<p>The Vatican on&nbsp;Friday confirmed that Pope Francis is likely to be discharged from hospital on Saturday in Rome, after receiving treatment for bronchitis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pope is responding well to the antibiotics given to cure his infectious bronchitis and his health has improved, the Vatican had earlier on Thursday said.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, the pope was admitted to Gemelli&nbsp;hospital after complaining about breathing difficulty, which raised fresh concerns over the 86-year-old pontiff's health, who is suffering from various ailments.</p>

<p>Quoting the medical team of Pope Francis, the Vatican said he is suffering from an infectious bronchitis virus which is a highly contagious respiratory disease and needed an intravenous infusion of antibiotics.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netizens-fooled-by-ai-generated-viral-images-of-pope-francis-in-white-puffer-jacket-576446">Netizens fooled by AI-generated viral images of Pope Francis in white puffer jacket</a></p>

<p>"(This) produced the expected effects with a marked improvement in his state of health. Based on the expected progress, the Holy Father could be discharged in the coming days,” the statement said.</p>

<p>The Vatican informed that Pope France spent his afternoon "devoting himself to rest, prayer and some work".</p>

<p>On Thursday the Vatican, while conforming that Francis was not bedridden, said that he said his prayers in the small chapel which was within his hospital suite.</p>

<p>"I am touched by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer," wrote the pope on Twitter.</p>

<p>However, it still remains unclear if Francis will be able to take part in any of the Holy Week events which will start with Palm Sunday on April 2.</p>

<p><strong>Cardinals to preside over Easter services</strong></p>

<p>Cardinals have been informed by the Vatican that this year Pope would not preside over Easter services and that the ceremonies would be shared out between them.</p>

<p>Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, however, said that Francis was expected to attend Easter Day's main Mass, which falls on April 9.</p>

<p>Well-wishers present in St Peter's Square prayed for the pope's speedy recovery.</p>

<p>"We hope he will get well soon and celebrate the Easter Mass," said Sister Faustina, a nun from Tanzania. "We really love him," said Sister Michaela, a nun from Congo.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Vatican: 86-year-old Pontiff recovering, working from hospital</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vatican-86-year-old-pontiff-recovering-working-from-hospital-577440/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>In his native Argentina, prayers were held for the good health of Pope Francis, where he never returned since he was elected as pope.</p>

<p>"Day by day, with intensive work, unique in a Supreme Pontiff, he wears out his life for the service of the Church," said Father Alejandro Russo, rector of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral. "That is why we pray for the health of the pope without alarm, because we know that this is a slight pause,” he added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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The Vatican on Friday confirmed that Pope Francis is likely to be discharged from hospital on Saturday in Rome, after receiving treatment for bronchitis. Pope is responding well to the antibiotics given to cure his infectious bronchitis and his health has improved, the Vatican had earlier on Thursday said.

The Vatican on Friday confirmed that Pope Francis is likely to be discharged from hospital on Saturday in Rome, after receiving treatment for bronchitis. Pope is responding well to the antibiotics given to cure his infectious bronchitis and his health has improved, the Vatican had earlier on Thursday said. On Wednesday, the pope was admitted to Gemelli hospital after complaining about breathing difficulty, which raised fresh concerns over the 86-year-old pontiff's health, who is suffering from various ailments. Quoting the medical team of Pope Francis, the Vatican said he is suffering from an infectious bronchitis virus which is a highly contagious respiratory disease and needed an intravenous infusion of antibiotics. ALSO READ | Netizens fooled by AI-generated viral images of Pope Francis in white puffer jacket "(This) produced the expected effects with a marked improvement in his state of health. Based on the expected progress, the Holy Father could be discharged in the coming days,” the statement said. The Vatican informed that Pope France spent his afternoon "devoting himself to rest, prayer and some work". On Thursday the Vatican, while conforming that Francis was not bedridden, said that he said his prayers in the small chapel which was within his hospital suite. "I am touched by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer," wrote the pope on Twitter. However, it still remains unclear if Francis will be able to take part in any of the Holy Week events which will start with Palm Sunday on April 2. Cardinals to preside over Easter services Cardinals have been informed by the Vatican that this year Pope would not preside over Easter services and that the ceremonies would be shared out between them. Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, however, said that Francis was expected to attend Easter Day's main Mass, which falls on April 9. Well-wishers present in St Peter's Square prayed for the pope's speedy recovery. "We hope he will get well soon and celebrate the Easter Mass," said Sister Faustina, a nun from Tanzania. "We really love him," said Sister Michaela, a nun from Congo. WATCH | Vatican: 86-year-old Pontiff recovering, working from hospital In his native Argentina, prayers were held for the good health of Pope Francis, where he never returned since he was elected as pope. "Day by day, with intensive work, unique in a Supreme Pontiff, he wears out his life for the service of the Church," said Father Alejandro Russo, rector of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral. "That is why we pray for the health of the pope without alarm, because we know that this is a slight pause,” he added. (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

Pope health update: Pope Francis to get discharged from hospital on Saturday, confirms Vatican

<p>"Northern lights", also called the aurora borealis, is one of the most stunning and mysterious displays of lights which is seen in the night sky.</p>

<p>Many people have to wait for years or a lifetime to see the magical northern lights, which becomes an unforgettable experience for them. This is the reason why people are often amazed by the pictures and videos of the northern lights which are captured.</p>

<p>Recently, a video was shared by the American space agency NASA of the northern lights captured from the International Space Station (ISS).</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-northern-lights-wonder-dazzles-north-america-amid-severe-geomagnetic-storm-575789">In Pics | Northern Lights dazzle North America amid 'severe' geomagnetic storm</a></p>

<p>The video was shared by the space agency on Instagram to the northern lights' green hues dancing across North America's skies.</p>

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<p>Furthermore, the curvature of Earth can be seen where the auroras meet the darkness of space in the atmosphere. The bright lights of midwest American cities' can be seen as the video moves southeast across North America.</p>

<p>The post was captioned by NASA with the lyrics of British rock band Coldplay's song "Yellow", which read, "Look how they shine for you”.</p>

<p>The space agency further explained what causes the beautiful phenomenon to occur.</p>

<p>The activity of the sun, like coronal mass ejections (ejected gas bubbles) and explosive flares, leads to magnetic disturbances that result in the display of natural light known as auroras.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Spectacular display of northern lights at the Arctic</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/spectacular-display-of-northern-lights-at-the-arctic-446648/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The energetically charged electrons which are produced from these occurrences travel to the atmosphere of Earth via solar winds.</p>

<p>When these electrons enter the magnetosphere, which is a layer of the atmosphere shielding us from cosmic and solar radiation, substorms are produced.</p>

<p>"These fast-moving substorm particles slam into our thin, high atmosphere, colliding with Earth's oxygen and nitrogen particles. As these air particles shed the energy they picked up from the collision, each atom starts to glow in a different colour-causing the brilliant ribbons of light which weave across Earth's northern or southern polar regions," they further said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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"Northern lights", also called the aurora borealis, is one of the most stunning and mysterious displays of lights which is seen in the night sky. Many people have to wait for years or a lifetime to see the magical northern lights, which becomes an unforgettable experience for them.

