India is set to launch its first ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship INS Dhruv on Friday, said a report. It is a 10,000 tonne vessel and it will be commissioned from southern Indian port of Visakhapatnam.

As per a report in Hindustan Times, the ship is to be launched in the presence of senior officials of Indian Navy, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)&nbsp;

INS Dhruv will be the latest weapon in Indian Navy's arsenal. It has been built by Hindustan Shipyard along with DRDO and NTRO.

Dhruv will be Indian Navy's first ship capable of tracking nuclear missiles even at long range. Moreover, INS Dhruv will also have capability to map ocean beds for research as well as detection of enemy submarines.

The ship's capabilities mean that India will be able to gauge the true missile capability of the enemy when it tests their ballistic missile.

China has moved to a 'sea-based military doctrine' and inclusion of INS Dhruv gives Indian Navy capability to better strategise in all domains of naval warfare.

India is set to launch its first ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship INS Dhruv on Friday, said a report. It is a 10,000 tonne vessel and it will be commissioned from southern Indian port of Visakhapatnam.

India is set to launch its first ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship INS Dhruv on Friday, said a report. It is a 10,000 tonne vessel and it will be commissioned from southern Indian port of Visakhapatnam. As per a report in Hindustan Times, the ship is to be launched in the presence of senior officials of Indian Navy, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) INS Dhruv will be the latest weapon in Indian Navy's arsenal. It has been built by Hindustan Shipyard along with DRDO and NTRO. Dhruv will be Indian Navy's first ship capable of tracking nuclear missiles even at long range. Moreover, INS Dhruv will also have capability to map ocean beds for research as well as detection of enemy submarines. The ship's capabilities mean that India will be able to gauge the true missile capability of the enemy when it tests their ballistic missile. China has moved to a 'sea-based military doctrine' and inclusion of INS Dhruv gives Indian Navy capability to better strategise in all domains of naval warfare.

INS Dhruv: India all set to launch nuclear missile tracking ship

Dr Anthony Fauci, USA's top expert on viral diseases has said that US still had too many Covid cases for pandemic in country to end. He said this in an interview given to Axios.

“The endgame is to suppress the virus,” Fauci said. “Right now, we’re still in pandemic mode, because we have 160,000 new infections a day.”

He said that in a country as big as the USA, the number of daily infections needed to go below 10,000 to know that the country was moving towards ending the pandemic.

Fauci had mentioned this benchmark in an interview to Journal of the American Medical Association in August 2020.

This year in March, Fauci had warned against loosening restrictions before daily infections fell below 10,000. USA experienced lowest point in the pandemic in June. But even thenm number of daily infections was about 11,000. The cases have spiked with arrival of the Delta variant.

Fauci said that vaccines were important and instrumental in combating the pandemic. He said that when majority of the population was vaccinated, USA will still have infections but it would not be a large scale public health concern 
&nbsp;

Dr Anthony Fauci, USA's top expert on viral diseases has said that US still had too many Covid cases for pandemic in country to end. He said this in an interview given to Axios.

Dr Anthony Fauci, USA's top expert on viral diseases has said that US still had too many Covid cases for pandemic in country to end. He said this in an interview given to Axios. “The endgame is to suppress the virus,” Fauci said. “Right now, we’re still in pandemic mode, because we have 160,000 new infections a day.” He said that in a country as big as the USA, the number of daily infections needed to go below 10,000 to know that the country was moving towards ending the pandemic. Fauci had mentioned this benchmark in an interview to Journal of the American Medical Association in August 2020. This year in March, Fauci had warned against loosening restrictions before daily infections fell below 10,000. USA experienced lowest point in the pandemic in June. But even thenm number of daily infections was about 11,000. The cases have spiked with arrival of the Delta variant. Fauci said that vaccines were important and instrumental in combating the pandemic. He said that when majority of the population was vaccinated, USA will still have infections but it would not be a large scale public health concern

Covid cases in US 16 times too high to end pandemic, says Fauci

When Americans honor the nearly 3,000 killed in the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on the 20th anniversary on Saturday, a grim shadow will lurk in the background, that of attacks mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has yet to be tried and convicted for the heinous crime.&nbsp;

Mohammed, who boasted to interrogators of designing and managing the 9/11 plot&nbsp;sits in a cell in a high-security camp on the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.&nbsp;

He has been here for 15 years, as the attempt to hold him accountable in a US military war court plods on in fits and starts, stuck on whether his being tortured by the CIA renders his boastful confessions inadmissible.

He remains, after the now-dead Osama Bin Laden, the most reviled figure tied to the 9/11 attacks.&nbsp;

Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent who investigated the attacks, calls Mohammed a "wild-eyed killer" whose "demented" plotting set him apart from others in Al-Qaeda.

