#GravitasPlus | There’s a sharp spike in cab-related crimes in India. What can you do if your cab driver is driving recklessly or behaving inappropriately? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas Plus: India’s killer rides

Emotions swelled as many families reunited after the first batch of hostages were released by Hamas from Gaza amid a temporary truce on Friday (Nov 24). 
 
Among the Thai nationals released, the family of Vetoon Phoome had feared that he had been killed by Hamas in the October 7 attack, until they found out that he was freed along with other Thai hostages in Gaza. 
 
"He told me not to cry, to tell mother I'm coming back," said Vetoon's sister Roongarun Wichagern, while speaking to Reuters after speaking to his brother via video call. 
 
33-year-old Vetoon, who has been living in Israel since five years, was among the 10 Thai hostages released by Hamas during the first temporary truce of the war which has been going on for seven weeks and started with the October 7 assault of the Palestinian terror group on southern Israel.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-receives-second-list-of-hostages-set-to-be-released-by-hamas-on-saturday-662599">Israel receives second list of hostages to be released by Hamas on Saturday</a>

"He said, 'I'm not dead, I'm not dead'," said Roongarun, while calling his survival a "miracle". 
 
The 10 Thais were part of the hostages who were freed on Friday in a deal which was negotiated as part of the truce, under which 39 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails. The government of Thailand said that 20 of its nationals are still captive. 
 
Thailand's foreign minister and army chief are set to travel to Israel to bring the freed hostages back, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin while speaking to reporters. He added that his government was trying to secure the release of the rest of the captives. "We will not stop. We will bring them back," he stated. 
 
Taking to social media, Iran's Embassy in Bangkok said that the release was facilitated by Tehran by providing a list of names to Hamas after Thailand's foreign ministry and a parliamentary speaker made a request for the same. 
 
A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson stated that Thailand had "provided lists since the beginning to everyone," including Egypt, Qatar, Iran and Israel. "Different actors would have different influence on Hamas," the spokesperson stated.

<h2>'I dreamt we came home', says freed four-year-old Israeli girl</h2>

Four-year-old Israeli girl Raz Asher, who was released along with her little sister and mother, while sitting in her father's arms on a hospital bed said, "I dreamt we came home.” Her father Yoni replied, "Now the dream came true.”

Watch:&nbsp;Hostage release: Hamas frees 13 Israelis, 10 Thai citizens and 1 Filipino citizen

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hostage-release-hamas-frees-13-israelis-10-thai-citizens-and-1-filipino-citizen-662622/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Raz along with her two-year-old sister, Aviv and mother Doron and was released was released on Friday (Nov 24). Yoni Asher was at home when his wife along with the two girls had gone to visit their grandmother in Kibbutz Nir Oz, which is near the border with Gaza. 
 
After the attack, he eventually lost contact with his wife and later saw a video on social media in which her wife and two daughters were being taken to Gaza. "We'll be going home soon," Yoni said to Raz, in the footage shared by Schneider Children's Medical Centre, which has been treating children who are in comparatively good condition.

(With inputs from agencies)

Emotions swelled as many families reunited after the first batch of hostages were released by Hamas from Gaza amid a temporary truce on Friday (Nov 24). Among the Thai nationals released, the family of Vetoon Phoome had feared that he had been killed by Hamas in the October 7 attack, until they found out that he was freed along with other Thai hostages in Gaza.

Emotions swelled as many families reunited after the first batch of hostages were released by Hamas from Gaza amid a temporary truce on Friday (Nov 24). Among the Thai nationals released, the family of Vetoon Phoome had feared that he had been killed by Hamas in the October 7 attack, until they found out that he was freed along with other Thai hostages in Gaza. "He told me not to cry, to tell mother I'm coming back," said Vetoon's sister Roongarun Wichagern, while speaking to Reuters after speaking to his brother via video call. 33-year-old Vetoon, who has been living in Israel since five years, was among the 10 Thai hostages released by Hamas during the first temporary truce of the war which has been going on for seven weeks and started with the October 7 assault of the Palestinian terror group on southern Israel. Also read: Israel receives second list of hostages to be released by Hamas on Saturday "He said, 'I'm not dead, I'm not dead'," said Roongarun, while calling his survival a "miracle". The 10 Thais were part of the hostages who were freed on Friday in a deal which was negotiated as part of the truce, under which 39 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails. The government of Thailand said that 20 of its nationals are still captive. Thailand's foreign minister and army chief are set to travel to Israel to bring the freed hostages back, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin while speaking to reporters. He added that his government was trying to secure the release of the rest of the captives. "We will not stop. We will bring them back," he stated. Taking to social media, Iran's Embassy in Bangkok said that the release was facilitated by Tehran by providing a list of names to Hamas after Thailand's foreign ministry and a parliamentary speaker made a request for the same. A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson stated that Thailand had "provided lists since the beginning to everyone," including Egypt, Qatar, Iran and Israel. "Different actors would have different influence on Hamas," the spokesperson stated. 'I dreamt we came home', says freed four-year-old Israeli girl Four-year-old Israeli girl Raz Asher, who was released along with her little sister and mother, while sitting in her father's arms on a hospital bed said, "I dreamt we came home.” Her father Yoni replied, "Now the dream came true.” Watch: Hostage release: Hamas frees 13 Israelis, 10 Thai citizens and 1 Filipino citizen Raz along with her two-year-old sister, Aviv and mother Doron and was released was released on Friday (Nov 24). Yoni Asher was at home when his wife along with the two girls had gone to visit their grandmother in Kibbutz Nir Oz, which is near the border with Gaza. After the attack, he eventually lost contact with his wife and later saw a video on social media in which her wife and two daughters were being taken to Gaza. "We'll be going home soon," Yoni said to Raz, in the footage shared by Schneider Children's Medical Centre, which has been treating children who are in comparatively good condition. (With inputs from agencies)

Emotions swell as families reunite, freed Thai hostage says 'not dead' after miracle release

In a major discovery, the researchers in a study have found that the Neanderthals had the capacity to both hear as well as produce speech sounds similar to those produced by modern humans. 
 
