London, United Kingdom
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expects his in-form side to face a "very difficult" challenge away to Newcastle on Boxing Day. Villa beat Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday for a fourth win from five games in all competitions. But sixth-placed Villa will kick-off at St James' Park against a Newcastle team on a fine run of their own.
The Magpies go into Thursday's game following successive 4-0 league wins over Leicester and Ipswich, with Newcastle having also done the double over Villa last season.   
"Very difficult, because I think now they are in good form, and of course they played two years ago in the Champions League," said Emery of Newcastle.  "Their objective is clearly to be in Europe," added the Spaniard as he lauded Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
“He (Howe) was doing a fantastic job with Bournemouth. Always, his teams are more or less dynamic teams, intensity, they like to play with the ball possession and being aggressive in attack, attacking with a lot of players. "They (Newcastle) beat us last year two times, and of course I respect them a lot. It is a very strong stadium for them, difficult for the opponent."
<h2>- 'Motivating' -</h2>
Villa have lost their last four away games in the Premier League and Thursday's match promises to be another tough test. "When I arrived here, my thoughts were that it is the most difficult league," said Emery. "A lot of teams have capacity, with good players, good coaches and good history...The league is a very interesting league, very motivating for us, each match how we can get points and be better. Now we are sixth, we are trying to focus each match, be consistent.
"We are feeling better at home, but away, it is completely different."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-manchester-united-boss-ruben-amorim-questions-marcus-rashfords-camp-following-public-comments-786365">Premier League: Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim questions Marcus Rashford's camp after public comments</a>
Howe, meanwhile, has challenged his eighth-placed side -- just two points behind Villa -- to prove the Premier League's top six is no "closed shop". Spending regulations mean both clubs face fresh challenges as they bid to secure places among English football's elite but Howe refuses to let those restrictions temper his ambitions.
"I never see anything as a closed shop," he said. "It's our job to try and achieve the most that we can and put no barriers on our levels or our expectations of ourselves internally and see what happens."
Howe added: "We have seen Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and loads of teams have really strong seasons. The level of the Premier League has been really tight this year between all teams.
"I don't think there's a lot of difference between the top and bottom sides and that's testament to the quality of every team in the league. There are no easy games and that makes a great spectacle.
"It makes a great league because you never know what's going to happen. You never know what twists and turns are ahead, so it's up to all of us to try and break into whatever group of teams, try to upset people and achieve success."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Magpies go into Thursday's game following successive 4-0 league wins over Leicester and Ipswich, with Newcastle having also done the double over Villa last season.   



London, United Kingdom Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expects his in-form side to face a "very difficult" challenge away to Newcastle on Boxing Day. Villa beat Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday for a fourth win from five games in all competitions. But sixth-placed Villa will kick-off at St James' Park against a Newcastle team on a fine run of their own. The Magpies go into Thursday's game following successive 4-0 league wins over Leicester and Ipswich, with Newcastle having also done the double over Villa last season. "Very difficult, because I think now they are in good form, and of course they played two years ago in the Champions League," said Emery of Newcastle. "Their objective is clearly to be in Europe," added the Spaniard as he lauded Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. “He (Howe) was doing a fantastic job with Bournemouth. Always, his teams are more or less dynamic teams, intensity, they like to play with the ball possession and being aggressive in attack, attacking with a lot of players. "They (Newcastle) beat us last year two times, and of course I respect them a lot. It is a very strong stadium for them, difficult for the opponent." - 'Motivating' - Villa have lost their last four away games in the Premier League and Thursday's match promises to be another tough test. "When I arrived here, my thoughts were that it is the most difficult league," said Emery. "A lot of teams have capacity, with good players, good coaches and good history...The league is a very interesting league, very motivating for us, each match how we can get points and be better. Now we are sixth, we are trying to focus each match, be consistent. "We are feeling better at home, but away, it is completely different." Also read: Premier League: Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim questions Marcus Rashford's camp after public comments Howe, meanwhile, has challenged his eighth-placed side -- just two points behind Villa -- to prove the Premier League's top six is no "closed shop". Spending regulations mean both clubs face fresh challenges as they bid to secure places among English football's elite but Howe refuses to let those restrictions temper his ambitions. "I never see anything as a closed shop," he said. "It's our job to try and achieve the most that we can and put no barriers on our levels or our expectations of ourselves internally and see what happens." Howe added: "We have seen Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and loads of teams have really strong seasons. The level of the Premier League has been really tight this year between all teams. "I don't think there's a lot of difference between the top and bottom sides and that's testament to the quality of every team in the league. There are no easy games and that makes a great spectacle. "It makes a great league because you never know what's going to happen. You never know what twists and turns are ahead, so it's up to all of us to try and break into whatever group of teams, try to upset people and achieve success." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PL: Aston Villa boss Unai Emery set for 'very difficult' clash with Newcastle on Boxing Day

Uttar Pradesh, India
A gym trainer from India's Agra has been charged with "rape" and "criminal intimidation" for sexually assaulting and exploiting a Canadian woman, posing himself as a RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent.
The accused, Sahil Sharma, met the woman on dating app Tinder and introduced himself as a RAW agent. 
The situation escalated as the accused's friend also "raped the woman" in a hotel bathroom, and later the woman found out that she was "pregnant". 
The Uttar Pradesh Police charged the man for "rape" and "criminal intimidation".  An FIR has been filed against the man under relevant sections of the BNS, including 64, 123, 351 (2), 74, and section 67 of the IT Act.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-gay-couple-gets-100-years-in-jail-for-raping-adopted-sons-and-filming-child-pornography-786444">Also read: Georgia gay couple gets 100 years in jail for raping adopted sons and filming child pornography</a>
After meeting, the two entered into a physical relationship. As per the complaint registered by the woman, the accused allegedly raped her multiple times. 
She also named two of Sahil's friends in the complaint. She said that after meeting Sahil for the first time in March, he invited her to a hotel for dinner later that month. 
The woman said that she had soft drinks and pizza, which were already kept in the room before she came. Later, she felt dizzy and lost her senses, further claiming that Sahil raped her, and she came to know about this after she regained consciousness. 
"When I protested to Sahil, he said that he is an agent of the intelligence agency RAW," she said in her complaint.
She added that Sahil asked her to marry him, adding that his life was in danger. He also told her that he had kept his identity a secret from his family. 
When she reached Canada, the woman informed Sahil about her pregnancy on Facebook messenger, after which he threatened her and immediately blocked her, as per the complaint. 
Watch | France Mass Rape Trial: Dominique Pelicot Faces Further Investigation For Rape And Murder
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The accused called the victim back to India after she returned to Canada, to meet his mother. 
When she came back, Sahil had "numerous physical encounters" with her in Delhi and Agra.
She further alleged that Sahil made her delete WhatsApp chats and calls, stressing that it is necessary to keep his identity private. 
The woman accused Sahil's friend Arif of blackmailing her with obscene pictures that he claimed to have received from Sahil.  
"Sahil has made my life a nightmare... I can't see any way out, I am trapped... He even talked about uploading my nude photos on the dark web...I am suffering from depression and taking medicine for it," the woman said in her complaint. 
The police said that they would arrest Sahil soon after completing the probe. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The accused, Sahil Sharma, met the woman on dating app Tinder and introduced himself as a RAW agent. 



Uttar Pradesh, India A gym trainer from India's Agra has been charged with "rape" and "criminal intimidation" for sexually assaulting and exploiting a Canadian woman, posing himself as a RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent. The accused, Sahil Sharma, met the woman on dating app Tinder and introduced himself as a RAW agent. The situation escalated as the accused's friend also "raped the woman" in a hotel bathroom, and later the woman found out that she was "pregnant". The Uttar Pradesh Police charged the man for "rape" and "criminal intimidation". An FIR has been filed against the man under relevant sections of the BNS, including 64, 123, 351 (2), 74, and section 67 of the IT Act. Also read: Georgia gay couple gets 100 years in jail for raping adopted sons and filming child pornography After meeting, the two entered into a physical relationship. As per the complaint registered by the woman, the accused allegedly raped her multiple times. She also named two of Sahil's friends in the complaint. She said that after meeting Sahil for the first time in March, he invited her to a hotel for dinner later that month. The woman said that she had soft drinks and pizza, which were already kept in the room before she came. Later, she felt dizzy and lost her senses, further claiming that Sahil raped her, and she came to know about this after she regained consciousness. "When I protested to Sahil, he said that he is an agent of the intelligence agency RAW," she said in her complaint. She added that Sahil asked her to marry him, adding that his life was in danger. He also told her that he had kept his identity a secret from his family. When she reached Canada, the woman informed Sahil about her pregnancy on Facebook messenger, after which he threatened her and immediately blocked her, as per the complaint. Watch | France Mass Rape Trial: Dominique Pelicot Faces Further Investigation For Rape And Murder × The accused called the victim back to India after she returned to Canada, to meet his mother. When she came back, Sahil had "numerous physical encounters" with her in Delhi and Agra. She further alleged that Sahil made her delete WhatsApp chats and calls, stressing that it is necessary to keep his identity private. The woman accused Sahil's friend Arif of blackmailing her with obscene pictures that he claimed to have received from Sahil. "Sahil has made my life a nightmare... I can't see any way out, I am trapped... He even talked about uploading my nude photos on the dark web...I am suffering from depression and taking medicine for it," the woman said in her complaint. The police said that they would arrest Sahil soon after completing the probe. (With inputs from agencies)

Agra gym trainer poses as RAW agent, allegedly rapes Canadian woman

New Delhi
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The Delhi Police said on Tuesday (Dec 24) that they busted a major illegal immigration racket involving Bangladeshis by arresting 11 people in connection with the crime. 
Speaking to the news agency ANI, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South, Ankit Chauhan, said that the accused facilitated Bangladeshi nationals by producing counterfeit Aadhar cards, voter IDs, and other forged documents via a fake website. 
<h2>'Jungle routes, trains used to enter India'</h2>
DCP Chauhan told ANI that the illegal immigrants used jungle routes and express trains to enter India. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/we-want-her-back-bangladesh-formally-writes-to-india-to-facilitate-return-of-sheikh-hasina-786191">'We want her back...': Bangladesh formally writes to India to facilitate return of Sheikh Hasina</a>
The above developments came as Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Vinai Kumar Saxena recently directed the chief secretary and the police commissioner to launch a two-month drive to identify and take strict action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in India's national capital.
<h2>Over 1,000 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants found in Delhi</h2>
Citing police sources, ANI reported that more than 1,000 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants had been identified so far across Delhi. 
Also watch | Social media post by Yunus' aide kicks up row
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A recent police operation involved door-to-door verification, scrutiny of documents, and interrogations.
(With inputs from agencies)

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South, Ankit Chauhan, said that the accused facilitated Bangladeshi nationals by producing counterfeit Aadhar cards, voter IDs, and other forged documents via a fake website. 



New Delhi The Delhi Police said on Tuesday (Dec 24) that they busted a major illegal immigration racket involving Bangladeshis by arresting 11 people in connection with the crime. Speaking to the news agency ANI, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South, Ankit Chauhan, said that the accused facilitated Bangladeshi nationals by producing counterfeit Aadhar cards, voter IDs, and other forged documents via a fake website. 'Jungle routes, trains used to enter India' DCP Chauhan told ANI that the illegal immigrants used jungle routes and express trains to enter India. Also read | 'We want her back...': Bangladesh formally writes to India to facilitate return of Sheikh Hasina The above developments came as Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Vinai Kumar Saxena recently directed the chief secretary and the police commissioner to launch a two-month drive to identify and take strict action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in India's national capital. Over 1,000 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants found in Delhi Citing police sources, ANI reported that more than 1,000 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants had been identified so far across Delhi. Also watch | Social media post by Yunus' aide kicks up row A recent police operation involved door-to-door verification, scrutiny of documents, and interrogations. (With inputs from agencies)

Police in India's Delhi bust illegal Bangladeshi immigration nexus, arrest 11

New Delhi, India 
On Monday (Dec 23), Manu Bhaker's name was not mentioned in the Khel Ratna award list despite her two bronze medals in the Paris Olympics. In the showpiece event, the 22-year-old won two bronze medals — one in the women's 10m air pistol event and the other with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed 10m pistol event. However, a 12-member National Sports Day committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Ramasubramam did not recommend the shooter's name, irking her father Ramakrishna.
While the Sports Ministry has claimed that the 22-year-old did not apply for the award, her father revealed that they did apply for the honour but never heard back (it is unclear if the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the list). Amid all this, Ramakrishna has made a big claim, saying he should have made Manu a cricketer rather than a shooter.
Manu's father said in an interview with TOI, "I regret putting her in the sport of shooting. I should have instead made her a cricketer. Then, all the awards and accolades would have come her way. She won two Olympic medals in a single edition, no one has ever done that. What else do you expect my child to do for the country? The government must recognise her efforts."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympics/news-manu-bhaker-paris-olympics-double-medallist-not-named-in-khel-ratna-nominees-list-sources-786138">Manu Bhaker, Paris Olympics' double medallist, not named in Khel Ratna nominees' list: Sources</a>
Ramakrishna said that Manu was disheartened and claimed she regretted participating in the Olympics and winning medals for the country.
"I spoke to Manu, and she was disheartened by all this. She told me 'I shouldn't have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country. In fact, I shouldn't have become a sportsperson'," Manu's father added.
Manu became the first-ever Indian athlete, post Independence, to win two medals in an Olympic edition. In 2020, she was honoured with the Arjuna Award.

Manu Bhaker's father lashed out after her daughter was overlooked for the Khel Ratna award list. He feels he should have made her a cricketer, which would have given her more recognition. 



New Delhi, India On Monday (Dec 23), Manu Bhaker's name was not mentioned in the Khel Ratna award list despite her two bronze medals in the Paris Olympics. In the showpiece event, the 22-year-old won two bronze medals — one in the women's 10m air pistol event and the other with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed 10m pistol event. However, a 12-member National Sports Day committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Ramasubramam did not recommend the shooter's name, irking her father Ramakrishna. While the Sports Ministry has claimed that the 22-year-old did not apply for the award, her father revealed that they did apply for the honour but never heard back (it is unclear if the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the list). Amid all this, Ramakrishna has made a big claim, saying he should have made Manu a cricketer rather than a shooter. Manu's father said in an interview with TOI, "I regret putting her in the sport of shooting. I should have instead made her a cricketer. Then, all the awards and accolades would have come her way. She won two Olympic medals in a single edition, no one has ever done that. What else do you expect my child to do for the country? The government must recognise her efforts." Also read: Manu Bhaker, Paris Olympics' double medallist, not named in Khel Ratna nominees' list: Sources Ramakrishna said that Manu was disheartened and claimed she regretted participating in the Olympics and winning medals for the country. "I spoke to Manu, and she was disheartened by all this. She told me 'I shouldn't have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country. In fact, I shouldn't have become a sportsperson'," Manu's father added. Manu became the first-ever Indian athlete, post Independence, to win two medals in an Olympic edition. In 2020, she was honoured with the Arjuna Award.

Should have made Manu Bhaker a cricketer: Shooter's father lashes out after Khel Ratna snub

Ontario, Canada 
Recent studies found that middle children are more honest, humble, and enjoyable than their adult siblings in a family. It also said that middle children are one step ahead of their siblings in things like agreeableness, cooperation, and humility. 
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<h2 dir="ltr">Studies conducted </h2>
According to a study conducted by psychology professors at Brock University in Ontario and the University of Calgary in Alberta, Michael Ashton and Kibeom Lee found that people with more siblings mostly have high levels of the cooperation trait. They also saw that there is a small effect on cooperative personality traits with the middle and the youngest children, who are superior to firstborns.
<h2 dir="ltr">Understanding birth order and personality </h2>
Some researchers have tried a long way to comprehend a link between birth order and personality. Below are some instances:
&gt; An Australian psychologist Alfred Adler claimed that firstborns are responsible, the youngest are coddled, and middle children often feel neglected leading to some traits in response to the behaviour they get. 
&gt; Some research previously traced some evidence that firstborns are little average than late borns in intellect trait.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/kids-more-likely-to-trust-robots-than-humans-reveals-study-727545">Kids more likely to trust robots than humans, reveals study </a>
<h2 dir="ltr">New studies </h2>
The new study understands whether personality trait levels could be linked to birth order and sibling number. It used measures with the people rating their own levels of traits like honesty-humility (H), emotionality (E), extraversion (X), agreeableness (A), conscientiousness (C), and openness to experience (O).
Researchers also asked participants about the household in which they grew up and observed their birth order.
<h2 dir="ltr">An analysis </h2>
Scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada examined a set of data in a study about 700,000 adults from different backgrounds, assessing each one across major personality dimensions. Researchers discovered that cooperative traits such as honesty-humility and agreeableness were high for middle-born participants, followed by last-born and first-born people. 
&gt; In people having the same number of siblings, the firstborn averaged slightly lower compared to middle born and last born according to studies. 
&gt; The latest findings, according to researchers, point to one of the benefits of growing up with many siblings.

