<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidIHAxs4mysXwz" /></p>

<p>For human civilisations, creating a home on Mars has been a far-fetched dream as scientists hope to make the Red Planet a habitat for humans in the future.</p>

<p>However, this dream appears difficult to achieve in the wake of brutal conditions on the planet, which experts warn can change the colour of humans and weaken their eyesight.</p>

<p>According to experts, humans will find it extremely difficult to survive on Mars amid the harsh conditions.</p>

<h2><strong>Experts warn of drastic mutations in humans on Mars</strong></h2>

<p>According to biologist Dr Scott Solomon, who is from Rice University in Texas, if human settlers on Mars give birth to children, the latter are likely to undergo various drastic mutations and evolutionary changes.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-once-lost-its-atmosphere-scientists-now-believe-they-may-have-found-it-762202">Mars once lost its atmosphere. Scientists now believe&nbsp;they may have found it</a></p>

<p>These mutations can occur because of low gravitation forces and high radiation and can result in green skin tone, weak muscles, poor eyesight and brittle bones, he said.</p>

<p>In comparison to Earth, Mars is a smaller planet and has 30 per cent less gravity than our planet.</p>

<p>There is also a lack of a protective ozone layer and magnetic field on the red planet, which exposes the planet to space radiation, cosmic rays, UV and charged particles released from the sun.</p>

<p>This kind of environment has led to the mutation of humans at extreme rates so that they can cope with the new conditions.</p>

<p>Dr Solomon explained that this can lead to changes in skin colour, which can help in coping with radiation.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Is there life on mars? Scientists find 'oceans' of water miles beneath surface</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-there-life-on-mars-scientists-find-oceans-of-water-miles-beneath-surface-749934/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“Perhaps in the face of this high radiation, we might evolve some new type of skin pigment to help us deal with that radiation,” explained Solomon in his book,<em>&nbsp;</em>Future Humans<em>.</em>&nbsp;“Maybe we get our own green men," he added.</p>

<p>He further said that lack of gravity can cause bones to turn brittle, which can break the pelvises of women during childbirth.</p>

<p>He said that eyesight can get weaker because there will be a decline in the need to look at far distances in the wake of humans living together in small enclaves.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


For human civilisations, creating a home on Mars has been a far-fetched dream as scientists hope to make the Red Planet a habitat for humans in the future. However, this dream appears difficult to achieve in the wake of brutal conditions on the planet, which experts warn can change the colour of humans and weaken their eyesight.

For human civilisations, creating a home on Mars has been a far-fetched dream as scientists hope to make the Red Planet a habitat for humans in the future. However, this dream appears difficult to achieve in the wake of brutal conditions on the planet, which experts warn can change the colour of humans and weaken their eyesight. According to experts, humans will find it extremely difficult to survive on Mars amid the harsh conditions. Experts warn of drastic mutations in humans on Mars According to biologist Dr Scott Solomon, who is from Rice University in Texas, if human settlers on Mars give birth to children, the latter are likely to undergo various drastic mutations and evolutionary changes. Also Read: Mars once lost its atmosphere. Scientists now believe they may have found it These mutations can occur because of low gravitation forces and high radiation and can result in green skin tone, weak muscles, poor eyesight and brittle bones, he said. In comparison to Earth, Mars is a smaller planet and has 30 per cent less gravity than our planet. There is also a lack of a protective ozone layer and magnetic field on the red planet, which exposes the planet to space radiation, cosmic rays, UV and charged particles released from the sun. This kind of environment has led to the mutation of humans at extreme rates so that they can cope with the new conditions. Dr Solomon explained that this can lead to changes in skin colour, which can help in coping with radiation. Watch: Is there life on mars? Scientists find 'oceans' of water miles beneath surface “Perhaps in the face of this high radiation, we might evolve some new type of skin pigment to help us deal with that radiation,” explained Solomon in his book, Future Humans. “Maybe we get our own green men," he added. He further said that lack of gravity can cause bones to turn brittle, which can break the pelvises of women during childbirth. He said that eyesight can get weaker because there will be a decline in the need to look at far distances in the wake of humans living together in small enclaves. (With inputs from agencies)

Humans may 'turn green and lose eyesight' while living on Mars, warns biologist

<p>The image of the UFO, which was shot down by the US Air Force over Canada, was released on Wednesday (September 25).</p>

<p>In the image, the unidentified cylindrical object was captured when it was hovering in the air in February 2023 before it was shot down over Canada's Yukon Territory.</p>

<p>The object had initially flown from Alaska into Canadian airspace. The "high-altitude airborne object" was first detected by the North American Aerospace Defence Command when it was flying at about 40,000 feet above Alaska.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On February 11, 2023, it was shot down by the US Air Force.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Former RCAF officer reveals details about UFO chase</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking to DailyMail.com, a former officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Rocky Swanson, said that he spoke to three active-duty members of the operational staff who were part of the UFO shootdown and heard the same story from each one of them.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-space-force-to-help-india-build-semiconductor-plant-761033">US Space Force to help India build semiconductor plant</a></p>

<p>He said that the military officers involved informed him it was difficult to keep track of the mysterious object.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, after getting close, it was "very clearly" visible that the object was a balloon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I've spoken to three different folks that were involved in that particular event," said Swanson, while speaking to Daily Mail, and added, "and their stories are all the same."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"For the most part, you're staring at a white object in a white sky, right? And so they are looking for this thing&nbsp;— and it's small&nbsp;— and they're having a hard time tracking it, because there's not a lot to track," he said.</p>

<p>"They're flying in an extraordinarily remote area,' he continued, 'trying to look for basically a needle in a stack of needles, you know?" Swanson added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There's nobody that got excited about that event within the military. It's not thought of as a big deal [...] It's legitimately a balloon," Swanson explained.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The image of the UFO, which was shot down by the US Air Force over Canada, was released on Wednesday (September 25). In the image, the unidentified cylindrical object was captured when it was hovering in the air in February 2023 before it was shot down over Canada's Yukon Territory.

The image of the UFO, which was shot down by the US Air Force over Canada, was released on Wednesday (September 25). In the image, the unidentified cylindrical object was captured when it was hovering in the air in February 2023 before it was shot down over Canada's Yukon Territory. The object had initially flown from Alaska into Canadian airspace. The "high-altitude airborne object" was first detected by the North American Aerospace Defence Command when it was flying at about 40,000 feet above Alaska. On February 11, 2023, it was shot down by the US Air Force. Former RCAF officer reveals details about UFO chase Speaking to DailyMail.com, a former officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Rocky Swanson, said that he spoke to three active-duty members of the operational staff who were part of the UFO shootdown and heard the same story from each one of them. Also Read: US Space Force to help India build semiconductor plant He said that the military officers involved informed him it was difficult to keep track of the mysterious object. However, after getting close, it was "very clearly" visible that the object was a balloon. "I've spoken to three different folks that were involved in that particular event," said Swanson, while speaking to Daily Mail, and added, "and their stories are all the same." "For the most part, you're staring at a white object in a white sky, right? And so they are looking for this thing — and it's small — and they're having a hard time tracking it, because there's not a lot to track," he said. "They're flying in an extraordinarily remote area,' he continued, 'trying to look for basically a needle in a stack of needles, you know?" Swanson added. "There's nobody that got excited about that event within the military. It's not thought of as a big deal [...] It's legitimately a balloon," Swanson explained. (With inputs from agencies)

This UFO was shot down by US Air Force over Alaska. Ex-military official reveals the truth behind it

<p>Mars once was a vibrant planet with a thick atmosphere and water bodies billions of years ago. However, now it is a cold and dry desert and with the thick atmosphere no more in sight.</p>

<p>While hunting for this lost atmosphere, two MIT geologists believe that most likely it has been hiding in the clay-covered crust of Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the study, Martian clay can store nearly 80 per cent of the initial atmosphere on the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-gravity-map-finds-mysterious-blobs-martian-dog-beneath-its-seabed-761465">Mars' gravity map finds mysterious blobs, 'Martian dog' beneath its seabed</a></p>

<p>“Around 3.5 billion years ago, the water dried up, and the air, once heavy with carbon dioxide, dramatically thinned, leaving only the wisp of an atmosphere that clings to the planet today,” stated the researchers.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How did the atmosphere of Mars get trapped?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the researchers, ancient water which trickled through the rocks of Mars may have started a series of chemical reactions and led to the conversion of CO2 into methane, which was eventually trapped in the clay of the planet for billions of years.</p>

<p>This process shares similarities with the processes which take place in some regions on Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team looked into the rock-gas interactions on Earth to understand similar processes which occur on Mars.</p>

<p>“Based on our findings on Earth, we show that similar processes likely operated on Mars, and that copious amounts of atmospheric CO2 could have transformed to methane and been sequestered in clays,” said Oliver Jagoutz, who is the study author and professor of geology at MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;China advances deadline for launch of Mars mission by two years</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-advances-deadline-for-launch-of-mars-mission-by-two-years-756739/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"We know this process happens, and it is well-documented on Earth. And these rocks and clays exist on Mars. So, we wanted to try and connect the dots," Jagoutz said.</p>

<p>Because the tectonic activity on Mars is not similar to that on Earth, the team tried to understand the origin of the clays on Mars.</p>

<p>The team, in their previous research, said that smectites are able to store carbon for “billions of years”.</p>

<p>“These smectite clays have so much capacity to store carbon. So then we used existing knowledge of how these minerals are stored in clays on Earth, and extrapolated to say: if the Martian surface has this much clay in it, how much methane can you store in those clays?” said Dr Murray.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Mars once was a vibrant planet with a thick atmosphere and water bodies billions of years ago. However, now it is a cold and dry desert and with the thick atmosphere no more in sight.

