<p>Twitter, or X, was facing technical issues in India as the platform stopped refreshing on both web and mobile versions. The social media platform owned by Elon Musk got going after an outage that lasted about an hour.</p>

<p>Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, were unable to view posts on the social media site with a message that said "Welcome to X!"</p>

<p>Users encountered loading issues on X Pro, formerly TweetDeck, with a message that said "Waiting for posts", news agency Reuters reported.</p>

<h2><strong>How big was the X outage?</strong></h2>

<p>Over 77,000 US users faced issues at the peak of the outage, according to Downdetector data.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Users in Canada, Britain, France, India and other countries reported issues with accessing both X and X Pro.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">X, formerly known as Twitter, crashes with timelines disappearing. Mass outages are reported in major Indian cities according to the downdector. <a href="https://t.co/AmKolHWhpu">https://t.co/AmKolHWhpu</a> <a href="https://t.co/HtiwZXbOeR">pic.twitter.com/HtiwZXbOeR</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1737715946549371246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The cause of the outage is not yet known.</p>

<p>The social media platform faced upheaval and uncertainty following Musk's $44 billion acquisition over a year ago, leading to layoffs.</p>

<p>Numerous&nbsp;engineers responsible for fixing and preventing service outages were fired.</p>

<p>Users took to rival Meta's app, Threads, to discuss the outage, citing difficulties in accessing posts, replies and profiles on X.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Twitter, or X, was facing technical issues in India as the platform stopped refreshing on both web and mobile versions. The social media platform owned by Elon Musk got going after an outage that lasted about an hour.

Twitter, or X, was facing technical issues in India as the platform stopped refreshing on both web and mobile versions. The social media platform owned by Elon Musk got going after an outage that lasted about an hour. Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, were unable to view posts on the social media site with a message that said "Welcome to X!" Users encountered loading issues on X Pro, formerly TweetDeck, with a message that said "Waiting for posts", news agency Reuters reported. How big was the X outage? Over 77,000 US users faced issues at the peak of the outage, according to Downdetector data. Users in Canada, Britain, France, India and other countries reported issues with accessing both X and X Pro. X, formerly known as Twitter, crashes with timelines disappearing. Mass outages are reported in major Indian cities according to the downdector. https://t.co/AmKolHWhpu pic.twitter.com/HtiwZXbOeR — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 21, 2023 × The cause of the outage is not yet known. The social media platform faced upheaval and uncertainty following Musk's $44 billion acquisition over a year ago, leading to layoffs. Numerous engineers responsible for fixing and preventing service outages were fired. Users took to rival Meta's app, Threads, to discuss the outage, citing difficulties in accessing posts, replies and profiles on X. (With inputs from agencies)

X gets going after global outage that blanked out user timelines

<p>India's drug&nbsp;regulator on Wednesday (Dec 20) prohibited the use of an anti-cold drug combination in children aged below four. The regulatory body has mandated that drug labels should clearly reflect this restriction.</p>

<p>The move follows concerns raised about the promotion of an unapproved anti-cold drug formulation for infants.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A letter issued to the states and the Union Territories by the Drugs General Controller (India) stated that the concern has been recognised after the promotion of unapproved anti-cold drug formulation for infants.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-50-cough-syrup-manufacturers-fail-to-clear-quality-tests-report-666751">50 Indian cough syrup manufacturers fail to clear quality tests: Report</a></strong><br />
&nbsp;<br />
"Subsequently concerns have been raised regarding promotion of unapproved anti-cold drug formulation for infants. The matter was deliberated in the Subject Expert Committee (SEC- Pulmonary) meeting held on June 6, 2023, wherein, In light of the issue regarding the use of the FDC of Chlorpheniramine Maleate IP 2mg + Phenylephrine HCL IP 5mg drop/ml was discussed before the committee," the letter said.</p>

<p>"The committee recommended that the FDC should not be used in children below 4 years of age and accordingly the firms should mention warning in this regard on label and package insert," it read further.</p>

<p>The cough syrups manufactured in India have been linked with a series of deaths of children aged less than four in parts of the world.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: 50 Indian cough syrups found to be sub-standard</strong></p>

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<p>These incidents have raised concerns about the quality of pharmaceutical exports from India, often referred to as the "world's pharmacy"&nbsp;due to its widespread supply of life-saving drugs at affordable prices.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response to the global outcry, the World Health Organization (WHO) has underscored its recommendation against the use of over-the-counter cough syrups or medicines for treating coughs and cold symptoms in children under five years of age.</p>

<p>India implemented mandatory testing for cough syrup exports in June and has intensified scrutiny of drug manufacturers.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What's the bottom line?</strong></h2>

<p>The regulatory directive now obliges drugmakers to prominently label their products with a warning against the use of the specified FDC in children below four years of age.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India's drug regulator on Wednesday (Dec 20) prohibited the use of an anti-cold drug combination in children aged below four. The regulatory body has mandated that drug labels should clearly reflect this restriction.

India's drug regulator on Wednesday (Dec 20) prohibited the use of an anti-cold drug combination in children aged below four. The regulatory body has mandated that drug labels should clearly reflect this restriction. The move follows concerns raised about the promotion of an unapproved anti-cold drug formulation for infants. A letter issued to the states and the Union Territories by the Drugs General Controller (India) stated that the concern has been recognised after the promotion of unapproved anti-cold drug formulation for infants. Also read | 50 Indian cough syrup manufacturers fail to clear quality tests: Report "Subsequently concerns have been raised regarding promotion of unapproved anti-cold drug formulation for infants. The matter was deliberated in the Subject Expert Committee (SEC- Pulmonary) meeting held on June 6, 2023, wherein, In light of the issue regarding the use of the FDC of Chlorpheniramine Maleate IP 2mg + Phenylephrine HCL IP 5mg drop/ml was discussed before the committee," the letter said. "The committee recommended that the FDC should not be used in children below 4 years of age and accordingly the firms should mention warning in this regard on label and package insert," it read further. The cough syrups manufactured in India have been linked with a series of deaths of children aged less than four in parts of the world. Also watch | Gravitas: 50 Indian cough syrups found to be sub-standard × These incidents have raised concerns about the quality of pharmaceutical exports from India, often referred to as the "world's pharmacy" due to its widespread supply of life-saving drugs at affordable prices. In response to the global outcry, the World Health Organization (WHO) has underscored its recommendation against the use of over-the-counter cough syrups or medicines for treating coughs and cold symptoms in children under five years of age. India implemented mandatory testing for cough syrup exports in June and has intensified scrutiny of drug manufacturers. What's the bottom line? The regulatory directive now obliges drugmakers to prominently label their products with a warning against the use of the specified FDC in children below four years of age. (With inputs from agencies)