On the basis of the detailed analysis and digital reconstruction of the bones present in their skulls, the study, which was published in 2021, settled an aspect related to the linguistic capabilities of Neanderthals. 
 
"This is one of the most important studies I have been involved in during my career," said palaeoanthropologist Rolf Quam of Binghamton University, as reported by sciencealert.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/neanderthals-were-the-first-to-light-fire-at-will-says-study-650199">Neanderthals were the first to light fire at will, says study</a>

"The results are solid and clearly show the Neanderthals had the capacity to perceive and produce human speech. This is one of the very few current, ongoing research lines relying on fossil evidence to study the evolution of language, a notoriously tricky subject in anthropology,” he added. 
 
The theory of Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalis) being more primitive than modern humans (Homo sapiens) has been outdated, and a lot of evidence in recent years has demonstrated that they were more intelligent than once assumed. 
 
The Neanderthals are believed to have developed crafted tools, created art, and technology and held funerals for their dead. However, whether Neanderthals have actually spoken with Homo sapiens has remained a mystery.

<h2>Communication system of Neanderthals</h2>

The complex behaviours of the Neanderthals have suggested that they were able to communicate, however, some scientists stated that only modern humans had the mental capacity to carry out the complex linguistic processes.

Watch:&nbsp;New findings shed light on the social organisation of Neanderthals

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-findings-shed-light-on-the-social-organisation-of-neanderthals-527226/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The presence of similar hearing abilities, particularly the bandwidth, demonstrates that the Neanderthals possessed a communication system that was as complex and efficient as modern human speech,” said palaeoanthropologist Mercedes Conde-Valverde of the University of Alcala. 
 
"Most previous studies of Neanderthal speech capacities focused on their ability to produce the main vowels in English spoken language," said Quam, while speaking to ScienceAlert. 
 
"However, we feel this emphasis is misplaced, since the use of consonants is a way to include more information in the vocal signal and it also separates human speech and language from the communication patterns in nearly all other primates. The fact that our study picked up on this is a really interesting aspect of the research and is a novel suggestion regarding the linguistic capacities in our fossil ancestors,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a major discovery, the researchers in a study have found that the Neanderthals had the capacity to both hear as well as produce speech sounds similar to those produced by modern humans.

In a major discovery, the researchers in a study have found that the Neanderthals had the capacity to both hear as well as produce speech sounds similar to those produced by modern humans. On the basis of the detailed analysis and digital reconstruction of the bones present in their skulls, the study, which was published in 2021, settled an aspect related to the linguistic capabilities of Neanderthals. "This is one of the most important studies I have been involved in during my career," said palaeoanthropologist Rolf Quam of Binghamton University, as reported by sciencealert. Also read: Neanderthals were the first to light fire at will, says study "The results are solid and clearly show the Neanderthals had the capacity to perceive and produce human speech. This is one of the very few current, ongoing research lines relying on fossil evidence to study the evolution of language, a notoriously tricky subject in anthropology,” he added. The theory of Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalis) being more primitive than modern humans (Homo sapiens) has been outdated, and a lot of evidence in recent years has demonstrated that they were more intelligent than once assumed. The Neanderthals are believed to have developed crafted tools, created art, and technology and held funerals for their dead. However, whether Neanderthals have actually spoken with Homo sapiens has remained a mystery. Communication system of Neanderthals The complex behaviours of the Neanderthals have suggested that they were able to communicate, however, some scientists stated that only modern humans had the mental capacity to carry out the complex linguistic processes. Watch: New findings shed light on the social organisation of Neanderthals "The presence of similar hearing abilities, particularly the bandwidth, demonstrates that the Neanderthals possessed a communication system that was as complex and efficient as modern human speech,” said palaeoanthropologist Mercedes Conde-Valverde of the University of Alcala. "Most previous studies of Neanderthal speech capacities focused on their ability to produce the main vowels in English spoken language," said Quam, while speaking to ScienceAlert. "However, we feel this emphasis is misplaced, since the use of consonants is a way to include more information in the vocal signal and it also separates human speech and language from the communication patterns in nearly all other primates. The fact that our study picked up on this is a really interesting aspect of the research and is a novel suggestion regarding the linguistic capacities in our fossil ancestors,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

How did Neanderthals speak? Study points to human-like speech

A court in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Saturday (Nov 25) awardee to&nbsp;life imprisonment tot eh four convicts in the murder of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan which happened in 2008, while a fifth convict was given three years of imprisonment. 
 
The court stated that the crime does not come under the rarest of rare category and hence did not give the death penalty to the convicts. 
 
The court sentenced life imprisonment to Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar. The fifth convict, identified as Ajay Sethi, was sentenced to only three years of imprisonment for helping them. 
 
On September 30, 2008, Soumya Vishwanathan was killed in her car in Vasant Kunj, when she was returning home after&nbsp;work. The court had reserved its order on Friday (Nov 24) on the quantum of sentence pronounced in the murder case. 
 
The verdict was reserved by trial judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey after detailed arguments. In between the arguments, the public prosecutor informed the court that apart from the convict Amit Shukla, an "unsatisfactory" report of the conduct of others in jail was given by the DLSA.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-modi-takes-a-sortie-in-tejas-calls-it-a-sense-of-pride-662734">Indian PM Modi takes a sortie in Tejas, calls it a 'sense of pride'</a>

"However, a report from the Jail superintendent has shown 'unsatisfactory conduct' by three of the five convicts and multiple penalties on them. We don't know how the DLSA report and jail report are different," the public prosecutor stated.

