<p><strong>Massive sunspot AR3664:</strong> A gigantic sunspot, AR3664, on the&nbsp;surface of the&nbsp;sun&nbsp;ballooned and grew so massive that it can fit 15 Earths and has become the most active one in the current solar cycle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, this gigantic sunspot released a powerful&nbsp;X-class solar flare towards the Earth&nbsp;which&nbsp;led&nbsp;to radio blackouts in various areas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center had earlier this week&nbsp;issued a warning&nbsp;of increased&nbsp;solar flare&nbsp;risk from the&nbsp;Sun.</p>

<p>"Region 3664 has grown considerably and has become much more magnetically complex,"&nbsp;read NOAA's SWPC reports. "This has&nbsp;led to&nbsp;increased solar flare probabilities over the next several days," it added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sun-fires-massive-solar-flares-directly-at-earth-australia-japan-and-china-witness-radio-blackouts-718609">Sun fires massive solar flares directly at Earth; Australia, Japan and China witness radio&nbsp;blackouts</a></p>

<p>The giant sunspot has fired more powerful solar flares&nbsp;in recent days&nbsp;than estimated.&nbsp;This&nbsp;included a colossal X-class solar flare&nbsp;which&nbsp;was&nbsp;released on May 9 morning and peaked at 5:13 am&nbsp;EDT (0913 GMT).</p>

<p>Solar flares are eruptions from the&nbsp;surface of the&nbsp;sun&nbsp;which&nbsp;release intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation. According to their size, the solar flares have been categorised into lettered groups and the X-class&nbsp;is considered the most powerful.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Because of this, the X-flare led to shortwave radio blackouts across parts of Europe and Africa. The radio blackouts happened due to extreme ultraviolet radiation&nbsp;which&nbsp;was&nbsp;released&nbsp;during the eruption&nbsp;and&nbsp;the strong pulse of X-rays.</p>

<h2><strong>Sunspot visible from Earth&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The sunspot AR3664,&nbsp;which&nbsp;is&nbsp;spread&nbsp;across 124,000 (200,000 kilometres), is currently 15 times wider than Earth, as per Spaceweather.com.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sunspot is so&nbsp;huge&nbsp;that it is visible from Earth without&nbsp;any need for&nbsp;magnification. Those&nbsp;who have&nbsp;a pair of&nbsp;solar eclipse&nbsp;glasses&nbsp;can use them to observe the&nbsp;sun&nbsp;and observe the mammoth sunspot cross the solar disk.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>NASA shares images of dancing loops</strong></h2>

<p>In a recent post, NASA shared two GIFs (graphics interchange format)&nbsp;which&nbsp;captured the moment&nbsp;two powerful solar flares&nbsp;were unleashed&nbsp;by the&nbsp;sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Boeing to send Starliner space capsule with 2 astronauts'</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/boeing-to-send-starliner-space-capsule-with-2-astronauts-718135/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The two solar flares erupted on May 7 and May 8 from the sunspots AR3663 and AR3664.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You make a loop-de-loop and pull, and your&nbsp;Sun&nbsp;is looking&nbsp;cool! Late at night on May 7 and in the wee hours of May 8, the&nbsp;Sun&nbsp;emitted this powerful pair of solar flares. These two energetic flashes with dancing loops&nbsp;were captured&nbsp;by @NASAGoddard's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which always has its eye on the&nbsp;Sun," wrote&nbsp;NASA,&nbsp;in the&nbsp;caption of the post.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"The Sun-like even the most vibrant people-is&nbsp;not&nbsp;a constant ray of sunshine. It constantly cycles through periods of higher and lower activity. High activity can lead to these solar flares, or dramatic&nbsp;explosions of energy&nbsp;out from the&nbsp;Sun," NASA added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Massive sunspot AR3664: A gigantic sunspot, AR3664, on the surface of the sun ballooned and grew so massive that it can fit 15 Earths and has become the most active one in the current solar cycle.

Massive sunspot AR3664: A gigantic sunspot, AR3664, on the surface of the sun ballooned and grew so massive that it can fit 15 Earths and has become the most active one in the current solar cycle. Now, this gigantic sunspot released a powerful X-class solar flare towards the Earth which led to radio blackouts in various areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center had earlier this week issued a warning of increased solar flare risk from the Sun. "Region 3664 has grown considerably and has become much more magnetically complex," read NOAA's SWPC reports. "This has led to increased solar flare probabilities over the next several days," it added. Also Read: Sun fires massive solar flares directly at Earth; Australia, Japan and China witness radio blackouts The giant sunspot has fired more powerful solar flares in recent days than estimated. This included a colossal X-class solar flare which was released on May 9 morning and peaked at 5:13 am EDT (0913 GMT). Solar flares are eruptions from the surface of the sun which release intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation. According to their size, the solar flares have been categorised into lettered groups and the X-class is considered the most powerful. Because of this, the X-flare led to shortwave radio blackouts across parts of Europe and Africa. The radio blackouts happened due to extreme ultraviolet radiation which was released during the eruption and the strong pulse of X-rays. Sunspot visible from Earth The sunspot AR3664, which is spread across 124,000 (200,000 kilometres), is currently 15 times wider than Earth, as per Spaceweather.com. The sunspot is so huge that it is visible from Earth without any need for magnification. Those who have a pair of solar eclipse glasses can use them to observe the sun and observe the mammoth sunspot cross the solar disk. NASA shares images of dancing loops In a recent post, NASA shared two GIFs (graphics interchange format) which captured the moment two powerful solar flares were unleashed by the sun. Watch: Boeing to send Starliner space capsule with 2 astronauts' The two solar flares erupted on May 7 and May 8 from the sunspots AR3663 and AR3664. "You make a loop-de-loop and pull, and your Sun is looking cool! Late at night on May 7 and in the wee hours of May 8, the Sun emitted this powerful pair of solar flares. These two energetic flashes with dancing loops were captured by @NASAGoddard's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which always has its eye on the Sun," wrote NASA, in the caption of the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × "The Sun-like even the most vibrant people-is not a constant ray of sunshine. It constantly cycles through periods of higher and lower activity. High activity can lead to these solar flares, or dramatic explosions of energy out from the Sun," NASA added. (With inputs from agencies)

Gigantic sunspot, wide enough to fill 15 worlds, hits Earth with powerful X-class solar flare

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<p>The mother of the US soldier detained&nbsp;in Russia has claimed that his girlfriend "lured" him to the country.</p>

<p>United States' Staff Sgt. Gordon D. Black, 34 was arrested by the Russian police on May 2 in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok.</p>

<p>Speaking to NBC News about her son’s girlfriend Aleksandra Vashchuk, Melody Jones said, "I think she convinced him to come&nbsp;there." The soldier has been kept in police custody on charges of “theft of personal property.”</p>

<p>According to the report, Black travelled to Vladivostok on his own after ending his duty as an Army trainer in South Korea on April 10.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-says-us-soldier-arrested-in-russia-for-theft-flouted-army-rules-719153">Pentagon says US soldier arrested in Russia for theft flouted army rules</a></p>

<p>The US soldier was asked to leave the foreign base and move directly to his next station in Texas, said Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith, while speaking to The New York Post on Tuesday (May 7).</p>

<h2><strong>'More worried about him going to Russia than Iraq and Afghanistan'</strong></h2>

