Emmys 2026: Matthew Rhys wins Best Actor twice, sets historic 78-year record

3 Italians fly from Delhi to Munich without immigration clearance; Air India gets notice on major security lapse

Ex-CIA official David Rush nears plea deal in $40 million gold bar theft case

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

Pakistan puts Pak Rs 70 lakh bounty on UN terrorist Masood Azhar; move draws skepticism in Delhi

‘US ensuring global energy supplies’: Trump demands reimbursement for securing Strait of Hormuz

'She married her brother': Ilhan Omar faces criminal probe over immigration fraud claims

Ukraine strikes Syzran Oil Refinery deep inside Russia, fires erupt

Emmy Awards 2026: Widow's Bay and The Pitt win in lead categories- check out the complete list of winners

Indian-origin woman, Nepali-American friend crushed to death by subway train in New York

Emmys 2026: Michael J Fox honoured with Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for Parkinson’s advocacy

Emmys 2026 In Memoriam: Catherine O’Hara honoured by on-screen children Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, Dan Levy; Dolly Parton, Rob Reiner remembered

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

Emmys 2026 Red Carpet: Zendaya, Nicole Kidman and Julia Garner lead the glamour peak

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

What is Hyrox, in news for athlete who soiled herself, but kept running and using common equipment?

Russia proposes to build 360 kmph Ivolga FG trains in India: What happened on sidelines of BRICS

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

471 years ago, a prophecy warned of 'immortal lone brain'. Some think it was about AI

Former Pak PM Imran Khan's ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith marries Australian financier: Who is Cameron O'Reilly

UPI payments up to Rs 2,000 to stays free, but bigger transactions may soon cost you: Govt

Gurugram hit and run case: Police arrest  car driver Kalyan Bainsla, book him for attempt to murder

New OTT releases this week (September 14-20, 2026): Lust Stories 3, Waiting Hai, Irumudi- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Sent home midway from UK tour, Pakistan's Salman Agha hits 300* in domestic return

Who is Kalyan Bainsla, accused in the Gurugram hit-and-run case involving woman biker?

Nigerian Navy seizes 10,000 litres of suspected illegal fuel in Rivers State crackdown

Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of Uranium-rich ore in Madinah region

Dodgers beat Reds for playoff berth in bid for third consecutive World Series

Ecstasy tablets are rage in 'drug haven' Libya | Gravitas

'Now Trump is copying us': Shivakumar links US $5,000 plan to Congress guarantees

Video of Pakistani lawmaker struggling to read English tribute to Jinnah goes viral - WATCH

Trump downplays China's alleged 'help' to Iran in strike on Jordan base | Gravitas

Trump loses Supreme Court battle over mail ballots ahead of US midterms: What happened?

BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla says Mohsin Naqvi 'did not object' India refusing trophy from ACC chief

Legendary costume designer Bob Mackie dies at 87: A look back at his iconic legacy

Delhi govt to roll out ₹13,820 crore development projects under Seva Sankalp Abhiyan: CM Rekha Gupta

UK man admits drugging, raping wife for 20 years in shocking abuse case

Extreme warming in Indian Ocean added 695 billion tons of ice to Antarctica ice sheet

China thinned Himalayan troop presence in 2025, India defence report says; terms border situation 'stable'

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's emergency bill, that aimed at reviving his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, narrowly avoided defeat in Parliament. After a day of last-minute negotiations and parliamentary drama, Sunak secured a victory with a vote of 313 to 269 in favour of the plan.

UK: Rishi Sunak secures a narrow victory amid party rebellion | World DNA | WION

Pope Francis on Wednesday (Dec 13) made a revelation during an interview about his final resting place stating that he has chosen to be buried in a basilica in Rome than being buried alongside his immediate predecessors in St Peter's Basilica.

"The place is already prepared. I want to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore," the pontiff, who turns 87 this weekend, told Mexican broadcaster Televisa's N+ streaming service.

He also revealed his plans to visit Belgium in the year 2024 and also hoped to visit his native places Argentina and Polynesia.

The pontiff's decision on his tomb would make him the first pope to be buried outside of the Vatican in over a century.

Before Francis, Leo XIII eschewed a tomb in St Peter's whose remains lie in the basilica of St John the Lateran in Rome. He died in 1903.

Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome and one with which Francis said he felt a "special connection".

Francis used to go there on weekends while visiting Rome before becoming pope. Since being elected in 2013, he prayed there before and after taking a trip and also after undergoing surgery.

As per the Vatican News official media outlet, seven popes have previously been laid to rest in the basilica.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-cop28-draft-calls-for-transitioning-away-from-fossil-fuels-but-not-phase-out-669108">COP28: Nations adopt first-ever deal to transition away from fossil fuels</a>

In the interview which was recorded on Tuesday (Dec 12), during which he appeared to be much better, he paid tribute to his predecessor Benedict XVI for having had "the courage" to step down when his health was failing him.

The German pontiff in 2013 became the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign.

<h2>Pope Francis calls off Dubai visit for COP28</h2>

Earlier, Francis had called off his visit to Dubai for the COP28 climate talks after developing flu-like symptoms.

The Vatican, in a statement, said that he was dealing with the effects of influenza and lung inflammation.

"Although the Holy Father's general clinical picture has improved with regard to his flu-like condition and inflammation of the respiratory tract, doctors have asked the Pope not to make the trip planned for the coming days to Dubai," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.&nbsp;

"Pope Francis accepted the doctors' request with great regret and the trip is therefore cancelled," Bruni said.&nbsp;

