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<p>Delhi on Saturday (Jan 13) woke up to the chilliest morning of the season on the second consecutive day, with the mercury dipping to 3.6 degrees Celsius. This came as cold waves and thick fog conditions continued to batter the residents in the National Capital Region (NCR). The temperature at Delhi’s Lodhi Road area was recorded at 3.4 degrees&nbsp;on Saturday morning, the lowest of this season.</p>

<p>The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for northern states including Delhi, Punjab and Haryana for Saturday and an orange alert in the region for tomorrow (Sunday). According to IMD the thick fog conditions are expected to continue in the region for the next 3-4 days.</p>

<p>"Dense to very dense fog at many places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh and dense fog at isolated places over Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Moderate fog in isolated pockets over Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh. Cold day to severe cold day conditions at many places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh," the weather department said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">VIDEO | A layer of dense fog covers parts of Delhi. Visuals from Akshardham. <a href="https://t.co/2AxO50vhw2">pic.twitter.com/2AxO50vhw2</a></p>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1746020409592676564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"A blanket of dense fog engulfed most parts of Northern India, disrupting rail and air traffic in the entire region. Dense to very dense fog will continue in parts of northwest India during the next 3 days," it added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: Several flight operations delayed at Delhi airport due to low visibility amid fog <a href="https://t.co/s0DaNIG5IX">pic.twitter.com/s0DaNIG5IX</a></p>
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<p>On Friday (Jan 12) too, Delhi witnessed dense fog, with visibility dropping to a staggering zero metres. Later in the day, the capital witnessed cold wave conditions, even though the skies&nbsp;cleared&nbsp;and the fog layer vanished.</p>

<p>Delhi residents are bracing for a double whammy in the winter season, with ruthless cold waves and dense fog worsening air quality.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ayodhyas-ram-temple-consecration-to-bring-diwali-like-business-for-delhi-markets-679410"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration to bring Diwali-like business to Delhi markets</strong></a></p>

<p>The air remained at the 'very poor' level in Delhi, with the AQI, on a scale of 0 to 500, reading 340 against 348 on Friday. According to the Institute of Tropical Meteorology's air quality early warning system, any improvement is unlikely in the next few days.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India: New Delhi witnessing surge in influenza cases compounded by H1N1</strong></p>

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<p>"The air quality is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category from Saturday to Monday. The outlook for the subsequent six days: The air quality is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category. The predominant surface wind is likely to blow from north-west direction with a wind speed of 4-6kmph, partly cloudy sky with dense fog in the morning on Sunday," the early warning system predicted.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Delhi on Saturday (Jan 13) woke up to the chilliest morning of the season on the second consecutive day, with the mercury dipping to 3.6 degrees Celsius. This came as cold waves and thick fog conditions continued to batter the residents in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Delhi on Saturday (Jan 13) woke up to the chilliest morning of the season on the second consecutive day, with the mercury dipping to 3.6 degrees Celsius. This came as cold waves and thick fog conditions continued to batter the residents in the National Capital Region (NCR). The temperature at Delhi’s Lodhi Road area was recorded at 3.4 degrees on Saturday morning, the lowest of this season. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for northern states including Delhi, Punjab and Haryana for Saturday and an orange alert in the region for tomorrow (Sunday). According to IMD the thick fog conditions are expected to continue in the region for the next 3-4 days. "Dense to very dense fog at many places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh and dense fog at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Moderate fog in isolated pockets over Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh. Cold day to severe cold day conditions at many places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh," the weather department said. VIDEO | A layer of dense fog covers parts of Delhi. Visuals from Akshardham. pic.twitter.com/2AxO50vhw2 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 13, 2024 × "A blanket of dense fog engulfed most parts of Northern India, disrupting rail and air traffic in the entire region. Dense to very dense fog will continue in parts of northwest India during the next 3 days," it added. #WATCH | Delhi: Several flight operations delayed at Delhi airport due to low visibility amid fog pic.twitter.com/s0DaNIG5IX — ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2024 × On Friday (Jan 12) too, Delhi witnessed dense fog, with visibility dropping to a staggering zero metres. Later in the day, the capital witnessed cold wave conditions, even though the skies cleared and the fog layer vanished. Delhi residents are bracing for a double whammy in the winter season, with ruthless cold waves and dense fog worsening air quality. Also read: Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration to bring Diwali-like business to Delhi markets The air remained at the 'very poor' level in Delhi, with the AQI, on a scale of 0 to 500, reading 340 against 348 on Friday. According to the Institute of Tropical Meteorology's air quality early warning system, any improvement is unlikely in the next few days. Watch: India: New Delhi witnessing surge in influenza cases compounded by H1N1 × "The air quality is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category from Saturday to Monday. The outlook for the subsequent six days: The air quality is likely to remain in the 'very poor' category. The predominant surface wind is likely to blow from north-west direction with a wind speed of 4-6kmph, partly cloudy sky with dense fog in the morning on Sunday," the early warning system predicted. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi’s coldest morning yet again: Temperature dips to 3.6C amid ‘very poor’ air quality

<p>As the grand Ram temple rises in the Indian holy city of Ayodhya, it’s not just India which is celebrating. The historic event is being celebrated with same vigour in the US too, where giant billboards depicting Lord Ram and the majestic Ram Mandir have gone up in at least 10 states. The boards have been erected by the US branch of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in association with the local Hindu population.</p>

<p>According to media reports, more than 40 such billboards have been installed across the US states, including in Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, among others. The billboards carry the message around the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the birthplace of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22.</p>

<p>Additionally, the US branch of VHP said visual celebrations marking the opening of the Ram Temple will be held in Arizona and the State of Missouri starting Monday (Jan 15).</p>

<p>"The resounding message conveyed by these billboards is that Hindu Americans are elated and joyously participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Their emotions overflow as they eagerly await the auspicious day of the consecration ceremony," Amitabh VW Mittal general secretary, Hindu Parishad of America, was quoted as saying by ANI.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Teja A Shah, the Joint General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (US) said that New Jersey and New York will witness a car rally and exhibition to celebrate the event.</p>

<p>“The Hindu community in New Jersey is brimming with joy, eagerly anticipating the upcoming Car Rally, Exhibition, Curtain Raiser, Billboards across New York New Jersey, and the grand celebration slated for the 21st night. The enthusiasm is palpable, with members from Mandirs across NJ eagerly looking forward to this once-in-a-generation event,” Shah said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ayodhya-to-develop-ramayana-forest-offering-glimpse-into-lord-rams-exile-period-679386"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Ayodhya to develop ‘Ramayana Forest’, offering glimpses into Lord Ram’s exile period</strong></a></p>

<p>Earlier on Wednesday (Jan 10), the Indian envoy to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said Ramayan is a bridge “across geographies” and teaches people about the complexities of human relationships and the eternal struggle between good and evil.</p>

<p>Speaking at an event at the US Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, titled 'Ramayana across Asia and Beyond', the Indian envoy said, "Ramayan and its shared heritage across the Indo-Pacific. The lessons and tales from Ramayan are passed down from generations, and it is hard to say exactly when one learns them. It's as if one was born with them. The epic gives insights into the complexities of human relationships, governance and spirituality, dharma or duty, justice, sacrifice, loyalty, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. The Ramayan has something to teach us about each of these themes, among many other things." &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Ram Temple Ayodhya consecration: Veteran BJP leader LK Advani to attend ceremony, Congress to skip</strong></p>

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<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ceremonial installation of the idol of Shri Ram Lalla inside the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple on January 22 in Ayodhya. The temple trust has invited a host of leaders and dignitaries from all walks of life to the grand temple opening in Ayodhya.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


As the grand Ram temple rises in the Indian holy city of Ayodhya, it’s not just India which is celebrating. The historic event is being celebrated with same vigour in the US too, where giant billboards depicting Lord Ram and the majestic Ram Mandir have gone up in at least 10 states.

As the grand Ram temple rises in the Indian holy city of Ayodhya, it’s not just India which is celebrating. The historic event is being celebrated with same vigour in the US too, where giant billboards depicting Lord Ram and the majestic Ram Mandir have gone up in at least 10 states. The boards have been erected by the US branch of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in association with the local Hindu population. According to media reports, more than 40 such billboards have been installed across the US states, including in Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, among others. The billboards carry the message around the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the birthplace of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22. Additionally, the US branch of VHP said visual celebrations marking the opening of the Ram Temple will be held in Arizona and the State of Missouri starting Monday (Jan 15). "The resounding message conveyed by these billboards is that Hindu Americans are elated and joyously participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Their emotions overflow as they eagerly await the auspicious day of the consecration ceremony," Amitabh VW Mittal general secretary, Hindu Parishad of America, was quoted as saying by ANI. Meanwhile, Teja A Shah, the Joint General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (US) said that New Jersey and New York will witness a car rally and exhibition to celebrate the event. “The Hindu community in New Jersey is brimming with joy, eagerly anticipating the upcoming Car Rally, Exhibition, Curtain Raiser, Billboards across New York New Jersey, and the grand celebration slated for the 21st night. The enthusiasm is palpable, with members from Mandirs across NJ eagerly looking forward to this once-in-a-generation event,” Shah said. Also read: Ayodhya to develop ‘Ramayana Forest’, offering glimpses into Lord Ram’s exile period Earlier on Wednesday (Jan 10), the Indian envoy to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said Ramayan is a bridge “across geographies” and teaches people about the complexities of human relationships and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Speaking at an event at the US Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, titled 'Ramayana across Asia and Beyond', the Indian envoy said, "Ramayan and its shared heritage across the Indo-Pacific. The lessons and tales from Ramayan are passed down from generations, and it is hard to say exactly when one learns them. It's as if one was born with them. The epic gives insights into the complexities of human relationships, governance and spirituality, dharma or duty, justice, sacrifice, loyalty, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. The Ramayan has something to teach us about each of these themes, among many other things." Watch: Ram Temple Ayodhya consecration: Veteran BJP leader LK Advani to attend ceremony, Congress to skip × Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ceremonial installation of the idol of Shri Ram Lalla inside the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple on January 22 in Ayodhya. The temple trust has invited a host of leaders and dignitaries from all walks of life to the grand temple opening in Ayodhya. (With inputs from agencies)

Giant billboards, car rally and exhibition: Here’s how US is celebrating Ram Temple inauguration

<p>Search and rescue authorities in Iceland are looking for a man who reportedly fell into a deep crack in Earth created after a major earthquake. The town of Grindavík witnessed a major earthquake on November 10, leading authorities to issue an evacuation notice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the authorities, the missing man is a member of the roadwork crew and was assigned the task of filling the crevasse. A spokesperson of the rescue team told local media that a man was reported missing on Wednesday (Jan 10) and a search effort has been launched, but none of the man’s coworkers witnessed him&nbsp;fall into the crevasse.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Scientists create 'identical twin' universe</strong></p>

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<p>Notably, the tools of the missing man have already been recovered from the site where he is believed to have fallen. A crane had also been deployed and dog squads had been called in to aid the rescue efforts. A team of more than 200 people is&nbsp;said to be involved in the rescue mission.</p>

<p>"We came to search until we find him," Úlfar Lúðvíksson, the region's police chief, told the Icelandic newspaper Morgunbladid.</p>

<p>According to the police, it was not clear how deep the crack was. Lúðvíksson said precautions were being taken to prevent another such incident near the crevasse.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/british-airways-pilot-kidnapped-tortured-during-stopover-leaving-flight-hanging-679006"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;British Airways pilot kidnapped, tortured during stopover, leaving flight hanging</strong></a></p>

<p>"There are two men who go down in a basket at a time and stay down for about 10 minutes. Then they come up and the other two take over," Lúðvíksson&nbsp;explained&nbsp;why the rescue efforts were taking so much time.</p>

<p>The town is located near the path of an approximately 9.3-mile-long vertical intrusion of magma in the Earth's crust, that is thought to be fed by a horizontal intrusion causing crustal uplift around the nearby geothermal power plant at Svartsengi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Magma in the vertical dike pushed through to the surface on December 18, causing lava to shoot up to 650 feet into the air. Five vents opened up when the eruption initially occurred, with the closest around 1.7 miles from Grindavik.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Search and rescue authorities in Iceland are looking for a man who reportedly fell into a deep crack in Earth created after a major earthquake. The town of Grindavík witnessed a major earthquake on November 10, leading authorities to issue an evacuation notice.

