In Thailand, a court has acquitted five anti-government protesters who were charged with attempted violence against the nation's queen during a demonstration back in 2020.&nbsp;During the protests, a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida was allegedly obstructed by demonstrators in Bangkok, the capital city. However, in its ruling, the court determined that the defendants'&nbsp;actions were not aimed at impeding or causing harm to the queen or her motorcade.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened in 2020?</h2>

The incident as per Reuters took place during the height of pro-democracy protests in Thailand, when a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida was heckled by protesters.&nbsp;

The demonstrations, led by the youth, called for various reforms, including changes to the lese majeste law, which imposes severe penalties for perceived insults against the monarchy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/godfather-of-ai-calls-for-action-before-ai-is-smarter-than-us-warns-looming-takeover-isnt-science-fiction-609899">Godfather of AI calls for action 'before AI is smarter than us', warns looming takeover isn't science fiction</a>

Video footage and images&nbsp;of the October 2020 incident showed authorities pushing activists away from the convoy.&nbsp;

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The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, however, in its latest statement said that the court recognised that police did not clear the way for the royal motorcade and that there was no prior announcement about the procession. They also pointed out the differing testimonies of witnesses and the lack of awareness among police in the area about the motorcade's route.

Reporting the acquittal, legal aid group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights on Wednesday said,&nbsp;"The court saw that police did not clear the way for the royal motorcade...there was no announcement before the procession."

"Witness testimony was different and even police in the area did not know there would be a royal motorcade (passing through)," said the group.

<h2>Thailand's lese majeste law</h2>

In Thailand, many consider the monarchy "sacrosanct" and the royals are officially above politics and constitutionally enshrined to be treated with "revered worship".

Thailand's lese majeste law, which is among the world's strictest, imposes harsh penalties for any perceived insult to the monarchy.&nbsp;Offences under the law can carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thai-prosecutors-indict-five-for-queens-motorcade-blockage-374550">Thai prosecutors indict five for queen's motorcade blockage</a>

More serious offences under the law can result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty, reports Reuters.

Under the law, the five activists had been charged with committing or attempting violence against the queen, heir-apparent, or regent, an offence which carries a minimum sentence of 16 years in prison.&nbsp;

Talking to Reuters, one of the acquitted activists, 23-year-old Bunkueanun 'Francis' Paothong, expressed his relief and happiness, and said that they had been fighting and maintaining their innocence throughout the legal process. "I'm really glad...we've been fighting this and insisting on our innocence," he said.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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In Thailand, a court has acquitted five anti-government protesters who were charged with attempted violence against the nation's queen during a demonstration back in 2020.

In Thailand, a court has acquitted five anti-government protesters who were charged with attempted violence against the nation's queen during a demonstration back in 2020. During the protests, a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida was allegedly obstructed by demonstrators in Bangkok, the capital city. However, in its ruling, the court determined that the defendants' actions were not aimed at impeding or causing harm to the queen or her motorcade. What happened in 2020? The incident as per Reuters took place during the height of pro-democracy protests in Thailand, when a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida was heckled by protesters. The demonstrations, led by the youth, called for various reforms, including changes to the lese majeste law, which imposes severe penalties for perceived insults against the monarchy. Also read | Godfather of AI calls for action 'before AI is smarter than us', warns looming takeover isn't science fiction Video footage and images of the October 2020 incident showed authorities pushing activists away from the convoy. The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, however, in its latest statement said that the court recognised that police did not clear the way for the royal motorcade and that there was no prior announcement about the procession. They also pointed out the differing testimonies of witnesses and the lack of awareness among police in the area about the motorcade's route. Reporting the acquittal, legal aid group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights on Wednesday said, "The court saw that police did not clear the way for the royal motorcade...there was no announcement before the procession." "Witness testimony was different and even police in the area did not know there would be a royal motorcade (passing through)," said the group. Thailand's lese majeste law In Thailand, many consider the monarchy "sacrosanct" and the royals are officially above politics and constitutionally enshrined to be treated with "revered worship". Thailand's lese majeste law, which is among the world's strictest, imposes harsh penalties for any perceived insult to the monarchy. Offences under the law can carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Also read | Thai prosecutors indict five for queen's motorcade blockage More serious offences under the law can result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty, reports Reuters. Under the law, the five activists had been charged with committing or attempting violence against the queen, heir-apparent, or regent, an offence which carries a minimum sentence of 16 years in prison. Talking to Reuters, one of the acquitted activists, 23-year-old Bunkueanun 'Francis' Paothong, expressed his relief and happiness, and said that they had been fighting and maintaining their innocence throughout the legal process. "I'm really glad...we've been fighting this and insisting on our innocence," he said. (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.

Thailand court acquits 5 pro-democracy activists of attempted violence against Queen Suthida

Ford Motor has announced plans to carry out layoffs this week, primarily affecting engineering jobs in the United States and Canada. The job cuts are part of Ford's cost-cutting measures as the company undergoes a restructuring of its business operations.&nbsp;

The layoffs as per CNBC are expected to impact all three of Ford's business units: Ford Blue, which focuses on internal combustion engine operations; Model e, the electric vehicle unit; and Ford Pro, the fleet service operations.

<h2>How many people will be affected by the layoffs?</h2>

The exact number of employees affected by the layoffs has not been disclosed by the company. In its most recent quarterly filing, Ford stated that it expected to incur charges in 2023 between $1.5 billion and $2 billion "primarily attributable to employee separations and supplier settlements".&nbsp;

This is comparable to similar actions in 2021 and 2022, which resulted in charges of $2 billion and $608 million, respectively.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ubs-plans-to-sack-more-than-half-or-35000-credit-suisse-staff-report-609469">UBS plans to sack 'more than half' or 35,000 Credit Suisse staff: Report</a>

In an emailed statement, Ford, as per CNBC,&nbsp;said: "Delivering our Ford+ plan for growth and value creation includes increasing quality, lowering costs, investing in our priorities, and adjusting staffing to match the capabilities we need."&nbsp;

"People affected by the changes will be offered severance pay, benefits," added the company as reported by Reuters.

"This is related to the Ford+ growth plan we introduced in 2021," it added.

<h2>Ford+ Plan</h2>

Ford has been implementing restructuring efforts for several years as part of its Ford+ plan, led by CEO Jim Farley.&nbsp;

Last year in August, the company cut 3,000 workers in North America and recently conducted 3,800 layoffs in Europe.&nbsp;

Ford stated in its first-quarter filing that it would continue to review its global businesses and may take additional restructuring actions in cases where sustained profitability is not feasible.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/kpmg-joins-the-layoff-parade-canaries-in-the-economic-coal-mine-609151">KPMG joins the layoff parade: Canaries in the economic coal mine</a>

"We continue to review our global businesses and may take additional restructuring actions where a path to sustained profitability is not feasible when considering the capital allocation required for those businesses."

According to Ford's Farley, the company faces a cost disadvantage of approximately $7 billion compared to some of its competitors. The company aims to address this through efficiency gains and job reductions.&nbsp;

<h2>Ford and job cuts</h2>

In 2022, Ford's employee headcount decreased by approximately 10,000 people to 173,000 globally.

The employees affected by the most recent job cut will be offered severance pay, benefits, and assistance in finding new career opportunities. Reportedly, the layoffs have been communicated to contractors and team leaders, with employees expected to be notified throughout the week. The company has instructed affected units to work remotely during this period.&nbsp;

Ford's restructuring efforts align with the broader trend in the automotive industry, with other automakers such as General Motors and Stellantis also implementing layoffs and cost-cutting measures to focus more on the electric vehicles markets.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ford Motor has announced plans to carry out layoffs this week, primarily affecting engineering jobs in the United States and Canada. The job cuts are part of Ford's cost-cutting measures as the company undergoes a restructuring of its business operations.

Ford Motor has announced plans to carry out layoffs this week, primarily affecting engineering jobs in the United States and Canada. The job cuts are part of Ford's cost-cutting measures as the company undergoes a restructuring of its business operations. The layoffs as per CNBC are expected to impact all three of Ford's business units: Ford Blue, which focuses on internal combustion engine operations; Model e, the electric vehicle unit; and Ford Pro, the fleet service operations. How many people will be affected by the layoffs? The exact number of employees affected by the layoffs has not been disclosed by the company. In its most recent quarterly filing, Ford stated that it expected to incur charges in 2023 between $1.5 billion and $2 billion "primarily attributable to employee separations and supplier settlements". This is comparable to similar actions in 2021 and 2022, which resulted in charges of $2 billion and $608 million, respectively. Also read | UBS plans to sack 'more than half' or 35,000 Credit Suisse staff: Report In an emailed statement, Ford, as per CNBC, said: "Delivering our Ford+ plan for growth and value creation includes increasing quality, lowering costs, investing in our priorities, and adjusting staffing to match the capabilities we need." "People affected by the changes will be offered severance pay, benefits," added the company as reported by Reuters. "This is related to the Ford+ growth plan we introduced in 2021," it added. Ford+ Plan Ford has been implementing restructuring efforts for several years as part of its Ford+ plan, led by CEO Jim Farley. Last year in August, the company cut 3,000 workers in North America and recently conducted 3,800 layoffs in Europe. Ford stated in its first-quarter filing that it would continue to review its global businesses and may take additional restructuring actions in cases where sustained profitability is not feasible. Also read | KPMG joins the layoff parade: Canaries in the economic coal mine "We continue to review our global businesses and may take additional restructuring actions where a path to sustained profitability is not feasible when considering the capital allocation required for those businesses." According to Ford's Farley, the company faces a cost disadvantage of approximately $7 billion compared to some of its competitors. The company aims to address this through efficiency gains and job reductions. Ford and job cuts In 2022, Ford's employee headcount decreased by approximately 10,000 people to 173,000 globally. The employees affected by the most recent job cut will be offered severance pay, benefits, and assistance in finding new career opportunities. Reportedly, the layoffs have been communicated to contractors and team leaders, with employees expected to be notified throughout the week. The company has instructed affected units to work remotely during this period. Ford's restructuring efforts align with the broader trend in the automotive industry, with other automakers such as General Motors and Stellantis also implementing layoffs and cost-cutting measures to focus more on the electric vehicles markets. (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.

Ford announces job cuts; layoff to affect engineering jobs in United States and Canada

UBS Group is preparing to reduce more than half of the Credit Suisse Group's workforce following the emergency takeover of the bank. The impact of these job cuts is expected to be felt primarily by bankers, traders, and support staff in Credit Suisse's investment bank located in London, New York, and certain parts of Asia.

<h2>When will the job cuts happen?</h2>

As per a report in Fortune, staff has been told to expect the cuts in three rounds, with the first round projected to take place by the end of July, followed by two additional rounds tentatively planned for September and October.

UBS, which recently completed the acquisition and now has a combined workforce of approximately 120,000 employees, aims to save around $6 billion in staff costs over the coming years.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/credit-suisse-ordered-by-court-to-pay-926-million-to-ex-pm-of-georgia-596934">Another jolt to Credit Suisse, court orders it to pay $926 million to Georgian ex-PM</a>

Quoting sources, Fortune reports that UBS plans to reduce the total combined headcount by roughly 30 per cent, or 35,000 individuals.

This estimate aligns with an approximate reduction of 30,000 predicted this month by analysts at Redburn. Credit Suisse's current headcount stands at approximately 45,000 employees.

<h2>How will the job cuts affect the global financial sector?</h2>

The reduction in staff at Credit Suisse is expected to exacerbate an already challenging year for global financial sector jobs, as other major banks such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have also announced substantial cuts.

Watch |&nbsp;Credit Suisse is now a part of UBS | World Business Watch

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UBS had earlier signalled its intention to significantly scale back the size of Credit Suisse's investment bank, which experienced a $5.5 billion loss due to the Archegos Capital Management scandal in 2021.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, the company's chief executive Sergio Ermotti warned that the coming months will likely be "bumpy". He said that the UBS, and Credit Suisse merger will demand "waves" of difficult decisions, including regarding employment.

Although UBS initially planned to retain the top 20 per cent of dealmakers, particularly those focused on technology, media, and telecoms, many high-performing bankers have already left or been hired by rival institutions.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/silicon-valley-bank-to-cut-500-jobs-says-new-owner-report-596360" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/silicon-valley-bank-to-cut-500-jobs-says-new-owner-report-596360&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwial-atieX_AhXmTmwGHahpC0gQFnoECAAQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1cP6ReS7Br9qR4j8hcpMqi" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/silicon-valley-bank-to-cut-500-jobs-says-new-owner-report-596360" target="_blank">Silicon Valley Bank to cut 500 jobs, says new owner: Report</a>

UBS as per the Fortune report aims to retain most of Credit Suisse's private bankers, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where a few hundred private bankers are expected to join UBS's existing team of over 1,200.&nbsp;

As per the report, a source revealed that the company will also need to retain staff responsible for managing Credit Suisse's structured loans to wealthy clients and the equity derivatives books.

<h2>UBS and Credit Suisse integration</h2>

Regarding the Swiss domestic business, UBS reportedly intends to make a decision in the third quarter on whether to fully integrate it with its own Swiss unit, pursue alternative options such as spinning it off or listing it publicly, or adopt another approach.&nbsp;

The fate of the Swiss bank has drawn significant attention. The initial job cuts are likely to exclude roles related to the overlapping areas of the Swiss businesses. However, if the two domestic businesses are merged, it is estimated that up to 10,000 jobs could be eliminated.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

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UBS Group is preparing to reduce more than half of the Credit Suisse Group's workforce following the emergency takeover of the bank. The impact of these job cuts is expected to be felt primarily by bankers, traders, and support staff in Credit Suisse's investment bank located in London, New York, and certain parts of Asia.

UBS Group is preparing to reduce more than half of the Credit Suisse Group's workforce following the emergency takeover of the bank. The impact of these job cuts is expected to be felt primarily by bankers, traders, and support staff in Credit Suisse's investment bank located in London, New York, and certain parts of Asia. When will the job cuts happen? As per a report in Fortune, staff has been told to expect the cuts in three rounds, with the first round projected to take place by the end of July, followed by two additional rounds tentatively planned for September and October. UBS, which recently completed the acquisition and now has a combined workforce of approximately 120,000 employees, aims to save around $6 billion in staff costs over the coming years. Also read | Another jolt to Credit Suisse, court orders it to pay $926 million to Georgian ex-PM Quoting sources, Fortune reports that UBS plans to reduce the total combined headcount by roughly 30 per cent, or 35,000 individuals. This estimate aligns with an approximate reduction of 30,000 predicted this month by analysts at Redburn. Credit Suisse's current headcount stands at approximately 45,000 employees. How will the job cuts affect the global financial sector? The reduction in staff at Credit Suisse is expected to exacerbate an already challenging year for global financial sector jobs, as other major banks such as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have also announced substantial cuts. Watch | Credit Suisse is now a part of UBS | World Business Watch UBS had earlier signalled its intention to significantly scale back the size of Credit Suisse's investment bank, which experienced a $5.5 billion loss due to the Archegos Capital Management scandal in 2021. Earlier this month, the company's chief executive Sergio Ermotti warned that the coming months will likely be "bumpy". He said that the UBS, and Credit Suisse merger will demand "waves" of difficult decisions, including regarding employment. Although UBS initially planned to retain the top 20 per cent of dealmakers, particularly those focused on technology, media, and telecoms, many high-performing bankers have already left or been hired by rival institutions. Also read | Silicon Valley Bank to cut 500 jobs, says new owner: Report UBS as per the Fortune report aims to retain most of Credit Suisse's private bankers, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where a few hundred private bankers are expected to join UBS's existing team of over 1,200. As per the report, a source revealed that the company will also need to retain staff responsible for managing Credit Suisse's structured loans to wealthy clients and the equity derivatives books. UBS and Credit Suisse integration Regarding the Swiss domestic business, UBS reportedly intends to make a decision in the third quarter on whether to fully integrate it with its own Swiss unit, pursue alternative options such as spinning it off or listing it publicly, or adopt another approach. The fate of the Swiss bank has drawn significant attention. The initial job cuts are likely to exclude roles related to the overlapping areas of the Swiss businesses. However, if the two domestic businesses are merged, it is estimated that up to 10,000 jobs could be eliminated. (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.

UBS plans to sack 'more than half' or 35,000 Credit Suisse staff: Report

An airport worker in the US died a gruesome death after being sucked into the engine of a passenger plane. Talking to the press, US regulators on Sunday said they were investigating the incident In Texas.

<h2>What happened?</h2>

A Delta flight was taxiing to the gate after landing in San Antonio, Texas, with one engine on when the "worker was ingested into that engine," said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a statement.

"The NTSB is continuing to gather information about the event," it added.

Citing an anonymous source, The Guardian reports that it appeared that the worker "intentionally stepped in front of the live engine". The report further added that this angle is also being investigated by the police.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/number-of-people-battling-drug-addiction-globally-up-to-296-million-un-world-drug-report-608653https://www.wionews.com/world/number-of-people-battling-drug-addiction-globally-up-to-296-million-un-world-drug-report-608653">Number of people battling drug addiction globally up to 296 million: UN World Drug Report</a>

The tragic incident happened on Friday (June 23) at around 10:25 pm local time.

<h2>Worker's identity yet to be released</h2>

As per local media reports, the deceased worker — whose identity is yet to be released to the public — was employed by Unifi Aviation, a company which the airline giant Delta contracts for ground crew operations.

"Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time," said Unifi.

The statement added that "Out of respect for the deceased, we will not be sharing any additional information" at this time.

Speaking to San Antonio broadcaster KENS 5, Delta said that the company was "deeply saddened" by Friday night's events. It also said that it was "cooperating with authorities as they begin their investigation."

Unifi Aviation told the broadcaster the incident was "a tragic accident."

"From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifi's operational processes, safety procedures and policies," the company said.

Last year, a ground worker was killed in a similar incident. On Wednesday, regional carrier Piedmont Airlines — a subsidiary of carrier American Airlines — was fined $15,625 by the regulatory body, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),&nbsp;for the death.

"Proper training and enforcement of safety procedures could have prevented this tragedy," said an OSHA official, as reported by AFP.

(With inputs from agencies)

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An airport worker in the US died a gruesome death after being sucked into the engine of a passenger plane. Talking to the press, US regulators on Sunday said they were investigating the incident In Texas.

An airport worker in the US died a gruesome death after being sucked into the engine of a passenger plane. Talking to the press, US regulators on Sunday said they were investigating the incident In Texas. What happened? A Delta flight was taxiing to the gate after landing in San Antonio, Texas, with one engine on when the "worker was ingested into that engine," said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a statement. "The NTSB is continuing to gather information about the event," it added. Citing an anonymous source, The Guardian reports that it appeared that the worker "intentionally stepped in front of the live engine". The report further added that this angle is also being investigated by the police. Also read | Number of people battling drug addiction globally up to 296 million: UN World Drug Report The tragic incident happened on Friday (June 23) at around 10:25 pm local time. Worker's identity yet to be released As per local media reports, the deceased worker — whose identity is yet to be released to the public — was employed by Unifi Aviation, a company which the airline giant Delta contracts for ground crew operations. "Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time," said Unifi. The statement added that "Out of respect for the deceased, we will not be sharing any additional information" at this time. Speaking to San Antonio broadcaster KENS 5, Delta said that the company was "deeply saddened" by Friday night's events. It also said that it was "cooperating with authorities as they begin their investigation." Unifi Aviation told the broadcaster the incident was "a tragic accident." "From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifi's operational processes, safety procedures and policies," the company said. Last year, a ground worker was killed in a similar incident. On Wednesday, regional carrier Piedmont Airlines — a subsidiary of carrier American Airlines — was fined $15,625 by the regulatory body, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for the death. "Proper training and enforcement of safety procedures could have prevented this tragedy," said an OSHA official, as reported by AFP. (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.

US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway

The fast, cheap and easy production of synthetic drugs like cocaine is booming worldwide, and it has radically transformed drug markets around the world. As per a United Nations report released on Sunday, it's not just cocaine, methamphetamine trafficking is also expanding beyond established markets, including in Afghanistan where the drug is now being produced.

In 2021 — the latest year for which data is available — coca bush cultivation and total cocaine production were at record highs. Further, the global number of cocaine users, estimated at 22 million that same year, is growing steadily, reports Reuters citing the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes' (UNODC) annual World Drug Report.

<h2>Where are the drugs being produced?</h2>

AFP reports that, as per the UN report, criminals continue to exploit conflicts and global crises to expand drug production.

It said that "there are signs" that the war in Ukraine "could trigger an expansion of the manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, given the existing know-how and the large markets... developing in the region".

