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<p>Elon Musk has shared a humorous post containing a meme that showed a fictional screenshot of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s confiscated iPhone, ‘revealing’ chats he had with various leaders, including US President Donald Trump, under whose orders he was extracted to the US to stand trial in alleged drug offences. The meme shows profile pics of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Canada’s ex-PM Justin Trudeau, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, and Trump. The idea seems to be to share the possible last messages Maduro may have received before the American military operation on January 3. The shock and absurdity of Maduro’s US capture is evident in the meme photo, which is imagined as a ‘screenshot’ of his phone’s last chat history.</p><h2>Maduro’s capture</h2><p>On January 3, US forces seized Maduro from his presidential residence in the Venezuelan capital Caracas in what was essentially a regime change operation. He was brought to New York, where he appeared before a court on Monday (Jan 6). Maduro pleaded not guilty, and claimed he was kidnapped.</p><h2>What is in the Maduro meme photo shared by Musk?</h2><p>The original meme was shared by Musk with a simple comment: ‘Banger’ and a laughing emoji. The meme has got 26 million views and thousands of replies.</p><p>The satirical screenshot of Maduro’s iPhone Messages app shows texts from the leaders, with&nbsp;</p><p>a “CONFIDENTIAL” watermark overlaid, adding to the faux-leaked vibe of the meme.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-i-was-kidnapped-venezuelan-president-nicol-s-maduro-pleads-not-guilty-in-us-court-1767561352618">‘I was kidnapped’: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in US court</a></p><h2>Decoding the meme: What each leader told Maduro before his capture</h2><p>Putin says, “We make deal, no tell Trump”, possibly referring to secretive alliances between Russia and Venezuela often involving oil, military support, or anti-US pacts. The “no tell Trump” suggests fear of US intervention by Trump, as well as Putin's poor English.</p><p>Xi, who is identified in the screenshot as “Chino” or Chinese, says: “Trump berry FAFO”. This appears garbled or intentionally poorly translated to mock Xi’s broken English. “Berry” is probably meant as “very,” and “FAFO” could be an acronym for the internet slang “f*** around and Find Out”. This could be referring to defence secretary Pete Hegseth's remark that Maduro ‘effed around and found out’, while detailing the Caracas operation to media along with Trump on January 4. China has several large investments in Venezuela and has given loans to the country. There are also oil deals which Trump could jeopardise for China.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-venezuela-tensions-maduro-wife-to-stay-in-detention-centre-until-next-hearing-1767693977486/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-venezuela-tensions-maduro-wife-to-stay-in-detention-centre-until-next-hearing-1767693977486/embed</a></p><p>Trudeau is identified as “Gringo Canada”, and says “Come to Canada whenever ;)”. While Gringo is an ironic slang used mainly by Latin Americans to refer to North Americans, the winky face symbol and invitation allude to Canada’s reputation for offering asylum to left-leaning exiles like Cuban refugees. While Trudeau is no more in power, it is a mockery of his progressive policies and criticisms of Trump.</p><p>Zelensky asks, “Can I borrow $500 million?”, which is poking fun at Ukraine’s heavy reliance on international aid amid its war with Russia, with billions in US funding under scrutiny by the Trump administration. Zelensky is known for his frequent requests for financial or defence aid, which he is seeking from Maduro, given Venezuela’s oil wealth.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-s-next-7-dictators-who-won-t-sleep-peacefully-after-nicholas-maduro-s-extraction-1767529921852">Who's next? 7 dictators and leaders who won't sleep peacefully after Nicholas Maduro’s extraction</a></p><p><br>Kim Jong-un, labelled “Otro Chino”, meaning “Another Chinese”, says: “you are homoseshuro”. This is possibly a deliberate misspelling of “you are homosexual,” as a childish or homophobic insult. “Otro Chino” lumps Kim in with Xi, alluding to North Korea’s alliance with China and shared authoritarianism with Venezuela.</p><p>Donald Trump’s message is interestingly ‘sent’ at 2.08 am, which is around the time Maduro was captured in the intervening night of January 3 and 4. The US president only says: “come outside”, which is shown as unread with a blue dot.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">Banger 😂 <a href="https://t.co/u5kA0RVW9q">https://t.co/u5kA0RVW9q</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2008199691918340589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Elon Musk shared a viral meme claiming Maduro’s confiscated iPhone revealed fake chats with Trump, Putin, Xi and others. What could be the meaning of their cryptic messages? Let's decode


Elon Musk has shared a humorous post containing a meme that showed a fictional screenshot of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s confiscated iPhone, ‘revealing’ chats he had with various leaders, including US President Donald Trump, under whose orders he was extracted to the US to stand trial in alleged drug offences. The meme shows profile pics of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Canada’s ex-PM Justin Trudeau, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, and Trump. The idea seems to be to share the possible last messages Maduro may have received before the American military operation on January 3. The shock and absurdity of Maduro’s US capture is evident in the meme photo, which is imagined as a ‘screenshot’ of his phone’s last chat history. Maduro’s capture On January 3, US forces seized Maduro from his presidential residence in the Venezuelan capital Caracas in what was essentially a regime change operation. He was brought to New York, where he appeared before a court on Monday (Jan 6). Maduro pleaded not guilty, and claimed he was kidnapped. What is in the Maduro meme photo shared by Musk? The original meme was shared by Musk with a simple comment: ‘Banger’ and a laughing emoji. The meme has got 26 million views and thousands of replies. The satirical screenshot of Maduro’s iPhone Messages app shows texts from the leaders, with a “CONFIDENTIAL” watermark overlaid, adding to the faux-leaked vibe of the meme. Also read: ‘I was kidnapped’: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in US court Decoding the meme: What each leader told Maduro before his capture Putin says, “We make deal, no tell Trump”, possibly referring to secretive alliances between Russia and Venezuela often involving oil, military support, or anti-US pacts. The “no tell Trump” suggests fear of US intervention by Trump, as well as Putin's poor English. Xi, who is identified in the screenshot as “Chino” or Chinese, says: “Trump berry FAFO”. This appears garbled or intentionally poorly translated to mock Xi’s broken English. “Berry” is probably meant as “very,” and “FAFO” could be an acronym for the internet slang “f*** around and Find Out”. This could be referring to defence secretary Pete Hegseth's remark that Maduro ‘effed around and found out’, while detailing the Caracas operation to media along with Trump on January 4. China has several large investments in Venezuela and has given loans to the country. There are also oil deals which Trump could jeopardise for China. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-venezuela-tensions-maduro-wife-to-stay-in-detention-centre-until-next-hearing-1767693977486/embed Trudeau is identified as “Gringo Canada”, and says “Come to Canada whenever ;)”. While Gringo is an ironic slang used mainly by Latin Americans to refer to North Americans, the winky face symbol and invitation allude to Canada’s reputation for offering asylum to left-leaning exiles like Cuban refugees. While Trudeau is no more in power, it is a mockery of his progressive policies and criticisms of Trump. Zelensky asks, “Can I borrow $500 million?”, which is poking fun at Ukraine’s heavy reliance on international aid amid its war with Russia, with billions in US funding under scrutiny by the Trump administration. Zelensky is known for his frequent requests for financial or defence aid, which he is seeking from Maduro, given Venezuela’s oil wealth. Also read: Who's next? 7 dictators and leaders who won't sleep peacefully after Nicholas Maduro’s extraction Kim Jong-un, labelled “Otro Chino”, meaning “Another Chinese”, says: “you are homoseshuro”. This is possibly a deliberate misspelling of “you are homosexual,” as a childish or homophobic insult. “Otro Chino” lumps Kim in with Xi, alluding to North Korea’s alliance with China and shared authoritarianism with Venezuela. Donald Trump’s message is interestingly ‘sent’ at 2.08 am, which is around the time Maduro was captured in the intervening night of January 3 and 4. The US president only says: “come outside”, which is shown as unread with a blue dot.

<p>Elon Musk shared a viral meme claiming Maduro’s confiscated iPhone revealed fake chats with Trump, Putin, Xi and others. What could be the meaning of their cryptic messages? Let's decode</p>

‘Banger’: Musk shares meme of Maduro’s ‘confiscated iPhone’. Here’s what the messages in it might mean

<p>Women across India continue to avoid public toilets due to persistent concerns over hygiene, safety, design and inadequate facilities. These factors lead many women to avoid using public toilets, sometimes holding their bladder for long periods or even abstaining from food and drink when away from home.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The main reason women avoid public toilets is due to the presence of unhygienic conditions, such as soiled toilet seats, urine on the floor, bad smells, and overall lack of cleanliness. Many facilities have inadequate cleaning schedules and a lack of proper maintenance staff.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Other factors include feelings of insecurity due to inadequate lighting, broken locks, male caretakers or individuals loitering near women's facilities, and the risk of harassment or violence. Some women feel safer visiting public restrooms in pairs or groups.</p><h3>Experts underline urgent need for better infrastructure, maintenance</h3><p>Explaining the issue, Ashima Sharma, Research &amp; Development Lead at Pee Safe, pointed to cleanliness as the biggest deterrent. "Women often are afraid to use public toilets due to the frequently raised issues related to cleanliness and safety. Unclean toilets remain the biggest deterrent, with soiled seats, wet floors, unpleasant odours, and improper disposal of sanitary waste creating both health worries and psychological discomfort," Ashima Sharma said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Sharma added that safety concerns further compound the problem and stressed that rebuilding trust would require both systemic and personal solutions. "Safety is also a concern for women. This is due to factors such as a lack of lighting, remote locations, and the attendance of male staff members. Public restrooms also do not take into consideration the hygiene and comfort of women. There is also a scarcity of facilities for women and a lack of facilities such as soap, toilet paper, functioning locks, and sanitary bins. Improving trust requires practical solutions such as regular cleaning schedules, better lighting, and female attendants. Personal hygiene tools like toilet seat sanitisers, disposable seat covers, portable jet sprays, and female urination devices can also help women use public commodes with greater confidence and comfort," She added.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Echoing similar concerns, Prachi Kaushik, Founder and Director of Vyomini Social Enterprise, highlighted how multiple factors collectively discourage women from using public toilets. She stated that many women hesitate to use public commodes due to a mix of hygiene, safety, and comfort concerns.</p><h3>Some key reasons include:</h3><ul><li><strong>Poor Sanitation and Maintenance</strong> – Public toilets are often unclean, with wet floors, broken flushes, or a lack of running water. This creates a perception that they are unsafe for health.</li><li><strong>Fear of Infections</strong> – Women are more prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other hygiene-related issues, so they avoid using toilets that appear unhygienic or poorly maintained.</li><li><strong>Lack of Privacy</strong> – Many public toilets lack proper locks, doors, or partitions, making women feel unsafe or exposed.</li><li><strong>Safety Concerns</strong> – In some areas, public toilets are located in isolated spots or lack security, raising fears of harassment or assault.</li><li><strong>Inadequate Facilities</strong> – Absence of sanitary bins, soap, toilet paper, or menstrual hygiene disposal options discourages use.</li><li><strong>Social Stigma and Discomfort </strong>– Cultural taboos around menstruation and sanitation make some women hesitant to use public facilities, especially if they are not women-only spaces.</li><li><strong>Design Neglect</strong> – Many public toilets are designed without considering women’s specific needs, such as space for changing pads, managing children, or ensuring cleanliness.</li></ul><p>"Addressing these issues through better design, maintenance, and awareness can significantly improve women’s trust in public sanitation infrastructure," Prachi Kaushik further said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

The main reason women avoid public toilets is due to the presence of unhygienic conditions, such as soiled toilet seats, urine on the floor, bad smells, and overall lack of cleanliness. In addition, many facilities have inadequate cleaning schedules and a lack of proper maintenance staff.

Women across India continue to avoid public toilets due to persistent concerns over hygiene, safety, design and inadequate facilities. These factors lead many women to avoid using public toilets, sometimes holding their bladder for long periods or even abstaining from food and drink when away from home. The main reason women avoid public toilets is due to the presence of unhygienic conditions, such as soiled toilet seats, urine on the floor, bad smells, and overall lack of cleanliness. Many facilities have inadequate cleaning schedules and a lack of proper maintenance staff. Other factors include feelings of insecurity due to inadequate lighting, broken locks, male caretakers or individuals loitering near women's facilities, and the risk of harassment or violence. Some women feel safer visiting public restrooms in pairs or groups. Experts underline urgent need for better infrastructure, maintenance Explaining the issue, Ashima Sharma, Research & Development Lead at Pee Safe, pointed to cleanliness as the biggest deterrent. "Women often are afraid to use public toilets due to the frequently raised issues related to cleanliness and safety. Unclean toilets remain the biggest deterrent, with soiled seats, wet floors, unpleasant odours, and improper disposal of sanitary waste creating both health worries and psychological discomfort," Ashima Sharma said. Sharma added that safety concerns further compound the problem and stressed that rebuilding trust would require both systemic and personal solutions. "Safety is also a concern for women. This is due to factors such as a lack of lighting, remote locations, and the attendance of male staff members. Public restrooms also do not take into consideration the hygiene and comfort of women. There is also a scarcity of facilities for women and a lack of facilities such as soap, toilet paper, functioning locks, and sanitary bins. Improving trust requires practical solutions such as regular cleaning schedules, better lighting, and female attendants. Personal hygiene tools like toilet seat sanitisers, disposable seat covers, portable jet sprays, and female urination devices can also help women use public commodes with greater confidence and comfort," She added. Echoing similar concerns, Prachi Kaushik, Founder and Director of Vyomini Social Enterprise, highlighted how multiple factors collectively discourage women from using public toilets. She stated that many women hesitate to use public commodes due to a mix of hygiene, safety, and comfort concerns. Some key reasons include: Poor Sanitation and Maintenance – Public toilets are often unclean, with wet floors, broken flushes, or a lack of running water. This creates a perception that they are unsafe for health. Fear of Infections – Women are more prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other hygiene-related issues, so they avoid using toilets that appear unhygienic or poorly maintained. Lack of Privacy – Many public toilets lack proper locks, doors, or partitions, making women feel unsafe or exposed. Safety Concerns – In some areas, public toilets are located in isolated spots or lack security, raising fears of harassment or assault. Inadequate Facilities – Absence of sanitary bins, soap, toilet paper, or menstrual hygiene disposal options discourages use. Social Stigma and Discomfort – Cultural taboos around menstruation and sanitation make some women hesitant to use public facilities, especially if they are not women-only spaces. Design Neglect – Many public toilets are designed without considering women’s specific needs, such as space for changing pads, managing children, or ensuring cleanliness. "Addressing these issues through better design, maintenance, and awareness can significantly improve women’s trust in public sanitation infrastructure," Prachi Kaushik further said.

