<p>Climate change is no longer something that'll happen in the future. It has very much arrived and the effects are for everyone to see. Data from NASA has now revealed that there was an uptick in absorption of solar radiation by Earth in the year 2023. This is a crucial observation as how and how much solar radiation Earth absorbs has an ultimate effect on climate.</p>

<p>NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Energy Balanced and Filled (EBAF) Edition 4.2 has reported major fluctuations in Earth's absorption of solar radiation in 2023. There was an uptick in the months of February, March and December.</p>

<p>As the year started, there was a sharp increase in absorption of solar radiation. It peaked at 3.9 watts per square metre in the month of February and further rose to 6.2 watts per square metre in March.</p>

<p>There is a major contrast when these figures are compared with those for the corresponding months in the year 2000. This points at an upward trend in absorption.</p>

<p>NASA's CERES indicated that in December 2023, the pattern of high solar radiation absorption continued.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | World needs "Trillions" of dollars to tackle climate change: COP28 President Jaber</strong></p>

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<p>The mean absorption levels have shifted as well. They were higher in 2023 than they were at the start of the century.</p>

<p>This has implications on energy balance on the Earth and may lead to changes in climate, sea level and temperature.</p>

<p>In addition to spikes in the year 2023, the data also shows upticks during the years 2011, 2017, 2022.</p>

<p>Although it is well established that there is an upward trend, the most recent years have shown an especially pronounced upward tick. The year 2023 represented a year with an especially high mean absorbed solar radiation change.</p>

<p>This is likely to have profound effect on Earth's climate and measures to mitigate may be necessary.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Climate change is no longer something that'll happen in the future. It has very much arrived and the effects are for everyone to see. Data from NASA has now revealed that there was an uptick in absorption of solar radiation by Earth in the year 2023.

Climate change is no longer something that'll happen in the future. It has very much arrived and the effects are for everyone to see. Data from NASA has now revealed that there was an uptick in absorption of solar radiation by Earth in the year 2023. This is a crucial observation as how and how much solar radiation Earth absorbs has an ultimate effect on climate. NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Energy Balanced and Filled (EBAF) Edition 4.2 has reported major fluctuations in Earth's absorption of solar radiation in 2023. There was an uptick in the months of February, March and December. As the year started, there was a sharp increase in absorption of solar radiation. It peaked at 3.9 watts per square metre in the month of February and further rose to 6.2 watts per square metre in March. There is a major contrast when these figures are compared with those for the corresponding months in the year 2000. This points at an upward trend in absorption. NASA's CERES indicated that in December 2023, the pattern of high solar radiation absorption continued. Watch | World needs "Trillions" of dollars to tackle climate change: COP28 President Jaber × The mean absorption levels have shifted as well. They were higher in 2023 than they were at the start of the century. This has implications on energy balance on the Earth and may lead to changes in climate, sea level and temperature. In addition to spikes in the year 2023, the data also shows upticks during the years 2011, 2017, 2022. Although it is well established that there is an upward trend, the most recent years have shown an especially pronounced upward tick. The year 2023 represented a year with an especially high mean absorbed solar radiation change. This is likely to have profound effect on Earth's climate and measures to mitigate may be necessary. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA data reveals Earth is increasingly absorbing more solar radiation

Gulbahar Taurani, MD & India CEO, Versuni says, 'Data is here to liberate us not to slow us down.' Join us in a unique conversational show that brings the top leaders across all industries, sharing their insights on different agendas, right at the center of WION's headquarters, a joint initiative with DMAasia.

'Data is here to liberate us not to slow us down,' says Gulbahar Taurani

Ashish Tiwari, CMO, Home Credit India says, 'Data needs to be used to weave your storytelling.' Join us in a unique conversational show that brings the top leaders across all industries, sharing their insights on different agendas, right at the center of WION's headquarters, a joint initiative with DMAasia.

'Data needs to be used to weave your storytelling,' says Ashish Tiwari

Abhinav Upadhyay, CMO, Collegedekho says, 'We're a guide to student whose never going to find guidance in Tier 2-3 town.' Join us in a unique conversational show that brings the top leaders across all industries, sharing their insights on different agendas, right at the center of WION's headquarters, a joint initiative with DMAasia.

'We're a guide to student whose never going to find guidance in Tier 2-3 town' says Abhinav Upadhyay

As the Indian government plans to roll out new data rules under the Data Protection Act, India could erase the data of inactive users. Upcoming rules include a consent framework to verify a child's age. Watch the video to know more!

India: New data deletion plan under DPDP Act

<p>The year 2023 stands at the crossroads in the progression and influence of deepfake technology. Once only in the hands of a handful of tech wizards, today, deepfake has become a tool of exploitation for many. Not only has it reshaped public discourse but has also instigated confusion, hurt sentiments, maligned and tarnished people, led to frauds, and challenged the very essence of truth in the digital era. Most strikingly, even the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not spared by deepfake. The songs 'sung by him' are a viral rage on social media.</p>

<p>Deepfake technology poses a serious threat to democracy, global harmony, personal privacy, and the overall functioning of the world.</p>

<p>"Deepfakes, along with shallow fakes, causing replicated images and audio, pose significant risks on both social and financial dimensions. It's crucial to note that while AI-generated deepfakes are the primary focus, manually manipulated shallow fakes are equally important to detect and mitigate risks. Additionally, audio fakes are becoming equally risky, especially those used for fraudulent bank transactions,"&nbsp;<strong>Dr Srinivas Padmanabhuni, Cofounder and CTO at AIEnsured, an AI validation and compliance company, told WION.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The use of affordable AI tools has led to a sharp increase in deepfake videos, rising more than fivefold (550 percent) since 2019, as reported in <a href="https://www.homesecurityheroes.com/state-of-deepfakes/">the 2023 State of Deepfakes</a>.</p>

<p><img alt="Infographic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7d328ad-9788-4e1f-bb16-4bc4fb331caa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20battle%20for%20Kyiv%20-%202023-12-25T190828.456.jpg" /></p>

<p><em><strong>Data source: Home security heroes: 2023 state of deepfakes&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p>An alarming 98 per cent of all deepfake videos contain explicit content, with 99 per cent of them targeting women. This troubling trend has been evident in various incidents throughout the year.</p>

<p>The Bollywood film industry found itself entangled in deepfake controversies, notably featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna, whose visage was seamlessly blended with that of an&nbsp;influencer. Parallel incidents involving actresses Alia Bhatt, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai, and Katrina Kaif raised alarms regarding the violation of privacy.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-explained-what-are-deepfakes-and-how-to-spot-them-655753">Also read |&nbsp;Explained | What are deepfakes and how to spot them?</a></p>

<p>Deepfake assaults transcended mere entertainment and privacy qualms to exert an impact on geopolitical dynamics.</p>

<p>In November, Russian entities disseminated a deepfake portraying Ukraine's top general, Zaluzhny Valery Fedorovich, denouncing President Vladimir Zelenskyy and advocating for a coup in Kyiv. Another disconcerting episode involved a doctored video of Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing an all-out war against Ukraine, broadcasted on Russian television, exacerbating geopolitical tensions.</p>

<p>Deepfakes are changing the political story game, influencing events such as the presidential elections in Argentina and assembly elections in India. In the Israel-Hamas conflict, a high-tech deepfake video featuring Jordanian Queen Rania Al Abdullah supporting Israel is again an example of how deepfakes can be used as a potent tool in shaping perceptions during regional conflicts.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Indian Celebs vs Deepfakes</strong></p>

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<p>In the realm of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sounded a note of caution, advocating for a global framework regulating artificial intelligence, with the Indian government devising legislation to address the deepfake predicament.</p>

<p>"The government should take steps to formulate laws of strict nature on detection and work towards strict penalties and strict time-bound actions to remove such content or block it. Alongside the regulations, they should invest in a massive evangelisation campaign to raise awareness of these fakes. Free distribution by the government of detection software would be a great help," Dr&nbsp;Padmanabhuni noted.</p>


The year 2023 stands at the crossroads in the progression and influence of deepfake technology. Once only in the hands of a handful of tech wizards, today, deepfake has become a tool of exploitation for many.

The year 2023 stands at the crossroads in the progression and influence of deepfake technology. Once only in the hands of a handful of tech wizards, today, deepfake has become a tool of exploitation for many. Not only has it reshaped public discourse but has also instigated confusion, hurt sentiments, maligned and tarnished people, led to frauds, and challenged the very essence of truth in the digital era. Most strikingly, even the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not spared by deepfake. The songs 'sung by him' are a viral rage on social media. Deepfake technology poses a serious threat to democracy, global harmony, personal privacy, and the overall functioning of the world. "Deepfakes, along with shallow fakes, causing replicated images and audio, pose significant risks on both social and financial dimensions. It's crucial to note that while AI-generated deepfakes are the primary focus, manually manipulated shallow fakes are equally important to detect and mitigate risks. Additionally, audio fakes are becoming equally risky, especially those used for fraudulent bank transactions," Dr Srinivas Padmanabhuni, Cofounder and CTO at AIEnsured, an AI validation and compliance company, told WION. The use of affordable AI tools has led to a sharp increase in deepfake videos, rising more than fivefold (550 percent) since 2019, as reported in the 2023 State of Deepfakes. Data source: Home security heroes: 2023 state of deepfakes An alarming 98 per cent of all deepfake videos contain explicit content, with 99 per cent of them targeting women. This troubling trend has been evident in various incidents throughout the year. The Bollywood film industry found itself entangled in deepfake controversies, notably featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna, whose visage was seamlessly blended with that of an influencer. Parallel incidents involving actresses Alia Bhatt, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai, and Katrina Kaif raised alarms regarding the violation of privacy. Also read | Explained | What are deepfakes and how to spot them? Deepfake assaults transcended mere entertainment and privacy qualms to exert an impact on geopolitical dynamics. In November, Russian entities disseminated a deepfake portraying Ukraine's top general, Zaluzhny Valery Fedorovich, denouncing President Vladimir Zelenskyy and advocating for a coup in Kyiv. Another disconcerting episode involved a doctored video of Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing an all-out war against Ukraine, broadcasted on Russian television, exacerbating geopolitical tensions. Deepfakes are changing the political story game, influencing events such as the presidential elections in Argentina and assembly elections in India. In the Israel-Hamas conflict, a high-tech deepfake video featuring Jordanian Queen Rania Al Abdullah supporting Israel is again an example of how deepfakes can be used as a potent tool in shaping perceptions during regional conflicts. Also watch | Indian Celebs vs Deepfakes In the realm of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sounded a note of caution, advocating for a global framework regulating artificial intelligence, with the Indian government devising legislation to address the deepfake predicament. "The government should take steps to formulate laws of strict nature on detection and work towards strict penalties and strict time-bound actions to remove such content or block it. Alongside the regulations, they should invest in a massive evangelisation campaign to raise awareness of these fakes. Free distribution by the government of detection software would be a great help," Dr Padmanabhuni noted.

