India has begun repatriation of its citizens from Kazakhstan, with first flight leaving on Tuesday. With 3400 Indians registered for repatriation, a thousand are expected back in the first phase which will see flights daily from the central Asian country to India.&nbsp;

India's ambassador to Kazakhstan Prabhat Kumar, speaking to WION from Kazakhstan said, "We are starting evacuation from Kazakhstan. Today is the first flight from Karaganda. We have 7 flights from Karaganda, Almaty, Nur Sultan. From 26th May till 1st, every day one flight which will be taking a thousand people to India. We have registered around 3400 people for evacuation, the rest of the people will be covered in the next phase." 
&nbsp; 
Overall, 3 Flights from Karaganda, 2 flights from Nur Sultan, 2 from Almaty will be coming in next week.

Prabhat Kumar thanked "ministry of external affairs, ministry of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan, airport authorities of Karaganda, Almaty, Nur Sultan for supporting the evacuation" and expressed his appreciation for "Indian home &amp; health &amp; civil aviation ministry and Air India specially for making this possible."

Most of the passengers are students with New Delhi requesting for chartered flights to take care of the workers. Several Indian workers are working to build the mega Abu Dhabi plaza in Capital Nur Sultan.&nbsp;

The plaza consists of offices, residential places and once completed will be the tallest building in the whole of Central Asia.

India has begun repatriation of its citizens from Kazakhstan, with first flight leaving on Tuesday. With 3400 Indians registered for repatriation, a thousand are expected back in the first phase which will see flights daily from the central Asian country to India.

India has begun repatriation of its citizens from Kazakhstan, with first flight leaving on Tuesday. With 3400 Indians registered for repatriation, a thousand are expected back in the first phase which will see flights daily from the central Asian country to India. India's ambassador to Kazakhstan Prabhat Kumar, speaking to WION from Kazakhstan said, "We are starting evacuation from Kazakhstan. Today is the first flight from Karaganda. We have 7 flights from Karaganda, Almaty, Nur Sultan. From 26th May till 1st, every day one flight which will be taking a thousand people to India. We have registered around 3400 people for evacuation, the rest of the people will be covered in the next phase." Overall, 3 Flights from Karaganda, 2 flights from Nur Sultan, 2 from Almaty will be coming in next week. Prabhat Kumar thanked "ministry of external affairs, ministry of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan, airport authorities of Karaganda, Almaty, Nur Sultan for supporting the evacuation" and expressed his appreciation for "Indian home & health & civil aviation ministry and Air India specially for making this possible." Most of the passengers are students with New Delhi requesting for chartered flights to take care of the workers. Several Indian workers are working to build the mega Abu Dhabi plaza in Capital Nur Sultan. The plaza consists of offices, residential places and once completed will be the tallest building in the whole of Central Asia.

India and Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear facilities as part of annual practice

General Syed Asim Munir, the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS), said that a "national consensus" is needed to address the current economic issues and to fight the other challenges posed by terrorism.&nbsp;The COAS was the chief guest at the parade held at Pakistan Naval Academy and he addressed the commissioning parade of the 118th Midshipmen and 26th Short Service Commission.&nbsp;

"Pakistan is passing through one of the most critical junctures and this requires the development of natio­nal consensus by all stakeholders to sail through the challenges of economy and terrorism," the army chief said, quoted local media outlets.&nbsp;

Pakistan reported a rise in terrorist attacks across the border with Afghanistan in recent days. While responding to the impending threats, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari recently said the United States is willing to provide funds to Pakistan to enhance border security for preventing cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the army chief congratulated the commissioning term for the successful completion of training and for becoming guardians of the maritime frontiers of Pakistan.&nbsp;

He said that the "maritime domain is continuously shifting, mainly due to technological advancement, wherein only those navies would prevail and prove effective that would align with professionalism and modern trends of warfare".&nbsp;

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General Syed Asim Munir, the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS), said that a "national consensus" is needed to address the current economic issues and to fight the other challenges posed by terrorism.