"Northern lights", also called the aurora borealis, is one of the most stunning and mysterious displays of lights which is seen in the night sky. Many people have to wait for years or a lifetime to see the magical northern lights, which becomes an unforgettable experience for them. This is the reason why people are often amazed by the pictures and videos of the northern lights which are captured. Recently, a video was shared by the American space agency NASA of the northern lights captured from the International Space Station (ISS). ALSO READ | In Pics | Northern Lights dazzle North America amid 'severe' geomagnetic storm The video was shared by the space agency on Instagram to the northern lights' green hues dancing across North America's skies. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × Furthermore, the curvature of Earth can be seen where the auroras meet the darkness of space in the atmosphere. The bright lights of midwest American cities' can be seen as the video moves southeast across North America. The post was captioned by NASA with the lyrics of British rock band Coldplay's song "Yellow", which read, "Look how they shine for you”. The space agency further explained what causes the beautiful phenomenon to occur. The activity of the sun, like coronal mass ejections (ejected gas bubbles) and explosive flares, leads to magnetic disturbances that result in the display of natural light known as auroras. WATCH | Spectacular display of northern lights at the Arctic The energetically charged electrons which are produced from these occurrences travel to the atmosphere of Earth via solar winds. When these electrons enter the magnetosphere, which is a layer of the atmosphere shielding us from cosmic and solar radiation, substorms are produced. "These fast-moving substorm particles slam into our thin, high atmosphere, colliding with Earth's oxygen and nitrogen particles. As these air particles shed the energy they picked up from the collision, each atom starts to glow in a different colour-causing the brilliant ribbons of light which weave across Earth's northern or southern polar regions," they further said. (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

Watch | International Space Station captures stunning view of northern lights

In Pics | Dramatic visuals emerge as Trump supporters take to streets over indictment

<p>A fugitive billionaire from China has been planning to auction "unvaccinated sperm" on a web platform filled with misinformation – a sale that is being billed optimistically by vaccine sceptics as an opportunity to buy the "next Bitcoin."</p>

<p>The sales pitch which speaks about uninoculated men's sperms being in high demand and hence, will fetch dollars, comes from a widely debunked conspiracy theory that mass infertility is caused by Covid-19 jabs.</p>

<p>Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui, who is exiled in the United States and was arrested recently for alleged fraud, has placed the sales pitch to test along with the much-hyped auction which will take place in June on the online platform Gettr.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-guo-wengui-steve-bannon-pal-arrested-in-us-for-fraud-know-his-wife-net-worth-other-details-573010">Who is Guo Wengui, Steve Bannon pal arrested in US for fraud? Know about his wife, net worth, other details</a></p>

<p>"Sperm and eggs from our fellow fighters will be auctioned on our Gettr platform between June 1 and June 6," said Guo, in a live stream in February.</p>

<p>The tycoon, who is among the people wanted in China and has close ties with Donald Trump's former political advisor Steve Bannon, said that he stored around 6,000 eggs already and a "few million sperm" from unvaccinated people.</p>

<p>"We will auction off the best sperm and eggs, including of course my own sperm," he stated, adding that they will allow trading in digital currencies and will keep it open to all ethnicities and races.</p>

<p>It is still unclear if the auction will go ahead following Guo's arrest earlier this month, who is facing federal charges of defrauding thousands of followers online by some $1 billion.</p>

<p>However, his planned sale has created a buzz on Gettr, where the supporters of the tycoon are calling it a "new era for humanity".</p>

<p>"Giving unvaccinated sperms or eggs not only is an honourable way to gain wealth but also will save the future of humanity," stated a Gettr post endorsing Guo.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | U.S. charges exiled Chinese businessman with $1 bn fraud</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-charges-exiled-chinese-businessman-with-1-bn-fraud-572509/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The post included a photo with a hand-scrawled message which read, "Unvaxxed sperm is the next Bitcoin."</p>

<p>"This auction plays off a broader false narrative that Covid-19 vaccines have harmed fertility," said John Gregory, health editor at NewsGuard.</p>

<p>"Anti-vaccine misinformers pushed that claim even in the face of an abundance of medical studies showing that the vaccines don't hurt male or female fertility,” he added.</p>

<p><em>With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


A fugitive billionaire from China has been planning to auction "unvaccinated sperm" on a web platform filled with misinformation – a sale that is being billed optimistically by vaccine sceptics as an opportunity to buy the "next Bitcoin.

A fugitive billionaire from China has been planning to auction "unvaccinated sperm" on a web platform filled with misinformation – a sale that is being billed optimistically by vaccine sceptics as an opportunity to buy the "next Bitcoin." The sales pitch which speaks about uninoculated men's sperms being in high demand and hence, will fetch dollars, comes from a widely debunked conspiracy theory that mass infertility is caused by Covid-19 jabs. Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui, who is exiled in the United States and was arrested recently for alleged fraud, has placed the sales pitch to test along with the much-hyped auction which will take place in June on the online platform Gettr. ALSO READ | Who is Guo Wengui, Steve Bannon pal arrested in US for fraud? Know about his wife, net worth, other details "Sperm and eggs from our fellow fighters will be auctioned on our Gettr platform between June 1 and June 6," said Guo, in a live stream in February. The tycoon, who is among the people wanted in China and has close ties with Donald Trump's former political advisor Steve Bannon, said that he stored around 6,000 eggs already and a "few million sperm" from unvaccinated people. "We will auction off the best sperm and eggs, including of course my own sperm," he stated, adding that they will allow trading in digital currencies and will keep it open to all ethnicities and races. It is still unclear if the auction will go ahead following Guo's arrest earlier this month, who is facing federal charges of defrauding thousands of followers online by some $1 billion. However, his planned sale has created a buzz on Gettr, where the supporters of the tycoon are calling it a "new era for humanity". "Giving unvaccinated sperms or eggs not only is an honourable way to gain wealth but also will save the future of humanity," stated a Gettr post endorsing Guo. WATCH | U.S. charges exiled Chinese businessman with $1 bn fraud The post included a photo with a hand-scrawled message which read, "Unvaxxed sperm is the next Bitcoin." "This auction plays off a broader false narrative that Covid-19 vaccines have harmed fertility," said John Gregory, health editor at NewsGuard. "Anti-vaccine misinformers pushed that claim even in the face of an abundance of medical studies showing that the vaccines don't hurt male or female fertility,” he added. 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

