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Swedish Man Missing During Trekking In Nepal, Search Ops Launched

A 20-year-old Swedish tourist has gone missing from the Mardi mountain trekking route in Western Nepal, authorities said on Sunday. Swedish national Mitchel Liu Blomberg headed towards the base camp of Mardi mountain in Kaski district on Saturday at 4 a.m., but did not return till evening, said Ram Gurung, the ward chairman of Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality-8. The missing tourist was carrying a torchlight along with him, Gurung said. The Mardi Mountain trekking route lies in Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality. A search operation has been launched in the area to track the missing tourist, police said. The Mardi Mountain trek is a beautiful but challenging 4-day route in the Annapurna Mountain region that offers breathtaking views of the picturesque Himalayan mountain range. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/Bh0emvC

Swedish Man Missing During Trekking In Nepal, Search Ops Launched

A 20-year-old Swedish tourist has gone missing from the Mardi mountain trekking route in Western Nepal, authorities said on Sunday. Swedish national Mitchel Liu Blomberg headed towards the base camp of Mardi mountain in Kaski district on Saturday at 4 a.m., but did not return till evening, said Ram Gurung, the ward chairman of Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality-8. The missing tourist was carrying a torchlight along with him, Gurung said. The Mardi Mountain trekking route lies in Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality. A search operation has been launched in the area to track the missing tourist, police said. The Mardi Mountain trek is a beautiful but challenging 4-day route in the Annapurna Mountain region that offers breathtaking views of the picturesque Himalayan mountain range. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/Bh0emvC

Denmark Queen Announces Surprise Abdication On Live TV After 52 Years

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, Europe's longest-serving monarch, will abdicate on Jan. 14 after 52 years on the throne and will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik, she announced on Sunday. The 83-year-old queen, who ascended the throne in 1972, made the surprise announcement on live TV during her traditional New Year's Eve speech, which is viewed by many in the country of 5.9 million people. Referring to a successful back operation she underwent in February, she said, "The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation". "I have decided that now is the right time. On 14 January 2024 - 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father - I will step down as queen of Denmark," she said. "I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik," she said. The queen became the longest-serving monarch in Europe following the death of Britain's Qu

Denmark Queen Announces Surprise Abdication On Live TV After 52 Years

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, Europe's longest-serving monarch, will abdicate on Jan. 14 after 52 years on the throne and will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik, she announced on Sunday. The 83-year-old queen, who ascended the throne in 1972, made the surprise announcement on live TV during her traditional New Year's Eve speech, which is viewed by many in the country of 5.9 million people. Referring to a successful back operation she underwent in February, she said, "The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation". "I have decided that now is the right time. On 14 January 2024 - 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father - I will step down as queen of Denmark," she said. "I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik," she said. The queen became the longest-serving monarch in Europe following the death of Britain's Qu

Bolivian Ex President Evo Morales Barred From Running For 2025 Re-Election

Bolivia's Constitutional Court has disqualified former president Evo Morales from running for re-election in 2025, reversing a ruling that had let him seek a fourth term in 2019. It said on its website that term limits provide "an ideal measure for ensuring that someone does not perpetuate themself in power." Bolivia's first Indigenous president, Morales first took power in 2006 and was extremely popular until he tried to bypass the constitution and seek a fourth term in office in 2019. He won that vote but was forced to resign amid deadly protests over alleged election fraud, and fled the country. He returned after his then ally Luis Arce won the presidency in October 2020. Morales has since fallen out with Arce. Saturday's announcement from the court reversed a ruling it had made in 2017 which effectively found that being able to run for re-election is a "human right." The new ruling cannot be appealed. Morales denounced the new ruling as eviden

