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A new video from China's Tiangong Space Station has conspiracy theorists convinced that the astronauts aren't actually in space. They pointed to a humble glass of water to prove their point, asking how the water inside the glass is where there is no gravity in space? In the <a href="https://x.com/BGatesIsaPyscho/status/1934197810645332426">video</a>, as the astronauts share their experience, a glass of water can be seen sitting on a table near them.Some users on X noted that the water was sitting perfectly well inside the glass. They asked, How is it possible? In space, where there is no gravity, everything floats around. This has led us to think that even water inside a glass should be swirling inside the space station.&nbsp;"Why isn't the water floating out of the glass?" a user asked.Another assumed that the water should be floating around, a risky thing at a space station which also houses several valuable and delicate instruments. "Call me crazy but if I was orbiting the Earth at 17,500mph in zero gravity surrounded complex computers, I probably wouldn’t risk an unconcealed glass of water resting on the table."&nbsp;The user said that maybe it is stuck to the surface using Velcro.Even if that keeps the glass stuck, what holds back the water?&nbsp;<h2>This is how water behaves in space</h2>&nbsp;There is nothing sinister happening in this picture, and there is a completely scientific explanation for the water.&nbsp;Water likes to stay with its buddies (other water molecules) and in a safe space (the glass). He told Associated Press, "Water molecules like to stick to glass and also to other water molecules more than they like to disperse in the air."&nbsp;Water consists of slightly positive hydrogen atoms and slightly negative oxygen atoms, creating a strong surface tension as they pull towards each other. This is why water stays intact and is not influenced by external forces.&nbsp;Chinese astronauts often share insights from the Tiangong space station. In this particular video, they were talking to students on Earth, teaching them how buoyancy works differently in space by suspending a ping-pong ball in water.&nbsp;Earlier, in one such video, they shared everything that the space station held, including astronaut beds. They also gave a peek through a window into space and what Earth looked like from up there.

Does water float in space? A video from the Tiangong space station has intrigued people, who are asking how is the water staying inside a glass, without flowing out in zero gravity?

A new video from China's Tiangong Space Station has conspiracy theorists convinced that the astronauts aren't actually in space. They pointed to a humble glass of water to prove their point, asking how the water inside the glass is where there is no gravity in space? In the video, as the astronauts share their experience, a glass of water can be seen sitting on a table near them. Some users on X noted that the water was sitting perfectly well inside the glass. They asked, How is it possible? In space, where there is no gravity, everything floats around. This has led us to think that even water inside a glass should be swirling inside the space station. "Why isn't the water floating out of the glass?" a user asked. Another assumed that the water should be floating around, a risky thing at a space station which also houses several valuable and delicate instruments. "Call me crazy but if I was orbiting the Earth at 17,500mph in zero gravity surrounded complex computers, I probably wouldn’t risk an unconcealed glass of water resting on the table." The user said that maybe it is stuck to the surface using Velcro. Even if that keeps the glass stuck, what holds back the water? This is how water behaves in space There is nothing sinister happening in this picture, and there is a completely scientific explanation for the water. Water likes to stay with its buddies (other water molecules) and in a safe space (the glass). He told Associated Press, "Water molecules like to stick to glass and also to other water molecules more than they like to disperse in the air." Water consists of slightly positive hydrogen atoms and slightly negative oxygen atoms, creating a strong surface tension as they pull towards each other. This is why water stays intact and is not influenced by external forces. Chinese astronauts often share insights from the Tiangong space station. In this particular video, they were talking to students on Earth, teaching them how buoyancy works differently in space by suspending a ping-pong ball in water. Earlier, in one such video, they shared everything that the space station held, including astronaut beds. They also gave a peek through a window into space and what Earth looked like from up there.

Does water float in space? A video from the Tiangong space station has intrigued people, who are asking how is the water staying inside a glass, without flowing out in zero gravity?

'Why isn't it...?' A glass of water at Tiangong Space Station leads to questions

Israel-Iran War: Amid the tensions around the Israel-Iran war, Cristiano Ronaldo - awarded with "Best Middle East Player" in football - sent a unique gift and a message to the US President Donald Trump. The &nbsp;Portuguese footballer sent the American president a signed jersey at the G7 meeting in Canada’s Kananaskis. In phots and videos circulated on social media showed Trump showing the jersey to the cameras, revealing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s message on the back of it.&nbsp;"To President Donald J Trump. Praying for peace,” the jersey said in the message signed by Ronaldo.Ronaldo has long been vocal about peace in the Middle East and in the world. Earlier, he had spoken about the Gaza conflict as well. His message to Trump, when the US president was at the G7 Summit in Canada, having the Israel-Iran conflict as one of the major topics of discussion, made a huge impact.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump receives a signed jersey by <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cristiano</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/eucopresident?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eucopresident</a>! <a href="https://t.co/n6I3zGQLEH">pic.twitter.com/n6I3zGQLEH</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1934723852166434872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;'Israel has a right to defend itself'&nbsp;The G7 leaders issued a joint statement saying that Israel has "a right to defend itself." The statement published by Canada said, "We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel."&nbsp;Moreover, the statement said that it's Iran which is the " principal source of regional instability and terror."&nbsp;"We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians," the statement read.&nbsp;“We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza,” the statement said. &nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo sends special gift and a message to Trump at G7 Summit amid Israel-Iran war

Israel-Iran War: Amid the tensions around the Israel-Iran war, Cristiano Ronaldo - awarded with "Best Middle East Player" in football - sent a unique gift and a message to the US President Donald Trump. The Portuguese footballer sent the American president a signed jersey at the G7 meeting in Canada’s Kananaskis. In phots and videos circulated on social media showed Trump showing the jersey to the cameras, revealing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s message on the back of it. "To President Donald J Trump. Praying for peace,” the jersey said in the message signed by Ronaldo. Ronaldo has long been vocal about peace in the Middle East and in the world. Earlier, he had spoken about the Gaza conflict as well. His message to Trump, when the US president was at the G7 Summit in Canada, having the Israel-Iran conflict as one of the major topics of discussion, made a huge impact.

Amid the tensions around the Israel-Iran war, Cristiano Ronaldo - awarded with "Best Middle East Player" in football - sent a unique gift and a message to the US President Donald Trump.

The European Space Agency has succeeded in creating an artificial total solar eclipse in space. It has now released photos of the event showing the mind-boggling phenomenon created using two spacecraft that were launched last year. They are on display at the Paris Air Show &nbsp;where the spacecraft can be seen reacing a particular position with the Sun in the background.&nbsp;ESA had launched the two spacecraft last year as part of the £208 million Proba-3 mission to learn about the Sun's corona and solar storms. The mission took its first photos of the Sun's outer atmosphere – the solar corona. The flew as one spacecraft in stunning synchronisation to achieve the results.&nbsp;The ESA shared, "This March, the Coronagraph and the Occulter (the two spacecraft) flew 150 metres apart in perfect formation for several hours without any control from the ground."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/esa-orbiter-beams-first-ever-visuals-of-sun-s-messy-south-pole-during-pole-to-pole-trip-1749708998559">ESA Orbiter beams first-ever visuals of Sun's 'messy' south pole during pole-to-pole trip</a>&nbsp;The spacecraft are small cube structures and less than five feet (1.5 metres) in size. They aligned with each other and maintained their relative position down to a single millimetre, almost becoming one. This was made possible by a set of innovative navigation and positioning technologies on board them.&nbsp;<h2>Cube-sized spacecraft aligned with each other to create the eclipse</h2>&nbsp;After precisely positioning themselves, they used their formation flying time to create artificial total solar eclipses in orbit. They aligned perfectly with the Sun, so that the 1.4 m large disc on the Occulter spacecraft covered the bright disc of the Sun. This created an eight-centimetre shadow for the Coronagraph spacecraft, cast onto its optical instrument, ASPIICS, or &nbsp;Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/radio-signals-tear-through-earth-and-out-of-antarctic-ice-they-could-be-coming-from-edge-of-universe-1749887206535">Mysterious radio signals just tore through Antarctic ice. They could be coming from edge of universe</a>&nbsp;The shadow covered the 5 cm aperture of ASPIICS, leading it to capture the solar corona without any hindrance from the Sun’s bright light. One of the photos shows green-hued waves shooting out from behind the satellites.&nbsp;Dietmar Pilz, ESA Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality, comments: “Many of the technologies which allowed Proba-3 to perform precise formation flying have been developed through ESA’s General Support Technology Programme, as has the mission itself."&nbsp;"It is exciting to see these stunning images validate our technologies in what is now the world’s first precision formation flying mission."&nbsp;The breakthrough event will help scientists learn about coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that send waves of particles shooting into the solar system. They are responsible for disrupting radio and communication signals on Earth and also for the beautiful auroras. The Sun is currently in a highly active state and has recently released plumes of plasma into space.&nbsp;<h2>Sun's corona is hotter than its surface</h2>&nbsp;Notably, the temperature recorded on the Sun's corona is more than a million degrees Celsius. This is much hotter than its surface. Scientists have been trying to learn the reason behind it, and Proba-3 aims to dive deep into this by studying the corona very close to the Sun’s surface.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Two spacecraft, about 1.5 metres in size, synchronised so neatly in outer space that they managed to cover the Sun and create an artificial total solar eclipse.

The European Space Agency has succeeded in creating an artificial total solar eclipse in space. It has now released photos of the event showing the mind-boggling phenomenon created using two spacecraft that were launched last year. They are on display at the Paris Air Show where the spacecraft can be seen reacing a particular position with the Sun in the background. ESA had launched the two spacecraft last year as part of the £208 million Proba-3 mission to learn about the Sun's corona and solar storms. The mission took its first photos of the Sun's outer atmosphere – the solar corona. The flew as one spacecraft in stunning synchronisation to achieve the results. The ESA shared, "This March, the Coronagraph and the Occulter (the two spacecraft) flew 150 metres apart in perfect formation for several hours without any control from the ground." Also Read: ESA Orbiter beams first-ever visuals of Sun's 'messy' south pole during pole-to-pole trip The spacecraft are small cube structures and less than five feet (1.5 metres) in size. They aligned with each other and maintained their relative position down to a single millimetre, almost becoming one. This was made possible by a set of innovative navigation and positioning technologies on board them. Cube-sized spacecraft aligned with each other to create the eclipse After precisely positioning themselves, they used their formation flying time to create artificial total solar eclipses in orbit. They aligned perfectly with the Sun, so that the 1.4 m large disc on the Occulter spacecraft covered the bright disc of the Sun. This created an eight-centimetre shadow for the Coronagraph spacecraft, cast onto its optical instrument, ASPIICS, or Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona. Also Read: Mysterious radio signals just tore through Antarctic ice. They could be coming from edge of universe The shadow covered the 5 cm aperture of ASPIICS, leading it to capture the solar corona without any hindrance from the Sun’s bright light. One of the photos shows green-hued waves shooting out from behind the satellites. Dietmar Pilz, ESA Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality, comments: “Many of the technologies which allowed Proba-3 to perform precise formation flying have been developed through ESA’s General Support Technology Programme, as has the mission itself." "It is exciting to see these stunning images validate our technologies in what is now the world’s first precision formation flying mission." The breakthrough event will help scientists learn about coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that send waves of particles shooting into the solar system. They are responsible for disrupting radio and communication signals on Earth and also for the beautiful auroras. The Sun is currently in a highly active state and has recently released plumes of plasma into space. Sun's corona is hotter than its surface Notably, the temperature recorded on the Sun's corona is more than a million degrees Celsius. This is much hotter than its surface. Scientists have been trying to learn the reason behind it, and Proba-3 aims to dive deep into this by studying the corona very close to the Sun’s surface.

Two spacecraft, about 1.5 metres in size, synchronised so neatly in outer space that they managed to cover the Sun and create an artificial total solar eclipse.

Two spacecraft locked in a cosmic dance produce man-made Total Solar Eclipse

Israel and Iran are at a direct war now, but did you know that once upon a time, the two countries had friendly relations, and even cooperated to fight common enemies? For nearly three decades since the formation of Israel in 1948, Iran and Israel had a peaceful relationship. They even helped each other fight common enemies. So what happened before their regional rivalry started? What changed now? Here is a timeline. &nbsp;<h2>Iran was neutral, and cooperated with Israel during regional wars</h2>In the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel fought Egypt, Jordan and Syria. In the war of June 5–10, Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights. At the time, Iran was ruled by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Iranian Shah was an ally of the US and had friendly, albeit covert, ties with Israel. Iran exported oil to Israel at the time, and helped Israel with intelligence sharing. Iran played no military role against Israel in this war, one of the first in the long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the war of 1971 also, Iran played no significant military role against Israel. The Shah’s regime continued its relationship with Israel at the time, and even cooperated in joint ventures like the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline.&nbsp;<h2>So what changed? Answer: The Islamic Revolution</h2> The Islamic Revolution of 1978-79 was essentially a domestic political movement guided by Islamic principles with the aim of overthrowing the Shah's regime. His pro-Israeli stance was, in fact, one of the reasons for the Shah's downfall. From the outset, the Islamic Republic of Iran was opposed to Israel, which it called the Zionist regime. Iran, under the ayatollahs, &nbsp;severed diplomatic ties with Israel. That's when the regional rivalry began. Yet, there's a twist.<h2>Israel helped Iran in its war against Iraq</h2>Even after the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Israel reportedly helped Iran in its war with Iraq that lasted from 1980 to 1988. Israel supplied Iran with over $500 million in arms, as it saw Iraq’s nuclear ambitions at the time as a greater threat to its existence. Note that there's also a sectarian angle to this, as Iran is a Shia nation, whereas Iraq is Sunni, with a significant Shia population.<h2>The establishment of Hezbollah started an open rivalry</h2>&nbsp;The open rivalry phase between Iran and Israel can be said to have started after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 as part of its operations against the Palestinian Liberation Organisation or PLO. That year, Iran established the militant group Hezbollah, the first of its several proxy groups in the region fighting against Israel. Hezbollah is a Shia militia that fought Israeli forces, setting off the proxy wars, the first major attack being the 1983 bombing of Israeli and Western forces. &nbsp;<h2>1990s: Suicide bombings by Hezbollah</h2> &nbsp;The 1990s were a period of volatility in the region as the Palestinian liberation movement gathered steam.&nbsp; Suicide bombings targeting Israel's embassy in 1992, and a Jewish Cetre in Buenos Aires in 1994 are most prominent among them. Israel blamed Iran for these attacks, but Tehran denied responsibility. &nbsp;<h2>2000s: The proxy war intensifies, Iran's nuclear weapons programme raises concerns</h2><h2>&nbsp;</h2>In 2000, Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon after years of occupation. Backed by Iran, Hezbollah continued to attack Israeli targets across the world since then. Iran's secret nuclear weapons programme was revealed in 2002, a definitive moment in the rivalry that culminated in the current war. Since 2002, Israel has openly opposed the Iranian nuclear enrichment programme at every available international forum. By this time, ‘death to Israel’ became a common slogan in Iran, with politicians like the hardliner president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad using rhetoric that inflamed anti-Israel sentiment in the Islamic Republic. &nbsp;<h2>2006 Israel-Hezbollah war &nbsp;</h2>In 2006, two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah, which led to the Israel-Hezbollah war. Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) helped Hezbollah with rocket attacks and missile operations. Among these was an anti-ship missile strike on the Israeli Navy ship INS Hanit, which killed four Israeli crew. The war ended with the UN-brokered ceasefire Resolution 1701. In 2009, Israel captured a ship carrying Iranian weapons to Hezbollah. By this time, Iran was also helping prop up Hamas as the dominant Palestinian faction in Gaza. This slowly led to the proxy war spreading. In this period, Israel conducted airstrikes on Iranian arms convoys in Sudan that were destined for Hamas.&nbsp;<h2>2010s: Proxy war, sabotage of Iran nuclear programme</h2>The 2010s were a period of more proxy wars, with the element of cyberattacks added. In this period, each country blamed the other, but the standard policy of both sides was not to overtly claim responsibility.&nbsp;The most prominent among these disruptive activities is the Stuxnet virus attack of 2010. The malware was introduced allegedly by Israel with help from the US to disrupt the functioning of Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. Two years later, a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist, Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, was killed, with Iran pointing the finger at Israel. &nbsp;&nbsp;In 2011, an Iranian General Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam was killed in a blast at a missile base. Again, the Israeli hand was suspected. The proxy wars continued amid regional conflicts. At the height of the Syrian civil war, Israel conducted the Operation House of Cards in 2018, targeting Iranian interests in Syria. This took place after the IRGC allegedly fired 20 rockets at Israel from Syria.&nbsp; The same year, under President Donald Trump, the US withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal, after Israel revealed what it said were stolen Iranian nuclear documents. Israel has always maintained that Iran had a secret nuclear weapons programme. &nbsp;<h2>2020s: More attacks on Iranian interests</h2>In the 2020s, Israel continued to help Iran's enemies, while Iran, particularly the externally-focused Quds Forces of IRGC, trained and armed anti-Israeli militia across the region. The most important event in this period was the assassination of Qasem Soleimani on 3 January 2020 by the US under Trump's orders. Soleimani, &nbsp;the commander of the Quds Force, died in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. He was in Iraq to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. Iran accused the Israelis of involvement. Though Israel was silent at the time, its involvement was later admitted.&nbsp;Israel also continued to target Iran's nuclear programme. In 2020, an explosion damaged Natanz centrifuge facility. Another Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated near Tehran, allegedly by Israel using a remote-controlled weapon.&nbsp; &nbsp;Disruptive activities by both sides continued into 2021, with Israel accused of attacking Iranian ships in the Red Sea.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>2023 October 7 Hamas attack: The trigger of the current conflict &nbsp;</h2>The October 7 terror attack by Hamas-led Palestinian militants that killed at least 1,200 Israeli civilians led to the invasion of Gaza by Israel. Soon, Isral expanded the Gaza war to target all proxy groups funded, aided and trained by Iran. Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Houthis of Yemen joined the Israel-Hamas war, targeting Israeli commercial and military interests in solidarity with the Palestinians. Israel responded by a variety of attacks in countries across the region. In December 2023, an Israeli airstrike in Syria killed IRGC commander Razi Mousavi.<h2>2024: A series of assassinations and attacks</h2>In 2024, Hamas and Hezbollah leaders were killed in Iran and Lebanon in Israeli operations.&nbsp;&nbsp;The year waw many conflagrations that were precursors to the current Iran-Israel war. In January 2024, Israel killed five Iranian officials, including General Sadegh Omidzadeh, in a strike in the Syrian capital of Damascus. &nbsp;On April 1 that year, Israel attacked Iran’s consulate in Damascus, killing 16 people, including two IRGC generals. Iran retaliated on April 13 with an attack that involved 300 drones and missiles, but most of these were intercepted by Israel. On April 19, Israel attacked an Iranian antiaircraft system. In May 2024, &nbsp;IRGC officer Sayad Khodayee was assassinated in Tehran, with Israel hand suspected.&nbsp; In July 2024, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in an Israeli military-intelligence operation.&nbsp;In September that year, an Israeli pager and walkie-talkie attack targeted Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, and injured Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon.&nbsp; In the same month, Israeli air strikes in Beirut, Lebanon, killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan. &nbsp;To avenge these killings, Iran fired 180 missiles at Israel. In response, Israel struck Iranian air defences and missile facilities. &nbsp;These are the events that eventually led to the current war, which started on June 12 with Israel's Operation Rising Lion, hitting Iran’s nuclear, energy and military infrastructure, and killing top officials, generals and scientists. Iran has responded with a series of drone and missile attacks hitting at the heart of Israel.&nbsp;

For nearly three decades since formation of Israel in 1948, Iran and Israel had peaceful relationship. What happened before their regional rivalry started? What changed now? Here is a timeline.

