<p>The employees at X have been left concerned and worried about their future growth after the latest announcement made by owner Elon Musk.</p>

<p>A new rule has been introduced by Musk in which the staff is required to "justify" why they are eligible for stock options before getting their access.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This announcement was made following an&nbsp;internal meeting in June where the employees were informed that there is a delay in promotions and that the company will implement a new evaluation process with “lighter-weight check-ins.”</p>

<p>According to a report published in The Verge, a new policy has been rolled out by the Tesla owner which is more of a “throwback” than “tech-forward”.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-a-teenager-on-the-bus-with-no-headphones-should-face-arrest-warrant-says-ex-twitter-chief-749585">Elon Musk a ‘teenager on the bus with no headphones’, should face ‘arrest warrant’, says ex-Twitter chief</a></p>

<p>Musk sent a late-night email to the employees in which he announced that the stock options at X will now be given on the basis of the impact an employee has made.</p>

<p>A one-page summary of their contributions will be made by the workers to get access to the stock options.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Elon Musk raises performance bar for employees</strong></h2>

<p>The new order was given by Musk after he gave a powerful message in 2022 in which he asked the team to put all their efforts into building&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;2.0.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Musk made it clear that the employees need to work super hard and that too for a long time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In that email, X owner wrote, “Only outstanding performance will be deemed acceptable,” and stressed that for this the employees will have to work for “long hours at high intensity.”</p>

<p>The latest announcement is another setback to the team which is already seeing a lot of resignations as employees are leaving the workplace after finding it challenging to work under the leadership of Musk.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Elon Musk's Grok AI Faces Backlash over Unrestricted content creation</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elon-musks-grok-ai-faces-backlash-over-unrestricted-content-creation-753298/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>As X, which was earlier known as Twitter, continues to remain in turbulent waters, the employees are fearing a round of layoffs soon. Earlier, Musk had promised to give stock options to everyone, but now it appears that he has taken&nbsp;a U-turn.</p>

<p>Musk's companies are seeing a lot of resignations and the sales of Tesla are on a decline.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After taking over Twitter (now X) in October 2022, Musk fired thousands of its employees&nbsp;which reduced the workforce by a major margin.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The employees at X have been left concerned and worried about their future growth after the latest announcement made by owner Elon Musk. A new rule has been introduced by Musk in which the staff is required to "justify" why they are eligible for stock options before getting their access.

The employees at X have been left concerned and worried about their future growth after the latest announcement made by owner Elon Musk. A new rule has been introduced by Musk in which the staff is required to "justify" why they are eligible for stock options before getting their access. This announcement was made following an internal meeting in June where the employees were informed that there is a delay in promotions and that the company will implement a new evaluation process with “lighter-weight check-ins.” According to a report published in The Verge, a new policy has been rolled out by the Tesla owner which is more of a “throwback” than “tech-forward”. Also Read: Elon Musk a ‘teenager on the bus with no headphones’, should face ‘arrest warrant’, says ex-Twitter chief Musk sent a late-night email to the employees in which he announced that the stock options at X will now be given on the basis of the impact an employee has made. A one-page summary of their contributions will be made by the workers to get access to the stock options. Elon Musk raises performance bar for employees The new order was given by Musk after he gave a powerful message in 2022 in which he asked the team to put all their efforts into building Twitter 2.0. Musk made it clear that the employees need to work super hard and that too for a long time. In that email, X owner wrote, “Only outstanding performance will be deemed acceptable,” and stressed that for this the employees will have to work for “long hours at high intensity.” The latest announcement is another setback to the team which is already seeing a lot of resignations as employees are leaving the workplace after finding it challenging to work under the leadership of Musk. Watch: Elon Musk's Grok AI Faces Backlash over Unrestricted content creation As X, which was earlier known as Twitter, continues to remain in turbulent waters, the employees are fearing a round of layoffs soon. Earlier, Musk had promised to give stock options to everyone, but now it appears that he has taken a U-turn. Musk's companies are seeing a lot of resignations and the sales of Tesla are on a decline. After taking over Twitter (now X) in October 2022, Musk fired thousands of its employees which reduced the workforce by a major margin. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk now has a new question for his employees in X amid pending promotion: 'Justify your eligibility'

<p>In an unbelievable and miraculous escape, a pilot and passenger emerged without any significant injuries after surviving a severe crash of their light aircraft amid a busy road.</p>

<p>The powered glider of the two "stalled and nose-dived" over the A419 at around 4:45 pm (local time) on Tuesday (August 27) in Gloucestershire.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-airline-heartbroken-after-tyre-explosion-kills-two-at-atlanta-facility-753810">Delta Airline ‘heartbroken’ after plane tyre explosion kills two at Atlanta facility</a></p>

<p>After the crash, two shocked occupants were seen sitting amid the wreckage as one of the wings of the vehicle was broken off from the main body of the aeroplane.</p>

<h2><strong>Aeroplane's crash leads to major chase on road</strong></h2>

<p>Because of the crash, there were major disruptions on the road as it was closed by the police in both directions because of which long queues of the cars were seen at the accident site.</p>

<p>The emergency services reached the site to help the two people involved in the crash and the Great Western Air Ambulance's crew was called near the downed aircraft.</p>

<p>Both the pilot and passenger did not suffer serious injuries. An onlooker said that it "looked like it stalled and nose-dived into the main road".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Japan scrambles fighter jets after China spy plane violates airspace</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-scrambles-fighter-jets-after-china-spy-plane-violates-airspace-753852/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The incident occurred&nbsp;on the main road which was close to Aston Down Airfield in Frampton Mansell between Cirencester and Stroud.</p>

<p>Gloucestershire Constabulary's spokesperson, in a statement, said, "Motorists are advised that road closures are in place while emergency services are in attendance. There were two occupants on board who will be assessed by the ambulance service, and it is understood that no other vehicles were involved."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In an unbelievable and miraculous escape, a pilot and passenger emerged without any significant injuries after surviving a severe crash of their light aircraft amid a busy road.

