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

Recent studies found that middle children are more honest, humble, and enjoyable than their adult siblings in a family. It also said that middle children are one step ahead of their siblings in things like agreeableness, cooperation, and humility.

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

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

The year 2024 was marked by a surprisingly high number of natural disasters that underscored the growing devastating effect of climate change on planet Earth.&nbsp;

From catastrophic flooding to disastrous storms, these are the five biggest disasters of this year.

<h2>Afghanistan–Pakistan floods</h2>

<img alt="Afghan floods" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a172edeb-2f56-44a5-af69-10fe3d1aaeef" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-12-24T141351.649.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: AFP)

Between March and August 2024, unseasonably heavy rains and subsequent flash flooding in Afghanistan and Pakistan claimed the lives of 1084 people, while over 2000 were injured.

<h2>Typhoon Yagi</h2>

<img alt="Typhoon Yagi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="42498da3-8b5b-4ead-9c37-b21d629a9621" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-12-24T141656.752.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: AFP)

Typhoon Yagi (known as Severe Tropical Storm Enteng in the Philippines), was a tropical storm in September 2024 in Southeast Asia and South China.

Yagi was the first super typhoon—it was a category 5 typhoon—of the annual typhoon season and was the most powerful storm ever to hit Northern Vietnam. It was also the strongest typhoon to batter Hainan during the meteorological autumn, surpassing all others since the devastating Rammasun in 2014.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-tragedy-to-triumph-five-personalities-who-defined-2024-785783">From tragedy to triumph: Five personalities who defined 2024</a>

The toll from Yagi was staggering. As per official records, 844 lives were lost, 2,279 people were injured, and 129 others were reported missing. Additionally, the storm, as per reports, caused damages of over $16.7 billion. This makes Yagi the third-costliest Pacific typhoon on record.&nbsp;

<h2>Enga landslide</h2>

<img alt="Enga landslide" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73023189-c5b7-4778-8ee6-958faa76173f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-12-24T141912.206.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: AFP)

On May 24, 2024, a devastating landslide struck Papua New Guinea's Mulitaka. The massive landslide buried thousands under the debris. While the official death toll stands at 640, estimates suggest that there might actually have been over 2,000 fatalities.&nbsp;

The landslide, as per some theories, was caused by a 4.5 magnitude earthquake that occurred on May 18, 2024. However, the Red Cross blamed gold mining or heavy rainfall in the region for the disaster.

<h2>Wayanad landslides</h2>

<img alt="Wayanad landslides" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ded522a6-28af-4a54-a9ed-3c7bcaf0546b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-12-24T142042.407.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: AFP)

In India's Kerala, a series of landslides on July 30, 2024, killed 254 people, and injured 397, while 254 went missing.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/rewind-2024-a-reminder-climate-change-is-impacting-us-more-than-we-think-785892">2024 was a reminder that climate change impacts us more than we think</a>

The landslides were caused by heavy rains that led to the collapse of hillsides. They affected&nbsp;Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Vellarimala villages in Meppadi panchayat, Vythiri taluk in Wayanad district.

It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in Kerala's history.

<h2>Hurricane Helene</h2>

<img alt="Hurricane Helene" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6825e893-3312-427b-a39f-54abadd050c4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-12-24T142204.833.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: AFP)

The devastating Hurricane Helene hit the Southeast United States in September 2024. The tropical cyclone was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida, the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Maria in 2017, and the deadliest to strike the mainland US since Katrina in 2005.

Helene caused 235 deaths and total damage of around $124 billion.

(With inputs from agencies)

The year 2024 was marked by a surprisingly high number of natural disasters that underscored the growing devastating effect of climate change on planet Earth. From catastrophic flooding to disastrous storms, these are the five biggest disasters of this year.