<p>“He wanted to see her for the last time before going home, and so he went there,” said Jones, as she explained what motivated her son to travel to Russia where many Americans, which includes Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, have been held against their will.</p>

<p>“I was worried about him&nbsp;going because the government there has been grabbing Americans. I told him not to go. I was more worried about him going to Russia than I was when he was in Iraq and Afghanistan," Jones said.</p>

<p>Black, whose divorce from his wife is going on in the United States, first interacted with Vashchuk “at a bar where she was working,” Jones said to NBC.</p>

<p>“They’ve been together, on and off, for about a year and a half. I’ve never met her in person, but I’ve spoken to her over Messenger. My motherly instincts told me something was wrong with her,” said the worried mother.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US Army releases unsettling ad with haunting images</strong></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, Jones said that her son is "a good boy with a cute, crooked smile". "He was a good soldier, too,” she added, further stating that he speaks Russian fluently.</p>

<p>In one of the videos uploaded on Vashchuk’s TikTok account, Black was seen supporting Russia amid the Ukraine war.</p>

<p>“I think NATO is pretty aggressive. Honestly, I understand Russia’s position.&nbsp;Obviously,&nbsp;they want to defend their country," said Black in the video.</p>

<p>After landing in Vladivostok, the US soldier was arrested on charges of stealing property from a person, who was identified as "citizen T", as per a statement from Pervomaisky District Court spokeswoman Elena Oleneva. He is likely to remain in Russia for at least two months.</p>

<p>His mother said that the last thing he texted her was, "Don’t worry about me, I’m OK."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The mother of the US soldier detained in Russia has claimed that his girlfriend "lured" him to the country. United States' Staff Sgt. Gordon D. Black, 34 was arrested by the Russian police on May 2 in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok.

The mother of the US soldier detained in Russia has claimed that his girlfriend "lured" him to the country. United States' Staff Sgt. Gordon D. Black, 34 was arrested by the Russian police on May 2 in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. Speaking to NBC News about her son’s girlfriend Aleksandra Vashchuk, Melody Jones said, "I think she convinced him to come there." The soldier has been kept in police custody on charges of “theft of personal property.” According to the report, Black travelled to Vladivostok on his own after ending his duty as an Army trainer in South Korea on April 10. Also Read: Pentagon says US soldier arrested in Russia for theft flouted army rules The US soldier was asked to leave the foreign base and move directly to his next station in Texas, said Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith, while speaking to The New York Post on Tuesday (May 7). 'More worried about him going to Russia than Iraq and Afghanistan' “He wanted to see her for the last time before going home, and so he went there,” said Jones, as she explained what motivated her son to travel to Russia where many Americans, which includes Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, have been held against their will. “I was worried about him going because the government there has been grabbing Americans. I told him not to go. I was more worried about him going to Russia than I was when he was in Iraq and Afghanistan," Jones said. Black, whose divorce from his wife is going on in the United States, first interacted with Vashchuk “at a bar where she was working,” Jones said to NBC. “They’ve been together, on and off, for about a year and a half. I’ve never met her in person, but I’ve spoken to her over Messenger. My motherly instincts told me something was wrong with her,” said the worried mother. Watch: US Army releases unsettling ad with haunting images Meanwhile, Jones said that her son is "a good boy with a cute, crooked smile". "He was a good soldier, too,” she added, further stating that he speaks Russian fluently. In one of the videos uploaded on Vashchuk’s TikTok account, Black was seen supporting Russia amid the Ukraine war. “I think NATO is pretty aggressive. Honestly, I understand Russia’s position. Obviously, they want to defend their country," said Black in the video. After landing in Vladivostok, the US soldier was arrested on charges of stealing property from a person, who was identified as "citizen T", as per a statement from Pervomaisky District Court spokeswoman Elena Oleneva. He is likely to remain in Russia for at least two months. His mother said that the last thing he texted her was, "Don’t worry about me, I’m OK." (With inputs from agencies)

Girlfriend lured detained US soldier to Russia, claims mother

<p>The European Space Agency, with the help of Gaia mission’s data, discovered a new family of black holes which are unique in nature. The two black holes discovered are the closest ones to the Earth till date.</p>

<p>Black hole Gaia BH1 is at a distance of 1560 light-years&nbsp;from Earth in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus and Gaia BH2 is located 3800 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus.</p>

<p>In cosmic terms, the distance is not far and scientists have stated that two black holes are just in our cosmic backyard.</p>

<p>The wobbles, which were created in their companion stars’ movement, picked the two black holes.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-ultramassive-black-hole-that-can-fit-30-billion-suns-577144">Scientists discover ultramassive black hole that can fit 30 billion suns</a></p>

<p>The presence of wobble meant that the stars were not alone and proved that they were orbiting a huge object, which is ten times bigger than our Sun.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">1/ 🕳️🕳️ <a href="https://twitter.com/ESAGaia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESAGaia</a> has discovered the two closest black holes to Earth ever found!<br />
This discovery alludes to a new family of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blackholes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blackholes</a> which is invisible, relatively ‘close-by’ and has stellar companions in large orbits around them ✨<a href="https://t.co/6cIfUGMmfU">https://t.co/6cIfUGMmfU</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GaiaMission?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GaiaMission</a> <a href="https://t.co/y2qlJpa67R">pic.twitter.com/y2qlJpa67R</a></p>
— ESA Science (@esascience) <a href="https://twitter.com/esascience/status/1641353409184903169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Scientists claimed that the space objects were totally invisible, and black and can only be detected because of the gravitational effects.</p>

<p>“What sets this new group of black holes apart from the ones we already knew about is their wide separation from their companion stars. These black holes likely have a completely different formation history than X-ray binaries," said Kareem El-Badry, who discovered the new black holes, in a statement.</p>

<p>The discovery of black holes was part of the analysis carried out on data which was beamed back by the Gaia mission, which was measuring the motions and positions of billions of stars present in our universe.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-mission-to-saturns-moon-titan-may-unravel-secrets-behind-origin-of-life-574725/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The changing position of stars against the sky can provide essential clues about objects which influences these stars gravitationally.</p>

<p>Although Gaia data revealed massive objects’ presence around the stars, Chandra X-ray Observatory and the South African MeerKAT radio telescope’s observations failed to detect any emission, which is a characteristic found in black holes.</p>

<p>"There are a lot of particles coming off the companion star in the form of stellar wind. But because we didn't see any radio light, that tells us the black hole isn't a great eater and not many particles are crossing its event horizon. We don’t know why that is, but we want to find out,” said Yvette Cendes, who assisted in the discovery of the second black hole.</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The European Space Agency, with the help of Gaia mission’s data, discovered a new family of black holes which are unique in nature. The two black holes discovered are the closest ones to the Earth till date.

