Officials in Iceland have warned of a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula amid the region of the country around the Svartsengi geothermal power plant continuing to inflate as magma pooled under the surface of Earth's crust. According to a report by Newsweek on Friday (Dec 15), Iceland's meteorological office said that since a burst of seismic activity on Nov 10, there has been a significant crustal uplift&nbsp;in the region surrounding the plant.

The office had previously expressed uncertainty over when a volcanic eruption could occur following a decline in the number and severity of earthquakes around the vertical magma dike.

On Wednesday, the office said that magma continued to accumulate around Svartseng, though the rate of crustal uplift has decreased somewhat since last week. However, the rate was still greater than before Nov 10.&nbsp;

This meant that further dikes of an eruption remained possible, the report said citing the office.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iceland-volcanic-eruption-may-happen-with-30-minute-warning-met-office-661221">A 30-minute warning might be all Iceland residents get when the volcano erupts, says Met Office</a>

The Reykjanes peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hot spot southwest of the capital. According to a report by the news agency Reuters last month,&nbsp;Ava fountains erupted spectacularly in March 2021 from a fissure in the ground measuring between 500-750 metres long in the region's Fagradalsfjall volcanic system. In that year, volcanic activity continued for six months.

Last year too, a three-week eruption happened in the same area, followed by another in July of this year.

Newsweek reported that between 1,500 and 1,800 earthquakes per day were reported from the Nov 10 seismic activity. These earthquakes went on for nearly two weeks, before dropping to the hundreds.

On Wednesday, the meteorological office said that between 200 and 300 quakes were reported on Monday and Tuesday.&nbsp;

While experts have said that the horizontal intrusion causing the Earth's crust to bend upwards around Svartsengi would be unlikely to directly cause an eruption on the surface, it is thought to be channelling magma into a vertical intrusion near the town of Grindavik- where an eruption is more likely.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Officials in Iceland have warned of a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula amid the region of the country around the Svartsengi geothermal power plant continuing to inflate as magma pooled under the surface of Earth's crust.

Officials in Iceland have warned of a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula amid the region of the country around the Svartsengi geothermal power plant continuing to inflate as magma pooled under the surface of Earth's crust. According to a report by Newsweek on Friday (Dec 15), Iceland's meteorological office said that since a burst of seismic activity on Nov 10, there has been a significant crustal uplift in the region surrounding the plant. The office had previously expressed uncertainty over when a volcanic eruption could occur following a decline in the number and severity of earthquakes around the vertical magma dike. On Wednesday, the office said that magma continued to accumulate around Svartseng, though the rate of crustal uplift has decreased somewhat since last week. However, the rate was still greater than before Nov 10. This meant that further dikes of an eruption remained possible, the report said citing the office. Also read: A 30-minute warning might be all Iceland residents get when the volcano erupts, says Met Office The Reykjanes peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hot spot southwest of the capital. According to a report by the news agency Reuters last month, Ava fountains erupted spectacularly in March 2021 from a fissure in the ground measuring between 500-750 metres long in the region's Fagradalsfjall volcanic system. In that year, volcanic activity continued for six months. Last year too, a three-week eruption happened in the same area, followed by another in July of this year. Newsweek reported that between 1,500 and 1,800 earthquakes per day were reported from the Nov 10 seismic activity. These earthquakes went on for nearly two weeks, before dropping to the hundreds. On Wednesday, the meteorological office said that between 200 and 300 quakes were reported on Monday and Tuesday. While experts have said that the horizontal intrusion causing the Earth's crust to bend upwards around Svartsengi would be unlikely to directly cause an eruption on the surface, it is thought to be channelling magma into a vertical intrusion near the town of Grindavik- where an eruption is more likely. (With inputs from agencies)

Officials in Iceland warn of volcanic eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula: Report

Voyager 1 Faces Major Glitch as NASA Rushes to Fix It

NASA's Voyager 1, which was launched nearly 50 years ago, has experienced a glitch. A report by Science Alert said the space probe was sending repetitive jumble of 1s and 0s that didn't make any sense. NASA has been desperately trying to fix the glitch.