The year 2024 was marked by a surprisingly high number of natural disasters that underscored the growing devastating effect of climate change on planet Earth. From catastrophic flooding to disastrous storms, these are the five biggest disasters of this year. Afghanistan–Pakistan floods (Image courtesy: AFP) Between March and August 2024, unseasonably heavy rains and subsequent flash flooding in Afghanistan and Pakistan claimed the lives of 1084 people, while over 2000 were injured. Typhoon Yagi (Image courtesy: AFP) Typhoon Yagi (known as Severe Tropical Storm Enteng in the Philippines), was a tropical storm in September 2024 in Southeast Asia and South China. Yagi was the first super typhoon—it was a category 5 typhoon—of the annual typhoon season and was the most powerful storm ever to hit Northern Vietnam. It was also the strongest typhoon to batter Hainan during the meteorological autumn, surpassing all others since the devastating Rammasun in 2014. Also read | From tragedy to triumph: Five personalities who defined 2024 The toll from Yagi was staggering. As per official records, 844 lives were lost, 2,279 people were injured, and 129 others were reported missing. Additionally, the storm, as per reports, caused damages of over $16.7 billion. This makes Yagi the third-costliest Pacific typhoon on record. Enga landslide (Image courtesy: AFP) On May 24, 2024, a devastating landslide struck Papua New Guinea's Mulitaka. The massive landslide buried thousands under the debris. While the official death toll stands at 640, estimates suggest that there might actually have been over 2,000 fatalities. The landslide, as per some theories, was caused by a 4.5 magnitude earthquake that occurred on May 18, 2024. However, the Red Cross blamed gold mining or heavy rainfall in the region for the disaster. Wayanad landslides (Image courtesy: AFP) In India's Kerala, a series of landslides on July 30, 2024, killed 254 people, and injured 397, while 254 went missing. Also read | 2024 was a reminder that climate change impacts us more than we think The landslides were caused by heavy rains that led to the collapse of hillsides. They affected Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Vellarimala villages in Meppadi panchayat, Vythiri taluk in Wayanad district. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in Kerala's history. Hurricane Helene (Image courtesy: AFP) The devastating Hurricane Helene hit the Southeast United States in September 2024. The tropical cyclone was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida, the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Maria in 2017, and the deadliest to strike the mainland US since Katrina in 2005. Helene caused 235 deaths and total damage of around $124 billion. (With inputs from agencies)

Year in review: From floods in Afghanistan to Typhoon Yagi, the deadliest natural disasters in 2024

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

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday (Dec 24) said that they are considering impeaching acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo after he refused to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee by Christmas Eve.

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

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

The Senate has convened a parliamentary session to discuss the UAE's visa restrictions and the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. The session aims to address concerns related to the impact on Pakistani workers and their families abroad, with a focus on finding solutions to ease the visa challenges. Watch in for more details!

Pakistani Travellers Need Police Verification Report To Obtain UAE Visa

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

A Georgian gay couple has been sentenced to 100 years in jail for sexually abusing their two adopted sons. The couple William (34) and Zachary Zulock (36) adopted two brothers, who are now 12 and 10, from a Christian special-needs agency.

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

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

Christmas is almost here, a season to spread joy, love and celebration across the world. Celebrated on December 25, this holiday brings together families, friends and loved ones to cherish the moments, exchange gifts and share feasts.

According to the New Testament, Christmas marks the birthday of Lord Jesus Christ, who was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Christ is considered the messiah and saviour of mankind according to the prophecies.

Spread the Christmas spirit with your loved ones with these heartfelt messages, greetings and quotes in your wishes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/90-year-old-cheng-chen-with-parkinsons-lifts-35-kg-in-heartwarming-senior-weightlifting-contest-786242">90-year-old Cheng Chen with Parkinson's lifts 35 kg in heartwarming senior weightlifting contest</a>

<h2>Christmas 2024: Wishes and messages</h2>

“May the magic of Christmas bring you endless happiness and joy. Have a wonderful holiday season!”

“Wishing you a holiday season full of warmth, joy, and magical memories.”