Search and rescue authorities in Iceland are looking for a man who reportedly fell into a deep crack in Earth created after a major earthquake. The town of Grindavík witnessed a major earthquake on November 10, leading authorities to issue an evacuation notice. According to the authorities, the missing man is a member of the roadwork crew and was assigned the task of filling the crevasse. A spokesperson of the rescue team told local media that a man was reported missing on Wednesday (Jan 10) and a search effort has been launched, but none of the man’s coworkers witnessed him fall into the crevasse. Watch: Scientists create 'identical twin' universe × Notably, the tools of the missing man have already been recovered from the site where he is believed to have fallen. A crane had also been deployed and dog squads had been called in to aid the rescue efforts. A team of more than 200 people is said to be involved in the rescue mission. "We came to search until we find him," Úlfar Lúðvíksson, the region's police chief, told the Icelandic newspaper Morgunbladid. According to the police, it was not clear how deep the crack was. Lúðvíksson said precautions were being taken to prevent another such incident near the crevasse. Also read: British Airways pilot kidnapped, tortured during stopover, leaving flight hanging "There are two men who go down in a basket at a time and stay down for about 10 minutes. Then they come up and the other two take over," Lúðvíksson explained why the rescue efforts were taking so much time. The town is located near the path of an approximately 9.3-mile-long vertical intrusion of magma in the Earth's crust, that is thought to be fed by a horizontal intrusion causing crustal uplift around the nearby geothermal power plant at Svartsengi. Magma in the vertical dike pushed through to the surface on December 18, causing lava to shoot up to 650 feet into the air. Five vents opened up when the eruption initially occurred, with the closest around 1.7 miles from Grindavik. (With inputs from agencies)

Man falls into crack caused by earthquake in Iceland, search and rescue operation on

<p><strong>Lohri 2024:</strong> Lohri, a vibrant winter celebration deeply rooted in Dogra and Punjabi folk traditions, is primarily observed in the north Indian states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Jammu city in J&amp;K Union Territory and Delhi also celebrate the festival with great zeal and enthusiasm.</p>

<p>Lohri also serves as a unifying event, bringing together individuals from diverse religious backgrounds, including Sikhs, Hindus, and others. The celebration&nbsp;marks the Earth's closest point to the sun, symbolising the beginning of a new harvest season.</p>

<h2><strong>Lohri 2024: Date</strong></h2>

<p>Lohri falls in the Paush month of the lunisolar Bikrami calendar or the Hindu solar calendar. This year, it will be observed on January 14, according to the Gregorian calendar.</p>

<h2><strong>Lohri 2023: History and Significance</strong></h2>

<p>In Punjab and Haryana, Lohri festivities are celebrated when the main winter crop, wheat starts to ripen. The celebration, marking the passing of the winter solstice and the promise of spring, involves gatherings around bonfires.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;What is India's relationship with The UAE?</strong></p>

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<p>Lohri also holds significance as the sun enters the zodiac of Makara (Capricorn) on this day, symbolising a fresh start. Legend attributes the festival to 'Dulla Bhatti,' a local hero during Emperor Akbar's reign, known as the 'Robin Hood' of Punjab. He saved young girls from slavery, arranging their marriages and providing dowries.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/trending/happy-lohri-2024-date-significance-and-traditions-1705037410446"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Happy Lohri 2024: Date, Significance and Traditions</strong></a></p>

<p>The folk song "Sunder Mundriye" is associated with Lohri, expressing the deep-rooted folklore and celebrating 'Dulla Bhatti.' The festival is dedicated to the sun deity, Surya, symbolising the return of warmth and sunshine after winter.</p>

<h2><strong>Lohri 2024: Celebration</strong></h2>

<p>Lohri is celebrated annually with a traditional bonfire, prayers for a healthy harvest, and offerings of peanuts, ‘gur ki rewari’, and ‘makhana’ to please the fire deity. Dancing around the bonfire and singing folk songs are integral parts of the celebration.</p>

<h3><br />
<strong>Lohri 2024: Wishes</strong></h3>

<p>1) Spread the message of happiness and peace of Lohri all around. Hope your day is full of excitement and joy. I wish you all a very happy Lohri.</p>

<p>2) From humble beginnings to fiery celebrations, Lohri reminds us that hope always ignites. May this year be your brightest yet, fueled by the warmth of loved ones. Happy Lohri!</p>

<p>3) On the occasion of this vibrant festival, I hope that you connect with your family, friends and relatives to have the most memorable and awesome celebrations on Lohri.</p>

<p>4) Wishing you a harvest of good times and a year filled with moments to cherish. Happy Lohri!</p>


Lohri 2024: Lohri, a vibrant winter celebration deeply rooted in Dogra and Punjabi folk traditions, is primarily observed in the north Indian states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

Lohri 2024: Lohri, a vibrant winter celebration deeply rooted in Dogra and Punjabi folk traditions, is primarily observed in the north Indian states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Jammu city in J&K Union Territory and Delhi also celebrate the festival with great zeal and enthusiasm. Lohri also serves as a unifying event, bringing together individuals from diverse religious backgrounds, including Sikhs, Hindus, and others. The celebration marks the Earth's closest point to the sun, symbolising the beginning of a new harvest season. Lohri 2024: Date Lohri falls in the Paush month of the lunisolar Bikrami calendar or the Hindu solar calendar. This year, it will be observed on January 14, according to the Gregorian calendar. Lohri 2023: History and Significance In Punjab and Haryana, Lohri festivities are celebrated when the main winter crop, wheat starts to ripen. The celebration, marking the passing of the winter solstice and the promise of spring, involves gatherings around bonfires. Watch: What is India's relationship with The UAE? × Lohri also holds significance as the sun enters the zodiac of Makara (Capricorn) on this day, symbolising a fresh start. Legend attributes the festival to 'Dulla Bhatti,' a local hero during Emperor Akbar's reign, known as the 'Robin Hood' of Punjab. He saved young girls from slavery, arranging their marriages and providing dowries. Also read: Happy Lohri 2024: Date, Significance and Traditions The folk song "Sunder Mundriye" is associated with Lohri, expressing the deep-rooted folklore and celebrating 'Dulla Bhatti.' The festival is dedicated to the sun deity, Surya, symbolising the return of warmth and sunshine after winter. Lohri 2024: Celebration Lohri is celebrated annually with a traditional bonfire, prayers for a healthy harvest, and offerings of peanuts, ‘gur ki rewari’, and ‘makhana’ to please the fire deity. Dancing around the bonfire and singing folk songs are integral parts of the celebration. Lohri 2024: Wishes 1) Spread the message of happiness and peace of Lohri all around. Hope your day is full of excitement and joy. I wish you all a very happy Lohri. 2) From humble beginnings to fiery celebrations, Lohri reminds us that hope always ignites. May this year be your brightest yet, fueled by the warmth of loved ones. Happy Lohri! 3) On the occasion of this vibrant festival, I hope that you connect with your family, friends and relatives to have the most memorable and awesome celebrations on Lohri. 4) Wishing you a harvest of good times and a year filled with moments to cherish. Happy Lohri!

Lohri 2024: History, significance, wishes and celebrations; all you need to know

<p>In a recent social media post, renowned actor-politician Khushbu Sundar, who also serves as a member of the National Commission for Women, shared a photo showcasing a bouquet of flowers she purportedly purchased from young vendors at a Mumbai crossing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sundar then reflected on the incident and drew inspiration from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on self-dependence.</p>

<p>But the post sparked controversy as critics accused Khushbu of downplaying the issue of child labour.</p>

<p>The criticism on social media intensified with many users perceiving it as a contradiction between her official role and the implicit endorsement of child labour through the flower purchase.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-child-influencers-lives-are-glitzy-but-gloomy-now-some-are-fighting-back-585953">Explained: Child influencers' lives are glitzy, but gloomy! Now some are fighting back</a></strong></p>

<p>Addressing the backlash on Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader issued a public apology, acknowledging the oversight in her initial social media post.</p>

<p>"My tweet about a child selling flowers in Mumbai yesterday was made in a very positive context as she was helping her own education and not confining to begging. I do realize it sums up to child labour...A child needs to grow up in a very secure and happy environment. Be in school and play to have a healthy mindset and upbringing. I, who has been through struggle, pain and hardship as a child myself, saw me in that child whose eyes and gait spoke of confidence and courage. My intention was not to hurt anyone. I seek your forgiveness for sending out a wrong message. I have never deleted any of my tweets till date, but this I did. All I have to say is sorry from the bottom of my heart," the BJP leader said.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;Child labour at 'critical moment' as more pushed into work: ILO</strong></p>

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<p>The post went viral on X and Instagram. Many people commented that only in India a scene of a child toiling in the streets can be transformed into a plank for praising PM. Khushbu clarified: "The kid I spoke to finishes her school and then sells flowers to help her education. I am a responsible citizen and a mother. And as a follower of PM Modi ji, we understand our responsibilities better than others of you."</p>

<p>"I am very sure I work more for child labour than you do. As someone who has always been involved in public service, I understand better. Kindly read the positive side and not jump to conclusions just because it is probably fashionable for you to be anti-Modi," Khushbu said in another retaliatory post.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a recent social media post, renowned actor-politician Khushbu Sundar, who also serves as a member of the National Commission for Women, shared a photo showcasing a bouquet of flowers she purportedly purchased from young vendors at a Mumbai crossing.

In a recent social media post, renowned actor-politician Khushbu Sundar, who also serves as a member of the National Commission for Women, shared a photo showcasing a bouquet of flowers she purportedly purchased from young vendors at a Mumbai crossing. Sundar then reflected on the incident and drew inspiration from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on self-dependence. But the post sparked controversy as critics accused Khushbu of downplaying the issue of child labour. The criticism on social media intensified with many users perceiving it as a contradiction between her official role and the implicit endorsement of child labour through the flower purchase. Also read | Explained: Child influencers' lives are glitzy, but gloomy! Now some are fighting back Addressing the backlash on Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader issued a public apology, acknowledging the oversight in her initial social media post. "My tweet about a child selling flowers in Mumbai yesterday was made in a very positive context as she was helping her own education and not confining to begging. I do realize it sums up to child labour...A child needs to grow up in a very secure and happy environment. Be in school and play to have a healthy mindset and upbringing. I, who has been through struggle, pain and hardship as a child myself, saw me in that child whose eyes and gait spoke of confidence and courage. My intention was not to hurt anyone. I seek your forgiveness for sending out a wrong message. I have never deleted any of my tweets till date, but this I did. All I have to say is sorry from the bottom of my heart," the BJP leader said. Also watch | Child labour at 'critical moment' as more pushed into work: ILO × The post went viral on X and Instagram. Many people commented that only in India a scene of a child toiling in the streets can be transformed into a plank for praising PM. Khushbu clarified: "The kid I spoke to finishes her school and then sells flowers to help her education. I am a responsible citizen and a mother. And as a follower of PM Modi ji, we understand our responsibilities better than others of you." "I am very sure I work more for child labour than you do. As someone who has always been involved in public service, I understand better. Kindly read the positive side and not jump to conclusions just because it is probably fashionable for you to be anti-Modi," Khushbu said in another retaliatory post. (With inputs from agencies)

India: BJP leader Khushbu Sundar issues clarification over a 'child vendor' post

<p>If you're having trouble falling asleep because your mind is too busy, there's a simple trick called the 'cognitive shuffle' that might help. Sleep is really important for your body and mind to rest, and not getting enough sleep can be bad for your health. Many people need around seven to nine hours of sleep each night, but most of us can only manage to get six hours of sleep, which can lead to several cognitive problems.</p>

<p>There are different reasons why people might not sleep well, like being sick, having a baby, or just having too many thoughts in their head about work, relationships, money, or other life issues.</p>

<h2><strong>What is cognitive shuffle method?</strong></h2>

<p>If you find it hard to relax when you go to bed because your mind keeps racing, you can try the 'cognitive shuffle.' It's a quick and simple way to trick your brain and stop it from thinking about all your worries.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/man-falls-into-crack-in-earth-prompting-search-and-rescue-operation-679339"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Man falls into crack in Earth, prompting search and rescue operation</strong></a></p>

<p>Here's how you can do it: Before bed, spend about five minutes thinking about random things that are easy to picture in your mind.</p>

<p>These things should be unrelated, like potatoes, a bus, or a&nbsp;violin. This should make your brain tired and help you stop thinking about the things that are keeping you awake, so you can hopefully fall asleep easily.</p>

<h2><strong>Other factors to consider</strong></h2>

<p>There are also other things you can do to sleep better. One tip is to make good habits during the day, like getting some light right after you wake up. Open your curtains or turn on a light if it's still dark. This tells your brain to stop making the sleep hormone melatonin, so you feel less drowsy.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Scientists create 'identical twin' universe</strong></p>

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<p>Going outside in natural light is also helpful. A&nbsp;10-minute walk can also make your brain produce serotonin, which is the happy hormone.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


If you're having trouble falling asleep because your mind is too busy, there's a simple trick called the 'cognitive shuffle' that might help. Sleep is really important for your body and mind to rest, and not getting enough sleep can be bad for your health.

If you're having trouble falling asleep because your mind is too busy, there's a simple trick called the 'cognitive shuffle' that might help. Sleep is really important for your body and mind to rest, and not getting enough sleep can be bad for your health. Many people need around seven to nine hours of sleep each night, but most of us can only manage to get six hours of sleep, which can lead to several cognitive problems. There are different reasons why people might not sleep well, like being sick, having a baby, or just having too many thoughts in their head about work, relationships, money, or other life issues. What is cognitive shuffle method? If you find it hard to relax when you go to bed because your mind keeps racing, you can try the 'cognitive shuffle.' It's a quick and simple way to trick your brain and stop it from thinking about all your worries. Also read: Man falls into crack in Earth, prompting search and rescue operation Here's how you can do it: Before bed, spend about five minutes thinking about random things that are easy to picture in your mind. These things should be unrelated, like potatoes, a bus, or a violin. This should make your brain tired and help you stop thinking about the things that are keeping you awake, so you can hopefully fall asleep easily. Other factors to consider There are also other things you can do to sleep better. One tip is to make good habits during the day, like getting some light right after you wake up. Open your curtains or turn on a light if it's still dark. This tells your brain to stop making the sleep hormone melatonin, so you feel less drowsy. Watch: Scientists create 'identical twin' universe × Going outside in natural light is also helpful. A 10-minute walk can also make your brain produce serotonin, which is the happy hormone. (With inputs from agencies)

Having trouble sleeping at night? Try this five-minute hack recommended by experts

<p>Not just the majestic Ram Temple, the holy city of Ayodhya promises to offer tourists and devotees a deeper insight into the rich heritage of Hinduism and the regional culture and traditions, along with lessons in nature conservation. As per recent media reports, a grand “Ramayana Spiritual Forest” is being developed in the holy city along the banks of the holy Saryu River.</p>

<p>This will be an ecological forest, showcasing the lifestyle of lord Ram during the 14 years of exile and the rich tapestry of the Ramayana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Sarayu river along with Lord Ram, Ramayana and Ayodhya have been an inevitable part of Hinduism. The proposed spiritual forest is an extension of the riverfront designed to be an eco-friendly forest developed on the theme of Ramayana, specifically depicting Shri Ram's journey during the Vanvaas (exhile) period," Dikshu Kukreja, the master planner of the Ayodhya redevelopment project, was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.</p>

<h2><strong>Ayodhya’s comprehensive development programme</strong></h2>

<p>The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has promised to turn the holy city Ayodhya, considered the birthplace of lord Ram, into a major hub of religious tourism.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Security arrangements increased in Ayodhya</strong></p>

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<p>To realise this ambition, the government has unveiled a 10 year investment plan exceeding INR 85,000 crore ($10.25 billion), for the holy city.</p>

<h2><strong>Key aspects of the redevelopment programme</strong></h2>

<p>Key aspects of the redevelopment plan include creating impressive entry points named ‘Ram dwars’ with traditional stone facades.</p>

<p>Emphasis is also placed on establishing homestays and ‘dharamshalas’ for diverse accommodation options. The Ramayana spiritual forest, designed for a rich cultural experience, is under development through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.</p>

<p>The 'Bhraman Path,' a road project in Ayodhya, will link the Sarayu with the Ram temple, resembling the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. Currently, devotees use the Ram Path, Bhakti Path, and Janmabhoomi Path to reach the Ram Mandir. The introduction of the Bhraman Path aims to enhance the convenience for devotees.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/india-news/business-economy/pm-modi-launches-temple-cleanliness-drive-ahead-of-ayodhya-consecration-1705058935000"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;PM Modi Launches Temple Cleanliness Drive Ahead of Ayodhya Consecration</strong></a></p>

<p>The initial phase of the Ayodhya Ram temple is nearing completion.&nbsp;PM Modi will&nbsp;participate&nbsp;in the consecration ceremony on January 22.</p>

<p>In a historic 2019 verdict, the Supreme Court settled a century-old temple-mosque dispute, supporting the construction of a Ram temple at the contested site and mandating the allocation of a five-acre plot for the construction of&nbsp;mosque.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Not just the majestic Ram Temple, the holy city of Ayodhya promises to offer tourists and devotees a deeper insight into the rich heritage of Hinduism and the regional culture and traditions, along with lessons in nature conservation.

