The package will be delivered to Irshad Ahmad Wani, a resident of Hajin in Bandipora district. Sources said he has been in jail for more than a month. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the package was allegedly booked by Mohammed Younis Wani, a resident of Pulwama district,” they added.Sources said an FIR has been registered and further investigation has been initiated to identify those behind the attempt to smuggle mobile phones inside the jail.‘What’s up with the obsession with Indians?’: Indian entrepreneur slams criticism of folk dancers
Mayukh Panja, an Indian entrepreneur living in Germany, has described the online backlash against an Indian folk dancer performing against the backdrop of the Washington Monument in the US as “completely racist”.“Panja responded to a post expressing concern that the historic site was being converted into a “Telugu Tiktok dance stage” and called out what he called double standards and questioning of anti-Indian sentiment.“If this were a group of white people doing a traditional Irish dance, you wouldn’t find anything wrong,” he wrote.“I am often critical of the way the diaspora conducts itself on foreign shores. But the hatred directed at this woman is straight up racism,” Panja wrote.He said he was puzzled by the repeated targeting and asked how to explain the “obsession with Indians.”Addressing recurring hatred of H-1B immigrants from conservative lines in the United States, Panja said the H-1B visa program was signed into law by Republican President George W. Bush.On the economic front, Panja said the average technical salary for professionals in India is over $150,000, with many earning close to $500,000 or more, adding that these positions do not involve competition for ordinary jobs.“So, what exactly is it that bothers you so much?” Panja said, adding that the proper response to the performance “should be appreciation with gratitude.”In a follow-up response, he said such activities are allowed by law at iconic sites and shared a link to National Park Service guidance.The controversy sparked ongoing online discussions about cultural expression, norms in public spaces, and attitudes toward Indian immigrants in the United States.
Türkiye warns of ‘dangerous’ actions provoking civil war in Iran
Turkey’s foreign minister has warned against inciting civil war in Iran, while warning Tehran after NATO intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran and bound for Turkey earlier this week.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said any attempt to provoke a civil war in Iran in order to achieve regime change would be a “historic” mistake.
“We oppose everything aimed at fomenting civil war in Iran and targeting ethnic or religious fault lines,” Fidan told reporters in Istanbul.
“This is the most dangerous situation,” he added.
His comments came after reports that Washington is seeking to arm Kurdish guerrillas to infiltrate Iran, an offensive that US President Donald Trump has expressed support for.
The move will draw the ire of Turkey, which is seeking to end a decades-long bloody conflict with the Kurdish militants known as the PKK.
Fidan said he had raised the matter with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who denied U.S. involvement in such issues.
“They stated that they were not involved in such an effort and had no such intention,” Fidan said after the two spoke on Wednesday, accusing Israel of “a strategy of using Kurdish groups in the region as proxies.”
“We publicly warn everyone … against this situation,” he added.
“Not only will this cause more suffering and loss of life for innocent civilians in Iran, it will also cause millions of people to be displaced and flee to neighboring countries and beyond,” he said.
“We hope that Kurdish opinion leaders in the region will not mistakenly assume such historical responsibility,” he said.
“Such a mistake can never be corrected.
“A long period of uncertainty, war and chaos in Iran, following Iraq and Syria, is in no one’s interest,” he said.
“Any internal crisis there will have a ripple effect that spreads throughout the region. That’s why we’re trying to stop it.”
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This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
‘Reflecting friendly relations’: Iran thanks India for docking IRIS Lavan in Kochi
New Delhi: Iran on Saturday expressed gratitude to India for providing a safe harbor to its naval vessel ‘IRIS Lavan’. Amid the rapid escalation of the conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States and Israel, another Iranian ship, the IRIS Dena, docked at the Cochin port for technical and logistical arrangements following an incident in the Indian Ocean.ALSO READ | Before Dena, India docked another Iranian ship with 183 crew members in KochiA U.S. Navy submarine fired a torpedo at IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka early Wednesday morning, sinking the frigate. Of the estimated 180 crew members, about 87 died and about 32 survivors were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy.
“Following the tragic incident on IRIS Dena, the Islamic Republic of Iran is continuing to track the condition of the crew and study all aspects of the incident,” Mohammad Fathali, Iran’s ambassador to India, told news agency ANI.“In this context, another Iranian naval ship ‘IRIS Lavan’ has docked at the Cochin port for technical and logistical arrangements. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Indian government and local authorities for their cooperative and humanitarian approach in facilitating the docking of the ship and supporting its crew,” he added.
