In 2013, James Howells, an IT technician from Newport, Wales, accidentally threw away a hard drive containing the private keys of 8,000 Bitcoins. At that time, the cryptocurrency was worth around $8 million. Over the next decade, the value of Bitcoin increased dramatically, causing the contents of the lost hard drive to be worth an estimated $550 million by March 2026. Howells reportedly explored several recovery strategies, including advanced technical methods and legal action, but the drive remained buried in Newport’s municipal landfill. As reported, in January 2025, a British court ruled that the recovery effort had “no realistic prospect” of success. Following the verdict, Howells’ story was acquired by a production company for a documentary series.

Howells’ discarded hard drives face extreme exposure and degradation in landfill conditions

While cleaning the office in 2013, Howells’ then-girlfriend discarded a hard drive containing the keys to his Bitcoin wallet. At the time, cryptocurrency adoption was limited and Bitcoin’s value was relatively low. The hard drive ended up in the Newport Landfill, where it was inaccessible under standard waste-management protocols. CLIR Experts say exposure to pressure, moisture and chemical activity in landfill conditions makes magnetic storage media extremely susceptible to degradation. Legal ownership of discarded items was also transferred to the landfill, further complicating potential recovery efforts.

Howells’ drone and robot plans blocked due to council concerns

Howells has reportedly designed recovery proposals using advanced technology. As reported by Binance, their plans include AI-equipped drones for subsurface mapping, robotic excavation systems for controlled digging, and environmental monitoring to mitigate hazards. He offered to personally finance the operation, requesting only permission to access the landfill site.Newport City Council rejected the proposals, citing environmental and safety concerns. Officials said digging could release toxic gases or contaminate water sources. UK law also prevents unauthorized removal of waste from regulated landfill sites, meaning any recovery would require extensive legal clearance.

The journey of Howells and his lost bitcoins

Howells took legal action to gain access to the landfill or receive compensation. Their claims include approximately £495 million in damages for the allegedly lost bitcoins, the BBC reports. The courts reviewed the technical feasibility and potential environmental impact of the proposed recovery.Following the legal conclusion, Los Angeles-based production company LEBUL acquired the rights to Howells’ story. Project, The Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells. The series reportedly reconstructs Howells’ recovery proposals, court proceedings and technical plan.Howells said the documentary allows them to present the sequence of events and their technical strategies. The project focuses on documenting factual events rather than speculating on possible outcomes.

इसके तहत सबसे पहले 42 किलोमीटर की दौड़ होगी, जो 3100 मीटर की ऊंचाई पर स्थित मलारी से शुरू होकर 3600 मीटर की ऊंचाई पर स्थित नीति गांव तक जाएगी और वापस मलारी में समाप्त होगी. अल्ट्रा मैराथन 75 किमी की दौड़ 4340 मीटर की ऊंचाई पर स्थित सीमांत क्षेत्र रिमखिम से शुरू होगी, जो नीती में सुमना से होकर गुजरेगी और वापस मलारी में समाप्त होगी। इसके अलावा 1 जून को 21 किमी और 5 किमी की दौड़ भी होगी. पांच किमी की दौड़ ओपन वर्ग की होगी, इसमें सभी आयु वर्ग के महिला-पुरुष भाग ले सकेंगे।

चमोली: नकली हॉलमार्क लगाकर नकली आभूषण बेचने वाले गिरोह का भंडाफोड़, दो शातिर अभियुक्त गिरफ्तार

75 किमी की अल्ट्रा रेस सिर्फ भारतीयों के लिए

75 किमी की अल्ट्रा रन केवल भारतीय प्रतिभागियों के लिए होगी। क्योंकि इनर लाइन परमिट विदेशी व्यक्तियों को जारी नहीं किया जाता है। इस दौड़ में केवल वही लोग भाग ले सकते हैं जिन्होंने पिछले 10 महीने के भीतर 42 किमी की दौड़ या छह महीने के भीतर 21 किमी की दो दौड़ पूरी की हो। इसके अलावा जिस खिलाड़ी ने आदि कैलाश अल्ट्रा रन पूरी की हो या 42 किलोमीटर की दौड़ पूरी की हो। इसके अलावा कोई भी व्यक्ति जिसने एक साल में कोई अल्ट्रा रन पूरा किया हो, वह भी भाग ले सकता है। इस दौड़ को पूरा करने का समय 14 घंटे रखा गया है।

42 किमी मैराथन के लिए इनर लाइन परमिट की आवश्यकता नहीं है। इसलिए इसमें विदेशी भी हिस्सा ले सकते हैं. इसके लिए पिछले छह महीने के भीतर उच्च हिमालयी क्षेत्र में कोई 21 किमी की दौड़ पूरी करने या पिछले 10 महीने में दो हाफ मैराथन पूरी करने का प्रमाण पत्र होना चाहिए। इस दौड़ को पूरा करने का समय आठ घंटे रखा गया है. 31 मई को होने वाली नीति एक्सट्रीम अल्ट्रा रन मैराथन के लिए ऑनलाइन रजिस्ट्रेशन शुरू हो गया है। मैराथन की तैयारियां शुरू कर दी गई हैं।

