Fortnite maker Epic Games has won&nbsp;its high-profile antitrust trial against Alphabet's Google. On Monday, the Jury in the case decided that Google wields an illegal monopoly through its Play app store. Google said that it would appeal. However, the ruling could upend the entire app store economy if it holds.

<h2>The case</h2>

Back in 2020, Epic sued both Google and Apple. It accused the tech titans of abusing their control of the Play Store and App Store, their respective online shops for selling apps.

It also accused Google of taking action to quash competitors and charging unduly high "tax" fees of up to 30 per cent to app developers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-to-determine-if-the-person-watching-porn-is-too-young-heres-how-667162">AI to determine if the person watching porn is too young. Here's how</a>

As per Reuters, among the more sensational allegations was that&nbsp;to conceal its anti-competitive behaviour, Google had a system for deleting texts and internal messages.&nbsp;

Jurors found Google guilty of various illegal strategies to maintain its app store monopoly on Android phones.

If the ruling holds, it has the potential to give developers more sway over how their apps are distributed and how they profit from them.

<h2>Google to Appeal&nbsp;</h2>

The ruling marks a stunning, albeit rare, defeat for Google, which alongside Apple operates one of the world's largest app stores.&nbsp;

Following it, Google said that it would seek rectification via an appeal.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/taken-our-time-to-get-this-right-meta-to-roll-out-end-to-end-encryption-for-facebook-and-instagram-667011">'Taken our time to get this right': Meta to roll out end-to-end encryption for Facebook &amp; Instagram</a>

"We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem," said Wilson White, vice president of government affairs and public policy at Google.

Google has denied any wrongdoing. The company argued that it competes "intensely on price, quality, and security" against Apple's App Store.

Watch |&nbsp;Google and Epic Games face off at trial over Play Store rules

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/google-and-epic-games-face-off-at-trial-over-play-store-rules-656422/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Proof of Google's 'illegal' practices</h2>

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the ruling on the social media site X.

In a statement on its website, Epic said that the verdict "proves that Google's app store practices are illegal, and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation."

Epic's similar antitrust case against Apple failed in September 2021, when a US judge largely ruled in favour of the iPhone maker.

(With inputs from agencies)

Fortnite maker Epic Games has won its high-profile antitrust trial against Alphabet's Google. On Monday, the Jury in the case decided that Google wields an illegal monopoly through its Play app store.

Fortnite maker Epic Games has won its high-profile antitrust trial against Alphabet's Google. On Monday, the Jury in the case decided that Google wields an illegal monopoly through its Play app store. Google said that it would appeal. However, the ruling could upend the entire app store economy if it holds. The case Back in 2020, Epic sued both Google and Apple. It accused the tech titans of abusing their control of the Play Store and App Store, their respective online shops for selling apps. It also accused Google of taking action to quash competitors and charging unduly high "tax" fees of up to 30 per cent to app developers. Also read | AI to determine if the person watching porn is too young. Here's how As per Reuters, among the more sensational allegations was that to conceal its anti-competitive behaviour, Google had a system for deleting texts and internal messages. Jurors found Google guilty of various illegal strategies to maintain its app store monopoly on Android phones. If the ruling holds, it has the potential to give developers more sway over how their apps are distributed and how they profit from them. Google to Appeal The ruling marks a stunning, albeit rare, defeat for Google, which alongside Apple operates one of the world's largest app stores. Following it, Google said that it would seek rectification via an appeal. Also read | 'Taken our time to get this right': Meta to roll out end-to-end encryption for Facebook & Instagram "We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem," said Wilson White, vice president of government affairs and public policy at Google. Google has denied any wrongdoing. The company argued that it competes "intensely on price, quality, and security" against Apple's App Store. Watch | Google and Epic Games face off at trial over Play Store rules Proof of Google's 'illegal' practices Epic CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the ruling on the social media site X. In a statement on its website, Epic said that the verdict "proves that Google's app store practices are illegal, and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation." Epic's similar antitrust case against Apple failed in September 2021, when a US judge largely ruled in favour of the iPhone maker. (With inputs from agencies)

Epic Games' 'epic' win: Jury finds Google guilty of monopolistic practices in antitrust trial

Kenya is in the throes of its third nationwide blackout in three months. The power blackout hit the East African nation on Sunday (Dec 10) evening.

Large parts of the nation, including the main airport in the capital, Nairobi, a major transport hub connecting East Africa to Asia, Europe and other parts of the world, have been left paralysed due to the power outage.

<h2>Engineers working to 'restore normalcy'</h2>

As per VOA, the outage on Sunday began around 8 pm local time (1700 GMT). It is the third national power supply failure in just three months.

State-run Kenya Power blamed the blackout on a "system disturbance" which it said was being looked at by technicians who were working to "restore normalcy".

"We have lost electricity supply to various parts of the country due to a suspected fault affecting the power system," it said in a statement.

"We are working to restore normalcy within the shortest time possible. An update on the restoration progress will be issued in due course. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused."

As per the report, among the key establishments impacted by Sunday's blackout were the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, as well as Eldoret Airport in western Kenya. In both places, power generators didn't kick in after the power grid failure.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenyan-minister-issues-rare-apology-after-blackout-plunged-main-airport-terminal-into-darkness-629523">Kenyan minister issues ‘rare’ apology after blackout plunges main airport terminal into darkness</a>

Some parts of the nation reported that power was restored after around two hours.

<h2>Kenya and blackouts</h2>

Just last month, in a similar power outage, it took engineers over 12 hours to restore power in most parts of Kenya.

In Kenya, state-run Kenya Power enjoys a monopoly when it comes to supply and distribution of electricity. For years, the utility provider has been accused of poor service delivery and corruption, which as per the report has led to soaring costs of electricity in Kenya.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-fukushima-conspiracy-revived-after-thousands-of-fish-mysteriously-appear-in-japan-668309">WATCH | Fukushima conspiracy revived after thousands of fish mysteriously&nbsp;appear&nbsp;in&nbsp;Japan</a>

On August 25, the worst power outage ever proved to be the longest disruption in Kenya's history. In some parts of the country, including in the capital Nairobi, it took almost 24 hours for the power to be restored. The cause of this massive blackout remains a mystery to date. However, the power company blamed a failure at Africa's largest wind farm for the outage.

<h2>Kenyans demand answers</h2>

Following the power outage on Sunday, Kenyans took to social media to demand answers for the frequent blackouts. Others mocked Kenya Power, saying it was worse than its peers in Nigeria and South Africa, where load shedding is done frequently.

(With inputs from agencies)

Kenya is in the throes of its third nationwide blackout in three months. The power blackout hit the East African nation on Sunday (Dec 10) evening. Large parts of the nation, including the main airport in the capital, Nairobi, a major transport hub connecting East Africa to Asia, Europe and other parts of the world, have been left paralysed due to the power outage.

Kenya is in the throes of its third nationwide blackout in three months. The power blackout hit the East African nation on Sunday (Dec 10) evening. Large parts of the nation, including the main airport in the capital, Nairobi, a major transport hub connecting East Africa to Asia, Europe and other parts of the world, have been left paralysed due to the power outage. Engineers working to 'restore normalcy' As per VOA, the outage on Sunday began around 8 pm local time (1700 GMT). It is the third national power supply failure in just three months. State-run Kenya Power blamed the blackout on a "system disturbance" which it said was being looked at by technicians who were working to "restore normalcy". "We have lost electricity supply to various parts of the country due to a suspected fault affecting the power system," it said in a statement. "We are working to restore normalcy within the shortest time possible. An update on the restoration progress will be issued in due course. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused." As per the report, among the key establishments impacted by Sunday's blackout were the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, as well as Eldoret Airport in western Kenya. In both places, power generators didn't kick in after the power grid failure. Also read | Kenyan minister issues ‘rare’ apology after blackout plunges main airport terminal into darkness Some parts of the nation reported that power was restored after around two hours. Kenya and blackouts Just last month, in a similar power outage, it took engineers over 12 hours to restore power in most parts of Kenya. In Kenya, state-run Kenya Power enjoys a monopoly when it comes to supply and distribution of electricity. For years, the utility provider has been accused of poor service delivery and corruption, which as per the report has led to soaring costs of electricity in Kenya. Also read | WATCH | Fukushima conspiracy revived after thousands of fish mysteriously appear in Japan On August 25, the worst power outage ever proved to be the longest disruption in Kenya's history. In some parts of the country, including in the capital Nairobi, it took almost 24 hours for the power to be restored. The cause of this massive blackout remains a mystery to date. However, the power company blamed a failure at Africa's largest wind farm for the outage. Kenyans demand answers Following the power outage on Sunday, Kenyans took to social media to demand answers for the frequent blackouts. Others mocked Kenya Power, saying it was worse than its peers in Nigeria and South Africa, where load shedding is done frequently. (With inputs from agencies)

Lights out: Kenya power grid fails again, third nationwide blackout hits nation

Thundering at each other with lances while dressed in full armour, modern-day knights still practice the ancient sporting tradition of jousting at historic sites in the United Kingdom, following in the centuries-old hoof prints of their predecessors.

Medieval Jousting returns to modern-day Britain

Cats are amazing, graceful creatures that make great pets. However, as per a new analysis of more than 15 studies, cat parents may be at humongous risk from schizophrenia and other related disorders.

<h2>The analysis</h2>

A team of researchers from Australia ran an analysis of 17 studies spanning almost 44 years. These studies are from 11 countries around the world.

The researchers discovered a curious association "between broadly defined cat ownership and increased odds of developing schizophrenia-related disorders," writes the team from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/this-japan-town-will-pay-you-a-million-yen-to-live-thereon-one-condition-667520">This Japan town will pay you a million Yen to live there...on one condition</a>

<h2>How did the idea come about?</h2>

The idea that owning cats may have something to do with schizophrenia risk was first proposed in a 1995 study. It suggested that the cause may be a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, of which felines are the only definitive host.

Subsequent studies also found that being around cats during early years aka childhood might make someone more susceptible to developing schizophrenia. But, it needs to be noted that not every study found an association.

Other studies, as per Science Alert, have linked exposure to cats to higher scores&nbsp;on scales that measure traits related to schizophrenia. However, again, not every study showed this connection.

<h2>Toxoplasma gondii</h2>

A parasite that can be transmitted through undercooked meat, contaminated water, bite from an infected cat or its faeces.&nbsp;

In the US, an estimated&nbsp;40 million people may be infected, without any obvious symptoms.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mislabelled-fossil-reveals-truly-surprising-secrets-from-the-time-of-dinosaurs-667557">Mislabelled fossil reveals 'truly surprising' secrets from the time of dinosaurs</a>

Once the parasite enters our body, it can infiltrate out the central nervous system and influence neurotransmitters. T.gondii has also been linked to personality changes, the start of psychotic symptoms and some neurological disorders, one of which is schizophrenia.

However, there is no proof that in such cases, the parasite was passed to&nbsp;humans via cats.

Despite that, researchers say,&nbsp;"after adjusting for covariates, we found that individuals exposed to cats had approximately twice the odds of developing schizophrenia."

(With inputs from agencies)

Cats are amazing, graceful creatures that make great pets. However, as per a new analysis of more than 15 studies, cat parents may be at humongous risk from schizophrenia and other related disorders.

Cats are amazing, graceful creatures that make great pets. However, as per a new analysis of more than 15 studies, cat parents may be at humongous risk from schizophrenia and other related disorders. The analysis A team of researchers from Australia ran an analysis of 17 studies spanning almost 44 years. These studies are from 11 countries around the world. The researchers discovered a curious association "between broadly defined cat ownership and increased odds of developing schizophrenia-related disorders," writes the team from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research. Also read | This Japan town will pay you a million Yen to live there...on one condition How did the idea come about? The idea that owning cats may have something to do with schizophrenia risk was first proposed in a 1995 study. It suggested that the cause may be a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, of which felines are the only definitive host. Subsequent studies also found that being around cats during early years aka childhood might make someone more susceptible to developing schizophrenia. But, it needs to be noted that not every study found an association. Other studies, as per Science Alert, have linked exposure to cats to higher scores on scales that measure traits related to schizophrenia. However, again, not every study showed this connection. Toxoplasma gondii A parasite that can be transmitted through undercooked meat, contaminated water, bite from an infected cat or its faeces. In the US, an estimated 40 million people may be infected, without any obvious symptoms. Also read | Mislabelled fossil reveals 'truly surprising' secrets from the time of dinosaurs Once the parasite enters our body, it can infiltrate out the central nervous system and influence neurotransmitters. T.gondii has also been linked to personality changes, the start of psychotic symptoms and some neurological disorders, one of which is schizophrenia. However, there is no proof that in such cases, the parasite was passed to humans via cats. Despite that, researchers say, "after adjusting for covariates, we found that individuals exposed to cats had approximately twice the odds of developing schizophrenia." (With inputs from agencies)

Owning cats might up your risk of developing schizophrenia, study suggests

Income Tax (I-T) department raids on companies belonging to Dhiraj Sahu, a member of the Indian parliament, ended on Sunday (Dec 10) after more than three days.&nbsp;

The raids led to the recovery of&nbsp;more than 353 crore Indian rupees (a staggering 42 million US dollars), which happens to be the largest cash haul in a single operation. It has now snowballed into a major political controversy as it involves a Congress leader.&nbsp;

<h2>The largest haul</h2>

As per reports, counting the massive cash haul could not be finished in a day or two. While the reason for this is reportedly the day-to-day operations of the State Bank of India branch involved in counting, a leader of the ruling party BJP quipped, "Even the [currency counting] machines are tired of counting."

Taking to X, Kiren Rijiju, India's Minister of Earth Sciences wrote in Hindi, "Even the machines are tired of counting the notes of Congress' corruption!! Why is Congress party always associated with corruption?"

