<p lang="en-US">In a shocking incident, a 73-year-old man in Australia was admitted to the hospital with the urgent need to undergo urethra surgery after he jammed three button-style batteries into his penis to attain “sexual gratification”.<br />
<br />
The unidentified Australian man's medical anomaly has now become part of a revolting medical study published in Urology Case Reports. As per the report, the man had intentionally shoved batteries into his penis for his own “sexual gratification”.<br />
<br />
“To the best of our understanding, this is the first reported case of urethral necrosis with button battery insertion,” wrote the authors.<br />
<br />
As per the reports, this was not the first time the patient had attempted such a bizarre act. He had shoved the batteries multiple times before it finally got stuck inside.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/uk-man-bled-to-death-after-chopping-off-his-penis-new-details-reveal-682017">UK man bled to death after chopping off his penis, new details reveal</a></p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Man took shockwave therapy after facing erectile dysfunction</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Three years before, the man had suffered erectile dysfunction and also endured shockwave therapy on his penis.<br />
<br />
The septuagenarian waited for 24 hours before seeking medical attention after which the doctors quickly took steps to remove the foreign objects since their corrosiveness can lead to necrosis,&nbsp;death of body tissue, in only two hours.<br />
<br />
The doctors also feared that the man could suffer from a rare but lethal infection of Fournier’s gangrene. After making several unsuccessful attempts, the surgeons finally used the forceps to take out the batteries.<br />
<br />
“All extracted batteries were coated with black tar-like material,” read the study. However, even though the batteries were removed, after ten days the man complained of swelling and icky discharge after which the doctors conducted another operation on him.<br />
<br />
“An incision was made to the penile skin,” said the researchers, further stating that “a large amount” of fluids had leaked out.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Decoding Paperclipping: The new dating trend</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/decoding-paperclipping-the-new-dating-trend-690620/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">The fear of doctors turned into a reality as the man developed an “extensive degree of necrosis”, and they had to remove a part of his urethra.<br />
<br />
“Given the complexity of his injury, it was deemed that formal penile urethral reconstruction would likely require a 3-stage repair,” as per the researchers, who called the six-month-long procedure of mucous membrane grafts as complex.<br />
<br />
The doctors after assessing the extremely damaged penis, finally “decided that the best option would be for no further penile reconstruction.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a shocking incident, a 73-year-old man in Australia was admitted to the hospital with the urgent need to undergo urethra surgery after he jammed three button-style batteries into his penis to attain “sexual gratification”.

In a shocking incident, a 73-year-old man in Australia was admitted to the hospital with the urgent need to undergo urethra surgery after he jammed three button-style batteries into his penis to attain “sexual gratification”. The unidentified Australian man's medical anomaly has now become part of a revolting medical study published in Urology Case Reports. As per the report, the man had intentionally shoved batteries into his penis for his own “sexual gratification”. “To the best of our understanding, this is the first reported case of urethral necrosis with button battery insertion,” wrote the authors. As per the reports, this was not the first time the patient had attempted such a bizarre act. He had shoved the batteries multiple times before it finally got stuck inside. Also Read: UK man bled to death after chopping off his penis, new details reveal Man took shockwave therapy after facing erectile dysfunction Three years before, the man had suffered erectile dysfunction and also endured shockwave therapy on his penis. The septuagenarian waited for 24 hours before seeking medical attention after which the doctors quickly took steps to remove the foreign objects since their corrosiveness can lead to necrosis, death of body tissue, in only two hours. The doctors also feared that the man could suffer from a rare but lethal infection of Fournier’s gangrene. After making several unsuccessful attempts, the surgeons finally used the forceps to take out the batteries. “All extracted batteries were coated with black tar-like material,” read the study. However, even though the batteries were removed, after ten days the man complained of swelling and icky discharge after which the doctors conducted another operation on him. “An incision was made to the penile skin,” said the researchers, further stating that “a large amount” of fluids had leaked out. Watch: Decoding Paperclipping: The new dating trend The fear of doctors turned into a reality as the man developed an “extensive degree of necrosis”, and they had to remove a part of his urethra. “Given the complexity of his injury, it was deemed that formal penile urethral reconstruction would likely require a 3-stage repair,” as per the researchers, who called the six-month-long procedure of mucous membrane grafts as complex. The doctors after assessing the extremely damaged penis, finally “decided that the best option would be for no further penile reconstruction.” (With inputs from agencies)

Man in Australia jams batteries into his penis for 'sexual gratification', leaves doctors baffled

<p>The private sector firms have been appealed by the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take ‘necessary measures’ in the wake of heavy rain and inclement weather, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for a two-day visit to the country which will begin on Tuesday (Jan 13). The UAE government also scaled down the ‘Ahlan Modi’ (Hello Modi) event, reducing its&nbsp;strength from 80,000 to 35,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), in a post on X, also appealed to the companies to look after their workers'&nbsp;health and safety.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Heavy downpour in Abu Dhabi, making the BAPS Hindu Mandir look stunning as it glitters at night. Sight looks breathtaking as the architectural marvel shines. <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WIONews</a> <a href="https://t.co/Oj9unP1ULo">pic.twitter.com/Oj9unP1ULo</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1757057667619606667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>“Necessary measures need to be taken by companies to ensure outdoor work, if necessary to resume, complies with the occupational health and safety requirements, Companies must also ensure the health and safety of workers commuting to and from outdoor work locations,” said the ministry in its statement released on the social media platform.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-first-hindu-temple-in-abu-dhabi-check-full-schedule-details-689738">PM Modi to inaugurate first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi | Check full schedule, details</a></p>

<p>The Emirates Schools Establishment announced that additionally, the schools will continue to hold online classes and distance learning due to the weather.</p>

<h2>How ‘Ahlan Modi’ event has been affected by rains?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The ‘Ahlan Modi’ (Hello Modi) event, which will be addressed by the prime minister later in the day, has been scaled down due to bad weather and the officials have been forced to reduce participation strength from 80,000 to 35,000, as reported by PTI.</p>

