CEO of OYO, Ritesh Agarwal, shared that the hospitality chain recorded an 80 per cent increase in users searching for stays in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, the birthplace of Lord Ram, on December 31.

CEO of OYO, Ritesh Agarwal, shared that the hospitality chain recorded an 80 per cent increase in users searching for stays in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, the birthplace of Lord Ram, on December 31. Ahead of the inauguration of the grand Ram temple in the holy city, Ayodhya also saw a 70 per cent jump in app users, surpassing Goa and Nainital. Ritesh Agarwal shared the insights on X. He wrote, "80 per cent more users are searching for stays in Ayodhya today! Seeing one of the highest spikes." In another post on X, he wrote, "Holy destinations are now India's favourite destinations! Ayodhya saw a 70 per cent jump in OYO app users vs Goa (50%) and Nainital (60%). Spiritual tourism will be one of the biggest growth drivers of the tourism industry in the next five years." On December 31, people assembled at Ayodhya's famous Lata Mangeshkar Chowk to celebrate New Year's Eve. As the clock struck midnight, people gathered and cheered "Happy New Year." They also chanted "Jai Shri Ram." ALSO READ | India's Gujarat welcomes 2024 by performing mass Surya Namaskar yoga pose, sets world record. Watch Hospitality major OYO also witnessed the highest-ever booking on New Year's Eve 2023 compared to previous years. "Last-minute plans are driving global tourism. Between December 30 and 31 this year, we received 230k+ last-minute bookings globally," OYO's CEO posted on X. According to him, OYO received over 620,000 bookings for New Year's Eve 2023. "We are up by 37 per cent from last year as last-minute bookings rise," he added. Agarwal's post has garnered over 3.8 lakh views and 8,000 likes. The post comes ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ayodhya's grand Ram Mandir on January 22. ALSO READ | Strange! Pond stolen overnight in India's Bihar, hut constructed over it Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram's idol. PM Modi inaugurated the Ayodhya Dham Railway Station and Maharishi Valmiki International Airport on December 30. He also addressed a massive gathering on the same day, requesting devotees across the nation not to rush to Ayodhya for the grand consecration ceremony. "I have a request for everyone. Everyone has a wish to come to Ayodhya to be a part of the event on January 22. But you know everyone can't come. Therefore, I request all Ram devotees to come to Ayodhya at their convenience once the formal programme is over on January 22," PM Modi said. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Ayodhya surpasses Goa and Nainital in OYO app users on New Year’s Eve, says CEO Ritesh Agarwal

Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong's flagship carrier, has cancelled another 28 year-end flights after it called off at least 16 flights over the Christmas holiday.

Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong's flagship carrier, has cancelled another 28 year-end flights after it called off at least 16 flights over the Christmas holiday. The flights cancelled over the next five days were between Hong Kong and six cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Dubai, Delhi and Dhaka. During the Christmas holiday season, Cathay Pacific cancelled long-haul flights, including the ones from London and Amsterdam, South China Morning Post reported. On Monday, the airline said, "We have chosen to proactively cancel a small number of flights to ensure the successful delivery of our overall services." Cathay Pacific apologised to its passengers for the cancelled flights. On Saturday, Chris Kempis, the director of flight operations, said in an internal memo that the airline operated nearly eight per cent more service per day during the Christmas and New Year holiday period despite having cancelled less than one per cent of flights since mid-December. ALSO READ | Meet Denmark's future queen, Australian-born Mary Donaldson The Hong Kong airline has also mentioned the reason behind cancelling these flights. On Monday, the airline said, "The cancellations were due to higher than expected absence caused by seasonal illness on certain days." They proactively cancelled some flights "to ensure the successful delivery of our overall services." Kempis addressed the issue of pilots taking sick leaves on certain days. He acknowledged that the pilots have worked hard throughout the year and have either reached or are very close to their 900 flying hours in the last 12 months. A pilot from Cathay Pacific told SCMP that the airline might continue to cancel flights due to the shortage of experienced cockpit crew. The pilot has accused Cathay Pacific of not having enough staff to handle the operating flights within the allotted hours. "To make a short haul roster hit 900 hours, we are doing several take-offs and landings that we have never seen before," he said. He warned that extending the flight time limitation beyond 900 hours in 12 months would lead to more pilots quitting. "Other airlines spent years to retain their workforce and experienced [staff], but Cathay Pacific is chasing people away," he said. Pilots at Cathay Pacific also complained about not having "a work-life balance." Furthermore, the Hong Kong airline has extended cost-cutting contracts to the employees, which for pilots means slashed salaries by 40 per cent and reduced housing and retirement benefits. (With inputs from agencies)