General Syed Asim Munir, the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS), said that a "national consensus" is needed to address the current economic issues and to fight the other challenges posed by terrorism. The COAS was the chief guest at the parade held at Pakistan Naval Academy and he addressed the commissioning parade of the 118th Midshipmen and 26th Short Service Commission. "Pakistan is passing through one of the most critical junctures and this requires the development of national consensus by all stakeholders to sail through the challenges of economy and terrorism," the army chief said, quoted local media outlets. Pakistan reported a rise in terrorist attacks across the border with Afghanistan in recent days. While responding to the impending threats, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari recently said the United States is willing to provide funds to Pakistan to enhance border security for preventing cross-border attacks from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the army chief congratulated the commissioning term for the successful completion of training and for becoming guardians of the maritime frontiers of Pakistan. He said that the "maritime domain is continuously shifting, mainly due to technological advancement, wherein only those navies would prevail and prove effective that would align with professionalism and modern trends of warfare". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan army chief urges ‘national consensus’ to fight terrorism challenges, economy crisis

New York has approved the human composting law, which is aimed at a natural organic reduction after death, which basically means an eco-friendly solution to burial and cremation to transform human remains into life-giving soil.

New York has approved the human composting law, which is aimed at a natural organic reduction after death, which basically means an eco-friendly solution to burial and cremation to transform human remains into life-giving soil. It is also known as terramation. The legislative move by New York governor Kathy Hochul makes the state sixth to legalise the law since 2019. The law will provide New Yorkers with an environmentally-safe alternative to burial. Hochu signed the legislation on Saturday. In 2019, Washington approved human composting, becoming the first state in the United States to do so. After that Colorado and Oregon legalise it in 2021. Vermont and California approved it in 2022. All you need to know about human composting process The process of transformation of a human body into soil involves placing a dead body in a reusable vessel with biodegradable materials. Those materials act as a catalyst to help the process of transformation into nutrient-dense soil. The soil can be returned to loved ones also or can be returned to the earth elsewhere. However, human remains are not supposed to simply be put on the compost heap. Before proceeding with the process, the remains must be sent to a cemetery corporation for certification. The step involves checking and preparing the remains for the organic reduction facility. It should be suitably contained and ventilated and must not contain "a battery, battery pack, power cell, radioactive implant, or radioactive device". Those who advocate human composting have claimed that the process is economical as well as environmental. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

New York approves human composting. All you need to know about transformation of human body into soil

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov claimed that Russia is planning a new mobilisation order amid the ongoing Ukraine war. The minister also said that Moscow could close its borders to men within a week. If it happens, it will be the second official mobilisation after Russia started the invasion of its neighbouring nation on February 24 in 2022. After almost seven months into the war, Russia had in September declared a partial mobilisation of military reservists. In a video address on Friday, Reznikov warned Russians who might qualify for mobilisation. "I know for a fact that you have about one week left before you still have any choice," he said. "In early January, the Russian authorities will close the borders to men, declare martial law, and begin another wave of mobilisation. Borders will also be closed in Belarus," he added. Reznikov especially mentioned that the mobilisation would target people, particularly in big cities. Kryrylo Budanov, who is the head of Ukraine's intelligence directorate told the BBC on Friday that Russia’s new mobilisation order would start on 5 January. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. Watch the video here × The first mobilisation led to anger among people as discontent grew in Russia over the conscription call. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered that more than 300,000 men will be conscripted into the Russian army. However, in a public acknowledgement, Putin said that the "partial mobilisation" maybe had not gone as smoothly as it was claimed. He also called for the mistakes to be "corrected". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine claims Russia is planning another wave of mobilisation and will close borders for men: Report

People across the world turned a new chapter of their lives as they bid farewell to the year 2022 and welcomed a new year on Sunday (January 1) with celebrations in different parts including Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, and others.&nbsp;

With aspirations and expectations, the world's eight billion people look forward to the year 2023. They said goodbye to the chaotic 12 months, which were marred by several crises, including the Ukraine war, and other conflicts.&nbsp;