<p>“Preparations for one of the biggest diaspora events of Prime Minister Modi at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi were going fine, but the participation was reduced because of the weather,” said community leader Sajeev Purushothaman, while speaking to PTI.</p>

<p>The officials have received around 60,000 registrations for the interaction. However, now 35,000 to 40,000 people, which include those who will present cultural programmes, are likely to attend the interaction.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>PM Modi's UAE visit</strong></h2>

<p>The prime minister's UAE visit will be his seventh visit since 2015, and his third visit in the last eight months.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Indian PM Modi to attend World Government Summit 2024 as guest of honour in UAE</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-modi-to-attend-world-government-summit-2024-as-guest-of-honour-in-uae-689682/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The leader's engagements include a bilateral meeting&nbsp;with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He will also meet UAE's vice president, prime minister and defence minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.</p>

<p>The prime minister will also take part in the World Government Summit 2024 as its Guest of Honour. He will inaugurate the BAPS Mandir, which is the first Hindu temple&nbsp;in Abu Dhabi, on Feb 14.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The private sector firms have been appealed by the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take ‘necessary measures’ in the wake of heavy rain and inclement weather, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for a two-day visit to the country which will begin on Tuesday (Jan 13).

The private sector firms have been appealed by the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take ‘necessary measures’ in the wake of heavy rain and inclement weather, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for a two-day visit to the country which will begin on Tuesday (Jan 13). The UAE government also scaled down the ‘Ahlan Modi’ (Hello Modi) event, reducing its strength from 80,000 to 35,000. The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), in a post on X, also appealed to the companies to look after their workers' health and safety. Heavy downpour in Abu Dhabi, making the BAPS Hindu Mandir look stunning as it glitters at night. Sight looks breathtaking as the architectural marvel shines. @WIONews pic.twitter.com/Oj9unP1ULo — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) February 12, 2024 × “Necessary measures need to be taken by companies to ensure outdoor work, if necessary to resume, complies with the occupational health and safety requirements, Companies must also ensure the health and safety of workers commuting to and from outdoor work locations,” said the ministry in its statement released on the social media platform. Also Read: PM Modi to inaugurate first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi | Check full schedule, details The Emirates Schools Establishment announced that additionally, the schools will continue to hold online classes and distance learning due to the weather. How ‘Ahlan Modi’ event has been affected by rains? The ‘Ahlan Modi’ (Hello Modi) event, which will be addressed by the prime minister later in the day, has been scaled down due to bad weather and the officials have been forced to reduce participation strength from 80,000 to 35,000, as reported by PTI. “Preparations for one of the biggest diaspora events of Prime Minister Modi at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi were going fine, but the participation was reduced because of the weather,” said community leader Sajeev Purushothaman, while speaking to PTI. The officials have received around 60,000 registrations for the interaction. However, now 35,000 to 40,000 people, which include those who will present cultural programmes, are likely to attend the interaction. PM Modi's UAE visit The prime minister's UAE visit will be his seventh visit since 2015, and his third visit in the last eight months. Watch: Indian PM Modi to attend World Government Summit 2024 as guest of honour in UAE The leader's engagements include a bilateral meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He will also meet UAE's vice president, prime minister and defence minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The prime minister will also take part in the World Government Summit 2024 as its Guest of Honour. He will inaugurate the BAPS Mandir, which is the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, on Feb 14. (With inputs from agencies)

UAE scales down Indian PM's 'Ahlan Modi’ event amid heavy downpour

6 Ayurvedic Morning Drinks To Bring Down Cholesterol Levels


Lemons contain fibre pectin which stops the absorption of cholesterol in the body and decreases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.

This beverage has antioxidant catechins which help in lowering LDL cholesterol.


This drink consumed in the morning helps in multiple health issues and lowers high cholesterol levels.

A glass of warm milk with a teaspoon of turmeric improves the health of the heart and helps in low blood pressure.


Amla juice is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants and helps stop cholesterol from oxidising in blood vessels and lowering LDL.


A tablespoon of overnight-soaked fenugreek seeds in strained water helps in promoting heart health and lowers low-density lipoproteins (LDLs).


Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.


6 Ayurvedic Morning Drinks To Bring Down Cholesterol Levels

7 Animals Consumed Alive By Human Beings


Humans eat frogs alive in some parts of Asia, especially in dishes like ‘san zhi er’ in China and ‘live frog sashimi’ in Japan.


In some Asian nations, live octopus is seen as a delicacy and is consumed in raw form, while the animal is still moving.


In a few regions of Asia, people enjoy monkey brains as a delicacy and it is sometimes consumed while the monkey is alive and not dead.


In the traditional Japanese dish ‘ikizukuri’, a fish is sliced and served while it is still alive and twitching.


In various cultures, people love to consume live squid. Live squid is served as ‘sannakji’ in Korea.

Live shrimp like ‘drunken shrimp is consumed in dishes by some people where the shrimp is soaked in liquor and then eaten while it is still alive.


In some parts of the world, insects and larvae like grasshoppers, bees and ants are either eaten alive or deep-fried.

