The Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces have established a telephone hotline to help a maintain a ceasefire struck last week.

Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces launch hotline

A new report suggests that the lack of exercise and healthy physical activities can cost governments around the world more than $27 billion per year. According to the data provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the cases of diabetes, dementia and high blood pressure is expected to skyrocket by the year 2030 and that will increase the budget for health services massively.

The data also showed that regular exercise can end up reducing health risks by almost 30 per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-inflation-accelerates-to-40-year-high-amid-rising-food-prices-526733">UK inflation accelerates to 40-year high amid rising food prices</a>

In the report, WHO urged the governments to actively encourage the citizens to adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to stop the growth of such diseases. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare costs have risen around the world and the trend is expected to continue in the future.

“There are few areas in public health … where evidence on required action is so convincing, cost effective and practical,” the global report published by WHO stated.

“A consequence of this ‘inaction’ is that already stretched health systems are burdened with preventable disease today and even more so in the future, and communities fail to benefit from the wider social, environmental and economic benefits associated with more people being more active.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosions-at-myanmars-insein-prison-kill-8-526689" hreflang="en">Bomb blasts at Myanmar's Insein prison leave 8 dead, 18 injured</a>

While the advantages of exercise and physical activities are quite clear, the WHO noted that governments have not paid much attention to raising awareness. The situation is considerably worse in low-income countries where the standard of living is low and there is a lack of proper healthcare.

Among the 194 countries included in the report, WHO found that less than 50 per cent have a clear national policy when it comes to healthy living, but it is not fully functional in all of those countries.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

A new report suggests that the lack of exercise and healthy physical activities can cost governments around the world more than $27 billion per year. According to the data provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the cases of diabetes, dementia and high blood pressure is expected to skyrocket by the year 2030 and that will increase the budget for health services massively.

A new report suggests that the lack of exercise and healthy physical activities can cost governments around the world more than $27 billion per year. According to the data provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the cases of diabetes, dementia and high blood pressure is expected to skyrocket by the year 2030 and that will increase the budget for health services massively. The data also showed that regular exercise can end up reducing health risks by almost 30 per cent. Also read | UK inflation accelerates to 40-year high amid rising food prices In the report, WHO urged the governments to actively encourage the citizens to adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to stop the growth of such diseases. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare costs have risen around the world and the trend is expected to continue in the future. “There are few areas in public health … where evidence on required action is so convincing, cost effective and practical,” the global report published by WHO stated. “A consequence of this ‘inaction’ is that already stretched health systems are burdened with preventable disease today and even more so in the future, and communities fail to benefit from the wider social, environmental and economic benefits associated with more people being more active.” Also read | Bomb blasts at Myanmar's Insein prison leave 8 dead, 18 injured While the advantages of exercise and physical activities are quite clear, the WHO noted that governments have not paid much attention to raising awareness. The situation is considerably worse in low-income countries where the standard of living is low and there is a lack of proper healthcare. Among the 194 countries included in the report, WHO found that less than 50 per cent have a clear national policy when it comes to healthy living, but it is not fully functional in all of those countries.

People's lack of exercise can cost global govts $27bn a year by 2030, WHO warns

The Bank of England said it was launching a temporary facility aimed at easing liquidity pressures that arose after the UK government's budget shocked markets.

UK: BoE intervenes in bond markets again; unemployment dips to 3.5%

Meanwhile polls are on way in Bulgaria as the country is voting for a lower house of parliament for the fourth time in 18 months. As per reports, no parties expected to win enough seats to form government alone.

Bulgaria sees fourth elections in 18 months, pro-Russia party expected to make gains

The New Zealand government is all set to&nbsp;mark&nbsp;a bill which demands that government officials use standard, simple and easily comprehensive language in communication for the public to understand it better.&nbsp;

The use of perplexing government jargon in official talks and paperwork are some internal pain points.

With the Plain Language bill, the government is trying to draw a line. The bill recently passed its second reading last month but still needs a final hearing before becoming a law.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com//world/new-zealand-mps-bring-up-colonial-past-while-paying-tribute-to-queen-515987">Also read |&nbsp;New Zealand MPs bring up colonial past while paying tribute to Queen</a>

MP Rachel Boyack, who presented the bill, said that the main motive behind the bill is for people to basically understand what the government is trying to say and what they are entitled to.

Boyack further stated that sometimes it's difficult for people to understand what officials say and that makes them lose trust in the authorities and they are not able to participate in&nbsp; the society.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com//world/charles-iii-officially-proclaimed-as-king-of-new-zealand-and-australia-515138">Also read |&nbsp;King Charles officially proclaimed as head&nbsp;of New Zealand and Australia&nbsp;</a>

MP Sarah Pallet said in the house, "I wandered lonely as a cloud, That floats on high o’er vales and hills When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils." The Guardian reported&nbsp;that the MP further explained the statement and said she was sad so she went for a walk and saw some daffodils there which cheered her up. She further said this flowery language is for literature and not for governmental legislation.

However, there is no unanimity in favour of the bill. Some of the definitions are lacking as per the opposition. The opposition in New Zealand claims that the plain language monitoring officials will only increase costs and bureaucracy without genuinely enhancing public communications.

