7 Strange Traditions Around The World You Didn't Know About


In the city of Lopburi, Thailand, locals hold an annual buffet for monkeys, offering them fruits, vegetables, and treats. The festival is a way to thank the monkeys for bringing tourism to the city and is believed to bring good luck.


Baby Jumping Festival (El Colacho, Spain)


The Baby Jumping Festival takes place in Castrillo de Murcia, Spain, as part of a Catholic tradition to ward off evil spirits. Men dressed as the devil (El Colacho) jump over rows of babies lying on mattresses.


The Festival of Near-Death Experiences (Spain)


In the village of Las Nieves, Spain, people who have had near-death experiences are carried in coffins through the streets. Known as the "Santa Marta de Ribarteme" festival, it is a way to give thanks to Saint Marta, the patron saint of resurrection.


Finger-Cutting Tradition (Dani Tribe, Indonesia)


Among the Dani people of Indonesia, women used to cut off the tips of their fingers as a way of expressing grief when a family member passed away. The practice, though now outlawed, involved cutting off the top part of a finger during a funeral.


On the night before a wedding, German couples and their families gather for "Polterabend," where guests smash porcelain to bring good luck to the couple. The bride and groom then have to clean up the mess together as a way of preparing for married life.


In the Tujia ethnic group in China, brides are expected to cry for a month before their wedding. Starting a month before the wedding, the bride cries for an hour every day. The tears are believed to represent joy.

Toe wrestling is a competitive sport where participants lock their toes and attempt to force their opponent's foot to the ground. The quirky sport, similar to arm wrestling but with toes, originated in a pub in England in the 1970s. 

7 Strange Traditions Around The World You Didn't Know About

Globally, children’s eyesight is steadily getting worse with every one kid in three now being short-sighted or unable to see things at a distance clearly, a new analysis shows. The trend has become more prevalent after the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic.&nbsp;

Short-sightedness or myopia is the new growing health concern in the world which is set to affect millions of children by 2050, the study warns. As children started spending more time on screen and less time outdoors during the pandemic, due to the COVID-19-related lockdowns affected their eyesight adversely.

The highest rates are in Asia – 85 per cent of children in Japan and 73 per cent in South Korea are short-sighted with more than 40 per cent affected in China and Russia.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/severe-depression-acts-out-differently-in-the-brains-of-youth-as-compared-to-adults-761894">Severe depression acts out differently in the brains of youth as compared to adults</a>

The study was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology and researched on more than five million children and teenagers from 50 countries across all six continents.&nbsp;

Paraguay and Uganda, at about one&nbsp;per cent, had some of the lowest levels of myopia, with the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States all about 15 per cent.

The report revealed that short-sightedness tripled between 1990 and 2023 - rising to 36 per cent, and the reason was “particularly notable” after the pandemic, the researchers reiterated.

Watch |&nbsp;Can excessive use of smartphones lead to loss of vision?

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Usually, myopia starts during primary school years and tends to worsen until the eye has stopped growing, at about 20 years of age.&nbsp;

Genetics play a role in the health of eyesight but other factors like living in East Asia also make myopia more likely to happen, the report said. The argument is that young people are spending more time focusing on books and screens with their eyes during their early years in places like Singapore and Hong Kong. This causes strain in the eye muscles and can lead to myopia, research suggests.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/if-you-think-humans-have-five-senses-youre-wrong-761243">If you think humans have five senses, you’re wrong</a>

Apart from all these reasons, the pandemic and lockdowns remain the top reasons for a hit on children’s eyesight.

"Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between the pandemic and accelerated vision deterioration among young adults," the researchers wrote.

By 2050, the condition could affect more than half of teens worldwide, the research predicts.

<h2>Young girls more prone to weak eyesight</h2>

Girls and young women are more likely to have weak eyesight than boys and young men because they tend to spend less time doing outdoor activities at school and at home as they grow up, the study suggests.

Girls' growth and development, including puberty, starts earlier which means they tend to experience short-sightedness at an earlier age too.

It is advised that children should spend at least two hours outside every day, particularly between the ages of seven and nine, to reduce their chances of being short-sighted.

(With inputs from agencies)

Globally, children’s eyesight is steadily getting worse with every one kid in three now being short-sighted or unable to see things at a distance clearly, a new analysis shows.