"Although the global cocaine market continues to be concentrated in the Americas and in Western and Central Europe (with very high prevalence also in Australia), in relative terms it appears that the fastest growth, albeit building on very low initial levels, is occurring in developing markets found in Africa, Asia and South-Eastern Europe," it added.

<h2>Drugs and addiction</h2>

More people are now battling drug addiction. As per the report, over a period of 10 years, the number of people who use drugs has increased by 23 per cent to 296 million people worldwide.&nbsp;

Additionally, an estimated one in five people, or 39.5 million people around the world, are suffering from drug use disorders.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/surfboards-stuffed-with-cocaine-bound-for-europe-seized-in-uruguay-604360">Surfboards stuffed with cocaine bound for Europe seized in Uruguay</a>

"The world is currently experiencing a prolonged surge in both supply and demand of cocaine, which is now being felt across the globe and is likely to spur the development of new markets beyond the traditional confines," said UNODC in its report.

20 million consume ecstasy, 22 million people are using cocaine, a further 36 million are on amphetamines while opioids and cannabis use stood at 60 million and 219 million, respectively.

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<h2>Drug seizures</h2>

Reportedly it's not just the use, cocaine seizures seem to have grown faster than production. This has helped contain the total supply to some extent, said the report. Reuters reports that the upper limit of the estimated total supply was higher in the mid-2000s compared to now.

As per UNODC, reports and seizures involving methamphetamine produced in Afghanistan suggested the drug economy was changing in the country.

"The increase in the use and manufacture of methamphetamine in Afghanistan is of growing concern in South-West Asia, where trafficking in the substance is expanding beyond this region."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cocaine-price-crash-a-blow-for-colombian-coca-growers-596786">Cocaine price crash a blow for Colombian coca growers</a>

In Afghanistan, around 80 per cent of the world's illicit opium poppy, which is used to make heroin, was produced. The report adds that while 2022 saw an opium production boom in Afghanistan, "the effects of the drug ban, announced in Afghanistan in April 2022, including its application and enforcement, remain to be seen for the 2023 opium harvest." It further predicts that the "changes in opium production in Afghanistan will have implications for opiate markets in virtually all regions of the world."

"Questions remain regarding the linkages between illegal manufacture of heroin and of methamphetamine (in&nbsp;Afghanistan) and whether the two markets will develop in parallel or whether one will substitute the other," it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The fast, cheap and easy production of synthetic drugs like cocaine is booming worldwide, and it has radically transformed drug markets around the world. As per a United Nations report released on Sunday, it's not just cocaine, methamphetamine trafficking is also expanding beyond established markets, including in Afghanistan where the drug is now being produced.

The fast, cheap and easy production of synthetic drugs like cocaine is booming worldwide, and it has radically transformed drug markets around the world. As per a United Nations report released on Sunday, it's not just cocaine, methamphetamine trafficking is also expanding beyond established markets, including in Afghanistan where the drug is now being produced. In 2021 — the latest year for which data is available — coca bush cultivation and total cocaine production were at record highs. Further, the global number of cocaine users, estimated at 22 million that same year, is growing steadily, reports Reuters citing the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes' (UNODC) annual World Drug Report. Where are the drugs being produced? AFP reports that, as per the UN report, criminals continue to exploit conflicts and global crises to expand drug production. It said that "there are signs" that the war in Ukraine "could trigger an expansion of the manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, given the existing know-how and the large markets... developing in the region". "Although the global cocaine market continues to be concentrated in the Americas and in Western and Central Europe (with very high prevalence also in Australia), in relative terms it appears that the fastest growth, albeit building on very low initial levels, is occurring in developing markets found in Africa, Asia and South-Eastern Europe," it added. Drugs and addiction More people are now battling drug addiction. As per the report, over a period of 10 years, the number of people who use drugs has increased by 23 per cent to 296 million people worldwide. Additionally, an estimated one in five people, or 39.5 million people around the world, are suffering from drug use disorders. Also read | Surfboards stuffed with cocaine bound for Europe seized in Uruguay "The world is currently experiencing a prolonged surge in both supply and demand of cocaine, which is now being felt across the globe and is likely to spur the development of new markets beyond the traditional confines," said UNODC in its report. 20 million consume ecstasy, 22 million people are using cocaine, a further 36 million are on amphetamines while opioids and cannabis use stood at 60 million and 219 million, respectively. Drug seizures Reportedly it's not just the use, cocaine seizures seem to have grown faster than production. This has helped contain the total supply to some extent, said the report. Reuters reports that the upper limit of the estimated total supply was higher in the mid-2000s compared to now. As per UNODC, reports and seizures involving methamphetamine produced in Afghanistan suggested the drug economy was changing in the country. "The increase in the use and manufacture of methamphetamine in Afghanistan is of growing concern in South-West Asia, where trafficking in the substance is expanding beyond this region." Also read | Cocaine price crash a blow for Colombian coca growers In Afghanistan, around 80 per cent of the world's illicit opium poppy, which is used to make heroin, was produced. The report adds that while 2022 saw an opium production boom in Afghanistan, "the effects of the drug ban, announced in Afghanistan in April 2022, including its application and enforcement, remain to be seen for the 2023 opium harvest." It further predicts that the "changes in opium production in Afghanistan will have implications for opiate markets in virtually all regions of the world." "Questions remain regarding the linkages between illegal manufacture of heroin and of methamphetamine (in Afghanistan) and whether the two markets will develop in parallel or whether one will substitute the other," it added. (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.

Number of people battling drug addiction globally up to 296 million: UN World Drug Report

In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party. The AfD, which is considered radical by mainstream parties and faces refusal of cooperation, secured victory in the Sonnenberg district in Thuringia with 52.8 per cent of the vote.&nbsp;

<h2>What does AfD's success mean for Germany?</h2>

This success, as per Guardian, follows the party's record-high national poll ratings and reflects popular discontent with the governing coalition led by Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which has faced challenges over policy and the budget.

<h2>What's the secret of AfD's success?</h2>

The AfD, which was polling at around 19 per cent-20 per cent, has tapped into voter concerns regarding economic recession, migration, and the transition to green policies.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-airport-worker-dies-after-being-sucked-into-plane-engine-investigation-underway-608687">US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway</a>

It has a strong presence in the former Communist East, and polls suggest the party may win three eastern state votes next year.

As per analysts, the "clear" district victory of Robert Sesselmann, an AfD candidate, against a conservative candidate sends a signal to Berlin, especially as all other parties in Sonneberg formed a united front against him.

Riding on the success, the party as per the Reuters report, even plans to nominate a chancellor candidate in the 2025 federal election.&nbsp;

However, the rise of far-right parties, particularly the AfD, remains sensitive in Germany due to the country's Nazi past.

<h2>A 'watershed' moment</h2>

The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, expressed deep shock at the AfD's victory, emphasising that democratic political forces in the country should not simply accept it.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-chief-prigozhin-lost-his-nerve-in-calling-off-rebellion-ex-cia-chief-608701">Wagner chief Prigozhin 'lost his nerve' in calling off rebellion: Ex-CIA chief</a>

Talking to RND Media, he said "This is a watershed that this country's democratic political forces cannot simply accept."&nbsp;

<h2>Why are some elements against AfD?</h2>

The AfD opposes economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict and even denies that human activity is a significant cause of climate change.&nbsp;

Reuters reports&nbsp;that this month Germany's domestic intelligence agency has identified far-right extremism as the biggest threat to democracy in the country and warned voters about supporting the AfD. Founded as an anti-euro party a decade ago, the AfD gained popularity following the 2015 migrant crisis and entered parliament in 2017 as the official opposition.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party.

In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party. The AfD, which is considered radical by mainstream parties and faces refusal of cooperation, secured victory in the Sonnenberg district in Thuringia with 52.8 per cent of the vote. What does AfD's success mean for Germany? This success, as per Guardian, follows the party's record-high national poll ratings and reflects popular discontent with the governing coalition led by Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which has faced challenges over policy and the budget. What's the secret of AfD's success? The AfD, which was polling at around 19 per cent-20 per cent, has tapped into voter concerns regarding economic recession, migration, and the transition to green policies. Also read | US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway It has a strong presence in the former Communist East, and polls suggest the party may win three eastern state votes next year. As per analysts, the "clear" district victory of Robert Sesselmann, an AfD candidate, against a conservative candidate sends a signal to Berlin, especially as all other parties in Sonneberg formed a united front against him. Riding on the success, the party as per the Reuters report, even plans to nominate a chancellor candidate in the 2025 federal election. However, the rise of far-right parties, particularly the AfD, remains sensitive in Germany due to the country's Nazi past. A 'watershed' moment The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, expressed deep shock at the AfD's victory, emphasising that democratic political forces in the country should not simply accept it. Also read | Wagner chief Prigozhin 'lost his nerve' in calling off rebellion: Ex-CIA chief Talking to RND Media, he said "This is a watershed that this country's democratic political forces cannot simply accept." Why are some elements against AfD? The AfD opposes economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict and even denies that human activity is a significant cause of climate change. Reuters reports that this month Germany's domestic intelligence agency has identified far-right extremism as the biggest threat to democracy in the country and warned voters about supporting the AfD. Founded as an anti-euro party a decade ago, the AfD gained popularity following the 2015 migrant crisis and entered parliament in 2017 as the official opposition. (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.

Far-right party Alternative for Germany's candidate becomes district leader for first time

A Judge has ruled that, for now, abortion pills will remain legal in the United States of Wyoming. The judge's ruling means that while a lawsuit proceeds, the state's first-in-the-nation law banning access to medical abortion medicine won't take effect on July 1st as planned. The ruling was given by Teton County Judge Melissa Owens.

This comes as Wyoming became the first US state to specifically ban abortion pills. Before this, many states have banned the medication de facto by prohibiting abortion.

<h2>Why did the judge stay the implementation of the abortion ban?</h2>

As per an AP news agency report, attorneys for Wyoming failed to show that allowing the scheduled ban would not harm the plaintiffs of a lawsuit currently in court.&nbsp;

Two nonprofit organisations, including a Casper-based abortion clinic along with four women — including two obstetricians — have sued to challenge the law banning abortion pills. They asked the judge to suspend the ban while their lawsuit plays out.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/wyoming-becomes-first-us-state-to-ban-abortion-pills-573474" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/wyoming-becomes-first-us-state-to-ban-abortion-pills-573474&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj28KX20Nj_AhUT7zgGHT02Db4QFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0VKMk2qABLXiI2m8rEQL-8" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wyoming-becomes-first-us-state-to-ban-abortion-pills-573474" target="_blank">Wyoming&nbsp;becomes first US state to ban abortion pills&nbsp;</a>

AP reports that they are also suing to stop a new, near-total ban on abortion in Wyoming state.

Judge Owens has reportedly combined the two Wyoming lawsuits against new restrictions into one case. The Judge had suspended the state's general abortion ban just days after it took effect in March of this year.

<h2>The overturning of Roe v. Wade</h2>

The two new laws were enacted after the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June of last year. The ruling had protected the right to abortion for US women for nearly five decades.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wyoming-district-court-judge-halts-abortion-ban-days-after-it-took-effect-575040">Wyoming district court judge halts abortion ban days after it came into effect</a>

Since then, overturning of the historic Roe v. Wade judgment, some 25 million women and teenagers have been subjected to either stricter controls on ending their pregnancies or almost a total ban on the procedure that is often a medical necessity.

<h2>First-in-nation ban</h2>

In March 2023, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed into law America's first explicit ban on abortion pills.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, medical abortions had emerged as the predominant choice for abortion in the nation. A two-pill combination of mifepristone and another drug is as per CBS News, the most common form of abortion in the US.

In 13 US states, there are blanket bans on all forms of abortion, including abortion bills, 15 other states have limited access to medical abortions.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Judge has ruled that, for now, abortion pills will remain legal in the United States of Wyoming. The judge's ruling means that while a lawsuit proceeds, the state's first-in-the-nation law banning access to medical abortion medicine won't take effect on July 1st as planned.

A Judge has ruled that, for now, abortion pills will remain legal in the United States of Wyoming. The judge's ruling means that while a lawsuit proceeds, the state's first-in-the-nation law banning access to medical abortion medicine won't take effect on July 1st as planned. The ruling was given by Teton County Judge Melissa Owens. This comes as Wyoming became the first US state to specifically ban abortion pills. Before this, many states have banned the medication de facto by prohibiting abortion. Why did the judge stay the implementation of the abortion ban? As per an AP news agency report, attorneys for Wyoming failed to show that allowing the scheduled ban would not harm the plaintiffs of a lawsuit currently in court. Two nonprofit organisations, including a Casper-based abortion clinic along with four women — including two obstetricians — have sued to challenge the law banning abortion pills. They asked the judge to suspend the ban while their lawsuit plays out. Also read | Wyoming becomes first US state to ban abortion pills AP reports that they are also suing to stop a new, near-total ban on abortion in Wyoming state. Judge Owens has reportedly combined the two Wyoming lawsuits against new restrictions into one case. The Judge had suspended the state's general abortion ban just days after it took effect in March of this year. The overturning of Roe v. Wade The two new laws were enacted after the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June of last year. The ruling had protected the right to abortion for US women for nearly five decades. Also read | Wyoming district court judge halts abortion ban days after it came into effect Since then, overturning of the historic Roe v. Wade judgment, some 25 million women and teenagers have been subjected to either stricter controls on ending their pregnancies or almost a total ban on the procedure that is often a medical necessity. First-in-nation ban In March 2023, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed into law America's first explicit ban on abortion pills. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, medical abortions had emerged as the predominant choice for abortion in the nation. A two-pill combination of mifepristone and another drug is as per CBS News, the most common form of abortion in the US. In 13 US states, there are blanket bans on all forms of abortion, including abortion bills, 15 other states have limited access to medical abortions. (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.

US: Wyoming judge stays state's first-in-nation ban on abortion pills

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar recently lost his cool with a reporter and a video of the incident is now going viral. On Thursday, at the Pakistani Parliament House, the finance minister allegedly slapped a reporter for asking questions about the nation's stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.&nbsp;

<h2>Here's what happened: Ishaq Dar vs Journalist</h2>

As per Dawn, after addressing a National Assembly session, the Pakistani finance minister was departing the Parliament building when a reporter asked him some tough questions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/pak-pm-shehbaz-sharif-takes-away-umbrella-from-woman-leaving-her-walking-in-rain-watch-607665">Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif takes away umbrella from woman, leaving her walking in rain. Watch!</a>

The reporter who has been identified as Shahid Qureshi has shared a video of the incident. In it, Dar can be seen going down the stairs when the journalist asks him "Dar sahib, will you talk today?" to which Dar replied, "I just came out (of the NA) after speaking so much."

Following that, the journalist enquired if the IMF deal was "happening" and then went on to refer to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's meeting with the IMF chief, which had taken place on the sidelines of a summit in Paris. However, Dar didn't respond and remained silent.

Watch the video here:

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Pakistan Finance Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IshaqDar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IshaqDar</a> loses cool and pushes a reporter over a question about the failure to seal the IMF deal. 
 
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Qureshi, the&nbsp;reporter&nbsp;then asked the reason for the Pakistani government's failure to secure the deal, to which the finance minister replied, "Because people like you are in the system."

Responding to the statement, the reporter then said: "we are not in the system" adding, "we just ask questions". By that time, Dar, who had reached the parking, turned around angrily towards Qureshi.

"What do you want?" he questions the journalist asking him to "fear the God".

Qureshi then asks the minister, "Why are you fighting, sir?". At this point, the minister’s security guards "intervened" reports Dawn, and the minister was&nbsp;escorted towards the vehicle.

<h2>Reporter claims harassment</h2>

Later, Shahid Qureshi released a video in which he detailed the whole incident and made some damning claims against the Pakistani minister and his security detail.

He said: "Today, immediately after the finance minister exited the NA, I was standing there. As a reporter and journalist who covers the economy beat, I asked him why the agreement with the IMF had not been finalised yet".

"Initially, he (the minister) said he had spoken in the Parliament but I said I wanted to talk about the IMF … as soon I proceeded to question him, Ishaq Dar's security guards were told to stop me."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-village-mourns-24-feared-dead-in-greek-migrant-tragedy-607006">Pakistan village mourns 24 feared dead in Greek migrant boat tragedy</a>

He goes on to claim that he was slapped by the minister and that he had recorded the entire incident.

"They grabbed me from both sides after which Ishaq Dar slapped me."

Qureshi&nbsp;alleges that after that Dar left telling "his security officers to follow me and teach me a lesson…those officers followed me till I reached the second floor of the Parliament after which I went to the PRA office and have now reached the Press Gallery."

<h2>Parliamentary Reporters'&nbsp;Association (PRA) condemn the incident</h2>

Reportedly, the Pakistani Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) has since then issued a condemnation and said that a senior parliamentary reporter faced "violence by Ishaq Dar's guards". The statement labelled the incident "disrespectful behaviours" which they "strongly condemn".

The association, as per Dawn, has demanded that Dar apologise to the reporter. They also ask that there should not be a repeat of such "aggressive behaviour" by Dar. "If Dar does not apologises, the PRA reserves the right to walk out of the budget session and protest," read the statement. They also demanded that National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf take notice of the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar recently lost his cool with a reporter and a video of the incident is now going viral. On Thursday, at the Pakistani Parliament House, the finance minister allegedly slapped a reporter for asking questions about the nation's stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar recently lost his cool with a reporter and a video of the incident is now going viral. On Thursday, at the Pakistani Parliament House, the finance minister allegedly slapped a reporter for asking questions about the nation's stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Here's what happened: Ishaq Dar vs Journalist As per Dawn, after addressing a National Assembly session, the Pakistani finance minister was departing the Parliament building when a reporter asked him some tough questions. Also read | Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif takes away umbrella from woman, leaving her walking in rain. Watch! The reporter who has been identified as Shahid Qureshi has shared a video of the incident. In it, Dar can be seen going down the stairs when the journalist asks him "Dar sahib, will you talk today?" to which Dar replied, "I just came out (of the NA) after speaking so much." Following that, the journalist enquired if the IMF deal was "happening" and then went on to refer to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's meeting with the IMF chief, which had taken place on the sidelines of a summit in Paris. However, Dar didn't respond and remained silent. Watch the video here: #WATCH | Pakistan Finance Minister #IshaqDar loses cool and pushes a reporter over a question about the failure to seal the IMF deal. Watch more: https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J pic.twitter.com/TiEHxhfuUJ — WION (@WIONews) June 23, 2023 × Qureshi, the reporter then asked the reason for the Pakistani government's failure to secure the deal, to which the finance minister replied, "Because people like you are in the system." Responding to the statement, the reporter then said: "we are not in the system" adding, "we just ask questions". By that time, Dar, who had reached the parking, turned around angrily towards Qureshi. "What do you want?" he questions the journalist asking him to "fear the God". Qureshi then asks the minister, "Why are you fighting, sir?". At this point, the minister’s security guards "intervened" reports Dawn, and the minister was escorted towards the vehicle. Reporter claims harassment Later, Shahid Qureshi released a video in which he detailed the whole incident and made some damning claims against the Pakistani minister and his security detail. He said: "Today, immediately after the finance minister exited the NA, I was standing there. As a reporter and journalist who covers the economy beat, I asked him why the agreement with the IMF had not been finalised yet". "Initially, he (the minister) said he had spoken in the Parliament but I said I wanted to talk about the IMF … as soon I proceeded to question him, Ishaq Dar's security guards were told to stop me." Also read | Pakistan village mourns 24 feared dead in Greek migrant boat tragedy He goes on to claim that he was slapped by the minister and that he had recorded the entire incident. "They grabbed me from both sides after which Ishaq Dar slapped me." Qureshi alleges that after that Dar left telling "his security officers to follow me and teach me a lesson…those officers followed me till I reached the second floor of the Parliament after which I went to the PRA office and have now reached the Press Gallery." Parliamentary Reporters' Association (PRA) condemn the incident Reportedly, the Pakistani Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) has since then issued a condemnation and said that a senior parliamentary reporter faced "violence by Ishaq Dar's guards". The statement labelled the incident "disrespectful behaviours" which they "strongly condemn". The association, as per Dawn, has demanded that Dar apologise to the reporter. They also ask that there should not be a repeat of such "aggressive behaviour" by Dar. "If Dar does not apologises, the PRA reserves the right to walk out of the budget session and protest," read the statement. They also demanded that National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf take notice of the incident. (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.

Pakistani parliament reporter claims Finance Minister Ishaq Dar slapped him. Watch!

In a bid to bolster semiconductor manufacturing in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended invitations to two major American chip makers, Micron Technology and Applied Materials. Earlier,&nbsp;PM Modi had pitched his vision to transform the upcoming years of 2020s into a "tech decade", coining the term "Techade" to encapsulate the idea.&nbsp;

"I am confident that India's dream of techade will be fulfilled by its innovators and their patents," Modi said.

