<p>With a ceremonial motorcade, cavalry escort and Russian flag's colours in the sky, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;Putin's&nbsp;reception in the Emirati capital included a 21-gun salute, and the Emirati national air show team created a spectacle in the sky, drawing the Russian flag with coloured fumes.</p>

<p>Hours later, he was in Riyadh and the next day Putin hosted Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A nearly simultaneous Saudi-Iran diplomatic outreach by Moscow occurred nearly ten months after the Sunni and Shia powerhouses of West Asia restored their ties.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-saudi-arabia-restore-ties-as-china-brokered-deal-outfoxes-west-570766">Iran, Saudi Arabia restore ties as China-brokered deal outfoxes West</a></strong></p>

<p>This week, therefore,&nbsp;marked a significant shift in Putin's&nbsp;international engagements since he launched an offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.</p>

<p>Since then, Putin has limited his visits to China, Iran and some countries of the former Soviet Union.</p>

<p>Recent developments in the war, where Russia has gained a perceived upper hand while the West's attention shifted to the Israel-Hamas war, are understood to&nbsp;have influenced this change.</p>

<p>Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of the UAE, referred to Putin as his "dear friend."</p>

<p>Putin, in return, acknowledged the elevated relations.</p>

<p>During his visit to Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, Putin engaged in a significant exchange with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We awaited you in Moscow," Putin told MBS with a gleeful smile.</p>

<p>"I know that events forced a correction to those plans but as I have already said nothing can prevent the development of our friendly relations. "But," he added, "the next meeting should be in Moscow." MBS replied through a Russian translator that he was of course ready to do that.</p>

<p>"Then we are agreed," Putin said.</p>

<p>The geopolitical significance of Saudi and Russia, jointly controlling a substantial portion of the world's oil production, came into focus.</p>

<p>Putin's West Asia outreach is significant as the traditional US allies&nbsp;in the region&nbsp;— Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey&nbsp;— have expressed outrage over America's support to Israel in the ongoing war against Hamas in the blockaded Gaza Strip.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Besides, the high oil prices have played a crucial role in sustaining Russia's war efforts in Ukraine and bolstering the Saudi economy.</p>

<p>These high-profile visits are perceived as a display of Putin's strength, strategically timed ahead of the upcoming elections in Russia.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Russian President Putin to run for presidential elections again in 2024</strong></p>

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<p>The Federation Council, the upper house of Parliament, has set March 17 as the presidential election date. Putin, eligible for two more six-year terms after his current term expires, could potentially remain in power until 2036, signalling a prolonged tenure.</p>

<p>Notably, Putin, heavily sanctioned by the West, seems keen on establishing global partnerships to counter the perception of isolation. These diplomatic moves serve as a calculated demonstration of Russia's continued presence and influence on the world stage.</p>

<p>That's all for the capitals this weekend. See you next week.&nbsp;</p>


With a ceremonial motorcade, cavalry escort and Russian flag's colours in the sky, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi.

With a ceremonial motorcade, cavalry escort and Russian flag's colours in the sky, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi. Putin's reception in the Emirati capital included a 21-gun salute, and the Emirati national air show team created a spectacle in the sky, drawing the Russian flag with coloured fumes. Hours later, he was in Riyadh and the next day Putin hosted Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow. A nearly simultaneous Saudi-Iran diplomatic outreach by Moscow occurred nearly ten months after the Sunni and Shia powerhouses of West Asia restored their ties. Also read | Iran, Saudi Arabia restore ties as China-brokered deal outfoxes West This week, therefore, marked a significant shift in Putin's international engagements since he launched an offensive on Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Putin has limited his visits to China, Iran and some countries of the former Soviet Union. Recent developments in the war, where Russia has gained a perceived upper hand while the West's attention shifted to the Israel-Hamas war, are understood to have influenced this change. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of the UAE, referred to Putin as his "dear friend." Putin, in return, acknowledged the elevated relations. During his visit to Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, Putin engaged in a significant exchange with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). "We awaited you in Moscow," Putin told MBS with a gleeful smile. "I know that events forced a correction to those plans but as I have already said nothing can prevent the development of our friendly relations. "But," he added, "the next meeting should be in Moscow." MBS replied through a Russian translator that he was of course ready to do that. "Then we are agreed," Putin said. The geopolitical significance of Saudi and Russia, jointly controlling a substantial portion of the world's oil production, came into focus. Putin's West Asia outreach is significant as the traditional US allies in the region — Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey — have expressed outrage over America's support to Israel in the ongoing war against Hamas in the blockaded Gaza Strip. Besides, the high oil prices have played a crucial role in sustaining Russia's war efforts in Ukraine and bolstering the Saudi economy. These high-profile visits are perceived as a display of Putin's strength, strategically timed ahead of the upcoming elections in Russia. Also watch | Russian President Putin to run for presidential elections again in 2024 × The Federation Council, the upper house of Parliament, has set March 17 as the presidential election date. Putin, eligible for two more six-year terms after his current term expires, could potentially remain in power until 2036, signalling a prolonged tenure. Notably, Putin, heavily sanctioned by the West, seems keen on establishing global partnerships to counter the perception of isolation. These diplomatic moves serve as a calculated demonstration of Russia's continued presence and influence on the world stage. That's all for the capitals this weekend. See you next week.

