The Düsseldorf patient, a 53-year-old German man, has been labelled as the third person to have been "cured of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)". Even four years after quitting the medication, the virus is still undetectable in his body.

The Düsseldorf patient, a 53-year-old German man, has been labelled as the third person to have been "cured of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)". Even four years after quitting the medication, the virus is still undetectable in his body. This has been made possible with a bone-marrow transplant from a person carrying a specific HIV-resistant genetic mutation. What is this genetic mutation and can it put a stop to the HIV virus once and for all? Others who became HIV-free Timothy Ray Brown, referred to as the Berlin patient, got two stem cell transplants in 2007 and 2008 to cure his blood cancer, and as a result, he became the first person to successfully overcome HIV. His physicians chose a donor with two copies of the CCR5-delta 32 genetic mutation since the mutation is known to render carriers nearly resistant to HIV. He was diagnosed with HIV, thus the donor was chosen by his doctors. Until his death in 2020 from cancer, he never had HIV, as reported by the Indian Express. Years later, researchers reported similar results in Adam Castillejo, a patient from London, who underwent the same treatment for the first time in 2019. Four years after he stopped using the anti-retroviral medications that regulate the amount of the virus in the body, the Düsseldorf patient, who also received a transplant for blood cancer, has continued to be HIV-free. ALSO READ | What is Xylazine? How is the medicine turning people into Zombies? In 2022, there were two further cases of "The City of Hope patient" and "New York patient." Dual stem cell treatment, which uses stem cells from both an adult and a neonate's umbilical cord to complete the transplant in the New York patient, is less rigorous in its HLA matching requirements. This is crucial because it might facilitate the transplantation of CCR5-delta 32 in individuals of different races. CCR5 mutation and how does it work against HIV? The CD4 immune cells in the human body are the primary targets of HIV, which makes it harder for a person to fend against secondary infections. The HIV virus enters the body through the CCR5 receptors on the surface of CD4 immune cells. However, the CCR5-delta 32 mutation blocks the formation of these surface-bound HIV viral receptors, by effectively closing the passage, according to the National Centre of Biotechnology Information. ALSO READ | Duesseldorf patient cured of HIV; third person in four decades to recover from the disease Just one per cent of the world's population has the CCR5-delta 32 mutation in two copies, which means they acquired it from both parents. 20 per cent of people, mostly those of European heritage, have the mutation in one copy. Those who carry the mutation are therefore almost resistant to the virus. Are transplants a solution to the HIV crisis? Finding a compatible donor in the first instance would be extremely challenging given the mutation's rarity and the almost 38.4 million individuals living with HIV worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The donor pool for many, especially those from nations with high HIV prevalence, reduces even more when the mutation occurs mostly in Caucasians. Yet, experts think it is extremely improbable that bone marrow transplants could be made available to everyone with HIV, even if donors were to become available. This is due to the fact that it is a significant surgery with significant dangers, particularly the chance of the recipient rejecting the given bone marrow. Also, there is a chance that the virus will evolve and find new ways to infiltrate cells. What are the currently available treatments for HIV? Despite the fact that there are currently no treatments for the infection, antiretroviral medication can be used to control the disease, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. These drugs prevent the virus from replicating within the body, enabling the number of CD4 immune cells to increase once more. Although the government's programme used to solely provide medications to people with low CD4 counts, it now supports anybody who has been diagnosed with HIV. As the virus is still present in the body's reservoirs, the medications must be taken for the rest of one's life. The virus can once more begin multiplying and spreading if the medications are stopped. It is less likely for someone to spread the virus when viral levels are low. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EXPLAINED | Stem cell transplant cures yet another HIV patient, how does it work?

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there are more than 6,500 non-indigenous species in the country&nbsp;and one more has joined the list, “super pigs” from their neighbouring country Canada. Otherwise known as wild pigs, this invasive species had already been wreaking havoc in the North American region by eating crops, spreading diseases and even killing deers.&nbsp;

What are these so-called "super pigs"?

According to a report by the Guardian, these super pigs&nbsp;are a result of cross-breeding domestic pigs with wild boars and are said to be “incredibly intelligent, highly elusive” creatures. The crossbreed was created in Canada to help pigs withstand the country’s subzero temperatures.&nbsp;

In an interview with Field and Stream, Dr Ryan Brook, who leads the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Wild Pig Research Project, said this hybridisation in the 1980s resulted in bigger super pigs.&nbsp;

He added, the animals with larger bodies “survive the cold better and have better reproduction in those conditions.” According to Brook, in the 2000s after the market for farmed boars dropped many escaped their enclosures and now roam approximately 620,000 square miles in Canada.&nbsp;

They are “easily the worst invasive large mammal on the planet”, said Brook to the Guardian, in a separate interview. He added, “They’re incredibly intelligent. They’re highly elusive, and also when there’s any pressure on them, especially if people start hunting them, they become almost completely nocturnal”.&nbsp;

It was not until recently their population exploded in part due to their extraordinarily high reproductive rate. One of the pigs they found was said to weigh more than 300 kg, as per Brook. At the time, when these super pigs escaped their enclosures, experts thought they would not survive the Canadian winter and eventually freeze to death.&nbsp;

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Got pigs? This is from SW Manitoba from a few days ago. Invasive wild pigs are doing extremely well with the relatively mild winter we've had so far. Some people are seeing fewer because the pigs aren't coming to feed and bait like they normally do when its -35C!. <a href="https://twitter.com/agbiousask?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@agbiousask</a> <a href="https://t.co/emtcqBnb0c">pic.twitter.com/emtcqBnb0c</a>
— Ryan Brook 🇨🇦 Chairman of the Boar 🐗🇨🇦 (@RyanKBrook) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanKBrook/status/1625594766984372243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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However, the cold was not a problem for them as they survived it by tunnelling the snow and using “their razor-sharp tusks” to cut down a plant called cattails and line the bottom of this cave as a “nice warm insulating layer,” said Brook to the Guardian. &nbsp;

The US has a swine problem

These super pigs that are poised to enter&nbsp;the US come at a time when the country is already dealing with a swine invasion of its own. This has cost the country close to $1.5 billion in damages with around six million of them in the US, as per government estimates, reported by the Guardian.&nbsp;

“The US has a 400-plus year history with invasive wild pigs, but we didn’t have any here until the early 1980s,” Brook told Field and Stream. According to the report, so far, the invasive species has largely proliferated in states like California and Texas but they have since started thriving in Canada and may soon spread to northern states like North Dakota, Montana, Michigan, and Minnesota.&nbsp;

“We see direct competition for our native species for food,” said Michael Marlow, the US Department of Agriculture official to the Guardian. He added that these pigs are “accomplished predators” with the male of the species having long tusks capable of hunting young fawns, turkeys and potentially quail.&nbsp;

Until a few decades ago, the pig’s existence was not an issue, said Marlow, but soon officials began noting an explosion in their population. He attributed this to the illegal smuggling of pigs by hunters who were “drugged and moved around, not always legally, and dropped in areas to allow the populations to develop”.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Brook told Field and Stream there is a high chance the pigs have already entered the US. “We have documented pig occurrences less than 10 miles from the US border. Quite honestly, I think there have already been some in Manitoba going into North Dakota for the last five or six years”, said the Canadian researcher. He added, there is a “real risk of pigs moving south into the US”.&nbsp;

Why is this concerning?&nbsp;

These super pigs “feed on anything. They gobble up tons and tons of goslings and ducklings in the spring. They can take down a whitetail deer, even an adult,” said Brook, as per Field and Stream. Furthermore, they create a lot of environmental damage like eating crops grown by farmers, destroying trees, and even polluting water.&nbsp;

Pigs are also said to be capable carriers of viruses such as flu, which are transmittable to humans. Similarly, Marlow said that these pose “a human health and safety risk”. There is also a risk of a potential impact of a pig-borne disease like African swine fever. In 2018 and 2019, the disease reportedly killed more than 30 per cent of the 400 million pigs in China.&nbsp; 
 
Mitigating the issue

Marlow, who is also assistant program manager for the US agriculture department’s National Feral Swine Damage Management Program said, his team has managed to eradicate pigs in seven states over the past decade, as per the Guardian. However, there is little hope to get rid of the swine completely, he added.&nbsp;

Echoing a similar sentiment, Brook told Field and Stream that there are no definitive population estimates and it is too late to get rid of these super pigs in Canada. However, they are working to mitigate the issue and one of the most effective control strategies was ground-trapping sounders (a herd of wild swine). His team uses what he called the “Judas pig” method where one pig is captured and fitted with a GPS collar and released into the wild in hope that it would lead them to a sounder.&nbsp;

“The idea is that you go and find that collared animal, remove any pigs that are with it, and in ideal world then let it go again and it will just continue to find more and more pigs,” said Brook to the Guardian. Brook also said that hunting them is not effective so the most important thing people can do is to alert authorities, reported Field and Stream.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there are more than 6,500 non-indigenous species in the country and one more has joined the list, “super pigs” from their neighbouring country Canada.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there are more than 6,500 non-indigenous species in the country and one more has joined the list, “super pigs” from their neighbouring country Canada. Otherwise known as wild pigs, this invasive species had already been wreaking havoc in the North American region by eating crops, spreading diseases and even killing deers. What are these so-called "super pigs"? According to a report by the Guardian, these super pigs are a result of cross-breeding domestic pigs with wild boars and are said to be “incredibly intelligent, highly elusive” creatures. The crossbreed was created in Canada to help pigs withstand the country’s subzero temperatures. In an interview with Field and Stream, Dr Ryan Brook, who leads the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Wild Pig Research Project, said this hybridisation in the 1980s resulted in bigger super pigs. He added, the animals with larger bodies “survive the cold better and have better reproduction in those conditions.” According to Brook, in the 2000s after the market for farmed boars dropped many escaped their enclosures and now roam approximately 620,000 square miles in Canada. They are “easily the worst invasive large mammal on the planet”, said Brook to the Guardian, in a separate interview. He added, “They’re incredibly intelligent. They’re highly elusive, and also when there’s any pressure on them, especially if people start hunting them, they become almost completely nocturnal”. It was not until recently their population exploded in part due to their extraordinarily high reproductive rate. One of the pigs they found was said to weigh more than 300 kg, as per Brook. At the time, when these super pigs escaped their enclosures, experts thought they would not survive the Canadian winter and eventually freeze to death. Got pigs? This is from SW Manitoba from a few days ago. Invasive wild pigs are doing extremely well with the relatively mild winter we've had so far. Some people are seeing fewer because the pigs aren't coming to feed and bait like they normally do when its -35C!. @agbiousask pic.twitter.com/emtcqBnb0c — Ryan Brook 🇨🇦 Chairman of the Boar 🐗🇨🇦 (@RyanKBrook) February 14, 2023 × However, the cold was not a problem for them as they survived it by tunnelling the snow and using “their razor-sharp tusks” to cut down a plant called cattails and line the bottom of this cave as a “nice warm insulating layer,” said Brook to the Guardian. The US has a swine problem These super pigs that are poised to enter the US come at a time when the country is already dealing with a swine invasion of its own. This has cost the country close to $1.5 billion in damages with around six million of them in the US, as per government estimates, reported by the Guardian. “The US has a 400-plus year history with invasive wild pigs, but we didn’t have any here until the early 1980s,” Brook told Field and Stream. According to the report, so far, the invasive species has largely proliferated in states like California and Texas but they have since started thriving in Canada and may soon spread to northern states like North Dakota, Montana, Michigan, and Minnesota. “We see direct competition for our native species for food,” said Michael Marlow, the US Department of Agriculture official to the Guardian. He added that these pigs are “accomplished predators” with the male of the species having long tusks capable of hunting young fawns, turkeys and potentially quail. Until a few decades ago, the pig’s existence was not an issue, said Marlow, but soon officials began noting an explosion in their population. He attributed this to the illegal smuggling of pigs by hunters who were “drugged and moved around, not always legally, and dropped in areas to allow the populations to develop”. Meanwhile, Brook told Field and Stream there is a high chance the pigs have already entered the US. “We have documented pig occurrences less than 10 miles from the US border. Quite honestly, I think there have already been some in Manitoba going into North Dakota for the last five or six years”, said the Canadian researcher. He added, there is a “real risk of pigs moving south into the US”. Why is this concerning? These super pigs “feed on anything. They gobble up tons and tons of goslings and ducklings in the spring. They can take down a whitetail deer, even an adult,” said Brook, as per Field and Stream. Furthermore, they create a lot of environmental damage like eating crops grown by farmers, destroying trees, and even polluting water. Pigs are also said to be capable carriers of viruses such as flu, which are transmittable to humans. Similarly, Marlow said that these pose “a human health and safety risk”. There is also a risk of a potential impact of a pig-borne disease like African swine fever. In 2018 and 2019, the disease reportedly killed more than 30 per cent of the 400 million pigs in China. Mitigating the issue Marlow, who is also assistant program manager for the US agriculture department’s National Feral Swine Damage Management Program said, his team has managed to eradicate pigs in seven states over the past decade, as per the Guardian. However, there is little hope to get rid of the swine completely, he added. Echoing a similar sentiment, Brook told Field and Stream that there are no definitive population estimates and it is too late to get rid of these super pigs in Canada. However, they are working to mitigate the issue and one of the most effective control strategies was ground-trapping sounders (a herd of wild swine). His team uses what he called the “Judas pig” method where one pig is captured and fitted with a GPS collar and released into the wild in hope that it would lead them to a sounder. “The idea is that you go and find that collared animal, remove any pigs that are with it, and in ideal world then let it go again and it will just continue to find more and more pigs,” said Brook to the Guardian. Brook also said that hunting them is not effective so the most important thing people can do is to alert authorities, reported Field and Stream. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | US faces threat from invasive Canadian ‘super pigs’: All you need to know

Shamima Begum, who left the United Kingdom’s city of London to join the Islamic State (IS) in Syria as a schoolgirl approximately eight years ago, on Wednesday (February 22), lost her appeal against the decision to revoke her British citizenship. She left the UK as a 15-year-old with her two friends who have reportedly passed away in two separate incidents. In 2019, Begum was stripped of her British citizenship by then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid as a national security risk.&nbsp;

Who is Shamima Begum?

The now 23-year-old was born in London&nbsp;to parents of Bangladeshi heritage, Begum left for Syria to join ISIS in 2015. She was reported to be the first woman to leave the UK to join the terrorist organisation two years later, as per Sky News. Begum who was attending the Bethnal Green Academy and resided in eastern London was reportedly radicalised by someone called Aqsa Mahmood. 
&nbsp;

<img alt="2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="628e01ea-1b74-4234-ac77-b0374f0bdac6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20IMAGES%21%20-%202023-02-22T211016.072.png" />

During an interview, Renu Begum, Shamima's elder sister holds a picture of her in 2015. (File Photo: AFP) 
 
She went on to marry an IS fighter and gave birth to three children all of whom died as infants. Begum is currently living in northern Syria’s Roj camp which is run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Her case made international headlines in 2019 after she was found in a displacement camp by a journalist as an “ISIS bride”.&nbsp;

At the time she was nine months pregnant and urged the UK government to allow her to return to her home country to give birth to her child, as per media reports. However, her citizenship was revoked by the home secretary and Begum has since challenged the decision.&nbsp;

The recent verdict

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), rejected Begum’s appeal. Judge Robert Jay, of the commission which hears appeals against decisions to remove citizenship on national security grounds, gave the decision after a five-day hearing in November. In the previous hearing, Begum’s lawyers had argued that it was the home office’s duty to investigate whether she was a victim of trafficking before revoking her citizenship.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shamima-begum-cant-return-to-uk-loses-citizenship-appeal-564720">Ex-ISIS member Shamima Begum can't return to UK, loses citizenship bid</a>

Justice Jay, who wrote the judgment published on Wednesday said&nbsp;the commission finds “credible suspicion" that&nbsp;Begum had been trafficked to Syria for “sexual exploitation”. However, this reason was deemed “insufficient” for them to conclude that the home secretary’s decision was unlawful. The ruling also means that she would be barred from entering the UK from Syria, as per BBC.&nbsp;

The SIAC judge also said that the officials in London are seeing this as a “black and white issue” and the government’s witnesses’ evidence to the tribunal “betrayed an all-or-nothing approach”. Whereas, the commission was concerned about the security services’ “apparent downplaying of the significance of radicalisation and grooming, in stating that what happened to Ms Begum is not unusual”, said Justice Jay.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/shamima-begum-loses-uk-citizenship-appeal-as-court-cites-threat-to-national-security-564780">Shamima Begum loses UK citizenship appeal as court cites threat to national security</a>

The SIAC&nbsp;concluded that there were “arguable breaches of duty on the part of various State bodies” which allowed Begum to leave the country, said Jay, in a summary of the judgement.&nbsp;

“This secretary of state, speaking through Sir James (Eadie KC), maintains that national security is a weighty factor and that it would take a very strong countervailing case to outweigh it,” said the SIAC judge.&nbsp;

He added, “However, under our constitutional settlement these sensitive issues are for the secretary of state to evaluate and not for the commission.” Notably, the commission does not have the power to rule if&nbsp;Begum is allowed to return to the UK, even if it found that her citizenship should not have been stripped.&nbsp;

“Nowhere near over”: Begum’s legal team

In a statement, Begum’s lawyers, Gareth Pierce and Daniel Furner, of Birnberg Pierce Solicitors criticised the ruling and called it a “lost opportunity” to reverse the “profound mistake and a continuing injustice”. They added, “The outcome is that there is now no protection for a British child trafficked out of the UK if the home secretary invokes national security,” as per media reports.

Begum’s lawyers also called her “indefinite detention” in Syria, “unlawful and arbitrary”. According to the BBC, they said the case was “nowhere near over” and the decision will be challenged.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shamima-begum-faces-death-if-sent-to-bangladesh-her-lawyers-tell-the-court-537080">Shamima Begum faces death if sent to Bangladesh, her lawyers tell the court</a> 
 
At the five-day hearing, last year, her attorneys asserted that she was “recruited, transported, transferred, harboured and received in Syria for the purposes of 'sexual exploitation' and 'marriage' to an adult male”.&nbsp;

The attorneys argued that the British officials failed to recognise that Begum was a “victim of child trafficking” when she travelled to Syria and remained there.

An argument was recently found “insufficient” by the SIAC which led to the dismissal of&nbsp;her appeal on all nine grounds. The British-born, 23-year-old is also said to hold Bangladeshi citizenship through her father, as per media reports, However, would be hanged if she returns to the country which has effectively left her stateless, her lawyers had said in November.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/father-of-islamic-state-teen-shamima-begum-says-britain-must-take-her-back-199675">Bangladesh: Father of Islamic State teen Shamima Begum says Britain must take her back</a>

During the previous hearing, attorney Eadie KC representing the secretary of state to the SIAC also said, “You can be trafficked in the most ghastly, unacceptable way, exposed in the most unacceptable way, desensitised in the most unacceptable way and yet, unfortunately...still be a security threat,” reported Sky News. &nbsp;

UK Home Office welcomes the decision&nbsp; 
 
A UK Home Office spokesperson said that they were “pleased” with the judgement and added, “The government’s priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK and we will robustly defend any decision made in doing so,” as per British media reports.&nbsp;

Amnesty International UK calls the verdict “very disappointing”&nbsp;

In a statement following the judgement, the UK-based rights group Amnesty International called the decision “very disappointing” and argued that Begum had stayed in London before she was “lured to Syria” as an impressionable 15-year-old. They added, “ISIS have been responsible for appalling crimes in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, but that doesn’t change that Shamima Begum is British and was groomed and trafficked to Syria.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-spy-accused-of-smuggling-shamima-begum-to-syria-trudeau-vows-proper-oversight-511976">Canadian spy accused of smuggling Shamima Begum to Syria, Trudeau vows 'proper oversight'</a>

Furthermore, the rights organisation criticising the home secretary said “exiling British citizens by stripping them of their citizenship,” should not be their business. The power to banish citizens should not exist in the modern world, particularly in the context of a “person who was seriously exploited as a child,” said Amnesty International.&nbsp;

Shamima Begum’s story: A time of key events

2015-16

Shamima Begum along with her two friends,&nbsp;Abase (15) and Sultana (16) dropped out of school at the age of 15 and travelled from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul in Turkiye, before crossing the border into Syria. According to media reports, the girls stole their family’s jewellery to pay for their flights.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

<img alt="1" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ff1c80a8-9dd9-4a56-b12f-612d09fbb1e9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20IMAGES%21%20-%202023-02-22T210944.052.png" />

CCTV pictures show (L-R) British teenagers Sultana, Abase and Begum passing through security barriers at Gatwick Airport, UK (File Photo: AFP) 
 
 
Begum claims that while in Syria she married a Dutch IS fighter, Yago Riedijk and had three children (two sons and one daughter) all of whom died as infants. The now 23-year-old is said to be an “enforcer” who recruited other women to the caliphate, reported Sky News. In 2016, Begum’s two friends Abase and Sultana were reportedly killed.&nbsp;

Sultana had married a Somalian IS fighter, her family told ITV while Abase was reportedly married to an Australian IS fighter but this has not been confirmed.&nbsp;

2019&nbsp;

After 2016 Begum’s actions and whereabouts remained unknown until a Times journalist found her at a displacement camp in Syria, three years later. Reportedly, at the time she had fled the village of Baghuz which was witnessing intense fighting during the terrorist group’s last stand. Begum with her husband had three children, two of whom died of disease or malnutrition and the third died in the al-Hawl camp.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-bride-shamima-begum-allowed-to-return-uk-to-fight-for-citizenship-313794">IS bride Shamima Begum allowed to return UK to fight for citizenship</a>

In February, the now-former UK home secretary stripped Begum of her British citizenship, while Bangladeshi officials say that if she returns she will face the death penalty for her involvement in terrorism. Furthermore, they had also said that since she has never visited Dhaka, Begum does not hold dual citizenship, reported Al Jazeera. In April, she was granted legal aid by the Ministry of Justice to appeal the decision.

2020

The then 20-year-old was allowed to return to the UK by the Court of Appeal and contest the decision.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-isis-bride-shamima-begum-where-is-she-now-manchester-bombing-link-other-things-to-know-564815">Who is 'ISIS bride' Shamima Begum? Where is she now? Manchester bombing link; other things to know</a>

2021

The Supreme Court blocked Begum’s appeal to return to the UK after British officials said that she “would create significant national security risks” and expose the citizens to an “increased risk of terrorism”.&nbsp;

2022

In <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/isis-bride-shamima-begum-was-child-victim-of-trafficking-uk-tribunal-told-536392">November</a>, the aforementioned five-day trial takes place where Begum attempts to win the right to return to London. However, a unanimous judgement by the SIAC barred her from coming to the UK based on three preliminary grounds which included that the revocation of her citizenship was not unlawful.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Shamima Begum, who left the United Kingdom’s city of London to join the Islamic State (IS) in Syria as a schoolgirl approximately eight years ago, on Wednesday (February 22), lost her appeal against the decision to revoke her British citizenship.

Shamima Begum, who left the United Kingdom’s city of London to join the Islamic State (IS) in Syria as a schoolgirl approximately eight years ago, on Wednesday (February 22), lost her appeal against the decision to revoke her British citizenship. She left the UK as a 15-year-old with her two friends who have reportedly passed away in two separate incidents. In 2019, Begum was stripped of her British citizenship by then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid as a national security risk. Who is Shamima Begum? The now 23-year-old was born in London to parents of Bangladeshi heritage, Begum left for Syria to join ISIS in 2015. She was reported to be the first woman to leave the UK to join the terrorist organisation two years later, as per Sky News. Begum who was attending the Bethnal Green Academy and resided in eastern London was reportedly radicalised by someone called Aqsa Mahmood. During an interview, Renu Begum, Shamima's elder sister holds a picture of her in 2015. (File Photo: AFP) She went on to marry an IS fighter and gave birth to three children all of whom died as infants. Begum is currently living in northern Syria’s Roj camp which is run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Her case made international headlines in 2019 after she was found in a displacement camp by a journalist as an “ISIS bride”. At the time she was nine months pregnant and urged the UK government to allow her to return to her home country to give birth to her child, as per media reports. However, her citizenship was revoked by the home secretary and Begum has since challenged the decision. The recent verdict The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), rejected Begum’s appeal. Judge Robert Jay, of the commission which hears appeals against decisions to remove citizenship on national security grounds, gave the decision after a five-day hearing in November. In the previous hearing, Begum’s lawyers had argued that it was the home office’s duty to investigate whether she was a victim of trafficking before revoking her citizenship. ALSO READ | Ex-ISIS member Shamima Begum can't return to UK, loses citizenship bid Justice Jay, who wrote the judgment published on Wednesday said the commission finds “credible suspicion" that Begum had been trafficked to Syria for “sexual exploitation”. However, this reason was deemed “insufficient” for them to conclude that the home secretary’s decision was unlawful. The ruling also means that she would be barred from entering the UK from Syria, as per BBC. The SIAC judge also said that the officials in London are seeing this as a “black and white issue” and the government’s witnesses’ evidence to the tribunal “betrayed an all-or-nothing approach”. Whereas, the commission was concerned about the security services’ “apparent downplaying of the significance of radicalisation and grooming, in stating that what happened to Ms Begum is not unusual”, said Justice Jay. ALSO WATCH | Shamima Begum loses UK citizenship appeal as court cites threat to national security The SIAC concluded that there were “arguable breaches of duty on the part of various State bodies” which allowed Begum to leave the country, said Jay, in a summary of the judgement. “This secretary of state, speaking through Sir James (Eadie KC), maintains that national security is a weighty factor and that it would take a very strong countervailing case to outweigh it,” said the SIAC judge. He added, “However, under our constitutional settlement these sensitive issues are for the secretary of state to evaluate and not for the commission.” Notably, the commission does not have the power to rule if Begum is allowed to return to the UK, even if it found that her citizenship should not have been stripped. “Nowhere near over”: Begum’s legal team In a statement, Begum’s lawyers, Gareth Pierce and Daniel Furner, of Birnberg Pierce Solicitors criticised the ruling and called it a “lost opportunity” to reverse the “profound mistake and a continuing injustice”. They added, “The outcome is that there is now no protection for a British child trafficked out of the UK if the home secretary invokes national security,” as per media reports. Begum’s lawyers also called her “indefinite detention” in Syria, “unlawful and arbitrary”. According to the BBC, they said the case was “nowhere near over” and the decision will be challenged. ALSO READ | Shamima Begum faces death if sent to Bangladesh, her lawyers tell the court At the five-day hearing, last year, her attorneys asserted that she was “recruited, transported, transferred, harboured and received in Syria for the purposes of 'sexual exploitation' and 'marriage' to an adult male”. The attorneys argued that the British officials failed to recognise that Begum was a “victim of child trafficking” when she travelled to Syria and remained there. An argument was recently found “insufficient” by the SIAC which led to the dismissal of her appeal on all nine grounds. The British-born, 23-year-old is also said to hold Bangladeshi citizenship through her father, as per media reports, However, would be hanged if she returns to the country which has effectively left her stateless, her lawyers had said in November. ALSO READ | Bangladesh: Father of Islamic State teen Shamima Begum says Britain must take her back During the previous hearing, attorney Eadie KC representing the secretary of state to the SIAC also said, “You can be trafficked in the most ghastly, unacceptable way, exposed in the most unacceptable way, desensitised in the most unacceptable way and yet, unfortunately...still be a security threat,” reported Sky News. UK Home Office welcomes the decision A UK Home Office spokesperson said that they were “pleased” with the judgement and added, “The government’s priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK and we will robustly defend any decision made in doing so,” as per British media reports. Amnesty International UK calls the verdict “very disappointing” In a statement following the judgement, the UK-based rights group Amnesty International called the decision “very disappointing” and argued that Begum had stayed in London before she was “lured to Syria” as an impressionable 15-year-old. They added, “ISIS have been responsible for appalling crimes in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, but that doesn’t change that Shamima Begum is British and was groomed and trafficked to Syria.” ALSO READ | Canadian spy accused of smuggling Shamima Begum to Syria, Trudeau vows 'proper oversight' Furthermore, the rights organisation criticising the home secretary said “exiling British citizens by stripping them of their citizenship,” should not be their business. The power to banish citizens should not exist in the modern world, particularly in the context of a “person who was seriously exploited as a child,” said Amnesty International. Shamima Begum’s story: A time of key events 2015-16 Shamima Begum along with her two friends, Abase (15) and Sultana (16) dropped out of school at the age of 15 and travelled from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul in Turkiye, before crossing the border into Syria. According to media reports, the girls stole their family’s jewellery to pay for their flights. CCTV pictures show (L-R) British teenagers Sultana, Abase and Begum passing through security barriers at Gatwick Airport, UK (File Photo: AFP) Begum claims that while in Syria she married a Dutch IS fighter, Yago Riedijk and had three children (two sons and one daughter) all of whom died as infants. The now 23-year-old is said to be an “enforcer” who recruited other women to the caliphate, reported Sky News. In 2016, Begum’s two friends Abase and Sultana were reportedly killed. Sultana had married a Somalian IS fighter, her family told ITV while Abase was reportedly married to an Australian IS fighter but this has not been confirmed. 2019 After 2016 Begum’s actions and whereabouts remained unknown until a Times journalist found her at a displacement camp in Syria, three years later. Reportedly, at the time she had fled the village of Baghuz which was witnessing intense fighting during the terrorist group’s last stand. Begum with her husband had three children, two of whom died of disease or malnutrition and the third died in the al-Hawl camp. ALSO READ | IS bride Shamima Begum allowed to return UK to fight for citizenship In February, the now-former UK home secretary stripped Begum of her British citizenship, while Bangladeshi officials say that if she returns she will face the death penalty for her involvement in terrorism. Furthermore, they had also said that since she has never visited Dhaka, Begum does not hold dual citizenship, reported Al Jazeera. In April, she was granted legal aid by the Ministry of Justice to appeal the decision. 2020 The then 20-year-old was allowed to return to the UK by the Court of Appeal and contest the decision. ALSO READ | Who is 'ISIS bride' Shamima Begum? Where is she now? Manchester bombing link; other things to know 2021 The Supreme Court blocked Begum’s appeal to return to the UK after British officials said that she “would create significant national security risks” and expose the citizens to an “increased risk of terrorism”. 2022 In November, the aforementioned five-day trial takes place where Begum attempts to win the right to return to London. However, a unanimous judgement by the SIAC barred her from coming to the UK based on three preliminary grounds which included that the revocation of her citizenship was not unlawful. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | UK: Shamima Begum who left to join ISIS loses citizenship bid. Here’s what happened

Venice has often been described as a beautiful oddity and rightfully so. The Italian city built on over 100 islands and crisscrossed by 177 canals and which was once at risk of drowning is now running dry. This has been attributed to weeks of dry winter weather while scientists and environmental groups have raised concerns that this could signal another drought in the European country after last summer’s emergency.&nbsp;

What is happening in Venice?

The Italian city, famous for its gondolas, has also been suffering alongside the country’s rivers and lakes which are also witnessing a severe lack of water. The problems in Venice have been attributed to a combination of factors ranging from a prolonged spell of low tides, lack of rain and a high-pressure system to even a full moon and sea currents.

Consequently, this has led to frustrated boat crews and worried officials as ambulances are unable to navigate through some of its narrower canals. This has become particularly problematic since the famous waterways serve as streets in car-less Venice.&nbsp;

According to a report by the Associated Press, ambulance boats, in certain areas of the city, had to be left tied up farther from their destination. This forced medical personnel to lift stretchers over long distances since their vessels cannot pass through canals reduced to a trickle of water and mud.&nbsp;

Last week, a series of images out of Venice showed pools of water collected in some canals and parked gondolas alongside exposed foundations of several buildings. This also meant that tourists could not navigate some secondary waterways in the Italian city. Notably, boats continued to work in some of the wider waterways across Venice which included the Grand and Giudecca canals.

A sustainable development analyst with the environmental advocacy group, We Are Here Venice, Jane Da Mosto has attributed this phenomenon in the Italian city to a combination of high atmospheric pressure with the lunar cycle producing an ultra-low water level during ebb tide, during mid-winter, reported AP. She also said how this phenomenon highlights the need for cleaning Venice’s inner canal network which is often overlooked.&nbsp;

“It's an absolutely normal phenomenon,” said Alvise Papa, the head of Venice’s tide forecasting centre to AFP, on Tuesday. He added, “Low tides are not enough to dry up the canals, but this year they are accompanied by high atmospheric pressure, which prevents bad weather”. Venice was expected to return to normalcy sometime this week.&nbsp;

Experts raise concern over Italy’s rivers and lakes&nbsp;

As Venice continues to grapple with the dire situation of its waterways, the rest of the country is not faring well either. In the past few days, scientists and experts, in the context of the situation of Venice’s canals have indicated that the country may face another drought. In a statement, on Monday, one of the largest environmental NGOs in Italy, the Legambiente said rivers and lakes, particularly in the north of the country are in “distress” due to the severe lack of water.&nbsp;

In this context, scientists have also referred to the Alps which received less than half of their normal snowfall. The aforementioned high-pressure system compounded by scarce Alpine snow melt this year has also contributed to the lack of water in lakes and rivers in northern Italy in the past few weeks.&nbsp;

The lack of snow this year has also been a concern since there was 53 per cent less in the Alps, particularly in the Po basin. Consequently, the Po, Italy’s longest river which runs from the Alps in the northwest to the Adriatic Sea also received 61 per cent less water than it typically does around this time of the year, said the environmental advocacy citing data from CIMA Research Foundation.&nbsp;

Notably, the aforementioned river accounts for roughly a third of the country's agricultural production. The statement also warned about the cascading effects of a prolonged drought in Italy which included, the lack of water for civil, agricultural and industrial uses that would, in turn, lead to loss of biodiversity, lower yields of crops, and disturb the balance of natural ecosystems.&nbsp;

This also comes as an anticyclone has been dominating the weather in western Europe for the past 15 days or so, which has led to an increase in the number of mild temperatures typically witnessed in late spring, as per Reuters. Additionally, the record low water levels in Lake Garda, in northern Italy, made it possible to reach the small island of San Biagio. Earlier this month, a small pathway which links the shore to the island re-emerged and visitors were able to walk across the middle of the lake.&nbsp;

“We are in a water deficit situation that has been building up since the winter of 2020-2021,” said climate expert Massimiliano Pasqui, from the National Research Council (CNR), as per Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera. The country requires 500 millimetres of rain in the north-western regions over 50 days in order to recover, he added, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

Italy’s state of emergency over droughts&nbsp;

Last year, Italy declared a state of emergency in five northern regions which included areas surrounding the river Po which was facing its worst drought in 70 years. The government placed Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto under emergency and announced a relief fund of $38 million to help tackle the water shortage.&nbsp;

The phenomenon had been attributed to an unusually early heatwave and a lack of rainfall, particularly in the Po valley. Additionally, Lakes Maggiore and Garda had witnessed lower levels of water than typically expected at that time of the year while the levels of the Tiber River, which runs through Rome had also dropped.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Venice has often been described as a beautiful oddity and rightfully so. The Italian city built on over 100 islands and crisscrossed by 177 canals and which was once at risk of drowning is now running dry.

