<p>The researchers at NASA, while sidestepping the ban imposed by the United States, have been allowed to study the moon samples collected by China, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the space agencies of the two countries.<br />
<br />
The laws by the US have till now kept NASA and its counterpart the China National Space Administration (CNSA) at a distance, but now they have been allowed to work together, the South China Morning Post reported.<br />
<br />
The US space agency, in an email, said that it had “certified its intent to Congress” to allow the researchers funded by NASA to apply to the CNSA for gaining access to the lunar samples, which have been collected by Chang’e 5 mission of China in 2020.<br />
<br />
Normally, as per the Wolf Amendment which was passed in 2011 by the US Congress and given name after then-Republican senator Frank Wolf, the applications will be illegal as it places a ban on NASA from cooperating with China unless they have been authorised by lawmakers.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-odyssey-orbiter-acts-as-space-station-to-mars-to-capture-its-atmosphere-from-top-664467">NASA's Odyssey orbiter acts as Space Station to Mars to capture its atmosphere from top</a></p>

<p>As per the email from NASA, the application for access to moon samples was important because of the “unique value” of the Chinese samples, which were “made available recently to the international scientific community for research purposes”.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA gives green light to applications in exceptional case</strong></h2>

<p>The email clearly stated that the applications were given a green light in an exceptional case. “This allowance applies specifically to Chang’e 5 mission samples; the normal prohibition on bilateral activity with PRC on Nasa-funded projects remains in place,” it said, making reference to the People’s Republic of China.<br />
<br />
According to the email, the samples come from a lunar region “not yet sampled by NASA” and are expected to provide insights into the geological history of the moon, and the Earth-moon system, and potentially help Nasa make future lunar exploration plans.<br />
<br />
“Applying for samples will ensure that United States researchers have the same research opportunities as scientists around the world,” said the agency.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;NASA satellites discover a 6-planet in-sync solar system</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-satellites-discover-a-6-planet-in-sync-solar-system-665105/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Planetary geoscientist at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island James Head said that internationally there has been “great enthusiasm” for studying the samples. He added that “many colleagues will be applying”, now that access has been allowed by NASA. “It should be a very large set of applications,” he said.<br />
<br />
He added that although multiple fundamental questions have been addressed by the scientists after analysing a few samples, the participation of foreign scientists can “bring even more interest and different perspectives to tackle these critical problems”.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The researchers at NASA, while sidestepping the ban imposed by the United States, have been allowed to study the moon samples collected by China, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the space agencies of the two countries.

The researchers at NASA, while sidestepping the ban imposed by the United States, have been allowed to study the moon samples collected by China, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the space agencies of the two countries. The laws by the US have till now kept NASA and its counterpart the China National Space Administration (CNSA) at a distance, but now they have been allowed to work together, the South China Morning Post reported. The US space agency, in an email, said that it had “certified its intent to Congress” to allow the researchers funded by NASA to apply to the CNSA for gaining access to the lunar samples, which have been collected by Chang’e 5 mission of China in 2020. Normally, as per the Wolf Amendment which was passed in 2011 by the US Congress and given name after then-Republican senator Frank Wolf, the applications will be illegal as it places a ban on NASA from cooperating with China unless they have been authorised by lawmakers. Also read: NASA's Odyssey orbiter acts as Space Station to Mars to capture its atmosphere from top As per the email from NASA, the application for access to moon samples was important because of the “unique value” of the Chinese samples, which were “made available recently to the international scientific community for research purposes”. NASA gives green light to applications in exceptional case The email clearly stated that the applications were given a green light in an exceptional case. “This allowance applies specifically to Chang’e 5 mission samples; the normal prohibition on bilateral activity with PRC on Nasa-funded projects remains in place,” it said, making reference to the People’s Republic of China. According to the email, the samples come from a lunar region “not yet sampled by NASA” and are expected to provide insights into the geological history of the moon, and the Earth-moon system, and potentially help Nasa make future lunar exploration plans. “Applying for samples will ensure that United States researchers have the same research opportunities as scientists around the world,” said the agency. Watch: NASA satellites discover a 6-planet in-sync solar system Planetary geoscientist at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island James Head said that internationally there has been “great enthusiasm” for studying the samples. He added that “many colleagues will be applying”, now that access has been allowed by NASA. “It should be a very large set of applications,” he said. He added that although multiple fundamental questions have been addressed by the scientists after analysing a few samples, the participation of foreign scientists can “bring even more interest and different perspectives to tackle these critical problems”. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA sidesteps ban by US, appeals researchers to gather moon samples from China

<p>Telangana's outgoing chief minister and BRS leader K Chandrashekar Rao's son KT Rama Rao interestingly took a dig at himself as he re-shared his less-than-a-day-old post on X after his party Bharat Rashtra Samithi lost the state elections on Sunday (Dec 3).<br />
<br />
Less than 24 hours before the defeat, an overconfident KT Rama Rao had shared a picture of himself with a gun aiming towards the screen and captioned it: "Hattrick Loading 3.0. Get ready to celebrate guys."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-election-results-2023-brs-concedes-defeat-extends-congratulations-to-congress-665743">Telangana election results 2023: BRS concedes defeat, extends congratulations to Congress</a></p>

<p>However, as the trends started coming on Sunday morning (Dec 3), the BRS was left stunned by the Congress – a party which failed to make a mark in any other state – in the southern state of Telangana as it secured the lead in most of the seats.</p>

<h2><strong>Three-state loser Congress takes jibe on KTR's tweet, says 'aiming for car tyres'?</strong></h2>

