The police in the Indian state of Gujarat have formed teams to bust a suspected illegal immigration network involving "agents" and will coordinate with passengers of the plane that landed in Mumbai from France on Tuesday, a senior officer said. He said many passengers hail from Gujarat.

The plane, an Airbus A340, carrying 276 passengers, mostly Indians, was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking. It landed in Mumbai in the early hours on Tuesday, an official said. Speaking about the incident, Superintendent of Police, CID (Crime) Sanjay Kharat said, "The CID crime wants to take action against agents who had promised help to the victims to enter the US and other countries (illegally). We have formed four teams which will get information from the victims regarding the promises made to them by these agents."&nbsp;

He added that most of the passengers present on the chartered plane, which had returned from France, were from districts of Patan, Mehsana, Banaskantha and Anand.

"Police will coordinate with the passengers when they reach Gujarat from Mumbai to find out the agents and agencies involved and whether documents provided to them to migrate to the US and other countries were forged," Kharat said.

The SP said that the police officials will also make efforts to learn about the number of people who have flown abroad in a similar way as well as those who have been seeking to travel in this manner.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-grounds-plane-filled-with-300-indians-over-suspected-human-trafficking-672603">France grounds plane, filled with 303 Indians, over suspected 'human trafficking'</a>

He added that the CID so far has "raw information" about the agents who were involved in sending the Indians abroad and will try to gather more information by questioning the concerned passengers.

Kharat said that different agents, who have been involved in illegal immigration work, have been working in tandem. "The agents working at the village and district levels are small players controlled by the kingpin who works at the international level," he said.

He said that the investigation will be carried out by the Gujarat police and they will try to understand how the agents operate.

"Different agencies use different modus operandi based on the requirement of persons seeking to migrate like whether they require forged documents etc., and rates are fixed accordingly," said the SP, further stating that they will question the victims and the police will try to reach the kingpin.

Romanian charter company Legend Airlines was operating the charter flight - which was bound for Nicaragua from Dubai - and had landed at Vatry, close to Paris, for a technical stopover when it was detained by the French police.

Watch:&nbsp;India-France row: Gujarat police forms teams to probe suspected 'illegal migration'&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-france-row-gujarat-police-forms-teams-to-probe-suspected-illegal-migration-wion-673903/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A judicial investigation was launched by the French authorities into the purpose and conditions of the trip. Meanwhile, a unit, which specialises in organised crime investigation, suspected human trafficking.

<h2>'Most fliers had return tickets', says lawyer</h2>

Meanwhile, the lawyer of the airline Liliana Bakayoko, while speaking to NDTV on Tuesday (Dec 26), said, "I am the lawyer of the company. My colleagues who defended the passengers before the judge told the media that the passengers they defended all had return tickets. They had hotel reservations and return tickets... I don't know for when, actually. But not for the next day."

While speaking about reports suggesting that only 12 of the 303 passengers had a return ticket, the lawyer said, "The company's aeroplane was hired by a client, which is a foreign company, to perform such flights. According to my colleagues in France, all the passengers they defended, almost all of them had return tickets and hotel reservations. But it is true that only three passengers were heard by the judge."

(With inputs from agencies)

The police in the Indian state of Gujarat have formed teams to bust a suspected illegal immigration network involving "agents" and will coordinate with passengers of the plane that landed in Mumbai from France on Tuesday, a senior officer said.

The police in the Indian state of Gujarat have formed teams to bust a suspected illegal immigration network involving "agents" and will coordinate with passengers of the plane that landed in Mumbai from France on Tuesday, a senior officer said. He said many passengers hail from Gujarat. The plane, an Airbus A340, carrying 276 passengers, mostly Indians, was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking. It landed in Mumbai in the early hours on Tuesday, an official said. Speaking about the incident, Superintendent of Police, CID (Crime) Sanjay Kharat said, "The CID crime wants to take action against agents who had promised help to the victims to enter the US and other countries (illegally). We have formed four teams which will get information from the victims regarding the promises made to them by these agents." He added that most of the passengers present on the chartered plane, which had returned from France, were from districts of Patan, Mehsana, Banaskantha and Anand. "Police will coordinate with the passengers when they reach Gujarat from Mumbai to find out the agents and agencies involved and whether documents provided to them to migrate to the US and other countries were forged," Kharat said. The SP said that the police officials will also make efforts to learn about the number of people who have flown abroad in a similar way as well as those who have been seeking to travel in this manner. Also read: France grounds plane, filled with 303 Indians, over suspected 'human trafficking' He added that the CID so far has "raw information" about the agents who were involved in sending the Indians abroad and will try to gather more information by questioning the concerned passengers. Kharat said that different agents, who have been involved in illegal immigration work, have been working in tandem. "The agents working at the village and district levels are small players controlled by the kingpin who works at the international level," he said. He said that the investigation will be carried out by the Gujarat police and they will try to understand how the agents operate. "Different agencies use different modus operandi based on the requirement of persons seeking to migrate like whether they require forged documents etc., and rates are fixed accordingly," said the SP, further stating that they will question the victims and the police will try to reach the kingpin. Romanian charter company Legend Airlines was operating the charter flight - which was bound for Nicaragua from Dubai - and had landed at Vatry, close to Paris, for a technical stopover when it was detained by the French police. Watch: India-France row: Gujarat police forms teams to probe suspected 'illegal migration' A judicial investigation was launched by the French authorities into the purpose and conditions of the trip. Meanwhile, a unit, which specialises in organised crime investigation, suspected human trafficking. 'Most fliers had return tickets', says lawyer Meanwhile, the lawyer of the airline Liliana Bakayoko, while speaking to NDTV on Tuesday (Dec 26), said, "I am the lawyer of the company. My colleagues who defended the passengers before the judge told the media that the passengers they defended all had return tickets. They had hotel reservations and return tickets... I don't know for when, actually. But not for the next day." While speaking about reports suggesting that only 12 of the 303 passengers had a return ticket, the lawyer said, "The company's aeroplane was hired by a client, which is a foreign company, to perform such flights. According to my colleagues in France, all the passengers they defended, almost all of them had return tickets and hotel reservations. But it is true that only three passengers were heard by the judge." (With inputs from agencies)