<p lang="en-US">Russia's opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin's ardent critic Alexei Navalny had spent his last few weeks in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle before he reportedly died due to blood clotting.<br />
<br />
Various rights groups as well as Western nations had widely condemned his 19-year prison sentence, which was seen by many as a punishment for trying to cross President Vladimir Putin.<br />
<br />
While staying in prison, Navalny regularly sent messages through his lawyers and posted light-hearted messages on social media platforms.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Here's how Navalny described his final days in his own words</strong></h2>

<h3 lang="en-US">'I don't say ho-ho-ho, I say oh-oh-oh'</h3>

<p lang="en-US">Navalny shared his first message from the Arctic prison colony on December 26 as he reappeared after weeks of disappearance.<br />
<br />
Speaking from the icy IK-3 prison colony located in Yamal-Nenets' Siberian region, Navalny said, "I am your new grandfather Frost. I have a tulup, an ushanka and I will have valenki soon.”</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-opposition-politician-alexei-navalny-is-dead-reports-690945">Alexei Navalny, most ardent Putin critic in recent years dies in prison, says Russian state media</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">"I now live above the Arctic Circle ... But I don't say 'ho-ho-ho, I say 'oh-oh-oh' when I look out the window, where first there is night, then evening, then night again,” he added.<br />
<br />
He also spoke about getting tired from&nbsp;the 20-day journey he had to take to reach his new prison from his previous prison which was located in the central Vladimir region. "Don't worry about me, everything is well. I am so happy that I finally got here,” he said.<br />
<br />
Sharing more detail about the new Arctic prison, Navalny had said, "The idea that Putin was pleased (enough) that he had put me in a barracks in the Far North that they would stop throwing me in solitary confinement was ... naive.”<br />
<br />
He was allowed to go on a walk at 6:30 am when it was pitch black outside, speaking about which the 47-year-old said: "I promised myself I would go out in any weather."</p>

<h3 lang="en-US"><strong>'11 steps from wall to wall'</strong></h3>

<p lang="en-US">He described his prison in Arctic Circle as being "11 steps from wall to wall".<br />
<br />
In a January 9 post, Navalny said, "It has never been colder than minus 32 (Celsius). Even in such a temperature you can walk more than half an hour -- only if you have the time to grow back a nose, ears and fingers. Today I was walking, freezing and thinking about Leonardo DiCaprio and his trick with a dead horse in The Revenant."</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;EU says Russia 'sole responsible' for Navalny death</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-says-russia-sole-responsible-for-navalny-death-691002/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h3 lang="en-US"><strong>'Listening to I'm Russian'</strong></h3>

<p lang="en-US">The 47-year-old Putin critic also constantly ridiculed prison routines. On January 22, he wrote how the prison wardens would wake everyone up at IK-3 and play the Russian national anthem.<br />
<br />
"And right after that -- the second most important song in the country: Shaman's 'Ya Russky,'" Navalny said. The song, which means "I'm Russian" in English, has become President Vladimir Putin's unofficial anthem.<br />
<br />
"Imagine the scene. Yamal-Nenets region. Polar night. In a penal colony of convicts, prisoner Navalny serving 19 years -- who the Kremlin's propaganda for years has scolded for taking part in Russian marches -- is exercising to 'Ya Russky',” he said.</p>

<h3 lang="en-US"><strong>'I love you'</strong></h3>

<p lang="en-US">The last post was shared by Navalny on Valentine's Day and was dedicated to his wife Yulia.<br />
<br />
"Baby, you and I have everything, just like in the song: cities, airfield lights, blue snowstorms and thousands of kilometres between us. But I feel that you are near me every second, and I love you more and more,” he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russia's opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin's ardent critic Alexei Navalny had spent his last few weeks in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle before he reportedly died due to blood clotting.

Russia's opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin's ardent critic Alexei Navalny had spent his last few weeks in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle before he reportedly died due to blood clotting. Various rights groups as well as Western nations had widely condemned his 19-year prison sentence, which was seen by many as a punishment for trying to cross President Vladimir Putin. While staying in prison, Navalny regularly sent messages through his lawyers and posted light-hearted messages on social media platforms. Here's how Navalny described his final days in his own words 'I don't say ho-ho-ho, I say oh-oh-oh' Navalny shared his first message from the Arctic prison colony on December 26 as he reappeared after weeks of disappearance. Speaking from the icy IK-3 prison colony located in Yamal-Nenets' Siberian region, Navalny said, "I am your new grandfather Frost. I have a tulup, an ushanka and I will have valenki soon.” Also Read: Alexei Navalny, most ardent Putin critic in recent years dies in prison, says Russian state media "I now live above the Arctic Circle ... But I don't say 'ho-ho-ho, I say 'oh-oh-oh' when I look out the window, where first there is night, then evening, then night again,” he added. He also spoke about getting tired from the 20-day journey he had to take to reach his new prison from his previous prison which was located in the central Vladimir region. "Don't worry about me, everything is well. I am so happy that I finally got here,” he said. Sharing more detail about the new Arctic prison, Navalny had said, "The idea that Putin was pleased (enough) that he had put me in a barracks in the Far North that they would stop throwing me in solitary confinement was ... naive.” He was allowed to go on a walk at 6:30 am when it was pitch black outside, speaking about which the 47-year-old said: "I promised myself I would go out in any weather." '11 steps from wall to wall' He described his prison in Arctic Circle as being "11 steps from wall to wall". In a January 9 post, Navalny said, "It has never been colder than minus 32 (Celsius). Even in such a temperature you can walk more than half an hour -- only if you have the time to grow back a nose, ears and fingers. Today I was walking, freezing and thinking about Leonardo DiCaprio and his trick with a dead horse in The Revenant." Watch: EU says Russia 'sole responsible' for Navalny death 'Listening to I'm Russian' The 47-year-old Putin critic also constantly ridiculed prison routines. On January 22, he wrote how the prison wardens would wake everyone up at IK-3 and play the Russian national anthem. "And right after that -- the second most important song in the country: Shaman's 'Ya Russky,'" Navalny said. The song, which means "I'm Russian" in English, has become President Vladimir Putin's unofficial anthem. "Imagine the scene. Yamal-Nenets region. Polar night. In a penal colony of convicts, prisoner Navalny serving 19 years -- who the Kremlin's propaganda for years has scolded for taking part in Russian marches -- is exercising to 'Ya Russky',” he said. 'I love you' The last post was shared by Navalny on Valentine's Day and was dedicated to his wife Yulia. "Baby, you and I have everything, just like in the song: cities, airfield lights, blue snowstorms and thousands of kilometres between us. But I feel that you are near me every second, and I love you more and more,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