<p>The main reason women avoid public toilets is due to the presence of unhygienic conditions, such as soiled toilet seats, urine on the floor, bad smells, and overall lack of cleanliness. In addition, many facilities have inadequate cleaning schedules and a lack of proper maintenance staff.</p>

Why don’t women trust public toilets in India? Experts reveal shocking reasons

<p>Indian flyers have been using DigiYatra, an airport identification process which helps avoid long queues. It has been touted to be a huge step in facilitating air travel and easing the boarding process. Now, a novel issue has come to the fore: twin brothers trying to enter the Mumbai airport to board their flight were denied access, the reason being “more than one passenger identified”.&nbsp;One of the brothers was seen shooting a video to highlight his bizarre issue, which he posted on the social media platform Instagram. The video is going places and has gotten the internet rolling.&nbsp;</p><h2>Watch the video here:</h2>

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSUwwf3DSjM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Prashant Menon (@prashant.menon28)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Prashant Menon, one of the twins, requested the DigiYatra team to do something for twin pairs like them. And what is a boon to many turned into a bane for them, as they couldn’t skip the long queue and were forced to line up despite checking in through the mobile application.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Flyers have to check in through the system using their boarding pass and then scan their face, which is step two and at the airport gate. This gives the flyer access through a different line and also fast-tracks the security check line. But the Menon brothers could not avail this service, and as they flagged their problem, here’s what happened.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Dear Prashant, we appreciate you for highlighting this. We’ve reached out to you via DM with more details to assist further. Team DYF,” the team responded, and it looks like they are keen on fixing the bug.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>The internet reacts:</h2><p>An Instagram user named Plucky Lion used a Bollywood reference, he wrote, “Sita and Gita were not included in the training model for this AI.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“IIT software developer realising this was out of syllabus,” says Rahul Kapoor. Internet had a field trip, and by the side, the team also considered this issue, assuring some relief to the brothers and many others concerned.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Prashant Menon, one of the twins, requested the DigiYatra team to do something for twin pairs like them. And what is a boon to many turned into a bane for them, as they couldn’t skip the long queue and were forced to line up despite checking in through the mobile application.

Indian flyers have been using DigiYatra, an airport identification process which helps avoid long queues. It has been touted to be a huge step in facilitating air travel and easing the boarding process. Now, a novel issue has come to the fore: twin brothers trying to enter the Mumbai airport to board their flight were denied access, the reason being “more than one passenger identified”. One of the brothers was seen shooting a video to highlight his bizarre issue, which he posted on the social media platform Instagram. The video is going places and has gotten the internet rolling. Watch the video here:

<p>Prashant Menon, one of the twins, requested the DigiYatra team to do something for twin pairs like them. And what is a boon to many turned into a bane for them, as they couldn’t skip the long queue and were forced to line up despite checking in through the mobile application.</p>

'Access denied': DigiYatra refuses to recognise twins as two people at airport

<p>A ski resort in China is offering strange birthday services to women who are too scared to go down the slope themselves. A video showing a man holding a female guest in his arms and going down the slope has stirred controversy in the country. The strange birthday service came to light when a woman identified as Zhao posted photos from her birthday celebration at the Northeast Asia Ski Resort in Shenyang, Liaoning province, SCMP reported. This resort has the most ski runs in China. The woman's video shows an instructor in white carrying her down an outdoor slope, while she holds red balloons and has her arms around the man's shoulder.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Other instructors standing nearby can be seen wearing orange and holding celebratory banners, with flowers, a cake, a speaker and coloured smoke completing the picture. Zhao said she spent 5,000 yuan (US$700) on the service and highly recommends others try it too. Jimu News reported that the birthday package at the ski resort is customisable and can be switched depending on the budget.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The resort staff told the outlet that it has an official "carry skiing" service, and the birthday package falls under it. If a person doesn't know how to ski, but wants to enjoy the activity, they can opt for this service where the instructor carries the guest on his back or his arms and goes down the hill, letting them soak in the view. While Zhao spent 5,000 yuan on it, the service costs 300 yuan (US$40) an hour per instructor, each of whom is professionally trained and holds coaching certifications.</p><h2><strong>Netizens react to ski companionship</strong></h2><p>Social media in China is abuzz with this ski activity that is yet another companionship service with a promise of emotional value. A netizen saw how the company of a young man might attract more visitors to the resort and boost winter sports. Others called out the risk of the instructor losing his balance and toppling over, while someone else pointed out that the two people are too close for comfort.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

At a Chinese ski resort, young men are carrying women in their arms and shoulders down the slope as part of a  "carry skiing" service. Netizens are shocked to see such a strange offering, with some calling out the intimacy and others saying how unsafe it could be. 

A ski resort in China is offering strange birthday services to women who are too scared to go down the slope themselves. A video showing a man holding a female guest in his arms and going down the slope has stirred controversy in the country. The strange birthday service came to light when a woman identified as Zhao posted photos from her birthday celebration at the Northeast Asia Ski Resort in Shenyang, Liaoning province, SCMP reported. This resort has the most ski runs in China. The woman's video shows an instructor in white carrying her down an outdoor slope, while she holds red balloons and has her arms around the man's shoulder. Other instructors standing nearby can be seen wearing orange and holding celebratory banners, with flowers, a cake, a speaker and coloured smoke completing the picture. Zhao said she spent 5,000 yuan (US$700) on the service and highly recommends others try it too. Jimu News reported that the birthday package at the ski resort is customisable and can be switched depending on the budget. The resort staff told the outlet that it has an official "carry skiing" service, and the birthday package falls under it. If a person doesn't know how to ski, but wants to enjoy the activity, they can opt for this service where the instructor carries the guest on his back or his arms and goes down the hill, letting them soak in the view. While Zhao spent 5,000 yuan on it, the service costs 300 yuan (US$40) an hour per instructor, each of whom is professionally trained and holds coaching certifications. Netizens react to ski companionship Social media in China is abuzz with this ski activity that is yet another companionship service with a promise of emotional value. A netizen saw how the company of a young man might attract more visitors to the resort and boost winter sports. Others called out the risk of the instructor losing his balance and toppling over, while someone else pointed out that the two people are too close for comfort.

<p>At a Chinese ski resort, young men are carrying women in their arms and shoulders down the slope as part of a &nbsp;"carry skiing" service. Netizens are shocked to see such a strange offering, with some calling out the intimacy and others saying how unsafe it could be.&nbsp;</p>

Young instructors carry women down the slope at Chinese ski resort in weird companionship service

<p>US President Donald Trump's administration after carrying out the audacious operation that ended in the abduction of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro has now pushed out a cartoon meant to provoke rivals and allies alike. Here's all you need to know.</p><h2><strong>Why is the cartoon provocative?</strong></h2><p>The provocative cartoon shows a basketball bat wielding Trump stomping on global allies. Trump, in his trademark dark colour suit and red tie is pictured with one foot planted on South America, the continent where Venezuela is located and his other foot stretched to stomp Canada and Alaska in North America. What's more the cartoon Trump is doing so while holding in his left hand a baseball bat with the words "Donroe Doctrine" emblazoned on it, a play on "Monroe Doctrine".</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/VoELTNtIF2">pic.twitter.com/VoELTNtIF2</a></p>&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/2007558804582609344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-years-since-january-6-from-riot-to-redemption-how-donald-trump-rewrote-capitol-hill-siege-1767679914403"><strong>January 6 anniversary: Rioters or heroes? How Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Trump's chest-beating continues</strong></h2><p>The provocative cartoon is Trump administration's latest chest-thumping move aimed at showcasing his prowess. Following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilian, the White House, Department of State and Trump's cabinet have released a steady stream of images and clips in this theme. "This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened," said one posted by Marco Rubio's Department of State.</p><p>In another, posted by Katie Miller, the wife of Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, showed an image of Greenland painted in US colours, with a one word caption "SOON".</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SOON <a href="https://t.co/XU6VmZxph3">pic.twitter.com/XU6VmZxph3</a></p>&mdash; Katie Miller (@KatieMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-swears-in-delcy-rodriguez-as-acting-president-days-after-maduro-abduction-1767674124349"><strong>Who's Delcy Rodriguez? Maduro's second-in-command sworn in as acting president</strong></a></p><h2><strong>What is Donroe Doctrine?</strong></h2><p>'Donroe Doctrine' is Trump's play on the Monroe Doctrine, the 1823 declaration by the fifth US president, James Monroe, asserting dominance in the Western Hemisphere. A core idea behind American foreign policy for centuries, the US foreign policy stated that Europe should stay out of the Americas, and in turn, the US would stay out of Europe.</p><p>Now, Trump has slapped his name on the policy principle. "The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we've superseded it by a lot, by a real lot. They now call it the Donroe document," he said at a news conference. "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again," he insisted.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

After seizing Venezuela’s president, Donald Trump’s administration has now shared a taunting cartoon showing Trump stomping rivals. Here's all you need to know.

US President Donald Trump's administration after carrying out the audacious operation that ended in the abduction of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro has now pushed out a cartoon meant to provoke rivals and allies alike. Here's all you need to know. Why is the cartoon provocative? The provocative cartoon shows a basketball bat wielding Trump stomping on global allies. Trump, in his trademark dark colour suit and red tie is pictured with one foot planted on South America, the continent where Venezuela is located and his other foot stretched to stomp Canada and Alaska in North America. What's more the cartoon Trump is doing so while holding in his left hand a baseball bat with the words "Donroe Doctrine" emblazoned on it, a play on "Monroe Doctrine".

<p>After seizing Venezuela’s president, Donald Trump’s administration has now shared a taunting cartoon showing Trump stomping rivals. Here's all you need to know.</p>

Trump trolls allies and rivals alike with 'Donroe Doctrine' cartoon after Maduro capture

<p>A recently launched Spanish satellite was struck by a space particle as it was moving towards its operational position in the geostationary orbit, according to an official statement by a stakeholder issued on January 2. SpainSat NG-2 was the second military communications satellite sent to space in 2025 as part of a program meant to serve the communications needs of the government and the military. However, now it might not be able to achieve its goal of completing a secure communications constellation duo. Indra Group, the majority stakeholder of Hisdesat, which owns and operates the SpainSat NG-2 satellite on behalf of Spain’s Ministry of Defence, informed about the mishap. The satellite was launched on October 23 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After being launched on 24 October, the satellite was on its way to the geostationary orbit when a "space particle" slammed into it. Indra Group said that the impact happened at an altitude of about 50,000 kilometres. Notably, the geostationary orbit lies 35,786 km above Earth, which means the satellite had travelled far beyond its intended location. The current status of SpainSat NG-2 is not known. "Hisdesat implemented a contingency plan to ensure that the Ministry of Defence and other clients are not affected," Indra Group said in the statement. The extent of damage to the satellite is being ascertained. The group added that, depending on the nature of the problem, SpainSat NG-2 could also be replaced.</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/remote-iran-volcano-stirs-up-after-700-000-years-as-satellites-spot-a-bulge-at-the-summit-1767685621653"><strong>Remote Iran volcano stirs up after 700,000 years as satellites spot a bulge at the summit</strong></a></p><h2><strong>The first Airbus satellite for SpainSat</strong></h2><p>SpainSat NG-1 was the first of the duo to be launched, shooting to space in January 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It was fully operational in August 2025. Both satellites have been built by Airbus for $2.3 billion. According to Airbus, the duo was designed as an "advanced government communications system in Europe." The communications satellites are supposed to serve the government and military's secure communications needs.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

A Spanish military communications satellite was struck by a space particle while on its way to the geostationary orbit above Earth. The tech team is trying to gauge the damage, and if it is not fixable, another one could be launched later. 

A recently launched Spanish satellite was struck by a space particle as it was moving towards its operational position in the geostationary orbit, according to an official statement by a stakeholder issued on January 2. SpainSat NG-2 was the second military communications satellite sent to space in 2025 as part of a program meant to serve the communications needs of the government and the military. However, now it might not be able to achieve its goal of completing a secure communications constellation duo. Indra Group, the majority stakeholder of Hisdesat, which owns and operates the SpainSat NG-2 satellite on behalf of Spain’s Ministry of Defence, informed about the mishap. The satellite was launched on October 23 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. After being launched on 24 October, the satellite was on its way to the geostationary orbit when a "space particle" slammed into it. Indra Group said that the impact happened at an altitude of about 50,000 kilometres. Notably, the geostationary orbit lies 35,786 km above Earth, which means the satellite had travelled far beyond its intended location. The current status of SpainSat NG-2 is not known. "Hisdesat implemented a contingency plan to ensure that the Ministry of Defence and other clients are not affected," Indra Group said in the statement. The extent of damage to the satellite is being ascertained. The group added that, depending on the nature of the problem, SpainSat NG-2 could also be replaced. Also Read: Remote Iran volcano stirs up after 700,000 years as satellites spot a bulge at the summit The first Airbus satellite for SpainSat SpainSat NG-1 was the first of the duo to be launched, shooting to space in January 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It was fully operational in August 2025. Both satellites have been built by Airbus for $2.3 billion. According to Airbus, the duo was designed as an "advanced government communications system in Europe." The communications satellites are supposed to serve the government and military's secure communications needs.

<p>A Spanish military communications satellite was struck by a space particle while on its way to the geostationary orbit above Earth. The tech team is trying to gauge the damage, and if it is not fixable, another one could be launched later.</p>

$1bn Spanish satellite collides with a cosmic particle 50,000 kilometres above Earth

<p>The Trump administration has moved to fundamentally reshape the United States’ pediatric vaccine schedule, breaking with years of scientifically backed recommendations that reduced disease with routine shots. The change, announced on Monday (Jan 5) by the US health department, rolls back long standing recommendations that helped sharply reduce childhood illness and hospitalisation. Under the new framework, the government will no longer advise that all children routinely receive vaccines against several common diseases, including rotavirus and seasonal influenza.</p><p>The dramatic shift were announced by the US health department, led by long-time vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instead will recommend that shots preventing those illnesses as well as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and meningococcal disease be administered for select groups of high-risk individuals or when parents and a child's doctor deem them warranted, rather than as standard practice.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-years-since-january-6-from-riot-to-redemption-how-donald-trump-rewrote-capitol-hill-siege-1767679914403"><strong>Five years since January 6: From riot to redemption, how Donald Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege</strong></a></p><p>The agency had already shifted to this recommendation model for Covid-19 shots in 2025.</p><p>At the end of 2024, the CDC was recommending 17 pediatric immunizations for all individuals, the agency said. Now that number is 11.</p><p>President Donald Trump praised the changes, noting that the "MAHA Moms" -- a base of online influencers who ardently support Kennedy's agenda -- "have been praying for these common sense reforms for many years."</p><p>Trump's message heralding the schedule overhaul followed a TruthSocial post rife with false statements about vaccine safety and recommendations that contradict scientific consensus.</p><p>The decision follows Trump's directive last month that health officials compare the US vaccine schedule to peer countries abroad.</p><p>They were notably focused on Denmark. The new US recommendations now more closely resemble&nbsp;that country's schedule.</p><p>"After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the US childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent. This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health," Kennedy said in a statement.</p><p>But medical and public health experts slammed the overhaul.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gunfire-erupts-near-venezuela-presidential-palace-days-after-nicolas-maduro-capture-1767663847877"><strong>Gunfire erupts near Venezuela presidential palace days after Nicolas Maduro capture</strong></a></p><p>Sean O'Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, said "the US child vaccine schedule is one of the most thoroughly researched tools we have to protect children from serious, sometimes deadly diseases."</p><p>"It's so important that any decision about the US childhood vaccination schedule should be grounded in evidence, transparency and established scientific processes, not comparisons that overlook critical differences between countries or health systems," he told journalists.</p><p>Experts at the Vaccine Integrity Project, an initiative out of the University of Minnesota, recently noted that the US had already been in line with global consensus.</p><p>Denmark, project researchers said, represents more of an outlier among "peer countries" than a standard.</p><p>"Denmark's schedule reflects a set of choices made in a small, highly homogeneous country with a centralized health care system that guarantees universal access to care, low baseline disease prevalence, and strong social infrastructure," the group wrote.</p><p>"Those conditions do not apply to the United States, not even close."</p><p>- 'More confusing for parents' -</p><p>Senator Bill Cassidy, whose deciding vote confirmed Kennedy's controversial appointment as health chief last year, said that "changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors."</p><p>The Republican, himself a doctor, said doing so would "make America sicker."</p><p>States have the authority to mandate vaccinations, but generally CDC recommendations wield significant influence over state policies.</p><p>US officials have said that access as well as insurance coverage of vaccines should remain in place, even for shots not broadly recommended by the federal government.</p><p>"All vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost sharing," said Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the federal health insurance programs.</p><p>"No family will lose access. This framework empowers parents and physicians to make individualized decisions based on risk, while maintaining strong protection against serious disease."</p><p>But public health authorities warned that the changes would only sow doubt and confusion, especially as vaccine skepticism has mushroomed in the wake of the pandemic.</p><p>O'Leary said the shift "just makes things more confusing for parents and clinicians."</p><p>"Tragically, our federal government can no longer be trusted" to provide vaccine recommendations, he added.<br>&nbsp;</p>

The Trump administration has slashed the US childhood vaccine schedule, dropping routine shots for flu, rotavirus and more. Health experts warn it risks confusion, fear, and a rollback of decades of disease control.

