Indiaâs Mahu Kumbh Mela festival expects 400 million people
The Maha Kumbh Mela, translated as the festival of the sacred pitcher, which began Monday, Jan. 13, is touted as the worldâs largest religious gathering. It is expected to bring together 400 million people in India over the next six weeks.
Hindu pilgrims flock to the northern city of Prayagraj in the Uttar Pradesh state. There they will bathe in the confluence of three sacred rivers: the Ganges or Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, where a dip in the waters is believed to cleanse pilgrims of their past sins and move them closer to âspiritual liberation.â Around 15 million are said to have taken a dip on the first day alone.
The Kumbh Mela occurs every three years, rotating between four different cities. However, itâs only every 12 years that the festival has its largest gathering, and carries the prefix âmahaâ â the Hindi word for âgreat.â
The festival is rooted in Hindu tradition. The story says that the god Vishnu fought off demons for a golden pitcher, which contained the nectar of immortality. Hindus believe that some of that nectar dripped into the four cities where celebrations are held.
“I’m excited but also humbled by this because it is a very profound moment. I mean, it’s not swimming, you know,â Anthony Thompson, a visitor from London, said. âThis is something much more serious, much more elemental, essential for the spirit and so it’s an important moment.â
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited everyone from around the world to come to Prayagraj. It was his government in 2018 that changed the cityâs name as part of Modiâs efforts to make India a destination for the Hindu faith.
The Uttar Pradesh state has allocated more than $765 million for this yearâs gathering. The city of Prayagraj, already home to 6 million people, is being outfitted with a temporary tent city along the banks of the rivers to accommodate the millions of visitors.
The tent city consists of 160,000 tents, 150,000 toilets, 3,000 kitchens, a 776-mile drinking water pipeline, 11 hospitals and its own roads and housing. The tent city is divided into 25 sections and covers 15 square miles.
The event will be a test for local security, with about 50,000 personnel stationed throughout Prayagraj. More than 2,700 security cameras powered by artificial intelligence are keeping a close watch on the area, as well.
There are nearly 100 special trains that will be making roughly 3,000 trips transporting pilgrims to the festival.
To put in perspective just how massive this festival is, this yearâs Super Bowl is taking place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The maximum capacity for the stadium is 83,000.
Six dead, dozens injured in temple stampede in southern India
Six people are dead and dozens were left injured after a stampede erupted near a temple in southern India on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Authorities said the chaos stemmed from thousands of devotees who gathered to collect free passes for the temple.
The incident occurred near the 2,000-year-old Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati, a popular site for Hindu worshippers. The stampede occurred days before a 10-day festival in the region, typically attracting large crowds.
The stampede left 35 people hospitalized, including several women and children, many of whom were treated for injuries sustained during the incident.
Indiaâs Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
The temple, known for drawing huge crowds, had not anticipated such a large turnout this year. Officials have come under fire for failing to implement proper crowd control measures.
Temple officials admitted to the lack of preparation and pledged to reevaluate safety protocols and take stricter measures at future events to prevent similar tragedies.
Studies link fluoride in water to lower IQ ⌠but is it really harming kids’ brains?
The decades-old controversy over fluoride in drinking water continues, with more people calling for its removal after it was linked in a new study to lower IQs in kids. A report published this week in JAMA Pediatrics showed the more fluoride kids are exposed to, the lower they tend to score on intelligence tests.
To come to that conclusion, researchers looked at the findings of dozens of studies published on the subject since 1989.
Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear. According to the U.S. Public Health Service, since being added to public drinking water in the 1960s, itâs reduced the average number of cavities by 44% in adults and 58% in adolescents.
They say many of the studies used to draw this conclusion were done in places like India and China, where natural fluoride concentrations in groundwater can soar well above the 0.7 milligrams per liter recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service.
However, critics of the practice, like President-elect Donald Trumpâs pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said the risk to childrenâs IQs is worrisome enough to end the practice entirely.
In September, a federal judge ruled the Environmental Protection Agency must strengthen its regulations on fluoride in drinking water based on the findings of the report.
At least 95 killed in 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Tibet
A powerful earthquake proves deadly in East Asia on Tuesday morning. And winter weather pounds the United States from the Great Plains to the East Coast. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
7.1 magnitude earthquake kills at least 95 in Tibet
At least 95 people are dead Tuesday after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked Tibet, China, according to Chinese state media. The quake occurred just after 9 a.m. on Jan. 7 near Shigatse, one of Tibetâs holiest cities.