<h2>Micron Tech for&nbsp;boost to Indian semiconductor industry</h2>

As per a statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, "The prime minister invited Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India."

Sanjay Mehrotra, the CEO of Micron Technology, expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead in India.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vegetarian-menu-peacock-ey-theme-and-more-all-the-ways-biden-dinner-honours-modi-and-india-607137">Vegetarian menu, peacock theme and more: All the ways Bidens' dinner honours PM Modi and India</a>

"We look forward to greater opportunities in India. Micron is a global leader in memory and storage, and we are a supplier for memory and storage in all end markets from data centres, to smartphones to PCs, and today really fuelling the AI engine as well," said Mehrotra, as quoted by PTI.

<h2>Collaboration with Applied Materials</h2>

During a meeting with Gary E. Dickerson, the President and CEO of Applied Materials, Prime Minister Modi reportedly discussed the potential for the company to partner with academic institutions in India to cultivate a skilled workforce in the field of semiconductor manufacturing.

Following their meeting with the Prime Minister, Gary E. Dickerson expressed a strong desire to work alongside Modi and the people of India.

"We are very very much looking forward to working together with the prime minister and everyone of India to achieve tremendous success together."

<h2>General Electric and the Indian aviation sector</h2>

During his meeting with H. Lawrence Culp, the CEO of General Electric (GE), Modi extended an invitation for the company to play a greater role in India's aviation and renewable energy sectors.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-obama-trump-biden-and-more-narendra-modi-in-us-over-the-years-606408">Explained: Modi in USA: How Indian PM's past trips&nbsp;unfolded</a>

"Prime minister appreciated GE for its long-term commitment to manufacturing in India. The prime minister and Mr Culp Jr discussed GE's greater technology collaboration to promote manufacturing in India," said the Ministry of External Affairs statement.

<h2>India's semiconductor sector</h2>

As per PTI, India has been actively promoting semiconductor development and has introduced a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for that.&nbsp;

The country is gearing to position itself as an appealing investment destination for global semiconductor companies, and one of the most attractive locations in Asia for electronics and semiconductors.

In 2021, the Indian semiconductor market was valued at USD 27.2 billion, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 19 per cent. However, the country does not currently manufacture any chips domestically.

Establishing semiconductor units, also known as fabs, is a highly specialized, complex, and expensive endeavour. These fabs require advanced technology, involve inherent risks, and demand long gestation and payback periods.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a bid to bolster semiconductor manufacturing in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended invitations to two major American chip makers, Micron Technology and Applied Materials.

In a bid to bolster semiconductor manufacturing in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended invitations to two major American chip makers, Micron Technology and Applied Materials. Earlier, PM Modi had pitched his vision to transform the upcoming years of 2020s into a "tech decade", coining the term "Techade" to encapsulate the idea. "I am confident that India's dream of techade will be fulfilled by its innovators and their patents," Modi said. Micron Tech for boost to Indian semiconductor industry As per a statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, "The prime minister invited Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India." Sanjay Mehrotra, the CEO of Micron Technology, expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead in India. Also read | Vegetarian menu, peacock theme and more: All the ways Bidens' dinner honours PM Modi and India "We look forward to greater opportunities in India. Micron is a global leader in memory and storage, and we are a supplier for memory and storage in all end markets from data centres, to smartphones to PCs, and today really fuelling the AI engine as well," said Mehrotra, as quoted by PTI. Collaboration with Applied Materials During a meeting with Gary E. Dickerson, the President and CEO of Applied Materials, Prime Minister Modi reportedly discussed the potential for the company to partner with academic institutions in India to cultivate a skilled workforce in the field of semiconductor manufacturing. Following their meeting with the Prime Minister, Gary E. Dickerson expressed a strong desire to work alongside Modi and the people of India. "We are very very much looking forward to working together with the prime minister and everyone of India to achieve tremendous success together." General Electric and the Indian aviation sector During his meeting with H. Lawrence Culp, the CEO of General Electric (GE), Modi extended an invitation for the company to play a greater role in India's aviation and renewable energy sectors. Also read | Explained: Modi in USA: How Indian PM's past trips unfolded "Prime minister appreciated GE for its long-term commitment to manufacturing in India. The prime minister and Mr Culp Jr discussed GE's greater technology collaboration to promote manufacturing in India," said the Ministry of External Affairs statement. India's semiconductor sector As per PTI, India has been actively promoting semiconductor development and has introduced a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for that. The country is gearing to position itself as an appealing investment destination for global semiconductor companies, and one of the most attractive locations in Asia for electronics and semiconductors. In 2021, the Indian semiconductor market was valued at USD 27.2 billion, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 19 per cent. However, the country does not currently manufacture any chips domestically. Establishing semiconductor units, also known as fabs, is a highly specialized, complex, and expensive endeavour. These fabs require advanced technology, involve inherent risks, and demand long gestation and payback periods. (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.

PM Modi invites Micron Technology and Applied Materials to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India

A parliamentary report in Japan has revealed that two nine-year-old children were among the 25,000 people forced to undergo sterilisation, under the nation's post-World War Two eugenics law.

<h2>Report's findings</h2>

A probe into the law, which was in effect from 1948 to 1996, found that two nine-year-old kids — a boy and a girl — were among those sterilised.&nbsp;

The nine-year-olds as per Japan's public broadcaster NHK, were the youngest victims of the law. The boy was sterilised in the 1960s and the girl underwent the procedure in the 1970s.&nbsp;

As per the parliamentary report, most patients were led to believe that they were undergoing treatment for an illness like anaemia or removal of the appendix. Around 65 per cent of the procedures carried out in almost five decades were without consent.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-japans-historic-move-redefines-rape-and-raises-age-of-consent-605159">Explained:&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;historic move redefines rape and raises age of consent</a>

It also found that the law had even set sterilisation as a condition for marriage and/or admission at welfare facilities. The probe into the law also found reported cases of radiation exposure and uterus removal.

The 1,400-page long study has been long awaited. Investigation into the law began in June 2020 under a law aimed at providing victims with some relief. The 2019 legislation also promised victims state compensation worth ¥3.2 million ($22,000). Victims have, however, sued the country for a higher compensation.

<h2>Japan's eugenics law</h2>

The contentious law was in place for 48 years. Under it, people were at times forced to undergo operations to prevent them from having children deemed "inferior".&nbsp;

As per Japan Times, most of these people had intellectual disabilities, mental illness or hereditary disorders.

The parliamentary report further states that as per a high school textbook from 1975, using the eugenics law, the government was making efforts for the "country's eugenics to improve and enhance the genetic predisposition of the entire public."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-parliament-passes-watered-down-lgbt-understanding-bill-that-gives-way-to-bigotry-605038">Japan parliament passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill that allegedly gives way to bigotry</a>

Japan Times reports that the legislation which was initiated by lawmakers was adopted unanimously. Apart from eugenics, it was also aimed at curbing Japan's population increase amid food shortages after World War II.

<h2>No longer 'shroud'&nbsp;issue in darkness</h2>

Referring to findings in the Diet (Japan parliament) report, an 80-year-old victim of forced sterilisation said it showed the government "had been doing terrible things by deceiving children."

The victim, who goes by the pseudonym Saburo Kita, was forced to undergo the procedure at the young age of 14 years. Kita said, "I would like the state not to shroud the issue in darkness, but take our sufferings seriously soon."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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A parliamentary report in Japan has revealed that two nine-year-old children were among the 25,000 people forced to undergo sterilisation, under the nation's post-World War Two eugenics law.

A parliamentary report in Japan has revealed that two nine-year-old children were among the 25,000 people forced to undergo sterilisation, under the nation's post-World War Two eugenics law. Report's findings A probe into the law, which was in effect from 1948 to 1996, found that two nine-year-old kids — a boy and a girl — were among those sterilised. The nine-year-olds as per Japan's public broadcaster NHK, were the youngest victims of the law. The boy was sterilised in the 1960s and the girl underwent the procedure in the 1970s. As per the parliamentary report, most patients were led to believe that they were undergoing treatment for an illness like anaemia or removal of the appendix. Around 65 per cent of the procedures carried out in almost five decades were without consent. Also read | Explained: Japan's historic move redefines rape and raises age of consent It also found that the law had even set sterilisation as a condition for marriage and/or admission at welfare facilities. The probe into the law also found reported cases of radiation exposure and uterus removal. The 1,400-page long study has been long awaited. Investigation into the law began in June 2020 under a law aimed at providing victims with some relief. The 2019 legislation also promised victims state compensation worth ¥3.2 million ($22,000). Victims have, however, sued the country for a higher compensation. Japan's eugenics law The contentious law was in place for 48 years. Under it, people were at times forced to undergo operations to prevent them from having children deemed "inferior". As per Japan Times, most of these people had intellectual disabilities, mental illness or hereditary disorders. The parliamentary report further states that as per a high school textbook from 1975, using the eugenics law, the government was making efforts for the "country's eugenics to improve and enhance the genetic predisposition of the entire public." Also read | Japan parliament passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill that allegedly gives way to bigotry Japan Times reports that the legislation which was initiated by lawmakers was adopted unanimously. Apart from eugenics, it was also aimed at curbing Japan's population increase amid food shortages after World War II. No longer 'shroud' issue in darkness Referring to findings in the Diet (Japan parliament) report, an 80-year-old victim of forced sterilisation said it showed the government "had been doing terrible things by deceiving children." The victim, who goes by the pseudonym Saburo Kita, was forced to undergo the procedure at the young age of 14 years. Kita said, "I would like the state not to shroud the issue in darkness, but take our sufferings seriously soon." (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.

Two 9-year-olds among 25,000 victims of Japan's WW2-era forced sterilisation law

Fugitive cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon has been found guilty of possessing forged documents by a Montenegro court. Kwon, the founder of Terraform, was arrested at an airport in Montenegro with fake passports. He is still awaiting trial for another charge related to his possible extradition.&nbsp;

<h2>Fake passport and prison sentence</h2>

As per AFP, in a statement, the court said that Kwon and his travel companion were "guilty because they used a fake passport" from Costa Rica at the airport. Additionally, the court revealed that the duo had Belgium passports under different names in their possession.

Kwon has been sentenced to four months in prison, and his attorney stated that there were no immediate plans to appeal the ruling.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/south-korean-crypto-founder-arrested-in-montenegro-575327">Do Kwon: Fugitive S Korean behind $40bn crypto collapse arrested in Montenegro</a>

This verdict follows a recent decision by the court to extend their custody for six months for the extradition charge.&nbsp;

Both Seoul and Washington are seeking Kwon's extradition due to his alleged involvement in fraud that led to his company's collapse, wiping out about $40 billion of investors' money and causing turbulence in global crypto markets.

However, Montenegro does not have extradition treaties with the US or South Korea, complicating the process of bringing Kwon to justice in those countries.

<h2>On the run</h2>

Kwon, whose real name is Kwon Do-hyung, had been on the run for several months after fleeing South Korea and Singapore before his company's crash in May the previous year.&nbsp;

South Korean prosecutors had requested Interpol to issue a red notice for Kwon's arrest, and his passport was revoked.

<h2>Kwon and Montenegro</h2>

Since his arrest in Montenegro, Kwon has become a subject of intrigue in the country's politically divided landscape.&nbsp;

AFP reports that during the lead-up to parliamentary elections, controversy arose when interim Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic and his allies accused Milojko Spajic, the leader of Europe Now, of having connections with Kwon.&nbsp;

Political analysts speculate that these allegations may have affected political party Europe Now's performance in the polls, as they secured around a quarter of the votes and are currently working on forming a coalition.

<h2>'Stablecoin' TerraUSD&nbsp;</h2>

Kwon's TerraUSD was promoted as a "stablecoin," typically pegged to stable assets like the US dollar to minimise price fluctuations.&nbsp;

In recent days, cryptocurrencies have faced increased scrutiny from regulators due to controversies, including the collapse of the FTX exchange.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-charges-wanted-crypto-entrepreneur-do-kwon-with-fraud-563213" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-charges-wanted-crypto-entrepreneur-do-kwon-with-fraud-563213&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwih_JaXhtH_AhXAyqACHYgiCOc4ChAWegQICBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3g_pZYtPuolGqxivQy1UZ0" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-charges-wanted-crypto-entrepreneur-do-kwon-with-fraud-563213" target="_blank">US charges wanted crypto entrepreneur&nbsp;Do Kwon&nbsp;with fraud</a>

Additionally, the digital currency sector has also been impacted by the failures of US crypto lenders Silvergate and Signature, which contributed to banking concerns earlier this year and caused disruption in global markets.

Fugitive cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon has been found guilty of possessing forged documents by a Montenegro court. Kwon, the founder of Terraform, was arrested at an airport in Montenegro with fake passports.

Fugitive cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon has been found guilty of possessing forged documents by a Montenegro court. Kwon, the founder of Terraform, was arrested at an airport in Montenegro with fake passports. He is still awaiting trial for another charge related to his possible extradition. Fake passport and prison sentence As per AFP, in a statement, the court said that Kwon and his travel companion were "guilty because they used a fake passport" from Costa Rica at the airport. Additionally, the court revealed that the duo had Belgium passports under different names in their possession. Kwon has been sentenced to four months in prison, and his attorney stated that there were no immediate plans to appeal the ruling. Also read | Do Kwon: Fugitive S Korean behind $40bn crypto collapse arrested in Montenegro This verdict follows a recent decision by the court to extend their custody for six months for the extradition charge. Both Seoul and Washington are seeking Kwon's extradition due to his alleged involvement in fraud that led to his company's collapse, wiping out about $40 billion of investors' money and causing turbulence in global crypto markets. However, Montenegro does not have extradition treaties with the US or South Korea, complicating the process of bringing Kwon to justice in those countries. On the run Kwon, whose real name is Kwon Do-hyung, had been on the run for several months after fleeing South Korea and Singapore before his company's crash in May the previous year. South Korean prosecutors had requested Interpol to issue a red notice for Kwon's arrest, and his passport was revoked. Kwon and Montenegro Since his arrest in Montenegro, Kwon has become a subject of intrigue in the country's politically divided landscape. AFP reports that during the lead-up to parliamentary elections, controversy arose when interim Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic and his allies accused Milojko Spajic, the leader of Europe Now, of having connections with Kwon. Political analysts speculate that these allegations may have affected political party Europe Now's performance in the polls, as they secured around a quarter of the votes and are currently working on forming a coalition. 'Stablecoin' TerraUSD Kwon's TerraUSD was promoted as a "stablecoin," typically pegged to stable assets like the US dollar to minimise price fluctuations. In recent days, cryptocurrencies have faced increased scrutiny from regulators due to controversies, including the collapse of the FTX exchange. Also read | US charges wanted crypto entrepreneur Do Kwon with fraud Additionally, the digital currency sector has also been impacted by the failures of US crypto lenders Silvergate and Signature, which contributed to banking concerns earlier this year and caused disruption in global markets.

Terraform founder, 'crypto fugitive' Do Kwon found guilty of forgery by Montenegro court

Ugandan police said Monday that 20 people had been arrested for suspected collaboration with the notorious militia group blamed for last week's grisly attack on a school near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Twenty arrests have been made of suspected collaborators, suspected ADF collaborators," police spokesman Fred Enanga told a press conference, referring to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) based in the DRC.

He said in a separate statement that those arrested included the head teacher and the director of the Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, western Uganda, which came under attack late on Friday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/uganda-25-students-killed-in-overnight-militant-attack-605495" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/uganda-25-students-killed-in-overnight-militant-attack-605495&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwis2KLewNH_AhXQ8jgGHYjDB9cQFnoECAMQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3WXU7Js_71wXJrp5gS1U_N" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uganda-25-students-killed-in-overnight-militant-attack-605495" target="_blank">Uganda: 25 students killed in overnight militant attack&nbsp;</a>

Enanga said the death toll was now 42, including 37 students. The oldest among the victims so far identified was a 95-year-old woman and the youngest a 12-year-old girl.

Another six people were injured and remain in hospital, he said, while adding that there were conflicting reports on the number abducted by the assailants, ranging between five and seven.

"An attack on innocent children is barbaric, is inhumane and of course constitutes crimes against humanity," Enanga said.

The youngsters were hacked with machetes, shot and burned to death in their dormitories in horrific killings that have drawn global condemnation.

"As a country, we continue to stand by each other in the fight against terrorism. No matter how heinous the attack or how brutal or inhumane the methods used, the ADF will not be able to succeed in demolishing the solidarity of Ugandans in the fight against terrorism and extremism," Enanga added.

Grief-stricken Ugandans were on Monday burying more victims, while other families were still desperately hunting for news of their loved ones or facing an agonising wait for DNA tests on some of the students who were burnt beyond recognition.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deadly-attack-at-ugandan-school-claims-41-lives-including-students-605567">Deadly attack by ISIS allies at Ugandan school claims at least 41 lives, including students</a>

The authorities have said 15 people from the community, including five girls, were still missing.

Joseph Masika, a guardian of one of the missing students, recounted heart-wrenching visits to mortuaries and hospitals.

"We are not sure our children are among those abducted or burnt beyond recognition. We are distressed, maybe the government will give us an answer soon and we are praying," the 48-year-old businessman told AFP.&nbsp;

"It's a painful situation no parent would want to go through, but we are keeping hope that they are alive wherever they are."

- 'Cowardly, terrorist action' - 
Ugandan authorities are pursuing the assailants who fled back towards the porous DRC border with their abductees.

"Their action -- the desperate, cowardly, terrorist action -- will not save them," President Yoweri Museveni said Sunday in his first statement on the attack, vowing to hunt the militants "into extinction."

Joe Walusimbi, the Resident District Commissioner of Kesese, the area where the school was located, said most of the identified victims were buried on Sunday but that there were more funerals on Monday.

"We are almost complete with the burial of the dead already identified and waiting for the DNA tests of those students who were burnt beyond recognition," he told AFP.

It was the deadliest attack in Uganda since twin bombings in Kampala in 2010 killed 76 people in a strike claimed by the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab group.

The ADF, an armed group historically linked to predominantly Muslim Ugandan rebels opposed to Museveni, has been blamed for thousands of civilian deaths in the DRC since the 1990s.

In a report due to be published this week, UN experts said the Islamic State group has provided financial support to the ADF since at least 2019.

The IS describes the ADF as its regional affiliate, the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP). In March 2021, the United States placed the ADF on its list of "terrorist groups" affiliated with IS.

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Ugandan police said Monday that 20 people had been arrested for suspected collaboration with the notorious militia group blamed for last week's grisly attack on a school near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ugandan police said Monday that 20 people had been arrested for suspected collaboration with the notorious militia group blamed for last week's grisly attack on a school near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Twenty arrests have been made of suspected collaborators, suspected ADF collaborators," police spokesman Fred Enanga told a press conference, referring to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) based in the DRC. He said in a separate statement that those arrested included the head teacher and the director of the Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, western Uganda, which came under attack late on Friday. Also read | Uganda: 25 students killed in overnight militant attack Enanga said the death toll was now 42, including 37 students. The oldest among the victims so far identified was a 95-year-old woman and the youngest a 12-year-old girl. Another six people were injured and remain in hospital, he said, while adding that there were conflicting reports on the number abducted by the assailants, ranging between five and seven. "An attack on innocent children is barbaric, is inhumane and of course constitutes crimes against humanity," Enanga said. The youngsters were hacked with machetes, shot and burned to death in their dormitories in horrific killings that have drawn global condemnation. "As a country, we continue to stand by each other in the fight against terrorism. No matter how heinous the attack or how brutal or inhumane the methods used, the ADF will not be able to succeed in demolishing the solidarity of Ugandans in the fight against terrorism and extremism," Enanga added. Grief-stricken Ugandans were on Monday burying more victims, while other families were still desperately hunting for news of their loved ones or facing an agonising wait for DNA tests on some of the students who were burnt beyond recognition. Also read | Deadly attack by ISIS allies at Ugandan school claims at least 41 lives, including students The authorities have said 15 people from the community, including five girls, were still missing. Joseph Masika, a guardian of one of the missing students, recounted heart-wrenching visits to mortuaries and hospitals. "We are not sure our children are among those abducted or burnt beyond recognition. We are distressed, maybe the government will give us an answer soon and we are praying," the 48-year-old businessman told AFP. "It's a painful situation no parent would want to go through, but we are keeping hope that they are alive wherever they are." - 'Cowardly, terrorist action' - Ugandan authorities are pursuing the assailants who fled back towards the porous DRC border with their abductees. "Their action -- the desperate, cowardly, terrorist action -- will not save them," President Yoweri Museveni said Sunday in his first statement on the attack, vowing to hunt the militants "into extinction." Joe Walusimbi, the Resident District Commissioner of Kesese, the area where the school was located, said most of the identified victims were buried on Sunday but that there were more funerals on Monday. "We are almost complete with the burial of the dead already identified and waiting for the DNA tests of those students who were burnt beyond recognition," he told AFP. It was the deadliest attack in Uganda since twin bombings in Kampala in 2010 killed 76 people in a strike claimed by the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab group. The ADF, an armed group historically linked to predominantly Muslim Ugandan rebels opposed to Museveni, has been blamed for thousands of civilian deaths in the DRC since the 1990s. In a report due to be published this week, UN experts said the Islamic State group has provided financial support to the ADF since at least 2019. The IS describes the ADF as its regional affiliate, the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP). In March 2021, the United States placed the ADF on its list of "terrorist groups" affiliated with IS. 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.

