Iran, India agree to deepen humanitarian and political ties, President Pezeshkian says

Turkish Airlines plane flies through a storm three times, triggering severe turbulence

'He is popular...': Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim's praise for PM Modi during bilateral meeting | WATCH

BRICS Summit 2026: Trump wants to weaken BRICS, but maybe doing the opposite

Baba Vanga's first prophecy for 2027 is out, and straight out of science fiction

Indian importers urge Bangladesh to lift export ban on 'Hilsa' fish ahead of Durga Puja

‘Partners, not rivals’: Xi outlines four point plan for stronger India-China ties

BRICS Summit: New Delhi declaration adopted with full consensus, big diplomatic win for India

BRICS Summit 2026: PM Modi, Xi reach key consensus on ties, China to assume BRICS chairmanship in 2027

‘Want to reset ties with India, have engagement based on mutual interests,’ says Bangladesh minister

Did India risk its US trade deal despite softer stance at BRICS?

How 2nm technology improves iPhone performance

800 million years old - Scientists discover 'fingerprints' of supercontinent Gondwana in ancient rocks

US diplomat accused of possessing child abuse images secretly flown out of UK by US Marines

Russian drone hits Warsaw-bound train near Polish border, Zelensky accuses Moscow of ‘deliberate’ targeting

First naval drone battle? Ukraine says Sargan 3000 sank Russian unmanned boat

'Huge destructive power': North Korea calls its latest missile launches 'live-fire drill' even as US dismisses 'immediate threat'

Why European Meteor missiles use ramjet engines compared to standard US solid rockets

NATO under Russian threat? Drone strikes just 2 km from Poland, narrow escape for former UK PM, CIA chief

Delhi’s balancing act: BRICS serves as a stage for West Asia diplomacy

War is making Russia stronger? How Ukraine is shaping Moscow’s next generation of weapons

Trump says Canada eager to reach a deal, it could come ‘fairly soon’ if Ottawa treats US farmers better

9-year-old Chennai prodigy clears Cambridge IGCSE grade 10 exams

PM Modi and China's Xi offered to help resolve Russia-Ukraine war: Kremlin

Why Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles use dual-pulse motors compared to European interceptors

UK breakup on the cards? Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland push for independence

Who is the smiling man beside Modi, Putin and Xi at BRICS Summit 2026?

Meet top 5 batters fastest to 3000 runs in T20Is

Did China give Iran intel before US base strike that killed 3 troops? Trump says, 'You’re right...'

From Rinku Singh to Mayank Yadav, 5 players dropped from India’s squad for Afghanistan T20Is

NEET-UG to move to computer-based test soon, NTA DG says ‘CBT is the future’

Humans may lose control of AI: Anthropic CEO calls for slowdown, Altman, Musk back him

Akram, Afridi, Mushtaq tear into PCB after Pakistan’s Test series collapse in UK

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 hit north central Japan on the first day of New Year. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning along the western coastal regions of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama prefectures.

Japan earthquake: Major tsunami hits Sea of Japan coast

The ongoing combat between Israeli forces and Hamas militants is pushing Gazans further south near the Rafah crossing. Out of the population of 2.3 million over 1.9 have been displaced internally says a UN report.

Israel-Hamas war: Fighting across triggers mass exodus towards Rafah

Japan Earthquake: Japan witnesses 21 earthquakes in 90 minutes

Doctors have revealed that smokers trying&nbsp;to quit have over double the chance of success when using a pill that reduces nicotine cravings. This medication, cytisine, derived from laburnum seeds, could be a pivotal tool in helping people&nbsp;to overcome smoking addiction.

Despite being a common New Year's resolution, quitting smoking proves challenging due to nicotine's highly addictive nature. Various alternatives like vapes, patches, and gums offer safer nicotine delivery, but researchers explored cytisine's potential efficiency.&nbsp;

<h2>Cytisine: A historical perspective</h2>

Widely used in central and eastern Europe for decades, cytisine gained regulatory approval in the UK, where it will be accessible soon.