In an unbelievable and miraculous escape, a pilot and passenger emerged without any significant injuries after surviving a severe crash of their light aircraft amid a busy road. The powered glider of the two "stalled and nose-dived" over the A419 at around 4:45 pm (local time) on Tuesday (August 27) in Gloucestershire. Also Read: Delta Airline ‘heartbroken’ after plane tyre explosion kills two at Atlanta facility After the crash, two shocked occupants were seen sitting amid the wreckage as one of the wings of the vehicle was broken off from the main body of the aeroplane. Aeroplane's crash leads to major chase on road Because of the crash, there were major disruptions on the road as it was closed by the police in both directions because of which long queues of the cars were seen at the accident site. The emergency services reached the site to help the two people involved in the crash and the Great Western Air Ambulance's crew was called near the downed aircraft. Both the pilot and passenger did not suffer serious injuries. An onlooker said that it "looked like it stalled and nose-dived into the main road". Watch: Japan scrambles fighter jets after China spy plane violates airspace The incident occurred on the main road which was close to Aston Down Airfield in Frampton Mansell between Cirencester and Stroud. Gloucestershire Constabulary's spokesperson, in a statement, said, "Motorists are advised that road closures are in place while emergency services are in attendance. There were two occupants on board who will be assessed by the ambulance service, and it is understood that no other vehicles were involved." (With inputs from agencies)

Light aircraft with pilot and passenger crashes on a busy road, but both have a miraculous escape

<p>A travel influence was brutally slammed on social media when she posted her 'fangirl moment' with Taliban fighters whom she met during her trip to Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The image was posted soon after a woman was sentenced to death by stoning in the country and the basic rights of many women and girls were denied by the Taliban.</p>

<p>Somali American influencer Marian Abdi, whose online name is Geenyada Madow, was criticised when she posted the image and said that visiting the country was a “dream come true", reported Afghan newspaper 8AM Media.</p>

<p>“This country is recovering from 40 years of war and turmoil. Over the next few days, I will share my experiences here in Afghanistan, including insights into the people, the food, and the overall culture,” the influencer wrote in her post and shared her photo in front of an “I heart Afghanistan” sign.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Met with the Tali*an 🇦🇫 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/afghan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#afghan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kabul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kabul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/travel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#travel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/explore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#explore</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/viral?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#viral</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/viral2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#viral2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/EidJwZ0y0y">pic.twitter.com/EidJwZ0y0y</a></p>
— Geenyada Madow (@GeenyadaM) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeenyadaM/status/1825261122535965183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The backlash turned severe when she posted her smiling photo with Taliban fighters who were holding AK-47s.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-reject-uns-criticism-over-vice-and-virtue-laws-urge-their-thorough-understanding-753711">Taliban reject UN's criticism of vice and virtue laws, urge 'acknowledgement of Islamic values'</a></p>

<p>Defending her photo after the backlash, Abdi said, “I ended up asking for a photo and I did take a photo with them and I posted it on Twitter and it’s just outrage — like people are going crazy, [saying] ‘Shame on you, you’re against women’s rights, women’s education, women’s jobs.' That’s not the case — this photo was just to simply say this is my experience, this is what I saw, this is how they treated me."</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how social media users and activists reacted to the photo</strong></h2>

<p>Commenting on the photo, a user said, "That's a level of foreign privilege, tbh. While they oppress women, who would never be invited to show their faces in a photo with them."</p>

<p>"Anything for likes and retweets. So shameful," wrote another user Ali Rehman Malik.</p>

<p>"I'm so confused. These same men, you stand by smiling like you won a prize, restrict their women from doing exactly what you're doing. Travelling, blogging, being educated, working, travelling! If u lived in Afghanistan u would be at home asking for permission to even step outside!" said a third user.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Taliban issue a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taliban-issue-a-ban-on-womens-voices-and-bare-faces-in-public-752828/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Meanwhile, the activists asked her to question the Taliban over the atrocities they have unleashed on women.</p>

<p>“ln a time when Afghan girls and women are deprived of their most basic rights, it is deeply troubling and unacceptable to see someone like Geenyada Madow, who has gone to Afghanistan and lobbies for the Taliban,” said Niloofar Naeimi, who is a human rights activist on Afghan women’s issues.</p>

<p>“This action disregards the suffering and pain of millions of Afghan women who face oppression and persecution under the Taliban’s rule,” she said.</p>

<p>Another activist Nilofar Ayoubi said, “An Afghan woman has been sentenced to be executed by stoning death while Miss Madow fangirling on the Taliban. While her visit to Afghanistan and her content creation about our country and culture are highly appreciated, what is not welcomed and, in fact, appalling, is the picture she’s painting of the Taliban!”&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A travel influence was brutally slammed on social media when she posted her 'fangirl moment' with Taliban fighters whom she met during her trip to Afghanistan. The image was posted soon after a woman was sentenced to death by stoning in the country and the basic rights of many women and girls were denied by the Taliban.

A travel influence was brutally slammed on social media when she posted her 'fangirl moment' with Taliban fighters whom she met during her trip to Afghanistan. The image was posted soon after a woman was sentenced to death by stoning in the country and the basic rights of many women and girls were denied by the Taliban. Somali American influencer Marian Abdi, whose online name is Geenyada Madow, was criticised when she posted the image and said that visiting the country was a “dream come true", reported Afghan newspaper 8AM Media. “This country is recovering from 40 years of war and turmoil. Over the next few days, I will share my experiences here in Afghanistan, including insights into the people, the food, and the overall culture,” the influencer wrote in her post and shared her photo in front of an “I heart Afghanistan” sign. Met with the Tali*an 🇦🇫 #Afghanistan #afghan #kabul #travel #explore #viral #viral2024 pic.twitter.com/EidJwZ0y0y — Geenyada Madow (@GeenyadaM) August 18, 2024 × The backlash turned severe when she posted her smiling photo with Taliban fighters who were holding AK-47s. Also Read: Taliban reject UN's criticism of vice and virtue laws, urge 'acknowledgement of Islamic values' Defending her photo after the backlash, Abdi said, “I ended up asking for a photo and I did take a photo with them and I posted it on Twitter and it’s just outrage — like people are going crazy, [saying] ‘Shame on you, you’re against women’s rights, women’s education, women’s jobs.' That’s not the case — this photo was just to simply say this is my experience, this is what I saw, this is how they treated me." Here's how social media users and activists reacted to the photo Commenting on the photo, a user said, "That's a level of foreign privilege, tbh. While they oppress women, who would never be invited to show their faces in a photo with them." "Anything for likes and retweets. So shameful," wrote another user Ali Rehman Malik. "I'm so confused. These same men, you stand by smiling like you won a prize, restrict their women from doing exactly what you're doing. Travelling, blogging, being educated, working, travelling! If u lived in Afghanistan u would be at home asking for permission to even step outside!" said a third user. Watch: Taliban issue a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public Meanwhile, the activists asked her to question the Taliban over the atrocities they have unleashed on women. “ln a time when Afghan girls and women are deprived of their most basic rights, it is deeply troubling and unacceptable to see someone like Geenyada Madow, who has gone to Afghanistan and lobbies for the Taliban,” said Niloofar Naeimi, who is a human rights activist on Afghan women’s issues. “This action disregards the suffering and pain of millions of Afghan women who face oppression and persecution under the Taliban’s rule,” she said. Another activist Nilofar Ayoubi said, “An Afghan woman has been sentenced to be executed by stoning death while Miss Madow fangirling on the Taliban. While her visit to Afghanistan and her content creation about our country and culture are highly appreciated, what is not welcomed and, in fact, appalling, is the picture she’s painting of the Taliban!” (With inputs from agencies)

