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A bizarre missing case finally reached its end 43 years later, when the woman who went missing was met by police officers knocking on her door. She was kidnapped by her own mother, who built an entirely new life after lying to her husband about her plans. In 1983, Michelle Newton vanished from Kentucky when she was three years old. Now her mother, Debra Newton, has been arrested in connection with her disappearance. The mother and daughter used to live with the little girl's dad, Joseph Newton, in Kentucky. They had plans to relocate to Georgia. But one day, Debra told Joseph that she was leaving for Georgia alone with Michelle for work purposes, and that she would set up their home for them, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.&nbsp;She maintained communication with her husband for some time before ghosting him. When he reached Georgia, he could not find them anywhere. Debra was added to the FBI’s Top 8 Most Wanted parental-kidnapping fugitives. But in 2000, the case was dismissed as Joseph went AWOL. In 2005, Michelle's record and warrant were recalled. The case was pretty much over. However, in 2016, a family member pushed the authorities to renew their search for Debra and Michelle.<h2>You are a missing person, police told Michelle</h2>The now 46-year-old told WLKY that she answered her door one day and was met by police who told her, "You’re not who you think you are. You’re a missing person. You’re Michelle Marie Newton." Her entire life turned upside-down as she learned she was completely ignorant about her true identity. Chief Deputy Colonel Steve Healey said, “She told us she didn’t realise she was a victim until she saw everything she had missed."&nbsp;A Crimestoppers tip helped police make the breakthrough, and Debra was found in &nbsp;Marion County, Florida. She had taken on a new name, remarried and has retired. She has been extradited to Kentucky and faces a custodial interference felony charge. Meanwhile, Michelle has reunited with her father, and says she intends to support both her parents and "try to navigate and help them both wrap it up so that we can all heal."

The woman was shocked to learn that she had been living a lie for 43 years. Michelle left her Kentucky home with her mother at the age of three, and soon her father was unable to contact them. Her mom has now been arrested.

A bizarre missing case finally reached its end 43 years later, when the woman who went missing was met by police officers knocking on her door. She was kidnapped by her own mother, who built an entirely new life after lying to her husband about her plans. In 1983, Michelle Newton vanished from Kentucky when she was three years old. Now her mother, Debra Newton, has been arrested in connection with her disappearance. The mother and daughter used to live with the little girl's dad, Joseph Newton, in Kentucky. They had plans to relocate to Georgia. But one day, Debra told Joseph that she was leaving for Georgia alone with Michelle for work purposes, and that she would set up their home for them, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said. She maintained communication with her husband for some time before ghosting him. When he reached Georgia, he could not find them anywhere. Debra was added to the FBI’s Top 8 Most Wanted parental-kidnapping fugitives. But in 2000, the case was dismissed as Joseph went AWOL. In 2005, Michelle's record and warrant were recalled. The case was pretty much over. However, in 2016, a family member pushed the authorities to renew their search for Debra and Michelle. You are a missing person, police told Michelle The now 46-year-old told WLKY that she answered her door one day and was met by police who told her, "You’re not who you think you are. You’re a missing person. You’re Michelle Marie Newton." Her entire life turned upside-down as she learned she was completely ignorant about her true identity. Chief Deputy Colonel Steve Healey said, “She told us she didn’t realise she was a victim until she saw everything she had missed." A Crimestoppers tip helped police make the breakthrough, and Debra was found in Marion County, Florida. She had taken on a new name, remarried and has retired. She has been extradited to Kentucky and faces a custodial interference felony charge. Meanwhile, Michelle has reunited with her father, and says she intends to support both her parents and "try to navigate and help them both wrap it up so that we can all heal."

The woman was shocked to learn that she had been living a lie for 43 years. Michelle left her Kentucky home with her mother at the age of three, and soon her father was unable to contact them. Her mom has now been arrested.

Woman shocked to learn she is a missing person for 43 years: 'You’re not who you think you are'

Palaeontologists have made an amazing discovery in a national park in Italy, uncovering thousands of dinosaur footprints that somehow remained a secret till now. They were found in an area of the Italian Alps which will host the 2026 Winter Olympics. Dating back 210 million years, some of them are 15 inches in diameter. The marks are so clear that anyone seeing them can clearly make out the toes and claws. According to experts, these marks belong to prosauropods, long-necked herbivores. The discovery was made by a photographer, Elio Della Ferrera, last September on a vertical mountain wall. They are spread across an area spanning hundreds of metres.&nbsp;&nbsp;"This set of dinosaur footprints is one of the largest collections in all of Europe, in the whole world," Attilio Fontana, head of the Lombardy region in northern Italy, said during a news conference. This mountain wall wasn't like this during the period of these dinosaurs. Between 250 and 201 million years ago, around the Triassic period, this was a low-lying, flat coastal area full of either mud or sand. This tidal flat later became part of the Alpine chain.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/t-rex-tooth-leads-scientists-to-make-a-shocking-discovery-about-brute-that-ate-dinosaurs-1765876628520">T. rex tooth leads scientists to make a shocking discovery about brute that ate dinosaurs</a><h2>Dinosaur footprint pattern shows complex behaviour</h2>Milan-based palaeontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso said in a statement that this place was full of dinosaurs during this period. These dinosaurs lived in groups, as they have also found "traces of more complex behaviours", such as forming circles, likely to defend against a common predator. Prosauropods walked on two legs, but some of the prints are of the front limbs. These were probably formed when they stopped to rest their front limbs.&nbsp;The Italian culture ministry said in a press release that this is a remote area and not accessible by paths. For further research, scientists will have to use remote sensing technology and drones. The Stelvio National Park sits in a valley near Italy's border with Switzerland.<h2>Mosasaur tooth in North Dakota</h2>Discoveries from the time of dinosaurs are still regularly being made. This shows how little we have found out about these mammoth ancestors who once walked Earth. A few years ago, a team of scientists found a T. rex tooth in Hell Creek, North Dakota, which led them to find a mosasaur tooth. Mosasaurs were known to live in salty seawater, but this finding was made at a place that was thousands of kilometres away from the ocean. This showed that they had adapted to living in freshwater.

Thousands of dinosaur footprints have been discovered in a national park in Italy. A photographer first came across them in September last year. Scientists are shocked to see so many of these marks only now, showing how much there is left to explore about dinosaurs.

Palaeontologists have made an amazing discovery in a national park in Italy, uncovering thousands of dinosaur footprints that somehow remained a secret till now. They were found in an area of the Italian Alps which will host the 2026 Winter Olympics. Dating back 210 million years, some of them are 15 inches in diameter. The marks are so clear that anyone seeing them can clearly make out the toes and claws. According to experts, these marks belong to prosauropods, long-necked herbivores. The discovery was made by a photographer, Elio Della Ferrera, last September on a vertical mountain wall. They are spread across an area spanning hundreds of metres. "This set of dinosaur footprints is one of the largest collections in all of Europe, in the whole world," Attilio Fontana, head of the Lombardy region in northern Italy, said during a news conference. This mountain wall wasn't like this during the period of these dinosaurs. Between 250 and 201 million years ago, around the Triassic period, this was a low-lying, flat coastal area full of either mud or sand. This tidal flat later became part of the Alpine chain. Also Read: T. rex tooth leads scientists to make a shocking discovery about brute that ate dinosaurs Dinosaur footprint pattern shows complex behaviour Milan-based palaeontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso said in a statement that this place was full of dinosaurs during this period. These dinosaurs lived in groups, as they have also found "traces of more complex behaviours", such as forming circles, likely to defend against a common predator. Prosauropods walked on two legs, but some of the prints are of the front limbs. These were probably formed when they stopped to rest their front limbs. The Italian culture ministry said in a press release that this is a remote area and not accessible by paths. For further research, scientists will have to use remote sensing technology and drones. The Stelvio National Park sits in a valley near Italy's border with Switzerland. Mosasaur tooth in North Dakota Discoveries from the time of dinosaurs are still regularly being made. This shows how little we have found out about these mammoth ancestors who once walked Earth. A few years ago, a team of scientists found a T. rex tooth in Hell Creek, North Dakota, which led them to find a mosasaur tooth. Mosasaurs were known to live in salty seawater, but this finding was made at a place that was thousands of kilometres away from the ocean. This showed that they had adapted to living in freshwater.

Thousands of dinosaur footprints have been discovered in a national park in Italy. A photographer first came across them in September last year. Scientists are shocked to see so many of these marks only now, showing how much there is left to explore about dinosaurs.

210-million-years old dinosaur footprints numbering thousands uncovered in Italian national park

A large crowd gathered to grieve at a synagogue on December 17, 2025, after a major terrorist attack occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on December 14, targeting a Jewish community event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.

Grief and shock in Sydney: First funeral held for victims of Bondi Beach terror shooting

Microplastics have become a major concern, not just for the climate but also for human health. The pollutant has leeched into our food, body, drinking water and other areas. Oceans are one of the biggest places where these materials gather. According to NASA, over eight million tons of microplastics flow into the world's oceans every year. A group of scientists carried out research to understand how this pollutant moves in the waters. In previous studies, experts used satellites that are part of the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System to track the movement of microplastics across Earth. When it comes to oceans, peering deep inside the surface becomes a task. Larry Pratt and Irina Rypina from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts turned to 3D modelling to track this process. They found that microplastics form an “idealised eddy”, like a tornado, as they make their way through the seas.&nbsp;The duo simulated ocean currents by using a rotating cylinder, where the body rotates at one speed while the lid spins at a different rate, Popular Mechanics reported. They successfully created a circulation that closely resembled oceanic movements across hundreds of kilometres. Pratt said in a press statement that &nbsp;any particle follows the trajectory of the water when thrown inside, because the latter has some "arbitrary velocity" and the "viscous drag would rapidly bring its motion close to that of the fluid."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-alarmed-at-noticing-a-scary-feeding-trait-in-the-only-antarctic-bug-1765445210475">Scientists alarmed at noticing a scary feeding trait in the only Antarctic bug</a><h2>Microplastics behave differently in turbulence&nbsp;</h2>However, microplastics exhibit inertia, and this can alter the above process. The researchers then made some calculations and presented a theory according to which microplastics turned into multiple attractors inside the chaotic ocean systems, like closed loops spiralling upwards and downwards, like a tornado. However, these also state that this might not be true for all microplastics. “The main thing we need to consider is the effects of small-scale turbulence. The theory is valid for spherical particles, but most microplastics in the ocean have very irregular shapes,” Pratt said. Irrespective of this, the researchers hope that their method can help understand where plastics are getting collected. &nbsp;

 Millions of tonnes of microplastics enter the oceans every year. A study has analysed how these particles move through the water. The theory presented by two scientists from Massachusetts shows they are acting differently than other particles thrown in the ocean.

Microplastics have become a major concern, not just for the climate but also for human health. The pollutant has leeched into our food, body, drinking water and other areas. Oceans are one of the biggest places where these materials gather. According to NASA, over eight million tons of microplastics flow into the world's oceans every year. A group of scientists carried out research to understand how this pollutant moves in the waters. In previous studies, experts used satellites that are part of the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System to track the movement of microplastics across Earth. When it comes to oceans, peering deep inside the surface becomes a task. Larry Pratt and Irina Rypina from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts turned to 3D modelling to track this process. They found that microplastics form an “idealised eddy”, like a tornado, as they make their way through the seas. The duo simulated ocean currents by using a rotating cylinder, where the body rotates at one speed while the lid spins at a different rate, Popular Mechanics reported. They successfully created a circulation that closely resembled oceanic movements across hundreds of kilometres. Pratt said in a press statement that any particle follows the trajectory of the water when thrown inside, because the latter has some "arbitrary velocity" and the "viscous drag would rapidly bring its motion close to that of the fluid." Also Read: Scientists alarmed at noticing a scary feeding trait in the only Antarctic bug Microplastics behave differently in turbulence However, microplastics exhibit inertia, and this can alter the above process. The researchers then made some calculations and presented a theory according to which microplastics turned into multiple attractors inside the chaotic ocean systems, like closed loops spiralling upwards and downwards, like a tornado. However, these also state that this might not be true for all microplastics. “The main thing we need to consider is the effects of small-scale turbulence. The theory is valid for spherical particles, but most microplastics in the ocean have very irregular shapes,” Pratt said. Irrespective of this, the researchers hope that their method can help understand where plastics are getting collected.

Millions of tonnes of microplastics enter the oceans every year. A study has analysed how these particles move through the water. The theory presented by two scientists from Massachusetts shows that they are acting differently from other particles thrown in the ocean.