The European Space Agency, with the help of Gaia mission’s data, discovered a new family of black holes which are unique in nature. The two black holes discovered are the closest ones to the Earth till date. Black hole Gaia BH1 is at a distance of 1560 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus and Gaia BH2 is located 3800 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus. In cosmic terms, the distance is not far and scientists have stated that two black holes are just in our cosmic backyard. The wobbles, which were created in their companion stars’ movement, picked the two black holes. ALSO READ | Scientists discover ultramassive black hole that can fit 30 billion suns The presence of wobble meant that the stars were not alone and proved that they were orbiting a huge object, which is ten times bigger than our Sun. 1/ 🕳️🕳️ @ESAGaia has discovered the two closest black holes to Earth ever found! This discovery alludes to a new family of #blackholes which is invisible, relatively ‘close-by’ and has stellar companions in large orbits around them ✨https://t.co/6cIfUGMmfU#GaiaMission pic.twitter.com/y2qlJpa67R — ESA Science (@esascience) March 30, 2023 × Scientists claimed that the space objects were totally invisible, and black and can only be detected because of the gravitational effects. “What sets this new group of black holes apart from the ones we already knew about is their wide separation from their companion stars. These black holes likely have a completely different formation history than X-ray binaries," said Kareem El-Badry, who discovered the new black holes, in a statement. The discovery of black holes was part of the analysis carried out on data which was beamed back by the Gaia mission, which was measuring the motions and positions of billions of stars present in our universe. WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life The changing position of stars against the sky can provide essential clues about objects which influences these stars gravitationally. Although Gaia data revealed massive objects’ presence around the stars, Chandra X-ray Observatory and the South African MeerKAT radio telescope’s observations failed to detect any emission, which is a characteristic found in black holes. "There are a lot of particles coming off the companion star in the form of stellar wind. But because we didn't see any radio light, that tells us the black hole isn't a great eater and not many particles are crossing its event horizon. We don’t know why that is, but we want to find out,” said Yvette Cendes, who assisted in the discovery of the second black hole. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists locate two black holes closest to Earth in cosmic backyard

Cocoa Powder is an item which is frequently used for baking desserts. What if you run out of cocoa powder while baking a cake? Here are five alternatives which can be used instead of cocoa powder.


Melted dark chocolates enhance the taste of cakes, brownies and cookies and add depth to baked items. 


Espresso powder has a strong and bitter taste similar to cocoa powder and hence is a good alternative.

Milk powder, even if it's not chocolaty, adds a creamy and sweet flavour to baked items. 

Chocolate chips add flavour and sweetness similar to cocoa powder in baked treats.

Chocolate spread, filled with high cocoa content, can also be used as an alternative in baked items.


The content provided on the website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.


5 Best Alternatives to Cocoa Powder


5 Superfoods Which Keep Your Body Cool Amid Heatwave


Your health gets easily impacted amid soaring heat. It is important to eat right to keep your body temperature in control.


Coconut water is filled with natural electrolytes which help in keeping the body rehydrated and refreshed.

Cucumber is filled with cooling properties which decreases heat in the body. It is filled with antioxidants and essential vitamins which enhance overall health. 

Aloe Vera gel works as a natural body coolant. It provides hydration and manages body temperature.

Watermelons help in the absorption of heat from the body and are filled with water content. It is filled with vital nutrients which improve gut health and boost immunity.


5 Superfoods Which Keep Your Body Cool Amid Heatwave

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<p>Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew a day&nbsp;after around 300 employees went on&nbsp;'mass sick leave' and switched off&nbsp;their phones, causing&nbsp;large-scale flight disruptions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are chances that the number of people sacked will increase&nbsp;and the management will most probably hold a town hall meeting on Thursday (May 9) with the cabin crew members.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mass sick leave&nbsp;led to the cancellation of around 86 international and domestic flights on May 8 and&nbsp;76 flights on May 9.</p>

<p>In the termination letter sent to the 25 off-crew members, Air India Express said that their act "clearly points to a pre-meditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-indias-crew-members-go-on-mass-sick-leave-more-than-70-flights-cancelled-719207">Air India Express chaos: Nearly 300 crew go on 'mass sick leave', more than 80 flights cancelled</a></p>

<p>"As a result of the above, a large number of flights had to be cancelled, thereby disrupting the entire schedule, which caused tremendous inconvenience to the Company's esteemed passengers. Your act is not only subversive of public interest, but has also caused embarrassment, severe reputational damage, and serious monetary loss to the Company," read the letter.</p>

<p>"Your act of reporting sick for work amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt services of the Company. This is not only in violation of the applicable&nbsp;laws but also violates the Air India Express Limited Employees' Service Rules as&nbsp;are applicable&nbsp;to you," it added.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>According to the report, the management said&nbsp;that&nbsp;an&nbsp;ultimatum&nbsp;has&nbsp;been given to the employees to join work by 4 pm on May 9 or face action.</p>

<h2><strong>Why did crew members go on 'mass sick leave'?</strong></h2>

<p>Air India Express employees were protesting against the company's new employment terms, as per the reports.&nbsp;According to the reports, the crew allege&nbsp;that there is a lack of equality in the way the staff is treated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The employees claimed that few of them were offered lower job roles even though they cleared interviews for senior positions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The employees had also raised concerns regarding some modifications in their compensation package. Such developments continue to take place as the airline remains involved in a merger with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India).</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Air India Express chaos: Nearly 300 crew go on 'mass sick leave', more than 80 flights cancelled</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/air-india-express-chaos-nearly-300-crew-go-on-mass-sick-leave-more-than-80-flights-cancelled-719404/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU),&nbsp;an organisation representing the crew members, in a letter, wrote about the "stark departure from commitments".</p>

<p>The union further accused Air India Express of mismanagement and treating employees unequally.</p>

<p>Reacting to the current scenario, an Air India Express spokesperson said, “Air India Express is making every possible effort to minimise the inconvenience caused to our guests by this unexpected situation. We will be operating 292 flights today. We have mobilised all resources and Air India will support us by operating on 20 of our routes. However, 74 of our flights stand cancelled and we urge our guests booked to fly with us to check if their flight is affected by the disruption before heading to the airport. If their flight is cancelled, or delayed beyond 3 hours, they may opt for a full refund or reschedule to a later date without any fees on Tia on WhatsApp (+91 6360012345) or on airindiaexpress.com.:</p>

<p>"While we will continue to engage with our cabin crew colleagues with a commitment to address any concern, we are taking appropriate steps against certain individuals as their actions have caused grave inconvenience to thousands of our guests," the spokesperson added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew a day after around 300 employees went on 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions.

Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew a day after around 300 employees went on 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions. There are chances that the number of people sacked will increase and the management will most probably hold a town hall meeting on Thursday (May 9) with the cabin crew members. The mass sick leave led to the cancellation of around 86 international and domestic flights on May 8 and 76 flights on May 9. In the termination letter sent to the 25 off-crew members, Air India Express said that their act "clearly points to a pre-meditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason." Also Read: Air India Express chaos: Nearly 300 crew go on 'mass sick leave', more than 80 flights cancelled "As a result of the above, a large number of flights had to be cancelled, thereby disrupting the entire schedule, which caused tremendous inconvenience to the Company's esteemed passengers. Your act is not only subversive of public interest, but has also caused embarrassment, severe reputational damage, and serious monetary loss to the Company," read the letter. "Your act of reporting sick for work amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt services of the Company. This is not only in violation of the applicable laws but also violates the Air India Express Limited Employees' Service Rules as are applicable to you," it added. According to the report, the management said that an ultimatum has been given to the employees to join work by 4 pm on May 9 or face action. Why did crew members go on 'mass sick leave'? Air India Express employees were protesting against the company's new employment terms, as per the reports. According to the reports, the crew allege that there is a lack of equality in the way the staff is treated. The employees claimed that few of them were offered lower job roles even though they cleared interviews for senior positions. The employees had also raised concerns regarding some modifications in their compensation package. Such developments continue to take place as the airline remains involved in a merger with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India). Watch: Air India Express chaos: Nearly 300 crew go on 'mass sick leave', more than 80 flights cancelled The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), an organisation representing the crew members, in a letter, wrote about the "stark departure from commitments". The union further accused Air India Express of mismanagement and treating employees unequally. Reacting to the current scenario, an Air India Express spokesperson said, “Air India Express is making every possible effort to minimise the inconvenience caused to our guests by this unexpected situation. We will be operating 292 flights today. We have mobilised all resources and Air India will support us by operating on 20 of our routes. However, 74 of our flights stand cancelled and we urge our guests booked to fly with us to check if their flight is affected by the disruption before heading to the airport. If their flight is cancelled, or delayed beyond 3 hours, they may opt for a full refund or reschedule to a later date without any fees on Tia on WhatsApp (+91 6360012345) or on airindiaexpress.com.: "While we will continue to engage with our cabin crew colleagues with a commitment to address any concern, we are taking appropriate steps against certain individuals as their actions have caused grave inconvenience to thousands of our guests," the spokesperson added. (With inputs from agencies)

Air India Express sacks crew members over 'pre-meditated' mass sick leave

<p>It was in the year 1884 when 22-year-old Rabindranath Tagore, subsumed in pain of separation, in a letter to his confidant, educationist and social reformer C F Andrews wrote, “She, my Queen, has died and my world has shut against the door of its inner apartment of beauty which gives on the real taste of freedom.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>The words were not just a mere expression of pain, but a grave loss that would later form his exemplary literary works. The woman, whose&nbsp;loss appeared unbearable to the greatest poet of his time, was his muse and sister-in-law Kadambari Devi.</p>

<h2>Kadambari Devi</h2>

<h2><img alt="Kadambari" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1cd06cc1-8d35-44db-acdd-b4ed5fd72930" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-08T185613.777.png" /></h2>

<p>The most famous and strongly impactful woman in Tagore's life, Kadambari Devi, was married to his brother at the age of 10. Describing her first glimpse in his house, Tagore in his autobiographical masterpiece <em>My Boyhood Days</em> (<em>Chhelebelai</em>) writes, “A new bride came to the house, slender gold bracelets on her delicate brown hands…I circled around her at a safe distance, but I did not dare to go near. She was enthroned at the centre of affection and I was only a neglected, insignificant child.”</p>

<p>After Tagore's mother passed away, Devi was given the duty to look after him. As the two grew up, they turned from playmates to literary companions to eventually the poet and his muse. When Tagore turned 17, he visited England for some time and continued writing letters to Kadambari. Later, he got a few letters published.</p>

<p>The letters left his family scandalised who construed their relationship as sexual and passionate and hence, decided to get Tagore married as soon as possible. On December 9, 1883, Tagore was married to 11-year-old Bhavatarini Devi, whom he later called Mrinalini.</p>

<p>Kadambari, who was a childless and neglected wife, was left traumatised by the whole event and after four months, she committed suicide through an opium overdose. What was left were mere words of Tagore's agony in a letter.&nbsp;“But where is the sweetheart of mine who was almost the only companion of my boyhood and with whom I spent my idle days of youth exploring the mysteries of dreamland? She, my Queen, has died and my world has shut against the door of its inner apartment of beauty which gives on the real taste of freedom.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/english-language-day-honours-william-shakespeare-but-did-he-really-write-those-works-585243">English Language Day honours William Shakespeare, but did he really write those works?</a></p>

<h2>Tagore's Nalini</h2>

<h2><img alt="Nalini" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="783cf421-b7ba-4eb2-9734-3cfdd3bd4645" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-08T185823.030.png" /></h2>

<p>Annapurna (also known as Annabai or Anna) was the daughter of Mumbai-based doctor Atmaram Pandurang Turkhad. Tagore was sent by his brother to stay with the anglicised Turkhund family for some time before his voyage to Britain.</p>

<p>During the two-month stay, Tagore learnt spoken English from Anna, who had recently returned from England and had honed her conversational skills. According to Krishna Kripalani's book <em>Tagore—A Life</em>, a mutual affection bloomed between the two and Anna was given the nickname of 'Nalini' by Tagore, a name which was later used by the novelist multiple times.</p>

<p>After two months, the two parted ways. Annapurna later married Baroda High School and College's Scottish vice-principal Harold Littledale and settled in Edinburgh, where she died at the age of 33. However, till then she continued to use ‘Nalini’ as her literary moniker and Tagore's prose and poetry also continued remembering his 'Nalini'.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Indian-American mathematician C R Rao awarded math ‘Nobel Prize’</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-american-mathematician-c-r-rao-awarded-math-nobel-prize-581132/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Mrinalini</h2>

<p><img alt="Mrinalini" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="49def76c-86e3-4a6e-8647-caa163cad274" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-08T185911.085.png" /></p>

<p>Mrinalini became the centre stage of Tagore's life as a dutiful wife to a poet who was still lamenting Kadambari's loss. To become his true companion, she not only fulfilled her duties but also sharpened her knowledge of literature and learnt several languages.</p>

<p>It is said that eventually Tagore fell for his wife Mrinalini and wrote several letters to her when he travelled. But their love story was also short-lived as Mrinalini died at the age of 29. In her memory, Tagore published a volume of 27 poems, titled <em>Smaran </em>(Remembrance).</p>

<h2>Victoria Ocampo</h2>

<h2><img alt="Ocampo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="449261a7-d96e-4c01-9a5c-1040ec4aa42a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-05-08T185932.581.png" /></h2>

<p>Tagore is said to have shared an affectionate relationship with 63-year-old widow, Victoria Ocampo. The poet, in his old age, lived with Ocampo in an isolated villa located outside Buenos Aires.</p>

<p>The lady took care of him as the poet's health declined. Some great poetry was written by Tagore which was dedicated to her. Describing her emotion for Tagore, Ocampo had called it a great “love tenderness” (amour de tendresse). However, their relationship remains complicated and all the literary works remain overshadowed by his undying love for Kadambari Devi.</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


It was in the year 1884 when 22-year-old Rabindranath Tagore, subsumed in pain of separation, in a letter to his confidant, educationist and social reformer C F Andrews wrote, “She, my Queen, has died and my world has shut against the door of its inner apartment of beauty which gives on the real taste of freedom.