<h2>Accused convicted by a court in October</h2>

The four accused - Ravi Kapoor, Ajay Kumar, Baljeet Malik and Amit Shukla – were convicted by Judge Pandey in October – under the MCOCA and murder charges. 
 
The four men were convicted by the court for the murder. The fifth accused Ajay Sethi was convicted under the Indian Penal Code's Section 411 for retaining the offending vehicle.

Watch:&nbsp;Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: One hurdle after another in rescue operations

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uttarakhand-tunnel-rescue-one-hurdle-after-another-in-rescue-operations-662681/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The mother of Soumya Vishwanathan had demanded the court to grant life imprisonment for the convicts. The journalist was shot dead at Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. She was working with a private television news channel. 
 
The convicts were held by the police while they were investigating the killing of Jigisha Ghosh. The police stated that the motive behind the killing of Soumya Vishwanathan was robbery.

(With inputs from agencies)

A court in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Saturday (Nov 25) awardee to life imprisonment tot eh four convicts in the murder of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan which happened in 2008, while a fifth convict was given three years of imprisonment.

A court in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Saturday (Nov 25) awardee to life imprisonment tot eh four convicts in the murder of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan which happened in 2008, while a fifth convict was given three years of imprisonment. The court stated that the crime does not come under the rarest of rare category and hence did not give the death penalty to the convicts. The court sentenced life imprisonment to Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik, and Ajay Kumar. The fifth convict, identified as Ajay Sethi, was sentenced to only three years of imprisonment for helping them. On September 30, 2008, Soumya Vishwanathan was killed in her car in Vasant Kunj, when she was returning home after work. The court had reserved its order on Friday (Nov 24) on the quantum of sentence pronounced in the murder case. The verdict was reserved by trial judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey after detailed arguments. In between the arguments, the public prosecutor informed the court that apart from the convict Amit Shukla, an "unsatisfactory" report of the conduct of others in jail was given by the DLSA. Also read: Indian PM Modi takes a sortie in Tejas, calls it a 'sense of pride' "However, a report from the Jail superintendent has shown 'unsatisfactory conduct' by three of the five convicts and multiple penalties on them. We don't know how the DLSA report and jail report are different," the public prosecutor stated. Accused convicted by a court in October The four accused - Ravi Kapoor, Ajay Kumar, Baljeet Malik and Amit Shukla – were convicted by Judge Pandey in October – under the MCOCA and murder charges. The four men were convicted by the court for the murder. The fifth accused Ajay Sethi was convicted under the Indian Penal Code's Section 411 for retaining the offending vehicle. Watch: Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: One hurdle after another in rescue operations The mother of Soumya Vishwanathan had demanded the court to grant life imprisonment for the convicts. The journalist was shot dead at Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. She was working with a private television news channel. The convicts were held by the police while they were investigating the killing of Jigisha Ghosh. The police stated that the motive behind the killing of Soumya Vishwanathan was robbery. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Delhi court pronounces life sentence for four killers of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (Nov 25) took a sortie on the light combat fighter aircraft Tejas, which has been built indigenously, in Bengaluru. 
 
PM Modi reached defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which is based in Bengaluru, on Saturday (Nov 25) and reviewed the work which was ongoing at its manufacturing facility, stated officials. 
 
"Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential," wrote Prime Minister Modi, while taking to X.

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Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential. <a href="https://t.co/4aO6Wf9XYO">pic.twitter.com/4aO6Wf9XYO</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1728308694512013360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Tejas is a fighter aircraft which has a single seat but PM Modi took a sortie in its twin-seat trainer variant, which was operated by the Air Force. The twin-seater variant is also operated by the Indian Navy.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-virtual-summit-pm-modi-backs-ai-boom-but-cautions-society-over-misuse-of-tech-like-deepfake-661575">G20 Virtual Summit: PM Modi backs AI boom but cautions society on its misuse like deepfakes</a>

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas has been defined as a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter aircraft which has been designed to provide close combat support for ground operations and to take offensive air support.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew a sortie on Tejas aircraft in Bengaluru, Karnataka, earlier today. <a href="https://t.co/TNtWyHHDu9">pic.twitter.com/TNtWyHHDu9</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1728343192595312919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In its class and dimensions, Tejas is the lightest and smallest aircraft and the composite structure's extensive use makes it lighter. Till now, the fighter jet has been able to maintain an excellent safety track record of accident-free flying.

<h2>With Tejas, India finds a place in the list of 'very few'&nbsp;elite nations</h2>

Presently 40 Tejas MK-1 aircraft are being operated by the Indian Air Force and 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters have been ordered by the IAF, as part of the deal worth ₹36,468 crore ($4.37 billion). 
 
Earlier in November, the LCA Tejas participated in the Dubai Air Show. The LCA Tejas was included in the aerial and static display and performed a few daring manoeuvres to prove its capability as being a formidable fighter aircraft. 
 
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) built the LCA and it was designed primarily for the Indian Air Force however its Naval variant of the Tejas is getting tested to undertake Ground Maritime Operations.

Watch:&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: India PM Narendra Modi says, 'Israel conflict must not spread'&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-india-pm-narendra-modi-says-israel-conflict-must-not-spread-world-dna-wion-661748/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In Tejas, the home-built fly-by-wire system in the Tejas is one of the key achievements of the HAL. The twin-seater was added to the repertoire of the Air Force in October, which took India to the list of "very few" elite nations who have such capabilities and have such aircraft operational in their Defence Forces. 
 