In recent years, Francis has suffered a series of health issues. Earlier this year, he was hospitalised for pneumonia, characterised by the Vatican as bronchitis requiring intravenous antibiotic treatment. The current health concerns come amidst unusually windy and chilly weather in Rome.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pope Francis on Wednesday (Dec 13) made a revelation during an interview about his final resting place stating that he has chosen to be buried in a basilica in Rome than being buried alongside his immediate predecessors in St Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis on Wednesday (Dec 13) made a revelation during an interview about his final resting place stating that he has chosen to be buried in a basilica in Rome than being buried alongside his immediate predecessors in St Peter's Basilica. "The place is already prepared. I want to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore," the pontiff, who turns 87 this weekend, told Mexican broadcaster Televisa's N+ streaming service. He also revealed his plans to visit Belgium in the year 2024 and also hoped to visit his native places Argentina and Polynesia. The pontiff's decision on his tomb would make him the first pope to be buried outside of the Vatican in over a century. Before Francis, Leo XIII eschewed a tomb in St Peter's whose remains lie in the basilica of St John the Lateran in Rome. He died in 1903. Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome and one with which Francis said he felt a "special connection". Francis used to go there on weekends while visiting Rome before becoming pope. Since being elected in 2013, he prayed there before and after taking a trip and also after undergoing surgery. As per the Vatican News official media outlet, seven popes have previously been laid to rest in the basilica. Also read: COP28: Nations adopt first-ever deal to transition away from fossil fuels In the interview which was recorded on Tuesday (Dec 12), during which he appeared to be much better, he paid tribute to his predecessor Benedict XVI for having had "the courage" to step down when his health was failing him. The German pontiff in 2013 became the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign. Pope Francis calls off Dubai visit for COP28 Earlier, Francis had called off his visit to Dubai for the COP28 climate talks after developing flu-like symptoms. The Vatican, in a statement, said that he was dealing with the effects of influenza and lung inflammation. "Although the Holy Father's general clinical picture has improved with regard to his flu-like condition and inflammation of the respiratory tract, doctors have asked the Pope not to make the trip planned for the coming days to Dubai," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement. "Pope Francis accepted the doctors' request with great regret and the trip is therefore cancelled," Bruni said. In recent years, Francis has suffered a series of health issues. Earlier this year, he was hospitalised for pneumonia, characterised by the Vatican as bronchitis requiring intravenous antibiotic treatment. The current health concerns come amidst unusually windy and chilly weather in Rome. (With inputs from agencies)

Pope Francis chooses final resting place outside of Vatican

US President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday that Israel risked losing global support for its war against Hamas by "indiscriminate" bombing of Gaza.

Israel-Hamas war: Biden warns Israel is losing international support

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been fined $440,000 for revealing the personal details of interpreters fleeing Taiban-ruled Afghanistan. The details of as many as 265 people who may have been eligible to come to the UK under the&nbsp;Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), were mistakenly copied into an email.&nbsp;

UK Information Commissioner, John Edwards said the error had let those down to whom the country owed so much.&nbsp;

"This was a particularly egregious breach of the obligation of security owed to these people, thus warranting the financial penalty my office imposes today," he added.

The error saw the addresses of hundreds of people, including the Afghan interpreters openly included in the "to" field of the email, rather than the blind carbon copy (Bcc) field. As a result, everyone who received the mail, sent by ARAP, was able to view the emails of others.&nbsp;

Further information about those trying to leave Afghanistan, including one person's location, was then exposed when two people responded to the email by selecting "reply all".

An interpreter, whose identity was exposed, told BBC during an interview that the mistake "could cost the&nbsp;life of interpreters", some of those who were still living in Afghanistan.

"Some of the interpreters didn't notice the mistake and they replied to all the emails already and they explained their situation which is very dangerous. The email contains their profile pictures and contact details." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/microsoft-ai-team-accidentally-leaks-38tb-of-private-company-data-637749">Watch |&nbsp;Microsoft AI team accidentally leaks 38TB of private company data</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/microsoft-ai-team-accidentally-leaks-38tb-of-private-company-data-637749/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Blunder comes to light</h2>

The blunder first came to light in September 2021, a month after the Taliban took over Afghanistan as Britain engaged in a chaotic and heavily criticised evacuation of its assets from the country.&nbsp;

The then defence minister Ben Wallace told the parliament he was apologetic for the breach.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I apologise to those Afghans affected by this data breach and with whom we are now working...to provide security advice," said Wallace.&nbsp;

At the time, the authorities advised the concerned people to change their addresses and relocate while informing their team about the new place of operation via a secure form.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-rishi-sunaks-old-mobile-number-voicemail-recording-leaked-online-650378">Also read |&nbsp;UK: PM Rishi Sunak's old mobile number, voicemail recording leaked online</a>

The investigation found that the MoD failed to comply with the data protection requirements for technical processes to safeguard data.

Edwards' office said it had reduced an initial fine of $1.25 million to $877,000 before slashing it down to&nbsp;$440,000. It said the extensive cooperation by the MoD was the reason for reducing the penalty.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been fined $440,000 for revealing the personal details of interpreters fleeing Taiban-ruled Afghanistan. The details of as many as 265 people who may have been eligible to come to the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), were mistakenly copied into an email.

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been fined $440,000 for revealing the personal details of interpreters fleeing Taiban-ruled Afghanistan. The details of as many as 265 people who may have been eligible to come to the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), were mistakenly copied into an email. UK Information Commissioner, John Edwards said the error had let those down to whom the country owed so much. "This was a particularly egregious breach of the obligation of security owed to these people, thus warranting the financial penalty my office imposes today," he added. The error saw the addresses of hundreds of people, including the Afghan interpreters openly included in the "to" field of the email, rather than the blind carbon copy (Bcc) field. As a result, everyone who received the mail, sent by ARAP, was able to view the emails of others. Further information about those trying to leave Afghanistan, including one person's location, was then exposed when two people responded to the email by selecting "reply all". An interpreter, whose identity was exposed, told BBC during an interview that the mistake "could cost the life of interpreters", some of those who were still living in Afghanistan. "Some of the interpreters didn't notice the mistake and they replied to all the emails already and they explained their situation which is very dangerous. The email contains their profile pictures and contact details." Watch | Microsoft AI team accidentally leaks 38TB of private company data × Blunder comes to light The blunder first came to light in September 2021, a month after the Taliban took over Afghanistan as Britain engaged in a chaotic and heavily criticised evacuation of its assets from the country. The then defence minister Ben Wallace told the parliament he was apologetic for the breach. "I apologise to those Afghans affected by this data breach and with whom we are now working...to provide security advice," said Wallace. At the time, the authorities advised the concerned people to change their addresses and relocate while informing their team about the new place of operation via a secure form. Also read | UK: PM Rishi Sunak's old mobile number, voicemail recording leaked online The investigation found that the MoD failed to comply with the data protection requirements for technical processes to safeguard data. Edwards' office said it had reduced an initial fine of $1.25 million to $877,000 before slashing it down to $440,000. It said the extensive cooperation by the MoD was the reason for reducing the penalty. (With inputs from agencies)

UK's Ministry of Defence fined $440,000 for email blunder revealing details of Afghan interpreters

The Hamas-run&nbsp;health ministry on Tuesday (Dec 12) released a statement saying that the Israeli troops were raiding a hospital in the north of the Palestinian territory.

"Israeli occupation forces are storming Kamal Adwan hospital after besieging and bombing it for days," ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement.

Al-Qudra said that the armed forces were assembling men in the hospital courtyard, including medical staff.

"We fear their arrest and the arrest of the medical teams or their killing," the health ministry spokesman added, calling for international intervention.