“Sending you Christmas cheer wrapped in warmth and love. May your holidays be as beautiful as you are!”

“Merry Christmas and happy New Year! May the holiday season offer you calmness, and the new year bring you wonderful business adventures.”

“May this festive season bring happiness and success to you and your family.”

“May this Christmas bring you closer to those you hold dear and shower you with happiness and success.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-man-to-feature-in-guinness-world-record-2025-book-for-stacking-most-jenga-blocks-786260">Canadian man to feature in Guinness World Record 2025 book for stacking most Jenga blocks</a>

<h2>Christmas 2024: Quotes to share</h2>

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Charles Dickens

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” – Bob Hope

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” – Norman Vincent Peale

“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. ” – Mary Ellen Chase

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” – Charles M. Schulz

Christmas is almost here, a season to spread joy, love and celebration across the world. Celebrated on December 25, this holiday brings together families, friends and loved ones to cherish the moments, exchange gifts and share feasts.

Christmas is almost here, a season to spread joy, love and celebration across the world. Celebrated on December 25, this holiday brings together families, friends and loved ones to cherish the moments, exchange gifts and share feasts. According to the New Testament, Christmas marks the birthday of Lord Jesus Christ, who was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Christ is considered the messiah and saviour of mankind according to the prophecies. Spread the Christmas spirit with your loved ones with these heartfelt messages, greetings and quotes in your wishes. Also read | 90-year-old Cheng Chen with Parkinson's lifts 35 kg in heartwarming senior weightlifting contest Christmas 2024: Wishes and messages “May the magic of Christmas bring you endless happiness and joy. Have a wonderful holiday season!” “Wishing you a holiday season full of warmth, joy, and magical memories.” “Sending you Christmas cheer wrapped in warmth and love. May your holidays be as beautiful as you are!” “Merry Christmas and happy New Year! May the holiday season offer you calmness, and the new year bring you wonderful business adventures.” “May this festive season bring happiness and success to you and your family.” “May this Christmas bring you closer to those you hold dear and shower you with happiness and success.” Also read | Canadian man to feature in Guinness World Record 2025 book for stacking most Jenga blocks Christmas 2024: Quotes to share “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Charles Dickens “Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” – Bob Hope “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” – Norman Vincent Peale “Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. ” – Mary Ellen Chase “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” – Charles M. Schulz

Christmas 2024: Wishes, messages, greetings, and quotes 

Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD&nbsp;in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor's office said during a news conference on Monday.

According to the authorities, the workers were hired in China by another firm and brought to Brazil irregularly. They were labouring for long hours, in excess of what is allowed by Brazilian law, sometimes for seven days a week straight, while being kept in what authorities described as degrading conditions in their accommodations, among other labour violations.

BYD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The labour authorities did not disclose the names of the firms involved in hiring the workers.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj_jZiq-7-KAxUxr1YBHYbQLaMQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-22-die-in-bus-accident-in-southeastern-brazil-officials-785855" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-22-die-in-bus-accident-in-southeastern-brazil-officials-785855&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj_jZiq-7-KAxUxr1YBHYbQLaMQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">At least 22 die in bus accident in southeastern Brazil: Officials</a>

In Brazil, "slavery-like conditions" include forced labour, but also covers debt bondage, degrading work conditions, long hours that pose a risk to workers' health and any work that violates human dignity.

The workers had to request permission to leave their lodgings, and at least 107 also had their passports withheld by their employer, said labour inspector Liane Durao, adding that conditions at the work site were dangerous.

Watch:&nbsp;Brazil: 10 Dead In Plane Crash, Several People Injured

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"We found that the work of ... these 163 workers, was carried out in slavery-like conditions," she said.

"Minimum safety conditions were not being met in the work environment," said Durao.

The operation is ongoing, said Durao, and fines have not yet been issued.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labour prosecutor's office said during a news conference on Monday.

