Bollywood actor Huma Qureshi is gearing up for the release of Maharani season 2 on August 25 as she talks about her love for acting, channelling body positivity and much more.

Huma Qureshi to WION on male gaze, 'Maharani' season 2 and how she's here to stay

<p><meta charset="utf-8" />UAE's economy minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has said that the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the 2 countries encourages "trade through tariff elimination."</p>

<p>Speaking to our correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Minister Al Marri said, "key products that will immediately benefit from the Agreement include oil &amp; gas, petrochemicals, minerals, textiles, agriculture, gold and jewellery, metals and more.."</p>

<p dir="ltr">India UAE trade pact came into force on the first of May and was signed in February. Gems &amp; jewellery sector contributes a substantial portion of India’s exports to the UAE and is a sector that is expected to benefit significantly from the tariff concessions obtained for Indian products under the India-UAE CEPA.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The minister explained, "By finalising the CEPA, the UAE and India unleashed a new golden era in their bilateral relations, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Prime Minister Modi."&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">CEPA is expected to increase the total value of bilateral trade in goods to over US$100 billion and trade in services to over US$ 15 billion within five years. The minister also spoke about issues like diversifying the UAE economy, and trade pacts with other countries.</p>

<p>WION:<b> </b><strong>You were in Delhi in May. What was your focus during this visit?</strong></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri:<b> Yes, we went back to India along with a significant delegation from the UAE, both in terms of number and member profiles, to elaborate on the various aspects of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has been drafted based on a flexible framework that also leaves room for future improvements, if needed. During the visit, we held several meetings with the Indian government and the private sector to highlight current trade and investment opportunities and enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in both countries to optimally leverage the incentives offered by this historic deal.</b></p>

<p>WION: <strong>How significant has the finalization of the trade pact been?</strong></p>

<p>Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri:&nbsp;<strong>By finalizing the CEPA, the UAE and India unleashed a new golden era in their bilateral relations, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Prime Minister Modi. The timing of the signing of the agreement was also symbolic as the two countries celebrate 50 years of friendship. </strong></p>

<p><strong>The CEPA is setting a roadmap for a future partnership between our two countries, that will strengthen the current strategic relations and open new opportunities for greater depth and breadth of cooperation and intensify bilateral engagement in diverse areas. We concluded CEPA in a record 88 days, which reflects the strong desire of both countries’ leaderships to exploit opportunities and benefit the economies of our countries in many sectors. </strong></p>

<p><strong>The CEPA provisions cover multiple areas such as trade in goods, trade in services, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade remedies, rules of origin, digital trade, economic cooperation, government procurement, intellectual property rights (IPR), and investment. And we expect to boost bilateral trade to USD 100 billion within the next five years.</strong></p>

<p>WION: <strong>In terms of gold, how will Indian businesses benefit from the pact?</strong></p>

<p>Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri:&nbsp;<strong>The CEPA will encourage trade through tariff elimination or reduction on more than 80 per cent of goods and it is expected to have a major impact on trading between India, the UAE and the wider region. Key products that will immediately benefit from the Agreement include oil &amp; gas, petrochemicals, minerals, textiles, agriculture, gold and jewelry, metals and more. The CEPA creates for businesses and investors from both countries a predictable and transparent trading environment and result in more economic opportunities by:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Eliminating or reducing customs duties;</strong></li>
	<li><strong>&nbsp;Removing non-tariff barriers to trade;</strong></li>
	<li><strong>Strengthening the use of international standards;</strong></li>
	<li><strong>Granting preferential access to both markets;</strong></li>
	<li><strong>Establishing an effective and efficient dispute settlement system;</strong></li>
	<li><strong>Enabling access to government procurement.</strong></li>
</ul>

<p>WION: <strong>How can UAE be a hub for regional and global trade flows? And how can Indian goods get a wider space in West Asia via your country?</strong></p>

<p>Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri:&nbsp;<strong>The world sees the UAE as a stable and attractive place to do business, but also as a reliable partner to trade with. Our logistics network extends to more than 400 global cities. Our infrastructure and connectivity to global markets by road, sea and air provide a gateway for Indian goods to reach millions of new people.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>UAE exporters will benefit from improved productivity and efficiency gains as we unclog supply chains and create new networks for products.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>The CEPA presents a solid prospect for Indian companies to expand their outreach and expand their business by fostering great opportunities in the UAE and beyond.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>Following the COVID-19 outbreak, our government has set an ambitious goal to be the fastest recovering country from the impact of the pandemic.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>While international organisations expected the UAE’s economy to grow by 2.1% in 2021, we achieved a growth rate of 3.8%. It reflects several factors, including our ability to manage COVID-19 and easing of restrictions, and the rebound in oil prices.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>But one of the most prominent factors behind the growth upgrade was also the introduction of a series of reforms and stimulus measures to revive economic activity. we established or amended over 40 laws to enhance the business environment and boost competitiveness.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>We overhauled the law on commercial companies and removed the requirement for onshore companies to have an Emirati shareholder, allowing 100% free foreign ownership in all major economic sectors.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>We established new legislation on commercial registries and trademarks.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>We modernized residency rules to make it easier to attract and retain highly educated talent from all over the world.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>&nbsp;We also adopted the New Penal Code to reflect the changing economic and social needs of residents and ensure our legal system is aligned with international best practices.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>All the reforms and initiatives I previously listed—and many more—are an open invitation for Indian investors and companies to be part of the UAE new growth plans.</strong></li>
	<li><strong>The GDP is now expected to increase by 5.4% and 4.2% in 2022 and 2023 according to the central bank of the UAE.</strong></li>
</ul>

<p>WION: <strong>After signing the trade pact with India, what other milestones are you looking at achieving?</strong></p>

<p>Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri:&nbsp;<strong>Bilateral trade, investment and energy ties between India and the UAE have remained robust. The signing of the CEPA is a testament to these longstanding bilateral trade and investment links. Both sides are also strengthening their cooperation in new areas of renewable energy like green hydrogen, climate action, start-ups, skilling, fintech and health tech. </strong></p>

<p><strong>We are looking for new frontiers and new milestones that will ensure that the two countries work together even more closely to address the shared global challenges, achieve shared objectives and build a robust and resilient relationship that is future-ready. And I call upon the private sector in India and the UAE to leverage the benefits that CEPA represents.</strong></p>

<p>WION: <strong>Are you looking at signing trade pacts with other countries? If yes, when do you plan on doing so?</strong></p>

<p>Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri:&nbsp;<strong>Yes, we have signed two other agreements with Israel and Indonesia and great progress was made in negotiations to sign more agreements with other countries during the coming period. The UAE’s ambition is to expand our bilateral trade ties with like-minded nations to enhance our global competitiveness, increase foreign direct investment, continue to attract some of the world’s top human capital, and position the country as a global hub for business, investment and innovation. </strong></p>

<p><strong>Expanding our trade partnerships through a series of agreements will help consolidate our status as a global trade and logistics hub, open new markets for our exporters, secure supply chains, boost investment flows and spur greater economic growth for the region. As governments around the world strive to materialize the goal of a free, fair, inclusive, non- discriminatory, and transparent trade and investment environment and keep markets thriving, we are confident that our CEPAs with some of the largest economies in the world contribute to the achievement of this goal.</strong></p>

<p>WION: <strong>How are you diversifying the UAE economy?</strong></p>

<p>Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri:&nbsp;<strong>The development model of the UAE over the past decades has focused on diversification to ensure sustainability. While the UAE remains one of the major producers of oil, the oil sector share in the economy has been steadily decreasing. Today oil does not constitute more than one-third of our GDP. </strong></p>

<p><strong>The energy sector itself has changed significantly, by leveraging technology to become a leader in renewable and clean energy with global standing in solar power generation. Going a step beyond diversification, we are in fact building a new flexible, more open economic model in the UAE based on the pillars of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.</strong></p>

<p><strong>We are constantly enhancing the investor-friendliness and openness of our national economy in line with the UAE’s reputation as a thriving global trade and economic hub. In fact, the country recently updated many of its laws and introduced several forward- looking policy reforms, keeping pace with the economic realities and developmental priorities of our times.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Most important law amendments aimed at the business sector include the introduction of 100% foreign ownership and the decriminalization of cheques. Following this, we strengthened the anti-money laundering system and family businesses sector, and several other policies were defined to guarantee a more attractive and profitable business &amp; investment environment in the country. </strong></p>

<p><strong>These include measures to cut the red tape, strengthen the IP system, enhance the ease of doing business, reduce the cost of doing business, open new markets &amp;amp; expand trade; offer more support to SMEs and FDI flows; create opportunities in new sectors and most importantly, attract talent. The introduction of a revamped residency and visa system added more value to these efforts. It now allows investors, businessmen, talented professionals, researchers and outstanding students to envision their long-term futures in the country and integrate better with our society and above all - be part of the UAE’s exciting growth journey.</strong></p>

<p><strong>I would also like to highlight the ‘Projects of the 50,’ in this regard, which were launched by the UAE to mark its milestone 50th founding anniversary with 50 grand projects. These initiatives are aimed at further diversification and strengthening our economy to establish the UAE as a global nation and the ultimate destination for innovators, inventors, and disruptors. The CEPA model is part of this project.</strong></p>

<p><strong>I would also like to highlight 'Investopia,' the global investment initiative launched by the UAE government in September 2021. We started Investopia's global talks from India as a strategic step towards reaching out to other countries, with the aim of promoting and channeling investments in the economies of the future across emerging markets and developing&nbsp;countries.</strong></p>


UAE's economy minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has said that the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the 2 countries encourages "trade through tariff elimination.

