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Public toilets are shared spaces used by several people every day, making hygiene a consistent and major concern for men, women and children. If the toilets are not continuously maintained or cleaned, then they pose risks of bacterial/viral infections (like E. coli, Salmonella, Norovirus, Hepatitis A) via contaminated surfaces or aerosols, leading to gastrointestinal issues, UTIs (especially for women), skin infections, or respiratory problems.&nbsp;After the pandemic, the awareness about cleanliness, concerns about germ exposure in public washrooms continue to linger among citizens, particularly when it comes to microbes that are invisible to our naked eye. Meanwhile, Public toilets in India have seen major efforts through the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) to end open defecation, increasing availability, but facing challenges in maintenance, hygiene, and design, leading many urban Indians to prefer commercial establishments.<h3>What experts reveal about the hidden reality of public toilets</h3>India-based Research &amp; Development Lead_Pee safe Public, Ashima Sharma, disclosed that the risk in public bathrooms is less about what appears dirty and more about what goes unnoticed. Ashima also said that the pandemic heightened awareness around personal hygiene and cleanliness, prompting people to be more attentive to shared environments.&nbsp;"Bathrooms are shared spaces used by many people throughout the day, which naturally raises questions about hygiene and germ exposure. The pandemic heightened awareness around cleanliness and made people more attentive to shared environments. Even as public facilities are now part of everyday routines again, concerns persist, not only about what is visibly unclean but also about the unseen microbes that may settle on surfaces and linger in the air. Risk increases on surfaces touched repeatedly throughout the day, including flush controls, taps, door handles, and countertops. These areas can carry bacteria linked to digestive illness, along with viruses capable of spreading through contact. Flushing without a lid may further disperse microscopic droplets onto nearby surfaces, increasing environmental contamination. As most restroom-related infections occur when germs are transferred from hands to the face, preventive efforts are best directed toward consistent handwashing, careful surface contact, limited phone use, and, where preferred, the use of toilet seat sanitisers rather than avoiding the seat altogether," Ashima Sharma said.&nbsp;Ketan Munoth, co-founder of Plush, believes that poor hygiene in public spaces is something people have been conditioned to adjust to, and that mindset needs to change. Ketan Munoth also believes that the issue extends beyond germs to the way people have normalised poor hygiene in public spaces.&nbsp;“We’ve been taught for years to simply accept poor hygiene in public spaces. But just because you’re travelling or using a public toilet doesn’t mean your comfort and hygiene should take a back seat. Clean, well-maintained washrooms should be a basic expectation, and public infrastructure must continue to move in that direction. At the same time, real life isn’t always predictable. Facilities aren’t always available, clean, or properly equipped when you need them most, and that’s where being prepared becomes essential - whether that’s carrying intimate hygiene wipes, trusting rash-free pads during periods, relying on period panties for longer protection, or having simple personal care solutions.We also don’t talk enough about disposal. In many public washrooms, period products are discarded poorly - left exposed, thrown loosely, or stuffed into corners because proper disposal systems are missing. That’s why biodegradable disposable pouches aren’t a nice-to-have; they’re essential. Better hygiene starts with preparedness, not adjustment," Munoth said.

Public toilets may look clean, but hidden germs on high-touch surfaces pose real risks. Experts say most infections spread through hand-to-face contact, making handwashing vital. Better hygiene needs improved facilities and personal preparedness.

Public toilets are shared spaces used by several people every day, making hygiene a consistent and major concern for men, women and children. If the toilets are not continuously maintained or cleaned, then they pose risks of bacterial/viral infections (like E. coli, Salmonella, Norovirus, Hepatitis A) via contaminated surfaces or aerosols, leading to gastrointestinal issues, UTIs (especially for women), skin infections, or respiratory problems. After the pandemic, the awareness about cleanliness, concerns about germ exposure in public washrooms continue to linger among citizens, particularly when it comes to microbes that are invisible to our naked eye. Meanwhile, Public toilets in India have seen major efforts through the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) to end open defecation, increasing availability, but facing challenges in maintenance, hygiene, and design, leading many urban Indians to prefer commercial establishments. What experts reveal about the hidden reality of public toilets India-based Research & Development Lead_Pee safe Public, Ashima Sharma, disclosed that the risk in public bathrooms is less about what appears dirty and more about what goes unnoticed. Ashima also said that the pandemic heightened awareness around personal hygiene and cleanliness, prompting people to be more attentive to shared environments. "Bathrooms are shared spaces used by many people throughout the day, which naturally raises questions about hygiene and germ exposure. The pandemic heightened awareness around cleanliness and made people more attentive to shared environments. Even as public facilities are now part of everyday routines again, concerns persist, not only about what is visibly unclean but also about the unseen microbes that may settle on surfaces and linger in the air. Risk increases on surfaces touched repeatedly throughout the day, including flush controls, taps, door handles, and countertops. These areas can carry bacteria linked to digestive illness, along with viruses capable of spreading through contact. Flushing without a lid may further disperse microscopic droplets onto nearby surfaces, increasing environmental contamination. As most restroom-related infections occur when germs are transferred from hands to the face, preventive efforts are best directed toward consistent handwashing, careful surface contact, limited phone use, and, where preferred, the use of toilet seat sanitisers rather than avoiding the seat altogether," Ashima Sharma said. Ketan Munoth, co-founder of Plush, believes that poor hygiene in public spaces is something people have been conditioned to adjust to, and that mindset needs to change. Ketan Munoth also believes that the issue extends beyond germs to the way people have normalised poor hygiene in public spaces. “We’ve been taught for years to simply accept poor hygiene in public spaces. But just because you’re travelling or using a public toilet doesn’t mean your comfort and hygiene should take a back seat. Clean, well-maintained washrooms should be a basic expectation, and public infrastructure must continue to move in that direction. At the same time, real life isn’t always predictable. Facilities aren’t always available, clean, or properly equipped when you need them most, and that’s where being prepared becomes essential - whether that’s carrying intimate hygiene wipes, trusting rash-free pads during periods, relying on period panties for longer protection, or having simple personal care solutions. We also don’t talk enough about disposal. In many public washrooms, period products are discarded poorly - left exposed, thrown loosely, or stuffed into corners because proper disposal systems are missing. That’s why biodegradable disposable pouches aren’t a nice-to-have; they’re essential. Better hygiene starts with preparedness, not adjustment," Munoth said.

Public toilets may look clean, but hidden germs on high-touch surfaces pose real risks. Experts say most infections spread through hand-to-face contact, making handwashing vital. Better hygiene needs improved facilities and personal preparedness.

Are public toilets really that clean? Experts break down the invisible germ risk

China set a new world record by accelerating a maglev train to reach a speed of 700 km/h in just two seconds, becoming the first country to achieve the feat using superconducting electric maglev systems. Scientists at China's National University of Defence Technology conducted a test on a magnetic levitation train and were able to accelerate a vehicle weighing around 1,000 kg to reach such a fast speed.&nbsp;The test was conducted on a 400-metre track, and it successfully demonstrated the acceleration and deceleration of such a fast-moving maglev train safely, making it the quickest superconducting electric maglev train in the world.&nbsp;The footage of the experimental run became viral across social media and Chinese news outlets, in which a chassis-like vehicle can be seen zooming across the track, leaving a misty trail.&nbsp;The experiment also showcased the future of travel using maglev technology in hyperloop, where trains move through vacuum-sealed tubes at incredible speed.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bnp-chairman-tarique-rahman-enters-voter-rolls-pays-tribute-to-osman-hadi-signals-daughter-zaima-s-political-debut-1766836644142">BNP chairman Tarique Rahman enrolls as voter, pays tribute to Osman Hadi, signals daughter Zaima’s political debut</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a> sets a world record with superconducting maglev train hitting 700 km/h in just 2 seconds！<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/technology?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#technology</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/railway?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#railway</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/train?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#train</a> <a href="https://t.co/kMVSAAwD36">pic.twitter.com/kMVSAAwD36</a>&mdash; Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanghaidaily/status/2004073003550974408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Maglev trains do not use conventional steel rails. Instead, they levitate above a specially built guideway using powerful magnetic forces. Because the train does not touch the track, friction is almost completely eliminated. This enables much higher speeds while reducing noise, vibration and mechanical wear.&nbsp;Electromagnets fitted to both the train and the guideway either repel or attract each other, lifting the train a few centimetres above the surface and removing all wheel-to-rail contact. Additional magnets ensure stability by keeping the train centred on the guideway and preventing side-to-side movement, even at very high speeds.&nbsp;Propulsion is provided by a linear motor rather than a traditional rotating engine. Electric currents are switched on and off in the guideway magnets, creating a travelling magnetic field that pulls the train forward and pushes it from behind.&nbsp;China operates the Shanghai maglev, which links the city to Pudong International Airport and reaches speeds of around 430 kmph, making it among the fastest commercial trains in service. The country has also tested next-generation high-speed maglev prototypes designed to achieve speeds of up to 600 kmph.

The test was carried out by researchers from China’s National University of Defence Technology, who accelerated a magnetic levitation vehicle weighing around 1,000 kg to the record-breaking speed.

China set a new world record by accelerating a maglev train to reach a speed of 700 km/h in just two seconds, becoming the first country to achieve the feat using superconducting electric maglev systems. Scientists at China's National University of Defence Technology conducted a test on a magnetic levitation train and were able to accelerate a vehicle weighing around 1,000 kg to reach such a fast speed. The test was conducted on a 400-metre track, and it successfully demonstrated the acceleration and deceleration of such a fast-moving maglev train safely, making it the quickest superconducting electric maglev train in the world. The footage of the experimental run became viral across social media and Chinese news outlets, in which a chassis-like vehicle can be seen zooming across the track, leaving a misty trail. The experiment also showcased the future of travel using maglev technology in hyperloop, where trains move through vacuum-sealed tubes at incredible speed. Also Read: BNP chairman Tarique Rahman enrolls as voter, pays tribute to Osman Hadi, signals daughter Zaima’s political debut

The test was carried out by researchers from China’s National University of Defence Technology, who accelerated a magnetic levitation vehicle weighing around 1,000 kg to the record-breaking speed.

Watch | 700 kmph in two seconds: Chinese train smashes world speed record

28-year-old White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared pictures of her baby bump on Christmas Day. Leavitt and her husband Nicholas Riccio are already parents to 17-year-old baby boy Niko. They are now expecting a girl, Karoline shared the news on Instagram.“The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for - a baby girl coming in May 2026.☺️” wrote Press Secretary in an Instagram post. My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth. 🥹"&nbsp;<h2>Who is Nicholas Riccio?&nbsp;</h2>Nicholas Riccio is a real estate entrepreneur. His business, Riccio Enterprises, manages 15 properties in Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. He studied at Plymouth State University, during which he reportedly had periods of financial hardship and even homelessness. His story is another one of “rags to riches”.&nbsp;<h2>Why is social media buzzing?</h2>Ricco is 60, and Leavitt is 28. The two met when she was 25 years old, during her congressional campaign in 2022. She was on The Megyn Kelly Show and running for a Congress seat in New Hampshire in 2022. She, however, lost the election to Democrat Chris Pappas. The age difference between them is the thing that got social media talking.&nbsp;"Leavitt’s husband was 32 when she was born and 50 when she turned 18. Riccio will also be 78 when this kid graduates high school." said one user, “I’m really tired of Christian Conservatives normalising paedophiles and creeps having kids they can’t care for”. Leavitt, when discussing the age gap, said it was "atypical" to be concerned at first. But later, it implied he was more supportive. &nbsp;“He's built a very successful business himself, so now he's fully supportive of me building my success in my career," said Leavitt.&nbsp;

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announces pregnancy. Who is her husband, Nicholas Riccio, and why is their age gap trending on social media?

28-year-old White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared pictures of her baby bump on Christmas Day. Leavitt and her husband Nicholas Riccio are already parents to 17-year-old baby boy Niko. They are now expecting a girl, Karoline shared the news on Instagram. “The greatest Christmas gift we could ever ask for - a baby girl coming in May 2026.☺️” wrote Press Secretary in an Instagram post. My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth. 🥹" Who is Nicholas Riccio? Nicholas Riccio is a real estate entrepreneur. His business, Riccio Enterprises, manages 15 properties in Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. He studied at Plymouth State University, during which he reportedly had periods of financial hardship and even homelessness. His story is another one of “rags to riches”. Why is social media buzzing? Ricco is 60, and Leavitt is 28. The two met when she was 25 years old, during her congressional campaign in 2022. She was on The Megyn Kelly Show and running for a Congress seat in New Hampshire in 2022. She, however, lost the election to Democrat Chris Pappas. The age difference between them is the thing that got social media talking. "Leavitt’s husband was 32 when she was born and 50 when she turned 18. Riccio will also be 78 when this kid graduates high school." said one user, “I’m really tired of Christian Conservatives normalising paedophiles and creeps having kids they can’t care for”. Leavitt, when discussing the age gap, said it was "atypical" to be concerned at first. But later, it implied he was more supportive. “He's built a very successful business himself, so now he's fully supportive of me building my success in my career," said Leavitt.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announces pregnancy. Who is her husband, Nicholas Riccio, and why is their age gap trending on social media?

