<p>An all-time high number of undocumented Indians are crossing over from Canada to the United States, The Indian Express reported. The report added that the unusual spike has placed Canada's visa screening process under the lens. This is further complicated by the concerns over Canada-bound Indian passengers seeking asylum in the United Kingdom while in transit.</p>

<h2><strong>Undocumented Indians' bid to enter the US: What is the situation?</strong></h2>

<p>According to the latest US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, an all-time high of 5,152 undocumented Indians entered the US from Canada on foot this June alone.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indians-protest-against-changes-in-canadas-immigration-policy-754149">Indians protest against changes in Canada's immigration policy</a></strong></p>

<p>The monthly number of Indians entering the US from Canada has surpassed those crossing over from the Mexico route since December 2023.</p>

<p>At about 9,000 km in length, the US-Canada border is the longest open border in the world. The number of undocumented Indians using this route has surpassed the number of such entries from the more conventional path of using the Mexico border route.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Controversial U.S. Immigration policy Title 42 ends</strong></p>

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<p>The Indian Express report cited that data to point out that the number of Indians caught at the US-Canada border between January and June 2024 has increased by 47 per cent — there were 3,733 incidents — compared to 2,548 last year for the same period.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rise in unauthorised Indian migration has made Indians the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants in the US.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a Pew Research report, there were about 725,000 undocumented Indian nationals in the United States in 2021.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Canada?</strong></h2>

<p>An immigration consultant registered with the Canada Regulatory Council told Indian Express, "Canada offers the ideal combination of an accessible visa and a soft border. It’s a much safer option than taking one of those ‘dunki’ (illegal) routes via West Asia, Africa or the Caribbean, to join the crowd waiting to cross the heavily guarded Mexico border."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An all-time high number of undocumented Indians are crossing over from Canada to the United States, The Indian Express reported. The report added that the unusual spike has placed Canada's visa screening process under the lens.

An all-time high number of undocumented Indians are crossing over from Canada to the United States, The Indian Express reported. The report added that the unusual spike has placed Canada's visa screening process under the lens. This is further complicated by the concerns over Canada-bound Indian passengers seeking asylum in the United Kingdom while in transit. Undocumented Indians' bid to enter the US: What is the situation? According to the latest US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, an all-time high of 5,152 undocumented Indians entered the US from Canada on foot this June alone. Also read | Indians protest against changes in Canada's immigration policy The monthly number of Indians entering the US from Canada has surpassed those crossing over from the Mexico route since December 2023. At about 9,000 km in length, the US-Canada border is the longest open border in the world. The number of undocumented Indians using this route has surpassed the number of such entries from the more conventional path of using the Mexico border route. Also watch | Gravitas: Controversial U.S. Immigration policy Title 42 ends × The Indian Express report cited that data to point out that the number of Indians caught at the US-Canada border between January and June 2024 has increased by 47 per cent — there were 3,733 incidents — compared to 2,548 last year for the same period. The rise in unauthorised Indian migration has made Indians the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants in the US. According to a Pew Research report, there were about 725,000 undocumented Indian nationals in the United States in 2021. Why Canada? An immigration consultant registered with the Canada Regulatory Council told Indian Express, "Canada offers the ideal combination of an accessible visa and a soft border. It’s a much safer option than taking one of those ‘dunki’ (illegal) routes via West Asia, Africa or the Caribbean, to join the crowd waiting to cross the heavily guarded Mexico border." (With inputs from agencies)

Record number of undocumented Indians enter US through Canada route: Report

<p>Two Geneva businessmen were found guilty for their roles in a $1.8bn scam to defraud Malaysia's 1MDB economic development fund. The guilty verdict was given by a Swiss court last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These businessmen are Tarek Obaid (sentenced to seven years in prison) and his colleague Patrick Mahony (sentenced to six years in prison). The duo was convicted on the charges of criminal mismanagement and aggravated money laundering, according to a spokesperson for Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court.</p>

<p>The Swiss court said that the multi-year prison sentences were justified since there were "high amounts (of money) involved and the intensity of the criminal activity" alongside the purported "selfish motive".</p>

<p>The court also ordered the men to compensate 1MDB for the funds that were diverted. The compensation will be in the form of the seizure of their own assets alongside the ones confiscated by the authorities as part of the scandal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the duo were not determined to be a flight risk and the court rejected the prosecutors' request for them to be immediately detained.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swiss-court-convicts-two-executives-over-18-billion-1mdb-fraud-754088">Swiss court convicts two executives over $1.8 billion 1MDB fraud</a></strong></p>

<p>Both of them can still appeal the verdicts and the sentences before they come into force. "Many essential elements presented by the defence were not taken into consideration and we deplore that," Myriam Fehr-Alaoui, Obaid’s lawyer, said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mahony too will appeal the verdict, her lawyer Laurent Baeriswyl was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>Reports in the Western media are trying to pass it off as a win for the Swiss prosecutors to purportedly demonstrate that the country is not soft on white-collar crime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the fact of the matter is that despite the conviction, the duo is not behind bars and they are not deemed a flight risk as yet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/1mdb-scandal-malaysia-central-bank-governor-muhammad-bin-ibrahim-steps-down-142658">1MDB scandal: Malaysia Central Bank governor Muhammad bin Ibrahim steps down</a></strong></p>

<p>Above all, Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the broader $4.5 billion defrauding of 1MDB, remains at large. Two Goldman Sachs bankers were embroiled in the scandal and the bank paid $2.5 billion as part of a 2020 settlement with the Malaysian government over its role.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Two Geneva businessmen were found guilty for their roles in a $1.8bn scam to defraud Malaysia's 1MDB economic development fund. The guilty verdict was given by a Swiss court last week.

Two Geneva businessmen were found guilty for their roles in a $1.8bn scam to defraud Malaysia's 1MDB economic development fund. The guilty verdict was given by a Swiss court last week. These businessmen are Tarek Obaid (sentenced to seven years in prison) and his colleague Patrick Mahony (sentenced to six years in prison). The duo was convicted on the charges of criminal mismanagement and aggravated money laundering, according to a spokesperson for Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court. The Swiss court said that the multi-year prison sentences were justified since there were "high amounts (of money) involved and the intensity of the criminal activity" alongside the purported "selfish motive". The court also ordered the men to compensate 1MDB for the funds that were diverted. The compensation will be in the form of the seizure of their own assets alongside the ones confiscated by the authorities as part of the scandal. But the duo were not determined to be a flight risk and the court rejected the prosecutors' request for them to be immediately detained. Also read | Swiss court convicts two executives over $1.8 billion 1MDB fraud Both of them can still appeal the verdicts and the sentences before they come into force. "Many essential elements presented by the defence were not taken into consideration and we deplore that," Myriam Fehr-Alaoui, Obaid’s lawyer, said. Mahony too will appeal the verdict, her lawyer Laurent Baeriswyl was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. What does it mean? Reports in the Western media are trying to pass it off as a win for the Swiss prosecutors to purportedly demonstrate that the country is not soft on white-collar crime. But the fact of the matter is that despite the conviction, the duo is not behind bars and they are not deemed a flight risk as yet. Also read | 1MDB scandal: Malaysia Central Bank governor Muhammad bin Ibrahim steps down Above all, Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the broader $4.5 billion defrauding of 1MDB, remains at large. Two Goldman Sachs bankers were embroiled in the scandal and the bank paid $2.5 billion as part of a 2020 settlement with the Malaysian government over its role. (With inputs from agencies)

Swiss court convicts 1MDB fraudsters for over $1.8bn theft but deems them no flight risk

