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Former United States President Donald Trump recently came under fire for his remarks against immigrants which many have said echoes those of Adolf Hitler’s mentioned in his manifesto “Mein Kampf.” However, during a rally in the US state of Iowa, the Republican frontrunner insisted that he never even read the book, while also doubling down on his inflammatory language.

<h2>‘I never read Mein Kampf’: Trump</h2>

“It’s true that they’re destroying the blood of our country. That’s what they’re doing – they’re destroying our country,” said the former US president during a rally in Iowa&nbsp;late Tuesday (Dec 19).&nbsp;

Last week, Trump renewed his stringent immigration stance, declaring that undocumented immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country.” The rhetoric, previously dubbed as xenophobic, sparked a firestorm of criticism over the weekend.&nbsp;

A White House spokesperson also described Trump’s comments as fascist-like and accused him of “echoing the grotesque rhetoric of fascists and violent white supremacists.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-renews-hard-line-stance-on-immigration-claims-migrants-poisoning-blood-of-america-670420">Trump renews hard-line stance on immigration, claims migrants 'poisoning blood' of America</a>

However, the former president denied any parallels and said, “I never read ‘Mein Kampf’,” adding that the Nazi leader used such language “in a much different way.”&nbsp;

Last month, President Joe Biden accused his predecessor of echoing Hitler when he described political opponents as “vermin.”

In response to Trump’s latest remarks, the reelection campaign for Biden took to X&nbsp;on Wednesday (Dec 20) and published an image noting three similar comments from Trump and statements from Hitler with the caption, “This is not a coincidence.”

The former president’s recent rhetoric was also slammed by prominent Republican figure and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who said that Trump did not hesitate to appoint&nbsp;Elaine Chao, a Taiwanese American and McConnell's wife, to serve as secretary of Transportation in 2016. &nbsp;

“It strikes me that didn’t bother him when he appointed Elaine Chao the secretary of Transportation,” said McConnell when asked about Trump’s controversial comments.&nbsp;

<h2>Trump lashes out after Colorado ruling</h2>

In a massive blow to the Republican frontrunner’s campaign for the upcoming presidential election, the Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday (Dec 19) decided to bar him from appearing on the state’s ballots.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-anti-immigrant-remarks-praise-of-dictators-garners-criticism-670788">Biden slams Trump for 'fascist-like rhetoric' against migrants and 'praising dictators'</a>

The landmark decision was taken after the court ruled that Trump participated in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters and deemed he could not be an eligible presidential candidate.&nbsp;

The former president took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Wednesday and posted a series of statements. “WHAT A SHAME FOR OUR COUNTRY!!!” Trump wrote. “A SAD DAY IN AMERICA!!!”

Trump’s campaign had previously said it would “swiftly file an appeal” to the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a six to three majority.&nbsp;

<h2>Biden responds to Colorado court ruling</h2>

In his first response to the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, Biden told reporters Wednesday there is “no question” Trump supported an insurrection on the US Capitol. “Well I think certainly it’s self-evident,” said the incumbent president.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-barred-from-colorado-ballot-for-role-in-january-6-attack-on-us-capitol-671523">Trump barred from Colorado ballot for role in January 6 attack on US Capitol</a>

“You saw it all. Now whether the 14th Amendment applies, I’ll let the court make that decision. But he certainly supported an insurrection.” He added, “No question about it — none, zero. And he seems to be doubling down on everything.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former United States President Donald Trump recently came under fire for his remarks against immigrants which many have said echoes those of Adolf Hitler’s mentioned in his manifesto “Mein Kampf.

Former United States President Donald Trump recently came under fire for his remarks against immigrants which many have said echoes those of Adolf Hitler’s mentioned in his manifesto “Mein Kampf.” However, during a rally in the US state of Iowa, the Republican frontrunner insisted that he never even read the book, while also doubling down on his inflammatory language. ‘I never read Mein Kampf’: Trump “It’s true that they’re destroying the blood of our country. That’s what they’re doing – they’re destroying our country,” said the former US president during a rally in Iowa late Tuesday (Dec 19). Last week, Trump renewed his stringent immigration stance, declaring that undocumented immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country.” The rhetoric, previously dubbed as xenophobic, sparked a firestorm of criticism over the weekend. A White House spokesperson also described Trump’s comments as fascist-like and accused him of “echoing the grotesque rhetoric of fascists and violent white supremacists.” ALSO READ | Trump renews hard-line stance on immigration, claims migrants 'poisoning blood' of America However, the former president denied any parallels and said, “I never read ‘Mein Kampf’,” adding that the Nazi leader used such language “in a much different way.” Last month, President Joe Biden accused his predecessor of echoing Hitler when he described political opponents as “vermin.” In response to Trump’s latest remarks, the reelection campaign for Biden took to X on Wednesday (Dec 20) and published an image noting three similar comments from Trump and statements from Hitler with the caption, “This is not a coincidence.” The former president’s recent rhetoric was also slammed by prominent Republican figure and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who said that Trump did not hesitate to appoint Elaine Chao, a Taiwanese American and McConnell's wife, to serve as secretary of Transportation in 2016. “It strikes me that didn’t bother him when he appointed Elaine Chao the secretary of Transportation,” said McConnell when asked about Trump’s controversial comments. Trump lashes out after Colorado ruling In a massive blow to the Republican frontrunner’s campaign for the upcoming presidential election, the Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday (Dec 19) decided to bar him from appearing on the state’s ballots. ALSO READ | Biden slams Trump for 'fascist-like rhetoric' against migrants and 'praising dictators' The landmark decision was taken after the court ruled that Trump participated in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters and deemed he could not be an eligible presidential candidate. The former president took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Wednesday and posted a series of statements. “WHAT A SHAME FOR OUR COUNTRY!!!” Trump wrote. “A SAD DAY IN AMERICA!!!” Trump’s campaign had previously said it would “swiftly file an appeal” to the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a six to three majority. Biden responds to Colorado court ruling In his first response to the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, Biden told reporters Wednesday there is “no question” Trump supported an insurrection on the US Capitol. “Well I think certainly it’s self-evident,” said the incumbent president. ALSO READ | Trump barred from Colorado ballot for role in January 6 attack on US Capitol “You saw it all. Now whether the 14th Amendment applies, I’ll let the court make that decision. But he certainly supported an insurrection.” He added, “No question about it — none, zero. And he seems to be doubling down on everything.” (With inputs from agencies)