The quake reached a depth of 6.2 miles, damaging buildings and sending people running to the streets in neighboring Nepal and India. Cities as far away as Kathmandu, Nepalâs capital city about 240 miles away, felt tremors.
The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a magnitude of 7.1, while the China Earthquake Networks Center reported it at 6.8. Multiple aftershocks followed the initial quake.
In addition to the dozens of lives lost, local authorities said the disaster injured at least 130 people.
First winter storm of 2025 leaves at least 4 dead across multiple states
The system moved east on Monday, Jan. 6, from the Great Plains to the East Coast. It brought snow, blizzard conditions and ice. The storm hit cities like Kansas City and Cincinnati the hardest.
Authorities said a public works employee in Missouri suffered a fatal injury while working to remove snow. Two people in Wichita, Kansas, died in a weather-related crash, and one person in Houston, Texas, most likely died as a result of the cold weather, according to local authorities.
The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes across at least a half-dozen states.
While the heavy snow ended, the danger remained. Forecasters said the winter system is drawing cold air behind it, meaning states across the entire U.S. will experience a cold front.
Pentagon transfers 11 Yemeni detainees from GuantĂĄnamo Bay to Oman
The Pentagon said the U.S. transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman, which agreed to help re-settle them. Two of the detainees are former bodyguards for Osama Bin Laden and were being held at GuantĂĄnamo Bay in Cuba.
None of the 11 detainees released were charged with crimes.
The move comes amid steps to reduce the population at the controversial U.S. military facility. Only 15 detainees remain at GuantĂĄnamo Bayâs detention facility, which the U.S. set up as the war on terror began after Sept. 11, 2001.
Of the 15 current detainees, only three are eligible for transfer. Three more are eligible for a periodic review, seven are involved in the military commissions process and two detainees were convicted and sentenced by military commissions.
In recent weeks, the Biden administration transferred four other detainees from GuantĂĄnamo, including one brought to the detention facility the day it opened in 2002. That person was never formally charged.
The move follows a recent ruling by a military judge that plea agreements with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and two other accused terrorists are valid and binding. Those deals take the death penalty off the table for the three men, who remain at GuantĂĄnamo Bay.
Biden attends memorial service for New Orleans terror attack victims
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended a memorial service Monday, Jan. 6, for the 14 victims killed in the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans. The interfaith prayer service was held at the famous St. Louis Cathedral in the cityâs French Quarter, less than a mile away from the scene of the Bourbon Street terror attack.
Jill and I traveled to New Orleans to stand with a community defined by strength and resilience.
To grieve. To pray. And let them know that America stands with them, and mourns with them. pic.twitter.com/26Phe203WF
The president spoke at the service, reassuring the people of New Orleans they are not alone and highlighting the cityâs enduring strength and resilience amid tragedy. He referred to past devastation experienced by the city, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“If there’s one thing we know: New Orleans defines strength and resilience,â the president said. âYou define it, whether it’s in the form of this attack, from this attack, or hurricanes or super storms. This cityâs people get back up.”
The president and first lady also visited the Bourbon Street memorial, where they placed flowers and prayed for the victims.
While in New Orleans, the Bidens met privately with grieving families, survivors and first responders.
Trump requests Garland block Smithâs final report
Though both cases were dismissed, the special counsel is required to provide a report to Garland, who can then decide whether to make it public.
According to the letter and a legal filing, Trump’s lawyers and two former co-defendants in the documents case viewed a two-volume draft copy of the report over the weekend. They called the report âone-sidedâ and âslanted.â
In the letter, Trumpâs lawyer requested Garland fire Smith, who is set to resign before Trumpâs inauguration on Jan. 20, or let the decision on the release of the report be handled by Trumpâs incoming attorney general, Pam Bondi.
The lawyers for Trumpâs two former co-defendants in the documents case also asked the judge who dismissed the case to halt the reportâs release, citing her ruling that Smithâs appointment was unconstitutional.
While it is not clear when the report will be released, the lawyers have asked the judge for a hearing on their request by Friday, Jan. 10, believing the release is âimminent.â
âShark Tankâ star Kevin OâLeary announces bid to buy TikTok
With millions of social media users counting down TikTok’s days in the U.S., one businessman is looking to prevent the ban from taking effect. “Shark Tank” star Kevin OâLeary issued a press release Monday announcing his interest in purchasing TikTok.
OâLeary â known by âShark Tankâ fans as âMr. Wonderfulâ â said he is partnering with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on the bid.