Argentine researchers conducted a review, comparing cytisine's effectiveness with placebos, varenicline (Champix), and nicotine replacement therapies.

Analysis of 12 controlled trials indicates that cytisine pills are more than twice as effective as placebos in aiding smoking cessation.

Some trials even suggest cytisine's efficacy rivals that of varenicline, with a potential advantage over nicotine replacement therapy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/smoking-guests-on-cruise-ships-could-be-confined-to-cabins-566749">Also read |&nbsp;Smoking guests on cruise ships could be 'confined to cabins'</a>

Omar de Santi, leading the study, told the Guardian that cytisine&nbsp;is an inexpensive and effective stop-smoking aid globally.

“Worldwide, smoking is considered the main cause of preventable death. Cytisine has the potential to be one of the big answers to that problem,” he said.

<h2>UK's smoking landscape</h2>

Despite a significant decline in smoking in the UK over 50 years, it remains the leading cause of preventable illness and death.

Cytisine's potential introduction as a prescription-only medicine is anticipated to contribute to smoking cessation efforts.

Also watch |&nbsp;UK's PM Sunak wants to ban younger generations from smoking

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Recent Oxford University-led research suggests that cytisine, along with e-cigarettes and varenicline, demonstrates similar effectiveness in helping smokers quit. Non-nicotine aids like cytisine offer a valuable option for those looking to quit.

Cytisine pills are set to be available in the UK by the end of January, but the cost may pose a challenge. Priced at £115 ($146) for a 25-day course, some areas may hesitate to include it in health services, favouring more affordable options like nicotine replacement therapy or vapes.

(With inputs from agencies)

Doctors have revealed that smokers trying to quit have over double the chance of success when using a pill that reduces nicotine cravings. This medication, cytisine, derived from laburnum seeds, could be a pivotal tool in helping people to overcome smoking addiction.

Doctors have revealed that smokers trying to quit have over double the chance of success when using a pill that reduces nicotine cravings. This medication, cytisine, derived from laburnum seeds, could be a pivotal tool in helping people to overcome smoking addiction. Despite being a common New Year's resolution, quitting smoking proves challenging due to nicotine's highly addictive nature. Various alternatives like vapes, patches, and gums offer safer nicotine delivery, but researchers explored cytisine's potential efficiency. Cytisine: A historical perspective Widely used in central and eastern Europe for decades, cytisine gained regulatory approval in the UK, where it will be accessible soon. Argentine researchers conducted a review, comparing cytisine's effectiveness with placebos, varenicline (Champix), and nicotine replacement therapies. Analysis of 12 controlled trials indicates that cytisine pills are more than twice as effective as placebos in aiding smoking cessation. Some trials even suggest cytisine's efficacy rivals that of varenicline, with a potential advantage over nicotine replacement therapy. Also read | Smoking guests on cruise ships could be 'confined to cabins' Omar de Santi, leading the study, told the Guardian that cytisine is an inexpensive and effective stop-smoking aid globally. “Worldwide, smoking is considered the main cause of preventable death. Cytisine has the potential to be one of the big answers to that problem,” he said. UK's smoking landscape Despite a significant decline in smoking in the UK over 50 years, it remains the leading cause of preventable illness and death. Cytisine's potential introduction as a prescription-only medicine is anticipated to contribute to smoking cessation efforts. Also watch | UK's PM Sunak wants to ban younger generations from smoking Recent Oxford University-led research suggests that cytisine, along with e-cigarettes and varenicline, demonstrates similar effectiveness in helping smokers quit. Non-nicotine aids like cytisine offer a valuable option for those looking to quit. Cytisine pills are set to be available in the UK by the end of January, but the cost may pose a challenge. Priced at £115 ($146) for a 25-day course, some areas may hesitate to include it in health services, favouring more affordable options like nicotine replacement therapy or vapes. (With inputs from agencies)

Cytisine pill proves effective against smoking addiction, gains approval in UK

The Israel Defense Forces say that it is beginning to release five brigades from combat in the Gaza Strip. This is as the military increasingly gains control on the ground. Earlier Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the war would take many more months to end and now the military has said that it is prepared for the lengthy fighting.