Trump insists he hasn’t read Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ after backlash on remarks against migrants

The question is if Israel and Hamas are inching towards another brief military pause. Will there be another hostage deal for the release of Israeli hostages who are presently in the custody of Hamas? The leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh is in Egypt today and according to sources he reportedly is holding talks on a potential agreement for the release of more Israeli prisoners.

Israel-Hamas war: Will Israel & Hamas agree to new truce deal?

Former US President Donald Trump is now ineligible to run for the 2024 Presidential polls because of his actions surrounding the 2021 attack on the Capitol, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday.

Former US President to run for Presidential poll after Colorado ruling?

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday (Dec 20) said that there has been a 'tonal shift' from India since an Indian government employee was accused by the United States of assigning an individual with the task of hiring an assassin to kill separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. 
 
Speaking in an interview with CBC, Trudeau said that there was an understanding that "they can't bluster their way through this". 
 
As per Trudeau, some unidentified Indian agents were involved in plotting the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in Canada. The claim has been outrightly rejected by the Indian government and they have demanded evidence from Ottawa.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-sikh-driver-flees-to-india-after-being-convicted-for-smuggling-cocaine-669769">Canada: Sikh driver flees to India after being convicted for smuggling cocaine</a>

"I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they can't bluster their way through this and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before," said Trudeau, speaking in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. 
 
"There's an understanding that maybe, maybe just churning out attacks against Canada isn't going to make this problem go away," he said.

<h2>Canada doesn't wish to fight with India: Trudeau</h2>

In a US indictment, it was alleged that $100,000 was offered to a man, called Nikhil Gupta, by Indian officials for hiring an assassin to kill Pannun in New York. Although the claim of Canada was rejected by India, it added that they were taking the indictment seriously. 
 
Trudeau further added that Canada is not willing to fight with India even though China has continued to assert its dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. 
 
"We don't want to be in a situation of having a fight with India right now over this. We want to be working on that trade deal. We want to be advancing the Indo-Pacific strategy," Trudeau said.

Watch:&nbsp;Jaishankar clears the air on diplomatic rows with US and Canada

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jaishankar-clears-the-air-on-diplomatic-rows-with-us-and-canada-670832/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking in an interview with Financial Times,&nbsp;expressed his deep concern over the activities carried out by some extremist groups based overseas. “These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence,” Modi said.&nbsp;

PM Modi said that the country is committed to the rule of law. However, he said that a few incidents will not derail the US-India ties. 
 
“If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it. If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law,” Modi said. 
 
With inputs from agencies)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday (Dec 20) said that there has been a 'tonal shift' from India since an Indian government employee was accused by the United States of assigning an individual with the task of hiring an assassin to kill separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday (Dec 20) said that there has been a 'tonal shift' from India since an Indian government employee was accused by the United States of assigning an individual with the task of hiring an assassin to kill separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Speaking in an interview with CBC, Trudeau said that there was an understanding that "they can't bluster their way through this". As per Trudeau, some unidentified Indian agents were involved in plotting the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in Canada. The claim has been outrightly rejected by the Indian government and they have demanded evidence from Ottawa. Also read: Canada: Sikh driver flees to India after being convicted for smuggling cocaine "I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they can't bluster their way through this and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before," said Trudeau, speaking in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "There's an understanding that maybe, maybe just churning out attacks against Canada isn't going to make this problem go away," he said. Canada doesn't wish to fight with India: Trudeau In a US indictment, it was alleged that $100,000 was offered to a man, called Nikhil Gupta, by Indian officials for hiring an assassin to kill Pannun in New York. Although the claim of Canada was rejected by India, it added that they were taking the indictment seriously. Trudeau further added that Canada is not willing to fight with India even though China has continued to assert its dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. "We don't want to be in a situation of having a fight with India right now over this. We want to be working on that trade deal. We want to be advancing the Indo-Pacific strategy," Trudeau said. Watch: Jaishankar clears the air on diplomatic rows with US and Canada Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking in an interview with Financial Times, expressed his deep concern over the activities carried out by some extremist groups based overseas. “These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence,” Modi said. PM Modi said that the country is committed to the rule of law. However, he said that a few incidents will not derail the US-India ties. “If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it. If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law,” Modi said. With inputs from agencies)

‘Attacks against Canada won’t make problem go away’, says Trudeau, cites 'tonal shift' on India’s part

Freight companies are rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Suez Canal as a result of attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Houthi terrorists from Yemen who are associated with Iran. This is causing disruptions to maritime trade and motivating the United States to form a coalition to counter the threat.