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
मशीनें भी कांग्रेस के भ्रष्टाचार के नोट गिनते-गिनते थक गई हैं !! कांग्रेस पार्टी हमेशा भ्रष्टाचार से क्यों जुड़ी रहती है? <a href="https://t.co/US2PhN6xp5">https://t.co/US2PhN6xp5</a> <a href="https://t.co/rBIi6ddwBV">pic.twitter.com/rBIi6ddwBV</a>
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirenRijiju/status/1733876128350167539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Over $42 million (₹350 crore) has been recovered. This as per reports amounted to 176 bags of cash. Three banks were roped in for the counting, which used 40 currency counting machines. The Hindustan Times reports that soon after the counting started, currency counting machines "gave in" due to the huge amounts of cash,&nbsp;and more had to be brought in.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-vows-every-penny-will-be-returned-as-2397-mln-cash-found-in-raids-on-properties-linked-to-congress-mp-667876">$34.7mn cash seized in I-T raids on Cong MP’s properties; Modi vows ‘every penny will have to be returned’</a>

Nine teams of about 80 people from the various banks and tax departments worked day and night to complete the counting. The raid involved a whopping 200 officials&nbsp;— including security personnel, drivers and other staff.

<h2>Dhiraj Sahu's old tweet against corruption goes viral</h2>

As the buzz over the raids spread, on X, formerly Twitter, an old post by Sahu went viral.

Writing about black money in the nation, in 2022, Sahu said: "I feel pained seeing so much corruption and black money in the country even after noteban. This is beyond my understanding how people can accumulate so much of black money. Only Congress can uproot corruption from the party."

Sharing a screenshot of the now-viral tweet, BJP's IT Cell chief Amit Malviya made a satirical post on X. "Dhiraj Prasad Sahu has a dark sense of humour," he said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dhiraj Prasad Sahu has a dark sense of humour. 😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CorruptionKiDukan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CorruptionKiDukan</a> <a href="https://t.co/2esDCyip1O">pic.twitter.com/2esDCyip1O</a>
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitmalviya/status/1733751877219848553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-lawyer-makes-shocking-claim-says-state-of-assam-originally-part-of-myanmar-not-india-667886">Indian lawyer makes shocking claim, says state of Assam originally 'part of Myanmar, not India'</a>

<h2>'Nothing to do with the party': INC</h2>

Congress has, however, distanced itself from Sahu. Seeking clarification from the MP, the national party said it is "a personal matter of Dheeraj Sahu."

Speaking to media, Congress' Jharkhand in-charge and All India Congress Committee (AICC) member Avinash Pandey said: "It is a collective business of his joint family. That family has been in business for over 100 years. Only he can give information about from where he got such a huge amount of money but since he is associated with the Congress and is a Rajya Sabha member of our party, the Congress has sought a clarification from him."&nbsp;

During a press meet in Ranchi, he also said, "This incident has nothing to do with the Congress."&nbsp;

"The party has already made it clear that this is a personal matter of Dheeraj Sahu. At the same time it would not be right to comment on anything until the official statement comes from the Income Tax and related agencies," he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wont-take-oath-in-front-of-akbaruddin-owaisi-because-telangana-bjp-mla-t-raja-singh-667869">'Won't take oath in front of Akbaruddin Owaisi because...': Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh</a>

Addressing BJP's anger over the incident Alamgir, Jharkhand Congress MLA and Minister in the Cabinet of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, said it was the job of the opposition to speak against the Congress.

"As far as raids are concerned, the law is doing its job. It is all happening because Mr. Dheeraj Sahu’s name is associated with the Congress. He is a well-known businessman of the country and his business is not in one State, rather in many States. The Congress will neither talk to rescue him nor to release him in this case," he said

<h2>BJP demands Sahu's arrest</h2>

On Sunday, BJP leaders, as per a PTI report, staged a protest outside Raj Bhavan in Jharkhand, demanding the arrest of Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu.

Former Minister and State Vice-President Gangotri Kujur, and former Minister and MLA CP Singh also participated in the protest.

There, Singh, as per The Hindu, alleged that the Congress had been the "mother of corruption" since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru.

"Be it the Jeep scam or the Bofors scam, the Congress is the mother of corruption. The property of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi was attached in the National Herald case. [Bhupesh] Baghel has done Mahadev app scam. Whoever is born in the Congress gets involved in corruption. Today when action is being taken against people involved in the scam, everyone including the Congress, JMM, RJD, SP, Trinamool, JD(U), and the Left parties are having problems," he said.

The BJP leader also demanded that the Governor of Jharkhand must investigate using the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Singh also called for Dhiraj Sahu's arrest and said an FIR should be registered against him. Previously, reacting to the I-T raids, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that "every penny looted from the people" will have to be returned.

(With inputs from agencies)

Income Tax (I-T) department raids on companies belonging to Dhiraj Sahu, a member of the Indian parliament, ended on Sunday (Dec 10) after more than three days. The raids led to the recovery of more than 353 crore Indian rupees (a staggering 42 million US dollars), which happens to be the largest cash haul in a single operation.

Income Tax (I-T) department raids on companies belonging to Dhiraj Sahu, a member of the Indian parliament, ended on Sunday (Dec 10) after more than three days. The raids led to the recovery of more than 353 crore Indian rupees (a staggering 42 million US dollars), which happens to be the largest cash haul in a single operation. It has now snowballed into a major political controversy as it involves a Congress leader. The largest haul As per reports, counting the massive cash haul could not be finished in a day or two. While the reason for this is reportedly the day-to-day operations of the State Bank of India branch involved in counting, a leader of the ruling party BJP quipped, "Even the [currency counting] machines are tired of counting." Taking to X, Kiren Rijiju, India's Minister of Earth Sciences wrote in Hindi, "Even the machines are tired of counting the notes of Congress' corruption!! Why is Congress party always associated with corruption?" मशीनें भी कांग्रेस के भ्रष्टाचार के नोट गिनते-गिनते थक गई हैं !! कांग्रेस पार्टी हमेशा भ्रष्टाचार से क्यों जुड़ी रहती है? https://t.co/US2PhN6xp5 pic.twitter.com/rBIi6ddwBV — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) December 10, 2023 × Over $42 million (₹350 crore) has been recovered. This as per reports amounted to 176 bags of cash. Three banks were roped in for the counting, which used 40 currency counting machines. The Hindustan Times reports that soon after the counting started, currency counting machines "gave in" due to the huge amounts of cash, and more had to be brought in. Also read | $34.7mn cash seized in I-T raids on Cong MP’s properties; Modi vows ‘every penny will have to be returned’ Nine teams of about 80 people from the various banks and tax departments worked day and night to complete the counting. The raid involved a whopping 200 officials — including security personnel, drivers and other staff. Dhiraj Sahu's old tweet against corruption goes viral As the buzz over the raids spread, on X, formerly Twitter, an old post by Sahu went viral. Writing about black money in the nation, in 2022, Sahu said: "I feel pained seeing so much corruption and black money in the country even after noteban. This is beyond my understanding how people can accumulate so much of black money. Only Congress can uproot corruption from the party." Sharing a screenshot of the now-viral tweet, BJP's IT Cell chief Amit Malviya made a satirical post on X. "Dhiraj Prasad Sahu has a dark sense of humour," he said. Dhiraj Prasad Sahu has a dark sense of humour. 😂#CorruptionKiDukan pic.twitter.com/2esDCyip1O — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 10, 2023 × Also read | Indian lawyer makes shocking claim, says state of Assam originally 'part of Myanmar, not India' 'Nothing to do with the party': INC Congress has, however, distanced itself from Sahu. Seeking clarification from the MP, the national party said it is "a personal matter of Dheeraj Sahu." Speaking to media, Congress' Jharkhand in-charge and All India Congress Committee (AICC) member Avinash Pandey said: "It is a collective business of his joint family. That family has been in business for over 100 years. Only he can give information about from where he got such a huge amount of money but since he is associated with the Congress and is a Rajya Sabha member of our party, the Congress has sought a clarification from him." During a press meet in Ranchi, he also said, "This incident has nothing to do with the Congress." "The party has already made it clear that this is a personal matter of Dheeraj Sahu. At the same time it would not be right to comment on anything until the official statement comes from the Income Tax and related agencies," he added. Also read | 'Won't take oath in front of Akbaruddin Owaisi because...': Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh Addressing BJP's anger over the incident Alamgir, Jharkhand Congress MLA and Minister in the Cabinet of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, said it was the job of the opposition to speak against the Congress. "As far as raids are concerned, the law is doing its job. It is all happening because Mr. Dheeraj Sahu’s name is associated with the Congress. He is a well-known businessman of the country and his business is not in one State, rather in many States. The Congress will neither talk to rescue him nor to release him in this case," he said BJP demands Sahu's arrest On Sunday, BJP leaders, as per a PTI report, staged a protest outside Raj Bhavan in Jharkhand, demanding the arrest of Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu. Former Minister and State Vice-President Gangotri Kujur, and former Minister and MLA CP Singh also participated in the protest. There, Singh, as per The Hindu, alleged that the Congress had been the "mother of corruption" since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru. "Be it the Jeep scam or the Bofors scam, the Congress is the mother of corruption. The property of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi was attached in the National Herald case. [Bhupesh] Baghel has done Mahadev app scam. Whoever is born in the Congress gets involved in corruption. Today when action is being taken against people involved in the scam, everyone including the Congress, JMM, RJD, SP, Trinamool, JD(U), and the Left parties are having problems," he said. The BJP leader also demanded that the Governor of Jharkhand must investigate using the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Singh also called for Dhiraj Sahu's arrest and said an FIR should be registered against him. Previously, reacting to the I-T raids, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that "every penny looted from the people" will have to be returned. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: Currency machines 'give in' as I-T raids in India recover $42mn from Congress' Dhiraj Sahu

K Chandrasekhar Rao, the former chief minister of the south Indian state of Telangana, was hospitalised after a fall on Thursday night (Dec 7).&nbsp;

The news came just after his party faced drubbing in the recently-held local assembly elections.

<h2>Evaluation ongoing</h2>

The 69-year-old&nbsp;popularly known as KCR is undergoing treatment at Yasodha Hospital. Citing sources in KCR's office, the news agency PTI reported that a fracture is suspected, and doctors at the superspecialty hospital are evaluating the condition of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) president.

A surgery might be required.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/narendra-modi-launches-scathing-attack-at-opponents-in-telangana-calls-brs-and-congress-equal-sinners-663422">PM Narendra Modi launches scathing attack on opponents in Telangana, calls BRS and Congress 'equal sinners'</a>

As per an ANI report, BRS leader&nbsp;was at his farmhouse in Erravalli at the time of the injury.

The leader's daughter,&nbsp;BRS MLC K Kavitha, said that KCR had suffered a "minor injury" and that he would be fine soon.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, she wrote:&nbsp;"BRS supremo KCR Garu sustained a minor injury and is currently under expert care in the hospital. With the support and well-wishes pouring in, Dad will be absolutely fine soon. Grateful for all the love."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BRS supremo KCR Garu sustained a minor injury and is currently under expert care in the hospital. With the support and well-wishes pouring in, Dad will be absolutely fine soon. 
Grateful for all the love 🙏🏼
— Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaoKavitha/status/1732970632265249260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>PM Modi wishes KCR a speedy recovery</h2>

Following the&nbsp;Bharat Rashtra Samiti chief's hospitalisation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prayed for his recovery.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-400-indian-students-studying-abroad-died-since-2018-canada-with-highest-fatalies-centre-667453">Over 400 Indian students studying abroad died since 2018; Canada with highest fatalies: Centre</a>

On X, Modi posted: "Distressed to know that former Telangana CM KCR Garu has suffered an injury. I pray for his speedy recovery and good health."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Distressed to know that former Telangana CM Shri KCR Garu has suffered an injury. I pray for his speedy recovery and good health.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1732981865160859739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

K Chandrasekhar Rao, the former chief minister of the south Indian state of Telangana, was hospitalised after a fall on Thursday night (Dec 7). The news came just after his party faced drubbing in the recently-held local assembly elections.

K Chandrasekhar Rao, the former chief minister of the south Indian state of Telangana, was hospitalised after a fall on Thursday night (Dec 7). The news came just after his party faced drubbing in the recently-held local assembly elections. Evaluation ongoing The 69-year-old popularly known as KCR is undergoing treatment at Yasodha Hospital. Citing sources in KCR's office, the news agency PTI reported that a fracture is suspected, and doctors at the superspecialty hospital are evaluating the condition of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) president. A surgery might be required. Also read | PM Narendra Modi launches scathing attack on opponents in Telangana, calls BRS and Congress 'equal sinners' As per an ANI report, BRS leader was at his farmhouse in Erravalli at the time of the injury. The leader's daughter, BRS MLC K Kavitha, said that KCR had suffered a "minor injury" and that he would be fine soon. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, she wrote: "BRS supremo KCR Garu sustained a minor injury and is currently under expert care in the hospital. With the support and well-wishes pouring in, Dad will be absolutely fine soon. Grateful for all the love." BRS supremo KCR Garu sustained a minor injury and is currently under expert care in the hospital. With the support and well-wishes pouring in, Dad will be absolutely fine soon. Grateful for all the love 🙏🏼 — Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) December 8, 2023 × PM Modi wishes KCR a speedy recovery Following the Bharat Rashtra Samiti chief's hospitalisation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prayed for his recovery. Also read | Over 400 Indian students studying abroad died since 2018; Canada with highest fatalies: Centre On X, Modi posted: "Distressed to know that former Telangana CM KCR Garu has suffered an injury. I pray for his speedy recovery and good health." Distressed to know that former Telangana CM Shri KCR Garu has suffered an injury. I pray for his speedy recovery and good health. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2023 × (With inputs from agencies)

India: Former Telangana chief minister KCR hospitalised after fall, might need surgery

In another display of camaraderie between Moscow and New Delhi amidst the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin commended Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In other news, a&nbsp;Russian cargo plane was observed detonating in the sky shortly after it purportedly departed from Ulan-Ude airport in the Buryatia region, over 5,600 km to the east of Moscow. Additionally,&nbsp;the Danish parliament approved legislation that criminalises the act of burning copies of the Quran in public places, whether carried out by an individual or a group.