'From ho-ho-ho to I love you': Here's how Putin critic Alexei Navalny described his last days in Arctic prison

<p lang="en-US">Ukraine's General Oleksandr Tarnavsky early on Saturday (Feb 17) said that the Ukrainian forces withdrew from the eastern town of Avdiivka, where the situation had considerably deteriorated in the past few days. The step was taken by Ukraine, hours after it signed the French security deal.<br />
<br />
"Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defence on more favourable lines," said Tarnavsky, on Telegram.<br />
<br />
"In a situation where the enemy is advancing over the corpses of their own soldiers with a ten-to-one shelling advantage, under constant bombardment, this is the only right decision. Encirclement was prevented, personnel were withdrawn, and our soldiers took up defence at the designated lines,” he added.<br />
<br />
Avdiivka, which is a gateway to Donetsk,&nbsp;a city seized by Russia, has been completely destroyed after seeing fierce fighting in recent months.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-says-reinforcing-troops-in-embattled-eastern-town-of-avdiivka-as-russia-steps-up-attacks-690872">Ukraine says reinforcing troops in embattled eastern town of Avdiivka as Russia steps up attacks</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">Since 2014, it became a battlefield town after large swathes of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions were seized by the Russian-backed fighters.<br />
<br />
The fall of Avdiivka marks the most significant change in the front line since Russia seized Bakhmut in May 2023. On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.<br />
<br />
This was also the first major decision taken by Ukraine's new military chief Oleksandr Syrsky after being appointed on February 8. Syrsky said that the troops were withdrawn to preserve the lives of soldiers and stop their encirclement.<br />
<br />
"I decided to withdraw our units from the city and switch to defence on more favourable lines,” said Syrsky on Facebook. "Our soldiers performed their military duty with dignity, did everything possible to destroy the best Russian military units and inflicted significant losses on the enemy," he added.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Zelensky signs French security deal</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Ukrainian&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (Feb 16) signed a security pact at the Elysee palace, hours after signing a similar deal with Germany, which was hailed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a "historic step" to confirm the country's support to Kyiv in the battle against Russia.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Medical use of Cannabis now legal in Ukraine</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-medical-use-of-cannabis-now-legal-in-ukraine-691075/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">The agreement with France includes a French pledge to provide Ukraine with up to €3 billion ($3.2 billion) in aid for 2024, as per&nbsp;officials. The pact is likely to go on for 10 years and will strengthen co-operation between the two countries in the area of artillery.<br />
<br />
As per&nbsp;officials, the deal is aimed at helping Ukraine with the "re-establishment of its territorial integrity within its internationally-recognised borders", and forestall "any renewed Russian aggression".<br />
<br />
"France affirms that a future Ukrainian membership would constitute a useful contribution to peace and stability in Europe," the officials said, quoting the agreement.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>


Ukraine's General Oleksandr Tarnavsky early on Saturday (Feb 17) said that the Ukrainian forces withdrew from the eastern town of Avdiivka, where the situation had considerably deteriorated in the past few days.

Ukraine's General Oleksandr Tarnavsky early on Saturday (Feb 17) said that the Ukrainian forces withdrew from the eastern town of Avdiivka, where the situation had considerably deteriorated in the past few days. The step was taken by Ukraine, hours after it signed the French security deal. "Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defence on more favourable lines," said Tarnavsky, on Telegram. "In a situation where the enemy is advancing over the corpses of their own soldiers with a ten-to-one shelling advantage, under constant bombardment, this is the only right decision. Encirclement was prevented, personnel were withdrawn, and our soldiers took up defence at the designated lines,” he added. Avdiivka, which is a gateway to Donetsk, a city seized by Russia, has been completely destroyed after seeing fierce fighting in recent months. Also Read: Ukraine says reinforcing troops in embattled eastern town of Avdiivka as Russia steps up attacks Since 2014, it became a battlefield town after large swathes of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions were seized by the Russian-backed fighters. The fall of Avdiivka marks the most significant change in the front line since Russia seized Bakhmut in May 2023. On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. This was also the first major decision taken by Ukraine's new military chief Oleksandr Syrsky after being appointed on February 8. Syrsky said that the troops were withdrawn to preserve the lives of soldiers and stop their encirclement. "I decided to withdraw our units from the city and switch to defence on more favourable lines,” said Syrsky on Facebook. "Our soldiers performed their military duty with dignity, did everything possible to destroy the best Russian military units and inflicted significant losses on the enemy," he added. Zelensky signs French security deal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (Feb 16) signed a security pact at the Elysee palace, hours after signing a similar deal with Germany, which was hailed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a "historic step" to confirm the country's support to Kyiv in the battle against Russia. Watch: Medical use of Cannabis now legal in Ukraine The agreement with France includes a French pledge to provide Ukraine with up to €3 billion ($3.2 billion) in aid for 2024, as per officials. The pact is likely to go on for 10 years and will strengthen co-operation between the two countries in the area of artillery. As per officials, the deal is aimed at helping Ukraine with the "re-establishment of its territorial integrity within its internationally-recognised borders", and forestall "any renewed Russian aggression". "France affirms that a future Ukrainian membership would constitute a useful contribution to peace and stability in Europe," the officials said, quoting the agreement. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Ukraine withdraws forces from Avdiivka, hours after signing French security deal