Red Sea crisis raises the spectre of supply chain

Some of the Americans who were freed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in a U.S. prisoner swap have landed at a U.S. military base in San Antonio, Texas, a Reuters witness said.

Americans freed by Venezuela in US prisoner swap

Iraqis were voting on Monday in the first provincial council elections in a decade, with the ruling Shi'ite Muslim alliance likely to win its grip on power amid a boycott by populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, its main political rival.

Iraq: Shi'ite ruling alliance wins 101/285 seats in provincial elections

France passed the controversial Immigration Bill. The Bill secures a policy win for President Emmanuel Macron. Bill passed amid deep division in Emmanuel Macron's party.

Europe immigration crisis: France passes new immigration agreements

Boris Johnson failed to tackle a “macho” culture of misogyny, bullying and lack of diversity inside Downing Street which hampered the government’s response to Covid, the public inquiry into the pandemic has heard.

UK: 'Macho' culture of misogyny in Downing Street hampered Covid response, Helen MacNamara says

The Israel-Palestine conflict has been going on for 2 long months. The number of civilian deaths have crossed huge numbers. The UN security council vote on Gaza has been delayed for second day. The Hamas Chief is expected to travel to Egypt for negotiations on a cease-fire.

Israel-Hamas war: Innocent children pay the price of war

An autonomous robot tested by Forum Virium Helsinki, the innovation firm of the City of Helsinki, to facilitate last-mile deliveries. Within an hour, the robot may deliver packages to consumers' doors. It is also seen as Santa's cute electronic elf.

Electric robot spreads Christmas spirit in Finland | World News | WION

According to reports in Prague the Czech Republic there's been a mass shooting that has taken place inside a University campus. According to reports the gunman has also been killed and at least 10 other people within the university premises are set to be gunned down in this incident of mass shooting in Prague.

Prague: Mass shooting in University building

Iceland volcano erupts near town after weeks of quake activity

Iranian woman Samira Sabzian charged of murdering her husband & arrested at the age of 19 spent a decade in the prison. Sabzian had been a victim of Domestic violence & child marriage.

Iran executes domestic violence victim Samira Sabzian | World News | WION

Mukesh Aghi, President &amp; CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), has underscored the flourishing ties between the United States and India, shedding light on "bullish" sentiments of US investors on India. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Aghi stated, " relationship has gone in a very positive direction, in a win-win fashion for both countries. you have to understand that the relationship is deep, much broader, and much more strategic between India and the United States"

Highlighting the changing dynamics of global supply chains, Aghi noted, "US companies are looking at de-risking supply chain from China and India becomes a primary source from their perspective." Highlighting the significant participation of US companies in Vibrant Gujarat in January, Aghi projected a continued growth in investments, highlighting, "You have US companies creating almost three and a half million jobs in India which are High Tech, High End paying jobs."

He also spoke on President Biden not being able to attend India's Republic Day, the Nikhil Gupta case etc.

Here's the full interview.

WION: My first question to you is how do you see the India-US relationship if you can sum up how this year has been?

Mukesh Aghi: Well, I think the relationship has gone in a very positive direction, in a win-win fashion for both countries. If you look at it from a geopolitical perspective, India and the USA are aligned vis a vis China. When you look at it from an economic perspective, the trade has gone up almost $200 billion. When you look at it from a technology perspective, what we're seeing is the exports of Indian IT services and basically app platforms have gone up. And also, we've seen some critical technologies moving into India, specifically in the manufacturing arena. And then finally people to people, we have around 5 million Indian Americans in the US and they seem to work very positively building a very strong partnership between the two countries. So, I think the year 2023 shows how it has gone up as compared to the last 40-50 years.&nbsp;

WION: How much are the American investors, bullish on the India growth story?

Mukesh Aghi: Oh, very much, if you look at the largest FDI investors in India, are the US companies coming directly or to Singapore or to other countries? But more importantly, if you look at the last week, the FII investment went up almost by $15 billion. You have US companies creating almost three and a half million jobs in India which are high-tech, High End paying jobs. So the other factor which makes a very big difference, US companies are looking at de-risking the supply chain from China and India becomes a primary source from their perspective.

WION: Sir we know that India had invited the US President Joe Biden to be the chief guest on Republic Day Parade. Now that's not happening. We also saw the announcement by the US Ambassador Garcetti that India has extended the invite. Any reason you think that the visit got cancelled? The US president could not make it to the grand show that we see every year at the Kartavya Path.

Mukesh Aghi: Well, I think President Biden would have loved to come for the Republic Day parade, but you have to understand multiple factors. One is you have the State of the Union speech and trying to juggle that which is also again in the third week of January, and that becomes a challenging aspect. Second, you are going into the election mode. In the US that also becomes challenging. And then the crisis, which is taking place both in Ukraine and also in Gaza, basically binds the president to be here domestically, rather than travelling to a far distant geography such as India. I don't think there is any kind of intention or any kind of I would say lack of respect but it is more about trying to work the schedule out and I think the QUAD Summit has been postponed to a later date. So I think President Biden will come to India once we have been able to drive the schedule between the two countries, and also the remaining QUAD leaders.

WION: The relationship has grown leaps and bounds, but there are certain thorny issues as well. There are Khalistani extremists in the US that are troubling New Delhi and then there is the Nikhil Gupta case as well. Do you think that the Americans could have handled the Nikhil Gupta case better?

