The Supreme Court allowed Idaho, United States to go ahead with the enforcement of a new law which prohibits gender-affirming care for minors on Monday (April 15).

The decision was taken by a divided Supreme Court after two lower federal courts upheld an injunction against the gender-affirming care law even though litigation over the law's constitutionality continued.

All six conservative members of the high court backed the decision. Meanwhile, three liberal justices - Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson - hinted that they may have kept the law on hold.

"Ordinarily, injunctions like these may go no further than necessary to provide interim relief to the parties," wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch, in a statement which concurred with the decision of the court.

"In this case, however, the district court went much further, prohibiting a state from enforcing any aspect of its duly enacted law against anyone," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/solar-storm-to-make-northern-lights-visible-in-17-us-states-heres-when-to-watch-it-613571">Solar storm to make Northern Lights visible in 17 US states. Here's when to watch the spectacle</a>

However, the court permitted the parents and two children who had filed the case against the law to continue taking treatments as litigation continues.&nbsp;

In this case, the children have been seeking estrogen and puberty blockers, which according to the families and their doctors is important for mental health.

<h2>Supreme Court's decision faces opposition&nbsp;</h2>

Meanwhile, opposing the decision, Jackson said that the high court should not have intervened at such an initial stage in such a high-profile case, disrupting what she said was the legal status quo.

"In my view, we should resist being conscripted into service when our involvement amounts to micromanaging the lower courts' exercise of their discretionary authority in the midst of active litigation," wrote Jackson.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Idaho released a joint statement and called the ruling an "awful result."

"While the court's ruling today importantly does not touch upon the constitutionality of this law, it is nonetheless an awful result for transgender youth and their families across the state," read the joint statement.&nbsp;

"Today's ruling allows the state to shut down the care that thousands of families rely on while sowing further confusion and disruption. Nonetheless, today's result only leaves us all the more determined to defeat this law in the courts entirely, making Idaho a safer state to raise every family," it added.

Watch:&nbsp;One year on from Sudan's war, US to announce additional $100 Million in aid

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Meanwhile, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, who had appealed to the court to permit enforcement, issued another statement after the decision.

"The state has a duty to protect and support all children, and that's why I'm proud to defend Idaho's law that ensures children are not subjected to these life-altering drugs and procedures," Labrador said in a statement.&nbsp;

"Those suffering from gender dysphoria deserve love, support and medical care rooted in biological reality. Denying the basic truth that boys and girls are biologically different hurts our kids. No one has the right to harm children, and I'm grateful that we, as the state, have the power -- and duty -- to protect them," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Supreme Court allowed Idaho, United States to go ahead with the enforcement of a new law which prohibits gender-affirming care for minors on Monday (April 15).

The Supreme Court allowed Idaho, United States to go ahead with the enforcement of a new law which prohibits gender-affirming care for minors on Monday (April 15). The decision was taken by a divided Supreme Court after two lower federal courts upheld an injunction against the gender-affirming care law even though litigation over the law's constitutionality continued. All six conservative members of the high court backed the decision. Meanwhile, three liberal justices - Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson - hinted that they may have kept the law on hold. "Ordinarily, injunctions like these may go no further than necessary to provide interim relief to the parties," wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch, in a statement which concurred with the decision of the court. "In this case, however, the district court went much further, prohibiting a state from enforcing any aspect of its duly enacted law against anyone," he added. Also Read: Solar storm to make Northern Lights visible in 17 US states. Here's when to watch the spectacle However, the court permitted the parents and two children who had filed the case against the law to continue taking treatments as litigation continues. In this case, the children have been seeking estrogen and puberty blockers, which according to the families and their doctors is important for mental health. Supreme Court's decision faces opposition Meanwhile, opposing the decision, Jackson said that the high court should not have intervened at such an initial stage in such a high-profile case, disrupting what she said was the legal status quo. "In my view, we should resist being conscripted into service when our involvement amounts to micromanaging the lower courts' exercise of their discretionary authority in the midst of active litigation," wrote Jackson. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Idaho released a joint statement and called the ruling an "awful result." "While the court's ruling today importantly does not touch upon the constitutionality of this law, it is nonetheless an awful result for transgender youth and their families across the state," read the joint statement. "Today's ruling allows the state to shut down the care that thousands of families rely on while sowing further confusion and disruption. Nonetheless, today's result only leaves us all the more determined to defeat this law in the courts entirely, making Idaho a safer state to raise every family," it added. Watch: One year on from Sudan's war, US to announce additional $100 Million in aid Meanwhile, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, who had appealed to the court to permit enforcement, issued another statement after the decision. "The state has a duty to protect and support all children, and that's why I'm proud to defend Idaho's law that ensures children are not subjected to these life-altering drugs and procedures," Labrador said in a statement. "Those suffering from gender dysphoria deserve love, support and medical care rooted in biological reality. Denying the basic truth that boys and girls are biologically different hurts our kids. No one has the right to harm children, and I'm grateful that we, as the state, have the power -- and duty -- to protect them," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

SC allows enforcement of ban on gender-affirming care for minors in Idaho

Australia's New South Wales police said that they have been investigating a bishop's alleged stabbing during the live stream of a mass in Sydney on Monday (April 15) as a terrorist attack.

Premier Chris Minns said that the decision to investigate it as a terrorist attack was taken on Tuesday (April 16).&nbsp;

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said that they have established a strike force to investigate the incident.&nbsp;

“This is a major and serious criminal investigation. It is crucial that New South Wales police are able to devote their resources and intelligence as well as officers to the investigation of this crime," said Minns, on Tuesday.

After the prominent Orthodox Christian leader was stabbed at the church's altar, hundreds of people got on the streets and clashed with the police in western Sydney on Monday night.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydney-rocked-by-another-stabbing-incident-as-man-assaults-priest-worshippers-on-camera-711496">Another stabbing incident rocks Sydney as man assaults four in church, 15-year-old boy arrested</a>

The police arrested a 15-year-old boy after the incident.

<h2>How did the stabbing incident occur in church?</h2>

The stabbing incident took place at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney.

In the incident, at least four people were stabbed, however, the police confirmed that none of them suffered life-threatening injuries. The incident led to unrest.