18 twin seaters have been ordered by IAF and HAL has been planning for delivery of eight of them during 2023-24. The delivery of the remaining 10 will happen progressively by 2026-27.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (Nov 25) took a sortie on the light combat fighter aircraft Tejas, which has been built indigenously, in Bengaluru.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (Nov 25) took a sortie on the light combat fighter aircraft Tejas, which has been built indigenously, in Bengaluru. PM Modi reached defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which is based in Bengaluru, on Saturday (Nov 25) and reviewed the work which was ongoing at its manufacturing facility, stated officials. "Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential," wrote Prime Minister Modi, while taking to X. Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential. pic.twitter.com/4aO6Wf9XYO — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2023 × Tejas is a fighter aircraft which has a single seat but PM Modi took a sortie in its twin-seat trainer variant, which was operated by the Air Force. The twin-seater variant is also operated by the Indian Navy. Also read: G20 Virtual Summit: PM Modi backs AI boom but cautions society on its misuse like deepfakes Light Combat Aircraft Tejas has been defined as a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter aircraft which has been designed to provide close combat support for ground operations and to take offensive air support. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew a sortie on Tejas aircraft in Bengaluru, Karnataka, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/TNtWyHHDu9 — ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023 × In its class and dimensions, Tejas is the lightest and smallest aircraft and the composite structure's extensive use makes it lighter. Till now, the fighter jet has been able to maintain an excellent safety track record of accident-free flying. With Tejas, India finds a place in the list of 'very few' elite nations Presently 40 Tejas MK-1 aircraft are being operated by the Indian Air Force and 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters have been ordered by the IAF, as part of the deal worth ₹36,468 crore ($4.37 billion). Earlier in November, the LCA Tejas participated in the Dubai Air Show. The LCA Tejas was included in the aerial and static display and performed a few daring manoeuvres to prove its capability as being a formidable fighter aircraft. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) built the LCA and it was designed primarily for the Indian Air Force however its Naval variant of the Tejas is getting tested to undertake Ground Maritime Operations. Watch: Israel-Hamas war: India PM Narendra Modi says, 'Israel conflict must not spread' In Tejas, the home-built fly-by-wire system in the Tejas is one of the key achievements of the HAL. The twin-seater was added to the repertoire of the Air Force in October, which took India to the list of "very few" elite nations who have such capabilities and have such aircraft operational in their Defence Forces. 18 twin seaters have been ordered by IAF and HAL has been planning for delivery of eight of them during 2023-24. The delivery of the remaining 10 will happen progressively by 2026-27. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi takes sortie in Tejas, calls it a 'sense of pride and optimism'

In Pics: Indian Prime Minister Modi soars high in Tejas fighter aircraft

In a major discovery, NASA has found methane on a distant exoplanet, which made it important to be closely observed. 
 
But why is methane such an important discovery? Methane has been able to capture scientific attention due to its short duration in a planetary atmosphere. 
 
This chemical cannot withstand starlight for a longer duration, especially in the terrestrial atmosphere. Methane succumbs to photodissociation and requires it to be continually replenished to maintain its presence in an atmosphere. 
 
If there is presence of huge amount of methane on a rocky planet, then the source is likely to be a massive and biotic one. Biological activity on Earth leads to the creation of an enormous amount of methane. 
 
Metabolically, it is not difficult to create methane. Methane is commonly found in our Solar System, although not in abundance. As per scientists, it is all abiotic. It has also been found on Mars, the Moon and on a few asteroids. 
 
Recently, methane was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in the atmosphere of exoplanet WASP-80b, which is a gas giant half as big as Jupiter.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-worlds-astronomers-discover-two-new-hot-jupiters-heres-all-about-these-exoplanets-662475">Alien worlds: Astronomers discover two new 'hot Jupiters'. Here's all about these exoplanets</a>

WASP-80b has been orbiting around a K-type main sequence star, which is about 1.5 billion years old. WASP 80 is nearly 162 light-years away, and WASP-80b is the only exoplanet which has been found around the star till now. 
 
Since the exoplanet is a gas giant, there is no scope for life. However, the serpentinisation of olivine, which is methane's most well-known abiotic source, has also been ruled out since the exoplanet is not a rocky planet. 
 
Serpentinisation is an abiotic, natural process which involves water, carbon dioxide, and the mineral olivine. The detection has been presented in a new paper which has been published in the journal Nature.

<h2>Exoplanet like a warm Jupiter, says researchers</h2>

The paper has been titled "Methane throughout the atmosphere of the warm exoplanet WASP-80b" and its lead author is Taylor Bell, who is a post-doc researcher at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute. 
 
WASP-80b is like a warm Jupiter, with a temperature of nearly 550 Celsius (1,025 F; 825 K). WASP-80b's temperature puts it in "an interesting transitional regime where equilibrium chemistry models predict that there should be detectable CH4 and CO/CO2 features in the planet's transmission and emission spectra,” explained the authors of the research.

Watch:&nbsp;SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites into orbit, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/spacex-launches-22-starlink-satellites-into-orbit-launched-from-vandenberg-space-force-base-wion-661028/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"However, this definitive detection of methane throughout the atmosphere of WASP-80b with low-resolution, JWST spectroscopy raises the question of to what extent past non-detections were affected by the sparse wavelength coverage and precision achievable with HST and Spitzer," wrote the authors. 
 
"As we find methane and other gases in exoplanets, we will continue to expand our knowledge about how chemistry and physics work under conditions unlike what we have on Earth, and maybe sometime soon, in other planets that remind us of what we have here at home," the authors said in a NASA blog post.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a major discovery, NASA has found methane on a distant exoplanet, which made it important to be closely observed. But why is methane such an important discovery?