Opposition MP Chris Bishop said, "Let me speak with extremely plain language. This bill is the stupidest bill to come before parliament in this term. National will repeal it."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

The New Zealand government is all set to mark a bill which demands that government officials use standard, simple and easily comprehensive language in communication for the public to understand it better.

The New Zealand government is all set to mark a bill which demands that government officials use standard, simple and easily comprehensive language in communication for the public to understand it better. The use of perplexing government jargon in official talks and paperwork are some internal pain points. With the Plain Language bill, the government is trying to draw a line. The bill recently passed its second reading last month but still needs a final hearing before becoming a law. Also read | New Zealand MPs bring up colonial past while paying tribute to Queen MP Rachel Boyack, who presented the bill, said that the main motive behind the bill is for people to basically understand what the government is trying to say and what they are entitled to. Boyack further stated that sometimes it's difficult for people to understand what officials say and that makes them lose trust in the authorities and they are not able to participate in the society. Also read | King Charles officially proclaimed as head of New Zealand and Australia MP Sarah Pallet said in the house, "I wandered lonely as a cloud, That floats on high o’er vales and hills When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils." The Guardian reported that the MP further explained the statement and said she was sad so she went for a walk and saw some daffodils there which cheered her up. She further said this flowery language is for literature and not for governmental legislation. However, there is no unanimity in favour of the bill. Some of the definitions are lacking as per the opposition. The opposition in New Zealand claims that the plain language monitoring officials will only increase costs and bureaucracy without genuinely enhancing public communications. Opposition MP Chris Bishop said, "Let me speak with extremely plain language. This bill is the stupidest bill to come before parliament in this term. National will repeal it." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

New Zealand all set to pass a new language bill to enhance 'public communication'

Kashmir used to be the favorite location for Bollywood filmmakers till the 1980s before insurgency began in Jammu and Kashmir. Now after 30 long years, the Indian filmmakers are back in the valley.

Kashmir: Government receives application from filmmakers, to return to picturesque valley

It has been only 24 hours since Liz Truss has been sworn in as the prime minister of the United Kingdom and she has already started facing backlash. Priti Patel has resigned as home secretary before Truss cabinet reshuffle.

'Good riddance' say UK MPs after Priti Patel's resignation

Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss has appointed her new cabinet and for the first time ever a white man will not hold any of the country's four most important ministerial positions.

'Will get Britain working again,' says New UK PM Liz Truss

Corrupt heads of government whose terms are marked by sleaze and scandal often hog more media attention than those known for probity in public life. &nbsp;

Scott Morrison, who was Australia’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, is now in the news for secretly appointing himself to several ministerial posts between March 2020 and May 2021.&nbsp;

“This is the sort of tin-pot activity we would ridicule if it was in a non-democratic country”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on August 15. “Scott Morrison was running a shadow government”, he revealed; and, promised an early enquiry into what he described as “extraordinary” and “unprecedented trashing of our democracy”.&nbsp;

Albanese was told by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet that Morrison became joint minister for the health, finance, treasury, home affairs and resources portfolios in the two years before losing power in May.&nbsp;

A number of ministers, including Karen Andrews who held Home Affairs, and secretaries in his government did not know that Morrison had secretly taken over their portfolios. Andrews has asked Morrison to quit parliament.&nbsp;

In March 2021, Morrison’s government—now perceived to have been long on sleaze and short on substance—had to face an explosion of public anger over sexual encounters in parliament; a woman official revealed that she was raped by a senior colleague in a minister’s office. The toxic workplace culture was laid bare by Kate Jenkins, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, who found that 37 per cent of people then in parliamentary workplaces had suffered bullying and 33 per cent sexual harassment.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Albanese, and others in authority, exposing the dark side of parliamentary politics &nbsp;and opacity of decision-making at the highest political level shows courage and confidence in the system. Only a strong democracy, Australia in this case, with robust institutions can make bold to let the voters see the rot within the political power structure in the hope of cleansing it.

The author is an Editorial Consultant, WION TV.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Corrupt heads of government whose terms are marked by sleaze and scandal often hog more media attention than those known for probity in public life. Scott Morrison, who was Australia’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, is now in the news for secretly appointing himself to several ministerial posts between March 2020 and May 2021.

Corrupt heads of government whose terms are marked by sleaze and scandal often hog more media attention than those known for probity in public life. Scott Morrison, who was Australia’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, is now in the news for secretly appointing himself to several ministerial posts between March 2020 and May 2021. “This is the sort of tin-pot activity we would ridicule if it was in a non-democratic country”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on August 15. “Scott Morrison was running a shadow government”, he revealed; and, promised an early enquiry into what he described as “extraordinary” and “unprecedented trashing of our democracy”. Albanese was told by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet that Morrison became joint minister for the health, finance, treasury, home affairs and resources portfolios in the two years before losing power in May. A number of ministers, including Karen Andrews who held Home Affairs, and secretaries in his government did not know that Morrison had secretly taken over their portfolios. Andrews has asked Morrison to quit parliament. In March 2021, Morrison’s government—now perceived to have been long on sleaze and short on substance—had to face an explosion of public anger over sexual encounters in parliament; a woman official revealed that she was raped by a senior colleague in a minister’s office. The toxic workplace culture was laid bare by Kate Jenkins, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, who found that 37 per cent of people then in parliamentary workplaces had suffered bullying and 33 per cent sexual harassment. Prime Minister Albanese, and others in authority, exposing the dark side of parliamentary politics and opacity of decision-making at the highest political level shows courage and confidence in the system. Only a strong democracy, Australia in this case, with robust institutions can make bold to let the voters see the rot within the political power structure in the hope of cleansing it. The author is an Editorial Consultant, WION TV. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 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.