<p>Hvaldimir, the beluga whale that captured global attention after being spotted wearing a mysterious harness in 2019, was found dead on Saturday (Aug&nbsp;31) in southwestern Norway. The discovery was made by Sebastian Strand, the founder of the nonprofit organisation Marine Mind.</p>

<p>Strand found the whale’s lifeless body floating near Risavika.</p>

<p>Although the cause of death remains unknown, Strand noted markings around the whale that could have been caused by birds or other marine animals.</p>

<p>"It’s heartbreaking," Strand was quoted as saying by the New York Times. "He’s touched thousands of people’s hearts just here in Norway."</p>

<p>Efforts are underway to preserve Hvaldimir’s carcass for further examination in hopes of determining the cause of death. The whale was estimated to be nearly 14 feet long and weighed approximately 2,700 pounds.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-probes-chinas-telecom-espionage-3-companies-under-scrutiny-734967">US probes China's telecom 'espionage': 3 companies under scrutiny</a></strong></p>

<p>Hvaldimir first made headlines in 2019 when he was spotted in northern Norway, wearing a harness that seemed designed to hold a camera.</p>

<p>The harness bore an inscription linking it to St. Petersburg, fueling speculation that Hvaldimir might have been trained by the Russian military for reconnaissance purposes. Despite these speculations, Russia has never claimed the whale.</p>

<p>However, if Hvaldimir had been a spy, he was an unusually friendly one. The beluga showed the signs of domestication and was notably comfortable around humans, often staying in busier waters that are not typical for his species, which usually inhabit remote Arctic regions.</p>

<p>"He was completely acclimatized to human culture," Strand said, suggesting that the whale had likely spent much of his life in captivity.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Is China trying to spy on INS Mumbai?</strong></p>

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<p>Over the years, Strand and his team at Marine Mind worked to educate the public and protect Hvaldimir as he navigated waters far from his natural habitat. Last year, the whale was spotted off the coast of Sweden, a troubling southward journey that took him away from his food sources and closer to industrial harbours, raising concerns for his safety.</p>

<p>Strand had been advocating for increased safety measures for Hvaldimir, who had appeared to be in good health as recently as Friday, according to reports.</p>

<p>"I’m not sure what’s happened,” Strand said. "But we’ll find out."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Hvaldimir, the beluga whale that captured global attention after being spotted wearing a mysterious harness in 2019, was found dead on Saturday (Aug 31) in southwestern Norway.

Hvaldimir, the beluga whale that captured global attention after being spotted wearing a mysterious harness in 2019, was found dead on Saturday (Aug 31) in southwestern Norway. The discovery was made by Sebastian Strand, the founder of the nonprofit organisation Marine Mind. Strand found the whale’s lifeless body floating near Risavika. Although the cause of death remains unknown, Strand noted markings around the whale that could have been caused by birds or other marine animals. "It’s heartbreaking," Strand was quoted as saying by the New York Times. "He’s touched thousands of people’s hearts just here in Norway." Efforts are underway to preserve Hvaldimir’s carcass for further examination in hopes of determining the cause of death. The whale was estimated to be nearly 14 feet long and weighed approximately 2,700 pounds. Also read | US probes China's telecom 'espionage': 3 companies under scrutiny Hvaldimir first made headlines in 2019 when he was spotted in northern Norway, wearing a harness that seemed designed to hold a camera. The harness bore an inscription linking it to St. Petersburg, fueling speculation that Hvaldimir might have been trained by the Russian military for reconnaissance purposes. Despite these speculations, Russia has never claimed the whale. However, if Hvaldimir had been a spy, he was an unusually friendly one. The beluga showed the signs of domestication and was notably comfortable around humans, often staying in busier waters that are not typical for his species, which usually inhabit remote Arctic regions. "He was completely acclimatized to human culture," Strand said, suggesting that the whale had likely spent much of his life in captivity. Also watch | Gravitas: Is China trying to spy on INS Mumbai? × Over the years, Strand and his team at Marine Mind worked to educate the public and protect Hvaldimir as he navigated waters far from his natural habitat. Last year, the whale was spotted off the coast of Sweden, a troubling southward journey that took him away from his food sources and closer to industrial harbours, raising concerns for his safety. Strand had been advocating for increased safety measures for Hvaldimir, who had appeared to be in good health as recently as Friday, according to reports. "I’m not sure what’s happened,” Strand said. "But we’ll find out." (With inputs from agencies)

Unclaimed Russian 'spy' whale Hvaldimir found dead near Norway

<p>The United States is reportedly finalising a 'take it or leave it' ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. In other news, at least 27 people were reported dead due to relentless torrential rainfall in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the second consecutive day on Sunday (Sept 1).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click here to read more:</strong></p>

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The United States may soon put forward a "take it or leave it" deal in front of Hamas and Israel. This comes after Israel on Sunday (Sep 1) discovered the bodies of six, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin taken hostage by Hamas on Oct 7.<br />
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Pakistan's Peshawar is emerging as the potential 'epicenter' of mpox disease, a top health official in the South Asian nation said, over two weeks after the World Health Organization declared it an emergency of international concern.&nbsp;</p>

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Iran's final investigation into the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi in May has concluded that "complicated" weather conditions were the primary cause.&nbsp;</p>

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At least 27 people were reported dead due to relentless torrential rainfall in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the second consecutive day on Sunday (Sept 1).&nbsp; Widespread flooding, waterlogging, and road and rail traffic disruption are affecting millions with emergency measures imposed across both states.</p>

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Coco Gauff joined Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz on the US Open scrap-heap Sunday as the defending champion crashed out to Emma Navarro in a blizzard of mistakes.</p>

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The United States is reportedly finalising a 'take it or leave it' ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. In other news, at least 27 people were reported dead due to relentless torrential rainfall in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the second consecutive day on Sunday (Sept 1).

The United States is reportedly finalising a 'take it or leave it' ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. In other news, at least 27 people were reported dead due to relentless torrential rainfall in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the second consecutive day on Sunday (Sept 1). Click here to read more: US finalising 'take it or leave it' deal for Israel-Hamas war The United States may soon put forward a "take it or leave it" deal in front of Hamas and Israel. This comes after Israel on Sunday (Sep 1) discovered the bodies of six, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin taken hostage by Hamas on Oct 7. Mpox crisis: New cases reported in Pakistan, Peshawar a potential 'epicenter' Pakistan's Peshawar is emerging as the potential 'epicenter' of mpox disease, a top health official in the South Asian nation said, over two weeks after the World Health Organization declared it an emergency of international concern. Iran: Special investigative agency concludes Ebrahim Raisi helicopter crash caused by 'complicated' weather Iran's final investigation into the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi in May has concluded that "complicated" weather conditions were the primary cause. 27 dead as flood fury strikes India's Andhra Pradesh, Telangana: Top points At least 27 people were reported dead due to relentless torrential rainfall in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the second consecutive day on Sunday (Sept 1). Widespread flooding, waterlogging, and road and rail traffic disruption are affecting millions with emergency measures imposed across both states. US Open 2024: Coco Gauff slumps to defeat as defending champion bows out in fourth round Coco Gauff joined Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz on the US Open scrap-heap Sunday as the defending champion crashed out to Emma Navarro in a blizzard of mistakes. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas can't get enough of each other in latest PIC Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas looked great together as they attended a family friend’s wedding. The two dressed up in formal attires on September 1 as they complemented each other in new pictures. Israel-Hamas war: Israeli raids in West Bank enters day 6, 27 killed so far ×

Morning brief: Washington's crucial ceasefire deal for Gaza; Peshawar a potential mpox 'epicenter', and more