India raises onus on cough syrup manufacturers; bans anti-cold drug combination for kids under four

How The Beatles' India Stay Shaped Taylor Swift's Prominence

In 1968, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr arrived in India's Rishikesh. While they did not really find the secret to happiness through the methods of Yoga, The Beatles' Rishikesh stay changed the face of global discography forever.

When India Influenced The Beatles To Top The Charts

Some 38-40 songs that ended up in The White Album and Abbey Road were written in Rishikesh.

Songs like 'Dear Prudence', 'Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me', 'Polythene Pam' and 'My Monkey' (there were, and still are so many monkeys in Rishikesh) were written in Rishikesh.

A song titled 'Dehra Dun' on the present-day city of Dehradun in Uttarakhand state was written as well. It was never released.

'Blackbird', one of the most iconic Beatles songs, with lyrics 'Take these broken wings and learn to fly' was written in Rishikesh. Decades later in 2023, popstar Taylor Swift revealed that this McCartney-signed quote is hanging in her bathroom, inspiring her to see as far as the eyes can see despite all lifely setbacks.


The Greatest Band of the 20th century shaped the rise of present-day pop culture phenomenon

How Red and Green Became Colours of Christmas

Green represents the evergreen tree, representing eternal life as it stays that way throughout the winter.

In some cultures, Red is believed to be the colour symbolic of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Red and green colours also represent the leaves and holly berries embodying the crown of thorns on Jesus' head on the cross.

But Red and Green in Winter Predate Christmas

According to Arielle Eckstut, author of 'The Secret Language of Color', there is no 'definitive history' to red and green being Christmas colours. They long played a role in winter solstice celebrations that predate the spread of Christmas.

Wait, what? So Red And Green Aren't Christmas Colours?

Red and Green are indeed Christmas colours. But it possibly wasn't the case always as they have been special colours since even before Christmas.

How did Red and Green Become Christmas Colours?

According to Ecktut, it happened because of a combination of natural phenomena mixed with other cultural forces. Particularly, the 1930s Coca-Cola advertisements that featured paintings of Santa Claus with a red outfit to boot. This depiction of Santa didn't really exist in collective cultural consciousness before the soda company’s advertisements, Eckstut told TIME magazine.

Have you ever wondered how red and green became the Christmas colours. Here's the reason

<p>A court in Italy's Reggio Emilia, about 430 km north of Rome, sentenced the parents and uncle of 18-year-old Saman Abbas for her murder. Saman Abbas was killed over her refusal to marry a cousin back in Pakistan, the court found.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Saman Abbas case: What happened?</strong></h2>

<p>Last year in November, Saman Abbas' body was discovered in an abandoned farmhouse near her father's workplace in northern Italy. She was last seen walking with her parents a year and a half earlier according to a surveillance footage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An autopsy revealed that Saman Abbas had a broken neck bone, indicating that she was strangulated.</p>

<p>Italian prosecutors argued that her family orchestrated her murder on May 1, 2021 following which Abbas' parents fled to Pakistan.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-boat-tragedy-pakistanis-were-singled-out-to-go-below-deck-says-report-606011">Greece boat tragedy: Pakistanis were singled out to go below deck, says report</a></strong></p>

<p>Having immigrated to Italy as a teenager, Abbas embraced a different lifestyle, discarding the headscarf and choosing her own romantic partner.</p>

<p>The young woman's social media posts depicted her relationship with a local young man, a choice that angered her parents who insisted she marry a cousin in Pakistan. Saman had reportedly confided in her boyfriend about fearing for her life due to her defiance against marrying an older man in Pakistan.</p>

<h2><strong>Court's verdict in Saman Abbas case</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>In a verdict handed down on Tuesday (Dec 19), Shabbar Abbas and Nazia Shaheen, Saman's parents, were sentenced to life in prison. Additionally, her uncle, Danish Hasnain, received a 14-year prison term from the court in Reggio Emilia. Two cousins were acquitted and released from custody.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Italian coast guard rescues over 100 people aboard burning ferry</strong></p>

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<p>Shabbar Abbas, extradited from Pakistan in August, maintained his innocence in a tearful statement to the court before sentencing. Meanwhile, Nazia Shaheen, tried in absentia, is believed to be in Pakistan.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>This trial stands out as one of the most high-profile cases in Italy, reflecting the crimes committed against an immigrant girl who resisted familial pressure to conform to a forced marriage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Arranged marriages are the norm in South Asia. In conservative Pakistan,&nbsp;hundreds of women are murdered every year in so-called "honor killings" carried out by husbands or relatives as a punishment for marrying against the family's will, alleged adultery or other sexual behaviour deemed illicit.</p>


A court in Italy's Reggio Emilia, about 430 km north of Rome, sentenced the parents and uncle of 18-year-old Saman Abbas for her murder. Saman Abbas was killed over her refusal to marry a cousin back in Pakistan, the court found.