Travel influencer's fangirl moment with Taliban fighters goes viral, netizens call it 'shameful'

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<p>Astronomers have made a record-breaking, shining discovery with the help of the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) by spotting the brightest quasar ever found, which is now being called the most luminous cosmic object in space.</p>

<p>Quasars are the shining cores of distant galaxies that get their powers from the supermassive black holes.</p>

<p>The reason why this quasar is shining brightest is because its black hole is growing mass and has emerged as the fastest-growing black hole to have been found to date.</p>

<p>The matter is collected from the surroundings by such black holes through a process that is so energetic that it releases vast amounts of light.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-mantle-is-hosting-strange-black-holes-with-mysterious-waves-heres-what-they-are-753231">Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are</a></p>

<p>The light released is so high in amount that some of the quasars turn out to be the brightest objects in our sky.</p>

<p>Generally, the most luminous quasars are just indications of the fastest-growing supermassive black holes lurking in space.</p>

<p>“We have discovered the fastest-growing black hole known to date. It has a mass of 17 billion Suns, and eats just over a Sun per day. This makes it the most luminous object in the known Universe,” said Christian Wolf, who is the lead author of the study published in&nbsp;Nature Astronomy and an astronomer at the Australian National University (ANU).</p>

<h2><strong>How the supermassive black hole is making quasar shine</strong></h2>

<p>The quasar, which is known as J0529-4351, is so distant from Earth that its light travelled over 12 billion years to reach our planet.</p>

<p>The matter which is getting pulled into its black hole, like a disc, has been emitting too much energy, because of which the quasar is more than 500 trillion times more luminous in comparison to the Sun.</p>

<p>“All this light comes from a hot accretion disc that measures seven light-years in diameter — this must be the largest accretion disc in the Universe<em>,</em>" said ANU PhD student and co-author Samuel Lai.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Black hole 'moons' may signal advanced alien life</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/black-hole-moons-may-signal-advanced-alien-life-753773/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>This quasar was hiding in plain sight till it was found. “It is a surprise that it has remained unknown until today, when we already know about a million less impressive quasars. It has literally been staring us in the face until now,” said co-author Christopher Onken, an astronomer at ANU.</p>

<p>He said that this cosmic object appeared in images from the ESO Schmidt Southern Sky Survey, which date back to 1980, but was not recognised as a quasar till decades later.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Astronomers have made a record-breaking, shining discovery with the help of the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) by spotting the brightest quasar ever found, which is now being called the most luminous cosmic object in space.

Astronomers have made a record-breaking, shining discovery with the help of the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) by spotting the brightest quasar ever found, which is now being called the most luminous cosmic object in space. Quasars are the shining cores of distant galaxies that get their powers from the supermassive black holes. The reason why this quasar is shining brightest is because its black hole is growing mass and has emerged as the fastest-growing black hole to have been found to date. The matter is collected from the surroundings by such black holes through a process that is so energetic that it releases vast amounts of light. Also Read: Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are The light released is so high in amount that some of the quasars turn out to be the brightest objects in our sky. Generally, the most luminous quasars are just indications of the fastest-growing supermassive black holes lurking in space. “We have discovered the fastest-growing black hole known to date. It has a mass of 17 billion Suns, and eats just over a Sun per day. This makes it the most luminous object in the known Universe,” said Christian Wolf, who is the lead author of the study published in Nature Astronomy and an astronomer at the Australian National University (ANU). How the supermassive black hole is making quasar shine The quasar, which is known as J0529-4351, is so distant from Earth that its light travelled over 12 billion years to reach our planet. The matter which is getting pulled into its black hole, like a disc, has been emitting too much energy, because of which the quasar is more than 500 trillion times more luminous in comparison to the Sun. “All this light comes from a hot accretion disc that measures seven light-years in diameter — this must be the largest accretion disc in the Universe," said ANU PhD student and co-author Samuel Lai. Watch: Black hole 'moons' may signal advanced alien life This quasar was hiding in plain sight till it was found. “It is a surprise that it has remained unknown until today, when we already know about a million less impressive quasars. It has literally been staring us in the face until now,” said co-author Christopher Onken, an astronomer at ANU. He said that this cosmic object appeared in images from the ESO Schmidt Southern Sky Survey, which date back to 1980, but was not recognised as a quasar till decades later. (With inputs from agencies)

This galaxy's core is 500 trillion times more luminous than Sun. It's not getting powered by a star but...

<p>An invasive South American piranha, which had "sharp human teeth" was caught by a Texas angler at a local lake on Sunday (Aug&nbsp;25).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fish, which has been dubbed a pacu, was found at Lake Meredith in Sanford and currently has been kept at the Lake Meredith Aquatic &amp; Wildlife Museum. A video of the fish was posted by the museum on Facebook.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/doomsday-fish-appears-in-california-two-days-later-earthquake-hits-la-752717">'Doomsday fish' appears in California. Two days later, earthquake hits LA</a></p>

<p>As per the post, the fish belongs to the freshwater bodies of South America and is closely associated with the carnivorous piranha, which is generally vegetarian.</p>

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<p>The red and silver panfish consumes nuts and berries because of which its chompers “look similar to human teeth”, as per the Facebook post.</p>

<p>Wildlife museum staffers said that the pacu was “released into Meredith by someone who may have owned it as a pet.”</p>

<p>“Pacu are vegetarians and have teeth that look similar to human teeth,” wrote the Lake Meredith Aquatic &amp; Wildlife Museum on their site.</p>

<p>The species - which is 6.5 inches long and weighs almost 88 pounds - can outgrow aquariums rapidly which prompts owners to release them and leave them in the wild.</p>

<h2><strong>All about pacu - the herbivorous invader fish</strong></h2>

<p>They first introduced the pacu in the 1980s “by means of aquarium releases,” according to the US Department of Agriculture, which states that some of them are likely to have escaped aquaculture facilities.</p>

<p>The herbivorous invader since then has remained caught in 47 states. An 11-year-old in Oklahoma last August found a pacu in a pond which was behind the house of his family.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Switzerland offering $58,000 to fish out ammunition from Lakes</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/switzerland-offering-58000-to-fish-out-ammunition-from-lakes-752071/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The species fortunately has not been able to establish any “reproducing populations here” and how the release of pacu impacts the scenario is currently unknown.</p>

<p>The critter has also been found in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Mexico, China, the Philippines and other parts of Asia. In an episode of the Animal Planet show “River Monsters", the species was featured and was blamed for biting the genitals of unsuspecting swimmers and killing them.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An invasive South American piranha, which had "sharp human teeth" was caught by a Texas angler at a local lake on Sunday (Aug 25). The fish, which has been dubbed a pacu, was found at Lake Meredith in Sanford and currently has been kept at the Lake Meredith Aquatic & Wildlife Museum.

