Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe:The monsoon session of the Indian Parliament begins in the national capital. A total of 15 sittings are expected to take place till the 11th of August as per the bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. There are 21 new bills and seven old bills listed for discussion during the monsoon session of the parliament. Here are some of the bills that are expected to be discussed today.

India: Parliament's Monsoon session begins

Another week of intense rains, another round of destruction. As monsoon fury refuses to ebb, how are people coping with nature's wrath? Watch WION Wideangle. From Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand, Delhi, Gujarat, Assam, and Maharashtra-India continues to battle floods and landslides.

India: Battling Floods and Landslides

Heavy rainfall is battering India and Pakistan again. Monsoon is the second wave, which is hitting cities in both nations, leading to flooding and water-logging in urban areas. The four-month monsoon season, which begins in June, is not even halfway.

Rainfall in India and Pakistan

India's plans to expand its coal-powered steel-making capacity could lead to a quadruple increase in emissions between 2021 and 2050. However, as per a report by US-based think tank, India can still reach its net zero emissions goal by 2070 if it takes significant steps to address the issue.

India's steel making industry risks its net zero targets

The monsoon session of the Indian Parliament has begun in the national capital. A total of 15 sittings are expected to take place till the 11th of August as per the bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. There are 21 new bills and seven old bills listed for discussion during the monsoon session of the parliament. Here are some of the bills that are expected to be discussed today.

The monsoon session of the Indian Parliament begins in the new Parliament building

<p>At least five people lost their lives and many others were feared trapped after a mountain village was hit by a landslide in India's western state of Maharashtra after the region was soaked by incessant rain, said the state officials on Thursday (July 20).</p>

<p>The landslide took place in the middle of the night in Irshalwadi, a small mountain village around 60 km from Mumbai, stated media reports citing officials.</p>

<p>"A total of 48 families lived there. Around 75 people have been evacuated and five people have died so far," said Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Twitter.</p>

<p>According to initial reports, around 100 people have been trapped under the debris and efforts are being made by the rescue workers to find survivors in heavy rain as relatives of the victims wait at the base of the mountain for news of their safety.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/destruction-havoc-loss-of-lives-why-monsoon-rains-turned-furious-in-north-india-613924">Destruction, havoc, loss of lives: Why have monsoon rains turned ferocious in North India?</a></p>

<p>"The problem here is that at some places the rubble is almost 20 to 30 feet deep and it has to be manually removed," said an unidentified rescue official, while speaking to ABP Majha channel.</p>

<p>Speaking to The Indian Express, Industries Minister Uday Samant said that search operations are going on and 75 people have been rescued so far.</p>

<p>“The incident occurred at 10:30 in the night at a place adjoining Irsalgad in Raigad district. It is a very remote inaccessible area which is hampering rescue attempts. As of now 4 people have died and 25 people have been rescued. More people are feared to be trapped and NDRF and district administration is making attempts to rescue people,” said Minister Samant.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Around 15-20 houses buried under debris&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The NDRF informed that the landslide has buried more than 15-20 houses under the debris.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Of the total 40 houses in the village, 17 have been affected. We have deployed four teams to conduct the rescue operations. The debris at some of the places is 10 to 29 feet deep. It is difficult to bring heavy machinery to this place. It is a 2.8 km trek to reach the spot and we have to remove the debris manually which is likely to take a lot of time. While we are facing difficulties, we will continue our operations till we retrieve the last person,” said SB Singh, Commandant of the fifth battalion of the NDRF, speaking to The Indian Express.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maharashtra's Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was present at the site, while speaking to the reporters said that the officials were not able to figure the exact number of people trapped.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Flood Threat: Delhi has recorded 112% above-average rainfall this year</strong></p>

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<p>Across the Indian state of Maharashtra, schools were closed due to incessant rains, trains were disrupted and roads were flooded.</p>

<p>On Thursday, all the colleges and schools were closed in the financial capital of Mumbai. The officials suspended some train services on Wednesday after the city was lashed by the rain.</p>

<p>More than 100 mm of rain was recorded by several districts in the state on Wednesday as more heavy showers have been predicted in the next 24 hours, as per the weather department.</p>

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At least five people lost their lives and many others were feared trapped after a mountain village was hit by a landslide in India's western state of Maharashtra after the region was soaked by incessant rain, said the state officials on Thursday (July 20).