Despite the glitch, Voyager 1 was able to receive commands from Earth. However, messages to interstellar space required approximately 22.5 hours of travel.
This meant it would take days before experts know if their attempts to restore the probe worked or not.

According to Science Alert, the glitch came from a disruption in communication in one of the three computers onboard the Voyager 1, called the probe's flight data system (FDS), and one of the probe's subsystems- the telemetry modulation unit (TMU).

Last year too, a similar telemetry glitch was seen in Voyager 1 when the probe started returning some of its data through a broken computer onboard, corrupting the outgoing messages. NASA was able to resolve the glitch, but it took several months.

Iran said on Thursday (Dec 14) that it was lifting visa requirements for 33 countries, including India and Saudi Arabia. According to the ISNA news agency, the Iranian Ministry of Tourism believed that an open-door policy would showcase Iran's determination to engage with different countries of the world.

Iran said on Thursday (Dec 14) that it was lifting visa requirements for 33 countries, including India and Saudi Arabia. According to the ISNA news agency, the Iranian Ministry of Tourism believed that an open-door policy would showcase Iran's determination to engage with different countries of the world. The decision would increase to 45 the number of countries or territories whose citizens can visit Iran without needing to obtain a visa, ISNA said. Which countries will be allowed to travel visa-free? As per the news agency, Iran's visa requirement has been lifted for 33 countries including Lebanon, Tunisia, India, Saudi Arabia, and several Central Asian, African, and Muslim countries. Only one Western-allied European nation was on the list, Croatia, a small member of the European Union and NATO. Tehran's decision is another step towards thawing relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, in particular after years of tension between the two oil-producing Gulf rivals. The news agency further reported that nationals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar were included in the decision to waive visa requirements, in addition to Bahrain, with whom Tehran has not yet re-established full ties. "Russians will only profit from this visa exemption if they are visiting the country in groups," the news agency said. Omani nationals had been able to travel to Iran visa-free before this announcement. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran lifts visa requirement for 33 countries, including India, Saudi Arabia

The Sun on Thursday (Dec 14) released an X-class solar flare, which is categorised as the most intense flare. According to a statement by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), an image of the event was captured by the space agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

The Sun on Thursday (Dec 14) released an X-class solar flare, which is categorised as the most intense flare. According to a statement by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), an image of the event was captured by the space agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory. "This flare is classified as an X2.8 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength," the statement said. "Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts," it added. X2.8 peaked at 12.02 pm EST on Tuesday. Also read: Explained | Sun has been raging for weeks and Earth is bearing the brunt. Why is that happening? According to a report by SpaceWeather.com, the X2.8 was the most powerful solar flare since September 2017. Thursday's flare caused a deep shortwave radio blackout over the Americas, the report added. What is a solar flare? According to NASA, a solar flare is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots. Flares are the solar system's largest explosive events. The Sun emitted a strong solar flare on Dec. 14, 2023, peaking at 12:02 ET. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an image of the event, which was classified as X2.8. https://t.co/4INrRFqIg7 pic.twitter.com/2dJ1YMkiXS — NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) December 14, 2023 × "They are seen as bright areas on the Sun and they can last from minutes to hours. We typically see a solar flare by the photons (or light) it releases, at most every wavelength of the spectrum," NASA said. Flares are primarily monitored in X-rays and optical light. Flares are also sites where particles (electrons, protons, and heavier particles) are accelerated. Also read: Astronomers detect oldest black hole ever observed. It's a million times the mass of Sun Powerful flares are often accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The SpaceWeather report said that a CME was associated with Tuesday's flare likely with an Earth-directed component. The US Air Force is reporting a Type II solar radio burst, which typically comes from the leading edge of a CME. Based on the drift rate of the radio burst, the emerging CME's velocity could exceed 2,100 km/s, the report added.

Watch | Sun releases strongest X-class solar flare since 2017, radio blackout reported over Americas

US&nbsp;auto safety regulators said on Tuesday they have begun the process that will eventually force carmakers to adopt new technology to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting vehicles.

