<p>The defining picture of Mumbai, India's financial capital, would include the iconic 'Premier Padmini' taxis, colloquially known as 'kaali-peeli', literally meaning Black and Yellow, a description of their colourful outlook that ruled Indian subcontinent's first mega-city for most of its modern existence. But as newer models and app-based ride services begin dominating the personal transport landscape in Mumbai, the beloved 'kaali peeli' are set to bid farewell to Mumbai's streets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The departure of 'kaali-peeli' taxis would occur shortly after the retirement of the renowned red double-decker buses operated by BEST.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Premier Padmini taxis are going off the road?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a transport department official cited by the Press Trust of India, the last Premier Padmini was registered as a black and yellow taxi at the Tardeo RTO in the island city of Mumbai on October 29, 2003.</p>

<p>Given the city's 20-year age limit for cabs, Mumbai will no longer host a Premier Padmini taxi from Monday (Oct 30, 2023)&nbsp;onward.</p>

<h2><strong>How disruptive is it?</strong></h2>

<p>Mumbai will now be effectively devoid of two of its iconic transport showpieces; the BEST double-decker buses and the Premier Padmini taxis.</p>

<p>The abrupt exit of the two iconic modes of public transportation has left Mumbai's residents nostalgic, with some calling for the preservation of at least one Premier Padmini on the road or in a museum, PTI reported.</p>

<p>Premier Padmini cabs were not merely a daily mode of travel but a part of Mumbai's cultural heritage.</p>

<p>They made appearances in a number of Hindi films such as&nbsp;'Taxi No. 9211,' 'Khaali-Peeli,' and 'Aa Ab Laut Chalein.'</p>

<p><strong>Also watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;Mumbai's international airport is among the world's 10 best airports of 2023</strong></p>

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<p>Premier Padmini cars and double-decker buses were often featured at the outset to establish the setting of Mumbai.</p>

<p>City chronicler and founder of the KHAKI Heritage Foundation, Bharat Gothoskar, told PTI&nbsp;that the yellow and black colour scheme of Mumbai's taxis came from&nbsp;Vithal Balkrishna Gandhi, popularly known as "American Gandhi".</p>

<p>A freedom fighter turned MP, Gandhi suggested to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru that the upper part of the cabs should be painted yellow for visibility from a distance, while the lower part should be black to conceal stains. This unique combination had since been an iconic symbol of the city.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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The defining picture of Mumbai, India's financial capital, would include the iconic 'Premier Padmini' taxis, colloquially known as 'kaali-peeli', literally meaning Black and Yellow, a description of their colourful outlook that ruled Indian subcontinent's first mega-city for most of its modern existence.

The defining picture of Mumbai, India's financial capital, would include the iconic 'Premier Padmini' taxis, colloquially known as 'kaali-peeli', literally meaning Black and Yellow, a description of their colourful outlook that ruled Indian subcontinent's first mega-city for most of its modern existence. But as newer models and app-based ride services begin dominating the personal transport landscape in Mumbai, the beloved 'kaali peeli' are set to bid farewell to Mumbai's streets. The departure of 'kaali-peeli' taxis would occur shortly after the retirement of the renowned red double-decker buses operated by BEST. Why Premier Padmini taxis are going off the road? According to a transport department official cited by the Press Trust of India, the last Premier Padmini was registered as a black and yellow taxi at the Tardeo RTO in the island city of Mumbai on October 29, 2003. Given the city's 20-year age limit for cabs, Mumbai will no longer host a Premier Padmini taxi from Monday (Oct 30, 2023) onward. How disruptive is it? Mumbai will now be effectively devoid of two of its iconic transport showpieces; the BEST double-decker buses and the Premier Padmini taxis. The abrupt exit of the two iconic modes of public transportation has left Mumbai's residents nostalgic, with some calling for the preservation of at least one Premier Padmini on the road or in a museum, PTI reported. Premier Padmini cabs were not merely a daily mode of travel but a part of Mumbai's cultural heritage. They made appearances in a number of Hindi films such as 'Taxi No. 9211,' 'Khaali-Peeli,' and 'Aa Ab Laut Chalein.' Also watch | Mumbai's international airport is among the world's 10 best airports of 2023 × Premier Padmini cars and double-decker buses were often featured at the outset to establish the setting of Mumbai. City chronicler and founder of the KHAKI Heritage Foundation, Bharat Gothoskar, told PTI that the yellow and black colour scheme of Mumbai's taxis came from Vithal Balkrishna Gandhi, popularly known as "American Gandhi". A freedom fighter turned MP, Gandhi suggested to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru that the upper part of the cabs should be painted yellow for visibility from a distance, while the lower part should be black to conceal stains. This unique combination had since been an iconic symbol of the city. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Goodbye 'Kaali Peeli'— Mumbai's iconic Padmini Premium taxis to go off road

<p>Israel announced on Saturday (Oct 28) that it would be recalling its diplomatic staff from Turkey following a fierce verbal attack by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Israel's military operation against Hamas terrorists in Gaza at a pro-Palestine rally attended by several thousands.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>The decision has dealt a significant blow to the fragile attempts to bridge the geopolitical as well as geo-economic&nbsp;equations between the two West Asian nations. Israel-Turkey ties had been strained for nearly a decade and the two nations reappointed ambassadors to each other's capitals only last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, discussions were underway in relation to a US-backed natural gas pipeline project, which held the potential for closer and more enduring cooperation in the immediate future.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-massacre-in-gaza-product-of-west-turkeys-erdogan-addresses-huge-pro-palestinian-rally-652379">Israel-Hamas war: Erdogan addresses huge pro-Palestinian rally, says massacre in Gaza a product of West</a></strong></p>

<p>At&nbsp;a massive rally in Istanbul, Erdogan drew an estimated crowd of 1.5 million supporters, who waved&nbsp;Turkish and Palestinian flags, news agency AFP reported.</p>

<p>WION could not immediately verify the number of attendants at Erdogan's rally.</p>

<p>Erdogan&nbsp;accused Israel of being an "occupier", a war criminal, and seeking to eradicate Palestinians.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>So Israel's actions came in response to Erdogan's grand pro-Palestine expression?</strong></h2>

<p>The diplomatic consequences unraveled shortly after Erdogan's speech.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated, "Given the grave statements coming from Turkey, I have ordered the return of diplomatic representatives there."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Israel-Palestine war: Turkish President has fervently backed the Palestinian cause</strong></p>

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<p>Erdogan has been a prominent international advocate for Palestinian rights during his two-decade rule, initially taking a more cautious stance in the aftermath of the October 7 attack by Hamas but becoming increasingly vocal as the reported death toll from Israel's military response climbed.</p>

<p>He accused Israel of being manipulated by Western powers and blamed the West for the thousands of civilian casualties in Gaza.</p>

<p>The ongoing situation in West Asia remains tense, with Israel and Turkey's relations deteriorating further due to the recent events in Gaza and President Erdogan's impassioned rhetoric.</p>

<p>On October 7, Hamas militants launched a brutal assault&nbsp;in which they killed approximately 1,400 people, primarily civilians, and took over 220 hostages. The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza reported that Israeli airstrikes had resulted in the deaths of 7,703 people, with the majority being civilians and over 3,500 of them children.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Israel announced on Saturday (Oct 28) that it would be recalling its diplomatic staff from Turkey following a fierce verbal attack by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Israel's military operation against Hamas terrorists in Gaza at a pro-Palestine rally attended by several thousands.