Auction of billionaire's 'unvaxxed sperm' taps into conspiracies

<p>United States President Joe Biden made a bizarre joke about eating ice cream before making a statement on the US school shooting incident that took place at an elementary school in Nashville in which three children and three adults were killed.</p>

<p>"My name is Joe Biden. I’m Dr Jill Biden’s husband. I eat Jeni’s ice cream — chocolate chip. I came down because I heard there was chocolate chip ice cream. By the way, I have a whole refrigerator full upstairs. You think I’m kidding? I’m not," Joe Biden can be heard saying in the video which was shared widely on social media.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-us-president-joe-biden-mixes-up-china-with-canada-in-another-gaffe-575666">Watch | US President Joe Biden mixes up China with Canada in another gaffe</a></p>

<p>The president of the United States then called the shooting “heartbreaking” and “sick” while asking Congress to do more to "stop the gun violence".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BREAKING: Outrage after President <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> said this at the start of his speech while children and adults were massacred in Nashville shooting, "My name is Joe Biden. I’m dr. Jill Biden’s husband. I like ice cream, chocolate chip. I came down because I heard there was chocolate… <a href="https://t.co/Wa7nFApjMu">pic.twitter.com/Wa7nFApjMu</a></p>
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) <a href="https://twitter.com/simonateba/status/1640444454162014222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>“It's just sick. You know, we're still gathering the facts of what happened and why. And we do know that, as of now, there are a number of people who are not going to, did not make it, including children. And it's heartbreaking. A family's worst nightmare,” said Joe Biden.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Joe Biden on Nashville school shooting: Gun violence is ripping our communities apart</strong></p>

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<p>Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie criticised Biden's “insensitive” joke while speaking to Fox News. Christie said, “To say that he misunderstood the moment would be an understatement. You know, the president is watching, you’d hope before he comes down there, the awful scenes from the shooting and the reactions of family members and friends of people in that school. And to be coming down, joking about the fact that he’s Jill Biden’s husband and looking for chocolate chip ice cream is hardly the way to start it.”</p>

<p>"There’s no way to talk about something like this except to say that for all of us who are parents, what we dread every day is the news about the health and life of our children," he stated.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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United States President Joe Biden made a bizarre joke about eating ice cream before making a statement on the US school shooting incident that took place at an elementary school in Nashville in which three children and three adults were killed.

United States President Joe Biden made a bizarre joke about eating ice cream before making a statement on the US school shooting incident that took place at an elementary school in Nashville in which three children and three adults were killed. "My name is Joe Biden. I’m Dr Jill Biden’s husband. I eat Jeni’s ice cream — chocolate chip. I came down because I heard there was chocolate chip ice cream. By the way, I have a whole refrigerator full upstairs. You think I’m kidding? I’m not," Joe Biden can be heard saying in the video which was shared widely on social media. ALSO READ | Watch | US President Joe Biden mixes up China with Canada in another gaffe The president of the United States then called the shooting “heartbreaking” and “sick” while asking Congress to do more to "stop the gun violence". BREAKING: Outrage after President @JoeBiden said this at the start of his speech while children and adults were massacred in Nashville shooting, "My name is Joe Biden. I’m dr. Jill Biden’s husband. I like ice cream, chocolate chip. I came down because I heard there was chocolate… pic.twitter.com/Wa7nFApjMu — Simon Ateba (@simonateba) March 27, 2023 × “It's just sick. You know, we're still gathering the facts of what happened and why. And we do know that, as of now, there are a number of people who are not going to, did not make it, including children. And it's heartbreaking. A family's worst nightmare,” said Joe Biden. WATCH | Joe Biden on Nashville school shooting: Gun violence is ripping our communities apart Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie criticised Biden's “insensitive” joke while speaking to Fox News. Christie said, “To say that he misunderstood the moment would be an understatement. You know, the president is watching, you’d hope before he comes down there, the awful scenes from the shooting and the reactions of family members and friends of people in that school. And to be coming down, joking about the fact that he’s Jill Biden’s husband and looking for chocolate chip ice cream is hardly the way to start it.” "There’s no way to talk about something like this except to say that for all of us who are parents, what we dread every day is the news about the health and life of our children," he stated. (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

WATCH | Biden opens statement on Nashville school shooting with 'ice cream joke'

<p>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has put the entire city of Hyesan under lockdown to find the 653 assault rifle bullets which were misplaced by the soldiers on March 7, according to a report published by Radio Free Asia.</p>

<p>The city has a population of more than 200,000 people. According to the report, Kim Jong Un asked the officials to carry out searches for the lost bullets throughout the city after the ammunition went missing when the military was withdrawn.</p>

<p>The report quoted a source who lives in Ryanggang, where Hyesan is located, as stating, "The city… will remain on lockdown until all 653 bullets are found."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paranoid-kim-jong-un-orders-increase-in-production-of-weapons-grade-nuclear-materials-576427">Paranoid Kim Jong Un orders increase in production of weapons-grade nuclear materials</a></p>

<p>“They withdrew completely between February 25 and March 10, but an extensive investigation is underway because of a loss of bullets during the evacuation process,” the report stated.</p>

<p>“During the withdrawal, when the soldiers realised they had lost the bullets, they tried to find it themselves instead of reporting it,” it further added.</p>

<p>Later, the soldiers informed the authorities that they feel it is not possible to find the bullets on their own due to which Kim Jong Un decided the entire city must be put under lockdown.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: North Korea invents underwater drone that can cause a 'Nuclear Tsunami'</strong></p>

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<p>“Last week, orders were issued to factories, farms, social groups and neighbourhood watch units in the province to actively cooperate with the ammunition-related investigation,” said the report, adding that the government authorities were "lying to spread fear among residents".</p>

<p>“They tried to put pressure on the residents by bluffing that the withdrawal was a manoeuvre related to the safety of Kim Jong Un from reactionary forces,” the report stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has put the entire city of Hyesan under lockdown to find the 653 assault rifle bullets which were misplaced by the soldiers on March 7, according to a report published by Radio Free Asia.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has put the entire city of Hyesan under lockdown to find the 653 assault rifle bullets which were misplaced by the soldiers on March 7, according to a report published by Radio Free Asia. The city has a population of more than 200,000 people. According to the report, Kim Jong Un asked the officials to carry out searches for the lost bullets throughout the city after the ammunition went missing when the military was withdrawn. The report quoted a source who lives in Ryanggang, where Hyesan is located, as stating, "The city… will remain on lockdown until all 653 bullets are found." ALSO READ | Paranoid Kim Jong Un orders increase in production of weapons-grade nuclear materials “They withdrew completely between February 25 and March 10, but an extensive investigation is underway because of a loss of bullets during the evacuation process,” the report stated. “During the withdrawal, when the soldiers realised they had lost the bullets, they tried to find it themselves instead of reporting it,” it further added. Later, the soldiers informed the authorities that they feel it is not possible to find the bullets on their own due to which Kim Jong Un decided the entire city must be put under lockdown. WATCH | Gravitas: North Korea invents underwater drone that can cause a 'Nuclear Tsunami' “Last week, orders were issued to factories, farms, social groups and neighbourhood watch units in the province to actively cooperate with the ammunition-related investigation,” said the report, adding that the government authorities were "lying to spread fear among residents". “They tried to put pressure on the residents by bluffing that the withdrawal was a manoeuvre related to the safety of Kim Jong Un from reactionary forces,” the report stated. (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