Imagination and managerial skills

Most people know him by the photograph taken of his capture, his thick body clothed in a nightshirt, wearing a thick moustache and disheveled hair.&nbsp;

Appearing in the Guantanamo military courtroom for the first time in over 18 months this week, Mohammed was thinner, with a long, greying red-dyed beard, wearing more traditional Pakistani dress.

He walked in easily, chatting with a fellow defendant in the death-penalty case, and knelt on a small carpet between the tables for prayers.&nbsp;

The official 9/11 Commission report and a Senate report about the CIA's torture program describe the 56-year-old "KSM" as a capable and bloodthirsty lieutenant of bin Laden.

A Pakistani citizen, he was raised in Kuwait. He learned English well enough to study mechanical engineering at a US university.&nbsp;

By the time he graduated in 1986, he was already a Muslim hard-liner.&nbsp;

Working for the Qatar government in the early 1990s, Mohammed appears to have been inspired to action by a nephew, Ramzi Yousef, who undertook the bombing of New York's World Trade Center in 1993. After that, the two joined hands with a plan to blow up US-bound jetliners flying from the Philippines.&nbsp;

Yousef was arrested in Pakistan after the first attempt failed, while Mohammed lay low in Qatar before relocating to Pakistan in 1996 to evade a US search.

It was then that he first proposed the 9/11 attacks to bin Laden.&nbsp;

"Highly educated and equally comfortable in a government office or a terrorist safehouse, KSM applied his imagination, technical aptitude, and managerial skills to hatching and planning an extraordinary array of terrorist schemes," the 9/11 Commission report said.

Waterboarding

After the attacks, Mohammed was captured in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in March 2003 and taken by the CIA to a black site in Poland for interrogation.&nbsp;

Over four weeks, he was subjected to waterboarding 183 times, as well as to sleep deprivation, repeated slamming against a wall, "rectal rehydration," and other harsh techniques.

The Senate report described him as deeply resistant, frustrating interrogators with lies and fabrications, while giving up relatively general information.&nbsp;

But following his transfer to Guantanamo in September 2006, he proudly confessed to the military court and compared himself to George Washington, fighting to escape oppression.

"I was responsible for the 9/11 operation, from A to Z," he said.

He also claimed responsibility for 30 other operations, including Al-Qaeda-linked bombings in Bali and Kenya, and said he personally murdered the kidnapped US journalist Daniel Pearl, who was beheaded in Pakistan in 2002.

The 9/11 report called his plotting "theater, a spectacle of destruction with KSM as the self-cast star -- the superterrorist."

But the length of the proceedings may have worn him down.&nbsp;

In 2017, Mohammed's lawyers were in discussions to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. That deal never developed, reportedly because of opposition high in the government. &nbsp;

'Legendary figure'

In the court this week, Mohammed appeared confident and unapologetic, animatedly talking to his attorneys, defying the judge's requirement to wear a mask, and waving to two journalists in the glassed-in viewing gallery at the back of the court.

Attorneys say he almost certainly knows of the Taliban recapturing control of Afghanistan, hailed as a great victory by Al-Qaeda.

"He is definitely considered as a legendary figure and one of the masterminds behind 9/11," Tore Hamming, a Danish specialist on militant Islam, told AFP.

"That said, it is not like KSM is often discussed, but occasionally he features in written and visual productions," he added.

When Americans honor the nearly 3,000 killed in the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on the 20th anniversary on Saturday, a grim shadow will lurk in the background, that of attacks mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has yet to be tried and convicted for the heinous crime.