Mukesh Aghi: Well, you have to understand that the relationship is deep, much broader, and much more strategic between India and the United States. More important is there is maturity on both sides. The US respects India's decision on the purchase of Russian oil. Basically, the US accepted that and moved on. So, I believe there's maturity on both sides to be able to respect each other's positions and differences. In the case of Gupta, I think we have to understand the Justice Department functions very, very independently of the administration, especially in the southern district of New York State. And if you look, they have indicted President Biden's son. From that perspective, I think the position of the Justice Department does not reflect the position of the administration, which is focused on building the relationship and I believe that there's enough maturity on both sides, that the administration doesn't come out swinging at India in any manner, but basically saying that India is cooperating in finding a cause of this issue and I believe that they'll be able to solve this one out.

WION: Sir I believe that Vibrant Gujarat will see a lot of American investors' participation, perhaps your view of Vibrant Gujarat that happens in Gujarat, in the month of January in a few weeks from now?

Mukesh Aghi: Yeah, so we are leading a delegation of over 50 companies for Vibrant Gujarat. You know, this is one of the pioneering investment events which started in Gujarat and other states copied, it is an area to explore more &amp; more investment in Gujarat. &nbsp;So, what we will be looking at is more contact with the administrations including the Prime Minister in Gujarat. So, as I said earlier, the interest in India, and the investment in India from a US company continues to grow both from a de-risking from China and from market opportunity. So it is an event in which you will see a lot of US companies participating in the middle of January in Gujarat itself.

WION: Sir, my last question to you is, it's just not directly related to the India-US relationship but to the Red Sea situation that has implications on the global oil prices and the trade as well. What's your view? How do you see the crisis impacting the global economic sphere and of course, the crude oil prices?

Mukesh Aghi: So, I think it does impact the supply chain. When you have, let's say, a ship going from the Middle East, all the way down to Europe, normally through the Red Sea it takes 21 days. Now when you go around Africa and down to Europe, it'll take 42 days. The implications are multiple. One is you have containers basically being occupied but the goods are an extra 20-plus days, so the efficiency goes down, the cost goes up, and the insurance goes up. And when you look at it from an India perspective, India exports rice to other parts of Europe. It has an impact of 10% to 15% on the export side. It is impacting the oil, Indian oil which is coming from Russia will be impacted, from a price point perspective, from a logistic point perspective. So, it is disruptive. And we have seen the impact of that not only just on food prices going up, but oil prices going up in the United States and Europe. So, the disruption in the Red Sea will impact the food prices, the oil prices and overall inflation across the world.

Mukesh Aghi, President & CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), has underscored the flourishing ties between the United States and India, shedding light on "bullish" sentiments of US investors on India.

Mukesh Aghi, President & CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), has underscored the flourishing ties between the United States and India, shedding light on "bullish" sentiments of US investors on India. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Aghi stated, " relationship has gone in a very positive direction, in a win-win fashion for both countries. you have to understand that the relationship is deep, much broader, and much more strategic between India and the United States" Highlighting the changing dynamics of global supply chains, Aghi noted, "US companies are looking at de-risking supply chain from China and India becomes a primary source from their perspective." Highlighting the significant participation of US companies in Vibrant Gujarat in January, Aghi projected a continued growth in investments, highlighting, "You have US companies creating almost three and a half million jobs in India which are High Tech, High End paying jobs." He also spoke on President Biden not being able to attend India's Republic Day, the Nikhil Gupta case etc. Here's the full interview. WION: My first question to you is how do you see the India-US relationship if you can sum up how this year has been? Mukesh Aghi: Well, I think the relationship has gone in a very positive direction, in a win-win fashion for both countries. If you look at it from a geopolitical perspective, India and the USA are aligned vis a vis China. When you look at it from an economic perspective, the trade has gone up almost $200 billion. When you look at it from a technology perspective, what we're seeing is the exports of Indian IT services and basically app platforms have gone up. And also, we've seen some critical technologies moving into India, specifically in the manufacturing arena. And then finally people to people, we have around 5 million Indian Americans in the US and they seem to work very positively building a very strong partnership between the two countries. So, I think the year 2023 shows how it has gone up as compared to the last 40-50 years. WION: How much are the American investors, bullish on the India growth story? Mukesh Aghi: Oh, very much, if you look at the largest FDI investors in India, are the US companies coming directly or to Singapore or to other countries? But more importantly, if you look at the last week, the FII investment went up almost by $15 billion. You have US companies creating almost three and a half million jobs in India which are high-tech, High End paying jobs. So the other factor which makes a very big difference, US companies are looking at de-risking the supply chain from China and India becomes a primary source from their perspective. WION: Sir we know that India had invited the US President Joe Biden to be the chief guest on Republic Day Parade. Now that's not happening. We also saw the announcement by the US Ambassador Garcetti that India has extended the invite. Any reason you think that the visit got cancelled? The US president could not make it to the grand show that we see every year at the Kartavya Path. Mukesh Aghi: Well, I think President Biden would have loved to come for the Republic Day parade, but you have to understand multiple factors. One is you have the State of the Union speech and trying to juggle that which is also again in the third week of January, and that becomes a challenging aspect. Second, you are going into the election mode. In the US that also becomes challenging. And then the crisis, which is taking place both in Ukraine and also in Gaza, basically binds the president to be here domestically, rather than travelling to a far distant geography such as India. I don't think there is any kind of intention or any kind of I would say lack of respect but it is more about trying to work the schedule out and I think the QUAD Summit has been postponed to a later date. So I think President Biden will come to India once we have been able to drive the schedule between the two countries, and also the remaining QUAD leaders. WION: The relationship has grown leaps and bounds, but there are certain thorny issues as well. There are Khalistani extremists in the US that are troubling New Delhi and then there is the Nikhil Gupta case as well. Do you think that the Americans could have handled the Nikhil Gupta case better? Mukesh Aghi: Well, you have to understand that the relationship is deep, much broader, and much more strategic between India and the United States. More important is there is maturity on both sides. The US respects India's decision on the purchase of Russian oil. Basically, the US accepted that and moved on. So, I believe there's maturity on both sides to be able to respect each other's positions and differences. In the case of Gupta, I think we have to understand the Justice Department functions very, very independently of the administration, especially in the southern district of New York State. And if you look, they have indicted President Biden's son. From that perspective, I think the position of the Justice Department does not reflect the position of the administration, which is focused on building the relationship and I believe that there's enough maturity on both sides, that the administration doesn't come out swinging at India in any manner, but basically saying that India is cooperating in finding a cause of this issue and I believe that they'll be able to solve this one out. WION: Sir I believe that Vibrant Gujarat will see a lot of American investors' participation, perhaps your view of Vibrant Gujarat that happens in Gujarat, in the month of January in a few weeks from now? Mukesh Aghi: Yeah, so we are leading a delegation of over 50 companies for Vibrant Gujarat. You know, this is one of the pioneering investment events which started in Gujarat and other states copied, it is an area to explore more & more investment in Gujarat. So, what we will be looking at is more contact with the administrations including the Prime Minister in Gujarat. So, as I said earlier, the interest in India, and the investment in India from a US company continues to grow both from a de-risking from China and from market opportunity. So it is an event in which you will see a lot of US companies participating in the middle of January in Gujarat itself. WION: Sir, my last question to you is, it's just not directly related to the India-US relationship but to the Red Sea situation that has implications on the global oil prices and the trade as well. What's your view? How do you see the crisis impacting the global economic sphere and of course, the crude oil prices? Mukesh Aghi: So, I think it does impact the supply chain. When you have, let's say, a ship going from the Middle East, all the way down to Europe, normally through the Red Sea it takes 21 days. Now when you go around Africa and down to Europe, it'll take 42 days. The implications are multiple. One is you have containers basically being occupied but the goods are an extra 20-plus days, so the efficiency goes down, the cost goes up, and the insurance goes up. And when you look at it from an India perspective, India exports rice to other parts of Europe. It has an impact of 10% to 15% on the export side. It is impacting the oil, Indian oil which is coming from Russia will be impacted, from a price point perspective, from a logistic point perspective. So, it is disruptive. And we have seen the impact of that not only just on food prices going up, but oil prices going up in the United States and Europe. So, the disruption in the Red Sea will impact the food prices, the oil prices and overall inflation across the world.