(With inputs from agencies)

Studies found that people with more siblings mostly have high levels of the cooperation trait. They also saw that there is a small effect on cooperative personality traits with the middle and the youngest children, who are superior to firstborns. 



Ontario, Canada Recent studies found that middle children are more honest, humble, and enjoyable than their adult siblings in a family. It also said that middle children are one step ahead of their siblings in things like agreeableness, cooperation, and humility. Studies conducted According to a study conducted by psychology professors at Brock University in Ontario and the University of Calgary in Alberta, Michael Ashton and Kibeom Lee found that people with more siblings mostly have high levels of the cooperation trait. They also saw that there is a small effect on cooperative personality traits with the middle and the youngest children, who are superior to firstborns. Understanding birth order and personality Some researchers have tried a long way to comprehend a link between birth order and personality. Below are some instances: > An Australian psychologist Alfred Adler claimed that firstborns are responsible, the youngest are coddled, and middle children often feel neglected leading to some traits in response to the behaviour they get. > Some research previously traced some evidence that firstborns are little average than late borns in intellect trait. Also Read: Kids more likely to trust robots than humans, reveals study New studies The new study understands whether personality trait levels could be linked to birth order and sibling number. It used measures with the people rating their own levels of traits like honesty-humility (H), emotionality (E), extraversion (X), agreeableness (A), conscientiousness (C), and openness to experience (O). Researchers also asked participants about the household in which they grew up and observed their birth order. An analysis Scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada examined a set of data in a study about 700,000 adults from different backgrounds, assessing each one across major personality dimensions. Researchers discovered that cooperative traits such as honesty-humility and agreeableness were high for middle-born participants, followed by last-born and first-born people. > In people having the same number of siblings, the firstborn averaged slightly lower compared to middle born and last born according to studies. > The latest findings, according to researchers, point to one of the benefits of growing up with many siblings. (With inputs from agencies)

Study: Middle children tend to be more honest than their other siblings

NEW DELHI
Indian electric vehicle manufacturer Greaves Electric Mobility has submitted draft papers for an initial public offering (IPO) aimed at raising ₹10 billion (£117.5 million), the company announced on Monday. The move marks another significant development in India's growing electric vehicle sector.
The company, best known for manufacturing Ampere-branded electric scooters and its range of electric three-wheelers, plans to utilise the IPO proceeds for several strategic initiatives. These include investments in product research and development, establishing battery assembly capabilities, and expanding their current manufacturing capacity.
As part of the IPO structure, the company's major shareholders will participate in a significant share sale. Greaves Cotton, the publicly listed parent company currently holding a 62.5% stake, and Abdul Latif Jameel Green Mobility Solutions, which owns the remaining portion, will collectively offer approximately 189.4 million shares through the public offering.
The timing of Greaves Electric's IPO announcement coincides with a robust period in India's primary market, where IPO proceeds have more than doubled year-on-year, reaching £17.5 billion by mid-December. This surge in market activity has been particularly notable in the electric vehicle sector, as demonstrated by the recent successful IPO of Ola Electric Mobility, which achieved an oversubscription rate of 4.3 times.
The company joins its larger competitor, Ather Energy, in seeking to capitalise on the growing investor interest in India's electric vehicle market. This trend reflects the broader transformation of India's automotive sector, which is increasingly shifting towards electric mobility solutions in response to environmental concerns and government initiatives promoting sustainable transportation.
Greaves Electric's IPO filing comes at a time when the Indian electric vehicle market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing consumer awareness, government incentives, and the rising cost of conventional fuel. The company's decision to strengthen its research and development capabilities and expand its manufacturing infrastructure through the IPO proceeds suggests a strategic focus on capturing a larger share of this expanding market.
The company's established presence in both the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments of the electric vehicle market positions it uniquely in India's evolving mobility landscape. The Ampere brand, in particular, has gained recognition in the electric scooter segment, which has seen rapid growth in recent years.

Indian EV manufacturer Greaves Electric Mobility files for IPO, seeks to raise ₹10 billion for expansion and development.

 



NEW DELHI Indian electric vehicle manufacturer Greaves Electric Mobility has submitted draft papers for an initial public offering (IPO) aimed at raising ₹10 billion (£117.5 million), the company announced on Monday. The move marks another significant development in India's growing electric vehicle sector. The company, best known for manufacturing Ampere-branded electric scooters and its range of electric three-wheelers, plans to utilise the IPO proceeds for several strategic initiatives. These include investments in product research and development, establishing battery assembly capabilities, and expanding their current manufacturing capacity. As part of the IPO structure, the company's major shareholders will participate in a significant share sale. Greaves Cotton, the publicly listed parent company currently holding a 62.5% stake, and Abdul Latif Jameel Green Mobility Solutions, which owns the remaining portion, will collectively offer approximately 189.4 million shares through the public offering. The timing of Greaves Electric's IPO announcement coincides with a robust period in India's primary market, where IPO proceeds have more than doubled year-on-year, reaching £17.5 billion by mid-December. This surge in market activity has been particularly notable in the electric vehicle sector, as demonstrated by the recent successful IPO of Ola Electric Mobility, which achieved an oversubscription rate of 4.3 times. The company joins its larger competitor, Ather Energy, in seeking to capitalise on the growing investor interest in India's electric vehicle market. This trend reflects the broader transformation of India's automotive sector, which is increasingly shifting towards electric mobility solutions in response to environmental concerns and government initiatives promoting sustainable transportation. Greaves Electric's IPO filing comes at a time when the Indian electric vehicle market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing consumer awareness, government incentives, and the rising cost of conventional fuel. The company's decision to strengthen its research and development capabilities and expand its manufacturing infrastructure through the IPO proceeds suggests a strategic focus on capturing a larger share of this expanding market. The company's established presence in both the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments of the electric vehicle market positions it uniquely in India's evolving mobility landscape. The Ampere brand, in particular, has gained recognition in the electric scooter segment, which has seen rapid growth in recent years.

Greaves Electric Mobility announces ₹10 billion IPO plan in India

RIO DE JANEIRO
Labour authorities in Brazil have uncovered a disturbing case of worker exploitation involving 163 Chinese nationals at a construction site owned by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD in Bahia state. The workers were found living and working under what officials have classified as "slavery-like conditions", according to statements made by the local labour prosecutor's office on Monday.
The investigation revealed that the workers, who were recruited in China by a third-party firm, had been brought to Brazil through irregular channels. They were subjected to working hours that far exceeded Brazilian legal limits, with many required to work seven consecutive days without proper rest periods. The living conditions provided to these workers were described by authorities as severely substandard and degrading.
In a particularly concerning development, investigators discovered that at least 107 of the workers had their passports confiscated by their employer, effectively restricting their freedom of movement. The workers were required to seek permission before leaving their accommodation, raising serious concerns about their personal liberty and human rights.
Labour inspector Liane Durao, who was involved in the investigation, highlighted significant workplace safety violations at the construction site. "Minimum safety conditions were not being met in the work environment," Durao stated during the official announcement. The combination of dangerous working conditions and excessive working hours posed substantial risks to the workers' health and safety.
Under Brazilian law, the term "slavery-like conditions" encompasses various forms of exploitation, including forced labour, debt bondage, degrading working conditions, and excessive working hours that may endanger workers' health. It also includes any form of work that violates basic human dignity.
The investigation remains active, with authorities yet to issue final determinations regarding fines and penalties. The labour prosecutor's office has not disclosed the identities of the third-party firms responsible for recruiting and managing these workers. When approached for comment, BYD, which has been expanding its operations in Brazil, did not immediately respond to requests for information about the situation.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about labour exploitation in global supply chains and construction projects, particularly involving international workers who may be more vulnerable to abuse due to language barriers, unfamiliarity with local laws, and dependence on their employers for accommodation and legal status in the country.
The discovery comes at a time when Brazil has been strengthening its efforts to combat modern slavery and worker exploitation, with regular inspections and enforcement actions across various industries. The country's comprehensive definition of "slavery-like conditions" allows authorities to address a broad spectrum of exploitative practices that might otherwise fall outside traditional definitions of forced labour.

Brazilian authorities uncover 163 Chinese nationals working under conditions deemed as "slavery-like" at BYD's construction site, prompting investigation.

 



RIO DE JANEIRO Labour authorities in Brazil have uncovered a disturbing case of worker exploitation involving 163 Chinese nationals at a construction site owned by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD in Bahia state. The workers were found living and working under what officials have classified as "slavery-like conditions", according to statements made by the local labour prosecutor's office on Monday. The investigation revealed that the workers, who were recruited in China by a third-party firm, had been brought to Brazil through irregular channels. They were subjected to working hours that far exceeded Brazilian legal limits, with many required to work seven consecutive days without proper rest periods. The living conditions provided to these workers were described by authorities as severely substandard and degrading. In a particularly concerning development, investigators discovered that at least 107 of the workers had their passports confiscated by their employer, effectively restricting their freedom of movement. The workers were required to seek permission before leaving their accommodation, raising serious concerns about their personal liberty and human rights. Labour inspector Liane Durao, who was involved in the investigation, highlighted significant workplace safety violations at the construction site. "Minimum safety conditions were not being met in the work environment," Durao stated during the official announcement. The combination of dangerous working conditions and excessive working hours posed substantial risks to the workers' health and safety. Under Brazilian law, the term "slavery-like conditions" encompasses various forms of exploitation, including forced labour, debt bondage, degrading working conditions, and excessive working hours that may endanger workers' health. It also includes any form of work that violates basic human dignity. The investigation remains active, with authorities yet to issue final determinations regarding fines and penalties. The labour prosecutor's office has not disclosed the identities of the third-party firms responsible for recruiting and managing these workers. When approached for comment, BYD, which has been expanding its operations in Brazil, did not immediately respond to requests for information about the situation. This case highlights ongoing concerns about labour exploitation in global supply chains and construction projects, particularly involving international workers who may be more vulnerable to abuse due to language barriers, unfamiliarity with local laws, and dependence on their employers for accommodation and legal status in the country. The discovery comes at a time when Brazil has been strengthening its efforts to combat modern slavery and worker exploitation, with regular inspections and enforcement actions across various industries. The country's comprehensive definition of "slavery-like conditions" allows authorities to address a broad spectrum of exploitative practices that might otherwise fall outside traditional definitions of forced labour.

Chinese workers discovered in exploitative conditions at BYD factory site in Brazil

TOKYO
Japanese automotive manufacturers Honda and Nissan announced on Monday their intentions to merge operations by 2026, marking a watershed moment in Japan's automotive industry. The proposed merger, driven by mounting pressure from Chinese electric vehicle makers, would create the world's third-largest automotive group, trailing only Toyota and Volkswagen.
The consolidation would unite Japan's second and third-largest automakers, representing the most significant restructuring in the global automotive sector since the £41.6 billion merger that created Stellantis in 2021. Mitsubishi Motors, in which Nissan holds a majority stake, is also contemplating joining the merger, with a decision expected by month's end.
During a joint press conference in Tokyo, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe emphasised the transformative impact of Chinese automakers and new market entrants on the industry. "We have to build up capabilities to fight with them by 2030, otherwise we'll be beaten," Mibe stated, citing the technological challenges of electrification and autonomous driving.
The merged entity aims to achieve combined sales of 30 trillion yen (£160 billion) and operating profits exceeding 3 trillion yen. The companies outlined plans to conclude negotiations around June 2025, followed by the establishment of a holding company by August 2026, at which point both companies' shares would be delisted. Honda, with its market capitalisation of more than £32 billion—approximately four times that of Nissan—would appoint the majority of the company's board.
Should Mitsubishi Motors join the merger, the combined group's global sales would surpass 8 million vehicles, overtaking South Korea's Hyundai and Kia group as the world's third-largest automotive manufacturer.
The announcement follows recent challenges faced by both companies. Nissan recently unveiled plans to reduce its workforce by 9,000 employees and cut global production capacity by 20% following declining sales in China and the United States. Honda, while maintaining relative stability through its motorcycle and hybrid car divisions, reported lower-than-expected earnings due to similar challenges in the Chinese market.
Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, currently a fugitive in Lebanon, expressed scepticism about the merger's potential success, citing a lack of complementary strengths between the companies. Meanwhile, Renault, Nissan's largest shareholder, indicated its willingness to "discuss with Nissan and consider all possible options."
The merger talks emerge against the backdrop of reported interest from Taiwan's Foxconn in Nissan, which the Japanese manufacturer rejected. Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida denied that Foxconn's approach influenced the merger discussions with Honda.
Market reaction to the announcement was positive, with Honda's shares rising 3.8%, Nissan's increasing by 1.6%, and Mitsubishi Motors gaining 5.3%, outperforming the benchmark Nikkei index's 1.2% increase.

Japanese automotive giants Honda and Nissan reveal plans for landmark merger to combat rising Chinese competition and industry challenges.

 



TOKYO Japanese automotive manufacturers Honda and Nissan announced on Monday their intentions to merge operations by 2026, marking a watershed moment in Japan's automotive industry. The proposed merger, driven by mounting pressure from Chinese electric vehicle makers, would create the world's third-largest automotive group, trailing only Toyota and Volkswagen. The consolidation would unite Japan's second and third-largest automakers, representing the most significant restructuring in the global automotive sector since the £41.6 billion merger that created Stellantis in 2021. Mitsubishi Motors, in which Nissan holds a majority stake, is also contemplating joining the merger, with a decision expected by month's end. During a joint press conference in Tokyo, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe emphasised the transformative impact of Chinese automakers and new market entrants on the industry. "We have to build up capabilities to fight with them by 2030, otherwise we'll be beaten," Mibe stated, citing the technological challenges of electrification and autonomous driving. The merged entity aims to achieve combined sales of 30 trillion yen (£160 billion) and operating profits exceeding 3 trillion yen. The companies outlined plans to conclude negotiations around June 2025, followed by the establishment of a holding company by August 2026, at which point both companies' shares would be delisted. Honda, with its market capitalisation of more than £32 billion—approximately four times that of Nissan—would appoint the majority of the company's board. Should Mitsubishi Motors join the merger, the combined group's global sales would surpass 8 million vehicles, overtaking South Korea's Hyundai and Kia group as the world's third-largest automotive manufacturer. The announcement follows recent challenges faced by both companies. Nissan recently unveiled plans to reduce its workforce by 9,000 employees and cut global production capacity by 20% following declining sales in China and the United States. Honda, while maintaining relative stability through its motorcycle and hybrid car divisions, reported lower-than-expected earnings due to similar challenges in the Chinese market. Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, currently a fugitive in Lebanon, expressed scepticism about the merger's potential success, citing a lack of complementary strengths between the companies. Meanwhile, Renault, Nissan's largest shareholder, indicated its willingness to "discuss with Nissan and consider all possible options." The merger talks emerge against the backdrop of reported interest from Taiwan's Foxconn in Nissan, which the Japanese manufacturer rejected. Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida denied that Foxconn's approach influenced the merger discussions with Honda. Market reaction to the announcement was positive, with Honda's shares rising 3.8%, Nissan's increasing by 1.6%, and Mitsubishi Motors gaining 5.3%, outperforming the benchmark Nikkei index's 1.2% increase.

Honda and Nissan announce historic merger plans for 2026

Beijing, China
Former head of Tesla’s China factory Song Gang joins Chinese renewable energy firm Envision Energy. Tuesday, Envision confirmed Song's appointment, saying Song had assumed the role of Senior Vice President for Integrated Supply Chain and head of the Delivery Division.  
The move came in the wake of a Reuters report last week, which predicted Song would join the company. Envision Energy, a part of Envision Group, is a global integrated smart energy management and green technology solutions provider, engaged in the design, manufacture and delivery of wind turbines and battery storage systems, as well as energy platform and AI solutions.  
A Strategic Move  
Envision’s appointment of Song Gang reflects the growing need for the company to beef up its operational capacity and delivery efficiency as it increases its offerings of clean energy solutions. Song had been playing a crucial role in the operation of Tesla in China, and he helps Enview with his experience managing high-scale manufacturing, and supply chain systems.  
Song oversaw Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, which largely built it into a cornerstone of global production for Tesla, helping to increase its output and profitability. Envision believes Song’s leadership experience will enable optimisation of its delivery processes and integration of the supply chain.  
Envision's Growth Trajectory  
Now part of a major international expansion, Envision, tied in with China’s and the rest of the world’s move to net zero carbon, has been steadily adding to its reach in the global renewable energy sphere. Along with the gigafactories for advanced batteries, the company has been involved in projects to publish wind turbines and has integrated AI powered solutions in renewable energy management.  
With this strategic hire, Envision is making its intentions clear to further consolidate its position as a forerunner in renewable energy technology by bringing on experts in the EV and battery space from the world class level.  
Industry Impact  
The move follows a shift of talent from high profile companies like Tesla as renewable energy companies fight to recruit from highly sought-after companies in the clean tech sector. Song’s transition underscores the growing interplay between EV manufacturers and renewable energy firms as both sectors drive the global shift towards sustainability.

