<p>The air quality index (AQI) of India's capital New Delhi was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Saturday (Nov 18), as the average AQI was 398.<br />
<br />
The AQI remained in the 'severe' category for three days and showed little improvement as it reached the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday.<br />
<br />
As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the average AQI of the national capital recorded at 6 am on Saturday remained at 398.<br />
<br />
According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded at 6 am, the air quality was recorded at 396 in RK Puram, at 465 in the IGI Airport area, at 416 in Nehru Nagar and at 350 in New Moti Bagh, with most of them being in the ‘very poor’ category.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/delhis-air-emergency-needs-a-call-for-sustained-action-beyond-temporary-fixes-658338">Delhi's air emergency needs a call for sustained action beyond temporary fixes</a></p>

<p>The 24-hour average AQI of Delhi, which is recorded at 4 pm every day, remained at 405 on Friday (Nov 17). The average AQI was 419 on Thursday, 401 on Wednesday, 397 on Tuesday, 358 on Monday and 218 on Sunday.<br />
<br />
An AQI falling between zero and 50 is seen as good, 51 and 100 as satisfactory, 101 and 200 as moderate, 201 and 300 as poor, 301 and 400 as very poor, 401 and 450 as severe and above 450 as severe plus.</p>

<h2><strong>Temperature dips in India's national capital</strong></h2>

<p>The national capital's temperature, meanwhile, has started to fall and was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius on Friday (Nov 17).<br />
<br />
A stern directive was issued by the National Green Tribunal to Delhi-NCR authorities to implement stringent measures to improve the air quality index.<br />
<br />
The order of NGT followed its own observations after the remedial actions did not lead to significant improvements in the air quality in various states.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Delhi AQI: Schools likely to remain closed beyond November 18</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/delhi-aqi-schools-likely-to-remain-closed-beyond-november-18-659996/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The tribunal appealed to the concerned authorities to reassess their strategies. As per the instructions of the tribunal, a report regarding fresh action is expected to surface on November 20.<br />
<br />
Delhi's Air Quality Early Warning System forecasted that the air quality is likely to remain 'very poor' from November 18 to November 20.<br />
<br />
As per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System, the stubble burning's contribution was PM2.5 levels on Friday (Nov 17), which was around 3.45 per cent less than the 5.85 per cent recorded on the previous day.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The air quality index (AQI) of India's capital New Delhi was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Saturday (Nov 18), as the average AQI was 398. The AQI remained in the 'severe' category for three days and showed little improvement as it reached the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday.

The air quality index (AQI) of India's capital New Delhi was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Saturday (Nov 18), as the average AQI was 398. The AQI remained in the 'severe' category for three days and showed little improvement as it reached the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday. As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the average AQI of the national capital recorded at 6 am on Saturday remained at 398. According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded at 6 am, the air quality was recorded at 396 in RK Puram, at 465 in the IGI Airport area, at 416 in Nehru Nagar and at 350 in New Moti Bagh, with most of them being in the ‘very poor’ category. Also read: Delhi's air emergency needs a call for sustained action beyond temporary fixes The 24-hour average AQI of Delhi, which is recorded at 4 pm every day, remained at 405 on Friday (Nov 17). The average AQI was 419 on Thursday, 401 on Wednesday, 397 on Tuesday, 358 on Monday and 218 on Sunday. An AQI falling between zero and 50 is seen as good, 51 and 100 as satisfactory, 101 and 200 as moderate, 201 and 300 as poor, 301 and 400 as very poor, 401 and 450 as severe and above 450 as severe plus. Temperature dips in India's national capital The national capital's temperature, meanwhile, has started to fall and was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius on Friday (Nov 17). A stern directive was issued by the National Green Tribunal to Delhi-NCR authorities to implement stringent measures to improve the air quality index. The order of NGT followed its own observations after the remedial actions did not lead to significant improvements in the air quality in various states. Watch: Delhi AQI: Schools likely to remain closed beyond November 18 The tribunal appealed to the concerned authorities to reassess their strategies. As per the instructions of the tribunal, a report regarding fresh action is expected to surface on November 20. Delhi's Air Quality Early Warning System forecasted that the air quality is likely to remain 'very poor' from November 18 to November 20. As per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System, the stubble burning's contribution was PM2.5 levels on Friday (Nov 17), which was around 3.45 per cent less than the 5.85 per cent recorded on the previous day. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Delhi's AQI reaches 'very poor' category after recording 'severe' category for three days

