Chaos Erupts As Massive Crowd Gathers At 'Pushpa 2' Promotions In Patna

Chaos erupted in Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan on Sunday, where a massive crowd turned up to catch a glimpse of actors Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandana who were in the city for the promotion of their upcoming film Pushpa 2.

A section of the people who gathered at the venue crossed barricades and hurled shoes and sleepers when they were prevented from going close to the stars.

The event will continue till late night.

Rajeev Mishra, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Patna, denied that the police resorted to lathi charge to control the situation as claimed by a section of the media.

"Only a group of people who had come to watch the event and tried to cross the barricade were removed.

An adequate number of security personnel have been deployed at Gandhi Maidan," Mishra said.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh told PTI that everything is under control.

Pushpa 2 is scheduled to be released worldwide on December 5.

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"Benefits Outweighed By Negatives": News Outlets Quit Musk's X

News outlets have begun quitting X, formerly Twitter, once a favourite of global media but now accused of enabling the spread of disinformation under its owner, president-elect Donald Trump ally Elon Musk.

Citing a "harsh and extreme" climate, Sweden's newspaper of reference, the left-liberal Dagens Nyheter (DN), on Friday became third major media outlet to stop publishing its articles on the social media platform.

"Since Elon Musk took over, the platform has increasingly merged with his and Donald Trump's political ambitions," said editor-in-chief Peter Wolodarski.

Already on Wednesday, Britain's centre-left daily The Guardian had announced it would no longer post content from its official accounts on X, which it called "toxic".

A day later, Spain's Vanguardia did the same, saying it would rather lose subscribers than remain on a "disinformation network".

Several users had already wondered back in 2022 whether they should remain on Twitter when Musk -- a businessman best known for running car company Tesla and space company SpaceX -- bought the platform and drastically reduced content moderation in the name of free speech.

The question has flared up again since Trump won this month's presidential election, actively supported by Musk.

'Disturbing content'

"I would expect more publishers to part ways with X," said Stephen Barnard, a specialist on media manipulation at Butler University in the US.

"How many do so will likely depend on what actions X, Musk, and the Trump administration take with regard to media and journalism," he said.

Musk, who is the world's richest man, has been tapped by Trump's team to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency.

The Guardian has nearly 11 million followers on the platform, but it said "the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives".

It said "often disturbing content" was promoted or found on the platform, singling out "far-right conspiracy theories and racism".

This falling-out stands in stark contrast to the enthusiasm sparked by Twitter in 2008 and 2009.

Back then, media felt they had to be present there to establish direct contact with their audiences as well as with experts and decision-makers.

They found grew "audiences, built brands, developed new reporting practices, formed community, strengthened public engagement", said Barnard.

At the same time, they boosted Twitter's influence.

'Reaping what they sowed'

This increasingly symbiotic relationship may have become detrimental to the media, suggested Mathew Ingram, former chief digital writer for the Columbia Journalism Review.

"Many publishers gave up on reader comments and other forms of interaction and essentially outsourced all of that to social media like Twitter," he said.

"To that extent they are reaping what they sowed."

Criticism of Twitter predates its takeover by Musk and was centred on the network's architecture that was seen favouring polemical debate and instantaneous indignation.

It was also said to give an unbalanced reflection of society, tilting mostly towards higher-income people, and activist users.

The precise impact of the decision by newspapers, already in economic crisis, to leave X is not yet clear, but they already expect readerships to dwindle.

"We will probably lose subscriptions because some readers subscribe after seeing a news story on the social network," Jordi Juan, director of La Vanguardia, told AFP.

But Barnard said any such loss would be limited because, said, "X generates relatively little traffic to news sites compared to other platforms".

In October 2023, six months after American public radio NPR left Twitter, a report from the Nieman Foundation for Journalism deemed the effects of this departure "negligible" in terms of traffic.

One beneficiary of disenchantment with X appears to be Bluesky, a decentralised social media service offering many of the same functions as X.

On Friday, it said it had added one million subscribers within 24 hours. But its 16 million subscribers are still dwarfed by those of X, estimated at several hundreds of millions.

"Strictly speaking, there are no alternatives to what X offers today," Vincent Berthier, head of the technology department at RSF (Reporters Without Borders) told AFP.

"But we may need to invent them."

Berthier called departures from X "a symptom of the failure of democracies to regulate platforms" across the board.

Musk may represent "the radical face of this informational nightmare", said Berthier. "But the problem goes much deeper."

