The combined death toll in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday surpassed 11,000, with more fatalities expected to be reported in the coming days.

The combined death toll in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday surpassed 11,000, with more fatalities expected to be reported in the coming days. Meanwhile, the international investigators said Wednesday (February 8) that there are "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the supply of the missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all onboard. In Washington, addressing his second State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden issued a warning to China that Washington will act to protect if Beijing threatens its sovereignty, as the schism between the two nations widened over the Chinese spy balloon row. In London, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a mark of assertion of the country's will to stand against Russia, gifted a helmet from a Ukrainian fighter pilot to the UK House of Commons speaker on February 8. Click on the headlines to read more: Turkey-Syria earthquake Updates | Death toll surges past 11,000 in Turkey-Syria quake The combined death toll in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday surpassed 11,000, with more fatalities expected to be reported in the coming days. The harsh weather conditions are severely endangering people and making rescue operations more difficult. MH17 downing: Investigators say 'strong indications' Putin approved missile supply International investigators said Wednesday (February 8) that there are "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the supply of the missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, which killed all onboard. The ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. It was shot down by Russian-controlled forces while flying over eastern Ukraine. ‘Make no mistake’, US will act if China threatens its sovereignty, says Joe Biden Addressing his second State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden issued a warning to China that Washington will act to protect if Beijing threatens its sovereignty, as the schism between the two nations widened over the Chinese spy balloon row. "I am committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world. But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did," Biden said on Tuesday night. With air force helmet as state gift to Britain, Zelensky pushes for more fighter airplanes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a mark of assertion of the country's will to stand against Russia, gifted a helmet from a Ukrainian fighter pilot to the UK House of Commons speaker on February 8. President Zelensky called for 'wings for freedom' from the UK and the rest of the world as he gifted the helmet inscribed with words, 'We have freedom, give us wings to protect it'. Initial reports on Zelensky's Britain visit have interpreted the helmet's inscription as Zelensky's plea to ensure continued military support in terms of 'wings' (airplanes) as Ukrainian forces continue their actions in the evolving battlefield of the country. South Korean interior minister suspended over last year's Halloween crowd crush South Korea's Parliament has voted to impeach the nation's interior minister Lee Sang-min over his responses to a deadly Halloween crush. This, as per Reuters, has set the stage towards making him the first cabinet member to be ousted by the legislature. In Parliament, India's PM Narendra Modi takes veiled dig at opposition leader Rahul Gandhi India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (February 8) replied to the motion of thanks on President Droupadi Murmu's address in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament, amid sloganeering by opposition leaders for a discussion over the Adani issue. Before beginning his speech, some opposition parliamentarians staged a walkout over the issue. Charlie Hebdo under fire for satire mocking Turkey-Syria earthquake tragedy French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has become controversy's hot topic yet again after it mocked the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6th. Charlie Hebdo's Twitter account shared a "drawing of the day" that showed damaged housing infrastructure and a heap of rubble with the caption: "No need to send tanks." Blast from past: China balloon brings back memory of times when US tried to ‘shoot down’ Venus If you think the ongoing balloon controversy is new, then you are mistaken! The spy balloon strategy has been adopted by several countries to snoop on rival nations. Recently, a Chinese balloon was spotted over the skies of the United States. Beijing said that it was a civilian airship used for research purposes, but concerns were raised over the balloon being used to spy on America. The US deployed fighter jets to track the balloon and shoot it down. The authorities are now analysing the debris. ICC Rankings: Suryakumar Yadav retains top spot as T20I batter, Pandya jumps to 2nd place in all-rounders list Star Indian T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav continues to stay on the top in the shortest format. In the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday, February 8th, SKY, as most of his fans would call him, retained the top spot with 906 points to his name. Earlier, he had even attained 910 points which was also the highest-ever tally achieved by an Indian batter in ICC rankings in T20Is. ‘As an industry, we need better stories’ says Yami Gautam on how to make a hit film As the trailer of Yami Gautam starrer ‘Lost’ dropped recently, the Bollywood actress spoke about the upcoming feature in which she plays the role of a crime reporter named Riddhi Sahani, who is ruthless in her pursuit for the truth. The trailer begins with the disclaimer that around 665 people go missing in India every year. Speaking to WION, Yami Gautam answers some interesting questions about the film that is touted to be inspired by true events. On what makes the story of Lost stand out amid a sea of content that is available to stream on multiple OTT channels, Yami said, “We need interesting stories to break the clutter. As actors, it gives us immense joy and happiness to celebrate each other's successes because if one actress gets a brilliant opportunity, it naturally opens up avenues for other actresses. As an industry, what we need is better stories, better rules and I am not just talking about myself. Thinking from a protagonist’s point of view is not enough. At the end of the day, a film is a wholesome package.”

