<p>It was in March 1947 when Lord Louis Mountbatten was made the last viceroy of British India and assigned the tough task to give power back into the hands of a country which they had colonised for more than three hundred years. Mountbatten, who was still learning and understanding the sub-continent, had spoken against the division of the country and emphasised the need for a unified India.</p>

<p>In a radio broadcast on 4 June 1947, Viceroy Lord Mountbatten announced, "A statement will be read to you tonight giving the final decision of his Majesty’s Government as to the method by which power will be transferred from British to Indian hands. Nothing I have seen or heard in the past few weeks has shaken my firm opinion that with a reasonable measure of goodwill between the communities a unified India would be far the best solution of the problem."</p>

<p>However, the negotiations&nbsp;with Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was once considered “the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity" and shared differences with Gandhi over 'mixing religion with politics', ended in a disaster and it was soon made clear Partition was the only way out.</p>

<p>Pushing independence ten months earlier than expected, Mountbatten in early June announced 15 August 1947, as the date for the transfer of power.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-asi-shares-images-of-prominent-heritage-monuments-of-india-awash-in-tricolour-625246">ASI shares images of prominent heritage monuments of India awash in tricolour</a></p>

<h2><strong>40 days and hanging fate of 390 million people</strong></h2>

<p>The man chosen for the momentous task of striking a line between the country and defining the borders of India and Pakistan was a British judge, Cyril Radcliffe, who clearly had no understanding of the country's sociopolitical culture and had never visited India before.</p>

<p>After getting appointed as the chairman of the Border Commission, Radcliffe was granted merely 40 days to decide the fate of approximately 390 million people, who were about to lose their loved ones, houses, and wealth and endure&nbsp;horrifying&nbsp;scars of rape, brutalisation, killing and unnamed atrocities.</p>

<p>In the later years, while speaking to journalist Kuldip Nayar, Radcliffe said, “I had no alternative; the time at my disposal was so short that I could not do a better job. Given the same period, I would do the same thing. However, if I had two to three years, I might have improved on what I did."</p>

<p>“If aspirations of some people had not been fulfilled, the fault must be found in political arrangements with which I am not concerned," he had said.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India to celebrate its 77th Independence day</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-to-celebrate-its-77th-independence-day-625101/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Two days of eerie silence over new borders</strong></h2>

<p>Amid the riots, brutal killings, rape, looting and the greatest displacement of all time, historic speeches by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Pt Jawaharlal Nehru declared Pakistan and India as independent nation-states on August 14 and 15. While independence was granted to people, their future remained blurred and locked inside the files where the actual border lines were drawn and the country was partitioned.</p>

<p>The confusion and mayhem in such circumstances are difficult to explain when people, especially those living in states like Punjab, which were divided, fail to understand if they are in India or Pakistan and whether they should run towards overwhelming refugee camps or wait for clarity from the authorities.</p>

<p>"While people knew that Punjab would be partitioned, it wasn’t until two days after independence that the fate of Lahore was announced. Until then, most people were unsure where Lahore would go. It was a strategic city because apart from being the capital of Punjab, it was divided between Hindu/Sikhs and Muslims almost equally," said Harleen Singh, founder of The Lost Heer Project while speaking to WION.</p>

<p>"I definitely think that keeping the exact borders secret until the last minute really added to the confusion and mayhem. In 2021, I was interviewing the refugee families in Gurdaspur which was briefly part of Pakistan for a few days before being allotted to India. This really caused a lot of violence in the region and a lot of Muslim women were kidnapped in the area and birthed many generations in Gurdaspur. Had people given a fair idea of what to expect with the new borders, there would have been much less violence," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Radcliffe was intertwined in his own debate while giving Lahore to India. In the famous interview, he said, "I nearly gave you (India) Lahore. But then I realised that Pakistan would not have any large cities. I had already earmarked Calcutta for India.” The man, who had demarcated India from Pakistan, had also accepted that Lahore had Hindus and Sikhs.</p>

<p>But Jinnah was not happy with the "truncated" state that was given to him, which he had described as “a maimed, mutilated and moth-eaten” Pakistan. The question that lies deeply buried is why the map, which was apparently finalised on August 12, was not made public. Some argue that the step was restricted to ensure that riots and killings do not affect the Independence Day celebrations in India and Pakistan. However, unlike any other country, did India get a fair chance to celebrate the independence it had waited for for hundreds of years?</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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It was in March 1947 when Lord Louis Mountbatten was made the last viceroy of British India and assigned the tough task to give power back into the hands of a country which they had colonised for more than three hundred years.

It was in March 1947 when Lord Louis Mountbatten was made the last viceroy of British India and assigned the tough task to give power back into the hands of a country which they had colonised for more than three hundred years. Mountbatten, who was still learning and understanding the sub-continent, had spoken against the division of the country and emphasised the need for a unified India. In a radio broadcast on 4 June 1947, Viceroy Lord Mountbatten announced, "A statement will be read to you tonight giving the final decision of his Majesty’s Government as to the method by which power will be transferred from British to Indian hands. Nothing I have seen or heard in the past few weeks has shaken my firm opinion that with a reasonable measure of goodwill between the communities a unified India would be far the best solution of the problem." However, the negotiations with Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was once considered “the Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity" and shared differences with Gandhi over 'mixing religion with politics', ended in a disaster and it was soon made clear Partition was the only way out. Pushing independence ten months earlier than expected, Mountbatten in early June announced 15 August 1947, as the date for the transfer of power. ALSO READ | ASI shares images of prominent heritage monuments of India awash in tricolour 40 days and hanging fate of 390 million people The man chosen for the momentous task of striking a line between the country and defining the borders of India and Pakistan was a British judge, Cyril Radcliffe, who clearly had no understanding of the country's sociopolitical culture and had never visited India before. After getting appointed as the chairman of the Border Commission, Radcliffe was granted merely 40 days to decide the fate of approximately 390 million people, who were about to lose their loved ones, houses, and wealth and endure horrifying scars of rape, brutalisation, killing and unnamed atrocities. In the later years, while speaking to journalist Kuldip Nayar, Radcliffe said, “I had no alternative; the time at my disposal was so short that I could not do a better job. Given the same period, I would do the same thing. However, if I had two to three years, I might have improved on what I did." “If aspirations of some people had not been fulfilled, the fault must be found in political arrangements with which I am not concerned," he had said. WATCH | India to celebrate its 77th Independence day Two days of eerie silence over new borders Amid the riots, brutal killings, rape, looting and the greatest displacement of all time, historic speeches by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Pt Jawaharlal Nehru declared Pakistan and India as independent nation-states on August 14 and 15. While independence was granted to people, their future remained blurred and locked inside the files where the actual border lines were drawn and the country was partitioned. The confusion and mayhem in such circumstances are difficult to explain when people, especially those living in states like Punjab, which were divided, fail to understand if they are in India or Pakistan and whether they should run towards overwhelming refugee camps or wait for clarity from the authorities. "While people knew that Punjab would be partitioned, it wasn’t until two days after independence that the fate of Lahore was announced. Until then, most people were unsure where Lahore would go. It was a strategic city because apart from being the capital of Punjab, it was divided between Hindu/Sikhs and Muslims almost equally," said Harleen Singh, founder of The Lost Heer Project while speaking to WION. "I definitely think that keeping the exact borders secret until the last minute really added to the confusion and mayhem. In 2021, I was interviewing the refugee families in Gurdaspur which was briefly part of Pakistan for a few days before being allotted to India. This really caused a lot of violence in the region and a lot of Muslim women were kidnapped in the area and birthed many generations in Gurdaspur. Had people given a fair idea of what to expect with the new borders, there would have been much less violence," he added. However, Radcliffe was intertwined in his own debate while giving Lahore to India. In the famous interview, he said, "I nearly gave you (India) Lahore. But then I realised that Pakistan would not have any large cities. I had already earmarked Calcutta for India.” The man, who had demarcated India from Pakistan, had also accepted that Lahore had Hindus and Sikhs. But Jinnah was not happy with the "truncated" state that was given to him, which he had described as “a maimed, mutilated and moth-eaten” Pakistan. The question that lies deeply buried is why the map, which was apparently finalised on August 12, was not made public. Some argue that the step was restricted to ensure that riots and killings do not affect the Independence Day celebrations in India and Pakistan. However, unlike any other country, did India get a fair chance to celebrate the independence it had waited for for hundreds of years? You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Cast From The Past: Radcliffe and his blood-smeared line continue to haunt India since 1947