UAE's economy minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has said that the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the 2 countries encourages "trade through tariff elimination." Speaking to our correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Minister Al Marri said, "key products that will immediately benefit from the Agreement include oil & gas, petrochemicals, minerals, textiles, agriculture, gold and jewellery, metals and more.." India UAE trade pact came into force on the first of May and was signed in February. Gems & jewellery sector contributes a substantial portion of India’s exports to the UAE and is a sector that is expected to benefit significantly from the tariff concessions obtained for Indian products under the India-UAE CEPA. The minister explained, "By finalising the CEPA, the UAE and India unleashed a new golden era in their bilateral relations, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Prime Minister Modi." CEPA is expected to increase the total value of bilateral trade in goods to over US$100 billion and trade in services to over US$ 15 billion within five years. The minister also spoke about issues like diversifying the UAE economy, and trade pacts with other countries. WION: You were in Delhi in May. What was your focus during this visit? Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri: Yes, we went back to India along with a significant delegation from the UAE, both in terms of number and member profiles, to elaborate on the various aspects of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has been drafted based on a flexible framework that also leaves room for future improvements, if needed. During the visit, we held several meetings with the Indian government and the private sector to highlight current trade and investment opportunities and enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in both countries to optimally leverage the incentives offered by this historic deal. WION: How significant has the finalization of the trade pact been? Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri: By finalizing the CEPA, the UAE and India unleashed a new golden era in their bilateral relations, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Prime Minister Modi. The timing of the signing of the agreement was also symbolic as the two countries celebrate 50 years of friendship. The CEPA is setting a roadmap for a future partnership between our two countries, that will strengthen the current strategic relations and open new opportunities for greater depth and breadth of cooperation and intensify bilateral engagement in diverse areas. We concluded CEPA in a record 88 days, which reflects the strong desire of both countries’ leaderships to exploit opportunities and benefit the economies of our countries in many sectors. The CEPA provisions cover multiple areas such as trade in goods, trade in services, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade remedies, rules of origin, digital trade, economic cooperation, government procurement, intellectual property rights (IPR), and investment. And we expect to boost bilateral trade to USD 100 billion within the next five years. WION: In terms of gold, how will Indian businesses benefit from the pact? Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri: The CEPA will encourage trade through tariff elimination or reduction on more than 80 per cent of goods and it is expected to have a major impact on trading between India, the UAE and the wider region. Key products that will immediately benefit from the Agreement include oil & gas, petrochemicals, minerals, textiles, agriculture, gold and jewelry, metals and more. The CEPA creates for businesses and investors from both countries a predictable and transparent trading environment and result in more economic opportunities by: Eliminating or reducing customs duties; Removing non-tariff barriers to trade; Strengthening the use of international standards; Granting preferential access to both markets; Establishing an effective and efficient dispute settlement system; Enabling access to government procurement. WION: How can UAE be a hub for regional and global trade flows? And how can Indian goods get a wider space in West Asia via your country? Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri: The world sees the UAE as a stable and attractive place to do business, but also as a reliable partner to trade with. Our logistics network extends to more than 400 global cities. Our infrastructure and connectivity to global markets by road, sea and air provide a gateway for Indian goods to reach millions of new people. UAE exporters will benefit from improved productivity and efficiency gains as we unclog supply chains and create new networks for products. The CEPA presents a solid prospect for Indian companies to expand their outreach and expand their business by fostering great opportunities in the UAE and beyond. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, our government has set an ambitious goal to be the fastest recovering country from the impact of the pandemic. While international organisations expected the UAE’s economy to grow by 2.1% in 2021, we achieved a growth rate of 3.8%. It reflects several factors, including our ability to manage COVID-19 and easing of restrictions, and the rebound in oil prices. But one of the most prominent factors behind the growth upgrade was also the introduction of a series of reforms and stimulus measures to revive economic activity. we established or amended over 40 laws to enhance the business environment and boost competitiveness. We overhauled the law on commercial companies and removed the requirement for onshore companies to have an Emirati shareholder, allowing 100% free foreign ownership in all major economic sectors. We established new legislation on commercial registries and trademarks. We modernized residency rules to make it easier to attract and retain highly educated talent from all over the world. We also adopted the New Penal Code to reflect the changing economic and social needs of residents and ensure our legal system is aligned with international best practices. All the reforms and initiatives I previously listed—and many more—are an open invitation for Indian investors and companies to be part of the UAE new growth plans. The GDP is now expected to increase by 5.4% and 4.2% in 2022 and 2023 according to the central bank of the UAE. WION: After signing the trade pact with India, what other milestones are you looking at achieving? Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri: Bilateral trade, investment and energy ties between India and the UAE have remained robust. The signing of the CEPA is a testament to these longstanding bilateral trade and investment links. Both sides are also strengthening their cooperation in new areas of renewable energy like green hydrogen, climate action, start-ups, skilling, fintech and health tech. We are looking for new frontiers and new milestones that will ensure that the two countries work together even more closely to address the shared global challenges, achieve shared objectives and build a robust and resilient relationship that is future-ready. And I call upon the private sector in India and the UAE to leverage the benefits that CEPA represents. WION: Are you looking at signing trade pacts with other countries? If yes, when do you plan on doing so? Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri: Yes, we have signed two other agreements with Israel and Indonesia and great progress was made in negotiations to sign more agreements with other countries during the coming period. The UAE’s ambition is to expand our bilateral trade ties with like-minded nations to enhance our global competitiveness, increase foreign direct investment, continue to attract some of the world’s top human capital, and position the country as a global hub for business, investment and innovation. Expanding our trade partnerships through a series of agreements will help consolidate our status as a global trade and logistics hub, open new markets for our exporters, secure supply chains, boost investment flows and spur greater economic growth for the region. As governments around the world strive to materialize the goal of a free, fair, inclusive, non- discriminatory, and transparent trade and investment environment and keep markets thriving, we are confident that our CEPAs with some of the largest economies in the world contribute to the achievement of this goal. WION: How are you diversifying the UAE economy? Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri: The development model of the UAE over the past decades has focused on diversification to ensure sustainability. While the UAE remains one of the major producers of oil, the oil sector share in the economy has been steadily decreasing. Today oil does not constitute more than one-third of our GDP. The energy sector itself has changed significantly, by leveraging technology to become a leader in renewable and clean energy with global standing in solar power generation. Going a step beyond diversification, we are in fact building a new flexible, more open economic model in the UAE based on the pillars of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. We are constantly enhancing the investor-friendliness and openness of our national economy in line with the UAE’s reputation as a thriving global trade and economic hub. In fact, the country recently updated many of its laws and introduced several forward- looking policy reforms, keeping pace with the economic realities and developmental priorities of our times. Most important law amendments aimed at the business sector include the introduction of 100% foreign ownership and the decriminalization of cheques. Following this, we strengthened the anti-money laundering system and family businesses sector, and several other policies were defined to guarantee a more attractive and profitable business & investment environment in the country. These include measures to cut the red tape, strengthen the IP system, enhance the ease of doing business, reduce the cost of doing business, open new markets &amp; expand trade; offer more support to SMEs and FDI flows; create opportunities in new sectors and most importantly, attract talent. The introduction of a revamped residency and visa system added more value to these efforts. It now allows investors, businessmen, talented professionals, researchers and outstanding students to envision their long-term futures in the country and integrate better with our society and above all - be part of the UAE’s exciting growth journey. I would also like to highlight the ‘Projects of the 50,’ in this regard, which were launched by the UAE to mark its milestone 50th founding anniversary with 50 grand projects. These initiatives are aimed at further diversification and strengthening our economy to establish the UAE as a global nation and the ultimate destination for innovators, inventors, and disruptors. The CEPA model is part of this project. I would also like to highlight 'Investopia,' the global investment initiative launched by the UAE government in September 2021. We started Investopia's global talks from India as a strategic step towards reaching out to other countries, with the aim of promoting and channeling investments in the economies of the future across emerging markets and developing countries.