<p lang="en-US">A massive fire broke out in the Indian city of Mumbai on Saturday (Feb 17) in which at least 15 shops&nbsp;and&nbsp;some houses were damaged. The fire started around 4 am local time in Govandi's Baiganwadi.<br />
<br />
There haven't been reports of any injuries so far. According to officials, nearly 15 commercial units on the ground floor and some houses – on the first floor – suffered damages in the fire.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Maharashtra: Fire broke out in the early hours of 17th February, in a slum in Adarsh Nagar located in the Govandi area of Mumbai. More than nine fire brigades reached the spot as soon as the information about the fire was received. About 10-15 houses were gutted in the… <a href="https://t.co/TRwM1SYbO4">pic.twitter.com/TRwM1SYbO4</a></p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">VIDEO | A massive fire broke out in Baiganwadi, Adarsh Nagar area of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a> earlier today. Rescue work underway. More details are awaited.<br />
<br />
(Source: Third Party) <a href="https://t.co/Hzrm7d3VUo">pic.twitter.com/Hzrm7d3VUo</a></p>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1758688990708826609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>In the video, the residents were seen throwing buckets of water on the blazing fire. The massive blaze engulfed electric wiring and installation, household items, AC sheets, plastic sheets, LPG cylinders, wooden planks, and furniture.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fire-at-paint-factory-in-delhis-alipur-claims-3-lives-leaves-3-injured-690688">India: 11 dead in fire at a paint factory in Delhi's Alipur</a></p>

<p>About 20 two-wheelers also suffered damage in the fire. More than nine fire brigades were present at the spot. Mumbai Police and fire officials were also present at the site of the incident.</p>

<p>The exact cause behind the fire remained unknown.</p>

<h2><strong>Days back, another fire incident took place in national capital</strong></h2>

<p>Two days earlier, a massive fire broke out in a paint factory in the Alipur area of New Delhi, in which at least 11 people were killed. The firemen took approximately three hours to bring the fire under control and later discovered&nbsp;bodies&nbsp;in search operation.</p>

<p>Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the site where fire broke out and took stock of the situation.</p>

<p>"11 people have died and 4 injured. The families of the victims will be given an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh, those who have sustained serious injuries will get Rs 2 lakh&nbsp;and those with minor injuries will be given Rs 20,000. The nearby shops and houses that got burnt in the fire will also be compensated after assessing the loss," he said.</p>

<p>"It is being said that the fire tenders were late, I will order an inquiry for the same. Action&nbsp;will be taken against the factory owner for running the factory in a residential area," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A massive fire broke out in the Indian city of Mumbai on Saturday (Feb 17) in which at least 15 shops and some houses were damaged. The fire started around 4 am local time in Govandi's Baiganwadi.

A massive fire broke out in the Indian city of Mumbai on Saturday (Feb 17) in which at least 15 shops and some houses were damaged. The fire started around 4 am local time in Govandi's Baiganwadi. There haven't been reports of any injuries so far. According to officials, nearly 15 commercial units on the ground floor and some houses – on the first floor – suffered damages in the fire. #WATCH | Maharashtra: Fire broke out in the early hours of 17th February, in a slum in Adarsh Nagar located in the Govandi area of Mumbai. More than nine fire brigades reached the spot as soon as the information about the fire was received. About 10-15 houses were gutted in the… pic.twitter.com/TRwM1SYbO4 — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2024 × VIDEO | A massive fire broke out in Baiganwadi, Adarsh Nagar area of #Mumbai earlier today. Rescue work underway. More details are awaited. (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/Hzrm7d3VUo — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 17, 2024 × In the video, the residents were seen throwing buckets of water on the blazing fire. The massive blaze engulfed electric wiring and installation, household items, AC sheets, plastic sheets, LPG cylinders, wooden planks, and furniture. Also Read: India: 11 dead in fire at a paint factory in Delhi's Alipur About 20 two-wheelers also suffered damage in the fire. More than nine fire brigades were present at the spot. Mumbai Police and fire officials were also present at the site of the incident. The exact cause behind the fire remained unknown. Days back, another fire incident took place in national capital Two days earlier, a massive fire broke out in a paint factory in the Alipur area of New Delhi, in which at least 11 people were killed. The firemen took approximately three hours to bring the fire under control and later discovered bodies in search operation. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the site where fire broke out and took stock of the situation. "11 people have died and 4 injured. The families of the victims will be given an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh, those who have sustained serious injuries will get Rs 2 lakh and those with minor injuries will be given Rs 20,000. The nearby shops and houses that got burnt in the fire will also be compensated after assessing the loss," he said. "It is being said that the fire tenders were late, I will order an inquiry for the same. Action will be taken against the factory owner for running the factory in a residential area," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

India: 15 shops, houses gutted in massive fire in Mumbai, people use buckets to put off blaze

<p lang="en-US">In a new survey of the surface of Mars carried out by scientists, it was found that the volcanoes which littered the red planet are likely to resemble the rumblings which were on Earth before the formation of tectonic plates around 3 billion years ago.<br />
<br />
Scientists believe that the surprisingly violent history of Mars is likely to reveal some clues regarding the past of the Earth.<br />
<br />
The scars of volcanic activity, which were found in the Eridania region of the planet's southern hemisphere, were catalogued by planetary scientist Joseph Michalski of the University of Hong Kong and his colleagues with the use of remote sensing data from different orbiters.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-life-existed-near-ancient-mile-deep-lake-active-volcanoes-on-mars-scientists-suggest-so-689875">Alien life existed near ancient mile-deep lake, active volcanoes on Mars? Scientists suggest so</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">At present, the Earth has a crust of interlocking continental plates which float above its viscous mantle and Mars is usually considered as a one-plate planet which once had active volcanoes. These volcanoes were massive in size and explosive in nature and Olympus was the largest among them – its volume being 100 times greater than Earth's biggest Mauna Loa in Hawaii.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Why were volcanoes on Mars so large in size?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The volcanoes on planet Mars were so large because the planet had less number of tectonic plates which help in venting the pressures of a churning mantle. Mars' geological history has not been recycled like that of our planet and can contain inklings of how Earth's crust may have been formed.<br />
<br />
"The planet Mars represents a particularly valuable puzzle piece in this regard," wrote Michalski and his colleagues in their published paper.<br />
<br />
"Though the crust is heavily impact cratered, the ancient geologic record remains largely intact and therefore provides an invaluable window into early Solar System geological conditions and clues to early crustal evolution,” the researchers explained.<br />
<br />
According to the researchers, they may be able to find hundreds more volcanoes in the Eridania region, many of which may have probably erupted beneath an ancient sea. This is likely to provide a good parallel to what happened on Earth during the Archean period when the planet was mostly constituted of water and the earliest forms of life came into existence.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Elon Musk reveals 'Game Plan' to relocate millions people on Mars</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elon-musk-reveals-game-plan-to-relocate-millions-people-on-mars-689583/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">"It's just astonishing to think about the scale of activity in this region," said study author and planetary geologist at the Planetary Science Institute Aster Cowart, while speaking to Space.com.<br />
<br />
"Seeing a Martian landscape shaped by these processes and preserved in stasis provides us with a great opportunity to investigate planetary landscape evolution in more detail,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a new survey of the surface of Mars carried out by scientists, it was found that the volcanoes which littered the red planet are likely to resemble the rumblings which were on Earth before the formation of tectonic plates around 3 billion years ago.