At least five people lost their lives and many others were feared trapped after a mountain village was hit by a landslide in India's western state of Maharashtra after the region was soaked by incessant rain, said the state officials on Thursday (July 20). The landslide took place in the middle of the night in Irshalwadi, a small mountain village around 60 km from Mumbai, stated media reports citing officials. "A total of 48 families lived there. Around 75 people have been evacuated and five people have died so far," said Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Twitter. According to initial reports, around 100 people have been trapped under the debris and efforts are being made by the rescue workers to find survivors in heavy rain as relatives of the victims wait at the base of the mountain for news of their safety. ALSO READ | Destruction, havoc, loss of lives: Why have monsoon rains turned ferocious in North India? "The problem here is that at some places the rubble is almost 20 to 30 feet deep and it has to be manually removed," said an unidentified rescue official, while speaking to ABP Majha channel. Speaking to The Indian Express, Industries Minister Uday Samant said that search operations are going on and 75 people have been rescued so far. “The incident occurred at 10:30 in the night at a place adjoining Irsalgad in Raigad district. It is a very remote inaccessible area which is hampering rescue attempts. As of now 4 people have died and 25 people have been rescued. More people are feared to be trapped and NDRF and district administration is making attempts to rescue people,” said Minister Samant. Around 15-20 houses buried under debris The NDRF informed that the landslide has buried more than 15-20 houses under the debris. “Of the total 40 houses in the village, 17 have been affected. We have deployed four teams to conduct the rescue operations. The debris at some of the places is 10 to 29 feet deep. It is difficult to bring heavy machinery to this place. It is a 2.8 km trek to reach the spot and we have to remove the debris manually which is likely to take a lot of time. While we are facing difficulties, we will continue our operations till we retrieve the last person,” said SB Singh, Commandant of the fifth battalion of the NDRF, speaking to The Indian Express. Maharashtra's Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was present at the site, while speaking to the reporters said that the officials were not able to figure the exact number of people trapped. WATCH | Flood Threat: Delhi has recorded 112% above-average rainfall this year Across the Indian state of Maharashtra, schools were closed due to incessant rains, trains were disrupted and roads were flooded. On Thursday, all the colleges and schools were closed in the financial capital of Mumbai. The officials suspended some train services on Wednesday after the city was lashed by the rain. More than 100 mm of rain was recorded by several districts in the state on Wednesday as more heavy showers have been predicted in the next 24 hours, as per the weather department. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Five dead, some trapped, in landslide in Maharashtra after heavy rain

Seema Haider, a resident of Pakistan, and Sachin Meena, an Indian, were detained by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday at an unidentified location in Noida. Officials from the Central intelligence agencies participated in the questioning for the second day in a row.

India: State police continues to question Pakistani national Seema Haider

Due to a shortage of vegetables, major markets in various Indian states are experiencing a spike in vegetable prices. According to Paul, the situation is unlikely to return to normal any time soon.

India: High vegetable prices affect consumer spending

The race for the 2024 Indian general elections is heating up the two main alliances held their respective meetings on Tuesday starting with prime minister Narendra Modi's attack on the opposition Alliance which earlier in the day called itself INDIA. It's an innovative acronym for Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance. Keep watching to know more.

PM Modi slams opposition parties, flags 'nepotism and corruption'

WION correspondent Susan Tehrani spoke to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in New York. The minister spoke at length on wide-ranging issues from Russia-Ukraine war to Hungary's tussle with European Union and Budapest relations with India. Watch to more.

"American companies still making money in Russia," says Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto

<p>Speculation and curiosity have surrounded a giant metal dome that washed up on Green Head Beach in Australia, approximately 250 kilometres&nbsp;north of Perth.</p>

<p>The object, resembling a cylindrical wreckage measuring around 2.5 metres in width and between 2.5&nbsp;metres&nbsp;and 3&nbsp;metres&nbsp;in length, has triggered a wave of excitement among the local residents.</p>

<p>While the debris has been confirmed as part of a rocket, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief, S Somanath, clarified that it cannot be definitively identified as Indian without further analysis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We can't confirm it's ours unless we analyse it," S Somanath told BBC.</p>

<h2><strong>Debunking initial speculations</strong></h2>

<p>Initially, there were suggestions that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/part-of-indian-rocket-mysterious-cylinder-washes-up-on-australian-beach-616535">mysterious object might be linked to India's recent Moon mission launch</a>. However, experts promptly dismissed this possibility, ruling out any connection to the country's latest space endeavours.</p>

<p>According to Somanath, ISRO cannot conclusively declare ownership of the metal dome until a thorough analysis is conducted. Determining its origin and affiliation will require careful examination and evaluation by experts in the field. The outcome of this analysis will shed light on whether the wreckage is indeed Indian.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Mystery object discovery on Australian beach triggers conspiracies</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Heightened interest and alternative theories</strong></h2>