When Americans honor the nearly 3,000 killed in the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on the 20th anniversary on Saturday, a grim shadow will lurk in the background, that of attacks mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has yet to be tried and convicted for the heinous crime. Mohammed, who boasted to interrogators of designing and managing the 9/11 plot sits in a cell in a high-security camp on the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has been here for 15 years, as the attempt to hold him accountable in a US military war court plods on in fits and starts, stuck on whether his being tortured by the CIA renders his boastful confessions inadmissible. He remains, after the now-dead Osama Bin Laden, the most reviled figure tied to the 9/11 attacks. Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent who investigated the attacks, calls Mohammed a "wild-eyed killer" whose "demented" plotting set him apart from others in Al-Qaeda. Imagination and managerial skills Most people know him by the photograph taken of his capture, his thick body clothed in a nightshirt, wearing a thick moustache and disheveled hair. Appearing in the Guantanamo military courtroom for the first time in over 18 months this week, Mohammed was thinner, with a long, greying red-dyed beard, wearing more traditional Pakistani dress. He walked in easily, chatting with a fellow defendant in the death-penalty case, and knelt on a small carpet between the tables for prayers. The official 9/11 Commission report and a Senate report about the CIA's torture program describe the 56-year-old "KSM" as a capable and bloodthirsty lieutenant of bin Laden. A Pakistani citizen, he was raised in Kuwait. He learned English well enough to study mechanical engineering at a US university. By the time he graduated in 1986, he was already a Muslim hard-liner. Working for the Qatar government in the early 1990s, Mohammed appears to have been inspired to action by a nephew, Ramzi Yousef, who undertook the bombing of New York's World Trade Center in 1993. After that, the two joined hands with a plan to blow up US-bound jetliners flying from the Philippines. Yousef was arrested in Pakistan after the first attempt failed, while Mohammed lay low in Qatar before relocating to Pakistan in 1996 to evade a US search. It was then that he first proposed the 9/11 attacks to bin Laden. "Highly educated and equally comfortable in a government office or a terrorist safehouse, KSM applied his imagination, technical aptitude, and managerial skills to hatching and planning an extraordinary array of terrorist schemes," the 9/11 Commission report said. Waterboarding After the attacks, Mohammed was captured in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in March 2003 and taken by the CIA to a black site in Poland for interrogation. Over four weeks, he was subjected to waterboarding 183 times, as well as to sleep deprivation, repeated slamming against a wall, "rectal rehydration," and other harsh techniques. The Senate report described him as deeply resistant, frustrating interrogators with lies and fabrications, while giving up relatively general information. But following his transfer to Guantanamo in September 2006, he proudly confessed to the military court and compared himself to George Washington, fighting to escape oppression. "I was responsible for the 9/11 operation, from A to Z," he said. He also claimed responsibility for 30 other operations, including Al-Qaeda-linked bombings in Bali and Kenya, and said he personally murdered the kidnapped US journalist Daniel Pearl, who was beheaded in Pakistan in 2002. The 9/11 report called his plotting "theater, a spectacle of destruction with KSM as the self-cast star -- the superterrorist." But the length of the proceedings may have worn him down. In 2017, Mohammed's lawyers were in discussions to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. That deal never developed, reportedly because of opposition high in the government. 'Legendary figure' In the court this week, Mohammed appeared confident and unapologetic, animatedly talking to his attorneys, defying the judge's requirement to wear a mask, and waving to two journalists in the glassed-in viewing gallery at the back of the court. Attorneys say he almost certainly knows of the Taliban recapturing control of Afghanistan, hailed as a great victory by Al-Qaeda. "He is definitely considered as a legendary figure and one of the masterminds behind 9/11," Tore Hamming, a Danish specialist on militant Islam, told AFP. "That said, it is not like KSM is often discussed, but occasionally he features in written and visual productions," he added.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: the defiant 'mass murderer' of 9/11

When hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Centre in the United States, Afghans were still reeling from their own Al-Qaeda tragedy.&nbsp;

Militants from the group had two days earlier assassinated Ahmad Shah Massoud -- the resistance icon who repelled both the Soviet military and the Taliban from his native Panjshir Valley.

As Afghans grappled with his death, events were unfolding in the United States that were to dramatically change the course of their country's future.&nbsp;

But for some, the significance of the incident passed them by.

"That evening I listened to the news... there was talk of an attack in America," Abdul Rahman, a retired government employee who was in his twenties at the time, told AFP.

"I didn't care because there was always talk of attacks and war on the radio," he said.&nbsp;

In the coming days, however, as Afghans learnt that Al-Qaeda militants hiding in their own backyard had masterminded the attacks -- and their Taliban rulers were blamed for sheltering the group -- many realised their world was about to be transformed.

"I did not think America would attack Afghanistan in revenge," said Abdul Rahman. "I thought America was very far away."

Abdul Samad, a librarian in Kandahar, remembers seeing crowds gather around a newspaper stand, the pages covered with images of the twin towers attack.

"It was almost two days after the incident," he told AFP.

It was, however, the beginning of an "unacceptable occupation".

"They had sought an excuse to come to Afghanistan. It was an excuse to occupy this land."

When the Taliban refused to give up Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the US moved in -- overthrowing the hardline regime which had held power since 1996 in a matter of weeks.&nbsp;

But Qiyamuddin, a locksmith from Kandahar, said any hope he had of the American-led invasion healing decades of war and conflict in Afghanistan quickly evaporated.&nbsp;

"They made a mess by coming here,” he told AFP.

As the war dragged on and the Taliban resurfaced, foreign troops were accused of disrespecting Afghan religion and traditions -- and civilian casualties mounted.&nbsp;

"People were optimistic and (Afghan) refugees from other countries like Pakistan and Iran came back," said Qiyamuddin.&nbsp;

"They were unaware we were going to face more troubles."

Noorullah, a teacher, remembers watching news of the attack on a TV hidden in the basement of a relative's house -- the Taliban had banned the medium as un-Islamic.&nbsp;

"It looked horrible. They were repeatedly showing the towers on fire," he said

A brief period of peace followed after the Taliban were ejected, but it would not last.

