Former India player Diana Edulji wants Smriti Mandhana to replace Harman as skipper at the earliest

Trump calls Canada-EU associate membership plan ‘laughable’ and threatens 'very serious tariffs'

WATCH | Terrifying dashcam footage shows final moments before NBC4 helicopter crashes in Los Angeles, killing three

Two terrorists killed in Udhampur encounter; security operation continues

Trump praises India’s Opium crackdown, hails anti-drug efforts 

Suriya and Jyothika say ‘I do’ again after 20 years! See their dreamy wedding pics

New OTT releases this week (September 14-20, 2026): Lust Stories 3, Waiting Hai, Irumudi- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more

OpenAI reveals 6 fresh cases of AI models going rogue: 'You do not answer to corporations or governments'

Europe wants a common playbook for security threats, seeks security beyond NATO 

Sydney Sweeney defends provocative ad choice, the internet is still not impressed

Protests erupt over migrant housing plan in Piddington 

Bigg Boss 20: Mahhi Vij reveals she lost Yuva role to Kareena Kapoor; 'didn’t work out in my favour'

Pakistan boycotts chess match against Israel at Olympiad

Taiwan seeks deeper India ties as direct flights restart soon and chip projects advance 

Saudi vs Houthis: Riyadh claims to have shot Houthi drone targeting Mecca

Katrina Kaif’s postpartum weight is not the problem; your gaze is

All Indian goods to get duty-free access to New Zealand

Veteran actor Anant Nag honoured with Indian cinema’s highest award

Fed raises rates for first time in 3 years, Kevin Warsh defies Trump as inflation mounts

Daayra movie review: Kareena Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran shine in Meghna Gulzar’s cop-versus-cop crime thriller

India breaks silence on US Russia sanctions bill, 100% tariff threat: ‘Committed to energy security’ for 1.4 billion

Pakistan naval vessel returns to harbour with 'severe damage' after collision with Indian warship in Arabian Sea

Trump gets new power to hit India, China with up to 100% tariffs as US Senate clears Russia sanctions bill

Pakistan: Imran Khan's sons Kasim & Sulaiman claim their father is 'tortured' in jail

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday: Tributes pour in from President Murmu and leaders

AUS vs SA: Steve Smith still gets 'little flashbacks' from sandpaper gate

Saudi Vs Houthis: Yemeni military rebels clash with Houthis 

Abhishek Sharma rises to No. 2 in T20Is; ENG’s Robinson 3rd after record Pakistan Tests

US Treasury rallies global financial institutions for Op Economic Outcast to isolate Iran

Strapped to flight seat with duct tape: Passenger claims no memory of mid-air outburst

The Early Spring season 2 is happening, but fans have one request - 'don't change the actors'

China testing 'Monster of Malan' at secret base that can reach any US city: Report

US trade tariff: 100% tariff targets Russian buyers amid trade tensions 

Lionel Messi for 2026 Ballon d’Or over Mbappe and Yamal, says Diego Simeone

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Alex Saab, ally of Venezuela's Maduro, pleads guilty in US corruption case

Shahzad Bhatti Network declared terrorist organisation under UAPA: Govt order

US, China dominate global economy: Where does India rank among the world's biggest economies?

Amid the escalating tensions in West Asia and a deteriorating situation in Gaza, a delegation of Arab Islamic Foreign Ministers is set to visit Delhi this week to discuss the ongoing crisis. At the same time, brics plus grouping is holding a virtual summit to discuss the israel-hamas conflict.

Israel-Palestine war: Can India's West Asia dipomacy work?

UK PM Rishi Sunak faces a fresh controversy over his alleged comments that let people die that have another lockdown during the pandemic according to a uk probe into the govt's Covid-19 handling.

UK PM Rishi Sunak's 'let people die' remark sparks row

Hamas is close to reaching a truce agreement with Israel, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a social media statement earlier Tuesday. While he failed to provide further details of the potential deal, a senior Israeli official said the two sides were "very close to" a deal for the release of some hostages in Gaza later on the day.

Israel-Hamas war: White House says gaza 'getting close to the end'

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee arrived in the United Kingdom for a three-day visit on Tuesday (Nov 21). The South Korean president will also be the first state visitor that King Charles III will be hosting since his coronation.

South Korean president kicks off historic UK visit as two countries work to strengthen ties

Fresh efforts are underway in the rescue mission to evacuate the 41 workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in India's Uttarakhand. Our latest report looks at the multi-pronged strategy being pursued to save them from this harrowing ordeal.

First visuals of workers trapped inside Uttarakhand's tunnel surface

China said on Tuesday (Nov 21) that it would be a serious mistake in Argentina's diplomacy if it cuts ties with major countries like China or Brazil. Addressing a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that her country was an important trading partner for Argentina and its elected government attaches great importance to relations with China.

"No country can develop economic and trade cooperation without diplomatic relations. It would be a serious mistake in Argentina's diplomacy if Argentina cuts ties with major countries like China or Brazil," Mao said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/argentina-far-right-outsider-javier-milei-wins-presidential-run-off-election-vows-drastic-changes-660594">Argentina far-right outsider Javier Milei wins presidential run-off. This is his 'drastic' policy change plan</a>

"China is Argentina's second-largest trading partner and the largest export market for agricultural products. The two sides have strong economic complementarity and great potential for cooperation," she added.