Uganda arrests 20 'collaborators' over horrific school massacre

The Pakistan Railways is currently facing a challenging situation due to an economic meltdown and the aftermath of flooding. Reportedly, due to this, staff has been working without salaries.

Dawn reports that these remarks were made by Sukkur Divisional Superintendent Mehmood-ur-Rehman Lakho during an inspection of the Larkana-Kotri railway tracks.&nbsp;

<h2>Salaries, floods and the Pakistan railways</h2>

Talking to reporters, Lakho said that employees, from BS-1 officers to the chairman, have not been receiving salaries, and the number of good trains has been reduced.&nbsp;

However, he emphasised that the railways are working in collaboration with the federal government, which is providing full support to restore train operations on tracks affected by the floods.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-karachi-city-to-stop-import-of-eatables-drinks-due-to-lack-of-dollars-606133">Pakistan's Karachi city to stop import of eatables, drinks due to lack of dollars</a>

As per Dawn, he conceded that the railway track from Nawabshah to Tando Masti suffered severe damage during the floods, resulting in a 25-day suspension of service.

During unprecedented rainfall and flooding in August of the previous year, approximately half of the trains, including Khushhal Khan Khatak and Bolan Mail, had to suspend operations, leading to numerous challenges for the department.&nbsp;

<h2>Employees protest amidst extreme distress</h2>

As per The Express Tribune, the country's financial crisis and the non-payment of salaries by Pakistan Railways have caused significant distress among the employees.&nbsp;

Pakistan Railways Employees (PREM) Union (CBA) staged a protest at the diesel engine shed in Lahore to express their dissatisfaction with the delay in salary payments, particularly with Eid-ul-Adha approaching soon.&nbsp;

"Only a few days are left until Eid-ul-Adha," said the protestors.

Union leaders Prem Union Lahore President Fiaz Ahmed Shahzad, Secretary Khizar Hayat Baig, Senior Vice President Muhammad Jameel Malik, and organizer Haji Aziz Madi have reportedly appealed to the Railways Minister Saad Rafique and CEO Arshad Salam Khattak to resolve the salary issue promptly.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-reacts-sharply-to-minus-imran-formula-says-only-voters-can-decide-606196">Imran Khan reacts sharply to 'minus-Imran formula', says only voters can decide</a>

The central leader of the workers' union, Nasir Mujtaba, has demanded immediate payment of salaries. He has warned that if the issue is not resolved, protest demonstrations will be organised at railway stations across the country in the coming week.

According to the Express Tribune, the employees are not demanding advance payments, but the salaries that were due on specific dates and have not been paid yet.&nbsp;

This delay has caused frustration among the employees, who were anticipating double salaries this month.

As per convention, typically, in Pakistan, government employees receive an advance salary for the upcoming month on the occasion of Eid. This helps them make arrangements for the sacrificial animal for the upcoming religious occasion. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Pakistan Railways is currently facing a challenging situation due to an economic meltdown and the aftermath of flooding. Reportedly, due to this, staff has been working without salaries.

The Pakistan Railways is currently facing a challenging situation due to an economic meltdown and the aftermath of flooding. Reportedly, due to this, staff has been working without salaries. Dawn reports that these remarks were made by Sukkur Divisional Superintendent Mehmood-ur-Rehman Lakho during an inspection of the Larkana-Kotri railway tracks. Salaries, floods and the Pakistan railways Talking to reporters, Lakho said that employees, from BS-1 officers to the chairman, have not been receiving salaries, and the number of good trains has been reduced. However, he emphasised that the railways are working in collaboration with the federal government, which is providing full support to restore train operations on tracks affected by the floods. Also read | Pakistan's Karachi city to stop import of eatables, drinks due to lack of dollars As per Dawn, he conceded that the railway track from Nawabshah to Tando Masti suffered severe damage during the floods, resulting in a 25-day suspension of service. During unprecedented rainfall and flooding in August of the previous year, approximately half of the trains, including Khushhal Khan Khatak and Bolan Mail, had to suspend operations, leading to numerous challenges for the department. Employees protest amidst extreme distress As per The Express Tribune, the country's financial crisis and the non-payment of salaries by Pakistan Railways have caused significant distress among the employees. Pakistan Railways Employees (PREM) Union (CBA) staged a protest at the diesel engine shed in Lahore to express their dissatisfaction with the delay in salary payments, particularly with Eid-ul-Adha approaching soon. "Only a few days are left until Eid-ul-Adha," said the protestors. Union leaders Prem Union Lahore President Fiaz Ahmed Shahzad, Secretary Khizar Hayat Baig, Senior Vice President Muhammad Jameel Malik, and organizer Haji Aziz Madi have reportedly appealed to the Railways Minister Saad Rafique and CEO Arshad Salam Khattak to resolve the salary issue promptly. Also read | Imran Khan reacts sharply to 'minus-Imran formula', says only voters can decide The central leader of the workers' union, Nasir Mujtaba, has demanded immediate payment of salaries. He has warned that if the issue is not resolved, protest demonstrations will be organised at railway stations across the country in the coming week. According to the Express Tribune, the employees are not demanding advance payments, but the salaries that were due on specific dates and have not been paid yet. This delay has caused frustration among the employees, who were anticipating double salaries this month. As per convention, typically, in Pakistan, government employees receive an advance salary for the upcoming month on the occasion of Eid. This helps them make arrangements for the sacrificial animal for the upcoming religious occasion. (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.

'From BS-1 officers to Chairman,' Pakistan Railways employees await salaries as Eid-ul-Adha approaches

In one of the Mediterranean's most devastating boat disasters, a fishing trawler sank off the coast of Greece, leaving hundreds of people missing and presumed dead. Nine suspected smugglers accused of piloting the trawler will appear before a Greek court.

Authorities have reported that 78 individuals have been confirmed dead, while 104 survivors, mostly from Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Pakistan, were brought ashore.&nbsp;

The overcrowded boat sank approximately 50 miles off the southern Greek town of Pylos after departing from Tobruk in Libya en route to Italy.

<h2>Day of Mourning in Pakistan</h2>

As per the Guardian, among the passengers onboard the trawler, it was revealed that a significant number were from Pakistan.

In response to the tragedy, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has announced that Monday (June 19th) will be observed as a 'day of mourning' in Pakistan, with the national flag flying at half-mast.

The Pakistani PM has vowed severe punishment for those involved and has ordered a crackdown on agents involved in smuggling people.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/greece-boat-capsizing-tragedy-hundreds-of-pakistanis-believed-to-be-among-dead-605697">Greece boat tragedy: Hundreds of Pakistanis believed to be among dead</a>

The exact number of Pakistani nationals onboard, as well as the number of survivors and casualties, has not been officially confirmed, but it is believed to exceed 200.

<h2>Greek authorities,&nbsp;a stationary boat&nbsp;and missing footage</h2>

Criticism has been directed towards Greek authorities for their delayed response to the incident. Although they claim that the boat's occupants said they did not require assistance, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) reported receiving distress calls.

As per data obtained by the BBC, the ship was stationary for around seven hours before sinking. This finding contradicts the Greek coast guard's claim that the boat was heading towards Italy and did not require assistance during that time.

The BBC obtained computer animation featuring tracking data from MarineTraffic, a maritime analytics platform. The analysis of this data, which tracks the movements of other vessels in the vicinity, indicates that the overcrowded fishing boat had been stationary for at least seven hours before it overturned.&nbsp;

In light of this new information, the United Nations has called for an investigation into Greece's handling of the disaster. There are concerns that more decisive action should have been taken earlier to initiate a comprehensive rescue operation.&nbsp;

The UN as per BBC, is seeking to determine if there were any lapses or delays in the response, raising questions about the effectiveness of Greece's maritime emergency protocols and coordination.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-die-several-missing-after-boat-capsizes-and-sinks-off-greece-604406">At least 78 die, several missing after boat capsizes and sinks off Greece</a>

The coastguard, which was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the investigation into the tragic boat disaster, is facing criticism due to the absence of video footage that could substantiate its account of the events.

Christos Spirtzis, former transport minister, emphasised the significance of video footage capturing the rescue operation and raised the crucial question of its whereabouts. "Where is the video, the video [footage] that should have been taken of the (rescue) operation?," he asked.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In one of the Mediterranean's most devastating boat disasters, a fishing trawler sank off the coast of Greece, leaving hundreds of people missing and presumed dead.

In one of the Mediterranean's most devastating boat disasters, a fishing trawler sank off the coast of Greece, leaving hundreds of people missing and presumed dead. Nine suspected smugglers accused of piloting the trawler will appear before a Greek court. Authorities have reported that 78 individuals have been confirmed dead, while 104 survivors, mostly from Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Pakistan, were brought ashore. The overcrowded boat sank approximately 50 miles off the southern Greek town of Pylos after departing from Tobruk in Libya en route to Italy. Day of Mourning in Pakistan As per the Guardian, among the passengers onboard the trawler, it was revealed that a significant number were from Pakistan. In response to the tragedy, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has announced that Monday (June 19th) will be observed as a 'day of mourning' in Pakistan, with the national flag flying at half-mast. The Pakistani PM has vowed severe punishment for those involved and has ordered a crackdown on agents involved in smuggling people. Also read | Greece boat tragedy: Hundreds of Pakistanis believed to be among dead The exact number of Pakistani nationals onboard, as well as the number of survivors and casualties, has not been officially confirmed, but it is believed to exceed 200. Greek authorities, a stationary boat and missing footage Criticism has been directed towards Greek authorities for their delayed response to the incident. Although they claim that the boat's occupants said they did not require assistance, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) reported receiving distress calls. As per data obtained by the BBC, the ship was stationary for around seven hours before sinking. This finding contradicts the Greek coast guard's claim that the boat was heading towards Italy and did not require assistance during that time. The BBC obtained computer animation featuring tracking data from MarineTraffic, a maritime analytics platform. The analysis of this data, which tracks the movements of other vessels in the vicinity, indicates that the overcrowded fishing boat had been stationary for at least seven hours before it overturned. In light of this new information, the United Nations has called for an investigation into Greece's handling of the disaster. There are concerns that more decisive action should have been taken earlier to initiate a comprehensive rescue operation. The UN as per BBC, is seeking to determine if there were any lapses or delays in the response, raising questions about the effectiveness of Greece's maritime emergency protocols and coordination. Also read | At least 78 die, several missing after boat capsizes and sinks off Greece The coastguard, which was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the investigation into the tragic boat disaster, is facing criticism due to the absence of video footage that could substantiate its account of the events. Christos Spirtzis, former transport minister, emphasised the significance of video footage capturing the rescue operation and raised the crucial question of its whereabouts. "Where is the video, the video [footage] that should have been taken of the (rescue) operation?," he asked. (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.

Islamabad observes 'day of mourning' for Pakistanis dead, missing in Greek boat tragedy

Amid controversy and criticism, Japan passed a bill on Friday aimed at promoting understanding of the LGBT community. However, the legislation has faced backlash for lacking human rights guarantees and potentially perpetuating certain forms of discrimination.

<h2>Japan's bill on the LGBT&nbsp;community</h2>

Japan is the only Group of Seven (G7) country without legal protection for same-sex unions, initially committed to passing the law before hosting the G7 leaders' summit slated to happen from May 19 to May 21.&nbsp;

However, disputes over the bill's content and wording resulted in it being submitted to Parliament for consideration on the eve of the summit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-fukuoka-district-court-rules-ban-on-same-sex-marriage-in-a-state-of-unconstitutionality-602002">Japan's Fukuoka district court says ban on same-sex marriage ‘in a state of unconstitutionality’</a>

Despite some lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party deviating from party directives and either abstaining or leaving during the voting, the bill was ultimately approved by the more influential lower house on Tuesday.

<h2>A watered-down bill</h2>

The original draft of the bill stated that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity should be "not tolerated," but it was modified to "there should be no unfair discrimination." Critics argue that this change in wording implicitly allows for discrimination and bigotry.

"Although the original bill was not particularly significant, I believed it was better than nothing," said Takeharu Kato, a lawyer and member of the activist group "Marriage for all Japan," prior to the bill's passage. "But now I've started to think that having nothing at all might be better."

<h2>Same-sex marriage and Japan</h2>

Japan has faced pressure from other G7 nations, particularly the United States, to legalise same-sex marriage.&nbsp;

Economic leaders have expressed concerns that Japan's international competitiveness could be hindered without greater diversity, including representation for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.

<h2>Public opinion on same-sex marriages</h2>

Public opinion polls indicate that approximately 70 per cent of the Japanese public supports same-sex marriage. However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's conservative ruling party opposes it. In February, Kishida dismissed an aide who made offensive remarks against same-sex marriage, generating widespread outrage.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-rescues-nations-lgbt-community-from-hurt-says-ban-on-same-sex-marriage-unconstitutional-598384">Japan court 'rescues' nation's LGBT community from 'hurt', says ban on same-sex marriage 'unconstitutional'</a>

While more than 300 municipalities in Japan allow same-sex couples to enter partnership agreements, these agreements offer limited rights. Couples are unable to inherit each other's assets, obtain parental rights to each other's children, or even guarantee hospital visitation rights.

<h2>Marriages and Japan</h2>

Japan remains the only country among the Group of Seven nations that lacks legal protection for same-sex unions. The Japanese constitution defines marriage as something based on "the mutual consent of both sexes".

In recent months, Japan saw five separate court rulings on same-sex marriages. The most recent one made last month ruled that the non-recognition of same-sex marriage was "in a state of unconstitutionality".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Amid controversy and criticism, Japan passed a bill on Friday aimed at promoting understanding of the LGBT community. However, the legislation has faced backlash for lacking human rights guarantees and potentially perpetuating certain forms of discrimination.

Amid controversy and criticism, Japan passed a bill on Friday aimed at promoting understanding of the LGBT community. However, the legislation has faced backlash for lacking human rights guarantees and potentially perpetuating certain forms of discrimination. Japan's bill on the LGBT community Japan is the only Group of Seven (G7) country without legal protection for same-sex unions, initially committed to passing the law before hosting the G7 leaders' summit slated to happen from May 19 to May 21. However, disputes over the bill's content and wording resulted in it being submitted to Parliament for consideration on the eve of the summit. Also read | Japan's Fukuoka district court says ban on same-sex marriage ‘in a state of unconstitutionality’ Despite some lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party deviating from party directives and either abstaining or leaving during the voting, the bill was ultimately approved by the more influential lower house on Tuesday. A watered-down bill The original draft of the bill stated that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity should be "not tolerated," but it was modified to "there should be no unfair discrimination." Critics argue that this change in wording implicitly allows for discrimination and bigotry. "Although the original bill was not particularly significant, I believed it was better than nothing," said Takeharu Kato, a lawyer and member of the activist group "Marriage for all Japan," prior to the bill's passage. "But now I've started to think that having nothing at all might be better." Same-sex marriage and Japan Japan has faced pressure from other G7 nations, particularly the United States, to legalise same-sex marriage. Economic leaders have expressed concerns that Japan's international competitiveness could be hindered without greater diversity, including representation for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Public opinion on same-sex marriages Public opinion polls indicate that approximately 70 per cent of the Japanese public supports same-sex marriage. However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's conservative ruling party opposes it. In February, Kishida dismissed an aide who made offensive remarks against same-sex marriage, generating widespread outrage. Also read | Japan court 'rescues' nation's LGBT community from 'hurt', says ban on same-sex marriage 'unconstitutional' While more than 300 municipalities in Japan allow same-sex couples to enter partnership agreements, these agreements offer limited rights. Couples are unable to inherit each other's assets, obtain parental rights to each other's children, or even guarantee hospital visitation rights. Marriages and Japan Japan remains the only country among the Group of Seven nations that lacks legal protection for same-sex unions. The Japanese constitution defines marriage as something based on "the mutual consent of both sexes". In recent months, Japan saw five separate court rulings on same-sex marriages. The most recent one made last month ruled that the non-recognition of same-sex marriage was "in a state of unconstitutionality". (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.

Japan parliament passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill that allegedly gives way to bigotry

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Friday that the nation has successfully retrieved a portion of a rocket used in North Korea's recent failed attempt to launch a military satellite. The recovered debris was obtained on Thursday evening, and efforts are ongoing to locate additional objects from what North Korea claimed was a space launch vehicle.

<h2>North Korean satellite launch</h2>

As per Reuters, North Korea made an unsuccessful endeavour to launch its first spy satellite on May 31. The failed attempt resulted in the rocket's booster and payload plunging into the sea.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-creates-fake-naver-phishing-site-to-steal-south-koreans-personal-data-says-seoul-spy-agency-604458">North Korea creates fake phishing site to steal South Koreans' personal data, says spy agency</a>

<h2>Why is Seoul&nbsp;recovering debris of&nbsp;N.&nbsp;Korean satellite?</h2>

The salvage operation was initiated with the intention of examining the new rocket.

South Korea had already discovered debris off its western coast shortly after the launch.&nbsp;Photographs released by the South Korean military displayed a large cylindrical object labelled "Chonma" in Korean, meaning a winged horse. North Korea had referred to the rocket as "Chollima-1."

In an official statement, the military declared that "the salvaged object will be thoroughly analysed by expert organisations, including the Agency for Defense Development."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-launched-unidentified-ballistic-missile-says-south-korea-amid-live-fire-drills-with-us-604800">North Korea launched two missiles, says Japan, South Korea amid Seoul's live-fire drills with Washington</a>

South Korea's Defense Minister, Lee Jong-sup, as per Reuters, indicated that the retrieved debris seemed to belong to the rocket's second stage, and efforts to locate the payload and third stage would continue.

<h2>The launch and other nations</h2>

On Monday, South Korea revealed that Chinese warships had also conducted a salvage operation in the waters where the North Korean rocket had crashed. However, Reuters reports that it remains uncertain whether the Chinese military is still engaged in the search.

Both Seoul and Washington have denounced the launch as a provocative act and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from employing ballistic missile technology.&nbsp;

Pyongyang, however, claimed its right to space development as a response to perceived US "aggression" and expressed intentions to conduct another launch in the near future.

In response to North Korea's firing of two short-range missiles off its east coast and the regime's warning of an "inevitable" response to military exercises conducted by South Korean and US troops, a US submarine arrived in South Korea on Friday. This is also seen as a demonstration of strength.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Friday that the nation has successfully retrieved a portion of a rocket used in North Korea's recent failed attempt to launch a military satellite.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Friday that the nation has successfully retrieved a portion of a rocket used in North Korea's recent failed attempt to launch a military satellite. The recovered debris was obtained on Thursday evening, and efforts are ongoing to locate additional objects from what North Korea claimed was a space launch vehicle. North Korean satellite launch As per Reuters, North Korea made an unsuccessful endeavour to launch its first spy satellite on May 31. The failed attempt resulted in the rocket's booster and payload plunging into the sea. Also read | North Korea creates fake phishing site to steal South Koreans' personal data, says spy agency Why is Seoul recovering debris of N. Korean satellite? The salvage operation was initiated with the intention of examining the new rocket. South Korea had already discovered debris off its western coast shortly after the launch. Photographs released by the South Korean military displayed a large cylindrical object labelled "Chonma" in Korean, meaning a winged horse. North Korea had referred to the rocket as "Chollima-1." In an official statement, the military declared that "the salvaged object will be thoroughly analysed by expert organisations, including the Agency for Defense Development." Also read | North Korea launched two missiles, says Japan, South Korea amid Seoul's live-fire drills with Washington South Korea's Defense Minister, Lee Jong-sup, as per Reuters, indicated that the retrieved debris seemed to belong to the rocket's second stage, and efforts to locate the payload and third stage would continue. The launch and other nations On Monday, South Korea revealed that Chinese warships had also conducted a salvage operation in the waters where the North Korean rocket had crashed. However, Reuters reports that it remains uncertain whether the Chinese military is still engaged in the search. Both Seoul and Washington have denounced the launch as a provocative act and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from employing ballistic missile technology. Pyongyang, however, claimed its right to space development as a response to perceived US "aggression" and expressed intentions to conduct another launch in the near future. In response to North Korea's firing of two short-range missiles off its east coast and the regime's warning of an "inevitable" response to military exercises conducted by South Korean and US troops, a US submarine arrived in South Korea on Friday. This is also seen as a demonstration of strength. (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.