<p>The discovery of the cylindrical debris has generated significant interest and captivated the attention of the Green Head Beach community.</p>

<p>Speculation initially surfaced, proposing a potential link to MH370, the ill-fated plane that disappeared in 2014 with 239 passengers aboard off the West Australian coast. However, experts have since dismissed any connection between the wreckage and the missing aircraft.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-how-indias-chandrayaan-3-will-leave-imprints-of-isro-national-emblem-on-moon-616061">How India's Chandrayaan-3 will leave imprints of ISRO, national emblem on moon</a></p>

<h2><strong>Awaiting official identification</strong></h2>

<p>The mystery surrounding the origin and purpose of the metal dome has heightened public curiosity. As experts analyse the debris, the definitive identification of its source will be crucial in resolving the intrigue surrounding its appearance on the Australian beach. Only through a thorough investigation can its true origins be determined.</p>

<p>Somanath, however, confirmed that "some of the PSLV parts are known to have fallen in the sea beyond Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone" and said that the object "may have been floating for a long time and finally reached shore".</p>

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Speculation and curiosity have surrounded a giant metal dome that washed up on Green Head Beach in Australia, approximately 250 kilometres north of Perth. The object, resembling a cylindrical wreckage measuring around 2.

Speculation and curiosity have surrounded a giant metal dome that washed up on Green Head Beach in Australia, approximately 250 kilometres north of Perth. The object, resembling a cylindrical wreckage measuring around 2.5 metres in width and between 2.5 metres and 3 metres in length, has triggered a wave of excitement among the local residents. While the debris has been confirmed as part of a rocket, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief, S Somanath, clarified that it cannot be definitively identified as Indian without further analysis. "We can't confirm it's ours unless we analyse it," S Somanath told BBC. Debunking initial speculations Initially, there were suggestions that the mysterious object might be linked to India's recent Moon mission launch. However, experts promptly dismissed this possibility, ruling out any connection to the country's latest space endeavours. According to Somanath, ISRO cannot conclusively declare ownership of the metal dome until a thorough analysis is conducted. Determining its origin and affiliation will require careful examination and evaluation by experts in the field. The outcome of this analysis will shed light on whether the wreckage is indeed Indian. Also watch | Mystery object discovery on Australian beach triggers conspiracies Heightened interest and alternative theories The discovery of the cylindrical debris has generated significant interest and captivated the attention of the Green Head Beach community. Speculation initially surfaced, proposing a potential link to MH370, the ill-fated plane that disappeared in 2014 with 239 passengers aboard off the West Australian coast. However, experts have since dismissed any connection between the wreckage and the missing aircraft. Also read | How India's Chandrayaan-3 will leave imprints of ISRO, national emblem on moon Awaiting official identification The mystery surrounding the origin and purpose of the metal dome has heightened public curiosity. As experts analyse the debris, the definitive identification of its source will be crucial in resolving the intrigue surrounding its appearance on the Australian beach. Only through a thorough investigation can its true origins be determined. Somanath, however, confirmed that "some of the PSLV parts are known to have fallen in the sea beyond Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone" and said that the object "may have been floating for a long time and finally reached shore". WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian link 'uncertain': ISRO chief dispels rumours over rocket debris found on Australian beach

With people showing a greater interest in touring globally, more countries are trying to attract passionate travellers, especially from India. We bring you the top tourist destinations with special perks to make your travel experience more accessible, from visa-on-arrival to no-visa facilities! Also, find places you can visit in India beyond the beaten path to explore less travelled roads, like Ooty and Darjeeling. Next come to Egypt with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, landed in the country for his first state visit to the country during the last weekend of June. His itinerary included a tour of the Great Pyramid of Giza and a visit to the Al-Hakim mosque. Check out a thrilling paramotor event that gave passionate pilots a bird's eye view of the majestic pyramids of Giza. In another part of Cairo, the beautiful al-Zahir Baybars mosque recently opened after being closed for 200 years, offering a visual treat to visitors. After spending some time in Cairo, look at our special feature on Spain, with its beautiful churches, unique architectural marvels, and iconic beaches. Also featured are the latest stories about an intriguing Pablo Picasso-themed exhibition and a restaurant-turned-culinary museum. That you just can't miss. Next, we fly to the iconic Versailles Palace in France, where the private quarters of Queen Mary Antoinette recently opened to the public. Full of gilded furniture and classic design features, the Queen's rooms will take you back many centuries and give you a peek into her royal life. Finally, come with us to the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra in the Indian state of Odisha, where thousands of devotes pulled majestic chariots of Hindu gods and goddesses to seek their blessings. A visual spectacle, this sacred festival was celebrated with much enthusiasm.