Social media buzzes over Karoline Leavitt's age as she shares her pregnancy news

During the tense period of May 7–8 when Indian armed forces were engaged in destroying terror infrastracture in Pakistan and repaling swarms of drones coming to border villages lauched by Pakistani Army, a 10 year old Shravan Singh from Tara Wali village in Punjab’s Ferozepur district rose to national duty by showcasing immense courage and kindness by assisting soldiers stationed nearby village in whatever capicity he can.&nbsp;President Draupadi Murmu awarded Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026 to Sharvan Singh on Thursday (Dec 25) for his extraordinary courage, compassion, and patriotism during Operation Sindoor. The award, the country's highest civilian honour for children, was conferred on Veer Bal Diwas.&nbsp;Sharvan was recognised for serving water, lassi (buttermilk), and tea to soldiers serving at the international border near his village. He was widely appreciated by the Army and local community for stepping out multiple times amid heightened tensions to bring daily essentials for troops.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/continue-to-remain-engaged-with-united-states-to-finalise-bilateral-trade-agreement-says-govt-donald-trump-modi-trump-tarrifs-trade-talks-1766761099575">Continue to remain engaged with United States to finalise bilateral trade agreement, says Govt</a>&nbsp;

Sharvan Singh during his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to news agency ANI after receiving the award, Sharvan said, "When Operation Sindoor began against Pakistan, soldiers came to our village. I thought I should serve them. I used to take milk, tea, buttermilk, and ice for them daily. I feel great to be awarded. I had never dreamt of it."Earlier, the Indian Army had announced that it would sponsor Shavarn's education to fulfil the courageous kid's dreams. The Golden Arrow Division of the Army honoured him with the title of “Youngest Civil Warrior” and decided to support his education.&nbsp;Western Army Commander Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar had earlier felicitated Shravan, reflecting the Army’s deep connection with people.&nbsp;Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to a terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. Under the operation, Indian forces conducted coordinated strikes targeted at terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), leading to a four-day standoff with the neighbouring country and finally concluding with a ceasefire on May 10.&nbsp;

During Operation Sindoor, ten-year-old Shravan quietly supported soldiers stationed near his Ferozepur home by delivering water, tea, milk, ice and lassi, an act that later brought him national recognition.

During the tense period of May 7–8 when Indian armed forces were engaged in destroying terror infrastracture in Pakistan and repaling swarms of drones coming to border villages lauched by Pakistani Army, a 10 year old Shravan Singh from Tara Wali village in Punjab’s Ferozepur district rose to national duty by showcasing immense courage and kindness by assisting soldiers stationed nearby village in whatever capicity he can. President Draupadi Murmu awarded Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026 to Sharvan Singh on Thursday (Dec 25) for his extraordinary courage, compassion, and patriotism during Operation Sindoor. The award, the country's highest civilian honour for children, was conferred on Veer Bal Diwas. Sharvan was recognised for serving water, lassi (buttermilk), and tea to soldiers serving at the international border near his village. He was widely appreciated by the Army and local community for stepping out multiple times amid heightened tensions to bring daily essentials for troops. Also Read: Continue to remain engaged with United States to finalise bilateral trade agreement, says Govt

During Operation Sindoor, ten-year-old Shravan quietly supported soldiers stationed near his Ferozepur home by delivering water, tea, milk, ice and lassi, an act that later brought him national recognition.

India’s Youngest Civil Warrior, Sharvan Singh awarded Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for helping soldiers during Operation Sindoor

High above the Abruzzo mountains, in the small Italian village of Pagliara dei Marsi, cats rule the streets. They slip through doorways, lounge on stone walls, and roam freely across lanes that have grown quieter with time. Human voices have faded here over decades of steady depopulation. Until recently, the village’s soundtrack was mostly the soft echo of paws and purring. That silence was broken in March. For the first time in nearly three decades, a baby was born in Pagliara dei Marsi.&nbsp;Nine-month-old Lara Bussi Trabucco has lifted the village’s population to around 20 and transformed everyday life. Her baptism filled the tiny church opposite her home, drawing every resident, and more than a few cats. In a place long accustomed to ageing faces, Lara has become an event in herself. “People who had never heard of Pagliara dei Marsi are now coming just because of Lara,” said her mother, Cinzia Trabucco. “She’s not even a year old, and she’s already famous.” Her birth has sparked joy, but it also exposes the depth of Italy’s demographic decline.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/a-billion-dollar-christmas-arkansas-player-wins-1-87bn-powerball-prize-1766666662564">A billion-dollar Christmas: Arkansas player wins $1.87bn Powerball prize</a>&nbsp;According to Istat, Italy’s national statistics agency, the country recorded just 369,944 births in 2024, the lowest figure ever documented. The fertility rate fell to 1.18 children per woman, placing Italy among the lowest in the European Union. Preliminary data for 2025 suggests the situation is worsening. No region reflects the crisis more sharply than Abruzzo, where births dropped by 10.2% in the first seven months of 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier. Pagliara dei Marsi, though tiny, mirrors a national reality: shrinking communities, empty classrooms, and a rapidly ageing population straining public services.&nbsp;“This village has lost generation after generation,” said Mayor Giuseppina Perozzi, who lives just steps from Lara’s home. “We’ve lost many elderly residents, and no one has replaced them.” Perozzi hopes Lara’s arrival might inspire others, though she acknowledges how rare such decisions have become.&nbsp;Trabucco, 42, teaches music and spent years working in Rome before moving to the village of her grandfather’s birth. She wanted to raise a child far from city congestion. Her partner, Paolo Bussi, 56, works in construction and is originally from the area. They receive a €1,000 baby bonus, introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government in 2025, along with a monthly child allowance of about €370. The incentives are part of efforts to confront what Meloni has called Italy’s “demographic winter.” Yet the couple says money alone does little to solve deeper problems.&nbsp;Balancing work and childcare is difficult, they say, in a country where nursery spaces remain scarce, and support for working mothers is weak. Many women leave the workforce during pregnancy and struggle to return. Education is another worry. Pagliara dei Marsi hasn’t had its own teacher in decades. While nearby towns still have primary schools, closures linked to falling birthrates raise doubts about their long-term survival. “The system needs a complete overhaul,” Trabucco said. “We pay high taxes, but we don’t get services that make family life easier.”

For three decades, no one was born here. Then came Lara Bussi Trabucco 

High above the Abruzzo mountains, in the small Italian village of Pagliara dei Marsi, cats rule the streets. They slip through doorways, lounge on stone walls, and roam freely across lanes that have grown quieter with time. Human voices have faded here over decades of steady depopulation. Until recently, the village’s soundtrack was mostly the soft echo of paws and purring. That silence was broken in March. For the first time in nearly three decades, a baby was born in Pagliara dei Marsi. Nine-month-old Lara Bussi Trabucco has lifted the village’s population to around 20 and transformed everyday life. Her baptism filled the tiny church opposite her home, drawing every resident, and more than a few cats. In a place long accustomed to ageing faces, Lara has become an event in herself. “People who had never heard of Pagliara dei Marsi are now coming just because of Lara,” said her mother, Cinzia Trabucco. “She’s not even a year old, and she’s already famous.” Her birth has sparked joy, but it also exposes the depth of Italy’s demographic decline. Also Read: A billion-dollar Christmas: Arkansas player wins $1.87bn Powerball prize According to Istat, Italy’s national statistics agency, the country recorded just 369,944 births in 2024, the lowest figure ever documented. The fertility rate fell to 1.18 children per woman, placing Italy among the lowest in the European Union. Preliminary data for 2025 suggests the situation is worsening. No region reflects the crisis more sharply than Abruzzo, where births dropped by 10.2% in the first seven months of 2025 compared with the same period a year earlier. Pagliara dei Marsi, though tiny, mirrors a national reality: shrinking communities, empty classrooms, and a rapidly ageing population straining public services. “This village has lost generation after generation,” said Mayor Giuseppina Perozzi, who lives just steps from Lara’s home. “We’ve lost many elderly residents, and no one has replaced them.” Perozzi hopes Lara’s arrival might inspire others, though she acknowledges how rare such decisions have become. Trabucco, 42, teaches music and spent years working in Rome before moving to the village of her grandfather’s birth. She wanted to raise a child far from city congestion. Her partner, Paolo Bussi, 56, works in construction and is originally from the area. They receive a €1,000 baby bonus, introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government in 2025, along with a monthly child allowance of about €370. The incentives are part of efforts to confront what Meloni has called Italy’s “demographic winter.” Yet the couple says money alone does little to solve deeper problems. Balancing work and childcare is difficult, they say, in a country where nursery spaces remain scarce, and support for working mothers is weak. Many women leave the workforce during pregnancy and struggle to return. Education is another worry. Pagliara dei Marsi hasn’t had its own teacher in decades. While nearby towns still have primary schools, closures linked to falling birthrates raise doubts about their long-term survival. “The system needs a complete overhaul,” Trabucco said. “We pay high taxes, but we don’t get services that make family life easier.”

A baby born after 30 years brings hope to an Italian mountain village, while exposing the scale of Italy’s worsening birthrate crisis

For three decades, no one was born here. Then came Lara Bussi Trabucco

A suicide attempt in Saudi Arabia's Mecca went viral on the internet after the video of the incident showed a man jumping from the upper floors of Masjid al-Haram. In a dramatic move, the man was saved by one of the security officers present there. The officer reportedly sustained injuries while saving the man. The Emirate of the Makkah Region said the Special Force for the Security of the Grand Mosque immediately initiated action after the man attempted to jump from an upper floor. The Haram security forces said, &nbsp;“there was an incident of a person attempting to take his own life from the upper floors of the Grand Mosque."&nbsp;“A security officer was injured while trying to prevent him from hitting the ground at the moment of his fall. Both individuals were immediately transferred to receive the necessary medical care, and the required official procedures were completed," the forces said.&nbsp;After this, the Chief Imam of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Dr Abdur Rahman As Sudais, urged visitors to "adhere to regulations and instructions, to revere the sanctity of the place, to observe proper Islamic manners therein, and to devote themselves to worship and obedience."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🕋🚨 A security guard at the Masjid al-Haram rushed to intervene after a person tried to take their own life by jumping off the upper floors of the masjid. The security guard was injured while trying to prevent the person from hitting the ground. Both individuals were… <a href="https://t.co/NnpveIE8wf">pic.twitter.com/NnpveIE8wf</a>&mdash; • (@Alhamdhulillaah) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alhamdhulillaah/status/2004265868708987260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Emirate of the Makkah Region said the Special Force for the Security of the Grand Mosque immediately initiated action after the man attempted to jump from an upper floor. 

A suicide attempt in Saudi Arabia's Mecca went viral on the internet after the video of the incident showed a man jumping from the upper floors of Masjid al-Haram. In a dramatic move, the man was saved by one of the security officers present there. The officer reportedly sustained injuries while saving the man. The Emirate of the Makkah Region said the Special Force for the Security of the Grand Mosque immediately initiated action after the man attempted to jump from an upper floor. The Haram security forces said, “there was an incident of a person attempting to take his own life from the upper floors of the Grand Mosque." “A security officer was injured while trying to prevent him from hitting the ground at the moment of his fall. Both individuals were immediately transferred to receive the necessary medical care, and the required official procedures were completed," the forces said. After this, the Chief Imam of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Dr Abdur Rahman As Sudais, urged visitors to "adhere to regulations and instructions, to revere the sanctity of the place, to observe proper Islamic manners therein, and to devote themselves to worship and obedience."

The Emirate of the Makkah Region said the Special Force for the Security of the Grand Mosque immediately initiated action after the man attempted to jump from an upper floor.&nbsp;

WATCH: Man attempts suicide at Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram, dramatically saved by security officer

From Trump’s headline-grabbing presidency to a Muslim New York mayor, explosive Epstein revelations, a death sentence. These were the names that defined 2025 and kept the world watching.

Trump, Epstein, Mamdani and more: 2025’s most talked-about people

Family members of the Unnao rape survivor, along with women's rights activists, staged a protest outside the Delhi High Court on Friday (Dec 25), objecting to the conditional bail granted to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The protest drew swift intervention from police, who warned demonstrators that protests were not permitted outside the court. "Demonstrating here is prohibited and illegal. Legal action may be taken against you after five minutes. If you want to protest, go to Jantar Mantar."Earlier, the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar’s life sentence in the Unnao rape case, granting him bail on the condition that he furnish a bond of Rs 15 lakh. The court also imposed strict restrictions, directing him to remain in Delhi, avoid a five-kilometre radius around the survivor's residence, and have no contact with the victim or her family.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-hc-suspends-kuldeep-sengar-life-sentence-unnao-rape-case-1766644718266">Unnao rape case- Why did Delhi HC suspend life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar?</a><h2>Unnao victim's mother says 'lost faith,' to approach SC &nbsp;</h2>The victim's mother, speaking emotionally to reporters, said the High Court's decision had shaken her faith in the justice system. She insisted that Sengar’s bail must be cancelled and announced her intention to approach the Supreme Court of India."His bail should be rejected... We will knock on the doors of the Supreme Court. We have lost faith in the High Court... If we don't get justice in the Supreme Court, we will go to another country...," she told ANI. Referring to her husband’s custodial death, she added that those responsible should face the harshest punishment: "The person guilty of my husband's murder should be hanged immediately".Women's rights activist Yogita Bhayana said the protest was peaceful and aimed solely at seeking justice for the survivor. She stressed that the group wanted the court to urgently hear their petition challenging the bail order."Today, we have come to the High Court peacefully to appeal that the injustice done to our daughter be revoked and that the petition we are about to file be heard. If we do not get justice, we will protest, and that is our right..." Bhayana said.Also read |&nbsp;<h2>A 'huge setback'</h2>Political reactions also followed. Congress leader Mumtaz Patel described the bail order as a "huge setback" and warned that it could seriously undermine the confidence of women in the legal system."This is a huge setback, the way the High Court has given Sengar a free pass on a technicality. This is setting a very bad precedent in the country... How much their confidence must have been shattered by this ruling. Not just theirs, but that of women across the country," Patel said.Despite the bail in the rape case, Sengar will remain in jail for now, as he has not been granted bail in the separate case relating to the custodial death of the survivor's father. He is serving a 10-year sentence for the crime. &nbsp;

Unnao rape survivor's family held a protest outside the Delhi High Court after Kuldeep Singh Sengar was granted conditional bail in the case. The survivor’s family and activists say justice has failed them and plan to move the Supreme Court.