Almost 70% Of Gaza Homes Damaged Or Destroyed In Israel-Hamas War: Report

Around half of the buildings and almost 70 per cent of homes in Gaza City have been damaged or destroyed in the ongoing war with Israel, Times of Israel reported citing a report by the Wall Street Journal. The report cites an analysis of the strip using satellite data provided by remote-sensing experts. The buildings hit, noted in the paper, include factories, schools, shopping malls and hotels. According to Israel many civilian buildings attacked by it were used for military purposes, bases of operation by Hamas. WSJ report added that only eight of Gaza's 36 hospitals can accept patients and that most basic infrastructure including water, electricity and communications are far beyond repair. "The word 'Gaza' is going to go down in history along with Dresden and other famous cities that have been bombed," Robert Pape, a political scientist at the University of Chicago who has written about the history of aerial bombing, told WSJ. Meanwhile, the Israeli air fo

Google Settles $5 Billion Lawsuit Alleging 'Incognito' Mode Tracks Users

Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked the data of users who thought they were browsing the internet privately. The object of the lawsuit was the "incognito" mode on Google's Chrome browser that the plaintiffs said gave users a false sense that what they were surfing online was not being tracked by the Silicon Valley tech firm. But internal Google emails brought forward in the lawsuit demonstrated that users using incognito mode were being followed by the search and advertising behemoth for measuring web traffic and selling ads. In a court filing, the judge confirmed that lawyers for Google reached a preliminary agreement to settle the class action lawsuit -- originally filed in 2020 -- which claimed that "millions of individuals" had likely been affected. Lawyers for the plaintiffs were seeking at least $5,000 for each user it said had been tracked by the firm's Google An

Google Settles $5 Billion Lawsuit Alleging 'Incognito' Mode Tracks Users

Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked the data of users who thought they were browsing the internet privately. The object of the lawsuit was the "incognito" mode on Google's Chrome browser that the plaintiffs said gave users a false sense that what they were surfing online was not being tracked by the Silicon Valley tech firm. But internal Google emails brought forward in the lawsuit demonstrated that users using incognito mode were being followed by the search and advertising behemoth for measuring web traffic and selling ads. In a court filing, the judge confirmed that lawyers for Google reached a preliminary agreement to settle the class action lawsuit -- originally filed in 2020 -- which claimed that "millions of individuals" had likely been affected. Lawyers for the plaintiffs were seeking at least $5,000 for each user it said had been tracked by the firm's Google An

"Landmark Change": Special Prosecutors Take Over US Military Sexual Assault Cases

The decision on whether to prosecute serious crimes such as sexual assaults in the US military has shifted from commanders to independent lawyers, the Pentagon said Thursday, implementing a congressionally-mandated reform. The change followed years of pressure from victims' advocates to ensure better accountability in the military. Congress passed a law requiring the shift in 2021 and US President Joe Biden ordered its implementation in July. "Prosecutorial discretion for 13 serious criminal offenses will be shifted away from commanders to specially trained and independent judge advocates who reside within the Offices of Special Trial Counsel and report directly to the secretaries of the military departments," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. "This landmark change to the US military justice system will significantly strengthen the independent prosecution of sexual assault and other serious criminal offenses in the Department of Defense," he

"Landmark Change": Special Prosecutors Take Over US Military Sexual Assault Cases

The decision on whether to prosecute serious crimes such as sexual assaults in the US military has shifted from commanders to independent lawyers, the Pentagon said Thursday, implementing a congressionally-mandated reform. The change followed years of pressure from victims' advocates to ensure better accountability in the military. Congress passed a law requiring the shift in 2021 and US President Joe Biden ordered its implementation in July. "Prosecutorial discretion for 13 serious criminal offenses will be shifted away from commanders to specially trained and independent judge advocates who reside within the Offices of Special Trial Counsel and report directly to the secretaries of the military departments," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. "This landmark change to the US military justice system will significantly strengthen the independent prosecution of sexual assault and other serious criminal offenses in the Department of Defense," he

10 Indian Labourers Injured As Building, Hit By Crane, Collapses In Nepal

Ten Indian labourers were injured on Wednesday when parts of an under-construction factory building collapsed in Western Nepal, police said. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Resham Bohara, they sustained injuries when the Kajaria Tiles Industry's building collapsed in Nawalparasi West. The accident occurred when the building, which was undergoing construction, was hit by a crane. All the injured labourers have been admitted to a local community hospital for treatment. However, the condition of one of the Indian labourers is said to be serious. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) from NDTV News-World-news https://ift.tt/gqbcuDK