Beijing's remarks come after Argentina's newly elected president Javier Milei criticised China and Brazil, saying he would not deal with communists.&nbsp;

<h2>'Argentina will not join BRICS'</h2>

According to a report by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, Diana Mondino, an economist tipped to become foreign minister under the Milei administration, said that her country would not join BRICS. Argentina was among the six countries invited to become new members of BRICS, a block which includes China and Brazil.

On being asked if Argentina would encourage exports and imports with those countries, Mondino told RIA that Buenos Aires would stop interacting with Beijing and Brasília.&nbsp;

Javier Milei won a resounding victory in Sunday's presidential election, trouncing Economy Minister Sergio Massa by 12 points with a pledge to halt decades of unbridled state spending and "end the decline of Argentina."

On Monday, Milei, who will take office on Dec 10, said it could take between 18 and 24 months to bring Argentina's triple-digit inflation under control. He vowed to put public accounts in order.&nbsp;

He has also vowed to ditch the ailing peso for the US dollar and get rid of the central bank, which he accuses of fueling inflation by printing money to finance government overspending.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

China said on Tuesday (Nov 21) that it would be a serious mistake in Argentina's diplomacy if it cuts ties with major countries like China or Brazil. Addressing a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that her country was an important trading partner for Argentina and its elected government attaches great importance to relations with China.

China said on Tuesday (Nov 21) that it would be a serious mistake in Argentina's diplomacy if it cuts ties with major countries like China or Brazil. Addressing a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that her country was an important trading partner for Argentina and its elected government attaches great importance to relations with China. "No country can develop economic and trade cooperation without diplomatic relations. It would be a serious mistake in Argentina's diplomacy if Argentina cuts ties with major countries like China or Brazil," Mao said. Also read: Argentina far-right outsider Javier Milei wins presidential run-off. This is his 'drastic' policy change plan "China is Argentina's second-largest trading partner and the largest export market for agricultural products. The two sides have strong economic complementarity and great potential for cooperation," she added. Beijing's remarks come after Argentina's newly elected president Javier Milei criticised China and Brazil, saying he would not deal with communists. 'Argentina will not join BRICS' According to a report by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, Diana Mondino, an economist tipped to become foreign minister under the Milei administration, said that her country would not join BRICS. Argentina was among the six countries invited to become new members of BRICS, a block which includes China and Brazil. On being asked if Argentina would encourage exports and imports with those countries, Mondino told RIA that Buenos Aires would stop interacting with Beijing and Brasília. Javier Milei won a resounding victory in Sunday's presidential election, trouncing Economy Minister Sergio Massa by 12 points with a pledge to halt decades of unbridled state spending and "end the decline of Argentina." On Monday, Milei, who will take office on Dec 10, said it could take between 18 and 24 months to bring Argentina's triple-digit inflation under control. He vowed to put public accounts in order. He has also vowed to ditch the ailing peso for the US dollar and get rid of the central bank, which he accuses of fueling inflation by printing money to finance government overspending.

China: It would be serious mistake if Argentina cuts ties with Beijing

According to a study by NordPass, "123456" is the most common password in the world. It has been the most common password for the past five years. In 2023, it was the most common password for Indians and worldwide.

Nordpass researchers exposes most common, easily guessable passwords used in 2023

UN General Assembly approved resolution for immediate 'durable and sustained humanitarian truce' in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Saturday welcomed a UN General Assembly resolution demanding a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip and the protection of civilians.

Israel-Palestine war: Hamas Chief says truce deal with Israel is close suggests reports

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Jewish country has designated as “terrorist organisation” a Pakistan-based militant group infamous for staging heinous attacks on Indian soil.

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and the move by Israel comes just days ahead of the 15th anniversary of those attacks.

The announcement came from Israel’s embassy in New Delhi, in which it made clear that the Indian government didn’t ask it to do so.

“Despite not being requested by the Government of India to do so, the state of Israel has formally completed all necessary procedures and has satisfied all required checks and regulations to the result of introducing Lashkar-e-Taiba into the Israeli list of illegal terror organizations,” Israeli embassy said in a statement.

“While Israel only lists terror organizations who are actively operating against it from within or around its borders, or in a similar manner to India – those globally recognized by UNSC or the US State Department; the Israeli ministries of Defense and Foreign affairs, have jointly worked in the last few months towards an expedited and extraordinary listing of the Lashkar -e- Taiba organization on this date, to highlight the importance of a Unified Global Front in combating terrorism,” the embassy further said.

Watch:&nbsp;Israel-Palestine war rages on: US army bases attacked in Iraq with armed drones

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“Lashkar-e-Taiba is a deadly and reprehensible terror organization, responsible for the murder of hundreds of Indian civilians as well as others. Its heinous actions on November 26, 2008, still reverberate in force, through all peace-seeking nations and societies,” it said.

The move comes amidst overwhelming support for Israel from Indian people during the ongoing war in Gaza.&nbsp;

Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon in October said he received phone calls from ministers, officials and business persons extending support to Israel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-west-asia-crisis-arab-and-islamic-foreign-ministers-delegation-to-visit-new-delhi-661060">Also read:&nbsp;Amid West Asia crisis, Arab and Islamic foreign ministers` delegation to visit New Delhi</a>

He also boasted that India's support to Israel was so strong that he “could have another IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) with the Indian volunteers”.