Venice has often been described as a beautiful oddity and rightfully so. The Italian city built on over 100 islands and crisscrossed by 177 canals and which was once at risk of drowning is now running dry. This has been attributed to weeks of dry winter weather while scientists and environmental groups have raised concerns that this could signal another drought in the European country after last summer’s emergency. What is happening in Venice? The Italian city, famous for its gondolas, has also been suffering alongside the country’s rivers and lakes which are also witnessing a severe lack of water. The problems in Venice have been attributed to a combination of factors ranging from a prolonged spell of low tides, lack of rain and a high-pressure system to even a full moon and sea currents. Consequently, this has led to frustrated boat crews and worried officials as ambulances are unable to navigate through some of its narrower canals. This has become particularly problematic since the famous waterways serve as streets in car-less Venice. According to a report by the Associated Press, ambulance boats, in certain areas of the city, had to be left tied up farther from their destination. This forced medical personnel to lift stretchers over long distances since their vessels cannot pass through canals reduced to a trickle of water and mud. Last week, a series of images out of Venice showed pools of water collected in some canals and parked gondolas alongside exposed foundations of several buildings. This also meant that tourists could not navigate some secondary waterways in the Italian city. Notably, boats continued to work in some of the wider waterways across Venice which included the Grand and Giudecca canals. A sustainable development analyst with the environmental advocacy group, We Are Here Venice, Jane Da Mosto has attributed this phenomenon in the Italian city to a combination of high atmospheric pressure with the lunar cycle producing an ultra-low water level during ebb tide, during mid-winter, reported AP. She also said how this phenomenon highlights the need for cleaning Venice’s inner canal network which is often overlooked. “It's an absolutely normal phenomenon,” said Alvise Papa, the head of Venice’s tide forecasting centre to AFP, on Tuesday. He added, “Low tides are not enough to dry up the canals, but this year they are accompanied by high atmospheric pressure, which prevents bad weather”. Venice was expected to return to normalcy sometime this week. Experts raise concern over Italy’s rivers and lakes As Venice continues to grapple with the dire situation of its waterways, the rest of the country is not faring well either. In the past few days, scientists and experts, in the context of the situation of Venice’s canals have indicated that the country may face another drought. In a statement, on Monday, one of the largest environmental NGOs in Italy, the Legambiente said rivers and lakes, particularly in the north of the country are in “distress” due to the severe lack of water. In this context, scientists have also referred to the Alps which received less than half of their normal snowfall. The aforementioned high-pressure system compounded by scarce Alpine snow melt this year has also contributed to the lack of water in lakes and rivers in northern Italy in the past few weeks. The lack of snow this year has also been a concern since there was 53 per cent less in the Alps, particularly in the Po basin. Consequently, the Po, Italy’s longest river which runs from the Alps in the northwest to the Adriatic Sea also received 61 per cent less water than it typically does around this time of the year, said the environmental advocacy citing data from CIMA Research Foundation. Notably, the aforementioned river accounts for roughly a third of the country's agricultural production. The statement also warned about the cascading effects of a prolonged drought in Italy which included, the lack of water for civil, agricultural and industrial uses that would, in turn, lead to loss of biodiversity, lower yields of crops, and disturb the balance of natural ecosystems. This also comes as an anticyclone has been dominating the weather in western Europe for the past 15 days or so, which has led to an increase in the number of mild temperatures typically witnessed in late spring, as per Reuters. Additionally, the record low water levels in Lake Garda, in northern Italy, made it possible to reach the small island of San Biagio. Earlier this month, a small pathway which links the shore to the island re-emerged and visitors were able to walk across the middle of the lake. “We are in a water deficit situation that has been building up since the winter of 2020-2021,” said climate expert Massimiliano Pasqui, from the National Research Council (CNR), as per Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera. The country requires 500 millimetres of rain in the north-western regions over 50 days in order to recover, he added, reported Reuters. Italy’s state of emergency over droughts Last year, Italy declared a state of emergency in five northern regions which included areas surrounding the river Po which was facing its worst drought in 70 years. The government placed Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto under emergency and announced a relief fund of $38 million to help tackle the water shortage. The phenomenon had been attributed to an unusually early heatwave and a lack of rainfall, particularly in the Po valley. Additionally, Lakes Maggiore and Garda had witnessed lower levels of water than typically expected at that time of the year while the levels of the Tiber River, which runs through Rome had also dropped. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Scientists in Italy raise concerns after Venice canals run dry. Here’s why

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7)&nbsp;and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. This comes as the panel proposed a package of reforms which would clarify rape prosecution requirements as well as criminalise voyeurism. Furthermore, it would also criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape.

What is the age of consent?

The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is deemed capable enough of consenting to sexual activity. The aim is to protect adolescents and young adults from sexual abuse and the consequences of engaging in early sexual intercourse&nbsp;on their rights and development, as per the United Nations.&nbsp;

If an adult engages in any type of sexual activity with someone below the determined age of consent by the state they are committing a crime. Furthermore, when sexual intercourse is agreed to by both parties, it would be considered statutory rape, since the individual is still a minor and too young to consent.&nbsp;

What are the current laws?

As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, as&nbsp;13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent which also&nbsp;means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. However, sexual intercourse with a person under 13 is illegal regardless of consent while intercourse with a person aged 13 to 15 will be punished if the perpetrator is five or more years older, as per Japanese laws.

In practice, there are several regions in the country which have banned “lewd” acts with minors which is the closest thing to the age of consent being 18 in Japan. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children “unethical” conduct as opposed to a crime, said Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation, to AFP.&nbsp;

The head of the Tokyo-based group PAPS also said that&nbsp;the current laws leave room for perpetrators to “shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children”.&nbsp;

Additionally, since the age of consent is low it has also meant that teen rape survivors are held at the same level for prosecuting perpetrators as adults do. According to the current Japanese criminal law, the victim needs to meet two conditions, in order to secure a conviction.

In what is often referred to as one of the most controversial provisions, the sex must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator&nbsp;used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”.&nbsp;

However, critics have argued that this condition effectively blames victims for not resisting enough and said that during an assault survivors can freeze or in some cases even submit to avoid further injury, reported AFP.&nbsp;

What is the proposed reform?

Earlier this month, a panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry proposed a number of reforms which included raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, in part, to a wider overhaul of Japan’s sex crime legislation. One of the provisions also said that teenagers who are not more than five years apart in age would be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13.&nbsp;

However, there is no clarity on whether the wording of the proposal addresses drugging, catching victims off-guard and psychologically controlling them. According to a justice ministry official, Yusuke Asanuma, the clarification is not “make it easier or harder” to secure rape convictions but they hope that the verdicts in such cases will become “more consistent”, reported AFP.&nbsp;

Additionally, they have also called for the statute of limitations for reporting rape to increase&nbsp;from 10 years to 15 years for sexual violence against minors, to allow them more time to come forward. The council which advises the justice minister has also sought to make the act of secretly photographing an individual’s sexual body parts as well as&nbsp;intercourse and&nbsp;providing such images to other people, a punishable offence.&nbsp;

What prompted this change?

The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism and backlash which say that current&nbsp;laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. Notably, the age of consent in Japan has not changed since 1907. However, it was after several acquittals, in 2019, which led to widespread protests.&nbsp;

At the time, thousands had taken to the streets of Japan across multiple cities and urged reform of the country’s sex crime laws. One of the cases included a father accused of repeatedly raping his 19-year-old daughter who&nbsp;was acquitted. According to reports, this was after the court had concluded that the intercourse was non-consensual, but since there was no definitive proof that the daughter had been unable to resist, the perpetrator was freed. This also sparked anger and renewed calls for “the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse”. However, he was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed.&nbsp;

Previous amendments&nbsp;

The recent proposal comes months after a&nbsp;draft was&nbsp;released called for merging constructive forcible sexual intercourse with forcible sexual intercourse and constructive indecent assault with indecent assault, reported the Japan Times. The proposal also sought to make&nbsp;sexual activity by making it difficult for the individual to refuse through any one of the eight acts by the perpetrator a punishable offence. The acts in question included assault or threat, causing mental or physical disorder and denying the victim the opportunity to refuse.&nbsp;

In October, when it was being amended, some members of the subcommittee noted that this could be perceived as victims being obligated “to express refusal.” Therefore, it was later changed to “making it difficult for the victim to form, express or fulfil the intention not to consent,” or taking advantage of such a situation, as per media reports. &nbsp;

What’s the age of consent across different countries?

Most developed countries have set the age of consent between 14 to 16. According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy. The age of consent in the United States varies depending on the state but in a majority of them, it is 16 years of age and 17 or 18 in others.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. In Europe, the lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven European Union (EU) member nations which include Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. On the other hand, the highest is set at 18 years in Malta, as per the EU agency for fundamental rights.

Notably, it was not until 2015 that Spain raised its age of consent from 13 to 16.&nbsp;In India, the age of consent was 16 from 1940 until 2012 but&nbsp;was raised by the&nbsp;Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act&nbsp;to 18 years, which is among the highest across the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago.

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. This comes as the panel proposed a package of reforms which would clarify rape prosecution requirements as well as criminalise voyeurism. Furthermore, it would also criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape. What is the age of consent? The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is deemed capable enough of consenting to sexual activity. The aim is to protect adolescents and young adults from sexual abuse and the consequences of engaging in early sexual intercourse on their rights and development, as per the United Nations. If an adult engages in any type of sexual activity with someone below the determined age of consent by the state they are committing a crime. Furthermore, when sexual intercourse is agreed to by both parties, it would be considered statutory rape, since the individual is still a minor and too young to consent. What are the current laws? As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, as 13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent which also means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. However, sexual intercourse with a person under 13 is illegal regardless of consent while intercourse with a person aged 13 to 15 will be punished if the perpetrator is five or more years older, as per Japanese laws. In practice, there are several regions in the country which have banned “lewd” acts with minors which is the closest thing to the age of consent being 18 in Japan. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children “unethical” conduct as opposed to a crime, said Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation, to AFP. The head of the Tokyo-based group PAPS also said that the current laws leave room for perpetrators to “shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children”. Additionally, since the age of consent is low it has also meant that teen rape survivors are held at the same level for prosecuting perpetrators as adults do. According to the current Japanese criminal law, the victim needs to meet two conditions, in order to secure a conviction. In what is often referred to as one of the most controversial provisions, the sex must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”. However, critics have argued that this condition effectively blames victims for not resisting enough and said that during an assault survivors can freeze or in some cases even submit to avoid further injury, reported AFP. What is the proposed reform? Earlier this month, a panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry proposed a number of reforms which included raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, in part, to a wider overhaul of Japan’s sex crime legislation. One of the provisions also said that teenagers who are not more than five years apart in age would be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13. However, there is no clarity on whether the wording of the proposal addresses drugging, catching victims off-guard and psychologically controlling them. According to a justice ministry official, Yusuke Asanuma, the clarification is not “make it easier or harder” to secure rape convictions but they hope that the verdicts in such cases will become “more consistent”, reported AFP. Additionally, they have also called for the statute of limitations for reporting rape to increase from 10 years to 15 years for sexual violence against minors, to allow them more time to come forward. The council which advises the justice minister has also sought to make the act of secretly photographing an individual’s sexual body parts as well as intercourse and providing such images to other people, a punishable offence. What prompted this change? The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism and backlash which say that current laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. Notably, the age of consent in Japan has not changed since 1907. However, it was after several acquittals, in 2019, which led to widespread protests. At the time, thousands had taken to the streets of Japan across multiple cities and urged reform of the country’s sex crime laws. One of the cases included a father accused of repeatedly raping his 19-year-old daughter who was acquitted. According to reports, this was after the court had concluded that the intercourse was non-consensual, but since there was no definitive proof that the daughter had been unable to resist, the perpetrator was freed. This also sparked anger and renewed calls for “the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse”. However, he was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed. Previous amendments The recent proposal comes months after a draft was released called for merging constructive forcible sexual intercourse with forcible sexual intercourse and constructive indecent assault with indecent assault, reported the Japan Times. The proposal also sought to make sexual activity by making it difficult for the individual to refuse through any one of the eight acts by the perpetrator a punishable offence. The acts in question included assault or threat, causing mental or physical disorder and denying the victim the opportunity to refuse. In October, when it was being amended, some members of the subcommittee noted that this could be perceived as victims being obligated “to express refusal.” Therefore, it was later changed to “making it difficult for the victim to form, express or fulfil the intention not to consent,” or taking advantage of such a situation, as per media reports. What’s the age of consent across different countries? Most developed countries have set the age of consent between 14 to 16. According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy. The age of consent in the United States varies depending on the state but in a majority of them, it is 16 years of age and 17 or 18 in others. Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. In Europe, the lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven European Union (EU) member nations which include Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. On the other hand, the highest is set at 18 years in Malta, as per the EU agency for fundamental rights. Notably, it was not until 2015 that Spain raised its age of consent from 13 to 16. In India, the age of consent was 16 from 1940 until 2012 but was raised by the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to 18 years, which is among the highest across the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now?

Our universe is expanding. The billions of light-years-sized expanse has for a (big) while found a way to take a good stretch. And it continues to amaze us. For centuries we've had our eyes and lenses pointed at the sky to unravel its secrets but the more we know, more we realise how little we know. And like the fleeting horizon, the frontiers of science advance, challenging us to figure out more and more.

A new theory says that Black holes may be responsible for the continued expansion of the universe. Black hole is a fascinating concept in itself. Imagine a thing with beyond crazy gravitational pull that doesn't even let light escape, and you have Black holes! Light travels at the mind-boggling speed of 300,000 kilometres per hour. But it cannot escape the clutches of a Black Hole.

The new theory says that Black holes host Dark Energy, a force that works against gravity and is responsible for the expansion of the Universe

<h2>But first things first, what is this expanding universe business?</h2>

<img alt="Big bang" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f684e31a-0838-404c-aab8-f62d64519503" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/big%20bang.jpg" />

The universe sprang to life due to The Big Bang. Not the series, but the actual thing. 13.7 billion years ago, in a mother of all imaginable explosions, ALL matter in the universe, trillions and trillions of tonnes of it, got thrown outwards. Celestial processes led to the formation of stars, planets, galaxies, and life!

It was thought that since the Big Bang took place billions of years ago, the effect of outward force would decrease and the expanding universe would start contracting as gravity will pull all the matter together. Simple and logical right?

But scientists observed that the universe continued to expand. And the expansion was even accelerating!

That is to say that instead of the Big Bang's 'force' waning, the Universe appeared to continue on its path of expansion.

This is where Dark Energy comes into play. This energy works counter to gravity and is the reason why the expansion of the universe is accelerating. Scientists thought that Dark Energy was 'smeared' all across the universe.&nbsp;

<h2>What does the new theory say?</h2>

An international team of experts has contested the widely-held belief that Dark Energy is distributed across the universe. These researchers say that Dark Energy may be concentrated in Black holes. In fact, they say that Black holes are the source of Dark Energy.

“We propose that black holes are the source for dark energy,” said Duncan Farrah, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii. Farrah was quoted by The Guardian.

“This dark energy is produced when normal matter is compressed during the death and collapse of large stars.”

Two studies in this regard have been published in The Astrophysical Journal and The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

These researchers say that Black holes have cores of Dark Energy and it is created and stored inside the black holes. They posit that these Black holes expand as the Universe itself expands.

“The importance of this work is that it’s taken the theories about black holes with dark energy cores and linked them for the first time to tangible observations of the universe,” said Chris Pearson, a co-author on the study as quoted by The Guardian.

“These black holes are expected to grow in mass as the universe expands.”

<h2>Dark Energy</h2>

<img alt="Dark Energy" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0529d31a-9bea-45ae-87b5-f27561460456" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dark%20energy_0.jpg" />

(Image:AFP)

Dark Energy in itself is an enigma. We do not yet know the true nature of it. It works against gravity but we don't know much about it.

If the hypothesis forwarded by the researchers is correct, we may know about the origin, if not the exact nature, of Dark Energy in the universe. That's still one step ahead in understanding one of the elusive and little-known forms of energy in the universe!

<h2>There is a 'but'</h2>

Like any scientific idea, the theory that Dark Energy forms inside Black holes has its critics.

“There are most likely more mundane explanations,” says Vitor Cardoso, a Physics professor at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, as quoted by The Guardian.

“The relation this work investigates between black hole mass and universe expansion rate is somewhat naive…and not supported on fundamental principles.”

“What this study could also say is something as simple as ‘black holes evolve differently today than they did billions of years ago’,” he added. “It’s much, much too early to think that black holes are in any way related to dark energy.”

To their credit, the researchers who have carried out the study, agree that more work and even criticism is needed to refine and crystallise the idea that Dark Energy forms inside of Black holes.

"We certainly haven’t proved anything here,” says Duncan Farrah.&nbsp;

“The evidence makes this idea worthy of scrutiny and further test, but it will take a lot more work to confirm or refute it.”

It is impossible for us to 'enter' a Black Hole to examine the presence and effects of Dark Energy as the unimaginably high gravity of the Black Hole will literally shred our bodies and turn them into spaghetti in a process called 'Spaghettification'.

We, therefore, have our observations, theories and lively exchange in our scientific community to make the Universe reveal this secret and many more.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Our universe is expanding. The billions of light-years-sized expanse has for a (big) while found a way to take a good stretch. And it continues to amaze us. For centuries we've had our eyes and lenses pointed at the sky to unravel its secrets but the more we know, more we realise how little we know.

Our universe is expanding. The billions of light-years-sized expanse has for a (big) while found a way to take a good stretch. And it continues to amaze us. For centuries we've had our eyes and lenses pointed at the sky to unravel its secrets but the more we know, more we realise how little we know. And like the fleeting horizon, the frontiers of science advance, challenging us to figure out more and more. A new theory says that Black holes may be responsible for the continued expansion of the universe. Black hole is a fascinating concept in itself. Imagine a thing with beyond crazy gravitational pull that doesn't even let light escape, and you have Black holes! Light travels at the mind-boggling speed of 300,000 kilometres per hour. But it cannot escape the clutches of a Black Hole. The new theory says that Black holes host Dark Energy, a force that works against gravity and is responsible for the expansion of the Universe But first things first, what is this expanding universe business? The universe sprang to life due to The Big Bang. Not the series, but the actual thing. 13.7 billion years ago, in a mother of all imaginable explosions, ALL matter in the universe, trillions and trillions of tonnes of it, got thrown outwards. Celestial processes led to the formation of stars, planets, galaxies, and life! It was thought that since the Big Bang took place billions of years ago, the effect of outward force would decrease and the expanding universe would start contracting as gravity will pull all the matter together. Simple and logical right? But scientists observed that the universe continued to expand. And the expansion was even accelerating! That is to say that instead of the Big Bang's 'force' waning, the Universe appeared to continue on its path of expansion. This is where Dark Energy comes into play. This energy works counter to gravity and is the reason why the expansion of the universe is accelerating. Scientists thought that Dark Energy was 'smeared' all across the universe. What does the new theory say? An international team of experts has contested the widely-held belief that Dark Energy is distributed across the universe. These researchers say that Dark Energy may be concentrated in Black holes. In fact, they say that Black holes are the source of Dark Energy. “We propose that black holes are the source for dark energy,” said Duncan Farrah, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii. Farrah was quoted by The Guardian. “This dark energy is produced when normal matter is compressed during the death and collapse of large stars.” Two studies in this regard have been published in The Astrophysical Journal and The Astrophysical Journal Letters. These researchers say that Black holes have cores of Dark Energy and it is created and stored inside the black holes. They posit that these Black holes expand as the Universe itself expands. “The importance of this work is that it’s taken the theories about black holes with dark energy cores and linked them for the first time to tangible observations of the universe,” said Chris Pearson, a co-author on the study as quoted by The Guardian. “These black holes are expected to grow in mass as the universe expands.” Dark Energy (Image:AFP) Dark Energy in itself is an enigma. We do not yet know the true nature of it. It works against gravity but we don't know much about it. If the hypothesis forwarded by the researchers is correct, we may know about the origin, if not the exact nature, of Dark Energy in the universe. That's still one step ahead in understanding one of the elusive and little-known forms of energy in the universe! There is a 'but' Like any scientific idea, the theory that Dark Energy forms inside Black holes has its critics. “There are most likely more mundane explanations,” says Vitor Cardoso, a Physics professor at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, as quoted by The Guardian. “The relation this work investigates between black hole mass and universe expansion rate is somewhat naive…and not supported on fundamental principles.” “What this study could also say is something as simple as ‘black holes evolve differently today than they did billions of years ago’,” he added. “It’s much, much too early to think that black holes are in any way related to dark energy.” To their credit, the researchers who have carried out the study, agree that more work and even criticism is needed to refine and crystallise the idea that Dark Energy forms inside of Black holes. "We certainly haven’t proved anything here,” says Duncan Farrah. “The evidence makes this idea worthy of scrutiny and further test, but it will take a lot more work to confirm or refute it.” It is impossible for us to 'enter' a Black Hole to examine the presence and effects of Dark Energy as the unimaginably high gravity of the Black Hole will literally shred our bodies and turn them into spaghetti in a process called 'Spaghettification'. We, therefore, have our observations, theories and lively exchange in our scientific community to make the Universe reveal this secret and many more. 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 ×

Explained: A new theory says Black holes are causing universe to expand

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp; 
 
Ahead of the one-year anniversary of what Moscow refers to as its “special military operation” in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual address to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-to-address-russian-duma-world-news-wion-564164">joint houses of parliament</a> and called it a “watershed moment” for the country. During the speech on Tuesday (February 21), he also said that Moscow is suspending participation in the New START treaty, a bilateral agreement on nuclear arms control with the United States. However, the foreign ministry later said that it will comply with certain portions of the treaty.

A “difficult, watershed moment”&nbsp;

The nearly two-hour speech began with the Russian president saying, “I am making this address at a time which we all know is a difficult, watershed moment for our country, a time of cardinal, irreversible changes around the world, the most important historic events that shape the future of our country and our people, when each of us bears a colossal responsibility,” as per Reuters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-speech-live-updates-all-eyes-on-russian-president-564206">As it happened | Vladimir Putin speech: Russia suspending participation in New START nuclear treaty</a>

Referring to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the eastern Donbas region, Putin said that since 2014 the people of Donbas “had been fighting, defending their right to live on their own land, to speak their native language”. Reports suggest that Moscow has intensified attacks on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-capture-of-village-near-eastern-ukrainian-region-kharkiv-563430">eastern front</a> in Ukraine and controls parts of the aforementioned region.&nbsp;

Speaking about the eastern Ukrainian region, the Russian president also said how the residents of Donbas have not given up “in the conditions of blockade and constant shelling, undisguised hatred on the part of the Kyiv regime. They believed and expected that Russia would come to their rescue.” Meanwhile, it has also been reported that despite Russian troops witnessing at least three significant battlefield reversals, Moscow continues to control approximately one-fifth of Ukraine.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russias-putin-blames-west-and-ukraine-for-provoking-conflict-564437">Russia's Putin blames West and Ukraine for provoking conflict</a>

Putin’s statement also comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address on Sunday claimed that Kyiv’s troops are inflicting “extraordinarily significant” losses on the Russian forces in several towns in Donbas, where the fight is said to be focused on, in&nbsp;the past couple of months. “The more losses Russia suffers there, in Donbas - in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Marinka, Kreminna - the faster we will be able to end this war with Ukraine's victory”, said Zelensky.&nbsp;

“They started the war”: Putin accuses the West for the conflict with Ukraine

The ongoing conflict has also been called the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West in decades. “I have already said many times that the people of Ukraine have become the hostage of the Kyiv regime and its Western overlords, who have effectively occupied this country in the political, military and economic sense”, said Putin, in his state-of-the-nation address on Tuesday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-west-completely-responsible-for-escalation-of-ukraine-conflict-564278">West 'completely' responsible for fueling the Ukraine conflict, says Putin</a>

He added that the West has “not achieved its goals anywhere and it will not”. The Russian president also accused the West and the “current regime in Kyiv” of not only escalating the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-major-battles-of-the-russia-ukraine-war-564401">ongoing conflict</a> but also starting it as well as “increasing (the) number of victims”. According to the United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR), over 8,000 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the conflict while over 13,000 have been wounded.&nbsp;

Additionally, nearly 18 million are in “dire” need of humanitarian assistance and 14 million are said to have been displaced in Ukraine, as per the UN report. However, the data has been called “only the tip of the iceberg” by the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk. He added, “The toll on civilians is unbearable. Amid electricity and water shortages during the cold winter months”.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-putin-not-a-war-with-people-of-ukraine-564438">Russia-Ukraine war | Putin: Not a war with people of Ukraine</a>

Addressing Russia’s lawmakers and military elite, Putin went on to allege that the West was threatening Moscow’s very existence with the Ukraine conflict. “The Western elites do not conceal their goals…It is a direct quote – to bring Russia a strategic defeat. What does it mean? What is it for us? It means to end us, once and for all. It means they plan to turn a local conflict into a global confrontation. We understand it exactly like that. And we will react to it accordingly,” said Putin, as per Reuters.

Russian economy

The Russian president also spoke about how the West has not succeeded in defeating the country’s economy since “those who initiated the sanctions (against Russia) have punished themselves, caused price increases, job losses, business closures and an energy crisis in their countries.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-vladimir-putin-announces-suspension-of-nuke-arms-control-treaty-with-us-564382">Russian President Vladimir Putin announces suspension of nuke arms control treaty with US</a>

&nbsp;He added, “And they tell their own citizens, and we hear that: that the Russians are to blame for everything. Which means did they use against us in this aggression of sanctions?” As per a report by Statista published on Tuesday, territories and organisations across the world have imposed 10,608 restrictions on Russian individuals, 3,431 list-based sanctions, and 492 sanctions against institutions. The data was calculated starting from February 22, 2022, which is two days prior to the beginning of the invasion to February 10, 2023.&nbsp;

During his address, the Russian president also went on to say that the “anti-Russian sanctions are only a tool, but the goal - as they themselves declare…is to make our citizens suffer.” In 2022, the Russian economy contracted by 2.1 per cent, reported the government-run statistics agency Rosstat, on Monday (February 20). While many have questioned the authenticity of the figures which were published a day before Putin was due to deliver the state-of-the-nation address, Moscow's economy was also called resilient in the face of Western sanctions and prior estimates which projected bigger contractions.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italian-pm-giorgia-meloni-arrives-in-kyiv-by-train-from-poland-564369">Italian PM Giorgia Meloni arrives in Kyiv by train from Poland</a>

Putin announced suspension of New START treaty

During his speech, on Tuesday, the Russian president announced the suspension of the New START treaty with the US which limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads that Washington and Moscow can deploy. The treaty in question also caps the delivery of the deployment of land and submarine-based missiles and bombers by the two countries.&nbsp;

“In the beginning of February this year there was a statement from the North Atlantic alliance demanding that Russia ‘returns to the Strategic Arms Treaty’ as they call it, including allowing inspections of our nuclear defence facilities. I don’t even know what to call it (the request for inspections). It’s a theatre of the absurd,” said Putin, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

However, hours later, Moscow on Tuesday clarified that it will continue observing restrictions on nuclear warheads under the New START treaty. "Russia intends to adhere to a responsible approach and will continue to strictly comply with the quantitative restrictions on strategic offensive arms stipulated by it (New START) within the life cycle of the treaty," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-top-diplomat-to-visit-russia-amid-beijings-call-to-end-ukraine-war-564123">China's top diplomat to visit Russia amid Beijing's call to end Ukraine war</a>

Putin said, their repeated requests to inspect some US objects have been declined on “formal grounds. We can't properly inspect anything on that side,” he added. Furthermore, the Russian president also acknowledged that Russia-US relations have “deteriorated” and that Washington is fully responsible for this.&nbsp;

He also accused the West of wanting to “inflict a strategic defeat on us and sneak into our nuclear facilities.” “In this regard, I am forced to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty,” said Putin towards the end of his speech to the lawmakers present at the joint session of the parliament.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-blames-the-west-for-escalation-in-ukraine-564424">Russian president Putin blames the West for escalation in Ukraine</a>

Furthermore, he said that in the current situation, Russia’s ministry of defence and&nbsp;State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (ROSATOM) should make sure that Moscow is “ready to test its nuclear weapons”. However, he said that they will not do it first but if the US conducts its test then Moscow will too, adding that “no one should be under dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be destroyed.”

On the other hand, the US has previously accused Russia of violating the treaty by not allowing inspections on its territory. This has sparked fears of a nuclear conflict as Moscow has supposedly made veiled threats since the beginning of the conflict. Notably, the two nuclear-armed nations account for about 90 per cent of the world’s nuclear heads, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

What is the New START treaty?

As mentioned earlier, the treaty limits Russia and the US’ nuclear arsenal while&nbsp;the countries have also committed to deploying no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and a maximum of 700 long-range missiles and bombers. Additionally, every year, each side is allowed to conduct up to 18 inspections of strategic nuclear weapons sites, in order to ensure that the other side has not breached the terms of the treaty.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-to-halt-participation-in-new-start-nuclear-arms-treaty-564435">Russia to halt participation in New Start nuclear arms treaty</a>

The treaty was signed in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and came into effect a year later. In 2021, it was extended for five more years when incumbent President Joe Biden took office. Notably, the aforementioned inspections had been halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while the talks of resuming them were to take place in Egypt last year Moscow postponed them. Since then neither side has decided on a new date.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Ahead of the one-year anniversary of what Moscow refers to as its “special military operation” in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual address to the joint houses of parliament and called it a “watershed moment” for the country. During the speech on Tuesday (February 21), he also said that Moscow is suspending participation in the New START treaty, a bilateral agreement on nuclear arms control with the United States. However, the foreign ministry later said that it will comply with certain portions of the treaty. A “difficult, watershed moment” The nearly two-hour speech began with the Russian president saying, “I am making this address at a time which we all know is a difficult, watershed moment for our country, a time of cardinal, irreversible changes around the world, the most important historic events that shape the future of our country and our people, when each of us bears a colossal responsibility,” as per Reuters. ALSO READ | As it happened | Vladimir Putin speech: Russia suspending participation in New START nuclear treaty Referring to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the eastern Donbas region, Putin said that since 2014 the people of Donbas “had been fighting, defending their right to live on their own land, to speak their native language”. Reports suggest that Moscow has intensified attacks on the eastern front in Ukraine and controls parts of the aforementioned region. Speaking about the eastern Ukrainian region, the Russian president also said how the residents of Donbas have not given up “in the conditions of blockade and constant shelling, undisguised hatred on the part of the Kyiv regime. They believed and expected that Russia would come to their rescue.” Meanwhile, it has also been reported that despite Russian troops witnessing at least three significant battlefield reversals, Moscow continues to control approximately one-fifth of Ukraine. ALSO WATCH | Russia's Putin blames West and Ukraine for provoking conflict Putin’s statement also comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address on Sunday claimed that Kyiv’s troops are inflicting “extraordinarily significant” losses on the Russian forces in several towns in Donbas, where the fight is said to be focused on, in the past couple of months. “The more losses Russia suffers there, in Donbas - in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Marinka, Kreminna - the faster we will be able to end this war with Ukraine's victory”, said Zelensky. “They started the war”: Putin accuses the West for the conflict with Ukraine The ongoing conflict has also been called the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West in decades. “I have already said many times that the people of Ukraine have become the hostage of the Kyiv regime and its Western overlords, who have effectively occupied this country in the political, military and economic sense”, said Putin, in his state-of-the-nation address on Tuesday. ALSO READ | West 'completely' responsible for fueling the Ukraine conflict, says Putin He added that the West has “not achieved its goals anywhere and it will not”. The Russian president also accused the West and the “current regime in Kyiv” of not only escalating the ongoing conflict but also starting it as well as “increasing (the) number of victims”. According to the United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR), over 8,000 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the conflict while over 13,000 have been wounded. Additionally, nearly 18 million are in “dire” need of humanitarian assistance and 14 million are said to have been displaced in Ukraine, as per the UN report. However, the data has been called “only the tip of the iceberg” by the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk. He added, “The toll on civilians is unbearable. Amid electricity and water shortages during the cold winter months”. ALSO WATCH | Russia-Ukraine war | Putin: Not a war with people of Ukraine Addressing Russia’s lawmakers and military elite, Putin went on to allege that the West was threatening Moscow’s very existence with the Ukraine conflict. “The Western elites do not conceal their goals…It is a direct quote – to bring Russia a strategic defeat. What does it mean? What is it for us? It means to end us, once and for all. It means they plan to turn a local conflict into a global confrontation. We understand it exactly like that. And we will react to it accordingly,” said Putin, as per Reuters. Russian economy The Russian president also spoke about how the West has not succeeded in defeating the country’s economy since “those who initiated the sanctions (against Russia) have punished themselves, caused price increases, job losses, business closures and an energy crisis in their countries.” ALSO READ | Russian President Vladimir Putin announces suspension of nuke arms control treaty with US He added, “And they tell their own citizens, and we hear that: that the Russians are to blame for everything. Which means did they use against us in this aggression of sanctions?” As per a report by Statista published on Tuesday, territories and organisations across the world have imposed 10,608 restrictions on Russian individuals, 3,431 list-based sanctions, and 492 sanctions against institutions. The data was calculated starting from February 22, 2022, which is two days prior to the beginning of the invasion to February 10, 2023. During his address, the Russian president also went on to say that the “anti-Russian sanctions are only a tool, but the goal - as they themselves declare…is to make our citizens suffer.” In 2022, the Russian economy contracted by 2.1 per cent, reported the government-run statistics agency Rosstat, on Monday (February 20). While many have questioned the authenticity of the figures which were published a day before Putin was due to deliver the state-of-the-nation address, Moscow's economy was also called resilient in the face of Western sanctions and prior estimates which projected bigger contractions. ALSO READ | Italian PM Giorgia Meloni arrives in Kyiv by train from Poland Putin announced suspension of New START treaty During his speech, on Tuesday, the Russian president announced the suspension of the New START treaty with the US which limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads that Washington and Moscow can deploy. The treaty in question also caps the delivery of the deployment of land and submarine-based missiles and bombers by the two countries. “In the beginning of February this year there was a statement from the North Atlantic alliance demanding that Russia ‘returns to the Strategic Arms Treaty’ as they call it, including allowing inspections of our nuclear defence facilities. I don’t even know what to call it (the request for inspections). It’s a theatre of the absurd,” said Putin, as per Reuters. However, hours later, Moscow on Tuesday clarified that it will continue observing restrictions on nuclear warheads under the New START treaty. "Russia intends to adhere to a responsible approach and will continue to strictly comply with the quantitative restrictions on strategic offensive arms stipulated by it (New START) within the life cycle of the treaty," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. ALSO READ | China's top diplomat to visit Russia amid Beijing's call to end Ukraine war Putin said, their repeated requests to inspect some US objects have been declined on “formal grounds. We can't properly inspect anything on that side,” he added. Furthermore, the Russian president also acknowledged that Russia-US relations have “deteriorated” and that Washington is fully responsible for this. He also accused the West of wanting to “inflict a strategic defeat on us and sneak into our nuclear facilities.” “In this regard, I am forced to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty,” said Putin towards the end of his speech to the lawmakers present at the joint session of the parliament. ALSO WATCH | Russian president Putin blames the West for escalation in Ukraine Furthermore, he said that in the current situation, Russia’s ministry of defence and State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (ROSATOM) should make sure that Moscow is “ready to test its nuclear weapons”. However, he said that they will not do it first but if the US conducts its test then Moscow will too, adding that “no one should be under dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be destroyed.” On the other hand, the US has previously accused Russia of violating the treaty by not allowing inspections on its territory. This has sparked fears of a nuclear conflict as Moscow has supposedly made veiled threats since the beginning of the conflict. Notably, the two nuclear-armed nations account for about 90 per cent of the world’s nuclear heads, as per Reuters. What is the New START treaty? As mentioned earlier, the treaty limits Russia and the US’ nuclear arsenal while the countries have also committed to deploying no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and a maximum of 700 long-range missiles and bombers. Additionally, every year, each side is allowed to conduct up to 18 inspections of strategic nuclear weapons sites, in order to ensure that the other side has not breached the terms of the treaty. ALSO WATCH | Russia to halt participation in New Start nuclear arms treaty The treaty was signed in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and came into effect a year later. In 2021, it was extended for five more years when incumbent President Joe Biden took office. Notably, the aforementioned inspections had been halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while the talks of resuming them were to take place in Egypt last year Moscow postponed them. Since then neither side has decided on a new date. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Putin accuses West of stoking Ukraine war

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) announced the plans for a new ambitious development project to build in the country’s capital Riyadh, named, “The Mukaab” which means a cube in Arabic. According to the developers, the structure will&nbsp;become the largest inner-city building in the world. The skyscraper would be large enough to hold 20 Empire State Buildings and would house hundreds of thousands of residents.&nbsp;

What we know so far

Plans for the Mukaab or New Murabba downtown were announced on February 16 by MBS who is also the Chairman of the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC). The aforementioned company is a newly founded business venture by the Saudi Crown Prince and will&nbsp;manage the project. It aims to develop the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The skyscraper will be in the shape of a cube measuring 400 metres in height, 400 metres in width, and 400 metres in length.&nbsp; 
 
The design for the cube is said to be the region’s traditional Najdi architectural style. The Mukaab will be developed by Saudi Arabia’s NMDC using the Kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is the MBS-led $620 billion sovereign wealth fund. According to Arab news, the “immersive experiential” structure will house 2 million square metres of floor space. The project would also become the tallest structure in the city.&nbsp; 
 
 
<img alt="(Photo: Handout/New Murabba)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c523055-3260-44af-b95f-f5d77e8ff977" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20IMAGES%21%20-%202023-02-22T021250.422_0.png" />(Photo: Handout/New Murabba)

The cube-like structure which developers say will be the world’s largest modern downtown and “the new face of Riyadh”, will also be the first immersive destination which would be created by the latest digital and virtual holographic technology. The project also comes two years after the Saudi Crown Prince announced his $500 billion futuristic NEOM city in the northwest of the country.