The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA alleged that at least two mothers had lost their lives when the maternity department of Kamal Adwan Hospital was reportedly hit on Monday.&nbsp;

"The hospital remains surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks, and fighting with armed groups has been reported in its vicinity for three consecutive days," OCHA said.

It said the hospital was "currently accommodating 65 patients, including 12 children in the intensive care unit and six newborns in incubators".&nbsp;

"About 3,000 internally displaced persons remain trapped in the facility and are awaiting evacuation with extreme shortages of water, food and power reported," it added.

Israeli military has previously raided other medical facilities in Gaza including Al-Shifa, the territory's largest hospital.

As per the United Nations, at present there is only one hospital in northern Gaza which can admit the patients.&nbsp;

Israeli tanks and warplanes on Tuesday (Dec 12) hit war-torn southern Gaza while the United Nations expressed concerns over aid supplies drastically running short for affected Palestinians due to the intense fighting between the two warring sides, which is now in its third month.

The residents in Khan Younis, the southern city of Gaza which was stormed by the Israeli army last week, said that now the tank shelling was targeted on the city centre.

One of the residents, as per news agency Reuters reports, said that the tanks on Tuesday were operating in the street where the house of Yahya Al-Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza, is located.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-arrives-in-capitol-to-secure-another-round-of-funding-from-biden-668988">Zelensky arrives in Capitol to secure another round of funding from Biden</a>

Israel's counter-offensive on Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas has till now claimed the lives of at least 18,205 Palestinians and injured nearly 50,000 since Oct 7, according to the Gaza-run health ministry. &nbsp;

<h2>Biden says Netanyahu's government does not want two-state solution</h2>

United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government was against a two-state solution with the Palestinians and called on the Israeli PM to change his government.

"Bibi's got a tough decision to make," Biden said, referring to Netanyahu and his hardline right-wing government.&nbsp;

"This is the most conservative government in Israel's history," he said, adding that the Israeli government "doesn't want a two-state solution."

He further said that Israel had started to lose support from around the globe and that Netanyahu "has to strengthen and change" the Israeli government to find a long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu, after a conversation with Biden said that there was "disagreement" between the allies over "the day after Hamas", i.e. the vision for a post-war Gaza.

The Israeli premier said he hoped "we will reach agreement here" but he vowed not to "repeat the mistake of Oslo," referring to the 1993 peace accords signed in the United States.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

The Hamas-run health ministry on Tuesday (Dec 12) released a statement saying that the Israeli troops were raiding a hospital in the north of the Palestinian territory.

The Hamas-run health ministry on Tuesday (Dec 12) released a statement saying that the Israeli troops were raiding a hospital in the north of the Palestinian territory. "Israeli occupation forces are storming Kamal Adwan hospital after besieging and bombing it for days," ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement. Al-Qudra said that the armed forces were assembling men in the hospital courtyard, including medical staff. "We fear their arrest and the arrest of the medical teams or their killing," the health ministry spokesman added, calling for international intervention. The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA alleged that at least two mothers had lost their lives when the maternity department of Kamal Adwan Hospital was reportedly hit on Monday. "The hospital remains surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks, and fighting with armed groups has been reported in its vicinity for three consecutive days," OCHA said. It said the hospital was "currently accommodating 65 patients, including 12 children in the intensive care unit and six newborns in incubators". "About 3,000 internally displaced persons remain trapped in the facility and are awaiting evacuation with extreme shortages of water, food and power reported," it added. Israeli military has previously raided other medical facilities in Gaza including Al-Shifa, the territory's largest hospital. As per the United Nations, at present there is only one hospital in northern Gaza which can admit the patients. Israeli tanks and warplanes on Tuesday (Dec 12) hit war-torn southern Gaza while the United Nations expressed concerns over aid supplies drastically running short for affected Palestinians due to the intense fighting between the two warring sides, which is now in its third month. The residents in Khan Younis, the southern city of Gaza which was stormed by the Israeli army last week, said that now the tank shelling was targeted on the city centre. One of the residents, as per news agency Reuters reports, said that the tanks on Tuesday were operating in the street where the house of Yahya Al-Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza, is located. Also read: Zelensky arrives in Capitol to secure another round of funding from Biden Israel's counter-offensive on Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas has till now claimed the lives of at least 18,205 Palestinians and injured nearly 50,000 since Oct 7, according to the Gaza-run health ministry. Biden says Netanyahu's government does not want two-state solution United States President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government was against a two-state solution with the Palestinians and called on the Israeli PM to change his government. "Bibi's got a tough decision to make," Biden said, referring to Netanyahu and his hardline right-wing government. "This is the most conservative government in Israel's history," he said, adding that the Israeli government "doesn't want a two-state solution." He further said that Israel had started to lose support from around the globe and that Netanyahu "has to strengthen and change" the Israeli government to find a long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Tuesday, Netanyahu, after a conversation with Biden said that there was "disagreement" between the allies over "the day after Hamas", i.e. the vision for a post-war Gaza. The Israeli premier said he hoped "we will reach agreement here" but he vowed not to "repeat the mistake of Oslo," referring to the 1993 peace accords signed in the United States. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Israel intensifies assault as troops raid hospital in north Gaza, says Hamas-run health ministry

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Vietnam for a two-day official visit. The two countries have signed at least 37 agreements. The meeting between the delegates of the two sides also called for 'mutual' solutions over the South China Sea. China is also expected to lay down funding for rail link developments to help Vietnamese exports. The visit coincides with China's escalating tensions with the Philippines in the South China Sea - the new theatre of confrontations.

China-Vietnam to arrive on mutually acceptable solutions on south china sea disputes

Grzegorz Braun, a far-right Polish lawmaker, on Tuesday (Dec 12) used a fire extinguisher to put out a Hanukkah menorah (Hanukkah candles) placed in the parliament lobby.&nbsp;

The speaker of the lower chamber ordered him to exit the assembly after the incident, with people around him saying: "You should be ashamed."&nbsp;

The website of private broadcaster TVN24 posted a video of the incident, which also went viral on social media platforms.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-nation-of-two-halves-uks-persistent-wealth-inequality-poverty-pushing-it-back-into-victorian-era-668881">‘A nation of two halves’: UK’s persistent wealth inequality, poverty pushing it back into Victorian era</a>&nbsp;

The footage showed Braun of the Confederation with the fire extinguisher before walking across the lobby of the parliament to where the candles were kept.&nbsp;

He opened the extinguisher, causing a white cloud which forced security guards to rush people out of the area. People were seen covered in powder from the extinguisher.&nbsp;

After that, he took to the podium in the chamber where he described the Hanukkah as "satanic" and said he was restoring "normality".&nbsp;

On being asked about the incident and whether or not he is ashamed, Braun replied: "Those who take part in acts of Satanic worship should be ashamed."&nbsp;

Watch the video here:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🇵🇱🚨‼️ BREAKING: Polish MP Grzegorz Braun puts out Hanukkah candles with a fire extinguisher in the parliament building! 
 
