A McDonald's restaurant located in London was slapped with a fine of more than $600,000 after a customer discovered mouse droppings in the burger and filed a complaint.

The place was then visited by the health officers who checked the restaurant and discovered the unhygienic conditions, after which the food chain was fined £497,000 (approximately $600,000).&nbsp;

The customer found something suspicious in his cheeseburger, only to discover that it was the droppings of the mouse.&nbsp;

As per Waltham Forest Council, the customer had eaten half of the burger when the mouse droppings were noticed.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mcdonalds-q1-earnings-beat-expectations-despite-fall-in-us-consumer-confidence-586260">McDonald's Q1 earnings beat expectations despite fall in US consumer confidence</a>

The complaint against the restaurant was registered in 2021 after which Environmental Health Officers visited McDonald's.&nbsp;

The officers "found conditions at the premises presented a real risk to the health of customers. Amongst the officers' findings were the decomposing remains of a mouse and numerous mouse droppings throughout the premises. The inspection also uncovered several areas in the kitchen that were greasy, dirty, and dusty", as per the report.&nbsp;

The officers felt that the restaurant posed an 'imminent risk to health' and hence closed it for ten days.&nbsp;

The restaurant was later reopened after the Council felt that the health conditions of the place were satisfactory.&nbsp;

After McDonald's was fined at Thames Magistrates' Court, the Waltham Forest Council posted the news on Twitter and shared pictures of the restaurant's unhygienic conditions at the time of inspection.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;McDonald's solid earnings amid consumer worries

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In a press release, Waltham Forest Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety Cllr Khevyn Limbajee said, "We are grateful for the quick thinking of the customer in this case for reporting the matter to the Council for investigation. There was a significant risk posed to the health of residents and visitors to Waltham Forest, and as such, the Council had no option but to take formal action in this case."&nbsp;

"McDonald's is a large and well-experienced food business operator in the fast-food sector who serves thousands of meals per week to its customers, therefore, the risk presented at the Leytonstone store was significant. It was appreciated that McDonald's pleaded guilty and admitted wrongdoing at the first opportunity. However, as a Council, we take food hygiene seriously and won't hesitate to follow up on complaints and take action where appropriate, irrespective of who operates the food business," he added.&nbsp;

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A McDonald's restaurant located in London was slapped with a fine of more than $600,000 after a customer discovered mouse droppings in the burger and filed a complaint.

A McDonald's restaurant located in London was slapped with a fine of more than $600,000 after a customer discovered mouse droppings in the burger and filed a complaint. The place was then visited by the health officers who checked the restaurant and discovered the unhygienic conditions, after which the food chain was fined £497,000 (approximately $600,000). The customer found something suspicious in his cheeseburger, only to discover that it was the droppings of the mouse. As per Waltham Forest Council, the customer had eaten half of the burger when the mouse droppings were noticed. ALSO READ | McDonald's Q1 earnings beat expectations despite fall in US consumer confidence The complaint against the restaurant was registered in 2021 after which Environmental Health Officers visited McDonald's. The officers "found conditions at the premises presented a real risk to the health of customers. Amongst the officers' findings were the decomposing remains of a mouse and numerous mouse droppings throughout the premises. The inspection also uncovered several areas in the kitchen that were greasy, dirty, and dusty", as per the report. The officers felt that the restaurant posed an 'imminent risk to health' and hence closed it for ten days. The restaurant was later reopened after the Council felt that the health conditions of the place were satisfactory. After McDonald's was fined at Thames Magistrates' Court, the Waltham Forest Council posted the news on Twitter and shared pictures of the restaurant's unhygienic conditions at the time of inspection. WATCH | McDonald's solid earnings amid consumer worries In a press release, Waltham Forest Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety Cllr Khevyn Limbajee said, "We are grateful for the quick thinking of the customer in this case for reporting the matter to the Council for investigation. There was a significant risk posed to the health of residents and visitors to Waltham Forest, and as such, the Council had no option but to take formal action in this case." "McDonald's is a large and well-experienced food business operator in the fast-food sector who serves thousands of meals per week to its customers, therefore, the risk presented at the Leytonstone store was significant. It was appreciated that McDonald's pleaded guilty and admitted wrongdoing at the first opportunity. However, as a Council, we take food hygiene seriously and won't hesitate to follow up on complaints and take action where appropriate, irrespective of who operates the food business," he added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

McDonald’s fined more than $600,000 after mouse droppings found in cheeseburger

The Laboratory of Statistical Biophysics at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) recently carried out research which hinted at the possibility of getting a hit on alien transmission in the next 60 years.

The research, which has been published in the Astronomical Journal, came up with a new explanation for why scientists have till now failed to detect aliens.

"We've only been looking for 60 years," said biophysicist Claudio Grimaldi while speaking to Science Alert. "Earth could simply be in a bubble that just happens to be devoid of radio waves emitted by extraterrestrial life,” he added.

The scientist further stated that too much space remains to be scanned and that there is a possibility that not many alien transmissions have crossed paths with researchers.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/research-reveals-how-artificial-intelligence-can-help-look-for-alien-lifeforms-on-mars-and-other-planets-582992">Research reveals how Artificial Intelligence can help look for alien lifeforms on Mars and other planets</a>

The scientist, however, emphasised that people need to remain patient. The biophysicist stated that more time, money and effort are required to scan and spot the traces of communications with the aliens out in the Universe.

He added that there is some debate over whether or not extraterrestrial intelligence's (SETI) search is worth the time, money and effort.

The research model has revealed an assumption about the existence of at least one electromagnetic signal of technological origin in the Milky Way and the Earth is considered as a quiet bubble (or sponge pore) for at least six decades.

The scientist stated that if that is the situation, then according to the statistics, there are lesser than five electromagnetic emissions per century, which take place anywhere across our galaxy.

To explain it in another way, electromagnetic emissions are as common as supernovas inside the Milky Way, reported Science Alert. The scientist stated it may take us at least 60 years to get a hit on an alien transmission.

"We may have been unlucky in that we discovered how to use radio telescopes just as we were crossing a portion of space in which electromagnetic signals from other civilisations were absent," Claudio Grimaldi said.

WATCH | Gravitas: Alien spaceship lurking in our solar system?

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"To me, this hypothesis seems less extreme than assuming that we are constantly bombarded by signals from all sides but are, for some reason, unable to detect them,” he added.

He further stated that a lot of space remains to be covered in the search. Grimaldi suggested that the best way forward is to carry out commensal investigations which are finding signals in the data which is collected by the telescopes that are focused on different missions, and not use telescopes specifically to hunt for alien communications.