"For 70-80 Years Only India-Russia Ties Remained Constant": S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that while there have been ups and downs in relationships between all countries, the only constant in global politics has been the ties between India and Russia. He also emphasised that in the fields of defence, space and nuclear energy, countries only cooperate with those with whom they have a "high degree" of trust. He was interacting with the Indian community at an event in Moscow on Tuesday. Addressing the event, Mr Jaishankar said, "Relationship between India and Russia, in many ways is exceptional...if one looks at last 60, 70, 80 years of politics among the major countries. They have had their relationships, but all these relationships have their ups and downs...Russia and China, Russia and USA, Russia and Europe, India and China, India and USA. You would see over time, there are good periods, there are difficulties, stresses and very good memories and great achievements". He also confirmed that he wi

US Couple Sells 'Everything' To Live On Cruise Ships, Claims It's Cheaper

A couple in the US who sold everything they owned three years ago to live their dream of sailing around the world say that is cheaper than living on land. John and Melody Hennessee, a couple from Florida,  sold their Florida home, business, and most of their belongings to embark on global travel in 2020, according to the New York Post.   The couple initially bought a motorhome to travel across the United States. However, when Mr Hennessee got tired of driving, they decided to take to the seas. The couple saw a Facebook ad for a Royal Caribbean cruise that lasted 274 days, and 9 months and jumped at the opportunity.  They quickly registered their names on the board and have since travelled all over the world. So far, they have journeyed to Australia, New Zealand, and various parts of the South Pacific and are presently navigating around the Dominican Republic. They say that it's cheaper than the landlocked life they led before. ''We now have a telephone bill, a shipping

"Will Bring Back All Hostages But...": Netanyahu Heckled By Families

Families of hostages taken by Gaza operatives booed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as he addressed parliament, vowing to bring the captives home but saying "more time" was needed. "Now! Now!" the families chanted from the gallery when Netanyahu said Israeli forces first needed to increase military pressure on Gaza's Hamas rulers. "We wouldn't be able to secure the release of hostages without military pressure," he said. Netanyahu said he spoke to Israeli field commanders who said they needed "more time" to finish the mission. "We won't stop until victory," Netanyahu said over the cries of protesters. Israel says 129 hostages, kidnapped on October 7 when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, are still held in the Palestinian territory. "We, my colleagues and I, aren't sparing any effort," Netanyahu added, to return "all of our hostages home". Netanyahu's address came af

Woman Goes To Hospital With Headache, Wakes Up With No Memory Of 30 Years

A sixty-year-old woman in the US has recalled the time when she woke up with no recollection of the last 30 years of her life after she visited the hospital because of a headache. The intriguing medical case unfolded in 2018 when the woman then 56, awoke with the belief that she was still a teenager in the 1980s, New York Post reported. Kim Denicola, a resident of Louisiana, is now cherishing this Christmas season as she reflects on the many holidays lost to her mysterious memory loss. ''I've lost a lot of Christmases, so it's a big deal,'' Mrs Denicola, now 60, told WAFB . ''It's unbelievable to me as it probably is to other people. Never in my wildest dreams did I get up and go to bible study and think I'm going to wake up in the hospital and I'm going to be 60 years old,'' she added. According to her family, she developed a blinding headache and sudden blurry vision while at a bible study. When she woke up in the hospital emerge