<p>Over ten months after Hamas attacked southern Israel, triggering&nbsp;the ongoing war in Gaza, the Israeli side discovered the remains of 6 hostages.&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1704}">Even as&nbsp;the Israeli military said that the remains are yet to be identified, the United States has revealed that one of the dead hostages is&nbsp;an Israeli-American citizen <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-confirms-israeli-american-hersh-goldberg-polin-among-gaza-hostage-remains-biden-condemns-hamas-754942">Hersh Goldberg-Polin</a>.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1704}"><b>Click here to read more:</b></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-discovers-bodies-in-gaza-possible-hostages-from-oct-7-the-country-will-tremble-warn-angry-families-754927"><strong>IDF discovers bodies in Gaza, possibly of Oct 7 hostages: 'The country will tremble,' warn angry families</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/09/01/452370-new-wion-51.png?imwidth=400" /></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1854}">The Israel Defence Forces on Saturday (Aug 31) night announced that its troops had located several bodies in the Gaza Strip. These bodies as per reports could be of hostages taken by the militant group Hamas on Oct 7.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1704}">Even as&nbsp;the Israeli military said that the remains are yet to be identified, the United States has revealed that one of the dead hostages is&nbsp;an Israeli-American citizen <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-confirms-israeli-american-hersh-goldberg-polin-among-gaza-hostage-remains-biden-condemns-hamas-754942">Hersh Goldberg-Polin</a>.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1854}"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mpox-crisis-un-still-in-vaccine-tender-mode-amid-thousands-of-new-suspected-infections-in-africa-754932"><strong>Mpox crisis: Vaccine rollout in Africa could take months as UN still in tender mode</strong></a></p>

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The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued an emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for the crisis-hit countries in collaboration with the Bill Gates-membered GAVI vaccine alliance and others, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation said in a joint statement on Saturday (Aug&nbsp;31).&nbsp;</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1854}"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-slams-donald-trumps-political-stunt-at-arlington-cemetery-comments-nothing-new-754918"><strong>Kamala Harris slams Donald Trump's 'political stunt' at Arlington cemetery, comments: 'nothing new'</strong></a></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1854}"><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/09/01/452365-new-wion-50.png?imwidth=400" /><br />
US Vice President Kamala Harris has openly slammed her political rival Donald Trump for using footage from his visit to Arlington National Cemetery in a campaign video, calling it "a political stunt".<br />
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unclaimed-russian-spy-hvaldimir-found-dead-near-norway-754921"><strong>Unclaimed Russian 'spy' Hvaldimir found dead near Norway</strong></a></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1854}"><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/09/01/452363-spywhale.png?imwidth=400" /><br />
Hvaldimir, the beluga whale that captured global attention after being spotted wearing a mysterious harness in 2019, was found dead on Saturday (August 31) in southwestern Norway. The discovery was made by Sebastian Strand, the founder of the nonprofit organisation Marine Mind.<br />
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-must-give-up-its-permanent-un-security-council-seat-to-india-ex-singaporean-diplomat-754943"><strong>UK must give up its permanent UN Security Council seat to India: Ex-Singaporean diplomat</strong></a></p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1854}"><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/03/22/420254-the-battle-for-kyiv-2024-03-22t192328979.jpg?imwidth=400" /><br />
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore later this month, former Singaporean diplomat and acclaimed academic Kishore Mahbubani has called for urgent reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that New Delhi deserves a permanent seat on the council.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-us-open-2024-jannik-sinner-avoids-trapdoor-as-iga-swiatek-moves-into-last-16-754931"><strong>US Open 2024: Jannik Sinner avoids trapdoor as Iga Swiatek moves into last 16</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/09/01/452376-us-open-2024-jannik-sinner-avoids-trapdoor-as-iga-swiatek-moves-into-last-16.png?imwidth=400" /><br />
Jannik Sinner avoided plunging through the US Open trapdoor which claimed Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz when he stormed into the last 16 on Saturday as fellow world number one Iga Swiatek stayed on course for a second New York triumph.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-chidimma-adetshina-wins-miss-nigeria-after-south-africa-row-754933"><strong>Chidimma Adetshina wins Miss Nigeria after South Africa row</strong></a></p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/09/01/452377-happy-30th-birthday-2024-09-01t091053628.png?imwidth=400" />A former Miss South Africa contestant hounded over a nationality row was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria on Saturday, capping a difficult few weeks for the beauty queen.</p>

<p bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:14,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:51,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1854}"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-pezeshkian-says-his-country-needs-more-than-100-billion-in-foreign-investment-754935"><strong>Iran: Pezeshkian says his country needs more than $100 billion in foreign investment</strong></a></p>

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Over ten months after Hamas attacked southern Israel, triggering the ongoing war in Gaza, the Israeli side discovered the remains of 6 hostages. Even as the Israeli military said that the remains are yet to be identified, the United States has revealed that one of the dead hostages is an Israeli-American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Over ten months after Hamas attacked southern Israel, triggering the ongoing war in Gaza, the Israeli side discovered the remains of 6 hostages. Even as the Israeli military said that the remains are yet to be identified, the United States has revealed that one of the dead hostages is an Israeli-American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Click here to read more: IDF discovers bodies in Gaza, possibly of Oct 7 hostages: 'The country will tremble,' warn angry families The Israel Defence Forces on Saturday (Aug 31) night announced that its troops had located several bodies in the Gaza Strip. These bodies as per reports could be of hostages taken by the militant group Hamas on Oct 7. Even as the Israeli military said that the remains are yet to be identified, the United States has revealed that one of the dead hostages is an Israeli-American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Mpox crisis: Vaccine rollout in Africa could take months as UN still in tender mode The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued an emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for the crisis-hit countries in collaboration with the Bill Gates-membered GAVI vaccine alliance and others, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation said in a joint statement on Saturday (Aug 31). Kamala Harris slams Donald Trump's 'political stunt' at Arlington cemetery, comments: 'nothing new' US Vice President Kamala Harris has openly slammed her political rival Donald Trump for using footage from his visit to Arlington National Cemetery in a campaign video, calling it "a political stunt". Unclaimed Russian 'spy' Hvaldimir found dead near Norway Hvaldimir, the beluga whale that captured global attention after being spotted wearing a mysterious harness in 2019, was found dead on Saturday (August 31) in southwestern Norway. The discovery was made by Sebastian Strand, the founder of the nonprofit organisation Marine Mind. UK must give up its permanent UN Security Council seat to India: Ex-Singaporean diplomat Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore later this month, former Singaporean diplomat and acclaimed academic Kishore Mahbubani has called for urgent reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that New Delhi deserves a permanent seat on the council. US Open 2024: Jannik Sinner avoids trapdoor as Iga Swiatek moves into last 16 Jannik Sinner avoided plunging through the US Open trapdoor which claimed Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz when he stormed into the last 16 on Saturday as fellow world number one Iga Swiatek stayed on course for a second New York triumph. Chidimma Adetshina wins Miss Nigeria after South Africa row A former Miss South Africa contestant hounded over a nationality row was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria on Saturday, capping a difficult few weeks for the beauty queen. Iran: Pezeshkian says his country needs more than $100 billion in foreign investment ×

Morning brief: Israel discovers remains of Oct 7 hostages; mpox crisis lingers, and more

<p>Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore later this month, former Singaporean diplomat and acclaimed academic Kishore Mahbubani has called for urgent reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that New Delhi deserves a permanent seat on the council.</p>

<p>In an interview with NDTV, Mahbubani argued that the United Kingdom should relinquish its permanent seat at the UNSC to India.</p>

<p>"India is undeniably the third-most powerful country in the world today, after the United States and China. Meanwhile, Great Britain is no longer 'great'," he remarked.</p>