"The best strategy might be to adopt the SETI community's past approach of using data from other astrophysical studies - detecting radio emissions from other stars or galaxies - to see if they contain any technosignals and make that the standard practice," Grimaldi stated. 
&nbsp;

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The Laboratory of Statistical Biophysics at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) recently carried out research which hinted at the possibility of getting a hit on alien transmission in the next 60 years.

The Laboratory of Statistical Biophysics at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) recently carried out research which hinted at the possibility of getting a hit on alien transmission in the next 60 years. The research, which has been published in the Astronomical Journal, came up with a new explanation for why scientists have till now failed to detect aliens. "We've only been looking for 60 years," said biophysicist Claudio Grimaldi while speaking to Science Alert. "Earth could simply be in a bubble that just happens to be devoid of radio waves emitted by extraterrestrial life,” he added. The scientist further stated that too much space remains to be scanned and that there is a possibility that not many alien transmissions have crossed paths with researchers. ALSO READ | Research reveals how Artificial Intelligence can help look for alien lifeforms on Mars and other planets The scientist, however, emphasised that people need to remain patient. The biophysicist stated that more time, money and effort are required to scan and spot the traces of communications with the aliens out in the Universe. He added that there is some debate over whether or not extraterrestrial intelligence's (SETI) search is worth the time, money and effort. The research model has revealed an assumption about the existence of at least one electromagnetic signal of technological origin in the Milky Way and the Earth is considered as a quiet bubble (or sponge pore) for at least six decades. The scientist stated that if that is the situation, then according to the statistics, there are lesser than five electromagnetic emissions per century, which take place anywhere across our galaxy. To explain it in another way, electromagnetic emissions are as common as supernovas inside the Milky Way, reported Science Alert. The scientist stated it may take us at least 60 years to get a hit on an alien transmission. "We may have been unlucky in that we discovered how to use radio telescopes just as we were crossing a portion of space in which electromagnetic signals from other civilisations were absent," Claudio Grimaldi said. WATCH | Gravitas: Alien spaceship lurking in our solar system? "To me, this hypothesis seems less extreme than assuming that we are constantly bombarded by signals from all sides but are, for some reason, unable to detect them,” he added. He further stated that a lot of space remains to be covered in the search. Grimaldi suggested that the best way forward is to carry out commensal investigations which are finding signals in the data which is collected by the telescopes that are focused on different missions, and not use telescopes specifically to hunt for alien communications. "The best strategy might be to adopt the SETI community's past approach of using data from other astrophysical studies - detecting radio emissions from other stars or galaxies - to see if they contain any technosignals and make that the standard practice," Grimaldi stated. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Alien transmission likely to happen in next 60 years, claim scientists

A scorpion bit a woman passenger on board an Air India flight last month. The rare incident took place when the flight was on its way from Nagpur to Mumbai.

After the flight landed at the airport, a doctor attended to the passenger who was then treated at a hospital and later discharged, said the airline in a statement on Saturday (May 6).

The incident, which happened on April 23, was confirmed by Air India, as the airline further informed the female passenger was administered the needed treatment and that she is now out of danger.

Earlier also, there have been instances of rats and live birds found on board but this was a rare case where a scorpion&nbsp;stung a passenger.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/international-air-india-flight-returns-to-delhi-due-to-serious-unruly-passenger-on-board-580891">International Air India flight returns to Delhi due to 'serious unruly' passenger on board</a>

"There was an extremely rare and unfortunate incident involving a scorpion stinging a passenger on board our flight AI 630 on April 23, 2023," stated an Air India spokesperson while speaking to news agency ANI.

As soon as the plane landed, the female passenger was rushed to the hospital and immediately provided the required medical treatment, informed Air India.

"Upon landing, the said passenger was attended by the doctor at the airport and subsequently was treated at the hospital and discharged. Our officials accompanied the passenger to the hospital and offered all support to the passenger till discharge," said an Air India spokesperson.

After the engineering team of Air India was informed about the incident, it carried out a thorough inspection of the aeroplane. The scorpion was caught hold of, after which a due fumigation process was carried out.

"Our team followed the protocol and conducted a complete inspection of the aircraft and found the scorpion after which due fumigation process was carried out. We sincerely regret the agony and inconvenience caused to the passenger," stated Air India.

WATCH | Air India, Vistara merger kickstarts

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After the incident, the catering department of Air India was asked to advise dry cleaners to thoroughly check their facilities and ensure there is no bed bug infestation and carry out fumigation inside the facilities, if necessary, as there are chances that the bugs may enter the aircraft through these supplies, said an Air India official while speaking to Press Trust of India.

In the past as well, there have been&nbsp;instances of reptiles spotted onboard aircraft. In December 2022, a snake was discovered inside the cargo hold of an Air India plane which had departed from Calicut and landed at the Dubai airport.

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A scorpion bit a woman passenger on board an Air India flight last month. The rare incident took place when the flight was on its way from Nagpur to Mumbai. After the flight landed at the airport, a doctor attended to the passenger who was then treated at a hospital and later discharged, said the airline in a statement on Saturday (May 6).

A scorpion bit a woman passenger on board an Air India flight last month. The rare incident took place when the flight was on its way from Nagpur to Mumbai. After the flight landed at the airport, a doctor attended to the passenger who was then treated at a hospital and later discharged, said the airline in a statement on Saturday (May 6). The incident, which happened on April 23, was confirmed by Air India, as the airline further informed the female passenger was administered the needed treatment and that she is now out of danger. Earlier also, there have been instances of rats and live birds found on board but this was a rare case where a scorpion stung a passenger. ALSO READ | International Air India flight returns to Delhi due to 'serious unruly' passenger on board "There was an extremely rare and unfortunate incident involving a scorpion stinging a passenger on board our flight AI 630 on April 23, 2023," stated an Air India spokesperson while speaking to news agency ANI. As soon as the plane landed, the female passenger was rushed to the hospital and immediately provided the required medical treatment, informed Air India. "Upon landing, the said passenger was attended by the doctor at the airport and subsequently was treated at the hospital and discharged. Our officials accompanied the passenger to the hospital and offered all support to the passenger till discharge," said an Air India spokesperson. After the engineering team of Air India was informed about the incident, it carried out a thorough inspection of the aeroplane. The scorpion was caught hold of, after which a due fumigation process was carried out. "Our team followed the protocol and conducted a complete inspection of the aircraft and found the scorpion after which due fumigation process was carried out. We sincerely regret the agony and inconvenience caused to the passenger," stated Air India. WATCH | Air India, Vistara merger kickstarts After the incident, the catering department of Air India was asked to advise dry cleaners to thoroughly check their facilities and ensure there is no bed bug infestation and carry out fumigation inside the facilities, if necessary, as there are chances that the bugs may enter the aircraft through these supplies, said an Air India official while speaking to Press Trust of India. In the past as well, there have been instances of reptiles spotted onboard aircraft. In December 2022, a snake was discovered inside the cargo hold of an Air India plane which had departed from Calicut and landed at the Dubai airport. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Scorpion bites woman on board Air India flight

It is said that King Charles wants his shoelaces to be ironed flat every morning which is a rather unusual demand.