Those around him can be heard saying: “you should be ashamed.” 
 
He responds: “Those who take part in acts of the satanic cult should be ashamed.” <a href="https://t.co/JQyiHqPEvf">pic.twitter.com/JQyiHqPEvf</a>
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1734626971517124931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 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/trending/passport-less-flight-mystery-russian-man-arrives-in-us-without-ticket-or-visa-fbi-digs-into-unusual-case-669031">Russian man arrives in US without ticket or visa, FBI investigates bizarre incident</a>&nbsp;

<h2>'No tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism'&nbsp;</h2>

Szymon Holownia, the speaker of the lower chamber, asked him to go out of the assembly. Holownia further noted that Braun would inform prosecutors about his actions.&nbsp;

Braun shook hands with other far-right lawmakers as he left the chamber.&nbsp;

"There will be no tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism ... as long as I am the speaker of parliament," Holownia told reporters.&nbsp;

While speaking to the news agency Reuters on the phone, Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich said that Braun's actions were not representative of the country and that he was "embarrassed" by them.&nbsp;

He added, "Someone extinguished the Hanukkah candles and a few minutes later we relit them. For thousands of years, our enemies have been trying to extinguish us, from the time of the Maccabees right through to Hamas. But our enemies should learn, they cannot extinguish us."

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Grzegorz Braun, a far-right Polish lawmaker, on Tuesday (Dec 12) used a fire extinguisher to put out a Hanukkah menorah (Hanukkah candles) placed in the parliament lobby.

Grzegorz Braun, a far-right Polish lawmaker, on Tuesday (Dec 12) used a fire extinguisher to put out a Hanukkah menorah (Hanukkah candles) placed in the parliament lobby. The speaker of the lower chamber ordered him to exit the assembly after the incident, with people around him saying: "You should be ashamed." The website of private broadcaster TVN24 posted a video of the incident, which also went viral on social media platforms. Also read: ‘A nation of two halves’: UK’s persistent wealth inequality, poverty pushing it back into Victorian era The footage showed Braun of the Confederation with the fire extinguisher before walking across the lobby of the parliament to where the candles were kept. He opened the extinguisher, causing a white cloud which forced security guards to rush people out of the area. People were seen covered in powder from the extinguisher. After that, he took to the podium in the chamber where he described the Hanukkah as "satanic" and said he was restoring "normality". On being asked about the incident and whether or not he is ashamed, Braun replied: "Those who take part in acts of Satanic worship should be ashamed." Watch the video here: 🇵🇱🚨‼️ BREAKING: Polish MP Grzegorz Braun puts out Hanukkah candles with a fire extinguisher in the parliament building! Those around him can be heard saying: “you should be ashamed.” He responds: “Those who take part in acts of the satanic cult should be ashamed.” pic.twitter.com/JQyiHqPEvf — Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) December 12, 2023 × Also read: Russian man arrives in US without ticket or visa, FBI investigates bizarre incident 'No tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism' Szymon Holownia, the speaker of the lower chamber, asked him to go out of the assembly. Holownia further noted that Braun would inform prosecutors about his actions. Braun shook hands with other far-right lawmakers as he left the chamber. "There will be no tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism ... as long as I am the speaker of parliament," Holownia told reporters. While speaking to the news agency Reuters on the phone, Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich said that Braun's actions were not representative of the country and that he was "embarrassed" by them. He added, "Someone extinguished the Hanukkah candles and a few minutes later we relit them. For thousands of years, our enemies have been trying to extinguish us, from the time of the Maccabees right through to Hamas. But our enemies should learn, they cannot extinguish us." (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Far-right Polish lawmaker uses fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived on Tuesday in US Congress to press increasingly reluctant Republicans to back his country's fight against Russian invasion with renewed US military aid but was unable to do so.

Zelensky in US: Russia scoffs at impact of US support; Biden says, 'Will not walk away from Ukraine'

The United Nations General Assembly is meeting on Tuesday, December 12 in an emergency session to discuss the Israeli war in Gaza. This is after Egypt and Mauritania jointly invoked the rarely-used resolution 377 A (V) on Monday.

UNGA overwhelmingly votes for Gaza ceasefire; US alone in Israel's support | World DNA | WION

Zelensky in US: Ukraine President Zelesnky unable to win over US Congress as he pleads for aid

Israel-Hamas war: Biden says Netanyahu 'must change' as Israel losing international support | WION

The Israeli military has initiated the flooding of Hamas's extensive tunnel network in Gaza by pumping seawater into the underground infrastructure, as confirmed by US officials briefed on Israeli military operations, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).&nbsp;

Reports from late October suggested that Israeli military leaders were contemplating inundating Hamas's tunnels before launching a ground invasion into Gaza, and it appears that these flooding operations are now underway.

Hamas is known to have constructed its tunnels beneath civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. The use of seawater from the Mediterranean is one of several methods employed by Israel to clear and eliminate these tunnels.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-four-reasons-why-donald-trump-might-win-2024-presidential-elections-669267">Explained: Four reasons why Donald Trump might win 2024 presidential elections</a>

While the spokesperson for the Israeli defence minister has not yet made any comments, citing the classified nature of the tunnel operations, Israeli officials reportedly argue that Hamas's underground system has been instrumental in facilitating the group's battlefield operations.&nbsp;

The tunnels are reportedly used for storing rockets and munitions and serving as a command and control infrastructure for the group's leaders.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/argentina-devalues-peso-cuts-spending-to-treat-fiscal-deficit-addiction-669257">Argentina devalues peso, cuts spending to treat fiscal deficit 'addiction'</a>

The use of seawater has raised concerns among the officials of the Biden administration about potential risks to Gaza's freshwater supply.

Earlier, President Biden while speaking over the prospect of flooding of tunnels commented on the uncertain fate of more than 100 hostages believed to be held by Hamas in the very tunnels.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-un-general-assembly-votes-overwhelmingly-in-favour-of-gaza-ceasefire-669275">Israel-Hamas war: UN General Assembly votes overwhelmingly in favour of Gaza ceasefire</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/israel-hamas-war-un-general-assembly-votes-overwhelmingly-in-favour-of-gaza-ceasefire-669275/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The flooding process, expected to last weeks, commenced with the addition of two pumps to the five already installed, and initial tests have been conducted.