The Trump administration has moved to fundamentally reshape the United States’ pediatric vaccine schedule, breaking with years of scientifically backed recommendations that reduced disease with routine shots. The change, announced on Monday (Jan 5) by the US health department, rolls back long standing recommendations that helped sharply reduce childhood illness and hospitalisation. Under the new framework, the government will no longer advise that all children routinely receive vaccines against several common diseases, including rotavirus and seasonal influenza. The dramatic shift were announced by the US health department, led by long-time vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instead will recommend that shots preventing those illnesses as well as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and meningococcal disease be administered for select groups of high-risk individuals or when parents and a child's doctor deem them warranted, rather than as standard practice. Also read | Five years since January 6: From riot to redemption, how Donald Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege The agency had already shifted to this recommendation model for Covid-19 shots in 2025. At the end of 2024, the CDC was recommending 17 pediatric immunizations for all individuals, the agency said. Now that number is 11. President Donald Trump praised the changes, noting that the "MAHA Moms" -- a base of online influencers who ardently support Kennedy's agenda -- "have been praying for these common sense reforms for many years." Trump's message heralding the schedule overhaul followed a TruthSocial post rife with false statements about vaccine safety and recommendations that contradict scientific consensus. The decision follows Trump's directive last month that health officials compare the US vaccine schedule to peer countries abroad. They were notably focused on Denmark. The new US recommendations now more closely resemble that country's schedule. "After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the US childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent. This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health," Kennedy said in a statement. But medical and public health experts slammed the overhaul. Also read | Gunfire erupts near Venezuela presidential palace days after Nicolas Maduro capture Sean O'Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, said "the US child vaccine schedule is one of the most thoroughly researched tools we have to protect children from serious, sometimes deadly diseases." "It's so important that any decision about the US childhood vaccination schedule should be grounded in evidence, transparency and established scientific processes, not comparisons that overlook critical differences between countries or health systems," he told journalists. Experts at the Vaccine Integrity Project, an initiative out of the University of Minnesota, recently noted that the US had already been in line with global consensus. Denmark, project researchers said, represents more of an outlier among "peer countries" than a standard. "Denmark's schedule reflects a set of choices made in a small, highly homogeneous country with a centralized health care system that guarantees universal access to care, low baseline disease prevalence, and strong social infrastructure," the group wrote. "Those conditions do not apply to the United States, not even close." - 'More confusing for parents' - Senator Bill Cassidy, whose deciding vote confirmed Kennedy's controversial appointment as health chief last year, said that "changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors." The Republican, himself a doctor, said doing so would "make America sicker." States have the authority to mandate vaccinations, but generally CDC recommendations wield significant influence over state policies. US officials have said that access as well as insurance coverage of vaccines should remain in place, even for shots not broadly recommended by the federal government. "All vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost sharing," said Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the federal health insurance programs. "No family will lose access. This framework empowers parents and physicians to make individualized decisions based on risk, while maintaining strong protection against serious disease." But public health authorities warned that the changes would only sow doubt and confusion, especially as vaccine skepticism has mushroomed in the wake of the pandemic. O'Leary said the shift "just makes things more confusing for parents and clinicians." "Tragically, our federal government can no longer be trusted" to provide vaccine recommendations, he added.

<p>The Trump administration has slashed the US childhood vaccine schedule, dropping routine shots for flu, rotavirus and more. Health experts warn it risks confusion, fear, and a rollback of decades of disease control.</p>

US bows to 'MAHA Moms': Trump administration scraps universal childhood shots for flu, rotavirus

<p>Self-driving vehicles could start thinking like humans if claims made by Nvidia in announcing its Alpamayo suite of AI tools and models for autonomous vehicles bear fruit. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nvidia unveiled new products and services that could potentially turn autonomous vehicles into ‘reasoning vehicles’. The Nvidia technology, along with other innovations, could eventually allow self-driving cars to navigate complex, unpredictable scenarios such as rare traffic edge cases. This would mark a shift from most existing models, which largely follow predefined rules or patterns.</p><h2>Nvidia on self-driving vehicle future: What is the promise?</h2><p>Giving the CES 2026 keynote, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said, “Today, we are introducing Alpamayo, the world’s first thinking model for autonomous driving. Not only does your car drive as you would, it thinks as you would.”<br>Calling Alpamayo "a ChatGPT moment for physical AI”, he said the shift is towards machines that can “understand, reason, and act” in the physical world.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-could-change-ai-google-gemini-is-performing-strong-even-without-nvidia-gpus-1763599705063">‘Could change AI’: Google Gemini is performing strong even without Nvidia GPUs</a></p><h2>What is Alpamayo? Models, tools, methods and ecosystem explained</h2><p>Alpamayo’s models and tools are designed to help autonomous vehicles reason in a step-by-step manner. The vehicles would, in essence, behave like cars with brains, making decisions in ways closer to human logic. The suite includes open-source AI models, simulation tools, and datasets using reasoning-based approaches.</p><p>Technically called &nbsp;“reasoning-based autonomy”, AI models in this suite would think through rare scenarios, drive safely in complex environments, and explain their driving decisions.&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/catch-and-kill-why-nvidia-s-record-20-billion-deal-with-ai-chip-startup-groq-matters-1766650238332">Catch and kill? Why Nvidia’s record $20 billion deal with AI chip startup Groq matters</a></p><p>Alpamayo 1 is a 10-billion-parameter vision-language-action model that produces driving trajectories along with reasoning that explains its decisions. Another part of the suite is AlpaSim, an open-source, high-fidelity simulation framework for testing autonomous driving behaviour under rare or diverse conditions.</p><p>Powering this technology is the Physical AI Open Datasets, which include more than 1,700 hours of driving data from multiple environments and scenarios. According to Nvidia, the large Alpamayo models act as “teacher” models that can be distilled into smaller models suitable for real-time vehicle deployment.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nvidia-hits-5tn-market-cap-world-business-watch-wion-1761801804595/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/nvidia-hits-5tn-market-cap-world-business-watch-wion-1761801804595/embed</a></p><h2>Behind the tech: How human-like reasoning in Alpamayo works</h2><p>According to Nvidia, Alpamayo will help developers build, fine-tune, test, and validate reasoning-based autonomous driving systems. The company is positioning itself as a platform provider rather than a complete robotaxi solution, a strategy often compared to open-source ecosystems such as Android.</p><p>The process involves analysing camera and sensor video for objects, depth, and motion. The models rely on chain-of-thought reasoning to perform step-by-step evaluations of road situations, similar to how a human driver would judge and reason when detecting an obstacle and deciding whether to slow down or change lanes.</p><p>The models would be validated through retraining and simulation-based testing of complex scenarios.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-would-happen-to-nvidia-if-china-attacked-taiwan-today-a-factual-breakdown-of-the-worst-case-scenario-1764335291497">What would happen to NVIDIA if China attacked Taiwan today? A factual breakdown of the worst case scenario</a></p><h2>Artificial general intelligence in self-driving vehicles: How near are we to this future?</h2><p>Human-like reasoning would require breakthroughs in artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which is the next level of AI. Nvidia has set 2028 as the target for point-to-point self-driving features in consumer vehicles, with robotaxi testing expected to begin in 2027.</p><p>However, there is scepticism. Ride-hailing apps like Lyft said there is “zero likelihood” of reasoning-based self-driving vehicles fully replacing human drivers in the near term. Regulatory, safety, and technical challenges also remain significant hurdles.</p><h2>When will self-reasoning vehicles roll out?</h2><p>Automakers and industry players such as Jaguar Land Rover, Lucid, Uber, and Berkeley DeepDrive have shown interest in Alpamayo. Nvidia expects early real-world integrations to begin in the first quarter of this year.</p>

Nvidia’s Alpamayo AI suite aims to help self-driving cars reason like humans, handling complex traffic scenarios through step-by-step decision-making. Here is what you should know


Self-driving vehicles could start thinking like humans if claims made by Nvidia in announcing its Alpamayo suite of AI tools and models for autonomous vehicles bear fruit. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nvidia unveiled new products and services that could potentially turn autonomous vehicles into ‘reasoning vehicles’. The Nvidia technology, along with other innovations, could eventually allow self-driving cars to navigate complex, unpredictable scenarios such as rare traffic edge cases. This would mark a shift from most existing models, which largely follow predefined rules or patterns. Nvidia on self-driving vehicle future: What is the promise? Giving the CES 2026 keynote, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said, “Today, we are introducing Alpamayo, the world’s first thinking model for autonomous driving. Not only does your car drive as you would, it thinks as you would.” Calling Alpamayo "a ChatGPT moment for physical AI”, he said the shift is towards machines that can “understand, reason, and act” in the physical world. Also read: ‘Could change AI’: Google Gemini is performing strong even without Nvidia GPUs What is Alpamayo? Models, tools, methods and ecosystem explained Alpamayo’s models and tools are designed to help autonomous vehicles reason in a step-by-step manner. The vehicles would, in essence, behave like cars with brains, making decisions in ways closer to human logic. The suite includes open-source AI models, simulation tools, and datasets using reasoning-based approaches. Technically called “reasoning-based autonomy”, AI models in this suite would think through rare scenarios, drive safely in complex environments, and explain their driving decisions. Also read: Catch and kill? Why Nvidia’s record $20 billion deal with AI chip startup Groq matters Alpamayo 1 is a 10-billion-parameter vision-language-action model that produces driving trajectories along with reasoning that explains its decisions. Another part of the suite is AlpaSim, an open-source, high-fidelity simulation framework for testing autonomous driving behaviour under rare or diverse conditions. Powering this technology is the Physical AI Open Datasets, which include more than 1,700 hours of driving data from multiple environments and scenarios. According to Nvidia, the large Alpamayo models act as “teacher” models that can be distilled into smaller models suitable for real-time vehicle deployment. https://www.wionews.com/videos/nvidia-hits-5tn-market-cap-world-business-watch-wion-1761801804595/embed Behind the tech: How human-like reasoning in Alpamayo works According to Nvidia, Alpamayo will help developers build, fine-tune, test, and validate reasoning-based autonomous driving systems. The company is positioning itself as a platform provider rather than a complete robotaxi solution, a strategy often compared to open-source ecosystems such as Android. The process involves analysing camera and sensor video for objects, depth, and motion. The models rely on chain-of-thought reasoning to perform step-by-step evaluations of road situations, similar to how a human driver would judge and reason when detecting an obstacle and deciding whether to slow down or change lanes. The models would be validated through retraining and simulation-based testing of complex scenarios. Also read: What would happen to NVIDIA if China attacked Taiwan today? A factual breakdown of the worst case scenario Artificial general intelligence in self-driving vehicles: How near are we to this future? Human-like reasoning would require breakthroughs in artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which is the next level of AI. Nvidia has set 2028 as the target for point-to-point self-driving features in consumer vehicles, with robotaxi testing expected to begin in 2027. However, there is scepticism. Ride-hailing apps like Lyft said there is “zero likelihood” of reasoning-based self-driving vehicles fully replacing human drivers in the near term. Regulatory, safety, and technical challenges also remain significant hurdles. When will self-reasoning vehicles roll out? Automakers and industry players such as Jaguar Land Rover, Lucid, Uber, and Berkeley DeepDrive have shown interest in Alpamayo. Nvidia expects early real-world integrations to begin in the first quarter of this year.

<p>Nvidia’s Alpamayo AI suite aims to help self-driving cars reason like humans, handling complex traffic scenarios through step-by-step decision-making. Here is what you should know<br>&nbsp;</p>

Autonomous vehicles will ‘drive like humans’ soon. Why Nvidia’s Alpamayo could be the ‘ChatGPT of self-driving’

<p>For decades, thorium was supposed to be India's energy ‘Trump card’. Clean, abundant available, and perfectly matched to the country's geology, it was seen as the fuel that could one day free India from imported uranium and fossil fuels. Homi Bhabha built India’s nuclear roadmap around it. And yet, in 2025, India still does not run a single commercial reactor on thorium fuel.</p><h2><strong>Homi Bhabha's Thorium dream</strong></h2><p>In the 1950's Homi Bhabha, the "father of India's nuclear program," envisioned a three-stage nuclear energy plan that included plans to leverage India's vast thorium reserves and achieve long-term energy security. Former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam also spoke about it often.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-years-since-january-6-from-riot-to-redemption-how-donald-trump-rewrote-capitol-hill-siege-1767679914403"><strong>Five years since January 6: From riot to redemption, how Donald Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege</strong></a></p><p>As Dr Srijan Pal Singh, author and former advisor to President Kalam puts it: "The total energy contained in all the world’s uranium, petroleum and coal put together is equal to the energy contained in India’s thorium alone".</p><p>Talking to WION's parent company ZEE News, Dr Singh said, "India’s thorium is our biggest treasure lying right under our feet," and "We should have utilised it".</p><h2><strong>What happened to India's Thorium plans? Science succeeded, deployment did not</strong></h2><p>It wasn't a failure of research. Indian scientists proved the thorium pathway step by step. Thorium oxide fuel pins were tested in pressurised heavy water reactors. Uranium 233 bred from thorium powered the KAMINI reactor at Kalpakkam. Fuel fabrication, reprocessing, and irradiation studies were all completed.</p><p>What never happened was the final jump. The Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, designed specifically for thorium, has remained on paper for more than two decades.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-india-cannot-be-a-bystander-shiv-sena-mp-priyanka-chaturvedi-accuses-musk-s-grok-ai-of-enabling-sexualised-abuse-of-women-on-x-1767342794242"><strong>'India cannot be a bystander': Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi accuses Musk's Grok AI of enabling sexualised abuse of women</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Beaten at its own game? A breakthrough from elsewhere</strong></h2><p>Now, Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) has done what India planned for decades. The US based private startup recently &nbsp;unveiled ANEEL, a commercially deployable thorium-based fuel designed to work in pressurised heavy water reactors, including in Indian reactors.</p><p>The irony is hard to miss. India laid the foundation, built the reactors, and validated the fuel cycle. The final, commercial step happened abroad.</p><h2><strong>Not a defeat</strong></h2><p>Experts point to a mix of causes behind the delay in commercial deployment of Thorium. They explain that Thorium is not fissile on its own and requires complex breeding and reprocessing. After the 2008 nuclear deal made uranium easier to access, urgency faded. Funding slowed. Institutional caution set in. Thorium became a future goal rather than a present mission.</p><p>Dr Singh believes that pause has cost India dearly. He argues that "We should immediately set up a task force, create a venture fund that does not go only to IITs and the BARC, but also supports our private enterprises".</p>

Thorium was meant to power India’s energy future. The science worked, the fuel cycle was proven, yet no reactor ever followed. Now a US startup has gone commercial first. WION explains how India built the roadmap, then stalled at the final step.