Not just the majestic Ram Temple, the holy city of Ayodhya promises to offer tourists and devotees a deeper insight into the rich heritage of Hinduism and the regional culture and traditions, along with lessons in nature conservation. As per recent media reports, a grand “Ramayana Spiritual Forest” is being developed in the holy city along the banks of the holy Saryu River. This will be an ecological forest, showcasing the lifestyle of lord Ram during the 14 years of exile and the rich tapestry of the Ramayana. "Sarayu river along with Lord Ram, Ramayana and Ayodhya have been an inevitable part of Hinduism. The proposed spiritual forest is an extension of the riverfront designed to be an eco-friendly forest developed on the theme of Ramayana, specifically depicting Shri Ram's journey during the Vanvaas (exhile) period," Dikshu Kukreja, the master planner of the Ayodhya redevelopment project, was quoted as saying by PTI news agency. Ayodhya’s comprehensive development programme The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has promised to turn the holy city Ayodhya, considered the birthplace of lord Ram, into a major hub of religious tourism. Watch: Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Security arrangements increased in Ayodhya × To realise this ambition, the government has unveiled a 10 year investment plan exceeding INR 85,000 crore ($10.25 billion), for the holy city. Key aspects of the redevelopment programme Key aspects of the redevelopment plan include creating impressive entry points named ‘Ram dwars’ with traditional stone facades. Emphasis is also placed on establishing homestays and ‘dharamshalas’ for diverse accommodation options. The Ramayana spiritual forest, designed for a rich cultural experience, is under development through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. The 'Bhraman Path,' a road project in Ayodhya, will link the Sarayu with the Ram temple, resembling the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. Currently, devotees use the Ram Path, Bhakti Path, and Janmabhoomi Path to reach the Ram Mandir. The introduction of the Bhraman Path aims to enhance the convenience for devotees. Also read: PM Modi Launches Temple Cleanliness Drive Ahead of Ayodhya Consecration The initial phase of the Ayodhya Ram temple is nearing completion. PM Modi will participate in the consecration ceremony on January 22. In a historic 2019 verdict, the Supreme Court settled a century-old temple-mosque dispute, supporting the construction of a Ram temple at the contested site and mandating the allocation of a five-acre plot for the construction of mosque. (With inputs from agencies)

Ayodhya to develop ‘Ramayana Forest’, offering glimpses into Lord Ram’s exile period

<p>An elderly US couple was found dead inside their home as their room heater went blazing over 500 degrees Celsius. Police said they found the house ‘extremely hot' upon entering through an unsecured window.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police performed a welfare check on the couple’s house, located in South Carolina state’s northern city of Spartanburg after they got a call from their relatives who had not heard from them since last Wednesday (Jan 3).</p>

<p>Police found the man, 84-year-old Joan Littlejohn, lying on the floor naked facing upwards, and his wife, 82-year-old Glennwood Fowler, clothed and seated in a chair.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Hunter Biden's surprise visit to Capitol Hill causes frenzy in US Congress</strong></p>

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<p>Authorities found no evidence of struggle, foul play or death which is being seen as caused by increased levels of carbon monoxide.</p>

<p>When fire officials measured the toxicity in the air, it was not at “a concerning level.”</p>

<p>The firefighters also measured the bodies’ temperature and found it above 41C, the highest that their devices could record.</p>

<p>Firefighters also discovered the heater and a water heater in the basement.</p>

<p>The “heater was so hot it looked as if the basement was currently on fire”, a fire official was quoted as saying by The Guardian.</p>

<p>When authorities measured the heater’s temperature, they found it to be over 537 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/exclusive-ex-defence-minister-mariya-didi-speaks-about-indian-troops-in-maldives-current-situation/ar-AA1mD1BN"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Exclusive: Ex-defence minister Mariya Didi speaks about Indian troops in Maldives, current situation</strong></a></p>

<p>The police report said that fire officials continued to air out the residence “due to the strong odor of natural gas”.</p>

<p>Last Wednesday, the relatives of the couple had reportedly helped them fix their heater and water heater, which had gone out, resulting in the house getting “too cold.”</p>

<p>Once the heaters were fixed, the family members left the residence.</p>

<p>However, when the relatives didn’t hear back from their parents, they urged the police to carry out a welfare check.</p>

<p>They told authorities that their parents had several health issues and were not easily mobile, adding that the man fell recently while the woman had hip surgery.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An elderly US couple was found dead inside their home as their room heater went blazing over 500 degrees Celsius. Police said they found the house ‘extremely hot' upon entering through an unsecured window.

An elderly US couple was found dead inside their home as their room heater went blazing over 500 degrees Celsius. Police said they found the house ‘extremely hot' upon entering through an unsecured window. Police performed a welfare check on the couple’s house, located in South Carolina state’s northern city of Spartanburg after they got a call from their relatives who had not heard from them since last Wednesday (Jan 3). Police found the man, 84-year-old Joan Littlejohn, lying on the floor naked facing upwards, and his wife, 82-year-old Glennwood Fowler, clothed and seated in a chair. Watch: Hunter Biden's surprise visit to Capitol Hill causes frenzy in US Congress × Authorities found no evidence of struggle, foul play or death which is being seen as caused by increased levels of carbon monoxide. When fire officials measured the toxicity in the air, it was not at “a concerning level.” The firefighters also measured the bodies’ temperature and found it above 41C, the highest that their devices could record. Firefighters also discovered the heater and a water heater in the basement. The “heater was so hot it looked as if the basement was currently on fire”, a fire official was quoted as saying by The Guardian. When authorities measured the heater’s temperature, they found it to be over 537 degrees Celsius. Also read: Exclusive: Ex-defence minister Mariya Didi speaks about Indian troops in Maldives, current situation The police report said that fire officials continued to air out the residence “due to the strong odor of natural gas”. Last Wednesday, the relatives of the couple had reportedly helped them fix their heater and water heater, which had gone out, resulting in the house getting “too cold.” Once the heaters were fixed, the family members left the residence. However, when the relatives didn’t hear back from their parents, they urged the police to carry out a welfare check. They told authorities that their parents had several health issues and were not easily mobile, adding that the man fell recently while the woman had hip surgery. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Elderly couple found dead inside house as heater went blazing above 500C

<p>In a shocking turn of events, a British Airways pilot was kidnapped and brutally tortured during a stopover, forcing the carrier to call in a replacement pilot. The incident took place in South Africa’s Johannesburg, a city infamous for its&nbsp;crime record.</p>

<p>The man, a First Officer with the airline, was allegedly approached by a woman near a supermarket car park. The woman asked the pilot to help her carry the shopping bags. But as the pilot stepped near her car, a group of men dragged the pilot inside and drove him to a remote location.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The pilot was then subjected to torture for several hours until he gave them access to all of his money. The incident took place in&nbsp;the Melrose Arch complex,&nbsp;an area just north of BA's secure compound in the crime hotspot city.</p>

<p>The Sun reported that the pilot was forced to cough up “thousands and thousands of pounds.” However, the pilot was said to be happy to have escaped the captivity and not lose his life.</p>

<p>But his colleagues at British Airways were left stunned and shaken after the incident. “It’s staggering what happened to the pilot. It was like something out of the movies. He fell for the scam of agreeing to help a woman in need, and before he knew it was bundled in a vehicle and driven away," a source was quoted as saying by the Mirror.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-in/travel/news/flight-attendant-collapses-to-death-in-front-of-passengers-moments-before-take-off/ar-AA1myMEF"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Flight attendant collapses to death in front of passengers moments before takeoff</strong></a></p>

<p>British Airways&nbsp;enforces strict regulations preventing their staff from stepping outside their secure accommodations in the South African city, notorious for its high crime rates. They provide a designated hotel for employees in Johannesburg's Melrose Arch area, recognised as a 'city within a city' due to its heightened safety. This facility, surveilled round the clock, offers various leisure amenities such as shops, restaurants, and a bowling alley to enhance comfort of the guests.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Aim to complete India-UK Free Trade Agreement before polls in both nations: Lord Tariq Ahmad to WION</strong></p>

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<p>According to a spokesperson of British Airways, as cited by the Sun, “A crew member was abducted outside Checkers Bluebird supermarket just north of the Melrose Arch complex.” A BA spokesperson told the Mirror, "We are supporting our colleague and the local authorities with their investigation."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a shocking turn of events, a British Airways pilot was kidnapped and brutally tortured during a stopover, forcing the carrier to call in a replacement pilot. The incident took place in South Africa’s Johannesburg, a city infamous for its crime record.

In a shocking turn of events, a British Airways pilot was kidnapped and brutally tortured during a stopover, forcing the carrier to call in a replacement pilot. The incident took place in South Africa’s Johannesburg, a city infamous for its crime record. The man, a First Officer with the airline, was allegedly approached by a woman near a supermarket car park. The woman asked the pilot to help her carry the shopping bags. But as the pilot stepped near her car, a group of men dragged the pilot inside and drove him to a remote location. The pilot was then subjected to torture for several hours until he gave them access to all of his money. The incident took place in the Melrose Arch complex, an area just north of BA's secure compound in the crime hotspot city. The Sun reported that the pilot was forced to cough up “thousands and thousands of pounds.” However, the pilot was said to be happy to have escaped the captivity and not lose his life. But his colleagues at British Airways were left stunned and shaken after the incident. “It’s staggering what happened to the pilot. It was like something out of the movies. He fell for the scam of agreeing to help a woman in need, and before he knew it was bundled in a vehicle and driven away," a source was quoted as saying by the Mirror. Also read: Flight attendant collapses to death in front of passengers moments before takeoff British Airways enforces strict regulations preventing their staff from stepping outside their secure accommodations in the South African city, notorious for its high crime rates. They provide a designated hotel for employees in Johannesburg's Melrose Arch area, recognised as a 'city within a city' due to its heightened safety. This facility, surveilled round the clock, offers various leisure amenities such as shops, restaurants, and a bowling alley to enhance comfort of the guests. Watch: Aim to complete India-UK Free Trade Agreement before polls in both nations: Lord Tariq Ahmad to WION × According to a spokesperson of British Airways, as cited by the Sun, “A crew member was abducted outside Checkers Bluebird supermarket just north of the Melrose Arch complex.” A BA spokesperson told the Mirror, "We are supporting our colleague and the local authorities with their investigation." (With inputs from agencies)

British Airways pilot kidnapped, tortured during stopover, leaving flight hanging

<p>The doomed Peregrine Moon lander of USA’s Astrobotic company has sent back another in-space selfie to its home planet, this time with Earth ‘flashing smile’ in the background.</p>

<p>The ‘couple selfie’ in the space was taken on (Jan 9), which shows one of the lander’s legs as well as the Pocari capsule. The capsule contained “messages from children around the world” and was put on board by the Japanese company Astroscale.</p>

<p>But the photo had something else in the shot as well which captured the scientists’ attention. "Is that sliver in the upper right corner Earth, or a lens flare," asked Astrobotic in its post on X.</p>

<p><img alt="photo showing the silvery insulation of a spacecraft and the blackness of space in the background, with a possible sliver of earth in the upper right corner." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g8ryaWkwWHnAMzqSPsorYV-320-80.jpg" /></p>

<p>In an update posted Thursday (Jan 11), the company confirmed that “the curved sliver in the image is in fact Earth.” “This image from our spacecraft simulator shows the camera’s view of Earth at the time the photo was taken,” Astrobotic said in its post.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Update #11 for Peregrine Mission One: <a href="https://t.co/QZjqUW00BZ">pic.twitter.com/QZjqUW00BZ</a></p>
— Astrobotic (@astrobotic) <a href="https://twitter.com/astrobotic/status/1745227814452752446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The mission was earlier launched on Monday morning (Jan 8) but a fuel leak soon threw spanner in the works. Astrobotic thinks the leak may have been caused by a stuck valve, which led to a ruptured oxidizer tank.</p>

<p>The company later said the attempt to place Peregrine spacecraft on the Moon was being abandoned since the spacecraft suffered “critical” propellant loss.</p>

<p>Astrobotic, at one point, also shared the Peregrine lander's first image in space. In the photograph, the outer layers of insulation on the vehicle appeared crinkled.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Update #5 for Peregrine Mission One: <a href="https://t.co/94wy2J0GyA">pic.twitter.com/94wy2J0GyA</a></p>
— Astrobotic (@astrobotic) <a href="https://twitter.com/astrobotic/status/1744469638640005538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The distorted material was “the first visual clue that aligns with our telemetry data pointing to a propulsion system anomaly,” said the company&nbsp;in a post shared on the social media platform X on Monday (Jan 8).</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-peregrine-lander-carrying-human-remains-to-moon-lost-in-space-due-to-fuel-leak-678165"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;US Peregrine mission with cremated human remains abandons Moon landing; first photo shows anomaly</strong></a></p>

<p>"The camera utilised is mounted atop a payload deck and shows Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) in the foreground," wrote Astrobotic, in the X post which featured the photo. "The disturbance of the MLI is the first visual clue that aligns with our telemetry data pointing to a propulsion system anomaly," it added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The doomed Peregrine Moon lander of USA’s Astrobotic company has sent back another in-space selfie to its home planet, this time with Earth ‘flashing smile’ in the background.