About The Mukaab

The New Murabba project will be located in the capital city at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads in the northwest of Riyadh, as per Arab news. It will also offer unique living, working and entertainment experiences within a 15-minute walking radius and will have its own internal transport system, said the PIF. It added that it will also be just a 20-minute drive from the country’s King Khalid International Airport.&nbsp; 
 
“The world’s first immersive, experiential destination. Where hospitality, retail and leisure reach new levels, all in breathtaking, ever-changing environments. A gateway to another world”, said the New Murabba website. The total project will span over 25 million square metres of floor area which will be home to more than 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and more than 80 entertainment and cultural venues.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="(Photo: Handout/New Murabba)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8a45ed3-263e-4276-8fe0-2e5427dcca82" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20IMAGES%21%20-%202023-02-21T224756.425_0.png" />(Photo: Handout/New Murabba)

In a statement, the PIF also said that the project will be centred around the concept of sustainability and will include features like green spaces and paths for walking and cycling in a bid to promote healthy, active lifestyles and community activities. The Mukaab will also comprise an iconic museum, a technology and design university, and a multipurpose immersive theatre.&nbsp;

Additionally, 980,000 square metres will be dedicated to retail space, 1.4 million square metres as office space, and another 1.8 million square metres of community facility space along with a technology and design-focused university. The project which is expected to finish by 2030 will contribute SAR180 billion ($47 billion) to non-oil GDP and create 334,000 direct and indirect jobs in the next seven years, said the PIF.&nbsp;

The promotional video by the New Murabba looks like something out of a sci-fi movie featuring space pods, dragons, and even floating rocks. The structure&nbsp;will add over 19 square kilometres to the capital city and will help make Riyadh, “one of the Top 10 most livable cities in the world”. It will also encompass a tower atop a spiral base where the aforementioned spaces and activities will be housed.&nbsp;

Discussions surrounding the project

In an interview with Arab news, Yasser Elsheshtawy, adjunct professor of architecture at Columbia University and non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said, “There is a tendency among Western and Arab observers to dismiss such projects out of hand, describing them as acts of folly, and the outcome of people with too much money”.&nbsp;

He added, “But if we look at it objectively, it is much more than that. Having been involved with one of the teams that were invited to compete for the project, I can attest that there is serious thinking involved in such schemes.” Furthermore, he believes that The Mukaab&nbsp;will provide Riyadh with a “unique icon” which will make the city synonymous with it, like the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Opera House.&nbsp; 
 
The ambitious project has certainly garnered a lot of attention, and&nbsp;analysts say that Saudi Arabia is announcing these projects in a bid to catch up with its neighbouring Dubai and the capital city of Qatar Doha. The kingdom has witnessed years of bad press for its alleged human rights abuses and seems like it is working to shed its perceived image as an oil-rich and conservative state.&nbsp;

Speaking to CNN, Andreas Krieg, a research fellow at the King’s College London Institute of Middle Eastern Studies said, “Back in the day, you would have negative discussions about Saudi Arabia affiliated to human rights abuses…But now they’re trying to push new narratives of being a country of development and one that can build futuristic cities.”&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia has also “spent decades not attracting foreign, non-Muslim visitors,” said Simon Henderson from The Washington Institute, as per CNN. Furthermore, while the kingdom has also announced more than 10 such mega projects over the past couple of years reports suggest that&nbsp;the work on them has been slow, which has led many to speculate it might&nbsp;not finish anytime soon.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) announced the plans for a new ambitious development project to build in the country’s capital Riyadh, named, “The Mukaab” which means a cube in Arabic.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) announced the plans for a new ambitious development project to build in the country’s capital Riyadh, named, “The Mukaab” which means a cube in Arabic. According to the developers, the structure will become the largest inner-city building in the world. The skyscraper would be large enough to hold 20 Empire State Buildings and would house hundreds of thousands of residents. What we know so far Plans for the Mukaab or New Murabba downtown were announced on February 16 by MBS who is also the Chairman of the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC). The aforementioned company is a newly founded business venture by the Saudi Crown Prince and will manage the project. It aims to develop the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The skyscraper will be in the shape of a cube measuring 400 metres in height, 400 metres in width, and 400 metres in length. The design for the cube is said to be the region’s traditional Najdi architectural style. The Mukaab will be developed by Saudi Arabia’s NMDC using the Kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is the MBS-led $620 billion sovereign wealth fund. According to Arab news, the “immersive experiential” structure will house 2 million square metres of floor space. The project would also become the tallest structure in the city. (Photo: Handout/New Murabba) The cube-like structure which developers say will be the world’s largest modern downtown and “the new face of Riyadh”, will also be the first immersive destination which would be created by the latest digital and virtual holographic technology. The project also comes two years after the Saudi Crown Prince announced his $500 billion futuristic NEOM city in the northwest of the country. About The Mukaab The New Murabba project will be located in the capital city at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads in the northwest of Riyadh, as per Arab news. It will also offer unique living, working and entertainment experiences within a 15-minute walking radius and will have its own internal transport system, said the PIF. It added that it will also be just a 20-minute drive from the country’s King Khalid International Airport. “The world’s first immersive, experiential destination. Where hospitality, retail and leisure reach new levels, all in breathtaking, ever-changing environments. A gateway to another world”, said the New Murabba website. The total project will span over 25 million square metres of floor area which will be home to more than 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and more than 80 entertainment and cultural venues. (Photo: Handout/New Murabba) In a statement, the PIF also said that the project will be centred around the concept of sustainability and will include features like green spaces and paths for walking and cycling in a bid to promote healthy, active lifestyles and community activities. The Mukaab will also comprise an iconic museum, a technology and design university, and a multipurpose immersive theatre. Additionally, 980,000 square metres will be dedicated to retail space, 1.4 million square metres as office space, and another 1.8 million square metres of community facility space along with a technology and design-focused university. The project which is expected to finish by 2030 will contribute SAR180 billion ($47 billion) to non-oil GDP and create 334,000 direct and indirect jobs in the next seven years, said the PIF. The promotional video by the New Murabba looks like something out of a sci-fi movie featuring space pods, dragons, and even floating rocks. The structure will add over 19 square kilometres to the capital city and will help make Riyadh, “one of the Top 10 most livable cities in the world”. It will also encompass a tower atop a spiral base where the aforementioned spaces and activities will be housed. Discussions surrounding the project In an interview with Arab news, Yasser Elsheshtawy, adjunct professor of architecture at Columbia University and non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said, “There is a tendency among Western and Arab observers to dismiss such projects out of hand, describing them as acts of folly, and the outcome of people with too much money”. He added, “But if we look at it objectively, it is much more than that. Having been involved with one of the teams that were invited to compete for the project, I can attest that there is serious thinking involved in such schemes.” Furthermore, he believes that The Mukaab will provide Riyadh with a “unique icon” which will make the city synonymous with it, like the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Opera House. The ambitious project has certainly garnered a lot of attention, and analysts say that Saudi Arabia is announcing these projects in a bid to catch up with its neighbouring Dubai and the capital city of Qatar Doha. The kingdom has witnessed years of bad press for its alleged human rights abuses and seems like it is working to shed its perceived image as an oil-rich and conservative state. Speaking to CNN, Andreas Krieg, a research fellow at the King’s College London Institute of Middle Eastern Studies said, “Back in the day, you would have negative discussions about Saudi Arabia affiliated to human rights abuses…But now they’re trying to push new narratives of being a country of development and one that can build futuristic cities.” Saudi Arabia has also “spent decades not attracting foreign, non-Muslim visitors,” said Simon Henderson from The Washington Institute, as per CNN. Furthermore, while the kingdom has also announced more than 10 such mega projects over the past couple of years reports suggest that the work on them has been slow, which has led many to speculate it might not finish anytime soon. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | ‘The Mukaab’: Saudi Arabia’s cube-shaped skyscraper big enough to fit 20 Empire State Buildings

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside the Israeli parliament or the Knesset, on Monday (February 20) for a second straight week as lawmakers prepared to hold the first vote over the controversial plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Over the weekend, mass demonstrations across the country against the proposed judicial overhaul entered their sixth week. In a statement, the Israeli PM accused the leaders of these protests of ‘trampling democracy’ and vowed that his government will move forward to vote on the proposed reforms.&nbsp; 
 
On Monday, the first bill which seeks to amend the Basic Law would cement government control over judicial appointments and revoke the court’s ability to review Basic Laws, reported the Times of Israel. Since Israel does not have a written constitution and is governed by these Basic Laws, the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government remains weak.&nbsp;The ruling government typically which holds a majority in the parliament, in this case, Netanyahu's party has the most power.

What we know so far 
 
If passed, the controversial proposed judicial reforms would give the Israeli government greater control over the country’s judiciary, including the appointment of judges as well as&nbsp;weaken the Supreme Court. These proposed changes have also led to weeks of protest across the country. Several polls over the past weeks have shown that Israeli citizens including Netanyahu supporters either want the decision on the reforms to slow down or be shelved completely.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/israel-protests-outside-parliament-over-proposed-reforms-president-warns-of-constitutional-collapse-561639">Israel: Protests outside parliament over proposed reforms; president warns of ‘constitutional collapse'</a>

Critics of the judicial reforms have warned that the plans risk undermining the democratic checks and balances as it weakens the judiciary while granting additional powers to the executive. They also reportedly fear that the overhaul will allow Netanyahu to dodge the corruption charges against him, who has since denied any wrongdoing and called himself a victim of a biased judicial system.&nbsp; 
 
Last week in a rare warning, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that the country was on the brink of “constitutional and social collapse” and urged all sides to come together. On the other hand, on Sunday, the Israeli PM dismissed suggestions that the country’s democracy was under threat and said, “Israel was and will remain a strong and vibrant democracy.”&nbsp;

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s remarks

“They do not accept the outcome of the election, they do not accept the majority’s decision, they do not condemn calls to kill the prime minister and his family, they block roads and call for civil disobedience, they call without shame for a civil war and for blood in the streets, they threaten Knesset members aggressively,” said Netanyahu, ahead of his Likud Party’s weekly meeting, on Monday, as per local media reports.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/explained-thousands-in-israel-protest-against-new-governments-proposed-legal-reforms-550442">Explained: Thousands protest in Israel against new government’s proposed legal reforms</a>

He added, “The people exercised their right to vote in the elections and the people’s representatives will exercise their right to vote here in Israel’s Knesset. It’s called democracy. Today there will be a vote, and tomorrow I hope the path will be opened to dialogue.” &nbsp;

According to media reports, the Israeli PM’s statement was also made after a member of his party was prevented from taking her special-needs daughter to school. This comes as protesters took to the streets ahead of the first vote on the judicial overhaul and&nbsp;blocked&nbsp;major streets and even prevented lawmakers from leaving their homes.&nbsp;

“You talk above our heads in high terms of values, the rights of minorities and individuals, while they are trampling to dust the rights of a girl with special needs and the rights of an elected representative,” said Netanyahu, referring to the incident, as per the Jerusalem Post.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/thousands-take-to-streets-in-jerusalem-over-judicial-reform-bills-564078">Thousands take to streets in Jerusalem over judicial reform bills</a>

He also accused the demonstrators of inciting violence and ignoring the will of the people who voted him and his government into power&nbsp;and said, “Demonstrators who talk about democracy are themselves bringing about the end of democracy when they deny elected delegates the fundamental right in a democracy - to vote”.&nbsp;

Subsequently, Netanyahu also went on to criticise the attorney general who has reportedly barred him from speaking about the reforms due to his conflict of interest agreement, as he is facing charges of corruption. “This is what the new Israeli democracy looks like: Do not respect the majority, try to block votes, do not allow speech. So I say, enough with this theatre of the absurd.”&nbsp;

Protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

Thousands of people poured into Jerusalem&nbsp;from across the country on Monday to join the demonstrations outside the parliament. So far, the police have arrested eight people for disorderly conduct and also worked to reroute traffic after protesters blocked the roads. “We are fighting for our children’s future, for our country’s future. We don’t intend to give up,” said opposition leader and former PM Yair Lapid addressing a meeting of his party in the Knesset while protests continued outside.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-protests-enter-sixth-week-protesters-claim-israels-democracy-at-stake-563671">Israel: Protests enter sixth week, protesters claim Israel's democracy at stake</a>

Furthermore, while the Israeli PM assures that the country will remain a “vibrant democracy” the protesters say otherwise. “We’re here to demonstrate for the democracy. Without democracy there’s no state of Israel. And we’re going to fight till the end,” said Marcos Fainstein, a protester in Tel Aviv, to the Associated Press.&nbsp;Earlier today, demonstrators also&nbsp;briefly halted traffic on Tel Aviv’s main highway while hundreds&nbsp;across the city waved&nbsp;Israeli flags.&nbsp; 
 
Demonstrators block lawmakers' houses

According to local media reports, on Monday morning protestors gathered outside the homes of lawmakers from Netanyahu’s coalition, in a bid to stop them from reaching the Knesset and voting. This included Likud MK (Member of Knesset) Tally Gotliv from leaving her house with her daughter who is autistic to school. However, citing a video from the lawmaker’s building, Jerusalem Post claims that she was asked by the protesters to find someone else to do it because she isn’t leaving the house.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/benjamin-netanyahu-accuses-arch-rival-iran-of-attacking-an-israeli-linked-tanker-563735">Benjamin Netanyahu blames Iran for attacking an Israeli-linked tanker</a>

This drew condemnation from the leader of the opposition who called it a “siege” at the Gotliv’s home and said “a mother of a girl with special needs, and the fact that they didn't allow her to take her daughter to school…This isn’t our way. This is not the way of the protest. I send Tally strength and a hug for her daughter,” reported the Jerusalem Post. At least four lawmakers are said to have face this hindrance including Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Legislation Committee Chairman MK Simcha Rothman, and Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter.

What happened in the Knesset on Monday?

The vote, on Monday&nbsp;was just the first of three readings required for parliamentary approval and the process is expected to take months. Notably, the Netanyahu government holds 64 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. The Legislation Committee Chairman Rothman presented the proposal to the Knesset amid the ongoing stormy debate inside the parliament while protests raged outside.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-15-killed-after-israeli-missile-strikes-syrian-building-563540">Syria: At least 15 killed as Israeli missile strikes building in Damascus</a> 
&nbsp; 
According to a report by Times of Israel, as the plenum on Monday began several MKs from the opposition raised Israeli flags in protest. Subsequently, parliamentary ushers confiscated the flags and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana ordered the opposition lawmakers’ removal. Reportedly, a number of observers in the viewer’s gallery also began banging loudly on the glass dividers until removed. Notably, prior to entering the parliament, several MKs left the building after the security said that they must have their bags searched before entering which also prompted some objections.&nbsp; 
 
This was followed by a&nbsp;nearly seven-hour debate after which the bill passed with a vote of&nbsp;63-47. Subsequently, opposition&nbsp;lawmakers chanted “shame!” after the ruling coalition government&nbsp;passed the&nbsp;bill through the initial reading at the&nbsp;Knesset, reported Times of Israel. The bills now would now need&nbsp;to return to the committee for revisions after which they will go through two more readings in the parliament before becoming law.&nbsp;

Notable reactions from the current and former Israeli PMs&nbsp;

After the vote, incumbent PM&nbsp;Netanyahu took to Twitter and wrote, "A great night and a great day". 
&nbsp;

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לילה גדול ויום גדול 
🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1627804582934978560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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On the other hand, former PM Lapid who also took to the microblogging platform&nbsp;said, "Members of the coalition — history will judge you for tonight. For the damage to democracy, for the damage to the economy, for the damage to security, for you tearing apart the nation of Israel and that you just don’t care.”

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חברי הקואליציה - ההיסטוריה תשפוט אתכם על הלילה הזה. על הפגיעה בדמוקרטיה, על הפגיעה בכלכלה, על הפגיעה בבטחון, על זה שאתם קורעים לגזרים את עם ישראל ופשוט לא אכפת לכם.
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) <a href="https://twitter.com/yairlapid/status/1627799988620099584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside the Israeli parliament or the Knesset, on Monday (February 20) for a second straight week as lawmakers prepared to hold the first vote over the controversial plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside the Israeli parliament or the Knesset, on Monday (February 20) for a second straight week as lawmakers prepared to hold the first vote over the controversial plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Over the weekend, mass demonstrations across the country against the proposed judicial overhaul entered their sixth week. In a statement, the Israeli PM accused the leaders of these protests of ‘trampling democracy’ and vowed that his government will move forward to vote on the proposed reforms. On Monday, the first bill which seeks to amend the Basic Law would cement government control over judicial appointments and revoke the court’s ability to review Basic Laws, reported the Times of Israel. Since Israel does not have a written constitution and is governed by these Basic Laws, the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government remains weak. The ruling government typically which holds a majority in the parliament, in this case, Netanyahu's party has the most power. What we know so far If passed, the controversial proposed judicial reforms would give the Israeli government greater control over the country’s judiciary, including the appointment of judges as well as weaken the Supreme Court. These proposed changes have also led to weeks of protest across the country. Several polls over the past weeks have shown that Israeli citizens including Netanyahu supporters either want the decision on the reforms to slow down or be shelved completely. ALSO READ | Israel: Protests outside parliament over proposed reforms; president warns of ‘constitutional collapse' Critics of the judicial reforms have warned that the plans risk undermining the democratic checks and balances as it weakens the judiciary while granting additional powers to the executive. They also reportedly fear that the overhaul will allow Netanyahu to dodge the corruption charges against him, who has since denied any wrongdoing and called himself a victim of a biased judicial system. Last week in a rare warning, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that the country was on the brink of “constitutional and social collapse” and urged all sides to come together. On the other hand, on Sunday, the Israeli PM dismissed suggestions that the country’s democracy was under threat and said, “Israel was and will remain a strong and vibrant democracy.” Israeli PM Netanyahu’s remarks “They do not accept the outcome of the election, they do not accept the majority’s decision, they do not condemn calls to kill the prime minister and his family, they block roads and call for civil disobedience, they call without shame for a civil war and for blood in the streets, they threaten Knesset members aggressively,” said Netanyahu, ahead of his Likud Party’s weekly meeting, on Monday, as per local media reports. ALSO READ | Explained: Thousands protest in Israel against new government’s proposed legal reforms He added, “The people exercised their right to vote in the elections and the people’s representatives will exercise their right to vote here in Israel’s Knesset. It’s called democracy. Today there will be a vote, and tomorrow I hope the path will be opened to dialogue.” According to media reports, the Israeli PM’s statement was also made after a member of his party was prevented from taking her special-needs daughter to school. This comes as protesters took to the streets ahead of the first vote on the judicial overhaul and blocked major streets and even prevented lawmakers from leaving their homes. “You talk above our heads in high terms of values, the rights of minorities and individuals, while they are trampling to dust the rights of a girl with special needs and the rights of an elected representative,” said Netanyahu, referring to the incident, as per the Jerusalem Post. ALSO WATCH | Thousands take to streets in Jerusalem over judicial reform bills He also accused the demonstrators of inciting violence and ignoring the will of the people who voted him and his government into power and said, “Demonstrators who talk about democracy are themselves bringing about the end of democracy when they deny elected delegates the fundamental right in a democracy - to vote”. Subsequently, Netanyahu also went on to criticise the attorney general who has reportedly barred him from speaking about the reforms due to his conflict of interest agreement, as he is facing charges of corruption. “This is what the new Israeli democracy looks like: Do not respect the majority, try to block votes, do not allow speech. So I say, enough with this theatre of the absurd.” Protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Thousands of people poured into Jerusalem from across the country on Monday to join the demonstrations outside the parliament. So far, the police have arrested eight people for disorderly conduct and also worked to reroute traffic after protesters blocked the roads. “We are fighting for our children’s future, for our country’s future. We don’t intend to give up,” said opposition leader and former PM Yair Lapid addressing a meeting of his party in the Knesset while protests continued outside. ALSO WATCH | Israel: Protests enter sixth week, protesters claim Israel's democracy at stake Furthermore, while the Israeli PM assures that the country will remain a “vibrant democracy” the protesters say otherwise. “We’re here to demonstrate for the democracy. Without democracy there’s no state of Israel. And we’re going to fight till the end,” said Marcos Fainstein, a protester in Tel Aviv, to the Associated Press. Earlier today, demonstrators also briefly halted traffic on Tel Aviv’s main highway while hundreds across the city waved Israeli flags. Demonstrators block lawmakers' houses According to local media reports, on Monday morning protestors gathered outside the homes of lawmakers from Netanyahu’s coalition, in a bid to stop them from reaching the Knesset and voting. This included Likud MK (Member of Knesset) Tally Gotliv from leaving her house with her daughter who is autistic to school. However, citing a video from the lawmaker’s building, Jerusalem Post claims that she was asked by the protesters to find someone else to do it because she isn’t leaving the house. ALSO READ | Benjamin Netanyahu blames Iran for attacking an Israeli-linked tanker This drew condemnation from the leader of the opposition who called it a “siege” at the Gotliv’s home and said “a mother of a girl with special needs, and the fact that they didn't allow her to take her daughter to school…This isn’t our way. This is not the way of the protest. I send Tally strength and a hug for her daughter,” reported the Jerusalem Post. At least four lawmakers are said to have face this hindrance including Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Legislation Committee Chairman MK Simcha Rothman, and Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter. What happened in the Knesset on Monday? The vote, on Monday was just the first of three readings required for parliamentary approval and the process is expected to take months. Notably, the Netanyahu government holds 64 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. The Legislation Committee Chairman Rothman presented the proposal to the Knesset amid the ongoing stormy debate inside the parliament while protests raged outside. ALSO READ | Syria: At least 15 killed as Israeli missile strikes building in Damascus According to a report by Times of Israel, as the plenum on Monday began several MKs from the opposition raised Israeli flags in protest. Subsequently, parliamentary ushers confiscated the flags and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana ordered the opposition lawmakers’ removal. Reportedly, a number of observers in the viewer’s gallery also began banging loudly on the glass dividers until removed. Notably, prior to entering the parliament, several MKs left the building after the security said that they must have their bags searched before entering which also prompted some objections. This was followed by a nearly seven-hour debate after which the bill passed with a vote of 63-47. Subsequently, opposition lawmakers chanted “shame!” after the ruling coalition government passed the bill through the initial reading at the Knesset, reported Times of Israel. The bills now would now need to return to the committee for revisions after which they will go through two more readings in the parliament before becoming law. Notable reactions from the current and former Israeli PMs After the vote, incumbent PM Netanyahu took to Twitter and wrote, "A great night and a great day". לילה גדול ויום גדול 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 20, 2023 × On the other hand, former PM Lapid who also took to the microblogging platform said, "Members of the coalition — history will judge you for tonight. For the damage to democracy, for the damage to the economy, for the damage to security, for you tearing apart the nation of Israel and that you just don’t care.” חברי הקואליציה - ההיסטוריה תשפוט אתכם על הלילה הזה. על הפגיעה בדמוקרטיה, על הפגיעה בכלכלה, על הפגיעה בבטחון, על זה שאתם קורעים לגזרים את עם ישראל ופשוט לא אכפת לכם. — יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) February 20, 2023 × (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Israel: Netanyahu govt's controversial legal plan passes first reading amid protests

Every year, on February 20, the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate their foundation day. In 1987, the Indian Government as per&nbsp;the 53rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution a year prior declared the extreme northern part of the country the 24th state of Union India. The state is known as the ‘land of the rising sun’ (not to be confused with Japan) or after the meaning of its name ‘land of the dawn-lit mountains’ is also home to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), arguably one of the heavily contested borders.&nbsp;

What is Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day?

After India’s independence in 1947, the state now known as Arunachal Pradesh was called North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and administered by the state of Assam. However, it was not until after 25 years that the erstwhile NEFA became a Union Territory and named Arunachal Pradesh and on February 20, 1987, was declared a full-fledged state. Since that year, the easternmost state of India has celebrated its foundation day and this year will mark its 37th year of&nbsp;Statehood Day.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bell-in-honour-of-late-cds-bipin-rawat-placed-at-nepals-shree-muktinath-temple-563700">Bell in honour of late CDS Bipin Rawat placed at Nepal's Shree Muktinath temple</a>

How is it being celebrated this year?

The state’s foundation day is celebrated with events, exhibitions and programs to highlight the unique cultural diversity. This year, Indian President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Arunachal Pradesh, on Monday, for a two-day visit to the northeastern state and addressed the 37th Statehood Day celebrations. She also attended a civic reception hosted in her honour by the State Government at Itanagar.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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LIVE: President Droupadi Murmu addresses the 37th Statehood Day celebrations of Arunachal Pradesh and attends civic reception hosted in her honour by the State Government at Itanagar <a href="https://t.co/RouCmSceEA">https://t.co/RouCmSceEA</a>
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1627619585519423489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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During her maiden visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the president is also expected to inaugurate and launch several projects during the statehood day celebrations including the foundation stone of the common directorate for the state human rights commission, Lokayukta as well as the state food commission. On Tuesday, Murmu is scheduled to address the special session of the Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly at Itanagar.

India and China border&nbsp;

India shares a 3488 km border with China which is divided into three sectors, the eastern sector (along the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim), the western sector (Ladakh), and the middle sector (Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh). However, Beijing only considers the LAC to be around 2,000 km. The ill-defined border along these sectors has caused many disputes over the years between the two countries.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/stop-commenting-in-internal-issue-if-you-expect-same-from-others-india-after-china-rakes-ap-ladakh-335587">Stop commenting in internal issue, if you expect same from others: India after China rakes AP, Ladakh</a>

After the most recent skirmish between the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a military source told the Indian Express, “In certain areas along the LAC in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh there are areas of differing perception, where both sides patrol the area up to their claim lines. This has been the trend since 2006.”&nbsp;

Similarly, in an opinion piece written for WION, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/author/major-general-sb-asthana-sm-vsm2">Major General SB Asthana</a> also said that the clash which took place on December 9 is “neither the first nor the last one” but “shows increasing aggressiveness and violent attempt to enforce their own perception of LAC by both sides.” Notably, the western and eastern sectors of the LAC are more heavily contested than the middle sector.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/china-india-tawang-faceoff-not-a-surprise-what-is-different-now-543180">China-India Tawang faceoff not a surprise: What is different now?</a>

Origins of the border dispute in Arunachal

Arunachal Pradesh is strategically significant for India, as the state borders Bhutan, China, and Myanmar and plays a crucial role in the country’s defence and security. Even after&nbsp;India gained independence,&nbsp;the borders which were internationally&nbsp;agreed upon, over the years,&nbsp;including&nbsp;the arbitrary one drawn by British officials&nbsp;based primarily on the highest watershed principle remained the same.&nbsp;However, when China's&nbsp;communist party came into power in 1949, they pulled out of all international agreements.&nbsp;

Beijing believes that these "unequal treaties"&nbsp;had been imposed on it during its “century of humiliation” and called for re-negotiation of all the borders with India. In the eastern sector, the border was drawn along the McMahon Line which was named after Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India. In 1914 the 890 km border between erstwhile British India and Tibet was decided at the Simla Convention between China, Tibet and Great Britain.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-proposes-to-expand-railway-in-aksai-chin-region-561699">China proposes to expand railway in Aksai Chin region</a>

However, China has disputed the border which was drawn at the highest watershed principle based on which the previously undefined borders between erstwhile British India and Tibet included Tawang. Reports suggest that the border was never officially demarcated as the British colonial rulers did not see the need to do so in such a remote area. There had been several exchanges between then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding the issue.&nbsp;

Notably, in 1949-50&nbsp;China invaded&nbsp;Tibet and Beijing argued that when the agreement came into effect it was signed by the Tibetan government which was not a sovereign state at the time and consequently, claims parts of Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang, as a part of Tibet. In 1962, this led to an all-out war between India and China which was predominantly fought in Aksai Chin, a region which is the western end of the Himalayas with Arunachal Pradesh in the east.&nbsp;

China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh

China has previously claimed some 90,000 sq km which is virtually the entire Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and is&nbsp;approximately a little over 8,000 sq km, to begin with as a part of its country.&nbsp;Beijing has also repeatedly produced maps which show Arunachal Pradesh as part of China and refer to the state as “Zangnan” in the Chinese language.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-renames-arunachal-pradeshs-15-places-in-mandarin-gets-sharp-reaction-from-india-441345">China 'renames' Arunachal Pradesh’s 15 places in Mandarin, gets sharp reaction from India</a>

Additionally, it also tried to assign Chinese names to places in Arunachal Pradesh in 2017 and again in 2021, which was seen&nbsp;as a bid to unilaterally change the status quo. However, India has since dismissed these claims, “Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will always be, an integral part of India. Assigning invented names to places in Arunachal Pradesh does not alter this fact,” said the Ministry of External Affairs, in late 2021 after 15 Chinese names were assigned to regions in Arunachal Pradesh. &nbsp;

US senators introduce bipartisan resolution in Congress for Arunachal Pradesh

Last week, two United States Senators, Democrat Jeff Merkley from Oregon and Republican Bill Hagerty from Tennessee introduced a Senate resolution reaffirming Washington’s recognition of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India. The lawmakers also condemned China’s military aggression to change the status quo along the LAC.&nbsp;

Additionally, the resolution came months after the most recent clash between the Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang region. In a statement, Merkley also said that the resolution reaffirmed that the US recognised the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senators-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-reaffirming-arunachal-pradesh-as-integral-part-of-india-562896">US Senators introduce bipartisan resolution reaffirming Arunachal Pradesh as integral part of India</a>

“This resolution makes clear that the United States views the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Republic of India—not the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—and commits the US to deepening support and assistance to the region, alongside like-minded international partners and donors”, the Democratic senator, added.&nbsp;

The senators also condemned Beijing’s use of “construction of villages in contested areas, publication of maps with Mandarin-language names for cities and feature in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and expansion of PRC territorial claims in Bhutan”, to change the status quo along the LAC. On the other hand, the US lauded New Delhi’s government to take steps for defending itself from Chinese aggression.&nbsp;

Clashes between Indian and Chinese troops along the LAC

While the region had more or less been peaceful since the war while the dispute has been handled by the countries through diplomatic talks. However, the deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in 2020 years after another incident in 1975, along the LAC have led to a rise in tensions between the two sides.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-suffered-a-huge-loss-in-the-galwan-valley-clash-fabricated-stories-to-the-world-australian-newspaper-449997">China suffered a huge loss in the Galwan Valley clash, ‘fabricated’ stories to the world: Australian newspaper</a>

1975

According to reports, in 1975 four Indian Army personnel were killed after an ambush by the Chinese military in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tulung La region.

2020

According to reports, there was a five-hour confrontation between some 600 military personnel from both sides who engaged in hand-to-hand combat, in June. At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed and while China claims that only four of their soldiers died, the death toll is speculated to be over 40 PLA troops, as per media reports. Furthermore, Indian and Chinese troops later that year also accused each other of firing warning shots during a confrontation.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-standoff-a-timeline-of-skirmishes-between-the-two-neighbours-308076">India-China standoff: A timeline of skirmishes between the two neighbours</a>

2022

Last year, in December the two sides again engaged in a clash this time at the Yangtse, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-lac-intrusion-attempt-set-to-rock-indian-parliament-542512">Tawang</a> in Arunachal Pradesh. The incident took place on December 9 following which Beijing&nbsp;alleged that Indian troops “illegally” crossed the LAC while the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his statement to the parliament said China attempted to “unilaterally change the status quo”.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Every year, on February 20, the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate their foundation day. In 1987, the Indian Government as per the 53rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution a year prior declared the extreme northern part of the country the 24th state of Union India.

Every year, on February 20, the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate their foundation day. In 1987, the Indian Government as per the 53rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution a year prior declared the extreme northern part of the country the 24th state of Union India. The state is known as the ‘land of the rising sun’ (not to be confused with Japan) or after the meaning of its name ‘land of the dawn-lit mountains’ is also home to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), arguably one of the heavily contested borders. What is Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day? After India’s independence in 1947, the state now known as Arunachal Pradesh was called North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and administered by the state of Assam. However, it was not until after 25 years that the erstwhile NEFA became a Union Territory and named Arunachal Pradesh and on February 20, 1987, was declared a full-fledged state. Since that year, the easternmost state of India has celebrated its foundation day and this year will mark its 37th year of Statehood Day. ALSO READ | Bell in honour of late CDS Bipin Rawat placed at Nepal's Shree Muktinath temple How is it being celebrated this year? The state’s foundation day is celebrated with events, exhibitions and programs to highlight the unique cultural diversity. This year, Indian President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Arunachal Pradesh, on Monday, for a two-day visit to the northeastern state and addressed the 37th Statehood Day celebrations. She also attended a civic reception hosted in her honour by the State Government at Itanagar. LIVE: President Droupadi Murmu addresses the 37th Statehood Day celebrations of Arunachal Pradesh and attends civic reception hosted in her honour by the State Government at Itanagar https://t.co/RouCmSceEA — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 20, 2023 × During her maiden visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the president is also expected to inaugurate and launch several projects during the statehood day celebrations including the foundation stone of the common directorate for the state human rights commission, Lokayukta as well as the state food commission. On Tuesday, Murmu is scheduled to address the special session of the Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly at Itanagar. India and China border India shares a 3488 km border with China which is divided into three sectors, the eastern sector (along the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim), the western sector (Ladakh), and the middle sector (Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh). However, Beijing only considers the LAC to be around 2,000 km. The ill-defined border along these sectors has caused many disputes over the years between the two countries. ALSO READ | Stop commenting in internal issue, if you expect same from others: India after China rakes AP, Ladakh After the most recent skirmish between the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a military source told the Indian Express, “In certain areas along the LAC in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh there are areas of differing perception, where both sides patrol the area up to their claim lines. This has been the trend since 2006.” Similarly, in an opinion piece written for WION, Major General SB Asthana also said that the clash which took place on December 9 is “neither the first nor the last one” but “shows increasing aggressiveness and violent attempt to enforce their own perception of LAC by both sides.” Notably, the western and eastern sectors of the LAC are more heavily contested than the middle sector. ALSO READ | China-India Tawang faceoff not a surprise: What is different now? Origins of the border dispute in Arunachal Arunachal Pradesh is strategically significant for India, as the state borders Bhutan, China, and Myanmar and plays a crucial role in the country’s defence and security. Even after India gained independence, the borders which were internationally agreed upon, over the years, including the arbitrary one drawn by British officials based primarily on the highest watershed principle remained the same. However, when China's communist party came into power in 1949, they pulled out of all international agreements. Beijing believes that these "unequal treaties" had been imposed on it during its “century of humiliation” and called for re-negotiation of all the borders with India. In the eastern sector, the border was drawn along the McMahon Line which was named after Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India. In 1914 the 890 km border between erstwhile British India and Tibet was decided at the Simla Convention between China, Tibet and Great Britain. ALSO READ | China proposes to expand railway in Aksai Chin region However, China has disputed the border which was drawn at the highest watershed principle based on which the previously undefined borders between erstwhile British India and Tibet included Tawang. Reports suggest that the border was never officially demarcated as the British colonial rulers did not see the need to do so in such a remote area. There had been several exchanges between then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding the issue. Notably, in 1949-50 China invaded Tibet and Beijing argued that when the agreement came into effect it was signed by the Tibetan government which was not a sovereign state at the time and consequently, claims parts of Arunachal Pradesh, including Tawang, as a part of Tibet. In 1962, this led to an all-out war between India and China which was predominantly fought in Aksai Chin, a region which is the western end of the Himalayas with Arunachal Pradesh in the east. China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh China has previously claimed some 90,000 sq km which is virtually the entire Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and is approximately a little over 8,000 sq km, to begin with as a part of its country. Beijing has also repeatedly produced maps which show Arunachal Pradesh as part of China and refer to the state as “Zangnan” in the Chinese language. ALSO READ | China 'renames' Arunachal Pradesh’s 15 places in Mandarin, gets sharp reaction from India Additionally, it also tried to assign Chinese names to places in Arunachal Pradesh in 2017 and again in 2021, which was seen as a bid to unilaterally change the status quo. However, India has since dismissed these claims, “Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will always be, an integral part of India. Assigning invented names to places in Arunachal Pradesh does not alter this fact,” said the Ministry of External Affairs, in late 2021 after 15 Chinese names were assigned to regions in Arunachal Pradesh. US senators introduce bipartisan resolution in Congress for Arunachal Pradesh Last week, two United States Senators, Democrat Jeff Merkley from Oregon and Republican Bill Hagerty from Tennessee introduced a Senate resolution reaffirming Washington’s recognition of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India. The lawmakers also condemned China’s military aggression to change the status quo along the LAC. Additionally, the resolution came months after the most recent clash between the Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang region. In a statement, Merkley also said that the resolution reaffirmed that the US recognised the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh. ALSO READ | US Senators introduce bipartisan resolution reaffirming Arunachal Pradesh as integral part of India “This resolution makes clear that the United States views the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Republic of India—not the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—and commits the US to deepening support and assistance to the region, alongside like-minded international partners and donors”, the Democratic senator, added. The senators also condemned Beijing’s use of “construction of villages in contested areas, publication of maps with Mandarin-language names for cities and feature in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and expansion of PRC territorial claims in Bhutan”, to change the status quo along the LAC. On the other hand, the US lauded New Delhi’s government to take steps for defending itself from Chinese aggression. Clashes between Indian and Chinese troops along the LAC While the region had more or less been peaceful since the war while the dispute has been handled by the countries through diplomatic talks. However, the deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in 2020 years after another incident in 1975, along the LAC have led to a rise in tensions between the two sides. ALSO READ | China suffered a huge loss in the Galwan Valley clash, ‘fabricated’ stories to the world: Australian newspaper 1975 According to reports, in 1975 four Indian Army personnel were killed after an ambush by the Chinese military in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tulung La region. 2020 According to reports, there was a five-hour confrontation between some 600 military personnel from both sides who engaged in hand-to-hand combat, in June. At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed and while China claims that only four of their soldiers died, the death toll is speculated to be over 40 PLA troops, as per media reports. Furthermore, Indian and Chinese troops later that year also accused each other of firing warning shots during a confrontation. ALSO READ | India-China standoff: A timeline of skirmishes between the two neighbours 2022 Last year, in December the two sides again engaged in a clash this time at the Yangtse, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The incident took place on December 9 following which Beijing alleged that Indian troops “illegally” crossed the LAC while the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his statement to the parliament said China attempted to “unilaterally change the status quo”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day: What is China’s so-called claim over the Indian state?