In a major discovery, NASA has found methane on a distant exoplanet, which made it important to be closely observed. But why is methane such an important discovery? Methane has been able to capture scientific attention due to its short duration in a planetary atmosphere. This chemical cannot withstand starlight for a longer duration, especially in the terrestrial atmosphere. Methane succumbs to photodissociation and requires it to be continually replenished to maintain its presence in an atmosphere. If there is presence of huge amount of methane on a rocky planet, then the source is likely to be a massive and biotic one. Biological activity on Earth leads to the creation of an enormous amount of methane. Metabolically, it is not difficult to create methane. Methane is commonly found in our Solar System, although not in abundance. As per scientists, it is all abiotic. It has also been found on Mars, the Moon and on a few asteroids. Recently, methane was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in the atmosphere of exoplanet WASP-80b, which is a gas giant half as big as Jupiter. Also Read: Alien worlds: Astronomers discover two new 'hot Jupiters'. Here's all about these exoplanets WASP-80b has been orbiting around a K-type main sequence star, which is about 1.5 billion years old. WASP 80 is nearly 162 light-years away, and WASP-80b is the only exoplanet which has been found around the star till now. Since the exoplanet is a gas giant, there is no scope for life. However, the serpentinisation of olivine, which is methane's most well-known abiotic source, has also been ruled out since the exoplanet is not a rocky planet. Serpentinisation is an abiotic, natural process which involves water, carbon dioxide, and the mineral olivine. The detection has been presented in a new paper which has been published in the journal Nature. Exoplanet like a warm Jupiter, says researchers The paper has been titled "Methane throughout the atmosphere of the warm exoplanet WASP-80b" and its lead author is Taylor Bell, who is a post-doc researcher at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute. WASP-80b is like a warm Jupiter, with a temperature of nearly 550 Celsius (1,025 F; 825 K). WASP-80b's temperature puts it in "an interesting transitional regime where equilibrium chemistry models predict that there should be detectable CH4 and CO/CO2 features in the planet's transmission and emission spectra,” explained the authors of the research. Watch: SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites into orbit, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base "However, this definitive detection of methane throughout the atmosphere of WASP-80b with low-resolution, JWST spectroscopy raises the question of to what extent past non-detections were affected by the sparse wavelength coverage and precision achievable with HST and Spitzer," wrote the authors. "As we find methane and other gases in exoplanets, we will continue to expand our knowledge about how chemistry and physics work under conditions unlike what we have on Earth, and maybe sometime soon, in other planets that remind us of what we have here at home," the authors said in a NASA blog post. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA discovers methane on distant exoplanet. Here is what it means...

Making a bizarre hope, a retired physics professor in the Midwest has been planning to send his DNA to the moon's southern pole after his death. The man has been hoping that it may be used for cloning one day in the intergalactic zoo. 
 
86-year-old Ken Ohm, while speaking to the New York Times, had said that there are endless possibilities of his bizarre death. 
 
He pointed out that his contribution can eventually play an important role in an intergalactic zoo where he hopes that his replica has been caged as a human specimen. 
 
“I’m living with the uncertainty,” stated Ohm. Ohm also has the chance of having a thousand versions of himself cloned, similar to the Republic Army from “Star Wars”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-worlds-astronomers-discover-two-new-hot-jupiters-heres-all-about-these-exoplanets-662475">Alien worlds: Astronomers discover two new 'hot Jupiters'. Here's all about these exoplanets</a>

Ohm, who was a former baseball player and javelin thrower, had wished to become a NASA astronaut during the heyday of the Apollo programme in the 1960s. He said that he was rejected because of his height. 
 
“I did everything I was supposed to, except shrink,” Ohm lamented. 
 
As per the man, even if the results are not as expected, the thought that the generations ahead can now look at the moon and think that “Old Ken has his DNA up there” is enough to inspire him to do that.

<h2>Sending Earthling remains at affordable rates</h2>

Ohm, who has been a teacher for 50 years and has written several books related to the moon and Midwestern life, will be sending his DNA into space with the help of Celestis, which specialises in transferring Earthling remains and ashes to space on a rocket flight at “surprisingly affordable” rates which began at $2,495. 
 
A trip to deep space or the lunar surface costs around $13,000, which is slightly above the average funeral cost of about $10,000 in New York. Ohm is not the only one who wants to send his DNA into space.

Watch:&nbsp;Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre to mark 60th anniversary of first rocket launch from Thumba

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vikram-sarabhai-space-centre-to-mark-60th-anniversary-of-first-rocket-launch-from-thumba-661264/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Civilians, astronauts, and professional baseball players have made a commitment to an orbital end with Celestis. Celestis was set up in 1994 and has launched 17 “memorial” spaceflights since then. 
 
The next lunar flight of the company leaves from Cape Canaveral on Christmas Eve and will be landing on the northeastern end of the moon with remains and DNA. 
 
FDNY Battalion Chief Daniel Conlisk after his death wishes to send his remains into space along with those belonging to his wife Kathy, who died last year. 
 
It was her wish to have “our ashes mixed together and sent into space,” explained 76-year-old Conlisk.

(With inputs from agencies)

Making a bizarre hope, a retired physics professor in the Midwest has been planning to send his DNA to the moon's southern pole after his death. The man has been hoping that it may be used for cloning one day in the intergalactic zoo.