As hundreds of people clashed with the police officials after the incident, two of them suffered injuries and 20 police vehicles suffered damages.

Police Chief Commissioner Karen Webb said the police are hunting down those who were involved in the riots and called their actions "unacceptable".

A crowd of people then “converged on that area and began to turn on police”, said Webb. According to the police, the crowd, which was initially made up of around 50 people, grew to approximately 500.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Sydney attack: Sydney mall attack victims identified

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“People used what was available to them in the area, including bricks, concrete palings, to assault police, and throw missiles at police and police equipment, and police vehicles," stated the police.

Few police officers suffered injuries and were taken to hospital overnight, said Webb.

“That is unacceptable and those that were involved in that riot can expect a knock at the door. It might not be today. It might not be tomorrow. But we’ll find you and we’ll come and arrest you. That is totally unacceptable," he said.&nbsp;

The incident occurred a day after&nbsp;40-year-old Joel Cauchi created chaos and panic amid the crowd in the Westfield Bondi Junction complex in Sydney as he&nbsp;stabbed six&nbsp;people - out of which five were women - using a long blade.

(With inputs from agencies)

Australia's New South Wales police said that they have been investigating a bishop's alleged stabbing during the live stream of a mass in Sydney on Monday (April 15) as a terrorist attack.

Australia's New South Wales police said that they have been investigating a bishop's alleged stabbing during the live stream of a mass in Sydney on Monday (April 15) as a terrorist attack. Premier Chris Minns said that the decision to investigate it as a terrorist attack was taken on Tuesday (April 16). NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said that they have established a strike force to investigate the incident. “This is a major and serious criminal investigation. It is crucial that New South Wales police are able to devote their resources and intelligence as well as officers to the investigation of this crime," said Minns, on Tuesday. After the prominent Orthodox Christian leader was stabbed at the church's altar, hundreds of people got on the streets and clashed with the police in western Sydney on Monday night. Also Read: Another stabbing incident rocks Sydney as man assaults four in church, 15-year-old boy arrested The police arrested a 15-year-old boy after the incident. How did the stabbing incident occur in church? The stabbing incident took place at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney. In the incident, at least four people were stabbed, however, the police confirmed that none of them suffered life-threatening injuries. The incident led to unrest. As hundreds of people clashed with the police officials after the incident, two of them suffered injuries and 20 police vehicles suffered damages. Police Chief Commissioner Karen Webb said the police are hunting down those who were involved in the riots and called their actions "unacceptable". A crowd of people then “converged on that area and began to turn on police”, said Webb. According to the police, the crowd, which was initially made up of around 50 people, grew to approximately 500. Watch: Sydney attack: Sydney mall attack victims identified “People used what was available to them in the area, including bricks, concrete palings, to assault police, and throw missiles at police and police equipment, and police vehicles," stated the police. Few police officers suffered injuries and were taken to hospital overnight, said Webb. “That is unacceptable and those that were involved in that riot can expect a knock at the door. It might not be today. It might not be tomorrow. But we’ll find you and we’ll come and arrest you. That is totally unacceptable," he said. The incident occurred a day after 40-year-old Joel Cauchi created chaos and panic amid the crowd in the Westfield Bondi Junction complex in Sydney as he stabbed six people - out of which five were women - using a long blade. (With inputs from agencies)

Australian police treating church stabbing incident as a 'terrorist attack'

Radar images of a 2,000-foot-wide asteroid were captured by NASA astronomers as the "potentially hazardous" asteroid safely passed by Earth on April 15.

The asteroid, which has been named 2013 NK4, was snapped by scientists using the Goldstone Radar in California on April 13.

"Radar narrow echoes probably establish that 2013 NK4 rotates very slowly, and the shape is bifurcated," said NASA.

According to the observations, asteroid 2013 NK4 is most likely a binary contact, which means the asteroid is made up of two bodies or asteroids which gravitated towards each other till they touched and hence, created the elongated shape.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/car-sized-asteroid-has-super-close-encounter-with-earth-flies-30-times-closer-than-moon-710374">Car-sized asteroid comes eerily close to Earth, much closer than even the Moon</a>

The closest approach to the Earth was made by the space rock at 10:50 am&nbsp;EDT on Monday (April 15), when the asteroid was just around 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometres) away from our planet, as per NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).&nbsp;

<h2>What's new about the asteroid?</h2>

This "city-killer" asteroid, which safely passed across Earth after making its closest approach, was classified as "potentially hazardous" because of its size, even though it did not pose any threat to our planet.&nbsp;

The asteroid, which has been named 2013 NK4, is nearly 2,000 feet (610 meters) wide which makes it twice the size of the "god of chaos" asteroid Apophis which is expected to make a super-close approach to Earth in 2029.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | The impact of NASA asteroid deflection

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The asteroid is so large that it can destroy a large city and also lead to serious environmental impacts if it hits the Earth.

However, as per NASA's calculations, this asteroid will never have an impact on the Earth. The new thing about the asteroid is that for the first time, it is visible through amateur telescopes from April 15 to April 17.

One does not need a professional astronomer to see the space rock zooming in space. Anyone, who has a decent astronomy telescope, will be able to see the asteroid till April 17.

However, because of the asteroid's orientation relative to Earth, it will be more clearly seen on April 16 and April 17, according to EarthSky.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Radar images of a 2,000-foot-wide asteroid were captured by NASA astronomers as the "potentially hazardous" asteroid safely passed by Earth on April 15. The asteroid, which has been named 2013 NK4, was snapped by scientists using the Goldstone Radar in California on April 13.