A court in Italy's Reggio Emilia, about 430 km north of Rome, sentenced the parents and uncle of 18-year-old Saman Abbas for her murder. Saman Abbas was killed over her refusal to marry a cousin back in Pakistan, the court found. Saman Abbas case: What happened? Last year in November, Saman Abbas' body was discovered in an abandoned farmhouse near her father's workplace in northern Italy. She was last seen walking with her parents a year and a half earlier according to a surveillance footage. An autopsy revealed that Saman Abbas had a broken neck bone, indicating that she was strangulated. Italian prosecutors argued that her family orchestrated her murder on May 1, 2021 following which Abbas' parents fled to Pakistan. Also read | Greece boat tragedy: Pakistanis were singled out to go below deck, says report Having immigrated to Italy as a teenager, Abbas embraced a different lifestyle, discarding the headscarf and choosing her own romantic partner. The young woman's social media posts depicted her relationship with a local young man, a choice that angered her parents who insisted she marry a cousin in Pakistan. Saman had reportedly confided in her boyfriend about fearing for her life due to her defiance against marrying an older man in Pakistan. Court's verdict in Saman Abbas case In a verdict handed down on Tuesday (Dec 19), Shabbar Abbas and Nazia Shaheen, Saman's parents, were sentenced to life in prison. Additionally, her uncle, Danish Hasnain, received a 14-year prison term from the court in Reggio Emilia. Two cousins were acquitted and released from custody. Also watch | Italian coast guard rescues over 100 people aboard burning ferry × Shabbar Abbas, extradited from Pakistan in August, maintained his innocence in a tearful statement to the court before sentencing. Meanwhile, Nazia Shaheen, tried in absentia, is believed to be in Pakistan. What does it mean? This trial stands out as one of the most high-profile cases in Italy, reflecting the crimes committed against an immigrant girl who resisted familial pressure to conform to a forced marriage. Arranged marriages are the norm in South Asia. In conservative Pakistan, hundreds of women are murdered every year in so-called "honor killings" carried out by husbands or relatives as a punishment for marrying against the family's will, alleged adultery or other sexual behaviour deemed illicit.

Italian court sentences Pakistani parents to life for murdering daughter over refusal to marry cousin

<p>The Indian Navy has evacuated an injured sailor from a hijacked vessel that appeared to be based out of Malta. The personnel from Malta-flagged vessel was rescued off the coast of Somalia, Press Trust of India reported.</p>

<p>The sailor is a Bulgarian national. He was reportedly one of the&nbsp;18 crew members onboard the cargo ship and was injured in firing by the pirates.</p>

<p>The Bulgarian national&nbsp;was evacuated by frontline ship INS Kochi and was further transported for being provided&nbsp;urgent medical assistance.</p>

<p>"The Indian Navy rendered assistance in evacuation of an injured crew member from the hijacked vessel MV Ruen in the early hours of Monday," PTI quoted an official as saying.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-averts-hijacking-crisis-in-arabian-sea-rescues-malta-flagged-vessel-670242">Indian Navy rushes to rescue Malta-flagged vessel under attack by pirate group</a></strong></p>

<p>"The injured crew member had sustained injuries during the piracy incident but was reported to be stable… The injured crew member was medically managed onboard the ship but due to urgent medical attention required, which was beyond the scope of the ship, he has been transferred ashore at Oman," the official further said.</p>

<p>Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal told the Press Trust of India that the country's&nbsp;naval forces remain committed to render assistance to the mariners at sea.</p>

<h2><strong>Indian Navy rescues mariner off Somalia Coast: How did it happen?</strong></h2>

<p>Indian Navy responded to a distress call and swiftly deployed&nbsp;frontline ship INS Kochi as well as an aircraft. The Indian Navy's maritime patrol aircraft further conducted surveillance missions in the area while its warship on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden was pressed to locate and assist MV Ruen.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Indian Navy's sea dragons played crucial roles in classified missions</strong></p>

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<p>"The aircraft overflew the hijacked vessel early December 15 and the aircraft has been continuously monitoring movement of the vessel, which is now heading towards the coast of Somalia," the Navy statement said, adding the Naval warship intercepted MV Ruen on the morning of December 16.</p>

<p>India is a signatory to the&nbsp;United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and is committed to assist civil mariners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Article 98 of the UNCLOS specifies duty of the signatories to 'render assistance'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Every State shall require the mast&nbsp;of a ship flying its flag, in so far as he can do so without serious danger to the ship, the crew or the passengers," it says.</p>

<p>Under Article 98 (1) (c), the signatories are committed to "proceed with all possible speed to the rescue of persons in distress, if informed of their need of assistance."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Indian Navy has evacuated an injured sailor from a hijacked vessel that appeared to be based out of Malta. The personnel from Malta-flagged vessel was rescued off the coast of Somalia, Press Trust of India reported.

The Indian Navy has evacuated an injured sailor from a hijacked vessel that appeared to be based out of Malta. The personnel from Malta-flagged vessel was rescued off the coast of Somalia, Press Trust of India reported. The sailor is a Bulgarian national. He was reportedly one of the 18 crew members onboard the cargo ship and was injured in firing by the pirates. The Bulgarian national was evacuated by frontline ship INS Kochi and was further transported for being provided urgent medical assistance. "The Indian Navy rendered assistance in evacuation of an injured crew member from the hijacked vessel MV Ruen in the early hours of Monday," PTI quoted an official as saying. Also read | Indian Navy rushes to rescue Malta-flagged vessel under attack by pirate group "The injured crew member had sustained injuries during the piracy incident but was reported to be stable… The injured crew member was medically managed onboard the ship but due to urgent medical attention required, which was beyond the scope of the ship, he has been transferred ashore at Oman," the official further said. Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal told the Press Trust of India that the country's naval forces remain committed to render assistance to the mariners at sea. Indian Navy rescues mariner off Somalia Coast: How did it happen? Indian Navy responded to a distress call and swiftly deployed frontline ship INS Kochi as well as an aircraft. The Indian Navy's maritime patrol aircraft further conducted surveillance missions in the area while its warship on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden was pressed to locate and assist MV Ruen. Also watch | Indian Navy's sea dragons played crucial roles in classified missions × "The aircraft overflew the hijacked vessel early December 15 and the aircraft has been continuously monitoring movement of the vessel, which is now heading towards the coast of Somalia," the Navy statement said, adding the Naval warship intercepted MV Ruen on the morning of December 16. India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and is committed to assist civil mariners. The Article 98 of the UNCLOS specifies duty of the signatories to 'render assistance'. "Every State shall require the mast of a ship flying its flag, in so far as he can do so without serious danger to the ship, the crew or the passengers," it says. Under Article 98 (1) (c), the signatories are committed to "proceed with all possible speed to the rescue of persons in distress, if informed of their need of assistance." (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Navy becomes saviour for Bulgarian national stuck on hijacked ship