US investors bullish on India, Washington-Delhi ties mature says USISPF Chief Aghi

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it had located a significant Hamas command center in the center of Gaza City, dealing the Islamic militant organization what it called a severe blow as pressure mounted on Israel to reduce its catastrophic military campaign in the coastal territory.

Israel-Hamas war: Gaza City cease-fire talks gain momentum but IDF continues heavt attack on Gaza

WION is tracking updates of&nbsp;the Israel-Hamas war in our live blog.&nbsp;As per the latest at the time of writing this, Israel continues to uncover more Hamas tunnels amid the civilian infrastructure as rockets&nbsp;pound Gaza, with no hopes for a ceasefire. In news from Russia, a former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova has officially submitted her candidacy to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming March 2024 elections.

Meanwhile, in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India's readiness for peace efforts, stating, "If there is anything India can do to advance efforts towards peace, we will certainly do so."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-live-israel-orders-latest-evacuation-in-khan-younis-after-inconclusive-truce-talks-671918">LIVE: Israel orders latest evacuation in Khan Younis as war rages across Gaza</a>

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Israel-Hamas war LIVE news updates: The latest attempt for a truce between the state of Israel and Hamas ended "without results" in the Egyptian capital Cairo where the Qatari and Egyptian mediators were hoping to achieve another humanitarian ceasefire.&nbsp;Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out a ceasefire on Wednesday (Dec 20)&nbsp;as he vowed that Israel will continue its war against Hamas "to the end".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-war-russian-presidential-hopeful-yekaterina-duntsova-applies-to-run-in-election-against-putin-671931">Anti-war&nbsp;Russian presidential hopeful applies to run against Putin</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/21/400565-wion-images-2023-12-21t083520656.png?imwidth=640" />

Former TV journalist and Russian lawmaker calling for peace in Ukraine, Yekaterina Duntsova, submitted her application on Wednesday (Dec 20) to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin in the country’s upcoming elections in March 2024.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-stands-ready-for-peace-efforts-committed-to-providing-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-pm-modi-671947">India stands ready for peace efforts, committed to provide aid to Gaza: Modi</a>

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India stands ready for any peace efforts in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.&nbsp;"If there is anything India can do to take forward efforts towards peace, we will certainly do so," Modi said during an interview with Financial Times.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/icelands-new-fires-on-reykjanes-peninsula-could-last-100-plus-years-report-671928">Iceland volcano eruption could trigger a new set of 'fires' that could last 100-plus years: Report</a>

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The volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, which occurred on Monday (Dec 18), may signal the commencement of a prolonged period of volcanic activity spanning over a century, media reports said quoting an American volcanologist, Ben Edwards.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-hamas-leader-visits-egypt-amid-intensive-talks-on-new-ceasefire-671951">Israel-Hamas war: Hamas leader visits Egypt amid intensive talks on new ceasefire</a>

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WION is tracking updates of the Israel-Hamas war in our live blog. As per the latest at the time of writing this, Israel continues to uncover more Hamas tunnels amid the civilian infrastructure as rockets pound Gaza, with no hopes for a ceasefire.