India, UAE CEPA encourages trade through tariff elimination, says UAE's Economy Minister Marri

<p>The sporting fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. The 2022 edition of the marquee event will be held in Birmingham and the Indian contingent comprises a plethora of promising athletes who are strong medal contenders.</p>

<p>While Neeraj Chopra, India's javelin thrower, bowed out of the quadrennial event due to a groin injury, on Tuesday (July&nbsp;26), the countrymen can still pin their hopes on several players to shine and take&nbsp;India's medal tally higher in the overall rankings in the CWG'22 edition. Ahead of the upcoming tournament, Wion's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo spoke to India's men's hockey team's captain Manpreet Singh and head coach Graham Reid as the duo dwelled on Australia's dominance at the Games (having won six gold medals since the game's inclusion in 1998), India's fixtures and more:</p>

<p><strong>How to stop a rampant Australia?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Graham Reid:</strong> Yeah look it certainly is (a challenge). It has an interesting history in CWG for the Aussies. Unfortunately, I was never able to play as a player but since then (in 1998), Australia have certainly dominated. Having said that, India have also done very well over the years and the job this time is to take it to the next&nbsp;level&nbsp;and win that elusive gold at CWG 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Intimidated playing the Aussies?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Manpreet Singh:</strong> Doesn't matter. They are No. 1 but we need to give our best. If we give our best, definitely the result will favour us. You want to win the gold medal so you are more confident and fired&nbsp;up.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/exclusive-momentum-from-tokyo-2020-is-helping-us-push-harder-for-more-glory-pr-sreejesh-497760"><strong>Exclusive | Momentum from Tokyo 2020 is helping us push harder for more glory: PR Sreejesh</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>On Indian Olympic Association's Covid precaution (asking players to limit outings to prevent viral infection's spread)</strong></p>

<p><strong>Manpreet</strong>: We are doing the same thing (as we did in the Tokyo 2020). We heard some players got infected, hence, they were sent back. Hence, we are taking up precautions and following all protocols because even if one person gets infected, it will affect the team.</p>

<p><strong>On India's opener vs Ghana, playing England next</strong></p>

<p><strong>Reid: </strong>It is our second game but we always have to take one game at a time. Ghana is the one we are focusing on at the moment. England are at home here. Playing the English is a tough ask but a great test for us to see where we are.</p>

<p>India are placed in Pool B along with England, Ghana, Canada and Wales and they open their campaign versus the&nbsp;nation from West Africa, on July 31. So far, India's best performance at CWG came when they ended as runners-up in the 2010 edition, in New Delhi, after being hammered 8-0 by the Aussies. Will they attain their maiden gold in the forthcoming CWG'22? Only time will tell...</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/neeraj-chopra-out-of-cwg22-after-stupendous-run-since-tokyo-2020-javelin-stars-misfortune-catches-up-500802"><strong>Neeraj Chopra out of CWG'22: After stupendous run since Tokyo 2020, javelin star's misfortune catches up</strong></a></p>

<h3><strong>INDIA MEN'S HOCKEY SQUAD FOR CWG 2022</strong></h3>

<p><strong>GOALKEEPERS</strong>: PR Sreejesh (gk), Krishan Bahadur Pathak</p>

<p><strong>DEFENDERS</strong>: Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh (vc), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh.</p>

<p><strong>MIDFIELDERS</strong>: Manpreet Singh (c), Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Nilakanta Sharma</p>

<p><strong>FORWARDS</strong>: Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek.</p>


The sporting fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. The 2022 edition of the marquee event will be held in Birmingham and the Indian contingent comprises a plethora of promising athletes who are strong medal contenders.

The sporting fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. The 2022 edition of the marquee event will be held in Birmingham and the Indian contingent comprises a plethora of promising athletes who are strong medal contenders. While Neeraj Chopra, India's javelin thrower, bowed out of the quadrennial event due to a groin injury, on Tuesday (July 26), the countrymen can still pin their hopes on several players to shine and take India's medal tally higher in the overall rankings in the CWG'22 edition. Ahead of the upcoming tournament, Wion's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo spoke to India's men's hockey team's captain Manpreet Singh and head coach Graham Reid as the duo dwelled on Australia's dominance at the Games (having won six gold medals since the game's inclusion in 1998), India's fixtures and more: How to stop a rampant Australia? Graham Reid: Yeah look it certainly is (a challenge). It has an interesting history in CWG for the Aussies. Unfortunately, I was never able to play as a player but since then (in 1998), Australia have certainly dominated. Having said that, India have also done very well over the years and the job this time is to take it to the next level and win that elusive gold at CWG 2022. Intimidated playing the Aussies? Manpreet Singh: Doesn't matter. They are No. 1 but we need to give our best. If we give our best, definitely the result will favour us. You want to win the gold medal so you are more confident and fired up. ALSO READ | Exclusive | Momentum from Tokyo 2020 is helping us push harder for more glory: PR Sreejesh On Indian Olympic Association's Covid precaution (asking players to limit outings to prevent viral infection's spread) Manpreet: We are doing the same thing (as we did in the Tokyo 2020). We heard some players got infected, hence, they were sent back. Hence, we are taking up precautions and following all protocols because even if one person gets infected, it will affect the team. On India's opener vs Ghana, playing England next Reid: It is our second game but we always have to take one game at a time. Ghana is the one we are focusing on at the moment. England are at home here. Playing the English is a tough ask but a great test for us to see where we are. India are placed in Pool B along with England, Ghana, Canada and Wales and they open their campaign versus the nation from West Africa, on July 31. So far, India's best performance at CWG came when they ended as runners-up in the 2010 edition, in New Delhi, after being hammered 8-0 by the Aussies. Will they attain their maiden gold in the forthcoming CWG'22? Only time will tell... ALSO READ | Neeraj Chopra out of CWG'22: After stupendous run since Tokyo 2020, javelin star's misfortune catches up INDIA MEN'S HOCKEY SQUAD FOR CWG 2022 GOALKEEPERS: PR Sreejesh (gk), Krishan Bahadur Pathak DEFENDERS: Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh (vc), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh. MIDFIELDERS: Manpreet Singh (c), Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Nilakanta Sharma FORWARDS: Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek.

Exclusive: Time for India to win elusive gold, says coach Graham Reid as Manpreet & Co. prepare for CWG'22

Indian actor, model and producer Neha Dhupia spoke to WION. She said she tries to compartmentalise my life to be more productive.

Indian actor Neha Dhupia on WION: 'I try to compartmentalise my life to be more productive'

Indian actor Neha Dhupia on WION: I try to compartmentalise my life to be more productive

COP26 President Alok Sharma interacted with WION's Sidhant Sibal. He elaborated on current heat waves in the UK and said that climate change is not entirely responsible for it.

COP26 President Alok Sharma speaks to WION on UK Heatwave & British politics

WION speaks to COP26 President Alok Sharma as he elaborates on heat waves in the UK

If you love visually stunning Indian films, chances are you are looking forward to the release of 'Shamshera', a big-budget project by Yash Raj Films. Our correspondent Disha Haresh Shah caught up with the lead pair - Ranbir Kapoor and Vaani Kapoor- as well as director Karan Malhotra to talk about what makes the film so special for them, the challenges of shooting a period film, and more. Listen in.

'Shamshera' movie cast speak exclusively to WION

'Shamshera' cast spoke exclusively to WION. They shared their experience of working with animals. Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor called Shamshera a wholesome entertainer.

Watch 'Shamshera' movie cast speak exclusively to WION

In this episode of the Global Leadership Series, watch Uganda President Yoweri Museveni speaking exclusively to WION. Museveni said that African Union and ECOWAS are weak organisations.