<p>The veteran leaders of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were invited on Tuesday (Dec 19) to attend the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in northern India's Ayodhya scheduled to be held on January 22, 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Advani was India's home minister (1999-2004) and deputy prime minister (2002-2004) during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004), Joshi also held crucial cabinet portfolios during Vajpayee's all three prime ministerial tenures in 1996, 1998, and between 1999 to 2004.</p>

<p>Advani, 96, is also one of the co-founders of the present-day Bharatiya Janata Party.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Invite to attend Ram Temple consecration</strong></h2>

<p>Advani and Joshi were extended the invitation a day after Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body that manages the affairs related to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, said that the two veterans were requested "not to attend" the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple owing to their advanced age.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Tuesday (Dec 19) senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leaders -- both ideological fountainheads of the BJP -- met Advani and Joshi and invited them to the event.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bjp-veterans-lk-advani-mm-joshi-requested-not-to-come-for-ram-temple-event-671185">India: BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi ‘requested not to come’ for Ram Temple event</a></strong></p>

<p>Both Advani and Joshi were at the forefront of the Ram temple movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In December 1992,&nbsp;a sixteenth-century religious structure deemed 'disputed' by Hindus was brought down by hundreds of people. The community believed the Mughal-era religious structure was built over the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram.</p>

<p>In a statement after the meetings, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Alok Kumar said in a post on X, "Invited Lal Krishna Advani ji and Murli Manohar Joshi ji, the pioneers of Ram Mandir movement, to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. Both the seniors said that they will make every effort to come."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Ram Mandir inauguration: How Ram Mandir is boosting Ayodhya's economy</strong></p>

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<p>In September 2019, the Supreme Court in a unanimous verdict cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and directed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The newly built temple is scheduled to be consecrated on January 22, 2024.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The veteran leaders of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were invited on Tuesday (Dec 19) to attend the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in northern India's Ayodhya scheduled to be held on January 22, 2024.

The veteran leaders of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were invited on Tuesday (Dec 19) to attend the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in northern India's Ayodhya scheduled to be held on January 22, 2024. While Advani was India's home minister (1999-2004) and deputy prime minister (2002-2004) during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004), Joshi also held crucial cabinet portfolios during Vajpayee's all three prime ministerial tenures in 1996, 1998, and between 1999 to 2004. Advani, 96, is also one of the co-founders of the present-day Bharatiya Janata Party. Invite to attend Ram Temple consecration Advani and Joshi were extended the invitation a day after Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body that manages the affairs related to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, said that the two veterans were requested "not to attend" the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple owing to their advanced age. On Tuesday (Dec 19) senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leaders -- both ideological fountainheads of the BJP -- met Advani and Joshi and invited them to the event. Also read | India: BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi ‘requested not to come’ for Ram Temple event Both Advani and Joshi were at the forefront of the Ram temple movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In December 1992, a sixteenth-century religious structure deemed 'disputed' by Hindus was brought down by hundreds of people. The community believed the Mughal-era religious structure was built over the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram. In a statement after the meetings, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Alok Kumar said in a post on X, "Invited Lal Krishna Advani ji and Murli Manohar Joshi ji, the pioneers of Ram Mandir movement, to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. Both the seniors said that they will make every effort to come." Also watch | Ram Mandir inauguration: How Ram Mandir is boosting Ayodhya's economy × In September 2019, the Supreme Court in a unanimous verdict cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and directed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque. The newly built temple is scheduled to be consecrated on January 22, 2024. (With inputs from agencies)

India: BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi to make 'every effort' to attend Ram Temple consecration ceremony

<p>India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the activities of 'extremist groups based overseas' while responding to the alleged assassination plot of an India-designated terrorist&nbsp;in the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it," Modi said in an interview with the Financial Times. "If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law."</p>

<p>PM Modi has for the first time responded to allegations of an Indian assassination plot in the US, which the American authorities claim was targeted at&nbsp;Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the general counsel for the separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and designated an&nbsp;'individual terrorist' by India's&nbsp;National Investigation Agency (NIA).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Explained: The Pannun Plot, India's global image &amp; The India-U.S. strategic partnership</strong></p>

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<p>Modi said India was "deeply concerned about the activities of certain extremist groups based overseas".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added: "These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence."</p>

<p>The India-US ties have been described&nbsp;as "among the most consequential in the world".&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Modi said: "There is strong bipartisan support for the strengthening of this relationship, which is a clear indicator of a mature and stable partnership."</p>

<p>"Security and counter-terrorism co-operation has been a key component of our partnership," he added. "I don’t think it is appropriate to link a few incidents with diplomatic relations between the two countries."&nbsp;</p>

<p>US President Joe Biden visited New Delhi for the G20 summit in September.</p>

<p>India’s foreign ministry previously announced that New Delhi had set up a high-level committee to investigate the US allegations and would "take necessary follow-up action".&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"When Americans brought up issues, they told us some specific things...we sincerely told Canadians, its up to you, your choice if you would like us to peruse further", EAM Jaishankar <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a> at a Bengaluru event on US/Canada murder/attempt to murder case <a href="https://t.co/Y9zNL1eiq6">pic.twitter.com/Y9zNL1eiq6</a></p>
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<p>The Pannun assassination plot&nbsp;followed a statement in September from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Ottawa was investigating whether "agents" of New Delhi were behind the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist, in British Columbia. India denounced the claim as "absurd".</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>