Carrying own toilet seat and ‘velvet’ toilet paper

Quoting Tina Brown’s book ‘The Palace Papers’, the New York Post reported that King Charles not only carries his toilet seat but also Kleenex Velvet toilet paper with himself while travelling.

King Charles surely doesn’t travel light as he carries his orthopaedic bed and other types of furniture with him while visiting the country houses of his friends.

Squeezing ‘an inch’ of toothpaste on brush

The King’s valets every morning squeeze exactly ‘an inch’ of toothpaste on his brush.

Specific temperature of cheese and biscuits

The royal staff carries a warming tray with them to ensure that the meals served to the king are of the specific temperature he likes, particularly cheese and biscuits.

Multiple eggs are hard-boiled by the royal staff every morning so that the ones which fit King Charles’ definition of the perfect kind of ‘hard-boiled’ eggs reach his table.

Not just the furniture, the king carries his complete bedroom set along with himself, which includes pictures hanging on the wall, wherever he travels.

While travelling, King Charles carries with him a breakfast box that contains six different types of muesli, honey and dried fruit.

Two Scottish landscapes also accompany King Charles along with the bed, lavatory paper and toilet seat when he travels.

9 Royally Odd Habits Of King Charles III

10 Monarchs Who ‘Owned’ The Most Controversial Diamond Kohinoor

On July 7, 1656, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan was gifted a ‘large uncut diamond’ - believed to be the Kohinoor - by merchant Mir Jumla.

The controversial diamond, which was embedded in the head of one of the peacocks of the Peacock Throne, was passed down in the Mughal dynasty till Muhammad Shah Rangila.

In 1739, Persian king Nader Shah ransacked Delhi and took away the Peacock Throne and on the pretext of ‘swapping of turbans’ with Rangila, also got the Kohinoor.

In 1747, Nader Shah was murdered and Kohinoor was given to Afghan general Ahmad Khan Abdali by Shah’s first lady as a reward for protecting the harem from looters.

After Ahmad Shah Abdali died in 1772, the ‘cursed’ diamond went to his son Timur Shah and then his grandson Shah Zaman.

In 1800, Shah Zaman was captured and put in prison, where he slipped Kohinoor into the crack of the wall. Shah Shuja later found the precious stone which was being used as a paperweight by a mullah.

In 1813, Ranjit Singh rescued Shuja from Kashmir’s governor and threw him in a cage where he pressurised the deposed king to hand over the Kohinoor.

For the next 36 years, the diamond remained with the Sikh empire and was finally passed down to Ranjit Singh’s 10-year-old son Duleep Singh.

In 1849, the East India Company’s army defeated the Sikh forces and the boy king was forced to sign the Treaty of Lahore as per which Kohinoor was surrendered to England’s Queen Victoria.

With the coronation of Charles as the next King, Kohinoor will be inherited by the Queen Consort Camilla.

The fascinating rings of Saturn, which makes it different from the rest of the planets in a milky way, may become a thing of the past as these rings are now disappearing.&nbsp;

Saturn, nearly 1.5 billion kilometres away from Earth, has always mesmerised astronomers with its beautiful rings, making the planet not only a humongous size but also nine times wider than Earth.&nbsp;

However, the rings are now in danger and disappearing slowly. Researchers stated that Saturn's rings are made up of large pieces of ice which are now eroding and added that they find it difficult to predict how long the rings will last.&nbsp;

The ice chunks from rings have been falling as icy rain on the planet because of the intense gravity of Saturn. The downpour is now happening at such a high rate that water, which can fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, rains daily on the gas giant.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/discovery-of-saturn-like-ring-around-trans-neptunian-object-quaoar-amazes-astronomers-560149">Discovery of Saturn-like ring around trans-Neptunian object Quaoar amazes astronomers</a>

This is leading to thinning of mysterious rings circling the planet which has left the astronomers amazed.&nbsp;

“We’re still trying to figure out exactly how fast they are eroding," Dr James O’Donoghue, who is heading the research into the disappearing rings of Saturn, said in a statement.

While mostly it is believed that the rings were a part of the planet from the start, it is not actually correct. The rings around Saturn are only 100 million years old which although looks like a long time on a cosmic scale, is not very long.&nbsp;

Scientists are now studying to understand the future of the rings around Saturn.&nbsp;

Although research suggests that the rings may disappear in another 100 million years, Dr James O’Donoghue calls it a "quick death."

WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life

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“Currently, research suggests the rings will only be part of Saturn for another few hundred million years. This may sound like a long time, but in the history of the universe, this is a relatively quick death. We could be very lucky to be around at a time when the rings exist," O’Donoghue stated.&nbsp;

The team has been making efforts to get the James Webb Space Telescope which will help them delve deeper into the mystery of the rings of Saturn.&nbsp;

Studies suggest that the rings are pieces of asteroids, comets or shattered moons which broke up before reaching the planet as they were crushed by the strong gravity of the planet. "The ring particles mostly range from tiny, dust-sized icy grains to chunks as big as a house. A few particles are as large as mountains," stated NASA.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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The fascinating rings of Saturn, which makes it different from the rest of the planets in a milky way, may become a thing of the past as these rings are now disappearing.

The fascinating rings of Saturn, which makes it different from the rest of the planets in a milky way, may become a thing of the past as these rings are now disappearing. Saturn, nearly 1.5 billion kilometres away from Earth, has always mesmerised astronomers with its beautiful rings, making the planet not only a humongous size but also nine times wider than Earth. However, the rings are now in danger and disappearing slowly. Researchers stated that Saturn's rings are made up of large pieces of ice which are now eroding and added that they find it difficult to predict how long the rings will last. The ice chunks from rings have been falling as icy rain on the planet because of the intense gravity of Saturn. The downpour is now happening at such a high rate that water, which can fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, rains daily on the gas giant. ALSO READ | Discovery of Saturn-like ring around trans-Neptunian object Quaoar amazes astronomers This is leading to thinning of mysterious rings circling the planet which has left the astronomers amazed. “We’re still trying to figure out exactly how fast they are eroding," Dr James O’Donoghue, who is heading the research into the disappearing rings of Saturn, said in a statement. While mostly it is believed that the rings were a part of the planet from the start, it is not actually correct. The rings around Saturn are only 100 million years old which although looks like a long time on a cosmic scale, is not very long. Scientists are now studying to understand the future of the rings around Saturn. Although research suggests that the rings may disappear in another 100 million years, Dr James O’Donoghue calls it a "quick death." WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life “Currently, research suggests the rings will only be part of Saturn for another few hundred million years. This may sound like a long time, but in the history of the universe, this is a relatively quick death. We could be very lucky to be around at a time when the rings exist," O’Donoghue stated. The team has been making efforts to get the James Webb Space Telescope which will help them delve deeper into the mystery of the rings of Saturn. Studies suggest that the rings are pieces of asteroids, comets or shattered moons which broke up before reaching the planet as they were crushed by the strong gravity of the planet. "The ring particles mostly range from tiny, dust-sized icy grains to chunks as big as a house. A few particles are as large as mountains," stated NASA. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Saturn’s mesmerising rings vanishing, further aggravate its cosmic identity crisis

Russia on Saturday blamed Ukraine and the West for the car explosion which involved the pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin.