It was in the year 1884 when 22-year-old Rabindranath Tagore, subsumed in pain of separation, in a letter to his confidant, educationist and social reformer C F Andrews wrote, “She, my Queen, has died and my world has shut against the door of its inner apartment of beauty which gives on the real taste of freedom.” The words were not just a mere expression of pain, but a grave loss that would later form his exemplary literary works. The woman, whose loss appeared unbearable to the greatest poet of his time, was his muse and sister-in-law Kadambari Devi. Kadambari Devi The most famous and strongly impactful woman in Tagore's life, Kadambari Devi, was married to his brother at the age of 10. Describing her first glimpse in his house, Tagore in his autobiographical masterpiece My Boyhood Days (Chhelebelai) writes, “A new bride came to the house, slender gold bracelets on her delicate brown hands…I circled around her at a safe distance, but I did not dare to go near. She was enthroned at the centre of affection and I was only a neglected, insignificant child.” After Tagore's mother passed away, Devi was given the duty to look after him. As the two grew up, they turned from playmates to literary companions to eventually the poet and his muse. When Tagore turned 17, he visited England for some time and continued writing letters to Kadambari. Later, he got a few letters published. The letters left his family scandalised who construed their relationship as sexual and passionate and hence, decided to get Tagore married as soon as possible. On December 9, 1883, Tagore was married to 11-year-old Bhavatarini Devi, whom he later called Mrinalini. Kadambari, who was a childless and neglected wife, was left traumatised by the whole event and after four months, she committed suicide through an opium overdose. What was left were mere words of Tagore's agony in a letter. “But where is the sweetheart of mine who was almost the only companion of my boyhood and with whom I spent my idle days of youth exploring the mysteries of dreamland? She, my Queen, has died and my world has shut against the door of its inner apartment of beauty which gives on the real taste of freedom.” ALSO READ | English Language Day honours William Shakespeare, but did he really write those works? Tagore's Nalini Annapurna (also known as Annabai or Anna) was the daughter of Mumbai-based doctor Atmaram Pandurang Turkhad. Tagore was sent by his brother to stay with the anglicised Turkhund family for some time before his voyage to Britain. During the two-month stay, Tagore learnt spoken English from Anna, who had recently returned from England and had honed her conversational skills. According to Krishna Kripalani's book Tagore—A Life, a mutual affection bloomed between the two and Anna was given the nickname of 'Nalini' by Tagore, a name which was later used by the novelist multiple times. After two months, the two parted ways. Annapurna later married Baroda High School and College's Scottish vice-principal Harold Littledale and settled in Edinburgh, where she died at the age of 33. However, till then she continued to use ‘Nalini’ as her literary moniker and Tagore's prose and poetry also continued remembering his 'Nalini'. WATCH | Indian-American mathematician C R Rao awarded math ‘Nobel Prize’ Mrinalini Mrinalini became the centre stage of Tagore's life as a dutiful wife to a poet who was still lamenting Kadambari's loss. To become his true companion, she not only fulfilled her duties but also sharpened her knowledge of literature and learnt several languages. It is said that eventually Tagore fell for his wife Mrinalini and wrote several letters to her when he travelled. But their love story was also short-lived as Mrinalini died at the age of 29. In her memory, Tagore published a volume of 27 poems, titled Smaran (Remembrance). Victoria Ocampo Tagore is said to have shared an affectionate relationship with 63-year-old widow, Victoria Ocampo. The poet, in his old age, lived with Ocampo in an isolated villa located outside Buenos Aires. The lady took care of him as the poet's health declined. Some great poetry was written by Tagore which was dedicated to her. Describing her emotion for Tagore, Ocampo had called it a great “love tenderness” (amour de tendresse). However, their relationship remains complicated and all the literary works remain overshadowed by his undying love for Kadambari Devi. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Tagore and his women | Forgotten names who shaped the Nobel laureate's literature

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<p>Pre-historic rock art&nbsp;discovered&nbsp;by archaeologists on the walls of sites located in the Atbai Desert in Eastern Sudan,&nbsp;builds a picture of the region that is very different from the present arid areas, and appears unbelievable.</p>

<p>Even though the region is currently arid, according to the&nbsp;artwork&nbsp;it once was filled with lush green bushes, pastures, water and also animal life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Interestingly, the&nbsp;artwork&nbsp;is only around 4,000 years old&nbsp;which&nbsp;hints&nbsp;that&nbsp;most&nbsp;likely&nbsp;this part of the Sahara Desert went through a rapid and radical change in just a few millennia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The archaeologists at Macquarie University, in a new study,&nbsp;have described the 16 rock art sites&nbsp;which&nbsp;were&nbsp;discovered&nbsp;in the deserts around Wadi Halfa, which is a city in northern Sudan close to the border with&nbsp;Egypt.</p>

<p>In the different figures depicted in the art, the&nbsp;researchers discovered illustrations of humans, antelopes, elephants, and giraffes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the archaeologists, cattle also appeared often,&nbsp;which&nbsp;was surprising in the wake of the hyper-arid climate of the Atbai Desert.</p>

<p>The region today&nbsp;receives almost no annual rainfall&nbsp;which&nbsp;has made&nbsp;cattle pastoralism impossible. In contrast to this, the rock art displays that cattle farming was a common theme of people living in the area in 3000 BCE.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ai-deciphers-sperm-whale-clicks-unravels-underwater-conversations-719623">AI deciphers sperm whale clicks, unravels underwater conversations</a></p>

<p>In a statement, researcher Dr Julien Cooper said, “It was puzzling to find cattle carved on desert rock walls as they require plenty of water and acres of&nbsp;pasture,&nbsp;and would not survive in the dry and arid environment of the Sahara today."</p>

<p>Cooper&nbsp;headed a team of archaeologists involved&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Atbai Survey Project in 2018 and 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The presence of cattle in ancient rock art is one of the most important pieces of evidence establishing a once ‘green Sahara’,” Cooper said.</p>

<h2><strong>Rainfall in Africa led to pastures in Sahara Dessert?</strong></h2>

<p>Africa&nbsp;between&nbsp;15,000 and 5,000 years&nbsp;ago&nbsp;received increased summer monsoon rainfall across the continent because of periodic variations in the orbit of Earth around the&nbsp;Sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Because of the downpours, the continent became a flourishing land&nbsp;of grassy pasture&nbsp;which&nbsp;was&nbsp;filled&nbsp;with freshwater lakes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the wet period&nbsp;came to an end, a drastic change took place in the region’s landscape along with many people and other animals who lived here.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;London's 'light into life' exhibition inspired by nature and science</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/londons-light-into-life-exhibition-inspired-by-nature-and-science-717310/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“The Atbai Desert around Wadi Halfa, where&nbsp;the new rock art was discovered, became almost completely depopulated. For those who remained,&nbsp;cattle were abandoned&nbsp;for sheep and goats,” Dr Cooper said.</p>

<p>“This would have had major ramifications on all aspects of human life – from diet and limited milk supplies, migratory patterns of herding families and the identity and livelihood of those who depended on their cattle," the researcher said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Pre-historic rock art discovered by archaeologists on the walls of sites located in the Atbai Desert in Eastern Sudan, builds a picture of the region that is very different from the present arid areas, and appears unbelievable.