<p>ChatGPT maker OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman were fired on Friday (Nov 17) from the board on a "quick" call arranged on Google Meet, revealed Brockman.<br />
<br />
Brockman on Saturday (Nov 18) took to his official account on X and said that he and Sam are "shocked and saddened" by the way they were suddenly removed from the board and were "still trying to figure out" exactly what happened.<br />
<br />
"Last night, Sam got a text from Ilya asking to talk at noon Friday. Sam joined a Google Meet and the whole board, except Greg, was there. Ilya told Sam he was being fired and that the news was going out very soon," wrote Brockman.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-upheaval-mira-murati-the-interim-ceo-says-honoured-all-you-need-to-know-about-her-659977">OpenAI upheaval: Mira Murati the interim CEO says 'honoured'. All you need to know about her</a></p>

<p>Ilya Sutskever is a board member and a co-founder at OpenAI.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sam and I are shocked and saddened by what the board did today.<br />
<br />
Let us first say thank you to all the incredible people who we have worked with at OpenAI, our customers, our investors, and all of those who have been reaching out.<br />
<br />
We too are still trying to figure out exactly…</p>
— Greg Brockman (@gdb) <a href="https://twitter.com/gdb/status/1725736242137182594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"At 12:19 pm, Greg got a text from Ilya asking for a quick call. At 12:23 pm, Ilya sent a Google Meet link. Greg was told that he was being removed from the board (but was vital to the company and would retain his role) and that Sam had been fired. Around the same time, OpenAI published a blog post," he stated.<br />
<br />
"As far as we know, the management team was made aware of this shortly after, other than Mira (Murati) who found out the night prior," Brockman added.</p>

<h2><strong>Brockman appreciates the 'outpouring of support'</strong></h2>

<p>He further said that the "outpouring of support" was really nice and that they would be okay.<br />
<br />
"Greater things coming soon," he stated. Taking to X, Sam Altman said that it was "a weird experience" in different ways.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">i love you all.<br />
<br />
today was a weird experience in many ways. but one unexpected one is that it has been sorta like reading your own eulogy while you’re still alive. the outpouring of love is awesome.<br />
<br />
one takeaway: go tell your friends how great you think they are.</p>
— Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1725742088317534446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"Today was a weird experience in many ways. but one unexpected one is that it has been sorta like reading your own eulogy while you're still alive. the outpouring of love is awesome," he stated.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;OpenAI sacks Sam Altman after deliberative review process</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/openai-sacks-sam-altman-after-deliberative-review-process-659974/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The board of directors of OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, on Friday announced that Sam Altman will leave the position of CEO and will not be on the board of directors.<br />
<br />
"Mr Altman's departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities. The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI," read an official statement.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, OpenAI announced that the chief technology officer of the company Mira Murati will serve as interim CEO.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


ChatGPT maker OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman were fired on Friday (Nov 17) from the board on a "quick" call arranged on Google Meet, revealed Brockman.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman were fired on Friday (Nov 17) from the board on a "quick" call arranged on Google Meet, revealed Brockman. Brockman on Saturday (Nov 18) took to his official account on X and said that he and Sam are "shocked and saddened" by the way they were suddenly removed from the board and were "still trying to figure out" exactly what happened. "Last night, Sam got a text from Ilya asking to talk at noon Friday. Sam joined a Google Meet and the whole board, except Greg, was there. Ilya told Sam he was being fired and that the news was going out very soon," wrote Brockman. Also read: OpenAI upheaval: Mira Murati the interim CEO says 'honoured'. All you need to know about her Ilya Sutskever is a board member and a co-founder at OpenAI. Sam and I are shocked and saddened by what the board did today. Let us first say thank you to all the incredible people who we have worked with at OpenAI, our customers, our investors, and all of those who have been reaching out. We too are still trying to figure out exactly… — Greg Brockman (@gdb) November 18, 2023 × "At 12:19 pm, Greg got a text from Ilya asking for a quick call. At 12:23 pm, Ilya sent a Google Meet link. Greg was told that he was being removed from the board (but was vital to the company and would retain his role) and that Sam had been fired. Around the same time, OpenAI published a blog post," he stated. "As far as we know, the management team was made aware of this shortly after, other than Mira (Murati) who found out the night prior," Brockman added. Brockman appreciates the 'outpouring of support' He further said that the "outpouring of support" was really nice and that they would be okay. "Greater things coming soon," he stated. Taking to X, Sam Altman said that it was "a weird experience" in different ways. i love you all. today was a weird experience in many ways. but one unexpected one is that it has been sorta like reading your own eulogy while you’re still alive. the outpouring of love is awesome. one takeaway: go tell your friends how great you think they are. — Sam Altman (@sama) November 18, 2023 × "Today was a weird experience in many ways. but one unexpected one is that it has been sorta like reading your own eulogy while you're still alive. the outpouring of love is awesome," he stated. Watch: OpenAI sacks Sam Altman after deliberative review process The board of directors of OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, on Friday announced that Sam Altman will leave the position of CEO and will not be on the board of directors. "Mr Altman's departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities. The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI," read an official statement. Meanwhile, OpenAI announced that the chief technology officer of the company Mira Murati will serve as interim CEO. (With inputs from agencies)

