The Early Spring is proof not everyone can talk about their real feelings, and it is perfectly OK

UN votes to ‘correct the map’ as India backs fairer world view

Nigerian Navy discovers 99,000 litres of suspected stolen, illegally refined products as it intensifies anti-crude oil theft operations

Who is Aditi Paudel? 17-year-old becomes Japan's first literacy ambassador

Bengaluru: Officials find 40 kg expired chilli at chairman's club 

Jaishankar rejects trade link to ending Ukraine war 

Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill three, injure 23 despite truce

Alpine glacier was covered with sheep wool sheets to prevent melting. It worked

South Korea mulls deploying military assets to Strait of Hormuz

World's fifth-largest economy, British army can't afford to train

Breaking | Vance takes the podium: First White House briefing since Leavitt's exit

Taiwan raises 'concerns' over China's missile test

BRICS 2026: $1 trillion sovereign capital set to converge in Delhi for first iBRICS Summit

What is Iran's Pickaxe Mountain that Trump has again threatened to bomb?

UN votes to correct world map that visually shrank Africa for 450 years

Former NewJeans member Danielle launches YouTube channel, hints at new solo journey

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy creates history with 350 not out in South Africa

Brendan Fraser’s transformation fuels The Mummy 4 excitement as fans welcome back Rick O’Connell

Krishna Janmashtami 2026: From Dhaniya Panjiri to Makhana Kheer- 5 best sweet dishes perfect for celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth

Donald Trump plans to travel to Ireland on Qatari-donated jet amid security concerns

Nazi-looted art to return to Jewish heirs

Eight killed in Kerala’s Thrissur after car rams into lorry parked on highway

Why Russian fighter jets use bulky, low-pressure tyres compared to US jets

FBI-wanted fraud accused arrested in Jalandhar over $600,000 scam

Why US tanks weigh over 20 tons more than Russian tanks

New Friday OTT releases (September 4, 2026): GDN, Dhamaal 4, Jagamae Sangeetham- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Killing the Himalayas slowly: Human urine is melting a glacier on Mount Everest

The Gaza authorities claimed on Tuesday that twelve Palestinians drowned while attempting to retrieve airdropped aid that had fallen into the Mediterranean, the latest incident in which an airdrop appears to have resulted in death.

Israel War: Twelve Palestinians drown while trying to retrieve airdrops

Brazil and France have launched an investment program to protect the Brazilian and Guyanese amazon rainforests. This program involves an investment of 1.1 billion dollars in private and public funds over the next four years. Watch in for more details!

Brazil, France launch $1.1 billion programme to protect Amazon

Rishi Sunak should commit to spending more on defence in the Conservative Party general election manifesto, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said, amid warnings that the UK is not ready for an all-out war with Russia.

UK general admits military 'couldn't fight Russia for longer than two months'

Here we bring to you WION's climate tracker that showcases climate stories from across the globe: Brazil and France have launched an investment program to protect the Brazilian and Guyanese Amazon rainforests. This program involves an investment of 1.1 billion dollars in private and public funds over the next four years. Snakes, frogs, and a crocodile are among the species that have taken centre stage in a new exhibit opening at London Zoo in the British capital. The exhibition was opened for the viewers last week. Watch in for more details!

Brazil-France move to save Amazon | Nature's masterpieces in London Zoo

The British Museum has dragged a former curator to court on Tuesday the museum has accused the ex-employee of stealing hundreds of artifacts and then putting them on sale online. Watch in for more details!

British museum drags Ex-Curator to court over stealing charges

A new London Zoo is all set to exhibit secret life of reptiles and amphibians. The exhibition will open to the public on March 29. Watch in for more details!

London Zoo exhibit reptiles and amphibians

Israel's military spokesman says Hamas deputy military commander Marwan Issa was killed earlier this month in an Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. Watch in for more details!

Israel War: Israel claims senior Hamas commander killed in recent attack

British courts have concluded that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange cannot be promptly extradited to the US to face spying accusations, paving the way for months of judicial fighting over his fate.