Israel announced on Saturday (Oct 28) that it would be recalling its diplomatic staff from Turkey following a fierce verbal attack by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Israel's military operation against Hamas terrorists in Gaza at a pro-Palestine rally attended by several thousands. What does it mean? The decision has dealt a significant blow to the fragile attempts to bridge the geopolitical as well as geo-economic equations between the two West Asian nations. Israel-Turkey ties had been strained for nearly a decade and the two nations reappointed ambassadors to each other's capitals only last year. Earlier, discussions were underway in relation to a US-backed natural gas pipeline project, which held the potential for closer and more enduring cooperation in the immediate future. Also read | Israel-Hamas war: Erdogan addresses huge pro-Palestinian rally, says massacre in Gaza a product of West At a massive rally in Istanbul, Erdogan drew an estimated crowd of 1.5 million supporters, who waved Turkish and Palestinian flags, news agency AFP reported. WION could not immediately verify the number of attendants at Erdogan's rally. Erdogan accused Israel of being an "occupier", a war criminal, and seeking to eradicate Palestinians. So Israel's actions came in response to Erdogan's grand pro-Palestine expression? The diplomatic consequences unraveled shortly after Erdogan's speech. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated, "Given the grave statements coming from Turkey, I have ordered the return of diplomatic representatives there." Also watch | Israel-Palestine war: Turkish President has fervently backed the Palestinian cause × Erdogan has been a prominent international advocate for Palestinian rights during his two-decade rule, initially taking a more cautious stance in the aftermath of the October 7 attack by Hamas but becoming increasingly vocal as the reported death toll from Israel's military response climbed. He accused Israel of being manipulated by Western powers and blamed the West for the thousands of civilian casualties in Gaza. The ongoing situation in West Asia remains tense, with Israel and Turkey's relations deteriorating further due to the recent events in Gaza and President Erdogan's impassioned rhetoric. On October 7, Hamas militants launched a brutal assault in which they killed approximately 1,400 people, primarily civilians, and took over 220 hostages. The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza reported that Israeli airstrikes had resulted in the deaths of 7,703 people, with the majority being civilians and over 3,500 of them children. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

After peace, Israel's ties with Turkey become casualty of Israel-Hamas war

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a warning on October 22, 2023, against any worsening of the Israeli-Hamas confrontation in the Middle East. According to Austin, the US is entitled to self-defense and will respond appropriately to any aggravation.

20 days of Israel-Hamas war: Israeli forces continue to pound Gaza | WION Pulse

<p>Astronomers have made a remarkable discovery within the remnants of a cosmic collision that occurred about a billion years ago.</p>

<p>The celestial event involved a pair of colossal black holes hidden within the heart of NGC 7727, a galaxy formed through the merger of two spiral galaxies, situated approximately 90 million light-years away from Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How was this discovery made?</strong></h2>

<p>This discovery was made possible by the use of the Gemini South telescope, in the Chilean Andes in South America.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/auroras-make-celestial-light-show-on-uranus-possible-scientists-find-652347">Auroras make celestial light show on Uranus possible, scientists find</a></strong></p>

<p>The present state of NGC 7727 holds particular intrigue for astronomers, as it provides a glimpse into the future appearance of our own Milky Way.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our Milky Way is projected to undergo a collision with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy in roughly 4.5 billion years. Andromeda remains some 2.5 million light years apart from our home galaxy.</p>

<h2><strong>What this cosmic collision looks like?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The newfound pair of supermassive black holes in NGC 7727 appears to be in orbit around each other. They possess astonishing masses of 154 million times and 6.3 million times that of our Sun, respectively. These black holes are separated by about 1,600 light years, but, akin to their parent galaxies, they will eventually converge and merge.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India sun mission Aditya-L1 begins collecting data from distance of 50,000 kms | World DNA</strong></p>

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<p>This merger will culminate in the creation of an even more potent supermassive black hole, combined from the masses of these two entities.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it speak about the host galaxies?</strong></h2>

<p>During the early stages of their host galaxies' merger, these dueling black holes would have incited chaos by redistributing stars and dust away from the galactic centers. These stray objects would subsequently succumb to the powerful gravitational pull of the supermassive black holes, leading to discernible alterations in the shapes of the galaxies.</p>

<p>NGC 7727, situated in the constellation of Aquarius, exemplifies the transformative effects of galactic collisions, having evolved into a singular, shapeless mass devoid of the distinctive features of its precursor galaxies. The once-prominent spiral arms have been erased, replaced by a state of disarray.</p>

<p>At least 23 stellar nurseries within this galaxy reportedly bear the potential to evolve into "globular clusters". Such aggregations consist of the tens of thousands or&nbsp;even millions of stars.</p>

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Astronomers have made a remarkable discovery within the remnants of a cosmic collision that occurred about a billion years ago. The celestial event involved a pair of colossal black holes hidden within the heart of NGC 7727, a galaxy formed through the merger of two spiral galaxies, situated approximately 90 million light-years away from Earth.

Astronomers have made a remarkable discovery within the remnants of a cosmic collision that occurred about a billion years ago. The celestial event involved a pair of colossal black holes hidden within the heart of NGC 7727, a galaxy formed through the merger of two spiral galaxies, situated approximately 90 million light-years away from Earth. How was this discovery made? This discovery was made possible by the use of the Gemini South telescope, in the Chilean Andes in South America. Also read | Auroras make celestial light show on Uranus possible, scientists find The present state of NGC 7727 holds particular intrigue for astronomers, as it provides a glimpse into the future appearance of our own Milky Way. Our Milky Way is projected to undergo a collision with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy in roughly 4.5 billion years. Andromeda remains some 2.5 million light years apart from our home galaxy. What this cosmic collision looks like? The newfound pair of supermassive black holes in NGC 7727 appears to be in orbit around each other. They possess astonishing masses of 154 million times and 6.3 million times that of our Sun, respectively. These black holes are separated by about 1,600 light years, but, akin to their parent galaxies, they will eventually converge and merge. Also watch | India sun mission Aditya-L1 begins collecting data from distance of 50,000 kms | World DNA × This merger will culminate in the creation of an even more potent supermassive black hole, combined from the masses of these two entities. What does it speak about the host galaxies? During the early stages of their host galaxies' merger, these dueling black holes would have incited chaos by redistributing stars and dust away from the galactic centers. These stray objects would subsequently succumb to the powerful gravitational pull of the supermassive black holes, leading to discernible alterations in the shapes of the galaxies. NGC 7727, situated in the constellation of Aquarius, exemplifies the transformative effects of galactic collisions, having evolved into a singular, shapeless mass devoid of the distinctive features of its precursor galaxies. The once-prominent spiral arms have been erased, replaced by a state of disarray. At least 23 stellar nurseries within this galaxy reportedly bear the potential to evolve into "globular clusters". Such aggregations consist of the tens of thousands or even millions of stars. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists get crucial insight into how our Milky Way will meet its end 

