5 Must-do Activities On Your Trip To Lakshadweep

Indulging in fishing on Minicoy Island – which is Lakshadweep's hidden gem – is a must. The place's captivating features include a fishing haven, Juma Masjid, pristine white sand beaches and a majestic 300-foot-tall lighthouse.

When visiting Lakshadweep, one must indulge in thrilling water sports on Kalpeni Island, which is a fusion of three distinct islands - Pitti, Tillakkam and Cheriyam. Kalpeni Island is not just a place for scuba diving but also a haven for various water activities like snorkelling, reef walking, canoeing, and sailing yachts.

3. Exploring Kavaratti Island's Marine Wonders

The beautiful marine world of Kavaratti Island Lagoon is breathtakingly beautiful and should be explored by travellers. Its incredible marine life includes sea turtles, exotic fish and colourful coral formations. Apart from colourful fish, and sea turtles, visitors can also observe sharks in this magical place.

The visitors can take a one-day trip to Kadmat Island, which can be reached by a short boat ride from Kavaratti Island. The place entices tourists with its crystal-clear waters and picturesque beaches. It is a perfect place for swimming, snorkelling and activities like kayaking and windsurfing.

5. Witness Exotic Marine Life At Agatti Island


Agatti Island is filled with exotic marine life and beautiful geographical formations. The place, which is revered as the 'Fishing Capital of Lakshadweep', has undeniable allure for tourists as well as beach enthusiasts.

5 Most Famous Things In India's Lakshadweep

The archipelago of Lakshadweep has started gaining more traction ever since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. People are now searching for the territory more than ever. Here are the four most famous things the island boasts.


The island's beautiful coral reefs and marine biodiversity prove to be a haven for snorkelers and scuba divers. The place has a rich marine ecosystem, which is complemented by diverse fish species, colourful coral gardens, and other exotic marine life.


Lakshadweep's pristine white sand beaches are famous for their crystal-clear waters and powdery white sand. Some of the stunning white sand beaches are Agatti Island, Kavaratti, and Bangaram which attract visitors from across the world.


3. Water Sports And Adventure Activities


For water sports enthusiasts, the island with its calm and clear waters is a paradise. It is the perfect place for activities like kayaking, windsurfing, and paddleboarding. The adventurers are also free to explore the underwater world through snorkelling and scuba diving.

The magnificent lighthouses stand here as silent sentinels guarding the islands. The lighthouse located in Minicoy, the southernmost island, is also famous for giving panoramic views of the surrounding seascape.

Bangaram, which is generally called the 'Jewel of Lakshadweep,' is a coral atoll which boasts of rich marine life and breathtaking coral formations. The island has been placed under the category of tourist zone and provides visitors a chance to explore the coral reefs.


<p lang="en-US">“I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list,” these were some of the words posted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Instagram along with the image of him enjoying the weather on the beach in the country's union territory of Lakshadweep on January 5.<br />
<br />
What appeared to the world just some images from an official visit made by the Indian prime minister soon led to a controversy and unexpected diplomatic row between India and Maldives.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How did the social media war begin?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The social media war started after PM Modi shared images of walking along a beach and snorkelling in Lakshadweep, which is a southern Indian island chain in the Laccadive Sea, near the coast of Kerala.<br />
<br />
No mention or references to Maldives or any other island nation which is popular among tourists was made in the post, however, still, the archipelago's beautiful scenery appeared to offend the Maldivian politicians and government officials in some way and started a war on social media with Indian users.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the… <a href="https://t.co/tYW5Cvgi8N">pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1742831481775632552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2024</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>

<p>One apparent reason can also be that Maldives saw the posts as a threat to its own tourism, to which Indians are a massive contributor.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-jittery-as-lakshadweep-remains-top-trend-in-india-for-second-consecutive-day-677193">Maldives jittery as ‘Lakshadweep’ remains top trend in India for second consecutive day</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">The Indian prime minister's post received some offensive, racist, xenophobic and derogatory comments from some important Maldivian social media users, in which Indians were targeted at large, as well as Modi.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Which Maldivian ministers took a dig at Modi?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Among the hate comments shared on social media&nbsp;was one by Maldives’ Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Mariyam Shiuna, who wrote: “What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr. Narendra diver with life jacket. #VisitMaldives #SunnySideOfLife”. Shiuna, in the now-deleted post, also compared India to cow dung.<br />
<br />
Shiuna's fellow deputy minister Malsha Shareef also posted similar derogatory comments against&nbsp;the tourism campaign for Lakshadweep and India.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, a member of Maldives' ruling Progressive Party Abdulla Mahzoom Majid also shared an image which was reported to be of Bora Bora islands in French Polynesia and claimed it to be an image of an island resort in the Maldives.<br />
<br />
“Sun set in Maldives. You won’t see this in Lakshadweep. #Visit Maldives. CC: @narendramodi (sic),” he wrote.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How did Maldives react to the social media war?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The government of Maldives quickly distanced itself from their comments and the three ministers were immediately suspended. The Maldives government, in a statement, said that it was aware of “derogatory” comments made on social media but stressed the “opinions are personal” and do not represent its views.<br />
<br />
“The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners,” it added.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How heavily does tourism in Maldives rely on India?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">As per the media reports, tourism in Maldives is heavily reliant on India and a major part of their income comes from the nation. In 2023, more than 209,000 trips were made by Indian tourists to Maldives which covers 11 per cent of its tourism market, as per the statistics released recently.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How did Indians react to the hate remarks for Lakshadweep?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">However, the derogatory remarks made by the Maldivian officials have angered many Indian holidaymakers, some of whom also shared screenshots of their cancellation of trips to Maldives on social media with the hashtag #BoycottMaldives.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Israel's desalination project to help India's Lakshadweep Islands</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israels-desalination-project-to-help-indias-lakshadweep-islands-678277/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">India's famous personalities, from Bollywood actors to cricket players, also appealed to fans to travel to local destinations instead with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep, which means&nbsp;“Let’s go to Lakshadweep”. Such social media campaigns led to a sudden inquiry about&nbsp;vacation visits to the archipelago.<br />
<br />
Bollywood actors like Akshay Kumar further called the remarks made by Maldivian officials “hateful and racist.” “We are good to our neighbours but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? I’ve visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism,” he said.<br />
<br />
Indian travel sites, which included EaseMyTrip, also decided to boycott Maldives amid the growing tension. EaseMyTrip announced that it has suspended bookings for flights to Maldives.<br />
<br />
Taking to X, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip Nishant Pitti said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, The Confederation of All India Traders, which is the country's one of the biggest trade bodies, also appealed to members to suspend their business with Maldives.<br />
<br />
In a statement, the group's Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal said, “Until the Maldives tender an apology or ensure remedial measures, the trading community in India will refrain from doing business with them.”<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, in a post on X, called the remarks by officials “unacceptable” and added that the archipelago is committed to “fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with our partners.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