<p>Three-state loser Congress, after getting buoyed by the good numbers in the trends in only Telangana, reposted a tweet of KTR and wrote, “Were you aiming for car tyres?"</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Were you aiming for car tyres? <a href="https://t.co/5LPsKRjE4A">pic.twitter.com/5LPsKRjE4A</a></p>
— Telangana Congress (@INCTelangana) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCTelangana/status/1731204654045052997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Interestingly, the election symbol of the BRS is a car.</p>

<p>By Sunday afternoon, Congress consolidated its victory in Telangana and KTR, reposting his own post, wrote, "This one ain't gonna age well. Missed the mark."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This one ain’t gonna age well 😁<br />
<br />
Missed the mark <a href="https://t.co/IUN1vKdTsc">https://t.co/IUN1vKdTsc</a></p>
— KTR (@KTRBRS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KTRBRS/status/1731248779993792635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>Conceding the defeat, KTR said, "Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving BRS two consecutive terms of government. Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in the expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back. Congratulations to the Congress on winning the mandate. Wishing you good luck."</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Telangana assembly election results 2023: Congress takes early lead&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/telangana-assembly-election-results-2023-congress-takes-early-lead-wion-665622/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Increasing&nbsp;the distress of BRS, two-time Chief Minister of the state Rao and young state chief of Congress Revanth Reddy both lost the seats in Kamareddy as BJP's Ramana Reddy clinched a shocking victory.<br />
<br />
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which was renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi, had spearheaded the statehood movement of Telangana and received unwavering support in the last decade since the state was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Telangana's outgoing chief minister and BRS leader K Chandrashekar Rao's son KT Rama Rao interestingly took a dig at himself as he re-shared his less-than-a-day-old post on X after his party Bharat Rashtra Samithi lost the state elections on Sunday (Dec 3).

Telangana's outgoing chief minister and BRS leader K Chandrashekar Rao's son KT Rama Rao interestingly took a dig at himself as he re-shared his less-than-a-day-old post on X after his party Bharat Rashtra Samithi lost the state elections on Sunday (Dec 3). Less than 24 hours before the defeat, an overconfident KT Rama Rao had shared a picture of himself with a gun aiming towards the screen and captioned it: "Hattrick Loading 3.0. Get ready to celebrate guys." Also read: Telangana election results 2023: BRS concedes defeat, extends congratulations to Congress However, as the trends started coming on Sunday morning (Dec 3), the BRS was left stunned by the Congress – a party which failed to make a mark in any other state – in the southern state of Telangana as it secured the lead in most of the seats. Three-state loser Congress takes jibe on KTR's tweet, says 'aiming for car tyres'? Three-state loser Congress, after getting buoyed by the good numbers in the trends in only Telangana, reposted a tweet of KTR and wrote, “Were you aiming for car tyres?" Were you aiming for car tyres? pic.twitter.com/5LPsKRjE4A — Telangana Congress (@INCTelangana) December 3, 2023 × Interestingly, the election symbol of the BRS is a car. By Sunday afternoon, Congress consolidated its victory in Telangana and KTR, reposting his own post, wrote, "This one ain't gonna age well. Missed the mark." This one ain’t gonna age well 😁 Missed the mark https://t.co/IUN1vKdTsc — KTR (@KTRBRS) December 3, 2023 × Conceding the defeat, KTR said, "Grateful to the people of Telangana for giving BRS two consecutive terms of government. Not saddened over the result today, but surely disappointed as it was not in the expected lines for us. But we will take this in our stride as a learning and will bounce back. Congratulations to the Congress on winning the mandate. Wishing you good luck." Watch: Telangana assembly election results 2023: Congress takes early lead Increasing the distress of BRS, two-time Chief Minister of the state Rao and young state chief of Congress Revanth Reddy both lost the seats in Kamareddy as BJP's Ramana Reddy clinched a shocking victory. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which was renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi, had spearheaded the statehood movement of Telangana and received unwavering support in the last decade since the state was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. (With inputs from agencies)

Telangana elections: From ‘hattrick loading’, KTR goes to ‘missed the mark’ after defeat

<p>Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko said that he was stopped from exiting the country on Friday morning (Dec 2) which he called as a politically motivated step to disrupt his work schedule.<br />
<br />
Poroshenko, who was the president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019 and has now become an opposition lawmaker, shared a video in which he can be seen standing at a border crossing with Poland.<br />
<br />
In the video, he said that he had been turned away and showed that he had papers as per which he had official permission to cross the border.<br />
<br />
The officials in Ukraine, under martial law, need to get special approval for travelling abroad. Later, Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Oleksandr Korniyenko confirmed that he had cancelled the permission of Poroshenko to leave the country.<br />
<br />
Korniyenko said that although lawmakers were permitted to travel to attend party political events, he had received a letter because of which he had to cancel the permission granted for Poroshenko's trip.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-signs-decree-to-add-170000-troops-to-its-armed-forces-as-war-with-ukraine-takes-toll-665276">Putin signs decree to add 170,000 troops to its armed forces as war with Ukraine takes toll</a></p>

<p>The dispute over travel permissions comes amid growing tensions between the opposition and government over internal matters like appointments and budget, as the war against Russia continues.<br />
<br />
Poroshenko said that he was set to travel to Poland to carry out negotiations to end the blockade of truckers and then to the United States to build support for the war effort of Ukraine's war.<br />
<br />
Along with the video, Poroshenko wrote a message in which he accused the administration of President Volodymyr Zelensky of cancelling the permission and playing dirty political tricks ahead of elections.<br />
<br />
"This is an anti-Ukrainian diversion. It is not just the hampering of my entire team's diplomatic work, but unfortunately a blow to Ukraine's defence capabilities,” wrote Poroshenko.</p>

<h2><strong>Security service says Russia planned plot against Poroshenko</strong></h2>