<p>The state of war in Israel has cast its shadow on the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced last month by the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia,&nbsp;United States, United Arab Emirates and Europe last month at New Delhi G20 summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Described by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the "largest cooperation project" in Israeli history and hailed by the US President Joe Biden as a transcontinental connectivity project that&nbsp;will make West Asia "more stable and better connected to its neighbours", the passage of IMEC has entered a moment of uncertainty, at least for now.</p>

<p>"Israel is at the focus of an unprecedented international project that will link infrastructure from Asia to Europe," Netanyahu had said on September 12, 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: Reading between the timeline</strong></h2>

<p>According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on principles of IMEC signed during New Delhi G20 summit, the representatives of its signatories — India, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, European Union and the United States&nbsp;— were supposed to meet within 60 days after September 9, 2023 "to develop and commit to an action plan with relevant timetables".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 came right in the middle of this timeline, when the signatories of IMEC had to meet to roll out an action plan for the development of the economic corridor aimed to facilitate the transit of&nbsp;commerce, energy and data to, from and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Europe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reignited pro-Palestine sentiment&nbsp;in West Asia, especially in Jordan —&nbsp;which on October 27 sponsored a&nbsp;UN General Assembly resolution&nbsp;for humanitarian truce in Gaza&nbsp;— may emerge as a&nbsp;cause which could delay the formalisation of IMEC in the immediate future. But officials say that the ongoing state of war has vindicated the need for economic stabilisers in the region.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">UN vote on West Asia Crisis:<br />
-Jordan proposal adopted, calls for humanitarian truce, condemns civilian killing on both side<br />
-120 yes, 14 against, 45 abstention. India abstained<br />
<br />
-Canada proposal to condemn Hamas terror attack fails<br />
-88 yes, 55 nos, 23 abstention. India votes yes</p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1718119526255165597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Over three years since the signing of Abraham Accords — a series of joint normalisation agreements initially between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain; and later Sudan and Morocco — and seven months since normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia until October 7, 2023, there had been steady signs of de-escalation from prolonged tensions in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The transcontinental connectivity project announced in Delhi stemmed from the signs of stability in the region and expectation of restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. &nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="A dove flies over the debris of houses destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 11, 2023" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ec2c74f1-bd1c-4330-aee9-861497d88fba" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-10-28T201447.874.png" /></p>

<p><em>A dove flies over the debris of houses destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 11, 2023 | Reuters</em></p>

<p>But with Israel's retaliatory action on Hamas in the Gaza Strip that continues to kill thousands of civilians in the Palestinian region, the corridors of power in Riyadh and Amman have become vary of rapproachment with Israel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Any attempt by Israel and the US to effect an Israeli-Saudi normalisation of relations is likely to be delayed, because the Saudi public is outraged by Israel's assault on Gaza, so the leadership will have to move with the utmost care," said Joost Hiltermann, Program Director, Middle East and North Africa at Crisis Group.</p>

<h2><strong>'We will carry on with IMEC': Why this connectivity project matters?</strong></h2>

<p>The US President Joe Biden has said that he believes one of the reason why Hamas attacked Israel is due to the progress made to formalise the India-Middle East-Europe Economic corridor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am convinced one of the reasons Hamas attacked when they did, and I have no proof of this, just my instinct tells me, is because of the progress we were making towards regional integration for Israel, and regional integration overall. We can’t leave that work behind," Biden said on October 26 while standing beside Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese.</p>

<p>On October 20, in his wartime address after visit to Israel, Biden pitched the project as a stability factor in a region plagued with conflicts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"With this (IMEC)", Biden said, the region will benefit with&nbsp;"predictable markets, more employment, less rage and less grievances."</p>

<p>"It benefits the people of the Middle East. It benefits us (the United States)."</p>

<p>Asked by WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal if the ongoing developments in West Asia pose a challenge towards India-Middle East-Europe&nbsp;connectivity corridor,&nbsp;Europen Union Ambassador in New Delhi Hervé Delphin said that&nbsp;these developments in fact&nbsp;"vindicate the necessity to provide stabilisers for this region".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"All key stakeholders in the IMEC have the same message.&nbsp;We will carry on with this project," Delphin said.</p>

<p>"We should not consider that because there is a war, it has simply killed this project. I don't think it has. On the contrary, as I said, I think it simply shows the value of such a project," he added.</p>

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The state of war in Israel has cast its shadow on the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced last month by the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, United States, United Arab Emirates and Europe last month at New Delhi G20 summit.

The state of war in Israel has cast its shadow on the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced last month by the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, United States, United Arab Emirates and Europe last month at New Delhi G20 summit. Described by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the "largest cooperation project" in Israeli history and hailed by the US President Joe Biden as a transcontinental connectivity project that will make West Asia "more stable and better connected to its neighbours", the passage of IMEC has entered a moment of uncertainty, at least for now. "Israel is at the focus of an unprecedented international project that will link infrastructure from Asia to Europe," Netanyahu had said on September 12, 2023. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: Reading between the timeline According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on principles of IMEC signed during New Delhi G20 summit, the representatives of its signatories — India, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, European Union and the United States — were supposed to meet within 60 days after September 9, 2023 "to develop and commit to an action plan with relevant timetables". The attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 came right in the middle of this timeline, when the signatories of IMEC had to meet to roll out an action plan for the development of the economic corridor aimed to facilitate the transit of commerce, energy and data to, from and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Europe. The reignited pro-Palestine sentiment in West Asia, especially in Jordan — which on October 27 sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution for humanitarian truce in Gaza — may emerge as a cause which could delay the formalisation of IMEC in the immediate future. But officials say that the ongoing state of war has vindicated the need for economic stabilisers in the region. UN vote on West Asia Crisis: -Jordan proposal adopted, calls for humanitarian truce, condemns civilian killing on both side -120 yes, 14 against, 45 abstention. India abstained -Canada proposal to condemn Hamas terror attack fails -88 yes, 55 nos, 23 abstention. India votes yes — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) October 28, 2023 × Over three years since the signing of Abraham Accords — a series of joint normalisation agreements initially between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain; and later Sudan and Morocco — and seven months since normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia until October 7, 2023, there had been steady signs of de-escalation from prolonged tensions in the region. The transcontinental connectivity project announced in Delhi stemmed from the signs of stability in the region and expectation of restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. A dove flies over the debris of houses destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 11, 2023 | Reuters But with Israel's retaliatory action on Hamas in the Gaza Strip that continues to kill thousands of civilians in the Palestinian region, the corridors of power in Riyadh and Amman have become vary of rapproachment with Israel. "Any attempt by Israel and the US to effect an Israeli-Saudi normalisation of relations is likely to be delayed, because the Saudi public is outraged by Israel's assault on Gaza, so the leadership will have to move with the utmost care," said Joost Hiltermann, Program Director, Middle East and North Africa at Crisis Group. 'We will carry on with IMEC': Why this connectivity project matters? The US President Joe Biden has said that he believes one of the reason why Hamas attacked Israel is due to the progress made to formalise the India-Middle East-Europe Economic corridor. "I am convinced one of the reasons Hamas attacked when they did, and I have no proof of this, just my instinct tells me, is because of the progress we were making towards regional integration for Israel, and regional integration overall. We can’t leave that work behind," Biden said on October 26 while standing beside Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese. On October 20, in his wartime address after visit to Israel, Biden pitched the project as a stability factor in a region plagued with conflicts. "With this (IMEC)", Biden said, the region will benefit with "predictable markets, more employment, less rage and less grievances." "It benefits the people of the Middle East. It benefits us (the United States)." Asked by WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal if the ongoing developments in West Asia pose a challenge towards India-Middle East-Europe connectivity corridor, Europen Union Ambassador in New Delhi Hervé Delphin said that these developments in fact "vindicate the necessity to provide stabilisers for this region". "All key stakeholders in the IMEC have the same message. We will carry on with this project," Delphin said. "We should not consider that because there is a war, it has simply killed this project. I don't think it has. On the contrary, as I said, I think it simply shows the value of such a project," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