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Reliance, Walt Disney Close $8.5 Billion Merger Of Indian Media Assets

Reliance Industries and Walt Disney on Thursday completed the $8.5 billion merger of their Indian media assets, which have been split into three divisions, with each unit having its own CEO. The companies said the newly formed divisions are entertainment, which houses Reliance's Colours TV channels and Disney's Star; digital, home to online streaming platforms JioCinema and Hotstar, and sports.

Former Google executive Kiran Mani, who leads JioCinema, will take charge of the digital organisation.

Reuters reported last month that Disney Hotstar's CEO Sajith Sivanandan resigned from the role as business integration gathered pace for the merger. The entertainment division will be led by Kevin Vaz, who is currently the top boss at Reliance's Viacom 18 Media.

Sanjog Gupta, who heads sports at Disney's Indian media operations, will take charge of the merged company's sports division.

The completion of the merger comes after the companies won key approval from the country's antitrust regulator in August after assuaging regulatory worries about their grip on broadcasting rights for cricket, India's favourite sport.

The merger will create India's biggest entertainment player, with 120 TV channels and two streaming services, and will compete with Sony, Netflix and Amazon.

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Hydroponic Weed Worth Rs 14.9 Crore Seized At Mumbai Airport, 2 Arrested

Customs officials seized hydroponic weed worth Rs 14.9 crore from two passengers at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here, an official said on Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, officials intercepted two passengers who had arrived from Bangkok on Friday and seized 14.9 kg of the contraband, the official said.

Drugs kept in 14 packets were concealed in cartons in the duo's luggage, an official said.

The passengers were arrested under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigation is underway to ascertain to whom they were delivering the contraband.

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Conman Who Pretended To Be Official From PM's Office Charged By Probe Agency

The Enforcement Directorate's Srinagar Zonal Office has filed a Prosecution Complaint against conman Kiran Patel who availed of security from the Jammu and Kashmir administration by passing himself off as a Prime Minister's Office functionary and also duped several Gujarat-based businessmen by promising them opportunities in the Kashmir Valley, an official statement said on Saturday.

The complaint, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, was filed before the special PMLA court, Srinagar, on October 28 and the court has issued notice to Patel, a resident of Ahmedabad, to appear before it on November 27.

The ED initiated its investigation on the basis of the FIR registered by Nishat Police Station, Srinagar, against Patel and others for the offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The financial probe agency's investigation revealed that Patel sought to pass himself as Additional Director, Strategy and Campaigns, PMO and fraudulently created/printed fake visiting cards to fake his identity to fulfil his ulterior motives to dupe people and generate proceeds of crime.

"By using the said fake visiting cards and impersonation, not only did he illicitly avail the security from the administration of the UT of J&K government which has caused a loss of resources and monetary loss to the state exchequer but also, he duped gullible Gujarat-based businessmen and secured/got undue advantages by making a false promise to provide business opportunities in the Valley of Kashmir," the statement said.

The ED had conducted search operations under the PMLA on May 19, 2023, at various premises linked with Patel and others resulting in the seizure of incriminating documents/records & electronic devices.

Further investigations are in progress, it said.

Patel was granted bail by a Srinagar court on August 29, 2023, on a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh with 2 sureties.

J&K Police had arrested him on March 3, 2023, for allegedly impersonating a PMO functionary.

The authorities said that Patel got facilities normally given to officials from the PMO including a bulletproof car, security personnel and official accommodation at a five-star hotel during his visits to Jammu and Kashmir.

The conman, who faces over half a dozen cheating cases in Gujarat, was arrested in the state in August 2023 on charges of cheating a Morbi-based businessman of Rs 48 lakh.

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November 7 Declared As Public Holiday For Chhath Puja In Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has declared a public holiday on November 7 for Chhath Puja, calling it an "important festival" for the residents of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

In an official announcement, Chief Minister Atishi stated that the Delhi government has decided to observe a holiday on 7 November for Chhath Puja, enabling the Purvanchal community to celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Delhi, Atishi wrote, "Chhath Puja is an important festival for the people of the NCT of Delhi. Accordingly, the Government of NCT of Delhi has decided to declare 7th November 2024 as a Public Holiday on account of 'Chhath Puja'."

The announcement follows a request from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, who had urged the Chief Minister to declare a full public holiday on the third day of Chhath.

"In just a few days, we will be celebrating Chhath, a grand festival observed over four days, with the third day being particularly significant as offerings are made to the setting sun. This year, this important day falls on November 7, which has already been declared a restricted holiday. I urge the government to declare November 7, 2024 (Thursday) as a full holiday and to expedite the necessary process," LG Saxena wrote in his letter to Atishi.