India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the activities of 'extremist groups based overseas' while responding to the alleged assassination plot of an India-designated terrorist in the United States.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the activities of 'extremist groups based overseas' while responding to the alleged assassination plot of an India-designated terrorist in the United States. "If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it," Modi said in an interview with the Financial Times. "If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law." PM Modi has for the first time responded to allegations of an Indian assassination plot in the US, which the American authorities claim was targeted at Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the general counsel for the separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and designated an 'individual terrorist' by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA). Also watch | Explained: The Pannun Plot, India's global image & The India-U.S. strategic partnership × Modi said India was "deeply concerned about the activities of certain extremist groups based overseas". He added: "These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence." The India-US ties have been described as "among the most consequential in the world". However, Modi said: "There is strong bipartisan support for the strengthening of this relationship, which is a clear indicator of a mature and stable partnership." "Security and counter-terrorism co-operation has been a key component of our partnership," he added. "I don’t think it is appropriate to link a few incidents with diplomatic relations between the two countries." US President Joe Biden visited New Delhi for the G20 summit in September. India’s foreign ministry previously announced that New Delhi had set up a high-level committee to investigate the US allegations and would "take necessary follow-up action". "When Americans brought up issues, they told us some specific things...we sincerely told Canadians, its up to you, your choice if you would like us to peruse further", EAM Jaishankar @DrSJaishankar at a Bengaluru event on US/Canada murder/attempt to murder case pic.twitter.com/Y9zNL1eiq6 — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 17, 2023 × The Pannun assassination plot followed a statement in September from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Ottawa was investigating whether "agents" of New Delhi were behind the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist, in British Columbia. India denounced the claim as "absurd". (With inputs from agencies)

Amid alleged Pannun murder plot, Indian PM Modi flags activities of overseas 'extremist groups'

<p>The relationship between flowers and insect pollinators is as old as time. It forms a crucial part of the novels of and beyond Shakespearean times. In Indian pop culture, the flower-insect ties were solemnised in a 1982 Hindi film 'Prem Rog' starring actors Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure, in a song whose lyrics can be translated&nbsp;as -<em>The bumblebee fed the flower, and the prince took it away</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But now climate change is altering this relationship that enables the sustenance of the food chain as we know it, and has also influenced literature and pop culture in immeasurable proportions.</p>

<h2><strong>Flowers are 'giving up' on pollinators</strong></h2>

<p>According to a study published in the journal New Phytologist, flowers are now "giving up" on pollinators and evolving to be less attractive due to a decline in the number of insects.</p>

<p>The researchers found that flowers in a field of&nbsp;pansies near Paris are 10 per cent smaller and produce 20 per cent less nectar than flowers growing in the same fields 20 to 30 years ago.</p>

<p>"Our study shows that pansies are evolving to give up on their pollinators," Pierre-Olivier Cheptou, one of the study's authors and a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research said in an official statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"They are evolving towards self-pollination, where each plant reproduces with itself, which works in the short term but may well limit their capacity to adapt to future environmental changes."</p>

<h2><strong>How flowers are evolving in 'real-time'?</strong></h2>

<p>Plants produce nectar for insects. In return, insects transport pollen between plants. This mutually beneficial relationship has formed over millions of years of co-evolution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But now plants are producing less nectar, the research has found. This means that insects are becoming less attracted towards plants.</p>

<p>"Our results show that the effects of pollinator declines are not easily reversible, because plants have already started to change. Conservation measures are therefore urgently needed to halt and reverse pollinator declines," lead author Samson Acoca-Pidolle said in an official statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report in the Guardian cited Dr Philip Donkersley of Lancaster University as saying that the phenomenon described in the above study shows "evolution happening in real-time".</p>

<p>"The fact that these flowers are changing their strategy in response to decreasing pollinator abundance is quite startling. This research shows a plant undoing thousands of years of evolution in response to a phenomenon that has been around for only 50 years," Donkersley, who was not associated with the study, said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-tiniest-flowering-plant-could-feed-and-oxygenate-astronauts-in-space-643877">Earth's tiniest flowering plant could feed and oxygenate astronauts in space</a></strong></p>

<p>The world has lost 5 per cent to 10 per cent of all insect species in the last 150 years — or between 250,000 and 500,000 species, according to a February 2020 study in the journal Biological Conservation.</p>

<p>The global insect population is declining at an unprecedented rate of up to 2 per cent per year, the study said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Insects are described as "the fabric" that tethers together every freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem across the planet.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;WION Fineprint: Indonesia conservationist salvages indigenous flowers</strong></p>

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<p>Insects pollinate more than 75 per cent of global crops, a service valued at up to $577 billion per year, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The relationship between flowers and insect pollinators is as old as time. It forms a crucial part of the novels of and beyond Shakespearean times. In Indian pop culture, the flower-insect ties were solemnised in a 1982 Hindi film 'Prem Rog' starring actors Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure, in a song whose lyrics can be translated as -The bumblebee fed the flower, and the prince took it away.