For decades, thorium was supposed to be India's energy ‘Trump card’. Clean, abundant available, and perfectly matched to the country's geology, it was seen as the fuel that could one day free India from imported uranium and fossil fuels. Homi Bhabha built India’s nuclear roadmap around it. And yet, in 2025, India still does not run a single commercial reactor on thorium fuel. Homi Bhabha's Thorium dream In the 1950's Homi Bhabha, the "father of India's nuclear program," envisioned a three-stage nuclear energy plan that included plans to leverage India's vast thorium reserves and achieve long-term energy security. Former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam also spoke about it often. Also read | Five years since January 6: From riot to redemption, how Donald Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege As Dr Srijan Pal Singh, author and former advisor to President Kalam puts it: "The total energy contained in all the world’s uranium, petroleum and coal put together is equal to the energy contained in India’s thorium alone". Talking to WION's parent company ZEE News, Dr Singh said, "India’s thorium is our biggest treasure lying right under our feet," and "We should have utilised it". What happened to India's Thorium plans? Science succeeded, deployment did not It wasn't a failure of research. Indian scientists proved the thorium pathway step by step. Thorium oxide fuel pins were tested in pressurised heavy water reactors. Uranium 233 bred from thorium powered the KAMINI reactor at Kalpakkam. Fuel fabrication, reprocessing, and irradiation studies were all completed. What never happened was the final jump. The Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, designed specifically for thorium, has remained on paper for more than two decades. Also read | 'India cannot be a bystander': Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi accuses Musk's Grok AI of enabling sexualised abuse of women Beaten at its own game? A breakthrough from elsewhere Now, Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) has done what India planned for decades. The US based private startup recently unveiled ANEEL, a commercially deployable thorium-based fuel designed to work in pressurised heavy water reactors, including in Indian reactors. The irony is hard to miss. India laid the foundation, built the reactors, and validated the fuel cycle. The final, commercial step happened abroad. Not a defeat Experts point to a mix of causes behind the delay in commercial deployment of Thorium. They explain that Thorium is not fissile on its own and requires complex breeding and reprocessing. After the 2008 nuclear deal made uranium easier to access, urgency faded. Funding slowed. Institutional caution set in. Thorium became a future goal rather than a present mission. Dr Singh believes that pause has cost India dearly. He argues that "We should immediately set up a task force, create a venture fund that does not go only to IITs and the BARC, but also supports our private enterprises".

<p>Thorium was meant to power India’s energy future. The science worked, the fuel cycle was proven, yet no reactor ever followed. Now a US startup has gone commercial first. WION explains how India built the roadmap, then stalled at the final step.</p>

A promise buried in plain sight: How Thorium, 'India's energy future,' turned into a flop

<p>Now, as the world is watching the situation in Venezuela closely, world leaders are sharing their opinion on the sudden capture of the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro, by the US forces at the order of American President Donald Trump. Guess what was happening on the sidelines? It wasn’t a deal, nor was it a discussion on a global forum, but it was the buying activity of people across the globe. The first image of Maduro wearing a tracksuit was circulated widely. What's surprising is that amid this global collapse of power, it was his tracksuit that garnered a lot of attention. The internet sure is unpredictable and has the capacity to make anything and everything viral. This time around, it was the grey Nike athleisure suit.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>The viral tracksuit</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>People began looking up the suit and, of course, buying in huge numbers; the sportswear company did not even need to promote it. And in no time, the fleece tracksuit was in demand, and the supply ran out. In India, it is priced between INR 6,000 and INR 9,000. One can get it in another colour, but the grey suit is off the shelves.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>About the tracksuit</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to the product description, it is made from at least 50% sustainable materials, using a blend of both recycled polyester and organic cotton fibres. The blend is at least 10% recycled fibres or at least 10% organic cotton fibres. And the hype is about channelling the energy of Nike's Windrunner jacket, this hoodie has the iconic chevron design on the chest, updated with super-warm, smooth-on-both-sides Tech fleece construction.</p><h2>The celebrity effect</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Owning clothes similar to those worn by influential people and powerful people is not a new trend. Getting clothes worn by movie stars tailored has been the norm for years. It is a matter of status or just appreciating fashion, but having a wardrobe similar to that of a world leader may have its own perks or reason to flex. And now that Maduro's tracksuit is even affordable, that may be winning streak.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

People began looking up Maduro's tracksuit and buying it in huge numbers; the sportswear company did not even need to promote it. And in no time, the fleece tracksuit was in demand, and the supply ran out.

Now, as the world is watching the situation in Venezuela closely, world leaders are sharing their opinion on the sudden capture of the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro, by the US forces at the order of American President Donald Trump. Guess what was happening on the sidelines? It wasn’t a deal, nor was it a discussion on a global forum, but it was the buying activity of people across the globe. The first image of Maduro wearing a tracksuit was circulated widely. What's surprising is that amid this global collapse of power, it was his tracksuit that garnered a lot of attention. The internet sure is unpredictable and has the capacity to make anything and everything viral. This time around, it was the grey Nike athleisure suit. The viral tracksuit People began looking up the suit and, of course, buying in huge numbers; the sportswear company did not even need to promote it. And in no time, the fleece tracksuit was in demand, and the supply ran out. In India, it is priced between INR 6,000 and INR 9,000. One can get it in another colour, but the grey suit is off the shelves. About the tracksuit According to the product description, it is made from at least 50% sustainable materials, using a blend of both recycled polyester and organic cotton fibres. The blend is at least 10% recycled fibres or at least 10% organic cotton fibres. And the hype is about channelling the energy of Nike's Windrunner jacket, this hoodie has the iconic chevron design on the chest, updated with super-warm, smooth-on-both-sides Tech fleece construction. The celebrity effect Owning clothes similar to those worn by influential people and powerful people is not a new trend. Getting clothes worn by movie stars tailored has been the norm for years. It is a matter of status or just appreciating fashion, but having a wardrobe similar to that of a world leader may have its own perks or reason to flex. And now that Maduro's tracksuit is even affordable, that may be winning streak.

<p>People began looking up Maduro's tracksuit and buying it in huge numbers; the sportswear company did not even need to promote it. And in no time, the fleece tracksuit was in demand, and the supply ran out.</p>

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's tracksuit is sold out after arrest photo goes viral

Five years after the US Capitol riots, Jan 6 still haunts American politics. From violent rioters to mass pardons, lawsuits and even jobs inside Trump’s administration. Here's how Trump rewrote the story of Jan 6 rioters.

Five years since January 6: From riot to redemption, how Donald Trump rewrote Capitol Hill siege

<p>The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica has been jolted by hundreds of glacial earthquakes over nearly 13 years, according to new research. Also known as the Doomsday Glacier, it is so large that a complete collapse could lead global sea levels to rise by 10 feet. The latest study has found something even more shocking. Researchers say that previous analysis on the stability of Thwaites could be wrong. According to Thanh-Son Pham, a researcher at the Australian National University, it is a lot less stable and has been hit by hundreds of iceberg earthquakes between 2010 and 2023, Gizmodo reported. Thanh-Son Pham says that most of these earthquakes weren't detected because of low-frequency seismic waves.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, a total of 362 glacial earthquakes have struck Antarctica for more than a decade, of which 245 took place in Doomsday Glacier. The Thwaites has already been flagged as a danger for the world's coasts, as the increasing temperatures are fast melting this giant, free-floating body of ice. Add to it the scenario of earthquakes shaking it further, and we have a perfect recipe for disaster waiting to happen.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/doomsday-gets-closer-cracks-on-thwaites-glacier-have-doubled-in-two-decades-1766981007538"><strong>Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades</strong></a><br>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/a-robot-got-lost-in-antarctica-it-revealed-scary-secrets-from-underneath-another-glacier-1766997802759"><strong>A robot got lost in Antarctica. It revealed scary secrets from underneath another glacier</strong></a></p><h2><strong>What are glacial earthquakes?</strong></h2><p>They are a new group of earthquakes that produce low-frequency waves, with a magnitude of around 5. They were first detected in 2003 and are caused when large icebergs collapse. Most of them have been recorded along the coast of Greenland till now and have a higher magnitude. Scientists have assumed that they occur in Antarctica as well, but detecting them has been hard because of their lower magnitude. Thanh-Son Pham decided to find proof of glacial earthquakes in Antarctica and used the seismic stations in Antarctica itself. Data showed several of them had occurred in the region but had never been detected by the global network of seismic detectors.</p><h2><strong>What is going on with Thwaites?</strong></h2><p><br>Scientists have discovered a scary unfolding at the Doomsday Glacier, with the amount of ice flowing from it doubling in the span of three decades. Thanh-Son Pham says the glacial earthquakes are occurring parallel to this accelerated flow of melting water from the glacier. The majority of seismic events were reported at Thwaites, with the rest happening at Pine Island Glacier. Strangely, the study notes that capsizing icebergs did not cause the temblors at this glacier. "The nature of earthquakes in Pine Island Glaciers remains puzzling and warrants further investigation," the research states.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Over 300 earthquakes in Antarctica have gone undetected for more than a decade. A scientist has found that the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, bore the majority of brunt of these tremors, and could have made it much weaker. 

The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica has been jolted by hundreds of glacial earthquakes over nearly 13 years, according to new research. Also known as the Doomsday Glacier, it is so large that a complete collapse could lead global sea levels to rise by 10 feet. The latest study has found something even more shocking. Researchers say that previous analysis on the stability of Thwaites could be wrong. According to Thanh-Son Pham, a researcher at the Australian National University, it is a lot less stable and has been hit by hundreds of iceberg earthquakes between 2010 and 2023, Gizmodo reported. Thanh-Son Pham says that most of these earthquakes weren't detected because of low-frequency seismic waves. According to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, a total of 362 glacial earthquakes have struck Antarctica for more than a decade, of which 245 took place in Doomsday Glacier. The Thwaites has already been flagged as a danger for the world's coasts, as the increasing temperatures are fast melting this giant, free-floating body of ice. Add to it the scenario of earthquakes shaking it further, and we have a perfect recipe for disaster waiting to happen. Also Read: Doomsday gets closer: Cracks on Thwaites Glacier have doubled in two decades Also Read: A robot got lost in Antarctica. It revealed scary secrets from underneath another glacier What are glacial earthquakes? They are a new group of earthquakes that produce low-frequency waves, with a magnitude of around 5. They were first detected in 2003 and are caused when large icebergs collapse. Most of them have been recorded along the coast of Greenland till now and have a higher magnitude. Scientists have assumed that they occur in Antarctica as well, but detecting them has been hard because of their lower magnitude. Thanh-Son Pham decided to find proof of glacial earthquakes in Antarctica and used the seismic stations in Antarctica itself. Data showed several of them had occurred in the region but had never been detected by the global network of seismic detectors. What is going on with Thwaites? Scientists have discovered a scary unfolding at the Doomsday Glacier, with the amount of ice flowing from it doubling in the span of three decades. Thanh-Son Pham says the glacial earthquakes are occurring parallel to this accelerated flow of melting water from the glacier. The majority of seismic events were reported at Thwaites, with the rest happening at Pine Island Glacier. Strangely, the study notes that capsizing icebergs did not cause the temblors at this glacier. "The nature of earthquakes in Pine Island Glaciers remains puzzling and warrants further investigation," the research states.

<p>Over 300 earthquakes in Antarctica have gone undetected for more than a decade. A scientist has found that the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, bore the majority of brunt of these tremors, and could have made it much weaker.&nbsp;</p>

Major catastrophe unfolding in Antarctica as hundreds of earthquakes slam Doomsday Glacier

<p>Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over drug trafficking charges, the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon was spotted circling a drug-smuggling hub off Mexico's coast on Monday morning. Notably, US President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Mexico over drug trafficking, raising fears of a similar action to that in Venezuela. According to flight tracking websites, the aircraft carried out surveillance and reconnaissance operations miles offshore from Tijuana, believed to be a major drug cartel corridor. Reports state that the plane took off from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, flew through Oregon and California, did several rounds off the Mexican coast and southern California, before returning to base.</p><h2><strong>Boeing P-8 Poseidon</strong></h2><p><br>The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is equipped with advanced sensors that can detect targets both on the surface and underwater. These features help monitor suspicious vessels and maritime movements. The Pacific drug corridor is used by cartels to smuggle narcotics, including fentanyl, into the United States. The Poseidon's capability for both anti-submarine warfare and surface surveillance makes it perfect for operations along this zone. Flying at speeds of over 900 kilometres per hour, it can reach altitudes of up to 41,000 feet.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-s-machado-labels-interim-president-as-architect-of-torture-narcotrafficking-vows-to-dismantle-criminal-structures-1767672570345"><strong>Venezuela’s Machado labels interim president as ‘architect of torture, narcotrafficking’, vows to ‘dismantle criminal structures’</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Its in-flight refuelling system helps it stay airborne for hours at a time. The US has a total of 174 aircraft in its P-8 Poseidon fleet and has logged over 700,000 flight hours. It has been built to withstand all kinds of conditions for up to 25 years. According to Boeing, it can be upgraded to meet evolving threats. The P-8 has interoperability features and can work in tandem with other US and allied forces across land, sea, and air operations.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-venezuela-tensions-venezuelan-parliament-head-vows-to-bring-back-maduro-1767670532693/embed</p><h2><strong>What Trump said of Mexico drug cartel operations</strong></h2><p><br>The flight comes after Trump raised concerns that drug cartels continue to dominate large parts of Mexico. He also slammed the government for failing to control these operations. "The cartels are running Mexico, whether you like it or not. It's not nice to say, but the cartels are running Mexico," he said. Trump even threatened Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in November to take action against drug cartels or face possible US military intervention. "Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It's OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs," Trump said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

The US Navy's P-8 Poseidon was seen doing several rounds over Tijuana, a drug-smuggling hub in Mexico. This flight comes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured over the New Year's weekend. 

Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over drug trafficking charges, the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon was spotted circling a drug-smuggling hub off Mexico's coast on Monday morning. Notably, US President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Mexico over drug trafficking, raising fears of a similar action to that in Venezuela. According to flight tracking websites, the aircraft carried out surveillance and reconnaissance operations miles offshore from Tijuana, believed to be a major drug cartel corridor. Reports state that the plane took off from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, flew through Oregon and California, did several rounds off the Mexican coast and southern California, before returning to base. Boeing P-8 Poseidon The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is equipped with advanced sensors that can detect targets both on the surface and underwater. These features help monitor suspicious vessels and maritime movements. The Pacific drug corridor is used by cartels to smuggle narcotics, including fentanyl, into the United States. The Poseidon's capability for both anti-submarine warfare and surface surveillance makes it perfect for operations along this zone. Flying at speeds of over 900 kilometres per hour, it can reach altitudes of up to 41,000 feet. Also Read: Venezuela’s Machado labels interim president as ‘architect of torture, narcotrafficking’, vows to ‘dismantle criminal structures’ Its in-flight refuelling system helps it stay airborne for hours at a time. The US has a total of 174 aircraft in its P-8 Poseidon fleet and has logged over 700,000 flight hours. It has been built to withstand all kinds of conditions for up to 25 years. According to Boeing, it can be upgraded to meet evolving threats. The P-8 has interoperability features and can work in tandem with other US and allied forces across land, sea, and air operations. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-venezuela-tensions-venezuelan-parliament-head-vows-to-bring-back-maduro-1767670532693/embed What Trump said of Mexico drug cartel operations The flight comes after Trump raised concerns that drug cartels continue to dominate large parts of Mexico. He also slammed the government for failing to control these operations. "The cartels are running Mexico, whether you like it or not. It's not nice to say, but the cartels are running Mexico," he said. Trump even threatened Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in November to take action against drug cartels or face possible US military intervention. "Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It's OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs," Trump said.

