The search for alien life has been the driving force for a number of scientists over the years and it seems that NASA are all set to take a huge step to help them. The US space agency had earlier stated that they will be investigating UFO sightings across the country following the first public hearing in almost 50 years and Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, of Nasa’s Science Mission Directorate, has now hinted that NASA can actually take the help of existing satellites to find traces of alien life by getting “another view on strange aerial phenomena”.

A similar emotion was expressed by Col Pam Melroy, the deputy administrator of NASA.

According to The Telegraph, he said in a media interaction: “This team is going to be looking at questions like: ‘do we have sensors that can see things, you know, take another look at the evidence?’

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bus-plunges-into-kenyan-river-valley-34-people-dead-reports-500509" hreflang="en">Bus plunges into Kenyan river valley, 34 people dead - Reports</a>

&nbsp;‘We have a ton&nbsp;of satellites looking down at the Earth, are any of them useful?’

“I mean, before you build a rover that’s going to Mars, you ask yourself, ‘What’s the sensor I have to build to detect the most interesting thing?’ So, they’re going to really focus on that.

“How would you get the evidence that you need to be able to determine if it’s an optical phenomenon or some other kind (of phenomena)?”, he explained in the interaction.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-military-in-the-air-and-at-sea-has-become-significantly-more-aggressive-us-general-mark-milley-500356" hreflang="en">Chinese military has become significantly more aggressive: US General</a>

In the recent past, a number of experts have criticised NASA for deploying their assets for what they thought was a “fringe” subject. However, Bill Nelson, a NASA administrator, said that it is a mission which is important to the agency and one of their “remits was to hunt for life outside of Earth”.

“Remember that one of our missions is to reach out to see if there is life,” he said according to The Telegraph. “That’s why we’re digging on Mars right now.

“Is there the possibility of life in something as big as the universe? Of course, there is the chance that in somewhere as big as that, conditions similar to Earth existed, and some other kind of life form developed.”

The search for alien life has been the driving force for a number of scientists over the years and it seems that NASA are all set to take a huge step to help them.

The search for alien life has been the driving force for a number of scientists over the years and it seems that NASA are all set to take a huge step to help them. The US space agency had earlier stated that they will be investigating UFO sightings across the country following the first public hearing in almost 50 years and Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, of Nasa’s Science Mission Directorate, has now hinted that NASA can actually take the help of existing satellites to find traces of alien life by getting “another view on strange aerial phenomena”. A similar emotion was expressed by Col Pam Melroy, the deputy administrator of NASA. According to The Telegraph, he said in a media interaction: “This team is going to be looking at questions like: ‘do we have sensors that can see things, you know, take another look at the evidence?’ Also read | Bus plunges into Kenyan river valley, 34 people dead - Reports ‘We have a ton of satellites looking down at the Earth, are any of them useful?’ “I mean, before you build a rover that’s going to Mars, you ask yourself, ‘What’s the sensor I have to build to detect the most interesting thing?’ So, they’re going to really focus on that. “How would you get the evidence that you need to be able to determine if it’s an optical phenomenon or some other kind (of phenomena)?”, he explained in the interaction. Also read | Chinese military has become significantly more aggressive: US General In the recent past, a number of experts have criticised NASA for deploying their assets for what they thought was a “fringe” subject. However, Bill Nelson, a NASA administrator, said that it is a mission which is important to the agency and one of their “remits was to hunt for life outside of Earth”. “Remember that one of our missions is to reach out to see if there is life,” he said according to The Telegraph. “That’s why we’re digging on Mars right now. “Is there the possibility of life in something as big as the universe? Of course, there is the chance that in somewhere as big as that, conditions similar to Earth existed, and some other kind of life form developed.”

NASA looking to repurpose existing satellites to search for alien life in space

There has been a steady surge of COVID-19 cases all around the world and the trend seems to be continuing in Australia. The country saw 5450 cases on Monday – a record since the pandemic started – and the official data stated that the majority of cases were from the Omicron sub-variants.

It has come as a major surprise for experts who expected the numbers to peak in June when the BA.4 and BA.5 strains were extremely dominant. However, the curve has refused to go down and according to Reuters, most specialists has compared its infection rate to that of measles.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/underdog-rishi-sunak-vows-to-get-tough-on-china-if-he-becomes-the-next-uk-pm-500361" hreflang="en">‘Underdog’ Rishi Sunak vows to get tough on China if he becomes PM</a>

Previously, the highest number of cases recorded in a day in Australia was 5390 in January. It was beginning of the Omicron surge but even the death toll numbers were less at that point.

With several aged care centres battling a shortage of staff, the support of defence personnel in such facilities is to be extended until the end of September, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-emergency-declared-as-wildfire-rages-near-yosemite-national-park-500326" hreflang="en">In pics - Emergency declared as wildfire rages near Yosemite National Park</a>

"It is an extreme measure and it's right to describe it as that," he told ABC television according to Reuters. "Given the number of outbreaks that we've got right now, this is the right thing to do."