Globally, children’s eyesight is steadily getting worse with every one kid in three now being short-sighted or unable to see things at a distance clearly, a new analysis shows. The trend has become more prevalent after the COVID-19 pandemic. Short-sightedness or myopia is the new growing health concern in the world which is set to affect millions of children by 2050, the study warns. As children started spending more time on screen and less time outdoors during the pandemic, due to the COVID-19-related lockdowns affected their eyesight adversely. The highest rates are in Asia – 85 per cent of children in Japan and 73 per cent in South Korea are short-sighted with more than 40 per cent affected in China and Russia. Also Read | Severe depression acts out differently in the brains of youth as compared to adults The study was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology and researched on more than five million children and teenagers from 50 countries across all six continents. Paraguay and Uganda, at about one per cent, had some of the lowest levels of myopia, with the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States all about 15 per cent. The report revealed that short-sightedness tripled between 1990 and 2023 - rising to 36 per cent, and the reason was “particularly notable” after the pandemic, the researchers reiterated. Watch | Can excessive use of smartphones lead to loss of vision? × Usually, myopia starts during primary school years and tends to worsen until the eye has stopped growing, at about 20 years of age. Genetics play a role in the health of eyesight but other factors like living in East Asia also make myopia more likely to happen, the report said. The argument is that young people are spending more time focusing on books and screens with their eyes during their early years in places like Singapore and Hong Kong. This causes strain in the eye muscles and can lead to myopia, research suggests. Also Read | If you think humans have five senses, you’re wrong Apart from all these reasons, the pandemic and lockdowns remain the top reasons for a hit on children’s eyesight. "Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between the pandemic and accelerated vision deterioration among young adults," the researchers wrote. By 2050, the condition could affect more than half of teens worldwide, the research predicts. Young girls more prone to weak eyesight Girls and young women are more likely to have weak eyesight than boys and young men because they tend to spend less time doing outdoor activities at school and at home as they grow up, the study suggests. Girls' growth and development, including puberty, starts earlier which means they tend to experience short-sightedness at an earlier age too. It is advised that children should spend at least two hours outside every day, particularly between the ages of seven and nine, to reduce their chances of being short-sighted. (With inputs from agencies)

One in three children now affected by myopia, Covid lockdowns impacted kids' vision the most: Study

Days after a 10-year-old girl went missing in dense woods in the US state of&nbsp;Louisiana&nbsp;after sleepwalking, was found safe with the help of a thermal-imaging drone on September 15.&nbsp;

The community was trying to find Peyton Saintignan with the help of Louisiana State Police when she went missing, and one such volunteer named Josh Klober, the drone operator wanted to help and came up with the idea of locating the girl with the help of a drone.&nbsp;

Travelling 40 miles from his home in Arkansas, Klober arrived on September 15 with a drone equipped with thermal imaging capabilities from his company, Drone Management Services LLC, and started scanning the area.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjUo4eP1d2IAxXTb_UHHdG7PDQQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/drone-captures-chinese-rocket-exploding-while-attempting-to-make-vertical-landing-761511" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/trending/drone-captures-chinese-rocket-exploding-while-attempting-to-make-vertical-landing-761511&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjUo4eP1d2IAxXTb_UHHdG7PDQQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">Drone captures Chinese rocket exploding while attempting to make vertical landing</a>

Meanwhile, massive searches were launched to find the girl. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said that when his office was notified, "family and neighbours had already been looking for her about an hour" before the sheriff, Louisiana State Police and hundreds of volunteers joined in to find the missing child.

A trail camera used by hunters deep in the wilderness snapped a picture of the 10-year-old and the search and rescue team started looking for her.

Klober, on the other hand, set up his gear with the help of the sheriff’s department, including a generator and a large flat-screen TV before launching his drone into the woods.

The drone located Peyton all curled up in the fetal position on the ground in thick woods about 20 minutes after Klober’s drone took flight.&nbsp;
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“We saw the purple and white pajamas that she had been wearing,” Klober told local media.

“She was laying there. She wasn’t moving and everybody was just kind of holding their breath.”

Officials were able to direct rescuers to her location, and moments later, around 11:00 pm (local time), the sleepwalking child was woken up by her best friend’s dad and taken to safety.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjUo4eP1d2IAxXTb_UHHdG7PDQQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-what-is-sleepmaxxing-the-viral-wellness-trend-everyone-talking-about-761802" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-what-is-sleepmaxxing-the-viral-wellness-trend-everyone-talking-about-761802&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjUo4eP1d2IAxXTb_UHHdG7PDQQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE">What is 'sleepmaxxing', the viral wellness trend everyone talking about?</a>

Peyton walked over 1.5 miles from her home when she was found, as per the police. Parker said it was "truly a miracle" that the 10-year-old was unharmed when she was found.

“Other than some mosquito bites, she was perfect,” Parker said.

First responders and Child Protective Services did her thorough check-up before returning home. The girl was a known sleepwalker, as per the family, but this was the first time that she left her home while doing so.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Days after a 10-year-old girl went missing in dense woods in the US state of Louisiana after sleepwalking, was found safe with the help of a thermal-imaging drone on September 15.