A Russian nationalist and prominent pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin was injured in a car “explosion” on Saturday and one person was killed, informed the interior ministry after multiple drone attacks took place recently as the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces escalated.

"According to initial reports, one person was killed by the explosion, and the writer Zakhar Prilepin, who was in the car, was injured" in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is at a distance of 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Moscow, the ministry stated.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-moscow-accused-of-attacking-bakhmut-with-phosphorus-bombs-589677">Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow accused of attacking Bakhmut with phosphorus bombs</a>

The Russian Investigative Committee, which investigates serious crimes, said that Prilepin was "travelling with his family" when the blast took place.

Russia's TASS news agency separately quoted an official from emergency services who stated that the writer was wounded in the explosion but was conscious after the incident.

Reacting to the incident, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Telegram, "The fact has come true: Washington and NATO fed another international terrorist cell — the Kyiv regime."

She added that it was the "direct responsibility of the US and Britain", but gave no evidence which can support the accusation made by her. "We pray for Zakhar," she stated.

TASS agency reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the incident in the wake of no information from investigators.

WATCH | Russia's Wagner Group decides to withdraw from Bakhmut due to shortage of ammunition

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Russia started a terrorism probe into the car blast incident.&nbsp;

"The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case into a terrorist act in connection with the explosion of Zakhar Prilepin's car," said the committee that investigates major crimes, after the interior ministry said that a man has been detained who "may be involved" in the explosion.

Prilepin is a writer and novelist who has always spoken in support of actions taken by Russia against Ukraine, at a time when the invasion of Moscow has entered the 15th month.&nbsp;

Prilepin is a prolific writer with&nbsp;nationalist views and has garnered more than 300,000 followers on Telegram as well as on his YouTube channel and his website.&nbsp;

The writer spoke in favour of Russian proxy forces which are present in Donbas in eastern Ukraine before the full-scale invasion started in February 2022 and led a military unit&nbsp;about which the writer boasted in his YouTube interview published in 2019 in which he said&nbsp;that his unit "killed people in big numbers".

"These people are dead, they are buried and… there are many of them. Not a single unit among the Donetsk battalions had such results. It was outrageous chaos what we did there... Not a single field commander had such results as I had," he stated.&nbsp;

Regional governor Gleb Nikitin stated, "Law enforcement officers are now investigating the circumstances and causes of the incident. Zakhar is OK."

Two famous pro-war Russian propagandists have lost their lives in bombings since Ukraine has been invaded by Russia in February last year.

Darya Dugina, who was a nationalist ideologue Aleksandr Dugin's daughter, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow in August when military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky died in a bomb attack in St Petersburg cafe last month. 
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Russia on Saturday blamed Ukraine and the West for the car explosion which involved the pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin. A Russian nationalist and prominent pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin was injured in a car “explosion” on Saturday and one person was killed, informed the interior ministry after multiple drone attacks took place recently as the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces escalated.

Russia on Saturday blamed Ukraine and the West for the car explosion which involved the pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin. A Russian nationalist and prominent pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin was injured in a car “explosion” on Saturday and one person was killed, informed the interior ministry after multiple drone attacks took place recently as the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces escalated. "According to initial reports, one person was killed by the explosion, and the writer Zakhar Prilepin, who was in the car, was injured" in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is at a distance of 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Moscow, the ministry stated. ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow accused of attacking Bakhmut with phosphorus bombs The Russian Investigative Committee, which investigates serious crimes, said that Prilepin was "travelling with his family" when the blast took place. Russia's TASS news agency separately quoted an official from emergency services who stated that the writer was wounded in the explosion but was conscious after the incident. Reacting to the incident, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Telegram, "The fact has come true: Washington and NATO fed another international terrorist cell — the Kyiv regime." She added that it was the "direct responsibility of the US and Britain", but gave no evidence which can support the accusation made by her. "We pray for Zakhar," she stated. TASS agency reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the incident in the wake of no information from investigators. WATCH | Russia's Wagner Group decides to withdraw from Bakhmut due to shortage of ammunition Russia started a terrorism probe into the car blast incident. "The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case into a terrorist act in connection with the explosion of Zakhar Prilepin's car," said the committee that investigates major crimes, after the interior ministry said that a man has been detained who "may be involved" in the explosion. Prilepin is a writer and novelist who has always spoken in support of actions taken by Russia against Ukraine, at a time when the invasion of Moscow has entered the 15th month. Prilepin is a prolific writer with nationalist views and has garnered more than 300,000 followers on Telegram as well as on his YouTube channel and his website. The writer spoke in favour of Russian proxy forces which are present in Donbas in eastern Ukraine before the full-scale invasion started in February 2022 and led a military unit about which the writer boasted in his YouTube interview published in 2019 in which he said that his unit "killed people in big numbers". "These people are dead, they are buried and… there are many of them. Not a single unit among the Donetsk battalions had such results. It was outrageous chaos what we did there... Not a single field commander had such results as I had," he stated. Regional governor Gleb Nikitin stated, "Law enforcement officers are now investigating the circumstances and causes of the incident. Zakhar is OK." Two famous pro-war Russian propagandists have lost their lives in bombings since Ukraine has been invaded by Russia in February last year. Darya Dugina, who was a nationalist ideologue Aleksandr Dugin's daughter, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow in August when military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky died in a bomb attack in St Petersburg cafe last month. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia blames Ukraine, West for pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin’s car bombing

Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv.

The downing of Russian hypersonic missiles is being seen as a major setback to Russia's campaign of long-range air strikes.

The Ukraine Air Force announced that they shot down the Kh-47 Kinzhal missile in the skies of Kyiv using a US Patriot air defence system in the skies at around 2:30 am on Thursday (2330 GMT Wednesday).

"I congratulate the Ukrainian people on the historic event," said Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk on Telegram. "Yes, we shot down the 'unparallelled' Kinzhal'&nbsp;missile," he added.