The surge has also affected frontline workers in a number of institutions resulting in a shortage of people who are equipped enough to take care of the situation. However, the country has promised to boost their vaccination drive with most people in line to receive booster doses at this point.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

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(With inputs from agencies)

There has been a steady surge of COVID-19 cases all around the world and the trend seems to be continuing in Australia. The country saw 5450 cases on Monday – a record since the pandemic started – and the official data stated that the majority of cases were from the Omicron sub-variants.

There has been a steady surge of COVID-19 cases all around the world and the trend seems to be continuing in Australia. The country saw 5450 cases on Monday – a record since the pandemic started – and the official data stated that the majority of cases were from the Omicron sub-variants. It has come as a major surprise for experts who expected the numbers to peak in June when the BA.4 and BA.5 strains were extremely dominant. However, the curve has refused to go down and according to Reuters, most specialists has compared its infection rate to that of measles. Also read | ‘Underdog’ Rishi Sunak vows to get tough on China if he becomes PM Previously, the highest number of cases recorded in a day in Australia was 5390 in January. It was beginning of the Omicron surge but even the death toll numbers were less at that point. With several aged care centres battling a shortage of staff, the support of defence personnel in such facilities is to be extended until the end of September, Defence Minister Richard Marles said. Also read | In pics - Emergency declared as wildfire rages near Yosemite National Park "It is an extreme measure and it's right to describe it as that," he told ABC television according to Reuters. "Given the number of outbreaks that we've got right now, this is the right thing to do." The surge has also affected frontline workers in a number of institutions resulting in a shortage of people who are equipped enough to take care of the situation. However, the country has promised to boost their vaccination drive with most people in line to receive booster doses at this point. WATCH WION LIVE HERE - (With inputs from agencies)

Australia registers record number of COVID-19 cases as Omicron surges

Thirty-four people died in central Kenya when their bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a river valley, local media reported on Monday.

The Daily Nation and Standard newspapers reported that the incident occurred on Sunday evening in Tharaka Nithi County, when the bus, belonging to the Modern Coast company, travelling from Meru to the port city of Mombasa veered off the Nithi Bridge and fell into the valley 40 metres below.

"Up to now, we have lost 14 women, 18 men and two girls, so the total deaths are 34. We have rescued 11 who are undergoing treatment in hospital," Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Nobert Komora told NTV Kenya television near the crash site.

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Nation reported Komora as saying that initial investigations showed the bus's brakes may have failed, preventing its driver from properly turning on a sharp bend at the bridge.

 
The National Transport and Safety Authority, Kenya's transport regulator, ordered all buses belonging to Modern Coast to suspend operations pending an investigation into the crash.

National Bureau of Statistics data shows 4,579 people died in road accidents in Kenya in 2021, a 15% increase from a year earlier.

Thirty-four people died in central Kenya when their bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a river valley, local media reported on Monday. The Daily Nation and Standard newspapers reported that the incident occurred on Sunday evening in Tharaka Nithi County, when the bus, belonging to the Modern Coast company, travelling from Meru to the port city of Mombasa veered off the Nithi Bridge and fell into the valley 40 metres below.

Thirty-four people died in central Kenya when their bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a river valley, local media reported on Monday. The Daily Nation and Standard newspapers reported that the incident occurred on Sunday evening in Tharaka Nithi County, when the bus, belonging to the Modern Coast company, travelling from Meru to the port city of Mombasa veered off the Nithi Bridge and fell into the valley 40 metres below. "Up to now, we have lost 14 women, 18 men and two girls, so the total deaths are 34. We have rescued 11 who are undergoing treatment in hospital," Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Nobert Komora told NTV Kenya television near the crash site. Also read | Chinese military has become significantly more aggressive: US General Nation reported Komora as saying that initial investigations showed the bus's brakes may have failed, preventing its driver from properly turning on a sharp bend at the bridge. The National Transport and Safety Authority, Kenya's transport regulator, ordered all buses belonging to Modern Coast to suspend operations pending an investigation into the crash. National Bureau of Statistics data shows 4,579 people died in road accidents in Kenya in 2021, a 15% increase from a year earlier.

Bus plunges into Kenyan river valley, 34 people dead - Reports

Gardener Tray Veronica was stunned with a particular plant at a parish council display in Dorset, United Kingdom. She has a lot of experience identifying plants and she believed that six of the plants displayed at the parish were actually cannabis plants. This led to the parish coming up with an official statement and the plants were promptly removed. "I can identify most plants, so my head did a 360 when I spotted them in the council planter,” Veronica told BBC.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-military-in-the-air-and-at-sea-has-become-significantly-more-aggressive-us-general-mark-milley-500356">Chinese military has become significantly more aggressive: US General</a>

The village arranged a floral display in the parish and that was the first time that the plants were noticed by the West Parley Parish Council. According to the statement, they thought that one "may have been tampered with and amongst the flowers was a plant not part of this year's schedule".

"On the advice of the police, the plant was located, removed and has been secured by the parish council. An inspection has taken place of the parish's other planters, and this has not raised any further concerns," Councillor Andrew Parry, chairman of the council told BBC.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/underdog-rishi-sunak-vows-to-get-tough-on-china-if-he-becomes-the-next-uk-pm-500361" hreflang="en">‘Underdog’ Rishi Sunak vows to get tough on China if he becomes PM</a>

The incident has sparked a lot of rumours all over social media. The pictures of the plants were posted on the Facebook page of the parish and that resulted in a number of people trolling them for what seemed like cannabis plants in the mix.