ChatGPT makers Sam Altman, Greg Brockman fired over 'quick' call on Google Meet

<p>Amazon on Friday (Nov 17) made an announcement regarding a massive lay off in its Alexa voice assistant unit. The reason for the sudden cut in jobs was said to be the “shift” in business priorities and increasing focus on generative artificial intelligence.<br />
<br />
The job cuts will affect "several hundred" employees who have been working on Amazon's Alexa, as per the email. No clarity was given on exactly how many will be affected by the sudden layoff.<br />
<br />
"We're shifting some of our efforts to better align with our business priorities, and what we know matters most to customers - which includes maximizing our resources and efforts focused on generative AI," stated Daniel Rausch, vice president of Alexa and Fire TV, in the email. "These shifts are leading us to discontinue some initiatives,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amazon-music-division-faces-job-cuts-here-are-the-details-656814">Amazon music division faces job cuts. Here are the details</a></p>

<p>From the last week, Amazon has been pulling back in different divisions, which included its music and gaming divisions as well as some human resources roles.<br />
<br />
Although most of the jobs affected were in the devices division, a few of them were working on products related to Alexa in a different unit, stated a spokeswoman.</p>

<h2><strong>Shift of resources to generative AI a threat to jobs?</strong></h2>

<p>A lot of companies have been moving resources to generative AI which has the potential of creating software code as well as lengthy text responses if given short prompts.<br />
<br />
In September, news agency Reuters reported that morale in the devices division had suffered because of concerns regarding what some saw as a weak product pipeline.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Report: Google, Amazon &amp; Apple may face tax probe in India</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/report-google-amazon-apple-may-face-tax-probe-in-india-658831/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The people, who were familiar with the issue, in particular, pointed to the Alexa voice assistant which is now almost a decade old and appears to have failed in keeping pace with the progression of generative artificial intelligence.<br />
<br />
Amazon stated at the time that "to suggest that a few anecdotes paint a picture of reality for an organisation as large and diverse as Devices and Services is inaccurate," and that it supports its products.<br />
<br />
Amazon has stated that its services business and devices are not profitable, without giving any specific figures. Alexa is a voice assistant created by Amazon which can be used for playing music, searching queries, setting timers, or as a home automation hub.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Amazon on Friday (Nov 17) made an announcement regarding a massive lay off in its Alexa voice assistant unit. The reason for the sudden cut in jobs was said to be the “shift” in business priorities and increasing focus on generative artificial intelligence.

Amazon on Friday (Nov 17) made an announcement regarding a massive lay off in its Alexa voice assistant unit. The reason for the sudden cut in jobs was said to be the “shift” in business priorities and increasing focus on generative artificial intelligence. The job cuts will affect "several hundred" employees who have been working on Amazon's Alexa, as per the email. No clarity was given on exactly how many will be affected by the sudden layoff. "We're shifting some of our efforts to better align with our business priorities, and what we know matters most to customers - which includes maximizing our resources and efforts focused on generative AI," stated Daniel Rausch, vice president of Alexa and Fire TV, in the email. "These shifts are leading us to discontinue some initiatives,” he added. Also read: Amazon music division faces job cuts. Here are the details From the last week, Amazon has been pulling back in different divisions, which included its music and gaming divisions as well as some human resources roles. Although most of the jobs affected were in the devices division, a few of them were working on products related to Alexa in a different unit, stated a spokeswoman. Shift of resources to generative AI a threat to jobs? A lot of companies have been moving resources to generative AI which has the potential of creating software code as well as lengthy text responses if given short prompts. In September, news agency Reuters reported that morale in the devices division had suffered because of concerns regarding what some saw as a weak product pipeline. Watch: Report: Google, Amazon & Apple may face tax probe in India The people, who were familiar with the issue, in particular, pointed to the Alexa voice assistant which is now almost a decade old and appears to have failed in keeping pace with the progression of generative artificial intelligence. Amazon stated at the time that "to suggest that a few anecdotes paint a picture of reality for an organisation as large and diverse as Devices and Services is inaccurate," and that it supports its products. Amazon has stated that its services business and devices are not profitable, without giving any specific figures. Alexa is a voice assistant created by Amazon which can be used for playing music, searching queries, setting timers, or as a home automation hub. (With inputs from agencies)