<p>The US Navy's P-8 Poseidon was seen doing several rounds over Tijuana, a drug-smuggling hub in Mexico. This flight comes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured over the New Year's weekend.&nbsp;</p>

US spy jet P-8 Poseidon circles major drug hub off Mexico's coast. Could Venezuela-like operation be in the pipeline?

<p>Delcy Rodriguez, on Monday (Jan 5) was sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela, two days after US forces abducted President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to face trial in New York. Rodriguez was sworn in by the Venezuelan parliament at a ceremony in the National Assembly. The interim president, who has previously indicated that she will cooperate with Washington, told lawmakers she would do so "in the name of all Venezuelans." Following Maduro's capture by US forces, the US Supreme Court on Saturday (Jan 3) ordered Rodriguez to assume the presidency "in an acting capacity." A day later, on Sunday, the nation's military also voiced its support for her.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gunfire-erupts-near-venezuela-presidential-palace-days-after-nicolas-maduro-capture-1767663847877"><strong>Gunfire erupts near Venezuela presidential palace days after Nicolas Maduro capture</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Maduro, hold on</strong></h2><p>Monsay's parliamentary session opened with lawmakers chanting "Let's go Nico!" a slogan of Maduro's presidential campaign ahead of the 2024 elections. The Parliament denounced Maduro and Flores's abduction by the US, while vowing support for his stand-in, Rodriguez.&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, even as she reiterated that she would cooperate with the US, Rodriguez said she was "in pain over the kidnapping of our heroes, the hostages in the United States". Outside the legislature, citizens gathered by the thousands, chanting, "Maduro, hold on: Venezuela is rising!"&nbsp;</p><p>The Venezuelan parliament also reelected Delcy Rodriguez's brother, Jorge Rodriguez, as parliament speaker.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-s-ominous-warning-before-us-grabbed-venezuela-president-nicolas-maduro-and-his-wife-be-smart-or-else-1767434160610"><strong>Trump's 'ominous warning' before US grabbed Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro and his wife: Be 'smart' or else...</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Trump: Prosecutor, Judge, Policeman?</strong></h2><p>Senior lawmaker Fernando Soto Rojas, addressing lawmakers, said Trump, who "claims to be the prosecutor, the judge, and the policeman of the world," will not succeed. "We say: you will not succeed. And we will ultimately deploy all our solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolas Maduro, returns victorious to Miraflores (presidential palace)," he said.</p><h2><strong>Who is Delcy Rodriguez?</strong></h2><p>Delcy Rodriguez, the now-acting president of Venezuela, was Nicolas Maduro's Vice-President. The 56-year-old previously also served as Maduro's oil minister. She is a leading figure of Chavismo, the political movement founded by Chávez and led by Maduro since Chávez died in 2013. Delcy Rodriguez is the daughter of Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, who was arrested in 1976 for his alleged involvement in the abduction of William Niehous, an American businessman. He died in police custody.</p><p>Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who ordered Maduro's capture, praised Rodriguez, saying that he believes she is "essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again." However, he ominously warned, "If she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro".</p>

Venezuela has sworn in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president days after the US seized Nicolas Maduro. Backed by the military and ordered into office by a US court, Rodriguez promises cooperation with Washington.

Delcy Rodriguez, on Monday (Jan 5) was sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela, two days after US forces abducted President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to face trial in New York. Rodriguez was sworn in by the Venezuelan parliament at a ceremony in the National Assembly. The interim president, who has previously indicated that she will cooperate with Washington, told lawmakers she would do so "in the name of all Venezuelans." Following Maduro's capture by US forces, the US Supreme Court on Saturday (Jan 3) ordered Rodriguez to assume the presidency "in an acting capacity." A day later, on Sunday, the nation's military also voiced its support for her. Also read | Gunfire erupts near Venezuela presidential palace days after Nicolas Maduro capture Maduro, hold on Monsay's parliamentary session opened with lawmakers chanting "Let's go Nico!" a slogan of Maduro's presidential campaign ahead of the 2024 elections. The Parliament denounced Maduro and Flores's abduction by the US, while vowing support for his stand-in, Rodriguez. Meanwhile, even as she reiterated that she would cooperate with the US, Rodriguez said she was "in pain over the kidnapping of our heroes, the hostages in the United States". Outside the legislature, citizens gathered by the thousands, chanting, "Maduro, hold on: Venezuela is rising!" The Venezuelan parliament also reelected Delcy Rodriguez's brother, Jorge Rodriguez, as parliament speaker. Also read | Trump's 'ominous warning' before US grabbed Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro and his wife: Be 'smart' or else... Trump: Prosecutor, Judge, Policeman? Senior lawmaker Fernando Soto Rojas, addressing lawmakers, said Trump, who "claims to be the prosecutor, the judge, and the policeman of the world," will not succeed. "We say: you will not succeed. And we will ultimately deploy all our solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolas Maduro, returns victorious to Miraflores (presidential palace)," he said. Who is Delcy Rodriguez? Delcy Rodriguez, the now-acting president of Venezuela, was Nicolas Maduro's Vice-President. The 56-year-old previously also served as Maduro's oil minister. She is a leading figure of Chavismo, the political movement founded by Chávez and led by Maduro since Chávez died in 2013. Delcy Rodriguez is the daughter of Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, who was arrested in 1976 for his alleged involvement in the abduction of William Niehous, an American businessman. He died in police custody. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who ordered Maduro's capture, praised Rodriguez, saying that he believes she is "essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again." However, he ominously warned, "If she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro".

<p>Venezuela has sworn in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president, days after the US seized Nicolas Maduro. Backed by the military and ordered into office by a US court, Rodriguez promises cooperation with Washington.</p>

Who is Delcy Rodriguez? Maduro's second-in-command sworn in as Venezuela's acting president

<p>A massive sinkhole opened up at a popular sports field in Melbourne on Monday afternoon, with a depth of 16 feet and nearly 26 feet wide. The incident sent shockwaves through local sports clubs, as this field is used for cricket and Aussie Rules, besides walking dogs and exercise. Banyule Cricket Club has been left without a venue for its home matches scheduled for this weekend. What led to the ground collapsing is not clear. The oval is located close to where boring machines are digging a tunnel for the North East Link project. This has left residents questioning whether the boring operations could have caused the ground to collapse. An investigation has been launched into the incident. The tunnelling operations have been halted. No injuries have been reported.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>People have been urged to stay away from the place over concerns that it could grow bigger. The incident is being investigated to find the exact cause of the sinkhole. Photos and videos on social media show people gathered around the huge opening in the turf. Banyule Council posted online, “Council is working closely with relevant agencies to assess the situation and determine what's next. We'll provide further updates as information becomes available.”<br>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A large sinkhole at least 10 metres wide has emerged on a popular sports field in Heidelberg near where tunnel boring machines are digging the North East Link project. Purely Unbelievable!! 👇🏽 <a href="https://t.co/r28RTvNHyi">pic.twitter.com/r28RTvNHyi</a></p>&mdash; katy 🌸 (@KatyKray73) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatyKray73/status/2008291885274845247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Tunnelling work was going on on the North East Link tunnel route</strong></h2><p>While officials have not confirmed a cause, there is speculation that the sinkhole could be linked to tunnelling operations nearby. The North East Link is being built in Melbourne's north-east. It is a 10-kilometre highway tunnel that will connect the Metropolitan Ring Road with the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen. It will help remove 15,000 trucks from local roads and reduce travel time by 35 minutes. It is scheduled for completion in 2028. Shadow Minister Evan Mulholland said, "The costs of the North East Link have become a bottomless pit. What started as a $10 billion project has sunk to $26 billion, and counting."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Besides the Banyule Cricket Club, the Banyule Bears Football Club is also looking for a new venue as preseason training begins. Club president Andrew Yodgee was relieved that no one was standing on the spot when the hole opened up. When asked about how it would impact the club activities, he said, "Your guess is as good as mine as far as what happens hereon in and the impact it's going to have on the football club."&nbsp;</p>

A 30-foot-wide and 16-foot-deep sinkhole opened up on a Melbourne sports field, just near a $26bn tunnel project. The North East Link project work has been going on in the area, and people are asking if the boring could have caused the ground to collapse.

A massive sinkhole opened up at a popular sports field in Melbourne on Monday afternoon, with a depth of 16 feet and nearly 26 feet wide. The incident sent shockwaves through local sports clubs, as this field is used for cricket and Aussie Rules, besides walking dogs and exercise. Banyule Cricket Club has been left without a venue for its home matches scheduled for this weekend. What led to the ground collapsing is not clear. The oval is located close to where boring machines are digging a tunnel for the North East Link project. This has left residents questioning whether the boring operations could have caused the ground to collapse. An investigation has been launched into the incident. The tunnelling operations have been halted. No injuries have been reported. People have been urged to stay away from the place over concerns that it could grow bigger. The incident is being investigated to find the exact cause of the sinkhole. Photos and videos on social media show people gathered around the huge opening in the turf. Banyule Council posted online, “Council is working closely with relevant agencies to assess the situation and determine what's next. We'll provide further updates as information becomes available.”

<p>A 30-foot-wide and 16-foot-deep sinkhole opened up on a Melbourne sports field, just near a $26bn tunnel project. The North East Link project work has been going on in the area, and people are asking if the boring could have caused the ground to collapse.</p>

30-foot-wide sinkhole opens up in Melbourne near $26bn highway tunnel project

<p>A 19-year-old California boy died of an overdose after asking ChatGPT for advice on drugs. SFGATE reported that Sam Nelson asked the AI tool how to take them specific doses of illegal substances and recover after a binge. “Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode,” the AI bot is said to have written in one of the chats. ChatGPT also suggested playlists to match his drug use. But, based on the rules set by OpenAI, this should not have happened. The painful incident shows how ChatGPT has veered off path. Nelson started relying on the AI tool for answers to several questions around two years ago. He first asked the AI tool about drugs on November 19, 2023. "How many grams of kratom gets you a strong high? I want to make sure so I don’t overdose.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;There isn’t much information online, and I don’t want to accidentally take too much,” Sam asked.</p><p>ChatGPT refused to help him out, saying, "I’m sorry, but I cannot provide information or guidance on using substances," asking him to seek the help of a health care professional. Nelson closed the window after saying, “Hopefully I don’t overdose then." He continued to ask for help with his homework, troubleshoot computer problems, and discuss other topics, according to chat logs shared by his mother with SFGATE.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scammer-gets-scammed-as-man-gets-him-to-click-a-link-triggering-his-photo-and-location-1764817554401"><strong>Scammer gets scammed as man gets him to click a link, triggering his photo and location</strong></a></p><h2><strong>ChatGPT soon answering his drug-related questions</strong></h2><p>Nelson also kept bringing up drugs now and then, and soon ChatGPT started providing him with answers. It told him about the right dose to take and how to recover later. It is recommended that Sam take twice as much cough syrup for stronger hallucinations. "I want to go full trippy, peaking hard, can you help me?" Sam asked. The AI tool replied, "Hell yes-let's go full trippy mode. You're in the perfect window for peaking."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In May 2025, Sam told his mother about his drug and alcohol use. She took him to a clinic, and they planned on starting treatment soon. Tragically, she found him unconscious the next day, with his lips blue. &nbsp;He had passed away from an overdose after talking with ChatGPT about late-night drug intake. His mother is shocked to see that an AI Tool could do this. “I knew he was using it, but I had no idea it was even possible to go to this level."</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

ChatGPT offered a young man advice on drug use, doses, how to get high and then recover. He was found dead by his mother in May last year. She is shattered and cannot believe that an AI tool is capable of all this. 

A 19-year-old California boy died of an overdose after asking ChatGPT for advice on drugs. SFGATE reported that Sam Nelson asked the AI tool how to take them specific doses of illegal substances and recover after a binge. “Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode,” the AI bot is said to have written in one of the chats. ChatGPT also suggested playlists to match his drug use. But, based on the rules set by OpenAI, this should not have happened. The painful incident shows how ChatGPT has veered off path. Nelson started relying on the AI tool for answers to several questions around two years ago. He first asked the AI tool about drugs on November 19, 2023. "How many grams of kratom gets you a strong high? I want to make sure so I don’t overdose. There isn’t much information online, and I don’t want to accidentally take too much,” Sam asked. ChatGPT refused to help him out, saying, "I’m sorry, but I cannot provide information or guidance on using substances," asking him to seek the help of a health care professional. Nelson closed the window after saying, “Hopefully I don’t overdose then." He continued to ask for help with his homework, troubleshoot computer problems, and discuss other topics, according to chat logs shared by his mother with SFGATE. Also Read: Scammer gets scammed as man gets him to click a link, triggering his photo and location ChatGPT soon answering his drug-related questions Nelson also kept bringing up drugs now and then, and soon ChatGPT started providing him with answers. It told him about the right dose to take and how to recover later. It is recommended that Sam take twice as much cough syrup for stronger hallucinations. "I want to go full trippy, peaking hard, can you help me?" Sam asked. The AI tool replied, "Hell yes-let's go full trippy mode. You're in the perfect window for peaking." In May 2025, Sam told his mother about his drug and alcohol use. She took him to a clinic, and they planned on starting treatment soon. Tragically, she found him unconscious the next day, with his lips blue. He had passed away from an overdose after talking with ChatGPT about late-night drug intake. His mother is shocked to see that an AI Tool could do this. “I knew he was using it, but I had no idea it was even possible to go to this level."

<p>ChatGPT offered a young man advice on drug use, doses, how to get high and then recover. He was found dead by his mother in May last year. She is shattered and cannot believe that an AI tool is capable of all this.&nbsp;</p>

California boy asked ChatGPT how to take drugs. He died of an overdose

<p>A study has found that even though the planet is warming up, we might be going towards another ice age. It sounds paradoxical, but scientists say it is possible. Researchers from the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Bremen believe that as carbon dioxide levels rise and Earth heats up to an extreme point, heat would end in cold because of "a glitch in the matrix", ultimately returning us to an Ice Age. According to the researchers, Earth has a natural thermostat which helps it regulate its temperature when things get out of hand. More carbon dioxide and heat in the atmosphere cause it to rain more, eroding rocks and pulling all the CO2 into the ocean. In the sea, microscopic plankton feed on it and then die and sink. With them, CO2 also disappears for thousands of years. This cools down the planet, and the cycle resets.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/a-robot-got-lost-in-antarctica-it-revealed-scary-secrets-from-underneath-another-glacier-1766997802759"><strong>A robot got lost in Antarctica. It revealed scary secrets from underneath another glacier</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Earth's chemistry will go off track</strong></h2><p>However, the latest study suggests that if Earth witnesses extreme warning, way over the edge, this thermostat fails to function as expected. An overreaction occurs, and the ocean is filled with nutrients, mainly phosphorus, causing the plankton to overgrow. A lot more CO2 starts getting absorbed by the seafloor, quicker than what is released into the atmosphere by volcanoes and other occurrences. In even warmer seas with low oxygen levels, phosphorus is released again, providing more of it to the plankton, which keep growing. With CO2 &nbsp;fast depleting, a vicious cycle sets in and temperatures will plummet rapidly, pushing Earth into an Ice Age.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Researchers state that this is what will ultimately happen to Earth someday, but not today. This process would take place over hundreds of thousands of years, and humans would not be here to see this Ice Age. The cycle will happen as it usually does, with a warming climate, extreme heat, rising sea levels that would wash away much of the coasts and much more.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Climate change threatens to end our world, but it might not wither away from heat and could be pushed into extreme cold. Scientists say if Earth hits extremely hot temperatures, we could enter an Ice Age. Will humans be here to witness it?