However, there were people who defended the parish for the oversight and stated that "the seeds are common in bird seed mixes and some find their way into flowerbeds and easily self-seed."

Gardener Tray Veronica was stunned with a particular plant at a parish council display in Dorset, United Kingdom. She has a lot of experience identifying plants and she believed that six of the plants displayed at the parish were actually cannabis plants.

Gardener Tray Veronica was stunned with a particular plant at a parish council display in Dorset, United Kingdom. She has a lot of experience identifying plants and she believed that six of the plants displayed at the parish were actually cannabis plants. This led to the parish coming up with an official statement and the plants were promptly removed. "I can identify most plants, so my head did a 360 when I spotted them in the council planter,” Veronica told BBC. Also read | Chinese military has become significantly more aggressive: US General The village arranged a floral display in the parish and that was the first time that the plants were noticed by the West Parley Parish Council. According to the statement, they thought that one "may have been tampered with and amongst the flowers was a plant not part of this year's schedule". "On the advice of the police, the plant was located, removed and has been secured by the parish council. An inspection has taken place of the parish's other planters, and this has not raised any further concerns," Councillor Andrew Parry, chairman of the council told BBC. Also read | ‘Underdog’ Rishi Sunak vows to get tough on China if he becomes PM The incident has sparked a lot of rumours all over social media. The pictures of the plants were posted on the Facebook page of the parish and that resulted in a number of people trolling them for what seemed like cannabis plants in the mix. However, there were people who defended the parish for the oversight and stated that "the seeds are common in bird seed mixes and some find their way into flowerbeds and easily self-seed."

Parish in UK village removes ‘cannabis’ plants from display, trolled on social media

The Italian mafia was once well known for its “code of silence” that worked both as a mark of solidarity and protection against the authorities. However, with the young generation getting more tech savvy, there seems to be a massive deviation from the age-old approach. TikTok has provided a perfect platform for the sons of mafia bosses to flaunt their wealth and cars. It has also become the proving ground for them to announce alliances and even issue open threats to their oppositions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rainbow-coloured-sun-halo-in-indias-dehradun-leaves-internet-awe-struck-take-a-look-500386" hreflang="en">Rainbow-coloured sun halo in India's Dehradun leaves internet awe-struck. Take a look!</a>

A group that has become exceptionally notorious on the social media app are The Camorra – one of the oldest mafia syndicates in Italy who operate out of Napoli. Crescenzo Marino, the son of a prominent Camorra boss, has become famous for flaunting his wealth on the app.

<img alt="Mafia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0d0dadb-48b0-46b1-84c6-3dd3cadf4a0f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/11_52.jpg" />

While the posts are mostly about his cars and expensive apparel, he has gone to the extent of openly flaunting his affiliation to the mafia and even threaten people from time to time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-teenager-wins-44000-coding-competition-but-didnt-get-the-prize-heres-why-500412" hreflang="en">Indian teenager wins $44,000 coding competition but didn't get the prize. Here's why</a>

“For the first time these gangsters have found a direct way to speak up about their lives,” Marcello Ravveduto, professor of modern history at the University of Salerno and an expert on mafia communication, said in an interaction with The Times.

“The Camorra has the youngest members of Italy’s mafias, and they love TikTok because it’s so quick and has less rules than other platforms. Now that it has discovered TikTok the Camorra wants to show that it is up there with the glamorous elite," Ravveduto further explained.

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The Italian mafia was once well known for its “code of silence” that worked both as a mark of solidarity and protection against the authorities. However, with the young generation getting more tech savvy, there seems to be a massive deviation from the age-old approach.

The Italian mafia was once well known for its “code of silence” that worked both as a mark of solidarity and protection against the authorities. However, with the young generation getting more tech savvy, there seems to be a massive deviation from the age-old approach. TikTok has provided a perfect platform for the sons of mafia bosses to flaunt their wealth and cars. It has also become the proving ground for them to announce alliances and even issue open threats to their oppositions. Also read | Rainbow-coloured sun halo in India's Dehradun leaves internet awe-struck. Take a look! A group that has become exceptionally notorious on the social media app are The Camorra – one of the oldest mafia syndicates in Italy who operate out of Napoli. Crescenzo Marino, the son of a prominent Camorra boss, has become famous for flaunting his wealth on the app. While the posts are mostly about his cars and expensive apparel, he has gone to the extent of openly flaunting his affiliation to the mafia and even threaten people from time to time. Also read | Indian teenager wins $44,000 coding competition but didn't get the prize. Here's why “For the first time these gangsters have found a direct way to speak up about their lives,” Marcello Ravveduto, professor of modern history at the University of Salerno and an expert on mafia communication, said in an interaction with The Times. “The Camorra has the youngest members of Italy’s mafias, and they love TikTok because it’s so quick and has less rules than other platforms. Now that it has discovered TikTok the Camorra wants to show that it is up there with the glamorous elite," Ravveduto further explained. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

New generation of TikTok-obsessed Mafia gangsters posing threat to 'code of silence'

From TV star to WWE NXT's Sanga: The journey of 'Brahmastra' actor Saurav Gurjar

Red Bull`s Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix on Sunday and took a huge stride towards his second Formula One title after Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc made a costly mistake and crashed out while leading.