Radar images of a 2,000-foot-wide asteroid were captured by NASA astronomers as the "potentially hazardous" asteroid safely passed by Earth on April 15. The asteroid, which has been named 2013 NK4, was snapped by scientists using the Goldstone Radar in California on April 13. "Radar narrow echoes probably establish that 2013 NK4 rotates very slowly, and the shape is bifurcated," said NASA. According to the observations, asteroid 2013 NK4 is most likely a binary contact, which means the asteroid is made up of two bodies or asteroids which gravitated towards each other till they touched and hence, created the elongated shape. Also Read: Car-sized asteroid comes eerily close to Earth, much closer than even the Moon The closest approach to the Earth was made by the space rock at 10:50 am EDT on Monday (April 15), when the asteroid was just around 2 million miles (3.2 million kilometres) away from our planet, as per NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). What's new about the asteroid? This "city-killer" asteroid, which safely passed across Earth after making its closest approach, was classified as "potentially hazardous" because of its size, even though it did not pose any threat to our planet. The asteroid, which has been named 2013 NK4, is nearly 2,000 feet (610 meters) wide which makes it twice the size of the "god of chaos" asteroid Apophis which is expected to make a super-close approach to Earth in 2029. Watch: Gravitas | The impact of NASA asteroid deflection The asteroid is so large that it can destroy a large city and also lead to serious environmental impacts if it hits the Earth. However, as per NASA's calculations, this asteroid will never have an impact on the Earth. The new thing about the asteroid is that for the first time, it is visible through amateur telescopes from April 15 to April 17. One does not need a professional astronomer to see the space rock zooming in space. Anyone, who has a decent astronomy telescope, will be able to see the asteroid till April 17. However, because of the asteroid's orientation relative to Earth, it will be more clearly seen on April 16 and April 17, according to EarthSky. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA snaps 2,000-foot-wide asteroid, visible through amateur telescopes, as it zips past Earth

Former Managing Director of Google and Twitter Parminder Singh recently took to X and shared a very interesting observation regarding ethnicity.&nbsp;

In his post shared on April 14, Singh emphasised how Malaysians often refer to Sikhs as Bengalis. He further explained that not just Sikhs, but everybody from North India is perceived as Bengalis in the country.&nbsp;

<h2>Singh decodes 'historicity' behind the 'ethnic' confusion</h2>

Singh, clarifying the confusion, said that the people in Malaysia tend to refer to everyone from North India as Bengalis. He said that he was made aware of this by fellow Malay Indians in a meditation retreat in Malaysia.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/malaysia-opens-visa-free-doors-for-indian-chinese-travelers-from-dec-1-663157">Malaysia opens visa-free entry for Indian, Chinese travelers from Dec 1</a>

Explaining the historical reason behind the confusion, Singh said, ''British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the Calcutta port, the majority of whom were Sikhs recruited for army, police, and security jobs. To the Malay people, everyone who didn't come from Madras, essentially everyone from North India, was a Bengali."

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In Malaysia, Sikhs are often referred to as Bengalis! I recently learned this fact and the fascinating history behind it. British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the…
— Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/parrysingh/status/1779353391040483614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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''In a lighter vein, some of them insisted on calling me Parry Dada (the Bengali term for elder brother). I suppose this is the opposite of how many of us North Indians tend to label everyone from the South as 'Madrasis'," he explained.

<h1>Netizens share their own anecdotes&nbsp;</h1>

Netizens appreciated the observation shared by Singh and wrote their own stories of how their ethnicities and cultures were misunderstood by people of other nationalities.&nbsp;

"That is so amusing. Reminds me of what a salwar-kurta/kameez is called in Odisha. It is called, believe it or not, Punjabi!!! Imagine telling the shopkeeper there 'Show me colourful Punjabis'," said one user.

Watch:&nbsp;Malaysia urges Meta and TikTok to tackle harmful content on platforms

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''Yea all over the world we are undersrood differently as per their own perception, based on lack of knowledge but in reality we the Sikhs carry values of of each one of those. We are like a VIBGYOR of the world communities and hence all names are acceptable," wrote another netizen. (sic)

"This is why colloquially many south Asians used to refer to every white person as “Angrez” (Angrez means English, not French/German/Scottish etc). And it's the reason the name for Sind/Hind/Indus became a mistaken label for all South Asians - Panjab Sind Gujarat Maratha," said a third user.

''Interesting. In East Africa, Sikhs are called Kala Singha. An earliest immigrant Sikh was one Kala Singh and Indians with beard and similar turban like Kala Singh got the same name tag," wrote another netizen.&nbsp;

Former Managing Director of Google and Twitter Parminder Singh recently took to X and shared a very interesting observation regarding ethnicity. In his post shared on April 14, Singh emphasised how Malaysians often refer to Sikhs as Bengalis.

Former Managing Director of Google and Twitter Parminder Singh recently took to X and shared a very interesting observation regarding ethnicity. In his post shared on April 14, Singh emphasised how Malaysians often refer to Sikhs as Bengalis. He further explained that not just Sikhs, but everybody from North India is perceived as Bengalis in the country. Singh decodes 'historicity' behind the 'ethnic' confusion Singh, clarifying the confusion, said that the people in Malaysia tend to refer to everyone from North India as Bengalis. He said that he was made aware of this by fellow Malay Indians in a meditation retreat in Malaysia. Also Read: Malaysia opens visa-free entry for Indian, Chinese travelers from Dec 1 Explaining the historical reason behind the confusion, Singh said, ''British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the Calcutta port, the majority of whom were Sikhs recruited for army, police, and security jobs. To the Malay people, everyone who didn't come from Madras, essentially everyone from North India, was a Bengali." In Malaysia, Sikhs are often referred to as Bengalis! I recently learned this fact and the fascinating history behind it. British India had three sea ports - Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. British Malaya was served by ships from Calcutta and Madras. Most North Indians used the… — Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) April 14, 2024 × ''In a lighter vein, some of them insisted on calling me Parry Dada (the Bengali term for elder brother). I suppose this is the opposite of how many of us North Indians tend to label everyone from the South as 'Madrasis'," he explained. Netizens share their own anecdotes Netizens appreciated the observation shared by Singh and wrote their own stories of how their ethnicities and cultures were misunderstood by people of other nationalities. "That is so amusing. Reminds me of what a salwar-kurta/kameez is called in Odisha. It is called, believe it or not, Punjabi!!! Imagine telling the shopkeeper there 'Show me colourful Punjabis'," said one user. Watch: Malaysia urges Meta and TikTok to tackle harmful content on platforms ''Yea all over the world we are undersrood differently as per their own perception, based on lack of knowledge but in reality we the Sikhs carry values of of each one of those. We are like a VIBGYOR of the world communities and hence all names are acceptable," wrote another netizen. (sic) "This is why colloquially many south Asians used to refer to every white person as “Angrez” (Angrez means English, not French/German/Scottish etc). And it's the reason the name for Sind/Hind/Indus became a mistaken label for all South Asians - Panjab Sind Gujarat Maratha," said a third user. ''Interesting. In East Africa, Sikhs are called Kala Singha. An earliest immigrant Sikh was one Kala Singh and Indians with beard and similar turban like Kala Singh got the same name tag," wrote another netizen.