Pre-historic rock art discovered by archaeologists on the walls of sites located in the Atbai Desert in Eastern Sudan, builds a picture of the region that is very different from the present arid areas, and appears unbelievable. Even though the region is currently arid, according to the artwork it once was filled with lush green bushes, pastures, water and also animal life. Interestingly, the artwork is only around 4,000 years old which hints that most likely this part of the Sahara Desert went through a rapid and radical change in just a few millennia. The archaeologists at Macquarie University, in a new study, have described the 16 rock art sites which were discovered in the deserts around Wadi Halfa, which is a city in northern Sudan close to the border with Egypt. In the different figures depicted in the art, the researchers discovered illustrations of humans, antelopes, elephants, and giraffes. According to the archaeologists, cattle also appeared often, which was surprising in the wake of the hyper-arid climate of the Atbai Desert. The region today receives almost no annual rainfall which has made cattle pastoralism impossible. In contrast to this, the rock art displays that cattle farming was a common theme of people living in the area in 3000 BCE. Also Read: AI deciphers sperm whale clicks, unravels underwater conversations In a statement, researcher Dr Julien Cooper said, “It was puzzling to find cattle carved on desert rock walls as they require plenty of water and acres of pasture, and would not survive in the dry and arid environment of the Sahara today." Cooper headed a team of archaeologists involved in the Atbai Survey Project in 2018 and 2019. “The presence of cattle in ancient rock art is one of the most important pieces of evidence establishing a once ‘green Sahara’,” Cooper said. Rainfall in Africa led to pastures in Sahara Dessert? Africa between 15,000 and 5,000 years ago received increased summer monsoon rainfall across the continent because of periodic variations in the orbit of Earth around the Sun. Because of the downpours, the continent became a flourishing land of grassy pasture which was filled with freshwater lakes. After the wet period came to an end, a drastic change took place in the region’s landscape along with many people and other animals who lived here. Watch: London's 'light into life' exhibition inspired by nature and science “The Atbai Desert around Wadi Halfa, where the new rock art was discovered, became almost completely depopulated. For those who remained, cattle were abandoned for sheep and goats,” Dr Cooper said. “This would have had major ramifications on all aspects of human life – from diet and limited milk supplies, migratory patterns of herding families and the identity and livelihood of those who depended on their cattle," the researcher said. (With inputs from agencies)

Has Sahara Desert always been barren? A 4,000-year-old rock art holds the answer

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<p>Astrophysicist and NASA's former scientist Lisa Kaltenegger surveyed the galaxy for her new book <em>Alien Earths</em> in which she hinted at the possibility of the existence of alien life in a water world dominated by octopus-like creatures, a planet which&nbsp;has a dark side where the sun never rises and a lava hell where the planet experiences molten rock rains from the sky.</p>

<p>The astrophysicist&nbsp;has documented dozens of exoplanets which orbit stars outside our solar system and have&nbsp;been classified&nbsp;as&nbsp;'Earth-like' or 'potentially habitable'.</p>

<p>In&nbsp;another work of hers, titled <em>The Worlds That Shook Science</em>, Kaltenegge said that astronomy breakthroughs made in the last three decades show that humans&nbsp;are living&nbsp;in "a completely new golden era of exploration".</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/alien-encounter-in-las-vegas-not-fake-viral-video-not-doctored-experts-719683">Alien encounter&nbsp;in backyard of a Las Vegas house not fake, expert examiner says</a></p>

<p>Since humans will need another 6.9 million years to get to the fastest&nbsp;man-made&nbsp;machine, Dr Kaltenegge said that the next goal of humanity will be to look out for the creativity required to detect&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;communicate with alien lifeforms.</p>

<p>"I hope to convey just how difficult the search for alien life will be," said Dr&nbsp;Kaltenegger,&nbsp;in her book.&nbsp;"We might not even recognise it when it is staring us&nbsp;in the face," she added while speaking to The Daily Mail.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Planet's light holds secrets of alien life?</strong></h2>

<p>Scientists have discovered 5,000&nbsp;planets outside of our&nbsp;solar system&nbsp;till now, since&nbsp;the first of these&nbsp;'exoplanets',&nbsp;which was&nbsp;a gas giant named 'Dimidium', was first found in 1992.</p>

<p>"Solving the puzzle of these new worlds requires using a wide range of tools like cultivating colourful biota in our biology lab [...] and reaching back into the long history of Earth's evolution for clues on what to search for," the researcher explained.</p>

<p>Dr Kaltenegger said that for scientists, Earth will become 'our laboratory' where&nbsp;new ideas will be tested&nbsp;to understand how life evolves differently&nbsp;out&nbsp;in the galaxy.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Strongest sign of alien found: The search for life beyond earth</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/strongest-sign-of-alien-found-the-search-for-life-beyond-earth-716486/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>According to the researcher, the hints of the existence of extraterrestrial life on other planets are "written in a planet's light—if you know how to read it."</p>

<p>She explained that when light from distant stars passes across the atmosphere of an exoplanet, then "the chemical makeup of the atmosphere of an alien world is encoded in the light that arrives at my telescope."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Astrophysicist and NASA's former scientist Lisa Kaltenegger surveyed the galaxy for her new book Alien Earths in which she hinted at the possibility of the existence of alien life in a water world dominated by octopus-like creatures, a planet which has a dark side where the sun never rises and a lava hell where the planet experiences molten rock rains from the sky.

Astrophysicist and NASA's former scientist Lisa Kaltenegger surveyed the galaxy for her new book Alien Earths in which she hinted at the possibility of the existence of alien life in a water world dominated by octopus-like creatures, a planet which has a dark side where the sun never rises and a lava hell where the planet experiences molten rock rains from the sky. The astrophysicist has documented dozens of exoplanets which orbit stars outside our solar system and have been classified as 'Earth-like' or 'potentially habitable'. In another work of hers, titled The Worlds That Shook Science, Kaltenegge said that astronomy breakthroughs made in the last three decades show that humans are living in "a completely new golden era of exploration". Also Read: Alien encounter in backyard of a Las Vegas house not fake, expert examiner says Since humans will need another 6.9 million years to get to the fastest man-made machine, Dr Kaltenegge said that the next goal of humanity will be to look out for the creativity required to detect as well as communicate with alien lifeforms. "I hope to convey just how difficult the search for alien life will be," said Dr Kaltenegger, in her book. "We might not even recognise it when it is staring us in the face," she added while speaking to The Daily Mail. Planet's light holds secrets of alien life? Scientists have discovered 5,000 planets outside of our solar system till now, since the first of these 'exoplanets', which was a gas giant named 'Dimidium', was first found in 1992. "Solving the puzzle of these new worlds requires using a wide range of tools like cultivating colourful biota in our biology lab [...] and reaching back into the long history of Earth's evolution for clues on what to search for," the researcher explained. Dr Kaltenegger said that for scientists, Earth will become 'our laboratory' where new ideas will be tested to understand how life evolves differently out in the galaxy. Watch: Strongest sign of alien found: The search for life beyond earth According to the researcher, the hints of the existence of extraterrestrial life on other planets are "written in a planet's light—if you know how to read it." She explained that when light from distant stars passes across the atmosphere of an exoplanet, then "the chemical makeup of the atmosphere of an alien world is encoded in the light that arrives at my telescope." (With inputs from agencies)

Water world, lava hell: Former NASA scientist hints at planets where alien life may exist

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<p>A video of an alleged alien encounter&nbsp;which happened in the backyard of a house in Las Vegas in 2023 and went viral&nbsp;has been found to be&nbsp;real, say experts.</p>

<p>Speaking to News Nation, evidence examiner Scott Roder said, “Once you see it, you can’t deny it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There’s no editing. That is an original video. We tried to debunk it to see if there was something that was added to the video. All of our results came back as it was authentic,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/evidence-of-aliens-scientists-find-gas-only-produced-by-life-on-distant-exoplanet-twice-as-big-as-earth-716192">An Earth-like planet? Tantalising proof of life on THIS exoplanet has scientists in 'shock'</a></p>