Indian Tourists Wanted, Spain In Focus, Versailles turns 400

Signs of Apple's Interest in India expansion are now distinctly visible. India is on its way to becoming Apple's new favourite destination for iPhone production. Foxconn has bought equipment worth 33 million dollars from Apple units for India expansion this clearly indicates an India-centric strategy.

Foxconn accelerates India expansion plans as company buys equipment from Apple

Infosys just sealed a game-changing deal worth a staggering 2 billion dollars. This five-year agreement revolves around the provision of artificial intelligence and automation services. Infosys is set to deliver a comprehensive range of AI-related development, modernisation and maintenance solidifying their position in the forefront of technological development.

Infosys lands five year Artificial Intelligence deal

A crisis looming over India's tech industry and its resilient economy. This is as artificial intelligence advances the countdown commences as well for Tech developers to confront an unprecedented challenge. Join us as we navigate the precarious landscape of AI's relentless march and explore the fate of India's coding borders.

Indian tech titans brace for AI onslaught

In a bid to bolster its defence capabilities, Argentina's Defense Minister, Jorge Enrique Taiana, is in talks with India for potential acquisition of Tejas fighter jets. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Minister Taiana revealed that Argentinian pilots have evaluated Tejas but pointed out hurdles over the presence of British parts. He said, "One issue is, for example, that the aircraft doesn't have not one piece of British part because the British don't sell it to Argentina. So, in the case of Tejas, it has 16 parts from the UK. So, the company has to change and replace the parts.". The minister is in India for a 4-day visit and held talks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday to expand the defence cooperation and Defence Industrial partnership. He also visited BrahMos Aerospace and will also travel to Bengaluru to visit the facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Asked if his country will be keen to buy BrahMos missiles, he said," I believe that there is a chance of that..". He also spoke on other topics like India's G20 presidency, expansion of BRICS to include his country.

Argentina's Defence Minister, Jorge Enrique Taiana speaks to WION; Eyes Tejas Jets, Brahmos

<p>The Surat Diamond Bourse in the Indian state of Gujarat, has claimed the title of the world's largest office building, surpassing the Pentagon, according to a CNN report.</p>

<p>Situated in Surat, known as the gem capital of the world and a major hub for diamond cutting, this newly constructed building will serve as a comprehensive centre&nbsp;for diamond professionals.</p>

<h2><strong>A hub for diamond trade</strong></h2>

<p>Spread across 35 acres of land, the Surat Diamond Bourse is a 15-storey complex consisting of nine interconnected rectangular structures.</p>

<p>Designed by the Indian architecture firm Morphogenesis, the building offers over 7.1 million square feet of floor space, accommodating more than 65,000 diamond professionals, including cutters, polishers, and traders. It aims to be a "one-stop destination" for the diamond industry.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafale-and-scorpene-submarine-deals-didnt-figure-in-indo-french-joint-statement-heres-why-617080">Rafale and Scorpene submarine deals didn’t figure in Indo-French joint statement. Here’s why</a></p>

<h2><strong>Inauguration and significance</strong></h2>

<p>The official inauguration of the Surat Diamond Bourse is scheduled for November this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over the ceremony.</p>

<p>The construction of the building spanned four years, and its completion marks a significant milestone for the diamond industry, bringing a major trading hub to Surat and reducing the need for professionals to travel to Mumbai.</p>

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<h2><strong>Designed for efficiency and demand</strong></h2>

<p>The Surat Diamond Bourse was designed to meet the growing demand within the diamond industry. The architectural layout, featuring interconnected structures with a central spine, provides an optimal trading environment. All the office spaces within the building were already purchased by diamond companies before construction commenced, reflecting the high demand and market anticipation.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India has expressed intentions of buying marine jets, says France</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Promoting convenience and economic growth</strong></h2>

<p>The establishment of the Surat Diamond Bourse is a not-for-profit initiative promoted by SDB Diamond Bourse, with the aim of developing and promoting the diamond trade in Surat, Gujarat.</p>

<p>The project is expected to save thousands of diamond professionals from the daily commute to Mumbai, enhancing convenience and potentially boosting the economic growth of the region.</p>

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The Surat Diamond Bourse in the Indian state of Gujarat, has claimed the title of the world's largest office building, surpassing the Pentagon, according to a CNN report.