The US Patriot system is among an array of sophisticated air defence units which was supplied to Ukraine by the West to repel Russia's month-long campaign of air strikes which had targeted the country's power facilities, critical infrastructure, and other sites.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-authorities-shoot-down-drone-near-airbase-in-crimea-588984">Ukraine shoots down its own drone that 'lost control' over Kyiv</a>

<h2>What is a Kinzhal missile?</h2>

The word Kinzhal means "dagger" in Russian. Kinzhal missile is among the six "next generation" weapons which President Vladimir Putin had unveiled in 2018 and had boasted as one of those missiles which cannot be shot down by any air defence system&nbsp;of the world.

Putin had termed Kinzhal missile as "an ideal weapon" that the missile defences find extremely difficult to intercept.

According to the Russian military, the ballistic missile boasts a range of up to 2,000km (1,250 miles) and flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound which makes it difficult to intercept.

The ballistic missile is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. Kinzhal missile is 8 metres long, has a body diameter of 1 metrer, and its launch weight is approximately 4,300 kg.

The missile has been designed to be launched using MiG-31 fighter jets from an altitude of about 18 km (59,000 ft). During all stages of the flight, this missile manoeuvres to overcome hostile air defence systems.

<h2>How much damage can a Kinzhal missile cause?</h2>

Although Russia has claimed that the missile is among “next generation” systems, however, experts in the West say that these claims are exaggerated.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies states that “Russia’s designation of the Kinzhal as a ‘hypersonic’ missile is somewhat misleading, as nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds… at some point during their flight.”

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said that the use of the Kinzhal was “likely intended to detract from a lack of progress in Russia’s ground campaign” and “unlikely to materially affect the outcome of Russia’s campaign” in Ukraine.

The major difference between Kinzhal and its purported predecessor is that the missile is launched using an airborne vehicle and not from the ground, which makes it less predictable and more difficult to intercept, and also more survivable compared to the Iskander ground system.

The Kinzhal missile can also be seen as a precision weapon which can easily strike key targets like command centres and with its high speed, the missile can easily penetrate even deeply buried bunkers. However, for achieving such a feat, good information about the target location is required.

Even though Kinzhal is considered as a dangerous weapon, most analysts agree that it is not very different from weapons which have been in use for decades.

Any previous use of Kinzhal for the attack was not previously disclosed by the Air Force, although Kyiv officials immediately stated that there has been an involvement of a ballistic missile.

WATCH | Is Russia's attempt of invading Ukraine fading away? | Russia-Ukraine War

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<h2>Ukraine's efforts to strengthen the air defence system</h2>

Ukraine also appealed to the Western allies to help in reinforcing the country's air defence system as its energy infrastructure has been pounded by Russia from the air over winter.

Ukraine in mid-April received the first Patriots which is considered as one of the most advanced air defence systems of the United States.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the system would "significantly" strengthen the defences of the country against Russian strikes.

Many civilians have lost their lives in the attacks which were escalated by Russia in October ahead of winter. The Russian strikes failed to

The strikes failed to paralyse the power grid but led to major power outages. Russia has constantly denied targeting civilians.

Russia made the air strikes on Thursday a day after it accused Ukraine of making a failed attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin through a drone attack over the Kremlin citadel in Moscow and said that it would retaliate.

Since then, Moscow has accused Washington of being involved in the assassination plan but the allegations were denied by both the United States and Ukraine.

The drone and missile attacks over regions of Ukraine have been intensified by Russia in the past week as Kyiv prepares for a counter-offensive against the Russian army who have dug in across occupied land in the south and east.&nbsp;

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Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv.

Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv. The downing of Russian hypersonic missiles is being seen as a major setback to Russia's campaign of long-range air strikes. The Ukraine Air Force announced that they shot down the Kh-47 Kinzhal missile in the skies of Kyiv using a US Patriot air defence system in the skies at around 2:30 am on Thursday (2330 GMT Wednesday). "I congratulate the Ukrainian people on the historic event," said Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk on Telegram. "Yes, we shot down the 'unparallelled' Kinzhal' missile," he added. The US Patriot system is among an array of sophisticated air defence units which was supplied to Ukraine by the West to repel Russia's month-long campaign of air strikes which had targeted the country's power facilities, critical infrastructure, and other sites. ALSO READ | Ukraine shoots down its own drone that 'lost control' over Kyiv What is a Kinzhal missile? The word Kinzhal means "dagger" in Russian. Kinzhal missile is among the six "next generation" weapons which President Vladimir Putin had unveiled in 2018 and had boasted as one of those missiles which cannot be shot down by any air defence system of the world. Putin had termed Kinzhal missile as "an ideal weapon" that the missile defences find extremely difficult to intercept. According to the Russian military, the ballistic missile boasts a range of up to 2,000km (1,250 miles) and flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound which makes it difficult to intercept. The ballistic missile is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. Kinzhal missile is 8 metres long, has a body diameter of 1 metrer, and its launch weight is approximately 4,300 kg. The missile has been designed to be launched using MiG-31 fighter jets from an altitude of about 18 km (59,000 ft). During all stages of the flight, this missile manoeuvres to overcome hostile air defence systems. How much damage can a Kinzhal missile cause? Although Russia has claimed that the missile is among “next generation” systems, however, experts in the West say that these claims are exaggerated. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies states that “Russia’s designation of the Kinzhal as a ‘hypersonic’ missile is somewhat misleading, as nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds… at some point during their flight.” Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said that the use of the Kinzhal was “likely intended to detract from a lack of progress in Russia’s ground campaign” and “unlikely to materially affect the outcome of Russia’s campaign” in Ukraine. The major difference between Kinzhal and its purported predecessor is that the missile is launched using an airborne vehicle and not from the ground, which makes it less predictable and more difficult to intercept, and also more survivable compared to the Iskander ground system. The Kinzhal missile can also be seen as a precision weapon which can easily strike key targets like command centres and with its high speed, the missile can easily penetrate even deeply buried bunkers. However, for achieving such a feat, good information about the target location is required. Even though Kinzhal is considered as a dangerous weapon, most analysts agree that it is not very different from weapons which have been in use for decades. Any previous use of Kinzhal for the attack was not previously disclosed by the Air Force, although Kyiv officials immediately stated that there has been an involvement of a ballistic missile. WATCH | Is Russia's attempt of invading Ukraine fading away? | Russia-Ukraine War Ukraine's efforts to strengthen the air defence system Ukraine also appealed to the Western allies to help in reinforcing the country's air defence system as its energy infrastructure has been pounded by Russia from the air over winter. Ukraine in mid-April received the first Patriots which is considered as one of the most advanced air defence systems of the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the system would "significantly" strengthen the defences of the country against Russian strikes. Many civilians have lost their lives in the attacks which were escalated by Russia in October ahead of winter. The Russian strikes failed to The strikes failed to paralyse the power grid but led to major power outages. Russia has constantly denied targeting civilians. Russia made the air strikes on Thursday a day after it accused Ukraine of making a failed attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin through a drone attack over the Kremlin citadel in Moscow and said that it would retaliate. Since then, Moscow has accused Washington of being involved in the assassination plan but the allegations were denied by both the United States and Ukraine. The drone and missile attacks over regions of Ukraine have been intensified by Russia in the past week as Kyiv prepares for a counter-offensive against the Russian army who have dug in across occupied land in the south and east. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | Ukraine downs Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missile. Here’s all you need to know

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Russia has been accused by Ukraine of using phosphorus munitions to attack the besieged city of Bakhmut.