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

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

Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.

An experienced child exploitation investigator told Reuters he reported 26 accounts on the popular adults-only website OnlyFans to authorities, saying they appeared to contain sexual content featuring underage teen girls.

“What is alarming is the scope and scale of it,” said Matt W.J. Richardson, head of intelligence at The Canadian Open Source Intelligence Centre. He noted that many accounts featured more than one female who he suspected was underage.

Within a day of his Dec. 16 report to authorities, all of the accounts had been removed from OnlyFans, said Richardson, whose organization trains law enforcement and government agencies in open source intelligence to help combat crimes such as human trafficking and child exploitation.

Richardson said he reported the 26 accounts as containing suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children, the US-based clearinghouse for CSAM-related tips.

Some of the accounts were linked to each other through promotional posts, suggesting they may have been controlled by the same person or group, Richardson said.

The images in the accounts featured females with physical attributes typical of those under the age of 18, Richardson said. Most had narrow hips and lacked physical maturation, he said. Many had narrow shoulders or appeared to be “well short of five feet tall,” he said.

Sexually explicit images of minors are banned in most countries, including the US, UK, and Canada, and are against OnlyFans rules. On its website, OnlyFans says it prohibits content featuring the exploitation or abuse of anyone under 18, &nbsp;even if it’s adults “pretending to be” under 18.

The National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children (NCMEC) told Reuters it could not comment on reports made to its tip line. Generally, NCMEC said, it tries to confirm whether reported webpages actively host child sexual abuse material or exploitive content. When warranted, it notifies the company hosting the material; it's then up to the company whether to remove or block the content. In addition, all tips are “referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for possible investigation,” NCMEC said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gotta-keep-this-sucker-for-a-little-while-trump-signals-averting-ban-on-tiktok-786087">‘Gotta keep this s**ker for a little while,’ Trump signals averting ban on TikTok</a>

Responding to the findings of this story, an OnlyFans spokesperson said the company has a “zero tolerance approach” to child sexual abuse material on the platform and has “strict onboarding processes to ensure all creators are over the age of 18.” OnlyFans works closely with NCMEC to “thoroughly investigate any reports they receive from others about our platform,” the spokesperson said.

She did not respond to a question about why the 26 accounts were taken down only after Richardson reported them.

OnlyFans has said it vets all content and swiftly removes and reports any suspected child sexual abuse material when detected. The company has a “pre-check team” that uses technology to detect content that’s “extremely likely to be a child,” CEO Keily Blair said in a speech in August. OnlyFans invests heavily in content moderation, Blair has said, which allows it to “focus on keeping the community safe and keeping the community for adults only.” OnlyFans also says all content is ultimately reviewed by human moderators.

The spokesperson noted that OnlyFans itself made 347 reports to NCMEC in 2023, “vastly fewer than the millions of instances that are reported by other social media platforms where users can remain anonymous and where content is unmoderated.”

OnlyFans’ 4.1 million content creators typically sell explicit images and videos for a monthly subscription fee, plus one-off payments. The company keeps a fifth of the revenue. The subscriptions effectively place paywalls around nearly every OnlyFans account, making the site difficult to scrutinize.

In a July investigation, Reuters used US police and court records to document 30 complaints to law enforcement that child sexual abuse material appeared on OnlyFans between Dec. 2019 and June 2024. The case files examined by Reuters cited more than 200 explicit videos and images of kids, including some adults having oral sex with toddlers.

OnlyFans told Reuters at that time that NCMEC has “full access” to the site behind its paywalls. But NCMEC said access was “limited” to OnlyFans accounts reported to its tip line or connected to a missing child case. Aside from that, NCMEC said it “does not proactively monitor, moderate, or actively seek to review content at scale” behind the paywall of OnlyFans.

<h2>Emojis of lollipops &amp; baby bottles</h2>

In recent months, Reuters separately examined non-explicit public profile photos, bios and posts of OnlyFans creators who shared near-identical promotional language in their posts. Access to the material was open to the public without a paid OnlyFans subscription.