In a new survey of the surface of Mars carried out by scientists, it was found that the volcanoes which littered the red planet are likely to resemble the rumblings which were on Earth before the formation of tectonic plates around 3 billion years ago. Scientists believe that the surprisingly violent history of Mars is likely to reveal some clues regarding the past of the Earth. The scars of volcanic activity, which were found in the Eridania region of the planet's southern hemisphere, were catalogued by planetary scientist Joseph Michalski of the University of Hong Kong and his colleagues with the use of remote sensing data from different orbiters. Also Read: Alien life existed near ancient mile-deep lake, active volcanoes on Mars? Scientists suggest so At present, the Earth has a crust of interlocking continental plates which float above its viscous mantle and Mars is usually considered as a one-plate planet which once had active volcanoes. These volcanoes were massive in size and explosive in nature and Olympus was the largest among them – its volume being 100 times greater than Earth's biggest Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Why were volcanoes on Mars so large in size? The volcanoes on planet Mars were so large because the planet had less number of tectonic plates which help in venting the pressures of a churning mantle. Mars' geological history has not been recycled like that of our planet and can contain inklings of how Earth's crust may have been formed. "The planet Mars represents a particularly valuable puzzle piece in this regard," wrote Michalski and his colleagues in their published paper. "Though the crust is heavily impact cratered, the ancient geologic record remains largely intact and therefore provides an invaluable window into early Solar System geological conditions and clues to early crustal evolution,” the researchers explained. According to the researchers, they may be able to find hundreds more volcanoes in the Eridania region, many of which may have probably erupted beneath an ancient sea. This is likely to provide a good parallel to what happened on Earth during the Archean period when the planet was mostly constituted of water and the earliest forms of life came into existence. Watch: Elon Musk reveals 'Game Plan' to relocate millions people on Mars "It's just astonishing to think about the scale of activity in this region," said study author and planetary geologist at the Planetary Science Institute Aster Cowart, while speaking to Space.com. "Seeing a Martian landscape shaped by these processes and preserved in stasis provides us with a great opportunity to investigate planetary landscape evolution in more detail,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Secrets of Earth’s lost past hidden in ancient volcanoes on Mars? Scientists suggest so...

<p lang="en-US">Millions of years ago, vertebrates were infected by an ancient virus which then played an important role in the evolution of human beings' advanced brains and large bodies, according to a new study.<br />
<br />
The research, which was published in the journal Cell, studied the origins of myelin which is an insulating layer of fatty tissue that gets formed around nerves and permits electrical impulses to travel at a faster speed.<br />
<br />
As per the authors, a gene sequence which was taken from retroviruses, that invades the DNA of their host, is important for myelin production, and that code has now been discovered in modern mammals, amphibians and fish.<br />
<br />
"The thing I find the most remarkable is that all of the diversity of modern vertebrates that we know of, and the size they've achieved: elephants, giraffes, anacondas, bullfrogs, condors wouldn't have happened," said senior author and neuroscientist Robin Franklin of Altos Labs-Cambridge Institute of Science while speaking to AFP.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/what-is-alaskapox-the-newly-found-viral-disease-that-has-already-claimed-one-life-689507">What is Alaskapox? The newly-found viral disease that has already claimed one life</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">A team, headed by computational biologist and geneticist in Franklin's lab Tanay Ghosh, went through genome databases in an attempt to find genetics that were most probably associated with the cells which produce myelin.<br />
<br />
However, he was interested in exploring mysterious "noncoding regions" regarding the genome which have no obvious function and were earlier dismissed as junk, however, they are now seen as having evolutionary importance.<br />
<br />
The research by Ghosh helped him reach a particular sequence which was derived from an endogenous retrovirus, called "RetroMyelin". This has been lurking in our genes for a long duration.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Faster reactions led to bigger bodies</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The researchers then searched for RetroMyelin-like sequences which are present in the genomes of other species and discovered similar codes in jawed vertebrates like mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. However, they were missing in invertebrates or jawless vertebrates.<br />
<br />
The researchers further concluded that the sequence appeared in the tree of life at the same time as jaws, which came into existence around 360 million years ago in the Devonian period, which is also known as the Age of Fishes.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | Alaskapox: The new killer virus claims its first victim</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-alaskapox-the-new-killer-virus-claims-its-first-victim-690338/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">"There's always been an evolutionary pressure to make nerve fibres conduct electrical impulses quicker. If they do that quicker, then you can act quicker," said Franklin, adding that is useful for both prey trying to flee and predators trying to catch things.<br />
<br />
Myelin also allows rapid impulse conduction without increasing the diameter of nerve cells, because of which they are packed closer together. It also extends structural support which means nerves are free to grow longer, eventually leading to longer limbs.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Millions of years ago, vertebrates were infected by an ancient virus which then played an important role in the evolution of human beings' advanced brains and large bodies, according to a new study.