The doomed Peregrine Moon lander of USA’s Astrobotic company has sent back another in-space selfie to its home planet, this time with Earth ‘flashing smile’ in the background. The ‘couple selfie’ in the space was taken on (Jan 9), which shows one of the lander’s legs as well as the Pocari capsule. The capsule contained “messages from children around the world” and was put on board by the Japanese company Astroscale. But the photo had something else in the shot as well which captured the scientists’ attention. "Is that sliver in the upper right corner Earth, or a lens flare," asked Astrobotic in its post on X. In an update posted Thursday (Jan 11), the company confirmed that “the curved sliver in the image is in fact Earth.” “This image from our spacecraft simulator shows the camera’s view of Earth at the time the photo was taken,” Astrobotic said in its post. Update #11 for Peregrine Mission One: pic.twitter.com/QZjqUW00BZ — Astrobotic (@astrobotic) January 10, 2024 × The mission was earlier launched on Monday morning (Jan 8) but a fuel leak soon threw spanner in the works. Astrobotic thinks the leak may have been caused by a stuck valve, which led to a ruptured oxidizer tank. The company later said the attempt to place Peregrine spacecraft on the Moon was being abandoned since the spacecraft suffered “critical” propellant loss. Astrobotic, at one point, also shared the Peregrine lander's first image in space. In the photograph, the outer layers of insulation on the vehicle appeared crinkled. Update #5 for Peregrine Mission One: pic.twitter.com/94wy2J0GyA — Astrobotic (@astrobotic) January 8, 2024 × The distorted material was “the first visual clue that aligns with our telemetry data pointing to a propulsion system anomaly,” said the company in a post shared on the social media platform X on Monday (Jan 8). Also read: US Peregrine mission with cremated human remains abandons Moon landing; first photo shows anomaly "The camera utilised is mounted atop a payload deck and shows Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) in the foreground," wrote Astrobotic, in the X post which featured the photo. "The disturbance of the MLI is the first visual clue that aligns with our telemetry data pointing to a propulsion system anomaly," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Another pale blue dot: Failed moon mission Peregrine clicks 'couple selfie' with Earth flashing a smile

<p>As the Indian temple city of Ayodhya prepares itself for the grand consecration ceremony of Ram Temple, reports show that a ‘Maha Yagya’ or grand yajna will be held in the holy city from January 14 to January 25. Some 21,000 priests from Nepal will be conducting the yajna to establish 1,008 Narmadeshwar Shivlings.</p>

<p>The yajna will be held on the banks of the holy Saryu River under the watch of Atmanand Das Mahatyagi alias Nepali Baba. Nepali Baba hails from Ayodhya but is now settled in the neighbouring country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I do this yagya every year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, but this year, we have scaled it up in view of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony," he was quoted as saying by the Times of India.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Security arrangements increased in Ayodhya</strong></p>

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<p>To accommodate the priests and devotees, a tent city has been established on 100 acres nearly 2 km away from the Ram Temple. Nepali Baba said arrangements are being made to accommodate at least 50,000 devotees per day and a feast will be organised for about 100,000 devotees per day.</p>

<h2><strong>Details about the grand Yajna</strong></h2>

<p>During the grand Yajna, the ‘havan’ will take place from January 17 with the chants of 24,000 verses of Ramayan. The havan will continue till January 25.</p>

<p>The 1,008 Shivlings will be anointed with panchamrit every day, with 1,100 couples performing havan while reciting Ram mantras in 100 ponds built at Yagyashala.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ayodhya-ram-temple-who-is-saraswati-devi-lord-ram-devout-to-break-32-year-long-vow-of-silence-on-jan-22-678644"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Ayodhya Ram temple: Who is Saraswati Devi? Lord Ram devotee to break 32-year-long vow of silence on Jan 22</strong></a></p>

<p>The Times of India quoted Baba as saying that for the carving of Shivlings, stones have been brought from the Narmada river of Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The carving work will be completed before January 14,” he added."I was born in phatik shi- la area of the temple town and I am a disciple of Tapasvi Narayan Das,” Atmanand Das Mahatyagi says, claiming that the Nepal King had named him 'Nepali Baba'.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


As the Indian temple city of Ayodhya prepares itself for the grand consecration ceremony of Ram Temple, reports show that a ‘Maha Yagya’ or grand yajna will be held in the holy city from January 14 to January 25.

As the Indian temple city of Ayodhya prepares itself for the grand consecration ceremony of Ram Temple, reports show that a ‘Maha Yagya’ or grand yajna will be held in the holy city from January 14 to January 25. Some 21,000 priests from Nepal will be conducting the yajna to establish 1,008 Narmadeshwar Shivlings. The yajna will be held on the banks of the holy Saryu River under the watch of Atmanand Das Mahatyagi alias Nepali Baba. Nepali Baba hails from Ayodhya but is now settled in the neighbouring country. "I do this yagya every year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, but this year, we have scaled it up in view of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony," he was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Watch: Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Security arrangements increased in Ayodhya × To accommodate the priests and devotees, a tent city has been established on 100 acres nearly 2 km away from the Ram Temple. Nepali Baba said arrangements are being made to accommodate at least 50,000 devotees per day and a feast will be organised for about 100,000 devotees per day. Details about the grand Yajna During the grand Yajna, the ‘havan’ will take place from January 17 with the chants of 24,000 verses of Ramayan. The havan will continue till January 25. The 1,008 Shivlings will be anointed with panchamrit every day, with 1,100 couples performing havan while reciting Ram mantras in 100 ponds built at Yagyashala. Also read: Ayodhya Ram temple: Who is Saraswati Devi? Lord Ram devotee to break 32-year-long vow of silence on Jan 22 The Times of India quoted Baba as saying that for the carving of Shivlings, stones have been brought from the Narmada river of Madhya Pradesh. “The carving work will be completed before January 14,” he added."I was born in phatik shi- la area of the temple town and I am a disciple of Tapasvi Narayan Das,” Atmanand Das Mahatyagi says, claiming that the Nepal King had named him 'Nepali Baba'. (With inputs from agencies)

Ayodhya Ram Temple: 21,000 priests to perform grand Yajna to establish 1,008 Shivlings

<p>A passenger on board an Air Canada aircraft suffered the shock of his life after he abruptly opened the door of the plane and ended up landing directly on the tarmac.</p>

<p>The incident took place on Monday (Jan 8) at Pearson International Airport of Toronto. The flight, bound for Dubai from Toronto, was delayed by six hours due to the shocking incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the carrier, the passenger on Flight AC056 did not proceed to their seat after boarding, but instead opened a cabin door on the opposite side of the aircraft. This led to his falling onto the tarmac&nbsp;from a good 20 feet. The incident happened as the plane was taxied at the gate of the Toronto airport.</p>

<p>The man was soon apprehended by the responding authorities and taken to hospital for treatment. According to Newsweek, a police investigation determined the individual was "in a state of crisis" and that they suffered minor injuries. The status of their current condition is unclear.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Indian students don't want to go to Canada</strong></p>

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<p>A spokesperson of Air Canada said it was aware of the incident and has already launched an investigation. "We can confirm all of our approved boarding and cabin operating procedures were followed," the airline said in a statement.</p>

<h2><strong>Previous such instances</strong></h2>

<p>In 2018, a tragedy occurred when an Emirates Airline flight attendant fell to her death from the emergency door of a Boeing 777 at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda while the aircraft was parked at a gate.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-canada-plane-diverted-after-16-year-old-attacks-family-member-mid-flight-677430"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Air Canada plane diverted after 16-year-old `attacks` family member mid-flight</strong></a></p>

<p>During the same year, another incident involved an Air India flight attendant who was hospitalised after falling onto the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. This occurred as she was closing the door of a Boeing 777 during pushback from the gate, resulting in severe injuries, including fractures in both heels and soft tissue damage in her chest, abdomen, and lower spine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A passenger on board an Air Canada aircraft suffered the shock of his life after he abruptly opened the door of the plane and ended up landing directly on the tarmac.

A passenger on board an Air Canada aircraft suffered the shock of his life after he abruptly opened the door of the plane and ended up landing directly on the tarmac. The incident took place on Monday (Jan 8) at Pearson International Airport of Toronto. The flight, bound for Dubai from Toronto, was delayed by six hours due to the shocking incident. According to the carrier, the passenger on Flight AC056 did not proceed to their seat after boarding, but instead opened a cabin door on the opposite side of the aircraft. This led to his falling onto the tarmac from a good 20 feet. The incident happened as the plane was taxied at the gate of the Toronto airport. The man was soon apprehended by the responding authorities and taken to hospital for treatment. According to Newsweek, a police investigation determined the individual was "in a state of crisis" and that they suffered minor injuries. The status of their current condition is unclear. Watch: Gravitas: Indian students don't want to go to Canada × A spokesperson of Air Canada said it was aware of the incident and has already launched an investigation. "We can confirm all of our approved boarding and cabin operating procedures were followed," the airline said in a statement. Previous such instances In 2018, a tragedy occurred when an Emirates Airline flight attendant fell to her death from the emergency door of a Boeing 777 at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda while the aircraft was parked at a gate. Also read: Air Canada plane diverted after 16-year-old `attacks` family member mid-flight During the same year, another incident involved an Air India flight attendant who was hospitalised after falling onto the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. This occurred as she was closing the door of a Boeing 777 during pushback from the gate, resulting in severe injuries, including fractures in both heels and soft tissue damage in her chest, abdomen, and lower spine. (With inputs from agencies)

Passenger falls off Air Canada plane after opening cabin door, apprehended

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<p>US Vice President Kamala Harris' aircraft was diverted to a Washington airport due to wind shear caused by the stormy weather while returning from Georgia.</p>

<p>Press secretary Kirsten Allen said, "Tonight, en route from Atlanta, GA, Air Force 2 was diverted from Joint Base Andrews to Dulles International Airport due to inclement weather," reported Fox40.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a source familiar with the incident, no one sustained injuries, and the aircraft landed safely in Dulles. They said that wind shear caused by the storm forced the pilot to divert the plane.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is wind shear?</strong></h2>

<p>Weather plays a significant role in aviation safety. Poor weather conditions are often&nbsp;the culprit behind major incidents.</p>

<p>Wind shear is a sudden alteration in wind velocity and direction over a short distance. This weather phenomenon can happen at various levels of the atmosphere. However, it is more dangerous at the lower levels since it results in a sudden loss of airspeed and altitude.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengaluru-ceo-suchana-seth-allegedly-overdosed-4-year-old-son-with-cough-syrup-before-pre-mediated-murder-678523">Bengaluru CEO Suchana Seth allegedly overdosed 4-year-old son with cough syrup before 'pre-meditated murder'</a></p>

<p>The Bureau of Meteorology website states, "It is significant when it causes changes to an aircraft's headwind or tailwind such that the aircraft is abruptly displaced from its intended flight path and substantial control action is required to correct it."</p>

<p>Weather conditions like jet streams, mountain waves, temperature inversion layers, frontal surfaces, thunderstorms, convective clouds or microbursts can cause wind shear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"During the climb-out and approach phases of flight, aircraft airspeed and height are near critical values, rendering the aircraft especially susceptible to the adverse effects of wind shear. The response of aircraft to wind shear is extremely complex and depends on many factors including the type of aircraft, the phase of flight, the scale on which the wind shear operates relative to the size of the aircraft, and the intensity and duration of the wind shear encountered," it adds.</p>

<p>Although wind shear is a microscale meteorological phenomenon, it has been responsible for over 1,400 fatalities worldwide, including more than 400 deaths in the United States during 1973-1985, as per the report by NCAR.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, with the advancement of technology, systems have been created to deal with the issue of low-level wind shear. These systems deployed at airports use data from several sources and send alerts to air traffic controllers, pilots, and airport meteorologists on graphical and alphanumeric displays.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US Vice President Kamala Harris' aircraft was diverted to a Washington airport due to wind shear caused by the stormy weather while returning from Georgia. Press secretary Kirsten Allen said, "Tonight, en route from Atlanta, GA, Air Force 2 was diverted from Joint Base Andrews to Dulles International Airport due to inclement weather," reported Fox40.

US Vice President Kamala Harris' aircraft was diverted to a Washington airport due to wind shear caused by the stormy weather while returning from Georgia. Press secretary Kirsten Allen said, "Tonight, en route from Atlanta, GA, Air Force 2 was diverted from Joint Base Andrews to Dulles International Airport due to inclement weather," reported Fox40. According to a source familiar with the incident, no one sustained injuries, and the aircraft landed safely in Dulles. They said that wind shear caused by the storm forced the pilot to divert the plane. What is wind shear? Weather plays a significant role in aviation safety. Poor weather conditions are often the culprit behind major incidents. Wind shear is a sudden alteration in wind velocity and direction over a short distance. This weather phenomenon can happen at various levels of the atmosphere. However, it is more dangerous at the lower levels since it results in a sudden loss of airspeed and altitude. ALSO READ | Bengaluru CEO Suchana Seth allegedly overdosed 4-year-old son with cough syrup before 'pre-meditated murder' The Bureau of Meteorology website states, "It is significant when it causes changes to an aircraft's headwind or tailwind such that the aircraft is abruptly displaced from its intended flight path and substantial control action is required to correct it." Weather conditions like jet streams, mountain waves, temperature inversion layers, frontal surfaces, thunderstorms, convective clouds or microbursts can cause wind shear. "During the climb-out and approach phases of flight, aircraft airspeed and height are near critical values, rendering the aircraft especially susceptible to the adverse effects of wind shear. The response of aircraft to wind shear is extremely complex and depends on many factors including the type of aircraft, the phase of flight, the scale on which the wind shear operates relative to the size of the aircraft, and the intensity and duration of the wind shear encountered," it adds. Although wind shear is a microscale meteorological phenomenon, it has been responsible for over 1,400 fatalities worldwide, including more than 400 deaths in the United States during 1973-1985, as per the report by NCAR. However, with the advancement of technology, systems have been created to deal with the issue of low-level wind shear. These systems deployed at airports use data from several sources and send alerts to air traffic controllers, pilots, and airport meteorologists on graphical and alphanumeric displays. (With inputs from agencies)

Aircraft carrying US Vice President Kamala Harris diverted. Here’s what happened

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<p>A fully loaded firearm with 163 rounds of ammunition and Naruto throwing knives inside a carry-on were some of the most bizarre items TSA officials found in 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Every year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States releases a list of the top ten best catches, which includes the most strange items they have seized during airport security checks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They started releasing the annual lists in 2016. The first list included a full-size prop corpse, a Hello Kitty pistol and a golden hand grenade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In&nbsp;last year's list, marijuana hidden in an adult diaper was one of them. TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein told NBC News that they found it at a checkpoint scanner at LaGuardia Airport in New York after being alarmed about a woman's groin.</p>

<p>"The woman had stashed pot in her adult diaper in an effort to conceal the marijuana from TSA and from her traveling companion, her mom!" Farbstein said in a statement Tuesday. "She told officials that she didn't want her mother to find out that she was packing the pot."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/welsh-tidy-mouse-might-have-been-cleaning-british-mans-shed-for-fun-678196">‘Welsh Tidy Mouse’ might have been cleaning British man’s shed for ‘fun’, say scientists</a></p>

<p>However, it wasn't the first time TSA caught illegal things in a diaper at LaGuardia. In December 2023, Farbstein shared on X that TSA captured a man carrying 17 bullets in a clean disposable diaper from Arkansas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We hate to break it to you here, but stuffing a firearm in your holiday bird for travel is just a waste of time," the TSA wrote on Instagram in 2022.</p>

<p>TSA press secretary R Carter Langston said, "The most bizarre item on the list for me would have to be the giant bullet." According to him, TSA found the 35mm projectile in a passenger's bag at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. "Even if it was inert, it's just the fear factor alone that it might bring to other passengers."</p>

<p>Here's a list of some other things that made the TSA best catches list for 2023:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Naruto throwing knives: Boston Logan International Airport</li>
	<li>Four replica rockets: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Alaska</li>
	<li>Improvised explosive device in a carbon dioxide cartridge (pipe bomb): Sacramento International Airport, California</li>
	<li>Fully loaded firearm with 163 rounds of ammunition: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport</li>
	<li>Knife hidden inside a prosthetic foot:&nbsp;Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport,&nbsp;Alaska</li>
</ul>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A fully loaded firearm with 163 rounds of ammunition and Naruto throwing knives inside a carry-on were some of the most bizarre items TSA officials found in 2023.