Days after a 10-year-old girl went missing in dense woods in the US state of Louisiana after sleepwalking, was found safe with the help of a thermal-imaging drone on September 15. The community was trying to find Peyton Saintignan with the help of Louisiana State Police when she went missing, and one such volunteer named Josh Klober, the drone operator wanted to help and came up with the idea of locating the girl with the help of a drone. Travelling 40 miles from his home in Arkansas, Klober arrived on September 15 with a drone equipped with thermal imaging capabilities from his company, Drone Management Services LLC, and started scanning the area. Also Read | Drone captures Chinese rocket exploding while attempting to make vertical landing Meanwhile, massive searches were launched to find the girl. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said that when his office was notified, "family and neighbours had already been looking for her about an hour" before the sheriff, Louisiana State Police and hundreds of volunteers joined in to find the missing child. A trail camera used by hunters deep in the wilderness snapped a picture of the 10-year-old and the search and rescue team started looking for her. Klober, on the other hand, set up his gear with the help of the sheriff’s department, including a generator and a large flat-screen TV before launching his drone into the woods. The drone located Peyton all curled up in the fetal position on the ground in thick woods about 20 minutes after Klober’s drone took flight. “We saw the purple and white pajamas that she had been wearing,” Klober told local media. “She was laying there. She wasn’t moving and everybody was just kind of holding their breath.” Officials were able to direct rescuers to her location, and moments later, around 11:00 pm (local time), the sleepwalking child was woken up by her best friend’s dad and taken to safety. Also Read | What is 'sleepmaxxing', the viral wellness trend everyone talking about? Peyton walked over 1.5 miles from her home when she was found, as per the police. Parker said it was "truly a miracle" that the 10-year-old was unharmed when she was found. “Other than some mosquito bites, she was perfect,” Parker said. First responders and Child Protective Services did her thorough check-up before returning home. The girl was a known sleepwalker, as per the family, but this was the first time that she left her home while doing so. (With inputs from agencies)

'Truly a miracle': Drone helps locate girl, 10, who went missing while sleepwalking in Louisiana

A woman employee of HDFC Bank in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow allegedly died after she fell off her chair in the office on Tuesday (Sep 24). The colleagues of Sadaf Fatima, 24, believe that she died due to extreme work pressure at the office, days after a similar incident involving an Ernst &amp; Young employee who died in Pune.

A report stated Sadaf was posted as Additional Deputy Vice President at HDFC Bank’s Vibhuti Khand branch in Gomtinagar.&nbsp;

After she fell off her chair while working in the office on September 24, Sadaf was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead. Her body was later sent for a post-mortem, it said. The incident soon caught the attention of netizens and political leaders of Uttar Pradesh.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwieiuDSxd2IAxUzk68BHQmrA1wQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/software-engineer-battling-depression-due-to-work-pressure-commits-suicide-by-electrocution-760883" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/software-engineer-battling-depression-due-to-work-pressure-commits-suicide-by-electrocution-760883&amp;ved=2ahUKEwieiuDSxd2IAxUzk68BHQmrA1wQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">Software engineer, battling depression due to work pressure, dies by suicide</a>

In a post on X, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav termed the incident “worrying” and said it was “a symbol of the current economic pressure in the country”.

“All companies and government departments will have to think seriously in this regard. This is an irreparable loss of the country’s human resources. Such sudden deaths bring the working conditions under question. The real measure of the progress of any country is not the increase in the figures of services or products but how mentally free, healthy and happy a person is,” a rough translation of Akhilesh Yadav’s post in Hindi suggested.&nbsp;

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लखनऊ में काम के दबाव और तनाव के कारण एचडीएफ़सी की एक महिलाकर्मी की ऑफिस में ही, कुर्सी से गिरकर, मृत्यु का समाचार बेहद चिंतनीय है। 
 
ऐसे समाचार देश में वर्तमान अर्थव्यवस्था के दबाव के प्रतीक हैं। इस संदर्भ में सभी कंपनियों और सरकारी विभागों तक को गंभीरता से सोचना होगा। ये देश के… <a href="https://t.co/Xj49E01MSs">pic.twitter.com/Xj49E01MSs</a>
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/yadavakhilesh/status/1838632405898567763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Soon the incident became a tool of political blame games and the Samajwadi Party chief also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and alleged the country's economic policies had failed.