In recognition of Chhath Puja's significance in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Indian Railways is running special trains across the country to ensure safe travel for those returning to their hometowns for the festival.

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity for the Railway Board, stated that the Indian Railways operated over 160 trains on Thursday, with plans to run more than 170 trains today.

Kumar added that Indian Railways has made special arrangements at major stations nationwide, including New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Mumbai, Bandra, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru.

"These arrangements are made for people travelling home during Chhath Puja. We are running additional trains to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to manage the rush. Yesterday, we operated over 160 trains, and today we plan to run more than 170. Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff are deployed to manage crowds, and Rail Sewaks are on hand to assist travellers," Kumar said.

Chhath Puja 2024, celebrated on November 7, is a vibrant festival dedicated to the Sun God and his consort, Chhathi Maiya. Celebrated mainly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and among Indian communities, the festival spans four days and includes rituals of fasting, bathing in rivers, and prayers at sunrise and sunset. Devotees, particularly women, prepare special offerings, including *thekua* (a traditional sweet) and fruits, gathering at riverbanks to pay homage to the Sun, seeking health and prosperity for their families.

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US Elections: 60 Million Cast Early Votes In Kamala Harris-Trump Tight Race

With just a few days to go for the United States elections, a staggering 61.0 million Americans have already made their voices heard by casting their ballots in the November election, according to a report by CNN.

Notably, voters have cast their ballots either by mail or through early in-person voting for the presidential elections between Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat and former President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Meanwhile, according to new CNN polls conducted by SSRS, the presidential race is heating up in Georgia and North Carolina, with the latest polls showing a neck-and-neck contest between Harris and Trump.

Likely voters in Georgia divide 48 per cent for Trump to 47 per cent for Harris, and in North Carolina, Harris stands at 48 per cent to Trump's 47 per cent, CNN reported.

These narrow margins are within the poll's margin of error, indicating no clear frontrunner in either state.

It is interesting to note that North Carolina, which supported former President Barack Obama in 2008, has voted Republican in the past three presidential elections. However, in 2020, Trump won against US President Joe Biden.

Joe Biden made history in Georgia four years ago by defeating Donald Trump with a margin of less than 1 percentage point, becoming the first Democrat to win the state since Bill Clinton's victory in 1992.

In both states, Georgia and North Carolina, Harris is leading among the Black likely voters (84 per cent to 13 per cent in Georgia; 78 per cent to 19 per cent in North Carolina) and voters with college degrees (55 per cent to 39 per cent in Georgia; 53 per cent to 42 per cent in North Carolina).

On the other hand, white college graduates divide around evenly in both states (50 per cent Harris to 47 per cent Trump in North Carolina, 48 per cent Trump to 46 per cent Harris in Georgia). Trump holds a commanding lead, 81 per cent to 15 per cent, among White voters without college degrees in Georgia. He leads that group by a less overwhelming margin, 65 per cent to 31 per cent, in North Carolina, CNN reported.

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Iran Preparing Strike On Israel From Iraqi Territory Within Days: Reports

 Israeli intelligence suggests Iran is preparing to attack Israel from Iraqi territory in the coming days, possibly before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5, Axios reported on Thursday, citing two unidentified Israeli sources.

The attack is expected to be carried out from Iraq using a large number of drones and ballistic missiles, the Axios report added.

The report said that carrying out the attack through pro-Iran militias in Iraq could be an attempt by Tehran to avoid another Israeli attack against strategic targets in Iran.

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"Just Give Me My Food" - A Look At Sara Ali Khan's Wholesome Diwali Post

Sara Ali Khan often posts about her love for food on Instagram. For Diwali 2024, she took to the platform to share a compilation of her recent foodie indulgences during her Kedarnath trip. She also hinted at how she associates all the positive wishes of this festive season with "good food". In the reel, Sara can be first seen enjoying a South Indian breakfast spread. The clip shows a table laid out with dishes like idli, sambar, uttapam, etc. Next, we see Sara asking the vendor at a humble food stall for missi roti. She pairs it with some hot dal fry, which she calls "delicious". At the same location, she also relished a dry aloo sabzi, hari sabzi, bhindi, paneer bhurji and tandoori roti.

Also Read: Sara Ali Khan Enjoys Ice Cream With Friends In Italy and France - See Pic

The next clip shows Sara seated indoors at a restaurant and savouring a thali filled with tasty-looking treats. She explains that she is eating "desi ghee with desi Himachali gud [jaggery] and missi roti with some local pickle." Sara also indulged in a trio of ice creams even as she bundled up against the cold weather and sat near the fireplace. Her plate included scoops of chocolate, guava and Earl Grey-flavoured ice creams. In the clip that follows, she is seen inquiring about chai at a street stall. That's not all. The final part of the video shows Sara seated at an outdoor location during the day. Her meal features rajma, chawal, aloo and Shimla mirch.