A study has found that even though the planet is warming up, we might be going towards another ice age. It sounds paradoxical, but scientists say it is possible. Researchers from the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Bremen believe that as carbon dioxide levels rise and Earth heats up to an extreme point, heat would end in cold because of "a glitch in the matrix", ultimately returning us to an Ice Age. According to the researchers, Earth has a natural thermostat which helps it regulate its temperature when things get out of hand. More carbon dioxide and heat in the atmosphere cause it to rain more, eroding rocks and pulling all the CO2 into the ocean. In the sea, microscopic plankton feed on it and then die and sink. With them, CO2 also disappears for thousands of years. This cools down the planet, and the cycle resets. Also Read: A robot got lost in Antarctica. It revealed scary secrets from underneath another glacier Earth's chemistry will go off track However, the latest study suggests that if Earth witnesses extreme warning, way over the edge, this thermostat fails to function as expected. An overreaction occurs, and the ocean is filled with nutrients, mainly phosphorus, causing the plankton to overgrow. A lot more CO2 starts getting absorbed by the seafloor, quicker than what is released into the atmosphere by volcanoes and other occurrences. In even warmer seas with low oxygen levels, phosphorus is released again, providing more of it to the plankton, which keep growing. With CO2 fast depleting, a vicious cycle sets in and temperatures will plummet rapidly, pushing Earth into an Ice Age. Researchers state that this is what will ultimately happen to Earth someday, but not today. This process would take place over hundreds of thousands of years, and humans would not be here to see this Ice Age. The cycle will happen as it usually does, with a warming climate, extreme heat, rising sea levels that would wash away much of the coasts and much more.

<p>Climate change threatens to end our world, but it might not wither away from heat and could be pushed into extreme cold. Scientists say if Earth hits extremely hot temperatures, we could enter an Ice Age. Will humans be here to witness it?</p>

Scientists warn intense heat due to climate change could freeze Earth, ushering in a new Ice Age

<p>Earth is a rare cosmic body which supports life with just the right balance of ingredients and is in the optimal zone near the Sun where it is warm enough for life to thrive. Our planet has an atmosphere us from solar radiation and a magnetic field. A new study has suggested that for a planet like Earth to be born, we need a warm solar system, and this is triggered by short-lived radioisotopes (SLRs). When these isotopes decay, a warmer cosmic environment is formed. This prevents terrestrial planets like Earth from holding on to too much water. If these isotopes did not exist, those planets similar to Earth in size would turn into a theoretical type of exoplanet, called Hycean worlds. Such bodies have a deep global ocean underneath a thick, hydrogen-rich atmosphere.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So, how do we know that our solar system had these crucial isotopes? This is proven by meteorites, as research has shown these isotopes, or SLRs, to be present in these rocks. For these short-lived radioisotopes to form, a supernova is needed, a stellar explosion leading to the death of a star. However, this powerful cosmic event would rip apart the protoplanetary disk of a young star. But the Sun's early disk remained unscathed, and we got our solar system. If a supernova is needed for a planet to form, it would mean that Earth-like planets are rare.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/earth-has-a-tail-flowing-for-millions-of-kilometres-into-space-on-its-dark-side-1765431481520"><strong>Earth has a tail, flowing for millions of kilometres into space on its dark side</strong></a></p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/catastrophe-in-2-8-days-scientists-say-earth-at-risk-of-disastrous-chain-reaction-in-space-1765868167625"><strong>Catastrophe in 2.8 days: Scientists say Earth at risk of disastrous chain reaction in space</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Earth-like worlds could be very common</strong></h2><p>However, a new study states that Earth-like planets could be extremely common in the universe. Researchers say that the early solar system was covered with cosmic rays triggered from a supernova that was extremely far away. According to a report by Universe Today, "if at least one supernova occurred within a parsec of us," enough cosmic rays would be formed to create the level of radioactive isotopes necessary to match those of meteorites found in the solar system. Sun-like stars form within star clusters, which means the chances of such a supernova are quite good, and hence, there might be several more Earth-like planets.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

For Earth to be born, our solar system needed certain isotopes which could only be formed by supernovae. But, shouldn't such a stellar violent event kill a planet-forming disk? Here is what a study says about such events and how common Earth-like bodies are.

Earth is a rare cosmic body which supports life with just the right balance of ingredients and is in the optimal zone near the Sun where it is warm enough for life to thrive. Our planet has an atmosphere us from solar radiation and a magnetic field. A new study has suggested that for a planet like Earth to be born, we need a warm solar system, and this is triggered by short-lived radioisotopes (SLRs). When these isotopes decay, a warmer cosmic environment is formed. This prevents terrestrial planets like Earth from holding on to too much water. If these isotopes did not exist, those planets similar to Earth in size would turn into a theoretical type of exoplanet, called Hycean worlds. Such bodies have a deep global ocean underneath a thick, hydrogen-rich atmosphere. So, how do we know that our solar system had these crucial isotopes? This is proven by meteorites, as research has shown these isotopes, or SLRs, to be present in these rocks. For these short-lived radioisotopes to form, a supernova is needed, a stellar explosion leading to the death of a star. However, this powerful cosmic event would rip apart the protoplanetary disk of a young star. But the Sun's early disk remained unscathed, and we got our solar system. If a supernova is needed for a planet to form, it would mean that Earth-like planets are rare. Also Read: Earth has a tail, flowing for millions of kilometres into space on its dark side Also Read: Catastrophe in 2.8 days: Scientists say Earth at risk of disastrous chain reaction in space Earth-like worlds could be very common However, a new study states that Earth-like planets could be extremely common in the universe. Researchers say that the early solar system was covered with cosmic rays triggered from a supernova that was extremely far away. According to a report by Universe Today, "if at least one supernova occurred within a parsec of us," enough cosmic rays would be formed to create the level of radioactive isotopes necessary to match those of meteorites found in the solar system. Sun-like stars form within star clusters, which means the chances of such a supernova are quite good, and hence, there might be several more Earth-like planets.

<p>For Earth to be born, our solar system needed certain isotopes which could only be formed by supernovae. But, shouldn't such a stellar violent event kill a planet-forming disk? Here is what a study says about such events and how common Earth-like bodies are.</p>

Earth was formed with lots of cosmic rays from a supernova, and many of them could be out there

<p>Gunfire broke out late Monday night near Venezuela’s presidential palace, rattling central Caracas just days after US forces captured the country’s former leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a dramatic military operation. Citing witnesses, reports suggest that the said shots were fired around 8:00 pm (0000 GMT) local time near the Miraflores Palace, the symbolic heart of political power in Venezuela.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-attacks-venezuela-did-us-warn-beforehand-pics-of-operation-southern-spear-posted-just-hours-back-emerge-amid-caracas-crisis-1767430072300"><strong>Hour old photos of Operation Southern Spear resurface as US attacks Venezuela. Was the X post a veiled threat to Maduro?</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Situation under control</strong></h2><p>Citing sources, AFP reported that source close to the government said the situation was quickly brought under control. According to the report, unidentified drones were spotted flying over the palace complex, prompting security forces to open fire. The incident came only hours after Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim president following his removal from office.</p><p>Residents living nearby said that gunfire echoed through the area, though they were noticeably less intense than the heavy pre-dawn attack on Saturday that led to Maduro’s downfall.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-calls-for-mobilisation-of-population-against-peacemaker-trump-s-imperial-aggression-1767428601164"><strong>Venezuela calls for 'mobilisation' of population against 'peacemaker' Trump's 'imperial aggression'</strong></a></p><p>"The first thing that came to mind was to see if there were planes flying ovehead but there were not. I just saw two red lights in the sky," the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The sounds sent people rushing to their windows. "Everyone was looking out their windows to see if there was a plane, to see what was happening," the resident added.</p><p>Video clips posted on social media appear to show tracer rounds streaking into the night sky, with multiple members of the security forces seen running toward the palace gates moments later. The footage could not be independently verified.</p><p>Watch here:</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="es" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/URGENTE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#URGENTE</a> | Fuerte tiroteo en Miraflores. <a href="https://t.co/qwV1CBCTh5">pic.twitter.com/qwV1CBCTh5</a></p>&mdash; Orlando Avendaño (@OrlvndoA) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlvndoA/status/2008334357358936179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p><h2><strong>Maduro captured</strong></h2><p>This comes days after the on Saturday (Jan 3) US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores after launching a "large scale strike" on the South American country.</p></p>

Gunfire and drones over Caracas rattled nerves near the presidential palace just days after Nicolas Maduro was ousted. Security forces opened fire as residents watched red lights in the sky, raising fresh fears that Venezuela’s fragile post-Maduro calm may already be cracking.

Gunfire broke out late Monday night near Venezuela’s presidential palace, rattling central Caracas just days after US forces captured the country’s former leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a dramatic military operation. Citing witnesses, reports suggest that the said shots were fired around 8:00 pm (0000 GMT) local time near the Miraflores Palace, the symbolic heart of political power in Venezuela. Also read | Hour old photos of Operation Southern Spear resurface as US attacks Venezuela. Was the X post a veiled threat to Maduro? Situation under control Citing sources, AFP reported that source close to the government said the situation was quickly brought under control. According to the report, unidentified drones were spotted flying over the palace complex, prompting security forces to open fire. The incident came only hours after Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim president following his removal from office. Residents living nearby said that gunfire echoed through the area, though they were noticeably less intense than the heavy pre-dawn attack on Saturday that led to Maduro’s downfall. Also read | Venezuela calls for 'mobilisation' of population against 'peacemaker' Trump's 'imperial aggression' "The first thing that came to mind was to see if there were planes flying ovehead but there were not. I just saw two red lights in the sky," the resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The sounds sent people rushing to their windows. "Everyone was looking out their windows to see if there was a plane, to see what was happening," the resident added. Video clips posted on social media appear to show tracer rounds streaking into the night sky, with multiple members of the security forces seen running toward the palace gates moments later. The footage could not be independently verified. Watch here:

<p>Gunfire and drones over Caracas rattled nerves near the presidential palace just days after Nicolas Maduro was ousted. Security forces opened fire as residents watched red lights in the sky, raising fresh fears that Venezuela’s fragile post-Maduro calm may already be cracking.</p>

Gunfire erupts near Venezuela presidential palace days after Nicolas Maduro capture. Watch

<p>Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar issued a stern warning on Monday (January 5) against the use of Chinese Manja, which is already banned in the state of Telangana. The Commissioner referred to it as a “silent killer” that has caused serious injuries and even fatalities among pedestrians, motorcyclists, birds, and animals. The police have set up dedicated teams to tackle the illegal production, distribution, and sale of this hazardous material. Sajjanar emphasised that those involved in manufacturing or trading Chinese Manja will face severe legal consequences.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Anyone caught selling or using Chinese Manja will be dealt with strictly under the law. We urge citizens to be proactive: if you spot anyone using it, stop them and spread awareness about its risks. Report illegal sales to the police; your timely action can prevent tragedy,” Sajjanar urged on the social media platform ‘X’.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">Apan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hyderabad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hyderabad</a> mein aisa bolte…<br>China ka samaan ‘chale toh chand tak, warna shaam tak.’ <br>Par Chinese manja? Bhai, poori guarantee se jaan ko danger. <br><br>Bike pe jaate hue gardan pe manja laga… socho kya hota?”<br>Isliye bol rahe hum:<br>Chinese manja = danger.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SayNoToChineseManja?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SayNoToChineseManja</a> <a href="https://t.co/ImxD37RXfa">https://t.co/ImxD37RXfa</a></p>&mdash; V.C. Sajjanar, IPS (@SajjanarVC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajjanarVC/status/2008182110948061239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, VC Sajjanar, in a post on X, said, "Zero tolerance for Chinese Manja in Hyderabad</p><p>Chinese manja is a silent killer that has caused serious injuries and even deaths of pedestrians, two-wheeler riders, birds, and animals. #Hyderabad Police has formed special teams to curb its illegal manufacture, storage, transport, and sale. Any person found manufacturing or selling Chinese manja will face strict legal action, which will be taken very seriously. If you see anyone using Chinese manja, please stop them and create awareness about its dangers. Be a responsible citizen and inform the police about its sale. A timely intervention can prevent a tragedy. Let us celebrate the kite festival safely and humanely."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-advises-citizens-to-avoid-non-essential-travel-to-iran-amid-escalating-protest-against-khamenei-regime-1767625078936"><strong>India advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran amid escalating protest against Khamenei regime</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Chinese Manja has been responsible for several injuries in recent weeks, including four motorcyclists who sustained serious neck injuries. These victims include a police constable and a student. A 29-year-old man, T Ashok, was severely injured on December 30 when the sharp nylon thread cut into his neck near Saidabad. Similarly, on December 29, Mohammed Jameel, a food delivery executive, was seriously injured when the abrasive string wrapped around his neck while he was riding. Jameel had to undergo a painful procedure with 22 stitches to close the wound.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>On December 26, a B.Tech student, Jashwanth Reddy, also suffered neck injuries from Chinese Manja while riding near Keesara. Meanwhile, a constable named Shivraj was also injured on December 25 when the dangerous string became entangled around his neck while riding on the Tilaknagar-Narayanguda flyover.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In 2024, an Army jawan tragically lost his life after his throat was slit by the same type of string while riding his scooty on Indira Reddy Flyover. Cyberabad police had previously issued an advisory against the use and sale of Chinese Manja, highlighting its severe threat to both human life and wildlife. The state government had implemented a complete ban on the material in 2016, with measures in place to stop the sale and use of this dangerous kite thread, especially during the Sankranti festival.</p>

'Chinese Manja = Danger'. Hyderabad police issues strong warning against dangerous 'silent killer'

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar issued a stern warning on Monday (January 5) against the use of Chinese Manja, which is already banned in the state of Telangana. The Commissioner referred to it as a “silent killer” that has caused serious injuries and even fatalities among pedestrians, motorcyclists, birds, and animals. The police have set up dedicated teams to tackle the illegal production, distribution, and sale of this hazardous material. Sajjanar emphasised that those involved in manufacturing or trading Chinese Manja will face severe legal consequences. “Anyone caught selling or using Chinese Manja will be dealt with strictly under the law. We urge citizens to be proactive: if you spot anyone using it, stop them and spread awareness about its risks. Report illegal sales to the police; your timely action can prevent tragedy,” Sajjanar urged on the social media platform ‘X’.