AI eating up human jobs? Amazon to lay off hundreds of people in Alexa unit

<p>One person was killed after a shooter opened fire inside a psychiatric hospital located in the northeastern state of New Hampshire in the United States&nbsp;on Friday (Nov 17), stated authorities while further confirming that the suspect was fatally shot by the police.<br />
<br />
State police Colonel Mark Hall said that the suspect entered the New Hampshire Hospital in Concord and killed one person inside the lobby. Hall further confirmed that all patients at the hospital were safe.<br />
<br />
"A state trooper assigned to the hospital and in close proximity immediately engaged, shot and killed the suspect," he said in a news conference while stating that the shootout remained confined to the hospital lobby. The shooter or the victim was not identified by Hall.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apec-summit-biden-urges-positive-use-of-ai-during-address-in-final-session-659914">APEC summit: Biden urges positive use of AI during address in final session</a></p>

<p>"There is no threat to the public, and there was no threat to the patients or staff at the hospital," he stated. After the shootout took place, a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the hospital was investigated by the authorities.<br />
<br />
A tactical robot was used by law enforcement officials to inspect a U-Haul, as reported by CNN.<br />
<br />
New Hampshire Hospital is located in the state capital Concord and has a 185-bed inpatient facility where patients having acute mental illness are treated.</p>

<h2><strong>Hospital to remain temporarily closed to visitors</strong></h2>

<p>On Friday (Nov 17), the head of New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services stated that she was “shocked and saddened” by the incident of shooting.<br />
<br />
“Our hearts go out to the family of the victim as well as our colleagues who have been impacted,” stated Commissioner Lori Weaver, at a press conference.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US President Joe Biden says, 'US committed to high standards in trade and partnerships'&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-says-us-committed-to-high-standards-in-trade-and-partnerships-wion-659659/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Weaver stated that the hospital will remain temporarily closed to visitors, however, support will be extended to patients and staff “as we work through this tragedy together.”<br />
<br />
“This is a difficult and unimaginable day for our employees and for our community,” the commissioner stated.<br />
<br />
In a statement, Governor Chris Sununu said on X that the state “immediately mobilised, and first responders and law enforcement are on the scene.”<br />
<br />
“This afternoon, there was an incident at New Hampshire Hospital, which has been contained. While the scene remains active as the campus is cleared, the suspect is deceased. We will provide as many details as possible as this situation unfolds,” stated Sununu.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


One person was killed after a shooter opened fire inside a psychiatric hospital located in the northeastern state of New Hampshire in the United States on Friday (Nov 17), stated authorities while further confirming that the suspect was fatally shot by the police.

One person was killed after a shooter opened fire inside a psychiatric hospital located in the northeastern state of New Hampshire in the United States on Friday (Nov 17), stated authorities while further confirming that the suspect was fatally shot by the police. State police Colonel Mark Hall said that the suspect entered the New Hampshire Hospital in Concord and killed one person inside the lobby. Hall further confirmed that all patients at the hospital were safe. "A state trooper assigned to the hospital and in close proximity immediately engaged, shot and killed the suspect," he said in a news conference while stating that the shootout remained confined to the hospital lobby. The shooter or the victim was not identified by Hall. Also read: APEC summit: Biden urges positive use of AI during address in final session "There is no threat to the public, and there was no threat to the patients or staff at the hospital," he stated. After the shootout took place, a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the hospital was investigated by the authorities. A tactical robot was used by law enforcement officials to inspect a U-Haul, as reported by CNN. New Hampshire Hospital is located in the state capital Concord and has a 185-bed inpatient facility where patients having acute mental illness are treated. Hospital to remain temporarily closed to visitors On Friday (Nov 17), the head of New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services stated that she was “shocked and saddened” by the incident of shooting. “Our hearts go out to the family of the victim as well as our colleagues who have been impacted,” stated Commissioner Lori Weaver, at a press conference. Watch: US President Joe Biden says, 'US committed to high standards in trade and partnerships' Weaver stated that the hospital will remain temporarily closed to visitors, however, support will be extended to patients and staff “as we work through this tragedy together.” “This is a difficult and unimaginable day for our employees and for our community,” the commissioner stated. In a statement, Governor Chris Sununu said on X that the state “immediately mobilised, and first responders and law enforcement are on the scene.” “This afternoon, there was an incident at New Hampshire Hospital, which has been contained. While the scene remains active as the campus is cleared, the suspect is deceased. We will provide as many details as possible as this situation unfolds,” stated Sununu. (With inputs from agencies)