Woman Goes To Hospital With Headache, Wakes Up With No Memory Of 30 Years

A sixty-year-old woman in the US has recalled the time when she woke up with no recollection of the last 30 years of her life after she visited the hospital because of a headache. The intriguing medical case unfolded in 2018 when the woman then 56, awoke with the belief that she was still a teenager in the 1980s, New York Post reported. Kim Denicola, a resident of Louisiana, is now cherishing this Christmas season as she reflects on the many holidays lost to her mysterious memory loss. ''I've lost a lot of Christmases, so it's a big deal,'' Mrs Denicola, now 60, told WAFB . ''It's unbelievable to me as it probably is to other people. Never in my wildest dreams did I get up and go to bible study and think I'm going to wake up in the hospital and I'm going to be 60 years old,'' she added. According to her family, she developed a blinding headache and sudden blurry vision while at a bible study. When she woke up in the hospital emerge

Most Indians On Flight Grounded In France To Leave Tomorrow: Report

Most of the roughly 300 Indians travelling on a plane detained near Paris over suspicions of human trafficking will be free to resume their trip Monday, French judicial sources said Sunday. The Nicaragua-bound Airbus A340 and its 303 Indian passengers have been held at Vatry airport, 150 kilometres (95 miles) east of Paris, since arriving Thursday from Dubai for refuelling after an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking. Four French judges began questioning the passengers Sunday to verify the "conditions and purposes" of their travel, and have two days to complete speaking to the passengers. The judges have the authority to extend the detention, but Paris prosecutors told AFP they expect the plane and its passengers to be cleared for departure late Monday morning "at the latest," without naming a destination. The passengers of the flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines are holed up in the airport. They include

Most Indians On Flight Grounded In France To Leave Tomorrow: Report

Most of the roughly 300 Indians travelling on a plane detained near Paris over suspicions of human trafficking will be free to resume their trip Monday, French judicial sources said Sunday. The Nicaragua-bound Airbus A340 and its 303 Indian passengers have been held at Vatry airport, 150 kilometres (95 miles) east of Paris, since arriving Thursday from Dubai for refuelling after an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking. Four French judges began questioning the passengers Sunday to verify the "conditions and purposes" of their travel, and have two days to complete speaking to the passengers. The judges have the authority to extend the detention, but Paris prosecutors told AFP they expect the plane and its passengers to be cleared for departure late Monday morning "at the latest," without naming a destination. The passengers of the flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines are holed up in the airport. They include

Toddlers, Teens Among 13 Unescorted Children On Plane Grounded In France

Thirteen unaccompanied minors are among the more than 300 Indian passengers of a Nicaragua-bound plane held in France over suspected human trafficking, authorities told AFP on Saturday. The Airbus A340 has been held at Vatry airport, 150 kilometres (95 miles) east of Paris, since arriving from Dubai on Thursday following an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking. The civilian protection unit of the Marne department said the plane was carrying 13 unaccompanied minors as well as accompanied minors, with their ages ranging from 21 months to 17 years. The 303 passengers of the flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines were still in the airport's entrance hall on Saturday morning, an AFP reporter saw. Tarpaulin covered the entrance hall's glass exterior and nearby administrative buildings, while police and gendarmes prevented access. Two passengers were in custody on Friday as part of the investigation. Liliana Bakayoko, a lawye

Toddlers, Teens Among 13 Unescorted Children On Plane Grounded In France

Thirteen unaccompanied minors are among the more than 300 Indian passengers of a Nicaragua-bound plane held in France over suspected human trafficking, authorities told AFP on Saturday. The Airbus A340 has been held at Vatry airport, 150 kilometres (95 miles) east of Paris, since arriving from Dubai on Thursday following an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking. The civilian protection unit of the Marne department said the plane was carrying 13 unaccompanied minors as well as accompanied minors, with their ages ranging from 21 months to 17 years. The 303 passengers of the flight operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines were still in the airport's entrance hall on Saturday morning, an AFP reporter saw. Tarpaulin covered the entrance hall's glass exterior and nearby administrative buildings, while police and gendarmes prevented access. Two passengers were in custody on Friday as part of the investigation. Liliana Bakayoko, a lawye