“I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list,” these were some of the words posted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Instagram along with the image of him enjoying the weather on the beach in the country's union territory of Lakshadweep on January 5.

“I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list,” these were some of the words posted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Instagram along with the image of him enjoying the weather on the beach in the country's union territory of Lakshadweep on January 5. What appeared to the world just some images from an official visit made by the Indian prime minister soon led to a controversy and unexpected diplomatic row between India and Maldives. How did the social media war begin? The social media war started after PM Modi shared images of walking along a beach and snorkelling in Lakshadweep, which is a southern Indian island chain in the Laccadive Sea, near the coast of Kerala. No mention or references to Maldives or any other island nation which is popular among tourists was made in the post, however, still, the archipelago's beautiful scenery appeared to offend the Maldivian politicians and government officials in some way and started a war on social media with Indian users. Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the… pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024 × One apparent reason can also be that Maldives saw the posts as a threat to its own tourism, to which Indians are a massive contributor. Also read: Maldives jittery as ‘Lakshadweep’ remains top trend in India for second consecutive day The Indian prime minister's post received some offensive, racist, xenophobic and derogatory comments from some important Maldivian social media users, in which Indians were targeted at large, as well as Modi. Which Maldivian ministers took a dig at Modi? Among the hate comments shared on social media was one by Maldives’ Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Mariyam Shiuna, who wrote: “What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr. Narendra diver with life jacket. #VisitMaldives #SunnySideOfLife”. Shiuna, in the now-deleted post, also compared India to cow dung. Shiuna's fellow deputy minister Malsha Shareef also posted similar derogatory comments against the tourism campaign for Lakshadweep and India. Meanwhile, a member of Maldives' ruling Progressive Party Abdulla Mahzoom Majid also shared an image which was reported to be of Bora Bora islands in French Polynesia and claimed it to be an image of an island resort in the Maldives. “Sun set in Maldives. You won’t see this in Lakshadweep. #Visit Maldives. CC: @narendramodi (sic),” he wrote. How did Maldives react to the social media war? The government of Maldives quickly distanced itself from their comments and the three ministers were immediately suspended. The Maldives government, in a statement, said that it was aware of “derogatory” comments made on social media but stressed the “opinions are personal” and do not represent its views. “The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners,” it added. How heavily does tourism in Maldives rely on India? As per the media reports, tourism in Maldives is heavily reliant on India and a major part of their income comes from the nation. In 2023, more than 209,000 trips were made by Indian tourists to Maldives which covers 11 per cent of its tourism market, as per the statistics released recently. How did Indians react to the hate remarks for Lakshadweep? However, the derogatory remarks made by the Maldivian officials have angered many Indian holidaymakers, some of whom also shared screenshots of their cancellation of trips to Maldives on social media with the hashtag #BoycottMaldives. Watch: Israel's desalination project to help India's Lakshadweep Islands India's famous personalities, from Bollywood actors to cricket players, also appealed to fans to travel to local destinations instead with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep, which means “Let’s go to Lakshadweep”. Such social media campaigns led to a sudden inquiry about vacation visits to the archipelago. Bollywood actors like Akshay Kumar further called the remarks made by Maldivian officials “hateful and racist.” “We are good to our neighbours but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? I’ve visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism,” he said. Indian travel sites, which included EaseMyTrip, also decided to boycott Maldives amid the growing tension. EaseMyTrip announced that it has suspended bookings for flights to Maldives. Taking to X, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip Nishant Pitti said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.” Meanwhile, The Confederation of All India Traders, which is the country's one of the biggest trade bodies, also appealed to members to suspend their business with Maldives. In a statement, the group's Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal said, “Until the Maldives tender an apology or ensure remedial measures, the trading community in India will refrain from doing business with them.” Meanwhile, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, in a post on X, called the remarks by officials “unacceptable” and added that the archipelago is committed to “fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with our partners.” (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep?