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ALSO READ | ‘It will be a great regret’: Iran warns US after ‘guest of Indian Navy’ IRIS Dena sunk by torpedoThe envoy emphasized the coordination between the two countries and noted that the assistance provided by the Indian authorities during the situation reflected the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries.He further expressed confidence that the historic and constructive relations between Tehran and New Delhi will continue to strengthen in the future.According to government officials, IRIS Lavan participated in the 2026 International Fleet Review and was present in the region as part of Iran’s naval deployment to participate in the multinational naval exercise Milan 2026 in Visakhapatnam from February 15 to 25.ALSO READ | ‘Wants access to our ports’: EAM Jaishankar on India’s rescue of Iranian shipsThey added that Tehran had approached New Delhi days before the sinking of the IRIS Dena to request emergency docking support due to technical issues. The request, received on February 28, stated that it needed to proceed to Kochi as the ship was facing mechanical issues. The approval was granted on March 1 and IRIS Lavan subsequently docked on Wednesday.Its crew is reported to total 183 and is currently housed at a naval facility in the Kerala city.On February 28, the United States and Israel jointly launched a military strike, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. Subsequently, tensions in West Asia continued to escalate. Tehran has responded with a wave of drone and missile attacks against multiple Arab countries, targeting U.S. military bases and assets as well as Israel.
Passengers will be able to see the sunrise twice on the world’s longest non-stop flight due to launch next year |
Passengers traveling between Sydney and London or Sydney and New York will soon be able to travel non-stop across more than 10,000 miles as Australia’s national carrier Qantas prepares to launch its longest-ever direct commercial flights.The routes are part of the airline’s Sunrise programme, expected to begin in the first half of 2027, using specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR (ultra long range) aircraft. Each journey is expected to last approximately 22 hours, and travelers can watch two sunrises in one flight as the aircraft effectively chases daylight around the globe.The project is one of the most ambitious attempts yet to reinvent the long-haul aviation industry by eliminating traditional refueling stops.
A 22-hour journey designed to transform long-distance travel
The new direct flights will connect Sydney to London (10,573 miles) and Sydney to New York (10,100 miles), distances that currently require at least one refueling stop.According to Qantas, eliminating these stopovers could shave four hours off existing travel times, fundamentally changing the way passengers travel between Australia, Europe and North America.Qantas launched Project Sunrise in 2017 to operate direct flights from Australia’s east coast to London and New York.Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the project, announced at a Qantas event in September 2024 at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) hangar, aims to overcome the historic “tyranny of distance” that has long affected travel to and from Australia and “fundamentally transform the way our customers travel the world”.Hudson added:“These flights will shorten journeys by up to four hours and transform the way people experience ultra-long-distance travel with science-backed design to minimize jet lag and maximize well-being.”The aircraft chosen for the project is an Airbus A350-1000ULR, selected following Qantas’ order for 12 specially modified aircraft in May 2022.Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines and equipped with additional 20,000-litre fuel tanks, the aircraft has a much longer range than the standard version of the A350.The first of the aircraft is scheduled for delivery in late 2026, with test flights planned between Australia and New Zealand to allow pilots and crew to familiarize themselves with the aircraft before long-haul operations begin.
Why is it called “Sunrise Project”?
The program’s name comes from the unique nature of these ultra-long flights.Passengers can expect to see two sunrises on one journey, which aviation enthusiasts say will become the route’s defining experience.The aircraft will leave Sydney in the evening and head west across Asia and the Middle East. Because the plane effectively chases daylight across time zones, passengers will watch the sun rise once during their trip and then again closer to Europe or North America.
Qantas Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft photographed at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France. /Qantas
The name also echoes aviation history. During World War II, so-called “double sunrise” flights operated between Perth and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). These endurance missions were so long that the sun rose twice during the journey.
Aircraft interior preview
Daily Mail reporter Paudie Prendergast, who was invited by Qantas to preview aspects of the project, described visiting a mock-up of the cabin health area and touring the aircraft maintenance facility.He wrote that he made a “brief stop” in Hangar 96 at the Qantas jet base at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport, where the new aircraft will be maintained.The airline plans to significantly reduce passenger density inside the aircraft compared to standard A350 aircraft.The Project Sunrise layout will carry 238 passengers instead of the usual 300-plus seats, with the following arrangements:
- 6 first class suites (1-1-1 configuration)
- 52 business suites (1-2-1 configuration)
- 40 Premium Economy seats (2-4-2 configuration)
- 140 economy class seats (3-3-3 layout)
Qantas Sunrise Plan
High-speed Wi-Fi will be available free of charge in all cabins, and the reduced seat count is intended to give passengers more room to move around during the unusually long journey.