Data Lab | Deepfake onslaught in 2023: The year nobody could dodge the fake, including PM Modi

<p>The United Kingdom is confronting the highest cocaine consumption rates in Europe, surpassing major trafficking countries, as per OECD data. This alarming trend, ranking the UK second globally after Australia, reflects concerns of a widespread epidemic fueled by the country's binge-drinking culture.</p>

<h2><strong>These are the key findings</strong></h2>

<ol>
	<li><strong>Worst in Europe:</strong> The UK ranks second globally, following only Australia, with 2.7 per cent of adults aged 15 to 64 using cocaine.</li>
	<li><strong>Binge-drinking Culture:</strong> Experts link the surge to the UK's pervasive binge-drinking culture, where cocaine is as accessible as ordering a pizza and commonly consumed in pubs, wine bars, and even at football matches.</li>
	<li><strong>Gender disparity:</strong> Men in the UK are twice as likely as women to use cocaine, with 3.6 per cent&nbsp;compared to 1.6 per cent.</li>
	<li><strong>Global comparison:</strong> UK's consumption rates are four times higher than Colombia (0.6 per cent) and three times higher than Mexico (0.8 per cent).</li>
	<li><strong>OECD analysis:</strong> The UK's rates are more than double the average (1.2 per cent) across 38 OECD developed Western nations.</li>
</ol>

<p><strong>Also watch this report on Britain's cocaine consumption</strong></p>

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<p>The UK government's 10-year drug strategy, backed by a $3.8 billion investment, aims to address the illicit drug supply and enhance treatment options for people&nbsp;struggling with drug abuse.</p>

<p>Separately, Bern, Switzerland, contemplates legalising recreational cocaine use due to its widespread consumption, challenging traditional anti-drug policies.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/defence-minister-rajnath-singh-to-visit-united-kingdom-672683">Also read |&nbsp;Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit United Kingdom</a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The United Kingdom is confronting the highest cocaine consumption rates in Europe, surpassing major trafficking countries, as per OECD data. This alarming trend, ranking the UK second globally after Australia, reflects concerns of a widespread epidemic fueled by the country's binge-drinking culture.

The United Kingdom is confronting the highest cocaine consumption rates in Europe, surpassing major trafficking countries, as per OECD data. This alarming trend, ranking the UK second globally after Australia, reflects concerns of a widespread epidemic fueled by the country's binge-drinking culture. These are the key findings Worst in Europe: The UK ranks second globally, following only Australia, with 2.7 per cent of adults aged 15 to 64 using cocaine. Binge-drinking Culture: Experts link the surge to the UK's pervasive binge-drinking culture, where cocaine is as accessible as ordering a pizza and commonly consumed in pubs, wine bars, and even at football matches. Gender disparity: Men in the UK are twice as likely as women to use cocaine, with 3.6 per cent compared to 1.6 per cent. Global comparison: UK's consumption rates are four times higher than Colombia (0.6 per cent) and three times higher than Mexico (0.8 per cent). OECD analysis: The UK's rates are more than double the average (1.2 per cent) across 38 OECD developed Western nations. Also watch this report on Britain's cocaine consumption The UK government's 10-year drug strategy, backed by a $3.8 billion investment, aims to address the illicit drug supply and enhance treatment options for people struggling with drug abuse. Separately, Bern, Switzerland, contemplates legalising recreational cocaine use due to its widespread consumption, challenging traditional anti-drug policies. Also read | Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit United Kingdom (With inputs from agencies)

UK outpaces Colombia in alarming cocaine consumption: Data

<p>For someone outside the scientific community, the data collected from NASA telescopes can get super-complicated and hard to comprehend when seen on images. But what if the data is used for creating original music that can be played by musicians?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Giving out the details of a new phase of the “sonification” project, NASA said that since 2020 the project at its Chandra X-ray Center has "translated the digital data taken by telescopes into notes and sounds."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The project is enchanting and with its help, anyone can "experience the data through the sense of hearing instead of seeing it as images, a more common way to present astronomical data."&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, a new stride has been made in the project and an earlier unchartered territory has been explored.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A team in collaboration with composer Sophie Kastner has converted the data into music that can now be played by musicians. “It’s like writing a fictional story that is largely based on real facts,” said composer Sophie Kastner and added, “We are taking the data from space that has been translated into sound and putting a new and human twist on it."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the data related?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>This is a pilot programme and the data which is converted into playable music is taken from a small region at the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. This is the region where a supermassive black hole is present.&nbsp;The intriguing region is spread in about 400 light-years.</p>

<p>The telescopes that have delved deep into this region are&nbsp;NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and retired Spitzer Space Telescope.</p>

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<p>Chandra visualisation and emerging technology scientist Kimberly Arcand said,&nbsp;"We’ve been working with these data, taken in X-ray, visible, and infrared light, for years."</p>

<p>“Translating these data into sound was a big step, and now with Sophie we are again trying something completely new for us,"&nbsp;Arcand added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How is the music created?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>With the help of various kinds of algorithms, the computer first helps in mapping the data to sounds that humans can understand.&nbsp;While working on this project, Kastner zoomed in on small sections of the data image.</p>

<p>She created "spotlights on certain parts of the image that are easily overlooked when the full sonification is played."&nbsp;</p>

<p>“In some ways, this is just another way for humans to interact with the night sky just as they have throughout recorded history,” says Arcand adding, “We are using different tools but the concept of being inspired by the heavens to make art remains the same.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


For someone outside the scientific community, the data collected from NASA telescopes can get super-complicated and hard to comprehend when seen on images. But what if the data is used for creating original music that can be played by musicians?

For someone outside the scientific community, the data collected from NASA telescopes can get super-complicated and hard to comprehend when seen on images. But what if the data is used for creating original music that can be played by musicians? Giving out the details of a new phase of the “sonification” project, NASA said that since 2020 the project at its Chandra X-ray Center has "translated the digital data taken by telescopes into notes and sounds." The project is enchanting and with its help, anyone can "experience the data through the sense of hearing instead of seeing it as images, a more common way to present astronomical data." However, a new stride has been made in the project and an earlier unchartered territory has been explored. A team in collaboration with composer Sophie Kastner has converted the data into music that can now be played by musicians. “It’s like writing a fictional story that is largely based on real facts,” said composer Sophie Kastner and added, “We are taking the data from space that has been translated into sound and putting a new and human twist on it." What is the data related? This is a pilot programme and the data which is converted into playable music is taken from a small region at the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. This is the region where a supermassive black hole is present. The intriguing region is spread in about 400 light-years. The telescopes that have delved deep into this region are NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and retired Spitzer Space Telescope. × Chandra visualisation and emerging technology scientist Kimberly Arcand said, "We’ve been working with these data, taken in X-ray, visible, and infrared light, for years." “Translating these data into sound was a big step, and now with Sophie we are again trying something completely new for us," Arcand added. How is the music created? With the help of various kinds of algorithms, the computer first helps in mapping the data to sounds that humans can understand. While working on this project, Kastner zoomed in on small sections of the data image. She created "spotlights on certain parts of the image that are easily overlooked when the full sonification is played." “In some ways, this is just another way for humans to interact with the night sky just as they have throughout recorded history,” says Arcand adding, “We are using different tools but the concept of being inspired by the heavens to make art remains the same.” (With inputs from agencies)

'Like writing a fictional story': NASA's telescopic data from Milky Way played by musicians  | WATCH

In this episode of Tech It Out, we tell you how deepfake technology is. We explain how easy it is to buy sensitive data about U.S. Military personnel. Find out how tech solutions are helping people with Parkinson's disease. Don't miss out – watch the full show for all the details.

Deepfakes targeting women, sensitive U.S. military data on sale, and more | Tech It Out: ​EP 134

According to research by Duke University, you can buy personal information of serving US military members on the dark web for as little as 12 cents per head. Researchers funded by the military academy at West Point posed as buyers who contacted data broker firms that sold data sets.

Data brokers selling US service members' data as little as 12 cents per person

<p>Highly sensitive information of the US military personnel, including their families, and veterans, is being sold online in pennies and dimes per person, a new study from Duke University has found.</p>

<p>The data includes the personnel's health status, details of their family members, their home address, and work location.&nbsp;The university’s brokerage research project was able to purchase these information from sites that collect and sell personal information.</p>

<p>Some of those sites curated the search criteria to military demographics like branch, duty and veteran status, the report noted.</p>

<p>The research team was able to buy the data for as cheap as $0.12 per record.</p>

<h2><strong>US national security at risk</strong></h2>

<p>They also found that a vast unregulated, multibillion-dollar industry is thriving online in the US that spans from major credit reporting agencies to obscure analytics firms to mobile apps that quietly sell users’ location data.</p>

<p>“It was way too easy to obtain this data: a simple domain, 12 cents a service member, and no background checks on our purchases,” Justin Sherman, a senior fellow at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy who runs its data brokerage research project, told CNN.</p>

<p>“If our research team, subject to university research ethics and privacy processes, could do this in an academic study, a foreign adversary could get data in a heartbeat to profile, blackmail, or target military personnel,” Sherman added.</p>

<p>These data are usually purchased by data brokers to conduct legitimate information surveys, such as background checks and credit checks.</p>

<p>However, there has been a growing concern that a foreign intelligence service can trace the whereabouts and expose vulnerabilities of US military members simply by shopping for the information online, as the sites that sell these information online don't conduct background checks on potential buyers.</p>

<h2><strong>Govt yet to act on it&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The government has already taken note of it, with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau saying in August that it was&nbsp;exploring new rules that would bar data brokers from selling certain information except for specific circumstances.</p>

<p><strong>Also read </strong>|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ex-prez-donald-trump-fights-with-judge-during-testimony-in-civil-fraud-trial-655906">Ex-US prez Donald Trump fights with judge during testimony in civil fraud trial</a></p>

<p>The Federal Trade Commission is currently considering new regulations to crack down on data brokers, CNN reported.</p>

<p><strong>Also read </strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/australian-woman-allegedly-dies-due-to-side-effects-of-weight-loss-medication-ozempic-656025">Australian woman allegedly dies due to side-effects of weight loss medication Ozempic</a></p>

<p>“We cannot comment on any company’s specific practices,” an FTC spokesperson told the news outlet.</p>

<p>“However, we have repeatedly raised concerns about the practices of data brokers and their potential impact on consumer privacy. We are prepared to take action against any company that fails to safeguard consumer data and follow applicable laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act.”</p>


Highly sensitive information of the US military personnel, including their families, and veterans, is being sold online in pennies and dimes per person, a new study from Duke University has found.

Highly sensitive information of the US military personnel, including their families, and veterans, is being sold online in pennies and dimes per person, a new study from Duke University has found. The data includes the personnel's health status, details of their family members, their home address, and work location. The university’s brokerage research project was able to purchase these information from sites that collect and sell personal information. Some of those sites curated the search criteria to military demographics like branch, duty and veteran status, the report noted. The research team was able to buy the data for as cheap as $0.12 per record. US national security at risk They also found that a vast unregulated, multibillion-dollar industry is thriving online in the US that spans from major credit reporting agencies to obscure analytics firms to mobile apps that quietly sell users’ location data. “It was way too easy to obtain this data: a simple domain, 12 cents a service member, and no background checks on our purchases,” Justin Sherman, a senior fellow at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy who runs its data brokerage research project, told CNN. “If our research team, subject to university research ethics and privacy processes, could do this in an academic study, a foreign adversary could get data in a heartbeat to profile, blackmail, or target military personnel,” Sherman added. These data are usually purchased by data brokers to conduct legitimate information surveys, such as background checks and credit checks. However, there has been a growing concern that a foreign intelligence service can trace the whereabouts and expose vulnerabilities of US military members simply by shopping for the information online, as the sites that sell these information online don't conduct background checks on potential buyers. Govt yet to act on it The government has already taken note of it, with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau saying in August that it was exploring new rules that would bar data brokers from selling certain information except for specific circumstances. Also read | Ex-US prez Donald Trump fights with judge during testimony in civil fraud trial The Federal Trade Commission is currently considering new regulations to crack down on data brokers, CNN reported. Also read Australian woman allegedly dies due to side-effects of weight loss medication Ozempic “We cannot comment on any company’s specific practices,” an FTC spokesperson told the news outlet. “However, we have repeatedly raised concerns about the practices of data brokers and their potential impact on consumer privacy. We are prepared to take action against any company that fails to safeguard consumer data and follow applicable laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act.”