A Kim Jong Un-styled treasure hunt? N Korean city went into lockdown to find 653 lost bullets

<p>Five planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus – will be aligning spectacularly in a visual delight on March 28, offering a treat to the sky gazers.<br />
<br />
Although the line planets will glorify the sky, the alignment will also have an impact on personal lives. Speaking to WION, Astrologer and Vastu Consultant Raashi Sharma said that among the five planets which will align along with the moon, Jupiter will majorly impact the lives of people. “Jupiter has combusted because of its proximity with the sun. Jupiter impacts a person's marital life, education, wisdom and children. Jupiter, because it has moved close to the sun, is unable to unleash its power, and hence will affect various zodiac signs in different and extreme ways,” she explained.<br />
<br />
Raashi Sharma explains how the planetary alignment will impact different ascendant signs of the zodiac.<br />
<br />
<strong>Aries</strong><br />
<br />
Your income will decrease but the burden of the expense will be on a steady rise. This effect will last till April 21. Apart from monetary issues, you will face strain in personal relations like that with your father.<br />
<br />
<strong>Taurus</strong><br />
<br />
It will prove to be a highly beneficial phase. You will gain success and all your pending work will get completed. You will also find satisfaction in your relationships. You may purchase a new vehicle or property.<br />
<br />
<strong>Gemini</strong><br />
<br />
This phase will not be good for you. You will have to face a lot of tough situations and luck won't work for you. You may quarrel with your father and you will start losing faith in things. You may also face hurdles in business and your money may get stuck due to various reasons. So, avoid spending money and cut down your expenses as much as possible.<br />
<br />
<strong>Cancer</strong><br />
<br />
The phase will be absolutely amazing for you especially if you are in old age or young age pursuing higher studies. If you are planning to take a step ahead in your career and achieve success in life, this is the time for you. You will also carry out a lot of religious activities.<br />
<br />
<strong>Leo</strong><br />
<br />
You will face small issues in personal and professional relationships. You may remain under stress and find your partner dominating. Maintain your composure and do breathing exercises if you are feeling restless.<br />
<br />
<strong>Virgo</strong><br />
<br />
You will make wealth gains only if you work hard and with honesty, without getting involved in any bad karma. You may face health issues like high bp or your heart or intestines may trouble you.<br />
<br />
<strong>Libra</strong><br />
<br />
Do not take any loans and stop ignoring any underlying health issues. Any disease or health issue, which you have been ignoring for a long time, needs immediate attention. Stay alert from any hidden enemies.<br />
<br />
<strong>Scorpio</strong><br />
<br />
The phase will prove fruitful for you. You are likely to buy a property or pursue higher education. You will see a boom in the price of properties you have already invested in. In case, you are engaged in any property case, you will win for sure. Try to make donations at different places especially NGOs for elderly people.<br />
<br />
<strong>Sagittarius</strong><br />
<br />
You will be engaged in a quarrel with your family members. Try not to engage in any heated discussion and understand others' perspectives. You need to drive the car very safely and strictly avoid rash driving as the chances of meeting an accident are high in this phase.<br />
<br />
<strong>Capricorn</strong><br />
<br />
You will make instant monetary gains. You need to pay attention to your health and don't ignore any body pain you may be facing for a longer time duration.<br />
<br />
<strong>Aquarius</strong><br />
<br />
This phase will turn out amazing for you. The chances of travelling abroad are very high. You will enjoy monetary gains and fame. You may receive an award on the work front.<br />
<br />
<strong>Pisces</strong><br />
Your expenses will soar. Devote your time to religious activities and spirituality.</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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Five planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus – will be aligning spectacularly in a visual delight on March 28, offering a treat to the sky gazers. Although the line planets will glorify the sky, the alignment will also have an impact on personal lives.

Five planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus – will be aligning spectacularly in a visual delight on March 28, offering a treat to the sky gazers. Although the line planets will glorify the sky, the alignment will also have an impact on personal lives. Speaking to WION, Astrologer and Vastu Consultant Raashi Sharma said that among the five planets which will align along with the moon, Jupiter will majorly impact the lives of people. “Jupiter has combusted because of its proximity with the sun. Jupiter impacts a person's marital life, education, wisdom and children. Jupiter, because it has moved close to the sun, is unable to unleash its power, and hence will affect various zodiac signs in different and extreme ways,” she explained. Raashi Sharma explains how the planetary alignment will impact different ascendant signs of the zodiac. Aries Your income will decrease but the burden of the expense will be on a steady rise. This effect will last till April 21. Apart from monetary issues, you will face strain in personal relations like that with your father. Taurus It will prove to be a highly beneficial phase. You will gain success and all your pending work will get completed. You will also find satisfaction in your relationships. You may purchase a new vehicle or property. Gemini This phase will not be good for you. You will have to face a lot of tough situations and luck won't work for you. You may quarrel with your father and you will start losing faith in things. You may also face hurdles in business and your money may get stuck due to various reasons. So, avoid spending money and cut down your expenses as much as possible. Cancer The phase will be absolutely amazing for you especially if you are in old age or young age pursuing higher studies. If you are planning to take a step ahead in your career and achieve success in life, this is the time for you. You will also carry out a lot of religious activities. Leo You will face small issues in personal and professional relationships. You may remain under stress and find your partner dominating. Maintain your composure and do breathing exercises if you are feeling restless. Virgo You will make wealth gains only if you work hard and with honesty, without getting involved in any bad karma. You may face health issues like high bp or your heart or intestines may trouble you. Libra Do not take any loans and stop ignoring any underlying health issues. Any disease or health issue, which you have been ignoring for a long time, needs immediate attention. Stay alert from any hidden enemies. Scorpio The phase will prove fruitful for you. You are likely to buy a property or pursue higher education. You will see a boom in the price of properties you have already invested in. In case, you are engaged in any property case, you will win for sure. Try to make donations at different places especially NGOs for elderly people. Sagittarius You will be engaged in a quarrel with your family members. Try not to engage in any heated discussion and understand others' perspectives. You need to drive the car very safely and strictly avoid rash driving as the chances of meeting an accident are high in this phase. Capricorn You will make instant monetary gains. You need to pay attention to your health and don't ignore any body pain you may be facing for a longer time duration. Aquarius This phase will turn out amazing for you. The chances of travelling abroad are very high. You will enjoy monetary gains and fame. You may receive an award on the work front. Pisces Your expenses will soar. Devote your time to religious activities and spirituality. 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