While some Biden administration officials express concerns about the effectiveness of using seawater and its potential impact on Gaza's freshwater supply, others believe it could be a viable technique to destroy portions of the tunnel network.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

The Israeli military has initiated the flooding of Hamas's extensive tunnel network in Gaza by pumping seawater into the underground infrastructure, as confirmed by US officials briefed on Israeli military operations, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The Israeli military has initiated the flooding of Hamas's extensive tunnel network in Gaza by pumping seawater into the underground infrastructure, as confirmed by US officials briefed on Israeli military operations, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Reports from late October suggested that Israeli military leaders were contemplating inundating Hamas's tunnels before launching a ground invasion into Gaza, and it appears that these flooding operations are now underway. Hamas is known to have constructed its tunnels beneath civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. The use of seawater from the Mediterranean is one of several methods employed by Israel to clear and eliminate these tunnels. Also Read | Explained: Four reasons why Donald Trump might win 2024 presidential elections While the spokesperson for the Israeli defence minister has not yet made any comments, citing the classified nature of the tunnel operations, Israeli officials reportedly argue that Hamas's underground system has been instrumental in facilitating the group's battlefield operations. The tunnels are reportedly used for storing rockets and munitions and serving as a command and control infrastructure for the group's leaders. Also Read | Argentina devalues peso, cuts spending to treat fiscal deficit 'addiction' The use of seawater has raised concerns among the officials of the Biden administration about potential risks to Gaza's freshwater supply. Earlier, President Biden while speaking over the prospect of flooding of tunnels commented on the uncertain fate of more than 100 hostages believed to be held by Hamas in the very tunnels. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: UN General Assembly votes overwhelmingly in favour of Gaza ceasefire × The flooding process, expected to last weeks, commenced with the addition of two pumps to the five already installed, and initial tests have been conducted. While some Biden administration officials express concerns about the effectiveness of using seawater and its potential impact on Gaza's freshwater supply, others believe it could be a viable technique to destroy portions of the tunnel network. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Israel starts flooding seawater in Gaza tunnels to dismantle Hamas network: Report

Ozempic, a widely-used medication for weight management and type 2 diabetes, may unintentionally mitigate alcohol cravings and symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to a case series in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Dr Jesse Richards, the lead author, highlighted&nbsp;a significant reduction in AUD symptoms among people&nbsp;initially prescribed Ozempic for weight loss, suggesting additional therapeutic benefits, as reported by Everyday Health.

Participants, originally prescribed Ozempic for weight loss rather than AUD, reported decreased alcohol intake and frequency during treatment.

These findings align with anecdotal reports from clinicians and patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists, indicating a potential connection between Ozempic and diminished alcohol use.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/australian-woman-allegedly-dies-due-to-side-effects-of-weight-loss-medication-ozempic-656025">Also read |&nbsp;Australian woman allegedly dies due to side-effects of weight loss medication Ozempic</a>

<h2>Case series highlights positive outcomes with Ozempic</h2>

Analysing medical records of six individuals using Ozempic for weight loss and AUD, researchers observed a substantial decrease in AUD symptoms, averaging 9.5 points on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT).

Notably, participants were on lower-than-approved Ozempic doses, bringing to light its potential in addiction medicine.

Also watch |&nbsp;Fear of Ozempic drug shortage looms large in UK

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fear-of-ozempic-drug-shortage-looms-large-in-uk-660360/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Part of the GLP-1 analogue family, Ozempic, developed for diabetes, influences brain reward pathways. Studies, including those on animals, suggest GLP-1 analogues alter brain reward pathways, reducing cravings for substances like cocaine and diminishing alcohol consumption.

While these findings offer promising insights into Ozempic's unintended benefits, larger controlled studies are vital for validation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ozempic, a widely-used medication for weight management and type 2 diabetes, may unintentionally mitigate alcohol cravings and symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to a case series in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Ozempic, a widely-used medication for weight management and type 2 diabetes, may unintentionally mitigate alcohol cravings and symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to a case series in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Dr Jesse Richards, the lead author, highlighted a significant reduction in AUD symptoms among people initially prescribed Ozempic for weight loss, suggesting additional therapeutic benefits, as reported by Everyday Health. Participants, originally prescribed Ozempic for weight loss rather than AUD, reported decreased alcohol intake and frequency during treatment. These findings align with anecdotal reports from clinicians and patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists, indicating a potential connection between Ozempic and diminished alcohol use. Also read | Australian woman allegedly dies due to side-effects of weight loss medication Ozempic Case series highlights positive outcomes with Ozempic Analysing medical records of six individuals using Ozempic for weight loss and AUD, researchers observed a substantial decrease in AUD symptoms, averaging 9.5 points on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Notably, participants were on lower-than-approved Ozempic doses, bringing to light its potential in addiction medicine. Also watch | Fear of Ozempic drug shortage looms large in UK Part of the GLP-1 analogue family, Ozempic, developed for diabetes, influences brain reward pathways. Studies, including those on animals, suggest GLP-1 analogues alter brain reward pathways, reducing cravings for substances like cocaine and diminishing alcohol consumption. While these findings offer promising insights into Ozempic's unintended benefits, larger controlled studies are vital for validation. (With inputs from agencies)

Craving alcohol but want to resist? Weight loss drug Ozempic might be able to help

Japan has selected the kanji character for "tax" as its word of the year, reflecting a rising public apprehension about the cost of living and impending tax hikes.

The character, read as zei or mitsugi, was revealed at the Kiyomizu Buddhist temple in Kyoto by head priest Seihan Mori. Garnering 5,797 votes out of 147,878, it resonated with the public's sentiments, as reported by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, organisers of the annual contest since 1995.

<h2>Second and third place contenders</h2>

Securing the second spot was sho/atsui, the character for "hot", symbolising concerns about Japan's scorching summer and the climate emergency.

The character for "war" (ikusa/tatakau) came in third, drawing attention to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-japan-considering-joining-indias-upi-payment-system-says-japanese-minister-kono-taro-593773">Also read |&nbsp;Exclusive | Japan considering joining India's UPI payment system, says Japanese Minister Kono Taro</a>

<h2>Lighter themes in top 10</h2>

While weighty topics dominated, characters inspired by lighter events, such as "tiger", "victory", and "ball", celebrated the Hanshin Tigers baseball team's triumph.

Despite the government's recent tax cuts, unease prevails over anticipated tax hikes, particularly to fund increased defence spending in response to regional military concerns. A new invoicing system adds to concerns for freelancers and self-employed people facing potential higher tax rates.

As the year of the rabbit comes to a close, a political storm brews over allegations of undisclosed payments within Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's party, sparking accusations of tax evasion. However, this scandal's impact on the word-of-the-year selection remains minimal.