How Israel-Hamas war is impacting state of India-Middle East-Europe corridor

<p>Astronomers have achieved a significant milestone in their exploration of the solar system by capturing the elusive infrared auroras of Uranus using archived data from the colossal Keck II telescope located on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. These findings were published in the Nature Astronomy journal.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>The finding represents a significant leap forward in humanity's understanding of the ice giant planet Uranus.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-astronauts-stunning-image-of-auroras-from-space-is-nothing-like-anything-you-have-ever-seen-566987">NASA astronaut's photo of auroras from space is nothing like anything you have seen before</a></strong></p>

<p>This is because for the first time infrared auroras have been identified on Uranus, shedding light on the intriguing celestial processes occurring on this distant ice giant located 2.79 bn years away from Earth.</p>

<h2><strong>Auroras on Uranus and Earth: What's the difference?</strong></h2>

<p>Just like the auroras on Earth, the auroras on Uranus are generated when charged particles from the solar wind interact with the planet's magnetic field, subsequently being directed along magnetic field lines towards the planet's magnetic poles.</p>

<p>Upon entering the atmosphere of Uranus, these charged particles engage in collisions with atmospheric molecules, making these molecules to emit light.</p>

<p><strong>Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-international-space-station-captures-stunning-view-of-northern-lights-577683">Watch | International Space Station captures stunning view of northern lights</a></strong></p>

<p>On our planet, the beautiful auroral displays result from interactions with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, producing colors predominantly in shades of red, green, and blue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Uranus stands apart due to its unique atmospheric composition. Dominated by hydrogen and helium, and existing at substantially lower temperatures than Earth, Uranus exhibits an auroral glow primarily in ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths.</p>

<p>The ultraviolet auroras on Uranus were initially observed by NASA's Voyager 2 probe in 1986 during its flyby of the planet. However, it has taken nearly four decades to identify and detect their infrared counterparts.</p>

<p>In the current discovery, astronomers have leveraged data obtained from the Keck II Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSPEC) dating back to 2006. The study revealed that the emission lines on Uranus stem from the H3+ molecule, a trihydrogen cation (pronounced cat-ion) possessing three protons and only two electrons, giving it a positive charge.</p>

<p>The infrared aurora on Uranus was the result of molecular hydrogen becoming ionised, resulting in the formation of H3+ cations following collisions with charged particles. This process produced a mesmerizing infrared auroral glow, visually reminiscent of the northern lights on Earth.</p>

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Astronomers have achieved a significant milestone in their exploration of the solar system by capturing the elusive infrared auroras of Uranus using archived data from the colossal Keck II telescope located on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

Astronomers have achieved a significant milestone in their exploration of the solar system by capturing the elusive infrared auroras of Uranus using archived data from the colossal Keck II telescope located on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. These findings were published in the Nature Astronomy journal. What does it mean? The finding represents a significant leap forward in humanity's understanding of the ice giant planet Uranus. Also read | NASA astronaut's photo of auroras from space is nothing like anything you have seen before This is because for the first time infrared auroras have been identified on Uranus, shedding light on the intriguing celestial processes occurring on this distant ice giant located 2.79 bn years away from Earth. Auroras on Uranus and Earth: What's the difference? Just like the auroras on Earth, the auroras on Uranus are generated when charged particles from the solar wind interact with the planet's magnetic field, subsequently being directed along magnetic field lines towards the planet's magnetic poles. Upon entering the atmosphere of Uranus, these charged particles engage in collisions with atmospheric molecules, making these molecules to emit light. Also see | Watch | International Space Station captures stunning view of northern lights On our planet, the beautiful auroral displays result from interactions with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, producing colors predominantly in shades of red, green, and blue. However, Uranus stands apart due to its unique atmospheric composition. Dominated by hydrogen and helium, and existing at substantially lower temperatures than Earth, Uranus exhibits an auroral glow primarily in ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. The ultraviolet auroras on Uranus were initially observed by NASA's Voyager 2 probe in 1986 during its flyby of the planet. However, it has taken nearly four decades to identify and detect their infrared counterparts. In the current discovery, astronomers have leveraged data obtained from the Keck II Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSPEC) dating back to 2006. The study revealed that the emission lines on Uranus stem from the H3+ molecule, a trihydrogen cation (pronounced cat-ion) possessing three protons and only two electrons, giving it a positive charge. The infrared aurora on Uranus was the result of molecular hydrogen becoming ionised, resulting in the formation of H3+ cations following collisions with charged particles. This process produced a mesmerizing infrared auroral glow, visually reminiscent of the northern lights on Earth. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Auroras make celestial light show on Uranus possible, scientists find

<p>The United States has reportedly urged China to leverage its relationships in West Asia, particularly with Iran, to prevent the expansion of Israel-Hamas war in the&nbsp;region. The reported request comes days after US President Joe Biden's wartime Israel visit failed to even establish a leadership-to-leadership engagement with Arab leaders.</p>

<p>The diplomatic effort took place during what has been the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Washington since 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wang held extensive meetings with the US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Among the topics discussed was the possibility of a summit between Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco the following month.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;China &amp; US need to resume comprehensive dialogue: China FM Wang Yi | World News | WION</strong></p>

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<p>"We pressed China to take a more constructive approach, and that would include of course their engagements with the Iranians to urge calm," a senior US official was quoted as saying by Financial Times after the meetings with Wang.</p>

<p>"China obviously has relations in the region . . . We think it should be using those connections to call for calm on all sides. And I think some of their comments publicly have focused in one particular direction."</p>

<h2><strong>Israel-Hamas war: What is Washington's primary concern?</strong></h2>

<p>The primary worry for the US is the potential for Iranian military support to Hamas or Hezbollah, which could escalate the conflict in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US officials have encouraged China to take a more constructive approach in its engagement with Iran, advocating for de-escalation.</p>