35,000-foot “Wellness Zone”
One of the plane’s most unusual features is a dedicated wellness area designed to help passengers relieve the physical stress of nearly a full day in the air.According to Prendergast’s preview, the space will offer self-serve healthy refreshments designed to stay hydrated, as well as space for stretching and light exercise.Large screens will display guided stretches, and the walls will feature exercise handles to support movement during flight.Prendergast describes the space as “effectively a 35,000-foot yoga studio (sort of), or just a place where people might want to socialize.”The aircraft’s interior designer David Caon, who has been involved in the project since 2018, told MailOnline daily mail Balancing aesthetic and engineering constraints is a complex task.He said:“We had a team of six working full-time for two years – factors such as aircraft weight, maintainability, safety and comfort all had to be weighed against the aesthetic decisions we made.”
Designing flights to reduce jet lag
Because journeys are extremely long, Qantas has teamed up with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Center to research ways to reduce fatigue and jet lag.The research influenced several aspects of cabin design, including lighting patterns and meal times.The lighting system will replicate the “unique light quality of the Australian outback”, while food and beverage service times will adjust to passengers’ circadian rhythms, helping travelers adapt to new time zones more easily.
From multi-day journeys to single flights
The upcoming flights represent a dramatic shift from earlier days of travel between Australia and Europe.The route between Sydney and London, historically known as the “Kangaroo Route”, once took days.In the 1940s, passengers traveled on Lockheed Constellation aircraft, stopping at Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Tripoli and Rome, often staying overnight in Singapore and Cairo.Those early planes relied on four propeller engines and had cramped cabins, making journeys long, noisy and far less comfortable than modern long-distance travel.Even so, these flights were once considered a technological marvel.Nowadays, a journey that originally took four or five days can soon be completed in one day.
The next step for ultra-long-haul aviation
Project Sunrise will surpass the current longest non-stop passenger flight, which runs between Singapore and New York at just over 19 hours.Other very long routes exist, such as flights between Shanghai and Buenos Aires, but these journeys involve refueling.In contrast, Qantas’ new service will remain in the air for the entire journey.If successful, they could signal a broader shift toward direct ultra-long-haul travel, potentially reshaping the way airlines design aircraft and long-haul routes in the coming years.
Trump encourages Latin American leaders to take military action to help US fight cartels
Doral, Florida— president donald trump The United States and Latin American countries are joining forces to fight violent cartels, he said on Saturday, and his administration wanted to show it remained committed. U.S. Foreign Policy Focuses on Western Hemisphere This is true even when dealing with a global level five crisis.
Trump encouraged regional leaders gathered at Miami-area golf clubs to take military action against drug cartels and transnational gangs that he said posed an “unacceptable threat” to national security in the Western Hemisphere.
“The only way to defeat these enemies is to unleash the power of our military,” Trump said. “We have to use our military. You have to use your military.” “We must do the same now to root out cartels at home,” the Republican president said, citing the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in the Middle East.
The gathering was dubbed by the White House “America’s Shield” Just two months ago, Trump ordered the United States to take bold military action to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and brought him and his wife to the United States to face drug conspiracy charges.
Trump’s decision to join forces with Israel has even greater consequences. Waging war against Iran A week ago, a conflict killed hundreds of people, Global markets fluctuate violently and Unrest throughout the Middle East.
Trump’s time to meet with Latin American leaders was limited: He then departed for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to attend a solemn handover ceremony. Six U.S. troops killed in action in a Drone attack command center Kuwait a day after U.S. and Israel launch missiles military action against iran.
Trump called the American deaths a “very sad situation” and praised the fallen soldiers as “great heroes.”
Trump hopes to use the summit to turn his attention to the Western Hemisphere, at least temporarily. He pledged to reaffirm U.S. dominance in the region and push back against what he sees as years of China’s economic encroachment into America’s backyard.
Trump also said the United States would turn its attention to Cuba after a war with Iran and suggested his administration would strike a deal with Havana, underscoring Washington’s increasingly aggressive stance against the island’s communist leadership. “Cuba is going to change dramatically very soon,” he said, adding, “They are in their final moments.”
Cuban officials have repeatedly said they are open to dialogue with the United States as long as Cuba’s sovereignty is respected, but they have never confirmed that such talks are taking place.
The leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago met with the Republican president at the Trump National Doral Miami golf resort, where he is also scheduled to host a G20 summit later this year.