Global Leadership Series: Uganda President Yoweri Museveni speaks exclusively to WION

<p>Liverpool was thrashed 4-0 by Manchester United in an exhibition match held at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday (July 12). Despite the defeat, the Jurgen Klopp-led club still remains one of the strongest contenders for winning the forthcoming EPL season.</p>

<p>Liverpool is currently in&nbsp;Singapore where they next&nbsp;play Crystal Palace, in an exhibition match, at the National Stadium on Thursday (July 14). Ahead of the EPL season 2022/23, The Reds' former captain and a legend of the club Sami Hyypia opined on Mohamed Salah's extension, thrashing at the hands of new-look Manchester United in Bangkok, team's strengths and rivalry with Man City.</p>

<p>Sami, a former club captain who was part of Liverpool's victorious&nbsp;Champions League campaign in 2004-05, interacted with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo and shared insights on many aspects. Firstly, he played down Liverpool's 4-0 loss vs Man United and said, "Yeah, everyone knows how big the rivalry is. I won't be too worried about the result. Everyone knows the circumstances under which we played. At United, there is a new manager. He wants to be successful straightaway so these friendlies are more important for him. I won't be too worried about this loss. I am sure Liverpool will be ready once the Premier League starts."</p>

<p>Regarding Mohamed Salah, Hyypia lavished huge praise on the 30-year-old Egyptian footballer and said, "He is a great player. One of the best players. He has shown that for many years. I'm glad he is staying here at Liverpool. When he performs like that, it is good for him as well as Liverpool. When Salah came on (in Bangkok), it looked like he had trained for a long long time. His fitness isn't a concern. He came from a holiday. Maybe that was more of a mental holiday. But, he seemed to be in good shape."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-need-to-close-the-gap-with-man-city-and-liverpool-says-man-uniteds-legend-andy-cole-496792"><strong>Exclusive: Need to close the gap with Man City and Liverpool, says Man United's legend Andy Cole</strong></a></p>

<p>32 clean sheets in 63 games last season. Thus, without a doubt, a&nbsp;lot of Liverpool's success boils down to their defence and goalkeeper. In this regard, Hyypia said, "It is a great record. That department is well-equipped at the moment. We had a bit of a problem last year, with the central defence's injury, but now that department is sorted. Allison (Becker) is a world-class goalkeeper and he saved us many times last season. He made game-winning saves. In every department, maybe we are better than last season. I know Sadio Mane left for Bayern Munich but when a player wants to leave you can't force him to stay. If they aren't happy, so move on. Overall, even in that department, we are well-equipped."</p>

<p>It seems to be a two-horse race -- between Liverpool vs Man City -- for the top-two berth in the upcoming EPL season as well. Commenting on this, the 48-year-old veteran told, "I don't know if it is the biggest rivalry. There is a rivalry then it is all about good recruitment. It means a great atmosphere has been created. Each player knows his role. That has been great to see. The scouting department has also been great for Liverpool. They have been spot-on. They are doing an important job. It looks great. I don't think next season there will be anyone to challenge those two (Man City and Liverpool). Chelsea, and Arsenal would want to be in a position where Man City are, however, I don't think they will challenge them both."</p>

<p>Liverpool will look to go the distance and end with the EPL championship after ending second in the last edition. They begin their campaign versus Fulham on August 6.</p>


Liverpool was thrashed 4-0 by Manchester United in an exhibition match held at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday (July 12). Despite the defeat, the Jurgen Klopp-led club still remains one of the strongest contenders for winning the forthcoming EPL season.

Liverpool was thrashed 4-0 by Manchester United in an exhibition match held at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday (July 12). Despite the defeat, the Jurgen Klopp-led club still remains one of the strongest contenders for winning the forthcoming EPL season. Liverpool is currently in Singapore where they next play Crystal Palace, in an exhibition match, at the National Stadium on Thursday (July 14). Ahead of the EPL season 2022/23, The Reds' former captain and a legend of the club Sami Hyypia opined on Mohamed Salah's extension, thrashing at the hands of new-look Manchester United in Bangkok, team's strengths and rivalry with Man City. Sami, a former club captain who was part of Liverpool's victorious Champions League campaign in 2004-05, interacted with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo and shared insights on many aspects. Firstly, he played down Liverpool's 4-0 loss vs Man United and said, "Yeah, everyone knows how big the rivalry is. I won't be too worried about the result. Everyone knows the circumstances under which we played. At United, there is a new manager. He wants to be successful straightaway so these friendlies are more important for him. I won't be too worried about this loss. I am sure Liverpool will be ready once the Premier League starts." Regarding Mohamed Salah, Hyypia lavished huge praise on the 30-year-old Egyptian footballer and said, "He is a great player. One of the best players. He has shown that for many years. I'm glad he is staying here at Liverpool. When he performs like that, it is good for him as well as Liverpool. When Salah came on (in Bangkok), it looked like he had trained for a long long time. His fitness isn't a concern. He came from a holiday. Maybe that was more of a mental holiday. But, he seemed to be in good shape." ALSO READ | Exclusive: Need to close the gap with Man City and Liverpool, says Man United's legend Andy Cole 32 clean sheets in 63 games last season. Thus, without a doubt, a lot of Liverpool's success boils down to their defence and goalkeeper. In this regard, Hyypia said, "It is a great record. That department is well-equipped at the moment. We had a bit of a problem last year, with the central defence's injury, but now that department is sorted. Allison (Becker) is a world-class goalkeeper and he saved us many times last season. He made game-winning saves. In every department, maybe we are better than last season. I know Sadio Mane left for Bayern Munich but when a player wants to leave you can't force him to stay. If they aren't happy, so move on. Overall, even in that department, we are well-equipped." It seems to be a two-horse race -- between Liverpool vs Man City -- for the top-two berth in the upcoming EPL season as well. Commenting on this, the 48-year-old veteran told, "I don't know if it is the biggest rivalry. There is a rivalry then it is all about good recruitment. It means a great atmosphere has been created. Each player knows his role. That has been great to see. The scouting department has also been great for Liverpool. They have been spot-on. They are doing an important job. It looks great. I don't think next season there will be anyone to challenge those two (Man City and Liverpool). Chelsea, and Arsenal would want to be in a position where Man City are, however, I don't think they will challenge them both." Liverpool will look to go the distance and end with the EPL championship after ending second in the last edition. They begin their campaign versus Fulham on August 6.

Exclusive: Liverpool great Sami Hyypia predicts a two-horse Premier League title race again

<p>Manchester United remains the most successful English Premier League (EPL) team, having won the elite championship for most&nbsp;times (20). Nonetheless, they have struggled to move past the Sir Alex Ferguson era and have been a pale shadow of themselves, especially in the last few&nbsp;seasons.</p>

<p>In the last EPL season, Man United brought back Cristiano Ronaldo and assembled a star-studded line-up, however, still finished sixth and missed out&nbsp;on champions league football for 2022-23. With the upcoming edition to kick off soon, the new manager Erik ten Hag has a lot riding on his shoulders to turn the fortunes of the premier club. On Tuesday (July 12), Ronaldo-less United locked horns with Liverpool in what was an&nbsp;exhibition football match, held at the&nbsp;Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid all this, Wion's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo caught hold of Andy Cole -- one of the all-time greats of EPL and Man United legend -- ahead&nbsp;of the friendly encounter between the Red Devils and Liverpool. The two spoke on what needs to be done for the most successful team to get back to its usual standards.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-he-is-a-leader-bryan-robson-backs-ten-hags-decision-to-retain-harry-maguire-as-man-utd-captain-496679"><strong>Exclusive! He is a leader: Bryan Robson backs Ten Hag's decision to retain Harry Maguire as Man Utd captain</strong></a></p>

<p>Cole -- who is the third-highest goal-scorer of all-time (187) in Premier League&nbsp;history -- ended with 121 goals in 275 appearances for United. He was part of the team's treble-winning season, where he formed a lethal partnership with Dwight Yorke. Thus, the 50-year-old&nbsp;said, "There is always pressure on Man United manager. Man United needs to close the gap with man City and Liverpool.&nbsp;Last season was disappointing. But now, there is a new manager, new ideas and, hence, players need to look forward to&nbsp;progressing ahead. It's crazy we thinking like that cause first we used to look at winning, however,&nbsp;now we look to qualifying (for the champions league).</p>

<p>Man United finished sixth in the 2021/22 season&nbsp;and, thus, missed out on champions league football for 2022-23. Cole -- who has won a solitary CL title and five league titles with the Red Devils -- wants the forthcoming EPL season to be 'about progression of the club' and has his 'fingers crossed' for the same along with several other ardent fans of the Harry Maguire-led line-up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the friendly tie between United and Liverpool, the former romped past their opposition in 4-0 with Jadon Sancho, Fred, Anthony Martial and Facundo Pellistri being the goal-scorers.</p>

<p>United will now begin their campaign in the upcoming EPL season against Brighton on August 7.&nbsp;How far will the Red Devils go in EPL 2022/23 season? Only time will tell...</p>


Manchester United remains the most successful English Premier League (EPL) team, having won the elite championship for most times (20). Nonetheless, they have struggled to move past the Sir Alex Ferguson era and have been a pale shadow of themselves, especially in the last few seasons.