Click on the headlines for more.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-putin-praises-india-says-pm-modi-guarantor-of-stronger-moscow-delhi-ties-667297">Putin praises India, says PM Modi 'guarantor' of stronger Moscow-Delhi ties</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/07/397843-untitled-design-2023-12-07t201421982.png?imwidth=3840" />

Russia's President Vladimir Putin praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in yet another show of bilateral bonhomie between Moscow and New Delhi amid war in Ukraine. Putin, who had visited India in December 2021 just a few weeks before he announced an offensive on Ukraine in February 2022, said that the relations between Russia and India are "consistently developing in all areas".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-financing-progress-made-at-cop28-but-is-it-enough-667272">Climate financing: Progress made at COP28, but is it enough?</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/07/397838-climate-crisis.png?imwidth=3840" />

Climate financing remains one of the major impediments in tackling the effects of climate crisis around the world. Combating climate change and its consequences would need an enormous amount of money — much more than the world has budgeted.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/video-china-bound-russian-plane-goes-up-in-flames-moments-after-terrifying-explosion-667280">Video: China-bound Russian plane goes up in flames moments after terrifying explosion</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/07/397841-untitled-design-2023-12-07t195405661.png?imwidth=3840" />

A Russian cargo plane was seen exploding in the sky minutes after it reportedly took off from Ulan-Ude airport in Buryatia region, over 5,600 km east of Moscow.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-north-korean-defectors-were-sent-back-by-chinathen-they-disappeared-report-667292">Hundreds of North Korean defectors were sent back by China...then they disappeared: Report</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/07/397844-north-korea.png?imwidth=3840" />

Hundreds of North Koreans apparently "disappeared" after they were repatriated from China and sent back to the hermit kingdom, where they were expected to face imprisonment, a rights group said Thursday (Dec 7).&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-closes-in-on-fifth-term-as-russian-lawmakers-set-date-for-2024-presidential-election-667255">Putin closes in on fifth term as Russian lawmakers set date for 2024 presidential election</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/07/397825-vladimir-putin-2.png?imwidth=3840" />

Russian lawmakers on Thursday (Dec 7) moved Vladimir Putin a step closer to a fifth term in office as they set the date of the country's 2024 presidential election for March 17. A decree to approve the date was voted unanimously by the members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/danish-parliament-passes-bill-banning-quran-burnings-angering-free-speech-absolutists-667302">Danish parliament passes bill banning Quran burnings, angering free speech absolutists</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/07/24/369126-succession-2023-07-24t181418709.jpg?imwidth=3840" />

The Danish parliament on Thursday (Dec 7) passed a bill that makes it illegal for an individual or group to burn copies of the Koran in public places. The passing of the legislation comes after the Scandinavian nation received extreme backlash from the Muslim world over the desecration of Islam's holy book.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-un-chief-guterres-activates-article-99-can-it-bring-peace-to-israel-hamas-war-667294">Explained | UN Chief Guterres activates Article 99: Can it bring peace to Israel-Hamas war?</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/07/397850-untitled-design-44.jpg?imwidth=3840" />

In a rare and unprecedented move, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter on Wednesday (Dec 6). This decision is aimed at formally warning the UN Security Council about the global threat emanating from Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-approves-medical-cannabis-use-toughens-recreational-marijuana-ban-in-landmark-drug-law-revision-667218">Japan approves medical cannabis use, toughens recreational marijuana ban in landmark drug law revision</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/07/397809-the-battle-for-kyiv-2023-12-07t170622301.png?imwidth=3840" />

Japan's parliament has made a groundbreaking decision to legalise medicines derived from cannabis. This change, approved in the upper house, allows for the use of cannabis-based medical products, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-perus-former-president-gets-out-of-prison-without-completing-sentence-for-1991-massacre-667252">Watch: Peru's former president gets out of prison without completing sentence for 1991 massacre</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/07/397828-untitled-design-2023-12-07t183105005.png?imwidth=3840" />

Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year prison term for the human rights abuses during his decade-long rule in the 1990s, has been released from a prison in capital Lima.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-will-work-rishi-sunak-pleads-conservatives-to-support-his-rwanda-asylum-plan-667281">'It will work': Rishi Sunak pleads conservatives to support his Rwanda asylum plan</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/11/21/394383-succession-2023-11-21t015130871.jpg?imwidth=3840" />

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged his Conservative party members to unite behind his plan to send the illegal migrants to Rwanda as certain lawmakers protest the move saying it did not go far enough.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In another display of camaraderie between Moscow and New Delhi amidst the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin commended Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In another display of camaraderie between Moscow and New Delhi amidst the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin commended Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In other news, a Russian cargo plane was observed detonating in the sky shortly after it purportedly departed from Ulan-Ude airport in the Buryatia region, over 5,600 km to the east of Moscow. Additionally, the Danish parliament approved legislation that criminalises the act of burning copies of the Quran in public places, whether carried out by an individual or a group. Click on the headlines for more. Putin praises India, says PM Modi 'guarantor' of stronger Moscow-Delhi ties Russia's President Vladimir Putin praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in yet another show of bilateral bonhomie between Moscow and New Delhi amid war in Ukraine. Putin, who had visited India in December 2021 just a few weeks before he announced an offensive on Ukraine in February 2022, said that the relations between Russia and India are "consistently developing in all areas". Climate financing: Progress made at COP28, but is it enough? Climate financing remains one of the major impediments in tackling the effects of climate crisis around the world. Combating climate change and its consequences would need an enormous amount of money — much more than the world has budgeted. Video: China-bound Russian plane goes up in flames moments after terrifying explosion A Russian cargo plane was seen exploding in the sky minutes after it reportedly took off from Ulan-Ude airport in Buryatia region, over 5,600 km east of Moscow. Hundreds of North Korean defectors were sent back by China...then they disappeared: Report Hundreds of North Koreans apparently "disappeared" after they were repatriated from China and sent back to the hermit kingdom, where they were expected to face imprisonment, a rights group said Thursday (Dec 7). Putin closes in on fifth term as Russian lawmakers set date for 2024 presidential election Russian lawmakers on Thursday (Dec 7) moved Vladimir Putin a step closer to a fifth term in office as they set the date of the country's 2024 presidential election for March 17. A decree to approve the date was voted unanimously by the members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly. Danish parliament passes bill banning Quran burnings, angering free speech absolutists The Danish parliament on Thursday (Dec 7) passed a bill that makes it illegal for an individual or group to burn copies of the Koran in public places. The passing of the legislation comes after the Scandinavian nation received extreme backlash from the Muslim world over the desecration of Islam's holy book. Explained | UN Chief Guterres activates Article 99: Can it bring peace to Israel-Hamas war? In a rare and unprecedented move, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter on Wednesday (Dec 6). This decision is aimed at formally warning the UN Security Council about the global threat emanating from Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza. Japan approves medical cannabis use, toughens recreational marijuana ban in landmark drug law revision Japan's parliament has made a groundbreaking decision to legalise medicines derived from cannabis. This change, approved in the upper house, allows for the use of cannabis-based medical products, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Watch: Peru's former president gets out of prison without completing sentence for 1991 massacre Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year prison term for the human rights abuses during his decade-long rule in the 1990s, has been released from a prison in capital Lima. 'It will work': Rishi Sunak pleads conservatives to support his Rwanda asylum plan British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged his Conservative party members to unite behind his plan to send the illegal migrants to Rwanda as certain lawmakers protest the move saying it did not go far enough.

Top 10 world news: Putin praises India, Denmark parliament bans public Quran burnings, and more

US sees India as a strategic partner but in the alleged plot to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US Washington is now urging new delhi that those behind the murder plot of the Khalistani terrorist need to be held accountable.

White House urges India those behind Pannun murder plot to be held accountable

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been indicted on three felonies and six misdemeanour tax offences.

Meanwhile, on social media, and on Israeli TV, a video of scores of Palestinian men, stripped and allegedly in military custody, sitting on a street is spreading like wildfire. You can access WION's live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-667374">here</a>.

In other news, the Indian Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict on the government's 2019 scrapping of Article 370 of the constitution, which granted special autonomous status to the region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Finally, an unwavering Donald Trump supporter named&nbsp;Alan Hostetter has been sentenced to more than 11 years in jail for his participation in the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riots.

Click on the headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-presidents-son-hunter-biden-faces-new-criminal-charges-in-federal-tax-case-667398">US President's son Hunter Biden faces new criminal charges in federal tax case</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/08/397909-succession-2023-12-08t071823057.jpg?imwidth=3840" />The Department of Justice filed fresh criminal charges against US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, on Thursday (Dec 7), condemning&nbsp;him for not paying $1.4 million in taxes and instead spending money on a lavish lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-images-circulate-of-dozens-of-men-stripped-naked-detained-by-idf-667430">Israel-Hamas war: Images circulate of dozens of men stripped naked, detained by IDF</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/08/397925-untitled-design-2023-12-08t093645156.png?imwidth=3840" />

Amid the escalating Israel-Hamas war, images of men detained in huge numbers by the Israeli military and stripped to their underwear, blindfolded as well as kneeling on the street and later taken in the cargo bed of a military vehicle circulated in social media.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-amid-stormy-parliament-winter-session-sc-to-hear-verdict-on-article-370-abrogation-on-dec-11-667407">India: Amid stormy Parliament winter session, SC to deliver verdict on Article 370 abrogation on Dec 11</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/08/397913-untitled-design-2023-12-08t080720678.png?imwidth=3840" />With the stormy Indian Parliament winter session ongoing, the country's Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict on the validity of the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-supporter-ex-cop-sentenced-to-11-years-in-jail-for-role-in-jan-6-riots-667415">Trump supporter, ex-cop sentenced to 11+ years in jail for role in Jan 6 riots</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/08/397917-new-wion-2023-12-08t090414653.jpg?imwidth=3840" />

Alan Hostetter, a retired US police chief, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison over his participation in the notorious January 6, 2021, assault on US Capitol Hill.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Former UK PM Boris Johnson denies Covid allegations, 'Partygate' horrors for Johnson

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/former-uk-pm-boris-johnson-denies-covid-allegations-partygate-horrors-for-johnson-wion-667419/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been indicted on three felonies and six misdemeanour tax offences. Meanwhile, on social media, and on Israeli TV, a video of scores of Palestinian men, stripped and allegedly in military custody, sitting on a street is spreading like wildfire.

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been indicted on three felonies and six misdemeanour tax offences. Meanwhile, on social media, and on Israeli TV, a video of scores of Palestinian men, stripped and allegedly in military custody, sitting on a street is spreading like wildfire. You can access WION's live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war here. In other news, the Indian Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict on the government's 2019 scrapping of Article 370 of the constitution, which granted special autonomous status to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. Finally, an unwavering Donald Trump supporter named Alan Hostetter has been sentenced to more than 11 years in jail for his participation in the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riots. Click on the headlines to read more US President's son Hunter Biden faces new criminal charges in federal tax case The Department of Justice filed fresh criminal charges against US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, on Thursday (Dec 7), condemning him for not paying $1.4 million in taxes and instead spending money on a lavish lifestyle. Israel-Hamas war: Images circulate of dozens of men stripped naked, detained by IDF Amid the escalating Israel-Hamas war, images of men detained in huge numbers by the Israeli military and stripped to their underwear, blindfolded as well as kneeling on the street and later taken in the cargo bed of a military vehicle circulated in social media. India: Amid stormy Parliament winter session, SC to deliver verdict on Article 370 abrogation on Dec 11 With the stormy Indian Parliament winter session ongoing, the country's Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict on the validity of the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution. Trump supporter, ex-cop sentenced to 11+ years in jail for role in Jan 6 riots Alan Hostetter, a retired US police chief, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison over his participation in the notorious January 6, 2021, assault on US Capitol Hill. Watch | Former UK PM Boris Johnson denies Covid allegations, 'Partygate' horrors for Johnson

Morning news brief: Hunter Biden indicted, Israel strips naked Gazan men, and more

What's in a name? For a small town in Japan, a lot. The shrinking town of Kainan in Japan's Wakayama prefecture is offering people with a particular surname millions of Yen to relocate there. Do you qualify for the 'moolah,' here's all you need to know.&nbsp;

<h2>How can I get the money?</h2>

To get ¥1 million (around $6,940), which just so happens to be the minimum reward, all you need is the surname 'Suzuki'. A further ¥1 million will be given for each child under 18 years of age.

<h2>Why Suzuki?</h2>

Suzuki happens to be Japan's second most common surname. Furthermore, the town has a rather fascination association with 'Suzuki', it is the name's birthplace.&nbsp;

Kainan launched the campaign to repopulate back in 2021. At the time, they estimated that around 750,000 Suzukis live in Tokyo and the neighbouring prefectures of Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-supporter-ex-cop-sentenced-to-11-years-in-jail-for-role-in-jan-6-riots-667415">US: Trump supporter ex-police chief sentenced to over 11 years in jail for role in Jan 6 riots</a>

However, two years into the campaign, the town has failed to attract a single Suzuki, reports The Guardian.

Talking to the publication, Tomonari Fujita, head of the town’s urban development division, said: "I can confirm that not a single Suzuki-san has relocated to Kainan so far."

"One person made some initial inquiries, but it didn't go any further than that," he added.

<h2>Why is the town paying people to live there?</h2>

Across Japan, prefectures have been witnessing a steady decline in the number of residents. In 2022, the population of Japanese nationals fell by a record 800,000 to 125.4 million.&nbsp;

On the other hand, the number of foreigners rose to a record high of almost three million, reports The Guardian.

As per the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research forecasts, Japan's population will fall to just 87 million by 2070.

In 2022, for the sixth year in a row, Japan witnessed a fall in its number of births. In 2021, the nation saw a 3.5 per cent fall from the previous year (2020). It had just 811,604 births, which is the lowest level on record, as per data by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-sees-record-breaking-fall-in-birth-rate-was-elon-musk-right-will-the-country-cease-to-exist-484729">Japan sees record-breaking fall in birth rate. Was Elon Musk right, will the country 'cease to exist'?</a>

In fact, this is the lowest number of births in the country's 123-year history; the country began keeping records in 1899, and the year 2021 saw the lowest numbers ever.

The country's total fertility rate, which is the number of children a Japanese woman will have in her lifetime, has also fallen by 0.30 points to 1.30 per woman.

Japan's fertility rate has witnessed a steady decline since 1975 when it first fell below 2.0.