A fully loaded firearm with 163 rounds of ammunition and Naruto throwing knives inside a carry-on were some of the most bizarre items TSA officials found in 2023. Every year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States releases a list of the top ten best catches, which includes the most strange items they have seized during airport security checks. They started releasing the annual lists in 2016. The first list included a full-size prop corpse, a Hello Kitty pistol and a golden hand grenade. In last year's list, marijuana hidden in an adult diaper was one of them. TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein told NBC News that they found it at a checkpoint scanner at LaGuardia Airport in New York after being alarmed about a woman's groin. "The woman had stashed pot in her adult diaper in an effort to conceal the marijuana from TSA and from her traveling companion, her mom!" Farbstein said in a statement Tuesday. "She told officials that she didn't want her mother to find out that she was packing the pot." ALSO READ | ‘Welsh Tidy Mouse’ might have been cleaning British man’s shed for ‘fun’, say scientists However, it wasn't the first time TSA caught illegal things in a diaper at LaGuardia. In December 2023, Farbstein shared on X that TSA captured a man carrying 17 bullets in a clean disposable diaper from Arkansas. "We hate to break it to you here, but stuffing a firearm in your holiday bird for travel is just a waste of time," the TSA wrote on Instagram in 2022. TSA press secretary R Carter Langston said, "The most bizarre item on the list for me would have to be the giant bullet." According to him, TSA found the 35mm projectile in a passenger's bag at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. "Even if it was inert, it's just the fear factor alone that it might bring to other passengers." Here's a list of some other things that made the TSA best catches list for 2023: Naruto throwing knives: Boston Logan International Airport Four replica rockets: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Alaska Improvised explosive device in a carbon dioxide cartridge (pipe bomb): Sacramento International Airport, California Fully loaded firearm with 163 rounds of ammunition: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Knife hidden inside a prosthetic foot: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Alaska (With inputs from agencies)

What people tried to smuggle in airline luggage: Pipe bomb, marijuana in adult diaper, throwing knives...

<p>Does eating marshmallows cure cough? A trend is of late going viral on social media, especially TikTok, which claims that eating a marshmallow before hitting the hay can relieve you from chronic cough.</p>

<p>Who doesn’t want such an easy solution to an incredibly irritating problem, especially when it’s interfering with your sleep schedule and keeping you up at night? On TikTok, a woman claims her doctor advised her to eat a jumbo marshmallow before bed in order to suppress her cough.</p>

<p>In the video, which went viral on the platform, she explains that she was told: "Eat a jumbo marshmallow before bed. It sounds insane. There's no science behind it. But it's what I do. The gelatin&nbsp;helps coat your throat even better than honey."</p>

<p>So, here is the truth behind this viral claim. According to health experts, eating marshmallows during a cough won’t cure the disease; instead, it will worsen it big time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Deborah Lee was quoted by The Mirror as saying, “Marshmallows contain gelatin&nbsp;- a protein that comes from collagen. It's made from boiling animal bones, skin, tendons and ligaments in water - most often cows and pig bones. Gelatin&nbsp;contains large amounts of the amino acids glycine and proline.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;UK post office horizon scandal: UK Met police probing post office's role in scandal</strong></p>

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<p>"I find it hard to believe eating marshmallows would help to treat any type of upper respiratory tract infection. In fact, it may make symptoms worse,” she added.</p>

<p>The doctor later explains how eating marshmallows can provide a breeding ground for bacteria, thus exacerbating the condition.<br />
<br />
“Gelatin&nbsp;is actually used in microbiology labs as it forms part of the Agar plate, in order to grow bacteria in the laboratory, because it is such a good culture medium,” she said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mysterious-cemetery-unearthed-in-uk-with-females-buried-in-crouched-positions-677909"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Mysterious cemetery unearthed in UK with females buried in crouched positions</strong></a></p>

<p>“If you eat marshmallows with an acute infection, this could provide an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and multiply, and make it worse."</p>

<p>Eating marshmallows can also cause other side effects, the doctor noted. There is also a persistent risk of transmitting serious infections such as bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) or mad cow disease as gelatin is made from animal bones.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Does eating marshmallows cure cough? A trend is of late going viral on social media, especially TikTok, which claims that eating a marshmallow before hitting the hay can relieve you from chronic cough.

Does eating marshmallows cure cough? A trend is of late going viral on social media, especially TikTok, which claims that eating a marshmallow before hitting the hay can relieve you from chronic cough. Who doesn’t want such an easy solution to an incredibly irritating problem, especially when it’s interfering with your sleep schedule and keeping you up at night? On TikTok, a woman claims her doctor advised her to eat a jumbo marshmallow before bed in order to suppress her cough. In the video, which went viral on the platform, she explains that she was told: "Eat a jumbo marshmallow before bed. It sounds insane. There's no science behind it. But it's what I do. The gelatin helps coat your throat even better than honey." So, here is the truth behind this viral claim. According to health experts, eating marshmallows during a cough won’t cure the disease; instead, it will worsen it big time. Dr Deborah Lee was quoted by The Mirror as saying, “Marshmallows contain gelatin - a protein that comes from collagen. It's made from boiling animal bones, skin, tendons and ligaments in water - most often cows and pig bones. Gelatin contains large amounts of the amino acids glycine and proline.” Watch: UK post office horizon scandal: UK Met police probing post office's role in scandal × "I find it hard to believe eating marshmallows would help to treat any type of upper respiratory tract infection. In fact, it may make symptoms worse,” she added. The doctor later explains how eating marshmallows can provide a breeding ground for bacteria, thus exacerbating the condition. “Gelatin is actually used in microbiology labs as it forms part of the Agar plate, in order to grow bacteria in the laboratory, because it is such a good culture medium,” she said. Also read: Mysterious cemetery unearthed in UK with females buried in crouched positions “If you eat marshmallows with an acute infection, this could provide an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and multiply, and make it worse." Eating marshmallows can also cause other side effects, the doctor noted. There is also a persistent risk of transmitting serious infections such as bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) or mad cow disease as gelatin is made from animal bones. (With inputs from agencies)

Does eating marshmallows cure cough? Here is truth behind viral claim

<p>A UK woman was left red-faced after she accidentally put her grandmother’s ashes in the washing machine. The Norfolk woman, named Briley Coates, said she was shocked to find a small black bag muddled up in the machine along with freshly cleaned clothes. It took her a moment to realise that the bag contained her nan’s ashes.</p>

<p>"I pulled my washing out when I saw the ashes at the bottom of the machine and started laughing, but I was also massively confused as to how she got in there - she was meant to be in a drawer upstairs," said the 30-year-old woman.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;UK: Labour scrutiny over closure of firm owned by PM Sunak's wife</strong></p>

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<p>However, it didn’t take her long to figure out who exactly was to be blamed for the insane act: Her two-year-old half-Norwegian Forest cat, named Menace, quite literally!</p>

<p>It turned out the cat had managed to reach the upstairs drawer and push the sealed bag full of ashes into the washing machine. The woman said her ‘naughty’ cat was playing with the bag before it slipped into the pile of clothes, that she accidentally scooped up.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mysterious-cemetery-unearthed-in-uk-with-females-buried-in-crouched-positions-677909"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Mysterious cemetery unearthed in UK with females buried in crouched positions</strong></a></p>

<p>"He [the cat] must have pulled her bag out of the drawer after seeing the tie hanging out. He really is a menace; I've just found him running around with her in his mouth,” the woman was quoted as saying by local media.</p>

<p>"I instantly laughed, and I wasn't in any type of mood anymore. My Nan always said she would always be around, and I do believe in things like that,” the woman said.</p>

<p>"My mom absolutely loved it; she instantly said that it's my Nan playing tricks on me," she added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A UK woman was left red-faced after she accidentally put her grandmother’s ashes in the washing machine. The Norfolk woman, named Briley Coates, said she was shocked to find a small black bag muddled up in the machine along with freshly cleaned clothes.

A UK woman was left red-faced after she accidentally put her grandmother’s ashes in the washing machine. The Norfolk woman, named Briley Coates, said she was shocked to find a small black bag muddled up in the machine along with freshly cleaned clothes. It took her a moment to realise that the bag contained her nan’s ashes. "I pulled my washing out when I saw the ashes at the bottom of the machine and started laughing, but I was also massively confused as to how she got in there - she was meant to be in a drawer upstairs," said the 30-year-old woman. Watch: UK: Labour scrutiny over closure of firm owned by PM Sunak's wife × However, it didn’t take her long to figure out who exactly was to be blamed for the insane act: Her two-year-old half-Norwegian Forest cat, named Menace, quite literally! It turned out the cat had managed to reach the upstairs drawer and push the sealed bag full of ashes into the washing machine. The woman said her ‘naughty’ cat was playing with the bag before it slipped into the pile of clothes, that she accidentally scooped up. Also read: Mysterious cemetery unearthed in UK with females buried in crouched positions "He [the cat] must have pulled her bag out of the drawer after seeing the tie hanging out. He really is a menace; I've just found him running around with her in his mouth,” the woman was quoted as saying by local media. "I instantly laughed, and I wasn't in any type of mood anymore. My Nan always said she would always be around, and I do believe in things like that,” the woman said. "My mom absolutely loved it; she instantly said that it's my Nan playing tricks on me," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

UK woman left red-faced after finding her grandmother’s ashes in washing machine, blames ‘Menace’

<p>The video of a mouse secretly cleaning up a British man’s shed has left people amused and curious. The footage of the rodent nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering up objects in a shed and placing them neatly inside a box every night, recently went viral sparking curiosity, and scientists may have an explanation for this so-called “mousekeeping”.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Tale of the house-proud mouse</strong></h2>

<p>Retired postman and avid wildlife photographer Rodney Holbrook set up a night-vision camera after his shed was being mysteriously cleaned night after night for months only to find an unexpected helper scurrying around his workbench.</p>

<p>Holbrook, who lives in Builth Wells, a small town in central Wales recorded a mouse he nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering clothes, nuts, bolts and other small items and placing them in a box on his workbench.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mouse-caught-on-camera-secretly-cleaning-up-mans-shed-every-night-677691">Real life elf? Astonishing video shows a mouse cleaning a man's shed every night</a></strong></p>

<p>Holbrook also tested the mouse by keeping out different objects to check if it could pick them. However, the creature continued and even carried cable ties to the box.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Tidying up just for 'fun'</strong></h2>

<p>While the mice tidying up someone else’s shed seems peculiar, many animals engage in what we may consider “cleaning” behaviour. For example, it is said that ants and bees remove corpses from their ant hills and hives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However the case of “Welsh Tidy Mouse” is more complicated. It is known that mice frequently groom themselves and even create and keep a separate space as a toilet in their cages.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I wouldn’t say that this mouse has looked at its environment and thought: ‘Hey, this is messy. I need to tidy it up,’” said University of Bristol’s Dr Megan Jackson, who studies foraging behaviour in laboratory mice, as quoted by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jackson went on to say how the mice in her lab seem to enjoy foraging for foraging’s sake. “It is really intrinsic to a mouse to want to go out into the world, pick things up and drag them back to a place that they perceive to be a good place to store things.”</p>

<p>The scientist at the University of Bristol noted that whatever the Welsh Tidy Mouse’s motivation may be, the rodent did seem to find the task fun.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/first-polar-bear-death-from-bird-flu-raises-concerns-for-extant-species-678191">First polar bear death from bird flu raises concerns for extant species</a></strong></p>

<p>“This isn’t a behaviour that’s necessary for survival, but they are still doing it night and after night, even though they have probably learned that (Holbrook) is putting the stuff back the very next day,” said Jackson, as per the British media report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She added, “The fact this mouse is engaging in a pointless behaviour must mean that he finds it rewarding in some way.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>The researcher also noted that while as humans we get to enjoy different aspects of life it may&nbsp;not be the case for most animals so it's "quite nice to see a mouse engaging in behaviour that isn’t completely necessary."</p>

<p>Notably, this isn’t the first time that Holbrook has encountered a house-proud mouse, he told BBC. In 2019, he installed a night-vision camera for a friend which revealed another mouse keeping his friend’s shed organised.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The video of a mouse secretly cleaning up a British man’s shed has left people amused and curious. The footage of the rodent nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering up objects in a shed and placing them neatly inside a box every night, recently went viral sparking curiosity, and scientists may have an explanation for this so-called “mousekeeping”.