<p>Ukraine's security service on Saturday (Dec 2) said that they had stopped Poroshenko from exiting the country because Russia had planned to exploit Poroshenko's meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to hurt the interests of Ukraine.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Russian forces intensify attack on Ukraine</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-russian-forces-intensify-attack-on-ukraine-665487/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The political party of Poroshenko, European Solidarity, said that the meetings of the former president were scheduled only in Poland and the SBU security service was warned by the United States against getting involved in politics.<br />
<br />
Regarding the meeting with Orban, the SBU said, "Russia planned to use this meeting (like other 'working meetings with ... representative of countries voicing pro-Russian narratives) in psychological operations against Ukraine."<br />
<br />
The SBU added that Orban "systematically holds an anti-Ukrainian position", was a "friend of Putin" and wanted the sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine to be removed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko said that he was stopped from exiting the country on Friday morning (Dec 2) which he called as a politically motivated step to disrupt his work schedule.

Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko said that he was stopped from exiting the country on Friday morning (Dec 2) which he called as a politically motivated step to disrupt his work schedule. Poroshenko, who was the president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019 and has now become an opposition lawmaker, shared a video in which he can be seen standing at a border crossing with Poland. In the video, he said that he had been turned away and showed that he had papers as per which he had official permission to cross the border. The officials in Ukraine, under martial law, need to get special approval for travelling abroad. Later, Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Oleksandr Korniyenko confirmed that he had cancelled the permission of Poroshenko to leave the country. Korniyenko said that although lawmakers were permitted to travel to attend party political events, he had received a letter because of which he had to cancel the permission granted for Poroshenko's trip. Also read: Putin signs decree to add 170,000 troops to its armed forces as war with Ukraine takes toll The dispute over travel permissions comes amid growing tensions between the opposition and government over internal matters like appointments and budget, as the war against Russia continues. Poroshenko said that he was set to travel to Poland to carry out negotiations to end the blockade of truckers and then to the United States to build support for the war effort of Ukraine's war. Along with the video, Poroshenko wrote a message in which he accused the administration of President Volodymyr Zelensky of cancelling the permission and playing dirty political tricks ahead of elections. "This is an anti-Ukrainian diversion. It is not just the hampering of my entire team's diplomatic work, but unfortunately a blow to Ukraine's defence capabilities,” wrote Poroshenko. Security service says Russia planned plot against Poroshenko Ukraine's security service on Saturday (Dec 2) said that they had stopped Poroshenko from exiting the country because Russia had planned to exploit Poroshenko's meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to hurt the interests of Ukraine. Watch: Russia-Ukraine war: Russian forces intensify attack on Ukraine The political party of Poroshenko, European Solidarity, said that the meetings of the former president were scheduled only in Poland and the SBU security service was warned by the United States against getting involved in politics. Regarding the meeting with Orban, the SBU said, "Russia planned to use this meeting (like other 'working meetings with ... representative of countries voicing pro-Russian narratives) in psychological operations against Ukraine." The SBU added that Orban "systematically holds an anti-Ukrainian position", was a "friend of Putin" and wanted the sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine to be removed. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine’s former president claims he was stopped from leaving country

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday (Nov 3) and took stock of the preparations done by the state government to handle Cyclone Michaung and assured him of all help from the central government, said officials.<br />
<br />
The top officials were also directed by PM Modi to ensure that all possible help is provided to the state government.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-cyclone-brewing-in-bay-of-bengal-could-bring-very-heavy-rainfall-in-chennai-664343">India: Cyclone brewing in Bay of Bengal could bring very heavy rainfall in Chennai</a></p>

<p>On Sunday, a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal slowly intensified into a cyclonic storm named 'Michaung', which is expected to hit the south coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam in the forenoon on December 5 with an expected maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, said the IMD, in its bulletin.</p>

<h2><strong>IMD issues cyclone alert</strong></h2>

<p>A cyclone alert was issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for Andhra Pradesh and adjoining coasts of North Tamil Nadu for the next 12 hours. In its press release, the IMD said that the deep depression will intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours over the southwest Bay of Bengal.<br />
<br />
"Yesterday's Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 2330 hours of December 2, 2023, over the same region," stated the release.<br />
<br />
"It is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over Southwest Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours and reach west-central Bay Of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon," it said.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Indian PM Narendra Modi's selfie with Meloni breaks internet</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-narendra-modis-selfie-with-meloni-breaks-internet-665389/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>As per the release, the cyclonic storm at a maximum sustained speed of 80-90 kmph to 100 kmph will cross the coast of south Andhra Pradesh on December 5.<br />
<br />
"Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of 5th December as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph," the release said.<br />
<br />
After the cyclone warning was issued by the IMD, local cautionary Signal Number III was hoisted in Chennai, Cuddalore and Ennore ports so as to alert people.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday (Nov 3) and took stock of the preparations done by the state government to handle Cyclone Michaung and assured him of all help from the central government, said officials.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday (Nov 3) and took stock of the preparations done by the state government to handle Cyclone Michaung and assured him of all help from the central government, said officials. The top officials were also directed by PM Modi to ensure that all possible help is provided to the state government. Also read: India: Cyclone brewing in Bay of Bengal could bring very heavy rainfall in Chennai On Sunday, a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal slowly intensified into a cyclonic storm named 'Michaung', which is expected to hit the south coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam in the forenoon on December 5 with an expected maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, said the IMD, in its bulletin. IMD issues cyclone alert A cyclone alert was issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for Andhra Pradesh and adjoining coasts of North Tamil Nadu for the next 12 hours. In its press release, the IMD said that the deep depression will intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours over the southwest Bay of Bengal. "Yesterday's Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 2330 hours of December 2, 2023, over the same region," stated the release. "It is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over Southwest Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours and reach west-central Bay Of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon," it said. Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi's selfie with Meloni breaks internet As per the release, the cyclonic storm at a maximum sustained speed of 80-90 kmph to 100 kmph will cross the coast of south Andhra Pradesh on December 5. "Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of 5th December as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph," the release said. After the cyclone warning was issued by the IMD, local cautionary Signal Number III was hoisted in Chennai, Cuddalore and Ennore ports so as to alert people. (With inputs from agencies)