<p>More than 10,000 police personnel will be deployed across the Indian national capital on Independence Day on Tuesday (August 15) to ensure that the city is secured and people can commute without facing any inconvenience, said government officials on Sunday (August 13), further stating that thousands of other officials have also been asked to remain on alert amid the celebrations.</p>

<p>Speaking to the news agency PTI regarding the security arrangements, Deputy Commissioner of Police (public relations officer) Suman Nalwa said, “Delhi Police is proud to be in charge of security of the Independence Day function. Adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure seamless celebrations across the city”.</p>

<p>"Independence Day will be celebrated with full enthusiasm this year with no COVID-19 restrictions in place. Therefore, a robust and adequate deployment of police will be ensured. We will also coordinate and share real-time information with other agencies to provide security. The Delhi Police will also use technology systems for security purposes. We are on our toes and doing rehearsals," said Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bolsters-defence-along-china-border-with-fighter-deployments-enhanced-infra-and-real-time-monitoring-625075">India bolsters defence along China border with fighter deployments, enhanced infra, and real-time monitoring</a></p>

<p>As per the senior police officer, 10,000 police officers have been deployed for Independence Day across the city including the day's main venue, Red Fort, and the route of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the event. “Deployed teams include anti-sabotage check, access control and anti-terror squad,” said an officer.</p>

<p>The officer stated that they also have an artificial Intelligence (AI)-based facial recognition system in place to keep a check on terror elements.</p>

<h2><strong>Security tightened, Gyan Path gets decorated with flowers&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Nalwa stated that from Sunday midnight no heavy vehicles will be given an entry in the capital city. “Deployment has been done to keep a check at the borders and gather intelligence. Traffic restrictions have been made wherever necessary and traffic advisory is being issued regularly to update the citizens,” she said.</p>

<p>DCP (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi, under whose jurisdiction the Red Fort falls, stated, “For the last two months, a stringent verification drive was conducted at hotels, guest houses, paying guest accommodations and lodges. Over 100 vehicles were checked every day at each picket across the city to check for suspicious objects and individuals. Meetings were also held with residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) and market welfare associations (MWAs) to inform them about being the ‘eyes and ears’ of Delhi and alert if they spot anything suspicious.”</p>

<p>Meanwhile, another officer confirmed the instalment of CCTV cameras at strategic places and anti-drone systems, which include the National Security Guards (NSG) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).</p>

<p>"This year, more than 20,000 officials and civilians will take part in the Independence Day celebrations. Gyan Path is being decorated with flowers and G20 signage for the national festival," said a police officer.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India to celebrate its 77th Independence day</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-to-celebrate-its-77th-independence-day-625101/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>An advisory was also shared by the Delhi Traffic Police. It stated that the road will remain closed to the public near Red Fort from 4 am to 11 am on Tuesday. Also, Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, SP Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg, Esplanade Road and its Link Road, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT, and Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP Flyover will remain closed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Vehicles that do not have parking labels for Independence Day celebrations may avoid C-Hexagon, India Gate, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, Sikandra Road, W Point, A point Tilak Marg, Mathura Road, BSZ Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg, JL Nehru Marg, Ring Road between Nizamuddin Khatta and ISBT Kashmere Gate, and Outer Ring Road from Nizamuddin Khatta to ISBT Kashmere Gate via Salimgarh bypass,” the advisory stated.&nbsp;</p>

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More than 10,000 police personnel will be deployed across the Indian national capital on Independence Day on Tuesday (August 15) to ensure that the city is secured and people can commute without facing any inconvenience, said government officials on Sunday (August 13), further stating that thousands of other officials have also been asked to remain on alert amid the celebrations.

More than 10,000 police personnel will be deployed across the Indian national capital on Independence Day on Tuesday (August 15) to ensure that the city is secured and people can commute without facing any inconvenience, said government officials on Sunday (August 13), further stating that thousands of other officials have also been asked to remain on alert amid the celebrations. Speaking to the news agency PTI regarding the security arrangements, Deputy Commissioner of Police (public relations officer) Suman Nalwa said, “Delhi Police is proud to be in charge of security of the Independence Day function. Adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure seamless celebrations across the city”. "Independence Day will be celebrated with full enthusiasm this year with no COVID-19 restrictions in place. Therefore, a robust and adequate deployment of police will be ensured. We will also coordinate and share real-time information with other agencies to provide security. The Delhi Police will also use technology systems for security purposes. We are on our toes and doing rehearsals," said Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak. ALSO READ | India bolsters defence along China border with fighter deployments, enhanced infra, and real-time monitoring As per the senior police officer, 10,000 police officers have been deployed for Independence Day across the city including the day's main venue, Red Fort, and the route of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the event. “Deployed teams include anti-sabotage check, access control and anti-terror squad,” said an officer. The officer stated that they also have an artificial Intelligence (AI)-based facial recognition system in place to keep a check on terror elements. Security tightened, Gyan Path gets decorated with flowers Nalwa stated that from Sunday midnight no heavy vehicles will be given an entry in the capital city. “Deployment has been done to keep a check at the borders and gather intelligence. Traffic restrictions have been made wherever necessary and traffic advisory is being issued regularly to update the citizens,” she said. DCP (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi, under whose jurisdiction the Red Fort falls, stated, “For the last two months, a stringent verification drive was conducted at hotels, guest houses, paying guest accommodations and lodges. Over 100 vehicles were checked every day at each picket across the city to check for suspicious objects and individuals. Meetings were also held with residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) and market welfare associations (MWAs) to inform them about being the ‘eyes and ears’ of Delhi and alert if they spot anything suspicious.” Meanwhile, another officer confirmed the instalment of CCTV cameras at strategic places and anti-drone systems, which include the National Security Guards (NSG) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). "This year, more than 20,000 officials and civilians will take part in the Independence Day celebrations. Gyan Path is being decorated with flowers and G20 signage for the national festival," said a police officer. WATCH | India to celebrate its 77th Independence day An advisory was also shared by the Delhi Traffic Police. It stated that the road will remain closed to the public near Red Fort from 4 am to 11 am on Tuesday. Also, Netaji Subhash Marg, Lothian Road, SP Mukherjee Marg, Chandni Chowk Road, Nishad Raj Marg, Esplanade Road and its Link Road, Ring Road from Rajghat to ISBT, and Outer Ring Road from ISBT to IP Flyover will remain closed. “Vehicles that do not have parking labels for Independence Day celebrations may avoid C-Hexagon, India Gate, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, Sikandra Road, W Point, A point Tilak Marg, Mathura Road, BSZ Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg, JL Nehru Marg, Ring Road between Nizamuddin Khatta and ISBT Kashmere Gate, and Outer Ring Road from Nizamuddin Khatta to ISBT Kashmere Gate via Salimgarh bypass,” the advisory stated. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Independence Day: Centre prepares with 10K police, facial recognition cameras and anti-drone systems

<p>Two new moles have been identified by scientists which were suspected of living undiscovered for three million years in the mountains of eastern Turkey.<br />
<br />
The species, named Talpa hakkariensis and Talpa davidiana tatvanensis, are part of a familiar group of subterranean, invertebrate-eating mammals which are generally found in Western Asia and Europe.<br />
<br />
Scientists claimed that the new moles are likely to survive under 6 feet of snow in winter and temperatures of up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit in summer while emphasising that the discovery is exciting as it is rare to discover new species of mammal.</p>

<h2><strong>'Very rare discover of new species'</strong></h2>

<p>The study, which was published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society in July, was carried out by researchers from England’s University of Plymouth, Ondokuz Mayis University in Turkey and Indiana University.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/large-sea-creature-with-20-arms-found-in-antarctic-ocean-624539">Massive sea creature with 20 arms attached to a strawberry-shaped body found in Antarctic Ocean</a></p>