"When the Taliban were gone, people were happy, they could at least breathe freedom," he said.

But as time passed, he "started to believe the US had come to a wrong place. It was a trap for them".&nbsp;

"And 20 years later... I was right," he told AFP.

"The Taliban are back. The same people, faces and attitude are back."

When hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Centre in the United States, Afghans were still reeling from their own Al-Qaeda tragedy. Militants from the group had two days earlier assassinated Ahmad Shah Massoud -- the resistance icon who repelled both the Soviet military and the Taliban from his native Panjshir Valley.

When hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Centre in the United States, Afghans were still reeling from their own Al-Qaeda tragedy. Militants from the group had two days earlier assassinated Ahmad Shah Massoud -- the resistance icon who repelled both the Soviet military and the Taliban from his native Panjshir Valley. As Afghans grappled with his death, events were unfolding in the United States that were to dramatically change the course of their country's future. But for some, the significance of the incident passed them by. "That evening I listened to the news... there was talk of an attack in America," Abdul Rahman, a retired government employee who was in his twenties at the time, told AFP. "I didn't care because there was always talk of attacks and war on the radio," he said. In the coming days, however, as Afghans learnt that Al-Qaeda militants hiding in their own backyard had masterminded the attacks -- and their Taliban rulers were blamed for sheltering the group -- many realised their world was about to be transformed. "I did not think America would attack Afghanistan in revenge," said Abdul Rahman. "I thought America was very far away." Abdul Samad, a librarian in Kandahar, remembers seeing crowds gather around a newspaper stand, the pages covered with images of the twin towers attack. "It was almost two days after the incident," he told AFP. It was, however, the beginning of an "unacceptable occupation". "They had sought an excuse to come to Afghanistan. It was an excuse to occupy this land." When the Taliban refused to give up Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the US moved in -- overthrowing the hardline regime which had held power since 1996 in a matter of weeks. But Qiyamuddin, a locksmith from Kandahar, said any hope he had of the American-led invasion healing decades of war and conflict in Afghanistan quickly evaporated. "They made a mess by coming here,” he told AFP. As the war dragged on and the Taliban resurfaced, foreign troops were accused of disrespecting Afghan religion and traditions -- and civilian casualties mounted. "People were optimistic and (Afghan) refugees from other countries like Pakistan and Iran came back," said Qiyamuddin. "They were unaware we were going to face more troubles." Noorullah, a teacher, remembers watching news of the attack on a TV hidden in the basement of a relative's house -- the Taliban had banned the medium as un-Islamic. "It looked horrible. They were repeatedly showing the towers on fire," he said A brief period of peace followed after the Taliban were ejected, but it would not last. "When the Taliban were gone, people were happy, they could at least breathe freedom," he said. But as time passed, he "started to believe the US had come to a wrong place. It was a trap for them". "And 20 years later... I was right," he told AFP. "The Taliban are back. The same people, faces and attitude are back."

'America was very far away': How Afghans remember 9/11

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was formed amid formation of our solar system. Whatever material was left after formation of the Sun and the planets was scattered in form of asteroids. Many of them have an orbit that makes them zoom past Earth in close calls. And when one struck our planets millions of years ago it wiped dinosaurs off the face of the planet.

It is hence wise for us to keep a watch on these space rocks. Fortunately there are enough eyes world over in form of space agencies to keep a close watch.

Now, astronomers have suggested that an asteroid that has its own moons, may itself have given birth to its satellites. And the asteroid itself may have given birth to these moons according to two studies.

The name of this asteroid is Kleopatra and the two moons are called AlexHelios and CleoSelene. The moons have been named after children of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra.

The asteroid Kleopatra is also called "dog bone asteroid" because of its characteristic shape. The asteroid has two lobes connected by a long 'neck'.

Scientific community has known about the asteroid for decades but researchers recently obtained clearer images of Kleopatra using European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile.&nbsp;

They were thus able to determine dimensions of the asteroid. This allowed them to calculate volume.

Another team from Charles University in Chekia was working to ascertain orbits of moons of the asteroid. Orbits are constrained by gravitational fields a body moves through and this then correlates to mass in the system

Using newer methos and mathematical modelling the correct mass of Kleopatra was determined.

When we know mass and volume, we can determine density. The density of Kleopatra was found to be very low. This combined with the knowledge that the asteroid moves around itself at relatively fast speed it is logical to conclude that material must be able escaping its surface only to coalesce and form the moons

Both the studies have been published in journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was formed amid formation of our solar system. Whatever material was left after formation of the Sun and the planets was scattered in form of asteroids.

