Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad released a video on Thursday (Nov 9) in which it claimed to have kept two hostages, a woman in her 70s and a 13-year-old boy, in the Gaza Strip.

"We are ready to release Mrs. Hanna Katzir on humanitarian and health grounds, noting that we might not be able to provide health care for her considering the shortage of food and medicine and the power outage.&nbsp;We are also ready to release the boy Yaghil Yaqub [Jacob] on humanitarian grounds and because of his young age," Abu Hamza, spokesman for the group's military wing, was heard saying in the video.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-benjamin-netanyahu-refutes-white-house-statement-that-israel-agreed-to-daily-4-hour-humanitarian-pause-657026">PM Netanyahu refutes US claim that Israel agreed to daily 4-hour 'humanitarian pause' in war with Hamas</a>

"This initiative will come into effect when the security conditions on the ground are met, in a way that provides protection for our Palestinian people," he added.

In the video of captives, the elderly woman can be heard saying that she missed her children. "I hope I will manage to see you next week. We are happy and healthy and we want everyone to be happy," the woman said while being seated in a wheelchair, as quoted by Reuters.

<h2>Gaza hostage video is 'psychological terrorism': Israel Army</h2>

Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht slammed the video shared by Palestinian militants and called it "psychological terrorism".

"This is a sign of life, and it is important," said chief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, while speaking about the video. "I will, for the moment, ignore the question of their release ... We will be the first to update the families before anything happens," he added.

It is believed that the military wing is holding nearly 240 hostages in Gaza&nbsp;who were kidnapped during the attacks launched by Hamas on October 7, in which some 1,400 Israelis were killed.

Watch |&nbsp;Israeli army shows devastation in northern Gaza as invasion grinds on

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-army-shows-devastation-in-northern-gaza-as-invasion-grinds-on-656883/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

So far, four hostages have been freed by the militants and talks are being held to secure the release of others, in exchange for a temporary pause in the fighting and more aid for Gaza Strip.

After the October 7 attack, Israel has been bombarding Gaza relentlessly in which more than 10,800 people have been killed so far, as per the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad released a video on Thursday (Nov 9) in which it claimed to have kept two hostages, a woman in her 70s and a 13-year-old boy, in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad released a video on Thursday (Nov 9) in which it claimed to have kept two hostages, a woman in her 70s and a 13-year-old boy, in the Gaza Strip. "We are ready to release Mrs. Hanna Katzir on humanitarian and health grounds, noting that we might not be able to provide health care for her considering the shortage of food and medicine and the power outage. We are also ready to release the boy Yaghil Yaqub [Jacob] on humanitarian grounds and because of his young age," Abu Hamza, spokesman for the group's military wing, was heard saying in the video. ALSO READ | PM Netanyahu refutes US claim that Israel agreed to daily 4-hour 'humanitarian pause' in war with Hamas "This initiative will come into effect when the security conditions on the ground are met, in a way that provides protection for our Palestinian people," he added. In the video of captives, the elderly woman can be heard saying that she missed her children. "I hope I will manage to see you next week. We are happy and healthy and we want everyone to be happy," the woman said while being seated in a wheelchair, as quoted by Reuters. Gaza hostage video is 'psychological terrorism': Israel Army Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht slammed the video shared by Palestinian militants and called it "psychological terrorism". "This is a sign of life, and it is important," said chief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, while speaking about the video. "I will, for the moment, ignore the question of their release ... We will be the first to update the families before anything happens," he added. It is believed that the military wing is holding nearly 240 hostages in Gaza who were kidnapped during the attacks launched by Hamas on October 7, in which some 1,400 Israelis were killed. Watch | Israeli army shows devastation in northern Gaza as invasion grinds on So far, four hostages have been freed by the militants and talks are being held to secure the release of others, in exchange for a temporary pause in the fighting and more aid for Gaza Strip. After the October 7 attack, Israel has been bombarding Gaza relentlessly in which more than 10,800 people have been killed so far, as per the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Palestinian militant group says ready to release two hostages from Gaza

United States President Joe Biden will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco on November 15 with the aim to "stabilise" recent tensions which brewed between the powers, said the US officials. 
 
"President Biden will indeed meet with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China in the San Francisco Bay area of California on November 15," stated a senior US official, while speaking to reporters on Thursday (Nov 9). 
 
"Our goal will be to try to take steps that indeed stabilise the relationship between United States and China, remove some areas of misunderstanding and open up new lines of communication. We are in competition with China, but we do not seek conflict confrontation or a new Cold War. We're for managing the competition responsibly,” he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-finance-chiefs-open-talks-with-eye-on-curbing-tensions-657091">US, China finance chiefs open talks with eye on curbing tensions</a>

Confirming the date of the long-awaited meeting, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement said, “President Biden will meet with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on November 15. The Leaders will discuss issues in the US-PRC bilateral relationship, the continued importance of maintaining open lines of communication, and a range of regional and global issues.” 
 
“Building on their last meeting in November 2022 in Bali, Indonesia, the Leaders will also discuss how the United States and the PRC can continue to responsibly manage competition and work together where our interests align, particularly on transnational challenges that affect the international community,” the statement added.]

No immediate confirmation regarding the meeting came from Beijing.

<h2>Brimming tensions between US, China</h2>

Biden and Xi are also likely to discuss important global issues like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, along with the tensions brimming over the island of Taiwan. 
 
The two leaders have not met since their last face-to-face meeting in Bali in November 2022.&nbsp; 
 
Biden and Xi are to take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit which will be held in San Francisco next week. 
 
Washington and Beijing have remained at odds in the last few years as the two countries are vying for global influence, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

WATCH |&nbsp;US &amp; Chinese finance ministers hold talks, setting stage for Xi-Biden meet

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-chinese-finance-ministers-hold-talks-setting-stage-for-xi-biden-meet-657233/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

US officials confirmed that the talks between Biden and Xi would be "very broad" and that they were "not talking about a long list of outcomes or deliverables" at the end. "Nothing will be held back, everything will be on the table," stated the US official. 
 
However, Biden and Xi are likely to speak about the "absolutely crucial" issue of restoring a military hotline between the US and China so as to prevent any escalations between the two nations. 
 
"We expect they'll cover a range of regional and global issues too, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict," the US official stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President Joe Biden will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco on November 15 with the aim to "stabilise" recent tensions which brewed between the powers, said the US officials.