<p>Senior author and professor of aquatic biology at the University of Plymouth David Bilton said, “It is very rare to find new species of mammals today.”<br />
<br />
“There are only around 6,500 mammal species that have been identified across the world and, by comparison, there are around 400,000 species of beetles known, with an estimated 1 to 2 million on Earth,” he added.<br />
<br />
“Superficially, the new moles we have identified in this study appear similar to other species, since living underground imposes serious constraints on the evolution of body size and shape — there are a limited number of options available for moles, really,” Bilton stated.<br />
<br />
The researchers, after discovering the moles, used “cutting-edge DNA technology” for comparing their DNA to the ones of other moles and discovered that the Turkish creatures are biologically distinct.<br />
<br />
The authors of the study said that the new moles are “subterranean, invertebrate-eating mammals,” found across Western Asia and Europe. They stated that the research emphasised how extensively one can misunderstand the diversity of mammals.<br />
<br />
“Our study highlights how, in such circumstances, we can underestimate the true nature of biodiversity,” said Bilton and added, “even in groups like mammals, where most people would assume we know all the species with which we share the planet.”</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Acid poisoning is killing marine animals in California</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/acid-poisoning-is-killing-marine-animals-in-california-616481/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The new find increases the number of already known Eurasian moles from 16 to 18, and each of the species has its distinct physical characteristics and genetics.<br />
<br />
The researchers, for identifying the latest finds, studied the shape and size of various bodily structures through advanced mathematical analyses, which also permitted them to include museum specimens which the scientists had collected in the 19th century.<br />
<br />
Their distinctiveness was confirmed by a complementary analysis of the DNA of the moles and a detailed comparison with known species.</p>

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Two new moles have been identified by scientists which were suspected of living undiscovered for three million years in the mountains of eastern Turkey. The species, named Talpa hakkariensis and Talpa davidiana tatvanensis, are part of a familiar group of subterranean, invertebrate-eating mammals which are generally found in Western Asia and Europe.

Two new moles have been identified by scientists which were suspected of living undiscovered for three million years in the mountains of eastern Turkey. The species, named Talpa hakkariensis and Talpa davidiana tatvanensis, are part of a familiar group of subterranean, invertebrate-eating mammals which are generally found in Western Asia and Europe. Scientists claimed that the new moles are likely to survive under 6 feet of snow in winter and temperatures of up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit in summer while emphasising that the discovery is exciting as it is rare to discover new species of mammal. 'Very rare discover of new species' The study, which was published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society in July, was carried out by researchers from England’s University of Plymouth, Ondokuz Mayis University in Turkey and Indiana University. ALSO READ | Massive sea creature with 20 arms attached to a strawberry-shaped body found in Antarctic Ocean Senior author and professor of aquatic biology at the University of Plymouth David Bilton said, “It is very rare to find new species of mammals today.” “There are only around 6,500 mammal species that have been identified across the world and, by comparison, there are around 400,000 species of beetles known, with an estimated 1 to 2 million on Earth,” he added. “Superficially, the new moles we have identified in this study appear similar to other species, since living underground imposes serious constraints on the evolution of body size and shape — there are a limited number of options available for moles, really,” Bilton stated. The researchers, after discovering the moles, used “cutting-edge DNA technology” for comparing their DNA to the ones of other moles and discovered that the Turkish creatures are biologically distinct. The authors of the study said that the new moles are “subterranean, invertebrate-eating mammals,” found across Western Asia and Europe. They stated that the research emphasised how extensively one can misunderstand the diversity of mammals. “Our study highlights how, in such circumstances, we can underestimate the true nature of biodiversity,” said Bilton and added, “even in groups like mammals, where most people would assume we know all the species with which we share the planet.” WATCH | Acid poisoning is killing marine animals in California The new find increases the number of already known Eurasian moles from 16 to 18, and each of the species has its distinct physical characteristics and genetics. The researchers, for identifying the latest finds, studied the shape and size of various bodily structures through advanced mathematical analyses, which also permitted them to include museum specimens which the scientists had collected in the 19th century. Their distinctiveness was confirmed by a complementary analysis of the DNA of the moles and a detailed comparison with known species. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists discover 'very rare' mole living in mountains of Turkey for three million years

<p>Two Ukrainian missiles were shot down by the Russian air defence forces over a bridge connecting Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow, to the Russian mainland, said an official on Saturday (August 12).<br />
<br />
"Air defence forces shot down two enemy missiles over the Kerch Strait. The Crimean bridge was not damaged," said Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed governor of the Crimean peninsula, on social media.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://t.co/EgVzGXuf2h">https://t.co/EgVzGXuf2h</a><br />
<br />
⚠️BREAKING - Ukrainian drone attack reported in the vicinity of the Crimean bridge. Movement has been halted<br />
<br />
"In the area of the Kerch Strait, air defense forces shot down two missiles, the Crimean bridge was not damaged", the Head of Crimea says - TASS <a href="https://t.co/BfcKo6vzeK">pic.twitter.com/BfcKo6vzeK</a></p>
— PatriotsInControl🇺🇲 (@PatriotsControl) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatriotsControl/status/1690314690352558082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>20 unmanned Ukrainian drones shot down</strong></h2>

<p>Russia on Saturday further claimed that 20 unmanned Ukrainian drones were shot down by his officials near the Crimean peninsula where attacks have been stepped up by Kyiv.<br />
<br />
Air defence systems were used to down fourteen drones and six more using electronic warfare, said the defence ministry on the Telegram messaging service. There were no casualties or damage, it added.<br />
<br />
Talking to Telegram, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said that they also intercepted a drone in the Kaluga region, which is around 150 kilometres (about 95 miles) southwest of Moscow.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-odesa-opens-beaches-for-public-first-time-since-russian-invasion-624825">Ukraine: Odesa opens beaches for public first time since Russian invasion</a></p>

<p>The officials in Moscow on Friday (August 11) confirmed destroying a drone which was aimed at the capital. This was the latest among several attacks carried out on the city in the past few days.<br />
<br />
A Ukrainian drone was eliminated over Moscow's western outskirts, said the defence ministry, adding that no casualties or damage was reported due to the incident.<br />
<br />
In July, an ammunition depot blew up and the bridge across the Kerch Strait which links Russia's mainland to the peninsula was damaged in the Ukrainian drone strikes on Crimea. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea.</p>

<h2><strong>Two killed in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia amid Russian shelling: Ukraine</strong></h2>

<p>An elderly woman along with a police officer lost their life early Saturday (August 12) due to Russian shelling on a settlement in Zaporizhzhia in the south and Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, said Ukrainian officials.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Ukranian drone manufacturer 'Punisher' attack system</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-ukranian-drone-manufacturer-punisher-attack-system-624778/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"This morning, around 5:10, the enemy fired on Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi village in Kupiansk district. A residential building was damaged. A 73-year-old woman died," said Kharkiv governor Oleh Synehubov said on the Telegram messaging app.<br />
<br />
In Ukraine, one policeman was killed and 12 others were injured, which included four police officers, in the attacks carried out by Russia on Orikhiv town in southern Zaporizhzhia region, interior minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram. One man also lost his life in the Kharkiv region, as per local authorities.<br />
<br />
Three Iranian-made Shahed drones were shot down over Zaporizhzhia, and one missile attack targeted Kryvyi Rig, which is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown, according to Governor Sergiy Lysak.&nbsp;</p>

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Two Ukrainian missiles were shot down by the Russian air defence forces over a bridge connecting Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow, to the Russian mainland, said an official on Saturday (August 12).