Israel and Iran are at a direct war now, but did you know that once upon a time, the two countries had friendly relations, and even cooperated to fight common enemies? For nearly three decades since the formation of Israel in 1948, Iran and Israel had a peaceful relationship. They even helped each other fight common enemies. So what happened before their regional rivalry started? What changed now? Here is a timeline. Iran was neutral, and cooperated with Israel during regional wars In the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel fought Egypt, Jordan and Syria. In the war of June 5–10, Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights. At the time, Iran was ruled by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Iranian Shah was an ally of the US and had friendly, albeit covert, ties with Israel. Iran exported oil to Israel at the time, and helped Israel with intelligence sharing. Iran played no military role against Israel in this war, one of the first in the long-standing Arab-Israeli conflict. In the war of 1971 also, Iran played no significant military role against Israel. The Shah’s regime continued its relationship with Israel at the time, and even cooperated in joint ventures like the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline. So what changed? Answer: The Islamic Revolution The Islamic Revolution of 1978-79 was essentially a domestic political movement guided by Islamic principles with the aim of overthrowing the Shah's regime. His pro-Israeli stance was, in fact, one of the reasons for the Shah's downfall. From the outset, the Islamic Republic of Iran was opposed to Israel, which it called the Zionist regime. Iran, under the ayatollahs, severed diplomatic ties with Israel. That's when the regional rivalry began. Yet, there's a twist. Israel helped Iran in its war against Iraq Even after the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Israel reportedly helped Iran in its war with Iraq that lasted from 1980 to 1988. Israel supplied Iran with over $500 million in arms, as it saw Iraq’s nuclear ambitions at the time as a greater threat to its existence. Note that there's also a sectarian angle to this, as Iran is a Shia nation, whereas Iraq is Sunni, with a significant Shia population. The establishment of Hezbollah started an open rivalry The open rivalry phase between Iran and Israel can be said to have started after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 as part of its operations against the Palestinian Liberation Organisation or PLO. That year, Iran established the militant group Hezbollah, the first of its several proxy groups in the region fighting against Israel. Hezbollah is a Shia militia that fought Israeli forces, setting off the proxy wars, the first major attack being the 1983 bombing of Israeli and Western forces. 1990s: Suicide bombings by Hezbollah The 1990s were a period of volatility in the region as the Palestinian liberation movement gathered steam. Suicide bombings targeting Israel's embassy in 1992, and a Jewish Cetre in Buenos Aires in 1994 are most prominent among them. Israel blamed Iran for these attacks, but Tehran denied responsibility. 2000s: The proxy war intensifies, Iran's nuclear weapons programme raises concerns In 2000, Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon after years of occupation. Backed by Iran, Hezbollah continued to attack Israeli targets across the world since then. Iran's secret nuclear weapons programme was revealed in 2002, a definitive moment in the rivalry that culminated in the current war. Since 2002, Israel has openly opposed the Iranian nuclear enrichment programme at every available international forum. By this time, ‘death to Israel’ became a common slogan in Iran, with politicians like the hardliner president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad using rhetoric that inflamed anti-Israel sentiment in the Islamic Republic. 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war In 2006, two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah, which led to the Israel-Hezbollah war. Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) helped Hezbollah with rocket attacks and missile operations. Among these was an anti-ship missile strike on the Israeli Navy ship INS Hanit, which killed four Israeli crew. The war ended with the UN-brokered ceasefire Resolution 1701. In 2009, Israel captured a ship carrying Iranian weapons to Hezbollah. By this time, Iran was also helping prop up Hamas as the dominant Palestinian faction in Gaza. This slowly led to the proxy war spreading. In this period, Israel conducted airstrikes on Iranian arms convoys in Sudan that were destined for Hamas. 2010s: Proxy war, sabotage of Iran nuclear programme The 2010s were a period of more proxy wars, with the element of cyberattacks added. In this period, each country blamed the other, but the standard policy of both sides was not to overtly claim responsibility. The most prominent among these disruptive activities is the Stuxnet virus attack of 2010. The malware was introduced allegedly by Israel with help from the US to disrupt the functioning of Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. Two years later, a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist, Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, was killed, with Iran pointing the finger at Israel. In 2011, an Iranian General Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam was killed in a blast at a missile base. Again, the Israeli hand was suspected. The proxy wars continued amid regional conflicts. At the height of the Syrian civil war, Israel conducted the Operation House of Cards in 2018, targeting Iranian interests in Syria. This took place after the IRGC allegedly fired 20 rockets at Israel from Syria. The same year, under President Donald Trump, the US withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal, after Israel revealed what it said were stolen Iranian nuclear documents. Israel has always maintained that Iran had a secret nuclear weapons programme. 2020s: More attacks on Iranian interests In the 2020s, Israel continued to help Iran's enemies, while Iran, particularly the externally-focused Quds Forces of IRGC, trained and armed anti-Israeli militia across the region. The most important event in this period was the assassination of Qasem Soleimani on 3 January 2020 by the US under Trump's orders. Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, died in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. He was in Iraq to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. Iran accused the Israelis of involvement. Though Israel was silent at the time, its involvement was later admitted. Israel also continued to target Iran's nuclear programme. In 2020, an explosion damaged Natanz centrifuge facility. Another Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated near Tehran, allegedly by Israel using a remote-controlled weapon. Disruptive activities by both sides continued into 2021, with Israel accused of attacking Iranian ships in the Red Sea. 2023 October 7 Hamas attack: The trigger of the current conflict The October 7 terror attack by Hamas-led Palestinian militants that killed at least 1,200 Israeli civilians led to the invasion of Gaza by Israel. Soon, Isral expanded the Gaza war to target all proxy groups funded, aided and trained by Iran. Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Houthis of Yemen joined the Israel-Hamas war, targeting Israeli commercial and military interests in solidarity with the Palestinians. Israel responded by a variety of attacks in countries across the region. In December 2023, an Israeli airstrike in Syria killed IRGC commander Razi Mousavi. 2024: A series of assassinations and attacks In 2024, Hamas and Hezbollah leaders were killed in Iran and Lebanon in Israeli operations. The year waw many conflagrations that were precursors to the current Iran-Israel war. In January 2024, Israel killed five Iranian officials, including General Sadegh Omidzadeh, in a strike in the Syrian capital of Damascus. On April 1 that year, Israel attacked Iran’s consulate in Damascus, killing 16 people, including two IRGC generals. Iran retaliated on April 13 with an attack that involved 300 drones and missiles, but most of these were intercepted by Israel. On April 19, Israel attacked an Iranian antiaircraft system. In May 2024, IRGC officer Sayad Khodayee was assassinated in Tehran, with Israel hand suspected. In July 2024, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in an Israeli military-intelligence operation. In September that year, an Israeli pager and walkie-talkie attack targeted Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, and injured Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. In the same month, Israeli air strikes in Beirut, Lebanon, killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan. To avenge these killings, Iran fired 180 missiles at Israel. In response, Israel struck Iranian air defences and missile facilities. These are the events that eventually led to the current war, which started on June 12 with Israel's Operation Rising Lion, hitting Iran’s nuclear, energy and military infrastructure, and killing top officials, generals and scientists. Iran has responded with a series of drone and missile attacks hitting at the heart of Israel.

For nearly three decades since formation of Israel in 1948, Iran and Israel had peaceful relationship. What happened before their regional rivalry started? What changed now? Here is a timeline.

Iran and Israel were once friends, helped each other before proxy battles and direct war. What changed? A timeline

Benjamin Netanyahu, an elite soldier-turned prime minister of Israel, has been described as a war monger, maverick politician known for brinkmanship, or a strong leader of the Jewish nation, depending on where you look. But one thing is clear: Netanyahu is possibly among the most consequential leaders of Israel. As the Israel-Iran war rages on, here is a look at the life, military career and political controversies of Bibi, the man of the moment.&nbsp;<h2>Benjamin Netanyahu: Early life details</h2> Benjamin Netanyahu was born on 21 October 1949 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He spent parts of his youth in the US, where his father taught at a college. In 1956-1958 and from 1963 to 1967, his family lived in Cheltenham Township of Pennsylvania. Netanyahu studied at the Cheltenham High School and Cornell University. The nation’s longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu served in 1996–1999, 2009–2021, and since 2022 in the top post.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2> Netanyahu's military career: Elite soldier on risky missions</h2>Netanyahu’s military service began in 1967 when he returned from the US at the age of 18. He joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that year, and served in the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces unit.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was part of several risky operations of Israeli forces, such as the 1972 rescue of a hijacked Sabena plane. He was injured in the shoulder during that operation. Netanyahu fought in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and was promoted to captain.&nbsp;He was also part of several IDF missions across Lebanon and Jordan in 1968.&nbsp; He lost his brother Yonatan, who led the 1976 Entebbe counterterrorism raid, a life event that shaped his hardline stance against terrorism. He later went on to found the Jonathan Institute to combat global terrorism.&nbsp; His military experience led to the ‘Mr Security’ image of Netanyahu, which gave him political legitimacy. &nbsp;<h2>Netanyahu's political career: Right-wing leader known for brinkmanship &nbsp;</h2>Netanyahu joined the right-wing Likud party and rose through the ranks, often through sheer brinkmanship. He negotiated crises at home and abroad, including court cases alleging corruption, the hearings of which continued even as he was in and out of power. Through deft handling of coalitions, Netanyahu focused on staying in power despite not having a clear majority in recent elections, by aligning with far-right parties and leaders. He shrugged off massive protests seeking his arrest in corruption cases. &nbsp;<h2>Iran and Palestinians: Arch rivals of Netanyahu &nbsp;</h2>Having been a frontline soldier, Netanyahu was openly opposed to the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, which established a framework for the two-state solution that aimed to eventually create a Palestinian state alongside Israel.&nbsp;Instead of a solution, Netanyahu was interested in ‘managing’ the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is often accused of supporting one Palestinian group against the other and stalling the peace process in spite of several direct talks with the other side's leaders. Netanyahu is one of the most vocal leaders against Iran, which he accused of supporting anti-Israel militant groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis. At every opportunity on the international stage, Netanyahu criticised the Iranian nuclear programme, arguing that Tehran aimed to develop nuclear weapons, which Israel saw as an existential threat. Netanyahu was unreserved in his criticism of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a speech to the US Congress the same year, he railed against it, which strained his ties with the then-US administration of Barack Obama, who had led the US in the deal. This was an example of Netanyahu's risk-taking behaviour: he was ready to openly challenge even an ally like the US, in order to achieve Israel's strategic goals. &nbsp;<h2>Netanyahu, a polarising figure in domestic politics &nbsp;</h2>For more than five years now, Netanyahu has faced continuing protests against his rule. He and his wife Sara have faced corruption charges since 2019. But he used the war situation emerging after the 2023 October 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israel to his political advantage: first by creating a war cabinet that included opposition figures and far-right leaders, &nbsp;second by pushing for reforming the judiciary, and third by expanding the war in the larger region. &nbsp;This was seen as his willingness to polarise the nation politically to stay in power. Now that the Israel-Iran war is raging, it has only further cemented his position at the helm.<h2> Netanyahu, from soldier to wartime prime minister</h2>Besides taking part in military missions himself, Netanyahu also led the nation in several conflicts, mainly involving the Palestinians, Iran and its proxies. The Gaza War of 2014 was a brief conflict under his leadership in which Israel targeted Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, allegedly leading to thousands of civilian deaths. After the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis were killed, Netanyahu ordered a full-scale invasion of Gaza, triggering the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. More than 44,000 Palestinian deaths have been reported, mostly civilians.&nbsp; Amid the continuing political challenges to his leadership, Netanyahu in 2024 ordered an invasion of Lebanon to counter Hezbollah, expanding regional tensions.&nbsp; Under his orders, the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah were killed in Gaza as well as in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu is a man on a mission. He has continuously rejected calls for a ceasefire with Hamas, drawing global condemnation, and defied even the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza.<h2> A contentious legacy shaped by controversy &nbsp;</h2>Netanyahu is keen on political survival and is known for his resiliency.&nbsp;The polarising leader's military background, political manoeuvring, and wartime decision-making appear to put his own security and survival upfront, despite the lack of diplomatic consensus or domestic unity.&nbsp; His ability to do the strategic tight rope walk is informed by his military experience and personal involvement in Israel’s conflicts in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether you like him or not, his legacy would be that of a leader who reshaped the global perspective on Israel as a regional power.

Whether you like him or not, his legacy would be that of a leader who reshaped the global perspective on Israel as a regional power.

Benjamin Netanyahu, an elite soldier-turned prime minister of Israel, has been described as a war monger, maverick politician known for brinkmanship, or a strong leader of the Jewish nation, depending on where you look. But one thing is clear: Netanyahu is possibly among the most consequential leaders of Israel. As the Israel-Iran war rages on, here is a look at the life, military career and political controversies of Bibi, the man of the moment. Benjamin Netanyahu: Early life details Benjamin Netanyahu was born on 21 October 1949 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He spent parts of his youth in the US, where his father taught at a college. In 1956-1958 and from 1963 to 1967, his family lived in Cheltenham Township of Pennsylvania. Netanyahu studied at the Cheltenham High School and Cornell University. The nation’s longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu served in 1996–1999, 2009–2021, and since 2022 in the top post. Netanyahu's military career: Elite soldier on risky missions Netanyahu’s military service began in 1967 when he returned from the US at the age of 18. He joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that year, and served in the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces unit. He was part of several risky operations of Israeli forces, such as the 1972 rescue of a hijacked Sabena plane. He was injured in the shoulder during that operation. Netanyahu fought in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and was promoted to captain. He was also part of several IDF missions across Lebanon and Jordan in 1968. He lost his brother Yonatan, who led the 1976 Entebbe counterterrorism raid, a life event that shaped his hardline stance against terrorism. He later went on to found the Jonathan Institute to combat global terrorism. His military experience led to the ‘Mr Security’ image of Netanyahu, which gave him political legitimacy. Netanyahu's political career: Right-wing leader known for brinkmanship Netanyahu joined the right-wing Likud party and rose through the ranks, often through sheer brinkmanship. He negotiated crises at home and abroad, including court cases alleging corruption, the hearings of which continued even as he was in and out of power. Through deft handling of coalitions, Netanyahu focused on staying in power despite not having a clear majority in recent elections, by aligning with far-right parties and leaders. He shrugged off massive protests seeking his arrest in corruption cases. Iran and Palestinians: Arch rivals of Netanyahu Having been a frontline soldier, Netanyahu was openly opposed to the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, which established a framework for the two-state solution that aimed to eventually create a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Instead of a solution, Netanyahu was interested in ‘managing’ the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is often accused of supporting one Palestinian group against the other and stalling the peace process in spite of several direct talks with the other side's leaders. Netanyahu is one of the most vocal leaders against Iran, which he accused of supporting anti-Israel militant groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis. At every opportunity on the international stage, Netanyahu criticised the Iranian nuclear programme, arguing that Tehran aimed to develop nuclear weapons, which Israel saw as an existential threat. Netanyahu was unreserved in his criticism of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a speech to the US Congress the same year, he railed against it, which strained his ties with the then-US administration of Barack Obama, who had led the US in the deal. This was an example of Netanyahu's risk-taking behaviour: he was ready to openly challenge even an ally like the US, in order to achieve Israel's strategic goals. Netanyahu, a polarising figure in domestic politics For more than five years now, Netanyahu has faced continuing protests against his rule. He and his wife Sara have faced corruption charges since 2019. But he used the war situation emerging after the 2023 October 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israel to his political advantage: first by creating a war cabinet that included opposition figures and far-right leaders, second by pushing for reforming the judiciary, and third by expanding the war in the larger region. This was seen as his willingness to polarise the nation politically to stay in power. Now that the Israel-Iran war is raging, it has only further cemented his position at the helm. Netanyahu, from soldier to wartime prime minister Besides taking part in military missions himself, Netanyahu also led the nation in several conflicts, mainly involving the Palestinians, Iran and its proxies. The Gaza War of 2014 was a brief conflict under his leadership in which Israel targeted Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, allegedly leading to thousands of civilian deaths. After the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis were killed, Netanyahu ordered a full-scale invasion of Gaza, triggering the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. More than 44,000 Palestinian deaths have been reported, mostly civilians. Amid the continuing political challenges to his leadership, Netanyahu in 2024 ordered an invasion of Lebanon to counter Hezbollah, expanding regional tensions. Under his orders, the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah were killed in Gaza as well as in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu is a man on a mission. He has continuously rejected calls for a ceasefire with Hamas, drawing global condemnation, and defied even the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza. A contentious legacy shaped by controversy Netanyahu is keen on political survival and is known for his resiliency. The polarising leader's military background, political manoeuvring, and wartime decision-making appear to put his own security and survival upfront, despite the lack of diplomatic consensus or domestic unity. His ability to do the strategic tight rope walk is informed by his military experience and personal involvement in Israel’s conflicts in the region. Whether you like him or not, his legacy would be that of a leader who reshaped the global perspective on Israel as a regional power.