Sara wrote a rhyming caption for the reel. It reads, "Happy Diwali. Wishing you joy, prosperity, bliss, and health - which for me is basically good food. So don't be rude. Just give me my food. Thank you kindly don't intrude." Watch the complete video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sara Ali Khan (@saraalikhan95)

We cannot wait to see what other Bollywood celebrities post about the ongoing festive season and the yummy treats enjoyed during this time. Happy Diwali 2024!

Also Read: Shilpa Shetty's Diwali 'Thali' Is A Platter Of Pure Delight - See Pic

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"Our True Hero": Army Dog Phantom Dies In Anti-Terror Op In Jammu And Kashmir

The army was closing in on the terrorists trapped in the Sunderbani Sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor. Phantom was part of the army unit involved in the anti-terror operation, he drew enemy fire, sustaining bullet injuries. Phantom, an army dog, sacrificed his life during service.

"We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero, a valiant Indian Army dog, Phantom," the 16 Corps, known as the White Knight Corps, said in honour of the four-year-old dog.

Today, terrorists targeted an Army vehicle in the Asan, Sunderbandi Sector of Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir. A large-scale search operation was launched to find the terrorists. 

A terrorist was killed in a search-cordon operation and the army recovered warlike stores. Phantom, a Belgium Malinois, was killed in action.

Update

We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero—a valiant #IndianArmy Dog, #Phantom.

As our troops were closing in on the trapped terrorists, #Phantom drew enemy fire, sustaining fatal injuries. His courage, loyalty, and dedication will never be forgotten.

In the… pic.twitter.com/XhTQtFQFJg

— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) October 28, 2024

Born on May 25, 2020, Phantom was an assault dog part of the K9 unit, a specialized unit of trained canines who take part in anti-terror and counter-insurgency operations. The male dog was issued from Remount Veterinary Corps, Meerut and was posted on August 12, 2022.

"His courage, loyalty, and dedication will never be forgotten," the army said.

Last year, six-year-old army dog Kent was killed while saving the life of a soldier during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. He had been a part of nine operations before that.

The female Labrador-type dog of the 21st Army dog unit was killed on Tuesday while trying to save her handler in the Union Territory's Rajouri district.

Kent's body was wrapped in the tricolour, a wreath laid on it as Army personnel paid their last respects to her.

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Video: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Convoy In Multi-Car Collision

Several vehicles which were part of the convoy of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's convoy collided with one another when the pilot car stopped suddenly to save a two-wheeler driver this evening in Thiruvananthapuram. The Chief Minister's vehicle had minor damage but he was not injured in the accident.

In the footage of the accident, the woman driver can be seen taking a right causing a white SUV behind her to come to a screeching halt. The six escort vehicles, including an ambulance, tailing the SUV were then seen ramming into each other.

The incident occurred at Vamanapuram in Thiruvananthapuram when Mr Vijayan was on his way back to the state capital after a visit to Kottayam, located about 150 km from here.

Security personnel were seen deboarding the vehicles to assess the situation and check on the Chief Minister. Many medical staff were also seen rushing out of the ambulance.

An official said that the police have started a probe into the female two-wheeler driver to find out more.

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Eknath Shinde Fields MP Milind Deora Against Aaditya Thackeray In Worli

The Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday nominated Rajya Sabha member Milind Deora against ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray's son and Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee Aaditya Thackeray from Mumbai's Worli in the upcoming assembly polls.

Mr Deora, a former Congress leader and Union minister of state, joined the Sena before the Lok Sabha polls this year and was subsequently elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Mr Shinde's decision to pit Mr Deora against incumbent MLA and former state minister Aaditya Thackeray will make Worli a high-voltage contest.

The Shiv Sena on Sunday announced its candidates for 20 seats.

It also fielded BJP Lok Sabha member Narayan Rane's son Nilesh Rane from the Kudal constituency. His younger brother and sitting MLA Nitesh Rane has been renominated by the BJP from Kankavali in Sindhudurg district.

The party has picked Member of Legislative Council and former MP Bhawana Gawali from Risod in Washim district, while another MLC, Amshya Padvi, will contest on a Sena ticket from the Akkalkuva constituency in Dhule district.