The Capitals: Putin's Moscow is West Asia's 'dear friend'

The Face of Grace: There’s a Way To Age Like Fine Wine 

In your 40s, you are not at the midpoint between growing and slowly dying. There is more to it. Travel, give in to leisure. Reflect at the life you have lived. Don’t sulk that you’re ageing.

In your 40s, you are wiser than you ever were. That wisdom is what makes you different from your peers. 

You Are The Product of Your Experiences 


The imperfections of your life have defined your personality so far. Embrace them to move forward. Your experiences are different from your peers, and that’s what make you whole.

Your self-esteem need not be contained within tight skin and pouty lips. It’s alright to see the signs of ageing.

Exercise, eat right and treat your body as the home you will live in for the next 40 years. That way, you will age like fine wine. With more grace, less glee. 

Ageing and worrying about that? You don't need to. There's a way to age like fine wine

<p>Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday (Dec 9) advocated for better ties with neighbouring India, and claimed he was ousted from power by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999 because he did not support the 'Kargil plan'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I should be told why I was ousted in 1993 and 1999. When I opposed the Kargil plan saying it should not happen… I was ousted (by Gen Pervez Musharraf). And later what I said proved right,” Sharif said during a party meeting in Lahore.</p>

<p>In the spring of 1999, the Pakistan Army occupied the winter-vacated posts of Indian Army at the heights of Kargil in India's Jammu and Kashmir. The posts were subsequently reclaimed by Indian Army after a three-month war at the height of 5000m above the sea level.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;Pakistan Game of Thrones: Nawaz Sharif pushes for nationwide election alliance | World News | WION</strong></p>

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<p>A brainchild of Pakistan's then-army chief Pervez Musharraf, the 'Kargil plan' was reportedly presented to Pakistani prime ministers at least twice in the early 1990s and was finally executed in 1999 when Sharif was the prime minister.</p>

<p>Pakistan's imposition of war in May 1999 happened just months after India's then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched a bus service between New Delhi and Pakistani city of Lahore, an unprecedented peace gesture that ended with a summit between Sharif and Vajpayee in Lahore in February 1999.</p>

<p>During the course of Kargil war, Sharif had claimed he was not aware of his own army's act of initiation of war in Kargil.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/imran-to-step-down-as-pti-chief-nawaz-sharif-gets-acquitted-in-avenfield-case-664338">Imran to step down as PTI Chief, Nawaz Sharif gets acquitted in Avenfield case</a></strong></p>

<p>On Saturday (Dec 9), while addressing his party’s parliamentary board meeting in Lahore, he reiterated the need to improve relations with India as well as Afghanistan, Iran and China.</p>

<p>Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister of Pakistan when his government was overthrown in a coup d’etat on October 12, 1999.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, "During my time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan."</p>

<p>The PML-N supremo also vowed to hold those accountable who ruined the country.</p>

<p>"The country was thriving from 2013 to 2017 and the economy was better, however, good people were thrown out and Pakistan was handed to clumsy people."<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday (Dec 9) advocated for better ties with neighbouring India, and claimed he was ousted from power by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999 because he did not support the 'Kargil plan'.

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday (Dec 9) advocated for better ties with neighbouring India, and claimed he was ousted from power by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999 because he did not support the 'Kargil plan'. "I should be told why I was ousted in 1993 and 1999. When I opposed the Kargil plan saying it should not happen… I was ousted (by Gen Pervez Musharraf). And later what I said proved right,” Sharif said during a party meeting in Lahore. In the spring of 1999, the Pakistan Army occupied the winter-vacated posts of Indian Army at the heights of Kargil in India's Jammu and Kashmir. The posts were subsequently reclaimed by Indian Army after a three-month war at the height of 5000m above the sea level. Also watch | Pakistan Game of Thrones: Nawaz Sharif pushes for nationwide election alliance | World News | WION × A brainchild of Pakistan's then-army chief Pervez Musharraf, the 'Kargil plan' was reportedly presented to Pakistani prime ministers at least twice in the early 1990s and was finally executed in 1999 when Sharif was the prime minister. Pakistan's imposition of war in May 1999 happened just months after India's then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched a bus service between New Delhi and Pakistani city of Lahore, an unprecedented peace gesture that ended with a summit between Sharif and Vajpayee in Lahore in February 1999. During the course of Kargil war, Sharif had claimed he was not aware of his own army's act of initiation of war in Kargil. Also read | Imran to step down as PTI Chief, Nawaz Sharif gets acquitted in Avenfield case On Saturday (Dec 9), while addressing his party’s parliamentary board meeting in Lahore, he reiterated the need to improve relations with India as well as Afghanistan, Iran and China. Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister of Pakistan when his government was overthrown in a coup d’etat on October 12, 1999. He said, "During my time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan." The PML-N supremo also vowed to hold those accountable who ruined the country. "The country was thriving from 2013 to 2017 and the economy was better, however, good people were thrown out and Pakistan was handed to clumsy people." (With inputs from agencies)