Sensitive data of US military personnel being sold online for pennies: Report

<p>The ongoing Israel-Hamas war&nbsp;has led to widespread devastation, causing injuries, disabilities, building destruction, and loss of life. Beyond being an international relations crisis, this war is also a public health emergency with far-reaching consequences.</p>

<p>Israelis, Palestinians, and those in conflict zones face challenges such as food and water shortages, mental health stress, and displacement-related health risks. The effects extend beyond war-torn areas to affect people worldwide.</p>

<p>The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) raised concerns about the Gaza Strip, where vital supplies are running low due to Israel's total blockade following Hamas attacks.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-is-the-rafah-border-crossing-the-last-hope-for-gaza-palestinians-647401">Also read |&nbsp;Explained: Is the Rafah border crossing the last hope for Gaza Palestinians?</a></p>

<h2><strong>Gaza&nbsp;crisis</strong></h2>

<p>Food and water shortages in the region are rapidly edging towards a dire situation. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned of a lack of fuel for hospital generators in Gaza and stranded stocks of aid and medicine. The Israeli military's massive air attacks have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes.</p>

<p><img alt="Graph" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7593c377-620a-4838-9be7-b12a920823e8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20Design%20%2837%29.png" /></p>

<p>Brian Lander, Deputy Head of Emergencies at WFP, highlighted&nbsp;the worsening conditions for people in Gaza.</p>

<p>He called on Israel and Egypt to create secure corridors for WFP supplies and ensure the safety of UN&nbsp;staff working in the area. Meanwhile, a Palestinian doctor in Gaza voiced concerns about a looming health disaster due to dwindling fuel and medical supplies in hospitals.</p>

<p>In response to the devastating attack by Hamas, Israel imposed a "total blockade," cutting off food supplies and electricity to Gaza. The situation escalated as shops started running out of essential items. Dr. Mohammed Zaqout, Head of the Nasser Medical Complex told Reuters that a lack of power could lead to a "catastrophe", hampering patient treatment.</p>

<p>The United Nations appealed to Israel to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a densely populated area with 2.3 million residents. Health officials in Gaza resorted to using ice cream freezer trucks to store the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes. The shortage of safe passage and overcrowded cemeteries led to this grim solution.</p>

<p>The conflict between Israel and Hamas intensified, with Israel launching a fierce bombardment in response to Hamas's deadliest attack in decades. The situation has prompted the Israeli military to consider allowing Gazans to evacuate south in anticipation of a ground assault. As a result of Israeli air strikes, more than 2,300 people in Gaza, a quarter of whom are children, have died, and nearly 10,000 others are wounded. Hospitals are struggling with limited supplies and a growing number of casualties. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas, indicating that the Gaza death toll is likely to rise.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crisis-looms-in-gaza-hospitals-to-run-out-of-fuel-in-24-hours-says-un-647315">Also read |&nbsp;Crisis looms in Gaza: Hospitals to run out of fuel in 24 hours, says UN</a></p>

<p>Dr Yasser Ali from the Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah shared with Reuters the dire situation in Gaza, where the capacity of morgues is insufficient to accommodate the number of casualties. In Gaza City, preparations are underway to create mass graves due to the large number of unburied bodies.</p>

<p>The conflict's impact extends beyond the immediate battleground, leading to severe humanitarian and public health crises in the region.</p>

<p><em><strong>(With inputs from agencies)</strong></em></p>

<p><strong><em>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</em></strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has led to widespread devastation, causing injuries, disabilities, building destruction, and loss of life. Beyond being an international relations crisis, this war is also a public health emergency with far-reaching consequences.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has led to widespread devastation, causing injuries, disabilities, building destruction, and loss of life. Beyond being an international relations crisis, this war is also a public health emergency with far-reaching consequences. Israelis, Palestinians, and those in conflict zones face challenges such as food and water shortages, mental health stress, and displacement-related health risks. The effects extend beyond war-torn areas to affect people worldwide. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) raised concerns about the Gaza Strip, where vital supplies are running low due to Israel's total blockade following Hamas attacks. Also read | Explained: Is the Rafah border crossing the last hope for Gaza Palestinians? Gaza crisis Food and water shortages in the region are rapidly edging towards a dire situation. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned of a lack of fuel for hospital generators in Gaza and stranded stocks of aid and medicine. The Israeli military's massive air attacks have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes. Brian Lander, Deputy Head of Emergencies at WFP, highlighted the worsening conditions for people in Gaza. He called on Israel and Egypt to create secure corridors for WFP supplies and ensure the safety of UN staff working in the area. Meanwhile, a Palestinian doctor in Gaza voiced concerns about a looming health disaster due to dwindling fuel and medical supplies in hospitals. In response to the devastating attack by Hamas, Israel imposed a "total blockade," cutting off food supplies and electricity to Gaza. The situation escalated as shops started running out of essential items. Dr. Mohammed Zaqout, Head of the Nasser Medical Complex told Reuters that a lack of power could lead to a "catastrophe", hampering patient treatment. The United Nations appealed to Israel to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a densely populated area with 2.3 million residents. Health officials in Gaza resorted to using ice cream freezer trucks to store the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes. The shortage of safe passage and overcrowded cemeteries led to this grim solution. The conflict between Israel and Hamas intensified, with Israel launching a fierce bombardment in response to Hamas's deadliest attack in decades. The situation has prompted the Israeli military to consider allowing Gazans to evacuate south in anticipation of a ground assault. As a result of Israeli air strikes, more than 2,300 people in Gaza, a quarter of whom are children, have died, and nearly 10,000 others are wounded. Hospitals are struggling with limited supplies and a growing number of casualties. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas, indicating that the Gaza death toll is likely to rise. Also read | Crisis looms in Gaza: Hospitals to run out of fuel in 24 hours, says UN Dr Yasser Ali from the Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah shared with Reuters the dire situation in Gaza, where the capacity of morgues is insufficient to accommodate the number of casualties. In Gaza City, preparations are underway to create mass graves due to the large number of unburied bodies. The conflict's impact extends beyond the immediate battleground, leading to severe humanitarian and public health crises in the region. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data Lab: A 'health disaster' unfolds amid Israel-Hamas war

The German antitrust body has secured a major win against a big tech firm. Alphabet's Google has agreed to change its user data practices to end an antitrust investigation aimed at curbing its data-driven market power. He added that this will not only protect the users' right to determine the use of their data but also curb Google’s data-driven market power.

Google settles German antitrust probe

<p>In the&nbsp;current age of hustle, people over 50 years of age&nbsp;in the UK are embracing part-time work rather than opting for traditional retirement or pursuing full-time work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the 2021 Office for National Statistics, a record 3.6 million people above the age of 50 are working part-time. In total, almost a quarter of people above the age of 50 work part-time and makeup about 42 per cent of those&nbsp;choosing not to work a full 40-hour work week, The Sunday Times reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/celestial-treat-heres-how-and-when-to-see-ring-of-fire-solar-eclipse-in-october-641653">The 'ring of fire' solar eclipse is almost here. Here's how and when to see it</a></strong></p>

<p>Furthermore, the most recent census in 2021 showed that 3.4 per cent of over-50s who work part-time jobs are in some form of road transport, making it the sixth-most popular job in this age group.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite an increase in the employment rate among 50 to 64-year-olds, it is not yet back to pre-pandemic levels. Over the past year, the rate increased by 0.6 percentage points to 71.3 per cent, slightly below the 2019 record high of 72.5 per cent.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-jennifer-aniston-54-shares-her-four-rule-fitness-mantra-to-stay-in-shape-641457">Jennifer Aniston, 54, shares her four-rule fitness mantra to stay in shape</a></strong></p>

<p>As per a study by the Resolution Foundation think tank, there are several considerable factors linked to this long rise in employment. The think tank suggested that the overall strength of the economy before the financial crisis, the rise of the service sector and tighter regulations for health-related retirement in public pension programmes have played key roles in keeping people working for longer.&nbsp;Many of those working have said that&nbsp;retaining a work-life balance is the reason they continue to work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, the good working hours among people have led to a rise in older people looking to take up truck driving. A recruitment agency named Manpower said that the proportion of applicants aged between 50 and 59 for its HGV driving bootcamp rose from 15 per cent to 19 per cent between 2022 and 2023.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In the current age of hustle, people over 50 years of age in the UK are embracing part-time work rather than opting for traditional retirement or pursuing full-time work.

In the current age of hustle, people over 50 years of age in the UK are embracing part-time work rather than opting for traditional retirement or pursuing full-time work. According to the 2021 Office for National Statistics, a record 3.6 million people above the age of 50 are working part-time. In total, almost a quarter of people above the age of 50 work part-time and makeup about 42 per cent of those choosing not to work a full 40-hour work week, The Sunday Times reported. Also read | The 'ring of fire' solar eclipse is almost here. Here's how and when to see it Furthermore, the most recent census in 2021 showed that 3.4 per cent of over-50s who work part-time jobs are in some form of road transport, making it the sixth-most popular job in this age group. Despite an increase in the employment rate among 50 to 64-year-olds, it is not yet back to pre-pandemic levels. Over the past year, the rate increased by 0.6 percentage points to 71.3 per cent, slightly below the 2019 record high of 72.5 per cent. Also read |Jennifer Aniston, 54, shares her four-rule fitness mantra to stay in shape As per a study by the Resolution Foundation think tank, there are several considerable factors linked to this long rise in employment. The think tank suggested that the overall strength of the economy before the financial crisis, the rise of the service sector and tighter regulations for health-related retirement in public pension programmes have played key roles in keeping people working for longer. Many of those working have said that retaining a work-life balance is the reason they continue to work. Additionally, the good working hours among people have led to a rise in older people looking to take up truck driving. A recruitment agency named Manpower said that the proportion of applicants aged between 50 and 59 for its HGV driving bootcamp rose from 15 per cent to 19 per cent between 2022 and 2023. (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.

'In the age of hustle': People above the age of 50 choose to work rather than retire

<p>Trade negotiations between India and Canada have hit a snag amid escalating tensions. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mention of a probe into "credible allegations" connecting New Delhi's agents to the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has further strained relations.</p>

<p>On Tuesday (September 19), New Delhi dismissed these allegations as "absurd" and urged Canada to take action against anti-India elements operating on its land. This comes as a surprise move, given that just three months ago, both countries expressed their intent to finalise an initial agreement within the year.</p>

<p>Experts say&nbsp;the <a href="https://commerce.gov.in/international-trade/trade-agreements/indias-current-engagements-in-rtas/india-canada-comprehensive-economic-partnership-agreement-cepa/">Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement </a>(CEPA) between Canada and India has the potential to substantially boost bilateral trade by up to $6.5 billion, with Canada's GDP standing to gain between $3.8 billion and $5.9 billion by 2035.</p>

<p>Recent years have witnessed a steady increase in goods trade, with total trade reaching $8 billion in 2022. <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/india/exports/canada">Indian exports to Canada</a> totalled $4 billion, mirroring <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/canada/exports/india#:~:text=Canada%20Exports%20to%20India%20was,updated%20on%20September%20of%202023">imports from Canada</a>, which were also valued at over $4 billion.</p>

<p>Canada primarily exports energy products, including coal, coke, and briquettes, along with fertilisers, while India exports consumer goods, clothing, engineering products like auto parts and aircraft equipment, as well as electronic items according to&nbsp;Trading Economics, a repository on global economic indicators.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tit-for-tat-new-delhi-cautions-indians-against-travelling-to-canada-amidst-diplomatic-standoff-637878">Tit-for-tat: New Delhi warns Indians on ‘politically-condoned’ hate crimes in Canada travel advisory</a></p>

<h2><strong>What does Canada export to India?</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Canada's main exports to India in 2022 comprised fossil fuels and related products valued at nearly $1 billion, followed by fertilisers at approximately $748 million, and wood pulp and plant fibres&nbsp;worth about $384 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pharmaceutical products, worth about $418 million, constituted the bulk of Indian exports in the previous year, followed by iron and steel products at approximately $328 million and machinery, nuclear reactors, and boilers at around $287 million.</p>