Cathay Pacific has cancelled at least 40 flights since Christmas Eve. Here's why

2024 is a leap year. It means this year will have 366 days instead of 365, and the second month, February, will have 29 days instead of 28. Generally, a leap year comes every four years.

2024 is a leap year. It means this year will have 366 days instead of 365, and the second month, February, will have 29 days instead of 28. Generally, a leap year comes every four years. The last leap year was 2020, while the next leap year will be 2028. However, many are unaware a leap year does not come every four years, making a few years an exception. Here's everything you need to know about a leap year, its calculation, its origin, and the exceptions to this 'every four-year' rule. Leap Year: Why do we need it? A year in the solar calendar depicts one revolution the Earth makes around the Sun. The Earth takes 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds to complete one revolution around the Sun. Thus, scholars, engaged by Roman General Julius Caesar in 46 BC, rounded the year to 365 days. They multiplied the remaining six hours by four to make it 24 hours (one day) and added it to every fourth year. This way, they made up for the extra time and introduced the concept of the leap year to account for variations in crop cycles and seasons that occurred at different times of the year, which confused people. ALSO READ | Child onboard 'donkey flight' not missing, reports are false: Gujarat top cop Not Every Fourth Year Is A Leap Year There's an exception to the leap year rule. Since, the six hours used for calculation differed from the actual 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, adding an extra year did not solve the entire problem. It made the solar year slightly shorter than the calendar year. In the 16th century, Pope Gregory XIII ordered the cancellation of ten days from the calendar on October 4 to compensate for the accumulated ten extra days. After the declaration, October 15 came the very next day. However, his one-time drastic action did not solve the accuracy issue. Later, scholars decided that about one leap year, every century would not have 366 days to manage the extra day. They chose years ending with 00 for this. However, this threw the calculations out of whack. Later, it was decided that the years ending with 00, which were divisible by 400, would be called leap years. Thus, 1900 and 2100 will not count as leap years, but 2000 will. (With inputs from agencies)

2024 is a leap year. But not every fourth year is a leap year. Here's why

Cold weather will persist in several regions of north India for the next few days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest forecast. However, it will gradually diminish in intensity in subsequent days.