France plane row: Indian police form teams to bust illegal immigration network

Blizzards and winter storms sweep central US, travel turns dangerous during holiday season

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured a stunning image of Saturn which had an analogue-esque glow and slightly grainy appearance. 
 
The image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope on October 22, 2023, which exposed a very interesting detail of the planet. 
 
When the image of the thick white inner band on the rings of Saturn was looked at carefully, shadowy appearances were seen which looked like dirty fingerprints.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-finds-energy-source-and-molecule-at-saturns-moon-enceladus-670221">NASA finds energy source and molecule at Saturn's moon Enceladus</a>

These were said to be mysterious ring spokes around Saturn, nearly the size of Earth, which appeared to rotate along with the rings. However, scientists still need to discover what they are.

<h2>Spokes appear only in two or three rotations</h2>

The spokes remain visible only in two or three rotations around the planet after which they disappear. This means that capturing them has been a difficult task historically. 
 
Scientists had first spotted them in 1981 by Voyager 2 and it was again seen numerous times in the Cassini mission, which was orbiting around the planet from 2004 to 2017. 
 
Currently, Hubble has been observing this unusual feature under the Outer Planets Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) programme which keeps on monitoring the weather on the gas giants of the solar system. 
 
"The leading theory is that spokes are tied to Saturn's powerful magnetic field, with some sort of solar interaction with the magnetic field that gives you the spokes," said OPAL program lead scientist Amy Simon of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre, in a statement. 
 
In the past images captured by the Hubble telescope, the spokes appeared seasonally and each season lasted for nearly seven years on Saturn.

Watch:&nbsp;Discovery of six-planet solar system amazes astronomers&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/discovery-of-six-planet-solar-system-amazes-astronomers-wion-664631/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We are heading towards Saturn equinox, when we'd expect maximum spoke activity, with higher frequency and darker spokes appearing over the next few years," Simon said. 
 
This is because the tilt of Saturn at the equinox orients the planet as well as its rings in a way that solar winds are able to collide with the magnetic field of the planet more forcefully, which results in more pronounced spokes. 
 
Scientists have been hoping that continued observation of Saturn and its rings by the Hubble telescope will help in understanding the mystery of the spokes.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured a stunning image of Saturn which had an analogue-esque glow and slightly grainy appearance. The image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope on October 22, 2023, which exposed a very interesting detail of the planet.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured a stunning image of Saturn which had an analogue-esque glow and slightly grainy appearance. The image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope on October 22, 2023, which exposed a very interesting detail of the planet. When the image of the thick white inner band on the rings of Saturn was looked at carefully, shadowy appearances were seen which looked like dirty fingerprints. Also read: NASA finds energy source and molecule at Saturn's moon Enceladus These were said to be mysterious ring spokes around Saturn, nearly the size of Earth, which appeared to rotate along with the rings. However, scientists still need to discover what they are. Spokes appear only in two or three rotations The spokes remain visible only in two or three rotations around the planet after which they disappear. This means that capturing them has been a difficult task historically. Scientists had first spotted them in 1981 by Voyager 2 and it was again seen numerous times in the Cassini mission, which was orbiting around the planet from 2004 to 2017. Currently, Hubble has been observing this unusual feature under the Outer Planets Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) programme which keeps on monitoring the weather on the gas giants of the solar system. "The leading theory is that spokes are tied to Saturn's powerful magnetic field, with some sort of solar interaction with the magnetic field that gives you the spokes," said OPAL program lead scientist Amy Simon of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre, in a statement. In the past images captured by the Hubble telescope, the spokes appeared seasonally and each season lasted for nearly seven years on Saturn. Watch: Discovery of six-planet solar system amazes astronomers "We are heading towards Saturn equinox, when we'd expect maximum spoke activity, with higher frequency and darker spokes appearing over the next few years," Simon said. This is because the tilt of Saturn at the equinox orients the planet as well as its rings in a way that solar winds are able to collide with the magnetic field of the planet more forcefully, which results in more pronounced spokes. Scientists have been hoping that continued observation of Saturn and its rings by the Hubble telescope will help in understanding the mystery of the spokes. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Hubble telescope captures mysterious spokes on rings of Saturn

A massive forgotten colony – which was once off the coast of Australia and was home to hundreds of thousands of people – has now been found by the scientists. 
 