North Indians are mistaken for Bengalis in THIS country. The simple reasoning dates back to British rule

NASA's quest to bring back rock samples from Mars to Earth to study traces of any existence of life is going through a huge overhaul.

The US space agency has said that the mission which has been currently planned won't be able to bring the rocks before 2040 on the basis of the existing funds and the $11 billion needed to make the plan successful sooner is not sustainable.

Hence, now the space agency is looking for cheaper and faster alternatives and they are planning to have a solution on their drawing board by the end of the year.

In planetary exploration, the return of rock samples from Mars is seen as an important step.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-set-to-make-massive-announcement-about-mars-sample-return-mission-check-date-and-time-711391">What will happen to Mars Sample Return mission? NASA is set to tell us soon</a>

Similar to how the rocks brought back by Apollo astronauts&nbsp;from the Moon helped scientists revolutionise the early Solar System's understanding, the rocks from the Red Planet may help understand the possibilities of life beyond Earth.&nbsp;

NASA has now accepted that its plan to bring back the samples from Mars is simply unrealistic in the current fiscal environment.

Speaking to the reporters during a Monday teleconference, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said, "The bottom line is that $11bn is too expensive, and not returning samples until 2040 is unacceptably too long."

The former US senator stated that he will not let other agency science missions be "cannibalised" by the ongoing Mars project.

<h2>NASA in search of 'out-of-the-box possibilities'&nbsp;</h2>

Hence, NASA administrator Bill Nelson is now finding fresh ways to bring back rock samples from Mars.

The Mars Sample Return (MSR) programme is NASA's joint endeavour with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The programme is already carried out and the rock samples to be brought back to Earth are being collected and catalogued on Mars by NASA's Perseverance rover.

Watch:&nbsp;NASA's Dart mission asteroid: Asteroid Dimorphos debris may rain on Mars

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Later this decade, a follow-up mission was due to be launched which will carry a rocket to the surface of Mars.&nbsp;

Director of NASA's science directorate Dr Nicola Fox said, "We are looking at out-of-the-box possibilities that could return the samples earlier and at a lower cost."

"This is definitely a very ambitious goal, and we're going to need to go after some very innovative new possibilities for design, and certainly leave no stone unturned. Those new possibilities could include a smaller, simpler rocket," she added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA's quest to bring back rock samples from Mars to Earth to study traces of any existence of life is going through a huge overhaul. The US space agency has said that the mission which has been currently planned won't be able to bring the rocks before 2040 on the basis of the existing funds and the $11 billion needed to make the plan successful sooner is not sustainable.

NASA's quest to bring back rock samples from Mars to Earth to study traces of any existence of life is going through a huge overhaul. The US space agency has said that the mission which has been currently planned won't be able to bring the rocks before 2040 on the basis of the existing funds and the $11 billion needed to make the plan successful sooner is not sustainable. Hence, now the space agency is looking for cheaper and faster alternatives and they are planning to have a solution on their drawing board by the end of the year. In planetary exploration, the return of rock samples from Mars is seen as an important step. Also Read: What will happen to Mars Sample Return mission? NASA is set to tell us soon Similar to how the rocks brought back by Apollo astronauts from the Moon helped scientists revolutionise the early Solar System's understanding, the rocks from the Red Planet may help understand the possibilities of life beyond Earth. NASA has now accepted that its plan to bring back the samples from Mars is simply unrealistic in the current fiscal environment. Speaking to the reporters during a Monday teleconference, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said, "The bottom line is that $11bn is too expensive, and not returning samples until 2040 is unacceptably too long." The former US senator stated that he will not let other agency science missions be "cannibalised" by the ongoing Mars project. NASA in search of 'out-of-the-box possibilities' Hence, NASA administrator Bill Nelson is now finding fresh ways to bring back rock samples from Mars. The Mars Sample Return (MSR) programme is NASA's joint endeavour with the European Space Agency (ESA). The programme is already carried out and the rock samples to be brought back to Earth are being collected and catalogued on Mars by NASA's Perseverance rover. Watch: NASA's Dart mission asteroid: Asteroid Dimorphos debris may rain on Mars Later this decade, a follow-up mission was due to be launched which will carry a rocket to the surface of Mars. Director of NASA's science directorate Dr Nicola Fox said, "We are looking at out-of-the-box possibilities that could return the samples earlier and at a lower cost." "This is definitely a very ambitious goal, and we're going to need to go after some very innovative new possibilities for design, and certainly leave no stone unturned. Those new possibilities could include a smaller, simpler rocket," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA working on a simpler, cheaper and quicker way to bring back samples from Mars

News about NASA: NASA on Monday (April 15) confirmed that an object which crashed through a Florida home's roof was actually a piece of space junk which was equipment discarded at the International Space Station.

On March 8, the cylindrical object that tore through the roof of the home in Naples was eventually taken to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to carry out an analysis.

According to the space agency, the object was a metal support used for mounting old batteries on a cargo pallet for disposal.

"Based on the examination, the agency determined the debris to be a stanchion from the NASA flight support equipment used to mount the batteries on the cargo pallet," said agency officials in an update.

In 2021, the pallet was supposedly dropped from the space station, and it was expected that the load would eventually fully burn up after entering into the atmosphere of Earth. However, one piece survived.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-mars-sample-return-plan-faces-expense-issues-agency-looks-for-cheaper-plans-711710">NASA's Mars sample return plan faces expense issues, agency looks for 'cheaper plans'</a>

"The International Space Station will perform a detailed investigation of the jettison and reentry analysis to determine the cause of the debris survival and to update modelling and analysis, as needed," stated the NASA officials.&nbsp;

"NASA specialists use engineering models to estimate how objects heat up and break apart during atmospheric reentry. These models require detailed input parameters and are regularly updated when debris is found to have survived atmospheric reentry to the ground," they added.