<p>India's increasing demand for lentils has been a boon for Canadian farmers, while Indian pharmaceutical and software companies have expanded their presence in the Canadian market.</p>

<p>Notably, Canada ranks as India's 17th largest foreign investor, injecting more than $3.6 billion since 2000. Canadian portfolio investors have also made substantial investments in Indian stock and debt markets.</p>

<p>The Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) increased its investments in Indian markets to around $15 billion, primarily in areas like real estate, renewables, and the financial sector by the end of the last fiscal year in March 2023.</p>

<p>Over 600 Canadian companies, including Bombardier and SNC Lavalin, have established a strong presence in India, while more than 30 Indian companies, such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, have invested billions in Canada, generating thousands of jobs.</p>

<p>Since 2018, India has been the leading source country for international students in Canada. In 2022, their numbers surged by 47 per cent&nbsp;to nearly 320,000, constituting about 40 per cent&nbsp;of all overseas students, as reported by the Canadian Bureau of International Education. This influx also enables universities and colleges to provide subsidised education to domestic students.</p>

<h3><em>Top countries of study permit holders with a valid permit in Canada in 2022</em></h3>

<p><strong><em>Data source: Statista</em></strong></p>

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<p>Many analysts are concerned that deteriorating relations between the two nations could impact the economic well-being of thousands of Sikh families in India's Sikh-majority state of Punjab. These families have relatives in Canada who remit millions of dollars back home. According to the 2021 census, Canada's Sikh population has more than doubled over 20 years, reaching 2.1 per cent, driven by a significant migration of Sikhs from India in pursuit of higher education and employment opportunities.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Trade negotiations between India and Canada have hit a snag amid escalating tensions. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mention of a probe into "credible allegations" connecting New Delhi's agents to the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has further strained relations.

Trade negotiations between India and Canada have hit a snag amid escalating tensions. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mention of a probe into "credible allegations" connecting New Delhi's agents to the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has further strained relations. On Tuesday (September 19), New Delhi dismissed these allegations as "absurd" and urged Canada to take action against anti-India elements operating on its land. This comes as a surprise move, given that just three months ago, both countries expressed their intent to finalise an initial agreement within the year. Experts say the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Canada and India has the potential to substantially boost bilateral trade by up to $6.5 billion, with Canada's GDP standing to gain between $3.8 billion and $5.9 billion by 2035. Recent years have witnessed a steady increase in goods trade, with total trade reaching $8 billion in 2022. Indian exports to Canada totalled $4 billion, mirroring imports from Canada, which were also valued at over $4 billion. Canada primarily exports energy products, including coal, coke, and briquettes, along with fertilisers, while India exports consumer goods, clothing, engineering products like auto parts and aircraft equipment, as well as electronic items according to Trading Economics, a repository on global economic indicators. Also read | Tit-for-tat: New Delhi warns Indians on ‘politically-condoned’ hate crimes in Canada travel advisory What does Canada export to India? Notably, Canada's main exports to India in 2022 comprised fossil fuels and related products valued at nearly $1 billion, followed by fertilisers at approximately $748 million, and wood pulp and plant fibres worth about $384 million. Pharmaceutical products, worth about $418 million, constituted the bulk of Indian exports in the previous year, followed by iron and steel products at approximately $328 million and machinery, nuclear reactors, and boilers at around $287 million. India's increasing demand for lentils has been a boon for Canadian farmers, while Indian pharmaceutical and software companies have expanded their presence in the Canadian market. Notably, Canada ranks as India's 17th largest foreign investor, injecting more than $3.6 billion since 2000. Canadian portfolio investors have also made substantial investments in Indian stock and debt markets. The Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) increased its investments in Indian markets to around $15 billion, primarily in areas like real estate, renewables, and the financial sector by the end of the last fiscal year in March 2023. Over 600 Canadian companies, including Bombardier and SNC Lavalin, have established a strong presence in India, while more than 30 Indian companies, such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, have invested billions in Canada, generating thousands of jobs. Since 2018, India has been the leading source country for international students in Canada. In 2022, their numbers surged by 47 per cent to nearly 320,000, constituting about 40 per cent of all overseas students, as reported by the Canadian Bureau of International Education. This influx also enables universities and colleges to provide subsidised education to domestic students. Top countries of study permit holders with a valid permit in Canada in 2022 Data source: Statista × Many analysts are concerned that deteriorating relations between the two nations could impact the economic well-being of thousands of Sikh families in India's Sikh-majority state of Punjab. These families have relatives in Canada who remit millions of dollars back home. According to the 2021 census, Canada's Sikh population has more than doubled over 20 years, reaching 2.1 per cent, driven by a significant migration of Sikhs from India in pursuit of higher education and employment opportunities. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data Lab: Will the clash over Nijjar murder turn India-Canada trade ties sour?

<p>AI researchers at Microsoft have committed a grave error, as revealed in a recent report by cloud security company Wiz. The Microsoft AI research team inadvertently disclosed a massive&nbsp;38 terabytes of the company's confidential data.</p>

<p>Among the exposed data were complete backups of two employees' computers, housing sensitive personal information such as passwords for Microsoft services, secret keys, and over 30,000 internal Microsoft Teams messages from more than 350 Microsoft employees, reported Mashable.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/data-lab-cyber-threats-in-healthcare-digital-india-and-the-need-to-beef-up-cyber-security-601894">Data Lab | Digital India and the need to beef up cyber-security in healthcare</a></p>

<h2><strong>So, how did this&nbsp;incident occur?</strong></h2>

<p>According to the report, the Microsoft AI team uploaded a repository of training data containing open-source code and AI models designed for image recognition. Users stumbling upon this Github repository acquired&nbsp;a link from Azure, Microsoft's cloud storage service, enabling them to download these models.</p>

<p>However, a critical flaw cropped up:&nbsp;the link provided by Microsoft's AI team granted visitors unrestricted access to the entire Azure storage account. This meant that visitors not only had the ability to browse through all the content&nbsp;within the account but also had the power to upload, overwrite, or delete files at their discretion.</p>

<p>Wiz said this vulnerability stemmed from an Azure feature known as Shared Access Signature (SAS) tokens, which essentially offers a signed URL for accessing Azure Storage data. The SAS token could have been configured with specific limitations governing which files could be accessed. The link in question had been configured with full access rights.</p>

<p>Compounding the issue, Wiz noted that this data had seemingly been exposed since 2020. This extended period of exposure significantly amplified the potential risks associated with the breach.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Bard Gets Smarter: Google AI Chatbot gets new features</strong></p>

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<p>Upon discovering this security lapse, Wiz&nbsp;notified Microsoft on June 22 this year. Microsoft invalidated the SAS token within two days, effectively sealing the vulnerability. Subsequently, Microsoft conducted a comprehensive investigation into the potential repercussions, successfully concluding it by August.</p>

<p>Microsoft has issued a statement to TechCrunch, asserting that "no customer data was exposed, and no other internal services were put at risk because of this issue."&nbsp;</p>

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AI researchers at Microsoft have committed a grave error, as revealed in a recent report by cloud security company Wiz. The Microsoft AI research team inadvertently disclosed a massive 38 terabytes of the company's confidential data.

AI researchers at Microsoft have committed a grave error, as revealed in a recent report by cloud security company Wiz. The Microsoft AI research team inadvertently disclosed a massive 38 terabytes of the company's confidential data. Among the exposed data were complete backups of two employees' computers, housing sensitive personal information such as passwords for Microsoft services, secret keys, and over 30,000 internal Microsoft Teams messages from more than 350 Microsoft employees, reported Mashable. Also read | Data Lab | Digital India and the need to beef up cyber-security in healthcare So, how did this incident occur? According to the report, the Microsoft AI team uploaded a repository of training data containing open-source code and AI models designed for image recognition. Users stumbling upon this Github repository acquired a link from Azure, Microsoft's cloud storage service, enabling them to download these models. However, a critical flaw cropped up: the link provided by Microsoft's AI team granted visitors unrestricted access to the entire Azure storage account. This meant that visitors not only had the ability to browse through all the content within the account but also had the power to upload, overwrite, or delete files at their discretion. Wiz said this vulnerability stemmed from an Azure feature known as Shared Access Signature (SAS) tokens, which essentially offers a signed URL for accessing Azure Storage data. The SAS token could have been configured with specific limitations governing which files could be accessed. The link in question had been configured with full access rights. Compounding the issue, Wiz noted that this data had seemingly been exposed since 2020. This extended period of exposure significantly amplified the potential risks associated with the breach. Also watch | Bard Gets Smarter: Google AI Chatbot gets new features Upon discovering this security lapse, Wiz notified Microsoft on June 22 this year. Microsoft invalidated the SAS token within two days, effectively sealing the vulnerability. Subsequently, Microsoft conducted a comprehensive investigation into the potential repercussions, successfully concluding it by August. Microsoft has issued a statement to TechCrunch, asserting that "no customer data was exposed, and no other internal services were put at risk because of this issue." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Microsoft made the grave error of accidentally leaking sensitive data. This is what happened next

<p>The recently concluded G20 Summit in New Delhi captured the attention of internet users worldwide, with a surge in interest, especially last week weekend. The English Wikipedia article titled "2023 G20 New Delhi Summit," published in October 2022, has amassed 1.7 million global page views.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the G20 Summit hosted in New Delhi, India found itself under the global media spotlight for several days. This attention has translated into a remarkable increase in pageviews for the English Wikipedia article. In August 2023, pageviews surged fourfold compared to July 2023, reaching over 220,000, and within the first two weeks of September 2023, they skyrocketed to over 550,000.</p>

<p>The heightened interest in the article not only reflects the global fascination with the event but also underscores India's prominence on the international stage. The G20 Summit and India's presidency have sparked widespread curiosity and engagement.</p>

<p>This fascination extends beyond the English-speaking audience, as the article has been translated into 18 languages, including French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish, accumulating a combined total of over 1.96 million pageviews.&nbsp; Volunteer editors have made hundreds of edits, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the information. In the case of the English Wikipedia G20 article alone, 166 editors have contributed over 450 edits since its publication.</p>

<p>While Wikipedia remained one of the sources of information, platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube played a significant role in disseminating information and fostering discussions.&nbsp;India's official G20 Presidency Twitter account, @g20org, garnered substantial attention with a followership of 644.4K. The use of popular hashtags like #G20India and #G20OfCourse facilitated conversations, allowing users to share insights and opinions about the summit.</p>

<p>YouTube, another powerful platform, became a primary source for live streaming the G20 Summit. The official G20 YouTube channel, with 67.4K subscribers, provided an accessible medium for people to watch the proceedings.</p>

<p>Furthermore, various Indian government YouTube channels, including PMO (Prime Minister's Office), MEA (Ministry of External Affairs), and PIB (Press Information Bureau), also streamed the summit and uploaded videos of various bilaterals, accumulating a significant number of views. This shift towards online streaming reflects a broader trend of people preferring digital platforms over traditional television for accessing important events.</p>

<p>The surge in online engagement during the G20 Summit underscores the growing influence of social media and digital platforms in shaping public discourse and disseminating information.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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The recently concluded G20 Summit in New Delhi captured the attention of internet users worldwide, with a surge in interest, especially last week weekend. The English Wikipedia article titled "2023 G20 New Delhi Summit," published in October 2022, has amassed 1.