Former Lok Sabha member Sanjay Nirupam will contest from Dindoshi seat in Mumbai. Sena has also nominated former BJP leader Murji Patel for the Andheri East seat in the state capital.

BJP ex-MP Rajendra Gavit, who joined the Sena in 2019 and won the Palghar Lok Sabha seat then, has been fielded from the Palghar assembly constituency.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.

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Gisele Pelicot, French Mass Rape Survivor, Hopes Trial Will Help Women

Gisele Pelicot, the 72-year-old victim of mass rape whose ordeal has shocked the world, told a trial in southern France on Wednesday that she was determined that making her case public should help other women and change society.

Dominique Pelicot, her husband, has admitted to inviting dozens of strangers over nearly ten years to their house to rape her after he had drugged her. Fifty other men also stand trial, accused of raping her.

Gisele Pelicot, her voice often shaking with emotion, told the court she was destroyed by what happened to her. She said how "unbelievably violent" it was for her that many of the accused in the trial, which started on Sept.2, said they thought she agreed to the rapes or was faking sleeping.

"I've decided not to be ashamed, I've done nothing wrong," Gisele Pelicot, who has become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence, told the court in Avignon.

She said she had insisted the trial be held publicly, and not behind closed doors, as is often the case to protect rape victims, in the hope it would help other rape victims.

"They (rapists) are the ones who must be ashamed," she said, adding that having videos, filmed by her husband, of some of her rapes, shown during the trial, was "very difficult but necessary."

"I'm not expressing hatred or hate, but I am determined that things change in this society," said Gisele Pelicot.

Protests have been organised across France to show support for Gisele Pelicot, with many women expressing admiration for her courage.

"It's not courage. It's determination to change things," she said. "This is not just my battle, but that of all rape victims."

Most of the accused told the court they have been manipulated by Dominique Pelicot, rejecting the blame on him. Only a few have admitted to raping Gisele Pelicot.

Some have apologised.

"I hear those apologies, but they are inaudible," she told the court. "By apologising, they are trying to excuse themselves."

Saying her husband's betrayal of her trust was beyond measure, Gisele Pelicot told the court: "I'm a woman who's totally destroyed."

She had thought he was the perfect husband, she told the court, before adding: "My life has tumbled into nothingness."

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Uniform Safety Standards Essential At Coaching Centres: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday stressed on having "uniform standards" to the extent possible to ensure safety and security of students studying at coaching centres.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a matter related to the deaths of three civil service aspirants at a coaching centre in the national capital in July due to the flooding in the building's basement.

On July 27, the three students drowned in the basement library of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area after it was flooded following heavy rains.

The top court was informed by senior advocate Siddharth Dave, who is assisting the top court as an amicus curiae, about the broad areas that required attention.

Dave referred to the aspects of fire safety, fee regulation, student to classroom area ratio, student to teacher ratio, installation of CCTVs, medical facilities, mental health care and counselling for those studying at coaching centres.

He suggested that all states be impleaded as parties in the matter.

The amicus further referred to the legislation dealing with coaching institutes in seven states. When Dave suggested some sort of an oversight, the bench said it should be permanent.

"It can't be that an unfortunate incident occurs and then suddenly one become aware of everything," the bench observed.

The top court pointed out the need to have uniform standards on the issue.

The respondent authorities were asked to offer suggestions to the amicus on the desirability of a comprehensive policy for coaching institutes, initially with respect to the National Capital Region (NCR).

The matter will be heard after two weeks.

While hearing the matter on September 20, the top court had directed a Union government-appointed committee probing the three deaths to submit an interim report about the measures it wanted to be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The top court had also asked the Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi governments to apprise it of the policy and legislative and administrative changes made to prevent such incidents in future.

It had said uniform initiatives should be taken in the entire NCR to prevent another Old Rajinder Nagar-type incident from happening.

The top court had said the panel could consider intervention at the legislative, policy, and administrative levels, apart from eliciting views of all the stakeholders before making its recommendations.

The top court had also said it would be covering the "wider canvas" and would examine the issue at pan-India level to ensure such incidents did not occur again elsewhere.

On August 5, the top court had observed that coaching centres had become "death chambers" and were playing with the lives of students.

It had taken cognisance of the matter while hearing a petition filed by an association of coaching centres challenging a December 2023 Delhi High Court order which directed the city's fire services and the civic body to inspect all coaching centres to ascertain if they were complying with fire safety norms.

The high court had transferred the probe into the death of the three students from Delhi Police to the CBI "to ensure the public has no doubt over the investigation".