<h2>Owner of house where metal chunk crashed awaits analysis result</h2>

The metal chunk weighed nearly 1.6 pounds (0.7 kilograms) and it was reported to be 4 inches (10 centimetres) tall and roughly 1 1/2 inches (4 centimetres) wide.

Meanwhile, homeowner Alejandro Otero, speaking to television station WINK, said that he had gone on a vacation when the incident occurred and was informed by his son about the crashing of the metal junk.

Otero hurried back home early to check what had happened.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Life beyond Earth? NASA probe bound for Jupiter's moon

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“I was shaking. I was completely in disbelief. What are the chances of something landing on my house with such force to cause so much damage. I’m super grateful that nobody got hurt," Otero said.&nbsp;

The new analysis of NASA is likely to have financial consequences for the agency.

"I eagerly await communication from the responsible agencies, as their assistance is crucial in resolving the damages from this deliberate release. But more importantly how in the future to arrange the payload so it will burn in its entirety as it reenters," wrote Otero, on X, after his home was hit by the metal.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

News about NASA: NASA on Monday (April 15) confirmed that an object which crashed through a Florida home's roof was actually a piece of space junk which was equipment discarded at the International Space Station.

News about NASA: NASA on Monday (April 15) confirmed that an object which crashed through a Florida home's roof was actually a piece of space junk which was equipment discarded at the International Space Station. On March 8, the cylindrical object that tore through the roof of the home in Naples was eventually taken to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to carry out an analysis. According to the space agency, the object was a metal support used for mounting old batteries on a cargo pallet for disposal. "Based on the examination, the agency determined the debris to be a stanchion from the NASA flight support equipment used to mount the batteries on the cargo pallet," said agency officials in an update. In 2021, the pallet was supposedly dropped from the space station, and it was expected that the load would eventually fully burn up after entering into the atmosphere of Earth. However, one piece survived. Also Read: NASA's Mars sample return plan faces expense issues, agency looks for 'cheaper plans' "The International Space Station will perform a detailed investigation of the jettison and reentry analysis to determine the cause of the debris survival and to update modelling and analysis, as needed," stated the NASA officials. "NASA specialists use engineering models to estimate how objects heat up and break apart during atmospheric reentry. These models require detailed input parameters and are regularly updated when debris is found to have survived atmospheric reentry to the ground," they added. Owner of house where metal chunk crashed awaits analysis result The metal chunk weighed nearly 1.6 pounds (0.7 kilograms) and it was reported to be 4 inches (10 centimetres) tall and roughly 1 1/2 inches (4 centimetres) wide. Meanwhile, homeowner Alejandro Otero, speaking to television station WINK, said that he had gone on a vacation when the incident occurred and was informed by his son about the crashing of the metal junk. Otero hurried back home early to check what had happened. Watch: Gravitas: Life beyond Earth? NASA probe bound for Jupiter's moon “I was shaking. I was completely in disbelief. What are the chances of something landing on my house with such force to cause so much damage. I’m super grateful that nobody got hurt," Otero said. The new analysis of NASA is likely to have financial consequences for the agency. "I eagerly await communication from the responsible agencies, as their assistance is crucial in resolving the damages from this deliberate release. But more importantly how in the future to arrange the payload so it will burn in its entirety as it reenters," wrote Otero, on X, after his home was hit by the metal. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA reveals identity of mystery object that crashed into Florida home. Here's what it was

Are You Getting An Electric Shock When Touching Someone? Here's why

Objects Sending Electric Shock In Your Body?


Are you wondering why you sometimes get an electric shock by just touching a door knob or some electrical switch? Or why do you feel the current when you brush up with someone else? This happens when static electricity gets generated between two objects. 

When the materials come in contact with each other, charges get transferred between them. Because of this, one object carries an excess positive charge and the other one has an equal amount of negative charge. Once they get separated, one becomes positively charged and the other negatively charged. 

How High Can The Voltage Be In Static Electricity?

The voltage in this static charge can reach as high as 15,000 volts. 

Dry Conditions Also Lead To Static Electricity


Dry conditions, caused by indoor heating or cold weather, also play an important part in creating static shocks.

How To Keep Oneself Safe From These Shocks?

One can start walking barefoot indoors to avoid getting a shock. Also, humid weather can keep people away from such shocks.


Are You Getting An Electric Shock When Touching Someone? Let's Find Out Why

7 Tips You Must Follow To Prevent Heart Blockages

Deaths due to heart attacks have become common these days. It happens when there is a blockage in the artery which obstructs the supply of blood to the heart. Here are a few tips which you must follow to avoid any blockages in your heart:

1. Say No To High Fat, High Carbohydrate Diet


Consuming a healthy diet, which is devoid of fat and carbohydrates, prevents the buildup of cholesterol in the heart and avoids blockages.  

Start doing some aerobic exercises for a healthy heart and be regular with them. One can opt for brisk walking, jogging, running, swimming or cycling.


Smoking is a harmful habit and it does no good to your heart. Hence, active as well as passive smokers must try to remain away from smoking for a healthy heart. 

Patients suffering from diabetes have more chances of blockage in the heart and strokes. Hence, you must control diabetes to avoid any heart blockages.

The heart is affected by obesity, either directly or indirectly. Hence, it is important to maintain a healthy weight. 

6. Control Cholesterol Levels And Blood Pressure


High cholesterol levels and blood pressure can lead to the formation of blockages and constrict arteries in the body. 

One must practice yoga and meditation to decrease stress and keep the heart healthy and fit. 

The content provided on the website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.


Australian police have said that the man, who fatally stabbed six people at a shopping centre in Bondi, Sydney, may have been targetting women.

On Saturday (April 13), 40-year-old Joel Cauchi created chaos and panic amid the crowd in the Westfield Bondi Junction complex as he started stabbing people using a long blade.

Among the six people who died from stabbing, five were women. Many others, including a baby, also suffered injuries.

Speaking to Australia's ABC News, New South Wales police commissioner said that it was "obvious" Cauchi was aiming at women.

The lone man&nbsp;killed in the stabbing attack&nbsp;was a 30-year-old security guard named Faraz Tahir who suffered injuries while trying to intervene in the attack.&nbsp;

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, commissioner Karen Webb said, "The videos speak for themselves, don't they? It's obvious to me, it's obvious to detectives... that the offender focused on women and avoided the men. That's certainly a line for inquiry for us."