Various signs of human life and artefacts were discovered on Sahul's northwest shelf, which was located off the coast of Kimberley's northern region on a piece of land that was connected to New Guinea, as per a study published&nbsp;in Quaternary Science Reviews. 
 
The piece of land, which was drowned, was most probably a thriving ecosystem which existed in the Late Pleistocene period that dates back&nbsp;2.5 million years. 
 
The now-submerged landmass was spread in the area of 250,000 square miles which was 1.6 times the size of the United Kingdom. 
 
The continental shelf, which was once believed to be a desert, was filled with rivers and streams, habitable fresh and saltwater lakes, as well as a large inland sea, which is likely to have supported around 50,000 and 500,000 people.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nw-submerged-sahul-region-of-australia-once-hosted-around-half-million-population-study-672143">Millions once lived on a land larger than New Zealand. Rising seas swallowed it</a>

As per the scientists, the shelf may have also served as a bridge for people to walk into Australia before the country turned into the massive island it is today.

<h2>Continental shelf drowned amid global sea level rise</h2>

Nearly half of the shelf had drowned around 12,000 to 9,000 years ago which marked the first of two phases of rapid global sea level rise. 
 
“This likely caused a retreat of human populations, registering as peaks in occupational intensity at archaeological sites,” wrote the scientists. 
 
The people who funnelled into an archipelago on the continental shelf became the “first maritime explorers from Wallacea, creating a familiar environment for their maritime economies to adapt to the vast terrestrial continent of Sahul.”

Watch:&nbsp;Bushfire in Pilliga State Forest ravage Australia&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bushfire-in-pilliga-state-forest-ravage-australia-english-news-wion-671608/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The scientists have been working to uncover the lost colony's history and plan to carry on the reconstruction of the palaeoecology of the landscapes. 
 
“Now submerged continental margins clearly played an important role in early human expansions across the world,” stated the study. 
 
“The rise in undersea archaeology in Australia will contribute to a growing worldwide picture of early human migration and the impact of climate change on Late Pleistocene human populations,” it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

A massive forgotten colony – which was once off the coast of Australia and was home to hundreds of thousands of people – has now been found by the scientists. Various signs of human life and artefacts were discovered on Sahul's northwest shelf, which was located off the coast of Kimberley's northern region on a piece of land that was connected to New Guinea, as per a study published in Quaternary Science Reviews.

A massive forgotten colony – which was once off the coast of Australia and was home to hundreds of thousands of people – has now been found by the scientists. Various signs of human life and artefacts were discovered on Sahul's northwest shelf, which was located off the coast of Kimberley's northern region on a piece of land that was connected to New Guinea, as per a study published in Quaternary Science Reviews. The piece of land, which was drowned, was most probably a thriving ecosystem which existed in the Late Pleistocene period that dates back 2.5 million years. The now-submerged landmass was spread in the area of 250,000 square miles which was 1.6 times the size of the United Kingdom. The continental shelf, which was once believed to be a desert, was filled with rivers and streams, habitable fresh and saltwater lakes, as well as a large inland sea, which is likely to have supported around 50,000 and 500,000 people. Also read: Millions once lived on a land larger than New Zealand. Rising seas swallowed it As per the scientists, the shelf may have also served as a bridge for people to walk into Australia before the country turned into the massive island it is today. Continental shelf drowned amid global sea level rise Nearly half of the shelf had drowned around 12,000 to 9,000 years ago which marked the first of two phases of rapid global sea level rise. “This likely caused a retreat of human populations, registering as peaks in occupational intensity at archaeological sites,” wrote the scientists. The people who funnelled into an archipelago on the continental shelf became the “first maritime explorers from Wallacea, creating a familiar environment for their maritime economies to adapt to the vast terrestrial continent of Sahul.” Watch: Bushfire in Pilliga State Forest ravage Australia The scientists have been working to uncover the lost colony's history and plan to carry on the reconstruction of the palaeoecology of the landscapes. “Now submerged continental margins clearly played an important role in early human expansions across the world,” stated the study. “The rise in undersea archaeology in Australia will contribute to a growing worldwide picture of early human migration and the impact of climate change on Late Pleistocene human populations,” it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia's lost ancient colony, where thousands once lived, now found

Tesla has recalled more than 120,000 Model S and Model X vehicles&nbsp;in the United State over the risk of car doors getting unlocked and opening when the car crashes,&nbsp;said the automaker on Friday (Dec 22). 
 
An over-the-air (OTA) software update was released by Tesla for model years 2021-2023 which does not comply with federal safety standards needed for side-impact protection, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 
 
On Friday, Tesla in its filing with NHTSA, said it saw the unlatching of a cabin door after there was impact on the non-struck side in between routine crash test earlier this month.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tesla-plans-to-launch-affordable-25000-euro-car-in-germany-source-says-655965">Tesla plans to launch affordable 25,000-euro car in Germany: Media reports</a>

The test vehicle was operational but did not have lockout functionality which Tesla found was excluded inadvertently from the software updates, which it started issuing in late 2021. 
 
Tesla stated that it was not aware of any injuries or warranty claims related to the issue.

<h2>Tesla recalled 2.03 million vehicles</h2>

Tesla last week had recalled all 2.03 million of its vehicles which were on the roads of the United States. This was the largest action taken by the company in the country for fixing or replacing a defective product. 
 