United States President Joe Biden will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco on November 15 with the aim to "stabilise" recent tensions which brewed between the powers, said the US officials. "President Biden will indeed meet with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China in the San Francisco Bay area of California on November 15," stated a senior US official, while speaking to reporters on Thursday (Nov 9). "Our goal will be to try to take steps that indeed stabilise the relationship between United States and China, remove some areas of misunderstanding and open up new lines of communication. We are in competition with China, but we do not seek conflict confrontation or a new Cold War. We're for managing the competition responsibly,” he added. ALSO READ | US, China finance chiefs open talks with eye on curbing tensions Confirming the date of the long-awaited meeting, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement said, “President Biden will meet with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on November 15. The Leaders will discuss issues in the US-PRC bilateral relationship, the continued importance of maintaining open lines of communication, and a range of regional and global issues.” “Building on their last meeting in November 2022 in Bali, Indonesia, the Leaders will also discuss how the United States and the PRC can continue to responsibly manage competition and work together where our interests align, particularly on transnational challenges that affect the international community,” the statement added.] No immediate confirmation regarding the meeting came from Beijing. Brimming tensions between US, China Biden and Xi are also likely to discuss important global issues like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, along with the tensions brimming over the island of Taiwan. The two leaders have not met since their last face-to-face meeting in Bali in November 2022. Biden and Xi are to take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit which will be held in San Francisco next week. Washington and Beijing have remained at odds in the last few years as the two countries are vying for global influence, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. WATCH | US & Chinese finance ministers hold talks, setting stage for Xi-Biden meet US officials confirmed that the talks between Biden and Xi would be "very broad" and that they were "not talking about a long list of outcomes or deliverables" at the end. "Nothing will be held back, everything will be on the table," stated the US official. However, Biden and Xi are likely to speak about the "absolutely crucial" issue of restoring a military hotline between the US and China so as to prevent any escalations between the two nations. "We expect they'll cover a range of regional and global issues too, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict," the US official stated. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Biden set to meet China's Xi on November 15 to 'stabilise' ties

For those users of Gmail who have not been accessing their accounts regularly, there is a chance that their accounts may get deleted soon. 
 
Millions of Gmail accounts stand at risk of getting deleted in December 2023. The aim is to deactivate all accounts that have remained inactive for at least two years. 
 
Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli wrote a blog post in May in which the company stated that steps are being taken to reduce the risk of account deletions. 
 
“Google is updating our inactivity policy for Google Accounts to 2 years across our products. Starting in December, if a Google account has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years, we may delete the account and its contents, including content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), and Google Photos,” read the post.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-addresses-employees-working-in-israel-amidst-conflict-645218">Google CEO Sundar Pichai addresses employees working in Israel amidst conflict&nbsp;</a>

"This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven't had two-factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user," Kricheli added. 
 
"Our internal analysis shows abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have two-step verification set up. These accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam,” he further stated.

<h2>Who stands at risk?</h2>

The policy is only applicable to personal Google accounts not accessed&nbsp;in the last two years. Accounts of organisations like schools or businesses will remain unaffected by this overhaul.

<h2>How can you keep your Google account active?</h2>

As per the Google blog post, the best way to keep your Google account active is to keep signing in at least once every two years.

If you have recently signed into your Google Account or used any of its services, then it will be considered active and will not get deleted.

Watch |&nbsp;Google Meet's 'on-the-go' mode for meetings on the move feature

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/google-meets-on-the-go-mode-for-meetings-on-the-move-feature-655606/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It is not necessary to read or send an email to keep your Gmail account active.

The users who have signed into their accounts for using Google Drive, watching a YouTube video or downloading an app on the Google Play Store and using Google Search, will also be considered active users.

(With inputs from agencies)

For those users of Gmail who have not been accessing their accounts regularly, there is a chance that their accounts may get deleted soon. Millions of Gmail accounts stand at risk of getting deleted in December 2023.

For those users of Gmail who have not been accessing their accounts regularly, there is a chance that their accounts may get deleted soon. Millions of Gmail accounts stand at risk of getting deleted in December 2023. The aim is to deactivate all accounts that have remained inactive for at least two years. Google Vice President of Product Management Ruth Kricheli wrote a blog post in May in which the company stated that steps are being taken to reduce the risk of account deletions. “Google is updating our inactivity policy for Google Accounts to 2 years across our products. Starting in December, if a Google account has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years, we may delete the account and its contents, including content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), and Google Photos,” read the post. ALSO READ | Google CEO Sundar Pichai addresses employees working in Israel amidst conflict "This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven't had two-factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user," Kricheli added. "Our internal analysis shows abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have two-step verification set up. These accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam,” he further stated. Who stands at risk? The policy is only applicable to personal Google accounts not accessed in the last two years. Accounts of organisations like schools or businesses will remain unaffected by this overhaul. How can you keep your Google account active? As per the Google blog post, the best way to keep your Google account active is to keep signing in at least once every two years. If you have recently signed into your Google Account or used any of its services, then it will be considered active and will not get deleted. Watch | Google Meet's 'on-the-go' mode for meetings on the move feature It is not necessary to read or send an email to keep your Gmail account active. The users who have signed into their accounts for using Google Drive, watching a YouTube video or downloading an app on the Google Play Store and using Google Search, will also be considered active users. (With inputs from agencies)

Google will delete millions of Gmail accounts. Here's how you can keep your account active

The so-called 'odd-even' traffic restriction scheme will not come into effect in Delhi as of now, the Indian capital's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday (Nov 10). The&nbsp;scheme, in which the movement of privately owned vehicles is restricted on the basis of their odd or even registration numbers, was supposed to be enforced from November 14, as the air quality of the city and nearby regions worsened in the past few days.

The announcement came days after the Supreme Court&nbsp;left it to the Aam Aadmi Party government to decide on the scheme's implementation, even as it rapped it. 
 
Reacting to the worsening air quality in the national capital, the court had called the scheme "mere optics".

The court had asked for proof of the success of the scheme.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-delhi-gets-a-breather-overnight-rains-bring-relief-clear-smog-657159">New Delhi gets a breather, overnight rains bring relief, clear smog</a>

Minister Rai said that the Delhi government will now consider the odd-even scheme's implementation after the air quality review post Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which often sees fireworks that add to pollution levels.&nbsp; 
 
"An improvement is seen in pollution levels. The AQI, which was 450+, has now reached around 300. (So) the decision to implement odd-even from November 13-20 has been postponed. The situation will be analysed again after Diwali," the minister stated. 
 