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter was formed amid formation of our solar system. Whatever material was left after formation of the Sun and the planets was scattered in form of asteroids. Many of them have an orbit that makes them zoom past Earth in close calls. And when one struck our planets millions of years ago it wiped dinosaurs off the face of the planet. It is hence wise for us to keep a watch on these space rocks. Fortunately there are enough eyes world over in form of space agencies to keep a close watch. Now, astronomers have suggested that an asteroid that has its own moons, may itself have given birth to its satellites. And the asteroid itself may have given birth to these moons according to two studies. The name of this asteroid is Kleopatra and the two moons are called AlexHelios and CleoSelene. The moons have been named after children of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. The asteroid Kleopatra is also called "dog bone asteroid" because of its characteristic shape. The asteroid has two lobes connected by a long 'neck'. Scientific community has known about the asteroid for decades but researchers recently obtained clearer images of Kleopatra using European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile. They were thus able to determine dimensions of the asteroid. This allowed them to calculate volume. Another team from Charles University in Chekia was working to ascertain orbits of moons of the asteroid. Orbits are constrained by gravitational fields a body moves through and this then correlates to mass in the system Using newer methos and mathematical modelling the correct mass of Kleopatra was determined. When we know mass and volume, we can determine density. The density of Kleopatra was found to be very low. This combined with the knowledge that the asteroid moves around itself at relatively fast speed it is logical to conclude that material must be able escaping its surface only to coalesce and form the moons Both the studies have been published in journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

This asteroid may have formed its own moons

A man in Austria was arrested by the police after he mummified his dead mother in order to keep receiving her benefit money. Police have recovered the body of his 89-year-old mother. The 66-year-old man has been charged with fraud and for hiding a corpse. He kept the body hidden in the cellar of the house for more than a year.

The man lived with his mother near Innsbruck in Tyrol region. After his mother passed away in June last year he froze her body using icepacks. He wrapped her body in bandages to absorb fluids and covered her body in cat litter. Finally, the corpse was mummified. He then hid the body inside his house.

When his brother came around asking for his mother he told him that she was in hospital. The man pocketed his mother's benefit money that came by post each month.

He has pocketed nearly 60,000 dollars till now.

The game was up when a new postman came to deliver the money. The postman demanded to see the beneficiary to ensure that money was handed to the right person. The man refused. The postman then informed the authorities who later recovered the dead body.

A man in Austria was arrested by the police after he mummified his dead mother in order to keep receiving her benefit money. Police have recovered the body of his 89-year-old mother.

A man in Austria was arrested by the police after he mummified his dead mother in order to keep receiving her benefit money. Police have recovered the body of his 89-year-old mother. The 66-year-old man has been charged with fraud and for hiding a corpse. He kept the body hidden in the cellar of the house for more than a year. The man lived with his mother near Innsbruck in Tyrol region. After his mother passed away in June last year he froze her body using icepacks. He wrapped her body in bandages to absorb fluids and covered her body in cat litter. Finally, the corpse was mummified. He then hid the body inside his house. When his brother came around asking for his mother he told him that she was in hospital. The man pocketed his mother's benefit money that came by post each month. He has pocketed nearly 60,000 dollars till now. The game was up when a new postman came to deliver the money. The postman demanded to see the beneficiary to ensure that money was handed to the right person. The man refused. The postman then informed the authorities who later recovered the dead body.

Man keeps dead mother mummified to pocket benefits

Amid the turmoil and exodus in Afghanistan, the last known Jewish man in the country left on Friday. This marks another grim landmark for the country that once was home to sizeable Jew population.

Zebulon Simentov is in early 60s and has lived in Kabul for decades. He maintained the only Jewish synagogue in the country. Simentov lived in Afghanistan for decades and has seen political turmoil, regime changes. He was in Afghanistan during Taliban's previous rule in late 90s.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-use-whips-and-sticks-on-afghan-women-protesting-the-all-male-government-411861">Taliban use whips and sticks on Afghan women protesting the all-male government</a>

An Israeli American businessman named Moti Kahana was quoted by CNN as he said Simentov and 30 others travelled by van and went to "a neighbouring country" travelling through Afghanistan's mountainous regions. As per the news report, Kahana's organisation arranged for Simentov's escape. On their way out of the country, Simentov and those travelling with him had to negotiate several Taliban checkpoints.

There was a sizeable Jewish community in Afghanistan of about 40,000 people till the mid 19th century. Due to various reasons the numbers dwindled. Most of the Jews went to Israel after the country was formed in 1948.

Simentov reportedly had refused to leave Afghanistan in the beginning. However, his neighbouring convinced him to make an escape as they told him that he may become a target of, if not Taliban, then ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K).

Amid the turmoil and exodus in Afghanistan, the last known Jewish man in the country left on Friday. This marks another grim landmark for the country that once was home to sizeable Jew population.