Mars once was a vibrant planet with a thick atmosphere and water bodies billions of years ago. However, now it is a cold and dry desert and with the thick atmosphere no more in sight. While hunting for this lost atmosphere, two MIT geologists believe that most likely it has been hiding in the clay-covered crust of Mars. According to the study, Martian clay can store nearly 80 per cent of the initial atmosphere on the planet. Also Read: Mars' gravity map finds mysterious blobs, 'Martian dog' beneath its seabed “Around 3.5 billion years ago, the water dried up, and the air, once heavy with carbon dioxide, dramatically thinned, leaving only the wisp of an atmosphere that clings to the planet today,” stated the researchers. How did the atmosphere of Mars get trapped? As per the researchers, ancient water which trickled through the rocks of Mars may have started a series of chemical reactions and led to the conversion of CO2 into methane, which was eventually trapped in the clay of the planet for billions of years. This process shares similarities with the processes which take place in some regions on Earth. The team looked into the rock-gas interactions on Earth to understand similar processes which occur on Mars. “Based on our findings on Earth, we show that similar processes likely operated on Mars, and that copious amounts of atmospheric CO2 could have transformed to methane and been sequestered in clays,” said Oliver Jagoutz, who is the study author and professor of geology at MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). Watch: China advances deadline for launch of Mars mission by two years "We know this process happens, and it is well-documented on Earth. And these rocks and clays exist on Mars. So, we wanted to try and connect the dots," Jagoutz said. Because the tectonic activity on Mars is not similar to that on Earth, the team tried to understand the origin of the clays on Mars. The team, in their previous research, said that smectites are able to store carbon for “billions of years”. “These smectite clays have so much capacity to store carbon. So then we used existing knowledge of how these minerals are stored in clays on Earth, and extrapolated to say: if the Martian surface has this much clay in it, how much methane can you store in those clays?” said Dr Murray. (With inputs from agencies)

Mars once lost its atmosphere. Scientists now believe they may have found it

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.</strong></em></p>

<p>The suicide note, written by the accused, who allegedly chopped 26-year-old Mahalaxmi into 59 pieces and stuffed her body parts in the fridge in the Indian city of Bengaluru, has revealed the details of the horrific crime, which left the country shocked.</p>

<p>In the suicide note, the accused has confessed that he killed the woman because he was not happy with her conduct.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengaluru-fridge-horror-suspect-who-allegedly-chopped-woman-into-pieces-hangs-himself-to-death-762028">Bengaluru fridge horror: Suspect, who allegedly chopped woman into pieces, hangs himself to death</a></p>

<p>The suicide note of Mukti Ranjan Roy was recovered by the police from a colleague of the victim - Mahalaxmi.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's what the alleged killer wrote in the death note</strong></h2>

<p>According to the media reports, the accused wrote the death note in his diary. In the suicide letter, he said, "I have killed my lover Mahalaxmi on Sept 3."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mukti Ranjan Roy further said that he had gone to Mahalaxmi's house on September 3. “I was fed up with her conduct. I fought with her over personal matters and Mahalaxmi assaulted me. Enraged by her act, I killed her,” he said, as reported by NDTV.</p>

<p>“After killing her, I had chopped her body into 59 pieces and kept them in the fridge. I have done this act after being fed up with her conduct,” the accused confessed in his diary.</p>

<p>The police had launched a manhunt for Mukti Ranjan Roy but found that he had died by suicide. Roy was found hanging from a tree on Wednesday (September 25) in Bhadrak district of Odisha state.</p>

<p>“The suspected killer had arrived at Pandi village on Wednesday and stayed at home. He left home on a two-wheeler and&nbsp;his body was later found by locals,” said the police.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengaluru-fridge-horror-police-identifies-womans-colleague-as-prime-suspect-in-murder-761890">Bengaluru fridge horror: Police identifies woman's colleague as prime suspect in murder</a></p>

<p>Karnataka Police had launched a manhunt in Odisha to find 30-year-old Mukti Ranjan Roy, who was named the prime suspect in the case after an investigation.</p>

<p>In the tragic case, the 29-year-old woman was brutally killed and her body was chopped into more than 50 pieces and stored inside a fridge in an apartment in the Vyalikaval locality&nbsp;of Bengaluru on September 21. The case had stark similarities&nbsp;with the&nbsp;Shraddha Walkar's killing in New Delhi.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/11181469"><strong><em>Get help &amp; support for suicide</em></strong></a></p>

<p><em>If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a&nbsp;suicide prevention hotline&nbsp;using the information in the above link.&nbsp;WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations.&nbsp;</em></p>


Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. The suicide note, written by the accused, who allegedly chopped 26-year-old Mahalaxmi into 59 pieces and stuffed her body parts in the fridge in the Indian city of Bengaluru, has revealed the details of the horrific crime, which left the country shocked.

Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. The suicide note, written by the accused, who allegedly chopped 26-year-old Mahalaxmi into 59 pieces and stuffed her body parts in the fridge in the Indian city of Bengaluru, has revealed the details of the horrific crime, which left the country shocked. In the suicide note, the accused has confessed that he killed the woman because he was not happy with her conduct. Also Read: Bengaluru fridge horror: Suspect, who allegedly chopped woman into pieces, hangs himself to death The suicide note of Mukti Ranjan Roy was recovered by the police from a colleague of the victim - Mahalaxmi. Here's what the alleged killer wrote in the death note According to the media reports, the accused wrote the death note in his diary. In the suicide letter, he said, "I have killed my lover Mahalaxmi on Sept 3." Mukti Ranjan Roy further said that he had gone to Mahalaxmi's house on September 3. “I was fed up with her conduct. I fought with her over personal matters and Mahalaxmi assaulted me. Enraged by her act, I killed her,” he said, as reported by NDTV. “After killing her, I had chopped her body into 59 pieces and kept them in the fridge. I have done this act after being fed up with her conduct,” the accused confessed in his diary. The police had launched a manhunt for Mukti Ranjan Roy but found that he had died by suicide. Roy was found hanging from a tree on Wednesday (September 25) in Bhadrak district of Odisha state. “The suspected killer had arrived at Pandi village on Wednesday and stayed at home. He left home on a two-wheeler and his body was later found by locals,” said the police. Also Read: Bengaluru fridge horror: Police identifies woman's colleague as prime suspect in murder Karnataka Police had launched a manhunt in Odisha to find 30-year-old Mukti Ranjan Roy, who was named the prime suspect in the case after an investigation. In the tragic case, the 29-year-old woman was brutally killed and her body was chopped into more than 50 pieces and stored inside a fridge in an apartment in the Vyalikaval locality of Bengaluru on September 21. The case had stark similarities with the Shraddha Walkar's killing in New Delhi. (With inputs from agencies) Get help & support for suicide If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline using the information in the above link. WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations.