One killed in New Hampshire psychiatric hospital shooting, suspect shot: Police

Gazans are now facing the rampant spread of diseases due to congested shelters as Aid deliveries continue to be halted due to a lack of fuel and communication blackout. Shortages of fuel, gas and food are bringing even deeper hardship to Gazans in Khan Younis. The World Health Organization has now voiced its concern about the threat of starvation and diseases in Gaza.

Israel-Hamas war: WHO voices concerns over spread of disease in Gaza

Israeli Defense Forces began their ground operation in the Gaza Strip they asked the residents to flee southwards for safety but now Israel's offensive has extended to the south of Gaza. Israel says Hamas exists in the South and the troops will hit Hamas targets wherever they find them.

Israel-Hamas war: Gaza hospital director says 26 dead in strike on Khan Younis building

7 Foods Which Lose Their Nutrients When Cooked

Spinach is famous for its iron-rich goodness. However, it takes a hit after it gets exposed to heat. The oxalic acid binds with calcium in the spinach and forms crystals which reduces its absorption.

Ashwagandha increases the production of collagen and helps in nourishing the skin. It also renews the dead cells.

Men are more likely to work in industries with higher rates of pathogenic exposure and fatalities, including transportation, agriculture and construction, or to experience incarceration or homelessness, according to research.

Garlic is famous for its immune-boosting properties. Allicin, the compound which is responsible for garlic's health benefits, is sensitive to heat.

The probiotics present in curd, which are important for gut health, get compromised after exposure to high temperatures.


The healthy fats present in almonds become rancid after exposure to excessive heat.

Moringa leaves have anti-inflammatory properties and are rich in antioxidants and can prove effective in lowering blood sugar levels.

The curry leaves' antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties help in decreasing blood sugar levels.

Guava leaves are filled with dietary fibre and decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes if included in a daily diet.

The fenugreek leaves have anti-diabetic qualities which increase insulin sensitivity and decrease the absorption of glucose in the body.

Tulsi leaves are one of the most beneficial herbs which have impressive health benefits. According to experts, tulsi leaves help in reducing blood sugar levels in pre-diabetic or diabetic patients.

5 Leaves That Lower Blood Sugar Levels

<p>United Kingdom's former prime minister David Cameron's shocking comeback to the country's frontline politics as foreign secretary has refreshed the memories of the Greensill lobbying scandal which still continues to overshadow his political career.<br />
<br />
Seven years earlier, Cameron had lost the Brexit referendum and stepped down as the country's prime minister immediately. The leader, who had also resigned as a Tory MP in September 2016, was in a sudden turn of events given life peerage on Monday (Nov 13) because of which he has taken up the role in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet.<br />
<br />
After remaining out of the spotlight for seven years, the dramatic cabinet reshuffle saw Cameron at the centre of media gaze making more headlines than at any point since the Greensill lobbying scandal came into light in 2021.<br />
<br />
This surprise comeback of Cameron as the foreign secretary happened just two years after he was found to have a “significant lack of judgment” in a parliamentary inquiry over a bank's lobbying campaign in which his personal economic interests were vested.</p>

<h2><strong>How did Cameron lobby for Greensill Capital?</strong></h2>

<p>Greensill Capital, which was established by Australian financier Lex Greensill and specialised in supply chain finance, started seeking government work at a time when Cameron was prime minister.<br />
<br />
In 2016, after Cameron left office, he became an adviser to Greensill Capital and received share options which were worth tens of millions of pounds, as reported.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britains-david-cameron-meets-volodymyr-zelensky-in-kyiv-on-first-working-trip-abroad-as-foreign-minister-659220">Britain's David Cameron meets Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on first working trip abroad as foreign minister</a></p>