One thing is clear: Netanyahu is possibly among the most consequential leaders of Israel.

Iran-Israel War: Benjamin Netanyahu's wartime leadership is shaped by his military career, survival instinct | A profile

A rare oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, thought to be the only one he ever sat for, will be put up for auction in London next month. Decades ago, the rare painting was violently attacked, allegedly by a Hindu nationalist, and is not set to be sold for an estimated price of $67,000-$95,000 (£50,000–£70,000).<h2>What's so special about the painting?</h2>In the painting that dates back to 1931, Mahatma Gandhi is shown "at the height of his power", claims Caspar Leighton, grandson of the artist behind the painting.The painting is by British-American artist Clare Leighton. As per her family, it is believed to be the only painting Gandhi sat for.Caspar Leighton, who inherited the painting, called the oil painting a "likely hidden treasure" and said, "There's my family's story, but the story in this portrait is so much greater." &nbsp;"It's a story for millions of people across the world," added the artist's great-nephew."I think it'd be great if it got seen by more people. Maybe it should go back to India – maybe that's its real home."The painting will be up for auction online by Bonhams from July 7 to 15. The anticipated price range is £50,000 to £70,000 ($67,000 to$95,000).According to Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale for Travel and Exploration, "Not only is this a rare work by Clare Leighton, who is mainly known for her wood engravings, it is also thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi which he sat for."<h2>Attack on the rare painting</h2>There is a literal scar on the painting. According to the artist's family, in the early 1970s, the painting was attacked with a knife by a "Hindu extremist" who is thought to have been connected to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).Although the assault was not officially documented, restoration records from 1974 show repairs were made in the US.&nbsp;

In the painting that dates back to 1931, Mahatma Gandhi is shown "at the height of his power", claims Caspar Leighton, grandson of the artist behind the painting.

A rare oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, thought to be the only one he ever sat for, will be put up for auction in London next month. Decades ago, the rare painting was violently attacked, allegedly by a Hindu nationalist, and is not set to be sold for an estimated price of $67,000-$95,000 (£50,000–£70,000). What's so special about the painting? In the painting that dates back to 1931, Mahatma Gandhi is shown "at the height of his power", claims Caspar Leighton, grandson of the artist behind the painting. The painting is by British-American artist Clare Leighton. As per her family, it is believed to be the only painting Gandhi sat for. Caspar Leighton, who inherited the painting, called the oil painting a "likely hidden treasure" and said, "There's my family's story, but the story in this portrait is so much greater." "It's a story for millions of people across the world," added the artist's great-nephew. "I think it'd be great if it got seen by more people. Maybe it should go back to India – maybe that's its real home." The painting will be up for auction online by Bonhams from July 7 to 15. The anticipated price range is £50,000 to £70,000 ($67,000 to$95,000). According to Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale for Travel and Exploration, "Not only is this a rare work by Clare Leighton, who is mainly known for her wood engravings, it is also thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi which he sat for." Attack on the rare painting There is a literal scar on the painting. According to the artist's family, in the early 1970s, the painting was attacked with a knife by a "Hindu extremist" who is thought to have been connected to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Although the assault was not officially documented, restoration records from 1974 show repairs were made in the US.

In the painting that dates back to 1931, Mahatma Gandhi is shown "at the height of his power", claims Caspar Leighton, grandson of the artist behind the painting.

Rare oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi—probably the only one he sat for—to be auctioned for THIS whopping amount

How to improve your vocabulary: Easy Steps for improvement

Eating an apple offers numerous health benefits as it remains one of the important suppliers of proteins for human beings. Available throughout the world, apples have a variety of benefits when consumed which help in rich nutritional content, including fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. While India remains one of the biggest consumers of Apple, it is its neighbour China that has a monopoly when it comes to production.&nbsp;<h2>China tops the list</h2>When it comes to the production of apples in the world, China dominates the chart by a country mile. As per data published by worldpopulationreview.com, it has produced 47,573 kilotonnes. This number is almost 10 times the second-best producer of Apples which is Turkey. Considering China’s population, it also remains the country with the most consumed apples in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;Turkey comes second on the list with an annual apple production of 4,818 kilotonnes and is the largest producer in Europe. The United States comes next on the list with an annual production of 4,429 kilotonnes of apples. They are the largest producers in the American continent while also being the largest consumers.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-women-s-odi-world-cup-2025-colombo-to-host-india-vs-pakistan-on-october-5-1750051342351">Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Colombo to host India vs Pakistan on October 5</a>&nbsp;India, one of the largest consumers of apple, sits sixth on the list with a production of 2,589 kilotonnes in a year. Apples are available throughout the year in India including summers and winters. India’s Kashmir and Jammu region remain the primary production house for apples along with Himachal Pradesh.<h2>Here's a more detailed breakdown</h2>1. China - 47,573 kilotonnes2. Turkey - 4,818 kilotonnes3. United States - 4,429 kilotonnes4. Poland - 4,265 kilotonnes5. Italy - 3,447 kilotonnes6. India – 2,589 kilotonnes7. France - 1,786 kilotonnes8. Iran - 3,209 kilotonnes&nbsp;9. Chile - 1,480 kilotonnes10. Uzbekistan - 1,064 kilotonnes

Available throughout the world, apples have a variety of benefits when consumed which help in rich nutritional content, including fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Eating an apple offers numerous health benefits as it remains one of the important suppliers of proteins for human beings. Available throughout the world, apples have a variety of benefits when consumed which help in rich nutritional content, including fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. While India remains one of the biggest consumers of Apple, it is its neighbour China that has a monopoly when it comes to production. China tops the list When it comes to the production of apples in the world, China dominates the chart by a country mile. As per data published by worldpopulationreview.com, it has produced 47,573 kilotonnes. This number is almost 10 times the second-best producer of Apples which is Turkey. Considering China’s population, it also remains the country with the most consumed apples in the world. Turkey comes second on the list with an annual apple production of 4,818 kilotonnes and is the largest producer in Europe. The United States comes next on the list with an annual production of 4,429 kilotonnes of apples. They are the largest producers in the American continent while also being the largest consumers. ALSO READ | Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Colombo to host India vs Pakistan on October 5 India, one of the largest consumers of apple, sits sixth on the list with a production of 2,589 kilotonnes in a year. Apples are available throughout the year in India including summers and winters. India’s Kashmir and Jammu region remain the primary production house for apples along with Himachal Pradesh. Here's a more detailed breakdown 1. China - 47,573 kilotonnes 2. Turkey - 4,818 kilotonnes 3. United States - 4,429 kilotonnes 4. Poland - 4,265 kilotonnes 5. Italy - 3,447 kilotonnes 6. India – 2,589 kilotonnes 7. France - 1,786 kilotonnes 8. Iran - 3,209 kilotonnes 9. Chile - 1,480 kilotonnes 10. Uzbekistan - 1,064 kilotonnes

Available throughout the world, apples have a variety of benefits when consumed which help in rich nutritional content, including fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.

This country is the largest producer of apples - check where India stands in the list

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif has made a bizarre claim while addressing the parliament, leading a widespread social media criticism. Speaking in the Parliament of Pakistan, Asif claimed that the stadium floodlight in an IPL 2025 match was hacked by Pakistanis during the near-war situation between India and Pakistan in May. In a widespread ridicule, he also claimed that waters in the dam were also released by the so-called Pakistani hackers, ill-praising them during his address.&nbsp;<h2>Pakistan defence minister makes bizarre claim</h2>“The IPL was stopped and the lights of the stadium were turned off, waters in the dams were released, all these cyber attacks were done by our children,” Asif said while addressing the Pakistan Parliament.&nbsp;The comment comes more than a month after both India and Pakistan agreed on a ceasefire in what was a near-war situation between the two neighbours. In May, India launched Operation Sindoor as a retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attacks of April 22.&nbsp;Operation Sindoor, launched on May 6 saw high tensions between India and Pakistan, which later led to the suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025).&nbsp;&nbsp;As part of the military precautionary action, a blackout was observed during an IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on May 8. This led to floodlights being shut and later postponement of the IPL contest between PBKS and DC.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, Pak’s defence minister claimed that the blackout was a hacking operation done by Pakistan cyber cell.&nbsp;&nbsp;The claim has since been met with huge criticism on social media, “I didn’t know Cyber has different concepts and syllabus in Pakistan!" one of the X user’s comments read.&nbsp;“IPL floodlights don’t run on WiFi, they run on secure electrical systems. You can’t hack them like a home router. Next time, try hacking the scoreboard—at least it has buttons," another user commented on the claim.&nbsp;“Even China and the USA are asking – How did Pakistanis do this magic?" another one commented.

Speaking in the Parliament of Pakistan, Asif claimed that the stadium floodlight in an IPL 2025 match was hacked by Pakistanis during the near-war situation between India and Pakistan in May.

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif has made a bizarre claim while addressing the parliament, leading a widespread social media criticism. Speaking in the Parliament of Pakistan, Asif claimed that the stadium floodlight in an IPL 2025 match was hacked by Pakistanis during the near-war situation between India and Pakistan in May. In a widespread ridicule, he also claimed that waters in the dam were also released by the so-called Pakistani hackers, ill-praising them during his address. Pakistan defence minister makes bizarre claim “The IPL was stopped and the lights of the stadium were turned off, waters in the dams were released, all these cyber attacks were done by our children,” Asif said while addressing the Pakistan Parliament. The comment comes more than a month after both India and Pakistan agreed on a ceasefire in what was a near-war situation between the two neighbours. In May, India launched Operation Sindoor as a retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attacks of April 22. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 6 saw high tensions between India and Pakistan, which later led to the suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). As part of the military precautionary action, a blackout was observed during an IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala on May 8. This led to floodlights being shut and later postponement of the IPL contest between PBKS and DC. However, Pak’s defence minister claimed that the blackout was a hacking operation done by Pakistan cyber cell. The claim has since been met with huge criticism on social media, “I didn’t know Cyber has different concepts and syllabus in Pakistan!" one of the X user’s comments read. “IPL floodlights don’t run on WiFi, they run on secure electrical systems. You can’t hack them like a home router. Next time, try hacking the scoreboard—at least it has buttons," another user commented on the claim. “Even China and the USA are asking – How did Pakistanis do this magic?" another one commented.

Speaking in the Parliament of Pakistan, Asif claimed that the stadium floodlight in an IPL 2025 match was hacked by Pakistanis during the near-war situation between India and Pakistan in May.

Pakistan defence minister makes bizarre claim, says 'hacked floodlights during IPL 2025'

Father’s Day is a special occasion celebrated across the globe to honour fathers and father figures for their love, and support. On Sunday (June 15), families around the world are marking the day with heartfelt gestures, from handmade cards and flowers to planned outings and quality time spent together.&nbsp;The holiday traces its roots to the United States and is largely credited to Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to recognise the sacrifices of her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children after their mother passed away.<h2>First celebration</h2>The first Father’s Day took place on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. The day was chosen because it was the birth month of Dodd’s father. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that the holiday was officially recognised as a US national holiday, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law, designating the third Sunday in June for the celebration.<h2>Earlier recognition in West Virginia</h2>An earlier tribute to fathers occurred in 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia. Grace Golden Clayton urged for a special church service to be held for men who had died in the Monongah mining disaster, including her own father. Although this event is sometimes referred to as the first Father’s Day, it did not receive wide recognition or become an annual observance.<h2>Concerns surrounding celebration</h2>When the concept of Father’s Day was first introduced, it was met with some resistance, especially from men who felt it was too similar to the already-established Mother’s Day.&nbsp;Despite this, the idea gradually gained national support, especially after endorsements from Presidents Calvin Coolidge in 1924 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. Finally, in 1972, Father’s Day became a national holiday in the US.<h2>Global observance</h2>Although many countries follow the U.S. and celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June, others observe it on different dates. For example, several Catholic nations recognize it on March 19 to coincide with the feast day of Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.<h2>Here’s a look at nations that celebrate Father’s Day on dates other than June 15:</h2><ul><li>March 19 - Italy, Honduras, Portugal, Spain (Celebrated on St. Joseph's Day)</li><li>May 11 - Romania (2nd Sunday in May)</li><li>June 1 - Lithuania, Switzerland (1st Sunday in June)</li><li>June 5 - Denmark (Celebrated on Constitution Day)</li><li>June 8 - Austria, Belgium (2nd Sunday in June)</li><li>June 17 - El Salvador</li><li>June 23 - Poland</li><li>July 27 - Dominican Republic (Last Sunday in July)</li><li>August 8 - Taiwan</li><li>August 10 - Brazil</li><li>September 7 - Australia, New Zealand (1st Sunday in September)</li><li>September 14 - Latvia (2nd Sunday in September)</li><li>October 5 - Luxembourg (1st Sunday in October)</li><li>November 9 - Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden (2nd Sunday in November)</li><li>December 5 - Thailand</li></ul><h2>From Shakespeare to Sexton: What famous words say about fatherhood</h2><ul><li>"When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry." &nbsp; -William Shakespeare (English playwright and poet)</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>"No man stands taller than when he stoops to help a child." -Abraham Lincoln (16th US President)</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." -Jim Valvano (American basketball player and coach)</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>"Becoming a father is easy enough but being one can be very rough." -Wilhem Busch (German poet and illustrator)</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>"To me, having kids is the ultimate job in life. I want to be most successful at being a good father." -Nick Lachey (American actor and singer-songwriter)</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>"It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." -Anne Sexton (American poet)</li></ul>

Happy Father’s Day: Know date, history and significance

Father’s Day is a special occasion celebrated across the globe to honour fathers and father figures for their love, and support. On Sunday (June 15), families around the world are marking the day with heartfelt gestures, from handmade cards and flowers to planned outings and quality time spent together. The holiday traces its roots to the United States and is largely credited to Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to recognise the sacrifices of her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children after their mother passed away. First celebration The first Father’s Day took place on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. The day was chosen because it was the birth month of Dodd’s father. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that the holiday was officially recognised as a US national holiday, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law, designating the third Sunday in June for the celebration. Earlier recognition in West Virginia An earlier tribute to fathers occurred in 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia. Grace Golden Clayton urged for a special church service to be held for men who had died in the Monongah mining disaster, including her own father. Although this event is sometimes referred to as the first Father’s Day, it did not receive wide recognition or become an annual observance. Concerns surrounding celebration When the concept of Father’s Day was first introduced, it was met with some resistance, especially from men who felt it was too similar to the already-established Mother’s Day. Despite this, the idea gradually gained national support, especially after endorsements from Presidents Calvin Coolidge in 1924 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. Finally, in 1972, Father’s Day became a national holiday in the US. Global observance Although many countries follow the U.S. and celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June, others observe it on different dates. For example, several Catholic nations recognize it on March 19 to coincide with the feast day of Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Here’s a look at nations that celebrate Father’s Day on dates other than June 15: March 19 - Italy, Honduras, Portugal, Spain (Celebrated on St. Joseph's Day) May 11 - Romania (2nd Sunday in May) June 1 - Lithuania, Switzerland (1st Sunday in June) June 5 - Denmark (Celebrated on Constitution Day) June 8 - Austria, Belgium (2nd Sunday in June) June 17 - El Salvador June 23 - Poland July 27 - Dominican Republic (Last Sunday in July) August 8 - Taiwan August 10 - Brazil September 7 - Australia, New Zealand (1st Sunday in September) September 14 - Latvia (2nd Sunday in September) October 5 - Luxembourg (1st Sunday in October) November 9 - Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden (2nd Sunday in November) December 5 - Thailand From Shakespeare to Sexton: What famous words say about fatherhood "When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry." -William Shakespeare (English playwright and poet) "No man stands taller than when he stoops to help a child." -Abraham Lincoln (16th US President) "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." -Jim Valvano (American basketball player and coach) "Becoming a father is easy enough but being one can be very rough." -Wilhem Busch (German poet and illustrator) "To me, having kids is the ultimate job in life. I want to be most successful at being a good father." -Nick Lachey (American actor and singer-songwriter) "It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." -Anne Sexton (American poet)

Father's Day traces its roots to the United States and is largely credited to Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to recognise the sacrifices of her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children after their mother passed away.

US President Donald Trump has received wishes from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders for his birthday on Saturday (Jun 14).&nbsp;In an X post Netanyahu wished the US president calling him an “extraordinary leader”.&nbsp;“Happy Birthday to you, President Donald J. Trump. You’ve been an extraordinary leader, decisive, courageous, with a clear vision and clear action. You have done great things for Israel,” Netanyahu said.&nbsp;Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin called him to wish him a happy birthday.&nbsp;“President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday,” Trump said.&nbsp;He added, “but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well. We talked at length. Much less time was spent talking about Russia/Ukraine, but that will be for next week. He is doing the planned prisoner swaps - large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides. The call lasted approximately 1 hour. He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.”

In an X post Netanyahu wished the US president calling him an “extraordinary leader”. Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin called him to wish him a happy birthday.

US President Donald Trump has received wishes from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders for his birthday on Saturday (Jun 14). In an X post Netanyahu wished the US president calling him an “extraordinary leader”. “Happy Birthday to you, President Donald J. Trump. You’ve been an extraordinary leader, decisive, courageous, with a clear vision and clear action. You have done great things for Israel,” Netanyahu said. Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin called him to wish him a happy birthday. “President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday,” Trump said. He added, “but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well. We talked at length. Much less time was spent talking about Russia/Ukraine, but that will be for next week. He is doing the planned prisoner swaps - large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides. The call lasted approximately 1 hour. He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.”

In an X post Netanyahu wished the US president calling him an “extraordinary leader”. Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin called him to wish him a happy birthday.