In 2021, Congress directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate a passive technology to try to avert more than 10,000 road deaths annually. The law requires a new technology safety standard by November 2024 if the technology is ready.

There are a number of potential technologies under development that would prevent impaired people from starting a vehicle, including breath- or touch-based sensors to detect alcohol. Another potential option is using cameras to monitor eye movements to try to determine if drivers are intoxicated.

Still, NHTSA must be assured the technology works before it can require it, and then give automakers at least three years to implement it once it finalizes rules.

"We are trying to see can we get it done, does the technology exist in a way that is going to work every time," Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson said, adding that public acceptance of the technology would depend on its accuracy.

Carlson said there were close to 1 billion separate daily&nbsp;driving&nbsp;journeys in the United States.

"If it's 99.9% accurate, you could have a million false positives," Carlson said. "Those false positives could be somebody trying to get to the hospital for an emergency."

The NHTSA on Tuesday published an "advance notice of proposed rulemaking" to begin the process of gathering information on how such technology could be developed and required.

Its regulatory notice details the research and technological advancements needed to finalize regulations and options for potential rules, citing "Blood alcohol content detection, impairment-detection (driver monitoring), or a combination."

Mothers Against Drunk&nbsp;Driving&nbsp;President Tess Rowland said the group was "very pleased" with NHTSA's launch.

"We understand we still have a mountain to climb," Rowland said. "Victims and survivors are not going to let this die."

In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired&nbsp;driving&nbsp;traffic deaths, the most recent statistics available reveals.

Separately, Carlson will tell a US&nbsp;House of Representatives committee on Wednesday that US&nbsp;traffic deaths fell 4.5% in the first nine months of the year after sharply rising during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While we are optimistic that we're finally seeing a reversal of the record-high fatalities seen during the pandemic, this is not a cause for celebration," Carlson's written testimony says.

US auto safety regulators said on Tuesday they have begun the process that will eventually force carmakers to adopt new technology to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting vehicles.

US auto safety regulators said on Tuesday they have begun the process that will eventually force carmakers to adopt new technology to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting vehicles. In 2021, Congress directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate a passive technology to try to avert more than 10,000 road deaths annually. The law requires a new technology safety standard by November 2024 if the technology is ready. There are a number of potential technologies under development that would prevent impaired people from starting a vehicle, including breath- or touch-based sensors to detect alcohol. Another potential option is using cameras to monitor eye movements to try to determine if drivers are intoxicated. Still, NHTSA must be assured the technology works before it can require it, and then give automakers at least three years to implement it once it finalizes rules. "We are trying to see can we get it done, does the technology exist in a way that is going to work every time," Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson said, adding that public acceptance of the technology would depend on its accuracy. Carlson said there were close to 1 billion separate daily driving journeys in the United States. "If it's 99.9% accurate, you could have a million false positives," Carlson said. "Those false positives could be somebody trying to get to the hospital for an emergency." The NHTSA on Tuesday published an "advance notice of proposed rulemaking" to begin the process of gathering information on how such technology could be developed and required. Its regulatory notice details the research and technological advancements needed to finalize regulations and options for potential rules, citing "Blood alcohol content detection, impairment-detection (driver monitoring), or a combination." Mothers Against Drunk Driving President Tess Rowland said the group was "very pleased" with NHTSA's launch. "We understand we still have a mountain to climb," Rowland said. "Victims and survivors are not going to let this die." In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths, the most recent statistics available reveals. Separately, Carlson will tell a US House of Representatives committee on Wednesday that US traffic deaths fell 4.5% in the first nine months of the year after sharply rising during the COVID-19 pandemic. "While we are optimistic that we're finally seeing a reversal of the record-high fatalities seen during the pandemic, this is not a cause for celebration," Carlson's written testimony says.

US agency takes first step to mandate anti-drunk driving technology

After the massive success of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch Chandrayaan-4 to bring back samples from the Moon. The&nbsp;announcement was made by ISRO chief S Somnath on Thursday (Dec 14), according to&nbsp;The Indian Express. During a lecture at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Somanath said the mission demands advanced technology.