Nawaz Sharif admits he was aware of Musharraf's 'Kargil plan', calls for better ties with India

<p>The low-income and non-Western lifestyles are portrayed&nbsp;less accurately by OpenAI's CLIP, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)&nbsp;model integral to the&nbsp;the popular DALL-E image generator.</p>

<p>CLIP stands for&nbsp;Contrastive Language-Image Pretraining. A foundational model used in various applications, CLIP operates by pairing text and images to create a score indicating the degree of alignment between the two.</p>

<p>The conclusion was made in a recent study conducted at the University of Michigan.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>According to the researchers involved in the study, there is a&nbsp;critical need for comprehensive representation in AI tools deployed globally.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Future of AI: Benefits &amp; Challenges</strong></p>

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<p>The study showed that a&nbsp;significant portion of the population, particularly those with lower social incomes, is not accurately reflected in these applications, potentially furthering the inequality.</p>

<h2><strong>How the study was done?</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers evaluated CLIP's performance using Dollar Street, a diverse image dataset from the Gapminder Foundation, with an image-base of over 38,000 which&nbsp;depicts households across different income levels globally.</p>

<p>Monthly incomes in the dataset ranged from $26 to nearly $20,000, and thus provided&nbsp;a broad socio-economic spectrum.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/gemini-ai-boosts-alphabets-stock-as-google-seeks-to-regain-ai-leadership-from-microsoft-667458">Gemini AI boosts Alphabet's stock as Google seeks to regain AI leadership from Microsoft</a></strong></p>

<p>Results of the study showed that CLIP consistently assigned higher scores to images from higher income households, indicating a significant bias.</p>

<p>The study also identified geographic bias, with lower scores predominantly associated with low-income African countries.</p>

<p>This bias could potentially result in the underrepresentation of diverse demographics in large image datasets and applications relying on CLIP.</p>

<h2><strong>Is there any solution to rectify this AI bias?</strong></h2>

<p>Researchers proposed actionable steps for AI developers, including investing in geographically diverse datasets, defining evaluation metrics that account for location and income, and&nbsp;documenting the demographics of&nbsp;data on which the AI is trained.</p>

<p>The study presented its findings at the Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing conference, held on December 8 in Singapore. The paper is available on the arXiv preprint server.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The low-income and non-Western lifestyles are portrayed less accurately by OpenAI's CLIP, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model integral to the the popular DALL-E image generator.

The low-income and non-Western lifestyles are portrayed less accurately by OpenAI's CLIP, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model integral to the the popular DALL-E image generator. CLIP stands for Contrastive Language-Image Pretraining. A foundational model used in various applications, CLIP operates by pairing text and images to create a score indicating the degree of alignment between the two. The conclusion was made in a recent study conducted at the University of Michigan. What does it mean? According to the researchers involved in the study, there is a critical need for comprehensive representation in AI tools deployed globally. Also watch | Future of AI: Benefits & Challenges × The study showed that a significant portion of the population, particularly those with lower social incomes, is not accurately reflected in these applications, potentially furthering the inequality. How the study was done? The researchers evaluated CLIP's performance using Dollar Street, a diverse image dataset from the Gapminder Foundation, with an image-base of over 38,000 which depicts households across different income levels globally. Monthly incomes in the dataset ranged from $26 to nearly $20,000, and thus provided a broad socio-economic spectrum. Also read | Gemini AI boosts Alphabet's stock as Google seeks to regain AI leadership from Microsoft Results of the study showed that CLIP consistently assigned higher scores to images from higher income households, indicating a significant bias. The study also identified geographic bias, with lower scores predominantly associated with low-income African countries. This bias could potentially result in the underrepresentation of diverse demographics in large image datasets and applications relying on CLIP. Is there any solution to rectify this AI bias? Researchers proposed actionable steps for AI developers, including investing in geographically diverse datasets, defining evaluation metrics that account for location and income, and documenting the demographics of data on which the AI is trained. The study presented its findings at the Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing conference, held on December 8 in Singapore. The paper is available on the arXiv preprint server. (With inputs from agencies)