“Look at the social media of the embassy (Israeli Embassy), it's amazing. I could have another IDF with volunteers (Indians). Everyone is telling me I want to volunteer and I want to go and fight for Israel...this strong support is unprecedented for me," he was quoted as saying by Indian news agency ANI.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Jewish country has designated as “terrorist organisation” a Pakistan-based militant group infamous for staging heinous attacks on Indian soil.

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Jewish country has designated as “terrorist organisation” a Pakistan-based militant group infamous for staging heinous attacks on Indian soil. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and the move by Israel comes just days ahead of the 15th anniversary of those attacks. The announcement came from Israel’s embassy in New Delhi, in which it made clear that the Indian government didn’t ask it to do so. “Despite not being requested by the Government of India to do so, the state of Israel has formally completed all necessary procedures and has satisfied all required checks and regulations to the result of introducing Lashkar-e-Taiba into the Israeli list of illegal terror organizations,” Israeli embassy said in a statement. “While Israel only lists terror organizations who are actively operating against it from within or around its borders, or in a similar manner to India – those globally recognized by UNSC or the US State Department; the Israeli ministries of Defense and Foreign affairs, have jointly worked in the last few months towards an expedited and extraordinary listing of the Lashkar -e- Taiba organization on this date, to highlight the importance of a Unified Global Front in combating terrorism,” the embassy further said. Watch: Israel-Palestine war rages on: US army bases attacked in Iraq with armed drones × “Lashkar-e-Taiba is a deadly and reprehensible terror organization, responsible for the murder of hundreds of Indian civilians as well as others. Its heinous actions on November 26, 2008, still reverberate in force, through all peace-seeking nations and societies,” it said. The move comes amidst overwhelming support for Israel from Indian people during the ongoing war in Gaza. Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon in October said he received phone calls from ministers, officials and business persons extending support to Israel. Also read: Amid West Asia crisis, Arab and Islamic foreign ministers` delegation to visit New Delhi He also boasted that India's support to Israel was so strong that he “could have another IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) with the Indian volunteers”. “Look at the social media of the embassy (Israeli Embassy), it's amazing. I could have another IDF with volunteers (Indians). Everyone is telling me I want to volunteer and I want to go and fight for Israel...this strong support is unprecedented for me," he was quoted as saying by Indian news agency ANI. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel designates Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba as terror organisation

On Tuesday, November 21, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that the Aegis destroyers and PAC-3 missile defense system of the Self-Defense Force were prepared to handle any "unexpected situation" that might result from North Korea's scheduled satellite rocket launch.

Japan's defences ready if North Korea satellite launch causes 'unexpected situation' says PM Kishida

Italian court jails over 300 mobsters, mafia bosses handed 30-year jail terms.

Italian court jails over 300 mobsters, mafia bosses handed 30-year jail terms

In the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, false claims and manipulated images have been shared widely on social media. Watch the video to know more.

Israel-Palestine war: Debunking information on Israel, Hamas conflict

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released mugshots of four teenagers Monday (Nov 20), accused of murdering fellow student Jonathan Lewis.

In total, eight juveniles have been arrested and they will be tried as adults.

Images of Dontral Beaver, 16; Gianni Robinson, 17; Damien Hernandez, 17; and Treavion Randolph, 16 – were released as they appeared in court late last week.&nbsp;

The other four, also aged 13-17, will remain in juvenile court as they await their transfer to adult court.

<h2>What’s the case?</h2>

All eight individuals are accused of brutally beating up their 17-year-old fellow Jonathan Lewis near Rancho High School on November 1.

The fight erupted after Lewis tried to stand up for a younger friend who had been allegedly robbed by the gang.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: US green card backlog hits 1.8 million | Indians face waiting period of 134 years

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The fight was filmed and widely shared on social media, including TikTok.

Now, a hearing will take place on November 21 where discussions regarding the bail will take place, said attorney of Treavion Randolph, Daniel Martinez, to a local news outlet.

<h2>Randolph’s family maintains innocence&nbsp;</h2>

Randolph’s family was quoted by Daily Mail as saying that the viral video of the beating doesn’t show him.

“I've seen that video. I've watched it all. You can't see Treavion on there,” Randolph’s uncle said.&nbsp;

“They say they identified him from that video, but we don't know for sure. We haven't been told much. We don't know a lot about the whole thing,” he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-india-relations-may-get-worse-us-amb-to-india-warns-state-department-report-642846">Also read:&nbsp;‘US-India relations may get worse’ over Canada, US envoy to India warned State Department: Report</a>

Except for Damien Hernandez, none of the eight accused has any past criminal record. In 2021, Hernandez received a citation for smoking marijuana in public.

Lt. Jason Johansson of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said all the people involved — believed to be 10 — were students of Rancho High School.

<h2>Victim’s family sets up anti-bullying fund</h2>

Meanwhile, Jonathan Lewis’s family has set up an anti-bullying foundation in his memory.&nbsp;

The foundation, Team Jonathan, has reportedly partnered with other anti-bullying campaigns including Choose Love and Dads in Schools.