“Due to the failed economic policies of the BJP government, the business of companies has reduced so much that to save their business; they make fewer people do many times more work. The BJP government is as much responsible for such sudden deaths as the statements of BJP leaders that mentally demoralize the public,” he tweeted.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwieiuDSxd2IAxUzk68BHQmrA1wQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ey-under-fire-after-26-year-old-employee-dies-tragically-due-to-work-stress-759689" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ey-under-fire-after-26-year-old-employee-dies-tragically-due-to-work-stress-759689&amp;ved=2ahUKEwieiuDSxd2IAxUzk68BHQmrA1wQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">EY under fire after 26-year-old employee dies tragically due to `work stress`</a>

The incident took place at a time when there were already debates going on about the toxic work culture in India that promotes overworking, following the death of E&amp;Y employee Anna Sebastian Perayil.

Watch |&nbsp;EY Employee's Death: Are India’s Labour Laws Enabling Workers' Exploitation? | WION Decodes

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The 26-year-old died due to work stress, merely four months into her job in Pune. Following her death, Sebastian’s mother, September, wrote to EY India chairman, Rajiv Memani, alleging that the workload and extended working hours took a toll on her daughter. The firm, however, denied the allegations.

Union Minister for Labour Mansukh Mandaviya recently said that Perayil’s case is being probed.

(With inputs from agencies)

A woman employee of HDFC Bank in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow allegedly died after she fell off her chair in the office on Tuesday (Sep 24). The colleagues of Sadaf Fatima, 24, believe that she died due to extreme work pressure at the office, days after a similar incident involving an Ernst & Young employee who died in Pune.

A woman employee of HDFC Bank in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow allegedly died after she fell off her chair in the office on Tuesday (Sep 24). The colleagues of Sadaf Fatima, 24, believe that she died due to extreme work pressure at the office, days after a similar incident involving an Ernst & Young employee who died in Pune. A report stated Sadaf was posted as Additional Deputy Vice President at HDFC Bank’s Vibhuti Khand branch in Gomtinagar. After she fell off her chair while working in the office on September 24, Sadaf was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead. Her body was later sent for a post-mortem, it said. The incident soon caught the attention of netizens and political leaders of Uttar Pradesh. Also Read | Software engineer, battling depression due to work pressure, dies by suicide In a post on X, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav termed the incident “worrying” and said it was “a symbol of the current economic pressure in the country”. “All companies and government departments will have to think seriously in this regard. This is an irreparable loss of the country’s human resources. Such sudden deaths bring the working conditions under question. The real measure of the progress of any country is not the increase in the figures of services or products but how mentally free, healthy and happy a person is,” a rough translation of Akhilesh Yadav’s post in Hindi suggested. लखनऊ में काम के दबाव और तनाव के कारण एचडीएफ़सी की एक महिलाकर्मी की ऑफिस में ही, कुर्सी से गिरकर, मृत्यु का समाचार बेहद चिंतनीय है। ऐसे समाचार देश में वर्तमान अर्थव्यवस्था के दबाव के प्रतीक हैं। इस संदर्भ में सभी कंपनियों और सरकारी विभागों तक को गंभीरता से सोचना होगा। ये देश के… pic.twitter.com/Xj49E01MSs — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 24, 2024 × Soon the incident became a tool of political blame games and the Samajwadi Party chief also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and alleged the country's economic policies had failed. “Due to the failed economic policies of the BJP government, the business of companies has reduced so much that to save their business; they make fewer people do many times more work. The BJP government is as much responsible for such sudden deaths as the statements of BJP leaders that mentally demoralize the public,” he tweeted. Also Read | EY under fire after 26-year-old employee dies tragically due to `work stress` The incident took place at a time when there were already debates going on about the toxic work culture in India that promotes overworking, following the death of E&Y employee Anna Sebastian Perayil. Watch | EY Employee's Death: Are India’s Labour Laws Enabling Workers' Exploitation? | WION Decodes × The 26-year-old died due to work stress, merely four months into her job in Pune. Following her death, Sebastian’s mother, September, wrote to EY India chairman, Rajiv Memani, alleging that the workload and extended working hours took a toll on her daughter. The firm, however, denied the allegations. Union Minister for Labour Mansukh Mandaviya recently said that Perayil’s case is being probed. (With inputs from agencies)

Lucknow bank employee dies after falling off chair in office, peers allege 'work pressure'

7 Quotes by Confucius That Will Change How You View Life 


Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher, provided deep insights into morality, leadership and personal development that continue to influence lives today. 


"It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop."


"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."


"To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage."


"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."   


"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."


"The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions."


"The journey with a thousand miles begins with one step."


7 Quotes by Confucius That Will Change How You View Life

Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, left behind many powerful and timeless reflections in his work 'Meditations'. 


"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength."

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."


"Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one."


"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live."


"The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury."


"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts."


"If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it."


7 Powerful Quotes by Marcus Aurelius 

Signs Someone Is A Master Manipulator, According To Psychology


Master manipulators are skilled at influencing others for personal gain, often without the person realising they are being manipulated. Here are some signs, according to psychology, that someone might be a master manipulator.