‘Extraordinary leader’: Trump receives birthday wishes from Netanyahu, Putin

The United States once tried creating an army of "animal assassins", which the CIA hoped to use against its enemies, The Daily Mail reported. Declassified documents show that the CIA ran a secret project codenamed Subproject 94 in the 1960s, in which it carried out tests on wildlife. This included implanting electrodes into the brains of rats, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, donkeys, monkeys, and birds, intending to control their movements through electrical impulses. However, their ultimate aim was to have an army of people whose actions were controlled by senior government officials.&nbsp;The animal experiments were part of a larger program operated by the CIA called MKUltra. Run under the leadership of chemist Sidney Gottlieb, it tried to develop mind control techniques during the Cold War. Criminals, mental patients, and drug addicts were tortured as various experiments were carried out on them. The redacted files also show that regular people were given LSD and cocaine without their knowledge.&nbsp;The revelations were made by author John Lisle in his book "Project Mind Control." The Daily Mail also got its hands on declassified archives of Subproject 94, according to which it began in December 1961.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/man-sits-on-van-gogh-chair-shatters-art-piece-covered-in-swarovski-crystals-1749877704133">Man sits on 'Van Gogh' chair, shatters art piece covered in Swarovski crystals</a><h2>Animals controlled by a remote</h2>&nbsp;However, the biggest part of the experiment was to create an army of remote-controlled animals that could fight the Soviet Union. The CIA wanted to send "payloads" of these animals for "direct executive actions". What the term exactly means is not clear, although some experts claim that it was a reference to assassinating enemy officials.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/man-drives-300km-hr-films-police-chase-and-posts-it-online-it-is-now-being-used-as-evidence-against-him-1749900181909">Man drives 300km/hr, films police chase and posts it online. It is now being used as evidence against him</a>&nbsp;The experiment wasn't meant to remain limited to the animal assassins. The scientists planned on using the technology on humans and creating a similar army of soldiers whose minds were in control of the authorities.&nbsp;Gottlieb got the idea to create an army of animals from Swedish psychologist Valdemar Fellenius, who trained seals to attach bombs to submarines in World War II. He planned on having the animals plant listening devices and deliver deadly toxins. Gottlieb wanted to use to larger animals to act as animal bombs.&nbsp;The scientists succeeded in their quest to control the minds of the animals by stimulating the pleasure centres of the animals' brains with positive feedback. They once had a dog walk an invisible path only through their guidance. Now they needed a safe place to have the animals do as they were told without the people noticing. Rats turned out to be the prime contenders.&nbsp;The funding for the program was hidden in the Geschickter Fund for Medical Research, a private foundation set up in 1939 to support research in areas like cancer. In 1977, it was revealed that the fund was being used as a front for MKUltra's experiments for decades. The full extent of the experiment might remain hidden forever since Gottlieb destroyed several files.

CIA once worked to create an army of animal assassins who could fight the Soviets by planting listening devices and even blowing themselves up. The scientists even succeeded in their quest to control their minds.

The United States once tried creating an army of "animal assassins", which the CIA hoped to use against its enemies, The Daily Mail reported. Declassified documents show that the CIA ran a secret project codenamed Subproject 94 in the 1960s, in which it carried out tests on wildlife. This included implanting electrodes into the brains of rats, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, donkeys, monkeys, and birds, intending to control their movements through electrical impulses. However, their ultimate aim was to have an army of people whose actions were controlled by senior government officials. The animal experiments were part of a larger program operated by the CIA called MKUltra. Run under the leadership of chemist Sidney Gottlieb, it tried to develop mind control techniques during the Cold War. Criminals, mental patients, and drug addicts were tortured as various experiments were carried out on them. The redacted files also show that regular people were given LSD and cocaine without their knowledge. The revelations were made by author John Lisle in his book "Project Mind Control." The Daily Mail also got its hands on declassified archives of Subproject 94, according to which it began in December 1961. Also Read: Man sits on 'Van Gogh' chair, shatters art piece covered in Swarovski crystals Animals controlled by a remote However, the biggest part of the experiment was to create an army of remote-controlled animals that could fight the Soviet Union. The CIA wanted to send "payloads" of these animals for "direct executive actions". What the term exactly means is not clear, although some experts claim that it was a reference to assassinating enemy officials. Also Read: Man drives 300km/hr, films police chase and posts it online. It is now being used as evidence against him The experiment wasn't meant to remain limited to the animal assassins. The scientists planned on using the technology on humans and creating a similar army of soldiers whose minds were in control of the authorities. Gottlieb got the idea to create an army of animals from Swedish psychologist Valdemar Fellenius, who trained seals to attach bombs to submarines in World War II. He planned on having the animals plant listening devices and deliver deadly toxins. Gottlieb wanted to use to larger animals to act as animal bombs. The scientists succeeded in their quest to control the minds of the animals by stimulating the pleasure centres of the animals' brains with positive feedback. They once had a dog walk an invisible path only through their guidance. Now they needed a safe place to have the animals do as they were told without the people noticing. Rats turned out to be the prime contenders. The funding for the program was hidden in the Geschickter Fund for Medical Research, a private foundation set up in 1939 to support research in areas like cancer. In 1977, it was revealed that the fund was being used as a front for MKUltra's experiments for decades. The full extent of the experiment might remain hidden forever since Gottlieb destroyed several files.

CIA once worked to create an army of animal assassins who could fight the Soviets by planting listening devices and even blowing themselves up. The scientists even succeeded in their quest to control their minds.

Declassified CIA documents reveal plans to create an army of remote-controlled 'animal assassins' during Cold War

A man in Australia dared to carry out a scary stunt when the police tried to stop him. The incident happened in Sydney, where the unnamed man rode his motorbike at speeds of 300km/h in February, Nine News reported. The police chased after him, which led him to speed up. The officers, fearing a scary security situation, stopped the pursuit. However, the man seemed to be getting a kick out of it as he shot the entire thing on his helmet camera. He even posted the video on social media.&nbsp;The police saw the man riding a motorcycle south on the M1 motorway at Albion Park on February 26. They asked him to stop, but he did not pay heed. Instead, he started driving away from them at high speeds. The police continued to chase him, but he did not apply the brakes. Instead, he kept increasing his speed as the police continued to chase him down. He was driving at speeds of 300km/h.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/man-sits-on-van-gogh-chair-shatters-art-piece-covered-in-swarovski-crystals-1749877704133">Man sits on 'Van Gogh' chair, shatters art piece covered in Swarovski crystals</a>&nbsp;The scene became dangerous, and so the officers decided to stop the chase. The man was later spotted the same evening on the Princes Highway. He managed to escape arrest at this time. Officials did not want to let go of him and launched an investigation. After months of search, the man was arrested at Killarney Heights in Sydney's north.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/something-happened-on-secret-soviet-base-194-years-ago-that-was-a-mystery-till-now-1749722210489">Something happened on secret Soviet base 194 years ago that was a mystery till now</a>&nbsp;The police found a stash of cocaine in his possession. The 33-year-old has been charged with two counts of not stopping for police, speeding more than 45km/h over the speed limit, and drug possession.&nbsp;The man will soon be tried in court. In the whole high-adrenaline rush, the man ended up creating evidence against himself. Proof of his actions has been handed over to the police by the man himself. Apparently, he filmed the entire pursuit on his helmet camera. He posted the chase on social media, which proves that he was driving at a crazy speed of 299km/h. The police now plan on using it in court. &nbsp;

A man in Sydney ran away from the police by driving at 300km/hr. He filmed the chase and posted it on social media. The police will use it as evidence against him.

A man in Australia dared to carry out a scary stunt when the police tried to stop him. The incident happened in Sydney, where the unnamed man rode his motorbike at speeds of 300km/h in February, Nine News reported. The police chased after him, which led him to speed up. The officers, fearing a scary security situation, stopped the pursuit. However, the man seemed to be getting a kick out of it as he shot the entire thing on his helmet camera. He even posted the video on social media. The police saw the man riding a motorcycle south on the M1 motorway at Albion Park on February 26. They asked him to stop, but he did not pay heed. Instead, he started driving away from them at high speeds. The police continued to chase him, but he did not apply the brakes. Instead, he kept increasing his speed as the police continued to chase him down. He was driving at speeds of 300km/h. Also Read: Man sits on 'Van Gogh' chair, shatters art piece covered in Swarovski crystals The scene became dangerous, and so the officers decided to stop the chase. The man was later spotted the same evening on the Princes Highway. He managed to escape arrest at this time. Officials did not want to let go of him and launched an investigation. After months of search, the man was arrested at Killarney Heights in Sydney's north. Also Read: Something happened on secret Soviet base 194 years ago that was a mystery till now The police found a stash of cocaine in his possession. The 33-year-old has been charged with two counts of not stopping for police, speeding more than 45km/h over the speed limit, and drug possession. The man will soon be tried in court. In the whole high-adrenaline rush, the man ended up creating evidence against himself. Proof of his actions has been handed over to the police by the man himself. Apparently, he filmed the entire pursuit on his helmet camera. He posted the chase on social media, which proves that he was driving at a crazy speed of 299km/h. The police now plan on using it in court.

A man in Sydney ran away from the police by driving at 300km/hr. He filmed the chase and posted it on social media. The police will use it as evidence against him.

Man drives 300km/hr, films police chase and posts it online. It is now being used as evidence against him

A black iceberg spotted in Canada has stumped the internet. A fish harvester who lives in Carbonear, Newfoundland, stumbled upon the rare occurrence last month while fishing for shrimp, CBC reported. Hallur Antoniussen was working with a crew on board the Saputi factory freezer trawler off the coast of Labrador in mid-May.&nbsp;He told CBC Radio that he had never seen an iceberg like this one before. It was not only all black, but all had a peculiar diamond shape. This one here is completely different. It's not only that he is all black. He is almost ... in a diamond shape," Antoniussen said while talking to CBC Radio's Labrador Morning.&nbsp;The 64-year-old took a picture of the iceberg from six kilometres away and recently shared it on social media, where it is creating waves. Antoniussen said the day before they were about to go deep offshore, a crew member had counted 47 icebergs in the region.&nbsp;On the day he took this photo, the trawler was more than 100 kilometres offshore in the Hopedale channel. When he went up to the stern, he was baffled by what he saw - a giant iceberg that was all black.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/radio-signals-tear-through-earth-and-out-of-antarctic-ice-they-could-be-coming-from-edge-of-universe-1749887206535">Mysterious radio signals just tore through Antarctic ice. They could be coming from edge of universe</a>&nbsp;Antoniussen has seen several icebergs in his lifetime, fishing off of Greenland for over 50 years. Some icebergs tip over and collect dirt, becoming dirty in the process. However, he doesn't think that what he saw was a rolled iceberg. What makes the iceberg more intriguing is that it has dark greys and black veins in it.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/terrifying-beast-much-older-than-dinosaurs-crossed-pangea-to-avoid-extinction-during-great-dying-1749816931724">Terrifying beast walked 11,265km across Pangea to avoid extinction during Great Dying</a>&nbsp;Since the trawler was quite a distance away from the iceberg, he couldn't say for sure how big it was. He estimated that it is around three times the size of a regular bungalow. As soon as he saw it, he went to his room and returned with his phone to capture the sight of a black iceberg.&nbsp;<h2>The reason behind a black iceberg</h2>&nbsp;CBC spoke to Lev Tarasov, a Memorial University physicist and glacial earth systems modeller, who admitted that he had never seen anything like it before. He thinks a volcanic eruption could have caused it to become black. Tarasov said he isn't sure about volcanoes in Greenland, although there are volcanoes beneath the ice caps of Iceland. Research has found a few hotspots in the region.&nbsp;He estimated that the ice in the iceberg is at least 1,000 years old. However, there is no way to rule out that it isn't much older, maybe even a whopping 100,000 years old.&nbsp;

A black iceberg shaped like a diamond has been spotted in Canadian waters. No one knows where it has come from or why it is all black. People have come up with all kinds of theories.

A black iceberg spotted in Canada has stumped the internet. A fish harvester who lives in Carbonear, Newfoundland, stumbled upon the rare occurrence last month while fishing for shrimp, CBC reported. Hallur Antoniussen was working with a crew on board the Saputi factory freezer trawler off the coast of Labrador in mid-May. He told CBC Radio that he had never seen an iceberg like this one before. It was not only all black, but all had a peculiar diamond shape. This one here is completely different. It's not only that he is all black. He is almost ... in a diamond shape," Antoniussen said while talking to CBC Radio's Labrador Morning. The 64-year-old took a picture of the iceberg from six kilometres away and recently shared it on social media, where it is creating waves. Antoniussen said the day before they were about to go deep offshore, a crew member had counted 47 icebergs in the region. On the day he took this photo, the trawler was more than 100 kilometres offshore in the Hopedale channel. When he went up to the stern, he was baffled by what he saw - a giant iceberg that was all black. Also Read: Mysterious radio signals just tore through Antarctic ice. They could be coming from edge of universe Antoniussen has seen several icebergs in his lifetime, fishing off of Greenland for over 50 years. Some icebergs tip over and collect dirt, becoming dirty in the process. However, he doesn't think that what he saw was a rolled iceberg. What makes the iceberg more intriguing is that it has dark greys and black veins in it. Also Read: Terrifying beast walked 11,265km across Pangea to avoid extinction during Great Dying Since the trawler was quite a distance away from the iceberg, he couldn't say for sure how big it was. He estimated that it is around three times the size of a regular bungalow. As soon as he saw it, he went to his room and returned with his phone to capture the sight of a black iceberg. The reason behind a black iceberg CBC spoke to Lev Tarasov, a Memorial University physicist and glacial earth systems modeller, who admitted that he had never seen anything like it before. He thinks a volcanic eruption could have caused it to become black. Tarasov said he isn't sure about volcanoes in Greenland, although there are volcanoes beneath the ice caps of Iceland. Research has found a few hotspots in the region. He estimated that the ice in the iceberg is at least 1,000 years old. However, there is no way to rule out that it isn't much older, maybe even a whopping 100,000 years old.

A black iceberg shaped like a diamond has been spotted in Canadian waters. No one knows where it has come from or why it is all black. People have come up with all kinds of theories.

Black iceberg with 100,000-year-old ice and veins spotted in Canada. Expert shares likely reason

The end of bromance between US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has reportedly cost the latter some pretty huge business. The Golden Dome that Trump plans on building to safeguard the US from missiles was going to use satellites built by Musk's company. However, that seems to have changed, according to a Reuters report.&nbsp;A satellite constellation built by SpaceX to monitor any kind of attacks targeting the US was part of the original plan. Drone manufacturer Anduril was to build an anti-missile defence system. But the Pentagon has now been given a free hand to pick whoever they want, and it is looking at using existing ground systems for missile defence.&nbsp;A Reuters report states, "Because of the blowup, the Pentagon has been given the space to look at other alternatives."&nbsp;A White House spokesman told Reuters, "The Trump Administration is committed to a rigorous review process for all bids and contracts."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-regret-some-of-my-posts-about-president-donald-trump-elon-musk-1749626349227">Elon Musk 'regrets' some of his posts about US President Donald Trump, says they went 'too far'</a>&nbsp;The Golden Dome has been pegged at a whopping $175 billion. If the Pentagon decided to go ahead with another contractor, it would be a huge loss for SpaceX. Trump had earlier threatened to "terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts" to save government money. This could come as a huge setback for Musk's companies since he currently has tens of billions of dollars' worth of government contracts.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-s-golden-dome-missile-shield-system-cost-capabilities-and-more-all-you-need-to-know-wion-explains-1747817348414">Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile shield system: Cost, capabilities, and more, all you need to know</a>&nbsp;According to a Washington Post report, Musk's businesses have received $38 billion over the last two decades, and NASA and Defense Department contracts form a major portion of it.Musk came down heavy on Trump after things soured between the two, going as far as to say that the president was in the Epstein files. He soon realised the rant could cost him, and so pulled back and apologised, saying that he had gone "too far" and regretted "some of my posts."&nbsp;<h2>Golden Dome</h2>&nbsp;Reuters quoted experts who don't think the Golden Dome is viable. "That people guiding the program or building it are approved based on their political affiliation signals a real concern that the project itself is very politicised and not being conducted on the technical merits," missile defence expert Laura Grego told Reuters.&nbsp;Others think that the Golden Dome appears to be "chaotic" and "largely centred around lining the pockets of contractors." The report states that it is unclear that "the Golden Dome project even exists in any meaningful way at this point."

The Golden Dome has been pegged at a whopping $175 billion. If the Pentagon decided to go ahead with another contractor, it would be a huge loss for SpaceX. 

The end of bromance between US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has reportedly cost the latter some pretty huge business. The Golden Dome that Trump plans on building to safeguard the US from missiles was going to use satellites built by Musk's company. However, that seems to have changed, according to a Reuters report. A satellite constellation built by SpaceX to monitor any kind of attacks targeting the US was part of the original plan. Drone manufacturer Anduril was to build an anti-missile defence system. But the Pentagon has now been given a free hand to pick whoever they want, and it is looking at using existing ground systems for missile defence. A Reuters report states, "Because of the blowup, the Pentagon has been given the space to look at other alternatives." A White House spokesman told Reuters, "The Trump Administration is committed to a rigorous review process for all bids and contracts." Also Read: Elon Musk 'regrets' some of his posts about US President Donald Trump, says they went 'too far' The Golden Dome has been pegged at a whopping $175 billion. If the Pentagon decided to go ahead with another contractor, it would be a huge loss for SpaceX. Trump had earlier threatened to "terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts" to save government money. This could come as a huge setback for Musk's companies since he currently has tens of billions of dollars' worth of government contracts. Also Read: Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile shield system: Cost, capabilities, and more, all you need to know According to a Washington Post report, Musk's businesses have received $38 billion over the last two decades, and NASA and Defense Department contracts form a major portion of it. Musk came down heavy on Trump after things soured between the two, going as far as to say that the president was in the Epstein files. He soon realised the rant could cost him, and so pulled back and apologised, saying that he had gone "too far" and regretted "some of my posts." Golden Dome Reuters quoted experts who don't think the Golden Dome is viable. "That people guiding the program or building it are approved based on their political affiliation signals a real concern that the project itself is very politicised and not being conducted on the technical merits," missile defence expert Laura Grego told Reuters. Others think that the Golden Dome appears to be "chaotic" and "largely centred around lining the pockets of contractors." The report states that it is unclear that "the Golden Dome project even exists in any meaningful way at this point."