Five planets alignment: Know how this rare conjunction will impact you astrologically

<p>Four human beings will fulfil their dream as they will start living under a Mars-simulated environment&nbsp;this summer, taking ahead the efforts made by engineers and scientists to make it possible to send humans to the red planet and make it a habitable place to survive.</p>

<p>The four volunteers have been part of the year-long mission under which humans are being prepared for the red planet's exploration.</p>

<p>The humans will survive in a habitat that will simulate the climatic conditions similar to what they will face on Mars when they actually set foot on the planet in the near future.</p>

<p>The 3D-printed habitat will include a kitchen, private crew quarters, areas dedicated to fitness, recreation, medical, crop growth activities and work, along with a technical work area as well as two bathrooms.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-martian-aurora-nasas-curiosity-captures-heavenly-sun-rays-on-mars-569795">A Martian Aurora? NASA's Curiosity captures heavenly sun rays on Mars</a></p>

<p>The crew will begin living in their Martian home in June this year as the most accurate data is collected by the teams during the analogue mission</p>

<p>"During the simulation, crew members will carry out different types of mission activities, including simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, personal hygiene, exercise, and crop growth," said NASA in a statement.</p>

<p>The volunteers will face environmental stressors like isolation, resource limitations, and equipment failure along with a significant workload so as to experience all possible situations the humans may have to face when they actually arrive on Mars.</p>

<p>"The major crew activities during the analogue may consist of simulated spacewalks including virtual reality, communications, crop growth, meal preparation and consumption, exercise, hygiene activities, maintenance work, personal time, science work, and sleep," said NASA in its mission brief.</p>

<p>The volunteers will spend their time remotely operating robotic elements which will be important for real crews during their Mars expedition to extend their exploration capabilities. They will also be given the responsibility of controlling a roving robot and a helicopter-like drone.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Is an alien looking at us from Mars?</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-an-alien-looking-at-us-from-mars-488132/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Three such analogue missions are being planned by the American space agency to get a better understanding of what is required to inhabit our next-door cosmic neighbour. While they are commencing the analogue mission this year, they will conduct the second mission in 2025 which will be followed up by a third mission in 2026.</p>

<p>“We’re really looking at how the crew performance and health changes based on realistic Mars restrictions and the lifestyle of the crew members. So, the lifestyle is what we're trying to simulate by setting up a realistic environment and workload for the CHAPEA crew,” said Raina MacLeod, CHAPEA deputy project manager.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Four human beings will fulfil their dream as they will start living under a Mars-simulated environment this summer, taking ahead the efforts made by engineers and scientists to make it possible to send humans to the red planet and make it a habitable place to survive.

Four human beings will fulfil their dream as they will start living under a Mars-simulated environment this summer, taking ahead the efforts made by engineers and scientists to make it possible to send humans to the red planet and make it a habitable place to survive. The four volunteers have been part of the year-long mission under which humans are being prepared for the red planet's exploration. The humans will survive in a habitat that will simulate the climatic conditions similar to what they will face on Mars when they actually set foot on the planet in the near future. The 3D-printed habitat will include a kitchen, private crew quarters, areas dedicated to fitness, recreation, medical, crop growth activities and work, along with a technical work area as well as two bathrooms. ALSO READ | A Martian Aurora? NASA's Curiosity captures heavenly sun rays on Mars The crew will begin living in their Martian home in June this year as the most accurate data is collected by the teams during the analogue mission "During the simulation, crew members will carry out different types of mission activities, including simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, personal hygiene, exercise, and crop growth," said NASA in a statement. The volunteers will face environmental stressors like isolation, resource limitations, and equipment failure along with a significant workload so as to experience all possible situations the humans may have to face when they actually arrive on Mars. "The major crew activities during the analogue may consist of simulated spacewalks including virtual reality, communications, crop growth, meal preparation and consumption, exercise, hygiene activities, maintenance work, personal time, science work, and sleep," said NASA in its mission brief. The volunteers will spend their time remotely operating robotic elements which will be important for real crews during their Mars expedition to extend their exploration capabilities. They will also be given the responsibility of controlling a roving robot and a helicopter-like drone. WATCH | Is an alien looking at us from Mars? Three such analogue missions are being planned by the American space agency to get a better understanding of what is required to inhabit our next-door cosmic neighbour. While they are commencing the analogue mission this year, they will conduct the second mission in 2025 which will be followed up by a third mission in 2026. “We’re really looking at how the crew performance and health changes based on realistic Mars restrictions and the lifestyle of the crew members. So, the lifestyle is what we're trying to simulate by setting up a realistic environment and workload for the CHAPEA crew,” said Raina MacLeod, CHAPEA deputy project manager. (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

A real-life Martian? Four humans to start 'living on Mars'

<p>A pioneering auction will be launched by Portugal in the second half of 2023 for rights to put on sale hydrogen that will be injected into the national gas grid, which some perceive as a key step to kickstart the fledgling hydrogen market of Europe.</p>

<p>As per the terms of the auction, energy group Galp Energia will sign a contract with producers to purchase hydrogen mixed with natural gas and resell it to meet the market's demand. The system has been designed to increase investment in production by providing guaranteed buyers to the suppliers.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nord-stream-leak-more-than-half-of-gas-in-pipelines-has-escaped-says-denmark-520624">Nord Stream leak: More than half of gas in pipelines has escaped, says Denmark</a></p>

<p>This would remove the requirement for multiple bilateral contracts between consumers and suppliers. The first auction for hydrogen's transportation to consumers via pipeline in Europe is being watched to see if it can resolve one of the stickiest conundrums of the sector which is balancing the producer's requirement for a demand pickup with the desire of the client of price and supply guarantees.</p>

<p>Around $76 billion have been pledged by the investors to construct green hydrogen plants, as per the Hydrogen Council and McKinsey &amp; Company, however, around $6 billion had reached the stage of final investment decision till May 2022.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Environmental impact of Nord stream leaks</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/environmental-impact-of-nord-stream-leaks-567278/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The auction has been designed to foster hydrogen technology's development in Portugal, "ensuring that there is a firm off-taker at a time when private demand is still at an early stage", said Environment Minister Duarte Cordeiro's office in a written response sent to Reuters.</p>

<p>The Portugal solution can help in resolving the "chicken and egg" situation of waiting for justifying the investment with sufficient demand, said Dilara Caglayan, who is a senior research associate for hydrogen at Aurora Energy Research.</p>

<p>“Blending hydrogen into the existing gas network could help generate demand to get the market up and running,” she added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A pioneering auction will be launched by Portugal in the second half of 2023 for rights to put on sale hydrogen that will be injected into the national gas grid, which some perceive as a key step to kickstart the fledgling hydrogen market of Europe.