Envision’s appointment of Song Gang reflects the growing need for the company to beef up its operational capacity and delivery efficiency.

 



Beijing, China Former head of Tesla’s China factory Song Gang joins Chinese renewable energy firm Envision Energy. Tuesday, Envision confirmed Song's appointment, saying Song had assumed the role of Senior Vice President for Integrated Supply Chain and head of the Delivery Division. The move came in the wake of a Reuters report last week, which predicted Song would join the company. Envision Energy, a part of Envision Group, is a global integrated smart energy management and green technology solutions provider, engaged in the design, manufacture and delivery of wind turbines and battery storage systems, as well as energy platform and AI solutions. A Strategic Move Envision’s appointment of Song Gang reflects the growing need for the company to beef up its operational capacity and delivery efficiency as it increases its offerings of clean energy solutions. Song had been playing a crucial role in the operation of Tesla in China, and he helps Enview with his experience managing high-scale manufacturing, and supply chain systems. Song oversaw Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, which largely built it into a cornerstone of global production for Tesla, helping to increase its output and profitability. Envision believes Song’s leadership experience will enable optimisation of its delivery processes and integration of the supply chain. Envision's Growth Trajectory Now part of a major international expansion, Envision, tied in with China’s and the rest of the world’s move to net zero carbon, has been steadily adding to its reach in the global renewable energy sphere. Along with the gigafactories for advanced batteries, the company has been involved in projects to publish wind turbines and has integrated AI powered solutions in renewable energy management. With this strategic hire, Envision is making its intentions clear to further consolidate its position as a forerunner in renewable energy technology by bringing on experts in the EV and battery space from the world class level. Industry Impact The move follows a shift of talent from high profile companies like Tesla as renewable energy companies fight to recruit from highly sought-after companies in the clean tech sector. Song’s transition underscores the growing interplay between EV manufacturers and renewable energy firms as both sectors drive the global shift towards sustainability.

Former Tesla China factory chief joins Envision Energy as senior executive

South Korea
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday (Dec 24) said that they are considering impeaching acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo after he refused to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee by Christmas Eve. 
The party will wait until later this week to decide whether to submit a bill to impeach Han. 
“We have decided to exercise patience, taking into account the sentiments of the people, and wait until Thursday (Dec 26)to determine whether our demands are met,” DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said.
If the impeachment happens, it would be the first time in Korean history that both the president and the prime minister, the two key figures in the government body, would have been ousted by the parliament. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-rally-in-south-korea-protesting-against-president-yoons-impeachment-blames-rigged-elections-785827">Also read: Thousands rally in South Korea, protesting against President Yoon's impeachment, blame rigged elections</a>
The country has been reeling from a political crisis since Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law for a brief time, following which he was impeached. Now, Han, who has been serving as acting president after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach Yoon. 
If the impeachment bill is submitted, it must be voted on within 24-72 hours after being introduced at a plenary session in parliament. 
Initially, the opposition party demanded that Han approve bills while calling for special prosecutors to investigate Yoon over his martial law decree, and his wife for corruption and other allegations, by Tuesday. 
Watch | South Korea: Anti-Yoon Groups Demand His Official Removal From Presidency
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However, Han did not put the bills on the cabinet's agenda and called for the ruling and opposition parties to further negotiate. 
Following this, the opposition's floor leader Park stressed that there was no room for negotiations about the Yoon investigation. 
Han’s stance “left us no other option but to interpret it as his intention to continue the insurrection by delaying proceedings”, Park said during a press briefing and added that his party would “initiate impeachment proceedings against Han”.
He further said that it only needs a simple majority in the 300-member parliament to impeach Han. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The party will wait until later this week to decide whether to submit a bill to impeach Han. 



South Korea South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday (Dec 24) said that they are considering impeaching acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo after he refused to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee by Christmas Eve. The party will wait until later this week to decide whether to submit a bill to impeach Han. “We have decided to exercise patience, taking into account the sentiments of the people, and wait until Thursday (Dec 26)to determine whether our demands are met,” DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said. If the impeachment happens, it would be the first time in Korean history that both the president and the prime minister, the two key figures in the government body, would have been ousted by the parliament. Also read: Thousands rally in South Korea, protesting against President Yoon's impeachment, blame rigged elections The country has been reeling from a political crisis since Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law for a brief time, following which he was impeached. Now, Han, who has been serving as acting president after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach Yoon. If the impeachment bill is submitted, it must be voted on within 24-72 hours after being introduced at a plenary session in parliament. Initially, the opposition party demanded that Han approve bills while calling for special prosecutors to investigate Yoon over his martial law decree, and his wife for corruption and other allegations, by Tuesday. Watch | South Korea: Anti-Yoon Groups Demand His Official Removal From Presidency × However, Han did not put the bills on the cabinet's agenda and called for the ruling and opposition parties to further negotiate. Following this, the opposition's floor leader Park stressed that there was no room for negotiations about the Yoon investigation. Han’s stance “left us no other option but to interpret it as his intention to continue the insurrection by delaying proceedings”, Park said during a press briefing and added that his party would “initiate impeachment proceedings against Han”. He further said that it only needs a simple majority in the 300-member parliament to impeach Han. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea opposition considering impeachment of acting president over refusal to meet party demand

Islamabad, Pakistan
<meta charset="utf-8"/>The Pakistan government led by Shehbaz Sharif is planning to procure 40 of China’s new J-35 stealth fighter jets, as stated by a media outlet on Monday (23 Dec). 
The land-based version of the J-35 was called the J-31, according to previous reports. China is currently the only country in the region to have developed stealth aircraft. Further, if the deal gets through, this will mark the first time an export of a jet from China to a foreign ally. 
<h2>Pakistan Air Force's plan</h2>
&gt; The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reports stated that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had approved the purchase of 40 aircraft. 
&gt;  PAF’s ageing fleet of American F-16s and French Mirage fighters will be replaced by these aircrafts. 
&gt; In January, Pakistan's Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said, "The foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-dogfight-over-himalayas-between-indias-rafale-vs-chinas-j-20-stealth-fighter-who-wins-326656">In dogfight over Himalayas between India's Rafale vs China's J-20 stealth fighter, who wins?</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">China-Pakistan alliance</h2>
Until now there has been no official confirmation from Beijing or China's state media mentioning the deal; the conjecture increased after the J-35 was exhibited at the annual air show in Zhuhai last month. Senior PAF officials attended the event, which further triggered the talks about the potential acquisition.
There has been a strong military alliance between China and Pakistan. As Beijing persists in investing billions in modernising the armed forces of its own, it further plays a strong role in strengthening Pakistan's defence competence across all military branches. 
Watch | China fighter jets' 'aggressive manoeuvre' | IAEA Chief briefs on Zaporizhzhia | WION Speed News
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(With inputs from agencies)

As told by China's state-run People's Daily, the J-35A is for maintaining air supremacy missions. Both J-35 versions are smaller than China’s other aircraft, like the J-20.



Islamabad, Pakistan The Pakistan government led by Shehbaz Sharif is planning to procure 40 of China’s new J-35 stealth fighter jets, as stated by a media outlet on Monday (23 Dec). The land-based version of the J-35 was called the J-31, according to previous reports. China is currently the only country in the region to have developed stealth aircraft. Further, if the deal gets through, this will mark the first time an export of a jet from China to a foreign ally. Pakistan Air Force's plan > The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reports stated that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had approved the purchase of 40 aircraft. > PAF’s ageing fleet of American F-16s and French Mirage fighters will be replaced by these aircrafts. > In January, Pakistan's Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said, "The foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid." Also Read: In dogfight over Himalayas between India's Rafale vs China's J-20 stealth fighter, who wins? China-Pakistan alliance Until now there has been no official confirmation from Beijing or China's state media mentioning the deal; the conjecture increased after the J-35 was exhibited at the annual air show in Zhuhai last month. Senior PAF officials attended the event, which further triggered the talks about the potential acquisition. There has been a strong military alliance between China and Pakistan. As Beijing persists in investing billions in modernising the armed forces of its own, it further plays a strong role in strengthening Pakistan's defence competence across all military branches. Watch | China fighter jets' 'aggressive manoeuvre' | IAEA Chief briefs on Zaporizhzhia | WION Speed News (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan to acquire 40 J-35 fighter jets from China: Reports

Tbilisi, Georgia 
A Georgian gay couple has been sentenced to 100 years in jail for sexually abusing their two adopted sons. The couple William (34) and Zachary Zulock (36) adopted two brothers, who are now 12 and 10, from a Christian special-needs agency. The New York Post reported quoting Walton County District Attorney's office that the couple will spend the rest of their lives in jail without any parole. 
District Attorney Randy McGinley, while convicting them, said that the couple "truly created a house of horrors and put their extremely dark desires above everything and everyone else".
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The court added, "However, the depth of the Defendants' depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case." 
Zachary was a banker and William was a government officer. Despite their settled lives, the couple forcefully used to have sex with the children regularly and even used to record the abuse for child pornography. 
It was further reported that they used to boast about their heinous crime among their friends. One of the friends of the couple told police that one of them once shared a Snapchat story of one of the boys being abused and wrote, "I'm going to f*** my son tonight. Stand by.”
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-sleigh-must-be-in-the-shop-santa-on-bike-gets-away-from-florida-cops-in-high-speed-chase-786439">Watch- Sleigh must be in the shop: Santa on bike gets away from Florida cops in high-speed chase</a>
The couple used social media to pimp the two brothers to at least two men in the local paedophile sex ring. They were arrested in 2022 when police caught an alleged member of the ring downloading child pornography. The detained man later informed the authorities that the couple used to film pornography with the two young kids. 
The couple was charged guilty in court for aggravated child molestation as well as sexual exploitation of children. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The court added, "However, the depth of the Defendants' depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case." 



Tbilisi, Georgia A Georgian gay couple has been sentenced to 100 years in jail for sexually abusing their two adopted sons. The couple William (34) and Zachary Zulock (36) adopted two brothers, who are now 12 and 10, from a Christian special-needs agency. The New York Post reported quoting Walton County District Attorney's office that the couple will spend the rest of their lives in jail without any parole. District Attorney Randy McGinley, while convicting them, said that the couple "truly created a house of horrors and put their extremely dark desires above everything and everyone else". Watch | Donald Trump's Fight Over Canal Control Weighs Down Panama Assets The court added, "However, the depth of the Defendants' depravity, which is as deep as it gets, is not greater than the resolve of those that fought for justice and the strength of the victims in this case." Zachary was a banker and William was a government officer. Despite their settled lives, the couple forcefully used to have sex with the children regularly and even used to record the abuse for child pornography. It was further reported that they used to boast about their heinous crime among their friends. One of the friends of the couple told police that one of them once shared a Snapchat story of one of the boys being abused and wrote, "I'm going to f*** my son tonight. Stand by.” Also read | Watch- Sleigh must be in the shop: Santa on bike gets away from Florida cops in high-speed chase The couple used social media to pimp the two brothers to at least two men in the local paedophile sex ring. They were arrested in 2022 when police caught an alleged member of the ring downloading child pornography. The detained man later informed the authorities that the couple used to film pornography with the two young kids. The couple was charged guilty in court for aggravated child molestation as well as sexual exploitation of children. (With inputs from agencies)

Georgia gay couple gets 100 years in jail for raping adopted sons and filming child pornography

U.S.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said Monday that Stellantis has agreed to pay USD 4.2 million to settle a CARB investigation into excess emissions. Specifically, the probe sought information regarding vehicles equipped with 3.0 L diesel engines manufactured from 2014 through 2016 that were 2014-2016 Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500 or 3500 vehicles built on the Fiat global light commercial vehicle architecture. The vehicles were equipped, CARB found, with an unapproved device aimed at bypassing the vehicle’s emissions controls, resulting in the release of about 55 tons of excess nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.
It is the second such case against Stellantis. Last year, the automaker paid USD 5.6 million for similar violations regarding autos that run on gas.  
Settlement Details  
As part of the agreement, Stellantis will:  
- Modify emissions control systems in the affected vehicles in compliance with state standards.  
- Now owes California's Air Pollution Control Fund close to USD 2 million in civil penalties.  
Ongoing Legal Troubles  
It’s another in what’s been an increasingly long list of emissions related controversies for the automaker. Last year, in a federal case, FCA US pleaded guilty in June 2022 to criminal conspiracy over diesel emissions fraud in a U.S. Department of Justice plea agreement, resolving to pay USD 300 million in penalties.  
In 2019, FCA agreed to pay USD 500 million to settle allegations that it used "defeat device software" to report lower emissions on some 100,000 diesel vehicles sold in the U.S. Of that settlement, California was awarded USD 78 million.  
Broader Impact  
But, automakers emphasised that they were holding CARB accountable for violating air quality regulations. But excess emissions go beyond it to the point of undermining environmental laws and exacerbate the problems of health and environment of the state.  
The settlement underscores California’s ongoing commitment to stringent emissions standards and its aggressive enforcement of penalties to combat air pollution.

The settlement underscores California’s ongoing commitment to stringent emissions standards and its aggressive enforcement of penalties to combat air pollution. 

 



U.S. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said Monday that Stellantis has agreed to pay USD 4.2 million to settle a CARB investigation into excess emissions. Specifically, the probe sought information regarding vehicles equipped with 3.0 L diesel engines manufactured from 2014 through 2016 that were 2014-2016 Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500 or 3500 vehicles built on the Fiat global light commercial vehicle architecture. The vehicles were equipped, CARB found, with an unapproved device aimed at bypassing the vehicle’s emissions controls, resulting in the release of about 55 tons of excess nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere. It is the second such case against Stellantis. Last year, the automaker paid USD 5.6 million for similar violations regarding autos that run on gas. Settlement Details As part of the agreement, Stellantis will: - Modify emissions control systems in the affected vehicles in compliance with state standards. - Now owes California's Air Pollution Control Fund close to USD 2 million in civil penalties. Ongoing Legal Troubles It’s another in what’s been an increasingly long list of emissions related controversies for the automaker. Last year, in a federal case, FCA US pleaded guilty in June 2022 to criminal conspiracy over diesel emissions fraud in a U.S. Department of Justice plea agreement, resolving to pay USD 300 million in penalties. In 2019, FCA agreed to pay USD 500 million to settle allegations that it used "defeat device software" to report lower emissions on some 100,000 diesel vehicles sold in the U.S. Of that settlement, California was awarded USD 78 million. Broader Impact But, automakers emphasised that they were holding CARB accountable for violating air quality regulations. But excess emissions go beyond it to the point of undermining environmental laws and exacerbate the problems of health and environment of the state. The settlement underscores California’s ongoing commitment to stringent emissions standards and its aggressive enforcement of penalties to combat air pollution.

Stellantis unit to pay USD 4.2 million in California emissions settlement

New Delhi, India
On Monday (Dec 23), India included uncapped spin-bowling all-rounder Tushar Kotian as a replacement for R Ashwin, who retired from international cricket after the India-Australia Gabba Test in Brisbane last week. Questions were raised with Kotian's addition as India had more experienced options such as Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. In the press conference ahead of the fourth and penultimate Test versus Australia, i.e. the Boxing Day encounter in Melbourne, captain Rohit Sharma explained the team management's stance.
Rohit said, "Tanush was here a month back and Kuldeep doesn't have a visa. We needed someone to get here as quickly as possible. Tanush was ready and played well here. But jokes apart, he has been doing well over the last two years and we wanted a backup in case we play two spinners in Sydney or Melbourne."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/no-regrets-about-not-captaining-india-but-r-ashwin-on-not-leading-national-side-786398">'No regrets about not captaining India, but...': R Ashwin on not leading national side</a>
He further said, "Kuldeep is not 100 per cent fit as he went through a hernia surgery. Axar recently had a baby so was not going to travel. Hence, Tanush was the best option for us and he was probably one of the reasons why Mumbai went on to win the Ranji trophy last season,” he said.
Talking about Kotian, the 26-year-old has played 33 first-class games, claiming 101 wickets at 25.70. In addition, he accounted for 1,525 runs in 47 innings, at 41.21 with two centuries and 13 fifties.
Thus, India now have three spin-bowling options in the form of Kotian, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for the remaining two Tests in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). The pitch in the last two Tests, especially the series finale in Sydney, is likely to assist spinners. 
At present, the BGT is tied at 1-1 after India won the series opener in Perth, lost the following day-night Test in Adelaide before both sides settled for a draw in Brisbane.