-अरविंद गौड़, जिला पर्यटन अधिकारी चमोली

PM Narendra Modi (Image/PTI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi On Sunday, he became the longest serving head of a government by completing 8,931 days in office. He overtook the previous record of Pawan Kumar Chamling, who served as the Chief Minister of Sikkim for more than 24 years, with 8930 days remaining in office.PM Modi served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for more than 13 years from 7 October 2001 to 21 May 2014. During this period, he became the longest serving Chief Minister of the state by winning four consecutive terms in 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2012.He later assumed office as the Prime Minister of India in 2014 and has since been re-elected in 2019 and 2024, making him a three-time Prime Minister.Defense Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated PM Modi for achieving a significant achievement in his long public service.Singh wrote in a post onHome Minister Amit Shah described PM Modi’s service in governance as ‘hard work and unwavering commitment’.In a post on Twitter, Shah wrote: “A milestone rooted in service, hard work and unwavering commitment. Today, PM Narendra Modi ji has overtaken former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling’s record of 8,930 days, becoming the longest serving head of a government in India. 8,931 days in PM Modi ji’s public life, first as CM of Gujarat and now as Prime Minister as a nation-first Reflecting deep dedication to governance, integrity in action and tireless service to every citizen. A rare legacy built on unprecedented trust and unparalleled service.”This milestone comes with PM Modi’s growing global digital presence. Earlier, he had become the first world leader to cross the mark of 100 million followers on Instagram. His followers are more than double that of US President Donald Trump, who has more than 43 million followers.

Former Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten said he was not surprised to hear the news of the team being fined for its poor performance in the T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan exited the tournament during the Super 8 stage, having managed just one win over a full member nation and losing to India once again.

According to a report by The Express TribuneEach player on the team may face a fine of PKR 5 million (approximately Rs 16 lakh) for not meeting the performance standards. The move was believed to be inspired by Mohsin Naqvi, indicating a tough stance by the Pakistan Cricket Board in dealing with poor results. Insiders suggest that the leadership has become increasingly frustrated after disappointing performances in major ICC tournaments.

Kirsten recently talked about her time spent with the Pakistan team And the toxic culture with the cricket system in the country and he gave his opinion on the matter. Speaking to BBC, the former Pakistan coach said that he was saddened to hear the news as he believes that the players are giving their all for the team.

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Kirsten said, “I’m not particularly surprised (by the news of Pakistani players being fined). To me, it’s just sad. I mean, those players are giving their all and I know them well. You know them all. So I have an emotional attachment to a lot of them. I saw them in Colombo and it was great to reconnect with them. And they’re good people. They want to do well for their country. So when you When you look at it, it never looks good.”

‘Pak players are dedicated to sports’

Kirsten spoke openly about his relationship with the Pakistan players and said that they were completely professional and he enjoyed his tenure with them.

“At the end of the day, I enjoy working with cricket players. And if you have cricket players, whether they’re from England, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, they’re cricket players, they’re professionals. We speak the same language. We connect on the same things, and we’re professionals in that area. And you know, I enjoyed the Pakistan players, I did. I thought they were dedicated to the game,” Kirsten said.

The exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 was the third consecutive time that Pakistan failed to make the last four of an ICC competition.

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US House (L); Refugees fleeing East Pakistan in 1971 (R, AP file photo)

US Congressman Greg Landesman has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives demanding recognition of the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army and its allies against Bengali Hindus in 1971 as war crimes and genocide.Landesman, a Democrat from Ohio, introduced the proposal Friday. It has been sent to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.In March 1971, Pakistan military units, in collaboration with radical Islamic groups inspired by the ideology of Jamaat-e-Islami, launched a massive crackdown in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) under the codename ‘Operation Searchlight’, resulting in mass killings of civilians, especially Bengali Hindus.

‘Mass murder of Bengali Hindus’

The resolution states that the Pakistani military and its Islamist allies “carried out indiscriminate mass murder of ethnic Bengalis without regard to religion and gender, killed their political leaders, intellectuals, professionals and students, and forced thousands of women to work as their sex slaves.”“They specifically targeted the religious minority Hindus for destruction through mass massacres, mass rape, conversion and forced expulsion,” it said.Also, the proposal states that the entire community should not be held responsible for the actions of individuals.

‘Blood Telegram’

The resolution cites a telegram sent by Archer Blood, Consul General of the United States of America in Dhaka, on March 28, 1971, titled ‘Selective Genocide’. “Furthermore, with the support of Pak Army, non-Bengali Muslims are systematically attacking poor people’s dwellings and killing Bengalis and Hindus,” he wrote in the message.It also mentions the April 6, 1971 communication known as the “Blood Telegram”, in which Blood formally objected to the US government’s silence on the “genocide”.“But we have also decided not to intervene morally on the grounds that the Awami conflict, to which unfortunately the term genocide applies, is entirely an internal matter of a sovereign state,” the message, signed by 20 members of the Consulate, said.Based on these accounts, the resolution urges the House to condemn the actions of Pakistani armed forces against Bengali Hindus as crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.On the night of March 25, 1971, the Government of Pakistan imprisoned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after winning the general elections. Following the atrocities, India went to war with Pakistan, resulting in the surrender of the Pakistani army and the creation of Bangladesh.