The recently concluded G20 Summit in New Delhi captured the attention of internet users worldwide, with a surge in interest, especially last week weekend. The English Wikipedia article titled "2023 G20 New Delhi Summit," published in October 2022, has amassed 1.7 million global page views. During the G20 Summit hosted in New Delhi, India found itself under the global media spotlight for several days. This attention has translated into a remarkable increase in pageviews for the English Wikipedia article. In August 2023, pageviews surged fourfold compared to July 2023, reaching over 220,000, and within the first two weeks of September 2023, they skyrocketed to over 550,000. The heightened interest in the article not only reflects the global fascination with the event but also underscores India's prominence on the international stage. The G20 Summit and India's presidency have sparked widespread curiosity and engagement. This fascination extends beyond the English-speaking audience, as the article has been translated into 18 languages, including French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish, accumulating a combined total of over 1.96 million pageviews. Volunteer editors have made hundreds of edits, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the information. In the case of the English Wikipedia G20 article alone, 166 editors have contributed over 450 edits since its publication. While Wikipedia remained one of the sources of information, platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube played a significant role in disseminating information and fostering discussions. India's official G20 Presidency Twitter account, @g20org, garnered substantial attention with a followership of 644.4K. The use of popular hashtags like #G20India and #G20OfCourse facilitated conversations, allowing users to share insights and opinions about the summit. YouTube, another powerful platform, became a primary source for live streaming the G20 Summit. The official G20 YouTube channel, with 67.4K subscribers, provided an accessible medium for people to watch the proceedings. Furthermore, various Indian government YouTube channels, including PMO (Prime Minister's Office), MEA (Ministry of External Affairs), and PIB (Press Information Bureau), also streamed the summit and uploaded videos of various bilaterals, accumulating a significant number of views. This shift towards online streaming reflects a broader trend of people preferring digital platforms over traditional television for accessing important events. The surge in online engagement during the G20 Summit underscores the growing influence of social media and digital platforms in shaping public discourse and disseminating information. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Internet was abuzz on India's G20 Summit amid global media spotlight, data shows

Report on the US labour market in August reveals a mix reality. While job growth defied expectations, the unemployment rate experienced a notable uptick. Nonfarm payrolls exceeded expectations, posting a growth of 187,000 jobs, surpassing the estimated 170,000. However, this apparent success is tempered by a significant increase in the unemployment rate, which reached 3.8%, marking its highest level since February 2022.

What the US job market data says

<p>In the grand global population race, India has emerged as the frontrunner, boasting a colossal population of 1,428 million people, just edging past China's 1,425 million. It's a neck-and-neck population contest, but when you peek at their economic narratives, a contrasting tale unfolds.</p>

<p>As per the most recent World Bank data from 2022, China's gross domestic product (GDP) looms large at 17.96 trillion USD, while India's registers at a comparatively modest 3.39 trillion USD. What's noteworthy is that this economic chasm is only growing wider.</p>

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<p><strong><em>The graph above shows the widening gap in Gross domestic product (GDP) between China (in red)&nbsp;and India (in blue).&nbsp;</em></strong></p>

<p>Rewinding to 1980, China and India's economic landscapes were very similar, with GDP numbers almost in lockstep. India even held a slight edge in GDP per capita over its much larger neighbour to the east. However, China embarked on a monumental journey, with its economy surging at an astonishing average rate of 10 per cent between 1980 and 2010, leaving India trailing far behind.</p>

<p>The reasons behind China's meteoric economic ascent are multifaceted. Yet, a pivotal factor lies in the increasing participation of women in China's workforce, adding an extra dimension to its growth story.</p>

<p>With male labour force participation nearly on par in <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.MA.ZS?locations=CN">China</a>&nbsp;(73 per cent as per 2022) and <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.MA.ZS?locations=IN">India</a>&nbsp;(74 per cent as per 2022), the divergence primarily stems from female involvement. In 2022, China boasted a robust 61 per cent female labour force participation rate, whereas India lagged significantly at just 24 per cent.</p>

<p>India can no longer attribute China's larger population as the sole rationale for its superior GDP. This prompts a crucial question: <strong>does this surplus of female labour participation truly underpin China's formidable GDP?</strong> Maybe, Yes.</p>

<p>“The high participation of women in the workforce in China is a combination of its socialist legacy and subsequent economic reforms and opening up after Mao Zedong's (Chinese communist leader and founder of the People's Republic of China) passing. The high level of investment by the state in human capital, education and health is one of the key achievements of Mao era (1949-78). It also emerged from the socialist understanding that both men and women had to participate in labour - starting from agricultural production,” <strong>Dr Anand P. Krishnan, Fellow, Centre for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Delhi NCR, and Visiting Associate Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies in Delhi told WION.</strong></p>

<p>Following initiatives to protect women's rights, including the marriage law passed after the People's Republic's establishment, Chinese women have enjoyed increased mobility and opportunities. This trend continued with economic reforms since the 1980s, leading to more women pursuing higher education and careers. Declining urban birth rates reduced childcare responsibilities, allowing women to delay starting families. Marriage rates have fallen as women prioritise careers, leading to a rise in female CEOs and a strong presence in retail and service industries. They are also increasing moving to heavy labour intensive sectors - like women constitute nearly 14-16 per cent of all construction workers, explains Dr Krishnan.</p>

<p>The recent dip in the female labour force participation rate to 61 per cent has also got the Party-state to come up with plans to address it. Such as a <a href="https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1008606">10-year plan for women's development</a>.</p>

<p>The Party-state is also intending to ask employers not to mention gender preferences in job advertisement, and also not ask women about their marital and pregnancy status.</p>

<p>“However, notwithstanding this, things are not rosy for women. With the removal of the one-child policy, with the Party-state incrementally raising it to two-child and now three-child, women are now forced to juggle with both work and childcare,” continues Dr Krishnan.</p>

<p>In a <a href="https://ceda.ashoka.edu.in/the-elephant-is-set-to-overtake-the-dragon-or-is-it/">study</a> titled ‘<em>The Elephant is set to overtake the Dragon, or is it?,’</em> conducted by the Centre for Economic Data and Analysis (CEDA) under Ashoka University, there has been a revelation that further fortifies this argument. According to the&nbsp;research, as of 2021, China boasted approximately 478.3 million women aged 15-64, while India's count stood at 458.2 million women in the same age bracket — a disparity that seems slight. However, the female labour force participation rates for that year painted a strikingly different picture; China's workforce encompassed a formidable 338.6 million, whereas India's tally was a mere 112.8 million. So, even though India's working-age demographic group almost mirrored China's in size, but its labour force was noticeably smaller.</p>

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<p><em><strong>*This is an interactive data chart. Click on the bars to get the figures*</strong></em></p>

<h2><strong>When can we expect India to surpass China in terms of its labour force?</strong></h2>

<p>The study suggests that this won't occur in the near future, but there's a glimmer of hope. If we assume that the labour force participation rate (LFPR) remains constant at its most recent levels for both countries, it'll be approximately 27 years before this milestone is reached. It's only in 2051 that India is projected to outpace China in terms of labour force numbers, assuming all other factors remain unchanged. These projections are based on United Nations population estimates spanning up to the year 2100.</p>

<p>Now, if India's LFPR were to surge to 60 per cent, this shift could occur by 2040. However, for India's labour force to surpass China's in absolute numbers by 2030, India's LFPR would need to make a sharp jump from its current level, which hovers at around 58 per cent (based on the labour force participation rate by usual status for the 15-64 age group as estimated by the Periodic Labour Force Survey, 2021-22), to 71 per cent within the next seven years. Achieving such a significant improvement in such a short span of time seems highly unlikely.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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In the grand global population race, India has emerged as the frontrunner, boasting a colossal population of 1,428 million people, just edging past China's 1,425 million.

In the grand global population race, India has emerged as the frontrunner, boasting a colossal population of 1,428 million people, just edging past China's 1,425 million. It's a neck-and-neck population contest, but when you peek at their economic narratives, a contrasting tale unfolds. As per the most recent World Bank data from 2022, China's gross domestic product (GDP) looms large at 17.96 trillion USD, while India's registers at a comparatively modest 3.39 trillion USD. What's noteworthy is that this economic chasm is only growing wider. × The graph above shows the widening gap in Gross domestic product (GDP) between China (in red) and India (in blue). Rewinding to 1980, China and India's economic landscapes were very similar, with GDP numbers almost in lockstep. India even held a slight edge in GDP per capita over its much larger neighbour to the east. However, China embarked on a monumental journey, with its economy surging at an astonishing average rate of 10 per cent between 1980 and 2010, leaving India trailing far behind. The reasons behind China's meteoric economic ascent are multifaceted. Yet, a pivotal factor lies in the increasing participation of women in China's workforce, adding an extra dimension to its growth story. With male labour force participation nearly on par in China (73 per cent as per 2022) and India (74 per cent as per 2022), the divergence primarily stems from female involvement. In 2022, China boasted a robust 61 per cent female labour force participation rate, whereas India lagged significantly at just 24 per cent. India can no longer attribute China's larger population as the sole rationale for its superior GDP. This prompts a crucial question: does this surplus of female labour participation truly underpin China's formidable GDP? Maybe, Yes. “The high participation of women in the workforce in China is a combination of its socialist legacy and subsequent economic reforms and opening up after Mao Zedong's (Chinese communist leader and founder of the People's Republic of China) passing. The high level of investment by the state in human capital, education and health is one of the key achievements of Mao era (1949-78). It also emerged from the socialist understanding that both men and women had to participate in labour - starting from agricultural production,” Dr Anand P. Krishnan, Fellow, Centre for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Delhi NCR, and Visiting Associate Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies in Delhi told WION. Following initiatives to protect women's rights, including the marriage law passed after the People's Republic's establishment, Chinese women have enjoyed increased mobility and opportunities. This trend continued with economic reforms since the 1980s, leading to more women pursuing higher education and careers. Declining urban birth rates reduced childcare responsibilities, allowing women to delay starting families. Marriage rates have fallen as women prioritise careers, leading to a rise in female CEOs and a strong presence in retail and service industries. They are also increasing moving to heavy labour intensive sectors - like women constitute nearly 14-16 per cent of all construction workers, explains Dr Krishnan. The recent dip in the female labour force participation rate to 61 per cent has also got the Party-state to come up with plans to address it. Such as a 10-year plan for women's development. The Party-state is also intending to ask employers not to mention gender preferences in job advertisement, and also not ask women about their marital and pregnancy status. “However, notwithstanding this, things are not rosy for women. With the removal of the one-child policy, with the Party-state incrementally raising it to two-child and now three-child, women are now forced to juggle with both work and childcare,” continues Dr Krishnan. In a study titled ‘The Elephant is set to overtake the Dragon, or is it?,’ conducted by the Centre for Economic Data and Analysis (CEDA) under Ashoka University, there has been a revelation that further fortifies this argument. According to the research, as of 2021, China boasted approximately 478.3 million women aged 15-64, while India's count stood at 458.2 million women in the same age bracket — a disparity that seems slight. However, the female labour force participation rates for that year painted a strikingly different picture; China's workforce encompassed a formidable 338.6 million, whereas India's tally was a mere 112.8 million. So, even though India's working-age demographic group almost mirrored China's in size, but its labour force was noticeably smaller. × *This is an interactive data chart. Click on the bars to get the figures* When can we expect India to surpass China in terms of its labour force? The study suggests that this won't occur in the near future, but there's a glimmer of hope. If we assume that the labour force participation rate (LFPR) remains constant at its most recent levels for both countries, it'll be approximately 27 years before this milestone is reached. It's only in 2051 that India is projected to outpace China in terms of labour force numbers, assuming all other factors remain unchanged. These projections are based on United Nations population estimates spanning up to the year 2100. Now, if India's LFPR were to surge to 60 per cent, this shift could occur by 2040. However, for India's labour force to surpass China's in absolute numbers by 2030, India's LFPR would need to make a sharp jump from its current level, which hovers at around 58 per cent (based on the labour force participation rate by usual status for the 15-64 age group as estimated by the Periodic Labour Force Survey, 2021-22), to 71 per cent within the next seven years. Achieving such a significant improvement in such a short span of time seems highly unlikely. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data Lab | Are China's women turbocharging its economy? Can India catch up?