<p>India in the past has&nbsp;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/how-chinas-smokescreen-tricks-the-world-against-reforms-at-un-security-council-635950">How China’s ‘smokescreen’ tricks the world against reforms at UN Security Council</a></strong></p>

<p>Mahbubani explained that the UK has not exercised its veto power at the UNSC for decades, largely due to fear of backlash. "The logical step for the UK is to cede its seat to India,&nbsp;he said.</p>

<p>Commenting on the broader need for UN reforms, Mahbubani said that the founders of the UN designed the organisation to include the major powers of their time, ensuring these nations had vested interests in maintaining its effectiveness.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;UN recognises need for reform within security council; UN facing a crisis of credibility, says India</strong></p>

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<p>"The founders of the UN learned from the early 20th-century collapse of the League of Nations that if a great power leaves, the organisation falls apart,” he said. "However, they also believed that the UNSC should represent the great powers of today, not those of the past. Unfortunately, they did not create a mechanism to update the council’s membership."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-edges-past-the-uk-in-critical-technologies-research-iit-bombay-roorkee-top-performers-754115">India edges past the UK in critical technologies research; IIT Bombay, Roorkee top performers</a></strong></p>

<p>Mahbubani added that if the UK were to give up its seat, it would also gain the freedom to act more independently on the global stage.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore later this month, former Singaporean diplomat and acclaimed academic Kishore Mahbubani has called for urgent reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that New Delhi deserves a permanent seat on the council.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore later this month, former Singaporean diplomat and acclaimed academic Kishore Mahbubani has called for urgent reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that New Delhi deserves a permanent seat on the council. In an interview with NDTV, Mahbubani argued that the United Kingdom should relinquish its permanent seat at the UNSC to India. "India is undeniably the third-most powerful country in the world today, after the United States and China. Meanwhile, Great Britain is no longer 'great'," he remarked. India in the past has 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 | How China’s ‘smokescreen’ tricks the world against reforms at UN Security Council Mahbubani explained that the UK has not exercised its veto power at the UNSC for decades, largely due to fear of backlash. "The logical step for the UK is to cede its seat to India, he said. Commenting on the broader need for UN reforms, Mahbubani said that the founders of the UN designed the organisation to include the major powers of their time, ensuring these nations had vested interests in maintaining its effectiveness. Also watch | UN recognises need for reform within security council; UN facing a crisis of credibility, says India × "The founders of the UN learned from the early 20th-century collapse of the League of Nations that if a great power leaves, the organisation falls apart,” he said. "However, they also believed that the UNSC should represent the great powers of today, not those of the past. Unfortunately, they did not create a mechanism to update the council’s membership." Also read | India edges past the UK in critical technologies research; IIT Bombay, Roorkee top performers Mahbubani added that if the UK were to give up its seat, it would also gain the freedom to act more independently on the global stage. (With inputs from agencies)

UK must give up its permanent UN Security Council seat to India: Ex-Singaporean diplomat

<p>In The Capitals this week, the focus of the most powerful individuals in Pakistan's capital Islamabad returned to insurgency in Balochistan after the separatists staged the biggest single-day attack on several locations on the anniversary of the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. The '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-arrest-how-isi-angels-rule-pakistan-590710">angels</a>'&nbsp;— as The Capitals has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-capitals-angels-prevail-in-islamabad-but-after-historic-blow-to-pakistan-army-689286">reported</a>&nbsp;in the past —have not prevailed yet this time around.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Across the Ocean, Paris paid quite a hefty price for the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. Meanwhile, New Delhi's efforts to lead the critical technologies boom appeared to be paying off.</p>

<p>Read this in The Capitals this weekend.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Islamabad, Pakistan</strong></h2>

<p>Islamabad's corridors of power were taken aback by shock when insurgents in Balochistan carried out large-scale coordinated attacks on the 18th death anniversary of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani military in 2006.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The coordinated strikes that left more than 70 dead, were more widespread than any such assault in the past by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army. The attack continues to foreground Baloch armed separatism fuelled by decades of exploitation of impoverished Balochistan's natural resources.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to eliminate the "terrorist threat" after he travelled to Quetta to address the unrest.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Sharif described the attacks as part of a "wicked scheme" orchestrated by &nbsp;the BLA and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)</p>

<p>"There has been a wave of great concern among the people across Pakistan due to the recent heartrending incident that occurred in Balochistan. Everyone is aggrieved by this incident," he said.</p>

<p>The decades of "kill and dump policy", a reference to the abduction, disappearance, and killings of the Baloch dissidents by the Pakistani state, formulated the mistrust between ethnic Baloch people and Islamabad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This week appears to be the beginning of yet another violent chapter in Islamabad's Balochistan problem.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Paris, France</strong></h2>

<p>The diplomatic fallout from the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Paris pushed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to cancel its US$20 billion deal with France for 80 Rafale fighter jets. The Russian-born tech tycoon's detention by French authorities strained relations between the UAE and France, despite Durov’s release on bail.</p>

<p>Durov, who holds UAE citizenship alongside several other nationalities, was arrested last week at a Paris airport after arriving from Azerbaijan. The arrest was reportedly linked to accusations from French authorities, including allegations of financial crimes, cyber offenses, drug trafficking, and child exploitation on the Telegram platform. While Durov has consistently denied these allegations, claiming they are politically motivated due to his refusal to grant Western governments’ backdoor access to Telegram, the arrest has nonetheless triggered significant diplomatic repercussions.</p>

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron has attempted to mitigate the situation, stating that Durov’s arrest was not politically motivated and was unrelated to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, these assurances have done little to appease the UAE.&nbsp;<br />
<img alt="Olympic rings seen on Eiffel Tower | File via AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="24602329-aed5-442e-b794-68b26f702ef3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Eiffel%20Tower_0.png" /></p>

<p><em>Olympic rings seen on Eiffel Tower | File via AFP</em></p>

<p>Among other crucial developments from Paris, the Eiffel Tower will keep the Olympic rings that have adorned it since June after the ongoing Paralympic Games, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Saturday (August 31).</p>

<p>"As mayor of Paris, the decision is up to me and I have the agreement of the IOC (International Olympic Committee)," Hidalgo told French daily Ouest-France.</p>

<p>"So yes, they (the rings) will stay on the Eiffel Tower," she said, without specifying for how long.</p>

<h2><strong>Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo</strong></h2>

<p>Kinshasa is reeling under the impact of wider mpox viral spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But the first delivery of the vaccines is expected to land in the capital Kinshasa in the coming days, the World Health Organization's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this month.</p>

<p>More than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox have been reported in DR Congo so far this year, with 629 deaths, said Tedros.</p>

<p>The figure included more than 5,000 cases and 31 deaths from the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, where the new Clade 1b strain has been spreading.</p>

<h2><strong>New Delhi, India</strong></h2>

<p>In a major sign of New Delhi's boosting rising&nbsp;critical technologies ambitions, India&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-edges-past-the-uk-in-critical-technologies-research-iit-bombay-roorkee-top-performers-754115">edged</a> past the United Kingdom by delivering more cutting-edge critical technology research during the period between 2019 and 2023, data published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute showed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It now ranks among the top five&nbsp;countries for 45 of 64 critical technologies against the UK's 36. For the period between 2018 and 2022, the UK was among the top five&nbsp;countries for 44 of 64 critical technologies, while India was among the top five&nbsp;nations for 37 of 64 critical technologies.</p>

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<p>This represents enormous gains from 2003-2007, in which India was placed among the top five&nbsp;countries for only four technologies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This, dear reader, is the wrap for <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/the-capitals">The Capitals</a></strong>&nbsp;— for now. Thank you for turning in to consume this one on your smartphone or internet device.&nbsp;</p>


In The Capitals this week, the focus of the most powerful individuals in Pakistan's capital Islamabad returned to insurgency in Balochistan after the separatists staged the biggest single-day attack on several locations on the anniversary of the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.