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-was-ashlee-good-sydney-stabbing-victim-whose-last-act-saved-her-injured-babys-life-710998">Who was Ashlee Good? Sydney stabbing victim whose last act saved her injured baby's life</a>

"We don't know what was operating in the mind of the offender and that's why it's important now that detectives spend so much time interviewing those who know him," he added.

According to the witnesses, the attacker was wearing shorts and an Australian national rugby league jersey. He was seen running in the mall while carrying a knife in his hand. Inspector Amy Scott confronted the man and killed him.

According to the police, Cauchi had mental health issues earlier and no other specific motive was determined.

The police already knew the man, however, he was never charged or arrested in his home state Queensland. According to the Queensland Police, the man was first diagnosed with mental illness at the age of 17.

<h2>Australia marks day of mourning&nbsp;</h2>

The stabbing attack - which took place at one of the most popular and biggest shopping centres in the country - sent a wave of shock&nbsp;in the country, where mass killings happen rarely.

Speaking to ABC News about the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday (April 15) said that "the gender breakdown is, of course, concerning".

Across the&nbsp;country,&nbsp;flags will be flown at half-mast on Monday and the lights were lit on the sails of Sydney Opera House in tribute to the victims.

Watch:&nbsp;Sydney attack: Five killed in stabbing horror inside Sydney mall, eight injured taken to hospital

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sydney-attack-five-killed-in-stabbing-horror-inside-sydney-mall-eight-injured-taken-to-hospital-710869/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Mourners, in massive numbers, flocked to Bondi Junction and left cards and flowers for those who died in the attack.

Wreaths and flowers were laid in a makeshift memorial outside the beachside mall in Bondi.

"It's shocking something like this could happen so close to home," said Wren Wyatt, who had come to pay respects at the memorial. "I'm still trying to get back to everyday life. I've taken today off to try and get my head better," she said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, other victims have been identified as architect Jade Young, 47, 55-year-old Pikria Darchia,&nbsp;Ashlee Good, 38, and Dawn Singleton, 25. The sixth victim was identified as Yixuan Cheng, 25, as per the Chinese consulate in Sydney.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Australian police have said that the man, who fatally stabbed six people at a shopping centre in Bondi, Sydney, may have been targetting women. On Saturday (April 13), 40-year-old Joel Cauchi created chaos and panic amid the crowd in the Westfield Bondi Junction complex as he started stabbing people using a long blade.

Australian police have said that the man, who fatally stabbed six people at a shopping centre in Bondi, Sydney, may have been targetting women. On Saturday (April 13), 40-year-old Joel Cauchi created chaos and panic amid the crowd in the Westfield Bondi Junction complex as he started stabbing people using a long blade. Among the six people who died from stabbing, five were women. Many others, including a baby, also suffered injuries. Speaking to Australia's ABC News, New South Wales police commissioner said that it was "obvious" Cauchi was aiming at women. The lone man killed in the stabbing attack was a 30-year-old security guard named Faraz Tahir who suffered injuries while trying to intervene in the attack. Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, commissioner Karen Webb said, "The videos speak for themselves, don't they? It's obvious to me, it's obvious to detectives... that the offender focused on women and avoided the men. That's certainly a line for inquiry for us." Also Read: Who was Ashlee Good? Sydney stabbing victim whose last act saved her injured baby's life "We don't know what was operating in the mind of the offender and that's why it's important now that detectives spend so much time interviewing those who know him," he added. According to the witnesses, the attacker was wearing shorts and an Australian national rugby league jersey. He was seen running in the mall while carrying a knife in his hand. Inspector Amy Scott confronted the man and killed him. According to the police, Cauchi had mental health issues earlier and no other specific motive was determined. The police already knew the man, however, he was never charged or arrested in his home state Queensland. According to the Queensland Police, the man was first diagnosed with mental illness at the age of 17. Australia marks day of mourning The stabbing attack - which took place at one of the most popular and biggest shopping centres in the country - sent a wave of shock in the country, where mass killings happen rarely. Speaking to ABC News about the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday (April 15) said that "the gender breakdown is, of course, concerning". Across the country, flags will be flown at half-mast on Monday and the lights were lit on the sails of Sydney Opera House in tribute to the victims. Watch: Sydney attack: Five killed in stabbing horror inside Sydney mall, eight injured taken to hospital Mourners, in massive numbers, flocked to Bondi Junction and left cards and flowers for those who died in the attack. Wreaths and flowers were laid in a makeshift memorial outside the beachside mall in Bondi. "It's shocking something like this could happen so close to home," said Wren Wyatt, who had come to pay respects at the memorial. "I'm still trying to get back to everyday life. I've taken today off to try and get my head better," she said. Meanwhile, other victims have been identified as architect Jade Young, 47, 55-year-old Pikria Darchia, Ashlee Good, 38, and Dawn Singleton, 25. The sixth victim was identified as Yixuan Cheng, 25, as per the Chinese consulate in Sydney. (With inputs from agencies)

Women may have been 'target' of Sydney knife attacker: Australian police

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are set to begin on April 19 as the world's biggest democracy will exercise its right to vote and decide who will be in power for the next five years.&nbsp;

The Election Commission of India will hold the polls in seven phases- April 19, April 26, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The counting of votes will happen on June 4.

<h2>Bihar set to vote in Phase 1 of Lok Sabha polls&nbsp;</h2>

The state of Bihar, which has 40 Lok Sabha seats, is seen as one of the most&nbsp;significant states in Indian politics. With such a high number of seats in Lok Sabha, it is also the fourth-highest state overall.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-lok-sabha-elections-2024-schedule-phase-seats-and-all-you-need-to-know-703540">Bihar Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Schedule, date, phase, seats and all you need to know</a>

Since it has 40 Lok Sabha seats, Bihar will vote in all the phases of Lok Sabha elections. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

In the first phase of elections, Bihar will hold polls in four constituencies - Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui and Nawada on April 19. This will decide the future of 38 candidates in fray in these four constituencies. Gaya has the highest number of 14 candidates contesting the elections.

<h2>Key constituencies going for polls in first phase in Bihar&nbsp;</h2>

Aurangabad&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat is dominated by the upper caste Rajputs. However, the constituency also has a good number of Other Backward Class (OBC) and Extremely Backward Class (EBC) voters.