Family members of the Unnao rape survivor, along with women's rights activists, staged a protest outside the Delhi High Court on Friday (Dec 25), objecting to the conditional bail granted to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The protest drew swift intervention from police, who warned demonstrators that protests were not permitted outside the court. "Demonstrating here is prohibited and illegal. Legal action may be taken against you after five minutes. If you want to protest, go to Jantar Mantar." Earlier, the Delhi High Court suspended Sengar’s life sentence in the Unnao rape case, granting him bail on the condition that he furnish a bond of Rs 15 lakh. The court also imposed strict restrictions, directing him to remain in Delhi, avoid a five-kilometre radius around the survivor's residence, and have no contact with the victim or her family. Also read | Unnao rape case- Why did Delhi HC suspend life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar? Unnao victim's mother says 'lost faith,' to approach SC The victim's mother, speaking emotionally to reporters, said the High Court's decision had shaken her faith in the justice system. She insisted that Sengar’s bail must be cancelled and announced her intention to approach the Supreme Court of India. "His bail should be rejected... We will knock on the doors of the Supreme Court. We have lost faith in the High Court... If we don't get justice in the Supreme Court, we will go to another country...," she told ANI. Referring to her husband’s custodial death, she added that those responsible should face the harshest punishment: "The person guilty of my husband's murder should be hanged immediately". Women's rights activist Yogita Bhayana said the protest was peaceful and aimed solely at seeking justice for the survivor. She stressed that the group wanted the court to urgently hear their petition challenging the bail order. "Today, we have come to the High Court peacefully to appeal that the injustice done to our daughter be revoked and that the petition we are about to file be heard. If we do not get justice, we will protest, and that is our right..." Bhayana said. Also read | A 'huge setback' Political reactions also followed. Congress leader Mumtaz Patel described the bail order as a "huge setback" and warned that it could seriously undermine the confidence of women in the legal system. "This is a huge setback, the way the High Court has given Sengar a free pass on a technicality. This is setting a very bad precedent in the country... How much their confidence must have been shattered by this ruling. Not just theirs, but that of women across the country," Patel said. Despite the bail in the rape case, Sengar will remain in jail for now, as he has not been granted bail in the separate case relating to the custodial death of the survivor's father. He is serving a 10-year sentence for the crime.

Unnao rape survivor's family held a protest outside the Delhi High Court after Kuldeep Singh Sengar was granted conditional bail in the case. The survivor’s family and activists say justice has failed them and plan to move the Supreme Court.

Unnao rape survivor’s family protests outside Delhi High Court over Kuldeep Sengar bail

US President Donald Trump's self-appointed troller-in-chief, Gavin Newsom, has dropped an end-of-the year message on the highly controversial Epstein files. Trolling Trump, the California governor has posted a short video on his X account, along with the caption, "2025: [REDACTED]," an apparent reference to the thousands of partially and in some cases fully redacted documents "dropped" by the Trump DOJ as part of the much-awaited Epstein Files release.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/sick-of-epstein-files-redactions-internet-sleuths-have-discovered-a-hack-to-read-everything-here-s-how-1766553752960">Sick of Epstein files redactions? Internet sleuths have discovered a hack to read almost EVERYTHING. Here's how</a><h2>What's in the video?</h2>The video Newsom posted shines the spotlight on the Trump-Epstein friendship, which the POTUS claims ended with him kicking out the "creep" (Epstein) from his Mar-a-Lago resort. At the beginning of the video, a voice narrates, "And with that, the 2025 season comes to an end," as a headline appears "DOJ defends removing Trump photo from Epstein files". Behind the headline cutout is the Trump photo that was removed by the DOJ, triggering cover-up claims.The rest of the clip has a video of Trump with Epstein as the background, and in the foreground runs a slideshow of both the completely blackened-out pages and those that were not redacted. All of this is set to Mumford &amp; Sons’ song, White Blank Page.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">2025: [REDACTED] <a href="https://t.co/5L1rOMcWmF">pic.twitter.com/5L1rOMcWmF</a>&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/2003894328851419214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It then moves on to highlight damning quotes about Trump featured in the Epstein files, like the one the sex offender wrote in an email: "I have met some very bad people... none as bad as Trump."The video also highlights, "Donald Trump travelled on Epstein's jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware)". This bit of info was included in one of the recent file drops. A 2020 emails from the Southern District of New York shows that Trump was on Epstein's plane multiple times, including one flight with "only three passengers" - Trump, Epstein and an unnamed 20-year-old woman.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-doj-receives-one-million-new-documents-when-can-we-expect-a-new-epstein-files-drop-1766634140302">Trump DOJ 'finds' million new Epstein files after January 19 release deadline. When will they be released?</a><h2>More Epstein files expected</h2>In a post on X, the Donald Trump DOJ revealed that it has received around one million more documents "potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case" but stopped short of giving a timeline for when the public will see them.In a brief statement posted Wednesday (Dec 24), the department said the files were handed over by the FBI and the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Officials said teams were now working "around the clock" to review the material and apply redactions meant to protect victims before publication."We will release the documents as soon as possible," the Justice Department said, adding that the sheer volume of material meant the process could take "a few more weeks".

California Governor Gavin Newsom has trolled Donald Trump with a sharp video mocking redacted Epstein files, spotlighting Trump’s past ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Set to music and leaked quotes, the post fans cover-up claims as the DOJ admits more Epstein documents are coming.

US President Donald Trump's self-appointed troller-in-chief, Gavin Newsom, has dropped an end-of-the year message on the highly controversial Epstein files. Trolling Trump, the California governor has posted a short video on his X account, along with the caption, "2025: [REDACTED]," an apparent reference to the thousands of partially and in some cases fully redacted documents "dropped" by the Trump DOJ as part of the much-awaited Epstein Files release. Also read | Sick of Epstein files redactions? Internet sleuths have discovered a hack to read almost EVERYTHING. Here's how What's in the video? The video Newsom posted shines the spotlight on the Trump-Epstein friendship, which the POTUS claims ended with him kicking out the "creep" (Epstein) from his Mar-a-Lago resort. At the beginning of the video, a voice narrates, "And with that, the 2025 season comes to an end," as a headline appears "DOJ defends removing Trump photo from Epstein files". Behind the headline cutout is the Trump photo that was removed by the DOJ, triggering cover-up claims. The rest of the clip has a video of Trump with Epstein as the background, and in the foreground runs a slideshow of both the completely blackened-out pages and those that were not redacted. All of this is set to Mumford & Sons’ song, White Blank Page.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has trolled Donald Trump with a sharp video mocking redacted Epstein files, spotlighting Trump’s past ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Set to music and leaked quotes, the post fans cover-up claims as the DOJ admits more Epstein documents are coming.

'2025: REDACTED': Newsom goes full troll mode on Trump over Epstein files redactions. Watch viral video

While the world celebrated Christmas peacefully, a very small group of people attempted to disrupt the occasion with incidents of vandalism in parts of India, prompting police action and condemnation from political leaders and Christian groups (videos below). While the incidents were isolated and localised, they form part of a growing global intolerance during the festive period in recent years.<h2>Attack on Christmas decorations in mall</h2>In the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police registered a case after a group vandalised Christmas decorations at Magneto Mall in Raipur on Wednesday (Dec 24). Some 40 unidentified individuals were named in the police First Information Report (FIR) for damaging Christmas trees and festive displays inside mall. CCTV footage and witness statements were examined to identify those responsible. The incident took place amid a state-wide shutdown to oppose religious conversions.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/christmas-2025-how-the-world-celebrated-1766666758914">Christmas 2025: How the world celebrated the festival across continents</a><h2>School vandalised in Assam</h2>In the northeastern state of Assam, police arrested four people for vandalism at St Mary’s School in Nalbari district. Christmas decorations, banners and posters were damaged and set on fire. The Nalbari Superintendent of Police said that those arrested were associated with local Hindu organisations and that a case had been registered. The Assam Christian Forum urged authorities to take action and ensure accountability to prevent such incidents.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-ornaments-to-trees-top-7-countries-exporting-the-most-christmas-decorations-worldwide-1766650869438">From ornaments to trees: Top 7 countries exporting the most Christmas decorations worldwide</a><h2>Christian groups, opposition politicians react</h2>In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, police intervened after a protest outside a church, while in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, three people were detained following disruptions at a school event.Christian organisations inlcuidng national church bodies, issued statements expressing concern over what they described as a rise in disruptions of Christian religious events in some regions. They called on state authorities to ensure protection for religious minorities and to uphold constitutional guarantees of freedom of worship.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/christmas-decorations-reveal-global-trade-shift-1766638171034/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/christmas-decorations-reveal-global-trade-shift-1766638171034/embed</a>Opposition political parties also commented on the incidents, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin criticising the attacks on minority religious celebrations and calling for firm action against those responsible.Indian authorities are investigating the reported incidents and have assured to take action.

Watch videos below:Disclaimer: WION cannot verify the authenticity of visuals shared on social media

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;Sorry Christmas.&quot; 🎄😢⚠️🙏 &quot;Christmas is under attack in India.&quot; Caste Hindu goons attacked and vandalised a Christmas setup at a mall in Raipur. The world is watching India. We are turning into a zombie society. Govts seems helpless before these goons. Pathetic situation! <a href="https://t.co/WVES00sEsD">pic.twitter.com/WVES00sEsD</a>&mdash; Suraj Kumar Bauddh (@SurajKrBauddh) <a href="https://twitter.com/SurajKrBauddh/status/2004040800842424750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Attack on Christians in Kerala, India 🇮🇳 In <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Charummoodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Charummoodu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karimulakkal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karimulakkal</a>, a Christmas 🎄 carol group, including women and children, was reportedly attacked by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hindutva?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hindutva</a> extremists wielding weapons. What should have been a peaceful celebration turned into a scene of terror.… <a href="https://t.co/ym2PqX9xUO">pic.twitter.com/ym2PqX9xUO</a>&mdash; Mansoor Ahmed Dhillon (@mansoor_dhillon) <a href="https://twitter.com/mansoor_dhillon/status/2004418744257278075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">BREAKING: 🚨 Christians in Bangladesh were lynched for celebrating Christmas. Minorities are under attack in muslim countries. <a href="https://t.co/TDmwK5NPF3">pic.twitter.com/TDmwK5NPF3</a>&mdash; 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽ø 🇺🇲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 (@TrumpUpdateHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpUpdateHQ/status/2004157992007340124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Christmas celebrations in parts of India faced disruptions and vandalism by a very small group of people. Police registered cases in Chhattisgarh and Assam. Here is what happendd


While the world celebrated Christmas peacefully, a very small group of people attempted to disrupt the occasion with incidents of vandalism in parts of India, prompting police action and condemnation from political leaders and Christian groups (videos below). While the incidents were isolated and localised, they form part of a growing global intolerance during the festive period in recent years. Attack on Christmas decorations in mall In the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police registered a case after a group vandalised Christmas decorations at Magneto Mall in Raipur on Wednesday (Dec 24). Some 40 unidentified individuals were named in the police First Information Report (FIR) for damaging Christmas trees and festive displays inside mall. CCTV footage and witness statements were examined to identify those responsible. The incident took place amid a state-wide shutdown to oppose religious conversions. Also read: Christmas 2025: How the world celebrated the festival across continents School vandalised in Assam In the northeastern state of Assam, police arrested four people for vandalism at St Mary’s School in Nalbari district. Christmas decorations, banners and posters were damaged and set on fire. The Nalbari Superintendent of Police said that those arrested were associated with local Hindu organisations and that a case had been registered. The Assam Christian Forum urged authorities to take action and ensure accountability to prevent such incidents. Also read: From ornaments to trees: Top 7 countries exporting the most Christmas decorations worldwide Christian groups, opposition politicians react In Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, police intervened after a protest outside a church, while in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, three people were detained following disruptions at a school event. Christian organisations inlcuidng national church bodies, issued statements expressing concern over what they described as a rise in disruptions of Christian religious events in some regions. They called on state authorities to ensure protection for religious minorities and to uphold constitutional guarantees of freedom of worship. https://www.wionews.com/videos/christmas-decorations-reveal-global-trade-shift-1766638171034/embed Opposition political parties also commented on the incidents, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin criticising the attacks on minority religious celebrations and calling for firm action against those responsible. Indian authorities are investigating the reported incidents and have assured to take action.