Using guilt, fear or obligation to control others. They make you feel bad for not doing something or imply consequences if you don't comply. Example: “If you really cared about me, you’d do this for me.”


They distort reality and make you doubt your own perceptions, memories or sanity like they deny something you clearly remember happening or make you feel like you’re "overreacting."


They position themselves as the victim in every situation to elicit sympathy and avoid taking responsibility for their actions. Even when caught in wrongdoing, they’ll say, “I was just trying to help, but nobody ever appreciates me.”


They can be charismatic and likeable, knowing how to say the right things to different people, but their kindness is calculated. They are excessively friendly with people who can benefit them but dismissive of others.


They are skilled at shifting the blame onto others, never accepting responsibility for their actions. If they make a mistake, they’ll find a way to make it seem like it was your fault or someone else’s.


They try to isolate you from others who might point out their manipulative behaviour, making you more dependent on them, by saying, “others don’t understand you like I do.”


They may pretend to be ignorant or incompetent to avoid responsibility or to get you to do things for them. Example: “I’m not good at this; could you just handle it for me?”


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They will often provide contradictory information or change their stance to keep you off balance, making it harder for you to challenge them. One day, they say one thing; the next day, they claim they never said it.


Signs Someone Is A Master Manipulator, According To Psychology

Countries Other Than India Where Hindi is a Popular Language

Apart from India, Hindi is spoken and understood in several other countries due to migration, cultural influence and diaspora communities.

Hindi is widely understood and spoken, particularly in the Terai region bordering India, although the official language is Nepali.

Hindi is one of the languages spoken by the Indo-Mauritian population, many of whom are descendants of Indian indentured labourers.

Hindi, specifically "Fiji Hindi," is spoken by the Indo-Fijian community, who are descendants of Indian labourers.


Hindi is understood, especially in the Indo-Trinidadian community, though English and Trinidadian Creole dominate.

Similar to Trinidad, the Indo-Guyanese population speaks Hindi (particularly among older generations) alongside English.

Sarnami Hindi, a variant of Bhojpuri and Awadhi languages, is spoken by the descendants of Indian immigrants.

The Indian diaspora, particularly in regions like Durban, includes Hindi speakers, though Zulu, English, and Afrikaans are more widely spoken.

Spanish police arrested five people on Monday (Sep 23) for scamming two women of 325,000 euros ($361,261) by posing as Hollywood star Brad Pitt via online and WhatsApp messages.

The suspects made contact with the women via a fan page of the Oscar-winning actor and made them believe that “they had a sentimental relationship with him,” Spain’s Guardia Civil police said in a statement on Monday.

The members of the gang, posing as Pitt, allegedly encouraged the women to invest in various projects related to the Hollywood star that did not exist in real.

One woman, from the southern region of Andalusia, was defrauded of €175,000 ($195,000), while the other, from the northern Basque Country, lost €150,000 ($ 170,000).

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/telegram-to-share-bad-users-ip-address-phone-numbers-to-government-authorities-ceo-durov-761447">Telegram to share 'bad' users' IP address, phone numbers to government authorities: CEO Durov</a>

“The cybercriminals, to capture the victims, had studied their social networks and made a psychological profile of them, thus discovering that both women were two vulnerable people, lacking in affection and in a state of depression,” police said.

The fraudsters also used instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp to exchange messages and emails with the two women until they reached a point where they believed they were chatting via WhatsApp with Brad Pitt himself, who promised them a romantic relationship and a future together.

Watch |&nbsp;Gen Z loses the most to online scams, report reveals

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The Spanish police arrested five people in the southern region of Andalusia, including suspected leaders of the gang.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police raided five homes in the area, as part of their operations, seizing several mobile phones, bank cards, two computers and even a diary full of careful and targeted phrases used by the fraudsters to deceive their victims.&nbsp;

Officers were able to recover €85,000 ($ 95,000) defrauded from the two women.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-becomes-latest-us-state-to-ban-or-restrict-smartphones-in-schools-761434">California becomes latest US state to ban or restrict smartphones in schools</a>

In a similar online fraud case, an Australian man was arrested&nbsp;for posing as a famous YouTuber and blackmailing hundreds of girls online. The 29-year-old Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed manipulated over 250 victims around the globe into performing explicit acts on camera.&nbsp;

While sentencing Rasheed to 17 years in jail, a Perth District Court judge termed his at as "one of the most severe sextortion cases in the history of Australia."

(With inputs from agencies)

Spanish police arrested five people on Monday (Sep 23) for scamming two women of 325,000 euros ($361,261) by posing as Hollywood star Brad Pitt via online and WhatsApp messages.