UK court delays decision on Julian Assange's extradition

Two ministers submitted their resignations Tuesday in a blow to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, forcing him to appoint new names in a mini-reshuffle. Watch in for more details!

UK: Two ministers resign, forcing Rishi Sunak into Cabinet reshuffle

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday (Mar 26) after being struck by a container ship, plunging into the Patapsco River.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday (Mar 26) after being struck by a container ship, plunging into the Patapsco River. The entire incident was captured on various live streams, although no audio of the collapse was recorded. Video evidence suggests that several vehicles fell into the river. However, there's uncertainty about whether people were on the bridge during the collapse. Baltimore bridge collapse conspiracy theories and White House response Despite initial reports attributing the collapse to the ship's collision, conspiracy theories have emerged on social media platforms like X, with claims of deliberate intent. The White House asserted that it was 'closely monitoring' the situation and that there was no indication of 'any nefarious intent' behind the Baltimore ship collapse. A White House official said, "Our hearts go out to the families of those who remain missing as a result of this horrific incident." Meanwhile, controversial social media personality, businessman, and former professional kickboxer Andrew Tate made some serious claims about the incident on social media platform X. "This ship was cyber-attacked. Lights go off and it deliberately steers towards the bridge supports. Foreign agents of the USA attack digital infrastructures. Nothing is safe. Black Swan event imminent," he tweeted on X along with a live stream clip. This ship was cyber-attacked. Lights go off and it deliberately steers towards the bridge supports. Foreign agents of the USA attack digital infrastructures. Nothing is safe. Black Swan event imminent. pic.twitter.com/14SBqK8tJA — Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) March 26, 2024 × Another user on X wrote, "The Baltimore Maryland bridge collapsed this morning. This looks pretty deliberate to me. It rammed straight into one of the supports." FBI Baltimore also posted on X, "Francis Scott Key Bridge: There is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time. The investigation is ongoing." Who owns the ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge? The involved vessel, the 948-foot-long Dali, a Singaporean-flagged container, departed Baltimore's Seagirt Marine Terminal at around 12:30 am. The 9-year-old ship slowed and diverted off its path. The ship is chartered by Maersk and managed by Synergy Marine Group, Singapore, and owned by Grace Ocean, Singapore. Rescue operations are underway; 6 missing, 1 hospitalised Search and rescue operations are ongoing, involving multiple agencies and volunteers, including Coast Guard ships and local fire departments. Six people are missing and two individuals were rescued from the river; one was unharmed while the other was hospitalised in serious condition. Synergy Marine Group, the company operating the Dali ship, confirmed the collision and assured that all crew members, including pilots, were safe. While the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, initial reports suggest a collision with a bridge pillar, causing containers and diesel to flood into the river. (With inputs from agencies)

Baltimore bridge collapse: Andrew Tate says ship was ‘cyber-attacked’; White House rejects rumours

Thailand's parliament overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill on Wednesday, a landmark step that moves one of Asia’s most liberal countries closer to becoming its third territory to legalise same-sex unions.

Thailand: Lawmakers approve a bill to legalise same-sex marriage

Google-owned video streaming platform YouTube said Tuesday (Mar 26) it removed 2.25 million videos in India during the fourth quarter of 2023 (October-December). The videos were removed over non-compliance of its community guidelines. During the same period, YouTube removed over nine million videos worldwide. The video platform in a statement said its actions helped users stay away from harmful content.

"Since the earliest days as a company, our Community Guidelines have protected the YouTube community from harmful content," the company said in a statement. "YouTube’s Community Guidelines are enforced consistently across the globe, regardless of the uploader, where the content is uploaded or how the content was generated," it added.

The statement added that when content is removed from YouTube, it’s removed globally. It added that policy violations are identified using a combination of machine learning and human reviewers.

<h2>Role of machine and AI</h2>

It added that more than 96 per cent of the now-removed videos globally were initially flagged by machines rather than humans. It also claimed that above 53 per cent of those videos were removed even before they received the first view and over 27 per cent of the videos were removed between one and 10 views.