<p lang="en-US">The CEO of Boeing on Tuesday (Jan 9) took responsibility for a near-catastrophic mid-air window blowout of an Alaska Airlines flight even as the aviation regulator&nbsp;of the US ordered the temporary grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes operating in the country.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"We're going to approach this (by) number one acknowledging our mistake," said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, while interacting with employees at a safety meeting which was held after the emergency landing of Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 Max 9&nbsp;on Friday (Jan 5).</p>

<p lang="en-US">"We're going to approach it with 100 per cent and complete transparency every step of the way," the American aviation giant's CEO said.</p>

<p lang="en-US">Calhoun, who ascended to the top position of Boeing in January 2020, expressed his commitment to work with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which has been investigating the incident.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-airlines-and-alaska-airlines-find-loose-bolts-in-boeing-jets-during-inspections-678065">United Airlines and Alaska Airlines find loose bolts in Boeing jets during inspections</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">The NTSB is "as good as it gets," said Calhoun, as per the remarks released by the company.</p>

<p lang="en-US">"I trust every step they take, and they will get to a conclusion,” he added.</p>

<p lang="en-US">The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now grounded all 737 Max 9 planes- 171 in total-&nbsp;in the US.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="en-US">The authorities also ordered Boeing to revise guidelines regarding&nbsp;plane inspections.</p>

<p lang="en-US">In a statement, quoted by the New York Times, the agency said, “Upon receiving the revised version of instructions from Boeing, the FAA will conduct a thorough review. The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning the Boeing 737-9 Max to service."</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Door plug not affixed adequately: NTSB</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The affected panel of the plane, which is a door plug, is used by the airlines to fill the emergency exit in planes that are not needed.</p>

<p lang="en-US">On Monday night (Jan 8), NTSB investigators suggested that the part was not adequately affixed.<br />
<br />
The FAA on Tuesday said that they were still working with Boeing for finalising detailed inspection instructions for grounded planes.<br />
<br />
"Boeing offered an initial version of instructions yesterday which they are now revising because of feedback received in response," said the FAA.</p>

<p lang="en-US">"Upon receiving the revised version of instructions from Boeing the FAA will conduct a thorough review,” it added.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch: Boeing 737 Max: Parts missing from Indian plane</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-boeing-737-max-parts-missing-from-indian-plane-678384/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">Boeing said that they have been in contact with the customers and the FAA on requirements. "As part of the process, we are making updates based on their feedback and requirements," said a spokesman.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines apologised for the inconvenience faced by the passengers in a post on X.</p>

<p lang="en-US">"We understand that travel plans have been impacted, and we are doing everything possible to minimise the disruption," posted Alaska Airlines, while reiterating that it is waiting for more direction from Boeing and the FAA.</p>

<p lang="en-US">"Until then, the fleet will remain grounded," Alaska Airlines added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The CEO of Boeing on Tuesday (Jan 9) took responsibility for a near-catastrophic mid-air window blowout of an Alaska Airlines flight even as the aviation regulator of the US ordered the temporary grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes operating in the country.

The CEO of Boeing on Tuesday (Jan 9) took responsibility for a near-catastrophic mid-air window blowout of an Alaska Airlines flight even as the aviation regulator of the US ordered the temporary grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes operating in the country. "We're going to approach this (by) number one acknowledging our mistake," said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, while interacting with employees at a safety meeting which was held after the emergency landing of Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 Max 9 on Friday (Jan 5). "We're going to approach it with 100 per cent and complete transparency every step of the way," the American aviation giant's CEO said. Calhoun, who ascended to the top position of Boeing in January 2020, expressed his commitment to work with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which has been investigating the incident. Also read: United Airlines and Alaska Airlines find loose bolts in Boeing jets during inspections The NTSB is "as good as it gets," said Calhoun, as per the remarks released by the company. "I trust every step they take, and they will get to a conclusion,” he added. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now grounded all 737 Max 9 planes- 171 in total- in the US. The authorities also ordered Boeing to revise guidelines regarding plane inspections. In a statement, quoted by the New York Times, the agency said, “Upon receiving the revised version of instructions from Boeing, the FAA will conduct a thorough review. The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning the Boeing 737-9 Max to service." Door plug not affixed adequately: NTSB The affected panel of the plane, which is a door plug, is used by the airlines to fill the emergency exit in planes that are not needed. On Monday night (Jan 8), NTSB investigators suggested that the part was not adequately affixed. The FAA on Tuesday said that they were still working with Boeing for finalising detailed inspection instructions for grounded planes. "Boeing offered an initial version of instructions yesterday which they are now revising because of feedback received in response," said the FAA. "Upon receiving the revised version of instructions from Boeing the FAA will conduct a thorough review,” it added. Watch: Boeing 737 Max: Parts missing from Indian plane Boeing said that they have been in contact with the customers and the FAA on requirements. "As part of the process, we are making updates based on their feedback and requirements," said a spokesman. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines apologised for the inconvenience faced by the passengers in a post on X. "We understand that travel plans have been impacted, and we are doing everything possible to minimise the disruption," posted Alaska Airlines, while reiterating that it is waiting for more direction from Boeing and the FAA. "Until then, the fleet will remain grounded," Alaska Airlines added. (With inputs from agencies)

Alaska Airlines mishap: All 737 Max 9 planes in US grounded as Boeing CEO accepts 'mistake'