Bengaluru fridge horror: ‘I killed my lover,’ confesses accused in suicide note, reveals shocking details

<p>In an astonishing discovery, the archaeologists found the oldest cheese spread over the heads and necks of several mummies unearthed in China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists extracted the DNA of the ancient cheese - which dates back 3,600 years - to find its key ingredients.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the analysis, it was revealed that this ancient cheese was made using kefir which is a fermented milk drink and is good for gut health.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cheese-smeared mummies were discovered by a team of archaeologists in the Xiaohe cemetery in Northwestern China's Tarim Basin.</p>

<p>The mummies were said to be dating back to around 3,300 to 3,600 years ago from the Bronze Age.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/woolly-rhino-mummy-found-in-russian-far-east-confirms-a-feature-seen-in-cave-art-759638">Woolly rhino mummy found in Russian Far East confirms a feature seen in cave art</a></p>

<p>When this cheese was discovered more than two decades ago, scientists had failed to identify it. However, advanced DNA analysis has finally helped scientists identify the substance which turned out to be cheese.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's what DNA revealed about world's ancient cheese&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In the analysis, the DNA of cow and goat were found in the cheese sample and it was confirmed that the white substance was in fact kefir cheese.</p>

<p>In the three different tombs, samples&nbsp;</p>

<p>The samples from three different tombs contained species of bacteria and fungi including Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and Pichia kudriavzevii - both commonly found in present-day kefir grains.</p>

<p>Kefir grains are a type of microorganisms which contain different species of probiotic bacteria and yeast that ferment milk into kefir cheese.</p>

<p>Speaking about the discovery, the head of the ancient DNA lab at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Qiaomei Fu said, "This is the oldest known cheese sample ever discovered in the world."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/she-screamed-and-screamed-why-was-egyptian-mummys-face-so-contorted-scientists-have-a-clue-746510">She screamed and screamed: Why was Egyptian Mummy's face so contorted? Scientists have a clue</a></p>

<p>“Food items like cheese are extremely difficult to preserve over thousands of years, making this a rare and valuable opportunity. Studying the ancient cheese in great detail can help us better understand our ancestors’ diet and culture," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is an unprecedented study, allowing us how to observe how a bacterium evolved over the past 3,000 years. By examining dairy products, we've gained a clearer picture of ancient human life and their interactions with the world," the professor explained.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In an astonishing discovery, the archaeologists found the oldest cheese spread over the heads and necks of several mummies unearthed in China. Scientists extracted the DNA of the ancient cheese - which dates back 3,600 years - to find its key ingredients.

In an astonishing discovery, the archaeologists found the oldest cheese spread over the heads and necks of several mummies unearthed in China. Scientists extracted the DNA of the ancient cheese - which dates back 3,600 years - to find its key ingredients. In the analysis, it was revealed that this ancient cheese was made using kefir which is a fermented milk drink and is good for gut health. The cheese-smeared mummies were discovered by a team of archaeologists in the Xiaohe cemetery in Northwestern China's Tarim Basin. The mummies were said to be dating back to around 3,300 to 3,600 years ago from the Bronze Age. Also Read: Woolly rhino mummy found in Russian Far East confirms a feature seen in cave art When this cheese was discovered more than two decades ago, scientists had failed to identify it. However, advanced DNA analysis has finally helped scientists identify the substance which turned out to be cheese. Here's what DNA revealed about world's ancient cheese In the analysis, the DNA of cow and goat were found in the cheese sample and it was confirmed that the white substance was in fact kefir cheese. In the three different tombs, samples The samples from three different tombs contained species of bacteria and fungi including Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and Pichia kudriavzevii - both commonly found in present-day kefir grains. Kefir grains are a type of microorganisms which contain different species of probiotic bacteria and yeast that ferment milk into kefir cheese. Speaking about the discovery, the head of the ancient DNA lab at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Qiaomei Fu said, "This is the oldest known cheese sample ever discovered in the world." Also Read: She screamed and screamed: Why was Egyptian Mummy's face so contorted? Scientists have a clue “Food items like cheese are extremely difficult to preserve over thousands of years, making this a rare and valuable opportunity. Studying the ancient cheese in great detail can help us better understand our ancestors’ diet and culture," he added. "This is an unprecedented study, allowing us how to observe how a bacterium evolved over the past 3,000 years. By examining dairy products, we've gained a clearer picture of ancient human life and their interactions with the world," the professor explained. (With inputs from agencies)

China had world's oldest cheese but it was hidden in a shockingly weird place

<p>The Sahara Desert is undergoing a rare transformation after receiving heavy rainfall. The satellite images&nbsp;show&nbsp;how unusual weather conditions and heavy rainfall are turning the arid yellow regions into green patches.</p>

<p>By the end of September, some parts of the Sahara Desert would have&nbsp;received five times the average rainfall it gets during the month. Some areas of North Africa have been experiencing too much precipitation because of which its usually arid landscape is getting flooded, reported&nbsp;Live Science.</p>

<p>The region does receive rainfall, however, the amount&nbsp;of it is generally a few inches of rain every year, as per the NASA Earth Observatory.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/central-japan-hit-by-massive-rains-floods-several-casualities-feared-760992">Central Japan hit by massive rains, floods; several casualties feared</a></p>

<p>But on September 7 and 8, the region faced an extratropical cyclone - which is a type of storm that has not been categorised as a tropical cyclone and has left behind a huge quantity of runoff water.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">An extratropical cyclone over the Sahara Desert drenched parts of Morocco and Algeria – bringing up to a year’s worth of rain to some areas. 🌧️ <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nasa</a>’s Terra satellite captured floodwaters and some Saharan lakes, usually dry, filled with water. <a href="https://t.co/cuS1c73RoA">https://t.co/cuS1c73RoA</a> <a href="https://t.co/m8Ga8G0FgO">pic.twitter.com/m8Ga8G0FgO</a></p>
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAEarth/status/1836071502384394313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) captured the heavy rain in the Sahara Desert.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">These images, captured by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIIRS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIIRS</a> onboard the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NOAA21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NOAA21</a> satellite on Aug. 30 and Sept. 9, 2024, use enhanced color to highlight rain accumulation in the Sahara Desert.<br />
<br />
Clouds are shown in light cyan, while water is dark blue to indicate moisture content.<br />
<br />
Credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/NOAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NOAA</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/CIRA_CSU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CIRA_CSU</a> <a href="https://t.co/SkFsuUPfJb">pic.twitter.com/SkFsuUPfJb</a></p>
— Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) (@JPSSProgram) <a href="https://twitter.com/JPSSProgram/status/1834581577336066148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>This is an instrument aboard two satellites which can capture the imagery of the entire surface of Earth every one to two days.</p>

<p>While comparing the satellite images, an increase in water in the region was observed after the thunderstorms. Different shades of blue were seen depending on the depth of the water and vegetation appeared green.</p>

<p>NASA Earth Observatory further reported that water was filled in one of the normally dry lakes in the Sahara Desert as per the satellite images.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why is the Sahara Desert receiving heavy rainfall?</strong></h2>

<p>According to some scientists, the heavy rainfall in the Sahara Desert has been triggered by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Heavy rains triggered floods in central Japan</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/heavy-rains-triggered-floods-in-central-japan-760985/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The air from the Northern and Southern hemispheres meet in the ITCZ which is a belt close to the equator and can carry storms. This ITCZ has shifted towards the northern Sahara this year and triggered rainfall as per the scientists.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, other experts have said that the water in the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea has turned warmer than usual which may have caused the rainfall, reported the outlet and added that it is possible for Sahara to continue receiving more rainfall in the future.</p>

<p>According to NASA's report, more than 38,000 incidents of extreme rainfall have happened over the Sahara, since the time weather records have been&nbsp;maintained. Nearly 30 per cent of that rainfall was received during the summers and some were associated with&nbsp;extratropical cyclones.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Sahara Desert is undergoing a rare transformation after receiving heavy rainfall. The satellite images show how unusual weather conditions and heavy rainfall are turning the arid yellow regions into green patches.