Cyclone Michaung: PM Modi speaks to Andhra CM, takes stock of preparations

<p>As India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)&nbsp;leads&nbsp;in the election&nbsp;results counting in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh – and Congress only setting its dominant foot in Telangana, a sudden meeting of opposition bloc INDIA was called on Wednesday, as per reports.<br />
<br />
INDIA bloc's next meeting, which has been called by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Wednesday, is likely to sketch plans for next year's Lok Sabha election, reported&nbsp;the NDTV.<br />
<br />
The news of a meeting by the INDIA bloc comes as Congress is trailing by a huge margin against&nbsp;its rival BJP in all the above three states -&nbsp;Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, according to the latest trends.&nbsp;Telangana is the only state where the Congress is likely to emerge victorious defeating the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi of K Chandrasekhar Rao.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-assembly-elections-2023-results-live-updates-check-mp-constituency-wise-winner-loser-candidates-665565">Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 Results Live Updates: BJP maintains healthy lead as see-saw game continues</a></p>

<p>The meeting is scheduled amid reports regarding turbulence and internal rifts in the bloc and its dangling future.</p>

<h2><strong>Is INDIA alliance drifting apart or uniting for future battles?</strong></h2>

<p>The rifts within the bloc came under focus earlier this month after Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is considered as INDIA alliance's founding member, accused the Congress of lacking&nbsp;in preparation for the crucial general election to be held next year.<br />
<br />
"We have been speaking to them... pushing them forward in the INDIA alliance. But, of late, there has not been much progress on that front. The Congress seems to be more interested in the five assembly polls. We agreed to assign Congress the leading role. But it appears they will call the next meeting only after they are through with the state elections," Kumar was quoted as saying by NDTV.<br />
<br />
The last meeting of the INDIA bloc was held from August 31 to September 1 in Mumbai after which the next date was set to be announced by the Congress.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Telangana assembly election results 2023: Congress takes early lead</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/telangana-assembly-election-results-2023-congress-takes-early-lead-wion-665622/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The alliance had then stated that it planned to contest the 2024 election along with the current state elections "together as far as possible". However, the resolution had raised eyebrows and questions over the unity of the opposition as it tries to push&nbsp;hard to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from winning an unprecedented third term.<br />
<br />
The comment of Nitish Kumar had surfaced after a squabble between the Congress and Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav over seat-sharing in Madhya Pradesh, as per reports. Yadav had said that the party had ignored a gentleman's agreement.<br />
<br />
"If I knew, wouldn't have spoken to Congress," said the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party chief.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


As India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads in the election results counting in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh – and Congress only setting its dominant foot in Telangana, a sudden meeting of opposition bloc INDIA was called on Wednesday, as per reports.

As India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads in the election results counting in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh – and Congress only setting its dominant foot in Telangana, a sudden meeting of opposition bloc INDIA was called on Wednesday, as per reports. INDIA bloc's next meeting, which has been called by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Wednesday, is likely to sketch plans for next year's Lok Sabha election, reported the NDTV. The news of a meeting by the INDIA bloc comes as Congress is trailing by a huge margin against its rival BJP in all the above three states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, according to the latest trends. Telangana is the only state where the Congress is likely to emerge victorious defeating the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi of K Chandrasekhar Rao. Also read: Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 Results Live Updates: BJP maintains healthy lead as see-saw game continues The meeting is scheduled amid reports regarding turbulence and internal rifts in the bloc and its dangling future. Is INDIA alliance drifting apart or uniting for future battles? The rifts within the bloc came under focus earlier this month after Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is considered as INDIA alliance's founding member, accused the Congress of lacking in preparation for the crucial general election to be held next year. "We have been speaking to them... pushing them forward in the INDIA alliance. But, of late, there has not been much progress on that front. The Congress seems to be more interested in the five assembly polls. We agreed to assign Congress the leading role. But it appears they will call the next meeting only after they are through with the state elections," Kumar was quoted as saying by NDTV. The last meeting of the INDIA bloc was held from August 31 to September 1 in Mumbai after which the next date was set to be announced by the Congress. Watch: Telangana assembly election results 2023: Congress takes early lead The alliance had then stated that it planned to contest the 2024 election along with the current state elections "together as far as possible". However, the resolution had raised eyebrows and questions over the unity of the opposition as it tries to push hard to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from winning an unprecedented third term. The comment of Nitish Kumar had surfaced after a squabble between the Congress and Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav over seat-sharing in Madhya Pradesh, as per reports. Yadav had said that the party had ignored a gentleman's agreement. "If I knew, wouldn't have spoken to Congress," said the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party chief. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian assembly election results: BJP's lead in three states prompts Cong to call INDIA bloc meet - Report