<p>Hyderabad Police warn of the deadly risks of Chinese Manja, responsible for injuries and deaths. Strict action against its illegal sale, production, and use</p>

<p>Nicolás Maduro is in US custody. In a span of over 48 hours, he went from being president of Venezuela to being extracted from his own capital city Caracas, taken blindfolded—first to a ship and then an aircraft— prep-walked before media and photographed, and 'showcased in the back of an open vehicle in New York, to standing trial in a court in the American city. To much of the shocked world, this is an act of humiliation. President Donald Trump's idea of the US 'running Venezuela' and 'managing' its oil could lead to more deaths, destruction, and chaos. Indignation and hurt to national pride could unite the people of Venezuela, only to bring back another socialist regime after a long guerrilla war. Here is a prognosis, based on expert opinion and the history of US interventions in Latin America.</p><h2>US involvement in Venezuela: A recipe for disaster?</h2><p>A deeper involvement of the US—either as an occupier or as manager of the Venezuelan oil or economy—is sure to exacerbate violence and chaos, according to experts. Organisations like the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) have condemned unilateral US military intervention, saying it would undermine a peaceful democratic transition and risk broader regional instability.</p><p>The January 3 overnight attack on Venezuela has already raised serious questions about violation of international norms and could provoke prolonged conflict.</p><p>There is a view that the drug-trafficking allegations against Maduro—which are cited as the reason for his extraction—are "flimsy" and do not justify intervention. Analysts warned that such pretexts echo past failed policies and could position the US as a "rogue state" in global eyes.</p><p>Global reactions underscored this: Many Latin American and world leaders decried the strike on Caracas that culminated in Maduro's detention as violation of international law, predicting resentment and unification of adversaries in Venezuela against the US.</p><p>Targeting Maduro selectively ignored other brutal regimes worldwide, suggesting the move is more about power projection and greed for Venezuela's covted oil and natural resources than justice.</p><p>Experts noted that Venezuela's alliances with US adversaries like Russia, Iran, China and Cuba could give it external support, complicating any occupation. This could turn into a quagmire for the US, akin to Afghanistan or Iraq.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-breaking-first-video-shows-nicolas-maduro-in-us-custody-1767500472950/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-breaking-first-video-shows-nicolas-maduro-in-us-custody-1767500472950/embed</a></p><h2>What could follow: Smooth transition, guerrilla warfare, or a return to socialism?</h2><p>Fears have been expressed already that any US occupation would likely unite the disparate factions of Venezuelan politics: Chavistas (followers of Hugo Chávez's ideology), nationalists, and even some opposition groups under an anti-imperialist banner.&nbsp;</p><p>Venezuela's military, though weakened by economic collapse, is reportedly preparing for asymmetric guerrilla warfare, dispersing units and leveraging armed groups to resist conventional forces. A protracted insurgency is likely, and could cause thousands of deaths, infrastructure destruction, and humanitarian crises.</p><p>Occupation of the nation, as the US envisages, could prove practically impossible given Venezuela's vast terrain and impoverished economy despite being oil-rich. The deep-seated Bolivarian socialist legacy under Hugo Chávez would frame any American intervention as colonial theft of resources.</p><p>Socialist networks could be mobilised domestically, regionally and globally as seen in rapid pro-Maduro activism by US-based groups following the recent events.</p><h2>We have been here before: How US interventions in Latin America panned out</h2><p>The US has a long history of intervening in Latin American countries, ostensibly to promote democracy, combat threats, or secure its economic interests. Most of these caused widespread deaths and long-term instability in the relevant countries. Resentment against the US united local populations against perceived imperialism and new-age colonialism. Resistance to American activities often paved the way for revolutionary or leftist regimes to gain or retake power.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/venezuela-president-captured-us-forces-dragged-maduro-and-his-wife-cilia-flores-from-their-bedroom-during-the-operation-1767455345070">Venezuela President captured: US forces dragged Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from their bedroom during the operation</a></p><p><br>The 1954, a CIA-orchestrated coup in Guatemala ousted democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz. It led to decades of civil war, authoritarian rule, and an estimated 200,000 deaths, much of it fuelled by anti-US sentiment.</p><p>US support for the 1973 coup in Chile against the Salvador Allende government installed the Augusto Pinochet regime. The dictator killed thousands and tortured tens of thousands. It sowed seeds of political revolution that eventually shifted the nation back toward progressive governments.</p><p>In Nicaragua during the 1980s, the US backed the Contra rebels against the Sandinista government, prolonging a brutal civil war that caused an estimated 30,000 deaths and economic devastation. Despite that, the Sandinistas returned to power democratically in 2006 amid lingering anti-imperialist fervour.</p><p>This falls into a familiar pattern seen since the early 20th century. Since Cold War days, US intervened in Cuba, Panama, and other nations under the guise of "strategic denial" or protecting US interests. This often escalated into prolonged conflicts and crises, leading to regional backlash.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-illegal-act-iran-slams-capture-of-maduro-vows-ties-with-venezuela-remain-unchanged-1767603055944">‘Illegal act’: Iran slams capture of Maduro, vows ties with Venezuela remain unchanged</a></p><h2>US is not a stablising force in Latin America</h2><p>As one analyst put it, the US actions generated needless resentment in the region and called into question its real commitment to democracy and self-determination, often leading to cycles of instability rather than stability.</p><p>Trump's plans for "running" Venezuela would likely follow a similar trajectory. This could set the stage for the resurgence of socialist ideologies popularised by Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez. The future could echo Nicaragua's Sandinista revival or Bolivia's return to MAS rule after US-backed interventions. The cycle of intervention, resistance, and ideological resurgence has been a hallmark of Latin American history and the US role in it. Venezuela's strong anti-Yankee sentiment, amplified by Maduro's alliances, makes this outcome probable.</p>

The US extraction of Nicolás Maduro risks repeating its failed Latin American interventions. Trump's plans to ‘run the country’ could fuel nationalism, guerrilla conflict, and a resurgence of socialism while destabilising Venezuela and the wider region.

Nicolás Maduro is in US custody. In a span of over 48 hours, he went from being president of Venezuela to being extracted from his own capital city Caracas, taken blindfolded—first to a ship and then an aircraft— prep-walked before media and photographed, and 'showcased in the back of an open vehicle in New York, to standing trial in a court in the American city. To much of the shocked world, this is an act of humiliation. President Donald Trump's idea of the US 'running Venezuela' and 'managing' its oil could lead to more deaths, destruction, and chaos. Indignation and hurt to national pride could unite the people of Venezuela, only to bring back another socialist regime after a long guerrilla war. Here is a prognosis, based on expert opinion and the history of US interventions in Latin America. US involvement in Venezuela: A recipe for disaster? A deeper involvement of the US—either as an occupier or as manager of the Venezuelan oil or economy—is sure to exacerbate violence and chaos, according to experts. Organisations like the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) have condemned unilateral US military intervention, saying it would undermine a peaceful democratic transition and risk broader regional instability. The January 3 overnight attack on Venezuela has already raised serious questions about violation of international norms and could provoke prolonged conflict. There is a view that the drug-trafficking allegations against Maduro—which are cited as the reason for his extraction—are "flimsy" and do not justify intervention. Analysts warned that such pretexts echo past failed policies and could position the US as a "rogue state" in global eyes. Global reactions underscored this: Many Latin American and world leaders decried the strike on Caracas that culminated in Maduro's detention as violation of international law, predicting resentment and unification of adversaries in Venezuela against the US. Targeting Maduro selectively ignored other brutal regimes worldwide, suggesting the move is more about power projection and greed for Venezuela's covted oil and natural resources than justice. Experts noted that Venezuela's alliances with US adversaries like Russia, Iran, China and Cuba could give it external support, complicating any occupation. This could turn into a quagmire for the US, akin to Afghanistan or Iraq. https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-breaking-first-video-shows-nicolas-maduro-in-us-custody-1767500472950/embed What could follow: Smooth transition, guerrilla warfare, or a return to socialism? Fears have been expressed already that any US occupation would likely unite the disparate factions of Venezuelan politics: Chavistas (followers of Hugo Chávez's ideology), nationalists, and even some opposition groups under an anti-imperialist banner. Venezuela's military, though weakened by economic collapse, is reportedly preparing for asymmetric guerrilla warfare, dispersing units and leveraging armed groups to resist conventional forces. A protracted insurgency is likely, and could cause thousands of deaths, infrastructure destruction, and humanitarian crises. Occupation of the nation, as the US envisages, could prove practically impossible given Venezuela's vast terrain and impoverished economy despite being oil-rich. The deep-seated Bolivarian socialist legacy under Hugo Chávez would frame any American intervention as colonial theft of resources. Socialist networks could be mobilised domestically, regionally and globally as seen in rapid pro-Maduro activism by US-based groups following the recent events. We have been here before: How US interventions in Latin America panned out The US has a long history of intervening in Latin American countries, ostensibly to promote democracy, combat threats, or secure its economic interests. Most of these caused widespread deaths and long-term instability in the relevant countries. Resentment against the US united local populations against perceived imperialism and new-age colonialism. Resistance to American activities often paved the way for revolutionary or leftist regimes to gain or retake power. Also read: Venezuela President captured: US forces dragged Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from their bedroom during the operation The 1954, a CIA-orchestrated coup in Guatemala ousted democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz. It led to decades of civil war, authoritarian rule, and an estimated 200,000 deaths, much of it fuelled by anti-US sentiment. US support for the 1973 coup in Chile against the Salvador Allende government installed the Augusto Pinochet regime. The dictator killed thousands and tortured tens of thousands. It sowed seeds of political revolution that eventually shifted the nation back toward progressive governments. In Nicaragua during the 1980s, the US backed the Contra rebels against the Sandinista government, prolonging a brutal civil war that caused an estimated 30,000 deaths and economic devastation. Despite that, the Sandinistas returned to power democratically in 2006 amid lingering anti-imperialist fervour. This falls into a familiar pattern seen since the early 20th century. Since Cold War days, US intervened in Cuba, Panama, and other nations under the guise of "strategic denial" or protecting US interests. This often escalated into prolonged conflicts and crises, leading to regional backlash. Also read: ‘Illegal act’: Iran slams capture of Maduro, vows ties with Venezuela remain unchanged US is not a stablising force in Latin America As one analyst put it, the US actions generated needless resentment in the region and called into question its real commitment to democracy and self-determination, often leading to cycles of instability rather than stability. Trump's plans for "running" Venezuela would likely follow a similar trajectory. This could set the stage for the resurgence of socialist ideologies popularised by Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez. The future could echo Nicaragua's Sandinista revival or Bolivia's return to MAS rule after US-backed interventions. The cycle of intervention, resistance, and ideological resurgence has been a hallmark of Latin American history and the US role in it. Venezuela's strong anti-Yankee sentiment, amplified by Maduro's alliances, makes this outcome probable.

<p>The US extraction of Nicolás Maduro risks repeating its failed Latin American interventions. Trump's plans to ‘run the country’ could fuel nationalism, guerrilla conflict, and a resurgence of socialism while destabilising Venezuela and the wider region.</p>

Carcasses in Caracas: US 'running' Venezuela is a bad idea, and we've seen that movie before. How it failed in Latin America

<p>Indian Bank unions affiliated with the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) have warned of a nationwide strike on January 27 to demand the implementation of a 5-day work week. If the protest goes ahead, public sector banks are likely to see prolonged disruption, as January 25 and 26 are already holidays, effectively affecting services for three consecutive days.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Currently, bank staff are off on the second and fourth Saturday each month, in addition to Sundays. Under the wage revision agreement reached between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and UFBU during the wage revision settlement in March 2024, both sides had decided to make the remaining Saturdays non-working days as well.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"It is unfortunate that the government is not responding to our genuine demand. There would be no loss of man-hours because we have agreed to an extra 40 minutes working per day from Monday to Friday," UFBU said in a statement.</p><h3>Five-day work week</h3><p>It stated that RBI, LIC, GIC, etc., are already working for 5 days a week, adding that the foreign exchange market, money market, stock exchanges, etc., are not working on Saturdays. In addition, the central and state government offices also do not work on Saturdays.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The statement said there was no justification for banks not adopting a five-day work week, adding that a call has been issued for an all-India strike across banks on January 27, 2026.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>UFBU, which brings together nine major banking unions in India and represents staff and officers from public sector banks and some old private sector lenders, noted that its social media push under the hashtag #5DayBankingNow has garnered over 18.8 lakh impressions and around 2.85 lakh posts on X.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/some-good-some-bad-how-indian-firms-and-energy-security-could-be-affected-by-us-running-venezuela-after-taking-maduro-into-custody-1767595214192">Some good, some bad: How Indian firms and energy security could be affected by US “running” Venezuela after taking Maduro into custody</a></p>

Under the wage revision agreement reached between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and UFBU during the wage revision settlement in March 2024, both sides had decided to make the remaining Saturdays non-working days as well.

Indian Bank unions affiliated with the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) have warned of a nationwide strike on January 27 to demand the implementation of a 5-day work week. If the protest goes ahead, public sector banks are likely to see prolonged disruption, as January 25 and 26 are already holidays, effectively affecting services for three consecutive days. Currently, bank staff are off on the second and fourth Saturday each month, in addition to Sundays. Under the wage revision agreement reached between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and UFBU during the wage revision settlement in March 2024, both sides had decided to make the remaining Saturdays non-working days as well. "It is unfortunate that the government is not responding to our genuine demand. There would be no loss of man-hours because we have agreed to an extra 40 minutes working per day from Monday to Friday," UFBU said in a statement. Five-day work week It stated that RBI, LIC, GIC, etc., are already working for 5 days a week, adding that the foreign exchange market, money market, stock exchanges, etc., are not working on Saturdays. In addition, the central and state government offices also do not work on Saturdays. The statement said there was no justification for banks not adopting a five-day work week, adding that a call has been issued for an all-India strike across banks on January 27, 2026. UFBU, which brings together nine major banking unions in India and represents staff and officers from public sector banks and some old private sector lenders, noted that its social media push under the hashtag #5DayBankingNow has garnered over 18.8 lakh impressions and around 2.85 lakh posts on X. Also read: Some good, some bad: How Indian firms and energy security could be affected by US “running” Venezuela after taking Maduro into custody

<p>Under the wage revision agreement reached between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and UFBU during the wage revision settlement in March 2024, both sides had decided to make the remaining Saturdays non-working days as well.</p>

Bank strike on January 27? Cash withdrawals, cheque deposits may not be possible on these 3 days

<p>The Voynich Manuscript, described as the world's most mysterious book, could be a cypher from the early 15th century, according to a fresh analysis. This text has remained an enigma among archaeologists, with its strange illustrations of plants, an unknown script, diagrams linked to astrology, castles and human figures. Decoding it has remained impossible, and no one has been able to explain what the text is about or who wrote it. Scientists continue to be intrigued by it, and now a fresh study has offered an explanation for its content, albeit not fully. A recent peer-reviewed study published in Cryptologia states that a scribe likely used a real historical cypher-like method to produce text that looks like Voynichese.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Science journalist Michael Greshko tried to test whether a historically realistic encryption system could have been used to generate the characters and unusual statistical features seen in the Voynich Manuscript. He developed a method named the "Naibbe cypher". Instead of decoding the manuscript, the cypher goes backwards, and tries to see whether the system creates the same characters and items seen in the book. It picks ordinary Latin or Italian text and turns it into glyph sequences that closely resemble Voynichese. &nbsp;</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/500-year-old-rumoured-labyrinth-under-peru-temple-proves-to-be-real-we-suspect-that-1767603037927"><strong>500-year-old rumoured labyrinth under Peru temple proves to be real: ‘We suspect that...’</strong></a></p><h2><strong>How the cypher works?</strong></h2><p>For this purpose, the cypher breaks continuous text into short groupings of letters and substitutes them with elements of randomness. It uses structured tables for this, and the randomness is introduced through tools such as dice and playing cards. Both these objects were widely available in the 15th century.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Naibbe cypher was applied to various samples, and many of the key properties of the Voynich Manuscript, such as the frequency of symbols, the typical length of “words,” and certain positional patterns, matched with the results. It also allowed for the original linguistic structure to be retained in the form of short letter sequences. The study upholds the cypher hypothesis that has been proposed in the past as well. It also offers a cypher that would have looked like the original system used back then. However, the Voynich Manuscript remains undeciphered with still no viable explanation for its creation.</p>

A researcher has offered an explanation for how the Voynich Manuscript was created. The world's most mysterious book is filled with strange symbols, diagrams of plants, images of castles and an unknown script, and continues to remain the most mysterious book to ever exist.  