The Sahara Desert is undergoing a rare transformation after receiving heavy rainfall. The satellite images show how unusual weather conditions and heavy rainfall are turning the arid yellow regions into green patches. By the end of September, some parts of the Sahara Desert would have received five times the average rainfall it gets during the month. Some areas of North Africa have been experiencing too much precipitation because of which its usually arid landscape is getting flooded, reported Live Science. The region does receive rainfall, however, the amount of it is generally a few inches of rain every year, as per the NASA Earth Observatory. Also Read: Central Japan hit by massive rains, floods; several casualties feared But on September 7 and 8, the region faced an extratropical cyclone - which is a type of storm that has not been categorised as a tropical cyclone and has left behind a huge quantity of runoff water. An extratropical cyclone over the Sahara Desert drenched parts of Morocco and Algeria – bringing up to a year’s worth of rain to some areas. 🌧️ @nasa’s Terra satellite captured floodwaters and some Saharan lakes, usually dry, filled with water. https://t.co/cuS1c73RoA pic.twitter.com/m8Ga8G0FgO — NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) September 17, 2024 × NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) captured the heavy rain in the Sahara Desert. These images, captured by #VIIRS onboard the #NOAA21 satellite on Aug. 30 and Sept. 9, 2024, use enhanced color to highlight rain accumulation in the Sahara Desert. Clouds are shown in light cyan, while water is dark blue to indicate moisture content. Credit: @NOAA/@CIRA_CSU pic.twitter.com/SkFsuUPfJb — Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) (@JPSSProgram) September 13, 2024 × This is an instrument aboard two satellites which can capture the imagery of the entire surface of Earth every one to two days. While comparing the satellite images, an increase in water in the region was observed after the thunderstorms. Different shades of blue were seen depending on the depth of the water and vegetation appeared green. NASA Earth Observatory further reported that water was filled in one of the normally dry lakes in the Sahara Desert as per the satellite images. Why is the Sahara Desert receiving heavy rainfall? According to some scientists, the heavy rainfall in the Sahara Desert has been triggered by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Watch: Heavy rains triggered floods in central Japan The air from the Northern and Southern hemispheres meet in the ITCZ which is a belt close to the equator and can carry storms. This ITCZ has shifted towards the northern Sahara this year and triggered rainfall as per the scientists. Meanwhile, other experts have said that the water in the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea has turned warmer than usual which may have caused the rainfall, reported the outlet and added that it is possible for Sahara to continue receiving more rainfall in the future. According to NASA's report, more than 38,000 incidents of extreme rainfall have happened over the Sahara, since the time weather records have been maintained. Nearly 30 per cent of that rainfall was received during the summers and some were associated with extratropical cyclones. (With inputs from agencies)

Sahara Desert is turning from arid yellow to lush green. NASA captures this rare transformation

<p>Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG)&nbsp;VK Saxena has suggested India's Finance Minister&nbsp;Nirmala Sitharaman to establish a system in which the vehicle insurance&nbsp;premiums are linked with traffic violations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This would mean that the more traffic violations recorded and challans generated, the insurance premium for next year would be higher accordingly.</p>

<p>In the letter, Saxena emphasised that such a system is important to enhance&nbsp;road safety&nbsp;and promote responsible driving behaviour.</p>

<p>"I am writing to draw your kind attention to a matter of critical importance concerning road safety and vehicular insurance in India," wrote Saxena, in the letter.</p>

<p>"I would like to suggest for your consideration that&nbsp;insurance premiums&nbsp;should be index-linked with the number of traffic violations recorded against a vehicle, which would have a salutary impact on road safety and traffic discipline," he added.</p>

<p>"There is an obvious correlation between repeat traffic offences and the risk of accidents. I would therefore suggest that a layered insurance premium system based on the frequency and severity of traffic violations, as recorded in MoRTH's VAHAN database, may be introduced," the lieutenant governor explained.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/not-just-red-amber-and-green-traffic-lights-will-have-a-new-colour-heres-why-749369">Not just red, amber and green, traffic lights will have a new colour. Here's why</a></p>

<p>He said that vehicles with a history of over-speeding and dangerous driving need to be subjected to higher insurance premiums which can work as a financial deterrent and encourage safe driving habits among drivers.</p>

<p>He said that similar systems have been in place in other countries.</p>

<p>"Such measures have been successfully implemented in other countries such as the United States, where insurance premiums increase significantly based on traffic violations and speeding tickets, leading to an average premium increase of 20 to 30%," he said.</p>

<p>"Linking insurance premiums to traffic violations would not only align insurance costs with risk but also reduce the financial burden on insurers due to claims arising from frequent accidents," Saxena added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Bangladesh-India passenger traffic drops</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladesh-india-passenger-traffic-drops-758618/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"This market-driven solution would encourage responsible driving, contribute to reduced road accidents, save lives, and ensure better management of insurance claims," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>Challan-insurance linked model can reduce accidents: LG</strong></h2>

<p>India recorded more than 4.37 lakh road accidents in 2022 among which 70 per cent of cases were of over-speeding.</p>

<p>The lieutenant governor stated that if this model gets adopted in India, it can establish a new benchmark in road safety initiatives.</p>

<p>"By adopting this system, India could significantly reduce its alarming rate of road accidents. If implemented, this policy could be a pivotal step towards reducing road fatalities, preserving lives, and ensuring a safer, more sustainable future on Indian roads," Saxena said.</p>

<p><em>(With input from agencies)</em></p>


Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has suggested India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to establish a system in which the vehicle insurance premiums are linked with traffic violations.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has suggested India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to establish a system in which the vehicle insurance premiums are linked with traffic violations. This would mean that the more traffic violations recorded and challans generated, the insurance premium for next year would be higher accordingly. In the letter, Saxena emphasised that such a system is important to enhance road safety and promote responsible driving behaviour. "I am writing to draw your kind attention to a matter of critical importance concerning road safety and vehicular insurance in India," wrote Saxena, in the letter. "I would like to suggest for your consideration that insurance premiums should be index-linked with the number of traffic violations recorded against a vehicle, which would have a salutary impact on road safety and traffic discipline," he added. "There is an obvious correlation between repeat traffic offences and the risk of accidents. I would therefore suggest that a layered insurance premium system based on the frequency and severity of traffic violations, as recorded in MoRTH's VAHAN database, may be introduced," the lieutenant governor explained. Also Read: Not just red, amber and green, traffic lights will have a new colour. Here's why He said that vehicles with a history of over-speeding and dangerous driving need to be subjected to higher insurance premiums which can work as a financial deterrent and encourage safe driving habits among drivers. He said that similar systems have been in place in other countries. "Such measures have been successfully implemented in other countries such as the United States, where insurance premiums increase significantly based on traffic violations and speeding tickets, leading to an average premium increase of 20 to 30%," he said. "Linking insurance premiums to traffic violations would not only align insurance costs with risk but also reduce the financial burden on insurers due to claims arising from frequent accidents," Saxena added. Watch: Bangladesh-India passenger traffic drops "This market-driven solution would encourage responsible driving, contribute to reduced road accidents, save lives, and ensure better management of insurance claims," he said. Challan-insurance linked model can reduce accidents: LG India recorded more than 4.37 lakh road accidents in 2022 among which 70 per cent of cases were of over-speeding. The lieutenant governor stated that if this model gets adopted in India, it can establish a new benchmark in road safety initiatives. "By adopting this system, India could significantly reduce its alarming rate of road accidents. If implemented, this policy could be a pivotal step towards reducing road fatalities, preserving lives, and ensuring a safer, more sustainable future on Indian roads," Saxena said. (With input from agencies)

Delhi LG suggests FM Sitharaman link vehicle insurance to traffic challans. Here's how it will impact premiums

<p>The sudden death of Ernst and Young's (EY) 26-year-old employee Anna Sebastian Perayil has sparked a debate over the toxic work culture in some of the biggest firms in India and has raised some serious questions about work stress which can prove fatal.</p>

<p>The young generation is known to toil really hard in their initial years to land employment in the so-called Big 4 accounting firms - Deloitte, Ernst &amp; Young (EY), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and KPMG - which can be called 'dream job destinations'.</p>

<p>After signing on the dotted lines, these employees - full of excitement and vigour - take on social media platforms like LinkedIn to announce and celebrate their new jobs.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ey-employee-death-fm-sitharaman-says-colleges-should-provide-stress-management-lessons-761079">EY employee death: FM Sitharaman says colleges should provide ‘stress management lessons’</a></p>

<p>Many of them come from the middle class and have their own financial liabilities to meet which eventually become their shackles when they find themselves compromising their health, and at times even live in these "dream jobs" with no way out.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many of them finally find a way out and try to restart from scratch but some meet a fate similar to that of Anna, whose mother Anita Augustine's letter left the nation wondering if it's really worth the trouble.</p>

<h2><strong>Employees share their struggles of working in big firms</strong></h2>

<p>WION reached out to the former employees of some of these firms and tried to understand what's making it difficult for them to survive in these jobs. This is what they had to say:</p>

<p><strong>Aditi (name changed)</strong><br />
<em>On the first day at EY, I was made to work for 12 hours from 9 am to 9 pm. At work, we had to wait beyond our working hours to hold meetings with the offshore team because they would log in as per their working hours. At one point, I worked for 15 hours for three days on a stretch and had to work beforehand for all the public holidays, comp-offs or any other holidays. I suffered from anxiety attacks and faced issues in breathing because of work stress.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><strong>Namrata (name changed)</strong><br />
<em>I had to clock 65 hours a week during busy months at EY. We worked for a lot more hours on one client in comparison to the time we officially showed what we had spent on them. There was no recognition of work and we were made to feel we are easily replaceable. The work schedule was so hectic that at times I started my day at 7 am and came back by 12 am or 1 am. &nbsp;I had put on more weight, faced gastroenteritis issues and started falling sick way more often.</em></p>