The top 10 characters for 2023 also featured "zo/masu" or "increase," highlighting the struggle with rising prices outpacing wage growth.

Also watch |&nbsp;Japan set to declare recession after 71 straight months of growth

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/video-japan-set-to-declare-recession-after-71-straight-months-of-growth-315784/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

This marks the second time "taxation" has claimed the top spot, the first being in 2014 during a consumption (sales) tax increase from five to eight per cent.&nbsp;

While Japan has avoided severe inflation seen in other major economies, over 32,000 food products experienced price hikes throughout the year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Japan has selected the kanji character for "tax" as its word of the year, reflecting a rising public apprehension about the cost of living and impending tax hikes.

Japan has selected the kanji character for "tax" as its word of the year, reflecting a rising public apprehension about the cost of living and impending tax hikes. The character, read as zei or mitsugi, was revealed at the Kiyomizu Buddhist temple in Kyoto by head priest Seihan Mori. Garnering 5,797 votes out of 147,878, it resonated with the public's sentiments, as reported by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, organisers of the annual contest since 1995. Second and third place contenders Securing the second spot was sho/atsui, the character for "hot", symbolising concerns about Japan's scorching summer and the climate emergency. The character for "war" (ikusa/tatakau) came in third, drawing attention to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Also read | Exclusive | Japan considering joining India's UPI payment system, says Japanese Minister Kono Taro Lighter themes in top 10 While weighty topics dominated, characters inspired by lighter events, such as "tiger", "victory", and "ball", celebrated the Hanshin Tigers baseball team's triumph. Despite the government's recent tax cuts, unease prevails over anticipated tax hikes, particularly to fund increased defence spending in response to regional military concerns. A new invoicing system adds to concerns for freelancers and self-employed people facing potential higher tax rates. As the year of the rabbit comes to a close, a political storm brews over allegations of undisclosed payments within Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's party, sparking accusations of tax evasion. However, this scandal's impact on the word-of-the-year selection remains minimal. The top 10 characters for 2023 also featured "zo/masu" or "increase," highlighting the struggle with rising prices outpacing wage growth. Also watch | Japan set to declare recession after 71 straight months of growth This marks the second time "taxation" has claimed the top spot, the first being in 2014 during a consumption (sales) tax increase from five to eight per cent. While Japan has avoided severe inflation seen in other major economies, over 32,000 food products experienced price hikes throughout the year. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan picks ‘Zei’ as kanji of 2023 amid tax hikes, rising cost of living

COP28 has adopted its first ever UN Climate deal. They are looking to transition away from fossil fuels. The deal however lays down no mandatory phase out amid, amid teh conflict carbon footprint of world's top militaries has come under radar.

Militaries account for 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emission

Argentina will weaken its peso over 50% to 800 per dollar, cut energy subsidies, and cancel tenders of public works, new Economy Minister Luis Caputo said on Tuesday, as part of economic shock therapy aimed at fixing the country's worst crisis in decades.

Caputo said the plan would be painful in the short-term but was needed to cut the fiscal deficit and bring down triple-digit inflation, as he unveiled a package of measures after libertarian President Javier Milei took office on Sunday.

"The objective is simply to avoid catastrophe and get the economy back on track," Caputo said in a recorded speech.

He said the country needed to tackle a deep fiscal deficit he put at 5.5% of GDP, adding Argentina had a fiscal deficit for 113 of the last 123 years - the cause of its economic woes.

"We're here to solve this problem at the root," he said. "For this, we need to solve our addiction to fiscal deficit."

The South American country, a major grains producer, is battling inflation nearing 150%, central bank reserves deep in the red and two-fifths of the population in poverty. It has a wobbling $44 billion loan with the International Monetary Fund.

"I welcome the decisive measures," IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said, calling it "an important step toward restoring stability and rebuilding the country's economic potential."

The IMF called the measures "bold" and said in a statement they would "help stabilise the economy and set the basis for more sustainable and private-sector led growth" following "serious policy setbacks" in recent months.

The country's foreign exchange and grains markets had been locked down on Tuesday as traders awaited the new government's economic plan. Banks had already anticipated a sharp devaluation, with some weakening their FX rate to 700.

Since 2019, Argentina's peso currency has been kept artificially strong by strict capital controls which create a wide gap between the official exchange rate of 366 per dollar and parallel rates as high as 1,000 per dollar.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-cop28-draft-calls-for-transitioning-away-from-fossil-fuels-but-not-phase-out-669108">COP28: Nations adopt first-ever deal to transition away from fossil fuels</a>

<h2>'THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL'</h2>

Milei, a wild-haired political outsider, had campaigned with pledges for major spending cuts, often wielding a chainsaw at rallies as a blunt symbol of his plans to trim back the state.

"The situation is critical with 45% poverty and 200% annualised inflation," presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni earlier told a press conference. "We are heading towards hyperinflation and the objective is to avoid it."

Milei's tough fiscal rhetoric - with a new mantra "there is no money" - has buoyed markets since his election win, with the S&amp;P Merval stock index hitting a record high on Tuesday and sovereign bonds up nearly 4%.

Analysts said the new measures sent a strong message.

"The devaluation announced exceeded market expectations," said Shamaila Khan, Head of Fixed Income for Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific at UBS Asset Management.

"Some details were announced on the fiscal adjustment that will be needed such as reduction of subsidies and decrease in public expenditure. Implementation will be key."

Caputo, echoing previous pledges by Milei, said the government would look to gradually erase export tariffs, something farmers have long sought. Argentina is a top exporter of processed soy oil and meal, and the no. 3 for corn.

The grains sector is expected to meet with the government late on Tuesday, Reuters reported earlier citing sources.

<h2>'THE ADJUSTMENT WILL BE PAINFUL'</h2>

The key doubt is whether Milei, whose libertarian coalition is only the third largest bloc in Congress, can implement the sharp cuts needed to undo the deep fiscal deficit without pushing the South American country towards turmoil and unrest.

"The adjustment will be painful, and the path forward is laden with economic, political and social risks," Fitch Ratings said in a report.

"Milei's party has little representation in the legislature and controls no provincial governorships, alliances with more influential parties and power-brokers remain in flux, and the social situation is fragile."

The central bank, which had new president Santiago Bausili confirmed overnight in the official gazette, said it would undo "transition" checks on FX trades from Wednesday morning that had only allowed priority trades through this week.

The Economy Ministry posted on Twitter that the central bank would announce measures on Wednesday related to the interest rate, debt and monetary policy to complement its own measures.