Female creators in 49 of those accounts had non-explicit profile photos that appeared childlike, according to three people with professional experience identifying child exploitation, including Richardson. Richardson said the 26 cases he reported to NCMEC overlapped with four of those Reuters identified.

Eric Silverman, a researcher for Culture Reframed, an organization focused on raising awareness about the harms of pornography to youth, said the 49 profile photos raised serious concern.

“Their appearance, wide-eyed, innocent look, the pouting, the finger in the mouth, all these are visual cues that convey childhood,” he said. “Even if every single one of them is verifiably 18 or older, you still have to confront the issue that OnlyFans is profiting from the sexual portrayal of women who appear to be underage.”

The accounts dated back months, as far as December 2023. All 49 of them were taken down after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings.

A company spokesperson said OnlyFans reviewed the user names provided by Reuters. “In every case, the Creators’ Government identity documents had been checked and verified by a third party which confirmed the documents are valid, and all individuals are over the age of 18.”

The company did not answer a question about why the 49 accounts were removed. OnlyFans also did not respond when asked to identify the “third party” that confirmed the documents.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-questions-security-measures-after-deadly-car-attack-at-magdeburg-christmas-market-786251">Germans questions security measures after deadly car attack at Magdeburg Christmas market</a>

Reuters could not verify the ages of the females featured in the profiles of the 49 accounts or whether their photos had been digitally altered. OnlyFans’ website says verified creators can post AI-generated content of themselves but must disclose it by, for example, including the hashtag #ai. The 49 accounts identified by Reuters didn’t have that hashtag or language flagging the use of AI.

The public details of those accounts often included emojis such as teddy bears, lollipops, or baby bottles. In their non-explicit profile photos, some females wore their hair in pigtails or braids. Others had braces. Many referred to themselves in diminutive terms such as “small,” “tiny,” “petite” or “mini.”

Some described themselves as “shy” or “innocent.” One profile description read, “If you came to my page, it means you love little, inexperienced girls like me!”

One profile photo was of a female, dressed in a skin-tight, rainbow-colored fishnet top and described on her OnlyFans page as a “petite princess” who “may look innocent​​” but is looking for a “well experienced man.”

“She doesn't even look 15,” said Lori Cohen, CEO of Protect All Children from Trafficking or PACT, a US non-profit dedicated to eradicating child sexual exploitation and trafficking.

“It's a very disturbing image,” Cohen said.

<h2>‘This isn’t small scale’</h2>

Richardson said the 26 accounts he reported suggested possible coordination by content creators.

Typically, an OnlyFans creator has a public profile with one or more photos, and subscribers can log in to view explicit content involving that creator. But in the cases examined by Richardson, the creators often posted images advertising multiple other females, some of whom appeared underage, and linked to those females’ OnlyFans accounts, he said.

“This isn't small scale. It's not like one or three or four,” said Richardson. “How many really are out there?”

In some of the 26 accounts Richardson reported on Dec. 16, the profile photo of the OnlyFans creator featured what looked like an adult female, he said, but the photos posted within the account included those of suspected underage females along with their OnlyFans account names.

“Some of them appear to be very young and tiny,” he said.

He said some of the content in the 26 accounts could have been “legacy CSAM”: sexually explicit photos taken when the female was a girl but posted when she was 18 or over. These would still violate laws governing child sexual abuse material, three legal experts told Reuters.

Richardson has previously conducted research into OnlyFans. In 2022, he and other researchers reported that they found creator profiles with “common indicators” of child sexual abuse material or sex trafficking, including keywords and other language. Shortly after their report was published, one US lawmaker entered it into the Congressional Record, the official chronicle of congressional proceedings.