Israel-Hamas war: IDF releases 5 brigades from Gaza, claims increasing gains on ground

With the onset of 2024 brings with it the global election year. Almost half of the world's population will be voting across continents as election season officially kicks off this year. Watch to know more.

At least 40 countries to go to polls this year, here's a list of key elections

Penny Mordaunt and Suella Braverman beaten in Tory leader poll by Kemi Badenoch | WION

Penny Mordaunt and Suella Braverman beaten in Tory leader poll by Kemi Badenoch

Donald Trump re-entering the US White House could "end American democracy as we know it," warn three women who worked for the democrat during his earlier stint as the President.

They voiced the warning while appearing in front of the US House committee investigating Trump's efforts to overrun the Capitol after losing the 2020 elections to President Joe Biden. Subsequently, they also issued another warning during an unprecedented television interview on Sunday, reports The Guardian.

<h2>Chaos of Trump's Presidency</h2>

During an interview on ABC's This Week, Sarah Matthews, a former deputy White House press secretary, remarked that, "People in general have short memories, and might forget the chaos of the Trump years."

"They also might not just be paying attention to what he's saying now—and the threat to democracy that exists. It does really concern me if he makes it to the general [election] that he could win. I'm still hopeful that we can defeat him in the primaries, but we're running out of time," she added, as reported by The Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coroner-investigating-chloe-macdermott-suicide-pact-says-google-amazon-can-prevent-such-tragedies-675522">Chloe Macdermott suicide pact: 'Google, Amazon can prevent such tragedies', says Coroner investigating case</a>

"We don't need to speculate because we already saw it play out," said Matthews while remarking on what another Trump presidency may look like.

"To this day, he still doubles down on the fact that he thinks that the election was stolen and fraudulent. And his rhetoric has just gotten increasingly erratic. He’s literally called for things like doing away with parts of the constitution, [and] wanting to weaponise the department of justice to enact revenge on his political enemies."

Appearing alongside Matthews were former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson and Alyssa Farah Griffin, Trump's former communications director.

Griffin warned that, "Fundamentally, a second Trump term could mean the end of American democracy as we know it, and I don't say that lightly."

"We all witnessed him trying to steal a democratic election before and go into historic and unconstitutional lengths to do so. That just shows he's willing to basically break every barrier to get into power and to stay into power."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-accuses-us-of-posing-military-threat-orders-military-to-prepare-for-possible-war-675531">Kim Jong Un accuses US of posing 'military threat', orders military to prepare for possible 'war'</a>

"What scares me as much as him and his retribution is the almost cult-like following he has, the threats, the harassment, the death threats that you get when he targets you, is really horrifying and has no place in our American discourse," she added.

Hutchinson, who was a key witness against Trump during the House committee’s public hearings in 2022, said that voters should not ignore Trump's voicing of his desire to be a dictator on his first day back in the White House.

"The fact that he feels that he needs to lean into being a dictator alone shows that he is a weak and feeble man," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump re-entering the US White House could "end American democracy as we know it," warn three women who worked for the democrat during his earlier stint as the President.