<p>After joining the firm, the former prime minister started sending intensive rounds of text messages to high-ranking civil servants and ministers on behalf of Greensill Capital at a time when the pandemic was at its height. The following year saw the collapse of Greensill Capital.<br />
<br />
In July 2021, the Treasury select committee stated that it was inappropriate of Cameron, who had once held the position of prime minister, to send 62 messages to ministers and high-ranking officials pleasing them to extend their help to the controversial bank.<br />
<br />
In the text messages sent to ministers, Cameron allegedly appealed to them to provide Greensill access to the coronavirus loan support scheme of the government.<br />
<br />
The former minister sent nine WhatsApp messages to the then chancellor Rishi Sunak, 12 texts to Sir Tom Scholar, the then permanent secretary to the Treasury, two WhatsApp messages to Richard Sharp, then adviser to Sunak and multiple texts, emails, phone calls to the ministers Michael Gove, Matt Hancock, Nadhim Zahawi, John Glen and Jesse Norman.<br />
<br />
In the messages, Cameron often signed off as “Love Dc” or typed a simple thumbs-up emoji. In a text message sent on 6 March 2020 to Scholar, Cameron said: “I am riding to the rescue with supply chain finance with my new friend Lex Greensill.” At this time, the financial markets were in freefall because of the start of the pandemic.<br />
<br />
He further questioned the response of the Bank of England to the mounting crisis and said that he “never quite understood how [interest] rate cuts help a pandemic”. He stated that he hoped to “see you with Rishi’s for an elbow bump or foot tap. Love Dc.”</p>

<h2><strong>What is Greensill Capital?</strong></h2>

<p>Greensill Capital was founded by an Australian banker from farming stock Lex Greensill. It specialises in supply chain finance in which money is borrowed by the businesses to pay their suppliers.<br />
<br />
The efforts made by Cameron were wasted as the firm failed to receive any money from the coronavirus scheme and hence, collapsed in March 2021. It was estimated that the bank's failure in 2021 is likely to have cost UK taxpayers up to £5 billion ($6.21 billion).</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;David Cameron return: Greensill lobbying scandal overshadows Cameron's return</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-david-cameron-return-greensill-lobbying-scandal-overshadows-camerons-return-659251/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The company got involved in controversy because of its links to the steel and commodities trader Sanjeev Gupta, for giving huge sums to his steel and energy empire. Since 2021, the Gupta Family Group Alliance, which is a collection of companies led by Gupta, has remained under investigation being carried out by the Serious Fraud Office.<br />
<br />
In the investigation of the Treasury committee, it was found that Cameron used a private jet of Greensill for various flights to Newquay airport in Cornwall. While working with Greensill, Cameron lobbied for the chancellor and went camping in the desert with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.</p>

<h2><strong>What did Treasury Committee’s report find?</strong></h2>

<p>In the report prepared by the Treasury committee it was found that no lobbying rules were broken by Cameron, but said “that reflects on the insufficient strength of the rules”. It stated that the behaviour of Cameron in the saga highlighted a “strong case for strengthening [the rules]” for preventing the country's former prime ministers from lobbying serving ministers for any kind of personal economic gain.<br />
<br />
“Cameron’s use of less formal means to lobby government showed a significant lack of judgment, especially given that his ability to use an informal approach was aided by his previous position of prime minister,” the report stated. “Cameron appears to accept that, at least to some degree, his judgment was lacking,” it added.<br />
<br />
Reacting to the committee's report, Cameron stated, “While I am pleased that the report confirms I broke no rules, I very much take on board its wider points. I always acted in good faith, and had no idea until the end of last year that Greensill Capital was in danger of failure.”<br />
<br />
Now, as Lex Greensill is being banned as a director of UK companies, Foreign Secretary David Cameron has once again come under scrutiny.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


United Kingdom's former prime minister David Cameron's shocking comeback to the country's frontline politics as foreign secretary has refreshed the memories of the Greensill lobbying scandal which still continues to overshadow his political career.