Israel Says Solving "Damaged Puzzle" Of Sexual Violence After Hamas Attack

More than 10 weeks after the bloody Hamas attack on Israel, accounts of sexual violence are on the rise. But the scarcity of survivor testimonies and the lack of forensic evidence make it difficult to assess their scale. "Hamas used rape and sexual violence as weapons of war," Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said in early December, as Israel accused international bodies of an inadequate response. In recent weeks, officials have reiterated allegations that the operatives who crossed over from the Gaza Strip on October 7 committed violent gang rape, genital mutilation, and engaged in sexual acts with children and corpses. Witnesses and experts interviewed by AFP said a full picture of the atrocities or their systematic nature had still not been established after the chaos of the huge attack, which killed about 1,140 people in Israel, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. In the days after October 7, hundreds of bodies arrived at the Shura mi

Wayfair CEO Calls For Longer Work Hours: "Winning Requires Hard Work"

Niraj Shah, Indian-American Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of online furniture firm Wayfair, curated a special message for his employees after the company yielded profitable results. According to CNN , in his note to employees, Mr Shah not only encouraged employees to work hard and be ambitious but also asked them to do more work and blend "work with life". He told them to not shy away from working long hours and added that there was no historical evidence which showed laziness led to success.  "Winning requires hard work. I believe that most of us, being ambitious individuals, find fulfilment in the joy of seeing our efforts materialize into tangible results," the CEO said in a note to employees earlier this month, as per CNN . "Working long hours, being responsive, blending work and life, is not anything to shy away from. There is not a lot of history of laziness being rewarded with success," he added.  According to Fortune , Mr Shah also added that the

"War Over Tomorrow If...": Antony Blinken Hits Out At "Aggressor" Hamas

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has strongly called out nations of not demanding that the terrorist organisation Hamas stop hiding behind civilians, lay down its arms, and surrender. In a press briefing at the US State Department on Wednesday, Blinken said that many countries are urging the end to the ongoing conflict, but how is it possible that there are no demands made of the aggressor? "What is striking to me is that even as, again, we hear many countries urging the end to this conflict, which we would all like to see, I hear virtually no one saying--demanding of Hamas that it stop hiding behind civilians, that it lay down its arms, that it surrender. This is over tomorrow if Hamas does that. This would have been over a month ago, six weeks ago, if Hamas had done that," Blinken said. "How can it be that there are no demands made of the aggressor and only demands made of the victim?" he added. Blinken's remarks coincide with ongoing negoti

"War Over Tomorrow If...": Antony Blinken Hits Out At "Aggressor" Hamas

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has strongly called out nations of not demanding that the terrorist organisation Hamas stop hiding behind civilians, lay down its arms, and surrender. In a press briefing at the US State Department on Wednesday, Blinken said that many countries are urging the end to the ongoing conflict, but how is it possible that there are no demands made of the aggressor? "What is striking to me is that even as, again, we hear many countries urging the end to this conflict, which we would all like to see, I hear virtually no one saying--demanding of Hamas that it stop hiding behind civilians, that it lay down its arms, that it surrender. This is over tomorrow if Hamas does that. This would have been over a month ago, six weeks ago, if Hamas had done that," Blinken said. "How can it be that there are no demands made of the aggressor and only demands made of the victim?" he added. Blinken's remarks coincide with ongoing negoti

US Man Reveals How He Stole iPhones And Looted Strangers' Bank Accounts

A man in the United States, who is serving a 94-month sentence for stealing hundreds of iPhones, has spilled his secret of the criminal trade and disclosed how one can protect oneself from such thefts. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal , Aaron Johnson, who got arrested last year in Minnesota, revealed how he made approximately $300,000 just by pilfering iPhones and manipulating their financial apps. Surprisingly, his approach seemed beyond innocent to witnesses as the convicted thief said that his victims often handed over their smartphones to him willingly.  Speaking to the publication, the 26-year-old revealed that he would strike bars and clubs by targeting mostly college men because women were more alert to suspicious behaviour. College men were an easy mark as "they're already drunk and don't know what's going on for real," he said.  Johnson would often talk to his victims, sometimes offering drugs, sometimes claiming to be a rapper who wanted to