"YouTube removed over 20 million channels in Q4 2023 for violating our Community Guidelines (globally)," YouTube said in its statement. "The overwhelming majority of these channels were terminated for violating our spam policies, including but not restricted to scams, misleading metadata or thumbnails, video and comments spam," it added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiB5YChnpKFAxXIzjgGHZDYDioQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/prime-minister-narendra-modi-youtube-channel-crosses-20-million-subscribers-highest-among-global-leaders-673696" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/trending/prime-minister-narendra-modi-youtube-channel-crosses-20-million-subscribers-highest-among-global-leaders-673696&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiB5YChnpKFAxXIzjgGHZDYDioQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE">Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s YouTube channel crosses 20 million subscribers; highest among global leaders</a>

YouTube also removed more than 1.1 billion comments during the quarter worldwide for policy violations. The majority of the removed comments were spam, YouTube said. It added that 99 per cent of the now-deleted comments were flagged automatically.

<h2>Other nations where most videos were removed</h2>

After India, Singapore and the US ranked second and third respectively for most video removals by YouTube. A whopping 1.24 million videos were removed in Singapore while above 780,000 videos were removed in the US.

Indonesia came in fourth place where more than 770,000 videos were removed. The videos were removed for violating community norms on parameters like harmful or dangerous content, child safety, violent or graphic content, nudity and sexual content, misinformation and others.

(With inputs from agencies)

Google-owned video streaming platform YouTube said Tuesday (Mar 26) it removed 2.25 million videos in India during the fourth quarter of 2023 (October-December).

Google-owned video streaming platform YouTube said Tuesday (Mar 26) it removed 2.25 million videos in India during the fourth quarter of 2023 (October-December). The videos were removed over non-compliance of its community guidelines. During the same period, YouTube removed over nine million videos worldwide. The video platform in a statement said its actions helped users stay away from harmful content. "Since the earliest days as a company, our Community Guidelines have protected the YouTube community from harmful content," the company said in a statement. "YouTube’s Community Guidelines are enforced consistently across the globe, regardless of the uploader, where the content is uploaded or how the content was generated," it added. The statement added that when content is removed from YouTube, it’s removed globally. It added that policy violations are identified using a combination of machine learning and human reviewers. Role of machine and AI It added that more than 96 per cent of the now-removed videos globally were initially flagged by machines rather than humans. It also claimed that above 53 per cent of those videos were removed even before they received the first view and over 27 per cent of the videos were removed between one and 10 views. "YouTube removed over 20 million channels in Q4 2023 for violating our Community Guidelines (globally)," YouTube said in its statement. "The overwhelming majority of these channels were terminated for violating our spam policies, including but not restricted to scams, misleading metadata or thumbnails, video and comments spam," it added. Also read: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s YouTube channel crosses 20 million subscribers; highest among global leaders YouTube also removed more than 1.1 billion comments during the quarter worldwide for policy violations. The majority of the removed comments were spam, YouTube said. It added that 99 per cent of the now-deleted comments were flagged automatically. Other nations where most videos were removed After India, Singapore and the US ranked second and third respectively for most video removals by YouTube. A whopping 1.24 million videos were removed in Singapore while above 780,000 videos were removed in the US. Indonesia came in fourth place where more than 770,000 videos were removed. The videos were removed for violating community norms on parameters like harmful or dangerous content, child safety, violent or graphic content, nudity and sexual content, misinformation and others. (With inputs from agencies)

YouTube removes 9 million videos worldwide, 2.2mn in India alone, for policy violations

UK: Exodus of Conservative MPs continues from House of Commons, 2 more Ministers abandon PM Sunak

Public satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to its lowest ever level, with long delays to access care the biggest source of deepening frustration, a study has shown. Watch in for more details!

UK: Public satisfaction with NHS hits lowest level, waiting lists & staff shortages biggest concerns

The US Supreme Court appeared sceptical about limiting access to the abortion drug mifepristone during a hearing on Tuesday (Mar 26). As per reports, the top court signalled that it was unlikely to go through with such a limitation and questioned the appropriateness of challenging the drug's federal approval.