Amid the turmoil and exodus in Afghanistan, the last known Jewish man in the country left on Friday. This marks another grim landmark for the country that once was home to sizeable Jew population. Zebulon Simentov is in early 60s and has lived in Kabul for decades. He maintained the only Jewish synagogue in the country. Simentov lived in Afghanistan for decades and has seen political turmoil, regime changes. He was in Afghanistan during Taliban's previous rule in late 90s. Also Read | Taliban use whips and sticks on Afghan women protesting the all-male government An Israeli American businessman named Moti Kahana was quoted by CNN as he said Simentov and 30 others travelled by van and went to "a neighbouring country" travelling through Afghanistan's mountainous regions. As per the news report, Kahana's organisation arranged for Simentov's escape. On their way out of the country, Simentov and those travelling with him had to negotiate several Taliban checkpoints. There was a sizeable Jewish community in Afghanistan of about 40,000 people till the mid 19th century. Due to various reasons the numbers dwindled. Most of the Jews went to Israel after the country was formed in 1948. Simentov reportedly had refused to leave Afghanistan in the beginning. However, his neighbouring convinced him to make an escape as they told him that he may become a target of, if not Taliban, then ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K).

Last Jewish man in Afghanistan leaves country

The first in-person summit of the leaders of the Quad countries is likely to take place in Washington on September 24 with a focus to chart a new roadmap for expanding the overall cooperation in diverse areas, diplomatic sources said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga are expected to deliberate extensively to give a new momentum to the functioning of the Quad at the summit, they said.

Modi is likely to travel to Washington during which he is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly in New York and hold a bilateral meeting with President Biden besides participating in the Quad Summit on September 24, according to sources.

However, there is no official announcement about Modi's visit as well as on the Quad summit from the Indian side.

India and the US held a series of meetings as part of preparations for Modi's visit to the US and it is learnt that the issue also figured during Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's recent visit to Washington.

The US has been looking at convening the in-person summit of the leaders of Quad to boost practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as well as to send a strong signal about Washington's commitment to the grouping.

In March, President Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, sending a subtle message to China.

The last time Modi visited the US was in September 2019 when he and then US President Donald Trump addressed the Howdy Modi event in Houston.

The first in-person summit of the leaders of the Quad countries is likely to take place in Washington on September 24 with a focus to chart a new roadmap for expanding the overall cooperation in diverse areas, diplomatic sources said on Thursday.

The first in-person summit of the leaders of the Quad countries is likely to take place in Washington on September 24 with a focus to chart a new roadmap for expanding the overall cooperation in diverse areas, diplomatic sources said on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga are expected to deliberate extensively to give a new momentum to the functioning of the Quad at the summit, they said. Modi is likely to travel to Washington during which he is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly in New York and hold a bilateral meeting with President Biden besides participating in the Quad Summit on September 24, according to sources. However, there is no official announcement about Modi's visit as well as on the Quad summit from the Indian side. India and the US held a series of meetings as part of preparations for Modi's visit to the US and it is learnt that the issue also figured during Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's recent visit to Washington. The US has been looking at convening the in-person summit of the leaders of Quad to boost practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as well as to send a strong signal about Washington's commitment to the grouping. In March, President Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, sending a subtle message to China. The last time Modi visited the US was in September 2019 when he and then US President Donald Trump addressed the Howdy Modi event in Houston.

First in-person Quad summit likely in Washington on Sep 24: Diplomatic sources

Italy is set to legalise small-scale cultivation of cannabis. A reform to that effect was passed by justice committee of the lower house of the Italian parliament on Wednesday.

The reform seeks to decriminalise growth of up to four female cannabis plants at home. The reform also seeks to increase punishment for trafficking and dealing cannabis. The punishment has been raised from up to six years to 10 years.

The reform was put forward by Italian PM Riccardo Magi. If the reform goes all the way through, it will make Italy one of first European countries to decriminalise domestic cultivation of Cannabis.

The reform has come two years after Italy's supreme court ruled that small scale cultivation of cannabis was legal. The landmark ruling came in 2019.

In UK, cannabis cultivation remains illegal. In 2018, medicinal cannabis was legalised in UK. Some British MPs have backed a move similar to Italy towards decriminalisation.

In United States, cannabis has been legalised in third of the states. Connecticut, New Mexico and Virginia have been the latest to join the list.

Italy is set to legalise small-scale cultivation of cannabis. A reform to that effect was passed by justice committee of the lower house of the Italian parliament on Wednesday.