The three UPSC aspirants who drowned were Shreya Yadav (25) of Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) of Telangana and Nevin Delvin (24) of Kerala.

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Climate Change Could Reduce Amazon's Methane Absorbtion By 70%: Study

Extreme temperatures and humidity driven by climate change could reduce the Amazon rainforest's capacity to absorb the greenhouse gas methane by 70 per cent, a study has found. Researchers said that under a warmer climate, the extreme rainfall and droughts projected for South America's Amazon could impact its net greenhouse gas emissions.

Often referred to as the 'lungs of the planet', the tropical rainforest lies majorly in Brazil, with parts in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, among others, and is known to be a crucial 'greenhouse gas sink' that absorbs these gases from the air.

However, 20 per cent of the Amazon region, which remains flooded for nearly half a year, releases methane, countering its ability to absorb other greenhouse gases, the researchers at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil said. Their study is published in the journal Environmental Microbiome.

Previous studies have shown that the flooded areas of Amazon contribute up to almost 30 per cent of methane emissions from wetlands globally.

"Although it's already been shown that factors such as air temperature and seasonal flooding can influence the composition of microbial communities affecting the flow of methane in these environments. But what should we expect in the context of climate change and the projected extreme weather?" Lead author Julia Gontijo, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, US, said.

For this study, researchers took soil samples from two flooded regions of the Amazon and one from elevated forests known to absorb methane. These samples were subjected to extreme temperatures -- 27 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius -- and humidity.

They found that in the soil sample from the elevated forest methane absorbtion dropped by 70 per cent in hot and dry conditions, while methane production surged in heavy rainfall, as the soil was not used to dealing with extreme humidity.

"Within this (elevated) forest soil, an average decrease of 70 per cent in (methane) consumption potential was observed with temperature increase in dry conditions," the authors wrote.

It means that the floodplain microbiome can adapt to climate change but the upland forest microbiome is sensitive to its effects, which could cause a shift in the balance of greenhouse gas emissions in the Amazon in future, Gontijo said.

"In view of the Amazon Rainforest biome's importance in proportion to global levels, this could represent a very serious problem," she said.

She further said that in both (the) floodplains, although there were no observation of significant changes in methane emission patterns, the number of methane-producing microorganisms increased that can be a future problem.

The results could be used in framing public policies, the author added

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When Baba Siddique Helped End SRK-Salman Khan Feud

Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai's Bandra today. A political veteran in Maharashtra, Mr Siddique left Congress, after nearly five decades of association with the party, and joined the ruling BJP's ally Nationalist Congress Party in February this year.

He had served as a minister when the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP coalition government was in power.

Mr Siddique was known not just for his political connections across party lines but also for hosting lavish parties. In one such party in 2013, Mr Siddique inadvertently played a role in uniting two of Bollywood's megastars, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.

Despite occasional conflicts and publicised disagreements, the two actors have maintained a bond over the years. One significant moment in their relationship unfolded at Baba Siddique's Iftaar party in 2013, bringing an end to a five-year-long cold war.

The Iftaar party hosted by Mr Siddique became the backdrop for the much-anticipated reconciliation between the Khans. Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who had previously avoided each other following a heated argument at Katrina Kaif's birthday party in 2008, finally came face to face. The tension that had overshadowed their relationship dissipated as they warmly greeted each other and shared a heartfelt hug. A photo capturing that moment went viral across social media and news channels alike.

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India "Concerned" As Israel Hits UN Facility In Lebanon, IDF Puts Out Map

India has expressed grave "concern" over the abysmal conflict situation in West Asia as Israel intensifies its resolve targeting Hezbollah hideouts. New Delhi issued a statement today after UN peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon came under fire from Israeli forces.

Among the UN peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, there are approximately 900 Indian soldiers. It is important to note that they were not at the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon or UNIFIL headquarters at the time it was attacked by Israeli forces. Besides the soldiers, there are around 25 staff officers, including medical experts deployed there.

"We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, adding that "We continue to monitor the situation very closely."

New Delhi underscored the importance it attaches to United Nations' peacekeeping initiatives saying UN premises cannot be allowed to be targeted, and respecting its sanctity is a mandate.

"Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate," the foreign ministry said.

Israel however, has defended its actions, with the Israeli Defense Forces or IDF claiming that "Since the beginning of the war, Hezbollah has fired more than 130 rockets in close proximity" to 26 United Nations facilities."

The IDF also put out a map in which it has identified these places as being "less than 300 meters" from the UN facilities.

WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS SAID - UNIFIL STATEMENT

The UN has said, "Recent escalation along the Blue Line is causing widespread destruction of towns and villages in south Lebanon, while rockets continue to be launched towards Israel, including civilian areas. In the past days we have seen incursions from Israel into Lebanon in Naqoura and other areas. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have clashed with Hizbullah elements on the ground in Lebanon."

It further said that "UNIFIL's Naqoura headquarters and nearby positions have been repeatedly hit," adding that on Thursday "two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. The injuries are fortunately, this time, not serious, but they remain in hospital."

Speaking about the Israeli offensive, the UN statement asserted that "IDF soldiers also fired on UN position (UNP) 1-31 in Labbouneh, hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system. An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance."

It further highlighted that on Wednesday "IDF (Israeli) soldiers deliberately fired at and disabled the position's perimeter-monitoring cameras. They also deliberately fired on UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura, where regular Tripartite meetings were held before the conflict began, damaging lighting and a relay station."

Reminding Israeli forces that its attacks on UN facilities is a grave violation of international humanitarian law as well as UN Security Council resolution 1701, the UN said, "We remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times. UNIFIL peacekeepers are present in south Lebanon to support a return to stability under Security Council mandate. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and of Security Council resolution 1701."

WHAT IS UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1701

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is a resolution that was adopted with an intention to resolve the 2006 Lebanon War.

The resolution has been the linchpin of peace between Israel and Lebanon for almost two decades and the 10,000 UN peacekeepers who are tasked with implementing it on the ground.

Adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council in 2006, the purpose of resolution 1701 continues to be about ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the Council calling for a permanent ceasefire to be based on the creation of a buffer zone.

WHAT IS 'THE BLUE LINE'

The 'Blue Line' is a United Nations-recognised demarcation line to indicate that Israel had withdrawn its military from southern Lebanon. It separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights, but it is not an official international border.

Stretching for 120km along Lebanon's southern frontier and Israel's northern border, the so-called "Blue Line" is "a key to peace in the region" and one of the central elements of resolution 1701 since the war in 2006, with UNIFIL peacekeepers being its temporary custodian, according to UN Peacekeeping.

Based on various historical maps, some dating back almost a century, the Blue Line is not a border, but a temporary "line of withdrawal" set by the UN in 2000 for the practical purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Whenever Israeli or Lebanese authorities wish to undertake any activities close to the Blue Line, UNIFIL requests that they provide advance notice, allowing the UN mission to keep authorities on all sides informed, to minimise any misunderstandings that could lead to increased tensions.

ISRAEL'S LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs has written a letter to the United Nations clarifying its stance amid the ongoing and escalating crisis in the Middle East (West Asia), especially with regard to its operations in Lebanon.

In its letter, the minister wrote that "On Ictiber 8, 2023, Hezbollah, a terrorist, Iranian-backed organisation, launched an unprovoked attack on Israel, joining the war initiated by Hazas on October 7, 2023. Since then they have fired over 13,000 projectiles, 1500 anti-tank missiles and hundreds of explosive drones at Israeli communities, forcing more than 63,000 people to evacuate their homes."

The minister further said that "This war which was imposed on Israel has so far resulted in 51 casualties and over 372 injuries, besides causing severe damage ot Israeli towns and villages."

The minister said that as a result of Hezbollah's unilateral and unprovoked actions, "One year later, on October 1, 2024 the IDF initiated a targeted, limited raid operations in southern Lebanon aimed at Hezbollah military assets and infrastructure along the Blue Line, with a goal of dismantling them and neutralising the ongoing threat."
 

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BBC Forecasts 20,000 KPH Winds For London, Apologises

The BBC on Thursday apologised after a graphic incorrectly forecast winds of more than 13,000 miles (20,000 kilometres) per hour in London, as Hurricane Milton battered the US state of Florida.

"Don't be alarmed folks -- Hurricane Milton hasn't made it to us here in the UK!" one of the broadcaster's meteorologists, Matt Taylor, assured the public on X.

"There's been a data glitch between our suppliers and the app/online. Folk are working to solve the issue," he said, adding: "No need to panic buy plywood and candles."

The technical gremlins on the BBC's weather app and website also resulted in overnight temperatures of 404 degrees Celsius (759 degrees Fahrenheit) being predicted for the central English city of Nottingham.

A BBC Weather statement apologised for "some data issues on our app and website. We are working hard to fix it quickly.

"Sorry -- please bear with us," it added.

The real forecast for Thursday was colder, clearer air moving in with rain and drizzle in the south and blustery showers near the east coast.