Nawaz Sharif To Contest Polls From Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Says Son-In-Law

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would contest elections from the Mansehra region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, his son-in-law Captain (retd.) Muhammad Safdar said on Wednesday. Mr Safdar, who hails from Mansehra and is married to Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz, told the media that the 73-year-old three-time former premier would submit his nomination papers for the National Assembly seat "NA 15 Mansehra-cum-Torghar constituency" by Thursday (December 21). Mansehra is part of the Hazara division which is considered a stronghold of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Mr Sharif is also expected to contest from Lahore in addition to Mansehra. Mr Sharif, the only Pakistani politician who became the prime minister of the coup-prone country for a record three times, returned to Pakistan in October after a four-year self-imposed exile to lead his party in the general elections. Mr Sharif, acquitted in the Avenfield and Al Azizia cases by the Islamabad High Cou

Canada Witnesses Record-High Population Growth In Third Quarter

Canada witnessed a record-high population fuelled by "international migration" over the first nine months of the year that has surpassed the total growth in any other full year, including the record set in 2022, according to official data released on Tuesday. Canada's population was estimated at 40,528,396 on October 1, an increase of 430,635 people ( 1.1%) from July 1, Statistics Canada said. "This was the highest population growth rate in any quarter since the second quarter of 1957 ( 1.2%) when Canada's population grew by 198,000 people," it said. The country's total population growth for the first nine months of 2023 ( 1,030,378 people) had already exceeded the total growth for any other full-year period since Confederation in 1867, including 2022, when there was record growth, it said. The population grew in all provinces and territories, except in the Northwest Territories (-0.5%). The data attribute the vast majority (96.0%) of the population

China Says US Must Stop Trend of Arming Taiwan, Vows "Countermeasures"

China vowed on Monday to "take countermeasures" against companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan after the United States approved a $300-million deal to beef up the self-ruled island's defences. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has pledged to seize it one day, while the US Congress requires the supply of weapons to the self-governing democracy for its defence. The US State Department last week approved an arms package that both sides said would strengthen Taipei's joint battle command and control system. Beijing hit back on Monday, saying it would take "resolute and strong measures to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity". "We will take countermeasures against relevant enterprises involved in arms sales to Taiwan," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing, without giving details. The United States "should stop the dangerous trend of arming Taiwan, stop creating tensions i

Senior Cardinal Won't Serve Jail Term Anytime Soon, Maybe Never: Report

None of the six people who received jail sentences at end of the Vatican's big corruption trial on Saturday will likely be spending behind bars anytime soon and some perhaps not ever, according to legal and security experts. Several, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand trial before a Vatican criminal court, and London-based Italian financier Raffaele Mincione, already have announced appeals. Others are expected to join them. All the defendants had denied wrongdoing. A new trial would likely not start before the end of next year and take at least another year to conclude. The court is not expected to publish its lengthy report explaining the reasoning for its decisions before April, legal experts said. Normally, those awaiting appeals in Vatican cases, whose incarceration procedures closely mirror Italy's, are allowed to remain free unless they have committed violent crimes or are a flight risk. Cardinal Angelo Becciu is t

India Announces One-Day State Mourning After Kuwait's Ruling Emir Death

The government has announced a one-day state mourning on Sunday following the demise of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The ruling emir died on Saturday at the age of 86. In a communication to all states, the Union home ministry said during the period of state mourning on December 17, the national flag will fly half-mast where it is flown regularly throughout India and there will be no official entertainment. "His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, passed away on December 16, 2023. As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the government of India has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on December 17," the communication said. "On the day of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India on all buildings where the national flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day," it said.  (Except for the headline,

India Announces One-Day State Mourning After Kuwait's Ruling Emir Death

The government has announced a one-day state mourning on Sunday following the demise of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The ruling emir died on Saturday at the age of 86. In a communication to all states, the Union home ministry said during the period of state mourning on December 17, the national flag will fly half-mast where it is flown regularly throughout India and there will be no official entertainment. "His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, passed away on December 16, 2023. As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the government of India has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on December 17," the communication said. "On the day of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India on all buildings where the national flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day," it said.  (Except for the headline,