Argentina will weaken its peso over 50% to 800 per dollar, cut energy subsidies, and cancel tenders of public works, new Economy Minister Luis Caputo said on Tuesday, as part of economic shock therapy aimed at fixing the country's worst crisis in decades.

Argentina will weaken its peso over 50% to 800 per dollar, cut energy subsidies, and cancel tenders of public works, new Economy Minister Luis Caputo said on Tuesday, as part of economic shock therapy aimed at fixing the country's worst crisis in decades. Caputo said the plan would be painful in the short-term but was needed to cut the fiscal deficit and bring down triple-digit inflation, as he unveiled a package of measures after libertarian President Javier Milei took office on Sunday. "The objective is simply to avoid catastrophe and get the economy back on track," Caputo said in a recorded speech. He said the country needed to tackle a deep fiscal deficit he put at 5.5% of GDP, adding Argentina had a fiscal deficit for 113 of the last 123 years - the cause of its economic woes. "We're here to solve this problem at the root," he said. "For this, we need to solve our addiction to fiscal deficit." The South American country, a major grains producer, is battling inflation nearing 150%, central bank reserves deep in the red and two-fifths of the population in poverty. It has a wobbling $44 billion loan with the International Monetary Fund. "I welcome the decisive measures," IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said, calling it "an important step toward restoring stability and rebuilding the country's economic potential." The IMF called the measures "bold" and said in a statement they would "help stabilise the economy and set the basis for more sustainable and private-sector led growth" following "serious policy setbacks" in recent months. The country's foreign exchange and grains markets had been locked down on Tuesday as traders awaited the new government's economic plan. Banks had already anticipated a sharp devaluation, with some weakening their FX rate to 700. Since 2019, Argentina's peso currency has been kept artificially strong by strict capital controls which create a wide gap between the official exchange rate of 366 per dollar and parallel rates as high as 1,000 per dollar. Also read: COP28: Nations adopt first-ever deal to transition away from fossil fuels 'THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL' Milei, a wild-haired political outsider, had campaigned with pledges for major spending cuts, often wielding a chainsaw at rallies as a blunt symbol of his plans to trim back the state. "The situation is critical with 45% poverty and 200% annualised inflation," presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni earlier told a press conference. "We are heading towards hyperinflation and the objective is to avoid it." Milei's tough fiscal rhetoric - with a new mantra "there is no money" - has buoyed markets since his election win, with the S&P Merval stock index hitting a record high on Tuesday and sovereign bonds up nearly 4%. Analysts said the new measures sent a strong message. "The devaluation announced exceeded market expectations," said Shamaila Khan, Head of Fixed Income for Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific at UBS Asset Management. "Some details were announced on the fiscal adjustment that will be needed such as reduction of subsidies and decrease in public expenditure. Implementation will be key." Caputo, echoing previous pledges by Milei, said the government would look to gradually erase export tariffs, something farmers have long sought. Argentina is a top exporter of processed soy oil and meal, and the no. 3 for corn. The grains sector is expected to meet with the government late on Tuesday, Reuters reported earlier citing sources. 'THE ADJUSTMENT WILL BE PAINFUL' The key doubt is whether Milei, whose libertarian coalition is only the third largest bloc in Congress, can implement the sharp cuts needed to undo the deep fiscal deficit without pushing the South American country towards turmoil and unrest. "The adjustment will be painful, and the path forward is laden with economic, political and social risks," Fitch Ratings said in a report. "Milei's party has little representation in the legislature and controls no provincial governorships, alliances with more influential parties and power-brokers remain in flux, and the social situation is fragile." The central bank, which had new president Santiago Bausili confirmed overnight in the official gazette, said it would undo "transition" checks on FX trades from Wednesday morning that had only allowed priority trades through this week. The Economy Ministry posted on Twitter that the central bank would announce measures on Wednesday related to the interest rate, debt and monetary policy to complement its own measures.

Argentina devalues peso, cuts spending to treat fiscal deficit 'addiction'

Nearly 200 countries have agreed to transition away from fossil fuels to avert an incoming climate catastrophe. The deal was struck at COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

COP28: No phase-out targets for fossil fuels

Israel has now started targeting Hamas' key assets and that is their tunnels weeks have passed since Israel started its ground invasion of Gaza. Reports are emerging that the Israeli the military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas' complex tunnel systems in Gaza.

Israel-Hamas war: Media reports suggest that IDF is flooding Hamas tunnels

Nearly 200 countries have agreed to transition away from fossil fuels to avert an incoming climate catastrophe. The historic deal was struck at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. But was met with fierce resistance from the oil producing group OPEC and its allies.

COP28: Nations agree to transition away from fossil fuels

Reports are emerging that the Israeli military has begun pumping sea-water into Hamas' complex tunnel system in Gaza.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel floods tunnels with sea water

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign minister Mahmood Qureshi have once again been indicted in the Cipher case. The two leaders have pleaded not guilty to their involvement in any offense.

Pakistan's Ex-PM Imran Khan and Ex-FM Mahmood Qureshi indicted again in Cipher case

A major security breach in India's parliament house... Identities of the 2 intruders and 2 accomplices outside are being verified, and detailed questioning is on. Visitor passes for parliament suspended.

Parliament Security Breach: Massive security breach inside India's parliament

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms- Unprecedented intrusion in Lok Sabha. Two intruders opened gas canisters, causing panic in Lok Sabha. Men jumped in Lok Sabha from visitor's gallery.

Lok Sabha Security Breach: Major Security breach in Indian Parliament

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's emergency bill that aimed at reviving his plan to send Asylum Seekers to Rwanda avoided defeat in Parliament. The House of Commons witnessed a rebellion by dozens of Sunak's own lawmakers exposing deep divisions within his party after a day of last-minute negotiations and parliamentary drama Sunak secured the victory order.

UK PM Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Migration Plan survives shutdown

With the United States presidential election less than a year away, candidates have ramped up efforts to reach as many voters as possible, including Democratic Shamaine Daniels who is running for office against Trump-backed Republican Representative Scott Perry in the US state of Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

The Democrat lost to the Republican candidate by less than 10 points last time but has now called in ‘Ashley’ to help her with the campaign. Daniels announced her candidacy for the US House of Representatives, in addition to the Republican incumbent she is also up against six other Democratic candidates.&nbsp;

<h2>Meet Ashley</h2>

Ashley is an AI-powered campaign volunteer but is far from the typical robocaller since none of her responses&nbsp;are canned or pre-recorded, given her ability to hold conversational calls. &nbsp;

The creators, as per Reuters, intend to mainly work with Democratic campaigns and candidates, and say she is the first political phone banker powered by generative AI technology similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-over-human-staff-indian-ceo-replaces-90-workforce-with-bot-internet-outraged-614666">AI replaces human workers: Indian CEO replaces 90% support staff with chatbot, internet outraged</a>

According to Ashley’s creators at a tech startup Civox, she is capable of having an infinite number of customised one-on-one conversations at the same time.&nbsp;

Over the weekend, the new AI tool was deployed to have high-quality conversations on a large scale paving the way for political campaigning where candidates want to use technology to engage voters.&nbsp;

Ashley called thousands of Pennsylvania voters on behalf of Daniels and like a pro campaign volunteer she analysed a person’s profile to have tailored conversations around their key issues.&nbsp;

“This one kept my attention,” 63-year-old David Fish told Reuters. “The thing I really liked was that it identified itself as AI and didn’t try to fool me.”