Top 10 world news: Turkey-Syria quake devastation unravels, Zelensky addresses UK parliament, and more

<p>A parliamentary inquiry in the United Kingdom found London-headquartered HSBC Bank complicit in human rights abuses against the residents of Hong Kong. The multinational financial services company was accused of aligning with the Chinese authorities. The company reportedly denied pension payouts to the citizens who fled the crackdown in Hong Kong. The HSBC reportedly refused to recognise the documentation of tens of thousands of residents who tried to withdraw their pensions after fleeing to the United Kingdom.</p>

<p>After China's massive crackdown on the individuals, who Beijing claimed participated in the widespread pro-democracy protests of 2020, about 88,000 people are reported to have left Hong Kong for the United Kingdom. They have been granted residency under the British National Overseas (BNO) visa scheme.</p>

<h2><b>How were&nbsp;Hong Kongers denied their pensions?</b></h2>

<p>The Hong Kong government refused to recognise British National Overseas (BNO) visas as valid identification. This refusal affects the&nbsp;pension scheme for the withdrawal of funds. The UK parliamentary inquiry found that the refusal of Hong Kong authorities to recognise BNO visa as valid documentation violates the&nbsp;guiding principles of the United Nations which states that "everyone has the right to leave any country including his own".</p>

<h2><strong>HSBC's defence</strong></h2>

<p>HSBC, in an official statement,&nbsp;said that it followed Hong Kong's pension scheme regulator’s rules when members attempted to withdraw their pensions early. "Scheme members are required to provide evidence of the right of abode outside of Hong Kong," it said. "The MPFA (Mandatory Provident Fund Authority) has publicly confirmed that a BNO passport cannot be used as such evidence."</p>

<p>However, the chairperson of the UK parliamentary grouping that probed the matter, said banks including HSBC had "been complicit in the repression of the human rights of innocent Hong Kongers, including those who have fled the increasingly authoritarian pro-Beijing government of Hong Kong".</p>

<p>"These banks cannot continue to act with impunity, and the UK government must act to assist those who are suffering from the impact of these anti-democratic laws," Alistair Carmichael MP was quoted as saying by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>HSBC said in a statement: "As we told the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) in November 2021, HSBC has an enduring commitment to Hong Kong, its people, and its communities. It is where we were founded nearly 160 years ago."</p>

<p>"Like all banks, we have to obey the law, and the instructions of the regulators, in every territory – including Hong Kong – in which we operate."</p>

<h2><strong>What next?</strong></h2>

<p>The parliamentary grouping has urged&nbsp;the UK government that banks including HSBC unfreeze the accounts of political dissidents while pursuing&nbsp;a solution that would allow BNO residents to withdraw their pension funds.</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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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 parliamentary inquiry in the United Kingdom found London-headquartered HSBC Bank complicit in human rights abuses against the residents of Hong Kong. The multinational financial services company was accused of aligning with the Chinese authorities.

A parliamentary inquiry in the United Kingdom found London-headquartered HSBC Bank complicit in human rights abuses against the residents of Hong Kong. The multinational financial services company was accused of aligning with the Chinese authorities. The company reportedly denied pension payouts to the citizens who fled the crackdown in Hong Kong. The HSBC reportedly refused to recognise the documentation of tens of thousands of residents who tried to withdraw their pensions after fleeing to the United Kingdom. After China's massive crackdown on the individuals, who Beijing claimed participated in the widespread pro-democracy protests of 2020, about 88,000 people are reported to have left Hong Kong for the United Kingdom. They have been granted residency under the British National Overseas (BNO) visa scheme. How were Hong Kongers denied their pensions? The Hong Kong government refused to recognise British National Overseas (BNO) visas as valid identification. This refusal affects the pension scheme for the withdrawal of funds. The UK parliamentary inquiry found that the refusal of Hong Kong authorities to recognise BNO visa as valid documentation violates the guiding principles of the United Nations which states that "everyone has the right to leave any country including his own". HSBC's defence HSBC, in an official statement, said that it followed Hong Kong's pension scheme regulator’s rules when members attempted to withdraw their pensions early. "Scheme members are required to provide evidence of the right of abode outside of Hong Kong," it said. "The MPFA (Mandatory Provident Fund Authority) has publicly confirmed that a BNO passport cannot be used as such evidence." However, the chairperson of the UK parliamentary grouping that probed the matter, said banks including HSBC had "been complicit in the repression of the human rights of innocent Hong Kongers, including those who have fled the increasingly authoritarian pro-Beijing government of Hong Kong". "These banks cannot continue to act with impunity, and the UK government must act to assist those who are suffering from the impact of these anti-democratic laws," Alistair Carmichael MP was quoted as saying by The Guardian. HSBC said in a statement: "As we told the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) in November 2021, HSBC has an enduring commitment to Hong Kong, its people, and its communities. It is where we were founded nearly 160 years ago." "Like all banks, we have to obey the law, and the instructions of the regulators, in every territory – including Hong Kong – in which we operate." What next? The parliamentary grouping has urged the UK government that banks including HSBC unfreeze the accounts of political dissidents while pursuing a solution that would allow BNO residents to withdraw their pension funds. 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.