<p><strong>Aastha (name changed)</strong><br />
<em>The busy months were very hectic at EY, we were clocking 90 hours a week and were putting in some extra hours which remained hidden. It was usual for the onshore team to come at odd times and we were expected to wait for their call.</em></p>

<p><strong>Harshita (name changed)</strong><br />
<em>There were no fixed working hours during the pandemic and we worked almost all the time. The maximum I had charged was 16 hours in a day which was not real working hours because we had to keep them within the budget. The managers were not very helpful and no leaves were granted.</em></p>

<p><strong>Anirudh (name changed)</strong><br />
<em>In the Big4s, you are expected to work constantly and you have to work on weekends to show your seniors that you are actually putting in the work. It was so hectic at KPMG that at times I came back at 4 am and had to leave at 8 am. There are a lot of hidden work hours because you are not allowed to log in the actual work hours in the system. In these organisations, staying late in the office is appreciated. The conditions were pretty much similar at PwC.</em></p>

<h2><strong>What went wrong in these firms?</strong></h2>

<p>The conversations with the former employees of the firms underlined some core issues prevalent across the industry which seemed to have been neglected or remained unheard for years. Some of these issues were:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>Hidden working hours</li>
	<li>Calls with offshore teams beyond working hours</li>
	<li>Overloading of clients and setting ambitious work targets</li>
	<li>Denial of leaves and even weekends</li>
	<li>No appreciation of efficiency&nbsp;</li>
	<li>No raising of voice against such norms</li>
</ul>

<p>These experiences raise some hard questions for the Big4 firms. Should such reputed companies have working environments which can push employees to the edge? Were the top management aware of these activities or was it the opaqueness of the middle management which kept them uninformed? Why were employees blindly burdened with unachievable and over-ambitious targets? Why were they silent?&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Silence among employees: A generational trauma or a societal lesson?</strong></h2>

<p>How much do we question these firms? On the other side of it, one wonders why the employees decided to remain mum over such a serious issue till Anna lost her life.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;EY Employee's Death: Are India’s Labour Laws Enabling Workers' Exploitation?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ey-employees-death-are-indias-labour-laws-enabling-workers-exploitation-wion-decodes-760449/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Speaking to <em>WION </em>about how employees are failing to save themselves from such a toxic work culture, psychologist Madhumati Dhumak said, "People tend to make unrealistic goals and fail to set boundaries with work and even with themselves. From childhood, we are taught not to say no, which makes it difficult for us to do the same when we grow up."</p>

<p>Explaining how work stress can turn killer for people, she said, "Anything that happens psychologically will manifest into physical symptoms and can lead to severe diseases like chest pain, constipation, shortness of breath, stress-induced asthma, panic attacks and even heartache."</p>

<p>So, how can the employees save themselves from the work stress and escape the burnout? "Working out, making food, finding hobbies, making realistic goals, setting up priorities and most importantly establishing boundaries" &nbsp;can work magic for those battling work stress, Dhumak said.</p>

<p>Reacting to the mother's&nbsp;letter,&nbsp;EY in a statement said,&nbsp;"Anna was a part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a brief period of four months, joining the firm on 18 March 2024. That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us."</p>

<p>The company added, "While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress and will continue to do so."</p>

<p>"We place the highest importance on the well-being of all employees and will continue to find ways to improve and provide a healthy workplace for our 1,00,000 people across EY member firms in India," the company further stated.</p>


The sudden death of Ernst and Young's (EY) 26-year-old employee Anna Sebastian Perayil has sparked a debate over the toxic work culture in some of the biggest firms in India and has raised some serious questions about work stress which can prove fatal.

The sudden death of Ernst and Young's (EY) 26-year-old employee Anna Sebastian Perayil has sparked a debate over the toxic work culture in some of the biggest firms in India and has raised some serious questions about work stress which can prove fatal. The young generation is known to toil really hard in their initial years to land employment in the so-called Big 4 accounting firms - Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and KPMG - which can be called 'dream job destinations'. After signing on the dotted lines, these employees - full of excitement and vigour - take on social media platforms like LinkedIn to announce and celebrate their new jobs. Also Read: EY employee death: FM Sitharaman says colleges should provide ‘stress management lessons’ Many of them come from the middle class and have their own financial liabilities to meet which eventually become their shackles when they find themselves compromising their health, and at times even live in these "dream jobs" with no way out. Many of them finally find a way out and try to restart from scratch but some meet a fate similar to that of Anna, whose mother Anita Augustine's letter left the nation wondering if it's really worth the trouble. Employees share their struggles of working in big firms WION reached out to the former employees of some of these firms and tried to understand what's making it difficult for them to survive in these jobs. This is what they had to say: Aditi (name changed) On the first day at EY, I was made to work for 12 hours from 9 am to 9 pm. At work, we had to wait beyond our working hours to hold meetings with the offshore team because they would log in as per their working hours. At one point, I worked for 15 hours for three days on a stretch and had to work beforehand for all the public holidays, comp-offs or any other holidays. I suffered from anxiety attacks and faced issues in breathing because of work stress. Namrata (name changed) I had to clock 65 hours a week during busy months at EY. We worked for a lot more hours on one client in comparison to the time we officially showed what we had spent on them. There was no recognition of work and we were made to feel we are easily replaceable. The work schedule was so hectic that at times I started my day at 7 am and came back by 12 am or 1 am. I had put on more weight, faced gastroenteritis issues and started falling sick way more often. Aastha (name changed) The busy months were very hectic at EY, we were clocking 90 hours a week and were putting in some extra hours which remained hidden. It was usual for the onshore team to come at odd times and we were expected to wait for their call. Harshita (name changed) There were no fixed working hours during the pandemic and we worked almost all the time. The maximum I had charged was 16 hours in a day which was not real working hours because we had to keep them within the budget. The managers were not very helpful and no leaves were granted. Anirudh (name changed) In the Big4s, you are expected to work constantly and you have to work on weekends to show your seniors that you are actually putting in the work. It was so hectic at KPMG that at times I came back at 4 am and had to leave at 8 am. There are a lot of hidden work hours because you are not allowed to log in the actual work hours in the system. In these organisations, staying late in the office is appreciated. The conditions were pretty much similar at PwC. What went wrong in these firms? The conversations with the former employees of the firms underlined some core issues prevalent across the industry which seemed to have been neglected or remained unheard for years. Some of these issues were: Hidden working hours Calls with offshore teams beyond working hours Overloading of clients and setting ambitious work targets Denial of leaves and even weekends No appreciation of efficiency No raising of voice against such norms These experiences raise some hard questions for the Big4 firms. Should such reputed companies have working environments which can push employees to the edge? Were the top management aware of these activities or was it the opaqueness of the middle management which kept them uninformed? Why were employees blindly burdened with unachievable and over-ambitious targets? Why were they silent? Silence among employees: A generational trauma or a societal lesson? How much do we question these firms? On the other side of it, one wonders why the employees decided to remain mum over such a serious issue till Anna lost her life. Watch: EY Employee's Death: Are India’s Labour Laws Enabling Workers' Exploitation? Speaking to WION about how employees are failing to save themselves from such a toxic work culture, psychologist Madhumati Dhumak said, "People tend to make unrealistic goals and fail to set boundaries with work and even with themselves. From childhood, we are taught not to say no, which makes it difficult for us to do the same when we grow up." Explaining how work stress can turn killer for people, she said, "Anything that happens psychologically will manifest into physical symptoms and can lead to severe diseases like chest pain, constipation, shortness of breath, stress-induced asthma, panic attacks and even heartache." So, how can the employees save themselves from the work stress and escape the burnout? "Working out, making food, finding hobbies, making realistic goals, setting up priorities and most importantly establishing boundaries" can work magic for those battling work stress, Dhumak said. Reacting to the mother's letter, EY in a statement said, "Anna was a part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a brief period of four months, joining the firm on 18 March 2024. That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us." The company added, "While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress and will continue to do so." "We place the highest importance on the well-being of all employees and will continue to find ways to improve and provide a healthy workplace for our 1,00,000 people across EY member firms in India," the company further stated.