In the recall, the company was to install new safeguards in the car's Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system, after safety concerns were cited by NHTSA.

Watch:&nbsp;Tesla Cybertruck deliveries hostage to battery production hell

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tesla-cybertruck-deliveries-hostage-to-battery-production-hell-672393/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Speaking to Reuters earlier this week, NHTSA said that it plans to test hardware and&nbsp;software updates which were installed by Tesla on vehicles recalled for the Autopilot issue. 
 
NHTSA said that the agency's Vehicle Research and Test Centre in Ohio has many vehicles of Tesla that will be used for evaluating ways to solve the issues. It will also look into additional information such as "real-world incident outcomes before and after the remedy rollout as well," it added. 
 
The agency added that the over-the-air remedy of Tesla has not been evaluated by the company “because it only received the software update on the vehicles it owns a few days ago.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Tesla has recalled more than 120,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in the United State over the risk of car doors getting unlocked and opening when the car crashes, said the automaker on Friday (Dec 22).

Tesla has recalled more than 120,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in the United State over the risk of car doors getting unlocked and opening when the car crashes, said the automaker on Friday (Dec 22). An over-the-air (OTA) software update was released by Tesla for model years 2021-2023 which does not comply with federal safety standards needed for side-impact protection, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). On Friday, Tesla in its filing with NHTSA, said it saw the unlatching of a cabin door after there was impact on the non-struck side in between routine crash test earlier this month. Also read: Tesla plans to launch affordable 25,000-euro car in Germany: Media reports The test vehicle was operational but did not have lockout functionality which Tesla found was excluded inadvertently from the software updates, which it started issuing in late 2021. Tesla stated that it was not aware of any injuries or warranty claims related to the issue. Tesla recalled 2.03 million vehicles Tesla last week had recalled all 2.03 million of its vehicles which were on the roads of the United States. This was the largest action taken by the company in the country for fixing or replacing a defective product. In the recall, the company was to install new safeguards in the car's Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system, after safety concerns were cited by NHTSA. Watch: Tesla Cybertruck deliveries hostage to battery production hell Speaking to Reuters earlier this week, NHTSA said that it plans to test hardware and software updates which were installed by Tesla on vehicles recalled for the Autopilot issue. NHTSA said that the agency's Vehicle Research and Test Centre in Ohio has many vehicles of Tesla that will be used for evaluating ways to solve the issues. It will also look into additional information such as "real-world incident outcomes before and after the remedy rollout as well," it added. The agency added that the over-the-air remedy of Tesla has not been evaluated by the company “because it only received the software update on the vehicles it owns a few days ago.” (With inputs from agencies)

Tesla recalls 120,000 cars in United States over risk of doors getting unlocked during crash

It is the Christmas season and people are eagerly hoping to get a gift from their favourite Santa Claus. But where does Santa live for the rest of the year? No, it is not only the North Pole. These are the places where Santa Claus lives around the world:

The ‘real’ Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas — who was seen as the saviour of children — lived in Myra, Turkey.

Through time, ‘North Poles’ popped up in many places. Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole was opened in New York in 1949. The themed fantasy park was set up by businessman Julian Reiss whose daughter wanted to visit Santa’s Village.

After turning into ashes in World War II, Rovaniemi — Lapland’s capital in Finland — came again to life as Santa Claus’ most famous home. The place has a functional Santa Claus Main Post Office and even has a unique postmark.

Another Santa Claus house has been built in Alaska by Con and Nellie Miller. Con was involved in fur trading and used to wear red fur suits in the holiday season because of which he got the local name ‘Santa Claus’.  

4 Homes Of Santa Claus Around The World

How Red and Green Became Colours of Christmas

It’s again that time of the year when celebrations are peaking, the world is merrier, families are planning holidays and children are wishing for their beloved Santa Claus to gift them goodies.

However, it is also the time when the debate over Santa’s existence, his inclusion in family traditions and how important he is in picks up.

To those who wish to celebrate Christmas in other ways, Santa is none other than Saint Nicholas who once existed and was seen as the protector of children.

Salt, pepper or any other seasonings cannot be sprinkled in space as they float and may get into someone's eyes and cause irritation.


Santa’s existence is what gives hope to children. In a world mired with conflicts, Santa’s impending arrival is awaited, prepared for and celebrated.

Santa is a happy hope that comes to all of us at the end of the year when we sit and ponder about all the difficult paths we crossed in that one year.

This Christmas Should We Wish For Gifts From Santa Or Question His Existence?

The United States Department of Agriculture on Thursday (Dec 21) said that Santa Claus and his reindeer were given clearance for entry and exit in the country, ahead of the upcoming Christmas. 
 
The permit was issued by the department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to allow free passage to “Mr. S. Nicholas Claus of the North Pole, a distributor with Gifts and Good Cheer, Inc.” throughout the country between 6 pm (local time) on December 24 and 6 am (local time) on December 25. 
 
In the press release, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programmes Jenny Lester Moffitt said, "USDA is delighted to grant Mr. Claus and his reindeer a special permit to enter the United States, ensuring a seamless journey for the joy they bring each holiday season.”

"We extend a warm welcome to Mr. Claus and recognize the vital role of U.S. milk and cookies in fueling his festive flight,” she added. 
 