While these missions may seem far off, an experiment crucial for sustained human spaceflight will be “launched in the next three to four months," he said. The Indian Express report said that the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (the country's planned space station) that will be capable of conducting experiments with help from robots will be launched by 2028.

Somnath said on Thursday that work was on to develop technologies including robotic arms to collect samples, mechanisms for docking in Moon orbit and Earth orbit, and transfer of samples.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-aims-to-send-astronaut-to-moon-by-2040-centre-648000">India aims to set up own space station by 2035, send astronaut to Moon by 2040: PM Modi</a>

Earlier this year, India became the fourth country to land on the moon after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-brings-back-chandrayaan-3-propulsion-module-to-earths-orbit-666239">ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 </a>touched down on the lunar south pole. Chandrayaan-3 ran a series of experiments including a spectrometer analysis of the mineral composition of the lunar surface.

The ISRO chief's remarks on the next Chandrayaan mission come nearly two months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.

"Building on the success of the Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayan-3 and Aditya L1 Missions, Prime Minister directed that India should now aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending first Indian to the Moon by 2040," a statement from Modi's office on Oct 17 said. 
&nbsp;

After the massive success of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch Chandrayaan-4 to bring back samples from the Moon. The announcement was made by ISRO chief S Somnath on Thursday (Dec 14), according to The Indian Express.

After the massive success of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch Chandrayaan-4 to bring back samples from the Moon. The announcement was made by ISRO chief S Somnath on Thursday (Dec 14), according to The Indian Express. During a lecture at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Somanath said the mission demands advanced technology. While these missions may seem far off, an experiment crucial for sustained human spaceflight will be “launched in the next three to four months," he said. The Indian Express report said that the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (the country's planned space station) that will be capable of conducting experiments with help from robots will be launched by 2028. Somnath said on Thursday that work was on to develop technologies including robotic arms to collect samples, mechanisms for docking in Moon orbit and Earth orbit, and transfer of samples. Also read: India aims to set up own space station by 2035, send astronaut to Moon by 2040: PM Modi Earlier this year, India became the fourth country to land on the moon after the ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole. Chandrayaan-3 ran a series of experiments including a spectrometer analysis of the mineral composition of the lunar surface. The ISRO chief's remarks on the next Chandrayaan mission come nearly two months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040. "Building on the success of the Indian space initiatives, including the recent Chandrayan-3 and Aditya L1 Missions, Prime Minister directed that India should now aim for new and ambitious goals, including setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending first Indian to the Moon by 2040," a statement from Modi's office on Oct 17 said.

After success of Chandrayaan-3, India to launch Chandrayaan-4. Details here

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan is sending women to prisons to protect them from gender-based violence, the United Nations (UN) said in a report on Thursday (Dec 14).

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan is sending women to prisons to protect them from gender-based violence, the United Nations (UN) said in a report on Thursday (Dec 14). According to the report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the Taliban send women to prisons if they have no male relatives to stay with or if the male relatives are considered unsafe. "The most-reported types of complaints of gender-based violence against women and girls lodged with the de facto police, prosecution units, and courts were murder, including murder perpetrated for reasons of so-called 'honour', rape, causing injury or disability, and depriving a woman of inheritance," the report said. Also read: UK's broken promises: Afghan Special Forces left in limbo, face threat of return to Taliban "The de facto Departments of Justice mostly received complaints of deprivation of inheritance and prevention of possession of personal property while the de facto Departments of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice mostly received complaints of deprivation of inheritance, prohibition of marriage or choosing a spouse, forced marriage, and battery and laceration," it added. Why this measure by the Taliban? Citing the Taliban, the UNAMA report said that women were sent to prisons for their protection “akin to how prisons have been used to accommodate drug addicts and homeless people in Kabul.” "Some de facto officials reported that to protect survivors, they requested a commitment – in some instances, sworn statements – from the survivor’s male relations that they would not harm the survivor and also invited local traditional elders to witness family members making this guarantee," the report further said. Also read: Online abuse targeting Afghan women increased since Taliban takeover, says report Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, women and girls in the country have been increasingly confined to their homes. They are only allowed to study till the sixth grade and are barred from getting a university education. Females are also barred from public spaces and most jobs. A fear of authorities Many survivors of gender-based violence preferred seeking redress through traditional dispute resolution mechanisms because of fear of the de facto authorities, the UNAMA report said. "The lack of clear delineation of responsibilities among the various de facto institutions on the handling of complaints of gender-based violence against women and girls and referrals between entities creates a gap in accountability for justice actors and makes it difficult for women and girls to know which entity to approach when they have a gender-based violence complaint," it said. The UNAMA pointed out that an "absence of women personnel (in de facto institutions) and inherent cultural dynamics potentially inadvertently, and by default, discouraged and inhibited survivors from lodging complaints, contributing to survivors’ and/or at-risk women and girls’ lack of trust in the de facto justice system." "There is no clear distinction by the de facto authorities between complaints of gender-based violence against women and girls of a criminal nature and those of a civil nature," the report further said.