WION Spotlight | Great Scott! Morrison, Aus ex-PM, had secret shadow Cabinet

The growing agony over energy prices in UK, millions of people in Britain are braced for energy bills to shoot up this coming winter. As per reports, energy will soon get unaffordable for a significant portion of the British population.

Cost of living crisis: Energy will get unaffordable for many in UK this winter

South Korea stated that it would cut annual government spending for the first time in more than a decade next year, as it strives to cut back on pandemic-era stimulus and help the central bank temper inflationary pressures.

South Korean government announces first cut in 13 years

Each organisation's working capital challenges vary: from inefficient legacy systems to the cost of cross-border payments to personnel training on new tax compliance rules. However, three critical challenges that still exist are delayed payments, lack of visibility and inaccurate cashflow forecasts and high cost of operations.&nbsp;

To address these challenges, a new ecosystem is emerging in the working capital world through government-led reforms, fintech, SaaS offerings and supply chain financing, said Abhilash Edakadampil, CTO, Global PayEX.

J.P. Morgan’s recently published report analysing S&amp;P 1500 companies reveals the multiple challenges to working capital efficiency that enterprises are facing. Simultaneous challenges in the form of a pandemic, recurring lockdowns, geopolitical disruptions, and sudden monetary tightening in light of record inflation have posed severe roadblocks to business continuity.&nbsp;

The key technologies that will help mitigate these challenges to enable financial transformation are E-invoicing, SaaS technologies and Machine Learning.

E-invoicing is now becoming standard, and GST and a nationwide e-Invoice format are two excellent forward-looking initiatives by the GOI. Abhilash highlighted how with fintech players like Gloabal PayEX, Sellers can now create an invoice in their ERP, and everything else from the presentation and dispute handling to payment is automated.

While SaaS as a delivery mechanism has existed for a long time, Corporate Finance is now trusting it to handle their A/R and A/P needs. They no longer insist on "on-prem" deployments and are now aware of encryption in transit, at-rest, tokenization, etc. This means they can now unlock the benefits of SaaS, including lower TCO and higher speed to market.&nbsp;

While still in their infancy, ML models specializing in A/R and A/P functions, including invoice creation, reconciliation, and verification of deductions, are being launched. In the next three years, we will see an increase in the adoption of ML models in working capital, leading to lower write-offs, faster deduction handling, and ERP-to-ERP dispute resolution based on previous training, he said.

The traditional challenge in the receivables part of working capital is delayed payments. Buyers agree to a credit period (usually between 30 to 60 days) depending on the nature of the business. Depending on the region and industry, approximately 25% of Buyers extend the credit period. Sellers incentivize them by offering early pay discounts.&nbsp;

Banks, Neo-banks, and NBFCs are willing to provide channel financing. Buyers today have multiple options for capital, and we can stitch together a solution that benefits both. However, there are still delayed payments. The root cause is that the end-to-end process is still not seamless. This system has multiple breaks: knowledge, training, process, people, and technology-related that dissuade buyers from utilizing these options, said Abhilash.

The JP Morgan report highlighted that after reaching a peak of 116.3 points in 2020, the Working Capital Index has come down to 105.1 points in 2021. This 11.2 points drop reveals that supported by increasing sales, innovating with new distribution channels, and better cash conversion cycles, enterprises have improved their working capital availability.

Global PayEX is focused on resolving the complexities in the accounts receivable (AR) and the accounts payable (AP) cycles of enterprises. Our products transform using multiple technologies and process improvements. ML is essential for us; let me give you an example. As you know, FMCG is one of the larger industry verticals; approximately 13% of FMCG collections are through modern trade and e-tail. This number of 4% about five years ago. We expect this number to reach 25% in the next three years, Abhilash added.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

&nbsp;<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src=https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&mute=1 width="100%" loading=”lazy”></iframe>

Each organisation's working capital challenges vary: from inefficient legacy systems to the cost of cross-border payments to personnel training on new tax compliance rules.