Anna Sebastian Perayil: EY employee's death sheds light on how big firms turn into 'human-consuming' factories

<p>The Indian city of Mumbai has come to a standstill amid torrential rains, which led to severe waterlogging and disrupted vehicular movement across the city.</p>

<p>The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated that all the schools and colleges will remain shut on Thursday&nbsp;(September 26). The residents have been asked by the civic body to avoid venturing out of their homes and try to stay indoors.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-rains-imd-issued-orange-alert-after-brief-respite-from-heavy-rains-756064">Telangana rains: IMD issued orange alert after brief respite from heavy rains</a></p>

<p>"The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rain till 8.30 am tomorrow (September 26, 2024). In this background, keeping in mind the safety of the students,&nbsp;a holiday has been declared&nbsp;in all the schools and colleges in Mumbai tomorrow, Thursday, September 26, 2024," wrote the BMC on X.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Mumbai, till tomorrow morning 8.30am.<br />
<br />
In view of this, all schools and colleges in Mumbai have been declared a holiday for tomorrow Thursday, 26 September 2024, in consideration of the safety of students.<br />
<br />
The…</p>
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mybmc/status/1838977080857334106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Train services disrupted</strong></h2>

<p>The local train services were also affected by the heavy rainfall. The Central Railways stated that trains running between Vidyavihar and Mulund stations have been affected. However, Western Railway's Mumbai Suburban network was running normally.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Due to Heavy Rain in the Mumbai and Suburban areas and water logging in several locations between Vidyavihar and Mulund stations UP and Down slow train services are affected from (20:10),<br />
The inconvenience caused is regretted.<a href="https://twitter.com/Central_Railway?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Central_Railway</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YatriRailways?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YatriRailways</a></p>
— DRM Mumbai CR (@drmmumbaicr) <a href="https://twitter.com/drmmumbaicr/status/1838964393461395696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>At Ghatkopar railway station, the situation appeared very challenging for commuters as large crowds filled the station, which created a stampede-like situation.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ghatkopar Metro station right now. There's a chance of stampede as there's too much crowd. Avoid taking any mode of public transport right now. Today Mumbai is fucked up badly. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiMetro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiMetro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbairains?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbairains</a> <a href="https://t.co/lJFvKujbrX">pic.twitter.com/lJFvKujbrX</a></p>
— Prasad Rajguru (@PrasadRajguru1) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrasadRajguru1/status/1838962735167533279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Several areas inundated, traffic affected</strong></h2>

<p>The&nbsp;Mumbai Traffic Police&nbsp;said that the Andheri subway is closed because of 1.5 feet of water. Meanwhile, southbound traffic was diverted via Gokhale Bridge.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra: Heavy rain causes water logging in several parts of the city.<br />
<br />
(Visuals from Belapur) <a href="https://t.co/OZpuMnPFGI">pic.twitter.com/OZpuMnPFGI</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1838957212771000465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Meanwhile, various areas in Mumbai recorded more than 100 mm rainfall, which left them inundated and caused long traffic jams.</p>

<h2><strong>Flights get delayed, some rerouted</strong></h2>

<p>The rainfall also impacted flight operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An Indigo flight aborted its landing due to wind shear and had to be diverted to Ahmedabad. Around seven go-arounds and two diversions were reported by the airport officials.</p>

<p>"It's raining in #Mumbai &amp; flight schedules are impacted due to weather conditions and air traffic congestion. If you or your loved ones are travelling, you may keep a tab on the flight status https://bit.ly/3DNYJqj and allow ample travel time&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;airport," said IndiGO on X.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/6ETravelAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#6ETravelAdvisory</a> : It's raining in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a> &amp; flight schedules are impacted due to weather conditions and air traffic congestion. If you or your loved ones are travelling, you may keep a tab on the flight status <a href="https://t.co/rpnOvAOxQl">https://t.co/rpnOvAOxQl</a> and allow ample travel time to the airport.</p>
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E/status/1838966776853356601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>SpiceJet said that the departures and arrivals at Mumbai Airport (BOM) are getting impacted due to the rain.</p>

<p>"Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected," said SpiceJet in a statement.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeatherUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeatherUpdate</a>: Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via <a href="https://t.co/VkU7yLjrw0">https://t.co/VkU7yLjrw0</a>.</p>
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) <a href="https://twitter.com/flyspicejet/status/1838954661409177729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Vistara also took to X and shared information regarding the diversions of flights because of the torrential showers.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Heavy Rains Trigger&nbsp;Floods in Central Japan</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/heavy-rains-triggered-floods-in-central-japan-761145/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"Flight UK941 from Delhi to Mumbai (DEL-BOM) has been diverted to Hyderabad (HYD) due to bad weather at Mumbai airport and is expected to arrive in Hyderabad (HYD) at 2110 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates," read a Vistara post.</p>

<p><em>(With input from agencies)</em></p>


The Indian city of Mumbai has come to a standstill amid torrential rains, which led to severe waterlogging and disrupted vehicular movement across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated that all the schools and colleges will remain shut on Thursday (September 26).

The Indian city of Mumbai has come to a standstill amid torrential rains, which led to severe waterlogging and disrupted vehicular movement across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated that all the schools and colleges will remain shut on Thursday (September 26). The residents have been asked by the civic body to avoid venturing out of their homes and try to stay indoors. Also Read: Telangana rains: IMD issued orange alert after brief respite from heavy rains "The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rain till 8.30 am tomorrow (September 26, 2024). In this background, keeping in mind the safety of the students, a holiday has been declared in all the schools and colleges in Mumbai tomorrow, Thursday, September 26, 2024," wrote the BMC on X. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Mumbai, till tomorrow morning 8.30am. In view of this, all schools and colleges in Mumbai have been declared a holiday for tomorrow Thursday, 26 September 2024, in consideration of the safety of students. The… — माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) September 25, 2024 × Train services disrupted The local train services were also affected by the heavy rainfall. The Central Railways stated that trains running between Vidyavihar and Mulund stations have been affected. However, Western Railway's Mumbai Suburban network was running normally. Due to Heavy Rain in the Mumbai and Suburban areas and water logging in several locations between Vidyavihar and Mulund stations UP and Down slow train services are affected from (20:10), The inconvenience caused is regretted.@Central_Railway @YatriRailways — DRM Mumbai CR (@drmmumbaicr) September 25, 2024 × At Ghatkopar railway station, the situation appeared very challenging for commuters as large crowds filled the station, which created a stampede-like situation. Ghatkopar Metro station right now. There's a chance of stampede as there's too much crowd. Avoid taking any mode of public transport right now. Today Mumbai is fucked up badly. #MumbaiMetro #Mumbairains pic.twitter.com/lJFvKujbrX — Prasad Rajguru (@PrasadRajguru1) September 25, 2024 × Several areas inundated, traffic affected The Mumbai Traffic Police said that the Andheri subway is closed because of 1.5 feet of water. Meanwhile, southbound traffic was diverted via Gokhale Bridge. #WATCH | Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra: Heavy rain causes water logging in several parts of the city. (Visuals from Belapur) pic.twitter.com/OZpuMnPFGI — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2024 × Meanwhile, various areas in Mumbai recorded more than 100 mm rainfall, which left them inundated and caused long traffic jams. Flights get delayed, some rerouted The rainfall also impacted flight operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. An Indigo flight aborted its landing due to wind shear and had to be diverted to Ahmedabad. Around seven go-arounds and two diversions were reported by the airport officials. "It's raining in #Mumbai & flight schedules are impacted due to weather conditions and air traffic congestion. If you or your loved ones are travelling, you may keep a tab on the flight status https://bit.ly/3DNYJqj and allow ample travel time to the airport," said IndiGO on X. #6ETravelAdvisory : It's raining in #Mumbai & flight schedules are impacted due to weather conditions and air traffic congestion. If you or your loved ones are travelling, you may keep a tab on the flight status https://t.co/rpnOvAOxQl and allow ample travel time to the airport. — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) September 25, 2024 × SpiceJet said that the departures and arrivals at Mumbai Airport (BOM) are getting impacted due to the rain. "Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected," said SpiceJet in a statement. #WeatherUpdate: Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via https://t.co/VkU7yLjrw0. — SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) September 25, 2024 × Vistara also took to X and shared information regarding the diversions of flights because of the torrential showers. Watch: Heavy Rains Trigger Floods in Central Japan "Flight UK941 from Delhi to Mumbai (DEL-BOM) has been diverted to Hyderabad (HYD) due to bad weather at Mumbai airport and is expected to arrive in Hyderabad (HYD) at 2110 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates," read a Vistara post. (With input from agencies)