In the 49 public profiles Reuters reviewed, many of the account names included the words – or variations of the words – “little,” “baby,” “sweet” or “Lolita.” Those names, when combined with images of young females, can be used to advertise child sexual abuse material, said the specialists consulted by Reuters.

The posts sometimes referred to females in schoolgirl or other child-oriented terms. One, for example, stated: ”The depraved babe @[account name redacted by Reuters] ran away from schоol.” It continued: “Subscribe and punish her!” The account was removed by Dec. 17, the day after Reuters contacted OnlyFans about its findings.

Bios or posts in the accounts Reuters identified often included references to females being 18 or having just turned 18. “I've been waiting to turn 18 for a long time so I could register on Onlyfans, and here I am,” read the profile of one female, who Cohen said appeared younger.

“There's a fullness to her face that is often associated with youth. She's got disproportionately large eyes, and children tend to have larger eyes on their face relative to adults,” said Cohen.

Even if the females actually were 18, child exploitation experts said that’s still a problem because the images themselves suggested they might be underage. “It creates a demand for younger and younger bodies,” said Cohen. “This type of behavior normalizes pedophilia.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-gay-couple-gets-100-years-in-jail-for-raping-adopted-sons-and-filming-child-pornography-786444">Georgia gay couple gets 100 years in jail for raping adopted sons and filming child pornography</a>

It is unlikely that a person could be successfully prosecuted for child sexual abuse material in a scenario where an adult is posing as a minor, because governing statutes generally focus on the participant’s actual age, three legal experts told Reuters.

Among &nbsp;the 49 accounts Reuters examined, the creators often used nearly identical language to describe themselves or particular sex acts.

“I don’t like parties or noisy clubs, I’m more of a home person, Netflix and chill is my kind of weekend,” one female wrote in her profile. Another used notably similar language: “I'm not a big fan of parties and noisy clubs. I'm more of a homebody, you know? Netflix and chill – that's my idea of a perfect weekend.”

As of mid-December, Reuters documented more than 150 instances in which posts from different accounts used identical or nearly identical language. Many of those posts, spread across 25 of the 49 accounts Reuters reviewed, also shared the same combinations of emojis.

A half dozen of those posts, all purporting to have been written by different creators, promised for instance that “this beauty will play with her tight holes just for you.”

Multiple others promised a “gorgeous doll for your hot desires” or a girl who “is all alone right now and needs some new attention.”

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. An experienced child exploitation investigator told Reuters he reported 26 accounts on the popular adults-only website OnlyFans to authorities, saying they appeared to contain sexual content featuring underage teen girls.

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

Multiple OnlyFans accounts with suspected child sexual abuse material: Report

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A new survey reveals that 73% of South Koreans are in favor of the country developing its own nuclear weapons, reflecting growing concerns over regional security and North Korea's nuclear threat. The shift in public opinion highlights the changing attitudes toward defense policies in South Korea.

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Hunger is at a record high in the Arab region, with alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, revealed a new report from Unthe ited Nations.

The region is unlikely to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to food security and nutrition by 2030, said the report, '2024 Near East and North Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition' , which covered 22 countries in West Asia, North, and East Africa.

In 2023, approximately 66.1 million people—about 14 per cent&nbsp;of the region’s population—suffered from hunger.&nbsp;

The report noted that nearly 40 per cent of the population, or 186.5 million people, faced moderate or severe food insecurity.&nbsp;

This is a 1.1 percentage point increase from the previous year, with 72.7 million enduring severe food insecurity.
<img alt="WION Data Lab" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="176bc3ea-d3a8-44ef-bc49-0d4b693447af" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20Web%20Team%20bugs%20and%20banners%20-%202024-12-24T153550.546.jpg" />
<h2>Conflict Driving Food Insecurity</h2>

In 2022, a revised methodology found that 151.3 million people across the Arab region could not afford a healthy diet, with conflict-hit nations seeing the highest rates, at 41.2%.