Two Ukrainian missiles were shot down by the Russian air defence forces over a bridge connecting Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow, to the Russian mainland, said an official on Saturday (August 12). "Air defence forces shot down two enemy missiles over the Kerch Strait. The Crimean bridge was not damaged," said Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed governor of the Crimean peninsula, on social media. https://t.co/EgVzGXuf2h ⚠️BREAKING - Ukrainian drone attack reported in the vicinity of the Crimean bridge. Movement has been halted "In the area of the Kerch Strait, air defense forces shot down two missiles, the Crimean bridge was not damaged", the Head of Crimea says - TASS pic.twitter.com/BfcKo6vzeK — PatriotsInControl🇺🇲 (@PatriotsControl) August 12, 2023 × 20 unmanned Ukrainian drones shot down Russia on Saturday further claimed that 20 unmanned Ukrainian drones were shot down by his officials near the Crimean peninsula where attacks have been stepped up by Kyiv. Air defence systems were used to down fourteen drones and six more using electronic warfare, said the defence ministry on the Telegram messaging service. There were no casualties or damage, it added. Talking to Telegram, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said that they also intercepted a drone in the Kaluga region, which is around 150 kilometres (about 95 miles) southwest of Moscow. ALSO READ | Ukraine: Odesa opens beaches for public first time since Russian invasion The officials in Moscow on Friday (August 11) confirmed destroying a drone which was aimed at the capital. This was the latest among several attacks carried out on the city in the past few days. A Ukrainian drone was eliminated over Moscow's western outskirts, said the defence ministry, adding that no casualties or damage was reported due to the incident. In July, an ammunition depot blew up and the bridge across the Kerch Strait which links Russia's mainland to the peninsula was damaged in the Ukrainian drone strikes on Crimea. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea. Two killed in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia amid Russian shelling: Ukraine An elderly woman along with a police officer lost their life early Saturday (August 12) due to Russian shelling on a settlement in Zaporizhzhia in the south and Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, said Ukrainian officials. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine war: Ukranian drone manufacturer 'Punisher' attack system "This morning, around 5:10, the enemy fired on Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi village in Kupiansk district. A residential building was damaged. A 73-year-old woman died," said Kharkiv governor Oleh Synehubov said on the Telegram messaging app. In Ukraine, one policeman was killed and 12 others were injured, which included four police officers, in the attacks carried out by Russia on Orikhiv town in southern Zaporizhzhia region, interior minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram. One man also lost his life in the Kharkiv region, as per local authorities. Three Iranian-made Shahed drones were shot down over Zaporizhzhia, and one missile attack targeted Kryvyi Rig, which is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown, according to Governor Sergiy Lysak. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia shoots down two Ukrainian missiles over Crimea bridge

<p>Six people died and 55 others were rescued when a boat filled with migrants and moving towards Britain sank in the Channel early on Saturday, said French maritime officials, as a search and rescue operation continued to find those still missing.<br />
<br />
French coastal authority's spokeswoman Premar said that around five to 10 passengers are still missing and they have managed to rescue 55 people. The authorities said that four French ships and a helicopter along with two British vessels were taking part in a rescue effort off Sangatte in northern France, adding that the British vessels rescued few survivors.<br />
<br />
Mayor of Teteghem Franck Dhersin said a vast rescue operation started at around 6 am (5 am BST) as multiple boats tried to cross Channel at the same time.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-channel-crossings-in-last-5-years-cross-100000-mark-uk-data-624616">Migrant channel crossings in last 5 years cross 100,000 mark: UK interior ministry data</a></p>

<p>“Several of the boats were facing serious difficulties. Near Sangatte they unfortunately found dead bodies,” he said. HM Coastguard stated that they were assisting French authorities Gris-Nez in their search and rescue operation.<br />
<br />
“Dover RNLI lifeboat has been sent as part of that assistance with Folkestone and Langdon Bay coastguard rescue teams. South East Coast ambulance has also been sent. HM Coastguard will continue to work with search and rescue partners to respond to those in distress around the seas and coastal areas of the UK,” HM Coastguard said.<br />
<br />
Volunteer Anne Thorel, who was on one of the rescue boats, speaking to The Guardian said, “We saved 54 people, including one woman. There were too many of them on the boat.”</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;16 migrants die in shipwreck of Tunisia</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>UK, France react to the tragic incident</strong></h2>

<p>French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said that Junior Maritime Affairs Minister Herve Berville has headed to Calais, which is near the place where one of the boats capsized. “My thoughts are with the victims,” she wrote on messaging platform X.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Ce matin, une embarcation de migrants a chaviré au large de Calais. Mes pensées vont aux victimes.<br />
<br />
Je salue l’engagement des équipes de secours mobilisées autour de la <a href="https://twitter.com/MarineNationale?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarineNationale</a> qui ont permis de sauver une cinquantaine de naufragés.<a href="https://twitter.com/HerveBerville?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HerveBerville</a> se rend sur place.</p>
— Élisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) <a href="https://twitter.com/Elisabeth_Borne/status/1690291146424037378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Meanwhile, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom Suella Braverman, after heading a meeting with Border Force Officials who were engaging in the rescue operation, wrote on X, “My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic loss of life in the Channel today. This morning I spoke with our Border Force teams who have been supporting the French authorities in response to this incident.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic loss of life in the Channel today.<br />
<br />
This morning I spoke with our Border Force teams who have been supporting the French authorities in response to this incident.</p>
— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) <a href="https://twitter.com/SuellaBraverman/status/1690315508841689088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>A UK government spokesperson also stated, “We are aware of an incident in the Channel. HM Coastguard are working on a co-ordinated response and further information will be provided in due course.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Six people died and 55 others were rescued when a boat filled with migrants and moving towards Britain sank in the Channel early on Saturday, said French maritime officials, as a search and rescue operation continued to find those still missing.

Six people died and 55 others were rescued when a boat filled with migrants and moving towards Britain sank in the Channel early on Saturday, said French maritime officials, as a search and rescue operation continued to find those still missing. French coastal authority's spokeswoman Premar said that around five to 10 passengers are still missing and they have managed to rescue 55 people. The authorities said that four French ships and a helicopter along with two British vessels were taking part in a rescue effort off Sangatte in northern France, adding that the British vessels rescued few survivors. Mayor of Teteghem Franck Dhersin said a vast rescue operation started at around 6 am (5 am BST) as multiple boats tried to cross Channel at the same time. ALSO READ | Migrant channel crossings in last 5 years cross 100,000 mark: UK interior ministry data “Several of the boats were facing serious difficulties. Near Sangatte they unfortunately found dead bodies,” he said. HM Coastguard stated that they were assisting French authorities Gris-Nez in their search and rescue operation. “Dover RNLI lifeboat has been sent as part of that assistance with Folkestone and Langdon Bay coastguard rescue teams. South East Coast ambulance has also been sent. HM Coastguard will continue to work with search and rescue partners to respond to those in distress around the seas and coastal areas of the UK,” HM Coastguard said. Volunteer Anne Thorel, who was on one of the rescue boats, speaking to The Guardian said, “We saved 54 people, including one woman. There were too many of them on the boat.” WATCH | 16 migrants die in shipwreck of Tunisia UK, France react to the tragic incident French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said that Junior Maritime Affairs Minister Herve Berville has headed to Calais, which is near the place where one of the boats capsized. “My thoughts are with the victims,” she wrote on messaging platform X. Ce matin, une embarcation de migrants a chaviré au large de Calais. Mes pensées vont aux victimes. Je salue l’engagement des équipes de secours mobilisées autour de la @MarineNationale qui ont permis de sauver une cinquantaine de naufragés.@HerveBerville se rend sur place. — Élisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) August 12, 2023 × Meanwhile, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom Suella Braverman, after heading a meeting with Border Force Officials who were engaging in the rescue operation, wrote on X, “My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic loss of life in the Channel today. This morning I spoke with our Border Force teams who have been supporting the French authorities in response to this incident.” My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic loss of life in the Channel today. This morning I spoke with our Border Force teams who have been supporting the French authorities in response to this incident. — Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) August 12, 2023 × A UK government spokesperson also stated, “We are aware of an incident in the Channel. HM Coastguard are working on a co-ordinated response and further information will be provided in due course.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Six killed, 55 rescued after boat carrying migrants capsizes in Channel

7 Celebrities Who Own Houses in Wildfire-Hit Maui  

Celebrity show host Oprah Winfrey is among the celebrities having a residence in Maui. Her property of roughly 1,000 acres on the island includes around 870 acres in Kula, which is an area in the southeast of Lahaina where firefighters are trying to control the blaze.  