Incidentally, if you were to look at news items on the nation's birth rates for the past few years, every year this record gets broken. Voicing concern, in May 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had spoken about Japan's falling birth rate, warning that the country may soon "cease to exist" adding that it would be a great loss for the world.

On X, (known as Twitter back then), "At risk of stating the obvious, unless something changes to cause the birth rate to exceed the death rate, Japan will eventually cease to exist. This would be a great loss for the world."

(With inputs from agencies)

What's in a name? For a small town in Japan, a lot. The shrinking town of Kainan in Japan's Wakayama prefecture is offering people with a particular surname millions of Yen to relocate there.

What's in a name? For a small town in Japan, a lot. The shrinking town of Kainan in Japan's Wakayama prefecture is offering people with a particular surname millions of Yen to relocate there. Do you qualify for the 'moolah,' here's all you need to know. How can I get the money? To get ¥1 million (around $6,940), which just so happens to be the minimum reward, all you need is the surname 'Suzuki'. A further ¥1 million will be given for each child under 18 years of age. Why Suzuki? Suzuki happens to be Japan's second most common surname. Furthermore, the town has a rather fascination association with 'Suzuki', it is the name's birthplace. Kainan launched the campaign to repopulate back in 2021. At the time, they estimated that around 750,000 Suzukis live in Tokyo and the neighbouring prefectures of Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa. Also read | US: Trump supporter ex-police chief sentenced to over 11 years in jail for role in Jan 6 riots However, two years into the campaign, the town has failed to attract a single Suzuki, reports The Guardian. Talking to the publication, Tomonari Fujita, head of the town’s urban development division, said: "I can confirm that not a single Suzuki-san has relocated to Kainan so far." "One person made some initial inquiries, but it didn't go any further than that," he added. Why is the town paying people to live there? Across Japan, prefectures have been witnessing a steady decline in the number of residents. In 2022, the population of Japanese nationals fell by a record 800,000 to 125.4 million. On the other hand, the number of foreigners rose to a record high of almost three million, reports The Guardian. As per the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research forecasts, Japan's population will fall to just 87 million by 2070. In 2022, for the sixth year in a row, Japan witnessed a fall in its number of births. In 2021, the nation saw a 3.5 per cent fall from the previous year (2020). It had just 811,604 births, which is the lowest level on record, as per data by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Also read | Japan sees record-breaking fall in birth rate. Was Elon Musk right, will the country 'cease to exist'? In fact, this is the lowest number of births in the country's 123-year history; the country began keeping records in 1899, and the year 2021 saw the lowest numbers ever. The country's total fertility rate, which is the number of children a Japanese woman will have in her lifetime, has also fallen by 0.30 points to 1.30 per woman. Japan's fertility rate has witnessed a steady decline since 1975 when it first fell below 2.0. Incidentally, if you were to look at news items on the nation's birth rates for the past few years, every year this record gets broken. Voicing concern, in May 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had spoken about Japan's falling birth rate, warning that the country may soon "cease to exist" adding that it would be a great loss for the world. On X, (known as Twitter back then), "At risk of stating the obvious, unless something changes to cause the birth rate to exceed the death rate, Japan will eventually cease to exist. This would be a great loss for the world." (With inputs from agencies)

This Japan town will pay you a million Yen to live there...on one condition

Africa's first trial of two combination vaccines for HIV has been halted after researchers concluded that the drug was not working.&nbsp;

<h2>The drug</h2>

The vaccines as per the Guardian were under testing and&nbsp;subjects included 1,500 people from Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, aged between 18 and 40.

Trial of the vaccines was part of a PrEPVacc study — an African-led, European-supported HIV prevention study.&nbsp;It began in December 2020 but was stopped last month after an interim review of the progress.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/your-everyday-shampoo-has-chemicals-you-cant-even-fathom-says-study-666935">Your everyday shampoo has chemicals you can't even fathom, says study</a>

"Vaccinations to PrEPVacc trial participants have been stopped because an analysis of the data collected so far by our independent data-monitoring committee has led them to conclude that there is little or no chance of demonstrating that the vaccines we are testing are reducing the risk of acquiring HIV," said the trial director from the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and assistant professor of epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene &amp; Tropical Medicine, Dr Eugene Ruzagira.

<h2>What was so special about the trial?</h2>

For the first time, the trial combined the evaluation of experimental HIV vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Even as the trial of the vaccines was stopped, one for the PrEP pill will continue.

Funded with a €15 million ($16.18 million) grant from the EU's European &amp; Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, the PrEPVacc trials tested two different combinations of HIV. This was done to see if either could prevent infection in populations&nbsp;particularly at risk of infection.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say-they-can-predict-organs-age-through-a-blood-test-667209">Scientists say they can ‘predict’ age of organs through a blood test</a> 
&nbsp; 
"We do clinical trials because we don’t know the answer to questions. It was important to find out whether the combination vaccine regimens in PrEPVacc, developed over 20 years, should be ruled out or further developed for preventing HIV," said Proffesor Jonathan Weber, who works with Imperial College London, one of the trial's sponsors.

For Africa, where more than 25 million people live with HIV, an effective vaccine against the infection was "a critical goal," said Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, PrEPVacc’s chief investigator at UVRI.&nbsp;

"It is a goal that must have even greater urgency now that no HIV vaccines are being trialled for efficacy anywhere in the world," he added, as quoted by The Guardian.

(With inputs from agencies)

Africa's first trial of two combination vaccines for HIV has been halted after researchers concluded that the drug was not working. The drug The vaccines as per the Guardian were under testing and subjects included 1,500 people from Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, aged between 18 and 40.

Africa's first trial of two combination vaccines for HIV has been halted after researchers concluded that the drug was not working. The drug The vaccines as per the Guardian were under testing and subjects included 1,500 people from Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, aged between 18 and 40. Trial of the vaccines was part of a PrEPVacc study — an African-led, European-supported HIV prevention study. It began in December 2020 but was stopped last month after an interim review of the progress. Also read | Your everyday shampoo has chemicals you can't even fathom, says study "Vaccinations to PrEPVacc trial participants have been stopped because an analysis of the data collected so far by our independent data-monitoring committee has led them to conclude that there is little or no chance of demonstrating that the vaccines we are testing are reducing the risk of acquiring HIV," said the trial director from the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and assistant professor of epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Dr Eugene Ruzagira. What was so special about the trial? For the first time, the trial combined the evaluation of experimental HIV vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Even as the trial of the vaccines was stopped, one for the PrEP pill will continue. Funded with a €15 million ($16.18 million) grant from the EU's European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, the PrEPVacc trials tested two different combinations of HIV. This was done to see if either could prevent infection in populations particularly at risk of infection. Also read | Scientists say they can ‘predict’ age of organs through a blood test "We do clinical trials because we don’t know the answer to questions. It was important to find out whether the combination vaccine regimens in PrEPVacc, developed over 20 years, should be ruled out or further developed for preventing HIV," said Proffesor Jonathan Weber, who works with Imperial College London, one of the trial's sponsors. For Africa, where more than 25 million people live with HIV, an effective vaccine against the infection was "a critical goal," said Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, PrEPVacc’s chief investigator at UVRI. "It is a goal that must have even greater urgency now that no HIV vaccines are being trialled for efficacy anywhere in the world," he added, as quoted by The Guardian. (With inputs from agencies)

Trial of groundbreaking HIV vaccine halted in Africa

Alan Hostetter, a retired US police chief, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison over his participation in the notorious January 6, 2021 assault on US Capitol Hill.&nbsp;

On Thursday, a Washington court passed the sentence based on his July conviction on charges, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and entering a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

<h2>Unwavering support</h2>

An unwavering Donald Trump supporter, Hostetter chose to represent himself at the trial. All through it, he never wavered from his belief that President Joe Biden had stolen the election from Trump.

The 135 months, or a little more than 11 years' sentence awarded to him, was only slightly less than the 12.5 years requested by prosecutors.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-appears-in-new-york-court-calls-fraud-trial-witch-hunt-and-corrupt-667390">Donald Trump appears in New York court, calls fraud trial 'witch hunt and corrupt'</a>

As per a KTLA report citing the United States Department of Justice, on January 6, 2021, the 59-year-old ex-policeman brought tactical gear, pepper spray and hatchets to the government building.

He was retired from law enforcement and, at the time of the attack on Capitol Hill, he worked as a yoga instructor.&nbsp;

Leading up to the riot at Capitol Hill, Hostetter gave several inflammatory speeches in which he echoed Trump's claims and said that the election was fraudulent. He also called for the execution of Trump's political rivals.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened on Jan 6?</h2>

On January 6, 2021, hundreds of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol building, home to the US Congress. The riot attempted to try to disrupt the official certification of Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.&nbsp;

The action was sparked by a fiery speech from Trump himself. However, the 2024 US presidential election&nbsp;hopeful has not directly been implicated in the event.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-presidents-son-hunter-biden-faces-new-criminal-charges-in-federal-tax-case-667398">US President's son Hunter Biden faces new criminal charges in federal tax case</a>

To date, more than 1,230 of the hundreds that rallied at Capital Hill have been charged for their crimes related to the riot, said the Justice Department. More than 720 have been convicted, and of these, more than 450 will serve prison time.

In December 2022, a congressional commission investigating the January 6 riot recommended criminal charges against Trump. The charges suggested include aiding an insurrection and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Donald Trump, who has already been indicted for racketeering in Georgia, is set to go on trial in Washington in March. He faces the charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the November 2020 election won by contender Biden.

(With inputs from agencies)

Alan Hostetter, a retired US police chief, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison over his participation in the notorious January 6, 2021 assault on US Capitol Hill.

Alan Hostetter, a retired US police chief, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison over his participation in the notorious January 6, 2021 assault on US Capitol Hill. On Thursday, a Washington court passed the sentence based on his July conviction on charges, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and entering a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Unwavering support An unwavering Donald Trump supporter, Hostetter chose to represent himself at the trial. All through it, he never wavered from his belief that President Joe Biden had stolen the election from Trump. The 135 months, or a little more than 11 years' sentence awarded to him, was only slightly less than the 12.5 years requested by prosecutors. Also read | Donald Trump appears in New York court, calls fraud trial 'witch hunt and corrupt' As per a KTLA report citing the United States Department of Justice, on January 6, 2021, the 59-year-old ex-policeman brought tactical gear, pepper spray and hatchets to the government building. He was retired from law enforcement and, at the time of the attack on Capitol Hill, he worked as a yoga instructor. Leading up to the riot at Capitol Hill, Hostetter gave several inflammatory speeches in which he echoed Trump's claims and said that the election was fraudulent. He also called for the execution of Trump's political rivals. What happened on Jan 6? On January 6, 2021, hundreds of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol building, home to the US Congress. The riot attempted to try to disrupt the official certification of Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The action was sparked by a fiery speech from Trump himself. However, the 2024 US presidential election hopeful has not directly been implicated in the event. Also read | US President's son Hunter Biden faces new criminal charges in federal tax case To date, more than 1,230 of the hundreds that rallied at Capital Hill have been charged for their crimes related to the riot, said the Justice Department. More than 720 have been convicted, and of these, more than 450 will serve prison time. In December 2022, a congressional commission investigating the January 6 riot recommended criminal charges against Trump. The charges suggested include aiding an insurrection and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Donald Trump, who has already been indicted for racketeering in Georgia, is set to go on trial in Washington in March. He faces the charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the November 2020 election won by contender Biden. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Trump supporter ex-police chief sentenced to over 11 years in jail for role in Jan 6 riots

India: Cyclone Michaung leaves behind a trail of destruction 

Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms will now start fully encrypting messages on its social media platforms by default.

Announcing the launch, Loredana Crisan, Head of Messenger on the Meta website said, "We take our responsibility to protect your messages seriously, and we’re thrilled that after years of investment and testing, we’re able to launch a safer, more secure and private service."

<h2>Here's what to expect from Meta's new update</h2>

From this week onwards, the social media giant&nbsp;will begin automatically shifting Facebook users to end-to-end encryption for their messages. The global rollout, she said, will "take a number of months to complete".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ancestry-website-23andme-confirms-recent-data-breach-affected-69-million-users-666347">Ancestry website 23andMe confirms recent data breach affected 6.9 million users&nbsp;</a>

Facebook Messenger had the option for users to turn on end-to-end encryption since 2016. However, now this will be the default setting for both calls and messages.

On Instagram, too, users will be shifted to Meta's new end-to-end encryption by default.

<h2>What is end-to-end encryption?</h2>

The encryption feature secures communication, making it so that messages etc. can only be read by the sender and the recipient. This can help keep users safe from hackers, fraudsters, and criminals.

Users will be prompted to set up a PIN for the recovery of the encrypted messages in case they lose, change or add a device.

Meta's product WhatsApp, another popular instant messaging app, introduced the feature back in 2014, completing the rollout in April 2016.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/landmark-stability-ai-vs-getty-images-copyright-lawsuit-to-move-ahead-to-trial-666377">Landmark Stability AI vs Getty Images copyright lawsuit to move ahead to trial</a>

Crisan says that Meta "has taken years to deliver because we've taken our time to get this right."

"Our engineers, cryptographers, designers, policy experts and product managers have worked tirelessly to rebuild Messenger features from the ground up. We’ve introduced new privacy, safety and control features along the way like delivery controls that let people choose who can message them, as well as app lock, alongside existing safety features like report, block and message requests," she added.

The change means that Facebook and Instagram users would not have to turn on the encryption feature, which allows a message to be read only by the sender and its recipients.

<h2>What other features have been introduced?</h2>

Messenger users can now edit their messages for up to 15 minutes after sending them. Disappearing messages on the application will now last for 24 hours.

Furthermore, to increase privacy controls, Messenger will now allow users to control their read receipts. Additionally, there is an upgrade to the quality of images users can share, along with the introduction of "added fun layouts".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-launches-gemini-its-most-advanced-ai-model-that-powers-bard-intensifying-competition-with-openai-666952">Google launches Gemini, its most advanced AI model that powers Bard, intensifying competition with OpenAI</a>

Another feature similar to that available in WhatsApp is that voice messages can now be sped up to 1.5x and 2x speeds.&nbsp;

End-to-end encryption has been a bone of contention between companies and governments. The British government had urged Meta back in September not to roll out encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger without safety measures to protect children from sexual abuse.

Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms will now start fully encrypting messages on its social media platforms by default. Announcing the launch, Loredana Crisan, Head of Messenger on the Meta website said, "We take our responsibility to protect your messages seriously, and we’re thrilled that after years of investment and testing, we’re able to launch a safer, more secure and private service.

Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms will now start fully encrypting messages on its social media platforms by default. Announcing the launch, Loredana Crisan, Head of Messenger on the Meta website said, "We take our responsibility to protect your messages seriously, and we’re thrilled that after years of investment and testing, we’re able to launch a safer, more secure and private service." Here's what to expect from Meta's new update From this week onwards, the social media giant will begin automatically shifting Facebook users to end-to-end encryption for their messages. The global rollout, she said, will "take a number of months to complete". Also read | Ancestry website 23andMe confirms recent data breach affected 6.9 million users Facebook Messenger had the option for users to turn on end-to-end encryption since 2016. However, now this will be the default setting for both calls and messages. On Instagram, too, users will be shifted to Meta's new end-to-end encryption by default. What is end-to-end encryption? The encryption feature secures communication, making it so that messages etc. can only be read by the sender and the recipient. This can help keep users safe from hackers, fraudsters, and criminals. Users will be prompted to set up a PIN for the recovery of the encrypted messages in case they lose, change or add a device. Meta's product WhatsApp, another popular instant messaging app, introduced the feature back in 2014, completing the rollout in April 2016. Also read | Landmark Stability AI vs Getty Images copyright lawsuit to move ahead to trial Crisan says that Meta "has taken years to deliver because we've taken our time to get this right." "Our engineers, cryptographers, designers, policy experts and product managers have worked tirelessly to rebuild Messenger features from the ground up. We’ve introduced new privacy, safety and control features along the way like delivery controls that let people choose who can message them, as well as app lock, alongside existing safety features like report, block and message requests," she added. The change means that Facebook and Instagram users would not have to turn on the encryption feature, which allows a message to be read only by the sender and its recipients. What other features have been introduced? Messenger users can now edit their messages for up to 15 minutes after sending them. Disappearing messages on the application will now last for 24 hours. Furthermore, to increase privacy controls, Messenger will now allow users to control their read receipts. Additionally, there is an upgrade to the quality of images users can share, along with the introduction of "added fun layouts". Also read | Google launches Gemini, its most advanced AI model that powers Bard, intensifying competition with OpenAI Another feature similar to that available in WhatsApp is that voice messages can now be sped up to 1.5x and 2x speeds. End-to-end encryption has been a bone of contention between companies and governments. The British government had urged Meta back in September not to roll out encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger without safety measures to protect children from sexual abuse.

'Taken our time to get this right': Meta to roll out end-to-end encryption for Facebook & Instagram

A steamy sketch from more than three centuries ago has earned the "explicit" tag by the auction house selling it.

The sketch is being sold by international auction house Christie's and is expected to sell for around half a million dollars or GBP 250,000-400,000 (USD 313,748–501,998).

<h2>'The French Bed'</h2>

The etching in question is titled "The French Bed" and was drawn by Dutch Painter Rembrandt around 350 years ago in 1646. To view it online on Christie's website, users have to click past an "explicit content" warning.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tragic-year-boris-johnsons-apologies-over-covid-19-pandemic-handling-met-with-signs-of-dead-cant-hear-667029">Boris Johnson's apologies over COVID-19 pandemic handling met with signs of 'dead can't hear'. Watch!</a>

It is part of a collection named "Old Masters I" that goes on auction on Thursday (Dec 7).

<h2>What is explicit about the etching?</h2>

"The French Bed"&nbsp;or Het Ledikant is a monochrome picture, hidden away behind the sign "EXPLICIT CONTENT. This lot contains explicit material and mature subject matter," on Christie's website.

You can see it here:

<img alt="Rembrandt " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d569f9d-b241-4226-b3a3-aef49e5f7f77" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202023-12-07T115254.807.jpg" />

(Image credit: Christie's website)

It depicts a man and a woman on a four-poster bed passionately engaged in lovemaking. The couple is depicted to be semi-clothed and amorous.&nbsp;

"They seem to have just tumbled onto the bed, with the trousers and skirts off, but shirts still on."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/moo-d-boosting-therapy-this-farm-offers-relaxation-through-unique-cow-cuddling-sessions-665959">Moo-d boosting therapy: This farm offers relaxation through unique cow cuddling sessions</a>

Christie describes the Rembrandt piece as "one of a small number of explicitly erotic prints" by the Dutch painter.

"The delicately named ‘French Bed’ is one of a small number of explicitly erotic prints by Rembrandt, and one of the rarest etchings in his entire oeuvre."

They further write that the woman looks at her lover with a smile, and "the perplexing fact that she has three arms and hands adds to the vivacity of the scene."

However, the auction house goes on to say that the painting isn't "crass or obscene".

"It is to Rembrandt’s credit—and very much in line with his humane and slightly subversive character – that he did not try to classicise, moralise or otherwise elevate his print. Nor is it in any way crass or obscene, and that's makes this etching so charming and light-hearted: they are just two young people having a good time together."

(With inputs from agencies)

A steamy sketch from more than three centuries ago has earned the "explicit" tag by the auction house selling it. The sketch is being sold by international auction house Christie's and is expected to sell for around half a million dollars or GBP 250,000-400,000 (USD 313,748–501,998).

A steamy sketch from more than three centuries ago has earned the "explicit" tag by the auction house selling it. The sketch is being sold by international auction house Christie's and is expected to sell for around half a million dollars or GBP 250,000-400,000 (USD 313,748–501,998). 'The French Bed' The etching in question is titled "The French Bed" and was drawn by Dutch Painter Rembrandt around 350 years ago in 1646. To view it online on Christie's website, users have to click past an "explicit content" warning. Also read | Boris Johnson's apologies over COVID-19 pandemic handling met with signs of 'dead can't hear'. Watch! It is part of a collection named "Old Masters I" that goes on auction on Thursday (Dec 7). What is explicit about the etching? "The French Bed" or Het Ledikant is a monochrome picture, hidden away behind the sign "EXPLICIT CONTENT. This lot contains explicit material and mature subject matter," on Christie's website. You can see it here: (Image credit: Christie's website) It depicts a man and a woman on a four-poster bed passionately engaged in lovemaking. The couple is depicted to be semi-clothed and amorous. "They seem to have just tumbled onto the bed, with the trousers and skirts off, but shirts still on." Also read | Moo-d boosting therapy: This farm offers relaxation through unique cow cuddling sessions Christie describes the Rembrandt piece as "one of a small number of explicitly erotic prints" by the Dutch painter. "The delicately named ‘French Bed’ is one of a small number of explicitly erotic prints by Rembrandt, and one of the rarest etchings in his entire oeuvre." They further write that the woman looks at her lover with a smile, and "the perplexing fact that she has three arms and hands adds to the vivacity of the scene." However, the auction house goes on to say that the painting isn't "crass or obscene". "It is to Rembrandt’s credit—and very much in line with his humane and slightly subversive character – that he did not try to classicise, moralise or otherwise elevate his print. Nor is it in any way crass or obscene, and that's makes this etching so charming and light-hearted: they are just two young people having a good time together." (With inputs from agencies)

350-year-old steamy, 'explicit' sketch expected to sell for half-a-million dollars

The United States recently reiterated that it was looking at the Indian government to ensure accountability for the “lethal plotting”. “I would like you to just use the Indian example when we're dealing with a nation that we have such strong connections to.

US Congressional hearing in Pannun plot case

As the Israel-Hamas war reaches its two-month mark, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with hostages released by the militant group. Afterwards, he blasted international women's rights groups for their silence over the alleged sexual violence that happened at the hands of Hamas.

In other news, a new report by UNICEF has revealed a disturbing trend: more than 69 million or one in five children in the world's richest nations live in poverty.

Finally, in a press briefing, speaking about the indictment of an Indian citizen in a foiled assassination plot of Khalistani terrorist and leader of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) outfit Gurpatwant Singh Pannun,&nbsp;US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said the US takes it very seriously.

Click on the headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-the-hell-are-you-netanyahu-fumes-over-womens-rights-groups-silence-on-sexual-violence-by-hamas-666655">Where the hell are you': Netanyahu fumes over women's rights groups' silence on sexual violence by Hamas</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/06/397484-succession-2023-12-06t071332092.jpg?imwidth=3840" />Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (Dec 5) said that in his meeting with hostages that were released by Hamas during a week-long truce between the warring sides, he had heard stories of sexual abuse. He also called out the women's and human rights organisations to take stern action against the Palestinian militant group.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/69-million-children-in-rich-countries-living-in-poverty-unicef-666670">69 million children in 'rich' countries living in poverty: UNICEF</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/06/397493-new-wion-2023-12-06t083851065.jpg?imwidth=3840" />On Wednesday (Dec 6), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released a disturbing report on the state of poverty among children globally.&nbsp;More than one in five, or around 69 million children, live in poverty, that too just in the world's 40 richest countries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-imposes-visa-bans-after-warning-israel-over-west-bank-violence-666658">US imposes visa bans after warning Israel over West Bank violence</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/06/397486-succession-2023-12-06t074716975.jpg?imwidth=3840" />

The United States on Tuesday announced visa bans for people who were involved in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said officials in Washington, after making several appeals to Tel Aviv to prevent violence by Jewish settlers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-taking-matter-seriously-as-india-probes-alleged-assassination-plot-666662">US says taking matter 'seriously' as India probes Khalistani terrorist Pannun's murder plot</a>

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/06/397490-untitled-design-2023-12-06t082952217.png?imwidth=3840" />US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller, while speaking about an Indian citizen's indictment in an alleged foiled assassination plot, on Tuesday (Dec 5) said that the country takes the matter 'very seriously', adding that India has launched an investigation into the matter and they are waiting for the findings from the probe.

Watch |&nbsp;Cyclone Michaung: Indian Air Force deploys rescue choppers; IAF Chetak helicopters placed for relief

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyclone-michaung-indian-air-force-deploys-rescue-choppers-iaf-chetak-helicopters-placed-for-relief-666684/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As the Israel-Hamas war reaches its two-month mark, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with hostages released by the militant group. Afterwards, he blasted international women's rights groups for their silence over the alleged sexual violence that happened at the hands of Hamas.

As the Israel-Hamas war reaches its two-month mark, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with hostages released by the militant group. Afterwards, he blasted international women's rights groups for their silence over the alleged sexual violence that happened at the hands of Hamas. In other news, a new report by UNICEF has revealed a disturbing trend: more than 69 million or one in five children in the world's richest nations live in poverty. Finally, in a press briefing, speaking about the indictment of an Indian citizen in a foiled assassination plot of Khalistani terrorist and leader of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) outfit Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said the US takes it very seriously. Click on the headlines to read more Where the hell are you': Netanyahu fumes over women's rights groups' silence on sexual violence by Hamas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (Dec 5) said that in his meeting with hostages that were released by Hamas during a week-long truce between the warring sides, he had heard stories of sexual abuse. He also called out the women's and human rights organisations to take stern action against the Palestinian militant group. 69 million children in 'rich' countries living in poverty: UNICEF On Wednesday (Dec 6), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released a disturbing report on the state of poverty among children globally. More than one in five, or around 69 million children, live in poverty, that too just in the world's 40 richest countries. US imposes visa bans after warning Israel over West Bank violence The United States on Tuesday announced visa bans for people who were involved in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said officials in Washington, after making several appeals to Tel Aviv to prevent violence by Jewish settlers. US says taking matter 'seriously' as India probes Khalistani terrorist Pannun's murder plot US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller, while speaking about an Indian citizen's indictment in an alleged foiled assassination plot, on Tuesday (Dec 5) said that the country takes the matter 'very seriously', adding that India has launched an investigation into the matter and they are waiting for the findings from the probe. Watch | Cyclone Michaung: Indian Air Force deploys rescue choppers; IAF Chetak helicopters placed for relief

Morning news brief: UNICEF report on poverty and children, Netanyahu on Hamas' sexual violence, and more

On Wednesday (Dec 6), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released a disturbing report on the state of poverty among children globally.&nbsp;

More than one in five, or around 69 million children, live in poverty, that too just in the world's 40 richest countries.

<h2>A childhood spent in poverty</h2>

The high numbers, as per AFP, are despite an around 8 per cent drop in child poverty rates from 2012 to 2014 and 2019 to 2021. The drop was witnessed in the 40 European Union and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries assessed.&nbsp;

Despite that, at the end of 2021, more than 69 million were still living in poverty in those countries, as per the report.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ai-paints-shocking-picture-of-the-future-of-homelessness-in-canada-666435">AI paints shocking picture of the future of homelessness in Canada</a>

As per UNICEF Innocenti, the United Nations agency's research arm, "This is equivalent to around 6 million children out of a total child population of 291 million."

"For most children, this means that they may grow up without enough nutritious food, clothes, school supplies or a warm place to call home," said Bo Viktor Nylund of UNICEF Innocenti.

Highlighting the impact of such struggles on young people's physical and mental health, the report called for action to ensure children's well-being. Evoking political will, it stressed that children aren't automatically lifted out of poverty by a country's wealth.

<h2>Main observations</h2>

The data, as per AFP, is based on relative poverty — around 60 per cent of a country's national median income — which is often used by developed countries to establish their poverty levels.

Blasting Britain and France for their particularly bad standings, UNICEF reported that since 2012, the biggest setbacks have been witnessed in the richest countries. While in Britain there were half a million or 19.6 per cent more poor children, in France the numbers increased by 10.4 per cent.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-in-this-japanese-restaurant-people-pay-not-for-food-but-to-get-slapped-for-just-2-666409">Watch: In this Japanese restaurant, people pay not for food, but to get slapped for just $2</a>

As per the report, in the European Union, children of non-EU nationality parents are 2.4 times more likely to live in poverty.