In The Capitals this week, the focus of the most powerful individuals in Pakistan's capital Islamabad returned to insurgency in Balochistan after the separatists staged the biggest single-day attack on several locations on the anniversary of the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. The 'angels' — as The Capitals has reported in the past —have not prevailed yet this time around. Across the Ocean, Paris paid quite a hefty price for the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. Meanwhile, New Delhi's efforts to lead the critical technologies boom appeared to be paying off. Read this in The Capitals this weekend. Islamabad, Pakistan Islamabad's corridors of power were taken aback by shock when insurgents in Balochistan carried out large-scale coordinated attacks on the 18th death anniversary of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani military in 2006. The coordinated strikes that left more than 70 dead, were more widespread than any such assault in the past by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army. The attack continues to foreground Baloch armed separatism fuelled by decades of exploitation of impoverished Balochistan's natural resources. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to eliminate the "terrorist threat" after he travelled to Quetta to address the unrest. × Sharif described the attacks as part of a "wicked scheme" orchestrated by the BLA and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) "There has been a wave of great concern among the people across Pakistan due to the recent heartrending incident that occurred in Balochistan. Everyone is aggrieved by this incident," he said. The decades of "kill and dump policy", a reference to the abduction, disappearance, and killings of the Baloch dissidents by the Pakistani state, formulated the mistrust between ethnic Baloch people and Islamabad. This week appears to be the beginning of yet another violent chapter in Islamabad's Balochistan problem. Paris, France The diplomatic fallout from the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Paris pushed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to cancel its US$20 billion deal with France for 80 Rafale fighter jets. The Russian-born tech tycoon's detention by French authorities strained relations between the UAE and France, despite Durov’s release on bail. Durov, who holds UAE citizenship alongside several other nationalities, was arrested last week at a Paris airport after arriving from Azerbaijan. The arrest was reportedly linked to accusations from French authorities, including allegations of financial crimes, cyber offenses, drug trafficking, and child exploitation on the Telegram platform. While Durov has consistently denied these allegations, claiming they are politically motivated due to his refusal to grant Western governments’ backdoor access to Telegram, the arrest has nonetheless triggered significant diplomatic repercussions. French President Emmanuel Macron has attempted to mitigate the situation, stating that Durov’s arrest was not politically motivated and was unrelated to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, these assurances have done little to appease the UAE. Olympic rings seen on Eiffel Tower | File via AFP Among other crucial developments from Paris, the Eiffel Tower will keep the Olympic rings that have adorned it since June after the ongoing Paralympic Games, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Saturday (August 31). "As mayor of Paris, the decision is up to me and I have the agreement of the IOC (International Olympic Committee)," Hidalgo told French daily Ouest-France. "So yes, they (the rings) will stay on the Eiffel Tower," she said, without specifying for how long. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa is reeling under the impact of wider mpox viral spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But the first delivery of the vaccines is expected to land in the capital Kinshasa in the coming days, the World Health Organization's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this month. More than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox have been reported in DR Congo so far this year, with 629 deaths, said Tedros. The figure included more than 5,000 cases and 31 deaths from the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, where the new Clade 1b strain has been spreading. New Delhi, India In a major sign of New Delhi's boosting rising critical technologies ambitions, India edged past the United Kingdom by delivering more cutting-edge critical technology research during the period between 2019 and 2023, data published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute showed. It now ranks among the top five countries for 45 of 64 critical technologies against the UK's 36. For the period between 2018 and 2022, the UK was among the top five countries for 44 of 64 critical technologies, while India was among the top five nations for 37 of 64 critical technologies. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WION (@wionews) × This represents enormous gains from 2003-2007, in which India was placed among the top five countries for only four technologies. This, dear reader, is the wrap for The Capitals — for now. Thank you for turning in to consume this one on your smartphone or internet device.

The Capitals: Islamabad's Baloch fault line matures its teeth; Paris to keep Olympic rings for now; and more

<p>In 2023, when Nashik-born Tushar (24) received his coveted MBA degree from a premier Delhi institution, it was a moment of remarkable significance for him and his family. A voracious reader of literature "of all kinds", Tushar's MBA came after he explained the meaning of financial discipline in one of his exams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yet about a year down the line, despite landing an equally coveted wealth management role at a leading global multinational in Gurugram, he has "little to no savings" with him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have responsibilities back home. Half my earnings go home and it will take me a while to accumulate some savings."&nbsp;</p>

<p>That's unlike Rishali (25), who came to New Delhi to work in a 'Big Four' last year and doesn't have to act as an economic asset to her household&nbsp;just as yet. A year into the job, she says she has enough to sustain herself for three to four months in a metro city if she loses her job.</p>

<p>Both Tushar and Rishali fall under a corporate finance term called HENRYs — High-Earning but Not Rich Yet. By convention, most of HENRYs' income is consumed in the economy by consumer spending, educational costs, and housing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Author and internet entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo does not expect youngsters to be rich. "By definition, youngsters will be high-earning but not rich yet, because becoming rich requires compounding which requires time," Warikoo said.</p>

<p>"I expect them to be financially disciplined," he added.</p>

<p>Rishali has consumed all of Warikoo's work as audiobooks in recent months during her 90-minute commute from work to the office.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"What they teach you in those classes works fantastically well in the corporate world when your firm is dealing with huge sums of money. But when it comes to the financial discipline in day-to-day life, Warikoo has really helped people like me," Rishali said while referring to the difference between what she learned during her MBA and her passive consumption of Warikoo's work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tushar never read Warikoo's work but is aware of his influence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I work hard at my job and send money home. My peers have that kind of disposable money because they have not yet started taking on the responsibilities. To me, those responsibilities are important alongside working hard at my job. I have just started. So I also cut myself slack when it comes to partying a night out in the cyber city or HKV," Tushar said while referring to Gurugram's cyber city and Hauz Khas Village, the famous partying spots in Delhi-NCR.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bestselling author Chetan Bhagat believes that 'HENRY' could be anybody "who is not there yet".</p>

<p>"There is a certain audience that believes that the content they consume should also not just be interesting and entertaining, but it should also help them develop and help them get better," Bhagat said while adding that people who want to earn more money among other priorities, get attracted to the content which will purportedly help them at it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think these people who are not there yet (the NTYs) are the ones who are reading, listening, or consuming this kind of content," Bhagat said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The self-help genre has struck a chord with Indian youngsters, says Shailesh Sawlani, India manager of Audible, the Amazon-owned online audiobook and podcast service.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our 2023 listenership data reaffirms this, with Well-being and self-development topping the charts in the Top 5 most listened-to genres," Sawlani said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Budget 2024: Indian youngsters call for tax reforms | Nirmala Sitharaman | Narendra Modi | Vibe Check</strong></p>

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<p>Audiobooks and podcasts have gained considerable popularity as a screen-free form of entertainment while commuting, working out, or running errands, Sawlani added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At its core, the self-help and personal finance genre's growth is driven by individuals "looking to elevate their pockets of time with immersive content that helps broaden their perspectives."</p>

<p>But between the lines, like Tushar, a big lot among India's Gen-Z HENRYs are stuck between individual-focused expenses and the expenses of their dependents, mostly parents and siblings. That requires a different approach to the financial discipline amid the prevalence of Western ideas of development based on the financial freedom of an individual.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/money-wise-indexation-gone-in-real-estate-is-property-still-best-investment-for-indians-744486">Money-Wise: With 'indexation' gone in real estate, is property still best investment for Indians?</a></strong></p>

<p>"There is always going to be a family perspective to it," Kevin Missal, author of 'Karna, The King of Anga' said.</p>

<p>The financial discipline, Warikoo added, means that youngsters must "allocate money towards their needs or mandatory spends, their desires and their investments ", while also being cognisant of the limits for each area and stick to that budget.</p>


In 2023, when Nashik-born Tushar (24) received his coveted MBA degree from a premier Delhi institution, it was a moment of remarkable significance for him and his family.