2022 was bittersweet and will be remembered for a lot of reasons like the Russia-Ukraine war, the cost of living crisis, the Covid pandemic etc. The past year will also be remembered for the deaths of Queen Elizabeth, Pele and former pope Benedict. There were some happy moments as well, such as&nbsp;Argentina's World Cup win.&nbsp;

New year celebrations started in New Zealand as people marked the arrival of 2023 with a fireworks display in Auckland. The fireworks show from Auckland's 328-metre-tall Sky Tower returned after last year's cancellation due to concerns over the coronavirus Omicron variant.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | People in New Zealand cheerfully welcome New Year 2023 amid fireworks &amp; light show. Visuals from Auckland.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewYear2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewYear2023</a> 
 
(Source: Reuters) <a href="https://t.co/mgy1By4mmA">pic.twitter.com/mgy1By4mmA</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1609145959153569792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Mesmerising images showed people celebrating in Australia as Sydney ushered in the new year with a typically dazzling fireworks display which for the first time featured a rainbow waterfall off the iconic Harbour Bridge.&nbsp;

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Happy New Year from the city that dazzles 🎆 
 
Here’s to a wonderful 2023! <a href="https://t.co/IpbtiR5dkO">pic.twitter.com/IpbtiR5dkO</a>
— City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) <a href="https://twitter.com/cityofmelbourne/status/1609181274215944192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Despite the coronavirus scare in the country, people in China welcomed the new year. Reports mentioned that tens of thousands of revellers celebrated the start of the new year in central Wuhan with a heavy security presence in the city.&nbsp;

News agencies reported that people in the centre of Moscow marked a somewhat muted new year's eve without the usual fireworks and celebrations on Red Square.&nbsp;

Hong Kong welcomed the New Year with a multimedia light show over Victoria Harbour.&nbsp;

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Happy New Year’s Eve from NYC. 
 
📷: jay_roams/Ig <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESBright?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ESBright</a> <a href="https://t.co/JuriyqeWSR">pic.twitter.com/JuriyqeWSR</a>
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmpireStateBldg/status/1609278364057059328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the country welcomed the New Year after witnessing&nbsp;tumultuous&nbsp;political and economic&nbsp;2022, with fireworks and light shows with drones. At least 12,000 fireworks lit up the sky at midnight as the drones&nbsp;spelt out the message "2023 with love from London".

According to reports, more than&nbsp;100,000 people gathered on the banks of the Thames in London to mark the beginning of 2023 with the&nbsp;theme of "love and unity".&nbsp;The drones were also used to pay&nbsp;tribute to the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II who passed away, last year, in September.&nbsp;

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Amazing use of the drones in London to pay respect to Queen Elizabeth II. 
 
Happy New Year! 🥂🎆🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/IMRn8ShCal">pic.twitter.com/IMRn8ShCal</a>
— Rangers FC &amp; Linfield FC (@bluesbrothers86) <a href="https://twitter.com/bluesbrothers86/status/1609359299251257345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In Ukraine, with no end in sight to the Russian invasion of the country which began in February 2022. Reportedly, Moscow,&nbsp;on Saturday, New Year's eve&nbsp;fired a barrage of cruise missiles and sirens wailed across the country on New Year's Day. However, people gathered near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv's&nbsp;central Christmas tree as midnight approached, said media reports.&nbsp;

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People across the world turned a new chapter of their lives as they bid farewell to the year 2022 and welcomed a new year on Sunday (January 1) with celebrations in different parts including Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, and others.