Cold weather will persist in several regions of north India for the next few days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest forecast. However, it will gradually diminish in intensity in subsequent days. According to the IMD forecast, 'dense' to 'very dense' fog will continue across northwest and east India for three days. After that, the fog's intensity will decrease. However, dense fog might prevail in some regions of Punjab till January 5. Delhi weather forecast In India's national capital Delhi, the maximum temperature will be 19 degrees Celsius on January 7, and the minimum will be around nine degrees Celsius on January 2 and January 6, the IMD forecast said. The foggy weather in Delhi caused delay of 26 trains on Tuesday (Jan 2), according to a nrotice issued by the Indian Railways. The weather department has predicted that Delhi will see an improvement in the fog situation, even as clear skies and shallow fog will prevail in the capital city in the coming week. ALSO READ | Ram idol carved by sculptor Arun Yogiraj selected for Ayodhya's Ram temple Cold wave and rainfall weather forecast The Meteorological Department has predicted a plunge in temperature in many parts of Central India, along with a cold wave, between January 5 and January 11. Madhya Pradesh, northern regions of Maharashtra, and southern parts of Uttar Pradesh will witness a drop in night temperature. Cold conditions will also surge in neighbouring areas of Haryana and Rajasthan. Furthermore, IMD has predicted light to moderate rainfall in some regions of south Tamil Nadu, south Kerala, and Lakshadweep in the next three to four days. Light to isolated rainfall is also probable over Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh from January 2 to 5. ALSO READ | India: Ayodhya surpasses Goa and Nainital in OYO app users on New Year's Eve, says CEO Ritesh Agarwal In January 2024, the monthly minimum temperature will be 'above normal' over most parts of India, except some regions in north India, where 'normal' to 'below normal' temperatures will prevail, according to Director General of Meteorology, Mrityunjay Mohapatra. He added, "Seasonal rainfall over the country from January to March is most likely to be above normal. Normal to above normal seasonal rainfall is likely to prevail over most parts of the country except parts of extreme south peninsular India, extreme northwest and northeast India where below normal rainfall is likely." (With inputs from agencies)

India Weather update: Delhi to get relief from fog soon, cold wave to worsen in some states

A couple in New Jersey welcomed twin boys in two different years, as one was born in 2023, while the other arrived in 2024. While one of the twins arrived on 31 December 2023, the other came on 1 January 2024 at the Virtua Voorhees Hospital in New Jersey.

A couple in New Jersey welcomed twin boys in two different years, as one was born in 2023, while the other arrived in 2024. While one of the twins arrived on 31 December 2023, the other came on 1 January 2024 at the Virtua Voorhees Hospital in New Jersey. The hospital said in a news release, "Older brother Ezra was born at 11:48 pm on New Year's Eve, weighing 6 pounds and measuring 18¾ inches long. Slightly younger brother Ezekial was born at 12:28 am on New Year's Day, weighing 4 pounds and measuring 17¼ inches long." The couple, Eve and Billy, were delighted that the twin boys were healthy and would have an amusing story to tell on their future birthdays. The Merchantville family has a history of New Year's babies. What's more surprising is that Ezra shared his birthday with his father, Billy, who's also a New Year baby. However, Ezra and Ezekial are the not only twins born in different years. The Morris family also welcomed twins as they transitioned into 2024. Aliyah Kiyomi Morris gave birth to twins at the Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. She gave birth to her son, Seven Morris, at 11:59 pm GMT, with only one minute left for 2023 to end. Seven's sister, Souli Morris, was born three minutes after him on the first day of 2024. Both babies weighed six pounds and nine ounces. ALSO READ | Hundreds of thousands of Indian nationals to be affected as UK bans dependents of foreign students Last year, the Scott family in Texas welcomed twin girls Annie JO and Effie Rose in different years. Annie Jo was born at 11:55 pm GMT on 31 December 2022, her mother Kali Scott told ABC News. Her sister, Effie Rose, was born on 1 January 2023. Both girls weighed around five pounds and five ounces. Another set of fraternal twins born in California achieved the rare feat on New Year 2022. Alfredo Antonia Trujillo and Aylin Yolanda Trujillo arrived on two different days and years. While Alfredo was born on 31 December 2021 at 11:45 pm, Aylin was born on 1 January 2022 at the stroke of midnight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCP), over 120,000 twin births occur annually in the United States. Thus, three per cent of all births in the US are twin births. However, twin births in different years during the New Year season are rare. (With inputs from agencies)

Double miracle: New Jersey welcomes twins born a year apart, as does Connecticut

Blend a ripe banana, a spoonful of peanut butter, yoghurt, and a splash of milk for a nutritious and tasty smoothie.


Mix rolled oats, honey, chopped nuts, and a generous portion of peanut butter. Then, press the mixture into a pan, refrigerate, and cut into bars for a wholesome snack. 