A pioneering auction will be launched by Portugal in the second half of 2023 for rights to put on sale hydrogen that will be injected into the national gas grid, which some perceive as a key step to kickstart the fledgling hydrogen market of Europe. As per the terms of the auction, energy group Galp Energia will sign a contract with producers to purchase hydrogen mixed with natural gas and resell it to meet the market's demand. The system has been designed to increase investment in production by providing guaranteed buyers to the suppliers. ALSO READ | Nord Stream leak: More than half of gas in pipelines has escaped, says Denmark This would remove the requirement for multiple bilateral contracts between consumers and suppliers. The first auction for hydrogen's transportation to consumers via pipeline in Europe is being watched to see if it can resolve one of the stickiest conundrums of the sector which is balancing the producer's requirement for a demand pickup with the desire of the client of price and supply guarantees. Around $76 billion have been pledged by the investors to construct green hydrogen plants, as per the Hydrogen Council and McKinsey & Company, however, around $6 billion had reached the stage of final investment decision till May 2022. WATCH | Environmental impact of Nord stream leaks The auction has been designed to foster hydrogen technology's development in Portugal, "ensuring that there is a firm off-taker at a time when private demand is still at an early stage", said Environment Minister Duarte Cordeiro's office in a written response sent to Reuters. The Portugal solution can help in resolving the "chicken and egg" situation of waiting for justifying the investment with sufficient demand, said Dilara Caglayan, who is a senior research associate for hydrogen at Aurora Energy Research. “Blending hydrogen into the existing gas network could help generate demand to get the market up and running,” she added. (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

Portugal to hold Europe's pioneering auction for piped hydrogen

<p>An image of Pope Francis sporting a stylish white puffer jacket went viral on social media, fooling thousands of netizens into believing that it is a real image contrary to the fact that it was created using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.</p>

<p>The AI image, in which the Pope is seen donning a bejewelled crucifix and holding in one hand what looks like a coffee cup, was posted for the first time on Reddit on Friday with the title "The Pope Drip" as part of a subreddit called r/midjourney. The image was generated using an AI programme called Midjourney.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-extends-law-to-hold-lower-rung-leaders-responsible-for-sex-abuse-575700">Pope extends law ambit to hold lower-rung leaders responsible for sex abuse</a></p>

<p>Slowly, the image started circulating on other social media platforms like Twitter where the posts received hundreds and thousands of likes and many took it as a real photo. Among those who got bluffed by the AI image were various celebrities and even high-profile social media personalities.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What would be the name of the Pope Francis lifestyle brand? <a href="https://t.co/PQf8ogP3PD">pic.twitter.com/PQf8ogP3PD</a></p>
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/donmoyn/status/1639682534597443587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Reacting to the image, Model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen tweeted. "I thought the pope's puffer jacket was real and didn't give it a second thought. no way am I surviving the future of technology."</p>

<p>Shortly after the pictures went posted on Twitter, there was a sudden increase in searches for the pope, as per Google Trends.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Pope Francis: priest celibacy can be revised</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pope-francis-priest-celibacy-can-be-revised-570872/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Amongst the many puffer pictures shared, one tweet of puffer pictures was retweeted over 25,000 times till Monday afternoon.</p>

<p>The man who created the picture, Pablo Xavier who is a 31-year-old construction worker, while speaking to Buzzfeed said, “I just thought it was funny to see the pope in a funny jacket.” He added that it is “definitely scary” to see that “people are running with it and thought it was real without questioning it”.&nbsp;</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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An image of Pope Francis sporting a stylish white puffer jacket went viral on social media, fooling thousands of netizens into believing that it is a real image contrary to the fact that it was created using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

An image of Pope Francis sporting a stylish white puffer jacket went viral on social media, fooling thousands of netizens into believing that it is a real image contrary to the fact that it was created using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The AI image, in which the Pope is seen donning a bejewelled crucifix and holding in one hand what looks like a coffee cup, was posted for the first time on Reddit on Friday with the title "The Pope Drip" as part of a subreddit called r/midjourney. The image was generated using an AI programme called Midjourney. ALSO READ | Pope extends law ambit to hold lower-rung leaders responsible for sex abuse Slowly, the image started circulating on other social media platforms like Twitter where the posts received hundreds and thousands of likes and many took it as a real photo. Among those who got bluffed by the AI image were various celebrities and even high-profile social media personalities. What would be the name of the Pope Francis lifestyle brand? pic.twitter.com/PQf8ogP3PD — Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) March 25, 2023 × Reacting to the image, Model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen tweeted. "I thought the pope's puffer jacket was real and didn't give it a second thought. no way am I surviving the future of technology." Shortly after the pictures went posted on Twitter, there was a sudden increase in searches for the pope, as per Google Trends. WATCH | Pope Francis: priest celibacy can be revised Amongst the many puffer pictures shared, one tweet of puffer pictures was retweeted over 25,000 times till Monday afternoon. The man who created the picture, Pablo Xavier who is a 31-year-old construction worker, while speaking to Buzzfeed said, “I just thought it was funny to see the pope in a funny jacket.” He added that it is “definitely scary” to see that “people are running with it and thought it was real without questioning it”. (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

Netizens fooled by AI-generated viral images of Pope Francis in white puffer jacket

<p>Planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus aligned with the Moon forming an arc across Monday's evening sky, with some being clearly visible to the naked eye of humans.</p>

<p>Such an alignment is often termed "a planetary parade" and was visible to people after sunset in the west. Clear skies and a good view of the horizon gave people the best chance to see the alignment of planets.</p>

<p>Last summer, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury had come together in what was said to be a rare planetary conjunction. The best way to spot the planets in alignment on Monday was to travel away from the city's bright light to someplace with an unobstructed, clear view.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/rare-treat-for-skywatchers-all-solar-system-planets-visible-to-the-naked-eye-547558">Rare 'treat' for skywatchers: All solar system planets visible to the naked eye</a></p>

<p>The planets needed to be spotted early in the evening because Jupiter and Mercury disappeared quickly over the horizon. People got some of the best views from Scotland's northern parts and its islands due to the clear skies.</p>

<p>Astronomer Royal for Scotland's Prof Catherine Heymans viewed the spectacle from Portobello beach in Edinburgh.</p>

<p>"Planet spotting on a crystal clear night along with so many other planetary parade enthusiasts was an absolute delight!" she said.</p>

<p>Royal Observatory Greenwich's astronomer Jake Foster said that such alignments of planets are very particular to the perspective we get from Earth.</p>