The reindeer of Santa Claus is a historic group of nine flying reindeer, which as per the folklore, pull the sleigh of Santa Claus throughout the night sky and help him deliver gifts on Christmas eve to children.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-enjoy-these-heartwarming-christmas-favorites-with-your-family-671738">Enjoy these heartwarming Christmas favourites with your family</a>

The veterinary officials of the department have ensured that all entry requirements are met by the reindeer before the permit is issued. USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Rosemary Sifford said, “At a recent inspection, the reindeer were found to be healthy and able to prance and paw with each hoof.” 
 
On the health certificate of one reindeer, called Rudolph, it was&nbsp;noted that he was suffering from a minor physical anomaly. However, it was indicated by APHIS that the bright red nose of Rudolph was normal for him and is not an issue of concern. 
 
The movement of cervids, which includes reindeer, is regulated by APHIS to protect the health of the livestock population of the US. The process of giving permits provided assurance that only healthy animals will enter the United States.

<h2>Precautionary measures are to be adopted by Santa and his reindeer</h2>

USDA stated that reindeer will pull the wooden sleigh which will have jingling bells attached to it and will be filled with brightly wrapped gifts. The runners and the underside of the sleigh will be cleaned and disinfected by port personnel at the time of entry.

Watch:&nbsp;Christmas 2023: Up, close and personal with Finland's Santa Claus | WION E-Club Exclusive

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/christmas-2023-up-close-and-personal-with-finlands-santa-claus-wion-e-club-exclusive-672622/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A short visual inspection of the reindeer will also be conducted by the officials and Claus will disinfect his boots and wash his hands thoroughly. An advance list of what port personnel will be expecting on their arrival has been handed over to Santa Claus. 
 
The loss includes a variety of food items from approved locations and does not pose any threat to the health of animals or plants in the country. 
 
“It’s important that Gifts and Good Cheer, Inc. take all the right steps and precautions to protect against the potential introduction of pests and diseases. I appreciate USDA’s assistance every year as we gear up for our big night,” said Santa Claus.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United States Department of Agriculture on Thursday (Dec 21) said that Santa Claus and his reindeer were given clearance for entry and exit in the country, ahead of the upcoming Christmas.

The United States Department of Agriculture on Thursday (Dec 21) said that Santa Claus and his reindeer were given clearance for entry and exit in the country, ahead of the upcoming Christmas. The permit was issued by the department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to allow free passage to “Mr. S. Nicholas Claus of the North Pole, a distributor with Gifts and Good Cheer, Inc.” throughout the country between 6 pm (local time) on December 24 and 6 am (local time) on December 25. In the press release, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programmes Jenny Lester Moffitt said, "USDA is delighted to grant Mr. Claus and his reindeer a special permit to enter the United States, ensuring a seamless journey for the joy they bring each holiday season.” "We extend a warm welcome to Mr. Claus and recognize the vital role of U.S. milk and cookies in fueling his festive flight,” she added. The reindeer of Santa Claus is a historic group of nine flying reindeer, which as per the folklore, pull the sleigh of Santa Claus throughout the night sky and help him deliver gifts on Christmas eve to children. Also read: Enjoy these heartwarming Christmas favourites with your family The veterinary officials of the department have ensured that all entry requirements are met by the reindeer before the permit is issued. USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Rosemary Sifford said, “At a recent inspection, the reindeer were found to be healthy and able to prance and paw with each hoof.” On the health certificate of one reindeer, called Rudolph, it was noted that he was suffering from a minor physical anomaly. However, it was indicated by APHIS that the bright red nose of Rudolph was normal for him and is not an issue of concern. The movement of cervids, which includes reindeer, is regulated by APHIS to protect the health of the livestock population of the US. The process of giving permits provided assurance that only healthy animals will enter the United States. Precautionary measures are to be adopted by Santa and his reindeer USDA stated that reindeer will pull the wooden sleigh which will have jingling bells attached to it and will be filled with brightly wrapped gifts. The runners and the underside of the sleigh will be cleaned and disinfected by port personnel at the time of entry. Watch: Christmas 2023: Up, close and personal with Finland's Santa Claus | WION E-Club Exclusive A short visual inspection of the reindeer will also be conducted by the officials and Claus will disinfect his boots and wash his hands thoroughly. An advance list of what port personnel will be expecting on their arrival has been handed over to Santa Claus. The loss includes a variety of food items from approved locations and does not pose any threat to the health of animals or plants in the country. “It’s important that Gifts and Good Cheer, Inc. take all the right steps and precautions to protect against the potential introduction of pests and diseases. I appreciate USDA’s assistance every year as we gear up for our big night,” said Santa Claus. (With inputs from agencies)

US grants clearance to Santa Claus and reindeer for entry ahead of Christmas

The Suez Canal is the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe. The alternate route around Africa adds 9 days and 5149km to the journey. The Suez Canal opened in 1869 as a life-saver for the shipping industry. The canal soon found itself trapped in wars and political conflicts. On Gravitas Plus we bring you the story of the Suez Canal.

Gravitas Plus | Suez Canal: Critical oil route caught in Gaza crossfire

The mystery around the disappearance of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny continues to deepen after he remained absent from two scheduled court hearings which were conducted through video link on Friday (Dec 22), as per a statement from his team. 
 