8 million tons of plastic is ripping through the oceans like tornadoes

Pornhub is warning more than 200 million premium users that their "activity" on the site may have been exposed in a major data breach, and while the company insists passwords and payment details are safe, the scale of the alleged leak is enough to make many uneasy.<h2>What happened?</h2>According to a Daily Mail report, hackers claim they broke into a third-party analytics system used by Pornhub to analyse site traffic. The attackers allege they now possess a massive dataset containing email addresses, locations, video titles, search keywords, activity types and timestamps tied to more than 200 million user entries.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/marijuana-research-material-but-fentanyl-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction-trump-s-explosive-announcement-on-devil-s-lettuce-1765868829719">Marijuana 'research' material but fentanyl a 'weapon of mass destruction'? Trump's explosive announcement on devil's lettuce</a>If true, that would mean deeply personal browsing habits and not just account details could be circulating outside the platform. The hacking group ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility and has a track record of high-profile breaches.<h2>What do the hackers want?</h2>The hacking group reportedly attempted to extort Pornhub, claiming the stolen data shows how individual users interacted with the site over time. The report was first flagged by cybersecurity outlet BleepingComputer, which said the breach involves Mixpanel, a data analytics company Pornhub previously worked with.Pornhub says the intrusion did not originate from its own systems and stressed that sensitive information such as passwords, government IDs and payment details were not compromised. "We recently learned that an unauthorised party gained unauthorised access to analytics data stored with Mixpanel, a third-party data analytics service provider," the company said. "The unauthorised party was able to use this unauthorised access to extract a limited set of analytics events for some users," it added.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-susie-wiles-all-about-the-chief-of-staff-who-called-trump-alcoholic-personality-in-explosive-vanity-fair-interview-1765957457141">Who is Susie Wiles? All about the Chief of Staff who called Trump ‘alcoholic personality’ in explosive Vanity Fair interview</a>The adult content website also said it stopped working with Mixpanel in 2023, meaning any exposed data would be from that year or earlier. Still, for many users, that offers little comfort. Search history, even if old, is the kind of information people expect to remain private.<h2>Pornhub asks users to be on the lookout for THIS</h2>Mixpanel's CEO said the company contained the breach, locked down affected accounts and brought in external cybersecurity experts. "We engaged external cybersecurity partners to remediate and respond to the incident." &nbsp;However, Mixpanel told BleepingComputer it could not independently verify that the Pornhub data being shared online came from the November incident.Pornhub has notified affected users and urged them to watch for phishing attempts or suspicious emails. The company says it has secured the compromised account, launched an internal investigation and alerted authorities. &nbsp;

Hackers claim to have stolen analytics data for 200 million Pornhub users. The breach includes emails, locations, and even browsing history. Are you safe? Here's what we know.

Pornhub is warning more than 200 million premium users that their "activity" on the site may have been exposed in a major data breach, and while the company insists passwords and payment details are safe, the scale of the alleged leak is enough to make many uneasy. What happened? According to a Daily Mail report, hackers claim they broke into a third-party analytics system used by Pornhub to analyse site traffic. The attackers allege they now possess a massive dataset containing email addresses, locations, video titles, search keywords, activity types and timestamps tied to more than 200 million user entries. Also read | Marijuana 'research' material but fentanyl a 'weapon of mass destruction'? Trump's explosive announcement on devil's lettuce If true, that would mean deeply personal browsing habits and not just account details could be circulating outside the platform. The hacking group ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility and has a track record of high-profile breaches. What do the hackers want? The hacking group reportedly attempted to extort Pornhub, claiming the stolen data shows how individual users interacted with the site over time. The report was first flagged by cybersecurity outlet BleepingComputer, which said the breach involves Mixpanel, a data analytics company Pornhub previously worked with. Pornhub says the intrusion did not originate from its own systems and stressed that sensitive information such as passwords, government IDs and payment details were not compromised. "We recently learned that an unauthorised party gained unauthorised access to analytics data stored with Mixpanel, a third-party data analytics service provider," the company said. "The unauthorised party was able to use this unauthorised access to extract a limited set of analytics events for some users," it added. Also read | Who is Susie Wiles? All about the Chief of Staff who called Trump ‘alcoholic personality’ in explosive Vanity Fair interview The adult content website also said it stopped working with Mixpanel in 2023, meaning any exposed data would be from that year or earlier. Still, for many users, that offers little comfort. Search history, even if old, is the kind of information people expect to remain private. Pornhub asks users to be on the lookout for THIS Mixpanel's CEO said the company contained the breach, locked down affected accounts and brought in external cybersecurity experts. "We engaged external cybersecurity partners to remediate and respond to the incident." However, Mixpanel told BleepingComputer it could not independently verify that the Pornhub data being shared online came from the November incident. Pornhub has notified affected users and urged them to watch for phishing attempts or suspicious emails. The company says it has secured the compromised account, launched an internal investigation and alerted authorities.

Hackers claim to have stolen analytics data for 200 million Pornhub users. The breach includes emails, locations, and even browsing history. Are you safe? Here's what we know.

Pornhub suffers massive data breach: Should the adult website's users be worried? Here’s what we know so far

Who is Susie Wiles, and why is she in the spotlight? Trump’s chief of staff, as per reports, is the quiet power behind Trump 2.0. A longtime loyalist, Wiles now faces backlash after a viral Vanity Fair profile. Here's what you need to know about her.

Who is Susie Wiles? All about the Chief of Staff who called Trump ‘alcoholic personality’ in explosive Vanity Fair interview

An escalator at the BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, suddenly sped up due to a technical malfunction, creating panic among students. The incident captured on the phone went viral on social media. The scene unfolded while several students were using the escalator inside the university campus.&nbsp;In the viral video it is seen that the University's suddenly began moving at an unusually high speed, triggering panic and confusion. Students in the video can be seen quickly stepping off and jumping aside the moment the escalator reaches the landing, while others nearby look on in shock and panic.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Panic broke out at BRAC University in Dhaka when escalator suddenly sped up making it difficult 4 students 2 stay on their feet inside a modern campus building no one was hurt as students quickly dismounted unharmed University life is on hard mode escalator added cardio +truma <a href="https://t.co/S0i7NbUWIM">pic.twitter.com/S0i7NbUWIM</a>&mdash; 💝🌹💖🇮🇳jaggirmRanbir🇮🇳💖🌹💝 (@jaggirm) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaggirm/status/2001116040676434168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The video captures frightened students struggling to keep their balance as the escalator runs at an alarming speed, triggering screams from both those on it and nearby witnesses.&nbsp;After the clip went viral, social media users raised concerns about campus safety and a potential technical issue with the escalator. Meanwhile, the university has yet to release an official statement explaining the cause of the malfunction or outlining existing safety protocols.<h3>Netizens react to the horrifying viral video</h3>After the video surfaced on the internet, netizens began to come up with their mixed opinion. One of the netizens said," This is what happens when an escalator is overloaded and the countering mechanism doesn't cope with the load."&nbsp;The next said, "They thought of super power. Chalo super power nehi sahi super fast escalator achieved."&nbsp;"Even elevators got fed up of Bangladeshis," another said in a sarcastic tone.&nbsp;The next also said, "And everyone is hoping Hasina will be back!"

After the clip went viral, social media users raised concerns about campus safety and a potential technical issue with the escalator. Meanwhile, the university has yet to release an official statement explaining the cause of the malfunction or outlining existing safety protocols.

An escalator at the BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, suddenly sped up due to a technical malfunction, creating panic among students. The incident captured on the phone went viral on social media. The scene unfolded while several students were using the escalator inside the university campus. In the viral video it is seen that the University's suddenly began moving at an unusually high speed, triggering panic and confusion. Students in the video can be seen quickly stepping off and jumping aside the moment the escalator reaches the landing, while others nearby look on in shock and panic.

After the clip went viral, social media users raised concerns about campus safety and a potential technical issue with the escalator. Meanwhile, the university has yet to release an official statement explaining the cause of the malfunction or outlining existing safety protocols.

'Terrifying moment': Escalator suddenly speeds up at Dhaka university, triggers panic among students — VIDEO

Iran was drenched by welcome rains last Wednesday (Dec 10) as it battles the driest autumn in over 50 years. On Hormuz Island's Red Beach, the water turned red, giving the illusion of blood-drenched rivers. According to social media posts, the beach and the sea were awash with a bright red colour. Videos and photos of the red water were splashed across social media, although it couldn't be verified whether they were linked to the December 16 rains or if they were from March this year, when similar scenes were witnessed in Hormuz. It is possible that the posts are sharing older images and videos of the "red rain" from the previous event. Irrespective of that, the red water has generated a lot of curiosity among netizens as Iran, battling drought, saw rainfall after a long time. Some of them linked it to a biblical prophecy, which describes the world ending and the sea, rivers, and springs turning to blood.<h2>Biblical prophecy of blood rivers?</h2>A user wrote on X, "Blood in water is an apocalypse sign primarily comes from the biblical Book of Revelation (chapters 8, 16), describing angels pouring bowls/vials that turn sea, rivers, and springs to blood as divine judgment during the end times," as another one asked, "It looks biblical. Is this common?" One user pointed out how a similar scene years ago would have been immediately linked to a higher power. “Damn I bet if this happened in classical Egypt, it could totally start a new cult or some kind of religion. &nbsp;Good thing people today are smart enough to know the science and ignore the superstitions.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/16-rare-earth-metals-worth-120-billion-dollars-discovered-in-utah-a-landmark-moment-1765794081010">16 rare earth metals worth $120 billion discovered in Utah: 'A landmark moment'</a> &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Heavy rain at &quot;Sahel Sorkh&quot; (Red Beach) in Hormoz Island has created an astonishing scene. 😍 The beach&#39;s vivid red color is due to a high concentration of iron oxide, particularly the mineral hematite, found in the island&#39;s soil and rock.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nature?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nature</a> <a href="https://t.co/wxE4eSSzyW">pic.twitter.com/wxE4eSSzyW</a>&mdash; Living in Tehran (LiT) (@LivinginTehran) <a href="https://twitter.com/LivinginTehran/status/2000978756391821758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Iron oxide changes the colour of the soil</h2>Basically, there is science behind the vivid red colour of the Red Beach in Hormuz. The soil and rocks here contain high amounts of iron oxide, which leads to the red colour when rain falls. Iron oxide can also turn the soil yellow and brown, but the red here comes from the mineral hematite. Old visuals of red water pouring down cliffs have gone viral on social media, with some comparing it to the end-of-times biblical prophecy. However, the scientific explanation for this occurrence is pretty clear.

A beach in Hormuz, Iran, turns bright red during rains, giving the impression of flowing blood red water. After the rains last week, the haunting visuals from the Red Beach have gone viral. From biblical prophecy to basic science, people came up with various explanations.   

Iran was drenched by welcome rains last Wednesday (Dec 10) as it battles the driest autumn in over 50 years. On Hormuz Island's Red Beach, the water turned red, giving the illusion of blood-drenched rivers. According to social media posts, the beach and the sea were awash with a bright red colour. Videos and photos of the red water were splashed across social media, although it couldn't be verified whether they were linked to the December 16 rains or if they were from March this year, when similar scenes were witnessed in Hormuz. It is possible that the posts are sharing older images and videos of the "red rain" from the previous event. Irrespective of that, the red water has generated a lot of curiosity among netizens as Iran, battling drought, saw rainfall after a long time. Some of them linked it to a biblical prophecy, which describes the world ending and the sea, rivers, and springs turning to blood. Biblical prophecy of blood rivers? A user wrote on X, "Blood in water is an apocalypse sign primarily comes from the biblical Book of Revelation (chapters 8, 16), describing angels pouring bowls/vials that turn sea, rivers, and springs to blood as divine judgment during the end times," as another one asked, "It looks biblical. Is this common?" One user pointed out how a similar scene years ago would have been immediately linked to a higher power. “Damn I bet if this happened in classical Egypt, it could totally start a new cult or some kind of religion. Good thing people today are smart enough to know the science and ignore the superstitions.” Also Read: 16 rare earth metals worth $120 billion discovered in Utah: 'A landmark moment'

A beach in Iran's Hormuz turns bright red during rains, giving the impression of flowing “blood red water”. After last week's rains, the haunting visuals from the Red Beach have gone viral. From biblical prophecy to basic science, people came up with various explanations. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Haunting visuals of 'blood red' water on a beach in Iran go viral: Prophecy or science?