The Surat Diamond Bourse in the Indian state of Gujarat, has claimed the title of the world's largest office building, surpassing the Pentagon, according to a CNN report. Situated in Surat, known as the gem capital of the world and a major hub for diamond cutting, this newly constructed building will serve as a comprehensive centre for diamond professionals. A hub for diamond trade Spread across 35 acres of land, the Surat Diamond Bourse is a 15-storey complex consisting of nine interconnected rectangular structures. Designed by the Indian architecture firm Morphogenesis, the building offers over 7.1 million square feet of floor space, accommodating more than 65,000 diamond professionals, including cutters, polishers, and traders. It aims to be a "one-stop destination" for the diamond industry. Also read | Rafale and Scorpene submarine deals didn’t figure in Indo-French joint statement. Here’s why Inauguration and significance The official inauguration of the Surat Diamond Bourse is scheduled for November this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over the ceremony. The construction of the building spanned four years, and its completion marks a significant milestone for the diamond industry, bringing a major trading hub to Surat and reducing the need for professionals to travel to Mumbai. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Surat Diamond Bourse (@surat_diamond_bourse) × Designed for efficiency and demand The Surat Diamond Bourse was designed to meet the growing demand within the diamond industry. The architectural layout, featuring interconnected structures with a central spine, provides an optimal trading environment. All the office spaces within the building were already purchased by diamond companies before construction commenced, reflecting the high demand and market anticipation. Also watch | India has expressed intentions of buying marine jets, says France Promoting convenience and economic growth The establishment of the Surat Diamond Bourse is a not-for-profit initiative promoted by SDB Diamond Bourse, with the aim of developing and promoting the diamond trade in Surat, Gujarat. The project is expected to save thousands of diamond professionals from the daily commute to Mumbai, enhancing convenience and potentially boosting the economic growth of the region. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian building takes crown as world's largest office, surpassing US Pentagon

<p>The largest reptile sanctuary in the United States, based in Arizona, has submitted a request to import six gharials and mugger crocodiles from Tamil Nadu in India. The purpose of this endeavour is to aid&nbsp;the conservation of these endangered species, reported Live Mint. The proposal is currently open for public comments under the Endangered Species Act.</p>

<h2><strong>Conservation efforts</strong></h2>

<p>The Phoenix Herpetological Society, operating within Arizona, has formally requested permission from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to import three male and three female captive-bred gharials (Gavialis gangeticus).</p>

<p>Additionally, they seek to import the same number of captive-bred mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris kim) from the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in Tamil Nadu.</p>

<h2><strong>A singular import for species survival</strong></h2>

<p>The notification specifies that this import request aims to enhance the propagation and survival of the gharials and mugger crocodiles.</p>

<p>It emphasises that the purpose is conservation-oriented, and the Phoenix Herpetological Society intends to bring these reptiles into their sanctuary for this explicit objective.</p>

<p>The US federal agency overseeing the process has invited public comments on the proposal until August 16.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/oppn-alliance-borne-out-of-compulsion-pm-narendra-modi-blasts-new-front-india-617188">‘Oppn alliance born out of compulsion’: PM Narendra Modi blasts new front ‘INDIA’</a></p>

<h2><strong>Role of the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust</strong></h2>

<p>Established in 1976 by Romulus Whitaker and Zai Whitaker, the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology is devoted to the protection of India's crocodile population. Located near Chennai, the trust operates a significant reptile park and conducts various field projects.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India has expressed intentions of buying marine jets, says France</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>The status of gharials</strong></h2>

<p>Historically found in the rivers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan, gharials have experienced a significant decline in their population. Today, they are only found in fragmented populations in Nepal and certain parts of India, as stated by the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.</p>

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The largest reptile sanctuary in the United States, based in Arizona, has submitted a request to import six gharials and mugger crocodiles from Tamil Nadu in India.

The largest reptile sanctuary in the United States, based in Arizona, has submitted a request to import six gharials and mugger crocodiles from Tamil Nadu in India. The purpose of this endeavour is to aid the conservation of these endangered species, reported Live Mint. The proposal is currently open for public comments under the Endangered Species Act. Conservation efforts The Phoenix Herpetological Society, operating within Arizona, has formally requested permission from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to import three male and three female captive-bred gharials (Gavialis gangeticus). Additionally, they seek to import the same number of captive-bred mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris kim) from the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in Tamil Nadu. A singular import for species survival The notification specifies that this import request aims to enhance the propagation and survival of the gharials and mugger crocodiles. It emphasises that the purpose is conservation-oriented, and the Phoenix Herpetological Society intends to bring these reptiles into their sanctuary for this explicit objective. The US federal agency overseeing the process has invited public comments on the proposal until August 16. Also read | ‘Oppn alliance born out of compulsion’: PM Narendra Modi blasts new front ‘INDIA’ Role of the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust Established in 1976 by Romulus Whitaker and Zai Whitaker, the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology is devoted to the protection of India's crocodile population. Located near Chennai, the trust operates a significant reptile park and conducts various field projects. Also watch | India has expressed intentions of buying marine jets, says France The status of gharials Historically found in the rivers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan, gharials have experienced a significant decline in their population. Today, they are only found in fragmented populations in Nepal and certain parts of India, as stated by the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Largest reptile sanctuary wants to import crocodiles from India