Furore&nbsp;over menstruation and the taboo surrounding it is not an issue of the past. In the latest, a&nbsp;female senator from Kenya who was forced to leave the chamber due to what seemed to be a period stain on her pants told the BBC that she was proud of herself for speaking out against "period shame". Gloria Orwoba is waging a determined battle against the shame associated with menstruation.

<h2>What exactly happened at the Kenyan Parliament?</h2>

Gloria Orwoba noticed that she had a period stain on her pants before she entered the Kenyan Parliament. She has long&nbsp;been striving to eliminate period-related stigma and felt that the moment was right to make a statement. When she walked into the parliament in her blood-stained pants, her fellow senators frowned upon her&nbsp;and felt that Orwoba&nbsp;was being disrespectful to the parliament.&nbsp;What soon followed was a request to leave the room.&nbsp;

Several senators, including female senators, are now criticising Orwoba&nbsp;for her move.

Orwoba, in the opinion of Senator Tabitha Mutinda, was disrespectful and inappropriate. At a plenary session, she questioned the speaker about whether Orwoba had adhered to the dress code.

“You don’t understand if she’s on the normal woman cycle or she’s faking it, and it is so indecent,” said Mutinda, according to a report in the&nbsp;BBC. The MP said that Orwoba was setting a bad example for girls and young women in Kenya.

Orwoba said that it was “an accident that is natural.”

“I have stained my clothes and at the end of the day I just want to know while we are discussing this issue that is not in the order paper, is it because senators are not women who have periods,” she asked.

Amason Kingi, the speaker, shared the majority's viewpoint and asked Orwoba to leave. He claimed that a woman is supposed to behave in a certain way while she is on her period. He asserted that Orwoba was not the target of discrimination and expressed sympathy for her situation.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Spain grants paid medical leave to women with severe period pain

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“Having periods is never a crime,” he said. Yet he directed her to leave and come back with clothes that are not stained, reports&nbsp;The Standard,&nbsp;a Kenyan newspaper.

<h2>What was&nbsp;Gloria Orwoba's reaction?</h2>

Orwoba refused to be humiliated. She left the parliament building in the same set of clothes and went straight to a school in Nairobi where&nbsp;she handed&nbsp;out sanitary napkins to female students.&nbsp;

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Kenyan senator Gloria Orwoba was asked to leave Parliament because her pants had period stains. Photo credits: Twitter/Mac Otani

Orwoba has been diligently working to eradicate period poverty and the stigma attached to menstruation. As per local reports, she supported a resolution for the government to enhance financing for free sanitary pads and menstrual health-related hygiene goods at all public schools across the nation.

<h2>Period stigma in Kenya</h2>

Period shame made headlines in Kenya in 2019 when a 14-year-old schoolgirl died by suicide.&nbsp;The girl was found&nbsp;dead in Kabiangek, west of Nairobi, in September 2019. The reason behind&nbsp;her drastic step was a period stain.&nbsp;A report in The Guardian said that the teacher had dismissed her from class after calling her dirty.

That was the teen's first period, and she didn't have access to a sanitary pad, her mother subsequently revealed to the media.

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-upsurge-in-demand-for-morning-after-pill-as-abortion-restrictions-persist-562700">&nbsp;US: Upsurge in demand for morning-after pill as abortion restrictions persist</a>

A 2017 regulation requiring the Kenyan government to provide sanitary napkins to all schoolgirls was called into question as a result of the tragedy.&nbsp;

Soon after, women's rights activists in Kenya erupted in rage, yet nothing has changed on the ground.&nbsp;

Kenya has taken action in the past to address the menstrual hygiene issue. The 2017 law mandates that all schoolgirls get free sanitary pads. Every girl enrolled in school must receive "free, sufficient, and quality sanitary towels," and it planned to offer a "safe and environmentally sound system for disposal".

The nation eliminated its tariff on menstruation products in 2004. Although it seems promising on paper, the truth is very different.

According to the World Bank, 95 per cent of menstruating&nbsp;girls in Kenya missed one to three school days, 70 per cent said it had a negative effect on their grades, and more than 50 per cent said they had fallen behind in their studies as a result.

<h2>Global stigma surrounding period: What does the data say?</h2>

Half of the schools in low-income nations lack the adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services that girls and female teachers need to manage menstruation as per a 2015 UNICEF report. Several studies argue that insufficient sanitary facilities negatively impact girls' educational experiences by forcing them to skip class when having their periods or even drop out.

According to a survey conducted in Bangladesh, just six per cent of schools offer education on health and hygiene, and only 36 per cent&nbsp;of girls knew what menstruation was before their first period, according to the <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/brief/menstrual-health-and-hygiene">World Bank</a>.&nbsp;

In India, a meta-analysis on the condition of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls discovered that a quarter of the girls skipped school during menstruation due to inadequate toilet facilities.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-the-quest-for-male-birth-control-from-condoms-to-vasectomy-to-the-pill-562617">Explained | The quest for male birth control: from vasectomy to condoms to ‘the pill’</a>

Even though the government had declared this practise to be forbidden, a study in Nepal discovered that many girls were still made to sleep in the fields or in huts when they were on their period, as per a World Bank report.&nbsp;

Similarly,&nbsp;a survey conducted in Egypt found that many&nbsp;schoolgirls said that they avoid taking a bath during their period since it is socially unacceptable to do so.

In a 2018 poll of 1,500 women and men in the United States, The New York Post found that 58 per cent of women have experienced a sense of embarrassment merely because they were on their period.

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Furore over menstruation and the taboo surrounding it is not an issue of the past. In the latest, a female senator from Kenya who was forced to leave the chamber due to what seemed to be a period stain on her pants told the BBC that she was proud of herself for speaking out against "period shame".

Furore over menstruation and the taboo surrounding it is not an issue of the past. In the latest, a female senator from Kenya who was forced to leave the chamber due to what seemed to be a period stain on her pants told the BBC that she was proud of herself for speaking out against "period shame". Gloria Orwoba is waging a determined battle against the shame associated with menstruation. What exactly happened at the Kenyan Parliament? Gloria Orwoba noticed that she had a period stain on her pants before she entered the Kenyan Parliament. She has long been striving to eliminate period-related stigma and felt that the moment was right to make a statement. When she walked into the parliament in her blood-stained pants, her fellow senators frowned upon her and felt that Orwoba was being disrespectful to the parliament. What soon followed was a request to leave the room. Several senators, including female senators, are now criticising Orwoba for her move. Orwoba, in the opinion of Senator Tabitha Mutinda, was disrespectful and inappropriate. At a plenary session, she questioned the speaker about whether Orwoba had adhered to the dress code. “You don’t understand if she’s on the normal woman cycle or she’s faking it, and it is so indecent,” said Mutinda, according to a report in the BBC. The MP said that Orwoba was setting a bad example for girls and young women in Kenya. Orwoba said that it was “an accident that is natural.” “I have stained my clothes and at the end of the day I just want to know while we are discussing this issue that is not in the order paper, is it because senators are not women who have periods,” she asked. Amason Kingi, the speaker, shared the majority's viewpoint and asked Orwoba to leave. He claimed that a woman is supposed to behave in a certain way while she is on her period. He asserted that Orwoba was not the target of discrimination and expressed sympathy for her situation. ALSO WATCH | Spain grants paid medical leave to women with severe period pain “Having periods is never a crime,” he said. Yet he directed her to leave and come back with clothes that are not stained, reports The Standard, a Kenyan newspaper. What was Gloria Orwoba's reaction? Orwoba refused to be humiliated. She left the parliament building in the same set of clothes and went straight to a school in Nairobi where she handed out sanitary napkins to female students. Kenyan senator Gloria Orwoba was asked to leave Parliament because her pants had period stains. Photo credits: Twitter/Mac Otani Orwoba has been diligently working to eradicate period poverty and the stigma attached to menstruation. As per local reports, she supported a resolution for the government to enhance financing for free sanitary pads and menstrual health-related hygiene goods at all public schools across the nation. Period stigma in Kenya Period shame made headlines in Kenya in 2019 when a 14-year-old schoolgirl died by suicide. The girl was found dead in Kabiangek, west of Nairobi, in September 2019. The reason behind her drastic step was a period stain. A report in The Guardian said that the teacher had dismissed her from class after calling her dirty. That was the teen's first period, and she didn't have access to a sanitary pad, her mother subsequently revealed to the media. ALSO READ | US: Upsurge in demand for morning-after pill as abortion restrictions persist A 2017 regulation requiring the Kenyan government to provide sanitary napkins to all schoolgirls was called into question as a result of the tragedy. Soon after, women's rights activists in Kenya erupted in rage, yet nothing has changed on the ground. Kenya has taken action in the past to address the menstrual hygiene issue. The 2017 law mandates that all schoolgirls get free sanitary pads. Every girl enrolled in school must receive "free, sufficient, and quality sanitary towels," and it planned to offer a "safe and environmentally sound system for disposal". The nation eliminated its tariff on menstruation products in 2004. Although it seems promising on paper, the truth is very different. According to the World Bank, 95 per cent of menstruating girls in Kenya missed one to three school days, 70 per cent said it had a negative effect on their grades, and more than 50 per cent said they had fallen behind in their studies as a result. Global stigma surrounding period: What does the data say? Half of the schools in low-income nations lack the adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services that girls and female teachers need to manage menstruation as per a 2015 UNICEF report. Several studies argue that insufficient sanitary facilities negatively impact girls' educational experiences by forcing them to skip class when having their periods or even drop out. According to a survey conducted in Bangladesh, just six per cent of schools offer education on health and hygiene, and only 36 per cent of girls knew what menstruation was before their first period, according to the World Bank. In India, a meta-analysis on the condition of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls discovered that a quarter of the girls skipped school during menstruation due to inadequate toilet facilities. ALSO READ | Explained | The quest for male birth control: from vasectomy to condoms to ‘the pill’ Even though the government had declared this practise to be forbidden, a study in Nepal discovered that many girls were still made to sleep in the fields or in huts when they were on their period, as per a World Bank report. Similarly, a survey conducted in Egypt found that many schoolgirls said that they avoid taking a bath during their period since it is socially unacceptable to do so. In a 2018 poll of 1,500 women and men in the United States, The New York Post found that 58 per cent of women have experienced a sense of embarrassment merely because they were on their period. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EXPLAINED | Kenyan senator asked to leave over ‘period stain’: How prevalent is the period taboo?

Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his administration had&nbsp;stepped up their efforts to address the thousands of child marriage cases that had been reported in the state. The police launched a massive operation on February 4 against groups involved in child marriages in an effort to rescue girls and arrest those responsible.&nbsp;Irrespective of the widespread public outcry, Assam's chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had&nbsp;said&nbsp;that the state would&nbsp;continue its crackdown on child marriage despite the fact that more than 2000 people had already been&nbsp;detained in connection with the same.

According to an official announcement from the Assam government, more than 2,250 people had&nbsp;been detained in the state in&nbsp;connection with the campaign against child marriage. Based on 4,074 FIRs filed, 2,258 people were detained in total.&nbsp;

<h2>The backlash of the arrests&nbsp;</h2>

As per local media reports, a young woman in Assam died by&nbsp;suicide amid the campaign against child marriage because she was frightened her father would be detained for getting her married when she was still a minor.

The woman, who&nbsp;died by suicide had two children and a husband who had passed away due to Covid. In addition, a Golakganj woman entered a police station and said she would commit suicide if her husband, who was detained on suspicion of child marriage, was not released.

Despite the state government's plans to outlaw child marriage and save young women who had been forcibly married off, hundreds of women surrounded police stations in an act of protest against the arrests made by the administration.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gauhati-hc-grants-bail-in-child-marriage-cases-says-crackdown-caused-havoc-in-private-lives-of-people-562455">Gauhati HC grants bail in child marriage cases, says crackdown caused ‘havoc in private lives of people’</a>

The protesting women insisted that the relatives and spouses the government had detained were innocent. They demanded their release and blocked highways and impeded police mobility.

Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of AIMIM, criticised the BJP administration in Assam for arresting individuals on suspicion of child marriage and demanded to know who would look after the girls and women left behind after their elders were taken into custody.

Owaisi said in a press conference, “For the past six years, there has been a BJP Government in Assam. What have you been doing during the past six years? This is your failure for the past six years. You are sending them to jails. Now, who will take care of those girls? CM (Himanta Biswa Sarma) will? It is a failure of the state and on top of that you are pushing them into misery.”

<h2>What was the Gauhati&nbsp;High Court's decision?</h2>

In conjunction with the state-led drive against child marriages, the Gauhati High Court has granted anticipatory bail&nbsp;to nine individuals who were&nbsp;being questioned by Assam Police. In reference to how the crackdown has wreaked "havoc in the private lives of people," the High Court stated that there was&nbsp;no need to question those who had&nbsp;been detained.

The Assam High Court also condemned the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012 (POCSO), and rape accusations against those who were found guilty of child marriage. The Assam administration made assertions and charges that the High Court described as&nbsp;"absolutely weird."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-what-does-air-indias-historic-aircraft-deal-mean-for-india-563040">EXPLAINED: What does Air India's historic aircraft deal mean for India?</a>

Judge Suman Shyam immediately granted bail&nbsp;to all the accused in child marriage cases as per ANI report.

"These are not matters of custodial interrogation. You (state) proceed as per law, we have nothing to say. If you find somebody guilty, file a charge sheet. Let him or her face trial and if they are convicted, they are convicted," the judge said.

"This (arrest) is&nbsp;causing havoc&nbsp;in the private life of people. There are children, there are family members, there are old people. This may not be a good idea to go for (arrests), obviously it is a bad idea," he observed on Tuesday (February 14).

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;India: G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, UN Resident Coordinator attend Model G20 discussion

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In Assam, 4,225 child marriage instances have been reported as of February 14; 3,031 people have been detained&nbsp;overall; and 4,004 FIRs have been lodged since the operation started on February 3.

Judge Shyam reminded Assistant Public Prosecutor D Das that the state government did not even have room in the jails and advised that additional cells be built.

Justice Shyam responded to the government advocate's observation that cases had been filed under the POCSO Act's non-bailable charges and the rape (IPC Section 376) provision by saying, "What is the POCSO here? Merely because POCSO is added, does it mean the judges will not see what is there?"

<h2>Addressing the 'real issues' in Assam&nbsp;</h2>

As per the latest statistics, roughly 74 per cent&nbsp;of rural women in Assam have not completed even 10 years of schooling, said a&nbsp;Times of India report. Instead of promoting&nbsp;education, the Assam government announced the shutting down of almost 1,700 state-run schools in keeping with the school 'rationalisation' plan as recommended by the NITI Aayog in September 2022. The state's inability to provide good quality education and healthcare facilities to its women is a major factor contributing to the state's staggering child marriage cases, the report added.&nbsp;

 
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Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his administration had stepped up their efforts to address the thousands of child marriage cases that had been reported in the state.

Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his administration had stepped up their efforts to address the thousands of child marriage cases that had been reported in the state. The police launched a massive operation on February 4 against groups involved in child marriages in an effort to rescue girls and arrest those responsible. Irrespective of the widespread public outcry, Assam's chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had said that the state would continue its crackdown on child marriage despite the fact that more than 2000 people had already been detained in connection with the same. According to an official announcement from the Assam government, more than 2,250 people had been detained in the state in connection with the campaign against child marriage. Based on 4,074 FIRs filed, 2,258 people were detained in total. The backlash of the arrests As per local media reports, a young woman in Assam died by suicide amid the campaign against child marriage because she was frightened her father would be detained for getting her married when she was still a minor. The woman, who died by suicide had two children and a husband who had passed away due to Covid. In addition, a Golakganj woman entered a police station and said she would commit suicide if her husband, who was detained on suspicion of child marriage, was not released. Despite the state government's plans to outlaw child marriage and save young women who had been forcibly married off, hundreds of women surrounded police stations in an act of protest against the arrests made by the administration. ALSO READ | Gauhati HC grants bail in child marriage cases, says crackdown caused ‘havoc in private lives of people’ The protesting women insisted that the relatives and spouses the government had detained were innocent. They demanded their release and blocked highways and impeded police mobility. Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of AIMIM, criticised the BJP administration in Assam for arresting individuals on suspicion of child marriage and demanded to know who would look after the girls and women left behind after their elders were taken into custody. Owaisi said in a press conference, “For the past six years, there has been a BJP Government in Assam. What have you been doing during the past six years? This is your failure for the past six years. You are sending them to jails. Now, who will take care of those girls? CM (Himanta Biswa Sarma) will? It is a failure of the state and on top of that you are pushing them into misery.” What was the Gauhati High Court's decision? In conjunction with the state-led drive against child marriages, the Gauhati High Court has granted anticipatory bail to nine individuals who were being questioned by Assam Police. In reference to how the crackdown has wreaked "havoc in the private lives of people," the High Court stated that there was no need to question those who had been detained. The Assam High Court also condemned the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012 (POCSO), and rape accusations against those who were found guilty of child marriage. The Assam administration made assertions and charges that the High Court described as "absolutely weird." ALSO READ | EXPLAINED: What does Air India's historic aircraft deal mean for India? Judge Suman Shyam immediately granted bail to all the accused in child marriage cases as per ANI report. "These are not matters of custodial interrogation. You (state) proceed as per law, we have nothing to say. If you find somebody guilty, file a charge sheet. Let him or her face trial and if they are convicted, they are convicted," the judge said. "This (arrest) is causing havoc in the private life of people. There are children, there are family members, there are old people. This may not be a good idea to go for (arrests), obviously it is a bad idea," he observed on Tuesday (February 14). ALSO WATCH | India: G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, UN Resident Coordinator attend Model G20 discussion In Assam, 4,225 child marriage instances have been reported as of February 14; 3,031 people have been detained overall; and 4,004 FIRs have been lodged since the operation started on February 3. Judge Shyam reminded Assistant Public Prosecutor D Das that the state government did not even have room in the jails and advised that additional cells be built. Justice Shyam responded to the government advocate's observation that cases had been filed under the POCSO Act's non-bailable charges and the rape (IPC Section 376) provision by saying, "What is the POCSO here? Merely because POCSO is added, does it mean the judges will not see what is there?" Addressing the 'real issues' in Assam As per the latest statistics, roughly 74 per cent of rural women in Assam have not completed even 10 years of schooling, said a Times of India report. Instead of promoting education, the Assam government announced the shutting down of almost 1,700 state-run schools in keeping with the school 'rationalisation' plan as recommended by the NITI Aayog in September 2022. The state's inability to provide good quality education and healthcare facilities to its women is a major factor contributing to the state's staggering child marriage cases, the report added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

EXPLAINED | Crackdown on child marriage in India's Assam: What really happened?

New Delhi, the national capital of India has become the scene of another&nbsp;crime similar to&nbsp;the murder of Shraddha Walkar, with Delhi police detaining a 24-year-old man named Sahil Gehlot for allegedly killing his live-in partner,&nbsp;Nikki Yadav, and storing her body in a refrigerator in a dhaba (roadside eatery) on the outskirts of Mitraon village in Najafgarh.&nbsp;Shraddha Walkar&nbsp;was a 27-year-old Indian woman who was murdered by her 28-year-old boyfriend and&nbsp;live-in&nbsp;partner Aaftab Amin Poonawala in&nbsp;Delhi&nbsp;on May 18, 2022. Shocking facts on the alleged killing&nbsp;of&nbsp;Nikki Yadav surfaced on Wednesday (February 15), evoking unsettling parallels to the Shraddha Walker murder case.&nbsp;

<h2>Nikki Yadav's alleged killing: Details of the case</h2>

In the course of police inquiry,&nbsp;Gehlot is said to have confessed to killing Yadav and said that he committed the murder on the Intervening&nbsp;night of February 9 and February 10, according to ANI. The accused said that he used the data cable of his mobile phone that was in his car to strangle Yadav near&nbsp;Kashmiri Gate ISBT situated in New Delhi.&nbsp;

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Body of a woman from Uttam Nagar found in a freezer at a dhaba located on the outskirts of Mitraon village, Najafgarh. Accused Sahil Gahlot apprehended. Further investigation underway: Delhi Police
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1625426671846449154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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He then went to the&nbsp;dhaba (roadside food stall)&nbsp;owned by him and hid&nbsp;her body in a refrigerator on the outskirts of Mitraon Village.&nbsp;

A murder complaint was filed at the Baba Haridas Nagar police station after the 22-year-old victim's body&nbsp;was found inside the refrigerator, according to ANI.&nbsp;

<h2>How did the police nab Sahil Gehlot?</h2>

Senior police officers received information on February 10 that a dhaba (roadside eatery) owner had allegedly killed a girl in Najafgarh. Upon investigation, it was discovered that no case or missing report involving any girl was filed.&nbsp;The Crime Branch found Gehlot’s mobile phone to be switched off when they arrived at Mitraon village to nab the suspect.&nbsp;After scouring the village and its surroundings extensively, the team was able to arrest him from Kair village.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-shraddha-walker-murder-case-another-brutal-killing-shocks-the-indian-capital-delhi-562329">After Shraddha Walker murder case, another brutal killing shocks the Indian capital Delhi</a>

<h2>How did Nikki Yadav meet Sahil Gehlot?</h2>

During the course of the investigation, Sahil Gehlot said that he had first met Nikki Yadav, a resident of Jhajjar, Haryana, in January 2018 while he was studying for the SSC examinations at the Career Point Coaching Centre in New Delhi's Uttam Nagar area, said a report by PTI.

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Nikki Yadav murder case | The Delhi Commission for Women has issued a notice to Delhi Police regarding this matter. We have requested Delhi Police to take strict actions against the accused as this is a very serious matter and provide all possible details: DCW chief Swati Maliwal <a href="https://t.co/7PbNtS3iFJ">pic.twitter.com/7PbNtS3iFJ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1625872818545262593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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“Both of them used to travel to their respective institutes daily in the same bus and became friends and later on fell in love,” Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said.

In February 2018, they enrolled in different courses at Galgotiya College in Greater Noida after&nbsp;which, they moved into the same rented accommodation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/delhi-crimes-gruesome-cases-that-shocked-the-indian-national-capital-534837">'Delhi crimes': Gruesome cases that shocked the Indian national capital</a>

The duo continued to live together post the COVID-19 lockdown when they moved to their respective homes, as per a report by India Today.&nbsp;The accused kept his relationship with Yadav under wraps as&nbsp;Gehlot's family had fixed his wedding with another woman, with whom he&nbsp;got engaged recently on February 9.

Yadav confronted Gehlot on learning about his engagement and the couple&nbsp;got into a heated argument after which he allegedly killed her in a fit of rage.&nbsp;

“Gehlot was to marry another woman. When his girlfriend came to know about it, she confronted him and insisted that he marry her instead,” police officer Vikram Singh told&nbsp;ANI.

<h2>Unsettling similarities with&nbsp;the Shraddha Walker murder case</h2>

The murder of Shraddha Walkar, a 27-year-old woman killed by her live-in partner, Aftab Amin Poonawala, is eerily similar to Nikki Yadav's murder. In Walker's case, the accused Poonawala used a "saw-like object" to cut her body into 35 pieces, stored them in a 300-liter refrigerator, and then dumped the parts into a nearby Delhi forest.

<h2>What is the latest development in Nikki Yadav's murder case?</h2>

CCTV footage of Nikki Yadav has&nbsp;surfaced, showing Nikki entering her home on February 9. Yadav was allegedly killed by her live-in partner in the early hours of February 10.

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.&nbsp;

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CCTV footage of Nikki Yadav at her house in uttam nagar. Before she was killed # <a href="https://t.co/kmMzNv9W1u">pic.twitter.com/kmMzNv9W1u</a>
— AMIT KUMAR GOUR (@gouramit) <a href="https://twitter.com/gouramit/status/1625785476623003648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The post-mortem reports of Yadav, who was allegedly strangled by her boyfriend with a mobile phone cable, confirmed that she died due to suffocation. There were marks on her neck and no other injury marks were found on the body, said the ANI report.&nbsp;

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Nikki murder case | The last rites of Nikki Yadav was performed at her native village in Jhajjar, Haryana 
 
Her body was found in a freezer at a dhaba located on the outskirts of Mitraon village, Najafgarh. <a href="https://t.co/GPAZFFOSNH">pic.twitter.com/GPAZFFOSNH</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1625869311964504066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Yadav was cremated in Haryana's Jhajjar on Wednesday evening (February 15). A video showed a small cortege taking her mortal remains from her residence for cremation.

<h2>Nikki Yadav's father demands Sahil Gehlot to be hanged</h2>

Nikki's father, who is devastated by his daughter's alleged killing, urged that Gehlot be hanged to death for his heinous crime, as reported by PTI.&nbsp;

"All we want now is justice and the culprit should be hanged to death," Sunil Yadav, who runs a motor repair business in Gurugram told media.&nbsp;

"Our daughter is gone. She is no more. All we want now is justice. The culprit should be awarded the strictest punishment and should be hanged to death for his brutal crime," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi, the national capital of India has become the scene of another crime similar to the murder of Shraddha Walkar, with Delhi police detaining a 24-year-old man named Sahil Gehlot for allegedly killing his live-in partner, Nikki Yadav, and storing her body in a refrigerator in a dhaba (roadside eatery) on the outskirts of Mitraon village in Najafgarh.

New Delhi, the national capital of India has become the scene of another crime similar to the murder of Shraddha Walkar, with Delhi police detaining a 24-year-old man named Sahil Gehlot for allegedly killing his live-in partner, Nikki Yadav, and storing her body in a refrigerator in a dhaba (roadside eatery) on the outskirts of Mitraon village in Najafgarh. Shraddha Walkar was a 27-year-old Indian woman who was murdered by her 28-year-old boyfriend and live-in partner Aaftab Amin Poonawala in Delhi on May 18, 2022. Shocking facts on the alleged killing of Nikki Yadav surfaced on Wednesday (February 15), evoking unsettling parallels to the Shraddha Walker murder case. Nikki Yadav's alleged killing: Details of the case In the course of police inquiry, Gehlot is said to have confessed to killing Yadav and said that he committed the murder on the Intervening night of February 9 and February 10, according to ANI. The accused said that he used the data cable of his mobile phone that was in his car to strangle Yadav near Kashmiri Gate ISBT situated in New Delhi. Body of a woman from Uttam Nagar found in a freezer at a dhaba located on the outskirts of Mitraon village, Najafgarh. Accused Sahil Gahlot apprehended. Further investigation underway: Delhi Police — ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2023 × He then went to the dhaba (roadside food stall) owned by him and hid her body in a refrigerator on the outskirts of Mitraon Village. A murder complaint was filed at the Baba Haridas Nagar police station after the 22-year-old victim's body was found inside the refrigerator, according to ANI. How did the police nab Sahil Gehlot? Senior police officers received information on February 10 that a dhaba (roadside eatery) owner had allegedly killed a girl in Najafgarh. Upon investigation, it was discovered that no case or missing report involving any girl was filed. The Crime Branch found Gehlot’s mobile phone to be switched off when they arrived at Mitraon village to nab the suspect. After scouring the village and its surroundings extensively, the team was able to arrest him from Kair village. Also read | After Shraddha Walker murder case, another brutal killing shocks the Indian capital Delhi How did Nikki Yadav meet Sahil Gehlot? During the course of the investigation, Sahil Gehlot said that he had first met Nikki Yadav, a resident of Jhajjar, Haryana, in January 2018 while he was studying for the SSC examinations at the Career Point Coaching Centre in New Delhi's Uttam Nagar area, said a report by PTI. Nikki Yadav murder case | The Delhi Commission for Women has issued a notice to Delhi Police regarding this matter. We have requested Delhi Police to take strict actions against the accused as this is a very serious matter and provide all possible details: DCW chief Swati Maliwal pic.twitter.com/7PbNtS3iFJ — ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2023 × “Both of them used to travel to their respective institutes daily in the same bus and became friends and later on fell in love,” Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said. In February 2018, they enrolled in different courses at Galgotiya College in Greater Noida after which, they moved into the same rented accommodation. Also read | 'Delhi crimes': Gruesome cases that shocked the Indian national capital The duo continued to live together post the COVID-19 lockdown when they moved to their respective homes, as per a report by India Today. The accused kept his relationship with Yadav under wraps as Gehlot's family had fixed his wedding with another woman, with whom he got engaged recently on February 9. Yadav confronted Gehlot on learning about his engagement and the couple got into a heated argument after which he allegedly killed her in a fit of rage. “Gehlot was to marry another woman. When his girlfriend came to know about it, she confronted him and insisted that he marry her instead,” police officer Vikram Singh told ANI. Unsettling similarities with the Shraddha Walker murder case The murder of Shraddha Walkar, a 27-year-old woman killed by her live-in partner, Aftab Amin Poonawala, is eerily similar to Nikki Yadav's murder. In Walker's case, the accused Poonawala used a "saw-like object" to cut her body into 35 pieces, stored them in a 300-liter refrigerator, and then dumped the parts into a nearby Delhi forest. What is the latest development in Nikki Yadav's murder case? CCTV footage of Nikki Yadav has surfaced, showing Nikki entering her home on February 9. Yadav was allegedly killed by her live-in partner in the early hours of February 10. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. CCTV footage of Nikki Yadav at her house in uttam nagar. Before she was killed # pic.twitter.com/kmMzNv9W1u — AMIT KUMAR GOUR (@gouramit) February 15, 2023 × The post-mortem reports of Yadav, who was allegedly strangled by her boyfriend with a mobile phone cable, confirmed that she died due to suffocation. There were marks on her neck and no other injury marks were found on the body, said the ANI report. Nikki murder case | The last rites of Nikki Yadav was performed at her native village in Jhajjar, Haryana Her body was found in a freezer at a dhaba located on the outskirts of Mitraon village, Najafgarh. pic.twitter.com/GPAZFFOSNH — ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2023 × Yadav was cremated in Haryana's Jhajjar on Wednesday evening (February 15). A video showed a small cortege taking her mortal remains from her residence for cremation. Nikki Yadav's father demands Sahil Gehlot to be hanged Nikki's father, who is devastated by his daughter's alleged killing, urged that Gehlot be hanged to death for his heinous crime, as reported by PTI. "All we want now is justice and the culprit should be hanged to death," Sunil Yadav, who runs a motor repair business in Gurugram told media. "Our daughter is gone. She is no more. All we want now is justice. The culprit should be awarded the strictest punishment and should be hanged to death for his brutal crime," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: Nikki Yadav's killing and its shocking similarities with Shraddha Walker murder case

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on Wednesday (February 8) raised its key repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) and said that the country’s core inflation remains high. This comes after the central bank raised its key benchmark interest rate by 35 basis points (bps) in December, following a monetary policy review. The recent decision by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das-headed Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) might make external benchmark-linked loans costlier.&nbsp;

What is the repo rate and what does it affect?

The repo rate is the interest rate at which the central bank of a country, in this case, the RBI, lends money to commercial banks if they fall short of funds. This indirectly affects the interest rates of home loans, car loans and so on. It is also used by monetary authorities to control inflation. The hike will also directly have an impact on both bank depositors and loan takers as the banks raise their interest rates on consumer loans.&nbsp;

What is the&nbsp;current repo rate?

The announcement, on Wednesday, marks the sixth consecutive rate hike since May 2022. Additionally, the RBI has also increased the repo rate by a cumulative 250 basis points, which took the key interest rate to 6.50 per cent. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/how-will-union-budget-2022-2023-impact-non-resident-indians-nris-449602">How will Union Budget 2022-2023 impact Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)?</a>

The decision to raise the repo rate

In its first decision since the announcement of the Union Budget 2023, the RBI’s policy panel with a 4:2 majority announced the recent hike. As per media reports, MPC members Ashima Goyal and Jayanth Varma voted against the increase and Shashanka Bhide, Rajiv Ranjan, Michael Debabrata Patra and Shaktikanta Das voted in favour of the hike.&nbsp;

Additionally, the MPC also retained its stance on the withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation remains within the target while supporting growth by the same majority. Notably, the increase was in line with what most analysts expected.&nbsp;

How will this affect consumers?

In the upcoming months, since the repo rate is hiked banks will now have to pay higher interest to the RBI which in turn would burden the retail and corporate borrowers of banks as the interest rate on loans taken from the banks would also increase. Therefore, loans including home, auto, personal and so on, are expected to become costlier.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rbi-hikes-repo-rate-in-monetary-policy-2023-what-is-repo-rate-reverse-repo-rate-monetary-policy-559868">RBI hikes repo rate by 25 bps in Monetary Policy 2023: What is repo rate, reverse repo rate &amp; monetary policy?</a>

Additionally, as loan borrowers may have to pay more interest, it can also lead to higher equated monthly instalments (EMIs) or monthly repayments. An SBI official told the Indian Express that deposit rates are also expected to witness some changes after the announcement.&nbsp;

What can borrowers do?