People across the world turned a new chapter of their lives as they bid farewell to the year 2022 and welcomed a new year on Sunday (January 1) with celebrations in different parts including Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, and others. With aspirations and expectations, the world's eight billion people look forward to the year 2023. They said goodbye to the chaotic 12 months, which were marred by several crises, including the Ukraine war, and other conflicts. 2022 was bittersweet and will be remembered for a lot of reasons like the Russia-Ukraine war, the cost of living crisis, the Covid pandemic etc. The past year will also be remembered for the deaths of Queen Elizabeth, Pele and former pope Benedict. There were some happy moments as well, such as Argentina's World Cup win. New year celebrations started in New Zealand as people marked the arrival of 2023 with a fireworks display in Auckland. The fireworks show from Auckland's 328-metre-tall Sky Tower returned after last year's cancellation due to concerns over the coronavirus Omicron variant. × #WATCH | People in New Zealand cheerfully welcome New Year 2023 amid fireworks & light show. Visuals from Auckland.#NewYear2023 (Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/mgy1By4mmA — ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2022 × Mesmerising images showed people celebrating in Australia as Sydney ushered in the new year with a typically dazzling fireworks display which for the first time featured a rainbow waterfall off the iconic Harbour Bridge. Happy New Year from the city that dazzles 🎆 Here’s to a wonderful 2023! pic.twitter.com/IpbtiR5dkO — City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) December 31, 2022 × Despite the coronavirus scare in the country, people in China welcomed the new year. Reports mentioned that tens of thousands of revellers celebrated the start of the new year in central Wuhan with a heavy security presence in the city. News agencies reported that people in the centre of Moscow marked a somewhat muted new year's eve without the usual fireworks and celebrations on Red Square. Hong Kong welcomed the New Year with a multimedia light show over Victoria Harbour. Happy New Year’s Eve from NYC. 📷: jay_roams/Ig #ESBright pic.twitter.com/JuriyqeWSR — Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) December 31, 2022 × Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the country welcomed the New Year after witnessing tumultuous political and economic 2022, with fireworks and light shows with drones. At least 12,000 fireworks lit up the sky at midnight as the drones spelt out the message "2023 with love from London". According to reports, more than 100,000 people gathered on the banks of the Thames in London to mark the beginning of 2023 with the theme of "love and unity". The drones were also used to pay tribute to the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II who passed away, last year, in September. Amazing use of the drones in London to pay respect to Queen Elizabeth II. Happy New Year! 🥂🎆🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/IMRn8ShCal — Rangers FC & Linfield FC (@bluesbrothers86) January 1, 2023 × In Ukraine, with no end in sight to the Russian invasion of the country which began in February 2022. Reportedly, Moscow, on Saturday, New Year's eve fired a barrage of cruise missiles and sirens wailed across the country on New Year's Day. However, people gathered near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv's central Christmas tree as midnight approached, said media reports. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

From New Zealand to Hong Kong: World welcomes 2023 with fireworks and light shows

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that India will not agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control (LAC) unilaterally by China. The foreign minister also noted that New Delhi's relations with Beijing are "not normal", but asserted that there would be no compromise on core issues between the nations.&nbsp; 
 
The minister said, "Today, the state of our relations with China is not very normal because we will never agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control unilaterally."&nbsp;

His remarks came after a recent skirmish between Indian and Chinese soldiers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. During the face-off, soldiers from both sides sustained "minor injuries".

The clash, which was reported to have taken place on December 9, was the first major skirmish&nbsp;between the Indian and Chinese armies since the fierce face-off in the Galwan Valley in June 2020.&nbsp;

While addressing the Indian community in Cyprus on Friday, Jaishankar also attacked Pakistan indirectly as he said that terrorism can never be used as a tool to force India to the negotiating table. It was his first official visit to the&nbsp;Mediterranean country.&nbsp;

Jaishankar slammed the "neighbour" and said no country has suffered from terrorism as much as India. He said, "We want good neighbourly relations with everybody. But good neighbourly relations doesn't mean excusing or looking away or rationalising terrorism. That we are very clear. We will never normalise it. We will never allow terrorism to force us to the negotiating table."&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that India will not agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control (LAC) unilaterally by China.