The video of a mouse secretly cleaning up a British man’s shed has left people amused and curious. The footage of the rodent nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering up objects in a shed and placing them neatly inside a box every night, recently went viral sparking curiosity, and scientists may have an explanation for this so-called “mousekeeping”. Tale of the house-proud mouse Retired postman and avid wildlife photographer Rodney Holbrook set up a night-vision camera after his shed was being mysteriously cleaned night after night for months only to find an unexpected helper scurrying around his workbench. Holbrook, who lives in Builth Wells, a small town in central Wales recorded a mouse he nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering clothes, nuts, bolts and other small items and placing them in a box on his workbench. ALSO READ | Real life elf? Astonishing video shows a mouse cleaning a man's shed every night Holbrook also tested the mouse by keeping out different objects to check if it could pick them. However, the creature continued and even carried cable ties to the box. Tidying up just for 'fun' While the mice tidying up someone else’s shed seems peculiar, many animals engage in what we may consider “cleaning” behaviour. For example, it is said that ants and bees remove corpses from their ant hills and hives. However the case of “Welsh Tidy Mouse” is more complicated. It is known that mice frequently groom themselves and even create and keep a separate space as a toilet in their cages. “I wouldn’t say that this mouse has looked at its environment and thought: ‘Hey, this is messy. I need to tidy it up,’” said University of Bristol’s Dr Megan Jackson, who studies foraging behaviour in laboratory mice, as quoted by The Guardian. Jackson went on to say how the mice in her lab seem to enjoy foraging for foraging’s sake. “It is really intrinsic to a mouse to want to go out into the world, pick things up and drag them back to a place that they perceive to be a good place to store things.” The scientist at the University of Bristol noted that whatever the Welsh Tidy Mouse’s motivation may be, the rodent did seem to find the task fun. ALSO READ | First polar bear death from bird flu raises concerns for extant species “This isn’t a behaviour that’s necessary for survival, but they are still doing it night and after night, even though they have probably learned that (Holbrook) is putting the stuff back the very next day,” said Jackson, as per the British media report. She added, “The fact this mouse is engaging in a pointless behaviour must mean that he finds it rewarding in some way.” The researcher also noted that while as humans we get to enjoy different aspects of life it may not be the case for most animals so it's "quite nice to see a mouse engaging in behaviour that isn’t completely necessary." Notably, this isn’t the first time that Holbrook has encountered a house-proud mouse, he told BBC. In 2019, he installed a night-vision camera for a friend which revealed another mouse keeping his friend’s shed organised. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Welsh Tidy Mouse’ might have been cleaning British man’s shed for ‘fun’, say scientists

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<p>The aviation industry has already witnessed two major incidents at the start of 2024. While a Japan Airlines flight crashed into&nbsp;a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft,&nbsp;a Boeing 737 Max 9 flight of Alaska Airlines had its door blown off, prompting the airline to ground it for checks. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also issued&nbsp;emergency directives for the aircraft.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here's everything you need to know about the Indian airlines that operate the Boeing 737 Max.</p>

<h2><strong>Which airlines in India operate the Boeing 737 Max?</strong></h2>

<p>Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Air India Express are the three airlines which operate the Max type. However, the FAA mandate does not affect Indian airlines as they do not use Max 9. All 40 registered aircraft in India are Max 8, with Akasa Air flying a sole Max 8200, the Hindustan Times reported.</p>

<p>Akasa Air has 22 Max-type aircraft, the most in the country. These are the only planes with the airline, implying that they function their entire network by flying the Boeing 737 Max 8 type. They currently fly to 16 destinations and are planning to add foreign destinations soon.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-summons-maldives-high-commissioner-over-derogatory-remarks-against-pm-modi-677663">India summons Maldives high commissioner over derogatory remarks against PM Modi</a></p>

<p>SpiceJet and Air India Express have nine MAX-type aircraft each. Air Indian Express uses MAX&nbsp;8 for its newly launched flight from Bengaluru to Kannur, Trivandrum, Mangalore, and Varanasi. The airline also operates flights from Hyderabad to Amritsar and Lucknow using the MAX&nbsp;8. However, since it has several other options like B737NG, A320neo, and A320ceo, the routes for Max 8 are subject to changes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, SpiceJet generally deploys these planes on international routes, like Dubai, Bangkok, and Jeddah. However, according to Flightradar24, the airline has used the Max type for domestic routes. These include flights to Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Pune, Darbhanga, Patna, Srinagar, Jammu, Kolkata, and Port Blair.</p>

<p>After the Alaska incident, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered all Indian operators with the 737 Max 8 aircraft to check their functioning, especially the proper closing of all over-wing emergency exits. The DGCA ordered these checks as a precautionary measure.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The authorities examined four 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Air India Express, eight by SpiceJet and 20 by Akasa Air. The Indian regulator said there were no adverse findings, and the aircraft's performance was satisfactory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2019, the DGCA banned the Boeing 737 MAX&nbsp;8 in India after the Ethiopian Airlines crash. However, they returned to India in 2021.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The aviation industry has already witnessed two major incidents at the start of 2024. While a Japan Airlines flight crashed into a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 9 flight of Alaska Airlines had its door blown off, prompting the airline to ground it for checks.

The aviation industry has already witnessed two major incidents at the start of 2024. While a Japan Airlines flight crashed into a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 9 flight of Alaska Airlines had its door blown off, prompting the airline to ground it for checks. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also issued emergency directives for the aircraft. Here's everything you need to know about the Indian airlines that operate the Boeing 737 Max. Which airlines in India operate the Boeing 737 Max? Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Air India Express are the three airlines which operate the Max type. However, the FAA mandate does not affect Indian airlines as they do not use Max 9. All 40 registered aircraft in India are Max 8, with Akasa Air flying a sole Max 8200, the Hindustan Times reported. Akasa Air has 22 Max-type aircraft, the most in the country. These are the only planes with the airline, implying that they function their entire network by flying the Boeing 737 Max 8 type. They currently fly to 16 destinations and are planning to add foreign destinations soon. ALSO READ | India summons Maldives high commissioner over derogatory remarks against PM Modi SpiceJet and Air India Express have nine MAX-type aircraft each. Air Indian Express uses MAX 8 for its newly launched flight from Bengaluru to Kannur, Trivandrum, Mangalore, and Varanasi. The airline also operates flights from Hyderabad to Amritsar and Lucknow using the MAX 8. However, since it has several other options like B737NG, A320neo, and A320ceo, the routes for Max 8 are subject to changes. Meanwhile, SpiceJet generally deploys these planes on international routes, like Dubai, Bangkok, and Jeddah. However, according to Flightradar24, the airline has used the Max type for domestic routes. These include flights to Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Pune, Darbhanga, Patna, Srinagar, Jammu, Kolkata, and Port Blair. After the Alaska incident, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered all Indian operators with the 737 Max 8 aircraft to check their functioning, especially the proper closing of all over-wing emergency exits. The DGCA ordered these checks as a precautionary measure. The authorities examined four 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Air India Express, eight by SpiceJet and 20 by Akasa Air. The Indian regulator said there were no adverse findings, and the aircraft's performance was satisfactory. In 2019, the DGCA banned the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in India after the Ethiopian Airlines crash. However, they returned to India in 2021. (With inputs from agencies)

Alaska Incident: Which Indian airlines fly the Boeing 737 MAX?

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<p><strong>Orthodox Christmas 2024:</strong>&nbsp;More than 200 million Christians associated with Orthodox churches celebrated Christmas on January 7 instead of December 25, as they follow the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar followed by other Christian denominations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Orthodox Christians from Cairo to Moscow celebrated the occasion by organising various events and ceremonies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The majority of Orthodox Christians live in Eastern Europe. While those living in Ukraine celebrated Christmas on December 25, others living in areas like Russia-controlled Donetsk celebrated it on January 7. Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the Orthodox Christmas service at a church in Moscow.</p>

<p>In Georgia's capital city, Tbilisi, those celebrating participated in an annual Orthodox Christmas procession called Alilo. Meanwhile, in Belgrade, Serbians gathered to eat the traditional Christmas bread.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Macedonia celebrated the festival with several events.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeings-mid-air-door-blow-out-no-design-flaws-suspected-this-time-claim-investigators-677630">Boeing’s mid-air door blow out: No design flaws suspected ‘this time’, claim investigators</a></p>

<h2><strong>Why do Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7</strong></h2>

<p>Some Eastern Orthodox churches follow the ancient Julian calendar, which runs 13 days later than the Gregorian calendar used by Catholic and Protestant churches. Although the Eastern Orthodox churches agree that December 25 is the date of Christmas or "Feast of the Nativity", they question whether December 25 falls on December 25 or January 7.</p>

<p>However, the Julian calendar has increasingly misaligned with the solar year. Until 1923, all Eastern Orthodox churches followed the old calendar. But then, an inter-Orthodox gathering adopted a revised Julian calendar similar to the Gregorian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A few Orthodox churches, including those following Greek tradition and some in Ukraine, have started celebrating Christmas on the same date as Western churches. But many, like the Russian Orthodox Church, the largest communion in Eastern Orthodoxy, Serbian and Georgian churches, have stuck to the old calendar, observing Christmas on January 7.</p>

<p>The traditions of Orthodox Christmas vary from place to place. But it usually involves a grand worship service a night before Christmas, featuring a midnight liturgy. Many observe fasting and culminate in a festive meal on January 6 called the Holy Supper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Orthodox Christians based in Western countries like the United States follow different dates. Orthodox, Greek and Antiochian churches in the US celebrated Christmas on December 25. However, some churches in the Slavic tradition, Serbian churches and other small Russian churches observe&nbsp;Christmas on January 7.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Orthodox Christmas 2024: More than 200 million Christians associated with Orthodox churches celebrated Christmas on January 7 instead of December 25, as they follow the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar followed by other Christian denominations.

Orthodox Christmas 2024: More than 200 million Christians associated with Orthodox churches celebrated Christmas on January 7 instead of December 25, as they follow the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar followed by other Christian denominations. Orthodox Christians from Cairo to Moscow celebrated the occasion by organising various events and ceremonies. The majority of Orthodox Christians live in Eastern Europe. While those living in Ukraine celebrated Christmas on December 25, others living in areas like Russia-controlled Donetsk celebrated it on January 7. Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the Orthodox Christmas service at a church in Moscow. In Georgia's capital city, Tbilisi, those celebrating participated in an annual Orthodox Christmas procession called Alilo. Meanwhile, in Belgrade, Serbians gathered to eat the traditional Christmas bread. Furthermore, Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Macedonia celebrated the festival with several events. ALSO READ | Boeing’s mid-air door blow out: No design flaws suspected ‘this time’, claim investigators Why do Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7 Some Eastern Orthodox churches follow the ancient Julian calendar, which runs 13 days later than the Gregorian calendar used by Catholic and Protestant churches. Although the Eastern Orthodox churches agree that December 25 is the date of Christmas or "Feast of the Nativity", they question whether December 25 falls on December 25 or January 7. However, the Julian calendar has increasingly misaligned with the solar year. Until 1923, all Eastern Orthodox churches followed the old calendar. But then, an inter-Orthodox gathering adopted a revised Julian calendar similar to the Gregorian. A few Orthodox churches, including those following Greek tradition and some in Ukraine, have started celebrating Christmas on the same date as Western churches. But many, like the Russian Orthodox Church, the largest communion in Eastern Orthodoxy, Serbian and Georgian churches, have stuck to the old calendar, observing Christmas on January 7. The traditions of Orthodox Christmas vary from place to place. But it usually involves a grand worship service a night before Christmas, featuring a midnight liturgy. Many observe fasting and culminate in a festive meal on January 6 called the Holy Supper. Orthodox Christians based in Western countries like the United States follow different dates. Orthodox, Greek and Antiochian churches in the US celebrated Christmas on December 25. However, some churches in the Slavic tradition, Serbian churches and other small Russian churches observe Christmas on January 7. (With inputs from agencies)

Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Christmas on January 7. Here's why

<p>A little Chinese boy left millions in shock on the internet after he gifted gold bars worth $15,000 or INR 12 lakh to a girl in his nursery school class. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the four-year-old boy gifted the gold bars as an “engagement gift.”</p>

<p>The incident unfolded in Guang'an, Sichuan province, southwestern China, on December 22. When the excited girl showed the extraordinary gift to her parents, they were left shocked and confused. The girl’s parents not only asked her to return the gold bars to the boy the next day but also contacted the boy’s family and informed them about the happenings.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Taiwan accuses China of psychological warfare</strong></p>

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<p>It turned out that the boy’s parents had stashed the gold bars for his future bride. “The boy's parents said they had told their son that the gold bars were intended for his future wife, but they didn't expect him to secretly take them out and give them to our daughter,'' the girl's mother was quoted as saying by the SCMP.</p>

<p>She also warned other parents to beware of similar acts by their children.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the amusing incident triggered a wave of reactions and laughter on Chinese social media. One user said, ''This little boy has guts, just casually giving away 200 grams of gold like that.'' Another commented, ''My mother-in-law just gave me a bracelet, and my son asked if he could give it to a classmate because he thought it looked nice. I suppose I should be ‘grateful' he thought to ask me first.''</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-imposes-sanctions-on-five-us-military-manufacturers-in-retaliation-for-arms-sales-to-taiwan-677304"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;China imposes sanctions on five US military manufacturers in retaliation over arms sales to Taiwan</strong></a></p>

<p>A third said, ''In the first year, my daughter's classmate, a boy, gave her 200 yuan in cash. I promptly returned the money to the boy's parents that same evening.''</p>

<p>Earlier in May 2023, a similar episode took place in China when a young boy gifted his mother’s gold bangle to a girl in his kindergarten. Later, the boy’s mother was informed about the incident by his teacher, who asked her to “watch out” for her jewellery.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A little Chinese boy left millions in shock on the internet after he gifted gold bars worth $15,000 or INR 12 lakh to a girl in his nursery school class. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the four-year-old boy gifted the gold bars as an “engagement gift.