Each organisation's working capital challenges vary: from inefficient legacy systems to the cost of cross-border payments to personnel training on new tax compliance rules. However, three critical challenges that still exist are delayed payments, lack of visibility and inaccurate cashflow forecasts and high cost of operations. To address these challenges, a new ecosystem is emerging in the working capital world through government-led reforms, fintech, SaaS offerings and supply chain financing, said Abhilash Edakadampil, CTO, Global PayEX. J.P. Morgan’s recently published report analysing S&P 1500 companies reveals the multiple challenges to working capital efficiency that enterprises are facing. Simultaneous challenges in the form of a pandemic, recurring lockdowns, geopolitical disruptions, and sudden monetary tightening in light of record inflation have posed severe roadblocks to business continuity. The key technologies that will help mitigate these challenges to enable financial transformation are E-invoicing, SaaS technologies and Machine Learning. E-invoicing is now becoming standard, and GST and a nationwide e-Invoice format are two excellent forward-looking initiatives by the GOI. Abhilash highlighted how with fintech players like Gloabal PayEX, Sellers can now create an invoice in their ERP, and everything else from the presentation and dispute handling to payment is automated. While SaaS as a delivery mechanism has existed for a long time, Corporate Finance is now trusting it to handle their A/R and A/P needs. They no longer insist on "on-prem" deployments and are now aware of encryption in transit, at-rest, tokenization, etc. This means they can now unlock the benefits of SaaS, including lower TCO and higher speed to market. While still in their infancy, ML models specializing in A/R and A/P functions, including invoice creation, reconciliation, and verification of deductions, are being launched. In the next three years, we will see an increase in the adoption of ML models in working capital, leading to lower write-offs, faster deduction handling, and ERP-to-ERP dispute resolution based on previous training, he said. The traditional challenge in the receivables part of working capital is delayed payments. Buyers agree to a credit period (usually between 30 to 60 days) depending on the nature of the business. Depending on the region and industry, approximately 25% of Buyers extend the credit period. Sellers incentivize them by offering early pay discounts. Banks, Neo-banks, and NBFCs are willing to provide channel financing. Buyers today have multiple options for capital, and we can stitch together a solution that benefits both. However, there are still delayed payments. The root cause is that the end-to-end process is still not seamless. This system has multiple breaks: knowledge, training, process, people, and technology-related that dissuade buyers from utilizing these options, said Abhilash. The JP Morgan report highlighted that after reaching a peak of 116.3 points in 2020, the Working Capital Index has come down to 105.1 points in 2021. This 11.2 points drop reveals that supported by increasing sales, innovating with new distribution channels, and better cash conversion cycles, enterprises have improved their working capital availability. Global PayEX is focused on resolving the complexities in the accounts receivable (AR) and the accounts payable (AP) cycles of enterprises. Our products transform using multiple technologies and process improvements. ML is essential for us; let me give you an example. As you know, FMCG is one of the larger industry verticals; approximately 13% of FMCG collections are through modern trade and e-tail. This number of 4% about five years ago. We expect this number to reach 25% in the next three years, Abhilash added. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

New ecosystem emerging in the working capital world through government-led reforms

Europe is staring at a winter of unrest as energy prices across the continent of different commodities over fares. Moscow will halt gas supplies. Governments are making plans to conserve Russian gas among energy intensive industries.

Europe: Glass and Paper production affected due to energy crisis

The United Kingdom has announced an 80% hike in electricity and gas bills worsening the current cost of living crisis. Britain's energy regulator announced the price cap in October.

UK households stare at fuel poverty; Britain to see 80% spike in energy bills

The Afghanistan Ambassador to Tajikistan Muhammad Zahir Agbar has slammed Afghanistan's Ashraf Ghani and blamed him for "situation in Afghanistan" for which the responsibility is in the "hand of Ghani.". Ghani was the President of the Afghan Republic that collapsed on 15th August 2021 as he fled the country amid Taliban takeover. Speaking to WION's Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Agbar made a major claim that Ghani was responsible for embezzlement.

Ghani buried by history, embezzled money says Afghan Envoy to Tajikistan Muhammad Zahir

15th August marks one year since the Taliban stormed to power in Afghanistan and the former foreign president Ashraf Ghani blamed ex-official for not supporting his government.

'I am still Afghan president,' says Ashraf Ghani

The UK government has released plans to help people fighting the rising cost of energy. All households in England, Scotland and Wales will get a 400 pound discount on their energy bills regardless of income or size of the house.

UK announces discount on energy bills; all households to get a 400 pound discount

Imran Khan, a former prime minister of Pakistan, has reaffirmed his appeal for early elections in the wake of his party's winning a key provincial assembly in a surprise upset during a recent by-election. In the by-elections held on Sunday, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf won 15 of the 20 seats for the provincial parliament, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) received only four. A candidate running alone won one of the seats.&nbsp;

These positions became vacant after the Election Commission of Pakistan ousted 25 PTI MPs for voting against the party's candidate for chief minister. Only 20 seats were up for election since five candidates received indirect victories in the reserved seats. The elections have altered the balance of power in the provincial parliament, where the PML-N and its allies now have 179 lawmakers to the PTI's 188, led by its principal ally, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

In order to be elected, the chief ministerial candidate needs the support of 186 assembly members. Soon after the by-election, the Supreme Court previously ruled that new elections be held for the position of Chief Minister.

The outcome shows that the voters disapproved of the Pakistan Muslim League-controversial Nawaz's policies on the political and economic fronts, including handing their tickets to PTI "turncoats" and allowing the inflationary tendency to continue in order to prevent an economic disaster. The Punjab province has simultaneously given the PTI new life and delivered a major shock to the ruling coalition.

The Express Tribune noted that political observers viewed the results of the Punjab province by-elections as a referendum on both the performance of the new government, particularly in light of rising oil costs, and on Imran Khan's account of his expulsion.