US Abortion Tussle: US Supreme Court favours abortion pills being made available

A prolonged war against Russia and delayed shipments from the West have unknowingly given a push to Ukraine's indigenous weapons industry. Before 2022, Ukraine made practically no weapons of its own they were all bought from its allies but now two years into the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war Kyiv is increasingly relying on its own for replenishing the ammunitions. Watch in for more details!

Russia-Ukraine war: Delayed western aid pushes Ukraine to make weapons at home

At least six serving judges from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) collectively wrote to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), urging for a judicial conference to address concerns regarding the “interference of intelligence agencies with judicial functions”. All seven judges of the IHC, except Chief Justice Amer Farooq, highlighted how senior Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officials have been influencing judicial proceedings and pressuring judges.

Pakistan | Islamabad High Court judges' accusation: Spy agencies 'interfering' in Pakistan judiciary

UK: Public satisfaction with NHS hits lower level

India has launched a former complaint to the US over the State Department's latest remarks regarding the Delhi Chief Minister's arrest. Earlier today New Delhi summoned US' acting Deputy Chief of mission Gloria Berbena to the ministry of External Affairs. Watch to know more!

Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: India slams US' remarks on Kejriwal's arrest

UK: British Museum drags ex-curator to court over stealing charges, he denies them!

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have called for a much greater pace of investments into defense spending additionally they warned that the military needs more money for ammunition and anti-missile systems. Watch in for more details!

UK Military General warns country not ready for long war, cabinet clash over defence spending

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: In a tragic incident, a major bridge in the American city of Baltimore collapsed after it was hit by a large cargo ship. Israeli strike kills Hamas' deputy commander. India replaces Germany as biggest Pharma supplier to Russia. Watch in for more details!

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: US President hails Indian crew for sounding SOS call

An inquiry into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, will investigate whether contaminated fuel played a role in causing the cargo ship to lose power and collide with the bridge, as reported exclusively by The Washington Post.

As of late Tuesday (Mar 26), investigators had not boarded the vessel, a 948-foot-long container ship named the Dali, which remained lodged on a pillar of the collapsed bridge. It is anticipated that the ship could remain in this position for several weeks. On Tuesday, rescue teams devoted much of their efforts to searching for potential survivors, but authorities later announced that the operation had shifted from search and rescue to recovery.

According to a briefing report from the Coast Guard, approximately an hour into the ship's journey early Tuesday, the lights on the Dali began to flicker. A harbour pilot and assistant reported encountering power problems and a loss of propulsion prior to the collision.

"The vessel went dead, no steering power and no electronics," an officer aboard the ship said, as quoted by Fox News.

"One of the engines coughed and then stopped. The smell of burned fuel was everywhere in the engine room and it was pitch black," he added.

According to the officer, the ship was unable to deploy anchors in time to prevent drifting, and the crew issued a mayday call before the collision occurred.

Although uncommon, blackouts at sea are recognised as a significant safety hazard for ships navigating on the water.

One potential cause of ship blackouts is fuel contamination, which can lead to issues with the vessel's primary power generators, noted Fotis Pagoulatos, a naval architect, who spoke to Fox News.&nbsp;He explained that a complete blackout could result in the loss of propulsion, and while smaller generators may activate, they are insufficient to support all functions and require time to start.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/baltimore-bridge-collapse-joe-biden-appreciates-sos-sent-by-indian-crew-on-ship-704755">Also read |&nbsp;Baltimore bridge collapse: Joe Biden appreciates quick SOS sent by Indian crew on ship</a>

During a press briefing, National Transportation Safety Board chief Jennifer Homendy stated that the investigation will encompass evaluations of the ship's operations and safety history, as well as those of its owner and operator.

Efforts will be made to retrieve recorders from the vessel to ascertain the events leading up to the collision.

<h2>Inspection records and operational details</h2>

Data from Equasis, an international shipping database, revealed&nbsp;that the ship, constructed by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2015, had&nbsp;undergone over 20 port state control inspections since its inception.

Despite numerous inspections, none resulted in detention, which occurs when a ship is deemed unsuitable for operation. However, two reviews documented deficiencies: one in Belgium in July 2016 noted hull damage, while another in Chile in June 2023 identified issues with the ship's propulsion and auxiliary machinery.