While the United States saw a 6.7 per cent decrease in the number of children living in poverty, it still means that one in four children continues to live in relative poverty.&nbsp;

There was a greater risk of poverty among children from single-parent families and minority backgrounds. Among the minorities in the US, 30 per cent of African American children and 29 per cent of Native American children live below the national poverty line. In comparison, only 10 per cent or one-in-10 non-Hispanic white children face the hardships that come with being poor.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

On Wednesday (Dec 6), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released a disturbing report on the state of poverty among children globally.

On Wednesday (Dec 6), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released a disturbing report on the state of poverty among children globally. More than one in five, or around 69 million children, live in poverty, that too just in the world's 40 richest countries. A childhood spent in poverty The high numbers, as per AFP, are despite an around 8 per cent drop in child poverty rates from 2012 to 2014 and 2019 to 2021. The drop was witnessed in the 40 European Union and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries assessed. Despite that, at the end of 2021, more than 69 million were still living in poverty in those countries, as per the report. Also read | AI paints shocking picture of the future of homelessness in Canada As per UNICEF Innocenti, the United Nations agency's research arm, "This is equivalent to around 6 million children out of a total child population of 291 million." "For most children, this means that they may grow up without enough nutritious food, clothes, school supplies or a warm place to call home," said Bo Viktor Nylund of UNICEF Innocenti. Highlighting the impact of such struggles on young people's physical and mental health, the report called for action to ensure children's well-being. Evoking political will, it stressed that children aren't automatically lifted out of poverty by a country's wealth. Main observations The data, as per AFP, is based on relative poverty — around 60 per cent of a country's national median income — which is often used by developed countries to establish their poverty levels. Blasting Britain and France for their particularly bad standings, UNICEF reported that since 2012, the biggest setbacks have been witnessed in the richest countries. While in Britain there were half a million or 19.6 per cent more poor children, in France the numbers increased by 10.4 per cent. Also read | Watch: In this Japanese restaurant, people pay not for food, but to get slapped for just $2 As per the report, in the European Union, children of non-EU nationality parents are 2.4 times more likely to live in poverty. While the United States saw a 6.7 per cent decrease in the number of children living in poverty, it still means that one in four children continues to live in relative poverty. There was a greater risk of poverty among children from single-parent families and minority backgrounds. Among the minorities in the US, 30 per cent of African American children and 29 per cent of Native American children live below the national poverty line. In comparison, only 10 per cent or one-in-10 non-Hispanic white children face the hardships that come with being poor.

69 million children in 'rich' countries living in poverty: UNICEF

A flight travelling from India's Ahmedabad to Dubai had to make an emergency landing after a medical emergency was reported.

On Tuesday (Dec 5), a SpiceJet plane, flight SG-15, had to initiate an emergency landing in Pakistan's Karachi after a passenger aboard the craft presented signs of a suspected heart attack.

<h2>What happened?</h2>

Flight SG-15 made an emergency landing at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport around 9:30 pm on Tuesday, reported officials.

As per a PTI report, the medical emergency onboard involved a young man.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joseph-emerson-off-duty-pilot-who-tried-to-shut-down-plane-mid-air-indicted-on-84-counts-666689">Joseph Emerson, off-duty pilot who tried to shut down plane mid-air, indicted on 84 counts</a>

"The Boeing 737 aircraft was going from Ahmedabad to Dubai when a 27-year-old passenger, Dharwal Darmesh, suffered a suspected heart attack and needed medical attention," said a spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as reported by the news agency.

<h2>At Karachi airport</h2>

The spokesperson said that a medical team of the CAA were present at the airport to give immediate, emergency medical attention to the passenger.

He said a medical team of the CAA gave emergency medical attention to the passenger whose sugar level had fallen and who was experiencing palpitations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/khalistani-terrorist-gurpatwant-singh-pannun-threatens-to-blow-up-parliament-after-failed-assassination-bid-666712">Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatens to blow up parliament after failed assassination bid</a>

"After getting medical treatment, the passenger has recovered, and the flight has also been refuelled and will fly on to Dubai," the official said.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, a spokesperson for SpiceJet announced that the plane flying from Ahmedabad to Dubai was diverted to Karachi.

"On December 5, 2023, SpiceJet Boeing 737 aircraft operating flight SG-15 (Ahmedabad-Dubai) was diverted to Karachi due to a medical emergency," said the statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

A flight travelling from India's Ahmedabad to Dubai had to make an emergency landing after a medical emergency was reported. On Tuesday (Dec 5), a SpiceJet plane, flight SG-15, had to initiate an emergency landing in Pakistan's Karachi after a passenger aboard the craft presented signs of a suspected heart attack.

A flight travelling from India's Ahmedabad to Dubai had to make an emergency landing after a medical emergency was reported. On Tuesday (Dec 5), a SpiceJet plane, flight SG-15, had to initiate an emergency landing in Pakistan's Karachi after a passenger aboard the craft presented signs of a suspected heart attack. What happened? Flight SG-15 made an emergency landing at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport around 9:30 pm on Tuesday, reported officials. As per a PTI report, the medical emergency onboard involved a young man. Also read | Joseph Emerson, off-duty pilot who tried to shut down plane mid-air, indicted on 84 counts "The Boeing 737 aircraft was going from Ahmedabad to Dubai when a 27-year-old passenger, Dharwal Darmesh, suffered a suspected heart attack and needed medical attention," said a spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as reported by the news agency. At Karachi airport The spokesperson said that a medical team of the CAA were present at the airport to give immediate, emergency medical attention to the passenger. He said a medical team of the CAA gave emergency medical attention to the passenger whose sugar level had fallen and who was experiencing palpitations. Also read | Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatens to blow up parliament after failed assassination bid "After getting medical treatment, the passenger has recovered, and the flight has also been refuelled and will fly on to Dubai," the official said. In a statement released on Tuesday night, a spokesperson for SpiceJet announced that the plane flying from Ahmedabad to Dubai was diverted to Karachi. "On December 5, 2023, SpiceJet Boeing 737 aircraft operating flight SG-15 (Ahmedabad-Dubai) was diverted to Karachi due to a medical emergency," said the statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Dubai-bound SpiceJet flight diverted to Karachi after medical emergency on board

In another heartening tale of cross-border romance, Javeria Khanum, a Pakistani woman, crossed the Attari-Wagah border into India to unite with her fiancé, Sameer Khan, a resident of India's Kolkata.&nbsp;

Welcomed by the rhythmic beats of 'dhol,' Javeria, who entered India legally, was granted a 45-day visa.

<h2>A long wait</h2>

Talking to news agency ANI, Javeria expressed her elation upon finally being granted the visa. She revealed that she had been trying to obtain a visa for the last five years.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dubai-bound-spicejet-flight-diverted-to-karachi-after-medical-emergency-onboard-666725">Dubai-bound SpiceJet flight diverted to Karachi after medical emergency onboard</a>

Conveying her heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India for granting her the stay, she said: "I am extremely happy and wish to convey my special thanks to the Government of India for granting me a stay here. We have been in a relationship for the past five years. We were trying to secure a visa for a long time and finally, it happened. I have been granted a 45-day visa."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Amritsar, Punjab: A Pakistani woman, Javeria Khanum arrived in India (at the Attari-Wagah border) to marry her fiancé Sameer Khan, a Kolkata resident. She was welcomed in India to the beats of 'dhol'. 
 
She says, "I am extremely happy...I want to convey my special thanks… <a href="https://t.co/E0U00TIYMX">pic.twitter.com/E0U00TIYMX</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1732183953627656529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>Love knows no borders</h2>

Javeria and Sameer's story echoes similar cross-border love stories that in recent days have captivated the attention of netizens online.

Previously, Seema Haider, another Pakistani woman, had ventured into India to join Sachin Meena, her online gaming acquaintance-turned-romantic partner.

However, unlike Javeria, Seema had entered India illegally, which prompted intelligence agencies to request a comprehensive report from Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Uttar Pradesh Police regarding her unauthorised entry.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/shedding-colonial-baggage-navy-to-indianise-non-officer-ranks-announces-pm-modi-666472">Shedding colonial baggage: Navy to 'Indianise' non-officer ranks, announces PM Modi</a>

The agencies sought clarification on the circumstances of Haider's journey.&nbsp;

Travelling from Pakistan's Karachi, she travelled through Nepal to reach Uttar Pradesh's Noida. There, the couple started living together.

Nevertheless, legal repercussions followed, as Seema was arrested on July 4 for entering India without a visa. Sachin also faced charges for harbouring an illegal migrant.

"Intelligence agencies have asked for a report from SSB and UP Police to find out how she managed to cross over without being vetted and verified by police personnel stationed at the border. We have also demanded a report from UP Police on how she entered India via the UP border and stayed with her partner for many days," said an official at the time.

After spending five days in jail, they were granted bail and were allowed by a court to live together as long as the case against them continued,&nbsp;reported PTI.

In another heartening tale of cross-border romance, Javeria Khanum, a Pakistani woman, crossed the Attari-Wagah border into India to unite with her fiancé, Sameer Khan, a resident of India's Kolkata.

In another heartening tale of cross-border romance, Javeria Khanum, a Pakistani woman, crossed the Attari-Wagah border into India to unite with her fiancé, Sameer Khan, a resident of India's Kolkata. Welcomed by the rhythmic beats of 'dhol,' Javeria, who entered India legally, was granted a 45-day visa. A long wait Talking to news agency ANI, Javeria expressed her elation upon finally being granted the visa. She revealed that she had been trying to obtain a visa for the last five years. Also read | Dubai-bound SpiceJet flight diverted to Karachi after medical emergency onboard Conveying her heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India for granting her the stay, she said: "I am extremely happy and wish to convey my special thanks to the Government of India for granting me a stay here. We have been in a relationship for the past five years. We were trying to secure a visa for a long time and finally, it happened. I have been granted a 45-day visa." #WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: A Pakistani woman, Javeria Khanum arrived in India (at the Attari-Wagah border) to marry her fiancé Sameer Khan, a Kolkata resident. She was welcomed in India to the beats of 'dhol'. She says, "I am extremely happy...I want to convey my special thanks… pic.twitter.com/E0U00TIYMX — ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2023 × Love knows no borders Javeria and Sameer's story echoes similar cross-border love stories that in recent days have captivated the attention of netizens online. Previously, Seema Haider, another Pakistani woman, had ventured into India to join Sachin Meena, her online gaming acquaintance-turned-romantic partner. However, unlike Javeria, Seema had entered India illegally, which prompted intelligence agencies to request a comprehensive report from Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Uttar Pradesh Police regarding her unauthorised entry. Also read | Shedding colonial baggage: Navy to 'Indianise' non-officer ranks, announces PM Modi The agencies sought clarification on the circumstances of Haider's journey. Travelling from Pakistan's Karachi, she travelled through Nepal to reach Uttar Pradesh's Noida. There, the couple started living together. Nevertheless, legal repercussions followed, as Seema was arrested on July 4 for entering India without a visa. Sachin also faced charges for harbouring an illegal migrant. "Intelligence agencies have asked for a report from SSB and UP Police to find out how she managed to cross over without being vetted and verified by police personnel stationed at the border. We have also demanded a report from UP Police on how she entered India via the UP border and stayed with her partner for many days," said an official at the time. After spending five days in jail, they were granted bail and were allowed by a court to live together as long as the case against them continued, reported PTI.

Love triumphs over borders: Pakistani woman granted visa, crosses into India for marriage

Ancestry website 23andMe has confirmed that a recent breach has led to the leak of data belonging to around 6.9 million users.&nbsp;

The data includes things like users' display names, their ancestry reports, profile pictures, and more.

<h2>Who was affected by the breach?</h2>

Andy Kill, 23andMe's spokesperson, in an email statement to The Verge, said that the breach affected around 5.5 million users who had DNA Relatives enabled. This feature matches users with similar genetic makeups, i.e., it matches people with other members they may share ancestry with.&nbsp;

Another 1.4 million people had data related to their family tree profiles accessed.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the ancestry website said that "threat actors" used a credential surfing attack to access "a very small percentage" of "Credential Stuffed Accounts" user accounts.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/el-salvadors-bitcoin-investments-surge-bukele-confirms-profit-amid-cryptocurrency-rally-666310">El Salvador's Bitcoin investments surge: Bukele confirms profit amid cryptocurrency rally</a>

This, as per the Verge, amounts to around 14,000 users. However, using the DNA Relatives feature on these 'credential stuffed accounts', the hackers&nbsp;accessed the additional information from millions of other profiles.&nbsp;

"Based on its investigation, 23andMe has determined that the threat actor was able to access a very small percentage (0.1 per cent) of user accounts in instances where usernames and passwords that were used on the 23andMe website were the same as those used on other websites that had been previously compromised or were otherwise available (the 'Credential Stuffed Accounts')."

"We still do not have any indication that there has been a data security incident within our systems," it said.

<h2>The data these 'threat actors' accessed</h2>

The first public signs of trouble for 23andMe appeared in October, when a threat actor, as per the SEC filing, posted online a claim to have 23andMe users’ profile information.

At the time, 23andMe confirmed that user information was up for sale on the dark web.&nbsp;

The Verge reports that the 5.5 million DNA Relatives profile&nbsp;leaks include users who weren't a part of the initial credential-stuffing attack.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wells-fargo-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-overtime-violations-amid-unionisation-push-665053">Wells Fargo faces lawsuit over alleged overtime violations amid unionisation push</a>

Leaked data includes information like their display names, predicted relationships with others, the amount of DNA users share with matches, ancestry reports, self-reported locations, ancestor birth locations, family names, profile pictures, etc.

For the remaining 1.4 million users, who also participated in the DNA Relatives feature, their family tree profiles were accessed. This means that information like the display names, relationship labels, birth year, and self-reported locations were accessed.&nbsp;

The company said that it was still in the process of notifying users affected by the breach. Additionally, it now requires two-step verification for new and existing users who&nbsp;have been asked to reset their passwords.

"We are in the process of notifying affected customers, as required by law," it said in a blog post.

"We have taken steps to further protect customer data, including requiring all existing customers to reset their password and requiring two-step verification for all new and existing customers. The company will continue to invest in protecting our systems and data."