Additionally, Imran Khan called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, saying the top official did everything in his power to influence the results of the election in Punjab province in favour of the PML-N party, which is currently in power. He cited the Senate elections in 2021, where Khan claimed there was clear proof of bribery, in saying that his party did not trust the CEC.

He claimed that despite numerous instances of election manipulation being submitted before the CEC, he never penalised anyone, encouraging misconduct because no one was afraid of facing consequences. Khan claimed that despite all of these strategies, "We won as people turned out to vote like never before."

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Imran Khan, a former prime minister of Pakistan, has reaffirmed his appeal for early elections in the wake of his party's winning a key provincial assembly in a surprise upset during a recent by-election.

Imran Khan, a former prime minister of Pakistan, has reaffirmed his appeal for early elections in the wake of his party's winning a key provincial assembly in a surprise upset during a recent by-election. In the by-elections held on Sunday, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf won 15 of the 20 seats for the provincial parliament, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) received only four. A candidate running alone won one of the seats. These positions became vacant after the Election Commission of Pakistan ousted 25 PTI MPs for voting against the party's candidate for chief minister. Only 20 seats were up for election since five candidates received indirect victories in the reserved seats. The elections have altered the balance of power in the provincial parliament, where the PML-N and its allies now have 179 lawmakers to the PTI's 188, led by its principal ally, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). In order to be elected, the chief ministerial candidate needs the support of 186 assembly members. Soon after the by-election, the Supreme Court previously ruled that new elections be held for the position of Chief Minister. The outcome shows that the voters disapproved of the Pakistan Muslim League-controversial Nawaz's policies on the political and economic fronts, including handing their tickets to PTI "turncoats" and allowing the inflationary tendency to continue in order to prevent an economic disaster. The Punjab province has simultaneously given the PTI new life and delivered a major shock to the ruling coalition. The Express Tribune noted that political observers viewed the results of the Punjab province by-elections as a referendum on both the performance of the new government, particularly in light of rising oil costs, and on Imran Khan's account of his expulsion. Additionally, Imran Khan called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, saying the top official did everything in his power to influence the results of the election in Punjab province in favour of the PML-N party, which is currently in power. He cited the Senate elections in 2021, where Khan claimed there was clear proof of bribery, in saying that his party did not trust the CEC. He claimed that despite numerous instances of election manipulation being submitted before the CEC, he never penalised anyone, encouraging misconduct because no one was afraid of facing consequences. Khan claimed that despite all of these strategies, "We won as people turned out to vote like never before." (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.

After sweeping Punjab by-elections, Imran Khan's PTI discusses forming government 

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's broad coalition government faced the risk of collapse on Wednesday if the 5-Star Movement carried out its threat to pull out, raising the prospect of an early election.

Senior figures in 5-Star, led by former prime minister Giuseppe Conte, met on Wednesday to decide whether to remain in the coalition, having issued a series of policy demands ahead of a vote of confidence on Thursday.

After the 5-Star meeting broke up a senior party source told Reuters Conte wanted to speak with Draghi to seek a compromise.

Italy is due to hold a national election in the first half of 2023 and tensions are rising among members of the coalition that Draghi has led for the past 18 months.

Speaking at a news conference in Rome, Matteo Salvini, head of the right-wing League, said his party would not continue to back Draghi if 5-Star withdrew from the coalition. Early elections were the best solution, he said.

"If a coalition party doesn't back a government decree that's it, enough is enough, it seems clear that we should go to elections," he said.

The centre-left Democratic party (PD) is also unwilling to form a new government without 5-Star, its leader Enrico Letta said at a party meeting, adding that early elections were the most likely outcome if the current coalition implodes.

Looking to ease tensions, Draghi said on Tuesday that many of the policy priorities of 5-Star overlapped with those of the government, but warned against continuous demands from coalition partners.

"A government does not work with ultimatums, it loses the point of its existence," Draghi told a news conference, adding he will not be willing to carry on as prime minister if 5-Star pulls out.

The earliest Italy could vote would be in the autumn but it would be unusual to hold an election then as it would overlap with the drawing up and parliamentary approval of the budget law for the next year.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's broad coalition government faced the risk of collapse on Wednesday if the 5-Star Movement carried out its threat to pull out, raising the prospect of an early election.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's broad coalition government faced the risk of collapse on Wednesday if the 5-Star Movement carried out its threat to pull out, raising the prospect of an early election. Senior figures in 5-Star, led by former prime minister Giuseppe Conte, met on Wednesday to decide whether to remain in the coalition, having issued a series of policy demands ahead of a vote of confidence on Thursday. After the 5-Star meeting broke up a senior party source told Reuters Conte wanted to speak with Draghi to seek a compromise. Italy is due to hold a national election in the first half of 2023 and tensions are rising among members of the coalition that Draghi has led for the past 18 months. Speaking at a news conference in Rome, Matteo Salvini, head of the right-wing League, said his party would not continue to back Draghi if 5-Star withdrew from the coalition. Early elections were the best solution, he said. "If a coalition party doesn't back a government decree that's it, enough is enough, it seems clear that we should go to elections," he said. The centre-left Democratic party (PD) is also unwilling to form a new government without 5-Star, its leader Enrico Letta said at a party meeting, adding that early elections were the most likely outcome if the current coalition implodes. Looking to ease tensions, Draghi said on Tuesday that many of the policy priorities of 5-Star overlapped with those of the government, but warned against continuous demands from coalition partners. "A government does not work with ultimatums, it loses the point of its existence," Draghi told a news conference, adding he will not be willing to carry on as prime minister if 5-Star pulls out. The earliest Italy could vote would be in the autumn but it would be unusual to hold an election then as it would overlap with the drawing up and parliamentary approval of the budget law for the next year. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Italy's government faces collapse if 5-Star pulls out