The Golden Dome has been pegged at a whopping $175 billion. If the Pentagon decided to go ahead with another contractor, it would be a huge loss for SpaceX.&nbsp;

Musk's anti-Trump rant could cost him $175 billion Golden Dome project

Scientists have detected strange radio signals coming from below the ground in Antarctica. A cosmic detector flying high above Antarctica picked up the strange pulses, which appear to be rising up through the Earth. The discovery was made by an international research group that includes scientists from Penn State. They have published their results in the journal Physical Review Letters.&nbsp;The Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment was flying above the region when it recorded the radio signals. The probe comprises several instruments and radio antennas flown on balloons and aims to learn more about distant cosmic events by studying the signals that reach the Earth. They should ideally bounce off the surface, but in Antarctica, it caught signals that were coming from deep below the ground.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deep-space-radio-signals-cosmic-mystery-object-pulsar-magnetar-1748517706567">44 minutes apart, 2 minutes every time: Something from deep space is sending signals to Earth</a>&nbsp;<h2>Radio signals crossed the entire Earth and shot past the surface</h2>&nbsp;They were at steep angles, and likely travelled through kilometres of rock and passed the Earth's crust before tearing through the surface.&nbsp;“The radio waves that we detected were at really steep angles, like 30 degrees below the surface of the ice,” said Stephanie Wissel, associate professor of Physics, astronomy and astrophysics, who worked on the ANITA team.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/starlink-satellites-are-leaking-signals-that-are-blocking-the-study-of-early-universe-1749534527194">10,000 times stronger: A leak in Starlink satellites is blocking signals from first stars of the universe</a>&nbsp;However, if this is the case, then the signals should have been absorbed into the rock and never detected by the instruments on board ANITA. This anomaly has left scientists baffled, who are struggling to determine what could have caused the radio pulses.&nbsp;“It’s an interesting problem because we still don't actually have an explanation for what those anomalies are, but what we do know is that they're most likely not representing neutrinos,” Wissel said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/repeats-every-2-hours-source-of-mystery-radio-signal-finally-found-8848774">'Repeats every 2 hours': Source of mystery radio signal finally found</a>&nbsp;<h2>ANITA looks for signals from deep space</h2>&nbsp;ANITA travels through the air to pick up faint signals that come from outer space and interact with ice. The expectation is to record signals from neutrinos, the smallest mass of all subatomic particles, that is abundant in the universe. They are emitted by the sun, gamma-ray bursts and supernovas, and once upon a time, by the Big Bang. Travelling at the speed of light, neutrinos are a treasure trove of information about cosmic events that happen millions of light-years away.&nbsp;They don't interact much, making them difficult to detect. But the signals noticed in Antarctica didn't behave like neutrinos. Wissel says if it were at all a neutrino that was responsible, it means it travelled a long way without interacting with anything until the end. Based on current models, it should have been absorbed by Earth. She doesn't think it was a neutrino.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/esa-orbiter-beams-first-ever-visuals-of-sun-s-messy-south-pole-during-pole-to-pole-trip-1749708998559">ESA Orbiter beams first-ever visuals of Sun's 'messy' south pole during pole-to-pole trip</a>&nbsp;“So, this is the double-edged sword problem. If we detect them, it means they have travelled all this way without interacting with anything else. We could be detecting a neutrino coming from the edge of the observable universe.”&nbsp;To know more about the signal, the team compared the data gathered by ANITA with information from two other major neutrino detectors, IceCube in Antarctica and the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina. Nothing similar was found.&nbsp;After further simulations and tests, the scientists concluded the signals were "anomalous." They think something new can be at play here - an unknown particle, new interactions and maybe even new Physics.

Strange radio signals that moved upwards from Earth were detected by a probe flying over Antarctica. Mysterious forces were likely at play here, or the signals were coming from deep space. 

Scientists have detected strange radio signals coming from below the ground in Antarctica. A cosmic detector flying high above Antarctica picked up the strange pulses, which appear to be rising up through the Earth. The discovery was made by an international research group that includes scientists from Penn State. They have published their results in the journal Physical Review Letters. The Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment was flying above the region when it recorded the radio signals. The probe comprises several instruments and radio antennas flown on balloons and aims to learn more about distant cosmic events by studying the signals that reach the Earth. They should ideally bounce off the surface, but in Antarctica, it caught signals that were coming from deep below the ground. Also Read: 44 minutes apart, 2 minutes every time: Something from deep space is sending signals to Earth Radio signals crossed the entire Earth and shot past the surface They were at steep angles, and likely travelled through kilometres of rock and passed the Earth's crust before tearing through the surface. “The radio waves that we detected were at really steep angles, like 30 degrees below the surface of the ice,” said Stephanie Wissel, associate professor of Physics, astronomy and astrophysics, who worked on the ANITA team. Also Read: 10,000 times stronger: A leak in Starlink satellites is blocking signals from first stars of the universe However, if this is the case, then the signals should have been absorbed into the rock and never detected by the instruments on board ANITA. This anomaly has left scientists baffled, who are struggling to determine what could have caused the radio pulses. “It’s an interesting problem because we still don't actually have an explanation for what those anomalies are, but what we do know is that they're most likely not representing neutrinos,” Wissel said. Also Read: 'Repeats every 2 hours': Source of mystery radio signal finally found ANITA looks for signals from deep space ANITA travels through the air to pick up faint signals that come from outer space and interact with ice. The expectation is to record signals from neutrinos, the smallest mass of all subatomic particles, that is abundant in the universe. They are emitted by the sun, gamma-ray bursts and supernovas, and once upon a time, by the Big Bang. Travelling at the speed of light, neutrinos are a treasure trove of information about cosmic events that happen millions of light-years away. They don't interact much, making them difficult to detect. But the signals noticed in Antarctica didn't behave like neutrinos. Wissel says if it were at all a neutrino that was responsible, it means it travelled a long way without interacting with anything until the end. Based on current models, it should have been absorbed by Earth. She doesn't think it was a neutrino. Also Read: ESA Orbiter beams first-ever visuals of Sun's 'messy' south pole during pole-to-pole trip “So, this is the double-edged sword problem. If we detect them, it means they have travelled all this way without interacting with anything else. We could be detecting a neutrino coming from the edge of the observable universe.” To know more about the signal, the team compared the data gathered by ANITA with information from two other major neutrino detectors, IceCube in Antarctica and the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina. Nothing similar was found. After further simulations and tests, the scientists concluded the signals were "anomalous." They think something new can be at play here - an unknown particle, new interactions and maybe even new Physics.

Strange radio signals that moved upwards from Earth were detected by a probe flying over Antarctica. Mysterious forces were likely at play here, or the signals were coming from deep space.&nbsp;

Mysterious radio signals just tore through Antarctic ice. They could be coming from edge of universe

A tourist crushed a piece of art made with thousands of Swarovski crystals at an Italian museum. The incident was captured on security cameras. It shows a man lowering himself into the precious chair. Instead of pretending to sit on it, he puts all his weight down on it. The chair shatters to the ground, and with it, the man also starts falling down as he tries to stop.The woman with him immediately moves forward and holds him, and they both run away from the scene.The incident happened at The Palazzo Maffei in Verona some time back and the museum recently shared a video of the tourists on Facebook, showing utter disrespect for the piece of art. It said in a note that the couple knew they weren't allowed to even pretend to sit on it. So they waited for security to leave the area for the photo op.Sharing a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1272914327747616">video</a>, the museum called it an "irresponsible gesture", adding that they did not want to "limit ourselves to a simple report of what happened", and instead wanted to use it as an "opportunity to reflect and raise awareness among the public.""Art must be admired, experienced, but above all respected."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The art piece is called the “Van Gogh” chair created by the artist Nicola Bolla and is extremely delicate. The name has been derived from the fact that it resembles a chair in one of the Dutch painter’s most famous pieces.&nbsp;"What you have just seen is not a joke, but an episode that really happened in the rooms of Palazzo Maffei. A superficial and disrespectful behaviour has put the integrity of a work of art at risk: the “Van Gogh” chair by the artist Nicola Bolla was damaged by some visitors," The Palazzo Maffei wrote.&nbsp;The museum also shared an update on the chair, saying that it has been restored. "A heartfelt thanks goes to the police, our security department and the restorers, whose precious work allowed the work to be recovered."&nbsp;It is unclear whether the people responsible for the damage have been tracked down or if they will face any action.&nbsp;<h2>Couple slammed, others blame museum</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, people on social media are shocked to see the way the couple acted at the museum. A user commented, "How vulgar!!! They must be identified and punished for the damage done.""I hope they pay for the damage, and if it is priceless, at least they should give him a nice fine," another added.There were others who thought the museum was at fault for not securing the chair and leaving it unattended."Why is the chair placed where people can use it? Sounds like a skill issue from your side too," a person commented.Another user wrote, "The fault lies with the management for not putting controllers inside the halls!!"

A precious and delicate piece of art, called the Van Gogh chair, was damaged by a man who sat on it after security left. It shattered, and the man and his companion instantly ran away.

A tourist crushed a piece of art made with thousands of Swarovski crystals at an Italian museum. The incident was captured on security cameras. It shows a man lowering himself into the precious chair. Instead of pretending to sit on it, he puts all his weight down on it. The chair shatters to the ground, and with it, the man also starts falling down as he tries to stop. The woman with him immediately moves forward and holds him, and they both run away from the scene. The incident happened at The Palazzo Maffei in Verona some time back and the museum recently shared a video of the tourists on Facebook, showing utter disrespect for the piece of art. It said in a note that the couple knew they weren't allowed to even pretend to sit on it. So they waited for security to leave the area for the photo op. Sharing a video, the museum called it an "irresponsible gesture", adding that they did not want to "limit ourselves to a simple report of what happened", and instead wanted to use it as an "opportunity to reflect and raise awareness among the public." "Art must be admired, experienced, but above all respected." The art piece is called the “Van Gogh” chair created by the artist Nicola Bolla and is extremely delicate. The name has been derived from the fact that it resembles a chair in one of the Dutch painter’s most famous pieces. "What you have just seen is not a joke, but an episode that really happened in the rooms of Palazzo Maffei. A superficial and disrespectful behaviour has put the integrity of a work of art at risk: the “Van Gogh” chair by the artist Nicola Bolla was damaged by some visitors," The Palazzo Maffei wrote. The museum also shared an update on the chair, saying that it has been restored. "A heartfelt thanks goes to the police, our security department and the restorers, whose precious work allowed the work to be recovered." It is unclear whether the people responsible for the damage have been tracked down or if they will face any action. Couple slammed, others blame museum Meanwhile, people on social media are shocked to see the way the couple acted at the museum. A user commented, "How vulgar!!! They must be identified and punished for the damage done." "I hope they pay for the damage, and if it is priceless, at least they should give him a nice fine," another added. There were others who thought the museum was at fault for not securing the chair and leaving it unattended. "Why is the chair placed where people can use it? Sounds like a skill issue from your side too," a person commented. Another user wrote, "The fault lies with the management for not putting controllers inside the halls!!"

A precious and delicate piece of art, called the Van Gogh chair, was damaged by a man who sat on it after security left. It shattered, and the man and his companion instantly ran away.

Man sits on 'Van Gogh' chair, shatters art piece covered in Swarovski crystals

History repeated itself 27 years later when a British-Indian man, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived a plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12). The 40-year-old was seated in 11A of the Air India plane, which went down 30 seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport. In 1998, a Thai Airways plane crashed, killing 101 people. There were a few survivors, including Thai singer James Ruangsak Loychusak, who was in the exact seat number - 11A.&nbsp;Ruangsak has expressed shock at the coincidence after hearing about the miracle survivor. In a Facebook post, Ruangsak wrote, "Survivor of a plane crash in India. He sat in the same seat as me. 11A."&nbsp;“Goosebumps. My condolences to all those who lost.”&nbsp;The Thai singer was on Thai Airways flight TG261 which crashed while attempting to land in December 1998. It was travelling from Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport to Surat Thani International Airport in Surat Thani. There were a total of 146 people on board the plane, including 132 passengers and 14 crew members. &nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahmedabad-plane-crash-portion-i-was-seat-at-landed-on-ground-floor-lone-survivor-narrates-miraculous-escape-1749799826032">Ahmedabad plane crash: 'Portion I was seated at, landed on ground floor': Lone survivor narrates miraculous escape</a>&nbsp;The captain of the flight, Pinit Vechasilp, had 10,167 flight hours, while the first officer, Saen Chalermsaenyakorn, had 2,839 flight hours.&nbsp;

<h2>Thai singer Ruangsak was traumatised for life</h2>&nbsp;Ruangsak was one of the survivors and was so traumatised by the accident that he didn't fly again for almost 10 years. He was travelling for a performance and the incident left him emotionally scarred forever, The Telegraph reported.&nbsp;The Air India flight AI171 was going to London Gatwick with 242 people on board. The plane was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Ramesh only vaguely managed to recall how he escaped the tragic accident. He says he doesn't know how he survived. His seat was right next to the emergency door, and it came off when the plane crashed into the hostel building.&nbsp;He unbuckled his seat belt and escaped through it. Talking to the media, Ramesh recalled, "For a while, I thought I was about to die. But when I opened my eyes, I saw I was alive. And I opened my seat belt and got out of there. The airhostess and aunty uncle all died before my eyes."&nbsp;He said he was closer to the ground floor and there was space to escape. Immediately after, the plane caught fire. Ramesh is being treated at a hospital where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid him a visit.&nbsp;

Ahmedabad plane crash: In 1998, Thai singer James Ruangsak Loychusak, in seat 11A, survived a plane crash. 27 years later, another man in the same seat escaped an accident that killed everyone but him.

History repeated itself 27 years later when a British-Indian man, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived a plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12). The 40-year-old was seated in 11A of the Air India plane, which went down 30 seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport. In 1998, a Thai Airways plane crashed, killing 101 people. There were a few survivors, including Thai singer James Ruangsak Loychusak, who was in the exact seat number - 11A. Ruangsak has expressed shock at the coincidence after hearing about the miracle survivor. In a Facebook post, Ruangsak wrote, "Survivor of a plane crash in India. He sat in the same seat as me. 11A." “Goosebumps. My condolences to all those who lost.” The Thai singer was on Thai Airways flight TG261 which crashed while attempting to land in December 1998. It was travelling from Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport to Surat Thani International Airport in Surat Thani. There were a total of 146 people on board the plane, including 132 passengers and 14 crew members.

Ahmedabad plane crash: In 1998, Thai singer James Ruangsak Loychusak, in seat 11A, survived a plane crash. 27 years later, another man in the same seat escaped an accident that killed everyone but him.

'He sat in the same...': 27 years ago, a Thai singer survived plane crash. His seat number? 11A

Our solar system today has eight planets. Till a few years back, Pluto was our ninth planet, until it was demoted to a dwarf planet. But some studies suggest that the ancient solar system once still had nine planets, minus Pluto. A little-known theory states that once upon a time, there were five gas giants - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and another planet. But, it is no longer here.What happened to it? Where did it go? It might be deep in interstellar space, wandering like a rogue planet, thanks to Jupiter. Or, it could be the elusive Planet Nine everyone has been talking about these days.&nbsp;It is believed that Jupiter kicked a planet out of the solar system billions of years ago. It was also a gas giant, but an icy world like Uranus and Neptune. The first time scientists proposed the existence of this other planet was in 2011. In the bid to explain the orbits of Earth and Mars, they reached the conclusion that things weren't always like this in the solar system. The current picture did not make sense.&nbsp;This led them to propose that another planet once resided in the solar system, and was kicked out around four billion years ago. But, they could not pinpoint the culprit - it could either be Jupiter or Saturn.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/scientists-detect-strongest-hints-of-planet-nine-lurking-way-beyond-pluto-9025324">Planet Nine might exist after all as scientists detect something lurking way beyond Pluto</a>&nbsp;A study carried out by Canadian scientists in 2015 found that it was Jupiter after all that kicked out this mystery planet. "Our evidence points to Jupiter," said lead researcher Ryan Cloutier from the University of Toronto. It's like an "interplanetary chess game," he said.&nbsp;Jupiter hasn't always been where it is today in the solar system. The "Jumping-Jupiter" scenario proposes that the largest planet of the solar system migrated inwards towards the Sun, and in the process kicked out a planet. It did not move smoothly, but made several jumps, leading to the term "Jumping Jupiter."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-there-a-planet-nine-nasas-new-telescope-might-soon-answer-the-question-774356">Is Planet Nine lurking in the solar system? We might know in 2025</a>&nbsp;Its gravitational influence was so strong because of its massive size that it likely disrupted the orbits of other gas giants. One of them got so close that it was ultimately slingshot out of the solar system.&nbsp;This migration is further explained by the Grand tack hypothesis. According to it, Jupiter formed at a distance of 3.5 AU from the Sun, then migrated inward to 1.5 AU. It captured Saturn in an orbital resonance, ultimately stabilising at 5.2 AU.&nbsp;<h2>Proof of the ninth planet</h2>&nbsp;The Oort cloud at the edge of the solar system contains tonnes of icy bodies. Scientists think that if a planet was ejected from the solar system, it could have scattered planetesimals, thus creating the Oort cloud. Besides, the current structure of the solar system also proves that there was a fifth gas giant.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jupiter-was-an-even-bigger-monster-billions-of-years-ago-1747903607663">Jupiter was an even bigger monster billions of years ago, Amalthea and Thebe hold clues</a>&nbsp;All the comets, asteroids and other material in the solar system in the Kuiper Belt also likely occurred because of the planet's ejection.&nbsp;<h2>How was the criminal planet nailed down?</h2>&nbsp;Scientists at the University of Toronto decided to look at the moons of Jupiter and Saturn - Callisto and Iapetus, respectively. They investigated the probability of the moons having their current orbit if one of them had ejected a planet.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/voyager-spacecraft-crossed-wall-of-fire-to-reach-interstellar-space-what-is-it-1749714537835">Voyager spacecraft crossed 'wall of fire' to reach interstellar space. What is it?</a> &nbsp;"Ultimately, we found that Jupiter is capable of ejecting the fifth giant planet while retaining a moon with the orbit of Callisto," Cloutier wrote in the study published in The Astrophysical Journal.&nbsp;<h2>Where is the ninth planet?</h2>&nbsp;Scientists think that it could be wandering in the Milky Way, or maybe somewhere in deep space. However, for some years, scientists have been talking about a ninth planet, far beyond Neptune. They noted a change in the orbits of long-period objects in the Kuiper Belt, and think that Planet Nine could explain this strange phenomenon. Some think that this planet that was kicked out did not leave us after all, and in fact continues to orbit far off from the Sun, at about 400 and 800 AU (Astronomical Units) from our star. In comparison, Pluto is only 30 to 50 AU from our Sun.