According to experts, what matters is the time frame that one intends to repay the loan as the RBI is expected to take a break from its rate hike cycle in the upcoming months. Today's increase might be the last hit to the loans. “The silver lining is that the inflation is likely to moderate in 2024-25 and the RBI seeks to bring down the inflation to its target levels – within four per cent”, said Adil Shetty, CEO and Co-founder of BankBazaar, as per Financial Express.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-indias-rbi-hikes-key-interest-rates-504138">Gravitas: India's RBI hikes key interest rates</a>

He added, “It will make retail loans such as home, auto, and personal loans, among others, costlier, and borrowers will have to be ready for higher monthly EMIs or tenor extensions, or both,” in the context of the recent hike in repo rate. Therefore, one of the things he recommended was increasing EMI once a year by five per cent, which he says would pull your tenor back by a few months and repeat if required next year and make this an annual exercise.&nbsp;

According to Shetty, a 20-year loan can be repaid in 12 years if you pre-pay five per cent of the loan balance once a year and depending on your situation you could choose to go fast or slow. However, since home loans are low-cost for most, it makes sense to repay slowly while balancing it with investing needs. The markets have returned 12 per cent over the long term and the cost of a home loan with tax deductions may be five to seven per cent a year, he added.&nbsp;

Speaking about the timeframe in which you intend to repay the loan, the BankBazaar CEO gave an example and said, "If your intention was to repay a 20-year loan in 10 years but the rate hikes have taken your tenor to 25 years. In this case, ensure that for the next 10 years, you pay back at least 10 per cent of the loan through a combination of EMIs and pre-payments."&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-remittances-hit-a-record-high-in-fy21-560001">India's remittances hit a record high in FY21</a>

It is also noted that while the change in repo rate may not have an immediate effect on existing home loan borrowers as their interest rates may be fixed for some time, however, the same cannot be said for new home loan borrowers or those who have taken a floating rate loan. Therefore, one can also consider switching from a floating rate loan to a fixed rate loan which could protect them against further hikes, as per Financial Express.&nbsp;

RBI’s growth projection&nbsp;

The real GDP growth for 2023-24 is projected at 6.4 per cent with Q1 at 7.8 per cent, Q2 at 6.2 per cent, Q3 at six per cent and Q4 at 5.8 per cent. The MPC had also previously slashed the GDP forecast for the fiscal year 2023 to 6.8 per cent in December after the policy review from the previous estimate of seven per cent. The RBI governor also said that the real GDP growth is estimated at seven per cent in 2023 and that the Indian economy remains resilient.&nbsp;

However, the outlook is clouded by “continuing uncertainties from geopolitical tensions, global financial market volatility, rising non-oil commodity prices and volatile crude oil prices,”&nbsp;said Das.

What did the RBI say about inflation?

During his address, Das said that the core inflation remains “sticky” or stubbornly high. He added, “Looking ahead, while inflation is expected to moderate in 2023-24, it is likely to rule above the 4.0 per cent target.” Last year, inflation had soared as high as 7.79 per cent in April, which prompted a series of hikes by the RBI in a bid to control it.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-central-bank-hikes-rate-by-25-basis-points-for-the-sixth-time-in-a-row-559871">Loans, EMIs to get costlier after RBI hikes rates for the sixth time in a row</a>

“The global economic outlook doesn’t look as grim now as it did a few months ago, growth prospects in major economies have improved while inflation is on a descent though inflation still remains well above the target in major economies,” said the RBI governor. He added that unprecedented events in the past three years have put monetary policy across the world to the test.&nbsp;

“Emerging market economies are facing sharp tradeoffs between supporting economic activity and controlling inflation while preserving policy credibility,” said Das. This time around, the central bank has lowered its inflation target for FY23 from 6.7 per cent to 6.5 per cent which is still above its 4.0 per cent goal. While the inflation for FY24 is expected to be 5.3 per cent, said the RBI. &nbsp;

How did the market respond to the announcement?

Indian shares held on Wednesday after the widely expected smaller interest rate hike delivered by the central bank. As the market neared closing time, the indices overall soared as Nifty gained 0.85 per cent and Sensex 0.63 per cent. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 index jumped 150 to close at 17,871 while the S&amp;P BSE Sensex rose 377 points to end above 60,600, at 60,633, as per the Mint.&nbsp;

When is the next MPC meeting?

The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled for April 3, 5 and 6, 2023

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on Wednesday (February 8) raised its key repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) and said that the country’s core inflation remains high.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on Wednesday (February 8) raised its key repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) and said that the country’s core inflation remains high. This comes after the central bank raised its key benchmark interest rate by 35 basis points (bps) in December, following a monetary policy review. The recent decision by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das-headed Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) might make external benchmark-linked loans costlier. What is the repo rate and what does it affect? The repo rate is the interest rate at which the central bank of a country, in this case, the RBI, lends money to commercial banks if they fall short of funds. This indirectly affects the interest rates of home loans, car loans and so on. It is also used by monetary authorities to control inflation. The hike will also directly have an impact on both bank depositors and loan takers as the banks raise their interest rates on consumer loans. What is the current repo rate? The announcement, on Wednesday, marks the sixth consecutive rate hike since May 2022. Additionally, the RBI has also increased the repo rate by a cumulative 250 basis points, which took the key interest rate to 6.50 per cent. ALSO READ | How will Union Budget 2022-2023 impact Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)? The decision to raise the repo rate In its first decision since the announcement of the Union Budget 2023, the RBI’s policy panel with a 4:2 majority announced the recent hike. As per media reports, MPC members Ashima Goyal and Jayanth Varma voted against the increase and Shashanka Bhide, Rajiv Ranjan, Michael Debabrata Patra and Shaktikanta Das voted in favour of the hike. Additionally, the MPC also retained its stance on the withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation remains within the target while supporting growth by the same majority. Notably, the increase was in line with what most analysts expected. How will this affect consumers? In the upcoming months, since the repo rate is hiked banks will now have to pay higher interest to the RBI which in turn would burden the retail and corporate borrowers of banks as the interest rate on loans taken from the banks would also increase. Therefore, loans including home, auto, personal and so on, are expected to become costlier. ALSO READ | RBI hikes repo rate by 25 bps in Monetary Policy 2023: What is repo rate, reverse repo rate & monetary policy? Additionally, as loan borrowers may have to pay more interest, it can also lead to higher equated monthly instalments (EMIs) or monthly repayments. An SBI official told the Indian Express that deposit rates are also expected to witness some changes after the announcement. What can borrowers do? According to experts, what matters is the time frame that one intends to repay the loan as the RBI is expected to take a break from its rate hike cycle in the upcoming months. Today's increase might be the last hit to the loans. “The silver lining is that the inflation is likely to moderate in 2024-25 and the RBI seeks to bring down the inflation to its target levels – within four per cent”, said Adil Shetty, CEO and Co-founder of BankBazaar, as per Financial Express. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: India's RBI hikes key interest rates He added, “It will make retail loans such as home, auto, and personal loans, among others, costlier, and borrowers will have to be ready for higher monthly EMIs or tenor extensions, or both,” in the context of the recent hike in repo rate. Therefore, one of the things he recommended was increasing EMI once a year by five per cent, which he says would pull your tenor back by a few months and repeat if required next year and make this an annual exercise. According to Shetty, a 20-year loan can be repaid in 12 years if you pre-pay five per cent of the loan balance once a year and depending on your situation you could choose to go fast or slow. However, since home loans are low-cost for most, it makes sense to repay slowly while balancing it with investing needs. The markets have returned 12 per cent over the long term and the cost of a home loan with tax deductions may be five to seven per cent a year, he added. Speaking about the timeframe in which you intend to repay the loan, the BankBazaar CEO gave an example and said, "If your intention was to repay a 20-year loan in 10 years but the rate hikes have taken your tenor to 25 years. In this case, ensure that for the next 10 years, you pay back at least 10 per cent of the loan through a combination of EMIs and pre-payments." ALSO WATCH | India's remittances hit a record high in FY21 It is also noted that while the change in repo rate may not have an immediate effect on existing home loan borrowers as their interest rates may be fixed for some time, however, the same cannot be said for new home loan borrowers or those who have taken a floating rate loan. Therefore, one can also consider switching from a floating rate loan to a fixed rate loan which could protect them against further hikes, as per Financial Express. RBI’s growth projection The real GDP growth for 2023-24 is projected at 6.4 per cent with Q1 at 7.8 per cent, Q2 at 6.2 per cent, Q3 at six per cent and Q4 at 5.8 per cent. The MPC had also previously slashed the GDP forecast for the fiscal year 2023 to 6.8 per cent in December after the policy review from the previous estimate of seven per cent. The RBI governor also said that the real GDP growth is estimated at seven per cent in 2023 and that the Indian economy remains resilient. However, the outlook is clouded by “continuing uncertainties from geopolitical tensions, global financial market volatility, rising non-oil commodity prices and volatile crude oil prices,” said Das. What did the RBI say about inflation? During his address, Das said that the core inflation remains “sticky” or stubbornly high. He added, “Looking ahead, while inflation is expected to moderate in 2023-24, it is likely to rule above the 4.0 per cent target.” Last year, inflation had soared as high as 7.79 per cent in April, which prompted a series of hikes by the RBI in a bid to control it. ALSO READ | Loans, EMIs to get costlier after RBI hikes rates for the sixth time in a row “The global economic outlook doesn’t look as grim now as it did a few months ago, growth prospects in major economies have improved while inflation is on a descent though inflation still remains well above the target in major economies,” said the RBI governor. He added that unprecedented events in the past three years have put monetary policy across the world to the test. “Emerging market economies are facing sharp tradeoffs between supporting economic activity and controlling inflation while preserving policy credibility,” said Das. This time around, the central bank has lowered its inflation target for FY23 from 6.7 per cent to 6.5 per cent which is still above its 4.0 per cent goal. While the inflation for FY24 is expected to be 5.3 per cent, said the RBI. How did the market respond to the announcement? Indian shares held on Wednesday after the widely expected smaller interest rate hike delivered by the central bank. As the market neared closing time, the indices overall soared as Nifty gained 0.85 per cent and Sensex 0.63 per cent. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 index jumped 150 to close at 17,871 while the S&P BSE Sensex rose 377 points to end above 60,600, at 60,633, as per the Mint. When is the next MPC meeting? The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled for April 3, 5 and 6, 2023 (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: RBI hikes the repo rate by 25 bps to 6.5 per cent. What does this mean?

Recalled as one of India's worst fire catastrophes, the Uphaar cinema fire on 13 June&nbsp;1997, in Delhi's Green Park locality resulted in 59 deaths and 103 injuries.&nbsp;The victims were frequent moviegoers who had gone&nbsp;to watch the movie&nbsp;"Border" by J P Dutta.

With the release of&nbsp;a mini-series “Trial by Fire” on Netflix which is based on a book about the incident and the long-drawn court battle that ensued,&nbsp;we take an in-depth look at what exactly happened.&nbsp;

<h2>Uphaar Tragedy: What exactly happened on 13 June 1997?</h2>

On&nbsp;the morning on 13 June 1997,&nbsp;the larger of the two transformers on the ground floor of the Uphaar cinema caught fire at around 6:55 am. Despite the fact that the fire was quickly put out, the transformer was compromised, as reported by the&nbsp;Indian Express.&nbsp;

An electrician fixed it quickly, and the theatre was then opened. The transformer caught fire again because the repair wasn't done properly after one of its cables broke free and caused a lot of sparking.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/the-soft-and-untapped-power-of-hindi-language-552432">Did you know James Cameron's 'Avatar' films are subconsciously linked to India?</a>

According to reports, the transformer lacked an oil soak pit, which is required by law, and allowed the burning oil to spread to other places. Even distant automobiles were engulfed in the fire.&nbsp;

The theatre lost power, and smoke started to fill in. While viewers seated on the lower floor were able to find an escape, those seated on the balcony were trapped. As a result,&nbsp;59 people died inside due to asphyxiation -&nbsp;&nbsp;suffocation from a lack of oxygen.&nbsp;

Over 103 people&nbsp;were critically injured during a scramble to escape the theatre. Most importantly, it took fire tenders nearly an hour to get to the scene owing to traffic.

<h2>The lapses in safety measures</h2>

The tragic fire was caused by a number of failures in "safety measures." The&nbsp;Indian Express&nbsp;quoted senior advocate Harish Salve, who was appearing on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the&nbsp;Delhi&nbsp;High Court in 2007, “Safety measures, meant for panic situations, were not in place in the ill-fated theatre… the persons, who were getting financial gains from the operation of the cinema, were criminally liable for the lapses.”

The investigation stated that the generator that caught fire lacked safety features and, more crucially, was installed in a space that was being utilised as a parking lot which&nbsp;made it easier for gasoline-powered vehicles to catch fire, as reported by the Indian Express.

Additional information claimed that the generator had not received the periodic maintenance mandated by law.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/relief-for-delhi-citys-temperature-not-likely-to-drop-to-subzero-amid-4-degree-celsius-prediction-552670">Relief for Delhi! City's temperature not likely to drop to subzero amid -4 degrees Celsius prediction</a>

When the theatre lost electricity, the movie hall became completely dark since it lacked emergency lighting, footlights, or exit lights. The audience was not informed of the fire via any public notice system, reported the Indian Express.&nbsp;

<h2>A protracted legal battle</h2>

Victims and surviving family members of the deceased sought to hold the theatre owners accountable in a protracted court case. 16 defendants, including the business owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal, were named in the original charge sheet submitted by the CBI conducting the investigation. However, the trial had many unexpected turns. Even now, there is a case of evidence tampering against the Ansals, thus the quest for justice continues.

The Ansal brothers were found guilty of criminal negligence in 2007, 10 years after the fire, and were given the maximum term that could be imposed in such a case: two years in jail. The Delhi High Court maintained the verdict but reduced the sentence to one year after a year.&nbsp;

The case was heard by the Supreme Court for over ten years. The two brothers were ordered to pay a fine of Rs 30 crores each in 2017, which was used to build a trauma centre, by the supreme court. Sushil Ansal, who has already served five months in prison, was spared additional time in prison due to his advanced age (77) and medical issues. Gopal was sentenced to a year in jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Compensation for the deceased's kin was set at Rs&nbsp;10 lakh for those above the age of 20, and Rs&nbsp;7.5 lakh for those under the age of 20. Each injured individual receives Rs&nbsp;1 lakh.

The brothers were convicted for tampering with evidence in a different case. A&nbsp;Delhi court sentenced both of them to seven years of simple jail in 2021. The court additionally fined each of the Ansals Rs&nbsp;2.5 crore. The brothers have challenged their conviction in this ongoing case.

<h2>Shekhar and Neelam Krishnamoorthy: The couple that lost their kids to the Uphaar tragedy</h2>

“We didn’t spend as much time with our children on this Earth as we have seeking justice for their murders. We are serving a living death sentence; it has been 26 years, and it is still on,” Shekhar and Neelam Krishnamoorthy told&nbsp;The Indian Express&nbsp;before the release of the Netflix series&nbsp;that&nbsp;chronicles the couple's fight for justice.

In 2022,&nbsp;Gopal and Sushil Ansal were released from jail. The court had indicated that the ruling was based on taking the ages of the brothers into account, despite the fact that nothing could make up for what the victims' families had lost.&nbsp;

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Recalled as one of India's worst fire catastrophes, the Uphaar cinema fire on 13 June 1997, in Delhi's Green Park locality resulted in 59 deaths and 103 injuries.

Recalled as one of India's worst fire catastrophes, the Uphaar cinema fire on 13 June 1997, in Delhi's Green Park locality resulted in 59 deaths and 103 injuries. The victims were frequent moviegoers who had gone to watch the movie "Border" by J P Dutta. With the release of a mini-series “Trial by Fire” on Netflix which is based on a book about the incident and the long-drawn court battle that ensued, we take an in-depth look at what exactly happened. Uphaar Tragedy: What exactly happened on 13 June 1997? On the morning on 13 June 1997, the larger of the two transformers on the ground floor of the Uphaar cinema caught fire at around 6:55 am. Despite the fact that the fire was quickly put out, the transformer was compromised, as reported by the Indian Express. An electrician fixed it quickly, and the theatre was then opened. The transformer caught fire again because the repair wasn't done properly after one of its cables broke free and caused a lot of sparking. Also read | Did you know James Cameron's 'Avatar' films are subconsciously linked to India? According to reports, the transformer lacked an oil soak pit, which is required by law, and allowed the burning oil to spread to other places. Even distant automobiles were engulfed in the fire. The theatre lost power, and smoke started to fill in. While viewers seated on the lower floor were able to find an escape, those seated on the balcony were trapped. As a result, 59 people died inside due to asphyxiation - suffocation from a lack of oxygen. Over 103 people were critically injured during a scramble to escape the theatre. Most importantly, it took fire tenders nearly an hour to get to the scene owing to traffic. The lapses in safety measures The tragic fire was caused by a number of failures in "safety measures." The Indian Express quoted senior advocate Harish Salve, who was appearing on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the Delhi High Court in 2007, “Safety measures, meant for panic situations, were not in place in the ill-fated theatre… the persons, who were getting financial gains from the operation of the cinema, were criminally liable for the lapses.” The investigation stated that the generator that caught fire lacked safety features and, more crucially, was installed in a space that was being utilised as a parking lot which made it easier for gasoline-powered vehicles to catch fire, as reported by the Indian Express. Additional information claimed that the generator had not received the periodic maintenance mandated by law. Also read | Relief for Delhi! City's temperature not likely to drop to subzero amid -4 degrees Celsius prediction When the theatre lost electricity, the movie hall became completely dark since it lacked emergency lighting, footlights, or exit lights. The audience was not informed of the fire via any public notice system, reported the Indian Express. A protracted legal battle Victims and surviving family members of the deceased sought to hold the theatre owners accountable in a protracted court case. 16 defendants, including the business owners Sushil and Gopal Ansal, were named in the original charge sheet submitted by the CBI conducting the investigation. However, the trial had many unexpected turns. Even now, there is a case of evidence tampering against the Ansals, thus the quest for justice continues. The Ansal brothers were found guilty of criminal negligence in 2007, 10 years after the fire, and were given the maximum term that could be imposed in such a case: two years in jail. The Delhi High Court maintained the verdict but reduced the sentence to one year after a year. The case was heard by the Supreme Court for over ten years. The two brothers were ordered to pay a fine of Rs 30 crores each in 2017, which was used to build a trauma centre, by the supreme court. Sushil Ansal, who has already served five months in prison, was spared additional time in prison due to his advanced age (77) and medical issues. Gopal was sentenced to a year in jail. Compensation for the deceased's kin was set at Rs 10 lakh for those above the age of 20, and Rs 7.5 lakh for those under the age of 20. Each injured individual receives Rs 1 lakh. The brothers were convicted for tampering with evidence in a different case. A Delhi court sentenced both of them to seven years of simple jail in 2021. The court additionally fined each of the Ansals Rs 2.5 crore. The brothers have challenged their conviction in this ongoing case. Shekhar and Neelam Krishnamoorthy: The couple that lost their kids to the Uphaar tragedy “We didn’t spend as much time with our children on this Earth as we have seeking justice for their murders. We are serving a living death sentence; it has been 26 years, and it is still on,” Shekhar and Neelam Krishnamoorthy told The Indian Express before the release of the Netflix series that chronicles the couple's fight for justice. In 2022, Gopal and Sushil Ansal were released from jail. The court had indicated that the ruling was based on taking the ages of the brothers into account, despite the fact that nothing could make up for what the victims' families had lost. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Netflix's 'Trial by Fire': Everything about the Uphaar cinema fire of 1997

India's MV Ganga Vilas Cruise:&nbsp;The world's longest river cruise, the MV Ganga Vilas, was launched in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference.&nbsp;The first cruise ship ever built in India, the MV Ganga Vilas, will set sail from the holy town of Varanasi with 32 Swiss tourists on board and travel via Bangladesh to Dibrugarh in Assam.&nbsp;Addressing the event through video conferencing, PM Modi said: “The beginning of the world’s longest river cruise service on river Ganga is a landmark moment. It will herald a new age of tourism in India.”

“I want to tell passengers onboard the river cruise liner MV Ganga Vilas that India has everything you can imagine. It also has a lot beyond your imagination. India can’t be defined in words. India can only be experienced from the heart because India has opened her heart to everyone,"&nbsp;he added.&nbsp;

An Antara Luxury River Cruises ship, the Ganga Vilas Cruise will depart from Varanasi and travel 3,200 kilometres in total. Before laying its final anchor in Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, the ship will sail through Kolkata and Dhaka.

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Beginning of cruise service on River Ganga is a landmark moment. It will herald a new age of tourism in India. <a href="https://t.co/NOVFLFrroE">https://t.co/NOVFLFrroE</a>
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Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, stated earlier on Thursday that Varanasi will embark on a new era with the launch of the Ganga Vilas river cruise.&nbsp;"Along with being the biggest centre of education and health, Kashi is now ready to be connected by land as well as waterways. The journey of 52 days covering a distance of 3,200 km is starting from here," he said.

We take a deep dive into the special features of this ship and what this voyage would mean for travel enthusiasts.&nbsp;

<h2>Features of MV Ganga Vilas</h2>

The MV Ganga Vilas ship has a 62-metre length, a 12-metre breadth, and a 1.4-metre depth that allows it to sail comfortably. It embodies luxury to the fullest. The ship is designed in a mid-century modern style and contains 18 suites with indigenous&nbsp;furniture and fixtures, some of which are also created along the Ganga.

The inside of the ship is painted in bold hues of magenta, blue and yellow&nbsp;that go&nbsp;well with the rich cultures of the places the cruise will travel.&nbsp;

The cruise's director, Raj Singh told&nbsp;PTI&nbsp;that the&nbsp;cruise has facilities such as spa, salon, and gym and&nbsp;will cost&nbsp;₹&nbsp;25,000 to&nbsp;₹&nbsp;50,000 a day, with the total cost for the 51-day journey totalling to around&nbsp;₹20 lakhs for each passenger. The cruise is equipped with a pollution-free system and noise control technology, he added.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ganga-vilas-cruise-ticket-check-longest-river-cruise-route-ticket-price-step-by-step-guide-to-book-online-552211">Ganga Vilas Cruise Ticket: Check longest river cruise route, ticket price, step-by-step guide to book online</a>

The massive floor-to-ceiling windows onboard will let passengers can take in the grandeur of the river throughout the day, according to CNN Traveller. Travellers' experiences will be improved by a dining room, an observation pavilion, and a panoramic lounge.

Along with the aforementioned amenities that characterise the ship's luxury, Ganga Vilas Cruise also includes an open sundeck where guests may sit and a spa where they can unwind while travelling.&nbsp;Additionally, passengers will be able to enjoy mouthwatering cuisine that draws inspiration from the various locations the ship visits.

<h2>Journey of MV Ganga Vilas</h2>

The 51-day voyage will commence in Varanasi, and after travelling via Ghazipur, Buxar, and Ramnagar, the cruise ship will arrive in Patna on the eighth day.

In order to go to Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, passengers will spend 15 days in the neighbouring nation of Bangladesh before re-entering&nbsp;India.

The Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, which has previously opened up commerce and transit lines between the two neighbouring nations, will allow the ship to go over 1,100 kilometres across Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-mv-ganga-vilas-worlds-longest-river-cruise-flagged-off-in-varanasi-552254">In Pics | MV Ganga Vilas, world's longest river cruise, flagged off in Varanasi&nbsp;</a>

"The journey will give the foreign tourists an opportunity to embark upon an experiential voyage and indulge in the art, culture, history, and spirituality of India and Bangladesh," Union Minister for Port Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal told news agency ANI.

"The tourists also come with different mindsets — some want to stay for the full journey while some may move from one point to another. The service will facilitate all kinds of tourists. Moreover, with the amendment to Indian Vessel Act, cruise lines would have a national permit to move seamlessly across states,” he added.&nbsp;

It will make 50 stops along the way, including places like national parks, river ghats, and sites that are considered to world heritage sites.

<h2>MV Ganga Vilas: An experience in itself</h2>

As per Raj Singh, travel enthusiasts who are interested in seeing different cultures will appreciate the trip's opportunity to do so.

“Each experience has been personally vetted and designed by me for fellow enthusiastic travellers. The historical route has been finalised with the support, assistance and cooperation of the governments of India and Bangladesh, which are working together to ensure seamless travel between the two countries,” he added.

The iconic and widely regarded "Ganga Aarti" on the banks of the river Ganga is one of the tour's highlights. History buffs will get the opportunity to study about the effects of French and Dutch influences on West Bengal's architecture during the tour.

Passengers on board will learn about making handcrafted textiles and brassware in the West Bengal hamlet of Matiari. The boat will also make stops for celebrations featuring folk music and dances in a few different places.

Also watch |&nbsp;'A Landmark Moment', says PM Modi as he flags off world's longest river cruise

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Travel aficionados have the ideal chance on this trip to experience the varied cultures of the many destinations visited.

One of the numerous stops on the journey is Bagerhat, where visitors may see the 60-dome mosque constructed by Khan Jahan Ali during the Bengal sultanate era.

<h2>Other cruises in India</h2>

There are other cruise ships that go through Indian rivers besides the Ganga Vilas Cruise.

The 10-night Brahmaputra river Cruise sails from Guwahati to Jorhat-Dibrugarh. The former Ahom rulers' domain, Sibsagar, Majuli island, and Kaziranga National Park are all visited by this cruise. The itinerary also includes heritage trips in the renowned silk-weaving villages of Tezpur and Sualkuchi.

The Mandovi River Cruise in Western India allows visitors to explore the Goan culture. The cruise ship provides a thrilling ambience complete with folk&nbsp;songs, dances, and cuisine as guests travel past Chorao and Divar Islands, according to Times Travel,&nbsp;even if the journey only lasts a few hours.

The Mangalore River Cruise in southern India&nbsp;lets visitors unwind in the tranquil Phalguni River. The three-hour boat passes through Karnataka's coastal villages with its tourists. The Mangalorean food provided onboard, however, is the highlight of the cruise excursion.

(With inputs from agencies)

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India's MV Ganga Vilas Cruise: The world's longest river cruise, the MV Ganga Vilas, was launched in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference.

India's MV Ganga Vilas Cruise: The world's longest river cruise, the MV Ganga Vilas, was launched in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference. The first cruise ship ever built in India, the MV Ganga Vilas, will set sail from the holy town of Varanasi with 32 Swiss tourists on board and travel via Bangladesh to Dibrugarh in Assam. Addressing the event through video conferencing, PM Modi said: “The beginning of the world’s longest river cruise service on river Ganga is a landmark moment. It will herald a new age of tourism in India.” “I want to tell passengers onboard the river cruise liner MV Ganga Vilas that India has everything you can imagine. It also has a lot beyond your imagination. India can’t be defined in words. India can only be experienced from the heart because India has opened her heart to everyone," he added. An Antara Luxury River Cruises ship, the Ganga Vilas Cruise will depart from Varanasi and travel 3,200 kilometres in total. Before laying its final anchor in Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, the ship will sail through Kolkata and Dhaka. Beginning of cruise service on River Ganga is a landmark moment. It will herald a new age of tourism in India. https://t.co/NOVFLFrroE — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 13, 2023 × Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, stated earlier on Thursday that Varanasi will embark on a new era with the launch of the Ganga Vilas river cruise. "Along with being the biggest centre of education and health, Kashi is now ready to be connected by land as well as waterways. The journey of 52 days covering a distance of 3,200 km is starting from here," he said. We take a deep dive into the special features of this ship and what this voyage would mean for travel enthusiasts. Features of MV Ganga Vilas The MV Ganga Vilas ship has a 62-metre length, a 12-metre breadth, and a 1.4-metre depth that allows it to sail comfortably. It embodies luxury to the fullest. The ship is designed in a mid-century modern style and contains 18 suites with indigenous furniture and fixtures, some of which are also created along the Ganga. The inside of the ship is painted in bold hues of magenta, blue and yellow that go well with the rich cultures of the places the cruise will travel. The cruise's director, Raj Singh told PTI that the cruise has facilities such as spa, salon, and gym and will cost ₹ 25,000 to ₹ 50,000 a day, with the total cost for the 51-day journey totalling to around ₹20 lakhs for each passenger. The cruise is equipped with a pollution-free system and noise control technology, he added. Also read | Ganga Vilas Cruise Ticket: Check longest river cruise route, ticket price, step-by-step guide to book online The massive floor-to-ceiling windows onboard will let passengers can take in the grandeur of the river throughout the day, according to CNN Traveller. Travellers' experiences will be improved by a dining room, an observation pavilion, and a panoramic lounge. Along with the aforementioned amenities that characterise the ship's luxury, Ganga Vilas Cruise also includes an open sundeck where guests may sit and a spa where they can unwind while travelling. Additionally, passengers will be able to enjoy mouthwatering cuisine that draws inspiration from the various locations the ship visits. Journey of MV Ganga Vilas The 51-day voyage will commence in Varanasi, and after travelling via Ghazipur, Buxar, and Ramnagar, the cruise ship will arrive in Patna on the eighth day. In order to go to Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, passengers will spend 15 days in the neighbouring nation of Bangladesh before re-entering India. The Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, which has previously opened up commerce and transit lines between the two neighbouring nations, will allow the ship to go over 1,100 kilometres across Bangladesh. Also read | In Pics | MV Ganga Vilas, world's longest river cruise, flagged off in Varanasi "The journey will give the foreign tourists an opportunity to embark upon an experiential voyage and indulge in the art, culture, history, and spirituality of India and Bangladesh," Union Minister for Port Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal told news agency ANI. "The tourists also come with different mindsets — some want to stay for the full journey while some may move from one point to another. The service will facilitate all kinds of tourists. Moreover, with the amendment to Indian Vessel Act, cruise lines would have a national permit to move seamlessly across states,” he added. It will make 50 stops along the way, including places like national parks, river ghats, and sites that are considered to world heritage sites. MV Ganga Vilas: An experience in itself As per Raj Singh, travel enthusiasts who are interested in seeing different cultures will appreciate the trip's opportunity to do so. “Each experience has been personally vetted and designed by me for fellow enthusiastic travellers. The historical route has been finalised with the support, assistance and cooperation of the governments of India and Bangladesh, which are working together to ensure seamless travel between the two countries,” he added. The iconic and widely regarded "Ganga Aarti" on the banks of the river Ganga is one of the tour's highlights. History buffs will get the opportunity to study about the effects of French and Dutch influences on West Bengal's architecture during the tour. Passengers on board will learn about making handcrafted textiles and brassware in the West Bengal hamlet of Matiari. The boat will also make stops for celebrations featuring folk music and dances in a few different places. Also watch | 'A Landmark Moment', says PM Modi as he flags off world's longest river cruise Travel aficionados have the ideal chance on this trip to experience the varied cultures of the many destinations visited. One of the numerous stops on the journey is Bagerhat, where visitors may see the 60-dome mosque constructed by Khan Jahan Ali during the Bengal sultanate era. Other cruises in India There are other cruise ships that go through Indian rivers besides the Ganga Vilas Cruise. The 10-night Brahmaputra river Cruise sails from Guwahati to Jorhat-Dibrugarh. The former Ahom rulers' domain, Sibsagar, Majuli island, and Kaziranga National Park are all visited by this cruise. The itinerary also includes heritage trips in the renowned silk-weaving villages of Tezpur and Sualkuchi. The Mandovi River Cruise in Western India allows visitors to explore the Goan culture. The cruise ship provides a thrilling ambience complete with folk songs, dances, and cuisine as guests travel past Chorao and Divar Islands, according to Times Travel, even if the journey only lasts a few hours. The Mangalore River Cruise in southern India lets visitors unwind in the tranquil Phalguni River. The three-hour boat passes through Karnataka's coastal villages with its tourists. The Mangalorean food provided onboard, however, is the highlight of the cruise excursion. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India's MV Ganga Vilas Cruise: What would the world's longest river cruise mean for travel enthusiasts?

Leqembi, a&nbsp;new Alzheimer's medicine&nbsp;is entering the market; it is the first to have conclusive proof that it can delay the mind-robbing condition by many months.&nbsp;Although a novel treatment that has been long overdue, several specialists are expressing concerns: The medication has certain safety issues, it&nbsp;is only meant for people in the early stages of their illness, and must be administered intravenously every two weeks. Even the extent to which that slight improvement will be perceptible in people's daily lives is unclear.

Still, “it’s a landmark,” said Dr. Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging, who spoke to AP.&nbsp;“It’s not enough, but it’s encouraging that there’s something we can do.”

Lecanemab, which will be sold under the brand name Leqembi, has been given the go-ahead by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).&nbsp;

<h2>Mechanism of the new medicine</h2>

Manufactured by the Japanese pharmaceutical company,&nbsp;Eisai and its American partner Biogen, the pill is designed to target and remove beta-amyloid, a sticky protein that accumulates into brain-clogging plaques and is a major indicator of Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Sam Gandy, an Alzheimer's specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, who spoke to AP highlighted that it targets a slightly different version of that amyloid, potentially explaining why it was beneficial in rigorous research while several other amyloid-targeting medications have been unsuccessful in the past.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-lancet-opens-probe-into-unreliable-anti-stroke-medicine-taken-by-millions-worldwide-550436">&nbsp;UK: Lancet opens probe into ‘unreliable’ anti-stroke medicine taken by millions worldwide</a>

Despite no trials ever showing it actually benefitted patients, the FDA approved a similar medicine called Aduhelm in 2021. This decision drew considerable flak from a congressional probe.

<h2>How effective is this new&nbsp;Alzheimer's pill?</h2>

Leqembi appeared to postpone&nbsp;the aggravation of early-stage patients by roughly five months in Eisai's 18-month trial of about 1,800 participants.

On a scale of 1 to 18, which assesses cognitive and functional skills, A difference of over half a point on that scale at the conclusion of the research separated individuals who received the medicine from those who received dummy versions, but their conditions did worsen.

Opinions differ on the relevance of that advantage. Families could find it challenging to determine if a loved one's deterioration has slowed, according to Dr.&nbsp;Gandy who spoke to AP.&nbsp;

Even though it's difficult to detect, other specialists contend that slowing the illness early on, while people can still work normally, is crucial.

<h2>What are the risks involved?</h2>

Leqembi, like other amyloid-targeting medications, can result in brain edoema or minor brain bleeding. 13% of drug participants in Eisai's research reported edoema, while 17% had minor brain bleeds.

The most likely explanation is that amyloid plaques frequently develop around brain nerve cells, but they can also sometimes enter blood arteries. Dr.&nbsp;Gandy stated that removing amyloid from certain blood arteries might weaken and make them leaky.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rishi-sunak-govt-signs-deal-with-biontech-for-landmark-cancer-vaccine-trials-550365">Rishi Sunak govt signs deal with BioNTech for landmark Cancer vaccine trials</a>

While the symptoms of brain bleeding and swelling may be mild, such as headaches and blurred vision, they may also be severe, and some Leqembi users have passed away while taking the drug, including two who were using blood thinners.

The deaths, according to Eisai, cannot be linked to Alzheimer's medication. The biggest danger of significant bleeding, according to Dr.&nbsp;Gandy, would, however, be among Leqembi users who also take blood thinners, which are frequently used by elderly people to prevent or cure strokes.

Following the infusions, patients may also have brief side effects, such as fever, chills that mimic the flu, nausea, and changes in blood pressure.

<h2>Who is eligible for this medicine?</h2>

The medication is exclusively meant for those with very early-stage Alzheimer's disease who also have the characteristic amyloid accumulation.

When prescribing Leqembi to patients who are on blood thinners, clinicians are advised by the FDA to use caution. Additionally, throughout the course of treatment, patients will be advised to undergo many brain scans.

Also watch |&nbsp;Republican leader Kevin McCarthy elected as US House Speaker

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It's uncertain how long patients should continue receiving the twice-monthly IV treatments as their condition steadily deteriorates. Longer-term follow-up with study participants is being conducted, and other studies are looking into even early usage – before those with amyloid buildup have symptoms.

<h2>When will it be available to patients?</h2>

It should be accessible by 23 January 2023, as per Eisai, but most patients will probably have to wait months to purchase it.

The reason for this is that health insurers are obliged to carefully evaluate the drug's efficacy before choosing whether to cover it, which patients should receive it, and what testing may be necessary to ensure they are suitable candidates.

The medicine is not anticipated to be covered by Medicare, which provides coverage for the majority of Alzheimer's patients, until later this year. This is because the Medicare programme for seniors only covers Alzheimer's medications that have gained complete FDA clearance, but Leqembi's permission was given expediently based on findings from earlier research. That bigger 18-month research is about to be reviewed by the FDA in expectation of final clearance later this year.

<h2>About the pricing</h2>

For a normal year of therapy, the IV medicine&nbsp;will cost roughly US$26,500. The majority of consumers won't spend anything close to that much if their insurance covers it, but those whose plans force them to pay for a bigger share of their prescription prices may pay thousands of dollars annually.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Leqembi, a new Alzheimer's medicine is entering the market; it is the first to have conclusive proof that it can delay the mind-robbing condition by many months.