A 32-year-old man was reportedly trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand on Tuesday when attempting to click selfies with the animals, an official confirmed. The mishap unfolded in Ara South in the Mandu block of the Ramgarh district.&nbsp;Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nitish Kumar stated that the deceased individual, identified as Amit Kumar Rajwar, a resident of Kedla village, was trampled to death when he approached a herd of eight wild elephants to capture a video and take selfies.&nbsp;"These kinds of incidents are happening even though the Forest Department is repeatedly making announcements using loudspeakers, urging people not to come close to wild elephants," he said, Indian news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kumar also indicated that around 42 jumbos, divided into multiple groups, were roaming the forests along the border of Bokaro and Ramgarh districts.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India | Jharkhand | Ramgarh | 16 December 2025 A heartbreaking incident has come to light from Ramgarh district, where a young man lost his life while trying to record a video of wild elephants in the Ghato OP area. What was meant to be a viral moment turned into an irreversible… <a href="https://t.co/XnTurgEMPP">pic.twitter.com/XnTurgEMPP</a>&mdash; Mazhar Khan (@Mazhar4justice) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mazhar4justice/status/2001017570359644303?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>A man was trampled to death by an elephant in Odisha</h3>In a similar incident a days ago, a young man was trampled to death by an elephant while trying to experience a glimpse of the wild animal in the Mayurbhanj district of Karanjia forest area. The incident occurred in the tribal-dominated Narasandh Joba village.&nbsp;As per the report by Odisha TV, the youth had joined a group of local residents who gathered to catch a glimpse of a herd of elephants that had strayed from Jharkhand into the Ghagarbeda area.&nbsp;Late on Monday night, around 30 elephants were seen passing through the region, drawing crowds of onlookers keen to see the animals. While most people kept their distance, the young man allegedly moved too close to one of the elephants, triggering a fatal attack. Despite attempts to rescue him, he died after being trampled by the animal.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nitish Kumar stated that the deceased individual, identified as Amit Kumar Rajwar, a resident of Kedla village, was trampled to death when he approached a herd of eight wild elephants to capture a video and take selfies.

A 32-year-old man was reportedly trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand on Tuesday when attempting to click selfies with the animals, an official confirmed. The mishap unfolded in Ara South in the Mandu block of the Ramgarh district. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nitish Kumar stated that the deceased individual, identified as Amit Kumar Rajwar, a resident of Kedla village, was trampled to death when he approached a herd of eight wild elephants to capture a video and take selfies. "These kinds of incidents are happening even though the Forest Department is repeatedly making announcements using loudspeakers, urging people not to come close to wild elephants," he said, Indian news agency PTI reported. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kumar also indicated that around 42 jumbos, divided into multiple groups, were roaming the forests along the border of Bokaro and Ramgarh districts.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nitish Kumar stated that the deceased individual, identified as Amit Kumar Rajwar, a resident of Kedla village, was trampled to death when he approached a herd of eight wild elephants to capture a video and take selfies.

Horrifying video: Jharkhand man trampled to death while taking selfies with a herd of wild elephants

Delhi government on Tuesday (Dec 16) announced that all private vehicles below a certain emission standard would be banned from entering the Indian national capital. The sudden ban is set to upend the lives and commutes of people across NCR. Will your commute be affected? What emission standard must your vehicle follow to gain entry into Delhi? Here's all you need to know.<h2>Which vehicles are no longer allowed in Delhi?</h2>The Delhi government has announced that non-BS VI vehicles are no longer allowed in Delhi. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the strict measures have been put in place to curb vehicular pollution in the national capital. This means that BS IV vehicles, which till a few years ago were considered the gold standard, will no longer be allowed in Delhi. &nbsp; &nbsp;At a press conference, Sirsa revealed that "To control tailpipe emissions from vehicles, all petrol/diesel/CNG pump dealers have been instructed to provide fuel only upon presentation of a valid PUCC."He said, "For the protection of Delhi's air, all vehicles registered outside Delhi and of a category lower than BS-VI will not be allowed to enter Delhi when GRAP-III and GRAP-IV are implemented. No polluting vehicle will be allowed to enter Delhi."Sirsa said that with GRAP-IV in force, vehicles carrying construction vehicles into Delhi will also be barred. For the rest,&nbsp;<h2>How to find out if your car is BS VI or not?</h2>BS-VI or Bharat Stage 6 emission standard was mandated for all new vehicle sales and registrations starting April 1, 2020. This means that if your car's manufacture date is April 2020 or later, it should adhere to the BS-VI emission standard.To verify your vehicle's BS-VI status, check the Registration Certificate (RC).<h2>Here's how you can make your commute smoother</h2>Follow the above-mentioned steps to verify your vehicle's BS-VI emission status. Vehicle owners must also carry a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC). According to an official Delhi government release, without it, you may be denied fuel supply at petrol pumps in Delhi.<h2>How many people/vehicles will be affected by this ban?</h2>Reports suggest that across NCR, over 10 Lakh vehicles are set to be affected by this ban. In Gurgaon, there are more than 200,000 (2 lakh) BS IV vehicles. In Noida, this number doubles to 400,000 (4 lakh), and in Ghaziabad, it jumps to 550,000 (5.5 lakh). In addition, the city has over 47,000 commercial BS-IV diesel vehicles and over 2,000 BS-III pwtrol vehicles, as well as approximately 2,200 BS-III and IV buses. Furthermore, approximately 92,000 diesel vehicles in Gurgaon have already exceeded the 10-year age limit.

Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles. Will you be stopped? FAQs: What’s banned? How to check your car's BS-VI status? Can you still get fuel at petrol pumps? All your questions answered HERE. 

Delhi government on Tuesday (Dec 16) announced that all private vehicles below a certain emission standard would be banned from entering the Indian national capital. The sudden ban is set to upend the lives and commutes of people across NCR. Will your commute be affected? What emission standard must your vehicle follow to gain entry into Delhi? Here's all you need to know. Which vehicles are no longer allowed in Delhi? The Delhi government has announced that non-BS VI vehicles are no longer allowed in Delhi. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the strict measures have been put in place to curb vehicular pollution in the national capital. This means that BS IV vehicles, which till a few years ago were considered the gold standard, will no longer be allowed in Delhi. At a press conference, Sirsa revealed that "To control tailpipe emissions from vehicles, all petrol/diesel/CNG pump dealers have been instructed to provide fuel only upon presentation of a valid PUCC." He said, "For the protection of Delhi's air, all vehicles registered outside Delhi and of a category lower than BS-VI will not be allowed to enter Delhi when GRAP-III and GRAP-IV are implemented. No polluting vehicle will be allowed to enter Delhi." Sirsa said that with GRAP-IV in force, vehicles carrying construction vehicles into Delhi will also be barred. For the rest, How to find out if your car is BS VI or not? BS-VI or Bharat Stage 6 emission standard was mandated for all new vehicle sales and registrations starting April 1, 2020. This means that if your car's manufacture date is April 2020 or later, it should adhere to the BS-VI emission standard. To verify your vehicle's BS-VI status, check the Registration Certificate (RC). Here's how you can make your commute smoother Follow the above-mentioned steps to verify your vehicle's BS-VI emission status. Vehicle owners must also carry a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC). According to an official Delhi government release, without it, you may be denied fuel supply at petrol pumps in Delhi. How many people/vehicles will be affected by this ban? Reports suggest that across NCR, over 10 Lakh vehicles are set to be affected by this ban. In Gurgaon, there are more than 200,000 (2 lakh) BS IV vehicles. In Noida, this number doubles to 400,000 (4 lakh), and in Ghaziabad, it jumps to 550,000 (5.5 lakh). In addition, the city has over 47,000 commercial BS-IV diesel vehicles and over 2,000 BS-III pwtrol vehicles, as well as approximately 2,200 BS-III and IV buses. Furthermore, approximately 92,000 diesel vehicles in Gurgaon have already exceeded the 10-year age limit.

Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles. Will you be stopped? FAQs: What’s banned? How to check your car's BS-VI status? Can you still get fuel at petrol pumps? All your questions answered HERE.&nbsp;

Delhi shuts doors on older cars: Is your vehicle banned in Delhi? New BS VI rule EXPLAINED

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has slipped nearly to its lowest point of his current term, with even Republican voters showing signs of unease, particularly over his handling of the economy, according to a new Reuters Ipsos poll.<h2>Trump's report card is HERE</h2>The three-day survey, which ended Sunday (Dec 14), found that 39 per cent of US adults approve of Trump’s job performance. That is down from 41 per cent earlier in December and just one point above the 38 per cent reading recorded in mid-November, his weakest showing this year. The Reuters Ipsos poll was conducted online among 1,016 adults across the United States.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/marijuana-research-material-but-fentanyl-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction-trump-s-explosive-announcement-on-devil-s-lettuce-1765868829719">Trump's cannabis shift: POTUS makes explosive announcement on devil's lettuce</a>Trump returned to the White House in January with a far stronger standing, registering a 47 per cent approval rating at the start of his term. Since then, his popularity has steadily softened, driven largely by concerns over economic management.Only 33 per cent of respondents said they approve of how Trump is handling the US economy, marking his lowest rating on that issue so far this year.<h2>What's causing the approval rating to fall?</h2>The decline comes amid growing anxiety about hiring and growth. While a recent government shutdown disrupted the release of some official data, many economists believe businesses have slowed hiring, citing uncertainty and shock effects linked to Trump’s tariff policies.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fentanyl-more-dangerous-than-a-bomb-trump-classifies-drug-as-weapon-of-mass-destruction-1765847533698">Fentanyl more dangerous than a bomb? Trump classifies drug as 'weapon of mass destruction'</a><h2>What about Trump's MAGA base?</h2>Support among Republicans remains solid overall, but cracks are beginning to show. About 85 per cent of Republican respondents said they approve of Trump’s overall performance, unchanged from earlier this month. However, approval among Republicans on economic management dropped to 72 per cent, down from 78 per cent earlier in December and the lowest level recorded this year within his party.Trump campaigned heavily on a promise to repair the economy after a period of high inflation under former Democratic president Joe Biden. While inflation has eased from its earlier peaks, it has remained stubbornly elevated during Trump’s term, hovering near 3 per cent. That remains above the roughly 2 per cent level policymakers generally see as healthier.Public frustration over everyday expenses is also evident. Trump’s approval rating on the cost of living fell to 27 per cent, down from 31 per cent earlier in the month, highlighting persistent voter concern about prices.&nbsp;

Trump’s approval falls to 39 per cent, near his term low, as voters sour on the economy. Only 33 per cent back his economic handling, with even his MAGA base withdrawing support. Check out his report card HERE.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has slipped nearly to its lowest point of his current term, with even Republican voters showing signs of unease, particularly over his handling of the economy, according to a new Reuters Ipsos poll. Trump's report card is HERE The three-day survey, which ended Sunday (Dec 14), found that 39 per cent of US adults approve of Trump’s job performance. That is down from 41 per cent earlier in December and just one point above the 38 per cent reading recorded in mid-November, his weakest showing this year. The Reuters Ipsos poll was conducted online among 1,016 adults across the United States. Also read | Trump's cannabis shift: POTUS makes explosive announcement on devil's lettuce Trump returned to the White House in January with a far stronger standing, registering a 47 per cent approval rating at the start of his term. Since then, his popularity has steadily softened, driven largely by concerns over economic management. Only 33 per cent of respondents said they approve of how Trump is handling the US economy, marking his lowest rating on that issue so far this year. What's causing the approval rating to fall? The decline comes amid growing anxiety about hiring and growth. While a recent government shutdown disrupted the release of some official data, many economists believe businesses have slowed hiring, citing uncertainty and shock effects linked to Trump’s tariff policies. Also read | Fentanyl more dangerous than a bomb? Trump classifies drug as 'weapon of mass destruction' What about Trump's MAGA base? Support among Republicans remains solid overall, but cracks are beginning to show. About 85 per cent of Republican respondents said they approve of Trump’s overall performance, unchanged from earlier this month. However, approval among Republicans on economic management dropped to 72 per cent, down from 78 per cent earlier in December and the lowest level recorded this year within his party. Trump campaigned heavily on a promise to repair the economy after a period of high inflation under former Democratic president Joe Biden. While inflation has eased from its earlier peaks, it has remained stubbornly elevated during Trump’s term, hovering near 3 per cent. That remains above the roughly 2 per cent level policymakers generally see as healthier. Public frustration over everyday expenses is also evident. Trump’s approval rating on the cost of living fell to 27 per cent, down from 31 per cent earlier in the month, highlighting persistent voter concern about prices.

Trump’s approval falls to 39 per cent, near his term low, as voters sour on the economy. Only 33 per cent back his economic handling, with even his MAGA base withdrawing support. Check out his report card HERE.