Planet Nine? Jupiter might be the goon of all planets. Its sheer size and gravitational pull likely once threw a planet out of the solar system. Where did it go? It might be the same planet scientists think is Planet Nine. 

Our solar system today has eight planets. Till a few years back, Pluto was our ninth planet, until it was demoted to a dwarf planet. But some studies suggest that the ancient solar system once still had nine planets, minus Pluto. A little-known theory states that once upon a time, there were five gas giants - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and another planet. But, it is no longer here. What happened to it? Where did it go? It might be deep in interstellar space, wandering like a rogue planet, thanks to Jupiter. Or, it could be the elusive Planet Nine everyone has been talking about these days. It is believed that Jupiter kicked a planet out of the solar system billions of years ago. It was also a gas giant, but an icy world like Uranus and Neptune. The first time scientists proposed the existence of this other planet was in 2011. In the bid to explain the orbits of Earth and Mars, they reached the conclusion that things weren't always like this in the solar system. The current picture did not make sense. This led them to propose that another planet once resided in the solar system, and was kicked out around four billion years ago. But, they could not pinpoint the culprit - it could either be Jupiter or Saturn. Also Read: Planet Nine might exist after all as scientists detect something lurking way beyond Pluto A study carried out by Canadian scientists in 2015 found that it was Jupiter after all that kicked out this mystery planet. "Our evidence points to Jupiter," said lead researcher Ryan Cloutier from the University of Toronto. It's like an "interplanetary chess game," he said. Jupiter hasn't always been where it is today in the solar system. The "Jumping-Jupiter" scenario proposes that the largest planet of the solar system migrated inwards towards the Sun, and in the process kicked out a planet. It did not move smoothly, but made several jumps, leading to the term "Jumping Jupiter." Also Read: Is Planet Nine lurking in the solar system? We might know in 2025 Its gravitational influence was so strong because of its massive size that it likely disrupted the orbits of other gas giants. One of them got so close that it was ultimately slingshot out of the solar system. This migration is further explained by the Grand tack hypothesis. According to it, Jupiter formed at a distance of 3.5 AU from the Sun, then migrated inward to 1.5 AU. It captured Saturn in an orbital resonance, ultimately stabilising at 5.2 AU. Proof of the ninth planet The Oort cloud at the edge of the solar system contains tonnes of icy bodies. Scientists think that if a planet was ejected from the solar system, it could have scattered planetesimals, thus creating the Oort cloud. Besides, the current structure of the solar system also proves that there was a fifth gas giant. Also Read: Jupiter was an even bigger monster billions of years ago, Amalthea and Thebe hold clues All the comets, asteroids and other material in the solar system in the Kuiper Belt also likely occurred because of the planet's ejection. How was the criminal planet nailed down? Scientists at the University of Toronto decided to look at the moons of Jupiter and Saturn - Callisto and Iapetus, respectively. They investigated the probability of the moons having their current orbit if one of them had ejected a planet. Also Read: Voyager spacecraft crossed 'wall of fire' to reach interstellar space. What is it? "Ultimately, we found that Jupiter is capable of ejecting the fifth giant planet while retaining a moon with the orbit of Callisto," Cloutier wrote in the study published in The Astrophysical Journal. Where is the ninth planet? Scientists think that it could be wandering in the Milky Way, or maybe somewhere in deep space. However, for some years, scientists have been talking about a ninth planet, far beyond Neptune. They noted a change in the orbits of long-period objects in the Kuiper Belt, and think that Planet Nine could explain this strange phenomenon. Some think that this planet that was kicked out did not leave us after all, and in fact continues to orbit far off from the Sun, at about 400 and 800 AU (Astronomical Units) from our star. In comparison, Pluto is only 30 to 50 AU from our Sun.

Planet Nine? Jupiter might be the goon of all planets. Its sheer size and gravitational pull likely once threw a planet out of the solar system. Where did it go? It might be the same planet scientists think is Planet Nine.&nbsp;

One planet is missing from the solar system, blame 'Jumping Jupiter'

Dinosaurs are not the only predators that have walked the Earth. Nearly 252 million years ago, when Earth witnessed the "Great Dying" mass extinction, a beast continued to survive and thrive during the 200,000 years that followed. It was the Permian Extinction, and the animal was a terrifying predator of the era called Inostrancevia. All this while, the planet underwent several changes, but this creature beat all odds and escaped everything.&nbsp;The mass extinction killed 90 per cent of marine species and 70 per cent of land animals. But, Inostrancevia, a sabre-toothed creature, escaped unscathed. It travelled from its original location to avoid the catastrophe, researchers say.&nbsp;Scientists have believed that it only lived in Russia. But palaeontologists have found that it travelled to South Africa, as fossils in the region indicate. It was a form of survival instinct for the creature as life around it ended. Inostrancevia was not a dinosaur and lived way before the mammoth creatures. Nevertheless, it was no less than the dinosaurs, with its sharp teeth and unique skull shape.&nbsp;It measured 10 feet from nose to tail, was three feet tall at the shoulder and weighed nearly 816 kilos. What made it the best predator of its time were its teeth which were almost five inches long. It could cut through it right prey instantly. The predator also had extremely long legs, bigger than any other creature of the time.&nbsp;The Inostrancevia belonged to the Gorgonopsia family of ancient animals called proto-mammals or therapsids. Their attributes resembled those of both mammals and reptiles. Some of them evolved into modern mammals.&nbsp;The Northern Hemisphere, primarily Russia, was the only place this creature was believed to have lived in during the Permian Era till now. Scientists thought that another predator ruled the south. However, around 14 years ago, they found fossils in South Africa, in the Karoo Basin. Over the years, they put them together and realised it belonged to the Inostrancevia.&nbsp;This proved that the beast migrated during the Great Dying, travelling a whopping 11,265 kilometres across the supercontinent of Pangea to avoid going extinct. Scientists are now trying to understand how it survived the arduous journey during a mass extinction event.&nbsp;

Dinosaurs were not the first giant predators on Earth. Another creature with five-foot long teeth terrified other animals and survived a mass extinction event.

Dinosaurs are not the only predators that have walked the Earth. Nearly 252 million years ago, when Earth witnessed the "Great Dying" mass extinction, a beast continued to survive and thrive during the 200,000 years that followed. It was the Permian Extinction, and the animal was a terrifying predator of the era called Inostrancevia. All this while, the planet underwent several changes, but this creature beat all odds and escaped everything. The mass extinction killed 90 per cent of marine species and 70 per cent of land animals. But, Inostrancevia, a sabre-toothed creature, escaped unscathed. It travelled from its original location to avoid the catastrophe, researchers say. Scientists have believed that it only lived in Russia. But palaeontologists have found that it travelled to South Africa, as fossils in the region indicate. It was a form of survival instinct for the creature as life around it ended. Inostrancevia was not a dinosaur and lived way before the mammoth creatures. Nevertheless, it was no less than the dinosaurs, with its sharp teeth and unique skull shape. It measured 10 feet from nose to tail, was three feet tall at the shoulder and weighed nearly 816 kilos. What made it the best predator of its time were its teeth which were almost five inches long. It could cut through it right prey instantly. The predator also had extremely long legs, bigger than any other creature of the time. The Inostrancevia belonged to the Gorgonopsia family of ancient animals called proto-mammals or therapsids. Their attributes resembled those of both mammals and reptiles. Some of them evolved into modern mammals. The Northern Hemisphere, primarily Russia, was the only place this creature was believed to have lived in during the Permian Era till now. Scientists thought that another predator ruled the south. However, around 14 years ago, they found fossils in South Africa, in the Karoo Basin. Over the years, they put them together and realised it belonged to the Inostrancevia. This proved that the beast migrated during the Great Dying, travelling a whopping 11,265 kilometres across the supercontinent of Pangea to avoid going extinct. Scientists are now trying to understand how it survived the arduous journey during a mass extinction event.

Dinosaurs were not the first giant predators on Earth. Another creature with five-foot long teeth terrified other animals and survived a mass extinction event.

Terrifying beast walked 11,265km across Pangea to avoid extinction during Great Dying

A government official in the southern state of Kerala has been suspended for casteist and sexist remarks against a victim of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. A. Pavithran, a deputy tehsildar, was suspended for his remarks against Ranjitha G Nair, who was among the 241 people on board the Boeing plane who died in the crash near the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12).<h2>Who is Ranjitha G Nair, Ahmedabad plane crash victim? &nbsp;</h2>Ranjitha G Nair, a 39-year-old nurse who halied from the Pathanamtitta destrict, was returning to London to finish her paperwork in order to end her job in the UK.&nbsp; She wanted to return to India after that, re-enter her job in Kerala, and live with her children.&nbsp; She had been building a home in her hometown.&nbsp;<h2>What did Pavithran say about Ranjitha, the plane crash victim?</h2> For derogatory remarks against Ranjitha, the deputy tehsildar Pavithran was taken into custody by police, after being suspended pending investigation. In a social media post, Pavithran had made several comments against Ranjitha, which were both sexist and casteist.&nbsp; After the comments went viral and became a controversy, he removed the post.&nbsp;In his remarks, Pavithran alleged that Ranjitha died because she took leave from a Kerala government job to go abroad. He abused Ranjitha with casteist comments.&nbsp;“A Nair woman from Kerala passed away. She went to the UK after taking leave from the state government job she got, and spoiling another person’s opportunity. Not feeling anything. Condolences to all,” Pavithran said in the post.&nbsp;In the later comments, there were vulger references. Several people complained online to the chief minister of Kerala. Following this, the district collector of Kasargod issued a suspension order against Pavithran.<h2>Kerala minister decries derogatory comments against Malayali plane crash victim</h2>Kerala Revenue minister K Rajan decried the comments by the deputy tehsildar, and said action was taken immediately to suspend him. The minister said Pavithran did not show any respect expected at a time of tragedy. “It is not only about disrepecting women, but the post lacked even the basic sense of dignity expected at a time of tragedy,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>More about Ranjitha, the Ahmedabad plane crash crash victim from Kerala</h2>Ranjita had gone to Muscat, Oman five years ago. Later she got a job in UK. She was in the process of building a new home, and returning to work in Kerala and live with her children, when tragedy struck.&nbsp;She had returned to India just four days ago, in order to complete paperwork related to her government job in Kerala.<h2>Pavithran is known for controversial posts, was supsended earlier too</h2> It has emerged that Pavithran is no stranger to controversy. He had rejoined work only a month ago after another suspension for a post about a former Kerala minister, E Chandrasekharan.&nbsp;

Pavithran, a deputy tehsildar, was suspended for his remarks against Ranjitha G Nair, who was among the 241 people on board the Boeing plane who died in the crash near the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12).

A government official in the southern state of Kerala has been suspended for casteist and sexist remarks against a victim of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. A. Pavithran, a deputy tehsildar, was suspended for his remarks against Ranjitha G Nair, who was among the 241 people on board the Boeing plane who died in the crash near the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12). Who is Ranjitha G Nair, Ahmedabad plane crash victim? Ranjitha G Nair, a 39-year-old nurse who halied from the Pathanamtitta destrict, was returning to London to finish her paperwork in order to end her job in the UK. She wanted to return to India after that, re-enter her job in Kerala, and live with her children. She had been building a home in her hometown. What did Pavithran say about Ranjitha, the plane crash victim? For derogatory remarks against Ranjitha, the deputy tehsildar Pavithran was taken into custody by police, after being suspended pending investigation. In a social media post, Pavithran had made several comments against Ranjitha, which were both sexist and casteist. After the comments went viral and became a controversy, he removed the post. In his remarks, Pavithran alleged that Ranjitha died because she took leave from a Kerala government job to go abroad. He abused Ranjitha with casteist comments. “A Nair woman from Kerala passed away. She went to the UK after taking leave from the state government job she got, and spoiling another person’s opportunity. Not feeling anything. Condolences to all,” Pavithran said in the post. In the later comments, there were vulger references. Several people complained online to the chief minister of Kerala. Following this, the district collector of Kasargod issued a suspension order against Pavithran. Kerala minister decries derogatory comments against Malayali plane crash victim Kerala Revenue minister K Rajan decried the comments by the deputy tehsildar, and said action was taken immediately to suspend him. The minister said Pavithran did not show any respect expected at a time of tragedy. “It is not only about disrepecting women, but the post lacked even the basic sense of dignity expected at a time of tragedy,” he said. More about Ranjitha, the Ahmedabad plane crash crash victim from Kerala Ranjita had gone to Muscat, Oman five years ago. Later she got a job in UK. She was in the process of building a new home, and returning to work in Kerala and live with her children, when tragedy struck. She had returned to India just four days ago, in order to complete paperwork related to her government job in Kerala. Pavithran is known for controversial posts, was supsended earlier too It has emerged that Pavithran is no stranger to controversy. He had rejoined work only a month ago after another suspension for a post about a former Kerala minister, E Chandrasekharan.

Pavithran, a deputy tehsildar, was suspended for his remarks against Ranjitha G Nair, who was among the 241 people on board the Boeing plane who died in the crash near the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday (June 12).

Ahmedabad plane crash: Kerala govt official suspended, detained for sexist, casteist remarks against victim Ranjitha

Archaeologists have stumbled upon a 16th-century merchant ship at a depth of more than two kilometres off the coast of southern France, CBS News reported. This is the deepest shipwreck found in the Mediterranean or any French waters. Located at 8,422 feet below sea level, the merchant ship is well preserved and contains ceramics and metal bars. The site has been dubbed "Camarat 4.""It's the deepest shipwreck ever found in French territorial waters," Arnaud Schaumasse, the head of the culture ministry's underwater archaeology department, said late Wednesday.&nbsp;The discovery was made "during a military operation to explore the seabed", France's Department of Underwater and Submarine Archaeological Research said. A drone sent out to scan the waters spotted the shipwreck in early March in waters near Saint-Tropez in southeastern France. The agency also released images of the seabed littered with ceramics.&nbsp;"The sonar detected something quite big, so we went back with the device's camera, then again with an underwater robot to snap high-quality images," deputy maritime prefect Thierry de la Burgade said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/300-year-old-shipwreck-with-20-billion-worth-of-treasure-has-four-parties-squabbling-1749790350475">300-year-old shipwreck with $20 billion worth of treasure has four parties squabbling</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;Archaeologist Marine Sadania said 200 jugs with pinched spouts were discovered at the site. They bore the monogram "HIS," the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus. Some of them were covered with plant-inspired or geometric patterns. Other things found at the shipwreck include 100 yellow plates, two cauldrons, an anchor and six cannons.&nbsp;Sadania says the shipwreck's deep location has ensured that it remains untouched, preventing "any recovery or looting."&nbsp;It has "remained intact, as if time froze," she added.&nbsp;Human-made waste also made its way to the site, as photos show a soda can and an empty yoghurt container.&nbsp;"Camarat 4 is a remarkable discovery for its depth, unprecedented character and the opportunity it offers to study an almost intact 16th-century wreck," France's Department of Underwater and Submarine Archaeological Research said.

The deepest shipwreck ever found has been discovered in French waters. It was located 8,422 feet below sea level “during a military operation.”

Archaeologists have stumbled upon a 16th-century merchant ship at a depth of more than two kilometres off the coast of southern France, CBS News reported. This is the deepest shipwreck found in the Mediterranean or any French waters. Located at 8,422 feet below sea level, the merchant ship is well preserved and contains ceramics and metal bars. The site has been dubbed "Camarat 4." "It's the deepest shipwreck ever found in French territorial waters," Arnaud Schaumasse, the head of the culture ministry's underwater archaeology department, said late Wednesday. The discovery was made "during a military operation to explore the seabed", France's Department of Underwater and Submarine Archaeological Research said. A drone sent out to scan the waters spotted the shipwreck in early March in waters near Saint-Tropez in southeastern France. The agency also released images of the seabed littered with ceramics. "The sonar detected something quite big, so we went back with the device's camera, then again with an underwater robot to snap high-quality images," deputy maritime prefect Thierry de la Burgade said. Also Read: 300-year-old shipwreck with $20 billion worth of treasure has four parties squabbling Archaeologist Marine Sadania said 200 jugs with pinched spouts were discovered at the site. They bore the monogram "HIS," the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus. Some of them were covered with plant-inspired or geometric patterns. Other things found at the shipwreck include 100 yellow plates, two cauldrons, an anchor and six cannons. Sadania says the shipwreck's deep location has ensured that it remains untouched, preventing "any recovery or looting." It has "remained intact, as if time froze," she added. Human-made waste also made its way to the site, as photos show a soda can and an empty yoghurt container. "Camarat 4 is a remarkable discovery for its depth, unprecedented character and the opportunity it offers to study an almost intact 16th-century wreck," France's Department of Underwater and Submarine Archaeological Research said.

The deepest shipwreck ever found has been discovered in French waters. It was located 8,422 feet below sea level “during a military operation.”