HSBC denied pension to Hong Kong citizens who fled crackdown, finds UK parliamentary probe

<p>Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky,&nbsp;in a mark of assertion of the country's&nbsp;will to stand against Russia, gifted a helmet from a Ukrainian fighter pilot to the UK House of Commons speaker on February 8. President Zelensky&nbsp;called for 'wings for freedom' from the UK and the rest of the world as he gifted the helmet inscribed with words, 'We have freedom, give us wings to protect it'. Initial reports on Zelensky's Britain visit have interpreted the helmet's inscription as Zelensky's plea to ensure continued military support in terms of 'wings' (airplanes) as Ukrainian forces continue their actions in the evolving battlefield of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Kremlin is yet to react to Zelensky's Britain visit and the UK-Ukraine bilateral show of strength at London's center of power on February 8.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-to-visit-uk-on-wednesday-will-meet-prime-minister-rishi-sunak-559926">Ukraine President Zelensky arrives in UK, to meet King Charles III, address British parliament</a></strong></p>

<p>While addressing UK parliamentarians at Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster, home to Britain's House of Commons and House of Lords, Zelensky said that bravery 'rewards victory'. Zelensky also acknowledged the pro-Ukraine role of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the initial months of the war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added: "We know freedom will win. We know Russia will lose and this will change the world. I appeal to you and the world with simple yet most important words: combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom. London has stood with Kyiv since day one, from the first seconds and minutes of the full-scale war, Great Britain you extended your helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react."</p>

<p>"Boris: you got others united when it seemed absolutely impossible. You didn’t compromise Ukraine and hence you didn’t compromise your ideals and thus you didn’t compromise the spirit of these great islands."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-goes-to-us-why-is-it-important-545103">Zelensky goes to US: why is it important?</a></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/zelensky-goes-to-us-why-is-it-important-545103/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 was Volodymyr Zelensky's second foreign trip since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war last year, after a December visit to Washington. French President Emmanuel Macron's office said he would host Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris later in the day amid expectations that Zelensky would meet European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday.</p>

<p>The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Zelensky are due to visit Ukrainian troops being trained on the Challenger 2 tanks that Britain is sending to Ukraine.&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=&quot;100%&quot;"></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>


Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a mark of assertion of the country's will to stand against Russia, gifted a helmet from a Ukrainian fighter pilot to the UK House of Commons speaker on February 8.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a mark of assertion of the country's will to stand against Russia, gifted a helmet from a Ukrainian fighter pilot to the UK House of Commons speaker on February 8. President Zelensky called for 'wings for freedom' from the UK and the rest of the world as he gifted the helmet inscribed with words, 'We have freedom, give us wings to protect it'. Initial reports on Zelensky's Britain visit have interpreted the helmet's inscription as Zelensky's plea to ensure continued military support in terms of 'wings' (airplanes) as Ukrainian forces continue their actions in the evolving battlefield of the country. The Kremlin is yet to react to Zelensky's Britain visit and the UK-Ukraine bilateral show of strength at London's center of power on February 8. ALSO READ | Ukraine President Zelensky arrives in UK, to meet King Charles III, address British parliament While addressing UK parliamentarians at Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster, home to Britain's House of Commons and House of Lords, Zelensky said that bravery 'rewards victory'. Zelensky also acknowledged the pro-Ukraine role of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the initial months of the war. He added: "We know freedom will win. We know Russia will lose and this will change the world. I appeal to you and the world with simple yet most important words: combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom. London has stood with Kyiv since day one, from the first seconds and minutes of the full-scale war, Great Britain you extended your helping hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react." "Boris: you got others united when it seemed absolutely impossible. You didn’t compromise Ukraine and hence you didn’t compromise your ideals and thus you didn’t compromise the spirit of these great islands." ALSO WATCH | Zelensky goes to US: why is it important? × This was Volodymyr Zelensky's second foreign trip since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war last year, after a December visit to Washington. French President Emmanuel Macron's office said he would host Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris later in the day amid expectations that Zelensky would meet European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday. The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Zelensky are due to visit Ukrainian troops being trained on the Challenger 2 tanks that Britain is sending to Ukraine. 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.