BGT 2024/25: Indian captain Rohit Sharma explained why India chose Tanush Kotian as R Ashwin's replacement, over Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. 



New Delhi, India On Monday (Dec 23), India included uncapped spin-bowling all-rounder Tushar Kotian as a replacement for R Ashwin, who retired from international cricket after the India-Australia Gabba Test in Brisbane last week. Questions were raised with Kotian's addition as India had more experienced options such as Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. In the press conference ahead of the fourth and penultimate Test versus Australia, i.e. the Boxing Day encounter in Melbourne, captain Rohit Sharma explained the team management's stance. Rohit said, "Tanush was here a month back and Kuldeep doesn't have a visa. We needed someone to get here as quickly as possible. Tanush was ready and played well here. But jokes apart, he has been doing well over the last two years and we wanted a backup in case we play two spinners in Sydney or Melbourne." Also read: 'No regrets about not captaining India, but...': R Ashwin on not leading national side He further said, "Kuldeep is not 100 per cent fit as he went through a hernia surgery. Axar recently had a baby so was not going to travel. Hence, Tanush was the best option for us and he was probably one of the reasons why Mumbai went on to win the Ranji trophy last season,” he said. Talking about Kotian, the 26-year-old has played 33 first-class games, claiming 101 wickets at 25.70. In addition, he accounted for 1,525 runs in 47 innings, at 41.21 with two centuries and 13 fifties. Thus, India now have three spin-bowling options in the form of Kotian, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for the remaining two Tests in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). The pitch in the last two Tests, especially the series finale in Sydney, is likely to assist spinners. At present, the BGT is tied at 1-1 after India won the series opener in Perth, lost the following day-night Test in Adelaide before both sides settled for a draw in Brisbane.

BGT | 'Kuldeep doesn't have visa and Axar...': Rohit on why India chose Tanush Kotian as Ashwin's replacement

Brasilia
Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor's office said during a news conference on Monday.
According to the authorities, the workers were hired in China by another firm and brought to Brazil irregularly. They were labouring for long hours, in excess of what is allowed by Brazilian law, sometimes for seven days a week straight, while being kept in what authorities described as degrading conditions in their accommodations, among other labour violations.
BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers.
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In Brazil, "slavery-like conditions" include forced labour, but also covers debt bondage, degrading work conditions, long hours that pose a risk to workers' health and any work that violates human dignity.
The workers had to request permission to leave their lodgings, and at least 107 also had their passports withheld by their employer, said labour inspector Liane Durao, adding that conditions at the work site were dangerous.
Watch: Brazil: 10 Dead In Plane Crash, Several People Injured
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"We found that the work of ... these 163 workers, was carried out in slavery-like conditions," she said.
"Minimum safety conditions were not being met in the work environment," said Durao.
The operation is ongoing, said Durao, and fines have not yet been issued.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers.



Brasilia Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor's office said during a news conference on Monday. According to the authorities, the workers were hired in China by another firm and brought to Brazil irregularly. They were labouring for long hours, in excess of what is allowed by Brazilian law, sometimes for seven days a week straight, while being kept in what authorities described as degrading conditions in their accommodations, among other labour violations. BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers. Also read: At least 22 die in bus accident in southeastern Brazil: Officials In Brazil, "slavery-like conditions" include forced labour, but also covers debt bondage, degrading work conditions, long hours that pose a risk to workers' health and any work that violates human dignity. The workers had to request permission to leave their lodgings, and at least 107 also had their passports withheld by their employer, said labour inspector Liane Durao, adding that conditions at the work site were dangerous. Watch: Brazil: 10 Dead In Plane Crash, Several People Injured × "We found that the work of ... these 163 workers, was carried out in slavery-like conditions," she said. "Minimum safety conditions were not being met in the work environment," said Durao. The operation is ongoing, said Durao, and fines have not yet been issued. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Brazil officials find Chinese workers in 'slavery-like conditions' at BYD construction site

Shanghai, China
One of the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery producers, China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL) has rolled out an innovative EV chassis as safer and more productive platform. The platform is called Panshi, which means 'bedrock' in Chinese and sets new benchmarks for EV performance and safety standards.  
Safety as a Cornerstone  
The Panshi platform features a battery system that can survive a 120 kph (75 mph) frontal collision without catching fire or exploding, two times faster than the speed that China's New Car Assessment Program tests at — 56 kph. CATL’s Chief Manufacturing Officer Ni Jun added, “No prior case has even been seen for a new energy vehicle to withstand such a high speed frontal pole impact.”  
Range on the platform is approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) per charge, ensuring travel capabilities are not compromised whilst also maintaining that high bar for industry standards when it comes to safety.  
Premium Makers’ Accelerated Development
The Panshi chassis makes vehicle production much more simple, shortening development times down to 12–18 months compared to the traditional 36 months and substantially lowering costs. CATL Chairman Robin Zeng added that the technology could reduce costs for EV development to as little as USD 10 million, making niche automakers able to break even on cars with just 10,000 sales a year.  
CATL, Changan Auto, and Huawei co-owned EV brand Avatr will be the first to manufacture EVs based on Panshi's chassis, though dates of the launch have not been disclosed.  
Market Impact and Strategic Collaborations 
 
CATL’s Panshi is a major step in its effort to remake the global EV ecology. Since at least 2020, CATL has been looking into integrating batteries into vehicle chassis, with VinFast, BAIC and Neta brands all signed up to produce vehicles with this tech.  
Globally, CATL holds a dominant 37% share in the EV battery market, according to SNE Research. Discussions about Panshi have reportedly included luxury automakers such as Porsche and stakeholders in the UAE exploring local EV brand opportunities.  
This innovative chassis may pave the way for new players in the EV space, reducing barriers for automakers and accelerating the global shift toward electric mobility.

Since 2020, CATL has been looking into integrating batteries into vehicle chassis, with various brands having signed up to produce vehicles with this tech.

 



Shanghai, China One of the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery producers, China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL) has rolled out an innovative EV chassis as safer and more productive platform. The platform is called Panshi, which means 'bedrock' in Chinese and sets new benchmarks for EV performance and safety standards. Safety as a Cornerstone The Panshi platform features a battery system that can survive a 120 kph (75 mph) frontal collision without catching fire or exploding, two times faster than the speed that China's New Car Assessment Program tests at — 56 kph. CATL’s Chief Manufacturing Officer Ni Jun added, “No prior case has even been seen for a new energy vehicle to withstand such a high speed frontal pole impact.” Range on the platform is approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) per charge, ensuring travel capabilities are not compromised whilst also maintaining that high bar for industry standards when it comes to safety. Premium Makers’ Accelerated Development The Panshi chassis makes vehicle production much more simple, shortening development times down to 12–18 months compared to the traditional 36 months and substantially lowering costs. CATL Chairman Robin Zeng added that the technology could reduce costs for EV development to as little as USD 10 million, making niche automakers able to break even on cars with just 10,000 sales a year. CATL, Changan Auto, and Huawei co-owned EV brand Avatr will be the first to manufacture EVs based on Panshi's chassis, though dates of the launch have not been disclosed. Market Impact and Strategic Collaborations CATL’s Panshi is a major step in its effort to remake the global EV ecology. Since at least 2020, CATL has been looking into integrating batteries into vehicle chassis, with VinFast, BAIC and Neta brands all signed up to produce vehicles with this tech. Globally, CATL holds a dominant 37% share in the EV battery market, according to SNE Research. Discussions about Panshi have reportedly included luxury automakers such as Porsche and stakeholders in the UAE exploring local EV brand opportunities. This innovative chassis may pave the way for new players in the EV space, reducing barriers for automakers and accelerating the global shift toward electric mobility.

China's CATL unveils revolutionary EV chassis highlighting safety and efficiency

Ottawa, Canada
Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.
An experienced child exploitation investigator told Reuters he reported 26 accounts on the popular adults-only website OnlyFans to authorities, saying they appeared to contain sexual content featuring underage teen girls.
“What is alarming is the scope and scale of it,” said Matt W.J. Richardson, head of intelligence at The Canadian Open Source Intelligence Centre. He noted that many accounts featured more than one female who he suspected was underage.
Within a day of his Dec. 16 report to authorities, all of the accounts had been removed from OnlyFans, said Richardson, whose organization trains law enforcement and government agencies in open source intelligence to help combat crimes such as human trafficking and child exploitation.
Richardson said he reported the 26 accounts as containing suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children, the US-based clearinghouse for CSAM-related tips.
Some of the accounts were linked to each other through promotional posts, suggesting they may have been controlled by the same person or group, Richardson said.
The images in the accounts featured females with physical attributes typical of those under the age of 18, Richardson said. Most had narrow hips and lacked physical maturation, he said. Many had narrow shoulders or appeared to be “well short of five feet tall,” he said.
Sexually explicit images of minors are banned in most countries, including the US, UK, and Canada, and are against OnlyFans rules. On its website, OnlyFans says it prohibits content featuring the exploitation or abuse of anyone under 18,  even if it’s adults “pretending to be” under 18.
The National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children (NCMEC) told Reuters it could not comment on reports made to its tip line. Generally, NCMEC said, it tries to confirm whether reported webpages actively host child sexual abuse material or exploitive content. When warranted, it notifies the company hosting the material; it's then up to the company whether to remove or block the content. In addition, all tips are “referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for possible investigation,” NCMEC said.
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Responding to the findings of this story, an OnlyFans spokesperson said the company has a “zero tolerance approach” to child sexual abuse material on the platform and has “strict onboarding processes to ensure all creators are over the age of 18.” OnlyFans works closely with NCMEC to “thoroughly investigate any reports they receive from others about our platform,” the spokesperson said.
She did not respond to a question about why the 26 accounts were taken down only after Richardson reported them.
OnlyFans has said it vets all content and swiftly removes and reports any suspected child sexual abuse material when detected. The company has a “pre-check team” that uses technology to detect content that’s “extremely likely to be a child,” CEO Keily Blair said in a speech in August. OnlyFans invests heavily in content moderation, Blair has said, which allows it to “focus on keeping the community safe and keeping the community for adults only.” OnlyFans also says all content is ultimately reviewed by human moderators.
The spokesperson noted that OnlyFans itself made 347 reports to NCMEC in 2023, “vastly fewer than the millions of instances that are reported by other social media platforms where users can remain anonymous and where content is unmoderated.”
OnlyFans’ 4.1 million content creators typically sell explicit images and videos for a monthly subscription fee, plus one-off payments. The company keeps a fifth of the revenue. The subscriptions effectively place paywalls around nearly every OnlyFans account, making the site difficult to scrutinize.
In a July investigation, Reuters used US police and court records to document 30 complaints to law enforcement that child sexual abuse material appeared on OnlyFans between Dec. 2019 and June 2024. The case files examined by Reuters cited more than 200 explicit videos and images of kids, including some adults having oral sex with toddlers.
OnlyFans told Reuters at that time that NCMEC has “full access” to the site behind its paywalls. But NCMEC said access was “limited” to OnlyFans accounts reported to its tip line or connected to a missing child case. Aside from that, NCMEC said it “does not proactively monitor, moderate, or actively seek to review content at scale” behind the paywall of OnlyFans.
<h2>Emojis of lollipops &amp; baby bottles</h2>
In recent months, Reuters separately examined non-explicit public profile photos, bios and posts of OnlyFans creators who shared near-identical promotional language in their posts. Access to the material was open to the public without a paid OnlyFans subscription.
Female creators in 49 of those accounts had non-explicit profile photos that appeared childlike, according to three people with professional experience identifying child exploitation, including Richardson. Richardson said the 26 cases he reported to NCMEC overlapped with four of those Reuters identified.
Eric Silverman, a researcher for Culture Reframed, an organization focused on raising awareness about the harms of pornography to youth, said the 49 profile photos raised serious concern.
“Their appearance, wide-eyed, innocent look, the pouting, the finger in the mouth, all these are visual cues that convey childhood,” he said. “Even if every single one of them is verifiably 18 or older, you still have to confront the issue that OnlyFans is profiting from the sexual portrayal of women who appear to be underage.”
The accounts dated back months, as far as December 2023. All 49 of them were taken down after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings.
A company spokesperson said OnlyFans reviewed the user names provided by Reuters. “In every case, the Creators’ Government identity documents had been checked and verified by a third party which confirmed the documents are valid, and all individuals are over the age of 18.”
The company did not answer a question about why the 49 accounts were removed. OnlyFans also did not respond when asked to identify the “third party” that confirmed the documents.
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Reuters could not verify the ages of the females featured in the profiles of the 49 accounts or whether their photos had been digitally altered. OnlyFans’ website says verified creators can post AI-generated content of themselves but must disclose it by, for example, including the hashtag #ai. The 49 accounts identified by Reuters didn’t have that hashtag or language flagging the use of AI.
The public details of those accounts often included emojis such as teddy bears, lollipops, or baby bottles. In their non-explicit profile photos, some females wore their hair in pigtails or braids. Others had braces. Many referred to themselves in diminutive terms such as “small,” “tiny,” “petite” or “mini.”
Some described themselves as “shy” or “innocent.” One profile description read, “If you came to my page, it means you love little, inexperienced girls like me!”
One profile photo was of a female, dressed in a skin-tight, rainbow-colored fishnet top and described on her OnlyFans page as a “petite princess” who “may look innocent​​” but is looking for a “well experienced man.”
“She doesn't even look 15,” said Lori Cohen, CEO of Protect All Children from Trafficking or PACT, a US non-profit dedicated to eradicating child sexual exploitation and trafficking.
“It's a very disturbing image,” Cohen said.
<h2>‘This isn’t small scale’</h2>
Richardson said the 26 accounts he reported suggested possible coordination by content creators.
Typically, an OnlyFans creator has a public profile with one or more photos, and subscribers can log in to view explicit content involving that creator. But in the cases examined by Richardson, the creators often posted images advertising multiple other females, some of whom appeared underage, and linked to those females’ OnlyFans accounts, he said.
“This isn't small scale. It's not like one or three or four,” said Richardson. “How many really are out there?”
In some of the 26 accounts Richardson reported on Dec. 16, the profile photo of the OnlyFans creator featured what looked like an adult female, he said, but the photos posted within the account included those of suspected underage females along with their OnlyFans account names.
“Some of them appear to be very young and tiny,” he said.
He said some of the content in the 26 accounts could have been “legacy CSAM”: sexually explicit photos taken when the female was a girl but posted when she was 18 or over. These would still violate laws governing child sexual abuse material, three legal experts told Reuters.
Richardson has previously conducted research into OnlyFans. In 2022, he and other researchers reported that they found creator profiles with “common indicators” of child sexual abuse material or sex trafficking, including keywords and other language. Shortly after their report was published, one US lawmaker entered it into the Congressional Record, the official chronicle of congressional proceedings.
In the 49 public profiles Reuters reviewed, many of the account names included the words – or variations of the words – “little,” “baby,” “sweet” or “Lolita.” Those names, when combined with images of young females, can be used to advertise child sexual abuse material, said the specialists consulted by Reuters.
The posts sometimes referred to females in schoolgirl or other child-oriented terms. One, for example, stated: ”The depraved babe @[account name redacted by Reuters] ran away from schоol.” It continued: “Subscribe and punish her!” The account was removed by Dec. 17, the day after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings.
Bios or posts in the accounts Reuters identified often included references to females being 18 or having just turned 18. “I've been waiting to turn 18 for a long time so I could register on Onlyfans, and here I am,” read the profile of one female, who Cohen said appeared younger.
“There's a fullness to her face that is often associated with youth. She's got disproportionately large eyes, and children tend to have larger eyes on their face relative to adults,” said Cohen.
Even if the females actually were 18, child exploitation experts said that’s still a problem because the images themselves suggested they might be underage. “It creates a demand for younger and younger bodies,” said Cohen. “This type of behavior normalizes pedophilia.”
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It is unlikely that a person could be successfully prosecuted for child sexual abuse material in a scenario where an adult is posing as a minor, because governing statutes generally focus on the participant’s actual age, three legal experts told Reuters.
Among  the 49 accounts Reuters examined, the creators often used nearly identical language to describe themselves or particular sex acts.
“I don’t like parties or noisy clubs, I’m more of a home person, Netflix and chill is my kind of weekend,” one female wrote in her profile. Another used notably similar language: “I'm not a big fan of parties and noisy clubs. I'm more of a homebody, you know? Netflix and chill – that's my idea of a perfect weekend.”
As of mid-December, Reuters documented more than 150 instances in which posts from different accounts used identical or nearly identical language. Many of those posts, spread across 25 of the 49 accounts Reuters reviewed, also shared the same combinations of emojis.
A half dozen of those posts, all purporting to have been written by different creators, promised for instance that “this beauty will play with her tight holes just for you.”
Multiple others promised a “gorgeous doll for your hot desires” or a girl who “is all alone right now and needs some new attention.”
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Richardson said he reported the 26 accounts as containing suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the US-based clearinghouse for CSAM-related tips