<p lang="en-US">An indigenous rifle, named 'Ugram', developed in less than 100 days, was unveiled by India's Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).<br />
<br />
The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), which is a unit of Hyderabad-based private firm Dvipa Armour India Private Limited and DRDO, has developed the 'Ugram' rifle.<br />
<br />
The rifle will be able to deploy rounds of 7.62 mm calibre, which will make it more ferocious compared to rifles which use 5.62 mm calibre rounds. An example of a rifle using 5.62 mm calibre rounds is the INSAS rifle, which is used popularly by the armed forces in India, including paramilitary forces.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-minister-smriti-irani-brings-home-increased-haj-quota-for-muslims-678583">Minority affairs minister Smriti Irani brings home increased Haj quota for Indian Muslims</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">The 'Ugram' rifle was developed by the DRDO keeping in mind the operational requirements of military, paramilitary and police forces, reported the Indian Express.<br />
<br />
The newly-created rifle weighs four kg and will have an effective range of 500 metres, which is nearly five football fields. The rifle has been developed in accordance with the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) of the army.<br />
<br />
GQSR is among the initial processes in capital procurement. This also outlines the requirement of the equipment, its physical and operational details along with its maintainability and quality requirements. The rifle has 20 rounds and fires both single and automatic modes.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Rifles go through tests for operational capability</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">"This was a mission-mode project taken up two years ago. After the ARDE designed the rifle, we started looking for a private industry partner for development and manufacturing," said ARDE Director Ankathi Raju, while speaking to&nbsp;Indian Express.<br />
<br />
"We have followed the concept of Development cum Production Partner, DcPP for the speedy progress of the project. Under this, the vendor is associated with us during the design and production too. After the product is made by the vendor, it will undergo acceptance trials. We placed the order for the assault rifle to the Hyderabad-based Dvipa Armour. The rifle will soon go for trials," said the ARDE director.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Maldives Government must issue a formal apology to India: MP Eva Abdulla</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maldives-government-must-issue-a-formal-apology-to-india-mp-eva-abdulla-677720/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">The rifle has been created in 100 days and will go through trials to test the weapon's operational capability in conditions like extreme heat, underwater and harsh winter, reported the Times of India.<br />
<br />
"While the process of design and design-related analysis started two years ago, the development in collaboration with the private vendor was completed in 100 days," said Ankathi Raju, while speaking to the Free Press Journal.<br />
<br />
In December, the procurement of 70,0000 SIG Sauer's SIG716 rifle was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An indigenous rifle, named 'Ugram', developed in less than 100 days, was unveiled by India's Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), which is a unit of Hyderabad-based private firm Dvipa Armour India Private Limited and DRDO, has developed the 'Ugram' rifle.

An indigenous rifle, named 'Ugram', developed in less than 100 days, was unveiled by India's Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), which is a unit of Hyderabad-based private firm Dvipa Armour India Private Limited and DRDO, has developed the 'Ugram' rifle. The rifle will be able to deploy rounds of 7.62 mm calibre, which will make it more ferocious compared to rifles which use 5.62 mm calibre rounds. An example of a rifle using 5.62 mm calibre rounds is the INSAS rifle, which is used popularly by the armed forces in India, including paramilitary forces. Also read: Minority affairs minister Smriti Irani brings home increased Haj quota for Indian Muslims The 'Ugram' rifle was developed by the DRDO keeping in mind the operational requirements of military, paramilitary and police forces, reported the Indian Express. The newly-created rifle weighs four kg and will have an effective range of 500 metres, which is nearly five football fields. The rifle has been developed in accordance with the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) of the army. GQSR is among the initial processes in capital procurement. This also outlines the requirement of the equipment, its physical and operational details along with its maintainability and quality requirements. The rifle has 20 rounds and fires both single and automatic modes. Rifles go through tests for operational capability "This was a mission-mode project taken up two years ago. After the ARDE designed the rifle, we started looking for a private industry partner for development and manufacturing," said ARDE Director Ankathi Raju, while speaking to Indian Express. "We have followed the concept of Development cum Production Partner, DcPP for the speedy progress of the project. Under this, the vendor is associated with us during the design and production too. After the product is made by the vendor, it will undergo acceptance trials. We placed the order for the assault rifle to the Hyderabad-based Dvipa Armour. The rifle will soon go for trials," said the ARDE director. Watch: Maldives Government must issue a formal apology to India: MP Eva Abdulla The rifle has been created in 100 days and will go through trials to test the weapon's operational capability in conditions like extreme heat, underwater and harsh winter, reported the Times of India. "While the process of design and design-related analysis started two years ago, the development in collaboration with the private vendor was completed in 100 days," said Ankathi Raju, while speaking to the Free Press Journal. In December, the procurement of 70,0000 SIG Sauer's SIG716 rifle was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council. (With inputs from agencies)