At Friday's hearing on the air quality issue, the court was referred to a report that vehicular pollution is reduced by 13 per cent after implementation of the odd-even scheme. 
 
The court was further informed that the kilometres travelled also decreased by an estimated 3.78 million per day after the scheme was brought into effect. 
 
A Delhi government affidavit added that this also decreased the fuel consumption per day by an average of 15 per cent during the scheme.

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Will cloud-seeding seek to ease Delhi pollution?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-cloud-seeding-seek-to-ease-delhi-pollution-657065/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

 
However, the court stated that as per the report, vehicular pollution contributed only 17 per cent to the larger pollution issue and that the scheme has led to a 13 per cent reduction in that amount. 
 
"Total vehicular pollution is 17 per cent. Of this... you are saying there is a decline of 13 per cent?" the court quizzed, and added, "We are only flagging it. You take a call... you want to do it, then you can. Can't then say 'pollution because Supreme Court passed an order'."

<h2>Rains bring respite for smog-enveloped Delhi</h2>

Meanwhile, even as Delhi was reportedly mulling artificial rain, overnight rains across the national capital helped the AQI to drop&nbsp;from 500 to 407 at 7 am (local time) on Friday (Nov 10). 
 
"God heard peoples' prayers and intervened... sometimes wind helps. But no thanks to government. (All) we want to know is... what is being done about farm fires, apart from waiting for rain?" said Justice SK Kaul, while speaking about the rains which lashed the capital on Thursday night and Friday.&nbsp;

<h2>Rai asks UP to stop&nbsp;plying of non-destined vehicles in Delhi from its border&nbsp;</h2>

Minister Gopal Rai on Friday (Nov 10) also&nbsp;wrote&nbsp;to the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh's Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh to take prompt action to stop the entry of&nbsp;non-destined vehicles in Delhi from their state's border, which he is said is causing vehicular air pollution in the capital city.

<img alt="Delhi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8a445f1a-8d1b-4aef-8037-1fbd8320d598" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-11-10%20at%204.48.52%20PM.jpeg" />

Meanwhile, the University of Delhi also announced an early winter break from November 13 to 19 for the college students in the wake of the capital city's worsening air quality.

(With inputs from agencies)

The so-called 'odd-even' traffic restriction scheme will not come into effect in Delhi as of now, the Indian capital's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday (Nov 10).

The so-called 'odd-even' traffic restriction scheme will not come into effect in Delhi as of now, the Indian capital's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday (Nov 10). The scheme, in which the movement of privately owned vehicles is restricted on the basis of their odd or even registration numbers, was supposed to be enforced from November 14, as the air quality of the city and nearby regions worsened in the past few days. The announcement came days after the Supreme Court left it to the Aam Aadmi Party government to decide on the scheme's implementation, even as it rapped it. Reacting to the worsening air quality in the national capital, the court had called the scheme "mere optics". The court had asked for proof of the success of the scheme. ALSO READ | New Delhi gets a breather, overnight rains bring relief, clear smog Minister Rai said that the Delhi government will now consider the odd-even scheme's implementation after the air quality review post Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which often sees fireworks that add to pollution levels. "An improvement is seen in pollution levels. The AQI, which was 450+, has now reached around 300. (So) the decision to implement odd-even from November 13-20 has been postponed. The situation will be analysed again after Diwali," the minister stated. At Friday's hearing on the air quality issue, the court was referred to a report that vehicular pollution is reduced by 13 per cent after implementation of the odd-even scheme. The court was further informed that the kilometres travelled also decreased by an estimated 3.78 million per day after the scheme was brought into effect. A Delhi government affidavit added that this also decreased the fuel consumption per day by an average of 15 per cent during the scheme. WATCH | Gravitas: Will cloud-seeding seek to ease Delhi pollution? However, the court stated that as per the report, vehicular pollution contributed only 17 per cent to the larger pollution issue and that the scheme has led to a 13 per cent reduction in that amount. "Total vehicular pollution is 17 per cent. Of this... you are saying there is a decline of 13 per cent?" the court quizzed, and added, "We are only flagging it. You take a call... you want to do it, then you can. Can't then say 'pollution because Supreme Court passed an order'." Rains bring respite for smog-enveloped Delhi Meanwhile, even as Delhi was reportedly mulling artificial rain, overnight rains across the national capital helped the AQI to drop from 500 to 407 at 7 am (local time) on Friday (Nov 10). "God heard peoples' prayers and intervened... sometimes wind helps. But no thanks to government. (All) we want to know is... what is being done about farm fires, apart from waiting for rain?" said Justice SK Kaul, while speaking about the rains which lashed the capital on Thursday night and Friday. Rai asks UP to stop plying of non-destined vehicles in Delhi from its border Minister Gopal Rai on Friday (Nov 10) also wrote to the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh's Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh to take prompt action to stop the entry of non-destined vehicles in Delhi from their state's border, which he is said is causing vehicular air pollution in the capital city. Meanwhile, the University of Delhi also announced an early winter break from November 13 to 19 for the college students in the wake of the capital city's worsening air quality. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi air pollution: No odd-even rule to come into effect in India's national capital

Want to retire wealthy? Read these 7 Books

1. The Psychology of Money By Morgan Housel

This is not a typical finance book. The book talks about the emotional and psychological aspects of money and emphasises how people's perceptions shape their financial decisions.

2. Learn To Earn By Peter Lynch And John Rothchild

This is a comprehensive beginner's guide for those taking their baby steps in the world of investments. The book underlines how important it is to carry out thorough research and ways to maintain a long-term perspective in investments.

3. Rich Dad Poor Dad By Robert T. Kiyosaki

This book is considered a game-changer in the world of personal finance literature. By narrating contrasting tales of his "two dads", the author has explained how a wealthy person's mindset differs from the rest.


4. The Most Important Thing By Howard Marks

Marks, who is considered an investment titan, has filled this book with the knowledge he has gained from his career. He has tried to make readers understand market rhythms, the psyche of the investor and the nuances of taking a risk.

Ramsey in his book has laid out plans for clearing debt, initiating investments and building a safety net. The methodology provided by him offers readers a roadmap to financial rejuvenation.

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DeMarco has tried to challenge mainstream notions of creating wealth and instead has given a radical approach to his readers. According to him, entrepreneurial ventures and not traditional job is the quickest path to creating wealth.

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This is a holistic guide to creating wealth. Templar has laid out a set of rules, written about intricate investment strategies and emphasised foundational money beliefs.