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton finished second for Mercedes in his 300th grand prix, with teammate George Russell third to secure their first podium double of the campaign.

The victory on a hot afternoon at Le Castellet was Verstappen`s seventh of the season and 27th of his career. 
It also left him a hefty 63 points -- more than two race wins -- clear of closest rival Leclerc at the top with 10 rounds remaining.

"I think we had really good pace from the start, I was putting pressure on Charles," said the Dutch 24-year-old, who also won at the southern Circuit Paul Ricard last year.

"Following around here, with this heat, the tyres are overheating a lot so I could never really go for a move - only once."

Leclerc had led away cleanly from pole position, with Verstappen close behind but needing six laps before he could get close enough to attempt a move.

While he pulled closer on the straights, Leclerc had an advantage through the corners and managed to remain just out of reach.

The Ferrari then appeared to be pulling away, but with some concern about tyre wear, as Verstappen made his first pitstop. And then it all changed on lap 18.

The Ferrari driver screamed in rage and frustration over the radio after his car spun mid-corner and plunged into the tyre barrier at the 11th corner, Le Beausset.

The Monegasque, hurting inside but otherwise intact, blamed only himself.

"I`ve been saying I think I`m performing at my highest level in my career but if I keep doing those mistakes then it`s pointless to perform at a very high level," he told Sky Sports television. "I`m losing too many points."

The safety car was deployed briefly but from then on Verstappen was able to do his race and look after the tyres without much trouble.

Red Bull`s Sergio Perez finished fourth, losing out to Russell three laps from the end and complaining over the radio that the Briton had repeatedly gone off.

Carlos Sainz was fifth for Ferrari after starting on the back row due to engine penalties and storming back through the field with a bonus point for fastest lap.

Sainz could have finished higher, having got himself up into the podium places, but the Spaniard had to serve a five-second penalty for an unsafe release in the pits.

Fernando Alonso was sixth for Renault-owned Alpine, ahead of McLaren`s Lando Norris.

Alpine`s Esteban Ocon was eighth, McLaren`s Daniel Ricciardo ninth and Lance Stroll took the final point in 10th for Aston Martin.

Red Bull`s Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix on Sunday and took a huge stride towards his second Formula One title after Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc made a costly mistake and crashed out while leading.

Red Bull`s Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix on Sunday and took a huge stride towards his second Formula One title after Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc made a costly mistake and crashed out while leading. Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton finished second for Mercedes in his 300th grand prix, with teammate George Russell third to secure their first podium double of the campaign. The victory on a hot afternoon at Le Castellet was Verstappen`s seventh of the season and 27th of his career. It also left him a hefty 63 points -- more than two race wins -- clear of closest rival Leclerc at the top with 10 rounds remaining. "I think we had really good pace from the start, I was putting pressure on Charles," said the Dutch 24-year-old, who also won at the southern Circuit Paul Ricard last year. "Following around here, with this heat, the tyres are overheating a lot so I could never really go for a move - only once." Leclerc had led away cleanly from pole position, with Verstappen close behind but needing six laps before he could get close enough to attempt a move. While he pulled closer on the straights, Leclerc had an advantage through the corners and managed to remain just out of reach. The Ferrari then appeared to be pulling away, but with some concern about tyre wear, as Verstappen made his first pitstop. And then it all changed on lap 18. The Ferrari driver screamed in rage and frustration over the radio after his car spun mid-corner and plunged into the tyre barrier at the 11th corner, Le Beausset. The Monegasque, hurting inside but otherwise intact, blamed only himself. "I`ve been saying I think I`m performing at my highest level in my career but if I keep doing those mistakes then it`s pointless to perform at a very high level," he told Sky Sports television. "I`m losing too many points." The safety car was deployed briefly but from then on Verstappen was able to do his race and look after the tyres without much trouble. Red Bull`s Sergio Perez finished fourth, losing out to Russell three laps from the end and complaining over the radio that the Briton had repeatedly gone off. Carlos Sainz was fifth for Ferrari after starting on the back row due to engine penalties and storming back through the field with a bonus point for fastest lap. Sainz could have finished higher, having got himself up into the podium places, but the Spaniard had to serve a five-second penalty for an unsafe release in the pits. Fernando Alonso was sixth for Renault-owned Alpine, ahead of McLaren`s Lando Norris. Alpine`s Esteban Ocon was eighth, McLaren`s Daniel Ricciardo ninth and Lance Stroll took the final point in 10th for Aston Martin.

Max Verstappen wins in French Grand Prix after Charles Leclerc crashes out

Former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and took refuge in Singapore with the country experiencing major food and fuel shortages. This is the worst economic crisis in Sri Lankan history since gaining independence in 1948 and it led to a massive public uproar against Rajapaksa and his government. Although Rajapaksa is currently in Singapore, a right group called the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has filed a complaint with the country’s attorney general seeking the arrest and trial of Rajapaksa for his role in the Sri Lankan civil war.