Indian political leaders gathered at an all-party meet which was presided over by Rajnath Singh, the Indian defence minister. The meet was held in New Delhi a day after the old political parties formed a separate alliance. The goal of the meet was to bring the political parties together and address any issues that the leaders might want to bring up.

New Delhi: 32 legislative items to be discussed in monsoon session | India

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top trending headlines from all across the globe. The Indian passport's rank has improved in the latest Henley Passport Index. India's rank has gone up from 87 to 80. Indian can now travel to 57 destinations without a visa. Watch to know more.

The world's strongest passport | Johnson & Johnson subsidiary files for bankruptcy

Indian Political System is taking a new turn as 26 opposition parties get united under the banner of I-N-D-I-A. Watch this video to find out all details.

I-N-D-I-A: The name that has united India's opposition parties against the ruling Modi government

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<p>In a&nbsp;heart-wrenching&nbsp;incident, a woman in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu jumped in front of a moving bus and committed suicide. The woman, identified as 45-year-old Paapaathi took her own life, owing to financial troubles&nbsp;that were hampering her son's education, reports claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Paapaathi, a single mother, worked as a temporary sweeper at the Salem Collectorate. She had been in a financial crunch and was looking out for opportunities to pay Rs 45,000&nbsp;fee of her son&nbsp;who is pursuing architecture at a polytechnic college.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Salem Town Police in its investigation found that the woman decided to jump in front of the bus after she was 'misled' by someone that her family would get compensation for her death.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"She was under severe stress and was always worrying about her children. She had taken loans to pay their fees in the past," one of Paapaathi's neighbours was quoted as saying by the Quint.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-kashmir-two-terrorists-killed-in-infiltration-bid-8-killed-this-week-617332" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Jammu &amp; Kashmir: Two terrorists killed in infiltration bid, 8 killed this week</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Son denies claims&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>While most reports claimed that Paapaathi died for the aforementioned reasons, her son refuted the claims.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"All this news about how she deliberately jumped in front of the bus to pay my fees is fake news... It is not true. I don't want to say anything more, but this is fake news," her son&nbsp;Rubatharan&nbsp;told the publication.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the incident took place over a month ago, the CCTV footage of the incident went viral in the last few days. The netizens, upon watching the video were disheartened and questioned what led the woman to commit such an act.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-delhi-police-solve-six-month-old-murder-case-534086" target="_blank"><strong>Watch | WION Dispatch: Delhi police solve six-month-old murder case</strong></a></p>

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<p>"This is heart-wrenching! Unbelievable! Tragic beyond words," said one user, while another added, "This story is too horrifying. Education should be free for all."</p>

<p>A third said, "A mother had to kill herself to pay her son’s college fees. Merely 45 thousand had compelled her to destroy herself. She was a sweeper at Salem collectorate. Aren't we ashamed of ourselves? How pathetic this incident is! How poverty is dominating over humanity!"</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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In a heart-wrenching incident, a woman in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu jumped in front of a moving bus and committed suicide. The woman, identified as 45-year-old Paapaathi took her own life, owing to financial troubles that were hampering her son's education, reports claimed.

In a heart-wrenching incident, a woman in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu jumped in front of a moving bus and committed suicide. The woman, identified as 45-year-old Paapaathi took her own life, owing to financial troubles that were hampering her son's education, reports claimed. Paapaathi, a single mother, worked as a temporary sweeper at the Salem Collectorate. She had been in a financial crunch and was looking out for opportunities to pay Rs 45,000 fee of her son who is pursuing architecture at a polytechnic college. The Salem Town Police in its investigation found that the woman decided to jump in front of the bus after she was 'misled' by someone that her family would get compensation for her death. "She was under severe stress and was always worrying about her children. She had taken loans to pay their fees in the past," one of Paapaathi's neighbours was quoted as saying by the Quint. Also read | Jammu & Kashmir: Two terrorists killed in infiltration bid, 8 killed this week Son denies claims While most reports claimed that Paapaathi died for the aforementioned reasons, her son refuted the claims. "All this news about how she deliberately jumped in front of the bus to pay my fees is fake news... It is not true. I don't want to say anything more, but this is fake news," her son Rubatharan told the publication. Although the incident took place over a month ago, the CCTV footage of the incident went viral in the last few days. The netizens, upon watching the video were disheartened and questioned what led the woman to commit such an act. Watch | WION Dispatch: Delhi police solve six-month-old murder case × "This is heart-wrenching! Unbelievable! Tragic beyond words," said one user, while another added, "This story is too horrifying. Education should be free for all." A third said, "A mother had to kill herself to pay her son’s college fees. Merely 45 thousand had compelled her to destroy herself. She was a sweeper at Salem collectorate. Aren't we ashamed of ourselves? How pathetic this incident is! How poverty is dominating over humanity!" (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Woman jumps in front of moving bus, hoping her death compensation would pay son’s college fee