Overall, there are 18 lakh voters in Aurangabad out of which 25 per cent belong to the General Category, 20 per cent are Other Backward Classes, more than 23 per cent are EBC, 20 per cent are Scheduled Castes (SC) and 10 per cent are Muslims.

More than 70 per cent of voters in the General Category are Rajputs.

Watch:&nbsp;India elections 2024: Battle for Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats; NDA vs Grand Alliance in Bihar

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-elections-2024-battle-for-bihars-40-lok-sabha-seats-nda-vs-grand-alliance-in-bihar-701938/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Gaya

The Gaya Lok Sabha constituency is important because of the tourism it attracts because of the famous Buddhist site of Bodh Gaya.

Gaya is also considered sacred to Hindus where they perform ancestral rites. In this constituency, the biggest issue has been persistent water scarcity in the summers.&nbsp;

In the Gaya Lok Sabha constituency, more than 30 per cent of the voters belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC).

<h3>Jamui</h3>

Jamui has more than 17 lakh voters out of which nearly 2.5 lakh voters are EBC and an equal number of voters are OBC Yadav and Koeri, Kurmi and Dhanuk. The constituency covers three districts of Munger, Jamui and Sheikhpura, and also has six Assembly segments of Tarapur, Sheikpura, Sikandra, Jamui, Jhajha and Chakai where there are around 1.5 lakh Muslim voters.

<h3>Nawada</h3>

Nawada is a Lok Sabha constituency which covers the entire Nawada district as well as parts of Sheikhpura district. It has six assembly seats Barbigha, Rajauli (SC), Hisua, Nawada, Gobindpur, and Warsaliganj.

The Nawada constituency's caste-based demographics is dominated by Bhumihar, Yadav, Kushwaha, Vaishya, and the Dalit, EBC and OBC. Bhumihars form around 22-25 per cent of the vote bank in the Nawada constituency. There are two to five per cent Kushwaha voters also.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are set to begin on April 19 as the world's biggest democracy will exercise its right to vote and decide who will be in power for the next five years.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are set to begin on April 19 as the world's biggest democracy will exercise its right to vote and decide who will be in power for the next five years. The Election Commission of India will hold the polls in seven phases- April 19, April 26, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The counting of votes will happen on June 4. Bihar set to vote in Phase 1 of Lok Sabha polls The state of Bihar, which has 40 Lok Sabha seats, is seen as one of the most significant states in Indian politics. With such a high number of seats in Lok Sabha, it is also the fourth-highest state overall. Also Read: Bihar Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Schedule, date, phase, seats and all you need to know Since it has 40 Lok Sabha seats, Bihar will vote in all the phases of Lok Sabha elections. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. In the first phase of elections, Bihar will hold polls in four constituencies - Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui and Nawada on April 19. This will decide the future of 38 candidates in fray in these four constituencies. Gaya has the highest number of 14 candidates contesting the elections. Key constituencies going for polls in first phase in Bihar Aurangabad Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat is dominated by the upper caste Rajputs. However, the constituency also has a good number of Other Backward Class (OBC) and Extremely Backward Class (EBC) voters. Overall, there are 18 lakh voters in Aurangabad out of which 25 per cent belong to the General Category, 20 per cent are Other Backward Classes, more than 23 per cent are EBC, 20 per cent are Scheduled Castes (SC) and 10 per cent are Muslims. More than 70 per cent of voters in the General Category are Rajputs. Watch: India elections 2024: Battle for Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats; NDA vs Grand Alliance in Bihar Gaya The Gaya Lok Sabha constituency is important because of the tourism it attracts because of the famous Buddhist site of Bodh Gaya. Gaya is also considered sacred to Hindus where they perform ancestral rites. In this constituency, the biggest issue has been persistent water scarcity in the summers. In the Gaya Lok Sabha constituency, more than 30 per cent of the voters belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC). Jamui Jamui has more than 17 lakh voters out of which nearly 2.5 lakh voters are EBC and an equal number of voters are OBC Yadav and Koeri, Kurmi and Dhanuk. The constituency covers three districts of Munger, Jamui and Sheikhpura, and also has six Assembly segments of Tarapur, Sheikpura, Sikandra, Jamui, Jhajha and Chakai where there are around 1.5 lakh Muslim voters. Nawada Nawada is a Lok Sabha constituency which covers the entire Nawada district as well as parts of Sheikhpura district. It has six assembly seats Barbigha, Rajauli (SC), Hisua, Nawada, Gobindpur, and Warsaliganj. The Nawada constituency's caste-based demographics is dominated by Bhumihar, Yadav, Kushwaha, Vaishya, and the Dalit, EBC and OBC. Bhumihars form around 22-25 per cent of the vote bank in the Nawada constituency. There are two to five per cent Kushwaha voters also. (With inputs from agencies)

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Bihar to vote in Phase 1. A look at the key constituencies