8 Health Benefits of Consuming Watermelon Seeds  

Watermelon seeds are a good source of zinc which helps in building the body's immune system. Zinc helps in producing and activating the immune cells which build the body's defences against infections and illnesses.

The watermelon seeds contain healthy fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. These healthy fats work towards decreasing blood cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

These seeds also help in increasing insulin sensitivity, which in turn controls the body's blood sugar levels. The watermelon seeds contain magnesium which helps in metabolising carbs that affect blood sugar levels.

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Watermelon seeds provide both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid which helps in keeping the heart healthy. Magnesium, which is also available in abundance in this seed, helps in maintaining good cardiac function and healthy blood pressure.

Roasted watermelon seeds can be a healthy snack for improving skin texture. It helps moisturise the skin, reduces acne breakouts and delays the onset of early signs of ageing.

8 Health Benefits of Consuming Watermelon Seeds

On November 7, India's Supreme Court gave a clarification over its order to ban firecrackers across the country. The Court stated that the use of firecrackers, which are filled with barium and other banned chemicals, is banned in the entire nation, and not only in the National Capital Region. 
 
The clarification was given by a bench, comprising Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh, when they were hearing an application which was seeking direction to the Rajasthan government for complying with the order of the top court on the on barium crackers and decreasing air and noise pollution. 
 
“At this juncture, no specific order will be necessary in as much as this Court in the course of hearing the petitions has passed several orders, where steps have been indicated to minimise and avoid air as well as noise pollution. Hence the said orders will bind every state in the country, including the state of Rajasthan,” stated a bench of Justice A S Bopanna and Justice M M Sundresh, in its order. 
 
“Therefore, we make it clear that the state of Rajasthan would also take note of this and take all steps to minimise air and noise pollution, not only during the festival season but even thereafter," it added. 
 
The Supreme Court's order came as India is gearing up for Diwali celebrations on November 12. The order raised questions like what type of firecrackers are permitted in the country and what are these firecrackers made of?

<h2>What orders have been issued by the Supreme Court on firecrackers?</h2>

The apex court in October 2018 placed a ban on the sale and production of all crackers except ‘green crackers’ and also those which have reduced emissions or improved crackers. 
 
The sale and manufacture of ‘joined crackers’ (which are long rows of joined crackers) was also banned and the use of barium salts in firecrackers was not permitted. The court had also stated that their noise levels should remain within permissible limits. 
 
This was reiterated by the October in its order issued on October 29, 2021. In September, the Supreme Court turned down a plea submitted by the firecracker manufacturers’ association which sought permission to the use of joined crackers and to add barium salt along with improved additives in the green crackers. 
 
The use and sale of all types of firecrackers in the National Capital Region was banned by the National Green Tribunal in 2020, which stated that the green crackers would only be allowed in towns and cities where air quality was poor or moderate.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/directions-meant-to-regulate-firecrackers-meant-for-entire-india-not-just-delhi-supreme-court-656152">Directions to regulate firecrackers meant for entire India, not just Delhi: Supreme Court</a>

<h2>What are firecrackers made of?</h2>

Generally, the firecrackers are made with four primary ingredients — colouring agents, fuel, oxidiser, and binder. An oxidiser is added to the cracker so that it can catch fire, the fuel helps in sustaining it and colouring agents add the colours and sparkles to the crackers, while the mixture is held in place by the binder till the cracker has been spent completely. 
 
Chemicals such as barium are a type of colouring agent, and they were banned by the court because they harmfully impact the health of human beings. These chemicals cause skin allergies, breathing difficulties, irritation in the respiratory tract, and even cancer. 
 
In a cracker, aluminium, magnesium and titanium emit the white colour, while carbon or iron emit&nbsp;orange colour. 
 
Similarly, sodium compounds work as yellow agents, while copper compounds and strontium carbonates emit blue and red colours, respectively. The green agent is barium chlorate barium nitrate or barium monochloride salts.

<h2>What are green crackers that cause less pollution?</h2>

Former director of the Council of Scientific &amp; Industrial Research’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) Dr Rakesh Kumar, while speaking to The Indian Express in 2018, stated that green crackers have been named so because they “do not contain harmful chemicals” which can cause air pollution. 
 
In the green crackers, the components used in traditional crackers are replaced with others which are “less dangerous” and “less harmful” to the atmosphere. 
 
A network of CSIR labs, which included the Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CECRI), Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, National Botanical Research Institute and National Chemical Laboratory, had researched the ways of producing green crackers.

WATCH |&nbsp;India: New Delhi puts firecracker ban ahead of Diwali, 3 years in jail if caught bursting crackers

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-new-delhi-puts-firecracker-ban-ahead-of-diwali-3-years-in-jail-if-caught-bursting-crackers-527821/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

These green crackers release water vapour that works as a dust suppressant and emits less-harmful chemicals. Such crackers are divided into three broad categories SWAS, SAFAL and STAR, which have been defined by CSIR. 
 
SWAS stands for “safe water releaser” and it contains a small water pocket which gets released in the form of vapour after the cracker bursts. This release of vapour suppresses the dust. 
 
STAR, which is known as a “safe thermite cracker”, does not contain sulphur and potassium nitrate, and releases reduced particulate matter at lesser sound intensity. 
 
SAFAL refers to safe minimal aluminium in which aluminium is minimally used and magnesium is used instead. This also emits less noise compared to traditional crackers.

(With inputs from agencies)

On November 7, India's Supreme Court gave a clarification over its order to ban firecrackers across the country. The Court stated that the use of firecrackers, which are filled with barium and other banned chemicals, is banned in the entire nation, and not only in the National Capital Region.