Afghanistan: Taliban sending women to prisons to protect them from gender-based violence, says report

It is always the smallest of gestures that can impact somebody's life. This story is from India where a boy gifted a phone to his house help using money he won from badminton tournaments. This moment was shared on X by Ankit's father V Balaji on Wednesday (Dec 13). In the post, Balaji said that Ankit managed to win $84 (Rs 7,000) from weekend badminton tournaments.&nbsp;He got a phone for his househelp for $24.

"Ankit has so far earned 7K by playing weekend tournaments. And today he got our Cook Saroja a mobile phone for 2K from his winnings," the post read. Balaji said that Saroja had been taking care of his son since he was six months old.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ankit has so far earned 7K by playing weekend tournaments. And today he got our Cook Saroja a mobile phone for 2K from his winnings. She has been taking care of him from when he was 6 Months. As parents <a href="https://twitter.com/meerabalaji3107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@meerabalaji3107</a> and I can’t be more happier. <a href="https://t.co/8tVeWdxyRh">pic.twitter.com/8tVeWdxyRh</a>
— V. Balaji (@cricketbalaji1) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketbalaji1/status/1734765474314072396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"As parents, Meera and I can’t be more happier," he added.

The X post garnered a positive response from the users of the social media platform. "The kid is going to go a long way. A big congratulations to the parents for instilling the right set of values," X user Amogh Chaphalkar wrote.

"Brilliant… u guys as parents deserve a huge applause.. There is nothing better than “To give” to inhibit that to a kid is very very important," another user by the name of Shyju wrote.

It is always the smallest of gestures that can impact somebody's life. This story is from India where a boy gifted a phone to his house help using money he won from badminton tournaments.

It is always the smallest of gestures that can impact somebody's life. This story is from India where a boy gifted a phone to his house help using money he won from badminton tournaments. This moment was shared on X by Ankit's father V Balaji on Wednesday (Dec 13). In the post, Balaji said that Ankit managed to win $84 (Rs 7,000) from weekend badminton tournaments. He got a phone for his househelp for $24. "Ankit has so far earned 7K by playing weekend tournaments. And today he got our Cook Saroja a mobile phone for 2K from his winnings," the post read. Balaji said that Saroja had been taking care of his son since he was six months old. Ankit has so far earned 7K by playing weekend tournaments. And today he got our Cook Saroja a mobile phone for 2K from his winnings. She has been taking care of him from when he was 6 Months. As parents @meerabalaji3107 and I can’t be more happier. pic.twitter.com/8tVeWdxyRh — V. Balaji (@cricketbalaji1) December 13, 2023 × "As parents, Meera and I can’t be more happier," he added. The X post garnered a positive response from the users of the social media platform. "The kid is going to go a long way. A big congratulations to the parents for instilling the right set of values," X user Amogh Chaphalkar wrote. "Brilliant… u guys as parents deserve a huge applause.. There is nothing better than “To give” to inhibit that to a kid is very very important," another user by the name of Shyju wrote.

Indian boy gifts phone to house help using money he won from badminton tournaments

A judge in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has pleaded for euthanasia after alleging that she was sexually harassed at her workplace, media reports said on Thursday (Dec 14). In a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud which went viral on social media, the judge said she was sexually harassed by "one particular district judge and his associates."