South Korea salvages North Korea spy satellite rocket debris; to examine parts

In a significant and groundbreaking development, Japan, a country that previously had one of the lowest ages of consent globally, has decided to increase the minimum age at which one can say yes to sexual relations. The pivotal move has raised Japan's age of consent from the previous 13 years old to 16 years old.

The new bill, as per the news agency AFP, also encompassed additional measures, such as clarifying the requirements for prosecuting rape cases and criminalising voyeurism. The bill which cleared Japan's lower house last month,&nbsp;successfully cleared the parliament's upper house by a unanimous vote&nbsp;on Friday.

This change marks a significant step towards strengthening legal protections for individuals, particularly minors, in matters concerning sexual relationships and crimes.

Here's all you need to know.

<h2>What does it mean by&nbsp;age of consent?</h2>

The age of consent is the minimum age at which sexual activity is legally permitted and below which it is considered statutory rape.

It varies in different countries. In Britain, the age of consent is set at 16 years old. In France, it is 15 years old. Germany and China have set the&nbsp;age of consent at 14 years old.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-alters-its-definition-of-rape-after-passing-landmark-bill-in-parliament-605128">Japan alters definition of rape after passing landmark bill in parliament</a>

<h2>When was Japan's age of consent last changed?</h2>

As per AFP, Japan's age of consent has remained unchanged for over a century. Thirteen years was set as the age of consent in the year 1907, and it meant that teenagers aged 13 or above were considered capable of consenting to sexual relations.

However, in many parts of Japan, regional ordinances have been implemented to ban "lewd" acts with minors.&nbsp;

These ordinances are sometimes perceived as effectively raising the age of consent to 18 years old, even though the national age of consent is officially lower.&nbsp;

<h2>Japan's new definition of rape</h2>

Japan's new law&nbsp;has broadened the&nbsp;definition of rape&nbsp;to "non-consensual sexual intercourse" from "forcible sexual intercourse".

The bill passed on Friday explicitly lists eight scenarios in which it may be challenging for a victim to refuse or express their lack of consent to engage in sexual intercourse. It&nbsp;also includes a list of circumstances under which rape prosecutions can be pursued. These include cases where victims were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, cases where victims were frightened, and instances where perpetrators took advantage of their social status.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-parliament-passes-watered-down-lgbt-understanding-bill-that-gives-way-to-bigotry-605038">Japan parliament passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill that allegedly gives way to bigotry</a>

With these clarifications, authorities have attempted to ensure more consistent court verdicts in rape cases. The clarifications are not "meant to make it easier or harder" to secure rape convictions, but "will hopefully make court verdicts more consistent," a justice ministry official told AFP.

<h2>Key provisions in the new law</h2>

Under Japan's new law, teenage couples who are no more than five years apart in age will be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over the age of 13. This provision aims to provide clarity and legal protections for consensual relationships between teenagers who are close in age.

According to the justice ministry, the bill also introduces a new offence called "visitation request offence". This offence targets individuals who use intimidation, seduction, or money to coerce children under the age of 16 into meeting for sexual purposes. Violators of this offence will face a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,500).

<h2>Japan and rape cases before the new law</h2>

Previously, prosecutors were required to prove that victims were incapacitated due to violence and intimidation. This, the critics argued, unfairly shifted blame onto victims for not resisting enough.

In 2017, Japan made its first major revision to its criminal code on sexual offences in over a century. However, many campaigners argued that the reforms were inadequate.&nbsp;

According to a paper published by Oxford University Bar Society in the digital publishing platform Issuu, the 2017 Penal Code in Japan made some changes&nbsp;to the provisions of the previous 1907 law. Notably, it eliminated the limitation that only women can be recognised as victims of rape, thus broadening the scope of potential victims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/colombian-police-officer-sparks-meme-fest-after-swallowing-money-he-had-extorted-watch-viral-video-here-605092">Colombian police officer sparks meme fest after swallowing money he had extorted. Watch viral video here!</a>

However, another significant change in the law was the alteration of the name of the crime from "rape" to "crime of forcible sexual intercourse." The report suggests that this change in terminology could weaken the social understanding and perception of the crime. The power of naming is significant, as the term "rape" inherently carries a strong connotation of abuse, indicating a violation beyond mere physical violence.&nbsp;

"Rape labels an action that of abuse, rather than merely violence," it says.

<h2>Which countries have the lowest age of consent?</h2>

As per Wise Voter, Nigeria tops the list with the age of consent being only 11 years old. However, it must be noted that many regions within Nigeria have their own regional laws that set the age of consent higher.

In the Philippines and Angola, the age of consent is one year higher at 12 years old. The Philippines, however, has laws that criminalise specific acts with children under 18 years old, such as child exploitation and child trafficking.

Similar to Japan's previous age of consent, Burkina Faso, Niger and the East African island nation of Comoros prescribe that children above 13 years of age can consent to sexual relations.

China, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal have 14 years as the age of consent. While certain countries, such as Nigeria and those previously mentioned, have set the age at which individuals can legally consent to sexual activities at very low levels, there are several nations&nbsp;where the age of consent is much higher. These include Bahrain (21 years) and&nbsp;South Korea (20 years). 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a significant and groundbreaking development, Japan, a country that previously had one of the lowest ages of consent globally, has decided to increase the minimum age at which one can say yes to sexual relations.

In a significant and groundbreaking development, Japan, a country that previously had one of the lowest ages of consent globally, has decided to increase the minimum age at which one can say yes to sexual relations. The pivotal move has raised Japan's age of consent from the previous 13 years old to 16 years old. The new bill, as per the news agency AFP, also encompassed additional measures, such as clarifying the requirements for prosecuting rape cases and criminalising voyeurism. The bill which cleared Japan's lower house last month, successfully cleared the parliament's upper house by a unanimous vote on Friday. This change marks a significant step towards strengthening legal protections for individuals, particularly minors, in matters concerning sexual relationships and crimes. Here's all you need to know. What does it mean by age of consent? The age of consent is the minimum age at which sexual activity is legally permitted and below which it is considered statutory rape. It varies in different countries. In Britain, the age of consent is set at 16 years old. In France, it is 15 years old. Germany and China have set the age of consent at 14 years old. Also read | Japan alters definition of rape after passing landmark bill in parliament When was Japan's age of consent last changed? As per AFP, Japan's age of consent has remained unchanged for over a century. Thirteen years was set as the age of consent in the year 1907, and it meant that teenagers aged 13 or above were considered capable of consenting to sexual relations. However, in many parts of Japan, regional ordinances have been implemented to ban "lewd" acts with minors. These ordinances are sometimes perceived as effectively raising the age of consent to 18 years old, even though the national age of consent is officially lower. Japan's new definition of rape Japan's new law has broadened the definition of rape to "non-consensual sexual intercourse" from "forcible sexual intercourse". The bill passed on Friday explicitly lists eight scenarios in which it may be challenging for a victim to refuse or express their lack of consent to engage in sexual intercourse. It also includes a list of circumstances under which rape prosecutions can be pursued. These include cases where victims were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, cases where victims were frightened, and instances where perpetrators took advantage of their social status. Also read | Japan parliament passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill that allegedly gives way to bigotry With these clarifications, authorities have attempted to ensure more consistent court verdicts in rape cases. The clarifications are not "meant to make it easier or harder" to secure rape convictions, but "will hopefully make court verdicts more consistent," a justice ministry official told AFP. Key provisions in the new law Under Japan's new law, teenage couples who are no more than five years apart in age will be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over the age of 13. This provision aims to provide clarity and legal protections for consensual relationships between teenagers who are close in age. According to the justice ministry, the bill also introduces a new offence called "visitation request offence". This offence targets individuals who use intimidation, seduction, or money to coerce children under the age of 16 into meeting for sexual purposes. Violators of this offence will face a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,500). Japan and rape cases before the new law Previously, prosecutors were required to prove that victims were incapacitated due to violence and intimidation. This, the critics argued, unfairly shifted blame onto victims for not resisting enough. In 2017, Japan made its first major revision to its criminal code on sexual offences in over a century. However, many campaigners argued that the reforms were inadequate. According to a paper published by Oxford University Bar Society in the digital publishing platform Issuu, the 2017 Penal Code in Japan made some changes to the provisions of the previous 1907 law. Notably, it eliminated the limitation that only women can be recognised as victims of rape, thus broadening the scope of potential victims. Also read | Colombian police officer sparks meme fest after swallowing money he had extorted. Watch viral video here! However, another significant change in the law was the alteration of the name of the crime from "rape" to "crime of forcible sexual intercourse." The report suggests that this change in terminology could weaken the social understanding and perception of the crime. The power of naming is significant, as the term "rape" inherently carries a strong connotation of abuse, indicating a violation beyond mere physical violence. "Rape labels an action that of abuse, rather than merely violence," it says. Which countries have the lowest age of consent? As per Wise Voter, Nigeria tops the list with the age of consent being only 11 years old. However, it must be noted that many regions within Nigeria have their own regional laws that set the age of consent higher. In the Philippines and Angola, the age of consent is one year higher at 12 years old. The Philippines, however, has laws that criminalise specific acts with children under 18 years old, such as child exploitation and child trafficking. Similar to Japan's previous age of consent, Burkina Faso, Niger and the East African island nation of Comoros prescribe that children above 13 years of age can consent to sexual relations. China, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal have 14 years as the age of consent. While certain countries, such as Nigeria and those previously mentioned, have set the age at which individuals can legally consent to sexual activities at very low levels, there are several nations where the age of consent is much higher. These include Bahrain (21 years) and South Korea (20 years). (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.

Explained: Japan's historic move redefines rape and raises age of consent

Australia's Business Innovation and Investment Programme (BIIP) was introduced in 2012 with the aim of attracting wealthy business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs to boost the economy by bringing in capital and driving innovation. However, a government review conducted in March revealed that BIIP migrants contributed less to the economy compared to the average Australian. This was due to the cohort's older age and lower incomes from passive investments.

The government has put its "Golden Visa" programme on the back burner. With this, processing times have come to blow out, leaving wealthy Chinese migrants in limbo.

<h2>How long have these wealthy Chinese been waiting</h2>

Paul Wang has been waiting for 21 months. He left Beijing in 2018, to start a new life in Australia. As per Reuters, he even invested A$1 million ($680,000) in a food processing business in hopes of qualifying for a permanent Australian residency under the investment visa scheme.

Five years on, Wang and his family are stuck in limbo.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-set-to-witness-6500-high-net-worth-individuals-leave-the-country-in-2023-report-604078" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-set-to-witness-6500-high-net-worth-individuals-leave-the-country-in-2023-report-604078&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwio-dSb6cb_AhWFVmwGHSlECGEQFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw2n0_IoBP0WAe48ckiVapNt" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-set-to-witness-6500-high-net-worth-individuals-leave-the-country-in-2023-report-604078" target="_blank">Over 6,500 high net worth individuals to leave India in 2023: Report&nbsp;</a>

<h2>What changed?</h2>

While it was hoped that the BIIP programme will boost the economy, the March government review revealed that BIIP holders were estimated to contribute A$600,000 over their lifetime, which is less than half of the $1.6 million contributed by Australians.

Since taking office 13 months ago, Australia's Labor government has shifted its focus to addressing shortages of critical skilled workers, leading to longer processing times for most BIIP permanent visas. Previously, the average processing time was around 12 months, but it has now increased to nearly three years, in addition to the four to five-year investment cycle.&nbsp;

"We were not expecting it would take this long," said Wang as reported by Reuters.&nbsp;

"And our life is a mess because of that. We simply cannot plan ahead with all of the uncertainty."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-third-of-domestic-workers-in-malaysia-working-in-forced-labour-conditions-604977">A third of domestic workers in Malaysia working in forced labour conditions</a>

<h2>Visa delays</h2>

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all categories of Australian visas experienced backlogs.

While the government has reduced overall processing times as the pandemic situation improved, the wait for over 3,000 BIIP holders and their families, many of whom are Chinese, has only grown longer.

In an email statement to Reuters, the Department of Home Affairs addressed visa delays and stated that visas would be processed according to priority and planning levels but did not comment on the complaints from BIIP holders.&nbsp;

The department reportedly also mentioned that a new migration strategy would be released later this year, which would include "radically reshaping" the BIIP programme.

<h2>Future of Australia’s BIIP Programme</h2>

The delays have raised concerns that the government may eliminate the BIIP programme.

Similar investment visa programmes have already been discontinued in Canada, Britain, and Singapore, as governments concluded that they did not create jobs and could potentially be used for speculative purposes.

The government plans to reduce the number of BIIP visas from 5,000 in the previous financial year to 1,900 this year, which is less than 20 per cent of previous years' levels.

Tony Le Nevez, managing director at residence and citizenship planners Henley &amp; Partners Australia, believes that the investor programme is not currently a priority for the government and may be overhauled in the future.&nbsp;

"I just don't think the investor programme is on their radar at the moment - they might overhaul it down the track. In the meantime, I think they might just keep a small window open."

Wang acknowledged that many people may not sympathise with their situation, but stressed that he believes that the small group of BIIP holders is not being treated fairly.

"I know a lot of people won't sympathise with us - we're a small group of people...But we're not being treated fairly."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Australia's Business Innovation and Investment Programme (BIIP) was introduced in 2012 with the aim of attracting wealthy business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs to boost the economy by bringing in capital and driving innovation.

Australia's Business Innovation and Investment Programme (BIIP) was introduced in 2012 with the aim of attracting wealthy business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs to boost the economy by bringing in capital and driving innovation. However, a government review conducted in March revealed that BIIP migrants contributed less to the economy compared to the average Australian. This was due to the cohort's older age and lower incomes from passive investments. The government has put its "Golden Visa" programme on the back burner. With this, processing times have come to blow out, leaving wealthy Chinese migrants in limbo. How long have these wealthy Chinese been waiting Paul Wang has been waiting for 21 months. He left Beijing in 2018, to start a new life in Australia. As per Reuters, he even invested A$1 million ($680,000) in a food processing business in hopes of qualifying for a permanent Australian residency under the investment visa scheme. Five years on, Wang and his family are stuck in limbo. Also read | Over 6,500 high net worth individuals to leave India in 2023: Report What changed? While it was hoped that the BIIP programme will boost the economy, the March government review revealed that BIIP holders were estimated to contribute A$600,000 over their lifetime, which is less than half of the $1.6 million contributed by Australians. Since taking office 13 months ago, Australia's Labor government has shifted its focus to addressing shortages of critical skilled workers, leading to longer processing times for most BIIP permanent visas. Previously, the average processing time was around 12 months, but it has now increased to nearly three years, in addition to the four to five-year investment cycle. "We were not expecting it would take this long," said Wang as reported by Reuters. "And our life is a mess because of that. We simply cannot plan ahead with all of the uncertainty." Also read | A third of domestic workers in Malaysia working in forced labour conditions Visa delays During the COVID-19 pandemic, all categories of Australian visas experienced backlogs. While the government has reduced overall processing times as the pandemic situation improved, the wait for over 3,000 BIIP holders and their families, many of whom are Chinese, has only grown longer. In an email statement to Reuters, the Department of Home Affairs addressed visa delays and stated that visas would be processed according to priority and planning levels but did not comment on the complaints from BIIP holders. The department reportedly also mentioned that a new migration strategy would be released later this year, which would include "radically reshaping" the BIIP programme. Future of Australia’s BIIP Programme The delays have raised concerns that the government may eliminate the BIIP programme. Similar investment visa programmes have already been discontinued in Canada, Britain, and Singapore, as governments concluded that they did not create jobs and could potentially be used for speculative purposes. The government plans to reduce the number of BIIP visas from 5,000 in the previous financial year to 1,900 this year, which is less than 20 per cent of previous years' levels. Tony Le Nevez, managing director at residence and citizenship planners Henley & Partners Australia, believes that the investor programme is not currently a priority for the government and may be overhauled in the future. "I just don't think the investor programme is on their radar at the moment - they might overhaul it down the track. In the meantime, I think they might just keep a small window open." Wang acknowledged that many people may not sympathise with their situation, but stressed that he believes that the small group of BIIP holders is not being treated fairly. "I know a lot of people won't sympathise with us - we're a small group of people...But we're not being treated fairly." (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.

Wealthy Chinese stuck in limbo as Australia rethinks its 'Golden Visa' scheme

The year is 2023, on social media and in most narratives, we have gender disparity, that men and women are equals. However, as per a UN report released on Monday, progress in gender equality has remained stagnant for the past decade.

What's more, a disturbingly huge chunk of the world population — one in four people or 25 per cent of people — think it is justified for a man to beat his wife.

<h2>Some other findings of the United Nations report</h2>

The latest Gender Social Norms Index released by the United Nations has uncovered some startling findings. The&nbsp;index, which relies on data obtained from the World Values Survey (WVS), an international research programme,&nbsp;evaluated data from countries and territories that account for roughly 85 per cent of the world's population.

Data&nbsp;collected between 2010-2014 and 2017-2022 revealed that&nbsp;"biased gender social norms are still prevalent" among both men and women. Almost 90 per cent of people have at least one gender bias.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/44-year-old-british-woman-sentenced-to-14-months-in-prison-for-late-lockdown-abortion-603866">44-year-old British woman sentenced to 14 months in prison for late lockdown abortion</a>

As per the report, 69 per cent of the world population still believes that compared to women, men make better political leaders. Only 29 per cent believe that it is essential for men and women to have the same rights in a democracy.

A whopping 46 per cent of the people believe that "men should have more rights to a job than women". Around 43 per cent think that men make better business executives than women do.

If we talk about education, 28 per cent of the people said that a university education is more important for men.&nbsp;

Twenty-five per cent of the world population thinks men can beat their wives. 58 per cent deny women their physical integrity and say that they cannot opt for abortion&nbsp;in any case&nbsp;and that it is never "justifiable".

<h2>Is it just the men that contain these biases?</h2>

AFP reports that, as per the UN, these prejudices "are widespread among men and women, suggesting that these biases are deeply embedded and influence both men and women to similar degrees".

<h2>What do these biases do?</h2>

These biases or prejudices create "hurdles" for women. These then go on to dismantle "women's rights in many parts of the world with movements against gender equality gaining traction and, in some countries, a surge of human rights violations".

But it is&nbsp;just women who lose out? The report poses several questions.

"What are we missing out on as societies because we have so few women leaders? Would the world look different if we had gender parity in leadership? Could equal participation of women in key decision-making&nbsp;areas better equip us to deal with challenges such as pandemics, climate change and conflict? What do we stand to lose if we continue to exclude women in decision-making?"

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harvard-study-finds-implicit-racial-bias-highest-among-white-people-595611">Harvard study finds implicit racial bias highest among white people</a>

As per Pedro Conceicao, director of the UNDP's Human Development Report Office, "Social norms that impair women's rights are also detrimental to society more broadly, dampening the expansion of human development."

"Everyone stands to gain from ensuring freedom and agency for women," said Conceicao, as reported by news agency AFP.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The year is 2023, on social media and in most narratives, we have gender disparity, that men and women are equals. However, as per a UN report released on Monday, progress in gender equality has remained stagnant for the past decade.