Christmas celebrations in parts of India faced disruptions and vandalism by a very small group of people. Police registered cases in Chhattisgarh and Assam. Here is what happendd &nbsp;

Grinch who stole Christmas: Disruptions and vandalism reported during Christian festivities in parts of India

Donald Trump's name on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has led to the cancellation of a two-decade-old Christmas tradition, according to reports. A holiday tradition that has persevered for more than 20 years was cancelled this year. Why? Because of Trump's name. Chuck Redd, the jazz drummer and vibraphonist who has hosted the Christmas concert for nearly a decade, revealed on Friday (Dec 25) that he cancelled the celebration over the memorial's name change.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-epstein-files-put-trump-back-in-the-spotlight-jet-trips-and-disturbing-memo-on-his-love-for-nubile-girls-emerge-1766540433065">New Epstein files put Trump back in the spotlight: Disturbing letter reveals his love for 'nubile girls' and grabbing 's****h'</a><h2>Trump rebranding &nbsp;</h2>In a statement to the Associated Press, Redd said, "When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert".Just days before Christmas, on December 18, this name change was approved by a board of MAGA loyalists appointed by Trump. What was known as The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts since 1964 is now the "Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts".Redd is not alone in his decision, as Trump's return to the White House has led to numerous artists, including Issa Rae, Peter Wolf, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, calling off their Kennedy Centre performances.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-launched-deadly-strikes-at-isis-in-nigeria-over-slaughter-of-christians-1766712516542">'MERRY CHRISTMAS to dead terrorists': Trump says US launched deadly strikes at ISIS in Nigeria over 'slaughter of Christians'</a><h2>What's in a name?</h2>The Kennedy Arts Centre was named after President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. The naming of the memorial was undertaken through an Act of Congress signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. It is worth noting that the law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from adding any additional memorials to the site. &nbsp;However, the Kennedy Centre's president, Richard Grenell, a Trump appointee, has argued that the renaming does not affect the status as a memorial.

A Christmas concert that survived two decades has been scrapped after the Kennedy Center added Donald Trump’s name. Jazz musician Chuck Redd says the rebranding crossed a line. Here's all you need to know.

Donald Trump's name on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has led to the cancellation of a two-decade-old Christmas tradition, according to reports. A holiday tradition that has persevered for more than 20 years was cancelled this year. Why? Because of Trump's name. Chuck Redd, the jazz drummer and vibraphonist who has hosted the Christmas concert for nearly a decade, revealed on Friday (Dec 25) that he cancelled the celebration over the memorial's name change. Also read | New Epstein files put Trump back in the spotlight: Disturbing letter reveals his love for 'nubile girls' and grabbing 's****h' Trump rebranding In a statement to the Associated Press, Redd said, "When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert". Just days before Christmas, on December 18, this name change was approved by a board of MAGA loyalists appointed by Trump. What was known as The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts since 1964 is now the "Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts". Redd is not alone in his decision, as Trump's return to the White House has led to numerous artists, including Issa Rae, Peter Wolf, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, calling off their Kennedy Centre performances. Also read | 'MERRY CHRISTMAS to dead terrorists': Trump says US launched deadly strikes at ISIS in Nigeria over 'slaughter of Christians' What's in a name? The Kennedy Arts Centre was named after President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. The naming of the memorial was undertaken through an Act of Congress signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. It is worth noting that the law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from adding any additional memorials to the site. However, the Kennedy Centre's president, Richard Grenell, a Trump appointee, has argued that the renaming does not affect the status as a memorial.

A Christmas concert that survived two decades has been scrapped after the Kennedy Center added Donald Trump’s name. Jazz musician Chuck Redd says the rebranding crossed a line. Here's all you need to know.

'I chose to cancel': Trump name ends beloved 20-year-old Kennedy Center Christmas tradition

Israel on Thursday (Dec 25) has pushed back sharply against a joint call by 14 countries urging it to reverse a decision approving 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing foreign governments of interference and discrimination. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rejected the statement issued by countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Japan, after Israel’s security cabinet approved 19 settlement moves in the West Bank. In a strongly worded post on X, Sa’ar insisted that "Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-launched-deadly-strikes-at-isis-in-nigeria-over-slaughter-of-christians-1766712516542">'MERRY CHRISTMAS to dead terrorists': Trump says US launched deadly strikes at ISIS in Nigeria over 'slaughter of Christians'</a><h2>Rights of Jews</h2>In his X post, Sa'ar said the cabinet had approved the establishment of 11 new settlements in Judea and Samaria and planned to formally recognise eight additional ones. He said the decision was partly driven by security considerations."Israel strongly rejects the statement issued by foreign countries regarding the Cabinet decision on settlements in Judea and Samaria. Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel," Sa’ar said, adding that calls to reverse the decision were and any such call is morally wrong and discriminatory against Jews." He stressed that all the approved settlements are located in Area C and situated on what Israel considers state land."The Cabinet decision to establish 11 new settlements and to formalise eight additional settlements is intended, among other things, to help address the security threats Israel is facing. All of the settlements are located in Area C and are situated on state land."<h2>What did the 14 nations say?</h2>The joint statement by the 14 countries labelled the move "intensification of the settlement politics" and argued that the move violates international law and risks further destabilising the region at a sensitive moment, particularly amid efforts to move forward with a broader plan for Gaza and regional de-escalation.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/sick-of-epstein-files-redactions-internet-sleuths-have-discovered-a-hack-to-read-everything-here-s-how-1766553752960">Sick of Epstein files redactions? Internet sleuths have discovered a hack to read almost EVERYTHING. Here's how</a> "We, States of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom condemn the approval by the Israeli security cabinet of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank," reads the joint statement shared by the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.Sa’ar countered those claims by invoking historical and legal arguments, "Israel acts in accordance with International Law. The incorporation of the 1917 Balfour Declaration into the Mandate was explicitly agreed upon at the San Remo Conference in 1920. According to the Mandate, the right of the Jewish people to establish their national home extends over the entire territory of 'Mandatory Palestine.' These rights were preserved in Article 80 of the Charter of the United Nations."He also criticised what he called the "blatant silence of foreign states regarding the Palestinian Authority's illegal construction in Area C is extremely striking".

Israel has brushed aside pressure from 14 countries to halt new West Bank settlements, calling the criticism discriminatory and wrong. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar says the move is about security, not politics. 

Israel on Thursday (Dec 25) has pushed back sharply against a joint call by 14 countries urging it to reverse a decision approving 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing foreign governments of interference and discrimination. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rejected the statement issued by countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Japan, after Israel’s security cabinet approved 19 settlement moves in the West Bank. In a strongly worded post on X, Sa’ar insisted that "Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel". Also read | 'MERRY CHRISTMAS to dead terrorists': Trump says US launched deadly strikes at ISIS in Nigeria over 'slaughter of Christians' Rights of Jews In his X post, Sa'ar said the cabinet had approved the establishment of 11 new settlements in Judea and Samaria and planned to formally recognise eight additional ones. He said the decision was partly driven by security considerations. "Israel strongly rejects the statement issued by foreign countries regarding the Cabinet decision on settlements in Judea and Samaria. Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel," Sa’ar said, adding that calls to reverse the decision were and any such call is morally wrong and discriminatory against Jews." He stressed that all the approved settlements are located in Area C and situated on what Israel considers state land. "The Cabinet decision to establish 11 new settlements and to formalise eight additional settlements is intended, among other things, to help address the security threats Israel is facing. All of the settlements are located in Area C and are situated on state land." What did the 14 nations say? The joint statement by the 14 countries labelled the move "intensification of the settlement politics" and argued that the move violates international law and risks further destabilising the region at a sensitive moment, particularly amid efforts to move forward with a broader plan for Gaza and regional de-escalation. Also read | Sick of Epstein files redactions? Internet sleuths have discovered a hack to read almost EVERYTHING. Here's how "We, States of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom condemn the approval by the Israeli security cabinet of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank," reads the joint statement shared by the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Sa’ar countered those claims by invoking historical and legal arguments, "Israel acts in accordance with International Law. The incorporation of the 1917 Balfour Declaration into the Mandate was explicitly agreed upon at the San Remo Conference in 1920. According to the Mandate, the right of the Jewish people to establish their national home extends over the entire territory of 'Mandatory Palestine.' These rights were preserved in Article 80 of the Charter of the United Nations." He also criticised what he called the "blatant silence of foreign states regarding the Palestinian Authority's illegal construction in Area C is extremely striking".

Israel has brushed aside pressure from 14 countries to halt new West Bank settlements, calling the criticism discriminatory and wrong. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar says the move is about security, not politics.&nbsp;

'Foreign govts won't restrict rights of Jews': Israel rejects 14-nation call to halt new West Bank settlements

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Dec 25) announced that American forces carried out what he described as "powerful and deadly" airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria, marking the first US military action in the country under his current term. The strikes, conducted on Christmas Day, targeted Islamic State-linked fighters operating in Nigeria’s Sokoto region. The United States Africa Command confirmed that "multiple ISIS militants" were killed in the operation, which it said was carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities. No details were released on the exact locations hit or the number of casualties.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-doj-receives-one-million-new-documents-when-can-we-expect-a-new-epstein-files-drop-1766634140302">Trump DOJ 'finds' million new Epstein files after January 19 release deadline. When will they be released?</a><h2>US hits back at "slaughtering of Christians"</h2>Trump framed the strikes as a response to violence against Christians in Nigeria, a theme he has repeatedly emphasised in recent months. In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, the president said, "I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay," Trump wrote. "And, tonight, there was." He ended the message with a twisted holiday greeting."May God Bless our Military," he said, adding provocatively, "MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and… <a href="https://t.co/ct7rUW128t">pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t</a>&mdash; Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Nigeria requested the operation?</h2>In an X post, the US Africa Command said it carried out the operation at the "request of Nigerian authorities in (Sokoto state) killing multiple ISIS terrorists."Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the operation and thanked the Nigerian government for its support and cooperation, saying US forces were prepared to act swiftly when requested by partners.The strikes come after Trump sharply criticised Nigeria late last year, claiming Christians there face what he called an "existential threat" that amounted to "genocide". Those comments drew mixed reactions. Some Christian advocacy groups welcomed Washington's focus on religious violence, while analysts and Nigerian officials warned that framing the country's complex security crisis primarily through a religious lens risks inflaming tensions.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/sick-of-epstein-files-redactions-internet-sleuths-have-discovered-a-hack-to-read-everything-here-s-how-1766553752960">Sick of Epstein files redactions? Internet sleuths have discovered a hack to read almost EVERYTHING. Here's how</a><h2>Nigeria insists it's not "religious persecution"</h2>Nigeria's government has consistently rejected claims that the conflict amounts to targeted religious persecution, pointing instead to overlapping insurgencies, criminal violence and weak governance across vast rural areas. For more than 15 years, Nigeria’s northeast has been battered by jihadist violence from Boko Haram and its offshoots, a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. In the northwest and central regions, heavily armed criminal gangs known locally as bandits have also terrorized communities through mass kidnappings and village raids.&nbsp;

Trump announced US airstrikes on Christmas Day against ISIS-linked militants in Nigeria’s Sokoto region, the first such action under his current term. AFRICOM said multiple fighters were killed at Nigeria’s request. Trump framed it as retaliation for violence against Christians.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Dec 25) announced that American forces carried out what he described as "powerful and deadly" airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria, marking the first US military action in the country under his current term. The strikes, conducted on Christmas Day, targeted Islamic State-linked fighters operating in Nigeria’s Sokoto region. The United States Africa Command confirmed that "multiple ISIS militants" were killed in the operation, which it said was carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities. No details were released on the exact locations hit or the number of casualties. Also read | Trump DOJ 'finds' million new Epstein files after January 19 release deadline. When will they be released? US hits back at "slaughtering of Christians" Trump framed the strikes as a response to violence against Christians in Nigeria, a theme he has repeatedly emphasised in recent months. In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, the president said, "I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay," Trump wrote. "And, tonight, there was." He ended the message with a twisted holiday greeting. "May God Bless our Military," he said, adding provocatively, "MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues."

Trump announced US airstrikes on Christmas Day against ISIS-linked militants in Nigeria’s Sokoto region, the first such action under his current term. AFRICOM said multiple fighters were killed at Nigeria’s request. Trump framed it as retaliation for violence against Christians.

'MERRY CHRISTMAS to dead terrorists': Trump says US launched deadly strikes at ISIS in Nigeria over 'slaughter of Christians'. Watch

A digital billboard in New York City’s Times Square featuring the phrase “Jesus is Palestinian” has stirred debate among tourists and locals during the Christmas season. The display, funded by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), appeared on a green backdrop with bold black lettering, alongside a separate panel wishing passersby a “Merry Christmas.” While some viewed it as a call for reflection, others criticised the message as provocative and poorly timed amid holiday celebrations.&nbsp;Several visitors quoted by the New York Post described the slogan as polarising and unnecessary, arguing that Jesus is a universal religious figure rather than one defined by modern political or national identities. British tourists were among those who said the message could offend during a festive period meant to unite people. Reactions online were equally mixed. Some social media users praised the billboard as meaningful and courageous, while others expressed confusion or questioned its placement in a public American landmark.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-and-bush-shared-nervous-fears-over-pakistan-s-nuclear-proliferation-declassified-transcripts-show-1766672217576">Putin and Bush shared 'nervous' fears over Pakistan's nuclear proliferation, declassified transcripts show</a>&nbsp;ADC National Executive Director Adeb Ayoub said the organisation has been renting Times Square advertising space since early this year, rotating messages weekly. He explained that the aim is to spark conversation and highlight shared traditions among Christians, Muslims, and Arab Americans, particularly when Times Square sees its highest footfall.&nbsp;Ayoub added that the campaign seeks to counter what ADC views as the sidelining of Arab and Muslim perspectives in the US. Addressing debates over Jesus’ identity, he said interpretations differ widely and that individuals are free to express their own beliefs. The organisation has since replaced the original slogan with a new billboard quoting former US President Ronald Reagan: “Jesus would say: ‘tear down this wall,’” a reference linking the Berlin Wall with the Israeli security barrier. More messages are expected around New Year’s Eve, reinforcing ADC’s intention to maintain a visible and discussion-driven presence in the iconic square.