In 2023, when Nashik-born Tushar (24) received his coveted MBA degree from a premier Delhi institution, it was a moment of remarkable significance for him and his family. A voracious reader of literature "of all kinds", Tushar's MBA came after he explained the meaning of financial discipline in one of his exams. Yet about a year down the line, despite landing an equally coveted wealth management role at a leading global multinational in Gurugram, he has "little to no savings" with him. "I have responsibilities back home. Half my earnings go home and it will take me a while to accumulate some savings." That's unlike Rishali (25), who came to New Delhi to work in a 'Big Four' last year and doesn't have to act as an economic asset to her household just as yet. A year into the job, she says she has enough to sustain herself for three to four months in a metro city if she loses her job. Both Tushar and Rishali fall under a corporate finance term called HENRYs — High-Earning but Not Rich Yet. By convention, most of HENRYs' income is consumed in the economy by consumer spending, educational costs, and housing. Author and internet entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo does not expect youngsters to be rich. "By definition, youngsters will be high-earning but not rich yet, because becoming rich requires compounding which requires time," Warikoo said. "I expect them to be financially disciplined," he added. Rishali has consumed all of Warikoo's work as audiobooks in recent months during her 90-minute commute from work to the office. "What they teach you in those classes works fantastically well in the corporate world when your firm is dealing with huge sums of money. But when it comes to the financial discipline in day-to-day life, Warikoo has really helped people like me," Rishali said while referring to the difference between what she learned during her MBA and her passive consumption of Warikoo's work. Tushar never read Warikoo's work but is aware of his influence. "I work hard at my job and send money home. My peers have that kind of disposable money because they have not yet started taking on the responsibilities. To me, those responsibilities are important alongside working hard at my job. I have just started. So I also cut myself slack when it comes to partying a night out in the cyber city or HKV," Tushar said while referring to Gurugram's cyber city and Hauz Khas Village, the famous partying spots in Delhi-NCR. The bestselling author Chetan Bhagat believes that 'HENRY' could be anybody "who is not there yet". "There is a certain audience that believes that the content they consume should also not just be interesting and entertaining, but it should also help them develop and help them get better," Bhagat said while adding that people who want to earn more money among other priorities, get attracted to the content which will purportedly help them at it. "I think these people who are not there yet (the NTYs) are the ones who are reading, listening, or consuming this kind of content," Bhagat said. The self-help genre has struck a chord with Indian youngsters, says Shailesh Sawlani, India manager of Audible, the Amazon-owned online audiobook and podcast service. "Our 2023 listenership data reaffirms this, with Well-being and self-development topping the charts in the Top 5 most listened-to genres," Sawlani said. Also watch | Budget 2024: Indian youngsters call for tax reforms | Nirmala Sitharaman | Narendra Modi | Vibe Check × Audiobooks and podcasts have gained considerable popularity as a screen-free form of entertainment while commuting, working out, or running errands, Sawlani added. At its core, the self-help and personal finance genre's growth is driven by individuals "looking to elevate their pockets of time with immersive content that helps broaden their perspectives." But between the lines, like Tushar, a big lot among India's Gen-Z HENRYs are stuck between individual-focused expenses and the expenses of their dependents, mostly parents and siblings. That requires a different approach to the financial discipline amid the prevalence of Western ideas of development based on the financial freedom of an individual. Also read | Money-Wise: With 'indexation' gone in real estate, is property still best investment for Indians? "There is always going to be a family perspective to it," Kevin Missal, author of 'Karna, The King of Anga' said. The financial discipline, Warikoo added, means that youngsters must "allocate money towards their needs or mandatory spends, their desires and their investments ", while also being cognisant of the limits for each area and stick to that budget.

How India's Gen-Z HENRYs are keeping up with financial discipline

<p>The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued an emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for the crisis-hit countries in collaboration with the Bill Gates-membered GAVI vaccine alliance and others, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation said in a joint statement on Saturday (Aug&nbsp;31).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The statement said that agreements for up to 12 million doses through 2025 can be made depending on how much the manufacturers can elevate their production capacity. This means that the actual vaccine rollout could take several months.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-declares-mpox-a-global-public-health-emergency-750211">What is mpox? Which countries have reported cases so far?</a></strong></p>

<p>"The UNICEF tender is issued to help secure mpox vaccines for the hardest hit countries in collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, the Pan American Health Organization, and other partners. This collaboration to increase access and timely allocation also includes working together to facilitate donations of vaccines from existing stockpiles in high-income countries to contain the ongoing transmission of mpox," an official UNICEF readout said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Africa mpox crisis: What next?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>UNICEF will next set up "conditional supply agreements" with vaccine manufacturers, similar to the ones set up during the Covid pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This will enable UNICEF to purchase and ship vaccines without delay once countries and partners have secured financing, confirmed demand and readiness, and the regulatory requirements for accepting the vaccines are in place," it said.</p>

<p>World Health Organization is reviewing the information submitted by the vaccine manufacturers on August 23 and is expected to complete its review for Emergency Use Listing by mid-September, it added.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Mpox in Africa: New MPOX strain stirs public health emergency in Africa</strong></p>

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<p>More than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox, including 629 deaths, have been reported this year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is at the epicentre of the crisis. Four out of five deaths have been in children.</p>

<p>"Addressing the current mpox vaccine shortage and delivering vaccines to communities who need them now is of paramount importance. There is also a pressing need for a universal and transparent allocation mechanism to ensure equitable access to mpox vaccines," said Director of UNICEF Supply Division Leila Pakkala.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued an emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for the crisis-hit countries in collaboration with the Bill Gates-membered GAVI vaccine alliance and others, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation said in a joint statement on Saturday (Aug 31).

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued an emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for the crisis-hit countries in collaboration with the Bill Gates-membered GAVI vaccine alliance and others, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation said in a joint statement on Saturday (Aug 31). The statement said that agreements for up to 12 million doses through 2025 can be made depending on how much the manufacturers can elevate their production capacity. This means that the actual vaccine rollout could take several months. Also read | What is mpox? Which countries have reported cases so far? "The UNICEF tender is issued to help secure mpox vaccines for the hardest hit countries in collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, the Pan American Health Organization, and other partners. This collaboration to increase access and timely allocation also includes working together to facilitate donations of vaccines from existing stockpiles in high-income countries to contain the ongoing transmission of mpox," an official UNICEF readout said. Africa mpox crisis: What next? UNICEF will next set up "conditional supply agreements" with vaccine manufacturers, similar to the ones set up during the Covid pandemic. "This will enable UNICEF to purchase and ship vaccines without delay once countries and partners have secured financing, confirmed demand and readiness, and the regulatory requirements for accepting the vaccines are in place," it said. World Health Organization is reviewing the information submitted by the vaccine manufacturers on August 23 and is expected to complete its review for Emergency Use Listing by mid-September, it added. Also watch | Mpox in Africa: New MPOX strain stirs public health emergency in Africa × More than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox, including 629 deaths, have been reported this year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is at the epicentre of the crisis. Four out of five deaths have been in children. "Addressing the current mpox vaccine shortage and delivering vaccines to communities who need them now is of paramount importance. There is also a pressing need for a universal and transparent allocation mechanism to ensure equitable access to mpox vaccines," said Director of UNICEF Supply Division Leila Pakkala. (With inputs from agencies)