Manchester United remains the most successful English Premier League (EPL) team, having won the elite championship for most times (20). Nonetheless, they have struggled to move past the Sir Alex Ferguson era and have been a pale shadow of themselves, especially in the last few seasons. In the last EPL season, Man United brought back Cristiano Ronaldo and assembled a star-studded line-up, however, still finished sixth and missed out on champions league football for 2022-23. With the upcoming edition to kick off soon, the new manager Erik ten Hag has a lot riding on his shoulders to turn the fortunes of the premier club. On Tuesday (July 12), Ronaldo-less United locked horns with Liverpool in what was an exhibition football match, held at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok. Amid all this, Wion's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo caught hold of Andy Cole -- one of the all-time greats of EPL and Man United legend -- ahead of the friendly encounter between the Red Devils and Liverpool. The two spoke on what needs to be done for the most successful team to get back to its usual standards. ALSO READ | Exclusive! He is a leader: Bryan Robson backs Ten Hag's decision to retain Harry Maguire as Man Utd captain Cole -- who is the third-highest goal-scorer of all-time (187) in Premier League history -- ended with 121 goals in 275 appearances for United. He was part of the team's treble-winning season, where he formed a lethal partnership with Dwight Yorke. Thus, the 50-year-old said, "There is always pressure on Man United manager. Man United needs to close the gap with man City and Liverpool. Last season was disappointing. But now, there is a new manager, new ideas and, hence, players need to look forward to progressing ahead. It's crazy we thinking like that cause first we used to look at winning, however, now we look to qualifying (for the champions league). Man United finished sixth in the 2021/22 season and, thus, missed out on champions league football for 2022-23. Cole -- who has won a solitary CL title and five league titles with the Red Devils -- wants the forthcoming EPL season to be 'about progression of the club' and has his 'fingers crossed' for the same along with several other ardent fans of the Harry Maguire-led line-up. Talking about the friendly tie between United and Liverpool, the former romped past their opposition in 4-0 with Jadon Sancho, Fred, Anthony Martial and Facundo Pellistri being the goal-scorers. United will now begin their campaign in the upcoming EPL season against Brighton on August 7. How far will the Red Devils go in EPL 2022/23 season? Only time will tell...

Exclusive: Need to close the gap with Man City and Liverpool, says Man United's legend Andy Cole

Watch a candid conversation with Indian Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Hardeep Singh Puri talked about world affairs, economy and crises.

Indian Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri: 'A rich Europe cannot consume more energy'

'Ms Marvel' music composer Atif Afzal spoke to WION. How did A-Zal become a part of the MCU? Know all about A-Zal's 'Marvel'ous journey here.

Musician Atif Afzal speaks to WION: All about A-Zal's 'Marvel'ous journey

<p>Sunil Chhetri-led India have been on a roll. In the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, Chhetri &amp; Co. have been on fire with three successive victories under their belt and made it to the&nbsp;Asian Cup, to be held next year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India beat Cambodia, 2-0, in their opening game and then defeated Afghanistan 2-1 to make it to the showpiece event. On Tuesday (June 14), India had already qualified for the next round before their game versus Hong Kong, before demolishing&nbsp;them, by 4-0, to top Group D at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. This, this became only the first time that India made it to the main event for the second successive edition, fifth overall (1964, 1984, 2011, 2019, 2023).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following India's memorable run, Wion's Sports Editor got a chance to interact with Indian football team's vice-captain and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to dwell upon India's historic achievement. "Definitely (moment to celebrate). We all should be very happy and grateful. It was very very important period for Indian football. I think all the hardwork showed and extremely happy to qualify for the Asian Cup again. Back-to-back qualification definitely motivates us," Sandhu said joining virtually from Mohali.</p>

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<p>He further opined the coach Igor Štimac's plan for the qualifiers, what all the team went through and stated, "We were able to achieve everything we wanted. Not having too much football in domestic doesn't help. We have to be 30-45 days training camp to achieve peak fitness and be ready for such games. I think that is something we should be thinking about. We should not come into these games thinking about such factors. The rankings do look very good&nbsp;to the eye but it doesn't tell the whole story. Any team can beat anyone. We went out giving that respect to each and every team we played and also do our jobs perfectly," added the 30-year-old.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afc-asian-cup-qualifiers-sunil-chhetri-achieves-elite-feat-as-india-beat-hong-kong-to-top-group-d-488311">AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: Sunil Chhetri achieves elite feat as India beat Hong Kong to top Group D</a></strong></p>

<p>India have dominated the qualifiers and will now shift their focus in preparations for the showpiece event. Needless to say, Chhetri &amp; Co. will be eager to give their best shot in the main event as it would lift the sport in all parts of the country.</p>


Sunil Chhetri-led India have been on a roll. In the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, Chhetri & Co. have been on fire with three successive victories under their belt and made it to the Asian Cup, to be held next year.

Sunil Chhetri-led India have been on a roll. In the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, Chhetri & Co. have been on fire with three successive victories under their belt and made it to the Asian Cup, to be held next year. India beat Cambodia, 2-0, in their opening game and then defeated Afghanistan 2-1 to make it to the showpiece event. On Tuesday (June 14), India had already qualified for the next round before their game versus Hong Kong, before demolishing them, by 4-0, to top Group D at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. This, this became only the first time that India made it to the main event for the second successive edition, fifth overall (1964, 1984, 2011, 2019, 2023). Following India's memorable run, Wion's Sports Editor got a chance to interact with Indian football team's vice-captain and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to dwell upon India's historic achievement. "Definitely (moment to celebrate). We all should be very happy and grateful. It was very very important period for Indian football. I think all the hardwork showed and extremely happy to qualify for the Asian Cup again. Back-to-back qualification definitely motivates us," Sandhu said joining virtually from Mohali. × He further opined the coach Igor Štimac's plan for the qualifiers, what all the team went through and stated, "We were able to achieve everything we wanted. Not having too much football in domestic doesn't help. We have to be 30-45 days training camp to achieve peak fitness and be ready for such games. I think that is something we should be thinking about. We should not come into these games thinking about such factors. The rankings do look very good to the eye but it doesn't tell the whole story. Any team can beat anyone. We went out giving that respect to each and every team we played and also do our jobs perfectly," added the 30-year-old. ALSO READ | AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: Sunil Chhetri achieves elite feat as India beat Hong Kong to top Group D India have dominated the qualifiers and will now shift their focus in preparations for the showpiece event. Needless to say, Chhetri & Co. will be eager to give their best shot in the main event as it would lift the sport in all parts of the country.

EXCLUSIVE | Back-to-back qualifications motivate us, says Gurpreet Singh after India enter Asian Cup

In 2017, a young Indian girl charmed the world not just with her beauty and brain but with brilliance as well. Her answer on motherhood made her win the miss world 2017 title. She brought the coveted beauty pageant crown back to India after 17 years. Manushi Chhillar was the kind of youth icon the world needed, wanted, and got at the right moment. Now she is back in the limelight again for her performance in 'Samrat Prithviraj'. Watch her exclusive internview on WION.