(With inputs from agencies)

Ancestry website 23andMe has confirmed that a recent breach has led to the leak of data belonging to around 6.9 million users. The data includes things like users' display names, their ancestry reports, profile pictures, and more.

Ancestry website 23andMe has confirmed that a recent breach has led to the leak of data belonging to around 6.9 million users. The data includes things like users' display names, their ancestry reports, profile pictures, and more. Who was affected by the breach? Andy Kill, 23andMe's spokesperson, in an email statement to The Verge, said that the breach affected around 5.5 million users who had DNA Relatives enabled. This feature matches users with similar genetic makeups, i.e., it matches people with other members they may share ancestry with. Another 1.4 million people had data related to their family tree profiles accessed. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the ancestry website said that "threat actors" used a credential surfing attack to access "a very small percentage" of "Credential Stuffed Accounts" user accounts. Also read | El Salvador's Bitcoin investments surge: Bukele confirms profit amid cryptocurrency rally This, as per the Verge, amounts to around 14,000 users. However, using the DNA Relatives feature on these 'credential stuffed accounts', the hackers accessed the additional information from millions of other profiles. "Based on its investigation, 23andMe has determined that the threat actor was able to access a very small percentage (0.1 per cent) of user accounts in instances where usernames and passwords that were used on the 23andMe website were the same as those used on other websites that had been previously compromised or were otherwise available (the 'Credential Stuffed Accounts')." "We still do not have any indication that there has been a data security incident within our systems," it said. The data these 'threat actors' accessed The first public signs of trouble for 23andMe appeared in October, when a threat actor, as per the SEC filing, posted online a claim to have 23andMe users’ profile information. At the time, 23andMe confirmed that user information was up for sale on the dark web. The Verge reports that the 5.5 million DNA Relatives profile leaks include users who weren't a part of the initial credential-stuffing attack. Also read | Wells Fargo faces lawsuit over alleged overtime violations amid unionisation push Leaked data includes information like their display names, predicted relationships with others, the amount of DNA users share with matches, ancestry reports, self-reported locations, ancestor birth locations, family names, profile pictures, etc. For the remaining 1.4 million users, who also participated in the DNA Relatives feature, their family tree profiles were accessed. This means that information like the display names, relationship labels, birth year, and self-reported locations were accessed. The company said that it was still in the process of notifying users affected by the breach. Additionally, it now requires two-step verification for new and existing users who have been asked to reset their passwords. "We are in the process of notifying affected customers, as required by law," it said in a blog post. "We have taken steps to further protect customer data, including requiring all existing customers to reset their password and requiring two-step verification for all new and existing customers. The company will continue to invest in protecting our systems and data." (With inputs from agencies)

Ancestry website 23andMe confirms recent data breach affected 6.9 million users 

Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, as per reports, has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy.

Citing people in the know, the Hindustan Times reported that Vice Admiral Tripathi will ascend to the crucial role in early January 2024.

<h2>Who is Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi?</h2>

Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi is currently serving as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command.

Previously, he served as the Chief of Personnel (COP) and Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO) at Naval Headquarters.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senior-us-official-discusses-alleged-foiled-plot-to-kill-pannun-during-visit-to-india-666219">Senior US official discusses alleged foiled plot to kill Pannun during visit to India</a>

His earlier appointments included Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy and Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF).

Vice Admiral Tripathi was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1985.&nbsp;

<h2>Vice Chief of the Naval Staff</h2>

Starting January 2023, Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi will take over the prestigious post of Vice Chief of the Naval Staff from Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who has been serving in the position since April 1, 2023.&nbsp;

As per the report, Vice Admiral Tripathi's extensive experience and leadership in the naval domain make him a strategic choice for this intrinsic position.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-brings-back-chandrayaan-3-propulsion-module-to-earths-orbit-666239">ISRO brings back Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module to Earth's orbit</a>

Vice Chief of the Naval Staff is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces. The Vice Chief is the deputy of the Chief of the Naval Staff and is usually the second highest-ranking officer of the Indian Navy.

<h2>Other notable appointments</h2>

According to the HT report, another noteworthy change involves Vice Admiral Srinivas Vennam, who has been appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command.

Vice Admiral Vennam is currently serving as&nbsp;Inspector General Nuclear Safety. 
&nbsp;

Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, as per reports, has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. Citing people in the know, the Hindustan Times reported that Vice Admiral Tripathi will ascend to the crucial role in early January 2024.

Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, as per reports, has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. Citing people in the know, the Hindustan Times reported that Vice Admiral Tripathi will ascend to the crucial role in early January 2024. Who is Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi? Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi is currently serving as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. Previously, he served as the Chief of Personnel (COP) and Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO) at Naval Headquarters. Also read | Senior US official discusses alleged foiled plot to kill Pannun during visit to India His earlier appointments included Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy and Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF). Vice Admiral Tripathi was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1985. Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Starting January 2023, Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi will take over the prestigious post of Vice Chief of the Naval Staff from Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who has been serving in the position since April 1, 2023. As per the report, Vice Admiral Tripathi's extensive experience and leadership in the naval domain make him a strategic choice for this intrinsic position. Also read | ISRO brings back Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module to Earth's orbit Vice Chief of the Naval Staff is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces. The Vice Chief is the deputy of the Chief of the Naval Staff and is usually the second highest-ranking officer of the Indian Navy. Other notable appointments According to the HT report, another noteworthy change involves Vice Admiral Srinivas Vennam, who has been appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command. Vice Admiral Vennam is currently serving as Inspector General Nuclear Safety.

Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi to be the new Vice Chief of Naval Staff

LIV Golf's bid to be&nbsp;recognised by the sport's global rankings body has been rejected, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) Organisation confirmed on Tuesday (Oct 11).&nbsp;OWGR said it had turned down LIV's request due to the circuit's 54-hole no-cut format and limited access for players to join the venture. OWGR president Peter Dawson informed LIV chief executive Greg Norman of the decision in an open letter sent on Tuesday.

"The Board Committee met recently to again review your OWGR submission in light of your latest responses to the Committee's questions and concerns," Dawson wrote in the letter.&nbsp;"At the meeting, the Board Committee unanimously determined that at this time the LIV Tour will not be recognised as an Eligible Golf Tour in the OWGR system."

Dawson said there was no "fair and equitable" way of including LIV Golf's players in OWGR's rankings. The issue of whether LIV players should be granted rankings points has been a thorny subject of debate since the lavishly funded Saudi Arabia-backed circuit plunged golf into an acrimonious civil war last year.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-injury-laden-newcastle-good-enough-for-win-over-manchester-united-665585">Premier League: Injury-laden Newcastle good enough for win over Manchester United</a>

Ranking points were seen as a crucial step in LIV's development, giving its players the chance to secure qualification for major championships. Dawson told US media outlets that OWGR's decision was not aimed at punishing players who had joined LIV. "This is entirely technical. OWGR has no hostility toward LIV whatsoever," Dawson was quoted as saying.

"The important point is this is not about the players. LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked; there is no doubt about that.&nbsp; "This is about, should a tour whose formats are so different and whose qualification criteria are so different, can they be ranked equitably with other tours who conform to the OWGR norm and have more competition to them than perhaps the closed shop that is LIV?" In a statement issued later Tuesday, LIV Golf slammed the OWGR ruling.

"OWGR's sole objective is to rank the best players across the globe. Today's communication makes clear that it can no longer deliver on that objective," the circuit said.&nbsp; "A ranking which fails to fairly represent all participants, irrespective of where in the world they play golf, robs fans, players and all of golf's stakeholders of the objective basis underpinning any accurate recognition of the world's best player performances.&nbsp;"It also robs some traditional tournaments of the best fields possible. Professional golf is now without a true or global scoring and ranking system." &nbsp;

The PGA Tour stunned world golf in June after announcing a shock agreement with the LIV's Saudi paymasters aimed at ending the sport's two-year civil war. However firm details of how the "new collectively owned, for-profit entity" that will see the PGA Tour, Europe's DP World Tour and LIV Golf merge have yet to be divulged.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

LIV Golf's bid to be recognised by the sport's global rankings body has been rejected, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) Organisation confirmed on Tuesday (Oct 11).

LIV Golf's bid to be recognised by the sport's global rankings body has been rejected, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) Organisation confirmed on Tuesday (Oct 11). OWGR said it had turned down LIV's request due to the circuit's 54-hole no-cut format and limited access for players to join the venture. OWGR president Peter Dawson informed LIV chief executive Greg Norman of the decision in an open letter sent on Tuesday. "The Board Committee met recently to again review your OWGR submission in light of your latest responses to the Committee's questions and concerns," Dawson wrote in the letter. "At the meeting, the Board Committee unanimously determined that at this time the LIV Tour will not be recognised as an Eligible Golf Tour in the OWGR system." Dawson said there was no "fair and equitable" way of including LIV Golf's players in OWGR's rankings. The issue of whether LIV players should be granted rankings points has been a thorny subject of debate since the lavishly funded Saudi Arabia-backed circuit plunged golf into an acrimonious civil war last year. Also Read: Premier League: Injury-laden Newcastle good enough for win over Manchester United Ranking points were seen as a crucial step in LIV's development, giving its players the chance to secure qualification for major championships. Dawson told US media outlets that OWGR's decision was not aimed at punishing players who had joined LIV. "This is entirely technical. OWGR has no hostility toward LIV whatsoever," Dawson was quoted as saying. "The important point is this is not about the players. LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked; there is no doubt about that. "This is about, should a tour whose formats are so different and whose qualification criteria are so different, can they be ranked equitably with other tours who conform to the OWGR norm and have more competition to them than perhaps the closed shop that is LIV?" In a statement issued later Tuesday, LIV Golf slammed the OWGR ruling. "OWGR's sole objective is to rank the best players across the globe. Today's communication makes clear that it can no longer deliver on that objective," the circuit said. "A ranking which fails to fairly represent all participants, irrespective of where in the world they play golf, robs fans, players and all of golf's stakeholders of the objective basis underpinning any accurate recognition of the world's best player performances. "It also robs some traditional tournaments of the best fields possible. Professional golf is now without a true or global scoring and ranking system." The PGA Tour stunned world golf in June after announcing a shock agreement with the LIV's Saudi paymasters aimed at ending the sport's two-year civil war. However firm details of how the "new collectively owned, for-profit entity" that will see the PGA Tour, Europe's DP World Tour and LIV Golf merge have yet to be divulged. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Setback for LIV Golf after its bid to earn world ranking points rejected by OWGR

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were killed in action when their aircraft crashed during training at the Air Force Academy, in the Dindigul district of&nbsp;the Southern Indian state of Telangana.&nbsp;

As per Indian Air Force officials, the pilots include an instructor and one cadet.

<h2>How it unfolded</h2>

The crash, as per an ANI news agency report, happened around 8:55 am on Monday (December 4).

Their aircraft, a Pilatus trainer, crashed during training near Toopran in Telangana's Medak district.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-and-maldives-core-group-to-discuss-usage-of-indian-military-platforms-665815">India and Maldives core group to discuss usage of Indian military platforms</a>

Talking to ANI, Superintendent of Police (SP), Medak said that "it's a Training Aircraft from Dindigul airport. There were two people inside the aircraft, one trainer and a trainee. The airport staff and clue team are on the spot. The firefighters doused the fire."

"They are trying to find out if there are any survivors. they are combing the area to find if there are body remains. Further details awaited," said SP Rohini Priyadarshini.

<h2>Defence minister expresses anguish</h2>

Reacting to the tragic news, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Anguished by this accident near Hyderabad. It is deeply saddening that two pilots have lost their lives. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families."

As of now, the cause of the crash is unknown. However, as per the IAF, a "Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-michuang-chennai-nearby-districts-lashed-by-over-20-cms-of-rain-cyclone-to-further-intensify-665950">Cyclone Michuang: Chennai, nearby districts lashed by over 20 cms of rain; cyclone to further intensify</a>

In a statement, the IAS said, "A Pilatus PC 7 Mk II aircraft met with an accident today morning during a routine training sortie from AFA, Hyderabad. It is with deep regret that the IAF confirms both pilots onboard the aircraft sustained fatal injuries. No damage to any civil life or property has been reported. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident."

(With inputs from agencies)

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were killed in action when their aircraft crashed during training at the Air Force Academy, in the Dindigul district of the Southern Indian state of Telangana.

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were killed in action when their aircraft crashed during training at the Air Force Academy, in the Dindigul district of the Southern Indian state of Telangana. As per Indian Air Force officials, the pilots include an instructor and one cadet. How it unfolded The crash, as per an ANI news agency report, happened around 8:55 am on Monday (December 4). Their aircraft, a Pilatus trainer, crashed during training near Toopran in Telangana's Medak district. Also read | India and Maldives core group to discuss usage of Indian military platforms Talking to ANI, Superintendent of Police (SP), Medak said that "it's a Training Aircraft from Dindigul airport. There were two people inside the aircraft, one trainer and a trainee. The airport staff and clue team are on the spot. The firefighters doused the fire." "They are trying to find out if there are any survivors. they are combing the area to find if there are body remains. Further details awaited," said SP Rohini Priyadarshini. Defence minister expresses anguish Reacting to the tragic news, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Anguished by this accident near Hyderabad. It is deeply saddening that two pilots have lost their lives. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the bereaved families." As of now, the cause of the crash is unknown. However, as per the IAF, a "Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident." Also read | Cyclone Michuang: Chennai, nearby districts lashed by over 20 cms of rain; cyclone to further intensify In a statement, the IAS said, "A Pilatus PC 7 Mk II aircraft met with an accident today morning during a routine training sortie from AFA, Hyderabad. It is with deep regret that the IAF confirms both pilots onboard the aircraft sustained fatal injuries. No damage to any civil life or property has been reported. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident." (With inputs from agencies)

Tragedy at Telangana Air Force academy: Two Indian Air Force pilots killed in aircraft crash during training

In what comes as a blow to the proposed takeover of the Telegraph newspaper by a consortium backed by the UAE, the British government on Thursday (Nov 30) said&nbsp;it had triggered a formal probe, citing public interest grounds.&nbsp;

UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer wrote a letter to the Barclay family that owns Telegraph Media Group (TMG) and RedBird IMI - the company set to take over the media house, stating that she was issuing a&nbsp;Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) in relation to the deal.