Making a bizarre hope, a retired physics professor in the Midwest has been planning to send his DNA to the moon's southern pole after his death. The man has been hoping that it may be used for cloning one day in the intergalactic zoo. 86-year-old Ken Ohm, while speaking to the New York Times, had said that there are endless possibilities of his bizarre death. He pointed out that his contribution can eventually play an important role in an intergalactic zoo where he hopes that his replica has been caged as a human specimen. “I’m living with the uncertainty,” stated Ohm. Ohm also has the chance of having a thousand versions of himself cloned, similar to the Republic Army from “Star Wars”. Also read: Alien worlds: Astronomers discover two new 'hot Jupiters'. Here's all about these exoplanets Ohm, who was a former baseball player and javelin thrower, had wished to become a NASA astronaut during the heyday of the Apollo programme in the 1960s. He said that he was rejected because of his height. “I did everything I was supposed to, except shrink,” Ohm lamented. As per the man, even if the results are not as expected, the thought that the generations ahead can now look at the moon and think that “Old Ken has his DNA up there” is enough to inspire him to do that. Sending Earthling remains at affordable rates Ohm, who has been a teacher for 50 years and has written several books related to the moon and Midwestern life, will be sending his DNA into space with the help of Celestis, which specialises in transferring Earthling remains and ashes to space on a rocket flight at “surprisingly affordable” rates which began at $2,495. A trip to deep space or the lunar surface costs around $13,000, which is slightly above the average funeral cost of about $10,000 in New York. Ohm is not the only one who wants to send his DNA into space. Watch: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre to mark 60th anniversary of first rocket launch from Thumba Civilians, astronauts, and professional baseball players have made a commitment to an orbital end with Celestis. Celestis was set up in 1994 and has launched 17 “memorial” spaceflights since then. The next lunar flight of the company leaves from Cape Canaveral on Christmas Eve and will be landing on the northeastern end of the moon with remains and DNA. FDNY Battalion Chief Daniel Conlisk after his death wishes to send his remains into space along with those belonging to his wife Kathy, who died last year. It was her wish to have “our ashes mixed together and sent into space,” explained 76-year-old Conlisk. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Man to send DNA to moon after death to get his clone created in space

5 Edible Flowers That Can Be Used As Spices

Here are 5 edible flowers which can be used as spices:

Lavender is commonly used in desserts and baking. The flower has some floral, sweet flavour which is also slightly astringent. It is also used in savoury dishes like stews, sauces and soups.

Rose is a popular edible flower which can be used in different dishes. It contains a delicate, sweet flavour which can be lifted up with a touch of sugar or lemon. Rose petals are generally used for making tea, jam and syrup.

Nasturtium is a peppery spicy flower which is generally used as a garnish and is also added to salads. It can also be added for making vinegar or pesto.

Borage has a cucumber-like flavour and is generally used in soups, salads and teas. It is also a good source of vitamins and antioxidants.

Hibiscus contains a cranberry-like flavour and is generally used for making tea or jam. This flower is also a good source of vitamin C.


5 Edible Flowers that Can be Used as Spices

Hamas stated that a group of 13 Israeli&nbsp;hostages, who were taken captive in the October 7 attack carried out on Israel, were handed over as part of the temporary truce on Friday (Nov 24). 
 
"Half an hour ago, the prisoners were handed to the Red Cross who will take them to the Egyptians,” said a source close to Hamas at the Rafah crossing, while speaking to AFP. 
 
A source from Hamas' military wing confirmed the handover, further stating, "This is the first group under the agreement." 
 
In the first tranche, 13 women and child hostages were released after 49 days of captivity and handed over to the Red Cross, from where they headed back to Israel.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-heres-what-israeli-hostages-will-be-fed-once-freed-from-hamas-clutches-662161">Israel-Hamas war: Here's what Israeli hostages will be fed once freed from Hamas' clutches</a>

While they were en route to Rafah crossing, the hostages underwent brief medical examinations at a hospital in Khan Younis. The first batch of 13 Israeli hostages entered Egypt through Rafah crossing and were then handed over to the Israeli forces. 
 
Confirming their handover to AFP, a source from Israeli forces said, "The 13 Israeli hostages are now with the Israeli security services.”

Meanwhile, the Red Cross said, "We have facilitated this release by transporting them from Gaza to the Rafah border, marking the real-life impact of our role as a neutral intermediary between the parties."

Qatar, confirming the total tally later,&nbsp;said a total of 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino have been released so far. It further confirmed that Israel freed 39 prisoners as per the deal with Hamas. 
 
This was part of the deal which was finalised after weeks of talks which involved Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Egypt, Qatar and the United States. 
 
During the four-day temporary truce, Hamas is set to release at least 50 hostages, which leaves around 190 captives still in the hands of militants. In exchange, Israel is releasing 39 women and children from Israeli prisons, which equals 150 Palestinians prisoners, as per reports.

Watch:&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: 4-day pause after 7 weeks of deadly fighting

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-4-day-pause-after-7-weeks-of-deadly-fighting-662448/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Thai hostages released by Hamas</h2>

Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that 12 Thai hostages, who were taken captive by Palestinian militants during the October 7 raids into Israel by Hamas were released, hours after the temporary began.

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ได้รับการยืนยันจากฝ่ายความมั่นคงและกระทรวงต่างประเทศว่า มีตัวประกันชาวไทย 12 คนได้ถูกปล่อยตัวออกมาแล้วขณะนี้เจ้าหน้าที่สถานทูตกำลังไปรับตัวอีก 1 ชั่วโมงน่าจะทราบชื่อและรายละเอียดต่างๆครับกรุณาคอยติดตาม
— Srettha Thavisin (@Thavisin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Thavisin/status/1728049204369711300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"It has been confirmed by the security side and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that 12 Thai hostages are already released," PM Thavisin posted on X. 
 
"Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. Their names and details should be known. Please stay tuned,” he added. 
 
A total of 25 Thai nationals were present among nearly 240 people who were taken hostage by gunmen during the cross-border raids into Israel last month.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Hamas stated that a group of 13 Israeli hostages, who were taken captive in the October 7 attack carried out on Israel, were handed over as part of the temporary truce on Friday (Nov 24).