A little Chinese boy left millions in shock on the internet after he gifted gold bars worth $15,000 or INR 12 lakh to a girl in his nursery school class. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the four-year-old boy gifted the gold bars as an “engagement gift.” The incident unfolded in Guang'an, Sichuan province, southwestern China, on December 22. When the excited girl showed the extraordinary gift to her parents, they were left shocked and confused. The girl’s parents not only asked her to return the gold bars to the boy the next day but also contacted the boy’s family and informed them about the happenings. Watch: Taiwan accuses China of psychological warfare × It turned out that the boy’s parents had stashed the gold bars for his future bride. “The boy's parents said they had told their son that the gold bars were intended for his future wife, but they didn't expect him to secretly take them out and give them to our daughter,'' the girl's mother was quoted as saying by the SCMP. She also warned other parents to beware of similar acts by their children. Meanwhile, the amusing incident triggered a wave of reactions and laughter on Chinese social media. One user said, ''This little boy has guts, just casually giving away 200 grams of gold like that.'' Another commented, ''My mother-in-law just gave me a bracelet, and my son asked if he could give it to a classmate because he thought it looked nice. I suppose I should be ‘grateful' he thought to ask me first.'' Also read: China imposes sanctions on five US military manufacturers in retaliation over arms sales to Taiwan A third said, ''In the first year, my daughter's classmate, a boy, gave her 200 yuan in cash. I promptly returned the money to the boy's parents that same evening.'' Earlier in May 2023, a similar episode took place in China when a young boy gifted his mother’s gold bangle to a girl in his kindergarten. Later, the boy’s mother was informed about the incident by his teacher, who asked her to “watch out” for her jewellery. (With inputs from agencies)

Little China boy gifts gold bars worth $15k to girl as ‘engagement’ gift

<p>The year 2024 started for Florida with a bizarre rumour spreading like wildfire on social media: A 10-foot-tall alien was roaming in a Miami shopping mall, inviting a huge police presence in the vicinity. The speculation market turned red hot after a video went viral on social media showing a massive figure strolling outside Bayside Marketplace. The video showed the ‘alien’ shadow surrounded by dozens of police officers, and cruisers with their lights flashing.</p>

<h2><strong>Rumours on the internet</strong></h2>

<p>As soon as the video went viral, the speculations and murmurs came flooding as well. "I don't know if the rumours about the aliens at the Miami Mall are real but I do know I never seen this many police in one place," one X user posted. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">MIAMI MALL ALIEN INCIDENT -<br />
<br />
A Miami mall was shut down by POLICE &amp; rumors are being spread around about “8-10ft tall shadow aliens” 👽 ‼️<br />
<br />
Reports are saying that it was 'kids fighting'. <a href="https://t.co/PXsoaufWiD">pic.twitter.com/PXsoaufWiD</a></p>
— DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) <a href="https://twitter.com/DramaAlert/status/1743343632650813572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’m not a conspiracy theorist but when this many cops show up to shut down a Miami mall, and not one single person took a video from inside or driving by? Something is off. Rumors are there were “8-10 foot shadow aliens”<br />
<br />
Also, Epstein didn’t kill himself <a href="https://t.co/0B3AFQV7yU">pic.twitter.com/0B3AFQV7yU</a></p>
— Louis KC (@notlouisck) <a href="https://twitter.com/notlouisck/status/1743375314917716286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A Miami mall was shut down by POLICE &amp; rumors are being spread around about “8-10ft tall shadow aliens”<br />
<br />
News outlets are reporting it was a teen riot but first hand accounts are saying otherwise. <a href="https://t.co/2DOLQWEIVP">pic.twitter.com/2DOLQWEIVP</a></p>
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyLoud/status/1743366728199852437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Another X user claimed that there were '10ft Aliens/Creatures' which were 'fired at inside and outside Miami Mall' in supposed footage.<br />
<br />
Some posts claimed people in the vicinity lost WiFi for some hours while some alleged that the nearby airports had also been shut down.</p>

<h2><strong>Police issue statement</strong></h2>

<p>Miami police on Friday (Jan 5) however debunked all these statements, calling them ‘false.’ In a statement, the department confirmed: "There were no aliens, UFOs, or ETs."</p>

<p>Speaking of the viral videos, officer Michael Vega added: "It’s a shadow of a person walking. If you look at the beginning of the clip, you can see the person at the bottom of the shadow. "If there was any creature, myself and other officers would have our handgun, rifle, and shotgun out while we hide behind our cars," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | A Culture of violence in the US</strong></p>

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<p>"There were no aliens. No airports were closed. Nothing is being withheld from the public. LOL.”</p>

<h2><strong>What happened inside the mall?</strong></h2>

<p>The large police presence outside the Miami mall was caused by a large brawl between teenagers on Monday night. Some of them also set off fireworks inside the mall, leading many people to believe that a shooting had taken place.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/its-about-interests-indians-rip-into-ex-us-ambassador-after-he-questioned-jaishankars-visit-to-russia-675189"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;`It`s about interests,` Indians rip into ex-US ambassador after he questions Jaishankar`s visit to Russia</strong></a></p>

<p>Later, the police arrested at least four juveniles for causing the massive distress. “The juveniles were causing chaos,” Vega said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The year 2024 started for Florida with a bizarre rumour spreading like wildfire on social media: A 10-foot-tall alien was roaming in a Miami shopping mall, inviting a huge police presence in the vicinity.

The year 2024 started for Florida with a bizarre rumour spreading like wildfire on social media: A 10-foot-tall alien was roaming in a Miami shopping mall, inviting a huge police presence in the vicinity. The speculation market turned red hot after a video went viral on social media showing a massive figure strolling outside Bayside Marketplace. The video showed the ‘alien’ shadow surrounded by dozens of police officers, and cruisers with their lights flashing. Rumours on the internet As soon as the video went viral, the speculations and murmurs came flooding as well. "I don't know if the rumours about the aliens at the Miami Mall are real but I do know I never seen this many police in one place," one X user posted. MIAMI MALL ALIEN INCIDENT - A Miami mall was shut down by POLICE & rumors are being spread around about “8-10ft tall shadow aliens” 👽 ‼️ Reports are saying that it was 'kids fighting'. pic.twitter.com/PXsoaufWiD — DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) January 5, 2024 × I’m not a conspiracy theorist but when this many cops show up to shut down a Miami mall, and not one single person took a video from inside or driving by? Something is off. Rumors are there were “8-10 foot shadow aliens” Also, Epstein didn’t kill himself pic.twitter.com/0B3AFQV7yU — Louis KC (@notlouisck) January 5, 2024 × A Miami mall was shut down by POLICE & rumors are being spread around about “8-10ft tall shadow aliens” News outlets are reporting it was a teen riot but first hand accounts are saying otherwise. pic.twitter.com/2DOLQWEIVP — Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) January 5, 2024 × Another X user claimed that there were '10ft Aliens/Creatures' which were 'fired at inside and outside Miami Mall' in supposed footage. Some posts claimed people in the vicinity lost WiFi for some hours while some alleged that the nearby airports had also been shut down. Police issue statement Miami police on Friday (Jan 5) however debunked all these statements, calling them ‘false.’ In a statement, the department confirmed: "There were no aliens, UFOs, or ETs." Speaking of the viral videos, officer Michael Vega added: "It’s a shadow of a person walking. If you look at the beginning of the clip, you can see the person at the bottom of the shadow. "If there was any creature, myself and other officers would have our handgun, rifle, and shotgun out while we hide behind our cars," he added. Watch: Gravitas | A Culture of violence in the US × "There were no aliens. No airports were closed. Nothing is being withheld from the public. LOL.” What happened inside the mall? The large police presence outside the Miami mall was caused by a large brawl between teenagers on Monday night. Some of them also set off fireworks inside the mall, leading many people to believe that a shooting had taken place. Also read: `It`s about interests,` Indians rip into ex-US ambassador after he questions Jaishankar`s visit to Russia Later, the police arrested at least four juveniles for causing the massive distress. “The juveniles were causing chaos,” Vega said. (With inputs from agencies)

Was a massive alien spotted outside Miami mall? Police reveal truth

<p>A mysterious early medieval cemetery has been found in the UK’s Wales containing at least 70 graves along with animal bones and imported glass drinking vessels.</p>

<p>The bodies, which were buried around 1,500 years ago, were rested on their side facing south, while at least four were buried in a crouching position; signalling that they might have been the subject of a specific ceremony.</p>

<p>The site left several experts scratching their heads, with some pointing out how rare were such burial sites in Wales. “This is a really exciting discovery. Sites of this date are extremely rare in Wales and often do not preserve bone and artefacts,” said Dr Andy Seaman, a lecturer in early medieval archaeology at Cardiff University, in a statement to the Guardian.</p>

<p>While such burial patterns have been observed in the past as well, Seaman highlighted that the proportion of those buried in crouched positions was unusually high on the burial site.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/alaska-incident-which-indian-airlines-are-operating-the-boeing-737-max-677755"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Alaska Incident: Which Indian airlines fly the Boeing 737 MAX?</strong></a></p>

<p>“Other similar sites have found bodies in crouched positions such as this, but considering the number of graves we have looked at so far, there seem to be a high proportion. This could be evidence of some sort of burial rite being carried out,” the expert noted.</p>

<p>Seaman also revealed that all those buried in crouched positions were females. “It may or may not be significant that thus far all of our crouched burials are female. We’re dealing with small samples so far. What we’ll be doing in the coming years is exploring that further.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Trending on WION: Scientists welcome new antibiotic that kills drug-resistant bacteria CRAB</strong></p>

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<p>However, the site was not used for just burial. Some metal working debris was also recovered from the site, along with glass drinking vessels possibly imported from Western France and animal bones showing evidence of butchery and cooking.</p>

<p>A small bone peg was also recovered from the site, leading archaeologists to believe that it could have been used as a marker in a game or as a tuning peg for a musical instrument.</p>

<p>“It’s a period of Welsh history about which we know comparatively little. It will help us expand and enhance our understanding of this post-Roman period,” Seaman was quoted as saying by The Guardian.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A mysterious early medieval cemetery has been found in the UK’s Wales containing at least 70 graves along with animal bones and imported glass drinking vessels. The bodies, which were buried around 1,500 years ago, were rested on their side facing south, while at least four were buried in a crouching position; signalling that they might have been the subject of a specific ceremony.

A mysterious early medieval cemetery has been found in the UK’s Wales containing at least 70 graves along with animal bones and imported glass drinking vessels. The bodies, which were buried around 1,500 years ago, were rested on their side facing south, while at least four were buried in a crouching position; signalling that they might have been the subject of a specific ceremony. The site left several experts scratching their heads, with some pointing out how rare were such burial sites in Wales. “This is a really exciting discovery. Sites of this date are extremely rare in Wales and often do not preserve bone and artefacts,” said Dr Andy Seaman, a lecturer in early medieval archaeology at Cardiff University, in a statement to the Guardian. While such burial patterns have been observed in the past as well, Seaman highlighted that the proportion of those buried in crouched positions was unusually high on the burial site. Also read: Alaska Incident: Which Indian airlines fly the Boeing 737 MAX? “Other similar sites have found bodies in crouched positions such as this, but considering the number of graves we have looked at so far, there seem to be a high proportion. This could be evidence of some sort of burial rite being carried out,” the expert noted. Seaman also revealed that all those buried in crouched positions were females. “It may or may not be significant that thus far all of our crouched burials are female. We’re dealing with small samples so far. What we’ll be doing in the coming years is exploring that further.” Watch: Trending on WION: Scientists welcome new antibiotic that kills drug-resistant bacteria CRAB × However, the site was not used for just burial. Some metal working debris was also recovered from the site, along with glass drinking vessels possibly imported from Western France and animal bones showing evidence of butchery and cooking. A small bone peg was also recovered from the site, leading archaeologists to believe that it could have been used as a marker in a game or as a tuning peg for a musical instrument. “It’s a period of Welsh history about which we know comparatively little. It will help us expand and enhance our understanding of this post-Roman period,” Seaman was quoted as saying by The Guardian. (With inputs from agencies)

Mysterious cemetery unearthed in UK with females buried in crouched positions

<p>Amid the online campaign of boycott Maldives, flight and trip booking company EaseMyTrip in a significant step decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings after derogatory remarks were made by some of Maldives' now suspended ministers against India following the recent visit to Lakshadweep by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p>

<p>Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip's&nbsp;co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nishant Pitti, standing in support of India, took to social media X and said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”</p>

<p>The travel company, EaseMyTrip, went one step further and started a visit Lakshadweep campaign with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In solidarity with our nation, <a href="https://twitter.com/EaseMyTrip?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EaseMyTrip</a> has suspended all Maldives flight bookings ✈️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TravelUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TravelUpdate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SupportingNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SupportingNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LakshadweepTourism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LakshadweepTourism</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExploreIndianlslands?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ExploreIndianlslands</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakshadweep?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakshadweep</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExploreIndianIslands?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ExploreIndianIslands</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kishanreddybjp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kishanreddybjp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JM_Scindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JM_Scindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tourismgoi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tourismgoi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/incredibleindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@incredibleindia</a> <a href="https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY">https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY</a></p>
— Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) <a href="https://twitter.com/nishantpitti/status/1744080855100744082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>EaseMyTrip, which has its headquarters in New Delhi, was founded by Rikant Pitti, Prashant Pitti and Nishant Pitti in 2008.</p>

<p>Speaking to ANI, Prashant Pitti said, "Our company has recently taken the decision to not accept bookings for Maldives. The reason for this is the row over Maldives MP's post on PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. We have taken this decision to establish 'nation first and business later'."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-president-departs-for-china-amid-diplomatic-row-with-india-677741">Maldives president departs for China amid diplomatic row with India</a><br />
<br />
Prashant Pitti, in his post dated January 4, wrote, "Water &amp; beaches of Lakshadweep are as good as Maldives/Seychelles We at @EaseMyTrip will come up with crazy special-offers to promote this pristine destination that our PM @narendramodi has recently visited!"</p>

<h2><strong>India-Maldives row and debate over tourism&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Amid row over tourism between Maldives and India, hashtag #BoycottMaldives started trending on social media platforms as many tourists began cancelling their scheduled vacations to the island nation.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, three deputy ministers of Maldives were suspended by the government on Sunday (Jan 7) for posting derogatory comments on social media against India's Prime Minister Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>"The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," stated the Maldives Foreign Ministry, while responding to the controversial social media posts.</p>

<p>Many prominent Indian personalities, including cricketer Hardik Pandya and actor Akshay Kumar, expressed dismay at the comments posted by the Maldivian officials. In an online campaign aimed at promoting local tourism, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Salman Khan and others appealed to people to visit their own islands and not to travel abroad.</p>