The founder of Pay Pal purchased a $27 million worth house in 2011 in Makena, which is on the southwest coast of Maui. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, it was the costliest purchase of a single-family home in the county at that time.


Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, one of the world’s richest men, last year purchased a 14-acre estate for an estimated $78 million on La Perouse Bay, which is less than 20 miles south of South Maui where wildfire is raging.


Legendary Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood, who has been a resident of Lahaina for a long time, saw his restaurant being gutted in the wildfire across the historic hamlet.

Veteran actor Clint Eastwood owns a residence in Kapalua, which is northwest Maui, since the late 1970s. The sunshine-rich environment and stunning ocean views from the house provide a serene escape.  

Rockstar Steven Tyler purchased a residence in Wailea, which is a nature preserve, for $4.8 million in 2012. The 3,000-square-foot mansion shares proximity with the wildfire of South Maui.


The cofounder of Oracle Corporation, Larry Ellison acquired 98 per cent of Lanai, which is an island located in Maui County.

7 Celebrities Who Own Houses in Wildfire-Hit Maui

<p>Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be holding a meeting with the party's Lok Sabha members on Friday (August 11) to discuss Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's suspension from the lower house for “repeated misconduct”. The meeting was called at the CPP office at the Parliament at 10:30 am.<br />
<br />
On Thursday (August 10), a resolution was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi for the suspension of Chowdhury after the Congress leader's certain remarks on the prime minister amid the no-confidence motion debate led to outrage from the treasury benches. The resolution was passed using a voice vote.<br />
<br />
Later, Chowdhury defended his remarks stating that he was not insulting the country's prime minister. "Modi ji is sitting 'nirav' on Manipur issue, which means sitting silent. 'Nirav' means to be silent. My intention was not to insult PM Modi," said the Congress leader in Lok Sabha.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/adhir-ranjan-chowdhury-suspended-from-lok-sabha-till-report-of-privileges-committee-624370">Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended from Lok Sabha till report of Privileges Committee</a></p>

<p>"PM Modi did not feel that he was insulted, his darbaris (courtiers) felt so and brought this proposal against me. I came to know that (the matter) has been referred to the privileges committee and I have been suspended till then," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Congress responds to </strong>Chowdhury's&nbsp;<strong>suspension</strong></h2>

<p>Congress MP Manish Tewari said that the suspension was “unfortunate” and an “utter violation of Article 105 (1) of the Constitution of India”.<br />
<br />
“It has profound implications for democracy &amp; freedom speech in Parliament &amp; the legislatures,” he said while writing on X.<br />
<br />
“It is in utter violation of Article 105 (1) of the Constitution of India that states Subject to the provisions of this constitution and the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, there shall be freedom of speech in Parliament,” he added.<br />
<br />
“This is a fit case for to challenge the suspension in an appropriate Court of Law,” Tewari stated.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore stated, "First time for speaking against Modi, largest opposition (party) leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended. Unbelievable. Undemocratic. Condemn the autocracy."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;No-Confidence motion LIVE: PM Modi attacks Opposition in Parliament: They are betraying people| WION</strong></p>

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<p>Speaking in the House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joshi stated, “It has become habitual for him (Adhir) and it has become most unfortunate. He is the leader of the Congress party, which is the largest party in the opposition in this House. Despite repeated warnings, he has not improved himself.”<br />
<br />
"Always in his debate he makes these baseless charges, he tries to lower the dignity of the government. There are no facts in his arguments and he never apologises. Today also, we demanded that he apologise. He did the same thing when the home minister was speaking," Joshi added.</p>

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Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be holding a meeting with the party's Lok Sabha members on Friday (August 11) to discuss Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's suspension from the lower house for “repeated misconduct”.

Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be holding a meeting with the party's Lok Sabha members on Friday (August 11) to discuss Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's suspension from the lower house for “repeated misconduct”. The meeting was called at the CPP office at the Parliament at 10:30 am. On Thursday (August 10), a resolution was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi for the suspension of Chowdhury after the Congress leader's certain remarks on the prime minister amid the no-confidence motion debate led to outrage from the treasury benches. The resolution was passed using a voice vote. Later, Chowdhury defended his remarks stating that he was not insulting the country's prime minister. "Modi ji is sitting 'nirav' on Manipur issue, which means sitting silent. 'Nirav' means to be silent. My intention was not to insult PM Modi," said the Congress leader in Lok Sabha. ALSO READ | Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended from Lok Sabha till report of Privileges Committee "PM Modi did not feel that he was insulted, his darbaris (courtiers) felt so and brought this proposal against me. I came to know that (the matter) has been referred to the privileges committee and I have been suspended till then," he added. Congress responds to Chowdhury's suspension Congress MP Manish Tewari said that the suspension was “unfortunate” and an “utter violation of Article 105 (1) of the Constitution of India”. “It has profound implications for democracy & freedom speech in Parliament & the legislatures,” he said while writing on X. “It is in utter violation of Article 105 (1) of the Constitution of India that states Subject to the provisions of this constitution and the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, there shall be freedom of speech in Parliament,” he added. “This is a fit case for to challenge the suspension in an appropriate Court of Law,” Tewari stated. Meanwhile, Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore stated, "First time for speaking against Modi, largest opposition (party) leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended. Unbelievable. Undemocratic. Condemn the autocracy." WATCH | No-Confidence motion LIVE: PM Modi attacks Opposition in Parliament: They are betraying people| WION Speaking in the House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joshi stated, “It has become habitual for him (Adhir) and it has become most unfortunate. He is the leader of the Congress party, which is the largest party in the opposition in this House. Despite repeated warnings, he has not improved himself.” "Always in his debate he makes these baseless charges, he tries to lower the dignity of the government. There are no facts in his arguments and he never apologises. Today also, we demanded that he apologise. He did the same thing when the home minister was speaking," Joshi added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Sonia Gandhi to hold meeting with Congress MPs over suspension of Adhir Ranjan from Lok Sabha

<p>Russia's first probe to the Moon was launched in almost 50 years on Friday. The mission is aimed at giving fresh impetus to the country's space sector which has been struggling for years and is now facing isolation because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.<br />
<br />
The Luna-25 probe's launch is the first lunar mission of Moscow since 1976 when the USSR had emerged as a pioneer in the arena of space conquest.<br />
<br />
The rocket, carrying the Luna-25 probe, lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome at 02:10 am Moscow time (2310 GMT Thursday), as per live images broadcast by the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The spacecraft will be reaching the lunar orbit in five days.<br />
<br />
Around three to seven days will be spent by the spacecraft in choosing the right spot before the lunar probe lands in the south pole area.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/virgin-galactics-first-space-tourism-flight-takes-off-with-three-civilian-passengers-624309">Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight takes off with three civilian passengers</a></p>

<p>"For the first time in history, the lunar landing will take place on the lunar south pole. Until now, everyone has been landing in the equatorial zone," said senior Roscosmos official Alexander Blokhin in a recent interview with AFP.<br />
<br />
As per Roscosmos, the lunar probe should land on the Moon around August 21, said a source in the agency, while speaking to AFP.</p>

<h2><strong>Guided by ambition of our ancestors: Putin on space exploration</strong></h2>

<p>The Russian space agency stated that the spacecraft, which will stay on the Moon for a year, has been given the task of "taking (samples) and analysing the soil" as well as "conducting long-term scientific research", said the Russian space agency.<br />
<br />
The launch is the new lunar programme's first mission which gets underway at a time when Roscosmos does not have partnerships with the West as the conflict with Ukraine continues to escalate.<br />
<br />
As per Russian space expert Vitali Iegorov, this is the first time a mission has been launched by post-Soviet Russia with the aim to place a device on a celestial body. "The biggest question will be: can it land?" he said, while speaking AFP, emphasising that this mission is "of great importance" for Russia.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;China's Tiangong space station faces equipment delay from India</strong></p>

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<p>President Vladimir Putin has taken the pledge to continue the space programme in Russia despite sanctions, pointing to the mission of the USSR to send the first man into space in 1961.</p>

<p>"We are guided by the ambition of our ancestors to move forward, despite difficulties and external attempts to prevent us from doing so," Putin stated at the Vostochny Cosmodrome last year.</p>