In September 2023, the US&nbsp;Coast Guard conducted a review of the vessel and found no issues.

Operated by Singapore-based Synergy Marine Group for its voyage,&nbsp;the ship, carrying cargo for Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk, departed from a terminal at the Port of Baltimore en route to Sri Lanka. Grace Ocean Pte., a Singaporean company, owns the vessel.

According to port officials, two tugboats assisted the ship in leaving the terminal on Tuesday. However, they withdrew from the operation early in the journey. Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for Synergy Marine, stated that the ship had two pilots and 22 crew members from India on board at the time of the collision.

Also watch |&nbsp;US President Biden claims he commuted over Baltimore bridge by train 'many times'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-biden-claims-he-commuted-over-baltimore-bridge-by-train-many-times-704775/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Insurance experts predict that the collapse of the bridge will lead to a series of insurance claims totalling billions of dollars. These claims will cover various aspects such as the cost of replacing the bridge, losses incurred by businesses operating at the port, and other related expenses. Additionally, individuals affected by the accident may seek compensation by filing claims against the company operating the ship.

(With inputs from agencies)

An inquiry into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, will investigate whether contaminated fuel played a role in causing the cargo ship to lose power and collide with the bridge, as reported exclusively by The Washington Post.

An inquiry into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, will investigate whether contaminated fuel played a role in causing the cargo ship to lose power and collide with the bridge, as reported exclusively by The Washington Post. As of late Tuesday (Mar 26), investigators had not boarded the vessel, a 948-foot-long container ship named the Dali, which remained lodged on a pillar of the collapsed bridge. It is anticipated that the ship could remain in this position for several weeks. On Tuesday, rescue teams devoted much of their efforts to searching for potential survivors, but authorities later announced that the operation had shifted from search and rescue to recovery. According to a briefing report from the Coast Guard, approximately an hour into the ship's journey early Tuesday, the lights on the Dali began to flicker. A harbour pilot and assistant reported encountering power problems and a loss of propulsion prior to the collision. "The vessel went dead, no steering power and no electronics," an officer aboard the ship said, as quoted by Fox News. "One of the engines coughed and then stopped. The smell of burned fuel was everywhere in the engine room and it was pitch black," he added. According to the officer, the ship was unable to deploy anchors in time to prevent drifting, and the crew issued a mayday call before the collision occurred. Although uncommon, blackouts at sea are recognised as a significant safety hazard for ships navigating on the water. One potential cause of ship blackouts is fuel contamination, which can lead to issues with the vessel's primary power generators, noted Fotis Pagoulatos, a naval architect, who spoke to Fox News. He explained that a complete blackout could result in the loss of propulsion, and while smaller generators may activate, they are insufficient to support all functions and require time to start. Also read | Baltimore bridge collapse: Joe Biden appreciates quick SOS sent by Indian crew on ship During a press briefing, National Transportation Safety Board chief Jennifer Homendy stated that the investigation will encompass evaluations of the ship's operations and safety history, as well as those of its owner and operator. Efforts will be made to retrieve recorders from the vessel to ascertain the events leading up to the collision. Inspection records and operational details Data from Equasis, an international shipping database, revealed that the ship, constructed by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2015, had undergone over 20 port state control inspections since its inception. Despite numerous inspections, none resulted in detention, which occurs when a ship is deemed unsuitable for operation. However, two reviews documented deficiencies: one in Belgium in July 2016 noted hull damage, while another in Chile in June 2023 identified issues with the ship's propulsion and auxiliary machinery. In September 2023, the US Coast Guard conducted a review of the vessel and found no issues. Operated by Singapore-based Synergy Marine Group for its voyage, the ship, carrying cargo for Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk, departed from a terminal at the Port of Baltimore en route to Sri Lanka. Grace Ocean Pte., a Singaporean company, owns the vessel. According to port officials, two tugboats assisted the ship in leaving the terminal on Tuesday. However, they withdrew from the operation early in the journey. Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for Synergy Marine, stated that the ship had two pilots and 22 crew members from India on board at the time of the collision. Also watch | US President Biden claims he commuted over Baltimore bridge by train 'many times' Insurance experts predict that the collapse of the bridge will lead to a series of insurance claims totalling billions of dollars. These claims will cover various aspects such as the cost of replacing the bridge, losses incurred by businesses operating at the port, and other related expenses. Additionally, individuals affected by the accident may seek compensation by filing claims against the company operating the ship. (With inputs from agencies)

Baltimore bridge collapse: Could the ship’s contaminated fuel be the cause of collision?