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that India will not agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control (LAC) unilaterally by China. The foreign minister also noted that New Delhi's relations with Beijing are "not normal", but asserted that there would be no compromise on core issues between the nations. The minister said, "Today, the state of our relations with China is not very normal because we will never agree to any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control unilaterally." His remarks came after a recent skirmish between Indian and Chinese soldiers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. During the face-off, soldiers from both sides sustained "minor injuries". The clash, which was reported to have taken place on December 9, was the first major skirmish between the Indian and Chinese armies since the fierce face-off in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. While addressing the Indian community in Cyprus on Friday, Jaishankar also attacked Pakistan indirectly as he said that terrorism can never be used as a tool to force India to the negotiating table. It was his first official visit to the Mediterranean country. Jaishankar slammed the "neighbour" and said no country has suffered from terrorism as much as India. He said, "We want good neighbourly relations with everybody. But good neighbourly relations doesn't mean excusing or looking away or rationalising terrorism. That we are very clear. We will never normalise it. We will never allow terrorism to force us to the negotiating table." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Jaishankar says ties with China ‘not normal’, adds India will not compromise on core issues

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. At least one person died and several were injured on Saturday (December 31) after missile strikes on Kyiv, the capital city of war-hit Ukraine, on New Year's Eve, the Ukrainian officials claimed. Air raid sirens rang out in the Ukrainian capital after multiple blasts shook Kyiv on Saturday afternoon. According to the journalists of the news agency AFP, at least 10 explosions were heard in the city. Local authorities said that the air raid alerted the residents, urging them to go to shelters. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media: "According to preliminary information, one person died in the Solomianskyi district. Several people were injured." AFP also reported that attacks were also reported by local officials in the southern Mykolaiv region and the Khmelnytskyi region in the west. Zelensky reacts to the strikes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his nation will not forgive Russia and its aggression after the recent strikes just hours before the New Year. Zelensky said on social media: "Several waves of missile attacks on New Year's Eve. Missiles against people... No one in the world will forgive you for this. Ukraine will not forgive." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia-Ukraine war: At least one dead as multiple blasts rock Kyiv on New Year's Eve

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday (December 31) addressed the nation and talked about the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the country. In his New Year's eve address, Xi said that the "light of hope is right in front of us".&nbsp;China, where the first Covid case was reported in December 2019, is facing a tough situation with an explosion of positive cases after an abrupt lifting of long protracted restrictions.

In a televised address,&nbsp;Xi said, "Epidemic prevention and control is entering a new phase... Everyone is working resolutely, and the light of hope is right in front of us."&nbsp;

"At present, epidemic prevention and control is entering a new phase, it is still a time of struggle, everyone is persevering and working hard, and the dawn is ahead. Let's work harder, persistence means victory, and unity means victory," Xi added.&nbsp;

The Chinese president also called for more effort and unity among people as the country has changed its approach to tackling the Covid pandemic. Xi has also commented a couple of times since his government relaxed its strict zero-Covid policy regarding lockdowns and mass testing three weeks ago, but this is his first comment addressed to the public. On Monday, Xi called for measures to "effectively protect people's lives".&nbsp;

Meanwhile, World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the precautionary measures taken by several countries are "understandable".&nbsp;

He said, "In the absence of comprehensive information from China, it is understandable that countries around the world are acting in ways that they believe may protect their populations."&nbsp;

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday (December 31) addressed the nation and talked about the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the country. In his New Year's eve address, Xi said that the "light of hope is right in front of us".

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday (December 31) addressed the nation and talked about the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the country. In his New Year's eve address, Xi said that the "light of hope is right in front of us". China, where the first Covid case was reported in December 2019, is facing a tough situation with an explosion of positive cases after an abrupt lifting of long protracted restrictions. In a televised address, Xi said, "Epidemic prevention and control is entering a new phase... Everyone is working resolutely, and the light of hope is right in front of us." "At present, epidemic prevention and control is entering a new phase, it is still a time of struggle, everyone is persevering and working hard, and the dawn is ahead. Let's work harder, persistence means victory, and unity means victory," Xi added. The Chinese president also called for more effort and unity among people as the country has changed its approach to tackling the Covid pandemic. Xi has also commented a couple of times since his government relaxed its strict zero-Covid policy regarding lockdowns and mass testing three weeks ago, but this is his first comment addressed to the public. On Monday, Xi called for measures to "effectively protect people's lives". Meanwhile, World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the precautionary measures taken by several countries are "understandable". He said, "In the absence of comprehensive information from China, it is understandable that countries around the world are acting in ways that they believe may protect their populations." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Light of hope in front of us': Xi Jinping calls for more efforts, unity to tackle Covid in 2023