<p>The Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), achieved a successful soft landing at 6:04 PM (IST) on August 23.&nbsp;India made a historic achievement, becoming the first country to land a&nbsp;spacecraft on the Moon's southern pole. This milestone comes days after a Russian probe, Luna-25, crashed&nbsp;in the same area on&nbsp;August 21.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Just a few hours before India's historic Chandrayaan-3's soft landing on the moon, Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO and the world's wealthiest, expressed his admiration for the project's cost-effectiveness. Responding to a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which compared Chandrayaan-3's budget to that of the movie <em>Interstellar</em>, Musk stated that the mission is "good for India." The post on X highlighted that India's lunar mission budget amounted to a mere $75 million, while the creators of Interstellar had spent $165 million on the film.</p>

<h2><strong>ISRO has a real talent for achieving remarkable results without breaking the bank</strong></h2>

<p>Indeed, Chandrayaan-3's budget stands out for its frugality, a testament to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) knack for achieving remarkable feats on a limited budget. This mission represents ISRO's third venture to the lunar surface, following the successful Chandrayaan-1 (2008), which contributed to the discovery of liquid water on the moon. However, Chandrayaan-2 (2019) faced a communication failure and ultimately crashed into the lunar surface.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/every-indian-household-is-celebrating-pm-modi-says-after-india-lands-on-moon-628412">'Every Indian household is celebrating,' PM Modi says after India lands on Moon</a></p>

<h2><strong>Budget breakdown and global comparisons</strong></h2>

<p>Reports on the day of Chandrayaan-3's launch, including one by Reuters, estimated the mission's budget at just under $75 million, roughly equivalent to ₹615 crore. Furthermore, an ANI report provided more specific details, indicating that the approved cost of Chandrayaan-3 was ₹250 crore (around $31 million), excluding launch vehicle expenses.</p>

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<p>ISRO's impressive cost-efficiency in space exploration is strikingly evident when compared to other space agencies worldwide. In 2022, India's space programme budget ranked seventh globally, with government spending totalling $1.93 billion. Even in lunar missions, Chandrayaan-3's budget remains notably lower than its counterparts. For instance, Russia's Luna-25, which tragically crashed on the moon shortly before Chandrayaan-3's successful mission, reportedly had a budget ranging between $190-200 million.</p>

<p>NASA, the United States' space agency, is projected to allocate as much as $93 billion for its Artemis moon exploration programme by 2025.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-is-on-the-moon-isro-chief-s-somanath-celebrates-chandrayaan-3s-triumph-on-lunar-landing-628420">‘India is on the moon’: ISRO chief S Somanath celebrates Chandrayaan-3's triumph on lunar landing</a></p>

<p>Despite limited resources, ISRO has cultivated an illustrious track record in space exploration. To date, the space agency has executed <a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/Mission.html">124 spacecraft missions and 93&nbsp;launch missions.</a>&nbsp;</p>

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The Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), achieved a successful soft landing at 6:04 PM (IST) on August 23. India made a historic achievement, becoming the first country to land a spacecraft on the Moon's southern pole.

The Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), achieved a successful soft landing at 6:04 PM (IST) on August 23. India made a historic achievement, becoming the first country to land a spacecraft on the Moon's southern pole. This milestone comes days after a Russian probe, Luna-25, crashed in the same area on August 21. Just a few hours before India's historic Chandrayaan-3's soft landing on the moon, Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO and the world's wealthiest, expressed his admiration for the project's cost-effectiveness. Responding to a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which compared Chandrayaan-3's budget to that of the movie Interstellar, Musk stated that the mission is "good for India." The post on X highlighted that India's lunar mission budget amounted to a mere $75 million, while the creators of Interstellar had spent $165 million on the film. ISRO has a real talent for achieving remarkable results without breaking the bank Indeed, Chandrayaan-3's budget stands out for its frugality, a testament to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) knack for achieving remarkable feats on a limited budget. This mission represents ISRO's third venture to the lunar surface, following the successful Chandrayaan-1 (2008), which contributed to the discovery of liquid water on the moon. However, Chandrayaan-2 (2019) faced a communication failure and ultimately crashed into the lunar surface. Also read | 'Every Indian household is celebrating,' PM Modi says after India lands on Moon Budget breakdown and global comparisons Reports on the day of Chandrayaan-3's launch, including one by Reuters, estimated the mission's budget at just under $75 million, roughly equivalent to ₹615 crore. Furthermore, an ANI report provided more specific details, indicating that the approved cost of Chandrayaan-3 was ₹250 crore (around $31 million), excluding launch vehicle expenses. × ISRO's impressive cost-efficiency in space exploration is strikingly evident when compared to other space agencies worldwide. In 2022, India's space programme budget ranked seventh globally, with government spending totalling $1.93 billion. Even in lunar missions, Chandrayaan-3's budget remains notably lower than its counterparts. For instance, Russia's Luna-25, which tragically crashed on the moon shortly before Chandrayaan-3's successful mission, reportedly had a budget ranging between $190-200 million. NASA, the United States' space agency, is projected to allocate as much as $93 billion for its Artemis moon exploration programme by 2025. Also read | ‘India is on the moon’: ISRO chief S Somanath celebrates Chandrayaan-3's triumph on lunar landing Despite limited resources, ISRO has cultivated an illustrious track record in space exploration. To date, the space agency has executed 124 spacecraft missions and 93 launch missions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data Lab | With a budget less than Hollywood's 'Interstellar', India's Chandrayaan-3 is a big success

<p>Marriages in China reached a historic low in 2022, amid its&nbsp;declining birth rate and population.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mca.gov.cn/mzsj/xzqh/2022/202204tjsj.htm">The Ministry of Civil Affairs of China</a> reported that 6.8 million couples registered marriages in 2022, a 10.5 per cent&nbsp;decrease from 2021 when 7.63 million marriages were registered. This&nbsp;is the lowest figure since 1986,&nbsp;when the Chinese government started documenting these statistics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As authorities struggle to deal with these demographic changes, fewer couples are getting married. This decline can be attributed to&nbsp;the Covid pandemic restrictions that kept tens of millions confined to their homes or compounds for weeks last year, but that isn't the sole reason.</p>

<p>"Covid restrictions are not the main cause of decline in marriage rates or birth rates. In fact, this is a phenomenon&nbsp;evolving in China prior to the Covid pandemic,&nbsp;as the working age population in China started to decline way back in 2012,&nbsp;and by 2017 there was a phenomenon of 'labour shortage' in China," <strong>Dr Geeta Kochhar</strong>, Assistant Professor, Centre for Chinese and South&nbsp;Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University&nbsp;told WION.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Covid made the matter worse. Numerous additional factors were at play, including the empowerment of women, increasing cost-of-living, changes in the state welfare system, the nature of social relations altering, the high cost of raising children, and the high prevalence of urban unemployment. All of these elements have progressively changed the Chinese culture and the way that people see the institution of marriage and raising children, she adds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the first time in 60 years, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-meddle-in-taiwan-issue-chinese-foreign-minister-qin-tells-us-antony-blinken-604232">China's</a> population dwindled, prompting predictions that the nation would age before becoming rich.</p>

<p>It was in&nbsp;the year 1961, during Mao Zedong's era that China's&nbsp;population decreased year to year.&nbsp;Millions of people&nbsp;died as a result of his failed economic policies known as the Great Leap Forward, however this forced slowdown in population growth only lasted a short period.</p>

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<p>However, many analysts predict that the current decline in birth rates, which was exacerbated by the one-child policy, a state-led initiative to reduce population between 1980 and 2016, will be long-lasting and&nbsp;probably have irreversible ramifications.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There is no denial that the one-child policy that began in the 1980s and&nbsp;continued for more than two decades has led to a complete chaos in social order and the structure of the Chinese society. It has in ways wiped out a whole generation of Chinese population, who could have formed the active young labour force," explains Kochhar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She also argues that the context and timing of when this regulation was implemented had its own rationale and need.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/the-great-wall-of-doubt-chinas-equity-market-battles-for-confidence-604366">Chinese economy</a> during the early 1980s was unable to bear the burden of rising population, but the mistakes were to impose forced sterilisation and strict fines. A moderate adjustment would have gone a long way for China to avert the present economic challenges.&nbsp;The Chinese state went way too far," she adds.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>China and Japan ageing the same way?</strong></h2>

<p>China joined a group of significant Asian economies dealing with the same tendency as its population plummeted last year. The nations that are ageing most quickly globally are Japan and South Korea, with South Korea having the lowest fertility rate.</p>

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<p><em><strong>Note: This is an interactive chart. Please hover over the screen to get the figures.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p>In the most fortunate nations, ageing occurs when the nation is still reasonably rich, allowing many of its senior citizens to live comfortably in retirement. For instance, Japan's median income peaked in the late 1980s, at a time when its "bubble economy" was coming to an end, well before the population started to plateau.&nbsp;China, however, faces this&nbsp;population issue in a totally different economic setting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"China is in the process of transitioning from a labour-intensive economy&nbsp;to a technology driven economy," says Kochhar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We need to see if China is able to make the transition to a high-tech&nbsp;economy rapidly or not? This will reduce the burden on the economy&nbsp;as it won't&nbsp;be dependent on the labour force alone.&nbsp;However, the burden on the social welfare system of China will multiply,&nbsp;which is already&nbsp;market&nbsp;driven and dependent on public participation. Yet, considering the nature of the Chinese state, it won't be surprising&nbsp;in case the government chooses&nbsp;excessive pressure to&nbsp;force&nbsp;women to produce more children.&nbsp;Actions&nbsp;and&nbsp;policy changes will all depend on the pragmatic changes in China and on the domestic researchers' output for the adjustments needed to boost the Chinese economy," she summed up.</p>

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Marriages in China reached a historic low in 2022, amid its declining birth rate and population. The Ministry of Civil Affairs of China reported that 6.8 million couples registered marriages in 2022, a 10.