With air force helmet as state gift to Britain, Zelensky pushes for more fighter airplanes

<p>In France, a road safety awareness campaign is addressing the role of the gendered behaviour of vehicle drivers. The campaign is warning that toxic forms of masculinity could contribute to traffic-related deaths due to speed, alcohol, drugs, and fatigue. The campaign video shows men at the birth of their sons. It then contrasts it with toughed-up masculine stereotypes while trying to add sensitivity as determining factor in road safety.</p>

<p>"Speed, alcohol, drugs, fatigue… what if we need to add masculinity?" the French road safety body asked of the list of factors that typically lead to road accidents. The caption reads: "On the road, 8 out of 10 deaths are men. Be the man you want to be, but be a living man."</p>

<h2><strong>How many men are killed in accidents in France?</strong></h2>

<p>In 2022, about 78 per cent of those killed in road accidents in France were men. This was close to the average across the European Union. Among the French drivers aged 18–24 killed on the road last year, 88 per cent were men. Of people suspected to have caused road accidents, 84 per cent were men, while men accounted for 93 per cent of drunk drivers involved in an accident.</p>

<p>Experts cited in the Western media said that the campaign is about prompting people to examine their behaviour and not implying that all men are bad drivers.</p>

<p>The sociologist Alain Mergier who carried out a study on masculinity and driving across all age groups for the campaign told The Guardian: "It’s striking how certain stereotypes are persistently passed from father to son, including the car as a symbolic object of masculinity, male identity, and virility. This isn’t given much thought and yet we can see the far-reaching impact on accidents."</p>

<p>He said some boys and men were taught from childhood that the car was their symbol and it was through driving that they could "defend their manliness".</p>

<p>"It could lead to the sense that a man has to prove himself by mastering a vehicle, such as accelerating or breaking speed limits to show 'I’m a real man'," Mergier added.</p>


In France, a road safety awareness campaign is addressing the role of the gendered behaviour of vehicle drivers. The campaign is warning that toxic forms of masculinity could contribute to traffic-related deaths due to speed, alcohol, drugs, and fatigue.

In France, a road safety awareness campaign is addressing the role of the gendered behaviour of vehicle drivers. The campaign is warning that toxic forms of masculinity could contribute to traffic-related deaths due to speed, alcohol, drugs, and fatigue. The campaign video shows men at the birth of their sons. It then contrasts it with toughed-up masculine stereotypes while trying to add sensitivity as determining factor in road safety. "Speed, alcohol, drugs, fatigue… what if we need to add masculinity?" the French road safety body asked of the list of factors that typically lead to road accidents. The caption reads: "On the road, 8 out of 10 deaths are men. Be the man you want to be, but be a living man." How many men are killed in accidents in France? In 2022, about 78 per cent of those killed in road accidents in France were men. This was close to the average across the European Union. Among the French drivers aged 18–24 killed on the road last year, 88 per cent were men. Of people suspected to have caused road accidents, 84 per cent were men, while men accounted for 93 per cent of drunk drivers involved in an accident. Experts cited in the Western media said that the campaign is about prompting people to examine their behaviour and not implying that all men are bad drivers. The sociologist Alain Mergier who carried out a study on masculinity and driving across all age groups for the campaign told The Guardian: "It’s striking how certain stereotypes are persistently passed from father to son, including the car as a symbolic object of masculinity, male identity, and virility. This isn’t given much thought and yet we can see the far-reaching impact on accidents." He said some boys and men were taught from childhood that the car was their symbol and it was through driving that they could "defend their manliness". "It could lead to the sense that a man has to prove himself by mastering a vehicle, such as accelerating or breaking speed limits to show 'I’m a real man'," Mergier added.

French campaign shows fatherhood, masculinity as factors affecting road safety

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.