The Iranian government is apparently planning to criminalise sharing of any information deemed critical of the regime, television channel Iran International reported on Friday (December 30). This news development comes amid nationwide mass protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini allegedly in the custody of Iran's morality police.&nbsp;

As per the report, President Ebrahim Raisi's administration is reportedly planning to secretly pass bills, aimed at restricting the activities of citizen journalists. The bills might criminalise any reporting deemed critical of the regime.&nbsp;

Expressing concerns over the reported bill, the Association of Iranian Journalists claimed that the details of the bill are not known yet as the government is attempting to hide it from experts and journalists.

As per the report, the members of parliament are backing the plan titled "Legal and judicial action against the spread of fake news in cyberspace". Meanwhile, the administration is working on a bill called "The comprehensive bill of journalism".&nbsp;

As per the report by Iran International, culture minister Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili had previously announced that the bill had been approved by the cultural committee of the government. It would be sent to the parliament after the cabinet's review.&nbsp;

So far, there is no official response to the reports. &nbsp;

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The Iranian government is apparently planning to criminalise sharing of any information deemed critical of the regime, television channel Iran International reported on Friday (December 30).

The Iranian government is apparently planning to criminalise sharing of any information deemed critical of the regime, television channel Iran International reported on Friday (December 30). This news development comes amid nationwide mass protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini allegedly in the custody of Iran's morality police. As per the report, President Ebrahim Raisi's administration is reportedly planning to secretly pass bills, aimed at restricting the activities of citizen journalists. The bills might criminalise any reporting deemed critical of the regime. Expressing concerns over the reported bill, the Association of Iranian Journalists claimed that the details of the bill are not known yet as the government is attempting to hide it from experts and journalists. As per the report, the members of parliament are backing the plan titled "Legal and judicial action against the spread of fake news in cyberspace". Meanwhile, the administration is working on a bill called "The comprehensive bill of journalism". As per the report by Iran International, culture minister Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili had previously announced that the bill had been approved by the cultural committee of the government. It would be sent to the parliament after the cabinet's review. So far, there is no official response to the reports. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Is Iranian government mulling plans to criminalise sharing of information?

Jack Ma, the co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, weighed in on the hardships that people faced in the year 2022 in a rare public appearance, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Saturday (December 31).&nbsp;

His video appearance comes as China is currently reeling amid a sudden rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. China eased some Covid measures after public outrage over the zero-Covid policy followed by a deadly apartment fire in the country's far west.&nbsp;

In the video seen online, Ma said, "I hope to see you all offline as soon as possible”, a hint that he is in China and may be ready to return to public life again." As per the SCMP report, the video has been verified by his charity foundation.&nbsp;

The Chinese billionaire spoke to 100 teachers from China's rural areas. The live video speech is an annual tradition for his foundation. But this year's is quite intriguing as there have multiple rumours about his whereabouts.&nbsp;

During the address which is part of his Rural Teachers Initiative, the billionaire said, "Teachers have had a difficult year. You had to teach while protecting children."&nbsp;

During his address, Ma told the teachers that he was "moved" by their work and despite the hardships, they are still "cheerful" and "committed". He asked them to "take care of themselves and the kids during this time".&nbsp;

The video didn't reveal his actual location, but it is believed that he is back in China. In November, The Financial Times reported citing sources that Jack Ma was living with his family in Tokyo for almost six months.&nbsp;

The business magnate is more or less not seen in public ever since he criticised the Chinese regulators in 2020. He has been spotted in some countries, like Spain and the Netherlands.&nbsp;

Reports about his location remained in news headlines when in 2020, he accused the state-run banks of having a "pawnshop mentality". After he made the accusations, the companies he founded—Ant and Alibaba—were targeted by authorities, and faced regulatory obstacles.&nbsp;

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Jack Ma, the co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, weighed in on the hardships that people faced in the year 2022 in a rare public appearance, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Saturday (December 31).