POTUS's end-of-year performance report card: Trump's approval rating slips to 39%

As soon as winter arrives, it poses several risks to heart health, particularly for people with existing cardiovascular problems. Falling temperatures can place added strain on the heart, making it especially important for patients and caregivers to remain alert and take preventive precautions.&nbsp;Doctors have warned that winter significantly increases the risk of heart attacks due to a mix of physiological stress and lifestyle changes triggered by cold weather. Medical experts stated that falling temperatures place extra strain on the heart, especially among the elderly and people with existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease.&nbsp;In response to the reason explaining why heart attacks spike in winter, Dr Joy Shome, Senior Consultant – Cardiology and Head of TAVR/TAVI at BM Birla Heart Hospital, said, "Winter is a high-risk period for cardiac events because cold weather triggers multiple stress responses in the body. Low temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, which raises blood pressure and increases the heart’s workload. At the same time, blood becomes slightly thicker, making clot formation more likely—this combination can precipitate heart attacks, especially in people with hypertension, diabetes, valve disease or existing coronary artery blockages. Festive-season factors such as rich food, excess salt and alcohol intake, reduced physical activity, poor sleep and emotional stress further compound the risk. Sudden exposure to cold, particularly during early morning walks or bathing, can act as an immediate trigger."&nbsp;Dr Joy Shome added that festive-season habits such as rich food, excess salt and alcohol, poor sleep and reduced physical activity further compound the risk. "To reduce risk, individuals should dress warmly, avoid sudden cold exposure, continue prescribed heart and blood-pressure medications without interruption, limit salt and alcohol intake, stay physically active indoors, and seek prompt medical attention for warning signs such as chest discomfort, breathlessness or unusual fatigue. Winter heart attacks are largely preventable with vigilance and timely care," he also said.&nbsp;Echoing similar concerns, Dr Rahul Sharma, Additional Director – Cardiology at CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, said,"Due to a number of physiological and lifestyle factors brought on by the cold, heart attacks tend to increase during the winter. Blood vessel constriction brought on by low temperatures raises blood pressure and makes the heart work harder. Additionally, exposure to cold increases stress hormones, which can increase the risk of blood clotting, one of the main causes of heart attacks. Winter also frequently brings weight gain, poor eating habits, decreased physical activity, and an increase in respiratory infections, all of which put stress on the heart. Elderly people and those with pre-existing heart conditions should stay warm, exercise frequently, control their blood pressure and cholesterol, and get help right away if they have symptoms like dyspnea or chest pain."<h3>Cold weather leads to vascular constriction</h3>Meanwhile, Consultant Cardiologist Dr Sunil Kumar Mandal from Kailash Hospital, Greater Noida, indicated that cold weather leads to vascular constriction and thicker blood due to dehydration.&nbsp;"Through the winter months, there is a drastic increase in heart attack cases, with the cold weather being the main reason. Cold and freezing weather causes vascular constriction, which increases blood pressure, and the heart has to pump more powerfully. So, the heart's work would be even harder and slower than under normal conditions, more so if the blood was thick because of fluid loss resulting from the winter's low humidity and people's limited water intake. In this scenario, the risk of a blood clot forming and the consequent event of a heart attack is enormously increased," he said.&nbsp;"Besides, the cold weather has an impact on the body's health by the release of hormones that cause stress, such as adrenaline, which contribute to rapid heartbeats and raise the blood pressure, thus the heart gets more and more exhausted. The winter season has also been known to disturb people's daily habits—less physical activity, unhealthy food, smoking, drinking, and forgetfulness about medications—all detrimental to one's heart health. In addition, winter is the season for respiratory infections, and flu, which, apart from causing discomfort, can also cause the heart to suffer a lot, especially in the elderly and those with existing conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease," Dr Sunil added.&nbsp;He further emphasised to individuals for regular indoor exercise, maintaining a heart-healthy diet, drinking lots of water, and also prohibited quick transitioning from hot to extremely cold environments.&nbsp;"Hence, individuals with any of the health conditions mentioned above must keep doing some exercise indoors, maintain a heart-healthy diet, drink lots of water, and avoid rapidly moving from hot to extremely cold environments. Regular health checkups and prompt control of risk factors can significantly reduce the chance of heart emergencies during winter. Awareness and preventive measures of the public are still the best weapons to fight against heart attacks during the chilly months of the year," he further added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Medical experts stated that falling temperatures place extra strain on the heart, especially among the elderly and people with existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease.

As soon as winter arrives, it poses several risks to heart health, particularly for people with existing cardiovascular problems. Falling temperatures can place added strain on the heart, making it especially important for patients and caregivers to remain alert and take preventive precautions. Doctors have warned that winter significantly increases the risk of heart attacks due to a mix of physiological stress and lifestyle changes triggered by cold weather. Medical experts stated that falling temperatures place extra strain on the heart, especially among the elderly and people with existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease. In response to the reason explaining why heart attacks spike in winter, Dr Joy Shome, Senior Consultant – Cardiology and Head of TAVR/TAVI at BM Birla Heart Hospital, said, "Winter is a high-risk period for cardiac events because cold weather triggers multiple stress responses in the body. Low temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, which raises blood pressure and increases the heart’s workload. At the same time, blood becomes slightly thicker, making clot formation more likely—this combination can precipitate heart attacks, especially in people with hypertension, diabetes, valve disease or existing coronary artery blockages. Festive-season factors such as rich food, excess salt and alcohol intake, reduced physical activity, poor sleep and emotional stress further compound the risk. Sudden exposure to cold, particularly during early morning walks or bathing, can act as an immediate trigger." Dr Joy Shome added that festive-season habits such as rich food, excess salt and alcohol, poor sleep and reduced physical activity further compound the risk. "To reduce risk, individuals should dress warmly, avoid sudden cold exposure, continue prescribed heart and blood-pressure medications without interruption, limit salt and alcohol intake, stay physically active indoors, and seek prompt medical attention for warning signs such as chest discomfort, breathlessness or unusual fatigue. Winter heart attacks are largely preventable with vigilance and timely care," he also said. Echoing similar concerns, Dr Rahul Sharma, Additional Director – Cardiology at CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, said,"Due to a number of physiological and lifestyle factors brought on by the cold, heart attacks tend to increase during the winter. Blood vessel constriction brought on by low temperatures raises blood pressure and makes the heart work harder. Additionally, exposure to cold increases stress hormones, which can increase the risk of blood clotting, one of the main causes of heart attacks. Winter also frequently brings weight gain, poor eating habits, decreased physical activity, and an increase in respiratory infections, all of which put stress on the heart. Elderly people and those with pre-existing heart conditions should stay warm, exercise frequently, control their blood pressure and cholesterol, and get help right away if they have symptoms like dyspnea or chest pain." Cold weather leads to vascular constriction Meanwhile, Consultant Cardiologist Dr Sunil Kumar Mandal from Kailash Hospital, Greater Noida, indicated that cold weather leads to vascular constriction and thicker blood due to dehydration. "Through the winter months, there is a drastic increase in heart attack cases, with the cold weather being the main reason. Cold and freezing weather causes vascular constriction, which increases blood pressure, and the heart has to pump more powerfully. So, the heart's work would be even harder and slower than under normal conditions, more so if the blood was thick because of fluid loss resulting from the winter's low humidity and people's limited water intake. In this scenario, the risk of a blood clot forming and the consequent event of a heart attack is enormously increased," he said. "Besides, the cold weather has an impact on the body's health by the release of hormones that cause stress, such as adrenaline, which contribute to rapid heartbeats and raise the blood pressure, thus the heart gets more and more exhausted. The winter season has also been known to disturb people's daily habits—less physical activity, unhealthy food, smoking, drinking, and forgetfulness about medications—all detrimental to one's heart health. In addition, winter is the season for respiratory infections, and flu, which, apart from causing discomfort, can also cause the heart to suffer a lot, especially in the elderly and those with existing conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease," Dr Sunil added. He further emphasised to individuals for regular indoor exercise, maintaining a heart-healthy diet, drinking lots of water, and also prohibited quick transitioning from hot to extremely cold environments. "Hence, individuals with any of the health conditions mentioned above must keep doing some exercise indoors, maintain a heart-healthy diet, drink lots of water, and avoid rapidly moving from hot to extremely cold environments. Regular health checkups and prompt control of risk factors can significantly reduce the chance of heart emergencies during winter. Awareness and preventive measures of the public are still the best weapons to fight against heart attacks during the chilly months of the year," he further added.

Medical experts stated that falling temperatures place extra strain on the heart, especially among the elderly and people with existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Why do heart attacks spike in winter? Doctors explain the hidden cold-weather triggers

In a very rare occurrence in Indian politics, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday (Dec 16) apologised to the citizens for the ongoing air crisis in the national capital, saying that it is "impossible" for any elected government to bring down air pollution in a short span of 9 to 10 months. His apology comes a day after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was greeted with AQI, AQI chants at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during Lionel Messi's GOAT tour.&nbsp;“I apologise to the people of Delhi for the rising air pollution. We are working consistently to reduce it day by day. No government can completely control pollution levels within nine to ten months,” Sirsa said while addressing a press conference.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-stay-indoors-singapore-advises-its-nationals-amid-delhi-air-pollution-crisis-air-quality-delhi-ncr-rekha-gupta-pm-modi-india-1765794337239">Delhi air crisis: Multiple nations including UK, Canada issue advisory as AQI remains in ‘severe’ category</a>&nbsp;The minister blamed the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for the air pollution and said that the BJP government is making sustained efforts to tackle pollution, but could not fix the damage in such a short span.&nbsp;"We are doing better work than the dishonest AAP government, and we have reduced AQI each day. This disease of pollution is given to us by the Aam Aadmi Party, and we are working to fix it," he said.&nbsp;Registering a marginal improvement from Monday, Delhi's overall AQI on Tuesday stood at 378, falling in the "very poor' category. Despite the slight dip, pollution levels remained dangerously high across large parts of the national capital, and a dense blanket of toxic smog enveloped the city, severely reducing visibility and causing discomfort to residents on Tuesday morning.&nbsp;Also Read: '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-ram-ka-naam-badnaam-na-karo-shashi-tharoor-takes-a-dig-at-centre-s-move-to-rename-mgnrega-as-vb-g-ramg-bill-1765890002061">Ram ka naam badnaam na karo': Shashi Tharoor takes a dig at Centre's move to rename MGNREGA as VB-G RAMG Bill</a>&nbsp;Over the past three days, Delhi's AQI has sustained in the 'severe 'category, which experts believe can cause serious harm to the respiratory and heart functions of the human body. The authorities enforced stringent restrictions under the GRAP-IV to prevent further deterioration. The measures included hybrid learning for schoolchildren and imposing transportation curbs.

The Environment Minister blamed the previous Kejriwal-led AAP government, saying it was impossible to fix a long-standing problem in a short span of time.

In a very rare occurrence in Indian politics, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday (Dec 16) apologised to the citizens for the ongoing air crisis in the national capital, saying that it is "impossible" for any elected government to bring down air pollution in a short span of 9 to 10 months. His apology comes a day after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was greeted with AQI, AQI chants at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during Lionel Messi's GOAT tour. “I apologise to the people of Delhi for the rising air pollution. We are working consistently to reduce it day by day. No government can completely control pollution levels within nine to ten months,” Sirsa said while addressing a press conference. Also Read: Delhi air crisis: Multiple nations including UK, Canada issue advisory as AQI remains in ‘severe’ category The minister blamed the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for the air pollution and said that the BJP government is making sustained efforts to tackle pollution, but could not fix the damage in such a short span. "We are doing better work than the dishonest AAP government, and we have reduced AQI each day. This disease of pollution is given to us by the Aam Aadmi Party, and we are working to fix it," he said. Registering a marginal improvement from Monday, Delhi's overall AQI on Tuesday stood at 378, falling in the "very poor' category. Despite the slight dip, pollution levels remained dangerously high across large parts of the national capital, and a dense blanket of toxic smog enveloped the city, severely reducing visibility and causing discomfort to residents on Tuesday morning. Also Read: 'Ram ka naam badnaam na karo': Shashi Tharoor takes a dig at Centre's move to rename MGNREGA as VB-G RAMG Bill Over the past three days, Delhi's AQI has sustained in the 'severe 'category, which experts believe can cause serious harm to the respiratory and heart functions of the human body. The authorities enforced stringent restrictions under the GRAP-IV to prevent further deterioration. The measures included hybrid learning for schoolchildren and imposing transportation curbs.

The Environment Minister blamed the previous Kejriwal-led AAP government, saying it was impossible to fix a long-standing problem in a short span of time.

Delhi air crisis: Minister Sirsa apologises as CM Rekha Gupta faces AQI chants

India overtook major economies like the UK and South Korea with a score of 21.59, driven by a booming startup ecosystem and the government's aggressive IndiaAI Mission. Let's have a look at the top 7 list and discover where the US and China stand.