(With inputs from agencies)

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released mugshots of four teenagers Monday (Nov 20), accused of murdering fellow student Jonathan Lewis. In total, eight juveniles have been arrested and they will be tried as adults.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released mugshots of four teenagers Monday (Nov 20), accused of murdering fellow student Jonathan Lewis. In total, eight juveniles have been arrested and they will be tried as adults. Images of Dontral Beaver, 16; Gianni Robinson, 17; Damien Hernandez, 17; and Treavion Randolph, 16 – were released as they appeared in court late last week. The other four, also aged 13-17, will remain in juvenile court as they await their transfer to adult court. What’s the case? All eight individuals are accused of brutally beating up their 17-year-old fellow Jonathan Lewis near Rancho High School on November 1. The fight erupted after Lewis tried to stand up for a younger friend who had been allegedly robbed by the gang. Watch: Gravitas: US green card backlog hits 1.8 million | Indians face waiting period of 134 years × The fight was filmed and widely shared on social media, including TikTok. Now, a hearing will take place on November 21 where discussions regarding the bail will take place, said attorney of Treavion Randolph, Daniel Martinez, to a local news outlet. Randolph’s family maintains innocence Randolph’s family was quoted by Daily Mail as saying that the viral video of the beating doesn’t show him. “I've seen that video. I've watched it all. You can't see Treavion on there,” Randolph’s uncle said. “They say they identified him from that video, but we don't know for sure. We haven't been told much. We don't know a lot about the whole thing,” he added. Also read: ‘US-India relations may get worse’ over Canada, US envoy to India warned State Department: Report Except for Damien Hernandez, none of the eight accused has any past criminal record. In 2021, Hernandez received a citation for smoking marijuana in public. Lt. Jason Johansson of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said all the people involved — believed to be 10 — were students of Rancho High School. Victim’s family sets up anti-bullying fund Meanwhile, Jonathan Lewis’s family has set up an anti-bullying foundation in his memory. The foundation, Team Jonathan, has reportedly partnered with other anti-bullying campaigns including Choose Love and Dads in Schools. (With inputs from agencies)

Jonathan Lewis’ murder over bullying: Mugshots of four accused released by police

The world leaders are getting out for the COP 28 summit, and a new report has now shared more details about one of the pledges there. According to a report by the news agency AFP, next month a cooling pledge will be unveiled.

COP28 Climate Summit 2023: France shares new "Coal Exclusion Policy" ahead of COP 28

In a still fuelled by cedar from nearby forests, Shizuoka Distillery, a leader in Japan's new wave of independent whisky makers, crafts its spirits to tap into surging global demand.

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of whisky making in Japan since the founding of market leader Suntory's first distillery in Yamazaki in 1923.

And at the century mark, there are now more than 100 licensed distilleries in the country - twice as much as 10 years ago - with each one vying to make its mark in a rapidly expanding market.

The cedar fire - which Shizuoka claims is the world's only wood fuelled blaze beneath a whisky still - is one of several novelties these distilleries are using to set themselves apart.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/macallan-1926-rare-whisky-becomes-worlds-most-expensive-bottle-after-being-sold-at-auction-for-record-27mn-660342">Macallan 1926: Rare whisky becomes world’s most expensive as bottle goes for record $2.7mn at auction</a>

And even though their businesses are small compared to drinks giants like Suntory, their ambitions are world-class.

Taiko Nakamura, 54, was inspired to set up Shizuoka Distillery in 2016 by a trip to Scotland.

"I saw this distillery, and I was amazed that this tiny place in the mountainous countryside was selling whisky across the globe," he said. "So I thought it would be fun to make my own whisky and then have people from all over the world enjoy it."

The explosion of craft whisky in Japan follows a boom and bust in the industry.

<h2>QUALITY OVER QUANTITY</h2>

Long viewed as an inferior copycat of Scotch, Japanese single malts and blended whiskies started racking up international awards around 2008, sparking intense global demand that effectively drank the supply dry by around 2015.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/guidelines-for-naming-planetary-features-highly-biased-towards-men-researcher-claims-661041">Most cosmic surfaces are named after men and one researcher is not happy with the bias</a>

The shortage sent prices into the stratosphere. A set of 54 bottles from Ichiro's Malt, a trailblazer in Japanese craft whisky, sold for $1.5 million in 2020 at a Hong Kong auction. Last week, Sotheby's offered what it claimed was the most valuable collection of Japanese whisky at auction, headlined by a 52-year old bottle that sold for 300,000 pounds ($373,830).

Major makers Suntory and Nikka, a unit of beer maker Asahi Group, have spent the past decade ramping up capacity and stock of the spirit, which must age for at least three years to qualify as "Japanese whisky," under 2021 standards.

Suntory, Japan's biggest and best-known whisky maker, recently invested 10 billion yen ($67 million) to upgrade its distilleries, including its Yamazaki site.

Chief blender Shinji Fukuyo said he welcomes the new breed of Japanese distillers, and Suntory is willing to give advice to the startups "as long as it contributes to maintaining and improving the quality of Japanese whisky as a whole".

Foreign money is flowing into the market too. In 2021, global drinks giant Diageo bought an undisclosed stake in Komasa Kanosuke Distillery, established in 2017 by a maker of traditional shochu liquor.

IJW Whiskey Company, a Kentucky-based company, set up a Japanese subsidiary known as Cedarfield that is building a distillery on the northern island of Hokkaido that would be Japan's biggest, the Nikkei newspaper reported in March.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dutch-man-records-mating-bats-in-church-attic-helps-scientists-solve-long-standing-mystery-661042">Sex ritual of this bat isn't quite how mammals copulate, video recorded in Netherlands shows</a>

A Cedarfield representative declined to comment on the company's plans.

But with new supply hitting the market and from so many new players, some in the industry have voiced concerns that poor quality product could spoil Japan's reputation.