An invasive South American piranha, which had "sharp human teeth" was caught by a Texas angler at a local lake on Sunday (Aug 25). The fish, which has been dubbed a pacu, was found at Lake Meredith in Sanford and currently has been kept at the Lake Meredith Aquatic & Wildlife Museum. A video of the fish was posted by the museum on Facebook. Also Read: 'Doomsday fish' appears in California. Two days later, earthquake hits LA As per the post, the fish belongs to the freshwater bodies of South America and is closely associated with the carnivorous piranha, which is generally vegetarian. × The red and silver panfish consumes nuts and berries because of which its chompers “look similar to human teeth”, as per the Facebook post. Wildlife museum staffers said that the pacu was “released into Meredith by someone who may have owned it as a pet.” “Pacu are vegetarians and have teeth that look similar to human teeth,” wrote the Lake Meredith Aquatic & Wildlife Museum on their site. The species - which is 6.5 inches long and weighs almost 88 pounds - can outgrow aquariums rapidly which prompts owners to release them and leave them in the wild. All about pacu - the herbivorous invader fish They first introduced the pacu in the 1980s “by means of aquarium releases,” according to the US Department of Agriculture, which states that some of them are likely to have escaped aquaculture facilities. The herbivorous invader since then has remained caught in 47 states. An 11-year-old in Oklahoma last August found a pacu in a pond which was behind the house of his family. Watch: Switzerland offering $58,000 to fish out ammunition from Lakes The species fortunately has not been able to establish any “reproducing populations here” and how the release of pacu impacts the scenario is currently unknown. The critter has also been found in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Mexico, China, the Philippines and other parts of Asia. In an episode of the Animal Planet show “River Monsters", the species was featured and was blamed for biting the genitals of unsuspecting swimmers and killing them. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Weird fish with 'sharp human teeth' appears in Lake Meredith, US

<p>The Earth started rotating at a dramatically slow speed twice in the last hundreds of millions of years and one of those times was when the biggest mass extinction took place, as per the latest study.</p>

<p>The other time it slowed was when rapid expansion of life took place on the planet, which was called the Cambrian explosion, said the Chinese scientists-led team.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-mantle-is-hosting-strange-black-holes-with-mysterious-waves-heres-what-they-are-753231">Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are</a></p>

<p>Even though the world appears to rotate at a constant speed, the exact timing can change and does not remain precisely 24 hours.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why did the Earth's rotation slow down?</strong></h2>

<p>The changes in gravity happen because of variations in the distance between the Earth and the moon and are known to cause ocean tides, however, the friction between the surface of the Earth and the tides also leads to a slight deceleration in its rotation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the same time, the momentum is transferred by the Earth to the moon, because of which it gradually moves outward.</p>

<p>As per the study, the rotation of the Earth has decelerated because of this phenomenon in the past.</p>

<p>After analysing for two years, the team, headed by Ma Chao from the Institute of Sedimentary Geology at Chengdu University of Technology, concluded that there was an increase of 20,000 km&nbsp;between Earth and the moon between 700 million and 200 million years ago, because of which the length of the day increased by around 2.2 hours.</p>

<p>“Specifically, there are two intervals with pronounced Earth rotation deceleration: between 650 and 500 million years ago (Mya), and between 350 and 280 Mya, separated by a period of stalled deceleration from 500 to 350 Mya,” wrote the team&nbsp;in a paper which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-slows-down-by-133-milliseconds-741345/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The first shift took place during the Cambrian explosion, when complex life forms diversified rapidly. The second deceleration happened around 250 million years ago and coincided with the “Great Dying”, which is also called the Permian-Triassic extinction event during which 90 per cent of life on Earth was wiped out.</p>

<p>According to the research, the volcanic activity along with changes in the climate, sea levels and salt levels led to the extinction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ma said that changes in sea conditions were linked to the shift in the rotation of the Earth. “The two major ‘fast-slow’ deceleration periods may have provided the necessary conditions for the early evolution of marine ecosystems," he said while speaking to Science and Technology Daily.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Earth started rotating at a dramatically slow speed twice in the last hundreds of millions of years and one of those times was when the biggest mass extinction took place, as per the latest study.

The Earth started rotating at a dramatically slow speed twice in the last hundreds of millions of years and one of those times was when the biggest mass extinction took place, as per the latest study. The other time it slowed was when rapid expansion of life took place on the planet, which was called the Cambrian explosion, said the Chinese scientists-led team. Also Read: Earth's mantle is hosting strange 'black holes' with mysterious waves. Here's what they are Even though the world appears to rotate at a constant speed, the exact timing can change and does not remain precisely 24 hours. Why did the Earth's rotation slow down? The changes in gravity happen because of variations in the distance between the Earth and the moon and are known to cause ocean tides, however, the friction between the surface of the Earth and the tides also leads to a slight deceleration in its rotation. At the same time, the momentum is transferred by the Earth to the moon, because of which it gradually moves outward. As per the study, the rotation of the Earth has decelerated because of this phenomenon in the past. After analysing for two years, the team, headed by Ma Chao from the Institute of Sedimentary Geology at Chengdu University of Technology, concluded that there was an increase of 20,000 km between Earth and the moon between 700 million and 200 million years ago, because of which the length of the day increased by around 2.2 hours. “Specifically, there are two intervals with pronounced Earth rotation deceleration: between 650 and 500 million years ago (Mya), and between 350 and 280 Mya, separated by a period of stalled deceleration from 500 to 350 Mya,” wrote the team in a paper which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Watch: Earth slows down by 1.33 milliseconds The first shift took place during the Cambrian explosion, when complex life forms diversified rapidly. The second deceleration happened around 250 million years ago and coincided with the “Great Dying”, which is also called the Permian-Triassic extinction event during which 90 per cent of life on Earth was wiped out. According to the research, the volcanic activity along with changes in the climate, sea levels and salt levels led to the extinction. Ma said that changes in sea conditions were linked to the shift in the rotation of the Earth. “The two major ‘fast-slow’ deceleration periods may have provided the necessary conditions for the early evolution of marine ecosystems," he said while speaking to Science and Technology Daily. (With inputs from agencies)

Earth rotated 'dramatically slowly' when life exploded and vanished on planet: Study

<p>The deep seafloor - 12,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean - is covered by ancient rocks known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).</p>

<p>Although these rocks appear devoid of life, they may actually be hiding different kinds of tiny sea creatures and microbes, some of which may have adapted to survive in the dark.</p>

<p>The deep-sea rocks, which are called as polymetallic nodules, turn into a habitat for various marine organisms and also generate oxygen across the ocean floor.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/save-our-seas-un-issues-sos-over-fast-rising-pacific-ocean-753577">'Save Our Seas': UN issues SOS over fast-rising Pacific Ocean</a></p>