United Kingdom's former prime minister David Cameron's shocking comeback to the country's frontline politics as foreign secretary has refreshed the memories of the Greensill lobbying scandal which still continues to overshadow his political career. Seven years earlier, Cameron had lost the Brexit referendum and stepped down as the country's prime minister immediately. The leader, who had also resigned as a Tory MP in September 2016, was in a sudden turn of events given life peerage on Monday (Nov 13) because of which he has taken up the role in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet. After remaining out of the spotlight for seven years, the dramatic cabinet reshuffle saw Cameron at the centre of media gaze making more headlines than at any point since the Greensill lobbying scandal came into light in 2021. This surprise comeback of Cameron as the foreign secretary happened just two years after he was found to have a “significant lack of judgment” in a parliamentary inquiry over a bank's lobbying campaign in which his personal economic interests were vested. How did Cameron lobby for Greensill Capital? Greensill Capital, which was established by Australian financier Lex Greensill and specialised in supply chain finance, started seeking government work at a time when Cameron was prime minister. In 2016, after Cameron left office, he became an adviser to Greensill Capital and received share options which were worth tens of millions of pounds, as reported. Also read: Britain's David Cameron meets Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on first working trip abroad as foreign minister After joining the firm, the former prime minister started sending intensive rounds of text messages to high-ranking civil servants and ministers on behalf of Greensill Capital at a time when the pandemic was at its height. The following year saw the collapse of Greensill Capital. In July 2021, the Treasury select committee stated that it was inappropriate of Cameron, who had once held the position of prime minister, to send 62 messages to ministers and high-ranking officials pleasing them to extend their help to the controversial bank. In the text messages sent to ministers, Cameron allegedly appealed to them to provide Greensill access to the coronavirus loan support scheme of the government. The former minister sent nine WhatsApp messages to the then chancellor Rishi Sunak, 12 texts to Sir Tom Scholar, the then permanent secretary to the Treasury, two WhatsApp messages to Richard Sharp, then adviser to Sunak and multiple texts, emails, phone calls to the ministers Michael Gove, Matt Hancock, Nadhim Zahawi, John Glen and Jesse Norman. In the messages, Cameron often signed off as “Love Dc” or typed a simple thumbs-up emoji. In a text message sent on 6 March 2020 to Scholar, Cameron said: “I am riding to the rescue with supply chain finance with my new friend Lex Greensill.” At this time, the financial markets were in freefall because of the start of the pandemic. He further questioned the response of the Bank of England to the mounting crisis and said that he “never quite understood how [interest] rate cuts help a pandemic”. He stated that he hoped to “see you with Rishi’s for an elbow bump or foot tap. Love Dc.” What is Greensill Capital? Greensill Capital was founded by an Australian banker from farming stock Lex Greensill. It specialises in supply chain finance in which money is borrowed by the businesses to pay their suppliers. The efforts made by Cameron were wasted as the firm failed to receive any money from the coronavirus scheme and hence, collapsed in March 2021. It was estimated that the bank's failure in 2021 is likely to have cost UK taxpayers up to £5 billion ($6.21 billion). Watch: David Cameron return: Greensill lobbying scandal overshadows Cameron's return The company got involved in controversy because of its links to the steel and commodities trader Sanjeev Gupta, for giving huge sums to his steel and energy empire. Since 2021, the Gupta Family Group Alliance, which is a collection of companies led by Gupta, has remained under investigation being carried out by the Serious Fraud Office. In the investigation of the Treasury committee, it was found that Cameron used a private jet of Greensill for various flights to Newquay airport in Cornwall. While working with Greensill, Cameron lobbied for the chancellor and went camping in the desert with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. What did Treasury Committee’s report find? In the report prepared by the Treasury committee it was found that no lobbying rules were broken by Cameron, but said “that reflects on the insufficient strength of the rules”. It stated that the behaviour of Cameron in the saga highlighted a “strong case for strengthening [the rules]” for preventing the country's former prime ministers from lobbying serving ministers for any kind of personal economic gain. “Cameron’s use of less formal means to lobby government showed a significant lack of judgment, especially given that his ability to use an informal approach was aided by his previous position of prime minister,” the report stated. “Cameron appears to accept that, at least to some degree, his judgment was lacking,” it added. Reacting to the committee's report, Cameron stated, “While I am pleased that the report confirms I broke no rules, I very much take on board its wider points. I always acted in good faith, and had no idea until the end of last year that Greensill Capital was in danger of failure.” Now, as Lex Greensill is being banned as a director of UK companies, Foreign Secretary David Cameron has once again come under scrutiny. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: What is Greensill lobbying scandal which overshadows David Cameron's political career?

6 weeks of military action by IDF. Gaza is on the brink of a human catastrophe. And humanitarian agencies have no fuel left to transport aid within the besieged enclave.

Israel-Hamas war triggers dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza

After 40 days of the Israel-Hamas war, anti-Netanyahu sentiments seem to be growing. The country's opposition is asking Netanyahu to step down. Protesters are slamming him for delay in securing the release of hostages. Molly Gambhir reports.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel's opposition asks Netanyahu to resign

<p>A French “national treasure” has been added by the Louvre Museum in Paris to its collection four years after being discovered hanging in the kitchen of a house.<br />
<br />
“Christ Mocked” by the Florentine painter Cimabue was found during clearance of an elderly woman’s house in the town of Compiegne in 2019. The rare artwork, which the woman had believed to be a Greek religious icon, was hanging in her kitchen.<br />
<br />
The owner of the masterpiece was not aware of where the 10-inch by 8-inch painting had come from, stated Jerome Montcouquil of art specialists Cabinet Turquin.</p>