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According to a report by Reuters, there is no issues when it comes to jurisdiction as he was accused of breaching the Geneva Conventions when Sri Lanka was going through a civil war in 2009.

“The criminal complaint that has been filed is (based on) verifiable information on both the crimes that have been committed, but also on evidence really linking the individual in question, who is now in Singapore,” Alexandra Lily Kather, one of the lawyers for ITJP, told Reuters from Berlin.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-military-establishment-mulling-soft-intervention-amid-deepening-political-economic-crisis-report-500257" hreflang="en">Pak military establishment mulling 'soft intervention' amid deepening political, economic crisis: Report</a>

“Singapore really has a unique opportunity with this complaint, with its own law and with its own policy, to speak truth to power,” the report further quoted her as saying.

According to the authorities in Singapore, Rajapaksa has not asked for asylum from the government till now and currently, he is on a personal visit. Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka on July 12 and on the following day, he officially stepped down as the President.

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Former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and took refuge in Singapore with the country experiencing major food and fuel shortages. This is the worst economic crisis in Sri Lankan history since gaining independence in 1948 and it led to a massive public uproar against Rajapaksa and his government.

Former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and took refuge in Singapore with the country experiencing major food and fuel shortages. This is the worst economic crisis in Sri Lankan history since gaining independence in 1948 and it led to a massive public uproar against Rajapaksa and his government. Although Rajapaksa is currently in Singapore, a right group called the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has filed a complaint with the country’s attorney general seeking the arrest and trial of Rajapaksa for his role in the Sri Lankan civil war. Also read | Three dead in shooting at Philippines university graduation ceremony According to a report by Reuters, there is no issues when it comes to jurisdiction as he was accused of breaching the Geneva Conventions when Sri Lanka was going through a civil war in 2009. “The criminal complaint that has been filed is (based on) verifiable information on both the crimes that have been committed, but also on evidence really linking the individual in question, who is now in Singapore,” Alexandra Lily Kather, one of the lawyers for ITJP, told Reuters from Berlin. Also read | Pak military establishment mulling 'soft intervention' amid deepening political, economic crisis: Report “Singapore really has a unique opportunity with this complaint, with its own law and with its own policy, to speak truth to power,” the report further quoted her as saying. According to the authorities in Singapore, Rajapaksa has not asked for asylum from the government till now and currently, he is on a personal visit. Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka on July 12 and on the following day, he officially stepped down as the President. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Rights group lodges complaint against former Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Singapore

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urged youths to stay connected to their roots and appealed to all to protect the environment for the coming generations, saying mother nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet.

In his farewell address to the nation, Kovind emphasised that the country is getting equipped to make the 21st century "the century of India" and highlighted the importance of healthcare and education which along with economic reforms, he said, would enable citizens to pursue happiness by discovering their potential.

President-elect Droupadi Murmu will be sworn in as the country's 15th President on Monday.

In his last televised address to the nation, Kovind hailed India's democracy, saying it has created pathways to let each citizen take part in the shaping of our collective destiny.

The president said the nation is working with the objective of providing better housing, and access to drinking water and electricity for every family.

"This change has been made possible by the momentum of development and good governance which knows no discrimination," he said.

He said, "The pandemic has underlined the need to further improve the public healthcare infrastructure. I am glad that the government has accorded top priority to this task.

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"Once education and healthcare are in place, economic reforms will let citizens find the best course for their lives, he said, adding that "I firmly believe that our country is getting equipped to make the 21st century, the century of India".

He said the National Education Policy will go a long way in making it possible for young Indians to connect with their heritage and also find their feet in the twenty-first century.

The president made a special mention of the threat to the environment and asked all citizens to take care of it for future generations.

"Mother Nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet. We must take care of our environment, our land, air and water for the sake of our children.

"In our daily lives and routine choices, we must be more careful to protect our trees, rivers, seas and mountains as well as all other living beings. As the first citizen, if I have to give one advice to my fellow citizens, it has to be this," he added.

President Kovind also hailed the trinity of ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, saying they must not be mistaken as abstractions beacause they "are lofty, noble and uplifting".

"Our history, not only of modern times but also from ancient times, reminds us that they are real; that they can be realised, and indeed have been realised in different eras.

"Our ancestors and founders of our modern nation exemplified the meaning of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with hard work and an attitude of service. We only have to follow in their footsteps and keep walking," he said.

And what do such ideals mean for a common citizen today? Kovind asked.

"I believe the chief goal is to help them discover the joy of living. For that, first of all, their basic necessities must be taken care of," the president emphasised.

During his address, the president went down memory lane to highlight the inherent power of vibrant democratic institutions.

Kovind recalled his earlier days when the country had just achieved independence and said, "There was a fresh wave of energy to rebuild the country; there were new dreams. I too had a dream, that one day I would be able to participate in a meaningful way in this nation-building exercise".

"A young boy living in a mud house could not have any idea about the highest Constitutional office of the Republic. But it is a testament to the strength of India's democracy that it has created pathways to let each citizen take part in the shaping of our collective destiny.