<h2><strong>Has Beijing's influence outgrown Washington's in West Asia?</strong></h2>

<p>In March 2023, China outfoxed the&nbsp;US-led West after it succeeded in brokering an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-saudi-arabia-restore-ties-as-china-brokered-deal-outfoxes-west-570766">Iran-Saudi Arabia deal to restore the bilateral&nbsp;ties</a> between Shia and Sunni powerhouses respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Recently, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spotlight-on-washingtons-waning-political-capital-after-gaza-hospital-blast-sinks-bidens-jordan-summit-648187">Washington's waning political capital</a> in the region was in spotlight after a four-way leaders' summit between US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Jordan's King Abdullah II, and Palestine Authority President&nbsp;Mahmoud Abbas was unilaterally cancelled by host Jordan after a deadly mass casualty at a Gaza hospital earlier this month, even though Israel presented evidence that it had no role and a rocket misfired from Gaza had led to the tragedy.</p>

<p>The unilateral cancellation of Biden's visit with Arab leaders occurred despite US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's shuttle diplomacy in the region when he established in-person contact with leaders in the region.<br />
<br />
On October 27, China issued an unprecedented statement saying it will "strongly oppose any external forces interfering in Iran's internal affairs", in a veiled reference to Washington's warnings to Iran against indulging in conflict between Israel and Hamas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thereby, Beijing appears to have an edge&nbsp;over Washington when it comes to securing a goal towards a semblance of stability in West Asia.</p>

<h2><b>Wang Yi China visit: What else is on the cards?</b></h2>

<p>The discussions reportedly touched upon regional concerns, including actions in the South China Sea and the need for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.</p>

<p>Furthermore, the US raised the issue of counter-narcotics with China, urging Beijing&nbsp;to crack down on the export of chemicals used in the production of Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for a significant number of deaths among the young Americans.</p>

<p>Another topic of importance in the discussions was the re-establishment of military-to-military channels.</p>

<p>The US expressed its desire to reopen these channels, which China had previously shut down after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan the previous y</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The United States has reportedly urged China to leverage its relationships in West Asia, particularly with Iran, to prevent the expansion of Israel-Hamas war in the region.

The United States has reportedly urged China to leverage its relationships in West Asia, particularly with Iran, to prevent the expansion of Israel-Hamas war in the region. The reported request comes days after US President Joe Biden's wartime Israel visit failed to even establish a leadership-to-leadership engagement with Arab leaders. The diplomatic effort took place during what has been the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Washington since 2018. Wang held extensive meetings with the US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Among the topics discussed was the possibility of a summit between Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco the following month. Also watch | China & US need to resume comprehensive dialogue: China FM Wang Yi | World News | WION × "We pressed China to take a more constructive approach, and that would include of course their engagements with the Iranians to urge calm," a senior US official was quoted as saying by Financial Times after the meetings with Wang. "China obviously has relations in the region . . . We think it should be using those connections to call for calm on all sides. And I think some of their comments publicly have focused in one particular direction." Israel-Hamas war: What is Washington's primary concern? The primary worry for the US is the potential for Iranian military support to Hamas or Hezbollah, which could escalate the conflict in the region. The US officials have encouraged China to take a more constructive approach in its engagement with Iran, advocating for de-escalation. Has Beijing's influence outgrown Washington's in West Asia? In March 2023, China outfoxed the US-led West after it succeeded in brokering an Iran-Saudi Arabia deal to restore the bilateral ties between Shia and Sunni powerhouses respectively. Recently, Washington's waning political capital in the region was in spotlight after a four-way leaders' summit between US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Jordan's King Abdullah II, and Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was unilaterally cancelled by host Jordan after a deadly mass casualty at a Gaza hospital earlier this month, even though Israel presented evidence that it had no role and a rocket misfired from Gaza had led to the tragedy. The unilateral cancellation of Biden's visit with Arab leaders occurred despite US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's shuttle diplomacy in the region when he established in-person contact with leaders in the region. On October 27, China issued an unprecedented statement saying it will "strongly oppose any external forces interfering in Iran's internal affairs", in a veiled reference to Washington's warnings to Iran against indulging in conflict between Israel and Hamas. Thereby, Beijing appears to have an edge over Washington when it comes to securing a goal towards a semblance of stability in West Asia. Wang Yi China visit: What else is on the cards? The discussions reportedly touched upon regional concerns, including actions in the South China Sea and the need for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, the US raised the issue of counter-narcotics with China, urging Beijing to crack down on the export of chemicals used in the production of Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for a significant number of deaths among the young Americans. Another topic of importance in the discussions was the re-establishment of military-to-military channels. The US expressed its desire to reopen these channels, which China had previously shut down after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan the previous y WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China outfoxing US in West Asia? Washington asks Beijing to pull Tehran away from Israel-Hamas war

<p>Former US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump has been ordered to&nbsp;take the witness stand in the civil fraud case against her father, her brothers and their family business, a judge ruled on Friday (Oct 27).</p>

<p>A report in the NBC News cited Kevin Wallace of the Attorney Office claiming that they plan on calling Donald Trump Jr. to the stand on Wednesday, Eric Trump on Thursday and Ivanka Trump on Friday, and then their father Donald Trump on Monday, November 6, 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why Donald Trump's children must testify?</strong></h2>

<p>According to the company filings in the public domain, both of Donald Trump's sons remain executives at Trump Organization.</p>

<p>Ivanka Trump was an executive till 2017.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-slapped-with-gag-order-in-2020-election-subversion-case-647735">Trump slapped with gag order in 2020 election subversion case</a></strong></p>

<p>The sons had been on Trump's witness lists.</p>

<p>While Ivanka Trump's inclusion in the list after the latest order remains the latest development, she had been&nbsp;challenging the Attorney General's subpoena for her to testify. But on October 27, Judge Arthur Engoron dismissed an attempt by Trump's lawyers to nullify a subpoena issued to Ivanka Trump by Attorney General Letitia James. However, Ivanka can appeal the decision until November 1.</p>

<h2><strong>Trump civil fraud case: What is it about?</strong></h2>

<p>Donald Trump and his sons are accused of inflating the value of the real estate of the Trump Organization for years in order to obtain more favourable bank loans and insurance terms.</p>

<p>Trump, however, does not risk going to jail in the case.&nbsp;But $250 million in penalties&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;the removal of Trump and his sons from management of the family real estate empire has been sought by the Attorney General.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;What's at stake in the civil fraud case against Trump?</strong></p>

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<p>Trump has repeatedly denounced the trial as a Democratic witch hunt intended to derail his 2024 White House bid.</p>

<h2><strong>Ivanka Trump's previous role in the Trump Organization</strong></h2>

<p>Ivanka Trump was an advisor to her father when he was the President. But she quit the Trump Organization in January 2017 when she and Jared Kushner, her husband were given the roles in the Trump administration.</p>

<p>But before 2017,&nbsp;Ivanka Trump served as&nbsp;an executive vice president in the Trump Organization. Reports in the US media claim that she was in close contact with group's biggest lenders, Deutsche Bank.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Former US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump has been ordered to take the witness stand in the civil fraud case against her father, her brothers and their family business, a judge ruled on Friday (Oct 27).