Ukraine's military released drone footage in which Bakhmut was ablaze as what looked like white phosphorus was raining down on the city.

There is no ban on using white phosphorus weapons, but the use of such munitions in civilian areas falls under the category of “war crimes”.

White phosphorus bombs result in fast-spreading fires which are difficult to control. Russia has even earlier faced accusations of using the white phosphorus munitions.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chechen-leader-ramzan-kadyrov-to-send-forces-replacing-wagner-in-bakhmut-589617">Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to send forces replacing Wagner in Bakhmut</a>

For months, Russia has been tirelessly making attempts to capture Bakhmut, even though the region's strategic value is questionable.

According to Western officials, thousands of Russian troops have lost their lives in the assault.

Taking to Twitter, Ukraine's defence ministry stated that Russia's phosphorus attack targeted "unoccupied areas of Bakhmut with incendiary ammunition".

The special forces command of Kyiv added that the forces of Moscow continued "to destroy the city". It remains unclear when the alleged attack happened.

However, the footage posted by Ukraine's military showed high-rise towers engulfed in fire. The video was taken by a surveillance drone, as per reports.

Meanwhile, other videos shared on the social media platform showed fire spreading on the ground.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on full-scale last year, it has faced accusations of using white phosphorus many times, especially during the siege of Mariupol, when the war began.

However, Moscow admitted publicly that it has used white phosphorous, in fact, last year Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said, "Russia has never violated international conventions" after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused them of using it.

White phosphorus is a wax-like element that ignites after coming in contact with oxygen and leads to bright plumes of smoke. A warning was issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) which stated that the chemical is "notorious for the severity of the injuries it causes".

WATCH | Russia's Wagner Group decides to withdraw from Bakhmut due to shortage of ammunition

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White phosphorus burns at 800 degrees Celsius and leads to extreme burns on human flesh. It is very sticky in nature and can re-ignite after bandages are removed.

Russia is among the signatories of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons which has placed a ban on incendiary weapons' use in civilian areas which are designed to catch fire.

However, HRW said that white phosphorus has not been covered under the treaty because it is generally used to "create a smokescreen to hide military operations".

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Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Russia has been accused by Ukraine of using phosphorus munitions to attack the besieged city of Bakhmut. Ukraine's military released drone footage in which Bakhmut was ablaze as what looked like white phosphorus was raining down on the city. There is no ban on using white phosphorus weapons, but the use of such munitions in civilian areas falls under the category of “war crimes”. White phosphorus bombs result in fast-spreading fires which are difficult to control. Russia has even earlier faced accusations of using the white phosphorus munitions. ALSO READ | Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to send forces replacing Wagner in Bakhmut For months, Russia has been tirelessly making attempts to capture Bakhmut, even though the region's strategic value is questionable. According to Western officials, thousands of Russian troops have lost their lives in the assault. Taking to Twitter, Ukraine's defence ministry stated that Russia's phosphorus attack targeted "unoccupied areas of Bakhmut with incendiary ammunition". The special forces command of Kyiv added that the forces of Moscow continued "to destroy the city". It remains unclear when the alleged attack happened. However, the footage posted by Ukraine's military showed high-rise towers engulfed in fire. The video was taken by a surveillance drone, as per reports. Meanwhile, other videos shared on the social media platform showed fire spreading on the ground. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on full-scale last year, it has faced accusations of using white phosphorus many times, especially during the siege of Mariupol, when the war began. However, Moscow admitted publicly that it has used white phosphorous, in fact, last year Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said, "Russia has never violated international conventions" after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused them of using it. White phosphorus is a wax-like element that ignites after coming in contact with oxygen and leads to bright plumes of smoke. A warning was issued by Human Rights Watch (HRW) which stated that the chemical is "notorious for the severity of the injuries it causes". WATCH | Russia's Wagner Group decides to withdraw from Bakhmut due to shortage of ammunition White phosphorus burns at 800 degrees Celsius and leads to extreme burns on human flesh. It is very sticky in nature and can re-ignite after bandages are removed. Russia is among the signatories of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons which has placed a ban on incendiary weapons' use in civilian areas which are designed to catch fire. However, HRW said that white phosphorus has not been covered under the treaty because it is generally used to "create a smokescreen to hide military operations". You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow accused of attacking Bakhmut with phosphorus bombs

Hours after a series of&nbsp;explosions shook the capital, the Ukrainian Air Force said it downed its own drone as it lost control over Kyiv on Thursday, reported AFP. 
 
"At about 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) a Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial device lost control during a scheduled flight in the Kyiv region...the target was destroyed!" said the air force, as quoted by AFP.

It cited "likely" technical malfunction as the cause of the drone losing control.

Another drone shot down near Crimea 
 
Meanwhile, in a further escalation to the drone war between Russia and Ukraine, another aerial device was shot down near the Russian airbase in Moscow-annexed Crimea, said the Russia-installed authorities on Thursday.

This is the latest drone attack in a series of similar incidents in recent days. "Another attack on Sevastopol. At about 7:00 pm (1600 GMT), air defence forces destroyed an unmanned aerial device in the area of the Belbek airfield," said Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev on Telegram.

Meanwhile, as per media reports, May 9 Victory Day celebrations have been cancelled&nbsp;in at least 21 Russian cities.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-must-be-sentenced-for-war-crimes-enraged-zelensky-tells-icc-588869">Ukraine will not join NATO during war, Zelensky says after meeting European leaders</a>

<h2>Explosions and air raid alerts in Kyiv</h2>

According to AFP, several explosions were heard in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine&nbsp;on Thursday after it witnessed a series of attacks overnight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

An AFP journalist reported seeing a drone that the air defence attempted to shoot down, as the Kyiv city military administration stated that "air defence is at work."

The explosions ended after around 15 to 20 minutes. AFP journalists reported that they saw a cloud of black smoke rising in the air just after an announcement was made by the Kyiv city military administration stating that the air raid alert was over. &nbsp;

As per Reuters, one witness saw a drone falling in an area near the bank of the Dnipro River and Dynamo soccer stadium, outside the city centre.&nbsp;

An alert was issued by the local authorities for both Kyiv and the surrounding area and anti-aircraft units went into operation.