Mix oats, chia seeds, honey, and peanut butter to form small energy-packed bites. 


Marinate chicken chunks in peanut butter, garlic, and soy sauce before threading them onto skewers. Then, grill for a savoury and protein-rich meal. 

Blend frozen bananas, cocoa powder, and peanut butter for a smoothie bowl. Top it with your favourite fruits and nuts.


Slice apples and arrange them on a plate. Drizzle with warm peanut butter and sprinkle with granola, creating a delicious and healthy dessert alternative. 


Here are seven easy-to-make dishes that elevate the use of peanut butter in your kitchen:

7 Easy-To-Make Peanut Butter Dishes

In 2023, space exploration reached new heights, and the new year, 2024, promises to be just as exciting.


NASA plans to launch Artemis 2 in November 2024. It will send four astronauts around the Moon on a ten-day lunar flyby. 


NASA will send several landers to the Moon in 2024, including VIPER (a soil sample prospector), PRIME-1 (to perform chemical analysis of ice samples), and Blue Ghost Mission 1 (to analyse the heat flow of the lunar interior). China also plans to launch Chang'e 6, a robotic lunar exploration mission.


Japan will send Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) in 2024 to Phobos, the largest moon orbiting Mars. Moreover, NASA will launch the Europa Clipper in October will orbit Jupiter and perform a series of flybys of Europa, one of the planet's 90 moons. 


In October 2024, ESA's Hera will launch towards two asteroids called Didymos and Dimorphos. Hera's mission follows NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which affected Dimorphos and changed its orbit in 2022.


Sierra Space, an aerospace company, will launch Dream Chaser, a reusable spaceplane that launches on the back of a rocket. 


ISRO's success with Chandrayaan 3 and Aditya L-1 has set the stage for another exciting year. India has planned many space missions, including Gaganyaan 1, Mangalyaan-2, and Shukrayaan-1. 


In 2023, space exploration reached new heights, and the new year, 2024, promises to be just as exciting.

What’s In Store For Space In 2024?

Combine Japanese and Mexican cuisine by filling crispy taco shells with fresh sushi ingredients like raw fish, avocado, and spicy mayo.


Transform the traditional pizza by infusing it with the exotic flavours of mango curry. The sweetness of ripe mango complements the savoury elements of curry, creating a unique and delightful combination.


Spice up your New Year's Eve with a Korean-Mexican fusion. Stuff your quesadillas with kimchi, a fermented Korean side dish, for a zesty kick.


Give the classic Spanish paella a twist by rolling its vibrant flavours into a crunchy spring roll. Saffron-infused rice, seafood, and chorizo come together in a portable and delicious package.

Merge Japanese teriyaki with Mexican street food by filling tacos with succulent teriyaki chicken, shredded cabbage, and a drizzle of teriyaki sauce.


Italian arancini meets Indian curry in this delectable fusion. Stuff risotto balls with curry-spiced filling and fry them to golden perfection.


Wrap delicate mochi ice cream in thin crepes for a fusion dessert that blends Japanese mochi with French-inspired crepes, creating a sweet and chewy indulgence.


Here are seven fusion dishes to make your year-end feast unforgettable:

7 Fusion Recipes To Try This New Year 

The customs department of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, arrested two passengers trying to smuggle foreign-origin gold. According to the airport officials, it was the biggest haul of 2023.