Jack Ma, the co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, weighed in on the hardships that people faced in the year 2022 in a rare public appearance, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Saturday (December 31). His video appearance comes as China is currently reeling amid a sudden rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. China eased some Covid measures after public outrage over the zero-Covid policy followed by a deadly apartment fire in the country's far west. In the video seen online, Ma said, "I hope to see you all offline as soon as possible”, a hint that he is in China and may be ready to return to public life again." As per the SCMP report, the video has been verified by his charity foundation. The Chinese billionaire spoke to 100 teachers from China's rural areas. The live video speech is an annual tradition for his foundation. But this year's is quite intriguing as there have multiple rumours about his whereabouts. During the address which is part of his Rural Teachers Initiative, the billionaire said, "Teachers have had a difficult year. You had to teach while protecting children." During his address, Ma told the teachers that he was "moved" by their work and despite the hardships, they are still "cheerful" and "committed". He asked them to "take care of themselves and the kids during this time". The video didn't reveal his actual location, but it is believed that he is back in China. In November, The Financial Times reported citing sources that Jack Ma was living with his family in Tokyo for almost six months. The business magnate is more or less not seen in public ever since he criticised the Chinese regulators in 2020. He has been spotted in some countries, like Spain and the Netherlands. Reports about his location remained in news headlines when in 2020, he accused the state-run banks of having a "pawnshop mentality". After he made the accusations, the companies he founded—Ant and Alibaba—were targeted by authorities, and faced regulatory obstacles. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Jack Ma's new year address: Billionaire speaks to teachers in China about hardships of 2022

The French health system is under immense pressure as the authorities informed that the nation faces a triple epidemic—of coronavirus, flu, and bronchiolitis. The nationwide strike by doctors and emergency services has made the situation even worse.&nbsp;Earlier this week, on Wednesday, French Health Minister François Braun said that the respiratory infection is affecting children under two and the strike is forcing patients to go to hospitals for consultation instead of their local GP.&nbsp;

Health Minister François Braun had also warned that this was a week of great danger for the national health system. Braun issued an alert because the general practitioners continue their strike for higher consultation fees and improved conditions.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, France said on Friday (December 30) that it would require travellers arriving from China to show a negative Covid test report. Amid a rise in positive cases in China, countries like Italy and Spain have also taken similar decisions.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
France will now require travellers boarding a flight from China to show a negative Covid test report&nbsp;fewer than 48 hours old with their boarding pass, with random tests carried out on passengers on arrival. The government also said that the positive tests will be sequenced to check for new variants.&nbsp;

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The French health system is under immense pressure as the authorities informed that the nation faces a triple epidemic—of coronavirus, flu, and bronchiolitis. The nationwide strike by doctors and emergency services has made the situation even worse.

The French health system is under immense pressure as the authorities informed that the nation faces a triple epidemic—of coronavirus, flu, and bronchiolitis. The nationwide strike by doctors and emergency services has made the situation even worse. Earlier this week, on Wednesday, French Health Minister François Braun said that the respiratory infection is affecting children under two and the strike is forcing patients to go to hospitals for consultation instead of their local GP. Health Minister François Braun had also warned that this was a week of great danger for the national health system. Braun issued an alert because the general practitioners continue their strike for higher consultation fees and improved conditions. Meanwhile, France said on Friday (December 30) that it would require travellers arriving from China to show a negative Covid test report. Amid a rise in positive cases in China, countries like Italy and Spain have also taken similar decisions. France will now require travellers boarding a flight from China to show a negative Covid test report fewer than 48 hours old with their boarding pass, with random tests carried out on passengers on arrival. The government also said that the positive tests will be sequenced to check for new variants. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