Leqembi, a new Alzheimer's medicine is entering the market; it is the first to have conclusive proof that it can delay the mind-robbing condition by many months. Although a novel treatment that has been long overdue, several specialists are expressing concerns: The medication has certain safety issues, it is only meant for people in the early stages of their illness, and must be administered intravenously every two weeks. Even the extent to which that slight improvement will be perceptible in people's daily lives is unclear. Still, “it’s a landmark,” said Dr. Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging, who spoke to AP. “It’s not enough, but it’s encouraging that there’s something we can do.” Lecanemab, which will be sold under the brand name Leqembi, has been given the go-ahead by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mechanism of the new medicine Manufactured by the Japanese pharmaceutical company, Eisai and its American partner Biogen, the pill is designed to target and remove beta-amyloid, a sticky protein that accumulates into brain-clogging plaques and is a major indicator of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Sam Gandy, an Alzheimer's specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, who spoke to AP highlighted that it targets a slightly different version of that amyloid, potentially explaining why it was beneficial in rigorous research while several other amyloid-targeting medications have been unsuccessful in the past. Also read | UK: Lancet opens probe into ‘unreliable’ anti-stroke medicine taken by millions worldwide Despite no trials ever showing it actually benefitted patients, the FDA approved a similar medicine called Aduhelm in 2021. This decision drew considerable flak from a congressional probe. How effective is this new Alzheimer's pill? Leqembi appeared to postpone the aggravation of early-stage patients by roughly five months in Eisai's 18-month trial of about 1,800 participants. On a scale of 1 to 18, which assesses cognitive and functional skills, A difference of over half a point on that scale at the conclusion of the research separated individuals who received the medicine from those who received dummy versions, but their conditions did worsen. Opinions differ on the relevance of that advantage. Families could find it challenging to determine if a loved one's deterioration has slowed, according to Dr. Gandy who spoke to AP. Even though it's difficult to detect, other specialists contend that slowing the illness early on, while people can still work normally, is crucial. What are the risks involved? Leqembi, like other amyloid-targeting medications, can result in brain edoema or minor brain bleeding. 13% of drug participants in Eisai's research reported edoema, while 17% had minor brain bleeds. The most likely explanation is that amyloid plaques frequently develop around brain nerve cells, but they can also sometimes enter blood arteries. Dr. Gandy stated that removing amyloid from certain blood arteries might weaken and make them leaky. Also read | Rishi Sunak govt signs deal with BioNTech for landmark Cancer vaccine trials While the symptoms of brain bleeding and swelling may be mild, such as headaches and blurred vision, they may also be severe, and some Leqembi users have passed away while taking the drug, including two who were using blood thinners. The deaths, according to Eisai, cannot be linked to Alzheimer's medication. The biggest danger of significant bleeding, according to Dr. Gandy, would, however, be among Leqembi users who also take blood thinners, which are frequently used by elderly people to prevent or cure strokes. Following the infusions, patients may also have brief side effects, such as fever, chills that mimic the flu, nausea, and changes in blood pressure. Who is eligible for this medicine? The medication is exclusively meant for those with very early-stage Alzheimer's disease who also have the characteristic amyloid accumulation. When prescribing Leqembi to patients who are on blood thinners, clinicians are advised by the FDA to use caution. Additionally, throughout the course of treatment, patients will be advised to undergo many brain scans. Also watch | Republican leader Kevin McCarthy elected as US House Speaker It's uncertain how long patients should continue receiving the twice-monthly IV treatments as their condition steadily deteriorates. Longer-term follow-up with study participants is being conducted, and other studies are looking into even early usage – before those with amyloid buildup have symptoms. When will it be available to patients? It should be accessible by 23 January 2023, as per Eisai, but most patients will probably have to wait months to purchase it. The reason for this is that health insurers are obliged to carefully evaluate the drug's efficacy before choosing whether to cover it, which patients should receive it, and what testing may be necessary to ensure they are suitable candidates. The medicine is not anticipated to be covered by Medicare, which provides coverage for the majority of Alzheimer's patients, until later this year. This is because the Medicare programme for seniors only covers Alzheimer's medications that have gained complete FDA clearance, but Leqembi's permission was given expediently based on findings from earlier research. That bigger 18-month research is about to be reviewed by the FDA in expectation of final clearance later this year. About the pricing For a normal year of therapy, the IV medicine will cost roughly US$26,500. The majority of consumers won't spend anything close to that much if their insurance covers it, but those whose plans force them to pay for a bigger share of their prescription prices may pay thousands of dollars annually. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: FDA approves new Alzheimer's medicine for early-stage patients, but what are the safety concerns?

The followers of Brazil's former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro stormed numerous significant buildings in the country, paving way for a full-blown riot, just a week after Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist, took office as the new president. Thousands of supporters of Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro ransacked the nation's Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential buildings in the capital Brasilia on Sunday (8 January) in circumstances disturbingly similar to those at the United States Capitol in Washington DC precisely two years ago.

<meta charset="utf-8" />

On Brasilia's enormous Three Powers Square, three buildings that were thought to be mostly vacant were besieged by thousands of protesters who pushed over security barriers, broke windows, and stormed all three. Some of them demanded military action to remove Lula from the presidency or to reinstate the far-right Bolsonaro in his place.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet, raised concerns about the events, and said “Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone.”

Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities.<a href="https://twitter.com/LulaOficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"> @LulaOficial</a>

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)<a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1612291578055528454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"> January 9, 2023</a>

×

<h2 dir="ltr">Who are these protestors and why are they protesting?</h2>

The demonstrators are former president Bolsonaro's far-right supporters who challenged Lula's election victory on 30 October 2022. In a run-off election last year, Lula, who served as president of Brazil from 2003 to 2011, narrowly defeated Bolsonaro.

The first time Bolsonaro's followers congregated outside military bases around Brazil after the election results, they were demanding a military intervention to stop Lula from coming to power again.

Truck drivers were also among Bolsonaro's supporters who blocked roads across the nation in the days that followed his defeat. Supporters of Bolsonaro organised protests across the nation in November, calling for an armed force intervention.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-presidential-palace-congress-supreme-court-attacked-by-bolsonaros-supporters-550573">Brazil's presidential palace, Congress, Supreme Court attacked by Bolsonaro's supporters</a>

Brazilians gathered outside a regional military installation to protest what they claimed was a fraudulent or unfair election, disobeying a recent Supreme Court order to clear the streets and public areas.

Many demonstrators believed that a report from the Ministry of Defence, which Bolsonaro has attempted to include in overseeing the election, would support their assertions.

The document, which was released in November, made changes to some election system faults in Brazil but did not discover any proof of fraud.

Domingues Carvalho, 63, who protested for 15 days straight, told the AP news agency: "I'm fighting for my country, for my daughter and three grandchildren."

He added that he sometimes kneels down in front of the military building to pray. "I'll stay here as long as necessary. We are peaceful but we will never, ever leave our country in the hands of communists," he said.

<h2 dir="ltr">Buildup to the riots on 8 January&nbsp;</h2>

A man named George Washington de Oliveira Sousa was detained on Christmas Eve for attempting to detonate a bomb in opposition to the results of the election in Brazil. A copy of his police statement revealed that he was motivated to assemble an arsenal by Bolsonaro's support for arming civilians.

In addition, on 29 December&nbsp;during rioting by Bolsonaro's followers, Brazilian police detained at least four people in connection with an alleged coup attempt.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/brazil-riots-supporters-of-ex-president-bolsonaro-storm-congress-post-elections-550620">A 'sad day' for Brazil as rioters storm government buildings</a>

On 1 January, Lula took the oath of office as president for the first time. At the time, he declared that democracy had won the election decisively. Nevertheless, he now governs a country that is deeply divided.

However, things weren't always this way. It was 2011 and 83% of people approved of his decision to retire. His conviction on corruption charges was later quashed due to a string of controversies that led to his imprisonment.

Finally, on 8 January, The Brasilia Capitol was&nbsp;stormed in and ransacked&nbsp;by Bolsonaro's supporters.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">What is the present government's response?</h2>

Bolsonaro was directly accused of violence by President Lula. He claimed that Bolsonaro "triggered" it. At every opportunity, he encouraged attacks on the three powers. In a speech to the nation, Lula declared that this was also his responsibility, as quoted by The New York Times.&nbsp;

As per the BBC, Lula declared a state of emergency, allowing the federal government to take "any measures necessary" to restore order in the capital. Justice Minister Flávio Dino also announced the start of an investigation, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Rosa Weber said everyone in charge of security in Brasilia would be subject to an investigation.

<h2 dir="ltr">Where is Bolsonaro now?</h2>

The former president is reportedly in Florida after arriving there in late December of the previous year. According to the New York Times, he has been staying in a rental home owned by a professional mixed martial artist near Disney World in Orlando and had plans to stay there for at least a month.

Also watch |&nbsp;Bolsonaro condemns violence after supporters storm key government buildings in Brazil

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The former president is reportedly in Florida after arriving there in late December of the previous year. According to the New York Times, he has been staying in a rental home owned by a professional mixed martial artist near Disney World in Orlando and had plans to stay there for at least a month.

Bolsonaro had urged his supporters to maintain decorum in the final days of his presidency before departing, but Sunday's developments indicate that his appeal was perhaps a bit too late. He took to Twitter on Sunday night saying “Peaceful demonstrations, in the form of the law, are part of democracy."

(With inputs from agencies)

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The followers of Brazil's former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro stormed numerous significant buildings in the country, paving way for a full-blown riot, just a week after Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist, took office as the new president.

The followers of Brazil's former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro stormed numerous significant buildings in the country, paving way for a full-blown riot, just a week after Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist, took office as the new president. Thousands of supporters of Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro ransacked the nation's Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential buildings in the capital Brasilia on Sunday (8 January) in circumstances disturbingly similar to those at the United States Capitol in Washington DC precisely two years ago. On Brasilia's enormous Three Powers Square, three buildings that were thought to be mostly vacant were besieged by thousands of protesters who pushed over security barriers, broke windows, and stormed all three. Some of them demanded military action to remove Lula from the presidency or to reinstate the far-right Bolsonaro in his place. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet, raised concerns about the events, and said “Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone.” Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities. @LulaOficial — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2023 × Who are these protestors and why are they protesting? The demonstrators are former president Bolsonaro's far-right supporters who challenged Lula's election victory on 30 October 2022. In a run-off election last year, Lula, who served as president of Brazil from 2003 to 2011, narrowly defeated Bolsonaro. The first time Bolsonaro's followers congregated outside military bases around Brazil after the election results, they were demanding a military intervention to stop Lula from coming to power again. Truck drivers were also among Bolsonaro's supporters who blocked roads across the nation in the days that followed his defeat. Supporters of Bolsonaro organised protests across the nation in November, calling for an armed force intervention. Also read | Brazil's presidential palace, Congress, Supreme Court attacked by Bolsonaro's supporters Brazilians gathered outside a regional military installation to protest what they claimed was a fraudulent or unfair election, disobeying a recent Supreme Court order to clear the streets and public areas. Many demonstrators believed that a report from the Ministry of Defence, which Bolsonaro has attempted to include in overseeing the election, would support their assertions. The document, which was released in November, made changes to some election system faults in Brazil but did not discover any proof of fraud. Domingues Carvalho, 63, who protested for 15 days straight, told the AP news agency: "I'm fighting for my country, for my daughter and three grandchildren." He added that he sometimes kneels down in front of the military building to pray. "I'll stay here as long as necessary. We are peaceful but we will never, ever leave our country in the hands of communists," he said. Buildup to the riots on 8 January A man named George Washington de Oliveira Sousa was detained on Christmas Eve for attempting to detonate a bomb in opposition to the results of the election in Brazil. A copy of his police statement revealed that he was motivated to assemble an arsenal by Bolsonaro's support for arming civilians. In addition, on 29 December during rioting by Bolsonaro's followers, Brazilian police detained at least four people in connection with an alleged coup attempt. Also read | A 'sad day' for Brazil as rioters storm government buildings On 1 January, Lula took the oath of office as president for the first time. At the time, he declared that democracy had won the election decisively. Nevertheless, he now governs a country that is deeply divided. However, things weren't always this way. It was 2011 and 83% of people approved of his decision to retire. His conviction on corruption charges was later quashed due to a string of controversies that led to his imprisonment. Finally, on 8 January, The Brasilia Capitol was stormed in and ransacked by Bolsonaro's supporters. What is the present government's response? Bolsonaro was directly accused of violence by President Lula. He claimed that Bolsonaro "triggered" it. At every opportunity, he encouraged attacks on the three powers. In a speech to the nation, Lula declared that this was also his responsibility, as quoted by The New York Times. As per the BBC, Lula declared a state of emergency, allowing the federal government to take "any measures necessary" to restore order in the capital. Justice Minister Flávio Dino also announced the start of an investigation, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Rosa Weber said everyone in charge of security in Brasilia would be subject to an investigation. Where is Bolsonaro now? The former president is reportedly in Florida after arriving there in late December of the previous year. According to the New York Times, he has been staying in a rental home owned by a professional mixed martial artist near Disney World in Orlando and had plans to stay there for at least a month. Also watch | Bolsonaro condemns violence after supporters storm key government buildings in Brazil The former president is reportedly in Florida after arriving there in late December of the previous year. According to the New York Times, he has been staying in a rental home owned by a professional mixed martial artist near Disney World in Orlando and had plans to stay there for at least a month. Bolsonaro had urged his supporters to maintain decorum in the final days of his presidency before departing, but Sunday's developments indicate that his appeal was perhaps a bit too late. He took to Twitter on Sunday night saying “Peaceful demonstrations, in the form of the law, are part of democracy." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Brazil riots explained: Why are Jair Bolsonaro's supporters protesting?

Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak. The event has drawn attention to the issue of misbehavior by disruptive passengers on airplanes. As per the latest developments, Mishra was arrested&nbsp;in Bengaluru days after evading the police.&nbsp;The event first came to light earlier this week, and since then, there have been allegations that the airline failed to act swiftly and appropriately to penalize the accused.

<h2>Who is Shankar Mishra?</h2>

Shankar Mishra, 34, worked at Wells Fargo, a major provider of financial services in the US having its headquarters in California. He was the vice president of the worldwide organisation's India Chapter. He routinely travelled between Mumbai and Bengaluru, where he had offices.

As the scandal made news on Friday, Mishra was fired from the company. In a statement announcing his dismissal, Wells Fargo said that 'it holds its employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour, and “we find these allegations deeply disturbing”.

He is a resident of Mumbai and is known as ‘Suraj’ in Kamgar Nagar, where he has been staying for the past 20 years as reported by the Indian Express who spoke&nbsp;to his neighbours.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/response-should-have-been-much-swifter-says-tata-sons-chairman-44-days-after-air-india-pee-gate-550468">Response should have been much swifter, says Tata Sons chairman after Air India ‘pee-gate’</a>

He is an alumnus of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), a private university in Mumbai, and is referred to as "Suraj M" on LinkedIn, according to Newsroompost.

<h2>Shankar Mishra's arrest: Case so far</h2>

Mishra is said to have urinated on his woman&nbsp;co-passenger, an elderly citizen in her 70s in the business class of an Air India aircraft on November 26, 2021. He was allegedly intoxicated when the incident took place.&nbsp;

The lawsuit claims that Mishra stood beside the woman's seat even while his body parts were exposed.&nbsp;

He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a Delhi court.

<h2>What did Air India do immediately after the incident took place?</h2>

The Air India crew allegedly took Mishra to the woman after the episode&nbsp;and told her he wanted to&nbsp;apologise&nbsp;to her, according to NDTV report.

The passenger expressed her disappointment with the cabin staff in a letter to Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekharan, claiming that they were insensitive to the circumstances. According to NDTV, the woman said in her letter that she was compelled to face him while he begged for mercy.&nbsp;

As per the latest reports by PTI,&nbsp; a co-passenger on the New York-New Delhi aircraft has claimed&nbsp;that after the Mumbai man urinated on the female co-passenger, the captain made the elderly woman wait for over two hours before assigning her a new seat.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/air-india-passenger-accused-of-urinating-on-woman-co-flyer-sent-to-judicial-custody-for-14-days-550288">Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days</a>

In a handwritten complaint to the airline, Sugata Bhattacharjee, a US-based audiologist who was travelling to Delhi in business class and was seated next to the accused, said that the woman passenger was forced to return to her soiled seat despite there being four vacant first-class seats.

<h2>What is the action being taken by DGCA?</h2>

In relation to the incident, the airline was asked to submit a report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday.&nbsp;“We are seeking a report from the airline and shall take action against those found negligent,” DGCA chief Arun Kumar told&nbsp;Indian Express.

Air India has imposed a 30-day travel ban on Mishra stating that&nbsp;that the “passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner.”&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShankarMishra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShankarMishra</a>, an Indian man accused of urinating on a female co-flyer during an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirIndia</a> flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21<a href="https://twitter.com/alysonle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alysonle</a> tells you more 
 
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A police complaint was filed against the accused&nbsp;and the airline said that it would fully cooperate&nbsp;to “ensure that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger.”

<h2>Sanjay Mishra arrested in Bengaluru</h2>

The accused was arrested on Saturday (6 January) in Bengaluru after evading the police for many days. He was allegedly arrested while residing at a homestay in Bengaluru's Sanjay Nagar.

After Mishra retreated and declined to cooperate with the inquiry, the Delhi Police filed a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;case was registered against Mishra&nbsp;under sections 294 (obscene act in a public place), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as under Aircraft Rules, reported&nbsp;India Today.

<h2>What is Shankar Mishra's family saying?</h2>

Speaking to India Today TV, Shyam Mishra, Shankar's father said, "This is a totally false case. My son was traveling from the US. He had not slept for 72 hours. He might have taken a drink on the flight and slept. What happened after that even he doesn't know. It's very difficult to prove."

Additionally, the father denied that his son had peed on the woman. "I don't think he would have done this. The woman is 72 years old, she is like a mother to him," he said, adding that there are no eyewitnesses to the incident.

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Air India pax urinating case of Nov | False case. My son hadn't slept for 30-35 hrs. After dinner, he might've consumed the drink given by crew &amp; then slept. From what I understand,he was questioned by airline staff after he woke up: Shyam Mishra, father of accused S Mishra (1/2) <a href="https://t.co/j90Ze5wNb1">pic.twitter.com/j90Ze5wNb1</a>
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<h2>Was the co-passenger compensated by Shankar Mishra?</h2>

On Friday, Mishra's lawyers said that their client had compensated the woman with Rs 15,000 and cleaned her belongings.

A statement made by his lawyers, Ishanee Sharma and Akshat Bajpai, stated that the 34-year-old had the woman's clothing and baggage cleaned on November 28 and handed to her on November 30, reported PTI.

The statement read, “The woman in her message has clearly condoned the alleged act and has displayed no intention to lodge a complaint. The lady’s persisting grievance was only with respect to the adequate compensation being paid by the Airline for which she has raised a subsequent complaint on 20 December 2022.”

<h2>Statement from the woman and her relatives&nbsp;</h2>

The woman's relatives allegedly refuted the story and claimed to have given the money back.

According to a PTI report, Mishra allegedly messaged her following the unpleasant event. The chats demonstrate that the lady gave Mishra her phone number and confirmed receiving Rs 5,000. Her daughter and son-in-law, however, were quite angry over the situation. The lady informed Mishra that she had talked them out of complaining because he was so contrite and uninformed of what had happened.

In a string of messages, the woman said that she hoped Mishra will mend his ways. The latter responded by thanking her and promising he will never repeat such an act.

A day later, Mishra informed her about the clothes and shoes that will be “refurbished” in a day or two. He also mentioned having sent her another Rs 10,000 as compensation.

Also watch |&nbsp;Avani Chaturvedi to be first IAF woman fighter pilot to participate in aerial wargames abroad

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On the other hand, reports said that on December 19, the woman's daughter allegedly wrote a message claiming that her mother had been traumatised by the incident and that the family was extremely "upset, indignant, and enraged."

The money will be refunded by Paytm&nbsp;and the statement noted that the family did not want it. The woman's daughter further instructed Mishra not to speak to her mother again. Also sent was a screen capture of the money-returning transaction.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak.

Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak. The event has drawn attention to the issue of misbehavior by disruptive passengers on airplanes. As per the latest developments, Mishra was arrested in Bengaluru days after evading the police. The event first came to light earlier this week, and since then, there have been allegations that the airline failed to act swiftly and appropriately to penalize the accused. Who is Shankar Mishra? Shankar Mishra, 34, worked at Wells Fargo, a major provider of financial services in the US having its headquarters in California. He was the vice president of the worldwide organisation's India Chapter. He routinely travelled between Mumbai and Bengaluru, where he had offices. As the scandal made news on Friday, Mishra was fired from the company. In a statement announcing his dismissal, Wells Fargo said that 'it holds its employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour, and “we find these allegations deeply disturbing”. He is a resident of Mumbai and is known as ‘Suraj’ in Kamgar Nagar, where he has been staying for the past 20 years as reported by the Indian Express who spoke to his neighbours. Also read | Response should have been much swifter, says Tata Sons chairman after Air India ‘pee-gate’ He is an alumnus of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), a private university in Mumbai, and is referred to as "Suraj M" on LinkedIn, according to Newsroompost. Shankar Mishra's arrest: Case so far Mishra is said to have urinated on his woman co-passenger, an elderly citizen in her 70s in the business class of an Air India aircraft on November 26, 2021. He was allegedly intoxicated when the incident took place. The lawsuit claims that Mishra stood beside the woman's seat even while his body parts were exposed. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a Delhi court. What did Air India do immediately after the incident took place? The Air India crew allegedly took Mishra to the woman after the episode and told her he wanted to apologise to her, according to NDTV report. The passenger expressed her disappointment with the cabin staff in a letter to Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekharan, claiming that they were insensitive to the circumstances. According to NDTV, the woman said in her letter that she was compelled to face him while he begged for mercy. As per the latest reports by PTI, a co-passenger on the New York-New Delhi aircraft has claimed that after the Mumbai man urinated on the female co-passenger, the captain made the elderly woman wait for over two hours before assigning her a new seat. Also read | Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days In a handwritten complaint to the airline, Sugata Bhattacharjee, a US-based audiologist who was travelling to Delhi in business class and was seated next to the accused, said that the woman passenger was forced to return to her soiled seat despite there being four vacant first-class seats. What is the action being taken by DGCA? In relation to the incident, the airline was asked to submit a report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday. “We are seeking a report from the airline and shall take action against those found negligent,” DGCA chief Arun Kumar told Indian Express. Air India has imposed a 30-day travel ban on Mishra stating that that the “passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner.” #ShankarMishra, an Indian man accused of urinating on a female co-flyer during an #AirIndia flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21@alysonle tells you more For more videos, visit: https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J pic.twitter.com/fVltUiZbOH — WION (@WIONews) January 7, 2023 × A police complaint was filed against the accused and the airline said that it would fully cooperate to “ensure that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger.” Sanjay Mishra arrested in Bengaluru The accused was arrested on Saturday (6 January) in Bengaluru after evading the police for many days. He was allegedly arrested while residing at a homestay in Bengaluru's Sanjay Nagar. After Mishra retreated and declined to cooperate with the inquiry, the Delhi Police filed a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him. A case was registered against Mishra under sections 294 (obscene act in a public place), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as under Aircraft Rules, reported India Today. What is Shankar Mishra's family saying? Speaking to India Today TV, Shyam Mishra, Shankar's father said, "This is a totally false case. My son was traveling from the US. He had not slept for 72 hours. He might have taken a drink on the flight and slept. What happened after that even he doesn't know. It's very difficult to prove." Additionally, the father denied that his son had peed on the woman. "I don't think he would have done this. The woman is 72 years old, she is like a mother to him," he said, adding that there are no eyewitnesses to the incident. Air India pax urinating case of Nov | False case. My son hadn't slept for 30-35 hrs. After dinner, he might've consumed the drink given by crew & then slept. From what I understand,he was questioned by airline staff after he woke up: Shyam Mishra, father of accused S Mishra (1/2) pic.twitter.com/j90Ze5wNb1 — ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2023 × Was the co-passenger compensated by Shankar Mishra? On Friday, Mishra's lawyers said that their client had compensated the woman with Rs 15,000 and cleaned her belongings. A statement made by his lawyers, Ishanee Sharma and Akshat Bajpai, stated that the 34-year-old had the woman's clothing and baggage cleaned on November 28 and handed to her on November 30, reported PTI. The statement read, “The woman in her message has clearly condoned the alleged act and has displayed no intention to lodge a complaint. The lady’s persisting grievance was only with respect to the adequate compensation being paid by the Airline for which she has raised a subsequent complaint on 20 December 2022.” Statement from the woman and her relatives The woman's relatives allegedly refuted the story and claimed to have given the money back. According to a PTI report, Mishra allegedly messaged her following the unpleasant event. The chats demonstrate that the lady gave Mishra her phone number and confirmed receiving Rs 5,000. Her daughter and son-in-law, however, were quite angry over the situation. The lady informed Mishra that she had talked them out of complaining because he was so contrite and uninformed of what had happened. In a string of messages, the woman said that she hoped Mishra will mend his ways. The latter responded by thanking her and promising he will never repeat such an act. A day later, Mishra informed her about the clothes and shoes that will be “refurbished” in a day or two. He also mentioned having sent her another Rs 10,000 as compensation. Also watch | Avani Chaturvedi to be first IAF woman fighter pilot to participate in aerial wargames abroad On the other hand, reports said that on December 19, the woman's daughter allegedly wrote a message claiming that her mother had been traumatised by the incident and that the family was extremely "upset, indignant, and enraged." The money will be refunded by Paytm and the statement noted that the family did not want it. The woman's daughter further instructed Mishra not to speak to her mother again. Also sent was a screen capture of the money-returning transaction. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Air India 'pee-gate': Who is Shankar Mishra, the man accused of urinating on an elderly co-passenger

Joshimath, a spiritual town&nbsp;in Uttarakhand where Adi Shankaracharya, a religious reformer, acquired enlightenment in the eighth century, has become a matter of countrywide concern.&nbsp;Nearly 66 families have been forced to vacate&nbsp;their homes, the largest ropeway in Asia has been closed to tourists, two hotels have shut their doors for an indefinite period, and locals have taken to the streets. The events in Joshimath come as a second blow to the hill state, the first being the&nbsp;unrest in Haldwani over eviction notices. Many have drawn comparisons between the agitation in Haldwani and the protests in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh over the Citizenship Amendment Act 2020.

On Thursday (5 January),&nbsp;Joshimath villagers blocked the Badrinath national highway amid a new panic as water began to leak from the "Joshimath rock." The residents were already battling menacing cracks and crevices that started to form in their homes, on the roadways, and in their fields.&nbsp;

They heard noises coming from below the ground on Monday (2 January)&nbsp;around midnight. On Wednesday (4 January), many terrified families fled to safer areas, and more are waiting in line. The JP residential estate in Marwari was nearby when an aquifer also burst, adding to the commotion.

On Thursday (5 January), the terrified villagers, who have been pleading with the authorities to halt all construction activities in their "sinking" town, gathered on the streets holding torches. The town is "placed on an old landslide," making it vulnerable, and there is concern that the hillside on which it is built would collapse.

The Uttarakhand government assembled a team of scientists on Thursday (5 January) to determine the cause of the sinking of the land and the cracks in the buildings in an attempt to reassure the locals. The crew will visit the location and look into the cause.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-takes-g20-presidency-at-critical-time-will-provide-solutions-says-chief-coordinator-harsh-shringla-549951">"India takes G20 Presidency at critical time, will provide solutions," says Chief Coordinator Harsh Shringla</a>

By the evening of the&nbsp;same day, the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydro project and the current building of the Helang bypass, which are thought to be two of the primary causes of the sinking, were to be immediately suspended by the orders of the Chamoli district magistrate.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Land subsidence and cracks in many houses continue in Uttarakhand's Joshimath. Cracks have appeared on 561 houses in Joshimath, and water seepage continues from underground in JP Colony, Marwadi. <a href="https://t.co/vo7IxIh1Xl">pic.twitter.com/vo7IxIh1Xl</a>
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1610847313613959170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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News agency&nbsp;ANI&nbsp;stated that cracks have reportedly been observed in as many as 561 houses. “Now the process of increasing cracks in Singhdhar and Marwadi has started. Badrinath NH near Singhdhar Jain locality and JP Company Gate in Marwadi, near the forest department check post, is continuously cracking. This crack is increasing every hour which is worrying," said Joshimath Municipal Chairman Shailendra Pawar who spoke to ANI.&nbsp;

<h2>Sinking Joshimath: First signs of the impending doom</h2>

The devastating landslide in Chamoli, which caused many landslides, made the first mention of the cracks in homes in the national media in 2021. To add some support to the homes they are living in, the locals began using wooden poles. Seismic earthquakes continued to be frequent the next year as well.

Also watch |&nbsp;India's EAM S. Jaishankar takes on Europe's charges, calls out China

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The Uttarakhand government nevertheless established an expert group in 2022. The researchers discovered that a few areas in Joshimath are "sinking" as a result of both man-made and natural factors. The panel discovered that structural faults and damage have been caused by ground subsidence, which is a gradual sinking or sudden settling of the earth's surface caused by the removal or relocation of subsurface components.

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उत्तराखंड: चमोली के जोशीमठ में ज़मीन के धंसने से कई घरों में दरारें आ गई हैं। स्थानीय अपने घरों को खाली कर सुरक्षित स्थानों की तलाश में भटक रहे हैं। 
 
एक स्थानीय ने बताया, "दरारों से कई लोग घर खाली करके चले गए हैं।सरकार तत्काल समाधान निकाले। हम घरों के बाहर रहने के लिए मजबूर हैं।" <a href="https://t.co/mv19LOmJ0p">pic.twitter.com/mv19LOmJ0p</a>
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHindinews/status/1609029309062316034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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More than 40 families are said to be living in "such risky conditions" in Joshimath's Gandhinagar, Ravigram, and Sunil regions, according to Lalita Devi, a former ward member of Gandhinagar who spoke to ANI.&nbsp; Additionally, 10 families are said to be living in homes that have wooden poles for additional support.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite a geological examination of the town, the inhabitants claimed that no assistance has yet been given to the affected families.

Notably, Joshimath in the Chamoli district is significant not just because it's close to the Indo-Tibet border but also because it's the last significant town on the roads to Badrinath, Valley of Flowers, and Hemkund.

<h2>Why is Joshimath prone to landslides?</h2>

The town's location is the main factor contributing to Joshimath's sinking. Experts have long cautioned that the landslide debris on which the city was built has a low bearing capacity and cannot support a rapid rate of construction. The slopes have become extremely unstable in the previous few decades due to increased building, hydropower projects, and the extension of the National Highway.

Researchers from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology did a survey in 2022 and found that these gneissic rocks are extremely worn-out , have a poor cohesive value, and have a propensity for high pore pressure when saturated with water, especially during monsoons.

<h2>Joshimath residents blame&nbsp;National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)</h2>

The government has been charged with "turning a blind eye" to the complaints of the community on the NTPC projects.

Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti leader Atul Sati stated to The Times of India (TOI) that the NTPC confessed "the tunnel was witnessing water seepage from a punctured aquifer, leading to the drying of water sources in Joshimath" in 2020.

Environmentalist Ravi Chopra told TOI that the punctured aquifer inside the Joshimath mountain area would act like a leaking balloon. “Just as water will leak out of the balloon, causing it to gradually collapse, a similar phenomenon may have occurred inside the mountains in the area. ”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-top-court-steps-closer-to-decide-legal-status-of-same-sex-couples-550037">India's top court steps closer to decide legal status of same-sex couples</a>

NPTC officials refuted these assertions, claiming that Joshimath was not "sinking" as a result of the project and that the tunnel was dry, as quoted by the TOI.&nbsp;

<h2>How can Joshimath be revived?&nbsp;Experts suggest ways</h2>

An expert team led by Dr. Ranjit Sinha, Secretary of Disaster Management, has been dispatched by the government to Joshimath to address the situation, and it will deliver its report following a thorough investigation.

Experts advise that all construction and hydroelectric projects in the area be stopped immediately. The population must first move to a safer area, and only then should the town's planning be revised to account for the new variables and shifting geographical conditions.

One of the most important aspects that need investigation and development is drainage planning. As more and more garbage seeps into the soil, loosening it from the inside, the city is suffering from poor drainage and sewer management. The state administration has urged the irrigation department to check into the situation.

In order to preserve the soil capacity in the area, experts have also recommended replanting, particularly at sensitive sites. To save Joshimath, there needs to be a coordinated effort between the government and civil organisations with the help of military organisations like the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

(With inputs from agencies)

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Joshimath, a spiritual town in Uttarakhand where Adi Shankaracharya, a religious reformer, acquired enlightenment in the eighth century, has become a matter of countrywide concern.

Joshimath, a spiritual town in Uttarakhand where Adi Shankaracharya, a religious reformer, acquired enlightenment in the eighth century, has become a matter of countrywide concern. Nearly 66 families have been forced to vacate their homes, the largest ropeway in Asia has been closed to tourists, two hotels have shut their doors for an indefinite period, and locals have taken to the streets. The events in Joshimath come as a second blow to the hill state, the first being the unrest in Haldwani over eviction notices. Many have drawn comparisons between the agitation in Haldwani and the protests in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh over the Citizenship Amendment Act 2020. On Thursday (5 January), Joshimath villagers blocked the Badrinath national highway amid a new panic as water began to leak from the "Joshimath rock." The residents were already battling menacing cracks and crevices that started to form in their homes, on the roadways, and in their fields. They heard noises coming from below the ground on Monday (2 January) around midnight. On Wednesday (4 January), many terrified families fled to safer areas, and more are waiting in line. The JP residential estate in Marwari was nearby when an aquifer also burst, adding to the commotion. On Thursday (5 January), the terrified villagers, who have been pleading with the authorities to halt all construction activities in their "sinking" town, gathered on the streets holding torches. The town is "placed on an old landslide," making it vulnerable, and there is concern that the hillside on which it is built would collapse. The Uttarakhand government assembled a team of scientists on Thursday (5 January) to determine the cause of the sinking of the land and the cracks in the buildings in an attempt to reassure the locals. The crew will visit the location and look into the cause. Also read | "India takes G20 Presidency at critical time, will provide solutions," says Chief Coordinator Harsh Shringla By the evening of the same day, the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydro project and the current building of the Helang bypass, which are thought to be two of the primary causes of the sinking, were to be immediately suspended by the orders of the Chamoli district magistrate. #WATCH | Land subsidence and cracks in many houses continue in Uttarakhand's Joshimath. Cracks have appeared on 561 houses in Joshimath, and water seepage continues from underground in JP Colony, Marwadi. pic.twitter.com/vo7IxIh1Xl — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2023 × News agency ANI stated that cracks have reportedly been observed in as many as 561 houses. “Now the process of increasing cracks in Singhdhar and Marwadi has started. Badrinath NH near Singhdhar Jain locality and JP Company Gate in Marwadi, near the forest department check post, is continuously cracking. This crack is increasing every hour which is worrying," said Joshimath Municipal Chairman Shailendra Pawar who spoke to ANI. Sinking Joshimath: First signs of the impending doom The devastating landslide in Chamoli, which caused many landslides, made the first mention of the cracks in homes in the national media in 2021. To add some support to the homes they are living in, the locals began using wooden poles. Seismic earthquakes continued to be frequent the next year as well. Also watch | India's EAM S. Jaishankar takes on Europe's charges, calls out China The Uttarakhand government nevertheless established an expert group in 2022. The researchers discovered that a few areas in Joshimath are "sinking" as a result of both man-made and natural factors. The panel discovered that structural faults and damage have been caused by ground subsidence, which is a gradual sinking or sudden settling of the earth's surface caused by the removal or relocation of subsurface components. उत्तराखंड: चमोली के जोशीमठ में ज़मीन के धंसने से कई घरों में दरारें आ गई हैं। स्थानीय अपने घरों को खाली कर सुरक्षित स्थानों की तलाश में भटक रहे हैं। एक स्थानीय ने बताया, "दरारों से कई लोग घर खाली करके चले गए हैं।सरकार तत्काल समाधान निकाले। हम घरों के बाहर रहने के लिए मजबूर हैं।" pic.twitter.com/mv19LOmJ0p — ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) December 31, 2022 × More than 40 families are said to be living in "such risky conditions" in Joshimath's Gandhinagar, Ravigram, and Sunil regions, according to Lalita Devi, a former ward member of Gandhinagar who spoke to ANI. Additionally, 10 families are said to be living in homes that have wooden poles for additional support. Despite a geological examination of the town, the inhabitants claimed that no assistance has yet been given to the affected families. Notably, Joshimath in the Chamoli district is significant not just because it's close to the Indo-Tibet border but also because it's the last significant town on the roads to Badrinath, Valley of Flowers, and Hemkund. Why is Joshimath prone to landslides? The town's location is the main factor contributing to Joshimath's sinking. Experts have long cautioned that the landslide debris on which the city was built has a low bearing capacity and cannot support a rapid rate of construction. The slopes have become extremely unstable in the previous few decades due to increased building, hydropower projects, and the extension of the National Highway. Researchers from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology did a survey in 2022 and found that these gneissic rocks are extremely worn-out , have a poor cohesive value, and have a propensity for high pore pressure when saturated with water, especially during monsoons. Joshimath residents blame National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) The government has been charged with "turning a blind eye" to the complaints of the community on the NTPC projects. Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti leader Atul Sati stated to The Times of India (TOI) that the NTPC confessed "the tunnel was witnessing water seepage from a punctured aquifer, leading to the drying of water sources in Joshimath" in 2020. Environmentalist Ravi Chopra told TOI that the punctured aquifer inside the Joshimath mountain area would act like a leaking balloon. “Just as water will leak out of the balloon, causing it to gradually collapse, a similar phenomenon may have occurred inside the mountains in the area. ” Also read | India's top court steps closer to decide legal status of same-sex couples NPTC officials refuted these assertions, claiming that Joshimath was not "sinking" as a result of the project and that the tunnel was dry, as quoted by the TOI. How can Joshimath be revived? Experts suggest ways An expert team led by Dr. Ranjit Sinha, Secretary of Disaster Management, has been dispatched by the government to Joshimath to address the situation, and it will deliver its report following a thorough investigation. Experts advise that all construction and hydroelectric projects in the area be stopped immediately. The population must first move to a safer area, and only then should the town's planning be revised to account for the new variables and shifting geographical conditions. One of the most important aspects that need investigation and development is drainage planning. As more and more garbage seeps into the soil, loosening it from the inside, the city is suffering from poor drainage and sewer management. The state administration has urged the irrigation department to check into the situation. In order to preserve the soil capacity in the area, experts have also recommended replanting, particularly at sensitive sites. To save Joshimath, there needs to be a coordinated effort between the government and civil organisations with the help of military organisations like the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Joshimath sinking: Why is this town in India's Uttarakhand falling apart?

Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida emerged as an alternative for conservative holdouts who are refusing to back Kevin McCarthy's quest for House speaker as Republicans battled for a second day to elect a speaker. In the three rounds of voting that took place on Wednesday (4 January), Donalds received 20 votes to McCarthy's 201,&nbsp;preventing&nbsp;McCarthy from receiving the 218 votes necessary to be elected speaker of the full House. Republicans opposed to McCarthy nominated a broad selection of candidates on Tuesday, including former New York representative Lee Zeldin and representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona and Jim Jordan of Ohio. Donalds switched his vote from McCarthy to Jordan on Tuesday's final vote, siding with the rebel Republicans.

<h2>Byron Donalds: Early days&nbsp;</h2>

Donalds, 44, was chosen to serve Florida's 19th District, in the state's southwest, for a second term in November. To succeed retiring Republican Rep. Francis Rooney, Donalds won a nine-way GOP (another way of referring to the Republican party)&nbsp;primary and defeated his Democratic challenger in his first election in 2020.

A Brooklyn native who graduated from Florida State University in 2002, he was brought up&nbsp;by a single mother. He was working as a financial adviser when then-Gov. Rick Scott named him to the board of trustees of a public college, raising his ranks in Florida's GOP circles. Erika Donalds, his wife, is a supporter of the state's school choice movement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/data-lab-us-allows-abortion-pill-access-at-pharmacies-significance-amid-uss-shifting-abortion-landscape-549698">Data lab: US allows abortion pill sale at pharmacies; its significance amid shifting abortion landscape</a>

Donalds acknowledged being detained as a young man on a marijuana distribution allegation that was subsequently dropped, and he claimed to have reformed his life after that episode. In 2012, he campaigned unsuccessfully for the US House; four years later, he was elected to the Georgia House.

<h2>House speaker votes</h2>

Donalds told CBS in December 2021 that McCarthy had "done tremendous things" for House Republicans. “So right now, the question is, who’s going to be the person that’s going to take us to the next level?” Donalds said. “Kevin’s proven he can do that.”

Donalds supported McCarthy in the first two rounds of voting on Tuesday before backing Jordan in the third. Donalds tweeted as a result, saying, “reality is … McCarthy doesn’t have the votes.”

“This will take time, Democracy is messy at times, but we will be ready to govern on behalf of the American people,” Donalds added. “Debate is healthy.”

Also watch |&nbsp;Mexico sends 200 military personnel to the U.S. border city of Juarez

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mexico-sends-200-military-personnel-to-the-us-border-city-of-juarez-549613/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Donalds cast votes in favour of himself on Wednesday when his name was put up for nomination. After one of those votes, Donalds appeared on Fox to advocate for leadership that&nbsp;“actually reflects where the American people are, and that leadership is something that is earned here in the nation’s Capitol, not just given.”

<h2>What do other representatives think of Byron Donalds?</h2>

On Tuesday, only one member—Rep. Chip Roy of Texas—voted in favour of Donalds for speaker before switching to Jordan. Roy stated in his address on Wednesday presenting Donalds that the sophomore stood for a change for both Washington and the Republican Party.

“Here we are, and for the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed into the nomination for speaker of the House,” Roy said, referring to Donalds and Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries. “This country needs a change. This country needs leadership that does not reflect this city, this town that is badly broken.”

There are now only four Black Republicans in the House, including Donalds.

Donalds was referred to as a "prop" by Cori Bush, a Black Democratic congresswoman from Missouri.

“Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy. His name being in the mix is not progress — it’s pathetic,” she tweeted.

Furthermore,&nbsp;Nominating Donalds in the fifth round, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado said the House’s job “is not to coronate the biggest fundraiser, or rubberstamp the status quo or keep on going along to get along. It’s to use our votes to elect a speaker who will enable us to get our country back on track.”

While speaking to reporters on the capitol steps,&nbsp;Donalds on Wednesday called the ongoing debate “an invigorating day for America.” He also noted that&nbsp;“there’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.”

“Once we get this organized and figured out, we’ll get back to business,” he said. “It’s only Day Two, y’all. Settle down. We’re going to be all right.”

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida emerged as an alternative for conservative holdouts who are refusing to back Kevin McCarthy's quest for House speaker as Republicans battled for a second day to elect a speaker.

Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida emerged as an alternative for conservative holdouts who are refusing to back Kevin McCarthy's quest for House speaker as Republicans battled for a second day to elect a speaker. In the three rounds of voting that took place on Wednesday (4 January), Donalds received 20 votes to McCarthy's 201, preventing McCarthy from receiving the 218 votes necessary to be elected speaker of the full House. Republicans opposed to McCarthy nominated a broad selection of candidates on Tuesday, including former New York representative Lee Zeldin and representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona and Jim Jordan of Ohio. Donalds switched his vote from McCarthy to Jordan on Tuesday's final vote, siding with the rebel Republicans. Byron Donalds: Early days Donalds, 44, was chosen to serve Florida's 19th District, in the state's southwest, for a second term in November. To succeed retiring Republican Rep. Francis Rooney, Donalds won a nine-way GOP (another way of referring to the Republican party) primary and defeated his Democratic challenger in his first election in 2020. A Brooklyn native who graduated from Florida State University in 2002, he was brought up by a single mother. He was working as a financial adviser when then-Gov. Rick Scott named him to the board of trustees of a public college, raising his ranks in Florida's GOP circles. Erika Donalds, his wife, is a supporter of the state's school choice movement. Also read | Data lab: US allows abortion pill sale at pharmacies; its significance amid shifting abortion landscape Donalds acknowledged being detained as a young man on a marijuana distribution allegation that was subsequently dropped, and he claimed to have reformed his life after that episode. In 2012, he campaigned unsuccessfully for the US House; four years later, he was elected to the Georgia House. House speaker votes Donalds told CBS in December 2021 that McCarthy had "done tremendous things" for House Republicans. “So right now, the question is, who’s going to be the person that’s going to take us to the next level?” Donalds said. “Kevin’s proven he can do that.” Donalds supported McCarthy in the first two rounds of voting on Tuesday before backing Jordan in the third. Donalds tweeted as a result, saying, “reality is … McCarthy doesn’t have the votes.” “This will take time, Democracy is messy at times, but we will be ready to govern on behalf of the American people,” Donalds added. “Debate is healthy.” Also watch | Mexico sends 200 military personnel to the U.S. border city of Juarez Donalds cast votes in favour of himself on Wednesday when his name was put up for nomination. After one of those votes, Donalds appeared on Fox to advocate for leadership that “actually reflects where the American people are, and that leadership is something that is earned here in the nation’s Capitol, not just given.” What do other representatives think of Byron Donalds? On Tuesday, only one member—Rep. Chip Roy of Texas—voted in favour of Donalds for speaker before switching to Jordan. Roy stated in his address on Wednesday presenting Donalds that the sophomore stood for a change for both Washington and the Republican Party. “Here we are, and for the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed into the nomination for speaker of the House,” Roy said, referring to Donalds and Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries. “This country needs a change. This country needs leadership that does not reflect this city, this town that is badly broken.” There are now only four Black Republicans in the House, including Donalds. Donalds was referred to as a "prop" by Cori Bush, a Black Democratic congresswoman from Missouri. “Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy. His name being in the mix is not progress — it’s pathetic,” she tweeted. Furthermore, Nominating Donalds in the fifth round, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado said the House’s job “is not to coronate the biggest fundraiser, or rubberstamp the status quo or keep on going along to get along. It’s to use our votes to elect a speaker who will enable us to get our country back on track.” While speaking to reporters on the capitol steps, Donalds on Wednesday called the ongoing debate “an invigorating day for America.” He also noted that “there’s a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker.” “Once we get this organized and figured out, we’ll get back to business,” he said. “It’s only Day Two, y’all. Settle down. We’re going to be all right.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Who is Byron Donalds? The latest Republican nominee for House speaker pitted against Kevin McCarthy

Andrew Tate, a notorious&nbsp;internet personality and former kickboxer, was detained in Romania on Thursday (29 December. 2022), along with his brother, on suspicion of human trafficking, rape, and establishing an organised crime group, one day after engaging in a Twitter argument with climate activist Greta Thunberg. Tate has previously been accused of using hate speech and anti-women slurs. As reported by&nbsp;Reuters, he would be detained for around 30 days.&nbsp;

<h2>Who is Andrew Tate?</h2>

Tate, also known as King Cobra, operates the website CobraTate, which describes him as a 36-year-old American-British kickboxer. His accolades include holding the ISKA Kickboxing world championship title, and he also serves as a commentator for the Romanian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) production firm Real Xtreme Fighting.

He participated in the UK reality series Big Brother in 2016, but was disqualified after a video surfaced showing him attempting to hit&nbsp;a woman, which he disputed.

His distinctive kind of self-help guidance for men in the realms&nbsp;of business, financial, personal life, and mental health, which he refers to as "Tate speak," has helped him progressively grow in popularity.

He is arguably the most well-known among individuals with a similar message who call themselves "Men's Rights Activists."&nbsp;Over the past few years, they have claimed to empower men through a plethora of YouTube channels and podcasts.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/controversial-social-media-influencer-andrew-tate-banned-from-facebook-and-instagram-508647">Controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate banned from Facebook and Instagram</a>

His work has been extremely popular recently, and by June of this year, Google searches for him outnumbered those for Kim Kardashian and Donald Trump. Short clips—typically around a minute long—of his videos or interviews are taken from them and released on TikTok or as Instagram Reels videos, where they are viewed by millions globally.

<h2>What makes Andrew Tate so popular?</h2>

With 3.7 million followers on Twitter, Tate has a sizable internet following. Tate reportedly had more than 740,000 subscribers on YouTube and 4.6 million Instagram followers before being banned from many social media sites.&nbsp;

His opponents frequently use their vehement criticism of his numerous beliefs&nbsp;to further his presenc&nbsp;online. But, he also has a fervent fan base that is primarily composed of young men. Additionally, he&nbsp;stated that he supports the ideologies of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/meta-to-take-a-call-on-reinstating-trumps-facebook-account-later-this-month-548679">former US President Donald Trump</a>.

Tate has settled in with the anti-feminist movement known as the "manosphere," which the Southern Poverty Law Center has called "rich with sexist insults that may be startling for the visceral venom they express."

Although some of Tate's fans might ask him for love or fitness advice, many have built their own fan bases by cutting and sharing footage of Tate's offensive remarks.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Romania detains ex-boxer Andrew Tate over human trafficking case

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YouTuber and culture critic F.D. Signifier explained the appeal of the manosphere to young men by saying that it appeals to men&nbsp;who are upset with the "existential dread" of "patriarchy under capitalism" and may look to individuals like Tate for guidance. He said that the desire frequently begins with someone "wanting to acquire some muscle, learn how to talk to females, or seeking for their favourite anime character and ends- [up] advocating for things like compulsory monogamy, sex laws, and other issues."

<h2>Understanding the 'Manosphere' that Andrew Tate was&nbsp;part of&nbsp;</h2>

The manosphere is a network of online men's communities that oppose women's empowerment and that support sexist and anti-feminist ideologies. They attribute all kinds of social issues to feminists and women. Many of these groups support hostility toward women and girls, at times even inciting it. There are four major categories:

MRAs (Men's Rights Advocates) push for political reforms that will benefit men. But, a large part of their activism consists of making fun of and harassing feminists and other female public figures.

Men&nbsp;Going Their Own Way (MGTOW) claims that because women are such poison, men should entirely disregard them. Others MGTOW may date women but refrain from anything serious like getting married. Some MGTOW will not even be friends with women.

Pick-up artists (PUAs) instruct men&nbsp;in seduction techniques so they can better attract women. These methods frequently entail treating women unfairly, such as by insulting them ("negging") or disobeying their consent.

Involuntary celibates (also known as incels) feel they are entitled to a relationship with a woman but are unable to do it. This gang has been implicated in several instances of extremely violent behaviour, including murder.

Numerous manosphere groups who maintain their own websites have noticed an increase in traffic, with some witnessing increases in user numbers from hundreds to millions. However, these organisations are also present on widely used social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Many manosphere communities may be found online, especially on Reddit, despite the fact that the most prominent MGTOW and incel subreddits are now forbidden.

Since YouTube's "watch next" algorithm has a history of promoting progressively sexist and anti-feminist content to keep users interested, young people may also discover the manosphere there. Another option would be TikTok, where the MGTOW and pick-up artist groups in particular are growing in popularity.

The manosphere is notorious for its extensive use of arcane language in common debates. Several expressions, like the following, imply that a person is conversant with the manosphere:

Red pill: Realising that feminism is about suppressing men and learning the 'truth' about female nature.

Blue pill: the state of blissful ignorance brought on by refusing to take the red pill.

Alpha male or Chad: An appealing, successful man&nbsp;wanted by all women.

Beta male: A typical man who has not yet taken the red pill and is inferior to the alpha male.

Femoid/foid: A term for "female humanoid," primarily used by incels.

Gynocentrism: The belief that women control and rule society.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Andrew Tate, a notorious internet personality and former kickboxer, was detained in Romania on Thursday (29 December. 2022), along with his brother, on suspicion of human trafficking, rape, and establishing an organised crime group, one day after engaging in a Twitter argument with climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Andrew Tate, a notorious internet personality and former kickboxer, was detained in Romania on Thursday (29 December. 2022), along with his brother, on suspicion of human trafficking, rape, and establishing an organised crime group, one day after engaging in a Twitter argument with climate activist Greta Thunberg. Tate has previously been accused of using hate speech and anti-women slurs. As reported by Reuters, he would be detained for around 30 days. Who is Andrew Tate? Tate, also known as King Cobra, operates the website CobraTate, which describes him as a 36-year-old American-British kickboxer. His accolades include holding the ISKA Kickboxing world championship title, and he also serves as a commentator for the Romanian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) production firm Real Xtreme Fighting. He participated in the UK reality series Big Brother in 2016, but was disqualified after a video surfaced showing him attempting to hit a woman, which he disputed. His distinctive kind of self-help guidance for men in the realms of business, financial, personal life, and mental health, which he refers to as "Tate speak," has helped him progressively grow in popularity. He is arguably the most well-known among individuals with a similar message who call themselves "Men's Rights Activists." Over the past few years, they have claimed to empower men through a plethora of YouTube channels and podcasts. Also read | Controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate banned from Facebook and Instagram His work has been extremely popular recently, and by June of this year, Google searches for him outnumbered those for Kim Kardashian and Donald Trump. Short clips—typically around a minute long—of his videos or interviews are taken from them and released on TikTok or as Instagram Reels videos, where they are viewed by millions globally. What makes Andrew Tate so popular? With 3.7 million followers on Twitter, Tate has a sizable internet following. Tate reportedly had more than 740,000 subscribers on YouTube and 4.6 million Instagram followers before being banned from many social media sites. His opponents frequently use their vehement criticism of his numerous beliefs to further his presenc online. But, he also has a fervent fan base that is primarily composed of young men. Additionally, he stated that he supports the ideologies of former US President Donald Trump. Tate has settled in with the anti-feminist movement known as the "manosphere," which the Southern Poverty Law Center has called "rich with sexist insults that may be startling for the visceral venom they express." Although some of Tate's fans might ask him for love or fitness advice, many have built their own fan bases by cutting and sharing footage of Tate's offensive remarks. Also watch | Romania detains ex-boxer Andrew Tate over human trafficking case YouTuber and culture critic F.D. Signifier explained the appeal of the manosphere to young men by saying that it appeals to men who are upset with the "existential dread" of "patriarchy under capitalism" and may look to individuals like Tate for guidance. He said that the desire frequently begins with someone "wanting to acquire some muscle, learn how to talk to females, or seeking for their favourite anime character and ends- [up] advocating for things like compulsory monogamy, sex laws, and other issues." Understanding the 'Manosphere' that Andrew Tate was part of The manosphere is a network of online men's communities that oppose women's empowerment and that support sexist and anti-feminist ideologies. They attribute all kinds of social issues to feminists and women. Many of these groups support hostility toward women and girls, at times even inciting it. There are four major categories: MRAs (Men's Rights Advocates) push for political reforms that will benefit men. But, a large part of their activism consists of making fun of and harassing feminists and other female public figures. Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW) claims that because women are such poison, men should entirely disregard them. Others MGTOW may date women but refrain from anything serious like getting married. Some MGTOW will not even be friends with women. Pick-up artists (PUAs) instruct men in seduction techniques so they can better attract women. These methods frequently entail treating women unfairly, such as by insulting them ("negging") or disobeying their consent. Involuntary celibates (also known as incels) feel they are entitled to a relationship with a woman but are unable to do it. This gang has been implicated in several instances of extremely violent behaviour, including murder. Numerous manosphere groups who maintain their own websites have noticed an increase in traffic, with some witnessing increases in user numbers from hundreds to millions. However, these organisations are also present on widely used social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Many manosphere communities may be found online, especially on Reddit, despite the fact that the most prominent MGTOW and incel subreddits are now forbidden. Since YouTube's "watch next" algorithm has a history of promoting progressively sexist and anti-feminist content to keep users interested, young people may also discover the manosphere there. Another option would be TikTok, where the MGTOW and pick-up artist groups in particular are growing in popularity. The manosphere is notorious for its extensive use of arcane language in common debates. Several expressions, like the following, imply that a person is conversant with the manosphere: Red pill: Realising that feminism is about suppressing men and learning the 'truth' about female nature. Blue pill: the state of blissful ignorance brought on by refusing to take the red pill. Alpha male or Chad: An appealing, successful man wanted by all women. Beta male: A typical man who has not yet taken the red pill and is inferior to the alpha male. Femoid/foid: A term for "female humanoid," primarily used by incels. Gynocentrism: The belief that women control and rule society. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Andrew Tate's arrest: What made the 'manosphere' influencer so controversial?

The Indian senior men's cricket team had an ordinary run in 2022. The year saw them dominate the T20I format enroute to the World Cup but they were whitewashed in three ODIs in South Africa, lost a golden opportunity to win a Test series in SA and England (losing the one-off Test in Edgbaston), didn't qualify for Asia Cup 2022 final and bowed out of the T20 WC in the semi-finals. Further, they even lost to Bangladesh (2-1) in three ODIs in the Bangla Tigers' den. Hence, a review meeting was held by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which was attended by President Roger Binny, Secretary Jay Shah, head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma.&nbsp;

One of the most-talked about aspects in Indian cricket, in 2022, was the regular injury concerns. After conceding the ODI series with loss in the second game, Rohit had stated in the post-match presentation, "I mean there are definitely a few injury concerns. We need to try and get to the bottom of it. I don't know what exactly it is. Maybe they're playing too much cricket. We need to try and monitor those guys, because it's important to understand when they come for India, they need to be 100%, in fact more than 100%." Thus, the Yo-Yo Test -- introduced during Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri era -- has returned whereas BCCI has also added a new selection criteria by introducing the Dexa test for Indian players.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nca-to-work-with-ipl-franchises-in-workload-management-drill-for-20-targeted-players-for-2023-world-cup-548508">NCA to work with IPL franchises in workload management drill for 20 targeted players for 2023 World Cup</a>

What is Dexa test? All you need to know

It is to be noted that Dexa, also called the 'bone density test', is an X-ray technology (dual-energy x-ray) used to measure bone strength. It, in turn, will help find out if the player taking the test is at risk of breaking or losing bones. In addition, it will help&nbsp;in measuring body composition as well as noting body fat and muscle mass.

Meanwhile, the National Cricket Academy chief VVS Laxman was also part of the meeting, who also served as the stand-in coach for Team India at regular intervals last year. The NCA will now also closely work with all IPL franchises in workload management for 20 targeted players for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Moreover, players have been asked to not miss international fixtures going forward as India commence preparations for the home ODI WC, later this year, in a bid to end their nine-year-long ICC-title-drought.

The Indian senior men's cricket team had an ordinary run in 2022. The year saw them dominate the T20I format enroute to the World Cup but they were whitewashed in three ODIs in South Africa, lost a golden opportunity to win a Test series in SA and England (losing the one-off Test in Edgbaston), didn't qualify for Asia Cup 2022 final and bowed out of the T20 WC in the semi-finals.

The Indian senior men's cricket team had an ordinary run in 2022. The year saw them dominate the T20I format enroute to the World Cup but they were whitewashed in three ODIs in South Africa, lost a golden opportunity to win a Test series in SA and England (losing the one-off Test in Edgbaston), didn't qualify for Asia Cup 2022 final and bowed out of the T20 WC in the semi-finals. Further, they even lost to Bangladesh (2-1) in three ODIs in the Bangla Tigers' den. Hence, a review meeting was held by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which was attended by President Roger Binny, Secretary Jay Shah, head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma. One of the most-talked about aspects in Indian cricket, in 2022, was the regular injury concerns. After conceding the ODI series with loss in the second game, Rohit had stated in the post-match presentation, "I mean there are definitely a few injury concerns. We need to try and get to the bottom of it. I don't know what exactly it is. Maybe they're playing too much cricket. We need to try and monitor those guys, because it's important to understand when they come for India, they need to be 100%, in fact more than 100%." Thus, the Yo-Yo Test -- introduced during Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri era -- has returned whereas BCCI has also added a new selection criteria by introducing the Dexa test for Indian players. Also read: NCA to work with IPL franchises in workload management drill for 20 targeted players for 2023 World Cup What is Dexa test? All you need to know It is to be noted that Dexa, also called the 'bone density test', is an X-ray technology (dual-energy x-ray) used to measure bone strength. It, in turn, will help find out if the player taking the test is at risk of breaking or losing bones. In addition, it will help in measuring body composition as well as noting body fat and muscle mass. Meanwhile, the National Cricket Academy chief VVS Laxman was also part of the meeting, who also served as the stand-in coach for Team India at regular intervals last year. The NCA will now also closely work with all IPL franchises in workload management for 20 targeted players for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Moreover, players have been asked to not miss international fixtures going forward as India commence preparations for the home ODI WC, later this year, in a bid to end their nine-year-long ICC-title-drought.

Explained: Everything to know about Dexa test, BCCI's new MANDATORY selection criteria for Team India players

The year 2022 has seen quite a few marquee tournaments taking place, such as the T20 World Cup and FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The new year is set to start in a few days and it will begin with a bang for all sports lovers. The forthcoming Hockey WC will take place from January 13-29 in the cities of Bhubaneshwar and Rourkela in Odisha as all the top teams will fight it out for the coveted title. Belgium is the defending champions, having beaten the Netherlands in the 2018 finale by 3-2 in the penalty shootout (after the match ended in a 0-0 stalemate).

Ahead of the showpiece event's commencement, here are the four groups comprising four sides each. The groups are as follows.

Pool A:- Australia, South Africa, France, Argentina 
Pool B:- Belgium, Japan, Korea, Germany 
Pool C:- Netherlands, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand 
Pool D:- India, Wales, Spain, England

Thus, Harmanpreet Singh-led India is in a tricky group D, also comprising England, Spain and Wales. It is to be noted that the top four teams from each group will progress to the next stage and&nbsp;occupy the first four places in the quarter-final. However, the next four sides&nbsp;who will feature in the last eight will be determined by crossover matches between the second and third-placed teams from every group.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-is-looking-very-seriously-at-bidding-for-2036-olympics-reveals-sports-minister-anurag-thakur-547430">India is looking very seriously at bidding for 2036 Olympics, reveals Sports Minister Anurag Thakur</a>

A win in the pool stage will give every side two points whereas they will settle for a point in case of a draw. If two sides find themselves tied on multiple counts, then the scenario is very interesting. In this case, a tie-breaker rule will come into play to reveal the team ranking on the group stage.

For instance, if two teams are tied on equal points, then the team with more victories in the group stage will achieve the higher rank. In case if that doesn't help, then&nbsp;the goal difference -- i.e. the difference between the number of goals scored and the number of goals conceded -- will be taken into consideration. If that also doesn't lead to a result,&nbsp;then the team with the most number of goals scored will gain a higher rank. If that too doesn't separate the two sides tied, then the head-to-head result between them will achieve the higher rank.

In the last edition, in 2018, India ended their run in the quarter-finals. After Tokyo 2020 success, where they finished with a bronze medal, the Men in Blue will be confident to go the distance and end with the coveted title.

The year 2022 has seen quite a few marquee tournaments taking place, such as the T20 World Cup and FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The new year is set to start in a few days and it will begin with a bang for all sports lovers.

The year 2022 has seen quite a few marquee tournaments taking place, such as the T20 World Cup and FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The new year is set to start in a few days and it will begin with a bang for all sports lovers. The forthcoming Hockey WC will take place from January 13-29 in the cities of Bhubaneshwar and Rourkela in Odisha as all the top teams will fight it out for the coveted title. Belgium is the defending champions, having beaten the Netherlands in the 2018 finale by 3-2 in the penalty shootout (after the match ended in a 0-0 stalemate). Ahead of the showpiece event's commencement, here are the four groups comprising four sides each. The groups are as follows. Pool A:- Australia, South Africa, France, Argentina Pool B:- Belgium, Japan, Korea, Germany Pool C:- Netherlands, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand Pool D:- India, Wales, Spain, England Thus, Harmanpreet Singh-led India is in a tricky group D, also comprising England, Spain and Wales. It is to be noted that the top four teams from each group will progress to the next stage and occupy the first four places in the quarter-final. However, the next four sides who will feature in the last eight will be determined by crossover matches between the second and third-placed teams from every group. Also read: India is looking very seriously at bidding for 2036 Olympics, reveals Sports Minister Anurag Thakur A win in the pool stage will give every side two points whereas they will settle for a point in case of a draw. If two sides find themselves tied on multiple counts, then the scenario is very interesting. In this case, a tie-breaker rule will come into play to reveal the team ranking on the group stage. For instance, if two teams are tied on equal points, then the team with more victories in the group stage will achieve the higher rank. In case if that doesn't help, then the goal difference -- i.e. the difference between the number of goals scored and the number of goals conceded -- will be taken into consideration. If that also doesn't lead to a result, then the team with the most number of goals scored will gain a higher rank. If that too doesn't separate the two sides tied, then the head-to-head result between them will achieve the higher rank. In the last edition, in 2018, India ended their run in the quarter-finals. After Tokyo 2020 success, where they finished with a bronze medal, the Men in Blue will be confident to go the distance and end with the coveted title.

Hockey WC: EXPLAINED! What is the tie-breaker rule that will come into play in group stage

The BCCI selecton committee, led by outgoing chief Chetan Sharma, selected India's white-ball squads for their upcoming home assignments versus Sri Lanka, starting on January 03. While Hardik Pandya was named the T20I captain, Rohit Sharma will continue to lead in ODIs and make his return straightaway during the 50-over series -- after a thumb injury he suffered during the Bangladesh tour. Meanwhile, the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rishabh Pant didn't find a mention in both the squads whereas veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan was dropped from the ODI setup after his stocks having fallen considerably in recent times.&nbsp;

There has been no update shared by the selectors regarding the absence of Bhuvi and Pant. While a lot has been said and written about Pant's T20I career, which has still not taken off, he was expected to be a part of the ODI squad versus the Lankans. However, no reason was provided regarding his absence.&nbsp;According to several reports, it has been revealed that the swashbuckling keeper-batter has been left out to be able to recover from the niggle that he has been carrying in his knee for quite sometime.

According to reports in The Times of India, Rev Sportz, and Sports Tak, Pant has had&nbsp;a niggle on his knee for quite sometime and has, thus, been rested from the SL series. It is believed that&nbsp;the youngster has been asked to report at&nbsp;the National Cricket Academy (NCA), in Bengaluru, from January 3 for 15 days to work on his knee and regain full fitness before the upcoming New Zealand and Australia series on home soil.&nbsp;

In Pant's absence, Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul are India's wicketkeepers in the ODI setup whereas Ishan and Sanju Samson are the two glovesman present in the T20I line-up.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-hardik-will-be-captain-and-vice-captain-leading-into-odi-wc-says-team-india-veteran-dinesh-karthik-547384">Rohit, Hardik will be captain and vice-captain leading into ODI WC, says Team India veteran Dinesh Karthik</a>

India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is:&nbsp;Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.

India’s squad for Sri Lanka ODIs:&nbsp;Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.

The BCCI selecton committee, led by outgoing chief Chetan Sharma, selected India's white-ball squads for their upcoming home assignments versus Sri Lanka, starting on January 03.

The BCCI selecton committee, led by outgoing chief Chetan Sharma, selected India's white-ball squads for their upcoming home assignments versus Sri Lanka, starting on January 03. While Hardik Pandya was named the T20I captain, Rohit Sharma will continue to lead in ODIs and make his return straightaway during the 50-over series -- after a thumb injury he suffered during the Bangladesh tour. Meanwhile, the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rishabh Pant didn't find a mention in both the squads whereas veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan was dropped from the ODI setup after his stocks having fallen considerably in recent times. There has been no update shared by the selectors regarding the absence of Bhuvi and Pant. While a lot has been said and written about Pant's T20I career, which has still not taken off, he was expected to be a part of the ODI squad versus the Lankans. However, no reason was provided regarding his absence. According to several reports, it has been revealed that the swashbuckling keeper-batter has been left out to be able to recover from the niggle that he has been carrying in his knee for quite sometime. According to reports in The Times of India, Rev Sportz, and Sports Tak, Pant has had a niggle on his knee for quite sometime and has, thus, been rested from the SL series. It is believed that the youngster has been asked to report at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), in Bengaluru, from January 3 for 15 days to work on his knee and regain full fitness before the upcoming New Zealand and Australia series on home soil. In Pant's absence, Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul are India's wicketkeepers in the ODI setup whereas Ishan and Sanju Samson are the two glovesman present in the T20I line-up. Also read: Rohit, Hardik will be captain and vice-captain leading into ODI WC, says Team India veteran Dinesh Karthik India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar. India’s squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.

EXPLAINED: Why Rishabh Pant isn't part of India's home white-ball series vs Sri Lanka

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition is living up to expectations. While the group stage saw plenty of upsets, the games are now going down to the wire in the knockouts. With the Round of 16 getting over, teams such as the Netherlands, Argentina, Morocco, Portugal, France, England, Brazil and Croatia have booked a place in the top eight, which will commence on December 09. While any two teams, from the top eight, can feature in the final showdown, here's how Argentina vs Portugal is a possibility in the summit clash which will be a mouth-watering affair&nbsp;with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo up against each other:

How can Argentina and Portugal lock horns in the FINAL?

It is to be noted that Argentina is set to meet the 2010 runners-up Netherlands in the quarters, on December 13. If they beat the Dutch line-up, Argentina will face the winner of the Brazil vs Croatia quarter-final clash, which is set to take place on December 09, in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Portugal will face either France or England in the last four if they manage to get past high-flying Morocco in the quarters, on December 10. Thus, Argentina and Portugal won't meet each other in the semis but have a realistic chance to square off in the summit clash, which will surely send football fans into a frenzy.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/history-created-morocco-becomes-fourth-african-nation-to-enter-fifa-world-cup-qfs-after-stunning-spain-540788">History created! Morocco becomes fourth African nation to enter FIFA World Cup QFs after stunning Spain</a>

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🚨 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 🚨 
 
We're down to the last eight &amp; still on track for a Messi vs Ronaldo Final in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> 😅 
 
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Of course, anything can happen in this FIFA WC -- which has already seen some surprising results -- but there is a solid chance for Argentina and Portugal to meet in the finale. For that, they will need to be at their very best to get past the upcoming two rounds. As of now, Argentina has had a topsy-turvy ride. They lost their opener to Saudi Arabia before beating the likes of Mexico and Poland to reach the Round of 16 where they defeated Australia. The Ronaldo-starrer Portugal, on the other hand, defeated Ghana and Uruguay before going down to South Korea in the group stage but defeated Switzerland to reach the quarters.

Overall, a riveting end is surely on cards in the ongoing Qatar World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition is living up to expectations. While the group stage saw plenty of upsets, the games are now going down to the wire in the knockouts.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition is living up to expectations. While the group stage saw plenty of upsets, the games are now going down to the wire in the knockouts. With the Round of 16 getting over, teams such as the Netherlands, Argentina, Morocco, Portugal, France, England, Brazil and Croatia have booked a place in the top eight, which will commence on December 09. While any two teams, from the top eight, can feature in the final showdown, here's how Argentina vs Portugal is a possibility in the summit clash which will be a mouth-watering affair with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo up against each other: How can Argentina and Portugal lock horns in the FINAL? It is to be noted that Argentina is set to meet the 2010 runners-up Netherlands in the quarters, on December 13. If they beat the Dutch line-up, Argentina will face the winner of the Brazil vs Croatia quarter-final clash, which is set to take place on December 09, in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Portugal will face either France or England in the last four if they manage to get past high-flying Morocco in the quarters, on December 10. Thus, Argentina and Portugal won't meet each other in the semis but have a realistic chance to square off in the summit clash, which will surely send football fans into a frenzy. Also read: History created! Morocco becomes fourth African nation to enter FIFA World Cup QFs after stunning Spain 🚨 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 🚨 We're down to the last eight & still on track for a Messi vs Ronaldo Final in #Qatar2022 😅 Catch the action LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲 Presented by @Mahindra_Auto#FIFAWorldCup #WorldsGreatestShow #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/qOQ4wOs0Pg — Sports18 (@Sports18) December 7, 2022 × Of course, anything can happen in this FIFA WC -- which has already seen some surprising results -- but there is a solid chance for Argentina and Portugal to meet in the finale. For that, they will need to be at their very best to get past the upcoming two rounds. As of now, Argentina has had a topsy-turvy ride. They lost their opener to Saudi Arabia before beating the likes of Mexico and Poland to reach the Round of 16 where they defeated Australia. The Ronaldo-starrer Portugal, on the other hand, defeated Ghana and Uruguay before going down to South Korea in the group stage but defeated Switzerland to reach the quarters. Overall, a riveting end is surely on cards in the ongoing Qatar World Cup.