<p>A team of scientists, which includes experts from&nbsp;Boston University, made this discovery which challenged the idea that sunlight is required for the production of oxygen and generally occurs near the surface of the ocean where photosynthesis of the phytoplankton occurs.</p>

<p>When the oxygen was detected at such depth amid darkness, initially the researchers felt that it was an error.</p>

<p>“This was really weird, because no one had ever seen it before,” said Jeffrey Marlow, who is the co-author of the study and an assistant professor of biology at Boston University’s College of Arts &amp; Sciences.</p>

<h2><strong>Scientists decode the production of dark oxygen</strong></h2>

<p>Marlow, who has an understanding of microbes present in extreme environments like deep-sea hydrothermal vents and hardened lava, initially believed that microbial activity is responsible for the production of oxygen.</p>

<p>For investigating the dark oxygen, deep-sea chambers which can land on the seafloors and encapsulate sediment, polymetallic nodules, living organisms and seawater were used by the researchers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For 48 hours, the oxygen levels in these chambers were measured by the team. Generally, if oxygen is consumed by the organisms, the levels will drop on the basis of the amount of activity carried out in the chamber. However, it was noted that in this case there was a rise in the oxygen levels.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Mumbai: Rising sea level poses risk of floods, storms</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mumbai-rising-sea-level-poses-risk-of-floods-storms-747646/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“We did a lot of troubleshooting and found that the oxygen levels increased many more times following that initial measurement,” said Marlow, adding, “So we’re now convinced it’s a real signal.”</p>

<p>The research was conducted by Marlow and his colleagues aboard a vessel which was dedicated to exploring the ecology of the CCZ.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team, which was headed by Andrew Sweetman from the&nbsp;Scottish Association for Marine Science, after conducting different experiments, reached the conclusion that microbial activity was not driving the production of the oxygen primarily even though a lot of microbes were present on and inside the rocks.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The deep seafloor - 12,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean - is covered by ancient rocks known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). Although these rocks appear devoid of life, they may actually be hiding different kinds of tiny sea creatures and microbes, some of which may have adapted to survive in the dark.

The deep seafloor - 12,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean - is covered by ancient rocks known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). Although these rocks appear devoid of life, they may actually be hiding different kinds of tiny sea creatures and microbes, some of which may have adapted to survive in the dark. The deep-sea rocks, which are called as polymetallic nodules, turn into a habitat for various marine organisms and also generate oxygen across the ocean floor. Also Read: 'Save Our Seas': UN issues SOS over fast-rising Pacific Ocean A team of scientists, which includes experts from Boston University, made this discovery which challenged the idea that sunlight is required for the production of oxygen and generally occurs near the surface of the ocean where photosynthesis of the phytoplankton occurs. When the oxygen was detected at such depth amid darkness, initially the researchers felt that it was an error. “This was really weird, because no one had ever seen it before,” said Jeffrey Marlow, who is the co-author of the study and an assistant professor of biology at Boston University’s College of Arts & Sciences. Scientists decode the production of dark oxygen Marlow, who has an understanding of microbes present in extreme environments like deep-sea hydrothermal vents and hardened lava, initially believed that microbial activity is responsible for the production of oxygen. For investigating the dark oxygen, deep-sea chambers which can land on the seafloors and encapsulate sediment, polymetallic nodules, living organisms and seawater were used by the researchers. For 48 hours, the oxygen levels in these chambers were measured by the team. Generally, if oxygen is consumed by the organisms, the levels will drop on the basis of the amount of activity carried out in the chamber. However, it was noted that in this case there was a rise in the oxygen levels. Watch: Mumbai: Rising sea level poses risk of floods, storms “We did a lot of troubleshooting and found that the oxygen levels increased many more times following that initial measurement,” said Marlow, adding, “So we’re now convinced it’s a real signal.” The research was conducted by Marlow and his colleagues aboard a vessel which was dedicated to exploring the ecology of the CCZ. The team, which was headed by Andrew Sweetman from the Scottish Association for Marine Science, after conducting different experiments, reached the conclusion that microbial activity was not driving the production of the oxygen primarily even though a lot of microbes were present on and inside the rocks. (With inputs from agencies)

Are deep seas on Earth hiding alien life amid 'dark oxygen'? Study hints so

<p>For those people who are planning to buy a new car or any other vehicle, scrapping the old vehicle&nbsp;can now prove beneficial as commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers are willing to offer a discount if they have a valid Certificate of Deposit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Union Minister for Road Transport &amp; Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the discounts in a meeting with the representatives of commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He appealed to the industry to give discounts on purchasing new vehicles to the customers who scrap their old vehicles.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">📍𝑩𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒎, 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑫𝒆𝒍𝒉𝒊<br />
<br />
Chaired a highly productive session of the SIAM CEO’s Delegation Meeting at Bharat Mandapam today, where we addressed various critical issues facing the automobile industry.<br />
<br />
I am pleased to report that, in response to my… <a href="https://t.co/9n4aUdgoby">pic.twitter.com/9n4aUdgoby</a></p>
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) <a href="https://twitter.com/nitin_gadkari/status/1828354267910152384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) CEOs meeting took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi where it was then confirmed that the proposal of the minister was accepted by the automobile manufacturers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/this-indian-city-will-host-countrys-first-street-circuit-race-at-night-745365">This Indian city will host country's first street circuit race at night</a></p>

<p>Taking to his official social media account, the minister announced, “I am pleased to report that, in response to my recommendation, several commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers have agreed to offer discounts for the purchase of new vehicles against the scrapping of older vehicles with a valid Certificate of Deposit.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Explaining the importance of this development, he said, “This initiative will significantly advance our Circular&nbsp;Economy&nbsp;efforts, ensuring that cleaner, safer, and more efficient vehicles are on our roads."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How much discounts will be given to customers for passenger vehicles?</strong></h2>

<p>According to a report published in The Times Of India, auto majors are likely to give a 1.5-3.5 per cent discount to buyers who scrap their old vehicle when buying a new one.</p>

<p>As per the reports, passenger vehicle manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra &amp; Mahindra, Kia,&nbsp;Honda, Toyota, JSW MG Motor, Renault India, Nissan India, Skoda and Volkswagen India have agreed to offer a 1.5 per cent discount on the ex-showroom price of the new&nbsp;car or Rs 20,000, whichever is less.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Canada imposes 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric cars</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/canada-imposes-100-tariff-on-chinese-made-electric-cars-753799/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Customers can get a discount if they have scraped a passenger vehicle in the last six months and the scrapped vehicle's details are linked to the Vahan system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the official statement, passenger vehicle companies like Tata Motors, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles,&nbsp;Ashok Leyland, Mahindra &amp; Mahindra,&nbsp;Force Motors, Isuzu Motors and SML Isuzu have agreed to give a 3 per cent discount on ex-showroom prices on commercial vehicles more than 3.5 tonnes and around 1.5 per cent discount on ex-showroom prices for CVs less than 3.5 tonnes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


For those people who are planning to buy a new car or any other vehicle, scrapping the old vehicle can now prove beneficial as commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers are willing to offer a discount if they have a valid Certificate of Deposit.