The team of Navalny said that the prominent politician had been missing for 17 days and his current whereabouts remain unknown. 
 
“Today Alexey was supposed to have two trials. He was again not brought to the meetings. Navalny has never been hidden for so long,” said Navalny’s team, in a Telegram post. 
 
The unprecedented duration of the absence of Navalny from public view has sparked concerns regarding his safety and well-being. 
 
The aides of Navalny have again submitted a plea for information in which they have offered a cryptocurrency reward for complete and reliable details regarding his current status or location.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-says-unaware-of-navalnys-whereabouts-rebuffs-us-concerns-over-his-disappearance-668976">Kremlin says unaware of Navalny's whereabouts, rebuffs US concerns over his 'disappearance'</a>

When the Kremlin last week was repeatedly asked about the absence of Navalny, they told reporters that they had “neither the intention nor the ability to monitor the fate of prisoners and the process of their stay in the relevant institutions.”

<h2>No coincidence, says former minister</h2>

Former Russian deputy energy minister and an adviser to Navalny Vladimir Milov, while speaking to CNN, said that the timing of the disappearance of Navalny was “no coincidence”, noting Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that he will be running for elections in March 2024. 
 
“I think it is a deliberate tactic. It is no coincidence that Navalny disappeared exactly the moment when the so-called sham presidential elections were announced and that Putin announced that he was going to be running again,” said Milov. 
 
“Putin is really willing to show that he is going to enter the Kremlin for another term through intimidation, through repression, through pressure on society, and that is clearly blackmail on all the opposition forces,” he added.

Watch:&nbsp;Russia: Vladimir Putin's jailed opponent Alexei Navalny missing since a week, US concerned

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-vladimir-putins-jailed-opponent-alexei-navalny-missing-since-a-week-us-concerned-wion-668730/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Milov further said that even though he made efforts to find the whereabouts of Navalny, “so far, there is no answer.” 
 
Milov added that his colleagues are required to send written and formal inquiries to detention institutions in Russia and to get information regarding the whereabouts of Navalny, a process he called “tedious” and “time and effort-consuming.” 
 
“My colleagues have been bombarding all the known detention institutions in Russia to try and find Navalny across the country,” said Milov.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The mystery around the disappearance of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny continues to deepen after he remained absent from two scheduled court hearings which were conducted through video link on Friday (Dec 22), as per a statement from his team.

The mystery around the disappearance of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny continues to deepen after he remained absent from two scheduled court hearings which were conducted through video link on Friday (Dec 22), as per a statement from his team. The team of Navalny said that the prominent politician had been missing for 17 days and his current whereabouts remain unknown. “Today Alexey was supposed to have two trials. He was again not brought to the meetings. Navalny has never been hidden for so long,” said Navalny’s team, in a Telegram post. The unprecedented duration of the absence of Navalny from public view has sparked concerns regarding his safety and well-being. The aides of Navalny have again submitted a plea for information in which they have offered a cryptocurrency reward for complete and reliable details regarding his current status or location. Also read: Kremlin says unaware of Navalny's whereabouts, rebuffs US concerns over his 'disappearance' When the Kremlin last week was repeatedly asked about the absence of Navalny, they told reporters that they had “neither the intention nor the ability to monitor the fate of prisoners and the process of their stay in the relevant institutions.” No coincidence, says former minister Former Russian deputy energy minister and an adviser to Navalny Vladimir Milov, while speaking to CNN, said that the timing of the disappearance of Navalny was “no coincidence”, noting Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that he will be running for elections in March 2024. “I think it is a deliberate tactic. It is no coincidence that Navalny disappeared exactly the moment when the so-called sham presidential elections were announced and that Putin announced that he was going to be running again,” said Milov. “Putin is really willing to show that he is going to enter the Kremlin for another term through intimidation, through repression, through pressure on society, and that is clearly blackmail on all the opposition forces,” he added. Watch: Russia: Vladimir Putin's jailed opponent Alexei Navalny missing since a week, US concerned Milov further said that even though he made efforts to find the whereabouts of Navalny, “so far, there is no answer.” Milov added that his colleagues are required to send written and formal inquiries to detention institutions in Russia and to get information regarding the whereabouts of Navalny, a process he called “tedious” and “time and effort-consuming.” “My colleagues have been bombarding all the known detention institutions in Russia to try and find Navalny across the country,” said Milov. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia’s former minister says ‘no coincidence’ as Putin’s rival Navalny remains absent from court hearings

A 27-year-old black woman, identified as&nbsp;Niani Finlayson, dialled the emergency helpline number 911 in Los Angeles, United States to report domestic violence on December 4. Responding to the distress call, the deputies of the Los Angeles County sheriff reached her house, however, the black woman was shot dead by the cops after a confrontation.

<h2>911 Distress Call</h2>

In a press release, the LA County Sheriff's Department said, “On December 4, 2023, at 6:08 p.m., Lancaster Station deputies responded to an apartment in the 2100 block of East Avenue J-8 in the city of Lancaster, regarding a domestic violence call. A female called 9-1-1 and reported that her boyfriend would not leave her alone and then screaming and sounds of a struggle could be heard.” 
 