On November 7, India's Supreme Court gave a clarification over its order to ban firecrackers across the country. The Court stated that the use of firecrackers, which are filled with barium and other banned chemicals, is banned in the entire nation, and not only in the National Capital Region. The clarification was given by a bench, comprising Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh, when they were hearing an application which was seeking direction to the Rajasthan government for complying with the order of the top court on the on barium crackers and decreasing air and noise pollution. “At this juncture, no specific order will be necessary in as much as this Court in the course of hearing the petitions has passed several orders, where steps have been indicated to minimise and avoid air as well as noise pollution. Hence the said orders will bind every state in the country, including the state of Rajasthan,” stated a bench of Justice A S Bopanna and Justice M M Sundresh, in its order. “Therefore, we make it clear that the state of Rajasthan would also take note of this and take all steps to minimise air and noise pollution, not only during the festival season but even thereafter," it added. The Supreme Court's order came as India is gearing up for Diwali celebrations on November 12. The order raised questions like what type of firecrackers are permitted in the country and what are these firecrackers made of? What orders have been issued by the Supreme Court on firecrackers? The apex court in October 2018 placed a ban on the sale and production of all crackers except ‘green crackers’ and also those which have reduced emissions or improved crackers. The sale and manufacture of ‘joined crackers’ (which are long rows of joined crackers) was also banned and the use of barium salts in firecrackers was not permitted. The court had also stated that their noise levels should remain within permissible limits. This was reiterated by the October in its order issued on October 29, 2021. In September, the Supreme Court turned down a plea submitted by the firecracker manufacturers’ association which sought permission to the use of joined crackers and to add barium salt along with improved additives in the green crackers. The use and sale of all types of firecrackers in the National Capital Region was banned by the National Green Tribunal in 2020, which stated that the green crackers would only be allowed in towns and cities where air quality was poor or moderate. ALSO READ | Directions to regulate firecrackers meant for entire India, not just Delhi: Supreme Court What are firecrackers made of? Generally, the firecrackers are made with four primary ingredients — colouring agents, fuel, oxidiser, and binder. An oxidiser is added to the cracker so that it can catch fire, the fuel helps in sustaining it and colouring agents add the colours and sparkles to the crackers, while the mixture is held in place by the binder till the cracker has been spent completely. Chemicals such as barium are a type of colouring agent, and they were banned by the court because they harmfully impact the health of human beings. These chemicals cause skin allergies, breathing difficulties, irritation in the respiratory tract, and even cancer. In a cracker, aluminium, magnesium and titanium emit the white colour, while carbon or iron emit orange colour. Similarly, sodium compounds work as yellow agents, while copper compounds and strontium carbonates emit blue and red colours, respectively. The green agent is barium chlorate barium nitrate or barium monochloride salts. What are green crackers that cause less pollution? Former director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) Dr Rakesh Kumar, while speaking to The Indian Express in 2018, stated that green crackers have been named so because they “do not contain harmful chemicals” which can cause air pollution. In the green crackers, the components used in traditional crackers are replaced with others which are “less dangerous” and “less harmful” to the atmosphere. A network of CSIR labs, which included the Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CECRI), Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, National Botanical Research Institute and National Chemical Laboratory, had researched the ways of producing green crackers. WATCH | India: New Delhi puts firecracker ban ahead of Diwali, 3 years in jail if caught bursting crackers These green crackers release water vapour that works as a dust suppressant and emits less-harmful chemicals. Such crackers are divided into three broad categories SWAS, SAFAL and STAR, which have been defined by CSIR. SWAS stands for “safe water releaser” and it contains a small water pocket which gets released in the form of vapour after the cracker bursts. This release of vapour suppresses the dust. STAR, which is known as a “safe thermite cracker”, does not contain sulphur and potassium nitrate, and releases reduced particulate matter at lesser sound intensity. SAFAL refers to safe minimal aluminium in which aluminium is minimally used and magnesium is used instead. This also emits less noise compared to traditional crackers. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | What kind of fireworks are allowed across India after SC's ban on crackers?

In a unique medical case, the doctors came across a 34-year-old patient, identified as Davey Bauer, whose lungs were infected badly with a drug-resistant strain of bacteria and they could not be changed with a fresh pair of lungs in a single move. 
 
Although the medical specialists working at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago had a machine which could have filled the space of the absent organs for some days while any remaining infection was cleared, there was no conventional way to fill the huge gap which would be created by the removal of lungs in the chest of the patient. 
 
However, the surgeons came up with a never-heard solution for Bauer which was a pair of DD breast implants which were placed where his old lungs were once working.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-doctor-goes-on-four-hour-tea-break-after-sedating-four-patients-in-operation-theatre-656621">India: Doctor goes on four-hour tea break after sedating four patients in operation theatre</a>

"Someone who is actively dying and was so sick like David, generally, will have no option of transplant, and they generally just die," stated chief thoracic surgeon Ankit Bharat, while speaking to CNN. 
 
"We had to come up with a strategy to do something that we've never done before,” he added.

<h2>'Lungs started to liquefy because of infection'</h2>

Bauer was a chain smoker in his early 20s, but he switched to vaping in 2014, while considering it as a healthier alternative. 
 
After he caught influenza in April, the doctors found his lungs in no state to cope and he easily caught a secondary infection, which was not getting cleared by any antibiotic. 
 
Bauer, who was desperately short of breath, reached a St Louis hospital, where he was put on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) system.

The system took over the task of the lungs of balancing the gases of his blood.

WATCH |&nbsp;New Delhi AQI: Patients line up with respiratory conditions

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-delhi-aqi-patients-line-up-with-respiratory-conditions-655451/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Davey's lungs were so heavily infected that they started to liquefy," stated Northwestern Medicine pulmonologist Rade Tomic, while speaking to Science Alert. 
 
"If you looked at his X-ray, there was nothing left – the lungs were completely filled with puss. When we received a call from Davey's medical team in St. Louis, we thought we could help him, but it was also very clear he wouldn't survive the transplant in his current condition. He needed to clear the infection before we could list him for transplant, but the only way to do that was to remove both lungs. This was unchartered territory for us, but our team knew if we couldn't help Davey, no one else could,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a unique medical case, the doctors came across a 34-year-old patient, identified as Davey Bauer, whose lungs were infected badly with a drug-resistant strain of bacteria and they could not be changed with a fresh pair of lungs in a single move.

In a unique medical case, the doctors came across a 34-year-old patient, identified as Davey Bauer, whose lungs were infected badly with a drug-resistant strain of bacteria and they could not be changed with a fresh pair of lungs in a single move. Although the medical specialists working at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago had a machine which could have filled the space of the absent organs for some days while any remaining infection was cleared, there was no conventional way to fill the huge gap which would be created by the removal of lungs in the chest of the patient. However, the surgeons came up with a never-heard solution for Bauer which was a pair of DD breast implants which were placed where his old lungs were once working. ALSO READ | India: Doctor goes on four-hour tea break after sedating four patients in operation theatre "Someone who is actively dying and was so sick like David, generally, will have no option of transplant, and they generally just die," stated chief thoracic surgeon Ankit Bharat, while speaking to CNN. "We had to come up with a strategy to do something that we've never done before,” he added. 'Lungs started to liquefy because of infection' Bauer was a chain smoker in his early 20s, but he switched to vaping in 2014, while considering it as a healthier alternative. After he caught influenza in April, the doctors found his lungs in no state to cope and he easily caught a secondary infection, which was not getting cleared by any antibiotic. Bauer, who was desperately short of breath, reached a St Louis hospital, where he was put on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) system. The system took over the task of the lungs of balancing the gases of his blood. WATCH | New Delhi AQI: Patients line up with respiratory conditions "Davey's lungs were so heavily infected that they started to liquefy," stated Northwestern Medicine pulmonologist Rade Tomic, while speaking to Science Alert. "If you looked at his X-ray, there was nothing left – the lungs were completely filled with puss. When we received a call from Davey's medical team in St. Louis, we thought we could help him, but it was also very clear he wouldn't survive the transplant in his current condition. He needed to clear the infection before we could list him for transplant, but the only way to do that was to remove both lungs. This was unchartered territory for us, but our team knew if we couldn't help Davey, no one else could,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Bizarre operation: Doctors save a man's life with breast implants. Here's what happened