At least six people who went missing after a cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore are presumed dead, the city officials said. Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, termed the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday a tragic event.

At least six people who went missing after a cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore are presumed dead, the city officials said. Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, termed the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday a tragic event. The bridge was hit by a cargo ship that lost power, causing unprecedented damage. This incident is heartbreaking, especially for the residents of Baltimore, the largest city in Maryland. "The words 'the Key Bridge is gone,' it is still sinking in. For 47 years, that is all we have known. It is not just unprecedented, it is heartbreaking," Moore said. ALSO READ | Protecting Palestinians a moral imperative, Pentagon chief tells Israeli Defence Minister Gallant Here are five things to know about the Francis Scott Key Bridge: Francis Scott Key, who authored the US national anthem ('The Star-Spangled Banner'), lent his name to the bridge. On March 26, the bridge collapsed, which was three days past the 47th anniversary of its opening. Built in 1972 over the Patapsco River, this 1.6-mile bridge completed Interstate 695, an auxiliary highway around Baltimore. According to Governor Moore, the "normal commuting route" was used by approximately 30,000 individuals daily. On average, it handles around 11.3 million (1.13 crore) vehicles per year. The steel bridge had an arched structure with four lanes, out of which the primary one was 1200 feet (366 meters) long. At the time of its opening, it was the second-largest continuous truss bridge in the world, and it remained the third-largest globally and the second-largest in the United States. The total length of the bridge was 8636 feet (2632 metres). The Francis Scott Key bridge, which was rated 'fair' by the Federal Highway Administration in June 2023, is not the same as the six-lane bridge over the Potomac River between Rosslyn, Virginia, and Georgetown, Washington DC. (With inputs from agencies)

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Five facts to know about Francis Scott Key Bridge

Japan has issued&nbsp;a nationwide recall of a dietary supplement that lowers cholesterol&nbsp;amid concerns it could be linked to two deaths and more than 100 hospitalisations.

This comes as a&nbsp;major Japanese drugmaker&nbsp;on Tuesday (Mar 26) said that it is investigating the death of one person who is believed to have regularly consumed the&nbsp;health supplement, advertised as a cholesterol-lowering pill, containing a type of yeast-fermented rice called beni kōji.

A second death was reported to the Ministry of health, labour and welfare, Kyodo&nbsp;news agency reported.

<h2>Company issues apology</h2>

The Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said that they were investigating the death&nbsp;and hospitalisations linked to the product which contains the ingredient, as many people reported developing kidney problems after taking the supplement.&nbsp;

The company also said that they had recalled the product and urged people to stop taking the supplements as they suspect a causal link between the product and the death, which reportedly occurred due to kidney disease.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-executives-of-mini-mart-charged-over-allah-written-on-socks-704402">Malaysia: Executives of mini-mart charged over ‘Allah’ written on socks</a>

The person who died had been buying Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s Beni-koji Cholesterol Help supplement, advertised as a cholesterol-lowering pill, continuously for three years starting April 2021 and ordered over 35 bags until last month.&nbsp;

“We have always placed the health of our customers above all else as our top priority. We would like to express our sincerest apologies for the circumstances that led to this incident,” said Kobayashi Pharmaceutical&nbsp;in an apology issued on its website, as quoted by the Japan Times.

The company said that it suspects that the problem could be previously undetected toxic substances in moulds used during production.