Marriages in China reached a historic low in 2022, amid its declining birth rate and population. The Ministry of Civil Affairs of China reported that 6.8 million couples registered marriages in 2022, a 10.5 per cent decrease from 2021 when 7.63 million marriages were registered. This is the lowest figure since 1986, when the Chinese government started documenting these statistics. As authorities struggle to deal with these demographic changes, fewer couples are getting married. This decline can be attributed to the Covid pandemic restrictions that kept tens of millions confined to their homes or compounds for weeks last year, but that isn't the sole reason. "Covid restrictions are not the main cause of decline in marriage rates or birth rates. In fact, this is a phenomenon evolving in China prior to the Covid pandemic, as the working age population in China started to decline way back in 2012, and by 2017 there was a phenomenon of 'labour shortage' in China," Dr Geeta Kochhar, Assistant Professor, Centre for Chinese and South Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University told WION. Covid made the matter worse. Numerous additional factors were at play, including the empowerment of women, increasing cost-of-living, changes in the state welfare system, the nature of social relations altering, the high cost of raising children, and the high prevalence of urban unemployment. All of these elements have progressively changed the Chinese culture and the way that people see the institution of marriage and raising children, she adds. For the first time in 60 years, China's population dwindled, prompting predictions that the nation would age before becoming rich. It was in the year 1961, during Mao Zedong's era that China's population decreased year to year. Millions of people died as a result of his failed economic policies known as the Great Leap Forward, however this forced slowdown in population growth only lasted a short period. × However, many analysts predict that the current decline in birth rates, which was exacerbated by the one-child policy, a state-led initiative to reduce population between 1980 and 2016, will be long-lasting and probably have irreversible ramifications. "There is no denial that the one-child policy that began in the 1980s and continued for more than two decades has led to a complete chaos in social order and the structure of the Chinese society. It has in ways wiped out a whole generation of Chinese population, who could have formed the active young labour force," explains Kochhar. She also argues that the context and timing of when this regulation was implemented had its own rationale and need. "The Chinese economy during the early 1980s was unable to bear the burden of rising population, but the mistakes were to impose forced sterilisation and strict fines. A moderate adjustment would have gone a long way for China to avert the present economic challenges. The Chinese state went way too far," she adds. China and Japan ageing the same way? China joined a group of significant Asian economies dealing with the same tendency as its population plummeted last year. The nations that are ageing most quickly globally are Japan and South Korea, with South Korea having the lowest fertility rate. × Note: This is an interactive chart. Please hover over the screen to get the figures. In the most fortunate nations, ageing occurs when the nation is still reasonably rich, allowing many of its senior citizens to live comfortably in retirement. For instance, Japan's median income peaked in the late 1980s, at a time when its "bubble economy" was coming to an end, well before the population started to plateau. China, however, faces this population issue in a totally different economic setting. "China is in the process of transitioning from a labour-intensive economy to a technology driven economy," says Kochhar. "We need to see if China is able to make the transition to a high-tech economy rapidly or not? This will reduce the burden on the economy as it won't be dependent on the labour force alone. However, the burden on the social welfare system of China will multiply, which is already market driven and dependent on public participation. Yet, considering the nature of the Chinese state, it won't be surprising in case the government chooses excessive pressure to force women to produce more children. Actions and policy changes will all depend on the pragmatic changes in China and on the domestic researchers' output for the adjustments needed to boost the Chinese economy," she summed up. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data Lab | Chinese neither marrying nor having kids and it's Xi Jinping's new headache. Here's how

<p>Days after Lok Sabha gave its approval to the digital personal data protection bill, 2023, on Wednesday (August 9) Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian parliament, also passed the bill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The legislation, in its latest form, maintains the provisions from the initial version introduced last November, including aspects that were raised as concerns by privacy specialists, like exceptions for the central authority. The revised version of the proposed law has additionally granted the central government authority over virtual censorship.</p>

<p>This marks India's second attempt at developing privacy-oriented legislation, following the government's consideration and abandonment of at least three prior drafts of data protection laws.</p>

<p>The next step involves the Bill's approval by President Droupadi Murmu before&nbsp;it can be enacted into law.</p>

<p>The bill, aimed at regulating and safeguarding the use of personal data, was presented by Union Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.</p>

<p>However, the bill's introduction was met with strong opposition from leaders of the Opposition, who argued that it infringes upon the fundamental right to privacy.</p>

<p>The debate surrounding the bill revolved around concerns raised by the Opposition, including the demand that the bill undergo thorough scrutiny by the standing committee, citing the withdrawal of a previous data protection bill by the government last year.</p>

<p>Vaishnaw defended the bill, asserting that it is not a money bill and that all concerns raised by the Opposition would be addressed in the subsequent debate.</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Government's perspective: Safeguarding citizens' rights</strong></h2>

<p>While the Opposition voiced its concerns, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, took to X (previously Twitter), to emphasise the bill's significance.</p>

<p>He commended the bill as a crucial step towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of establishing global-standard cyber laws for India's thriving digital economy.</p>

<p>Chandrasekhar highlighted that extensive consultations with stakeholders, including citizens, have contributed to the bill's development. He underlined that the bill, once enacted, would ensure citizens' rights, foster innovation, and enable legitimate government access in scenarios like national security threats and emergencies, such as pandemics or earthquakes.</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What is the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill ?<br />
<br />
➡️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DPDPBill?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DPDPBill</a> introduced in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Parliament?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Parliament</a> is a very significant milestone in PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji's vision of Global Standard Cyber Laws for India's $1T <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DigitalEconomy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DigitalEconomy</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaTechade?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaTechade</a><br />
<br />
➡️ <a href="https://twitter.com/GoI_MeitY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoI_MeitY</a> has developed this bill after… <a href="https://t.co/a8tHXJl537">pic.twitter.com/a8tHXJl537</a></p>
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rajeev_GoI/status/1687033454746341376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/data-protection-bill-is-much-needed-in-our-current-scenario-says-rahul-matthan-partner-trilegal-538748">"Data Protection Bill is much needed in our current scenario", says Rahul Matthan, Partner, Trilegal</a></p>

<h2><strong>Understanding the </strong> Digital Personal Data Protection<strong>&nbsp;Bill</strong></h2>

<p>The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill is a comprehensive legislative framework designed to delineate the rights and responsibilities of both citizens, referred to as "Digital Nagriks," and data fiduciaries – entities collecting and using personal data.</p>

<p>The bill is founded upon six fundamental principles aimed at governing the data economy.</p>

<p>The<strong> first </strong>principle underscores that the collection and utilisation of personal data must be lawful, secure against breaches, and transparent.</p>

<p>The <strong>second</strong> principle emphasises that data collection activities must have a legal purpose, and the collected data should be safeguarded until that purpose is fulfilled.</p>

<p>The <strong>third</strong> principle advocates for data minimisation, asserting that only pertinent information should be collected, and data usage should adhere to predefined objectives.</p>

<p>The <strong>fourth</strong> and <strong>fifth</strong> principles pertain to data protection, accountability, and accuracy. The <strong>final</strong> principle dictates the protocols for reporting data breaches, stipulating a fair and transparent process to inform Data Protection Boards of such incidents.</p>

<h2><strong>Key provisions and proposals of the DPDP Bill</strong></h2>

<p>The DPDP Bill introduces several significant provisions to ensure data protection, privacy, and accountability:</p>

<ol>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Consent criteria:</strong> The bill mandates that processing personal data requires the explicit and informed consent of the individual, given freely and unambiguously. While consent remains central, a clause of deemed consent addresses situations where explicit consent is not mandatory.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Data localisation and cross-border transfer:</strong> The bill permits cross-border data flow to specific countries and territories, accompanied by relaxed data localisation requirements, enabling greater flexibility in data handling.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Data retention:</strong> A Data Protection Board, designed to be digitally proficient, will be established to oversee compliance and impose penalties. Data fiduciaries can retain personal data for business purposes even beyond the initial collection purpose.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Penalties for data breaches:</strong> In cases of data breaches, the bill proposes substantial penalties. Failure to report a breach to the Data Protection Board and affected individuals could lead to a penalty of ₹200 crore (US$2,41,53,560).&nbsp;Additionally, data fiduciaries or processors failing to ensure reasonable security safeguards could face penalties up to ₹250 crore (US$3,01,90,875).&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Board-mandated penalties:</strong> The Board holds the authority to impose penalties outlined in Schedule 1 of the bill, with each instance not exceeding ₹500 crore (US$6,03,81,750), if non-compliance by an entity is deemed significant.</p>
	</li>
</ol>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-imposes-anti-dumping-duty-on-optical-fibre-imports-from-china-korea-and-indonesia-622237">India imposes anti-dumping duty on optical fibre imports&nbsp;from China, Korea and Indonesia&nbsp;</a></p>

<h2><strong>Scope and applicability of the DPDP Bill</strong></h2>

<p>The DPDP Bill's scope encompasses the processing of 'Digital Personal Data' within India's borders. It excludes non-personal data and data in non-digital formats from its purview.</p>

<p>The bill applies to digital personal data processing within India and abroad, particularly in cases of profiling or providing goods and services to Indian data subjects.</p>

<p>However, it does not extend to non-automated processing, processing for personal purposes by individuals, or personal data in records over a century old.</p>

<p>The introduction of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, stands as a significant development in India's journey towards a robust digital economy while safeguarding citizens' privacy and data rights.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Days after Lok Sabha gave its approval to the digital personal data protection bill, 2023, on Wednesday (August 9) Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian parliament, also passed the bill.

Days after Lok Sabha gave its approval to the digital personal data protection bill, 2023, on Wednesday (August 9) Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian parliament, also passed the bill. The legislation, in its latest form, maintains the provisions from the initial version introduced last November, including aspects that were raised as concerns by privacy specialists, like exceptions for the central authority. The revised version of the proposed law has additionally granted the central government authority over virtual censorship. This marks India's second attempt at developing privacy-oriented legislation, following the government's consideration and abandonment of at least three prior drafts of data protection laws. The next step involves the Bill's approval by President Droupadi Murmu before it can be enacted into law. The bill, aimed at regulating and safeguarding the use of personal data, was presented by Union Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. However, the bill's introduction was met with strong opposition from leaders of the Opposition, who argued that it infringes upon the fundamental right to privacy. The debate surrounding the bill revolved around concerns raised by the Opposition, including the demand that the bill undergo thorough scrutiny by the standing committee, citing the withdrawal of a previous data protection bill by the government last year. Vaishnaw defended the bill, asserting that it is not a money bill and that all concerns raised by the Opposition would be addressed in the subsequent debate. Watch this report Government's perspective: Safeguarding citizens' rights While the Opposition voiced its concerns, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, took to X (previously Twitter), to emphasise the bill's significance. He commended the bill as a crucial step towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of establishing global-standard cyber laws for India's thriving digital economy. Chandrasekhar highlighted that extensive consultations with stakeholders, including citizens, have contributed to the bill's development. He underlined that the bill, once enacted, would ensure citizens' rights, foster innovation, and enable legitimate government access in scenarios like national security threats and emergencies, such as pandemics or earthquakes. What is the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill ? ➡️ #DPDPBill introduced in #Parliament is a very significant milestone in PM @narendramodi ji's vision of Global Standard Cyber Laws for India's $1T #DigitalEconomy & #IndiaTechade ➡️ @GoI_MeitY has developed this bill after… pic.twitter.com/a8tHXJl537 — Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) August 3, 2023 × Also read | "Data Protection Bill is much needed in our current scenario", says Rahul Matthan, Partner, Trilegal Understanding the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill is a comprehensive legislative framework designed to delineate the rights and responsibilities of both citizens, referred to as "Digital Nagriks," and data fiduciaries – entities collecting and using personal data. The bill is founded upon six fundamental principles aimed at governing the data economy. The first principle underscores that the collection and utilisation of personal data must be lawful, secure against breaches, and transparent. The second principle emphasises that data collection activities must have a legal purpose, and the collected data should be safeguarded until that purpose is fulfilled. The third principle advocates for data minimisation, asserting that only pertinent information should be collected, and data usage should adhere to predefined objectives. The fourth and fifth principles pertain to data protection, accountability, and accuracy. The final principle dictates the protocols for reporting data breaches, stipulating a fair and transparent process to inform Data Protection Boards of such incidents. Key provisions and proposals of the DPDP Bill The DPDP Bill introduces several significant provisions to ensure data protection, privacy, and accountability: Consent criteria: The bill mandates that processing personal data requires the explicit and informed consent of the individual, given freely and unambiguously. While consent remains central, a clause of deemed consent addresses situations where explicit consent is not mandatory. Data localisation and cross-border transfer: The bill permits cross-border data flow to specific countries and territories, accompanied by relaxed data localisation requirements, enabling greater flexibility in data handling. Data retention: A Data Protection Board, designed to be digitally proficient, will be established to oversee compliance and impose penalties. Data fiduciaries can retain personal data for business purposes even beyond the initial collection purpose. Penalties for data breaches: In cases of data breaches, the bill proposes substantial penalties. Failure to report a breach to the Data Protection Board and affected individuals could lead to a penalty of ₹200 crore (US$2,41,53,560). Additionally, data fiduciaries or processors failing to ensure reasonable security safeguards could face penalties up to ₹250 crore (US$3,01,90,875). Board-mandated penalties: The Board holds the authority to impose penalties outlined in Schedule 1 of the bill, with each instance not exceeding ₹500 crore (US$6,03,81,750), if non-compliance by an entity is deemed significant. Also read | India imposes anti-dumping duty on optical fibre imports from China, Korea and Indonesia Scope and applicability of the DPDP Bill The DPDP Bill's scope encompasses the processing of 'Digital Personal Data' within India's borders. It excludes non-personal data and data in non-digital formats from its purview. The bill applies to digital personal data processing within India and abroad, particularly in cases of profiling or providing goods and services to Indian data subjects. However, it does not extend to non-automated processing, processing for personal purposes by individuals, or personal data in records over a century old. The introduction of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, stands as a significant development in India's journey towards a robust digital economy while safeguarding citizens' privacy and data rights. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained | Rajya Sabha passes Digital Personal Data Protection Bill. All you need to know