WION is tracking updates of the Israel-Hamas war in our live blog. As per the latest at the time of writing this, Israel continues to uncover more Hamas tunnels amid the civilian infrastructure as rockets pound Gaza, with no hopes for a ceasefire. In news from Russia, a former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova has officially submitted her candidacy to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming March 2024 elections. Meanwhile, in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India's readiness for peace efforts, stating, "If there is anything India can do to advance efforts towards peace, we will certainly do so." LIVE: Israel orders latest evacuation in Khan Younis as war rages across Gaza Israel-Hamas war LIVE news updates: The latest attempt for a truce between the state of Israel and Hamas ended "without results" in the Egyptian capital Cairo where the Qatari and Egyptian mediators were hoping to achieve another humanitarian ceasefire. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out a ceasefire on Wednesday (Dec 20) as he vowed that Israel will continue its war against Hamas "to the end". Anti-war Russian presidential hopeful applies to run against Putin Former TV journalist and Russian lawmaker calling for peace in Ukraine, Yekaterina Duntsova, submitted her application on Wednesday (Dec 20) to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin in the country’s upcoming elections in March 2024. India stands ready for peace efforts, committed to provide aid to Gaza: Modi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India stands ready for any peace efforts in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. "If there is anything India can do to take forward efforts towards peace, we will certainly do so," Modi said during an interview with Financial Times. Iceland volcano eruption could trigger a new set of 'fires' that could last 100-plus years: Report The volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, which occurred on Monday (Dec 18), may signal the commencement of a prolonged period of volcanic activity spanning over a century, media reports said quoting an American volcanologist, Ben Edwards. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: Hamas leader visits Egypt amid intensive talks on new ceasefire ×

Morning brief: Israel's latest evacuation order, anti-war presidential hopeful to run against Putin, and more

In a landmark decision with far-reaching implications, the UK Supreme Court has ruled against granting patents to artificial intelligence. The ruling follows computer scientist Stephen Thaler's attempt to secure patents in the UK for inventions attributed to his AI creation, dabs. The court clarified that the scope of this appeal wasn't to address broader questions about the patentability of ai-generated technical advances, or whether the definition of 'inventor' should extend to include AI-powered machines. This decision, according to legal experts, underscores the current limitations of UK patent law in safeguarding inventions autonomously generated by AI machines.

UK supreme court rejects AI inventors

Former TV journalist and Russian lawmaker calling for peace in Ukraine, Yekaterina Duntsova, submitted her application on Wednesday (Dec 20) to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin in the country’s upcoming elections in March 2024.&nbsp;

She presented her documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to register as a candidate days after taking her first steps toward candidate status Sunday. In line with the country’s law, her run had to be endorsed by 500 supporters.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Humane’ Russia</h2>

The 40-year-old Russian lawmaker hopes to challenge Putin by promoting her vision of a “humane” Russia “that’s peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.”

Duntsova, in an interview with Reuters last month, called for an end to the war in Ukraine and the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny.&nbsp;

She has submitted her documents to formally enter the election which Putin is expected to win, a foregone conclusion by supporters and opponents alike.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-will-run-again-in-russian-presidential-elections-next-march-667595">Vladimir Putin will run again in Russian presidential elections next March</a>

“I feel a sense of accomplishment: We’ve done everything that we needed to do. We’ve made this step, and I think it should inspire people who support us,” said Duntsova, speaking to journalists in Moscow on Wednesday.

If accepted as an independent candidate, the former journalist faces the herculean task of collecting 300,000 signatures of support for her candidacy, from at least 40 Russian regions, by January 31.&nbsp;

“(I hope that) I’ll at least be registered (as a candidate). But, of course, collecting signatures is a huge job and I hope that people will be actively taking part.”

She also corrected a reporter who asked if she thought the authorities would actually allow her to stand. “Why are we talking about permission if this is my right according to the law and I have that possibility and have the necessary qualities to put myself forward?” she responded.&nbsp;

“We are just moving according to the formula prescribed by federal law, and for that we don’t need anyone’s permission,” Duntsova added.&nbsp;

In her interview with Reuters, Duntsova avoided using the word “war” to describe the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which Putin calls his “special military operation",&nbsp;but did acknowledge that she was afraid. “Any sane person taking this step would be afraid - but fear must not win.”&nbsp;

<h2>Upcoming Russian presidential elections</h2>

Russian state parliament set March 17 as the date for the country’s 2024 presidential election earlier this month.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-court-filings-show-two-navalny-court-hearings-postponed-until-january-671069">Russian court filings show two Navalny court hearings postponed until January</a>

Putin, who has been in power either as president or prime minister since 1999, announced his candidacy earlier this month and has sought another six-year term. If he wins, this will be the 71-year-old incumbent’s 5th term in office.&nbsp;

Over his more than two decades in power, Putin has established tight control on Russia’s political system, and with prominent critics in jail or outside the country at risk of arrest, there are no established opposition figures to challenge him.