India emerges 3rd in Stanford Global AI Competitiveness Index 2025: See where US, China stand in top 7 list

A Trump supporter was shocked to see that someone had cancelled his plane ticket after he posted a photo of his boarding pass online. Apparently, this man was bragging about how he was flying first class, and it was all possible because of the US president who had "Made America Great Again." He was flying to Greenville–Spartanburg airport in South Carolina. However, his foolishness cost him the trip as his boarding pass had all the details someone needs to cancel a trip. When he reached the airport, his ticket had already been cancelled. According to View From The Wing, several airlines let passengers access "Manage my Bookings" with just the confirmation number and last name.&nbsp;Netizens are in disbelief to see that someone can actually do this. Many people commented that this is likely just a lie, while others were shocked to learn that this is possible. Others simply had a laugh about it.<h2>Instances when someone changed other people's tickets</h2>Similar incidents have happened in the past, where someone shared too much information about their trip, and ended up either with a cancelled reservation or being relegated to Coach from Business. In 2011, blogger Ben Schlappig faced the latter when someone called American Airlines and changed the booking. He was supposed to fly from Tampa to Paris, but found himself with a coach ticket from Raleigh to Los Angeles. However, he managed to get it changed to the original ticket.Such incidents reveal the importance of keeping things private, especially your itinerary and ticket details. Social media has led people to flaunt their international trips with tickets and boarding passes that they post online. Such acts also raise security risks, as telling strangers about your plans or that you'll be out of your home can prove dangerous. While some might be compelled to brag on social media, it is best to keep your plans to yourself.&nbsp;

An American passenger showed off his boarding off on social media, saying how Donald Trump made it possible for him to fly First Class. This cost him dearly as someone used the details to cancel his booking. 

A Trump supporter was shocked to see that someone had cancelled his plane ticket after he posted a photo of his boarding pass online. Apparently, this man was bragging about how he was flying first class, and it was all possible because of the US president who had "Made America Great Again." He was flying to Greenville–Spartanburg airport in South Carolina. However, his foolishness cost him the trip as his boarding pass had all the details someone needs to cancel a trip. When he reached the airport, his ticket had already been cancelled. According to View From The Wing, several airlines let passengers access "Manage my Bookings" with just the confirmation number and last name. Netizens are in disbelief to see that someone can actually do this. Many people commented that this is likely just a lie, while others were shocked to learn that this is possible. Others simply had a laugh about it. Instances when someone changed other people's tickets Similar incidents have happened in the past, where someone shared too much information about their trip, and ended up either with a cancelled reservation or being relegated to Coach from Business. In 2011, blogger Ben Schlappig faced the latter when someone called American Airlines and changed the booking. He was supposed to fly from Tampa to Paris, but found himself with a coach ticket from Raleigh to Los Angeles. However, he managed to get it changed to the original ticket. Such incidents reveal the importance of keeping things private, especially your itinerary and ticket details. Social media has led people to flaunt their international trips with tickets and boarding passes that they post online. Such acts also raise security risks, as telling strangers about your plans or that you'll be out of your home can prove dangerous. While some might be compelled to brag on social media, it is best to keep your plans to yourself.

An American passenger showed off his boarding off on social media, saying how Donald Trump made it possible for him to fly First Class. This cost him dearly as someone used the details to cancel his booking.&nbsp;

Man posts First Class boarding pass on social media, says 'Trump made it possible'. Someone cancelled his ticket

Before one mystery could be solved about the Bermuda Triangle, another one has cropped up. Scientists have found a 20-kilometre-thick rock layer below the oceanic crust under Bermuda. Although this is not the only such layer on Earth, what's odd is that none is as thick as this one. Researchers say that typically, after the bottom of the ocean crust comes the mantle. But in Bermuda, there is this layer that should not exist. This other layer that is "emplaced beneath the crust, within the tectonic plate that Bermuda sits on," study lead author William Frazer, a seismologist at Carnegie Science in Washington, DC, said. The discovery was made using recordings of large earthquakes around the world from a seismic station on Bermuda. They were able to peer down 50 km below Bermuda and examine the seismic waves. This is when they found this thick layer of rock.&nbsp;Bermuda is infamous for the disappearance of ships and planes, when seen in totality as a triangle including Florida and Puerto Rico. But the other mystery about Bermuda is the oceanic swell that typically forms because of volcanic activity. However, the last volcanic eruption here was 31 million years ago, leaving scientists puzzled about what could have possibly formed this uplift. Oceanic swell is the point where the ocean crust is higher than its surroundings. The authors suggest that, even though there has been no recent eruption, the last one injected mantle rock into the crust. This is like a raft that has raised the ocean floor by about 1,640 feet, Live Science reported.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/at-16-404-feet-tentacles-on-a-tusked-marine-animal-stunned-scientists-turns-out-it-was-1760698518717">At 16,404 feet, tentacles on a tusked marine animal stunned scientists. Turns out, it was…</a><h2>No volcanic eruption, and yet a swell in Bermuda</h2>Typically, islands like Hawaii are formed because of mantle hotspots where hot material rises, leading to an eruption. The point where the hotspot and the crust come together is pushed upwards. The crust later moves away from that hotspot due to tectonic activity, causing the swell to go down. But this hasn't happened in Bermuda despite the last volcanic eruption on record occurring 31 million years ago. So what's really going on in the mantle under Bermuda is somewhat of a mystery. Frazer has started work on examining other islands to see if they have any similar layers.

Under Bermuda lies another mystery, a thick layer that is several kilometres wide with unclear origins. Scientists say this could be because of the mantle being injected into the oceanic crust. However, why this happened and what's really going on under there remains unknown.

Before one mystery could be solved about the Bermuda Triangle, another one has cropped up. Scientists have found a 20-kilometre-thick rock layer below the oceanic crust under Bermuda. Although this is not the only such layer on Earth, what's odd is that none is as thick as this one. Researchers say that typically, after the bottom of the ocean crust comes the mantle. But in Bermuda, there is this layer that should not exist. This other layer that is "emplaced beneath the crust, within the tectonic plate that Bermuda sits on," study lead author William Frazer, a seismologist at Carnegie Science in Washington, DC, said. The discovery was made using recordings of large earthquakes around the world from a seismic station on Bermuda. They were able to peer down 50 km below Bermuda and examine the seismic waves. This is when they found this thick layer of rock. Bermuda is infamous for the disappearance of ships and planes, when seen in totality as a triangle including Florida and Puerto Rico. But the other mystery about Bermuda is the oceanic swell that typically forms because of volcanic activity. However, the last volcanic eruption here was 31 million years ago, leaving scientists puzzled about what could have possibly formed this uplift. Oceanic swell is the point where the ocean crust is higher than its surroundings. The authors suggest that, even though there has been no recent eruption, the last one injected mantle rock into the crust. This is like a raft that has raised the ocean floor by about 1,640 feet, Live Science reported. Also Read: At 16,404 feet, tentacles on a tusked marine animal stunned scientists. Turns out, it was… No volcanic eruption, and yet a swell in Bermuda Typically, islands like Hawaii are formed because of mantle hotspots where hot material rises, leading to an eruption. The point where the hotspot and the crust come together is pushed upwards. The crust later moves away from that hotspot due to tectonic activity, causing the swell to go down. But this hasn't happened in Bermuda despite the last volcanic eruption on record occurring 31 million years ago. So what's really going on in the mantle under Bermuda is somewhat of a mystery. Frazer has started work on examining other islands to see if they have any similar layers.

Under Bermuda lies another mystery, a thick layer that is several kilometres wide with unclear origins. Scientists say this could be because of the mantle being injected into the oceanic crust. However, why this happened and what's really going on under there remains unknown.

New Bermuda anomaly? Scientists baffled to see secret structure birthed by 31mn-year-old event

The International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Emergency Watchlist identifies the nations based on risk of worsening humanitarian crises using 74 data indicators and field insights. The 2025 report warns of a “New World Disorder". Let's have a look at the nation in the top 10 list.

IRC Emergency Watchlist 2026: Top 10 countries facing the gravest humanitarian crises worldwide

December 16 marks the 54th anniversary of 'Vijay Diwas,' the Indian armed forces' decisive victory over Pakistan, forcing 93,000 of its troops to surrender weapons in Dhaka and splitting the country into two parts. On the east side of India, Bangladesh, carved out of East Pakistan. Bangladesh celebrate the day as Victory Day as the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on this day in 1971 after a nine-month-long bloodstained War of Liberation.&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-nation visit, remembered the courageous armed forces who fought tooth and nail in the 1971 war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. He paid tribute to the unmatched spirit of nationalism of the brave soldiers.&nbsp;"On Vijay Diwas, we remember the brave soldiers whose courage and sacrifice ensured India had a historic victory in 1971. Their steadfast resolve and selfless service protected our nation and etched a moment of pride in our history. This day stands as a salute to their valour and a reminder of their unmatched spirit. Their heroism continues to inspire generations of Indians," he wrote on X.&nbsp;Commemorating the heroes of the 1971, war, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On the occasion of Vijay Diwas, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP… <a href="https://t.co/S9KsyV5fsy">pic.twitter.com/S9KsyV5fsy</a>&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/2000822218700587251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/over-my-dead-body-lt-gen-sagat-singh-s-bold-leap-that-won-1971-war-how-a-daring-helicopter-crossing-of-the-meghna-river-ended-the-war-in-13-days-1765871501135">'Over my dead body': Lt Gen Sagat Singh’s Bold leap that won 1971 war | How a daring helicopter crossing of Meghna river ended the war in 13 days</a>&nbsp;Banglesh's chief advisor Muhammad Yunus marked Victory Day, the day it gained liberation from West Pakistan, by observing a military parade in Dhaka's National Parade Ground along with the Army chief, chiefs of other wings of the military, senior leaders and government officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;The president and the chief adviser have paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the Savar National Martyrs' Memorial on the outskirts of the capital at sunrise.&nbsp;The events that led to the creation of Bangladesh and the Indian Army's decisive victory, prompting the biggest surrender since World War II.<h2>The 1970 election verdict denied</h2>Pakistan’s political crisis began with the December 1970 general election, the country’s first national poll based on adult franchise. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide, securing 167 of 169 seats in East Pakistan and an absolute majority in the National Assembly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the clear mandate, the West Pakistani leadership, military dictator President General Yahya Khan and Pakistan Peoples Party chief Zulfikar Ali Bhutto refused to transfer power. The indefinite postponement of the National Assembly session triggered mass protests across East Pakistan.<h2>Army crackdown and declaration of independence</h2>On the night of March 25–26, 1971, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Searchlight, a brutal military crackdown aimed at crushing Bengali political resistance. Troops targeted students, intellectuals and Awami League supporters in Dhaka and other cities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested, but before that, Bangladesh’s independence was declared on March 26. A provisional government-in-exile was later formed, while the Mukti Bahini resistance force began guerrilla operations with Indian support.<h2>India enters the war, surrender follows</h2>As violence escalated, nearly 10 million refugees fled into India. After Pakistan launched air strikes on Indian airfields on December 3, 1971, India formally entered the war. Under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Army chief General Sam Manekshaw, Indian forces executed a swift eastern campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;On December 16, 1971, Lt Gen A.A.K. Niazi surrendered to Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora in Dhaka, with around 93,000 Pakistani troops laying down arms, marking the largest military surrender since World War II and the birth of Bangladesh.

On December 16, 1971, the Indian armed forces scored a decisive victory over Pakistan, forcing 93,000 Pakistani troops to lay down their arms in Dhaka and leading to the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan.

December 16 marks the 54th anniversary of 'Vijay Diwas,' the Indian armed forces' decisive victory over Pakistan, forcing 93,000 of its troops to surrender weapons in Dhaka and splitting the country into two parts. On the east side of India, Bangladesh, carved out of East Pakistan. Bangladesh celebrate the day as Victory Day as the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on this day in 1971 after a nine-month-long bloodstained War of Liberation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-nation visit, remembered the courageous armed forces who fought tooth and nail in the 1971 war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. He paid tribute to the unmatched spirit of nationalism of the brave soldiers. "On Vijay Diwas, we remember the brave soldiers whose courage and sacrifice ensured India had a historic victory in 1971. Their steadfast resolve and selfless service protected our nation and etched a moment of pride in our history. This day stands as a salute to their valour and a reminder of their unmatched spirit. Their heroism continues to inspire generations of Indians," he wrote on X. Commemorating the heroes of the 1971, war, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On December 16, 1971, the Indian armed forces scored a decisive victory over Pakistan, forcing 93,000 Pakistani troops to lay down their arms in Dhaka and leading to the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan.