Spanish police arrested five people on Monday (Sep 23) for scamming two women of 325,000 euros ($361,261) by posing as Hollywood star Brad Pitt via online and WhatsApp messages. The suspects made contact with the women via a fan page of the Oscar-winning actor and made them believe that “they had a sentimental relationship with him,” Spain’s Guardia Civil police said in a statement on Monday. The members of the gang, posing as Pitt, allegedly encouraged the women to invest in various projects related to the Hollywood star that did not exist in real. One woman, from the southern region of Andalusia, was defrauded of €175,000 ($195,000), while the other, from the northern Basque Country, lost €150,000 ($ 170,000). Also Read | Telegram to share 'bad' users' IP address, phone numbers to government authorities: CEO Durov “The cybercriminals, to capture the victims, had studied their social networks and made a psychological profile of them, thus discovering that both women were two vulnerable people, lacking in affection and in a state of depression,” police said. The fraudsters also used instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp to exchange messages and emails with the two women until they reached a point where they believed they were chatting via WhatsApp with Brad Pitt himself, who promised them a romantic relationship and a future together. Watch | Gen Z loses the most to online scams, report reveals × The Spanish police arrested five people in the southern region of Andalusia, including suspected leaders of the gang. Police raided five homes in the area, as part of their operations, seizing several mobile phones, bank cards, two computers and even a diary full of careful and targeted phrases used by the fraudsters to deceive their victims. Officers were able to recover €85,000 ($ 95,000) defrauded from the two women. Also Read | California becomes latest US state to ban or restrict smartphones in schools In a similar online fraud case, an Australian man was arrested for posing as a famous YouTuber and blackmailing hundreds of girls online. The 29-year-old Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed manipulated over 250 victims around the globe into performing explicit acts on camera. While sentencing Rasheed to 17 years in jail, a Perth District Court judge termed his at as "one of the most severe sextortion cases in the history of Australia." (With inputs from agencies)

Spain: Police arrest five people for tricking women of $360,000 by posing as Brad Pitt

The principal of a government primary school in the Indian state of&nbsp;Gujarat’s Dahod district was arrested for allegedly killing his student, a six-year-old girl after she resisted his attempt to sexually molest her, police said on Sunday (Sep 22).

The girl’s body was found inside the school premises in a village of Singvad taluka on Thursday (Sep 19), the official said.

As per Superintendent of Police, Rajdeepsinh Zala, the school principal, Govind Nat, smothered the girl after she fended off his attempt to sexually molest her.&nbsp;

"Around 10:20 am on Thursday, the principal, who was passing by in his car, agreed to take the child to school in the vehicle at her mother's request. Students and teachers told police that the girl did not attend school that day," police told local media.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/monkey-attack-saves-6-year-old-girl-from-sexual-assault-in-ups-baghpat-accused-on-the-run-761057">'Monkey attack' saves 6-year-old girl from sexual assault in UP's Baghpat, accused on the run</a>

Initially, the principal insisted that he had dropped her at the school after picking her up in his car, the police official said. Upon further questioning, the principal confessed before the police that he had killed the girl.

The molester narrated the incident and said that he tried to sexually molest the girl on their way to school. When she resisted, he covered her mouth and nose to stop her from screaming, which made the girl unconscious, Zala said.

"The principal reached the school and parked his car with the girl's body inside. At 5 pm, he took out the body and dumped it behind the school building. He then planted her school bag and slippers in her classroom," Zala added.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengaluru-murder-mahalakshmis-husband-suspects-lovers-role-in-murder-after-her-body-found-in-fridge-761414">Bengaluru murder: Mahalakshmi's husband suspects lover's role in murder after her body found in fridge</a>

Meanwhile, the police said the technical analysis and the time when the principal left the school in the evening made him the prime suspect, and he confessed to the crime after interrogation.

A day after the girl's body was found, her post-mortem report revealed that she died from smothering, the SP&nbsp;said.

When the child did not return home after school hours, her parents and relatives launched a search and found her lying unconscious in the compound behind the school building. The child was taken to the Limkheda Civil Hospital, where doctors declared her dead, he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

The principal of a government primary school in the Indian state of Gujarat’s Dahod district was arrested for allegedly killing his student, a six-year-old girl after she resisted his attempt to sexually molest her, police said on Sunday (Sep 22).