<p>The Indian space agency, ISRO, tweeted, "Congratulations, Roscosmos on the successful launch of Luna-25. Wonderful to have another meeting point in our space journies. Wishes for Chandrayaan-3 &amp; 🇷🇺Luna-25 missions to achieve their goals."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations, Roscosmos on the successful launch of Luna-25 💐<br />
<br />
Wonderful to have another meeting point in our space journies<br />
<br />
Wishes for<br />
🇮🇳Chandrayaan-3 &amp;<br />
🇷🇺Luna-25<br />
missions to achieve their goals.</p>
— ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1689831063806242816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2:35 pm local time on July 14 in its second attempt at a soft landing on the surface of the moon. The spacecraft is expected to land on the lunar surface by&nbsp;August 23.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russia's first probe to the Moon was launched in almost 50 years on Friday. The mission is aimed at giving fresh impetus to the country's space sector which has been struggling for years and is now facing isolation because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Russia's first probe to the Moon was launched in almost 50 years on Friday. The mission is aimed at giving fresh impetus to the country's space sector which has been struggling for years and is now facing isolation because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Luna-25 probe's launch is the first lunar mission of Moscow since 1976 when the USSR had emerged as a pioneer in the arena of space conquest. The rocket, carrying the Luna-25 probe, lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome at 02:10 am Moscow time (2310 GMT Thursday), as per live images broadcast by the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The spacecraft will be reaching the lunar orbit in five days. Around three to seven days will be spent by the spacecraft in choosing the right spot before the lunar probe lands in the south pole area. ALSO READ | Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight takes off with three civilian passengers "For the first time in history, the lunar landing will take place on the lunar south pole. Until now, everyone has been landing in the equatorial zone," said senior Roscosmos official Alexander Blokhin in a recent interview with AFP. As per Roscosmos, the lunar probe should land on the Moon around August 21, said a source in the agency, while speaking to AFP. Guided by ambition of our ancestors: Putin on space exploration The Russian space agency stated that the spacecraft, which will stay on the Moon for a year, has been given the task of "taking (samples) and analysing the soil" as well as "conducting long-term scientific research", said the Russian space agency. The launch is the new lunar programme's first mission which gets underway at a time when Roscosmos does not have partnerships with the West as the conflict with Ukraine continues to escalate. As per Russian space expert Vitali Iegorov, this is the first time a mission has been launched by post-Soviet Russia with the aim to place a device on a celestial body. "The biggest question will be: can it land?" he said, while speaking AFP, emphasising that this mission is "of great importance" for Russia. WATCH | China's Tiangong space station faces equipment delay from India President Vladimir Putin has taken the pledge to continue the space programme in Russia despite sanctions, pointing to the mission of the USSR to send the first man into space in 1961. "We are guided by the ambition of our ancestors to move forward, despite difficulties and external attempts to prevent us from doing so," Putin stated at the Vostochny Cosmodrome last year. The Indian space agency, ISRO, tweeted, "Congratulations, Roscosmos on the successful launch of Luna-25. Wonderful to have another meeting point in our space journies. Wishes for Chandrayaan-3 & 🇷🇺Luna-25 missions to achieve their goals." Congratulations, Roscosmos on the successful launch of Luna-25 💐 Wonderful to have another meeting point in our space journies Wishes for 🇮🇳Chandrayaan-3 & 🇷🇺Luna-25 missions to achieve their goals. — ISRO (@isro) August 11, 2023 × The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2:35 pm local time on July 14 in its second attempt at a soft landing on the surface of the moon. The spacecraft is expected to land on the lunar surface by August 23. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia launches first probe to the Moon in almost 50 years

<p>A record-breaking mountaineer has refuted allegations that her team walked over the frozen dead body of a porter to reach the K2 summit in Pakistan and become the fastest climber in the world to scale all peaks above 8,000 metres.<br />
<br />
Kristin Harila climbed the second highest mountain in the world on July 27 along with her 35-year-old Nepali sherpa, Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa, to complete the summit to the 14th highest peak in more than three months to secure a new world record.<br />
<br />
During the ascent of the Norwegian mountaineer, porter Mohammed Hassan, unfortunately, fell off a sheer edge from a height of about 8,200 metres. 37-year-old Harila insisted that everything was done by her team to save Hassan, however, conditions appeared too dangerous to move him.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-man-cleans-worlds-second-tallest-peak-to-pay-tributes-to-his-father-624087">Pakistan man cleans world's second tallest peak to pay tribute to his father</a></p>

<p>Images were shared of climbers moving past Hassan on a ridge during the ascent of Harila. Austrian climbing duo Philip Flamig and Wilhelm Steindl, who were also present on K2 that day, stated that the footage they later recorded with the use of a drone showed the mountaineers walking over his body and not trying to rescue him.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Climbers crossing the most dangerous part of K2; The Bottleneck &amp; the laying man in black &amp; yellow dawn suit is reportedly Muhammad Hassan from Tissar Skardu, who died there and 130 climbers crossed over his body on ascent &amp; descent.<br />
This is gift of commercial climbing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Climbing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Climbing</a> <a href="https://t.co/m7J22AvqtJ">pic.twitter.com/m7J22AvqtJ</a></p>
— The Northerner (@northerner_the) <a href="https://twitter.com/northerner_the/status/1687819365113274368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Speaking to Austria’s Standard newspaper, Flamig said, “He is being treated by one person while everyone else is pushing towards the summit. The fact is that there was no organised rescue operation although there were sherpas and mountain guides on site who could have taken action.”<br />
<br />
“Such a thing would be unthinkable in the Alps. He was treated like a second-class human being. If he had been a Westerner, he would have been rescued immediately. No one felt responsible for him. What happened there is a disgrace. A living human was left lying so that records could be set,” Steindl added.</p>

<h2><strong>Porter took a job for paying medical bills of diabetic mother</strong></h2>

<p>As per Steindl, who paid a visit to the family of the porter after descending the mountain, Hassan had taken up the job of rope fixer despite his lack of experience so that he can pay the medical bills of his diabetic mother.<br />
<br />
The allegations were rejected by Harila who said that her team did everything they could to save Hassan.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: India's new road to Mount Kailash</strong></p>

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<p>“It is simply not true to say that we did nothing to help him. We tried to lift him back up for an hour and a half and my cameraman stayed on for another hour to look after him. At no point was he left alone,” she said while speaking to the Telegraph<br />
<br />
“Given the conditions, it is hard to see how he could have been saved. He fell on what is probably the most dangerous part of the mountain where the chances of carrying someone off were limited by the narrow trail and poor snow conditions,” the mountaineer said.</p>

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A record-breaking mountaineer has refuted allegations that her team walked over the frozen dead body of a porter to reach the K2 summit in Pakistan and become the fastest climber in the world to scale all peaks above 8,000 metres.

A record-breaking mountaineer has refuted allegations that her team walked over the frozen dead body of a porter to reach the K2 summit in Pakistan and become the fastest climber in the world to scale all peaks above 8,000 metres. Kristin Harila climbed the second highest mountain in the world on July 27 along with her 35-year-old Nepali sherpa, Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa, to complete the summit to the 14th highest peak in more than three months to secure a new world record. During the ascent of the Norwegian mountaineer, porter Mohammed Hassan, unfortunately, fell off a sheer edge from a height of about 8,200 metres. 37-year-old Harila insisted that everything was done by her team to save Hassan, however, conditions appeared too dangerous to move him. ALSO READ | Pakistan man cleans world's second tallest peak to pay tribute to his father Images were shared of climbers moving past Hassan on a ridge during the ascent of Harila. Austrian climbing duo Philip Flamig and Wilhelm Steindl, who were also present on K2 that day, stated that the footage they later recorded with the use of a drone showed the mountaineers walking over his body and not trying to rescue him. Climbers crossing the most dangerous part of K2; The Bottleneck & the laying man in black & yellow dawn suit is reportedly Muhammad Hassan from Tissar Skardu, who died there and 130 climbers crossed over his body on ascent & descent. This is gift of commercial climbing #Climbing pic.twitter.com/m7J22AvqtJ — The Northerner (@northerner_the) August 5, 2023 × Speaking to Austria’s Standard newspaper, Flamig said, “He is being treated by one person while everyone else is pushing towards the summit. The fact is that there was no organised rescue operation although there were sherpas and mountain guides on site who could have taken action.” “Such a thing would be unthinkable in the Alps. He was treated like a second-class human being. If he had been a Westerner, he would have been rescued immediately. No one felt responsible for him. What happened there is a disgrace. A living human was left lying so that records could be set,” Steindl added. Porter took a job for paying medical bills of diabetic mother As per Steindl, who paid a visit to the family of the porter after descending the mountain, Hassan had taken up the job of rope fixer despite his lack of experience so that he can pay the medical bills of his diabetic mother. The allegations were rejected by Harila who said that her team did everything they could to save Hassan. WATCH | Gravitas: India's new road to Mount Kailash “It is simply not true to say that we did nothing to help him. We tried to lift him back up for an hour and a half and my cameraman stayed on for another hour to look after him. At no point was he left alone,” she said while speaking to the Telegraph “Given the conditions, it is hard to see how he could have been saved. He fell on what is probably the most dangerous part of the mountain where the chances of carrying someone off were limited by the narrow trail and poor snow conditions,” the mountaineer said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Record-breaking mountaineer refutes reports of climbing over porter's dead body to scale K2