“Although we are diligently confirming the facts and causal relationships, we would like to report this from the perspective of prompt information disclosure,” said the company.&nbsp;

The customers affected by the product reported reduced kidney function, change in the colour of their urine, swelling in limbs and fatigue.&nbsp;

The company, on Monday (Mar 25) had also reported that around 26 people had been hospitalised for kidney-related and other health problems after taking the supplements containing beni kōji.&nbsp;

According to Japanese media reports, millions of these health supplements have been sold since the pill was introduced in early 2021.&nbsp;

In January, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said that they began an investigation and set up a hotline for consumers after a doctor alerted them.&nbsp;

<h2>What is beni kōji?</h2>

Beni kōji is a type of rice which is fermented using monascus purpureus – a species of reddish-purple mould that gives the rice its distinct dark red colour. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/youtube-removes-9mn-videos-worldwide-22mn-alone-in-india-for-policy-violations-704527">YouTube removes 9 million videos worldwide, 2.2mn in India alone for policy violations</a>

It is believed that this type of rice can help reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol in the blood. Beni kōji is also used in several products to add colour and flavour.&nbsp;

On Monday, the company&nbsp;which also supplies beni kōji to food and beverage companies&nbsp;asked them to recall products containing the ingredient.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, according to Japanese media, has provided beni kōji as a food ingredient to 52 companies in Japan and abroad.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Japan has issued a nationwide recall of a dietary supplement that lowers cholesterol amid concerns it could be linked to two deaths and more than 100 hospitalisations.

Japan has issued a nationwide recall of a dietary supplement that lowers cholesterol amid concerns it could be linked to two deaths and more than 100 hospitalisations. This comes as a major Japanese drugmaker on Tuesday (Mar 26) said that it is investigating the death of one person who is believed to have regularly consumed the health supplement, advertised as a cholesterol-lowering pill, containing a type of yeast-fermented rice called beni kōji. A second death was reported to the Ministry of health, labour and welfare, Kyodo news agency reported. Company issues apology The Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said that they were investigating the death and hospitalisations linked to the product which contains the ingredient, as many people reported developing kidney problems after taking the supplement. The company also said that they had recalled the product and urged people to stop taking the supplements as they suspect a causal link between the product and the death, which reportedly occurred due to kidney disease. Also Read | Malaysia: Executives of mini-mart charged over ‘Allah’ written on socks The person who died had been buying Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s Beni-koji Cholesterol Help supplement, advertised as a cholesterol-lowering pill, continuously for three years starting April 2021 and ordered over 35 bags until last month. “We have always placed the health of our customers above all else as our top priority. We would like to express our sincerest apologies for the circumstances that led to this incident,” said Kobayashi Pharmaceutical in an apology issued on its website, as quoted by the Japan Times. The company said that it suspects that the problem could be previously undetected toxic substances in moulds used during production. “Although we are diligently confirming the facts and causal relationships, we would like to report this from the perspective of prompt information disclosure,” said the company. The customers affected by the product reported reduced kidney function, change in the colour of their urine, swelling in limbs and fatigue. The company, on Monday (Mar 25) had also reported that around 26 people had been hospitalised for kidney-related and other health problems after taking the supplements containing beni kōji. According to Japanese media reports, millions of these health supplements have been sold since the pill was introduced in early 2021. In January, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said that they began an investigation and set up a hotline for consumers after a doctor alerted them. What is beni kōji? Beni kōji is a type of rice which is fermented using monascus purpureus – a species of reddish-purple mould that gives the rice its distinct dark red colour. Also Read | YouTube removes 9 million videos worldwide, 2.2mn in India alone for policy violations It is believed that this type of rice can help reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol in the blood. Beni kōji is also used in several products to add colour and flavour. On Monday, the company which also supplies beni kōji to food and beverage companies asked them to recall products containing the ingredient. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, according to Japanese media, has provided beni kōji as a food ingredient to 52 companies in Japan and abroad. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan recalls health supplement linked to two deaths and over 100 hospitalisations

Pakistani authorities say that five Chinese nationals were among six people killed in a suicide attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday. A convoy carrying Chinese engineers was targeted by a suicide bomber who rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into them. This is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan in less than a week.

Pakistan Bomb Attack: China halts Tarbela 5 hydropower extension project after attack

world

World, News on World, stories on World, articles on World, World stories at Wion, World news, World latest news

world news