In pics: Ecuador government, Indigenous leaders sign deal to end protests

The renaming of the cities Aurangabad and Osmanabad was agreed by the Maharashtra state cabinet on Wednesday. Both places will now be called Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv, respectively. Additionally, DB Patil International Airport will now be known as Navi Mumbai Airport. Today's Maharashtra cabinet meeting resulted in the choice.

During the cabinet meeting, the Congress, a junior partner in the MVA government, demanded that the city of Pune be renamed Jijau Nagar after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's mother and that the Mumbai Trans Harbour link between Sewree and Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai be given the name of the late A R Antulay, a former chief minister.

The Shiv Sena, which leads the ruling MVA coalition and is facing a rebellion by the majority of its MLAs, made its decision on the contentious matter of renaming the historically significant city of Aurangabad in central Maharashtra.

Uddhav Thackeray, the chief minister, presided over the cabinet gathering. The BJP had frequently reminded the Sena of its own previous demand to rename Aurangabad, which took its name from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, when the Shiv Sena broke from its alliance with the BJP and joined forces with the Congress and NCP to create the MVA administration. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-maharashtra-political-crisis-updates-supreme-court-to-hear-shiv-senas-urgent-petiton-against-floor-test-today-492829">LIVE Maharashtra Political Crisis: BJP set to stake claim in Maharashtra</a>

Owaisi's AIMIM slams Uddhav Thackeray

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has denounced the Uddhav Thackeray administration's intention to rename Aurangabad. The Shiv Sena leader made the choice, according to the party, since he had lost power. The action was described as "a superb example of cheap politics" as well.

Imtiaz Jaleel, an AIMIM MP from Aurangabad, remarked, "They made this choice when they started to lose power. I would want to inform Uddhav Ji that names can be changed but history cannot be altered. You're a fantastic example of dishonest politics. Only people can determine whether Aurangabad will keep its current name ".

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The renaming of the cities Aurangabad and Osmanabad was agreed by the Maharashtra state cabinet on Wednesday. Both places will now be called Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv, respectively.

The renaming of the cities Aurangabad and Osmanabad was agreed by the Maharashtra state cabinet on Wednesday. Both places will now be called Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv, respectively. Additionally, DB Patil International Airport will now be known as Navi Mumbai Airport. Today's Maharashtra cabinet meeting resulted in the choice. During the cabinet meeting, the Congress, a junior partner in the MVA government, demanded that the city of Pune be renamed Jijau Nagar after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's mother and that the Mumbai Trans Harbour link between Sewree and Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai be given the name of the late A R Antulay, a former chief minister. The Shiv Sena, which leads the ruling MVA coalition and is facing a rebellion by the majority of its MLAs, made its decision on the contentious matter of renaming the historically significant city of Aurangabad in central Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray, the chief minister, presided over the cabinet gathering. The BJP had frequently reminded the Sena of its own previous demand to rename Aurangabad, which took its name from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, when the Shiv Sena broke from its alliance with the BJP and joined forces with the Congress and NCP to create the MVA administration. LIVE Maharashtra Political Crisis: BJP set to stake claim in Maharashtra Owaisi's AIMIM slams Uddhav Thackeray The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has denounced the Uddhav Thackeray administration's intention to rename Aurangabad. The Shiv Sena leader made the choice, according to the party, since he had lost power. The action was described as "a superb example of cheap politics" as well. Imtiaz Jaleel, an AIMIM MP from Aurangabad, remarked, "They made this choice when they started to lose power. I would want to inform Uddhav Ji that names can be changed but history cannot be altered. You're a fantastic example of dishonest politics. Only people can determine whether Aurangabad will keep its current name ". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Maharashtra renames Aurangabad, Osmanabad, several other places

In a move to quell nearly two weeks of anti-government protests in Ecuador the government has announced to cut fuel prices by 10 cents a gallon. Fuel prices had sparked weeks of demonstrations in Ecuador.

Ecuador cuts fuel prices to quell anti-govt protests

Ecuador: Fuel price cut lower than demands | Oil production at critical level

Indigenous-led protests continue in Ecuador on 11th day. Protesters are demanding cut in rising food and fuel prices. As per reports, 3 people died due to anti-government protests.

Quito: Death toll of anti-government protests rise to 3

A political storm has ascended over the Balkan country of Bulgaria, the six-month-old government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote in parliament potentially setting the stage for a refresh round of elections.

Bulgaria Political Crisis: Petkov's party to get second chance to propose government

Indigenous protester died in clashes with security forces as violent protests erupted on the streets of Ecuador's capital Quito. The incident took place during the ninth day of demonstrations against the Ecuadorian government.