"If that Ram Nath Kovind from village Paraunkh is addressing you today, it is solely thanks to the inherent power of our vibrant democratic institutions," he said.

In the speech on the eve of his completing five-year tenure as the president, Kovind said the founders of our modern nation exemplified the meaning of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with hard work and an attitude of service, and "we only have to follow in their footsteps and keep walking".

Kovind said the formal map for the democratic path "we all have been navigating was drafted by the Constituent Assembly" and the Constitution they prepared, with invaluable contributions from each of them, has been our guiding beacon.

"Values enshrined in it have been part of the Indian ethos since time immemorial," the outgoing president said and quoted Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's concluding remarks in the Constituent Assembly where he had pointed out the distinction between political and social democracy.

"What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life.

"These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy," Kovind quoted Ambedkar as having said.

President Kovind said in modern times, the glorious journey of the country commenced with the awakening of nationalist feelings during colonial rule and the launch of the freedom struggle.

"There were many uprisings across the country in the nineteenth century. The names of many of the heroes who brought hopes of new dawn have long been forgotten.

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"Contributions of some of them have come to be appreciated only in recent times. Around the turn of the century, the various struggles were coming together, creating a new consciousness," he said.

When Gandhiji returned to the motherland in 1915, the nationalist fervour was gaining momentum, Kovind said, mentioning Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Syama Prasad Mookerjee among others.

"From Tilak and Gokhale to Bhagat Singh and Netaji, from Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to Sarojini Naidu and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay? nowhere in the history of humankind have so many great minds come together for a common cause," he said.

Expressing deep gratitude to all fellow citizens and elected representatives, Kovind said he has been inspired and energised by interactions with farmers and workers from small villages, teachers shaping young minds, artists enriching our legacy, scholars investigating various facets of our country and business people creating wealth for the nation.

He also mentioned doctors and nurses serving the people, scientists and engineers engaged in nation-building, judges and advocates contributing to the justice delivery system of the country and civil servants who run the administration smoothly

"'Our social workers actively connecting every social segment with development, preachers and masters of all sects who maintain the flow of spirituality in Indian society ? you all have continuously helped me discharge my duties," he said.

"In short, I received full cooperation, support and blessings from all sections of society. I will especially cherish the occasions when I had an opportunity to meet our brave jawans of the armed forces, para-military forces and the police. Their patriotic zeal is as amazing, as it is inspiring," the president said.

Referring to his interaction with the Indian diaspora during his visits abroad, Kovind said he found their love and concern for the homeland very touching.

"All these re-affirm the belief that the nation is after all composed of its citizens; and with each of you striving to make India better and better, the nation's great future is secure," he said.

Kovind said that among the most memorable moments of his life has been visiting his home during his term and touching the feet of his teachers at Kanpur to seek their blessings.

"This year, the prime minister also honoured my village Paraunkh with his visit. This connection with our roots has been the essence of India. I would request the younger generation to continue this tradition of staying connected with their village or town, their schools and teachers," the president said.

Asserting that he has discharged his responsibilities to the best of his ability and has been conscious of being a successor to great icons like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr S Radhakrishnan and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Kovind said, "Still, whenever I was in doubt, I turned to Gandhiji and his famous talisman".