The principal of a government primary school in the Indian state of Gujarat’s Dahod district was arrested for allegedly killing his student, a six-year-old girl after she resisted his attempt to sexually molest her, police said on Sunday (Sep 22). The girl’s body was found inside the school premises in a village of Singvad taluka on Thursday (Sep 19), the official said. As per Superintendent of Police, Rajdeepsinh Zala, the school principal, Govind Nat, smothered the girl after she fended off his attempt to sexually molest her. "Around 10:20 am on Thursday, the principal, who was passing by in his car, agreed to take the child to school in the vehicle at her mother's request. Students and teachers told police that the girl did not attend school that day," police told local media. Also Read | 'Monkey attack' saves 6-year-old girl from sexual assault in UP's Baghpat, accused on the run Initially, the principal insisted that he had dropped her at the school after picking her up in his car, the police official said. Upon further questioning, the principal confessed before the police that he had killed the girl. The molester narrated the incident and said that he tried to sexually molest the girl on their way to school. When she resisted, he covered her mouth and nose to stop her from screaming, which made the girl unconscious, Zala said. "The principal reached the school and parked his car with the girl's body inside. At 5 pm, he took out the body and dumped it behind the school building. He then planted her school bag and slippers in her classroom," Zala added. Also Read | Bengaluru murder: Mahalakshmi's husband suspects lover's role in murder after her body found in fridge Meanwhile, the police said the technical analysis and the time when the principal left the school in the evening made him the prime suspect, and he confessed to the crime after interrogation. A day after the girl's body was found, her post-mortem report revealed that she died from smothering, the SP said. When the child did not return home after school hours, her parents and relatives launched a search and found her lying unconscious in the compound behind the school building. The child was taken to the Limkheda Civil Hospital, where doctors declared her dead, he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Gujarat principal kills 6-year-old girl for resisting rape, dumps body in school compound

In a distressing case from Delhi, a Class 9 student was stabbed to death by three of his friends for allegedly not giving them a "treat"&nbsp;after buying a new mobile phone, police said on Tuesday (Sep 24). The incident took place in East Delhi’s Shakarpur area.&nbsp;

All three attackers are juveniles, aged 16, and students of class 9. They have been apprehended in connection with the murder.&nbsp;

A patrol team was the first one to spot blood stains on a street near Ramji Samosa shop in Shakarpur around 7:15 pm on Monday (Sep 23), which led to further enquiry, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Delhi Apoorva Gupta.

As per the police, locals divulged that a group of boys was&nbsp;seen at the shop, and few of them even saw them stabbing one of the boys. The injured was taken to the LNJP Hospital then.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengaluru-murder-mahalakshmis-husband-suspects-lovers-role-in-murder-after-her-body-found-in-fridge-761414">Bengaluru murder: Mahalakshmi's husband suspects lover's role in murder after her body found in fridge</a>

The victim was identified as Sachin (16), who lived nearby, the official said, adding that the incident occurred in full public view.

DCP Gupta said two stab wounds were found on the back of Sachin and he later succumbed to injuries in the hospital about an hour later.&nbsp;

The DCP said further investigation has revealed Sachin and one of his friends were returning home after buying a mobile phone when they ran into the three boys.

"The group demanded a party or a treat to celebrate the purchase but Sachin refused. An argument ensued, leading to the stabbing," Gupta added.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/badlapur-horror-opposition-allege-accused-akshay-shinde-was-killed-in-encounter-761286">Badlapur horror: Opposition alleges accused Akshay Shinde was killed in ‘encounter’</a>

A case under sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita) has been registered at the Shakarpur police station and the trio was apprehended from the locality on Tuesday, said Gupta.&nbsp;

Police used CCTV footage to identify the accused. A dagger used in the murder has also been recovered from the accused, police said.&nbsp;

In August, in Maharashtra’s Thane, three people were arrested for allegedly abducting and murdering a 13-year-old boy after stealing his mobile phone worth Rs 15,000. The victim was lured by a biker who offered him a lift and took him to a deserted place, where he and two others snatched the mobile, strangled him and disposed of his body.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a distressing case from Delhi, a Class 9 student was stabbed to death by three of his friends for allegedly not giving them a "treat" after buying a new mobile phone, police said on Tuesday (Sep 24).