"The enemy drone was shot down," presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said.&nbsp;

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported "explosions and fire in the Solomyansky district of the capital" and further gave warning of potential drone debris.

WATCH | Did Ukraine try to assassinate Russian President Putin?

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The alerts were issued after Kyiv witnessed another wave of attacks in the night falling between Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;

Kyiv military administration's head Sergiy Popko on Thursday morning said, "Our city has not experienced such intensity of strikes since the beginning of this year."

Then, Popko said that it was Russia's third day of strikes on the capital city in May. &nbsp;

The explosions took place a day after two drones were shot down by Kremlin over the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which they alleged was an assassination attempt carried out by Ukraine on the directions of the United States.&nbsp;

The allegations were refuted by both Ukraine and the US, as they claimed that they had no involvement in the said attack.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Hours after a series of explosions shook the capital, the Ukrainian Air Force said it downed its own drone as it lost control over Kyiv on Thursday, reported AFP.

Hours after a series of explosions shook the capital, the Ukrainian Air Force said it downed its own drone as it lost control over Kyiv on Thursday, reported AFP. "At about 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) a Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial device lost control during a scheduled flight in the Kyiv region...the target was destroyed!" said the air force, as quoted by AFP. It cited "likely" technical malfunction as the cause of the drone losing control. Another drone shot down near Crimea Meanwhile, in a further escalation to the drone war between Russia and Ukraine, another aerial device was shot down near the Russian airbase in Moscow-annexed Crimea, said the Russia-installed authorities on Thursday. This is the latest drone attack in a series of similar incidents in recent days. "Another attack on Sevastopol. At about 7:00 pm (1600 GMT), air defence forces destroyed an unmanned aerial device in the area of the Belbek airfield," said Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev on Telegram. Meanwhile, as per media reports, May 9 Victory Day celebrations have been cancelled in at least 21 Russian cities. ALSO READ | Ukraine will not join NATO during war, Zelensky says after meeting European leaders Explosions and air raid alerts in Kyiv According to AFP, several explosions were heard in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine on Thursday after it witnessed a series of attacks overnight. An AFP journalist reported seeing a drone that the air defence attempted to shoot down, as the Kyiv city military administration stated that "air defence is at work." The explosions ended after around 15 to 20 minutes. AFP journalists reported that they saw a cloud of black smoke rising in the air just after an announcement was made by the Kyiv city military administration stating that the air raid alert was over. As per Reuters, one witness saw a drone falling in an area near the bank of the Dnipro River and Dynamo soccer stadium, outside the city centre. An alert was issued by the local authorities for both Kyiv and the surrounding area and anti-aircraft units went into operation. "The enemy drone was shot down," presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported "explosions and fire in the Solomyansky district of the capital" and further gave warning of potential drone debris. WATCH | Did Ukraine try to assassinate Russian President Putin? The alerts were issued after Kyiv witnessed another wave of attacks in the night falling between Wednesday and Thursday. Kyiv military administration's head Sergiy Popko on Thursday morning said, "Our city has not experienced such intensity of strikes since the beginning of this year." Then, Popko said that it was Russia's third day of strikes on the capital city in May. The explosions took place a day after two drones were shot down by Kremlin over the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which they alleged was an assassination attempt carried out by Ukraine on the directions of the United States. The allegations were refuted by both Ukraine and the US, as they claimed that they had no involvement in the said attack. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ukraine shoots down its own drone that 'lost control' over Kyiv

Scientists for the first time, witnessed a star gulping down a whole planet, giving them a glimpse of how the Earth may reach its end after billions of years when the sun runs out of fuel.&nbsp;

Astronomers reported that they observed what appeared to them a gas giant, which was bigger than Jupiter, getting eaten by its own star. The star, similar to the sun, was seen puffing up with old age for eons and eventually, its size swelled so big that it ended up engulfing the close-orbiting planet.

The act of a star gobbling up its own planet appeared to be a gloomy preview of how the Earth would end when the sun turns into a red giant and eats up the initial four inner planets.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-massive-tornado-on-the-sun-the-height-of-14-earths-caught-on-camera-574514">A massive 'tornado' on the sun, the height of 14 Earths, caught on camera</a>

"If it's any consolation, this will happen in about 5 billion years," said Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics' co-author Morgan MacLeod.

The galactic feast took place between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago close to the Aquila constellation after the star completed its 10 billion years. After the planet went down the stellar hatch, a swift hot outburst of light took place and a long-lasting stream of dust was seen which shined brightly in cold infrared energy, the researchers stated.&nbsp;

The researchers have earlier seen signs of stars nibbling at planets and decoded the aftermath of gobbling, however, it was the first time they saw the act of swallowing, as per the study which appeared in the journal Nature.

The luminous outburst was spotted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Kishalay De while reviewing sky scans which were captured by the California Institute of Technology's Palomar Observatory. Data crunching and additional observations were needed to unravel the mystery which revealed that the star, instead of eating up its companion star, gobbled up its planet.

WATCH | China is making a 'mini sun' as global fusion race heats up | World News | WION

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The discoveries made are "very plausible," stated Carole Haswell, an astrophysicist at Britain's Open University. Haswell had headed a team in 2010 which used the Hubble Space Telescope to spot the star WASP-12 which was eating its planet.

"This is a different sort of eating. This star gobbled a whole planet in one gulp. In contrast, WASP-12 b and the other hot Jupiters we have previously studied are being delicately licked and nibbled," Haswell said.&nbsp;

Now that the researchers have figured out what they need to look out for, they will try finding more cosmic gulps. The researchers feel that thousands of planets may suffer a similar fate, and something similar may occur in our solar system.&nbsp;

"All that we see around us, all the stuff that we've built around us, this will all be gone in a flash," said De.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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Scientists for the first time, witnessed a star gulping down a whole planet, giving them a glimpse of how the Earth may reach its end after billions of years when the sun runs out of fuel.