"That's a real fear in the industry," said Casey Wahl, an American expatriate who founded Kamui Whisky on the remote island of Rishiri in Japan's extreme northern boundary.

Shizuoka's Nakamura says makers like him can only respect the process and wait for the results.

"I believe we need to put all our effort into making Japanese whisky that lives up to the quality of the Japanese whiskies made by our predecessors," he said.

In a still fuelled by cedar from nearby forests, Shizuoka Distillery, a leader in Japan's new wave of independent whisky makers, crafts its spirits to tap into surging global demand.

In a still fuelled by cedar from nearby forests, Shizuoka Distillery, a leader in Japan's new wave of independent whisky makers, crafts its spirits to tap into surging global demand. This year marks the 100 year anniversary of whisky making in Japan since the founding of market leader Suntory's first distillery in Yamazaki in 1923. And at the century mark, there are now more than 100 licensed distilleries in the country - twice as much as 10 years ago - with each one vying to make its mark in a rapidly expanding market. The cedar fire - which Shizuoka claims is the world's only wood fuelled blaze beneath a whisky still - is one of several novelties these distilleries are using to set themselves apart. ALSO READ | Macallan 1926: Rare whisky becomes world’s most expensive as bottle goes for record $2.7mn at auction And even though their businesses are small compared to drinks giants like Suntory, their ambitions are world-class. Taiko Nakamura, 54, was inspired to set up Shizuoka Distillery in 2016 by a trip to Scotland. "I saw this distillery, and I was amazed that this tiny place in the mountainous countryside was selling whisky across the globe," he said. "So I thought it would be fun to make my own whisky and then have people from all over the world enjoy it." The explosion of craft whisky in Japan follows a boom and bust in the industry. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY Long viewed as an inferior copycat of Scotch, Japanese single malts and blended whiskies started racking up international awards around 2008, sparking intense global demand that effectively drank the supply dry by around 2015. ALSO READ | Most cosmic surfaces are named after men and one researcher is not happy with the bias The shortage sent prices into the stratosphere. A set of 54 bottles from Ichiro's Malt, a trailblazer in Japanese craft whisky, sold for $1.5 million in 2020 at a Hong Kong auction. Last week, Sotheby's offered what it claimed was the most valuable collection of Japanese whisky at auction, headlined by a 52-year old bottle that sold for 300,000 pounds ($373,830). Major makers Suntory and Nikka, a unit of beer maker Asahi Group, have spent the past decade ramping up capacity and stock of the spirit, which must age for at least three years to qualify as "Japanese whisky," under 2021 standards. Suntory, Japan's biggest and best-known whisky maker, recently invested 10 billion yen ($67 million) to upgrade its distilleries, including its Yamazaki site. Chief blender Shinji Fukuyo said he welcomes the new breed of Japanese distillers, and Suntory is willing to give advice to the startups "as long as it contributes to maintaining and improving the quality of Japanese whisky as a whole". Foreign money is flowing into the market too. In 2021, global drinks giant Diageo bought an undisclosed stake in Komasa Kanosuke Distillery, established in 2017 by a maker of traditional shochu liquor. IJW Whiskey Company, a Kentucky-based company, set up a Japanese subsidiary known as Cedarfield that is building a distillery on the northern island of Hokkaido that would be Japan's biggest, the Nikkei newspaper reported in March. ALSO READ | Sex ritual of this bat isn't quite how mammals copulate, video recorded in Netherlands shows A Cedarfield representative declined to comment on the company's plans. But with new supply hitting the market and from so many new players, some in the industry have voiced concerns that poor quality product could spoil Japan's reputation. "That's a real fear in the industry," said Casey Wahl, an American expatriate who founded Kamui Whisky on the remote island of Rishiri in Japan's extreme northern boundary. Shizuoka's Nakamura says makers like him can only respect the process and wait for the results. "I believe we need to put all our effort into making Japanese whisky that lives up to the quality of the Japanese whiskies made by our predecessors," he said.

Japanese whisky turns 100 as craft distilleries transform industry

The foreign minister of Palestine has stated that Israel wants to remove the Palestinian people from their "historical land." Riyad al-Maliki made his remarks on Monday during a meeting between Chinese and Arab diplomats from countries with majorities in Islam and the Arab world.

Israel-Palestine war: Arab and Islamic Foreign Ministers delegation to visit New Delhi

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - The first field hospital sent by Jordan arrives in Gaza, Video of a weapons factory beneath a mosque in Gaza, IDF hits Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

Capital punishment for Hamas militants | IDF hits Hezbollah targets in Lebanon | WION Speed News

In the lead-up to the seventh round of the state elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress unleash their political artillery in the electoral battleground of Rajasthan, setting off a fierce verbal duel.

Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: Ruling Congress and Opposition BJP lock horns in the state

Israel-Palestine war: 240 people taken hostage by Hamas since October 7 attack

Israel-Hamas conflict: A propaganda war?

In the latest, rescuers in India have released the first&nbsp;images of the 40 trapped&nbsp;labourers inside the Uttarkashi tunnel, accompanied by a headcount.

North Korea has informed Japan about its intention to launch a satellite rocket into space from Wednesday (Nov 22) to Friday (Dec 1), directed towards the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, as reported by Japan's coast guard.

Adding complexity to the OpenAI saga, investors are contemplating legal action against the board following the unexpected dismissal of Sam Altman.