Pak Court Orders Poll Body To Issue February 8 General Election Schedule

Pakistan's Supreme Court late on Friday suspended an order by the Lahore High Court on the appointment of bureaucrats as Returning Officers, a ruling that led to uncertainty over the much-awaited February 8 general elections. The top court also ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue the poll schedule tonight to hold the general election on February 8, as already committed by the election body before the Supreme Court. The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday suspended the decision of the ECP to appoint bureaucrats as Returning Officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) for the February 8 elections, prompting the poll body to pause a training session for ROs and DROs on Thursday. On Wednesday, the LHC reserved the verdict while hearing a plea by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. On Friday, alleging that Khan's party is trying to delay the polls, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawa

Pakistan Man Arrested For Murdering Children, Eating Their Flesh: Report

Pakistan Police arrested a man for killing children and eating their flesh at Muzaffargarh in Punjab, ARY News reported. Three children were reportedly kidnapped from the Khan Garh area of Muzaffargarh five days ago, according to the local police. The accused brutally murdered two of those three underaged children and allegedly ate their flesh. However, seven-year-old Ali Hassan was recovered by the police, who acted on information provided by the locals, according to ARY News. Ali Hassan said after slaughtering three-year-old Abdullah and his one-and-a-half-year-old sister Hafsa, the man cooked and ate their flesh. Moreover, the man also distributed the human flesh at a local dargah in Muzzaffargah, ARY News reported. Reportedly, Muzaffargarh Police recovered the remains of Abdullah and the knives from the field but the search to find Hafsa continues. According to the police spokesperson, the arrested suspect is currently in critical condition in the hospital, and further revel

Sports Illustrated Publisher Fires CEO Over AI-Written Articles Controversy

Sports Illustrated's publisher the Arena Group fired its CEO Ross Levinsohn in response to public outcry over the publication's use of artificial intelligence to write articles. The company also named Manoj Bhargava as interim CEO. In a statement released on its website on Monday, the media behemoth announced the departure of Mr Levinsohn at the same time as its board members convened to discuss ways to "improve (the company's) operational efficiency and revenue." The magazine was accused of publishing AI-generated articles under fake author profiles for its website. The controversy was brought to light by Futurism , a science and technology outlet on November 28. They stated that some of the author bios did not relate to any real human being. Citing an example, the outlet said, Drew Oritz, wrote in his profile that he "has spent much of his life outdoors, and is excited to guide you through his never-ending list of the best products to keep you from fallin

Scottish Man Wins 'Mountaineering Oscar' After Near-Death Experience

A Scottish climber has been honoured with one of the most prestigious awards in climbing and mountaineering, five years after his near-death experience in an avalanche in Pakistan. Tim Miller was awarded the Piolets d'Or (golden ice axe), known as the 'Oscars of Mountaineering' for his pioneering ascent of Nepal's Jugal Spire, Independent reported. The award is given to climbers who pursue uncharted territories with a deep-rooted respect for the mountains. He was camping with a group of climbers at an altitude of 19,300ft (5883m) on the Ultar Sar mountain in Pakistan when the avalanche hit and buried them inside their tent. However, he was able to chew through his tent's fabric before clawing his way through six feet of snow to the surface. He also helped save the life of another climbing partner, Bruce Normand, but another friend, Christian Huber, died in the process.  Both the climbers then spent two days in their broken tent and were ultimately airlifted to sa

Apple To Be Hit By European Union Antitrust Order In Spotify Fight: Report

Apple is expected to be hit by a ban on its App Store rules that govern some music-streaming services and a potential hefty fine from European Union regulators, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. EU authorities are putting the finishing touches to a decision that would prohibit Apple's practice of blocking music services from pushing their users away from App Store to alternative subscription options, the report said, citing people familiar with the investigation. The decision is slated for early next year and Apple could face a fine of as much as 10% of its annual sales, Bloomberg reported. The probe was sparked by a complaint nearly four years ago from Sweden's Spotify Technology, which claimed it was forced to ramp up the price of its monthly subscriptions to cover costs associated with Apple's App Store rules. The European Commission filed a chargesheet against Apple earlier this year, saying the conditions are unnecessary and mean customers may end up paying mor