Scientists for the first time, witnessed a star gulping down a whole planet, giving them a glimpse of how the Earth may reach its end after billions of years when the sun runs out of fuel. Astronomers reported that they observed what appeared to them a gas giant, which was bigger than Jupiter, getting eaten by its own star. The star, similar to the sun, was seen puffing up with old age for eons and eventually, its size swelled so big that it ended up engulfing the close-orbiting planet. The act of a star gobbling up its own planet appeared to be a gloomy preview of how the Earth would end when the sun turns into a red giant and eats up the initial four inner planets. ALSO READ | A massive 'tornado' on the sun, the height of 14 Earths, caught on camera "If it's any consolation, this will happen in about 5 billion years," said Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics' co-author Morgan MacLeod. The galactic feast took place between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago close to the Aquila constellation after the star completed its 10 billion years. After the planet went down the stellar hatch, a swift hot outburst of light took place and a long-lasting stream of dust was seen which shined brightly in cold infrared energy, the researchers stated. The researchers have earlier seen signs of stars nibbling at planets and decoded the aftermath of gobbling, however, it was the first time they saw the act of swallowing, as per the study which appeared in the journal Nature. The luminous outburst was spotted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Kishalay De while reviewing sky scans which were captured by the California Institute of Technology's Palomar Observatory. Data crunching and additional observations were needed to unravel the mystery which revealed that the star, instead of eating up its companion star, gobbled up its planet. WATCH | China is making a 'mini sun' as global fusion race heats up | World News | WION The discoveries made are "very plausible," stated Carole Haswell, an astrophysicist at Britain's Open University. Haswell had headed a team in 2010 which used the Hubble Space Telescope to spot the star WASP-12 which was eating its planet. "This is a different sort of eating. This star gobbled a whole planet in one gulp. In contrast, WASP-12 b and the other hot Jupiters we have previously studied are being delicately licked and nibbled," Haswell said. Now that the researchers have figured out what they need to look out for, they will try finding more cosmic gulps. The researchers feel that thousands of planets may suffer a similar fate, and something similar may occur in our solar system. "All that we see around us, all the stuff that we've built around us, this will all be gone in a flash," said De. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Sun-like star swallows entire planet, gives glimpse of Earth’s fate to astronomers

A part of a Bluey episode was removed by ABC after it sparked accusations of fatphobia and fat-shaming.&nbsp;

An edited version of the popular cartoon's episode has now been republished which does not contain a bathroom scene that showed the parents of Bluey complaining about their weight.

The cartoon's episode titled Exercise showed Bandit, who is the father of Bluey, in the bathroom watching himself and brushing his teeth simultaneously while Bluey is in the bath.

“Oh man ... I just need to do some exercise,” Bandit said.&nbsp;

“Tell me about it,” says Bluey’s mother, Chilli, as she walks inside along with Bluey’s sister, Bingo.

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-netizens-and-politicians-slam-german-magazine-for-racist-cartoon-586357"> Indian netizens and politicians slam German magazine for 'racist' cartoon</a>

Bandit then observes himself in the mirror, holding his sides. “Why don’t you just do some exercise?” Bluey questions.

The episode faced a backlash from body image experts who claimed that it could pass on fatphobia and weight stigmas to children.

After the editing, the episode now has an abrupt starting at the previous 1 minute 13-second mark when Bandit is seen doing some exercise, while Bingo and Bluey try to turn change it into a game – in the backyard.

Then, Bandit goes to the GP who compliments him that he is in “great shape” and asks if he has been frequenting the gym.&nbsp;

“Nah,” says Bandit. “It’s been coming to me," he added.&nbsp;

In a statement, ABC stated, “The recent episode of Bluey, Exercise, has been republished by ABC following a decision by the makers of the programme. The new version provides families with the opportunity to manage important conversations in their own way."&nbsp;

“As the home of Bluey, the ABC supports the decision to re-edit the programme and we have updated the episode on our platforms. BBC Studios will use this revised version for global distribution and also support this decision," it added.&nbsp;

Head of knowledge, research and policy at the Butterfly Foundation, Dr Sarah Squire tweeted, “Cartoon dogs avoiding diet culture for the win!”&nbsp;

The foundation, which supports people with eating disorders, appreciated the ABC for “listening and responding”.

WATCH |&nbsp;Netflix airs banned 'powerpuff girls' episode

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/netflix-airs-banned-powerpuff-girls-episode-580152/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“Butterfly is thrilled that the producers of Bluey have been so responsive to community feedback in removing this problematic content. We love Bluey and are very happy with this result," the foundation said in a statement.&nbsp;

Deakin University’s Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development's research fellow Dr Hannah Jarman said it was “great to see the ABC and makers of the programme taking the issue seriously and being so quick to respond”.

“Rather than promoting and normalising negative attitudes about our bodies, we should be encouraging our children to have healthy relationships with their bodies, including engaging in exercise and movement in enjoyable ways,” she added.

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WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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A part of a Bluey episode was removed by ABC after it sparked accusations of fatphobia and fat-shaming. An edited version of the popular cartoon's episode has now been republished which does not contain a bathroom scene that showed the parents of Bluey complaining about their weight.

A part of a Bluey episode was removed by ABC after it sparked accusations of fatphobia and fat-shaming. An edited version of the popular cartoon's episode has now been republished which does not contain a bathroom scene that showed the parents of Bluey complaining about their weight. The cartoon's episode titled Exercise showed Bandit, who is the father of Bluey, in the bathroom watching himself and brushing his teeth simultaneously while Bluey is in the bath. “Oh man ... I just need to do some exercise,” Bandit said. “Tell me about it,” says Bluey’s mother, Chilli, as she walks inside along with Bluey’s sister, Bingo. ALSO READ | Indian netizens and politicians slam German magazine for 'racist' cartoon Bandit then observes himself in the mirror, holding his sides. “Why don’t you just do some exercise?” Bluey questions. The episode faced a backlash from body image experts who claimed that it could pass on fatphobia and weight stigmas to children. After the editing, the episode now has an abrupt starting at the previous 1 minute 13-second mark when Bandit is seen doing some exercise, while Bingo and Bluey try to turn change it into a game – in the backyard. Then, Bandit goes to the GP who compliments him that he is in “great shape” and asks if he has been frequenting the gym. “Nah,” says Bandit. “It’s been coming to me," he added. In a statement, ABC stated, “The recent episode of Bluey, Exercise, has been republished by ABC following a decision by the makers of the programme. The new version provides families with the opportunity to manage important conversations in their own way." “As the home of Bluey, the ABC supports the decision to re-edit the programme and we have updated the episode on our platforms. BBC Studios will use this revised version for global distribution and also support this decision," it added. Head of knowledge, research and policy at the Butterfly Foundation, Dr Sarah Squire tweeted, “Cartoon dogs avoiding diet culture for the win!” The foundation, which supports people with eating disorders, appreciated the ABC for “listening and responding”. WATCH | Netflix airs banned 'powerpuff girls' episode “Butterfly is thrilled that the producers of Bluey have been so responsive to community feedback in removing this problematic content. We love Bluey and are very happy with this result," the foundation said in a statement. Deakin University’s Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development's research fellow Dr Hannah Jarman said it was “great to see the ABC and makers of the programme taking the issue seriously and being so quick to respond”. “Rather than promoting and normalising negative attitudes about our bodies, we should be encouraging our children to have healthy relationships with their bodies, including engaging in exercise and movement in enjoyable ways,” she added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

ABC pulls out parts of Bluey episode after accusations of fat-shaming, fatphobia

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