<p>"The planets aren't aligned right now, they are all spread out across the Solar System but just from our perspective, every once in a while they get close enough to each other in the sky that we're able to see quite a few at once," he added.</p>

<p>Anglesey, which is situated in north Wales, has some of Europe's darkest skies.</p>

<p>North Wales' dark skies officer Dani Robertson, speaking from Anglesey, said that evening was a visual treat even after a slight cloudy haze.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: The Earth has a hidden layer. Here's what it's called</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-earth-has-a-hidden-layer-heres-what-its-called-566944/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"I'm in my back garden and I can see a very nice little crescent Moon, to the top left and just above it I can see Mars, which has a lovely red glow, and a bit lower towards the horizon there's a really bright light and that's Venus. If it were clearer, I could see all of it, the only one you wouldn't be able to see is Uranus, you'd need a telescope,” she said.</p>

<p>Kielder Observatory's Dan Pye from Hexham, near Scotland's border, said that looking at the planets in alignment gave us a perspective about where are we placed in the solar system.</p>

<p>"Over the course of the night, the distance between these objects shifts as the moon goes around us, we move a little further around the sun, and the planets continue their journeys around the sun. I think witnessing this helps you realise that connection we have to the cosmic ballet we have with other objects in just our very local space theatre,” he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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Planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus aligned with the Moon forming an arc across Monday's evening sky, with some being clearly visible to the naked eye of humans.

Planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus aligned with the Moon forming an arc across Monday's evening sky, with some being clearly visible to the naked eye of humans. Such an alignment is often termed "a planetary parade" and was visible to people after sunset in the west. Clear skies and a good view of the horizon gave people the best chance to see the alignment of planets. Last summer, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury had come together in what was said to be a rare planetary conjunction. The best way to spot the planets in alignment on Monday was to travel away from the city's bright light to someplace with an unobstructed, clear view. ALSO READ | Rare 'treat' for skywatchers: All solar system planets visible to the naked eye The planets needed to be spotted early in the evening because Jupiter and Mercury disappeared quickly over the horizon. People got some of the best views from Scotland's northern parts and its islands due to the clear skies. Astronomer Royal for Scotland's Prof Catherine Heymans viewed the spectacle from Portobello beach in Edinburgh. "Planet spotting on a crystal clear night along with so many other planetary parade enthusiasts was an absolute delight!" she said. Royal Observatory Greenwich's astronomer Jake Foster said that such alignments of planets are very particular to the perspective we get from Earth. "The planets aren't aligned right now, they are all spread out across the Solar System but just from our perspective, every once in a while they get close enough to each other in the sky that we're able to see quite a few at once," he added. Anglesey, which is situated in north Wales, has some of Europe's darkest skies. North Wales' dark skies officer Dani Robertson, speaking from Anglesey, said that evening was a visual treat even after a slight cloudy haze. WATCH | Gravitas: The Earth has a hidden layer. Here's what it's called "I'm in my back garden and I can see a very nice little crescent Moon, to the top left and just above it I can see Mars, which has a lovely red glow, and a bit lower towards the horizon there's a really bright light and that's Venus. If it were clearer, I could see all of it, the only one you wouldn't be able to see is Uranus, you'd need a telescope,” she said. Kielder Observatory's Dan Pye from Hexham, near Scotland's border, said that looking at the planets in alignment gave us a perspective about where are we placed in the solar system. "Over the course of the night, the distance between these objects shifts as the moon goes around us, we move a little further around the sun, and the planets continue their journeys around the sun. I think witnessing this helps you realise that connection we have to the cosmic ballet we have with other objects in just our very local space theatre,” he said. (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

Planetary Parade | Five planets come in rare alignment along with Moon in night sky

<p>Recently, Bollywood lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar made headlines as he claimed that Urdu belongs to 'Hindustan'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Urdu hasn't come from any other place...it is our own language. It isn't spoken outside Hindustan...Pakistan also came into existence after partition from India, earlier it was a part of India only. So, the language isn't spoken outside Hindustan," he had said.</p>

<p>“Earlier it was only Hindustan - Pakistan later separated from Hindustan. Now Pakistan said that Kashmir is ours...will you believe that? I think 'No'! Likewise, Urdu is a Hindustan(i) language and it remains (so),” the lyricist said.</p>

<p>His words sparked debates over the birth and existence of the language which has been spoken for centuries and has remained an important part of the Indian subcontinent's cultural milieu.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/javed-akhtar-says-urdu-doesnt-belong-to-pakistan-or-egypt-but-to-hindustan-571989">Poet, lyricist, screenwriter Javed Akhtar says Urdu ‘doesn’t belong to Pakistan or Egypt, but to Hindustan’</a></p>

<h2>So, where was Urdu born?</h2>

<p>If scholarly historiography is traced back, Urdu's presence can be observed in the languages of 16th-century Delhi – Hindi, Hindvi, Gujri, Dhilavi, Dakani and Rekhtah. Edward Terry, who accompanied Thomas Roe to the Mughal emperor Jahangir's court, termed the language of Delhiwalas as 'Indostan' in his work 'A Voyage to East India' (London, 1655).</p>

<p>Recalling the beauty of the language, Terry stated that it was powerful in nature and had major reflections of Persian and Arabic languages. Around 1780, &nbsp;'Urdu' was for the first time put into use as a term representing the language of Delhi by Mushafi (1750-1824) in his divan 'Kulliyat' in which he wrote, 'Mushafi has, most surely claim of superiority in Rekhta - That is to say, he has expert knowledge of the language of Urdu.'</p>

<p>In the world of literature and Mughal courts, the term Urdu debuted as 'zaban-e-urdu-e mu'alla-e<br />
shahjahanabad' (the language of the exalted city or the court of Shahjahanabad or what we today call Delhi). The terminology was soon cut down to 'zaban-e urdu-e mu'alla' and then to 'zaban-e- urdu' which meant the 'language of the camp', finally becoming the peerless 'Urdu'.</p>

<h2>How did Urdu gain prominence in the world of politics and literature?</h2>

<p>When Mughal emperor Shah Alam II (1759-1806) shifted to Delhi, his love for Urdu helped the language gain respect among the courtiers and become the informal language of the court. Describing the birth of Urdu in Delhi, literary historian and poet Azad called the language 'an orphan found wandering in the bazaars (markets) of Shahjahanabad'.</p>

<p>Soon after 1722, Urdu poetry boomed in North India and scores of poets emerged. The love for Urdu took the streets of Delhi by such a wave that even reciting of classic Urdu poetry by street urchins became a common phenomenon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The most remarkable literary renaissance of Urdu took place under the patronage of the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II in the 19th century. Delhi saw the flourishing of great love poets, from Mirza Ghalib to Mughal poet laureate Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq. In 1837, the British East India Company replaced Persian with various vernaculars of the country as the court language. The officials had identified Urdu as the regional vernacular of Oudh, Bihar, Punjab and the North-Western provinces of India, and hence, it was made the government's language across North India.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar takes on Pakistan on Pak soil, calls out their sponsored terrorism</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-lyricist-javed-akhtar-takes-on-pakistan-on-pak-soil-calls-out-their-sponsored-terrorism-564633/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>How did Urdu become Pakistan's national language?</h2>