A major breakthrough was made by scientists in NASA, with the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, as they found out how planets came into existence. 
 
The telescope observed the water vapour in protoplanetary disks, after which it confirmed a physical process which included the drifting of ice-coated solids from the disk's outer regions into the rocky planet zone. 
 
For years, scientific theories have stated that the icy pebbles, which were formed in the protoplanetary disks' cold, outer regions were the fundamental element in the formation of the planet. This is&nbsp;the same area from where the comets came into existence in our solar system. 
 
These theories necessitated the drifting of pebbles inward towards the star because of friction in the gaseous disk, which will help in providing both water and solids to planets. 
 
As per this theory, icy pebbles are likely to release large amounts of cold water vapour when entering into the warmer region within the “snowline”. This was what James Webb&nbsp;observed.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/life-on-venus-astronomers-detect-oxygen-in-dayside-atmosphere-of-planet-656694">Life on Venus? Astronomers detect oxygen in dayside atmosphere of planet</a>

“Webb finally revealed the connection between water vapour in the inner disk and the drift of icy pebbles from the outer disk,” stated principal investigator Andrea Banzatti of Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, as quoted by NASA. He added, “This finding opens up exciting prospects for studying rocky planet formation with Webb!” 
 
“In the past, we had this very static picture of planet formation, almost like there were these isolated zones that planets formed out of,” team member Colette Salyk of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York explained. 
 
“Now we actually have evidence that these zones can interact with each other. It’s also something that is proposed to have happened in our solar system,” he stated in a press release.

<h2>Solving the mystery of planets</h2>

When the data from observations first came in, the research team was left puzzled by the results. 
 
“For two months, we were stuck on these preliminary results that were telling us that the compact disks had colder water, and the large disks had hotter water overall. This made no sense, because we had selected a sample of stars with very similar temperatures,” stated Banzatti.

WATCH |&nbsp;Remains of an ancient planet lie deep within earth

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/remains-of-an-ancient-planet-lie-deep-within-earth-654586/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Banzatti said that when the data was overlaid by him from the compact disks onto the data collected from the large disks, the answer emerged clearly.

There was extra cool water inside the snowline in the compact disks, which is 10 times closer than the orbit of Neptune. 
 
“Now we finally see unambiguously that it is the colder water that has an excess,” stated Banzatti, adding, “This is unprecedented and entirely due to Webb’s higher resolving power!”

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A major breakthrough was made by scientists in NASA, with the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, as they found out how planets came into existence. The telescope observed the water vapour in protoplanetary disks, after which it confirmed a physical process which included the drifting of ice-coated solids from the disk's outer regions into the rocky planet zone.

A major breakthrough was made by scientists in NASA, with the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, as they found out how planets came into existence. The telescope observed the water vapour in protoplanetary disks, after which it confirmed a physical process which included the drifting of ice-coated solids from the disk's outer regions into the rocky planet zone. For years, scientific theories have stated that the icy pebbles, which were formed in the protoplanetary disks' cold, outer regions were the fundamental element in the formation of the planet. This is the same area from where the comets came into existence in our solar system. These theories necessitated the drifting of pebbles inward towards the star because of friction in the gaseous disk, which will help in providing both water and solids to planets. As per this theory, icy pebbles are likely to release large amounts of cold water vapour when entering into the warmer region within the “snowline”. This was what James Webb observed. ALSO READ | Life on Venus? Astronomers detect oxygen in dayside atmosphere of planet “Webb finally revealed the connection between water vapour in the inner disk and the drift of icy pebbles from the outer disk,” stated principal investigator Andrea Banzatti of Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, as quoted by NASA. He added, “This finding opens up exciting prospects for studying rocky planet formation with Webb!” “In the past, we had this very static picture of planet formation, almost like there were these isolated zones that planets formed out of,” team member Colette Salyk of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York explained. “Now we actually have evidence that these zones can interact with each other. It’s also something that is proposed to have happened in our solar system,” he stated in a press release. Solving the mystery of planets When the data from observations first came in, the research team was left puzzled by the results. “For two months, we were stuck on these preliminary results that were telling us that the compact disks had colder water, and the large disks had hotter water overall. This made no sense, because we had selected a sample of stars with very similar temperatures,” stated Banzatti. WATCH | Remains of an ancient planet lie deep within earth Banzatti said that when the data was overlaid by him from the compact disks onto the data collected from the large disks, the answer emerged clearly. There was extra cool water inside the snowline in the compact disks, which is 10 times closer than the orbit of Neptune. “Now we finally see unambiguously that it is the colder water that has an excess,” stated Banzatti, adding, “This is unprecedented and entirely due to Webb’s higher resolving power!” (With inputs from agencies)

James Webb telescope helps NASA scientists discover how planets were formed

The air pollution level in India's capital city New Delhi continues to be 'severely bad' category as the authorities adopt emergency measures like shutting down schools and imposing traffic curbs. 
 
The worsening air quality has been a result of many factors, with stubble burning in neighbouring states and harmful emissions from vehicles being the chief contributors. 
 
The Worldview satellite of NASA was able to capture the toxic smog hovering in the northern parts of India on November 7. However, in the image captured, smog was seen enveloping areas from Pakistan to the Bay of Bengal.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/how-delhis-artificial-rain-plan-is-a-potential-solution-to-pollution-crisis-656631">How Delhi's artificial rain plan is a potential solution to pollution crisis</a>

In the satellite data, the smog was seen coupled with a sharp increase in smoke rising from farm fires in North India.