Donald Trump re-entering the US White House could "end American democracy as we know it," warn three women who worked for the democrat during his earlier stint as the President. They voiced the warning while appearing in front of the US House committee investigating Trump's efforts to overrun the Capitol after losing the 2020 elections to President Joe Biden. Subsequently, they also issued another warning during an unprecedented television interview on Sunday, reports The Guardian. Chaos of Trump's Presidency During an interview on ABC's This Week, Sarah Matthews, a former deputy White House press secretary, remarked that, "People in general have short memories, and might forget the chaos of the Trump years." "They also might not just be paying attention to what he's saying now—and the threat to democracy that exists. It does really concern me if he makes it to the general [election] that he could win. I'm still hopeful that we can defeat him in the primaries, but we're running out of time," she added, as reported by The Guardian. Also read | Chloe Macdermott suicide pact: 'Google, Amazon can prevent such tragedies', says Coroner investigating case "We don't need to speculate because we already saw it play out," said Matthews while remarking on what another Trump presidency may look like. "To this day, he still doubles down on the fact that he thinks that the election was stolen and fraudulent. And his rhetoric has just gotten increasingly erratic. He’s literally called for things like doing away with parts of the constitution, [and] wanting to weaponise the department of justice to enact revenge on his political enemies." Appearing alongside Matthews were former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson and Alyssa Farah Griffin, Trump's former communications director. Griffin warned that, "Fundamentally, a second Trump term could mean the end of American democracy as we know it, and I don't say that lightly." "We all witnessed him trying to steal a democratic election before and go into historic and unconstitutional lengths to do so. That just shows he's willing to basically break every barrier to get into power and to stay into power." Also read | Kim Jong Un accuses US of posing 'military threat', orders military to prepare for possible 'war' "What scares me as much as him and his retribution is the almost cult-like following he has, the threats, the harassment, the death threats that you get when he targets you, is really horrifying and has no place in our American discourse," she added. Hutchinson, who was a key witness against Trump during the House committee’s public hearings in 2022, said that voters should not ignore Trump's voicing of his desire to be a dictator on his first day back in the White House. "The fact that he feels that he needs to lean into being a dictator alone shows that he is a weak and feeble man," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump ‘a weak and feeble man’ who could ‘end American democracy as we know it,’ warn his former staffers

Tourism industry of Kashmir starts 2024 on a high note. Locals & tourists gather at Lal Chowk for New Years.

Jammu & Kashmir: Srinagar's Lal Chowk lit up for 'New Years'

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a bill on Friday (Dec 29) that upon becoming a law, would have restricted gender-affirming care for minors and transgender girls’ participation in sports. In a rare move for a Republican, Dewine rejected the legislation pushed by his party colleagues in the state and country.

Republican governors have vetoed similar bills before as well, and the frequency of such vetoes shows growing liberal attitudes among the Republicans for the LGBTQ+ community despite the noted disinformation about the community that the members of the Grand Old Party have spread in the past.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-first-openly-transgender-mp-georgina-beyer-dies-in-new-zealand-at-65-569186">World’s first openly transgender MP, Georgina Beyer, dies in New Zealand at 65</a>

In 2021, Arkansas then-Governor Asa Hutchinson vetoed a bill that would have made his state the first to ban gender-affirming treatments or surgeries for transgender minors.&nbsp;

Republican governors in Indiana and Utah last year vetoed bills that would have barred transgender girls from competing in female sports at school.

<h2>Why did DeWine veto the bill?</h2>

DeWine said he decided after meeting with doctors, families, and lawmakers by recognising views from all sides.&nbsp;

Some parents, he said, told him they weren’t sure their children would be alive today without gender-affirming treatment.&nbsp;

"This bill would impact a very small number of Ohio’s children. But for those children who face gender dysphoria and for their families, the consequences of this bill cannot be more profound," DeWine said during a Friday press conference.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;US House passes bill banning transgender students from women's sports

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"Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life."

Approving such legislation, DeWine said, would suggest the state holds more authority to determine what is medically best for a child than the parents.&nbsp;

Lawmakers passed the legislation earlier in December largely along party lines before sending it to the governor.&nbsp;

<h2>But this is not the end of the road</h2>

Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers of the state legislature. Therefore,&nbsp;it is possible for them to override DeWine’s veto.&nbsp;

<h2>What the bill is about?</h2>

Ohio's bill, upon becoming law, would prohibit physicians from prescribing hormone treatments or puberty blockers to minors seeking to transition. It would also restrict them from performing gender-reassignment surgeries on minors.&nbsp;

The legislation, however, would allow minors already receiving treatments such as puberty blockers to continue to do so.