Ottawa, Canada Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. An experienced child exploitation investigator told Reuters he reported 26 accounts on the popular adults-only website OnlyFans to authorities, saying they appeared to contain sexual content featuring underage teen girls. “What is alarming is the scope and scale of it,” said Matt W.J. Richardson, head of intelligence at The Canadian Open Source Intelligence Centre. He noted that many accounts featured more than one female who he suspected was underage. Within a day of his Dec. 16 report to authorities, all of the accounts had been removed from OnlyFans, said Richardson, whose organization trains law enforcement and government agencies in open source intelligence to help combat crimes such as human trafficking and child exploitation. Richardson said he reported the 26 accounts as containing suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the US-based clearinghouse for CSAM-related tips. Some of the accounts were linked to each other through promotional posts, suggesting they may have been controlled by the same person or group, Richardson said. The images in the accounts featured females with physical attributes typical of those under the age of 18, Richardson said. Most had narrow hips and lacked physical maturation, he said. Many had narrow shoulders or appeared to be “well short of five feet tall,” he said. Sexually explicit images of minors are banned in most countries, including the US, UK, and Canada, and are against OnlyFans rules. On its website, OnlyFans says it prohibits content featuring the exploitation or abuse of anyone under 18, even if it’s adults “pretending to be” under 18. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) told Reuters it could not comment on reports made to its tip line. Generally, NCMEC said, it tries to confirm whether reported webpages actively host child sexual abuse material or exploitive content. When warranted, it notifies the company hosting the material; it's then up to the company whether to remove or block the content. In addition, all tips are “referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for possible investigation,” NCMEC said. Also read | ‘Gotta keep this s**ker for a little while,’ Trump signals averting ban on TikTok Responding to the findings of this story, an OnlyFans spokesperson said the company has a “zero tolerance approach” to child sexual abuse material on the platform and has “strict onboarding processes to ensure all creators are over the age of 18.” OnlyFans works closely with NCMEC to “thoroughly investigate any reports they receive from others about our platform,” the spokesperson said. She did not respond to a question about why the 26 accounts were taken down only after Richardson reported them. OnlyFans has said it vets all content and swiftly removes and reports any suspected child sexual abuse material when detected. The company has a “pre-check team” that uses technology to detect content that’s “extremely likely to be a child,” CEO Keily Blair said in a speech in August. OnlyFans invests heavily in content moderation, Blair has said, which allows it to “focus on keeping the community safe and keeping the community for adults only.” OnlyFans also says all content is ultimately reviewed by human moderators. The spokesperson noted that OnlyFans itself made 347 reports to NCMEC in 2023, “vastly fewer than the millions of instances that are reported by other social media platforms where users can remain anonymous and where content is unmoderated.” OnlyFans’ 4.1 million content creators typically sell explicit images and videos for a monthly subscription fee, plus one-off payments. The company keeps a fifth of the revenue. The subscriptions effectively place paywalls around nearly every OnlyFans account, making the site difficult to scrutinize. In a July investigation, Reuters used US police and court records to document 30 complaints to law enforcement that child sexual abuse material appeared on OnlyFans between Dec. 2019 and June 2024. The case files examined by Reuters cited more than 200 explicit videos and images of kids, including some adults having oral sex with toddlers. OnlyFans told Reuters at that time that NCMEC has “full access” to the site behind its paywalls. But NCMEC said access was “limited” to OnlyFans accounts reported to its tip line or connected to a missing child case. Aside from that, NCMEC said it “does not proactively monitor, moderate, or actively seek to review content at scale” behind the paywall of OnlyFans. Emojis of lollipops & baby bottles In recent months, Reuters separately examined non-explicit public profile photos, bios and posts of OnlyFans creators who shared near-identical promotional language in their posts. Access to the material was open to the public without a paid OnlyFans subscription. Female creators in 49 of those accounts had non-explicit profile photos that appeared childlike, according to three people with professional experience identifying child exploitation, including Richardson. Richardson said the 26 cases he reported to NCMEC overlapped with four of those Reuters identified. Eric Silverman, a researcher for Culture Reframed, an organization focused on raising awareness about the harms of pornography to youth, said the 49 profile photos raised serious concern. “Their appearance, wide-eyed, innocent look, the pouting, the finger in the mouth, all these are visual cues that convey childhood,” he said. “Even if every single one of them is verifiably 18 or older, you still have to confront the issue that OnlyFans is profiting from the sexual portrayal of women who appear to be underage.” The accounts dated back months, as far as December 2023. All 49 of them were taken down after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings. A company spokesperson said OnlyFans reviewed the user names provided by Reuters. “In every case, the Creators’ Government identity documents had been checked and verified by a third party which confirmed the documents are valid, and all individuals are over the age of 18.” The company did not answer a question about why the 49 accounts were removed. OnlyFans also did not respond when asked to identify the “third party” that confirmed the documents. Also read | Germans questions security measures after deadly car attack at Magdeburg Christmas market Reuters could not verify the ages of the females featured in the profiles of the 49 accounts or whether their photos had been digitally altered. OnlyFans’ website says verified creators can post AI-generated content of themselves but must disclose it by, for example, including the hashtag #ai. The 49 accounts identified by Reuters didn’t have that hashtag or language flagging the use of AI. The public details of those accounts often included emojis such as teddy bears, lollipops, or baby bottles. In their non-explicit profile photos, some females wore their hair in pigtails or braids. Others had braces. Many referred to themselves in diminutive terms such as “small,” “tiny,” “petite” or “mini.” Some described themselves as “shy” or “innocent.” One profile description read, “If you came to my page, it means you love little, inexperienced girls like me!” One profile photo was of a female, dressed in a skin-tight, rainbow-colored fishnet top and described on her OnlyFans page as a “petite princess” who “may look innocent” but is looking for a “well experienced man.” “She doesn't even look 15,” said Lori Cohen, CEO of Protect All Children from Trafficking or PACT, a US non-profit dedicated to eradicating child sexual exploitation and trafficking. “It's a very disturbing image,” Cohen said. ‘This isn’t small scale’ Richardson said the 26 accounts he reported suggested possible coordination by content creators. Typically, an OnlyFans creator has a public profile with one or more photos, and subscribers can log in to view explicit content involving that creator. But in the cases examined by Richardson, the creators often posted images advertising multiple other females, some of whom appeared underage, and linked to those females’ OnlyFans accounts, he said. “This isn't small scale. It's not like one or three or four,” said Richardson. “How many really are out there?” In some of the 26 accounts Richardson reported on Dec. 16, the profile photo of the OnlyFans creator featured what looked like an adult female, he said, but the photos posted within the account included those of suspected underage females along with their OnlyFans account names. “Some of them appear to be very young and tiny,” he said. He said some of the content in the 26 accounts could have been “legacy CSAM”: sexually explicit photos taken when the female was a girl but posted when she was 18 or over. These would still violate laws governing child sexual abuse material, three legal experts told Reuters. Richardson has previously conducted research into OnlyFans. In 2022, he and other researchers reported that they found creator profiles with “common indicators” of child sexual abuse material or sex trafficking, including keywords and other language. Shortly after their report was published, one US lawmaker entered it into the Congressional Record, the official chronicle of congressional proceedings. In the 49 public profiles Reuters reviewed, many of the account names included the words – or variations of the words – “little,” “baby,” “sweet” or “Lolita.” Those names, when combined with images of young females, can be used to advertise child sexual abuse material, said the specialists consulted by Reuters. The posts sometimes referred to females in schoolgirl or other child-oriented terms. One, for example, stated: ”The depraved babe @[account name redacted by Reuters] ran away from schоol.” It continued: “Subscribe and punish her!” The account was removed by Dec. 17, the day after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings. Bios or posts in the accounts Reuters identified often included references to females being 18 or having just turned 18. “I've been waiting to turn 18 for a long time so I could register on Onlyfans, and here I am,” read the profile of one female, who Cohen said appeared younger. “There's a fullness to her face that is often associated with youth. She's got disproportionately large eyes, and children tend to have larger eyes on their face relative to adults,” said Cohen. Even if the females actually were 18, child exploitation experts said that’s still a problem because the images themselves suggested they might be underage. “It creates a demand for younger and younger bodies,” said Cohen. “This type of behavior normalizes pedophilia.” Also read | Georgia gay couple gets 100 years in jail for raping adopted sons and filming child pornography It is unlikely that a person could be successfully prosecuted for child sexual abuse material in a scenario where an adult is posing as a minor, because governing statutes generally focus on the participant’s actual age, three legal experts told Reuters. Among the 49 accounts Reuters examined, the creators often used nearly identical language to describe themselves or particular sex acts. “I don’t like parties or noisy clubs, I’m more of a home person, Netflix and chill is my kind of weekend,” one female wrote in her profile. Another used notably similar language: “I'm not a big fan of parties and noisy clubs. I'm more of a homebody, you know? Netflix and chill – that's my idea of a perfect weekend.” As of mid-December, Reuters documented more than 150 instances in which posts from different accounts used identical or nearly identical language. Many of those posts, spread across 25 of the 49 accounts Reuters reviewed, also shared the same combinations of emojis. A half dozen of those posts, all purporting to have been written by different creators, promised for instance that “this beauty will play with her tight holes just for you.” Multiple others promised a “gorgeous doll for your hot desires” or a girl who “is all alone right now and needs some new attention.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Multiple OnlyFans accounts with suspected child sexual abuse material: Report

Siberia, Russia 
Researchers in Russia revealed on Monday (Dec 24) that the carcass of a 50,000-year-old female baby mammoth was found in the Yakutia region of Siberia in June.
<meta charset="utf-8"/>
The remains of the female mammoth were named Yana after the river in whose basin it was found by some local residents. Experts said it is the best-preserved mammoth carcass in the world, and one of only seven remains ever found.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chris-hemsworth-backed-company-plans-to-revive-woolly-mammoths-by-2028-764497">Chris Hemsworth-backed company plans to revive woolly mammoth by 2028</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Mammoth remains 'found'</h2>
The remains of the mammoth were found in the Batagaika Crater, which has expanded since the 1960s, unveiling other historic finds such as a horse and bison, TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported.
&gt; The carcass was discovered as a portion of the crater collapsed unveiling half of the mammoth which led to the local residents finding it.
&gt; Maksim Cheprasov, a researcher, said it was a “unique discovery”. The carcass's front part fell to the bottom of the hole while the back half which included hind legs was in the permafrost. The back half was later collected by his colleagues.
&gt; The carcass weighs 180 kg (397 lbs) and is 120 cm (4 ft) tall and 200 cm long.
Watch | Remains of 50,000 Old Young Mammoth Found
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/24/2412_wion_mamoth_11am-1735023615-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2412_wion_mamoth_11am.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=116&tags=mammoth,remains of mammoth,baby mammoth" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
<h2 dir="ltr">Previous findings </h2>
North-Eastern Federal University is reviewing the carcass presently. Before the discovery of this baby mammoth, only six mammoth carcasses had been traced globally, five in Russia and one in Canada, the university said. 
“We were all surprised by the exceptional preservation of the mammoth,” said the university rector, Anatoly Nikolayev.
Studies continue to learn more about the carcass’s exact age.
Watch | Mammoth Remains Found Nearly Intact In Siberian Permafrost
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/24/2312_wion_mamoth_10pm-1734987311-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2312_wion_mamoth_10pm.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=139&tags=mammoth,Siberian Forest,russia,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"> </div>
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">(With inputs from agencies) </div>

The remains of the mammoth were found in the Batagaika Crater, which has expanded since the 1960s, unveiling other historic finds such as a horse and bison, TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported.



Siberia, Russia Researchers in Russia revealed on Monday (Dec 24) that the carcass of a 50,000-year-old female baby mammoth was found in the Yakutia region of Siberia in June. The remains of the female mammoth were named Yana after the river in whose basin it was found by some local residents. Experts said it is the best-preserved mammoth carcass in the world, and one of only seven remains ever found. Also Read: Chris Hemsworth-backed company plans to revive woolly mammoth by 2028 Mammoth remains 'found' The remains of the mammoth were found in the Batagaika Crater, which has expanded since the 1960s, unveiling other historic finds such as a horse and bison, TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported. > The carcass was discovered as a portion of the crater collapsed unveiling half of the mammoth which led to the local residents finding it. > Maksim Cheprasov, a researcher, said it was a “unique discovery”. The carcass's front part fell to the bottom of the hole while the back half which included hind legs was in the permafrost. The back half was later collected by his colleagues. > The carcass weighs 180 kg (397 lbs) and is 120 cm (4 ft) tall and 200 cm long. Watch | Remains of 50,000 Old Young Mammoth Found Previous findings North-Eastern Federal University is reviewing the carcass presently. Before the discovery of this baby mammoth, only six mammoth carcasses had been traced globally, five in Russia and one in Canada, the university said. “We were all surprised by the exceptional preservation of the mammoth,” said the university rector, Anatoly Nikolayev. Studies continue to learn more about the carcass’s exact age. Watch | Mammoth Remains Found Nearly Intact In Siberian Permafrost (With inputs from agencies)

'Best preserved' mammoth carcass discovered in Siberia

New Delhi
Honda and Nissan, Japan's second and third largest automakers, are inching closer to a historic merger. This news has ignited discussions across the board on the feasibility of this acquisition and who stands to gain or lose from this arrangement.
Key highlights of the merger
It is anticipated that the firms will finalise a corporate integration agreement, including the share transfer plan, by June 2025, and that the share transfer will take place by August 2026. According to Mitsubishi, it is considering its role in the merger and plans to make a decision by January 2025.
Nissan's Chief Executive, Makoto Uchida, at a press conference said, “Although it is a simple calculation, the total sales scale of the two companies is more than 30 trillion yen ($191.3 billion). The total number of four-wheeled vehicles will be 7.5 million, and if the business integration is realised, it will make the company one of the largest among global automakers.” 
What it means for both companies &amp; the broader market
Honda and Nissan will try to consolidate their activities under a joint holding company, according to Toshihiro Mibe, President of Honda. The new management will be led by Honda, who will uphold each company's values and brands. According to him, they want to finalise the deal and list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026, with a formal merger agreement expected by June.
Mibe also warned of the looming 'China' angle. He said, "There is a rise of Chinese power and emerging forces (in the automobile industry), and the structure of the automobile industry is changing. What this means is that, I believe that the value itself in terms of automobiles and mobility will change.”
According to Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions, Nissan offers huge SUVs with truck-based body-on-frame models, such the Armada and Infiniti QX80, that Honda does not have. These vehicles have good off-road performance and large towing capacity. He added that Nissan's years of experience in producing electric cars, batteries, and gas-electric hybrid powertrains may aid Honda in creating its own EVs and the next generation of hybrids. According to automotive industry analyst Sam Abuelsamid, who works in the Detroit area, "Nissan does have some product segments where Honda doesn't currently play," which a merger or alliance may help with. 
The 2 companies will join a long list of legacy automakers teaming up to enable next-gen vehicles that require collaboration &amp; pooling of resources to gain competitive advantage.  Mergers have occurred ever since General Motors (GM) was established in the first decade of the 20th century through the acquisition of several brands. However, they may struggle to successfully bring disparate partners together. In 1998, the German carmaker Daimler-Benz consented to purchase Chrysler Corp., but ten years later, the merged company was divided. Within two years, the newly independent Chrysler went bankrupt and needed a federal rescue. In the past year, Chrysler's most recent merger, with Europe's PSA Group in 2001 to establish Stellantis, has had its own set of issues, including declining sales and earnings. 
Impact on US markets
US-listed shares of Honda Motor reacted positively to the merger news. Analysts believe it would indicate the auto industry's much-needed consolidation. Honda's stock surged over 16 per cent, marking the largest one-day percentage gain since the record 19.6 per cent run-up on October 28, 2008.
Investor optimism was boosted by Honda's announcement that it would buy back up to $7 billion (1.1 trillion yen) of its own shares in order to increase shareholder returns. This, along with implementing a flexible capital strategy, and improving the "efficiency of its capital structure," which fueled the stock jump. The buybacks would start on January 6, 2025, and continue for the majority of the following year.
In a recent note to clients, UBS analyst Joseph Spak stated that in order to increase capital efficiency, the industry's rapid changes necessitate consolidation, partnerships, or other actions.
Impact on Indian markets
Given their separate large production setups and the fact that Nissan has an alliance partner in France, the Japanese companies Honda and Nissan's plans to combine operations in response to difficult business challenges could have a significant impact on both their global operations and their ability to operate in India. The entire plan is further complicated by the almost nonexistent activities of Mitsubishi in India, another party to the proposed Honda-Nissan merger. In India, Mitsubishi is sold in collaboration with the C K Birla group; however, the latter has since partnered with the French PSA group to produce Citroen automobiles.  
Take into account how complicated Nissan and Honda's operations are in India: Nissan now operates in India through a manufacturing joint venture with its global alliance partner Renault, having previously had a joint venture with Ashok Leyland. The alliance in India, which is estimated to have a joint installed capacity of 4 lakh units at the Oragadam factory outside Chennai, has been having trouble with sales.
In India, Nissan and Renault have both had sporadic success and have not taken advantage of any promising leads. With an export-oriented business model, Nissan specifically attempted to balance operations, but even this has proven difficult. If Renault does not participate in the Nissan-Honda global deal, it is still unclear what will happen to the Chennai factory. As the situation develops, it will be necessary to find out on what terms the Nissan or, for that matter, Renault vehicles would be manufactured at the Chennai plant.
Honda, one of the larger participants in the proposed global merger, is having a very difficult time. Although the company was once thought to be a powerful force, it has failed to live up to its reputation and has been losing market share to more established competitors like Hyundai, Toyota, Maruti Suzuki, and even regional brands like Tata Motors and Mahindra &amp; Mahindra. This year, Honda anticipates almost negligible growth in sales in India (approximately 87,000 units). Due to low demand, the company's Greater Noida manufacturing facility has been closed for many years. 
Industry reactions
Industry reactions to this news have been mixed. While some tout the merger idea as a 'game-changer', former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who fled to Japan in 2019 following corruption allegations, questioned whether a possible Honda-Nissan merger would succeed, stating that the latter's plans "do not make sense." He said, "The first thing that you look at when you want to envision an alliance or a partnership is a complementarity between the two partners. Well, I look at the complementarity between Honda and Nissan and I see none. There is no complementarity. The two companies are two Japanese companies. They are strong in the same fields. They are weak in the same fields. Both of them have very developed technologies. Again, from an industrial point of view, there is duplication everywhere. So, industrially, for me, that doesn't make sense."
As the merger talks progress and new information is revealed, the global auto industry is bracing for a major shift.