In Pics: Heavy snow blankets Bavaria, flights and trains cancelled

<p>India and China, two major economies and top coal consumers in the world, on Saturday (Dec 2) abstained from a pledge taken by 118 countries on the sidelines of the annual UN climate summit (COP28).<br />
<br />
The pledge focused on tripling the global renewable energy generation capacity to around 11,000 GW and doubling energy efficiency's average annual rate by 2030. India decided to keep away from signing the pledge while continuing its stance of using coal till 2030.<br />
<br />
Despite taking many steps to increase the country's non-fossil fuel energy generation capacity which includes wind, solar and hydel, it has not been willing to make commitments regarding majorly cutting down its reliance on coal-fired power plants, which is the main source of generating electricity.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-cop28-five-passionate-environmentalists-who-are-restoring-indias-biodiversity-tirelessly-665225">COP28: Five passionate environmentalists who are restoring India's biodiversity tirelessly</a></p>

<p>India has continued to maintain that it will not be "pressured" into making the reduction of the usage of coal as it is not willing to compromise on the power supply which drives its economic growth and even in the G20 Declaration, which had prioritised de-addiction to coal, kept its stance of using coal at least till 2030.<br />
<br />
The stance by India has place it at odds with the emerging consensus of decreasing dependency on fossil fuel and in congruence with China along with other oil producers Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran.</p>

<h2><strong>India aims to increase non-fossil power capacity by 2030, may sign deal later</strong></h2>

<p>However, government officials have continued to maintain that India has been targetting to substantially increase its non-fossil power capacity by 2030, in accordance with the climate action pledge taken under the Paris Agreement, while maintaining that it cannot make any commitment which disturbs the priority of boosting development so as to lift millions out of poverty.<br />
<br />
The officials said that India's principled stand should not be taken as rigidity because India can be a part of the deal later after its terms are negotiated, as the agreement clearly notes the circumstances of every country and their capability to negotiate.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;COP28 summit in Dubai: India offers to host climate talks in 2028&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cop28-summit-in-dubai-india-offers-to-host-climate-talks-in-2028-world-news-wion-665137/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“After all, it has been done outside the COP28 negotiation process. It just reflects the intent of global efforts and there has been no question mark on India's intent. India is already on board as part of the signatory of the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration,” an observer said, as reported by The Times Of India.<br />
<br />
At the G20 leaders’ summit which was organised in Delhi and where a unanimous communique was issued, the richest countries in the world, including those who did not participate, had agreed to “pursue and encourage efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally through existing targets and policies, as well as demonstrate similar ambition with respect to other zero and low-emission technologies, including abatement and removal technologies, in line with national circumstances by 2030”.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India and China, two major economies and top coal consumers in the world, on Saturday (Dec 2) abstained from a pledge taken by 118 countries on the sidelines of the annual UN climate summit (COP28).

India and China, two major economies and top coal consumers in the world, on Saturday (Dec 2) abstained from a pledge taken by 118 countries on the sidelines of the annual UN climate summit (COP28). The pledge focused on tripling the global renewable energy generation capacity to around 11,000 GW and doubling energy efficiency's average annual rate by 2030. India decided to keep away from signing the pledge while continuing its stance of using coal till 2030. Despite taking many steps to increase the country's non-fossil fuel energy generation capacity which includes wind, solar and hydel, it has not been willing to make commitments regarding majorly cutting down its reliance on coal-fired power plants, which is the main source of generating electricity. Also read: COP28: Five passionate environmentalists who are restoring India's biodiversity tirelessly India has continued to maintain that it will not be "pressured" into making the reduction of the usage of coal as it is not willing to compromise on the power supply which drives its economic growth and even in the G20 Declaration, which had prioritised de-addiction to coal, kept its stance of using coal at least till 2030. The stance by India has place it at odds with the emerging consensus of decreasing dependency on fossil fuel and in congruence with China along with other oil producers Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran. India aims to increase non-fossil power capacity by 2030, may sign deal later However, government officials have continued to maintain that India has been targetting to substantially increase its non-fossil power capacity by 2030, in accordance with the climate action pledge taken under the Paris Agreement, while maintaining that it cannot make any commitment which disturbs the priority of boosting development so as to lift millions out of poverty. The officials said that India's principled stand should not be taken as rigidity because India can be a part of the deal later after its terms are negotiated, as the agreement clearly notes the circumstances of every country and their capability to negotiate. Watch: COP28 summit in Dubai: India offers to host climate talks in 2028 “After all, it has been done outside the COP28 negotiation process. It just reflects the intent of global efforts and there has been no question mark on India's intent. India is already on board as part of the signatory of the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration,” an observer said, as reported by The Times Of India. At the G20 leaders’ summit which was organised in Delhi and where a unanimous communique was issued, the richest countries in the world, including those who did not participate, had agreed to “pursue and encourage efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally through existing targets and policies, as well as demonstrate similar ambition with respect to other zero and low-emission technologies, including abatement and removal technologies, in line with national circumstances by 2030”. (With inputs from agencies)

COP28: India, China abstain from renewable power pledge, 118 nations sign up

7 Foods One Must Avoid Eating With Bananas  

Bananas contain fibre, proteins, key minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamin B. When combined with milk fats and other nutrients, the dose of nutrients increases and makes it difficult to digest.  

Bronze medal in mixed team 10m air pistol shooting

If bananas are consumed with processed carbohydrates like baked goods and sugary snacks, it leads to a quick spike in blood sugar levels.  

Using a charger with higher wattage is the simplest method to accelerate your device's charging process. Wattage denotes the power capacity the charger can supply to your device, and a higher wattage translates to a quicker charging rate for your device.

Citrus fruits like lime, oranges or grapefruits if combined with bananas, lead to indigestion or stomach discomfort for some people. This is because of the presence of acidic nutrients in both bananas and citrus fruits, which makes the combination harsh on the stomach.  

When bananas are consumed with other sweets and desserts, it increases the sugar intake, which can contribute to weight gain.


Bananas and avocados, both are quite rich in potassium which can lead to hyperkalemia, a disorder caused by excessive potassium levels in the blood.