The idea for a summit of like-minded conservatives in the Western Hemisphere was born out of the ashes of the 10th Summit of the Americas, which was canceled last year during the U.S. buildup off the coast of Venezuela.
The host country, the Dominican Republic, bowed to pressure from the White House and banned Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela from participating in the regional meeting. But after left-wing leaders in Colombia and Mexico threatened to withdraw in protest — and Trump failed to commit to attending — Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader decided at the last minute to postpone the event, citing “deep divisions” in the region.
The American Shield moniker is intended to express Trump’s vision for an “America first” foreign policy in the region, leveraging U.S. military and intelligence assets not seen in the region since the end of the Cold War.
to this end, Ecuador The United States this week launched military action against organized crime gangs in the South American country. Ecuadorian and U.S. security forces on Friday raided a refuge in the Ecuadorian Amazon belonging to Colombia’s illegal armed group Comandos de la Frontera, authorities reported.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said the joint operation against drug traffickers was “just the beginning.”
Notable at the summit was the absence of the region’s two dominant countries – Brazil and Mexico – as well as Colombia, which has long been key to the U.S. counter-narcotics strategy in the region.
Trump complained that Mexico was “the epicenter of cartel violence” and that drug lords “orchestrate much of the bloodshed and chaos in this hemisphere.”
“The cartels are ruling Mexico. We can’t tolerate that,” Trump said. “It’s too close.” Too close to you. “
Trump made no mention of his administration’s insistence that countering China’s influence in the Western Hemisphere is a top priority for his second term.
his national security strategy Extending the “Trump Corollary” to the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine, which sought to prohibit European invasion of the Americas by targeting Chinese infrastructure projects, military cooperation, and investment in the region’s resource industries.
In the first sign of a tougher approach, Trump pushed hard for Panama to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and review a long-term port contract held by a Hong Kong company amid U.S. threats to retake the Panama Canal.
The recent U.S. capture of Maduro and Trump’s pledge to “manage” Venezuela could disrupt oil shipments to China, the top buyer of Venezuelan crude before the attack, and bring one of Beijing’s closest allies in the region into Washington’s orbit. Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing later this month to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
For many countries, China’s trade-focused diplomacy fills a serious fiscal void in a region that faces major development challenges such as poverty reduction and infrastructure bottlenecks. Trump, by contrast, has been slashing foreign aid to the region while rewarding countries that support his crackdown on immigration — a policy generally unpopular in the Western Hemisphere.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the leaders for a working lunch after Trump traveled to Delaware for an event. Lunch was given to Kristi Noem, Trump fires Homeland Security secretary On Thursday, she had the opportunity to debut in her new role as America’s Shield envoy.
“We want our Western Hemisphere to be more secure, more sovereign, more prosperous,” Noem told the leaders.
Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Gabriela Molina in Quito, Ecuador, contributed to this report.
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
Amit Shah recalls Uttarakhand statehood movement during ‘Jan Jan Ki Sarkar, 4 Saal Bemisaal’ in ‘Hardwar’
Haridwar (Uttarakhand): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday recalled the Uttarakhand statehood movement and said the youth of Uttarakhand must take to the streets to protect their identity, culture and rights. In this struggle, they also had to face violent incidents such as the Rampurtiraha shooting.He further said that after forming the BJP-led government at the Centre, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took the historic decision to create new states including Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Today, all three countries are advancing rapidly on the road to development.He said Uttarakhand was created by current Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Narendra Modi Efforts are underway to further shape and develop it. According to him, 2017 to 2026 will be dedicated to the development of Uttarakhand. He added that in the last four years, the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Systematically addressing many of the state’s long-standing issues has helped Uttarakhand move forward at double speed on the path of development.The Home Minister called on the public, especially members of the legal profession, to visit the new criminal law exhibition. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi replaced the 150-year-old law that was made during the British era. By 2028, all provisions of the new criminal justice framework will be fully implemented. After that, any case – from the registration of an FIR at the police station to the final verdict in the Supreme Court – takes up to three years. He described it as one of the most modern and scientific justice systems in the world.Congratulating the refugees who have been granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he said Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains who came to India from Pakistan and Afghanistan have equal rights to the country as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But they were deprived of Indian citizenship due to past appeasement politics. These refugees came to India to protect their religion and family dignity, so the government remains firm in its decision to grant citizenship to them despite objections.He added that Prime Minister Modi has taken many historic decisions, such as abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, implementing the CAA, building the Rama temple after more than 500 years, rebuilding the Kedarnath Temple and Badrinath Temple, developing Mahakalle, Kashgar Golden Corridor, etc.Shah congratulated around 1,900 youths who have received appointment letters as constables of Uttarakhand Police. He said there was now no corruption or unfairness in government work in Uttarakhand. This was achieved through strict anti-copying laws introduced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, which ensured transparency in recruitment.He also mentioned that the Kumbh Mela will be held in Haridwar in 2027 and expressed confidence that all previous records will be broken. Referring to the government’s Vibrant Villages Scheme, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the status of “first village” to border villages to prevent migration from border areas. The scheme will be particularly beneficial for Uttarakhand.The Union Home Minister also praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for removing encroachments from nearly 10,000 acres of government land in the state. He said the government was committed to clearing out all illegal infiltrators from Kedarnath to Konyakumari. He also commended Uttarakhand for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying it would help prevent unnatural demographic changes. Referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, he said the name of any non-citizen of India should be removed from the electoral roll as a clean electoral roll is essential to protect democracy.Shah further said that between 2004 and 2014, Uttarakhand received only Rs. The central government provides Rs 54,000 crore. In comparison, since 2014, the state has received Rs. 187 crore from the Centre. Crores of rupees have also been invested in projects such as the all-weather highway project, Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor, railways and other infrastructure development. He noted that Uttarakhand’s per capita income increased from Rs. It was Rs 1.25 lakh in 2014. Today, the state’s GDP has risen from Rs 2.6 lakh to Rs 2.6 lakh. 1.5 trillion to 3.5 billion rupees.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah, the people of Uttarakhand have shattered all political myths in 2022 and given the government a huge mandate for a second consecutive term.He said that under their leadership, Jammu and Kashmir abolished Article 370 and realized the vision of “One India, Best India”. The implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act provided dignity and security to Hindu refugees who had long been neglected. The judicial system has been aligned with the values and ethos of India through the introduction of three new penal codes including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.The Chief Minister added that under the leadership of the Home Minister, terrorism and Naxalism have been effectively controlled in the country. A region once known for unrest and fear is now gradually developing. He said hoisting the national flag in Lal Chowk, Kashmir, was once considered a challenge but today the tricolor is flying there proudly.Dhami also highlighted the progress made in the cooperative sector and the revival of India’s spiritual heritage through projects such as Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Golden Corridor of Kashgar, Mahakar Lokk in Ujjain and reconstruction of Badrinath and Kedarnath. He thanked the Prime Minister and Home Minister for approving Rs. Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, saying the event will further enhance the glory of Sanatan culture.He said the state government was working towards overall development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. Infrastructure such as roads, education, healthcare, railways and aviation are being strengthened. Through the Global Investment Summit to be held in 2023, investment agreements worth Rs. Contracts of Rs 356 crore were signed with projects worth over Rs. 1 billion has been implemented.The Chief Minister also mentioned several historic achievements of the state government, including hosting global events like the G20 Summit in Uttarakhand and organizing the National Games, in which the state’s athletes have won over 100 medals and ranked seventh in the medal tally. The country has also launched winter tourism initiatives to promote year-round tourism, he said.The state’s economy has grown more than one-and-a-half times in the past four years. Last year alone, the state’s GDP increased by 7.23%, and per capita income increased by 41%. The state budget has been expanded from Rs. 60,000 Crore to over Rs. 100 crore, more than 20,000 new industries were established. The number of start-ups has increased from approximately 700 to more than 1,700.He further pointed out that Uttarakhand ranks first in the Sustainability Index 2023-24 released by NITI Aayog. The state also received several national recognitions, including the Aviation Ecosystem Promotion Award, Best Village and Best Regional Initiative. Uttarakhand has performed well in several national indices such as State Logistics Index, State Startup Ecosystem Ranking, Ease of Doing Business, and State Energy and Green Index.The Chief Minister said that the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister marked a historic step towards social justice and equality. He also mentioned that the state government, inspired by the Home Minister, was taking action against the infiltrators through Operation Karnemi and intensive verification operations. Strict land laws have also been introduced to prevent illegal land purchases in the hills and curb the activities of land mafia.