Navalny’s supporters have called the process a sham, saying the Kremlin, via the electoral commission, controls who can run and can easily manipulate the vote with the help of an opaque electronic voting system.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Kremlin says that Putin will win because he enjoys overwhelming public support, with opinion poll ratings of around 80 per cent.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former TV journalist and Russian lawmaker calling for peace in Ukraine, Yekaterina Duntsova, submitted her application on Wednesday (Dec 20) to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin in the country’s upcoming elections in March 2024.

Former TV journalist and Russian lawmaker calling for peace in Ukraine, Yekaterina Duntsova, submitted her application on Wednesday (Dec 20) to challenge incumbent President Vladimir Putin in the country’s upcoming elections in March 2024. She presented her documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to register as a candidate days after taking her first steps toward candidate status Sunday. In line with the country’s law, her run had to be endorsed by 500 supporters. ‘Humane’ Russia The 40-year-old Russian lawmaker hopes to challenge Putin by promoting her vision of a “humane” Russia “that’s peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.” Duntsova, in an interview with Reuters last month, called for an end to the war in Ukraine and the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny. She has submitted her documents to formally enter the election which Putin is expected to win, a foregone conclusion by supporters and opponents alike. ALSO READ | Vladimir Putin will run again in Russian presidential elections next March “I feel a sense of accomplishment: We’ve done everything that we needed to do. We’ve made this step, and I think it should inspire people who support us,” said Duntsova, speaking to journalists in Moscow on Wednesday. If accepted as an independent candidate, the former journalist faces the herculean task of collecting 300,000 signatures of support for her candidacy, from at least 40 Russian regions, by January 31. “(I hope that) I’ll at least be registered (as a candidate). But, of course, collecting signatures is a huge job and I hope that people will be actively taking part.” She also corrected a reporter who asked if she thought the authorities would actually allow her to stand. “Why are we talking about permission if this is my right according to the law and I have that possibility and have the necessary qualities to put myself forward?” she responded. “We are just moving according to the formula prescribed by federal law, and for that we don’t need anyone’s permission,” Duntsova added. In her interview with Reuters, Duntsova avoided using the word “war” to describe the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which Putin calls his “special military operation", but did acknowledge that she was afraid. “Any sane person taking this step would be afraid - but fear must not win.” Upcoming Russian presidential elections Russian state parliament set March 17 as the date for the country’s 2024 presidential election earlier this month. ALSO READ | Russian court filings show two Navalny court hearings postponed until January Putin, who has been in power either as president or prime minister since 1999, announced his candidacy earlier this month and has sought another six-year term. If he wins, this will be the 71-year-old incumbent’s 5th term in office. Over his more than two decades in power, Putin has established tight control on Russia’s political system, and with prominent critics in jail or outside the country at risk of arrest, there are no established opposition figures to challenge him. Navalny’s supporters have called the process a sham, saying the Kremlin, via the electoral commission, controls who can run and can easily manipulate the vote with the help of an opaque electronic voting system. Meanwhile, the Kremlin says that Putin will win because he enjoys overwhelming public support, with opinion poll ratings of around 80 per cent. (With inputs from agencies)

Anti-war Russian presidential hopeful Yekaterina Duntsova applies to run in election against Putin

The vote on a resolution requesting further humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip was postponed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday. The resolution, which also called for a suspension in fighting, was delayed for the third time this week, as US President Joe Biden said the US' support for the resolution is still unresolved

Israel-Hamas war: UNSC again delays vote on resolution calling for more humanitarian aid to Gaza

It's a big boost to the European Union's efforts towards sustainable transportation. Electric cars were almost half of all new car sales in the EU this year. But where does Europe stand in the electric vehicle revolution that has swept the world?

European Union: Record e-vehicle sales

A couple of days after a federal judge announced the unsealing of names of over 170 people associated with disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, one of his victims has come forward with a request.

A couple of days after a federal judge announced the unsealing of names of over 170 people associated with disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, one of his victims has come forward with a request. The victim has asked the judge to keep her identity secret, saying she "lives in fear" for her safety. The anonymous victim, identified as "Doe 107" in the court documents filed the request through her attorney in front of Manhattan Federal Judge Loretta Preska. “She lives outside the United States in a culturally conservative country and lives in fear of her name being released," her attorney stated, adding that the victim "faces risks of physical harm". Although the victim was not one of the individuals referenced in the soon-to-be unsealed documents, her attorney sought clarification if the court had already decided not to reveal the woman's identity. Notably, the judge had requested Doe 107 to provide an affidavit that supported her claim that she faced risk of physical harm in her country and details concerning one of the hate mail she had received, by November 22. However, Doe 107 failed to turn in the affidavit by the deadline as she switched attorneys and the new legal representation wasn't aware of the cut-off. WATCH | Private Islands owned by Jeffrey Epstein Release of documents Notably, on Monday, Judge Preska announced the release of long-sealed documents that are related to Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre who had brought a defamation suit against his madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, back in 2015. Prior to the ruling, dozens of individuals, including some high-class personalities had only been identified as "Jane Does” or “John Does” in various court filings linked to the suit. Also read | Explained | Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues ‘beyond the grave’. Here’s all you need to know Noting that many of the names are already public due to interviews and other media coverage, the judge, as per CNS News, said that the substance in question was not salacious and should not be kept sealed. The individuals, whose names appear in the documents have been given 14 days to appeal the decision, the court documents reveal. The documents related to the case have slowly trickled into the public since 2019 when the first batch was released, days before Epstein allegedly hanged himself in prison, awaiting trial. (With inputs from agencies)

Jeffrey Epstein victim 'Doe 107' urges court not to release her name in soon-to-be unsealed documents

Toshiba, a stalwart on the Tokyo exchange for 74 years, undergoes a major shakeup. A $14 billion takeover led by Japanese industrial partners signals a fresh start. From overcoming scandal to a bold digital focus under CEO taro Shimada, Toshiba's transformation is in full swing.