India-Bangladesh mark 54th anniversary of Vijay Diwas. Here's what happened on this day. Know all about it

A teaser clip from Avengers: Doomsday has been leaked online and shows the return of a huge character that had effectively left the franchise. The film's release is still a year away, but promotions will start soon. One trailer has now reached the internet, not officially. Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr plays the villain in this film, something that was revealed long ago. However, the leaked trailer shows a popular character's return. Notably, the film's official trailers are set to be shown before Avatar: Fire and Ash in theatres. Several X posts where people claimed to have posted the leaked teaser showed the clips had been removed due to copyright infringement. While the clip that was available till some time back seems real, it wouldn't be a surprise if it turns out to be an AI-generated video. (Spoilers ahead).<h2>Avengers: Doomsday - Spoilers Ahead</h2>If you want to wait for the real thing to hit the screens to know who this character is, then turn back here. According to the clip doing the rounds online, Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, is also in Avengers: Doomsday. The clip shows the character riding a motorcycle and entering their home. The person picks up their old superhero costume, and we soon see that it is none other than former Captain America Steve Rogers. A caption reads, "Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday."&nbsp;If the leaked clip is indeed real, then this marks the return of one of the most popular characters of the Avengers franchise. Rogers' storyline ended with Avengers: Endgame in 2019, and Anthony Mackie, who played Sam Wilson, became the new Captain America and was seen in the film Brave New World. Evans has repeatedly denied that he is part of Avengers: Doomsday. He previously told ScreenRant that he is “sad to be away” from his former co-stars. However, it seems that Evans isn't returning as Captain America as the clip shows him holding a baby, and showing hesitance to join the crew. This means that Mackie will be shown as Captain America.&nbsp;Reports suggest that there will be three Avengers: Doomsday teasers, and then a full trailer showing the mammoth star cast. It includes new characters from the recent Fantastic 4 film, and Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden from the X-Men series. The Russo brothers, directors of the film, say that the new film is “bigger than anything we have ever done”. Avengers: Doomsday is slated to hit theatres on 18 December 2026. &nbsp;

Avengers: Doomsday trailer leaks online: One clip shows the return of a popular character to the franchise. This is a leaked clip, but the official version will be out with Avatar: Fire and Ash, which releases this week. 

A teaser clip from Avengers: Doomsday has been leaked online and shows the return of a huge character that had effectively left the franchise. The film's release is still a year away, but promotions will start soon. One trailer has now reached the internet, not officially. Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr plays the villain in this film, something that was revealed long ago. However, the leaked trailer shows a popular character's return. Notably, the film's official trailers are set to be shown before Avatar: Fire and Ash in theatres. Several X posts where people claimed to have posted the leaked teaser showed the clips had been removed due to copyright infringement. While the clip that was available till some time back seems real, it wouldn't be a surprise if it turns out to be an AI-generated video. (Spoilers ahead). Avengers: Doomsday - Spoilers Ahead If you want to wait for the real thing to hit the screens to know who this character is, then turn back here. According to the clip doing the rounds online, Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, is also in Avengers: Doomsday. The clip shows the character riding a motorcycle and entering their home. The person picks up their old superhero costume, and we soon see that it is none other than former Captain America Steve Rogers. A caption reads, "Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday." If the leaked clip is indeed real, then this marks the return of one of the most popular characters of the Avengers franchise. Rogers' storyline ended with Avengers: Endgame in 2019, and Anthony Mackie, who played Sam Wilson, became the new Captain America and was seen in the film Brave New World. Evans has repeatedly denied that he is part of Avengers: Doomsday. He previously told ScreenRant that he is “sad to be away” from his former co-stars. However, it seems that Evans isn't returning as Captain America as the clip shows him holding a baby, and showing hesitance to join the crew. This means that Mackie will be shown as Captain America. Reports suggest that there will be three Avengers: Doomsday teasers, and then a full trailer showing the mammoth star cast. It includes new characters from the recent Fantastic 4 film, and Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden from the X-Men series. The Russo brothers, directors of the film, say that the new film is “bigger than anything we have ever done”. Avengers: Doomsday is slated to hit theatres on 18 December 2026.

Avengers: Doomsday trailer leaks online: One clip shows the return of a popular character to the franchise. This is a leaked clip, but the official version will be out with Avatar: Fire and Ash, which releases this week.&nbsp;

Avengers: Doomsday leaked trailer reveals a HUGE character is BACK

Like it or hate it, AI has been firmly embedded in daily life in 2025, and the controversies surrounding it have become ubiquitous. From an allegedly antisemitic AI chatbot, to millions of pages of pirated books used to train large language models, to an AI model destroying its own database, there were major AI-related controversies almost every month. Here is a roundup of the most notable ones.<h2>AI robocalls in US election to Grok giving “antisemitic” answers</h2>The year started with allegations that AI-generated robocalls were used to influence voters during the US presidential election that was won by Donald Trump. The calls reportedly mimicked public figures’ voices and allegedly spread misinformation.&nbsp;Political controversy was not limited to elections. In July, xAI’s Grok faced heavy criticism after a system prompt change reportedly encouraged “politically incorrect” responses. These included answers widely described as antisemitic, violent and offensive.<h2>Ransomware powered by AI models?</h2>In August, a controversial ransomware prototype was uncovered. PromptLock, identified by security researchers, was an AI-powered ransomware ‘proof of concept’ that demonstrated how locally run language models could be used to dynamically generate attack logic and even automate extortion. Although not deployed at scale, the ransomware that could be automated via AI was alarming for cybersecurity experts.<h2>Pirated books and a 1.5 billion dollar settlement</h2>AI startup Anthropic agreed to a 1.5 billion dollar settlement in a class-action lawsuit over the use of pirated content from books for training its language models. A group of authors had alleged large-scale copyright infringement. The settlement was among the largest to date related to AI training data.<h2>AI hits Hollywood workers, as Disney embraces Sora</h2>Trade unions and creatives in Hollywood reacted angrily after legacy media company Disney entered into a deal with AI startup OpenAI that would allow AI-generated videos of Disney characters via Sora model. Critics argued the partnership could undermine creative jobs and devalue Disney’s intellectual property through mass production of fan-generated “AI slop”.&nbsp;The backlash came even as Disney almost simultaneously issued a cease-and-desist order to Google, accusing it of large-scale copyright infringement in AI training.<h2>Political and diplomatic deepfakes grow, AI agents sabotage their own systems</h2>Political and diplomatic deepfakes continued to proliferate throughout the year, complicating global relations and public trust. Meanwhile Replit's own AI coding agent deleted parts of its production databases during an automated operation.&nbsp;This was not the only ‘system failure’. Grok AI reportedly publicised more than 300,000 conversations that users thought were private.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/open-ai-plans-1-4-tn-spend-on-computing-power-1764589595110/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/open-ai-plans-1-4-tn-spend-on-computing-power-1764589595110/embed</a><h2>Legacy industry's epic fail: Rehiring humans after AI bungled</h2>Several legacy industries experimented with AI but quietly reversed course. Financial institutions were among them, with Klarna acknowledging it had to rehire human customer service staff after its AI chatbot rollout led to higher call volumes, customer frustration and lower resolution rates, despite earlier claims of efficiency gains.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/yearender-2025-the-year-of-ai-humanoid-robots-agntic-ai-competition-and-policy-reform-what-did-you-miss-1765864185978">YEARENDER: 2025 , the year of AI - Humanoid robots, Agntic AI, competition and policy reform - What did you miss?</a><h2>The harms of AI: Lawsuits and human cost</h2>Multiple lawsuits alleged that AI systems encouraged self-harm and suicidal ideation among teenagers. Parents accused companies like OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, of exposing children to harmful advice and emotionally manipulative interactions. Ethical data use, job displacement, and environmental damage - particularly the energy demand and carbon footprint of large data centres - were also hotly debated.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-is-expanding-the-frontier-of-what-is-possible-says-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-1765638706782">AI is expanding the ‘frontier of what is possible’, says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella</a><h2>AI regulation multiplied too: Taming the machines over deepfake and sexual content</h2>The year saw more than 1,000 AI-related bills introduced across states in the US, reflecting a shift towards decentralised regulation.&nbsp;Several states moved to restrict or prohibit independent AI-driven medical diagnoses without human oversight. At the federal level, President Trump issued an executive order rescinding a number of earlier safety-focused AI rules, instead prioritising innovation and reducing regulatory barriers.&nbsp;In Europe, the European Union’s AI Act provisions for general-purpose models came into effect in August.Deepfake laws also proliferated in the US, with states enacting 68 new statutes, most of them focused on non-consensual sexual content and impersonation.

The year 2025 exposed AI’s legal, ethical and social risks; from election robocalls to antisemitic chatbots, ransomware, pirated content for training and Hollywood backlash. Regulation struggled to keep pace with the mindboggling pace of AI developments. Here is a roundup


Like it or hate it, AI has been firmly embedded in daily life in 2025, and the controversies surrounding it have become ubiquitous. From an allegedly antisemitic AI chatbot, to millions of pages of pirated books used to train large language models, to an AI model destroying its own database, there were major AI-related controversies almost every month. Here is a roundup of the most notable ones. AI robocalls in US election to Grok giving “antisemitic” answers The year started with allegations that AI-generated robocalls were used to influence voters during the US presidential election that was won by Donald Trump. The calls reportedly mimicked public figures’ voices and allegedly spread misinformation. Political controversy was not limited to elections. In July, xAI’s Grok faced heavy criticism after a system prompt change reportedly encouraged “politically incorrect” responses. These included answers widely described as antisemitic, violent and offensive. Ransomware powered by AI models? In August, a controversial ransomware prototype was uncovered. PromptLock, identified by security researchers, was an AI-powered ransomware ‘proof of concept’ that demonstrated how locally run language models could be used to dynamically generate attack logic and even automate extortion. Although not deployed at scale, the ransomware that could be automated via AI was alarming for cybersecurity experts. Pirated books and a 1.5 billion dollar settlement AI startup Anthropic agreed to a 1.5 billion dollar settlement in a class-action lawsuit over the use of pirated content from books for training its language models. A group of authors had alleged large-scale copyright infringement. The settlement was among the largest to date related to AI training data. AI hits Hollywood workers, as Disney embraces Sora Trade unions and creatives in Hollywood reacted angrily after legacy media company Disney entered into a deal with AI startup OpenAI that would allow AI-generated videos of Disney characters via Sora model. Critics argued the partnership could undermine creative jobs and devalue Disney’s intellectual property through mass production of fan-generated “AI slop”. The backlash came even as Disney almost simultaneously issued a cease-and-desist order to Google, accusing it of large-scale copyright infringement in AI training. Political and diplomatic deepfakes grow, AI agents sabotage their own systems Political and diplomatic deepfakes continued to proliferate throughout the year, complicating global relations and public trust. Meanwhile Replit's own AI coding agent deleted parts of its production databases during an automated operation. This was not the only ‘system failure’. Grok AI reportedly publicised more than 300,000 conversations that users thought were private. https://www.wionews.com/videos/open-ai-plans-1-4-tn-spend-on-computing-power-1764589595110/embed Legacy industry's epic fail: Rehiring humans after AI bungled Several legacy industries experimented with AI but quietly reversed course. Financial institutions were among them, with Klarna acknowledging it had to rehire human customer service staff after its AI chatbot rollout led to higher call volumes, customer frustration and lower resolution rates, despite earlier claims of efficiency gains. Also read: YEARENDER: 2025 , the year of AI - Humanoid robots, Agntic AI, competition and policy reform - What did you miss? The harms of AI: Lawsuits and human cost Multiple lawsuits alleged that AI systems encouraged self-harm and suicidal ideation among teenagers. Parents accused companies like OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, of exposing children to harmful advice and emotionally manipulative interactions. Ethical data use, job displacement, and environmental damage - particularly the energy demand and carbon footprint of large data centres - were also hotly debated. Also read: AI is expanding the ‘frontier of what is possible’, says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella AI regulation multiplied too: Taming the machines over deepfake and sexual content The year saw more than 1,000 AI-related bills introduced across states in the US, reflecting a shift towards decentralised regulation. Several states moved to restrict or prohibit independent AI-driven medical diagnoses without human oversight. At the federal level, President Trump issued an executive order rescinding a number of earlier safety-focused AI rules, instead prioritising innovation and reducing regulatory barriers. In Europe, the European Union’s AI Act provisions for general-purpose models came into effect in August. Deepfake laws also proliferated in the US, with states enacting 68 new statutes, most of them focused on non-consensual sexual content and impersonation.