OpenAI’s CLIP shows bias for wealthy, scores poor African nations low, finds study

Inside World’s Largest ‘Christmas Tree’ 

https://images1.wionews.com/video/wion/WhatsApp Video 2023-12-10 at 02-1702154905460.mp4

The ‘tree’ is shaped through a bunch of lights on a mountainside.

https://images1.wionews.com/video/wion/WhatsApp Video 2023-12-10 at 02-1702155028630.mp4

These lights have long since attracted scores of tourists.

https://images1.wionews.com/video/wion/WhatsApp Video 2023-12-10 at 02-1702155147993.mp4

It shines on a mountainside in Italy in the town of Gubbio.

The ‘tree’ has held the Guinness World Record since 1991 as the world’s biggest. 

The ‘Christmas Tree’ Takes Lots Of Work

It takes 1,3000 hours of hard work to achieve this perfect display, according to the Association of Alberaioli.

This is the world's biggest Christmas Tree. But there is a catch

<p>The death toll in Gaza Strip touched 17,700 on Saturday (Dec 9), according to Hamas-run health ministry as Israel continued to bombard targets in the blockaded Palestinian enclave, Aid groups have said that Gaza faces an "apocalyptic" humanitarian situation and is at the brink of being overwhelmed by starvation.</p>

<p>Earlier, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate&nbsp;ceasefire on Friday. Washington cited the absence of any plan for return of Israelis held hostage in Gaza since October 7 as one of the reasons behind its opposition. But its veto was strongly condemned by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, as well as Islamin nations and humanitarian groups.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, said the US veto in the UNSC made it complicit in Israel’s "genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes" against Palestinians, Reuters reported.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vetoes-un-security-council-resolution-demanding-immediate-humanitarian-ceasefire-in-gaza-667777">US vetoes UNSC resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, says it would ‘benefit’ Hamas</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Jaishankar dials Palestinian PM</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, India's Minister for External Affairs (MEA) Dr S. Jaishankar spoke to the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on the evening of Dec 9.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Spoke to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh this evening," Jaishankar wrote on X, formerly Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He expressed deep concern on the situation in both Gaza and the West Bank. Reiterated India’s long-standing position on Palestine. Agreed to remain in touch," Jaishankar added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Why Houthis Target Ships in the Red Sea | What Stops U.S. From Retaliating?</strong></p>

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<p>India supports a two-state&nbsp;resolution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.</p>

<p>Amid Israel continuing&nbsp;to pound Gaza with air strikes, the Hamas ministry said 71 dead had arrived at Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah alone over 24 hours, and 62 at Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas after its unprecedented attacks on October 7, when the men owing allegiance to Hamas broke through Gaza's border with Israel to kill about 1,200 Israelis and seize hostages, of whom 138 remain captive, according to Israel.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</strong></em></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The death toll in Gaza Strip touched 17,700 on Saturday (Dec 9), according to Hamas-run health ministry as Israel continued to bombard targets in the blockaded Palestinian enclave, Aid groups have said that Gaza faces an "apocalyptic" humanitarian situation and is at the brink of being overwhelmed by starvation.

The death toll in Gaza Strip touched 17,700 on Saturday (Dec 9), according to Hamas-run health ministry as Israel continued to bombard targets in the blockaded Palestinian enclave, Aid groups have said that Gaza faces an "apocalyptic" humanitarian situation and is at the brink of being overwhelmed by starvation. Earlier, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire on Friday. Washington cited the absence of any plan for return of Israelis held hostage in Gaza since October 7 as one of the reasons behind its opposition. But its veto was strongly condemned by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, as well as Islamin nations and humanitarian groups. Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, said the US veto in the UNSC made it complicit in Israel’s "genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes" against Palestinians, Reuters reported. Also read | US vetoes UNSC resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, says it would ‘benefit’ Hamas Jaishankar dials Palestinian PM Meanwhile, India's Minister for External Affairs (MEA) Dr S. Jaishankar spoke to the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on the evening of Dec 9. "Spoke to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh this evening," Jaishankar wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "He expressed deep concern on the situation in both Gaza and the West Bank. Reiterated India’s long-standing position on Palestine. Agreed to remain in touch," Jaishankar added. Also watch | Gravitas Plus: Why Houthis Target Ships in the Red Sea | What Stops U.S. From Retaliating? × India supports a two-state resolution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Amid Israel continuing to pound Gaza with air strikes, the Hamas ministry said 71 dead had arrived at Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah alone over 24 hours, and 62 at Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis. Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas after its unprecedented attacks on October 7, when the men owing allegiance to Hamas broke through Gaza's border with Israel to kill about 1,200 Israelis and seize hostages, of whom 138 remain captive, according to Israel. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Gaza death toll mounts to 17,770 as heavy fighting continues, claims Hamas

The Longest-Ruling World Leaders Right Now

The Russian president has been in power since 1999. The 71-year-old swapped presidential job with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in 2008. The rules limiting consecutive presidential mandates were changed. He has been president since 2012 and can potentially remain so until 2036. 