Mpox crisis: Wider vaccine rollout in Africa could take months as UN still in tender mode

<p>Voters in two former East German states began casting ballots on Sunday in elections expected to deal a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government and deliver big gains for the far-right AfD.</p>

<p>The contests in Thuringia and Saxony come just over a week after three people were killed in a suspected Islamist attack, which has fuelled a bitter debate over immigration in Germany.</p>

<p>Opinion polls have the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead in Thuringia and a close second in Saxony, while also predicting a strong showing for the upstart far-left BSW.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Germany: Far-right AfD eyes big gains in elections</strong></p>

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<p>The two parties have found a receptive audience in the eastern states for their criticism of the government in Berlin and of military aid to Ukraine.</p>

<p>An election victory for the AfD would be a landmark in Germany's post-war history and represent a rebuke for Scholz ahead of national elections in 2025.</p>

<p>In both states, Scholz's Social Democrats are polling at around six per cent, while their coalition partners, the Greens and the liberal FDP, lag even further behind.</p>

<p>But even if the AfD does come out on top in the elections, it is unlikely to come to power because other parties have ruled out working with the far right to form a government.</p>

<p>Voting stations close at 6:00 pm (1600 GMT), with the first exit polls expected shortly after.</p>

<h2><strong>Far-right rise</strong></h2>

<p>Created in 2013 as an anti-euro group before morphing into an anti-immigration party, the AfD has capitalised on the fractious three-way coalition in Berlin to rise in opinion polls.</p>

<p>In June's EU Parliament elections, the party scored a record 15.9 per cent overall and did especially well in eastern Germany, where it emerged as the biggest force.</p>

<p>Saxony is the most populous of the former East German states and has been a conservative stronghold since reunification.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thuringia, meanwhile, is more rural and the only state currently led by the far-left Die Linke, a successor of East Germany's ruling communist party.</p>

<p>A third former East German state, Brandenburg, is also due to hold an election later in September, where polls have the AfD ahead on around 24 per cent.</p>

<p>The picture in each state is slightly different but "in any case, it is clear that the AfD will unite a very strong number of votes behind it", Marianne Kneuer, a professor of politics at the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden), told AFP.</p>

<p>The AfD has found stronger support in the east, where more voters "identify with its nationalist and authoritarian positions," and many are dissatisfied with the mainstream parties, Kneuer said.</p>

<p>At the party's last campaign meeting on Saturday in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia, Thorsten Haentzsche, a 52-year-old voter, said he was "dreaming of an absolute majority" for the AfD.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But we are realistic. A score of at least 33 per cent would be great because it would give us a blocking minority in the (regional) parliament," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>New challenger</strong></h2>

<p>Dissatisfaction with the government has also fed support for BSW, founded in January by the firebrand politician Sahra Wagenknecht after she quit Die Linke.</p>

<p>Like the AfD, Wagenknecht and her party have made hay with a dovish stance towards Russia and calls for a radical crackdown on immigration.</p>

<p>BSW scored an immediate success in June's European elections, hauling in around six percent of the German vote, and is polling a strong third in Saxony and Thuringia.</p>

<p>Other parties' refusal to work with the AfD leaves BSW as potentially the kingmaker in Thuringia and Saxony, despite serious policy disagreements with potential partners, especially on Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The run-up to the votes in Saxony and Thuringia has, however, been dominated by an outcry over immigration stirred up by the deadly stabbing in the western city of Solingen.</p>

<p>The alleged attacker, a 26-year-old Syrian man with suspected links to the Islamic State group, was slated for deportation but evaded attempts by authorities to remove him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The government has sought to respond to the alarm by announcing stricter knife controls and rules for migrants in Germany illegally.</p>

<p>The conservative CDU, which holds hopes of winning both elections, has said the initial measures do not go far enough and urged a halt to arrivals from Syria and Afghanistan.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Voters in two former East German states began casting ballots on Sunday in elections expected to deal a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government and deliver big gains for the far-right AfD.

Voters in two former East German states began casting ballots on Sunday in elections expected to deal a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government and deliver big gains for the far-right AfD. The contests in Thuringia and Saxony come just over a week after three people were killed in a suspected Islamist attack, which has fuelled a bitter debate over immigration in Germany. Opinion polls have the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead in Thuringia and a close second in Saxony, while also predicting a strong showing for the upstart far-left BSW. Also watch | Germany: Far-right AfD eyes big gains in elections × The two parties have found a receptive audience in the eastern states for their criticism of the government in Berlin and of military aid to Ukraine. An election victory for the AfD would be a landmark in Germany's post-war history and represent a rebuke for Scholz ahead of national elections in 2025. In both states, Scholz's Social Democrats are polling at around six per cent, while their coalition partners, the Greens and the liberal FDP, lag even further behind. But even if the AfD does come out on top in the elections, it is unlikely to come to power because other parties have ruled out working with the far right to form a government. Voting stations close at 6:00 pm (1600 GMT), with the first exit polls expected shortly after. Far-right rise Created in 2013 as an anti-euro group before morphing into an anti-immigration party, the AfD has capitalised on the fractious three-way coalition in Berlin to rise in opinion polls. In June's EU Parliament elections, the party scored a record 15.9 per cent overall and did especially well in eastern Germany, where it emerged as the biggest force. Saxony is the most populous of the former East German states and has been a conservative stronghold since reunification. Thuringia, meanwhile, is more rural and the only state currently led by the far-left Die Linke, a successor of East Germany's ruling communist party. A third former East German state, Brandenburg, is also due to hold an election later in September, where polls have the AfD ahead on around 24 per cent. The picture in each state is slightly different but "in any case, it is clear that the AfD will unite a very strong number of votes behind it", Marianne Kneuer, a professor of politics at the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden), told AFP. The AfD has found stronger support in the east, where more voters "identify with its nationalist and authoritarian positions," and many are dissatisfied with the mainstream parties, Kneuer said. At the party's last campaign meeting on Saturday in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia, Thorsten Haentzsche, a 52-year-old voter, said he was "dreaming of an absolute majority" for the AfD. "But we are realistic. A score of at least 33 per cent would be great because it would give us a blocking minority in the (regional) parliament," he said. New challenger Dissatisfaction with the government has also fed support for BSW, founded in January by the firebrand politician Sahra Wagenknecht after she quit Die Linke. Like the AfD, Wagenknecht and her party have made hay with a dovish stance towards Russia and calls for a radical crackdown on immigration. BSW scored an immediate success in June's European elections, hauling in around six percent of the German vote, and is polling a strong third in Saxony and Thuringia. Other parties' refusal to work with the AfD leaves BSW as potentially the kingmaker in Thuringia and Saxony, despite serious policy disagreements with potential partners, especially on Ukraine. The run-up to the votes in Saxony and Thuringia has, however, been dominated by an outcry over immigration stirred up by the deadly stabbing in the western city of Solingen. The alleged attacker, a 26-year-old Syrian man with suspected links to the Islamic State group, was slated for deportation but evaded attempts by authorities to remove him. The government has sought to respond to the alarm by announcing stricter knife controls and rules for migrants in Germany illegally. The conservative CDU, which holds hopes of winning both elections, has said the initial measures do not go far enough and urged a halt to arrivals from Syria and Afghanistan. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