Man Attacked By Lion In Pakistan While Trying To Take Selfie With It

A 20-year-old man was critically injured by a lion while trying to take a selfie with the big cat in the Punjab province of Pakistan, a week after four lions mauled a man at a zoo in the province. The incident occurred on Tuesday at a Lok Mela (fair) organised by the government's Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) in Sargodha city, some 200 from Lahore, police said on Wednesday. The man, identified as Muhammad Amin, was grabbed by his arm by the lion and clawed when he got closer to the big cat's cage. Mr Amin was seriously injured and was shifted to hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical. The local administration cancelled the fair after the incident. This comes a week after four lions mauled a man at a Safari Zoo in Bahawalpur, over 400 km from Lahore. The zoo staff member found the man's dead body when he went to feed the animals. Later, police said the man was a drug addict who sneaked into the lions' den without being detected by zoo officials

World's Second Oldest Woman Aged 116 Dies After Eating Her Favourite Meal

The world's second-oldest woman and Japan's oldest living person has died at the age of 116 at a nursing home in Kashiwara, Metro reported. Fusa Tatsumi died from old age on Tuesday, December 12 at the care facility after eating bean-paste jelly, which is her favourite meal. ''Tatsumi died on Tuesday at the age of 116 at a healthcare facility in Osaka,'' an official said in Osaka's Kashiwara city. Tatsumi, who lived through two world wars and multiple pandemics, was recognised as Japan's oldest person after Kane Tanaka passed away last year at 119. Guinness World Records officially acknowledged Tanaka's status as the world's oldest person in April 2022. She became only the 27th person in history to reach the age of 116 and was only the seventh Japanese person to do so. Born in 1907, Tatsumi raised three children with her husband, a farmer, in Osaka, local broadcaster MBS reported. Notably, she had recently spent most of her days in bed at th

World's Second Oldest Woman Aged 116 Dies After Eating Her Favourite Meal

The world's second-oldest woman and Japan's oldest living person has died at the age of 116 at a nursing home in Kashiwara, Metro reported. Fusa Tatsumi died from old age on Tuesday, December 12 at the care facility after eating bean-paste jelly, which is her favourite meal. ''Tatsumi died on Tuesday at the age of 116 at a healthcare facility in Osaka,'' an official said in Osaka's Kashiwara city. Tatsumi, who lived through two world wars and multiple pandemics, was recognised as Japan's oldest person after Kane Tanaka passed away last year at 119. Guinness World Records officially acknowledged Tanaka's status as the world's oldest person in April 2022. She became only the 27th person in history to reach the age of 116 and was only the seventh Japanese person to do so. Born in 1907, Tatsumi raised three children with her husband, a farmer, in Osaka, local broadcaster MBS reported. Notably, she had recently spent most of her days in bed at th

Shooting Of Sikh Family In Canada Case Of Mistaken Identity: Police

A Sikh family from India who was targeted last month in a shooting spree in the Canadian province of Ontario that killed one person was possibly a case of mistaken identity, provincial police have said. Jagtar Singh, 57, was killed while his wife Harbhajan Kaur, 55, and their daughter were critically injured during a shooting on Mayfield Road near Airport Road, along the Caledon-Brampton border, on November 21. Officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and paramedics upon arrival found Jagtar Singh dead on the scene, and rushed Kaur and their daughter to hospital with life-threatening injuries, the Toronto Star newspaper reported on Monday. Officers are investigating “all aspects of this homicide, including whether or not the victims of this crime were intended targets or not”, OPP Detective Inspector Brian McDermott said. “It is still too early to make any firm determinations on that aspect.” According to a source close to the victims who spoke on condition of anonymity, t