The customs department of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, arrested two passengers trying to smuggle foreign-origin gold. According to the airport officials, it was the biggest haul of 2023. There were two separate cases at the airport, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) said in a post on X. In the first incident, customs officials found gold inside a coffee machine. The passenger arrived in India from Dubai, and the total value of the 3.494 kg recovered gold was around ₹2 crore ($264,508). In the second case, the officials recovered gold in paste form inside the rectum of another passenger travelling from Sharjah. Customs Commisionerate, Lucknow, posted on X, "On 31.12.2023 officers of CCSI Airport Lucknow seized 554 gms of Foreign origin gold valued at Rs. 0.35 Cr ($42080). from a passenger arriving from Sharjah by flight no 6E1424. The gold in paste form was concealed in the rectum of the pax." CBIC has also shared a video of customs officials using a hammer to break the coffee machine and recover two cylindrical gold bars. Since 2018, the Lucknow airport's customs department has reportedly arrested over a hundred passengers and seized around 255 kg of gold worth from smugglers. On 31.12.2023 officers of CCSI Airport Lucknow seized 3494 gms foreign origin gold valued at Rs. 2.20 Cr. from a pax arriving from Dubai by flight No IX-194. The gold was concealed in the coffee making machine. pic.twitter.com/3UfBY9ouij — Lucknow Customs (Prev) Commissionerate (@cusprevlucknow) December 31, 2023 × ALSO READ | India's anti-terror agency NIA achieved 95 pc conviction rate in 2023 However, it is not the first time the customs department has found gold from a passenger's rectum. In July 2023, customs officials of the Cochin International Airport arrested a passenger named Muhammad Ali Gafoor, travelling from Malaysia to Kochi, trying to smuggle two capsule-shaped packets containing gold in paste concealed inside his rectum. Officials also discovered two crude gold chains in his handbag. People have started concealing gold in paste form to avoid metal detectors at the airport. In August 2023, officials at the Cochin airport arrested a man travelling from Dubai, trying to smuggle four capsule-shaped packets weighing 1111.25 grams inside his rectum. However, the rectum is not the only type of body concealment people use. In August 2022, customs officials of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi booked a passenger from Abu Dhabi carrying gold worth ₹30.55 lakhs ($over 36,000) concealed inside his wig and rectum. People have used rectum to smuggle all sorts of contraband. In October 2023, officials at Delhi airport arrested a Kenyan passenger travelling from Addis Ababa who concealed seven capsules containing 455g of cocaine worth ₹6.83 crore in her rectum cavity. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Two passengers arrested for smuggling gold in rectum and coffee machine

David Warner ODI Retirement: Career Timeline And Records

David Warner has announced retirement from one-day international cricket before Australia's farewell test against Pakistan. However, the skipper will keep himself available for the 2025 Champions Trophy.


Warner's first ODI match was in January 2009 against South Africa in Hobart.


Warner has played 161 ODI matches in his cricketing career, 18th-highest by any Australian.


Warner is also the sixth-highest run-scorer in ODIs for Australia (6,932 runs).


In his ODI career, Warner scored 22 centuries, the second-highest by any Australian. He also stands eighth in the list of highest ODI centuries.


In 2013, he was suspended after an altercation with Joe Root at a bar following a Champions Trophy match


David Warner has scored 24 fours in a single ODI innings, fourth-highest of all time.


David Warner has announced retirement from one-day international cricket before Australia's farewell test against Pakistan.

UAE vs AFG 3rd T20I Live Streaming: United Arab Emirates will clash with Afghanistan in the third and final UAE vs AFG match of the T20I series. In the previous game, UAE defeated Afghanistan by 11 runs, drawing the series 1-1.