German regions go to polls amid expected surge of far-right AfD

<p>Elon Musk has raised concerns that his social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), could face significant legal and operational challenges in the United States if Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris wins the upcoming presidential election in November.</p>

<p>In a public statement on X, Musk cautioned against what he views as unprecedented attacks on free speech. He said that similar threats could emerge in the US should Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, assume power.</p>

<p>"The attacks this year on free speech are unprecedented in the 21st century. It will happen in America too if Kamala/Walz gain power," Musk posted.</p>

<p>Musk’s purported concerns appear to be influenced by recent events in Brazil, where X has encountered substantial legal issues. The platform was ordered to suspend its operations in Brazil by Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The order came after Musk reportedly refused to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil.</p>

<p>The situation escalated when threats were made against X's staff, following which the company announced on August 17 that it would shut down its office in Brazil.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Donald Trump attacks Harris in interview with Elon Musk on 'X'</strong></p>

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<p>X's dispute with de Moraes stems from Musk's criticism of the judge, whom he labelled an "evil dictator cosplaying as a judge" after de Moraes ordered the suspension of X accounts that supported former president Jair Bolsonaro. In response, de Moraes initiated an investigation into claims that Musk used X to spread disinformation and undermine Brazil's democratic institutions.</p>

<p>In an official statement, X suggested that further actions against the platform in Brazil could be forthcoming, stating, "Soon, we expect Judge Alexandre de Moraes will order X to be shut down in Brazil - simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Elon Musk has raised concerns that his social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), could face significant legal and operational challenges in the United States if Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris wins the upcoming presidential election in November.

Elon Musk has raised concerns that his social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), could face significant legal and operational challenges in the United States if Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris wins the upcoming presidential election in November. In a public statement on X, Musk cautioned against what he views as unprecedented attacks on free speech. He said that similar threats could emerge in the US should Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, assume power. "The attacks this year on free speech are unprecedented in the 21st century. It will happen in America too if Kamala/Walz gain power," Musk posted. Musk’s purported concerns appear to be influenced by recent events in Brazil, where X has encountered substantial legal issues. The platform was ordered to suspend its operations in Brazil by Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes. The order came after Musk reportedly refused to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil. The situation escalated when threats were made against X's staff, following which the company announced on August 17 that it would shut down its office in Brazil. Also watch | Donald Trump attacks Harris in interview with Elon Musk on 'X' × X's dispute with de Moraes stems from Musk's criticism of the judge, whom he labelled an "evil dictator cosplaying as a judge" after de Moraes ordered the suspension of X accounts that supported former president Jair Bolsonaro. In response, de Moraes initiated an investigation into claims that Musk used X to spread disinformation and undermine Brazil's democratic institutions. In an official statement, X suggested that further actions against the platform in Brazil could be forthcoming, stating, "Soon, we expect Judge Alexandre de Moraes will order X to be shut down in Brazil - simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents." (With inputs from agencies)

Will Harris-Walz ban X in the US after elections? Hints Elon Musk in cryptic post

<p>Al Qaeda has reportedly set up nine new terrorist camps in Afghanistan in 2024 as the Taliban continues to foster terror in South Asia in violation of the Doha Agreement it signed with the United States months before August 2021, when the democratically-elected Ashraf Ghani government was ousted from power as the US-led western forces left the landlocked nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"These are training centres; these are recruitment centres," Ali Maisam Nazary, the top diplomat for Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front (NRF) based in the country’s Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, was quoted as saying by the Foreign Policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Taliban have even allowed al Qaeda to build bases and munitions depots in the heart of the Panjshir Valley. [That’s] something unheard of, something impossible even in the 1990s for al Qaeda to have achieved."</p>

<p>Nazary further said that since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in August 2021, terror groups, including al Qaeda, the Islamic State’s Khorasan branch, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, have exploded in size and scope, as the country’s unguarded borders have allowed foreign fighters from Arab countries, Central Asian neighbours, and Europe to pour into Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Taliban representatives in Qatar meet UN officials</strong></p>

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<p>Nazary said that 21 known terror groups are currently operating inside Afghanistan.</p>

<p>WION has extensively reported on the fostering of terrorism in Afghanistan in the recent past after the Taliban stormed to power.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-talibans-pakistani-offshoot-gets-refuge-in-former-al-qaeda-hideouts-un-report-740432">Afghan Taliban's Pakistani offshoot gets refuge in former Al-Qaeda hideouts: UN report</a></strong></p>

<p>The Taliban is helping Al-Qaeda rebuild its operational capability even amid a crisis of leadership after its leader Al-Zawahiri’s death in 2022, a UN report said in June 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With no significant political opposition, the Taliban's unchecked authority has allowed foreign terrorist fighters sheltered by the group to become an increasingly significant security threat to neighbouring countries.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/explained-taliban-have-put-afghan-clock-back-to-1990s-autocracy-un-report-603152">Explained | Taliban have put Afghan clock back to 1990s’ autocracy: UN report</a></strong></p>

<p>Terror groups control much—if not all—of Afghanistan’s border, Nazary told Foreign Policy. "Al Qaeda didn’t have any presence in northern Afghanistan in 2001," he said. "Today, al Qaeda has a presence throughout the country, and the other terrorist forces."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The country has become an "open black market" of leftover weapons, many of them American, he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Al Qaeda has reportedly set up nine new terrorist camps in Afghanistan in 2024 as the Taliban continues to foster terror in South Asia in violation of the Doha Agreement it signed with the United States months before August 2021, when the democratically-elected Ashraf Ghani government was ousted from power as the US-led western forces left the landlocked nation.

Al Qaeda has reportedly set up nine new terrorist camps in Afghanistan in 2024 as the Taliban continues to foster terror in South Asia in violation of the Doha Agreement it signed with the United States months before August 2021, when the democratically-elected Ashraf Ghani government was ousted from power as the US-led western forces left the landlocked nation. "These are training centres; these are recruitment centres," Ali Maisam Nazary, the top diplomat for Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front (NRF) based in the country’s Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, was quoted as saying by the Foreign Policy. "The Taliban have even allowed al Qaeda to build bases and munitions depots in the heart of the Panjshir Valley. [That’s] something unheard of, something impossible even in the 1990s for al Qaeda to have achieved." Nazary further said that since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in August 2021, terror groups, including al Qaeda, the Islamic State’s Khorasan branch, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, have exploded in size and scope, as the country’s unguarded borders have allowed foreign fighters from Arab countries, Central Asian neighbours, and Europe to pour into Afghanistan. Also watch | Taliban representatives in Qatar meet UN officials × Nazary said that 21 known terror groups are currently operating inside Afghanistan. WION has extensively reported on the fostering of terrorism in Afghanistan in the recent past after the Taliban stormed to power. Also read | Afghan Taliban's Pakistani offshoot gets refuge in former Al-Qaeda hideouts: UN report The Taliban is helping Al-Qaeda rebuild its operational capability even amid a crisis of leadership after its leader Al-Zawahiri’s death in 2022, a UN report said in June 2023. With no significant political opposition, the Taliban's unchecked authority has allowed foreign terrorist fighters sheltered by the group to become an increasingly significant security threat to neighbouring countries. Also read | Explained | Taliban have put Afghan clock back to 1990s’ autocracy: UN report Terror groups control much—if not all—of Afghanistan’s border, Nazary told Foreign Policy. "Al Qaeda didn’t have any presence in northern Afghanistan in 2001," he said. "Today, al Qaeda has a presence throughout the country, and the other terrorist forces." The country has become an "open black market" of leftover weapons, many of them American, he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban-ruled Afghanistan turns Al-Qaeda haven with bases, munitions depots in heart of Panjshir Valley

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