France makes Covid test mandatory for travellers from China; as it faces ‘triple epidemic’

Indian police tracked down a Chinese woman on Thursday (December 29) in Gaya, a Buddhist pilgrim centre in the eastern state of Bihar. She was believed to be a "Chinese spy" and a potential threat to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.&nbsp;

The local police had released a sketch of the woman, who was identified as Song Xiaolan. Her presence at the Buddhist pilgrim town of Bodh Gaya sparked security concerns as the arrest coincided with Dalai Lama's Bodh Gaya visit.&nbsp;

However, intelligence officers probed her and didn't find any evidence linking her to alleged espionage, a senior Bihar police officer said on Thursday evening as per media reports.&nbsp;

Bihar’s additional director general (headquarters) Jitendra Singh Gangwar said, "There is no evidence to indicate that she was a spy".&nbsp;

Harpreet Kaur, who is the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Gaya told the news agency PTI that the foreign national was picked up from a guest house. After the initial probe, she turned out to be an ardent follower of the Buddhist preacher.&nbsp;

Previously, it was reported that Song was plotting to harm the Tibetan spiritual leader, with Kaur stating that suspicion of her being a "Chinese spy" can't be ruled out.&nbsp;

As quoted, Kaur now said, "A search was launched for her after an intimation from the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office at Kolkata that she had violated visa norms that allowed her to stay for not more than 90 days at a stretch."&nbsp;

Kaur added that the Chinse woman has been in India since October 2019. She went to Nepal in January 2020 for four days and upon return to India and settled in McLeod Ganj—a suburb of Dharamshala in the Kangra district of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

The SSP added, "She was accompanied by another woman from Nepal whom she had met in Dharamshala. The Nepalese woman has also been taken into custody for interrogation".&nbsp;

The police officer then confirmed that the Chinese national's visa has been cancelled by FRRO and she has been slapped with a "Leave India" notice. Song will be sent to the Indian capital New Delhi for repatriation.&nbsp;

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Indian police tracked down a Chinese woman on Thursday (December 29) in Gaya, a Buddhist pilgrim centre in the eastern state of Bihar. She was believed to be a "Chinese spy" and a potential threat to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

Indian police tracked down a Chinese woman on Thursday (December 29) in Gaya, a Buddhist pilgrim centre in the eastern state of Bihar. She was believed to be a "Chinese spy" and a potential threat to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. The local police had released a sketch of the woman, who was identified as Song Xiaolan. Her presence at the Buddhist pilgrim town of Bodh Gaya sparked security concerns as the arrest coincided with Dalai Lama's Bodh Gaya visit. However, intelligence officers probed her and didn't find any evidence linking her to alleged espionage, a senior Bihar police officer said on Thursday evening as per media reports. Bihar’s additional director general (headquarters) Jitendra Singh Gangwar said, "There is no evidence to indicate that she was a spy". Harpreet Kaur, who is the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Gaya told the news agency PTI that the foreign national was picked up from a guest house. After the initial probe, she turned out to be an ardent follower of the Buddhist preacher. Previously, it was reported that Song was plotting to harm the Tibetan spiritual leader, with Kaur stating that suspicion of her being a "Chinese spy" can't be ruled out. As quoted, Kaur now said, "A search was launched for her after an intimation from the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office at Kolkata that she had violated visa norms that allowed her to stay for not more than 90 days at a stretch." Kaur added that the Chinse woman has been in India since October 2019. She went to Nepal in January 2020 for four days and upon return to India and settled in McLeod Ganj—a suburb of Dharamshala in the Kangra district of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. The SSP added, "She was accompanied by another woman from Nepal whom she had met in Dharamshala. The Nepalese woman has also been taken into custody for interrogation". The police officer then confirmed that the Chinese national's visa has been cancelled by FRRO and she has been slapped with a "Leave India" notice. Song will be sent to the Indian capital New Delhi for repatriation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

A Chinese woman, suspected to be a spy, detained in India, to be repatriated

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Srishti Sisodia

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