UAE vs AFG 3rd T20I Live Streaming: United Arab Emirates will clash with Afghanistan in the third and final UAE vs AFG match of the T20I series. In the previous game, UAE defeated Afghanistan by 11 runs, drawing the series 1-1. However, in the first T20I match, Afghanistan won by 72 runs. So far, UAE and Afghanistan have clashed in 10 T20I matches, eight of which Afghanistan has won. Sharjah Cricket Stadium will host the third T20I between the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan. The ground has short boundaries and a slow pitch. Despite the slow pitch, the proximity of the boundaries has enabled batters to score runs. Therefore, the captain who wins the toss might choose to field first. The upcoming match between UAE and AFG is crucial as it will decide the winner of the series. Here's everything you need to know about the live-streaming details of the UAE vs AFG 3rd T20I match. When is the 3rd T20I match between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan (AFG)? The United Arab Emirates (UAE) vs Afghanistan (AFG) 3rd T20I match is on Tuesday (Jan 2). Where is the 3rd T20I match between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan (AFG)? Sharjah Cricket Stadium will host the United Arab Emirates (UAE) vs Afghanistan (AFG) 3rd T20I match. When will the 3rd T20I match between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan (AFG) start? The United Arab Emirates (UAE) vs Afghanistan (AFG) 3rd T20I will commence at 07:30 pm IST on Tuesday (Jan 2). Where can I watch the United Arab Emirates (UAE) vs Afghanistan (AFG) 3rd T20I live on TV? The United Arab Emirates (UAE) vs Afghanistan (AFG) 3rd T20I will not be televised in India. How can I watch the live streaming of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) vs Afghanistan (AFG) in India? Subscribers of FanCode can watch the United Arab Emirates (UAE) vs Afghanistan (AFG) 3rd T20I match LIVE on their app and website. UAE vs AFG 3rd T20I Probable Playing XI United Arab Emirates (UAE) Muhammad Waseem (c), Aryan Lakra, Vriitya Aravind, Tanish Suri (wk), Basil Hameed, Samal Udawaththa, Ali Naseer, Aayan Afzal Khan, Nilansh Keswani, Muhammad Jawadullah, Junaid Siddique Afghanistan (AFG) Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Qais Ahmad, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi (With inputs from agencies)

UAE vs AFG 3rd T20I Live Streaming: How to watch United Arab Emirates vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I LIVE in India

The Indian state of Bihar has been making headlines recently for its bizarre thefts. After a bridge and a train engine, thieves stole an entire pond. Locals of the Darbhanga district were baffled as the pond vanished and someone built a hut over the leftover area.

The Indian state of Bihar has been making headlines recently for its bizarre thefts. After a bridge and a train engine, thieves stole an entire pond. Locals of the Darbhanga district were baffled as the pond vanished and someone built a hut over the leftover area. The sudden appearance of a hut prompted locals to inform the police. However, the land mafia, accused of taking over the pond, escaped before the police arrived, NDTV reported. The residents said the pond was a public property used and maintained for fishing and other activities. However, the surge in land prices in Darbhanga made the land mafia set their eyes on the water body. The locals complained to the authorities after which the zonal officials tried to stop the pond-filing work, but the land mafia continued their work in the dark until the pond was gone. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Amit Kumar said, "People say the pond was filled with soil within 10-15 days. The work was done only at night. Officials had visited the spot earlier and even seized some items." ALSO READ | India: Two passengers arrested for smuggling gold in rectum and coffee machine Bihar has witnessed some of the most weird thefts in past years. In November 2022, some thieves stole an entire diesel engine part by part from a railway yard in Begusarai. As per the cops, thieves dug a tunnel into the yard and started stealing the engine's parts. Gradually, they stole the whole engine, which had come for repairs to the railway yard. In another incident, thieves stole a 60-foot bridge in Rohtas district. The police arrested eight people, including a government officer, and recovered 247 kilograms of iron channels from the accused. Thieves made the bridge disappear in three days, using JCBs and gas cutters to dismantle it. The 500-ton bridge, constructed in 1972 over the Arrah canal in Amiyawar village, was in the Nasriganj police station area. In April 2023, thieves stole an entire mobile tower in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, installed on a residential building. When officials came to investigate the scene, the resident told them that a few people, claiming to be employees of GTAL, had taken the tower, saying that it was not functional. They removed all the equipment, loaded it on a pick-up van and took it. The estimated value of the stolen equipment was $5,400 (₹4.5 lakhs). However, it was not the first time thieves pulled off a tower heist in Bihar. In Patna, the capital city, a mobile tower was stolen in the Sabji Bagh area. (With inputs from agencies)

Strange! Pond stolen overnight in India's Bihar, hut constructed over it

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