Mumbai rains: Red alert issued, flights disrupted, trains halted, schools and colleges closed

<p>Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called for restarting talks with the IMF "immediately" over a $2.9 billion bailout that threw a lifeline to his bankrupt country but imposed painful austerity.</p>

<p>"We plan to begin negotiations with the International Monetary Fund immediately," Dissanayake said in a&nbsp;televised address to the nation on Wednesday.</p>

<p>In his 10-minute address, Dissanayake said he also wanted to conclude a deal to restructure international sovereign bonds and secure more concessions for the cash-strapped nation.</p>

<p>"To advance our debt restructuring programme, we are negotiating with relevant creditors to expedite the process and secure necessary debt relief," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankas-new-prez-dissolves-parliament-calls-for-snap-polls-761694">Sri Lanka's new prez dissolves parliament, calls for snap polls</a></p>

<p>His call to resume talks with the IMF came after the international lender of last resort said it was ready to discuss its bailout with the new administration.</p>

<p>"We look forward to working together with President Dissanayake... towards building on the hard-won gains that have helped put Sri Lanka on a path to economic recovery," an IMF spokesperson in Washington said Monday.</p>

<p>"We will discuss the timing of the third review of the IMF-supported programme with the new administration as soon as practicable," the spokesperson said, referring to the periodic review of the bailout.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Sri Lanka: Newly-elected President Dissanayake Dissolves Parliament, Calls Snap Polls On Nov 14</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lanka-newly-elected-president-dissanayake-dissolves-parliament-calls-snap-polls-on-nov-14-761940/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Sri Lanka's 2022 economic crisis brought down the country's president at the time, but has proved an opportunity for leftist Dissanayake, who saw his popularity rise after pledging to change the island's "corrupt" political culture.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Dissanayake dissolved the 225-member parliament in which his once-marginal party had just three seats and called fresh elections for November.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called for restarting talks with the IMF "immediately" over a $2.9 billion bailout that threw a lifeline to his bankrupt country but imposed painful austerity.

Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called for restarting talks with the IMF "immediately" over a $2.9 billion bailout that threw a lifeline to his bankrupt country but imposed painful austerity. "We plan to begin negotiations with the International Monetary Fund immediately," Dissanayake said in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday. In his 10-minute address, Dissanayake said he also wanted to conclude a deal to restructure international sovereign bonds and secure more concessions for the cash-strapped nation. "To advance our debt restructuring programme, we are negotiating with relevant creditors to expedite the process and secure necessary debt relief," he said. Also Read: Sri Lanka's new prez dissolves parliament, calls for snap polls His call to resume talks with the IMF came after the international lender of last resort said it was ready to discuss its bailout with the new administration. "We look forward to working together with President Dissanayake... towards building on the hard-won gains that have helped put Sri Lanka on a path to economic recovery," an IMF spokesperson in Washington said Monday. "We will discuss the timing of the third review of the IMF-supported programme with the new administration as soon as practicable," the spokesperson said, referring to the periodic review of the bailout. Watch: Sri Lanka: Newly-elected President Dissanayake Dissolves Parliament, Calls Snap Polls On Nov 14 Sri Lanka's 2022 economic crisis brought down the country's president at the time, but has proved an opportunity for leftist Dissanayake, who saw his popularity rise after pledging to change the island's "corrupt" political culture. On Tuesday, Dissanayake dissolved the 225-member parliament in which his once-marginal party had just three seats and called fresh elections for November. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sri Lankan president calls for ‘immediate’ fresh talks with IMF over $2.9 billion bailout

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidCIbnMt9u9HxV" /></p>

<p>A gunman hijacked<strong>&nbsp;</strong>a bus along with its passengers and shot dead one person in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday (Sep 25), said the police.</p>

<p>After an hour-long wild chase by the police and the arrival of a SWAT team, the bus driver and another passenger were rescued, said the police.</p>

<p>Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Deputy Chief Donald Graham said that officers used spike strips to stop the bus, after which several people exited from it.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨🇺🇸SUSPECTED BUS HIJACKING IN LOS ANGELES LEAVES ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED<br />
<br />
LAPD has taken a suspect into custody following a suspected bus hijacking in Los Angeles, leaving one person seriously injured.<br />
<br />
The SWAT team safely removed the driver, who was uninjured.<br />
<br />
An additional <a href="https://t.co/Ex1J12x44Y">pic.twitter.com/Ex1J12x44Y</a></p>
— World Safety (@nickngei2) <a href="https://twitter.com/nickngei2/status/1838922120773980364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The police have taken into custody the gunman, however, he has not yet been identified.</p>

<p>In the press conference, Graham said that "emergency protocols" were used by the driver to sound the alarm. The driver is "in relatively good spirits, although a bit shaken up," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-adult-film-star-killed-in-nebraska-gun-violence-while-protecting-family-757209">US: Adult film star killed in Nebraska gun violence while protecting family</a></p>

<p>"This operator continued to operate the bus in as safe a manner as he could under the circumstances, with the police trailing him for an hour before the spike strips finally took effect," Graham said.</p>

<p>"So I think the world of the operator, and this individual and bus operators in general, for the job that they have to do," he added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, an LAPD spokesperson had earlier said, "[The] driver is out of the bus with the help of SWAT, uninjured".</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🇺🇸 Hostage situation in Los Angeles unfolded, the police blocked a hijacked bus!<br />
<br />
The driver was able to escape through the window.<br />
<br />
It’s unclear if there are other people inside atm . <a href="https://t.co/eA4wj0IOWp">pic.twitter.com/eA4wj0IOWp</a></p>
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1838884156220019107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The police also confirmed that an "additional victim inside the bus is being transported to the hospital" and that the CPR was in progress.</p>

<p>In a statement, LA Metro said that it was "grateful for the LAPD’s swift action regarding this morning’s bus hijacking incident and is grateful the operator was unharmed."</p>

<h2><strong>Onlookers say frantic chase looked like a scene from 'Speed'</strong></h2>

<p>The footage of the police operation was recorded by the onlookers who shared it on TikTok and YouTube.</p>

<p>In one footage, a parked orange bus was seen and police were heard saying: “This is LAPD, you’re surrounded, come out with your hands up.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US: Mass Shooting in Alabama Leaves 4 Dead, Multiple Injured</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-mass-shooting-in-alabama-leaves-4-dead-multiple-injured-761113/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>In front of the bus was parked an armoured police truck and a SWAT squad had reached the site of action.</p>

<p>As per the witness, the frantic chase of the suspect by the police across the&nbsp;California&nbsp;city “looked like the movie Speed.”</p>

<p>The incident is being investigated by the LAPD.</p>

<p><em>(With input from agencies)</em></p>


A gunman hijacked a bus along with its passengers and shot dead one person in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday (Sep 25), said the police. After an hour-long wild chase by the police and the arrival of a SWAT team, the bus driver and another passenger were rescued, said the police.

A gunman hijacked a bus along with its passengers and shot dead one person in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday (Sep 25), said the police. After an hour-long wild chase by the police and the arrival of a SWAT team, the bus driver and another passenger were rescued, said the police. Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Deputy Chief Donald Graham said that officers used spike strips to stop the bus, after which several people exited from it. 🚨🇺🇸SUSPECTED BUS HIJACKING IN LOS ANGELES LEAVES ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED LAPD has taken a suspect into custody following a suspected bus hijacking in Los Angeles, leaving one person seriously injured. The SWAT team safely removed the driver, who was uninjured. An additional pic.twitter.com/Ex1J12x44Y — World Safety (@nickngei2) September 25, 2024 × The police have taken into custody the gunman, however, he has not yet been identified. In the press conference, Graham said that "emergency protocols" were used by the driver to sound the alarm. The driver is "in relatively good spirits, although a bit shaken up," he said. Also Read: US: Adult film star killed in Nebraska gun violence while protecting family "This operator continued to operate the bus in as safe a manner as he could under the circumstances, with the police trailing him for an hour before the spike strips finally took effect," Graham said. "So I think the world of the operator, and this individual and bus operators in general, for the job that they have to do," he added. Meanwhile, an LAPD spokesperson had earlier said, "[The] driver is out of the bus with the help of SWAT, uninjured". 🇺🇸 Hostage situation in Los Angeles unfolded, the police blocked a hijacked bus! The driver was able to escape through the window. It’s unclear if there are other people inside atm . pic.twitter.com/eA4wj0IOWp — Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) September 25, 2024 × The police also confirmed that an "additional victim inside the bus is being transported to the hospital" and that the CPR was in progress. In a statement, LA Metro said that it was "grateful for the LAPD’s swift action regarding this morning’s bus hijacking incident and is grateful the operator was unharmed." Onlookers say frantic chase looked like a scene from 'Speed' The footage of the police operation was recorded by the onlookers who shared it on TikTok and YouTube. In one footage, a parked orange bus was seen and police were heard saying: “This is LAPD, you’re surrounded, come out with your hands up.” Watch: US: Mass Shooting in Alabama Leaves 4 Dead, Multiple Injured In front of the bus was parked an armoured police truck and a SWAT squad had reached the site of action. As per the witness, the frantic chase of the suspect by the police across the California city “looked like the movie Speed.” The incident is being investigated by the LAPD. (With input from agencies)