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (August 10) appealed for a peaceful solution to reverse the coup of Niger after a "standby" military force was approved by the West African bloc ECOWAS.<br />
<br />
"The United States appreciates the determination of ECOWAS to explore all options for the peaceful resolution of the crisis," said Blinken in a statement.<br />
<br />
The statement was released after Blinken while speaking to the reporters, extended support for the efforts made by ECOWAS without mentioning the&nbsp;potential military option.<br />
<br />
"ECOWAS, an organisation that brings together West African countries, is playing a key role in making clear the imperative of a return to constitutional order, and we very much support ECOWAS' leadership and work on this," Blinken said while speaking at a news conference alongside his Mexican counterpart.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-ecowas-prepares-for-military-intervention-niger-coup-leaders-threaten-to-kill-ousted-prez-bazoum-624367">As ECOWAS prepares for military intervention, Niger coup leaders threaten to kill ousted prez Bazoum</a></p>

<p>During a summit in Abuja, a standby military force was backed by the West African bloc for Niger after its military toppled elected president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.<br />
<br />
Blinken said that the ECOWAS and the United States are standing united in their demand for the safety of Bazoum, with whom he stated he has held conversations half a dozen times since the coup.<br />
<br />
"Like ECOWAS, the United States will hold the Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland accountable for the safety and security of President Bazoum, his family, and detained members of the government," he stated in the statement, referring to military leaders of Niger.<br />
<br />
Recently, Niger's Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou said that Bazoum was being held with his wife and son without water or electricity.</p>

<h2><strong>EU, African Union slam&nbsp;Niger president's detention conditions&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The European Union&nbsp;on Friday (August 11)&nbsp;slammed&nbsp;the detained&nbsp;Niger&nbsp;President Mohamed Bazoum's worsening conditions&nbsp;and appealed for his immediate release after he was deposed in a coup.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Niger coup: Junta denies meeting US envoy, UN, AU, ECOWAS delegation | WION</strong></p>

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<p>"The EU reiterates it is deeply concerned at the deteriorating conditions in which the president is being detained. Mohamed Bazoum and his family, according to the latest information, have been deprived of food, electricity and medical care for several days," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell posted online.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The African Union also expressed "deep concern" at the poor conditions of&nbsp;detention, and said that his treatment was "unacceptable".</p>

<p>"Such treatment of a democratically elected president through a regular electoral process is unacceptable," said AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat in a statement. "Concordant sources attest to a worrying deterioration" of conditions, said Faki.</p>

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (August 10) appealed for a peaceful solution to reverse the coup of Niger after a "standby" military force was approved by the West African bloc ECOWAS.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (August 10) appealed for a peaceful solution to reverse the coup of Niger after a "standby" military force was approved by the West African bloc ECOWAS. "The United States appreciates the determination of ECOWAS to explore all options for the peaceful resolution of the crisis," said Blinken in a statement. The statement was released after Blinken while speaking to the reporters, extended support for the efforts made by ECOWAS without mentioning the potential military option. "ECOWAS, an organisation that brings together West African countries, is playing a key role in making clear the imperative of a return to constitutional order, and we very much support ECOWAS' leadership and work on this," Blinken said while speaking at a news conference alongside his Mexican counterpart. ALSO READ | As ECOWAS prepares for military intervention, Niger coup leaders threaten to kill ousted prez Bazoum During a summit in Abuja, a standby military force was backed by the West African bloc for Niger after its military toppled elected president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26. Blinken said that the ECOWAS and the United States are standing united in their demand for the safety of Bazoum, with whom he stated he has held conversations half a dozen times since the coup. "Like ECOWAS, the United States will hold the Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland accountable for the safety and security of President Bazoum, his family, and detained members of the government," he stated in the statement, referring to military leaders of Niger. Recently, Niger's Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou said that Bazoum was being held with his wife and son without water or electricity. EU, African Union slam Niger president's detention conditions The European Union on Friday (August 11) slammed the detained Niger President Mohamed Bazoum's worsening conditions and appealed for his immediate release after he was deposed in a coup. WATCH | Niger coup: Junta denies meeting US envoy, UN, AU, ECOWAS delegation | WION "The EU reiterates it is deeply concerned at the deteriorating conditions in which the president is being detained. Mohamed Bazoum and his family, according to the latest information, have been deprived of food, electricity and medical care for several days," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell posted online. The African Union also expressed "deep concern" at the poor conditions of detention, and said that his treatment was "unacceptable". "Such treatment of a democratically elected president through a regular electoral process is unacceptable," said AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat in a statement. "Concordant sources attest to a worrying deterioration" of conditions, said Faki. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Blinken supports 'peaceful resolution' after ECOWAS forces decision in Niger

<p>Australian-Chinese TV anchor Cheng Lei, who has been in prison in China and will be now spending three years more in detention, in a rare message said that she has been missing her family and life in Australia.<br />
<br />
“I miss the sun. In my cell, the sunlight shines through the window but I can stand in it for only 10 hours a year,” she stated in a message which was released by her partner Nick Coyle on Thursday (August 10) on an account named “ FreeChengLei” on platform X, formerly known as Twitter.</p>

<h2><strong>Love letter to Australia</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking to CNN, Coyle said that the message was dictated to diplomatic officers and was shared with him. “I can’t believe I used to avoid the sun when I was living back in Australia,” said Cheng’s message. It was described as a “love letter” to Australia by Cheng, who said, “I haven’t seen a tree in 3 years.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-claims-to-expose-cia-espionage-case-after-arrest-of-alleged-agent-624441">China claims to have exposed CIA espionage plot after arrest of alleged agent</a><br />
<br />
Cheng, a former business anchor for China’s state broadcaster CGTN and mother of two, is accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas, a charge that carries a possible sentence of five years to life in prison.<br />
<br />
She had been on her way to work on the morning of August 13, 2020, when she “was taken by China’s Ministry of State Security,” Coyle said in a letter published in The Australian newspaper in May.</p>

<p>The details of the allegations against Cheng have not been revealed by the Chinese authorities. The court in China delayed in giving a verdict several times, which left Cheng in custody and gave no clarification to her loved ones regarding her fate. In the letter released, Cheng fondly spoke about her life in Australia, saying, “I miss the Australian people.”<br />
<br />
“I remember camping for the first time with my family. I miss the sweet encounters of wildlife in Australia, the sea salt whirling in my ear. I relive every bushwalk, river, lake, beach with swims and picnics and psychedelic sunsets, sky that is lit up with stars, and the silent and secret symphony of the bush,” she writes.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;China's trade slumps, threatening recovery prospects</strong></p>

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<p>“I secretly mouth the names of places I've visited and driven through,” Cheng said. “It is the Chinese in me that has probably gone beyond the legal limit of sentimentality. Most of all, I miss my children,” she added. Coyle further informed CNN that he is able to hear from Cheng only after she is visited by her consular once every month.</p>

<h2><strong>Australian minister confirms support for Cheng</strong></h2>

<p>Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in a statement, said that Cheng and her family will be supported and her interests and well-being will be taken care of.<br />
<br />
“Cheng's message to the public makes clear her deep love for our country,” said Wong in a statement. “All Australians want to see her reunited with her children,” he added.<br />
<br />
Wong said that the government has been advocating for Cheng and asked that "basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment be met to Cheng, in accordance with international norms.”</p>

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Australian-Chinese TV anchor Cheng Lei, who has been in prison in China and will be now spending three years more in detention, in a rare message said that she has been missing her family and life in Australia.