Millions of years ago, vertebrates were infected by an ancient virus which then played an important role in the evolution of human beings' advanced brains and large bodies, according to a new study. The research, which was published in the journal Cell, studied the origins of myelin which is an insulating layer of fatty tissue that gets formed around nerves and permits electrical impulses to travel at a faster speed. As per the authors, a gene sequence which was taken from retroviruses, that invades the DNA of their host, is important for myelin production, and that code has now been discovered in modern mammals, amphibians and fish. "The thing I find the most remarkable is that all of the diversity of modern vertebrates that we know of, and the size they've achieved: elephants, giraffes, anacondas, bullfrogs, condors wouldn't have happened," said senior author and neuroscientist Robin Franklin of Altos Labs-Cambridge Institute of Science while speaking to AFP. Also Read: What is Alaskapox? The newly-found viral disease that has already claimed one life A team, headed by computational biologist and geneticist in Franklin's lab Tanay Ghosh, went through genome databases in an attempt to find genetics that were most probably associated with the cells which produce myelin. However, he was interested in exploring mysterious "noncoding regions" regarding the genome which have no obvious function and were earlier dismissed as junk, however, they are now seen as having evolutionary importance. The research by Ghosh helped him reach a particular sequence which was derived from an endogenous retrovirus, called "RetroMyelin". This has been lurking in our genes for a long duration. Faster reactions led to bigger bodies The researchers then searched for RetroMyelin-like sequences which are present in the genomes of other species and discovered similar codes in jawed vertebrates like mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. However, they were missing in invertebrates or jawless vertebrates. The researchers further concluded that the sequence appeared in the tree of life at the same time as jaws, which came into existence around 360 million years ago in the Devonian period, which is also known as the Age of Fishes. Watch: Gravitas | Alaskapox: The new killer virus claims its first victim "There's always been an evolutionary pressure to make nerve fibres conduct electrical impulses quicker. If they do that quicker, then you can act quicker," said Franklin, adding that is useful for both prey trying to flee and predators trying to catch things. Myelin also allows rapid impulse conduction without increasing the diameter of nerve cells, because of which they are packed closer together. It also extends structural support which means nerves are free to grow longer, eventually leading to longer limbs. (With inputs from agencies)

Human bodies shaped by ancient viruses millions of years ago: Study

<p lang="en-US">Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah pledged on Friday (Feb 16) to make Israel pay "with blood" for the civilians who were killed in Lebanon earlier this week as he warned that the group possesses missiles which can reach any place in Israel.<br />
<br />
"The enemy will pay with blood" for every child and woman who lost their lives during a cross-border fire in Lebanon, said Nasrallah, in a televised address.<br />
<br />
He further said that his Iran-backed movement has "precision-guided missiles that can reach... Eilat", on the Red Sea coast of Israel, beyond the northern towns which are generally targeted in retaliatory strikes.<br />
<br />
Hezbollah, which is an ally of Hamas, has been exchanging fires with its arch-foe Israel since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also Read:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-army-claims-to-have-killed-hezbollah-commander-in-lebanon-strike-690703">&nbsp;Israel Army claims to have killed Hezbollah commander in Lebanon strike</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">February 14 turned out as the bloodiest day for Lebanon when the Israeli military claimed that they had killed Hezbollah commander Ali al-Debs along with his deputy and another fighter in Nabatiyeh.<br />
<br />
In the strikes, 10 civilians were also killed as well as two other Hezbollah fighters, as per an AFP tally. Nasrallah said that civilians were killed with the aim of "putting pressure" on Hezbollah to launch attacks on Israel, however, they emphasised that the group will intensify its ongoing cross-border firing.<br />
<br />
"The response to the massacre must be to pursue the resistance (against Israel)" and Hezbollah will not just strike "(military) positions... and spying equipment" as it has carried out before, Nasrallah said.<br />
<br />
The Israeli army said that the strikes were carried out on Feb 14 after a soldier lost his life in a rocket fired from Lebanon. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets which were fired at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona and said that this was their "first response" to the deadly Israeli strikes.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>UN reiterates 'rules of war: protect civilians'</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) appealed "intensified" diplomatic efforts "to restore stability and safeguard the safety of civilians" after the bloodshed on Wednesday (Feb 14).</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Israel-Hamas War: Hezbollah says Israel will pay 'in blood' for killing civilians</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-hezbollah-says-israel-will-pay-in-blood-for-killing-civilians-691090/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">"The devastation, loss of life and injuries witnessed are deeply concerning," said UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti, appealing "all parties involved to halt hostilities immediately to prevent further escalation".<br />
<br />
UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza said that "the rules of war are clear: parties must protect civilians".<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the deadly Israeli strikes and vowed to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah pledged on Friday (Feb 16) to make Israel pay "with blood" for the civilians who were killed in Lebanon earlier this week as he warned that the group possesses missiles which can reach any place in Israel.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah pledged on Friday (Feb 16) to make Israel pay "with blood" for the civilians who were killed in Lebanon earlier this week as he warned that the group possesses missiles which can reach any place in Israel. "The enemy will pay with blood" for every child and woman who lost their lives during a cross-border fire in Lebanon, said Nasrallah, in a televised address. He further said that his Iran-backed movement has "precision-guided missiles that can reach... Eilat", on the Red Sea coast of Israel, beyond the northern towns which are generally targeted in retaliatory strikes. Hezbollah, which is an ally of Hamas, has been exchanging fires with its arch-foe Israel since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7. Also Read: Israel Army claims to have killed Hezbollah commander in Lebanon strike February 14 turned out as the bloodiest day for Lebanon when the Israeli military claimed that they had killed Hezbollah commander Ali al-Debs along with his deputy and another fighter in Nabatiyeh. In the strikes, 10 civilians were also killed as well as two other Hezbollah fighters, as per an AFP tally. Nasrallah said that civilians were killed with the aim of "putting pressure" on Hezbollah to launch attacks on Israel, however, they emphasised that the group will intensify its ongoing cross-border firing. "The response to the massacre must be to pursue the resistance (against Israel)" and Hezbollah will not just strike "(military) positions... and spying equipment" as it has carried out before, Nasrallah said. The Israeli army said that the strikes were carried out on Feb 14 after a soldier lost his life in a rocket fired from Lebanon. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets which were fired at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona and said that this was their "first response" to the deadly Israeli strikes. UN reiterates 'rules of war: protect civilians' The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) appealed "intensified" diplomatic efforts "to restore stability and safeguard the safety of civilians" after the bloodshed on Wednesday (Feb 14). Watch: Israel-Hamas War: Hezbollah says Israel will pay 'in blood' for killing civilians "The devastation, loss of life and injuries witnessed are deeply concerning," said UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti, appealing "all parties involved to halt hostilities immediately to prevent further escalation". UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza said that "the rules of war are clear: parties must protect civilians". Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the deadly Israeli strikes and vowed to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel will pay 'with blood', vows Hezbollah chief after killing of Lebanon civilians