Conflict is the primary factor contributing to food insecurity and malnutrition, alongside economic challenges, climate extremes, and growing income inequality.&nbsp;

The situation worsened in 2023, with food prices continuing to rise.&nbsp;

In conflict-ridden nations, undernourishment rates reached 26.4 per cent, a staggering four times higher than in peaceful countries, where the rate was just 6.6 per cent.

<h2>Malnutrition crisis: Obesity, wasting, and nutrient deficiencies</h2>

The UN report also underscored the continuing malnutrition issues in the region, such as growing obesity rates among children and adults, a rise in wasting, and nutrient deficiencies like anaemia among women.&nbsp;

Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Comoros recorded the highest levels of undernourishment.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiCipj1lcCKAxWnbfUHHW2PNuwQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/only-12-aid-trucks-reached-starving-civilians-in-northern-gaza-since-october-reveals-oxfam-786062" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/only-12-aid-trucks-reached-starving-civilians-in-northern-gaza-since-october-reveals-oxfam-786062&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiCipj1lcCKAxWnbfUHHW2PNuwQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Only 12 aid trucks reached starving civilians in northern Gaza since October, reveals Oxfam</a>

Although stunting rates have seen a slight decline from 28 per cent in 2000 to 19.9 per cent in 2022, tackling malnutrition remains a major challenge.&nbsp;

The region also experienced higher-than-average rates of child wasting, especially in low-income countries, where 14.6 per cent of children are affected.
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Additionally, the prevalence of overweight children under five in the region stood at 9.5&nbsp; per cent in 2022, almost double the global average.&nbsp;

This figure has increased by 8 per cent since 2000, with the highest rates found in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt.&nbsp;

The anaemia rate among women of reproductive age was also concerning, at 33.2 per cent, higher than the global average, with the highest rates in low-income countries at 43.9 per cent.

Watch:&nbsp;Trump Picks Massad Boulos To Serve As Adviser On Arab, Middle Eastern Affairs 
&nbsp;

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When it comes to adults, obesity rates&nbsp;remain critically high in the Arab States, with 32.1 per cent of adults affected in 2022—more than double the global average. Egypt, Qatar&nbsp;and Kuwait had the highest obesity rates in the region.

Despite some progress in reducing malnutrition, the Arab region faces significant challenges in reversing the hunger crisis, worsened by conflict and economic issues.&nbsp;

"Urgent and sustained efforts are needed to ensure that no one is left behind in this crisis," warned the UN.

Hunger is at a record high in the Arab region, with alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, revealed a new report from Unthe ited Nations. The region is unlikely to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to food security and nutrition by 2030, said the report, '2024 Near East and North Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition' , which covered 22 countries in West Asia, North, and East Africa.