India develops ferocious state-of-the-art assault rifle ‘Ugram’ in just 100 days

<p lang="en-US">The new figures have revealed that other children had committed more than half of child sexual abuse offences reported in 2022.<br />
<br />
The police said that the rise in child-on-child abuse has been because of the easy access of smartphones and violent pornography to children.<br />
<br />
The data collected from 42 police forces in England and Wales showed that around 106,984 child sexual abuse offences were reported in 2022, which is an increase of 7.6 per cent from the previous year and more than five times the 20,000 cases recorded in 2013.<br />
<br />
In the landmark report, it was found that in 52 per cent of these cases, a child&nbsp;between the age of 10 to 17&nbsp;was involved as a suspect or perpetrator, which is up from a third in 2013.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/child-onboard-donkey-flight-not-missing-reports-are-false-gujarat-top-cop-675683">Child on board ‘donkey flight’ not missing, reports are false: Gujarat top cop</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">As per the researchers, a four-year-old child, who had uploaded a sibling's indecent image to the internet through a smartphone, was the youngest child to have been reported by the police.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Accessibility of violent pornography core of issue: Critchley</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Till now, the police registered reports of 14,800 rapes and sexual assaults against children, between the age of 10 to 17, where the police had classed the suspect as a child and the overwhelming majority were boys.<br />
<br />
Speaking to The Guardian, NPCC lead for child protection Ian Critchley said: “This is predominantly a gender-based crime of boys committing offences against girls.”</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Antony Blinken: Gaza war toll on civilians particularly children 'far too high'</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/antony-blinken-gaza-war-toll-on-civilians-particularly-children-far-too-high-678404/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">“I think that is being exacerbated by the accessibility of violent pornography and the ease with which violent pornography is accessible to boys and, therefore, a perception that is [normal] behaviour, and that person can carry out that behaviour that they are seeing online in the most violent way against other peers as well,” he added.<br />
<br />
“Clearly the accessibility to smartphones has just rocketed, not just in relation to 11- to 16-year-olds, but in relation to under-10s as well. That accessibility has really exacerbated that and I think this is a debate that does need to be had in our society,” Critchley said.<br />
<br />
It was also reported that a third of attacks take place within the family which is the most common setting for abuse, and eight out of 10 victims had known their attacker in the past. The police said that it is estimated that only a few, like one in six offences, were reported to them.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The new figures have revealed that other children had committed more than half of child sexual abuse offences reported in 2022. The police said that the rise in child-on-child abuse has been because of the easy access of smartphones and violent pornography to children.

The new figures have revealed that other children had committed more than half of child sexual abuse offences reported in 2022. The police said that the rise in child-on-child abuse has been because of the easy access of smartphones and violent pornography to children. The data collected from 42 police forces in England and Wales showed that around 106,984 child sexual abuse offences were reported in 2022, which is an increase of 7.6 per cent from the previous year and more than five times the 20,000 cases recorded in 2013. In the landmark report, it was found that in 52 per cent of these cases, a child between the age of 10 to 17 was involved as a suspect or perpetrator, which is up from a third in 2013. Also read: Child on board ‘donkey flight’ not missing, reports are false: Gujarat top cop As per the researchers, a four-year-old child, who had uploaded a sibling's indecent image to the internet through a smartphone, was the youngest child to have been reported by the police. Accessibility of violent pornography core of issue: Critchley Till now, the police registered reports of 14,800 rapes and sexual assaults against children, between the age of 10 to 17, where the police had classed the suspect as a child and the overwhelming majority were boys. Speaking to The Guardian, NPCC lead for child protection Ian Critchley said: “This is predominantly a gender-based crime of boys committing offences against girls.” Watch: Antony Blinken: Gaza war toll on civilians particularly children 'far too high' “I think that is being exacerbated by the accessibility of violent pornography and the ease with which violent pornography is accessible to boys and, therefore, a perception that is [normal] behaviour, and that person can carry out that behaviour that they are seeing online in the most violent way against other peers as well,” he added. “Clearly the accessibility to smartphones has just rocketed, not just in relation to 11- to 16-year-olds, but in relation to under-10s as well. That accessibility has really exacerbated that and I think this is a debate that does need to be had in our society,” Critchley said. It was also reported that a third of attacks take place within the family which is the most common setting for abuse, and eight out of 10 victims had known their attacker in the past. The police said that it is estimated that only a few, like one in six offences, were reported to them. (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Children committing more than half of child sexual abuse crimes, says new data

<p lang="en-US">The Indian government, amid diplomatic tensions with Maldives over the derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lakshadweep visit, has been planning to develop a new airport at the archipelago's Minicoy Island, which is likely to accommodate both civilian and military aircraft, reported news agency ANI reported while citing government sources.<br />
<br />
"The plan is to have a joint airfield that would be capable of operating fighter jets, military transport planes and commercial aircraft," said the government sources, as reported by the ANI.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-how-pm-modis-lakshadweep-visit-sparked-diplomatic-tensions-between-india-and-maldives-678432">Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep?</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">The proposal for developing a new airfield in the Minicoy islands has been proposed earlier also, however, the decision to have a joint-use airfield for civilians and defence is the latest one included in the revived plan, it said.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Lakshadweep's tourism comes into focus</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The decision is aimed at promoting tourism in Lakshadweep and strengthening the country's surveillance capabilities over the Indian Ocean region and the Arabian Sea, with the airfield's development.<br />
<br />
The Indian Coast Guard had first given the proposal for the development of the airfield. The current proposal has suggested that the operations will be led by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from the Minicoy's airfield.<br />
<br />
The airport after getting operational will enhance the surveillance capabilities of the defence forces along with stimulating regional tourism, which has been outlined in the plans of the government.<br />
<br />
Currently, there is only one airstrip in Agatti, Lakshadweep which limits the kinds of aircraft which can land on the island.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Israel's desalination project to help India's Lakshadweep Islands</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israels-desalination-project-to-help-indias-lakshadweep-islands-678277/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">A diplomatic row was triggered between India and Maldives after three Maldivian leaders, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid posted derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mocked him over his recent trip to Lakshadweep.<br />
<br />
The matter was strongly raised by India with Male and the top opposition leaders of the island nation slammed&nbsp;the ruling establishment over the row.<br />
<br />
The prime minister had visited the Union Territory on January 2 and shared many pictures, which included an 'exhilarating experience' of him while doing snorkelling.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Indian government, amid diplomatic tensions with Maldives over the derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lakshadweep visit, has been planning to develop a new airport at the archipelago's Minicoy Island, which is likely to accommodate both civilian and military aircraft, reported news agency ANI reported while citing government sources.