It is anticipated that the firms will finalise a corporate integration agreement, including the share transfer plan, by June 2025, and that the share transfer will take place by August 2026. According to Mitsubishi, it is considering its role in the merger and plans to make a decision by January 2025.



New Delhi Honda and Nissan, Japan's second and third largest automakers, are inching closer to a historic merger. This news has ignited discussions across the board on the feasibility of this acquisition and who stands to gain or lose from this arrangement. Key highlights of the merger It is anticipated that the firms will finalise a corporate integration agreement, including the share transfer plan, by June 2025, and that the share transfer will take place by August 2026. According to Mitsubishi, it is considering its role in the merger and plans to make a decision by January 2025. Nissan's Chief Executive, Makoto Uchida, at a press conference said, “Although it is a simple calculation, the total sales scale of the two companies is more than 30 trillion yen ($191.3 billion). The total number of four-wheeled vehicles will be 7.5 million, and if the business integration is realised, it will make the company one of the largest among global automakers.” What it means for both companies & the broader market Honda and Nissan will try to consolidate their activities under a joint holding company, according to Toshihiro Mibe, President of Honda. The new management will be led by Honda, who will uphold each company's values and brands. According to him, they want to finalise the deal and list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026, with a formal merger agreement expected by June. Mibe also warned of the looming 'China' angle. He said, "There is a rise of Chinese power and emerging forces (in the automobile industry), and the structure of the automobile industry is changing. What this means is that, I believe that the value itself in terms of automobiles and mobility will change.” According to Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions, Nissan offers huge SUVs with truck-based body-on-frame models, such the Armada and Infiniti QX80, that Honda does not have. These vehicles have good off-road performance and large towing capacity. He added that Nissan's years of experience in producing electric cars, batteries, and gas-electric hybrid powertrains may aid Honda in creating its own EVs and the next generation of hybrids. According to automotive industry analyst Sam Abuelsamid, who works in the Detroit area, "Nissan does have some product segments where Honda doesn't currently play," which a merger or alliance may help with. The 2 companies will join a long list of legacy automakers teaming up to enable next-gen vehicles that require collaboration & pooling of resources to gain competitive advantage. Mergers have occurred ever since General Motors (GM) was established in the first decade of the 20th century through the acquisition of several brands. However, they may struggle to successfully bring disparate partners together. In 1998, the German carmaker Daimler-Benz consented to purchase Chrysler Corp., but ten years later, the merged company was divided. Within two years, the newly independent Chrysler went bankrupt and needed a federal rescue. In the past year, Chrysler's most recent merger, with Europe's PSA Group in 2001 to establish Stellantis, has had its own set of issues, including declining sales and earnings. Impact on US markets US-listed shares of Honda Motor reacted positively to the merger news. Analysts believe it would indicate the auto industry's much-needed consolidation. Honda's stock surged over 16 per cent, marking the largest one-day percentage gain since the record 19.6 per cent run-up on October 28, 2008. Investor optimism was boosted by Honda's announcement that it would buy back up to $7 billion (1.1 trillion yen) of its own shares in order to increase shareholder returns. This, along with implementing a flexible capital strategy, and improving the "efficiency of its capital structure," which fueled the stock jump. The buybacks would start on January 6, 2025, and continue for the majority of the following year. In a recent note to clients, UBS analyst Joseph Spak stated that in order to increase capital efficiency, the industry's rapid changes necessitate consolidation, partnerships, or other actions. Impact on Indian markets Given their separate large production setups and the fact that Nissan has an alliance partner in France, the Japanese companies Honda and Nissan's plans to combine operations in response to difficult business challenges could have a significant impact on both their global operations and their ability to operate in India. The entire plan is further complicated by the almost nonexistent activities of Mitsubishi in India, another party to the proposed Honda-Nissan merger. In India, Mitsubishi is sold in collaboration with the C K Birla group; however, the latter has since partnered with the French PSA group to produce Citroen automobiles. Take into account how complicated Nissan and Honda's operations are in India: Nissan now operates in India through a manufacturing joint venture with its global alliance partner Renault, having previously had a joint venture with Ashok Leyland. The alliance in India, which is estimated to have a joint installed capacity of 4 lakh units at the Oragadam factory outside Chennai, has been having trouble with sales. In India, Nissan and Renault have both had sporadic success and have not taken advantage of any promising leads. With an export-oriented business model, Nissan specifically attempted to balance operations, but even this has proven difficult. If Renault does not participate in the Nissan-Honda global deal, it is still unclear what will happen to the Chennai factory. As the situation develops, it will be necessary to find out on what terms the Nissan or, for that matter, Renault vehicles would be manufactured at the Chennai plant. Honda, one of the larger participants in the proposed global merger, is having a very difficult time. Although the company was once thought to be a powerful force, it has failed to live up to its reputation and has been losing market share to more established competitors like Hyundai, Toyota, Maruti Suzuki, and even regional brands like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. This year, Honda anticipates almost negligible growth in sales in India (approximately 87,000 units). Due to low demand, the company's Greater Noida manufacturing facility has been closed for many years. Industry reactions Industry reactions to this news have been mixed. While some tout the merger idea as a 'game-changer', former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who fled to Japan in 2019 following corruption allegations, questioned whether a possible Honda-Nissan merger would succeed, stating that the latter's plans "do not make sense." He said, "The first thing that you look at when you want to envision an alliance or a partnership is a complementarity between the two partners. Well, I look at the complementarity between Honda and Nissan and I see none. There is no complementarity. The two companies are two Japanese companies. They are strong in the same fields. They are weak in the same fields. Both of them have very developed technologies. Again, from an industrial point of view, there is duplication everywhere. So, industrially, for me, that doesn't make sense." As the merger talks progress and new information is revealed, the global auto industry is bracing for a major shift.

Honda-Nissan merger: What you need to know

Uttar Pradesh, India
Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.
A teen boy in Uttar Pradesh's Basti died by suicide after he faced severe harassment in his village after being invited to a birthday party. 
According to his family, Aditya, 17, was invited to the party on the night of Friday (Dec 20). Allegedly, he was subjected to violence and humiliation during the celebration by four individuals, according to local media reports.
The minor was stripped, beaten, and urinated upon by the accused, who recorded the whole ordeal on their phone and threatened to make the clip viral. They further humiliated him after the boy asked them to delete the video.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-big-conspiracy-report-finds-no-evidence-of-struggle-resistance-at-kolkata-rg-kar-rape-scene-786381">‘A big conspiracy?’ Report finds no evidence of ‘struggle, resistance’ at Kolkata RG Kar rape scene</a>
“He was invited to a birthday party in the village. We don't know if it was all pre-planned, but he was stripped naked and beaten and even urinated on. When we went to the Police Station to file a complaint, our complaint wasn't registered,” the victim's uncle said according to news agency ANI.
The boy shared the incident with his parents upon returning home and then later took his life after the traumatic event. The motive remains unknown.
“A boy named Aditya hanged himself, and a case has been registered in PS Kaptanganj. A case has been registered in the relevant sections… The reason is suspected to be mutual differences,” Basti's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pradeep Kumar Tripathi told ANI.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pune-road-tragedy-speeding-bumper-mows-down-sleeping-labourers-three-dead-786093">Pune road tragedy: Speeding bumper mows down sleeping labourers, three dead</a>
The boy’s family went to a nearby police station, demanding prompt action, but claimed that the officials did not register a complaint or take any action initially. The police registered the case only after hours of protest by the family.
“We will ensure strict action against the culprits,” said Tripathi. He also confirmed that an investigation is underway. The victim’s body has been sent for postmortem.
(With inputs from agencies)
<a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/11181469">Get help &amp; support for suicide</a>
If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline using the information in the above link. WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations.

According to his family, Aditya, 17, was invited to the party on the night of Friday (Dec 20). Allegedly, he was subjected to violence and humiliation during the celebration by four individuals



Uttar Pradesh, India Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. A teen boy in Uttar Pradesh's Basti died by suicide after he faced severe harassment in his village after being invited to a birthday party. According to his family, Aditya, 17, was invited to the party on the night of Friday (Dec 20). Allegedly, he was subjected to violence and humiliation during the celebration by four individuals, according to local media reports. The minor was stripped, beaten, and urinated upon by the accused, who recorded the whole ordeal on their phone and threatened to make the clip viral. They further humiliated him after the boy asked them to delete the video. Also read | ‘A big conspiracy?’ Report finds no evidence of ‘struggle, resistance’ at Kolkata RG Kar rape scene “He was invited to a birthday party in the village. We don't know if it was all pre-planned, but he was stripped naked and beaten and even urinated on. When we went to the Police Station to file a complaint, our complaint wasn't registered,” the victim's uncle said according to news agency ANI. The boy shared the incident with his parents upon returning home and then later took his life after the traumatic event. The motive remains unknown. “A boy named Aditya hanged himself, and a case has been registered in PS Kaptanganj. A case has been registered in the relevant sections… The reason is suspected to be mutual differences,” Basti's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pradeep Kumar Tripathi told ANI. Also read | Pune road tragedy: Speeding bumper mows down sleeping labourers, three dead The boy’s family went to a nearby police station, demanding prompt action, but claimed that the officials did not register a complaint or take any action initially. The police registered the case only after hours of protest by the family. “We will ensure strict action against the culprits,” said Tripathi. He also confirmed that an investigation is underway. The victim’s body has been sent for postmortem. (With inputs from agencies) Get help & support for suicide If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline using the information in the above link. WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations.

Indian boy dies by suicide after being invited to birthday party, stripped, urinated upon

Washington, United States
United States retail giant Walmart landed in a controversy on Tuesday (Dec 24) for selling shirts featuring images of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on its online store.
A non-profit watchdog organisation based in the US named StopAntisemtisim called out Walmart in an X post along with screenshots showing the apparel listed on the online store.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-behead-their-leaders-israel-admits-it-killed-hamas-leader-ismail-haniyeh-786344">‘Will behead their leaders…,’ Israel confirms it killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh</a>
The post read, “Walmart shoppers were horrified to find shirts glorifying Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar while online shopping. @Walmart, are you aware you're selling apparel celebrating terrorism and violence against Jews?”
“This is outrageous—remove them immediately,” it demanded.
Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.
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Walmart shoppers were horrified to find shirts glorifying Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar while online shopping. <a href="https://twitter.com/Walmart?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Walmart</a>, are you aware you're selling apparel celebrating terrorism and violence against Jews?
This is a outrageous—remove them immediately. <a href="https://t.co/po8BBLLafc">pic.twitter.com/po8BBLLafc</a>
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) <a href="https://twitter.com/StopAntisemites/status/1871386558710100468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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While one of the shirts featured Sinwar firing a gun in combat gear, the second one featured his face with his name split into two words, “sin” and “war”. 
Another shirt that featured former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was available for sale on the website. The shirt is sold by a Texas-based third-party vendor and is falsely titled “Nasrallah Safe Following Israeli Airstrikes”. 
While the Sinwar shirts have been removed from the website, Nasrallah shirts still appear to be available for purchase on the online store, according to Jerusalem Post.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-intercepts-yemen-launched-projectile-amid-rising-tensions-786326">Israel intercepts Yemen-launched projectile amid rising tensions</a>
Sinwar was eliminated this year in October by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in the Gaza Strip. Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike by the Israel Air Force in Beirut in September.
The third-party vendor also sells a shirt with a swastika symbol on the American flag with text reading “I don't kneel” on the Walmart website.
Other leading retail stores like Amazon and eBay have also sparked criticism over the years for selling offensive products listed by third-party sellers.
(With inputs from agencies)

A non-profit watchdog organisation based in the US named StopAntisemtisim called out Walmart in an X post along with screenshots showing the apparel listed on the online store



Washington, United States United States retail giant Walmart landed in a controversy on Tuesday (Dec 24) for selling shirts featuring images of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on its online store. A non-profit watchdog organisation based in the US named StopAntisemtisim called out Walmart in an X post along with screenshots showing the apparel listed on the online store. Also read | ‘Will behead their leaders…,’ Israel confirms it killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh The post read, “Walmart shoppers were horrified to find shirts glorifying Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar while online shopping. @Walmart, are you aware you're selling apparel celebrating terrorism and violence against Jews?” “This is outrageous—remove them immediately,” it demanded. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. Walmart shoppers were horrified to find shirts glorifying Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar while online shopping. @Walmart, are you aware you're selling apparel celebrating terrorism and violence against Jews? This is a outrageous—remove them immediately. pic.twitter.com/po8BBLLafc — StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 24, 2024 × While one of the shirts featured Sinwar firing a gun in combat gear, the second one featured his face with his name split into two words, “sin” and “war”. Another shirt that featured former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was available for sale on the website. The shirt is sold by a Texas-based third-party vendor and is falsely titled “Nasrallah Safe Following Israeli Airstrikes”. While the Sinwar shirts have been removed from the website, Nasrallah shirts still appear to be available for purchase on the online store, according to Jerusalem Post. Also read | Israel intercepts Yemen-launched projectile amid rising tensions Sinwar was eliminated this year in October by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in the Gaza Strip. Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike by the Israel Air Force in Beirut in September. The third-party vendor also sells a shirt with a swastika symbol on the American flag with text reading “I don't kneel” on the Walmart website. Other leading retail stores like Amazon and eBay have also sparked criticism over the years for selling offensive products listed by third-party sellers. (With inputs from agencies)

Walmart in hot soup as shirts featuring Hamas and Hezbollah leaders go up for sale

Mumbai, India
Former India batter Vinod Kambli’s health has been in the headlines for the last few days after he was admitted to a private hospital in Thane on Saturday (Dec 21). Speaking on the same, on Monday, doctors revealed the reason for the health issue as he struggles with clots in his brain. Kambli’s health has been on decline in the recent months with several incidents making headlines including a program with Sachin Tendulkar where they shared the same podium.
<h2>Doctors reveal clot in Kambli’s brain</h2>
After being admitted at Akriti Hospital in Thane, Kambli’s doctor Vivek Trivedi confirmed the brain clots despite the former batter complaining of urinary infection and cramps. However, a series of examinations from the medical team revealed the same. According to Dr Trivedi, Kambli’s health has been constantly under examination as he receives treatment.
Dr Trivedi also revealed that the 52-year-old will receive free treatment for life at the hospital as directed by in-charge S Singh.
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"It is because of the doctor here that I am alive... All I would say is that I will do whatever sir (referring to the doctor) asks me to. People will see the inspiration that I'll give them," Kambli told PTI earlier. "We always had a cricketing image of sir (Vinod Kambli) in our mind. So, it inspired us that sir needs us and so, the entire team decided to do something for sir. He keeps telling us about his good memories," the doctor treating the former Indian cricketer said.
Kambli’s post-playing career has been in the spotlight for all wrong reasons having struggled with financial and health issues. He was India’s rising star along with Sachin Tendulkar in the 1990s, representing India in 104 ODIs where he scored 2477 runs at an average of 32.59 with a best of 106. In Tests, he represented India in 17 matches having scored 1084 runs with a best of 227 and an average of 54.20.
(With inputs from agencies)

Speaking on Vinod Kambli's health, on Monday (Dec 23), doctors revealed the reason for the health issue as he struggles with clots in his brain. Kambli’s health has been on decline in the recent months with several incidents making headlines including a program with Sachin Tendulkar where they shared the same podium.