FIFA WC: EXPLAINED! How Messi's Argentina & Ronaldo-led Portugal can square off in final showdown

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, has lived up to expectations so far. While the group stages saw plenty of upsets, the stage is now set for the last eight&nbsp;round with more action and drama along the way. Several things, both on and off the field, have made heads turn during the Qatar World Cup. During the group stage match between South Korea and Portugal, the Asian side's star&nbsp;footballer Hwang Hee Chan's pictures made heads turn, in what seemed like he was wearing&nbsp;a women's sports bra.

The regular football fans and viewers won't be surprised with players sporting such an attire. However, non-regular fans might be perplexed by what they saw Hee Chan wearing. Here's everything you need to know about such an attire commonly worn by footballers across the globe:

The vest, appearing as a sports bra, is actually regarded as a GPS tracker vest. It is worn beneath jerseys and the vest&nbsp;comprises a GPS device connected to it, useful for&nbsp;collecting individual player GPS data. Such a device is placed in a small pouch at the backside of the GPS tracker vest.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-wc-r16-broadcast-tv-and-ott-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-portugal-vs-switzerland-540533">FIFA WC, R16 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Portugal vs Switzerland?</a>

Thus, such a sight might be uncommon for those non-regular football fans, however, it is very much common for the ardent followers of the beautiful game.&nbsp;

Talking about the upcoming matches in the Round of 16 in Qatar World Cup, Morocco will take on Spain whereas Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal will face Switzerland with Brazil, Croatia, France, England, Netherlands and Argentina having booked a place in the quarter-finals, which commences on Friday (December 09).

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, has lived up to expectations so far. While the group stages saw plenty of upsets, the stage is now set for the last eight round with more action and drama along the way.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition, in Qatar, has lived up to expectations so far. While the group stages saw plenty of upsets, the stage is now set for the last eight round with more action and drama along the way. Several things, both on and off the field, have made heads turn during the Qatar World Cup. During the group stage match between South Korea and Portugal, the Asian side's star footballer Hwang Hee Chan's pictures made heads turn, in what seemed like he was wearing a women's sports bra. The regular football fans and viewers won't be surprised with players sporting such an attire. However, non-regular fans might be perplexed by what they saw Hee Chan wearing. Here's everything you need to know about such an attire commonly worn by footballers across the globe: The vest, appearing as a sports bra, is actually regarded as a GPS tracker vest. It is worn beneath jerseys and the vest comprises a GPS device connected to it, useful for collecting individual player GPS data. Such a device is placed in a small pouch at the backside of the GPS tracker vest. Also read: FIFA WC, R16 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Portugal vs Switzerland? Thus, such a sight might be uncommon for those non-regular football fans, however, it is very much common for the ardent followers of the beautiful game. Talking about the upcoming matches in the Round of 16 in Qatar World Cup, Morocco will take on Spain whereas Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal will face Switzerland with Brazil, Croatia, France, England, Netherlands and Argentina having booked a place in the quarter-finals, which commences on Friday (December 09).

FIFA World Cup 2022: Are players wearing sports bra? All you need to know

In a run-feast in Rawalpindi, England beat Pakistan by 74 runs to win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. On Day 5, all three results were possible but Ben Stokes &amp; Co. were rewarded for their brave and attacking approach as they beat Babar Azam &amp; Co. in the&nbsp;riveting final&nbsp;moments of the contest.

Opting to bat first, England rode on centuries from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, OIlie Pope and Harry Brooks to be dismissed for 657 (in 101 overs) in their first innings. In reply, Pakistan also made a mammoth 579, courtesy of hundreds from Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique and Babar, but gave a vital 78-run lead to the visitors who smashed 264/7 in 35.5 overs and declared; setting up a challenging 343-run target.

On the final day, Pakistan were 259 for 5 are seemed like cruising towards the total before James Anderson-Ollie Robinson's four wickets each and Jack Leach chipped in with the last wicket to take their side home; dismissing Pakistan for 268. With this defeat, Pakistan have dented their chances of qualifying for the second&nbsp;ICC World Test Championship final.

Here's how Pakistan's loss is India's gain

Babar &amp; Co. aren't out of contention yet. They are placed&nbsp;fifth in the table, however,&nbsp;wins for Australia or India in their respective upcoming Test series will end Pakistan's chances of entering the final.&nbsp;

On the other hand, if Rohit Sharma's India&nbsp;clean sweep Bangladesh, they can now afford to lose at least one of their upcoming four Tests versus Pat Cummins-led Australia at home, early next year, in a bid to qualify. For Australia, if they whitewash West Indies on home soil and beat South Africa in two out of the upcoming three Tests, Down Under, they would also make it&nbsp;to the&nbsp;summit clash.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-icc-world-test-championship-points-table-after-england-beat-pakistan-in-rawalpindi-540232">Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England beat Pakistan in Rawalpindi</a>

After the loss, Babar said at the post-match presentation, "We were not upto the mark. Had a golden chance in the second innings, but session by session we lost wickets. Our bowling group is young. Unfortunately Haris injured himself in the first innings. All credit to the bowlers who bowled well and tried without Haris. We try to stick to our plans. Difficult when opponent goes at 7 an over. We had an opportunity in the second innings. But we didn't get partnerships in the end. Lot of positives. Our batting performed very well. Bowling also very well."

Pakistan will also host New Zealand after the England series. However, they have spoiled their chances of going ahead with a loss in the England series opener.

In a run-feast in Rawalpindi, England beat Pakistan by 74 runs to win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. On Day 5, all three results were possible but Ben Stokes & Co.

In a run-feast in Rawalpindi, England beat Pakistan by 74 runs to win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. On Day 5, all three results were possible but Ben Stokes & Co. were rewarded for their brave and attacking approach as they beat Babar Azam & Co. in the riveting final moments of the contest. Opting to bat first, England rode on centuries from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, OIlie Pope and Harry Brooks to be dismissed for 657 (in 101 overs) in their first innings. In reply, Pakistan also made a mammoth 579, courtesy of hundreds from Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique and Babar, but gave a vital 78-run lead to the visitors who smashed 264/7 in 35.5 overs and declared; setting up a challenging 343-run target. On the final day, Pakistan were 259 for 5 are seemed like cruising towards the total before James Anderson-Ollie Robinson's four wickets each and Jack Leach chipped in with the last wicket to take their side home; dismissing Pakistan for 268. With this defeat, Pakistan have dented their chances of qualifying for the second ICC World Test Championship final. Here's how Pakistan's loss is India's gain Babar & Co. aren't out of contention yet. They are placed fifth in the table, however, wins for Australia or India in their respective upcoming Test series will end Pakistan's chances of entering the final. On the other hand, if Rohit Sharma's India clean sweep Bangladesh, they can now afford to lose at least one of their upcoming four Tests versus Pat Cummins-led Australia at home, early next year, in a bid to qualify. For Australia, if they whitewash West Indies on home soil and beat South Africa in two out of the upcoming three Tests, Down Under, they would also make it to the summit clash. Also read: Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England beat Pakistan in Rawalpindi After the loss, Babar said at the post-match presentation, "We were not upto the mark. Had a golden chance in the second innings, but session by session we lost wickets. Our bowling group is young. Unfortunately Haris injured himself in the first innings. All credit to the bowlers who bowled well and tried without Haris. We try to stick to our plans. Difficult when opponent goes at 7 an over. We had an opportunity in the second innings. But we didn't get partnerships in the end. Lot of positives. Our batting performed very well. Bowling also very well." Pakistan will also host New Zealand after the England series. However, they have spoiled their chances of going ahead with a loss in the England series opener.

EXPLAINED: How Pakistan's 74-run loss vs England is a gain for India with WTC final ticket at stake

Donald Trump, the&nbsp;former president of the United States&nbsp;has a number of legal issues looming over him as he launches his recently declared campaign for presidency once again in 2024. The 76-year-old faces the possibility of a federal prosecution over reportedly discovered confidential materials at his Mar-a-Lago club, and his namesake business, the Trump Organization, is now on trial in Manhattan for tax fraud.

We explain a few lawsuits in depth.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;US: Donald Trump files candidacy paperwork for 2024 run

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-donald-trump-files-candidacy-paperwork-for-2024-run-534571/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Deceit and fraud cases in New York</h2>

The Trump Organization, which bears Donald Trump's name, is also on trial in New York for deceit and tax fraud. The business, which manages hotels, golf courses, and other properties globally, allegedly&nbsp;ran a 15-year plan to provide high-level executives perks like fancy cars and residences while avoiding paying taxes on such payments.

Nine charges of tax fraud, grand larceny, and fabricating business documents are brought against two Trump Organization corporations in what prosecutors claim was a 15-year plot to cheat tax authorities by neglecting to declare and pay taxes on employee salaries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-ag-asks-judge-to-bar-donald-trump-from-moving-assets-to-new-company-525211">New York AG asks judge to bar Donald Trump from moving assets to new company</a>

This July, Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, entered a guilty plea for his part in the tax fraud. Despite not helping the prosecution, he recently testified in the trial. The business entered a not-guilty plea.

<h2>Trump vs. New York attorney general</h2>

After a long drawn investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, three of his adult children, and the Trump Organization in September. She claimed that they were all complicit in a massive fraud that lasted more than 10 years and was used by the former president to enrich himself.

James said that the Trump Organization, including its hotels and golf courses, was the target of the deception. The complaint alleges that the Trump Organization inflated the worth of his properties using false evaluations, deceiving lenders, insurers, and tax authorities.

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Donald Trump failed America. <a href="https://t.co/fylyocYcse">pic.twitter.com/fylyocYcse</a>
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1592704151384985602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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James wants to recover $250 million in allegedly illegally obtained money.

<h2>Mar-a-Lago documents: The case of missing government records</h2>

Trump is the subject of a criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice for keeping official documents after leaving office in January 2021, including some that were classified.

During a search that was permitted by the court on August 8 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, the FBI took 11,000 papers. There were about 100 documents classified as such, some of which were also tagged as 'top secret', the most serious classification.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-had-more-than-700-classified-documents-at-mar-a-lago-509540">Donald Trump had more than 700 classified documents at Mar-a-Lago</a>

Republican Donald Trump has claimed that the Justice Department is conducting a&nbsp;witch hunt.&nbsp;The confiscated documents are being examined by a special master, Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie, to see if any of them are covered by executive privilege as claimed by Trump.

A president may keep some papers or information private under the legal theory known as executive privilege.

Asserting that both of these actions are impeding the criminal investigation, the Justice Department has requested a federal appeals court to put a halt to that review and grant it access to the unclassified papers found during the search.

<h2>Defamation case:&nbsp;E. Jean Carroll</h2>

E. Jean Carroll, a former journalist for Elle magazine, filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in 2019 after he refuted her claim that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s in a department&nbsp;store&nbsp;in New York City. In order to increase book sales, Trump charged her of lying.

<img alt="Carrol" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4068059c-8028-4b24-a49a-2ee1b9e473d5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/e-jean-carroll-hearing.jpg" />

Writer E. Jean Carroll sued then-President Donald Trump in 2019 for defamation after alleging he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Picture credits: AP

Trump has contended that a federal provision that protects government workers from defamation charges shields him from Carroll's lawsuit. The Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined in September that Trump was a government employee when he labelled Carroll a liar, but left open the issue of whether he was operating in his capacity as president at the time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-deposed-in-e-jean-carroll-defamation-case-526929">Trump deposed in E. Jean Carroll defamation case linked to rape accusation</a>

On January 10, 2023, an appeals court in Washington, D.C., will hear oral arguments and evaluate the issue.

Even if the defamation case is dropped, Carroll intends to sue Trump for violence and purposeful infliction of mental distress in accordance with New York state law.

<h2>Election rigging investigation in Georgia</h2>

The investigation into Trump's alleged attempts to sway the outcome of the 2020 election in Georgia was given extraordinary grand jury empanelled status in May.

A call that Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had from Trump on January 2, 2021 is one of the main topics of the inquiry. In order to "discover" the necessary number of votes to reverse Trump's Georgia loss, Raffensperger was tasked by Trump.

Trump could have broken at least three Georgia election-related criminal crimes, according to legal experts: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud, and deliberate meddling with the conduct of elections.

<h2>US Capitol attack</h2>

The matter of whether Trump violated the law in his attempts to avenge his loss in the 2020 election is being looked into by a House of Representatives committee looking into the assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021. The certification of the election results by Congress was a goal of the protesters.

The committee subpoenaed Trump in October to speak under oath and provide records.

Republican committee vice-chair Liz Cheney has stated the group may recommend potential criminal charges against Trump to the Justice Department.

Trump's federal crimes may or may not be investigated by the Justice Department. In the upcoming weeks, the panel will probably provide its findings.

The panel's inquiry has been criticised by Trump as being politically motivated.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Donald Trump, the former president of the United States has a number of legal issues looming over him as he launches his recently declared campaign for presidency once again in 2024.

Donald Trump, the former president of the United States has a number of legal issues looming over him as he launches his recently declared campaign for presidency once again in 2024. The 76-year-old faces the possibility of a federal prosecution over reportedly discovered confidential materials at his Mar-a-Lago club, and his namesake business, the Trump Organization, is now on trial in Manhattan for tax fraud. We explain a few lawsuits in depth. WATCH | US: Donald Trump files candidacy paperwork for 2024 run Deceit and fraud cases in New York The Trump Organization, which bears Donald Trump's name, is also on trial in New York for deceit and tax fraud. The business, which manages hotels, golf courses, and other properties globally, allegedly ran a 15-year plan to provide high-level executives perks like fancy cars and residences while avoiding paying taxes on such payments. Nine charges of tax fraud, grand larceny, and fabricating business documents are brought against two Trump Organization corporations in what prosecutors claim was a 15-year plot to cheat tax authorities by neglecting to declare and pay taxes on employee salaries. Also read | New York AG asks judge to bar Donald Trump from moving assets to new company This July, Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, entered a guilty plea for his part in the tax fraud. Despite not helping the prosecution, he recently testified in the trial. The business entered a not-guilty plea. Trump vs. New York attorney general After a long drawn investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, three of his adult children, and the Trump Organization in September. She claimed that they were all complicit in a massive fraud that lasted more than 10 years and was used by the former president to enrich himself. James said that the Trump Organization, including its hotels and golf courses, was the target of the deception. The complaint alleges that the Trump Organization inflated the worth of his properties using false evaluations, deceiving lenders, insurers, and tax authorities. Donald Trump failed America. pic.twitter.com/fylyocYcse — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 16, 2022 × James wants to recover $250 million in allegedly illegally obtained money. Mar-a-Lago documents: The case of missing government records Trump is the subject of a criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice for keeping official documents after leaving office in January 2021, including some that were classified. During a search that was permitted by the court on August 8 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, the FBI took 11,000 papers. There were about 100 documents classified as such, some of which were also tagged as 'top secret', the most serious classification. Also read | Donald Trump had more than 700 classified documents at Mar-a-Lago Republican Donald Trump has claimed that the Justice Department is conducting a witch hunt. The confiscated documents are being examined by a special master, Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie, to see if any of them are covered by executive privilege as claimed by Trump. A president may keep some papers or information private under the legal theory known as executive privilege. Asserting that both of these actions are impeding the criminal investigation, the Justice Department has requested a federal appeals court to put a halt to that review and grant it access to the unclassified papers found during the search. Defamation case: E. Jean Carroll E. Jean Carroll, a former journalist for Elle magazine, filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in 2019 after he refuted her claim that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s in a department store in New York City. In order to increase book sales, Trump charged her of lying. Writer E. Jean Carroll sued then-President Donald Trump in 2019 for defamation after alleging he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Picture credits: AP Trump has contended that a federal provision that protects government workers from defamation charges shields him from Carroll's lawsuit. The Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined in September that Trump was a government employee when he labelled Carroll a liar, but left open the issue of whether he was operating in his capacity as president at the time. Also read | Trump deposed in E. Jean Carroll defamation case linked to rape accusation On January 10, 2023, an appeals court in Washington, D.C., will hear oral arguments and evaluate the issue. Even if the defamation case is dropped, Carroll intends to sue Trump for violence and purposeful infliction of mental distress in accordance with New York state law. Election rigging investigation in Georgia The investigation into Trump's alleged attempts to sway the outcome of the 2020 election in Georgia was given extraordinary grand jury empanelled status in May. A call that Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had from Trump on January 2, 2021 is one of the main topics of the inquiry. In order to "discover" the necessary number of votes to reverse Trump's Georgia loss, Raffensperger was tasked by Trump. Trump could have broken at least three Georgia election-related criminal crimes, according to legal experts: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud, and deliberate meddling with the conduct of elections. US Capitol attack The matter of whether Trump violated the law in his attempts to avenge his loss in the 2020 election is being looked into by a House of Representatives committee looking into the assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021. The certification of the election results by Congress was a goal of the protesters. The committee subpoenaed Trump in October to speak under oath and provide records. Republican committee vice-chair Liz Cheney has stated the group may recommend potential criminal charges against Trump to the Justice Department. Trump's federal crimes may or may not be investigated by the Justice Department. In the upcoming weeks, the panel will probably provide its findings. The panel's inquiry has been criticised by Trump as being politically motivated. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential run and the legal challenges that hound him

India's first privately developed rocket has&nbsp;been&nbsp;sent into orbit by Skyroot Aerospace on Friday, marking the nation's first private space launch. The Vikram-S launch vehicle is intended to carry out the Prarambh mission as a demonstration flight in the second week of November.&nbsp;The mission will be significant since the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) formerly controlled the creation, design, and launch of space missions in India, making rockets a public sector enterprise.&nbsp;

"Mission Prarambh is successfully accomplished. Congratulations" ISRO announced on Twitter.&nbsp;The rocket launch, according to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who was in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh to witness the historic launch, marked a turning moment for Indian startups.

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India's first ever private rocket Vikram-S, named after Vikram Sarabhai, launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The rocket has been built by "Skyroot Aerospace". <a href="https://t.co/DJ9oN0LPfH">pic.twitter.com/DJ9oN0LPfH</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1593484880872017920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Why the name 'Prarambh'?</h2>

Prarambh, which means "the beginning" and denotes a new era for the private space industry, is the name given to the mission by the Hyderabad-based rocket start-up.

With this first mission, Skyroot Aerospace will launch a rocket into orbit for the first time as a commercial space enterprise in India, ushering in a new era for the space industry, which was recently opened up to allow for private sector participation, the company stated.

<blockquote>
“We could build and get our Vikram-S rocket mission-ready in such a short time only because of the invaluable support we received from ISRO and IN-SPACe, and the technology talent that we inherently possess," said Pawan Kumar Chandana, CEO and Co-Founder.
</blockquote>

The name "Vikram" is given to Skyroot Aerospace's launch vehicles in honour of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the eminent scientist who founded the Indian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/artemis-1-launched-as-nasa-ushers-into-a-new-era-of-lunar-exploration-534646">Space Programme</a>.&nbsp;

<h2>All about Vikram-S</h2>

In honour of Vikram Sarabhai, the pioneer of India's space programme, a small-lift launch vehicle known as the Vikram S was created.

The chief operating officer of Skyroot, Naga Bharath Daka, described the Vikram-S rocket as a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle that would be able to transport three client payloads and assist test and verifying most of the technology in the Vikram family of space launch vehicles.

Three rockets, dubbed Vikram I, II, and III, are part of the "Vikram" series. Broadband internet, GPS, and Internet of Things (IoT) from orbit and imagery of the planet will all be supported by these rockets.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/space-tourism-a-dream-too-distant-to-achieve-534334">Space Tourism: A dream too distant to achieve?</a>

According to Skyroot, "The leading technology architecture of Vikram vehicles offers unique capabilities like multi-orbit insertion, interplanetary missions; while providing customised, dedicated and rideshare options covering a wide spectrum of small satellite customer needs.”

According to Skyroot, the Vikram series is engineered to be manufactured and launched in less than 72 hours and has the "lowest cost in the payload sector."

These rockets are capable of launching satellites into sun-synchronous polar orbits and low Earth orbits that may weigh up to 815 kg each (SSPOs).

<h2>The highlight of the mission</h2>

Three customer satellites from Skyroot Aerospace will be launched aboard Vikram S in a sub-orbital flight as part of the Prarambh project. Three client payloads will be carried by Vikram S during this mission, which will also assist in the testing and validation of technologies for the Vikram family of space launch vehicles.

The 2.5-kilogramme payload "Fun-Sat," which was created by kids from India, the US, Singapore, and Indonesia, will also be launched on board Vikram S by Spacekidz, an aerospace firm located in Chennai.

<h2>Significance of the mission</h2>

Suborbital spaceflight is often conducted at a lower altitude than orbital spaceflight, frequently at a height of around 100 kilometres above the surface of the Earth, and it is believed that they are essential for completing space mission experiments before true commercial trips take place.

Three separate Vikram rocket versions are currently being developed by Skyroot. According to sources, the Vikram-I, Vikram-II, and Vikram-III can launch payloads weighing up to 480 kilogrammes, 595 kilogrammes, and 815 kilogrammes into a 500-kilometre low-inclination orbit, respectively.

To send commercial satellites into orbit, the business is creating cutting-edge space launch vehicles. It wants to lower entry barriers for low-cost satellite launch services as well as space travel by expanding its mission of making spaceflights accessible, dependable, and common for everyone.

(With inputs from agencies)

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-james-webb-telescope-shares-never-seen-before-image-of-birth-of-a-star-534996">NASA’s James Webb Telescope shares never-before-seen image of birth of a star</a>

&nbsp;

India's first privately developed rocket has been sent into orbit by Skyroot Aerospace on Friday, marking the nation's first private space launch. The Vikram-S launch vehicle is intended to carry out the Prarambh mission as a demonstration flight in the second week of November.

India's first privately developed rocket has been sent into orbit by Skyroot Aerospace on Friday, marking the nation's first private space launch. The Vikram-S launch vehicle is intended to carry out the Prarambh mission as a demonstration flight in the second week of November. The mission will be significant since the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) formerly controlled the creation, design, and launch of space missions in India, making rockets a public sector enterprise. "Mission Prarambh is successfully accomplished. Congratulations" ISRO announced on Twitter. The rocket launch, according to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who was in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh to witness the historic launch, marked a turning moment for Indian startups. India's first ever private rocket Vikram-S, named after Vikram Sarabhai, launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The rocket has been built by "Skyroot Aerospace". pic.twitter.com/DJ9oN0LPfH — ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2022 × Why the name 'Prarambh'? Prarambh, which means "the beginning" and denotes a new era for the private space industry, is the name given to the mission by the Hyderabad-based rocket start-up. With this first mission, Skyroot Aerospace will launch a rocket into orbit for the first time as a commercial space enterprise in India, ushering in a new era for the space industry, which was recently opened up to allow for private sector participation, the company stated. “We could build and get our Vikram-S rocket mission-ready in such a short time only because of the invaluable support we received from ISRO and IN-SPACe, and the technology talent that we inherently possess," said Pawan Kumar Chandana, CEO and Co-Founder. The name "Vikram" is given to Skyroot Aerospace's launch vehicles in honour of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the eminent scientist who founded the Indian Space Programme. All about Vikram-S In honour of Vikram Sarabhai, the pioneer of India's space programme, a small-lift launch vehicle known as the Vikram S was created. The chief operating officer of Skyroot, Naga Bharath Daka, described the Vikram-S rocket as a single-stage sub-orbital launch vehicle that would be able to transport three client payloads and assist test and verifying most of the technology in the Vikram family of space launch vehicles. Three rockets, dubbed Vikram I, II, and III, are part of the "Vikram" series. Broadband internet, GPS, and Internet of Things (IoT) from orbit and imagery of the planet will all be supported by these rockets. Also read | Space Tourism: A dream too distant to achieve? According to Skyroot, "The leading technology architecture of Vikram vehicles offers unique capabilities like multi-orbit insertion, interplanetary missions; while providing customised, dedicated and rideshare options covering a wide spectrum of small satellite customer needs.” According to Skyroot, the Vikram series is engineered to be manufactured and launched in less than 72 hours and has the "lowest cost in the payload sector." These rockets are capable of launching satellites into sun-synchronous polar orbits and low Earth orbits that may weigh up to 815 kg each (SSPOs). The highlight of the mission Three customer satellites from Skyroot Aerospace will be launched aboard Vikram S in a sub-orbital flight as part of the Prarambh project. Three client payloads will be carried by Vikram S during this mission, which will also assist in the testing and validation of technologies for the Vikram family of space launch vehicles. The 2.5-kilogramme payload "Fun-Sat," which was created by kids from India, the US, Singapore, and Indonesia, will also be launched on board Vikram S by Spacekidz, an aerospace firm located in Chennai. Significance of the mission Suborbital spaceflight is often conducted at a lower altitude than orbital spaceflight, frequently at a height of around 100 kilometres above the surface of the Earth, and it is believed that they are essential for completing space mission experiments before true commercial trips take place. Three separate Vikram rocket versions are currently being developed by Skyroot. According to sources, the Vikram-I, Vikram-II, and Vikram-III can launch payloads weighing up to 480 kilogrammes, 595 kilogrammes, and 815 kilogrammes into a 500-kilometre low-inclination orbit, respectively. To send commercial satellites into orbit, the business is creating cutting-edge space launch vehicles. It wants to lower entry barriers for low-cost satellite launch services as well as space travel by expanding its mission of making spaceflights accessible, dependable, and common for everyone. (With inputs from agencies) Also read | NASA’s James Webb Telescope shares never-before-seen image of birth of a star

Vikram-S: India's first private rocket blasts off successfully, everything about 'Prarambh Mission'

A missile struck a village in Poland that is close to the Ukrainian border, killing two people. While the government of Poland and US President Joe Biden exercised prudence and carefully considered the evidence, several responses swiftly emphasised that Russia had escalated the war with Ukraine by attacking a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member. One of them was Latvia's Artis Pabriks, a fellow NATO member who serves as both the country's deputy foreign minister and minister of defence.&nbsp;This is the first confirmed instance of the conflict in Ukraine directly contributing to deaths in another nation.

Pabriks referred to the missile strike on NATO territory as a strike by the "criminal Russian regime" shortly after the first reports of it surfaced.

"My condolences to our Polish brothers in arms. The criminal Russian regime fired missiles that target not only Ukrainian civilians but also landed on NATO territory in Poland. Latvia fully stands with Polish friends and condemns this crime," said Pabriks in a tweet.

Pabriks later referenced Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which requires talks when a nation believes&nbsp;"territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties [NATO-member] is threatened."

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My first reaction would be that after Russians hit Polish territory, 4. Article is in place, just like air defence of Ukrainian air.
— Artis Pabriks (@Pabriks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pabriks/status/1592596694704992257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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We explain to you in-depth what NATO is, how its collective security mechanism&nbsp;pans out, and how it has so far reacted to the missile strike on Poland.

<h2>NATO in a nutshell. What does it stand for?</h2>

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was established in 1949 with the primary goal of thwarting the prospect of Soviet expansion in Europe following World War II. Beyond that, the United States regarded it as an instrument to promote political unification on the continent and thwart the return of nationalist movements in Europe.

The Treaty of Dunkirk, which the United Kingdom and France signed in 1947 as part of an alliance to stave off a potential German invasion in the wake of the war, is where it truly has its roots.

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16 Dec 1957: very first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NATOSummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NATOSummit</a> (Paris Summit) took place. It reaffirmed principal purposes &amp; unity of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NATO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NATO</a> <a href="https://t.co/vHdMdSd7OS">https://t.co/vHdMdSd7OS</a> <a href="https://t.co/49cfshJyQH">pic.twitter.com/49cfshJyQH</a>
— Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) <a href="https://twitter.com/NATOpress/status/809760122813747200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Portugal are the alliance's original 12 founding members.

NATO created and adhered to the "Massive Retaliation" policy throughout the Cold War.

The focus of NATO shifted to territorial integration, political stability, and establishing a stable&nbsp;security network&nbsp;in the area with the fall of the Soviet Union, and to some extent even before that.

Since then, NATO has intervened in ethnic disputes in the former Yugoslavia and taken part in the US-led War on Terror following the 11 September attacks in the US.

The "collective defence" concept of NATO, which states that an assault on one member nation will be treated as an attack on all member members, is its defining characteristic. This principle enables the alliance to mobilise a collective defence against any aggression. This gives smaller nations the certainty of security that larger nations like the United States,&nbsp;France, and the United Kingdom will come to their defence when needed.

<h2>The concept of 'collective security'</h2>

The organisation's primary function is to operate as a collective security alliance to provide mutual protection by military and political methods if one member state is threatened by another nation.

Article 5 of the charter, which deals with collective defence, lays down this tenet:

<blockquote>
"The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in the exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area."
</blockquote>

Article 5 has been invoked once, by the United States,&nbsp;In response to the 9/11 events in 2001.&nbsp;

<h2>How has NATO responded to the missile strike in Poland?</h2>

There is no evidence, according to NATO, that the missile strike in Poland was a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-mi5-chief-says-expulsion-of-russian-spies-from-europe-is-a-significant-strategic-blow-to-moscow-534881">Russian attack</a>. Additionally, it stated that NATO's opinion of the danger has not changed and emphasised that inquiries into the missile strike in Poland are ongoing.

Additionally, according to the Guardian, on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia was still to blame for the incident.

<img alt="poland attack" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bcbd18d3-884c-4610-87ae-1779f27399d0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/b130i58o_poland_625x300_16_November_22.jpg" />

The site of the possible strike in Przewodów in Poland where two people died.&nbsp;Photograph: Wolski o Wojnie/Facebook

"Russia bears responsibility for what happened in Poland yesterday because this is a direct result of the ongoing war and the wave of attacks from Russia against Ukraine yesterday...Nato is preparing for accidents like this to prevent them from happening, and if they happen to ensure that they don’t spiral out of control," said Stoltenberg.

Also WATCH |&nbsp;NATO briefing on Missile strike in Poland: 'Will remain calm and vigilant'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nato-briefing-on-missile-strike-in-poland-will-remain-calm-and-vigilant-534809/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>NATO's response to the Russian war on Ukraine</h2>

The NATO members, led by the US, have given Ukraine cutting-edge weaponry and information that have been crucial to Ukrainian military operations thus far. Ukraine has received weaponry worth billions of dollars, including air defence systems, artillery, rocket launchers, and ammunition.&nbsp;The United States has already promised and sent Ukraine assistance totalling $19.3 billion as of 10 November.

While individual NATO countries are supplying military hardware, NATO as a whole focuses on non-lethal assistance.

"NATO is helping to coordinate Ukraine’s requests for assistance and is supporting Allies in the delivery of humanitarian and non-lethal aid...At the Madrid Summit in June 2022, Allied leaders agreed a strengthened package of support for Ukraine, which includes support in secure communications, fuel, medical supplies, body armour, winter clothing, equipment to counter mines and chemical and biological threats, and portable anti-drone systems," says NATO on its official website.

It adds,&nbsp;"More broadly, NATO’s Article 5 security guarantee and its ironclad promise of collective defence provides Allies with the confidence that they can send weapons to Ukraine without diminishing their own security."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

A missile struck a village in Poland that is close to the Ukrainian border, killing two people. While the government of Poland and US President Joe Biden exercised prudence and carefully considered the evidence, several responses swiftly emphasised that Russia had escalated the war with Ukraine by attacking a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member.

A missile struck a village in Poland that is close to the Ukrainian border, killing two people. While the government of Poland and US President Joe Biden exercised prudence and carefully considered the evidence, several responses swiftly emphasised that Russia had escalated the war with Ukraine by attacking a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member. One of them was Latvia's Artis Pabriks, a fellow NATO member who serves as both the country's deputy foreign minister and minister of defence. This is the first confirmed instance of the conflict in Ukraine directly contributing to deaths in another nation. Pabriks referred to the missile strike on NATO territory as a strike by the "criminal Russian regime" shortly after the first reports of it surfaced. "My condolences to our Polish brothers in arms. The criminal Russian regime fired missiles that target not only Ukrainian civilians but also landed on NATO territory in Poland. Latvia fully stands with Polish friends and condemns this crime," said Pabriks in a tweet. Pabriks later referenced Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which requires talks when a nation believes "territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties [NATO-member] is threatened." My first reaction would be that after Russians hit Polish territory, 4. Article is in place, just like air defence of Ukrainian air. — Artis Pabriks (@Pabriks) November 15, 2022 × We explain to you in-depth what NATO is, how its collective security mechanism pans out, and how it has so far reacted to the missile strike on Poland. NATO in a nutshell. What does it stand for? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was established in 1949 with the primary goal of thwarting the prospect of Soviet expansion in Europe following World War II. Beyond that, the United States regarded it as an instrument to promote political unification on the continent and thwart the return of nationalist movements in Europe. The Treaty of Dunkirk, which the United Kingdom and France signed in 1947 as part of an alliance to stave off a potential German invasion in the wake of the war, is where it truly has its roots. 16 Dec 1957: very first #NATOSummit (Paris Summit) took place. It reaffirmed principal purposes & unity of #NATO https://t.co/vHdMdSd7OS pic.twitter.com/49cfshJyQH — Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) December 16, 2016 × The United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Portugal are the alliance's original 12 founding members. NATO created and adhered to the "Massive Retaliation" policy throughout the Cold War. The focus of NATO shifted to territorial integration, political stability, and establishing a stable security network in the area with the fall of the Soviet Union, and to some extent even before that. Since then, NATO has intervened in ethnic disputes in the former Yugoslavia and taken part in the US-led War on Terror following the 11 September attacks in the US. The "collective defence" concept of NATO, which states that an assault on one member nation will be treated as an attack on all member members, is its defining characteristic. This principle enables the alliance to mobilise a collective defence against any aggression. This gives smaller nations the certainty of security that larger nations like the United States, France, and the United Kingdom will come to their defence when needed. The concept of 'collective security' The organisation's primary function is to operate as a collective security alliance to provide mutual protection by military and political methods if one member state is threatened by another nation. Article 5 of the charter, which deals with collective defence, lays down this tenet: "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in the exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area." Article 5 has been invoked once, by the United States, In response to the 9/11 events in 2001. How has NATO responded to the missile strike in Poland? There is no evidence, according to NATO, that the missile strike in Poland was a Russian attack. Additionally, it stated that NATO's opinion of the danger has not changed and emphasised that inquiries into the missile strike in Poland are ongoing. Additionally, according to the Guardian, on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia was still to blame for the incident. The site of the possible strike in Przewodów in Poland where two people died. Photograph: Wolski o Wojnie/Facebook "Russia bears responsibility for what happened in Poland yesterday because this is a direct result of the ongoing war and the wave of attacks from Russia against Ukraine yesterday...Nato is preparing for accidents like this to prevent them from happening, and if they happen to ensure that they don’t spiral out of control," said Stoltenberg. Also WATCH | NATO briefing on Missile strike in Poland: 'Will remain calm and vigilant' NATO's response to the Russian war on Ukraine The NATO members, led by the US, have given Ukraine cutting-edge weaponry and information that have been crucial to Ukrainian military operations thus far. Ukraine has received weaponry worth billions of dollars, including air defence systems, artillery, rocket launchers, and ammunition. The United States has already promised and sent Ukraine assistance totalling $19.3 billion as of 10 November. While individual NATO countries are supplying military hardware, NATO as a whole focuses on non-lethal assistance. "NATO is helping to coordinate Ukraine’s requests for assistance and is supporting Allies in the delivery of humanitarian and non-lethal aid...At the Madrid Summit in June 2022, Allied leaders agreed a strengthened package of support for Ukraine, which includes support in secure communications, fuel, medical supplies, body armour, winter clothing, equipment to counter mines and chemical and biological threats, and portable anti-drone systems," says NATO on its official website. It adds, "More broadly, NATO’s Article 5 security guarantee and its ironclad promise of collective defence provides Allies with the confidence that they can send weapons to Ukraine without diminishing their own security." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Poland missile strike EXPLAINED: What is NATO and its tenet of 'collective security'?

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