6 Foods One Must Avoid Eating With Bananas

6 Utensils Recommended in Ayurveda for Cooking  

Gold is a non-reactive metal, is durable and has many good properties which are good for health.  

Silver is considered among the best utensils as the metal has antimicrobial properties, which help in removing all the fungi and bacteria from food.  

Copper Utensils are considered a good option because they can be used for a long time and have antimicrobial properties. The utensils can keep the food warm for a decent amount of time.

Kansa utensils are said to have many benefits as per Ayurveda like balancing the ‘doshas’ in the body. The combination of tin and copper also helps in improving digestion.


Clay does not have any harmful effect and gives an earthly aroma to the food and hence, is considered a good option among the cooking utensils.  

The utensils are made using the utilised shells of the coconut which is considered entirely organic and sustainable. The shells give a cooling effect which helps in balancing the ‘doshas’ in the body.


6 Utensils Recommended in Ayurveda for Cooking

<p>Ukraine on Saturday (Dec&nbsp;2) said that the two power lines providing electricity supply to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were snapped overnight, and placed it&nbsp;at risk of a “nuclear accident”.</p>

<p>The plant remained at the centre of fighting from the time it was captured by Russian forces last year, and the two sides have held each other responsible for compromising its safety.</p>

<p>"Due to the complete blackout, the nuclear power plant switched to powering its own needs from 20 diesel generators," said Kyiv's nuclear operator, further stating that power was restored later.</p>

<p>It said that the plant was on "the verge of a nuclear and radiation accident" before Kyiv restored the off-site power. "The situation was actually saved by the prompt actions of Ukrainian specialists who restored power supply to the plant from the Ukrainian power grid," it said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-signs-decree-to-add-170000-troops-to-its-armed-forces-as-war-with-ukraine-takes-toll-665276">Putin signs decree to add 170,000 troops to its armed forces as war with Ukraine takes toll</a></p>

<p>On Saturday, the energy ministry said that the power lines at&nbsp;the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have now been restored.</p>

<p>In March 2022, Russia occupied the plant, and since then it has not been generating power&nbsp;but requires&nbsp;electricity to cool one of its four reactors which remains in a state of 'hot conservation', which means that it is not completely shut down.</p>

<h2><strong>IAEA monitoring&nbsp;Zaporizhzhia's six-reactor plant</strong></h2>

<p>As per a statement published by Ukraine's energy ministry on Telegram, there was disruption in one power line to the plant on Friday, and the last, 750 kW, line was disconnected at 2:31 a.m. (0031 GMT) on Saturday.</p>

<p>"This is the eighth blackout which occurred at the (Zaporizhzhia plant) and could have led to nuclear catastrophe," said the statement.</p>

<p>The ministry stated that 20 backup generators of the plant were turned on, after it lost the grid connection, for supplying its own electricity needs.</p>

<p>It stated that the 750 kW line was repaired by the Ukrainian specialists at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT), which was now providing power to the plant once more.</p>

<h2><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Can Zelensky stop the Russian assault</strong></h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-can-zelensky-stop-the-russian-assault-665255/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>On Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the off-site power of the plant was temporarily lost overnight, adding that this was the eighth such blackout since the conflict began.</p>

<p>The safety of the plant,&nbsp;which requires constant maintenance to stop overheating is&nbsp;being monitored by the IAEA officials.</p>

<p>Zaporizhzhia, a six-reactor plant has been rocked due to repeated shelling and drone attacks across the 21-month conflict. It has not been supplying electricity to the grid of Ukraine since September 2022.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ukraine on Saturday (Dec 2) said that the two power lines providing electricity supply to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were snapped overnight, and placed it at risk of a “nuclear accident”.

Ukraine on Saturday (Dec 2) said that the two power lines providing electricity supply to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were snapped overnight, and placed it at risk of a “nuclear accident”. The plant remained at the centre of fighting from the time it was captured by Russian forces last year, and the two sides have held each other responsible for compromising its safety. "Due to the complete blackout, the nuclear power plant switched to powering its own needs from 20 diesel generators," said Kyiv's nuclear operator, further stating that power was restored later. It said that the plant was on "the verge of a nuclear and radiation accident" before Kyiv restored the off-site power. "The situation was actually saved by the prompt actions of Ukrainian specialists who restored power supply to the plant from the Ukrainian power grid," it said. Also read: Putin signs decree to add 170,000 troops to its armed forces as war with Ukraine takes toll On Saturday, the energy ministry said that the power lines at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have now been restored. In March 2022, Russia occupied the plant, and since then it has not been generating power but requires electricity to cool one of its four reactors which remains in a state of 'hot conservation', which means that it is not completely shut down. IAEA monitoring Zaporizhzhia's six-reactor plant As per a statement published by Ukraine's energy ministry on Telegram, there was disruption in one power line to the plant on Friday, and the last, 750 kW, line was disconnected at 2:31 a.m. (0031 GMT) on Saturday. "This is the eighth blackout which occurred at the (Zaporizhzhia plant) and could have led to nuclear catastrophe," said the statement. The ministry stated that 20 backup generators of the plant were turned on, after it lost the grid connection, for supplying its own electricity needs. It stated that the 750 kW line was repaired by the Ukrainian specialists at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT), which was now providing power to the plant once more. Watch: Russia-Ukraine war: Can Zelensky stop the Russian assault On Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the off-site power of the plant was temporarily lost overnight, adding that this was the eighth such blackout since the conflict began. The safety of the plant, which requires constant maintenance to stop overheating is being monitored by the IAEA officials. Zaporizhzhia, a six-reactor plant has been rocked due to repeated shelling and drone attacks across the 21-month conflict. It has not been supplying electricity to the grid of Ukraine since September 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Zaporizhzhia plant's power cut carried risk of nuclear 'accident': Ukraine