Hamas stated that a group of 13 Israeli hostages, who were taken captive in the October 7 attack carried out on Israel, were handed over as part of the temporary truce on Friday (Nov 24). "Half an hour ago, the prisoners were handed to the Red Cross who will take them to the Egyptians,” said a source close to Hamas at the Rafah crossing, while speaking to AFP. A source from Hamas' military wing confirmed the handover, further stating, "This is the first group under the agreement." In the first tranche, 13 women and child hostages were released after 49 days of captivity and handed over to the Red Cross, from where they headed back to Israel. Also read: Israel-Hamas war: Here's what Israeli hostages will be fed once freed from Hamas' clutches While they were en route to Rafah crossing, the hostages underwent brief medical examinations at a hospital in Khan Younis. The first batch of 13 Israeli hostages entered Egypt through Rafah crossing and were then handed over to the Israeli forces. Confirming their handover to AFP, a source from Israeli forces said, "The 13 Israeli hostages are now with the Israeli security services.” Meanwhile, the Red Cross said, "We have facilitated this release by transporting them from Gaza to the Rafah border, marking the real-life impact of our role as a neutral intermediary between the parties." Qatar, confirming the total tally later, said a total of 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino have been released so far. It further confirmed that Israel freed 39 prisoners as per the deal with Hamas. This was part of the deal which was finalised after weeks of talks which involved Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Egypt, Qatar and the United States. During the four-day temporary truce, Hamas is set to release at least 50 hostages, which leaves around 190 captives still in the hands of militants. In exchange, Israel is releasing 39 women and children from Israeli prisons, which equals 150 Palestinians prisoners, as per reports. Watch: Israel-Hamas war: 4-day pause after 7 weeks of deadly fighting Thai hostages released by Hamas Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that 12 Thai hostages, who were taken captive by Palestinian militants during the October 7 raids into Israel by Hamas were released, hours after the temporary began. ได้รับการยืนยันจากฝ่ายความมั่นคงและกระทรวงต่างประเทศว่า มีตัวประกันชาวไทย 12 คนได้ถูกปล่อยตัวออกมาแล้วขณะนี้เจ้าหน้าที่สถานทูตกำลังไปรับตัวอีก 1 ชั่วโมงน่าจะทราบชื่อและรายละเอียดต่างๆครับกรุณาคอยติดตาม — Srettha Thavisin (@Thavisin) November 24, 2023 × "It has been confirmed by the security side and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that 12 Thai hostages are already released," PM Thavisin posted on X. "Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. Their names and details should be known. Please stay tuned,” he added. A total of 25 Thai nationals were present among nearly 240 people who were taken hostage by gunmen during the cross-border raids into Israel last month. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Hamas releases 24 hostages on first day of amid temporary truce in Gaza

7 Natural Things Which Help Cure Skin Pigmentation

Vitamin C, which is found in lemon, amla, kiwi, bell peppers, guava, berries, and oranges, decreases damage caused by free radicals and hence should be included in daily diet.

Lycopene is considered a good ally against pigmentation and is found in tomatoes, watermelon, red bell peppers, carrots, and guava. Hence, it should be consumed daily for its skin-loving benefits.

The application of turmeric powder, water and yoghurt in affected areas helps in healing hyperpigmented areas. Turmeric has skin-lightening and anti-inflammatory qualities which help in treating hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin E is filled with antioxidants and hence foods like sunflower seeds, almonds, avocados, peanuts, and sweet potatoes, in which the vitamin is found, fight against the free radicals.

Green Tea has a lot of antioxidants. The application of green tea extracts or green tea bags on the skin helps in diminishing pigmentation.

The application of vitamin E oil on dark patches encourages skin regeneration and repair. The oil can be applied instantly after extracting it from a vitamin E capsule.

An early dinner helps in proper digestion and absorption of nutrients in the food. Early dinner will also allow early bedtime which can help in preventing under-eye dark circles.


Untitled Summary7 Natural Things Which Help Cure Skin Pigmentation

"It takes her two hours to get to her school in these hills," said the person who was driving me around in a hill station nestled in Himalayas in north India's Uttarakhand state. While he told me about the duration it takes her daughter to reach school in the small but beautiful Himalayan town of Kausani, I could see tourism brimming around me. With improving road infrastructure, the 440 km distance from New Delhi to Kausani could be covered by road in less than a day — making tourism to flourish, as it has been doing since many years now. 
 
Home to more than 2,000 people, Kausani's children are free to dream of becoming writers, singers, athletes, astronomers, mathematicians and so on. 
 
But my driver's response revealed the stark reality of education in the small town. Two hours is the duration his daughter must spend in covering the distance&nbsp;every day to make her dreams achievable. The accessibility to schools for children living in Kausani are reflective of the larger reality of far-and-few institutional access to education in the hinterland across India. 
 
Education is a rigorous exercise. Its equal and qualitative access is integral for children to prosper towards a career which is not only fruitful but also enables them to show the world their genuine capabilities. 
 
However, for children living in remote areas and especially those from impoverished families, the childhood&nbsp;dreams of flying high are generally broken by the challenges of their early youth. Financial strains become a key issue. But what remains unaddressed is the lack of guidance and quality education which can help them choose their careers wisely and crack competitive exams when they compete against children from the rest of the country. 
 
25-year-old Priyanka Ghumre, who lives in Maharashtra's Mainda village, like many others, had once dreamt of getting a government job and building a successful career for herself. 
 
"We all dream to become successful in our life despite our ... background. However, when we face reality and challenges, we realise how difficult it is to build a fruitful career. In our village, after we study till fourth standard, the family starts discussing if we must even receive education or not because of numerous social and financial challenges," Ghumre told WION.

<h2>Career counselling - a rare opportunity in rural India?</h2>

Today, Ghumre along with many others is working with the Asude&nbsp;Foundation to guide these kids to decide the best career for them and is helping them identify their abilities and even carve their dreams - even if that is of becoming a Michelin-star chef. 
 