The relationship between flowers and insect pollinators is as old as time. It forms a crucial part of the novels of and beyond Shakespearean times. In Indian pop culture, the flower-insect ties were solemnised in a 1982 Hindi film 'Prem Rog' starring actors Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure, in a song whose lyrics can be translated as -The bumblebee fed the flower, and the prince took it away. But now climate change is altering this relationship that enables the sustenance of the food chain as we know it, and has also influenced literature and pop culture in immeasurable proportions. Flowers are 'giving up' on pollinators According to a study published in the journal New Phytologist, flowers are now "giving up" on pollinators and evolving to be less attractive due to a decline in the number of insects. The researchers found that flowers in a field of pansies near Paris are 10 per cent smaller and produce 20 per cent less nectar than flowers growing in the same fields 20 to 30 years ago. "Our study shows that pansies are evolving to give up on their pollinators," Pierre-Olivier Cheptou, one of the study's authors and a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research said in an official statement. "They are evolving towards self-pollination, where each plant reproduces with itself, which works in the short term but may well limit their capacity to adapt to future environmental changes." How flowers are evolving in 'real-time'? Plants produce nectar for insects. In return, insects transport pollen between plants. This mutually beneficial relationship has formed over millions of years of co-evolution. But now plants are producing less nectar, the research has found. This means that insects are becoming less attracted towards plants. "Our results show that the effects of pollinator declines are not easily reversible, because plants have already started to change. Conservation measures are therefore urgently needed to halt and reverse pollinator declines," lead author Samson Acoca-Pidolle said in an official statement. A report in the Guardian cited Dr Philip Donkersley of Lancaster University as saying that the phenomenon described in the above study shows "evolution happening in real-time". "The fact that these flowers are changing their strategy in response to decreasing pollinator abundance is quite startling. This research shows a plant undoing thousands of years of evolution in response to a phenomenon that has been around for only 50 years," Donkersley, who was not associated with the study, said. Also read | Earth's tiniest flowering plant could feed and oxygenate astronauts in space The world has lost 5 per cent to 10 per cent of all insect species in the last 150 years — or between 250,000 and 500,000 species, according to a February 2020 study in the journal Biological Conservation. The global insect population is declining at an unprecedented rate of up to 2 per cent per year, the study said. Insects are described as "the fabric" that tethers together every freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem across the planet. Also watch | WION Fineprint: Indonesia conservationist salvages indigenous flowers × Insects pollinate more than 75 per cent of global crops, a service valued at up to $577 billion per year, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). (With inputs from agencies)

End of an eternal love story? As insect numbers decline, flowers are devolving to become less attractive

<p>During the first few classes in journalism in a typical journalism school, there comes a time when you are told that journalism is the first rough draft of history. Others call it the literature in hurry, which stands true for any given story that is published with a breaking news urgency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Often, when experienced journalists with a lifelong body of work sit back and return to write a serious piece of history, they stand out.&nbsp;In February 2023, Pervez Musharraf, the former Pakistani military ruler died an oblivious death in the United Arab Emirates. Days later, I picked up journalist Declan Walsh's 2021 book '<em>The Nine Lives of Pakistan</em>'.<img alt="The Nine Lives of Pakistan by Declan Walsh" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6294d150-0af4-483c-b940-32085f2dae04" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-19T132538.479.png" />&nbsp;<em>&nbsp;</em><br />
"Musharraf was like a drunken uncle at a family wedding, nursing a bottle in the corner, desperate to be taken seriously," Walsh, a former New York Times correspondent in Pakistan in the 2010s, wrote of Musharraf.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The phrase is not just the precise description of a military ruler dearly abhorred in and beyond South Asia but is also the product of a remarkable journalistic acumen cultured over years of intensive reporting experience.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2022, veteran Indian journalist Arun Shourie's memoir, 'The Commissioner for Lost Causes' (a journalistic honorific bestowed to him by The Indian Express founder Ramnath Goenka) had a similar last word on a crucial episode of police brutality in Indian history: The Bhagalpur blindings. In Bhagalpur district of India's Bihar state, prisoners were blinded by the police for their alleged crimes between 1980 and 1983. When the English newspapers based out of New Delhi reported on it, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was 'physically sick'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I could not believe that such a thing could happen. I was physically sick and even now cannot talk about it," Gandhi was quoted as saying by Shourie.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But making rulers 'physically sick' was the objective," Shourie wrote.</p>

<p>A year before that in 2021, Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi's memoir, 'A Rude Life' hit the shelves. On the breakup of The Beatles&nbsp;— arguably the biggest pop culture moment of the 20th century&nbsp;—&nbsp;Sanghvi had more than a few beans to spill.</p>

<p>This year, Indian journalist Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide', a detailed tell-all account of the decision-making dynamics of Indian prime ministers, from Indira Gandhi to Dr Manmohan Singh, stood out on bestseller charts. Chowdhury revives the scribbles from her reporter's diary with rare anecdotal brilliance across the tenures of six prime ministers lasting 47 years.<img alt="Rewind 2023: Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide' topped the bestseller chart soon after its release " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea610a37-5bec-420c-abf6-64818e35a5dd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-19T134227.979.png" /></p>

<p><em>Rewind 2023: Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide' topped the bestseller chart soon after its release</em></p>

<p>As 2023 nears its end, the novel 'Prophet Song' by Paul Lynch, a former deputy chief sub-editor at Ireland's Sunday Tribune newspaper, has won the publishing world's most coveted honour: The Booker Prize. The jury described it as a 'crucial book for our current times' given its relevance in context to the rising totalitarianism across the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In his acceptance speech, Lynch used a biblical phrase that uniquely enough, does not originate from any of the twelve men chosen by Jesus Christ to spread his teachings.</p>

<p>Lynch said: "If you use what is within you, it will save you. If you do not use what is within you, it will destroy you. My writing has saved me."</p>

<p><img alt="Irish writer Paul Lynch with his specially bound book copy 'Prophet Song' on the red carpet of Booker Prize Award announcement ceremony, at the Old Billingsgate, in central London, on November 26, 2023 | AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2bb7fa33-2fc4-4dab-8855-bb9c1b94cdc8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-19T133917.394.png" /></p>

<p><em>Irish writer Paul Lynch with his specially bound book copy 'Prophet Song' on the red carpet of Booker Prize Award announcement ceremony, at the Old Billingsgate, in central London, on November 26, 2023 | AFP</em></p>

<p>The ability of a journalist to draft history is what secures their sense of being. Not all stories make to the front page or prime time. Even the ones that do, may not necessarily have all the details scribbled within a reporter's diary or an iPad. They lay within a journalism professional, and once the dust has settled, must be watered with an acumen of storytelling; for the seed of history to take root.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That's the reason, after a lifelong career in journalism, India's Arun Shourie is the commissioner for lost causes and Neerja Chowdhury is able to tell the world how prime ministers decide, and Vir Sanghvi's '<em>A Rude Life</em>'&nbsp;is an essential journalistic read for anybody starting out to tell relevant stories that matter.&nbsp;<img alt="Books of 2020s" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="90b7e10e-8366-44b9-bbca-86462390b2d8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-19T160334.410.png" /></p>

<p>As the drafters of history in real time, journalists remain the most equipped individuals to draft the defining pieces of contemporary history.</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></em></p>


During the first few classes in journalism in a typical journalism school, there comes a time when you are told that journalism is the first rough draft of history.