Former US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump has been ordered to take the witness stand in the civil fraud case against her father, her brothers and their family business, a judge ruled on Friday (Oct 27). A report in the NBC News cited Kevin Wallace of the Attorney Office claiming that they plan on calling Donald Trump Jr. to the stand on Wednesday, Eric Trump on Thursday and Ivanka Trump on Friday, and then their father Donald Trump on Monday, November 6, 2023. Why Donald Trump's children must testify? According to the company filings in the public domain, both of Donald Trump's sons remain executives at Trump Organization. Ivanka Trump was an executive till 2017. Also read | Trump slapped with gag order in 2020 election subversion case The sons had been on Trump's witness lists. While Ivanka Trump's inclusion in the list after the latest order remains the latest development, she had been challenging the Attorney General's subpoena for her to testify. But on October 27, Judge Arthur Engoron dismissed an attempt by Trump's lawyers to nullify a subpoena issued to Ivanka Trump by Attorney General Letitia James. However, Ivanka can appeal the decision until November 1. Trump civil fraud case: What is it about? Donald Trump and his sons are accused of inflating the value of the real estate of the Trump Organization for years in order to obtain more favourable bank loans and insurance terms. Trump, however, does not risk going to jail in the case. But $250 million in penalties as well as the removal of Trump and his sons from management of the family real estate empire has been sought by the Attorney General. Also watch | What's at stake in the civil fraud case against Trump? × Trump has repeatedly denounced the trial as a Democratic witch hunt intended to derail his 2024 White House bid. Ivanka Trump's previous role in the Trump Organization Ivanka Trump was an advisor to her father when he was the President. But she quit the Trump Organization in January 2017 when she and Jared Kushner, her husband were given the roles in the Trump administration. But before 2017, Ivanka Trump served as an executive vice president in the Trump Organization. Reports in the US media claim that she was in close contact with group's biggest lenders, Deutsche Bank. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Trump civil fraud case: Ivanka Trump told to take witness stand

<p>Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was forced to leave the British Prime Minister's Office following the partygate scandal, has now landed a job at the GB News network as a TV presenter. Johnson is also making a debut as a series producer on the news channel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.</p>

<p>Boris Johnson is the latest Conservative politician to join the broadcaster, following former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, party deputy chairman Lee Anderson, and husband-and-wife MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies, BBC reported.</p>

<p>Johnson has promised to share his "unvarnished views" on British politics and more.</p>

<h2><strong>Context of Boris Johnson's TV news role</strong></h2>

<p>Johnson will be a commentator for the coverage of GB News towards the UK general election scheduled next year as well as the US presidential elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"GB News is an insurgent channel with a loyal and growing following. I am excited to say I will be joining shortly — and offering my frank opinions on world affairs," Johnson said in a statement on Friday (Oct 27).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-believed-narayana-murthy-was-helping-rishi-sunak-to-become-uk-pm-reveals-new-book-636519">Boris Johnson 'believed' Narayana Murthy was helping Rishi Sunak to become UK PM, claims new book</a></strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year, Boris Johnson resigned as British PM following a massive uproar in the Conservative Party over hosting parties at his official prime ministerial residences whilst the restrictions to control the spread of Covid were in place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Johnson later also resigned as a Member of Parliament from his Uxbridge constituency citing the need for time to write books.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;UK: Timeline of scandals faced by Boris Johnson's government</strong></p>

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<p>"I am delighted to say, GB News has got Boris 'done'!" GB News editorial director Michael Booker said in an official statement, a reflection of Boris Johnson's "Get Brexit Done” political slogan that is widely described as the reason why Conservative Party won a landslide general election victory in 2019 right before Britain's exit from the European Union.</p>

<p>"We are tremendously proud to have him join the GB News family, particularly as we head into a seismic year of politics both here and across the Atlantic," Booker added.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was forced to leave the British Prime Minister's Office following the partygate scandal, has now landed a job at the GB News network as a TV presenter.

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was forced to leave the British Prime Minister's Office following the partygate scandal, has now landed a job at the GB News network as a TV presenter. Johnson is also making a debut as a series producer on the news channel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Boris Johnson is the latest Conservative politician to join the broadcaster, following former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, party deputy chairman Lee Anderson, and husband-and-wife MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies, BBC reported. Johnson has promised to share his "unvarnished views" on British politics and more. Context of Boris Johnson's TV news role Johnson will be a commentator for the coverage of GB News towards the UK general election scheduled next year as well as the US presidential elections. "GB News is an insurgent channel with a loyal and growing following. I am excited to say I will be joining shortly — and offering my frank opinions on world affairs," Johnson said in a statement on Friday (Oct 27). Also read | Boris Johnson 'believed' Narayana Murthy was helping Rishi Sunak to become UK PM, claims new book Last year, Boris Johnson resigned as British PM following a massive uproar in the Conservative Party over hosting parties at his official prime ministerial residences whilst the restrictions to control the spread of Covid were in place. Johnson later also resigned as a Member of Parliament from his Uxbridge constituency citing the need for time to write books. Also watch | UK: Timeline of scandals faced by Boris Johnson's government × "I am delighted to say, GB News has got Boris 'done'!" GB News editorial director Michael Booker said in an official statement, a reflection of Boris Johnson's "Get Brexit Done” political slogan that is widely described as the reason why Conservative Party won a landslide general election victory in 2019 right before Britain's exit from the European Union. "We are tremendously proud to have him join the GB News family, particularly as we head into a seismic year of politics both here and across the Atlantic," Booker added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Hi folks, Boris Johnson here': Former UK PM to debut as TV news presenter

<p>The leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, European Union and the United States launched India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor to facilitate the flow of commerce, energy and data to, from and between India the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Europe. The project, unveiled during&nbsp;New Delhi G20 summit, was opposed by China which saw it a direct threat to its own ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The launch of India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor — which the US President Joe Biden hailed as 'a real big deal' — follows reports that Italy may soon&nbsp;exit China's Belt and Road Initiative; the former was hailed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in New delhi as a "milestone in strengthening global interconnections."</p>

<p>"We look forward to the integration of the initiative and the Economic Corridor project which is announced in this meeting. I would like to thank those who worked with us to reach this founding step to establish this important economic corridor," Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Muhammed Bin Salman said.</p>

<h2><strong>Modi's 'Bharat' gets focus on 'regional integrity' through transcontinental connectivity</strong></h2>

<p>The principles of the project aim to stand in contrast to the type of infrastructure funded by China’s Belt and Road Initiative, whose funding has been slammed for being opaque and throwing poorer nations into debt traps.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Charting a journey of shared aspirations and dreams, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor promises to be a beacon of cooperation, innovation, and shared progress. As history unfolds, may this corridor be a testament to human endeavour and unity across continents. <a href="https://t.co/vYBNo2oa5W">pic.twitter.com/vYBNo2oa5W</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1700501885852262660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Launching the India-Middle East-Economic Corridor, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that connectivity initiative is not just a matter of business but a matter of trust between then and that "adhesion to international rules, respect for all nations' sovereignty and regional integrity" must form the bedrock of such ambitious initiatives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A part of China's Belt and Road Initiative passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in India's north, which New Delhi says is violation of its sovereignty and regional integrity.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>India-Europe corridor via West Asia: Signs of easing tensions?</strong></h2>