Speaking to Fox Business, OâLeary said he would need Trump’s help to seal the deal. OâLeary said he’s âprotecting the privacy of 170 million American usersâ and âempowering creators and small businesses.â
TikTok faces a federal ban on Jan. 19 unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells. The Biden administration and other federal lawmakers believe TikTok threatens national security, accusing the Chinese government of using it to spy on Americans. Lawmakers fear the app is being used to weaponize and influence content Americans view.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments from ByteDance on why it should prevent the ban.
World population increased 71M in 2024 to reach 8.09B for start of New Year
As the world counts down to the New Year, the global population continues to go up and is expected to surpass 8 billion people on Jan. 1, 2025, despite a slight slowdown this year, according to U.S. Census data. In 2024, the world’s population added 71 million people, marking less than a 1% increase from 2023.
Africa, with the highest birth rate of any continent, saw 14 of its countries recording the most births in 2024. On average, countries like Niger, Angola and Benin saw at least 40 births for every 1,000 people.
However, ongoing conflicts and wars have also had a significant impact on the global population, contributing to higher death rates. Ukraine, Bulgaria and Latvia are among the countries with the highest mortality numbers this year, according to the World Factbook.
Meanwhile, India and China continue to dominate as the two most populous countries, each with more than 1.4 billion people. The United States ranks third, followed by Indonesia, Pakistan and Nigeria.
Experts suggest that the 2020s could become the slowest-growing decade in U.S. history, with population growth levels not seen since the Great Depression. According to the census, in 2025, the U.S. will see roughly one birth and one death every nine seconds.
International migration will continue to drive U.S. population growth, however, with one new person arriving every 21 seconds.
India investigates Canadian colleges, alleged human trafficking: Report
Indian officials are investigating a potential connection between Canadian colleges and two Mumbai-based entities accused of illegally transporting students across the Canadian-U.S. border in a suspected human trafficking operation, according to CBC News. Authorities launched an investigation after a family froze to death while entering the U.S. from Canada in 2022.
Indian authorities began their probe after a family surnamed Patel from India froze to death. They were attempting to cross the border from Manitoba into Minnesota in January 2022. The family had been trying to reach human smugglers on the other side.
These entities are believed to have facilitated student admissions to Canadian universities, helping individuals secure study permits.
Indiaâs Enforcement Directorate found that the two Mumbai-based entities referred more than 35,000 students to colleges abroad each year. The Enforcement Directorate said arrangements were made for Indian nationals to gain admission to Canadian colleges and universities and apply for student visas.
The investigation revealed that more than 250 Canadian colleges and universities had agreements with the two Mumbai entities.
However, India’s Enforcement Directorate said in a press release that, âOnce individuals or students reach Canada, instead of joining the university, they illegally cross the U.S.-Canada border and never join any university(ies) in Canada.â
The allegations have not yet been brought to court, and the specific Canadian colleges involved have also not been identified.
In the case of the Patel family, two suspects ââ a 50-year-old man from Florida and a 29-year-old Indian national ââ were convicted. They were found guilty of running a human trafficking scheme that involved smuggling Indian migrants across the border. Both men are awaiting sentencing.
YouTube cracks down on clickbait with new enforcement measures
YouTube is reportedly cracking down on clickbait. The platform is rolling out new policies to address misleading titles and thumbnails that leave viewers feeling duped.
YouTubeâs battle against misleading content
Imagine clicking on a video titled âThe President Has Resigned,â only to find out itâs a hoax. This is just one example of the clickbait YouTube plans to target under its updated guidelines.
In a recent press release, YouTube announced its plan âto increase our enforcement against videos where the title or thumbnail promises viewers something that the video doesnât deliver.â
The impact of clickbait on viewers
Clickbait often frustrates viewers. YouTube reports that many users visit the platform searching for timely and vital information, only to be misled by exaggerated or false claims.
Studies back up the allure of clickbait. A study published in PLOS One found that clickbait increases user interaction. According to Psychology Today, humans are hardwired to seek out information for its perceived survival value. Misleading titles exploit this instinct by promising shocking or valuable revelations.
While clickbait can be effective when used ethically, it often crosses the line. Thatâs where YouTube is stepping in.
How the new policy will work
YouTube plans to roll out these changes in India first. The platform will begin removing videos that violate the policy without issuing immediate strikes to creators.
Typically, creators earn strikes for violating community guidelines, such as posting spam or sensitive content. However, under this new approach, YouTube aims to educate creators about the updated rules without punishmentâat least initially.