In the recent past, several states in the US have passed bills banning certain gender-based therapies and surgeries for children and teenagers with or without parental consent.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a bill on Friday (Dec 29) that upon becoming a law, would have restricted gender-affirming care for minors and transgender girls’ participation in sports.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a bill on Friday (Dec 29) that upon becoming a law, would have restricted gender-affirming care for minors and transgender girls’ participation in sports. In a rare move for a Republican, Dewine rejected the legislation pushed by his party colleagues in the state and country. Republican governors have vetoed similar bills before as well, and the frequency of such vetoes shows growing liberal attitudes among the Republicans for the LGBTQ+ community despite the noted disinformation about the community that the members of the Grand Old Party have spread in the past. Also read | World’s first openly transgender MP, Georgina Beyer, dies in New Zealand at 65 In 2021, Arkansas then-Governor Asa Hutchinson vetoed a bill that would have made his state the first to ban gender-affirming treatments or surgeries for transgender minors. Republican governors in Indiana and Utah last year vetoed bills that would have barred transgender girls from competing in female sports at school. Why did DeWine veto the bill? DeWine said he decided after meeting with doctors, families, and lawmakers by recognising views from all sides. Some parents, he said, told him they weren’t sure their children would be alive today without gender-affirming treatment. "This bill would impact a very small number of Ohio’s children. But for those children who face gender dysphoria and for their families, the consequences of this bill cannot be more profound," DeWine said during a Friday press conference. Also watch | US House passes bill banning transgender students from women's sports × "Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life." Approving such legislation, DeWine said, would suggest the state holds more authority to determine what is medically best for a child than the parents. Lawmakers passed the legislation earlier in December largely along party lines before sending it to the governor. But this is not the end of the road Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers of the state legislature. Therefore, it is possible for them to override DeWine’s veto. What the bill is about? Ohio's bill, upon becoming law, would prohibit physicians from prescribing hormone treatments or puberty blockers to minors seeking to transition. It would also restrict them from performing gender-reassignment surgeries on minors. The legislation, however, would allow minors already receiving treatments such as puberty blockers to continue to do so. In the recent past, several states in the US have passed bills banning certain gender-based therapies and surgeries for children and teenagers with or without parental consent.

Ohio Republican governor vetoes bill banning care for transgender minors in rare move

Just a couple of weeks ahead of the January 13 election in Taiwan, Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to prevent anyone from splitting the island from China. His comments assume significance given how Beijing has been ramping up military and political pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over Taipei.

Xi Jinping, Joe Biden vow to promote bilateral ties | WION

Latest in Israel-Hamas war: As humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza, fighting triggers mass exodus towards Rafah. The Hamas health Ministry says 48 Palestinians killed in overnight bombing in Gaza city. Israeli Finance Minister calls for return of settlers to Gaza. Watch the video to know more!

Israel-Hamas: Israeli intercepts attacks from Gaza overnight

Japan Earthquake: After 7.5 magnitude quake hits Japan, now Tsunami warnings issued

Japan Earthquake: After 7.5 magnitude quake hits Japan, Tsunami hits sea of Japan coast

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: A massive earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 hit central Japan on Monday, triggering a tsunami warning and advisories for residents to evacuate. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama.

Tsunami strikes Japan's west coast after 7.4 magnitude quake

With upcoming launches of new rockets and spacecraft and not to mention the first crude lunar mission in over half a century, 2024 is set to be a busy year in space. Take a look.

Will 2024 be the greatest ever year for space exploration?