Australian-Chinese TV anchor Cheng Lei, who has been in prison in China and will be now spending three years more in detention, in a rare message said that she has been missing her family and life in Australia. “I miss the sun. In my cell, the sunlight shines through the window but I can stand in it for only 10 hours a year,” she stated in a message which was released by her partner Nick Coyle on Thursday (August 10) on an account named “ FreeChengLei” on platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Love letter to Australia Speaking to CNN, Coyle said that the message was dictated to diplomatic officers and was shared with him. “I can’t believe I used to avoid the sun when I was living back in Australia,” said Cheng’s message. It was described as a “love letter” to Australia by Cheng, who said, “I haven’t seen a tree in 3 years.” ALSO READ | China claims to have exposed CIA espionage plot after arrest of alleged agent Cheng, a former business anchor for China’s state broadcaster CGTN and mother of two, is accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas, a charge that carries a possible sentence of five years to life in prison. She had been on her way to work on the morning of August 13, 2020, when she “was taken by China’s Ministry of State Security,” Coyle said in a letter published in The Australian newspaper in May. The details of the allegations against Cheng have not been revealed by the Chinese authorities. The court in China delayed in giving a verdict several times, which left Cheng in custody and gave no clarification to her loved ones regarding her fate. In the letter released, Cheng fondly spoke about her life in Australia, saying, “I miss the Australian people.” “I remember camping for the first time with my family. I miss the sweet encounters of wildlife in Australia, the sea salt whirling in my ear. I relive every bushwalk, river, lake, beach with swims and picnics and psychedelic sunsets, sky that is lit up with stars, and the silent and secret symphony of the bush,” she writes. WATCH | China's trade slumps, threatening recovery prospects “I secretly mouth the names of places I've visited and driven through,” Cheng said. “It is the Chinese in me that has probably gone beyond the legal limit of sentimentality. Most of all, I miss my children,” she added. Coyle further informed CNN that he is able to hear from Cheng only after she is visited by her consular once every month. Australian minister confirms support for Cheng Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in a statement, said that Cheng and her family will be supported and her interests and well-being will be taken care of. “Cheng's message to the public makes clear her deep love for our country,” said Wong in a statement. “All Australians want to see her reunited with her children,” he added. Wong said that the government has been advocating for Cheng and asked that "basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment be met to Cheng, in accordance with international norms.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'Haven’t seen a tree in three years,’ says jailed journalist in China in rare message

<p>The fossil of one of the smallest whales, which has gone extinct, was discovered by palaeontologists in Egypt. The announcement was made just a week after scientists claimed to have found a species of an ancient whale, which may have been the largest animal to have ever lived on Earth.<br />
<br />
The "tiny" fossil, which was dug up in Wadi el-Hitan, or Whale Valley, is likely to be of a whale which lived around 41 million years ago, said scientists, in a study published on Thursday (August 10) in the journal Communications Biology. It was estimated that the whale weighed around 412 pounds and was around eight&nbsp;feet long.<br />
<br />
This newly found Tutcetus rayanensis, which has been named after King Tut, is a basilosaurid, which is one of the extinct families of fully aquatic whales. Basilosauridae used to live at a time when whales transitioned from land to sea. This family of whales had flippers and strong tails and also had hind limbs similar to legs.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-huge-blue-whale-washes-ashore-environmentalists-want-probe-623057">Chile: Huge blue whale washes ashore, environmentalists demand probe</a></p>

<p>"Whales' evolution from land-dwelling animals to beautiful marine creatures embodies the marvellous adventurous journey of life," said Hesham Sallam, a professor of vertebrate palaeontology at the American University in Cairo and the project's lead, in a press release.<br />
<br />
"Tutcetus is a remarkable discovery that documents one of the first phases of the transition to a fully aquatic lifestyle that took place in that journey,” she added.<br />
<br />
The land-roaming whales from the pre-historic era were relatively small. In the study, scientists said that they believe the small size of Tutcetus was either because of primitive retention or is connected to global warming during the period.</p>

<h2><strong>Reconstructing growth of whale</strong></h2>

<p>The discovery of the fossil includes jaws, skull, hyoid bone and vertebra pieces. These were found embedded in a limestone block. The teeth and bones of the whale were scanned by scientists to reconstruct the development and growth of the species.<br />
<br />
Scientists believe that the species was relatively mature from birth. It is also possible that the whale had a comparatively short life.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Scientists unveil a partial skeleton of an ancient whale in Lima</strong></p>

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<p>Prof Sallam said that the team initially discovered a single exposed tooth in a block of limestone which dated back to the Eocene period.<br />
<br />
“Then when we were trying to repair it and clean up all of the sediment above the fossils, we discovered it is not something we usually see from that time period,” he stated.<br />
<br />
“(Tutcetus) is actually having very primitive features for the group that’s already known from Wadi el-Hitan. It’s clear it’s a new genus and species. It also ended up being the oldest one [recorded], in Africa, for a fully aquatic whale,” the team said.&nbsp;</p>

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The fossil of one of the smallest whales, which has gone extinct, was discovered by palaeontologists in Egypt. The announcement was made just a week after scientists claimed to have found a species of an ancient whale, which may have been the largest animal to have ever lived on Earth.

The fossil of one of the smallest whales, which has gone extinct, was discovered by palaeontologists in Egypt. The announcement was made just a week after scientists claimed to have found a species of an ancient whale, which may have been the largest animal to have ever lived on Earth. The "tiny" fossil, which was dug up in Wadi el-Hitan, or Whale Valley, is likely to be of a whale which lived around 41 million years ago, said scientists, in a study published on Thursday (August 10) in the journal Communications Biology. It was estimated that the whale weighed around 412 pounds and was around eight feet long. This newly found Tutcetus rayanensis, which has been named after King Tut, is a basilosaurid, which is one of the extinct families of fully aquatic whales. Basilosauridae used to live at a time when whales transitioned from land to sea. This family of whales had flippers and strong tails and also had hind limbs similar to legs. ALSO READ | Chile: Huge blue whale washes ashore, environmentalists demand probe "Whales' evolution from land-dwelling animals to beautiful marine creatures embodies the marvellous adventurous journey of life," said Hesham Sallam, a professor of vertebrate palaeontology at the American University in Cairo and the project's lead, in a press release. "Tutcetus is a remarkable discovery that documents one of the first phases of the transition to a fully aquatic lifestyle that took place in that journey,” she added. The land-roaming whales from the pre-historic era were relatively small. In the study, scientists said that they believe the small size of Tutcetus was either because of primitive retention or is connected to global warming during the period. Reconstructing growth of whale The discovery of the fossil includes jaws, skull, hyoid bone and vertebra pieces. These were found embedded in a limestone block. The teeth and bones of the whale were scanned by scientists to reconstruct the development and growth of the species. Scientists believe that the species was relatively mature from birth. It is also possible that the whale had a comparatively short life. WATCH | Scientists unveil a partial skeleton of an ancient whale in Lima Prof Sallam said that the team initially discovered a single exposed tooth in a block of limestone which dated back to the Eocene period. “Then when we were trying to repair it and clean up all of the sediment above the fossils, we discovered it is not something we usually see from that time period,” he stated. “(Tutcetus) is actually having very primitive features for the group that’s already known from Wadi el-Hitan. It’s clear it’s a new genus and species. It also ended up being the oldest one [recorded], in Africa, for a fully aquatic whale,” the team said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Fossil of 41-million-year old tiny whale discovered in Egypt

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