The 69-year-old Belarussian leader has been in power in Belarus for 29 years. 

The 77-year-old Eritrean has been president since 1993; a total of 30 years in power. 


The 71-year-old rose to power shortly after the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991. He has been in power for 31 years. 

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, 79, was re-elected to a sixth consecutive term in 2021. He has been in power for 37 years. 

Denis Sassou Nguesso, 80, has been president for 39 years in total. He was president of Congo from 1979 to 1992. He returned to power in 1997 and has been at helm ever since. 

The world’s oldest elected leader, African nation Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, 90, is ruling the country since November 1982. That makes it 41 years in power and counting. 


These are the world's longest serving leaders right now

<p>India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar described the ancient identity of Indian republic&nbsp;— Bharat&nbsp;— as "a belief and an attitude" which has an economic dimension and a political meaning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"To me, Bharat is actually a belief and an attitude. For me, Bharat has an economic dimension. It has a political meaning. It has cultural, social, I would say even personal expressions. At the end of the day, the term&nbsp;Bharat means don't let other people define you. Try and define yourself. That it has to come from itself because that very term Bharat which is so laden with symbolism actually captures centuries of what we are all about as a people," Jaishankar said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-origin-of-bharat-indias-past-present-and-future-632906">Explained | Origin of the name 'Bharat' - India's past, present and future</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "To me, Bharat is actually a belief and an attitude For me, Bharat has an economic dimension. It has a political meaning. It has cultural, social, I would say even personal expressions...At the end of the day the term, Bharat means don't let… <a href="https://t.co/NojgcRJT8N">pic.twitter.com/NojgcRJT8N</a></p>
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<p>He further added: "This is not a world of one power or two powers, there are many more countries, today, in the fray. And, that in many ways, I mean, while very welcome also makes the world a more difficult place to navigate and manage...Today, we are really looking at the consequences of what happens when trading rules are gamed when competition is unfair...The fact is today, the world is heading towards, greater insecurity and more protectionism..."</p>

<p>Article 1 of the Indian Constitution&nbsp;declares that "India, that is Bharat' is a 'Union of States'." The inaugural article of the Constitution further defines India's territory as well as its nomenclature-related aspects.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar described the ancient identity of Indian republic — Bharat — as "a belief and an attitude" which has an economic dimension and a political meaning.

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar described the ancient identity of Indian republic — Bharat — as "a belief and an attitude" which has an economic dimension and a political meaning. "To me, Bharat is actually a belief and an attitude. For me, Bharat has an economic dimension. It has a political meaning. It has cultural, social, I would say even personal expressions. At the end of the day, the term Bharat means don't let other people define you. Try and define yourself. That it has to come from itself because that very term Bharat which is so laden with symbolism actually captures centuries of what we are all about as a people," Jaishankar said. Also read | Explained | Origin of the name 'Bharat' - India's past, present and future #WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "To me, Bharat is actually a belief and an attitude For me, Bharat has an economic dimension. It has a political meaning. It has cultural, social, I would say even personal expressions...At the end of the day the term, Bharat means don't let… pic.twitter.com/NojgcRJT8N — ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2023 × He further added: "This is not a world of one power or two powers, there are many more countries, today, in the fray. And, that in many ways, I mean, while very welcome also makes the world a more difficult place to navigate and manage...Today, we are really looking at the consequences of what happens when trading rules are gamed when competition is unfair...The fact is today, the world is heading towards, greater insecurity and more protectionism..." Article 1 of the Indian Constitution declares that "India, that is Bharat' is a 'Union of States'." The inaugural article of the Constitution further defines India's territory as well as its nomenclature-related aspects. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: 'Bharat is a belief, an attitude', says India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar

<p>The effort to revive extinct dodo bird in a rather "Jurassic Park" style has picked up renewed momentum after a US-based genetic engineering company managed to garner a $150mn investment to bring back the dodo on our planet.</p>

<p>The flightless dodo, originally discovered on the island of Mauritius in 1598, faced extinction within 80 years due to factors such as hunting, deforestation, and the introduction of invasive species.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/dumb-as-a-dodo-cliche-might-just-lose-its-glimmer-557879">'Dumb as a dodo' cliche might just lose its glimmer as scientists are trying to revive extinct bird</a></strong></p>