The Indian government, amid diplomatic tensions with Maldives over the derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lakshadweep visit, has been planning to develop a new airport at the archipelago's Minicoy Island, which is likely to accommodate both civilian and military aircraft, reported news agency ANI reported while citing government sources. "The plan is to have a joint airfield that would be capable of operating fighter jets, military transport planes and commercial aircraft," said the government sources, as reported by the ANI. Also read: Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep? The proposal for developing a new airfield in the Minicoy islands has been proposed earlier also, however, the decision to have a joint-use airfield for civilians and defence is the latest one included in the revived plan, it said. Lakshadweep's tourism comes into focus The decision is aimed at promoting tourism in Lakshadweep and strengthening the country's surveillance capabilities over the Indian Ocean region and the Arabian Sea, with the airfield's development. The Indian Coast Guard had first given the proposal for the development of the airfield. The current proposal has suggested that the operations will be led by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from the Minicoy's airfield. The airport after getting operational will enhance the surveillance capabilities of the defence forces along with stimulating regional tourism, which has been outlined in the plans of the government. Currently, there is only one airstrip in Agatti, Lakshadweep which limits the kinds of aircraft which can land on the island. Watch: Israel's desalination project to help India's Lakshadweep Islands A diplomatic row was triggered between India and Maldives after three Maldivian leaders, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid posted derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mocked him over his recent trip to Lakshadweep. The matter was strongly raised by India with Male and the top opposition leaders of the island nation slammed the ruling establishment over the row. The prime minister had visited the Union Territory on January 2 and shared many pictures, which included an 'exhilarating experience' of him while doing snorkelling. (With inputs from agencies)

India’s Lakshadweep to get new airport as part of overhaul to boost tourism

<p lang="en-US">Maldives' prominent tourism body “Maldives Association of Tour and Travel Operators” (MATATO), amid a diplomatic row over tourism between India and the Maldives, appealed to India-based travel aggregator EaseMyTrip to restart flight bookings for the island nation on its platform.<br />
<br />
The tension between the two countries escalated after three ministers posted hate&nbsp;comments over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep.<br />
<br />
The MATATO on Tuesday (Jan 9) appealed EaseMyTrip to disregard the "regrettable" comments, and stated that they "did not reflect sentiments of Maldivians in general".<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators writes to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti to re-open flight bookings to Maldives <a href="https://t.co/ojCxpPar7b">pic.twitter.com/ojCxpPar7b</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1744722098902458812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
The statement by the body, which was addressed to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti, emphasised the importance of Indian tourists, who have been the highest in numbers to have visited the country post-Covid, giving a major boost to the Maldivian economy.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-how-pm-modis-lakshadweep-visit-sparked-diplomatic-tensions-between-india-and-maldives-678432">Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep?</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">"In expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the enduring friendship and partnership that defines the relationship between the Maldives and India, we want you to know the bonds connecting our nations transcend politics. We consider our Indian counterparts... as cherished brothers and sisters,” said MATATO, in a statement.<br />
<br />
"Tourism stands as the lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work in the sector. The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy,” it added.<br />
<br />
MATATO said that the Indian tourists are "an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector, providing vital support to guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises..."</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>More than two lakh Indians holidayed in Maldives last year: ministry</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">As per the data collected by the Maldives Tourism Ministry, more than two lakh Indians went to Maldives last year, and more than 4.5 lakh travelled to the islands in the last two years. The Maldives also emerged as one of the few countries which remained open for tourists even at the time of the pandemic and almost 63,000 Indians visited the place even&nbsp;at that time.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India-Maldives comment row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-maldives-comment-row-maldives-faces-heat-over-anti-india-comments-world-news-wion-678079/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">MATATO also appealed to everyone to "refrain from contributing to divisiveness through hateful comments". The statement by MATATO came after the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) slammed the "derogatory comments" made against PM Modi.<br />
<br />
Reacting to the remarks, EaseMyTrip had earlier taken a significant step and decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings. Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nishant Pitti, standing in support of India, took to social media platform X and said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Maldives' prominent tourism body “Maldives Association of Tour and Travel Operators” (MATATO), amid a diplomatic row over tourism between India and the Maldives, appealed to India-based travel aggregator EaseMyTrip to restart flight bookings for the island nation on its platform.

Maldives' prominent tourism body “Maldives Association of Tour and Travel Operators” (MATATO), amid a diplomatic row over tourism between India and the Maldives, appealed to India-based travel aggregator EaseMyTrip to restart flight bookings for the island nation on its platform. The tension between the two countries escalated after three ministers posted hate comments over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. The MATATO on Tuesday (Jan 9) appealed EaseMyTrip to disregard the "regrettable" comments, and stated that they "did not reflect sentiments of Maldivians in general". Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators writes to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti to re-open flight bookings to Maldives pic.twitter.com/ojCxpPar7b — ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2024 × The statement by the body, which was addressed to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti, emphasised the importance of Indian tourists, who have been the highest in numbers to have visited the country post-Covid, giving a major boost to the Maldivian economy. Also read: Explained | Why was Maldives triggered by Indian PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep? "In expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the enduring friendship and partnership that defines the relationship between the Maldives and India, we want you to know the bonds connecting our nations transcend politics. We consider our Indian counterparts... as cherished brothers and sisters,” said MATATO, in a statement. "Tourism stands as the lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work in the sector. The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy,” it added. MATATO said that the Indian tourists are "an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector, providing vital support to guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises..." More than two lakh Indians holidayed in Maldives last year: ministry As per the data collected by the Maldives Tourism Ministry, more than two lakh Indians went to Maldives last year, and more than 4.5 lakh travelled to the islands in the last two years. The Maldives also emerged as one of the few countries which remained open for tourists even at the time of the pandemic and almost 63,000 Indians visited the place even at that time. Watch: India-Maldives comment row: Maldives faces heat over anti-India comments MATATO also appealed to everyone to "refrain from contributing to divisiveness through hateful comments". The statement by MATATO came after the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) slammed the "derogatory comments" made against PM Modi. Reacting to the remarks, EaseMyTrip had earlier taken a significant step and decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings. Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nishant Pitti, standing in support of India, took to social media platform X and said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.” (With inputs from agencies)