<h2>New Delhi remains the worst hit by air pollution</h2>

As per the data collected by NASA, there has been a sharp rise in the number of farm fires since October 29.

On October 29, the state saw a 740 per cent increase in farm fires, with&nbsp;1,068 incidents recorded, the highest record of stubble burning in one day in the current harvesting season. 
 
As the air quality index (AQI) went as high as 500 in some areas of the capital city. New Delhi remained on the top of the most polluted cities index from the last six days. 
 
The government invoked Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of anti-pollution guidelines, and a ban has been placed on construction activities and diesel trucks in the national capital.

WATCH |&nbsp;India: Odd-even policy in Delhi from Nov 13 to Nov 20

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The governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have been asked by the Supreme Court to urgently speak with the Centre on how the farm fires should be stopped. 
 
The court stated that it would not allow this issue to turn into a political battle, emphasising that the choking air quality is leading to the "murder of people's health". 
 
The Delhi government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been planning to create artificial rain in the capital on November 20-21, which is likely to provide relief to residents from the pollution. 
 
A meeting was held by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai and Finance Minister Atishi with a team from IIT Kanpur which had stated that a spell of artificial rain is likely to help resolve this air emergency.

(With inputs from agencies)

The air pollution level in India's capital city New Delhi continues to be 'severely bad' category as the authorities adopt emergency measures like shutting down schools and imposing traffic curbs.

The air pollution level in India's capital city New Delhi continues to be 'severely bad' category as the authorities adopt emergency measures like shutting down schools and imposing traffic curbs. The worsening air quality has been a result of many factors, with stubble burning in neighbouring states and harmful emissions from vehicles being the chief contributors. The Worldview satellite of NASA was able to capture the toxic smog hovering in the northern parts of India on November 7. However, in the image captured, smog was seen enveloping areas from Pakistan to the Bay of Bengal. ALSO READ | How Delhi's artificial rain plan is a potential solution to pollution crisis In the satellite data, the smog was seen coupled with a sharp increase in smoke rising from farm fires in North India. New Delhi remains the worst hit by air pollution As per the data collected by NASA, there has been a sharp rise in the number of farm fires since October 29. On October 29, the state saw a 740 per cent increase in farm fires, with 1,068 incidents recorded, the highest record of stubble burning in one day in the current harvesting season. As the air quality index (AQI) went as high as 500 in some areas of the capital city. New Delhi remained on the top of the most polluted cities index from the last six days. The government invoked Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of anti-pollution guidelines, and a ban has been placed on construction activities and diesel trucks in the national capital. WATCH | India: Odd-even policy in Delhi from Nov 13 to Nov 20 The governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have been asked by the Supreme Court to urgently speak with the Centre on how the farm fires should be stopped. The court stated that it would not allow this issue to turn into a political battle, emphasising that the choking air quality is leading to the "murder of people's health". The Delhi government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been planning to create artificial rain in the capital on November 20-21, which is likely to provide relief to residents from the pollution. A meeting was held by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai and Finance Minister Atishi with a team from IIT Kanpur which had stated that a spell of artificial rain is likely to help resolve this air emergency. (With inputs from agencies)

India: NASA's satellite images show smog not only in Delhi but from Punjab to Bay of Bengal

After closely observing the atmosphere of Venus, astronomers have now detected clear signs of atomic oxygen in the daylight area, above the toxic clouds of the neighbouring planet. 
 
As per the team of astronomers, headed by physicist Heinz-Wilhelm Hubers of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), it has been known that atomic oxygen exists in the atmosphere of the planet as per the theoretical models, and has been detected before on the nightside of the Venus. 
 
However, the detection of oxygen on the dayside has added a new insight into the dynamics of the atmosphere on Venus and its circulation patterns, the team added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/stargazers-beware-saturns-rings-will-vanish-soon-heres-when-656374">Stargazers beware! Saturn's rings will vanish soon. Here's when</a>

Scientists have been trying to study Venus in greater detail because of the similarities it shares with Earth. The planet's mass and composition are similar to that of Earth's but in comparison to life on our planet, Venus is just a death pit. 
 
The planet is surrounded by thick, choking clouds which are mostly made up of carbon dioxide. These clouds create a greenhouse environment which leads to the planet's average surface temperatures around 464 degrees Celsius (867 Fahrenheit). 
 
The clouds lead to acid rain on Venus and the atmosphere rotates at a tremendous rate around the planet. The scientists by understanding Venus' atmosphere are also able to understand the difference between the neighbouring planet and our planet.

<h2>What is atomic oxygen?</h2>

Atomic oxygen is not similar to the oxygen humans breathe on Earth. The oxygen found on Earth is molecular oxygen, or O2, which consists of two atoms of oxygen bound together. 
 
Atomic oxygen has only one oxygen atom, and generally, it does not last long because it is highly reactive and easily bonds with other atoms. Atomic oxygen is found in abundance at high altitude places on Earth where it is created through the photodissociation of molecular oxygen. In this process, atmospheric O2 is broken into two parts by solar photons. 
 
It is believed that a similar process takes place on the planet Venus. The atmosphere of Venus is predominantly filled with carbon dioxide and when the sunlight hits this CO2, the molecules are broken into atomic oxygen and carbon monoxide by photodissociation.

WATCH |&nbsp;Remains of an ancient planet lie deep within earth

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/remains-of-an-ancient-planet-lie-deep-within-earth-654586/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The atomic oxygen was found in high concentration on 17 locations on Venus. The molecules were present at an altitude of about 100 kilometres (62 miles). 
 
"Future observations, especially near the antisolar and subsolar points but also at all solar zenith angles, will provide a more detailed picture of this peculiar region and support future space missions to Venus," the researchers stated. 
 
"Along with measurements of atomic oxygen in the atmospheres of Earth and Mars, these data may help to improve our understanding of how and why Venus and Earth's atmospheres are so different,” they added.

(With inputs from agencies)

After closely observing the atmosphere of Venus, astronomers have now detected clear signs of atomic oxygen in the daylight area, above the toxic clouds of the neighbouring planet.