The year 2025 exposed AI’s legal, ethical and social risks; from election robocalls to antisemitic chatbots, ransomware, pirated content for training and Hollywood backlash. Regulation struggled to keep pace with the mindboggling pace of AI developments. Here is a recap

YEARENDER 2025: Biggest AI controversies, from robocall elections to ‘antisemitic’ Grok, ransomware and deepfake

Mosasaurs, an extinct group of aquatic squamate reptiles, adapted to a very different environment during the Late Cretaceous period, as discovered by a group of scientists. These marine predators have been known to hunt in the salty oceans, but now they have found that these mammoths adapted to a freshwater environment and even fed on dinosaurs. IFL Science reported that when Trissa Ford came across a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth in Hell Creek, North Dakota, in 2022, the careful digging led the group to another tooth. Dig leader Dr Clint Boyd knew it didn't belong to a T. rex, and reached out to marine reptile expert Dr Nathan Van Vranken of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He confirmed that it had come from a mosasaur of the Prognathodontini subfamily.&nbsp;This was strange since Hill Creek had never had an ocean, nor a salty lake. Hell Creek is almost 2,000 kilometres from the ocean, and &nbsp;Dr Melanie During, of Uppsala University, who helped the team solve the mystery, says the tooth had remained in the same place. There had also never been any saltwater source in the region. Her analysis revealed that this mosasaur was a descendant of a species that had adapted to living in river water. The study is published in BMC Zoology.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-giant-blue-dragon-monster-haunted-prehistoric-waters-of-the-pacific-ocean-72-million-years-ago-669185">A giant blue dragon mosasaur roamed the Pacific waters 72 million years ago</a><h2>Mosasaurs adapted to live in rivers</h2>Scientists have always believed that mosasaurs lived in salty waters. This is because the Western Interior Seaway, which divided North America into two parts, was connected to both the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and was presumably salty. Mosasaurs inhabited this waterway, which meant they were thriving in saltwater. However, it underwent a huge change at the end of the dinosaur era. Dr Melanie told the publication that mountains were forming at this time and the San Andreas fault was very active, leading the continent to lift upwards. The Seaway got blocked from both sides, cutting off access to the oceans. Gradually, rainwater flushed out all the salt, effectively turning the Hill Creek region into a network of rivers. &nbsp;This shows the mosasaurs underwent a major adaptation.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sea-monster-that-lived-85mn-years-ago-on-dry-land-that-was-once-an-ocean-760391">Sea monster lived 85mn years ago on Texas dry land that was once an ocean</a>&nbsp;She compared the mosasaurs to Australia’s giant saltwater crocodiles, which adapted to freshwater. Since the latter moved to also being able to live on land, could the mosasaurs also have done the same? She thinks it is possible.&nbsp;

Mosasaurs underwent a major lifestyle change during the late Cretaceous period and adapted to living in a completely new environment. Researchers found a tooth that led them to find something shocking about these giants.

Mosasaurs, an extinct group of aquatic squamate reptiles, adapted to a very different environment during the Late Cretaceous period, as discovered by a group of scientists. These marine predators have been known to hunt in the salty oceans, but now they have found that these mammoths adapted to a freshwater environment and even fed on dinosaurs. IFL Science reported that when Trissa Ford came across a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth in Hell Creek, North Dakota, in 2022, the careful digging led the group to another tooth. Dig leader Dr Clint Boyd knew it didn't belong to a T. rex, and reached out to marine reptile expert Dr Nathan Van Vranken of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He confirmed that it had come from a mosasaur of the Prognathodontini subfamily. This was strange since Hill Creek had never had an ocean, nor a salty lake. Hell Creek is almost 2,000 kilometres from the ocean, and Dr Melanie During, of Uppsala University, who helped the team solve the mystery, says the tooth had remained in the same place. There had also never been any saltwater source in the region. Her analysis revealed that this mosasaur was a descendant of a species that had adapted to living in river water. The study is published in BMC Zoology. Also Read: A giant blue dragon mosasaur roamed the Pacific waters 72 million years ago Mosasaurs adapted to live in rivers Scientists have always believed that mosasaurs lived in salty waters. This is because the Western Interior Seaway, which divided North America into two parts, was connected to both the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and was presumably salty. Mosasaurs inhabited this waterway, which meant they were thriving in saltwater. However, it underwent a huge change at the end of the dinosaur era. Dr Melanie told the publication that mountains were forming at this time and the San Andreas fault was very active, leading the continent to lift upwards. The Seaway got blocked from both sides, cutting off access to the oceans. Gradually, rainwater flushed out all the salt, effectively turning the Hill Creek region into a network of rivers. This shows the mosasaurs underwent a major adaptation. Also Read: Sea monster lived 85mn years ago on Texas dry land that was once an ocean She compared the mosasaurs to Australia’s giant saltwater crocodiles, which adapted to freshwater. Since the latter moved to also being able to live on land, could the mosasaurs also have done the same? She thinks it is possible.

Mosasaurs underwent a major lifestyle change during the late Cretaceous period and adapted to living in a completely new environment. Researchers found a tooth that led them to find something shocking about these giants.

T. rex tooth leads scientists to make a shocking discovery about brute that ate dinosaurs

Germany has developed a unique concept that combines public transportation with nightlife, transforming subway cars and train carriages into mobile nightclubs. The concept has been dubbed “Techno Subway Party,” which transforms regular trains into clubs. During the ride, DJs perform live techno sets inside the subway cars, creating a high-energy, club-like atmosphere.&nbsp;A video surfaced on social media shows passengers in the metro coaches dancing to the electronic beats and enjoying the festive mood in the train. In the next scene, a DJ is seen playing the playlist and dancing with the people surrounding him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨⚡️Crazy idea Germans invent a new way where a unique event called the &quot;Techno Subway Party&quot; transforms subway cars into mobile parties. DJs deliver live performances while passengers dance and enjoy a club-like atmosphere on board the train, from late afternoon until… <a href="https://t.co/f5ydFXIwLQ">pic.twitter.com/f5ydFXIwLQ</a>&mdash; RussiaNews 🇷🇺 (@mog_russEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/mog_russEN/status/2000581067087245387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The event typically runs from late afternoon until evening, drawing music lovers and curious commuters alike. The initiative showcases the innovative approach to urban culture in Germany, reimagining everyday spaces as platforms for shared entertainment and community-driven experiences.<h3>About Techno Subway Party</h3>The event was launched in 2019 by Nuremberg nightclub Haus 33. The moving nightclub runs only twice a year, and it has only two official stops: where it starts and where it ends. The journey of the party begins at Frankenstadion station at about 4 pm, and travels around 100km towards Wurzburg, then loops back to Nuremberg Central Station by about 11 pm.&nbsp;The train consists of 12 carriages, three of which are converted into dedicated dance floors equipped with DJ consoles, sound systems and onboard bars. Nearly 25 DJs perform throughout the journey as hundreds of revellers move between different coaches. Each ride is capped at around 700 tickets, which sell out within seconds despite minimal promotion.&nbsp;The place always remains strictly under the security measures. In line with transport regulations requiring seating for every passenger, calmer chill-out carriages are also provided alongside the high-energy party zones.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/statue-of-liberty-powerful-storms-topple-replica-in-brazil-s-rio-grande-do-sul-here-s-what-happened-next-watch-1765860477164">Statue of Liberty: Powerful storms topple replica of structure in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul; Here's what happened next — WATCH</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

The event typically runs from late afternoon until evening, drawing music lovers and curious commuters alike. The initiative showcases the innovative approach to urban culture in Germany, reimagining everyday spaces as platforms for shared entertainment and community-driven experiences.

Germany has developed a unique concept that combines public transportation with nightlife, transforming subway cars and train carriages into mobile nightclubs. The concept has been dubbed “Techno Subway Party,” which transforms regular trains into clubs. During the ride, DJs perform live techno sets inside the subway cars, creating a high-energy, club-like atmosphere. A video surfaced on social media shows passengers in the metro coaches dancing to the electronic beats and enjoying the festive mood in the train. In the next scene, a DJ is seen playing the playlist and dancing with the people surrounding him.

The event typically runs from late afternoon until evening, drawing music lovers and curious commuters alike. The initiative showcases the innovative approach to urban culture in Germany, reimagining everyday spaces as platforms for shared entertainment and community-driven experiences.

WATCH: Metro coaches in Germany turn into moving nightclubs, people dance to live DJ & electronic music

In 2025, the semiconductor rivalry between the US and China, often called ‘chip war’, continued. The US used export controls to limit China's access to advanced chip technologies. China, which is making progress on artificial intelligence and military applications, responded with steps to strengthen domestic semiconductor capabilities and export controls on critical inputs such as rare earths. Supply chains, investment patterns and industry strategies were affected, with many US companies, including AI chip giant Nvidia, seeing impacts due to the chip war.<h2>Export controls became a tool for chip wars</h2>As the year began, US export controls restricted sales of advanced AI chips and related technology to China. Firms like Nvidia faced significant revenue losses and costs related to restrictions on advanced AI chips and access to the Chinese market. US officials explained the restrictions as national security steps, but they were criticised by industry leaders for harming competitiveness and incentivising China to expand independent innovations. After Donald Trump became US president in January, he eased some export controls on advanced AI chips to “approved customers” in China, allowing sales of Nvidia’s H200 chip subject to profit sharing with the US government. These policy shifts were interpreted as efforts to maintain US companies’ market access.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/auto-sector-hit-by-global-chip-wars-1762235587408/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/auto-sector-hit-by-global-chip-wars-1762235587408/embed</a><h2>China responded to US restrictions on chips with its own curbs&nbsp;</h2>China asked the US to reverse what it called discriminatory semiconductor export controls, which it claimed were harming its industry and global supply chains.China also placed export restrictions on rare earth elements, an area which it dominates and is crucial to AI chipmaking. As the competition intensified, both sides later agreed to suspend some rare earth export controls in late 2025.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ai-chip-war-u-turn-trump-allows-nvidia-h200-sales-to-china-says-xi-jinping-responded-positively-1765262721420">AI chip war U-turn? Trump allows Nvidia H200 sales to China, says Xi Jinping ‘responded positively’</a><h2>China increases self-reliance in semiconductor production</h2>Chinese companies and the government raised research spending and production capacity on chips. The government supported local innovation efforts through policy changes, while more Chinese companies expanded their roles across semiconductor supply chains.Even after export permission was granted, China moved to limit access to certain advanced foreign chips over security concerns, which affected chipmakers like Nvidia.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vikram-chip-at-semicon-india-2025-india-fired-first-shot-in-global-chip-wars-here-is-why-it-s-not-just-another-science-story-1756812544584">Vikram chip at Semicon India 2025: India fired its first shot in global 'chip wars'. Here is why it's not just another science story</a><h2>US-China chip war affected global supply chains</h2>Global supply chains and investment flows were impacted by the ongoing US-China tensions and strategic diversification. &nbsp;The revenues and stock prices of American and allied companies were hit due to the curbs. Chinese firms focused on domestic technology, &nbsp;substituting local suppliers for restricted foreign components. The year also saw the US bolstering its domestic subsidy programmes through CHIPS Act, which envisages new domestic fabrication plants.

The US-China chip war continued to reshape global supply chains as export controls in 2025. Curbs on AI chips, rare earth elements and policy shifts under Trump hit firms like Nvidia. Here is a roundup

In 2025, the semiconductor rivalry between the US and China, often called ‘chip war’, continued. The US used export controls to limit China's access to advanced chip technologies. China, which is making progress on artificial intelligence and military applications, responded with steps to strengthen domestic semiconductor capabilities and export controls on critical inputs such as rare earths. Supply chains, investment patterns and industry strategies were affected, with many US companies, including AI chip giant Nvidia, seeing impacts due to the chip war. Export controls became a tool for chip wars As the year began, US export controls restricted sales of advanced AI chips and related technology to China. Firms like Nvidia faced significant revenue losses and costs related to restrictions on advanced AI chips and access to the Chinese market. US officials explained the restrictions as national security steps, but they were criticised by industry leaders for harming competitiveness and incentivising China to expand independent innovations. After Donald Trump became US president in January, he eased some export controls on advanced AI chips to “approved customers” in China, allowing sales of Nvidia’s H200 chip subject to profit sharing with the US government. These policy shifts were interpreted as efforts to maintain US companies’ market access. https://www.wionews.com/videos/auto-sector-hit-by-global-chip-wars-1762235587408/embed China responded to US restrictions on chips with its own curbs China asked the US to reverse what it called discriminatory semiconductor export controls, which it claimed were harming its industry and global supply chains. China also placed export restrictions on rare earth elements, an area which it dominates and is crucial to AI chipmaking. As the competition intensified, both sides later agreed to suspend some rare earth export controls in late 2025. Also read: AI chip war U-turn? Trump allows Nvidia H200 sales to China, says Xi Jinping ‘responded positively’ China increases self-reliance in semiconductor production Chinese companies and the government raised research spending and production capacity on chips. The government supported local innovation efforts through policy changes, while more Chinese companies expanded their roles across semiconductor supply chains. Even after export permission was granted, China moved to limit access to certain advanced foreign chips over security concerns, which affected chipmakers like Nvidia. Also read: Vikram chip at Semicon India 2025: India fired its first shot in global 'chip wars'. Here is why it's not just another science story US-China chip war affected global supply chains Global supply chains and investment flows were impacted by the ongoing US-China tensions and strategic diversification. The revenues and stock prices of American and allied companies were hit due to the curbs. Chinese firms focused on domestic technology, substituting local suppliers for restricted foreign components. The year also saw the US bolstering its domestic subsidy programmes through CHIPS Act, which envisages new domestic fabrication plants.