"I complained to the Hon'ble Chief Justice, Allahabad, and the Administrative Judge (High Court Judge) in 2022. No action has been taken till date. No one even bothered to ask me: WHAT HAPPENED, WHY ARE YOU DISTRESSED?" she said.

The judge said she complained to the Internal Complaints Committee of the high court in July this year, adding it took six months and thousands of emails just to start an enquiry- which she called a farce and a sham.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-supreme-court-files-complaint-against-fake-whatsapp-forwards-under-cjis-name-625462">India's Supreme Court files complaint against fake WhatsApp forwards under CJI's name</a>

"The witnesses in the enquiry are immediate subordinates of the district judge. How the committee expects the witnesses to depose against their boss is beyond my understanding," the judge told the CJI in her letter.

<h3>Here's a look at the letter:</h3>

<h3><img alt="A look at the letter" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fe237095-3ff2-4899-b3c1-b209de8869be" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/CJi%20letter.jpeg" /></h3>

The judge also said the enquiry would now be conducted with the district judge being in control of all witnesses. "We all know the fate of such an enquiry."

"What justice will I give to others when I am myself hopeless? I have no will to live anymore. I have been rendered to a walking corpse in the last year and a half. There is no purpose in carrying this soulless and lifeless body around anymore. There is no purpose left in my life," she further said and urged CJI Chandrachud to permit her to end her life in a dignified way.

CJI Chandrachud has now sought a report from the Allahabad High Court administration on the status of the enquiry.&nbsp;

A judge in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has pleaded for euthanasia after alleging that she was sexually harassed at her workplace, media reports said on Thursday (Dec 14).

A judge in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has pleaded for euthanasia after alleging that she was sexually harassed at her workplace, media reports said on Thursday (Dec 14). In a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud which went viral on social media, the judge said she was sexually harassed by "one particular district judge and his associates." "I complained to the Hon'ble Chief Justice, Allahabad, and the Administrative Judge (High Court Judge) in 2022. No action has been taken till date. No one even bothered to ask me: WHAT HAPPENED, WHY ARE YOU DISTRESSED?" she said. The judge said she complained to the Internal Complaints Committee of the high court in July this year, adding it took six months and thousands of emails just to start an enquiry- which she called a farce and a sham. Also read: India's Supreme Court files complaint against fake WhatsApp forwards under CJI's name "The witnesses in the enquiry are immediate subordinates of the district judge. How the committee expects the witnesses to depose against their boss is beyond my understanding," the judge told the CJI in her letter. Here's a look at the letter: The judge also said the enquiry would now be conducted with the district judge being in control of all witnesses. "We all know the fate of such an enquiry." "What justice will I give to others when I am myself hopeless? I have no will to live anymore. I have been rendered to a walking corpse in the last year and a half. There is no purpose in carrying this soulless and lifeless body around anymore. There is no purpose left in my life," she further said and urged CJI Chandrachud to permit her to end her life in a dignified way. CJI Chandrachud has now sought a report from the Allahabad High Court administration on the status of the enquiry.

'No will to live anymore': Indian judge alleges sexual harassment at workplace; CJI seeks status report

Night Shifts Leading to Sleep Disorders? Here's what study shows

All Images: Pexels (Representative image)

Over 36,000 People Working Night Shifts Surveyed 

A recent study conducted by researchers in the Netherlands and Belgium found that most people who work night shifts suffer from some kind of sleep disorder, including insomnia and hypersomnia. 

Night Shift Workers More Frequently Reported Short Sleep 

The study said that compared to day workers, the night shift workers frequently reported short sleep.

Regular Night Shift Workers Develop Two or More Sleep Disorders 

Over a quarter of regular night-shift workers surveyed (26 per cent) reported more than two or three sleep disorders. Fifty-one per cent of people working in night shifts tested positive for at least one sleep disorder. 

Researchers suggested rotational shifts, particularly fast-forward rotating work schedules, with ‘night work as short as possible’. 