Ecuador Protest: Violence escalates in Capital Quito against government's economic policies

A new enterprise-grade Android spyware called 'Hermit' is being used by the governments via SMS messages to target high-profile people like business executives, human rights activists, journalists, academics and government officials according to cyber-security researchers, as reported by Indo Asian News Service. 
&nbsp; 
The team at cyber-security company Lookout Threat Lab uncovered the 'surveillanceware' that was used by the government of Kazakhstan in April, four months after nationwide protests against government policies were violently suppressed. 
&nbsp; 
"Based on our analysis, the spyware, which we named 'Hermit' is likely developed by Italian spyware vendor RCS Lab and Tykelab Srl, a telecommunications solutions company we suspect to be operating as a front company, " the researchers said in a blog post. 
&nbsp; 
This isn't the first time Hermit has been deployed. Italian authorities used it in an anti-corruption operation in 2019. 
&nbsp; 
"We also found evidence suggesting that an unknown actor used it in northeastern Syria, a predominantly Kurdish region that has been the setting of numerous regional conflicts, " the team noted. 
&nbsp; 
RCS Lab, a known developer that has been active for over three decades, operates in the same market as Pegasus developer NSO Group Technologies and Gamma Group, which created FinFisher. RCS Lab has engaged with military and intelligence agencies in Pakistan, Chile, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar and Turkmenistan. 
&nbsp; 
Collectively branded as "lawful intercept" companies, they claim to only sell to customers with a legitimate use for surveillanceware, such as intelligence and law enforcement agencies. 
&nbsp; 
"In reality, such tools have often been abused under the guise of national security to spy on business executives, human rights activists, journalists, academics and government officials, " the researchers warned. 
&nbsp; 
Hermit is modular spyware that hides its malicious capabilities in packages downloaded after it's deployed. These modules, along with the permissions the core apps have, enable Hermit to exploit a rooted device, record&nbsp; 
audio and make and redirect phone calls, as well as collect data such as call logs, contacts, photos, device location and SMS messages.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/crypto-crash-bitcoin-last-down-74-at-18915-489531">Crypto crash: Bitcoin last down 7.4 per cent at $18,915</a> 
&nbsp; 
"We theorise that the spyware is distributed via SMS messages pretending to come from a legitimate source. The malware samples analysed impersonated the applications of telecommunications companies or smartphone manufacturers, " said the Lookout team. 
&nbsp; 
The spyware has been used for surveillance of activists, journalists and political leaders from several nations around the world, including India. The Supreme Court-appointed technical committee last month informed the court that it would submit the Pegasus probe report soon. The committee informed the top court that 29 mobile devices have been examined. The Supreme Court gave more time to the technical committee to finalise and submit its report.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A new enterprise-grade Android spyware called 'Hermit' is being used by the governments via SMS messages to target high-profile people like business executives, human rights activists, journalists, academics and government officials according to cyber-security researchers, as reported by Indo Asian News Service.

A new enterprise-grade Android spyware called 'Hermit' is being used by the governments via SMS messages to target high-profile people like business executives, human rights activists, journalists, academics and government officials according to cyber-security researchers, as reported by Indo Asian News Service. The team at cyber-security company Lookout Threat Lab uncovered the 'surveillanceware' that was used by the government of Kazakhstan in April, four months after nationwide protests against government policies were violently suppressed. "Based on our analysis, the spyware, which we named 'Hermit' is likely developed by Italian spyware vendor RCS Lab and Tykelab Srl, a telecommunications solutions company we suspect to be operating as a front company, " the researchers said in a blog post. This isn't the first time Hermit has been deployed. Italian authorities used it in an anti-corruption operation in 2019. "We also found evidence suggesting that an unknown actor used it in northeastern Syria, a predominantly Kurdish region that has been the setting of numerous regional conflicts, " the team noted. RCS Lab, a known developer that has been active for over three decades, operates in the same market as Pegasus developer NSO Group Technologies and Gamma Group, which created FinFisher. RCS Lab has engaged with military and intelligence agencies in Pakistan, Chile, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar and Turkmenistan. Collectively branded as "lawful intercept" companies, they claim to only sell to customers with a legitimate use for surveillanceware, such as intelligence and law enforcement agencies. "In reality, such tools have often been abused under the guise of national security to spy on business executives, human rights activists, journalists, academics and government officials, " the researchers warned. Hermit is modular spyware that hides its malicious capabilities in packages downloaded after it's deployed. These modules, along with the permissions the core apps have, enable Hermit to exploit a rooted device, record audio and make and redirect phone calls, as well as collect data such as call logs, contacts, photos, device location and SMS messages. Also Read: Crypto crash: Bitcoin last down 7.4 per cent at $18,915 "We theorise that the spyware is distributed via SMS messages pretending to come from a legitimate source. The malware samples analysed impersonated the applications of telecommunications companies or smartphone manufacturers, " said the Lookout team. The spyware has been used for surveillance of activists, journalists and political leaders from several nations around the world, including India. The Supreme Court-appointed technical committee last month informed the court that it would submit the Pegasus probe report soon. The committee informed the top court that 29 mobile devices have been examined. The Supreme Court gave more time to the technical committee to finalise and submit its report. (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.