Italy is set to legalise small-scale cultivation of cannabis. A reform to that effect was passed by justice committee of the lower house of the Italian parliament on Wednesday. The reform seeks to decriminalise growth of up to four female cannabis plants at home. The reform also seeks to increase punishment for trafficking and dealing cannabis. The punishment has been raised from up to six years to 10 years. The reform was put forward by Italian PM Riccardo Magi. If the reform goes all the way through, it will make Italy one of first European countries to decriminalise domestic cultivation of Cannabis. The reform has come two years after Italy's supreme court ruled that small scale cultivation of cannabis was legal. The landmark ruling came in 2019. In UK, cannabis cultivation remains illegal. In 2018, medicinal cannabis was legalised in UK. Some British MPs have backed a move similar to Italy towards decriminalisation. In United States, cannabis has been legalised in third of the states. Connecticut, New Mexico and Virginia have been the latest to join the list.

Italy set to legalise home cultivation of cannabis

A number of protests in western Canada against logging of old-growth forests have become largest acts of civil disobedience in country's history. The protesters are fighting to stop companies from cutting down trees that are often hundreds of years old.

As per media reports, more than 800 people have been arrested since April. The number has exceeded previous record set in the 90s.

Protests at Vancouver Island have seen protesters blocking roads used by logging companies by tactics such as locking their bodies to the road. Some of them have chained themselves to wooden tripods, others have suspended themselves from trees. Some of the protesters have locked their arms inside devices called "sleeping dragons" that are cemented into the ground.

Tactics such as these have brought the protesters at odds with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The police have had to use force at some places in order to tackle the protests. They have also come under a lot of criticism for their methods.

They are mainly drawing criticism for actions like removing protesters' masks to pepper spray them, obstructing their own faces and not wearing nametags while tackling the protesters.

A number of protests in western Canada against logging of old-growth forests have become largest acts of civil disobedience in country's history. The protesters are fighting to stop companies from cutting down trees that are often hundreds of years old.

A number of protests in western Canada against logging of old-growth forests have become largest acts of civil disobedience in country's history. The protesters are fighting to stop companies from cutting down trees that are often hundreds of years old. As per media reports, more than 800 people have been arrested since April. The number has exceeded previous record set in the 90s. Protests at Vancouver Island have seen protesters blocking roads used by logging companies by tactics such as locking their bodies to the road. Some of them have chained themselves to wooden tripods, others have suspended themselves from trees. Some of the protesters have locked their arms inside devices called "sleeping dragons" that are cemented into the ground. Tactics such as these have brought the protesters at odds with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The police have had to use force at some places in order to tackle the protests. They have also come under a lot of criticism for their methods. They are mainly drawing criticism for actions like removing protesters' masks to pepper spray them, obstructing their own faces and not wearing nametags while tackling the protesters.

Anti-logging protests become biggest civil disobedience in Canada

World's largest plant that sucks carbon dioxide directly from air and deposits it deep underground to be mineralised started operating in Iceland on Wednesday, said the company behind the technology.

Swiss start-up Climeworks AG has partnered with Iceland's Carbfix to develop a plant that absorbs up to 4,000 tons of CO2 per year. Climeworks AG specialises in capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air while Carbfix is a carbon storage firm.&nbsp;

4000 tons of carbon is equivalent to annual emissions from about 790 cars

Last year, global CO2-emissions totalled 31.5 billion tonnes, according to the International Energy Agency.

Extracting carbon dioxide directly from atmosphere is viewed by scientists to be a technology vital to limit global warming.

The Orca plant, a reference to the Icelandic word for energy, consists of eight large containers similar in looks to those used in the shipping industry, which employ high-tech filters and fans to extract carbon dioxide.

The isolated carbon is then mixed with water and pumped deep underground, where it slowly turns into rock. Both technologies are powered by renewable energy sourced from a nearby geothermal power plant.

Direct air capture is still a fledgling and costly technology, but developers hope to drive down prices by scaling up as more companies and consumers look to reduce their carbon footprint.

There are currently 15 direct air capture plants operating worldwide, capturing more than 9,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, according to the IEA.

US&nbsp;oil firm Occidental is currently developing the largest direct-air-capture facility, to pull 1 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide from the open air near some of its Texas oilfields.

Climeworks, which recently signed a 10-year carbon removal purchase agreement with major insurance firm Swiss Re (SRENH.S), also offers a subscription service, which allows consumers to pay for carbon removal through monthly payments.

(With inputs from agencies)

World's largest plant that sucks carbon dioxide directly from air and deposits it deep underground to be mineralised started operating in Iceland on Wednesday, said the company behind the technology.