Los Angeles bus hijacking ends with wild police chase of suspect; one killed

<p>While speaking at a public rally in Jammu on Wednesday (September 25), Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, made a serious gaffe when he mistakenly called Kashmiri Pandits as "refugees from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi, in his speech, said that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had made a promise to PoK refugees, but soon realised his error. He corrected himself by saying “sorry” and changed his statement to the “promise made to Kashmiri Pandits”.</p>

<p>“Those refugees who came from PoK, the promises made to them by Manmohan Singh ji will be fulfilled… Sorry… Kashmiri Pandits…promises made to Kashmiri Pandits will be fulfilled,” Gandhi said at the public gathering.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nothing-wrong-rahul-gandhi-defends-his-remarks-on-sikhs-earlier-endorsed-by-pannun-760736">‘Nothing wrong,’ Rahul Gandhi defends his remarks on Sikhs earlier endorsed by Pannun</a></p>

<p>He then accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of snatching the statehood from Jammu and Kashmir. “Till the lieutenant governor is here, outsiders will continue to get benefits at the expense of the people of J&amp;K,” he said.</p>

<p>He said that downgrading Jammu and Kashmir to Union territory "was grave injustice with the people".</p>

<p>"We thought that the statehood would be restored before elections, and it was the right way, but they went for polls first. If the BJP did not do it for any reason, then the first job under the INDIA government will be to give statehood because this is your right," Gandhi promised in his speech.</p>

<h2><strong>BJP slams Gandhi for his 'PoK refugee' gaffe</strong></h2>

<p>However, Gandhi's gaffe of "PoK refugee" and "Kashmiri pandits" did not go unnoticed by the BJP, which slammed the Congress leader for his mistake.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi Campaigns In Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Criticizes BJP Policies</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rahul-gandhi-campaigns-in-jammu-kashmir-criticizes-bjp-policies-761280/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Reacting to the incident, BJP senior party leader Amit Malviya said, "Then Sam Pitroda wants us to believe that he isn’t Pappu anymore… a man who is the Leader of Opposition can’t distinguish between refugees from PoK and Kashmiri Pandits. The mess in Kashmir is the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru. As if that wasn’t enough, we now have Rahul&nbsp;Gandhi&nbsp;also."&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Then Sam Pitroda wants us to believe that he isn’t Pappu anymore… a man who is the Leader of Opposition can’t distinguish between refugees from PoK and Kashmiri Pandits.<br />
The mess in Kashmir is a legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru. As if that wasn’t enough, we now have Rahul Gandhi also. <a href="https://t.co/xKFhpirM2Z">pic.twitter.com/xKFhpirM2Z</a></p>
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitmalviya/status/1838910426844631078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh BJP leader Vishnu Vardhan Reddy sai, “No matter how hard you try to hide the truth, it eventually comes out”. “…Kudos to Rahul Gandhi for speaking the actual truth, even though by mistake..” he wrote on X.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">No matter how hard you try to hide the truth, it eventually comes out!<br />
<br />
Kudos to Rahul Gandhi for speaking the actual truth, even though by mistake.. <a href="https://t.co/aZpp0RNXs2">pic.twitter.com/aZpp0RNXs2</a></p>
— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SVishnuReddy/status/1838857173222166613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So basically, Rahul Gandhi is saying in Jammu that 'the Indian govt is an outsider for the people of J&amp;K, so it's an injustice for them.'<br />
<br />
But same Congress &amp; their allies always advocate for talks with Pakistan regarding Kashmir. So, for him, the Indian govt is an outsider, but… <a href="https://t.co/3SW3w7MEmg">pic.twitter.com/3SW3w7MEmg</a></p>
— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SVishnuReddy/status/1838886266617704550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Reddy, in another post, commented, “So basically, Rahul Gandhi is saying in Jammu that ‘the Indian government is an outsider for the people of J&amp;K, so it’s an injustice for them’. But the same Congress &amp; their allies always advocate for talks with Pakistan regarding Kashmir. So, for him, the Indian government is an outsider, but Pakistan is not.”</p>

<p><em>(With input from agencies)</em></p>


While speaking at a public rally in Jammu on Wednesday (September 25), Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, made a serious gaffe when he mistakenly called Kashmiri Pandits as "refugees from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

While speaking at a public rally in Jammu on Wednesday (September 25), Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, made a serious gaffe when he mistakenly called Kashmiri Pandits as "refugees from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)." Gandhi, in his speech, said that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had made a promise to PoK refugees, but soon realised his error. He corrected himself by saying “sorry” and changed his statement to the “promise made to Kashmiri Pandits”. “Those refugees who came from PoK, the promises made to them by Manmohan Singh ji will be fulfilled… Sorry… Kashmiri Pandits…promises made to Kashmiri Pandits will be fulfilled,” Gandhi said at the public gathering. Also Read: ‘Nothing wrong,’ Rahul Gandhi defends his remarks on Sikhs earlier endorsed by Pannun He then accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of snatching the statehood from Jammu and Kashmir. “Till the lieutenant governor is here, outsiders will continue to get benefits at the expense of the people of J&K,” he said. He said that downgrading Jammu and Kashmir to Union territory "was grave injustice with the people". "We thought that the statehood would be restored before elections, and it was the right way, but they went for polls first. If the BJP did not do it for any reason, then the first job under the INDIA government will be to give statehood because this is your right," Gandhi promised in his speech. BJP slams Gandhi for his 'PoK refugee' gaffe However, Gandhi's gaffe of "PoK refugee" and "Kashmiri pandits" did not go unnoticed by the BJP, which slammed the Congress leader for his mistake. Watch: Rahul Gandhi Campaigns In Jammu & Kashmir, Criticizes BJP Policies Reacting to the incident, BJP senior party leader Amit Malviya said, "Then Sam Pitroda wants us to believe that he isn’t Pappu anymore… a man who is the Leader of Opposition can’t distinguish between refugees from PoK and Kashmiri Pandits. The mess in Kashmir is the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru. As if that wasn’t enough, we now have Rahul Gandhi also." Then Sam Pitroda wants us to believe that he isn’t Pappu anymore… a man who is the Leader of Opposition can’t distinguish between refugees from PoK and Kashmiri Pandits. The mess in Kashmir is a legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru. As if that wasn’t enough, we now have Rahul Gandhi also. pic.twitter.com/xKFhpirM2Z — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 25, 2024 × Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh BJP leader Vishnu Vardhan Reddy sai, “No matter how hard you try to hide the truth, it eventually comes out”. “…Kudos to Rahul Gandhi for speaking the actual truth, even though by mistake..” he wrote on X. No matter how hard you try to hide the truth, it eventually comes out! Kudos to Rahul Gandhi for speaking the actual truth, even though by mistake.. pic.twitter.com/aZpp0RNXs2 — Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) September 25, 2024 × So basically, Rahul Gandhi is saying in Jammu that 'the Indian govt is an outsider for the people of J&K, so it's an injustice for them.' But same Congress & their allies always advocate for talks with Pakistan regarding Kashmir. So, for him, the Indian govt is an outsider, but… pic.twitter.com/3SW3w7MEmg — Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) September 25, 2024 × Reddy, in another post, commented, “So basically, Rahul Gandhi is saying in Jammu that ‘the Indian government is an outsider for the people of J&K, so it’s an injustice for them’. But the same Congress & their allies always advocate for talks with Pakistan regarding Kashmir. So, for him, the Indian government is an outsider, but Pakistan is not.” (With input from agencies)

India: Rahul Gandhi confuses ‘Kashmiri Pandits’ with ‘PoK refugees’, BJP takes ‘Pappu’ dig at him

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Prisha

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.