WATCH: Passengers raise hands as video shows man being dragged off Southwest flight after security scare
A routine Southwest Airlines flight took a dramatic turn Friday night when the plane was reportedly forced to make an unscheduled stop in Atlanta due to a security threat, and the tense moment was captured on camera. According to the New York Post, a harrowing video circulating online shows passengers raising their hands in horror as police stormed into the cabin and forcibly removed a man from the plane after Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 was diverted from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale.According to reports, Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 was diverted from its original route to Florida and landed safely at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 9:06 p.m.In a video posted toSouthwest Airlines said in a statement that the plane was diverted in response to a “possible safety issue.”It’s unclear what the passenger did or said to warrant a diversion and safe response, and officials have not confirmed whether any hazardous materials were found on the plane, Fox Atlanta reported.The Atlanta Police Department did not release the identities of the detained passengers or say whether they will face charges.
Students showcase STEM projects at Amazon Think Big Science Carnival in Navi Mumbai
The 7th Amazon Big Science Carnival was held on March 6 at the CIDCO Exhibition Center in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, where students from city schools came together to showcase science and technology-based solutions to real-world challenges.The program, powered by Amazon and implemented by Learning Links Foundation, engaged more than 12,000 students from schools run by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation over a period of five months. The initiative culminated in a grand finale with selected teams presenting working prototypes and ideas based on themes such as “STEM for Sustainability” and “Tech for Good”. According to organizers, the selection process involves multiple stages. Around 90 student teams presented their projects for the first time at the three-day mini science carnival, after which industry experts, government representatives and educators selected the top 20 teams to present their innovations in the finals.The carnival also features activities such as STEM quizzes and robotics competitions, designed to encourage participants’ analytical thinking, technical knowledge and teamwork.More than 2,500 students visited the event, which included interactive exhibits and hands-on learning sessions hosted by organizations including Amazon Future Engineer, SeadNXT, Museum of Solution, Pi Jam Foundation and Pluto Drone.Speaking at the event, Nikhil Pingle, COO of Learning Links Foundation, thanked Amazon for supporting the program and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation for its cooperation.Witnessing students present their ideas shows the importance of providing opportunities for young learners, he said. He also encouraged participants to stay curious and continue to use STEM to solve real-world problems.Anurag Khilnani, director of data center planning and delivery for Amazon Asia Pacific, said he was encouraged to see students transform ideas into practical solutions. He also acknowledged the role schools, teachers and program partners play in supporting student innovation.Organizers say the initiative aims to improve students’ scientific thinking and problem-solving skills while encouraging the use of technology to solve social and environmental problems.
ICE deports deaf children and families to Colombia without assistive devices: ‘Humans should stop them…’
A six-year-old deaf boy and his family were deported to Colombia after being detained during a routine immigration check san franciscoAccording to the Guardian. The move drew criticism from California officials and immigration advocates, who said the child was taken away without the assistive device he relied on to communicate.
The boy, his five-year-old brother and their mother, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, were detained Tuesday while reporting to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, a program that requires regular inspections, according to the Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership.
The family was then deported to Colombia.
Advocates say the six-year-old deaf child uses a cochlear implant but does not receive the assistive devices he needs to help him communicate. A relative waiting outside the building tried unsuccessfully to pass on the devices, and immigration authorities detained the family.
Also read: Portland residents near ICE building win court order limiting agents’ use of tear gas
California officials urge students to return
The deportations prompted California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond to call for the boy to be allowed to return so he could continue his education.
“No child should be removed from their home community and hidden in a detention center, especially a deaf child who is deprived of the ability to communicate and understand what is happening to them,” Thurmond said in a statement.
In a letter to federal authorities, Thurmond also emphasized that the student had been receiving specialized instruction designed for his language and learning needs. The boy communicates primarily through American Sign Language (ASL), and educators say exposure to this environment is critical to his development.
Lawyers raise humanitarian concerns
Immigration lawyer Nikolas De Bremaeker, managing attorney of the legal partnership representing the family, said the deportations raised serious humanitarian concerns.
“There are good humanitarian reasons why they should not be deported,” he said, according to The Guardian. “Whatever the circumstances of the deportation, humanity should prevent them from sending a six-year-old child into a life-threatening situation.”
The Gutierrez family’s legal team had difficulty determining where Gutierrez and her children were being held after their arrest, according to attorneys. Officials initially said the family could be transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana or Phoenix, Arizona, before they are eventually deported.
Concerns about education and communication
Gutierrez and her children arrived in the United States in 2022, and she filed for asylum the following year. Although a judge initially ordered her deported, she has been put into a supervision program that requires regular check-ins with immigration authorities.
teachers and school staff in california Said the boy had only recently begun to develop communication skills through American Sign Language and specialized educational support. They warned that losing these resources could affect his ability to continue learning and expressing himself.