World's largest plant that sucks carbon dioxide directly from air and deposits it deep underground to be mineralised started operating in Iceland on Wednesday, said the company behind the technology. Swiss start-up Climeworks AG has partnered with Iceland's Carbfix to develop a plant that absorbs up to 4,000 tons of CO2 per year. Climeworks AG specialises in capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air while Carbfix is a carbon storage firm. 4000 tons of carbon is equivalent to annual emissions from about 790 cars Last year, global CO2-emissions totalled 31.5 billion tonnes, according to the International Energy Agency. Extracting carbon dioxide directly from atmosphere is viewed by scientists to be a technology vital to limit global warming. The Orca plant, a reference to the Icelandic word for energy, consists of eight large containers similar in looks to those used in the shipping industry, which employ high-tech filters and fans to extract carbon dioxide. The isolated carbon is then mixed with water and pumped deep underground, where it slowly turns into rock. Both technologies are powered by renewable energy sourced from a nearby geothermal power plant. Direct air capture is still a fledgling and costly technology, but developers hope to drive down prices by scaling up as more companies and consumers look to reduce their carbon footprint. There are currently 15 direct air capture plants operating worldwide, capturing more than 9,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, according to the IEA. US oil firm Occidental is currently developing the largest direct-air-capture facility, to pull 1 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide from the open air near some of its Texas oilfields. Climeworks, which recently signed a 10-year carbon removal purchase agreement with major insurance firm Swiss Re (SRENH.S), also offers a subscription service, which allows consumers to pay for carbon removal through monthly payments. (With inputs from agencies)

World's largest carbon dioxide capturing plant starts in Iceland

Whether it's about new climate or new workplace, adapting to changing circumstances proves to be an important trait for survival. Animals and even plants in the wild show examples of modifying their behaviour and even biology as conditions change. All this pieces together the puzzle of evolution nicely.

A study has revealed that some animals are 'shape shifting' and various parts of their bodies are transforming to better adapt global warming. Some of them are developing bigger tails. Others are developing different beaks and ears in order to survive in the changing conditions. Researchers have found that bigger body parts are developing so that these animals could lose body heat more effectively.

Climate change is heaping "a whole lot of pressure" on animals, said Sara Ryding of Deakin University in Australia, who led the study, in a press release.

"It's high time we recognised that animals also have to adapt to these changes, but this is occurring over a far shorter timescale than would have occurred through most of evolutionary time," she said.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-shark-toothed-dinosaur-gave-tough-competition-to-t-rex-411826">This 'shark-toothed' dinosaur gave tough competition to T-Rex</a>

The study has been published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution. The study reviewed previous research "where climatic warming is a potential hidden explanatory variable for the occurrence of shape-shifting" and found trends particularly noticeable in birds.

The Australian parrot, for example, had shown an average 4-10 percent increase in the size of its bill since 1871 and the authors said this positively correlated with the summer temperature each year.&nbsp;

Other birds, like North American dark-eyed juncos, thrushes and Galapagos finches also saw bill size increases. 
Meanwhile, the wings of the great roundleaf bat grew, the European rabbit developed bigger ears, while the tails and legs of masked shrews were found to be larger. &nbsp;

"Shape-shifting does not mean that animals are coping with climate change and that all is 'fine'," said Ryding.&nbsp;

"It just means they are evolving to survive it -- but we're not sure what the other ecological consequences of these changes are, or indeed that all species are capable of changing and surviving."

(With inputs from agencies)

Whether it's about new climate or new workplace, adapting to changing circumstances proves to be an important trait for survival. Animals and even plants in the wild show examples of modifying their behaviour and even biology as conditions change.

Whether it's about new climate or new workplace, adapting to changing circumstances proves to be an important trait for survival. Animals and even plants in the wild show examples of modifying their behaviour and even biology as conditions change. All this pieces together the puzzle of evolution nicely. A study has revealed that some animals are 'shape shifting' and various parts of their bodies are transforming to better adapt global warming. Some of them are developing bigger tails. Others are developing different beaks and ears in order to survive in the changing conditions. Researchers have found that bigger body parts are developing so that these animals could lose body heat more effectively. Climate change is heaping "a whole lot of pressure" on animals, said Sara Ryding of Deakin University in Australia, who led the study, in a press release. "It's high time we recognised that animals also have to adapt to these changes, but this is occurring over a far shorter timescale than would have occurred through most of evolutionary time," she said. Also Read: This 'shark-toothed' dinosaur gave tough competition to T-Rex The study has been published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution. The study reviewed previous research "where climatic warming is a potential hidden explanatory variable for the occurrence of shape-shifting" and found trends particularly noticeable in birds. The Australian parrot, for example, had shown an average 4-10 percent increase in the size of its bill since 1871 and the authors said this positively correlated with the summer temperature each year. Other birds, like North American dark-eyed juncos, thrushes and Galapagos finches also saw bill size increases. Meanwhile, the wings of the great roundleaf bat grew, the European rabbit developed bigger ears, while the tails and legs of masked shrews were found to be larger. "Shape-shifting does not mean that animals are coping with climate change and that all is 'fine'," said Ryding. "It just means they are evolving to survive it -- but we're not sure what the other ecological consequences of these changes are, or indeed that all species are capable of changing and surviving." (With inputs from agencies)

As Earth warms up, animals are 'shape-shifting' to survive better: Study

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Manas Joshi

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