The Voynich Manuscript, described as the world's most mysterious book, could be a cypher from the early 15th century, according to a fresh analysis. This text has remained an enigma among archaeologists, with its strange illustrations of plants, an unknown script, diagrams linked to astrology, castles and human figures. Decoding it has remained impossible, and no one has been able to explain what the text is about or who wrote it. Scientists continue to be intrigued by it, and now a fresh study has offered an explanation for its content, albeit not fully. A recent peer-reviewed study published in Cryptologia states that a scribe likely used a real historical cypher-like method to produce text that looks like Voynichese. Science journalist Michael Greshko tried to test whether a historically realistic encryption system could have been used to generate the characters and unusual statistical features seen in the Voynich Manuscript. He developed a method named the "Naibbe cypher". Instead of decoding the manuscript, the cypher goes backwards, and tries to see whether the system creates the same characters and items seen in the book. It picks ordinary Latin or Italian text and turns it into glyph sequences that closely resemble Voynichese. Also Read: 500-year-old rumoured labyrinth under Peru temple proves to be real: ‘We suspect that...’ How the cypher works? For this purpose, the cypher breaks continuous text into short groupings of letters and substitutes them with elements of randomness. It uses structured tables for this, and the randomness is introduced through tools such as dice and playing cards. Both these objects were widely available in the 15th century. The Naibbe cypher was applied to various samples, and many of the key properties of the Voynich Manuscript, such as the frequency of symbols, the typical length of “words,” and certain positional patterns, matched with the results. It also allowed for the original linguistic structure to be retained in the form of short letter sequences. The study upholds the cypher hypothesis that has been proposed in the past as well. It also offers a cypher that would have looked like the original system used back then. However, the Voynich Manuscript remains undeciphered with still no viable explanation for its creation.

<p>A researcher has offered an explanation for how the Voynich Manuscript was created. The world's most mysterious book is filled with strange symbols, diagrams of plants, images of castles and an unknown script, and continues to remain the most mysterious book to ever exist. &nbsp;</p>

World's most mysterious book could be hiding a secret message encoded using a cypher

World Day of War Orphans Day is commemorated to highlight the struggles faced by children who lost their parents during war. It shows the physical, social, and psychological issues faced by children while growing up. Let's have a look at the top 7 nations with the highest Orphans.

World Day of War Orphans 2026: Top 7 countries with the highest number of Orphans populations — Check India's rank

<p>World Day of War Orphans is observed annually on 6 January to show the struggles experienced by children who lost their parents during war or armed conflicts. The day highlights the physical, social, and psychological challenges faced by children while growing up without the support of parents. Several international organisations, Governments and social institutions raise awareness about the long-term impact of war on children.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The observance also reinforces the urgent need for protection, care, and rehabilitation. In addition, it also emphasises the society to extend support systems that could help war orphans rebuild their lives with dignity and security.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>UNICEF estimates that about 140 million children worldwide are orphans. Of these, nearly 52 million live in Africa, around 10 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, about 7.3 million in Central Asia, and close to 61 million in Asia, underscoring the vast global scale of the crisis affecting orphaned children.</p><h3>What is the history of World Day of War Orphans?</h3><p>World Day of War Orphans was launched by the French organisation SOS Enfants en Détresse to draw international attention to children who lose parental care because of wars and armed conflicts. The day aims to highlight the severe challenges faced by children separated from their families and growing up without emotional or social support.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Historical accounts show that the Second World War left millions of children orphaned across Europe, with Poland and Yugoslavia alone reporting about 300,000 and 200,000 orphans, respectively.</p><h3>Significance</h3><p>World Day of War Orphans highlights the human cost of war, particularly on children. The UNICEF data indicated that civilians formed the majority of war victims during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and the number continued to increase until 2001; however, later it began to decline gradually, with around 0.7 per cent per year.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

World Day of War Orphans reinforces the urgent need for protection, care, and rehabilitation. In addition, it also emphasises the society to extend support systems that could help war orphans rebuild their lives with dignity and security.

World Day of War Orphans is observed annually on 6 January to show the struggles experienced by children who lost their parents during war or armed conflicts. The day highlights the physical, social, and psychological challenges faced by children while growing up without the support of parents. Several international organisations, Governments and social institutions raise awareness about the long-term impact of war on children. The observance also reinforces the urgent need for protection, care, and rehabilitation. In addition, it also emphasises the society to extend support systems that could help war orphans rebuild their lives with dignity and security. UNICEF estimates that about 140 million children worldwide are orphans. Of these, nearly 52 million live in Africa, around 10 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, about 7.3 million in Central Asia, and close to 61 million in Asia, underscoring the vast global scale of the crisis affecting orphaned children. What is the history of World Day of War Orphans? World Day of War Orphans was launched by the French organisation SOS Enfants en Détresse to draw international attention to children who lose parental care because of wars and armed conflicts. The day aims to highlight the severe challenges faced by children separated from their families and growing up without emotional or social support. Historical accounts show that the Second World War left millions of children orphaned across Europe, with Poland and Yugoslavia alone reporting about 300,000 and 200,000 orphans, respectively. Significance World Day of War Orphans highlights the human cost of war, particularly on children. The UNICEF data indicated that civilians formed the majority of war victims during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and the number continued to increase until 2001; however, later it began to decline gradually, with around 0.7 per cent per year.

<p>World Day of War Orphans reinforces the urgent need for protection, care, and rehabilitation. In addition, it also emphasises the society to extend support systems that could help war orphans rebuild their lives with dignity and security.</p>

What is World Day of War Orphans? Know date, history and key facts

<p>Critics are claiming that President Donald Trump hurriedly ordered a military operation in Venezuela to extract its leader Nicolas Maduro to the US in order to tide over scandalous headlines surrounding the Epstein file release. For a president averse to foreign military interventions and who claims to have solved “eight and a quarter” wars, the Venezuela military operation of January 3 was as stunning as it was successful. But the development came amid discontent within Trump’s own support base about how his administration dealt with the release of the Epstein files, exposing connections of the late paedophile- trafficker to many politicians, including Trump. As more allegations tumbled out, some in his MAGA base were slowly turning against him. With midterm elections approaching and control of Congress at stake, Trump definitely needed a change of headlines. If Maduro was the scapegoat for that, it would not be the first time such an action was taken by a beleaguered president. Trump is only acting like some of his predecessors, who intervened abroad when pressured by domestic issues.</p><h2>Trump Venezuela opration: The timing is odd, or is it clever?</h2><p>Illinois Governor JB Pritzker had already warned that Trump might escalate to war with Venezuela to shift focus from Epstein-related scrutiny. House Oversight Democrats noted the convenient timing of the strikes, coinciding with Epstein file deadlines. &nbsp;</p><p>Political commentators like James Carville explicitly accused Trump of using the Venezuela operation as a desperate distraction from the Epstein controversy, economic issues and rising cost of living in the US.<br>Some criticised Trump for violating both the US Constitution and international law for personal gain.&nbsp;</p><p>Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the operation a distraction from Epstein, not narcotics, which is being cited as the reason for the Maduro extraction.</p><p>Some Democrats labelled it a regime change effort tied to oil interests.&nbsp;</p><p>Even some Republicans like Representative Thomas Massie called it unconstitutional.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maduro-faces-judge-in-ny-charged-with-wife-in-narco-terror-plot-wion-1767592261165/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/maduro-faces-judge-in-ny-charged-with-wife-in-narco-terror-plot-wion-1767592261165/embed</a></p><h2>Social media awash with claims on Trump Venezuela attack - Epstein file coincidence</h2><p>In online debates, a prominent view was that the Venezuela strikes are a deliberate diversion from the Epstein files, with X user saying that invading Venezuela would make people forget the Epstein files. Interestingly, the keywords 'Epstein files' went down in online search trends almost overnight when the Venezuela strikes took place. Online commentary ranged from 'it’s all about Epstein' to speculation that Venezuela’s oil was the secondary motive for the attack.</p><p>But some Trump supporters are dismissing the criticism as 'liberal spin'.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/maduro-captured-a-new-polymarket-account-made-436-759-overnight-on-operation-absolute-resolve-1767586669789">Maduro captured: A new Polymarket account made $436,759 overnight on Operation Absolute Resolve. A wild guess?</a></p><h2>Trump's role in Epstein files</h2><p>Trump has been mentioned in the Epstein files several times, mainly as having been part of the late financier’s social circle. No new criminal charges have stemmed from the files, but Trump’s Department of Justice faces deadlines to explain redactions and release more details. These demands came just around the time of the Venezuela attack.</p><p>But Trump had for long expressed interest in intervening in Venezuela, starting from his first term in office. He had often discussed seizing its oil reserves which are among the world’s largest. Even as Epstein file pressure was building up, Trump escalated rhetoric against Venezuela including threats over disputed oil fields and invoking the Alien Enemies Act for deportations of Venezuelans in the United States. This was seen as laying groundwork for the eventual military action that followed.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-blog-us-venezuela-conflict-live-updates-maduro-jailed-trump-us-strikes-in-caracas-1767584039309">US-Venezuela conflict LIVE updates: Iran calls for release of Venezuela's Maduro</a></p><h2>How past presidents acted abroad when faced with domestic crises</h2><p>This is not the first time that, when faced with domestic issues, scandals and a slowing economy, American presidents chose to change the headlines by making military interventions abroad.</p><p>In 1998, Democratic President Bill Clinton was mired in the Monica Lewinsky scandal and impeachment proceedings over his affair with the intern. Out of the blue, Clinton authorised missile strikes on alleged al-Qaeda targets in Sudan and Afghanistan. This happened after US embassy bombings in Africa. But even then, the timing was suspect. Republicans called it a 'wag the dog' tactic to distract from domestic scandals. Clinton insisted that the air strikes were a necessary response to terrorism.</p><p>In the early 2000s, Republican President George W Bush was facing a number of issues including criticism for not predicting and properly tackling the 9/11 terror attack of 2001. As he was fighting for another term, the Bush administration made a buildup against Iraq, saying it was acquiring weapons of mass destruction. This was used as an alibi to invade Iraq, only to discover that there were no such weapons.</p><p>In 1986, Republican President Ronald Reagan bombed Libya. While this was ostensibly in response to a terror bombing of a Berlin cafe that killed American servicemen, it took place as Reagan’s presidency faced criticism over the Iran-Contra affair, approach to terrorism, &nbsp;concerns over economy and the then-unfolding HIV/AIDS crisis.&nbsp;</p>

After Trump’s January 3 Venezuela operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, his critics allege that it was a  tactic to deflect from the Epstein file releases row. If that's the case, it's not something new: US presidents have a history of using foreign actions to shift domestic attention.

Critics are claiming that President Donald Trump hurriedly ordered a military operation in Venezuela to extract its leader Nicolas Maduro to the US in order to tide over scandalous headlines surrounding the Epstein file release. For a president averse to foreign military interventions and who claims to have solved “eight and a quarter” wars, the Venezuela military operation of January 3 was as stunning as it was successful. But the development came amid discontent within Trump’s own support base about how his administration dealt with the release of the Epstein files, exposing connections of the late paedophile- trafficker to many politicians, including Trump. As more allegations tumbled out, some in his MAGA base were slowly turning against him. With midterm elections approaching and control of Congress at stake, Trump definitely needed a change of headlines. If Maduro was the scapegoat for that, it would not be the first time such an action was taken by a beleaguered president. Trump is only acting like some of his predecessors, who intervened abroad when pressured by domestic issues. Trump Venezuela opration: The timing is odd, or is it clever? Illinois Governor JB Pritzker had already warned that Trump might escalate to war with Venezuela to shift focus from Epstein-related scrutiny. House Oversight Democrats noted the convenient timing of the strikes, coinciding with Epstein file deadlines. Political commentators like James Carville explicitly accused Trump of using the Venezuela operation as a desperate distraction from the Epstein controversy, economic issues and rising cost of living in the US. Some criticised Trump for violating both the US Constitution and international law for personal gain. Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the operation a distraction from Epstein, not narcotics, which is being cited as the reason for the Maduro extraction. Some Democrats labelled it a regime change effort tied to oil interests. Even some Republicans like Representative Thomas Massie called it unconstitutional. https://www.wionews.com/videos/maduro-faces-judge-in-ny-charged-with-wife-in-narco-terror-plot-wion-1767592261165/embed Social media awash with claims on Trump Venezuela attack - Epstein file coincidence In online debates, a prominent view was that the Venezuela strikes are a deliberate diversion from the Epstein files, with X user saying that invading Venezuela would make people forget the Epstein files. Interestingly, the keywords 'Epstein files' went down in online search trends almost overnight when the Venezuela strikes took place. Online commentary ranged from 'it’s all about Epstein' to speculation that Venezuela’s oil was the secondary motive for the attack. But some Trump supporters are dismissing the criticism as 'liberal spin'. Also read: Maduro captured: A new Polymarket account made $436,759 overnight on Operation Absolute Resolve. A wild guess? Trump's role in Epstein files Trump has been mentioned in the Epstein files several times, mainly as having been part of the late financier’s social circle. No new criminal charges have stemmed from the files, but Trump’s Department of Justice faces deadlines to explain redactions and release more details. These demands came just around the time of the Venezuela attack. But Trump had for long expressed interest in intervening in Venezuela, starting from his first term in office. He had often discussed seizing its oil reserves which are among the world’s largest. Even as Epstein file pressure was building up, Trump escalated rhetoric against Venezuela including threats over disputed oil fields and invoking the Alien Enemies Act for deportations of Venezuelans in the United States. This was seen as laying groundwork for the eventual military action that followed. Also read: US-Venezuela conflict LIVE updates: Iran calls for release of Venezuela's Maduro How past presidents acted abroad when faced with domestic crises This is not the first time that, when faced with domestic issues, scandals and a slowing economy, American presidents chose to change the headlines by making military interventions abroad. In 1998, Democratic President Bill Clinton was mired in the Monica Lewinsky scandal and impeachment proceedings over his affair with the intern. Out of the blue, Clinton authorised missile strikes on alleged al-Qaeda targets in Sudan and Afghanistan. This happened after US embassy bombings in Africa. But even then, the timing was suspect. Republicans called it a 'wag the dog' tactic to distract from domestic scandals. Clinton insisted that the air strikes were a necessary response to terrorism. In the early 2000s, Republican President George W Bush was facing a number of issues including criticism for not predicting and properly tackling the 9/11 terror attack of 2001. As he was fighting for another term, the Bush administration made a buildup against Iraq, saying it was acquiring weapons of mass destruction. This was used as an alibi to invade Iraq, only to discover that there were no such weapons. In 1986, Republican President Ronald Reagan bombed Libya. While this was ostensibly in response to a terror bombing of a Berlin cafe that killed American servicemen, it took place as Reagan’s presidency faced criticism over the Iran-Contra affair, approach to terrorism, concerns over economy and the then-unfolding HIV/AIDS crisis.

<p>After Trump’s January 3 Venezuela operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, his critics allege that it was a &nbsp;tactic to deflect from the Epstein file releases row. If that's the case, it's not something new: US presidents have a history of using foreign actions to shift domestic attention.</p>

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Change of headline: Trump's Maduro arrest to divert attention from Epstein row?