<p>Food delivery apps have become an integral part of a city’s framework worldwide over the last few years. New York has DoorDash, Grubhub and UberEats, London uses Deliveroo, Just Eat and Food Hub and Tokyo thrives on Damaecan, Wolt and FineDine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But there is also a menace in common. The safety of delivery workers is becoming increasingly questionable. In New York, many delivery agents have been robbed of their e-cycles at gunpoint and in London, accidents involving delivery agents have led to detailed surveys to take stock of this situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The woes are similar in India but with a slight difference and yet, they are to be taken seriously.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
In the capital city&nbsp;Delhi, around the 80s and the 90s, it was common for commuters waiting at a traffic signal to start honking in anticipation of it turning green. It was a futile effort at getting a programmed electronic device to sense their angst.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What it did lead to was the development of a digital clock on the signal that displays the time left before it turns red or green. This has become common in cities across the country and while the honking has pretty much stopped, impatience is far from quenched. Even with a few seconds left, the ones running against the clock will happily jump it, only to be stopped by the traffic police if they are unlucky. &nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/internet-melts-after-watching-zomato-delivery-agent-eating-from-plastic-packet-on-roadside-609398"><strong>ALSO READ| Netizens in anguish after seeing delivery agent eating from plastic packet on roadside</strong></a><br />
<br />
Of the regular defaulters in today’s India, food-delivery agents on their motorcycles and scootys are clearly amongst the top few.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The pressure to deliver on time is the key reason why they risk their lives and endanger others by jumping signals, riding on the wrong side of the road and zipping through traffic with inches to spare between vehicles. Some have even had fatal accidents. But who is really to blame? The answer to this question eventually circles back to both the consumer and the mammoth food-tech ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The most convenient argument here would be to bring up the fact that there was a time when people happily waited days for packages to arrive with no means of constant tracking, or that food delivery would regularly take longer than the time promised by the restaurant and the concept of an automated ‘partial refund’ did not exist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So then why the sudden need for speed? But that is akin to wondering why the mobile phone has become integral to our lives when there was a time we lived happily without it!&nbsp;</p>

<p>We need to pick it up from where it is. Just like every other evolution in tech across the spectrum, food-tech is also constantly evolving. The fundamental problem is with how the simple luxury of ‘convenience’ has been leveraged beyond measure by a competitive industry that thrives on hype.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The seeds of the Indian food-tech giant Zomato were laid when co-founder Deependar Goyal found a convenient way to make menu cards accessible to his co-workers at the company he worked at, by scanning them and uploading them on the office intranet. What was originally a genuinely helpful gesture free-of-cost, led to the multi-million dollar monetisation of the very same convenience it had set out to provide.</p>

<p>Today, along with every possible restaurant, even street food vendors have their menus up on local apps Zomato and Swiggy for delivery. The delivery time for each order varies but a commitment of partial refund is made to the consumer if the order does not arrive within the mentioned time.</p>

<p>And it doesn’t stop there.<br />
<br />
Groceries are also available with a '10 minute'&nbsp;delivery time promise from the time they are ordered. This is where the vicious circle starts.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
These companies try and outdo each other by leading the consumer to believe they are making things increasingly convenient for them by decreasing the time it takes for them to get their order. An expectation is set and the bar keeps on getting raised higher. But the amount of anxiety this expectation creates takes away from the time saved.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Should the order be even slightly delayed, a chat starts between the consumer and the aggregator’s customer service and time that could have been used elsewhere is consumed in irritation. The customer service dangles a lollipop laced with freebies and bonuses and the next order is placed in no time. The movement is constant and doesn't show signs of slowing down anytime soon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though food delivery platforms clearly mention that they do not penalise their agents for late deliveries, the rush on the road tells a different story. It clearly does not look good for a delivery agent to be repeatedly late. They also get calls from both the consumer and the company’s service team if they are late. Hence, a constant state of urgency is created which leads to rash decisions like jumping traffic signals and wrong-side driving.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The fact is that a solution seems tough. Traffic police do penalise these delivery agents from time to time but the cycle continues. The larger problem is with the hype that has been created around the ‘urgency’ to achieve convenience over the years and neither consumer nor aggregator sees this as a problem.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) &nbsp;</strong></em></p>

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Food delivery apps have become an integral part of a city’s framework worldwide over the last few years. New York has DoorDash, Grubhub and UberEats, London uses Deliveroo, Just Eat and Food Hub and Tokyo thrives on Damaecan, Wolt and FineDine.