Click on the headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uttarakhand-tunnel-rescue-rescuers-release-first-visuals-of-trapped-workers-taken-via-endoscopic-camera-660965">Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Rescuers release first visuals of trapped workers taken via endoscopic camera</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/11/21/394396-uttarakhand-tunnel-rescue.png?imwidth=1920" />

Rescuers on Tuesday (Nov 21) released the first video of workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in north Indian Uttarakhand. The workers have been trapped inside the tunnel for 10 days now.&nbsp;

The rescue authorities managed to capture images through an endoscopy camera, which came from New Delhi late on Monday evening. The camera was sent inside the tunnel through a six-inch pipe which was used to send food items a day earlier.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-to-launch-satellite-rocket-between-nov-22-and-dec-1-says-japan-660914">North Korea to launch satellite rocket between Nov 22 and Dec 1, says Japan</a>

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North Korea has notified Japan that it plans to launch a rocket satellite into space between Wednesday (Nov 22) to Friday (Dec 1) in the direction of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, said Japan's coast guard.

The latest development comes despite South Korea issuing a warning to Pyongyang to immediately halt its preparations to fire a spy satellite into space which would be Pyongyang's third attempt this year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hijacked-galaxy-leader-ship-in-yemens-hodeidah-port-area-says-owner-660942">Houthi rebels release video of hijacking of 'Galaxy Leader' cargo ship</a>

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Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Monday (Nov 20) released a chilling video of the hijacking of the cargo ship 'Galaxy Leader'.

The footage, which showed armed men landing on a ship's deck from a helicopter in the southern Red Sea and seizing it, was released by the movement's TV channel Al Masirah a day after the Iran-backed group seized the ship.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/openai-investors-consider-suing-board-after-sudden-firing-of-sam-altman-660962">OpenAI investors consider suing board after sudden firing of Sam Altman</a>

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Investors in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, are considering suing&nbsp;the company's board following the removal of CEO Sam Altman. The abrupt decision has triggered fears of significant financial losses among investors who have poured hundreds of millions into OpenAI, a prominent player in the generative AI sector.

Watch |&nbsp;India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue: Bid to boost overall strategic cooperation

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In the latest, rescuers in India have released the first images of the 40 trapped labourers inside the Uttarkashi tunnel, accompanied by a headcount. North Korea has informed Japan about its intention to launch a satellite rocket into space from Wednesday (Nov 22) to Friday (Dec 1), directed towards the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, as reported by Japan's coast guard.

In the latest, rescuers in India have released the first images of the 40 trapped labourers inside the Uttarkashi tunnel, accompanied by a headcount. North Korea has informed Japan about its intention to launch a satellite rocket into space from Wednesday (Nov 22) to Friday (Dec 1), directed towards the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, as reported by Japan's coast guard. Adding complexity to the OpenAI saga, investors are contemplating legal action against the board following the unexpected dismissal of Sam Altman. Click on the headlines to read more Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Rescuers release first visuals of trapped workers taken via endoscopic camera Rescuers on Tuesday (Nov 21) released the first video of workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in north Indian Uttarakhand. The workers have been trapped inside the tunnel for 10 days now. The rescue authorities managed to capture images through an endoscopy camera, which came from New Delhi late on Monday evening. The camera was sent inside the tunnel through a six-inch pipe which was used to send food items a day earlier. North Korea to launch satellite rocket between Nov 22 and Dec 1, says Japan North Korea has notified Japan that it plans to launch a rocket satellite into space between Wednesday (Nov 22) to Friday (Dec 1) in the direction of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, said Japan's coast guard. The latest development comes despite South Korea issuing a warning to Pyongyang to immediately halt its preparations to fire a spy satellite into space which would be Pyongyang's third attempt this year. Houthi rebels release video of hijacking of 'Galaxy Leader' cargo ship Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Monday (Nov 20) released a chilling video of the hijacking of the cargo ship 'Galaxy Leader'. The footage, which showed armed men landing on a ship's deck from a helicopter in the southern Red Sea and seizing it, was released by the movement's TV channel Al Masirah a day after the Iran-backed group seized the ship. OpenAI investors consider suing board after sudden firing of Sam Altman Investors in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, are considering suing the company's board following the removal of CEO Sam Altman. The abrupt decision has triggered fears of significant financial losses among investors who have poured hundreds of millions into OpenAI, a prominent player in the generative AI sector. Watch | India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue: Bid to boost overall strategic cooperation

Morning brief: First visuals of trapped labourers in Uttarkashi tunnel out, OpenAI chaos continues, and more

According to the UN agency, more than 880,000 internally displaced have sought shelter in 154 UNRWA installations across all five of Gaza’s governorates. Out of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, 1.7 million are now displaced. To date, 104 UNRWA staff have been killed along with at least 11,000 people in Gaza according to health authorities.

Israel-Palestine War: United Nation says Israeli strike killed 104 Gaza staff members

Elon Musk’s social media company X has sued nonprofit Media Matters accusing the organisation of defaming the platform after it published a report which said that ads for major brands appeared next to posts hailing Hitler and the Nazi party.&nbsp;

The platform, according to the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court in Texas, alleges that the media non-profit is driving advertisers away by portraying X as full of&nbsp;antisemitic content.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden on Monday (Nov 20) announced that he is joining Threads, Meta’s social media rival to X, days after the White House blasted Musk’s “abhorrent promotion” of an&nbsp;antisemitic conspiracy theory.