<p>On March 24, 1948, Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in an iconic speech, stated, “In my personal opinion, Pakistan’s official language — which will become a source of communication between its different provinces — can only be one and that is Urdu. No language other than Urdu.”</p>

<p>That's how Urdu, &nbsp;once widely used in the Independence movement of India, made its presence felt to the entire nation in popular slogans (“inquilab zindabad” — “Long live the revolution”) and song (“Saare Jahaan se Accha”– “Better than the entire world”), suddenly became the national language of the neighbouring nation, post-partition.</p>

<p>This dynamic shift of language and Urdu getting designated as the national language of Pakistan raised eyebrows as there were hardly any native speakers of the language in 1947. Jinnah who was a westernised Muslim and whose mother tongue was Gujarati was he was not well-versed in Urdu. However, from 1938, he made it a point to address crowds in Urdu, even though he lacked fluency.</p>

<p>Urdu was declared as the national and official language in 1947 and 2015 respectively in Pakistan, where till now 38.78 per cent speak Punjabi, 18.24 per cent speak Pashto, 14.57 per cent speak Sindhi, 12.19 per cent speak Saraiki, 7.08 per cent speak Urdu, 3.02 per cent speak Balochi and 2.24 per cent speak Hindko.</p>

<p>The imposition of Urdu in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was seen as a major reason why the Bengali-dominated province seceded in 1971 post the Bangladesh Liberation War. Today, Urdu has become the identity of Muslim-dominated Pakistan even though it belonged to the cultural synthesis of the Ganges-Yamuna Doab in India.</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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Recently, Bollywood lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar made headlines as he claimed that Urdu belongs to 'Hindustan'. “Urdu hasn't come from any other place...it is our own language.

Recently, Bollywood lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar made headlines as he claimed that Urdu belongs to 'Hindustan'. “Urdu hasn't come from any other place...it is our own language. It isn't spoken outside Hindustan...Pakistan also came into existence after partition from India, earlier it was a part of India only. So, the language isn't spoken outside Hindustan," he had said. “Earlier it was only Hindustan - Pakistan later separated from Hindustan. Now Pakistan said that Kashmir is ours...will you believe that? I think 'No'! Likewise, Urdu is a Hindustan(i) language and it remains (so),” the lyricist said. His words sparked debates over the birth and existence of the language which has been spoken for centuries and has remained an important part of the Indian subcontinent's cultural milieu. ALSO READ | Poet, lyricist, screenwriter Javed Akhtar says Urdu ‘doesn’t belong to Pakistan or Egypt, but to Hindustan’ So, where was Urdu born? If scholarly historiography is traced back, Urdu's presence can be observed in the languages of 16th-century Delhi – Hindi, Hindvi, Gujri, Dhilavi, Dakani and Rekhtah. Edward Terry, who accompanied Thomas Roe to the Mughal emperor Jahangir's court, termed the language of Delhiwalas as 'Indostan' in his work 'A Voyage to East India' (London, 1655). Recalling the beauty of the language, Terry stated that it was powerful in nature and had major reflections of Persian and Arabic languages. Around 1780, 'Urdu' was for the first time put into use as a term representing the language of Delhi by Mushafi (1750-1824) in his divan 'Kulliyat' in which he wrote, 'Mushafi has, most surely claim of superiority in Rekhta - That is to say, he has expert knowledge of the language of Urdu.' In the world of literature and Mughal courts, the term Urdu debuted as 'zaban-e-urdu-e mu'alla-e shahjahanabad' (the language of the exalted city or the court of Shahjahanabad or what we today call Delhi). The terminology was soon cut down to 'zaban-e urdu-e mu'alla' and then to 'zaban-e- urdu' which meant the 'language of the camp', finally becoming the peerless 'Urdu'. How did Urdu gain prominence in the world of politics and literature? When Mughal emperor Shah Alam II (1759-1806) shifted to Delhi, his love for Urdu helped the language gain respect among the courtiers and become the informal language of the court. Describing the birth of Urdu in Delhi, literary historian and poet Azad called the language 'an orphan found wandering in the bazaars (markets) of Shahjahanabad'. Soon after 1722, Urdu poetry boomed in North India and scores of poets emerged. The love for Urdu took the streets of Delhi by such a wave that even reciting of classic Urdu poetry by street urchins became a common phenomenon. The most remarkable literary renaissance of Urdu took place under the patronage of the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II in the 19th century. Delhi saw the flourishing of great love poets, from Mirza Ghalib to Mughal poet laureate Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq. In 1837, the British East India Company replaced Persian with various vernaculars of the country as the court language. The officials had identified Urdu as the regional vernacular of Oudh, Bihar, Punjab and the North-Western provinces of India, and hence, it was made the government's language across North India. WATCH | Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar takes on Pakistan on Pak soil, calls out their sponsored terrorism How did Urdu become Pakistan's national language? On March 24, 1948, Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in an iconic speech, stated, “In my personal opinion, Pakistan’s official language — which will become a source of communication between its different provinces — can only be one and that is Urdu. No language other than Urdu.” That's how Urdu, once widely used in the Independence movement of India, made its presence felt to the entire nation in popular slogans (“inquilab zindabad” — “Long live the revolution”) and song (“Saare Jahaan se Accha”– “Better than the entire world”), suddenly became the national language of the neighbouring nation, post-partition. This dynamic shift of language and Urdu getting designated as the national language of Pakistan raised eyebrows as there were hardly any native speakers of the language in 1947. Jinnah who was a westernised Muslim and whose mother tongue was Gujarati was he was not well-versed in Urdu. However, from 1938, he made it a point to address crowds in Urdu, even though he lacked fluency. Urdu was declared as the national and official language in 1947 and 2015 respectively in Pakistan, where till now 38.78 per cent speak Punjabi, 18.24 per cent speak Pashto, 14.57 per cent speak Sindhi, 12.19 per cent speak Saraiki, 7.08 per cent speak Urdu, 3.02 per cent speak Balochi and 2.24 per cent speak Hindko. The imposition of Urdu in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was seen as a major reason why the Bengali-dominated province seceded in 1971 post the Bangladesh Liberation War. Today, Urdu has become the identity of Muslim-dominated Pakistan even though it belonged to the cultural synthesis of the Ganges-Yamuna Doab in India. 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: Here's why Javed Akhtar said 'Urdu belongs to Hindustan'

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