<p lang="en-US">Israel carried out&nbsp;attacks on two major gas pipelines in Iran on February 14, which&nbsp;led to disruption of&nbsp;supplies, reported The New York Times.<br />
<br />
The report, which cited Western officials as well as military strategists who are affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, claimed that the attacks caused disruption in the flow of cooking gas and heat to provinces where millions of people lived.<br />
<br />
Speaking to the Iranian media regarding the attack, the country's Oil Minister Javad Owji said, "The enemy’s plan was to completely disrupt the flow of gas in winter to several main cities and provinces in our country."</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-pipelines-hit-in-act-of-terrorism-and-sabotage-gas-supply-disrupted-690236">Iranian pipelines hit in act of ‘terrorism and sabotage’, gas supply disrupted</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">However, the minister did not blame Israel publicly, even though he has called such incidents&nbsp;"sabotage and terrorist attacks" on earlier occasions.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Iran vs&nbsp;Israel</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Even though such attacks rarely happen in Iran,&nbsp;terrorists in the country had claimed in 2017 that two pipelines were blown by them in co-ordinated attacks which were carried out in western Khuzestan province of Iran.<br />
<br />
Five people, who were accused of having links with Israel's Mossad intelligence service, were executed by Iran in December as part of a decades-long shadow war in which Tehran has accused Israel of carrying out attacks on its nuclear and missile efforts.<br />
<br />
As per reports, Israel has been targeting Iran's military and nuclear sites for a long time and has also carried out the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists and commanders.<br />
<br />
Cyberattacks have also been waged by Israel to disable servers which belong to the oil ministry and create chaos at gas stations nationwide.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Tehran: Gas pipeline exploded in an 'act of sabotage'</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tehran-gas-pipeline-exploded-in-an-act-of-sabotage-690980/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">Iran has stated that it does not wish to indulge in a direct war with the United States and has also denied its direct involvement in either the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel or the attacks carried out on American and Israeli targets since the war started.<br />
<br />
However, Iran faces the accusation of supporting a network of proxy militias which have been fighting actively against Israel and the United States, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and terrorists in Iraq and Syria.<br />
<br />
Iran also faces the accusation of providing arms and training to Hamas and other Palestinian fighters.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Israel carried out attacks on two major gas pipelines in Iran on February 14, which led to disruption of supplies, reported The New York Times. The report, which cited Western officials as well as military strategists who are affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, claimed that the attacks caused disruption in the flow of cooking gas and heat to provinces where millions of people lived.

Israel carried out attacks on two major gas pipelines in Iran on February 14, which led to disruption of supplies, reported The New York Times. The report, which cited Western officials as well as military strategists who are affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, claimed that the attacks caused disruption in the flow of cooking gas and heat to provinces where millions of people lived. Speaking to the Iranian media regarding the attack, the country's Oil Minister Javad Owji said, "The enemy’s plan was to completely disrupt the flow of gas in winter to several main cities and provinces in our country." Also Read: Iranian pipelines hit in act of ‘terrorism and sabotage’, gas supply disrupted However, the minister did not blame Israel publicly, even though he has called such incidents "sabotage and terrorist attacks" on earlier occasions. Iran vs Israel Even though such attacks rarely happen in Iran, terrorists in the country had claimed in 2017 that two pipelines were blown by them in co-ordinated attacks which were carried out in western Khuzestan province of Iran. Five people, who were accused of having links with Israel's Mossad intelligence service, were executed by Iran in December as part of a decades-long shadow war in which Tehran has accused Israel of carrying out attacks on its nuclear and missile efforts. As per reports, Israel has been targeting Iran's military and nuclear sites for a long time and has also carried out the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists and commanders. Cyberattacks have also been waged by Israel to disable servers which belong to the oil ministry and create chaos at gas stations nationwide. Watch: Tehran: Gas pipeline exploded in an 'act of sabotage' Iran has stated that it does not wish to indulge in a direct war with the United States and has also denied its direct involvement in either the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel or the attacks carried out on American and Israeli targets since the war started. However, Iran faces the accusation of supporting a network of proxy militias which have been fighting actively against Israel and the United States, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and terrorists in Iraq and Syria. Iran also faces the accusation of providing arms and training to Hamas and other Palestinian fighters. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel attacked two major Iranian pipelines, disrupted supply: Report

6 Amazing Health Benefits Of Drinking Barley Water Early Morning

A glass of barley water is filled with soluble fibre which helps lower cholesterol and keeps your heart healthy.


The high-fibre content in barley water makes one feel full for longer and aids weight loss.


Barley water can be called a natural detox drink because it removes all the toxins from your body. It also helps in proper functioning of kidneys and fights against the formation of kidney stones.


Barley water improves digestive health and enables digestion. It is good for constipation and promotes regular bowel movement.


Barley water is filled with antioxidants, vitamin C, and selenium and improves the immune system. It also builds the body's defence against diseases and infections.

A glass of barley water early in the morning replenishes the body's electrolytes and keeps it well hydrated.


Barley water improves the health of the skin. It increases the production of collagen and reduces signs of ageing.


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