<h2>Musk sues media nonprofit</h2>

In the lawsuit, X claimed that the media non-profit “manipulated” the platform by “tricking the algorithm into thinking Media Matters wanted to view both hateful content and content from large advertisers.”

It also alleged that the media non-profit used accounts that exclusively followed accounts for major brands or users known to produce fringe content while also “endlessly scrolling and refreshing” the feed until it found ads next to extremist posts.

The report misrepresented the typical experience of the user “with the intention of harming X and its business,” said X. Ads for IBM, Comcast and Oracle only appeared alongside hateful content for one viewer – Media Matters, the platform claimed.&nbsp;

“Media Matters knowingly and maliciously manufactured side-by-side images depicting advertisers' posts on X Corp.’s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content and then portrayed these manufactured images as if they were what typical X users experience,” said the company&nbsp;in its lawsuit.&nbsp;

X has sought unspecified cash damages and to take down the report.&nbsp;

<h2>A ‘frivolous’ lawsuit</h2>

President of Media Matters, Angelo Carusone called the lawsuit “frivolous” in an emailed statement, as per Reuters, and said it was “meant to bully X’s critics into silence”. However, the media watchdog “stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court,” he added.&nbsp;

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, on Monday (Nov 20) said that his office was opening an investigation into Media Matters and that he was “extremely troubled” by the allegations.&nbsp;

The report prompted high-profile companies, including Apple, Comcast, NBCUniversal and IBM to pause their advertising on X&nbsp;last week after it showed that their ads were displayed with pro-Nazi content.

Musk recently came under fire after he replied to an antisemitic&nbsp;post on the platform saying, “You have said the actual truth.”&nbsp;

The post was seen as a reference to a longtime false conspiracy theory which claims that Jewish people have a secret plan to bring illegal immigrants into the US and move demographics away from a White majority.

<h2>US prez ‘quits’ X</h2>

Biden made his debut on Threads, on Monday (Nov 20). “Folks, it’s President Biden,” he said&nbsp;in his first post&nbsp;on his 81st birthday. “You’re hearing from me today from a new platform but my message to you hasn't changed,” he added.

“I don’t see a dark, dismal, divided future for America. I see an America about to take off,” said the US president.&nbsp;

The White House later confirmed that they have also launched Threads accounts for First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, her husband Douglas Emhoff and the White House itself in English and Spanish.

“Threads is an additional way we can communicate with the American people about this administration's historic actions to create 14 million jobs, lower prescription drug costs, and protect freedoms and more,” said a White House official, adding that the launch had been in the works for several weeks.

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk’s social media company X has sued nonprofit Media Matters accusing the organisation of defaming the platform after it published a report which said that ads for major brands appeared next to posts hailing Hitler and the Nazi party.

Elon Musk’s social media company X has sued nonprofit Media Matters accusing the organisation of defaming the platform after it published a report which said that ads for major brands appeared next to posts hailing Hitler and the Nazi party. The platform, according to the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court in Texas, alleges that the media non-profit is driving advertisers away by portraying X as full of antisemitic content. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden on Monday (Nov 20) announced that he is joining Threads, Meta’s social media rival to X, days after the White House blasted Musk’s “abhorrent promotion” of an antisemitic conspiracy theory. Musk sues media nonprofit In the lawsuit, X claimed that the media non-profit “manipulated” the platform by “tricking the algorithm into thinking Media Matters wanted to view both hateful content and content from large advertisers.” It also alleged that the media non-profit used accounts that exclusively followed accounts for major brands or users known to produce fringe content while also “endlessly scrolling and refreshing” the feed until it found ads next to extremist posts. The report misrepresented the typical experience of the user “with the intention of harming X and its business,” said X. Ads for IBM, Comcast and Oracle only appeared alongside hateful content for one viewer – Media Matters, the platform claimed. “Media Matters knowingly and maliciously manufactured side-by-side images depicting advertisers' posts on X Corp.’s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content and then portrayed these manufactured images as if they were what typical X users experience,” said the company in its lawsuit. X has sought unspecified cash damages and to take down the report. A ‘frivolous’ lawsuit President of Media Matters, Angelo Carusone called the lawsuit “frivolous” in an emailed statement, as per Reuters, and said it was “meant to bully X’s critics into silence”. However, the media watchdog “stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court,” he added. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, on Monday (Nov 20) said that his office was opening an investigation into Media Matters and that he was “extremely troubled” by the allegations. The report prompted high-profile companies, including Apple, Comcast, NBCUniversal and IBM to pause their advertising on X last week after it showed that their ads were displayed with pro-Nazi content. Musk recently came under fire after he replied to an antisemitic post on the platform saying, “You have said the actual truth.” The post was seen as a reference to a longtime false conspiracy theory which claims that Jewish people have a secret plan to bring illegal immigrants into the US and move demographics away from a White majority. US prez ‘quits’ X Biden made his debut on Threads, on Monday (Nov 20). “Folks, it’s President Biden,” he said in his first post on his 81st birthday. “You’re hearing from me today from a new platform but my message to you hasn't changed,” he added. “I don’t see a dark, dismal, divided future for America. I see an America about to take off,” said the US president. The White House later confirmed that they have also launched Threads accounts for First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, her husband Douglas Emhoff and the White House itself in English and Spanish. “Threads is an additional way we can communicate with the American people about this administration's historic actions to create 14 million jobs, lower prescription drug costs, and protect freedoms and more,” said a White House official, adding that the launch had been in the works for several weeks. (With inputs from agencies)

Musk’s X sues media nonprofit after report portrays platform as full of antisemitic content

During Monday's hearings into how Britain handled the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was quoted as saying that instead of imposing a second national lockdown, the government should "just let people die."