Maldives tourism body says Indian tourists boost their economy, wants them to visit

<p lang="en-US">In the wake of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, which is set to take place on January 22 in India's temple city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, the state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered all the liquor shops to remain closed and all educational institutions to be shut.<br />
<br />
Earlier, the chief minister had stated that the entire 84-Kosi Parikrama, which is an area around the temple premises, will be declared as a “no liquor zone”.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Meat shops closed in Lucknow</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Meanwhile, All India Jamiatul Quresh – a Muslim organisation – announced that all the meat shops will remain shut in Lucknow on January 22, when the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple will take place. The businesses of all the meat traders, who are functioning in the Bilochpura, Sadar Cantt, Fatehganj and Latouche Road areas, will be closed.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ayodhya-ram-temple-first-majestic-golden-door-installed-42-out-of-46-to-be-coated-with-gold-678485">Ayodhya Ram Temple: First majestic golden door installed, 42 out of 46 to be coated with gold</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">“We all are Awadh residents. Keeping in mind the goodwill on the 'Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya, it has been decided unanimously that on January 22, 2024, all the meat traders of Bilochpura, Sadar Cantt, Fatehganj, and Latouche Road areas will keep their businesses closed," said Shahabuddin Qureshi, national secretary of All India Jamiatul Quresh.<br />
<br />
The governments of Chhattisgarh and Assam have also decided to mark January 22 as a dry day. Lord Ram's sacred seating in the temple is scheduled to be held between 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm on January 22, 2024, which will coincide with the Mrigasira Nakshatra.<br />
<br />
According to Indian news agency ANI, India's ruling Bharatiya Janta Party announced that it has planned to live telecast the temple's consecration ceremony at booth levels across the entire nation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to address the country on the occasion.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Preparation in full swing for Ram Temple inauguration</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ayodhya-ram-mandir-preparation-in-full-swing-for-ram-temple-inauguration-678543/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">From January 16, the Vedic rituals for Lord Ram's pran-pratishtha (consecration) ceremony in Ayodhya will start and different rituals will be conducted throughout the week.<br />
<br />
As per the official sources, invitation cards for the Ram temple's consecration ceremony in Ayodhya are being "hand-delivered to all the guests” by the temple trust's representatives as well as a large number of volunteers.<br />
<br />
Also, different representatives of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and their allies are also assisting in hand-delivering the invitations. The invitation cards for the consecration ceremony have already been sent to some of the guests.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In the wake of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, which is set to take place on January 22 in India's temple city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, the state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered all the liquor shops to remain closed and all educational institutions to be shut.

In the wake of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, which is set to take place on January 22 in India's temple city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, the state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered all the liquor shops to remain closed and all educational institutions to be shut. Earlier, the chief minister had stated that the entire 84-Kosi Parikrama, which is an area around the temple premises, will be declared as a “no liquor zone”. Meat shops closed in Lucknow Meanwhile, All India Jamiatul Quresh – a Muslim organisation – announced that all the meat shops will remain shut in Lucknow on January 22, when the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple will take place. The businesses of all the meat traders, who are functioning in the Bilochpura, Sadar Cantt, Fatehganj and Latouche Road areas, will be closed. Also read: Ayodhya Ram Temple: First majestic golden door installed, 42 out of 46 to be coated with gold “We all are Awadh residents. Keeping in mind the goodwill on the 'Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya, it has been decided unanimously that on January 22, 2024, all the meat traders of Bilochpura, Sadar Cantt, Fatehganj, and Latouche Road areas will keep their businesses closed," said Shahabuddin Qureshi, national secretary of All India Jamiatul Quresh. The governments of Chhattisgarh and Assam have also decided to mark January 22 as a dry day. Lord Ram's sacred seating in the temple is scheduled to be held between 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm on January 22, 2024, which will coincide with the Mrigasira Nakshatra. According to Indian news agency ANI, India's ruling Bharatiya Janta Party announced that it has planned to live telecast the temple's consecration ceremony at booth levels across the entire nation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to address the country on the occasion. Watch: Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Preparation in full swing for Ram Temple inauguration From January 16, the Vedic rituals for Lord Ram's pran-pratishtha (consecration) ceremony in Ayodhya will start and different rituals will be conducted throughout the week. As per the official sources, invitation cards for the Ram temple's consecration ceremony in Ayodhya are being "hand-delivered to all the guests” by the temple trust's representatives as well as a large number of volunteers. Also, different representatives of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and their allies are also assisting in hand-delivering the invitations. The invitation cards for the consecration ceremony have already been sent to some of the guests. (With inputs from agencies)

Ram Mandir inauguration: No alcohol on Jan 22 in UP, schools and colleges to be shut, says UP CM Yogi