UK former ministers Penny Mordaunt and Suella Braverman are both being heavily tipped for a future leadership bid. However according to the conservative home survey of party members Kemi Badenoch is the favorite to become the next Tory party leader.

UK: Badenoch is the favourite to become next Tory party leader

ISRO launched its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite. The satellite is set to study X-ray emissions from black hole and other celestial objects.

ISRO second after NASA to send specialised astronomy observatory

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right leader, called for return of Jewish settlers to the Gaza Strip after current war between Israel and Hamas is over. The minister also said on Sunday (December 31, 2023) that Palestinians should be encouraged to emigrate out of Gaza Strip.

"To have security we must control the territory," Smotrich said as quoted by Israel's Army Radio. He was responding to a question which asked him about prospects of re-estabilshing settlements in Gaza.

"In order to control the territory militarily for a long time, we need a civilian presence," he said.

In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its soldiers and settlers. This ended their presence in the enclave since 1967. However, Israel has been maintaining tight control over the territory’s borders.

Watch | Israel-Hamas war: Gaza death toll climbs to over 21800: Hamas health ministry

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Under international law, all settlements on occupied Palestinian land are considered illegal irrespective of state of their approval by Israel.

Smotrich is chief of the far-right Religious Zionism party, which is part of the ruling coalition.

"If we act in a strategically correct way and encourage emigration, if there are 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs in Gaza and not two million, the whole discourse of the day after (the war) will be completely different," he said.

"We will help rehabilitate these refugees in other countries in a good and humane manner with the cooperation of the international community and Arab countries around us."

<h2>Hamas reacts sharply</h2>

Hamas has condemned Smotrich's comments saying it was a "vile mockery and a war crime". In its statement quoted by AFP, Hamas said that Gazans "will stand firm and steadfast in the face of all attempts to displace them from their land and homes".

The plan to make Gazans emigrate has not been officially presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It has also has not said officially that Israeli settlers should be sent back to Gaza Strip after the war is over.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-conflict-looms-large-for-many-months-in-2024-675368">Israel-Hamas war: Gaza conflict set to go on for 'many months' in 2024</a>

Israel has mounted a serious military response since Hamas fighters crossed borders in northern Gaza on October 7 and killed at least 1200 people in Israeli territory and took hostages.

The Israeli response has seen the country carry out hundreds of air attacks inside Gaza Strip as Israeli tanks and troops were deployed for ground operation.

According to Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 21,000 civilians have died so far in the ongoing conflict.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right leader, called for return of Jewish settlers to the Gaza Strip after current war between Israel and Hamas is over.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right leader, called for return of Jewish settlers to the Gaza Strip after current war between Israel and Hamas is over. The minister also said on Sunday (December 31, 2023) that Palestinians should be encouraged to emigrate out of Gaza Strip. "To have security we must control the territory," Smotrich said as quoted by Israel's Army Radio. He was responding to a question which asked him about prospects of re-estabilshing settlements in Gaza. "In order to control the territory militarily for a long time, we need a civilian presence," he said. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its soldiers and settlers. This ended their presence in the enclave since 1967. However, Israel has been maintaining tight control over the territory’s borders. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: Gaza death toll climbs to over 21800: Hamas health ministry × Under international law, all settlements on occupied Palestinian land are considered illegal irrespective of state of their approval by Israel. Smotrich is chief of the far-right Religious Zionism party, which is part of the ruling coalition. "If we act in a strategically correct way and encourage emigration, if there are 100,000 or 200,000 Arabs in Gaza and not two million, the whole discourse of the day after (the war) will be completely different," he said. "We will help rehabilitate these refugees in other countries in a good and humane manner with the cooperation of the international community and Arab countries around us." Hamas reacts sharply Hamas has condemned Smotrich's comments saying it was a "vile mockery and a war crime". In its statement quoted by AFP, Hamas said that Gazans "will stand firm and steadfast in the face of all attempts to displace them from their land and homes". The plan to make Gazans emigrate has not been officially presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It has also has not said officially that Israeli settlers should be sent back to Gaza Strip after the war is over. Also Read | Israel-Hamas war: Gaza conflict set to go on for 'many months' in 2024 Israel has mounted a serious military response since Hamas fighters crossed borders in northern Gaza on October 7 and killed at least 1200 people in Israeli territory and took hostages. The Israeli response has seen the country carry out hundreds of air attacks inside Gaza Strip as Israeli tanks and troops were deployed for ground operation. According to Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 21,000 civilians have died so far in the ongoing conflict. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel minister says Israeli settlers should return to Gaza