Mumbai, India Former India batter Vinod Kambli’s health has been in the headlines for the last few days after he was admitted to a private hospital in Thane on Saturday (Dec 21). Speaking on the same, on Monday, doctors revealed the reason for the health issue as he struggles with clots in his brain. Kambli’s health has been on decline in the recent months with several incidents making headlines including a program with Sachin Tendulkar where they shared the same podium. Doctors reveal clot in Kambli’s brain After being admitted at Akriti Hospital in Thane, Kambli’s doctor Vivek Trivedi confirmed the brain clots despite the former batter complaining of urinary infection and cramps. However, a series of examinations from the medical team revealed the same. According to Dr Trivedi, Kambli’s health has been constantly under examination as he receives treatment. Dr Trivedi also revealed that the 52-year-old will receive free treatment for life at the hospital as directed by in-charge S Singh. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: Head coach Andrew McDonald confirms Sam Konstas debut for Boxing Day Test; Travis Head uncertain "It is because of the doctor here that I am alive... All I would say is that I will do whatever sir (referring to the doctor) asks me to. People will see the inspiration that I'll give them," Kambli told PTI earlier. "We always had a cricketing image of sir (Vinod Kambli) in our mind. So, it inspired us that sir needs us and so, the entire team decided to do something for sir. He keeps telling us about his good memories," the doctor treating the former Indian cricketer said. Kambli’s post-playing career has been in the spotlight for all wrong reasons having struggled with financial and health issues. He was India’s rising star along with Sachin Tendulkar in the 1990s, representing India in 104 ODIs where he scored 2477 runs at an average of 32.59 with a best of 106. In Tests, he represented India in 17 matches having scored 1084 runs with a best of 227 and an average of 54.20. (With inputs from agencies)

Vinod Kambli health: Doctors reveal 'clots' in brain of former India batter after medical examinations

Moscow, Russia
Russia on Monday (Dec 23) confirmed that several countries have agreed to join BRICS as partner states, with the official status set to take effect on January 1, 2025.
A TASS report citing Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov reported that nine countries have said yes to becoming members of the intergovernmental organisation.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-story/khalistani-terrorists-killed-in-up-were-led-by-uk-army-officer-claims-top-indian-cop-786369">Khalistani terrorists killed in UP were led by UK army officer, claims top Indian cop</a>
<h2>BRICS partners</h2>
At a recent summit in Kazan, a new category for BRICS partner countries was established, and invitations were sent to 13 nations. So far, Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan have confirmed their readiness to join, Ushakov told reporters.
"One of the important results of the summit [in Kazan] was the establishment of the category of BRICS partner countries and coming to terms on a list of 13 states. Invitations were sent to these states. As of this time, confirmations of readiness to become a BRICS partner country have been received from Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan."
"From January 1, 2025, they will officially acquire the status of BRICS partner states," he said.
Ushakov noted that further responses from four additional countries are expected soon. He also mentioned that Eritrea has expressed interest in cooperating with BRICS.
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"We expect that in the near future responses will come from four more countries, to which invitations were also sent."
Partner states will be invited to participate in specific BRICS summits, foreign ministers' meetings, and other forums, including security discussions and parliamentary events, he said.
"We also believe it is right to involve partners in meetings of high representatives in charge of security issues, parliamentary forum and other events," the Kremlin aide said.
(With inputs from agencies)

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said that nine countries have said yes to becoming members of the intergovernmental organisation



Moscow, Russia Russia on Monday (Dec 23) confirmed that several countries have agreed to join BRICS as partner states, with the official status set to take effect on January 1, 2025. A TASS report citing Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov reported that nine countries have said yes to becoming members of the intergovernmental organisation. Also read | Khalistani terrorists killed in UP were led by UK army officer, claims top Indian cop BRICS partners At a recent summit in Kazan, a new category for BRICS partner countries was established, and invitations were sent to 13 nations. So far, Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan have confirmed their readiness to join, Ushakov told reporters. "One of the important results of the summit [in Kazan] was the establishment of the category of BRICS partner countries and coming to terms on a list of 13 states. Invitations were sent to these states. As of this time, confirmations of readiness to become a BRICS partner country have been received from Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan." "From January 1, 2025, they will officially acquire the status of BRICS partner states," he said. Ushakov noted that further responses from four additional countries are expected soon. He also mentioned that Eritrea has expressed interest in cooperating with BRICS. Also read | Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar to visit US from Dec 24-29 to discuss bilateral and global issues "We expect that in the near future responses will come from four more countries, to which invitations were also sent." Partner states will be invited to participate in specific BRICS summits, foreign ministers' meetings, and other forums, including security discussions and parliamentary events, he said. "We also believe it is right to involve partners in meetings of high representatives in charge of security issues, parliamentary forum and other events," the Kremlin aide said. (With inputs from agencies)

BRICS expands: Russia confirms nine nations to join as partner states from January 2025

Kolkata, India
A forensic report submitted in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital rape case has revealed that no evidence of struggle or resistance was found at the crime scene. The incident, in which a trainee medic was raped and murdered in the capital city of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal in August this year, had triggered massive movements and protests across the country. A report by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has now raised some serious questions.
The report stated that experts found no evidence of scuffle or assault between the deceased and the attacker at the scene. Similarly, no such signs were found inside the seminar room as well.
The body of the deceased doctor was found inside the seminar hall on August 9. The CBI had filed a charge sheet against the prime accused, Sanjay Roy, in this case. Roy was identified as a civic volunteer linked to the Kolkata Police.
According to media reports, CFSL experts from Delhi analysed and examined the crime scene, including the mattress, on August 14, where the doctor had been reportedly assaulted.
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"The cut mark portions observed on this mattress were reasonably corresponding to the head and lower abdomen area of an injured victim who stated or happens to be lying on this mattress," the CFSL report mentioned.
"However, the evidence of a possible struggle shown by the victim with the assailant or fight in between them was found missing in the shown area of occurrence, i.e., the wooden stage mattress and the adjoining area inside the seminar hall," it further said.
The report and its findings have now led to speculations on social media, with some raising doubts about whether the crime scene was altered before experts could examine it.
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One user wrote on X, “Appears a big conspiracy to me, the evidences and crime scene was already altered even before the local staff knew about it. Well whatever is the case, one thing remains the same that chances of criminals being punished by Court are very low in our judicial system.”
“This report was submitted in September. I don't understand how the case hearings after that have not taken this into consideration or if taken then why the charge sheet wasn't filed,” a second user wrote.
(With inputs from agencies)

The forensic report stated that experts found no evidence of scuffle or assault between the deceased and the attacker at the scene. Similarly, no such signs were found inside the seminar room as well.



Kolkata, India A forensic report submitted in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital rape case has revealed that no evidence of struggle or resistance was found at the crime scene. The incident, in which a trainee medic was raped and murdered in the capital city of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal in August this year, had triggered massive movements and protests across the country. A report by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has now raised some serious questions. The report stated that experts found no evidence of scuffle or assault between the deceased and the attacker at the scene. Similarly, no such signs were found inside the seminar room as well. The body of the deceased doctor was found inside the seminar hall on August 9. The CBI had filed a charge sheet against the prime accused, Sanjay Roy, in this case. Roy was identified as a civic volunteer linked to the Kolkata Police. According to media reports, CFSL experts from Delhi analysed and examined the crime scene, including the mattress, on August 14, where the doctor had been reportedly assaulted. Also read: Parents of Kolkata rape-murder victim `heartbroken` after RG Kar hospital ex-principal granted bail "The cut mark portions observed on this mattress were reasonably corresponding to the head and lower abdomen area of an injured victim who stated or happens to be lying on this mattress," the CFSL report mentioned. "However, the evidence of a possible struggle shown by the victim with the assailant or fight in between them was found missing in the shown area of occurrence, i.e., the wooden stage mattress and the adjoining area inside the seminar hall," it further said. The report and its findings have now led to speculations on social media, with some raising doubts about whether the crime scene was altered before experts could examine it. Also read: Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Polygraph test of 7 including main accused begins One user wrote on X, “Appears a big conspiracy to me, the evidences and crime scene was already altered even before the local staff knew about it. Well whatever is the case, one thing remains the same that chances of criminals being punished by Court are very low in our judicial system.” “This report was submitted in September. I don't understand how the case hearings after that have not taken this into consideration or if taken then why the charge sheet wasn't filed,” a second user wrote. (With inputs from agencies)

‘A big conspiracy?’ Report finds no evidence of ‘struggle, resistance’ at Kolkata RG Kar rape scene

New Delhi, India
Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed his unwavering support to Virat Kohli for being able to counter his woes outside off-stump deliveries ahead of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia, at the MCG, Melbourne. Kohli scored a hundred in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener, in Perth, but fell flat in the next two games, due to his weakness outside off-stump. Thus, Rohit supported the 'modern-day great' in tackling his issues and becoming good at the MCG, with the five-match series tied at 1-1 after three Tests.
When asked if he had spoken to Kohli about his weakness, Rohit Sharma said in the pre-match presser, "You only said he is a modern-day great. Modern-day greats will figure out their way or the path (to overcome issues)."
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Speaking of Rohit, Hitman has also struggled for runs in the ongoing series versus Pat Cummins-led Australia. After missing the series opener, due to paternity leave, Rohit has had scores of 3, 6 and 10. He demoted himself from opening the innings to batting at No. 6 but the move hasn't paid dividends. He did this to ensure KL Rahul bats at the top, who has been in good form since the series opener.
On being asked about his batting spot, Rohit said, "Let's not worry about that. I think 'who bats where?' is something that we need to figure out within ourselves. It's not something I should be discussing at every press conference. Whatever it takes for our team to look good or give the best chance to succeed, we will do that."
The Boxing Day Test commences on Thursday (Dec 26) as both sides will look to take an unassailable lead in the five-match series. If India win, they will be able to retain the BGT once again, since 2016/17.

BGT 2024/25: Indian captain Rohit Sharma backed 'modern-day great' Virat Kohli to come good vs outside off-stump deliveries in the Boxing Day Test, in Melbourne.



New Delhi, India Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed his unwavering support to Virat Kohli for being able to counter his woes outside off-stump deliveries ahead of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia, at the MCG, Melbourne. Kohli scored a hundred in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener, in Perth, but fell flat in the next two games, due to his weakness outside off-stump. Thus, Rohit supported the 'modern-day great' in tackling his issues and becoming good at the MCG, with the five-match series tied at 1-1 after three Tests. When asked if he had spoken to Kohli about his weakness, Rohit Sharma said in the pre-match presser, "You only said he is a modern-day great. Modern-day greats will figure out their way or the path (to overcome issues)." Also read: BGT 2024/25: Head coach Andrew McDonald confirms Sam Konstas debut for Boxing Day Test; Travis Head uncertain Speaking of Rohit, Hitman has also struggled for runs in the ongoing series versus Pat Cummins-led Australia. After missing the series opener, due to paternity leave, Rohit has had scores of 3, 6 and 10. He demoted himself from opening the innings to batting at No. 6 but the move hasn't paid dividends. He did this to ensure KL Rahul bats at the top, who has been in good form since the series opener. On being asked about his batting spot, Rohit said, "Let's not worry about that. I think 'who bats where?' is something that we need to figure out within ourselves. It's not something I should be discussing at every press conference. Whatever it takes for our team to look good or give the best chance to succeed, we will do that." The Boxing Day Test commences on Thursday (Dec 26) as both sides will look to take an unassailable lead in the five-match series. If India win, they will be able to retain the BGT once again, since 2016/17.

BGT: Rohit backs 'modern-day great' Kohli to come good vs outside off-stump deliveries in Boxing Day Test

Punjab, India
Punjab police DGP Gaurav Yadav in a post on Monday (Dec 23) revealed that the three Khalistani terrorists neutralised in a UP Police and Punjab police joint operation belonged to a Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terror module operated by a member of the UK army.
<h2>UK army officer involved</h2>
In a post on X, Punjab Police DJP Yadav detailed that the joint operation against Pakistan's ISI operative in the northern Indian state of Punjab led to an encounter with three operatives of KZP operatives.
The three terrorists were "involved in the grenade attack on a police post in Gurdaspur".
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He said that the three men, identified as Varinder Singh (alias Ravi), Gurwinder Singh, and Jashanpreet Singh (alias Partap Singh) were part of a module controlled by Ranjeet Singh Nita, the chief of KZF, and operated by Jaswinder Singh Mannu, and Jagjeet Singh.
Yadav said that Mannu is a resident of Agwan village in Punjab's Gurdaspur district and is based in Greece. Meanwhile, Jagjeet Singh, who was operating under the alias Fateh Singh Baggi is based in the United Kingdom and is believed to be serving in the British Army.
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In a joint operation against, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a>'s ISI operative in Punjab, a collaborative effort between UP Police &amp; Punjab Police led to an encounter with three operatives of KZF in the jurisdiction of PS Puranpur, Pilibhit. Recovery: Two AK rifles and two Glock pistols
The three… <a href="https://t.co/ezEvP0WpOI">pic.twitter.com/ezEvP0WpOI</a>
— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/1871073739724755058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In the video posted alongside the post, the Punjab police DGP said: "In fact, the credit (of the attack) was claimed in the name of Fateh Singh Baggi of the KZF," he added.
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Yadav also said that the investigations are going on to "expose all the connections and members of the module and more recoveries and arrests are likely."
The operation took place in the jurisdiction of PS Puranpur, Pilibhit. During the operation, police officials seized two AK-47 rifles, two Glock pistols, and a huge cache of ammunition from the terrorists, he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

According to Punjab Police DJP Yadav, Jagjeet Singh alias Fateh Singh Baggi, one of the operators of the neutralised terrorists is based in the United Kingdom and is believed to be serving in the British Army



Punjab, India Punjab police DGP Gaurav Yadav in a post on Monday (Dec 23) revealed that the three Khalistani terrorists neutralised in a UP Police and Punjab police joint operation belonged to a Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terror module operated by a member of the UK army. UK army officer involved In a post on X, Punjab Police DJP Yadav detailed that the joint operation against Pakistan's ISI operative in the northern Indian state of Punjab led to an encounter with three operatives of KZP operatives. The three terrorists were "involved in the grenade attack on a police post in Gurdaspur". Also read | India: Three Pak-sponsored terrorists linked to banned 'Khalistan Zindabad Force' killed in encounter in UP He said that the three men, identified as Varinder Singh (alias Ravi), Gurwinder Singh, and Jashanpreet Singh (alias Partap Singh) were part of a module controlled by Ranjeet Singh Nita, the chief of KZF, and operated by Jaswinder Singh Mannu, and Jagjeet Singh. Yadav said that Mannu is a resident of Agwan village in Punjab's Gurdaspur district and is based in Greece. Meanwhile, Jagjeet Singh, who was operating under the alias Fateh Singh Baggi is based in the United Kingdom and is believed to be serving in the British Army. In a joint operation against, #Pakistan's ISI operative in Punjab, a collaborative effort between UP Police & Punjab Police led to an encounter with three operatives of KZF in the jurisdiction of PS Puranpur, Pilibhit. Recovery: Two AK rifles and two Glock pistols The three… pic.twitter.com/ezEvP0WpOI — DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) December 23, 2024 × In the video posted alongside the post, the Punjab police DGP said: "In fact, the credit (of the attack) was claimed in the name of Fateh Singh Baggi of the KZF," he added. Also read | Memes take social media by storm amid clarification over 18% GST on caramelised popcorn Yadav also said that the investigations are going on to "expose all the connections and members of the module and more recoveries and arrests are likely." The operation took place in the jurisdiction of PS Puranpur, Pilibhit. During the operation, police officials seized two AK-47 rifles, two Glock pistols, and a huge cache of ammunition from the terrorists, he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Khalistani terrorists killed in UP were led by UK army officer, claims top Indian cop

Moscow
Russia’s top Islamic body has reversed a ruling allowing Muslim men to have multiple wives. The move came after the move by the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia triggered a backlash on social media, as officials pointed out how the ruling didn’t conform to Russian laws.
Polygamy is outlawed in Russia and goes against “our core morals and traditional values,” said Nina Ostanina, the head of the parliamentary family affairs committee.
The Islamic body earlier on Dec 17 issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, outlining conditions and circumstances under which Muslim men can have more than one wife. The document said a Muslim man could have four wives if “equal material support” is guaranteed to all, along with separate living space. One of the conditions was that the husband will have to give “an equal amount of time” to each of them.
Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Launches Aerial Attack On Ukraine
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The main condition for allowing polygamy is a fair and equal treatment of all wives by their husband,” the document said. It acknowledged that “religious Islamic marriage is not recognized by the state and creates no legal consequences,” stressing that the fatwa “does not replace the norms of Russian marital law.”
Soon after the document became public, it was severely condemned by officials as well as Russian commoners. Russian state-backed outlet RT quoted Kirill Kabanov, a member of the presidential Human Rights Council, as accusing the Islamic body of brazenly violating Russia’s constitution.
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On Monday (Dec 23), the Islamic body was notified by the Prosecutor General’s Office that the ruling was essentially unlawful and it went against “the state family policies.” Soon after, the body said it was withdrawing its document allowing polygamy, citing backlash from the public and the official order.
“It is God’s will. The Council of Scholars sees no sense in joining a debate on the matter,” the council’s chairman, Shamil Alyautdinov, wrote on Telegram.
It is to be noted that Muslims make up for around 10 per cent of Russia’s total population, with the highest concentration in regions like Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, and Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in western Russia.
(With inputs from agencies)

The Islamic body issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, earlier on Dec 17 outlining circumstances under which Muslim men can have more than one wife. The document said a Muslim man could have four wives if “equal material support” and separate living spaces were guaranteed to all.