After the LA County Sheriff's deputies reached the apartment in East Avenue, Lancaster, they heard people yelling and arguing. The police forced open the door and saw that the woman had a large kitchen knife in her hand.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-refuses-to-hear-trump-immunity-case-delaying-his-trial-672705">US: Supreme Court refuses to hear Trump immunity case, delaying trial</a>

As per the police, the woman threatened to stab her boyfriend because he had pushed her nine-year-old daughter. It was further reported that she went inside the apartment where her boyfriend was sitting and “grabbed her boyfriend while holding the knife in an apparent attempt to stab him”. 
 
The confrontation led to a fatal shooting and the woman suffered multiple gunshot wounds while her daughter was in front of her. The woman was rushed to the hospital and she was declared dead. An investigation into the case is being carried out by the homicide investigators.

<h2>Family contest claims of police</h2>

The family's attorney, as reported by the Guardian, said that the woman had reported to the police that she was inside the house with her nine-year-old daughter and had suffered injuries by her ex-boyfriend and wanted him to be removed. 
 
In a press conference, her daughter Xaisha – who also witnessed the mother's shooting – said, “The police lied that my mom was threatening them.” She was accompanied by her grandparents and called for Shelton to be prosecuted.

Watch:&nbsp;US announces Naval 20-country coalition to defend Red Sea&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-announces-naval-20-country-coalition-to-defend-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-world-news-wion-672816/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"She was my best friend. She was always there for me. It's unbelievable that she's gone and she's not coming back. I miss my mom," said the nine-year-old. 
 
The girl stated that her two-year-old sister has been asking about her mother and that she doesn't know how she should respond. 
 
A legal claim has been filed against the county and sheriff's department by her family alleging wrongful death, civil rights violations and assault and have initiated a $30,000 fundraiser in her memory.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A 27-year-old black woman, identified as Niani Finlayson, dialled the emergency helpline number 911 in Los Angeles, United States to report domestic violence on December 4.

A 27-year-old black woman, identified as Niani Finlayson, dialled the emergency helpline number 911 in Los Angeles, United States to report domestic violence on December 4. Responding to the distress call, the deputies of the Los Angeles County sheriff reached her house, however, the black woman was shot dead by the cops after a confrontation. 911 Distress Call In a press release, the LA County Sheriff's Department said, “On December 4, 2023, at 6:08 p.m., Lancaster Station deputies responded to an apartment in the 2100 block of East Avenue J-8 in the city of Lancaster, regarding a domestic violence call. A female called 9-1-1 and reported that her boyfriend would not leave her alone and then screaming and sounds of a struggle could be heard.” After the LA County Sheriff's deputies reached the apartment in East Avenue, Lancaster, they heard people yelling and arguing. The police forced open the door and saw that the woman had a large kitchen knife in her hand. Also read: US: Supreme Court refuses to hear Trump immunity case, delaying trial As per the police, the woman threatened to stab her boyfriend because he had pushed her nine-year-old daughter. It was further reported that she went inside the apartment where her boyfriend was sitting and “grabbed her boyfriend while holding the knife in an apparent attempt to stab him”. The confrontation led to a fatal shooting and the woman suffered multiple gunshot wounds while her daughter was in front of her. The woman was rushed to the hospital and she was declared dead. An investigation into the case is being carried out by the homicide investigators. Family contest claims of police The family's attorney, as reported by the Guardian, said that the woman had reported to the police that she was inside the house with her nine-year-old daughter and had suffered injuries by her ex-boyfriend and wanted him to be removed. In a press conference, her daughter Xaisha – who also witnessed the mother's shooting – said, “The police lied that my mom was threatening them.” She was accompanied by her grandparents and called for Shelton to be prosecuted. Watch: US announces Naval 20-country coalition to defend Red Sea "She was my best friend. She was always there for me. It's unbelievable that she's gone and she's not coming back. I miss my mom," said the nine-year-old. The girl stated that her two-year-old sister has been asking about her mother and that she doesn't know how she should respond. A legal claim has been filed against the county and sheriff's department by her family alleging wrongful death, civil rights violations and assault and have initiated a $30,000 fundraiser in her memory. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Police shoot black woman wielding knife after she dials 911 to report domestic violence

It's again that time of the year when celebrations are peaking, the world is merrier, families are planning holidays and children are wishing for their beloved Santa Claus to gift them goodies. From across the world, people of all age groups have thronged Santa Claus Village in Finland's Rovaniemi to experience for once, in reality, something which always existed as a fiction.

But as Christmas comes around, a weird anxiousness seems to envelop the elders who worry about whether children, who believe in the existence of Santa Claus, should be told the truth or should they be left to believe the legend and enjoy their childhood innocence and happiness. 
 
The debate over Santa's existence, and how important he is in Christmas, can go on endlessly.&nbsp;But can we really imagine Christmas without Santa? Was he never a part of our childhood? Or were those hopes really futile?

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-grants-clearance-to-santa-claus-and-reindeer-for-entry-ahead-of-christmas-672680">US grants clearance to Santa Claus and reindeer for entry ahead of Christmas</a>

Poet Emily Dickson wrote of "Hope” as the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul." To hope is to try to live amid the battles and difficulties we face every day.&nbsp;

Santa's existence is what gives hope to children. In a world mired with conflicts, Santa's impending arrival is awaited, prepared for and celebrated. Amid conflicts, chaos and uncertainties, how many symbols of hope does this world really have—if not Santa?