For those people who are planning to buy a new car or any other vehicle, scrapping the old vehicle can now prove beneficial as commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers are willing to offer a discount if they have a valid Certificate of Deposit. Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the discounts in a meeting with the representatives of commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers. He appealed to the industry to give discounts on purchasing new vehicles to the customers who scrap their old vehicles. 📍𝑩𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒎, 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑫𝒆𝒍𝒉𝒊 Chaired a highly productive session of the SIAM CEO’s Delegation Meeting at Bharat Mandapam today, where we addressed various critical issues facing the automobile industry. I am pleased to report that, in response to my… pic.twitter.com/9n4aUdgoby — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 27, 2024 × The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) CEOs meeting took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi where it was then confirmed that the proposal of the minister was accepted by the automobile manufacturers. Also Read: This Indian city will host country's first street circuit race at night Taking to his official social media account, the minister announced, “I am pleased to report that, in response to my recommendation, several commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers have agreed to offer discounts for the purchase of new vehicles against the scrapping of older vehicles with a valid Certificate of Deposit.” Explaining the importance of this development, he said, “This initiative will significantly advance our Circular Economy efforts, ensuring that cleaner, safer, and more efficient vehicles are on our roads." How much discounts will be given to customers for passenger vehicles? According to a report published in The Times Of India, auto majors are likely to give a 1.5-3.5 per cent discount to buyers who scrap their old vehicle when buying a new one. As per the reports, passenger vehicle manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Kia, Honda, Toyota, JSW MG Motor, Renault India, Nissan India, Skoda and Volkswagen India have agreed to offer a 1.5 per cent discount on the ex-showroom price of the new car or Rs 20,000, whichever is less. Watch: Canada imposes 100% tariff on Chinese-made electric cars Customers can get a discount if they have scraped a passenger vehicle in the last six months and the scrapped vehicle's details are linked to the Vahan system. As per the official statement, passenger vehicle companies like Tata Motors, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra, Force Motors, Isuzu Motors and SML Isuzu have agreed to give a 3 per cent discount on ex-showroom prices on commercial vehicles more than 3.5 tonnes and around 1.5 per cent discount on ex-showroom prices for CVs less than 3.5 tonnes. (With inputs from agencies)

Planning to buy a new car? Here's how scrapping your old vehicle can give you major discounts

<p>A very weird and tough assignment was given to a new student at a high school in Oklahoma, United States which was later shared on social media by a parent and caused uproar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking to Facebook, a woman posted the world history homework assignment of her daughter which was titled “How did the world start?”</p>

<p>In the assignment, there were questions like "Is God real?", "Is Satan real?", and "What does it mean to be a&nbsp;Christian?".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The students were required to answer the questions and mention a source using the APA (American Psychological Association) style of writing in support of their answers.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/badlapur-case-school-admin-covered-up-sex-abuse-of-two-girls-brushed-off-parents-concerns-752016">Badlapur case: School admin ‘covered up’ sex abuse of two girls, brushed off parents’ concerns</a></p>

<p>The questions regarding religion, which were directed towards high school students, made people wonder if they were suitable to be mentioned in an assignment.</p>

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<p>In the caption, an Oklahoma student's mother Olivia Gray said, “This is one of Nettie’s assignments for World History class. It’s being called a research paper. This is some crazy sh*t overall and also on a technical level. Literally, the kid had been in school one week”.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how netizens reacted to the assignment</strong></h2>

<p>The questions in the assignment also caused an uproar on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I would love to see the teacher’s grading rubric… that’s an assignment I would struggle with as a college level student. What are the 'right'&nbsp;answers? I don’t think I even wanna know," said a user Jenna Walkingstick.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“So now she is being forced to spill her personal beliefs and will be graded on such?” wrote another user Lisa Lawson-Wallace.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Surge in POCSO cases in Mumbai after Badlapur sexual assault</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/surge-in-pocso-cases-in-mumbai-after-badlapur-sexual-assault-753458/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>“This is insane. What sources is she supposed to use? I'm a teacher--and a challenging one. I have no trouble with a high school student (or even an upper middle school student) starting a research paper in week one. But this assignment is absolutely wack. I never thought I'd say this, but she'd be better off at Catholic School!," said a user Jane Maslanka.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A very weird and tough assignment was given to a new student at a high school in Oklahoma, United States which was later shared on social media by a parent and caused uproar.

A very weird and tough assignment was given to a new student at a high school in Oklahoma, United States which was later shared on social media by a parent and caused uproar. Taking to Facebook, a woman posted the world history homework assignment of her daughter which was titled “How did the world start?” In the assignment, there were questions like "Is God real?", "Is Satan real?", and "What does it mean to be a Christian?". The students were required to answer the questions and mention a source using the APA (American Psychological Association) style of writing in support of their answers. Also Read: Badlapur case: School admin ‘covered up’ sex abuse of two girls, brushed off parents’ concerns The questions regarding religion, which were directed towards high school students, made people wonder if they were suitable to be mentioned in an assignment. × In the caption, an Oklahoma student's mother Olivia Gray said, “This is one of Nettie’s assignments for World History class. It’s being called a research paper. This is some crazy sh*t overall and also on a technical level. Literally, the kid had been in school one week”. Here's how netizens reacted to the assignment The questions in the assignment also caused an uproar on social media. "I would love to see the teacher’s grading rubric… that’s an assignment I would struggle with as a college level student. What are the 'right' answers? I don’t think I even wanna know," said a user Jenna Walkingstick. “So now she is being forced to spill her personal beliefs and will be graded on such?” wrote another user Lisa Lawson-Wallace. Watch: Surge in POCSO cases in Mumbai after Badlapur sexual assault “This is insane. What sources is she supposed to use? I'm a teacher--and a challenging one. I have no trouble with a high school student (or even an upper middle school student) starting a research paper in week one. But this assignment is absolutely wack. I never thought I'd say this, but she'd be better off at Catholic School!," said a user Jane Maslanka. (With inputs from agencies)

Bizarre question on 'God, Satan, Christianity' in US school assignment leaves parents furious

<p>A circus stunt took a dramatic turn when aerial hoop artist with Cirque du Soleil lost her grip and fell to&nbsp;the ground. The incident turned scarier because there was no safety net to break her fall.</p>

<p>The shocking incident took place during a live performance of the Cirque du Soleil show “Kooza” which was taking place at the Portland Exposition Center in Portland on Saturday night (August 24).</p>