WION Exclusive: Manushi Chhillar on her debut, working with Akshay Kumar

<p>Rafael Nadal and World number 1 Novak Djokovic locked horns with each other in the quarter-finals of the 2022 French Open on Wednesday (June 01). The contest between the two legendary players have always been one to cherish for the ardent tennis fans. The same was the case this time around as Nadal beat defending champion Djokovic in a four-set riveting battle,&nbsp;6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nadal now stands just a couple of steps away from lifting his 14th French Open title after an incredible display against Djokovic. While many termed the Serbian as the favourite ahead of the clash, due to Nadal's foot injury and inconsistent form,&nbsp; the Spaniard saved his best versus the No. 1 ranked player to emerge on top in an engaging battle.</p>

<p>Following the clash,&nbsp;Indian Tennis coach Enrico Piperno analysed the high-voltage clash between Nadal-Djokovic and lauded the former world number one.</p>

<p>On Nadal's foot injury, Piperno said in an&nbsp;interaction with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, "The man is superhuman. Don't know how he does it. To continue playing that sort of level at this age is pretty phenomenal. That explains Rafael Nadal to you. The way he plays, the sort of effort that goes into it, hitting the ground stoke&nbsp;from that far from the baseline is just absolutely phenomenal. He is one of the greatest athletes the planet has ever seen."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-a-battle-rod-laver-del-potro-and-others-react-as-rafael-nadal-beat-novak-djokovic-at-french-open-2022-483998">'What a battle': Rod Laver, Del Potro &amp; others react as Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic at French Open 2022</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RafaelNadal</a> ended <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Djokernole</a>'s title defence at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolandGarros?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RolandGarros</a> after a 4-hour epic that got over past midnight.<br />
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How did Nadal overcome his injury issues to beat the in-form World No. 1?<br />
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Indian Tennis coach Enrico Piperno analyses the quarter-final clash with <a href="https://twitter.com/DiggySinghDeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DiggySinghDeo</a> <a href="https://t.co/sTZ3Y94PuD">pic.twitter.com/sTZ3Y94PuD</a></p>
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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/had-my-chances-but-lost-to-a-better-player-says-novak-djokovic-after-going-down-against-rafael-nadal-484002">Had my chances but lost to a better player, says Novak Djokovic after going down against Rafael Nadal</a></strong></p>

<p>With age not being on his side and several fitness concerns, the talk doing the rounds is&nbsp;that RAFA is contemplating&nbsp;retirement. In this regard, Piperno opined, "What I have been hearing is this is his final year. That is the sort of feeling everyone is getting. If he has had a good year, he might say 'why not, let's continue for one more year'. I think his intention is to call it quits but it will be decided post US Open."</p>

<p>Nadal will next face Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, on Friday evening (June 03), to book a place in the final. The veteran will surely aim for his 14th French Open title and extend his overall Grand Slam tally to 21. He had already won the year's first Grand Slam, i.e. the Australian Open, in a dramatic fashion over Daniil Medvedev.</p>


Rafael Nadal and World number 1 Novak Djokovic locked horns with each other in the quarter-finals of the 2022 French Open on Wednesday (June 01). The contest between the two legendary players have always been one to cherish for the ardent tennis fans.

Rafael Nadal and World number 1 Novak Djokovic locked horns with each other in the quarter-finals of the 2022 French Open on Wednesday (June 01). The contest between the two legendary players have always been one to cherish for the ardent tennis fans. The same was the case this time around as Nadal beat defending champion Djokovic in a four-set riveting battle, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4). Nadal now stands just a couple of steps away from lifting his 14th French Open title after an incredible display against Djokovic. While many termed the Serbian as the favourite ahead of the clash, due to Nadal's foot injury and inconsistent form, the Spaniard saved his best versus the No. 1 ranked player to emerge on top in an engaging battle. Following the clash, Indian Tennis coach Enrico Piperno analysed the high-voltage clash between Nadal-Djokovic and lauded the former world number one. On Nadal's foot injury, Piperno said in an interaction with WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, "The man is superhuman. Don't know how he does it. To continue playing that sort of level at this age is pretty phenomenal. That explains Rafael Nadal to you. The way he plays, the sort of effort that goes into it, hitting the ground stoke from that far from the baseline is just absolutely phenomenal. He is one of the greatest athletes the planet has ever seen." ALSO READ | 'What a battle': Rod Laver, Del Potro & others react as Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic at French Open 2022 .@RafaelNadal ended @Djokernole's title defence at #RolandGarros after a 4-hour epic that got over past midnight. How did Nadal overcome his injury issues to beat the in-form World No. 1? Indian Tennis coach Enrico Piperno analyses the quarter-final clash with @DiggySinghDeo pic.twitter.com/sTZ3Y94PuD — WION (@WIONews) June 1, 2022 × ALSO READ | Had my chances but lost to a better player, says Novak Djokovic after going down against Rafael Nadal With age not being on his side and several fitness concerns, the talk doing the rounds is that RAFA is contemplating retirement. In this regard, Piperno opined, "What I have been hearing is this is his final year. That is the sort of feeling everyone is getting. If he has had a good year, he might say 'why not, let's continue for one more year'. I think his intention is to call it quits but it will be decided post US Open." Nadal will next face Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, on Friday evening (June 03), to book a place in the final. The veteran will surely aim for his 14th French Open title and extend his overall Grand Slam tally to 21. He had already won the year's first Grand Slam, i.e. the Australian Open, in a dramatic fashion over Daniil Medvedev.

'He's one of the greatest athletes....': Enrico Piperno on Rafael Nadal after his win over Novak Djokovic

<p>Over the years, the sporting fraternity has been blessed with several marquee athletes from across&nbsp;the globe. Many sports have seen certain performers&nbsp;own the game they play. Many have had an illustrious career with many highs along with some steep falls. Nonetheless, some of them have also reinvented themselves to flourish&nbsp;at&nbsp;the latter stage of their respective&nbsp;careers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One such athlete has been the&nbsp;2004 Olympic 100m gold medalist Justin Gatlin. The American sprinter was a prominent name when Usain Bolt came up the ranks, scripted some glorious highs before doping led to his suspension only to stage a comeback in 2010 and continue&nbsp;long enough to beat&nbsp;the Jamaican&nbsp;in his final race. After continuing&nbsp;to produce age-defying performances, Gatlin&nbsp;finally retired&nbsp;earlier this year. However, he continues to be an inspiration for many.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a chat with Wion's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, ahead of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, the 40-year-old Gatlin looked back on his career and has heaped praise on India's rising star Neeraj Chopra.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong>F<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-lionel-messi-to-stephen-curry-top-5-forbes-richest-athletes-of-2022-478350"><strong>rom Lionel Messi to Stephen Curry: Top 5 Forbes’ richest athletes of 2022</strong></a></p>

<p>While Gatlin is an inspiration for many to date, he feels Neeraj is now inspiring a the younger generation. In his maiden Olympic outing, Neeraj returned with a gold medal in the men's javelin final to create history and take India past the final hurdle (where they have always struggled in marquee events).</p>

<p>Thus, Gatlin compared Neeraj's success with Usain and said, "What he has done for India, same thing that Usian has done for Jamaica. He has inspired so many young talents. They can say that I come from the same background, even I can reach there and make my country proud. Golden Boy has done a great thing for his country and I believe there are now many many more athletes who will come out from India."</p>

<p>Given that such huge words of praise from a legendary name like Gatlin, it will do wonders for Neeraj's confidence going ahead.</p>


Over the years, the sporting fraternity has been blessed with several marquee athletes from across the globe. Many sports have seen certain performers own the game they play.

Over the years, the sporting fraternity has been blessed with several marquee athletes from across the globe. Many sports have seen certain performers own the game they play. Many have had an illustrious career with many highs along with some steep falls. Nonetheless, some of them have also reinvented themselves to flourish at the latter stage of their respective careers. One such athlete has been the 2004 Olympic 100m gold medalist Justin Gatlin. The American sprinter was a prominent name when Usain Bolt came up the ranks, scripted some glorious highs before doping led to his suspension only to stage a comeback in 2010 and continue long enough to beat the Jamaican in his final race. After continuing to produce age-defying performances, Gatlin finally retired earlier this year. However, he continues to be an inspiration for many. In a chat with Wion's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, ahead of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, the 40-year-old Gatlin looked back on his career and has heaped praise on India's rising star Neeraj Chopra. ALSO READ | From Lionel Messi to Stephen Curry: Top 5 Forbes’ richest athletes of 2022 While Gatlin is an inspiration for many to date, he feels Neeraj is now inspiring a the younger generation. In his maiden Olympic outing, Neeraj returned with a gold medal in the men's javelin final to create history and take India past the final hurdle (where they have always struggled in marquee events). Thus, Gatlin compared Neeraj's success with Usain and said, "What he has done for India, same thing that Usian has done for Jamaica. He has inspired so many young talents. They can say that I come from the same background, even I can reach there and make my country proud. Golden Boy has done a great thing for his country and I believe there are now many many more athletes who will come out from India." Given that such huge words of praise from a legendary name like Gatlin, it will do wonders for Neeraj's confidence going ahead.