In a distressing case from Delhi, a Class 9 student was stabbed to death by three of his friends for allegedly not giving them a "treat" after buying a new mobile phone, police said on Tuesday (Sep 24). The incident took place in East Delhi’s Shakarpur area. All three attackers are juveniles, aged 16, and students of class 9. They have been apprehended in connection with the murder. A patrol team was the first one to spot blood stains on a street near Ramji Samosa shop in Shakarpur around 7:15 pm on Monday (Sep 23), which led to further enquiry, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Delhi Apoorva Gupta. As per the police, locals divulged that a group of boys was seen at the shop, and few of them even saw them stabbing one of the boys. The injured was taken to the LNJP Hospital then. Also Read | Bengaluru murder: Mahalakshmi's husband suspects lover's role in murder after her body found in fridge The victim was identified as Sachin (16), who lived nearby, the official said, adding that the incident occurred in full public view. DCP Gupta said two stab wounds were found on the back of Sachin and he later succumbed to injuries in the hospital about an hour later. The DCP said further investigation has revealed Sachin and one of his friends were returning home after buying a mobile phone when they ran into the three boys. "The group demanded a party or a treat to celebrate the purchase but Sachin refused. An argument ensued, leading to the stabbing," Gupta added. Also Read | Badlapur horror: Opposition alleges accused Akshay Shinde was killed in ‘encounter’ A case under sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita) has been registered at the Shakarpur police station and the trio was apprehended from the locality on Tuesday, said Gupta. Police used CCTV footage to identify the accused. A dagger used in the murder has also been recovered from the accused, police said. In August, in Maharashtra’s Thane, three people were arrested for allegedly abducting and murdering a 13-year-old boy after stealing his mobile phone worth Rs 15,000. The victim was lured by a biker who offered him a lift and took him to a deserted place, where he and two others snatched the mobile, strangled him and disposed of his body. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi teen stabbed to death by friends over refusing to give 'treat' for new mobile phone

The US’ California has become the latest to join the league of 13 states to ban or restrict the use of smartphones in schools or are in the process of doing so. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Monday (Sep 23) regarding the same.&nbsp;

The decision came amid a growing consensus that excess usage of smartphones can lead to an increase in mental illness and impaired learning.

A wave of similar bans or restrictions was seen in the US when 13 states either recommended local educators to ban cell phones in schools or actually did it. The trend was spearheaded by Florida, which banned phones in classrooms in 2023, according to Education Week.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiFwcGpituIAxWZTWwGHRj8CygQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/gen-zs-are-ditching-smartphones-for-dumbphones-with-minimal-features-to-curb-doomscrolling-730539" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/gen-zs-are-ditching-smartphones-for-dumbphones-with-minimal-features-to-curb-doomscrolling-730539&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiFwcGpituIAxWZTWwGHRj8CygQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE">Gen Z is ditching smartphones for `dumbphones` with minimal features to curb doomscrolling</a>

California’s bill on banning or restriction of cellphones was passed 76-0 in the state assembly and 38-1 in the senate. It will now require school boards or other concerned governing bodies to develop a policy to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones on campus by 1 July 2026, and also update the policy every five years.

"We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues - but we have the power to intervene. This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens when they're in school," Newsom said in a statement.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiFwcGpituIAxWZTWwGHRj8CygQxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-lifted-800-million-out-of-poverty-simply-by-smartphone-un-746446" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-lifted-800-million-out-of-poverty-simply-by-smartphone-un-746446&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiFwcGpituIAxWZTWwGHRj8CygQxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE">India lifted 800 million out of poverty `simply by smartphones`: UN</a>

With nearly 5.9 million public schools, California had followed the lead of its own Los Angeles County, whose school board banned smartphones for its 429,000 students in June. In the same month, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a warning label on social media platforms similar to those on cigarette packages.&nbsp;

Murthy equates the problem to a mental health emergency. He cited a study in the medical journal JAMA showing adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media may be at heightened risk of mental illness while referring to a Gallup poll showing the average teen spends 4.8 hours per day on social media.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US’ California has become the latest to join the league of 13 states to ban or restrict the use of smartphones in schools or are in the process of doing so. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Monday (Sep 23) regarding the same.

The US’ California has become the latest to join the league of 13 states to ban or restrict the use of smartphones in schools or are in the process of doing so. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Monday (Sep 23) regarding the same. The decision came amid a growing consensus that excess usage of smartphones can lead to an increase in mental illness and impaired learning. A wave of similar bans or restrictions was seen in the US when 13 states either recommended local educators to ban cell phones in schools or actually did it. The trend was spearheaded by Florida, which banned phones in classrooms in 2023, according to Education Week. Also Read | Gen Z is ditching smartphones for `dumbphones` with minimal features to curb doomscrolling California’s bill on banning or restriction of cellphones was passed 76-0 in the state assembly and 38-1 in the senate. It will now require school boards or other concerned governing bodies to develop a policy to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones on campus by 1 July 2026, and also update the policy every five years. "We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues - but we have the power to intervene. This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens when they're in school," Newsom said in a statement. Also Read | India lifted 800 million out of poverty `simply by smartphones`: UN With nearly 5.9 million public schools, California had followed the lead of its own Los Angeles County, whose school board banned smartphones for its 429,000 students in June. In the same month, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a warning label on social media platforms similar to those on cigarette packages. Murthy equates the problem to a mental health emergency. He cited a study in the medical journal JAMA showing adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media may be at heightened risk of mental illness while referring to a Gallup poll showing the average teen spends 4.8 hours per day on social media. (With inputs from agencies)

California becomes latest US state to ban or restrict smartphones in schools

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