'Jesus is Palestinian': ADC billboard in New York's Times Square triggers mixed reactions from tourists

A digital billboard in New York City’s Times Square featuring the phrase “Jesus is Palestinian” has stirred debate among tourists and locals during the Christmas season. The display, funded by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), appeared on a green backdrop with bold black lettering, alongside a separate panel wishing passersby a “Merry Christmas.” While some viewed it as a call for reflection, others criticised the message as provocative and poorly timed amid holiday celebrations. Several visitors quoted by the New York Post described the slogan as polarising and unnecessary, arguing that Jesus is a universal religious figure rather than one defined by modern political or national identities. British tourists were among those who said the message could offend during a festive period meant to unite people. Reactions online were equally mixed. Some social media users praised the billboard as meaningful and courageous, while others expressed confusion or questioned its placement in a public American landmark. Also Read: Putin and Bush shared 'nervous' fears over Pakistan's nuclear proliferation, declassified transcripts show ADC National Executive Director Adeb Ayoub said the organisation has been renting Times Square advertising space since early this year, rotating messages weekly. He explained that the aim is to spark conversation and highlight shared traditions among Christians, Muslims, and Arab Americans, particularly when Times Square sees its highest footfall. Ayoub added that the campaign seeks to counter what ADC views as the sidelining of Arab and Muslim perspectives in the US. Addressing debates over Jesus’ identity, he said interpretations differ widely and that individuals are free to express their own beliefs. The organisation has since replaced the original slogan with a new billboard quoting former US President Ronald Reagan: “Jesus would say: ‘tear down this wall,’” a reference linking the Berlin Wall with the Israeli security barrier. More messages are expected around New Year’s Eve, reinforcing ADC’s intention to maintain a visible and discussion-driven presence in the iconic square.

A Times Square billboard reading “Jesus is Palestinian” has drawn mixed reactions, with critics calling it divisive and supporters praising it as thought-provoking

&nbsp;After the Donald Trump administration announced to replace its longstanding H-1B visa random lottery that has a wage-based selection mechanism, the Indian IT industry has flagged serious concerns. It stated that such a decision will impact smaller and mid-sized companies working in the US, which depend on academic calendars, product release cycles to recruit their employees, and client delivery schedules.&nbsp;“A sudden shift to a wage-weighted model would introduce uncertainty, increase compliance complexity, and disrupt long-established workforce planning, particularly for smaller and mid-sized firms that align recruitment with academic calendars, client delivery schedules, and product release cycles,” Nasscom said in a statement, the Mint reported. It added that the process will prioritise employees with higher wages and better skills.<h3>Replacement of the H-1B visa lottery would impact the US</h3>Under its wage-weighted system, the change could lead to an aversion in international students from pursuing higher education in the US, as the new system will restrict entry-level job opportunities, which will weaken the talent base. The step will become a negative situation for the US, which will weaken the country's goals of strengthening competitiveness, driving innovation, and supporting higher education.&nbsp;Nasscom added that the change would have a disproportionate impact on Indian IT professionals, given that a large share of technology workers in the US are Indian nationals. It also added that the proposed H-1B visa selection method raises key legal, economic and operational issues, marking a major shift from the existing lottery-based system.&nbsp;The industry body called for a phased rollout of the wage-weighted model with adequate transition time, recommending that implementation be deferred until the FY28 lottery cycle. It also stated that it would allow employers sufficient time to adjust processes, meet compliance requirements and sustain confidence in the US talent and investment ecosystem.

Nasscom has also warned that the step will become a negative situation for the US, which will weaken the country's goals of strengthening competitiveness, driving innovation, and supporting higher education.

After the Donald Trump administration announced to replace its longstanding H-1B visa random lottery that has a wage-based selection mechanism, the Indian IT industry has flagged serious concerns. It stated that such a decision will impact smaller and mid-sized companies working in the US, which depend on academic calendars, product release cycles to recruit their employees, and client delivery schedules. “A sudden shift to a wage-weighted model would introduce uncertainty, increase compliance complexity, and disrupt long-established workforce planning, particularly for smaller and mid-sized firms that align recruitment with academic calendars, client delivery schedules, and product release cycles,” Nasscom said in a statement, the Mint reported. It added that the process will prioritise employees with higher wages and better skills. Replacement of the H-1B visa lottery would impact the US Under its wage-weighted system, the change could lead to an aversion in international students from pursuing higher education in the US, as the new system will restrict entry-level job opportunities, which will weaken the talent base. The step will become a negative situation for the US, which will weaken the country's goals of strengthening competitiveness, driving innovation, and supporting higher education. Nasscom added that the change would have a disproportionate impact on Indian IT professionals, given that a large share of technology workers in the US are Indian nationals. It also added that the proposed H-1B visa selection method raises key legal, economic and operational issues, marking a major shift from the existing lottery-based system. The industry body called for a phased rollout of the wage-weighted model with adequate transition time, recommending that implementation be deferred until the FY28 lottery cycle. It also stated that it would allow employers sufficient time to adjust processes, meet compliance requirements and sustain confidence in the US talent and investment ecosystem.

Nasscom has also warned that the step will become a negative situation for the US, which will weaken the country's goals of strengthening competitiveness, driving innovation, and supporting higher education.

How will scrapping the H-1B visa lottery affect India’s IT industry? Nasscom raises alarm

The West Antarctica ice sheet is at risk of collapse owing to climate change. Now, a study has revealed that the East Antarctica ice sheet completely collapsed 9,000 years ago because of the warming ocean water. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is a vast body of land ice in East Antarctica. Researchers found evidence in seafloor sediments near Japan’s Syowa Station that proves that the collapse happened because of warm deep ocean currents. The study was led by Professor Yusuke Suganuma of the National Institute of Polar Research (NiPR). Scientists have warned in the past that if Antarctic ice melts, global water levels will rise by several feet.&nbsp;To understand future sea level changes, Suganuma set out on a quest to learn how the Antarctic ice sheets responded to a warming climate in the past. His team took sediment cores from Lutzow-Holm Bay’s seafloor. The layers of sediment showed proof of changes during an extremely hot period on Earth when temperatures were higher than they are today. This period was known as the early Holocene, a time span that started after the last ice age.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-alarmed-at-noticing-a-scary-feeding-trait-in-the-only-antarctic-bug-1765445210475">Scientists alarmed at noticing a scary feeding trait in the only Antarctic bug</a>&nbsp;Rare beryllium isotopes and tiny marine fossils were measured to reveal the timing of this collapse. All the data suggested that the East Antarctic ice sheet broke up 9,000 years ago. The culprit was the circumpolar deep water, a warm, salty current that flows hundreds of feet below the surface. This water moved upwards and onto the continental shelf, cutting away the ice shelves. The fracture in these shelves left the ice with no structural support, causing the inland ice to flow faster towards the ocean.<h2>Ice sheet collapse was rapid</h2>The researchers noted that the ice and ocean formed a positive feedback loop. The surface ocean turned fresh from the meltwater from the Antarctic regions. The warm deep water moved towards the land, creating a "cascading positive feedback". Lighter water moved above the heavier water; hence, the cooler surface water did not mix with the downward water. The collapse occurred rapidly owing to several factors, such as the rising sea level and the shape of the seafloor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists have discovered that the Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a rapid collapse thousands of years ago. This was also because of the warming climate. The warm ocean water triggered an effect that led to the massive East Antarctic ice sheet falling apart.

The West Antarctica ice sheet is at risk of collapse owing to climate change. Now, a study has revealed that the East Antarctica ice sheet completely collapsed 9,000 years ago because of the warming ocean water. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is a vast body of land ice in East Antarctica. Researchers found evidence in seafloor sediments near Japan’s Syowa Station that proves that the collapse happened because of warm deep ocean currents. The study was led by Professor Yusuke Suganuma of the National Institute of Polar Research (NiPR). Scientists have warned in the past that if Antarctic ice melts, global water levels will rise by several feet. To understand future sea level changes, Suganuma set out on a quest to learn how the Antarctic ice sheets responded to a warming climate in the past. His team took sediment cores from Lutzow-Holm Bay’s seafloor. The layers of sediment showed proof of changes during an extremely hot period on Earth when temperatures were higher than they are today. This period was known as the early Holocene, a time span that started after the last ice age. Also Read: Scientists alarmed at noticing a scary feeding trait in the only Antarctic bug Rare beryllium isotopes and tiny marine fossils were measured to reveal the timing of this collapse. All the data suggested that the East Antarctic ice sheet broke up 9,000 years ago. The culprit was the circumpolar deep water, a warm, salty current that flows hundreds of feet below the surface. This water moved upwards and onto the continental shelf, cutting away the ice shelves. The fracture in these shelves left the ice with no structural support, causing the inland ice to flow faster towards the ocean. Ice sheet collapse was rapid The researchers noted that the ice and ocean formed a positive feedback loop. The surface ocean turned fresh from the meltwater from the Antarctic regions. The warm deep water moved towards the land, creating a "cascading positive feedback". Lighter water moved above the heavier water; hence, the cooler surface water did not mix with the downward water. The collapse occurred rapidly owing to several factors, such as the rising sea level and the shape of the seafloor.

Scientists have discovered that the Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a rapid collapse thousands of years ago. This was also because of the warming climate. The warm ocean water triggered an effect that led to the massive East Antarctic ice sheet falling apart.

Scientists reveal Antarctic ice sheet witnessed a catastrophe 9,000 years ago - It was hotter

A lottery ticket bought in Arkansas has turned its owner into an overnight billionaire after clinching a staggering $1.87 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve, one of the largest wins in US lottery history. Powerball confirmed the prize is the second-largest jackpot ever awarded in the country, instantly placing the unnamed winner among America’s ultra-wealthy. While the winner’s identity has not been disclosed, officials revealed the winning combination: 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the red Powerball number 19 and a Power Play of 2.&nbsp;The Christmas Eve draw produced several other big winners as well. Eight tickets matched all five white balls, sold across California, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Two New York tickets earned $1 million prizes. In addition, 114 tickets won $50,000 each, while 31 others secured payouts of $100,000. Calling the win “truly life-altering,” Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn congratulated the winner and thanked participants nationwide, noting that lottery ticket sales contribute to public programs and services.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/christmas-apocalypse-has-been-cancelled-says-ghana-prophet-buys-mercedes-with-donations-1766665974354">Christmas apocalypse has been cancelled, says Ghana 'prophet', buys Mercedes with donations</a>&nbsp;Powerball says players have a 1-in-24.9 chance of winning any prize, but the odds of hitting the jackpot remain astronomically slim at 1 in 292.2 million. The Arkansas winner must now decide how to receive the money, either through annual payments spread over 30 years or by opting for an immediate lump sum. The cash option would total $834.9 million before taxes, while the annuity would deliver the full advertised amount over time.&nbsp;If the annuity route is chosen, the winner’s wealth would surpass that of several global celebrities. Forbes estimates Bruce Springsteen’s net worth at $1.2 billion, Rihanna’s at $1.4 billion, and Taylor Swift’s fortune at around $1.6 billion. The jackpot would also edge past Kim Kardashian’s estimated $1.7 billion net worth, though it would still fall short of Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan, whose fortunes exceed $3 billion.&nbsp;The new billionaire could easily indulge in luxury real estate. Private island listings off Florida’s coast start as low as $2 million, with expansive islands priced around $75 million — still a fraction of the jackpot. High-end mansions in Beverly Hills range from just over $1 million to $175 million, while lavish Hamptons estates, including 12-bedroom homes spanning 15,000 square feet, are listed near $50 million. The record for the biggest Powerball jackpot remains $2.04 billion, won by Edwin Castro in California in November 2022. Castro chose the lump-sum payout and walked away with nearly $998 million, according to the California Lottery.

A billion-dollar Christmas: Arkansas player wins $1.87bn Powerball prize

A lottery ticket bought in Arkansas has turned its owner into an overnight billionaire after clinching a staggering $1.87 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve, one of the largest wins in US lottery history. Powerball confirmed the prize is the second-largest jackpot ever awarded in the country, instantly placing the unnamed winner among America’s ultra-wealthy. While the winner’s identity has not been disclosed, officials revealed the winning combination: 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the red Powerball number 19 and a Power Play of 2. The Christmas Eve draw produced several other big winners as well. Eight tickets matched all five white balls, sold across California, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Two New York tickets earned $1 million prizes. In addition, 114 tickets won $50,000 each, while 31 others secured payouts of $100,000. Calling the win “truly life-altering,” Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn congratulated the winner and thanked participants nationwide, noting that lottery ticket sales contribute to public programs and services. Also Read: Christmas apocalypse has been cancelled, says Ghana 'prophet', buys Mercedes with donations Powerball says players have a 1-in-24.9 chance of winning any prize, but the odds of hitting the jackpot remain astronomically slim at 1 in 292.2 million. The Arkansas winner must now decide how to receive the money, either through annual payments spread over 30 years or by opting for an immediate lump sum. The cash option would total $834.9 million before taxes, while the annuity would deliver the full advertised amount over time. If the annuity route is chosen, the winner’s wealth would surpass that of several global celebrities. Forbes estimates Bruce Springsteen’s net worth at $1.2 billion, Rihanna’s at $1.4 billion, and Taylor Swift’s fortune at around $1.6 billion. The jackpot would also edge past Kim Kardashian’s estimated $1.7 billion net worth, though it would still fall short of Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan, whose fortunes exceed $3 billion. The new billionaire could easily indulge in luxury real estate. Private island listings off Florida’s coast start as low as $2 million, with expansive islands priced around $75 million — still a fraction of the jackpot. High-end mansions in Beverly Hills range from just over $1 million to $175 million, while lavish Hamptons estates, including 12-bedroom homes spanning 15,000 square feet, are listed near $50 million. The record for the biggest Powerball jackpot remains $2.04 billion, won by Edwin Castro in California in November 2022. Castro chose the lump-sum payout and walked away with nearly $998 million, according to the California Lottery.