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are set to begin on April 19 as the world's biggest democracy will exercise its right to vote and decide who will remain in power for the next five years.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are set to begin on April 19 as the world's biggest democracy will exercise its right to vote and decide who will remain in power for the next five years. The state of Bihar, which has 40 Lok Sabha seats, will vote in all the phases of Lok Sabha elections. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. In the first phase of elections, Bihar will hold polls in four constituencies - Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui and Nawada on April 19. This will decide the future of 38 candidates who are in fray in these four constituencies. In this election, the ruling party BJP has fielded its candidates in the Aurangabad and Nawada constituencies and the Gaya (reserved) seat has gone to the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S), an ally of the BJP. The Jamui seat has been kept for Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV), which has always enjoyed a stronghold in the region. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) clinched victory on all four seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The BJP clinched victory in Aurangabad, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) won in Gaya, and the then-united Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) clinched victory in both Jamui and Nawada. Also Read: Bihar Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Schedule, date, phase, seats and all you need to know Here are the key candidates Jitan Ram Manjhi HAM(S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi has been pitted by the NDA in the Gaya constituency against the Mahagathbandhan’s Kumar Sarvajeet, who is from the RJD. 79-year-old Manjhi, who is Bihar's former chief minister, will be trying his luck for the fourth time in Gaya Lok Sabha constituency. 49-year-old Kumar Sarvjeet is the sitting MLA of RJD from Bodh Gaya. He has been fielded by the RJD from the Gaya constituency in Lok Sabha elections against Manjhi and has vowed to "defeat him in his fourth attempt." BSP’s Sushma Kumari is also in the fray in Gaya and has been banking on the EBC voters in the constituency. Arun Bharti LJP-RV chief Mr. Chirag Paswan has this time fielded his brother-in-law Arun Bharti from the Jamui (reserved) seat against Mahagathbandhan candidate Archana Ravidas Paswan himself has been the MP from Jamui twice in 2014 and 2019 and the constituency is considered his party's stronghold. Vivek Thakur BJP’s Vivek Thakur is set to give a tough fight to Mahagathbandhan's OBC candidate Shrawan Kushwaha at Nawada along with independent candidates Vinod Yadav and Bhojpuri singer Gunjan Singh as his opponents. Watch: India elections 2024: Battle for Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats; NDA vs Grand Alliance in Bihar Shrawan Kushwaha has been rallying against Vivek Thakur by playing the local versus “jo yahan ka beta hoga, wohi yahan ka neta hoga“ (only a local will lead). Thakur, who belongs to Patna district, has called the issue “insignificant”. Both Thakur and Kushwaha will be for the first time contesting the Lok Sabha elections. Sushil Kumar Singh Bharatiya Janata Party's Sushil Kumar Singh and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Abhay Kushwaha are the prominent candidates contesting elections from the Aurangabad constituency. BJP's Sushil Kumar Singh had won the General Elections in 2019 with a victory margin of 72,607 votes after clinching 4,31,541 votes. (With inputs from agencies)

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Bihar to vote in Phase 1. Here are the key candidates

Iran stated that it would give permission to the Indian govt representatives to meet the Indian crew onboard the seized cargo ship, MSC Aries.&nbsp;

The breakthrough was made when India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Amir Abdollahian on Sunday (April 14).

The announcement was made in Iran's readout which said,&nbsp;"Dr. Amir Abdollahian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of our country, informed his Indian counterpart during a telephone conversation about Iran's legitimate defence and the punishment of the Israeli regime."

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-chief-warns-middle-east-is-on-brink-as-israel-iran-engage-in-war-of-words-at-unsc-711285">&nbsp;UN chief warns 'Middle East is on brink' as Israel, Iran engage in war of words at UNSC</a>

"He called for India's continued role through international institutions, including the UN Security Council, to stop the war in Gaza, which is the root of current crises in the region, as well as to end the aggressions and crimes of the Zionist regime," the readout added.

"The minister reiterated Iran's demand for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of peace and security in the region from the Mediterranean shores to the Red Sea. The Indian foreign minister also stated that the most important issue for them is to witness a reduction in tensions. They are calling for responsibility from all parties and a favourable end to alleviate current tensions and improve the situation," the statement said.

Watch:&nbsp;India, Iran discuss situation in West Asia, S Jaishankar speaks to Iranian counterpart

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Speaking about the situation of the Indian crew members, the readout stated, "Finally, the Indian foreign minister expressed concern about the situation of 17 Indian crew members on a detained ship by Iran and requested assistance from the Islamic Republic in this regard. Dr Amir Abdollahian mentioned that they are following up on the details related to the detained ship and soon the possibility of representatives of the Indian government meeting with the crew of the mentioned ship will be provided."&nbsp;

<h2>What did India say about the Indian crew?</h2>

The Indian side stated that they were in touch with the Iranian authorities to ensure the release of&nbsp;17 Indian nationals&nbsp;who were among the 25 crew members of the cargo ship which was seized by a special forces unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Gulf of Hormuz, nearly 80 km off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Spoke to Iranian FM <a href="https://twitter.com/Amirabdolahian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Amirabdolahian</a> this evening. 
 
Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. 
 
Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. 
 
Agreed to remain…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1779547273975988578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

After the meeting, S Jaishankar had written on X, "Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch."&nbsp;

There has been growing concern in India over the Israel-Hamas conflict and the recent escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving &nbsp;Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran stated that it would give permission to the Indian govt representatives to meet the Indian crew onboard the seized cargo ship, MSC Aries. The breakthrough was made when India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr.

Iran stated that it would give permission to the Indian govt representatives to meet the Indian crew onboard the seized cargo ship, MSC Aries. The breakthrough was made when India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Amir Abdollahian on Sunday (April 14). The announcement was made in Iran's readout which said, "Dr. Amir Abdollahian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of our country, informed his Indian counterpart during a telephone conversation about Iran's legitimate defence and the punishment of the Israeli regime." Also Read: UN chief warns 'Middle East is on brink' as Israel, Iran engage in war of words at UNSC "He called for India's continued role through international institutions, including the UN Security Council, to stop the war in Gaza, which is the root of current crises in the region, as well as to end the aggressions and crimes of the Zionist regime," the readout added. "The minister reiterated Iran's demand for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of peace and security in the region from the Mediterranean shores to the Red Sea. The Indian foreign minister also stated that the most important issue for them is to witness a reduction in tensions. They are calling for responsibility from all parties and a favourable end to alleviate current tensions and improve the situation," the statement said. Watch: India, Iran discuss situation in West Asia, S Jaishankar speaks to Iranian counterpart Speaking about the situation of the Indian crew members, the readout stated, "Finally, the Indian foreign minister expressed concern about the situation of 17 Indian crew members on a detained ship by Iran and requested assistance from the Islamic Republic in this regard. Dr Amir Abdollahian mentioned that they are following up on the details related to the detained ship and soon the possibility of representatives of the Indian government meeting with the crew of the mentioned ship will be provided." What did India say about the Indian crew? The Indian side stated that they were in touch with the Iranian authorities to ensure the release of 17 Indian nationals who were among the 25 crew members of the cargo ship which was seized by a special forces unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Gulf of Hormuz, nearly 80 km off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Spoke to Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian this evening. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain… — Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) April 14, 2024 × After the meeting, S Jaishankar had written on X, "Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch." There has been growing concern in India over the Israel-Hamas conflict and the recent escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran to allow Indian govt representatives to meet 17 citizens onboard seized cargo ship

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