All Images: Pexels (Representative images)

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is facing one of its biggest challenges in decades. There are allegations that some LDP lawmakers received thousands of dollars in unreported funds.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is facing one of its biggest challenges in decades. There are allegations that some LDP lawmakers received thousands of dollars in unreported funds. Heads will roll, as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to replace some tainted ministers as early as Thursday (Dec 14), according to reports. This scandal comes as Japan is heading to a national election in October 2025. Even though the LDP has held power for almost all of Japan's post-war history, the scandal might weaken its hopes of retaining power. A poll showed that Prime Minister Kishida's government's popularity hit a record low, while the LDP's coalition partner warned that any rule-breaking would not be tolerated, Reuters reported on Monday (Dec 11). Addressing a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Kishida said his government would consider appropriate measures at the right time to restore public trust. What is the Japan funding scandal about? In Japan, politicians, political parties and their factions hold fundraising events to increase revenue through ticket sales. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, these fundraisers are often hosted by groups supporting political parties and politicians or by factions' administrative bodies. One ticket for such an event would cost around $138 (20,000 yen). Profits from such an event can go towards political parties. Citing a political funding statement, the report said that Prime Minister Kishida raised about $1.03 million from eight fundraisers last year. They cost a total of 19 million yen, leaving 87% of the money raised as profit, the report added. Also read: Japan PM Kishida's popularity further depletes over 'secret funds' scandal According to the law, political parties are required to report revenue from fundraising events if any individual or company purchases more than $1,375 of tickets in a year. A report by The Japan Times said that as long as the flow of money is reported adequately as stated in the law, there is nothing wrong with holding a fundraising event. What caused the recent scandals? The Japan Times report said that underreporting allegations surfaced last month when news came out that five major LDP factions made nearly $275,000 from ticket sales that were not reported under law in the four years through 2021. The factions here were the Kishida faction; the faction of former secretary-general Toshihiro Nikai; the Aso faction; the faction of LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Motegi, and the faction that was led by the former PM Shinzo Abe- who was assassinated in July last year. The factions claimed that there had been a mistake and they revised their political funds report. At that time, the damage appeared limited, the report said. However, on Dec 1, a report by Asahi Shimbun said that the Abe faction, the largest in the LDP, made off-the-book income in ticket sales worth over $687,000. Faction members who sold more tickets than the allocated quota were given the surplus as kickbacks. The Nikai faction, meanwhile, was suspected of underreporting income from ticket sales for fundraising parties, and of rewarding lawmakers who sold excess tickets with the surplus cash. The report further said that the Abe faction was suspected of failing to report both the excess revenue and expenditure for lawmakers. The Nikki faction, on the other hand, failed to report the revenue but reported the expenditure as a donation. PM planning to purge ministers embroiled in scandal Facing heat over the scandal, Prime Minister Kishida pledged on Monday to restore trust in his government. There have been reports that Kishida was planning to purge ministers embroiled in the scandal. Last Sunday, a report by the Asahi newspaper said that the prime minister decided to replace four ministers and 11 other ministerial positions in his cabinet. The reshuffle could come as early as Thursday. Also read: Deputy finance minister of Japan resigns after tax scandal in another blow to PM Fumio Kishida Those to be replaced include Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Internal Affairs Minister Junji Suzuki and Agriculture Minister Ichiro Miyashita. Trade Minister Nishimura said that he would stay in his post and review his political funding. "I am closely examining my own political financing report, and would like to provide a thorough explanation at the appropriate time," Nishimura told reporters on Sunday. On Tuesday, the main opposition party- Constitutional Democratic Party- is preparing to bring a no-confidence motion against Kishida's cabinet, local media reported. A decline in Kishida govt's popularity Fumio Kishida, who became prime minister in 2021, has seen his cabinet's approval rating slide in recent months. This was mainly due to worries about rising living costs and looming tax hikes to fund his military build-up plans. During the weekend, a survey by the Fuji News Network-Sankei said his administration's popularity sunk to a record low of 22.5 per cent, down 5.3 percentage points from the previous month. About 46 per cent of responders in the survey said they wanted Kishida to stay in power until his tenure as LDP leader expires in September next year, while about 41 per cent wanted him replaced immediately. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: What is the Japanese fundraising scandal that has engulfed Fumio Kishida govt?