<p>US lawmakers held a historic voting on Friday (Dec 1) and expelled scandal-plagued George Santos from the House of Representatives.</p>

<p>Santos, who is known to have lied his way into Congress, was indicted on charges of using stolen donor cash to lead a lavish lifestyle.<br />
<br />
The New York Republican, who was expelled in an overwhelming vote which saw more than 100 of his fellow party members extend their support to his ousting, is only the third person to have joined the gallery of Washington's ejected lawmakers since the Civil War.<br />
<br />
A two-thirds majority was required in voting to expel Santos and the final tally was 311-114 on Friday (Dec 1). Just before the voting, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that he would vote against the expulsion of Santos.<br />
<br />
The 35-year-old politician has been surrounded by controversies since his November 2022 election. He has accepted that he has fabricated his biography, and he has been accused by federal prosecutors of laundering campaign funds as well as defrauding donors. Santos had earlier pleaded not guilty to 23 federal fraud charges, however, he was not tried.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/who-is-george-santos-why-did-he-flee-pro-trump-protests-know-about-his-myriad-controversies-579426">Who is George Santos? Know about his myriad controversies</a></p>

<p>A previous expulsion attempt was survived by Santos in early November, when 182 Republicans as well as 31 Democrats gave votes against his removal citing that his criminal case needs to be resolved first.<br />
<br />
The expulsion of Santos has reduced the slim majority of Republicans to 221-213. His district, which covers parts of Long Island and New York City and Long Island, is considered as competitive.</p>

<h2><strong>Santos' streak of lies and scandals</strong></h2>

<p>Last month, in a bipartisan congressional investigation it was discovered that Santos paid nearly $4,000 for spa treatments, which included Botox, using his congressional campaign account. It was also reported that more than $4,000 of campaign money was spent by Santos at the luxury retail store Hermes.</p>

<p>He also made "smaller purchases" from OnlyFans, which is an online platform famous for sexual content.<br />
<br />
This led several Republicans, who had supported him November elections, to say that they would support his expulsion. Santos had also said he may get expelled.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US: George Santos legal woes deepens, defies calls to resign ahead of third expulsion vote</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-george-santos-legal-woes-deepens-defies-calls-to-resign-ahead-of-third-expulsion-vote-665187/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Santos spurned appeals to resign but claimed that he won't run for reelection next year.<br />
<br />
Speaking on the House floor on Thursday (Nov 30), Santos said, "I have been convicted of no crimes. The people of the Third (Congressional) District of New York sent me here."If they want me out, they're going to have to go silence those people and take the hard vote."<br />
<br />
The troubles started brewing for Santos just after his November 2022 election when media outlets claimed that he had not attended New York University or been employed at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, which he had claimed in the campaign.<br />
<br />
His claims of Jewish heritage and that his grandparents had fled the Nazis in World War II were also reported to be false.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US lawmakers held a historic voting on Friday (Dec 1) and expelled scandal-plagued George Santos from the House of Representatives. Santos, who is known to have lied his way into Congress, was indicted on charges of using stolen donor cash to lead a lavish lifestyle.

US lawmakers held a historic voting on Friday (Dec 1) and expelled scandal-plagued George Santos from the House of Representatives. Santos, who is known to have lied his way into Congress, was indicted on charges of using stolen donor cash to lead a lavish lifestyle. The New York Republican, who was expelled in an overwhelming vote which saw more than 100 of his fellow party members extend their support to his ousting, is only the third person to have joined the gallery of Washington's ejected lawmakers since the Civil War. A two-thirds majority was required in voting to expel Santos and the final tally was 311-114 on Friday (Dec 1). Just before the voting, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that he would vote against the expulsion of Santos. The 35-year-old politician has been surrounded by controversies since his November 2022 election. He has accepted that he has fabricated his biography, and he has been accused by federal prosecutors of laundering campaign funds as well as defrauding donors. Santos had earlier pleaded not guilty to 23 federal fraud charges, however, he was not tried. Also read: Who is George Santos? Know about his myriad controversies A previous expulsion attempt was survived by Santos in early November, when 182 Republicans as well as 31 Democrats gave votes against his removal citing that his criminal case needs to be resolved first. The expulsion of Santos has reduced the slim majority of Republicans to 221-213. His district, which covers parts of Long Island and New York City and Long Island, is considered as competitive. Santos' streak of lies and scandals Last month, in a bipartisan congressional investigation it was discovered that Santos paid nearly $4,000 for spa treatments, which included Botox, using his congressional campaign account. It was also reported that more than $4,000 of campaign money was spent by Santos at the luxury retail store Hermes. He also made "smaller purchases" from OnlyFans, which is an online platform famous for sexual content. This led several Republicans, who had supported him November elections, to say that they would support his expulsion. Santos had also said he may get expelled. Watch: US: George Santos legal woes deepens, defies calls to resign ahead of third expulsion vote Santos spurned appeals to resign but claimed that he won't run for reelection next year. Speaking on the House floor on Thursday (Nov 30), Santos said, "I have been convicted of no crimes. The people of the Third (Congressional) District of New York sent me here."If they want me out, they're going to have to go silence those people and take the hard vote." The troubles started brewing for Santos just after his November 2022 election when media outlets claimed that he had not attended New York University or been employed at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, which he had claimed in the campaign. His claims of Jewish heritage and that his grandparents had fled the Nazis in World War II were also reported to be false. (With inputs from agencies)

In a historic vote, US lawmakers expel scandal-plagued Congressman George Santos

<p>Astronomers are forced to question the theories surrounding the planet's formation after stumbling upon an exoplanet which shouldn't have technically existed.</p>