<p>The video in question was recorded overnight between April 30 and May 1 last year by a teenager identified as Angel Kenmore.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At around 11:50 pm local time, Kenmore called 911 just&nbsp;when a Las Vegas police officer reported that he saw a fleeting object in the sky.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;American Meteor Society&nbsp;said the flash of the UFO was seen as far as California and Utah.</p>

<p>After Kenmore and his family tried to investigate, a video&nbsp;caught the unexplained motion of something above a fencepost. Such a spotting of something eerie left the family in horror.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Apparently there’s an alien and he’s in Las Vegas guys. This video was filmed using a potato so you let me know if you see him and if he wants any snacks, I have them. <a href="https://t.co/9Jv3qRub25">pic.twitter.com/9Jv3qRub25</a></p>
— Jess Magdefrau (@JessMagdefrau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JessMagdefrau/status/1788230696160616800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The eerie body spotted was described by the man in a YouTube video&nbsp;as “a tall, skinny, lengthy creature” with a “grey-greenish colour.”</p>

<p>After the alien encounter, the young man said, “In my backyard. I swear to God this is not a joke, this is actually — we’re terrified."</p>

<p>“They’re very large. They’re like 8&nbsp;feet, 9 feet, 10&nbsp;feet. They look like aliens to us. Big eyes. They have big eyes. Like, I can’t explain it. And big mouth. They’re shiny eyes and they’re not human. They’re 100% not human,” he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Not a hoax or 'a floating head': Expert</strong></h2>

<p>After a close review of the footage, Roder said that he was sure about this not being a hoax or “a floating head.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Strongest sign of alien found: The search for life beyond earth</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/strongest-sign-of-alien-found-the-search-for-life-beyond-earth-716486/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“We believe it’s attached to a body. And the motion of that head from right to left is consistent with the motion that we see between the slats of the fence,” Roder&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>“It’s there. It’s&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;there," he added. Expert Ben Hansen, who is the host of “UFO Witness” on Discovery+, said that the movement may have occurred because of the flashlight’s reflection.</p>

<p>However, Roder was not convinced. “I don’t understand how the shadow could just be floating above the fence. I don’t believe that makes any sense," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A video of an alleged alien encounter which happened in the backyard of a house in Las Vegas in 2023 and went viral has been found to be real, say experts. Speaking to News Nation, evidence examiner Scott Roder said, “Once you see it, you can’t deny it.

A video of an alleged alien encounter which happened in the backyard of a house in Las Vegas in 2023 and went viral has been found to be real, say experts. Speaking to News Nation, evidence examiner Scott Roder said, “Once you see it, you can’t deny it. “There’s no editing. That is an original video. We tried to debunk it to see if there was something that was added to the video. All of our results came back as it was authentic,” he added. Also Read: An Earth-like planet? Tantalising proof of life on THIS exoplanet has scientists in 'shock' The video in question was recorded overnight between April 30 and May 1 last year by a teenager identified as Angel Kenmore. At around 11:50 pm local time, Kenmore called 911 just when a Las Vegas police officer reported that he saw a fleeting object in the sky. The American Meteor Society said the flash of the UFO was seen as far as California and Utah. After Kenmore and his family tried to investigate, a video caught the unexplained motion of something above a fencepost. Such a spotting of something eerie left the family in horror. Apparently there’s an alien and he’s in Las Vegas guys. This video was filmed using a potato so you let me know if you see him and if he wants any snacks, I have them. pic.twitter.com/9Jv3qRub25 — Jess Magdefrau (@JessMagdefrau) May 8, 2024 × The eerie body spotted was described by the man in a YouTube video as “a tall, skinny, lengthy creature” with a “grey-greenish colour.” After the alien encounter, the young man said, “In my backyard. I swear to God this is not a joke, this is actually — we’re terrified." “They’re very large. They’re like 8 feet, 9 feet, 10 feet. They look like aliens to us. Big eyes. They have big eyes. Like, I can’t explain it. And big mouth. They’re shiny eyes and they’re not human. They’re 100% not human,” he added. Not a hoax or 'a floating head': Expert After a close review of the footage, Roder said that he was sure about this not being a hoax or “a floating head.” Watch: Strongest sign of alien found: The search for life beyond earth “We believe it’s attached to a body. And the motion of that head from right to left is consistent with the motion that we see between the slats of the fence,” Roder said. “It’s there. It’s absolutely there," he added. Expert Ben Hansen, who is the host of “UFO Witness” on Discovery+, said that the movement may have occurred because of the flashlight’s reflection. However, Roder was not convinced. “I don’t understand how the shadow could just be floating above the fence. I don’t believe that makes any sense," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Alien encounter in backyard of a Las Vegas house not fake, expert examiner claims

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<p>US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr confirmed that he is in "robust health" after reports surfaced which suggested that a worm had infested his brain more than a decade ago.</p>

<p>According to a report published by The New York Times, Kennedy earlier was suffering from mercury poisoning and heart issues, which included an abnormality that was caused by a worm which had entered his brain and then died.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Health has been a&nbsp;key&nbsp;part of Kennedy's campaign&nbsp;and&nbsp;he has compared his physical fitness to that of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement on Wednesday (May 8), his campaign said, "Questioning Mr Kennedy's health is a hilarious suggestion, given his competition."</p>

<p>"Mr Kennedy travelled extensively in Africa, South America, and Asia in his work as an environmental advocate, and in one of those locations contracted a parasite.&nbsp;The issue was resolved&nbsp;more than&nbsp;10&nbsp;years ago, and he is in robust physical and mental health," the campaign added.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/one-in-three-people-suffer-from-silent-killer-cardiac-disease-study-713100">One in three people suffer from 'silent killer' condition: Study</a></p>

<h2><strong>What happened to Robert F Kennedy Jr?</strong></h2>

<p>In 2010, the US presidential candidate faced severe memory loss as well as mental fog.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the report in the Times, he consulted with top neurologists who knew about his late uncle's medical history. His uncle Ted Kennedy died of brain cancer in 2009.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After checking the scan of his brain, a New York doctor said that his health issues could have been “caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How does the disease affect the brain?</strong></h2>

<p>The health condition, known as neurocysticercosis, is a brain infection which is related to larvae from pork tapeworms. It is a rare condition&nbsp;and&nbsp;nearly 1,000 to 2,000 people get hospitalised every year in the United States.</p>

<p>Neurocysticercosis leads to seizures, headaches, blindness, blurred vision, dizziness, psychosis or memory loss.&nbsp;In a few cases, it can also turn fatal.</p>

<p>The infection generally happens after people consume raw or undercooked pork&nbsp;which&nbsp;may contain a tapeworm.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Next pandemic likely to be caused by flu virus, scientists warn</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/next-pandemic-likely-to-be-caused-by-flu-virus-scientists-warn-713656/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The patients then shed tapeworm eggs in their stool and&nbsp;also&nbsp;contaminate&nbsp;surfaces or food if their hands&nbsp;are&nbsp;not properly&nbsp;washed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Because of this, when people around the patients consume food touched by them or come in contact with contaminated surfaces, they&nbsp;accidentally take in tapeworm eggs.</p>

<p>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,&nbsp;healthcare providers have a poor understanding of&nbsp;the condition of such patients and that neurocysticercosis&nbsp;is a “neglected parasitic infection".</p>

<p>“It’s an important disease and gets ignored a lot,” said Dr&nbsp;Clinton White, an infectious disease professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr confirmed that he is in "robust health" after reports surfaced which suggested that a worm had infested his brain more than a decade ago.