Spy cameras disguised as hooks for hanging clothes are being sold on Amazon despite the firm manufacturing them facing legal action. According to a report by BBC early Tuesday (Dec 12), a US judge ruled the firm must face a case brought by a woman who alleged she was filmed in the bathroom using a clothes hook camera purchased on Amazon.

The woman, a student and an aspiring actress, claimed she was filmed at her West Virginia home when she was a child. The woman said she was surreptitiously recorded in the bathroom using a camera disguised as a clothes hook, which she said was purchased on Amazon.

The man alleged to be behind the filming was on trial for the case. Her complaint to a US district court noted that listing on Amazon, from where the camera was purchased was illustrated with a picture of it being used to hang towels along with the phrase "it won't attract attention".

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amazons-promotion-dilemma-return-to-office-or-risk-career-growth-660693">Amazon's Promotion Dilemma: Return to office or risk career growth</a>

The woman also said that the use of the camera was foreseeable to the e-commerce giant and sought punitive damages against Amazon Inc, Amazon.com Services LLC and other unnamed defendants, the BBC reported.

In an attempt to stop the case, Amazon argued that it was not responsible for how the camera was used. The BBC searched for similar cameras on Amazon's UK website and found listings including an alarm clock hidden camera, a camera disguised as a USB charger, and a camera hidden inside a smoke alarm.

There was also a camera disguised as a shower radio.

Speaking to the network, Jaya Handa, a privacy partner at law firm Pinsent Masons, said that given the expectation of privacy within the home, "individuals could be committing a crime under a number of other legal frameworks including harassment, child protection, voyeurism, sexual offences or human rights laws."

Meanwhile, activist Gina Martin said that victims of hidden cameras were often women and girls. Martin said that such cameras were being hidden from people who had been filmed "and we should all be able to explicitly consent to being videoed."

(With inputs from agencies)

Spy cameras disguised as hooks for hanging clothes are being sold on Amazon despite the firm manufacturing them facing legal action. According to a report by BBC early Tuesday (Dec 12), a US judge ruled the firm must face a case brought by a woman who alleged she was filmed in the bathroom using a clothes hook camera purchased on Amazon.

Spy cameras disguised as hooks for hanging clothes are being sold on Amazon despite the firm manufacturing them facing legal action. According to a report by BBC early Tuesday (Dec 12), a US judge ruled the firm must face a case brought by a woman who alleged she was filmed in the bathroom using a clothes hook camera purchased on Amazon. The woman, a student and an aspiring actress, claimed she was filmed at her West Virginia home when she was a child. The woman said she was surreptitiously recorded in the bathroom using a camera disguised as a clothes hook, which she said was purchased on Amazon. The man alleged to be behind the filming was on trial for the case. Her complaint to a US district court noted that listing on Amazon, from where the camera was purchased was illustrated with a picture of it being used to hang towels along with the phrase "it won't attract attention". Also read | Amazon's Promotion Dilemma: Return to office or risk career growth The woman also said that the use of the camera was foreseeable to the e-commerce giant and sought punitive damages against Amazon Inc, Amazon.com Services LLC and other unnamed defendants, the BBC reported. In an attempt to stop the case, Amazon argued that it was not responsible for how the camera was used. The BBC searched for similar cameras on Amazon's UK website and found listings including an alarm clock hidden camera, a camera disguised as a USB charger, and a camera hidden inside a smoke alarm. There was also a camera disguised as a shower radio. Speaking to the network, Jaya Handa, a privacy partner at law firm Pinsent Masons, said that given the expectation of privacy within the home, "individuals could be committing a crime under a number of other legal frameworks including harassment, child protection, voyeurism, sexual offences or human rights laws." Meanwhile, activist Gina Martin said that victims of hidden cameras were often women and girls. Martin said that such cameras were being hidden from people who had been filmed "and we should all be able to explicitly consent to being videoed." (With inputs from agencies)

Controversial spy cameras being sold on Amazon despite manufacturing firms facing legal action over gadgets

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