Civox, cofounded by Ilya Mouzykantskii and Adam Reis said that Ashley uses a combination of more than 20 different open-source AI models and licensed technology to build Ashley. However, they declined to disclose the exact generative AI models they are using.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-flouted-copyrights-to-train-its-ai-llama-despite-warning-from-lawyers-claims-lawsuit-669148">Meta flouted copyrights to train its AI 'Llama' despite warning from lawyers, claims lawsuit by authors</a>

“This is going to scale fast,” said Mouzykantskii, the London-based CEO of Civox. “We intend to be making tens of thousands of calls a day by the end of the year and into the six digits pretty soon. This is coming for the 2024 election and it’s coming in a very big way. The future is now.”

<h2>Legal concerns</h2>

While the AI tool historic development, is it legal or even ethical? Several countries are in the midst of figuring out legislation to regulate the rapid growth of AI which has raised concerns among experts who have said that it poses an existential threat to humanity.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified before the US Congress saying that he was worried about the generative AI’s ability to compromise election integrity through “one-on-one interactive disinformation.”&nbsp;

However, Mouzykantskii told Reuters that he is fully aware of the potential downsides but will not prioritise profits over ethics. To address these concerns, while Civox’s AI does record calls with the voters to further train Ashley, the data of the person is anonymised.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/in-a-historic-first-an-ai-powered-robot-lawyer-set-to-defend-human-in-us-court-550342">In a ‘historic’ first, an AI-powered ‘robot lawyer’ will defend a human in US court</a>

It also includes a measure where, if the conversation goes off-topic or becomes abusive, the AI politely ends the call.&nbsp;

While the US Federal Election Commission has begun looking into whether to regulate AI use in campaigns, there is very little clarity about whether what Daniels is doing is legal or not, but she does plan on using her experience with AI to find ways to regulate it.&nbsp;

“If I’m the first one to deploy tools that rely on AI in the electoral process, I can help figure out what policies and regulations are useful and valuable and also train the electorate in recognizing what ethical AI use in campaigning looks like,” the Democrat candidate told Forbes.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

With the United States presidential election less than a year away, candidates have ramped up efforts to reach as many voters as possible, including Democratic Shamaine Daniels who is running for office against Trump-backed Republican Representative Scott Perry in the US state of Pennsylvania.

With the United States presidential election less than a year away, candidates have ramped up efforts to reach as many voters as possible, including Democratic Shamaine Daniels who is running for office against Trump-backed Republican Representative Scott Perry in the US state of Pennsylvania. The Democrat lost to the Republican candidate by less than 10 points last time but has now called in ‘Ashley’ to help her with the campaign. Daniels announced her candidacy for the US House of Representatives, in addition to the Republican incumbent she is also up against six other Democratic candidates. Meet Ashley Ashley is an AI-powered campaign volunteer but is far from the typical robocaller since none of her responses are canned or pre-recorded, given her ability to hold conversational calls. The creators, as per Reuters, intend to mainly work with Democratic campaigns and candidates, and say she is the first political phone banker powered by generative AI technology similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. ALSO READ | AI replaces human workers: Indian CEO replaces 90% support staff with chatbot, internet outraged According to Ashley’s creators at a tech startup Civox, she is capable of having an infinite number of customised one-on-one conversations at the same time. Over the weekend, the new AI tool was deployed to have high-quality conversations on a large scale paving the way for political campaigning where candidates want to use technology to engage voters. Ashley called thousands of Pennsylvania voters on behalf of Daniels and like a pro campaign volunteer she analysed a person’s profile to have tailored conversations around their key issues. “This one kept my attention,” 63-year-old David Fish told Reuters. “The thing I really liked was that it identified itself as AI and didn’t try to fool me.” Civox, cofounded by Ilya Mouzykantskii and Adam Reis said that Ashley uses a combination of more than 20 different open-source AI models and licensed technology to build Ashley. However, they declined to disclose the exact generative AI models they are using. ALSO READ | Meta flouted copyrights to train its AI 'Llama' despite warning from lawyers, claims lawsuit by authors “This is going to scale fast,” said Mouzykantskii, the London-based CEO of Civox. “We intend to be making tens of thousands of calls a day by the end of the year and into the six digits pretty soon. This is coming for the 2024 election and it’s coming in a very big way. The future is now.” Legal concerns While the AI tool historic development, is it legal or even ethical? Several countries are in the midst of figuring out legislation to regulate the rapid growth of AI which has raised concerns among experts who have said that it poses an existential threat to humanity. Earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified before the US Congress saying that he was worried about the generative AI’s ability to compromise election integrity through “one-on-one interactive disinformation.” However, Mouzykantskii told Reuters that he is fully aware of the potential downsides but will not prioritise profits over ethics. To address these concerns, while Civox’s AI does record calls with the voters to further train Ashley, the data of the person is anonymised. ALSO READ | In a ‘historic’ first, an AI-powered ‘robot lawyer’ will defend a human in US court It also includes a measure where, if the conversation goes off-topic or becomes abusive, the AI politely ends the call. While the US Federal Election Commission has begun looking into whether to regulate AI use in campaigns, there is very little clarity about whether what Daniels is doing is legal or not, but she does plan on using her experience with AI to find ways to regulate it. “If I’m the first one to deploy tools that rely on AI in the electoral process, I can help figure out what policies and regulations are useful and valuable and also train the electorate in recognizing what ethical AI use in campaigning looks like,” the Democrat candidate told Forbes. (With inputs from agencies)

World’s first AI-powered campaign caller ‘Ashley’ deployed ahead of 2024 elections in US

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Of 193 Nations, 153 backed the calls for a ceasefire while 19 voted against it and 23 abstained from voting. Refusing calls for a ceasefire the Israeli Envoy held up a placard with a telephone number and the name and image of Yahya Sinwar, a Hamas leader in Gaza.

Israel-Hamas war: UNGA demands immediate ceasefire in Gaza

world

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

world news