During the first few classes in journalism in a typical journalism school, there comes a time when you are told that journalism is the first rough draft of history. Others call it the literature in hurry, which stands true for any given story that is published with a breaking news urgency. Often, when experienced journalists with a lifelong body of work sit back and return to write a serious piece of history, they stand out. In February 2023, Pervez Musharraf, the former Pakistani military ruler died an oblivious death in the United Arab Emirates. Days later, I picked up journalist Declan Walsh's 2021 book 'The Nine Lives of Pakistan'. "Musharraf was like a drunken uncle at a family wedding, nursing a bottle in the corner, desperate to be taken seriously," Walsh, a former New York Times correspondent in Pakistan in the 2010s, wrote of Musharraf. The phrase is not just the precise description of a military ruler dearly abhorred in and beyond South Asia but is also the product of a remarkable journalistic acumen cultured over years of intensive reporting experience. In 2022, veteran Indian journalist Arun Shourie's memoir, 'The Commissioner for Lost Causes' (a journalistic honorific bestowed to him by The Indian Express founder Ramnath Goenka) had a similar last word on a crucial episode of police brutality in Indian history: The Bhagalpur blindings. In Bhagalpur district of India's Bihar state, prisoners were blinded by the police for their alleged crimes between 1980 and 1983. When the English newspapers based out of New Delhi reported on it, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was 'physically sick'. "I could not believe that such a thing could happen. I was physically sick and even now cannot talk about it," Gandhi was quoted as saying by Shourie. "But making rulers 'physically sick' was the objective," Shourie wrote. A year before that in 2021, Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi's memoir, 'A Rude Life' hit the shelves. On the breakup of The Beatles — arguably the biggest pop culture moment of the 20th century — Sanghvi had more than a few beans to spill. This year, Indian journalist Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide', a detailed tell-all account of the decision-making dynamics of Indian prime ministers, from Indira Gandhi to Dr Manmohan Singh, stood out on bestseller charts. Chowdhury revives the scribbles from her reporter's diary with rare anecdotal brilliance across the tenures of six prime ministers lasting 47 years. Rewind 2023: Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide' topped the bestseller chart soon after its release As 2023 nears its end, the novel 'Prophet Song' by Paul Lynch, a former deputy chief sub-editor at Ireland's Sunday Tribune newspaper, has won the publishing world's most coveted honour: The Booker Prize. The jury described it as a 'crucial book for our current times' given its relevance in context to the rising totalitarianism across the world. In his acceptance speech, Lynch used a biblical phrase that uniquely enough, does not originate from any of the twelve men chosen by Jesus Christ to spread his teachings. Lynch said: "If you use what is within you, it will save you. If you do not use what is within you, it will destroy you. My writing has saved me." Irish writer Paul Lynch with his specially bound book copy 'Prophet Song' on the red carpet of Booker Prize Award announcement ceremony, at the Old Billingsgate, in central London, on November 26, 2023 | AFP The ability of a journalist to draft history is what secures their sense of being. Not all stories make to the front page or prime time. Even the ones that do, may not necessarily have all the details scribbled within a reporter's diary or an iPad. They lay within a journalism professional, and once the dust has settled, must be watered with an acumen of storytelling; for the seed of history to take root. That's the reason, after a lifelong career in journalism, India's Arun Shourie is the commissioner for lost causes and Neerja Chowdhury is able to tell the world how prime ministers decide, and Vir Sanghvi's 'A Rude Life' is an essential journalistic read for anybody starting out to tell relevant stories that matter. As the drafters of history in real time, journalists remain the most equipped individuals to draft the defining pieces of contemporary history. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Here's why journalists are the finest drafters of history

<p>Exercise and going to the gym require&nbsp;ample willpower. Not every human on Earth has it. But almost every one of the few who go to the International Space Station must go to the gym at the ISS.</p>

<p>Going to the gym is one of the most crucial parts of the routine of those living aboard the International Space Station (ISS).</p>

<h2><strong>Why exercise is important for ISS residents?</strong></h2>

<p>In the absence of Earth's gravitational force, the ISS residents face the risk of muscle and bone mass decline, a concern with potentially severe consequences upon returning to normal gravity conditions on Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, the astronauts must dedicate over two hours daily to exercise at the International Space Station.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The exercise devices at International Space Station</strong></h2>

<p>The ISS is equipped with three primary exercise devices: a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, and an Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED). While the activities may resemble traditional workouts—running, cycling, and weightlifting—the challenges of performing these routines in microgravity add another dimension.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-releases-footage-of-tomatoes-lost-in-space-for-eight-months-670397">Watch: NASA releases footage of tomatoes lost in space for eight months</a></strong></p>

<p>ARED, a key component of the ISS gym, uses vacuum cylinders instead of conventional weights for resistance. Astronauts exert force against the vacuum's pull to simulate weightlifting, adjusting the resistance to match the intensity of heavier weights.</p>

<p>The treadmill and stationary bicycle, although resembling their Earthly counterparts, demand additional precautions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India &amp; US will undertake joint mission to international space station in 2024</strong></p>

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<p>To prevent astronauts from floating away during running or cycling, harnesses are employed to tether them to the equipment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Beyond the rather romanticised notion of space exploration, the commitment to a rigorous exercise routine stands as an essential aspect of an astronaut's daily life, ensuring both physical well-being and preparedness for demanding tasks such as spacewalks.</p>

<p>As humanity continues to explore the frontiers of space, these innovative solutions underscore the meticulous planning required to address the unique challenges posed by microgravity.</p>


Exercise and going to the gym require ample willpower. Not every human on Earth has it. But almost every one of the few who go to the International Space Station must go to the gym at the ISS.