An Arkansas Powerball ticket won a whopping $1.87 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve, the second-largest lottery prize ever in the United States

Self-proclaimed prophet of Ghana, Ebo Enoch, has announced that the rapture has been postponed. He had predicted that the world will be devoured by a massive flood on December 25. However, after nothing of the sort happened, he told his followers that the apocalypse has been postponed and that God had granted him more time to expand the ark project. Right now, he has built around 10 arks, according to Ghana Web, a local news portal. He has claimed that God has answered his prayers. This follows reports that he has purchased a $100K Mercedes with donations he got from his followers to build the arks.&nbsp;Enoch had been telling his followers that December 25 is the day of the Rapture, the day the world will be consumed by a great flood. The content creator with a huge following on social media, says he was ordered to build the ships by God, just like Noah was told to build the ark to house one pair of each species. For this purpose, he asked his followers to give him money so he could build the ships. Several of them sold their belongings to get the money. There were videos of people carrying their goods and gathering to board the arks ahead of D-day.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/another-rapture-like-event-predicted-ghana-man-says-a-great-flood-will-begin-on-dec-25-1766558269920">Another rapture-like event predicted, Ghana man says a great flood will begin on Dec 25</a><h2>Ebo Enoch buys a Mercedes</h2>However, reports suggest that he has used the money to buy a Mercedes car worth $100,000. Netizens have been shocked to see how Enoch managed to delude so many people who happily gave him their money. Enoch even posted videos of himself inspecting the ships to create a sense of belief among his people. He added that no one had received any special message to board the ships, and every believer was welcome.&nbsp;Rapture is a belief among a certain section of people according to which the Lord will take the believers with him to heaven, while the rest will be left behind. South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela said that on September 23, the Rapture will occur, and every living and dead person who believes in the Lord will rise.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ebo Enoch, a man in Ghana who calls himself a prophet, has said that the Rapture has been postponed. He earlier said he was ordered by God to build arks to save the believers from a global flood that would last three years.

Self-proclaimed prophet of Ghana, Ebo Enoch, has announced that the rapture has been postponed. He had predicted that the world will be devoured by a massive flood on December 25. However, after nothing of the sort happened, he told his followers that the apocalypse has been postponed and that God had granted him more time to expand the ark project. Right now, he has built around 10 arks, according to Ghana Web, a local news portal. He has claimed that God has answered his prayers. This follows reports that he has purchased a $100K Mercedes with donations he got from his followers to build the arks. Enoch had been telling his followers that December 25 is the day of the Rapture, the day the world will be consumed by a great flood. The content creator with a huge following on social media, says he was ordered to build the ships by God, just like Noah was told to build the ark to house one pair of each species. For this purpose, he asked his followers to give him money so he could build the ships. Several of them sold their belongings to get the money. There were videos of people carrying their goods and gathering to board the arks ahead of D-day. Also Read: Another rapture-like event predicted, Ghana man says a great flood will begin on Dec 25 Ebo Enoch buys a Mercedes However, reports suggest that he has used the money to buy a Mercedes car worth $100,000. Netizens have been shocked to see how Enoch managed to delude so many people who happily gave him their money. Enoch even posted videos of himself inspecting the ships to create a sense of belief among his people. He added that no one had received any special message to board the ships, and every believer was welcome. Rapture is a belief among a certain section of people according to which the Lord will take the believers with him to heaven, while the rest will be left behind. South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela said that on September 23, the Rapture will occur, and every living and dead person who believes in the Lord will rise.

Ebo Enoch, a man in Ghana who calls himself a prophet, has said that the Rapture has been postponed. He earlier said he was ordered by God to build arks to save the believers from a global flood that would last three years.

Christmas apocalypse has been cancelled, says Ghana 'prophet', buys Mercedes with donations

India's Ayodhya has unveiled a bronze statue of a Korean Queen named Heo Hwang-ok. This was in honour of the people who think they descend from her. In South Korea, it is believed that Adyodhya is not just related to mythology but is also the birthplace of the Princess Suriratna. As per their belief, she sailed to Korea around 48 AD and married King Kim Suro. He was the founder of the ancient Gaya kingdom. The queen is known to carry the culture of India and the values of Buddhism.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-best-gift-an-illegal-alien-can-give-themselves-trump-admin-offers-3-000-cash-paid-travel-for-self-deportation-1766506962183">‘Best gift an illegal alien can give themselves’: Trump admin offers $3,000 cash, paid travel for self deportation</a>&nbsp;As reported by the BBC, some Chinese-language records say the king of Ayodhya dreamt that his daughter must wed King Suro and thus sent the young princess on an ocean journey. Anthropologist Kim Byung-mo once argued that "Ayuta" may indeed be Ayodhya, though historians note there is no definitive proof the princess truly existed.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-this-is-not-your-home-racist-nick-fuentes-launches-another-hate-speech-against-indians-asks-vivek-ramaswamy-to-go-back-to-india-1766595636877">‘This is not your home’: ‘Racist’ Nick Fuentes launches another hate-speech against Indians, asks Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘go back to India’</a> The statue is not the first ever tribute to the queen. In 2001, a memorial dedicated to Queen Heo Hwang-ok was established. It was in partnership with Uttar Pradesh and Korea's Gimhae city. It was later redeveloped in 2015. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-something-that-would-shake-bangladesh-what-did-sharif-osman-hadi-s-shooter-say-to-his-girlfriend-before-the-attack-1766146632136">‘Something that would shake Bangladesh’: What did Sharif Osman Hadi's ‘shooter’ say to his girlfriend before the attack</a>

As per their belief, she sailed to Korea around 48 AD and married King Kim Suro. He was the founder of the ancient Gaya kingdom. The queen is known to carry the culture of India and the values of Buddhism.

India's Ayodhya has unveiled a bronze statue of a Korean Queen named Heo Hwang-ok. This was in honour of the people who think they descend from her. In South Korea, it is believed that Adyodhya is not just related to mythology but is also the birthplace of the Princess Suriratna. As per their belief, she sailed to Korea around 48 AD and married King Kim Suro. He was the founder of the ancient Gaya kingdom. The queen is known to carry the culture of India and the values of Buddhism. Also read: ‘Best gift an illegal alien can give themselves’: Trump admin offers $3,000 cash, paid travel for self deportation As reported by the BBC, some Chinese-language records say the king of Ayodhya dreamt that his daughter must wed King Suro and thus sent the young princess on an ocean journey. Anthropologist Kim Byung-mo once argued that "Ayuta" may indeed be Ayodhya, though historians note there is no definitive proof the princess truly existed. Also read: ‘This is not your home’: ‘Racist’ Nick Fuentes launches another hate-speech against Indians, asks Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘go back to India’ The statue is not the first ever tribute to the queen. In 2001, a memorial dedicated to Queen Heo Hwang-ok was established. It was in partnership with Uttar Pradesh and Korea's Gimhae city. It was later redeveloped in 2015. Also read: ‘Something that would shake Bangladesh’: What did Sharif Osman Hadi's ‘shooter’ say to his girlfriend before the attack

As per their belief, she sailed to Korea around 48 AD and married King Kim Suro. He was the founder of the ancient Gaya kingdom. The queen is known to carry the culture of India and the values of Buddhism.

Who was Korean queen Heo Hwang-ok? Ayodhya unveils bronze statue of Indian-origin princess ‘Suriratna’

Nvidia has reportedly reached its largest-ever deal, a $20 billion licensing and talent acquisition agreement with AI chip startup Groq (not to be confused with the AI bot Grok from Elon Musk’s xAI). The deal smells like an attempt to gobble up a potential competitor, part of the “catch and kill” moves Silicon Valley’s big tech industry is notorious for. What is the deal, and why does it matter for one of the world’s top AI chipmaking giants? Here is what you should know.<h2>What is in the Groq deal with Nvidia?</h2>Started by former Google engineers in 2016, Groq makes LPU (Language Processing Unit) chips for ultra-fast, low-cost AI inference. The reported $20 billion all-cash deal includes asset purchases and non-exclusive technology licensing. These assets include Groq’s AI inference technology and intellectual property.Groq’s founder and CEO Jonathan Ross, president Sunny Madra, and other senior leaders will now be part of Nvidia talent force. This deal, if confirmed, surpasses Nvidia’s $7 billion acquisition of Mellanox in 2019. As of its September 2025 funding round, Groq was valued at $6.9 billion. GroqCloud, the cloud operations arm of the startup, is not part of the deal and will continue independently under new leadership, with CFO Simon Edwards likely to be its CEO, as per reports.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nvidia-scripts-history-becomes-first-firm-to-reach-5-trillion-market-value-following-ai-boom-1761748694795">Riding on AI boom, Nvidia scripts history, becomes first firm to reach $5 trillion market value</a><h2>Why Groq matters for Nvidia</h2>AI inference is the process of running trained AI models, such as chatbots and other real-time applications, to generate instant responses. Currently, AI inference is becoming a larger share of total AI computing demand as models move from training to deployment at scale.&nbsp;This possibly explains Nvidia’s growing emphasis on inference optimisation alongside its dominance in AI training.Therefore, the Groq deal could bolster AI inference leadership for Nvidia, and eventually help integrate low-latency technology into its AI chips.<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><h2>Why Groq’s tech is a coveted asset for Nvidia: The case for LPU chips</h2>Groq is led by ex-Googlers like Jonathan Ross, who had helped design Google’s Tensor Processing Unit (TPU). TPUs are specialised AI chips that accelerate complex AI and Machine Learning tasks behind Google's Search, Photos, Translate, and Gemini AI interface. It is also used in Google data centres, Google Cloud, devices and recommendation engines. &nbsp;Groq builds specialised AI accelerator chips called Language Processing Units (LPUs), designed specifically for fast, low-latency, and energy-efficient AI inference.While traditional graphics processing units (GPUs) are good at training AI models, Groq’s LPUs focus on deterministic, high-speed inference with lower power consumption.This makes them well-suited to heavier workloads that need quick token generation.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><h2>Catch and kill? What Nvidia is saying about Groq deal</h2>Reports citing Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the deal’s goal is to integrate Groq’s low-latency processors into Nvidia’s AI architecture to enhance inference capabilities. He insisted that Nvidia is not acquiring Groq as a company.So, the deal is perhaps an “acqui-hire” or “reverse acqui-hire”, similar to, but not exactly the same as, Microsoft’s arrangement with Inflection AI or Meta’s deal with Scale AI.Such deals allow access to talent, IPs, and technology while avoiding the regulatory scrutiny that would have occurred in the case of a full acquisition. Note that regulators are scrutinising partial acquisitions, asset purchases, and talent transfers in AI, as firms use these structures to avoid reviews of full mergers.At least for now, the Groq deal looks different from a catch-and-kill, or the ‘killer acquisition’ policy in which promising startups are acquired mainly to eliminate competition and shelve their technology rather than developing them further.Even then, one must note that Groq was indeed a direct competitor to Nvidia in AI inference, where the latter faced more rivals than in AI training.Nvidia, for now, says it is actively planning to integrate and scale Groq’s LPU technology into its own products, including future AI factories and real-time workloads. Huang’s comments highlight an expansion of capabilities, not suppression of talent or technology, even as the deal would end Groq as an independent rival and consolidate Nvidia’s dominance in inference.

Nvidia’s reported $20bn Groq deal targets the chip startup's AI inference chip technology. By licensing its LPU tech and hiring talent, Nvidia would strengthens low-latency AI computing. But is it a catch and kill approach?