Israel-Hamas: Hamas health ministry says 48 Palestinians killed in overnight bombing

A 7.6&nbsp;magnitude earthquake hit central Japan on Monday (January 1) prompting&nbsp;officials to issue&nbsp;tsunami warning.&nbsp;Japan's national broadcaster NHK&nbsp;has reported that some of the first tsunami waves have&nbsp;already hit the Japanese shores.&nbsp;The official alert urged people to move to higher grounds.

"All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground," national broadcaster NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT).

NHK reported that a 5-metre tsunami has already hit Noto, while Niigata, Sado Island and Toyama have been lashed by tsunami waves of 3 metres in height. Warnings for other regions predict tsunami waves of up to&nbsp;1 metre high.

United States&nbsp;Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Center has said that Hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 300 km range of the epicentre of the earthquake.

Japan Meteorological Agency had earlier predicted that that the tsunami waves could reach up to five metres high.

The latest tsunamis have&nbsp;refreshed memories of devastation in 2011 when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake had triggered tsunami wave leading&nbsp;to nuclear meltdown&nbsp;at the Fukushima&nbsp;plant.

NHK has reported that Hokuriku Electric Power was checking for any irregularities at the nuclear power plants it operates.

According to Reuters,&nbsp;a spokesperson of Kansai Electric Power&nbsp;said that though there were no abnormalities at nuclear plants operated by the company, it was closely monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government has said that no abnormalities have been reported from the nuclear power plants in the country&nbsp;so far.

(With input from agencies)

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit central Japan on Monday (January 1) prompting officials to issue tsunami warning. Japan's national broadcaster NHK has reported that some of the first tsunami waves have already hit the Japanese shores.

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit central Japan on Monday (January 1) prompting officials to issue tsunami warning. Japan's national broadcaster NHK has reported that some of the first tsunami waves have already hit the Japanese shores. The official alert urged people to move to higher grounds. "All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground," national broadcaster NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT). NHK reported that a 5-metre tsunami has already hit Noto, while Niigata, Sado Island and Toyama have been lashed by tsunami waves of 3 metres in height. Warnings for other regions predict tsunami waves of up to 1 metre high. United States Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Center has said that Hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 300 km range of the epicentre of the earthquake. Japan Meteorological Agency had earlier predicted that that the tsunami waves could reach up to five metres high. The latest tsunamis have refreshed memories of devastation in 2011 when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake had triggered tsunami wave leading to nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima plant. NHK has reported that Hokuriku Electric Power was checking for any irregularities at the nuclear power plants it operates. According to Reuters, a spokesperson of Kansai Electric Power said that though there were no abnormalities at nuclear plants operated by the company, it was closely monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has said that no abnormalities have been reported from the nuclear power plants in the country so far. (With input from agencies)

Tsunami waves hit Japan after powerful 7.6 earthquake

In 2021, a tragedy unfolded when a 43-year-old British woman, Chloe Macdermott, took her own life after making a suicide pact with two individuals she met on an online forum. Now, the coroner investigating the case has called on tech giants Google and Amazon to take action.

The coroner, Paul Rogers, ruled her death as suicide and issued a prevention of future deaths report to tech giants Google and Amazon.