<p>Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, known for its pursuit of de-extinction projects including the woolly mammoth and Tasmanian tiger, has deemed the dodo an ideal candidate for resurrection.</p>

<p>For decades, dodo has been understood as a symbol of man-made extinction and a stark reminder of the consequences of human carelessness on the diversity of life we see on our planet.</p>

<h2><strong>Dodo's revival: What is the status?</strong></h2>

<p>The sequencing the entire genome of the dodo, along with its extinct relative, the <em>Rodrigues solitaire</em>, and the living Nicobar pigeon — the dodo's closest relative — has been done.</p>

<p>Colossal's strategy involves comparing the dodo and solitaire genomes with that of the Nicobar pigeon, identifying differences, and modifying Nicobar pigeon to mirror the traits of dodo.</p>

<p>These altered primordial germ cells (PGCs) from the potentially modified Nicobar pigeon&nbsp;would be introduced into sterile chicken and rooster embryos, with the aim of producing adult birds that can reproduce and resemble the extinct dodo.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: What's the story of the Dodo?</strong></p>

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<p>"Physically, the restored dodo will be indiscernible from what we know of the dodo’s appearance,"&nbsp;Matt James, Colossal's chief animal officer, said in an official statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In collaboration with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Colossal is exploring potential relocation sites for the revived dodos and assessing their impact on the local ecosystem.</p>

<p>Challenges such as human interference and predation by invasive species are anticipated.</p>

<p>Dodo back on our planet holds the potential of restoring local ecosystems&nbsp;in Mauritius by aiding in the dispersal of large-seed fruits.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The effort to revive extinct dodo bird in a rather "Jurassic Park" style has picked up renewed momentum after a US-based genetic engineering company managed to garner a $150mn investment to bring back the dodo on our planet.

The effort to revive extinct dodo bird in a rather "Jurassic Park" style has picked up renewed momentum after a US-based genetic engineering company managed to garner a $150mn investment to bring back the dodo on our planet. The flightless dodo, originally discovered on the island of Mauritius in 1598, faced extinction within 80 years due to factors such as hunting, deforestation, and the introduction of invasive species. Also read | 'Dumb as a dodo' cliche might just lose its glimmer as scientists are trying to revive extinct bird Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, known for its pursuit of de-extinction projects including the woolly mammoth and Tasmanian tiger, has deemed the dodo an ideal candidate for resurrection. For decades, dodo has been understood as a symbol of man-made extinction and a stark reminder of the consequences of human carelessness on the diversity of life we see on our planet. Dodo's revival: What is the status? The sequencing the entire genome of the dodo, along with its extinct relative, the Rodrigues solitaire, and the living Nicobar pigeon — the dodo's closest relative — has been done. Colossal's strategy involves comparing the dodo and solitaire genomes with that of the Nicobar pigeon, identifying differences, and modifying Nicobar pigeon to mirror the traits of dodo. These altered primordial germ cells (PGCs) from the potentially modified Nicobar pigeon would be introduced into sterile chicken and rooster embryos, with the aim of producing adult birds that can reproduce and resemble the extinct dodo. Also watch | Gravitas: What's the story of the Dodo? × "Physically, the restored dodo will be indiscernible from what we know of the dodo’s appearance," Matt James, Colossal's chief animal officer, said in an official statement. In collaboration with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Colossal is exploring potential relocation sites for the revived dodos and assessing their impact on the local ecosystem. Challenges such as human interference and predation by invasive species are anticipated. Dodo back on our planet holds the potential of restoring local ecosystems in Mauritius by aiding in the dispersal of large-seed fruits. (With inputs from agencies)

In 'Jurassic Park' style, extinct flightless bird dodo to be revived. Scientists say...

<p>Sri Lanka is currently under the state of a nationwide power outage. The outage was attributed to a "systemic failure" by a government official.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is happening in Sri Lanka due to power outage?</strong></h2>

<p>The power outage on South Asian island nation has reportedly resulted in internet disruptions.</p>

<h2><b>Sri Lanka power outage: What's the reason?</b></h2>

<p>The power outage across Sri Lanka has been due to a breakdown of the Kotmale-Biyagama transmission line, according to the reports.</p>

<p>Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the country's power monopoly, is working to restore power, its spokesperson Noel Priyantha said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Blackout* Sri Lanka is experiencing a nationwide power outage due to a system failure. Internet disruptions reported‼️<br />
<br />
<a href="https://t.co/Z5wjuoATjK">pic.twitter.com/Z5wjuoATjK</a></p>
— Aqssss (@AqssssFajr) <a href="https://twitter.com/AqssssFajr/status/1733479844271321167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The CEB has also assured the nation that efforts are on to restore the power supply in the remaining affected areas.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Sri Lanka is currently under the state of a nationwide power outage. The outage was attributed to a "systemic failure" by a government official. What is happening in Sri Lanka due to power outage?