Nvidia has reportedly reached its largest-ever deal, a $20 billion licensing and talent acquisition agreement with AI chip startup Groq (not to be confused with the AI bot Grok from Elon Musk’s xAI). The deal smells like an attempt to gobble up a potential competitor, part of the “catch and kill” moves Silicon Valley’s big tech industry is notorious for. What is the deal, and why does it matter for one of the world’s top AI chipmaking giants? Here is what you should know. What is in the Groq deal with Nvidia? Started by former Google engineers in 2016, Groq makes LPU (Language Processing Unit) chips for ultra-fast, low-cost AI inference. The reported $20 billion all-cash deal includes asset purchases and non-exclusive technology licensing. These assets include Groq’s AI inference technology and intellectual property. Groq’s founder and CEO Jonathan Ross, president Sunny Madra, and other senior leaders will now be part of Nvidia talent force. This deal, if confirmed, surpasses Nvidia’s $7 billion acquisition of Mellanox in 2019. As of its September 2025 funding round, Groq was valued at $6.9 billion. GroqCloud, the cloud operations arm of the startup, is not part of the deal and will continue independently under new leadership, with CFO Simon Edwards likely to be its CEO, as per reports. Also read: Riding on AI boom, Nvidia scripts history, becomes first firm to reach $5 trillion market value Why Groq matters for Nvidia AI inference is the process of running trained AI models, such as chatbots and other real-time applications, to generate instant responses. Currently, AI inference is becoming a larger share of total AI computing demand as models move from training to deployment at scale. This possibly explains Nvidia’s growing emphasis on inference optimisation alongside its dominance in AI training. Therefore, the Groq deal could bolster AI inference leadership for Nvidia, and eventually help integrate low-latency technology into its AI chips. https://www.wionews.com/videos/nvidia-hits-5tn-market-cap-world-business-watch-wion-1761801804595/embed Why Groq’s tech is a coveted asset for Nvidia: The case for LPU chips Groq is led by ex-Googlers like Jonathan Ross, who had helped design Google’s Tensor Processing Unit (TPU). TPUs are specialised AI chips that accelerate complex AI and Machine Learning tasks behind Google's Search, Photos, Translate, and Gemini AI interface. It is also used in Google data centres, Google Cloud, devices and recommendation engines. Groq builds specialised AI accelerator chips called Language Processing Units (LPUs), designed specifically for fast, low-latency, and energy-efficient AI inference. While traditional graphics processing units (GPUs) are good at training AI models, Groq’s LPUs focus on deterministic, high-speed inference with lower power consumption. This makes them well-suited to heavier workloads that need quick token generation. Also read: What would happen to NVIDIA if China attacked Taiwan today? A factual breakdown of the worst case scenario Catch and kill? What Nvidia is saying about Groq deal Reports citing Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the deal’s goal is to integrate Groq’s low-latency processors into Nvidia’s AI architecture to enhance inference capabilities. He insisted that Nvidia is not acquiring Groq as a company. So, the deal is perhaps an “acqui-hire” or “reverse acqui-hire”, similar to, but not exactly the same as, Microsoft’s arrangement with Inflection AI or Meta’s deal with Scale AI. Such deals allow access to talent, IPs, and technology while avoiding the regulatory scrutiny that would have occurred in the case of a full acquisition. Note that regulators are scrutinising partial acquisitions, asset purchases, and talent transfers in AI, as firms use these structures to avoid reviews of full mergers. At least for now, the Groq deal looks different from a catch-and-kill, or the ‘killer acquisition’ policy in which promising startups are acquired mainly to eliminate competition and shelve their technology rather than developing them further. Even then, one must note that Groq was indeed a direct competitor to Nvidia in AI inference, where the latter faced more rivals than in AI training. Nvidia, for now, says it is actively planning to integrate and scale Groq’s LPU technology into its own products, including future AI factories and real-time workloads. Huang’s comments highlight an expansion of capabilities, not suppression of talent or technology, even as the deal would end Groq as an independent rival and consolidate Nvidia’s dominance in inference.

Nvidia’s reported $20bn Groq deal targets the chip startup's AI inference chip technology. By licensing its LPU tech and hiring talent, Nvidia would strengthens low-latency AI computing. But is it a catch and kill approach?

Catch and kill? Why Nvidia’s record $20 billion deal with AI chip startup Groq matters

Christmas decorations form a global industry with supply chains that include the items, ornaments, lights and artificial trees shipped months ahead of the festival. Based on UN Comtrade data via Statista, let's have a look at the world’s top exporters of Christmas decorations in 2024.

From ornaments to trees: Top 7 countries exporting the most Christmas decorations worldwide

In Nigeria's Maiduguri, an explosion at a packed mosque on Wednesday (Dec 24) killed at least seven worshippers. While the anti-jihadist militia leader Babakura Kolo has said that it was a suspected bombing, no armed group has claimed responsibility for the tragic explosion.<h2>What happened?</h2>On Wednesday evening, as the Muslim faithful gathered for evening prayers, around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT), a bomb went off inside the crowded mosque in the city's Gamboru market.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-doj-receives-one-million-new-documents-when-can-we-expect-a-new-epstein-files-drop-1766634140302">Trump DOJ 'finds' million new Epstein files after deadline. When's the release?</a>Malam Abuna Yusuf, one of the mosque's leaders, told AFP that at least eight people have died, though officials have yet to release a death toll."We can confirm there has been an explosion," police spokesman Nahum Daso. He said that they suspected that a bomb had been placed inside the mosque and exploded in the middle of the prayers. Some people have also described it as a suicide attack.International NGO asks staff to stay awayAs per AFP, following the attack, an international NGO in a security alert has asked its employees to avoid the Gamboru market area.Videos of the explosion aftermath show the tragic scenes. One video shows a person covered in blood writhing in pain on the ground and bodies covered by sheets.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-doj-receives-one-million-new-documents-when-can-we-expect-a-new-epstein-files-drop-1766634140302">Trump DOJ 'finds' million new Epstein files after deadline. When's the release?</a><h2>Deadly insurgency</h2>A jihadist insurgency has plagued Nigeria since 2009; the UN reports that this conflict has resulted in at least 40,000 fatalities and the displacement of roughly two million individuals from their northeastern homes. Even though the violence has declined since its height a decade ago, it has reached Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Moreover, there is rising anxiety about a potential return to violence in the northeastern region, where insurgent groups, despite continuous military actions over many years, are still able to launch fatal attacks.

An explosion ripped through a crowded mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria, during evening prayers, killing at least seven worshippers. Police suspect a bomb planted inside the mosque. No group has claimed responsibility.

In Nigeria's Maiduguri, an explosion at a packed mosque on Wednesday (Dec 24) killed at least seven worshippers. While the anti-jihadist militia leader Babakura Kolo has said that it was a suspected bombing, no armed group has claimed responsibility for the tragic explosion. What happened? On Wednesday evening, as the Muslim faithful gathered for evening prayers, around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT), a bomb went off inside the crowded mosque in the city's Gamboru market. Also read | Trump DOJ 'finds' million new Epstein files after deadline. When's the release? Malam Abuna Yusuf, one of the mosque's leaders, told AFP that at least eight people have died, though officials have yet to release a death toll. "We can confirm there has been an explosion," police spokesman Nahum Daso. He said that they suspected that a bomb had been placed inside the mosque and exploded in the middle of the prayers. Some people have also described it as a suicide attack. International NGO asks staff to stay away As per AFP, following the attack, an international NGO in a security alert has asked its employees to avoid the Gamboru market area. Videos of the explosion aftermath show the tragic scenes. One video shows a person covered in blood writhing in pain on the ground and bodies covered by sheets. Also read | Trump DOJ 'finds' million new Epstein files after deadline. When's the release? Deadly insurgency A jihadist insurgency has plagued Nigeria since 2009; the UN reports that this conflict has resulted in at least 40,000 fatalities and the displacement of roughly two million individuals from their northeastern homes. Even though the violence has declined since its height a decade ago, it has reached Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Moreover, there is rising anxiety about a potential return to violence in the northeastern region, where insurgent groups, despite continuous military actions over many years, are still able to launch fatal attacks.

An explosion ripped through a crowded mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria, during evening prayers, killing at least seven worshippers. Police suspect a bomb planted inside the mosque. No group has claimed responsibility.

Suspected suicide attack at Mosque in Nigeria's Maiduguri kills at least 7

Air India Express became one of the first airlines to launch services from the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after inaugurating commercial operations from the newly opened airport on Thursday. The flight company owned by the Tata Group began its direct services to Bengaluru and Delhi, marking NMIA’s debut as the second aviation gateway of Mumbai.&nbsp;The airport's first Air India Express service took off for Bengaluru, with the landmark moment marked by a special ceremony at NMIA, during which the airline handed the first passenger a commemorative boarding pass. After the Bengaluru launch, the airline’s maiden flight to Delhi was scheduled to leave Navi Mumbai at 14:05 hours and touch down in the national capital at 16:20 hours, according to a report in ET.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 8 am and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, where fire tenders spray arches of water over the aircraft as it taxis, as reported by NDTV.&nbsp;Before the first arrival, IndiGo personnel marked the occasion by cutting a cake and breaking coconuts, following customary rituals. The airport’s first outbound service soon followed the arrival, IndiGo flight 6E882 to Hyderabad, which departed at 8.40 am.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">History is being made! ✈️🇮🇳 The inaugural flight has officially landed at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NaviMumbaiInternationalAirport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NaviMumbaiInternationalAirport</a> (NMIA). This is more than just an airport,it represents a significant enhancement for Maharashtra’s connectivity and the future of India’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aviation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aviation</a><a href="https://twitter.com/AdaniOnline?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdaniOnline</a> After… <a href="https://t.co/oJuD6kPiaj">pic.twitter.com/oJuD6kPiaj</a>&mdash; Sheetal Chopra 🇮🇳 (@SheetalPronamo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheetalPronamo/status/2004081996772134976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Over 1500 drones feature ahead of airport operational launch</h3>Meanwhile, a drone show featuring 1,515 drones was organised on Wednesday (December 24, 2025) to mark the operational launch of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Thursday. A video posted by the news agency ANI, citing Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), shows drones moving in seamless coordination, creating striking aerial formations such as 3D Lotus blooms, a plane flying over Mumbai, Lotus Design Interiors, Airport Logo, Green Airport Rise of India, among others, all centred around the theme and splendour of the airport.&nbsp;NMIA, the second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after Mumbai International Airport, is poised to emerge as one of India’s busiest and most important aviation hubs. Spread across 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres), the airport is designed to handle 90 million passengers annually upon completion. It will feature two parallel runways, modern terminals and advanced cargo facilities to ensure smooth passenger movement and efficient freight operations.&nbsp;In its first phase, NMIA will have the capacity to handle 20 million passengers a year and process 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo annually.

Air India Express launched services after the inauguration of commercial operations from the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). In addition, IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru arrived at the newly opened airport.

Air India Express became one of the first airlines to launch services from the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after inaugurating commercial operations from the newly opened airport on Thursday. The flight company owned by the Tata Group began its direct services to Bengaluru and Delhi, marking NMIA’s debut as the second aviation gateway of Mumbai. The airport's first Air India Express service took off for Bengaluru, with the landmark moment marked by a special ceremony at NMIA, during which the airline handed the first passenger a commemorative boarding pass. After the Bengaluru launch, the airline’s maiden flight to Delhi was scheduled to leave Navi Mumbai at 14:05 hours and touch down in the national capital at 16:20 hours, according to a report in ET. Earlier in the day, IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 8 am and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, where fire tenders spray arches of water over the aircraft as it taxis, as reported by NDTV. Before the first arrival, IndiGo personnel marked the occasion by cutting a cake and breaking coconuts, following customary rituals. The airport’s first outbound service soon followed the arrival, IndiGo flight 6E882 to Hyderabad, which departed at 8.40 am.

Air India Express launched services after the inauguration of commercial operations from the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). In addition, IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru arrived at the newly opened airport.

Navi Mumbai Airport goes live with first flights, water cannon welcome

First Lady Melania Trump once defended singer Rihanna posing topless on the 2012 Esquire Magazine cover. She also shared her views on "sexting" on the show, as seen in the resurfaced video clip. In 2012, Melania came on the Sway In The Morning show on SiriusXM, hosted by broadcaster Sway Calloway. The video is doing the rounds on social media and has gone viral. Melania was asked about Rihanna's controversial magazine cover on the show, to which she responded that her going naked "wasn't a big deal." Melania told the host that even though she hadn't seen the cover and didn't know how much she was showing, she felt that Rihanna "should be proud of being a woman". She added, "I don't think it's a really big deal, I don't know, maybe because I'm from Europe, in Europe it's not such a big deal if you're showing your body in tasteful ways, of course."&nbsp;Melania hails from Slovenia and, as a model, has posed for several magazines, even going nude on occasion. Calloway also asked her what she thinks of "sexting," that is, sending nude pics on the phone. Melania called it "the most stupid idea". Melania said, "It's not good, and especially the famous people, we know who, they are doing what they think will not get caught, but for everything [there's] consequences."&nbsp;Watch the clip here

She said that such pictures are ideally meant to stay "private for inside your home", unless you are someone who is "doing it professionally" for magazines. "Texting and sending pictures, maybe if it's not your boyfriend and girlfriend, fine, but the rest, keep it private," she said.Melania also talked about her love for hip-hop music, and that her son Barron, only six at the time, had broken his hip while breakdancing. "He came home the other day, and they had the music class, and he had a little boo-boo on the elbow," she said.

First Lady Melania Trump opened up on sexting and her views on posing nude for magazines in a 2012 interview on a show. Her video showing her talking about all this and more has made a return on social media and is going viral.

First Lady Melania Trump once defended singer Rihanna posing topless on the 2012 Esquire Magazine cover. She also shared her views on "sexting" on the show, as seen in the resurfaced video clip. In 2012, Melania came on the Sway In The Morning show on SiriusXM, hosted by broadcaster Sway Calloway. The video is doing the rounds on social media and has gone viral. Melania was asked about Rihanna's controversial magazine cover on the show, to which she responded that her going naked "wasn't a big deal." Melania told the host that even though she hadn't seen the cover and didn't know how much she was showing, she felt that Rihanna "should be proud of being a woman". She added, "I don't think it's a really big deal, I don't know, maybe because I'm from Europe, in Europe it's not such a big deal if you're showing your body in tasteful ways, of course." Melania hails from Slovenia and, as a model, has posed for several magazines, even going nude on occasion. Calloway also asked her what she thinks of "sexting," that is, sending nude pics on the phone. Melania called it "the most stupid idea". Melania said, "It's not good, and especially the famous people, we know who, they are doing what they think will not get caught, but for everything [there's] consequences." Watch the clip here

First Lady Melania Trump opened up on sexting and her views on posing nude for magazines in a 2012 interview on a show. Her video showing her talking about all this and more has made a return on social media and is going viral.

