Illinois man turns small town around with 21 giant attractions and 12 Guinness records

NC Whirligig Park draws 194K visitors, generates $5.3M in annual regional sales

A retired North Carolina farm machinery repairman, Vollis Simpson, transformed scrap metal into large wind-powered sculptures over the course of his lifetime. Thirty of his restored whirligigs were relocated to downtown Wilson, where the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park officially opened in 2017. The park has since evolved into a significant cultural landmark and economic asset for the region. In 2024 alone, it attracted approximately 194,300 visitors and contributed an estimated $5.3 million in annual regional sales.

FBI adds India-origin Manjit Singh Bedi to most-wanted list over $600K fraud

The FBI has added Manjit Singh Bedi, a man of Indian origin, to its most-wanted fraudsters list. He is accused of fraudulently obtaining over $600,000 in government benefits by illegally converting customer EBT cards into cash rather than food purchases. After facing criminal charges, Bedi allegedly fled first to Canada and subsequently to India to evade law enforcement. The FBI is offering a substantial reward for any information that leads to his arrest and capture.

Silver prices drop 40% from peak, but demand remains weak in India

Silver prices in India have fallen sharply by around 40% over the past seven months after a remarkable rally that had pushed the metal over 300% higher year-on-year. The metal had hit a historic milestone in January when it crossed Rs 4 lakh per kg on the Multi Commodity Exchange for the first time. Despite the significant price correction, buyer interest has not rebounded as might be expected following such a steep decline. The lack of demand could result in an estimated 2,000 tonnes of silver accumulating as unsold inventory within the country.

PM Modi congratulates 'friend' Meloni on becoming longest-serving postwar Italian PM