Android spyware ‘hermit’ now being used by governments

In Ecuador, massive clashes broke out in several cities after police detained the leader of the country's largest indigenous organization. He was arrested after demonstrators across Ecuador blocked roads in protest against fuel prices and economic policies.

Violent protests erupt in Ecuador against govt's economic policies

The Union government intends to develop a framework to check fake reviews on e-commerce websites, after a meeting to gauge the magnitude of fake reviews on e-commerce platforms which mislead consumers into buying online services or products and to prepare a roadmap ahead by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) on Friday.

“Traceability by ensuring the authenticity of the reviewer and the associated liability of the platform are the two key issues here. Also, e-com players must disclose how they choose the “most relevant reviews” for display in a fair and transparent manner,” said Secretary DoCA, Shri Rohit Kumar Singh said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Fake reviews on E-Commerce platforms under the Centre’s radar 
 
Department of Consumer Affairs to hold meeting with E-Commerce entities and stakeholders to discuss the magnitude of fake reviews and prepare a roadmap ahead 
 
Read here: <a href="https://t.co/yqnMgkjtYP">https://t.co/yqnMgkjtYP</a>
— PIB India (@PIB_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1529775991249596417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

The meeting involved concerned stakeholders like E-Commerce entities, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), Consumer Forums, Law Universities, Lawyers, FICCI, CII, and Consumer Rights Activists.

All the stakeholders agreed that fake reviews are a big challenge and concrete steps need to be taken to prevent this and to protect the interest of the customers.

E-commerce company stakeholders claimed that they already have a mechanism in place to check fake reviews, but added that they wouldn’t mind collaborating with the government to develop a framework.

Consumers rely heavily on e-commerce website reviews to see the opinion and experiences of users who have already purchased the good or service while purchasing a product as it is a virtual shopping experience without any opportunity to physically view or examine the product.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wk5JHIRjgKI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Singh also shared a Press Release of the European Commission dated January 20th, 2022 highlighting the results of an EU-wide screening of online consumer reviews across 223 major websites.

The screening results underline that at least 55% of the websites violate the unfair commercial Practices Directive of the E.U. which requires truthful information to be presented to consumers to make an informed choice.&nbsp;

Further, in 144 out of the 223 websites checked, the authorities could not confirm that traders were doing enough to ensure that reviews were authentic, i.e., if they were posted by consumers who had actually used the product or service that was reviewed.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Union government intends to develop a framework to check fake reviews on e-commerce websites, after a meeting to gauge the magnitude of fake reviews on e-commerce platforms which mislead consumers into buying online services or products and to prepare a roadmap ahead by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) on Friday.

The Union government intends to develop a framework to check fake reviews on e-commerce websites, after a meeting to gauge the magnitude of fake reviews on e-commerce platforms which mislead consumers into buying online services or products and to prepare a roadmap ahead by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) on Friday. “Traceability by ensuring the authenticity of the reviewer and the associated liability of the platform are the two key issues here. Also, e-com players must disclose how they choose the “most relevant reviews” for display in a fair and transparent manner,” said Secretary DoCA, Shri Rohit Kumar Singh said. Fake reviews on E-Commerce platforms under the Centre’s radar Department of Consumer Affairs to hold meeting with E-Commerce entities and stakeholders to discuss the magnitude of fake reviews and prepare a roadmap ahead Read here: https://t.co/yqnMgkjtYP — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 26, 2022 × The meeting involved concerned stakeholders like E-Commerce entities, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), Consumer Forums, Law Universities, Lawyers, FICCI, CII, and Consumer Rights Activists. All the stakeholders agreed that fake reviews are a big challenge and concrete steps need to be taken to prevent this and to protect the interest of the customers. E-commerce company stakeholders claimed that they already have a mechanism in place to check fake reviews, but added that they wouldn’t mind collaborating with the government to develop a framework. Consumers rely heavily on e-commerce website reviews to see the opinion and experiences of users who have already purchased the good or service while purchasing a product as it is a virtual shopping experience without any opportunity to physically view or examine the product. × Singh also shared a Press Release of the European Commission dated January 20th, 2022 highlighting the results of an EU-wide screening of online consumer reviews across 223 major websites. The screening results underline that at least 55% of the websites violate the unfair commercial Practices Directive of the E.U. which requires truthful information to be presented to consumers to make an informed choice. Further, in 144 out of the 223 websites checked, the authorities could not confirm that traders were doing enough to ensure that reviews were authentic, i.e., if they were posted by consumers who had actually used the product or service that was reviewed. 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.

Centre to develop framework to check fake reviews on e-commerce websites

After weeks of intense electoral battle, Australia's opposition leader Anthony Albanese has now claimed victory in the country's national election, this came after an incumbent Australian PM Scott Morrison conceded defeat. What are the challenges for new government in Australia?

Australia's election: Labor party returns to power after 9 yrs

After weeks of intense electoral battle, Australia's opposition leader Anthony Albanese has now claimed victory in the country's national election. He will take oath as Australian PM on Monday. But, who is Anthony Albanese and what change will Albanese bring in Australia? Watch this report!

Who is Anthony Albanese and what change will he bring in Australia?

government

Government, News on Government, stories on Government, articles on Government, Government stories at Wion, Government news, Government latest news