"This relates to concerns I have that there may be public interest considerations... that are relevant to the anticipated acquisition of TMG by RedBird IMI and that these concerns warrant further investigation," Frazer wrote.&nbsp;

The in-depth inquiry will be conducted by Ofcom - a media regulator, to ascertain if the complex deal could impede the accurate presentation of news, free expression of opinion and sufficient plurality of views.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look into any competition issues and if the new entity could pose a problem to the established journalistic setup in the country.&nbsp;

Both Ofcom and CMA have been given time until January 26, 2024, to prepare a report and present it to the government.&nbsp;

Since the announcement of the deal, there has been a major furore within the journalism and political circles. The Tories have expressed apprehensions over the deal saying&nbsp;“influence over a quality national newspaper being passed to a foreign ruler at any time should raise concerns [and] must be investigated”.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-mps-warn-against-uae-takeover-of-telegraph-to-review-proposed-sale-of-telegraph-media-group-661896">Watch |&nbsp;UK MPs warn against UAE takeover of Telegraph, to review proposed sale of Telegraph Media Group</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-mps-warn-against-uae-takeover-of-telegraph-to-review-proposed-sale-of-telegraph-media-group-661896/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>The face behind the deal</h2>

Notabbly. RedBird IMI is a joint venture between the US company RedBird Capital and International Media Investments (IMI) of Abu Dhabi, the investment vehicle for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Mansour is a known face in the UK. He bought Premier League club Manchester City in 2008, transforming the mid-table club into treble winners.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/inside-uaes-sheikh-mansours-bid-to-buy-the-telegraph-newspaper-662714">Also read |&nbsp;Inside UAE's Sheikh Mansour's bid to buy The Telegraph newspaper</a>

However, the club is currently under investigation for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules among other charges. According to reports, the club breached 115 regulations since the start of the 2009-10 season.&nbsp;

Hence, there has been a degree of uneasiness among the higher echelons of British bureaucracy over the proposed deal. If the takeover goes through, UAE will have control of&nbsp;The Daily and Sunday Telegraph sister newspapers and The Spectator magazine.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In what comes as a blow to the proposed takeover of the Telegraph newspaper by a consortium backed by the UAE, the British government on Thursday (Nov 30) said it had triggered a formal probe, citing public interest grounds.

In what comes as a blow to the proposed takeover of the Telegraph newspaper by a consortium backed by the UAE, the British government on Thursday (Nov 30) said it had triggered a formal probe, citing public interest grounds. UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer wrote a letter to the Barclay family that owns Telegraph Media Group (TMG) and RedBird IMI - the company set to take over the media house, stating that she was issuing a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) in relation to the deal. "This relates to concerns I have that there may be public interest considerations... that are relevant to the anticipated acquisition of TMG by RedBird IMI and that these concerns warrant further investigation," Frazer wrote. The in-depth inquiry will be conducted by Ofcom - a media regulator, to ascertain if the complex deal could impede the accurate presentation of news, free expression of opinion and sufficient plurality of views. Meanwhile, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look into any competition issues and if the new entity could pose a problem to the established journalistic setup in the country. Both Ofcom and CMA have been given time until January 26, 2024, to prepare a report and present it to the government. Since the announcement of the deal, there has been a major furore within the journalism and political circles. The Tories have expressed apprehensions over the deal saying “influence over a quality national newspaper being passed to a foreign ruler at any time should raise concerns [and] must be investigated”. Watch | UK MPs warn against UAE takeover of Telegraph, to review proposed sale of Telegraph Media Group × The face behind the deal Notabbly. RedBird IMI is a joint venture between the US company RedBird Capital and International Media Investments (IMI) of Abu Dhabi, the investment vehicle for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Mansour is a known face in the UK. He bought Premier League club Manchester City in 2008, transforming the mid-table club into treble winners. Also read | Inside UAE's Sheikh Mansour's bid to buy The Telegraph newspaper However, the club is currently under investigation for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules among other charges. According to reports, the club breached 115 regulations since the start of the 2009-10 season. Hence, there has been a degree of uneasiness among the higher echelons of British bureaucracy over the proposed deal. If the takeover goes through, UAE will have control of The Daily and Sunday Telegraph sister newspapers and The Spectator magazine. (With inputs from agencies)

'Setback for Barclay family?': UK government to probe proposed Telegraph takeover by UAE-backed consortium

Starting Friday (Dec 1), Google will be deleting accounts that have not been operated by the users for a couple of years, according to a BBC report.&nbsp;

Under its inactive account policy, the tech giant will start the purge, albeit in a phased manner, with accounts that "were created and never used again" getting the bump first.&nbsp;

Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli wrote a blog post in May in which the company stated that steps are being taken to reduce the risk of account deletions.

The company has cited security reasons as the cause of the drive, stating that forgotten and unused accounts are more likely to be compromised by hackers and other notorious actors.&nbsp;

Using a Google account allows a user to access a plethora of Google products such as Gmail and YouTube, using the same username and password.&nbsp;

It was in May, earlier this year that the company first hinted at clearing the aisle of unused accounts.&nbsp;Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli in a blog post highlighted the steps being taken by the California-based company to improve security of the product.&nbsp; 
 
“Google is updating our inactivity policy for Google Accounts to 2 years across our products. Starting in December, if a Google account has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years, we may delete the account and its contents, including content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), and Google Photos,” read the post.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-suing-google-for-anti-trust-violations-us-state-allies-not-seeking-monetary-penalty-wion-635324">Watch |&nbsp;US suing Google for anti-trust violations; US &amp; state allies not seeking monetary penalty</a>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" data-gtm-yt-inspected-7="true" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="lazy" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-suing-google-for-anti-trust-violations-us-state-allies-not-seeking-monetary-penalty-wion-635324/embed?autoplay=0" title="live tv" width="100%"></iframe>

<h2>Who stands at risk?</h2>

The policy is only applicable to personal Google accounts not accessed&nbsp;in the last two years. Accounts of organisations like schools or businesses will remain unaffected by this overhaul.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-forced-to-cough-74-million-annually-after-reaching-deal-with-canada-to-keep-news-in-search-results-664450">Also read |&nbsp;Google forced to cough up $74mn annually after reaching deal with Canada to keep news in search results</a>

<h2>How to avoid getting deleted?</h2>

According to experts, simply signing into an account or sending an email should be enough to keep it active. Google added that reading or sending an email using Google Drive or watching a YouTube video could also help avoid getting the boot.&nbsp;

However, Google suggests that once you have gained access to the account, a recovery email address should be added as it will help reset the password if the user forgets it.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Starting Friday (Dec 1), Google will be deleting accounts that have not been operated by the users for a couple of years, according to a BBC report. Under its inactive account policy, the tech giant will start the purge, albeit in a phased manner, with accounts that "were created and never used again" getting the bump first.

Starting Friday (Dec 1), Google will be deleting accounts that have not been operated by the users for a couple of years, according to a BBC report. Under its inactive account policy, the tech giant will start the purge, albeit in a phased manner, with accounts that "were created and never used again" getting the bump first. Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli wrote a blog post in May in which the company stated that steps are being taken to reduce the risk of account deletions. The company has cited security reasons as the cause of the drive, stating that forgotten and unused accounts are more likely to be compromised by hackers and other notorious actors. Using a Google account allows a user to access a plethora of Google products such as Gmail and YouTube, using the same username and password. It was in May, earlier this year that the company first hinted at clearing the aisle of unused accounts. Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli in a blog post highlighted the steps being taken by the California-based company to improve security of the product. “Google is updating our inactivity policy for Google Accounts to 2 years across our products. Starting in December, if a Google account has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years, we may delete the account and its contents, including content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), and Google Photos,” read the post. Watch | US suing Google for anti-trust violations; US & state allies not seeking monetary penalty Who stands at risk? The policy is only applicable to personal Google accounts not accessed in the last two years. Accounts of organisations like schools or businesses will remain unaffected by this overhaul. Also read | Google forced to cough up $74mn annually after reaching deal with Canada to keep news in search results How to avoid getting deleted? According to experts, simply signing into an account or sending an email should be enough to keep it active. Google added that reading or sending an email using Google Drive or watching a YouTube video could also help avoid getting the boot. However, Google suggests that once you have gained access to the account, a recovery email address should be added as it will help reset the password if the user forgets it. (With inputs from agencies)

Google to delete inactive accounts starting Friday. Know how to avoid it

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has praised India's investigation into the alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Blinken, who was in Tel Aviv, Israel, said India's step is good and appropriate.

US lauds as India probes Khalistani terrorist Pannun's murder plot

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised

Last year, a staggering number of people — more than ever — died by suicide in the United States. As per provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), figures dating back to at least 1941 revealed that in 2022, the highest-ever number of people killed themselves in the US.

<h2>Disturbing trend</h2>

In 2022, there was a disturbing trend of suicides. At least 49,449 lives were lost due to intentional self-harm. This means there were more than 14 suicidal deaths for every 100,000 people.

This is a three per cent increase of the 2021 numbers — 48,183 suicides.

Compared to women (5.9 per cent), men were four times more likely to kill themselves at 23.1 per cent. However, for women, suicide rates, especially for those aged 25 and older, saw an increase. Overall, the rate of suicides in women increased by four per cent, while for men the increase was half at two per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/england-and-wales-living-in-dark-ages-poll-finds-1-in-7-hr-says-men-better-suited-to-top-jobs-664244">England and Wales 'living in dark ages,' poll finds 1-in-7 HRs says men better suited to top jobs</a>

The data found that there was a significant increase in suicides by people over 35 years of age. The rate was highest for people aged 75 and older.

Overall, the 49,449 suicides were "the highest number ever recorded in&nbsp;the United States,"&nbsp;as per the CDC.

However, the organisation adds, "The 2022 final number of suicides is likely to be higher as additional death&nbsp;certificates with pending causes of death may be determined to be suicides."

<h2>Suicides and the US</h2>

As per the report, in the US, suicides have risen "almost steadily" during the 21st century. Both males and females, across nearly every age and race and Hispanic-origin group, experienced the increase.

Owing to the disturbing trend, the US Surgeon General, in 2021, issued a call to&nbsp;action on a national strategy for suicide&nbsp;prevention as well as an advisory for&nbsp;youth mental health.

CNN citing a separate analysis of provisional CDC data by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions reports that in the year 2022, suicides by firearms reached a record high.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/working-for-over-55-hours-a-week-kills-800000-people-every-year-report-664257">Working for over 55 hours a week kills 800,000 people every year: Report</a>

As per the analysis, "the nation's overall gun suicide rate increased 1.6 per cent, reaching an all-time high".

"Gun suicides continued to reach all-time highs, increasing 1.6% from a previous record in 2021; 26,993 people died by gun suicide in 2022. While the increase in gun homicides has gained public awareness, less attention has been paid to the growing epidemic of gun suicides – which historically make up the majority of gun deaths. The gun suicide rate has steadily increased, nearly uninterrupted, since 2006. In 2021, it reached the highest levels since the CDC began recording such data in 1968; and this past year, in 2022, it surpassed that record. "

(With inputs from agencies)

If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised Last year, a staggering number of people — more than ever — died by suicide in the United States.

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised Last year, a staggering number of people — more than ever — died by suicide in the United States. As per provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), figures dating back to at least 1941 revealed that in 2022, the highest-ever number of people killed themselves in the US. Disturbing trend In 2022, there was a disturbing trend of suicides. At least 49,449 lives were lost due to intentional self-harm. This means there were more than 14 suicidal deaths for every 100,000 people. This is a three per cent increase of the 2021 numbers — 48,183 suicides. Compared to women (5.9 per cent), men were four times more likely to kill themselves at 23.1 per cent. However, for women, suicide rates, especially for those aged 25 and older, saw an increase. Overall, the rate of suicides in women increased by four per cent, while for men the increase was half at two per cent. Also read | England and Wales 'living in dark ages,' poll finds 1-in-7 HRs says men better suited to top jobs The data found that there was a significant increase in suicides by people over 35 years of age. The rate was highest for people aged 75 and older. Overall, the 49,449 suicides were "the highest number ever recorded in the United States," as per the CDC. However, the organisation adds, "The 2022 final number of suicides is likely to be higher as additional death certificates with pending causes of death may be determined to be suicides." Suicides and the US As per the report, in the US, suicides have risen "almost steadily" during the 21st century. Both males and females, across nearly every age and race and Hispanic-origin group, experienced the increase. Owing to the disturbing trend, the US Surgeon General, in 2021, issued a call to action on a national strategy for suicide prevention as well as an advisory for youth mental health. CNN citing a separate analysis of provisional CDC data by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions reports that in the year 2022, suicides by firearms reached a record high. Also read | Working for over 55 hours a week kills 800,000 people every year: Report As per the analysis, "the nation's overall gun suicide rate increased 1.6 per cent, reaching an all-time high". "Gun suicides continued to reach all-time highs, increasing 1.6% from a previous record in 2021; 26,993 people died by gun suicide in 2022. While the increase in gun homicides has gained public awareness, less attention has been paid to the growing epidemic of gun suicides – which historically make up the majority of gun deaths. The gun suicide rate has steadily increased, nearly uninterrupted, since 2006. In 2021, it reached the highest levels since the CDC began recording such data in 1968; and this past year, in 2022, it surpassed that record. " (With inputs from agencies) If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602

Disturbing trend: In 2022, more suicides than ever took place in the United States

US filed murder-for-hire charges against Nikhil Gupta for his role in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Pannun.

'Indian govt employee' directed foiled plot to kill khalistani leader Pannun: US

We look at the most recent news on how regulators are coming for rule-breaking founders and bringing down the crypto kings. The world of cryptos can be exhilarating, especially for the few who have taken the world by storm. But now, a Bloomberg report shows, governments are becoming more empowered to crack down on improper behaviour by digital-asset influencers. That is reflected by the growing number of crypto founders facing civil and criminal fines globally.

Regulators chase rule-breaking founders

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to create “the first tobacco-free generation” by 2032. For this, France will ban smoking on all beaches, public parks, forests and near schools.

How is France planning to create the “first tobacco-free generation” by 2032?

news

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