<h2>How did Santa Claus come into our lives?</h2>

Coca-Cola has generally been linked with the creation of the image of Santa Claus when they created the iconic image of a man wearing a red suit, sporting a white beard on his&nbsp;ruddy cheeks. But the man who inspired this jolly figure was a generous bishop St Nicholas who existed in AD 280.

<h2>The 'man' behind the 'myth'</h2>

The history of Saint Nicholas has been steeped deep in the Christmas traditions in the form of 'merry Santa Claus' who is loved by all. He is known to save three sisters from getting sold and then pushed into slavery or prostitution by their father. His popularity rose to no heights and he became the protector of children and sailors.

St. Nicholas became a prominent part of American popular culture at the end of the 18th century and got the nickname 'Sinter Klaas', whose stories were narrated and loved by all. In some time, 'Sinter Klass' became the newly-popular Santa Claus, which slowly turned a compulsory part of Christmas traditions.

Watch:&nbsp;Christmas 2023: Up, close and personal with Finland's Santa Claus&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/christmas-2023-up-close-and-personal-with-finlands-santa-claus-wion-e-club-exclusive-672622/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>So, can we do away with Santa?</h2>

Two professors of psychology Candice Mills and Thalia R. Goldstein conducted a research titled 'There Are Better Ways to Talk With Your Kids About Santa' which was published in The New York Times.

A major finding of their research was that even those who came to know about Santa's non-existence were temporarily disappointed but soon their focus shifted to other aspects of the celebrations and some were even relieved to have solved the complicated puzzle.

Santa is a cherished hope which brings joy in the minds of children and inspires them to trod a better path so that they are not deprived of their gifts. It's a harmless figure of love, kindness and celebration which is full of glee and only brings smiles to the faces of people who wish to believe.

Just like Dickinson's description of hope, Santa is a happy hope that comes to all of us at the end of the year when we sit and ponder about all the difficult paths we crossed in that one year. Maybe, we can have that one 'sweet' hope – even though it's magical and may remain untouched like stars in the sky.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

It's again that time of the year when celebrations are peaking, the world is merrier, families are planning holidays and children are wishing for their beloved Santa Claus to gift them goodies.

It's again that time of the year when celebrations are peaking, the world is merrier, families are planning holidays and children are wishing for their beloved Santa Claus to gift them goodies. From across the world, people of all age groups have thronged Santa Claus Village in Finland's Rovaniemi to experience for once, in reality, something which always existed as a fiction. But as Christmas comes around, a weird anxiousness seems to envelop the elders who worry about whether children, who believe in the existence of Santa Claus, should be told the truth or should they be left to believe the legend and enjoy their childhood innocence and happiness. The debate over Santa's existence, and how important he is in Christmas, can go on endlessly. But can we really imagine Christmas without Santa? Was he never a part of our childhood? Or were those hopes really futile? Also read: US grants clearance to Santa Claus and reindeer for entry ahead of Christmas Poet Emily Dickson wrote of "Hope” as the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul." To hope is to try to live amid the battles and difficulties we face every day. Santa's existence is what gives hope to children. In a world mired with conflicts, Santa's impending arrival is awaited, prepared for and celebrated. Amid conflicts, chaos and uncertainties, how many symbols of hope does this world really have—if not Santa? How did Santa Claus come into our lives? Coca-Cola has generally been linked with the creation of the image of Santa Claus when they created the iconic image of a man wearing a red suit, sporting a white beard on his ruddy cheeks. But the man who inspired this jolly figure was a generous bishop St Nicholas who existed in AD 280. The 'man' behind the 'myth' The history of Saint Nicholas has been steeped deep in the Christmas traditions in the form of 'merry Santa Claus' who is loved by all. He is known to save three sisters from getting sold and then pushed into slavery or prostitution by their father. His popularity rose to no heights and he became the protector of children and sailors. St. Nicholas became a prominent part of American popular culture at the end of the 18th century and got the nickname 'Sinter Klaas', whose stories were narrated and loved by all. In some time, 'Sinter Klass' became the newly-popular Santa Claus, which slowly turned a compulsory part of Christmas traditions. Watch: Christmas 2023: Up, close and personal with Finland's Santa Claus So, can we do away with Santa? Two professors of psychology Candice Mills and Thalia R. Goldstein conducted a research titled 'There Are Better Ways to Talk With Your Kids About Santa' which was published in The New York Times. A major finding of their research was that even those who came to know about Santa's non-existence were temporarily disappointed but soon their focus shifted to other aspects of the celebrations and some were even relieved to have solved the complicated puzzle. Santa is a cherished hope which brings joy in the minds of children and inspires them to trod a better path so that they are not deprived of their gifts. It's a harmless figure of love, kindness and celebration which is full of glee and only brings smiles to the faces of people who wish to believe. Just like Dickinson's description of hope, Santa is a happy hope that comes to all of us at the end of the year when we sit and ponder about all the difficult paths we crossed in that one year. Maybe, we can have that one 'sweet' hope – even though it's magical and may remain untouched like stars in the sky. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Decoding Santa Claus: How ‘Christmassy’ will be Christmas without him ‘jingling’ your way

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