Sri Lanka is currently under the state of a nationwide power outage. The outage was attributed to a "systemic failure" by a government official. What is happening in Sri Lanka due to power outage? The power outage on South Asian island nation has reportedly resulted in internet disruptions. Sri Lanka power outage: What's the reason? The power outage across Sri Lanka has been due to a breakdown of the Kotmale-Biyagama transmission line, according to the reports. Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the country's power monopoly, is working to restore power, its spokesperson Noel Priyantha said. Blackout* Sri Lanka is experiencing a nationwide power outage due to a system failure. Internet disruptions reported‼️ pic.twitter.com/Z5wjuoATjK — Aqssss (@AqssssFajr) December 9, 2023 × The CEB has also assured the nation that efforts are on to restore the power supply in the remaining affected areas. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Vehicle headlights illuminate roads as Sri Lanka goes dark amid nationwide power outage

<p>India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, denied signing a document that purportedly answered a parliamentary query underscoring if India had designated Palestinian group Hamas as a terrorist organisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The parliamentary query by K Sudhakaran, Congress party's Member of Parliament (MP) from Kerala state's Kannur constituency, was addressed to India's Ministry of External Affairs. It asked if the Indian government had any proposal to declare Hamas as a terrorist organisation in India; and if the Israeli government raised any demand to the government of India to declare the Palestinian group as a terrorist organisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A reply was given on the aforementioned query by the Ministry of External Affairs in the name of Minister of State Menakshi Lekhi that&nbsp;read,&nbsp;"Designation of an organisation as terrorist is covered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and declaring any organisation as terrorist is considered as per the provisions of the Act by the relevant government departments."</p>

<p>Lekhi, however, denied that she had signed&nbsp;any paper with the aforementioned question and the subsequent answer.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-is-time-israel-urges-india-to-designate-hamas-as-terrorist-organisation-651337">'It is time...': Israel urges India to designate Hamas a terrorist organisation</a></strong></p>

<p>The parliamentary paper with Lekhi's reply was previously available on the website of Lok Sabha as well as the Ministry of External Affairs.</p>

<h2><strong>What next?</strong></h2>

<p>The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also clarified that the response attributed to Minister Lekhi needs "technical correction" in terms of reflecting the name of V Muraleedharan, who is the other Minister of State for External Affairs.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: India PM Narendra Modi says, 'Israel conflict must not spread' | World DNA | WION</strong></p>

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<p>Responding to media queries regarding the aforementioned Lok Sabha question answered on 8 December 2023, the MEA official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said: "We have noted that Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 980 answered on 8 December 2023 needs a technical correction in terms of reflecting Shri V&nbsp;Muraleedharan as the Minister of State replying to the Parliament Question. This is being suitably undertaken."</p>


India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, denied signing a document that purportedly answered a parliamentary query underscoring if India had designated Palestinian group Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, denied signing a document that purportedly answered a parliamentary query underscoring if India had designated Palestinian group Hamas as a terrorist organisation. The parliamentary query by K Sudhakaran, Congress party's Member of Parliament (MP) from Kerala state's Kannur constituency, was addressed to India's Ministry of External Affairs. It asked if the Indian government had any proposal to declare Hamas as a terrorist organisation in India; and if the Israeli government raised any demand to the government of India to declare the Palestinian group as a terrorist organisation. A reply was given on the aforementioned query by the Ministry of External Affairs in the name of Minister of State Menakshi Lekhi that read, "Designation of an organisation as terrorist is covered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and declaring any organisation as terrorist is considered as per the provisions of the Act by the relevant government departments." Lekhi, however, denied that she had signed any paper with the aforementioned question and the subsequent answer. Also read | 'It is time...': Israel urges India to designate Hamas a terrorist organisation The parliamentary paper with Lekhi's reply was previously available on the website of Lok Sabha as well as the Ministry of External Affairs. What next? The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also clarified that the response attributed to Minister Lekhi needs "technical correction" in terms of reflecting the name of V Muraleedharan, who is the other Minister of State for External Affairs. Also watch | Israel-Hamas war: India PM Narendra Modi says, 'Israel conflict must not spread' | World DNA | WION × Responding to media queries regarding the aforementioned Lok Sabha question answered on 8 December 2023, the MEA official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said: "We have noted that Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 980 answered on 8 December 2023 needs a technical correction in terms of reflecting Shri V Muraleedharan as the Minister of State replying to the Parliament Question. This is being suitably undertaken."