Hunger is at a record high in the Arab region, with alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, revealed a new report from Unthe ited Nations. The region is unlikely to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to food security and nutrition by 2030, said the report, '2024 Near East and North Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition' , which covered 22 countries in West Asia, North, and East Africa. In 2023, approximately 66.1 million people—about 14 per cent of the region’s population—suffered from hunger. The report noted that nearly 40 per cent of the population, or 186.5 million people, faced moderate or severe food insecurity. This is a 1.1 percentage point increase from the previous year, with 72.7 million enduring severe food insecurity. Conflict Driving Food Insecurity In 2022, a revised methodology found that 151.3 million people across the Arab region could not afford a healthy diet, with conflict-hit nations seeing the highest rates, at 41.2%. Conflict is the primary factor contributing to food insecurity and malnutrition, alongside economic challenges, climate extremes, and growing income inequality. The situation worsened in 2023, with food prices continuing to rise. In conflict-ridden nations, undernourishment rates reached 26.4 per cent, a staggering four times higher than in peaceful countries, where the rate was just 6.6 per cent. Malnutrition crisis: Obesity, wasting, and nutrient deficiencies The UN report also underscored the continuing malnutrition issues in the region, such as growing obesity rates among children and adults, a rise in wasting, and nutrient deficiencies like anaemia among women. Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Comoros recorded the highest levels of undernourishment. Also read: Only 12 aid trucks reached starving civilians in northern Gaza since October, reveals Oxfam Although stunting rates have seen a slight decline from 28 per cent in 2000 to 19.9 per cent in 2022, tackling malnutrition remains a major challenge. The region also experienced higher-than-average rates of child wasting, especially in low-income countries, where 14.6 per cent of children are affected. Additionally, the prevalence of overweight children under five in the region stood at 9.5 per cent in 2022, almost double the global average. This figure has increased by 8 per cent since 2000, with the highest rates found in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt. The anaemia rate among women of reproductive age was also concerning, at 33.2 per cent, higher than the global average, with the highest rates in low-income countries at 43.9 per cent. Watch: Trump Picks Massad Boulos To Serve As Adviser On Arab, Middle Eastern Affairs × When it comes to adults, obesity rates remain critically high in the Arab States, with 32.1 per cent of adults affected in 2022—more than double the global average. Egypt, Qatar and Kuwait had the highest obesity rates in the region. Despite some progress in reducing malnutrition, the Arab region faces significant challenges in reversing the hunger crisis, worsened by conflict and economic issues. "Urgent and sustained efforts are needed to ensure that no one is left behind in this crisis," warned the UN.

WION Data Lab: UN report highlights hunger levels in the Arab world worsening at alarming rates

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

United States retail giant Walmart landed in a controversy on Tuesday (Dec 24) for selling shirts featuring images of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on its online store.

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

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

Russia on Monday (Dec 23) confirmed that several countries have agreed to join BRICS as partner states, with the official status set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

A TASS report citing Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov reported that nine countries have said yes to becoming members of the intergovernmental organisation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-story/khalistani-terrorists-killed-in-up-were-led-by-uk-army-officer-claims-top-indian-cop-786369">Khalistani terrorists killed in UP were led by UK army officer, claims&nbsp;top&nbsp;Indian&nbsp;cop</a>

<h2>BRICS partners</h2>

At a recent summit in Kazan, a new category for BRICS partner countries was established, and invitations were sent to 13 nations. So far, Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan have confirmed their readiness to join, Ushakov told reporters.

"One of the important results of the summit [in Kazan] was the establishment of the category of BRICS partner countries and coming to terms on a list of 13 states. Invitations were sent to these states. As of this time, confirmations of readiness to become a BRICS partner country have been received from Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan."

"From January 1, 2025, they will officially acquire the status of BRICS partner states," he said.

Ushakov noted that further responses from four additional countries are expected soon. He also mentioned that Eritrea has expressed interest in cooperating with BRICS.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/eam-jaishankar-to-visit-us-from-december-24-29-first-high-level-visit-after-trumps-election-win-786223">Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar to visit US from Dec 24-29 to discuss bilateral and global issues</a>

"We expect that in the near future responses will come from four more countries, to which invitations were also sent."

Partner states will be invited to participate in specific BRICS summits, foreign ministers' meetings, and other forums, including security discussions and parliamentary events, he said.

"We also believe it is right to involve partners in meetings of high representatives in charge of security issues, parliamentary forum and other events," the Kremlin aide said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Monday (Dec 23) confirmed that several countries have agreed to join BRICS as partner states, with the official status set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

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

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

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USA News: House Ethics Committee Accuses Gaetz Of Statutory Rape

The Senate has convened a parliamentary session to discuss the UAE's visa restrictions and the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. The session aims to address concerns related to the impact on Pakistani workers and their families abroad, with a focus on finding solutions to ease the visa challenges.

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The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, is facing increasing pressure to step down, and this pressure is coming from more of his own party lawmakers. In the latest, 50 members of parliament from the Liberal Party have, via a video conference, conveyed to Trudeau that he must step down. This is according to Canadian media reports. Watch in for more details!

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