<p>KOIN 6 News got access to the video in which the show performer Mariia Konfektova was seen suspended in the air and craftily spinning on her hop when she suddenly lost her grip, slipped and fell to the ground in front of the audience.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shocking footage shows the moment a Cirque du Soleil aerial hoop artist falls during their performance at KOOZA in Portland, Oregon.<br />
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The artist was taken to a hospital, a public relations firm for the show said. She was conscious and stable. <a href="https://t.co/EKYXyxadcA">https://t.co/EKYXyxadcA</a> <a href="https://t.co/cAC7wpfiTv">pic.twitter.com/cAC7wpfiTv</a></p>
— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1828126638598693291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Before the video ended, the Russian&nbsp;aerialist was seen lying face down as other performers appeared shocked at her scary fall.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-panchayat-pigeon-incident-turns-real-bird-released-by-police-officer-falls-on-ground-751932">Panchayat pigeon scene turns real. Bird released by police officer falls on ground</a></p>

<p>23-year-old Konfektova, similar to other Cirque du Soleil cast members, has been performing her stunts without any safety net.</p>

<h2><strong>Audience shocked at fall of performer, wonder if its 'part of the show'&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The video was captured by Benjamin Goldstein who said that he was not sure if the fall was “part of the show”, &nbsp;like many others in the crowd.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“At first, I thought it was part of the show, like, it looked like it was purposefully,” said Goldstein while speaking to KOIN 6 News.</p>

<p>“But then we’re, like, people were acting weird. I was like, oh, this isn’t part of the show. Something’s up," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 10-year-old described how he watched her fall on her face on the stage and it “appeared she hit her nose, and there was blood from her nose, but she lifted her head up, but she stayed still.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Viral Video: Man ties wife to bike, drags her around village&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/viral-video-man-ties-wife-to-bike-drags-her-around-village-gravitas-749929/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Speaking to ABC News, Goldstein said that the team of Cirque du Soleil quickly gave aid to the performer as she “maintained her composure”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“She gave a thumbs up as she was being carried off stage, which was a great sign,” he said while speaking to the outlet.</p>

<p>“We appreciate your concern and well wishes for our aerial hoop artist. We would like to assure you that the artist is recovering and being cared for by our medical and coaching team,” said “Kooza”, in a&nbsp;statement&nbsp;on Facebook.</p>

<p>A spokesperson also informed that Konfektova was “transported to the hospital for examination” after she fell and that she was “conscious, stable, and being cared for by medical specialists and [their] team.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A circus stunt took a dramatic turn when aerial hoop artist with Cirque du Soleil lost her grip and fell to the ground. The incident turned scarier because there was no safety net to break her fall.

A circus stunt took a dramatic turn when aerial hoop artist with Cirque du Soleil lost her grip and fell to the ground. The incident turned scarier because there was no safety net to break her fall. The shocking incident took place during a live performance of the Cirque du Soleil show “Kooza” which was taking place at the Portland Exposition Center in Portland on Saturday night (August 24). KOIN 6 News got access to the video in which the show performer Mariia Konfektova was seen suspended in the air and craftily spinning on her hop when she suddenly lost her grip, slipped and fell to the ground in front of the audience. Shocking footage shows the moment a Cirque du Soleil aerial hoop artist falls during their performance at KOOZA in Portland, Oregon. The artist was taken to a hospital, a public relations firm for the show said. She was conscious and stable. https://t.co/EKYXyxadcA pic.twitter.com/cAC7wpfiTv — ABC News (@ABC) August 26, 2024 × Before the video ended, the Russian aerialist was seen lying face down as other performers appeared shocked at her scary fall. Also Read: Panchayat pigeon scene turns real. Bird released by police officer falls on ground 23-year-old Konfektova, similar to other Cirque du Soleil cast members, has been performing her stunts without any safety net. Audience shocked at fall of performer, wonder if its 'part of the show' The video was captured by Benjamin Goldstein who said that he was not sure if the fall was “part of the show”, like many others in the crowd. “At first, I thought it was part of the show, like, it looked like it was purposefully,” said Goldstein while speaking to KOIN 6 News. “But then we’re, like, people were acting weird. I was like, oh, this isn’t part of the show. Something’s up," he added. The 10-year-old described how he watched her fall on her face on the stage and it “appeared she hit her nose, and there was blood from her nose, but she lifted her head up, but she stayed still.” Watch: Viral Video: Man ties wife to bike, drags her around village Speaking to ABC News, Goldstein said that the team of Cirque du Soleil quickly gave aid to the performer as she “maintained her composure”. “She gave a thumbs up as she was being carried off stage, which was a great sign,” he said while speaking to the outlet. “We appreciate your concern and well wishes for our aerial hoop artist. We would like to assure you that the artist is recovering and being cared for by our medical and coaching team,” said “Kooza”, in a statement on Facebook. A spokesperson also informed that Konfektova was “transported to the hospital for examination” after she fell and that she was “conscious, stable, and being cared for by medical specialists and [their] team.” (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Dramatic circus stunt goes wrong as aerial hoop artist loses grip, falls down

<p>In a very rare move, a startup in California wishes to increase the power production of the world by selling sunlight after it has gone dark, with the help of solar panels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company Reflect Orbital is aimed at reflecting the rays of the Sun over solar panels on the surface of the Earth after it has gone dark.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In video footage, the company has tried to show how the technology can illuminate the night sky using reflected light.</p>

<p>The ambitious plan of the company was presented by CEO Ben Nowack during the&nbsp; International Conference on Energy from Space in&nbsp;London&nbsp;this April.</p>

<p>Nowack took about shooting 57 small satellites with 33-square-foot ultra-reflective mylar mirrors which will eventually bounce back the sunlight down to solar farms.</p>

<p>When the demand is at its peak, the satellites, which orbit 370 miles above the surface, can provide an additional 30 minutes of sunshine to the stationed solar power plants, reported The Deep Dive.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/microsofts-revenue-reshuffle-signals-ai-ambitions-amid-investor-pressure-752631">Microsoft's revenue reshuffle signals AI ambitions amid investor pressure</a></p>

<p>"The problem is that solar energy is not available when we actually want it," said Nowack, while speaking at a press conference and explaining why solar farms won't be able to produce energy when it is dark.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>His company is aiming to sell this precious energy to solar plants once it is dark, which will then send it to the homes of the people. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Nowack and cofounder and CTO&nbsp;Tristan Semmelhack also said that using satellites will not be cost-prohibitive, but rather will be profitable.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Company tests if it is possible to sell sunlight</strong></h2>

<p>Reflect Orbital's team of seven men tried to test the workability of their idea by placing an eight-by-eight-foot mylar mirror over a hot air balloon, which was supposed to reflect sunlight over the solar panels that were towed in on a truck.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A mylar mirror is a kind of glassless mirror which is made using polyester film that gets stretched across a raised aluminium frame.</p>

<p>The team spent weeks in the field while carrying out the process and eventually got a breakthrough. In a YouTube video, they shared the success of their test.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;This CEO will be taking a jet to work thrice a week</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/this-ceo-will-be-taking-a-jet-to-work-thrice-a-week-752061/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The team was able to generate around 500 watts of energy per square metre&nbsp;of panel when the mirror reflected light on the solar panels from a distance of 242 metres (nearly 800 feet). One person was heard shouting in the video 'Let there be light!'</p>

<p>"This is amazing, but terrifying if you think of it! With just 2 mirrors your buddy on the ground was able to feel the heat!" wrote a person in response to the company's YouTube video.</p>

<p>"OMG this looks like so much fun to build and test," another said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a very rare move, a startup in California wishes to increase the power production of the world by selling sunlight after it has gone dark, with the help of solar panels.