Survivors remember victims 20 years after Indian Ocean tsunami killed 230k
Parts of the world are marking a grim milestone on Thursday, Dec. 26. In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake led to a giant wall of water wiping out homes and villages across more than a dozen countries. Over one million people lost their homes from the natural disaster and another 230,000 were killed.
On Dec. 26, 2004, a powerful earthquake hit on the west coast of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia. Just 20 minutes later, the violent rumble brought tons of water along the Indian Ocean coastline.
The serene water of the Indian Ocean is a much different picture today than 20 years ago. Loved ones and survivors gathered Thursday to remember the 230,000 lives lost from India to Sri Lanka.
Indonesia was among the hardest hit by the tsunami. More than 170,000 people died in that country alone.
Prayers, gifts and tears filled the air on Thursday, Dec. 26, as crowds formed in the newly rebuilt city of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Once flattened by a surge of rushing water, it now stands tall with new churches, schools and homes.
The region is marking one of history’s worst natural disasters as experts said the tragedy did provide a wake-up call to increase safety protocols around the world.
Experts around the world now monitor earthquakes every day of the year to prevent another deadly tragedy. More tracking stations within bodies of water give officials a quicker reaction time to issue a warning within five to seven minutes.
Many coastal areas now have warning systems in place to help residents evacuate before a tsunami hits.
Below the water’s surface, more devices push out warnings from the sea floor. Scientists installed these machines within the Pacific, Caribbean and Indian oceans to detect vibrations within the ground.
Experts have also worked to identify vulnerable areas. They said the Pacific Ocean sees about 70% of the world’s fatal tsunamis.
Pakistanâs long-range missile plans raise alarm in Washington
The Biden administration has raised concerns about Pakistanâs development of long-range ballistic missiles, warning that the program could eventually create a capability to strike the United States. Officials released intelligence about the program and imposed sanctions on entities linked to it, citing failed diplomatic efforts to address the issue.
Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer described the program as an “emerging threat” to the U.S., pointing to Pakistanâs work on advanced missile systems and testing equipment for larger rocket motors.
Finer emphasized that the list of countries with nuclear weapons and long-range missile capabilities targeting the U.S. is limited and typically adversarial, making Pakistanâs actions particularly worrisome.
The U.S. sanctioned Pakistanâs state-owned National Development Complex, which oversees missile development, including the Shaheen ballistic missile program. The State Department also imposed sanctions on three Karachi-based companies and Chinese entities supporting Pakistanâs missile efforts.
Pakistanâs government dismissed the U.S. claims, calling them unfounded and designed to hinder its ability to defend against India. Analysts suggest the missile program may aim to deter U.S. involvement in potential conflicts with India or complicate efforts to disarm Pakistanâs nuclear arsenal.
Islamabadâs nuclear weapons program has historically focused on countering India, with which it has fought three wars.
Officials estimate Pakistanâs ability to develop missiles capable of reaching the U.S. could take a decade. However, the White House stressed the urgency of addressing the issue now to prevent further progress.
Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan have strained in recent years, partly due to Washingtonâs closer ties with India and Islamabadâs growing alignment with China.
Global coal demand hits record high in 2024, set to plateau through 2027
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reported global coal consumption reached an all-time high of 8.7 billion metric tons in 2024. This marks another record-breaking year for one of the worldâs most carbon-intensive energy sources.
While coal demand has continued to decline in the United States and the European Union, consumption in China and India remains on the rise, driving the global surge. Both nations recorded their highest-ever coal usage this year, with China consuming 4.9 billion metric tons and India reaching 1.3 billion metric tons.
Looking ahead, the IEA forecasts that global coal demand will stabilize at current levels, plateauing through 2027. The global energy watchdog attributes this stabilization to the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources, which are increasingly meeting the rising global demand for electricity.
However, despite the plateau, emissions from coal consumption are expected to remain high. The IEA cites the slow adoption of carbon capture technologies as a major factor prolonging the environmental impact of coal.
China, the worldâs largest coal consumer, plays a pivotal role in the trajectory of global coal demand. Currently, coal accounts for around 60% of Chinaâs electricity generation. According to the IEA, this reliance could prolong the world’s transition away from coal in the coming years.
In contrast, the United States has made efforts to reduce its dependence on coal. However, with approximately 138 million tons of unburned coal remaining in American power plants, the countryâs energy policies could shift in this regard under the incoming Trump administration.