Time froze at this 500-year-old shipwreck discovered kilometres deep in France

A time-lapse video from Flightradar24 shows the dramatic change in air traffic over Iranian airspace as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran on Friday. The Israeli military hit about 100 targets, including nuclear facilities, and killed some prominent leaders. At least 95 people were injured in the attack, an emergency services official told state TV."So far, 95 people were injured and taken to medical centres in 12 different provinces that were targeted," national emergency services spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi told state TV.The attack led international airlines from across the world to quickly change routes to avoid Israeli attacks. A video from Flightradar24 reflects the scenario as civilian aircraft quickly cleared the Iranian airspace, leaving it devoid of any kind of aviation activity.The timelapse shows in real time how quickly aeroplanes diverted from their routes as the conflict between the two countries intensified.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">This time-lapse of air traffic over the Middle East shows how civilian airspace cleared after Israel’s operation against Iran began. <a href="https://t.co/aap8ilC2MI">pic.twitter.com/aap8ilC2MI</a>&mdash; Brady Africk (@bradyafr) <a href="https://twitter.com/bradyafr/status/1933344689417052528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Air India diverts flights</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;Air India also had several of its international flights take a U-turn or divert to avoid the Iranian airspace."Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace and in view of the safety of our passengers, the following Air India flights are either being diverted or returning to their origin," Air India said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-jump-to-two-month-high-as-tensions-escalate-in-middle-east-1749797102602">Oil prices jump to two-month high as tensions escalate in Middle East</a>&nbsp;“We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen disruption and are making every effort to minimise it, including providing accommodation for passengers," the airline further added.&nbsp;The non-availability of airspace over Iran is expected to have a domino effect on airlines worldwide. It will make routes longer, increasing time and costs. Planes flying between the West and Asia would likely have to make fuel stops. For India, the situation becomes even more precarious since the Pakistan airspace is already closed for Indian airlines. Most of the airlines don't fly over Afghanistan either.&nbsp;<h2>Israel-Iran conflict: Jordan and Iraq close airspace, Gulf airlines cancel flights</h2> In the aftermath of the attacks, Jordan and Iraq, which both lie between Israel and Iran, announced they had closed their airspace and grounded all flights. Gulf airlines have cancelled flights to the Middle East. Emirates has cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. Qatar Airways, one of the Middle East's largest carriers, said it had "temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq due to (the) current situation in the region".&nbsp;Meanwhile, UAE airports, including Abu Dhabi, have warned of disruptions. Dubai posted on X that "some flights at @DXB and DWC - Al Maktoum International have been cancelled or delayed due to airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria".&nbsp;Kuwait's civil aviation authority posted on X that "some flights at Kuwait International Airport have been diverted, cancelled and rescheduled."&nbsp;Meanwhile, German airline group Lufthansa has also suspended flights to Tehran until the end of July. A spokesperson for the airline said that "Lufthansa services would avoid Israeli, Iraqi and Iranian airspace for the time being".&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-strikes-iran-senior-advisor-to-iran-s-supreme-leader-khamenei-severely-injured-in-operation-rising-lion-1749798355916">Israel strikes Iran: Senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei killed in Operation Rising Lion</a>&nbsp;Also Read: Israel strikes Iran: Senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei killed in Operation Rising Lion&nbsp;<h2>Iran launched a counter-strike against Israel</h2>&nbsp;Israel launched a fresh attack on a key underground uranium enrichment facility in central Iran on Friday, Iranian state media reported."Minutes ago, the Zionist regime targeted Natanz again," state media said.Iran lost its armed forces' chief of staff, the Revolutionary Guards chief and top nuclear scientists in the initial attacks.&nbsp;

Israel-Iran conflict: A video from Flightradar24 reflects the scenario as civilian aircraft quickly cleared the Iranian airspace, leaving it devoid of any kind of aviation activity.

A time-lapse video from Flightradar24 shows the dramatic change in air traffic over Iranian airspace as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran on Friday. The Israeli military hit about 100 targets, including nuclear facilities, and killed some prominent leaders. At least 95 people were injured in the attack, an emergency services official told state TV. "So far, 95 people were injured and taken to medical centres in 12 different provinces that were targeted," national emergency services spokesperson Mojtaba Khaledi told state TV. The attack led international airlines from across the world to quickly change routes to avoid Israeli attacks. A video from Flightradar24 reflects the scenario as civilian aircraft quickly cleared the Iranian airspace, leaving it devoid of any kind of aviation activity. The timelapse shows in real time how quickly aeroplanes diverted from their routes as the conflict between the two countries intensified.

Israel-Iran conflict: A video from Flightradar24 reflects the scenario as civilian aircraft quickly cleared the Iranian airspace, leaving it devoid of any kind of aviation activity.

Iran-Israel conflict: Timelapse shows Iranian airspace emptying out as planes quickly change routes

Israel's attack on Iran, targeting its top military and government officials, nuclear facilities and scientists on Friday (June 13) has placed the global focus back on the Shia Islamic Republic. With several top military and political leaders killed, one wonders who really runs the show in Iran. In the unique theocratic republic, the power is centred around a handful of people, mostly those linked to the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79. The military is also led by those with links to the Islamic Revolution. The governance system is a blend of Islamic theocracy, with a limited democracy overseen by the clerics.&nbsp; Iran's governance structure has its base in Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s doctrine of velayat-e faqih or Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist. This system gives the ultimate authority to clerics, led by the Supreme Leader.&nbsp;&nbsp;The complex web of power has both elected and unelected officials running the country, with critics saying that democracy is a sham, as the political leadership including the president is screened by various clerical bodies.&nbsp; Here is the Islamic Republic of Iran's government, explained: &nbsp;<h2>Supreme Leader &nbsp;</h2>The Iranian Supreme Leader or ‘Rahbar’ is the head of state, and the highest authority of both politics and religion. It's a role with near absolute power over all branches of government, military, judiciary, and state media. Supreme leaders are appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts, the only body to whom he is accountable.&nbsp; Office of the Supreme Leader supervises the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.&nbsp; Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the current supreme leader, is the final deciding authority on foreign policy, economy and security. &nbsp;Khamenei is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, including the IRGC or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Basij militia. The supreme leader appoints the heads of the judiciary, state media, military, and half of the Guardian Council members. &nbsp;He also controls economic entities like charitable trusts worth billions of dollars, making his office financially independent.&nbsp;The supreme leader supervises the Guardian Council, which vets electoral candidates and legislation. He issues fatwas or decrees, can veto legislations, declare war or peace, and pardon convicts. The supreme leader has a netwok of delegates who enforce his will across the government. Khamenei is only the second supreme leader of Iran, having succeeded Khomeini in 1989. He can be in office till death.&nbsp;<h2>Iranian president &nbsp;</h2>The President is Iran's head of government and the highest elected official, but is subordinate to the Supreme Leader, who must approve his appointment and can dismiss him.&nbsp; Masoud Pezeshkian is the current president of Iran. The president , though elected by people for a four-year-term, has only limited powers. The president is responsible for domestic policy, planning the econmy, and some aspects of foreign policy. The president can hold two consecutive terms. &nbsp;<h2>Assembly of Experts &nbsp;</h2>The Assembly of Experts is an 88-member group of Islamic jurists elected by popular vote every eight years. The assembly selects and supervises the supreme leader. Theoretically, it can also dismiss the supreme leader, but such a thing has never happened.&nbsp; Candiates for the Assembly of Experts are selected by the Guardian Council. Currently, &nbsp;Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati chairs the Assembly of Experts, whose roles include monitoring the Supreme Leader's performance and choosing his successor. It's largely a ceremonial group of regime loyalists with not much actual power. &nbsp;<h2>Guardian Council &nbsp;</h2>The Guardian Council is yet another Islamic jurist body whose main role is the selection and vetting of candidates for elections. The 12-member body is currently chaired by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who also leads the Assembly of Experts. &nbsp;The Guardian Council has veto power over laws, and can disqualify election candidates, which it had done in the past to keep out reformists from contesting elections. The supreme leader appoints half of the Guardian Council, while the six other lawyers are nominated by the judiciary and approved by parliament.&nbsp;The council screens candidates for key posts like the president, legislature, and Assembly of Experts, and has the power to shape election outcomes. The Guardian Council is the interpreter of the constitution. It has traditionally been dominated by hardliners.<h2>Expediency Council</h2>The Expediency Council is yet another layer of authority in the Iranian system. Its main roles are the resolution of disputes between the Guardian Council and parliament.&nbsp;&nbsp;It advises the supreme leader on policy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Expediency Council members are appointed by the supreme leader for five-year terms.&nbsp;&nbsp;Currently chaired by Ayatollah Amoli Larijani, the Expediency Council mediates legislative disagreements. In practice, it has sided with the Guardian Council in such matters.&nbsp;<h2> Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majlis, the Iranian parliament</h2>The Majlis, Iran’s unicameral parliament, has 290 members who are elected by the people every four years. While Majlis, like any other parliament, drafts legislation and approves the budget, its powers are limited by a variety of actors like the Supreme Leader, the Guardian Council and the Expediency Council. &nbsp;<h2>Iranian Judiciary &nbsp;</h2>Iran has a judiciary which is not seen as independent, as it is controlled by the Supreme Leader. The chief justice is appointed by the supreme leader. The judiciary's main role is to enforce Islamic law and oversee courts.&nbsp; In practice, critics of the judiciary see it as an instrument of political repression. It also operates a Special Clerical Court, which prosecutes dissident clerics and reports directly to the supreme leader.<h2>The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC &nbsp;</h2>While Iran does have a regular military known as Artesh, much of the defence power is with IRGC, a paramilitary that rose out of the Islamic Revolution. IRGC is tasked with managing internal security through the powerful Basij militia and intelligence units, and expanding Iran's regional influence. As its name implies, it is supposed to protect the principles of the Islamic Revolution.&nbsp;&nbsp;IRGC answers directly to the supreme leader and controls significant economic assets. Its Quds Force, responsible for external operations, is accused of arming and training anti-Israel militia groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis. Its current Commander-in-Chief, Maj Gen Hossein Salami, was killed in Friday's Israeli attack. Chief of General Staff Maj Gen Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, who oversees the coordination of IRGC and the regular army, was also killed.&nbsp;IRGC is thought to be controlling up to 30 per cent of Iran's economy, including its infrastructure and energy sectors. Significantly, IRGC also oversees the nuclear and missile programmes of Iran. IRGC is also deployed to suppress dissent, and protests like the 2022 anti-veil movement after the death of Mahsa Amini.<h2>Supreme National Security Council &nbsp;</h2>This is the body that coordinates defence and foreign policy of Iran. The Security Council is chaired by the president but dominated by the Supreme Leader’s appointees. &nbsp;The security council formulates national security and foreign policy, which have to be approved by the supreme leader.&nbsp;&nbsp;Members of the council include &nbsp;the IRGC commander, foreign minister, and the intelligence minister. &nbsp;

In the unique theocratic republic, the power is centred around a handful of people, mostly linked to the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79. The governance system blends Islamic jurisprudence with limited democracy overseen by the clerics.

Israel's attack on Iran, targeting its top military and government officials, nuclear facilities and scientists on Friday (June 13) has placed the global focus back on the Shia Islamic Republic. With several top military and political leaders killed, one wonders who really runs the show in Iran. In the unique theocratic republic, the power is centred around a handful of people, mostly those linked to the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79. The military is also led by those with links to the Islamic Revolution. The governance system is a blend of Islamic theocracy, with a limited democracy overseen by the clerics. Iran's governance structure has its base in Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s doctrine of velayat-e faqih or Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist. This system gives the ultimate authority to clerics, led by the Supreme Leader. The complex web of power has both elected and unelected officials running the country, with critics saying that democracy is a sham, as the political leadership including the president is screened by various clerical bodies. Here is the Islamic Republic of Iran's government, explained: Supreme Leader The Iranian Supreme Leader or ‘Rahbar’ is the head of state, and the highest authority of both politics and religion. It's a role with near absolute power over all branches of government, military, judiciary, and state media. Supreme leaders are appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts, the only body to whom he is accountable. Office of the Supreme Leader supervises the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the current supreme leader, is the final deciding authority on foreign policy, economy and security. Khamenei is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, including the IRGC or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Basij militia. The supreme leader appoints the heads of the judiciary, state media, military, and half of the Guardian Council members. He also controls economic entities like charitable trusts worth billions of dollars, making his office financially independent. The supreme leader supervises the Guardian Council, which vets electoral candidates and legislation. He issues fatwas or decrees, can veto legislations, declare war or peace, and pardon convicts. The supreme leader has a netwok of delegates who enforce his will across the government. Khamenei is only the second supreme leader of Iran, having succeeded Khomeini in 1989. He can be in office till death. Iranian president The President is Iran's head of government and the highest elected official, but is subordinate to the Supreme Leader, who must approve his appointment and can dismiss him. Masoud Pezeshkian is the current president of Iran. The president , though elected by people for a four-year-term, has only limited powers. The president is responsible for domestic policy, planning the econmy, and some aspects of foreign policy. The president can hold two consecutive terms. Assembly of Experts The Assembly of Experts is an 88-member group of Islamic jurists elected by popular vote every eight years. The assembly selects and supervises the supreme leader. Theoretically, it can also dismiss the supreme leader, but such a thing has never happened. Candiates for the Assembly of Experts are selected by the Guardian Council. Currently, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati chairs the Assembly of Experts, whose roles include monitoring the Supreme Leader's performance and choosing his successor. It's largely a ceremonial group of regime loyalists with not much actual power. Guardian Council The Guardian Council is yet another Islamic jurist body whose main role is the selection and vetting of candidates for elections. The 12-member body is currently chaired by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who also leads the Assembly of Experts. The Guardian Council has veto power over laws, and can disqualify election candidates, which it had done in the past to keep out reformists from contesting elections. The supreme leader appoints half of the Guardian Council, while the six other lawyers are nominated by the judiciary and approved by parliament. The council screens candidates for key posts like the president, legislature, and Assembly of Experts, and has the power to shape election outcomes. The Guardian Council is the interpreter of the constitution. It has traditionally been dominated by hardliners. Expediency Council The Expediency Council is yet another layer of authority in the Iranian system. Its main roles are the resolution of disputes between the Guardian Council and parliament. It advises the supreme leader on policy. Expediency Council members are appointed by the supreme leader for five-year terms. Currently chaired by Ayatollah Amoli Larijani, the Expediency Council mediates legislative disagreements. In practice, it has sided with the Guardian Council in such matters. Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majlis, the Iranian parliament The Majlis, Iran’s unicameral parliament, has 290 members who are elected by the people every four years. While Majlis, like any other parliament, drafts legislation and approves the budget, its powers are limited by a variety of actors like the Supreme Leader, the Guardian Council and the Expediency Council. Iranian Judiciary Iran has a judiciary which is not seen as independent, as it is controlled by the Supreme Leader. The chief justice is appointed by the supreme leader. The judiciary's main role is to enforce Islamic law and oversee courts. In practice, critics of the judiciary see it as an instrument of political repression. It also operates a Special Clerical Court, which prosecutes dissident clerics and reports directly to the supreme leader. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC While Iran does have a regular military known as Artesh, much of the defence power is with IRGC, a paramilitary that rose out of the Islamic Revolution. IRGC is tasked with managing internal security through the powerful Basij militia and intelligence units, and expanding Iran's regional influence. As its name implies, it is supposed to protect the principles of the Islamic Revolution. IRGC answers directly to the supreme leader and controls significant economic assets. Its Quds Force, responsible for external operations, is accused of arming and training anti-Israel militia groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis. Its current Commander-in-Chief, Maj Gen Hossein Salami, was killed in Friday's Israeli attack. Chief of General Staff Maj Gen Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, who oversees the coordination of IRGC and the regular army, was also killed. IRGC is thought to be controlling up to 30 per cent of Iran's economy, including its infrastructure and energy sectors. Significantly, IRGC also oversees the nuclear and missile programmes of Iran. IRGC is also deployed to suppress dissent, and protests like the 2022 anti-veil movement after the death of Mahsa Amini. Supreme National Security Council This is the body that coordinates defence and foreign policy of Iran. The Security Council is chaired by the president but dominated by the Supreme Leader’s appointees. The security council formulates national security and foreign policy, which have to be approved by the supreme leader. Members of the council include the IRGC commander, foreign minister, and the intelligence minister.

In the unique theocratic republic, the power is centred around a handful of people, mostly linked to the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79. The governance system blends Islamic jurisprudence with limited democracy overseen by the clerics.

Supreme Leader, IRGC, Guardian Council or Army - Who really runs Iran? Islamic Republic's complex web of power, explained

The Air India crash on Thursday in Ahmedabad could turn out to be India's most expensive aviation claim. Liabilities are expected to range between $211 million and $280 million, or up to Rs 2,400 crore. Flight accident insurance is offered on all flights and can start from as little as Rs 10 and go up to Rs 500, depending on the distance and coverage. Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was going to London Gatwick with 242 people, of whom 241 died.&nbsp;It took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm and crashed within 30 seconds after failing to gain elevation. The deceased include 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and a Canadian national. One passenger miraculously survived by jumping off the plane.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahmedabad-plane-crash-black-box-recovered-from-ai-171-flight-wreckage-1749801048348">Ahmedabad plane crash: Black box recovered from Air India AI-171 flight wreckage</a>&nbsp;Flight accident insurance typically offers compensation to those affected in case of an injury or death. It can be claimed in three scenarios: if a passenger dies due to an aircraft-related incident, the nominee is given the amount. The insurance also applies to emergency medical expenses in case a passenger is injured and seeks surgery, treatment and post-treatment care. It can also be claimed if one suffers permanent or temporary disabilities due to a flight-related incident.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahmedabad-plane-crash-dna-samples-of-victims-collected-for-identification-rescue-operation-concludes-1749796131369">Ahmedabad plane crash: DNA samples of victims collected for identification, rescue operation concludes</a>&nbsp;Airlines have fleet insurance policies, which cover risks such as aircraft hulls, spare parts, and liabilities to passengers and third parties, Ramaswamy Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director of the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), told NDTV. In case of the Air India crash, claims are expected under both hull and liability. The total amount doled out will factor in things like the age of the deceased, among other things.&nbsp;Amit Agarwal, CEO and MD at Howden India, says the amount can go up as high as $280 million.The Dreamliner that crashed was insured in 2021 for approximately $115 million. Agarwal said that the "loss would be covered based on the value declared by the airline", irrespective of whether the damage is partial or total.&nbsp;Passengers will be offered compensation under the Montreal Convention of 1999. The amount will be calculated under Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which is currently valued at 1,28,821 SDRs, or roughly $1,71,000 (Rs 1.47 crore).&nbsp;<h2>Personal travel insurance</h2>&nbsp;People going to foreign countries also commonly opt for personal travel insurance. It usually costs between 4 per cent and 10 per cent of the total trip cost. Older passengers have to shell out more. Trip duration, destination, medical issues etc. also affect the premium. International travel insurance can cost between Rs 150 to Rs 1000 per day.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ahmedabad plane crash: The Air India crash in Gujarat might turn out to be the most expensive in terms in the category of aviation insurance claims. The total amount doled out will factor in things like the age of the deceased, among other things.