After closely observing the atmosphere of Venus, astronomers have now detected clear signs of atomic oxygen in the daylight area, above the toxic clouds of the neighbouring planet. As per the team of astronomers, headed by physicist Heinz-Wilhelm Hubers of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), it has been known that atomic oxygen exists in the atmosphere of the planet as per the theoretical models, and has been detected before on the nightside of the Venus. However, the detection of oxygen on the dayside has added a new insight into the dynamics of the atmosphere on Venus and its circulation patterns, the team added. ALSO READ | Stargazers beware! Saturn's rings will vanish soon. Here's when Scientists have been trying to study Venus in greater detail because of the similarities it shares with Earth. The planet's mass and composition are similar to that of Earth's but in comparison to life on our planet, Venus is just a death pit. The planet is surrounded by thick, choking clouds which are mostly made up of carbon dioxide. These clouds create a greenhouse environment which leads to the planet's average surface temperatures around 464 degrees Celsius (867 Fahrenheit). The clouds lead to acid rain on Venus and the atmosphere rotates at a tremendous rate around the planet. The scientists by understanding Venus' atmosphere are also able to understand the difference between the neighbouring planet and our planet. What is atomic oxygen? Atomic oxygen is not similar to the oxygen humans breathe on Earth. The oxygen found on Earth is molecular oxygen, or O2, which consists of two atoms of oxygen bound together. Atomic oxygen has only one oxygen atom, and generally, it does not last long because it is highly reactive and easily bonds with other atoms. Atomic oxygen is found in abundance at high altitude places on Earth where it is created through the photodissociation of molecular oxygen. In this process, atmospheric O2 is broken into two parts by solar photons. It is believed that a similar process takes place on the planet Venus. The atmosphere of Venus is predominantly filled with carbon dioxide and when the sunlight hits this CO2, the molecules are broken into atomic oxygen and carbon monoxide by photodissociation. WATCH | Remains of an ancient planet lie deep within earth The atomic oxygen was found in high concentration on 17 locations on Venus. The molecules were present at an altitude of about 100 kilometres (62 miles). "Future observations, especially near the antisolar and subsolar points but also at all solar zenith angles, will provide a more detailed picture of this peculiar region and support future space missions to Venus," the researchers stated. "Along with measurements of atomic oxygen in the atmospheres of Earth and Mars, these data may help to improve our understanding of how and why Venus and Earth's atmospheres are so different,” they added. (With inputs from agencies)

Life on Venus? Astronomers detect oxygen in dayside atmosphere of planet

The UK government has proposed plans to include India in the expanded list of 'safe states' which will escalate the process of bringing illegal Indian migrants back to their country and rule out their chances of getting asylum in the country. 
 
India and Georgia were the countries which were proposed to be added to the list in a&nbsp;draft legislation tabled in the House of Commons on Wednesday (Nov 8). 
 
The UK Home Office stated that the step is being taken to strengthen the immigration system of the country and help in preventing abuse by people who make unfounded protection claims. 
 
“We must stop people making dangerous and illegal journeys to the UK from fundamentally safe countries,” stated UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman. 
 
“Expanding this list will allow us to more swiftly remove people with no right to be here and sends a clear message that if you come here illegally, you cannot stay. We remain committed to delivering the measures in our Illegal Migration Act, which will play a part in the fight against illegal migration,” she added.

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The step is in accordance with the measures being taken to meet the pledge of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to “stop the boats” of migrants which are illegally reaching the shores of the country. 
 
The Home Office stated that there has been an increase in Indian and Georgian small boat arrivals over the last year. 
 
"Deeming these countries safe will mean that if an individual arrives illegally from either one, we will not admit their claim to the UK asylum system,” the Home Office stated.

<h2>Proposal to pass through UK parliament</h2>

Other nations which have been marked as safe by the UK include Switzerland and Albania, along with the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) states.

WATCH |&nbsp;Former UK PM Boris Johnson claims Rishi Sunak was a 'stooge' put in place by Cummings&nbsp;

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A country is added to the safe states list through a legislative measure known&nbsp;as Section 80AA if the home secretary feels it is eligible&nbsp;and there is no risk of persecution of its nationals, and sending back the nationals to that country does not go against the UK’s obligations under the Human Rights Convention. 
 
The Home Office said it "has rigorously assessed India and Georgia and determined that both meet these criteria.” 
 
The proposal will now pass through parliament and debates will take place on the issue in both Houses&nbsp;before the legislation comes into force. 
 
The latest step of the UK government falls within the Illegal Migration Act 2023, which is aimed to "stop the boats" through a change in laws so that people who travel to the UK illegally can get detained and then go back to their home country swiftly.

(With inputs from agencies)

The UK government has proposed plans to include India in the expanded list of 'safe states' which will escalate the process of bringing illegal Indian migrants back to their country and rule out their chances of getting asylum in the country.

The UK government has proposed plans to include India in the expanded list of 'safe states' which will escalate the process of bringing illegal Indian migrants back to their country and rule out their chances of getting asylum in the country. India and Georgia were the countries which were proposed to be added to the list in a draft legislation tabled in the House of Commons on Wednesday (Nov 8). The UK Home Office stated that the step is being taken to strengthen the immigration system of the country and help in preventing abuse by people who make unfounded protection claims. “We must stop people making dangerous and illegal journeys to the UK from fundamentally safe countries,” stated UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman. “Expanding this list will allow us to more swiftly remove people with no right to be here and sends a clear message that if you come here illegally, you cannot stay. We remain committed to delivering the measures in our Illegal Migration Act, which will play a part in the fight against illegal migration,” she added. ALSO READ | US, UK support Canada amid row with India over curtailed diplomatic presence The step is in accordance with the measures being taken to meet the pledge of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to “stop the boats” of migrants which are illegally reaching the shores of the country. The Home Office stated that there has been an increase in Indian and Georgian small boat arrivals over the last year. "Deeming these countries safe will mean that if an individual arrives illegally from either one, we will not admit their claim to the UK asylum system,” the Home Office stated. Proposal to pass through UK parliament Other nations which have been marked as safe by the UK include Switzerland and Albania, along with the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) states. WATCH | Former UK PM Boris Johnson claims Rishi Sunak was a 'stooge' put in place by Cummings A country is added to the safe states list through a legislative measure known as Section 80AA if the home secretary feels it is eligible and there is no risk of persecution of its nationals, and sending back the nationals to that country does not go against the UK’s obligations under the Human Rights Convention. The Home Office said it "has rigorously assessed India and Georgia and determined that both meet these criteria.” The proposal will now pass through parliament and debates will take place on the issue in both Houses before the legislation comes into force. The latest step of the UK government falls within the Illegal Migration Act 2023, which is aimed to "stop the boats" through a change in laws so that people who travel to the UK illegally can get detained and then go back to their home country swiftly. (With inputs from agencies)

India to be included in UK safe states list, no asylum rights for country's illegal migrants

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