EXCLUSIVE | What Neeraj Chopra has done for India, Usain Bolt has done the same for Jamaica: Justin Gatlin

<p>Russia&nbsp;is "frightened" by journalists "who can tell the truth", said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. &nbsp;</p>

<p>This remark came as the Kremlin seems to have attempted to prevent Russians from reading or watching an interview he gave over the invasion in Ukraine. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement on Sunday, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor issued a warning to news outlets against rebroadcasting or distributing the interview of Zelensky by some independent journalists. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-trying-to-split-ukraine-in-two-like-koreas-says-intelligence-chief-466187" hreflang="en">Russia trying to split Ukraine in two, like Koreas, says intelligence chief</a></strong></p>

<p>"Roskomnadzor warns the Russian media not to publish this interview. The media outlets conducting the interviews will be subject to scrutiny to determine the extent of responsibility and the appropriate response to be taken," the agency said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The journalists, who interviewed the Ukrainian president, were Vladimir Solovyov of Moscow newspaper Kommersant, Tikhon Dzyadko from recently shuttered channel TV Rain, Ivan Kolpakov from Latvia-based website Meduza and prominent writer Mikhail Zygar. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of the interview, Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov, who won Nobel Peace Prize last year, submitted questions for Zelensky.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Gravitas: Zelensky opens the door for neutrality in peace talks&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>On social media app Telegram, Roskomnadzor in a statement said some outlets, which participated, have been formally labeled as "foreign agents" by the Russian government.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>On Sunday, Zelensky said Moscow was "frightened" by the truth. &nbsp;</p>

<p>During a video address, Zelensky said, "[They] destroyed freedom of speech in their state — [and are] trying to destroy the neighbouring state. They portray themselves as global players. And they themselves are afraid of a relatively short conversation with several journalists." &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Well, if there's such reaction — then we are doing everything right. [It] means they are nervous," added Zelensky. &nbsp;</p>

<p>On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN that Russia was not afraid. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We have laws in place, and it is very important not to publish information that would amount to a violation of these laws," Peskov added. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Russia is "frightened" by journalists "who can tell the truth", said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This remark came as the Kremlin seems to have attempted to prevent Russians from reading or watching an interview he gave over the invasion in Ukraine.

Russia is "frightened" by journalists "who can tell the truth", said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This remark came as the Kremlin seems to have attempted to prevent Russians from reading or watching an interview he gave over the invasion in Ukraine. In a statement on Sunday, Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor issued a warning to news outlets against rebroadcasting or distributing the interview of Zelensky by some independent journalists. Also Read: Russia trying to split Ukraine in two, like Koreas, says intelligence chief "Roskomnadzor warns the Russian media not to publish this interview. The media outlets conducting the interviews will be subject to scrutiny to determine the extent of responsibility and the appropriate response to be taken," the agency said. The journalists, who interviewed the Ukrainian president, were Vladimir Solovyov of Moscow newspaper Kommersant, Tikhon Dzyadko from recently shuttered channel TV Rain, Ivan Kolpakov from Latvia-based website Meduza and prominent writer Mikhail Zygar. Ahead of the interview, Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov, who won Nobel Peace Prize last year, submitted questions for Zelensky. Watch | Gravitas: Zelensky opens the door for neutrality in peace talks × On social media app Telegram, Roskomnadzor in a statement said some outlets, which participated, have been formally labeled as "foreign agents" by the Russian government. On Sunday, Zelensky said Moscow was "frightened" by the truth. During a video address, Zelensky said, "[They] destroyed freedom of speech in their state — [and are] trying to destroy the neighbouring state. They portray themselves as global players. And they themselves are afraid of a relatively short conversation with several journalists." "Well, if there's such reaction — then we are doing everything right. [It] means they are nervous," added Zelensky. On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN that Russia was not afraid. "We have laws in place, and it is very important not to publish information that would amount to a violation of these laws," Peskov added. (With inputs from agencies)

After Kremlin bans interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is 'frightened'

<p>Writer-actor Sumaira Shaikh, a familiar face in Indian stand-up comedy, has come up with her own stand up special 'Dongri Danger' on Amazon Prime. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Taking pointers from her personal life, the comedy special sees Sumaira aka Baby G, telling stories about road trips, her love for gangsters and how it was growing up in Dongri, a locality in Mumbai among other things.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In an exclusive interview with WION, Shaikh, who has come a long way - talks about her new show, the reason why she has a soft corner for gangsters, her future projects and her great bonding with comedian Sumukhi Suresh who has also directed her special.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jhund-review-amitabh-bachchans-film-gets-it-right-eventually-458474" hreflang="en">'Jhund' review: Amitabh Bachchan's film gets it right, eventually</a></p>

<p>Read&nbsp;the&nbsp;excerpts&nbsp;of the&nbsp;conversation&nbsp;here:&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Your new special is called 'Dongri Danger'. How did the name come about?</strong></p>

<p>We were confused between many names, like 'Dongi Ki Gundi' and many others but we were sure to stick with Dongri as it was about me growing up in the Mumbai locality of Dongri and all the experiences I've had while growing up there. And So Sumukhi Suresh came up with it an idea of how there is a gangster vibe attached to it and it will help people connect to the show so I decided to go for it.</p>

<p><strong>You said you like gangsters more than fake friends, care to explain why?</strong></p>

<p>The reason I like the gangsters more is because of their honesty, they are upfront. If they like you or even if they don't, there's no hypocrisy in them. People actually call me Baby G on Instagram(laughs). The G stands for gangsters. So, you can call me that. (laughs)</p>

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<p><strong>How did this stand up special happen?</strong></p>

<p>The truth is that it’s a dream come true for any comic. Almost, everybody who gets into this profession, their end goal is to record and eventually put it up somewhere. I’m absolutely lucky for Amazon coming on onboard and glad that they said yes. I’m really really excited.</p>

<p><strong>You are preparing for this special for years, isn't it?</strong></p>

<p>Yes, it’s true. Since 2016 I’m preparing for this one when I started doing full-time comedy and all the jokes I have written from 2016 to 2021, till it’s recorded. So it's a dream come true moment for me. My comedic style is a little bit different from others- it's on a different pace and it's honest. It is a dark comedy.</p>

<p><strong>You are a writer, actor and comedian? The one thing you love doing the most</strong></p>

<p>I was a stand up comic first, then an actor and then I became a writer. So, I loved doing writing and standup, their process is sort of similar but as an art form, they both are very different. I loved doing both, in standup the results are quick- right in front of you and in writing there is a lot more hard work involved, you also get a lot of feedback. So, I enjoy the hustle and hard work that is involved in both.</p>

<p><strong>What's in store for the future?</strong></p>

<p>Right now, 'Dongri Danger'. Also, I’m co-creating a show with Sumukhi Suresh and I'm writing a show. Really looking forward to these two.</p>

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<p><strong>Your family was supportive of your chosen profession?</strong></p>

<p>My family is very funny and there are always jokes going on in the house, that's how I had a vibe of dealing with everything with jokes and humour since childhood. But when I grew up, I realised there's a whole career that one can make of it. That standup is a thing out there. So that's how I came to know about it and I made my way here.</p>

<p><strong>Your thoughts on the future of stand-up comedy?</strong></p>

<p>I feel like comics have grown into other things. Like Sumukhi, who's is a stand up comic and now she's directing a show and there are so many other things these comedians are doing. They are hosting shows and exploring their talent parallelly with standups. So it's very exciting. Even for me- stand up opened writing for me.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Writer-actor Sumaira Shaikh, a familiar face in Indian stand-up comedy, has come up with her own stand up special 'Dongri Danger' on Amazon Prime. Taking pointers from her personal life, the comedy special sees Sumaira aka Baby G, telling stories about road trips, her love for gangsters and how it was growing up in Dongri, a locality in Mumbai among other things.