Melania Trump talks about sexting and posing nude in old clip going viral on social media

A US defence department report has said that China is possibly seeking military bases in friendly countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar, which, if it happens, would add to its strategic encircling of India, known as the ‘string of pearls’ policy. The Pentagon report was mainly to assess Chinese national strategy, military modernisation, its nuclear arsenal of over 600 warheads as of late 2024, its goal for nine aircraft carriers by 2035, and threats to US interests. It noted that China’s defence spending nearly doubled since President Xi Jinping’s early terms. The defence department assesses that China’s historic military buildup has made the US homeland increasingly vulnerable, including through activities in the South Asian region.<h2>What does the Pentagon report say?</h2>The report titled Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China discusses at length China's ambitions with regards to the Indo-Pacific and Taiwan.&nbsp;The report, released on December 23, is focused on China’s strategies, capabilities, leadership, forces, and activities.&nbsp;It talks about China’s activities in the Indo-Pacific, especially with regards to Taiwan and the South China Sea, its nuclear and conventional force modernisation, and global power projection.&nbsp;But what should get the eyes of Indian strategists is the report's mentions about Chinese arms exports to countries like Pakistan, its all-weather ally, and ‘potential basing considerations’ for other nations in South and Southeast Asian regions.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-to-take-taiwan-by-brute-force-by-2027-pentagon-drafts-report-claims-beijing-loaded-more-than-100-icbms-in-silo-fields-1766472651526">China to take Taiwan by brute force by 2027? Pentagon draft report claims Beijing loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields</a><h2>Military bases for China in South Asia? What the Pentagon report said</h2>While discussing Chinese overseas military facilities, the report said that Beijing has likely considered potential People's Liberation Army logistics or basing locations in several countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in South Asia as well as Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia in South East Asia.The PLA’s primary interest, the report said, appears to be military access along key sea lines of communication, particularly the Malacca Strait, a crucial gateway to the Indo-Pacific."China has likely also considered basing in Angola, Bangladesh, Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, and Vanuatu."The PLA is probably most interested in military access along the sea lines of communication in the Malacca Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, and other areas in Africa and the Middle East," it said. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-s-military-shake-up-top-pla-generals-missing-xi-led-event-amid-anti-graft-purge-1766630933729/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-s-military-shake-up-top-pla-generals-missing-xi-led-event-amid-anti-graft-purge-1766630933729/embed</a><h2>China entered rapprochement with India to ensure it doesn't get closer to US?</h2>The report said that after the tensions around the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the two nations disengaged from remaining standoff sites, followed by a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. That meeting set off monthly high-level engagements, discussing border management, direct flights, visa facilitation, and exchanges of academics and journalists.But here, the Pentagon sees the possibility that China may be capitalising on the decrease in LAC tensions to not only stabilise ties with India, but also prevent the deepening of ties between New Delhi and the US.It adds that India “probably remains sceptical of China’s actions and motives”, with continued mutual distrust limiting the relationship. The report notes that China extends the term “core interest” to cover territorial disputes, including the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-report-highlights-china-s-military-ties-with-pakistan-and-cautious-thaw-with-india-1766558928586">Pentagon report highlights China's military ties with Pakistan and cautious thaw with India</a><h2>China’s arming of South Asian nations</h2>The report highlighted significant Chinese arms sales and exports to South Asian countries, with Pakistan being a major recipient. Chinese military equipment with Pakistan includes 20 J-10C multirole combat aircraft delivered in 2025 as part of a total of 36 since 2020. There are also strike-capable Caihong and Wing Loong UAVs, four frigates sold in 2018, as well as the co-production of the JF-17 light combat aircraft.Bangladesh, meanwhile, has received two Ming-class submarines delivered in 2016, two frigates sold in 2017, and the first exports of VT-5 light tanks in 2024, the report notes.<h2>Why India should take note of Pentagon report on China</h2>What the Pentagon report mentioned as China’s ‘military basing’ ambitions in South Asia is one more step towards the already known ‘string of pearls’ strategy. This, in effect, is the strategic encirclement of India with commercial and military ports and bases around both its eastern and western coastlines. China's activities have been aimed at accessing and monitoring maritime routes along the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Its quest for military/commercial facilities or logistics hubs in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, or Myanmar would allow the PLA a consistent presence close to India’s eastern and western seaboards. This would require India to bolster its naval planning and improve its surveillance and response capabilities.&nbsp;The ‘string of pearls’ strategy, recently presented as part of projects like the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, has been focused on ports and infrastructure across the Indian Ocean.Now, it appears to be evolving into a more overt military access and potential basing.&nbsp;China's near-term ambition appears to be to use its economic leverage, arms supplies, and dual-use infrastructure for regular PLA deployments or PLA Navy's port calls.&nbsp;In the long-term, it would want to strengthens positions all across the Indo-Pacific while indirectly containing India.&nbsp;

A Pentagon report warns China may seek military bases in South Asia, including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This should make Indian strategic community sit up and take note, as China's well-known ‘string of pearls’ strategy to contain India may be expending.

A US defence department report has said that China is possibly seeking military bases in friendly countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar, which, if it happens, would add to its strategic encircling of India, known as the ‘string of pearls’ policy. The Pentagon report was mainly to assess Chinese national strategy, military modernisation, its nuclear arsenal of over 600 warheads as of late 2024, its goal for nine aircraft carriers by 2035, and threats to US interests. It noted that China’s defence spending nearly doubled since President Xi Jinping’s early terms. The defence department assesses that China’s historic military buildup has made the US homeland increasingly vulnerable, including through activities in the South Asian region. What does the Pentagon report say? The report titled Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China discusses at length China's ambitions with regards to the Indo-Pacific and Taiwan. The report, released on December 23, is focused on China’s strategies, capabilities, leadership, forces, and activities. It talks about China’s activities in the Indo-Pacific, especially with regards to Taiwan and the South China Sea, its nuclear and conventional force modernisation, and global power projection. But what should get the eyes of Indian strategists is the report's mentions about Chinese arms exports to countries like Pakistan, its all-weather ally, and ‘potential basing considerations’ for other nations in South and Southeast Asian regions. Also read: China to take Taiwan by brute force by 2027? Pentagon draft report claims Beijing loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields Military bases for China in South Asia? What the Pentagon report said While discussing Chinese overseas military facilities, the report said that Beijing has likely considered potential People's Liberation Army logistics or basing locations in several countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in South Asia as well as Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia in South East Asia. The PLA’s primary interest, the report said, appears to be military access along key sea lines of communication, particularly the Malacca Strait, a crucial gateway to the Indo-Pacific. "China has likely also considered basing in Angola, Bangladesh, Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, and Vanuatu. "The PLA is probably most interested in military access along the sea lines of communication in the Malacca Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, and other areas in Africa and the Middle East," it said. https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-s-military-shake-up-top-pla-generals-missing-xi-led-event-amid-anti-graft-purge-1766630933729/embed China entered rapprochement with India to ensure it doesn't get closer to US? The report said that after the tensions around the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the two nations disengaged from remaining standoff sites, followed by a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. That meeting set off monthly high-level engagements, discussing border management, direct flights, visa facilitation, and exchanges of academics and journalists. But here, the Pentagon sees the possibility that China may be capitalising on the decrease in LAC tensions to not only stabilise ties with India, but also prevent the deepening of ties between New Delhi and the US. It adds that India “probably remains sceptical of China’s actions and motives”, with continued mutual distrust limiting the relationship. The report notes that China extends the term “core interest” to cover territorial disputes, including the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Also read: Pentagon report highlights China's military ties with Pakistan and cautious thaw with India China’s arming of South Asian nations The report highlighted significant Chinese arms sales and exports to South Asian countries, with Pakistan being a major recipient. Chinese military equipment with Pakistan includes 20 J-10C multirole combat aircraft delivered in 2025 as part of a total of 36 since 2020. There are also strike-capable Caihong and Wing Loong UAVs, four frigates sold in 2018, as well as the co-production of the JF-17 light combat aircraft. Bangladesh, meanwhile, has received two Ming-class submarines delivered in 2016, two frigates sold in 2017, and the first exports of VT-5 light tanks in 2024, the report notes. Why India should take note of Pentagon report on China What the Pentagon report mentioned as China’s ‘military basing’ ambitions in South Asia is one more step towards the already known ‘string of pearls’ strategy. This, in effect, is the strategic encirclement of India with commercial and military ports and bases around both its eastern and western coastlines. China's activities have been aimed at accessing and monitoring maritime routes along the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Its quest for military/commercial facilities or logistics hubs in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, or Myanmar would allow the PLA a consistent presence close to India’s eastern and western seaboards. This would require India to bolster its naval planning and improve its surveillance and response capabilities. The ‘string of pearls’ strategy, recently presented as part of projects like the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, has been focused on ports and infrastructure across the Indian Ocean. Now, it appears to be evolving into a more overt military access and potential basing. China's near-term ambition appears to be to use its economic leverage, arms supplies, and dual-use infrastructure for regular PLA deployments or PLA Navy's port calls. In the long-term, it would want to strengthens positions all across the Indo-Pacific while indirectly containing India.

A Pentagon report warns China may seek military bases in South Asia, including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This should make Indian strategic community sit up and take note, as China's well-known ‘string of pearls’ strategy to contain India may be expending.

China wants military bases in friendly countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar? Why India should take note of Pentagon report

Santa has taken off from the North Pole, and NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – is helping everyone waiting for him track him in real time. He is first moving to the South Pacific, and will then visit &nbsp;Asia, Africa, Europe, and cross the Atlantic to the Americas in just 24 hours. NORAD has been following this tradition since 1955. &nbsp;It started with an error and went on to become a tradition that is followed to date. However, NORAD is not the only one tracking Santa's journey, as the Federal Aviation Administration is also on the trail. Santa has already delivered almost four and a half billion gifts, according to NORAD. So, how does this work, and when did it start?<h2>How NORAD Santa tracking begin?</h2>Norad uses its polar radar network to track Santa, and then moves on to satellites and infrared sensors. The latter are typically used to detect missile launches. However, Santa does not follow a fixed route, as NORAD says, "only Santa knows his route." The tradition of tracking Santa started in 1955. It started with a misprint in an advertisement, telling children they could place a call to Santa Claus on the number ME 2-6681. But a misprint of one digit diverted the calls to Colorado Springs' Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center. Air Force Col. Harry Shoup answered the phone and heard a child say, &nbsp;“Are you Santa Claus?” He asked the child how he got the unlisted number, and was informed about an ad.&nbsp;Brig. Gen. Steven Gorski, NORAD and US Northern Command director of intelligence, says, “Colonel Shoup played the part. He assured the child that he was not in fact Santa Claus, but his job was to track Santa Claus and make sure that he stayed safe. That started the lore and the history of NORAD Tracks Santa.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.noradsanta.org/en/map">Click here to track Santa</a><h2>Santa tracker and calls</h2>NORAD has been in the Christmas spirit ever since, and every year on the eve of the holiday, it scans the skies to know where Santa is. In Canada, two CF-18 Hornets guided Santa through the country's airspace in the evening. Transport Canada also posted a fun ad on X, stating that "the Minister of Transport has cleared Santa for travel just in time for #Christmas."&nbsp;Meanwhile, NORAD also posted about the number of calls it had received enquiring about Santa. It wrote on X, "We’ve now received more than 64,000 calls from families around the world tracking Santa’s journey tonight." Today, volunteers handle around 380,000 calls, while the website gets some 2.3 million hits every year on Christmas Eve.

NORAD Santa tracking: The North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking Santa once again, giving people an update on where Santa is and how many gifts he has delivered. How did this tradition start?

Santa has taken off from the North Pole, and NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – is helping everyone waiting for him track him in real time. He is first moving to the South Pacific, and will then visit Asia, Africa, Europe, and cross the Atlantic to the Americas in just 24 hours. NORAD has been following this tradition since 1955. It started with an error and went on to become a tradition that is followed to date. However, NORAD is not the only one tracking Santa's journey, as the Federal Aviation Administration is also on the trail. Santa has already delivered almost four and a half billion gifts, according to NORAD. So, how does this work, and when did it start? How NORAD Santa tracking begin? Norad uses its polar radar network to track Santa, and then moves on to satellites and infrared sensors. The latter are typically used to detect missile launches. However, Santa does not follow a fixed route, as NORAD says, "only Santa knows his route." The tradition of tracking Santa started in 1955. It started with a misprint in an advertisement, telling children they could place a call to Santa Claus on the number ME 2-6681. But a misprint of one digit diverted the calls to Colorado Springs' Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center. Air Force Col. Harry Shoup answered the phone and heard a child say, “Are you Santa Claus?” He asked the child how he got the unlisted number, and was informed about an ad. Brig. Gen. Steven Gorski, NORAD and US Northern Command director of intelligence, says, “Colonel Shoup played the part. He assured the child that he was not in fact Santa Claus, but his job was to track Santa Claus and make sure that he stayed safe. That started the lore and the history of NORAD Tracks Santa.” Click here to track Santa Santa tracker and calls NORAD has been in the Christmas spirit ever since, and every year on the eve of the holiday, it scans the skies to know where Santa is. In Canada, two CF-18 Hornets guided Santa through the country's airspace in the evening. Transport Canada also posted a fun ad on X, stating that "the Minister of Transport has cleared Santa for travel just in time for #Christmas." Meanwhile, NORAD also posted about the number of calls it had received enquiring about Santa. It wrote on X, "We’ve now received more than 64,000 calls from families around the world tracking Santa’s journey tonight." Today, volunteers handle around 380,000 calls, while the website gets some 2.3 million hits every year on Christmas Eve.

NORAD Santa tracking: The North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking Santa once again, giving people an update on where Santa is and how many gifts he has delivered. How did this tradition start?

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China wants military bases in Bangladesh, Myanmar? What India should note...

The mistake that kicked off NORAD Santa tracking: Here is where to track Santa