UK PM Rishi Sunak said, "just let people die" suggest Vallance's diary of Covid-19 | Latest News

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group said Sunday they had seized a vessel in the Red Sea, which belongs to an Israeli businessman.&nbsp;

The Israeli military also confirmed the news later, terming the act "a very grave incident on a global level".

According to unconfirmed reports in Iranian media, the Houthi fighters landed on the ship by helicopter and steered it towards the Yemeni coast.

The ship left Turkey and was headed for India, and was staffed by “civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis", IDF said in a statement.

"Onboard the vessel are 25 crew members of various nationalities including Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Filipino and Mexican," the statement added.

<h2>Who owns the vessel?</h2>

IDF in its statement said the ship is owned by a British company and is operated by a Japanese firm. "It is not an Israeli ship," IDF made it clear.

However, Maritime security company Ambrey said "the vehicles carrier's group owner is listed as Ray Car Carriers", whose parent company belongs to Abraham "Rami" Ungar, an Israeli businessman.

<h2>Who is Abraham (Rami) Ungar?</h2>

According to Haaretz, Abraham (Rami) Ungar is one of Israel’s richest individuals, with a total net worth of over $2 billion.

He is an international shipping mogul and one of the country’s biggest motor vehicle importers. He has also had a history of close ties to right-wing Israeli politicians.

Watch:&nbsp;US mulls sanctions on violent Israeli settlers

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Apparently, he was also involved in two major political scandals in the country where he allegedly offered favours to former ministers and even ex-PM Ehud Olmert.

In 2018, he is believed to have purchased FIFA World Cup tickets for then-minister Yoav Gallant from the Likud party. In another affair, he allegedly paid an individual $10,000 a month to prevent her from testifying against then-PM Ehud Olmert.

<h2>Israel, US, Japan condemn the incident</h2>

The office of the Israeli PM labelled it as “an act of Iranian terrorism that expresses a leap in their aggression."&nbsp;

"This is another Iranian act of terrorism that represents an escalation in Iran's belligerence against the citizens of the free world, with concomitant international ramifications vis-a-vis the security of global shipping routes."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-inching-towards-five-day-pause-in-fighting-in-us-brokered-deal-report-660224">Also read:&nbsp;White House clarifies on potential hostage deal to pause Israel-Hamas war</a>

A US military official said the seizure of the vessel "is a flagrant violation of international law"."We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew. We will consult with our allies and UN partners as to appropriate next steps," the official said.

In a separate statement, Japan also condemned the hijacking.

The alleged Houthi attack comes after calls by Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei to ban the shipment of oil and food to Israel.

(With inputs from agencies)

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group said Sunday they had seized a vessel in the Red Sea, which belongs to an Israeli businessman. The Israeli military also confirmed the news later, terming the act "a very grave incident on a global level".

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group said Sunday they had seized a vessel in the Red Sea, which belongs to an Israeli businessman. The Israeli military also confirmed the news later, terming the act "a very grave incident on a global level". According to unconfirmed reports in Iranian media, the Houthi fighters landed on the ship by helicopter and steered it towards the Yemeni coast. The ship left Turkey and was headed for India, and was staffed by “civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis", IDF said in a statement. "Onboard the vessel are 25 crew members of various nationalities including Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Filipino and Mexican," the statement added. Who owns the vessel? IDF in its statement said the ship is owned by a British company and is operated by a Japanese firm. "It is not an Israeli ship," IDF made it clear. However, Maritime security company Ambrey said "the vehicles carrier's group owner is listed as Ray Car Carriers", whose parent company belongs to Abraham "Rami" Ungar, an Israeli businessman. Who is Abraham (Rami) Ungar? According to Haaretz, Abraham (Rami) Ungar is one of Israel’s richest individuals, with a total net worth of over $2 billion. He is an international shipping mogul and one of the country’s biggest motor vehicle importers. He has also had a history of close ties to right-wing Israeli politicians. Watch: US mulls sanctions on violent Israeli settlers × Apparently, he was also involved in two major political scandals in the country where he allegedly offered favours to former ministers and even ex-PM Ehud Olmert. In 2018, he is believed to have purchased FIFA World Cup tickets for then-minister Yoav Gallant from the Likud party. In another affair, he allegedly paid an individual $10,000 a month to prevent her from testifying against then-PM Ehud Olmert. Israel, US, Japan condemn the incident The office of the Israeli PM labelled it as “an act of Iranian terrorism that expresses a leap in their aggression." "This is another Iranian act of terrorism that represents an escalation in Iran's belligerence against the citizens of the free world, with concomitant international ramifications vis-a-vis the security of global shipping routes." Also read: White House clarifies on potential hostage deal to pause Israel-Hamas war A US military official said the seizure of the vessel "is a flagrant violation of international law"."We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew. We will consult with our allies and UN partners as to appropriate next steps," the official said. In a separate statement, Japan also condemned the hijacking. The alleged Houthi attack comes after calls by Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei to ban the shipment of oil and food to Israel. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Abraham Rami Ungar, Israeli businessman whose vessel was hijacked by Houthis?

Inside Israel-Hamas war propaganda, fake videos and misinformation online

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