"His advice of recalling the face of the poorest man and asking myself if the step I am about to take will be of any use to him. At the risk of repeating myself, I will urge you to contemplate Gandhiji's life and teachings at least for a few minutes every day," he said.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urged youths to stay connected to their roots and appealed to all to protect the environment for the coming generations, saying mother nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urged youths to stay connected to their roots and appealed to all to protect the environment for the coming generations, saying mother nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet. In his farewell address to the nation, Kovind emphasised that the country is getting equipped to make the 21st century "the century of India" and highlighted the importance of healthcare and education which along with economic reforms, he said, would enable citizens to pursue happiness by discovering their potential. President-elect Droupadi Murmu will be sworn in as the country's 15th President on Monday. In his last televised address to the nation, Kovind hailed India's democracy, saying it has created pathways to let each citizen take part in the shaping of our collective destiny. The president said the nation is working with the objective of providing better housing, and access to drinking water and electricity for every family. "This change has been made possible by the momentum of development and good governance which knows no discrimination," he said. He said, "The pandemic has underlined the need to further improve the public healthcare infrastructure. I am glad that the government has accorded top priority to this task. Also read | Three dead in shooting at Philippines university graduation ceremony "Once education and healthcare are in place, economic reforms will let citizens find the best course for their lives, he said, adding that "I firmly believe that our country is getting equipped to make the 21st century, the century of India". He said the National Education Policy will go a long way in making it possible for young Indians to connect with their heritage and also find their feet in the twenty-first century. The president made a special mention of the threat to the environment and asked all citizens to take care of it for future generations. "Mother Nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis can endanger the very future of this planet. We must take care of our environment, our land, air and water for the sake of our children. "In our daily lives and routine choices, we must be more careful to protect our trees, rivers, seas and mountains as well as all other living beings. As the first citizen, if I have to give one advice to my fellow citizens, it has to be this," he added. President Kovind also hailed the trinity of ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, saying they must not be mistaken as abstractions beacause they "are lofty, noble and uplifting". "Our history, not only of modern times but also from ancient times, reminds us that they are real; that they can be realised, and indeed have been realised in different eras. "Our ancestors and founders of our modern nation exemplified the meaning of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with hard work and an attitude of service. We only have to follow in their footsteps and keep walking," he said. And what do such ideals mean for a common citizen today? Kovind asked. "I believe the chief goal is to help them discover the joy of living. For that, first of all, their basic necessities must be taken care of," the president emphasised. During his address, the president went down memory lane to highlight the inherent power of vibrant democratic institutions. Kovind recalled his earlier days when the country had just achieved independence and said, "There was a fresh wave of energy to rebuild the country; there were new dreams. I too had a dream, that one day I would be able to participate in a meaningful way in this nation-building exercise". "A young boy living in a mud house could not have any idea about the highest Constitutional office of the Republic. But it is a testament to the strength of India's democracy that it has created pathways to let each citizen take part in the shaping of our collective destiny. "If that Ram Nath Kovind from village Paraunkh is addressing you today, it is solely thanks to the inherent power of our vibrant democratic institutions," he said. In the speech on the eve of his completing five-year tenure as the president, Kovind said the founders of our modern nation exemplified the meaning of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with hard work and an attitude of service, and "we only have to follow in their footsteps and keep walking". Kovind said the formal map for the democratic path "we all have been navigating was drafted by the Constituent Assembly" and the Constitution they prepared, with invaluable contributions from each of them, has been our guiding beacon. "Values enshrined in it have been part of the Indian ethos since time immemorial," the outgoing president said and quoted Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's concluding remarks in the Constituent Assembly where he had pointed out the distinction between political and social democracy. "What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. "These principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy," Kovind quoted Ambedkar as having said. President Kovind said in modern times, the glorious journey of the country commenced with the awakening of nationalist feelings during colonial rule and the launch of the freedom struggle. "There were many uprisings across the country in the nineteenth century. The names of many of the heroes who brought hopes of new dawn have long been forgotten. Also read | Missiles destroyed Ukrainian military infrastructure in Odessa, claims Russia "Contributions of some of them have come to be appreciated only in recent times. Around the turn of the century, the various struggles were coming together, creating a new consciousness," he said. When Gandhiji returned to the motherland in 1915, the nationalist fervour was gaining momentum, Kovind said, mentioning Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Syama Prasad Mookerjee among others. "From Tilak and Gokhale to Bhagat Singh and Netaji, from Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to Sarojini Naidu and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay? nowhere in the history of humankind have so many great minds come together for a common cause," he said. Expressing deep gratitude to all fellow citizens and elected representatives, Kovind said he has been inspired and energised by interactions with farmers and workers from small villages, teachers shaping young minds, artists enriching our legacy, scholars investigating various facets of our country and business people creating wealth for the nation. He also mentioned doctors and nurses serving the people, scientists and engineers engaged in nation-building, judges and advocates contributing to the justice delivery system of the country and civil servants who run the administration smoothly "'Our social workers actively connecting every social segment with development, preachers and masters of all sects who maintain the flow of spirituality in Indian society ? you all have continuously helped me discharge my duties," he said. "In short, I received full cooperation, support and blessings from all sections of society. I will especially cherish the occasions when I had an opportunity to meet our brave jawans of the armed forces, para-military forces and the police. Their patriotic zeal is as amazing, as it is inspiring," the president said. Referring to his interaction with the Indian diaspora during his visits abroad, Kovind said he found their love and concern for the homeland very touching. "All these re-affirm the belief that the nation is after all composed of its citizens; and with each of you striving to make India better and better, the nation's great future is secure," he said. Kovind said that among the most memorable moments of his life has been visiting his home during his term and touching the feet of his teachers at Kanpur to seek their blessings. "This year, the prime minister also honoured my village Paraunkh with his visit. This connection with our roots has been the essence of India. I would request the younger generation to continue this tradition of staying connected with their village or town, their schools and teachers," the president said. Asserting that he has discharged his responsibilities to the best of his ability and has been conscious of being a successor to great icons like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr S Radhakrishnan and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Kovind said, "Still, whenever I was in doubt, I turned to Gandhiji and his famous talisman". "His advice of recalling the face of the poorest man and asking myself if the step I am about to take will be of any use to him. At the risk of repeating myself, I will urge you to contemplate Gandhiji's life and teachings at least for a few minutes every day," he said.

Protect environment for future generations: President Kovind in his farewell message to nation

In pics - Emergency declared as wildfire rages near Yosemite National Park

Imagine three stars orbiting each other in deep space with each of them being the size of at least 12 suns! That is the discovery that has become a popular topic among astronomers who are looking to use the information to understand the cosmos a bit better.

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The triple star system was described by experts as “something that is unlike anything that has been seen before” and according to the research published in the Royal Astronomical Society’s Monthly Notices, the researchers believe that there was a fourth star in the system, but it was most probably “eaten” by the other three stars.