<h2>Power to prevent tragedies</h2>

In the conclusion of the suicide report, coroner Rogers said that he believed Google and Amazon have the power to prevent tragedies like this.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-has-become-stronger-zelensky-vows-to-unleash-wrath-against-russia-in-2024-675416">'Ukraine has become stronger': Zelensky vows to unleash 'wrath' against Russia in 2024</a>

The report has also been sent to the home, health, and culture secretaries and the national lead for suicide prevention at the National Police Chiefs' Council, reports The Guardian.

He said that it was a matter of concern that the forum used by Macdermott, and other forums like it" encourage suicide, assist it by provision of information about suicide methods, counsel suicide by providing information about it and thereby potentially facilitate the commission of a criminal offence in the United Kingdom".

The forum "permits material to be exchanged and viewed within its open chatrooms whereby suicide is encouraged, assisted, counselled and procured through the provision and exchange of information and methods," he added.

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"No age or other restrictions are in place to prevent access to children, vulnerable teenagers and vulnerable adults. No prominent signposting is in place to organisations from whom help is available to prevent suicide. Posts are made by users containing details of methods of suicide without any effective administration to remove such harmful content," the coroner further

The organisations now have 56 days to respond with an outline of how they will attempt to prevent future deaths and a timetable for doing so. Furthermore, if no action is taken, they must explain the reasoning behind that.

<h2>What happened to Chloe Macdermott?</h2>

On May 23, 2021, Chloe Macdermott who had been struggling with mental health issues for a few years, made a suicide pact with two people she had met online.

While searching for ways to end her life, the 43-year-old stumbled upon an online forum where she planned suicide. Using the poison&nbsp;bought on Amazon, she killed herself.

(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

WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

In 2021, a tragedy unfolded when a 43-year-old British woman, Chloe Macdermott, took her own life after making a suicide pact with two individuals she met on an online forum.

In 2021, a tragedy unfolded when a 43-year-old British woman, Chloe Macdermott, took her own life after making a suicide pact with two individuals she met on an online forum. Now, the coroner investigating the case has called on tech giants Google and Amazon to take action. The coroner, Paul Rogers, ruled her death as suicide and issued a prevention of future deaths report to tech giants Google and Amazon. Power to prevent tragedies In the conclusion of the suicide report, coroner Rogers said that he believed Google and Amazon have the power to prevent tragedies like this. Also read | 'Ukraine has become stronger': Zelensky vows to unleash 'wrath' against Russia in 2024 The report has also been sent to the home, health, and culture secretaries and the national lead for suicide prevention at the National Police Chiefs' Council, reports The Guardian. He said that it was a matter of concern that the forum used by Macdermott, and other forums like it" encourage suicide, assist it by provision of information about suicide methods, counsel suicide by providing information about it and thereby potentially facilitate the commission of a criminal offence in the United Kingdom". The forum "permits material to be exchanged and viewed within its open chatrooms whereby suicide is encouraged, assisted, counselled and procured through the provision and exchange of information and methods," he added. Also read | US border officials to process a record 300,000 migrants in December: Report "No age or other restrictions are in place to prevent access to children, vulnerable teenagers and vulnerable adults. No prominent signposting is in place to organisations from whom help is available to prevent suicide. Posts are made by users containing details of methods of suicide without any effective administration to remove such harmful content," the coroner further The organisations now have 56 days to respond with an outline of how they will attempt to prevent future deaths and a timetable for doing so. Furthermore, if no action is taken, they must explain the reasoning behind that. What happened to Chloe Macdermott? On May 23, 2021, Chloe Macdermott who had been struggling with mental health issues for a few years, made a suicide pact with two people she had met online. While searching for ways to end her life, the 43-year-old stumbled upon an online forum where she planned suicide. Using the poison bought on Amazon, she killed herself. (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 WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

Chloe Macdermott suicide pact: 'Google, Amazon can prevent such tragedies', says Coroner investigating case

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