The year is 2023, on social media and in most narratives, we have gender disparity, that men and women are equals. However, as per a UN report released on Monday, progress in gender equality has remained stagnant for the past decade. What's more, a disturbingly huge chunk of the world population — one in four people or 25 per cent of people — think it is justified for a man to beat his wife. Some other findings of the United Nations report The latest Gender Social Norms Index released by the United Nations has uncovered some startling findings. The index, which relies on data obtained from the World Values Survey (WVS), an international research programme, evaluated data from countries and territories that account for roughly 85 per cent of the world's population. Data collected between 2010-2014 and 2017-2022 revealed that "biased gender social norms are still prevalent" among both men and women. Almost 90 per cent of people have at least one gender bias. Also read | 44-year-old British woman sentenced to 14 months in prison for late lockdown abortion As per the report, 69 per cent of the world population still believes that compared to women, men make better political leaders. Only 29 per cent believe that it is essential for men and women to have the same rights in a democracy. A whopping 46 per cent of the people believe that "men should have more rights to a job than women". Around 43 per cent think that men make better business executives than women do. If we talk about education, 28 per cent of the people said that a university education is more important for men. Twenty-five per cent of the world population thinks men can beat their wives. 58 per cent deny women their physical integrity and say that they cannot opt for abortion in any case and that it is never "justifiable". Is it just the men that contain these biases? AFP reports that, as per the UN, these prejudices "are widespread among men and women, suggesting that these biases are deeply embedded and influence both men and women to similar degrees". What do these biases do? These biases or prejudices create "hurdles" for women. These then go on to dismantle "women's rights in many parts of the world with movements against gender equality gaining traction and, in some countries, a surge of human rights violations". But it is just women who lose out? The report poses several questions. "What are we missing out on as societies because we have so few women leaders? Would the world look different if we had gender parity in leadership? Could equal participation of women in key decision-making areas better equip us to deal with challenges such as pandemics, climate change and conflict? What do we stand to lose if we continue to exclude women in decision-making?" Also read | Harvard study finds implicit racial bias highest among white people As per Pedro Conceicao, director of the UNDP's Human Development Report Office, "Social norms that impair women's rights are also detrimental to society more broadly, dampening the expansion of human development." "Everyone stands to gain from ensuring freedom and agency for women," said Conceicao, as reported by news agency AFP. (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.

UN survey makes shocking revelation: 25% people think husband beating wife is justified

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Manilla, Philippines this morning. The&nbsp;earthquake was felt at 10:19 am local time (2:19 am GMT).&nbsp;The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned that damage and aftershocks are expected. In other news, Elon Musk's popular social media platform Twitter has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit. 17 music publishers, including&nbsp;Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group, have accused Twitter of completely refusing to license the millions of songs available on its service. Meanwhile, with a 0.1 per cent dip in GDP, New Zealand has slipped into recession. Finally, Microsoft's co-founder is in China. During his visit, he is expected to meet&nbsp;Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Click on the headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-hit-by-major-earthquake-tremors-felt-in-manila-and-nearby-provinces-604589">Philippines hit by major earthquake, tremors felt in Manila and nearby provinces</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/06/15/359596-untitled-design-2023-06-15t084128871.png?imwidth=1920" />

Philippines was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on Thursday,&nbsp;the German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicenter is reported to be at Mindoro island about 160 km south of the capital Manila.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/music-publishers-sue-musks-twitter-for-copyright-infringement-and-fueling-its-business-with-stolen-content-604602">Music publishers sue Musk's Twitter for copyright infringement, and 'fueling its business' with stolen content</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/06/15/359605-new-wion-22.png?imwidth=1920" />A group of music publishers have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's Twitter. The case filed in a federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, accuses the social media giant of fueling its business with numerous copyright music infringements.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-slips-into-recession-as-gdp-fell-01-per-cent-in-the-march-quarter-604574">New Zealand slips into recession as GDP falls 0.1 per cent in March quarter</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/06/15/359585-960x0-2.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

New Zealand’s economy slipped into recession on Thursday with first quarter Gross Domestic Product falling 0.1 per cent. This follows a revised 0.7 per cent drop in GDP in the fourth quarter of 2022, technically pushing the country into recession following two consecutive quarters of contraction.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bill-gates-to-meet-with-chinese-president-xi-jinping-on-friday-604572">Bill Gates to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/06/15/359584-1200x800.jpg?imwidth=1920" />Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates on Wednesday arrived in China first time since 2019 and is expected to have a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting could take place on Friday, and the agenda of the meeting is still unknown.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Great Wall of Doubt: China's Real Estate sector on shaky ground

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A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Manilla, Philippines this morning. The earthquake was felt at 10:19 am local time (2:19 am GMT). The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned that damage and aftershocks are expected.

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Manilla, Philippines this morning. The earthquake was felt at 10:19 am local time (2:19 am GMT). The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned that damage and aftershocks are expected. In other news, Elon Musk's popular social media platform Twitter has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit. 17 music publishers, including Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group, have accused Twitter of completely refusing to license the millions of songs available on its service. Meanwhile, with a 0.1 per cent dip in GDP, New Zealand has slipped into recession. Finally, Microsoft's co-founder is in China. During his visit, he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Click on the headlines to read more Philippines hit by major earthquake, tremors felt in Manila and nearby provinces Philippines was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on Thursday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicenter is reported to be at Mindoro island about 160 km south of the capital Manila. Music publishers sue Musk's Twitter for copyright infringement, and 'fueling its business' with stolen content A group of music publishers have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's Twitter. The case filed in a federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, accuses the social media giant of fueling its business with numerous copyright music infringements. New Zealand slips into recession as GDP falls 0.1 per cent in March quarter New Zealand’s economy slipped into recession on Thursday with first quarter Gross Domestic Product falling 0.1 per cent. This follows a revised 0.7 per cent drop in GDP in the fourth quarter of 2022, technically pushing the country into recession following two consecutive quarters of contraction. Bill Gates to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates on Wednesday arrived in China first time since 2019 and is expected to have a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting could take place on Friday, and the agenda of the meeting is still unknown. Watch | Great Wall of Doubt: China's Real Estate sector on shaky ground

Morning news brief: New Zealand in recession, Twitter hit with copyright lawsuit, and more

A group of music publishers have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's Twitter. The case filed in a federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, accuses the social media giant of fueling its business with numerous copyright music infringements.

<h2>The lawsuit against Twitter</h2>

Seventeen publishers, including Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group, have accused Twitter of facilitating numerous copyright violations by allowing users to post music without obtaining the necessary licenses.

As per an AFP report quoting&nbsp;National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) CEO David Israelite, Twitter is the only major social media platform that has completely refused to license the millions of songs available on its service. He claims that Twitter is well aware that music is leaked, released, and streamed by billions of people daily on its platform.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-requests-musk-to-set-up-tesla-factory-in-country-weeks-after-threatening-twitter-with-ban-604542">France requests Musk to set up Tesla factory in country weeks after threatening Twitter with ban</a>

"Twitter stands alone as the largest social media platform that has completely refused to license the millions of songs on its service," said Israelite in reply to AFP.

"Twitter knows full-well that music is leaked, launched, and streamed by billions of people every day on its platform."

<h2>What do the complainants want?</h2>

As per a Reuters report, the publishers are seeking more than $250 million in damages for the alleged infringement of almost 1,700 copyrights.

The lawsuit claims that Twitter's handling of copyright complaints has not improved since Elon Musk's acquisition of the company in late 2022 for $44 billion.&nbsp;

It further argues that Twitter's internal affairs related to this issue are in "disarray".

"On the contrary, Twitter's internal affairs regarding matters pertinent to this case are in disarray," argues the lawsuit.

<h2>Music infringement and other platforms</h2>

In contrast to Twitter, other major platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube properly license music from the publishers.&nbsp;

The publishers argue that Twitter actively encourages user infringement, which in turn boosts engagement and advertising revenues for the platform, giving it an unfair advantage over competitors who pay for music licenses.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-want-new-law-to-guard-tiktok-user-data-604492">US: Lawmakers want new law to guard TikTok user data</a>

"Twitter refuses to stop the rampant infringement of copyrighted music... because it knows that the Twitter platform is more popular and profitable if Twitter allows such infringement."

Allowing unlicensed music to be used in Twitter posts gives the platform an edge over competitors such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube that pay fees to music publishers, speculates the lawsuit.

"Twitter fuels its business with countless infringing copies of musical compositions," alleges the suit.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A group of music publishers have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's Twitter. The case filed in a federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, accuses the social media giant of fueling its business with numerous copyright music infringements.

A group of music publishers have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's Twitter. The case filed in a federal court in Nashville, Tennessee, accuses the social media giant of fueling its business with numerous copyright music infringements. The lawsuit against Twitter Seventeen publishers, including Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group, have accused Twitter of facilitating numerous copyright violations by allowing users to post music without obtaining the necessary licenses. As per an AFP report quoting National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) CEO David Israelite, Twitter is the only major social media platform that has completely refused to license the millions of songs available on its service. He claims that Twitter is well aware that music is leaked, released, and streamed by billions of people daily on its platform. Also read | France requests Musk to set up Tesla factory in country weeks after threatening Twitter with ban "Twitter stands alone as the largest social media platform that has completely refused to license the millions of songs on its service," said Israelite in reply to AFP. "Twitter knows full-well that music is leaked, launched, and streamed by billions of people every day on its platform." What do the complainants want? As per a Reuters report, the publishers are seeking more than $250 million in damages for the alleged infringement of almost 1,700 copyrights. The lawsuit claims that Twitter's handling of copyright complaints has not improved since Elon Musk's acquisition of the company in late 2022 for $44 billion. It further argues that Twitter's internal affairs related to this issue are in "disarray". "On the contrary, Twitter's internal affairs regarding matters pertinent to this case are in disarray," argues the lawsuit. Music infringement and other platforms In contrast to Twitter, other major platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube properly license music from the publishers. The publishers argue that Twitter actively encourages user infringement, which in turn boosts engagement and advertising revenues for the platform, giving it an unfair advantage over competitors who pay for music licenses. Also read | US: Lawmakers want new law to guard TikTok user data "Twitter refuses to stop the rampant infringement of copyrighted music... because it knows that the Twitter platform is more popular and profitable if Twitter allows such infringement." Allowing unlicensed music to be used in Twitter posts gives the platform an edge over competitors such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube that pay fees to music publishers, speculates the lawsuit. "Twitter fuels its business with countless infringing copies of musical compositions," alleges the suit. (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.

Music publishers sue Musk's Twitter for copyright infringement, and 'fueling its business' with stolen content

Results from a recent survey on same-sex contradict the claims made by the Bar Council of India (BCI). The survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 53 per cent of adult Indians are in favour of legalising same-sex marriage. The results for India challenge the claim made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) that "more than 99.9 per cent of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage".

<h2>India supports same-sex marriage</h2>

Of the 53 per cent in support of same-sex marriage, 28 per cent expressed strong support, while 25 per cent showed moderate support for the idea.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/he-said-she-said-outlandish-arguments-groundbreaking-statements-from-indias-same-sex-marriage-hearing-586946">'He said, she said': Outlandish arguments, groundbreaking statements from India's same-sex marriage hearing</a>

On the other hand, 43 per cent of Indian adults said they 'totally oppose' same-sex marriages, with 31&nbsp;per cent strongly opposing and 12 per cent moderately opposing such unions.

<h2>The Pew Research Center survey&nbsp;</h2>

Pew Research Center's latest survey was conducted in 24 countries across the world. The survey conducted between February 20 and May 22 evaluated how people across the globe viewed same-sex marriage.

It came up with results that&nbsp;can be seen as encouraging for same-sex couples and their advocates in India.

<h2>India and same-sex marriages</h2>

Currently, the issue of the legalisation of same-sex marriages is being deliberated in the Indian Supreme Court; a five-judge bench is hearing the case.&nbsp;However, the Union government has voiced opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriages, citing cultural and traditional norms.&nbsp;

While homosexuality is legal in India, marriage between two individuals of the same sex is still considered illegal.

As per the Wire, the survey results for India challenge the claim made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) that "more than 99.9 per cent of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/child-rights-activist-says-same-sex-marriage-denies-kids-one-parents-love-585347">Indian child rights activist claims same-sex marriage denies kids one parent's love</a>

Reportedly, the BCI had based its claim on its own survey but had not released any detailed methodology, sample size, or other data points.&nbsp;

The BCI even passed a resolution opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage and called on the Supreme Court to refrain from adjudicating on the issue, stating that it should be left to the legislative process.

<h2>Global opinion on same-sex marriage</h2>

Globally, the survey revealed that support for legalising same-sex marriage is highest in Sweden, with 92 per cent of adults in favour, and lowest in Nigeria, with only two&nbsp;per cent supporting it.&nbsp;

The survey also examined attitudes across various demographic factors such as age, gender, political ideology, and religious beliefs.

In Western Europe, a strong majority of adults in countries such as Sweden (92 per cent), the Netherlands (89 per cent), Spain (87 per cent), France (82 per cent), and Germany (80 per cent) support same-sex marriage. These countries have already legalised such unions.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<img alt="A map and bar chart that shows same-sex marriage attitudes and legality across 24 countries." src="https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SR_2023.06.14_LGBTQ.global_2.png?w=640" />

Acceptance of same-sex marriage around the world. Image courtesy: Pew Research Centre.

However, in Poland, only 41 per cent of adults support same-sex marriages, while in Hungary, the figure is even lower at 31 per cent. Same-sex marriages are not legal in these countries, and LGBTQ+ rights activists often face state repression.

In North America, 79 per cent of Canadians support same-sex marriage, while the figures stand at 63 per cent in both the United States and Mexico. All three countries have legalised same-sex marriage. In South America, 67 per cent of Argentinians and 52 per cent of Brazilians are in favour. These countries have also legalised same-sex marriage.

In the Asia-Pacific region, approximately three-quarters of adults in Australia (75 per cent) and Japan (74 per cent) support legalising same-sex marriage. While Australia has already legalised it, Japan has yet to do so.&nbsp;

South Korea is currently debating the issue, and 40 per cent of South Koreans support legalising same-sex marriage, while 59 per cent oppose it. Indonesians showed strong opposition, with only five&nbsp;per cent supporting same-sex marriage.

The survey also found that in 12 countries, adults under 40 are more likely than older individuals to support same-sex marriage. Similarly, women in 14 countries expressed more support for legalising same-sex marriage compared to men. In 17 of the surveyed countries, individuals with higher levels of formal education were more likely to support allowing gays and lesbians to marry.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Results from a recent survey on same-sex contradict the claims made by the Bar Council of India (BCI). The survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 53 per cent of adult Indians are in favour of legalising same-sex marriage.

Results from a recent survey on same-sex contradict the claims made by the Bar Council of India (BCI). The survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 53 per cent of adult Indians are in favour of legalising same-sex marriage. The results for India challenge the claim made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) that "more than 99.9 per cent of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage". India supports same-sex marriage Of the 53 per cent in support of same-sex marriage, 28 per cent expressed strong support, while 25 per cent showed moderate support for the idea. Also read | 'He said, she said': Outlandish arguments, groundbreaking statements from India's same-sex marriage hearing On the other hand, 43 per cent of Indian adults said they 'totally oppose' same-sex marriages, with 31 per cent strongly opposing and 12 per cent moderately opposing such unions. The Pew Research Center survey Pew Research Center's latest survey was conducted in 24 countries across the world. The survey conducted between February 20 and May 22 evaluated how people across the globe viewed same-sex marriage. It came up with results that can be seen as encouraging for same-sex couples and their advocates in India. India and same-sex marriages Currently, the issue of the legalisation of same-sex marriages is being deliberated in the Indian Supreme Court; a five-judge bench is hearing the case. However, the Union government has voiced opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriages, citing cultural and traditional norms. While homosexuality is legal in India, marriage between two individuals of the same sex is still considered illegal. As per the Wire, the survey results for India challenge the claim made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) that "more than 99.9 per cent of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage." Also read | Indian child rights activist claims same-sex marriage denies kids one parent's love Reportedly, the BCI had based its claim on its own survey but had not released any detailed methodology, sample size, or other data points. The BCI even passed a resolution opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage and called on the Supreme Court to refrain from adjudicating on the issue, stating that it should be left to the legislative process. Global opinion on same-sex marriage Globally, the survey revealed that support for legalising same-sex marriage is highest in Sweden, with 92 per cent of adults in favour, and lowest in Nigeria, with only two per cent supporting it. The survey also examined attitudes across various demographic factors such as age, gender, political ideology, and religious beliefs. In Western Europe, a strong majority of adults in countries such as Sweden (92 per cent), the Netherlands (89 per cent), Spain (87 per cent), France (82 per cent), and Germany (80 per cent) support same-sex marriage. These countries have already legalised such unions. Acceptance of same-sex marriage around the world. Image courtesy: Pew Research Centre. However, in Poland, only 41 per cent of adults support same-sex marriages, while in Hungary, the figure is even lower at 31 per cent. Same-sex marriages are not legal in these countries, and LGBTQ+ rights activists often face state repression. In North America, 79 per cent of Canadians support same-sex marriage, while the figures stand at 63 per cent in both the United States and Mexico. All three countries have legalised same-sex marriage. In South America, 67 per cent of Argentinians and 52 per cent of Brazilians are in favour. These countries have also legalised same-sex marriage. In the Asia-Pacific region, approximately three-quarters of adults in Australia (75 per cent) and Japan (74 per cent) support legalising same-sex marriage. While Australia has already legalised it, Japan has yet to do so. South Korea is currently debating the issue, and 40 per cent of South Koreans support legalising same-sex marriage, while 59 per cent oppose it. Indonesians showed strong opposition, with only five per cent supporting same-sex marriage. The survey also found that in 12 countries, adults under 40 are more likely than older individuals to support same-sex marriage. Similarly, women in 14 countries expressed more support for legalising same-sex marriage compared to men. In 17 of the surveyed countries, individuals with higher levels of formal education were more likely to support allowing gays and lesbians to marry. (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.

Global survey finds broad acceptance of same-sex marriage in India

Canada's Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, on Wednesday, announced that the country will suspend the planned deportation of dozens of students who had entered Canada using fraudulent university acceptance letters. However, organisations advocating for the affected students call the announcement "a temporary step in the right direction" and&nbsp;stressed the urgent need for a permanent solution through regularisation.&nbsp;

Wednesday's decision comes after reports by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) revealed that a group of students from India had received deportation notices for using counterfeit documents as part of an alleged immigration scheme.

<h2>Fraudulent University letters</h2>

In March, a CBC report revealed that the students entered Canada using acceptance letters from universities that appear to be authentic.&nbsp;

However, as per the Canada Border Services Agency, the documents were fake. The Indian students were warned that they face potential deportation.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-students-not-to-be-deported-immediately-task-force-to-investigate-canadian-minister-604530">Indian students not to be deported immediately, task force to investigate: Canadian minister</a>

The students claim they were unaware of the forgery and have attributed the alleged fraud to immigration agents based in India who assisted them in the application process. Advocates and the affected students have since requested a halt to the deportations.

<h2>Planned deportations and a special task force</h2>

As per a Reuters report, without specifying the exact number of individuals involved, Fraser said that a special task force will review each case of the&nbsp;students facing deportation.&nbsp;

He added that "any pending removals will be halted in the interim, and there will be a temporary permission to stay over the course of this period of consideration."

<h2>A temporary step</h2>

Supporting the affected students, the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change has been advocating for their cause, highlighting the years they have spent in Canada.&nbsp;

Sarom Rho, an organiser, expressed cautious approval of the recent announcement, calling it a temporary step in the right direction.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-students-launch-indefinite-protests-in-canada-amid-growing-threat-of-deportation-599778">Duped students launch indefinite protests in Canada amid looming threat of deportation</a>

"Today's announcement seems like a temporary step in the right direction. What is urgently needed is a permanent solution through regularisation of these students and all undocumented people who through no fault of their own have been deprived of their rights."

<h2>Canada and foreign students</h2>

Reuters reports that as per official data in 2022, Canada hosted over 800,000 foreign students with active visas. Approximately 320,000 of these students hailed from India.

Canada is a popular choice for international students due to the relatively straightforward and easy process of obtaining a work permit.

Students interviewed by the CBC recounted that after arriving in Canada, the agents informed them that they could not attend the institution mentioned in the acceptance letter. Instead, they were redirected to private colleges. The fraudulent scheme was uncovered when the students completed their studies and subsequently applied for work permits or permission to remain in Canada.

<h2>What will now happen to these students?</h2>

Fraser assured that "those international students who are genuine applicants that came to Canada to study and were victimised by fraudsters will be permitted to remain in Canada."&nbsp;

He further emphasised that those complicit in the fraudulent scheme would be held accountable, with authorities investigating individuals who arrived in Canada and immediately started working rather than pursuing their studies.&nbsp;"Those who are complicit in a fraudulent scheme will be held accountable."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Canada's Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, on Wednesday, announced that the country will suspend the planned deportation of dozens of students who had entered Canada using fraudulent university acceptance letters.