Is India banning Hamas? Minister Meenakshi Lekhi denies signing parliamentary document

<p>The ducks and ducklings are creatures that evoke curiosity among kids of the human world. Their 'quack quack' sounds like music to many and an irritant to few — yes duck-haters exist in our world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But it has now emerged that the crowning quack-quack glory of ducks is not just theirs at all. Even frogs can make that sound. (Poet Vikram Seth of 'Frog and the Nightingale' fame should be proud.)</p>

<p>In a recent breakthrough, scientists from the UK-based University of Wolverhampton and Wildlife Institute of India have announced the discovery of a new species of frog in India, near the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dubbed the "music frog" for its distinct call reminiscent of a wild duck's quack, this unique amphibian was identified during surveys conducted in 2022.</p>

<p>Dr Deepak Veerappan, an expert from the university, described the frog's call pattern as consisting of two to three notes, closely resembling the familiar 'quack quack quack' of a wild duck.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/faking-death-female-frogs-have-unique-sex-strategy-they-also-avoid-persistent-males-646032">Faking death? Female frogs have unique sex strategy, they also avoid persistent males</a></strong></p>

<p>"This newly discovered frog,&nbsp;found near the Noa-Dihing river, grows up to six centimetres and is characterised by a pale, cream-coloured line on the mid-body," Dr Veerappan said in an official statement.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How were these frogs discovered?</strong></h2>

<p>The finding resulted from night-time searches conducted with torchlight in August and September 2022. This collaborative effort involved Indian biologists, forest experts, and researchers from the University's School of Life Sciences.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This one marks the third consecutive discovery of a new amphibian species in the easternmost Tiger Reserve of India within a year.</p>

<p>Named after the Noa-Dihing river, this unique frog underscores the significance of conserving habitats and their surrounding areas, Dr Veerappan said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Europe's voracious appetite for frogs: Human consumption is threatening frog extinction</strong></p>

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<p>Researchers are now optimistic that further studies will reveal additional populations of the Noa-Dihing frog within the reserve, shedding light on the biodiversity of this ecologically important region.</p>

<p>The marshy habitat in Arunachal Pradesh where this discovery was made, is dominated by a particular grass species called Rotala, in which the male frogs make circular pits almost like their private pools and call from the pits to attract female frogs. The interesting breeding, egg-laying and parental care, if any, still remain unknown for this interesting marsh-adapted frog species.</p>

<p><i>(With inputs from agencies)</i></p>


The ducks and ducklings are creatures that evoke curiosity among kids of the human world. Their 'quack quack' sounds like music to many and an irritant to few — yes duck-haters exist in our world.

The ducks and ducklings are creatures that evoke curiosity among kids of the human world. Their 'quack quack' sounds like music to many and an irritant to few — yes duck-haters exist in our world. But it has now emerged that the crowning quack-quack glory of ducks is not just theirs at all. Even frogs can make that sound. (Poet Vikram Seth of 'Frog and the Nightingale' fame should be proud.) In a recent breakthrough, scientists from the UK-based University of Wolverhampton and Wildlife Institute of India have announced the discovery of a new species of frog in India, near the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. Dubbed the "music frog" for its distinct call reminiscent of a wild duck's quack, this unique amphibian was identified during surveys conducted in 2022. Dr Deepak Veerappan, an expert from the university, described the frog's call pattern as consisting of two to three notes, closely resembling the familiar 'quack quack quack' of a wild duck. Also read | Faking death? Female frogs have unique sex strategy, they also avoid persistent males "This newly discovered frog, found near the Noa-Dihing river, grows up to six centimetres and is characterised by a pale, cream-coloured line on the mid-body," Dr Veerappan said in an official statement. How were these frogs discovered? The finding resulted from night-time searches conducted with torchlight in August and September 2022. This collaborative effort involved Indian biologists, forest experts, and researchers from the University's School of Life Sciences. This one marks the third consecutive discovery of a new amphibian species in the easternmost Tiger Reserve of India within a year. Named after the Noa-Dihing river, this unique frog underscores the significance of conserving habitats and their surrounding areas, Dr Veerappan said. Also watch | Europe's voracious appetite for frogs: Human consumption is threatening frog extinction × Researchers are now optimistic that further studies will reveal additional populations of the Noa-Dihing frog within the reserve, shedding light on the biodiversity of this ecologically important region. The marshy habitat in Arunachal Pradesh where this discovery was made, is dominated by a particular grass species called Rotala, in which the male frogs make circular pits almost like their private pools and call from the pits to attract female frogs. The interesting breeding, egg-laying and parental care, if any, still remain unknown for this interesting marsh-adapted frog species. (With inputs from agencies)

Ducks aren't that unique. 'Quack quack' calling frog with musical voice discovered in India

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