“As far as we know, it is the first of its kind ever detected. We know of many tertiary star systems (three-star systems), but they are typically significantly less massive. The massive stars in this triple are very close together – it is a compact system,” Alejandro Vigna-Gomez, one of the main authors of the study and postdoc at the Niels Bohr International Academy, said in a press statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-sinkhole-opens-up-in-swimming-pool-dragging-man-into-43-foot-deep-hole-1-killed-500165" hreflang="en">Watch: Sinkhole opens up in swimming pool, dragging man into 43-foot-deep hole; 1 killed</a>

At first, the researchers thought that the system had two stars, but citizen scientists were able to track the third star using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) observatory.

It is not common for triple star systems to exist in deep space with NASA putting the estimate within ten percent of the total star systems in the universe at this point. The first discovery of this kind was made in September 2021, but this system is larger than any prior discovery in this field.

Imagine three stars orbiting each other in deep space with each of them being the size of at least 12 suns! That is the discovery that has become a popular topic among astronomers who are looking to use the information to understand the cosmos a bit better.

Imagine three stars orbiting each other in deep space with each of them being the size of at least 12 suns! That is the discovery that has become a popular topic among astronomers who are looking to use the information to understand the cosmos a bit better. Also read | Watch: Chess-playing robot goes rogue, breaks boy’s finger during tournament in Moscow The triple star system was described by experts as “something that is unlike anything that has been seen before” and according to the research published in the Royal Astronomical Society’s Monthly Notices, the researchers believe that there was a fourth star in the system, but it was most probably “eaten” by the other three stars. “As far as we know, it is the first of its kind ever detected. We know of many tertiary star systems (three-star systems), but they are typically significantly less massive. The massive stars in this triple are very close together – it is a compact system,” Alejandro Vigna-Gomez, one of the main authors of the study and postdoc at the Niels Bohr International Academy, said in a press statement. Also read | Watch: Sinkhole opens up in swimming pool, dragging man into 43-foot-deep hole; 1 killed At first, the researchers thought that the system had two stars, but citizen scientists were able to track the third star using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) observatory. It is not common for triple star systems to exist in deep space with NASA putting the estimate within ten percent of the total star systems in the universe at this point. The first discovery of this kind was made in September 2021, but this system is larger than any prior discovery in this field.

'First of its kind': Triple star system detected by astronomers in deep space

Three&nbsp;people were killed while two were injured in a shooting that took place during a university graduation ceremony in Manila, the capital city of Philippines, on Sunday, police officials said. The authorities have already taken a suspect in custody and Remus Medina, the Quezon City police chief, told CNN Philippines that investigation is underway, and the suspect is being questioned.

“What we can confirm is that two are confirmed dead — the guard is an unidentified man who was there at the Ateneo, then there are two wounded, we are getting their identities, plus the one who was rushed to the hospital, we don’t know yet if what is his status,” Medina said in the interview.

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Roderick Augustus Alba, head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office, held an official briefing for the media and confirmed that the suspect is being questioned.

“Suspect is already under custody,” Alba told reporters.

“We are still getting more facts. Investigation is still ongoing,” he added.

According to the police reports, the incident took place at the Ateneo de Manila University. The university expressed grief over the incident and said that the ceremony was cancelled.

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“Shooting incident at C5 Katipunan ave. Ateneo gate 3 NB as of 2:55 PM. PNP on site,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) wrote on Twitter according to CNN Philippines.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo was the main guest for the graduation ceremony, but the shooting took place before he reached the venue.

“He was still in transit when the shooting happened and was advised to turn back. The Chief Justice is safe,” Supreme Court spokesperson Brian Hosaka told INSIDER.net.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

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Three people were killed while two were injured in a shooting that took place during a university graduation ceremony in Manila, the capital city of Philippines, on Sunday, police officials said.

Three people were killed while two were injured in a shooting that took place during a university graduation ceremony in Manila, the capital city of Philippines, on Sunday, police officials said. The authorities have already taken a suspect in custody and Remus Medina, the Quezon City police chief, told CNN Philippines that investigation is underway, and the suspect is being questioned. “What we can confirm is that two are confirmed dead — the guard is an unidentified man who was there at the Ateneo, then there are two wounded, we are getting their identities, plus the one who was rushed to the hospital, we don’t know yet if what is his status,” Medina said in the interview. Also read | Missiles destroyed Ukrainian military infrastructure in Odessa, claims Russia Roderick Augustus Alba, head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office, held an official briefing for the media and confirmed that the suspect is being questioned. “Suspect is already under custody,” Alba told reporters. “We are still getting more facts. Investigation is still ongoing,” he added. According to the police reports, the incident took place at the Ateneo de Manila University. The university expressed grief over the incident and said that the ceremony was cancelled. Also read | Pak military mulling 'soft intervention' amid deepening crisis: Report “Shooting incident at C5 Katipunan ave. Ateneo gate 3 NB as of 2:55 PM. PNP on site,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) wrote on Twitter according to CNN Philippines. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo was the main guest for the graduation ceremony, but the shooting took place before he reached the venue. “He was still in transit when the shooting happened and was advised to turn back. The Chief Justice is safe,” Supreme Court spokesperson Brian Hosaka told INSIDER.net. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Three dead in shooting at Philippines university graduation ceremony, suspect in custody

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