Canada's Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, on Wednesday, announced that the country will suspend the planned deportation of dozens of students who had entered Canada using fraudulent university acceptance letters. However, organisations advocating for the affected students call the announcement "a temporary step in the right direction" and stressed the urgent need for a permanent solution through regularisation. Wednesday's decision comes after reports by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) revealed that a group of students from India had received deportation notices for using counterfeit documents as part of an alleged immigration scheme. Fraudulent University letters In March, a CBC report revealed that the students entered Canada using acceptance letters from universities that appear to be authentic. However, as per the Canada Border Services Agency, the documents were fake. The Indian students were warned that they face potential deportation. Also read | Indian students not to be deported immediately, task force to investigate: Canadian minister The students claim they were unaware of the forgery and have attributed the alleged fraud to immigration agents based in India who assisted them in the application process. Advocates and the affected students have since requested a halt to the deportations. Planned deportations and a special task force As per a Reuters report, without specifying the exact number of individuals involved, Fraser said that a special task force will review each case of the students facing deportation. He added that "any pending removals will be halted in the interim, and there will be a temporary permission to stay over the course of this period of consideration." A temporary step Supporting the affected students, the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change has been advocating for their cause, highlighting the years they have spent in Canada. Sarom Rho, an organiser, expressed cautious approval of the recent announcement, calling it a temporary step in the right direction. Also read | Duped students launch indefinite protests in Canada amid looming threat of deportation "Today's announcement seems like a temporary step in the right direction. What is urgently needed is a permanent solution through regularisation of these students and all undocumented people who through no fault of their own have been deprived of their rights." Canada and foreign students Reuters reports that as per official data in 2022, Canada hosted over 800,000 foreign students with active visas. Approximately 320,000 of these students hailed from India. Canada is a popular choice for international students due to the relatively straightforward and easy process of obtaining a work permit. Students interviewed by the CBC recounted that after arriving in Canada, the agents informed them that they could not attend the institution mentioned in the acceptance letter. Instead, they were redirected to private colleges. The fraudulent scheme was uncovered when the students completed their studies and subsequently applied for work permits or permission to remain in Canada. What will now happen to these students? Fraser assured that "those international students who are genuine applicants that came to Canada to study and were victimised by fraudsters will be permitted to remain in Canada." He further emphasised that those complicit in the fraudulent scheme would be held accountable, with authorities investigating individuals who arrived in Canada and immediately started working rather than pursuing their studies. "Those who are complicit in a fraudulent scheme will be held accountable." (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.

Canada: Migrant advocacy group calls Indian students' deportation halt 'temporary step in the right direction'

The Japanese government is considering putting off a tax increase that was supposed to fund the nation's defence spending. Speaking to Reuters, a "party source" on Monday revealed that the tax increase may be put off by a year to 2025.

In December, the coalition government agreed to raise some key taxes to fund the raising of the defence budget. However, stiff opposition fro.m lawmakers has reportedly delayed the decision regarding the implementation of the widely unpopular move.&nbsp;

<h2>Japan's defence budget increase</h2>

The tax increase plan follows through on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's commitment to raising taxes to double the nation's defence, spending to two per cent of Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2027.

This two per cent target, as per the Japan Times, will put the nation at par with other NATO nations.

Kishida's administration approved the move back in December of last year. As per them, a tax hike it will be put into motion "at an appropriate time" in 2024, or thereafter.

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However, speaking to Reuters, the source said that the Kishida government's upcoming long-term policy framework which is expected to be released this week, will include information about the delay. It is expected to include language that allows for a delay in the implementation of tax hikes until 2025 or later. Previously, the Kyodo news agency had published a similar report.

<h2>Problems Kishida administration faces in the implementation of the tax hike</h2>

The plan which ultimately aims to increase the nation's defence spending has, as per Reuters, become bogged down in wrangling among lawmakers who objected to near-term tax increases. They oppose that the tax hike could hurt Japan's fragile economy.

As per Reuters, Japan is already struggling to secure funding sources for a planned defence spending of 43 trillion yen ($309 billion) over the next five years. This can potentially further complicate the nation's aim of balancing the budget - excluding new bond sales and debt servicing - by the fiscal year 2025.

<h2>People's opinion of the tax hike</h2>

In December of last year, following news of the tax hike, support for Kishida's Cabinet was 33.1 per cent, the lowest since its launch in 2021. The disapproval rate stood at 51.5 per cent.

A poll conducted by Japan's Kyodo News found that 64.9 per cent of the Japanese disapprove of the tax hike plan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-citizens-oppose-government-plans-to-increase-taxes-to-fund-320-billion-military-expansion-544216">Japan citizens oppose government plans to increase taxes to fund $320 billion military expansion</a>

Now, a delay in the implementation is expected to highlight the challenges faced by Kishida. The leader, according to Reuters, is juggling the conflicting priorities of restoring Japan's tattered public finances and addressing geopolitical risks from an 'assertive' China and an 'unpredictable' North Korea.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Japanese government is considering putting off a tax increase that was supposed to fund the nation's defence spending. Speaking to Reuters, a "party source" on Monday revealed that the tax increase may be put off by a year to 2025.

The Japanese government is considering putting off a tax increase that was supposed to fund the nation's defence spending. Speaking to Reuters, a "party source" on Monday revealed that the tax increase may be put off by a year to 2025. In December, the coalition government agreed to raise some key taxes to fund the raising of the defence budget. However, stiff opposition fro.m lawmakers has reportedly delayed the decision regarding the implementation of the widely unpopular move. Japan's defence budget increase The tax increase plan follows through on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's commitment to raising taxes to double the nation's defence, spending to two per cent of Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2027. This two per cent target, as per the Japan Times, will put the nation at par with other NATO nations. Kishida's administration approved the move back in December of last year. As per them, a tax hike it will be put into motion "at an appropriate time" in 2024, or thereafter. Also read | Strong earthquake of 6.2 magnitude jolts Japan's Hokkaido However, speaking to Reuters, the source said that the Kishida government's upcoming long-term policy framework which is expected to be released this week, will include information about the delay. It is expected to include language that allows for a delay in the implementation of tax hikes until 2025 or later. Previously, the Kyodo news agency had published a similar report. Problems Kishida administration faces in the implementation of the tax hike The plan which ultimately aims to increase the nation's defence spending has, as per Reuters, become bogged down in wrangling among lawmakers who objected to near-term tax increases. They oppose that the tax hike could hurt Japan's fragile economy. As per Reuters, Japan is already struggling to secure funding sources for a planned defence spending of 43 trillion yen ($309 billion) over the next five years. This can potentially further complicate the nation's aim of balancing the budget - excluding new bond sales and debt servicing - by the fiscal year 2025. People's opinion of the tax hike In December of last year, following news of the tax hike, support for Kishida's Cabinet was 33.1 per cent, the lowest since its launch in 2021. The disapproval rate stood at 51.5 per cent. A poll conducted by Japan's Kyodo News found that 64.9 per cent of the Japanese disapprove of the tax hike plan. Also read | Japan citizens oppose government plans to increase taxes to fund $320 billion military expansion Now, a delay in the implementation is expected to highlight the challenges faced by Kishida. The leader, according to Reuters, is juggling the conflicting priorities of restoring Japan's tattered public finances and addressing geopolitical risks from an 'assertive' China and an 'unpredictable' North Korea. (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.

Japan to contemplate pushing back defence spending tax hike to 2025 or beyond

In India's central state of Madhya Pradesh, a massive fire has been burning for over 15 hours. To put out the blaze in Satpura Bhawan, a multi-storied building housing various government offices in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been called in.&nbsp;

The affected building, as per PTI, is located on a hill in front of the Madhya Pradesh State government secretariat, Vallabh Bhawan.

<h2>Indian Air Force and the massive Bhopal building fire</h2>

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has reached out to the Indian Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking support from the IAF.&nbsp;

A special IAF aircraft will fly to Bhopal to help douse the fire.

The Indian Defence Minister has directed the Indian Air Force to make use of AN-32 aircraft and MI-15 choppers. They've been instructed to reach Bhopal tonight.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-massive-fire-breaks-out-in-indias-bhopal-at-satpura-bhawan-building-spreads-to-three-floors-603585">Watch | Massive fire breaks out in India’s Bhopal at Satpura Bhawan building</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been apprised of the situation,&nbsp;he has assured CM Chouhan of all possible assistance from the Centre for controlling the blaze.

Talking to PTI, Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang said that the IAF aircraft would be reaching around 1.20 AM.&nbsp;

Citing the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the news agency reports that they would try to extinguish the fire by pouring water using buckets from above.

<h2>How did the blaze start?</h2>

Quoting Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra, PTI reports that based on prima facie evidence it is believed to be set off by a&nbsp;short circuit in an air conditioner on the third floor of the building.

"As per prima facie information and people present at the spot informed that the blaze erupted on the third floor of the building due to a short circuit in an air conditioner and raged to other floors due to wind."

<h2>The damage&nbsp;</h2>

No casualties have been reported. However, as per officials, the fire destroyed furniture and documents in several departments located in the building.

The fire which started on the building's third floor around 4 pm quickly spread up to the sixth floor.

As per District Collector Ashish Singh, the many files stored in the various offices helped the fire spread. The blaze has affected the third, fourth, fifth and the top sixth floors of the building.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/second-airport-for-delhi-to-have-indias-first-pod-taxi-service-603624">India's first pod taxi service will be available at upcoming Noida international airport</a>

"The fire is under control and is now confined to the building. It is not completely doused and efforts are on to completely douse it," one officer told the news agency.

Fire tenders and firefighters from the Army, Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL, Airports Authority of India, BHEL, and from Mandideep and Raisen are already pitching in to try and douse the fire, said the Chief Minister's Office said. Around 22 fire tenders and 30-40 tankers are involved in the dousing operation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In India's central state of Madhya Pradesh, a massive fire has been burning for over 15 hours. To put out the blaze in Satpura Bhawan, a multi-storied building housing various government offices in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been called in.

In India's central state of Madhya Pradesh, a massive fire has been burning for over 15 hours. To put out the blaze in Satpura Bhawan, a multi-storied building housing various government offices in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been called in. The affected building, as per PTI, is located on a hill in front of the Madhya Pradesh State government secretariat, Vallabh Bhawan. Indian Air Force and the massive Bhopal building fire Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has reached out to the Indian Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking support from the IAF. A special IAF aircraft will fly to Bhopal to help douse the fire. The Indian Defence Minister has directed the Indian Air Force to make use of AN-32 aircraft and MI-15 choppers. They've been instructed to reach Bhopal tonight. Also read | Watch | Massive fire breaks out in India’s Bhopal at Satpura Bhawan building Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been apprised of the situation, he has assured CM Chouhan of all possible assistance from the Centre for controlling the blaze. Talking to PTI, Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang said that the IAF aircraft would be reaching around 1.20 AM. Citing the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the news agency reports that they would try to extinguish the fire by pouring water using buckets from above. How did the blaze start? Quoting Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra, PTI reports that based on prima facie evidence it is believed to be set off by a short circuit in an air conditioner on the third floor of the building. "As per prima facie information and people present at the spot informed that the blaze erupted on the third floor of the building due to a short circuit in an air conditioner and raged to other floors due to wind." The damage No casualties have been reported. However, as per officials, the fire destroyed furniture and documents in several departments located in the building. The fire which started on the building's third floor around 4 pm quickly spread up to the sixth floor. As per District Collector Ashish Singh, the many files stored in the various offices helped the fire spread. The blaze has affected the third, fourth, fifth and the top sixth floors of the building. Also read | India's first pod taxi service will be available at upcoming Noida international airport "The fire is under control and is now confined to the building. It is not completely doused and efforts are on to completely douse it," one officer told the news agency. Fire tenders and firefighters from the Army, Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL, Airports Authority of India, BHEL, and from Mandideep and Raisen are already pitching in to try and douse the fire, said the Chief Minister's Office said. Around 22 fire tenders and 30-40 tankers are involved in the dousing operation. (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.

Indian Air Force to aid in dousing of massive Bhopal building fire; PM Modi pledges 'all possible assistance'

Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of illegal possession of&nbsp;top secret nuclear and defence documents and endangering national security after his departure from the White House. The federal prosecutors in their&nbsp;indictment say that the files kept by Trump at his residence included records from the Pentagon, CIA and National Security Agency and that the sensitive documents lay unsecured at the property, which often hosted large social events. In other news, four children, including a 12-month-old, have been rescued after five weeks in a dense jungle. On May 1st, the airplane they were travelling on with their parents crashed into the jungle. While the parents and the pilot perished in the crash, the children survived. A search for them had been underway for around 40 days.

Click on the headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-in-trouble-unsealed-indictment-accuses-him-of-hiding-nuclear-secrets-at-mar-a-lago-602739">Trump in trouble: Unsealed indictment accuses him of hiding nuclear secrets at Mar-a-Lago</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/05/31/355817-donald-trump-4.png?imwidth=1920" />

The federal prosecutors on Friday (June 9) unsealed an indictment of Donald Trump and accused the former US president of holding on to top secret nuclear and defence documents and endangering national security after leaving the White House.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joy-for-whole-country-four-colombian-children-rescued-from-dense-jungle-five-weeks-after-plane-crash-602755">'Joy for whole country' four Colombian children rescued from dense jungle five weeks after plane crash</a>

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Watch |&nbsp;Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia under way

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Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of illegal possession of top secret nuclear and defence documents and endangering national security after his departure from the White House.

Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of illegal possession of top secret nuclear and defence documents and endangering national security after his departure from the White House. The federal prosecutors in their indictment say that the files kept by Trump at his residence included records from the Pentagon, CIA and National Security Agency and that the sensitive documents lay unsecured at the property, which often hosted large social events. In other news, four children, including a 12-month-old, have been rescued after five weeks in a dense jungle. On May 1st, the airplane they were travelling on with their parents crashed into the jungle. While the parents and the pilot perished in the crash, the children survived. A search for them had been underway for around 40 days. Click on the headlines to read more Trump in trouble: Unsealed indictment accuses him of hiding nuclear secrets at Mar-a-Lago The federal prosecutors on Friday (June 9) unsealed an indictment of Donald Trump and accused the former US president of holding on to top secret nuclear and defence documents and endangering national security after leaving the White House. 'Joy for whole country' four Colombian children rescued from dense jungle five weeks after plane crash Canada: Official probing Chinese meddling in elections quits Breaking Bad actor Mike Batayeh dies from heart attack Watch | Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia under way

Morning news brief:Trump's illegal possession of nuclear docs, Colombia's miraculous rescue, and more

A federal judge in Seattle has ruled that Apple and Amazon.com must face a consumer antitrust lawsuit in the United States. The lawsuit accuses the two tech giants of conspiring to artificially inflate the prices of iPhones and iPads sold on Amazon's platform.&nbsp;

US District Judge John Coughenour rejected attempts by Apple and Amazon to dismiss the prospective class action on various legal grounds. He said that the "validity" of the relevant market, which is a crucial aspect in antitrust litigation, should be determined by a jury.&nbsp;

<h2>The lawsuit against Apple and Amazon</h2>

The lawsuit, which was filed in November, is part of a series of legal actions from both private parties and government entities challenging Amazon's online pricing practices.

Judge Coughenour's ruling, means that after months of wait, the case will now proceed to evidence-gathering and other pretrial proceedings, reports Reuters.

Apple, Amazon, and their respective legal representatives are yet to respond to the court's ruling.

<h2>Who is behind the lawsuit?</h2>

The plaintiffs, in this case, are US residents who purchased new iPhones and iPads on Amazon starting in January 2019. They allege that an agreement between Apple and Amazon, which came into effect that year, restricted the number of competing resellers in violation of antitrust laws.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/googlers-work-from-office-attendance-to-affect-employee-performance-reviews-602677">Googlers work-from-office attendance to affect employee performance reviews</a>

Steve Berman, the plaintiffs' lawyer, hailed the court's decision as "a major win for consumers of Apple phones and iPads."&nbsp;

<h2>Specifics of the lawsuit against Apple and Amazon</h2>

According to the lawsuit, there were around 600 third-party Apple resellers on Amazon in 2018.&nbsp;

The plaintiffs claim that Apple offered Amazon a discount on its products in exchange for reducing the number of Apple resellers on its marketplace.&nbsp;

Apple, on the other hand, argues that the agreement with Amazon aimed to minimise the presence of counterfeit Apple products on the e-commerce platform.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/openai-decides-against-going-public-due-to-concerns-over-superintelligence-601587">OpenAI decides against going public due to concerns over superintelligence</a>

In a court filing, Apple's attorneys argued that such agreements are commonplace and that the Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit have consistently recognised their pro-competitive nature and legality.&nbsp;

However, the Seattle judge noted that the "countervailing" motivations for the agreement between Apple and Amazon would be addressed at a later stage in the litigation process.

<h2>What are the complainants asking for?</h2>

Reuters reports that the complaint seeks unspecified triple damages and other forms of relief.&nbsp;

Apple reported $94.8 billion in sales in the second quarter, while Amazon disclosed $127.4 billion in its most recent quarterly earnings report.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A federal judge in Seattle has ruled that Apple and Amazon.com must face a consumer antitrust lawsuit in the United States. The lawsuit accuses the two tech giants of conspiring to artificially inflate the prices of iPhones and iPads sold on Amazon's platform.

A federal judge in Seattle has ruled that Apple and Amazon.com must face a consumer antitrust lawsuit in the United States. The lawsuit accuses the two tech giants of conspiring to artificially inflate the prices of iPhones and iPads sold on Amazon's platform. US District Judge John Coughenour rejected attempts by Apple and Amazon to dismiss the prospective class action on various legal grounds. He said that the "validity" of the relevant market, which is a crucial aspect in antitrust litigation, should be determined by a jury. The lawsuit against Apple and Amazon The lawsuit, which was filed in November, is part of a series of legal actions from both private parties and government entities challenging Amazon's online pricing practices. Judge Coughenour's ruling, means that after months of wait, the case will now proceed to evidence-gathering and other pretrial proceedings, reports Reuters. Apple, Amazon, and their respective legal representatives are yet to respond to the court's ruling. Who is behind the lawsuit? The plaintiffs, in this case, are US residents who purchased new iPhones and iPads on Amazon starting in January 2019. They allege that an agreement between Apple and Amazon, which came into effect that year, restricted the number of competing resellers in violation of antitrust laws. Also read | Googlers work-from-office attendance to affect employee performance reviews Steve Berman, the plaintiffs' lawyer, hailed the court's decision as "a major win for consumers of Apple phones and iPads." Specifics of the lawsuit against Apple and Amazon According to the lawsuit, there were around 600 third-party Apple resellers on Amazon in 2018. The plaintiffs claim that Apple offered Amazon a discount on its products in exchange for reducing the number of Apple resellers on its marketplace. Apple, on the other hand, argues that the agreement with Amazon aimed to minimise the presence of counterfeit Apple products on the e-commerce platform. Also read | OpenAI decides against going public due to concerns over superintelligence In a court filing, Apple's attorneys argued that such agreements are commonplace and that the Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit have consistently recognised their pro-competitive nature and legality. However, the Seattle judge noted that the "countervailing" motivations for the agreement between Apple and Amazon would be addressed at a later stage in the litigation process. What are the complainants asking for? Reuters reports that the complaint seeks unspecified triple damages and other forms of relief. Apple reported $94.8 billion in sales in the second quarter, while Amazon disclosed $127.4 billion in its most recent quarterly earnings 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.

Apple, Amazon must face consumer antitrust lawsuit for artificially inflating prices: US federal judge

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is currently on a two-day trip to the United States. As per reports, Ukraine remains at the top of his agenda in Washington. He reportedly aims to emphasise that the United Kingdom remains a crucial ally to the United States in the face of authoritarian states in a post-Brexit world.

Sunak's visit includes a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House. During the meeting on Thursday (June 8th), discussions are expected to revolve around the ongoing war in Ukraine.&nbsp;

<h2>The urgency surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war</h2>

The recent breach of a major dam in southern Ukraine has intensified the urgency of the matter. While Russia has not been officially accused of causing the dam explosion by the US or the UK, British intelligence services are assessing the evidence.&nbsp;

Denouncing the breach, Sunak recently said: "If it does prove to be intentional, it will represent a new low ... an appalling barbarism on Russia’s part."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-modis-us-visit-american-lawmakers-urge-govt-to-address-visa-wait-time-issue-in-india-on-priority-601974">Ahead of Modi's US visit, American lawmakers urge govt to address visa wait time issue in India on priority</a>

Taking to broadcaster ETV in Washington, he said: "Russia throughout this war has used as a deliberate active strategy to target civilian infrastructure."

Both the US and the UK play significant roles in supporting Ukraine, including military aid and efforts to provide F-16 fighter jets.

As per the news agency AP, discussions may also involve talks about enhancing air defence measures to counter Russian attacks as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to reclaim occupied territories.

<h2>Sunak and Biden&nbsp;</h2>

Sunak's visit to the US capital marks his first official trip since becoming prime minister. It is, however, his fourth meeting with President Biden within a few months, which, as per AP, showcases a sustained level of contact between the UK Prime Minister and a US President.

The two leaders previously met at the recent Group of Seven Summit&nbsp;in Japan, in Northern Ireland and at a three-way defence meeting with Australia in San Diego.