<p>The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an investigation into OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT app. The investigation aims to determine whether the app generates false information that harms consumers and whether it mishandles user data.</p>

<p>OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, received a 20-page questionnaire from the FTC outlining these concerns.</p>

<p>The questionnaire specifically requests information about incidents where users were falsely disparaged and asks OpenAI to share any steps taken to prevent such occurrences in the future.</p>

<h2><strong>FTC Chair expresses concerns</strong></h2>

<p>During a congressional committee hearing, FTC Chair Lina Khan acknowledged concerns related to ChatGPT's potential for libelous output.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read </strong>| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-will-join-nato-putin-has-lost-the-war-biden-in-helsinki-615245">Ukraine 'will join NATO', Putin has 'lost the war': Biden in Helsinki</a></p>

<p>Although she did not explicitly mention the investigation, Khan stated that the agency had received reports of sensitive information being disclosed in response to inquiries, as well as instances of libel and defamatory statements.</p>

<p>&nbsp;"We've heard about libel, defamatory statements, flatly untrue things that are emerging. That's the type of fraud and deception that we are concerned about," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The FTC is primarily focused on understanding how these issues could harm users but are also exploring OpenAI's utilisation of private data to develop its industry-leading language model.</p>

<h2><strong>Possible outcomes of the investigation</strong></h2>

<p>An FTC investigation does not automatically lead to further action, and the case can be closed if the company under scrutiny adequately addresses the agency's concerns.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cocaine-at-white-house-secret-service-ends-probe-without-identifying-suspect-615229">Cocaine at White House: Secret Service ends probe without finding suspect</a></p>

<p>However, if the FTC identifies illegal or unsafe practices, it can demand remedial actions and potentially initiate legal proceedings against OpenAI.</p>

<p>Both OpenAI and the FTC have not provided any comments regarding the investigation in response to requests for information, reported AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Concerns arising from ChatGPT's capabilities</strong></h2>

<p>As an AI language model, ChatGPT has a wide range of impressive capabilities and its release in November drew significant attention.</p>

<p>LLMs, a type of generative AI, can produce human-like content within seconds.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Russian general says top military brass betrayed soldiers fighting in Ukraine</strong></p>

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<p>While the technology garnered admiration, reports also surfaced about the models generating offensive, false, or nonsensical content, sometimes referred to as "hallucinations," reported AFP news agency.&nbsp;</p>

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The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an investigation into OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT app. The investigation aims to determine whether the app generates false information that harms consumers and whether it mishandles user data.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an investigation into OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT app. The investigation aims to determine whether the app generates false information that harms consumers and whether it mishandles user data. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, received a 20-page questionnaire from the FTC outlining these concerns. The questionnaire specifically requests information about incidents where users were falsely disparaged and asks OpenAI to share any steps taken to prevent such occurrences in the future. FTC Chair expresses concerns During a congressional committee hearing, FTC Chair Lina Khan acknowledged concerns related to ChatGPT's potential for libelous output. Also Read | Ukraine 'will join NATO', Putin has 'lost the war': Biden in Helsinki Although she did not explicitly mention the investigation, Khan stated that the agency had received reports of sensitive information being disclosed in response to inquiries, as well as instances of libel and defamatory statements. "We've heard about libel, defamatory statements, flatly untrue things that are emerging. That's the type of fraud and deception that we are concerned about," she said. The FTC is primarily focused on understanding how these issues could harm users but are also exploring OpenAI's utilisation of private data to develop its industry-leading language model. Possible outcomes of the investigation An FTC investigation does not automatically lead to further action, and the case can be closed if the company under scrutiny adequately addresses the agency's concerns. Also Read | Cocaine at White House: Secret Service ends probe without finding suspect However, if the FTC identifies illegal or unsafe practices, it can demand remedial actions and potentially initiate legal proceedings against OpenAI. Both OpenAI and the FTC have not provided any comments regarding the investigation in response to requests for information, reported AFP. Concerns arising from ChatGPT's capabilities As an AI language model, ChatGPT has a wide range of impressive capabilities and its release in November drew significant attention. LLMs, a type of generative AI, can produce human-like content within seconds. Watch | Russian general says top military brass betrayed soldiers fighting in Ukraine × While the technology garnered admiration, reports also surfaced about the models generating offensive, false, or nonsensical content, sometimes referred to as "hallucinations," reported AFP news agency. 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. ×

US regulator launches inquiry into ChatGPT to check data mishandling

<p>Nigerian workers have achieved a significant milestone by securing the second spot in the global ranking of the hardest working employees, surpassed only by their Mexican counterparts. According to a recently published report by the World of Statistics, Nigerian workers dedicate an average of 2,124 hours per year to their jobs.</p>

<h2><strong>Mexican workers lead the chart with only a four-hour difference</strong></h2>

<p>The World of Statistics report reveals that Mexican workers topped the chart, with a mere four-hour difference from their Nigerian counterparts, clocking in an average of 2,128 working hours annually. This makes Nigeria the most industrious nation in Africa, highlighting the strong work ethic and dedication of its labour force.</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Average annual hours worked:<br />
<br />
🇲🇽Mexico — 2,128<br />
🇳🇬Nigeria — 2,124<br />
🇨🇷Costa Rica — 2,073<br />
🇨🇴Colombia — 1,964<br />
🇨🇱Chile — 1,916<br />
🇰🇷South Korea — 1,910<br />
🇲🇹Malta — 1,882<br />
🇷🇺Russia — 1,874<br />
🇬🇷Greece — 1,872<br />
🇷🇴Romania — 1,838<br />
🇭🇷Croatia — 1,835<br />
🇵🇱Poland — 1,830<br />
🇺🇸United States — 1,791<br />
🇮🇪Ireland…</p>
— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) <a href="https://twitter.com/stats_feed/status/1671248550426996736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Nigerian work hours and industries</strong></h2>

<p>In Nigeria, the standard working hours for most public and private sector employees span eight hours per day, typically from 8 am to 4 pm or 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. However, certain sectors such as media, healthcare, security agencies, and manufacturing industries may require extended workdays that include weekends and shift rotations.</p>

<p>The report acknowledges that informal workers, often go above and beyond by putting in up to ten hours of work per day, reported Vanguard.&nbsp;While the study does not specify the nature of the work undertaken, it suggests that the top-ranked countries in terms of working hours are not primarily driven by technology-oriented occupations.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/explained-sextortion-the-new-nigerian-prince-scam-on-snapchat-heres-how-you-can-protect-your-loved-ones-606925">Explained: 'Sextortion', the new 'Nigerian prince' scam on Snapchat and Instagram</a></p>

<h2><strong>Global ranking </strong></h2>

<p>Following Nigeria's lead, three countries from Central and South America trail closely behind. Costa Rica claimed&nbsp;the third position with 2,073 hours, followed by Colombia in fourth place (1,964 hours), and Chile in fifth place (1,916 hours). Surprisingly, South Korea, known for its high-tech advancements, ranks sixth, with workers averaging 1,910 hours per year. Other notable countries include Malta (1,882 hours), Russia (1,874 hours), Greece (1,872 hours), and Romania (1,838 hours).</p>

<p>The report also sheds light on the working hours of workers in major global economies. The United States, the world's largest economy, secured&nbsp;the 13th spot with an average of 1,791 working hours per year, while Japan, the third-largest economy, lags behind in 30th place with workers putting in 1,607 hours annually. Germany, Europe's dominant economy, ranks 50th, with employees working an average of 1,349 hours each year. South Africa emerged&nbsp;as the second-highest on the African continent, with workers dedicating 1,513 hours annually, placing them at a distant 36th on the global list.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;110 people die as boat capsizes in Nigeria</strong></p>

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<p>With Nigerian workers contributing 2,124 hours annually, it signifies that each employee spends a minimum of five hours engaged in productive activities compared to their South African counterparts, who work four hours less. This strong commitment to work highlights Nigeria's potential for increased productivity and economic growth.</p>

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Nigerian workers have achieved a significant milestone by securing the second spot in the global ranking of the hardest working employees, surpassed only by their Mexican counterparts.

Nigerian workers have achieved a significant milestone by securing the second spot in the global ranking of the hardest working employees, surpassed only by their Mexican counterparts. According to a recently published report by the World of Statistics, Nigerian workers dedicate an average of 2,124 hours per year to their jobs. Mexican workers lead the chart with only a four-hour difference The World of Statistics report reveals that Mexican workers topped the chart, with a mere four-hour difference from their Nigerian counterparts, clocking in an average of 2,128 working hours annually. This makes Nigeria the most industrious nation in Africa, highlighting the strong work ethic and dedication of its labour force. Average annual hours worked: 🇲🇽Mexico — 2,128 🇳🇬Nigeria — 2,124 🇨🇷Costa Rica — 2,073 🇨🇴Colombia — 1,964 🇨🇱Chile — 1,916 🇰🇷South Korea — 1,910 🇲🇹Malta — 1,882 🇷🇺Russia — 1,874 🇬🇷Greece — 1,872 🇷🇴Romania — 1,838 🇭🇷Croatia — 1,835 🇵🇱Poland — 1,830 🇺🇸United States — 1,791 🇮🇪Ireland… — World of Statistics (@stats_feed) June 20, 2023 × Nigerian work hours and industries In Nigeria, the standard working hours for most public and private sector employees span eight hours per day, typically from 8 am to 4 pm or 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. However, certain sectors such as media, healthcare, security agencies, and manufacturing industries may require extended workdays that include weekends and shift rotations. The report acknowledges that informal workers, often go above and beyond by putting in up to ten hours of work per day, reported Vanguard. While the study does not specify the nature of the work undertaken, it suggests that the top-ranked countries in terms of working hours are not primarily driven by technology-oriented occupations. Also read | Explained: 'Sextortion', the new 'Nigerian prince' scam on Snapchat and Instagram Global ranking Following Nigeria's lead, three countries from Central and South America trail closely behind. Costa Rica claimed the third position with 2,073 hours, followed by Colombia in fourth place (1,964 hours), and Chile in fifth place (1,916 hours). Surprisingly, South Korea, known for its high-tech advancements, ranks sixth, with workers averaging 1,910 hours per year. Other notable countries include Malta (1,882 hours), Russia (1,874 hours), Greece (1,872 hours), and Romania (1,838 hours). The report also sheds light on the working hours of workers in major global economies. The United States, the world's largest economy, secured the 13th spot with an average of 1,791 working hours per year, while Japan, the third-largest economy, lags behind in 30th place with workers putting in 1,607 hours annually. Germany, Europe's dominant economy, ranks 50th, with employees working an average of 1,349 hours each year. South Africa emerged as the second-highest on the African continent, with workers dedicating 1,513 hours annually, placing them at a distant 36th on the global list. Also watch | 110 people die as boat capsizes in Nigeria With Nigerian workers contributing 2,124 hours annually, it signifies that each employee spends a minimum of five hours engaged in productive activities compared to their South African counterparts, who work four hours less. This strong commitment to work highlights Nigeria's potential for increased productivity and economic growth. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nigerian workers shine as second-most hardworking globally, one spot behind Mexico

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