<h2><strong>Indian </strong>Chamber of Commerce, other&nbsp;<strong>travel companies call for boycott of Maldives</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Monday (Jan 8), issued an “appeal to boycott Maldives”. Head of ICC’s aviation and tourism committee Subhash Goyal appealed to all Indian trade associations to “stop promoting Maldives in view of the anti-India feelings expressed by ministers of Maldives.”</p>

<p>“Please divert all such queries to Lakshadweep and Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands which are even better than Maldives in many ways.. other destinations that can be promoted in the Indian Ocean region are Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bali, Phuket etc,” he said. Goyal further “appealed” Indian carriers to suspend the flights towards Maldives and appealed Indian hotel companies to make more investment in Lakshadweep “for better returns.” Goyal’s STC Travels also stopped selling tickets and packages for Maldives.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Amid the online campaign of boycott Maldives, flight and trip booking company EaseMyTrip in a significant step decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings after derogatory remarks were made by some of Maldives' now suspended ministers against India following the recent visit to Lakshadweep by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Amid the online campaign of boycott Maldives, flight and trip booking company EaseMyTrip in a significant step decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings after derogatory remarks were made by some of Maldives' now suspended ministers against India following the recent visit to Lakshadweep by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian online travel company EaseMyTrip's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nishant Pitti, standing in support of India, took to social media X and said, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.” The travel company, EaseMyTrip, went one step further and started a visit Lakshadweep campaign with the hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep. In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings ✈️ #TravelUpdate #SupportingNation #LakshadweepTourism #ExploreIndianlslands #Lakshadweep#ExploreIndianIslands @kishanreddybjp @JM_Scindia @PMOIndia @tourismgoi @narendramodi @incredibleindia https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY — Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) January 7, 2024 × EaseMyTrip, which has its headquarters in New Delhi, was founded by Rikant Pitti, Prashant Pitti and Nishant Pitti in 2008. Speaking to ANI, Prashant Pitti said, "Our company has recently taken the decision to not accept bookings for Maldives. The reason for this is the row over Maldives MP's post on PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. We have taken this decision to establish 'nation first and business later'." Also read: Maldives president departs for China amid diplomatic row with India Prashant Pitti, in his post dated January 4, wrote, "Water & beaches of Lakshadweep are as good as Maldives/Seychelles We at @EaseMyTrip will come up with crazy special-offers to promote this pristine destination that our PM @narendramodi has recently visited!" India-Maldives row and debate over tourism Amid row over tourism between Maldives and India, hashtag #BoycottMaldives started trending on social media platforms as many tourists began cancelling their scheduled vacations to the island nation. Meanwhile, three deputy ministers of Maldives were suspended by the government on Sunday (Jan 7) for posting derogatory comments on social media against India's Prime Minister Modi. Watch: Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi "The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," stated the Maldives Foreign Ministry, while responding to the controversial social media posts. Many prominent Indian personalities, including cricketer Hardik Pandya and actor Akshay Kumar, expressed dismay at the comments posted by the Maldivian officials. In an online campaign aimed at promoting local tourism, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Salman Khan and others appealed to people to visit their own islands and not to travel abroad. Indian Chamber of Commerce, other travel companies call for boycott of Maldives Meanwhile, the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Monday (Jan 8), issued an “appeal to boycott Maldives”. Head of ICC’s aviation and tourism committee Subhash Goyal appealed to all Indian trade associations to “stop promoting Maldives in view of the anti-India feelings expressed by ministers of Maldives.” “Please divert all such queries to Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands which are even better than Maldives in many ways.. other destinations that can be promoted in the Indian Ocean region are Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bali, Phuket etc,” he said. Goyal further “appealed” Indian carriers to suspend the flights towards Maldives and appealed Indian hotel companies to make more investment in Lakshadweep “for better returns.” Goyal’s STC Travels also stopped selling tickets and packages for Maldives. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian travel companies call for boycott of Maldives after row over scornful remarks on PM Modi

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<p>A man found a mouse secretly cleaning up his shed almost every night for two months after he set a night vision camera on his workbench.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rodney Holbrook discovered that things in his shed "mysteriously" neatened up and returned to where they belonged every night.</p>

<p>The avid wildlife photographer from Builth Wells in Powys, Wales, installed a night vision camera on his workbench to unveil the enigma behind the tidied place. Holbrook never would've imagined a real-life Ratatouille scene unfolding in his shed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As it turned out, a rodent came every night to his shed and straightened the area by keeping objects back to where they belonged. The video shows him gathering clothes, nuts, bolts and other small items and placing them in a tray on the photographer's bench.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">That's one house proud <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mouse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mouse</a>! Squeaky-clean rodent is caught on camera secretly helping tidy up pensioner's shed <a href="https://t.co/xrrbyScddz">pic.twitter.com/xrrbyScddz</a></p>
— Hans Solo (@thandojo) <a href="https://twitter.com/thandojo/status/1743598997648933278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Holbrook also tested the mouse by keeping out different objects to check if it could pick them. However, the creature was preserving and even carried cable ties to the tray.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He told the BBC, "It has been going on for months. I call him Welsh Tidy Mouse. At first, I noticed that some food that I was putting out for the birds was ending up in some old shoes I was storing in the shed, so I set up a camera."</p>

<p>"I couldn't believe it when I saw that the mouse was tidying up," Holbrook said. "He moved all sorts of things into the box, bits of plastic, nuts and bolts. I don't bother to tidy up now, as I know he will see to it. I leave things out of the box and they put it back in its place by the morning. Ninety-nine times out of 100 the mouse will tidy up throughout the night," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, it is not the first time such an incident has happened to Holbrook. In 2019, a mouse stashed several items in Holbrook's friend's shed near Bristol. Steve Mckears witnessed that screws and metal objects kept reappearing in a box containing bird feed.</p>

<p>Mckears said at the time that he&nbsp;thought he was going crazy. When Holbrook and he set up a camera to investigate what happened, they found a mouse was collecting screws and other metallic things in the container. "That one video went viral and reached people around the world. So I can't believe here in Builth Wells we have had the same thing happen years later," Holbrook said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A man found a mouse secretly cleaning up his shed almost every night for two months after he set a night vision camera on his workbench. Rodney Holbrook discovered that things in his shed "mysteriously" neatened up and returned to where they belonged every night.

A man found a mouse secretly cleaning up his shed almost every night for two months after he set a night vision camera on his workbench. Rodney Holbrook discovered that things in his shed "mysteriously" neatened up and returned to where they belonged every night. The avid wildlife photographer from Builth Wells in Powys, Wales, installed a night vision camera on his workbench to unveil the enigma behind the tidied place. Holbrook never would've imagined a real-life Ratatouille scene unfolding in his shed. As it turned out, a rodent came every night to his shed and straightened the area by keeping objects back to where they belonged. The video shows him gathering clothes, nuts, bolts and other small items and placing them in a tray on the photographer's bench. That's one house proud #mouse! Squeaky-clean rodent is caught on camera secretly helping tidy up pensioner's shed pic.twitter.com/xrrbyScddz — Hans Solo (@thandojo) January 6, 2024 × Holbrook also tested the mouse by keeping out different objects to check if it could pick them. However, the creature was preserving and even carried cable ties to the tray. He told the BBC, "It has been going on for months. I call him Welsh Tidy Mouse. At first, I noticed that some food that I was putting out for the birds was ending up in some old shoes I was storing in the shed, so I set up a camera." "I couldn't believe it when I saw that the mouse was tidying up," Holbrook said. "He moved all sorts of things into the box, bits of plastic, nuts and bolts. I don't bother to tidy up now, as I know he will see to it. I leave things out of the box and they put it back in its place by the morning. Ninety-nine times out of 100 the mouse will tidy up throughout the night," he added. However, it is not the first time such an incident has happened to Holbrook. In 2019, a mouse stashed several items in Holbrook's friend's shed near Bristol. Steve Mckears witnessed that screws and metal objects kept reappearing in a box containing bird feed. Mckears said at the time that he thought he was going crazy. When Holbrook and he set up a camera to investigate what happened, they found a mouse was collecting screws and other metallic things in the container. "That one video went viral and reached people around the world. So I can't believe here in Builth Wells we have had the same thing happen years later," Holbrook said. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH: Real life elf? Astonishing video shows a mouse cleaning a man's shed every night

<p>Ahead of mega Sankranti celebrations in rural areas of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, breeders are feeding their chickens with Viagra and Shilajit (a natural organic-mineral product formed in mountains) besides other steroid-laced food. That explains how competitive the world of cockfighting in this part of the subcontinent is.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cockfights are an integral, essential part of Sankranti celebrations in rural Andhra Pradesh where crores and crores of rupees are often at stake during festival betting.</p>

<p>As a part of the celebrations, trained roosters engage in intense ‘fights to the death’, while a cheering crowd bets on the winning side. This year, the festival will be celebrated from January 14 to 16.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, this year, the outbreak of a disease called ‘Ranikhet’ has cast a shadow on the tradition of this rooster fight. The disease has left several trained roosters weakened and unfit for fight, leading their owners to resort to unconventional methods to shore them up.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-poll-india-alliances-seat-sharing-in-bihar-finalised-details-here-677554"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Lok Sabha poll: INDIA alliance’s seat sharing in Bihar finalised. Details here</strong></a></p>

<p>An investigation by the Times of India found that several breeders were blatantly making the roosters consume aphrodisiacs meant only for humans, without even considering whether the practice actually boosted the fighting spirit of the chickens or not.</p>

<p>“We spent a fortune on saving the fighting breed of birds from the disease. But what we found was that the birds are now lacking in strength. This is the short-cut to make the birds ready for Sankranti," a breeder was quoted as saying by the Times of India.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Watch: Cock-fighting tournament held at Indian tribal festival</strong></p>

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<p>However, experts have warned that the practice might lead to an enhanced performance for some time but it will cripple the birds in the long run. The consumption of aphrodisiacs might also lead to mutations in the birds, which could prove to be severely harmful when consumed by humans. While these unorthodox drugs are being introduced to the birds for the first time, their actual impact on enhancing fighting spirit in roosters remains unclear.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ahead of mega Sankranti celebrations in rural areas of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, breeders are feeding their chickens with Viagra and Shilajit (a natural organic-mineral product formed in mountains) besides other steroid-laced food.

Ahead of mega Sankranti celebrations in rural areas of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, breeders are feeding their chickens with Viagra and Shilajit (a natural organic-mineral product formed in mountains) besides other steroid-laced food. That explains how competitive the world of cockfighting in this part of the subcontinent is. Cockfights are an integral, essential part of Sankranti celebrations in rural Andhra Pradesh where crores and crores of rupees are often at stake during festival betting. As a part of the celebrations, trained roosters engage in intense ‘fights to the death’, while a cheering crowd bets on the winning side. This year, the festival will be celebrated from January 14 to 16. However, this year, the outbreak of a disease called ‘Ranikhet’ has cast a shadow on the tradition of this rooster fight. The disease has left several trained roosters weakened and unfit for fight, leading their owners to resort to unconventional methods to shore them up. Also read: Lok Sabha poll: INDIA alliance’s seat sharing in Bihar finalised. Details here An investigation by the Times of India found that several breeders were blatantly making the roosters consume aphrodisiacs meant only for humans, without even considering whether the practice actually boosted the fighting spirit of the chickens or not. “We spent a fortune on saving the fighting breed of birds from the disease. But what we found was that the birds are now lacking in strength. This is the short-cut to make the birds ready for Sankranti," a breeder was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Watch: Watch: Cock-fighting tournament held at Indian tribal festival × However, experts have warned that the practice might lead to an enhanced performance for some time but it will cripple the birds in the long run. The consumption of aphrodisiacs might also lead to mutations in the birds, which could prove to be severely harmful when consumed by humans. While these unorthodox drugs are being introduced to the birds for the first time, their actual impact on enhancing fighting spirit in roosters remains unclear. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Chickens being fed Viagra and Shilajit ahead of cockfight season

<p>In a surprising find at the Freedom Mine in North Dakota, a shovel operator found a two-metre-long mammoth tusk buried in an old streambed estimated to be between 10,000 to 100,000 years old. The mine typically produces tonnes of lignite coal annually, making this ancient find a rare occurrence.</p>

<p>Experts&nbsp;were amazed at the well-preserved state of the mammoth tusk, considering the heavy equipment used in the mine. Further excavation revealed over 20 bones, potentially making it the most complete mammoth found in North Dakota.</p>

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<h2><strong>Insights into the past</strong></h2>

<p>Mammoths, larger than today's elephants, once roamed the Earth. This mammoth discovery provides valuable insights into their history, with the bones likely being from a single animal. Despite fewer bones than a full skeleton, the find is significant.</p>

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<p>Weighing over 22.6 kgs, the mammoth tusk is fragile. To prevent damage, paleontologists wrapped it in plastic for controlled dehydration. The bones will remain wrapped for months. The mining company plans to donate the remains for educational purposes.</p>

<p>North Dakota's landscape, near the Rocky Mountains, is a treasure trove for fossils. The state's strategic location and ecological history have preserved remnants of ancient life, making it a fascinating area for paleontologists.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a surprising find at the Freedom Mine in North Dakota, a shovel operator found a two-metre-long mammoth tusk buried in an old streambed estimated to be between 10,000 to 100,000 years old.

In a surprising find at the Freedom Mine in North Dakota, a shovel operator found a two-metre-long mammoth tusk buried in an old streambed estimated to be between 10,000 to 100,000 years old. The mine typically produces tonnes of lignite coal annually, making this ancient find a rare occurrence. Experts were amazed at the well-preserved state of the mammoth tusk, considering the heavy equipment used in the mine. Further excavation revealed over 20 bones, potentially making it the most complete mammoth found in North Dakota. Also read | Enormous 15ft sea creature washes up on UK coast, stunning beachgoers Insights into the past Mammoths, larger than today's elephants, once roamed the Earth. This mammoth discovery provides valuable insights into their history, with the bones likely being from a single animal. Despite fewer bones than a full skeleton, the find is significant. Also watch | US Elections 2024: DeSantis & Haley seek to be alternative to Donald Trump Weighing over 22.6 kgs, the mammoth tusk is fragile. To prevent damage, paleontologists wrapped it in plastic for controlled dehydration. The bones will remain wrapped for months. The mining company plans to donate the remains for educational purposes. North Dakota's landscape, near the Rocky Mountains, is a treasure trove for fossils. The state's strategic location and ecological history have preserved remnants of ancient life, making it a fascinating area for paleontologists. (With inputs from agencies)

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