The Air India crash on Thursday in Ahmedabad could turn out to be India's most expensive aviation claim. Liabilities are expected to range between $211 million and $280 million, or up to Rs 2,400 crore. Flight accident insurance is offered on all flights and can start from as little as Rs 10 and go up to Rs 500, depending on the distance and coverage. Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was going to London Gatwick with 242 people, of whom 241 died. It took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad at 1:38 pm and crashed within 30 seconds after failing to gain elevation. The deceased include 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and a Canadian national. One passenger miraculously survived by jumping off the plane. Also Read: Ahmedabad plane crash: Black box recovered from Air India AI-171 flight wreckage Flight accident insurance typically offers compensation to those affected in case of an injury or death. It can be claimed in three scenarios: if a passenger dies due to an aircraft-related incident, the nominee is given the amount. The insurance also applies to emergency medical expenses in case a passenger is injured and seeks surgery, treatment and post-treatment care. It can also be claimed if one suffers permanent or temporary disabilities due to a flight-related incident. Also Read: Ahmedabad plane crash: DNA samples of victims collected for identification, rescue operation concludes Airlines have fleet insurance policies, which cover risks such as aircraft hulls, spare parts, and liabilities to passengers and third parties, Ramaswamy Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director of the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), told NDTV. In case of the Air India crash, claims are expected under both hull and liability. The total amount doled out will factor in things like the age of the deceased, among other things. Amit Agarwal, CEO and MD at Howden India, says the amount can go up as high as $280 million. The Dreamliner that crashed was insured in 2021 for approximately $115 million. Agarwal said that the "loss would be covered based on the value declared by the airline", irrespective of whether the damage is partial or total. Passengers will be offered compensation under the Montreal Convention of 1999. The amount will be calculated under Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which is currently valued at 1,28,821 SDRs, or roughly $1,71,000 (Rs 1.47 crore). Personal travel insurance People going to foreign countries also commonly opt for personal travel insurance. It usually costs between 4 per cent and 10 per cent of the total trip cost. Older passengers have to shell out more. Trip duration, destination, medical issues etc. also affect the premium. International travel insurance can cost between Rs 150 to Rs 1000 per day.

Ahmedabad plane crash: The Air India crash in Gujarat might turn out to be the most expensive in terms in the category of aviation insurance claims. The total amount doled out will factor in things like the age of the deceased, among other things.

Air India plane crash insurance claims might clock in at a staggering Rs 2,400 crore

Israel's attack targeting Iran's nuclear programme on Friday (June 13) shed the limelight on its key nuclear facilities. Iran’s nuclear programme began under the US-backed Atoms for Peace initiative in the 1960s. The programme saw significant growth in the 1990s with assistance from Russia, China, and the AQ Khan network of Pakistan. Iran ran a nuclear weapons programme, the so-called Amad Plan, &nbsp;from late 1990s to around 2003, with facilities like Fordow, Varamin, and Parchin playing key roles. But that programme was reportedly stopped in 2003. Iran continued undeclared nuclear programme activities since then, raising concerns in the global community, particularly Israel, its arch rival in the region. The 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) imposed limits on the Iranian nuclear programme, in return for the easing of sanctions. The deal capped the uranium enrichment at 3.67 per cent, and imposed other restrictions, like limiting uranium stockpiles to 300 kg and allowing monitoring by IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog. But after the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal under President Donald Trump's first term in 2018, Iran resumed enrichment beyond limits imposed on the pact. Since then, its uranium stockpiles are thought to have exceeded 30 times the agreed limit and enrichment is thought to have reached anywhere between 60 to 83.7 per cent. Note that 90 per cent enriched uranium is considered weapons-grade, but nuclear weapons can be made even with 20 per cent enrichment, with some effort. Iran has had a tense history with IAEA monitoring, with the nuclear agency reporting on Thursday it had violated several norms. Iran often restricted access to IAEA monitors, particularly since 2021, and failed to resolve issues at undeclared sites like Turquzabad and Varamin.&nbsp; The IAEA has also accused Iran of non-compliance with safeguards of the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT , which Iran had ratified. There are specific fears regarding the undisclosed nuclear facilities of Iran.&nbsp;At this juncture, here is a detailed look at the key Iranian nuclear facilities and allied concerns, including those that are publicly known or inactive, as well as research facilities and universities.&nbsp;<h2>Natanz Fuel Enrichment Complex &nbsp;</h2>Located 322 km south of Tehran amid mountains outside Qom, Natanz is the primary uranium enrichment facility of Iranian nuclear programme. Natanz produces most of Iran’s enriched uranium and is at the heart of its nuclear programme.&nbsp; &nbsp;It has a Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), &nbsp;a vast underground facility designed for commercial-scale enrichment. The FEP can house up to 50,000 centrifuges. This facility is possibly beyond the reach of even US-made bunker buster bombs. As of 2025, approximately 16,000 centrifuges are installed, out of which some 13,000 are believed to be operational, enriching uranium to 5 per cent purity. Above ground, there is a Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) that conducts research and smaller-scale enrichment.<h2> Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP)</h2>Fordow was once a covert uranium enrichment facility and part of the Amad Plan for weapons-grade uranium production. Under the 2015 JCPOA, Fordow was redesigned for non-enrichment research, but enrichment resumed after 2018. Located Near Qom and dug into a mountain approximately 80–90 metres underground, Fordow is reported to have 1,000 centrifuges, including advanced IR-6 models, which are enriching uranium to 60 per cent. In 2023, uranium enriched to 83.7 per cent was detected in Fordow, which is very close to weapon-grade.&nbsp;Fordow, to which IAEA monitoring access is restricted, is deep underground, making it Iran’s best-protected nuclear site. It is difficult to target with military strikes. &nbsp;<h2>Arak (Khondab) Heavy Water Reactor (IR-40)</h2>Arak is a 40 MW heavy-water research reactor designed to produce plutonium that can be used for nuclear weapons. The core of the reactor, located near Arak in Markazi province, was removed after the Iran nuclear deal. It was filled with concrete to stop production of weapons-grade plutonium and the reactor was redesigned to use natural uranium fuel. In 2015, it was reported that Arak was being modified with Chinese assistance to prevent large-scale plutonium production. Iran has frequently denied IAEA monitoring of Arak.&nbsp;<h2>Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre</h2>Ishfahan is a nuclear research centre that hosts a Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF). The UCF converts yellowcake into uranium hexafluoride (UF6) for enrichment. The UCF produced 550 tonnes of natural UF6 by 2015, with about one-third transferred to Natanz.&nbsp;Located on the outskirts of Isfahan, Iran’s second-largest city, the centre reportedly engages in centrifuge component manufacturing, and produces parts for IR-1 centrifuges. The centre was relocated to Isfahan in 2022 after an attack on the TESA Karaj complex. It contains small research reactors, ostensibly for medical and industrial isotope production. It is believed that China provided Iran with the blueprints for UCF, in spite of a 1997 agreement to halt nuclear cooperation. Isfahan is critical for the nuclear fuel cycle and plays a crucial role in Iran’s enrichment programme.<h2> Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant</h2>This is Iran’s only operational nuclear power reactor. The Russian-designed VVER-1000 unit, located in the Gulf coast near Bushehr, has been generating electricity since 2011. Russia supplies the fuel, and spent fuel is returned to Russia. Two additional units are planned, and construction of the first started in 2019.<h2>Tehran Nuclear Research Centre (TNRC)</h2>This is Iran’s largest nuclear research facility, hosting a small research reactor and laboratories for plutonium separation and purification as well as uranium conversion. Note that polonium production has dual-use potential for nuclear weapons triggers. Located in the capital Tehran, TNRC houses some 3,000 scientists.&nbsp;<h2>Parchin Military Complex</h2>Located 20 miles southeast of Tehran, Parchin is a multi-purpose military complex involved in missile and ammunition development, with suspected nuclear weapons research involvement. It houses Taleghan 2, part of the Amad Plan, and was used for nuclear weapons-related research until at least 2018. This was attacked and destroyed by Israel in 2024. The complex also has an underground tunnel complex linked to the Amad Plan, which was operational as recently as 2018. There had been reports in the past of high-explosive testing for hydrodynamic experiments, potentially related to nuclear warhead development, in the complex. Iran has consistently opposed IAEA monitoring access to the complex.<h2>Lavisan-Shian undeclared nuclear site</h2>Located near Tehran, this was a suspected site of undeclared nuclear activities by Tehran. &nbsp;It is believed that Iran conducts neutron detector development and testing for nuclear weapons from this site. Subject of an investigation, it was allegedly sanitised and destroyed in 2004 to remove evidence.&nbsp;<h2>Varamin secret unarium conversion site</h2>This was a secret pilot uranium conversion site operating between 1999 and 2003. Codenamed the New Tehran Plant, this site processed uranium ore into yellowcake, UF4, and UF6 during the Amad Plan. It was overhauled in 2004 and has been inactive since then.<h2>Turquzabad storage site</h2>This is a suspected storage site for nuclear material and equipment, identified in 2018 by the IAEA. Environmental samples in 2019 detected uranium particles in the site, located near Tehran, which is thought to have been a warehouse for Amad Plan.<h2>Marivan suspected explosive testing site</h2>Located in western Iran, Marivan was a suspected high-explosive testing site for nuclear weapons under the Amad Plan. Iran is believed to have conducted neutron detector experiments at this site. While linked to Iran’s historical weapons programme, there is no evidence of current activity at Marivan.<h2>Ivanaki (Rangin Kaman or Rainbow Site)</h2>Located in the Semnan Province, southeast of Tehran, Ivanaki is a suspected covert site of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND). Since 2009, this place, publicly known as Diba Energy Sina Company's chemical plant, has reportedly focused on tritium extraction for boosted nuclear warheads and hydrogen bomb development. If confirmed, this could be a site of ongoing nuclear weapons research, but nothing has been said to this extent by the IAEA.<h2>Gorgan (Neka) alleged nuclear research site</h2>Gorgan in northern Iran allegedly hosted a secret nuclear research facility, possibly for weapons development, in the 1990s. It is thought to have hosted scientists from Iran, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan. There have been reports of military applications at this site, but authentic data is not available.<h2>Sharif University of Technology</h2>This university in Tehran is the centre of Iran's nuclear research and is allegedly involved in uranium centrifuge development. It has helped in the development of small research reactors at the University of Tehran.&nbsp;

Iran is thought to have reached anywhere between 60 to 83.7 per cent. Note that 90 per cent enriched uranium is considered weapons-grade, but nuclear weapons can be made even with 20 per cent enrichment, with some effort.

Israel's attack targeting Iran's nuclear programme on Friday (June 13) shed the limelight on its key nuclear facilities. Iran’s nuclear programme began under the US-backed Atoms for Peace initiative in the 1960s. The programme saw significant growth in the 1990s with assistance from Russia, China, and the AQ Khan network of Pakistan. Iran ran a nuclear weapons programme, the so-called Amad Plan, from late 1990s to around 2003, with facilities like Fordow, Varamin, and Parchin playing key roles. But that programme was reportedly stopped in 2003. Iran continued undeclared nuclear programme activities since then, raising concerns in the global community, particularly Israel, its arch rival in the region. The 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) imposed limits on the Iranian nuclear programme, in return for the easing of sanctions. The deal capped the uranium enrichment at 3.67 per cent, and imposed other restrictions, like limiting uranium stockpiles to 300 kg and allowing monitoring by IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog. But after the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal under President Donald Trump's first term in 2018, Iran resumed enrichment beyond limits imposed on the pact. Since then, its uranium stockpiles are thought to have exceeded 30 times the agreed limit and enrichment is thought to have reached anywhere between 60 to 83.7 per cent. Note that 90 per cent enriched uranium is considered weapons-grade, but nuclear weapons can be made even with 20 per cent enrichment, with some effort. Iran has had a tense history with IAEA monitoring, with the nuclear agency reporting on Thursday it had violated several norms. Iran often restricted access to IAEA monitors, particularly since 2021, and failed to resolve issues at undeclared sites like Turquzabad and Varamin. The IAEA has also accused Iran of non-compliance with safeguards of the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT , which Iran had ratified. There are specific fears regarding the undisclosed nuclear facilities of Iran. At this juncture, here is a detailed look at the key Iranian nuclear facilities and allied concerns, including those that are publicly known or inactive, as well as research facilities and universities. Natanz Fuel Enrichment Complex Located 322 km south of Tehran amid mountains outside Qom, Natanz is the primary uranium enrichment facility of Iranian nuclear programme. Natanz produces most of Iran’s enriched uranium and is at the heart of its nuclear programme. It has a Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), a vast underground facility designed for commercial-scale enrichment. The FEP can house up to 50,000 centrifuges. This facility is possibly beyond the reach of even US-made bunker buster bombs. As of 2025, approximately 16,000 centrifuges are installed, out of which some 13,000 are believed to be operational, enriching uranium to 5 per cent purity. Above ground, there is a Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) that conducts research and smaller-scale enrichment. Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) Fordow was once a covert uranium enrichment facility and part of the Amad Plan for weapons-grade uranium production. Under the 2015 JCPOA, Fordow was redesigned for non-enrichment research, but enrichment resumed after 2018. Located Near Qom and dug into a mountain approximately 80–90 metres underground, Fordow is reported to have 1,000 centrifuges, including advanced IR-6 models, which are enriching uranium to 60 per cent. In 2023, uranium enriched to 83.7 per cent was detected in Fordow, which is very close to weapon-grade. Fordow, to which IAEA monitoring access is restricted, is deep underground, making it Iran’s best-protected nuclear site. It is difficult to target with military strikes. Arak (Khondab) Heavy Water Reactor (IR-40) Arak is a 40 MW heavy-water research reactor designed to produce plutonium that can be used for nuclear weapons. The core of the reactor, located near Arak in Markazi province, was removed after the Iran nuclear deal. It was filled with concrete to stop production of weapons-grade plutonium and the reactor was redesigned to use natural uranium fuel. In 2015, it was reported that Arak was being modified with Chinese assistance to prevent large-scale plutonium production. Iran has frequently denied IAEA monitoring of Arak. Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre Ishfahan is a nuclear research centre that hosts a Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF). The UCF converts yellowcake into uranium hexafluoride (UF6) for enrichment. The UCF produced 550 tonnes of natural UF6 by 2015, with about one-third transferred to Natanz. Located on the outskirts of Isfahan, Iran’s second-largest city, the centre reportedly engages in centrifuge component manufacturing, and produces parts for IR-1 centrifuges. The centre was relocated to Isfahan in 2022 after an attack on the TESA Karaj complex. It contains small research reactors, ostensibly for medical and industrial isotope production. It is believed that China provided Iran with the blueprints for UCF, in spite of a 1997 agreement to halt nuclear cooperation. Isfahan is critical for the nuclear fuel cycle and plays a crucial role in Iran’s enrichment programme. Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant This is Iran’s only operational nuclear power reactor. The Russian-designed VVER-1000 unit, located in the Gulf coast near Bushehr, has been generating electricity since 2011. Russia supplies the fuel, and spent fuel is returned to Russia. Two additional units are planned, and construction of the first started in 2019. Tehran Nuclear Research Centre (TNRC) This is Iran’s largest nuclear research facility, hosting a small research reactor and laboratories for plutonium separation and purification as well as uranium conversion. Note that polonium production has dual-use potential for nuclear weapons triggers. Located in the capital Tehran, TNRC houses some 3,000 scientists. Parchin Military Complex Located 20 miles southeast of Tehran, Parchin is a multi-purpose military complex involved in missile and ammunition development, with suspected nuclear weapons research involvement. It houses Taleghan 2, part of the Amad Plan, and was used for nuclear weapons-related research until at least 2018. This was attacked and destroyed by Israel in 2024. The complex also has an underground tunnel complex linked to the Amad Plan, which was operational as recently as 2018. There had been reports in the past of high-explosive testing for hydrodynamic experiments, potentially related to nuclear warhead development, in the complex. Iran has consistently opposed IAEA monitoring access to the complex. Lavisan-Shian undeclared nuclear site Located near Tehran, this was a suspected site of undeclared nuclear activities by Tehran. It is believed that Iran conducts neutron detector development and testing for nuclear weapons from this site. Subject of an investigation, it was allegedly sanitised and destroyed in 2004 to remove evidence. Varamin secret unarium conversion site This was a secret pilot uranium conversion site operating between 1999 and 2003. Codenamed the New Tehran Plant, this site processed uranium ore into yellowcake, UF4, and UF6 during the Amad Plan. It was overhauled in 2004 and has been inactive since then. Turquzabad storage site This is a suspected storage site for nuclear material and equipment, identified in 2018 by the IAEA. Environmental samples in 2019 detected uranium particles in the site, located near Tehran, which is thought to have been a warehouse for Amad Plan. Marivan suspected explosive testing site Located in western Iran, Marivan was a suspected high-explosive testing site for nuclear weapons under the Amad Plan. Iran is believed to have conducted neutron detector experiments at this site. While linked to Iran’s historical weapons programme, there is no evidence of current activity at Marivan. Ivanaki (Rangin Kaman or Rainbow Site) Located in the Semnan Province, southeast of Tehran, Ivanaki is a suspected covert site of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND). Since 2009, this place, publicly known as Diba Energy Sina Company's chemical plant, has reportedly focused on tritium extraction for boosted nuclear warheads and hydrogen bomb development. If confirmed, this could be a site of ongoing nuclear weapons research, but nothing has been said to this extent by the IAEA. Gorgan (Neka) alleged nuclear research site Gorgan in northern Iran allegedly hosted a secret nuclear research facility, possibly for weapons development, in the 1990s. It is thought to have hosted scientists from Iran, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan. There have been reports of military applications at this site, but authentic data is not available. Sharif University of Technology This university in Tehran is the centre of Iran's nuclear research and is allegedly involved in uranium centrifuge development. It has helped in the development of small research reactors at the University of Tehran.

Iran ran a nuclear weapons programme, the so-called Amad Plan, &nbsp;from late 1990s to around 2003, with facilities like Fordow, Varamin, and Parchin military complex playing key roles.&nbsp;

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