Toshiba's delisting & $14 Bn takeover

The pressure on global supply chains from shipping companies re-routing cargo vessels away from the Red Sea is starting to be felt. Ikea said on wednesday that it faces delays and supply shortages of some items. The swedish manufacturer of flat-pack furniture pointed directly at the attacks by Houthi on ships in the red sea for the potential shortage. Many shipping firms are now avoiding the world's principal east-west commerce route due to attacks on commercial ships at the southern end of the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Ikea faces delays & supply shortages

The volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, which occurred on Monday (Dec 18), may signal the commencement of a prolonged period of volcanic activity spanning over a century, media reports said quoting an American volcanologist, Ben Edwards.

Professor Edwards, an expert in geosciences at Pennsylvania's Dickinson College, shared insights with Newsweek media outlet, stating that this volcanic event "seems to be consistent with the start of a new set of 'fires' on the peninsula that could last intermittently for 100-plus years."

The eruption triggered a pollution warning for Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, following the release of lava fountains reaching heights of up to 650 feet.

Professor Edwards said that this doesn't imply continuous eruptions but suggested they might occur every few years on average. "This is the edge of two tectonic plates, and so that is what is expected to happen here," he said while highlighting the unique opportunity provided by modern technology to monitor and better comprehend the geological processes of plate tectonic spreading in this region.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-feel-abandoned-says-ex-us-marine-in-russian-prison-671912">I feel 'abandoned', says ex-US marine in Russian prison</a>

<h2>Tourists cautioned</h2>

Icelandic police are warning tourists to exercise extreme caution and reconsider before approaching the site of the&nbsp;recent volcanic eruption near the town of Grindavík. This came as police had to rescue an exhausted hiker by helicopter on Tuesday (Dec 19). They urged people to "think four times" before attempting the trek, citing the difficulty of the journey and the potential dangers it poses to hikers.

Meanwhile, Haraldur Sigurdsson, an emeritus professor of geophysics at the University of Rhode Island, stated, "We know that this is not the end of activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-10-year-old-accidentally-shoots-younger-sister-in-face-671907">Florida: 10-year-old accidentally shoots younger sister in face</a>

The eruption follows a month and a half of heightened seismic activity, attributed to magma moving into the Earth's crust.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-hamas-chief-cairo-talks-ended-without-results-global-news-wion-671922">Israel-Hamas: Hamas Chief Cairo talks ended without results | Global News | WION</a>

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Iceland, reliant on geothermal power, faces a dual challenge as volcanic activity contributes to infrastructure development but also poses risks. Professor Edwards acknowledged the importance of preventive measures such as earth walls and diversions.

(With inputs from agencies)

The volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, which occurred on Monday (Dec 18), may signal the commencement of a prolonged period of volcanic activity spanning over a century, media reports said quoting an American volcanologist, Ben Edwards.

The volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, which occurred on Monday (Dec 18), may signal the commencement of a prolonged period of volcanic activity spanning over a century, media reports said quoting an American volcanologist, Ben Edwards. Professor Edwards, an expert in geosciences at Pennsylvania's Dickinson College, shared insights with Newsweek media outlet, stating that this volcanic event "seems to be consistent with the start of a new set of 'fires' on the peninsula that could last intermittently for 100-plus years." The eruption triggered a pollution warning for Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, following the release of lava fountains reaching heights of up to 650 feet. Professor Edwards said that this doesn't imply continuous eruptions but suggested they might occur every few years on average. "This is the edge of two tectonic plates, and so that is what is expected to happen here," he said while highlighting the unique opportunity provided by modern technology to monitor and better comprehend the geological processes of plate tectonic spreading in this region. Also Read | I feel 'abandoned', says ex-US marine in Russian prison Tourists cautioned Icelandic police are warning tourists to exercise extreme caution and reconsider before approaching the site of the recent volcanic eruption near the town of Grindavík. This came as police had to rescue an exhausted hiker by helicopter on Tuesday (Dec 19). They urged people to "think four times" before attempting the trek, citing the difficulty of the journey and the potential dangers it poses to hikers. Meanwhile, Haraldur Sigurdsson, an emeritus professor of geophysics at the University of Rhode Island, stated, "We know that this is not the end of activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula." Also Read | Florida: 10-year-old accidentally shoots younger sister in face The eruption follows a month and a half of heightened seismic activity, attributed to magma moving into the Earth's crust. Watch | Israel-Hamas: Hamas Chief Cairo talks ended without results | Global News | WION × Iceland, reliant on geothermal power, faces a dual challenge as volcanic activity contributes to infrastructure development but also poses risks. Professor Edwards acknowledged the importance of preventive measures such as earth walls and diversions. (With inputs from agencies)

Iceland volcano eruption could trigger new set of 'fires' that might last for over a 100 years: Report

The Ram Temple Construction in Ayodhya is nearing its completion on January 22nd & the Ayodhya Airport is nearing completion. India's civil aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed date of inauguration of Ayodhya International Airport. PM Modi will inaugurate it. The Airport will boost the region's air connectivity. Watch the video to know the inauguration date.

Ayodhya Airport nears completion, inauguration date announced | Latest News | WION

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