US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr confirmed that he is in "robust health" after reports surfaced which suggested that a worm had infested his brain more than a decade ago. According to a report published by The New York Times, Kennedy earlier was suffering from mercury poisoning and heart issues, which included an abnormality that was caused by a worm which had entered his brain and then died. Health has been a key part of Kennedy's campaign and he has compared his physical fitness to that of Donald Trump and Joe Biden. In a statement on Wednesday (May 8), his campaign said, "Questioning Mr Kennedy's health is a hilarious suggestion, given his competition." "Mr Kennedy travelled extensively in Africa, South America, and Asia in his work as an environmental advocate, and in one of those locations contracted a parasite. The issue was resolved more than 10 years ago, and he is in robust physical and mental health," the campaign added. Also Read: One in three people suffer from 'silent killer' condition: Study What happened to Robert F Kennedy Jr? In 2010, the US presidential candidate faced severe memory loss as well as mental fog. As per the report in the Times, he consulted with top neurologists who knew about his late uncle's medical history. His uncle Ted Kennedy died of brain cancer in 2009. After checking the scan of his brain, a New York doctor said that his health issues could have been “caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,". How does the disease affect the brain? The health condition, known as neurocysticercosis, is a brain infection which is related to larvae from pork tapeworms. It is a rare condition and nearly 1,000 to 2,000 people get hospitalised every year in the United States. Neurocysticercosis leads to seizures, headaches, blindness, blurred vision, dizziness, psychosis or memory loss. In a few cases, it can also turn fatal. The infection generally happens after people consume raw or undercooked pork which may contain a tapeworm. Watch: Next pandemic likely to be caused by flu virus, scientists warn The patients then shed tapeworm eggs in their stool and also contaminate surfaces or food if their hands are not properly washed. Because of this, when people around the patients consume food touched by them or come in contact with contaminated surfaces, they accidentally take in tapeworm eggs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare providers have a poor understanding of the condition of such patients and that neurocysticercosis is a “neglected parasitic infection". “It’s an important disease and gets ignored a lot,” said Dr Clinton White, an infectious disease professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. (With inputs from agencies)

Parasitic worm once ate 'a part of' RFK Jr's brain. Here's how that might happen to anyone

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<p>A court in India on Wednesday (May 8) said that Muslims won't be able to claim rights in a live-in relationship if they have a living&nbsp;spouse&nbsp;as such relationships are not allowed under the tenets of Islam.</p>

<p>The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench, comprising of justices AR Masoodi and AK Srivastava-I, while hearing a writ petition filed by Mohd Shadab Khan and Sneha Devi, made the observation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The couple had filed the petition seeking protection from police action after the parents of the woman filed a kidnapping case against&nbsp;Khan and asked that Sneha Devi&nbsp;be sent&nbsp;back to them under security.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The petitioners said that they were in a live-in relationship, however, the woman's parents filed a police complaint in which Khan was accused of kidnapping and inducing the woman to marry him.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/hindu-marriages-are-sacred-not-an-event-for-song-dance-rituals-integral-for-validity-opines-supreme-court-717044">Hindu marriage rituals integral to their validity, opines Supreme Court: 'Not just song-dance'</a></p>

<p>The couple also appealed&nbsp;for protection of&nbsp;their lives and liberty and said&nbsp;that&nbsp;they were adults.&nbsp;They added that, according to the top court, the couple&nbsp;were free to&nbsp;live together in a live-in relationship.</p>

<p>"Islamic tenets do not permit live-in relationships during the subsisting marriage. The position may be different if the two persons are unmarried and the parties being major choose to lead their lives in a way of their own," said the bench, while refusing to pass an order on&nbsp;providing protection of&nbsp;life and liberty to the couple.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bench was also made&nbsp;aware that Khan was married to Farida Khatoon in 2020&nbsp;and&nbsp;the couple had a baby&nbsp;from the marriage.</p>

<h2><strong>Court's observations on the writ petition</strong></h2>

<p>In its observations, the court said that constitutional morality and social morality need to be balanced in the matter of marriage institutions and if one fails then social coherence which is needed for peace and tranquillity in the society will fade and disappear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court ordered the police to send the petitioner Sneha Devi to her parents under security.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: India: Supreme court set to hear urgent plea on Uttarakhand forest fires today</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-supreme-court-set-to-hear-urgent-plea-on-uttarakhand-forest-fires-today-719284/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>On the plea of the couple seeking protection under Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty), the court said, "The constitutional morality may come to the rescue of such a couple and the social morality settled through the customs and usages over ages may give way to the constitutional morality and protection under Article 21 of the Constitution of India may step in to protect the cause."</p>

<p>"The case before us is, however, different. The constitutional protection under Article 21 of the Constitution of India would not lend an un-canalised support to such a&nbsp;right,&nbsp;once the usages and customs prohibit such a relationship between the two individuals of different faiths," the bench said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A court in India on Wednesday (May 8) said that Muslims won't be able to claim rights in a live-in relationship if they have a living spouse as such relationships are not allowed under the tenets of Islam.

A court in India on Wednesday (May 8) said that Muslims won't be able to claim rights in a live-in relationship if they have a living spouse as such relationships are not allowed under the tenets of Islam. The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench, comprising of justices AR Masoodi and AK Srivastava-I, while hearing a writ petition filed by Mohd Shadab Khan and Sneha Devi, made the observation. The couple had filed the petition seeking protection from police action after the parents of the woman filed a kidnapping case against Khan and asked that Sneha Devi be sent back to them under security. The petitioners said that they were in a live-in relationship, however, the woman's parents filed a police complaint in which Khan was accused of kidnapping and inducing the woman to marry him. Also Read: Hindu marriage rituals integral to their validity, opines Supreme Court: 'Not just song-dance' The couple also appealed for protection of their lives and liberty and said that they were adults. They added that, according to the top court, the couple were free to live together in a live-in relationship. "Islamic tenets do not permit live-in relationships during the subsisting marriage. The position may be different if the two persons are unmarried and the parties being major choose to lead their lives in a way of their own," said the bench, while refusing to pass an order on providing protection of life and liberty to the couple. The bench was also made aware that Khan was married to Farida Khatoon in 2020 and the couple had a baby from the marriage. Court's observations on the writ petition In its observations, the court said that constitutional morality and social morality need to be balanced in the matter of marriage institutions and if one fails then social coherence which is needed for peace and tranquillity in the society will fade and disappear. The court ordered the police to send the petitioner Sneha Devi to her parents under security. Watch: India: Supreme court set to hear urgent plea on Uttarakhand forest fires today On the plea of the couple seeking protection under Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty), the court said, "The constitutional morality may come to the rescue of such a couple and the social morality settled through the customs and usages over ages may give way to the constitutional morality and protection under Article 21 of the Constitution of India may step in to protect the cause." "The case before us is, however, different. The constitutional protection under Article 21 of the Constitution of India would not lend an un-canalised support to such a right, once the usages and customs prohibit such a relationship between the two individuals of different faiths," the bench said. (With inputs from agencies)

No rights for Muslims in live-in relationships if they have a spouse: Court

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