Food delivery apps have become an integral part of a city’s framework worldwide over the last few years. New York has DoorDash, Grubhub and UberEats, London uses Deliveroo, Just Eat and Food Hub and Tokyo thrives on Damaecan, Wolt and FineDine. But there is also a menace in common. The safety of delivery workers is becoming increasingly questionable. In New York, many delivery agents have been robbed of their e-cycles at gunpoint and in London, accidents involving delivery agents have led to detailed surveys to take stock of this situation. The woes are similar in India but with a slight difference and yet, they are to be taken seriously. In the capital city Delhi, around the 80s and the 90s, it was common for commuters waiting at a traffic signal to start honking in anticipation of it turning green. It was a futile effort at getting a programmed electronic device to sense their angst. What it did lead to was the development of a digital clock on the signal that displays the time left before it turns red or green. This has become common in cities across the country and while the honking has pretty much stopped, impatience is far from quenched. Even with a few seconds left, the ones running against the clock will happily jump it, only to be stopped by the traffic police if they are unlucky. ALSO READ| Netizens in anguish after seeing delivery agent eating from plastic packet on roadside Of the regular defaulters in today’s India, food-delivery agents on their motorcycles and scootys are clearly amongst the top few. The pressure to deliver on time is the key reason why they risk their lives and endanger others by jumping signals, riding on the wrong side of the road and zipping through traffic with inches to spare between vehicles. Some have even had fatal accidents. But who is really to blame? The answer to this question eventually circles back to both the consumer and the mammoth food-tech ecosystem. The most convenient argument here would be to bring up the fact that there was a time when people happily waited days for packages to arrive with no means of constant tracking, or that food delivery would regularly take longer than the time promised by the restaurant and the concept of an automated ‘partial refund’ did not exist. So then why the sudden need for speed? But that is akin to wondering why the mobile phone has become integral to our lives when there was a time we lived happily without it! We need to pick it up from where it is. Just like every other evolution in tech across the spectrum, food-tech is also constantly evolving. The fundamental problem is with how the simple luxury of ‘convenience’ has been leveraged beyond measure by a competitive industry that thrives on hype. The seeds of the Indian food-tech giant Zomato were laid when co-founder Deependar Goyal found a convenient way to make menu cards accessible to his co-workers at the company he worked at, by scanning them and uploading them on the office intranet. What was originally a genuinely helpful gesture free-of-cost, led to the multi-million dollar monetisation of the very same convenience it had set out to provide. Today, along with every possible restaurant, even street food vendors have their menus up on local apps Zomato and Swiggy for delivery. The delivery time for each order varies but a commitment of partial refund is made to the consumer if the order does not arrive within the mentioned time. And it doesn’t stop there. Groceries are also available with a '10 minute' delivery time promise from the time they are ordered. This is where the vicious circle starts. These companies try and outdo each other by leading the consumer to believe they are making things increasingly convenient for them by decreasing the time it takes for them to get their order. An expectation is set and the bar keeps on getting raised higher. But the amount of anxiety this expectation creates takes away from the time saved. Should the order be even slightly delayed, a chat starts between the consumer and the aggregator’s customer service and time that could have been used elsewhere is consumed in irritation. The customer service dangles a lollipop laced with freebies and bonuses and the next order is placed in no time. The movement is constant and doesn't show signs of slowing down anytime soon. Even though food delivery platforms clearly mention that they do not penalise their agents for late deliveries, the rush on the road tells a different story. It clearly does not look good for a delivery agent to be repeatedly late. They also get calls from both the consumer and the company’s service team if they are late. Hence, a constant state of urgency is created which leads to rash decisions like jumping traffic signals and wrong-side driving. The fact is that a solution seems tough. Traffic police do penalise these delivery agents from time to time but the cycle continues. The larger problem is with the hype that has been created around the ‘urgency’ to achieve convenience over the years and neither consumer nor aggregator sees this as a problem. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Why the crazy rush? The unrealistic side of food delivery

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