The blunder has echoes of a 1987 forecast that went down in broadcasting folklore and turned the meteorologist involved into a national celebrity.

Michael Fish famously told viewers during a broadcast on October 15, 1987 that "apparently a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way.

"Well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!"

A few hours later a storm dubbed the "Great Storm of 1987" -- the worst to hit southeast England for three centuries -- hit the region.

The BBC's meteorological mishap came as Milton smashed into Florida leaving at least four people dead and millions without power.
 

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People Of Unrecognised Villages Can't Receive Government Benefits: Manipur

The Manipur Cabinet on Thursday decided that people living in unrecognised villages in the state can no longer receive government schemes such as MGNREGS, a senior minister said in Imphal.

The decision came two days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that several officials had given recognition to hill villages for the benefit of their community, without obtaining approval from the state government.

He had also said that residents of such villages would not get government facilities.

"Only the villages recognised by the government will be given government schemes. This will include MGNREGA. These (benefits) will not be given to the people living in unrecognised villages," Health Minister Sapam Ranjan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

One just cannot set up a village, give it a name and avail benefits of those schemes, said Ranjan, also the government spokesperson.

"We cannot have villages growing by leaps and bounds. So, it is important to follow rules" he said.

At the Cabinet meeting chaired by the chief minister, 51 listed agendas and some unlisted agendas were discussed, Ranjan said.

"The cabinet also reviewed the disturbed area status in the state," he said.

The government on Monday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) by another six months in Manipur excluding 19 police station areas falling under the Imphal Valley and a region that shares its boundary with Assam.

On the dengue situation in the state, Ranjan said the health department is doing everything to contain the issue.

"Coordinated and responsible efforts with the public are required to reduce the source of dengue. We have to destroy the breeding grounds. I reiterate it once again, if we take dengue lightly, it will be serious for all of us," the health minister said.

He said that the number of dengue cases is lower now in comparison to that last year.

"Till yesterday, there have been 1195 cases with Imphal and Imphal West district together accounting for 1,070 cases. We have lost 3/4 precious lives to dengue," Ranjan said.

The spokesperson said the Cabinet also discussed recruitment of jobs on contract for different departments, appointments on compassionate grounds in the police department and getting land for the establishment of a police station in the Joujangtek area. 

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At 211 Feet, Delhi's Ravan Effigy Claimed To Be Tallest In India

Ahead of Dusshera on Saturday, the Sri Ram Lila Society has claimed to have erected the tallest Ravan effigy in India, standing at an impressive height of 211 feet in Sector 10 of Dwarka. According to news agency ANI, the committee said that to ensure the success of the event, they conducted auditions for over 400 artists from across Delhi NCR, selecting fresh talent. The society also stated that it took 4 months to prepare and install this structure.

Speaking to ANI, the Chairman of the organising committee, Rajesh Gehlot, said, "As we can see, sin is increasing in the society so this effigy is depicting the increasing sins and we will burn them all on Dusherra, that is, on October 12, 2024." 

Mr Gehlot said that they have sent an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders as well, for the event. "We have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ceremony and we are hopeful for positive reply. We have sent the invitation to other BJP leaders as well," Mr Gehlot said. 

Further, the committee chairman shared that the theme of this year's Ramleela decorations and events is inspired by the old Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya, which was demolished. The entry gates are designed in the style of South Indian temples, known as "Gopuram". 

Mr Gehlot also highlighted that they strive to present Ramleela in the most beautiful way possible, with careful attention to decorations and artist performance. 

Amid these celebrations, the committee has heightened the security, with over 50 Delhi Police personnel, 200 volunteers and 100 plus civil officers safeguarding the venue, ANI reported.

Also read | Videos Of First-Ever Durga Puja Celebrations At New York's Times Square Delight Internet

Dussehra, which is also known as Vijaya Dashami, is celebrated every year to commemorate the triumph of good over evil as Lord Ram killed Ravana on this day. The word Dussehra is derived from two Sanskrit words -  dasha, which means ten, and hara translates to defeat. 

As per Hindu mythology, it was on this day when Lord Rama defeated Ravana, the King of Lanka. Ravana is also known as Dashmukha, which means 10 heads. Each head, as per belief, highlights a distinct quality - Mada (Pride), Ghrina (Hate), Kama (Lust), Bhaye (Fear), Moha (Attachment), Krodha (Anger), Ahankar (Ego), Lobha (Greed), Jaddata (Insensibility) and Irshya (Envy).

The festival is celebrated in full swing across the nation, by burning effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath. This year, Dussehra will be observed on October 12. 

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