Exercise and going to the gym require ample willpower. Not every human on Earth has it. But almost every one of the few who go to the International Space Station must go to the gym at the ISS. Going to the gym is one of the most crucial parts of the routine of those living aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Why exercise is important for ISS residents? In the absence of Earth's gravitational force, the ISS residents face the risk of muscle and bone mass decline, a concern with potentially severe consequences upon returning to normal gravity conditions on Earth. Therefore, the astronauts must dedicate over two hours daily to exercise at the International Space Station. The exercise devices at International Space Station The ISS is equipped with three primary exercise devices: a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, and an Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED). While the activities may resemble traditional workouts—running, cycling, and weightlifting—the challenges of performing these routines in microgravity add another dimension. Also read | Watch: NASA releases footage of tomatoes lost in space for eight months ARED, a key component of the ISS gym, uses vacuum cylinders instead of conventional weights for resistance. Astronauts exert force against the vacuum's pull to simulate weightlifting, adjusting the resistance to match the intensity of heavier weights. The treadmill and stationary bicycle, although resembling their Earthly counterparts, demand additional precautions. Also watch | India & US will undertake joint mission to international space station in 2024 × To prevent astronauts from floating away during running or cycling, harnesses are employed to tether them to the equipment. Beyond the rather romanticised notion of space exploration, the commitment to a rigorous exercise routine stands as an essential aspect of an astronaut's daily life, ensuring both physical well-being and preparedness for demanding tasks such as spacewalks. As humanity continues to explore the frontiers of space, these innovative solutions underscore the meticulous planning required to address the unique challenges posed by microgravity.

This is what going to gym looks like on International Space Station

<p>Nitin Gadkari, India's Minister of Road Transport and Highways, voiced strong opposition to the introduction of driverless cars in the world's fifth largest economy after the Member of Parliament from Maharashtra's Nagpur cited concerns over potential job losses for drivers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I will never allow driverless cars to come into India because it will take away the jobs of several drivers, and I will not let that happen," Gadkari was quoted as saying by Business Today.</p>

<p>While&nbsp;welcoming&nbsp;Elon Musk's Tesla to operate in India, Gadkari laid out a condition that could impact the electric vehicle giant's plans.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Self-driving cars: $100 billion bet gone wrong?</strong></p>

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<p>He specified that Tesla could not manufacture vehicles in China for sales in India, stating, "We will allow Tesla to come to India, but they cannot manufacture in China and sell it in India. That is an impossible thing to happen."</p>

<p>In the past, while Elon Musk has criticised what he claimed were India's high import taxes, New Delhi remains averse to the idea of letting Tesla sell electric vehicles made in China.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Gadkari's remarks on driverless cars: What do they mean?</strong></h2>

<p>Gadkari's remarks highlight the intersection of technology, employment, and international trade policies in India's evolving automotive landscape.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The government's approach towards autonomous vehicles also reflects a policy of caution rather than a sense of excitement over innovation whose potential may impact human jobs in India where a large number of people are employed in the transportation sector.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ai-based-tech-start-up-develops-indias-first-autonomous-car-zpod-600898">AI-based tech start-up develops India's first autonomous car 'zPod'</a></strong></p>

<p>In addition to addressing concerns about the future of transportation, Gadkari underlined the significance of hydrogen as the fuel of the future. He affirmed New Delhi's move to embrace advanced technology for improving public infrastructure.</p>

<p>"Hydrogen is the futuristic fuel, and we are working towards bringing the best technology to help in enhancing public infrastructure."</p>

<h2><strong>What's the bottom line?</strong></h2>

<p>As India navigates the evolving landscape of mobility and energy amid spree of innovations, the government's decisions will likely have far-reaching implications for both the automotive industry as well as the workforce.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Nitin Gadkari, India's Minister of Road Transport and Highways, voiced strong opposition to the introduction of driverless cars in the world's fifth largest economy after the Member of Parliament from Maharashtra's Nagpur cited concerns over potential job losses for drivers.

Nitin Gadkari, India's Minister of Road Transport and Highways, voiced strong opposition to the introduction of driverless cars in the world's fifth largest economy after the Member of Parliament from Maharashtra's Nagpur cited concerns over potential job losses for drivers. "I will never allow driverless cars to come into India because it will take away the jobs of several drivers, and I will not let that happen," Gadkari was quoted as saying by Business Today. While welcoming Elon Musk's Tesla to operate in India, Gadkari laid out a condition that could impact the electric vehicle giant's plans. Also watch | Self-driving cars: $100 billion bet gone wrong? × He specified that Tesla could not manufacture vehicles in China for sales in India, stating, "We will allow Tesla to come to India, but they cannot manufacture in China and sell it in India. That is an impossible thing to happen." In the past, while Elon Musk has criticised what he claimed were India's high import taxes, New Delhi remains averse to the idea of letting Tesla sell electric vehicles made in China. Gadkari's remarks on driverless cars: What do they mean? Gadkari's remarks highlight the intersection of technology, employment, and international trade policies in India's evolving automotive landscape. The government's approach towards autonomous vehicles also reflects a policy of caution rather than a sense of excitement over innovation whose potential may impact human jobs in India where a large number of people are employed in the transportation sector. Also read | AI-based tech start-up develops India's first autonomous car 'zPod' In addition to addressing concerns about the future of transportation, Gadkari underlined the significance of hydrogen as the fuel of the future. He affirmed New Delhi's move to embrace advanced technology for improving public infrastructure. "Hydrogen is the futuristic fuel, and we are working towards bringing the best technology to help in enhancing public infrastructure." What's the bottom line? As India navigates the evolving landscape of mobility and energy amid spree of innovations, the government's decisions will likely have far-reaching implications for both the automotive industry as well as the workforce. (With inputs from agencies)

Will driverless cars run on Indian roads? Minister Nitin Gadkari clears the air

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