<p>Montcouquil was asked to conduct tests on the painting after its discovery at the time.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/uk-horrifying-monster-discovered-in-18th-century-painting-hidden-behind-layers-of-paint-658264">An 18th-century painting hid a monster in plain sight. It has now been revealed</a></p>

<p>The painting, which dates back to 1280, fetched nearly €24.2 million ($26.8 million) in an auction in October 2019. This was four times more than the pre-sale estimate.</p>

<h2><strong>How did France save its national treasure from getting exported?</strong></h2>

<p>The French government then took measures to block its export and assigned the “national treasure” status to the painting.<br />
<br />
The steps taken by the French government kept the tiny, ultra-rare painting for 30 months in the country and in that time period funds were raised by the government to purchase the painting for the country.<br />
<br />
France’s Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak, and the Louvre Museum's president and director Laurence des Cars have now announced that the painting is a part of the collection of the museum.<br />
<br />
“These acquisitions are the result of an exceptional mobilization of the Louvre Museum which allows to preserve in France works coveted by the greatest museums of the world and to make them accessible to all,” stated the ministry in a statement, without clearly stating how they have raised the money.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Kuwait: AI-generated paintings on display at exhibition</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kuwait-ai-generated-paintings-on-display-at-exhibition-641963/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The ministry further went on to call the painting “a crucial milestone in art history, marking the fascinating transition from icon to painting.”<br />
<br />
Only nearly 15 of Cimabue’s works are known to the world, which is why the painting “is a national treasure of major importance,” stated the ministry.<br />
<br />
In the collection of the Louvre Museum, it will be accompanied by the much larger Cimabue painting “Maestà” and the two works will be part of an exhibition event in spring 2025, as per the ministry.<br />
<br />
Cimabue is artist Cenni di Pepo's pseudonym who was born in Florence around the year 1240. The world remembers him as the discoverer and master of Giotto and he is seen as one of the greatest artists of the pre-Renaissance era.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


A French “national treasure” has been added by the Louvre Museum in Paris to its collection four years after being discovered hanging in the kitchen of a house. “Christ Mocked” by the Florentine painter Cimabue was found during clearance of an elderly woman’s house in the town of Compiegne in 2019.

A French “national treasure” has been added by the Louvre Museum in Paris to its collection four years after being discovered hanging in the kitchen of a house. “Christ Mocked” by the Florentine painter Cimabue was found during clearance of an elderly woman’s house in the town of Compiegne in 2019. The rare artwork, which the woman had believed to be a Greek religious icon, was hanging in her kitchen. The owner of the masterpiece was not aware of where the 10-inch by 8-inch painting had come from, stated Jerome Montcouquil of art specialists Cabinet Turquin. Montcouquil was asked to conduct tests on the painting after its discovery at the time. Also read: An 18th-century painting hid a monster in plain sight. It has now been revealed The painting, which dates back to 1280, fetched nearly €24.2 million ($26.8 million) in an auction in October 2019. This was four times more than the pre-sale estimate. How did France save its national treasure from getting exported? The French government then took measures to block its export and assigned the “national treasure” status to the painting. The steps taken by the French government kept the tiny, ultra-rare painting for 30 months in the country and in that time period funds were raised by the government to purchase the painting for the country. France’s Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak, and the Louvre Museum's president and director Laurence des Cars have now announced that the painting is a part of the collection of the museum. “These acquisitions are the result of an exceptional mobilization of the Louvre Museum which allows to preserve in France works coveted by the greatest museums of the world and to make them accessible to all,” stated the ministry in a statement, without clearly stating how they have raised the money. Watch: Kuwait: AI-generated paintings on display at exhibition The ministry further went on to call the painting “a crucial milestone in art history, marking the fascinating transition from icon to painting.” Only nearly 15 of Cimabue’s works are known to the world, which is why the painting “is a national treasure of major importance,” stated the ministry. In the collection of the Louvre Museum, it will be accompanied by the much larger Cimabue painting “Maestà” and the two works will be part of an exhibition event in spring 2025, as per the ministry. Cimabue is artist Cenni di Pepo's pseudonym who was born in Florence around the year 1240. The world remembers him as the discoverer and master of Giotto and he is seen as one of the greatest artists of the pre-Renaissance era. (With inputs from agencies)

Masterpiece, worth $26mn, which was found in kitchen moves back to Louvre museum

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Prisha

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.