In a very rare move, a startup in California wishes to increase the power production of the world by selling sunlight after it has gone dark, with the help of solar panels. The company Reflect Orbital is aimed at reflecting the rays of the Sun over solar panels on the surface of the Earth after it has gone dark. In video footage, the company has tried to show how the technology can illuminate the night sky using reflected light. The ambitious plan of the company was presented by CEO Ben Nowack during the International Conference on Energy from Space in London this April. Nowack took about shooting 57 small satellites with 33-square-foot ultra-reflective mylar mirrors which will eventually bounce back the sunlight down to solar farms. When the demand is at its peak, the satellites, which orbit 370 miles above the surface, can provide an additional 30 minutes of sunshine to the stationed solar power plants, reported The Deep Dive. Also Read: Microsoft's revenue reshuffle signals AI ambitions amid investor pressure "The problem is that solar energy is not available when we actually want it," said Nowack, while speaking at a press conference and explaining why solar farms won't be able to produce energy when it is dark. × His company is aiming to sell this precious energy to solar plants once it is dark, which will then send it to the homes of the people. Nowack and cofounder and CTO Tristan Semmelhack also said that using satellites will not be cost-prohibitive, but rather will be profitable. Company tests if it is possible to sell sunlight Reflect Orbital's team of seven men tried to test the workability of their idea by placing an eight-by-eight-foot mylar mirror over a hot air balloon, which was supposed to reflect sunlight over the solar panels that were towed in on a truck. A mylar mirror is a kind of glassless mirror which is made using polyester film that gets stretched across a raised aluminium frame. The team spent weeks in the field while carrying out the process and eventually got a breakthrough. In a YouTube video, they shared the success of their test. Watch: This CEO will be taking a jet to work thrice a week The team was able to generate around 500 watts of energy per square metre of panel when the mirror reflected light on the solar panels from a distance of 242 metres (nearly 800 feet). One person was heard shouting in the video 'Let there be light!' "This is amazing, but terrifying if you think of it! With just 2 mirrors your buddy on the ground was able to feel the heat!" wrote a person in response to the company's YouTube video. "OMG this looks like so much fun to build and test," another said. (With inputs from agencies)

This start-up is gearing up to 'sell sunlight' after dark in California, customers express shock

<p>The country of South Africa is planning to bomb its Marion Island, a remote island around 2,000 kilometres southeast of Cape Town.</p>

<p>The country has been thinking of taking such a drastic action because an unnerving drama is unfolding on the island, which is, the seabirds, especially albatrosses, falling prey to mice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The country has come up with the world’s most pivotal&nbsp;bird conservation effort, which is the Mouse-Free Marion Project.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As part of the project, helicopters will be deployed to disperse (or bomb) 600 tonnes of rodenticide-laced pellets across the island.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The project has till now not been funded and a quarter of the $29 million, which is needed, has been raised.</p>

<p>The plan is to strike mice in winter 2027, when they are most famished and the summer-breeding birds are gone.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/bird-genes-store-memories-of-dinosaur-extiction-here-is-how-749319">Bird genes 'store' memories of dinosaur extinction: Here is how</a></p>

<p>The operation will only be successful when every inch of the 25-kilometre-long and 17-kilometre-wide island gets covered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We have to get rid of every last mouse. If there was a male and female remaining, they could breed and eventually get back to where we are now," said Anderson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is happening between mice and seabirds on Marion Island?</strong></h2>

<p>Marion Island is a nesting ground for various seabirds, including the&nbsp;albatross. But now they are under threat as hordes of mice are preying on them and eating their eggs, as confirmed by conservationist Mark Anderson in a meeting of BirdLife South Africa.</p>

<p>“These mice, for the first time last year, were found to be feeding on adult Wandering Albatrosses,” said Anderson, who is the CEO of&nbsp;BirdLife South Africa.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Egg prices climb on bird flu impact</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/egg-prices-climb-on-bird-flu-impact-751382/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>According to the Mouse-Free Marion Project, among the 29 species of seabirds on the island, 19 are facing the threat of local extinction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Mice just climb onto them and slowly eat them until they succumb,” Anderson said. “We are losing hundreds of thousands of seabirds every year through the mice," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The country of South Africa is planning to bomb its Marion Island, a remote island around 2,000 kilometres southeast of Cape Town. The country has been thinking of taking such a drastic action because an unnerving drama is unfolding on the island, which is, the seabirds, especially albatrosses, falling prey to mice.

The country of South Africa is planning to bomb its Marion Island, a remote island around 2,000 kilometres southeast of Cape Town. The country has been thinking of taking such a drastic action because an unnerving drama is unfolding on the island, which is, the seabirds, especially albatrosses, falling prey to mice. The country has come up with the world’s most pivotal bird conservation effort, which is the Mouse-Free Marion Project. As part of the project, helicopters will be deployed to disperse (or bomb) 600 tonnes of rodenticide-laced pellets across the island. The project has till now not been funded and a quarter of the $29 million, which is needed, has been raised. The plan is to strike mice in winter 2027, when they are most famished and the summer-breeding birds are gone. Also Read: Bird genes 'store' memories of dinosaur extinction: Here is how The operation will only be successful when every inch of the 25-kilometre-long and 17-kilometre-wide island gets covered. “We have to get rid of every last mouse. If there was a male and female remaining, they could breed and eventually get back to where we are now," said Anderson. What is happening between mice and seabirds on Marion Island? Marion Island is a nesting ground for various seabirds, including the albatross. But now they are under threat as hordes of mice are preying on them and eating their eggs, as confirmed by conservationist Mark Anderson in a meeting of BirdLife South Africa. “These mice, for the first time last year, were found to be feeding on adult Wandering Albatrosses,” said Anderson, who is the CEO of BirdLife South Africa. Watch: Egg prices climb on bird flu impact According to the Mouse-Free Marion Project, among the 29 species of seabirds on the island, 19 are facing the threat of local extinction. “Mice just climb onto them and slowly eat them until they succumb,” Anderson said. “We are losing hundreds of thousands of seabirds every year through the mice," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

South Africa plans to bomb its island soon to eradicate 'killer' mice

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