Moscow Russia’s top Islamic body has reversed a ruling allowing Muslim men to have multiple wives. The move came after the move by the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia triggered a backlash on social media, as officials pointed out how the ruling didn’t conform to Russian laws. Polygamy is outlawed in Russia and goes against “our core morals and traditional values,” said Nina Ostanina, the head of the parliamentary family affairs committee. The Islamic body earlier on Dec 17 issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, outlining conditions and circumstances under which Muslim men can have more than one wife. The document said a Muslim man could have four wives if “equal material support” is guaranteed to all, along with separate living space. One of the conditions was that the husband will have to give “an equal amount of time” to each of them. Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Launches Aerial Attack On Ukraine × The main condition for allowing polygamy is a fair and equal treatment of all wives by their husband,” the document said. It acknowledged that “religious Islamic marriage is not recognized by the state and creates no legal consequences,” stressing that the fatwa “does not replace the norms of Russian marital law.” Soon after the document became public, it was severely condemned by officials as well as Russian commoners. Russian state-backed outlet RT quoted Kirill Kabanov, a member of the presidential Human Rights Council, as accusing the Islamic body of brazenly violating Russia’s constitution. Also read: ‘Create more passionate content,’ Putin pitches for alternatives to porn On Monday (Dec 23), the Islamic body was notified by the Prosecutor General’s Office that the ruling was essentially unlawful and it went against “the state family policies.” Soon after, the body said it was withdrawing its document allowing polygamy, citing backlash from the public and the official order. “It is God’s will. The Council of Scholars sees no sense in joining a debate on the matter,” the council’s chairman, Shamil Alyautdinov, wrote on Telegram. It is to be noted that Muslims make up for around 10 per cent of Russia’s total population, with the highest concentration in regions like Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, and Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in western Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

‘It’s God’s will,’ Russia’s top Islamic body withdraws ruling that allowed men to have four wives

Washington, United States
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Japan’s National Police Agency have said that a North Korean hacking group, TraderTraitor, stole cryptocurrency worth $308 million from Japan-based exchange DMM Bitcoin earlier this year in May.
TraderTraitor, known to be a part of Lazarus Group, targets multiple employees from the same organisation at the same time. The infamous Lazarus Group is allegedly linked to Pyongyang authorities and has been accused of hacking into Sony Pictures for mocking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the film The Interview.
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“The theft of cryptocurrency worth $308 million US dollars from the Japan-based cryptocurrency company DMM by North Korean cyber actors,” the FBI stated in a statement on Monday (Dec 23).
The North Korean cyber actors facilitated a “targeted social engineering” operation in which they pretended to be LinkedIn recruiters and contacted an employee at a Japan-based enterprise cryptocurrency wallet software company Ginco in late March.
They then sent a malicious code under the guise of a pre-employment test on a GitHub page, which allowed hackers to gain access to their system and impersonate the employee.
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In late May, the hackers manipulated a legitimate transaction request by a DMM employee. According to the FBI, the attack led to losses of 4,502.9 BTC, worth $308 million, which were transferred to TraderTraitor-controlled wallets.
“The FBI, National Police Agency of Japan, and other U.S. government and international partners will continue to expose and combat North Korea’s use of illicit activities—including cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft—to generate revenue for the regime,” the FBI added in its statement. 
According to a 2020 US military report, North Korea’s cyber-warfare agency, Bureau 121, has over 6,000 members operating from several countries. The program can be tracked back to at least the mid-1990s.
(With inputs from agencies)

The North Korean cyber actors facilitated a “targeted social engineering” operation in which they pretended to be LinkedIn recruiters and contacted an employee at a Japan-based enterprise cryptocurrency wallet software company Ginco in late March



Washington, United States The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Japan’s National Police Agency have said that a North Korean hacking group, TraderTraitor, stole cryptocurrency worth $308 million from Japan-based exchange DMM Bitcoin earlier this year in May. TraderTraitor, known to be a part of Lazarus Group, targets multiple employees from the same organisation at the same time. The infamous Lazarus Group is allegedly linked to Pyongyang authorities and has been accused of hacking into Sony Pictures for mocking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the film The Interview. Also read | Luxury brands to consider accepting crypto payments as bitcoin soars “The theft of cryptocurrency worth $308 million US dollars from the Japan-based cryptocurrency company DMM by North Korean cyber actors,” the FBI stated in a statement on Monday (Dec 23). The North Korean cyber actors facilitated a “targeted social engineering” operation in which they pretended to be LinkedIn recruiters and contacted an employee at a Japan-based enterprise cryptocurrency wallet software company Ginco in late March. They then sent a malicious code under the guise of a pre-employment test on a GitHub page, which allowed hackers to gain access to their system and impersonate the employee. Also read | Honda-Nissan merger: What you need to know In late May, the hackers manipulated a legitimate transaction request by a DMM employee. According to the FBI, the attack led to losses of 4,502.9 BTC, worth $308 million, which were transferred to TraderTraitor-controlled wallets. “The FBI, National Police Agency of Japan, and other U.S. government and international partners will continue to expose and combat North Korea’s use of illicit activities—including cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft—to generate revenue for the regime,” the FBI added in its statement. According to a 2020 US military report, North Korea’s cyber-warfare agency, Bureau 121, has over 6,000 members operating from several countries. The program can be tracked back to at least the mid-1990s. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korean cyber actors behind $308 million cryptocurrency heist, say US and Japan

Karachi, Pakistan
Pakistan announced on Tuesday that two Tests against the West Indies next month will take place back-to-back in Multan. They will be the West Indies' first Tests in Pakistan for 19 years and will take place on January 17-21 and 25-29.
The matches will count towards the World Test Championship though both teams are out of contention to reach the final.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-rohit-backs-modern-day-great-kohli-to-come-good-vs-outside-off-stump-deliveries-in-boxing-day-test-786380">BGT: Rohit backs 'modern-day great' Kohli to come good vs outside off-stump deliveries in Boxing Day Test</a>
West Indies Tour of Pakistan:
January 10-12: Warm-up v Pakistan Shaheens, Rawalpindi
January 17-12: First Test, Multan
January 25-29: Second Test, Multan
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The matches will count towards the World Test Championship though both teams are out of contention to reach the final.



Karachi, Pakistan Pakistan announced on Tuesday that two Tests against the West Indies next month will take place back-to-back in Multan. They will be the West Indies' first Tests in Pakistan for 19 years and will take place on January 17-21 and 25-29. The matches will count towards the World Test Championship though both teams are out of contention to reach the final. Also read: BGT: Rohit backs 'modern-day great' Kohli to come good vs outside off-stump deliveries in Boxing Day Test West Indies Tour of Pakistan: January 10-12: Warm-up v Pakistan Shaheens, Rawalpindi January 17-12: First Test, Multan January 25-29: Second Test, Multan Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pakistan set to host West Indies for two Tests in Multan before Champions Trophy

New York, USA 
<meta charset="utf-8"/>Yemen has seen a surge in cholera, with around 250,000 suspected infections and 861 deaths reported until December 1, said the World Health Organization (WHO).
This is 35 per cent of all cholera cases globally, and 18 per cent of the loss of lives in 2024.
A sharp rise was observed in November, with cases up 37 per cent and the death rate growing by 27 per cent compared to the same time in 2023.
“Waterborne diseases like cholera and acute watery diarrhoea have added immense pressure on Yemen’s already struggling health system,” said Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen.
<h2>A crisis in the making</h2>
The outbreak of cholera worsened in the wake of 10 years of conflicts and major economic troubles in Yemen.
The country endured its worst cholera outbreak from 2017 to 2020, and the disease has been a serious problem since then.
WHO said the current rise in cases is triggered by issues like lack of clean water, poor sanitation, and constrained access to health facilities. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cholera-epidemic-has-killed-180-in-yemen-icrc-15610">Cholera epidemic has killed 180 in Yemen: ICRC</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Funding shortage</h2>
Between October 2024 and March 2025, there is a $20 million funding gap in addressing the issue.
As a result, 47 diarrhea treatment centres (DTCs) and 234 oral rehydration centres (ORCs) were shut from March to November.
WHO has warned that if the funds are not given quickly, another 17 DTCs and 39 ORCs will close by the end of December, leaving 84 per cent of DTCs and 62 per cent of ORCs unable to operate.
Humanitarian groups stress that Yemen could face a catastrophe as bad as the 2017-2020 cholera epidemic.
Watch | Extreme weather in Africa brings deadly Cholera outbreak
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/05/28/FORWEB_2805WI_WOA_EXTREME_WEATHER-1716915312-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/FORWEB_2805WI_WOA_EXTREME_WEATHER.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=255&tags=Africa,Cholera,World News" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
<h2 dir="ltr">Efforts underway</h2>
WHO has collaborated with Yemeni authorities, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations to highlight the outbreak with initiatives such as:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
Providing laboratory equipment to 12 central public health labs to confirm infections.
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
Distribution of important medicines, medical supplies, and water and sanitation to affected areas.
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
Training over 800 health workers in cholera case management.
</li>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
Deploying more than 25,000 rapid response teams to investigate cases and implement control measures.
</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"> </h2>

Yemen is going through a larger humanitarian crisis. Over 18.2 million people, nearly half the population, need aid, with 11.2 million in dire need of help.
Food insecurity impacts 17.6 million people across the country, and almost half of children under five are suffering from moderate to severe stunting.
As the cholera outbreak gets bad and funding runs low, Yemen’s health system is on the brink of crumbling, leaving millions at risk of preventable diseases.
(With inputs from agencies)

The outbreak of cholera increased due to the 10 years of conflicts and major economic troubles



New York, USA Yemen has seen a surge in cholera, with around 250,000 suspected infections and 861 deaths reported until December 1, said the World Health Organization (WHO). This is 35 per cent of all cholera cases globally, and 18 per cent of the loss of lives in 2024. A sharp rise was observed in November, with cases up 37 per cent and the death rate growing by 27 per cent compared to the same time in 2023. “Waterborne diseases like cholera and acute watery diarrhoea have added immense pressure on Yemen’s already struggling health system,” said Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen. A crisis in the making The outbreak of cholera worsened in the wake of 10 years of conflicts and major economic troubles in Yemen. The country endured its worst cholera outbreak from 2017 to 2020, and the disease has been a serious problem since then. WHO said the current rise in cases is triggered by issues like lack of clean water, poor sanitation, and constrained access to health facilities. Also Read: Cholera epidemic has killed 180 in Yemen: ICRC Funding shortage Between October 2024 and March 2025, there is a $20 million funding gap in addressing the issue. As a result, 47 diarrhea treatment centres (DTCs) and 234 oral rehydration centres (ORCs) were shut from March to November. WHO has warned that if the funds are not given quickly, another 17 DTCs and 39 ORCs will close by the end of December, leaving 84 per cent of DTCs and 62 per cent of ORCs unable to operate. Humanitarian groups stress that Yemen could face a catastrophe as bad as the 2017-2020 cholera epidemic. Watch | Extreme weather in Africa brings deadly Cholera outbreak Efforts underway WHO has collaborated with Yemeni authorities, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations to highlight the outbreak with initiatives such as: Providing laboratory equipment to 12 central public health labs to confirm infections. Distribution of important medicines, medical supplies, and water and sanitation to affected areas. Training over 800 health workers in cholera case management. Deploying more than 25,000 rapid response teams to investigate cases and implement control measures. Yemen is going through a larger humanitarian crisis. Over 18.2 million people, nearly half the population, need aid, with 11.2 million in dire need of help. Food insecurity impacts 17.6 million people across the country, and almost half of children under five are suffering from moderate to severe stunting. As the cholera outbreak gets bad and funding runs low, Yemen’s health system is on the brink of crumbling, leaving millions at risk of preventable diseases. (With inputs from agencies)

WHO reports cholera surge in Yemen: 250,000 suspected infections and 861 deaths as of Dec 1

New Delhi, India 
R Ashwin stunned the cricketing fraternity by announcing his international retirement during Day 5 of the Gabba Test between India and Australia, in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, on Dec 18. Ashwin ended a stellar run at the international level with 765 scalps -- second-most among Indians. In Tests, he accounted for 537 scalps whereas the wily spinner claimed 228 wickets in white-ball formats. After his retirement, Ashwin opened up on his career and not being able to captain India once.
On not captaining India, Ashwin said during a Sky Sports Podcast, "It's interesting. I am smart enough to know what works for me and what doesn't for another person. When I started my career, I got first-class captaincy very early. I have won a few tournaments for my team. I believe I had it in me. But I did not have any regret that I didn't go on to lead my country because these are not things that I can control."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-rohit-backs-modern-day-great-kohli-to-come-good-vs-outside-off-stump-deliveries-in-boxing-day-test-786380">BGT: Rohit backs 'modern-day great' Kohli to come good vs outside off-stump deliveries in Boxing Day Test</a>
The wily spinner opined, "I have realised somebody needs to feel that I am good enough to lead the team, I need to get another 15-20 people to come along with me for me to be able to lead the team. It wasn't meant for me in this particular chapter of my life."
"I don't think this office or corporate felt I was good enough to lead the team. That doesn't mean I am not good enough for leadership. Leadership, you don't need a title to do that because, within me, I was a great leader in that group to be able to contribute to other people's success. I looked out for zones of contribution. I did it to the best of my ability. I do not have regrets, but I do think it would have been something I would have enjoyed," Ashwin added.
Ashwin made his debut under MS Dhoni in 2010. He played under numerous captains, such as Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, KL Rahul, etc. While he didn't lead India, he has had enough leadership exposure at the domestic level.
The 38-year-old Ashwin is known to be an astute reader of the game and will make his presence felt in the domestic tournaments.

Former Indian spinner R Ashwin opened up on not leading the national side after hanging his boots from international cricket last week. 



New Delhi, India R Ashwin stunned the cricketing fraternity by announcing his international retirement during Day 5 of the Gabba Test between India and Australia, in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, on Dec 18. Ashwin ended a stellar run at the international level with 765 scalps -- second-most among Indians. In Tests, he accounted for 537 scalps whereas the wily spinner claimed 228 wickets in white-ball formats. After his retirement, Ashwin opened up on his career and not being able to captain India once. On not captaining India, Ashwin said during a Sky Sports Podcast, "It's interesting. I am smart enough to know what works for me and what doesn't for another person. When I started my career, I got first-class captaincy very early. I have won a few tournaments for my team. I believe I had it in me. But I did not have any regret that I didn't go on to lead my country because these are not things that I can control." Also read: BGT: Rohit backs 'modern-day great' Kohli to come good vs outside off-stump deliveries in Boxing Day Test The wily spinner opined, "I have realised somebody needs to feel that I am good enough to lead the team, I need to get another 15-20 people to come along with me for me to be able to lead the team. It wasn't meant for me in this particular chapter of my life." "I don't think this office or corporate felt I was good enough to lead the team. That doesn't mean I am not good enough for leadership. Leadership, you don't need a title to do that because, within me, I was a great leader in that group to be able to contribute to other people's success. I looked out for zones of contribution. I did it to the best of my ability. I do not have regrets, but I do think it would have been something I would have enjoyed," Ashwin added. Ashwin made his debut under MS Dhoni in 2010. He played under numerous captains, such as Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, KL Rahul, etc. While he didn't lead India, he has had enough leadership exposure at the domestic level. The 38-year-old Ashwin is known to be an astute reader of the game and will make his presence felt in the domestic tournaments.

'No regrets about not captaining India, but...': R Ashwin on not leading national side

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