<p>Over three years since the signing of Abraham Accords — a series of joint normalisation agreements initially between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain; and later Sudan and Morocco — <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-saudi-arabia-restore-ties-as-china-brokered-deal-outfoxes-west-570766">and six months since normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia</a>, there have been steady signs of de-escalation from prolonged tensions in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The transcontinental connectivity project announced in Delhi stems from the signs of stability in the region and expectation&nbsp;of restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Losing Momentum: China’s belt &amp; road initiative</strong></p>

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<p>According to Mohammed Soliman, director at the Middle East Institute and the strategist behind India-Israel-US-UAE partnership (I2U2), there are more agency for the countries involved in terms of drifts aligning with their own interests in India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor compared to the BRI, and this is what makes it more feasible, added Soliman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Although the neighborhood is plagued by geopolitical rivalries, there seems to be a shift towards de-escalation and finding common ground after a decade of upheavals," Soliman said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>India-Middle East-European Union economic corridor: Immediate timeline</strong></h2>

<p>So far no binding financial commitments have been made.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But previously, the European Union had separately earmarked the spending of up to €300bn on overseas infrastructure investments between 2021 and 2027 from its Global Gateway project, launched to take on China's Belt and Road Initiative and defend European interests across the wider region.</p>

<p>"It will be the most direct connection to date between India, the Arabian Gulf and Europe," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in New Delhi while sitting beside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Joe Biden at the launch of partnership for Global Infrastructure &nbsp;and Investment (PGII) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.</p>

<p>In the next 60 days, working groups will put together a fuller plan and set timelines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The first phase will involve identifying the areas that need investment and where physical infrastructure can be connected between countries.&nbsp;</p>

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The leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, European Union and the United States launched India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor to facilitate the flow of commerce, energy and data to, from and between India the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Europe.

The leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, European Union and the United States launched India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor to facilitate the flow of commerce, energy and data to, from and between India the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Europe. The project, unveiled during New Delhi G20 summit, was opposed by China which saw it a direct threat to its own ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The launch of India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor — which the US President Joe Biden hailed as 'a real big deal' — follows reports that Italy may soon exit China's Belt and Road Initiative; the former was hailed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in New delhi as a "milestone in strengthening global interconnections." "We look forward to the integration of the initiative and the Economic Corridor project which is announced in this meeting. I would like to thank those who worked with us to reach this founding step to establish this important economic corridor," Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Muhammed Bin Salman said. Modi's 'Bharat' gets focus on 'regional integrity' through transcontinental connectivity The principles of the project aim to stand in contrast to the type of infrastructure funded by China’s Belt and Road Initiative, whose funding has been slammed for being opaque and throwing poorer nations into debt traps. Charting a journey of shared aspirations and dreams, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor promises to be a beacon of cooperation, innovation, and shared progress. As history unfolds, may this corridor be a testament to human endeavour and unity across continents. pic.twitter.com/vYBNo2oa5W — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 9, 2023 × Launching the India-Middle East-Economic Corridor, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that connectivity initiative is not just a matter of business but a matter of trust between then and that "adhesion to international rules, respect for all nations' sovereignty and regional integrity" must form the bedrock of such ambitious initiatives. A part of China's Belt and Road Initiative passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in India's north, which New Delhi says is violation of its sovereignty and regional integrity. India-Europe corridor via West Asia: Signs of easing tensions? Over three years since the signing of Abraham Accords — a series of joint normalisation agreements initially between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain; and later Sudan and Morocco — and six months since normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, there have been steady signs of de-escalation from prolonged tensions in the region. The transcontinental connectivity project announced in Delhi stems from the signs of stability in the region and expectation of restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Also watch | Losing Momentum: China’s belt & road initiative × According to Mohammed Soliman, director at the Middle East Institute and the strategist behind India-Israel-US-UAE partnership (I2U2), there are more agency for the countries involved in terms of drifts aligning with their own interests in India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor compared to the BRI, and this is what makes it more feasible, added Soliman. "Although the neighborhood is plagued by geopolitical rivalries, there seems to be a shift towards de-escalation and finding common ground after a decade of upheavals," Soliman said. India-Middle East-European Union economic corridor: Immediate timeline So far no binding financial commitments have been made. But previously, the European Union had separately earmarked the spending of up to €300bn on overseas infrastructure investments between 2021 and 2027 from its Global Gateway project, launched to take on China's Belt and Road Initiative and defend European interests across the wider region. "It will be the most direct connection to date between India, the Arabian Gulf and Europe," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in New Delhi while sitting beside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Joe Biden at the launch of partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. In the next 60 days, working groups will put together a fuller plan and set timelines. The first phase will involve identifying the areas that need investment and where physical infrastructure can be connected between countries. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

G20 Delhi summit: Why India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor is a 'real big deal'

<p>Russian space agency chief said that the country's equipment on the International Space Station was well beyond its expiry date. Roscosmos boss Yuri Borisov's warning comes weeks after the International Space Station's Russian segment went through yet another coolant leak.</p>

<p>The coolant leak was Russia's third in less than a year which then had raised new set of questions on whether Russia's historically acclaimed space programme was failing to maintain its reliability.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Is the U.S. prepared to fight in space amid threat posed by ‘provocative’ Russia &amp; China?</strong></p>

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<p>"The International Space Station is approaching the finish line of its existence,"&nbsp; Borisov said on state television, news agency AFP reported.</p>

<p>"We extended the operation of the Russian segment by government decision until 2028, but, unfortunately, it has already exceeded all permissible periods of existence," he said.</p>

<p>"Eighty percent of the Russian equipment is beyond the warranty period," he warned.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia's continuous setbacks in space programme</strong></h2>

<p>Russia's&nbsp;space programme has faced a number of setbacks since the 1990s when the dissolution of Union of Soviet and Socialist Republics (USSR).</p>

<p>This includes the loss of two missions to Mars as well as its first lunar probe in August.</p>

<h2><strong>'Luna-25 was 16 years in the making': Roscosmos chief</strong></h2>

<p>Contrary to the view in South Asia, that Russian Luna-25 mission to Moon was launched in response to India's Chandrayaan mission in July, the Roscosmos chief claimed that Luna-25 was in making for 16 years.</p>

<p>Borisov said there were "serious conclusions" and lessons to be learnt&nbsp;from the recent Luna-25 crash.</p>

<p>"Luna-25 was 16 years in the making," he said. "That's an unacceptably long time. It's due primarily to erratic funding."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-luna-25-probe-crashes-on-moon-627203">Luna-25 crashes into moon; Russia’s lunar mission ends</a></strong></p>

<p>He said that the team who worked on the mission was young, and that it would be wrong to "slap them on the wrist today".</p>

<p>"It is necessary to draw the right conclusions from the whole situation, work on the mistakes and certainly continue this work," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/russia-to-put-first-segment-of-its-own-iss-in-orbit-by-2027-says-putin-651763">Russia to put first segment of its own International Space Station in orbit by 2027, says Putin</a></strong></p>

<p>The space sector in Russia continues to be gripped by a number of issues including funding problems and years of corruption scandals.</p>

<p>However, the Russian President Vladimir Putin in September vowed to continue Russia's lunar programme, despite the series of setbacks.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russian space agency chief said that the country's equipment on the International Space Station was well beyond its expiry date. Roscosmos boss Yuri Borisov's warning comes weeks after the International Space Station's Russian segment went through yet another coolant leak.