<p>The discovered planet, which has a mass similar to Neptune and is more than 13 times larger than&nbsp;Earth, was spotted orbiting an ultracool M-dwarf star named LHS 3154. Ironically, the star is nine times smaller than our Sun. An M-dwarf star is the coolest and smallest kind of star in the galaxy.</p>

<p>The planet, which has been named LHS 3154b, has been closely orbiting the star and it completes one orbit every 3.7 Earth days. This has emerged as one of the largest known planets present in a close orbit around one of the most low-mass, coldest stars in the universe, as per the new study published in the journal Science on Thursday (Nov 30).</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/another-solar-system-in-milky-way-scientists-discover-six-unique-exoplanets-664654">Another solar system in Milky Way? Scientists discover six unique exoplanets</a></p>

<p>The planet's discovery upends how the formation of planetary systems is understood by scientists. In a statement, study co-author Suvrath Mahadevan and professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State Verne M. Willaman said, “This discovery really drives home the point of just how little we know about the universe. We wouldn’t expect a planet this heavy around such a low-mass star to exist.”</p>

<p>The stars are formed from massive clouds of dust and gas and a disk is created around them using the leftover material, where planets are later born. The amount of material located within the disks surrounding the stars determines the size of the planets to be formed. The disk material depends largely on the mass of the star.</p>

<p>Throughout the Milky Way galaxy, the small M dwarf stars are the most common. They generally have small and rocky planets which continue to orbit them, rather than giant gas planets.</p>

<p>“The planet-forming disk around the low-mass star LHS 3154 is not expected to have enough solid mass to make this planet. But it’s out there, so now we need to reexamine our understanding of how planets and stars form,” said Mahadevan.</p>

<h2><strong>Scientists look into habitable zones in search of life</strong></h2>

<p>The planet has been orbiting around the star nearly 51 light-years away from the sun and was spotted using the Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF), which was installed on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope by the scientists at the McDonald Observatory in Texas.</p>

<p>The HPF built by Mahadevan and his team was designed for spotting planets orbiting within the habitable zone of cool and small stars. The habitable zone refers to the right distance from a star from where a planet is in warm condition for supporting the presence of liquid water on its surface as well as life.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Cosmic journey: Space balloons &amp; space station visit part of the tour</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cosmic-journey-space-balloons-space-station-visit-part-of-the-tour-636823/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“Think about it like the star is a campfire. The more the fire cools down, the closer you’ll need to get to that fire to stay warm. The same is true for planets. If the star is colder, then a planet will need to be closer to that star if it is going to be warm enough to contain liquid water. If a planet has a close enough orbit to its ultracool star, we can detect it by seeing a very subtle change in the colour of the star’s spectra or light as it is tugged on by an orbiting planet,” said Mahadevan.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Astronomers are forced to question the theories surrounding the planet's formation after stumbling upon an exoplanet which shouldn't have technically existed. The discovered planet, which has a mass similar to Neptune and is more than 13 times larger than Earth, was spotted orbiting an ultracool M-dwarf star named LHS 3154.

Astronomers are forced to question the theories surrounding the planet's formation after stumbling upon an exoplanet which shouldn't have technically existed. The discovered planet, which has a mass similar to Neptune and is more than 13 times larger than Earth, was spotted orbiting an ultracool M-dwarf star named LHS 3154. Ironically, the star is nine times smaller than our Sun. An M-dwarf star is the coolest and smallest kind of star in the galaxy. The planet, which has been named LHS 3154b, has been closely orbiting the star and it completes one orbit every 3.7 Earth days. This has emerged as one of the largest known planets present in a close orbit around one of the most low-mass, coldest stars in the universe, as per the new study published in the journal Science on Thursday (Nov 30). Also read: Another solar system in Milky Way? Scientists discover six unique exoplanets The planet's discovery upends how the formation of planetary systems is understood by scientists. In a statement, study co-author Suvrath Mahadevan and professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State Verne M. Willaman said, “This discovery really drives home the point of just how little we know about the universe. We wouldn’t expect a planet this heavy around such a low-mass star to exist.” The stars are formed from massive clouds of dust and gas and a disk is created around them using the leftover material, where planets are later born. The amount of material located within the disks surrounding the stars determines the size of the planets to be formed. The disk material depends largely on the mass of the star. Throughout the Milky Way galaxy, the small M dwarf stars are the most common. They generally have small and rocky planets which continue to orbit them, rather than giant gas planets. “The planet-forming disk around the low-mass star LHS 3154 is not expected to have enough solid mass to make this planet. But it’s out there, so now we need to reexamine our understanding of how planets and stars form,” said Mahadevan. Scientists look into habitable zones in search of life The planet has been orbiting around the star nearly 51 light-years away from the sun and was spotted using the Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF), which was installed on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope by the scientists at the McDonald Observatory in Texas. The HPF built by Mahadevan and his team was designed for spotting planets orbiting within the habitable zone of cool and small stars. The habitable zone refers to the right distance from a star from where a planet is in warm condition for supporting the presence of liquid water on its surface as well as life. Watch: Cosmic journey: Space balloons & space station visit part of the tour “Think about it like the star is a campfire. The more the fire cools down, the closer you’ll need to get to that fire to stay warm. The same is true for planets. If the star is colder, then a planet will need to be closer to that star if it is going to be warm enough to contain liquid water. If a planet has a close enough orbit to its ultracool star, we can detect it by seeing a very subtle change in the colour of the star’s spectra or light as it is tugged on by an orbiting planet,” said Mahadevan. (With inputs from agencies)

Astronomers discover massive exoplanet which 'should not' have existed

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