<h2>What's on the agenda?</h2>

During his visit, Sunak aims to strengthen economic ties between the UK and the US, highlighting the importance of economic cooperation for security.&nbsp;

Ahead of the talks, the British PM said: "Just as interoperability between our militaries has given us a battlefield advantage over our adversaries, greater economic interoperability will give us a crucial edge in the decades ahead."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-will-hold-worlds-first-ai-summit-says-pm-sunak-in-us-601932">UK will hold world’s first AI summit, says PM Sunak, pitches for London-based future global regulator</a>

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a British government official with access to Sunak's agenda told AP that supply chain security from hostile actors, semiconductor production, and artificial intelligence are among the topics he intends to discuss.&nbsp;

However, a UK-US free trade agreement will not be pursued at this time.

Furthermore, Sunak may advocate for UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace to become the next head of NATO. The current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will step down in September.&nbsp;

Sunak is expected to emphasise the significance of defence spending and lobby for someone who "carries on Stoltenberg’s good work of modernisation but also understands the importance of defence spending at this critical time."

His agenda also includes meetings with US business executives and congressional leaders, as well as attending a Washington Nationals baseball game to celebrate US-UK ties.

(With inputs from agencies)

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is currently on a two-day trip to the United States. As per reports, Ukraine remains at the top of his agenda in Washington. He reportedly aims to emphasise that the United Kingdom remains a crucial ally to the United States in the face of authoritarian states in a post-Brexit world.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is currently on a two-day trip to the United States. As per reports, Ukraine remains at the top of his agenda in Washington. He reportedly aims to emphasise that the United Kingdom remains a crucial ally to the United States in the face of authoritarian states in a post-Brexit world. Sunak's visit includes a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House. During the meeting on Thursday (June 8th), discussions are expected to revolve around the ongoing war in Ukraine. The urgency surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war The recent breach of a major dam in southern Ukraine has intensified the urgency of the matter. While Russia has not been officially accused of causing the dam explosion by the US or the UK, British intelligence services are assessing the evidence. Denouncing the breach, Sunak recently said: "If it does prove to be intentional, it will represent a new low ... an appalling barbarism on Russia’s part." Also read | Ahead of Modi's US visit, American lawmakers urge govt to address visa wait time issue in India on priority Taking to broadcaster ETV in Washington, he said: "Russia throughout this war has used as a deliberate active strategy to target civilian infrastructure." Both the US and the UK play significant roles in supporting Ukraine, including military aid and efforts to provide F-16 fighter jets. As per the news agency AP, discussions may also involve talks about enhancing air defence measures to counter Russian attacks as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to reclaim occupied territories. Sunak and Biden Sunak's visit to the US capital marks his first official trip since becoming prime minister. It is, however, his fourth meeting with President Biden within a few months, which, as per AP, showcases a sustained level of contact between the UK Prime Minister and a US President. The two leaders previously met at the recent Group of Seven Summit in Japan, in Northern Ireland and at a three-way defence meeting with Australia in San Diego. What's on the agenda? During his visit, Sunak aims to strengthen economic ties between the UK and the US, highlighting the importance of economic cooperation for security. Ahead of the talks, the British PM said: "Just as interoperability between our militaries has given us a battlefield advantage over our adversaries, greater economic interoperability will give us a crucial edge in the decades ahead." Also read | UK will hold world’s first AI summit, says PM Sunak, pitches for London-based future global regulator Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a British government official with access to Sunak's agenda told AP that supply chain security from hostile actors, semiconductor production, and artificial intelligence are among the topics he intends to discuss. However, a UK-US free trade agreement will not be pursued at this time. Furthermore, Sunak may advocate for UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace to become the next head of NATO. The current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will step down in September. Sunak is expected to emphasise the significance of defence spending and lobby for someone who "carries on Stoltenberg’s good work of modernisation but also understands the importance of defence spending at this critical time." His agenda also includes meetings with US business executives and congressional leaders, as well as attending a Washington Nationals baseball game to celebrate US-UK ties. (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.

PM Sunak to meet Prez Biden; agenda includes closer US-UK economic ties, Ukraine war, and more

Japan's Fukuoka District Court on Thursday ruled that the non-recognition of same-sex marriage was "in a state of unconstitutionality". The ruling stopped short of the expectations of marriage-equality activists, reports Reuters.

As per the lawyer for the plaintiffs, the specifics of the recent ruling are still being verified, but it is believed to be similar to the Tokyo court's decision, which when passed was seen as a step forward by activists.

Previously, in May, Japan's Nagoya District Court deemed the prohibition on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. The May ruling provided hope for the LGBTQ community in Japan.

<h2>Public opinion on&nbsp;same-sex marriages</h2>

Public opinion polls indicate that approximately 70 per cent of the Japanese public supports same-sex marriage. However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's conservative ruling party opposes it. In February, Kishida dismissed an aide who made offensive remarks against same-sex marriage, generating widespread outrage.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-rescues-nations-lgbt-community-from-hurt-says-ban-on-same-sex-marriage-unconstitutional-598384">Japan court 'rescues' nation's LGBT community from 'hurt', says ban on same-sex marriage 'unconstitutional'</a>

While more than 300 municipalities in Japan allow same-sex couples to enter partnership agreements, these agreements offer limited rights. Couples are unable to inherit each other's assets, obtain parental rights to each other's children, or even guarantee hospital visitation rights.

<h2>PM Kishida&nbsp;non-committal&nbsp;to same-sex marriage</h2>

Despite pressure from other G7 nations, including the United States, Kishida has not taken a firm stance on the issue.&nbsp;

Kishida's government had initially promised to pass a law promoting the "understanding" of LGBTQ individuals before the G7 leaders' summit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-g7-summit-japans-lgbtqia-community-demand-legalisation-of-same-sex-marriage-585495">Ahead of G7 summit, Japan's LGBTQIA+ community demand legalisation of same-sex marriage</a>

However, opposition from conservative factions has caused significant delays, and a diluted version of the law is expected to be voted on next week.

Major business organisations have called for change, emphasising that without LGBTQ rights and diversity, Japan's position as the world's third-largest economy may be compromised.

<h2>Marriages and Japan</h2>

Japan remains the only country among the Group of Seven nations that lacks legal protection for same-sex unions.&nbsp;The Japanese constitution defines marriage as something based on "the mutual consent of both sexes".

<h2>Past rulings on same-sex marriages in Japan</h2>

So far, there have been five court rulings on same-sex marriage in Japan. The last ruling was made in May by the Nagoya District Court. It was the second ruling that found the ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. Previously, in March 2021, a district court in Sapporo, the capital city of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, in a similar ruling,&nbsp;said that the ban was "unconstitutional".

However, in June 2022, the Osaka district court ruled that the ban was not unconstitutional. The court added that "from the perspective of individual dignity, it can be said that it is necessary to realise the benefits of same-sex couples being publicly recognised through official recognition."

Subsequently, in December of last year, a Tokyo court reiterated that while the ban was not "unconstitutional," the country's failure to protect same-sex partners legally creates an "unconstitutional situation".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Japan's Fukuoka District Court on Thursday ruled that the non-recognition of same-sex marriage was "in a state of unconstitutionality". The ruling stopped short of the expectations of marriage-equality activists, reports Reuters.

Japan's Fukuoka District Court on Thursday ruled that the non-recognition of same-sex marriage was "in a state of unconstitutionality". The ruling stopped short of the expectations of marriage-equality activists, reports Reuters. As per the lawyer for the plaintiffs, the specifics of the recent ruling are still being verified, but it is believed to be similar to the Tokyo court's decision, which when passed was seen as a step forward by activists. Previously, in May, Japan's Nagoya District Court deemed the prohibition on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. The May ruling provided hope for the LGBTQ community in Japan. Public opinion on same-sex marriages Public opinion polls indicate that approximately 70 per cent of the Japanese public supports same-sex marriage. However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's conservative ruling party opposes it. In February, Kishida dismissed an aide who made offensive remarks against same-sex marriage, generating widespread outrage. Also read | Japan court 'rescues' nation's LGBT community from 'hurt', says ban on same-sex marriage 'unconstitutional' While more than 300 municipalities in Japan allow same-sex couples to enter partnership agreements, these agreements offer limited rights. Couples are unable to inherit each other's assets, obtain parental rights to each other's children, or even guarantee hospital visitation rights. PM Kishida non-committal to same-sex marriage Despite pressure from other G7 nations, including the United States, Kishida has not taken a firm stance on the issue. Kishida's government had initially promised to pass a law promoting the "understanding" of LGBTQ individuals before the G7 leaders' summit. Also read | Ahead of G7 summit, Japan's LGBTQIA+ community demand legalisation of same-sex marriage However, opposition from conservative factions has caused significant delays, and a diluted version of the law is expected to be voted on next week. Major business organisations have called for change, emphasising that without LGBTQ rights and diversity, Japan's position as the world's third-largest economy may be compromised. Marriages and Japan Japan remains the only country among the Group of Seven nations that lacks legal protection for same-sex unions. The Japanese constitution defines marriage as something based on "the mutual consent of both sexes". Past rulings on same-sex marriages in Japan So far, there have been five court rulings on same-sex marriage in Japan. The last ruling was made in May by the Nagoya District Court. It was the second ruling that found the ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. Previously, in March 2021, a district court in Sapporo, the capital city of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, in a similar ruling, said that the ban was "unconstitutional". However, in June 2022, the Osaka district court ruled that the ban was not unconstitutional. The court added that "from the perspective of individual dignity, it can be said that it is necessary to realise the benefits of same-sex couples being publicly recognised through official recognition." Subsequently, in December of last year, a Tokyo court reiterated that while the ban was not "unconstitutional," the country's failure to protect same-sex partners legally creates an "unconstitutional situation". (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.

Japan's Fukuoka district court says ban on same-sex marriage ‘in a state of unconstitutionality’

On his recent trip to China, Twitter owner Elon Musk was reportedly made privy to the nation's plans to launch new regulations on artificial intelligence (AI). The tech billionaire made his first comment on the two-day visit while speaking during a Twitter livestream with Robert Kennedy Jr, a Republican presidential hopeful, the nephew of John F. Kennedy.

<h2>What did Elon Musk say?</h2>

"Something that is worth noting is that on my recent trip to China, with the senior leadership there, we had, I think, some very productive discussions on artificial intelligence risks, and the need for some oversight or regulation."&nbsp;

"And my understanding from those conversations is that China will be initiating AI regulation in China," added Musk.

"I pointed out that if there is a digital super intelligence that is overwhelmingly powerful, developed in China, it is actually a risk to the sovereignty of the Chinese government," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musks-tweet-on-whatisawoman-fans-twitter-buzz-heres-all-you-need-to-know-600021">Elon Musk's tweet on #WhatIsAWoman fans Twitter buzz. Here's all you need to know</a>

Musk added that he thinks that "they (China) took that concern to heart."

As per AFP, Musk didn't elaborate on his discussions with China. However, he is believed to have been referring to China's new sweeping draft law on AI.

<h2>China's sweeping draft law on AI</h2>

China's new law requires new artificial intelligence products to undergo a security assessment before release. The AI products will also be subjected to a process that ensures that they reflect "core socialist values".

Called "Administrative Measures for Generative Artificial Intelligence Services" the edict reportedly bans content promoting "terrorist or extremist propaganda," "ethnic hatred" or "other content that may disrupt economic and social order" in the country.

As per AFP, under China's highly centralised political system, the measures are almost certain to become law.

<h2>Elon Musk's China visit</h2>

During his recent two-day visit to China, &nbsp;Elon Musk, one of the world's richest men,&nbsp;held meetings with the Asian giant's senior officials in the capital Beijing. He also met with employees in Shanghai.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/delhi-polices-purrfect-reply-to-elon-musks-tweet-leaves-internet-in-splits-stst-599616">Delhi Police’s ‘purrfect’ reply to Elon Musk’s cat query tweet leaves internet in splits</a>

Musk did not tweet while in China, a nation where social media is highly regulated. Additionally, Tesla hasn't released readouts of his meetings with Chinese officials.

However, official Chinese channels, as per AFP, claimed that he lavished praise on China, praising the country for its "vitality and promise," and even expressed "full confidence in the China market."

<h2>Elon Musk and China</h2>

Musk's extensive interests in China have long raised eyebrows in Washington, reports AFP.&nbsp;

Previously the Tesla CEO had stirred controversy by suggesting that self-rule Taiwan — which Beijing has long claimed as its renegade province — should become a part of China. This stance was openly welcomed by China, however, it left Taipei miffed.

(With inputs from agencies)

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On his recent trip to China, Twitter owner Elon Musk was reportedly made privy to the nation's plans to launch new regulations on artificial intelligence (AI). The tech billionaire made his first comment on the two-day visit while speaking during a Twitter livestream with Robert Kennedy Jr, a Republican presidential hopeful, the nephew of John F.

On his recent trip to China, Twitter owner Elon Musk was reportedly made privy to the nation's plans to launch new regulations on artificial intelligence (AI). The tech billionaire made his first comment on the two-day visit while speaking during a Twitter livestream with Robert Kennedy Jr, a Republican presidential hopeful, the nephew of John F. Kennedy. What did Elon Musk say? "Something that is worth noting is that on my recent trip to China, with the senior leadership there, we had, I think, some very productive discussions on artificial intelligence risks, and the need for some oversight or regulation." "And my understanding from those conversations is that China will be initiating AI regulation in China," added Musk. "I pointed out that if there is a digital super intelligence that is overwhelmingly powerful, developed in China, it is actually a risk to the sovereignty of the Chinese government," he said. Also read | Elon Musk's tweet on #WhatIsAWoman fans Twitter buzz. Here's all you need to know Musk added that he thinks that "they (China) took that concern to heart." As per AFP, Musk didn't elaborate on his discussions with China. However, he is believed to have been referring to China's new sweeping draft law on AI. China's sweeping draft law on AI China's new law requires new artificial intelligence products to undergo a security assessment before release. The AI products will also be subjected to a process that ensures that they reflect "core socialist values". Called "Administrative Measures for Generative Artificial Intelligence Services" the edict reportedly bans content promoting "terrorist or extremist propaganda," "ethnic hatred" or "other content that may disrupt economic and social order" in the country. As per AFP, under China's highly centralised political system, the measures are almost certain to become law. Elon Musk's China visit During his recent two-day visit to China, Elon Musk, one of the world's richest men, held meetings with the Asian giant's senior officials in the capital Beijing. He also met with employees in Shanghai. Also read | Delhi Police’s ‘purrfect’ reply to Elon Musk’s cat query tweet leaves internet in splits Musk did not tweet while in China, a nation where social media is highly regulated. Additionally, Tesla hasn't released readouts of his meetings with Chinese officials. However, official Chinese channels, as per AFP, claimed that he lavished praise on China, praising the country for its "vitality and promise," and even expressed "full confidence in the China market." Elon Musk and China Musk's extensive interests in China have long raised eyebrows in Washington, reports AFP. Previously the Tesla CEO had stirred controversy by suggesting that self-rule Taiwan — which Beijing has long claimed as its renegade province — should become a part of China. This stance was openly welcomed by China, however, it left Taipei miffed. (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.

Elon Musk reveals China's plans to regulate artificial intelligence

Once branded "Australia's worst female serial killer" Kathleen Folbigg, who has spent 20 years in jail for murdering her four children, has been pardoned. As per BBC, the woman was pardoned after new evidence suggested that she in fact did not kill her infant children.

Folbigg was convicted by a jury for the deaths of Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura over a period of ten years.&nbsp;

However, a recent investigation revealed that scientists believe the children may have died from natural causes.&nbsp;

<h2>Miscarriage of justice</h2>

This case has been widely regarded as a grave miscarriage of justice in Australia.&nbsp;Throughout the ordeal, Folbigg has consistently maintained her innocence.&nbsp;

In 2003, the mother of four was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murders of three children and the manslaughter of her first son, Caleb.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelenskys-counteroffensive-crashing-russia-says-it-killed-hundreds-of-ukrainian-troops-in-donetsk-region-600645">Zelensky's counteroffensive crashing? Russia says it killed hundreds of Ukrainian troops in Donetsk region</a>

The children, ranging in age from 19 days to 19 months, died suddenly between 1989 and 1999. Prosecutors at the time alleged that she had suffocated them.&nbsp;

<h2>Previous appeals</h2>

On 24 October 2003, Folbigg was sentenced to forty years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of thirty years.

An appeal in 2005 reduced her sentence to thirty years imprisonment with a non-parole period of twenty-five years.

However, the appeal and a 2019 inquiry did not find sufficient grounds to question her guilt and heavily relied on circumstantial evidence from her original trial.&nbsp;

<h2>The new evidence</h2>

This pardon follows a long-standing campaign advocating for the woman's release, which was sparked by a team of immunologists discovering a genetic mutation shared by her daughters that could cause sudden cardiac death.&nbsp;

The recent inquiry, led by a retired judge and former state chief justice Tom Bathurst, prompted prosecutors to acknowledge that advances in genetic research on gene mutations had altered their understanding of the children's deaths.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-pet-dog-gets-lucky-as-youtuber-brent-rivera-gifts-20000-luxury-house-600459">WATCH | Pet dog gets lucky as Youtuber Brent Rivera gifts $20,000 luxury house</a>

Additionally, evidence surfaced indicating that her sons possessed a different genetic mutation associated with sudden-onset epilepsy in mice.

On Monday, the New South Wales Attorney General, Michael Daley, announced that Bathurst had concluded that there was reasonable doubt about Folbigg's guilt in each case.&nbsp;

As per Guardian, Bathurst told the attorney general that he had reached "a firm view that there was reasonable doubt as to the guilt of Ms Folbigg for each of the offences for which she was originally tried".

Consequently, the governor of New South Wales signed a full pardon, ordering Folbigg's immediate release from prison.

However, the pardon does not erase Folbigg's convictions. Her supporters on Monday reportedly began calling for "very, very significant" compensation for her.

A decision about Folbigg's convictions would be made by the Court of Criminal Appeal if Bathurst decides to refer the case to them.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Once branded "Australia's worst female serial killer" Kathleen Folbigg, who has spent 20 years in jail for murdering her four children, has been pardoned. As per BBC, the woman was pardoned after new evidence suggested that she in fact did not kill her infant children.

Once branded "Australia's worst female serial killer" Kathleen Folbigg, who has spent 20 years in jail for murdering her four children, has been pardoned. As per BBC, the woman was pardoned after new evidence suggested that she in fact did not kill her infant children. Folbigg was convicted by a jury for the deaths of Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura over a period of ten years. However, a recent investigation revealed that scientists believe the children may have died from natural causes. Miscarriage of justice This case has been widely regarded as a grave miscarriage of justice in Australia. Throughout the ordeal, Folbigg has consistently maintained her innocence. In 2003, the mother of four was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murders of three children and the manslaughter of her first son, Caleb. Also read | Zelensky's counteroffensive crashing? Russia says it killed hundreds of Ukrainian troops in Donetsk region The children, ranging in age from 19 days to 19 months, died suddenly between 1989 and 1999. Prosecutors at the time alleged that she had suffocated them. Previous appeals On 24 October 2003, Folbigg was sentenced to forty years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of thirty years. An appeal in 2005 reduced her sentence to thirty years imprisonment with a non-parole period of twenty-five years. However, the appeal and a 2019 inquiry did not find sufficient grounds to question her guilt and heavily relied on circumstantial evidence from her original trial. The new evidence This pardon follows a long-standing campaign advocating for the woman's release, which was sparked by a team of immunologists discovering a genetic mutation shared by her daughters that could cause sudden cardiac death. The recent inquiry, led by a retired judge and former state chief justice Tom Bathurst, prompted prosecutors to acknowledge that advances in genetic research on gene mutations had altered their understanding of the children's deaths. Also read | WATCH | Pet dog gets lucky as Youtuber Brent Rivera gifts $20,000 luxury house Additionally, evidence surfaced indicating that her sons possessed a different genetic mutation associated with sudden-onset epilepsy in mice. On Monday, the New South Wales Attorney General, Michael Daley, announced that Bathurst had concluded that there was reasonable doubt about Folbigg's guilt in each case. As per Guardian, Bathurst told the attorney general that he had reached "a firm view that there was reasonable doubt as to the guilt of Ms Folbigg for each of the offences for which she was originally tried". Consequently, the governor of New South Wales signed a full pardon, ordering Folbigg's immediate release from prison. However, the pardon does not erase Folbigg's convictions. Her supporters on Monday reportedly began calling for "very, very significant" compensation for her. A decision about Folbigg's convictions would be made by the Court of Criminal Appeal if Bathurst decides to refer the case to them. (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.

Australian woman found innocent after spending 20 years in jail over deaths of her four children