Russian space agency chief said that the country's equipment on the International Space Station was well beyond its expiry date. Roscosmos boss Yuri Borisov's warning comes weeks after the International Space Station's Russian segment went through yet another coolant leak. The coolant leak was Russia's third in less than a year which then had raised new set of questions on whether Russia's historically acclaimed space programme was failing to maintain its reliability. Also watch | Is the U.S. prepared to fight in space amid threat posed by ‘provocative’ Russia & China? × "The International Space Station is approaching the finish line of its existence," Borisov said on state television, news agency AFP reported. "We extended the operation of the Russian segment by government decision until 2028, but, unfortunately, it has already exceeded all permissible periods of existence," he said. "Eighty percent of the Russian equipment is beyond the warranty period," he warned. Russia's continuous setbacks in space programme Russia's space programme has faced a number of setbacks since the 1990s when the dissolution of Union of Soviet and Socialist Republics (USSR). This includes the loss of two missions to Mars as well as its first lunar probe in August. 'Luna-25 was 16 years in the making': Roscosmos chief Contrary to the view in South Asia, that Russian Luna-25 mission to Moon was launched in response to India's Chandrayaan mission in July, the Roscosmos chief claimed that Luna-25 was in making for 16 years. Borisov said there were "serious conclusions" and lessons to be learnt from the recent Luna-25 crash. "Luna-25 was 16 years in the making," he said. "That's an unacceptably long time. It's due primarily to erratic funding." Also read | Luna-25 crashes into moon; Russia’s lunar mission ends He said that the team who worked on the mission was young, and that it would be wrong to "slap them on the wrist today". "It is necessary to draw the right conclusions from the whole situation, work on the mistakes and certainly continue this work," he said. Also read | Russia to put first segment of its own International Space Station in orbit by 2027, says Putin The space sector in Russia continues to be gripped by a number of issues including funding problems and years of corruption scandals. However, the Russian President Vladimir Putin in September vowed to continue Russia's lunar programme, despite the series of setbacks. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia's equipment in Space Station well past expiry date, warns space agency boss

<p>FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried briefly took the witness stand at his fraud trial on Thursday (Oct 26) before his testimony in his own defence. The development occurred after prosecutors finished presenting their case which accused Bankman-Fried of stealing billions of dollars from customers.</p>

<p>Bankman-Fried sat on the witness stand prior to&nbsp;the trial following a lunch break, Reuters reported/</p>

<p>He then returned to the defence table.</p>

<p>The prosecution rested its case after 12 days of daily hearings at a New York&nbsp;federal court.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened in these hearings?</strong></h2>

<p>In these hearings, the FTX colleagues of Bankman-Fried told the jury that he directed them to divert customer funds to his hedge fund. Bankman-Fried then asked his colleagues to&nbsp;lie to investors and lenders, according to these testimonies.</p>

<h2><strong>What next?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Bankman-Fried's decision will give prosecutors the chance to cross-examine the 31-year-old&nbsp;about those claims that he told colleagues to commit crimes.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ftx-sues-its-own-founder-sam-bankman-fried-to-recover-over-1-bn-617976">FTX sues its own founder Sam Bankman-Fried to recover over $1 bn</a></strong></p>

<p>Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud and five counts of conspiracy. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.</p>

<h2><strong>What have prosecutors said?</strong></h2>

<p>Prosecutors have said Bankman-Fried used the misappropriated funds to prop up his crypto-focused hedge fund, Alameda Research, and donated more than $100 million to US political campaigns.</p>

<p>FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested and indicted on charges of conspiracy as well as wire fraud.</p>

<p>According to the federal US prosecutors, the ex-crypto chief committed "one of the biggest financial frauds in US history."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX collapse</strong></p>

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<p>Three of Bankman-Fried's&nbsp;former colleagues, who have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, tailored their testimony to implicate Bankman-Fried for receiving lenient sentences.</p>

<p>Bankman-Fried continues to maintain that he made mistakes while running the operations of FTX. But while maintaining plausible deniability, he claims that he never intended to steal funds.</p>

<p>Crypto exchange FTX went bankrupt last year after its executives including Sam Bankman-Fried spent billions in customer funds they had promised to safeguard. The total money lost stands at $7.7 billion, according to a Wall Street Journal report.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried briefly took the witness stand at his fraud trial on Thursday (Oct 26) before his testimony in his own defence. The development occurred after prosecutors finished presenting their case which accused Bankman-Fried of stealing billions of dollars from customers.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried briefly took the witness stand at his fraud trial on Thursday (Oct 26) before his testimony in his own defence. The development occurred after prosecutors finished presenting their case which accused Bankman-Fried of stealing billions of dollars from customers. Bankman-Fried sat on the witness stand prior to the trial following a lunch break, Reuters reported/ He then returned to the defence table. The prosecution rested its case after 12 days of daily hearings at a New York federal court. What happened in these hearings? In these hearings, the FTX colleagues of Bankman-Fried told the jury that he directed them to divert customer funds to his hedge fund. Bankman-Fried then asked his colleagues to lie to investors and lenders, according to these testimonies. What next? Bankman-Fried's decision will give prosecutors the chance to cross-examine the 31-year-old about those claims that he told colleagues to commit crimes. Also read | FTX sues its own founder Sam Bankman-Fried to recover over $1 bn Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud and five counts of conspiracy. If convicted, he could face decades in prison. What have prosecutors said? Prosecutors have said Bankman-Fried used the misappropriated funds to prop up his crypto-focused hedge fund, Alameda Research, and donated more than $100 million to US political campaigns. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested and indicted on charges of conspiracy as well as wire fraud. According to the federal US prosecutors, the ex-crypto chief committed "one of the biggest financial frauds in US history." Also watch | Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX collapse × Three of Bankman-Fried's former colleagues, who have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, tailored their testimony to implicate Bankman-Fried for receiving lenient sentences. Bankman-Fried continues to maintain that he made mistakes while running the operations of FTX. But while maintaining plausible deniability, he claims that he never intended to steal funds. Crypto exchange FTX went bankrupt last year after its executives including Sam Bankman-Fried spent billions in customer funds they had promised to safeguard. The total money lost stands at $7.7 billion, according to a Wall Street Journal report. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sam Bankman-Fried takes witness stand at his own fraud trial

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