<p lang="en-US">An Indian start-up founder Suchana Seth's four-year-old son was most probably smothered with a pillow and died of&nbsp;suffocation, said the doctors of Hiriyur Hospital, after the body's postmortem was conducted and the results of the preliminary examination came out.<br />
<br />
The boy, who was killed in Goa, was shifted to the Hiriyur Hospital mortuary after his father came back from Indonesia. The police arrested the mother of the child on charges of murder who has&nbsp;been in police custody for questioning.<br />
<br />
"The child was smothered," said Dr Kumar Naik, who conducted the postmortem, told the media.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-suchana-seth-bengaluru-ceo-arrested-for-murdering-her-four-year-old-son-in-goa-678223">Who is Suchana Seth? Bengaluru CEO arrested for ‘murdering’ her four-year-old son in Goa</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">"He could have probably died after being suffocated by a pillow or some other object. The child doesn't seem like he was killed by strangulation using his hands. The killing took place over 36 hours ago. His face and chest are swollen due to suffocation. And the child's nose was bleeding," he added.<br />
<br />
The 39-year-old CEO of an AI start-up was caught in Chitradurga town of the Indian state of Karnataka on Monday night (Jan 8) when she was travelling with the body of her son packed in a bag.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>CEO appeared unhappy after court permitted husband to meet son: police</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">North Goa's Superintendent of Police Nidhin Valsan on Tuesday (Jan 10) said that the accused woman appeared unhappy with the recent order given by the court which permitted her husband to spend time with their son on Sunday.<br />
<br />
"Goa court remands mother to six-day police custody. The father identified the boy and he said that they got married in 2010 and their divorce proceedings started in 2022. Recently, the court issued an order to spend time with the father on Sunday. During interrogation with our investigating officers, the accused woman seemed to be unhappy with the court order," said SP Valsan, while speaking to ANI.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Bengaluru CEO Suchana Seth charged with the murder of 4-year-old son in Goa</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bengaluru-ceo-suchana-seth-charged-with-the-murder-of-4-year-old-son-in-goa-678358/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">"A woman asked the hotel staff to arrange a taxi for Bengaluru. After the checkout, when the hotel staff went to clean the room, they found red-coloured stains which they assumed to be blood. The staff immediately informed the police," added Nidhin Valsan, Superintendent of Police, North Goa.<br />
<br />
The police added that the woman is likely to have murdered her son in a service apartment in Goa's Candolim after they checked in on January 6. The woman then tried committing suicide by slashing her wrist, said the police.<br />
<br />
The police have yet not found the motive behind the murder. They said that Suchana Seth was divorcing her husband and the couple had not parted on amicable terms.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An Indian start-up founder Suchana Seth's four-year-old son was most probably smothered with a pillow and died of suffocation, said the doctors of Hiriyur Hospital, after the body's postmortem was conducted and the results of the preliminary examination came out.

An Indian start-up founder Suchana Seth's four-year-old son was most probably smothered with a pillow and died of suffocation, said the doctors of Hiriyur Hospital, after the body's postmortem was conducted and the results of the preliminary examination came out. The boy, who was killed in Goa, was shifted to the Hiriyur Hospital mortuary after his father came back from Indonesia. The police arrested the mother of the child on charges of murder who has been in police custody for questioning. "The child was smothered," said Dr Kumar Naik, who conducted the postmortem, told the media. Also read: Who is Suchana Seth? Bengaluru CEO arrested for ‘murdering’ her four-year-old son in Goa "He could have probably died after being suffocated by a pillow or some other object. The child doesn't seem like he was killed by strangulation using his hands. The killing took place over 36 hours ago. His face and chest are swollen due to suffocation. And the child's nose was bleeding," he added. The 39-year-old CEO of an AI start-up was caught in Chitradurga town of the Indian state of Karnataka on Monday night (Jan 8) when she was travelling with the body of her son packed in a bag. CEO appeared unhappy after court permitted husband to meet son: police North Goa's Superintendent of Police Nidhin Valsan on Tuesday (Jan 10) said that the accused woman appeared unhappy with the recent order given by the court which permitted her husband to spend time with their son on Sunday. "Goa court remands mother to six-day police custody. The father identified the boy and he said that they got married in 2010 and their divorce proceedings started in 2022. Recently, the court issued an order to spend time with the father on Sunday. During interrogation with our investigating officers, the accused woman seemed to be unhappy with the court order," said SP Valsan, while speaking to ANI. Watch: Bengaluru CEO Suchana Seth charged with the murder of 4-year-old son in Goa "A woman asked the hotel staff to arrange a taxi for Bengaluru. After the checkout, when the hotel staff went to clean the room, they found red-coloured stains which they assumed to be blood. The staff immediately informed the police," added Nidhin Valsan, Superintendent of Police, North Goa. The police added that the woman is likely to have murdered her son in a service apartment in Goa's Candolim after they checked in on January 6. The woman then tried committing suicide by slashing her wrist, said the police. The police have yet not found the motive behind the murder. They said that Suchana Seth was divorcing her husband and the couple had not parted on amicable terms. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian start-up CEO Suchana Seth may have smothered her son with pillow, hints autopsy

Grapefruit is filled with antioxidants which shield the liver from bacteria and have the ability to combat inflammation.

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7 Fruits Which Detoxify The Liver


Kolyma River is one of the coldest rivers that flows through Siberia and is extremely cold because of its location in the Russian Far East. It remains frozen for a major part of the year.

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Similar to the Yenisei, the Ob River also flows across Siberia and is susceptible to ice formation and extremely cold temperatures.

The river crosses the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, and is famous for freezing in the winter months.


Indigirka River, which is located in northeastern Siberia, is one of the coldest because of the Arctic climate and frigid temperatures in winter months.


This is also a Siberian river subject to freezing temperatures for a larger part of the year.


7 Coldest Rivers In The World


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Zee News Rajasthan

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Prisha

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