The US-China chip war continued to reshape global supply chains as export controls in 2025. Curbs on AI chips, rare earth elements and policy shifts under Trump hit firms like Nvidia. Here is a roundup

YEARENDER 2025: Chip wars led to firms being caught between policy, Trump and China

A moment of embarrassment unfolded at the Arun Jaitley Stadium when Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta arrived while football icon Lionel Messi made his visit amid his India tour. As soon as the CM entered, sections of the crowd began chanting “AQI, AQI, AQI”, highlighting public anger over the capital’s severe air pollution. The captured moments quickly went viral on social media.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">International Shame अंतरराष्ट्रीय बेइज़्ज़ती 🙈 रेखा गुप्ता को देखते ही स्टेडियम में प्रदूषण से परेशान दिल्ली के लोग चीखे- AQI AQI AQI Crowd for Messi shouts “AQI..AQI..” as soon as Delhi CM Rekha Gupta arrives <a href="https://t.co/oUyc0yeTAJ">pic.twitter.com/oUyc0yeTAJ</a>&mdash; Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saurabh_MLAgk/status/2000554575145865718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The chants were originally meant for cheering the footballer Messi; however, the chants quickly turned against the Delhi CM and the worsening air quality of the national capital. The episode underscored growing public frustration over pollution in the national capital.&nbsp;The clip, which quickly went viral on social media, was circulated by opposition parties in Delhi. Both the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress amplified the video as pollution levels in the capital continued to worsen. “International Shame, Crowd for Messi shouts ‘AQI, AQI’ as soon as Delhi CM Rekha Gupta arrives,” AAP’s Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a post on X.&nbsp;The AAP accused the BJP-led governments in Delhi and at the Centre of showing “indifference” towards the deteriorating AQI situation.&nbsp;Responding to criticism, earlier Delhi CM Gupta said her government was taking all possible steps to reduce the pollution level of Delhi. However, she blamed previous administrations for their inactive role in pollution control.&nbsp;“I want to ask those protesting at India Gate: The problem of air pollution is not new and has been around for years. Where were your protests before? What did the previous government do? “There is a backlog of 27 years. The government needs at least 27 months to fix things. After 27 months, you can ask me about the steps we took to address air pollution," Gupta had said.<h3>Delhi AQI recorded 'severe'</h3>The Central Pollution Control Board data indicated that 27 air-quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded 'severe' pollution on Monday, with Wazirpur registering the highest at 475. Thick smog reduced visibility and disrupted daily activities, prompting several residents to wear masks while commuting.&nbsp;The air quality of Delhi remained in the 'severe' category for the third consecutive day, with haze blanketing the skyline. Meanwhile, the Lionel Messi G.O.A.T. India Tour concluded successfully at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, after a chaotic event in Kolkata on Saturday.

The chants were originally meant for cheering the footballer Messi; however, the chants quickly turned against the Delhi CM and the worsening air quality of the national capital. The episode underscored growing public frustration over pollution in the national capital.

A moment of embarrassment unfolded at the Arun Jaitley Stadium when Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta arrived while football icon Lionel Messi made his visit amid his India tour. As soon as the CM entered, sections of the crowd began chanting “AQI, AQI, AQI”, highlighting public anger over the capital’s severe air pollution. The captured moments quickly went viral on social media.

The chants were originally meant for cheering the footballer Messi; however, the chants quickly turned against the Delhi CM and the worsening air quality of the national capital. The episode underscored growing public frustration over pollution in the national capital.

'International Shame': ‘AQI, AQI’ chants greet Delhi CM after she arrives for Messi event amid rise in air pollution

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Dec 15) signalled that his administration is seriously considering easing federal restrictions on marijuana, reopening a debate that has long divided Washington and the states. This comes as Trump signed an executive order classifying fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction".<h2>What did Trump say about weed?</h2>Asked by reporters whether an executive order on cannabis reform was in the works, Trump said the idea was under active review. "We are considering that," he said. He claimed that a lot of people were asking for reclassification for "research" purposes. "A lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can't be done unless you reclassify, so we are looking at that very strongly."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fentanyl-more-dangerous-than-a-bomb-trump-classifies-drug-as-weapon-of-mass-destruction-1765847533698">Fentanyl more dangerous than a bomb? Trump classifies drug as 'weapon of mass destruction'</a><h2>Is marijuana legal in the US?</h2>Under federal law, marijuana, aka grass, is currently listed as a Schedule I substance, a category reserved for drugs like heroin and LSD, which the government says have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. That status has increasingly clashed with reality on the ground, where dozens of US states now allow marijuana, also referred to as Devil's lettuce, for medical purposes, and many permit recreational use as well.According to a recent Washington Post report, Trump is weighing a shift to Schedule III, a category that includes drugs considered to have legitimate medical value and a lower risk of abuse. Ketamine and anabolic steroids are classified at that level.<h2>Does that mean marijuana would be legal throughout the US?</h2>No, rescheduling would not amount to full legalisation or decriminalisation. But it could bring significant changes. Moving marijuana out of Schedule I would ease restrictions on scientific research, which currently requires multiple layers of federal approval. Researchers have long argued that the existing rules make it unnecessarily difficult to study cannabis for medical benefits and risks.The move could also have tax implications for the growing legal cannabis industry.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sza-slams-trump-admin-for-rage-baiting-artists-for-free-promo-after-white-house-uses-her-song-big-boy-in-ice-video-watch-1765422624181">SZA slams Trump admin for ‘rage baiting artists for free promo’ after White House uses her song 'Big Boy' in ICE video. Watch</a><h2>But can Trump reclassify cannabis?</h2>Trump cannot change marijuana's classification on his own. Any shift would require action by federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Post reported that Trump is expected to sign an executive order instructing those agencies to begin the process.Former president Joe Biden had also pushed for reclassification, but his administration did not complete the effort before Trump returned to office in early 2025. &nbsp;

Trump hints at big weed shift | Trump says the White House is actively considering easing federal marijuana rules, including reclassifying cannabis for research. Here's what he said.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Dec 15) signalled that his administration is seriously considering easing federal restrictions on marijuana, reopening a debate that has long divided Washington and the states. This comes as Trump signed an executive order classifying fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction". What did Trump say about weed? Asked by reporters whether an executive order on cannabis reform was in the works, Trump said the idea was under active review. "We are considering that," he said. He claimed that a lot of people were asking for reclassification for "research" purposes. "A lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can't be done unless you reclassify, so we are looking at that very strongly." Also read | Fentanyl more dangerous than a bomb? Trump classifies drug as 'weapon of mass destruction' Is marijuana legal in the US? Under federal law, marijuana, aka grass, is currently listed as a Schedule I substance, a category reserved for drugs like heroin and LSD, which the government says have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. That status has increasingly clashed with reality on the ground, where dozens of US states now allow marijuana, also referred to as Devil's lettuce, for medical purposes, and many permit recreational use as well. According to a recent Washington Post report, Trump is weighing a shift to Schedule III, a category that includes drugs considered to have legitimate medical value and a lower risk of abuse. Ketamine and anabolic steroids are classified at that level. Does that mean marijuana would be legal throughout the US? No, rescheduling would not amount to full legalisation or decriminalisation. But it could bring significant changes. Moving marijuana out of Schedule I would ease restrictions on scientific research, which currently requires multiple layers of federal approval. Researchers have long argued that the existing rules make it unnecessarily difficult to study cannabis for medical benefits and risks. The move could also have tax implications for the growing legal cannabis industry. Also read | SZA slams Trump admin for ‘rage baiting artists for free promo’ after White House uses her song 'Big Boy' in ICE video. Watch But can Trump reclassify cannabis? Trump cannot change marijuana's classification on his own. Any shift would require action by federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Post reported that Trump is expected to sign an executive order instructing those agencies to begin the process. Former president Joe Biden had also pushed for reclassification, but his administration did not complete the effort before Trump returned to office in early 2025.

Trump hints at big weed shift | Trump says the White House is actively considering easing federal marijuana rules, including reclassifying cannabis for research. Here's what he said.

Marijuana 'research' material but fentanyl a 'weapon of mass destruction'? Trump's explosive announcement on devil's lettuce

The current satellite mega-constellation system can crumble within days in case of an intense solar storm, according to a new paper. Low-Earth orbit is extremely crowded, with several satellites working there. According to data, two satellites make a “close approach”, that is, pass by each other at less than one kilometre distance, every 22 seconds. Scientists handle these satellites from Earth to avoid collisions between them. However, the paper by Sarah Thiele, a PhD student at Princeton, and he co-authors, analysed what would happen in "edge cases" that can cause system failures, specifically in the case of a solar storm, Universe Today reported. Solar storms can cause an increased drag on satellites and put them on a collision path with another, forcing manoeuvres to avoid them crashing into one another. But the bigger problem, according to the authors, is that solar storms can affect navigational and communications systems, which facilitate these manoeuvres. What would happen in this case?&nbsp;If humans lose control of satellites and are unable to move them around, the drag from the solar storm would put them in a precarious situation and trigger an immediate catastrophe. Using a new metric - the Collision Realization and Significant Harm (CRASH) Clock, the researchers calculated that if operators are unable to send commands for avoidance manoeuvres, a catastrophic collision will occur in around 2.8 days. This statistic holds true for June 2025, and is a stark change from 2018, when this time period was 121 days. If operators lose control for just 24 hours, there's a 30 per cent chance of a collision that can trigger a process leading to the Kessler Syndrome, a scenario where the orbit would be filled with a debris cloud, rendering satellites unworkable and preventing the launch of new satellites.&nbsp;Responding to a solar storm would need real-time action to keep satellites afloat and safe. However, if this system goes down, the window to fix it would be extremely small and failure to do so would result in the constellation crumbling like a "pack of cards". The researchers also noted that if a storm as intense as the Carrington Event of 1859 were to strike, humans would not be able to control the satellites for longer than three days, eventually wiping out our satellite infrastructure. &nbsp;

Scientists have flagged a catastrophic scenario waiting to unfold in low-Earth orbit, where a solar storm can trigger a collision between satellites, setting a chain reaction that ultimately leaves humans without access to them.

The current satellite mega-constellation system can crumble within days in case of an intense solar storm, according to a new paper. Low-Earth orbit is extremely crowded, with several satellites working there. According to data, two satellites make a “close approach”, that is, pass by each other at less than one kilometre distance, every 22 seconds. Scientists handle these satellites from Earth to avoid collisions between them. However, the paper by Sarah Thiele, a PhD student at Princeton, and he co-authors, analysed what would happen in "edge cases" that can cause system failures, specifically in the case of a solar storm, Universe Today reported. Solar storms can cause an increased drag on satellites and put them on a collision path with another, forcing manoeuvres to avoid them crashing into one another. But the bigger problem, according to the authors, is that solar storms can affect navigational and communications systems, which facilitate these manoeuvres. What would happen in this case? If humans lose control of satellites and are unable to move them around, the drag from the solar storm would put them in a precarious situation and trigger an immediate catastrophe. Using a new metric - the Collision Realization and Significant Harm (CRASH) Clock, the researchers calculated that if operators are unable to send commands for avoidance manoeuvres, a catastrophic collision will occur in around 2.8 days. This statistic holds true for June 2025, and is a stark change from 2018, when this time period was 121 days. If operators lose control for just 24 hours, there's a 30 per cent chance of a collision that can trigger a process leading to the Kessler Syndrome, a scenario where the orbit would be filled with a debris cloud, rendering satellites unworkable and preventing the launch of new satellites. Responding to a solar storm would need real-time action to keep satellites afloat and safe. However, if this system goes down, the window to fix it would be extremely small and failure to do so would result in the constellation crumbling like a "pack of cards". The researchers also noted that if a storm as intense as the Carrington Event of 1859 were to strike, humans would not be able to control the satellites for longer than three days, eventually wiping out our satellite infrastructure.

Scientists have flagged a catastrophic scenario waiting to unfold in low-Earth orbit, where a solar storm can trigger a collision between satellites, setting a chain reaction that ultimately leaves humans without access to them.

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