"In our education system, it is still possible to complete studies till 12th standard. But what remains a question is if we have the academic capabilities to compete with other students in college entrance exams even after completing our schooling," Ghumre asked. 
 
Speaking about the lack of guidance, she said, "Career counselling is something which is critically missing in the country's hinterland. Children have no one to guide what they should pursue and how they should build their careers. Financial constraints also play a major factor in deciding the career, as many end up choosing the one which is better paying and has&nbsp;job security." 
 
The idea of propagating unconventional career options in India's hinterland may sound intriguing. But it is likely to come with its set of challenges because of factors such as conservative mindsets and limited exposure to the rapidly changing global market. 
 
Founder and CEO, of Physics Wallah (PW) Alakh Pandey, spoke about how this challenge can be thwarted and how a better future for such students can be paved. 
 
"New-age skills training programmes serve as a powerful vehicle for breaking these barriers. By offering courses in emerging fields like data science, blockchain, and cybersecurity, these programmes introduce individuals to unconventional career pathways. In essence, these programmes not only address the difficulty of spreading unconventional career ideas but actively contribute to reshaping career perspectives in hinterland communities," Pandey said. 
 
To help Physics Wallah change the future of India's education, social peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform Rang De has entered into a partnership which aims to address the need for accessible and affordable student loans to receive top-quality, industry-relevant education. 
 
"In its true essence, this partnership between Rang De and Physics Wallah holds significant promise in addressing the issue of accessible education in remote areas of our country. This collaboration aims to tackle two crucial elements that cause barriers in accessing education: affordable credit and access to quality educational programs. The collaboration between Rang De and Physics Wallah will enable deserving students from low-income backgrounds and remote areas by providing them with no collateral loans and help them get access to top-quality education through the residential programme," spoke Smita Ram, CEO and Co-founder, of Rang De.

(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 takes her two hours to get to her school in these hills," said the person who was driving me around in a hill station nestled in Himalayas in north India's Uttarakhand state.

"It takes her two hours to get to her school in these hills," said the person who was driving me around in a hill station nestled in Himalayas in north India's Uttarakhand state. While he told me about the duration it takes her daughter to reach school in the small but beautiful Himalayan town of Kausani, I could see tourism brimming around me. With improving road infrastructure, the 440 km distance from New Delhi to Kausani could be covered by road in less than a day — making tourism to flourish, as it has been doing since many years now. Home to more than 2,000 people, Kausani's children are free to dream of becoming writers, singers, athletes, astronomers, mathematicians and so on. But my driver's response revealed the stark reality of education in the small town. Two hours is the duration his daughter must spend in covering the distance every day to make her dreams achievable. The accessibility to schools for children living in Kausani are reflective of the larger reality of far-and-few institutional access to education in the hinterland across India. Education is a rigorous exercise. Its equal and qualitative access is integral for children to prosper towards a career which is not only fruitful but also enables them to show the world their genuine capabilities. However, for children living in remote areas and especially those from impoverished families, the childhood dreams of flying high are generally broken by the challenges of their early youth. Financial strains become a key issue. But what remains unaddressed is the lack of guidance and quality education which can help them choose their careers wisely and crack competitive exams when they compete against children from the rest of the country. 25-year-old Priyanka Ghumre, who lives in Maharashtra's Mainda village, like many others, had once dreamt of getting a government job and building a successful career for herself. "We all dream to become successful in our life despite our ... background. However, when we face reality and challenges, we realise how difficult it is to build a fruitful career. In our village, after we study till fourth standard, the family starts discussing if we must even receive education or not because of numerous social and financial challenges," Ghumre told WION. Career counselling - a rare opportunity in rural India? Today, Ghumre along with many others is working with the Asude Foundation to guide these kids to decide the best career for them and is helping them identify their abilities and even carve their dreams - even if that is of becoming a Michelin-star chef. "In our education system, it is still possible to complete studies till 12th standard. But what remains a question is if we have the academic capabilities to compete with other students in college entrance exams even after completing our schooling," Ghumre asked. Speaking about the lack of guidance, she said, "Career counselling is something which is critically missing in the country's hinterland. Children have no one to guide what they should pursue and how they should build their careers. Financial constraints also play a major factor in deciding the career, as many end up choosing the one which is better paying and has job security." The idea of propagating unconventional career options in India's hinterland may sound intriguing. But it is likely to come with its set of challenges because of factors such as conservative mindsets and limited exposure to the rapidly changing global market. Founder and CEO, of Physics Wallah (PW) Alakh Pandey, spoke about how this challenge can be thwarted and how a better future for such students can be paved. "New-age skills training programmes serve as a powerful vehicle for breaking these barriers. By offering courses in emerging fields like data science, blockchain, and cybersecurity, these programmes introduce individuals to unconventional career pathways. In essence, these programmes not only address the difficulty of spreading unconventional career ideas but actively contribute to reshaping career perspectives in hinterland communities," Pandey said. To help Physics Wallah change the future of India's education, social peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform Rang De has entered into a partnership which aims to address the need for accessible and affordable student loans to receive top-quality, industry-relevant education. "In its true essence, this partnership between Rang De and Physics Wallah holds significant promise in addressing the issue of accessible education in remote areas of our country. This collaboration aims to tackle two crucial elements that cause barriers in accessing education: affordable credit and access to quality educational programs. The collaboration between Rang De and Physics Wallah will enable deserving students from low-income backgrounds and remote areas by providing them with no collateral loans and help them get access to top-quality education through the residential programme," spoke Smita Ram, CEO and Co-founder, of Rang De. (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.)

Dreaming through poverty: Children from rural India deserve meaningful careers that matter

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