Writer-actor Sumaira Shaikh, a familiar face in Indian stand-up comedy, has come up with her own stand up special 'Dongri Danger' on Amazon Prime. Taking pointers from her personal life, the comedy special sees Sumaira aka Baby G, telling stories about road trips, her love for gangsters and how it was growing up in Dongri, a locality in Mumbai among other things. In an exclusive interview with WION, Shaikh, who has come a long way - talks about her new show, the reason why she has a soft corner for gangsters, her future projects and her great bonding with comedian Sumukhi Suresh who has also directed her special. 'Jhund' review: Amitabh Bachchan's film gets it right, eventually Read the excerpts of the conversation here: Your new special is called 'Dongri Danger'. How did the name come about? We were confused between many names, like 'Dongi Ki Gundi' and many others but we were sure to stick with Dongri as it was about me growing up in the Mumbai locality of Dongri and all the experiences I've had while growing up there. And So Sumukhi Suresh came up with it an idea of how there is a gangster vibe attached to it and it will help people connect to the show so I decided to go for it. You said you like gangsters more than fake friends, care to explain why? The reason I like the gangsters more is because of their honesty, they are upfront. If they like you or even if they don't, there's no hypocrisy in them. People actually call me Baby G on Instagram(laughs). The G stands for gangsters. So, you can call me that. (laughs) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sumaira Shaikh (@sumairashaikh__) × How did this stand up special happen? The truth is that it’s a dream come true for any comic. Almost, everybody who gets into this profession, their end goal is to record and eventually put it up somewhere. I’m absolutely lucky for Amazon coming on onboard and glad that they said yes. I’m really really excited. You are preparing for this special for years, isn't it? Yes, it’s true. Since 2016 I’m preparing for this one when I started doing full-time comedy and all the jokes I have written from 2016 to 2021, till it’s recorded. So it's a dream come true moment for me. My comedic style is a little bit different from others- it's on a different pace and it's honest. It is a dark comedy. You are a writer, actor and comedian? The one thing you love doing the most I was a stand up comic first, then an actor and then I became a writer. So, I loved doing writing and standup, their process is sort of similar but as an art form, they both are very different. I loved doing both, in standup the results are quick- right in front of you and in writing there is a lot more hard work involved, you also get a lot of feedback. So, I enjoy the hustle and hard work that is involved in both. What's in store for the future? Right now, 'Dongri Danger'. Also, I’m co-creating a show with Sumukhi Suresh and I'm writing a show. Really looking forward to these two. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sumaira Shaikh (@sumairashaikh__) × Your family was supportive of your chosen profession? My family is very funny and there are always jokes going on in the house, that's how I had a vibe of dealing with everything with jokes and humour since childhood. But when I grew up, I realised there's a whole career that one can make of it. That standup is a thing out there. So that's how I came to know about it and I made my way here. Your thoughts on the future of stand-up comedy? I feel like comics have grown into other things. Like Sumukhi, who's is a stand up comic and now she's directing a show and there are so many other things these comedians are doing. They are hosting shows and exploring their talent parallelly with standups. So it's very exciting. Even for me- stand up opened writing for me.

Exclusive: Sumaira Shaikh on her journey from Mumbai locals to her own show 'Dongri Danger': Dream come true!

<p>16-year-old Chess prodigy from India, R. Praggnanandhaa is extremely happy and grateful to his coach for eight years, Grand Master Ramesh and Chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who has been offering mentorship via video lessons. During the wee hours of Monday(Indian time), the young man from India had defeated World No.1 Magnus Carlsen and scaled a new high in his already celebrated career. With back-to-back tournaments and late-night online matches keeping him busy, the young Grandmaster from Chennai doesn't have the time to savour his big win, but he sure does enjoy the process. WION had an opportunity to speak to him and understand how he feels.</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">"I worked very hard for this event.. I also tried to manage&nbsp;my sleep schedule by staying awake till 3am, over the last 10 days, in order to prepare myself and adjust to the routine.(The online games as part of the Airthings Masters begin around 10pm India time and go on until 4am)… This is a very important tournament for me" he said.</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">Referring to having lost three of four matches on his first day, he said that he had played "not-so-good". However, that didn’t deter the lad from fighting with more vigour on day two, when had to take many top-ranked players. "Day 2 was when I faced World No.1 Magnus Carlsen… I was very excited to fight against the top players and tried to forget about the results of the first day.. I was very happy to win against the World Champion and it gives me huge confidence and a boost" he added.</p>

<p aria-hidden="true"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-how-indias-16-year-old-praggnanandhaa-prepared-to-beat-world-no1-magnus-carlsen-455320"><strong>Exclusive! How India's 16-year-old Praggnanandhaa prepared to beat World No.1 Magnus Carlsen</strong></a></p>

<p aria-hidden="true">Profusely thanking their efforts, Praggnanandhaa acknowledged the efforts of Grandmaster RB Ramesh, for guiding him since 2014 and helping in all the games and tournaments. He also shared special thanks for five-time World Chess champion, Viswanathan Anand, who had been offering support via the Westbridge Anand Academy.</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">Having bagged a win that is being talked about world-over, the teenager isn't even taking time out, to celebrate and look back. "I'm happy about the win.. But, didn’t celebrate it because I really wanted to focus on the tournament, which is still going on…" The clearly-visible dark circles around his eyes are testimony to the hard work and efforts that the young man has been putting in. This includes staying up during the wee hours and peering into the computer screen for over four hours, with laser-sharp focus on the cerebral game.</p>

<p aria-hidden="true"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aicf-secretary-bharat-singh-chauhan-not-surprised-at-praggnanandhaa-defeating-world-champion-magnus-carlsen-455411">AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan 'not surprised' at Praggnanandhaa defeating world champion Magnus Carlsen</a></strong></p>

<p aria-hidden="true">While the ongoing online tournament scheduled to come to a close by a weekend, Praggnanandhaa can't think of resting and living the life of a normal teenager. By February 27th, he's headed for Italy for the next tournament.</p>


16-year-old Chess prodigy from India, R. Praggnanandhaa is extremely happy and grateful to his coach for eight years, Grand Master Ramesh and Chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who has been offering mentorship via video lessons.

16-year-old Chess prodigy from India, R. Praggnanandhaa is extremely happy and grateful to his coach for eight years, Grand Master Ramesh and Chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who has been offering mentorship via video lessons. During the wee hours of Monday(Indian time), the young man from India had defeated World No.1 Magnus Carlsen and scaled a new high in his already celebrated career. With back-to-back tournaments and late-night online matches keeping him busy, the young Grandmaster from Chennai doesn't have the time to savour his big win, but he sure does enjoy the process. WION had an opportunity to speak to him and understand how he feels. "I worked very hard for this event.. I also tried to manage my sleep schedule by staying awake till 3am, over the last 10 days, in order to prepare myself and adjust to the routine.(The online games as part of the Airthings Masters begin around 10pm India time and go on until 4am)… This is a very important tournament for me" he said. Referring to having lost three of four matches on his first day, he said that he had played "not-so-good". However, that didn’t deter the lad from fighting with more vigour on day two, when had to take many top-ranked players. "Day 2 was when I faced World No.1 Magnus Carlsen… I was very excited to fight against the top players and tried to forget about the results of the first day.. I was very happy to win against the World Champion and it gives me huge confidence and a boost" he added. ALSO READ | Exclusive! How India's 16-year-old Praggnanandhaa prepared to beat World No.1 Magnus Carlsen Profusely thanking their efforts, Praggnanandhaa acknowledged the efforts of Grandmaster RB Ramesh, for guiding him since 2014 and helping in all the games and tournaments. He also shared special thanks for five-time World Chess champion, Viswanathan Anand, who had been offering support via the Westbridge Anand Academy. Having bagged a win that is being talked about world-over, the teenager isn't even taking time out, to celebrate and look back. "I'm happy about the win.. But, didn’t celebrate it because I really wanted to focus on the tournament, which is still going on…" The clearly-visible dark circles around his eyes are testimony to the hard work and efforts that the young man has been putting in. This includes staying up during the wee hours and peering into the computer screen for over four hours, with laser-sharp focus on the cerebral game. ALSO READ | AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan 'not surprised' at Praggnanandhaa defeating world champion Magnus Carlsen While the ongoing online tournament scheduled to come to a close by a weekend, Praggnanandhaa can't think of resting and living the life of a normal teenager. By February 27th, he's headed for Italy for the next tournament.

WION exclusive: Win against Magnus Carlsen a big boost, gives confidence, says chess sensation Praggnanandhaa

Hollywood A-listers Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley and Michael Peña speak to WION's Zeba about their film 'Moonfall', a science fiction disaster film helmed by Roland Emmerich. From their filming experience to on-set chemistry and working on a film that pits Moon as a mystery object that is predicted to crash land on Earth, there's lots that the stars discuss.

Exclusive: Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson & other stars of Hollywood film Moonfall speak to WION

Jim Sarbh opens up to WION's Zeba Khan on his recent show 'Rocket Boys' that is seeing massive success as he plays nuclear physicist Dr Homi Bhabha, what he loves the most about acting and keeping mum on his character in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film 'Gangubai Kathiawadi'.

Exclusive! In chat with actor Jim Sarbh on playing Dr Homi

Exclusive! In chat with actor Jim Sarbh on playing Dr Homi Bhabha in Rocket Boys

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